Westie Rescue

How much should a 2.1 kg westie mix 8 week old puppy be eating each day?

I’ve brought royal canin mini junior food at the advice of my vet and she said follow the adult weight guide, so going by that she needs 150g a day which sounds like a lot for her. I’m feeding her three times a day and putting out 50g each time. She’s only eating 25g at each meal though.

Should I be worried or should I throw out the 150g guide line and just go by what she wants?

Also we’re in the middle of a really hot spell at home and she still won’t settle at night. I’ve put a ticking clock and a night light where she’s sleeping but I’m worried that a hot water bottle or the like will overheat her in the night, is there something else I can try until it cools down a bit?

And how do we toilet train her at night? We’ve got the day time sorted, there are still little accidents but she lets us know if she’s had an accident and we’re taking her out hourly into the garden, but what do I do at night? I feed her three hours before she goes to sleep but I leave water out for her all night just in case.

My other two dogs had toilet-training sorted when I rescued them so I never had to go through all this.

It’s a huge learning curve and any info you can pass on to a first time puppy owner would be appreciated.
Mini Junior is Royal Canin’s Mini Breed Puppy food, it’s suitable from 2 – 10 months.

She was on bakers before and there was no way in the world I was going to feed her bakers puppy food.

awwww, I’m getting a westie pup soon so i thought i’d give answering this question a go.
1. For the food – go to a local supermarket at the pet sections, if you read on the back of the packets they should tell you roughly how much to feed them, your dog might tend to eat more or less that amount, you only really need to worry if it doesn’t eat much. If you give her the adult amount and she’s not eating all of it, don’t worry, she’ll adjust, and if she’s hungry she’ll eat, just make sure there is always food avalaible for her until you’re satisfied she’s easten enough.
2. I wouldn’t put a hot water bottle near her, but maybe give her a thin blanket and lay it on her, she’ll likely snuggle up in it and if she gets hot she’ll be able to shake it off herself! I would make sure she sleeps near you in case she needs the loo and whines or something.
3. You can buy nappy mats at a local pet store or supermarket which you can surround her in if you want, that way if she has an accident it won’t matter!

I wish you the best of luck and a lifetime of happiness with your new dog!
Btw, did you buy from a breeder, pets store, etc…. Not sure where i want to get my puppy from yet

I have two westies, a 3 year 8 month old and a approx 1 year old (don’t know exact age of this one as had from rescue centre). What weights roughly should they be cause vets won’t tell me. I don’t want them getting over weight.

Westies should be between 15 and 21 pounds. This is quite a range so you will have to be able to visually assess your dogs. From above there should be a slightly visible waist between your dog’s ribs and bum. You should be able to feel the ribs if you try to but you don’t want to be able to see them by just looking at your dog.

It is strange that your vet won’t tell you what weight your dogs should be, but if the vet says their weights are fine then I wouldn’t worry. They may not tell you an exact number because it can vary depending on the muscle mass vs. fat in your dogs. Make sure your dogs stay healthy by having them on a good quality diet and give them lots of exercise and they will be happy, healthy dogs.

Good luck!

We have just found the cutest little 8 week old male Westie that is needing a permanent home due to being in a Foster Home that he was placed in after his Puppy Mill was closed down. I would love to rescue this dog and give him a permanent home, I am just a little cautious about him possibly having some health problems caused by the Puppy Mill. Does anyone have any input on this or any type of knowledge about rescue dogs from Puppy Mills? Thanks!

To be honest, it's a valid concern. I rescued a dog that had come from a mill, and though I tried my best with her, she never stopped giving me problems. I could never quite get her potty trained, though I've never had problems with other dogs, and she was never what anyone would call cuddly. She always shied away from human touch, and training her was a nightmare. I eventually had to hire personal trainers–and yes, more than one–to come work with her, because obedience classes and my own efforts weren't enough. She'd also come straight from the mill, and within three days, she had to be hospitalized. She nearly died, and I still think it's a miracle that she didn't.

That said, there will probably be a difference between this dog and yours. Mine was older when she was rescued, and many of her behavioral problems were probably the result of spending her most formative months in the mill. Your dog is younger and likely will be spared most of that. And if she's been in a foster home, she's obviously not going to fall ill with the same types of diseases. If the vet has looked her over and not found anything, then I think you'll be okay.

Good for you for taking this puppy in. You're making a difference.

hes five years old neutered and we got him from one of those rescue things online.hes just started like growling when people pick him up and runs away whenever i try to pet him or anything. hes never done this before. WHY?!
we have had him since he was one this is all new
oh and he went to the vet a few days ago and he said nothing was wrong and hes tarted like two weeks ago

You say he growls when people pick him up? How many people are being allowed to pick him up and how often? I imagine that constantly being picked up and touched when you don't want to be could be extremely irritating. If there are too many people trying to pick him up, it may be overwhelming to him ,maybe cut back on that and have it just be you that picks him up, if at all.

Do you know if he ever fell out of someones arms when they were holding him? These are VERY smart little dogs, and almost falling out of someones arms would be enough to make them never want to be held again. I would say make sure when you go to pick him up, do it slowly so he feels very secure.

Not knowing him it is hard to say why he is doing this but there is ALWAYS a reason for a behavior. Especially if it that behavior just started. It is our job as pet parents to figure out what that is..

I would take him to another vet to be looked over just to be sure everything is ok. Dogs tend to not want to be touched if they are hurt in some way, it could even be a toothache! How are his teeth?

