Scolden Terrier

Mary Simpson
by Mary Simpson
fast facts

About Scolden Terrier

Height
14-20 inches
Weight
25-35 lb
Lifespan
11-13 years
Group
Not Applicable
Best Suited For
Temperament
playful, energetic, friendly, alert, bold, independent
Comparable Breeds
Golden Retriever, Scottish Terrier
Scolden Terrier Basics


The bold little Scolden Terrier brings together two highly diverse dog breed personalities; the friendly, sweet Golden Retriever and the willful, stand-offish Scottish Terrier, for a fun dog that once socialized, gets along well with kids and other animals. In spite of these diverse temperaments, this dog makes a great family pet that is alert and can be counted on to bark as he sees fit – but not for longer than necessary – which makes him great for apartments. In spite of his cautious nature around strangers, this is in fact a people-pleasing pooch who has a fair bit of energy and loves to be involved in all family activities. While this makes for a fun family member, it also means that he bonds quickly and doesn’t do well when left on his own for too long. Both parent breeds are prone to separation anxiety that can result in destructive behaviors such as chewing, digging, barking and urinating in the house. The Scolden Terrier’s ideal home will have a family member that is retired or works from home.


The bold little Scolden Terrier brings the gentle nature of the Golden Retriever together with the willful personality of the Scottish Terrier.


Origin


Because your Scolden Terrier is a Designer Dog it’s likely he dates back to the 1980s when breeders first began crossing two or more popular pure-breds to produce a dog that was healthier, often non-shedding and sometimes smaller and gentler than many of the foundation breeds. With the Scolden Terrier, his parentage includes the Golden Retriever and the Scottish Terrier and in spite of his own fairly recent history, his family lineage is rather impressive. Not surprisingly the tenacious little Scottish Terrier hales from Scotland however what you may not have known is that this little guy dates back almost 600 years to when he was bred for hunting smaller prey including rats and other vermin. Rumor has it, this pooch may even date back to the time of the Roman occupation in Britain – around 55 BC! Now when it comes to the ultra-gentle Golden Retriever, you have a dog that also calls Scotland home, has keen instincts, a desire to please and who was developed back in the mid-19th century to fill the need for a hunting dog that was adept on land and in water and could bring back waterfowl with a gentle “mouth” meaning without damaging the bird.


Pedigree

While their devotion to advocating for pure-bred dogs precludes the cross-bred Scolden Terrier from joining the renowned American Kennel Club (AKC), both of his parents are not only iconic breeds but long-time members in good standing. The gentle, friendly Golden Retriever has been a member of AKC’s “sporting” group since 1925 and is considered as being friendly, intelligent and devoted while the feisty little Scottish Terrier joined the club’s “terrier” group way back in 1885 and is described as being a confident, independent and spirited dog.


Food/Diet


The Scolden Terrier is a highly active dog who loves nothing more than to be on the move all day long. As a result, he needs a top-quality kibble that delivers the right mix of nutrients for a dog of his age, size and activity level. With joint issues a later-in-life problem with both parent breeds, it’s important this dog not be allowed to become overweight. Plan to feed him two to three smaller meals throughout the day versus letting him free-feed. And ensure his food is high in protein and low in fillers such as carbohydrates that will cause him to want to over-eat to feel full. A quality diet with healthy treats will go a long way in keeping him happy and satisfied.


The Scolden Terrier is a highly active dog who loves nothing more than to be on the move all day long.


Training


The Scolden Terrier comes from two very intelligent dog breeds and while this means he will be quick to pick up commands, the Terrier in him means he won’t always be prepared to obey them. Yes, this pooch will likely have the stubborn streak common in Scottish Terriers as well as a propensity to become distracted by sights, sounds and smells, so plan to use a rewards-based approach to training that can involve treats and loads of praise in order to keep him engaged and responsive. This dog will also need to have pack leadership established early on, so a firm, consistent approach to setting rules and expectations is needed but with the Golden influencing his desire to keep you happy, you’ll soon find that with time (and a handful of treats), he will rise to the occasion. Because this dog will likely have the instinct to chase smaller animals, its important he be socialized at a young age. Exposure to new faces, other animals, sights and smells will help integrate him into your family and help him understand the need to play nice at dog parks.


Weight


When your Scolden Terrier has reached maturity, you can expect him to weigh between 25 and 35 pounds. This weight will vary depending on your dog’s gender as well as which breed’s DNA is most influential in his physical make up.


