I've bought a dog!A Westie. First dog ever. What do i need?

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Our family has been thinking about this for years now. We finally have bought a beautiful Westie puppy.

What are the must have items and what are the best of these?

I'm determined that the dog won't take over the house and also that the house won't smell completely of "dog". A little i'm sure though...
Anyway I am in the midst of preparing fro our new arrival and would appreciate any helpful advice.

thx

• crate
• collar and lead
• a stripping knife, terriers should be hand stripped NOT shaved/clippered.
• raw food, reduces odour, good for allergies, sensitive tummies etc.
• toothbrush and toothpaste (doggy, not people)
• lots of toys
• chew toys but not rawhide or bones from the pet shop; any bones have to be raw.
• treats

I can't think of anything else right now.
They destroy beds when young so don't need one of them, you should put them straight outside for toilet training so puppy pads not needed either

Westies are are gorgeous little dogs, I only know one but based on him full cover pet insurance ASAP even if you get 4 weeks cover from breeder. Friends pet insurance was basic and included first cataract problem but not second eye needing done later (both needed done very young; common with breed). Also skin problems are common with the breed. She's had to pay a lot of vet fees.

Puppy training books.

Have fun!

Just to want to say, while skin problems could well be a genetic problem within the breed it could also be due to poor grooming.

Most owners just clipper the coat instead of hand stripping which ruins the texture, makes it wooly and non waterproof but also, can cause irritation, hot spots and rashes.....

Insurance for sure! I think most of them don't kick in for 2 weeks so handy if you get a run-on from the breeder you can overlap them for continuous cover.

Vaccinations obviously.

I've found the puppy pen very useful. But it's a huge investment and is quite big even if you don't use all the panels. But I was stupid and bought two pups home. Don't bring two pups home.

Just today the Bitter Apple spray has arrived so I've sprayed everything - have yet to see if it works obviously.

Very good quality food - especially important during growth.

Door gate(s) for containment.

Vet beds - grey off Amazon aren't being destroyed here and are quick and easy to wash and dry. Just cut to size and take off the fluff released from cutting. They also seem to be pretty absorbent in the crate if pup gets caught short - isn't sitting in a puddle of wee. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00EC9XY8A/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=569136327&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001N0E41C&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1V5B3WJ734EFPX93J1B7

Clip on water bowl for crates. Heavy bowls for food and water so they don't get moved around during use. Or kicked over by kids.

Chocolate drop treats for dogs are very useful for training

Dog poop bags for picking up many many deposits outside, before you can get out and about with pups.

Probably a harness - haven't really looked into lead training as still have another 2 weeks at home.

As said before, lots of toys. I favour Kong, Nylabone and Chuckits as they are pretty much indestructible. Antler chew bones are favourites with mine.

Karcher has also been very very handy. And big blue rolls and floor wipes for inbetween.

Haven't found a use for puppy pads save catching sick in the car. Read too many stories of puppies eating them when left unattended to want to use them in the house really.

And don't expect to sleep or relax at all for a while.

Have fun!

Also, chipping (not sure on age but it's law in Wales), and an ID tag on the coller is essential. I have mine and my mum's number on mine as mobiles are so hit and miss here it's more reliable with landlines.

There may be a use for puppy pads with younger pups though, mine were 11 weeks when they moved in.

wow so many great tips!
I'll be off researching tonight.

A Westie, first purchase the very best lifetime insurance policy you can afford.

A kong binkie.

A nice soft baby blanket for the car ride home.
puppy toys I prefer the kong make toys.
Harness and lea.
Good luck with your new arriva.

Oh yes, the journey home! Lots of cleaning materials unless the breeder is considerate and gotten the pup used to the car.

Thanks everyone. Im very much looking forward to bringing our Westie home and am certain she'll be a great member of the family.

The breeder has her in a bed and nothing distorted so fingers crossed we'll be right with that. We've researched the breeder very well & our pup comes from a strong line of healthy Westies, of course we will insure her though, as we would any breed.

thanks again!

My beautiful boy westie never had a days illness until the day he died aged 14.
His coat was lovely as well and we never had him hand stripped, just clipped every eight weeks or so.

It doesn't automatically follow that westie = skin conditions etc.

Define 'lovely'?
Because a Westie coat should be typical terrier - harsh and wiry.

Clipping turns it soft and thick.
And with that softness you lose waterproofing, make it more likely to matt and can cause hot spots and itching.

because they are so popular and greedy breeding has flourished, quite a few westies have the incorrect coat (not wiry) and these cant be hand stripped.

But a properly bred westie with the correct coat really should be hand stripped.

I'd be fascinated to see your evidence for not hand stripping leading to skin problems. Can you reference this for me please?

Hand stripping is marvellous for a dog you are showing but unnecessary for a pet.

Our first dog was also a Westie and yes, yes to the insurance. Major hip problems in first year but now a valued member of the family. We've been firm with her though and she will not set foot in the sitting room or ever go up the stairs. They're smart little dogs and with lots of treats for training can become very well mannered and not take over. Have fun.

I completely and utterly disagree that it's unnecessary for a pet.
It's the way to look after that specific type of coat.

You wouldn't shave a double coated dog like a border collie for instance because it would expose all the undercoat making the dog likely to overheat and tangle.

No different with a wire breed, the coarse guard hair is there for a reason.

Yes, yes yes to insurance. Pet Plan lifetime insurance with no limit would be best.

