Scottish Terrier puppies

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Scottish Terrier puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get it socialised before the vaccination course finishes. It will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• von Willebrand disease, detectable by DNA test on breeding stock before mating
• Scottie cramp, a hereditary neuromuscular disorder, diagnosed by clinical observation of the stiff gait and spasms after exercise or excitement
• Portosystemic liver shunt, diagnosed by blood work and imaging such as ultrasound or CT
• Cerebellar abiotrophy, diagnosed by neurological examination and the pattern of progressive incoordination
• Hypothyroidism, detected by a blood test of thyroid hormone levels

From Scottish Terrier breed information at https://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/terrier/scottish-terrier/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Your Scottish Terrier puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Scottish Terrier.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 8.5 to 10.5 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Other small breeds

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