How to Groom a Scottish Terrier

Scottish Terriers, or Scottie Dogs, are small dogs with long black hair and a proud, wizened appearance. They, along with Dandie Dinmonts, Cairns and West Highland White Terriers are descendants of the Old Scotch Terrier. You should make sure to perform a full grooming on their wiry coats every 6 to 8 weeks and give a general grooming once a week.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Slicker brush
• Pin brush
• Steel comb
• Natural bristle brush
• High protein shampoo
• Thinning shears

1. Brush out the harsh, wiry coat at least once a week. Use alternately slicker and pin brushes, a natural bristle brush and steel combs. Scottish Terriers have a soft undercoat which clashes with the coarse texture of the topcoat. It can be easy to forget about and neglect the undercoat. Make sure to brush all the way down to the skin to remove mats and tangles. They shed very little hair.

2. Bathe using a shampoo made for Terriers. Scottish Terriers tend to have dry skin, so look for shampoos rich in protein.

3. Use thinning shears to clear up areas of the coat which may have become more clumped than the rest of the body. Have your Scottish Terriers professionally trimmed twice a year, but aside from that, you should be able to maintain your dog's appearance throughout the year with regular grooming.

Tips & Warnings

• Scottish farmers traditionally used Scotties to get rid of pests and wildlife that interfered with the farm. Breeders originally developed the Scottish Terrier beginning in the 1700s, but the modern Scottish Terrier you see today didn't come to be until around 1890.
• Scottish Terriers are okay around kids that are old enough to respect them. However, if provoked, the dog may bite or bark harshly. Consider another breed if your family has small children.
• Some Scottish Terriers are susceptible to Scottie Cramp (a movement problem), Von Willebrand's disease, flea allergy and skin and jaw problems. These dogs are also difficult welpers.