HomeBreeds › Scottish Terrier

Terrier · Small (18-22 lbs) · 12 years

Scottish Terrier

Independent, confident, dignified; the 'Diehard' - loyal but never fawning.

18–22 lb

At a glance

Kid-friendly
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First-time owners
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Energy
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Shedding
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Good with cats
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Alone time
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Apartment OK
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Trainability
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What this is

What they’re great at

✓ Adapts beautifully to smaller spaces
✓ Big personality - endless entertainment
Why it matters

Honest challenges

Vocal by design
Alert heritage - announcing things IS the historic job.

What helps: Thank-and-redirect: acknowledge the alert, cue quiet, pay the quiet. Manage triggers: window film and white noise beat willpower. Exercise first - a tired alarm system fires less. Never bark collars.
Independent contractor, not employee
Bred to work without human direction - repetition drills insult them.

What helps: Short sessions, premium pay: five brilliant minutes beat thirty mediocre ones. Work WITH the instincts - scent games for noses, chase games for sprinters. Marker training makes your 'yes' crystal clear (Training School).
Prey drive is hardwired
Small fast animals flip an ancient switch - this is wiring, not disobedience.

What helps: Management IS the training: never unsupervised with small pets, period. Secure fencing plus leash or long line outdoors for life. Feed the drive legally: flirt pole and lure-chase games.
Selective about dog friends
Not every dog wants a hundred friends - this breed prefers a curated list.

What helps: Quality over quantity: a few calm, known companions beat any dog park. Parallel walks are the gold-standard introduction. Advocate for their space - declining strange dogs is good ownership.
What you can do

Exercise & training

Exercise: Moderate - daily walks and play
Training profile — Terrier: Big-dog attitude, endless tenacity. They respond brilliantly to fun, terribly to force. Channel the fire - you cannot extinguish it.
Sports and outlets that suit them: Earthdog · Barn Hunt
What you can do

Grooming & coat

Grooming: Moderate-high - hand-stripping or clipping every 6-8 weeks.
Shedding: Light.
Good to know

Health to know about

Transitional cell carcinoma (bladder cancer - 20x average risk), Scottie cramp, von Willebrand's, craniomandibular osteopathy
Breed-typical tendencies, not a diagnosis. Individual dogs vary enormously — your veterinarian screens for what matters for your dog.
How much should YOUR Scottish Terrier eat?

This page can only give breed ranges. The app calculates calories and portions from your dog’s actual weight and life stage, splits them across the right number of meals, and adjusts as they grow.

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Why it matters

Emergency red flags

Poisoning (chocolate, xylitol, grapes, medications, rodenticide)
Vomiting, drooling, tremors, collapse, or known ingestion
Call ASPCA Poison Control 888-426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline 855-764-7661 immediately; do NOT induce vomiting unless instructed
Know your ER
Save your nearest 24-hour emergency vet's address and phone in your phone TODAY, not during a crisis
Bleeding that will not stop (clotting-disorder breed)
Prolonged bleeding from minor cuts or nail trims, gum bleeding, unexplained bruising
Apply firm pressure and go to the vet; make sure a clotting disorder note is on the medical file BEFORE any surgery
This page never carries product links in the emergency section. ASPCA Poison Control (888) 426-4435 · Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661.
These need to work when the signal does not

The app keeps every Scottish Terrier red flag on your phone and opens them with no connection at all — which is the whole point at 2am in a car park. Add it to your home screen and it works like any other app.

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📊 The numbers

Typical ranges for planning, not promises — costs vary by region, breeder and individual dog.

GroupTerrier
SizeSmall (18-22 lbs)
Lifespan12 years
Healthy adult weight18–22 lb
Original purposeHunting badgers, foxes, and vermin in rocky dens.
Monthly care$80-$140
Typical puppy price$1,000-$2,500
🐕 Similar breeds
Got a Scottish Terrier?

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