Scottish Terrier facts for kids
A black and a white Scottish Terrier
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| Common nicknames | Scottie, Aberdeenie | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Origin | Scotland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Notes | National dog of Scotland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Scottish Terrier is a small, brave dog from Scotland. It's one of five terrier breeds that started there. People also call it the Aberdeen Terrier. Other Scottish terriers include the Skye, Cairn, Dandie Dinmont, and West Highland White Terrier. Scotties were first used for hunting small animals. Today, many people keep them as beloved pets.
Contents
About the Scottish Terrier
What Does a Scottie Look Like?
The Scottish Terrier is a small, strong dog with short legs. They have a tough, wiry coat that protects them from bad weather. Their body is compact and sturdy. Scotties have a very smart and sharp look. Their ears and tail stand up straight.
Their eyes are small, bright, and almond-shaped. They are usually dark brown or almost black. The darker the eyes, the better. Their ears are small and pointed. They are covered with short, soft hair.
Both male and female Scotties are about 25 cm (9.8 in) tall at the shoulder. Their back length is about 28 cm (11 in). A healthy male Scottie usually weighs 8.5 to 10 kg (19 to 22 lb). Females weigh a bit less, from 8 to 9.5 kg (18 to 21 lb).
Scottie's Coat and Colors
A Scottish Terrier has two layers of fur. The outer coat is hard and wiry. The undercoat is soft and thick. This double coat helps keep them warm and dry. The longer hair on their beard, legs, and lower body is softer.
Scotties come in different colors. These include dark gray, jet black, and brindle. Brindle is a mix of black and brown stripes. Sometimes, you might see a Scottie with a wheaten coat. This color ranges from straw-like to almost white.
Scottie's Personality
Scotties are known for being brave and determined. They are very alert and quick. They can be quite feisty, even more than some other terriers. This breed is independent and sure of itself. They are also playful and smart.
They earned the nickname 'Diehard' in the 1800s. This name came from George, the fourth Earl of Dumbarton. He had a group of Scottish Terriers that were so brave, they were called "Diehards." They even inspired the name of his army regiment.
Scotties are very loving towards their families. However, they can also be a bit stubborn. They might seem reserved with strangers at first. But they are very loyal to their family members. They often pick one or two people to be especially close to.
These dogs can make good watchdogs. They usually only bark when they need to. Scotties were originally bred to hunt animals like badgers. Because of this, they love to dig. They also enjoy chasing small animals like squirrels, rats, and mice.
Famous Scotties and Pop Culture
Scotties in the White House
Scottish Terriers have lived in the White House more than three times. Only German Shepherds share this honor. President Franklin D. Roosevelt had a famous Scottie named Fala. Fala was a gift from his cousin. The President loved Fala very much. He often took Fala with him everywhere.
Roosevelt had other Scotties before Fala, too. These included dogs named Duffy and Mr. Duffy. Eleanor Roosevelt also had a Scottish Terrier named Meggie. This was when her family moved into the White House in 1933. More recently, President George W. Bush owned two black Scotties. Their names were Barney and Miss Beazley. Barney even starred in several short films made by the White House!
Other Famous Scottie Owners
Many famous people have owned Scottish Terriers. These include:
- Queen Victoria
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
- Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
- Writer Rudyard Kipling
- Writer Gilbert Chesterton
- President of Poland, Lech Kaczyński
Scotties in Games and Movies
The Scottie is famous for being a player token in the board game, Monopoly. When the game first came out in the 1930s, Scotties were very popular pets in the United States. Today, the Scottie token is still one of the most popular pieces in the game.
In Disney's 1955 movie Lady and the Tramp, a Scottish Terrier named Jock is a friend of Lady. Lady is an American Cocker Spaniel. A Scottie named Dulcinea is a fun character in the 1998 novel Yo-Yo Boing!. In P. G. Wodehouse’s Jeeves and Wooster books, a character named Aunt Agatha has an Aberdeen terrier named Mackintosh. Scottish Terriers also appear in scenes of the movie Coraline (film).
Scotties as Mascots
In May 2007, Carnegie Mellon University chose the Scottish Terrier as its official mascot. The Scottie had been an unofficial mascot for a long time. The university's founder, Andrew Carnegie, was from Scotland. His Scottish background is also honored by the school's athletic nickname, "Tartans." Agnes Scott College in Georgia also uses the Scottie as their mascot.
The image of a Scottie dog is a symbol for the Radley brand of bags. The running group Jogscotland has a cartoon Scottish Terrier as its mascot.
Images for kids
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A black and a wheaten Scottish Terrier
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Scottish Terrier with life jacket.
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Ch. Bapton Norman, a popular sire from 1914.
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Scottish Terrier circa 1915
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President George W. Bush with Scottish Terriers, Barney and Miss Beazley, arriving at Andrews AFB.
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Scottish Terrier Monopoly Game Piece
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See also
In Spanish: Terrier escocés para niños
