past perceptions: do they still fit today’s scottish

PASTPERCEPTIONS:DOTHEYSTILLFITTODAY’SSCOTTISHTERRIERByMerleTaylor

Author’sNote:Thediagramsandpicturesusedinthisarticlehavebeencopiedfromtheiroriginalsourcesastheyappeared.Theskeletonpicture(withdoubleshoulders)andthefinalpictureinthearticleweremodifiedfortheirpurpose.ImustextendmyunendinggratitudetoDarleHeckwho,whenasked,providedthelinesandrulersonthepicturesmakingmysimplelinedrawingsmuchmoreattractiveandinformative.Thisarticleoriginatedfrommyinvestigationsandviewpoint;itdoesnotnecessarilyrepresenttheviewsofthemembersoftheSTCAStandardReviewCommittee.

WhenCarolynandIbroughthomeourfirstScottiepuppy,itbeganourquestformoreinformation.Neitherofuscamefromshowdogfamilies;yes,wehaddogs,mixedbreeds,butnotScottishTerriers.Beingteachers,webeganpursuing“books”—booksfilledwithinformationaboutScottishTerriers,fromthesimple“owners’manuals”tothein-depthstudiesofthebreedbynotedAmericanandEnglishbreeders.Therewasalwaysa“war”aswhogottoread“TheBagpiper”first.Thatwasthen,1969.WhenIbecameinvolvedwiththeStandardsReviewCommittee,Ifeltaneedtogobacktothattime,bringingtotheforefrontsomefactualinformationthatcouldbevaluabletomeinmychargeofguidingacommitteeindevelopingagoodstandardforourbreed.InformationIwantedtosharewithourmembership.

IfthereaderhasnotreadaboutmybeginningsinthebreedpreviouslyprintedinTheBagpiper,Imay,later,sharethatpartofmyinvolvementagainasitisnotunlikeanyonegettingstartedtoday.IcertainlydidnotentertheworldofScottishTerrierswithanydegreeofknowledgeaboutthebreed.AllIhavedoneispassthroughtheschoolof“hardknocks”andconsumedallIcouldfrommywonderfulall-breedandScottiementorsandfriendsIhavemadethroughtheyears.

Theportionofthiswritingsharesinformationabouttypeandsizefromtheoriginsofthebreed.Atthispoint,Ichoseonlytousebookswrittenpriortothestandardrevisionin1993.WhileIamusingdrawingsfromsomeofmysources;Iamalsousingafewdrawingsfromtwoofthe“illustrated”standardspreparedbytheScottishTerrierClubofAmerica—ClarificationandAmplificationoftheScottishTerrierStandard(1980)laterreferredtoasthe“RedBook”andAStudyoftheScottishTerrier(1999)referredtoasthe“PlaidBook”.ThereareexcellentcurrentbreedbooksthatwillbementionedinalaterpartofmyarticleplusthethirdillustratedstandardbookletrecentlypublishedbytheScottishTerrierClubofAmerica.

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Illustration1.Dundee:AnotedScottishTerrierofhisday(1880’s).

Bitsandpiecesfromthepast

Foragingbackintime,IfoundthatScottiesintheearlyyearsweresmaller,leggierdogsthantheScottiesoftoday.Iwouldaskthereadertotakenoteoftheyearreferencedinthefollowing.

Dr.WilliamBruetteinhisbook,TheScottishTerrier,publishedin1934,statesthattheScottiewasoriginallyalongbodieddog.“ThereisatendencyatthistimetobreedthemshorterthanisdesirabledespitethefactthattheAmericanstandardsaysonlymoderatelyshortandwellribbedupwithstrongloin,deepflanksandmuscularhindquarters”(Bruette,1934,p.88).

Bruettecontinuesbyreferringtothe“MorrisonStandard,publishedin1880,drawnbymenwhowerefamiliarwiththeScottieinworkingform,setthedog’sweightatfromsixteentoseventeenpounds,bitchesatfromfourteentofifteenpounds.ThelatestEnglishstandarddeclarestheidealweightinhardshowconditiontobefromseventeentotwenty-onepounds”(Bruette,1934,p.91).

JohnMarvinchartsthemeasurementofDundeeillustratedabove(Bruette,1934,p.33),awell-knownScottieofthe1880’s,inhisbook,TheNewCompleteScottishTerrier(Marvin,1982,p.32).

