Puppies!
Zack and I are looking for a puppy to adopt from a shelter! We’re thinking of getting a Westie {see that cute pup above?}. Two great perks are that they’re non-shedding dogs and require daily exercise.
We live in an amazing, old neighborhood and honestly, I think we’re one of the few families without a dog. It’s such a dog-friendly area! Nearly every business has doggy water bowls outside. Plus we live near 2 lakes {with walking paths!!!}, so walking the pup and being outside will be easy and fun :]
We’re really excited!!!
And, ummm, now I want all kinds of puppies…
Our landlord has given us the “OK” to get a pup, so we’ve been dreaming and making our list. Yay, so fun!
Do you have a dog? What kinds of tips can you offer us? Zack has never owned a dog {but grew up with extended family having dogs}, and my family had a pup growing up.
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oh, we will have to talk. but, my #1 tip is go to a good dog training class. bella was in one for 16 weeks…and it was the best thing we did!
and teach him/her to go potty in the same place in the yard…it is so easy to do and you will love it for dog duty!
potty in the same place ~ yes! i believe our landlord said to do that, too!
:)
Well we have had many dogs over the years, and currently we have two English Springer Spaniels. They are beautiful dogs, but do shed and do require exercise. We were thinking of getting a smaller dog, but honestly I don’t really like small dogs that are hyper and bark all the time. I really love labs, but you’d definitely have to get them to a training class! Good luck, can’t wait to see what you pick out!
our landlord requested we get a small dog, which I think is a good idea since our yard isn’t fenced in.
and the barking? we’d train her to not bark. i’m with you on that one! :]
My friend had a westie named Button…so super cute. :)
Don’t want to be Debbie Downer or anything, but those lakes and daily exercise and all aren’t as much fun in a few months when it’s 15 degrees outside. Just sayin’.
ha ha ~ true! :]
i feel like knowing it’s available is a big help though… we were in an apartment complex and that was downtown… definitely not “dog friendly”.
thanks for your input!! :]
We have a Goldendoodle and I lllluuurrrrrrvvveeeee her. She’s awesome. My best piece of advice? Understand pack mentality. Also, crate train your dog. It seems “mean” but dogs are part of the wolf species. They need “dens” and their crate provides that. We read _How to be Your Dog’s Best Friend_ and _The Art of Raising a Puppy_ by The Monks of New Skete and both of those were excellent in helping us train and raise a well-behaved family dog. I highly rec those books and their methods.
SO CUTE!!! :]
I read over the summer how important it is for a dog to feel like they have their own, private space. That definitely stuck out to me as a big “must” when we get a dog.
Also not letting the dog sleep in your bed, but OK to a bed on the floor in the bedroom. You have to make sure the dog knows who is in charge. Right?
Great choice! We have a Westie, Scotch, and love him so much! My husband grew up just having cats and I grew up without any pets, so getting a dog was a totally new thing for us! It has been a blast and we can’t imagine not having Scotch in our lives!
You might have already read this about Westies, but it is suggested that you get a male if you want the puppy to be more cuddly with you. I read somewhere that the females usually just like to lay over in a corner by themselves and the males are the ones that like to lay in your lap and cuddle more.
I agree with Melissa about the training class. It is so essential, especially with Westies since they are terriers!
Also, I recommend feeding them a good food. There are some great options out there. I used this website to help me decide which food to feed Scotch: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/.
Good luck with your search! Can’t wait to see pictures of the new furry addition to your family! :)
I didn’t know that about the males ~ I really want a cuddly dog, but one that is also excited to go outside and play, too.
Zack doesn’t want a lap dog, hah! Which I understand. Thanks for your input, Jess!
We have two dogs. A pound puppy with horrible manners and a rescue pup with some interesting behaviors. Prior to having a baby we had time for them and worked past some of their “issues”. Our biggest obstacle with them (then and now) is finding adequate care for them when we travel. It’s expensive and truly a commitment, friends don’t want to help out long term and it’s very pricey to put them in a safe, clean environment. I could go on and on, sounds like your heart is set on a puppy, which is fantastic, but make sure you have time to establish a relationship with the dog before you drop them off in the care of someone else. And be prepared to house train!
