Scoland Terrier vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Quite a bit of the Chihuahua’s history is shrouded in mystery, and there are different versions about its origins.

While historians speculate, most will agree that the tiny dog hails from Mexico. The UK Kennel Club considers the smooth- and long coat Chihuahuas as 2 distinct breeds.It was in 1904 that the Chihuahua became a registered breed by the American Kennel Club.

Chihuahua is actually the name of a state in Mexico, and it is amazing that Chihuahua specimens were found way back in the 1800's already. Today the Chihuahua is a very popular dog breed in several countries.

Not much is known about the Scoland Terrier. It is not a purebred but rather a crossbreed developed by crossing the Scottish Terrier with the Westland Terrier. To understand these mixed breeds, look to the original breeds for any combination of the characteristics of the breeds. The offspring of this crossing is not a 50-50 split of the original breeds looks or temperament.

Because the Scoland Terrier is a mix between the Scottie and the Westie he has all the characteristics of a typical terrier perhaps even twice as much. With both parents being terriers, you can expect your Scoland to act like a short legged terrier. These dogs are known for their courage and tenacity. Today these terriers are family companions. Most terriers today come from a pool of ancestral dog in the 19th century in Europe. This information was gleaned from a genetic analysis done in 2006.

The Scoland Terrier, being a hybrid, is not acknowledged by the American Kennel Club (AKC) or the United Kennel Club (UKC). It is acknowledged by the International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR), American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC), Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA), Designer Dogs Kennel Club (DDKC) and Designer Breed Registry (DBR).

The small Chihuahua stands at about 15 – 23 cm and he weighs about 1,5 – 4kg.

You’ll notice that he shivers when he is excited or when he is cold or frightened. Some people buy him a jersey to don on cooler days. With this tiny toy dog, you get a short- and a long coated Chihuahua.

This is the smallest dog breed and his coat is available in a number of colors such as fawn, tan, white and black. It is the dog’s round apple-shaped head which is a distinctive feature. He has erect ears and huge fruit-bat type eyes.

Temperament:

The Chihuahua is such an alert, fun-loving, feisty little dog, and though he may appear to be an ideal pet for children, he actually isn’t. He is too dainty and frail, and a child, during play, could accidentally crush him.

It’s a pity though because he just loves being around his human family. He is also a highly strung dog, and given the chance, he’ll nip and even bite during games. It is why socialization and training are considered important for the Chihuahua.

Just like with children, how you raise and treat your Chihuahua will determine how he turns out. He is such a sweet little dog that training and socialization can remove these unwanted characteristics. He is very intelligent and responds well to training.

Being a hybrid, the Scoland Terrier will not always look alike and could look like a Scottie, a Westie or a combination of the two. Most breeders of this designer dog say it usually has a body like the Scottie and a round head like the Westie. They are more often black with white markings, but they can often be wheaten as well. With round dark eyes, a scissors bite and black nose, her face is unique. The breed has erect and small, triangular ears and a medium fluffy tale. The coat is hard and wiry, with a dense soft undercoat.

Small and feisty, the Chihuahua’s personality isn’t set in stone, and the tiny dog can be either shy and timid or he can be social, confident and jaunty.

They're always loyal and affectionate to their human owners, but they don’t get on too well with- and are wary of small children who aren’t disciplined and who could hurt them.

With his big eyes and big ears together with his comical antics, they can be a source of entertainment for their human owners. He is easy to train too and even though he is small, he doesn’t think he is, and he is willing to use his big personality to make you a loving, loyal and devoted companion.

1.Children friendliness - they can be very good with children and children can help them get their exercise.

2.Special talents – digging and going to ground after rodents.

3.Adaptability - yes but she is adept at digging and must have a safe enclosure.

4.Learning ability – is high but she can be very stubborn.

The Chihuahua doesn't have any particular health issues, more so when you get him from a reputable breeder. With good care he can reach 20 years of age.

Hypoglycemia:

Known as low blood sugar, hypoglycemia is easily treatable, but if it isn’t caught early it can be fatal.Hypoglycemia makes a dog lethargic and he’ll shiver and could go into a coma. Get him to the vet immediately.

Bloat:

Gastric Dilatation or bloat is when the stomach twists, it becomes enlarged and blood supply is cut off to the stomach. Left untreated, it can be fatal.

Dental Disease:

Chihuahuas are susceptible to dental problems, so you will need to brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week to prevent tartar build-up, gum disease, loss of teeth and other diseases.

This hybrid dog can inherit any of the issues faced by its two parent breeds. For the Scoland Terrier this can include:

• Seborrhea – Skin disease that can cause dogs to scratch until bleeding and/or infected.

• Von Willebrand’s Disease – hereditary blood clotting disorder.
• Keratoconjuncticitis Sicca – the is dry eye.

• Carniomandibular Osteopathy -called lion’s jaw this is a developmental disease that causes extensive changes in the bones of the mandible and skull.

• Deafness

• Pulmonic Stenosis – when the blood flowing from the heart’s right ventricul to the pulmonary artery is blocked.

• Cataracts – can lead to blindness.
• Legg-Calve Perthes Disease – can cause limping and lead to lameness.

• PPM or Persistent Pupillary Membranes - causes visual impairment when the membranes do not dissolve after birth.

• Chronic Hepatitis – disease of the liver that can eventually cause major damage.

Diet:

Always make sure to choose a high-quality dog food for your Chihuahua as this will keep him in tip-top health. A healthy Chihuahua can live to be 20 years of age. Speak to a veterinarian for recommendations on the best type of food to feed your tiny pet.

Giving him some home-made food such as brown rice, vegetables and cooked chicken for instance will be a welcome treat for him. Make sure he always has a bowl of fresh, cool water close by.

Exercise:

The Chihuahua may well be the smallest toy sized dog breed, but don’t be mistaken – he has plenty of energy and is constantly prancing around. He is more than capable of living in a small apartment, but even so he needs to be taken outside every now and then for a game or a walk.

Be careful with your small pet though, as too much exercise can lead to elbow- and hip dysplasia.

Grooming:

The Chihuahua is a moderate shedder with Spring being their heavier shedding period. Because of his small size, you won’t be bothered by too much hair. The short haired Chihuahua is easy to maintain and with a rubber brush, you can brush him gently twice a week.

You’ll also need to clip his nails and if you can’t manage this your vet can also help you.

1.Feeding the puppy - Give a high quality puppy dog food designed for terriers or active medium sized dogs. Give ¾ of a cup over 3 meals a day.

2.Feeding the adult – Give a high quality adult dog food designed for terriers or active medium sized dogs. Give one cup over two meals a day.

3.Points for Good Health - Stamina

4. Games and Exercises – The Scoland Terrier is a very active dog and needs daily exercise, He need time to play, run, and be stimulated by games. She would be very good at flyball, Frisbee, fetch, agility, barn hunt, and obedience. He needs at least 2 hours of play and exercise everyday.