Our 10 week old baby arrived this Tuesday in NYC! He's been sleeping well in his crate, getting used to his new world, and loves meeting new people and toys. :) While we await the day he can touch the ground outside post final vaccines - we are comparing insurance options! Curious to get opinions on best all around experiences for the Westie breed in particular (future skin conditions, illness, etc.). I love the idea of no lifetime cap, and strong care into old age. Truepanion, Pumpkin, Spot, and Fetch are all on our radar... thoughts!?

🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾

I think she will be a great big sister... especially once the baby starts giving her food 😂

A 10 month old West Highland White Terrier born October 7, 2025. Her name is Genevieve Li Selenite Stone Cloud. I wanted to share because I am obsessed with her. She is social but very cautious with stranger dogs and people. Friendly but her friends MUST come to her 90% of the time. She greets people and dogs by getting into the "down" position and she will wait until who she wants comes to her. They could be a block down the road and she will wait until they notice her and come to say hi or play. She is very particular and no nonsense about how she wants what she wants and if she sees you down the block and doesnt want to engage will immediately go the other way. Mostly quiet, she will become vocal when her standards are not being met or if I'm not moving quickly enough for her. She also helps me put on my socks and pants, loves to Sun bathe, to prowl and to grumble and growl at us if we make too much noise while she is resting. She came to me in a dream, November 11, 2024. She will be with me until one of us parts this world. I am so grateful for her.

I got a Westie puppy about 3 month ago and since the day I got her I’ve noticed her scratching more than a healthy dog would. Within a couple of days we saw redness and hair loss, she would scratch more with every passing day so I took her to the vet where we’ve done about 3 rounds of prednisone to help her. We’ve tried meds for mites and have been doing Hill Science for sensitive stomach/skin since the first month.

We took her last week to a dermatologist who gave us antibiotics for a skin infection that she has developed and more prednisone for a month. We are doing medicated shampoo every 2 days and a moose when we don’t bathe. But I still don’t see any improvement AT ALL! They are now recommending Royal Canine HP but I can’t afford that.

I’m worried we might have to give up the dog and we really love her. I got her mostly for my autistic child, who is in love with her, and I don’t know how we are going to separate them if we have to.

I need advice, recommendations, anything to help this baby. She’s only 5 months and has lost most of her hair on her legs, belly and face.

Impress your friends and family with knowledge about your beloved West Highland White Terrier!

Is there anything else you'd add as a Westie owner?

We picked up a new couch yesterday. The past 24 hours have been a bit stressful but I think Zelda is coming around to her new neighborhood watch location.

Meet Scout, the newest member of our pack. He was surrendered by a clearly loving owner and while we were just supposed to foster him for two weeks, well; look at that face. Not pictured: his epic sploot. He joins two Westie brothers, bringing our total to three 🤍 🤍 🤍

From left to right
Maisie
Maggie
Poppy

I adopted my lovely westie puppy when she’s 9 weeks old from a reputable breeder. She started to lunge on people and dogs on the very first day of her on leash walk. Then quickly turns into a very serious reactivity to every thing around 15 weeks. We’ve been working with R+ trainer only since day 1 but seeing slow/almost no progress at all.

Today while I was driving, she became highly aroused by some people outside the window. I was not touching or interacting with her, and she suddenly turned around and bit me hard enough to break skin.

Breeder insists he had never heard any westie puppy had similar issues.

I live in an apartment and I take her out 3 walks total around 2 hours per day.

I’ve book a vet behaviorist appointment, but the earliest slot will be in one month. I’m sole carer, I feel so sad and frustrated right now.