Westie Sounds. West Highland White Terrier Club of Puget Sound Spring President s Message Linda Gray

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1 Westie Sounds West Highland White Terrier Club of Puget Sound Spring 2017 President s Message Linda Gray What a way to begin the new year. Jeannette Melchior attended the Western Washington Puyallup Show on January 13, The club did not do a supported entry this year since in past years there were few participating Westies; we did see a better entry but only one Westie was owner handler and the balance were shown by professional handlers. The show was well attended by the public and entries were up in all terrier classes. Rare breeds making a come back are the Sealyham and the Glen of Imaal. Our Valentine s event at Northwest Cellars was a hit with nearly 40 people and almost twice that many Westies in attendance. Thank you to Dee Thompson for chairing this event. I had to leave early with Duncan losing it too much excitement and fun for him that day. I love Robin s pictures. If you ve not seen them, check out our Facebook page. Robin took many close ups that really expressed each owners love for their companions. Another thank you to Dee Thompson for chairing and organizing our booth and meet the breed event at the Seattle Kennel Club Dog Show, March This was the first time in a while we ve had so many new members volunteer at the booth. Thank you to all who volunteered. I know everyone had a great time. There s so much going on with more than 70 breed booths in the upper level, and a myriad of events including agility, dancing, herding, conformation etc., going on all the time for those two days. It s so special to have people who you know love dogs come and tell their special stories of their pets too. Lucy got lots of strokes that day. It was her first time enjoying all the attention. Check out page 2 and 3 for more on these events plus some great pictures there, on Facebook or our Website. Upcoming events include the Spring Westie walk on May 6 at Greenlake Park. Our walks are among our most popular events. Bring you best friends, a lunch and a blanket and you will have a great time. We ve not been to Greenlake since That was my first Westie event after becoming a member and we had so much fun. I think there were almost 50 people and more than that many dogs. I ll never forget the comment made by someone watching us walk. She called it a Sea of Cuteness. If you can, please mark your calendars. Rain or shine it will be fun. Other upcoming events are our 2017 Specialty; Friday, July 7 at the Puyallup Fairgrounds, Celtic Kennel at the Highland Games, July and Westie Fun Daze Clash of the Clans on August 12. We hope to have members helping to man the booths and assist at these and our other events. We ll be reviewing the results of the poll we took earlier this year at our Board meeting in April. I ll get back to you with the results in the next newsletter. Thank you to all who took the time to complete this important survey. We are here to make sure this club meets your needs. If there s something or an event you d like to see, please let us know. The Board is ready and looking forward to a fantastic year of events and activities with all of our Westies. Remember to send in your special Westie stories for the next newsletter. Thank you. Westie Sounds West Highland White Terrier Club of Puget Sound Page 1

2 Valentines and Wine On February 11, 37 Westie club members and Facebook friends met at Northwest Cellars in Kirkland to celebrate Valentine s Day with their Westies. Along with the appetizer potluck buffet and fellowship a number of attendees enjoyed winetasting and took home Westie Wine red or white wine with a custom West Highland White Terrier Club of Puget Sound label. Four month old Snowflurry Westie Party ers Facebook By the Numbers Our Facebook page keeps growing. Currently we have 1,156 follows and 1,179 likes. Followers come from countries all over the world from Italy, Brazil, Spain, Thailand, the UK and Costa Rica, to name a few. 79 percent of our followers are women, and 36% are aged between 36 and 64. We post regularly to Facebook. Our most recent posts are pictures taken at the SKC breed booth we were also live on Facebook from SKC. Karin Parish and Dee Thompson administer the site and Robin Ryan is an editor. If you have photos of your Westie you would like us to post, contact one of us. If you d like to check out our site Karin provided a link. You don t have to be a member of Facebook to view our photos Westie Sounds West Highland White Terrier Club of Puget Sound Page 2

