Dear Miss Jane,
I have an 8-month-old Westie boy and a six-year-old human boy who like to play together. Although I discourage games like tug-o-war, they tend to get a little rough at times. I believe that my puppy views my son as more of a playmate than a master.

Recently, my puppy has nipped my son's fingers during play. How can I stop this? How can I show my dog that this is unacceptable behavior?

Sincerely,
Kelly

You are correct when you write "I believe that my puppy views my son as more of a playmate than a master." It is unwise and sometimes dangerous to think a dog will respect a child. That is rarely the case. Dogs see children as equals, littermates, if you will. Why? Because children run, scream, jump around, and do similar things a puppy would do. Children are not mature enough to be consistant, and when they do give corrections, the corrections are usually harsh. By nature children are self-absorbed making it difficult for them to command respect from a dog.

You need to supervise your child and your dog when they are together. Children have been bitten when the wrong signal was given from a child to dog. For example: a child is eating a cookie and the dog wants some. The child holds the cookie in the air, waving it about, to keep the dog from getting any. The dog leaps to grab a bite of cookie but nips the child instead. The child cries to the parents that the dog bit him. The child may not say a word about the cookie.

Children tease dogs, sometimes intentionally, sometimes not. As a whole, the Westie is not considered to be a forgiving breed. They are terriers and were bred to KILL vermin, not handle it softly. The best advice I can give a child whose dog nips them, is to calm down so the dog will calm down, and tuck their hands under their armpits so the dog can't nip their fingers, and BE STILL. The dog will usually figure out that as long as he plays rough, the fun is over, when he plays nicely the child returns the attention.

It's hard to raise puppies and children, you can either assume you have two children or two puppies, they act basically the same!

~ Jane

Dear Miss Jane
I've been looking for a Westie and there aren't alot around here in
Wisconsin. However, I did find a lady that breeds and is hoping to have some
pups in a couple of months. She has a 3 year old female that she is looking
to sell. She has breed her twice and ended up with a c+AD0-section so isn't
going to breed her any longer. My question is, is it a good idea to consider
buying her? I'm thinking I'd get out of the house breaking and puppy stage
things, but I have some concerns about a dog that maybe won't take to me, etc.
Any advice you can give would be appreciated.

Thanks much,
Kathy

Hello Kathy,
It sounds as though you would really like to consider the 3 year old female. Puppyhood can have it's rewards; the puppy grows up with you, you can train it from the beginning, etc., but puppyhood is a LOT of work. Depending on the age of the puppy and what stage of development it is in, you will have to go through teething, housebreaking, crate training, puppy adolescence, all those fun things! Puppies require supervision at all times, just like a small child.

An adult dog on the other hand, especially one that is three years old, is still young enough for you to enjoy a long life together, yet you won't have to go through all the puppy stages. The majority of adult dogs who go to new homes fit in quite nicely, those who don't usually possess a mysterious background.

Go and visit the dog, spend some time alone with her away from the breeder. Try your best not to take her home the same day. After your first visit, go home and think about everything you liked and disliked about her. During your visit ask the breeder for a few treats and see how willingly the dog accepts food from you. Food can be a great way to bridge a gap. Though you won't have learned everything about her from the first meeting, you will come away with some idea of the dog's temperament. If you have cats or children, mention it to the breeder. I have found that Westies love to chase cats and will harm if given half a chance because of their strong prey drive. Children are another matter. Some Westies take splendidly to children and others do not. Children
under the age of ten can be a little much for a Westie. Westies were bred to hunt and kill vermin, which required a very alert and serious dog, one who wouldn't back down from a challenge, one who could make good use of their powerful teeth and jaws. Westies are less likely to tolerate the quick and sudden movements of children. Terriers are a gamey little dog full of curiosity and energy, they view children as equals and are not afraid to snap or bite to get their point across to an "unruly" child.

No matter what age dog you get, I highly recommend an obedience course for you and the dog. You will develop a quick bond, and the dog will respect your leadership, as well as learning valuable commands.

My personal family of dogs has included three Westies purchased, and three dogs, obtained at older ages, around four, of which one was a Westie.

~ Jane

Copyright © 2001 Jane Fink and Westie World.