Anyone here have a Westie?

[no name 1]

He tends to scarf his food down really fast though and then barf it up, so they give him small amounts.

My mom's dogs eat fast but never barf it up. Yuk.

[Welshcookie 17]

This was my Freddie...I inherited her (yes, her) from an American couple who didn't want to ship her back to the States, she was called Eddie but I thought it was naff (y'know Frasier..yawn..they could have been a little more inventive considering she was a lass) and the name of a previous lover who continued to be a friend of us both....kind of weird cooing "ooooo Eddie I love you" She is no longer with us....I miss her ...

And yes, those are my stubby Welsh legs in the background....

This is great! A doggie thread instead of Kitties

[no name 1]

This was my Freddie...I inherited her (yes, her) from an American couple who didn't want to ship her back to the States, she was called Eddie but I thought it was naff (y'know Frasier..yawn..they could have been a little more inventive considering she was a lass) and the name of a previous lover who continued to be a friend of us both....kind of weird cooing "ooooo Eddie I love you" She is no longer with us....I miss her ...

And yes, those are my stubby Welsh legs in the background....

This is great! A doggie thread instead of Kitties

aww, so cute. How long did she live? My mom's older one is 13 now & doing pretty OK.

I keep waiting to hear from someone - they need a JRT rescue to happen so I can get a dog. But I am truly holding out hope for my lil peanut to come live with me. We got her as a rescue at 6 mos. & I lived with her for a year after that. It's absolutely killing me to not see them. Mom puts the phone up & I talk to her - she freaks out & stares at the phone. And sometimes barks at it.

I love the dog thread - we need more pics!

[nin 1]

As a dog person on the verge of nuttyness I believe there are a few things as important to consider when planning for a dog as the health status of the breed in question.

I saw someone already stated that the Westie is prone to skin problems.

Please please make sure you get your dog from a responsible breeder that takes the skin issues the breed struggles with seriously. It might sound obvious that only healthy individuals, (with healthy siblings and healthy ancestors) should be bred, but that's unfortunately not reality. These skin problems are for life, they are PAINFUL for the dog, and COSTLY to treat.

On a more positive side note, even I find that Westies usually are wonderful little personalities even if the terrier mentality isn't really my thing

I'm sure there's a lot of info to be found here: http://www.westieclubamerica.com/

[MissStacey 1]

I will definitely keep the skin condition in mind.

Most of the dogs we have had have been from the SPCA- mixed/crossed breeds. As far as health problems went- there was rarely a problem. They all lived to be at least 16.

I know that "purebreds" can often have medical problems- I assume from over breeding,etc. I will definitely want to look into a reputable breeder.

[Fandango 1,440]

The only skin probbo Princie had was that he was allergic to fleas But he was a house dog anyways...

[new orleans bound 0]

I will definitely keep the skin condition in mind.

Most of the dogs we have had have been from the SPCA- mixed/crossed breeds. As far as health problems went- there was rarely a problem. They all lived to be at least 16.

I know that "purebreds" can often have medical problems- I assume from over breeding,etc. I will definitely want to look into a reputable breeder.

Did you get you dog yet? I bought a border collie and she drives me nuts. Too smart for her own good or maybe I'm too dumb for mine. She trained easily enought but I can't get her to sopped chewing the wood in the house. It was a chair yesterday and last week she ate a portion of the kitchen window sill. Before that she was chewing the quarter round. I'm starting to go gray now with all this chewing.

[mawilson 2,133]

Very cute, Stacey! I'm not a dog person at all, but even I think it's cute.

[DavidsPrincess 1]

I think westies are cute as well, but I've never owned one. I don't think I've ever even seen one outside of a pet store (which I only walk through to make myself upset...who knows why). All I can tell you about is my Shih tzu named Izzy. She has more personality than any dog I've ever met. She likes to talk to you through growl-like noises and there is so much expression in her eyes. Funny story, she has a pink bed that she knows is hers, she loves to attack it and flip it on top of herself and then sleep in it...it had somehow made it's way downstairs a couple nights ago and she kept going to my bedroom door whining and scratching, but when I'd let her out she'd just sit and stare at me and cry. I finally went downstairs with her and she ran straight to the room where her bed had been moved and looked at it. I brought it back up to my room and the whining stopped and she went to sleep. It was the cutest thing ever. Also, she doesn't shed, hardly ever has a smell (unless she gets into something she shouldn't), and is the most loving and cuddly dog I've ever seen. After all of that, I'm sure you can tell I love her like a child I'll post a picture or two

<--click to see slideshow

Edited December 17, 2007 by Aschaal03

[desert_fox 32]

My Westie was the best dog I ever had. I still miss her and that was 20 years ago. Great around hildren.