Periodically we feature an informational article on a Scotties Rock member in the spirit of helping us get to know each other a little better and to share special skills, knowledge, accomplishments and more that highlight the diversity of our members around the world. Enjoy learning about your fellow Scotties Rock members!
If you would like to nominate a fellow Scotties Rock member to be featured in a spotlight contact any Scotties Rock board member or email us at [email protected]
Amy Cada (Missouri, United States)
I never had a dog as a kid – we lived in the city – my parents grew up on farms and insisted that they have space to run. However, we traveled to our grandparents’ farms on a regular basis. Growing up I always thought I would get a Labrador as my uncle bred working/hunting labs, and my grandparents always had lab type mixes as companions and to work on the farm.
In college and early graduate school, I helped with all breed rescue then leading on to all terrier breeds rescue. My first Scottie was a foster failure, and of course this was really the beginning of the end in 1993 and to this day remain hooked.
After I got my first Scottie named Asta, I competed in agility and flyball with him and at a show that included conformation, I was privileged to meet Peggy Sue. Peggy Sue was the Scottie who would go on to win the Westminster in 1995. I then contacted her breeder, Camille Partridge, which led to the start of a life-long relationship. To this day, I call or email her on a regular basis for a chat and for Scottie advice. I decided to wait for the right Scottie pup from one of her litters – that would be Gaelforce Ebony Gryphon (Gryphon).
Gryphon went on to work and secure agility, therapy, and companion titles. He was a therapy dog from 13 months old until almost 13 years old. During his working career, he brought much love, friendship and comfort to many – but his specialty was children! He sadly passed at 13 and a half years old, and took piece of myself when he crossed to Rainbow bridge.
As a result of working with such a healthy well-bred Scottie, I contacted Susan Finn who sold me my first show dog. Liah (Destiny's E Equals MC Squared). She would go on to get her Championship, companion and Therapy titles, and so becoming a working therapy dog for many years. Her litter along with a litter from Katie (Gaelforce Yours To Kuddle), from Camille would go on to be my foundation bitches. Now every pup in my household has ties back to those two lovely gals, and lived to almost 14 and 16 years, respectively.
Now to introduce to everyone here at Scotties Rock and Scotties Rock Foundation my household consists of: Tank (11, grandson to both Katie and Liah), Luna (8), Tilley (4, daughter of Luna and Tank), Erik (4), Blitz (2, son of Tank), Chloe (2) bred by and co-owned with Cumbria Kennels, and baby Peaches, (1, daughter of Erik and Tilley).
My journey and involvement of the Scottish Terrier breed has led me to a very wide world of Scottie fanciers and dog lovers everywhere which includes lots of rescue work. I currently am the Western MO/KS coordinator for ST Louis Scottie Rescue. I specialize working with dogs that have difficult health issues, and also in behavioral work (I am lucky to have the best vet ever, whose experience can be tapped into on a regular basis). When I am fostering, I average 20 hours a week working with rescues which includes traveling, accumulating several thousand miles a year.
I have taken part in agility, but at present, I am frequently too busy with my own pups and rescue work to compete in agility anymore. However, I do have the equipment and I teach the dogs to “play” on it, to allow them to relax, have time out and have fun. In the future I would like to try scent work. Presently I show dogs in conformation (Peaches and Blitz are in the ring as bred-by exhibitor) and am actively involved with Pets for Life Therapy group; Tank visits a memory care unit.
Professionally I am a Scientist (Toxicologist), so I am able to keep current with new medications and treatments. As a large number of medications used by veterinarians are actually approved only for humans, I review both types of data. To relax I enjoy spending time and talking to friends and family (they all live reasonably close, so I am lucky in this respect). I love to read and enjoy Trap and Target Shooting. I laugh when I am asked if I own a gun for protection - when I have Scotties!!! I do not need or want a gun for protection, but I do enjoy the sport. I am pretty competitive in nature and so Target shooting is right up my alley.
Teresa Bilodeau (California, United States)
It gives me great pleasure of introducing our SR member Mrs. Teresa Bilodeau within our member spotlight article. Sharing her and her family’s journey of their love and life with their beautiful Scottish Terriers.
It began many years ago when she and her husband decided that it would be ideal for them and their two children to add a small type of dog to the family unit. With a son and daughter they both felt that it would be a good situation for them, to teach the importance of care and responsibility to them both.
