Scottish Terriers have the best smiles and their antics are great for making Scottie Moms and Dads smile, too! We searched the Internet for videos of Scottish Terriers with lots of character and Scottie-tude to come up with a few that are sure to bring a smile to your face. Got a funny video of your Scottish Terrier you'd like to share? Send it to thescottiemom(at)gmail(dot)com.
Everyone wants to know how a Scottish Terrier gets named Pudley. Some find it odd but I personally love the name. Having only been his Scottie Mom for a short while, I can't answer why this name was chosen but I can tell you that there might be a slightly ironic way that his name has meaning.
It started almost immediately when he came home. He created his own puddles around the Scottie House, marking what territories were now his (essentially, all of them). I had been warned that this boy may or may not be house trained but his markings looked to me as just his way to declare he's home. It took a few weeks but the peeing slowly came to a stop...but not before a few casualties including a pair of shoes, a few baseboards and a brand new box spring and mattress.
Then, things got a bit...(shall we say?) muddy. Pudley learned that the door to the main bedroom upstairs doesn't shut properly, making it easy to break in whenever he pleased. Suddenly, he designated the middle of that rug his favorite place in the world to poop. Yes, you read that correctly. To poop! It didn't matter how long I stayed with him outside at that point. He had found his special spot and that was where he was determined to go. That is, until he got outsmarted!
I put up a makeshift gate at the top of the stairs as a test (Nibbles and Pudley have proven they can jump over just about anything). Once I saw he could not get through or over the gate, I hired a company to shampoo and deep clean the rugs in each of the bedrooms. Just like that, the problem was solved and once again, Pudley was willing to take care of business where it belongs: outside.
Puddles aside, he is a really sweet and hilariously dramatic pup. Goofy, even. He and Nibbles keep me on my toes. I thought I knew all the Scottish Terrier tricks until Pudley and his sister joined the family. Now, it is clear I still have much to learn in the ways of the mischievous Scottie and I'm happy to have Nibbles and Pudley as my newest teachers. They remind me of the importance of keeping a sense of humor. And something tells me they'll be supplying plenty of entertaining stories for me to share with the Scottie Mom community for years to come!
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!
When Heather first entered our lives, she kept mostly to herself. She was super friendly to anyone she met and always volunteered to be a test subject for back scratches but she opted not to hang around longer than what it would take to score some treats and a few pats on the back. Then, as quickly as she came, Heather would set out for a corner in the far end of the room to rest her head upon her paws. Never completely out of sight but just far enough to satisfy her independent self, anyone who was seated nearby could see her sly (but shy!) Scottie eye keeping watch over all in the room.
For years, this has been Heather's signature move: to go somewhere not too close, but never too far. The behavior might seem a little bizarre to some but to rescue moms everywhere, it probably doesn't come as a shock. One can't help but wonder what it was that these pups went through to lead them to develop such habits. They say all it takes is love and patience to restore a dog's faith in humanity - and this is most certainly true - but even I found myself wondering just a few months ago if I'll ever get the chance to snuggle with my baby girl the way I get to daily with the mischievous Mr. K.
One night, Scottie Dad and I were watching TV. Heather and Mr. K were finishing up their dinner for two. After they each inspected the other's bowl to make sure no scraps were left behind, Heather and Mr. K trotted over to see what the humans were up to (and hoped one of us would have dessert ready in the form of a treat!). Instead of sitting at the edge of the couch as she normally does, Heather jumped up next to me and Mr. K. There, she settled in and I tried my best not to get too excited over the fact I had both Scottie dogs next to me for the first time. Alas, the bliss was short-lived and Heather returned to her spot at the other end of the couch not more than 5-10 minutes later.
And so this pattern continued every other night or so for quite some time. I dared not move a muscle every time she did this because I had waited too long to know what it would be like to cuddle with my girl and feared the slightest movement would send her away. Before long, she propped herself up in my lap as Mr. K habitually does. You could see the grave concern in Mr. K's eyes when he saw this occur (for he was sure he lost his spot forever) but he was kind enough to permit this temporary closeness as long as Heather eventually returned to her spot at the other end of the couch.
The more frequently Heather jumps up to be with me and the longer she stays each time, I'm fully encouraged that she has once again found a way to put the past behind her and enjoy life as we know it. I have no doubt she has felt comfortable with us in the Scottie House for quite some time but it is always rewarding to see her settle in at a deeper level with little moments like this. Is your dog a rescue? Tell us about his or her story and share any tips you've learned for fellow rescue moms in the comments section below! P.S. Guess who has been sitting in my lap while I write this post?
Mr. K is not very pleased with Scottie Mom's absence.
