Hello All! I'm new here... these are my babies

Thank you! They are my 4 monkeys. Naughty and Loveable!

My Westie is 1 year old.. and her name is Heidi. Naughty girl and loves attention. She is very adorable and strong!

Oh yeah, got Heidi from Zack, Pet Safari in Aug 08 @ RM2k. Just collected her cert yesterday

At work now... will upload her photos 2moro.

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Added on May 21, 2009, 2:37 pmSuggest that you take your doggie to another vet for a second opinion... just to clear out the medical issues. Then, tackle the emotional (confidence) issue...

This post has been edited by teaspoon.t: May 21 2009, 02:37 PM

Yes, they are siblings!

I got Heidi on 30th August 08. She was the only female westie puppy and the most active. I saw the litter on the 29th August... after some thought I got her the following day.

Pets comes with giving a lot of TLC, attention and responsibilities.

Please dog proof your house... read some articles about it... you can google it. Example

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1..._your_home.html

Also, give your doggie a chew chew toy... each time s/he starts to chew something ie your clothes/shoes,homework,newspaper/wallet etc, dont shout at them (cause you may encourage them to do it behind your back) but immediately take the item away and replace it with his/her chew chew toy. Also note: Raw hide is meant for chewing and not to be swallowed by doggies. If you doggie swallow it, may cause digestion problems. Once the hide is soft, remove it. (Suggestion: Let you doggie chew on carrots, cored apples etc. healthier and cleans teeth)

If they chew on furnitures (eg table leg), rub tiger balm/vicks on it and let them smell the tiget balm/vicks on your fingers, they dont like the eucalyptus smell.... he he he...

Dog-proof your house, dont leave items lying around for your doggie to chew... the only things lying on the floor should be your doggie and his toys.

This post has been edited by teaspoon.t: May 22 2009, 03:11 PM

Ha ha! I gave me Maltese a Westie haircut sometime back.... this is Sebastien with the westie haircut.




More pictures of Heidi

Ha ha! Yes! Sebastien is very very cheeky!

She is a sweetheart!

There are a lot of puppies / doggies looking for a home and love.... they are available for adoption...

There is a beautiful shihtzu girl looking for home, 2 westies playmates looking for love and attention.... telomians looking for a chance to have a home in exchange of unconditional love....

http://www.petfinder.my/

My Heidi's ears perked up much later in her puppyhood... read that westie puppies have floppy ears... and will perk up when they grow..

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Added on July 14, 2009, 12:33 pmHello! Which groomer you send your little darling to? Heidi goes to Pet Safari (Adrian) and sometimes YeeLee (freelance). I know Seapark Pet Supplies used to have group of groomer that does a very good job for westies... but they left.. anybody have their contact details?

This post has been edited by teaspoon.t: Jul 14 2009, 12:33 PM

When is the next grooming do for the westie? What about other breeds like shih-tzu and maltese? hehehe..

My Ping-Ping used to eat her own pee/poo as well when she was younger…. Then I realized:-

1. I got her for a petshop… as a puppy, she thinks eat, pee.poo, sleep on the same spot is alright

2. Ping was the only doggie at that time and when I go to work, she will be home alone

3. Ping have separation anxiety

4. I gave her more treats and food… that makes her poo more… and more poo to eat

5. I used to scold or smack her bumbum when she eats her pee/poo… then she stops doing it when I am around but will do it when I go to work…. Ie doing things behind my back…

6. Then, I spoke to Ping’s trainer…. Eating pee/poo is quite common amongst bored doggies… to avoid it, once they have pee/poo (at the right spot) immediately praise them and throw them toy (to distract them from eating the pee/poo) and clean the soiled area immediately. Beating them/scolding/shouting at your doggie after they soiled the area and going to eat the pee/poo sends them mixed messages:- In the doggie’s mind:- did I do wrong by peeing/pooing? Isn’t this is the area I am supposed to pee/poo? Remember, doggies like children are re-active creatures… ie. If I bring back the ball, I will get a treat… ie If I poo at the right spot I will get a pat/praise.

