How to Teach a West Highland White Terrier to Leave It
Teaching a West Highland White Terrier to leave it is essential impulse control training that addresses their naturally strong prey drive and stubborn streak. Westies are confident, spirited dogs with moderate trainability, meaning they'll respond well to clear, consistent commands—but only if they see good reason to comply. This guide focuses on positive reinforcement to build reliable "leave it" behavior around food, objects, and hazards. Given their tendency to bark and dig when frustrated, a patient approach prevents escalation. With 45 minutes of daily exercise already burning their moderate energy, this training session fits perfectly into their routine and significantly improves safety around your home and during walks.
Step-by-step
- 1
Start with High-Value Rewards
Westies are food-motivated and respond best to rewards they genuinely want. Identify treats your dog values more than the objects you want them to ignore—often small pieces of chicken or cheese work best. Hold the treat close to your body and reward immediately when your dog makes eye contact with you instead of the distraction, building the association that ignoring temptation pays off.
- 2
Practice the Foundation in a Calm Setting
Begin training indoors with minimal distractions. Place a low-value treat on the floor, cover it loosely with your hand or a tissue, and wait for your dog to naturally look away or at you. Mark this with "yes" and immediately reward with your high-value treat. Repeat 5-10 times per session, keeping sessions short to maintain your Westie's focus—their spirited nature means they tire of repetition quickly.
- 3
Gradually Increase Temptation
Over several days, progress to uncovered treats on the floor, then tossed treats a few feet away. Your Westie's prey drive will be triggered, so stay patient and calm; avoid saying "no" harshly, which can increase frustration and barking. Only reward when they choose to ignore the treat and look back at you, strengthening their impulse control.
- 4
Introduce Real-Life Scenarios
Practice with objects your dog typically lunges for—dropped food, toys, or hazards on walks. Keep sessions short (5-10 minutes) to work with their moderate energy span. Use a consistent verbal cue like "leave it," then redirect to you with high-value rewards, preventing the stubborn streak from taking over by staying one step ahead with better rewards.
- 5
Build Duration and Distance
Once your Westie reliably leaves it for a few seconds, gradually extend the time before rewarding. Increase distance by tossing treats farther away and asking them to leave it before retrieving. Practice in different environments—the yard, the sidewalk, indoors—to ensure the behavior generalizes beyond your training space.
- 6
Maintain and Troubleshoot
Consistency is crucial with a confident, spirited breed like the Westie. Practice "leave it" 2-3 times per day in short sessions. If your dog regresses or shows frustration (barking, lunging), return to an easier level; never force them to ignore something, as this triggers their stubborn streak and undermines trust in the training process.
Pro tips
- Use rewards your Westie values more than the temptation—their food motivation is strong, so find that jackpot treat (cheese, chicken) and reserve it exclusively for successful 'leave it' practice.
- Keep sessions under 10 minutes to match their spirited, moderate trainability; a bored Westie's stubborn streak activates quickly, shutting down learning.
- Practice during or just after their 45-minute daily exercise when they're slightly tired but not exhausted—this mellows their prey drive and improves focus without frustration.
Frequently asked questions
My Westie gets frustrated and barks when I cover the treat. What should I do?+
This is common—their barking tendency and spirited nature can escalate quickly. Pause training immediately and let them settle. When calm, start over with an easier version (farther away treat or lower temptation). Keep sessions very short and end on a success. Frustration training is counterproductive with Westies; stay patient and only reward calm choices.
How often should I practice leave it training?+
2-3 short sessions daily (5-10 minutes each) work best. This fits nicely into their recommended 45 minutes of daily exercise and keeps their stubborn streak in check by preventing boredom-driven resistance. Consistency matters more than long sessions—Westies respond better to frequent, brief practice than to one long training block.
My Westie knows 'leave it' at home but ignores it on walks. Why?+
This is normal—high-distraction environments (smells, movement, prey) override training for a breed with strong prey drive and moderate trainability. Practice "leave it" in progressively busier settings before expecting reliable behavior on walks. Use higher-value rewards outdoors and practice during your daily 45-minute exercise routine to build reliable impulse control in real-world conditions.
Can I use punishment if my Westie picks something up anyway?+
No. Punishment triggers their stubborn streak and can make them avoid you instead of the item—potentially dangerous if they've grabbed a hazard. Instead, stay calm, redirect to you with high-value rewards, and return to an easier training level. Positive reinforcement works better with confident, spirited dogs like Westies who respect choices, not force.