The Scottie Mom Creed

There is a moment in time where every Scottie Mom (and Dad) realizes just how deeply they care for their beloved fur kid. Whether it is the first time the pup was spotted at a shelter or after that devious Scottie was caught stealing clothes from the laundry bin or raiding the trash can (again!), Scottie Moms and Dads are often quick to give away their hearts to their furry companions and pledge - unbeknownst to them until now - to abide by the Scottie Mom (or Dad) Creed.

So help me Scottie, I pledge to stick by your side through thick and thin, through happy times and sad, through sickness and good health and to provide a safe and loving home.

Care is what you need and I, as your Scottie Mom (or Dad), will gladly provide.

Our bond will be strong, thanks to reciprocated loyalty and an unending desire to make each other the happiest and healthiest we can be.

Treats will be given freely as a token of my love and, when possible, we'll embark upon travels and other means of exploration together to keep your Scottie mind active and engaged.

Trust is love, and love is trust. I vow to honor your trust, which you so willingly give, and always look out for your well-being and best interests.

I solemnly pledge to give you, my dear Scottie, my heart, my home and anything else you deem "yours." Even if that means we share everything...including my bed!

Exceptional love, kindness, protection and commitment are all things I promise to provide.



Loneliness is a feeling you will never know under my care.

Our friends and families all know of my dedication to you, dear Scottie, and are aware of what my wishes are in terms of your caregiving should anything ever happen to me, and they will aid and assist you in transition however possible.

Vows, such as the ones I make to you at this moment, are never to be broken. Your heart, as big and strong as it is, is also delicate and will never be hurt by a broken promise of mine.

Even at my weakest, you will know my love to be the strongest. For I, as your Scottie Mom (or Dad), know no love that is greater than Scottie Love and this is why I sign and commit to living by the Scottie Mom (or Dad) Creed.

Scottie Dad to the Rescue

My Scottie boo-boo.

My right eye kept shutting on me after the big WHACK.

Me getting some R&R the morning after.

It's just a couple minutes before 5 p.m. Mr. K and I are snoozing the afternoon away when we hear the keys at the door. Mr. K jumps up and I peek my head around the corner from under one of my favorite hiding places. To my surprise, it's not Scottie Mom. It's Scottie Dad! I jump up excitedly and start dancing. He hasn't been home in days. He starts singing our favorite tune as he walk down the hall. I go wiggle wiggle, wiggle wiggle and rush out from underneath my hiding spot to greet him when suddenly, I feel a WHACK and a clammering noise behind me as my favorite hiding place falls to the floor.

Ouch. That frightened me so bad, I peed myself (and all over the floor). I hope Scottie Dad's not mad. He calls me over, pets me again and again, asking me if I'm okay and gives me a few treats to calm me down. Such a nice guy! I'm fine, really, but he insists on holding me there longer. He keeps looking at my neck. Then, he reaches for a clean cloth and starts wiping me. Doesn't he know Scottie Mom made an appointment for me to get a bath this weekend? I don't want to have two in one week! Well, that was the shortest bath I've ever had and Scottie Dad gave me another treat. I look up at him and see him reach for the phone. He's telling Scottie Mom what happened and next thing I know, he and I are on a father-daughter journey...just the two of us!

Now, let me tell you something about Scottie Dad and his car. It's not like Scottie Mom's car. Mr. K and I are never allowed in this one but that day, Scottie Dad said I get the passenger seat all to myself. Wow - that car was swanky! I love the heated seats that keeps my bottom warm. I snuggle up and absorb the warmth, smiling the entire way to the vet. Scottie Dad laughs when he sees me so happy and yet, he seems confused. I think he thinks I should be in pain or something but I'm not. I'm just happy for some father-daughter time in the forbidden car! We arrive at the V-E-T (I should have guessed that's where we were going. I tend to go there quite frequently now) and the lady behind the counter looks at me funny when Scottie Dad tells her my name. I later found out that she and I say the same name and I think she was insulted to share her name with a dog. Well, I've got news for her: it's an honor, really! Especially to share a name with a cute, little Scottie like myself...

Anyway, a new V-E-T came into the room and put one of those nasty staples on the back of my head. Secretly, I'm smiling. Little does Scottie Dad know but now that I have this staple, I am not longer eligible for a bath! The V-E-T gives Scottie Dad some funny looking (and rather tasteless) treats to be mixed in with my food twice a day and we're back in the super cool car on our way home. I rush through the door when we get there. Surely, Scottie Mom is home. Yes, there she is! I go crazy, excited to see her and she gives me lots of kisses. Not more than an hour or so passes and I'm kind of trying to fall asleep...but not really. Only one of my eyes is closing and only halfway. Scottie Mom looks at me funny, as if she's concerned. I hear her on the phone. She's talking about me (but that's not uncommon) and then I hear her say she'll bring me right in. Right in where? Please not the V-E-T again!

