Scottish Highland Dog Breeds

These dogs stand out mainly for their small size, which makes them very adaptable to living in small apartments in the city.

The Scottish Highlands are known for movies like  Braveheart , with its meadows and fortifications. But, there are also dog breeds in this region! In this article, we’ll inform you about the races that emerged in this magical and historic region.

What are Scottish Highland Dogs?

Some are known around the world, but others can only be found in and around the area. The truth is that  Scottish Highland dogs have common origins and similar activities, among which is mainly hunting. These are the breeds that emerged in this region:

1. West Highland White Terrier

We start with the most famous of the mountain dogs,  popularly known as the “westie” and for its completely white coat. Like the other terriers, this one is also energetic, courageous and quite barking. It was bred for hunting hares and birds, hence its light color (to differentiate it from the gray or black of its prey).

The  West Highland White Terrier (pictured that opens this article) is small: no more than 30 centimeters in height and 10 kilos in weight. Its tail is shaped like a “carrot” and measures about 15 centimeters. As for the coat, it is long and disheveled, especially on the face.

1. Scottish hare

Called a “deerhound” in its homeland, it is a very old hunting dog (it appears in portraits at the feet of great feudal lords). When the ‘fashion’ was hunting deer with a shotgun, this canine breed was almost extinct. However, the breeders managed to make this aristocratic dog survive.

The Scottish lebrel has a disheveled appearance, with a greyhound’s body, as it is of the same family, and long legs. The chest is deep, has an arched back and a very long, thin tail at the tip. Regarding his temperament, he has good manners. It is ideal as a companion dog and is characterized by its loyalty and tenderness.

1. Cairn Terrier

Among the Scottish Highland dogs, this breed is the oldest, and many breeds of them came (among them the Westie). It is a working dog used to hunt and capture prey in burrows located among the mountains of the region. The word ” cairn”  means cave, where foxes and badgers live, in Gaelic.

Furthermore, the Cairn  terrier  is active, resilient, cheerful and a very good pet because of its ease of training. It also adapts very well to any environment, whether in urban houses or apartments. He likes to dig holes in the ground, doesn’t bark much and can get bored if he’s left alone for many hours.

1. Scottish terrier

The aberdeen terrier, or “scottie” as it is popularly known, is another breed of Scottish Highland dog. Its origins date back to the 18th century, although it was separated from the West Highland and Cairn in 1890 (until then the three races were considered the same).

It is a natural digger, small in size, but very resistant and fast due to its muscular body. The coat of the Scottish terrier is hard and can be black, cream or white. Its long muzzle and pointed ears are always straight, and it goes well with its alert nature.

1. skye terrier

The last of the Scottish Highland Dogs was actually born on the Isle of Skye (hence its name), but came about after crossing   Highland Terriers with Maltese dogs that survived a 16th century shipwreck.

It is an endangered breed that could disappear due to the small number of “pure” births in the UK.

This dog has a robust and elongated body, with a strong muzzle, erect ears, long neck and short but muscular limbs. Also, its coat is very striking due to its length, as it covers the eyes almost completely.

Scottish Highland dog breeds, with the exception of the whippet, which requires more space, are perfect city pets due to their small size. They fit anywhere!