Yay for puppies! They are a lot of fun… I love Westies! So cute. My husband and I have a 6 year old miniature schnauzer named Harvey. You can see his portrait here: http://bethstonestudio.blogspot.com/2009/05/harvey.html
My advice would be – NEVER EVER give your dog table food – it will turn it into a constant beggar. It can also lead to health problems for your dog… ours snuck some table food once and developed pancreatitis, which was very scary (and expensive to treat!). Also, we found that the crate training method worked really well for house breaking Harvey. And be sure to take lots of walks and play! Happy puppy-hunting!
…such a good reminder about table food. thank you!
It’s not table food that’s the culprit. It’s feeding the dog from the table. Dogs go to where they are rewarded. If you don’t want a beggar, don’t feed from the table.
“People” food is actually good for dogs in moderation and given with common sense. No french fries or chips, but definitely overly rip bananas, apples, some vegetables, and boiled chicken or ground beef. Also yogurt and pumpkin. Dogs can have lots of the food we like. Just be sensible!
we used to have a westie. They are good dogs.
We have a Westie! His name is Dexter. He is the BEST little dog! We got him when he was about 9 months old. He’s about 2 1/2 now. His previous owners had kept him ouside, so we weren’t sure how he would do with housetraining, but he picked up super quickly! He loves to play (our house is half carpet, so when he gets on the carpet and has traction, it’s like he’s on a racetrack!), but he is also such a lap dog…he lets me cuddle with him and hold him like a baby. He’s super good with kids, but we recently tried to bring in a new girl mini schnauzer into our home so he’d have a friend, and he was having none of that! So in our case, it would’ve been better for us to bring in him and a friend into our home at the same time. He’s pretty territorial when it comes to other dogs and his home…I think he has “little man” sydrome. But he loves playing with our neighbor’s dog.
Super smart, doesn’t shed…he does have bad food allergies and skin allergies, and I think that is common with Westies. However, we started him on some ultra-allergin free food about a year ago, and he hasn’t had any problems at all since. It’s more expensive, but super worth it.
Most people think they have to take Westies to get their hair done every few weeks, but we take Dex about every two months, and he is fine. Maybe we should take him more, but it doesn’t seem to bother him!
I highly recommend a Westie! :)
AWWW! that is so cute about being a little man dog! hah :]
i’m getting so, so excited!
Congrats on preparing for your new addition to your family! :) I’m a major, major animal lover.
One piece of advice I’d give is don’t discount giving an older dog (from a rescue or a shelter) a chance. My babygirl, Gracie (a puggle), was a rescue that I got at 2 years old … she’d been abused and all she wanted was to be loved and cuddled. I had none of the headaches of housebreaking or puppy-chewing, and she is the most loyal dog I’ve ever known. She was there for me when I was going through a rough divorce last year, and I really don’t know what I’d do without her.
I’d definitely recommend talking to a rescue or shelter. They still have puppies sometimes, and if you really want a Westie you might even be able to find a breed-specific rescue in your area. There are so many dogs with sad, sad stories out there who really need loving homes.
We are way more interested in finding a pup at a shelter — we’re in total agreement with you on that one!! :]
and we have a pug right now… LOOOOOOOOVE him!! the only downside is his shedding. But i can overlook it because I love him so much.
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If you can afford dog training classes, DO IT. It’s something I always wished we would have done with our family dog. He’s great and I love him, but man, is he dumb. He is really poorly trained, does not know how to handle being around kids and other dogs comfortably (he gets anxiety really bad), and used to have a lot of chewing issues until my parents had to purchase a shock collar. Very sad. So, training is key. And a routine. Just like kids, dogs NEED a routine to be stable and feel safe.
Please do not buy a dog, please adopt a shelter dog. There are so many that need good homes.
There are so many pure breed dogs in shelters, just call around to your local shelters, and check online if your interested in a specific breed for breed rescues in your area.
we’ll be adopting! :]
Yay puppies!! Check out http://www.petfinder.com. It lists all kinds of puppies that are in shelters or rescue organizations. That’s where we found our puppy.
And I COMPLETELY agree with taking the dog to “puppy kindergarten.” It teaches them how to be social with other dogs, how to obey you, and most importantly, teaches YOU how to be good puppy parents.
Word of advice about Westie’s: They are highly prone to getting allergies and having major skin problems. I worked for a Vet for years, and they were our biggest allergy sufferers. It’s thanks to their white coat and light skin, and if you’re in a high pollen area you may want to reconsider the breed. Though manageable, skin allergies can be a nightmare, especially as a pet ages and their immune system decreases. If you like a non-shedding dog you might look at a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. They are a little bigger than a Westie, though. Ditto the shelter dog comments, though there are times that what is available in a shelter is not the best option for your family. If that’s the case, I highly recommend buying from a family breeder who only breeds once every few years and not for a business.
