Westies...
05 February 2009, 01:07 PM
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Westies...
Anyone keep/breed/know much about them?
My Dad is retiring soon and will be bored. He always used to have dogs when he was young, before he was married but has not had time to keep them since then, until now...
He loves Westies, thinking about getting him one for his b'day (after consulting with him of course)
Do they suffer from any bad geneological defects like King Charles Cavs and other pedigrees do?
I know they can have a skull problem as pups but this sorts itself out after a few months at least.
My Dad is retiring soon and will be bored. He always used to have dogs when he was young, before he was married but has not had time to keep them since then, until now...
He loves Westies, thinking about getting him one for his b'day (after consulting with him of course)
Do they suffer from any bad geneological defects like King Charles Cavs and other pedigrees do?
I know they can have a skull problem as pups but this sorts itself out after a few months at least.
05 February 2009, 01:42 PM
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05 February 2009, 02:00 PM
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Serious answer - Can be yappy and can also nip people. Grannie had one that bit a few times and had to be put down. Geting one from a good breeder is essential.
5t.
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05 February 2009, 02:03 PM
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Not mad keen on them.
If I was going to get a small dog, it would be a Jack Russell.
Used to always be on at a roadside food van on the A37 nr Bristol. It was the cutest little dog I have ever seen. The guy that ran the van made plenty from me because of his little dog!
If I was going to get a small dog, it would be a Jack Russell.
Used to always be on at a roadside food van on the A37 nr Bristol. It was the cutest little dog I have ever seen. The guy that ran the van made plenty from me because of his little dog!
05 February 2009, 02:15 PM
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We had one for 14 years. Lovely but stsong willed like all terriers. Our had some knee problems (ligaments) on her back legs that the vet said was a breeding issue. Other than that lovely dogs.
05 February 2009, 02:56 PM
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05 February 2009, 02:58 PM
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I know they're working dogs and need attention (not a problem) and exercise which won't be a problem as they live on the edge of a small village with many fields that are used for dog exercise. Hopefully both of these things would keep him amused and less yappy/bitey?
05 February 2009, 03:33 PM
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Mother has one, its now 13 years old and still likes a bit of a run about 
although he gets tired quite easy now when you have him running after a ball, his hearts in the right place but his paggered old body is giving up
placid as hell in the home and well behaved, although he will try and defend the home if he thinks a stranger is about to enter.
when i lived at home he used to wait for me coming through the front door as he could here the scooby from miles away
parents always could tell when i was coming home and he used to start wagging his tail and would run to the front door.
right little character he is
my mates parents had one and he was a killer, a complete beast and would attack anything, they had to get rid of him when his missus was carrying a child incase of problems, and the family who took him tried to give him back, for the most insane reason i have ever heard
"the dog is racist"
(its true btw for some reason lmfao)
although he gets tired quite easy now when you have him running after a ball, his hearts in the right place but his paggered old body is giving up
placid as hell in the home and well behaved, although he will try and defend the home if he thinks a stranger is about to enter.
when i lived at home he used to wait for me coming through the front door as he could here the scooby from miles away
parents always could tell when i was coming home and he used to start wagging his tail and would run to the front door.
right little character he is
my mates parents had one and he was a killer, a complete beast and would attack anything, they had to get rid of him when his missus was carrying a child incase of problems, and the family who took him tried to give him back, for the most insane reason i have ever heard
"the dog is racist"
(its true btw for some reason lmfao)
05 February 2009, 07:04 PM
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My parents had one, he suffered really bad eczema when he was older and also required surgery on his ears which caused them to drop rather than stick up which impaired his hearing. Both of these are apparently genetic problems, but my parents weren't the most attentive dog owners. Better food and a bit of care would have probably helped, although my Dad did train him to walk directly to the local and sleep at the bar for exactly 2 pints.
On the plus side, they have great character, can be a superb companion and are relatively low maintenance provided you don't mind the moulting.
One word of warning, avoid South Wales when you get one, it seems to be puppy farm central.
On the plus side, they have great character, can be a superb companion and are relatively low maintenance provided you don't mind the moulting.
One word of warning, avoid South Wales when you get one, it seems to be puppy farm central.
05 February 2009, 07:17 PM
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Try one of these...
Lhasa Apso's, low maintenance, don't moult (but they do need regular grooming) similar price to a westie and plenty of character.
This one isn't ours but it'll give you an idea of the character...
Lhasa Apso's, low maintenance, don't moult (but they do need regular grooming) similar price to a westie and plenty of character.
This one isn't ours but it'll give you an idea of the character...
05 February 2009, 08:22 PM
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What about a Lakeland/Fell Terrier? Nowhere near as yappy as other terriers, and as healthy a dog as you could find, not being a pedigree. Very lively though...
Last edited by nixxon; 05 February 2009 at 08:29 PM.
05 February 2009, 09:20 PM
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May I suggest a Tebetian terrier?
Lovely loyal dogs, and love exercise. Smallish but solid and easy to train, but like any terrier strong willed at times. The Tebetian monks use them as guard dogs.
I grew up with 1, and she was lovely, only slightly larger than a Westie, but weighed in at 30lbs! If she hit you whilst running, you knew it! She loved the snow though, she'd play in it for hours.
She never bit anyone inc strangers and was friendly.
Lovely loyal dogs, and love exercise. Smallish but solid and easy to train, but like any terrier strong willed at times. The Tebetian monks use them as guard dogs.
I grew up with 1, and she was lovely, only slightly larger than a Westie, but weighed in at 30lbs! If she hit you whilst running, you knew it!
She loved the snow though, she'd play in it for hours.She never bit anyone inc strangers and was friendly.
06 February 2009, 12:44 PM
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We had a Westie bitch some years ago. She was a lovely creature with a heart of gold, and looked so appealing you could not fail to love her. As he likes Westies anyway-you would not go far wrong. Ours was completely healthy all the years we owned her.
Les
Les
06 February 2009, 01:51 PM
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My parents have 2 westies, had neighbours with them as well and think i know a bit.
They usually suffer from skin problems, this is a very common complaint, very irritating and unpleasant for the dog and is not curable, just treatable with steroids etc, but will always be there.
They can also have a very nasty disease called westie lung in later life which is almost always fatal.
My suggestion would be for a cairn terrier, very similar breed, more placid and less prone to biting and barking than the westie and unbelievably cute if you like westies
Jason
They usually suffer from skin problems, this is a very common complaint, very irritating and unpleasant for the dog and is not curable, just treatable with steroids etc, but will always be there.
They can also have a very nasty disease called westie lung in later life which is almost always fatal.
My suggestion would be for a cairn terrier, very similar breed, more placid and less prone to biting and barking than the westie and unbelievably cute if you like westies
Jason