You're not the only one who has felt Scottie Mom's absence lately. In fact, it is pretty obvious that the one who has been impacted most by the extended work hours, reduced play time and less frequent snuggles is Mr. K. He hasn't been too happy with Scottie Mom for taking this new job...even if it does help her buy him more treats and toys. No, treats and toys will never be as good as having a human there to love on you when you want. That, Mr. K knows, can never be replaced.
Shih Tzu Mom has been wonderful. She takes Heather and Mr. K out for lunchtime walks each and every day. While I'm sure Mr. K is grateful to her, he recently started protesting these walks and would simply sit down on the grass outside instead of walking around the neighborhood as usual. After some coaxing, he got going but immediately returned to his spot at the bottom of the stairs by the front door the minute they returned to the house. Many a day, Shih Tzu Mom discovered she had to carefully push through a curled up, black ball of fur blocking the front door when she arrived.
For about a week, Scottie Mom and Dad would return to the Scottie House and notice a smell. Neither could figure out from where it was coming. Mr. K still wasn't very social even with his humans being home and would go to his place at the foot of the stairs. Clearly, he was upset. Scottie Dad went to check on his little buddy and noticed Mr. K had been decorating the wall in various shades of yellow! He got out the cleaning products and set to work on disinfecting that area by the stairs. It has been nearly five years since Mr. K has repeatedly marked his territory to show his discontent but even after so much time, the message is loud and clear as ever.
Finally, Mr. K was fed up with it all and let his Scottie-tude get the best of him by taking out his frustrations on Scottie Dad. A low growl here and there. Even a snap once. Things had to change. So, every night after work no matter how late, out comes Mr. K's beloved tennis ball. He chases it to and from with the help of Scottie Mom or Dad until he has run his little heart out and is smiling wide - pink tongue out and all. On weekends, Scottie Mom curls up with Mr. K by the TV or with a good book to make sure he feels loved. The transition certainly hasn't been the smoothest but Mr. K's mood has improved markedly since starting the job nine weeks ago. There might not be enough time in the day but there is always time for love and a Scottie dog (or two)!
Recently, a fellow Scottie Mom got in touch and asked us for a little advice.
I am writing because of a problem my husband and I have with Mo, our rescue Scottie. He is an only dog and is with us 24/7. Rarely is he left alone at all. Mo is somewhere between five and seven years old. We know nothing of his history. My husband and I consider him "almost" perfect. However, his behavior regarding other people is often unpredictable. You mentioned in one of your blogs that one of your pups does not always like people and dogs. Mo may be protecting his now happy lifestyle and home, but...his behavior is unacceptable. How do you handle your similar situation?
When I first found Mr. K at a shelter in South Carolina, he - like Mo - had been in that crowded place for two weeks and did not react to my attempts to get to know him. It took me 20 minutes to get him to make eye contact and even then, it was only for a few seconds at a time. I believe the trauma of the whole situation made him unsure of his surroundings. Also like your situation, I do not know much of Mr. K's background to this day - other than the fact he was left tied up outside by his previous owners before they finally surrendered him to the humane society.
Once Mr. K was home with me, his personality started coming out a bit. I hadn't had him for more than a few days when we attended a Bark in the Park event where I learned very quickly Mr. K was not a fan of other dogs. He challenged a big, ole Rottweiler to a dual and within seconds, the Rottie had shaken Mr. K out of his collar and there he was dangling below by the jaw. Naturally, as a first time dog mom (never mind Scottie Mom), this experience was quite frightening. What I was to learn in the coming months and years is that the trick is to let him know (gently, but firmly - the Scottie pride is easily wounded) that his behavior won't be tolerated while getting him used to being around other dogs through socialization - once a scary concept for a new Scottie Mom like me.
As for aggression towards humans, Mr. K is the opposite of Mo. While Mo doesn't seem to like women (besides his Scottie Mom, of course!), Mr. K didn't - at first - care for men. Each one had to go through Scottie Security when they entered the apartment. I can only recall two instances when he went for ankles. Again, all it took was getting Mr. K to understand that his behavior was not OK and with time, he has mellowed out. The most he does now is greet any doorbell ringers with a few, definitive barks. After that, the tail is all wags. I credit his toned-down nature to regular socialization through Scottie play dates and frequent interactions with family, friends and visitors.
I think Mo is being protective of his new home. He is probably quite happy with his new living arrangements and doesn't want that taken away. Since you adopted him in February, I imagine it is only a matter of time that Mo will learn what is acceptable behavior in the eyes of his Scottie Mom and Dad. Patience, understanding and love are your best allies in the first few months of any rescue scenario. Try having Mo go outside the house and meet any guests before they enter his terrier-tory. Being in a neutral zone may lessen his protective instinct and re-entering the house with or after the house guests may help him understand these people are not threats to the Scottie House.
