Scottish Terrier, also known as Aberdeen Terrier, nicknamed "Scottish boy", this dog breed has a long history, but its exact ancestors are still unknown. In 1882, the standard for this breed was first established. Although it has a petite body, it has great strength. It played a gentleman image in the Disney movie "Lady and the Tramp", and appeared in other different movies as well. It is a star dog in the dog world. It is rumored that President Roosevelt also had a Scottish Terrier before, and he loved it very much.
The Scottish Terrier has a small, compact and strong body structure with sufficient bone mass. Its dense and rough coat, hanging on both sides of the body and short limbs, can withstand harsh weather. These appearance characteristics, together with its unique enthusiasm, charming mischievous expression, and erect ears and tail, are its remarkable features. Its appearance is very outstanding, and it also has a very prominent brave and dignified, confident and calm temperament.
The Scottish Terrier is determined, independent-minded, active and confident, alert and brave, but it is difficult to get along harmoniously with other dogs, and it is very stubborn. In addition, it is strong and sometimes even rude, showing aggressiveness towards other dogs, so it is not suitable for families with multiple dogs. However, it is very friendly and gentle towards humans.
Many people who love Scottish Terriers believe that it is the most original ancestor of all Highland Terriers, and other Highland Terriers gradually developed and bred from Scottish Terriers. Scottish Terriers are the most original purebred Highland dogs. In the past, the Skye Terrier mentioned by people is different from the present Skye Terrier. The Skye Terrier mentioned in the past is the ancestor of the Scottish Terrier and they have similar appearances. Although there is no exact information proving who the ancestors of Scottish Terriers are, some literary works have described a type of native dog used to catch foxes and badgers, and these descriptions are highly similar to the Scottish Terrier we know today, so it is highly likely that they are the ancestors of Scottish Terriers.
In the 17th century, when King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England, he wrote a letter to Edinburgh, expressing his intention to give 6 Terriers as gifts to France. Later, he wrote another letter to Cardoilo, praising the Earl of Montielh's dogs. Afterwards, the British authority, Rauodon B. Lee, wrote that the Scottish Terrier's earliest place of origin was England, and it is the oldest breed there. After so many years, this dog breed has remained popular in the Highlands, but it is strange that the local people have always referred to it as Skye Terrier, when in fact it is completely different from the long-haired, non-hunting Skye Terrier.
Over the years, Scottish Terriers have always been purebred. The first time a Scottish Terrier was classified in a dog show was in Birmingham, England in 1860. Subsequent dog shows followed this classification, but the dogs exhibited were not purebred Scottish Terriers, but Skye Terriers, Dandie Dinmont Terriers, and Yorkshire Terriers.
In 1882, the Scottish Terrier Club was established, with officials from both England and Scotland serving. Later, due to the increasing interest in this breed, the two countries each established independent clubs.
The first person to introduce Scottish Terriers to the United States was John Naylor, who initially imported a male dog and a female dog in 1883. Afterwards, he continued to import a large number of this breed. In the later imports, there were famous dogs such as "Glenlyon" and "Whinstone". The first Scottish Terrier registered in the United States was named Dake (3688). Around the same time, the American Kennel Club was established.
From the past to the present, the United States has imported thousands of dogs, and many famous Scottish Terrier breeders have been persistently striving for the reproduction and development of this breed. It may be difficult to find the initial bloodlines now, but these early Terriers must have had their place in history. For early breeder John Naylor and the disseminators of this breed, people's love for Scottish Terriers represents a permanent memorial.
Scottish Terriers have a brave, confident, and dignified temperament. They are quiet and do not bark for no reason. They only bark when strangers approach or when they sense danger, to indicate that they do not allow anyone to come closer and to alert their owners. They are highly alert and excellent guard dogs for protecting the house and yard.
However, Scottish Terriers have a somewhat stubborn personality and are very powerful. It is difficult for them to get along peacefully with other dogs and they may even show aggression. Therefore, they are not suitable for people who have multiple dogs at home.
1. Heart disease
Dogs are often prone to heart disease due to obesity and old age. When a dog has heart disease, it will mainly show symptoms such as easy fatigue and difficulty breathing. Heart disease in dogs is difficult to detect, and often by the time the owner notices, the dog is already seriously ill.
2. Infectious diseases
Canine distemper and canine parvovirus are common life-threatening infectious diseases in dogs. Dogs that have not been vaccinated in a timely manner are more susceptible to these two infectious diseases. Once infected, the dog will show symptoms such as listlessness, decreased appetite, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.
3. Kidney disease
When it comes to common diseases and symptoms in dogs, kidney disease cannot be ignored. The terrifying thing about kidney disease in dogs is that the onset process is silent. By the time the owner notices, the dog's renal cells have already been damaged by more than 75%. When a dog's kidneys have problems, the usual symptoms are blood in the urine, abnormal urine color, and changes in urination habits.
