We can’t imagine a time when there wasn’t the Scottish Terrier because even in art and literature of antiquity, the breed seems to have always been around. Still, its origins remain a bit of a mystery, or, to use a phrase we’ve seen in dozens of breed histories, “lost in the mist of time.”
Known by many names during its history, including the Scotch Terrier, the Highland, and the Aberdeen Terrier, the breed has been a denizen of Scotland for at least several hundred years.
Some believe the original stock came with the Celts, and probably the Scandinavians. Certainly it’s known that Norsemen had been ruling the Hebrides and adjacent islands long before the Norman conquest, and there are records of the terriers they brought with them. In fact, many cynologists believe that the Scottie, the Skye, the West Highland White, and the Cairn terriers are all likely descendants of a common breed of Norse descent.
The first written record about a dog resembling the Scottish Terrier dates to the book, “The History of Scotland: 1436 to 1561,” written by John Leslie. Two hundred years later, a portrait of a young girl hugging a dog resembling the modern-day Scottie was painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds.
Modern Scotties have their origins in the kennels of Mr. J. H. Ludlow whose dogs were some of the breed’s earliest champions. Ludlow has been described as having founded the Scottish Terrier Club of England in 1881 (the first club dedicated to the breed), but also of being the club secretary (and perhaps he was both). The home country of Scotland didn’t found the Scottish Terrier Club of Scotland until seven years later.
As for Ludlow, he is also noted for having owned a very important bitch, Splinter II. It’s thought that most, if not all present day Scotties stem from “Splinter II,” and two sires, “Roger Rough” and “Tartan.” In the marvelous book, “The New Scottish Terrier” by Cindy Cooke, Splinter II is referred to as the “foundation matron of the modern Scottish Terrier,” (or, as others have said, “the mother of the breed”) since most of the present-day Scotties trace back to her.
Scottish Terrier by Ian Mason
Stockbridge Gallery
http://www.dogsinart.com/