I do not pretend, however, to know it all about Scottie-tude! After all, Heather and Mr. K are my first Scottie dogs ever. Each Scottie is different and what worked for Mr. K may not work with Mo. Therefore, I'd like to open it up to other Scottie Moms and Dads - anyone have other advice to share with a fellow Scottie Mom on how to tame Mo's 'tude?
Mr. K here. I'm taking over the blog tonight so I can plead my case before Scottie Mom rats me out. Truth be told, friends, I did get in a bit of trouble but not because I played a prank. No, I stumbled upon a little treasure on the ground in Savannah and got a little upset when Scottie Mom tried to steal it. Heather and I were walking Scottie Mom about the park while we waited for Scottie Dad to bring the car. My snout picked up the most glorious scent and led me to a nearby bush. Sure enough, just sitting there waiting for me was a large piece of meat still on the bone. I knew I had to act quickly or else Heather or Scottie Mom would snatch it up first.
Unfortunately, I wasn't fast enough. I was able to grab it but Scottie Mom saw me and demand I put it down. I wasn't giving up the fight that easily. I looked at Scottie Mom and attempted to chew faster. This did not make Scottie Mom happy. She tried to pry the object from my grasp, telling me to let go. Friends, you must understand: I had never tasted anything like this in my whole life...how could I let go? I sucked the rest of the meat piece into my mouth so Scottie Mom couldn't get to it. Would you believe that didn't stop her? She obviously knew what a prize I had picked up and was so hungry for a piece of it herself that she rudely interrupted my meal and stuck her fingers in my mouth to loosen up my grip. Seriously, woman!
It was here where, admittedly, I took things too far. Scottie Mom crossed the line trying to retrieve my prize and I had to teach her a lesson. I looked her dead in the eye and slowly began to shut my jaw tighter - her fingers still attempting to steal my prized meat. She looked right back at me then. Her eyes grew wide and I could see tears brimming. Scottie Mom's a toughie and held her own until she couldn't anymore. She pulled out her fingers just before I made them part of my meal. Only trouble was: in this swift finger retrieval movement, she knocked out my prized meat and I was distracted by a cough or two. Next thing I knew, she was flinging my meat in a trash can far out of my reach. And her finger was pretty swollen.
I knew I had done wrong and I've done my best to make amends with Scottie Mom since our trip. She claims she wasn't trying to steal my meat for her enjoyment and that she was only concerned for my health. Something about the meat being rotten, me getting sick, the bones being bad for me and such. I don't know if that's all true (I mean, it was a really good find...I'm sure Scottie Mom would have snuck a taste if I hadn't gotten to it first) but I've chosen to put this whole thing behind us. Scottie Dad took care of Scottie Mom the minute he got back to us with the car. Luckily, my pearly whites didn't break her skin and the swelling went down after a day or two. Still, he watched over her injured finger religiously and I knew he wasn't too pleased with me. Being a big steak guy, I thought he would have had more sympathy for the situation! Instead, here I am: pleading my case to you, my friends. What would you have done if you found yourself in my situation and how do you suggest I make it up to Scottie Mom?
It started like this: Scottie Mom brought another one of those packages filled with the good stuff for us pups into the house. This time, she was smart enough to take the tags off everything before she set the box down on the ground and let us rummage through and have our picks. Just like last time, I found the bestest toy in the box and was off in a flash.
This toy didn't squeak but it sure did make a sound! Scottie Mom said it made a sound she would prefer never to hear again. I told her not to worry - I'd take care of it straight away. It took me less than two minutes to get rid of that sound once and for all. Clearly, my new "bestest" toy was not made for a Scottie like me. I bet Scottie Mom was glad she hadn't paid for it!
As you can see in the video above, me and my new, bestest toy were inseparable from the minute it came out of the box. And, as you can see from the video below, it took me less than two minutes to destroy my new, bestest toy and before I knew it, the thing was deaded.
It was at this point, Scottie Mom took my new, bestest toy away from me. I was very upset, having had only minutes of fun with it and attempted to stage multiple protests. She remained firm and said this new toy was simply not safe for Scotties. My bestest toy then disappeared but I knew it couldn't be far. I pretended to be all sad and gave her the most pitiful looks to convince her to give it back. Would you believe it didn't work?
