Westies - talk to me
Discussion
The OH has decided we need a puppy in our life, I have decided rescuing is more rewarding, but either way, she wants a Westie.
Now I don't know much about these dogs apart from being bitten at 3 years old by one, but in general are they an easy dog to look after?
The OH works 4 hours each morning, and I'm out most of the day, but should be ok to leave it for that amount of time. She was talking about Litter trays etc...
Now I don't know much about these dogs apart from being bitten at 3 years old by one, but in general are they an easy dog to look after?
The OH works 4 hours each morning, and I'm out most of the day, but should be ok to leave it for that amount of time. She was talking about Litter trays etc...
I'd wait until you move into one of her places together, I remember you saying you live separately
Nice little dogs, but with a rescue you don't know what its history will necessarily be.
We have a small dog which is handy as a lot of places will turn a blind eye with him Under your arm
4 hours is fine, I mainly work from home and our little guy sleeps for the majority of the day, of course early days this might upset a rescue as they might freak out, of course he may love a bit of quiet
Forgot to say, most dogs are easy to look after providing you do the basics, walk, stimulate, regular checkups etc
If you feel that you won't be able to walk it and play with it in all weathers think hard about how it will cause the dog to behave.
Also having a dog means you can't always do things at the drop of a hat, unless you can drop him at a friends / relatives
Nice little dogs, but with a rescue you don't know what its history will necessarily be.
We have a small dog which is handy as a lot of places will turn a blind eye with him Under your arm
4 hours is fine, I mainly work from home and our little guy sleeps for the majority of the day, of course early days this might upset a rescue as they might freak out, of course he may love a bit of quiet
Forgot to say, most dogs are easy to look after providing you do the basics, walk, stimulate, regular checkups etc
If you feel that you won't be able to walk it and play with it in all weathers think hard about how it will cause the dog to behave.
Also having a dog means you can't always do things at the drop of a hat, unless you can drop him at a friends / relatives
Edited by Spare tyre on Monday 17th November 19:22
They can end up snappy/ yappy as most terriers can be, but if you put in the effort when he / she's still young then it shouldn't be a problem.
They often have problems with skin / allergy which tend to be life long conditions and can be v. expensive to treat / diagnose.
Do lots of research about puppy training and put in the effort, make sure you get it insured with decent cover until 2-3 years old so you have an idea if it's going to have skin issues, feed a decent quality food like James Wellbeloved and don't chop'n change... most breeds have some issues, Westies aren't the worst but are often owned by old grannies who don't train them and they end up snappy...
They often have problems with skin / allergy which tend to be life long conditions and can be v. expensive to treat / diagnose.
Do lots of research about puppy training and put in the effort, make sure you get it insured with decent cover until 2-3 years old so you have an idea if it's going to have skin issues, feed a decent quality food like James Wellbeloved and don't chop'n change... most breeds have some issues, Westies aren't the worst but are often owned by old grannies who don't train them and they end up snappy...
Thanks guys.
Yer, we aren't living together yet, but she seems to think she can pop home enough during the day to keep the dog company. Weekends would most likely be at mine, as its where we base everything social from.
Drop of the hat, well i'm a old fuddy duddy who caravan's, so the dro pof the hat wouldnt be an issue, although the parents would be pretty welcoming to dog sitting at times I imagine, they miss their muts.
THanks for the advice on the skin conditions etc. Ill have to look into that, as you say, it can get expensive. One of things that makes me look at rehoming a well known dog over a puppy, but you know what women are like, the cute factor has to come into it somewhere
Yer, we aren't living together yet, but she seems to think she can pop home enough during the day to keep the dog company. Weekends would most likely be at mine, as its where we base everything social from.
Drop of the hat, well i'm a old fuddy duddy who caravan's, so the dro pof the hat wouldnt be an issue, although the parents would be pretty welcoming to dog sitting at times I imagine, they miss their muts.
THanks for the advice on the skin conditions etc. Ill have to look into that, as you say, it can get expensive. One of things that makes me look at rehoming a well known dog over a puppy, but you know what women are like, the cute factor has to come into it somewhere
Spare tyre said:
also if you've not lived together and not been going out that long (i remember you were single when you got your caravan) i wouldnt rush into getting a pet together
its one thing staying round each others, but living together is a different matter
Its been a weird on off start to us, purely as she had a bad spell, due to family events, but all sorted now. I do take on board what your saying thoughits one thing staying round each others, but living together is a different matter
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