WESTIES AND CHILDREN

I have been involved in Westie rescue since 1991 which has taught me that at best it is a 50/50 chance whether a Westie will do well in a home with young children. A lot depends on the temperament of the dog, a good portion depends on the temperament of the children, the amount of time the parents spend supervising the arrangement, and the amount of time the parents spend training both dog and children to interact with one another. Over the years, the majority of Westies that have been surrendered to me for fostering and training have been surrendered due to a bite to a child, and not always the child the dog lived with.

There is a world of difference between a Westie doing well with visiting children, even children who visit on a daily basis, and living with children 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Even Westies who are raised with children can have moments where they are unable to cope with the noise, activity level, toddler meltdowns, teen and preteen tantrums, and general stress of it all. For Westies who can't cope, the temperament will begin to change; sometimes gradually, sometimes suddenly. With some of the rescues I've fostered, it isn't uncommon to hear that the dog began biting two years, three years, five years into the relationship.

Westies are a reactive breed, therefore it is crucial when bringing a Westie into a home with young children that the dog have a way to safely escape the children if need be. Yes, many Westies do well with children but there is no guarantee - one cannot say that across the board Westies are suitable for young children - for older, considerate children, yes.

I have been an obedience instructor for 15 years so I've worked with hundreds and hundreds of dogs and their owners, and after speaking with many breeders and breed fanciers, I compiled a list of breeds that I'm told do very well with young children: Beagles (one of my favorite), Basset Hound, Bearded Collie, Bernese Mountain Dog, Boxer, Brittany Spaniel, Bulldog, Cesky terrier, English Cocker Spaniel, Finnish Spitz, the retrievers - Lab, Golden, Curly Coated, Flat Coated, and Chesapeake Bay, French Bulldog, German Shepherds, Ibizan Hound, Irish Setter, Keeshond, Old English Sheepdog, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, Pharaoh Hound, Portuguese Water dog, Pug, Samoyed, Vizla, Welsh Springer Spaniel.

There are a few others, large breeds such as the Deerhound, Wolfhound, Newfoundland, but most folks are not looking for a giant breed. You may notice that there are very few small dogs listed - Beagle, Cesky Terrier, French Bulldog and Pug. It may sound odd but generally speaking the larger the breed the more gentle and tolerant of little children, the smaller the breed the least tolerant. With any breed you still must supervise child and dog.

Bear in mind that it isn't just 'your' children the dog must accept but the playmates of your children as well. Not all children are taught to 'be nice' around other animals, and while your children may abide by the rules, there is no guarantee their friends will.

Any puppy you bring into the house is going to need the same amount of attention and time that a child requires. There is house training to consider, obedience and good manners skills to work on, veterinary care and grooming.

The Westie is by no means a low maintenance dog. It is not a 'wash n' go' breed. Westies require brushing daily, professional grooming every few weeks or months, depending on what you have done, and the breed can be prone to allergies and skin problems which can lead to unexpected and steep vet bills, sometimes requiring a special diet that you can't just pick up at the local grocery store. Westies are barky so neighbor consideration is a must.

While I adore my breed, they aren't for everyone. And though I think Beagles are terrific, they have their drawbacks too. Beagles like to take a scent and keep going, they are, after all, a scent hound. It's easy to lose a Beagle.

Westies were bred to work away from humans, to be independent and courageous enough to do their job on their own which is why they are perceived as hard-headed and strong-willed. Westies are highly trainable but will still choose to chase a squirrel over coming when called. Come when called, by the way, is not an innate behaviour, it is a learned behaviour. The dog must be taught the command.

French Bulldogs (known as dependably amiable of all the breeds) and Pugs (known to be peaceful with all the world), despite their appearance, are absolutely wonderful, cheerful, relatively quiet companion dogs who love nothing more than to be with their people. Short coated breeds do shed, and shed a lot, but a quick brushing with a bristle brush or hound glove takes care of that.

A shelter dog is always a possibility, though with shelter dogs you don't always know what you are getting or their background. Still some of the best relationships begin at an animal shelter.

Jane Fink
Greyfaire Kennel
Email: Greyfaire@aol.com
website: www.westiewisdom.com