THE SCOTTISH TEKRIER. 



BY JOHN H. NAYLOR. 



ffiN no other breed of Terriers have so many different 



types been shown as in the one commonly called the 



(11 Scotch Terrier. Everything in the shape of a Terrier 



is called Scotch by persons not versed in the proper types. 



Until about ten years ago, the strain no.w recognized 

 as the Scottish Terrier was scarcely known except by 

 persons directly in contact with them the breed being in 

 the hands of gamekeepers and tod-hunters (fox-hunters) 

 who lived in remote parts of the Scottish Highlands, which 

 were rarely visited by the outside public, and where bench 

 shows were unknown. These Terriers were hunted in 

 packs, and used by their owners in destroying foxes, ot- 

 ters, badgers, and other vermin which infested the cairns 

 or rocks of that part of Scotland. The hunters were paid 

 for all vermin destroyed; and as the livelihood of these men 

 mainly depended on the amount of vermin destroyed, great 

 care was taken in mating to dogs which were noted for 

 their hunting qualities and gameness. 



Written pedigrees were unknown at this time, yet great 

 care was taken to mate for working qualities. The owners 

 were, in many instances, opposed to going outside their, 

 own pack for new blood, for fear of introducing some infe- 

 rior qualities in their packs. Special strains of these dogs 

 have been kept in some families for almost a hundred years 

 without a cross. 



Several years ago the correct Scot was very scarce, even 

 in their native districts, I myself having had great difficulty 

 at one time in finding suitable dogs to import for use as 

 breeders in my own kennels. Mine were at that time the 

 only specimens of pure Scottish Terriers in America, and 



3O C465) 