7. Train your dog with praise.

Pets are for life… they deserve the best.

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Added on September 3, 2009, 5:04 pmThe crusty ear mange is quite common amongst puppies (puppies are carriers). Ping used to have them (Yes got Ping from a petshop many moons ago). Took her to the vet, Dr Hasnul and he gave her a jab and some ointment. She is alright.

This crusty ear mange is a mild form of the mange/skin problem… common amongst puppies, puppies are carriers and can spread to adult doggies. Get it treated and it will go away.


This post has been edited by teaspoon.t: Sep 3 2009, 05:04 PM

Hello! Looks like you are having a doggie who is more than happy to be the alpha doggie! As you have mentioned, Marquis is the leader of the pack which means he is/already/expected to be the first for everything ie to be fed, right to a toy, right of path etc etc. Now you are having power struggle with Marquis. It would be very long winded post, be I would strongly recommend you to read these books... ie

1. The Other End of the Leash by Patricia B. Mc Connell (she is a an animal behaviourist and zoologist) do check out her books on amazon.com. There is a thin book on How to be the leader of the pack by her. Easy and short read.

2. Of course the infamous/commercially promoted Ceaser Millan. No pun intended, his book is ok s basic reading.

I love Patricia's book as it gives the indepth of explaination/teaching you to read what's going on with your doggies mind. And most of her writtings are applicable to humans as well... esp children. When you read her book, you will understand her love and kindness for animals.

I have the same problem with my Heidi, just turned 1 plus.... i have 4 dogs altogether, PIng2 a shihtzu/aust silky mix (alpha female), Sebastien & Tea maltese and of course, Heidi my westie.

Story short, Heidi has started to flex her power muscle to challenge Ping and me. Examples are:-

1. Barking mad when she is at the back seat of the car, and will be silent when she is at the front seat squeezing with me and Ping.

2. When I call out to Ping, Heidi will run to me to be the first to reach me and does "body block" Ping... while growling silently, head low and body is stiff... hearding Ping away from me. (This applies to food and toys as well... Heidi's treatment to to Ping.)

3. Jump onto the bed to sleep uninvited and pretended she is couldnt hear/see us when we ask her to get down (I resort to body block her when she tries to jump and she gets bounced off)

4. Heidi is a typical shoe polisher... now she literally ignores my husband as he couldn't control her. She ignores him when he calls out to her... except with food in hand.

These are some easy examples. Why Heidi does not do those to Sebastie and Tea? Cause both of them were never a contender/threat.

What I did was.....

1. Barking mad issue. Apart from addressing her need for everything first. I bought an electric collar from e-bay..... Am I cruel? You may think so, I have a westie that can bark the house down. I tried scolding (which is wrong - shouting match), putting her on timeout chair (her punishment chair ie high stool) and it does not work. Even with the bark collar, Heidi will challenge it by barking softly and slowly increasing her volume to check if it is a dummy or if it is on. I feel it is whole lot better than to whack her and have a shouting match (which she thinks it is a game).
Plus I have a neighbour with a 6 months old baby.

Anyways, the barking collar has an adjuster that controls the level of power to be used. The trick is put it to the lowest first... and work upwrds if necessary.

This is so much better than de-barking my doggies. However, the collar serves as a punishment. After 30 mins of silence, the collar is off.

2. Now Heidi seats at the back of the car WITH ME. While Ping seats at the front seat.

3. When Heidi does her body block or misbehaves, I will put her on the time out chair and ignore her for 30 mins. Ignore meaning no scolding, talking, petting etc. As if she is not around. Dogs' worst punishment is being ignored. IF you beat/scold them, it is still reinforcement, tho negative, it is reforcement.

4. Make her work for whatever she wants. Heidi paws at me when she wants attention. Sweet? But it can be bad manners ie "PAT ME NOW!"... so I will ask her so SIT (or do any other trick)... wait for 3 seconds and then pat her if she does and wait. This is to instill some patience on the doggie. And helps you to be in contro of the situation. Same goes for food etc.

