Odie
Odie came to us from a family that was having difficulty
getting a young westie integrated into a
family with a small child. There were also other
issues with the owner losing lost her job and needing to
move. The westie was less than 9 months old, just at the
age where training was essential! He, like all our westies,
is very intelligent, but ready to see what he could get away
with. He could sit, roll over, but he would jump all over
you and was “a nipper”.
Clare had lost her 17-year-old westie last year, and thought fostering for the club might be a good experience since she wasn’t
sure she was ready for another full time companion. When Odie came
into the program, we asked her if she would foster him
since he had to be neutered and would be in the program
longer because of the surgery and recovery. Clare is a
nurse, so if he had any problems with his surgery, who better
to care for him?
Clare was also trying to work with him on his training issues.
I contacted Jane Fink, our club trainer, who gave
Clare some good advice on the nipping. After about two
weeks fostering him, other changes started to occur. Clare
started to realize how much joy she was having coming
home to this spunky little westie and how he filled the void
left by her previous westie. Her house had been too quiet
for too long. About a week later, she decided she would
make it permanent. She wasn’t fond of the name Odie and
in her words, decided he could be her pleasure at the end of
the day like a martini might be, so she named him Cosmo
after the martini, Cosmopolitan. She enrolled him in a
training course and has enjoyed the sessions and her daily
walks with him. He is still quite the rascal, but Clare is
looking forward to their adventures together!
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