The Scottish Terrier, nicknamed in 19th Century "little diehard", is 1 of the 5 breeds that originated from Scotland. It is also known as the Aberdeen Terrier. Small and resilient, quick and muscular, the Scottish terrier is described as being brave, feisty and fearless. Diggers by nature, Scotties were originally bred to hunt small vermin, squirrels, rats, foxes, and even badgers.

* Tip: When walking your Scottie, please make certain they are on a leash, as they are hunters by nature! They will try to chase anything that moves.

They have a long face and short legs. Their eyes are bright are dark brown, even black, in color. Not only are their eyes bright, but their personality is and everything about them. Their ears and tail stand at attention and they are very alert and intelligent. They have a thick, sturdy tail, as selected when breeding, so that they could be pulled out of holes when digging

are typically dark gray to black in color. However, they can ALSO come in a wheaten (tan/creme to nearly white) color and brindle! I would love one of each! They are definitely known for their "brick"-shaped cut of their head and their big, fluffy eyebrows, and have a wiry outer coat with a soft and dense undercoat. Playful, intelligent, loving, loyal, rugged, extremely determined and resilient, Scotties need to have exercise and mental stimulation. Even if you have a small yard, they will be able to occupy themselves, as they love to explore and "secure the area", so to speak.

On the other hand, they can be stubborn, as they are very self-assured, and they can get into trouble. They will dig, as mentioned earlier and if they find a hole in the fence, they will go hunting and explore. Left unchecked from a puppy, this dog can handle taking over the house in one fell swoop. They will dominate you if you don't let them know you are in charge. They are born leaders. Be firm, but gentle and you will have a winning relationship with your Scottie.

Scottish terriers are fabulous watchdogs, as they have been bred only to bark when necessary, but they have that alertness, intelligence and fearlessness you are looking for.

They are known to be somewhat aggressive with other dogs, if not socialized early, and are a better dog for older children.

The Scottish terrier is one of the more famous breeds of terrier, as many a celebrity and high profile person have owned and loved their Scotties. Just to name a few: Franklin D. Roosevelt, George W. Bush (x 2), Humphrey Bogart, Shirley Temple, Liza Minnelli, Queen Victoria, Ronald Regan...Funny how great leaders pick this breed, as the Scottish terrier, as I mentioned at the beginning, are natural born leaders themselves.

Plus, many companies choose a Scottish terrier as their mascot or for their logo. Hey, when you play Monopoly, do you choose to be the Scottie every single time like I do? It's so hard to pick favorites when it comes to terriers because they are all similar in many ways, and too cute! However, I think I can definitely say that the Scottish Terrier is up on the top of my list!

Love your terrier!