This time, Mr. K joins us for moral support...probably more so for my Scottie Mom. I'm the independent type. Much to my dismay, we arrive at the V-E-T again and I'm not quite sure why. The V-E-T takes a look at my eye and tells my Scottie Mom that while there is no scratch, there is definitely irritation in my right eye. She puts a funny feeling cream in my eye and soon, I don't feel any discomfort anymore. The V-E-T gives my Scottie Mom a bottle of eye drops and each day, Scottie Mom and I sit down together three times a day and a single rain drop just happens to fall in my right eye every time. So strange! It's nearing midnight now and I'm super tired. I tell Scottie Mom it is time to go and we all hop into the car. Once home, Scottie Dad is there to greet me again and I thank him with kisses for our special time together but I also remind him that the V-E-T does not count for bonding time. No, in fact, the more I think about it, the more I believe Scottie Dad owes me another spin around town in his sweet ride...preferably on a chilly day so I can be roasty toasty and still enjoy the scenery!

7 Life Lessons a Scottie will Teach You

Raising a Scottish Terrier can teach you more about yourself than you think possible. When I first became a Scottie Mom, I had no idea what the Scottie crew would have in store for me or how much they would teach me. Years later, I consider myself all the wiser because of the life lessons my Scottie dogs have instilled. Below are just a few of the life lessons a Scottish Terrier will teach you.

7. Take life seriously...but not too seriously. We all have a purpose in life and sometimes, life requires us to buckle down and get down to business to discover that purpose. Work hard to achieve your goals but don't forget to destroy some toys and eat treats along the way.

6. Stand tall and proud. Confidence goes a long way in shaping the way others perceive you. Confidence commands respect and causes others to stop and see what you're doing different. Just be sure not to confuse confidence with arrogance and stay humble at the core.

5. Savor the good stuff. And don't let it go to waste! Be thankful for every meal.

4. Love without limits. A Scottie's love knows no bounds. You can even feel it long after they've gone. Vow to cherish those closest to you and shower them with your love...you'll never know a lonely heart.

3. Loyalty pays. Let's face it: it pays to have good friends. Choose your pack carefully and once you've established it, look out for them and have their back through thick and thin, just like you'd expect them to look after you.

2. Stay sharp. You never know when the next opportunity to chase and realize your dream (of catching a squirrel) will come around. Therefore, you must stay alert and hone your skills.

1. Snuggle up. Know when to call it a day. Nothing beats curling up with a big, fluffy blanket at the end of the day and getting a good night's sleep to recharge your batteries. Go ahead, stretch out and relax. Tomorrow's another day.

Scotties 'Brighton' the Day

Brighton Collectibles really knows how to catch a Scottie Mom's eye! I just had to stop in and check out the darling My Flat in London Scottie purse in the window. For the first time, I was briefly tempted to break my rule of never wearing Scottie-printed clothing, accessories, etc. in public. Now, don't get me wrong - kids wearing Scottie clothes is perhaps the most precious thing next to Scotties themselves but I haven't seen much out there for us adults that I'd want to wear in public. And, as much as I adore Scotties, I simply can't see myself taking my Scottie love to the next level by wearing them on my clothes (pajamas excepted, of course!). The only other exception I could see myself allowing for is if that particular Scottie-adorned item also happened to be an exact match to my style...and there really isn't much Scottie clothing out there that fits that category! This purse and some of the other accessories, however, came close and were actually pretty darn cute so I figured I'd share my finds in case there are Scottie Moms out there braver than I to proudly showcase her love for Scots by working it into her wardrobe!

The Treat Lady

It's official: I believe there may be someone else in Heather and Mr. K's life. Someone who they might actually enjoy seeing more than their Scottie Mom. (Gasp!) It started a year ago when we met a member of the housekeeping staff near the elevators on the way out for a morning walk. She doted on Heather and Mr. K, asking what kind of dogs they were and commenting how friendly Heather was and how antisocial Mr. K was (so not true!). Mr. K soon worked his way into her heart by sneaking up behind her and launching a verbal attack on the evil vacuum she dared to use in his presence one day.

