Most people are immediately won over by the neat, handsome looks, endless curiosity, and perky attitude of the one and only west highland white terrier. But dog owners need to keep in mind that a westie’s terrier instincts are still very much within the dog. Owners thus need to be aware that without appropriate training or formative intervention, a westie may go after other animals in the household or neighborhood. Other traits of the westie that warrant supervision of the dog are its smartness, courage, and most significant of all, independent-minded bravado. Without doubt, the westie is really a big product crammed into a tiny package!
Another implication of their terrier roots is that their assertive nature needs to be understood and dealt with to anticipate potential behavior concerns. Many behavior issues crop up because of lack of companionship, discipline, activity, and exercise. Lastly, westies turn to destructive behavior when their separation anxiety tendencies are left unattended. Check out these ten quick tips on how you can help still more in westie training.
1. All dogs will benefit a lot from training, but the most efficient training happens in the puppy that starts with it at eight weeks of age. The time that you yourself will spend on inculcating westie basic manners and obedience skills need to be fun. If done properly, the routine will build a solid and lasting link between your dog and you as trainer.
2. Get help from a known private obedience instructor, training club, or school. “Test the waters” by sitting in on a class session.
3. No program can be supported even for a short while by use of force or abuse. Correct dog training consists of the use of reinforcements and corrections. Besides, the timeless principle behind the best programs is that the dog repeats any behavior that gets rewarded or praised.
4. On the occasion of unacceptable behavior, reprimand promptly the dog. The best reinforcer is food, and it is sure to motivate your dog. Other means are praise, play and attention.
5. Be consistently just when it comes to disciplining your dog. Forgive as soon as you can. Lay off hitting or yelling at your dog.
6. Flood your dog with verbal praise and pats whenever it accomplishes what you wanted of it. Add a treat now and then to the praise.
7. Practice consistency, and be confident and calm for your dog’s sake. All family members need to share in the training program so that everybody gets to communicate consistency to the dog. But one person will need to handle most of the training of the dog.
8. Despite the demands of training, try to have regular time for sessions of attention, affection, and play. Twenty minutes of training a few times a week, or ten minutes daily are all that it takes to keep you and your dog student enthusiastic for more learning.
9. These five basic training commands will be the building blocks of training westies: sit, stay, heel, down and come. A well trained westie makes a welcome presence anywhere it goes.
10. At some point in time, training your westie will seem to be eating much of your time and patience, but your pay-off is a westie that is a pleasure to live with.
Tags: Assertive Nature, Basic Manners, Behavior Issues, Class Session, Destructive Behavior, dog owners, Efficient Training, Endless Curiosity, Highland White Terrier, Instructor Training, Obedience Instructor, Obedience Skills, Private Obedience, Reinforcer, School Test, Separation Anxiety, Tiny Package, Unacceptable Behavior, West Highland White Terrier, Westie Dogs, Westie Terrier
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