Scottie Mom went up to bed so Heather and I followed. Upon the discovery that my new, bestest toy wasn't there, I went back downstairs. Scottie Mom laughed and said, "You won't find anything down there, Mr. K." She waited a while but I refused to come back upstairs. She told me to suit myself, turned off the light and climbed into bed. That's when I knew it was time. Just as she was closing her eyes, I started my final protest of the night, making lots and lots of noise.
As she hurried down the stairs, I sat my behind down and turned to watch her reaction. I had done what no Scottie had done before: pulled up a chair (which was tucked into the table quite nicely, I might add) and used it jump on the dining room table in search of my new, bestest toy. Once the light flipped on and I saw Scottie Mom's priceless reaction, I turned around and was about to make another ninja move by attempting to jump from the dining room table to the kitchen counter.
Scottie Mom freaked out and intervened ruined my masterful plan. She asked me what I was doing. I told her I didn't know what she was so upset about. My kitty cousins jump on counters at their houses all the time. Why couldn't a Scottie in search of his bestest toy do it? She sighed, shook her head and suddenly, I was on the ground again. She pushed the dining room chair back under the table and left to make the bestest toy reappear again. I flipped out. My plan worked!
Don't look at me that way, Scottie Mom. I've done nothing wrong!
I ran up the stairs behind Scottie Mom and my bestest toy. She shut the door behind us then turned to me and said, "you see this?" I nodded and waited ever-so-patiently for my bestest toy to drop on the floor so I could resume play time. Only problem: it never did. Scottie Mom locked it in the guest room bathroom! I vowed I would sit outside the closed door all night until she let me have it again but I got bored after a while and decided revenge could wait until morning.
What I needed was a comfortable night's sleep. And the best way to achieve that was to be with Scottie Mom and Heather in the human bed. So, I walked around the bed to where Scottie Mom slept, put my front paws up and gave her my best "I'm sorry - won't you let me up?" eyes. You bet that look won her over! Scottie Mom picked me up and I snuggled up to her but kept my eyes on that closed bathroom door. Tomorrow, I thought, that door would meet its match and the bestest toy would once again be mine.
While in New York, Heather and Mr. K made themselves at home with Scottie Dad's family. They had a room all to themselves with comfy doggie beds should they want a quiet place for an afternoon Scottie nap, and they were given free range of nearly the entire home for much of the day. At night, they would retire with Scottie Mom and Dad but during the day, Heather and Mr. K were free to go anywhere they pleased...except behind a certain closed door.
Naturally, any time you tell a Scottie he or she cannot do something, it only makes them want to do it more. Such is Scottie-tude, right? This certain closed door caught Mr. K's attention the very first time he passed it and attempted to sniff under the crack. Almost immediately, he was beckoned into the living room with a treat but Mr. K knew that he was being lured away for a reason and vowed to keep a careful eye on the certain closed door during the entire trip.
Strange noises would come from behind the closed door from time to time. A knock here. A thump there. And a jiggling of the doorknob every now and again. When people would open the certain closed door and step inside, the sounds seemed to intensify. Those noises were especially strange and Mr. K could never quite make them out. If everyone who goes inside with these strange noises came out okay, Mr. K decided, then the noisemaker couldn't be of much harm.
One night, Scottie Dad and family were sitting on the couch watching TV in the living room. Scottie Mom was writing Christmas cards at the kitchen table and talking to Scottie Grandmadre on the phone. Heather was asleep by her feet and Mr. K went to make sure all in the living room were safe. He stopped at Scottie Dad's feet to let him give a good scratch behind his Scottie ear. That's when it happened: the certain closed door opened. Slowly, very slowly. There wasn't much light but Mr. K could see the dark figure approaching when suddenly, it stopped at the sight of Mr. K.
The two stood there staring at each other. Mr. K began to shake. Scottie Dad looked to his left, saw the dark shadow and leaped off the couch yelling, "Mystic!" Mr. K took off running. Scottie Mom knew what had to be going on and dropped her phone in the midst of her conversation, throwing herself on the floor so she could catch Mr. K. This cannot be happening, she thought.
Let's take a moment to explain: it is a well-known fact that Mr. K doesn't like C-A-T-S. In truth, he cannot stand them and has an uncanny way of knowing when they're around even when they are out of sight. Mystic is the family C-A-T, who apparently is so smart, he knows how to open doors even when his people have taken very good measures to make sure he can't let himself out.
Mystical Mystic.
All Mystic wanted was to get a peak at his house guests and say hello. Then, as cool-mannered as he was when he walked out the door, he turned around and casually walked himself back into his room, having accomplished his mission. It was then that something occurred to Scottie Mom and Dad: Mr. K hadn't run after Mystic...he had run away from Mystic. In fact, he had run all the way behind Scottie Mom by the time she hit the floor looking for him. He was given the ultimate opportunity to catch a C-A-T as he was nearly face-to-face with Mystic but he chose to run away.
