Scotti Apso -- Scottish Terrier X Lhassa Apso

		Scotti Apso
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Scotland <> Tibet -> U.S.A.
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

A brief presentation of the Scotti Apso

The Scotti Apso is a hybrid of the Lhassa Apso and the Scottish Terrier. Although the origins of the two parent breeds are somewhat obscure, we do know that they are probably both very old breeds in their respective countries. The Scotti Apso hybrid, bred for companionship and guarding, is described as an excellent family dog that is gentle, affectionate, aggressive, friendly and intelligent, although not so much with young children who don't know the proper way to touch and play with it. This hybrid is an excellent choice for those living in apartments or condominiums because of its small size and minimal need for exercise.

History of the Scotti Apso

The Scotti Apso is a hybrid of the Lhassa Apso and the Scottish Terrier. As this is a recent hybrid mix, and there is little or no information on the hybrid itself, we will draw our historical information from the history of the parent breeds. The Scotti Apso hybrid itself is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club, the Designer Breed Registry, the Designer Dogs Kennel Club, the Dog Registry of America and the International Designer Canine Registry.

	A little of the Scottish Terrier
	The Scottish Terrier, whose heritage is rather obscure, originated in Scotland, as its name suggests, although its exact origins are not known. The various beliefs concerning the breed's origins are interesting, to say the least, ranging from the belief that it dates back to 55 BC to its development in the 1800s. The Scottish Terrier, thought to have originated from the Skye Terrier group, was bred to hunt foxes, rats and other vermin and was easily found in mining communities, farms, gardens and homes. This large group of terriers was eventually divided into distinct breeds, one of which is the Scotti Apso's parent breed, the Scottish Terrier. The Scottish Terrier was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885 and is the 58th most popular dog breed on its register.

	Standard of the Scottish Terrier


	A little of the Lhassa Apso
	The Lhassa Apso, one of the oldest breeds, originated in Tibet as the Tibetan Apso and is thought to have been bred from mountain wolves and domesticated around 800 BC. Bred as a guard dog and companion for monks in monasteries and temples, the Lhassa Apso was so highly prized that giving one as a gift was considered a great honor. Breeding remained very close and pure over the centuries, before being introduced to England in 1901, and presented to the world as a companion breed. In 1944, the name was changed to Lhassa Apso. The Lhassa Apso is endowed with keen intelligence, acute hearing, a sharp bark and the ability to distinguish friend from foe. These skills make them the perfect guard and companion dog, for which they are currently highly prized, as well as an assistance dog for the deaf. The Lhassa Apso arrived in the United States in the 1930s and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1935, where it is the 71st most popular dog breed on its register.

	Standard of the Lhassa Apso

Appearance of the Scotti Apso

The Scotti Apso is a hybrid of the Lhasa Apso and the Scottish Terrier, and as such can inherit appearance traits from either or both of its parent breeds. Scotti Apso owners and breeders describe these adorable canines as measuring between 25.5 and 28 centimeters and weighing between 7 and 11.5 kilos. The coat is described as thick, straight, of medium length and with moderate shedding. Coat color can be brown, black, brindle, gray or white. The body is generally solidly built, longer than it is tall, with straight legs and a tail that can be curled over the back or carried straight or slightly curved, covered with long hair and round, compact paws. The eyes are dark brown with a black nose on a medium-length muzzle with a scissor bite. Ears can be pendulous or erect and pointed, covered with hair of varying lengths.

Temperament of the Scotti Apso

Your Scotti Apso is a hybrid mix of Lhassa Apso and Scottish Terrier, and may inherit temperament and personality traits from one or both parent breeds. Scotti Apso owners and breeders describe its temperament as generally affectionate and gentle, but they also note that it can be feisty. This particular trait will probably warrant some supervision when in the presence of young children who don't know how to touch and play with him safely. The Scotti Apso is not an excessive barker and doesn't need much exercise, making it perfect for owners or potential owners who live in apartments, condos or other homes where there are noise and space restrictions. Due to the breeding of the Scottish Terrier parent, he has a moderate hunting/prey behavior as well as a moderate tendency to wander. These two characteristics mean you'll need to keep him on a leash when he's outdoors or outside an enclosed space to ensure his safety. He is affectionate with family and older children, with the above-mentioned warning about small children. Appropriate socialization from an early age can help moderate some of this trait. He's not always so accepting of strangers, so be prepared for him to be wary of strangers until he's sure of your safety in their presence. He generally gets on well with other animals, but bear in mind that one of his parent breeds was bred to hunt and eradicate vermin, and this is a trait that cannot be socialized or trained. He is intelligent, but can also be stubborn and independent, a gift from the Scottish side, so you should expect him to be moderately easy to train with positive training methods applied slowly, teaching him simple commands and developing them. For best results, make learning fun and interesting for him.

Needs and activities of the Scotti Apso

Your Scotti Apso hybrid is a moderately active dog. He's small, with short little legs, so don't expect him to jump for joy when you take him jogging. He has a lot of energy, but because he's small, it won't take him as long or as far to manage that energy. He'll love taking daily walks with you, playing and romping in the dog park or fenced garden, playing ball, Frisbee and search games outside or in the house. He has moderate hunting, prey-hunting and wandering tendencies. So it's important to keep him on a leash when he's outside the house, fenced garden or other enclosed area. If you don't keep him on a leash, you may find yourself chasing him down the street or across the field in search of a small animal or an interesting scent that has caught his attention. He's small and doesn't need much exercise, so he can live very well in an apartment, condominium or family home with or without a fenced yard, provided he has the opportunity to exercise, in an urban or rural environment. It will adapt perfectly to a moderate climate, and will need extra protection in extreme temperatures.

Maintenance of the Scotti Apso

Your Scotti Apso hybrid falls into the moderate category of maintenance and shedding. It will need brushing at least once a week to remove loose hairs, debris, mats and tangles, and to distribute the natural oils in the coat to keep it healthy and beautiful. He is not hypoallergenic. His ears should be checked weekly and cleaned if necessary with a cotton ball and an approved canine ear cleaner. Check his toenails weekly while you look at his ears, and trim them if necessary, unless he's able to maintain them with his normal daily exercise. Scotti Apsos, like all canines, should have their teeth brushed at home two or three times a week to prevent the development of periodontal disease and the tooth loss that can accompany it. He's in the low category for odor and drool.