First Coast Pet

Posts Tagged ‘dog socialisation’

As mans best friend, we want our darling pooch to be well behaved in the varied social situations it finds himself. This education needs to commence while the puppy is young. We want the puppy not to be frightened or aggressive towards individuals or other animals. Puppy socialisation is a crucial part of dog training.
Studies at Veterinary Medicine College at Cornell showed that the first 12 weeks are key, and the easiest for socialisation. For many puppies this period is dealt with by the dog breeder. After that initial 3 months it is still key, but takes more energy and effort. This is also the experience of professional London dog sitters who are regularly asked for tips.
Dogs are so similar to us humans, if the first time is agonising, we will keep away from or be anxious in the future, so take things slowly and small. Do not compel the puppy. Take no risks. Remember young puppies tire easily and need to rest often, so short and often is a rule to follow.
So what practical things should we do?
• Invite friends and family, petit, large, different looking, different sexes. Be careful and vigilant with introductions to kids.
• Introduce him to a collar and then a leash. For short periods just leave the collar on him, later attach the leash and let him wander around with it, then you can walk him around a bit with it on. Only use a lightweight buckle collar with a puppy.
• Visit your friends and families in their houses.
• Try and meet diverse fidos, especially other friendly, healthy and vaccinated mutts. Be prudent until the puppy is fully vaccinated, meeting mutts that you do not know.
• If you know family with hound friendly cats, see if you can visit?
• Meet other animals, do you have a friendly farm near you? Difficult in cities, but if you go away for holidays.
• Life in a car is key. So take mutt out for as many convenient short rides in the car. Stop and let pooch watch the world pass by, in the security of the car. This will introduce him to noisy. Initiate him to others such as drills.
• Take or walk him to spots where there is local bustle such as the mall and open spaces. Find a pub or coffee house where you can sit outside with your dog and watch the world go by. Loads of people will come and say hi to him.
• Keep him close to activities in the house, within the constraints of safety, vacuuming, cooking and gardening.
• Puppy grooming, a great time for you and him, start a routine as soon as possible of brushing, bathing and inspection.
• Careful with training the pup on stairs, if you are a typical city flat owner, this may be more difficult.

Dog socialisation, do not procrastinate and do something today and have a great sociable dog.

The Irish Water Spaniel is an uncommon breed, that comes from Ireland that is powerfully built and taller and squarer than most spaniels. In fact the tallest of spaniels. Their fur consists of dense locks with a distinguishing puce / liver colour with a dominant purple hue. Irish water spaniels are around sixty cms ( twenty four inches) tall and weigh twenty five to thirty kgs (around 60 lbs). The Irish Water Spaniel’s throat and face are smooth with the head topped with a “top knot” raising as a mound between the eyes. Irish Water Spaniel’s have an unusual  medium sized smooth, rat like tail. Which contrasts strongly with their curly fur.

They were and are a working dog, so are very intelligent and active. Dog socialisation is important if they are to make good family dogs. They need plenty of regular walks and time spent on dog training to really profit from them. They are defensive of their family and have a deep, fierce sounding bark if provoked. They typically live for 9-11 years
.
The Irish Water Spaniel coat is non-shedding so many people who suffer allergic responses might not be affected by the Irish Water Spaniel. Irish Water Spaniel’s do not require daily brushing unless showing. Every so often a trim to get rid of straggly ends with a comb and scissors to eliminate the mats. No surprise with their name that they love swimming, so an occasional swim will curl up the coat again and keep them contented.

The Irish Water Spaniel developed in the the early 19th century in Ireland. Many experts believe the breed came from the Portuguese Water Dog, Poodle and Barbet. The Irish Water Spaniel were used as a gundog on the bogs, marshes and rivers.

Although happy to curl up and sleep at home, they need routine exercise and walks for a content life. An unexercised Irish Water Spaniel is likely to lead to a mischievous, naughty dog. An ideal home though would be a working environment, where the dogs’ minds in addition to their bodies are exercised. Dog walkers love them, as they appreciate good walks. Lots of Irish Water Spaniel lovers work their dogs in the shooting field, in obedience tests, in agility competitions, or in the conformation show ring.

