West Australian Terrier 

The West Australian Terrier is a proud, confident, and playful dog. These pups are alert, and active, always ready to participate in any activity they can find. They thrive on social interaction and can become anxious when left alone for too long. They are intelligent dogs so it’s important to ensure that they get plenty of exercise. When left to their own devices they may become destructive and yappy. Australian Terriers are known for their love of digging, so it’s likely that your West Australian Terrier will inherit this trait. Keeping your dog active and engaged will prevent it from becoming mischievous. West Australian Terriers are friendly and typically get along with other dogs, though males prefer to be the alpha, and may become competitive with other male dogs. Socializing them well from puppyhood will help alleviate this type of issue. Because their parent breeds are bred for hunting, these pups have a strong prey drive. They can be taught to get along with cats, but are not a good companion for other small animals. They are great companions for kids, who will love their playful energy. Just ensure that kids are taught to be gentle with these pups as their small size means they are delicate when it comes to rough housing. West Australian Terriers are intelligent and thus easy to train. In fact, they are so quick to learn that you may find yourself teaching them things by accident! Be sure to set clear, consistent boundaries with your dog to avoid perpetuating bad habits. These dogs like to think for themselves so training is most successful when rewards are used. These pups are good watchdogs because they will bark at anything that appears unfamiliar. However, they will quickly relax once they realize there is no imminent threat.