9
.
.
Top of Page
Top of Page
Top of Page
Top of Page

 

Stories about Scotties
Zach (RB89) was a protective little beast. He liked most people, but on his own terms.  One of his friends was our next door neighbor,  Randy.  Our house had a very elaborate alarm system.  The kids were away at college; we were at church.  When we came home, we noticed a ground floor bedroom window open that shouldn't have been. 
When we pulled in the driveway,  Our neighbor was sitting by the back door,  laughing.  He was listed at the Police Station as having our keys and the codes for turning off the burglar alarm.  He said the police had called him that our alarm was triggered.  He met the officers and opened the door to be greeted by an irate Scotty. The officers insist on going in first, but Zach sure didn't know that guy in the blue suit with the stick in his hand, and Randy's introduction wouldn't suffice.  They tried to ignore Zach when Randy directed them toward our bedroom, where the alarm controls were located. The closer they got to the bedroom, the more Zach objected.  Zach convinced Randy and the officer that one more step, and one of the three would have to die.   After reviewing the facts, the officer was sure that if he and Randy couldn't get in, no one else could either.  The police left.
Randy told us the story.  We unlocked the door to be met by a very happy and excited Zach,  who led us directly to the open window to show it to us.  He hopped up in the chair by it and I saw: 
(1) the screen was cut and the hook forced open, 
(2) the sash had been forced up, and 
(3) a few drops of blood on the sill.
While Zach was in the chair his mouth was perfectly positioned to meet any hand,  face or other body part that was inserted into the opened window.  We all thought it quite clear what had happened.  The police agreed.  That was the only time Zach was "put to the test," but he sure passed it and got lots of treats including his very own serving of ice cream. 
George Wilson
Attorney who lives in West Kentucky provided above story


When I was a small boy in the 1940's, I was given a Scotty as my first dog. He had been used as a show dog by a large kennel and seemed cowed and distrustful of people. Gradually my Mother brought him around to the point that even my Father admired his courage and attitude.
Father took him to his office now and then and the dog (Tammy) liked to sit under a couch in my Father's office. Various businessmen would come in and discuss things with my Father. Tammy was indifferent to most strangers but occasionally he showed a dislike to a certain visitor. He would emit a low growl from beneath the couch.  Since he could not be seen, my Father would look on with amusement as the visitor tried to figure out where a dog might be. Father said Tammy was a pretty good judge of people because he usually agreed with him.
By John, Keeper of this page. 
Auburn, Washington


