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West Highland White Terrier
(Westie)
Brody, the adult West Highland White Terrier.
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Pronunciation |
West
Highland White Terrier |
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Description |
The West Highland White Terrier, often simply called the Westie is a small, sturdy dog. The head is in proportion to the body and when viewed from the front gives off a round appearance. The blunt muzzle is slightly shorter than the skull and tapers towards the nose. There is a defined stop. The nose is black. The teeth meet in a scissors bite with teeth that are large in proportion to the dog. The almond-shaped, deep-set, dark brown eyes are set wide apart. The ears are erect set wide apart on top of the head, triangular in shape coming to a point. The legs are somewhat short but not too low to the ground. The undocked tail is relatively short, about 5-6 inches
(12.5-15 cm.) long, thicker at the base and tapering to a point. Dewclaws are sometimes removed. The double coat has a straight, hard outer coat that is about 2 inches long (5 cm.) and a soft, dense undercoat. Coat colors come in solid white. |
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Temperament |
West Highland White Terriers are game and hardy little terriers, which are
easy to train. They are fairly friendly toward strangers and get along well
with children. Easy dog to travel with. They are lively and extremely
self-assured toward other dogs, but will not pick fights, if their owners know how to display proper leadership. They may chase a cat
for fun, and need to be corrected if they do attempt this. Robust, friendly and spirited.
Westies just love companionship. Despite its size, they make a very good
watchdog. The Westie likes to dig and
bark. If a Westie is allowed to become the pack leader, they may snap when irritated and be combative with other dogs. A lack of leadership on the owners part can cause many behavior problems, such as biting, guarding food and furniture. A Westie who has an owner who knows how to display firm, confident, consistent, leadership will not experience these behavioral problems. These problems can be corrected once the owner becomes the dogs true pack leader. Do not allow the Westie to develop Small Dog Syndrome. |
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Height, Weight |
Height: Dogs 10-12 inches
(25-30cm.) Bitches 9-11 inches (23-28cm.)
Weight: Dogs 15-22 pounds (7-10kg.) Bitches 13-16 pounds (6-7kg.) |
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Health Problems |
Prone to chronic hernias, liver
disease Legg-Perthes disease (hip problems), jawbone calcification and skin problems. |
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Living Conditions |
West Highland White
Terriers are suitable for people in towns and
cities as well as in the country. They are very active indoors and will do okay
without a yard. |
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Exercise |
These little dogs,
need a daily walk.
Play will take care of a lot of their exercise needs, however, as with all
breeds, play will not fulfill their primal instinct to walk. Dogs who do not get
to go on daily walks are more likely to display behavior problems. They will
also enjoy a good romp in a safe open area off lead, such as a large fenced in
yard. |
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Life Expectancy |
About 15 or more years. |
Grooming |
The harsh, straight, short-haired
double coat is fairly easy to groom and sheds little to no hair. Simply brush
regularly with a stiff bristle brush. Brushing should keep the coat clean, so
bathe only when necessary. Trim around the ears and eyes with blunt-nosed
scissors. The whole coat should be trimmed about every four months and stripped
twice a year. |
| Origin |
The West Highland White Terrier originates from Poltalloch, Scotland and was once called the Poltalloch Terrier and later was called the Roseneath Terrier, named after the Duke of Argyll’s estate. The breed came about in the mid 19th
century when a Scottish breeder of the Cairn Terrier whelped some white pups in his litters. Those pups were selected
and bred to obtain the West Highland White Terrier, which is simply a white
Cairn. The West Highland was first shown in the USA in 1906 and first recognized by the AKC in 1908. In 1909 the breeds name was changed from the Roseneath Terrier to the West Highland White Terrier. Like the Cairn, the Westie was originally bred for controlling the population of rats, fox,
badger, otter and other vermin. |
| Group |
Terrier, AKC Terrier |
| Recognition |
CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, ANKC,
NKC, NZKC, CET, APRI, ACR, DRA |
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CKC = Continental
Kennel Club
FCI = Fédération
Cynologique Internationale
AKC = American
Kennel Club
UKC = United Kennel
Club
KCGB = Kennel
Club of Great Britain
CKC = Canadian
Kennel Club
ANKC = Australian
National Kennel Club
NKC = National
Kennel Club
NZKC = New Zealand
Kennel Club
CET = Club
Español de Terriers (Spanish Terrier Club)
APRI = American Pet Registry
Inc.
ACR = American Canine Registry
DRA = Dog Registry of America, Inc. |
"Oscar is a Westie -- a
West Highland Terrier. In this photo, he is 6 months old. Oscar
does not shed, loves to play with other dogs, and is totally
fearless. His favorite pastime is eating bugs -- including bees,
which he catches and spits out. He is very mellow for a terrier and
likes to cuddle with us. A little dog (20 pounds) with a big
personality!"
Westie Posters and Prints!
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Madison, the Beautiful Westie.
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Brody, the Westie sit'in pretty!
Brody, the Westie, going for a walk
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Photo Courtesy of Otto.
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WHWT breeding station AL - MOKTAR
Photo Courtesy of Lekesova
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"This is a photo that I took of my dog Max, who is a really special Westie, at 2 years old, almost 3, and has Pancreatic Insufficiency, which is similar to diabetes, but is not the same thing. Instead of not having insulin in his pancreas, he is missing a vital enzyme that takes nutrients out of the food he eats. We began to notice that he was acting somewhat strange a few months after he turned 1. He began to eat constantly, need tons of bathroom breaks, have loose stools, and eat his own fecal matter. We took him to the vet's office many times, with no luck in finding what it was. They checked for worms and all sorts of things and he became very skinny. He ate and ate and yet he still lost more weight. I was terrified for him because it really looked like the end of my short relationship with my frisky puppy who had lost his energy. He slept, ate, and went outside. He became very tired and lazy. He no longer wanted to tear things up, scratch at people's legs until they played with him or take walks. You really don't realize how great those sometimes irritating actions are in a dog are until you lose them due to illness. We never lost hope though, and kept taking him to the vet's office. Eventually we switched vets, and only a month after we did so, they found what it was! Our dog was missing that enzyme. They had him switch to wet food, and now he is fed twice a day with the enzyme, taken from pigs, mixed into his food. He is a really happy dog who has endless energy and is just the cutest little thing. We suspect that it might have been genetic and could have something to do with the breeders that the pet store we got our dog from. Who knows what would have happened to Max if we had chosen a different dog? We are very privileged to have the money to treat Max's disease and his allergies. I suspect that he would have been put down or ended up on the streets. I have two siblings, one nine and the other six, and max loves them. We haven't had problems with his temperment at all. He does love to bark though, and it is very loud. We feel bad for the neighbors sometimes. He loves to run around in the yard and chase popped soccer balls, frisbees, and other things. Ever since he stopped eating dry food, he hasn't liked hard treats. Only the soft stuff now! Suprisingly enough, he hasn't had any dental problems. He is so sweet and has so many things to love about him that he makes his medicines worth every penny. I love him to death."
West Highland White Terrier Pictures 1
West Highland White Terrier Pictures 2
West Highland White Terrier Pictures 3
Small Dogs vs. Medium and Large Dogs
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