They started their search within local rehoming centres in their area and soon came across a West Highland Terrier requiring a new home. They enquired straight away about their interest of this dog and an appointment was set up the following day. On arrival it was explained that they were fourth in line to meet the dog, and settled down to wait for their time to be introduced. Unfortunately this was not to be and the dog was picked and taken by the third couple in line.
Knowing they had come so close through the process they all left to return home feeling disappointed. Later on upset and near to tears Teresa called into another rehoming centre to speak with a friend that was involved there.
Teresa went on to explain what had happened and the reason she was making her enquiry herself, not wanting to cause false hope to her family. Further information on what sort of dog would be ideal for them was discussed fully. She was informed then that they were aware of a Scottish Terrier being up for rehoming from a military compound. So it was arranged that Teresa and her family would attend the following day to view the dog and were given first refusal to adopt.
The next day the family was introduced to a 7 month Brindle Scottie girl, and it was love at first sight for them all. In 2003 she was now the latest family member, her name was shortened to Kiki and she settled well into her new home and surroundings quickly.
Kiki enjoyed being part of the family and settled into the daily routine of home life taking part in all outings, family occasions, camping holidays, and she loved the fun, play and company they all shared. Time passed and another opportunity came their way and they decided to add another Scottie sister and play mate for her. Charlie, a gorgeous 8 week old petite black Scottie girl was their newest introduction to the family. She too settled in well to the house and routine becoming great friends with her sister Kiki, being playful and enjoying each other’s company. Life settled down but Teresa had become aware of some changes with Kiki and knew she wasn’t quite her usual self. Noticing that her general health wasn’t quite as it was, she had become slower and at this point realised that it was part of becoming senior in age.
As a family things settled into their daily routine, however the family were concerned about Charlie. This girl was quiet in nature coming across as a little aloof but this was part of her normal behaviour, but they could see she was at a completely different stage than her matriarch Kiki. Luckily she had mentioned her concerns with some close friends, who where aware of the situation and the effect of little Charlie not having a full play mate due to age differences, so during this time they decided to act on it. She made contact with Teresa and told them of a recent litter of puppies her own girl gave birth to. Going onto explain that they had a little Wheaten girl ready and waiting for Teresa to travel there for collection to join her new family. The following day they were united with their new puppy and latest family member.
Lily was taken home, she is a beautiful sweetie Wheaten full of love, enjoying cuddles, play and fun with all. Her antics bring joy and laughter from her wiggle butt, out going personality and taking full advantage of being the “baby” of the family insisting on being carried to bed nightly. Her and Charlie soon became great friends and an ideal combination of personalities and levels of energy. As the year progressed Teresa was aware that Kiki was failing further, appointments were attended and medications were administered for treatment and comfort. Unfortunately Kiki passed in 2015 at the age of 12 years old earning her wing’s and passage to the Rainbow Bridge.
The whole family missed their first and matriarch girl Kiki, but tried to deal with her absence in their own way and time. At this time Teresa threw herself into her sewing and craft hobbies keeping her busy helping her to deal with her loss. During this point she decided to try and make some Scottie dog themed items for use in and around her home. In doing so she felt that Kiki's presence was honored and was also an acknowledgement of their time together.
I would imagine that quite a few of our members will be aware of the little crafted Scottish Terrier decorations that she lovingly hand makes. In all colours, fabrics and themes produced to use within her home decor or for celebrations, occasions, and holidays. Teresa regularly donates items for auctions on Scottie, Westie and Cairn terrier groups and regularly to Scotties Rock Foundation.
Teresa went on to explain further that creating her craft items gives her so much pleasure. She feels that her work reflects all their memories and honor’s their relationship and time with her. Helping her and others in their grief, by being the inspiration in her work and so providing comfort and enjoyment to herself and many others. Now she looks back to this time not with sadness but with joy that she was and still remains part of their family history. Looking forward to the future not with pain or tears of loss, but with hope, joy and love. Teresa does think that sharing her story of their life and loss of their beloved Scottie Kiki, will offer some support and comfort for those going through loss at this time or in recent months. We do all cope with situations differently but with an open heart we can begin to heal and move forward with love and hope.