Their intelligence leads them to enjoying agility and obedience activities and combined with their great nose often leads to them being trained for drug and explosive detection.

The major health issue with the dog is due to their size and may be afflicted by hip dysplasia, if planning to breed from them, the potential mother and father should be scored for this.

The Irish Water Spaniel can be glutinous, so you need to control their food intake.

The Irish Water Spaniel is a rewarding dog for an active couple or family who have the time and either experience of other dogs, or are prepared to train them, maybe with the aid of a professional dog trainer.

The German Shepherd Dog also known as an Alsatian comes literally from the German Deutscher Schäferhund. The German Shepherd is a relatively new breed of large-sized dog that dates from the late 19th century. Originally a herding dog, particularly for sheep.

Often employed by the military and police for their obedience and intelligence. They are nearly always one of the top 3 global breeds.
The original dog was called Hektor Linksrhein. Hecktor so stunned Von Stephanitz that he purchased it and changed the dogs name to Horand von Grafrath and founded the Society for the German Shepherd Dogs.
Horand von Grafrath became the focus of the society’s breeding programs and was mated with many other society member dogs.
The Alsatians popularity has increased rapidly through the 20th Century, though it had some problems in popularity in the early days due to health problems from poor breeding and after the world wars with anti German sentiment. This caused the UK Kennel Club to rename it to “Alsatian Wolf Dog”, eventually the wolf dog addition was removed and in 1977, the breed officially became the German Shepherd Dog. The Alsatian popularity was fuelled by animal actors such as Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart. Now it is in most countries the third most popular dog breed.

They are a large dog of between 55 and 65 centimetres ( 22 and 26 in) at the top of the back and weigh between 22 and 40 kilograms ( 49 and 88 lb).

The Alsatian’s face has a long square cut muzzle, a doomed forehead, a long neck, strong jaws, big erect ears (that are often pulled back when on the move), black nose and brown, medium-sized eyes. With a bushy tail.

Alsatians come in many colours, the normal versions are the red/black and tan/black versions with black saddles and masks. Less common versions include the sable, all-black, all-white, liver and blue varieties, which may not fit country breed standards. German Shepherds have a double coat. A thick close dense outer coat, which is shed continually and a thick undercoat. There is also the rare long-hair variant.
The Alsatian, like many working dogs is very intelligent, and are ranked as the third most intelligent breed of dog by Stanley Coren in his reference study and book “The Intelligence of Dogs”. This intelligence combined with their strength makes the breed desirable as police, guard, and search and rescue dogs, the German Shepherd rapid learning ability and ability to interpret instructions are better than other large breeds.
Alsatians are known for aggression and have been banned in areas as a result. Statistically, in the USA, they are responsible for more random bites than any other breed, and have a known tendency to attack smaller dog breeds.

Additionally studies have shown that German Shepherds are the breed third most likely to attack someone and in a different study, German Shepherds accounted for nearly half of the dog bites that needed medical attention, compared to a more normal twenty of bites needing medical attention, not a surprise with their powerful jaws and sharp canine teeth.

There is no problem with the German Shepherd breed, it is the fault of the owners. As with any intelligent energetic dog (or child), if they are not regularly exercised and kept busy, they can become troublesome. The German Shepherd needs to have puppy socialisation and good education from an early stage. Unlike the collie, which a lot of its aggressiveness has been removed by breeding for shows, the German Shepherd does not seem to have lost this character.

The German Shepherd are great with the family they know, but can be over protective of their home and family – why they are a great guard dog. Due to this they may appear a bit aloof.

Alsatians are rapid learners and are very obedient and not easily sidetracked, but due to their strong character, you need to be very forceful with them.
The German Shepherd will need to have two good walks a day. They are not a dog for a busy family who cannot give them the time and attention. For this reason, busy families often ask professional dog walkers such as London dog walking to help out by walking them for several hours a day.
Poor breeding has led to common genetic health issues, elbow and hip joint problems (dysplasia) which often causes the dog pain and often causes arthritis. The Alsatian also suffers from monorchidism (one testicle), weakness of temperament, and missing teeth, as well as folded or bent ears which never fully turn up when reaching adulthood. The Alsatian is often has ear problems due to his large and open ears.