Perhaps it was thanks to Mr. K's fear or just plain luck that curiosity didn't kill the C-A-T and Mystic got away. Mr. K had encountered dozens of C-A-T-S before and never reacted that way. He always charged at his enemy. Still, one must consider that if this C-A-T is smart enough to know how to open doors, could it be that mystical Mystic could also put Mr. K in a trance and somehow convinced him to walk away? That, my friends, is something we'll never know.
Heather Beather here. I'm taking over the blog so I might be able to plead my case before Scottie Mom can complain publicly about a perfectly resourceful habit of mine that she thinks is unusual and just plain gross. Every morning, afternoon and night, Scottie Mom takes us out for walks around The Scottie House neighborhood. We follow a path of light grey concrete blocks to the back of the house and all the way up to the front of the neighborhood and then back to The Scottie House. In between each block is a small crack, in which the juiciest snacks find their way through after it rains heavily - which, here in Atlanta, has happened a lot this year.
These snacks from the cracks are thin and only an inch or two in length. They look (and taste!) like noodles. Sometimes, these snacks are a bit slimy, having just been washed out in the rain. Other times, they are nice and crisp after toasting in the sun a bit. Either way, I find these snacks that come from the cracks just scrumptious! I keep my nose pressed to the ground on days after a good rainfall. You never know what kind of snacks you might miss out on if you don't stay vigilant about these things. I've noticed Scottie Mom is on the lookout for them now, too, because I hear her say, "Nooo!" every time I beat her to finding the snacks and she can't stop me from gobbling it up for myself.
Scottie Mom claims she says, "No" because she doesn't want me eating these snacks from the cracks. I know, I tell her, you want them all to yourself. They're yummy and I understand. That's why I work hard to make sure I find them first. Scottie Mom laughs when I tell her this and she insists she does not want to eat them herself but is only concerned for my well-being (as if eating these snacks from the cracks is unhealthy!). Are you falling for it, friends? 'Coz I'm not. I'm pretty sure the snacks from the cracks that Scottie Mom calls worms are a good source of protein. Don't our bird friends feed off them? If so, then why can't we Scotties?
Well, friends, the destruction of The Scottie House continues. Prior to our big move, the only thing Heather ever chewed was treats (okay, and the occasional spilled remnants from a trash can she knocked over). Now, it appears she has taken a liking to chomping on the window sills. I'm not sure what gives. Do Scotties develop new habits over time?
Additionally, it appears that Heather Houdini is a mastermind at figuring out this Scottie Mom's work arounds to keep her out of things. Two days ago, she figured out how to break into the master suite again and she ransacked a Vera Bradley bag full of stuff we had yet to unpack. She took two small (empty) jewelry boxes given to me by my great aunt and gnawed right through them. When I got home, they were open and scattered across the floor in pieces. Mr. K apparently got so nervous his big sister was breaking the rules that he pooped his pants right there in the master bedroom...What a lovely homecoming it was, let me tell you!
A few days before that, Scottie Dad came home to hear Heather and Mr. K having a party of sorts in the newly finished closet. He said all he could hear was growling - from a friendly game of tug, I'm sure; not fighting - when he got home. And when he went upstairs, the two had partied so hard there was bathroom tissue shred everywhere and little pee stains here and there to accompany Scottie Dad's very large paint stain. (Luckily, the Spot Bot took care of those. The poor little machine is still working on the paint, though.)
Honestly, I'm hardly upset with Heather or Mr. K at all - just grateful there wasn't anything inside they could have swallowed and hurt themselves with. I'm thinking of buying a child proof lock or something for that master suite door. But just because it is child proof makes me think it may not be Scottie proof with the things Heather has been able to figure out. (I swear she outsmarts me, sometimes!) And as for the window sill issue, I'm not entirely sure what to do. We've moved the Scottie beds from the windows and that seems to have taken care of the issue for now. Only time will tell whether these tail wagging tales of destruction will continue (paws crossed they don't!).
Scottie Mom always wears nice dresses to work. But at home, those nice dresses get in the way of my play time. Sometimes, she can't run after me or crawl toward me when she's wearing one. Other times, my paws aren't even allowed on her lap because they might dirty the nice fabric. So I wait until she changes. Today, Scottie Mom came home late from work and wanted to relax...a no-no in my opinion. So, I decided to teach Scottie Mom a valuable lesson: when you come home from work, change immediately into comfy clothes that allow for play time activities including running, crawling, chasing and tugging...or else.
