West Highland White Terrier - Westies - Training Success Tips
March 15, 2008
The West Highland Terrier is a friendly dog, and is considered easier to handle and train than other terriers, such as the Scottish Terrier. Still, it possesses the bold, dynamic terrier temperament, and has to be trained in a manner appropriate for the breed.
Your West Highland Terrier training begins from the moment you bring your terrier home. Westies are stubborn and clever, and considered a bit naughty. They will become demanding and ill tempered if they do not get their way, so you must teach them from the start that you are in charge. From the beginning, treat your terrier in a firm, consistent way.
Terrier puppies, like all very young dogs, should be trained in short sessions of five minutes or less. Make the training session play for both you and your terrier. Generously reward your dog with praise. They are also known to react well to food training.
Your Westie will become confused if you lash out at its misbehavior, particularly if you continue to be angry after the behavior has stopped. Your little terrier wants to please you, and by consistently rewarding the behavior you wish to promote, you will encourage it to become part of the dog’s personality.
Dog Pile - Please Pick It Up
March 14, 2008
I really do not hope your are eating something, but did you know that you can get a fake dog pile in long or round bits for a joke. My younger son had initiated this research of mine, by asking why I pick up the dog’s business, even though he had done it on the grass.
As a slight diversion, I found out that the meaning of pepper - our westie dog -is “An animal full of zip” Believe he has plenty of zip if you are trying to get him into the bath.
To get back to the topic in hand (sorry that was a bad turn of phase), please be responsible and try and clean up after your dog. There are a number of diseases and illnesses that can be caused by contact with dog poo. One is stomach upsets, but the most important is Toxocariasis.
Toxacra can infect young children, if they play in an area, which has been infected by dogs, and they then put their fingers in their mouths. The infection is very serious and can cause eyesight damage or even blindness. Although, the Toxacra infection is very rare, even one case is one too many.
West Highand WhiteTerriers - Westies Dogs - Footcare Health Tips
March 13, 2008
Westies dogs’ owners delight in the companionship their dogs give them during long and leisurely walks. But this activity should be one that brings pleasure to both.
How can you ensure that your dog also enjoys these activities?
First, you’ll need to get your dog accustomed to having his paws handled and manipulated.
These are important Westie health issues that come under the grooming umbrealla.
When your dog is tolerant of such treatment it would be easier for both you and the veterinarian to carefully scrutinize your dog if there are cuts or bruises on, in and around his paws.
Where should these foot exams take place? Pick a spot that’s comfortable for both of you, and is at the same time well-lit. Here’s how to do it. Put the dog’s paw in your hand. Run your finger around every pad. If you feel lumps, examine it closely to find out what it is.
Keep a pair of tweezers handy, to pull out bits of twig that may be stuck.
If the skin is broken, put anti-bacterial ointment or powder on the sore. Check the next day to ensure it heals completely.Refrain from taking a walk with your dog in the next couple of days, until the healing is completed.
3 Tips For Dealing With Dog Emergencies
March 12, 2008
Have you ever thought about what you need to do should your dog ? or another dog ? ever suffer a serious, life-threatening injury? What if they have a severe allergy to an insect bite or a bee sting? It’s great to know your vet’s phone number, but what if something happens during off hours? What if you don’t know where the closest emergency animal clinic is located?
Augh! Enough with the questions already, right? Any emergency is stressful and scary, and one involving that furry little four-legged member of your family is no exception. The toughest of owners can be instantly reduced to helpless balls of mush if something’s wrong with their dogs and they can’t figure out what to do.
1. Preparation is key.
The key to getting through a veterinary emergency is preparation. You may think you have that covered with a first aid kit and having the phone number to your vet handy, but what if there isn’t enough time to move your dog? You need to be well-versed in some of the more common animal emergencies just in case a situation ever arises. And hey, if a situation never arises, you’ll still feel more confident knowing that you have the ability to deal with one.
One Of The Benefits Of Using RecoveryPets.Com
March 11, 2008
One of the benefits of registering your pet with a pet recovery service is that in the event your pet should ever become lost, the finder can get information to contact the owner.
The main drawback to many of these services is that they use the information currently located on the pet tag to register the pet, and by doing this, the finder of the pet does not have a place to go to view the owners contact information.
Now these services are all right for rural communities that may have one veterinarian, and everyone practically knows each other, but they are not suited to medium or large metropolitan areas.
In these areas the chance of a pet being recovered decrease because it is an ever evolving society, and constantly growing. To take advantage of the benefits provided by a registration service in these areas, the registrar’s information has to be visible on the pet tag. One such company that provides a pet tag with its web address on the tag is RecoveryPets.com, and also on the tag is the unique registration number the pet receives when it is registered.
The Humble Hamster: A Great First Pet for Your Child
March 10, 2008
Thinking of getting a pet for your little ones? How about a hamster? They’re cute, inexpensive, easy to care for, and a great first pet that will teach your child how to be more responsible. Here are some things I learned during my experience as a hamster owner. I hope they aid you in your pet-purchasing decision.