Alsatians, like many deep bodied dogs are prone to bloat, this is a very dangerous and often rapidly fatal problem, so if in doubt consult a veterinary. Bloat is a gas build up in the stomach, caused by a number of different causes. The symptoms of distress for no apparent reason, a firm distension of the abdomen, general weakness, depression, problems breathing, hypersalivation, and retching without vomiting. A high rate of dogs with bloat have cardiac arrhythmias (around forty percent), loss of appetite, vomiting and weight loss.

The German Shepherd often suffers from Degenerative Myelopathy, or DM is a neurological disease and are more likely to have Von Willebrand Disease, a common inherited bleeding disorder, which shows in variable degrees of bleeding tendency, usually in the form of easy bruising, nosebleeds and bleeding gums. .

In spite of these problems, the Alsatian is sturdy with simple dog care and the average lifespan of a German Shepherd is seven to ten years, which is normal for a dog of this size.

The Alsatian has a great nose so is one of the most widely-used breeds in a many roles requiring this ability, including search and rescue, cadaver searching, narcotics detection, explosives detection, accelerant detection, and mine detection dog, amongst others.

So the German Shepherd is a great clever dog that will bond well with you, if you have the time and dedication for him. Not advised for busy working families.

The Scottish Terrier also often called the Scottie or the Highland or Aberdeen Terrier is well known for its distinctive terrier personality. There are four other Scottish Terrier breeds, Skye, Cairn, Dandie Dinmont and West Highland White Terriers.
The traits and individuality and more importantly the dog care of the Scottie comes from its origins.You should compare characteristics with with the other top dog breeds, of which there are around 500.
The Scottish Terrier is often called by the nickname of “little diehard”. Originally coined in the 19th century by George, the fourth Earl of Dumbarton. George IV had a pack of Scottish Terriers, reputedly so brave that they were given the nickname “Diehards” and were the idea for the name of his Regiment, The Royal Scots, “Dumbarton’s Diehards”.
As always it is difficult to know the real origins of the Scottish Terrier, but it was bred for killing small rodents in Scotland for many years. It could be the oldest of the five Scottish Terrier breeds and there are some references back to the 16th Century.
The origin of the name “terrier” is the Latin terra denoting “earth”. The Aberdeen Terrier was a hunter where these small legged, powerful dogs were designed and built for the function of rooting out small rodents such as badgers, foxes and rats out of their burrows.
Scottish Terriers appearance is characterised by long fur, heavy eyebrows and whiskers. The stiff coat exists in many colors, including black, wheaten or brindle of any shade. Scotties with ‘Wheaten’ (straw to nearly white) coats sometimes occur, but may be Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier or West Highland White Terrier.
Aberdeen Terriers are robust, with a muscular body and a long neck. A Highland Terrier has a long head in proportion to its body which averages about ten or eleven inches high. The Aberdeen Terrier has stiff ears and tail. Aberdeen Terrierwere bred with strong tails so that their owners could pull them out of burrows when they were caught after tunnelling after vermin and voles.
Scottish Terrierhave small, bright almond-shaped and dark eyes.
The Highland Terrier personality is one of liberty and guts. Often people say a Scottie thinks he is an Irish Wolfhound in height! To the point that he is quite fearless that sometimes appears foolish in the face of a larger dog, when he suddenly realises that he is less than a foot in height. Professional dog walkers, such as London Dog Walking love to walk them, they are never intimated by the larger dogs!