Our westie had a slight skin rash when we took him to the vets for his first check up (he was 2, we took him on from another family). I started to mention it and the vet held up her hand and said 'I'm sorry, I don't have time to talk about that sort of thing this time. Make sure you get him insured as you leave and if you feel there is any issue you can book an appointment for 3 weeks time (in other words, as the insurance would be valid).

So, we insured him as we left the vet, then 3 weeks later, took him to see her. Various treatments didn't really help, so they sent blood for testing in Texas (we're in the UK) and he was allergic to about 22 things. Because he was insured, they were able to do a desensitisation programme with various injections each day. It cost a huge amount but the insurance paid out without fail and without us having to do a thing - the vet did it all.

ekcgrooming.com/2014/02/23/8-reasons-why-not-to-shave-your-dog/

www.janedogs.com/clipping-versus-hand-stripping/

groomblog.blogspot.co.uk/2007/11/hand-stripping-your-pet-terrier.html?m=1

I've read the blogs you provide, none of which provide any scientific fact. I could write a blog or two arguing the sky was purple. I can google blogs to suit my arguments as well as you....

www.abbeygrooming.co.uk/stripping-vs-clipping.html
www.handstripping.com/

What it boils down to is where are the facts? Where is the scientific comparison of occurrence of skin problems in clipped versus hand stripped dogs? Where is the controlled study? And then take into account that a Westie is more predisposed to skin issues anyway.

This can even lead to skin problems. Says one blog. can not does.

For most owners hand stripping, whilst I agree can be preferable, is hard to come by and expensive in comparison to a standard groomer. Just because a dog is clipped it doesn't automatically follow that they will have skin problems.

My westie was fine. I'm part of a dog walking group with a dozen clipped westies, all of which are free from skin issues (though a couple have sensitive stomachs). Again though, this is incidental. Until I see a proper, controlled study which proves clipping is bad I shall continue to have my very healthy, lovely skinned Scottish Terrier clipped.

You don't need a scientific study, any good groomer will tell you that a considerably higher proportion of clipped terriers have hot spots/eczema and itchy skin as a result and Matt easily owing to the fact that most clipped coats are mostly undercoat, thick and wooly.

Who would a scientific study benefit?
There are plenty of scientific studies claiming bakers is great and virtually no studies proving the benefit in a more natural diet.
But anyone who has fed their dog bakers then switched to raw will have likely noticed huge improvements.

And you don't need a groomer to hand strip either.
It's VERY easy to do at home

Any any good groomer will equally tell you it's not necessary.

Of course you need a scientific study, it's just words otherwise isn't it? It proves absolutely nothing. It boils down to the fact that you can't actually prove to me legitimately that clipping a dog causes skin problems. You can show me blogs written by some randoms on the internet but again that doesn't prove anything.

We can go round in circles all day. You can show me a dozen blogs to back up your argument and I can show you a dozen to back up mine but at the end of the day there is no proof either way.

As for being very easy to do at home. Yes, I'm sure it is with a lively young dog, no grooming table and several hours to spare when you work and have family as well. Yes I'm sure thats so much easier than dropping the dog off at the groomers every 2 months.

I would not view any groomer who advocates clipping a wire coat 'good' personally. Ever.
Lazy or inexperienced or naive perhaps. Not good.

But my point is that reliable scientific studies are generally carried out by big companies with something to gain (because it costs a lot and no small company could ever finance it)
Who would benefit in this situation?
No one.
Hence why no studies have been done.

That's why there are plenty of studies for nestle, proctor and gamble, veterinary medicine etc but virtually nil for aromatherapy or acupuncture or homeopathy or natural feeding.
The lack of 'proof' doesn't automatically make it false if you have enough people who have seen with their own eyes.

You just have them on your lap of an evening and gently strip out the dead hair.
That's all.
You don't need a table, or hours and hours.

You advocate it, I get that. I don't believe it's necessary and I have the same right to that opinion.

The lack of 'proof' that clipping does no harm doesn't automatically make it false if you have enough people who have seen with their own eyes either.

And round in circles we go.

Ooo, well done, New we have a westie, now a year old. She is a total diva but she rocks my world

I can only speak for us, and there are real experts on here, but the useful stuff for us is,

Crate- she still sleeps in it at night and she is a year old, with cushions and vet bed to be cosy (nice to have somewhere safe to put her early on)

Bed for naps, we have a small ovis one, it is awesome,

www.orvis.co.uk/p/wraparound-dog-bed/2am5

Brush, comb, hair scissors for cobby bits- we brush her once a day and take her to have her hair cut every 8 weeks or so. Could never get the hang of stripping..with a cut her hair stays very soft.

Dishes for water and food. Metal ones last.

Food- she came from the breeders with Purina, but Millies Wolfheart (Salmon and countryside mix combo) is ace.

Within weeks of having her, she had a skin/ear infection, vet injection/cream cleared it up, we wash her in Malaseb once a fortnight (from the vets), and that and the salmon in her diet seems to keep the skin healthy.

Toys! Westies love 'shake and kill' games, so tough things that squeak, and that can stand a lot of pulling..Kong toys last well.

Pet insurance. You never know. We did this scheme through pets at home for monthly worming drops/tapeworm tablet. It was useful to take her on this regular basis so's the vet nurse could weigh her and check her over- it reassured me. Don't know if I would do it for another year though

collar, lead, harness, safety harness for the car- We bought a travel crate but she hates it.

Have fun, be patient, kind and gentle. I couldn't be without Hoochydog now