Scottie standards

Hi. I'm researching to buy a Scottish Terrier pup. I've been in contact with several reputable breeders/showers, but their prices are simply outside of my range. I'm not interested in breeding or showing the dog. I just want a nice quality companion pet, so I don't need top-dollar champion stock. Consequently, I'm stuck looking at ad sites like this one. I'm comforted by the fact that so many of you are diligent about puppy mills and back yard breeders, places that send chills down my spine, and I'm aware that I need to be really cautious. (I've read some great tips on here. Thanks.) I owned a Scottie years ago, and I've done a lot of research into the breed. But I have a question that I can't seem to find an answer to. I'm hoping someone on here can help. Many of the puppies I see advertised have ears that fold forward. I know that some terrier breeds exhibit this trait, but Scotties have erect, rather large ears. So, my question is if these puppies possess an undesirable trait or are they all born with folded ears that straighten up at some point? I'd appreciate it greatly if someone can let me know to help me be an informed and conscientious buyer.

I would stay clear of the internet adds & newspaper adds. I found a Scottie a few years ago & turned him over to Scottie Rescue. He ended up getting a great home with a retired Judge that had previously owned a Scottie. You might want to consider that route. See below: http://clubs.akc.org/stca/rescue.htm http://clubs.akc.org/stca/

I appreciate the advice about scams and such, but I'm carefully checking out breeders I'm dealing with, and I would never buy a dog without picking it up myself and seeing its environment, parents, and health. I insist on an agreement of sale beforehand and make sure it includes all of the appropriate safeguards, for me and the seller. I wouldn't deal with a breeder who didn't show as much caution about me and the future of their pups as I show about them. I know that having a healthy, top quality dog is worth spending some money, which I am willing to do, but I also have fundamental issues with pricing puppies extremely high. I know the expense and effort that quality breeders endure, but I see something wrong about making a beloved pet into a luxury item. It also ensures that show dogs are an elite caste that do little or nothing to contribute to the overall improvement of the breed as a whole. I would like to rescue a Scottie some day. And I've been to the STCA website, including the rescue section. But this is the first pet I will have owned in ten years. I know that a puppy is not easy, but I'm not yet up to dealing with a rescued Scottie, which can have physical and/or psychological problems. Similarly, I don't want to buy a puppy with these issues either. Hence, my question about the ears. I did find a comment on the "Scottie in the Rough" section of the rescue pages of SCTA (thank you Rhonda for the link) which I hadn't seen before. It said that flopped over ears are not an inherited defect in Scotties. It is most often caused by a prolonged, untreated ear infection or melanoma which causes a fissure in the cartilage. So, it seems to be environmental, not genetic. Consequently, it is something that I need to be cautious about. Even if the parents have perfectly normal ears, flopped ears can mean the puppy is being bred and raised in poor conditions or neglect. Still, what Hoss and AnAsAzi say seems logical, so I still need more info on the age their ears might straighten. If anyone knows anything more about this, I'd love to hear it.