A Rescue Story

A Tribute to Duffy, a True Diehard

By Ginger McAfee

In July of 1999, the call came in that a shelter in northern Alabama had rescued a Scottie out of a back yard, and that he was in pretty rough shape. I called a friend who lived near-by and she went to get him out. The volunteer vet at the shelter said that he was in such bad shape, we should just put him to sleep. My friend said she still saw that Scottie spark in his eyes so I asked her to take him to her vet and do a Heartworm test. If the test was positive, we would help him to the bridge because in that condition, he could not stand the treatment. Fortunately, the HW test was negative. So she drove him straight to me in Nashville (where we were living then). When she pulled his emaciated little body out of the crate I cried. This dog weighed 11 pounds, his paper thin skin was hanging under his belly, He had very little hair, both his ears were  split, probably from fighting. We named him MacDuff, but his friends just called him Duffy. His teeth were worn down to nubs. (My vet later told me that starving dogs chew on rocks and dirt to try to find some sustenance and in doing this, he had worn his teeth down to nearly nothing. When she sat him out of the crate, he could barely walk, kept his head down, but when I looked in those eyes, I knew we had to try to save him. He was covered with fleas, which had so depleted his body that his blood count was dangerously low. With some IV fluids, high-energy supplements, hand feeding, and lots of TLC, things started to turn around. By day three, he wagged his tail, and within a couple of weeks, we heard him bark for the first time. That was a day we celebrated, because when a Scottie feels like voicing an opinion, we knew he is on the way to recovery.

After about two more months of TLC, Duffy embarked on his next round of adventures. Libby Gault and her two sons came to visit him on Sunday afternoon, and it was love at first sight for both her 11 year old son, Jordan, and Duffy. Duffy would chase the ball as long as Jordan threw it for him. We didn't feel that Duffy was quite ready to leave our vet's care, but we knew that when he was well enough, Duffy would be going home with Jordan.  A few weeks later, we packed his little bag and off he went for his 'happily ever after'.

But Duffy's story does not end there either. A few days later Libby called me with tears of joy in her voice. Unbeknownst to me, Jordan had been having lots of trouble adjusting to some changes in his life and had been have horrible nightmares, and doing some dangerous sleepwalking.  I knew Duffy was far from being housebroken, and cautioned Libby to allow Duffy to continue to sleep in a crate until he could be trusted. However, Duffy had other ideas. The very first night, he made him self at home in Jordan's bed and Libby did not have the heart to make him move. The next morning, she realized that Jordan had not awakened screaming as had become his pattern. Nor did he do it the next night, nor the next. In fact for the next five and half years, Duffy and Jordan were partners, sleeping peacefully together.

Still Duffy's story continues, about three years later, the family was transferred to Bahrain, and was there for a couple of years, then  they were transferred to Germany. A few years after that,  I heard from Libby at Thanksgiving that Duffy was not doing so well, and that they were very afraid they were loosing him. Another letter shortly there after said he had seemed to rally and that it looks like another Duffy miracle was in process. However not long after that, the letter came that I had dreaded every time I saw her name on the e-mail. Here is Duffy's final chapter;  written, I am sure with tears of sorrow.

"Hi Ginger, I'm hoping this message finds you well and that you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year's.  I had hoped to write you sooner and let you know how much better Duffy had been doing since Thanksgiving.  I didn't write you soon enough.  Duffy passed away today very unexpectedly. 

I say unexpectedly because over the month of December he had really perked up.  He was walking and trotting well on his own, eating much better, and interacting with everyone much better.  Dr. Adam had lowered his insulin thinking that was the cause of Duffy's problems, and it seemed to do the trick for a while.  So the holiday season was very nice for everyone, including Duffy.

Bill left on Wednesday of last week to return to Africa and every day after that Duffy seemed to do a little more poorly.  Loss of appetite, rapid weight loss, inactivity, everything essentially.  He spent his evening lying on my Nannie's feet or my feet or in my lap.  This morning Nannie left to return to Tennessee and I made sure before we left the house that Duffy was comfortable on his bed in the kitchen.  He had an extra lovey (blanket) and soft music and Slippers for company.  Even though I knew he wasn't feeling great I really didn't think that today would be his last.   I was planning on coming home and just holding him in my lap for a while.

