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!



Pet-Friendly Ways to Keep a Clean Floor

I, sweet Heather Beather, am notorious for "washing" the floors for Scottie Mom with my tongue. You just never know where you might find a scrap of something yummy.
Despite my handy work, Scottie Mom always brings out a steam mop to clean the floors one more time. I promise you, Scottie Mom: I got this - there's no need to clean up after me!
The minute she finishes washing the floors, Mr. K likes to bring out his toys and run around on the freshly steamed floors so everyone can see his paw prints and so he can begin painting the floors with doggie slobber once more!

One of the most common questions I'm asked by Scottie Mom friends and fans - right after how I get my pups to pose for the camera so well and what "Mr. K" actually stands for - is how the Scottie House hardwood floors always seem so clean and shiny with two dogs running about the house. Until recently, there was no real secret to keeping it clean. Just some good, old-fashioned elbow grease and a bucket of hot water mixed with a bit of vinegar.

The process of cleaning the hardwoods in the Scottie House by hand takes approximately four hours. Needless to say, we have a lot of hardwood flooring in the house - only the bedrooms have carpet. Washing the floors used to be an extremely laborious process but after going through two separate health scares that inspired this blog, I simply wasn't willing to risk another health scare by using any cleaning product with which Heather and Mr. K might come into contact.

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Read about Mr. K's brush with death here. To this day, we still don't have a diagnosis.


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A few months ago, Scottie Dad came home with a Bissell Powerfresh Steam Mop. Truth be told, I wasn't too happy about it at first. I had heard steam mops shorten the life of the hardwood flooring over time and I was still skeptical about using anything other than water, vinegar and a few old rags to spruce up the place. Still, Scottie Dad insisted we give the steam mop a try because it only used water - no harsh chemicals. Reluctantly, I gave in and I'm so glad I did. The time it took me to clean the hardwood floors was reduced by 90 percent and the floors felt just as clean beneath my feet.

This was huge. Having accepted a job that takes me about an hour and half away from home, I had less time to do household chores and spend time with my precious pups. To find something that was pet-friendly and gave me back more than 3.5 hours of my time was priceless. I'm pretty sure Heather and Mr. K approve, too, as this little steam mop doesn't make loud noises like that big, bad vacuum cleaner does. Most of the time, Heather and Mr. K will rest in their Scottie beds and observe the steam mop hard at work - even when it is just inches away from their beds.

Now, we want to hear from you: what pet- and family-friendly cleaning tips and tricks do you have to share for keeping the Scottie House so fresh and clean? Comment below!

A Scottie Mom in the Making

Our feline cousin Cruz snuggling with the baby bump!
Heather and Mr. K are going to be an aunt and uncle! In less than three months, they will welcome their niece into the world and will commence training on the second generation of Scottie Moms in our family. We couldn't be more excited! In shopping for our little niece, we've found that there is a healthy variety of children's clothes out there featuring Scottish Terriers and, of course, we're working on building her wardrobe of Scottie-patterned clothing. Please keep your eyes sharp, friends, and be sure to comment below with your favorite Scottie finds for mom, baby and the nursery so we can all run out to the stores and collect them before they're gone! 

Scottish Terriers of Instagram

It's the moment you have waited for all week! With #TooCuteTuesday just around the corner, we thought we would whet your appetite for the cuteness overload happening tomorrow on our Facebook page by introducing you to this week's bunch of smiling #ScottishTerriersofInstagram. Aren't they just adorable? Let's try captioning some of these Scots! 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!



Like a Good Neighbor

We were on our way to the overtreater's house when suddenly, the Scottie Mobile decided it needed to take a nap on the side of the highway near Anderson, South Carolina.
We may not have thumbs but we knew being this cute meant we were Scottie Mom's best chance at hitchhiking a ride. 
It got too hot in the car, even with the windows down, so we ventured outside.
We watched as all the trucks and cars whizzed right by us.
Back in the car, we waited to be rescued. 
The tow truck arrived and we had plenty of interesting things to sniff on our way to the car shop.
There wasn't any air conditioning in the tow truck, either, but we enjoyed the strong breeze from the open windows.
We arrived at Firestone in Anderson, South Carolina, and had no trouble making ourselves right at home.
Finally, the overtreater came to pick up and take us home. Never has an air conditioned car felt so good!

State Farm was there, helping me get Heather and Mr. K out of the broken down Scottie Mobile on the side of I-85N somewhere near Anderson, South Carolina - about halfway to our destination: the overtreater's house. We still had a good two hours to go when the Scottie Mobile decided to take a nap. I knew a hot car with no air was no place for two dogs and so I sought help right away. 

First, I called the overtreater (Heather and Mr. K's grandpa) to come pick us up. Then, for the first time in my life, I called my insurance company. For me, car insurance has always been one of those things you're supposed to have but rarely use. And I recently switched over to Scottie Dad's team at State Farm so I was relatively unfamiliar with the coverage and what kind of help they'd be able to offer us. Much to my surprise, I had someone on the phone right away. They called me a tow truck and provided text message and automated phone call updates on the tow truck's whereabouts.

I was relieved to learn the tow truck would be there to rescue us within 45 minutes. Even still, I did my best to get some air flowing about the Scottie Mobile and blocked out the sun as much as I could from the backseat windows so Heather and Mr. K could stay as comfortable as possible. Every few minutes, a tractor trailer would rush by and give us a good gust of wind. It wasn't the most comforting thing to feel the car rock slightly as these larger vehicles whisked by but it did feel nice to have a bit of breeze every few minutes as the Scottie Mobile baked in the afternoon sun.

Unfortunately, we waited about a half hour longer than expected for the tow truck but we passed the time in and out of the Scottie Mobile. I always take a portable water bowl and provisions with me on car trips like this. Naturally, I had only brought the bowl this time - no water. So the longer it took the tow truck, the more nervous (and guilty) I felt. Lesson learned! Luckily, the pups were doing fine and once the tow truck was there, we were on our way to safety thanks to our friends at State Farm. 

We stopped at the Firestone in Anderson, South Carolina, where the team was nice enough to let me bring the dogs inside. I filled the pups' bowl with fresh, cool water and gave them each a few Blue Bits treats to help them settle in. They honestly didn't need any help settling in, though. Within minutes, Mr. K had his legs kicked back and Heather was taking an afternoon siesta on the cool tile floor. They even met a lovely woman and her son who told me her brother is also owned by Scotties!

Finally, the overtreater arrived and Heather and Mr. K literally jumped for joy knowing he had a pocket full of treats to share. We left the Scottie Mobile at the shop and hoped it would wake up from its nap by the time we returned the next day. And though it did wake up (after nearly $1,000 worth of work), we know it is time to replace it with a newer, safer Scottie Mobile. Tell us, friends: what kind of Scottie Mobile do you have and what would you recommend for our new ride? 

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?