"Have you owned Scotties before?"
If not, there are
many reasons why a Scottie might not be the dog for you. Some of those reasons are the very reasons
I wouldn't own any other breed. Scotties are an acquired taste. They
are not the dog for many families. So before you do anything else,
you need to seek out as much information as possible about Scottie
characteristics and temperament to help decide if the Scottish
Terrier is the right breed for you.
"Are you interested in a house pet, a show dog, or maybe a
Rescue Scottie?"
Actually it does make a difference.
A typical search (after you've finished your initial research) might
begin with a call to a recommended breeder, but the questions you
ask, the answers you receive and the eventual success of your search
will depend on
you knowing what you are interested in accomplishing. The STCA
Web
site covers all of the information you need to understand the
differences.
"Are you familiar with the Scottish Terrier Club of America
(STCA), its relationship with the American Kennel Club (AKC) and all
of the Regional Scottish Terrier Clubs (STCs) spread around the US?"
The STCA is a Member
Club that has been recognized by the AKC as the Official Breed Club
within the United States
for the Scottish Terrier. Regional STCs are local, pure-bred dog clubs that
have been approved and recognized by the STCA, and are therefore
"Affiliated" with the AKC. It is an honor to be a Member Club within
the AKC or recognized as an affiliated Regional Club. Some All-Breed
dog
clubs are also Member Clubs within the AKC. But this does not mean
that all dog clubs are
necessarily affiliated with the AKC; because some have chosen to be
independent or affiliated with other organizations. The
STCA Web site includes numerous links to help you become more
familiar with the AKC and the Scottie community.
Links to more detailed answers to these
and other questions are located at the
bottom of this page.
Once you have done your preliminary research and know that
Scotties are the breed for you, the secret to finding a
Scottie is: networking. Yes, I'm using the term "networking" in the
same way that it applies to finding a job — seek out one contact,
ask for referrals and keep networking until you accomplish your
objective. One breeder may not have a
dog that meets your needs, so ask them to suggest other sources and
don't stop at one or two. In the
end, it's in your best interests to talk with many different breeders
even if you eventually come back to the first one. You'll
learn something from each one.
Regional Clubs can also provide you with information on
activities and local events in the area. Try to attend one of
these events and get a chance to see Scotties (both puppies and
adults) first hand. You'll end up with more networking
prospects, and each of them can give you additional referrals.
Personal one-on-one networking is better than any other option for
really getting to know someone and offering them a change to get to
know you! By networking with reputable club members, you will
increase your odds of a successful search.
Once you are "in the loop" and start selling yourself as
the ideal Scottie owner, you will be on your way to a
successful search. Don't expect instant results, and
recognize from the beginning that patience and persistence
will likely be the key ingredients of your search. You
will never get "in the loop" by calling an individual listed
in a classified ad offering Scotties for sale.
You will never get "in the
loop" by calling
an individual listed in a classified ad
offering Scotties for Sale.
To help you get started, the STCA maintains a list of affiliated clubs
around the country. Use this
list to find two or three
Regional
Scottish Terrier Clubs near your home. Club secretaries, breeder
referral contacts and rescue coordinators are all networking
candidates. They each have different
knowledge about which club members have puppies, adults or whether
rescues
are
available.
The Scottish Terrier Club of America has published an
information packet that describes the Scottish Terrier.
Working with the AKC, anyone who registers a pure-bred
Scottie with the AKC will receive a summary of this packet
in the mail. So in an effort to help anyone trying to
locate a Scottie, we've posted a copy of the
complete
Information Packet and a
PDF version of the
summary sheet here on
the STCA web site.
The STCA also has a
Public
Information and Breeder Referral Committee that is
listed in the Who Are We? section of the
website. The chairperson for this committee can be a
source of information on specific breeders as well as the
latest information on local contacts and breeder referral
contacts in your area.
Breeders who belong to the Scottish Terrier Club of
America must sign a Code of Ethics. Each of
the Regional Clubs affiliated with the STCA have a similar Code of
Ethics that member breeders must agree to, even if they are not
members of the STCA. So buying
from an STCA or Regional Club member is insurance that the breeder is interested in
more than your dollars. Sometimes local sources are limited, so don't
necessarily rule out buying a long distance
Scottie; just make sure you have found the right breeder.
By networking with reputable club
members
you will increase your odds of a successful search.
But you say, "I just want a pet. Why does it have to be
this difficult?"
Newcomers will often question why they need to go to a breeder who
also shows dogs— After all, does it really matter where I buy
a Scottie? The reason it's important to seek out a show breeder is
that you are
increasing your odds of finding someone who understands Scotties, instead
of someone who just wants to sell a puppy and make a profit. While all show breeders
are not equal, they generally have a greater
understanding of the breed and are better prepared to help you with
problems, even after the puppy sale is complete. After all, they sell
puppies with the objective of finding the best possible home for
each puppy that they have brought into the world.
A breeder who shows her dogs has made a
substantial investment in the breed and will always be there
if you need help.
You should try to keep an open mind when looking for a Scottie. If you
feel that you absolutely
must have an eight-week-old, black, female puppy; then you will make
your search very difficult. You've already eliminated any black
males, brindles
and wheatens of either sex, and an excellent quality older
Scottie that may be ready for a home. Specify a color, sex and age
if you know what you are looking for and why; but otherwise you will
sabotage your search without even knowing about the options.
Why are we suggesting that you avoid pet shop Scotties?
A pet store probably knows little or nothing about your breed.
Also there is a chance that a Scottie comes with an unknown
health background, and was bred by someone who doesn't care
enough about their puppies to choose who buys them.
A responsible breeder who completes
genetic testing and health screening on his breeding stock has made
an investment in the future of the breed and deserves
to receive compensation for his expenses. A breeder who evaluates his breeding stock in the show ring is
also making an investment which should benefit his ability to offer quality pets that are close to the AKC's
Scottish
Terrier Standard in both conformation and temperament. Someone else
might be able to breed two Scotties, they might even be able to
produce AKC registration papers; but can you ask them
questions and can they provide intelligent answers?
What will you pay for a Scottie?
Prices vary from one area of the country to another, and
from breeder to breeder. This is based on what they have experienced in
terms of medical and breeding expenses. Also, prices will vary according to the individual Scottie
and how much potential it has for participating in a breeding
program.
Talk with your networking contacts about prices in your
area. You should also be prepared to accept the other
financial obligations of owning and providing adequate care
for any canine companion. If the breeder prices in
your area are higher than elsewhere, expect that YOUR
veterinary expenses might be high as well. Scotties do
need to be seen by a veterinarian on a regular basis.
There are also the unexpected expenses—don't enter into a lifetime situation
without making plans for the unexpected.
Pet Puppies 
