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"Once a Scottie, always a Scottie", the old saying goes. Those who once let a Scottish Terrier into their home and heart stay as loyal admirers of this breed for their entire lives, and often end up owning two Scotties! This is the basis of another old riddle: "What is more beautiful than a Scottie?", where the answer is: "Two Scotties!"

Without a doubt, it is sometimes hard to have a dog and give up travel to exotic countries and suchlike, but dogs bring us so much enjoyment that they are hard to compare to anything else.

This is the second text that I write about this wonderful breed, led this time by a goal to share this love of Scottish Terriers with you and to bring closer to you these wonderful creatures with which I share so much of my free time and enjoyment. This is a story about dogs whose past is not entirely certain. However, it is known that they have a long and exciting past, and the resulting dogs can be regarded as antiquities in modern cynology.

Let's start the way many tales do Once upon a time, there was a dog, described as very similar to the modern Scottish Terrier. Since then, 120 years have passed. It happened in Scotland, a poor land of hills and fields, where there was often not even enough food for the inhabitants, who were wary of strangers, hard working and somewhat eccentric.

One rainy day, when the sky joined the earth, a man in a kilt and a raincoat wondered the hills, his breath condensing on the chilly spring morning. Behind him, one on each side, walked two small dogs, muscular and short-haired, one black and one brindle. Their sharp eyes tracked every move in the forest as they faithfully followed their master. Their highly raised ears carefully listened to the life of nature.

Suddenly, there was a rustling noise - a grey rabbit started the run of its life! Both terriers rushed after him, to a hole which the rabbit entered with lightning speed. The bitch entered after him, and under the earth there was a muted noise of a fight, then a scream and then silence. Shortly afterwards, the bitch, completely muddy, came backwards out of the hole, dragging the rabbit in her mouth to put before her owner. The man gratefully took the catch, and a smile like the flow of a mountain stream graced his face. Today, his family would not go hungry. Without a word he stroked the bitch and patted her head. In silence, the company slowly returned home

One hundred and twenty years ago in Scotland there was no dog that fit the standard for the breed that we know today. Dog breeding generally was not familiar with the ideals of beauty, while selection was based entirely on the working abilities of the dog. Hard living conditions created a type of dog not intended for the nobility, but for common, modest people. They needed a small, active, strong and self-reliant dog. He did not need much care, ate little and for the most part caught its own food. He had to be able to defend the yard and the livestock from foxes and badgers, so he had to be brave disproportionately to his size, with a long head and powerful jaws and teeth.

Such a "big dog in a small package" we still know today. If we compare his teeth to those of an Alsatian, we will find that they are practically the same size. The firm, sharp fur with dense under-fur protected him from the cold and all sorts of bad weather. Large and strong front paws enabled him to dig around the entrances of fox and badger holes. Of course, animals such as rats and martins were intruders in his environment, and were swiftly eliminated. The neighbour's cat is a mortal enemy, and as a matter of honour and reputation each Scottie carefully watches this enemy to make sure that he does not cross the border. This proud, stubborn and sometimes haughty dog was called in his homeland "the cockerel of the north".

The Scottish Terrier was and is a strong dog on short legs, brave, self-reliant and sufficiently independent to do what he judges best in a given moment. Hence, it is not unusual that the breed which we know today has survived for centuries. There have been some notable changes in appearance, which is normal because the dog is not used for the same purpose today as it once was.

He is now heavier and rounder, with a shorter back, longer hair and a modern "haircut" which gives him the looks of a gentleman. This specific appearance has opened many doors for him, including the catwalk and as an escort to elegant ladies, although by the traditional English classification of male and female escorts, a Scottish Terrier is considered a "man's dog".

Everyone remembers him from the most beautiful cartoon ever made about dogs, "Lady and the Tramp" by Walt Disney, where he acted as the retired captain with a Scottish tartan overcoat. Paul Rab draws comics of a Scottish Terrier named Rac, which is why this name is popular for the entire breed in the USA. We all know the Black & White whisky label, which features both a white West Scotland Terrier and a black Scottish Terrier . Our grandmothers had bookmarks, figures and brooches by Swarovsky in the shape of a Scottish Terrier, while their husbands owned ties with the same motif.

