Scottish Terriers of Instagram

Ever find yourself spending hours on Instagram cooing over super cute photos of Scottish Terriers? Me, too! Here are a few of this week's #ScottishTerriersofInstagram. Want to share your Scotties' Instagram photos with us for a chance to be featured here? Use #ScottishTerriersofInstagram or tag @TheScottieMom on Instagram. Oh, and be sure to follow us and the featured Scottie dogs!



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



Battle of the Bits

This is going to be one tough match.
Sniffing out the competition.
The beef flavored bits win!
Can I get another one of those bits?
Many Scottie Moms have asked how I get Heather and Mr. K to sit and smile for the camera so well. Truth be told: it takes patience, a hint of good luck and a bit of bribery. Photo sessions with Heather and Mr. K can take longer than a typical Scottie dog's attention span might permit so what better way to keep them interested than to spice things up with a variety of yummy treats?

I'm all for spoiling your pup but always conscious not to overindulge them so I like to stick to the smaller, training treats like BLUE Bits. Heather and Mr. K have eaten BLUE Basics - Salmon & Potato recipe dry food for years at the recommendation of a V-E-T so when Chewy.com asked if we would consider reviewing these BLUE Bits treats in exchange for a free sample, I had no problem signing us up and I knew neither Heather or Mr. K would turn down the opportunity for a treat tasting!

So, this past weekend, we put BLUE Bits to the test. Would they be as yummy as BLUE Basics? And which flavor would Heather and Mr. K prefer? Since we were doggie sitting for the Shih Tzu Mom this weekend, we wanted to make sure Lucky got in on the treat tasting fun, too. He's a pretty picky pup but he loves anything chicken flavored so we knew which flavor he would choose! Mr. K opted for the beef flavored treats which meant we had a tie on our hands. It was up to Heather, our resident foodie, to determine the winner of the battle of the bits. She took her job very seriously. After careful consideration and lots of sniff testing, the beef flavored bits came out on top.

How do these training treats help with capturing the perfect photo, you ask? First, treats grab their undivided attention and lets them know you mean business! Second, treats help draw out those winning Scottie smiles you've come to know and love. Third, it's just fair compensation for having your mom document your every move with a camera, don't you think? And last, but far from least, treats and the photo sessions that warrant them are the ultimate bonding experience. Heather and Mr. K eat up the attention and seemingly relish the time I'm on the floor, at eye level with them playing games, giving kisses, scratching backs and bellies, and topping that all off with a treat!

Now, it's your turn to tell us which flavor would win if the battle of the bits was hosted in your Scottie House. And are there any tips and tricks you have learned over the years that you'd like to share with fellow Scottie Moms and Dads to help us capture more precious moments in photos?

Gone, but Never Forgotten


Today, we dedicate this blog post to the men, women and service animals who gave their lives so we could be free. We welcome you to honor these brave souls with stories of the people you knew in the comments section below. As you celebrate today, remember the meaning of Memorial Day and find a way to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. For without them, there's no telling what our lives would be like today. Please celebrate responsibly and stay safe, friends!

Scottish Terriers of Instagram

Didn't get enough of #TooCuteTuesday? This week's #ScottishTerriersofInstagram are here to bring you even more Scottish Terrier cuteness. Want to share your Scottie dogs' photos with us? Upload them 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!



Splish Splash!



It was time for Play Day Sunday to make a comeback. Heather and Mr. K deserved a day of carefree play, lots of treats and most importantly, my undivided attention. They've handled my long absences from home as a result of the job I took last fall remarkably...mostly because Scottie Dad and our friend Shih Tzu Mom have teamed up to make sure my babies are taken care of every day. Still, as a devoted Scottie Mom, the guilt creeps up and I miss caring for and spending time with Heather and Mr. K myself. So, I set out to make another Play Day Sunday a reality for Heather and Mr. K.

We started off with a long, morning walk about the neighborhood. Round and round we went until Heather declared it was time for some breakfast. After the hungry, hungry Scotties had vacuumed up their yummy kibble, I opened the door to our back porch and let Heather and Mr. K soak up the sunshine as I prepared a special surprise for them. When the sun was just right, I brought out the Scottie-safe swimming pool I purchased last year at Target. Mr. K was so excited, he jumped in before we finished filling it! Heather, on the other hand, preferred to stay dry and could only be coaxed to dip her paws in the pool with the promise of tasty treats. 

