Activities For Scottish Terriers

  1. Home
  2. Dog Activities
  3. Activities For Scottish Terriers
1k Views
0 Comments
1 Vote

Prepare for unexpected vet bills

Find pet insurance Find pet insurance

Introduction

Scottish Terriers are some of the most endearing, friendly, and clever dogs one could ever hope to meet. As their name implies, Scottish Terriers hail from the Scottish Highlands where they were bred hundreds of years ago to help their masters hunt certain types of vermin (fun fact: the Scottish Terrier's exact date of origin is, as of this writing, not precisely known, but written records that describe dogs which heavily resemble Scottish Terriers date back as far as the early 1400's!). Today, Scottish Terriers have made waves in the dog community for their adorable appearances, friendly demeanor, and their impeccable beards.

The Cup Game

Most Popular
1 Vote
Any Day
Cheap
Easy
15 - 30 min
Items needed
Cups
Dog Treats
Bone
Activity description
This old school activity has consistently proven to be popular with humans over the years and dogs love it just as much. The Cup Game involves getting three cups and an item of value, hiding the item underneath one of the cups, shuffling them around, and then prompting another person to try and correctly guess which cup the item is underneath. You don't have to use cups either; one can use shells, hats, anything with a concave shape that can fully conceal the item. As for the item in question, your Scottie will likely find the game that much more engaging if you hide something like a treat or a bone underneath one of the cups.
Step
1
Now you see it...
First off, you'll have to set up the game while you've got your Scottie's full attention. Line up all three of the cups right next to each other and then place the treat underneath one of the cups. Next, slowly shuffle the cups around in front of your dog. For added fun, pay extra attention to your dog's head as they try to follow along.
Step
2
...Now you don't
After you've stopped shuffling the cups, prompt your dog to try and indicate which cup they think their treat is underneath. Say "find the treat" or something along those lines to act as a command that your dog will begin to associate with this activity. If they choose correctly, reward them with their prize and praise. If they miss the mark, encourage them to try again by removing the cup from the table.

Active Frisbee

Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Cheap
Normal
10 - 15 min
Items needed
Frisbee
Water
Activity description

Scottish Terriers may be relatively low maintenance dogs who don't need to work out too much to stay healthy, but they definitely need to be given opportunities to stretch their little legs on occasion. Enter Active Frisbee; this spin (pun intended) on this classic activity will prompt your pup to put some hustle in their step while also giving you the chance to burn a few calories in the process. The idea is that you toss the Frisbee as you normally would but when your dog takes off after it, you jog or power walk in the opposite direction so that your Scottie will have to cover more ground on the way back.

Step
1
Stretch
It's important to stretch your muscles before you get really deep into most physical activities, so make sure to get all limbered up and spry before you give this activity a try. You'll want to do the same for your Scottie as well; just grab a hold of their front legs and slowly pull them forward from underneath their body. Do the opposite with their hind legs and you'll be good to go.
Step
2
Soar
As in for this step, you'll need to let the Frisbee soar through the air. Now you'll want to toss it a pretty good distance so that you can have a few moments to get some distance between yourself and your dog but you don't want to toss it so far out that you pup vanishes from sight. We say a few yards or so would be a good distance.
Step
3
Sprint
You don't have to sprint when you and your dog first give this activity a try but the principle is still the same; while your Scottish Terrier is chasing after the Frisbee, here's the part where you walk or jog in the opposite direction. Early on, we suggest you try not to exceed 3 meters or so during each period when you walk or jog away from your dog.

Beard Grooming

Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Moderate
Hard
30 - 45 min
Items needed
Clippers
Scissors
Comb
Dog Shampoo
Activity description
This activity will present you and your Scottish Terrier with a very unique and specific way to bond while also affording you the chance to (quite literally) make your dog shine. Scottish Terriers are practically renowned for their beards, but they don't get that way on their own. It's up to a dog's caretaker to take the steps needed to properly groom their pet's beard and decide how long and thick they'd like their pet's facial hair to be. We admit; you could bring your Scottie to a professional dog groomer to expedite this process, but we feel that you'll miss out on a prime opportunity to bond with your dog if you don't give this a try at least once.
Step
1
Set time aside
This is one of those activities that's going to require a lot of focus and patience, so we advise that you set some time aside for this activity so that you won't have to try and rush through it. Earlier, we mentioned that this activity could take anywhere between 30 to 45 minutes to complete but it could take much longer if this is your first time personally grooming your dog.
Step
2
Cut, clip, and trim
After you've spent some time getting familiarized with the tools you'll be using to groom your dog's hair, we suggest you start by combing their coat to get the fur around your Scottie's face as uniform as you can. After you've combed out their hair, you want to get your clippers to shear off the matted and split edges of your dog's coat. Hold your dog's beard hair out while you do this. If you feel more comfortable using scissors, we say go for it but exercise caution at all times.
Step
3
Shampoo time
After all of the cutting and trimming is done, it'll be time to apply the shampoo directly to your dog's beard. Most dogs tend to get all up in arms during this part, and your Scottie may resist at first, but over time they'll come to chill out during this part of the activity. We suggest using dog-specific shampoo that protects and strengthens your dog's hair while also making it shine.

More Fun Ideas...

Find the Treat

Many Scotties prefer to stay indoors. This activity is a great indoor game and will also help a new Scottie get used to their new home. To play this game, you'll need to get a few of your dog's favorite treats and then have them follow you as you place the treats around your home. After you finish, give them a command to go and find their treats and watch as they put their brains to use.

Name Game

The Name Game is a great way to help your Scottish Terrier begin to associate words with various items around the house. To play the name game, get a few items that you'd personally like to get your dog acclimated to (newspapers, car keys) and lay them out in front of your pup. Get your Scottie's attention, point to the items, and then name them until your dog starts looking at the items after you simply mention their names.

Indoor Obstacle Course

This last activity will put both your dog's and your own brain to the test; the challenge here is to create an indoor obstacle course with the various pieces of furniture around your home that'll be both safe and mentally and physically stimulating for your Scottish Terrier. This activity is a lot of fun and is open improvisation, so feel free to look up some guides on the internet for inspiration.

Conclusion

Scottish Terriers are living testaments to the age-old saying "good things come in small packages." These pups are capable of doing all sorts of things that many may initially think are beyond their capabilities. Scottish Terriers are a good breed for dog owners who have been in the game for a long time as well as individuals who are looking to adopt a pet for the first time. These dogs are very loving and giving, and are fairly low maintenance compared to many of the other breeds out there. Really, Scottish Terriers just need to be introduced to new ways in which their talents and abilities can be put on display.