I had suggested waiting for Spring to get a puppy because of the weather and I knew we would be in and out every time we turned around. I know Bill was really impressed with this little dog the first time we saw it because Obie was pretty calm. We did walk away from him and even looked other places and then went back a week later and Bill said if he was still there then we’d get him since they had dropped the price and he was still there he figured Obie was meant for us.
Well, he is a nice little guy, but I’m fricking tired and my bones are getting old and cold. What crappy weather to housebreak a puppy in. If it’s not snow and ice then it’s raining and he does make a bunch of mistakes even though I’m using a crate and watch him like a hawk when he’s out, he’s pretty darn quick. Of course unless I catch him in the act it does no good to scold him. I need to teach him how to let me know when he needs to go out, we haven’t gotten that far yet.
I had forgotten how much work and responsibility it takes to have a well mannered and behaved housebroken companion. I am finding it difficult training because of Sadie and I feel guilty that she isn’t getting the same attention, but she already knows all this stuff. With Shadow I used a shaker can with coins in it to curb his bad behavior, but I can’t use that with Obie because Sadie thinks I’m punishing her for something.
We are also socializing Obie so we have been taking him in the Jeep and yesterday we took him for a short ride on the trike to get him use to the noise and the new adventure, he did very well all snuggled up in my jacket. We plan on getting a carrier for the trike so we can take him with us and there again we feel guilty leaving Sadie behind, but it’s something we’ll just have to get over and so will she because it’s what Bill wants. He wanted to take Shadow, but he was just to big and so is Sadie.
I also know it’s confusing for a pup when both people and everyone else in your household do not use the same commands. I think when one person can do the training and make sure the little pup knows what is required then it really doesn’t matter what anyone else says when they’re older they seem to just realize once they are on a schedule. I bought all natural small treats to help with the basic training like sit, up, and down, but there again Sadie thinks she’s suppose to join in the training and get the same treats.
They also recommended Royal Canin33 puppy food since that’s what they were feeding him and he was pooping all over the place and lots of it, yuck talk about smelly, but when I checked about Westies it said they were prone to allergies and shouldn’t have food with beef, wheat, and corn so we changed him to Nature’s Recipe and I didn’t have to search all the labels everything I needed to know was right on the front of the package and believe me it’s made a big difference he doesn’t poop as often and not as much when he does and it doesn’t stink as bad.
I can feed this as a puppy, adult, and senior. I’m sure there are many great brands out there, but so far so good with this one so I’ll stick with it and only natural treats and carrots. I’m learning a lot about this breed and I love the fact that there’s very little shedding and very low dander which is great since Bill has asthma. Well, I need to go see what the little brat is into now, he has mastered the stairs with those little short legs and cracks me up going down, first the front paws then the back ones sideways until he gets to the bottom few then either takes them head on or jumps the rest.
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