The three of us stayed outside soaking up the sun, splashing in the pool (Mr. K even attempted water yoga!), playing ball and indulging in sweet treats until that afternoon. Then, the skies opened up and rained on our Play Day Sunday parade. We were forced to retreat indoors for a bit until the weather cleared up and we were able to enjoy another walk around the block. Not long thereafter, dinner was served and the three of us settled in for the night: Heather snoozing on my feet and Mr. K snuggled up on my lap. This day of quality Scottie time was certainly long overdue and I think they enjoyed it just as much as I did. Let's just hope Heather and Mr. K don't think I only did this to earn brownie points after they discover they're headed to the V-E-T for a well-doggie checkup tomorrow! 

Scottish Terriers of Instagram

Didn't get enough of #TooCuteTuesday? We've got you covered. This week's #ScottishTerriersofInstagram are here to bring you even more Scottish Terrier cuteness. Want to share your Scottie dogs' photos with us? Upload them 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!



On the Road Again

Over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go! But on the way there, we stop and we stare at all the sights unknown. And mischievous Mr. K decided to play and made Miss Heather fall. We dusted her off and soon she was off to beg for food from all!

The traveling Scots are at it again, friends. Can you guess where we took this pit stop?

The Magic of Bissell's Spot Bot

Spring has sprung, friends! And you know what that means...lots of spring cleaning projects to take care of around the Scottie House. Recently, a number of you reached out asking for some cleaning tips so I thought I'd start with one of my favorite "cheats" - the Bissell Spot Bot Pet Carpet Cleaner.

Recommended by a colleague of mine whose Golden Retriever had daily accidents due to paralysis, I bought the Spot Bot shortly after we moved into the Scottie House two years ago. And in case you're wondering why I needed one so soon after moving in to a new house, allow me to refresh your memory by referring you to this older post! Essentially, there were a number of incidents after we moved in where our carpets were peppered with "mysterious" yellow stains like this:



Which required me to get out this:



And upon the completion of three simple steps and just minutes later, the yellow stains had vanished. Here's how it works:

1. Fill the container with water and the Bissell solution per the measurement guides on the container. Secure cap and place container back on Spot Bot.
2. Position Spot Bot so that the stain is centered between the circular brush.
3. Plug in Spot Bot and press the appropriate button to select the type of cleaning you need.

That's it - you're done! We usually use the set-in stain button at the Scottie House but there is also a setting for fresh stains as well. Though this machine is designed for pet stains, I thought you might find it helpful to know that the fresh stains setting works perfectly well for spilled wine - as we found out the night we had friends over for the bachelorette party before the Scottie Mom wedding!



While I'm pleased to report Mr. K no longer marks our carpets out of spite and Heather's accidents are minimal these days, I'm forever grateful to this magical, little machine for saving me so much time, money and frustration. Prior to discovering the Spot Bot and before Mr. K gave up his love for marking his territory on carpets, I once had to fork over more than $500 to pay for a new carpet installation in an apartment I rented. Back then, I tried every cleaning solution known to man and used good, old-fashioned elbow grease to scrub out Mr. K's mess. I can honestly say: nothing cleans it up like the Bissell Spot Bot does.

We even bought one for Heather and Mr. K's grandma, who has three aging, indoor cats. As you can imagine, there was a need for something like a Spot Bot in her home, too, with hairballs and occasional vomit. And, as much as I'd like to say Heather and Mr. K continue their model behavior and don't pee on the carpets at grandma's, the truth is: all rules go out the window at grandma's house! Without fail, Heather or Mr. K will bless their grandma's carpets with a christening at least once per visit. Luckily for me, the Spot Bot is always there to work its magic! What other carpet cleaning solutions have you tried and found successful in your home?

Scottish Terriers of Instagram

Can't wait until #TooCuteTuesday to look at dozens of irresistibly cute Scottish Terriers? Allow us to present this week's #ScottishTerriersofInstagram! And be sure to follow @TheScottieMom and all our friends on Instagram for a true cuteness overload. Don't forget to share your own photos with us using #ScottishTerriersofInstagram for a chance to be featured right her on ScottieMom.com!


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