Oh, having a puppy is such fun! May I suggest that you check out your area animal shelters and see if you fall in love with a puppy that is available for adoption? Mutts often make the best pets because they tend to be heartier than animals bred for specific characteristics and they’re so grateful for a loving family!
My best tip is to socialize your puppy by exposing him early to all sorts of different people, places and things.
Also look on breed websites for clues to personalities of the breed you’re leaning towards. A dachshund is tenacious and can be hard to train where a lab is easy going and willing to please. Of course that doesn’t guarantee what type of personality you’re puppy will have – just watch Marley sometime – but it will give you some idea.
Marley — such a great movie, ahh!
Our home is pretty big, about 1500 square feet, but I think a smaller dog will be best for our situation. Since we don’t have a fenced-in yard…
Thank you for the tips!
Yay for puppies! They just happen to make perfect sewing companions when they are nestled at your feet sleeping away! :)
Check out getting a dog from a shelter/rescue. This is the one that I volunteer wtih but there is tons more in the MN/Wis area. http://secondhandhounds.org
Yay yay yay for westies!!!!!! Ludwig & Lokita are running circles of excitement just thinking about a fellow westie going to a lovable home!! :-) We went w the westie bc we lived downtown Omaha & didn’t have much of a yard either. We watched a lot of Cesar Milan, he’s so smart & def helped us get our pack-leader-ness on. Also I agree w males being more cuddly. Lud seems to harness his inner Brian Adams when he sees a human sitting down on a comfy chair. We haven’t had any trouble w skin allergies w our two. But we don’t shampoo them but every two weeks, just brush a lot & they only go to groomers every 2-3 months. Pups are so fun & great stress relievers! So excited for you guys!
Oh how exciting! We have two adopted shelter dogs and really, they are the best. Such kind, loveable dogs. We got both of our dogs when they were about 6-9 months old which means they are partially crate trained and potty trained. Major plus in my book. With our first we went to a once a week training course and it was so helpful. I’m really excited for y’all and think you will just love the new addition. Yay for adopting too!!
We have a dog named Bella that we rescued…she came into the shelter on Christmas Eve! Poor little thing. We had a rocky couple of weeks with her because she came with health issues that we were unaware of but she has been the best dog. We couldn’t have imagined owning a dog could be so much fun and she is apart of our family. The kids love running around with her and playing soccer with her…yes she runs after the ball and pushes it with her paws and then growls playfully as she runs with it! I can’t tell you how funny it is! We did the crate method to potty train her and to get her to sleep and it worked wonderfully. She now goes to the slider door when she has to go out and she sleeps in her bed all through the night and doesn’t get up or hasn’t had an accident. We also would take her outside in the same spot to go potty and she still only goes in that one spot. It’s awesome!
Good luck!!! How exciting!
A dog is what you make it….we have an toy eskimo/bichon mix that is absolutely the greatest dog in the world, small but not too small (20 lbs), adorable (we get him cut like a westie) super great with kids, not a yapper, very playful but not hyper. Told you he was perfect. :P We had a westie and they’re really great dogs…super adorable. Just be aware of the grooming…it’s an ABSOLUTE necessity. Like…every 4-6 weeks. And it’s complicated to cut them, so it’s not the cheap puppy cut that is the special priced one you were hoping for.And if you shirk on the haircutting responsibililty..one word. MATTING. Other than that, they’re awesome. Do your research on the breeds and know that what work you put in is the kind of dog they will be. Dogs are great….enjoy the process!!!
I have 2 dogs – aussie shep mix and a pomeranian.
Tips – Adopt as soon as you can! It’s REALLY hard to potty train in the winter…Both of my dogs I got in fall/winter and both of them did awful with potty training until Spring/Summer…
Also, I highly suggest puppy play dates!! Which is part of the socialization process…
And don’t be afraid to yell or “spank” your dog when they’re being naughty…It’s normal in a wolf pack for the dog to be reprimanded when bad and normal in a human pack too. Watch Ceasar if you can…He’ll give you the best tips ever! To be a dominate pack leader and to have a good dog.