Height at withers for both sexes of the Aberdeen Terrier should be roughly 25 cm (9.8 in), and the length of back from shoulder to tail is roughly 28 cm (11 in). Generally a well-balanced Scottie dog should weigh 8–10 kg (19–22 lb) and a female from 8–9.9 kg (18–22 lb). Scottish Terrier are about 11–15 inches (28–38 cm) in height.
Scottish Terrierare very attentive, jovial and confident. Scottish Terriers typically live from 10 and 13 years.
Highland Terriers, whilst being very loving, can also be particularly obstinate. Because of this obstinate trait, a Scottie needs strong, but calm handling from a puppy or it will rule the household. Every new Scottish Terrier addition should have a clear puppy training plan.
The Scottie makes a great guard dog because it generally only barks when essential and usually only for strangers. Dog socialisation is crucial as it is a fearless breed that may be antagonistic around other dogs unless introduced and educated to other dogs whilst a puppy or young.
Because the Scottish Terrier were used to hunt and fight badgers and other vermin they love to dig as well as chase small vermin, such as Squirrels, rats, and mice. For this reason it is recommended that Scottish Terriers are generally walked on a leash.
Whilst Scottish Terriers are generally a robust breed they have a propensity of developing specific cancers than other purebreds. Studies have identified 6 cancers that they are more likely to be at risk of (versus other breeds) are: (in descending order) bladder cancer and other transitional cell carcinomas of the lower urinary tract (more usual in more mature dogs and more frequently in females so watch for blood in the urine, straining to urinate and often urinating – and search veterinary assistance); malignant melanoma; gastric carcinoma; squamous cell carcinoma of the skin; lymphosarcoma and nasal carcinoma.
Common prevention for dog cancer includes, ensure that your dog has little or no contact to herbicides, pesticides, solvents and cigarette smoke; be prudent when treating dogs with some flea medications; give a healthy, vitamin-rich diet (low in carbohydrates, high in vegetables) and plenty of exercise.
Two other genetic health concerns in the Scottie breed are von Willebrand disease (vWD) which is diagnosed with varying degrees of bleeding tendency, usually in the form of easy bruising, nosebleeds and gums that bleed.
The second is craniomandibular osteopathy (CMO); often known as lion’s jaw, that causes major bony changes in the mandible and skull. Normally occurring between the ages of 3 and 8 months. The lesions normally stop progressing after a year, and may regress. The firm swelling of the jaw, drooling, pain, and problems in eating. This is also an inherited disease and if major, could be difficult for the dog.
Because of these inherited diseases it is highly recommended to buy direct from a breeder, who can show he has not had a problem with these diseases.
Famous Scotties include Roosevelts – Fala and former President George W. Bushs’ Barney. Infact the Scottish Terrier is the only breed of dog that has lived in the White House more than three times.
Other famous people who are known to have owned the Scottie include: Bette Davis; Liza Minnelli; Queen Victoria; Ronald Reagan; Eva Braun; Tatum O’Neal owned a Aberdeen Terrier. She was said to be so saddened by her dog’s death to old age and cancer that she relapsed into drugs.
The Scottish Terrier is also a .
A Highland Terrier and a West Highland White Terrier are featured on the Black & White whisky label. In Enid Blyton’s Mystery Series books, there is Buster a Scottish Terrier, who is often part of the mysteries.
So all in, a rightfully popular dog breed, particularly in personality per weight, but you will need to train and be firm with your Aberdeen Terrier.

