Are Scottish Terriers Good Dogs? What Science Says

Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022

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Introduction to the Temperament of the Scottish Terrier

The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Scottish Terrier out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.

In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Scottish Terrier based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Scottish Terrier breed.

We obtained our description of the temperament of Scottish Terrier by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.

The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.

Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Scottish Terrier.

The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.

The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.

The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:

  1. Aggression towards stranger
  2. Aggression towards its owner
  3. Aggression towards other dogs
  4. How well they get along with other dogs
  5. Fear of strangers
  6. Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
  7. Fear of other dogs
  8. Separation anxiety
  9. Clinginess
  10. Trainability/ Stubbornness
  11. Prey drive
  12. Excitability
  13. Touch sensitivity
  14. Energy level

In this article, we will discuss the score of the Scottish Terrier for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Scottish Terrier.

The summary table below shows the score of the Scottish Terrier for the different behavioral characteristics.

High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.

Behavior Score
Dog Rivalry 8.2 percent
Stranger Directed Fear 7.7 percent
Energy Level 52.3 percent
Stubbornness 43.2 percent
Prey Drive 40.0 percent
Excitability 37.6 percent
Owner Directed Aggression 3.9 percent
Dog Directed Aggression 29.3 percent
Touch Sensitivity 22.5 percent
Stranger Directed Aggression 21.2 percent
Nonsocial Fear 19.9 percent
Dog Directed Fear 19.7 percent
Attachment Attention Seeking 15.5 percent
Separation Related Behavior 10.6 percent

Note that with proper training, you can better your Scottish Terrier`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Scottish Terrier, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.

I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.

Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Scottish Terrier.

See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.

Are Scottish Terriers Aggressive Towards Strangers?

Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.

Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.

Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.

Scottish Terriers are not aggressive towards strangers.

This is because the Scottish Terrier ranks very low for aggression towards strangers.

The Scottish Terrier ranks number 97 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.

This information is based on what 16 Scottish Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Scottish Terrier in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Scottish Terrier has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 21.2 %.

Other dog breeds that are not aggressive towards strangers just like the Scottish Terrier are listed in the table below

Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score
94 Norwegian Elkhound 23.2 %
95 Labrador Retriever 22.8 %
96 Brittany 22.5 %
97 Scottish Terrier 21.2 %
98 Border Terrier 20.5 %
99 Staffordshire Bull Terrier 20.1 %
100 Eurasier 20.0 %

The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Dachshund
  3. Miniature Pinscher
  4. Dachshund (Miniature)
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:

  1. Siberian Husky
  2. Greyhound
  3. Irish Wolfhound
  4. Samoyed
  5. Black and Tan Coonhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most stranger-aggressive breed to the least stranger-aggressive breed.

Temperament of the Scottish Terrier

Are Scottish Terriers Aggressive Towards their Owners?

Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.

Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.

A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.

Scottish Terriers are not aggressive towards their owners.

This is because the Scottish Terrier ranks very low for aggression towards its owner.

The Scottish Terrier ranks number 119 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.

This information is based on what 16 Scottish Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Scottish Terrier in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Scottish Terrier has an owner-directed-aggression score of 3.9 %.

Other dog breeds that are not owner-aggressive just like the Scottish Terrier are listed in the table below

Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Owner-Directed-Aggression Score
116 Portuguese Water Dog 5.0 %
117 Bouvier des Flandres 4.9 %
118 Irish Setter 4.6 %
119 Scottish Terrier 3.9 %
120 Italian Greyhound 2.6 %
121 Rhodesian Ridgeback 0.9 %
122 Irish Water Spaniel 0.9 %

The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:

  1. Pekingese
  2. Basenji
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Lhasa Apso
  5. Alaskan Husky

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Pointer
  3. Irish Water Spaniel
  4. Rhodesian Ridgeback
  5. Italian Greyhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to their owners to the ones that are least aggressive to their owners.

Are Scottish Terriers Aggressive Towards other Dogs?

Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.

A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs

A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.

Scottish Terriers are a little bit aggressive towards other dogs.

This is because the Scottish Terrier ranks low for aggression towards other dogs.

The Scottish Terrier ranks number 93 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.