Doreen Pichette (Texas, United States)
I really don't remember not having a dog....I grew up with labs that my dad trained for duck-hunting as well as loyal pets. I had an aunt and uncle that bred and trained german shepherds and dobermans for conformation and obedience trials. When I was 13, my mom brought home a lhasa apso/beagle mix puppy that we named BC. I started training him in 4-H in obedience.....my first experience with dog training and I was hooked. After college, I married a man whose family had never owned a dog! I told him that he could pick the breed. Since his father was Scottish, his mother had always really liked scotties. So we bought "Kelso" from a breeder in southern Indiana so he could become her "grand-dog". This was my first experience being owned by a scottie and I just loved them! I started obedience classes with Kelso and learned that training a terrier was much more challenging! But I persisted and we came to an understanding long enough to earn his CDX title. The marriage didn't last but I got to keep Kelso who lived to be over 14 years old.
My next scottie, Blair, joined the family from a breeder in the Louisville area and I dabbled in conformation shows...but I really preferred the performance training. I saw an agility demonstration in the late 1990's and was just amazed at how much fun the dogs were having....I wanted to do that with a scottie!!
Both Kelso and Blair were too old to start agility training so I was determined that my next scottie, Mikky, would be my first agility scottie. We certainly learned a lot together..repeating beginner classes three times! But he loved the game with me and our biggest agility accomplishment was being a finalist at the annual AKC agility national championship where over a thousand dogs compete each year!! He also was a natural scottie hunter and easily earned his Junior Earthdog title.
Since then, Reese, Louie and Misty have become top agility competitors with baby Grace just starting. We compete mostly in Texas where we live but have traveled to competitions such as Montgomery County All-Terrier agility trial in Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Tennessee, California, Florida, and even Canada. We have earned six AKC agility championships (MACH) with three different scotties....only about 25 scotties have earned this title! Louie also earned four Preferred agility championships (PACH) where dogs compete at a lower jump height. We have been invited to the annual AKC Agility Invitational for 7 years where the top 5 of each breed compete with Reese winning the top scottie award in 2013. Along with Mikky, Reese and Louie also qualified and competed at the annual AKC agility national championships. Both Reese and Louie were named top agility scottie by the AKC and the Scottish Terrier Club of America for multiple years. Misty is my current competition partner and at only 4 years old, we have a great agility future! Baby Grace is only a year old and just loving her beginner's training.
What I love most about participating with my scotties in agility events is the bond that is built during the training and competitions. Scotties aren't the easiest breed to train but they are among the most intelligent breeds. Short training sessions with very limited repetition and providing lots of rewards makes it fun for both you and your scottie. Always end on a good note!! People often assume that I spend hours each week training.....we actually only attend class once a week with an occasional private lesson to work out an issue. It is such a great feeling when you complete an agility course working as a team with your scottie!!
I work a pretty stressful job as an Account Business Manager for DXC Technology Services and playing agility with my scotties is a great stress reliever for me. As part of having a scottie, all of my friends and family would give me scottie items...that started my collecting passion that continues today!! I love artwork, porcelain and crystal items that I display in my home. I also attend the annual Cincinnati Scotty Friends collectors convention and have been a member of the Scottish Terrier Club of America for over 25 years. While agility is certainly my biggest hobby, I also enjoy gardening, reading and swimming. I have been married to my wonderful husband, Dave, for 9 years and have 3 step-children.
Erica Cerny (Rockaway, New Jersey, United States)
I started on my Scottie rescue journey quite by accident, when my manager at work came by my desk on a Friday afternoon asking if I’d be interested in a dog. I’d just gotten married and moved into our first home, so my first answer was ‘not at this time’. As he walked away, I heard him grumbling something about the dog being put to sleep, and I jumped up and said I’d take the dog. I didn’t know anything or ask anything about the dog, but I figured surely I’d be able to give him a better chance than that. I never even had the opportunity to ask my husband for his opinion. That Sunday, we were asked to meet at my manager’s house and the dog would be brought there. Apparently his mother had adopted a Scottie before, so she was called to ask if she’d want another, but instead asked her son to check around at work. In my excitement and being new at this, I don’t remember anything about who brought the dog. I only knew that he was purchased from a pet store and then returned because he had CMO. We saw at that time, he was a Scottie, and so we named him Angus.
I spent the next year learning all I could about Scotties and CMO, and bringing him from vet to vet until finally I found someone who knew about and treated it until it resolved. He could never open his mouth the entire way, but he had a wonderful life with us, and his brother Shammy, a Scottie puppy I bought at a pet store to keep him company while I was at work. We loved those boys more than anything, for the rest of their lives. When Angus died, it tore my heart in half, and I decided that even though I couldn’t do anything for him anymore, I could volunteer at a shelter and shower my love and help on the shelter animals who had nobody else. It was the beginning of 3 years of volunteering for every position in two shelters. I learned a lot about how things run, how the dogs and cats were fed, kept clean, exercised, medicated, trained, evaluated, marketed, and adopted. It was information I used as my basis later on when doing rescue work on my own.
