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My Westie Is Starting to Be a Grump?

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.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 at 2:34 am and is filed under Westie Rescue. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • tantelindar

    Take him to the vet; if he's avoiding physical contact, it could very well be because it hurts.
    References :

  • Sissy

    my german shepard was like that when i first got him we had to build a trust with him so we could pet him he still when were walking or playing or even if i walk bye him he growls but its not an aggresive growl like teeth showing snarling or anything he is just trying to get attention
    References :

  • Allura J

    If this is a new behavior then you need to take him to the vet. Something is apparently hurting him. If he's been displaying the behavior since you rescued him, it's time for obedience training (after a trip to the vet to make sure he's OK). It's not OK for a dog to growl at people or run away from it's owner.
    References :

  • Max A

    I have a girl Westie and she's just awful. She's nice and everything, but she barks and does this kind of stuff.

    She's only three, and she acts like an old dog already. I can only imagine what she'll be like when she's five!

    Also, my friend has a Westie and she's the exact same, but only worse. One minute she'll be wanting attention then the next she'll be biting your hand.

    It must just be the William Wallace in the breed xD
    References :

  • David

    He sounds like he's "grumbling" – growling but not really meaning it just to act tough. One of my Airedales grumbles still and has since she was rescued 3 years ago, but she certainly doesn't mean anything; it's now just a habit. Remember too that Westies are terriers and terriers have to feel like they are the boss even if they really know they aren't. Your guy may just want to stay on the ground unless it's his choice for you to pick him up.
    References :
    dog breeder

  • Papa Jayshaw

    This could probably mean two things
    1. Your dog may need to go to the vet again to make sure it is ok.
    2. You me not be paying enough attention to it, so it could be upset.
    – Are you walking it? playing fetch?
    Taking care of a dog is a lot of responsibility, but you have to make sure that you provide everything that it needs.

    ** Your dog also might have had some trouble in the past, since you got it at a rescue thing. I got my beagle at the shelter, and when I first got it, it was very crazy, because unfortunately, it had two other houses before mine.
    References :

  • Redneck_Momma

    You know, I had a Westie and he was really mean too. Always growling and acting like everyone just annoyed him. He would only play and have fun when I chased him around the yard, but hated when I would pet him or anything involving contact. Maybe that is just a personality trait of the breed?
    References :

  • ibadkittyi

    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.
    References :
    Westie experience.