The Scottish Terrier also known as the Scottie or the Highland or Aberdeen Terrier is reknowned for its distinctive terrier personality. There are four other Scottish Terrier breeds, West Highland White Terriers, Dandie Dinmont and Skye, Cairn.
The characteristics and personality and more importantly the dog care of the Scottie comes from its origins.You should compare characteristics with with the other major dog breeds, of which there are many.
The Aberdeen Terrier is often called by the nickname of “little diehard”. Originally given in the 19th century by George, the fourth Earl of Dumbarton. George IV had a pack of Scottish Terriers, apparently so brave that they were nicknamed “Diehards” and were the idea for his Regiment name, The Royal Scots, “Dumbarton’s Diehards”.
It is impossible to be sure of the real origins of the Scottish Terrier, but it was bred for clearing small rodents in Scotland for many years. It may be the oldest of the five Scottish Terrier breeds and there are some references back to the 16th Century.
The origin of the name “terrier” is the Latin terra denoting “earth”. The Scottish Terrier was a hunter where these small legged, sturdy dogs were bred for the purpose of killing small pest animals such as badgers, foxes and rats out of their burrows.
Scottish Terriers looks are characterised by long fur, heavy eyebrows and whiskers. The stiff coat exists in many colors, including black, brindle or wheaten of any shade. Scotties with ‘Wheaten’ (straw to nearly white) coats sometimes occur, but should not be confused with the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier or West Highland White Terrier.
They are sturdy, with a muscular body and a long neck. A Scottie has a long head relative to its body which averages about 10 or 11 inches high. The Aberdeen Terrier has rigid ears and tail. Theywere bred with strong tails so that could be pulled out of holes when they were stuck after tunnelling after vermin and voles.
Aberdeen Terrierhave small, bright almond-shaped and dark eyes.
The Aberdeen Terrier personality is one of liberty and will power. People have said a Scottie thinks he is an Irish Wolfhound in height! To the point that he is totally fearless that often appears idiotic in the face of a larger dog, when he suddenly realises that he is less than a foot in height. Professional dog walkers, such as London Dog Walking love to walk them, they are never intimated by the bigger dogs!
Highland Terrier have similar height and weight for both sexes, roughly 25 cm (9.8 in), and the length of back from withers to tail is roughly 28 cm (11 in). Generally a well-balanced Scottie dog should weigh 8–10 kg (19–22 lb) and a female from 8–9.9 kg (18–22 lb). Scottie are about 11–15 inches (28–38 cm) in height.
Scottish Terrierare very attentive, light-hearted and sure in themselves. Scotties typically live from 10 and 13 years.
Scotties, whilst being very loving, can also be especially stubborn. Because of this inflexibility, a Aberdeen Terrier needs strong, but kind handling from a puppy or it will rule the home. Every new Highland Terrier addition should have a clear puppy training plan.
The Aberdeen Terrier makes a great guard dog because it normally only barks when necessary and generally only for strangers. Dog socialisation is important as it is a fearless breed that is often aggressive around other dogs unless presented and instructed to different dogs whilst a puppy or young.
Because the Highland Terrier were bred to hunt and fight badgers and other vermin they are prone to dig and chase small vermin, such as Squirrels, rats, and mice. For this reason it is recommended that Highland Terriers are kept on a leash.
Whilst Scottish Terriers are generally a robust breed they have a propensity of developing specific cancers than other purebreds. Research has identified 6 cancers that Scotties are more likely to be at risk of (versus other breeds) are: (in descending order) bladder cancer and other transitional cell carcinomas of the lower urinary tract (more usual in more mature dogs and more frequently in females so watch for blood in the urine, straining to urinate and frequent urination – and search veterinary help); malignant melanoma; gastric carcinoma; squamous cell carcinoma of the skin; lymphosarcoma and nasal carcinoma.
To help prevent cancer in any dog, ensure that your dog has little or no contact to herbicides, pesticides, solvents and cigarette smoke; be prudent when treating dogs with some flea medications; give a healthy, vitamin-rich diet (low in carbohydrates, high in vegetables) and plenty of exercise.
Two other genetic health concerns in the Scottie breed are von Willebrand disease (vWD) which symptoms are varying degrees of bleeding tendency, usually in the form of easy bruising, nosebleeds and bleeding gums.
The second is craniomandibular osteopathy (CMO); often known as lion’s jaw, that causes extensive bony modifications in the mandible and skull. Normally occurring between the ages of 3 and 8 months. The lesions stop progressing after twelve months or so, and can regress. The solid swelling of the jaw, drooling, pain, and problems in eating. This is also an inherited disease and if extensive, could be difficult for the dog.
Because of these inherited diseases it is highly recommended to buy direct from a breeder, who can show he has not had a problem with these diseases.
Famous Scotties include Roosevelts – Fala and former President George W. Bushs’ Barney. Infact the Aberdeen Terrier is the only breed of dog that has lived in the White House more than three times.
Other famous people who are known to have owned the Aberdeen Terrier include: Bette Davis; Julie Andrews; E.B. White; Theodore Roosevelt; Dorothy Lamour; Tatum O’Neal owned a Scottish Terrier. She was said to be so saddened by her dog’s death to cancer and old age that she relapsed into drugs.
The Scottie is also a .
A Aberdeen Terrier and a West Highland White Terrier are featured on the Black & White whisky label. In Enid Blyton’s Mystery Series books, there is Buster a Scottish Terrier, who is often part of the mysteries.
So all in, a rightfully popular dog breed, particularly in character per weight, but you will need to train and be firm with your Scottie.