3 Westie Ambassadors Attend SKC On March 11 and 12 the club participated at the breed educational booths on the mezzanine at the SKC Dog Show. We also participated in Meet the Breed, an event to demonstrate show quality Westies, which took place on the show floor. Special thanks to all of our volunteers, including first time volunteers Karin Chen, Mike Lillejord, Elise Truitt, Teri Lake Coblio and Diane Hover. Teri and Diane share this insight on their experiences: Seattle Kennel Club Volunteering Teri Lake Coblio Nick and I, along with Champ and Bailey, had such a great time at the Seattle Kennel Club event! We had a situation when we got to Seattle because I left the Westies leashes at home. But, thanks to Dee and Jeannette we were covered for a bit before buying new ones. To top it off, we had a little code brown incident once we finally got to the booth. Never a dull moment! The event went well and as promised Saturday was busy! We had so many visitors come by and give everyone s westie so much love and affection. I think two from our lot even wore pink lipstick on the tops of their heads!! My favorite inquiry was what to expect in the years to come from a westie. At the time all I could think about was a lifetime of fun and happiness. They are Teri with Champ and Bailey truly wonderful dogs. Nick and I decided to break from the booth for a bit and walk the dogs downstairs among the vendors and competition arenas. It was so neat to see all sorts of breeds together under one roof. The agility competition was a first for us. It was very neat to watch the owners communicate with their dogs with hand motions and twists and turns, all while running. Thank you for having us and we can t wait for the next event! Keoki, pre lipstick smudge Diane Hover I've been asked to share about our experience at the SKC Dog Show Booth "Meet our Breed" on our first time doing this. We took our Westie, Keoki and had a fun time introducing him along with other Westies. The booth held lots of people s interest and the dogs all seemed to enjoy the attention they were receiving. If you have never volunteered to bring your dog it is a good experience and a fun way to show off the breed. Getting there was easy also, and it was fun just checking out some of the show. Westie Sounds West Highland White Terrier Club of Puget Sound Page 3

4 Puppy Time The Saga By Jeannette Melchior Well I did it made the decision for my girl Summertime to have puppies. I know, I know, everyone thinks Whoopi puppies sigh, but most breeders just look at you and say, puppies not only are a lot of work they are pee & poop. So the decision is made and I ve talked to Sharon Newsom about her boy Ronan as the male, she agreed but before that I needed to have progesterone tests on Summertime to find out the optimum time to breed. Seasoned breeders have a better handle on this but we needed to do several tests before we got to that point sooooo next, when the test numbers were optimum for breeding, Artificial Insemination (AI). Now in nine weeks we should have puppies, but first five weeks after the AI we do an ultrasound. While this is done I get to watch, well what I can say maybe with human babies you actually see something but with puppies duh! Summertime s OBYGN vet, Dr. Cyndee Smith pointed at the screen and explained that she could see three puppies maybe four. Oh, that s wonderful, honestly I stared at that screen and it was more like a Rorschach inkblot test, sigh, glad she could see puppies all I saw was a conglomeration of dots. This is exciting three for sure pups. Home, and now the work of setting up the nursery. Sandy Davis loaned me her whelping box along with instructions on setting up and getting everything available for the upcoming delivery. I had a list and followed it faithfully. Approximately 3 weeks before her due date poor Summertime was beginning to waddle and then 5 days before delivery date we did the x ray. On a very cold somewhat snowy morning in January we made our way to Dr. Smith s office in Tacoma and waited in the reception room with other very pregnant dogs to be called in for her x ray to be done. Dr. Smith stepped into the waiting room and said, as loudly as possible Oh, Summertime while smiling at the room full of bundled up owners waiting their turn to be called. Now the vet usually sends her tech to do this but Dr. Smith just smiled at her waiting room audience and said, I just love doing that with snow outside, all of your expressions are priceless. Now I m sitting nervously in one of the exam rooms Dr. Smith appears and says, well, Summertime is going to have six puppies. I gasped six, but you said, she d have three maybe four but now its six? Yep, you got a couple of bonus pups and they should arrive on January 5th. Hummmm I was truly taken a back four, I had anticipated but not six I was really going to need a lot of help. Arriving home I called Sandy Davis, and she assured me that it would be fine we d get through it. Groan, easy for her I was truly nervous. January 5 th came and went but Summertime didn t give any indication that she was ready to have these pups. On January 6 th late in the afternoon Summertime started to pant one of the first indications oh, drat, today, why today, it s Friday and most vets go home for the weekend. I called Sandy, Me: she s panting, Sandy: how hard is she panting? I looked at Summertime, darn, it s a pant grrrrr Me: Well it s steady? Sandy, I ll be over and check her. So, before Sandy arrives to check on her Summertime stops I look at her and say what are you doing? About then Sandy arrives, Summertime starts panting again. Sandy looked her over and said she s not ready; she s a long way from ready. Me: Oh. Then around 7:00 PM, I call Sandy she s panting again, and I m pretty sure it s harder. Sandy: Harder than before? Me: well, quicker. Sandy: OK, when its a hard pant with a grunt then call me, and tell Summertime please don t start having puppies at 2:00 AM. Then she says, go to bed now, get some sleep you are going to have a long night and call when it s a pant and a grunt. Me: OK. So we all had an early night, I had Summertime in a bed next to mine and I swear all I could hear was her panting, I really can t remember getting much sleep and then NOTHING! No panting, I was awake and I couldn t hear her what s going on? I sat up and about then she starts barking. I switch on the light and jump out of bed she s barking at me, she s hysterical, I pick her up and talk to her, she calms down, we walk into where the nursery and whelping box are ready and I place her in it she just stares at me and stretches and Westie Sounds West Highland White Terrier Club of Puget Sound Page 4