- Hamsters are nocturnal creatures, so expect minimal activity during the day and a fair amount of noisemaking from the hamster cage after hours. Place the cage in a warm, draft-free, secluded spot in the house, where potential activity won’t cause a disturbance in the night. Be sure that the lid or door of the cage is securely latched tight, as hamsters are fond of making the occasional midnight escape. As a little girl I awakened many a morning to find my hamster missing, having jimmied the lock on his cage somehow. On several occasions I found him vacationing in a mouse hole behind our kitchen stove and had to coax him out with his water bottle (I’m not kidding about this). It always amazed me that he never injured himself on these wild adventures.
Why Dont I Understand My Dog?
March 10, 2008
I have encountered folks who have complained to me about their numerous (dog) behavior problems. And interestingly enough, I usually discover that most of the behavioral problems are linked to a common factor. That common factor being pet owners all too often miss crucial, pet communication signals because of their busy lifestyles.
What do I mean, “…miss crucial, pet communication signals…?” While many people love the idea of having animal companions, we also have daily responsibilities such as jobs, attending school, families, and other priorities. And usually, our pets end up last place on life’s totem pole.
Another issue that certainly plays a key factor in how capable we are to understanding our animals’ needs and wants is whether or not we have indoor or outdoor pets. Though indoor pets may pose a little extra patience with regard to training, I highly recommend (as does the Humane Society ) keeping pets indoors with family.
What most individuals do not take into account is that once a collective choice is made to adopt an animal, that is precisely what is being done: we are adopting a living, feeling, creature into our lives; thus, we must consciously realize that by adopting an animal, he or she is to become a permanent addition and family member.
Canine Selection: A Guideline for Picking Your Perfect Companion
March 9, 2008
Let’s face it ? everything is cute when it’s small and furry. Puppies especially, but keep in mind that even a wolverine is playfully adorable if it’s young enough, so for the sake of all the Fidos out there and your life, make a personal selection that is suited to your lifestyle. And as wonderful as they seem when they’re young, keep in mind that they grow up and mature in more ways than probably most of the humans you know.
A good question to ask if you find yourself aching for a canine companion is whether you want a puppy or an adult. There are plenty of wonderful adult dogs that need a home. This is also an ideal choice if you are past the point or in repulsion of the rigors of potty-training as most adult dogs, barring any separation anxiety or bowel disorders, prefer to do their dirty business outside of the home. The majority have also long since past the tumultuous puppy stage which is equivalent to the human’s terrible two’s only this little one doesn’t understand much, if any, English and won’t wear a diaper.
Scottish Terrier Dogs - Important Facts
March 8, 2008
Scottish Terriers are short-legged dogs, at a height of ten to eleven inches, comparatively heavy-boned, yet deceivingly trim. They are agile and sporty pets. Moreover, their intelligence, playfulness and loyalty make them popular pets.
Historically, they were the first standard for their breed, back in 1880. So even today, when someone says Terrier, what comes to mind is the Scottish Terrier.
This breed originated in Scotland and is ubiquitously recognized as an icon of the Scottish Culture. Still, even if they have long history, it was only in the 1800s, that their history began to be recorded. Many Scottish Terrier owners insist that all other terriers share a common ancestor in the Scottish Terrier dog.
They were originally bred to hunt foxes and badgers. Although for many Americans, their first sight of a Scottish Terrier was through President Roosevelt’s pet, Fala, this breed had been in the country since the late 18th century. In fact, the first registered Scottie America was ‘’Dake'’ born Sept. 15, 1884.
Physically the average Scottish Terrier weighs 19-23 pounds in adulthood and lives a life span of 12-15 years. They come in most any shades and colors such as black, wheaten, or brown. They don’t shed a lot of hair. Ideally, you should comb and evenly trim his coat regularly to keep the coat neat and shiny.
Scottie & Westie - This Mistake is Perfectly Understandable
March 7, 2008
Show an uninformed dog lover a photo of a Westie, and they’d identify a Westie as a white Scottie. This mistake is perfectly understandable, since they do have similar physical attributes and both originated from Scotland.
There are a lot of postulated theories about these similarities. However, one valid assumption is that centuries ago, a generic terrier was once a native to Scotland.
Over the years, different breeds came about from interbreeding, locations, the conditions and human requirements, which resulted in the different breeds. So when you compare the modern Westie to its’ two closest relatives, the Scottie and the Cairn, you’ll see more similarities than differences.
Here are just some of the differences between a Scottie & Westie.
A Westie is usually between 12-15 inches tall terrier with a straight and erect tail, about 5 ? 6 inches. This breed has a two inch white double coat, while the outer coat is hard straight hair the under coat is soft.
They possess a black button nose and pointed erect ears. Their deep chests and muscular limbs give the westies the agility and power that was required in the original line of work for their breed. They were originally developed to hunt for vermin in the mountains of West Scotland.
