Scotland with the Wee White Dug

Scotland with the Wee White Dug

What could be better than touring the beautiful castles, lochs and glens of Scotland? Touring it accompanied by a wee white dug, of course! (Translation: dug = dog in Scottish) This is exactly what Sam Grant does and writes about it in her travel blog Scotland with the wee white dug. I asked her about her travels with the gorgeous West Highland Terrier Casper…

What made you decide to set up a blog and feature your dog? Is it more about the travel or the dug?

I’ve been sharing images of Scotland on my Instagram feed since the early days of the app.  It’s primarily a Scottish travel feed.  I was encouraged by friends to start documenting my travels in a blog, so in Dec 2015 I started writing ‘Scotland with the Wee White Dug’.  I had absolutely no idea what to call it at first or where to start as I picked up blogging quite late in the day. 

When I took a step back to look at what I did it became clear – I travel around Scotland with my wee dog.  I’d also noticed that when I shared an image of him on my Instagram feed it generated more likes and engagement than just Scottish scenery alone.  So there it was, my unique selling point or USP and the thing that would make my blog easy for people to remember – the Wee White Dug. 

The Wee White Dug has grown as my brand and now has a Facebook page, dedicated Instagram feed and Twitter account.  I’ve retained @bean_nighe to indulge my dog free photography hobby.

How difficult is it to get your dog to pose for photos? He looks like such a natural!

He’s a natural when the mood takes him but some photos require a fair bit of patience and bribery!  Beefy treats helps as do silly songs and noises – ninja like reflexes to hit the shutter button are also a big bonus.

Have you found most Scottish places are pet-friendly? Or unfriendly?

Scotland is a very dog friendly country.  There’s lots of great dog friendly tourist accommodation available where dogs are made to feel really welcome.  It’s easy to travel with a dog on Scottish buses, ferries and trains too.  CalMac the West Coast ferry operator are a particular favourite of ours.  They have designated pet areas on-board where you can sit and enjoy a meal or a cup of coffee in comfortable surrounding as you travel. 

There are also a lot of dog friendly visitor attractions in Scotland too.  Casper has explored many from castles and gardens, to museums, galleries and pleasure boat trips.  I’m also noticing an increase in dog friendly shops too.

Booking into a Pet-friendly hotel

Has your dog ever been ‘badly’ behaved? Done anything mischievous? Like torn up a hotel bedspread?

Luckily no, although Casper’s a wilful terrier who can be stubborn as a mule at times, he’s a good boy and travels well.  I really appreciate businesses operating a dog friendly policy so I always make sure he behaves and we treat the place with respect.

What tips might you have for travelling with your dog?

Travelling with a dog should be fun.  You can pretty much do anything you’d do travelling without one.  Make sure you socialise them early and consider if the environment you’re taking them into is suitable for a dog.  A nice bar meal is great but a noisy bar at night may not be such a good idea.  It’s a bit like travelling with a child, you always need supplies – food, bedding, toys and lots of other bits and bobs.

Anything else that you would like to add?

I’d say if travelling with your dog is something you’re considering then go for it.  It’s an amazing, fulfilling experience and it helps form a really strong bond between human and pet.  I wouldn’t have it any other way.

P.S. I am Scottish originally (28 years in Australia now) and grew up with West Highlands and Cairn Terriers!
I’d love to travel to Oz one day.  It looks a fascinating country.  I love Cairns – I did suggest getting one to keep Casper company but my husband says no!!

Read more:
Scotland with the wee white dug blog
The wee white dug on facebook
The wee white dug on instagram
Samantha Grant on Instagram
On Twitter

Travel with pets

• You Moved To Sydney But Your Pet Didn’t. Now What?
  YOU MOVED TO SYDNEY BUT YOUR PET DIDN’T. NOW WHAT? HOW TO SURVIVE LIVING AWAY FROM YOUR PET A guide, from author Eugenia Bonocore,that tries to
• Road tripping with a dog with car anxiety
  If your dog is anxious while you travel, these tips, from Sarah Archer at Your Best Digs, may help… Road tripping with a dog with car
• How to plan a USA Road Trip with your dog
  If you’ve ever taken a road trip with your dog, you’ll know preparation is the key. If you’d like to take your dog road tripping in
• Hear from a travelling house and cat sitter
  Do you want to travel the world? Perhaps you’d love to but can’t afford it or would find it hard to live without pets. Here, Pet
• Dog owner driving habits revealed in UK study
  Do you take your dog in the car with you? You might find these dog owner driving habits fascinating, thanks to Ross Wild from All Car
• Bring the Whole Family (Pets Too!) on a Trip to Santa Clara
  At Pet Problems Solved, we love to hear about pet-friendly destinations. Santa Clara, a nice suburb of San Jose, on the west coast of California is
• Hiking with Dogs, the Essentials
  If you love hiking, then you’ll love it even more with your dog! With these tips from Tim Fox, hiking with dogs will be easy and
• America’s Top 10 Dog-Friendly Destinations
  Love travelling and don’t want to leave your dog behind? Then these top 10 dog-friendly destinations will help you plan your next US trip, thanks to
• Summer Risks for Our Pets
  Summer is here, at least in Australia, and that brings risks for our pets. Here are those risks and how to keep your cats and dogs
• Moving home? 5 Tips to Execute a Pet-Friendly Move
  Are you moving to a new apartment or house? Here are 5 tips to execute a pet-friendly move, thanks to Sam Radbil, Author at ABODO Apartments…