Occipitalbonetoeye 5inches

Innercornerofeyetonose 3inches

Shouldertorootoftail 15inches

Lengthoftail 7inches

Roundmuzzle 7¼inches

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Roundskull 11¾inches

Roundchest 171/8inches

Roundloin 15inches

Roundarm 5

Height 10inches

Author’sNote:Pleasenote,ifthedrawingofDundeemakestheassumptionthatheis10inchestallatthewithers,thelengthismeasuredfromthepointoftheshoulder(notthewithers)totherootoftail,15inches.

Bruettecontinueshisreferencetoawrittenstandard,(Bruette,1934,p.93),fortheamateur,hewilllearnmorequicklybybeingshownapicturethanhewouldbyalengthydescription,nomatterhowcarefullyitmaybewritten.

Illustration2:EdwinMegargee’svisionofcorrectScottishTerriertype.

InEdwinMegargee’spictorialconception(Bruette,1934,p.95)ofwhatinhismindistheidealScottie,hecomments,“Thebody,‘Moderatelyshortandwellribbed’bodiesaremoreoftentoolongthantooshort,buttheycanbetooshort.Megargeecontinues,“Anicebalancebetweenbodyandheadiswhatisdesired.Whilenohardandfastrulesastotheproportioncanbelaiddown,oneandthreequarterstotwoheadlengthsfromthepointoftheshouldertotherearend,isadesirablebodylength(Bruette,1934,p.101).

Megargeeconcludes,“IfeelthatthethingthatshouldbedweltonandemphasizedinstudyingaScottishterrier,isbalance,orifyouprefer,symmetry.Adogmaybealmostperfectineverysection,

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takenpartbypart,butbecauseofalackofharmonyinbalancebetweenthesepartsmaybeonlyafairspecimen(Bruette,1934,p.108).

TheScottishTerrierClubofEnglandstandard,adoptedin1933,describestheScottishterrierasa“thick-setdog”.InreferringtothebodyoftheScottishTerrier,thebackisproportionatelyshortandverymuscular.”Theidealweightrangesfrom17poundsto21pounds.Thereisnomentionofheight.ThisstandarddoesmakereferencestotheScottishTerrierhaving“shortlegs”(Bruette,1934,p.81).

Interestingly,theMorrisonstandardreferstoathick-set,compact,short-coated,activeterrier,standingaboutnineandahalfincheshigh,withbodyofmoderatelengthandaveragingaboutsixteentoseventeenpoundsweightfordogsandtwopoundslessforbitches.(Bruette,1934,p.79).

DorothyCasperszremarksthatthemoreimportantclausesoftheMorrisonstandardwere”’muscularform’,‘teethlevel’,‘eyeswellsunkinthehead’,‘greatstrength’,‘forelegsshortandstraight’and‘thighswelldevelopedandthick’—allthesearequalitiesasmuchsoughtaftertodayastheywereseventyyearsago.Thegeneraloutline,asalsotheweightofthedog,haschangedwiththeyears,headsbeinglonger,backsshorter,tailshigherplaced,boneheavier,tosaynothingofthetrendoffashionnecessitatingskillfultrimmingforshow.Butfundamentallytheuniquecharacteristicsofourstout-hearted,harsh-coatedpopularlittledogremainmuchunaltered.”(Caspersz,1962,p.24).

Casperszcontinues,“Attainingextrashortnessofbackhassometimesmeantsacrificinggoodribs.Itismuchmoreimportantthatthedogshouldpossessgooddeepribscarriedwellback,withastrongmuscularloin,thanthatheshouldmeasureaninchorsolessfromhiswitherstohistail.Thetwovirtuesarenotentirelyincompatibleinanycase,forexamplescanbefoundofdogswithgoodribsbothfordepthandlength,plusastrongmuscularloinandyetwithal(sic)short-backedandstillagile.Suchistheideal,butexcessivelyshortbodiesonadogofsuchlowbuild,onshortlegs,areapttointerferewiththefine,free,long-stridinggaitsotypicalofthebreed.”(Caspersz,1962,p.68).

JohnMarvin,inTheNewCompleteScottishTerrier,referencesthechangesintheexistingstandardbystatingthat“in1947whenitwasbelievedthatrevisionswererequiredtokeepabreastofbreedingandjudgingtrends.”Therevisedstandardread:“19to22poundsfordogsand18to21poundsforbitches,andtheheightforbothsexes,whichwassetatabout10inchesandwasafarcryfromtheoriginal9to12inchesofthe1895standard“(Marvin,1982,p.166).

