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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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The eyes should be set wide apart and well in under the
brow. They should be small, bright and piercing, and almond-shaped, not
round. The color should be dark brown or nearly black, the darker the
better.
The almond-shaped eye referred to in the standard is described to perfection by Dorothy Caspersz in her book, "The Scottish Terrier". To really benefit from this description, you should examine a Scottie with a good eye while someone reads it to you. "To give the correct expression, the curve of the upper eyelid should be accentuated, especially at a point a little nearer the haw than the center of the lid, while the lower lid is a flat curve. The outer point of the eye is slightly higher than the haw so that at the broadest part, the eye appears to be slightly oblique." The Scottie with good expression does not look soft. To quote Dorothy Caspersz again, "In the eye (of the Scottish Terrier) there is ever the mixture of gravity and gaiety. Once you've seen that look, it's hard to forget it.". |
The ears should be small, prick, set well up on the skull and pointed, but never cut. They should be covered with short velvety hair. From the front, the outer edge of the ear should form a straight line up from the side of the skull. The use, size, shape and placement of the ear and its erect carrage are major elements of the keen, alert, intelligent Scottish Terrier expression. |  |
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The size, shape, placement and use of the ears also have important bearing on the Scottish Terrier's expression, and on the overall attractiveness of the breed. They should be placed well back on the skull, the base extending slightly behind the occiput. The lobe should not be pronounced. Ears set too far forward on the skull, too wide apart, or too close together, detract from the desired expression and impression of sharpness. Scottie ears are mobile and expressive. A Scottie moving into the wind may fold them for protection and a Scottie who is happy to see you may do the same. However, the ears should immediately stand stiffly erect when something has attracted the dog's attention. Is the Scottish Terrier a "head breed"? No single component of a standard establishes breed type. On the other hand, the head plays an extremely important role in performing the functions for which the Scottish Terrier was bred. The long skull; the powerful, punishing jaw; the deep-set eyes; the small, prick ears -- were all designed to make the Scottie an efficient underground fighter. The head is also the single most distinguishing feature that sets the Scottie apart from the other short-legged terriers. Even the weediest Scottie is recognizable as such if he has that head.. |
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