5. I will do the body block when she wants to get to Ping for a challenge.

There is so much to share on this topic. There are always issue on power struggle esp when the older alpha is "stepping down" and the up and coming young brood is more than willing to take its place. In the end of the day, YOU MUST BE THE ALPHA DOG.

Oh yeah, Patricia's book also teches you to see the difference of boredom/bad manners etc by doggies.

Highly recommended.

Sorry if there are any typos... m hungry and off 4 dinner!

Hey Heidi and marquis are siblings..... i think it runs in the family!


This post has been edited by teaspoon.t: Oct 22 2009, 07:41 PM

I made a lot of mistakes and learnt the hard way for since I was a kid... I m blessed with friends who are willing to share and pets who loves me enough to let me take care of them... we are still learning.

With Marquis scratching your hand (impatience) or barking mad when you are around is already a challenge... tho he is "fighting" with Casper for TOPDOG. That's what with Heidi and PIng... and Heidi will disobey me when I scolded her for barking mad or herding PIng. I didn’t know about that initially until I read those books.... those power struggles will have to be sorted out amongst the 4-legged true... however, if the Alpha Dog (i.e. you) does not tolerate impatience/fights/barks/noise/being annoyed... they will have to respect you for that... and will not do it at all or at least stop immediately whatever nuisance they are doing.

I realist for hyperactive doggies is best to work out their energy... (Ass Ceaser Millan's book)... it can by physical exercise... and it can also be brain exercise i.e. (teach Marquis tricks) as long as it works out the doggie... they will be more 'laid back" and not so high strung. I believe Marquis, like Heidi is very keen/fast to learn and pick up tricks... with a reward in hand i.e. praise (don’t just resort to food) and also try to teach him off least tricks i.e. (you wouldn't want the dog to see the Leash as the KING of the house). There are many tricks you can teach your doggie i.e. Amazon.com have a book on 101 doggie tricks to teach your dog. (yaya... I am internet surfer/shopper).

But please do read the books I recommended, for you a dog lover, I am sure you agree that getting to know what's going on in the mind of your pets will make you understand them better and will easily correct/condition situations/your pet better, for the sake of your pet and you.

Oh yeah... also do read For The Love Of A Dog by Patricia Mc Connell (same lady). It explains about the facial expressions/body language of a dog and also the enigma of what's going on in their mind. It also explains reactions/troubled dogs that bites/attacks/destroys/fear of store/hates children/men/being held by collar.... due to fear, anger, separation anxiety, impatience, simply bad manners, dominance etc. She writes about the behaviors and cases/examples of her experiences for each doggies within the categories and how to help them.... Also she made a distinction when the doggie sees you.... he sees you as his leader or his object? Hahaha... tricky.

The electric collar I get is PetSafe. I know there are cheaper brands around but I'd rather trust a good/reputable brand (5ucker for marketing). It comes with the battery. Once the battery is drained, you can get the batteries from e-bay. It lasts about 1 year.

Good luck with your furkids.

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Added on October 23, 2009, 5:14 pmI got 2 bark collars and it costs me less than RM500 (collar plus delivery from USA). You will just have to surf in ebay for the best bargin. Meanwhile, there is a distributor from Singapore that distributes PetSafe (dont know why somehow it is not commonly found in Msia... too expensive I guess). You may have a friend to help get it for you. Thanks!

This post has been edited by teaspoon.t: Oct 23 2009, 05:14 PM

HI! Hope your doggie is better now.... when i got my Heidi from Pet Safari, she had kennel cough... it went on for about 3 weeks...

She is one big happy girl now.

She is 2 yrs +

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Added on January 24, 2011, 4:05 pmI am planning to have more westie puppies... Heidi's next heat is coming March/April.... looking for healthy male westie stud....

Also, do you guys know if there are any Scotties (Scottish Terrier) in Malaysia? Love to have them...



This post has been edited by teaspoon.t: Jan 24 2011, 04:05 PM