MarvinalsocommentsabouttheScottishTerrierClubofEnglandstandard(1965)inregardstosize—largerdogshavingashoulderheightof11inchesasatoplimittogetherwithheavieranimalstogowiththeheight(Marvin,1982,p.168)

Marvincontinuestocommentaboutthechangeoftoday’sScottishTerrierfromtheearlybreedrepresentatives.“Hehasincreasedinweightfromarangeof13to18poundstothepresentdayfiguresof19to22pounds;hisearsmustbeprickedorupright,whereashecouldhavehalf-droppedearinthebeginning;hisneckhasbeenlengthenedfrom“thickandmuscular”to“moderatelyshort,butnotsoshortastoappearclumsy;hisbodyhasbeenremadefromone“ofmoderatelength,notsolongasaSkye’sto“moderatelyshort”;andhisheighthasbeenmodifiedfromthe9to12inchesatthewitherstoaflat10inches.Healsowritesthatthesechangeshavemadeamoreattractivedog,butnotnecessarilyaddedtohisworkingabilities(Marvin,1982,p.178)

Inhisearlyversionofhisbook,TheCompleteScottishTerrier,Marvinwritesthat“Ingeneral,theScottishTerriershouldofferthekeen,sharpappearanceofanalertdog.Heshouldappearcompactandstrong,neverweedyorlight.Thestandardsaysheshouldpresentanappearanceofimmensepowerinasmallsizeandthisisanadequatedescriptionofthedog”(Marvin,1967,p.109)

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Marvinanalyzedthefourstandards,namelytheoneinforcebefore1888throughthepresentandfindsdeviationsthathavepracticallymadeoverthebreed.First,thebodyhasbeenshortenedwithalongermoregracefulneck.Infact,thedogisnowtermeda“short-bodieddog”whilehisancestorwasdefinitelya“long-bodieddog.”Secondtheweightsforthebreedhavebeenincreasedwhiletheheighthasbeenreduced.Thismeansthatthedogisdefinitelycobbier,moreblockyinappearancethanhisracierforebear”(Marvin,1971,p.166).

Inhisbook,ThisIsTheScottishTerrier,Dr.T.AllenKirkstates,“ThebodyofaScottishTerrierisasdistinctiveasthehead.Itismoderatelyshort,measuringapproximatelythesamefromthewitherstotherootoftheerecttailasdoestheheadfromtheocciputtothenose”(Kirk,1966,p.80).

MyratherbriefwalkthroughthehistoryoftheScottishTerrieranditsstandardbringstolighttothereaderthattheScottishTerrierhaschangedthroughtheyears;however,heremainsacobby,compactdoginabalancedpackage.Thetotalpictureisoneofsymmetry.Nowhereinanyofthestandardsaremeasuredreferencesmadetohislengthofback,onlyhisheightandweightarestatisticallydefined.Pleaseremember,thereisnothingwrittenintheprecedingpagespertainingtothecurrentstandardoftheScottishTerrierClubofAmerica.

TherearemanyprintedsourcesabouttheScottishTerrier.Ichose,obviously,tousethese.IfoundduplicateinformationineachsourceIused,oftentimes,somethingdifferentwasrevealed.Intheremainingpages,myintentistorelaywhatIhaveencounteredandlearnedthroughtheyears,takingthesesameprinciplesandapplyingthemtotoday’sScottishTerrier.

PastproportionsandhowtheyapplytotheScottishTerrier Havinggonebackintimetogatheraccuratefacts,Iamnowgoingtoutilizethatinformation,applyittoanumberofdifferentScottishTerriersandillustratehowmuchweareonorofftrackwithourcurrentstandard,revisedin1993.

Therearetwoproportionreferences(mentionedearlier)thatIamgoingtousetoillustratehowthoseproportionsrelatetothedogsandbitcheswehaveseenintheringandcontinuetoseeinthering.

1. Proportion1.Oneandthreequarterstotwoheadlengthsfromthepointoftheshouldertotherearend,isadesirablebodylength.

2. Proportion2.Thebodyis...moderatelyshort,measuringapproximatelythesamefromthewitherstotherootoftheerecttailasdoestheheadfromocciputtothenose.

IamusingdrawingsfromthebooksI’vequoted.IamalsousingillustrationsfromtheSTCA’sillustratedstandardsandoutlinestakenfromacurrentall-breedmagazine(allwithpermission).And,Iwillbeusingthreephotographsofdogs/bitchesrandomlyselectedfromthoseIhavebredand/orshownwhenIwasstillexhibiting.Astheywereinmycharge,Iwillnothurtanyone’sfeelingsif“thingsdon’twork.”

