The Scottish Terrier (Scottish Gaelic: Abhag Albannach; also known as the Aberdeen Terrier), popularly called the Scottie, is a breed of dog. The First Earl of Dumbarton nicknamed the breed 'the diehard'. The modern breed is said to be able to trace its lineage back to a single female, named Splinter II. It has been suggested that the Scottish Terrier can make a good watchdog due to its tendency to bark only when necessary and because it is typically reserved with strangers, although this is not always the case. They have been described as a fearless breed that may be aggressive around other dogs unless introduced at an early age. Scottish Terriers were originally bred to hunt and fight badgers. Scottish Terriers have a greater chance of developing some cancers than other purebreds.