Scottish terriers have inseams of about 4” (10 cm) each, but believe themselves to be 10 feet tall. They are absolutely fearless, and as tenacious as, well, terriers. But that’s not all there is to the Scot.

They are also clever, loyal, playful, and cuddly (but don’t tell their enemies about that last one—they’ll only deny it). My family is owned by both a black and a wheaten, who keep a careful watch on all our activities, in case anybody’s behavior needs correction. The Scotties have very high standards for human supervision, notably the fetching of the treat box (must be conducted in a timely fashion) and the administration of walkies (must be performed at precise intervals). As long as we do things properly, the Scotties think people are just fine to live with. Especially when ear-scratching or belly-rubbing are called for.