Author S.S. Van Dine extolled the Scottie spirit as “an ever-blazing internal fire, both physical and temperamental, that shines forth from his eyes, vitalizes his expression, invigorates his body, and animates his activity.”
In addition to substance, the dashing Scottie has style - and lots of it. A formidable dog in a compact body, his distinctive features – short legs, big head with long muzzle, beard and bushy eyebrows, alert ears, and handle-like tail – give him an unmistakable silhouette.
The Scottie left his mark on American history during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt. FDR’s dog Fala – called “Mr. Fala of the White House” in a series of highly-collectible cartoons – became in international celebrity in 1944. That year, the dyed-in-the-wool Democrat made a speech defending himself against accusations from “Republican fiction-writers” that he’d left Fala behind on a trip to the Aleutian Islands, and sent a destroyer to retrieve the dog at taxpayers’ expense.
The scandal raised Fala’s profile immensely, and resulted in a rage for all manner of Scottie-themed merchandise, from cocktail glasses to cookie jars to quilt patterns. These became instant collectors’ items. Even today, over six decades later, these items continue to be hot sellers on eBay and at antiques stores all over the country. So if you’re out scouring the flea markets and yard sales and you happen upon anything shaped like a Scottie, do snap it up – and don’t be surprised if the price is non-negotiable!
Such is the Scottie mystique that contemporary manufacturers continue to churn out new items with antique flavor – although we’ve come a long way since Mr. Fala. Today’s Scottie collectibles are more likely to be inspired by the White House’s current canine residents, a couple of Republicans named Barney and Mrs. Beasley, beloved Scotties of George W. and Laura Bush.