Soon thereafter, every time Heather and Mr. K would get off the elevators in the morning and come back from their morning walk, there she was greeting them with the friendliest of faces. She nicknamed them Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt (obviously for their good looks!). And, just before they would duck away into the elevators to go upstairs for their morning meal, she would call them over and offer them the most sought after of gifts: TREATS! It became apparent Heather and Mr. K were so happy to make this acquaintance that they would actively search around corners in attempts to find their newfound friend each morning when she wasn't immediately in sight. And how disappointed they would be when they didn't find her some mornings!

Oh, but when they did find their new friend, Heather and Mr. K would work their magic. Mr. K would approach quietly and then sit and wait. Heather would take her sweet loving into overdrive and shower her new friend with affectionate smiles, tail wags and opportunities for back scratchings. Not more than a minute or two would pass before their friend would produce two treats in hand: one for Heather, one for Mr. K. And, as if that wasn't enough, they start the whole process over hoping for a second round of treats (which they sometimes get). With their eyes constantly on the prized treats and the new friend that holds them, they often prefer to pretend they don't hear Scottie Mom calling them to the elevator. In fact, most mornings their new friend is around, they insist on staying with her and will not budge unless their new friend coaxes them back on the elevator with Scottie Mom. Go figure.

Alas, it appears this Scottie Mom has fallen from the top spot and has been replaced (temporarily, I hope!) by the treat lady, who has become something like the "cool aunt." Guess it's time to break out that treat making kit and cookbook and see who the 'top dog' will be then!

Faster than the Speed of Scotties

Life with Scotties never slows. Whether it's a trip to the park or another visit to the vet, the Scottie Mom is always on the move. It's hard to believe that just 11 short months ago, our Scottie health troubles started...first with Mr. K and then with Heather. It seems like just yesterday it all began. If there's one thing to be said about Scotties, though, it is that they are very resilient creatures. It took Mr. K less than two weeks to completely eradicate whatever strange illness overcame him last March and he hasn't looked back since. Heather seems to be very much of the same path, having played host for a malignant form of localized cancer called liposarcoma one minute and getting rid of it all together the next. Today, they are both my little fur balls of energy, exploding with happiness from their wagging tails to their smiling faces.

I don't pretend to understand any of it for a minute. Sure, I suppose I am all the wiser of a Scottie Mom for having stood by my little ones throughout their ordeals but really, I owe their lives to advanced veterinary medicine and a very Scottie-like strong will power to live. And while I'm still grasping at straws to comprehend everything we have all been through, Heather and Mr. K have seemingly put their trials and tribulations behind them already as if they are prepared to move forward, take on the world and see what silly adventure they stumble upon next for their favorite Scottie Mom readers. Now that is a lesson we all could learn: to take life as it comes, enjoy it for what it is, fight only the necessary battles and restore it to its previously harmonious and happy state as quickly as possible. You know, I may be the Scottie Mom here but it seems like these fur kids aren't done teaching me new things about life just yet.

Needless to say, there's never really a dull moment in the life of a Scottie Mom. Heather's vet recently revealed she'd like us to consider testing Heather for Cushing's disease. Normally, I'd be panicking about what those results would be long before we even agree to take the test. Then, there's the ALP liver value that still hangs around 500 and the worry of whether the big C will come back and haunt my baby girl. This time, however, I've decided to take the Scottie high road and follow my fur kids' examples. I'll let life take the leash and hope that it affords me many more happy years with my babies. Who knows? Maybe by applying this Scottie method to dealing with the cards life deals you, we'll soak up more of the good times and be speeding on by the bad, faster than the speed of Scotties!

Bye, Bye Staples

Tomorrow, we return to the V-E-T. And, as much as Miss Heather dislikes going, we can't really call them evil anymore since they did us such a favor by removing the one true evil that endangered my baby's life: the big C. Heather has bounced back from surgery and she is as full of energy as ever. People still gawk at her when they see her but that doesn't stop her from showing them some serious Scottie love! Some ask me if she got beaten up. To me, she is just as beautiful for it is her strength, courage and love of life that makes her glow the way she does.

Her wounds are healing nicely and she's back to eating dry food (much to her dismay, I can assure you!). The staples and stitches will come out tomorrow and we'll get to have a more in-depth conversation with the V-E-T about Heather's overall health. I'm hoping for a good report. This Scottie Mom has had enough bad news for one year. Wish my little lady luck tomorrow and hope the staples removal is 100 percent ouchless! We'll let you know how it goes.