Pleasenotethatinallofthefollowingdrawings/pictures,onecannotcompareinexactmeasurements—particularlywithersandpointofshoulder.Todosowouldinvolveahands-onexamination,obviouslynotavailableinonedimensionaldiagrams.Takingeachdrawing/pictureindividually,comparingthelengthofheadtothelengthofbackandthelengthofbody,oneismerely

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usingthatparticulardog’sorbitch’sproportions.Webegintoseetherelevanceofsymmetryandbalancewithlittleuseofdefinitivenumbers.

AsBruette/Megargeecommented,emphasisshouldbeplacedonsymmetryandbalance;I’lllet

thereader’seyebethecritic.Remember,withtheserelationships,wearenotconsideringheight.Wearemerelyusingtherelationshipbetweenthelengthofhead,thelengthofback,andthelengthofbody.

I’llmerelytalkabouttheoriginoftheoutlineillustratingthevarietyofsourcesusedtodevelop

thissenseofcorrectsymmetryandbalance.

ThefirstdrawingtoillustratethetworelationshipsisMegargee’sownpictorialconceptofcorrectScottishTerriertype.

Illustration3:Proportionsdemonstratingcorrectsymmetry/balanceonMegargee’svisionofcorrectScottishTerriertype.

ThefollowingoutlinewastakenfromtheSTCA’sClarificationandAmplificationoftheScottish

TerrierStandardpublishedin1980andwrittenbyacommitteeofRobertC.Graham,MiriamStamm,andDr.andMrs.T.AllenKirk,Jr.TheillustrationsweredrawnbyLoriBush.

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Illustration4:CorrectproportionsappliedtotheScottishTerrieroutlinefoundinthefirstillustratedstandardoftheScottishTerrier.

Ontheinsidecoverofthissamepublication,acopyofaTauskyphotographappears.I

personallyhavealwaysadmiredthisTauskyphotographas,tome,thisoutlineepitomizesthe“perfect”specimen.Iwouldhavebeena“happycamper”hadwebeenabletobreedsuchaScottieand,equallyasimportant,beenabletogroomaswellasMr.Tausky’stalenteduseofphotographictoolsenhancedhiswork.Nevertheless,thisScottishTerrierfillsthebillwhenourtworelationshipsareapplied.

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Illustration5:ATauskeyphotograph,appearinginthefirstillustratedSTCAstandard,reflecting

proportionsofawell-balancedScottishTerrier

Movingon,IampicturingtwodifferentdiagramswhichappearinthesecondSTCAillustratedstandard,AStudyoftheScottishTerrier.ThispublicationwaspreparedbySTCAmembers:C.MichaelCook,Chair;SandraGooseAllen;BarbaraDeSaye;EvelynKirk,andMiriamStamm.TheillustratorswereJodySylvesterandHeidiB.Martin.ThefirstdiagramistakenfromanillustrationofthethreebasiccolorsoftheScottishTerrier.IhavechosentheWheatenversionaslinesappeareasiertoread.Thesecondoutlineisasilhouettedemonstratingneck,topline,andbody.Again,bothoutlinesdemonstratecorrectproportions.

Illustration6:TwoScottishTerriersilhouettestakenfromthe“plaid”illustratedstandardbooklet.Both

outlinesdisplayproportions.

NikkiRiggsbee,writerandAKCapprovedjudge,haswrittenanarticlethatappearedinDogsInReview,September2012.She,alongwiththeeditor,AllanRenzik,havegivenmepermissiontousethearticle.Ifreadershavenotseenthearticleinitsentirety,itmakesforagoodandinterestingread.Theessenceofthearticleishowcurrentbreeder/judgesandmembersoftheillustratedstandardcommitteeprioritizecharacteristicsoftheScottishTerrierwhentheyarelookingatsixoutlinesofdogsandsixoutlinesofbitches—alloftheoutlinesarefromphotographsofrealdogsso“noneisideal”.Iamusingtheoutlinesaspartofmyarticlepertainingtobalanceandsymmetry.

ApplyingthesameprinciplestothetwelveoutlinespresentedinMs.Riggsbee’sarticleinDogs

InReview,theoutlinesfallintothesamepatternofsymmetryandbalancepreviouslydescribed.Pleaserememberthatwe’retalking“about”measurements,notexactmeasurements.Note,inparticular,the

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forechestandbuttocksoftheoutlinesastheedgesofthebeginningandendofthedogobviouslyincludessomefurnishings.

Illustration7:SixScottishTerrierdogoutlinesdepictingheadtobodylengthproportions.

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Illustration8:SixScottishTerrierbitchoutlinesdepictingheadtobodylengthproportions.

ThefinalthreeScottiesillustratedarethreeactualshowphotographsofdogs/bitchesthatI

randomlypickedfrommyowndogs.ThefirstphotoisaChampiondogshownintheearly-to-midseventiesandthentwophotosofclassanimals(priortotheirChampionships).Usingthesame“rules”ofproportion,onecanquicklynotetherelationshipofthethreeproportions.