 A determined Scotty will not be easily deterred...
Just after World War II began my father and mother thought that I, a boy of eight, should have a dog. Rather accidentally they chose to look at a large Scotty kennel kept by a very large corporation in the food industry. In later years the company's Scotties would become famous.  And I would never have anything but terriers during my life. Airedales, a Welshie and now I am the obedient servant of two Scotties. Here is my best Scotty story showing how determined the little devils can be.
He sat alone watching people come and go, but aloof and cautious to any advances people made to him. While the other thirty-five or forty Scotties at the kennel ran around or barked, this year and one-half old was obviously not part of the pack. With all of the outgoing and gregarious Scots clamoring for her attention after about two hours of inspection my mother chose Tam O'Shanter II, an ex show dog. We would call him Tammy.
During the ride home from the kennel he sat beside me in the back seat, subdued and anxious. In the weeks following we decided he had been rather badly treated by the kennelmaster and had lost his trust of people.
In the first few months he was with us, Tammy obeyed but showed no liveliness or joy in life which is so unlike the typical terrier personality. As determined to resist any bonding as he was, he met his match in my mother. Day-by-day mother would have short training sessions followed by play in the garden. After three months Tammy began to respond with a tentative wag of his tail and a little light had come into his eyes. In six months he began to show enthusiasm and his real personality began to emerge. After a year he was a different dog with all of the endearing qualities of the breed.  Courage, independence, curiosity, loyalty and the self-appointed guardian of family and home. Although aloof with strangers and rather spartan in his life-style, he hated soft furniture and laps and did not want to be handled a great deal, he enjoyed life immensely and greeted us with great joy after even a short time away from the house. Tammy had gained complete confidence in himself and in us, his family.
The following happened several years later, about 1945... Tammy slept in my parent's bedroom under my mother's desk in one corner.  He liked regular hours and he liked dark and quiet when he slept. One night in late winter my father was away on business. I was in boarding school and this story was told to me by my mother and sister who never got over it.
The time was well after 10:00 PM. My mother was in her bed and my sister was sitting on my father's bed with her legs dangling over the side of the bed. They were discussing all sorts of things and oblivious to the time. Several times Tammy had gotten up from his place under my mother's desk in the corner and glare at the women who were disturbing his sleep. Sometimes he grumbled and muttered at them but still they ignored him.
After several of his complaints went unheeded, he got up from his bed and came over to the side of my father's bed. Firmly but gently he took my sister's ankle in his mouth and pulled her off the bed. He made it quite clear that she was to go to her room. Marching her there, he waited until she got into bed and put out her light. Then he trotted back into my parent's room and faced my mother with an intense look that plainly said, "Turn off your light and go to sleep!"  Thoroughly amazed at this performance, my mother complied. With his task completed he returned to his bed, settled into a comfortable position and let out a large sigh.  I suppose Scotties find us humans difficult to manage but with enough determination it can be accomplished.
John Baillargeon.  This story is my own


One day two women were in the shop and Katie met them at the door with the usual greetings.  They were overly nice to her and as they were looking around Katie ran off to her house (Pet Taxi) and came running out with something hanging out of her mouth.  The ladies started screaming...... she's caught something...... she's got in her mouth..... I came running to see and as I look at Katie I see she had her favorite stuffed mouse in her jaws with only the head hanging out!!!!!!  There's Katie  proudly chasing two screaming women around the  shop and all I could do was stand there and laugh.  Finally I managed to get out it's not real  just as Katie dropped it on one of the gals' feet.  Can you imagine if that mouse had a squeeker in it??
Hello.... 911??
Linda Bugle, Katie and Bonnie 
Cape Cod, Massachusetts 


Hi Scotty Lovers,
I work for a hospice here on Long Island.  I care for people during their last walk of life. This story is about a wonderful man and Ramsey my scotty. When I first went to Don's house I noticed he had many books on dogs.  He told me he missed his cocker spaniel.  He had to give the dog away when he was no longer able to care for him because of his illness.  I told him about Ramsey and he asked if I could bring him the next day. I did.  When we arrived he was in his wheelchair waiting.  Ramsey was all excited and ran around the house sniffing everything.  Finally he went over to Don and made friends with him.  Then he laid down at his feet and rested his chin on his foot. Don asked me if I could bring him every day. I did, 4 hours a day 5 days a week. Don had a very large house.  So when I left the room Ramsey would follow.  If Don called him, he would run to him and lick his hand. This went on for many months. Ramsey made him smile and brought him much comfort.  As Don's illness progressed,  Ramsey would follow me less and less. The last 2 weeks Ramsey laid under his bed and would not come out.  I knew his wee soul knew.  I am lucky that I can bring my dogs to work with me.  Most of the time it is only for a day.  Muffy my Westie visits with my woman patients and Ramsey with the men.  They are used to oxygen machines, wheelchairs and hospital beds.  Muffy loves to sit in laps and get petted.
Pat Gaffney, Muffy & Ramsey


BIRD DOG WITH A BROGUE


Email to John, the keeper of this Web Site
















 

 
  Medical + Other Links
  Emergency + Other Links
  Cancer+ Other Links
  Orthopedic + Other Links
  Eyes + Other Links
  Breeding + Other Links
  Non-Medical Links
  About Scottish Terriers
  Scotty Stories
  John's Scotty Photos
  Other Scotty Photos
  Scotty Language