How long does a Scottish Terrier live?

The listed lifespan for a Scottish Terrier is 12 years.

How tall is a Scottish Terrier?

The listed height for a Scottish Terrier is 10 in.

Is a Scottish Terrier good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Scottish Terrier is 3 out of 5.

When is a Scottish Terrier full grown?

The growth size band for a Scottish Terrier is 8–12 months.

Terrier Group

Scottish Terrier

Scottish Terrier is a small dog in the Terrier Group. Adult weight is 19–22 lb (male), 18–21 lb (female), height is 10 in, and the listed lifespan is 12 years. AKC describes the temperament as Independent, Confident, Spirited.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Scottish Terrier dog — Photo: Walescot · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12 years

Weight19–22 lb (male), 18–21 lb (female)

SizeSmall GroupTerrier Group

Height

10 in

Energy

3 / 5

Shedding

2 / 5

Grooming

3 / 5

Trainability

3 / 5

Good with kids

3 / 5

The breed record

Across 45 single-size small breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 12 years is about 1.6 years shorter than the 13.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 20 lb is about 4 lb heavier than the 16 lb average for those small breeds.

The listed origin is Scotland. The coat is described as double, wiry, medium. The AKC energy score is 3 out of 5, 0.6 points below the group average of 3.6 for the Terrier Group. Shedding scores 2 out of 5, so loose hair is limited. Grooming scores 3 out of 5. Trainability scores 3 out of 5. Good with children scores 3 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 2 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 57 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Patella Evaluation, Von Willebrand Disease III (Scottish Terrier) (VWDIII) - DNA Test, and Craniomandibular Osteopathy. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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