What Food
Choose a dry food intended specifically for puppies, avoiding generic foods and those that sell for unusually low prices. Many things that owners look for, such as high protein levels and extra vitamins, are more likely to be harmful than helpful. We use NUTRO NATURAL CHOICE for our pups and adult dogs. Another good one is PERFORMANCE. Both are all natural and good for dogs that have a tendency to have allergies. Never feed your Westie dog food or treats that have wheat, corn, or beef. Many Westies are allergic to these food items. Do not give them bones of any kind. The bone can splinter and lodge in their throat or puncture their stomach.

How Often
Offer food to young puppies three times a day. After 5-6 months you can feed twice a day. Even adult dogs should have their food split into morning and evening feedings. Let your puppy eat and after 15 – 20 minutes remove the food dish. Having food continually available encourages overeating and chubby puppies are more likely to have weight problems later in life.

People Food
Do not give your pup people food! If you start with a balanced diet and add goodies from the table, you won’t have a balanced diet anymore, and your puppy will have more digestive trouble. Even treats should be used sparingly and don’t let them become an important part of the diet. If you plan to change your pup’s diet from our plan, be sure to change them over slowly, using your new food in small portions and increasing each day for 8-10 days so there will be no digestive problems. Their little stomachs are very sensitive! Remember, there are other good foods on the market. We feel Nutro Natural Choice is the best because we have no food allergies with our dogs. Whatever you use, be sure it has no wheat, corn, or beef. That applies to treats also!

Raw Hide Chews
You should watch carefully if you give your puppy raw hide chews. They should always be the “big” ones so that it takes a long time to get a small piece in their mouth. A Westie/Scotty can get small pieces stuck in their throat and the raw hide can wear a hole through the esophagus. The chews become soft and can also get stuck in the roof of the mouth. We do not allow our dogs to have pig ears and raw hides. They like to swallow “things.