5 stretches, arches her back and stretches some more and I think, no pant, no grunt but this is it, I know this is IT! OK, it s now 3:45 AM, I call Sandy, a very sleepy voice answers and I say it s now, and I ll leave the front door ajar she responds I ll be there as soon as I dress. I quickly throw on some clothes and open the front door, oh, lord, it is so cold out but thankfully no ice, later I found out it was 19 degrees with a clear sky. I enter the room and note that a pup is emerging oh, no, now! Not now stop, think, you ve read enough don t panic. I assist and Summertime frees it from its sack and I clamp it off, wait check it and then cut the cord, weigh it, note the time 3:55 AM and give it back to Summertime honestly, it felt like slow motion and just then Sandy comes in, she s so bundled up only her eyes are peeking over her muffler. She says, looks like you did fine what is it? Me: what is it, I don t know, forgot that part. Sandy: well that s sort of important, although not immediate. Next, I cut a piece of red rick rack and place it around its tiny neck and check to see and it s a girl. The light in the room is low and we make small talk while she goes over discussing what to do and what to have ready then it starts 4:25 AM a boy, 5:40 AM a girl, 6:30 AM a boy, 7:00 AM the fifth one starts to arrive and Sandy says oh, dear, we have a paws first and she explains this delivery to me but it goes OK, at 7:35 AM we have another paws first but this one is more difficult to deliver and thankfully Sandy s years of expertise takes over it s a boy and he isn t breathing. She rubs him, blows in his nose, rubs more, my heart is pounding I can actually feel it and the helplessness at this moment is scary. Time slows down and he s not breathing or moving, Sandy continues she won t give up and says, squawk, just squawk and at that moment he does oh, my what a wonderful sound Summertime is right there and she wants him, almost yanks him out of Sandy s hands, Sandy hands him over to her and Summertime selfishly comforts her newborn to her and doesn t even know how close we came to not being able to get that first heartbeat. She is a dedicated Westie mom and took great care of her two girls and four boys. Honestly, this was only the first chapter of a 10 week journey and the mentoring and delivery support I received from Sandy Davis made a difference in 2 of the puppies survival. Karin Parish: she is a great coach and there for me when I was in tears a couple of times. Sharon Newsom and Cyndee Lockwood were always at the ready to help if I called with a question. Of course you put so much care and love into these tiny bundles is it difficult to give them up. Good question and it s a Yes but No, because the families that they went to will make them the center of their The families have given them their names now so from left to right: home and family and they ll have the Chip, Higgins, Ellis, Stuart, Daisy Mae, and Snow best lives. These wee pups will give companionship and loyalty to a loving family and that is what truly counts. Westie Sounds West Highland White Terrier Club of Puget Sound Page 5

