"All About Westin" Wednesday

It occurred to me the other day that there might be more people reading this blog than say...just me...and maybe I should post about some of the members of the Hamilton family so people get to know us better! I have also been wanting to post more often and what better way than to introduce you to the furry kids that live in our house. Linc and I have two Jack Russell Terriers that came to us at different ages and are worlds apart in personality. Because they are so different and their stories much longer than anyone would actually want to read I have broken it into two days. This first post is all about our "first born son."

After Lincoln and I got married we moved to California and I was there for a few months before coming back east to finish school. We had two cats in sunny CA but they stayed behind to keep Linc company. I was living with my parents but feeling a little lonely. Our anniversary was only a few months away so the search began for the perfect anniversary present. I had always been a dog person and despite living with three little dogs at my current location I wanted one of my very own. I started researching breeds online and reading as much as possible to find the dog that would be the most compatible. I grew up riding horses and had always been around the Jack Russell breed so when their name came up in a quiz I took online I was sold! The hunt began for the perfect JRT. I had always thought I wanted a female but reading more into the breed I chose to look for a male instead because they sounded easier to potty train. After searching the local paper for nearby breeders, my mom and I headed out to meet some puppies.

We arrived in Auburn, Ga early one afternoon to see a litter of four puppies. There was only one female but she was quickly ruled out because of her markings and personality. The brothers were adorable and I fell in love with a little pup we were calling Patches. Out of the three boys one was a little too wild and very mouthy so I stuck with the other two for a while. I knew I should sleep on the decision so I took lots of pictures, emailed them to Linc, and tried to decide which baby, if any, to bring home. A few hours later- after talking to Linc but perhaps against my better judgment- I drove back to the breeder's with my sister to pick up one of the boy babies. Both of the parents were on the property and they seemed like great pets so I knew either one of the boys would make me happy. I was sold on "Patches" but Linc liked the other boy better and after playing with them again for a while I decided on the "other" boy. Because he was 8 weeks old he was just old enough to leave his mom and even though I was supposed to sleep on the decision we went ahead and took him with us!! My sister wrapped the new baby in a scarf and he slept the whole way home!

Because the pup was our first wedding anniversary present Linc and I wanted his name to represent something about our honeymoon or wedding. I ended up calling him Cowboy (he has markings like a cow!) for a few days before we settled on Westin- the name of our hotel! Westin Hamilton was born on February 16, 2007 and came to live with us in mid-April. We stayed at my parents house while I finished my student teaching and he grew up around two Chihuahuas and one grumpy Maltese. He is my best bud and we formed a really strong bond! Poor Lincoln did not get to meet his "son" until May during my college graduation because he lived a thousand miles away! After school was finished we moved back to California and became one big happy family.

My dear, sweet, precious Wesley (did I mention he has about 30 nicknames? Ranging from things like Pig Pig to Man Paws- you have to know him to understand...). Where do I begin? He is the sweetest, snuggliest, and most loving dog I have ever met. From the time he was a baby he was such a good listener and learned most tricks quickly. On the downside he also happens to be completely and totally ball obsessed. Anything round is something he was destined to chase! This can be lots of fun sometimes, but a real hassle others. He never gets tired- even when he is fast asleep if you make noise or move him he will immediately get up and find a ball to give you, because of course you wanted to throw it for him! He is loyal, playful, full of life, and always seems to bring a smile to my face. He is 22 pounds of solid muscle and reminds me of a miniature line backer. The funniest thing about him is even though he seems brave and manly, he is afraid of thunder and loud noises send the poor guy into a nervous, shaking fit. As he approaches his second birthday and second year being our little man dog I am so thankful I went with my gut and brought him home right away! All of his brothers and the sister were adopted soon after he left and are hopefully making other families very happy too! Ok, ok. Enough mush. This last picture is of Westin's dad, can you see the resemblance?


* As a side note- I believe Westin is an extraordinary exception to JRT standards both in personality and temperament. They were bred to be hunting and working dogs and are definitely not the right pet for everyone. For more information please visit this website to read about the breed before bringing one home for yourself! If you know the JRT is the right dog for you and need help in finding the right breeder feel free to contact me! Don't forget about adoption as well!

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