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A Study
of the Scottish Terrier Published by the Scottish Terrier Club of America |
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A Study of the Scottish Terrier General Appearance Last update - 1/12/02
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There are all sorts of old wives' toles about color For example, some people will tell you that brindles have harder (oats than blacks, or that wheatens have light eyes. The facts are these: color is determined separately from (oat texture, shape of eyes, and virtually everything else. Furthermore, all colors are equally desirable. That means there is no preference between blue-black and brown-black, no preference among cream colored wheatens or butter colored wheatens or red wheatens; and no preference among the many shades of brindle. One should, however, be aware that there are some optical illusions created by colors. For example, a brindle whose cheeks are light in color may give the appearance of having a more coarse head than a brindle with a dark mask. Brindling in the leg hair can make a dog's movement appear faulty. Wheatens who have the correct dark pigment are like women wearing eyeliner ... the dark rim around the eyes against a light background makes the eyes look larger. Some breeds make allowances for lighter eyes and nose pigment in certain colors. This is not true for Scotties. Regardless of coat color, every Scottie should have a block nose, black eye rims and dark brown or black eyes. In recent years, breeders have been dismayed to see the habit of . enhancing" color grow into a fad for completely coloring Scotties by artificial means. Remember that no Scottie has ever naturally been so black as to not have a single white, gold or brown hair on its body. Wheaten color is in the tips of the hair shafts. If a dog is red or gold from head to toe with no watermark at the furnishings, be very suspicious. We encourage you to penalize this practice severely! |
Gait
- The gait of the Scottish Terrier is very characteristic of the breed. It is
not the square trot or walk desirable in the long-legged breeds. The forelegs
do not move in exact parallel planes; rather, in reaching out, the forelegs
incline slightly inward because of the deep broad forechest. Movement should be
free, agile and coordinated with powerful drive from the rear and good reach in
front. The action of the rear legs should be square and true, and at the trot,
both the hocks and stifles should be flexed with a vigorous motion. When the
dog is in motion, the back should remain firm and level.    |
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