We have decided to have Duffy cremated in order to bring him home with us when we finally return to the states.  The facilities that I've chosen are to be highly commended.  I think regular funeral homes would do well to be as considerate as this gentleman was.  Duffy will be transported to Strasbourg, France to be cremated under quality controls, returned to us, and then sealed in an urn of our choosing.  I thanked Herr Meinhard profusely as I felt like this was a proper and fitting ending for Duffy.  I could not have borne it if he had been just thrown in a truck and hauled off to the pound.  He had been treated like garbage once in his life and I just didn't feel like he should be treated that way at the end of it.

I gave, and still give, thanks that God chose to bless us with his little life.  I hope I have been as much a blessing in return.    And I thank you, Ginger, for what you do in service to these souls.  They have hearts that are as much deserving of love and respect as any human and you have been such a blessing to all the scotties that you have helped rescue.

Thank you Ginger, for all you have done.  I'm sorry to relay sad news but I knew you would want to know.  Please take care.

With much love,

Libby     

So it is with sadness, over his loss, but with joy over his life, that I write this tribute to a true Diehard, what a little trouper he was. I would love for his first owners to know what a wonderful life he led for five and half years. He became a world traveler, and a much prized family member.

Scottie Coat Colors

Coat Colors

by Ginger McAfee

McDuff always struck a handsome pose. Anytime we were out together, people would comment on how ‘old’ he looked. Or ask what kind of “Schnauzer” he was. Actually he was a beautiful silver brindle Scottie. When you mention Scotties, most people automatically think of black. Many are amazed that they even come in other colors, and ask, “Are they like ‘real’ Scotties?”

There has always been controversy over what was the original and natural color of our Scots. I am of the opinion that the original working Scottie was not kept at all for the color of his coat but how he performed his duties.

 Dr. Fayette Ewing, author of “The Book of the Scottish Terrier”, copyright 1932, revised edition 1949 states that in Volume I of the Stud Book of the Scottish Terrier Club of Scotland, published in 1895, there were 531 registrations, only 56 were registered as black with no other markings. Being very careful to identify each color, the registry had 39 color variations of which were descriptions such as ‘Grayish brindle, Brownish brindle, and ‘Nearly’ black.

The Standard of points of the Scottish Terrier Club of America, adopted in 1993  states  color as follows:
            Black, wheaten, or brindles of any color. Many blacks and brindle dogs have

            sprinklings of white or silver hairs in their coats which are normal and not to

            be penalized. White can be allowed only on the chest and chin and that to a

            slight extent only.

So how do we get these colors and why do we never see a spotted Scottie? According to Jill-Marie Jones’ article “Coats of Many Colors”, Dog Fancy magazine, May 1991,  Dogs have two major types of pigment, yellow and black. The color of our dog’s coats, is determined by genes controlling the amount and extent of distribution of these two colors. 

Pigment is formed by the interaction of two types of substances. First is the chromogen, or the color base. The second is an enzyme or catalyst; it can be limited, varied or inhibited in it’s effect. Together these two form the granules of pigment called melanin, which is distributed in differing amounts throughout the hair. The variations in this distribution are what account for the different colors and patterns in our Scotties.

Mrs. Dorothy Caspersz who contributed to the written history of Scotties was quoted by Muriel P. Lee in “The Official Book of the Scottish Terrier”, copyright 1994, page126. Ms Lee states, “Mrs. Capersz noted that there are three absolute self-colors in the breed; black, red, and wheaten.”

Black seems to be the dominant color in most any color scheme. And is the color that most first time Scottie owners seem to prefer. Black Scotties are also quite dashing in the show ring or out on a leisurely stroll, with their person. I think too, that because we see Scotties in silhouette so often that the public gets the image of Scotties as being black.

