Fore and Hindquarters

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On the relative position of the forearm, humerus, and shoulder blade; of the leg, thigh bones, and pelvis to each other respectively, rests the capacity of the dog to do its work with least wear and strain on the vitality and muscular system.

W. L. McCandlish


It has been said that the Scottish Terrier should have the front end of a duchess and the backside of a cook. For novice breeders, learning to recognize correct structure is hampered by the fact that most of us are not sportsmen who regularly take our dogs out in the field. Since the consequences of faulty construction are not obvious to one whose dogs are not required to spend a day in the field, it becomes easy to ignore bad fronts and rears. For many show breeders, a short back and an upright tail trumps straight shoulders and weak rears. Since it is unlikely that most breeders will ever take up hunting with their Scotties, we must accept the word of those old breeders who originally developed the Scottish Terrier as to what is correct structure, front and rear.

Several modern trends are leading the breed away from correct structure, both in the U.S. and in Great Britain. It is interesting that the problems are distinctly difference in the two countries. The British seem determined to keep the broad, powerful rear and the deep brisket but have trouble keeping elbows tight. The Americans have done a better job with the elbows but are battling weak rears, straight shoulders, and short upper arms.

This is not a battle we can "win," in a final sense--Mother Nature always "tinkers" with our work. It is, however, a battle we can lose once the majority of breeder no longer know correct structure or, worse, put their personal "preferences" ahead of correct structure.

 

This is the end of Chapter 4. Please click here to submit questions. Questions and answers will be posted on a separate page and updated regularly. Suggestions are also VERY welcome. Thanks for your interest in the Scottish Terrier.

Chapter 5

Chapter 4