westielover

Two of my dogs are very cute small fluffy dogs (westies) and they have been approached tonnes of times by excited kids wanting to pat them because they're so cute. Yes - they're cute but no dog appreciates being rushed at / patted by strangers standing over the top of them. I am forever telling kids to stop and approach slowly. Then telling them that they should not approach strange dogs without asking if it's okay to pat them. It can be very annoying when they don't listen and even more annoying when the parents don't listen. I refuse to put my dogs into a position where they can be accused of biting/attacking a child. I just don't understand why some parents can be so irresponsible when it comes to protecting their children. I am very protective of my dogs - gawd help me if I had children - they would live in a protective bubble Terribly sad situation for the people & dog involved in this dog bite situation.

My dogs like to chase the fruit bats out of our grafted gum tree. Thanksfully it's stopped flowering so the bats have gone. However, while the bats are around, the dogs are locked in at night - they go out for their last toilet break just before I go to bed and then they're locked in until morning. If they need to go to the loo - they will alert me but they generally hang on until morning. I don't want them disrupting the neighbours during the night. The other thing to watch out for is brush tail possums - they can cause damage to a dog. A lady's cattle dog down the road nearly had it's face ripped off by an angry possum!!

He he - I must admit that I have met some really lovely Scotties too I have been to a few 'black & white days' - where the Scotty club & Westie Club get together and play games etc - and overall the scotties at those functions seem to be a bit more 'uptight' than the westies. Working dogs are awesome to train - I have a kelpie here at the moment and he's easy to train .... but a hell of a lot more energetic than a westie :( The westies do love to play chasings with the Kelpie ..... though they can't catch him :D He's an awesome dog though - he gets down to their level to play - so cute!!!

Agree with above,do you want indoor/outdoor. Which coat would you prefer to deal with ?? Westies are terriers & can have that spunky terrier nature that one must be prepared for i never knew how aggressive they are to each other (westies) I sat near the terrier ring last time i showed and geezz once one started they all did!! Westies aren't generally aggressive - perhaps in the show ring it may be different as they are all un-desexed. The NSW Westie Club has 2 social functions a year at a property at Galston and there can be 60-70 westies running around off lead having a great time. There may be a scrap occasionally but it's generally one particular dog who is a little anti social due to his numpty owners (they don't come often thankfully!!). Now Scotties are a different story - they can be narky little buggers!! Finally, just wanted to add that terriers aren't that hard to train at all. My westies LOVE clicker training and are very responsive to training and always have been. They are more food motivated than toy motivated. They also love chasing wild rabbits and always come back after a chase. You just need to train your dog to check in with you and keep an eye on you - dogs don't generally want to run away from their 'pack'. Anyway - all dogs are different I suppose.

Hmmmm - one of my westies mustn't be normal - he LOVES people!! Some entertaining westie threads: http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=106191 http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=178200 My opinion may be biased but westies are great dogs :D When I got my first two westies, I lived in a townhouse and everything I read about westies suggested that I should not have westies livign in a townhouse situation - apparantly they bark, dig, are fiesty and independant. I committed to ensuring my westies got out every day - went on walks, went to the park and were socialised with all sorts of situations. They were never a problem while I was in the townhouse for 4 years - neighbours never complained (I checked in with them regularly). Bottom line is - whether you get a cav or a westie - it's the amount of effort you put into that dog which will determine how the dog turns out. Like with everything in life - it all depends on the effort you put it into things. Dogs don't train themselves - nor do they come pre-programmed. They do come with traits but it's all about the effort!

Exactly what I was thinking!! I have a bit of fabric at home which I need to get thru the sewing machine!!!

Nice cover Ruth! Over the years I have purchased many, mnay dogs beds. Over the past couple of months I have emptied all the stuffing out from those dogs beds and started making my own covers and inserts and am re-using the stuffing. The dogs love them and I love them because I finally have dog beds which match the furniture and I can take the covers off and wash them!!!!!!!!!!!

I recently read in Paul McGreevey's book "A Modern Dog's Life" that tongue flicking can also be the dog activating some glands in his mouth/throat to do with smelling. I can't remember exactly which glands - but I'll grab the book tonight and re-read that bit and edit this post with the correct info.

