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

Figure 2. Drawing by Edward Megargee--1937

Figure 3. Correct dog. Modern Grooming

                     Figure 1-
Creating a correct template is not easy-artists make it particularly difficult by constantly presenting you with lovely, but incorrect renderings of the breed. Look at this picture (see figure 1). This artist's rendition was created to illustrate the ideal Scottish Terrier. Assume that this "ideal" dog is 11" from withers to set-on of tail. By its proportions, then, the dog would be 17" tall with an 11" back, an 11" neck, and an 11" head! The Scottie is not a square dog.

According to our standard, the ideal Scottie stands about 10" at the withers and measures approximately 11" from withers to set-on of tail. Head length, according to the Clarification and Amplification of the Standard, should be about 8" and neck length about 6". A balanced, symmetrical Scottie will generally fit within this pattern. Some may be larger and some smaller, but these are the correct proportions.

                     Figure 2-
This is a drawing by the famous breeder-judge-artist, Edwin Megargee. This drawing was used to illustrate Megargee's idea of the perfect Scottish Terrier. Having the advantage of an artist's eye, combined with a breeder's knowledge, he has drawn a perfectly balanced dog of correct proportions.

                     Figure 3-
Grooming styles have changed so drastically that it is difficult for the untrained eye to see that, with a modern trim, Megargee's ideal dog would look almost identical to the modern correct dog.