How did I do this, you ask? Well, when she went to sit down, I jumped up and grabbed the bow on the back of the nice dress. It didn't stay a bow for long. In fact, it suddenly became a tug toy! So that's why Scottie Mom wears nice dresses...they are actually equipped with hidden tug toys!! If I had known this sooner, we could have had lots more play time together all along. And I wouldn't object to her wearing them all the time. Silly Scottie Mom! Why keep this a secret? At first, I could tell Scottie Mom wasn't as happy as I was that the secret was out but all it took was me flashing my winning Scottie smile at her and she was laughing again. With how easy it is to make her smile with my mischief, me thinks it's time to play more tricks! Stay tuned for more. Until next time, dear friends. Yours truly, Mischievous Mr. K.
I stole the remote. It was getting in the way. You see, there's a certain amount of required Scottie time that hasn't been happening lately and it was time to take action. So, I rebelled.
It started when we moved to the Scottie House. There was this big empty, zoomie space. Slowly but surely, it disappeared. But it took a lot of Scottie Mom and Dad's time to make it disappear. They work during the week and on weekends, they go out in the Scottie Mobile and come back with more stuff to fill what was left of the empty space. Sometimes, all they do is plop their new stuff and get back to the important stuff: playing with me. Others, like today, they have lots of boxes to unpack and then, hours of reading and assembling more things that take away my empty, zoomie space.
And when they are done, they are too tired to entertain me. So, I try to entertain them. They toss a toy back and forth a few times and it is great. Then, they go back to relaxing on the couch and pick up the remote. Don't get me wrong. We still get our walkies four times a day but a Scottie like me needs so much more than a walk. I need undivided attention, lots of play time, and belly rubs and ear scratches until I fall asleep.
And, since that wasn't happening, I staged an intervention. I jumped up and acted like I was going to chill on the couch, too. Then, when they put down the clicker, I snatched it up and took it into the Scottie room (which doubles as a guest bedroom). After a few chomps, I heard Scottie Mom coming and decided to play innocent and roll over. I figured she would get a few laughs when she saw I was giving her a peace offering. I'd forgive her after a few belly rubs and, in return for some extra attention, she could get her remote back.
Sure enough, Scottie Mom laughed when she saw me and I got my belly rub. She told me I communicate very well for a Scottie and that my message came across loud and clear. She promised me that next weekend she would give me and Heather a surprise and that there wouldn't be any housework. I jumped up right away. That sounds more like it! Looks like my plan worked. Now, the question is: what do you think our surprise is?!
Heather here. Yesterday, I gave Scottie Mom a test. It's a test I give her every once in a while to be sure she's a true Scottie Mom. The test begins on any given rainy afternoon and ends when I'm convinced her patience can't take any more. On these afternoons, Scottie Mom comes home to walk Mr. K and me. I act all excited like I normally do and I Scottie scoot my way down the stairs and out the front door. Once I get down to the driveway, though, I notice the pit-pat of the falling rain and make a mad dash for the door or the nearest covered area. Then, I stand there and stare at Scottie Mom with my most pathetic looking eyes so she feels pity on me and takes me back inside where it is safe from the horrid rain and, best of all, dry.
The problem is Mr. K likes to walk and do his duty...even in the rain. I don't. Even if I haven't peed in hours. Why, you ask? Well, let me put it this way: when was the last time YOU peed in the rain (and liked it)? If I pee in the rain, my hair gets messed up, I get all sopping wet and then, Scottie Dad accuses me of being extra stinky (he says I'm stinky all the time but it is worse when I come in from being out in the rain). That's just not how a girl wants the world to see her, is it? So, there I sit, under the cover of whatever is protecting me from the rain that day and Scottie Mom begins her plea: "Come on, Heather. Please, Heather? I know you have to pee, little girl. Just a quick pee and then we can go back in, I promise. Heather!"
Scottie Mom doesn't have a pretty raincoat like I do so when she begs me to take care of business, I do feel bad for her. She gets just as wet as I would if I didn't have the protection of my pretty, blue raincoat. The funny thing is that Scottie Dad doesn't call her stinky when she goes back in. Still, I choose to sit out of the rain and, if possible, I'll pee right there where I'm hiding from the rain since it is dry. Sometimes, with this new Scottie House, that's not possible. There aren't too many dry spots when it rains and I've had to learn to speed pee to avoid catching too much rain. Scottie Mom says I'm getting better at peeing in the rain at the Scottie House. She doesn't understand, though, that I still don't like it: I only do it when I know that patience of hers will run low soon enough. (Plus, let's face it: a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.)
