August 2008

A reader writes:

I have owned Scotties since the early 1980s. That’s 3 total. My last one died at age 12 years 10 months in June. Sadly he was a quirky little fellow. And now that we are starting to think about a new dog my husband seems to think all Scotties are destined to be like Geoff.

Two worst habits, biting, and barking. The biting could be totally unprovoked. Here’s an example. We had guests over for a picnic. The 4 adults were seated on the patio at a picnic table. Their 3 children ages 4, 7, and 10 were playing nearby on the patio with a large ball. They were noisy and excited. The dog came darting out of the house and nipped at the youngest child, drawing blood. There’s a long list of similar stories.

Needless to say, he did not feel like guests were safe around this dog. He could go many months without biting, but just when we’d let our guard down, it would happen again. I can’t say I blame my husband for not wanting an animal like that in our home again. The barking takes a distant second as far as it being a behavior problem.

Well, without going into our life story let me just say, I am 200% devoted to Scotties. It’s hard to imagine that I could bond with another breed of dog. So, my question for you, is; is there any way to find a Scottie that can be counted on to have a gentle disposition? I will add, this dog came from an extremely reputable breeder.

Sign me, Heartbroken Scottie lover,

Advice, anyone?

Tagged as: aggression

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