The muzzle should be
well filled-in in front of the eyes, and taper very gradually towards the nose. This
tapering effect is very slight, and leads up to a particularly characteristic feature of
the breed, and one that should never be lost. This is the projection of the nose over the
mouth.
Dorothy Caspersz |
Like the skull, the muzzle should also not be narrow or snipey. Viewed
from above, there is a very slight taper from muzzle to nose. Viewed from the side, the
muzzle should be fairly deep, so that there is sufficient room in the jaw for the
Scottie's very large teeth. The Standard says the muzzle should "fill an average
man's hand." The dog below has a correct muzzle. |
The nose is large and black, regardless of coat color. There are wheaten
colored Scottish Terriers whose nose pigment fades, sometimes in the winter, sometimes all
year round. This "snow nose," as it is sometimes called, does not seem to be
linked to the amount of color in the wheaten coat. I've seen a nearly pure red wheaten
with a snow nose and I've seen a nearly pure white wheaten with absolutely black pigment
all year round. This fading pigment is an undesirable trait but is sometimes more heavily
penalized by judges than it might warrant. |
One essential feature that has come to be rather obscured with the
breeding of full face whiskers is the projection of the nose over the mouth. This is an
attribute not seen in the other highland terriers and is, therefore, unique to the
Scottie. The Scottie must NOT have a blunt muzzle like the Westie.
Except for the
absence of face furnishings, this is a an excellent representation of a Scottie head. Note
the parallel planes, the full, deep muzzle with plenty of fill under the eye, and the
large, black nose projecting over the mouth.
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