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West Highland White Terrier Adoption Questionnaire

The questions below are meant to help you and I determine if a Westie is the right breed for you, and to guide you in thinking about all the ways a dog will impact your life. The questions address various aspects of dog ownership that should be given serious consideration before you decide to share your life with any dog. Your answers help us assess your suitability as a home for one of our Westies, and to match a dog to your particular lifestyle. Please be as specific as possible, and answer all questions as completely and truthfully as you can.

It helps us help you!

You and Your Family:

Name ____ Please Press Insert Button to type _______________

Address _____________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Home Phone _________________________________________

Work Phone __________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Preferences:

· Please star-sign (Shift-8 *) any preferences.

Male Female No preference

Puppy Adult No preference

· Any other preferences?_________________________________________________

· Why a Westie? _______________________________________________________

· How did you first learn about the Westie breed? ___________________________________________________________________

· What attracted you to the Westie? ___________________________________________________________________

· How would you describe the ideal dog for you and your family? (Please be as specific as possible) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

· What other breeds have you considered?________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

· Are you familiar with the temperament and characteristics of terriers in general and Westies in particular? Yes No

Explain:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

· Have you previously owned a West Highland White Terrier? Yes No

· If yes, when did you acquire it?

Year ____________________________

Breeder's name ___________________________________________________

Location _________________________________________________________

Dog's Temperament ________________________________________________

· If no, have you personally met a West Highland White Terrier? Yes No

If yes, please describe:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Pet Ownership:

· Why do you want a dog? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

· Do you have any reservations about dog ownership, the commitment, responsibilities, the work, and resources required? Yes No

If yes, please describe:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

· Have you ever owned a dog before? Yes No

If no, have you ever lived in a household with a dog? Yes No

How long ago? _________________________

What dog care responsibilities did you have?__________________________________________________________________________________

· Please list all the dogs or cats that currently live in your household.

Type/Breed Sex Altered? Age Years Where do they stay?

______________ ___ Yes No ____ ____ ____________________

· Please list any dog you have owned in the past and explain what happened to it.

Breed Sex Altered? Age Years Dates What happened to it?

__________________ Yes No ____ ____ ____to_____ ___________________

· Have any of your dogs had puppies or fathered a litter? Yes No

If yes, please describe:

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

· Have you ever had any complaints from others about your pets? Yes No

If yes, please describe:

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

· Based on your past dog experience, is there anything you might do differently with your next dog? Yes No

If yes, please describe:

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

· How will you safely introduce and integrate a Westie with your existing pets?

_______________________________________________________________________

Care & Responsibility:

· Who will be primarily responsible for the dog's care and training?

(Children under 11 years can not be expected to look after and train a dog.)

_________________________________________________

· Is someone normally at home most of the day? Yes No

· How many days will the dog be alone in a normal work week? _________ days

· How many hours per day? _________ hours

· How much time do you have to spend with your Westie on a normal workday?

_______________________________________________________________________

· On a normal free day? ____________________________________________

· Where will your Westie spend the day?

Loose indoors

Basement

Crate

Garage

Kennel run

Loose outdoors in fenced yard

Tied up outside

Other __________________________________________________________

· Will there be some protection from the elements when outside? Yes No

· Where will the dog sleep at night? (Please be specific.) _____________________________________________________________________________________

· What routine family activities will your dog participate in?

_______________________________________________________________________

· How regularly (daily, weekly, or monthly) and for how long (miles or minutes) will the dog be exercised?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

· Who will be responsible for exercising the dog? _______________________

· Do you travel frequently? Yes No

· Who will take care of your dog while you are away?

___________________________________________________________________________________________

· Will your dog be professionally groomed? Yes No

If yes:

Groomers Name ___________________________________________________

Grooming Shop ____________________________________________________

Location _________________________________________________________

Work Phone _______________________________________________________

· If not, who will groom the dog? _____________________________________

· Approximately how often will the dog be groomed? _________________________

Bathing _____________________________________________

Brushing/comb out ___________________________________

Trimming ____________________________________________

· Do you have the time, and are you physically able, financially prepared, and willing to:

o Pay someone up to $65 or more to groom your Westie?

Yes No __________________________________________________

o Purchase a grooming table, clippers, scissors, and other accessories ($250-$300 investment) and devote the time to learn to groom your Westie yourself?

Yes No __________________________________________________

o Spend approximately one hour each week brushing and combing out your Westie, or more if it gets into foxtails, burrs, or gets wet?

Yes No __________________________________________________

o Clean out the hair growing inside the Westie's ear canals every month to prevent ear infections?

Yes No __________________________________________________

o Clean the eyes of accumulated matter every single day if necessary?

Yes No __________________________________________________

o Pay for the cost of both routine veterinary care (worming, annual shots) and non-routine/emergency veterinary care, especially as the dog gets older?

Yes No __________________________________________________

· Do you have a veterinarian you have used before and plan to use with your next dog? Yes No

If yes:

Veterinarian's Name ______________________________________________

Clinic ___________________________________________________________

Location _________________________________________________________

Work Phone _______________________________________________________

· Do you plan on continuing the puppy insurance that comes with the dog? Yes/ No / Will look into it further.

Commitment:

A West Highland White Terrier can live to be 15 years, representing a 15-year commitment to you. Consider how old you will be 15 years from now, and how you will feel about this commitment then.

· Are you and those living with you committed to spending the next 15 years providing health care, food, grooming, training, and attention to your Westie?

Yes No ____________________________________________________

· Is there a chance that you might move at least once in the next 15 years?

Yes No ____________________________________________________

· Are you willing to take your Westie with you, and restrict your choice of housing to places where pets are allowed?

Yes No ____________________________________________________

· Have you carefully considered how the dog will fit into your current lifestyle, and how dog ownership will change your daily routine and schedule?

Yes No ____________________________________________________

· What changes do you expect in your lifestyle and daily routine when you own a dog?

_______________________________________________________________________

· Is there a possibility that your current lifestyle is so busy you might not have the time or energy to properly care for a West Highland White Terrier? Yes No

Explain __________________________________________________________

· Think about what major changes might happen in your life in the next 15 years.

Marriage? Divorce? Children? Job uncertainty? Job transfer? New career? Retirement?

· Are you willing to continue spending the time, energy, and money to care for the Westie as you deal with these life changes or new responsibilities?

Yes No

If you're getting a pet for children you have now:

· How old are they now? __________________________________________

(Children under 11 years can not be expected to look after and train a dog.)

· How old will they be in 15 years? _____

· Are you willing to teach young or inexperienced children how to respect and properly handle a live animal?

(Young children must never be left alone with any dog)

Yes No ____________________________________________________

· Will you still want the Westie after the kids have grown up and moved out?

Yes No ____________________________________________________

· Does everyone in the family want a dog? Yes No

Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire.

When you are finished, please send it to kerryb@nb.sympatico.ca