The German Shepherd Dog also known as an Alsatian comes literally from the German Deutscher Schäferhund.  They are a relatively new breed of large-sized dog that dates from the late 19th century. They are part of the Herding group that was originally developed as a working dog for herding sheep.

Often employed by the military and police for their obedience and intelligence. The Alsatian is also one of the most popular breeds around the world.
The original dog was named Hektor Linksrhein. He so impressed Von Stephanitz that he bought it and renamed him to Horand von Grafrath and founded the Society for the German Shepherd Dogs.
Horand von Grafrath became the hub of the society’s breeding programs and was bred with many other society member dogs.
The Alsatians popularity has grown rapidly through the 20th Century, though taking dives in popularity in the early days due to health problems from poor breeding and after the world wars with anti German sentiment. To such an extent that the UK Kennel Club renamed it to “Alsatian Wolf Dog”, a while later the wolf dog appendage was dropped and in the late 70s, the breed officially became the Alsatian Dog. The Alsatian popularity was fuelled by animal actors such as Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart. Now days it is in most countries the third most popular dog breed.

They are a large dog of around 60 centimetres (around 24 inches) at the top of the back and weigh around 30 kilograms ( 49 and 88 lb).

The Alsatian’s face has a long square cut muzzle, a doomed forehead, a long neck, strong jaws, large erect ears (that are often pulled back when on the move), black nose and brown, medium-sized eyes. With a bushy tail.
 
Alsatians come in many colours, the normal versions are the tan/black and red/black varieties with black saddles and masks. Less common variations include the sable, all-black, all-white, liver and blue varieties, which may not fit country breed standards. German Shepherds have a double coat. A dense close thick outer coat, which sheds all year round and a thick undercoat. There is also the rare long-hair variant.
Like many working dogs, German Shepherds were bred for their intelligence,  and are considered to be the third most intelligent breed of dog (Border Collies is deemed to be number one by Stanley Coren in his book The Intelligence of Dogs). This intelligence combined with their strength makes the German Shepherd desirable as guard, police, search and rescue dogs, being able to quickly learn various tasks and interpret instructions better than other large breeds.
Alsatians are known for aggression and have been banned in areas as a result. Statistically, in the States, the Alsatian is responsible for more unprovoked indiscriminate bites than any other breed, and have a known tendency to attack smaller breeds of dogs.

Additionally studies have shown that German Shepherds are the third most likely dog breed to attack a person and in a different study, Alsatians were responsible for nearly half of the dog bites that needed medical attention, compared to a more typical 20% of bites requiring medical treatment, not a surprise with their powerful jaws and sharp canine teeth.
 
There is no problem with the German Shepherd breed, it is the fault of the owners. As with all intelligent energetic dog (or person), if they are not regularly active and kept busy, they can become difficult. The Alsatian must have puppy socialisation and good training from an early stage. The Alsatian is different from the collie, which a lot of its aggressiveness has been removed by breeding for shows, the Alsatian has not lost this streak.

They can bond very well with their family, however they can become over-protective of their family and territory. Due to this they may appear a bit aloof.

Alsatians are rapid learners and are highly obedient and not easily distracted, but due to their strong character,  you need to be very forceful with them.
The German Shepherd will need to have two good walks a day. They are not a dog for a busy family without time for attention.  For this reason, busy couples often ask dog walkers to help out by walking them for several hours a day.
Poor breeding has led to common genetic health issues, elbow and hip joint problems (dysplasia) which is painful for the dog and often causes arthritis. The German Shepherd also is susceptible from monorchidism (one testicle), weakness of temperament, and missing teeth, as well as folded or bent ears which never fully turn up when reaching adulthood. The Alsatian is often has ear problems due to his large and open ears.

Alsatians, like many large chested dogs are sensitive to bloat, this is a very dangerous and often rapidly fatal problem, so if in doubt consult a veterinary. This is a build up of gas in the stomach, caused by a number of different causes. The symptoms of distress for no apparent reason, a firm distension of the abdomen, general weakness, depression, problems breathing, hypersalivation, and retching without vomiting. A high rate of dogs with bloat have cardiac arrhythmias ( 40 percent in one study), loss of appetite, vomiting and weight loss.

