Where the Scottish Terrier came from
The Scottish Terrier comes from the Highlands of Scotland. Small, hard terriers there hunted badgers, foxes and vermin on farms and rocky ground. Early on, several highland terrier types were lumped together under the name Skye Terrier, so the exact family tree is hazy.
In 1829, a writer named Thomas Brown described a low, strong, rough coated Scotch Terrier, which shows that a type like this was around by then. The breed is also called the Aberdeen Terrier. The AKC recognized the Scottish Terrier in 1885.
Today most Scotties are calm, dignified companions with a serious look and a big opinion. They are known for being loyal to their people and a bit aloof with strangers.
- 1829 Thomas Brown describes a small, rough coated Scotch Terrier in a book on dogs
- 1885 AKC recognizes the Scottish Terrier
- 1940 Fala, a Scottish Terrier, becomes the pet of President Franklin D. Roosevelt
The job a Scottish Terrier was bred for
A hunting terrier that worked alone, going to ground after badgers and foxes. That is why many Scotties dig, guard their space, stand their ground with other dogs and decide things for themselves. They are not pushovers.
What you may see at home
Independent, stubborn, digs, guards their space, can be pushy with dogs.
Give them: Dig box, barn hunt, scent games, and short fun training.
Sports that fit a Scottish Terrier
- Earthdog. Lets them follow their nose into a tunnel, which is what the breed was made to do
- Barn hunt. Gives the digging and sniffing instinct a safe job
- Scent work. A calm, focused game for a thinking dog
- Rally. Short, fun training that suits an independent dog
- Tracking. Rewards a strong nose and steady focus
Training tips for a Scottish Terrier
- Keep sessions short and use food or a favorite toy. A Scottie will quit if the work feels like a chore.
- Teach a solid leave it and a trade game early, since this breed can guard things.
- Socialize carefully and on purpose with calm dogs, and reward polite greetings.
- Give a dig box or a sniff walk daily so the digging has a legal place.
Body and health
A sturdy, low dog with a thick wiry coat that needs regular grooming. The breed can be prone to some skin issues, and some lines have a higher risk of certain cancers, so ask the breeder about health testing and keep up with vet visits.
Fun fact. Fala, a Scottish Terrier owned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, is shown at his feet in the statue at the FDR Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Scottish Terrier is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Free tools for your dog
- Breed drive calculatorMixed breed? Add the other breeds and see the drives your dog was bred with.
- Dog breed quizTen photos, four names each. The same quiz our trainers take.
- Dog drive testAnswer everyday moments and find the job your dog runs on.
Looking for a different breed? See what 137 breeds were bred to do, and download any of their guides.