Hello, I am a new member.

I recently acquired a Westie aged three and a half, a bitch named Lucy who is quite delightful. I bought her from somebody whose marriage has broken up and could no longer keep her. She has settled in well with my 18 yr old Jack Russell. However she seems to be a picky eater. Her ex-owner fed her Oscar which she seems to tolerate. At the moment I am mixing it with a bit of Caesar dog food twice a day, but sometimes she will only pick at it. Yesterday I cooked chicken and both Lucy and the JR wolfed this down. I don't want to make a rod for my own back though. She obvously much prefers what we eat to what dogs should eat!

Would be grateful if any Westie owners out there could give ma any advice - perhaps a typical day's diet for a Westie?

Thanks

Sixpence

She is quite slim and I don't want her to get fat. I have always had Jackies who were not so choosy.

HI and welcome, Sixpence :)

I have to say that your Westie is quite unusual (to me) in her pickiness. Most times westies are appetite surrounded by dog and eat way too much....
Personally, I think she's been pampered and indulged in this matter by her old owner. It is normal for dogs/puppies to go off their feed during the first weeks in a new household. Unfortunately, many owners rush to try to find the right food and give the dog all sorts of tempting delicacies which the dog starts to take for granted, then become even more fussy. :rolleyes: A vicious circle, eh? ;)

My suggestion would be to put whatever food you want her to eat down. Direct her to the bowl and give her 5 minutes to start eating. Don't let her grab a bite and then wander off with it. As soon as she leaves the bowl, or she decides she'd not have her food...put it up.

Whenever your next set time is to feed her...do the same thing all over again. It could take a week + to do this. But a healthy dog will not starve herself. If you give in, that's it. She'll know and Westies LOVE to be in charge ;)

You said you had another dog. There could also be some interaction in the room where you feed with posturing or stress by one another for whatever reason. Food is one of those 'trouble areas.' You might not be picking up on it due to extreme subtility. Separate them or at least have their backs to one another. When one dog finishes eating, have he/she leave the food area completely. It will become a habit after a while.
good luck and enjoy your new 'puppy' :D :D
regards,
toodles

Hello Sixpence,

Well I guess they are all different. We have had three Westies (bitches) and all have been very picky eaters. Sometimes they eat when food is put down for them, sometimes they have had a few mouthfulls and then wandered off, sometimes ignored it totally and come back to eat later, sometimes we have ended up throwing the food away or out for the birds. We have tended use use a mix of something like Caesar with a dry mixer. When we had two sometimes we would put down two identical bowls of food, one would eat the mixer one would eat the meat, then they would swap bowls and do the same again from each other's bowl.

Yes, ours would always have the cooked chicken when offered occasionally, but don't get locked into just giving them that.

I suppose we should have been more strict about eating regimes as suggested in other replies but they seem to have got by just fine. We lost our older girl quite recently age 14 and a half, still fit and active to the last.

MikeB

I would not reccommend ceasar dog food its too rich in protein for a westie this is made by pedigree chum!!!! this is one of the reasons so many westies have skin problems, mostly due to giving the wrong food, if you visit www.groups.yahoo.com/group/WESTHIGHLANDS you will get all the advice you need about westies, this site is only for people who either own or are looking for a westie, I feed mine a Barf diet, which is raw tripe and raw minced chicken I also put in a mixer which is made by the company I get my food from, and also 1 cod liver oil capsule, 1 odourless garlic capsule and half a teaspoon of kelp (seaweed powder), kelp helps to keep the pigmentation black on the nose etc. Look forward to seeing you on westhighlands, Irene-
Westyholm Westies.

Irene (and all who replied)

Thanks for your replies. I think Lucy is "trying it on" but I am following advice and leaving the food down for a short while and then taking it up. Usually by the evening she is quite hungry but she tends to eat the chicken or whatever and leaves the rest (ie Oscar dried food). My Jack Rusell, normally a picky eater himself seems to love the Oscar!

Anway - can anyone help (Irene)? I have joined the Yahoo West Highlands website but how do get into any sort of forum (such as this one). I click away but can't get in. I sent an e-mail to the address they sent me but it was sent back to me twice with no reply!

Sixpence

Hi Judith,

The messages were not sent back to you they went onto the board I saw them, what you see coming in you mail box is a copy of the maiils as even the ones you post you get along with everyone elses. Hope that makes sense.

Go top the home page and then click messages and you will see a list of them all,

I will send a test one saying hello and it will appear in your inbox as westiehighlands hello.

BFN Pam

If you get stuck mail me preidie@yahoo.com