PRESENT DAY BREED STANDARD               MORE BREED HISTORY

        History                             

There is no doubt , looking at the Scottish Terrier today, that a lengthy evolution must have taken place to produce such a spirited character that could naturally hunt and kill its pray in the type of climate and terrain that produced the rugged ' Highlanders' in the north of Scotland. John Lesley, Bishop of Ross wrote in his ' Historie of Scotland'  from 1436 to 1561 about 'a dog of low height , which creeping into subterraneous burrows, routs out foxes, badgers, martins and wild cats from their lurking places and dens, and if he at any time finds passage too narrow, opens himself a way with his feet.'             Champion Killdee 1892 owned by Mr H J Ludlow

This is an original photo (c) of a scottie dog belonging to Nurse Edith Church in Kenya during the early 1920's. Edith was the nurse allocated to Gout House to nurse The Prince of Wales ( later to be Edward VIII ) when he had malaria whilst on safari.

It is commonly believed that the Skye Terrier, West Highland White and possibly the Cairn, share the same or similar origins as the Scottish Terrier and there can be no doubt as to their similarities in the early part of the C20th. From a rather mixed and unspecified group of Scottish Rough Haired Terriers the late C19th saw the development of specific breed type. The 1880's saw the first Kennel Club registered dogs become the first official lines of origin from which today's Scottish Terriers descend ,early breeders are responsible for establishing the breed as it is today by closely breeding to retain the characteristics as laid down by the first Breed Standard which they in turn established.  The first Breed Standard which they in turn established. The first Standard description of the breed appeared in Vero Shaw's Illustrated Book of the Dog, and was drawn up by Mr J B Morrison and Mr Thomson Gray, of Dundee ( author of Dogs of Scotland )in 1880.

FIRST BREED STANDARD 1880 :-

'GENERAL APPEARANCE  -- is that of a thick set .compact, short-coated terrier, standing about 91/2 inches high, with body long in comparison and averaging 16 lb or 17lb weight for a dog , and 2lb less for bitches. Ears and tail uncut. Although in reality no higher at shoulder than the Skye or Dandie Dinmont, it has a leggier appearance from the fact that the coat is much shorter than the other two varieties. The head is carried pretty high, showing an intelligent cheery face.'( cont....... )  

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	Viking is the top UK stud dog siring a record number of 23 UK Champions and a total of over 50 Champions all over the World. Viking was bred by Miss Betty Penn Bull in 1959 and spent all his days with Betty until his death in 1971

TO CONTINUE THE 1880 STANDARD AND FURTHER HISTORY OF THE BREED RESEARCHED BY MYSELF , © LIZ BRADLEY PLEASE ENTER THE BREED SITE           http://www.swstc.co.uk/history.htm