Heart of Dogness

Single-Malt Scotch Terriers: Speyside

 Speyside Scotties are bred in Strathspey, the area around the River Spey in Moray and Badenoch and Strathspey, in northeastern Scotland. There are so many breeders that there are few similarities across the region, though some of the most refined and elegant Scotties are from Speyside, and won't hesitate to let you know it. Although Speyside Scotties are often described in such grocery-inspired terms as fruity, floral, nutty, spicy, buttery and biscuity, most need no refrigeration and few thrive in cupboards.

The Speyside Scottie, like all Scotties, is charming and full of character, and knows a variety of card tricks. It is loyal and will protect your home and family from intruders, whether unwanted or greatly desired. If you have a Scottie from Speyside, you won't need any other friends, which is just as well, since you won't have any. You will, however, make the acquaintance of any number of lawyers.

Popular Speyside Dog Names:
Aberlour, Aultmore, Balmenach, Balvenie, Benriach, Benromach, Cardhu, Cragganmore, Dailuaine, Dufftown, Glendronach, Glendullan, Glenfarclas, Glenfiddich, Glen Grant, Glen Keith, Glentauchers, Glen Elgin, Glen Moray, Imperial, Inchgower, Knockando, Linkwood, Lismore, Longmorn, McClelland, Miltonduff, Mortlach, Speyburn, Strathisla, Tamnavulin Glenlivet, Tamdhu, Tomintoul, Tormore.

The following will only answer if you preface their names with "The":
The Glenlivet, The Glenrothes, The Macallan, The Speyside

Single-Malt Scotch Terriers: Lowland

Lowland Scotties are bred in the lowlands of Scotland. There are only three breeders now in the region: Glenkinchie, near Edinburgh; Auchentoshan, near Clydebank; and Bladnoch in Galloway. At least six other lowland Scotties are still available, but are no longer bred: Rosebank, Kinclaith, St. Magdalene, Ladyburn, Inverleven and Littlemill.

The typical Lowland Scotch Terrier is fresh and light in character, with notes of lemon and cut grass. A sweet nose and a hint of peat make this a good introduction to the breed, but that lightness requires that you keep a close watch on the dog in a stiff breeze and you must remember not to squeeze the dog over your fish. The Lowland Scottie's scrappy attitude makes him a challenge to train. The new Scottie owner should immediately find an obedience school at which to abandon the pup. That failing, equip yourself with a steely resolve and a small firearm with which to assert dominance.

Single-Malt Scotch Terriers: Highland

The Highland Scottie is thought to be the original of the breed, and shows it by barking in an incomprehensible brogue and wheezing like a bagpipe while asleep. There are far too many varieties to ascribe a specific set of characteristics to all, but it would be rash to say they have no character (see end of next paragraph). Use words like "heather" and "honey" in the description, and you ought to be safe.

Playful, lovable and loyal, the Highland Scottie can be a great family pet and watch dog, who will eagerly alert his owners to the presence of intruders or approaching spacecraft. A well-trained Scottie can learn to give a special bark when a process-server, bill-collector, or particularly unwelcome in-law is coming up the walk. Great care should be exercised when introducing Highland Scotties to other dogs, as they can be aggressive, argumentative and frequently have excellent attorneys on retainer.

Popular names for Highland Scotch Terriers:
Aberfeldy, Allt-a-Bhainne, An Cnoc, Ardmore, Balbair, Ben Nevis, Benrinnes, Clynelish, Dallas Dhu, Dalmore, Dalwhinnie, Deanston, Drumguish, Glen Albyn, Glencadam, Glen Deveron, Glen Eden, Glen Garioch, Glengoyne, Glenmorangie, Glen Ord, Glenturret, Imperial, Inchgower, Inverarity, Loch Dhu, Loch Lomond, Loch Morar, Macphail, Mannochmore, McClelland, Millburn, Oban, Old Pulteney, Royal Brackla, Royal Lochnagar, Teaninich, Tomatin, Tullibardine.

