| Just like children, westie puppies learn through play. | | | | claw at your hands. A nip from a puppy may seem |
| Playing games with your west highland white terrier | | | | harmless, but if a full-grown westie nips, you have a |
| pups creates an opportunity to train them to obey | | | | behavior problem. It also teaches them that they can |
| your commands, gives them valuable exercise, and | | | | dominate you through aggression. If they do manage |
| helps to build their strength, coordination, and agility. It is | | | | to get a nip in during play, discourage it in the same |
| also fun for everyone. | | | | way dogs do, by imitating a 'yelp' sound. |
| Before you start playing games, there are some rules | | | | Always remain in control with your pets. You want to |
| you should know, and safety precautions you should | | | | teach them you are the 'alpha-dog.' Towards this end, |
| take. Your pups need to really run, not just walk on a | | | | never reward them by chasing after them when they |
| leash, but be sure any area you play in has a fence. If | | | | run away from you. Instead, 'hide' from your pups, |
| they are city dogs, try finding a fenced-in tennis court | | | | making them come after you. Tug of War games are |
| for play. As a last resort, keep the puppy on an | | | | good, but never allow the dogs to take the tug toy |
| extra-long line. You do not want them to wander free | | | | from you. You should be in control of it at all times, |
| until you are certain they will return on your command. | | | | deciding when to end the game by taking it from the |
| Never encourage your west highland pups to jump. | | | | dog with a 'give' command. Never allow your west |
| The young bones are fragile, and not able to bear the | | | | highland terrier puppies to grab a ball or other toy from |
| stress of jumping until the growth plates are fused. | | | | your hands. |
| Games like Frisbee, or serious agility training, are for | | | | (Disclaimer: Any information contained in this site |
| older dogs, although there is still much you can do with | | | | relating to various medical, health and fitness conditions |
| your westie puppies by having them working at ground | | | | of Westies or other animals and their treatments is for |
| level. If you are eager to start these kinds of games, | | | | informational purposes only and is not meant to be a |
| at about one year of age you can take your westies | | | | substitute for the advice provided by your own |
| to their veterinarian for an x-ray, to see if the growth | | | | veterinarian. You should not use the information |
| plates are completely fused. | | | | contained herein for diagnosing the health of any |
| Westie pups first learn to play in the litter by | | | | animal. You should always consult and check with your |
| roughhousing with their littermates, but at six to eight | | | | own vet or veterinarian.) |
| weeks, the mother westie begins to discourage this | | | | I do hope that you have found the article of use to |
| behavior. You should discourage it as well, by never | | | | you. |
| roughhousing in ways that allow them to bite, nip, or | | | | |