Scots Dog Names

From the early beginnings, Scots have found great company in dogs; they would use them for hunting and getting rid of vermin, as well as having them as loving companions and friends.

Greyfriars Bobby’s story is a widely-known one, and this dog has become a beloved part of the Scottish culture, especially in Edinburgh, his home town. Greyfriars Bobby was a Skye Terrier who belonged to John Gray. John worked as a night watchman for the Edinburgh City Police, and in 1855, he took Bobby as his ‘watchdog’ to keep him company. They became very popular in the city, as everyone would always see them together walking the streets of Edinburgh no matter the weather.

Sadly, John got tuberculosis, and he died in 1858. He was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard. From the very first day, Bobby would sit by his owner’s grave no matter what, even when the weather was unbearable. Greyfriars Kirkyard’s gardener and keeper would continuously try to take Bobby out, but the dog would always come back. Eventually, they decided to build him a shelter at the side of John’s grave.

Bobby’s story started to spread, and soon people started to gather around Greyfriars to watch the loyal dog. Bobby gained a place in people’s hearts, and every day at one o’clock, William Dow would give him his lunch at the Coffee House, a place that the dog frequently visited with his master. 

In 1867 a new law was established, and every dog was required to be licensed or they would be eliminated. Sir William Chambers, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, paid for Bobby’s license and gave Bobby a collar that said ‘Greyfriars Bobby from the Lord Provost 1867 licensed”. His collar is shown at the Museum of Edinburgh. 

Bobby sat by his master’s grave for 14 years, until he died in 1872. Moved by Bobby’s loyalty, Baroness Angelina Georgina Burdett-Coutts asked the council for authorization to build a monument for the dog.

A granite fountain with Bobby’s statue was built in front of the Greyfriars Kirkyard in 1873, by William Brody. The monument reads “Greyfriars Bobby – died 14^th January 1872 – aged 16 years – Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all”. The monument became one of Edinburgh’s main landmarks and it is known world-wide.