The Brindle pattern, which can be loosely described and having more than one color in the coat,  is quite complex in it’s action. The brindle coat is usually harsher and easier to maintain. Some coats seem to have a brindle genetic base but because the two colors involved are closely related, the brindle is hardly visible. I have seen Scotties who only show their ‘brindle’ when clipped very closely on the back. Other brindles have almost a distinct pattern that is nearly evenly distributed over the entire body. McDuff has a very even pattern to his coat, except around his face which is much darker. From a distance his coat looks gray but on closer inspection you can see the different, individual colors in the coat.

The brindle gene is recessive. Generally speaking either one parent must be a brindle or both parents carry the  gene in order to produce a brindle Scottie. There is still much research needed to positively identify all the modifiers and possibilities of other genes that could determine the different colors of brindles that we see in our breed. It does appear that certain dogs have the tendency to pass on genes that produce certain colors. There are also some who think that the receptors and mutations to the brindle gene can cause the different color patterns.

Wheaten, according to the AKC “Definitions of Unusual or Special Colors”,  is “a dull, lowly-saturated yellow.”  Not a particularly attractive way to describe our beautiful ‘wheatie’ Scotties. I prefer to call them, ‘the color of golden, ripe wheat’. All colors of wheaten are acceptable but the lighter, nearly white, coat is undesirable. The wheaten gene is also  recessive,  meaning that in order to produce a wheaten, both parents must carry the gene. The parents could be black or brindle but each have a wheaten gene to pass on to the offspring, creating a wheaten puppy. This is called heterozygous, each dog having two different type genes. Or you can breed a homozygous wheaten ( one who has two wheaten genes) to a black or brindle and produce a wheaten puppy. It still amazes me that you can breed a wheaten Scottie and a black Scottie and not get spots or stripes, but then it is all mapped out in that genetic code that we hear so much about these days.

It is my humble opinion that the color of your Scot’s coat is not nearly as important as who he is. Beneath those ‘coats of many colors’ beats a heart that is as true and loyal as the rugged Highlanders of old Scotia.

Many thanks to Dr. Rick Oliver, medical technician, in Nashville, TN for his help in putting together this article.

Little Black Dog

Little Black Dog
by Elisabeth Elliot (Author and Missionary)