Everyone remembers him from the most beautiful cartoon ever made about dogs, "Lady and the Tramp" by Walt Disney, where he acted as the retired captain with a Scottish tartan overcoat. Paul Rab draws comics of a Scottish Terrier named Rac, which is why this name is popular for the entire breed in the USA. We all know the Black & White whisky label, which features both a white West Scotland Terrier and a black Scottish Terrier. Our grandmothers had bookmarks, figures and brooches by Swarovsky in the shape of a Scottish Terrier, while their husbands owned ties with the same motif.

This is the only breed of dog that has been in the White House three times! President Roosevelt didn't go anywhere without his famous Scottie Fala, while President George W Bush can be seen entering the aeroplane with Barney, the current "first dog" of the USA, in his arms. Barney recently got a companion, Miss Beazley. The Americans are really a special nation: when they really love something, they go crazy over it. Hence, all information about the presidential Scottie can be found on the web pages of the White House, www.whitehouse.gov/barney/ with new photos every day, and the possibility of writing Barney an e-mail. Hence, the Scottish Terrier became the first breed of dog with access to electronic communication!

The first written records about Scottish Terriers date from 1436, when Don Leslie described them in his book "The History of Scotland 1436-1561". One example that this breed was loved by all, from peasants to royalty, is given by king James VI of Scotland (later to become James I of England), who in the 17th century sent six such terriers to France as a royal gift.

From the records of some betting agencies in 1809 it can be seen that a very popular pastime was to bet on the speed with which terriers, including our Scottie, could kill rats. Hence, a Scottie named Billy is recorded, who in just five minutes killed one hundred rats. In his book "A History of British Quadrupeds" from 1837, Thomas Bell informs us that there are two sorts of terriers in the world: English and Scottish. English Terriers are long-legged and black, while Scottish Terriers are short-legged and come in several colours. In 1861 the breed was officially shown in an exhibition for the first time, while in 1873 J A Adamsan from Aberdeen left a record of the breed in Scotland, for which the breed was named "Aberdeen Terrier". Shortly afterwards, in 1879, Scotties were for the first time exhibited at Alexander Palace in England, while the following year they were classified in the same way as we do today. Jame B Morrison in 1880 gives the first standards of the breed in the "Livestock Journal", to be used by breeders, exhibitors and judges.

The "Scottish Terrier Club of England", founded in 1881, was the first club dedicated to the breed. The club secretary, H J Ludlow, greatly popularises the breed in the southern parts of Great Britain, while the "Scottish Terrier Club of Scotland" is founded only in 1888. This was followed by years of differences and arguments over the standards of the breed between the clubs in England and Scotland, which were finally settled by a revised standard in 1930, which was subsequently recognised by Kennel Club UK.

The first famous kennels appeared after World War I, consisting of names such as "Ems", "Bapton" and "Albourne". Special mention goes to Miss Betty Penn-Bull, a truly unique person on the cynological scene, who dedicated her whole life to Scottish Terriers, until her death in 2001. During World War II there was a general hiatus in the breeding of dogs, including Scottish Terriers, and of dog exhibitions. The priorities during the war were obtaining food and the evacuation of dogs, while breeding was very much on the sidelines. After the war, few breeding dogs survived: from a pre-war annual record of 5000 registered Scotties, the number fell to less than 1000, but that was enough to make a new beginning. This period gave rise to kennels such as "Reanda", which gave 31 champions, "Gaywyn" owned by Muriel Owen, some of whose descendants are now in Croatia, "Brio", "Stuan", "Tamzin", "Mayson" and many others.

The breeding of Scottish Terriers in Croatia also has a tradition, started by Prof. Josip Skavić and his kennel "Melscot" in 1979. His endless love and enthusiasm for this breed led him to pioneer this breed in Croatian cynology, to introduce and popularise these dogs in Croatia and to write an excellent review article in the "Terijer" magazine in 1994, which included an excellent description of the standards of the breed.

