How to Play Safely with Your Westie Puppies

     
Just like children, westie puppies learn through play. Playing games with your west highland white terrier pups creates an opportunity to train them to obey your commands, gives them valuable exercise, and helps to build their strength, coordination, and agility. It is also fun for everyone.

Before you start playing games, there are some rules you should know, and safety precautions you should take. Your pups need to really run, not just walk on a leash, but be sure any area you play in has a fence. If they are city dogs, try finding a fenced-in tennis court for play. As a last resort, keep the puppy on an extra-long line. You do not want them to wander free until you are certain they will return on your command.

Never encourage your west highland pups to jump. The young bones are fragile, and not able to bear the stress of jumping until the growth plates are fused. Games like Frisbee, or serious agility training, are for older dogs, although there is still much you can do with your westie puppies by having them working at ground level. If you are eager to start these kinds of games, at about one year of age you can take your westies to their veterinarian for an x-ray, to see if the growth plates are completely fused.

Westie pups first learn to play in the litter by roughhousing with their littermates, but at six to eight weeks, the mother westie begins to discourage this behavior. You should discourage it as well, by never roughhousing in ways that allow them to bite, nip, or claw at your hands. A nip from a puppy may seem harmless, but if a full-grown westie nips, you have a behavior problem. It also teaches them that they can dominate you through aggression. If they do manage to get a nip in during play, discourage it in the same way dogs do, by imitating a 'yelp' sound.

Always remain in control with your pets. You want to teach them you are the 'alpha-dog.' Towards this end, never reward them by chasing after them when they run away from you. Instead, 'hide' from your pups, making them come after you. Tug of War games are good, but never allow the dogs to take the tug toy from you. You should be in control of it at all times, deciding when to end the game by taking it from the dog with a 'give' command. Never allow your west highland terrier puppies to grab a ball or other toy from your hands.

(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
[email protected]

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

Today's PET CARE NEWS & INFORMATION resources updated Sat. December / 21 / 2024  

Proper Diet For the Discus Fish
The Discus fish has its habitat in the South American waters of Brazil and Peru. Discus fish are classified as "grazers", and in the wild constantly forage for food.

The Top Ten Reasons You Can - And Should - Hold an Equine Educational Event
Boarding, Breeding, Training & Showing Stables:1. You need to fill stalls.

The Lowdown on Dog Vaccinations
Over the last 20 years, vaccinations have generally been started in puppies at about 6-8 weeks of age, when the natural immunity inherited from the mother may start wearing off. A series of shots will then be given every three to four weeks, and boosters are administered every year after that.

Online: The Fastest, Cheapest, Easiest Way to Buy and Sell a Horse
Selling a Horse. The best new tool for people selling horses is the Internet. You can describe your horse in detail and publish pictures, list a pedigree, show record and accomplishments - all for a very reasonable price.

Beds for Smaller Dogs
All puppies are small dogs - some, however, won't be small for very long. You have to know how big your dog is going to be when it is fully grown before you can buy it a bed of its own, unless, that is, you don't mind buying your beloved canine friend a new bed every six months or so for several years.

Love of Horses
My love of horses began at the age of 11 when I worked every summer at a ranch. My twin brother and I would walk about ten miles a day in circles taking children on pony rides.

How to become Top Dog - A Dog Owners Guide to Sanity
Peeing on the carpet, knocking you down, or stealing dinner off the counter are all signs that your dog doesn't respect your rules. In other words, you are not the Alpha Dog.

Horse Training Secrets For Busy Horse Owners Short On Time
Picture this. You're late for work one day.

Training Your Dog For A Happy Healthy Life
Adopting a dog is a lot of fun, but it can also add a lot of responsibilities to your life. When you become a dog owner, you take on the responsibility to make sure your pet has everything he needs, a safe environment to live in, proper care, and everything he needs for a happy and healthy life! It's a big step to care for a dog, but you'll be rewarded with a loving companion.

Animal Deathing
What happens when we die? In our society, death is often hidden away. Rarely are we present for the passing of a loved one, a major exception being our animal family members.

West Highland White Terrier - Picking the Right Breeder 
Do you want a Westie as a pet? What are your expectations? What do you know about the breed? You take time out to know these answers. Knowing your motives and being sufficiently educated about the breed, is key to getting the dog that's right for you.

Is Dog Obedience School for You?
Are you thinking about dog obedience school? Do you know what to expect out of it? Do you know what it costs or where to find a good school? If not, let me help take out some of the mystery of finding one to make sure you and your dog get the best experience you can. If you have searched the web in this topic, you probably found some sites that are basically search engines within search engines, no real information about dog obedience schools.

Training Your Dog To Save a Life In Water
Occasionally watching Animal Planet does have its advantage. You can really learn how to train your dog for different situations.

Owning a Wild or Exotic Cat; Information, Laws, and Advice
Have you ever dreamed of living with a bobcat or having a pet tiger? You're not alone, and many people share their lives responsibly and safely with such animals. My beloved companion is a African Serval, a very affectionate 33-pound spotted feline.

Finding A Reputable Dog Breeder
Anyone can put two dogs together and let them breed, and in turn call themselves a "breeder." However being called a "reputable" breeder encompasses far more than that.

Potty Training Your Puppy
A new puppy is a joyous addition to any home. Who can resist that cute little bundle of lovable furry fun? Wouldn't it be great if puppies were potty trained and came into our homes without any mess or bother? OK, reality check here.

Puppy Basics: Potty-Training, Reprimanding, and Rewards...
Potty Training Your Puppy: Make sure you feed your dog at regular times every day as this makes bathroom breaks regular as well. Feed your puppy 2-3 times a day.

Keeping Discus Fish Disease Free
So you want to keep discus fish or are already keeping discus fish. One of things you must do is keep your discus fish healthy and disease free.

Lets Get Clear On Proper Dog Care
Whether you're a new dog owner or have had dogs around you for many years, learning about proper dog care is essential if you're to give your dog the greatest possible chance to enjoy a long and healthy life. The most basic area of dog care is feeding.

Essential Oils and Our Pets
Before we talk about using the essential oils, we first should define what is an essential oil in the first place. An essential oil is a bio-available nutritive liquid.