Seven Steps in Westie Training

While westie training is one of the most important responsibilities of a dog owner, achieving positive results is definitely not impossible. It is not difficult as well considering that this breed is naturally easy to train. Training westies should be fun both for you and your dog for it is during this period that he learns things necessary for him to become well-behaved. Additionally, training is also a great opportunity for you to know more about each other thus strengthen the owner-pet relationship.

Here are a few simple tips to help you achieve successful westie training:

Preparation.

Just like having a trip, westie training requires careful planning and preparation. As owner, it is your responsibility to know more about the breed, their characteristics and what training method would work best based on their characteristics. You can ask for advice from other breed owners in your area or search the internet for sites, forums or online groups specially dedicated to westies. Apart from that, it is also important that you are committed to reach your objectives. If you are not sure whether you can provide the training and care a pet needs, then pet ownership is probably not for you.

Preparing the dog.

Naturally, the dog needs to prepare for training too. He must be physically fit in order to go through training, be it training for basic obedience or housebreaking. A sick or nervous dog will not learn efficiently hence it is important to consider their current state before training starts.

Starting simple.

It is not a good idea to include complicated lessons during the first few days of westie training. Start off with socialization in order to get him used to the new environment he is into. During socialization period, you should start housebreaking him as well. Then tackle basic commands one at a time. You can work with come command after he has mastered the command sit. Spend a few days training each command and avoid training multiple commands at a time for it will only confuse him.

Reward.

Many dog owners and experts encourage the use of positive training since it is considered the most humane and effective method. Positive training includes giving of rewards for every good behavior shown. This is to motivate a dog to repeat the behavior he is being rewarded for. Rewards could be anything your dog finds rewarding like yummy treats, favorite toys, praise and time to play. Giving of food treats should be regulated though to prevent obesity and turning your pet into a food-dependent canine.

Punishment.

Physical punishment won't do your pet any good. In fact, it can trigger problems like aggression and may cause your pet to be afraid of you. Additionally, punishing him for every accident may cause him to do his thing in areas you are less likely to find, or worse, he will become afraid of doing it.

Training time.

Training must not exceed one hour each session. The ideal length of training should be around 20 minutes per session to prevent your pet from getting bored that could end in frustration on your part.

Daily activities.

In order to help your pet master the commands taught to him, it would be a good idea to incorporate the commands in his daily activities. Like for example if you are currently teaching him the command sit, giving him the said command before placing his food bowl on the floor or asking him to sit when someone is approaching can help him figure out that the command is applicable anytime, anywhere, not only in the confines of your living room where training took place.

Kathleen Jenkins shares valuable westie training advice. Want to know more from her? Check out her site specifically dedicated to westie training