This information is based on what 16 Scottish Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Scottish Terrier in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Scottish Terrier has a dog-directed aggression score of 29.3 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit dog-aggressive just like the Scottish Terrier are listed in the table below

Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Dog-Directed-Aggression Score
90 Samoyed 30.4 %
91 Mastiff (English) 29.9 %
92 Ibizan Hound 29.4 %
93 Scottish Terrier 29.3 %
94 Portuguese Water Dog 29.2 %
95 Shih Tzu 28.9 %
96 Great Pyrenees 28.8 %

The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Pit Bull mix
  5. Dachshund

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:

  1. Pointer
  2. Black and Tan Coonhound
  3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  4. Irish Wolfhound
  5. Keeshond

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to other dogs to the ones that are least aggressive to other dogs.

Personality of the Scottish Terrier

Are Scottish Terriers Afraid of Strangers?

Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.

Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.

Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.

Scottish Terriers are not fearful of strangers.

This is because the Scottish Terrier ranks very low for fear of strangers.

The Scottish Terrier ranks number 118 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.

This information is based on what 16 Scottish Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Scottish Terrier in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Scottish Terrier has a stranger-directed-fear score of 7.7 %.

Other dog breeds that are not stranger-fearful just like the Scottish Terrier are listed in the table below

Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank Breed Stranger-Directed-Fear Score
115 Portuguese Water Dog 8.2 %
116 French Bulldog 7.7 %
117 Keeshond 7.7 %
118 Scottish Terrier 7.7 %
119 Newfoundland 6.6 %
120 Giant Schnauzer 5.7 %
121 Siberian Husky 4.9 %

The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Chinese Crested
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:

  1. Old English Sheepdog
  2. Irish Wolfhound
  3. Norwegian Elkhound
  4. Siberian Husky
  5. Giant Schnauzer

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of strangers to the ones that are least fearful to strangers.

Are Scottish Terriers Afraid of Other Dogs?

Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.

A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.

Scottish Terriers are not fearful of other dogs.

This is because the Scottish Terrier ranks very low for fear of other dogs.

The Scottish Terrier ranks number 104 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.

This information is based on what 16 Scottish Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Scottish Terrier in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Scottish Terrier has a dog-directed-fear score of 19.7 %.

Other dog breeds that are not other-dog-fearful just like the Scottish Terrier are listed in the table below

Dog-Directed-Fear Rank Breed Dog-Directed-Fear Score
101 Old English Sheepdog 21.1 %
102 Redbone Coonhound 20.9 %
103 Irish Water Spaniel 20.1 %
104 Scottish Terrier 19.7 %
105 Irish Wolfhound 17.6 %
106 German Wirehaired Pointer 17.5 %
107 Great Pyrenees 16.8 %

The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Chihuahua
  5. Lhasa Apso

The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Ibizan Hound
  3. Eurasier
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of other dogs to the ones that are least fearful of other dogs.

Is the Scottish Terrier a good pet

Do Scottish Terriers Have Non-Social Fears?

Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.

Scottish Terriers are a little bit fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.

This is because the Scottish Terrier ranks low for non-social fear.

The Scottish Terrier ranks number 89 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.

This information is based on what 16 Scottish Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Scottish Terrier in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Scottish Terrier has a nonsocial-fear score of 19.9 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit nonsocial-fearful just like the Scottish Terrier are listed in the table below

Nonsocial-Fear Rank Breed Nonsocial-Fear Score
86 French Bulldog 20.9 %
87 Havanese 20.7 %
88 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 20.2 %
89 Scottish Terrier 19.9 %
90 Bernese Mountain Dog 19.8 %
91 Belgian Malinois 19.7 %
92 Labrador Retriever 19.7 %

The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Dingo
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. English Bulldog
  5. Italian Greyhound

The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Siberian Husky
  3. Irish Setter
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations to the ones least fearful of unfamiliar situations.

Do Scottish Terriers Get Along Well With Other Dogs?

Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.

These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.

Scottish Terriers are not competitive when dealing with other dogs.

This is because the Scottish Terrier ranks very low on dog rivalry.

The Scottish Terrier ranks number 120 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.

This information is based on what 16 Scottish Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Scottish Terrier in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Scottish Terrier has a dog-rivalry score of 8.2 %.

