Puppies

Puppies are lovingly hand-raised in our home, well-socialized, and handled numerous times daily. At 3-1/2 to 4 weeks we let them start to explore our home, and at 6 weeks (weather permitting) we start taking them outside to play. They are trained to use pee pads in their pen, and we’ve received reports back that the pups are a good part of the way to being housebroken by the time they go to their new homes at 8 weeks.

Our litters are AKC Registered, and puppies come with limited registration unless the exceptional puppy can be matched to the exceptional owner.

Please note that we do not ship our puppies, so please do not ask. One pup from Stella’s first litter did fly back to Alaska in the cabin with her new mom. Airfare is a bargain right now, and would likely be much cheaper for many folks anyway, not to mention much more healthy and less risky for the pups.

Instead of rewriting some of the great information out on the web, we’ve included some of our favorite links below.

Food: We recommend raw feeding, whether it’s Prey-model (Raw Meaty Bones) or BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) on at least some level. Even feeding half your pet’s meals raw provides a huge benefit. Our adult dogs get a mix of both. There are so many websites on the topic, and even arguments about which is better. For information on raw feeding, see the links on this page.

  • The Honest Kitchen – Puppies are slowly weaned onto this dehydrated raw food (Embark) mixed with homemade goat’s milk formula starting at 4 weeks. We feel that raw feeding is the healthiest for our pups (and yours) and starts them out with the greatest advantage and healthiest immune system.
  • The Dog Food Project – A great source of information for owners who choose to feed kibble. We strongly recommend grain-free, and introduce the puppies to Taste of the Wild: Canine Wetlands to make the transition easier.
  • DogFoodAnalysis.com – Another good site for researching kibble. Uses a star rating system (1 through 6). Taste of the Wild (Wetlands) and Orijen (several varieties) are both top-rated (6 stars), and the foods we recommend to owners who choose kibble.

Training and Obedience: For Westies and other terrier breeds, obedience training is vitally important. Terriers can be head-strong, and without training, a household can quickly become run by the canine family member. Classes also provide important socialization, but the links below include some very helpful information.

  • Dog Star Daily – A virtual textbook of puppy training that is extremely comprehensive. Without a doubt, the most complete website on this topic that we’ve discovered.
  • Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) – For hands-on instruction, search by zip for certified dog trainers in your area.
  • ClickerLessons.com – Information on clicker training, which is particularly effective with Westies (or any other terriers).

Health and Grooming:

  • The FURminator – Although Westies don’t shed in the way most dogs do, they do lose hairs. The FURminator is helpful for removing that soft undercoat and any dead hairs. Using this regularly on your puppy will also help the transition between the fluffy puppy coat and the hard terrier coat, as they will shed that puppy coat.
  • Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth – This is a natural dewormer (remains of ancient single cell plant matter) that is safe and effective, as well as inexpensive. I’ve linked to one of the most informative sites. It is not absorbed by mammals, but rather, works in a purely mechanical manner. It generally runs around $10 a pound and is added to a pet’s food daily during the course of treatment. Adult dogs, as well as pups, should be dewormed occasionally. Amazing stuff with so many uses!
  • Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) – This is a very recent and exciting discovery. Adding a teaspoon to food or water daily helps to remove beard stains, improve coat, and provides an abundance of other health benefits (too many to list here). For more information, see the post here.