It is a late October morning of glorious sunshine in New Hampshire and I sit in an antique rocking chair by the window of an old house which was once a barn. The gray rocks on Mount Lafayette's broad summit are dusted with snow, and the sky is as blue as a sky can be. All that is still green today is the evergreens. Between them are the black line drawings of the thin leafless maples, wild cherries, aspens and birches. The feathery tamaracks are dark gold. Little yellow apples hang on one of the gnarled old trees of the orchard. I keep hoping a deer will come for them.
My friend Miriam and I drove up yesterday from Boston for a few days of quiet at my brother's place. Both of us brought a load of desk work. No one else is here except Daisy, Miriam's new friend, a little white Pekingese. (Her old friend, Pity Sing, died a few weeks ago.)
MacDuff, my six-year-old Scottish terrier, is not here this time either. We went for a short climb yesterday afternoon, up a rocky wooded trail that he used to love. He would race after the chattering chipmunks, bound up the steep granite slabs, and wait, panting, at the top for us to catch up. I missed him yesterday on that trail. I miss him today when I look out of the window.
MacDuff died of cancer last week. I knew he was sick during the summer when his routines changed. He sat in the middle of the back yard one morning, instead of in his usual place by the fence, looking bewildered instead of in charge. One rainy day he was not on his chair in the screened porch, but I found him lying in a hollow place under a bush. He no longer leaped for his Milk-Bone at the breakfast table. But he kept his ears and tail up, and thus kept my hopes up.
The vet said he had an infection and gave us pills. MacDuff got very cagey at detecting where those pills had been hidden in his food, so I had to try ever sneakier methods of getting them into him. They worked fine. He was well again--for a while faithfully putting in his self-appointed barking time each day, letting neighbor dogs know who was in charge, and keeping off trespassers, some of whom must have been demons since none of us humans could see them.
But I saw that he was losing weight. I could feel the shoulder blades and spine through his heavy, ragged coat. I bought new kinds of dog food, special hamburger, yogurt. He was apologetic when he couldn't eat it, his eyes limpid with a plea for understanding, his stiff brush-tail quivering to explain.
"Little Duffer, little black dog--could you try this?" I would ask, offering some tidbit that would surely be irresistible. He would lift his black nose, take it slowly and delicately in his teeth, hold it for a moment hoping I would look away, and then place it on the floor as tactfully as he could. He did not want to disappoint me.
His suffering was a hard thing to watch. He was alone in it, as all creatures, human or animal, are alone in their pain. "The toad beneath the harrow knows exactly where each sharp tooth goes." There is no qualitative or quantitative measurement for pain. It is simply there sharp or dull, shooting or stabbing, bearable or excruciating, local or general, it is unexplained, uninvited, unavoidable. It takes command. It is all-encompassing, implacable, exigent. But of course I am speaking only of what I know of pain. How was it for MacDuff?
He expected no special treatment. He did not pity himself. He took for granted that he would be able to go on about his accustomed terrier business and when he found that it was somehow not working well, he made his own adjustments as unobtrusively as he could. It was still the supreme object of his life to see that I was happy. I think he lay under the bush in the rain not in order to wallow in solitary self-pity, but in order that I might not see him in trouble. He liked to please me. He delighted to do my will.
Is animal suffering different from human suffering? I hope so. Animals surely must not suffer the agonies of anxiety which accompany much human pain. "How shall I carry out my duties? What am I to do if this doesn't clear up quickly? Can I bear it if it gets worse?" The element of time is not a philosophical torment to them. They live as we have to be told to live--one day at a time, trustfully. I don't know whether it is accurate to say that "faith" is required of them, but if it is, they fulfill the requirement perfectly. They look to God, the Psalmist tells us, for provision for their needs. They are watched over and cared for by a kind Father. Not the least sparrow falls without his notice. Surely MacDuff was of more value than many sparrows!
I watched him try to lie down on his side, but something obstructed his breathing. When he was asleep he would begin to pant and would waken to change his position, sometimes with little muffled groans. This fellow-creature, I thought, formed by the Hand that formed me, suffers for my sin--for I am of the race of men who brought evil into the world, and without evil there could be no pain, no death. A Scotty would not have had cancer.
His wonderful face bearded, with tufts of eyebrows springing and black eyes shining--had reminded me of George MacDonald's belief that dogs always behold the face of the Father. MacDuff knew things--what did he know? What were the mysteries he saw--too deep or too high or too pure for me to be entrusted with yet? I think they helped him endure the pain. He was not bewildered, of course, by the questions that needle my mind--the origin of evil, God's permission of an animal's or a child's suffering. He was a dog, and to ponder such questions was not required of him. What was required of him he did, in an authentically, thoroughly dog-like style.
I will not weep more for him. I will be thankful for such a gift of grace. He was, I am sure, "assigned" to me. When life seemed a desolate wasteland, MacDuff was there. Jesus, the Bible tells us, during his temptation in the wilderness, was "with the wild beasts." I used to think of that phrase as descriptive of one of the elements of his dereliction, but it may be that the wild beasts, like the angels, ministered to him. Is it mere sentimentality to believe that? Is it too much to say that Duffer "ministered" to me? He did. He was my little wild beast in that wilderness.
The Bible does not speak specifically of the destiny of animals but there is a promise in the Letter to the Ephesians which surely must include them, "Everything that exists in heaven or earth shall find its perfection and fulfillment in Christ" (Eph. 1:10 Phillips).
Paul expresses his hope in the eighth chapter of Romans (verse 21 Phillips) "that in the end the whole of created life will be rescued from the tyranny of change and decay, and have its share in that magnificent liberty which can only belong to the children of God!"
Copyright© 1979, by Elisabeth Elliot
all rights reserved.
Elisabeth Elliot and her husband Jim, were missionaries to Ecuador. Jim was killed by the Auca Indians while attempting to take the Gospel to that primitive tribe. Elisabeth continued her work among the Quichuas and later lived and worked among the Aucas. She wrote several books about this time in her life, "Through Gates of Splendor" was made into a movie.