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Illustration9:AmatureScottishTerriermalechampion(fromthe70’s)illustratingsymmetry/balancethroughcorrectproportionsofhead,back,andbodylength.

Illustration10:AyoungScottishTerrierclassdogwithproportionsillustratingsymmetry/balance.

Illustration11:AyoungScottishTerrierbitchreflectingsymmetry/balance.

Inthepreviousdrawings,photos,etc,onecanseehowthis“ruleofthumb”easilyrelatestothe

reader(or,perhaps,judge),thecorrectproportionsofthebreedwithouttheutilizationofdefinitivenumbers.

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Author’sNote:Imustcommentabouttwodimensionsthathavenotbeenincluded—thelengthofneckandtheheightwithitsrelationshiptodepthofbodyandlengthofleg.Theneckcanbevisuallyevaluated;however,itisratherdifficulttoevaluatethedepthofbodyandlengthoflegunlessoneactuallyputshishandsonthedog.

TheScottishTerrierstandardcomparedtootherAKCstandards

ItisinterestingtocomparetheScottishTerrierstandard(currentand1947)tostandardsof

othersimilarterriersandtootherdogs,ingeneral.SomeAKCstandardshavemeasurablereferencestolengthofheadcomparedtolengthofneck,andtolengthofbody.Some,notonlyincludetheheightmeasuredininches,buttheproportionsofthebodydepthcomparedtotheleglengthaswellastheheadandnecklengthsmeasuredininchesorpercentages.ThecurrentAKCstandardoftheSealyhamTerrierreads,“Lengthofheadroughly,three-quartersheightatwithers,oraboutaninchlongerthanneck.”TherelationshipofthebodydepthtolengthoflegisstatedintheBorderColliestandard:“...thedistancefromthewithertotheelbowisslightlylessthanfromtheelbowtotheground...“Bothexamplesofstandardsthatreflectthebreedsproportionsindifferentways.

Witheyeandhand,whatwedotomeasuretheScottishTerrier

TheScottishTerrierstandardof1947merelystatesthattheScottishTerrier’sneckshouldbe“Moderatelyshort”;hisbodyisalsodescribedas“Moderatelyshort”.“Bothforelegsandhindlegsshouldbeshortandveryheavyinboneinproportiontothesizeofthedog”describestherelationshipofleglengthtodepthofbody.Onlyinthetextofthe1980ClarificationandAmplificationoftheScottishTerrierStandardistheuseofanaveragesizehumanhand/anaverageman’sfistusedtodeterminethecorrectbreadthanddepthofchest—a“technique”thatshouldalwaysbeutilizedinjudgingtheScottishTerrier.The1993ScottishTerrierstandardusesthephrase“moderatelyshort”aswell;again,utilizationofanaveragesizeman’shand/fistisvisuallydemonstratedinAStudyoftheScottishTerrierpublishedbytheScottishTerrierClubofAmerica.

AlongwithMegargee’sthinking,precisemeasurementsshouldnotbe“laiddown”.Hisversion

ofcorrecttypehasbeenabenchmarksinceitsconception.Hisguidelinesofproportionshouldnotonly“standthetestoftime”butrelatecorrectproportionsfordogs/bitchesthatareaboveandbelowthestandard’sidealsizeof10inches.Whilethesetaller/shorterdogsarenotideal,the“babyshouldneverbethrownoutwiththebathwater”astheirattributescouldoverridetheirless-than-idealsizeprovidingapositiveinfluenceinsomebreedingprograms.Remember,balanceandsymmetryareofutmostimportance.

Theauthorchallengesthereaderstohand-measuretheirScottishTerriers

Iwaspleasantlysurprisedtoseethatthesetworeferencepointsfrom“daysgoneby”appliedtoeverydiagram/photoIselected.IhopethisportionofthearticleencouragestheScottiebreeder/enthusiast,thenexttimechargesaregroomed,usetheirhandsandseeifthese“old”rulesofproportionapply.IfthereaderisamemberofSTCA,viewthecoversandflipthroughthepagesofSTCA’snewsbulletin,TheBagpiper.Onecouldalsoperusethetwofairlyrecentwell-writtenScottishTerrierbooks,CindyCooke’sTheNewScottishTerrierandMurielP.Lee’sTheOfficialBookoftheScottishTerrier.Bothofthesebookscontainnumerousqualityphotographsofwinnersfrompasttothenearlypresent.

