I just want to pick her up and squeeze her. LOL

A friend of mine had one, and it was the sweetest
little dog - and would look at you like she knew
exactly what you were thinking. Definitely a
part of the family - they took her everywhere with them.

My MIL had one, Charlie, who was sweet tempered and very friendly without being too clingy. He always seemed to be in a good mood and cheery. He loved to play and be petted, but would go off and sleep in his bed or on the sofa by himself when he had enough. He didn't have to the center of attention all the time.

He was very patient with DS who was only 2 at the time. I remember how DS would try to go after him up the stairs. Charlie would run ahead a few steps then wait till DS almost caught him then go another couple of stairs. DS would laugh when he almost caught him. Charlie was playing a game with DS and they both seemed to enjoy it. He could have run away from DS but didn't.

And they are cute and the fur is soft, when properly groomed. You do have to take them to a groomer on a regular basis for that kind of hair cut. I would get a Westie except for all the grooming. Also Charlie had lots of problems associated with that breed, like a skin condition and allergies. You should read up on them.
Clare

I have allergies to dogs so my allergist said I could probably tolerate a dog breed that didn't shed like a poodle, West Highland or Cairn Terrier. I looked and looked for a Westie to no avail so we got a Cairn which is essentially a non-white Westie. Loved the Cairn, we had her for 14 years but I still long for a Westie and yes that commercial makes my heart do flip flops.

Jodi-

We have friends that had one and called him Snowball...He was the best...He went over the rainbow bridge a few years ago....
I also love those commercials and I'm a cat person....

We've had four Westies. Current dog is Eliot, a puppy mill dog from Westie Rescue. He's not a champion type like our last Westie, Pip, but he's good and loving. When Pip died (16) we put our names in to Rescue, expecting to get a senior dog someone couldn't care for any longer. Instead, we got Eliot at 10 weeks. He was so small, even for a Westie pup, that we gave him the shortest version of his name; we didn't think he could carry any extra letters. LOL

NEVER buy a dog from a pet store. You are supporting puppy mills if you do. Almost all breeds have clubs. Find the Westie Club in your area and ask about breeders. Expect to pay a little more and undergo a thorough questioning from the breeder before they will sell to you. You will get a better, healthier dog, and almost every breeder will 'be there' for you if you have questions or problems. Whatever additional time and money up front you will save over the life of a dog who is born to a healthy mother and nurtured and socialized well by the breeder.

Westies don't 'shed' like other dogs. They have a hard outer coat and soft undercoat. Unless you want to show your dog you don't need to pluck the undercoat -- just have him clipped six times a year and brush him regularly in between. You don't want to wash him often either -- creates dry skin and skin troubles. (Some of the skin problems with Westies are due to inbreeding and some to the efforts of owners to keep them perfectly white all the time!)

We chose to buy our first Westie for several reasons. We wanted a smaller dog, but not a frou-frou that DH would feel ridiculous walking. We liked the 'no shed' part! We liked the stand-up ears -- fewer ear problems. Westies are 'big dogs in little bodies' -- not clingy or fearful by nature.

All our males have been great with kids. Our one female was probably too old when we got her. She was willful; didn't really care about anyone in the family as long as she was fed. A breeder told me that females can be more difficult. She demonstrated with a litter of hers. The dogs were three months old. She let them out into a yard, then called them to 'come'. The males turned around immediately, but the females took some time before returning. They were 'thinking about it'! LOL This is not to say ALL females would be like our Rosie. I've known many sweeties.

Happy to answer any questions. BTW, have you owned dogs before? Are you home enough and do you have time enough for a dog?

Hi Chisue,
I'm not going to get a dog.......we have 3 cats that have our hearts completely.
I just love the commercial, and it makes me want one, that's all. Regarding the time for a dog.....yep.
I'd do anything for animals, and I would have time. I'd love to have a dog, and take the time and train one. There are so many dog breeds that I love, it would be hard to choose if the time ever came.

Oh, I see. Sorry for going on so long. I thought you were seriously considering getting a Westie! Obviously, we love the breed.

Chisue, you are a dog owner after my own heart!!

I have a pure bred rescued yellow lab (didn't stay tiny and cute and easily managed - so was dumped at about 20 weeks old) but my next door neighbor has two westies - we 'babysit' for them when they go out of town. They are very sweet little things, but you have to be VERY CAREFUL when you open the front door, they can get out faster than you could ever imagine. I've been hunting them down twice when I was watching them - my (darling, darling) lab, I can hold back with my knees but those little westies scampered around my ankles like they were on a prison break *LOL*

She brushes them every day and 'spot' cleans them - keepng them clipped and groomed can get a bit expensive but if you are willing, they are certainly worth it.

We didn't want the expense of the constant clipping and didn't want to have to brush out the coat excessively so we got a lab, but I'm considering a non-sheder next time, if my husband can just please dear God release the idea that the only good dog is a lab dog *LOL*

She's adorable, especially when she first appears at the table where the food is. I almost got a Westie but they suffer horribly from grass allergies and our grass is the worst for that.

Two of our four Westies had some skin troubles. The most 'perfect' as far as conforming to Westie standards had the most trouble -- until he was about ten and I started feeding him hamburger, cottage cheese and a little kibble. At the first sign of a spot on his skin I'd zap it with Gentosin. He lived to 16, dear boy.

We got our Cairn Cassie from Westie Rescue. She too was a female with attitude (OMG, what attitude!) and she had horrible, horrible skin allergies. Don't even get me started on that story. I would still get another Cairn or Westie though. Love terriers.

Jodi-