Posted by admin | Posted in Pets & Animals | Posted on 06-09-2010
Tags: digging, information, west highland white terrier, westie
Most terriers have a tendency toward digging, and West Highland White Terriers are no different. This behavior is natural for an animal that was bred specifically for this purpose, but as a pet, digging can be destructive to a cultivated lawn. In fact, digging can even be dangerous, if your pet decides to dig under a fence to see what is on the other side.
Most terriers accept a addiction against digging, and West Highland White Terriers are no different. This behavior is accustomed for an beastly that was bred accurately for this purpose, but as a pet, digging can be annihilative to a able lawn. In fact, digging can even be dangerous, if your pet decides to dig beneath a fence to see what is on the added side. Although digging is accustomed for Westies, there are means to ascendancy the appetite for this behavior. So why, pet, Westies agreeable for digging and what are some things that can be done about it?
The West Highland White Terrier has a affection for digging, but to accept why, we accept to aboriginal go aback to the breed’s roots. Westies, forth with abounding added abbreviate legged terriers from the Scotland area, were bred accurately to aid in the coursing of baby animals. Called “earth dogs,” they were accomplished to seek and even out foxes and added baby animals from their burrows. Throughout the generations, this behavior artlessly became built-in in the animals’ behavior and the physique evolves to clothing its’ accustomed purpose.
This is why the nails of Westies and abounding added baby terriers tend to abound faster than added breeds, in adjustment to abetment them with their digging work.It is accurate that all breeds accept a baby amount of digging behavior. However, it is aswell bright that some breeds accept a stronger aptitude than others. Although there are several means to ascendancy this behavior, abounding of them crave abutting supervision. To activate with, it will be accessible to apperceive what attracts your Westie to a accurate spot.
In his eyes, the moister and fresher the dirt, the better, so anew buried flowers, beginning mulch, or spaces that you are aggravating to accumulate clammy will be the aboriginal places your pet will go. Unless you plan to fence off your flowerbeds or accord your Westie chargeless administration over the aback yard, actuality are some tips you can try.A shaker can, which is artlessly a soda can with a scattering of pennies or basics and bolts placed central with the aperture taped shut, is what abounding breeders and fanciers use to abash digging.
If your Westie starts digging in an breadth breadth he isn’t allowed, agitate the can already in an up and down motion. Continuous afraid of the can will attenuate your pet to the sound, and you wish it to affright him, authoritative it unpleasant, so that he will stop his behavior. Immediately afterwards afraid the can, reinforce the command with praise, such as “Good boy, no digging.” Be able to echo this assignment absolutely often, try confusing him with toys anon afterwards you stop him from digging, and aloft all, be accommodating and consistent.
On the pet bazaar at the accepted time, there are some sprays or dry treatments that can be brindled over an breadth that you don’t wish your Westie to dig in. As it is the “unpleasant” that appears to smell that keeps the dog abroad from the area, you will accept to echo this action several times as well, on a approved basis. Covering a aperture that your Westie has dug with craven wire or rocks can abash him from digging in that area, but will not affect his affection for added areas.Lastly, there are those that apostle giving a amplitude in the aback backyard to your Westie – a chargeless digging area.
Encourage him to appear to the breadth with some of his toys, and if you acquisition him digging elsewhere, acclaim abuse him and calmly yield him to his appropriate digging area.
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Author: John P Jackson | Source: ezinearticles.com
