Instructions
Establish a routine. When you create a steady schedule for your Westie, it will feel more secure and will be able to relax more easily. Feed, walk and play with your Westie at specific times throughout the day. A set routine helps reduce stress and increases your pet's level of confidence.
Give your Westie a crate. Westies like to have a place they can call their own, and a crate provides a secure environment where a timid dog can feel safe.
Take a training class. With the proper instruction, you can learn effective techniques that will help you train your timid Westie.
Provide a calm environment for training your pet. Eliminate unnecessary noise and distractions. Your Westie will be more receptive to instruction when it can focus on you exclusively.
Provide lots of positive reinforcement in the form of toys and treats when your Westie responds to your instruction. Giving your pet the support and encouragement it needs will help it overcome timid behavior.
How to Train a Timid Westie
The West Highland White Terrier, also known as the Westie, is a lively, friendly pet known for getting along well with children. Because of its desire to please its owner, a Westie can be fairly easy to train once it understands that you are the boss. Occasionally, however, you may meet a Westie that is timid and doesn't react well to training. If the Westie is a rescue dog, it might have been mistreated in the past, causing it to shy away from your commands. There are a number of gentle methods you can use to train a timid pet.