West Highland White Terrier - Westies - Training Success Tips

The West Highland Terrier is a friendly dog, and is considered easier to handle and train than other terriers, such as the Scottish Terrier. Still, it possesses the bold, dynamic terrier temperament, and has to be trained in a manner appropriate for the breed.

Your West Highland Terrier training begins from the moment you bring your terrier home. Westies are stubborn and clever, and considered a bit naughty. They will become demanding and ill tempered if they do not get their way, so you must teach them from the start that you are in charge. From the beginning, treat your terrier in a firm, consistent way.

Terrier puppies, like all very young dogs, should be trained in short sessions of five minutes or less. Make the training session play for both you and your terrier. Generously reward your dog with praise. They are also known to react well to food training.

Your Westie will become confused if you lash out at its misbehavior, particularly if you continue to be angry after the behavior has stopped. Your little terrier wants to please you, and by consistently rewarding the behavior you wish to promote, you will encourage it to become part of the dog's personality.

Like the Scottish Terrier, and other terrier breeds, Westies are barkers. Barking is a dog's natural way to communicate a variety of feelings from happiness, to anxiety, to boredom. The terrier breeds, though, are quicker to bark than other dogs.

The most natural reaction by dog owners is to yell at your terrier to stop barking. This is exactly the WRONG thing to do. Your dog hears the loud voice as a sort of human bark, and it only reinforces the behavior. The key is to remain calm, verbally and physically, and diffuse the terrier's excited emotional state. Say 'no bark' in a calm but firm tone. Never forget to reward the dog when the barking stops.

West Highland Terriers are clever, active dogs, and they will sometimes bark out of boredom. Be sure to provide your dog with walks and appropriate play to stimulate their minds and bodies. You can divert their attention with a chew toy that can be stuffed with a food treat.

Other concerns common to West Highland Terrier training, as well as Scotties and other terrier breeds, are digging, chasing, and aggressive behavior. These little dogs were never bred to be pets, but rather to hunt down and kill vermin.

Never encourage your terrier's natural behavior by engaging in aggressive play. It is difficult for your Westie to distinguish that gnawing and nipping are all right during play, but not at other times.

(Disclaimer: Any information contained in this site relating to various medical, health and fitness conditions of Westies or other animals and their treatments is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own veterinarian. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing the health of any animal. You should always consult and check with your own vet or veterinarian.)

I do hope that you have found the article of use to you.

Good health and happiness

Jeff Cuckson
webmaster@madaboutwesties.com

Want To Know How To Have The Healthiest,
Happiest and Most Well Behaved Westie You
Have Ever Dreamed Of! Then Visit NOW!
http://www.madaboutwesties.com

____________________

Advertisement: SitStayFetch Dog Training - Click Here!

---

Cat Lover Gifts

Among the most well known cat lover gifts are photo frames for the cat or cats in question. A majority of cat owners have more than one... Read More

Natural Dog Shampoos are Good for Your Dogs Skin and Coat

A Healthy Skin and Coat for Your Dog ...Does your dog always having a lush, soft coat?Does your dog's skin remain rash and itch free?If you said... Read More

Animal Ethics

IntroductionA long time ago, before evolution turned the primate into the businessman carrying a brief case, the topic of ethical considerations concerning animals was as talked about... Read More

Pets: The Wild Kind

Just because we moved out to the country a couple years back does NOT mean we want to run a farm. Tending to animals is just not... Read More

A Cat Tale

My son and I have a cat. Her name is Princess, aka Sugar Bear or Bear. She is part Himalayan and part Siamese. I was just thinking,... Read More

Our Childrens Story

One we must regrettably share with our children for they most certainly will find out on their own.PREFACE:We hope they learn from our foibles stemming from ignorance,... Read More

Ticks On Your Dog: What to Do?

Once though of as a mere harmless but annoying pest, ticks are of growing concern for their Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease-carrying ability. Learn the... Read More

Westies Dogs ? Please Consider Adopting an Older Westie Dog

Everybody loves a baby animal and Westie puppies are adorable, but new dog purchasers often do not realize the commitment they are making when they bring a... Read More

A Dog Bit Me, Whom Can I Sue?

Any person, whether a minor or adult, having been bitten or knocked down by an animal improperly or inadequately leashed or contained can sue for injuries or... Read More

Analysis of Cat Behavior

The most important thing to remember in analyzing the behavior of your cat is that your pet is not a human. Cats are not rational beings and... Read More

The TOP 7 Mistakes Horse Owners Make

Mistake #7 ? Assuming You Can Get On Any Horse And Simply RideNot all horses are the same. Some you can get on and easily ride. Some... Read More

Get Educated Before Buying Your Pomeranian From A Dog Breeder

Buying a purebred dog is not something that should be taken lightly and not all breeders are equal. To make sure that you get a good quality... Read More

Ensure a Good Relationship Between Your Cat and Your Kids

Many parents know that the best way for children to learn compassion and the importance of keeping commitments is by helping to care for a pet. Children... Read More

Six Dog Training Tips to Modify Negative Behavior

Almost every dog owner will have to use some sort of behavior modification techniques at one time or another when training their prized pet. If you are... Read More

Sugar Gliders: Tiny Acrobats

In the last decade or so, the popularity of sugar gliders as pets has grown considerably. The small size of these furry acrobats, their personalities, their plush... Read More

Clipper Experiments: A Tail in Two Parts

Poor Dog. Subjected to my most ambitious experiments, she still falls for the old line, "C'mon, Honey, it'll be FUN!" Grooming the Dog and Fun do not... Read More

Dog Eye Problems - What To Watch Out For

Dog eye problems can occur at any time. You should pay close attention to your dog's eyes just as you would their teeth, so that you can... Read More

PH Levels in The Discus Tank

Because it is imperative that discus fish have optimal water conditions, much has been written about this subject, This is the plan put in place to insure... Read More

Life Long Nutrition A Comparison of Dog Foods

This article discusses two foods in paticual. For the puppy stage, Eagle Pack Puppy food and for the adult stage, Royal CaninLabrador RetrieverPuppy NutritionWhen deciding on the... Read More

Dog Crate Training: The Basics

Dog crate training is one of the most effective ways of modifying your pet's elimination habits. If your puppy or new pet has decided that they want... Read More

3 Tips For Dealing With Dog Emergencies

Have you ever thought about what you need to do should your dog ? or another dog ? ever suffer a serious, life-threatening injury? What if they... Read More

Separation Anxiety in Dogs

What is Separation Anxiety?When you leave the house, it is nice to know that your dog goes to his favorite spot and sleeps peacefully until you return.... Read More

Garbage-Raiding Dogs: One Simple Solution to the Problem

Got a mischevious mutt on your hands? Then you may know this scenario. You walk in the door and your pal greets you with elated tail wagging,... Read More

Dog Health Conditions and Terms You Should Know, Part 3...

Continued from part two.Epilepsy/seizure disorderWhen your Boxer is between 2 to 5 years old, he may develop seizure disorder.When he has an epilepsy attack, he'd be unconscious... Read More

Crate Training Your New (or Older) Puppy

by M. Boerner Crate Training Your New (or Older) Puppy There are a lot of methods to successfully accomplish crate training for your puppy dog. Crate training for... Read More

Is There Taurine In Your Dogs Food?

Taurine, a water-soluble amino acid, has recently become the topic of conversation when referring to the nutritional composition that makes up the human and animal physical structure.... Read More