My Dog Training Secrets 

West Highland White Terriers (Westies) have a small, balanced and tough frame covered in a 2-inch white coat. Their round heads are slightly longer than their muzzles. Westies are white as their name indicates. Wheaten color along the dorsal stripe in early puppyhood usually disappears with maturity and some darker hair on the muzzle and around the eyes is not uncommon. Westies are very loving, energetic and intelligent little dogs. Beautiful, shaggy coat, button nose, and small erect ears that give this breed a cute and cuddly image.

Westies are terriers, bred to hunt small mammals and rodents. Westies are a hunting dog and everything catches their eye. Please do not think you can trust your dog to be completely trained and leave it outside unattended in an open area.

Westies are social creatures and enjoy spending time with the family, and being included in activities. It is not a good idea to have them spend a great amount of time alone and separated from human contact. 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.

In my personal experience, having owned a Westie for 10 years, they are very smart dogs and pick up obedience training quite quickly. Potty training was a bit of an issue, but once learned, it was never a problem again. Tricks, sit, stay, etc. are all easily managed by a Westie and seem to work better when rewarded with treats rather than punishment.

Western Highland Terriers have a pronounced optimistic outlook on life. They have the endurance of a much larger dog and owners need not pamper them or carry them home from a long walk. Westies are very bright dogs. Because they are bright they learn quickly, but they will also try to get away with as much as possible.

West Highland Terriers are a hardy, confident breed and can physically handle a certain amount of horseplay. They love to chase a ball and play tug of war. Westies are "pack" animals and need to be with their owners. If your lifestyle is such that the Westie will be home alone for a large portion of each day, this is not the right time in your life to add a Westie to your family. They like to bark.

Westies are free-thinkers and may or may not want to be lap dogs. In fact, most Westies are not interested in being lap dogs until they are between 2 and 3 years old. These dogs are active indoors and outdoors but they do not need an exuberant amount of exercise. As long as you keep them occupied and walk them when needed they make fine house dogs. They do well in city or in country environments.

Westies are valued as companion dogs because of their liveliness and cheerfulness. They are keen to guard their home and behind a closed door they sound like a big dog which is a plus. They will bark when strangers are around, but seem to know when their owners are comfortable with someone new. Westies are good with children, the elderly, and the disabled, and love to play. These dogs are usually very tolerable of children and get along fine with toddlers. Westies are good with other dogs as long as there have been properly socialized as a puppy. However, they must be introduced to cats when they are young as they will chase them once they get older.

Westie training is relatively easy, but someone has to be in the home to do the training. Remember, it can be a frustrating and time consuming task to train a puppy. Westies are terriers and terriers are earth dogs. They are quite capable of digging an escape tunnel if they wish to let themselves out of their yard. They are friendly, even-tempered without being boring, self-confident, courageous and quick to learn. Westies are intelligent, but proud, and strong-willed. In order to train them, it is important to be consistent. However, the Westie responds well to patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement.

They have some health concerns just like any other breed of dog. Westies are not delicate or prone to disease; on the contrary they are robust little creatures that like stimulation and exercise. Westies are prone to allergies and dry skin issues, and bathing too frequently may aggravate these problems. Washing once a month or on a longer interval will generally not cause issues. Westies need more brushing to keep their skin healthy if they have not had the dead coat removed. Also, the shorter coat is easier to care for and looks smarter.

Westies need to be trimmed at regular intervals (usually every three to four months) to remain presentable. Owners must keep up the combing and brushing, preferably daily. Westies need a lot of time and love, but will return love ten fold. Owners need a willingness to provide leadership, structure, patience, obedience training, socialization, understanding and plenty of quality time.

Westies are rugged, strong-willed, determined, spirited dogs in a compact body. They are intelligent and clever sporting dogs. They are a tough, hearty breed that makes a great family pet!