Who’s In Charge?

by Ginger McAfee 

Dogs are communal creatures and believers in social structure as well as a clearly defined pecking order within the formation of their pack. The leader of this pack is called alpha. Alpha is the boss, the top dog, so to speak. The one who gets to do everything first. He gets to eat first, he gets the choice sleeping places and is the first to get attention from the other members of his pack. Your family is your dogs pack, this includes the human as well as canine members of your family unit.

Some dogs will naturally fit into the social structure of a pack in a subordinate position. Certain breeds are predisposed more than others to do this, however a Scottie is not one of them. Scotties, for the most part, come into the world believing themselves to be in charge.  Our job is to help them understand that we humans are going to be the leaders of our pack. This may not be too difficult if we begin when they are wee pups, but if we have allowed them to grow up thinking they control the household, we may have a problem on our hands.

Your dog’s mother taught him very early that she was the alpha, and that he was to respect her position. When you bring a puppy home, you need to continue the training that his mother has begun and transfer the alpha roll to you and he is free to find a more secure place within the pecking order. Begin by rolling him over on his back often. Not for a belly rub, but in order for him to become comfortable exposing his belly to you, a real sign of submission. Hold him in your arms and place your chin over his neck and head. This is what dogs do when they meet each other for the first time, the dog who gets his head on top is alpha. Hold him up to your eye level and look him directly in the eyes until he looks away. Teach him to sit and stay, then always make him wait until you go in or out of the doorway first. When you feed him, make him sit for a moment after you place his food on the floor. Several times a week, take his food away from him for a moment, after he has started to eat, this will not only help to establish your position of alpha, it is good training  should he put something harmful in his mouth and you need to take the food away from him without getting bitten. Never allow him to growl at you when you attempt to take his food. It may be cute as a puppy, but he is dead serious about it. Also, I suggest that you never play tug of war with your Scottie, or if you do, stop it at the first sign that he is taking it seriously, then YOU take the rope and put it up. If you stop the game but allow him to keep the rope, he will believe that he has won.

If your dog is older and you realize that you need to reestablish the pecking order, there are still some things you can do. Being alpha is more of an attitude. A dog can sense this attitude in other animals and humans. Practice being tough, stand straight and look your dog solidly in the eye. Speak to him in a deep and firm voice. Never ask him to obey, tell him. As alpha you are in charge. If you have not already taught him to sit and stay, that would definitely be in order now. Then any time he asked to go outside, make him sit for a moment, then as already mentioned, you go out the door first. Make him sit for his treats and his dinner. If he hesitates, then don’t feed him, ignore him for awhile, and bring the dinner out later, again telling him to sit for it. Be firm and confident. Once your dog has shown a willingness to accept his new place in the pack, it is time to enter him into a professional training class and then work with him regularly. A well trained obedient dog is a happy dog and a delight to live with.

Colonsay Kennels is located near Cookeville, TN in the foothills of the picturesque Cumberland Mountains. Jim and Ginger McAfee have owned bread and shown Scotties for over 25 years. They are members of the

Scottish Terrier Club of America, (http://clubs.akc.org/stca/)

  and  The Scottish Terrier Club of Greater Louisville. (http://stcgl.tripod.com/)

Look for us at many of the shows in the south, and the National Specialties.

We occasionally have available  puppies or  adults.

Contact us by e-mail at jgmcafee@charter.net or phone us at 931-858-4790

Some of our Scotties

Baby Lily's first show

Grand Champion Sabo Glen's Angel Fire
(Faith)

GCh Colonsay Brachen has come home to me (Connor)

CH Colonsay's MacArthur's Bark (Mac)

CH Colonsay's Golden Girl (Rose)

CH Colonsay Katie Bar the Door (Katie)

Katie

Skali

CH Golden Girl (Rose)