After Angus passed, we needed to find a companion for us and for Shammy, who was inconsolable without his brother. We went to a wonderful Scottie breeder in CT and brought home our first female, Ayrlie. This breeder was a member of both a regional Scottie club and the National Scottie club, and encouraged us to join in with other Scottie lovers.
Fast forward a few years, I became a member of the Scottish Terrier Club of Greater New York and the Scottish Terrier Club of America. While in the NY club, not being a breeder or show person, I volunteered to do what I knew – rescue. I was mentored by the most wonderful person, James Cook, who is a retired NJ Police Captain. When he retired from rescue, I kept going. Eventually I was joined by my two current rescue colleagues, Judi Dahl and Diane Durkee in NY, and we’ve had a solid, wonderful team for many years. I think in total, I’ve been doing rescue for well over 20 years. During that time, many Scotties and similar (and sometimes not so similar) dogs have passed through my hands. Many of them have stayed here and lived their lives out with me and my husband, Richard.
I have been the Rescue Coordinator for the Scottish Terrier Club of Greater New York for many years, was asked to be the National Rescue Co-Coordinator for the Scottish Terrier Club of America, along with another longtime rescue colleague, Jeanne Lishia, for many years too, when that position was available. I’m currently still on the STCA Rescue Trust, a small nonprofit organization which allocates grants for Scottie Rescues in need of financial assistance. It’s been very important to me to give back and to provide help for dogs who need help, those who have nobody else, and others who are trying to help them. Throughout my wonderful work career as a Geologist and then as a Database Specialist, living in NY, CT, Boston, Houston, and finally NJ, I always did what I could in my private time to help animals in need. Now that I’m retired, Rescue has filled in all the free time I might have had. But, I wouldn’t have it any other way. This has been such a fulfilling passion and each and every dog I’ve had a hand in placing was precious to me.
Currently, I live in Rockaway, NJ with my husband Richard and our 4 Scotties – Big Al (11), Aimee(7), Meghan(3), and Secret(1). All were adopted – Big Al from the Philadelphia shelter, Aimee from Dave Shipman in Louisiana/Mississippi Scottie Rescue at the time, Meghan was one of our own rescues from an Amish puppymill, and Secret from Lisa Mann in Scottish Terrier Rescue of the Southeast. We typically have about 8-10 rescues being fostered around the NY/NJ/PA area, who are always moving through the process of getting ready for adoption or hospice, and we love being able to help them get, as they say, their second chance at a first class life!!
Kim Siegfried (Alburtis, Pennsylvania, United States)
My passion for Scottish Terriers goes way back to my childhood. Before I was born, my great aunt had owned a scottie named "Pal". He would visit my mom and her siblings when they were children. It was mom who got the Scottie bug. I believe this is where her love of this breed came from. And my grandmother on my father's side of the family also had a Scottie who was named "Murphy". Even my father's cousin's owned a Scottie dog. So, it goes way back for our family. And at the present, my parent's currently own three Scottish Terriers and I own one called "Halcyon" along with a Friesian horse who's name is "Gawain". When Halcyon gets a little older we shall add a sibling to our family for him.
Our clan is from Alburtis, Pennsylvania with the rest of our extended family living mostly in Emmaus, Pa. My husband and I own and operate a shoe repair shop in Allentown, Pa. My husband had learned the trade from my friend's father who needed help in the back of the business fixing shoes and all sorts of leather related items. Dave learned this trade fairly quickly and as the owner was looking to retire he offered the business to us as a partnership with his son. And six months later we bought out the son and are the sole owners so to speak, of this business. It's a dying trade as no one has the desire to learn it. It is hard work and Dave does put in long hours.
