Scottish Terriers--small but active, and regal but opinionated--are often considered the definitive terrier breed. Luckily for owners, Scottish Terrier care only takes a moderate amount of work. This page includes all necessary Scottie-related info: puppy development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more. For everything you need to know about taking care of a Scottish Terrier, read on!
As with all breeds, consistent Scottish Terrier exercise is vital to these dogs' health and happiness. While not extremely athletic, Scotties were originally developed to be small game and vermin hunters, so their natural agility means they'll need a good bit of daily physical activity. Though the amount may vary depending on a Scottie's age and activity level, the typical adult Scottish Terrier will need 60-90 minutes of exercise each day. You can start exercising your Scottie puppy at three months of age by taking it on short (10- to 15-minute) walks, and increasing the walks' frequency and duration as the puppy grows.
There are, of course, a few precautions that need to be taken when exercising your Scottie. First, puppies younger than nine months old shouldn't take part in activities that include a lot of jumping and running, as doing so can damage their still-developing bones and joints. And even when full-grown, an adult Scottie has extremely short legs, so these dogs aren't good jogging companions--it's just too hard for them to keep up! Scotties also have both high prey drives and poor "road sense," so it's recommended that owners leash their Scotties when in public (particularly when near traffic); a Scottie may instinctively chase a critter into a busy street without a second thought. Also, while these dogs usually like water, they're terrible swimmers. Their short legs and heavy bodies mean they'll probably sink like a stone the moment they leap into a pool--so swimming is not a good activity for these dogs.
Safeguards aside, Scotties will definitely need some daily activity--for both the dog's sanity and your own. An under-exercised Scottish Terrier will turn destructive, disobedient, and simply be unhappy in general. In short, a busy Scottie makes for a contented one! Here are some exercise ideas:
When indoors, it's a good idea to give a Scottie access to one or more chew toys or balls that allow the dog to release pent-up energy. It's also recommended that you have a consistent daily exercise schedule for your Scottie, such as walks after breakfast and dinner and a play session in the afternoon.
Maintenance for these dogs in terms of shedding and drooling is fairly light overall. Scottish Terrier shedding is pretty minimal compared to other double-coated breeds, though Scotties do shed a bit more during the twice-annual shedding seasons; drooling is basically a non-issue.
Scotties have thick, soft undercoats beneath wiry outer coats, which means they shed a bit year-round (and a little more heavily during the 2- to 3-week spring and fall shedding seasons)--but the shedding is much less than other dog breeds with similar double coats. Owners say using an undercoat rake once or twice a month (and once or twice a week during shedding season) will lessen the amount of shed hairs; hand-stripping the coat (whereby dead hairs are "plucked" from it) 3-4 times per year, owners say, will minimize the amount of shedding even more.
And Scotties may drool a bit in anticipation of food, but almost never otherwise. If your Scottish Terrier is drooling excessively, it may be a sign of a medical issue, in which case veterinary care may be needed.
The Scottish Terrier diet, just like any dog's, is crucial to its well-being. This particular breed is small but active, so Scotties' dog food will need to be high in animal proteins and carbohydrates--but these dogs are picky eaters, and they're known to commonly suffer digestive issues as well, so owners may need to experiment with several different food brands before settling on a kind that is both appealing to the dog and not upsetting to its digestion. The most common food type for a Scottish Terrier, according to owners, is dry kibble--but a premium brand is best since it's higher in proteins and carbs than cheap dog food.
Though these amounts may vary depending its age, size, and activity level, typical adult Scottish Terrier food portions should equal 1-1¼ cups per day, divided into two meals. Puppies should eat a bit less: about ¾ cup per day, divided into three meals until six months of age. For more info, see this feeding chart:
Unfortunately, Scotties are quite prone to obesity. And these dogs arrive at this condition due to both overeating and because they commonly develop hypothyroidism, a condition that will (among other things) affect their metabolism and cause them to gain weight. The condition isn't life-threatening, but it may require the dog to need daily hormone medication for the rest of its life. Regardless, it's a good idea to stick to the above-listed food portions--and by all means, never "free-feed" your Scottie (meaning food is left in its dish all the time, allowing the dog to eat anytime it wants). Veterinarians highly recommend putting the dog's food bowl down only at specified meal times, then picking it up 20 minutes or so after the dog begins eating.
If you think you have a fat Scottish Terrier on your hands, first visit a vet to have the dog checked for hypothyroidism. You can also give your Scottie this easy Ribs Test: run a hand along its side, and if you can't feel any ribs, the dog is overweight. To help a Scottie shed pounds, decrease its daily food intake by one-fourth, and add an extra walk or play period to its daily exercise routine.
Opinions differ over what's the best dog food for Scottish Terriers. Many owners feed their Scotties dry food, others wet or canned, and still others stick only to fresh or home-cooked food--and some even choose a combination of two or all three types. The most popular choice, though, is premium dry food that's high in animal proteins and carbohydrates.
Read the grooming requirements for Scottish Terriers including coat care and other maintenance.
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