Colonsay Scottish Terriers

All About Scotties

Let’s begin at the beginning. Recent evidence has emerged that dogs and humans have co-existed for much longer than anyone expected. Genetic evidence suggests that man began to domesticate dogs while we were still hunter-gatherers, dwelling in caves and living off the land. Through selective breeding, different characteristics were shaped, and various breeds began to emerge, each one for a  specific purpose. One interesting thing that I discovered was that in 1980, Harry Frank from the University of Michigan-Flint, reported that the breeds of dogs who, through domestication, became obedient and trainable, lost some of their cognitive abilities such as problem solving. Those breeds that seem to be more obedient have a decreased capacity for insight and logic because throughout their natural adaptation intervention detached them from the consequence of their actions. In other words, those breeds that were developed to be more trainable, lost some of their reasoning and problem solving abilities, and became more compliant to their human master.  This is why some breeds of dogs, seem to have less ‘personality’. These dogs also seem to form very strong bonds with their owners and is genetically predisposed to learn and obey rules. Dogs, such as Scotties, that were bred primarily for aggressive territorial protection seem to have retained the ability to reason on a more logical level. However these same dogs, have also retained a more aggressive nature, in a general sense and may have a tendency to challenge his owner for dominance.

Scotties were developed to work independently from their owners. On the Scottish farm they were needed to control rodents, badgers, and foxes that would harm the land and consume cash crops as well as chickens and pigs.  Their job was to go after the varmint, sometimes straight into their burrows and bring them out dead or alive,  preferable dead.  This required quick wit and swift action. There was no time to go back to the master to ask directions. When necessary, the Scottie was fast and effective.

 Over time, humans developed from an agrarian society to an industrial-urban lifestyle, and the need for these vermin hunters has diminished. We have now invited these persistent, headstrong warriors into our homes and hearts, however they have not lost their drive and ability to ‘think on their feet’. I fully believe that this is one reason why some Scotties are quick to be rather snappy when provoked. Any quick movement or unusual activity might just bring on sudden retribution from an otherwise stoic Scot. Sometimes the very characteristics that we admire in our Scotties, are the same characteristics that might predispose them to being somewhat nippish. This behavior involves conduct that is normal from the Scotties point of view, but quite objectionable to his people.

Because of these inbred traits, Scotties can be somewhat more difficult to live with than more compliant breeds that were bred to go on organized hunts, herd livestock, or the toys breeds that were developed to sit in your lap and gaze loving in your face. Scotties are not lap dogs, in fact they think that humans were put on earth to do their bidding.

Because they were bred to think independently and to complete the task of getting the fox or badger without human help, Scotties are very stubborn, strong-willed and tenacious.

According to the Scottish Terrier Club of America, the general appearance of a
Scottish Terrier is a small, compact, short-legged, sturdily-built dog of good bone and substance. His head is long in proportion to his size. He has a hard, wiry, weather-resistant coat and a thick-set, cobby body which is hung between short, heavy legs. These characteristics, joined with his very special keen, piercing, "varminty" expression, and his erect ears and tail are salient features of the breed. The Scottish Terrier''s bold, confident, dignified aspect exemplifies power in a small package.

The Scottish Terrier should have a thick body and heavy bone. The principal objective must be symmetry and balance without exaggeration. Equal consideration shall be given to height, weight, length of back and length of head. Height at withers for either sex should be about 10 inches. The length of back from withers to set-on of tail should be approximately 11 inches. Generally, a well-balanced Scottish Terrier dog should weigh from 19 to 22 pounds and a bitch from 18 to 21 pounds.

For a more detailed look at what a well bred Scottie should look like go to the STCA web site http://clubs.akc.org/stca/IdentifyAScottie.htm .

Choosing Your Scottie Puppy

Let’s assume that you have done your home work and have decided that a Scottie puppy is for you. If you have never been owned by a Scottie, I would encourage you to talk with, and even visit people who share their home with one (or more) Scotties. Make absolutely sure that this is the breed for you because taking a Scottie into your home is a lifetime commitment and I am not deluded into believing that every home should have one. Scotties are special and need very special homes. However, I have discovered that after having a Scottie, most people will not be satisfied with another breed. Now after haven chose the breed, it is on to choosing a breeder.

