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AKC: Scottish Terrier breed overview

Terrier group · Scotland

Scottish Terrier

Also called Scottie, Aberdeen Terrier, Diehard

A short-legged Highland den hunter with a beard, bushy eyebrows and the dignified stubbornness of a small laird.

Low to the ground and high in self-regard, the Scottish Terrier was bred in the Highlands to follow foxes and badgers into rocky dens. Independent, dignified and loyal to its own people, it suits owners who respect a dog with opinions and are happy to keep up with coat care.

Original AI-generated breed illustration

Weight

8 to 10 kg

18 to 22 lb

Height

25 to 28 cm

at the shoulder

Life expectancy

11 to 13 yrs

Activity estimate

60 to 90 min

editorial daily planning range

Adult-size estimate

12 months

approximate model input

Life with a Scottish Terrier

The Highlands and islands of Scotland produced a whole family of small, tough terriers, and for centuries nobody bothered to separate them. Farmers and gamekeepers wanted a dog that would go to ground after foxes, badgers and otters among rocks and cairns, and they bred for courage rather than looks. When dog shows became fashionable in the late 1800s, breeders began sorting these terriers into the Cairn, the Skye, the West Highland White and the Scottish Terrier.

Early Scotties were often called Aberdeen Terriers because many good specimens came from around that city. Captain Gordon Murray and a small group of enthusiasts pushed for a fixed type, and a written standard followed around 1880. The breed then became a kind of emblem of Scotland, used in advertising and on board games, and it reached a peak of popularity in America in the 1930s, helped along by President Roosevelt's constant companion, Fala.

Living with a Scottie today is less like owning a lapdog and more like sharing a house with a small, opinionated gentleman. They are affectionate but not fawning, often choose one person as their own, and like their routines. Expect a dog that inspects visitors carefully, digs with great enthusiasm, and sometimes sits down in the middle of a walk because it disagrees with the route.

A great match for

adults and families with older children
apartment or town living
owners who like an independent, less clingy dog
people willing to learn hand-stripping or budget for a groomer

Think twice if

strong urge to dig and chase small animals
can snap if handled roughly
often unfriendly toward unfamiliar dogs
higher than average risk of bladder cancer
needs professional grooming every 6 to 8 weeks

Personality and needs at a glance

Living together

Good with children

Good with other dogs

Open with strangers

Apartment friendly

Copes with alone time

Energy and character

Energy level

Playfulness

Easy to train

Barking

5 means very vocal

Care and climate

Grooming needs

Shedding

Drooling

Handles cold

Handles heat

How much a Scottish Terrier eats

Illustrative calculations for neutered adults at midpoint breed weights, with food at 370 kcal per 100 g and 100 g per cup. These are not measured breed requirements. Use actual weight, the food label and veterinary body-condition advice.

Dog	Weight	Calories	Dry food
Female, relaxed lifestyle	9 kg	510 kcal	140 g (1.5 cups)
Female, typical pet	9 kg	580 kcal	155 g (1.5 cups)
Male, typical pet	10 kg	610 kcal	165 g (1.8 cups)
Male, very active	10 kg	760 kcal	205 g (2 cups)

Full Scottish Terrier feeding guide Calculate for my dog

Care guides for the Scottish Terrier

Feeding75 cups, split into two meals. The breed gains weight easily, partly because its build and skirt of coat make extra fat hard to spot.Read more Puppy growthScottie puppies are compact from the start, weighing roughly 2 to 3 kg (4 to 7 lb) at eight weeks and around 7 kg (15 lb) by six months. Most reach adult height by 8 to 10 months and fill out by a year.Read more ExerciseAround 45 to 60 minutes a day is enough for most adults, usually as two walks plus some play. Scotties like to investigate rather than race, and a sniffing walk along hedgerows satisfies them more than a jog.Read more GroomingThe correct Scottie coat is hard and weatherproof, and it stays that way only if dead hair is pulled out by hand-stripping two to four times a year. Clipping is quicker and many pet owners choose it, but a clipped coat turns softer, fades on black dogs and mats more easily.Read more TrainingScotties were bred to make decisions alone underground, and they have not forgotten it. They learn quickly but decide for themselves whether a command is worth obeying.Read more HealthThe breed has several known predispositions. Scottie cramp is an inherited condition that causes episodes of stiff, awkward movement during excitement, and von Willebrand disease affects blood clotting.Read more

Things owners are often surprised by

1Often called the Aberdeen Terrier in the 1800s, after the area that produced many early dogs
2George, fourth Earl of Dumbarton, called his pack his little diehards, and the nickname stuck
3A breed standard was drawn up around 1880, one of the earliest for any terrier
4Fala, the Scottie owned by Franklin D. Roosevelt, is sculpted beside the president at his memorial in Washington, D.C.
5The heavy body and short legs make most Scotties weak swimmers
6Wheaten Scotties, pale straw to almost white, are fully recognized and not a cross

Scottish Terrier questions

Why is the Scottish Terrier called a Diehard?

The nickname is credited to George, the fourth Earl of Dumbarton, who kept a well-known pack of Scotch terriers and called them his little diehards for their courage. His regiment was later nicknamed the Diehards too. The name suits the breed's reputation for stubborn bravery against much larger animals.

Are wheaten Scottish Terriers purebred?

Yes. Black is the best-known color, but the breed standard also allows wheaten, which ranges from almost white to straw, and brindle in several shades. Wheaten Scotties are sometimes mistaken for crosses or for a different terrier breed, yet they are fully recognized Scottish Terriers.

Can Scottish Terriers swim?

Most swim poorly. Their heavy, deep bodies and short legs make it hard to stay level in the water, and they tire fast. Some can manage a short paddle, but many sink at the rear end. If you live near water or have a pool, fence it off, supervise closely and fit a proper dog life jacket for boats.

Is a Scottie good for someone with allergies?

Scotties shed much less than many breeds, and some people with mild dog allergies cope better with them. Allergens are carried in saliva and skin flakes as well as hair, though, so no dog is truly hypoallergenic. Spending time with adult Scotties before committing is the best way to find out how you react.

What is Scottie cramp?

It is an inherited neurological condition in which excitement, stress or exercise triggers episodes of stiffness, often with an arched back and a goose-stepping gait. Dogs stay conscious and usually recover within minutes. It is not generally considered painful, but any unusual movement episode should be checked by a vet so other causes can be ruled out.

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