The following will only answer if you preface their names with "The":
The Edradour, The Singleton

Single-Malt Scotch Terriers: Introduction

The Scotch Terrier was developed in Scotland and called the Aberdeen Terrier, after the Scottish town of the same name. This was meant to hide the breed's true origins in Dumfries, at more or less the other end of the country. The Scottie was used to hunt den animals like otter, fox, badger, rabbit and couch potato, and to annoy tourists from England.

Scotties love the great outdoors, and should be given at least one brisk walk each day. A Scottie with a dominant personality (that is, one that's breathing) will insist on carrying a blackthorn walking stick, and occasionally whacking you in the shin with it.

The Scotch Terrier's outer coat is hard and wiry with a dense, softer undercoat. Frequent brushing with a wire brush or jackhammer is recommended. The coat may be black, gray, wheaten (yellowy-white), or brindle (almost any color, but looks like it's been rolling in coal dust). The breed sheds little, preferring to retain its hair until a suitable buyer can be found. Scotties are comfortable in rural, suburban, or urban environments, but in an apartment setting, the dog will always want to be the Superintendent. It's best to accede to this demand.

Most Scotch Terriers are blended, and have characteristics of many varieties. Over the next five days, we hope to introduce you to the many Single-Malt Scotch Terriers, and so deepen and broaden your appreciation of this remarkable breed.

Incidentally, I KNOW this is the same picture I used in my last post. Bear with me, OK?

Happy Hogmanay

Hogmanay is the traditional Scottish solstice festival, celebrated on December 31 to allow celebrants to recover from the hangovers incurred on the actual solstice and then again on Christmas.

Hogmanay customs include first-footing, an annual brawl to be first across the threshold of the neighbor with the best remaining supply of whisky; and first-smooching, an annual brawl to be first to kiss any attractive colleen who forgot to flee to somplace safer, like the crater of Mauna Loa. If you're the first across your neighbor's threshold to drink all his whisky, and the first to kiss his wife, daughter or granny, you're considered extremely lucky. Because you'll be moving out of the neighborhood very soon.

The origin of the word Hogmanay is obscure, research having been effectively stalled by the haze induced by the celebration itself. There is little evidence to support the theory I'm trying to float, which is that befuddled farmers returning home on January 1 were trying very hard not to reveal that they'd spent all the Hog Money.

Coming next week: The long-anticipated series on Single Malt Scotch Terriers

Season's Greetings from Steve

Just in time for Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Solstice and the Festival of Scrooge, Steve the Little Fluffy Dog sends you his best wishes on a festive and heartfelt (well, we're sure he felt it somewhere) T-Shirt. Available at Zazzle. Not yet at other fine merchants.

• More High-Class Steve the Little Fluffy Dog Products
• More Ultra-Fashionable Heart of Dogness Products

Update: Now also available on a Mug. And an Apron.

Shiba Inu Puppy Cam

My big sista Sheila sent me a PowerPoint presentation about Dogs 'n' People. I tried to upload it and link to it. Didn't work. Too bad, it was really cute and touching. Instead, I present this link to the Shiba Inu Puppy Cam. I found the link in a comment on Achenblog.

September 19th Be International Bark-Like-a-Pirate Day

Dogs of Ireland: Irish Red and White Setter

The Irish Red and White Setter looks like an Irish Setter that's had half a gallon of bleach spilled on it. The Red and White is evidently the older breed, derived from "Spaniels" brought to Ireland by returning Crusaders (everything on four legs that wasn't manifestly a horse was called a "Spaniel". Irish Wolfhounds were considered horses until well into the 20th century, when they began to be thought of as buildings.)

The Irish Red and White Setter, unlike the Irish Setter, is still primarily a hunting dog, as it prefers to dress in tweed and can seldom be trained to use the right fork. The breed's table manners are atrocious and its discourse tends to the ribald, making it an unsuitable companion for town. In the country, however, the Irish Red and White Setter can be a great and faithful friend if you can keep it out of the claret.