Good luck! Hope you find your perfect pup soon!
Spanking a dog can also make it afraid of you and hand shy. Especially small dogs and also dogs who come from rescue and have been neglected or abused. So be careful. Ceasar is a little scary. Many better resources out there such as Suzanne Clothier and Patricia McConnell or me at Cloud Nine Training School for Dogs!
We have a maltese…cutest most amazing dog ever! And our baby LOVES him…so ya know, when it’s your time you gotta have a baby friendly dog ;)
Not sure if you are a 24 fan, but our dog’s name is Jack Bauer. A good solid name for a manly “girl” dog is a MUST.
my hubby is a 24 fan :]
I’ve only had a dog for about 6 months when I was little and otherwise, my Mom never let me. :( So no tips from me. Now, I’ll have to wait ’til I get married because I’m still living at home. I can’t wait to get a dog though!!!!
of course i have a pup! My Polo is the best $38 ever spent! I love him so much. My biggest tip is to take him/her on lots of walks even when you don’t want to. Pent up energy is no fun for you or the pupster.
:)Gina
YAY!!! so excited for you… those pups are the cutest. I have two Chihuahua’s, they are sweet and crazy at the same time. Having a dog is like having a baby. They need lots of attention and might make you want to lock yourself in your bedroom to cry for a little. One fun time I say you HAVE TO look up is the bell at the door potty training method. It is a life saver!!!
xo, Alysha
i grew up with an english springer spaniel, buddy. he was a special dog. he passed away the day after i gave birth to aidan. he was 13 years old and died on the 13th of june. 13 must have been his, um, unlucky number? nah, he was a good dog & lived a long life.
we have a boston terrier named frisco. it is our family’s first dog. we’ve always had cats {and we still do…three of them}. he’s about 20 lbs and is a bundle of energy. definitely a great family dog and so good with our kids & people who come over.
one thing i can advise is to research whatever breed your heart is set on thoroughly. and, if you go with a breeder, do your research, too. a friend of ours had a westie and they spent $$$ because she had allergies. i don’t think it’s necessarily a breed specific thing {because all dogs have their quirks}, but just be prepared to shell out some cash! pups are expensive. ;) pet insurance is a good idea, too. we don’t have it, but i’m sure if we did it would help off set some of the costs of owning a dog by a great deal. another thing? crate train your pup. this has been a life saver. frisco slept in his crate since we brought him home. he sleeps in the bed with us now {can you say spoiled??} but if we need to go out we tell him to get in his house and he walks right into his crate! ;)
no matter what…bringing an animal into your home is a wonderful thing. the companionship & unconditional love cannot be beat. :)
Hi Maggie! Congrats on the decision to adopt a dog! We have a black lab and we love her, she is awesome. My husband and I both had small dogs growing up so we of course wanted something big when we got married. :) Just wanted to emphasize what the other comments said about crate training. Our dog was crate trained the first 5 months we had her (we got her when she was 8 weeks old, a little fluff ball!) then she graduated to being baby-gated in the kitchen for a few months, then we felt she was ready to be on her own and sleep in our room (not in our bed, can you imagine 75 lbs of dead weight??) She has been a great dog and trained very well as long as we were firm at the beginning. My sister and her fiance purchased a mini-daschund a year ago and they did not train him AT ALL. She let him sleep in her bed right away, no crate (cuz she didn’t like him crying in the crate) and he is a little terror! Eek! :)
God bless as you choose the perfect furry friend for your family! Can’t wait to meet him/her!!
Emily
Yay for puppies! We have a 4-pound pomeranian named Monty and he is the absolute best. He doesn’t shed, is really sociable (even with kids, and he doesn’t interact with kids often), is a great companion, and we take him on multiple walks per day. We’re still in an apartment, and he’s just the right size for us. If you see any poms in the shelter, consider them! And if I had one thing to do over, it would be puppy class — he’s a great dog, but I think it would have helped us in the beginning, since we’d never had one before.
Those are some REALLY cute puppies. I’m sure yours will be adorable as well! We had two golden retrievers in my family growing up (big, hairy, shed-dy dogs… wouldn’t recommend for your situation). I loved our dogs and now my sister actually trains them as a volunteer for people with disabilities. Smaller breeds are probably the way to go for you guys and the best advice I can give is the potty in the yard (same place, like other people said) and also to train the dog to bark. I know that sounds crazy, but it makes total sense! When the dog knows when to bark (when you tell it to) they tend to not bark at other times. Good luck!
