A Very Merry Meetup

Recently, our friends in Peru got together for a holiday-themed Scottish Terrier meetup. These adorable Scotties came dressed in their best and were ready to rock around the Christmas tree (or just take turns marking them!). They exchanged gifts and made new friends, including a tourist who snapped the group photo above and claimed he had never seen so many Scotties together in one place - not even in his homeland, Scotland! Have a Scottish Terrier meetup in your area you want to share with the Scottie Mom community? Leave the event details in the comments section below.

Santa Paws is Coming!

I have to deliver all these presents to C-A-T-S?!

He's made his list and checked it twice. Now, he's scratching his beard wondering how so many friends of the feline persuasion made it onto Santa Paws' list labeled "nice!" As has become something of a tradition in the Scottie Mom household, Mr. K has put his qualms with the evil C-A-T-S aside so that our extended family of fur cousins can enjoy some peace on Earth between C-A-T-S and dogs.

Six little stockings are stuffed with more crinkle toys than any C-A-T could want and lots of yummy, assorted treats await for our canine, equine, goat and chicken cousins, too. And, of course, we couldn't help but splurge on the newest (non-furry) addition to the family: Heather and Mr. K's darling human niece. All that is left is for Santa Paws to deliver the goods on Christmas morn! 

Scottie Finds for $5 or Less

Scottie dog cookie cutter at Target, $.99

Scottie dog socks, TJ Maxx/Homegoods, $1.99

Scottie dog wrapping paper, Homegoods, $2.99

Assorted magnets, Homegoods

Monogram ornament frame, Michael's, $4.99

Scottie dog holiday cards, TJ Maxx

Scottie dog wrapping paper at TJ Maxx, $2.99

Sticker sheet at Target

Scottie dog turtle neck at WalMart, $5.94

The Season of Scotties is upon us! Sadly, we have not seen a lot of new stuff this year but we did stumble across these bargains recently. Not bad for a day's work! Still, we couldn't help but feel a tad bit disappointed in the selection this year so we set out to create some unique stuff just for us Scottie lovers. Check out our store here! Tell us: where do you often find the most Scottie goods? 

Scottish Terrier Training: Tips & Tricks

One of the things I hear Scottie Moms and Dads joke about frequently is that often times, their Scotties have them trained. Not the other way around. This is very much the case for Heather and Mr. K, and I just know Scottie Dad would love to have it the other way around. Recently, we came across this awe-inspiring video of Reggie the Scottish Terrier showing off some of the tricks he's learned.

We contacted Reggie's Scottie Mom and asked what her secret to success was and we loved everything she had to say. So, we thought we'd share her message with you. Got a few training secrets you'd like to share with fellow Scottie Moms and Dads? Tell us in the comments below!

---

Reggie is not only our first Scottish Terrier but our first dog, so our advice is somewhat limited to what has worked for us; force free, reward-based training and a positive attitude.

If I could give only one tip, it would be to enjoy it. If your dog sees you having fun then they will be more interested in you than sniffing around -- however, this is not always 100% accurate, as Scotties can have a mind of their own! When Reggie is in 'sniffing' mode, he does tend to ignore commands, so to combat this, I usually have to work harder, get excited and try to be more interesting.

Reggie and I take obedience classes which are part of the British Kennel Club's Good Citizen Dog Scheme. In my experience, classes were great for us first-time dog owners as it has been excellent for advice, socialising your dog and teaching your dog to listen to you around some big distractions. We do around five to ten minutes oftraining at home before meals, using some of his tea, so we are not over feeding him and he gets a big reward at the end of it. I also do a limited amount of training on every walk, so he gets used to listening to me outside but still gets to enjoy his walk.

My last tip is that no dog is perfect and you shouldn't aim for it either -- no one wants a robot dog. You may get dog envy when you see another dog owner in the pet store with their dog off lead, potting along side them ignoring all smells, food left on the floor and other dogs, but sometimes (as I have found), this means the dog does not like other dogs, gets separation anxiety from their owner, or they may just be the perfect dog, who knows? However, my point is, don't expect too much from your dog too soon!

Scottish Terriers of Instagram

We know you just can't wait another day for #TooCuteTuesday so we'd introduce you to this week's #ScottishTerriersofInstagram. Aren't they adorable? If you'd like to share your Scotties' Instagram photos with us, upload your photos to Instagram using #ScottishTerriersofInstagram or tag @TheScottieMom. Oh, and be sure to follow us and this week's featured Scottie dogs! 

Still looking for more Scottie Love? Check out other Scottish Terriers of Instagram on Pinterest!

Forrest's Story

Forrest

Forrest with his rescuers and his forever family.

Forrest's rescue story begins on a rainy weekend on a road in Santa Catarina, Brazil. It is early evening and darkness is fast approaching. A young couple is on the road driving to their home in Florianopolis. The driver slows, seeing a ball of wheat-colored fur atop the next speed bump. He stops and puts on his hazard lights, realizing it is a small dog.

The man knew he couldn't leave the pup there to die. So, he picked the poor Scottie up and took him home. Once there, the couple dried off the small dog and examined him closer. He had been severely mistreated and was missing a lot of hair on his back. The couple took the dog to Doctor Pet Clinica Veterinaria, where a local vet, Dr. Diana Rosa suggested he be hospitalized. After extensive treatment for his skin problem, surgery to remove an abscess on his belly, a thorough teeth cleaning and more, he was ready to go into foster care. 

That's when Scottish Terrier Rescue of Brazil got involved and Liliane Ruy, a board member of the rescue, offered up her home to foster this sweet pup. It was there that she realized the pup's passion walking, always moving forward - like Forrest Gump. And so, she named him Forrest. Before long, he was ready for adoption and after 4,300 people looked at his profile, Forrest finally found his forever home. Enjoy your new life, Forrest, and happily ever after to you!.

Scottie Adventures in Peru

Our Scottie friends in Peru recently convinced their Scottie Moms and Dads to take them for an outing. As you can see, it proved to be quite the scenic adventure for these happy pups! Scottie Moms and Dads met up with their fur kids in what might be one of the best kept secrets in the southern part of Peru: Cataratas de Capua. Near the city of Arequipa, this hidden gem was the perfect spot for a Scottish Terrier meetup as it offered a place for Scotties to trek freely, explore their surroundings and for Scottie Moms and Dads to do what we do best: talk about our beloved Scotties! Have a Scottish Terrier meetup in you area you want us to know about? Let us know in the comments below.

Fashions of a Future Scottie Mom

A future Scottie Mom has been born! Meet Heather and Mr. K's new favorite person: our niece. She proudly sports all things Scottie and cannot wait to convince her mom and dad to rescue a few Scotties when she is older (she's already told me so!). As you can see, her wardrobe is quickly filling up with Scottie-clad clothes and what kind of Scottie Mom would I be if I didn't share where you can find these cute fashions? Feel free to let us know where you've spotted cute Scottie stuff for kids in the comment section below! For more future Scottie Mom fashions, check out our Pinterest board.

-----

Girls' 3-Piece Scottie Dog Set at Macy's

Girls' 3-Piece Scottie Dog Set at Carter's

Scottie Dog Onesie at Ross

Scottie Dog Dress (cardigan + hair bow also available) at Gymboree.