It's a hard test, the one I give Scottie Mom. Most times, she passes. Sometimes, she gives up and takes us back to the house which is okay with me, too, because then I get to be dry. Those days, though, Scottie Mom has to be extra careful and make sure we go out again the minute the rain stops because my poor, little female bladder can't wait that long and she sure doesn't want to have any accidents in the house. Although, admittedly, they sometimes happen...like I said, it's a test and it certainly isn't an easy one. Alas, Scottie Mom's patience usually persists and Mr. K and I are able to relieve ourselves on our schedule and on our own terms. And, once I see Scottie Mom pass the test with flying colors, I try to let go and throw her a bone every once in a while and surprise her by peeing the minute we get out in the rain. (I turn around and run right back to the house when I'm done, of course.) This can't happen every time, though, then she'll think taking me out in the rain is acceptable behavior and that, my friends, just isn't so.
Yesterday, we told you about Some Scottie who has been terrorizing The Scottie House. Today, we tell you who was behind each of the Scottie Who Dunnits. Any of these come as a shock?
The poo and pee? They were courtesy of me...
The trash on the floor? Those were remnants of goodies I scored...
Scottie Who Dunnit number three? Yep, that was me.
We both gave Scottie Mom a scare and she told us to play hide and seek no more.
You thought I was responsible for all four Scottie Who Dunnits, didn't you? Shame on me...I'll do better to uphold my reputation next time!
[caption id="attachment_2743" align="alignnone" width="500"] Don't look at the camera - they'll know which one of us is guilty![/caption]
Some Scottie is terrorizing the new house. Every day we come home to another Scottie Who Dunnit needing to be solved. There are only two likely culprits so who could it be? Your guess is just as good as one coming from me!
Who Dunnit One: Some poo and some pee...and none of it under a tree. These "gifts" were left waiting for us on days one, three, seven and ten. All within mere hours of being left alone to roam The Scottie House free. But with walkies given four times daily, which of the two decided to repeatedly defy logic (and scheduled potty times) to express themselves in such a way?
Who Dunnit Two: A kitchen full of debris. White scraps here and there and bits of trash seemingly everywhere. What I couldn't understand at first was what all the scraps on the floor were from and, if it was trash, where did they get it? It wasn't until I opened the pantry door (which was still closed and inaccessible to Scotties) and found only half a bag of trash hanging on the door. Somehow, it all suddenly made sense. But which of the two were able to snag the bag from behind a closed door? Sounds like the work of an experienced trash raider to me...
Who Dunnit Three: The burglary. Just a matter of days into our move, one of our Scotties figured out how to open the master suite while Scottie Mom and Dad were away. Truth be told, the master does not lock so all it takes is a nudge from a stubborn Scottie body and the doors to the forbidden kingdom will magically open. And once those door were open, we had a repeat of Who Dunnit One plus a variation of Whodunnit Two, in which some Scottie Houdini-ed their way into the linen closet, took a serious bite out of a roll of toilet paper and once again, spread scraps of trash here and there. Could the same Scottie be responsible for all this mischief and mayhem or is all this chaos a result of a team effort?
Who Dunnit Four: The disappearing act. Want to freak a Scottie Mom out? Don't come running to the Scottie gate when she comes home like you normally do and especially don't respond when she calls your name several times and offers coveted treats. She will really go crazy when she doesn't see you on the main floor or even in the treasured master suite. Be extra quiet and just as she lifts the bed skirt to check under the bed, pop out with a big smile and wagging tail. Then, crawl toward her and roll over for belly rubs...no Scottie Mom can stay mad at that!
So, give it your best guesses...who could it be? The answers will be revealed tomorrow at three!
[caption id="attachment_2713" align="alignnone" width="500"] Simply said: this house is MINE.[/caption]
Being in a new environment can really throw a Scottie Mom off her game! One day into home ownership, I pulled a rookie Scottie Mom move. Gone were our usual schedules and routines, and gone consequently, were (some of) my Scottie Mom instincts. Scottie Dad was away and so Heather, Mr. K and I conducted business as usual - sneaking into the master bedroom and doing what we wanted when we pleased. It was a rather uncomfortable and miserable experience, however, due to the three of us trying to squeeze on an air mattress that decided the last thing it wanted to do was keep air inside it. And, for those who think sleeping in a bed with Scotties is hard...try attempting to sleep on an air mattress with an injured back AND with a Scottie on either side. (Hint: sleep won't happen for the Scottie Mom involved!)
I was bound and determined that first day to make Heather and Mr. K feel at home and so, I put common sense aside and let them have the master suite to themselves while I was gone (GASP - we broke the rule again). I did, however, shut the double doors to the room so they wouldn't wander down a flight of stairs they hadn't quite gotten the hang of just yet. All was right in the world. For a few hours, I forgot about all the work it had taken to get to that moment and I was happy. The puppies were so darned content hanging out together and snuggling up on the air mattress in their new home. Plus, I could walk to work and come home at lunch on a daily basis to see them. What could go wrong?