Westie fur tangles and will become very painful for them if not taken care of. If his fur tangled up under his belly or anywhere and you go to brush it, it will HURT. If the brush gets stuck when you go to pull it through, his fur is tangled! That really hurts and should be cut out and not pulled by a brush. Just trying to find reasons why he could be doing this.

And as far as the westies are mean comments, Westies are not "mean" they are independent and very happy go lucky little dogs as long as they do not feel threatened or in pain.

I'm starting to think I should use my dog as a prediction for how my day will turn out. Today being quite a good example…..

Took the dogs over the park for their morning run with some other dog owners – my Westie, for some reason, decided to run full speed into a very large patch of nettles – then stand in the middle proclaiming that he couldnt get out and needed rescuing. Whilst debating how to do this, I recieved a tap on the sholder from one of the other owners to inform me that my partners dog was bolting across the park, in order to run home. I yelled and he stopped just in front of the alley that leads home – and I swear, he looked from me, to the alley, and back again, deciding whether to push it or not. Clearly he could tell I really wasnt messing and sat down and waited for me to clip him back on. Continue rescue of nettle pup……
On the way to work, I was accompanied in my train carriage by some EXTREMELY noisy youths and their mongrel (which they liked to call a "pit") which they were encouraging to bark at my dog and "lurching" towards me – untill I turned around in my uniform and informed them they were going to get reported any minute now…..

So far, I have informed 3 people that their dog has been put to sleep, had irate owners on the phone, annoyed that I cant find their dog (doesnt matter that they lost it, Im the one who cant find it?!), consoled one woman who has a stray dead kitten in her garden on a very hot day that NO-ONE will go out and collect for her….and countless dogs and cats being handed in.

I decided to take a walk around the park with some collegues – and for some unknown reason, my dog decided that the guy doing yoga wasnt having enough physical exercise, stole his t-shirt out of his bag on the ground and took off across the park with it…Cue, laughing collegues who pretended they didnt know me and one harassed owner chasing one dog…..

Now, its mighty strange because my dog actually has quite a solid recall and only once, when he was 4 months, has he ever done anything like that.

In future, any out-of-the-ordinary behaviour from my dog shall result in a Duvet Day for me, I think!!

Has your dogs behaviour ever seemed to predict exactly how your day is going to go?!
See, thats the weird thing – my dogs just *dont* act up!! Like, ever! It just all seems to have come to a head on the same day, worst luck!
Gosh, wish I could go home! I dont finish here till 8pm, worse luck. Glass of wine sounds tempting though……

There have been times when my dogs seem to have a total brain fart and forget what all commands are, which leads to a WTF day for me.
Hambone my 9 year old, obedience champion, therapy certified CGC did this too me last week when I was using him to teach my obedience class. He gave my the "you want me to do WHAT look" and I was ready to go under the floor.

My suggestion—go home, poor a large glass of wine and chill for the rest of the day. Do not do anything that involves thinking, exercise and stay away from sharp objects, electrical outlets etc until you have a better day. )

I recently rescued a one and a half year old Westie mix. In the last few days, she has been chewing up everything she can get her cute little teeth on. She just pulled a brand new pair of jeans from my closet and gave them a custom grunge look. How do I break her of this before she breaks me?!

well, seems like you got a energized dog on your hands. haha! well do you have a lot of chew toys? and you may want to get one that is hard rubber so she wont tear it apart! and get one that you can put treats in our peanut butter. it will keep her busy. and remember to use a ton of discipline. and remember she is just a dog. so it will take some practice. but you have to let her know who's boss. it seems to me like she thinks she is. be the pack leader. ( if you watch the dog whisperer he says that all the time, and its very true) hope this helps! good luck!

When you are getting a dog from rescue you are paying for the dogs care and medial expenses. You are getting a dog that has been spayed/neutered, fully vaccinated and any other medical problems treated as well as the cost to care for the dog while in the rescues care. What you pay is close to or not much more (and some times less) than you would pay to have all this done yourself. You also have to look at the fact that if you can’t afford the a few hundred dollar or less adoption fee then you can’t really afford to care for the dog properly in the first place

I lovee small dogs and was promised one for my birthday! Probably a westie. I need some names, male and female!
*it will be rescued so may not be westie
Thanks everyone- im thinking about Josie, Jazemine, Tiki
Charly, tiki, caddie

Ok i have a few i like creative names and funny names

Pipi
Rox
Tito
Milo
Tino
Tip
Tolly
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Small dog big Names LOL
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Rage
Killer
Katina
Kamil
Rafael
Racker
Rocky
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Tipsy
Chloey
Anny
FiFi
Doncardo
Foxy
Foedy
flax
Maddi

I Like those hope u do toooo

I just got a dog from a rescue shelter (Westie, 5yrs, female). She was rescued from a suburban kill shelter who they found as a stray. She looks like she has been in a house before, since she is acclimated to cars and is house trained. However, she loathes her leash. Contrary to most dogs who get excited when you bring out the leash, but she tries to attack it and bite at it. Once you start moving she's fine, but if you put the leash in front of her while you're walking her, she attacks it. I had a five minute battle trying to yank it from her mouth, saying no and she pulling back. We think that a previous owner beat her with a leash. How do I stop this crazy behavior?

Maybe a different leash? Like a different color or holder of something she might not recognize as a leash.