A caring reputable breeder can be located in several different ways. Although there is the exception, you are not likely to find one in the local newspaper or in the classified section of the Internet. Many commercial breeders now use the Internet to sell their puppies. They can have slick websites, but in truth the breeding dogs live in deplorable conditions. Stay away from breeders that breed several different breeds, stick to the ones who specialize in only one or perhaps two breeds at the most.  Go to the Scottish Terrier Club of America Web site and check out their list of breeders. Visit dog shows, and talk to people there. Check out the ads in the dog magazines, ask people who have Scotties to recommend their breeder, and don’t forget about Scottie Rescue. After you have located a breeder with whom you feel comfortable, don’t be put off to learn that you will have to wait awhile nor be offended when the breeder asks you such questions as : “Have you had a Scottie before?” “How will the puppy be housed and cared for?” “How long will the puppy be alone during the day?” “Are there children in the home?” “Do you want to breed your dog?” and other such questions. The breeder is not trying to be nosy, but desires to place her puppies only with caring and responsible families. Also in discovering about your home and life style she can best help you pick out the perfect puppy for you.

Let’s eliminate the term “Pick of the litter” because each Scottie is unique and special in its own way, so each one needs a special home designed just for him. You want to find the puppy that will be YOUR pick of the litter.

The next step in the process would be to take inventory of your home and lifestyle. If you home is very active, you will need an active puppy, if however, you life a more sedate life, perhaps a quieter puppy or even a more settled adult would be best suited for you. After having done that and maybe even making a list of what you would (realistically) want in a puppy, contact a breeder and see when a litter is due. The idea way would be to visit the breeder when the puppies are at least eight weeks old, (or older depending on when the breeder is comfortable in letting them leave home).

Here are some tips on how to choose a puppy using some techniques such as:

• Sit down and make note of which puppy comes first and which one lags a little behind.
• See which on crawls into your lip, or pulls at your sleeve.
• Look to make sure they seem healthy, with clear eyes and a shiny coat.
• Take along a piece of cellophane paper and crumple it in your hand, see which ones seem interested in the noise.
• Bring along a squeak toy and see if that noise brings a response from any of the puppies.
• Don’t forget to ask to see the parents, make sure they too look healthy (although the mother may not look her best after giving birth and nursing a litter of active youngsters). If there is something you do not like about the parents then you should resume your search because the puppies will likely take somewhat after the parents.
• Ask the breeder about differences that she has observed in the litter. A caring breeder will not try to ‘sell’ you a puppy but will want to place the puppy in the home that best suits him, so she should be willing to share her observations on each puppy.

At some point in the discussion be sure to ask if there have been any problems with Scottie Cramp; Cerebellar Abiotrophy (CA or Ataxia), Bladder Cancer (TCC) or other inherited disorders. Also make sure the parents have been genetically tested for von Willebrand’s Disease. A responsible breeder will have no problems talking to you about these disorders. Be wary of any breeder who does not know about these inherent problems in Scotties or is not willing to discuss them with you.

A reputable breeder will be willing to give you a guarantee (in writing) as to the health of the puppy. If you are purchasing a show quality puppy there may be a contract involved. If the dog is not going to be shown, then the dog should be altered, and the breeder should insist on this. The breeder should also be willing to be available to answer any questions that you have in the future, and be willing to take back any puppy that she breeds should there be a genetic problem of if you can no longer care for the dog. (Don’t expect a refund beyond the stated period in the contract, but she should be willing to take back a puppy and help find it a new home if she can not keep it.)

After having discussed some of the best ways to pick out your puppy, I will state that it is highly unlikely that you will be able to go to a breeder and choose the puppy you want. The way it is usually done is to choose your breeder, discuss with her all the above items, see when the she has a litter due and ask to be placed on her list to be notified when the puppies come. Tell her what you are looking for, i.e. color, sex temperament, etc. she should then let you know when the puppies arrive and if she may have one for you. If you are looking for a companion Scotties, color and sex should be the last items of concern. Scotties come in may lovely colors. I can understand if you have a preference but don’t discount one just by color. Neither have I found a great deal of differences between the sexes, as a companion, your puppy will be spayed or neutered at about six months old, and will never even know what sex he of she is.  You should choose your puppy based on the reputation of the breeder, the puppy’s health, temperament and personality.