Scottish Terrier Breed Standard
Terrier Group
General Appearance
The Scottish Terrier is a small, compact, short-legged, sturdily-built dog of good bone
and substance. His head is long in proportion to his size. He has a hard, wiry, weather
-resistant coat and a thick-set, cobby body which is hung between short, heavy legs.
These characteristics, joined with his very special keen, piercing, "varminty" expression, and his erect ears
and tail are salient features of the breed. The Scottish Terrier's bold, confident, dignified aspect exemplifies
power in a small package
Size, Proportion, Substance
The Scottish Terrier should have a thick body and heavy bone. The principal objective must be symmetry
and balance without exaggeration. Equal consideration shall be given to height, weight, length of back and
length of head. Height at withers for either sex should be about 10 inches. The length of back from withers
to set-on of tail should be approximately 11 inches. Generally, a well-balanced Scottish Terrier dog should
weigh from 19 to 22 pounds and a bitch from 18 to 21 pounds.
Head
The head should be long in proportion to the overall length and size of the dog. In profile, the skull and
muzzle should give the appearance of two parallel planes. The skull should be long and of medium width,
slightly domed and covered with short, hard hair. In profile, the skull should appear flat. There should be a
slight but definite stop between the skull and muzzle at eye level, allowing the eyes to be set in under the
brow, contributing to proper Scottish Terrier expression. The skull should be smooth with no prominences
or depressions and the cheeks should be flat and clean. The muzzle should be approximately equal to the
length of skull with only a slight taper to the nose. The muzzle should be well filled in under the eye, with no
evidence of snippiness. A correct Scottish Terrier muzzle should fill an average man's hand. The nose
should be black, regardless of coat color, and of good size, projecting somewhat over the mouth and giving
the impression that the upper jaw is longer than the lower. The teeth should be large and evenly spaced,
having either a scissor or level bite, the former preferred. The jaw should be square, level and powerful.
Undershot or overshot bites should be penalized. The eyes should be set wide apart and well in under the
brow. They should be small, bright and piercing, and almond-shaped not round. The color should be dark
brown or nearly black, the darker the better. The ears should be small, prick, set well up on the skull and
pointed, but never cut. They should be covered with short velvety hair. From the front, the outer edge of
the ear should form a straight line up from the side of the skull. The use, size, shape and placement of the
ear and its erect carriage are major elements of the keen, alert, intelligent Scottish Terrier expression.
Neck, Topline, Body
The neck should be moderately short, strong, thick and muscular, blending smoothly into well laid back
shoulders. The neck must never be so short as to appear clumsy. The body should be moderately short
with ribs extending well back into a short, strong loin, deep flanks and very muscular hindquarters. The ribs
should be well sprung out from the spine, forming a broad, strong back, then curving down and inward to
form a deep body that would be nearly heart-shaped if viewed in cross-section. The topline of the back
should be firm and level. The chest should be broad, very deep and well let down between the forelegs.
The forechest should extend well in front of the legs and drop well down into the brisket. The chest should
not be flat or concave, and the brisket should nicely fill an average man's slightly-cupped hand. The lowest
point of the brisket should be such that an average man's fist would fit under it with little or no overhead
clearance. The tail should be about seven inches long and never cut. It should be set on high and carried
erectly, either vertical or with a slight curve forward, but not over the back. The tail should be thick at the
base, tapering gradually to a point and covered with short, hard hair.
Forequarters
The shoulders should be well laid back and moderately well knit at the withers. The forelegs should be very
heavy in bone, straight or slightly bent with elbows close to the body, and set in under the shoulder blade
with a definite forechest in front of them. Scottish Terriers should not be out at the elbows. The forefeet
should be larger than the hind feet, round, thick and compact with strong nails. The front feet should point
straight ahead, but a slight "toeing out" is acceptable. Dew claws may be removed.
Hindquarters
The thighs should be very muscular and powerful for the size of the dog with the stifles well bent and the
legs straight from hock to heel. Hocks should be well let down and parallel to each other.
Coat
The Scottish Terrier should have a broken coat. It is a hard, wiry outer coat with a soft, dense undercoat.
The coat should be trimmed and blended into the furnishings to give a distinct Scottish Terrier outline. The
dog should be presented with sufficient coat so that the texture and density may be determined. The longer
coat on the beard, legs and lower body may be slightly softer than the body coat but should not be or
appear fluffy.
Color
Black, wheaten or brindle of any color. Many black and brindle dogs have sprinklings of white or silver hairs
in their coats which are normal and not to be penalized. White can be allowed only on the chest and chin
and that to a slight extent only.
Gait
The gait of the Scottish Terrier is very characteristic of the breed. It is not the square trot or walk desirable
in the long-legged breeds. The forelegs do not move in exact parallel planes; rather, in reaching out, the
forelegs incline slightly inward because of the deep broad forechest. Movement should be free, agile and
coordinated with powerful drive from the rear and good reach in front. The action of the rear legs should be
square and true and, at the trot, both the hocks and stifles should be flexed with a vigorous motion. When
the dog is in motion, the back should remain firm and level.
Temperament
The Scottish Terrier should be alert and spirited but also stable and steady-going. He is a determined and
thoughtful dog whose "heads up, tails up" attitude in the ring should convey both fire and control. The
Scottish Terrier, while loving and gentle with people, can be aggressive with other dogs. He should exude
ruggedness and power, living up to his nickname, the "Diehard."
Penalties
Soft coat; curly coat; round, protruding or light eyes; overshot or undershot jaws; obviously oversize or
undersize; shyness or timidity; upright shoulders; lack of reach in front or drive in rear; stiff or stilted
movement; movement too wide or too close in rear; too narrow in front or rear; out at the elbow; lack of
bone and substance; low set tail; lack of pigment in the nose; coarse head; and failure to show with head
and tail up are faults to be penalized.
NO JUDGE SHOULD PUT TO WINNERS OR BEST OF BREED ANY SCOTTISH TERRIER NOT SHOWING
REAL TERRIER CHARACTER IN THE RING.
Scale Of Points:
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|
Skull
|
5
|
Muzzle
|
5
|
Eyes
|
5
|
Ears
|
10
|
Neck
|
5
|
Chest
|
5
|
Body
|
15
|
Legs and Feet
|
10
|
Tail
|
5
|
Coat
|
15
|
Size
|
10
|
General Appearance
|
10
|
Total
|
100
|
SeaFire Scotties