Other dog breeds that are not competition-driven just like the Scottish Terrier are listed in the table below

Dog-Rivalry Rank Breed Dog-Rivalry Score
117 Labrador Retriever 15.0 %
118 Border Terrier 13.8 %
119 Bernese Mountain Dog 12.4 %
120 Scottish Terrier 8.2 %
121 Italian Greyhound 6.8 %
122 Norwegian Elkhound 5.9 %
123 Saint Bernard 5.9 %

The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:

  1. Miniature Pinscher
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. French Bulldog
  5. Treeing Walker Coonhound

The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Saint Bernard
  3. Norwegian Elkhound
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Scottish Terrier

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.

The Scottish Terrier. Is it aggressive?

Are Scottish Terriers Easy to Train?

Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.

Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.

Scottish Terriers are a little bit easy to train.

This is because the Scottish Terrier ranks low for trainability.

The Scottish Terrier ranks number 87 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.

This information is based on what 16 Scottish Terrier owners reported on the trainability of their Scottish Terrier in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Scottish Terrier has a trainability score of 56.8 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit easy to train just like the Scottish Terrier are listed in the table below

Trainability Rank Breed Trainability Score
84 Bulldog 58.3 %
85 Ibizan Hound 58.1 %
86 Pit Bull mix 57.5 %
87 Scottish Terrier 56.8 %
88 Fox Terrier (Toy) 55.9 %
89 Alaskan Husky 55.8 %
90 Maltese 55.6 %

The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:

  1. Belgian Tervuren
  2. Belgian Malinois
  3. Border Collie
  4. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
  5. Irish Water Spaniel

The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:

  1. Dingo
  2. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  3. Basenji
  4. Afghan Hound
  5. Pekingese

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are easiest to train to the ones that are most difficult to train.

Learn more about how intelligent the Scottish Terrier is and how the intelligence of the Scottish Terrier affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Scottish Terrier is.

Do Scottish Terriers Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?

Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.

Scottish Terriers are a little bit into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.

This is because the Scottish Terrier ranks low for small-pet-chasing.

The Scottish Terrier ranks number 85 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.

This information is based on what 16 Scottish Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Scottish Terrier in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Scottish Terrier has a chasing score of 40.0 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit into chasing after smaller pets just like the Scottish Terrier are listed in the table below

Chasing Rank Breed Chasing Score
82 Bearded Collie 41.0 %
83 Pomeranian 40.8 %
84 Poodle (Miniature) 40.7 %
85 Scottish Terrier 40.0 %
86 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 39.8 %
87 Chow Chow 39.6 %
88 Havanese 38.9 %

The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:

  1. Basenji
  2. Dingo
  3. Ibizan Hound
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Borzoi

The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:

  1. Pug
  2. Bulldog
  3. Shih Tzu
  4. Bernese Mountain Dog
  5. Great Pyrenees

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.

Things to know before getting the Scottish Terrier

Do Scottish Terriers Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?

Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.

These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.

Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.

Scottish Terriers are not attachment/attention-seeking.

This is because the Scottish Terrier ranks very low for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.

The Scottish Terrier ranks number 119 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.

This information is based on what 16 Scottish Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Scottish Terrier in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Scottish Terrier has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 15.5 %.

Other dog breeds that are not attachment/attention-seeking just like the Scottish Terrier are listed in the table below

Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank Breed Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score
116 Afghan Hound 18.4 %
117 Siberian Husky 17.9 %
118 Shiba Inu 16.6 %
119 Scottish Terrier 15.5 %
120 Chow Chow 12.0 %
121 English Setter 11.1 %
122 Kuvasz 10.8 %

The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:

  1. Poodle (Toy)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Australian Cattle Dog
  5. American Eskimo Dog

The dog breeds that are aloof are the:

  1. Norwegian Elkhound
  2. Borzoi
  3. Kuvasz
  4. English Setter
  5. Chow Chow

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.

Do Scottish Terriers have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?

Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.

These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.

They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.

Scottish Terriers are not prone to developing separation anxiety.

This is because the Scottish Terrier ranks very low for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.

The Scottish Terrier ranks number 118 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.

This information is based on what 16 Scottish Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Scottish Terrier in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Scottish Terrier has a separation anxiety score of 10.6 %.