Temperament/Behavior

The Scolden Terrier is a great family pet that is happy, loving, playful and above all else, quite bold. He brings the loyalty and gentle side of the Golden Retriever, the alert, independent streak of the Scottish Terrier and together you have a dog that is a true people-pleaser – and once socialized, great with kids and other animals. Because he is part terrier, he will retain some instinct to hunt and chase so care must be taken around smaller animals and the above-noted socialization will be important before taking him to a dog park. He is cautious around strangers and while not aggressive, he won’t hesitate to bark to alert his human pack to what he perceives as danger. This dog bonds quickly and considers himself an important part of his human family which means he can suffer from separation anxiety if left on his own for longer periods. He is also quite an intelligent dog so will need to be kept busy – both physically active and mentally stimulated – to prevent him from developing destructive behaviors out of boredom. Regular exercise, puzzle games that challenge him as well as a family member that is at home during the day are possible options to overcoming this type of behavior.


Common Health Problems


Its typical for Designer Dogs to be somewhat healthier than their pure-bred parents as they were often bred specifically to cancel out congenital health issues. In spite of this, it’s always important to know what your new family member may potentially inherit down the line and in the case of the Scolden Terrier, that can include certain cancers from both the Golden Retriever and the Scottish Terrier as well as joint issues including patellar luxation and hip / elbow dysplasia and ocular concerns including cataracts and retinal dysplasia from the Terrier. In spite of this rather concerning list of ailments, it’s quite possible your Scolden may never experience any serious medical concerns throughout his lifetime.


Life Expectancy


The Scolden Terrier is a very active dog and if provided with his much-needed daily exercise, a diet that is designed for his age, size and energy level as well as annual check-ups with your vet to keep his health on track, you can expect he will live a good, healthy life of between 11 and 13 years.


Exercise Requirements


The Scolden Terrier has a big dog’s energy level in a small dog frame so will always be up for any and all, family activities. His need for a physical outlet for his energy means he will require at least one long or two shorter walks each day to keep him physically and mentally fit. A tossed ball or Frisbee in a fully fenced yard will be a great addition to his daily regimen, as will a visit to an off-leash park where he can interact with other dogs. Again, socialization must come first. As this dog has terrier running through his veins, you can expect him to be off chasing every scent he picks up and when this happens, he completely tunes you out. For that reason, off-leash activities need to be in a fenced area where he can’t wander off. Because the Golden in him just thrives on making his people happy, be sure to work in some agility work that includes fetching and retrieving, where he can be challenged and rewarded for a job well done. Meeting his energy needs will be important to having a great family pet that doesn’t pick up destructive behaviors or feel the urge to chase the family cat.


The Scolden Terrier is a great family pet when properly socialized.


Recognized Clubs


As the Scolden Terrier – also known as the Golden Scottie – is considered a Designer Dog because of his two different breeds of parent, he doesn’t qualify to join the coveted American Kennel Club roster of purebred dogs, however he is recognized by two lesser known clubs including the Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA) and the International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR).


Coat


The Scolden Terrier’s coat can be cream, black or golden and while it is similar in length to the Golden Retriever, it is typically rough and coarse in texture, like the Scottish Terrier. Because both dogs are known to be heavy shedders, you can expect your Scolden will need daily brushing to keep his free of tangles, matts and of course, help keep the loose hair in check. Professional grooming won’t be necessary and bathing should only be done as absolutely needed, however a weekly ear inspection and cleaning is a must for floppy-eared dogs. A quick wipe with a cotton ball will help get rid of any dirt and bacteria that has accumulated and prevent potential smelly yeast infections from occurring under his ear flap. As the Golden side of this dog loves to swim, you’ll need to ensure his inner ear is always properly dried to prevent a build-up of moisture.


Puppies


Scolden Terrier pups are intelligent, happy and somewhat headstrong little dogs who can grow to be stubborn, disobedient dogs if they aren’t trained and socialized while still young. Obedience training should begin while he is between 8 and 12 weeks of age and is more inclined to listen and obey. With socialization, the ideal is to get him playing nice with other dogs and to not chase smaller animals and this can be done by slowly exposing him to new faces, sights, sounds and other animals. As with many smaller dog breeds, the Scottish Terrier in your dog can be difficult to housebreak, so again, an early start is the best way to get him into the right habits and a regular routine from the onset. With both of this dog’s parents being prone to joint issues as they get older, ensure all activity with this little guy is done in moderation as any injury to his tiny limbs and joints can come back to haunt him later in life.


Photo credits: Joyce Marrero/Shutterstock; Xevia/Shutterstock; TRINACRIA PHOTO/Shutterstock

Mary Simpson
Mary Simpson

Sharing space with three seriously judgy Schnoodles and two felines who prefer to be left alone. #LivingMyBestLife

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