Westies Dogs – Please Consider Adopting an Older Westie DogWritten by Jeff Cuckson
Everybody loves a baby animal and Westie puppies are adorable, but new dog purchasers often do not realize commitment they are making when they bring a puppy home. For those want companionship of Westies dogs, but do not have knowledge or patience to endure training process, rescuing an older Westie dog may be right alternative. When considering an older West highland terrier dog, first thing that many people think is that they would be getting a dog with problems, either genetic problems common to Westies, or behavioral problems from improper training. The truth is, many Westie dogs go to shelters for reasons that have nothing to do with dogs' inherent qualities. Every year, dog owners die, move to retirement homes, change jobs, get divorced, have new babies, or, unfortunately, simply tire of responsibility of caring for a dog. The advantages of older dogs are many. They have already finished teething, and no longer feel urge to chew holes in your shoes, rugs, and furniture. Westie dogs that are older have grown used to sleeping through night while their people sleep, as opposed to westie puppies, who wake up and whine. Older pets will have already been housetrained and also should know meaning of word 'no,' making their continued training that much easier. When you encounter a Westie puppy, you only have breed standards to give you an idea of what kind of dog it will grow into. Although Westhighland dogs have a typical personality type, there are variations from dog to dog. The full-grown Westie is a know quantity. The Westie dog you meet is what you will get, and you can quickly determine if it will fit into your home.
| | Westie Pups - How to Prepare for Your Westie PuppyWritten by Jeff Cuckson
Just like when you bring home a new baby, you will need to prepare before you bring home your westie puppy. The needs of westie pups are not tremendous, but there are a few things that you must have in place to give your westie a safe, happy transition into your life.It is much easier and safer to prevent your west highland terrier pup from getting into and destroying things than it is to watch him every second. Remember that any item they chew on is also an item that is potentially swallowed: bits of cloth, tassels, string, and of course, shoes. Secure everything that can be picked up or moved. Electrical cords are a particular danger. A solution called 'bitter apple' can be sprayed on cords, and anything else that cannot be relocated, to discourage chewing. Dog trainers recommend that you never give your new puppy freedom to roam house while you are gone. A crate will keep dog secure, and can also be used for safe travel. Pick one that is big enough for dog to stand up and turn around in. Baby gates, or pet gates, will keep it confined to a room of house that has a durable floor. Since your westie will not be old enough for reliable housetraining until about four months of ages, this may be essential to keeping your carpets stain-free. Your westie dog will need to eat, and it is wisest to ask breeder what he has been eating, and buy that brand. You may change food later, but in beginning he will have enough adjustments to make without a change in diet. Food and water bowls should be of stainless steel, since most plastics will become victims of teething. To encourage it to chew on acceptable items, have a selection of sturdy chew toys on hand. These should be made of Cressite, or English rubber, although tennis balls and nylabones are also acceptable.
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