No suggestions here…you will just “know” when a dog is right for you though. You and Z will make great puppy parents!
We have a shitzhu. (is that how you spell it?) He is the best dog. He was my cure to my baby fever! He doesn’t yip, he was easy to potty train, doesn’t shed, good with kids, good with everyone, good with other dogs, social, friendly – I just love him. he also loves to cuddle. We also have an American Bulldog – he is BIG, but totally sweet. His downfall is that he sheds way too much and howls all day long. But he is a good family dog. Have fun!!!
We have an American Eskie and I LOVE him. I don’t love the amount of hair that comes off of him. I swear we have white tumbleweeds all over the house.
My dad and step mother have westies and they love them. My only complaint is that theirs bark A.LOT. But aside from that they are great dogs, very loveable and love to play.
Either 1) long haired chihuahua or 2) york-chi-poo (hypoallergenic)
These are the most adorable dogs on the planet. Playful, friendly and adorable in a Gussy tote.
We have two Jack Rats, brother and sister. Recently we purchased two female Chihuahuas who are sisters. We did a
lot of research in order to decide what would work best for our family. We had to take into consideration what; we could
afford, have the time for, some breeds need more training than others, would work with our other two dogs and wouldn’t shed too much. We really wanted a Havanese, but the price was way out of our range. When we went to look at the Chihuahuas I feel in love with one and my daughter another, so the owner cut a deal for the two.
One of our relatives told us we would have fun, because they bark all the time. My daughter called the Vet. with this
concern. She told her that they do that when they get small dog syndrome. This comes about when the owners don’t give
the dog boundaries and they start to rule the home. We know that what the Vet. said is true, because when our dogs
bark we go to check out what they are barking at and when it is nothing we tell them it’s ok, hush and they stop barking. It takes time to get this to work, but it does work. This has to be done every time so that they understand.
I wish your family luck with finding a dog that will fit right into your family dynamics.
We only get big dogs, so no help here re: little dogs. All of our dogs have been 75 pounds+. My favorite breed of all time is a great dane. We had one and she was absolutely amazing. One day we’ll get another one. If you get a puppy… be ready to be tired.
Awwwwwwwwwwwwww, that is such a fun idea, I am so excited for you both, and they are soooooooooooo cute. Hugs to you both :)
I just got my first puppy last March. I wasn’t raised around dogs and didn’t even consider myself an animal lover until Chief showed up in our lives. He’s a lab/mastiff mix and he has me wrapped around his enormous paw!
I highly recommend reading Cesar Milan, The Dog Whisperer. He’s got great common-sense approaches and really helps you get inside the world of a dog (as much as is humanly possible). Every one we talked to strongly recommended taking Chief to dog training classes but once we started consistently implementing a few practices that Cesar recommends we realized we could do without the classes and simply train him ourselves. And not to toot our own horns but Chief is really well behaved (even with the ridiculous amounts of energy he has).
I will say this, having a dog is a 24/7 responsibility and if you take your animal’s well being seriously it’s a LOT of work. Much like I imagine parenting is, a huge chunk of having a well behaved little guy (or gal) is simply being consistent and setting boundaries. That translates to never having the luxury of just “letting it go” and allowing some unwanted behavior to go unnoticed. But it’s so worth it!
Have fun! I know whatever puppy you choose will bring you more joy and giggles than you can imagine.
yay! how exciting!! can’t wait to see the pup you bring home! i think you should get a cockapoo but i’m a little biased :) westies are cuties too.
Hi Maggie: Congrats on your decision to get a dog! I have 18 of them! Dixon is my newest canine addition. He is a rescued sheltie and has his own blog: dixonsdigest.blogspot.com. I’m a dog trainer and have my own obedience training school so I can’t say enough about dogs. Guess I better stop now or I’ll go on forever. Westies are adorable. So are Welsh Terriers and Lakeland Terriers. They both are non or low shed as well. If you have any questions I can help!
2) When I take him outside he gets eailsy distracted and starts eating unwanted things.. is there any way I can make him stop that?3) Can please teach me how to make him bend on his front feet while continue to stand on the hind feet more like a BOW DOWN trick?4) I saw your neat tricks with collies, like jumping on your back and standing still can you make a few vids on complex tricks too?Hope to hear from you,Thanks a lot!