This apparently is the top reason for puppies being taken to dog shelter charities. It is often frustrating and often professional dog walkers such as London Dog Walking are often asked to give advice, so a key part of puppy care. Experts believe the best way to toilet train is to use a crate. Often a breeder will use a cage, and will often sell on the cage, as the puppy is used to it. This is based on the premise that puppies do not like to soil their beds and in a cage would have no choice but to sleep in the mess. This method also has the advantage of encouraging the puppy will try to manage their bladder. Young puppies from 8 weeks or so should last around 8 hours. During toilet training, place the puppy inside the cage when he cannot be supervised, whilst you are say cooking. Just before to putting pup into the cage or taking him out of the cage, take him outside so he can do his business. There should never be any water or food in the crate, just a blanket and perhaps a toy to occupy his time. As your confidence with your puppy increases, you can leave him more and more out of the cage.

The cage needs to be right size, enough floor space for him to lie down. But not so large he could urinate in a corner. The crate is essential for the dogs whole life, so to avoid replacing crated as he grows, buy one big enough for his mature size, with a partition that you can move as he grows.

The two alternatives to crate potty training a puppy are constant supervision, which in today’s busy life is too difficult for most people. This involves being with pup constantly, so you can be ready when you see his pre-potty pattern, such as sniffing the carpet. Then taking him straight out to do his business, then bring him straight back, remembering to give him praise and verbal clues such as “good dog”. The pup needs to appreciate the reason he went outside was for the toilet, nothing else, do not baffle him.

The third alternative to toilet training is put down papers or pre-treated pads, encouraging them to use these areas, often placed in the bathroom or utility room. The pads have chemicals to attract the pup. When you observe with their pre- potty pattern, pick them up quietly and take them to the pad. Praise them if they do the business. The problem with this method, is you have to do a second training to doing this outside, by moving the pads closer to the door.

Potty timing, normally, pups should to go out, soon after waking and around 40 mins after having been fed.

At times puppies will spontaneously urinate when scared or excited, sometimes known as submissive urination. Do not discipline the puppy for this. If they are liable to this, go for a walk, prior to any excitement, like friends coming. Or if visiting, go for a walk, just before, or on arrival. The puppy will normally grow out it after about 6 months.
To strengthen the potty training, as in dog training, you should to use verbal clues. Great ones are simple and distinctive. Everyone in the family or in contact with the dog, such as your dog walkers and the pet sitter need to use the same words. One or a maximum of two words.

Outside: For going outside, to go to the potty. Use a different word such as “play” if its for more of a fun activity, though he may go to the toilet when he is there.

Potty: Do the business.
Good Dog: For praise – any.
No: When they are doing anything wrong, such as going in the wrong area, or inside.
Two rules:
1. Always praise success.
2. Do not punish the puppy, if you do not catch him in the act of doing something wrong. The puppy will have no idea why you are scolding him.

If you see him urinating inside, carry him to the place, will often stop him, as well as reinforcing what he should be doing.

The Scottish Terrier also known as the Scottie or the Highland or Aberdeen Terrier is characterised for its classic terrier personality. There are four other Scottish Terrier breeds, Skye, Cairn, Dandie Dinmont and West Highland White Terriers.

The personality and characteristics and more importantly the dog care of the Scottie comes from its origins.You should compare characteristics with with the other major dog breeds, of which there are many.

The Aberdeen Terrier is often given the nickname of "little diehard". Originally given in the 19th century by George, the fourth Earl of Dumbarton. George IV had a pack of Scottish Terriers, supposedly so brave that they were nicknamed “Diehards” and were the stimulation for the name of his Regiment, The Royal Scots, "Dumbarton’s Diehards".

It is impossible to be sure of the real origins of the Scottie, but it was bred for killing small rodents in Scotland for centuries. It could be the oldest of the five Scottish Terrier breeds , with some references back to the 16th Century.

