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Page One Posted May 16, 2004 We have been thinking about getting a dog for quite some time now, but always thought that it was unfair to leave a dog alone at home for eight hours a day. Recently, Brigitte was talking about this with her boss and he actively encouraged her to get the dog and bring it to work! Brigitte had a variety of dogs when growing up, but her favorite was a West Highland Terrier. I felt that living in the country we should have a "real" working dog and not a toy dog. She pointed out that Westies were bred to kill rodents and vermin in the wilds of Northern Scotland and was definitely not a toy dog. After some research I had to agree. If you are a regular reader of this web site you will be aware that I was an active supporter on the Elect Susan Fielding to Puslinch Township Council team. This spring the team had a "Thank You Get-together" at the home of Sandra Solomon who has two Westies. She provided us with much information about her dogs and about the breed. And, encouraged us to get one (or more). She gave us the name of the local breeder and we contacted her. To make this increasingly long story short, Asta Louise MacTavish will be arriving at her new home on May 29. Here are the first pictures. 
 Brigitte with Asta Asta is the name of probably the most famous fictional terrier in literature and film. She was a character in Dashell Hammett's book "The Thin Man" and went on to be an important character in the five "Thin Man" movies made with William Powell and Myrna Loy. In the movies, Asta was not a Westie but a wire-haired terrier (and male) but we liked the name. Louise came from my boss's wife who felt that a dog should have more than one name and that Louise was very elegant combined with Asta. Since they (my boss and his wife) were so positive about getting the puppy, we felt they should have a say in naming the puppy. MacTavish, because it is the quintessential Scottish name and every Westie should have a Scottish name. Posted May 29 Unfortunately Asta was not able to come home with us today. One of her siblings is sick and the breeder will not send any of the litter-mates home until all are well. As you can see from the picture we are well prepared for her arrival. 
Posted June 6 Asta is coming home next Saturday! She is signed up for Puppy Kindergarten to start the following Tuesday. Today we realized that in the several hundred dollars worth of puppy paraphernalia (pictured above), we hadn't bought any food! We will be getting some this week. Posted June 12 Asta is home!   
 
 Asta with her "cousins" Mac Allen and Scapa.  One of her favorite spots.  Today Asta graduated from puppy class! The final class was a competition featuring what we had learned over the past seven weeks and Asta came in at second place! Here are the pictures:  She is walking on a loose leash.  Now she has proved she is not just another pretty face.  Yesterday we bought another load of puppy stuff at the puppy store and today we did some clipping and grooming. Here are the results:   You can see 4 new lower teeth are coming in, but the two in the middle are still missing. 
 Brigitte is away visiting her parents and Asta has just helped me clean the spaghetti sauce pot.  Brigitte has returned! Asta helps with the unpacking.  Posted August 15. Asta can get hours of enjoyment from one cob of corn.  This site has won an award! Thanks Bonnie.    Asta sleeps in her crate at night, but often gets intivited to bed for a sleep in.  Bath day, and no one looks too happy about that.  Pets are, of course, forbidden to be on the furniture. But, interspecies pet interaction is encouraged. Asta quite likes her "half sister" Rosie. 
 
Posted Nov. 7   In September we had some professional photos taken of Asta and ourselves. They were done by Chris and Maureen of 18percentgrey. 
   Here we are out for a walk on Fletcher's Creek Trail (just south of Morriston in Flamborough Township) with Sandra Soloman and Scappa and Mac Allen in mid-November.   Here is more interspecies pet interaction--or lack of action!  After some serious grooming    Around the house.     |