[Closed] I'm getting a puppy! Scottie Westie cross.

Dogs for pensioners no? 😛

He he possibly, I like the vintage/heritage look that's on trend.

I've got a couple of westie's.

Keep them active and slim. They are not groomed with the daft "skirts" and stuff, look a lot rougher and more terrier like.

They are both extremely friendly with other dogs and people, although one doesn't like children, he actually avoids them, the other will go to anyone.

They are pretty clever but not that trainable, although if you had more patience and skill than me you may have more success.

I used to take them on the Mendips with my bike they were fine following, although not that disciplined and I wouldn't try it on busy routes.

Not my first choice, the Mrs chose the breed and I just was happy to have a dog but now I think they are ace little dogs. Tough, smart and friendly make great pets.

Just to be the gloom merchant a slight word of warning on Westies (we have one) and they can be prone to "conditions" ours has the following:
Bad skin ( needs medicated shampoo)
Bad ears (needs regular cleaning and trips to vets to get medication drops etc)
Bad eyes (does not produce tears , common in white dogs?) needs regular cleaning or special drops
Allergies of all types.

Over the last 15 years we have spent a fortune on him and now the insurance isn't worth paying (so we don't)

He's a lovely little fella to be fair and great with the kids and cats and doesn't need to much walking but the ailments have been a real grind considering we had a mongrel for 16 years and never took him to the vets till the bitter end.
Not sure about scotties but I would imagine they are similar?
Any like I said, sorry to be a doom monger but these are the facts.

donks - sorry to hear about your little fellas problems.

I think that a westie/scottie cross should solve some of the common westie problems. As I understand it the westie issues are caused by the overbreeding of a near albino breed,

1 of our dogs had a few skin problems when he was younger and we were prescribed the steroid cream from the vets. I was wary of this as I was aware that it can actually thin the skin with prolonged use. A bulldog breeder gave me a tip of using Sudocreme instead, it cleared up almost immediately. He is much more sensitive than the other and has had an ear infection and scratches a lot more. I keep an eye on him and watch his diet.

we had two westies when I was a kid over different periods with about 6 years overlap.
two very different dogs.
one was non-pedigree, strongest of the litter, looked like a classic westie (skirts and all) he was a playful puppy, bright, athletic, friendly until he was about 10 and then he gradually got grumpier and snappier over the next 4 years, probably because of his bad back and legs (another ailment of the breed), then he went really soft, but also a bit mental (used to sit in the corner and stare at the walls) then blind, then his back legs packed in when he was 17. Old dog.
The other one was a pedigree, but with long legs and a long nose, totally daft as a brush and loved everyone and everything (apart from the postman), lived until he was about 14 when his back legs packed in.

I think a critical thing with them is to watch them with children and don't tease them too much as they'll only take so much and then snap, literally.

Thanks for the replies.

Sorry to hear you had problems with your westie, I was after the good & bad accounts of the breeds so I don't see you as a bearer if bad news.

Our pup is mostly black with a bit of gold/brown. I will add some photos. I'm visiting again to take him a toy tomorow.

Just to be the gloom merchant a slight word of warning on Westies (we have one) and they can be prone to "conditions"

Aye, the in-laws had Molly, a pedigree Westie who had a Crufts champ in her blood line, and she had two (pedigree) pups, Annie and Rupert.

Molly died at age 11 of cancer. She'd had a lump develop on her paw pad, turned out to be cancerous, she had a few months of relatively good health before going downhill.

A few years later, Annie was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was removed and she was given the all clear. But Rupert was diagnosed with Cushings disease, and was a bit lethargic. Surprisingly, Annie died first at the age of 11 - she was fine in the morning, went for her walk, then my mother-in-law found her dead in the afternoon. Rupert went downhill and died a few months later, on the day he was due to be put down at the vets. 🙁

They all had ear problems (Molly went deaf) and skin problems (particularly Rupert). My friend's Westie has skin problems too.

That said, they were lovely, lovely natured dogs - each with their own personality - Molly was bossy, Annie was a softie, Rupert would pretend to be bossy but was actually a massive coward! Well, I say Annie was a softie, she was very, very gentle, unless you were a) a small furry mammal or a bird, or b) a vet.

I imagine you'll be a lot better off with the pup you're getting than a pedigree Westie!

PS: PHOTOS.

I like the vintage/heritage look that's on trend.

I like the vintage/heritage look that's on trend.

You bought a dog because it looks 'on trend'?

A tongue in cheek response to a tongue in cheek comment.

My westie is 9 and has already had his cruciate ligament done at a cost of £1400 and suffers terribly from eczema, keep a very carefull eye on his skin especially on and around the change in seasons, spring and autumn.

Here is a few years ago
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I've got 2 Westies.. Esme & Eric..

Great characters, the pair of them..

Es was the runt of the litter, & never really grew- she's 3 now, and smaller than most cats.. But what she lacks in size, she makes up for in feist..

Eric is a lot more laid back, and just takes everything in his stride..

Great fun, they love their time in the fells, love swimming & love camping!!

Enjoy..

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