The German Shepherd also suffers from Degenerative Myelopathy, or DM is a neurological disease and are more likely to have Von Willebrand Disease, a common generic bleeding disorder, which shows in variable degrees of bleeding tendency, commonly in the form of easy bruising, nosebleeds and bleeding gums. .

In spite of these problems, the Alsatian is robust with simple dog care and the average lifespan of a Alsatian is 7 – 10 years, which is typical for a dog of this size.

The Alsatian has great olfactory sensitivity so is one of the often used in a many roles requiring this ability, including search and rescue, cadaver searching, narcotics detection, explosives detection, accelerant detection, and mine detection dog, amongst others.

So the Alsatian is a superb clever breed that will bond well with you, if you have the time and energy for him. Not advised for busy working families.

The Scottish Terrier also known as the Scottie or the Highland or Aberdeen Terrier is reknowned for its typical terrier personality. There are four other Scottish Terrier breeds, Skye, Cairn, Dandie Dinmont and West Highland White Terriers.
The traits and individuality and more importantly the dog care of the Scottie comes from its origins.You should compare characteristics with with the other top dog breeds, of which there are around 500.
The Scottish Terrier is often called by the nickname of “little diehard”. Originally given in the 19th century by George, the fourth Earl of Dumbarton. George IV had a pack of Scottish Terriers, supposedly so fearless that they were given the nickname “Diehards” and were the stimulation for his Regiment name, The Royal Scots, “Dumbarton’s Diehards”.
It is impossible to be sure of the real origins of the Scottie, but it was bred for controlling small rodents in Scotland for centuries. It could be the oldest of the five Scottish Terrier breeds and there are some historical evidence dating back to the 16th Century.
The source of the name “terrier” is the Latin terra denoting “earth”. The Scottish Terrier was a hunter where these short legged, sturdy dogs were bred for the function of killing small pest animals such as badgers, foxes and rats out of their burrows.
Scottish Terriers looks are  characterised by long fur, heavy eyebrows and whiskers. The stiff coat can be found in many colors, including black, brindle or wheaten of any shade. Scotties with ‘Wheaten’ (straw to nearly white) coats sometimes occur, but may be Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier or West Highland White Terrier.
They are sturdy, with a muscular body and a long neck. A Scottie has a long head in proportion to its body which averages about 10 or 11 inches high. The Scottie has  stiff ears and tail. Scottiewere bred with strong tails so that could be pulled out of burrows when they were stuck after tunnelling after vermin and voles.
Aberdeen Terrierhave small, bright almond-shaped and dark eyes.
The Aberdeen Terrier personality is one of liberty and will power. Often people say a Scottie imagines he is an Irish Wolfhound in height! To the point that he is quite fearless that sometimes appears idiotic in the face of a larger dog, when he realises that he is less than a foot in height. Dog walkers love to walk them, they are never intimated by the bigger dogs!
Scottish Terrier have similar height and weight for both sexes, roughly 25 cm (9.8 in), and the length of back from shoulder to tail is roughly 28 cm (11 in). Generally a well-balanced Scottie dog should weigh 8–10 kg (19–22 lb) and a female from 8–9.9 kg (18–22 lb). Aberdeen Terrier are about 11–15 inches (28–38 cm) in height.
Scottish Terrierare very alert, light-hearted and sure in themselves. Highland Terriers typically live about 12 years.
Scotties, whilst being very loving, can also be particularly stubborn. Because of this obstinate trait, a Scottie needs firm, but gentle handling from a puppy or it will rule the family. Every new Scottie addition should have a clear puppy training plan.
The Scottish Terrier makes a great watchdog because it generally only barks when essential and usually only for strangers. Dog socialisation is vital as it is a courageous breed that may be aggressive around other dogs unless presented and instructed to different dogs whilst a puppy or young.
Because the Scottie were  used to fight and hunt badgers and other pests they love to dig as well as chase small vermin, such as mice, rats and squirrels. For this reason it is recommended that Scotties are generally walked on a leash.
Whilst Scottish Terriers are generally a healthy breed they do have a greater chance of going down with some cancers than other purebreds. Studies have identified six cancers that Highland Terriers are more likely to go down with ( when compared to other breeds) are: (in descending order) bladder cancer and other transitional cell carcinomas of the lower urinary tract (more normal in more mature dogs and more frequently in females so keep an eye on blood in the urine, problems to urinate and often urinating – and get veterinary help); malignant melanoma; gastric carcinoma; squamous cell carcinoma of the skin; lymphosarcoma and nasal carcinoma.
Common prevention for dog cancer includes,  ensure that your dog has minimal exposure to herbicides, pesticides, solvents and cigarette smoke; use caution when treating dogs with some flea medications; provide a healthy, vitamin-rich diet (low in carbohydrates, high in vegetables) and regularly exercise.
The Scottie are also sensitive to von Willebrand disease (vWD) which is diagnosed with varying degrees of bleeding tendency, normally easy bruising, nosebleeds and bleeding gums.
The second is craniomandibular osteopathy (CMO); often  known as lion’s jaw, that causes extensive bony changes in the mandible and skull. Normally occurring between the ages of 3 and 8 months. The lesions normally stop growing after twelve months or so, and can regress. The solid swelling of the jaw, drooling, pain, and problems in eating. This is also an inherited disease and if extensive, could be difficult for the dog.
Due to these inherited diseases it is advisable to buy directly from a breeder, who can show he has no problems with these diseases.
Famous Scotties include Roosevelts – Fala and former President George W. Bushs’ Barney. Infact the  Scottish Terrier is the only dog breed that has lived in the White House more than three times.
Other famous people who are known to have owned the Highland Terrier  include: Bette Davis; Liza Minnelli; E.B. White; Theodore Roosevelt; Dorothy Lamour; Tatum O’Neal owned a Scottish Terrier. She was said to be so saddened by her dog’s death to cancer and old age that she relapsed into drugs.
The Aberdeen Terrier is also a key part of the Monopoly board game, as the popular player token.
 A Highland Terrier and a West Highland White Terrier are featured on the Black & White whisky label. In Enid Blyton’s Mystery Series books, there is Buster a Scottish Terrier, who is often part of the mysteries.
So all in, a rightfully popular dog breed, particularly in personality per weight, but you will need to train and be firm with your Scottish Terrier.

