Even if you own a good-tempered west highland white terrier, that is not enough reason to skip Westie training.
Just like other breeds, the Westie needs to be trained at an early age to prevent them from developing bad habits and to get rid of those that have developed already.
Perhaps a dog owner may believe that training is no longer necessary if his pet urinates/defecates at the right spot, rarely barks or is just staying in his corner for the rest of the day.
But Westie training is more than just that! You need to train your Westie using the appropriate training methods to ensure that he remains safe at the same time acts or does what is expected of him.
Most Westie lovers know that this breed was originally breed to seek and dig out foxes and badgers.
Vermin, squirrels, rabbits, cats and other animals were also added to their watch list.
With the presence of these animals, it would be too easy for him to create a mess in your house; knocked out household items and unsightly holes in your well-kept yard often greet you if this little terrier will not rest until he has captured his prey.
This is one reason for Westie training to take place.
The chase can be halted if your Westie is reliably trained to obey commands such as "no" or "stop it".
It will never happen in the first place if the pet was socialized at an early age.
Apart from that, socialization can also prevent many behavior issues such as biting, barking, chewing, jumping up on people, fear and aggression.
Another issue that can be prevented with Westie training is the development of small dog syndrome (a small dog acting like a big dog).
He should be trained to obey rules and follow certain limits and boundaries to prevent him from thinking that he is the leader of the pack and that everyone is under his control.
One more benefit of training is this breed's safety.
Their being energetic and playfulness can possibly get them into trouble.
They may fancy running after speeding vehicles or may become attracted to things that can be dangerous to them such as toxic plants and chemicals.
Training him to obey basic commands such as stay, wait, no, drop it, stop or sit can surely save both of you from a great deal of trouble.
And besides, these basic commands are also stepping stones master more tricks like play-dead, roll over and the likes for the entertainment of humans.
Some may say that Westie training is just like training other dog breeds.
Yes, it's true in some cases but Westie owners should remember to consider this breed's personality when trying to determine what training methods work best for them.