Westie Info - FAQ - Grooming - Traveling - Books Frequently Asked Questions Are Westies good with children? It depends on a number of variables such as adult supervision, maturity and pet education of the child(ren), and the temperament of the particular Westie. There are many successful homes where children have been raised with Westies but there are also just as many where the Westie, perceiving he is going to be injured, will nip the younger child. Rescue, as a general rule, does not place Rescued Westies in homes with children under the age of six. No child should be the sole caretaker of any pet. This is an adult’s responsibility. Do Westies bark? Westies are not yappers, but they will bark if someone knocks on the door or comes into the yard. With good training and enough attention you can lessen the chance of excessive barking. There are good articles on the West Highland White Terrier Club of America’s website. Do Westies make a good lap dog? Some do and some don’t. They are an independent breed and usually do not care for long periods of lap sitting. However they do love being in the same room with their humans, and, will spend time on the sofa near you. Are Westies intelligent? Yes, they are and as such they are easily bored. They love to participate in many types of dog activities their favorite being walking with their human! Are Westies easy to train? Yes…they love to please their pack leader, you! But they are an independent breed of terrier. So patience , encouragement, understanding and their favorite treats may be needed to train new behaviors. Are
Westies easy to housetrain? Do Westies dig? Being a terrier and bred to burrow underground for vermin and rabbit they do dig….it is a natural instinct. However, they can easily be trained not to dig up your flower bed. They may want to dig from time to time but it is not an obsessive behavior. Are Westies hyperactive? No they are not. They are full of energy but do not have the urge to be constantly moving or on the go. They can be couch potatoes too! Do Westies swim? Some do…but they must be supervised at all times. They cannot get out of the pool by themselves. The chlorine in the pool is not good for their coats. Rescued Westies are not placed in a home with a pool without the guardian type of fencing around the pool and or spa. Do Westie like to travel? Westies were made to travel if you ask them! Just be sure you have seat belt harnesses or crates for traveling. Always take along fresh bottles water for them as well. There are many sites that offer help to people traveling with dogs. One such place is www.takeyourpet.com Are Westies good with other animals? Yes, as a rule Westies like to live with other animals. Some, if introduced properly, will live congenially with cats. Most like other dogs. There are the occasional Westies ,who for one reason or another, need to be the only pet. Each situation is different. Rescued Westies are evaluated on their social skills…with humans and other animals! Are Westies hypo-allergenic? Do Westies shed? Westies, according to the AMA, have relatively low dander. They shed very little….their coats need to be brushed to remove the dead hair. |