West Highland Terrier Owners: Good Family Dog?

I am considering a Westie. I recently fell in love with them. Are they great with children? Are they stubborn – hard to train, etc? Please advise. How about grooming also?

For Westie Owners, Now And After?

I’ve had my lil baby since April now and he’s already a year old. I was just wondering how have your westie’s behaviour become? Mine tends to bark quite much & is somehow snappy. He has alot of energy, sometimes TOO MUCH. I’m still training him, he “understands the commands” but sometimes doesn’t come right away when he’s off leash. I was just wondering how it was like for every owener to raise a westie? do they ever become truely obediant? do they ever calm down abit? i’ll never give mine away, but i just need to know how much more I need to work on.

Im Gonna Own A Male Westie, And I Need To Know Everything! Westie Breeders, Owners Etc. Is Prefered To Answer?

I need answers to all these Q’s……
1.How much do male westies weigh in Lbs., and how tall are they, (exam. 5″-4″) and how long is their neck, chest and back?
2.What are all the steps to grooming a westie, and how many times should you bathe one?
If you have more info like feeding, training etc., please tell!
Thanks!

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Im Gonna Own A Male Westie, And I Need To Know Everything! Westie Breeders, Owners Etc. Is Prefered To Answer?

I need answers to all these Q’s……
1.How much do male westies weigh in Lbs., and how tall are they, (exam. 5″-4″) and how long is their neck, chest and back?
2.What are all the steps to grooming a westie, and how many times should you bathe one?
If you have more info like feeding, training etc., please tell!
Thanks!

Are There Any Westie Owners Who Have Good Ways Of Training Their Rambunctious Puppies?

The Basics
SIT, COME, DOWN, STAY, HEEL.
SIT
Holding a treat in your left hand just above the pup’s nose, gently rest your right hand on pup’s rump.
Slowly move the treat in an upward motion while applying gentle pressure to the rump. ( you dont want to push hard because if you do the dog will sit every time someone touches him and this is not good for competitive obedience)
as soon as pup sits say in a very happy excited tone “GOOD SIT” and give the treat.
Repeat excersize 7x. then take a play break and move on to something elce.
very young pups should not train for more than a half hour each day
every time you put food bowl down or give a treat give the sit command, and wait for the sit. then once pup sits give treat or food down.
DO NOT move on to something new until pup has the new command down pat.
COME
walk away from pup about 10 feet to start. say pup’s name and “COME” in a happy voice. once pup comes praise it lavishly have a bit of a play and give it a treat.
Gradually increase the distance you walk away. and eventually once pup knows command only treat every 3rd come. tappering off until he comes every time with out treat using only praise.
this will take a few days to learn if you practice every day.
DOWN
Start with pup in sit. move hand with the treat between the pup’s front paws on the ground.
Say “DOWN” in firm but not loud voice.
pup might try and get treat without going down, dont let him have it until he downs.
praise in happy voice “GOOD DOWN”
repeat 7x
STAY
Start pup in down possition. say “STAY” in firm voice. walk to end of leash, backwards. if the pup moves say once only “AP” in a not pleased tone. go back do not say anything. put pup in down again repeat “STAY” walk backwards to end of leash.
pup does NOT get praise or treat untill he stays for 30 seconds, then a minute, then 5 minutes. move times up each week.
after he can do a 5 minute down/stay every time. move on to a sit/stay doing exactly what you did for down/stay.
Once on leash sit and down/stays are reliable for 5 minutes each. drop the leash and walk away from your pup, your back to the pup. about 10 feet away. wait 5 min. recall your dog. with dog sitting in front of you once he reaches you. treat and praise.
HEEL
Please do NOT train with a choke collar. i recomend martin gayles.
with dog on a short leash exactly beside you on your left side say “HEEL” if the dog starts to pull give a correction snap with leash on collar. and recomand “HEEL” the second your dog complies peaise with “GOOD HEEL” in happy voice. and continue to walk , correct, and praise for 30 minutes.
Allways end training sessions on a positive note. Never get angery with your pup for not responding to a command. Praise lavishly every time pup responds to a command.
NEVER hit your dog. NO reason is an acceptable reason for physicaly abusing your pup.