West Highland Terrier

My daughter in DC is thinking about adding a dog to her household sometime in 2010. Looks like the Westie is at the top of her list (just above the Havernese and the Norwich I think). Does anyone here have any experience with Westies or can recommend a breeder? she is looking to get a slighlty older dog (over a year) since she is in the younger overworked class :wink: and doesn't think housebreaking would go easily with a puppy.

Obviously she has experience with dogs growing up :)
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I LOVE westies, almost pulled one from a shelter a few
weeks back.
I have a good westie friend, Duffy that is from very nice
lines.
I will call his owner and see where they got him, I wanna
say CT.
You can see his pic with my FB pictures!!
(he had grass stain in that pic)
I will get back to you!
I know a very good breeder in my area. She has been breeding & showing Westies for years. Contact me privately is you want her name & number.

My husband grew up with Westies. One thing I will tell you is to ask about skin allergies. That breed is well known for having skin allergies. My mother-in-law had one that would literally rip it's hair out (not from the breeder I am mentioning tho').

Another thing to look for is that they like to "run the show". They would come out here to my place & all my OES would literally give them a wide berth. So much so that most of the time mine preferred to stay inside rather than be outside where they could even see them! Funny because 1 swat from an OES paw could probably flatten a Westie but my guys aways stayed a distance away. May have been that her's were always "only" dogs & therefore not socialized as much or it also could have been the pedigree....who knows. But they are terriers & known for having big dog confidence in a small package!

Otherwise, they make a nice companion. Again tho' really research the breeder & ask questions. I know you know to do that with OES, I'm just reminding you since this is a totablly different breed/personality.
Westies are nice little dogs. I'll add into the allergies issue. Even our vet laughs and says that's why they are the breed most commonly pictured on allergy med commercials and product packaging! (true too - I paid attention after he said that) :wink:

Typical terrier - if she can love the dog and not care when they get independant and blow her off, she should do fine. They are affectionate and darn cute.

My friend Mary has a westie Lucy who came into our shelter at age 6 because the owners couldn't deal w/ her allergies and chronic ear issues anymore. She has done well in the years they have had her - she's almost 10 now.

I would get the Havanese, personally...
got sheep wrote:

I would get the Havanese, personally...


oh me too - but I have learned when to keep my opiniona to myself - okay sometimes :wink:
I grew up with a Westie. I hassled my parents every day for a dog when I was four. They gave me a book of all the breeds of dogs and their traits and said I could choose one. I chose the sheepie- I desperately wanted one but my parents said 'any dog but that one!' So I my second choice was the Westie. I don't know if she was well bred, I remember the day we got her but being four and never having had a dog I knew nothing about breeders. I don't think my parents knew much either and I suspect that although she was a pedigree, she didn't come from great lines. She had larger ears and a longer tail than other Westies I've seen. She was very particular about being touched, she hated being picked up and pulled like crazy on the leash. It was my parents who 'trained' the Westie, but I don't remember any training happening other than me teaching her to jump hoops, sit, lie down etc. My parents described her as 'highly strung' but I think it was more to do with the fact she hadn't been trained :wink:
kerry wrote:
got sheep wrote:

I would get the Havanese, personally...


oh me too - but I have learned when to keep my opiniona to myself - okay sometimes :wink:


I also would get a havanese over a westie but that's just going off personality and my personal preference. I've wanted a havanese forever ...BUT in our family, I know a westie would be a better overall match. Westies are hardier dogs (build), and if the dogs will ever be playing with auntie/uncle-dogs in the family... then it may be better to have a dog who can handle that! I know my maltese could "handle" the OES', but we always said we wish she was a big bulkier (like a westie at the very least). jmo

I didn't read anyone elses reply but of all the people I've known with westies including a good breeder that lived next to us for awhile, and I'd give you their info, but they just moved to another state. They do stay true to their terrier traits, and I've known of sooo many that have bit a kiddo in the face (for something I'm sure the kid triggered but other dogs may have just growled as a warning). Just throwing that out there in case your daughter was thinking of having kids in the coming years. I also realize any small dog can do this ...just something I'm sharing because you asked. Seems like the breed definitely demands respect for their personal space. :)
my friend has 3 westies and they are all totally different but darned cute. The female one is at the moment suckling a kitten my friend rescued. The kitten is now getting very large, so she is trying to stop this mother and daughter relationship!! She tells them off and then sits on the sofa and can hear this sucking sound from behind her! Peers over the sofa and they are at it again!
My s-i-l was a groomer for years. One of her least favorite breeds to groom were Westies. They tended to be biters. Whether it was due to bad owners, an unlucky group to groom or the breed, I have no idea.

My daughter's friend has a Westie and a Scotty. Fun pups, but not well trained as adults. And that is on the owners.
I have a Westie Max who just turned 15!! He joined our family when my boys were 2,4 and 6yrs old. The boys are now 17, 19, and 22. Max has been the best dog we have ever had in terms of temperment, health and personality. He had no health issues, no allergies and no housetraining problems. He still has a lot of energy and acts like a young pup. He has been a loving companion to all of us and Sammy our sheepie.

Max like all Westies is loyal and loving. They are also super intelligent and has a big personality. They are bossy and strong-willed. They also will not tolerate being ignored! They are a great family dog with small children. Max has never bitten any of us, even when the children were small and played rough with him.

I don't know much about Havanese but I really don't think you can go wrong with a Westie!!

Here is Max this summer age 14 and a half still looking gorgeous!

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