It's important to help your new pet acclimate to your home by being prepared and being patient. It may take anywhere from a few days to two months for you and your new dog to adjust to each other. Here are more tips:

http://lnk.nu/dogtime.com/wg6.html

As for grooming, we get our westie shaved once a year and that's sufficient, but trim her fur on a monthly basis ourselves. I'm not too sure for cocker spaniels. But from what I hear it doesn't take too much to learn.

http://www.clubs.akc.org/westie or http://www.westieclubamerica.com

ALL of your questions can be answered at the breed club website, and you will be helped to find a local (good) breeder, too.

Please know that Westies are cute but get dirty awfully fast (and often). They like to dig, bark, and chew. You shouldn't trust one (or any other terrier) around small pets such as guinea pigs, rats, etc. White dogs seem to have a higher incidence of skin problems and allergies. The frequent licking caused by allergies will permanently discolor the fur. There are no cures for allergies and they can be expensive to treat. Westies require regular haircuts to look like Westies, about every 6 weeks, at around $50 per visit to the groomer.

A very similar breed that has fewer skin and allergy problems and looks cleaner longer is the Cairn terrier.

Terriers are not for everyone. 16 years is a long time to be unhappy if you select the wrong breed so never choose by looks alone. Find a breed that you can provide the best home for, without making any major changes in your habits or lifestyle. You should probably research several breeds before you make a decision.

these are breeders who breed with the hopes of getting a pup with good confirmation for the show ring

they have pups that have slight flaws which you would never notice and are of no health concerns but would exclude from show , they sell these pups as pet quality almost always already neutered or with a legal binding spay/neuter contract

don't buy from a pet shop or from a backyard breeder

you will be surprised at the reasonable cost of a pet quality westie from a breeder dedicated to preserving the breed at least half the cost of the over priced poorly bred pet shop westie

http://www.westierescue.com/
http://www.westieclubamerica.com/rescue/

Petfinder (search by breed and area)
http://www.petfinder.com//index.html

If you are not familiar with this breed, I suggest you thoroughly research them. They look like cute, white fluffy fur-balls, but they are feisty terriers through and through. Also, some Westies will end up in Scottish Terrier rescue. You may want to add this to a list to search. Good luck.