When visiting the city and there are no sheep to herd ... what to do?????? Chase flies!

Letting the dogs roam the street is wrong. The council should be fining the owner everytime the dogs get out - then perhaps he would take confinement of his dogs more seriously. The dogs didn't actually look dangerous in the footage shown and the council rangers certainly didn't look like they were in any danger when catching the dogs (as per photo in paper). Perhaps the woman who got bitten was running away from the dogs screaming and perhaps the dog gave chase and bit her on the leg - maybe that's the scenario of the dog bite (nevertheless she was bitten). I didn't get the impression that they randomly chase people down and attack them. The dog impersonator was very amusing, however, I'd say his impersonation was somewhat exaggerated (and I would be completely embarrassed if I was his wife ) Bottom line though - dogs shouldn't be roaming the street - council should be fining the owner (which can be more than $150 each time they get out!) and the owner is a complete moron putting his dogs at risk. Personally, I would like to give the owner a good wallop for making dog ownership difficult for the rest of us who do the right thing. In fact, he doesn't live far from me, so I might just go over there and whack him in the head. Might make his brain fall back into place!!!!!!!

Link to story Here Moron! Fine his a$$ and then he might take containment more seriously!

Oh wow - how awesome is that little handler - cool as a cucumber!! What a terrific pooch too - still doing trials at 12 years of age - very inspiring indeed!

Congrats Ruth - well deserved!!!

Any more details of this location?? I don't know the area It's not far from the Ham St park. After visiting Ham St - head back up to Macquarie Street and head all the way to the end until you get to Windsor Rd - there are traffic lights there - turn left and head over the bridge - as soon as you cross the bridge trun left at the seafood restaurant and drive thtough to the car park - there is a little beach there and the dogs can have a swim It's only about a 10 min drive.

Meet T-Bone.

Having been involved in rescue for the past 5 years - my next dog will be a rescue. I don't ever plan to buy from a breeder again. Plenty of great dogs in rescue ..... just like my current foster kelpie who I am totally besotted with!

On walks I carry 'poo bags' and fill one of the 'poo bags' with water from a tap at the park and the fur kids drink from that. I have too many toys to carry and no room for a portable water container!

Yes - when dogs are in prey drive the pain thresholds increase so that they feel minimal or no pain while chasing prey. They are completely focused on their prey which is why it's difficult to recall the dog during the chase.

Glad that your dog is okay after that terrifying experience. The other thing to remember is that once your dog is onto a rabbit or any other prey, your dog is totally honed in on that prey. All his senses are concentrating on the rabbit, so no amount of screaming on your part will be heard by your dog. In fact, if anything, if your dog can hear you, then it will just add to his adrenalin rush and he will keep chasing that rabbit. Always be careful when walking dogs off lead at dusk/night because there are lots of ‘night’ animals which will tempt you’re dog senses. There is nothing more rewarding to a dog than natural prey, no matter how good your recall is. You, as your dog’s owner, will never be more exciting than a rabbit, possum etc

I know how Chopper feels ..... my boy Spencer moults heaps and there are often tumbleweeds of dog hair on the floorboards and then of course if I decide to roll around on the rug in the living room with the dogs then I get covered in Spencer's hair too! Thank goodness for lint rollers!!!!!!!

Awwwwwwww - great photos Vickie!!!!!!!!!! (especially of my 3 boys!! ) Thanks for having us - it was lots of fun. I am especially proud of how well behaved my little 'problem child' Spencer was I love the bird pics - especially the falcon.

Toby the Wonderdog RIP Toby. I hope you had a good life in the spotlight

Hi Westie I think it's first week of Feb but I've lost the bit of paper from last year and like you can't find any info on the website. Will ring to check. best Di Awesome! Thanks Di. Are you going with any of your littlies?

Does anyone know when Castle Hill Agility classes start again? I ahve been checking the website for updates but there have not been any updates for a while. Thanks in advance!

So Cosmolo you wouldn't be saying, in a very subtle way, that the owner may have something to do with it? Dear oh dear .... it's NEVER the owner's fault ...... don't you know that it ALWAYS the dog's fault!!!