The origin of the name "terrier" is the Latin terra denoting "earth". The Highland Terrier was a hunter where these small legged, sturdy dogs were designed and built for the function of killing small pest animals such as badgers, foxes and rats out of their burrows.

Scottish Terriers looks are characterised by long fur, heavy eyebrows and whiskers. The stiff coat exists in many colors, including black, brindle or wheaten of any shade. Scotties with 'Wheaten' (straw to nearly white) coats may occur, but may be Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier or West Highland White Terrier.
Scottish Terriers are sturdy, with a muscular body and a long neck. A Scottie has a long head in proportion to its body which averages about 10 or 11 inches high. The Scottie has rigid ears and tail. Theywere bred with strong tails so that their owners could pull them out of tunnels when they were caught after tunnelling after vermin and voles.

Scottiehave petite, intense almond-shaped and dark eyes.
The Highland Terrier personality is one of freedom and will power. Often people say a Scottie thinks he is an Irish Wolfhound in height! To the point that he is quite fearless that sometimes appears idiotic in the face of a much larger dog, when he realises that he is only ten inches high. Professional dog walkers, such as London Dog Walking love to walk them, they are never feel frightened by the larger dogs!

Scottie have similar height and weigh for both sexes, roughly 25 cm (9.8 in), and the length of back from withers to tail is roughly 28 cm (11 in). Generally a well-balanced Scottie dog should weigh 8–10 kg (19–22 lb) and a female from 8–9.9 kg (18–22 lb). Scottish Terrier are about 11–15 inches (28–38 cm) in height.
Highland Terrierare very attentive, light-hearted and confident. Highland Terriers typically live from 11 and 13 years.

Highland Terriers, whilst being very loving, can also be irritatingly obstinate. Because of this stubbornness, a Scottish Terrier needs strong, but kind handling from a puppy or it will dominate the household. Every new Highland Terrier addition needs to have a clear puppy training plan.

The Highland Terrier makes a great watchdog because it generally only barks when essential and generally only for strangers. Dog socialisation is vital as it is a courageous breed that may be aggressive around other dogs unless educated and introduced to other dogs whilst a puppy or young.

Because the Aberdeen Terrier were used to fight and hunt badgers and other vermin they are prone to dig as well as chase small pests, such as mice, rats and squirrels. Yet another reason to recommend that they are kept on a leash.

Whilst Aberdeen Terriers are generally a robust breed they do have a greater chance of developing some cancers than other purebreds. Research has identified six cancers that Highland Terriers are more likely to be at risk of ( when compared to other breeds) are: (in descending order) bladder cancer and other transitional cell carcinomas of the lower urinary tract (more usual in older dogs and more common in females so watch for blood in the urine, problems to urinate and often urinating – and get veterinary help); malignant melanoma; gastric carcinoma; squamous cell carcinoma of the skin; lymphosarcoma and nasal carcinoma.

Common prevention for dog cancer includes, ensure that your dog has minimal contact to herbicides, pesticides, solvents and cigarette smoke; use caution when treating dogs with some flea medications; give a healthy, vitamin-rich diet (low in carbohydrates, high in vegetables) and regularly exercise.
Two other genetic health concerns in the Scottie breed are von Willebrand disease (vWD) which is diagnosed with varying degrees of bleeding tendency, normally easy bruising, nosebleeds and bleeding gums.

The second is craniomandibular osteopathy (CMO); often known as lion's jaw, that causes extensive bony modifications in the mandible and skull. Normally occurring between the ages of 3 and 8 months. The lesions stop progressing after a year, and may regress. The solid swelling of the jaw, drooling, pain, and difficulty in eating. This is also an inherited disease and if extensive, could be difficult for the dog.

Because of these inherited diseases it is highly recommended to buy direct from a breeder, who can show he has not had a problem with these diseases.

