12/10/2017
Today I met Faolin (Gaelic for Little Wolf). He is a Scottish Terrier.
Historically, the Scottie was bred by farmers to help them manage vermin problems. They would hunt den animals, such as rabbits, foxes, badgers, and rats. They are mostly known with a black coat but they can also be wheaten or brindle.
Faolin became a therapy dog at the age of 6. His job is to help kids with reading. Kids will read books to Faolin and he provides the kids with a relaxed and “dog-friendly” atmosphere. This allows the student to practice the skill of reading without the fear of criticism, this helps them gain confidence.
During Faolin's free time, he enjoys doing agility training. He lives with 3 other Scotties and his younger siblings are training to become therapy dogs as well.
Some fun facts about this dog breed:
If the Scottie becomes too excited they can experience something called the "Scottie Cramp". This neurological disorder makes it difficult for the dog to walk as the muscle will tense up. I read online that this condition can be described as a "goose-stepping gait” and the dog can fall over. The good thing is that this does not last long and it does not seems to be painful for the dog.
The Scottish terrier and the German shepherd are the only two breeds to make three appearances in the White House.
