The Westie's perpetual animation will frustrate, yet entertain, delight, yet vex
The Westie's perpetual animation will frustrate, yet entertain, delight, yet vex. If this type of relationship doesn't appeal to you, please consider another breed. Before you buy, learn as much as possible about terriers in general and Westies in particular. Never imagine you can mold this canine personality to suit yourself; some inherited traits are stronger than human will. Neglect, boredom and lakc of human attention will ruin a nice Westie. Somewhat pugnacious around strange dogs, the Westie is generally sociable with family dogs and cats. Westies have double coat, the top of which is hard and wiry, in contrast to his soft, short undercoat. Westie's skin tends to be drier that that of most other breeds, which is why they have very little doggie odor. Plucking instead of clipping is necessary to achieve excellence in blending the softer undercoat with harder and longer top coat.
Posted by marissa_nygirl on Thursday, January 22, 2009
I would highly recommend this breed, but I agree with one of the other review
"...I would highly recommend this breed, but I agree with one of the other reviews: Westies are not good with other dogs. We introduced a Beagle into our home seven years ago, not that it was a mistake, we just didn't have all the information on Westies and other dogs. They did get along ... our Beagle just loved "Luigi" and followed him everywhere!..."
Posted by duke on Wednesday, November 12, 2008
As most Westie owners will tell you
"...As most Westie owners will tell you, they'll challenge your authority, so you'll have to let them know who's the boss. They also like to chase after small rodents. So don't let them run unattended, or you may not hear back from them. Last but not least, they're excellent for your mental health. I'll bet there are many Westie owners who will attest to how great it is to have a Westie greet you after a hard day dealing with the human race..."
Posted by maw on Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Must Love Terriers
If ou are considering a Westie as a pet, you must like terriers! Or at least any other breed with similar get-up-and-go outlook on life. If your idea of a good pet is one who lies at your feet and is a passive presence in your life, a Westie would probably a poor choice for you.
People often speak disparagingly of "yappy little terriers", but what these critics fail to realize is that there were goof reaons for Westies and related breeds to be vocal when they routinely did a terrier's work. The nature of the breed goes back to their "job description."
Any dog going to ground was required to either to kill the quarry underground or or aler the hunter of the location of the prey so that it could be dug out and dispatched. To those hunters the terrier with a big voice and the inclination to use it was considered a valuable addition to any hunting effort.
Although Westies are rarely used for hunting nowadays, they are still equipped for their traditional calling and that includes using their voice. It is a fact: Westies are vocal, some more than others, but a Westie needs little encouragement his own opinion about the affairs of his world. This means that Westies are very keen watchdogs. You will need to train your dog will improve the matters.
Posted by marissa_nygirl on Wednesday, April 09, 2008
A dog for the whole family
A Westie is a dog for the entire family. They can rough and tumble with the best of them, and peaceful and quiet when called upon to be.
The Westie can stand up to the rawdy play of teenagers and usually understands how to behave around younger children. Many elderly people own Westies and find them wonderful, understanding companions who bring a sunny outlook in their lives. But I would not recommend a Westie to families with children under five years of age. A very young child will no understand that this irresistible thing is sensitive to pain, needs rest on a regular basis and must be handled gently at all times.
The puppy will not understand that this small replica of all people she loves is not acting out of malice when a tail or ear gets pulled, a squeeze is too tight or an eye gets poked. Faced with physical torments, a young Westie puppy will respond in the only way he knows how - by putting teeth into his side of the argument. I have yet to meet a parent willing to give up the baby and keep the puppy if things fail to go smoothly.
Posted by jackiewoods on Wednesday, April 09, 2008
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