The Scottish Terrier is surely one of the world’s most iconic breeds: Companion to Presidents and movie stars, and the second most popular Monopoly piece ever (after the car),  Scotties have graced whisky labels, been favorite characters in movies, and served as mascots to colleges and universities.

Familiars know that beyond its 10″ stature, this is a big personality, but fanciers know something else. Underneath its Scottie suit, there is a surprisingly large boned dog in proportion to its size. Not for nothing does the breed standard read, a “sturdily-built dog of good bone and substance.”

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Mind you, symmetry and balance without exaggeration is very important, but the Scottie has a thick-set cobby body with thick bones and strong musculature hung between short, heavy legs. From the Illustrated Guide: Substance is the relationship of bone to body. A bigger dog does not necessarily have more substance than a smaller bitch within the range of size. Bone should be evaluated by encircling the front leg just below the elbow with one’s hand and then comparing that ratio to the size of the dog or bitch. The Scottish Terrier should be a sturdily-built dog of good bone and substance.

Image: “Please” by Mary Sparrow HangingtheMoonShelby
www.marysparrowsmith.net
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