His kennel was initially comprised of dogs imported from the UK, e.g. Ambassador and Anne-Marie from the kennel "Gaywyn", Hallmark from the kennel "Rannoch", a pair of males from the kennel "Mayson", and finally Rinaldo from Dan Ericson, the owner of the prestigious Swedish kennel "Raglan". These sired a large number of puppies in 68 matings, which had a number of successes at exhibitions in Croatia and throughout the world. Of these, the pride of the owners were Melscot Ares Kir (world champion), Melscot Alfred (Fred, European champion) and Melscot Tip Top (young world vice-champion). Since then, love of Scotties has become deeply rooted in Croatia (e.g. "Hilscot" kennel of Mrs. Matijević).

The war years in Croatia also lowered the once imposing number of Scotties seen at exhibitions to just a few imported representatives of the breed. After the war, the popularity of the breed again increased. Notable among these are the international champion Halifax Rich of Honour, owned by Mrs. Petres, and his numerous children, who are now champions of Croatia, Slovenia (Apolon) and Yugoslavia (Jilly). Very promising is also a young brindle bitch, Hocus Pocus of Black Power, the young champion of Croatia and the Mediterranean champion, as well as Lilly Marlen Invisible Touch.

Very few people see a Scottish Terrier for the first time and immediately think: "That's the dog for me!" Love at first sight is very rare in this case. However, longer contact with this breed always leads to permanent love, since the Scottie is a master at winning people. With his charm, measured restrain, unintrusiveness, playfulness and the wish for contact, he is the one who will choose you, not the other way round!

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The Scottie does not look like a rogue, but he is one. If you're looking for a dog who will listen without complaints, that's not a Scottie! He needs an owner who will respect his character and have an ear for his decisions. Remember, this Terrier was bred to think and work independently, both above and below ground. A strong will, fighting spirit and independence all made their marks in the nature of the Scottie during the many centuries of breeding. He can be shaped only with a lot of loving care, but if this is done he will faithfully follow you come hell or high water. Pointless orders (e.g. roll over) will never be understood, because together with the philosopher that sits in his head, there is also a powerful rationality in every move and action. If he believes an order to be pointless, he'll look at you with his dark eyes full of disbelief, as if asking whether you are really being serious.

I am frequently asked if this is a dog for the whole family, and I always immediately answer: "Yes." He can readily adapt to either a house with a garden or to a flat, if he's regularly taken out for walks. He's friendly towards children and patient with their mischievousness, but he won't tolerate any mistreatment from them. The Scottish Terrier is generally able to get on well with other dogs and cats in the house as well as other animals. However, it is important to get him socialised on time during his youth and get him accustomed to contact with other dogs.

Scotties can be divided into those who speak and those who smile. Believe it or not, when you have a talking Scottie, he really talks to you, with his limited vocabulary that can, of course, only be understood by his owner. The smiling Scottie shows his teeth when he smiles, raises his lips when he sees you and makes you fully aware that he's happy. Special gestures, such as the lowering of ears and certain looks, let you know how your Scottie is feeling, whether he's happy or sad with life. He loves toys, particularly balls, because life on the move is one of his most basic needs. You need to be careful to stop him from going after bicycles or other moving wheels because that way things can easily end in disaster. ALWAYS keep him on a leash when he's near traffic or in an unfamiliar location. If you can accept all this, and particularly his strong personality, he's the dog for you. You won't be disappointed

The most frequent and best known colour is black, although it's also quite frequently possible to see light or dark brindle ones, ranging from yellow-brown to silvery-grey.

The rarest colour is wheaten, while white ones don't exist according to the standard; even if one appears, he is not recognised by the FCI.

When presenting a Scottish Terrier today, we have to notice the number of changes that he has undergone, which is normal since he lives in a different world than he used to. Today, his most notable characteristic is his long fur, which needs regular care and about which have been written many books. Indeed, the Scottie's typical look is obtained by regular trimming of the fur on his back and by cutting his head and chest very short. The fur needs trimming at least four times a year, with regular combing and the removal of old hair using special tools. In this way, the growth of new fur can be encouraged.