Well, lunch time came and I found out just what could go wrong. Mr. K had rediscovered the carpets again and this time, the carpets were for more than helping him scratch that itch on his back. Yes, in fact, the carpets were where Mr. K decided to show Scottie Mom how obviously displeased he was having been left in a strange place all alone. A dozen spots, that's what I saw across the carpet. And these weren't "I couldn't hold it any longer" spots. These were, "I'm going to show you who's boss, Scottie Mom" spots. I panicked. Scottie Mom was finally busted after a year and a half of sneaking the puppies in the bedroom. And, as luck would have it, we would be busted in the newly purchased house. I did my best, scrubbing the carpets as best I could but the markings just wouldn't come out.
That afternoon, I returned to work and talked with a colleague, who told me her dog (who is unable to move his back legs and gets around with the help of a doggie wheelchair of sorts) often has "leaks" and that she turned to something called a Spot Bot to help clean the stains. I rushed off to Target that night and picked one up. Wouldn't you know how quickly the two of us made friends? That little machine took so much work off of me that I could hug it. Sure, it left a ring of damp carpet that needed a good 12 hours or so to really dry up before it blended back in but other than that, it did a really decent job of getting those stains out. I even let it try to get the set in stains the former homeowner's Pomeranian left behind for us. Those didn't really improve much but it is obvious those stains had been there a while.
And so, Scottie Mom managed to avoid being caught - at least for now. And, as far as Scottie Dad knows, we bought a Spot Bot for those unfortunate incidents in the future when Heather pees each time her Scottie Dad hooks her up to the leash for a walk. What a thoughtful and resourceful Scottie Mom! As for Mr. K, he's getting used to his new pad but he made sure to continue marking it up until his little Scottie heart was content that there was no more Pomeranian scent to be found in HIS home. And each time my friend the Spot Bot came out to take care of his mess, wouldn't you know Mr. K stayed close by with a watchful eye and threatened to attack the noisy monster marking his markings? Silly boy...
BlogPaws Day 1: Success? Not so much. But it was worth a try. We called it quits about halfway through the day. Heather, Mr. K and I attended two classes together and, for the most part, made it through without any major damage done. I should've known it was all downhill when Mr. K's arch nemesis decided to take a seat - you guessed it! - right in front of him in the very first class. At first, it was as if Mr. K himself didn't believe what was going on and struggled to believe it was real. But as the class went on and that M-E-O-W got more defined, Mr. K could not contain himself. He squirmed, whined and even worked himself up to a heavy pant. And for those who know what a Scottie can get like when there is an evil C-A-T around, you know just how embarrassed this Scottie Mom was.
Fast forward through the second class (which Heather and Mr. K acted beautifully for and even scored a few treats) and Mr. K decided to rumble with a fellow pup for about 0.25 seconds before Scottie Mom snatched him up and took him outside to cool off. We walked around the hotel so Mr. K could mark some territory and came back to go through the exhibits - hands down, Heather and Mr. K's favorite part of the day. Everywhere they turned, they were handed treats and asked to pose for pictures (which, as loyal Scottie Mom followers know, Heather and Mr. K are always happy to do). Then, Mr. K decided to start his shenanigans again and lifted his leg on one of the vendor's boxes. As any horrified Scottie Mom would do, I apologized profusely. Just a few minutes later, we settled in to relax in the lobby waiting for our next class to start. That's when Mr. K decided to squat.
You can only guess just how humiliated I was. And that was just minutes before I marched the doo-doo bag outside, took the pups out for their second walk within mere minutes and came back in the lobby to flip - yes, FLIP - over a bench I neglected to see. (Wearing a dress, I might add...) So, here I was, two Scottie dogs and two bags in hand, landing face first on the floor. Luckily for me, my extended humiliation didn't appear to have been witnessed by others and I hoped it would end there. I picked myself up, sat down with the pups to take some pictures documenting the memorable morning and called Scottie Dad to come pick me up. I had enough adventure for one day and was ready to retire. Tomorrow, I'll likely give another go at the BlogPaws conference but I can't decide: go solo or just with Miss Heather Beather? It was a bit much carrying the two around from class to class and Heather sure does know how to network the best out of the three of us! In the meantime, we're set out to find some new adventures of a more touristic nature!
Don't look at the camera - they'll know which one of us is guilty![/caption]
Simply said: this house is MINE.[/caption]