Other dog breeds that are not prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Scottish Terrier are listed in the table below

Separation-Related-Behavior Rank Breed Separation-Related-Behavior Score
115 Portuguese Water Dog 15.5 %
116 Flat-Coated Retriever 15.0 %
117 Rhodesian Ridgeback 13.6 %
118 Scottish Terrier 10.6 %
119 Norwegian Elkhound 10.4 %
120 Bernese Mountain Dog 9.7 %
121 Eurasier 9.0 %

The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:

  1. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Miniature Pinscher
  5. Australian Silky Terrier

The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Giant Schnauzer
  4. Eurasier
  5. Bernese Mountain Dog

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.

Temperament Profile of the Scottish Terrier

Are Scottish Terriers Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?

Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.

These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.

Scottish Terriers are a little bit touch-sensitive.

This is because the Scottish Terrier ranks low for touch sensitivity.

The Scottish Terrier ranks number 86 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.

This information is based on what 16 Scottish Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Scottish Terrier in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Scottish Terrier has a touch-sensitivity score of 22.5 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit touch-sensitive just like the Scottish Terrier are listed in the table below

Touch-Sensitivity Rank Breed Touch-Sensitivity Score
83 Ibizan Hound 23.1 %
84 Labrador Retriever 22.9 %
85 Lagotto Romagnolo 22.9 %
86 Scottish Terrier 22.5 %
87 Havanese 22.3 %
88 Australian Shepherd 22.0 %
89 Dingo 21.8 %

The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:

  1. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  2. Miniature Pinscher
  3. Pekingese
  4. Australian Silky Terrier
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Pointer
  4. Gordon Setter
  5. Portuguese Water Dog

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.

Are Scottish Terriers Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?

Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:

  • going for walks
  • car trips
  • sound of the doorbell
  • arrival of visitors, and
  • the owner arriving home

Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.

Scottish Terriers are a little bit hyper (excitable).

This is because the Scottish Terrier ranks low for excitability.

The Scottish Terrier ranks number 87 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.

This information is based on what 16 Scottish Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Scottish Terrier in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Scottish Terrier has an excitability score of 37.6 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit excitable just like the Scottish Terrier are listed in the table below

Excitability Rank Breed Excitability Score
84 Pembroke Welsh Corgi 38.7 %
85 Dalmatian 38.5 %
86 Portuguese Water Dog 38.2 %
87 Scottish Terrier 37.6 %
88 Border Terrier 37.4 %
89 Bulldog 37.2 %
90 Alaskan Malamute 36.8 %

The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:

  1. Borzoi
  2. Samoyed
  3. Great Pyrenees
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Anatolian Shepherd

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.

The Scottish Terrier

Are Scottish Terriers Playful? What is the Energy Level of Scottish Terriers

Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.

Scottish Terriers are a little bit energetic.

This is because the Scottish Terrier ranks low for energy level.

The Scottish Terrier ranks number 76 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.

This information is based on what 16 Scottish Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Scottish Terrier in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Scottish Terrier has an energy-level score of 52.3 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit energetic just like the Scottish Terrier are listed in the table below

Energy-Level Rank Breed Energy-Level Score
73 American Staffordshire Terrier 53.4 %
74 English Springer Spaniel 53.4 %
75 French Bulldog 52.3 %
76 Scottish Terrier 52.3 %
77 Border Terrier 52.0 %
78 Bichon Frise 51.9 %
79 Golden Retriever 51.5 %

The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:

  1. Belgian Malinois
  2. Belgian Tervuren
  3. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  4. German Shorthaired Pointer
  5. Ibizan Hound

The dog breeds that are laziest are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Anatolian Shepherd
  3. Greyhound
  4. Great Pyrenees
  5. Pekingese

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.

Conclusion on Scottish Terrier Temperament

The temperament of your Scottish Terrier comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Scottish Terrier is exposed to.

You cannot change your Scottish Terrier`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Scottish Terrier to.

Exposing your Scottish Terrier to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Scottish Terrier to what you desire.

Again, with proper training, you can better your Scottish Terrier`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.

I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.

Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Scottish Terrier.

If you think the Scottish Terrier is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Scottish Terriers cost and Scottish Terrier puppy buying guide.

Also, see our list of reputable Scottish Terrier breeders in the United States and the prices of their Scottish Terrier puppies.