About the Scottie News and Ann Brocklehurst, aspiring dog media magnate

Contact: scottishterriernews@gmail.com

I’m Ann Brocklehurst, Scottish Terrier owner and investigative reporter who gets the Scottie scoops in more ways than one. I run the Scottie News, which has its world headquarters in Toronto, but serves readers round the world.

That’s me in a four-year-old photo that I really need to update. Bridget, my dog, was only one at the time and I had much shorter hair.

Many people think I started this site because of my love of dogs, but that’s not the case. I actually began dog blogging because I thought I could make some money. I found most dog websites to be a spammy mess or dominated by dog extremists, who thought you were cruel if you watched a TV show your dog didn’t like.

I wanted to see if high-quality websites about specific dog breeds could generate an audience and, then, a profit. I was highly influenced by the The Long Tail, which is all about niche markets.

Along with the Scottish Terrier News, I also started the Dachshund News as part of my experiment. The Doxie News was designed to test whether dog breed news scaled. Given that there are 10 times as many wiener dogs as Scotties, 10 time as many Flickr photos of Dachshunds and 10 times as many YouTube videos, my question was whether there would be 10 times as many visitors to a Dachshund site. Even though I don’t actually own a Dachshund, I have two in the family so I thought I could fake it.

Alas, I haven’t succeeded in generating 10 times as much traffic to the Dachsund News. But I’m still not sure if that’s because dog breed sites don’t scale, wiener dog owners aren’t as passionate as Scottie owners, or if it comes through that I don’t have the knowledge of and devotion to Dachshunds that I do to Scottish Terriers. Not to mention the fact that I’ve been far less active at the Scottie News than the Doxie News. For now, at least, the jury’s still out.

As for my original business goals, well, my sites are successful enough that I don’t know how to quit them, but not successful enough that I can quit my day job.

All this to say that if you’re interested in buying either a premium site about Scottish Terriers or Dachshunds, at this point, I’d be willing to talk.

What else? I also have a personal website where I write about journalism, new media, books, movies, food and wine. And you can check out my profile on LinkedIn or read some of my old articles in the New York Times archives.

Feel free to either leave a comment or send me an e-mail at scottishterriernews@gmail.com.

{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }

Sindee Hart September 11, 2010 at 5:37 pm

Anne -
We at Shady Nook Scottie Farm sincerely hope that you will return. I know that this is a LOT of work – probably MUCH more than you originally thought. But it is truly a great site. We wish the best for you, whether that includes a return or not. We will keep you in our thoughts.
Sindee Hart

David Isby October 1, 2010 at 8:50 am

As this year is the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, there should be mention of this Scottish terrier, who flew with Fighter Command in 1940:

“Flying Office Derek Ward had been with 151 Squadron for almost two years. … Ground personnel were somewhat surprised to see a little black Scottish terrier pop its head over the side of the cockpit! This was two-year-old ‘Whisky’, who invariably accompanied his master on non-operational flights. Ward commented later: “He was a real doggie airman. Nothing gave him greater pleasure than to sit on my knee in the Hurricane. With his ears cocked up, he’s stare before him as we often did 300 mph. He’s been on the squadron since he was about six weeks old.”

[Brian Cull and Bruce Landerwith with Heinrich Weiss, TWELVE DAYS IN MAY, London, 1999, Grub Street, p. 160]

Stuart November 11, 2010 at 8:56 pm

Ann – I need your help and I respectfully ask for it. Right here. Right now.

This is Stuart, the Scottish Terrier rescue you wrote about almost a year ago. The one with the bent tail and white blazes. In Virginia. With the blog (scottiechronicles.wordpress.com).

Ann, I’m entered in a contest sponsored by Virginia Living magazine called the Cutest Pup Photo Contest.

I believe I’m the cutest pup in Virginia. There are some really beautiful pooches in the running, but I’m the ONLY SCOTTIE!

Alas, a Labradoodle in a SuperMan contest with a not-so-great photo entry is leading the race as of this moment. I’m in second place. The contest ends tomorrow.

Now, I ask you, in this world where Sadie reigned at Westminster, can we let a Labradoodle win? Of course not. Especially one IN A COSTUME???? NO I tell you, NO!

I respectfully ask that you mention it to your loyal readers. Consider voting for me. If not for the Scotties in the world, but for all TERRIERS.

Here’s the link:

http://virginialiving.upickem.net/engine/Votes.aspx?PageType=VOTING&contestid=21921

Voting polls are open through tomorrow, November 12 EST.

Thank you for your help.

Scotties Unite!

Aaaroooo,
Stuart

PS If there are problems with the link, visit me at http://scottiechronicles.wordpress.com and click the voting link on the FULL COURT PRESS post from yesterday (November 10).

Jeanette Parsons December 6, 2010 at 2:25 pm

Hi, Can you tell me the criteria for adopting a Rescue Scottie?

Gary Farina and Donald Busca December 13, 2010 at 11:20 am

Thought you might enjoy posting this video of our Westie Gryphon herding our two Scotties Duffy and Seamus while raking leaves this past November. We get such a kick out of the three of them and hope your readers will too.

Enjoy…many more coming. Can’t wait for Winter!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1G6mlxwVoQ

George Golden December 13, 2010 at 8:18 pm

how do i get forms to apply for rescue? looked on your page did not see them. please sent link so i can fill them out please.

Groucho June 30, 2011 at 12:20 am

Hello Ann,

Thank you for including the photo of me Going Places and including a Westie Wednesday. I am very grateful. If it wasn’t for people like you, highlighting the need to rescue us amazing terriers and, in my particular case, the wonderful wonderful people at Westie Rescue Ireland (www.westierescue.ie) I would not be here, having the incredible life I do. So, thank you again and I promise to update my blog more often so I hope you all enjoy reading about my Westie Adventures!! Woof for now!

marian mortimer August 23, 2011 at 7:35 am

HELLO ,we have a nine year old yorkie who is lovely ,but , the last six months or so has been biting our shoes and ripping carpets to peices, he never did this when he was a puppy so if you ve got any explinations we would be gratefull , thank you marian,

Janelle Cochrane October 18, 2011 at 10:20 pm

I haven’t gotten any Scottie News in over a week. On vacation or are they not getting through? I just love the smile I always get from it.

AnnB October 18, 2011 at 11:19 pm

Unplanned vacation. We’ll be back soon.

Monica McLaughlin January 30, 2012 at 12:19 am

Hello,

The Tartan Day Parade in NYC will take place on Saturday, April 14. Can you please notify your readers. I go every year and have a MeetUp group called WOW! (With Our Westies!) which also has a few honorary Westies (Scottys) as members. WOW! invites 136 Westie and Scotty owners to the parade and to the WOW! dog-friendly gathering at Ballfields Cafe in Central Park where we wine & dine with our canines after the parade.

Monica and the Westie Girls (Missy Paulette & Casey Jane)