Yes, it is. Just imagine the situation from the point of view of your Westie. He is part of the family, often treated as “the kid”, and then, suddenly, a new creature arrives and takes all the attention of his beloved family. It is quite similar to what older children feel, when a little brother/sister arrives. One of the differences is just that the dog can’t speak English

Actually, if we are aware of this ‘problem’ in advance, the situation can be handled, but it needs consciousness and to be started in time, long before the baby’s arrival. Let’s see how we can prepare our Westie for the new family member.

If your dog’s daily routine has to be changed with the baby’s arrival (it probably will), you should start changing the rules much earlier, giving him plenty of time to get used to the new set up. This way it isn’t going to be so sudden and shocking. If your Westie hasn’t really been trained before, it’s high time to start. He should learn at least a few commands, like sit, stay, etc. This way, he’ll be easier to handle.

Many families worry about their dog endangering the health of the child, so the best thing to do is to take your pet to the vet, get him checked and get some advice. Get your Westie used to the new smells, sounds in advance (blankets, lotions, toys). It’s also a good idea, that just after your baby was born, send home a blanket that the baby had been in, so your dog can experience the child’s smell in advance. It is very important to know that your  Westie will get a lot less attention from the mother, so when taking the baby home for the first time, the mother should greet the dog, so it is better if someone else is carrying the baby.

It is also a good idea not to leave them alone together at the first times, until your Westie feels comfortable with the baby, because, for example, it is very possible that the dog won’t tolerate the child’s crying very well in the beginning. You have to teach him that this is a normal sound, and you should motivate him not to bark (with treats, for example).

And the most important rule for last, maybe it seems too obvious, but it’s still worth mentioning: try to give as much attention to your Westie as you can. The point is that he has to feel that you do care about him. If you keep this in mind, most probably there will be no problem. You could also try Preparing Fido, which is an amazing collection of Baby sounds designed especially to get your dog ready for the arrival of the new Baby!

Non-quality breeders will:

• Always push for a quick exchange for cash
• Not be able to provide verifiable certificates of pure bloodlines
• Be hesitant to show his kennel
• Not accomplish the proper vaccinations

Quality Westie breeders will:

• Share their kennels for a visit
• Maintain the breeds temperament of being peppy and intelligent
• Provide health clearances and vaccinations
• Give verifiable certificates for its being a genuine purebred

Knowing these things will definitely assist one in sorting through good and bad breeders. But in times of doubt, it wouldn’t hurt to get some help from people who are experts and lovers of dogs as well. The best choice for experience and knowledge is Euro Puppy! With a team of quality and purebred focused people, one is assured of getting a healthy genuine Westie whose lifespan is maximize to stay with families longer. With proper guides on how to take care of the dog, one will feel empowered and confident in grooming the Westie. With a lifetime guarantee and initial benefits to start the journey off right, people throughout 80 countries can attest to Euro Puppy’s experience and excellent service.