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Thecorrectproportioncaneasilybeevaluatedbyeyeor,ifdesired,byhand.Byhand,simplyplaceone’sthumbattheendofthedog’snoseandspreadfigurestowardtheocciputtogetabeginningproportion.Keepthefingersspreadatthatdistanceandplacethemonthewithersandthenthepointofshoulder.Remember1¾totwotimesthelengthofhead.Again,it’saboutrelationships,notaboutnumbers.Oncethepointofshoulderistouched,one,withhandspread,canseehowmuchlengthremains,¾to1timesthecurrentthumbtolittlefingerspan.

Theartofmeasuring,assimpleasitcanbe

Iwillnowprovidesomebasicmeasuringinformationbeforemovingontoaddressproportionsofourcurrentstandard’smeasurements.

FortheAKCapprovedjudge,measuringandweighingknowledgeisamust.AKChasavery

clearpolicyforsuchactivities,andalljudges,whojudgebreedsthatareweighedormeasured,mustfollowthatpolicytoa“T”.Intheshowring,judgescanonlymeasureorweighbreedswhereheightorweightcontainsdisqualifications.TheScottishTerrierstandardcontainsnodisqualifications.Therefore,thebreedcannotbemeasuredintheshowring.Thatdoesn’tmeanthat,asbreedersorowners,wecan’tweighormeasure.

Forthebeginningand,perhaps,fortheexperiencedScottieenthusiast,thenextportionofmy

articlepertainstothe“art”ofmeasuringourdogs.

Firstofall,theheightofdogsismeasuredfromthehighestpointofthewitherstotheground.(SeeIllustration12)Typically,awicketisused.Tapesandrulerscanbeused,butcaremustbetakentoassurecorrectmeasurements.And,Imightadd,somestandardsdonotdifferentiatebetweenpuppiesandadults,somedo.Insomebreeds,puppiesmustmeetthesameheightlimitsastheadult. I’mincludingadiagrambelowtoillustrate(Illustration12)wherethesemeasureablepartsarelocated.Itisinterestingtonotethatwhentheshouldersbecome“straighter”thanthepreferredlayback,theactualmeasurementbecomeslonger,andthedogbecomestaller.Clevergroomingcanchangetheoutlineweseeinthering,butthegoodjudgewouldbeabletofindthatpointand,certainly,noticetheresultofsuchpoorshoulderplacementwhentheanimalmoves.

Earlier,ImentionedPointofShoulder(seeillustrationbelow).Hopefully,intheScottishTerrier,thePointofShoulderisnotthemostforwardpartofthedog’sfrontassembly.Insomebreeds,thisPointisusedinmeasuringthelengthofthedog,notsointheScottishTerrierstandard.TheScottiestandardreferstothelengthofback,measuredfromwitherstosetonoftail,notlengthofdog.

Thelengthofbackismeasuredfromthehighestpointofthewitherstothebaseofthetail.I

haveseenmentionedinsomediscussionsthatthebaseofthetail“might”bebehindthetail;I,personally,donotfeelthisiscorrectfortheScottishTerrierstandard.Asmentionedearlier,becauseoneusesthehighestpointofthewitherstomeasurethelengthofback;adogwithastraightershoulderwouldmeasurelongerandtallerthanthedogwithcorrectshoulderseventhoughthetwo,withclevergrooming,couldappearverysimilarinstature.Onemustalsorealizewhenmeasuringthelengthofback,andthetailsetislow,themeasurementwillalsoshowalongerbackasthemeasurementgoesfromthewitherstothesetonoftail.

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Illustration12:AmodifiedScottishTerrierskeleton(displayingtwoshoulderangles)comparingthe

measurementsofawelllaidbackshoulder(blue)andastraightershoulder(yellow).Anotherreaders’challenge,measuringtheirScottishTerriers

Again,IchallengeeveryonetoputtheirScottiesonthetableandmeasureandnotetheresults.

Ifyouhavenomeasuringdevicesand/ornoknowledgehowtogoaboutit,findabreederofabreedwhohasaheightDQintheirstandard,andtheywouldbeabletohelpyouthroughtheprocess.Onthefigurebelow,pleasenotetheplacementofthePointofShoulder(No.2),oneofthepointsusedearliertomeasurethelengthofthedog.(Thisisnotthelengthofback.)Eventhepreviousproportionreferencesworkedasshownbelow.

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Illustration13:TheScottishTerrierskeletondepictingcorrectproportions.Point1illustratingthewithers;Point2illustratingthepointoftheshoulder.

