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
Knowing how to feed your betta is fundamental, because doing... Read More
Dog obedience training begins with the owner. There are several... Read More
Vitamins for Pets - How Essential Are They?A vitamin supplement... Read More
Just like when you bring home a new baby, you... Read More
The cat backs up to the door, lifts the tail... Read More
Obesity in dogs is a growing problem, which can cause... Read More
Everybody loves puppies. Who can resist those cute little faces... Read More
Dog flea control and management requires an integrated approach. For... Read More
While "late is better than never," sooner is better than... Read More
Perhaps the best way to train your westie pups not... Read More
Which kind is your pet? The pooch who is the... Read More
Have you ever thought about what you need to do... Read More
Stroking your cat can be good for your health! It... Read More
Do you have a home robotic vacuum cleaner? They are... Read More
You've made up your mind, it's the American Pit Bull... Read More
Whether you are searching for something to say "Happy Birthday"... Read More
I have had Goldens and Black Labs for many years,... Read More
Although many horsemen and trainers extol the virtues of the... Read More
Herbology, basically, is the use of herbs in the treatment... Read More
Westie Grooming ? When your west highland white terrier becomes... Read More
One of the most difficult hurdles that any new puppy... Read More
When goldfish swim up to the glass of the tank,... Read More
Because it is intelligent and energetic, a Westie terrier is... Read More
All positive commands should be spoken sharply and distinctly during... Read More
Wondering how to begin crate training your puppy or dog,... Read More
Still remember that very moment when you first laid your... Read More
Hopefully no one is pulling the leash. The ideal situation... Read More
Dog TrainingSo, we've got a new best friend that needs... Read More
The numbers will make any pet lover blanch with disgust,... Read More
Dog owners, who recognize the early signs and symptoms of... Read More
"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil... Read More
Reading a pet food label, how difficult can it be?... Read More
Stingrays will eat a wide variety of foods. Maintaining a... Read More
A dog, like a human baby, experiences the world through... Read More
German Shepherds were among the first dogs trained for police... Read More
Their scientific name is Cavia Tschuldi and their nickname in... Read More
Get to know your beloved dog better with these insightful... Read More
Grooming means taking care of the physical maintenance of the... Read More
Throughout the course of my life, I've encountered my own... Read More
Has your pet recently been coughing, eating less, or being... Read More
What is Separation Anxiety?When you leave the house, it is... Read More
Unfortunately, there are a number of household items which we... Read More
What happens when we die? In our society, death is... Read More
Many parents know that the best way for children to... Read More
The information in this article is based on the successful... Read More
To the uninitiated horse owner, there are timely facts about... Read More
It is always sad when a beloved animal family member... Read More
Author of Keep Fleas OffStill using all the chemicals you... Read More
I'm sure you're aware of the bad reputation Pitbulls have.... Read More
The answer is "no" if you are the type who... Read More
As with every training tool used to modify a behavior... Read More
The first thing to do when searching for a lost... Read More
Bringing home a new puppy, ushers in a wave of... Read More
Keeping a fish tank is a wonderful and relaxing hobby,... Read More
As a parent, you want to be able to give... Read More
Our Charlie's dog health was a very important issue to... Read More
Training a dog is a fairly difficult task. Some find... Read More
Westies dogs' owners delight in the companionship their dogs give... Read More
Electric Dog FencesIs an electric dog fence something for you?... Read More
So, you read somewhere that introducing a new kitten into... Read More
Because it is imperative that discus fish have optimal water... Read More
If your cat has recently decided not to use the... Read More
Talk to the animals?Yes.And what's more, they talk to us!If... Read More
If you are seriously considering keeping fish as pets or... Read More
What should you feed your cat to make sure he... Read More
Do I Need A Quarantine Tank?Ah, yes, the often dismissed... Read More
Pet |