As mans best friend, we want our cherished hound to be well behaved in the different social situations it finds himself. This guidance should start while the dog is young. We want the fido  not to be alarmed or belligerent towards people or other animals. Pooch socialisation is a crucial part of dog care.
Studies at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine showed that the first twelve are key, and the easiest for socialisation. For many puppies this time is tackled by the dog breeder. After that period it is still important, but takes more time and planning and effort. This is also the experience of professional dog sitters who are repeatedly asked for tips.
Puppies are just like us, if the original time is hurtful, we will avoid it or be anxious at similar occasions, so  take things slowly and small. Do not force the puppy. Take no risks. Yound pups rapidly tire and need to rest often, so do new things for short periods and give plenty of rest in between.
So what approach should I take?
• Invite friends and family, small, grand, different looking, different sexes. Be cautious and vigilant with introductions to children.
• Start him on a collar and then a leash. For short periods just leave the collar on him, later attach the leash and let him wander around with it, then you can walk him around a bit with it on. Only use a lightweight buckle collar with a puppy.
• Visit your families and friend and families in their houses.
• Try and introduce other mutts, especially other sociable, healthy and vaccinated mutts. Be careful until the puppy is fully vaccinated, meeting  mutts of unknown history.
• If you know anyone with bitch friendly cats, see if you can visit?
• Meet other animals, do you have a friendly farm near you? Difficult in towns, but look for opportunities.
• Driving is key. So take them out for as many convenient short drives in the automobile. Stop and let doggie observe the world pass by, in the safety of the car. This will introduce him to noisy. Introduce him to other shrill noises such as drills.
•  Carry or walk him to places where there is local bustle such as the mall and parks. Find a pub or coffee house where you can sit outside with him and observe the world. Tons of people will come and say hi to him.
•  Keep him close to activities in the house, within the constraints of safety, house work, cooking and TV.
• Puppy grooming, a great time for you and him, develop the routine of brushing, bathing and inspection.
•  Introduce the puppy to stairs carefully, if you are a typical city flat owner, this may be problematic.

Dog socialisation, start today and have a great sociable pooch.