Applyingthecurrentstandard’smeasurementtotheactualdog

Thecurrentstandardcallsforabackthatis“approximately11inches”fromwitherstosetonoftail.Ihaveusedthesamedrawings/picturesshownbeforetoillustratethisproportion.Inthecurrentstandard,relationshipsininchesareonlymentionedinheightandlength(witherstosetonoftail).Nomeasurementismadeofheadlength,necklength,oroverallbodylength.

Typically,whenmeasuringthelengthofback,onestartsatthehighestpointofthewithersandmeasuresbacktothesetonoftail.Inthisdiscussion,Ihavechosentodothereversebecauseindrawingsandphotographs,theclosestprecisepointistheappearanceofthesetonoftail.Ishallmeasurebackwards.Theendresultwillshow,iffollowingthecurrentstandard’smeasurement,wherethe“withers”shouldbe.Foradiagramofpropershoulderplacement,pleaserefertothediagrampreviouslyshown(Illustration12).

Again,anotherassumptionmustbemade.Onemustassumethatallofthedogsinthesediagramsareabout10”atthewithers.Therefore,accordingtothecurrentstandard,theidealScottieshouldmeasureaboutaninchlongerthantallfromwitherstosetonoftail.TheScottiestandardmakesnoadjustmentfordogswhoareshorterthanortallerthantheidealheight.Itmerelyrefersto“symmetryandbalancewithoutexaggeration”.

Forillustrativepurposes,Iwillplacea“whitedot”onthedogwherethewithersshouldbewhen

utilizingthe“about11incheslengthofback”.Ihavealsousedthesamepicturespreviouslyillustratedinthisarticle.

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Illustration14.Megargee’svisionofcorrectScottishTerriertypemeasuredwithtoday’sstandard.Thewhitedotrepresentswherethewitherswouldbeif“about11inches”wereused.

Illustration15:TheTauskeyphotographmeasuredwithtoday’sstandardmeasurements.

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Illustration16:The“RedBook”ScottishTerrierdiagrammeasuredwithtoday’sstandardmeasurements.

Illustraiton17:Thefirst“PlaidBook”ScottishTerrierdiagramshowingtoday’smeasurementsandpossiblewitherplacement.

Illustration18:Thesecond“PlaidBook”ScottishTerrierdiagramshowingtoday’smeasurementsand

possiblewithersplacement.

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Illustration19:SixScottishTerrierdogoutlinesmeasuredpertoday’sstandard.Thewithersplacement

isdepictedwithablackdot.

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Illustration20:SixScottishTerrierbitchoutlinesmeasuredpertoday’sstandard.Thewithersplacementisdepictedwithablackdot.

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Illustration21:AmatureScottishTerrierchampionsmeasuredundertoday’sstandard.Thewhitedotrepresentswhere,accordingtothosemeasurements,thewitherswouldbeplaced.

Illustration22:AyoungScottishTerrierdogmeasuredwithtoday’sstandard.

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Illustration23:AyoungScottishTerrierbitchmeasuredwithtoday’sstandard.

Readerschallengedtomeasurelengthofbackwithmeasuringdevices

Inmyobservationsofthesedrawings/photographs,IhaveneverseenScottishTerrierswhose

witherswouldeverbesetsofarforwardnorcouldtheyeverbesetsoforward.I,again,challengetheScottieenthusiasttomeasurehisdog.Thismeasurementiseasytomakewithatapemeasure.Placetheendofthetapemeasureatthehighestpointofthewithersandgobacktothesetonoftail.Thatmeasurementisthelengthofback.Now,repeattheprocessbutgobackfromthesetonoftail—thisprocedureisnotnormallyused,butI’msuggestingitmerelytoproveapoint.Withatapemeasureatthesetonoftail,gobacktoabout11inches,thatpointiswherethe“withers”shouldbeaccordingtoourcurrentstandard.Isthereadifferenceinmeasurements?

HowmypersonalexperiencerelatedtothecurrentScottishTerrierstandard

In2000,IwasaskedtobecomethechairfortheSTCAJudgesEducationCommittee.Beingateacherandatactile/visuallearner,IfeltitnecessarytoprepareaposterboardcutoutoftheperfectlysizedideallyproportionedScottishTerrier.Atthattime,Iusedthediagramshownbelow(Illustration24)asthebasisformyoutline.Gatheringmyposterboardandrulers,utilizingmyartistictalents,onwardImoved.