4. Parasites
Intestinal parasites such as roundworms and hookworms, as well as heartworms, are common parasites that infect dogs. When a dog is infected with gastrointestinal parasites, the main symptoms are emaciation, lethargy, diarrhea, worm-infested feces, and pale gums. Heartworms, on the other hand, are parasites that live in a dog's heart. After a dog is infected, it will show symptoms such as decreased vitality, coughing, anemia, shortness of breath, and abdominal fluid accumulation.
5. Canine pneumonia
Pneumonia is also a common disease in dogs, but it is often a complication of other diseases. It frequently occurs in dogs with abnormal upper respiratory tract, bacterial infections, canine distemper infections, viral colds, impaired lung function, and heartworm infections. Coughing, runny nose, and elevated body temperature are the main symptoms of pneumonia in dogs.
1. After the puppies are born, if the Scottish Terrier mother's physical condition and mood are good, she will take care of her children by herself, so let the puppies and the mother stay in the prepared box. But if the mother's mood is unstable, it is very likely that she will behave in a way that harms the puppies. In order to avoid it from crushing the puppies or other actions that are not good for the puppies, it is best to place the puppies in the box and not let the mother dog go in. When breastfeeding is needed, let the mother dog go in.
2. If the puppies are born in winter, it is important to adjust the temperature inside the nursery box. Because the temperature regulation function of newborn puppies is not yet perfect, the temperature inside the box should be maintained at around 25℃, and should not be lower than 20℃. In addition, the box should not be placed in a place with large temperature differences. It is recommended to put a thermometer in the box to check the temperature at any time. Heating can be provided by a light bulb or an electric blanket. Also, the nursery box should always be kept clean and tidy. Dirty or wet newspapers or towels should be replaced and cleaned regularly.
3. The immunity of newborn puppies is very low, about 29%, but after drinking the mother's milk, the immunity can be greatly improved, reaching 77%. Especially the colostrum in the first three days is the best source of protection for the puppies' health before vaccination. Mother's milk not only contains nutrients, but also provides strong disease resistance for the puppies. So if the mother dog's milk is sufficient, it is fine for the newborn puppies to only drink mother's milk. But if the mother's milk is insufficient, it is necessary to supplement the missing nutrients through artificial feeding. Of course, this cannot compare with the effect of mother's milk. Therefore, even if the mother's milk is limited, it should be distributed to each puppy as much as possible.
4. Before breastfeeding, remember to use a hot towel to wipe the mother dog's nipples, then gently squeeze the nipples to let the milk flow out, and then take the puppies out of the nursery box and place them under the mother dog's belly to let them suckle. The interval between milk feeding is 2 hours in the first week, 3 hours in the second week, and 4 hours in the third week. In the fourth week, the puppies will start stealing their mother's food, so the feeding time should be determined according to the situation.
5. When breastfeeding, the mother dog will also lick the puppies' anus and genitals to stimulate their bowel movements. Otherwise, if the feces accumulate in the body, the puppies are prone to illness. If the mother dog does not lick, the owner must use toilet paper or gauze to rub and stimulate the excretion area to help the puppies defecate smoothly. Usually, the mother dog will also lick the puppies' excrement, but sometimes it may accidentally soil the puppies' bodies, so the owner should use a warm towel to wipe them clean.
6. If it is a cesarean section, when the puppies are nursing, it is best for the owner to keep an eye on it to prevent the mother dog's stitches from being pulled open, causing the wound to split.
1. Can't bathe frequently
When bathing dogs, of course, it should not be too frequent. The frequency of bathing dogs depends on the dog's hygiene conditions. In hot weather, it can be bathed one or two more times, and in winter, it can be reduced by one or two times. But in general, it should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!
2. Be diligent in brushing
Dogs will shed hair almost every day, especially in spring and autumn. If you want the hair to grow well, brushing regularly is an important step. Pet owners can use pet-specific brushes to help the dogs clean off naturally shed hair and avoid tangling. Brushing once in the morning and once in the evening for about five minutes each time is sufficient.
3. Sunbathe
Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of dog's hair. In addition to making the hair more shiny, letting the dogs sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, pet owners can let the dogs exercise a bit to help improve their physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and grow healthier hair.
4. Deworming
Poor hair quality is actually closely related to parasites. Parasites consume a large amount of nutrients inside the dogs, depriving them of nutrition. Therefore, deworming is essential. It is recommended to do deworming internally and externally. Deworming medication can cause significant harm to the dog's intestines, so it is recommended to feed probiotics along with it to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet
In order for dogs to have shiny hair, it is necessary to establish a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to daily diet. On the one hand, feed dogs with nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a suitable and nutritious dog food that meets the dog's needs; on the other hand, you can feed dogs with an appropriate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolks, and vegetable oil, etc.
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