The first revision to the American Standard, written in 1925, set the
height at "about ten inches at the shoulder." This standard was soundly
criticized by British and even some American breeders because it set
the weight at eighteen to twenty pounds for dogs and bitches, rather than setting a
separate range for each sex. The most significant point about this Standard is that it
narrowed the range of height allowed for the breed, and eliminated the lower range of
acceptable weights.
In the 1947 revised STCA standard, separate ranges were again specified for dogs and bitches. Weight crept up a little with 19-22 pounds for dogs and 18-21 pounds for bitches. The 1993 revision to the STCA standard made no changes in height or weight but did specify for the first time length of back, "approximately 11 inches. |
With his short
legs and low build, the freedom of action depends upon his body formation, and it is well
to keep in view the fact the bodies can be bred too short to be compatible with the fine,
free, long-striding gait so typical of the breed.
Dorothy Caspersz |
From the 1993 STCA Standard: The Scottish Terrier should have a thick body and heavy bone. The principal objective must be symmetry and balance without exaggeration. Equal consideration shall be given to height, weight, length of back, and length of head. Height at withers for either sex should be about 10 inches. The length of back from withers to set-on of tail should be approximately 11 inches. Generally, a well-balanced Scottish Terrier dog should weigh from 19 to 22 pounds and a bitch from 18 to 21 pounds.
There are many people laboring under the misconception that the Scottish Terrier is a "square" dog. The term "square" when applied to dogs has been defined in two ways: Some consider a dog square if the length of back (measured from withers to set-on of tail) is equal to the height (measured from withers to ground). Other breeds, the TRULY square, are the same length from prosternum to point of buttocks as from withers to ground. Regardless of which definition you use, the Scottish Terrier is not square and was never intended to be square. |
The first Scottish and English breed standards described the Scottish Terrier body as "of moderate length, but not so long as a Skye's. . ." Look at the illustrations below. These are drawings of what were considered excellent representatives of their breeds during the 1880's. The Skye Terrier standard called for the body to be "pre-eminently long." The Fox Terrier standard at this time called for the back to be short.
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The 1925 American Standard described the body as "moderately short and well ribbed up. . ." while the 1933 English Standard described the back as "proportionally short and very muscular." Now look at the picture below of Eng. Champion Heather Realisation, considered an outstanding specimen of the breed in the early 1930s. To modern eyes, this dog does not appear particularly short-backed.
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