Sources: Wikipedia, Irish Red and White Setter Association

Dogs of Ireland: Kerry Blue Terrier

The Kerry Blue Terrier, like most terriers, was originally bred to hunt vermin, including rats, rabbits, fox, badger and the sort of lowlifes that would never stand a round at the pub. The breed gradually became an all-purpose working dog, used for herding sheep and cattle, as guard dogs and stocking shelves at big-box stores. The Kerry Blue seldom works in food service, being much too proud to wear a hairnet over its magnificent beard.

There are several legends about the origin of the breed: that it originated from a cross between a Portuguese Water Dog that swam ashore from a shipwreck and was mated to all the female terriers in Kerry before expiring with a deep sigh and a vast grin; that the dog was developed for poaching back when only nobles could hunt with Irish Wolfhounds (poached is still the only way a Kerry will eat an egg); and that Saint Patrick created the breed from the last snake in Ireland after being thrown from the Irish Wolfhound he was riding.

Kerry Blue Terrier pups are black at birth, and gradually lighten to gray. They seldom actually become blue, except some elderly females who use a blue rinse.

Sources: Wikipedia, United States Kerry Blue Terrier Club

Dogs of Ireland: Glen of Imaal Terrier

Of the eight Irish breeds, four are terriers, which suggests that either Ireland is overrun with vermin, or that the Irish are obsessed with ridding their country of small four-legged critters and repopulating it with small four-legged critters that bark.

The Glen of Imall Terrier originated in the Glen of Imaal in County Wicklow. This may be why it's called the Glen of Imaal Terrier, but this hasn't been verified. In addition to the terrier's traditional vermin quarry, this breed also hunted foxes and badgers. A description at glens.org states:

The European badger weighs in at 40 lbs and the Glen was tough and strong enough to go to ground and dispatch the vermin soundlessly.

The article doesn't indicate if this was done with knife or garrote.

The Glen was also used as a Turnspit Dog. That is, it would walk on a wheel that would turn a rotisserie on which dinner was cooking. This is why the overwhelming majority of Glen of Imaal Terriers today are employed as barbecue chefs.

Sources: Wikipedia, American Kennel Club, Glen of Imaal Terrier Club of America

Dogs of Ireland: Irish Setter

The Irish Setter is a gorgeous red-haired dog that, like most gorgeous redheads, knows how good-looking it is, and acts accordingly. The Irish Setter was developed in Ireland in the 1700s as a gun dog, although few carry guns today and most are now poor shots. There's a related breed called the Red Setter that can still handle firearms, but evidently Irish Setter fanciers and Red Setter fanciers won't speak to, or of, each other. Both breeds are descended from the Irish Red and White Setter, which is predominantly white with red spots. The newer breeds were left out in the rain and have rusted completely.

The Irish Setter is playful, loves to run, and the breed standard says it should have a "rollicking" temperament. In practice, this means the dog is likely to hide your socks and blame it on the cat, or hide the cat and blame it on your socks. Members of the breed have historically feigned a level of stupidity not usually seen in animate objects, but researchers have found that this is in fact a cover for a quite sophisticated rawhide-chewy-laundering scheme. Do not leave your wallet within reach of this dog.

Sources: Wikipedia, American Kennel Club, Irish Setter Club of America

Rescue: Irish Setter Club of America

St. Patrick's Day Special: Dogs of Ireland

Between now and St. Patrick's Day, March 17, we'll  be posting a different Irish breed every day, featuring the usual distortions of fact, insulting stereotypes, and ill-considered canine portraits we generally offer.

Monday, March 10: Irish Wolfhound
Tuesday, March 11: Irish Setter
Wednesday, March 12: Glen of Imaal Terrier
Thursday, March 13: Kerry Blue Terrier
Tuesday, March 18: Irish Red and White Setter

Hope you all enjoy it!