Exhibition dogs need expert make-up, which is done by hand. All this is an amazingly comprehensive and highly professional procedure, done in several stages. A number of different trimming styles can be seen today, such that, for example, dogs from England always have very short eyebrows, while in Europe, long eyebrows that reach the nose are preferred! The skirt must reach the floor, while the lush fur at the legs must regularly be pulled out by hand. The beard is trimmed to make the head look as long and as narrow as possible, while the dorsal "mane" gives him the look of a small horse. Trimming can also be used to cover various imperfections, which is often used at dog exhibitions. For instance, a sloping back can be covered by leaving more fur at the appropriate points. "O" legs require more fur to be left between the legs, large ears can be visually corrected by leaving the bottom 1/3 of the ear more fully covered, a bent tail can look better if the inner part of the tail is trimmed to compensate, etc. The fur on an exhibition dog must be hard, sharp and shiny, so that the dog looks fit, but still leaves the impression of strength. Presentation advice can readily be obtained at dog exhibitions, Terrier clubs that often organise trimming courses, and dog beauty parlours, which sometimes specialise in certain breeds.

Bathing should not be overdone, and only shampoos recommended by the breeder should be used. Vets warn that four shampoo baths should be the upper limit for the hygiene of a dog. Of course, it is allowed to frequently wash the paws, stomach, moustache, etc. with running water only.

While on the topic of fur care, I should mention that all owners agree on one thing: Scottish Terriers leave less fur around the house than short-furred dog breeds, so they can be recommended as a breed that doesn't make a mess around the house.

Teeth hygiene is also one of the duties of the owner, including regular dental checks for the presence of dental gall-stones and, if needed, their removal at the vet's.

From a very early age (3-4 months) it is necessary to start teaching the puppies to be tidy, to walk on a leash, to heel and to be regularly combed. The puppy needs the security of a certain rhythm in his life, such as feeding, walks and playing. The rule is to always be gentle, because Scotties are stubborn, and can often react to rudeness by taking offence and self-withdrawal. When training puppies, you will often get best results by offering a small reward for each successfully completed action. Commands such as sit, stand and wait are basic commands which Scotties learn very quickly and easily. Scotties are obedient, wanting to please their owner, but never servile.

He is a real Scottie, similar to Scottish rugby fans that follow their team around the world. Always reserved among strangers, at first glance he's a real snob who doesn't care about the masses around him. Among his companions, he's a jolly fellow who doesn't like unreserved obedience and will never be a "rug" of a dog. In town, he behaves like a real gentleman with real manners, who will never disgrace you. However, if he gets the opportunity to go after a mouse or a mole, don't be surprised - the real gentleman will in a moment become a real hunter.

The decision to get a Scottish Terrier must be made by the whole family, because all of them will have to take care of the new member of the household. Whether it will be male or female, black or brindle or wheaten, is unimportant if it's the only dog in your house.

If you already have a different breed, it is best to take a dog of the same sex and you will have a pair which understand each other really well and have great fun together.

The male Scottish Terrier is gentle towards females and ignorant towards puppies, although he can be dominant towards other males. As a father, he isn't attentive, unlike the female. The bitch is more devoted and gentle. If you already have one, I'd like you to enable her to at least once have puppies, since this is a special experience that should not be avoided by early sterilisation. The broods of small dog breeds are smaller, they are difficult to fertilise and even harder to give birth, which often happens by Caesarean section. All this makes their prices higher than those of large dogs. However, when choosing a puppy its sex should be the last thing you ask about. If you want a good Scottish Terrier, make sure the family trees of the parents are good and ask the breeder about the health and behaviour of its ancestors. Examine the puppies well and only take one that is healthy and happy, and you will find a new dimension in your life.

This pocket Hercules is an ideal choice for people with a happy and balanced nature, with a good bit of patience and a lot of tolerance, who can understand his personality and accept his nature. Many statistics say that this is the most beautiful breed in the world, but with a high cost. This is the dog of the upper classes and the high society. Once you come to love him, that love will last until the end of his or your life.