Appearance of the Sco-Shi
|
| The Sco-Shi will be a rather small dog, weighing no more than 9 kilos at maturity. It's likely that he'll actually be smaller than this expected weight, but this depends on the parent's dominant breed. He will have floppy ears, which will require special care to keep them healthy, and his coat is generally of medium to long length. This coat is generally straight, but may appear to be harsh. Again, this depends on the breed of the dominant parent. It is usually black, but can also be gray, brown, black with brown or gray flecks, or brindle. His coat will be long on the face. He may appear to have a beard, and he may have long hair around his eyes. His tail is straight and may also be long-haired. Its body is short and compact. Its legs are short but sturdy. It may have a long muzzle with a black nose. |
Temperament of the Sco-Shi
|
| The Sco-Shi is a generally happy dog. However, it is often described as aloof. He's not an overly friendly or yappy dog, but he's a good watchdog. He will certainly alert you if something is wrong on his territory. He's not afraid of solitude, so if you or your family are away a lot, you won't have to worry about Sco-Shi suffering from separation anxiety. He's often the dog of a single person or family. He may, however, follow his person from room to room to see what they're up to. He loves cuddles and is often happy to sit on the sofa next to his person. He's good with older children, especially those who know how to handle a small dog. |
Needs and activities of the Sco-Shi
|
| The Sco-Shi is not a very active dog, but he does need appropriate daily exercise to maintain a healthy weight. He'll enjoy short, brisk walks around the neighborhood with you. He'll also enjoy spending time at the dog park. Don't forget, however, that the Scottie mother breed is a hunter. If squirrels and other small animals also enjoy the dog park, it might be best to take your Scottie to obedience classes to make sure he'll listen to you even if he's tempted to chase small prey. He'll also appreciate spending time in a fenced-in yard, but it's not necessary for him to spend a lot of time unsupervised in this area. He may inherit the brachycephalic snout of his parent breed, the Shih Tzu, in which case you'll need to make sure he never overpowers himself. Keep water close at hand when exercising, especially on hot days. |
Maintenance of the Sco-Shi
|
| Since the Sco-Shi is likely to have long bristles, you can expect it to be well cared for. Brush it two or three times a week to remove excess hair and prevent tangling. In spring and autumn, you can brush him daily to prevent excess hair from settling on your clothes and furniture. Brush his teeth two or three times a week to prevent tartar build-up and bad breath. If you want to prevent tooth decay, brush daily. Trim his nails twice a month, unless he wears them out on his own. As a general rule, if you hear his nails clicking on the tiles, it's time to trim them. His ears may need special attention. When you brush him, check his ears. Wipe them with a damp cotton ball to remove excess dirt. Make sure there's no redness or foul odor, which is a sign of a possible ear infection. You may also need to trim the hairs around his eyes to prevent them from interfering with his vision. |
English (United Kingdom)