Socializing Your New Puppy

 Puppies go through a critical period of socialization between 8 and 16 weeks of age. During this period of time they mature very rapidly. If isolated from external stimuli and not exposed to the outside world, they can grow up to be fearful adult dogs. How do we get our puppies socialized so they grow up to be well-adjusted, adult dogs that are comfortable meeting strangers, children and other dogs? The key is to make sure your puppy gets exposed to everything he may ever be exposed to during his lifetime, while he is very young. If not exposed to new situations during this critical period, your puppy may always be fearful when exposed to new things in the future.

Westie and Scotty Puppy Care What to expect the First Year.
When in any doubt call a vet immediately. It costs nothing to speak with them on the phone, and very little for a check-up. BE SAFE – NOT SORRY!

Housetraining Your Pup
First things first! Remember when your parents rubbed your new puppy’s nose in the mess when it had an accident in the house or swatted at it with a newspaper for some misdeed? Punishment or force training is not a good technique. Housetraining comes down to one simple skill: being a good doggy time manager.

Westie and Scotty Characteristics
Westies and Scotties make wonderful pets for many reasons. They are smart, courageous, and alert, which makes them very good watch dogs. They are super house dogs, and are relatively small. They can hear noises that are too high-pitched for human ears. They have a powerful sense of smell. They can also be alarm clocks! China wakes me every morning at 7:00 AM for our first nature call of the day.

What To Expect In Your Pup’s First Year
Our moms receive tremendous care every day, but especially during the days before and after whelping a litter of pups. We are with them every step of the way. For the first few weeks the pup’s whole world consists of his mom’s quite, nurturing warmth and the close comfort of littermates. 

Your Westie/Scotty needs many things in his life. He needs love, respect, and lots of attention. He will soon realize that you want what is best for him. When you need to be away from home, your Westie may spend quite a lot of time on his own. Part of your training must be keeping him occupied during the times he is alone. Westies love toys! They all love squeaky ducks, teddy bears, balls, and monsters from the deep. They love them all. There are a lot of toys that can keep their teeth in good health. Products like Nylabone keep them busy for hours while exercising their jaw and keeping their teeth clean.

Remember, if a toy is not safe for your toddler, it’s not safe for your Westie/Scotty. Eyes that can be removed and swallowed, or fur from a stuffed animal, are not suitable. Endoscopic surgery to remove a foreign object is expensive.