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Breed profile

Scottish Terrier

Dignified, stubborn little terrier with a beard and opinions. Loyal at home, reserved with strangers.

Black Scottish Terrier lying on a rock beside a lake with pine trees behind
A black Scottie, beard and eyebrows in full effect.Photo: narujen / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Weight
8–10 kg18–22 lb
Height
25–28 cm10–11 in
Lifespan
11–13 yrs
Group
Terrier
Origin
Scotland
Popularity
#57 US#64 UK · 2025

Known for: Flat-friendlyLow shedding

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Independent, Confident, Loyal, Spirited.

Health problems to know about

  • Von Willebrand's disease (type III)
  • Craniomandibular osteopathy
  • Scottie cramp
  • Bladder cancer (transitional cell carcinoma)
  • Patellar luxation

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

A good daily walk plus short bursts of play. Keep training sessions short and varied. The coat is best hand-stripped, or clipped for pets.

A good fit for

Adults and older children, flat dwellers, owners who like an independent dog.

Probably not ideal for

Homes with small pets, busy toddler households, and people wanting a dog that loves every visitor.

Sources

  1. Scottish Terrier Dog Breed Information | American Kennel Club
  2. Scottish Terrier | Breeds A to Z | The Royal Kennel Club
  3. Scottish Terrier | Wikipedia

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

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American Hairless Terrier

A hairless offshoot of the Rat Terrier from Louisiana. Lively and bright, with bare skin that needs sun cream and a coat in winter.

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Bedlington Terrier

Looks like a lamb, moves like a whippet, and still has a terrier's grit. Gentle at home.

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Sealyham Terrier

A sturdy, short-legged white terrier from Pembrokeshire. Affectionate and comical at home, stubborn on walks, and rarer than it deserves to be.

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