Everyone loves baby animals and Westie puppies are adorable, but new dog customers often don’t realize the commitment they’re making when they bring home a puppy. For those who want the companionship of Westies, but don’t have the knowledge or patience to endure the training process, rescuing an older Westie dog may be the right choice.
When considering an older West highland terrier dog, the first thing many people think is that they would have a dog with problems, whether it be genetic issues common to Westies or behavioral problems due to improper training. The truth is that many Westie dogs go to shelters for reasons that have nothing to do with the inherent qualities of dogs. Every year dog owners die, move into retirement homes, change jobs, get divorced, have new babies, or unfortunately just get tired of the responsibility of caring for a dog.
The advantages of senior dogs are many. They have finished teething and no longer feel the need to chew holes in their shoes, carpets and furniture. Older Westie dogs have gotten used to sleeping through the night while their people sleep, unlike Westie puppies, who wake up and whimper. Older pets will already have been house trained and should know the meaning of the word “no” as well, which makes their ongoing training much easier.
When you meet a Westie puppy, you only have the breed standards to give you an idea of what kind of dog he will become. Although West Highland dogs have a typical personality type, there are variations from dog to dog. The adult Westie is a known quantity. The Westie dog you meet is what you’ll get, and you can quickly determine if he’ll fit into your household.
It may seem like rescuing an older Westie gives them an “instant dog,” but that’s not the case. They may be confused at first when arriving in a new home and need to be reminded of their basic training. However, even allowing a few weeks of extra special care is easier and less stressful than the rigors of training a puppy.
(Disclaimer: Any information contained on this site relating to various medical, health, and fitness conditions of Westies or other animals and their treatments is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for advice provided by your own veterinarian. You should Do not use the information contained herein to diagnose the health of any animal. You should always consult and verify with your own veterinarian or veterinarian.)
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