Shortly,Ibecameconfused—Ihadneverseenadogofthisproportion—IwasseeingstandardproportionsbutnottheScottiethatIhadgrownupwithsincemyinvolvementinthebreed.IthoughtIhadmiscalculatedormisdrawn,Ichecked.No,Iwasright.Ishowedtheoutlinetoanumberofmyterrierfriends,andtheyconcurredwithmysentiments.OneofmydearmentorswasaSealyham

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TerrierandScottiebreederwhohadbeeninvolvedinSealyhamTerriersnearly50years.WenoticedthattheScottishTerrierstandardnowhadtheScottiebeinglongerthantheSealyham.Belowisthereducedcopyofthatoutline.Oneisnowabletocomparethatoutlinetotheoutlines/photosthatwereusedinpreviouspages(Thebasisformydrawingisalsoshownbelow—takenfromthe“RedBook”,theillustratedstandardbookletIhadusedwhenIgavethegroomingworkshopsfortheSTCA.)Itbecameobvious,tome,thattheproportionscreatedbythecurrentstandarddidnotreflectthesymmetryandbalancedesiredinthebreed.

Illustration24:TheoriginalScottishTerrieroutlinetheauthororiginallyusedinhiseducationalmaterials.Thisoutlineappearedinthe“RedBook”.

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llustration25:ThisScottishTerrieroutlinewasIllustration24drawntotoday’scurrentstandard

proportions.

ConclusionIthasbeenmypurposetosharewiththereadermyfindingswhenItraveledbackintothe

historyofthebreed.Ihopeeachpersonwhoreadsthisarticlefindssomethinguseful.MyoriginalintentwastoprovidemyselfwithstrongsupportformyviewofthecorrectScottishTerrier.Ifeel,forme,Ihavedonethat.Forthereader,IhopeIhavemademypointclear.IhopethisinformationcanbeutilizedinapositivemannertomaketheScottishTerrierstandardastandardthatclearlyandcorrectlydefinesthebreedweallcherish.

REFERENCES

Bruette,Dr.William.(1934).TheScottishTerrier.NewYorkCity,NewYork:G.HowardWatt.

Caspersz,Dorothy.(1962).ThePopularScottishTerrier.NewYorkCity,NewYork:ArcoPublishingCompany,Inc.

Cooke,Cindy.(1996).TheNewScottishTerrier.NewYorkCity,NewYork:HowellBookHouse.

Kirk,T.AllenKirk,Jr.,M.D.(1966).ThisIsTheScottishTerrier.JerseyCity,NewJersey:T.F.H.Publications,Inc.

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Lee,MurielP.(1994).TheOfficialBookoftheScottishTerrier.NeptuneCity,NewJersey:T.F.H.Publications,Inc.

Marvin,JohnT.(1967).TheCompleteScottishTerrier.NewYorkCity,NewYork:HowellBookHouse.

Marvin,JohnT.(1971).TheBookofAllTerriers.NewYorkCity,NewYork:HowellBookHouse.

Marvin,JohnT.(1982).TheNewCompleteScottishTerrier.NewYorkCity,NewYork:HowellBookHouse.

ScottishTerrierClubofAmerica.AStudyoftheScottishTerrier.ScottishTerrierClubofAmerica,1999.

ScottishTerrierClubofAmerica.ClarificationandAmplificationoftheScottishTerrierStandard.Hammond:ScottishTerrierClubofAmerica,1980.

Abouttheauthor

MerleTayloriscurrentlythechairoftheStandardsReviewCommittee.Heandhiswife,Carolyn,becameinvolvedwithScottishTerriersin1969.Fromthatpoint,theybeganshowingandbreedingonalimitedscale.TheyhavebredandshownnumerousScottishTerrierchampions,specialtywinners,andanationalandall-breedBestInShowwinnerundertheJabberwokprefix.MerlebecameanAKClicensedhandlerandhasfinishedchampionsinallsevengroups.HeandCarolynhaveownedChampionNorwichTerriers,Affenpinschers,BrusselsGriffons,BouvierdesFlandres,Pointers,andaBeauceron.TheirhouseholdcurrentlyincludesarescueScottishTerrier.

MerlehasservedontheBoardofDirectorsfortheSTCA.HewrotethefirstgroomingmanualpublishedbytheSTCA,andwasjudgeseducationchairfortheSTCA.Hehasjudgednumerousspecialties,theSTCAspecialtyatMontgomery,andtheCanadiannationalspecialty.Merlebeganjudgingin2000andiscurrentlyapprovedtojudgetheTerrierandHerdinggroupsandhalfoftheToygroup.After38years,Merleretiredfromteachinghighschoolbusinessinthepublicschoolsystem.

Merleisalsoamemberoffourall-breedkennelclubs,PresidentoftheChampaignIllinoisKennelClub,andtheClusterChairfortheProgressCityCluster.