A Study of the Scottish Terrier
* Cover Page
* Special Notice
* Credits
* History of the Scottish Terrier

General Appearance
Size, Proportion, and Substance
Head
Skull
Nose
Teeth
Eyes
Ears
Neck, Topline, and Body
Chest
Tail
Forequarters
Hindquarters
Coat
Color
Gait
Temperament
Penalties
Scale of Points
How to Judge the Scottish Terrier
Breeders Guide

Last update - 1/12/02
Content Provider:
     Jim Orsborn
Copyright © 2002 STCA

Studies of canine locomotion have shown that all dogs tend to single track as they move faster. When a longlegged terrier moves toward you at a moderate speed, his feet will be roughly the some distance apart as his elbows. His feet will incline inward only as he accelerates. Because of the Scotties broad, deep chest and short legs, the laws of balance require that he reach inward almost as soon as he starts moving forward. At the some moderate speed described above, the Scotties feet will be closer together than his elbows. This is the source of the socalled Scottie "roll." It is not really a rolling motion, but rather refers to the slight motion caused in the front of the dog as it shifts weight from side to side during the hot.

In profile, the flexion of the front pastern occurs as the forefoot leaves the ground, just slightly in advance of the hind foot to avoid interference. At full extension, the leg, pastern, and foot form a continuous straight line, which is maintained through the full arc of the downward swing. Contact with the ground is almost equally divided between toes and heel pad. In traveling, the object of the front leg is to reach as for forward as possible. At full extension, there is little height between foot and ground; therefore, any tendency towards a hackney gait is incorrect.

The rear movement is what drives a Scottie forward. The hind leg swinging forward contacts the ground at approximately mid-length of the body, the foot strongly pushing back, effectively thrusting the body forward. As the leg moves beyond the line of the body, the foot is quickly lifted. Viewed from behind, the rear legs should move in line with the front legs. The hocks should turn neither inward nor outward, and should be the same distance apart as the feet. One should be able to see the pods of the dog's rear feet as he moves away from you.

Viewed from the side, a Scottie should have plenty of reach in front and drive behind. Moving at a trot, a wellmade Scottie in show condition should have almost no perceptible "bounce" in his topline. He should be able to move as fast as 8 miles-per-hour in a free, easy, ground-covering trot.