Pets Information

Westies Dogs and Your Children


Almost without exception, breeders will advertise that their favorite terrier, westies dogs, are good with children. However, terrier enthusiasts, and westie rescue organizations, tell a different story. Before you bring your terrier into a home with small children, be sure you understand the westie personality, and how they might react to your children's behavior.

Like any terrier, a westie can have what is called a high 'prey drive.' Any breed of terrier, westhighland terriers included, was originally bred to hunt down small prey, chase into its den, and then aggressively, or even viscously fight the prey until it was caught in the dog's jaws. Because small children's high, squealing voices sound like the squeals of fleeing prey , a westies' prey drive may be triggered by these sounds.

To compound the confusion the dog will see children running from them in the same way the see prey running to escape. It will give chase.

Among the breeds of terrier, a westie is one that will not tolerate manhandling. Trainers advise that unlike some dogs, which can be desensitized to the ear-pulling, and poking and prodding that small children are likely to inflict, westies will react adversely to this treatment. The more you or your child annoys your little terrier, the more likely it is to become aggressive or nip.

From the point of view of a terrier, it will see small children as an inferior member of the 'pack.' This is true of many dogs. Being strong-willed west highland white terriers have an inclination to be bossy in the first place. Small children are incapable of countering this behavior.

If you have your heart set on a terrier, westies can still be your dog of choice if you have children. First train your children, then train your terrier. Teach your children how to properly approach, handle, and play with your westie.

This is wise for any child, even if you do not have dogs, because at some time in their lives they will encounter a stray, or a dog tethered in its yard, and will need to know what to do to avoid aggravating the animal.

Obedience training is highly recommended for any westie that will be around small children. Also, give your westie an escape hole, a place that only it can reach, where it can feel safe if the children do manage to annoy it. Even if you have had obedience training for your terrier, they should never be left alone with babies or toddlers. This is true of any dog.

Playful, friendly, and loyal, westhighland terriers are good pets. If both are properly supervised and prepared, can truly be good dogs for children.

(Disclaimer: Any information contained in this site relating to various medical, health and fitness conditions of Westies or other animals and their treatments is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own veterinarian. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing the health of any animal. You should always consult and check with your own vet or veterinarian.)

I do hope that you have found the article of use to you.

Good health and happiness

Jeff Cuckson
webmaster@madaboutwesties.com

Want To Know How To Have The Healthiest,
Happiest and Most Well Behaved Westie You
Have Ever Dreamed Of! Then Visit NOW!
http://www.madaboutwesties.com


MORE RESOURCES:

MyFox Chicago

Three charged, birds recovered after series of pet shop thefts
Chicago Sun-Times
The stolen birds are safe and three people been charged in connection with the thefts of exotic pets -- worth more than $5000 -- from three west suburban ...
Cops may have break in suburban bird theftsChicago Daily Herald
Two arrested, two questioned after exotic bird theftsChicago Sun-Times

all 35 news articles »


Central Florida News 13

Power outage decimates pet store
NBC2 News
Dozens of animals are dead after the power was shut off to a Florida pet store. Investigators say the owner of "Noah's Ark Exotic Pets" in Polk County was ...
8 animals found dead in Fla. pet storeMiamiHerald.com
'Complaints' about Lakeland pet storeMyFox Tampa Bay
Animals found dead in pet store with no powerTbo.com
The Ledger -istockAnalyst.com (press release) -Palm Beach Post
all 31 news articles »


Some local shelters open to pets
Cape Cod Times
The welfare of pets and wild animals is not far from the minds of Cape Cod residents as they keep a watchful eye on the approaching storm. ...

and more »


Sandusky Register

Bear attack highlights lax Ohio exotic pet laws
Forbes
After a standoff between the Humane Society and agriculture interests, state officials are crafting restrictions on the ownership of dangerous wild pets. ...
Want a Python for a Pet? Try Ohio -- For NowFOXNews
Bear attack highlights lax exotic pet lawsmsnbc.com
Bear attack highlights lax Ohio exotic pet lawsSan Jose Mercury News

all 745 news articles »


New York Times (blog)

Make sure the pets are safe during storms
StarNewsOnline.com (blog)
It is important that any outdoor pets are offered proper shelter during this event. As most of you already know, I push for pets to live inside, ...
Include pets, elderly in personal storm prepsWVEC.com (subscription)
If a hurricane watch is calledUPI.com
Here's what you can do to prepare for a possible hurricaneAttleboro Sun Chronicle
Sumter Item -Cape Cod Times -Patch
all 12,903 news articles »


msnbc.com

New Walt Disney World Pet Resort is Up and Running!
Magical Mountain
The Best Friends Pet care Facility has officially opened, as of yesterday, at the Walt Disney World Resort. The new facility has replaced the kennels that ...
Pet-friendly hotels with pets on staffmsnbc.com
New Best Friends pet resort at Disney World offers luxury for lucky canines ...Examiner.com
Disney luxury pet resort opensMyFoxOrlando.com
PR Newswire (press release) -Paw Nation -Chip and Co
all 20 news articles »


San Francisco Chronicle (blog)

Pests and pets: a bedbug primer for pet lovers
San Francisco Chronicle (blog)
No one likes bedbugs — including your pets. And although these pests don't live directly on the body of their hosts (be them animals or humans), ...

and more »


KATU

Hurricane pet safety tips
Fall River Herald News
More than 35 million people, many of them pet owners, live in areas threatened by Atlantic hurricanes. With pets in more than 60 percent of American ...
US residents reminded to include pets in evacuation plansAnimal Friends Pet Insurance
Have a plan for your pets for when emergencies strikeFoster's Daily Democrat
Pets abandoned after Katrina thriving in Chicago area homesChicago Tribune
Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog) -KATU -Moriches Daily
all 11 news articles »


Paws for pets
York News-Times
It was the first of 99 articles written for Paws for Pets. Some things never change, this being the 100th article I sat down to the computer ...

and more »


Novinite.com

Avoiding the heartbreak of heartworms
smithmountainlake.com
Unfortunately, pets also are susceptible to many of these infections, which are difficult to diagnose and treat. However, there is one parasite that ...
County resumes effort to curb West Nile riskFort Wayne Journal Gazette
Verbatim: More mosquito spraying scheduled in Fort WayneFort Wayne Journal Gazette (blog)
City to take West Nile fight to NW Side TuesdayChicago Breaking News - Tribune (blog)
Shore News Today
all 285 news articles »

Google News

home | site map | First Rate Hosting
© 2006 First Rate Hosting

Powered By First Rate Hosting