6 Catalog Model By Dee Thompson When Tex and Sophie were young a good friend of mine was starting a part time career as a photographer. I commissioned her for a photo shoot and she took a number of great photographs of the dogs, several of which are framed in my home. To earn a little extra cash my friend would sell her photos to print catalogs. Imagine my surprise when she showed me an Exposures (they sell frames and albums) catalog with a framed photo of Tex and Sophie! I kept the catalog for a number of years but somehow misplaced it. A couple of years ago she brought me another Exposures catalog, this one with a photo of Tex. I ll hold on to this one forever. Daily Caloric Needs for Average Indoor Pets Reprinted from Petfinder.org Westie Sounds West Highland White Terrier Club of Puget Sound Page 6

7 Health Tip: Are you Ready for the Dog Park? Reprinted from the Bothell Pet Hospital News March 2017 Dog parks are designed to provide a place where dogs can run free off leash and can socialize with other dogs. We are fortunate to live in an area that has several off leash parks for us to choose from. Your dog should be well socialized and spayed or neutered. They should be fully vaccinated as well. Puppies who have not had all of their vaccinations should avoid dog parks and off leash areas as they are very vulnerable to potentially contagious diseases. Dog parks are not for everyone, but they can benefit both dogs and their owners. You will need to determine if you think the dog park is right for you and your dog. Knowing what to expect and being prepared can make it a great way to get some exercise and meet new friends. Benefits include exercise, socialization and the opportunity for your pet to experience a variety of different environments. Know the rules of the park in advance. Most off leash parks require that dogs be fully vaccinated, licensed and wearing collars and ID tags at all times. Many parks require that dogs be leashed while entering and exiting the park. Bring water and a bowl for your dog! Some parks do not provide water on site. Avoid bringing food for your dog into the park itself. Bring bags to clean up after your dog. Discuss any concerns about your dog's health or behavior with your veterinarian prior to visiting an off leash park. Below are some of the more popular parks in our area: Marymoor Off leash Dog Park 40 acres on the Sammamish Slough! Magnuson Off leash Dog Park 9 acres, fully fenced with access to Lake Washington. Small dog area as well. Willis Tucker Community Dog Park 11 acres with multiple fully fenced areas. Shy/senior dog area. Edmonds Off Leash Area Great place to run and swim in the ocean! Keoki the Athlete By Diane Hover We have really enjoyed Keoki as our second Westie. He has been a really fun little dog for us. He is in Agility training and we have entered him in a few trials. In his second trial he qualified with a first place. He also is very interested in Barn Hunting, where he really likes hunting rats in tubes hidden in straw. This is a really fun sport for our terriers and I highly recommend checking out the Barn Hunting Association (BHA). Westie Sounds West Highland White Terrier Club of Puget Sound Page 7

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9 Club Officers, Directors and Contacts President Linda Gray Past President Jeannette Melchior Director and Membership Chair Pam Coogan Director Annette Loy Vice President Sandy Davis Secretary Sharon Newsom Treasurer and Newsletter Editor Dee Thompson Director Lois Kimball Upcoming Events April 8 10 am Board Meeting Woodinville Church of Christ May 6 10am Spring Fever Westie Walk Greenlake Park Chair: John and Annette Loy June 10 1 pm Board Meeting Bellevue Library July 7 Specialty Puyallup Fairgrounds July 29/30 Celtic Kennel Highland Games, Enumclaw Fair Grounds August 12 Westie Party with Scottie Club Clash of the Clans Academy of Canine Behavior Director Lesley Wilson lpw98075@comcast.net Webmaster Karin Parish Rescue Karin Parish and Judy Lane pugetwesties@gmail.com Robin Ryan Photographer New Members Stephanie Lamb Mike Lillejord Elisa Truitt New Member Applications Karen Herring Teri Lake Coblio Terri Warren Westie Foundation Liaison Cyndee Lockwood Visit Our Website whwtcops.org Westie Sounds West Highland White Terrier Club of Puget Sound Page 9