We’ve had Obie going on 3 months now and the only time he has barked (which sounds like a huge dog bark) is when he wants Sadie to chase him. I’ve never heard him growl until the other night, except when he sees his image or reflection in something.

Bill bought me a little book about Westies so I could understand the breed better. I have his little bed sitting beside my chair and he usually comes over and curls up in it. I decided I’d flip through the book so sat down and crossed my leg, which happened to be over his bed.

He came over to lay down and the next thing I hear is him growling and backing up so I figured he was growling at my leg hovering over his bed. I laid down the book and moved my leg and he came over and laid down. So I resumed my perusal of the book and kept my leg on the floor.

He jumped out of his bed and started growling again and backing away and I was totally bemused and couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him. I looked around to figure out the problem and decided he was just nuts so I picked up the book again and the growling got intense when he saw the book.

I turned it over and saw that face on the front and held it up and he backed away so fast that I cracked up when I realized he had been frightened of that picture. I had a blast for about 10 minutes teasing him with it before I decided to quieten down his nerves, yes I know I’m mean.

He now knows it’s not a real dog that is threatening him and I can now pick up the book and read without him going ballistic. This little guy is very entertaining.

Tags: growling, westie book