Famous Scotties include former President George W. Bushs’ Barney and Roosevelts – Fala. Infact the Scottie is the only breed of dog that has lived in the White House more than three times.
Other famous people who are known to have owned the Scottish Terrier include: Bette Davis; Julie Andrews; E.B. White; Ronald Reagan; Shirley Temple; Tatum O'Neal owned a Scottish Terrier. She was said to be so saddened by her dog's death to old age and cancer that she fell back into drugs.

The Scottie is also a key part of the Monopoly board game, as the popular player token. An Aberdeen Terrier and a West Highland White Terrier are pictured on the Black & White whisky label. In Enid Blyton's Mystery Series books, there is Buster a Scottish Terrier, who is often part of the mysteries.

So all in, a rightfully popular dog breed, particularly in character per lb, but you will need to train and be firm with your Aberdeen Terrier.

How do I go about choosing a new pet for the family? What is the best pet for our family? Well you are starting well by collecting information. This is crucial as a pet is for life, so if in doubt do not have a pet.
However there is such a wide range of potential pets to choose from, all of them can be pleasurable, but have different pluses and negatives. You can select from a dog, cat, hamster, guinea pig, reptile, spider, bird and the list goes on and on.

You should to involve one and all  in the decision, it needs to be a complete family decision. Due to its importance I propose you discuss and commit to paper your purpose for desiring a pet. Add to it on a large sheet of paper, with a column for the pet, some columns to rank each pet. The considerations for a pet include, time (yours), cost (pets are costly), pet care, space constraint, ability to fuss, interest, joint activity, any phobias, other points.

Pets take time, some require more than others. High maintenance animals are those that require regular exercise such as dogs and horses. Dogs originated from wolves and maintain many of those characters. Searching for food they walk many miles to search for food, so most dog breeds require at least one to two hours a day walking. This needs to be part of a regular schedule and done everyday. Others may require a lot of grooming, changing water etc. A cat sitter often uses  a lot of their visiting time to grooming long haired cats, though the cat and the sitter enjoy it. You may hanker after a certain  animal, but do you have the time for him? Be direct with yourself and the prospective pet.

Cost, think of costs. There is the purchase cost, which for a pedigree pet can be dear. I would strongly advise you to think of taking a salvage pet, there are increasing numbers of these now as people are unfortunately abandoning them to the pet homes – why not do good and help out? The other set up costs include cages, leads, grooming aids, blankets / beds. After that are the ongoing pet costs, food, which for a large per can be substantial. I strongly urge you to have your pet sterilized, many pet experts and research have suggested that you will have less behavioural issues with a sterilized animal. There are regular veterinary expenditure such as vaccinations, however some are impossible to plan for. For this reason I strongly propose you to invest in pet insurance, so you can manage with any situations that may occur. There are also regular costs for flea treatment etc.  These costs mount up.

Is your house large enough for the pet? Some pets can be watchable, but you may not be able to fuss them, what is the crucial for you? No pet has everything. Can you pick up the pet? Rats are very fascinating, but a few individuals hate the scaly tail, or the idea of one.
You should to revisit the summary paper, do you have the time for dog walking during the week due to work pressures, but this may pay for a regular dog walker. Not enough space for the horse, use stables, but watch the cost.

So once you have chosen a type of pet, there are lots of different types and individual species to choose from, taking hamsters there are five basic types, with very different features. There is also the choice of numbers, some animals are better off alone, others as a pair because they need the company. Then there is what sex, some pets have very different behaviour between the male and female. Male rats are lazier than females and urinate more.

After all of these decisions, I would advise you to organise a pet test drive. Do you know anyone with a similar pet, that you can look after for a few days, or even be a pet sitter for them during the summer vacations. Discuss with the owner about the costs, the effort that is required, and do not forget the pleasure that the pet gives.  An alternative is to do some pet charity work. 
Pet breeders are extremely knowledgeable, so visit and discuss with them.

I hope this helps, go and enjoy a new pet.