Trainability

In terms of smartness this breed is well rated, but due to their heightened intelligence, they are known to be very stubborn to train. However, like with all breeds, with the right owners and sheer persistence, your wee Scotty will be happy to shine. In the right hands; they excel in dog sports such as agility. The breed is known to be aloof with strangers, this makes early socialisation incredibly important. You need to teach your Scotty that other people and dogs are ok (in fact they are rather fun). Booking into a puppy-preschool is paramount. Group training sessions are also a good way to guarantee you and your dog are working together while having fun. As a hunting breed, they love to sniff-out and chase anything small. In saying this, training your pup to walk nicely on a leash is very important. He will not be your jogging buddy but will love a good stroll around the block on a daily occurrence.

Grooming

This breed will require a good amount of grooming. If you do not have the time or patience for grooming call in the professionals. The Scotty has two coats consisting of a top-coat that is wiry and the soft dense undercoat. Grooming consists of brushing, combing, clipping and stripping. Ask your breeder or grooming professional on the best way to groom your Scotty and the tools needed for the job if you are considering doing this at home. Many Scotty owners have their wee dogs sent to a professional every few weeks for a stress-free spruce up.

Exercise Requirements

Your Scotty will not enjoy (or tolerate) a long jog or run by your side, however they are an active breed and will need to be walked daily to avoid boredom issues and to keep them , and fit. Training a good ‘recall’ is vital if you are considering allowing them to run off leash, remembering that this breed has been bred to hunt small prey. In saying this if they catch a glimpse of a rabbit during their off-leash romp they will take to ground, and even the most amazingly trained Scotty’s may not listen.  They will also enjoy a good backyard game. Be warned, your beautiful dog cannot swim…. despite their love for water! Care must be taken when it comes to pools. Double-check that your pup/dog cannot fit through the bars of your pool fencing. They also love to dig. It is easier to provide a ‘digging’ area than to attempt to stop the natural behaviour. Have a ‘dig zone’ and teach your puppy the right and wrong place to dig. Also use sand in this area so you , your young dog that this is the preferred digging texture instead of the lovely soil in your veggie patch. Terriers love to dig and chase. If you do not think you can tolerate this trait you may need to consider another breed of dog.

Intelligence

Scottish Terriers are incredibly smart. They thrive in a loving home and will happily follow you in your indoor, and outdoor, adventures. Because of this intelligence they can get bored easily and may be a little stubborn to train. Keep it fun and entertaining and stop when you can see your dog becoming bored. Always utilize boredom busters when you are not at home to prevent destructive behaviour. Daily exercise is important to avoid boredom issues when you are not at home. Like all breeds, they do not take well to endless hours being left alone. They are masters at companionship and will pine for their human pack.

Family Friendly

The Scotty is a wonderful family companion and blossoms in a busy household with lots of people to interact with. They are very protective of their family, and will bark at strangers (a big bark too!). Being a terrier they do not take well to being poked and prodded. For this reason; it is essential that young children be supervised with all interactions with your Scotty. Teach your little ones how to behave around a dog as too, teach your dog manners (no jumping, pushing past doors etc.). It is important to remember that your Scotty dog is a hunter and prize-winning terrier at heart so they should never b,with small animals such as rodents or rabbits.

Indoor/ Outdoor

The breed does not like being left alone for long periods of time. They simply love the company of their family and are incredibly devoted dogs. They love spending time inside at your feet while you are reading the paper, or sniffing around as you weed the garden. They will not take well to life in a kennel or outside run. Due to their grooming, they may also feel the cold, investing in a good coat for your winter stroll is a wonderful way to keep your pup warm and snug.

Breeding

It is very important to only source your new family member from a reputable breeding establishment, to ensure your puppy is healthy. Ask all the important questions about hereditary problems and ask to see mum and dad. Contact your local breed club and research your chosen breeder. Your breeder should have proof that they regularly test their dogs for genetic diseases and to ensure that the dogs they are breeding from have sound temperaments. It may take a little more time than a quick purchase, but it can save you and your family from unimaginable heartache and pain dealing with a sick puppy.