As a family, we are not big on traveling but do enjoy day trips. We really don't like being away from our dogs and prefer to stick close to home. As a teenager I got to attend horse shows almost every weekend as we followed a circuit to earn competition points towards year end awards. I have been riding since the age of ten and bought my very own horse at age thirteen with my own money I had saved up for my dream. My current horse "Gawain" is my sixth horse and hopefully not my last. I would love to own another Friesian as I love the personality and the smooth ride these horses have to offer. My first Scottish Terrier that we bought was from a pet shop. And we all know that we should either go to a breeder or seek out Scottie rescue. I learned a very hard lesson with my "Haley" as she came with lots of health issues. After the loss of "Haley" I was swearing off dogs because the loss was too great a pain. A very close friend of mine from Pittsburgh had a Scottie boy in need of a home and I was not done grieving over the loss of my first Scottie. My parent's stepped in and adopted "Noah" from Mary and Steve Matcherz who really got me kick started in the Scottie world. Mary introduced me to Kimberly Lindsay-Stroede of Wild Wind Scottish Terriers and it's where my "Magnum" and "Ruby" came from. Those two Scotties brought me such happiness and joy that I found it impossible to not ever be without a Scottish Terrier again. My "Halcyon" came from a litter of nine pups the Lindsay's bred and raised. And my next Scottie addition will come from them also.
I am very passionate about our beloved breed and have attended costume contests with my dogs. We have great fun in our matching celtic outfits and always enjoy the attention our dogs create when people approach us and are interested in our Scotties. I also enjoy supporting Scottish Terrier Rescue by donating things for auction to raise funds for the many rescue groups to help these wonderful little dogs in need. And I enjoy attending dog shows to meet up with friends to catch up on news and to see their dogs in the many classes. October is my favorite time of the year because that is MCKC week in our home state. Watching agility and barn hunt is always a favorite of mine. And visiting the vendors at the other shows during the week is fun too because you get to see the newest scottie dog items that are available to purchase. It's always fun being a part of something that you love so much and cannot possibly imagine being without.
I believe there is a Scottish Terrier for every season and my season is winter! When that long awaited packing snow hits the ground I am usually outdoors creating something either equine or canine. Sculpting Scotties and horses from the perfect wet snow is always a challenge because I try to come up with something different each snowfall. I always hope for lasting cold temperatures so Halcyon's snow buddies stick around for a while. I try to include Scottish terriers in anything I create. Especially if it's a story or a sketch or from mother nature herself. I simply cannot imagine a life without Scotties. These wonderful little dogs have been a huge part of my life from early on and will be to the very end.
Toby Willow Haynes (Shelbyville, Tennessee, United States)
When I was seven or eight years old my grandmother sat me down with knitting needles and yarn and said, "All young ladies know how to knit". Thus began a lifelong passion for knitting. Without a doubt knitting "Scottie Hats" has been the most rewarding of all my knitting projects. All money raised has gone to help our Scottie families. I have knit several hundred hats and they have gone to Canada, England, Ireland, Australia and South Africa as well as the USA.
I grew up in East Tennessee taught school in Knoxville. My husband, Allen, and l retired and spent five years teaching in Kuwait and Pakistan. When we returned to the states we both taught for several years in Georgia before finally retiring for good.
We settled in Shelbyville, TN and stayed put for five years. Then our "gypsy blood" took over and we sold our home and lived in our RV for the next two years wandering the states and spending the winters in Florida. We worked at EPCOT those two winters. Now we are back in Shelbyville in our home and taking to the road whenever the wanderlust hits.
My parents had a Scottie when l was born and Scotties have always played a big part of my life. Allen and I gave each other a Scottie as a wedding gift and the rest is history. When our three children were all in school we started raising and showing Scotties and had our kennel, SWEETGUM SCOTTIES, for twenty five years. We started our kennel with black and brindle Scotties but soon fell in love with wheatens. Over the years we finished championships on many of our dogs.
When we made the decision to teach overseas we sold or Tennessee Walking Horses and no longer bred our Scotties. Our daughter kept five of the Scotties and we took two with us to Kuwait. Our ten year old Scottie died while we were there and before we moved to Pakistan we bought two wheaten female puppies and arrived there with three wheaten girls. They were crowd stoppers for sure. Those little girls are gone now but we have our beautiful Willow who is the ruler of this household. She travels with us everywhere we travel unless we fly. Our traveling gives me many opportunities to take advantage of my love of photography, and l CAN KNIT while Allen drives.
Our three children grew up teething on Scotties as have our grandchildren. Willow loves to play with with our grandchildren and has a healthy respect for the twenty-one month old one. Willow and the grandchildren share a swing set with no arguments. She considers herself an equal and they do too. And she is.
Scotties Rock Foundation is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Public Charitable organization established in 2016 to assist Members with unexpected veterinary expenses. All requests for assistance must be submitted to a Board Member.