Westies and kids? Found one at NSAL

So I just adopted a Westie at NSAL. I spent a long time with the dog and my 2.5 year old daughter. There were two NSAL behaviorists/trainers there who observed them interacting for at least 30 minutes (maybe closer to an hour). The dog is about 2 years old and was turned in by a young woman who moved to California. About six different people from NSAL commented how well the dog and my daughter interacted.

So now I am home and reading that Westies aren't great dogs for children. Clearly, I should have read this when I was at NSAL. Does anyone have any personal insight? The dog seemed very sociable however, my daughter's safety is my absolute priority.

Message edited 10/17/2012 2:11:45 PM.

Re: Westies and kids? Found one at NSAL

From my personal experience, I find most smaller dogs to be not so great with kids. Smaller dogs always seem kinda yippy and jealous to me, so I think that's where it comes from. That being said, I try not to focus too much on the breed itself- it's only one factor in their behavior. All you can do for now is watch them together and see how the interact. It's a great sign that they were good together at North Shore, especially since this dog is not a puppy.

Now, I'm going to tell you my horror story and I don't want it to get you upset. I just want people to realize that NSAL's "behaviorists" are mostly volunteers and do not necessarily know ANYTHING about dogs and breeds and what not.

When I was about 15/16 (my brother and sister were 6 and 7 at the time) we went to adopt a dog at NSAL as a family. We had a German Shepherd mix before who had passed away about a year before and so when we saw a GS mix there, we were instantly drawn to her. She was so cute and fluffy and played really well with all of us in the training room. We spoke to an NSAL staff member and asked about the dog. They told us she was a German Shepherd and Chow mix which was evident by her purple tongue. We knew nothing about dogs other than we liked them (our first dog was found abandoned and we took her in) so we trusted the NSAL worker when she said she'd be a great family dog. Obviously, this was wrong. Chows are notoriously bad with families, particularly families with children. Chows are better for a single person or a couple as they get very attached and very protective of their owner. My brother and sister were both bitten on the face within the first year and a half of having Ursa. We couldn't keep her and had to give her up to a rescue.

Now the reason I say not to worry just yet is because unlike Ursa, your dog is older. They've kind of developed their personality already. Ursa was just 10 weeks old when we adopted her and became aggressive when she got older. I would still watch them closely for the first few weeks and make note of any sign of aggression. Now, we've done lotss of reading up about dog breeds and how it relates to their personality and health. With that, my parents adopted two collies, one who passed 2 years ago, and they couldn't have been happier. They are really the sweetest dogs!

Re: Westies and kids? Found one at NSAL

On the whole, terriers aren't good with kids. BUT...every dog is different. If the dog interacted well with your DC already, in a new environment, overwhelming environment such as NSAL, odds are the dog is a very good natured dog. I would not be worried b/c most dogs will react poorly when under stress and being in a shelter is a VERY stressful situation.

BUT....if you are going to think about it daily, then honestly I would take the dog back asap so it can have a quick chance at a new home isntead of getting comfortable in your home only to be brought back to a shelter again, kwim? Only you can answer that but if you in your gut feels you will never trust the dog after reading that generalization, the dog should go back and asap.

Do I think it needs to? No way. The dog would likely have shown it's true colors under such stress as being with new people in a shelter. But you always must know that ANY dog, is capable of acting uncharacterististic of themselves at any point...that's an animal for you. It's ALWAYS a chance you take with a pet, and I think that mere chance is all you are looking at. But only you can decide. Again, if you feel you will always have that what if, small voice in your head, please do the poor baby a favor and bring him/her back to the shelter to find a new forever home asap.

Re: Westies and kids? Found one at NSAL

my parents westie just passed away at 19 years old. She was not good with kids at all. We got her when we were all teenagers though so she wasn't raised with babies.

Re: Westies and kids? Found one at NSAL

I think it depends on the dog. My college roomie has two younger siblings. They all grew up with their westie (mr tuffy). I had the pleasure of meeting him before he passed away and he was very, very sweet and my college roomie would talk about how they would all tug his tail and wrestle with him and he was always great.

She loves the breed so much that when we graduated and she got her own place, she got a westie. :) the westie she has now is actually the most laid back out of our group of dogs. Between her, her sister (they live together), our other college friend, and me and DH, there are 5 dogs. The westie is the best behaved! DD has met him the last time we visited my friend and he mostly ignored her

I would say to give it a chance, with tight supervision of course.

Re: Westies and kids? Found one at NSAL

Westies and kids? Found one at NSAL

I have a yorkshire terrier who is very good with my 15mo DS. My step-brothers grew up with a Westie, Lucy, who was a great dog with kids.

I think the individual dog is more important than the breed and remember, no matter what dog/breed, kids should be supervised around pets.

Re: Westies and kids? Found one at NSAL

We have a jack russell terrier. If you read their personality description, it is very similar to that of a westie. We got Murphy 4 years before DS was even a twinkle in our eyes.

Murphy is AMAZING with our son and DS is NOT gentle or really even nice to him. I always joke that if I were Murphy, I would have bit DS 1000000 times already but no. Murphy has never even snarled or nipped or anything ever!

Every dog is different and my jack russell does NOT in any way, shape or form reflect the general description of a terrier.

So I would look at YOUR dog as an individual and how he/she works in your family.

Good luck!

Westies and kids? Found one at NSAL

every dog is different, they have personalities just like us. If he's fine with your DD than don't worry just praise him for being a good dog :)

Re: Westies and kids? Found one at NSAL