![]() ![]() Who can resist these friendly, lively little dogs? The white-whiskered face with black nose and dark-brown eyes smiles back at everyone they meet. Those who’ve owned a Westie are well familiar with the breed’s quirks and personality traits-and below are five of the most defining ones.Ī Westie pops his head out of a burrow while competing in an earthdog event. But to their fans, there’s nothing better than this lively, handsome canine who's just bursting with big personality in a small package. The breed’s sterling qualities make for a charming companion-though in many ways they can be challenging to own. They are also very devoted to their people. True to their hunting background, Westies are feisty, energetic, and determined. ![]() ![]() He is closely related to several other terrier breeds from the region, including the Scottish Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Skye Terrier, and Dandie Dinmont Terrier. Like the Cairn, the Westie was originally bred for controlling the population of rats, fox, badger, otter and other vermin.The West Highland White Terrier originated long ago in the Scottish Highlands, where the breed was prized as a tough, efficient hunter of vermin and small game in the rugged landscape. In 1909 the breed’s name was changed from the Roseneath Terrier to the West Highland White Terrier. The West Highland was first shown in the USA in 1906 and first recognized by the AKC in 1908. Those pups were selected and bred to obtain the West Highland White Terrier, which is simply a white Cairn. The breed came about in the mid-19th century when a Scottish breeder of the Cairn Terrier whelped some white pups in his litters. 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 whole coat should be trimmed about every four months and stripped twice a year. Trim around the ears and eyes with blunt-nosed scissors. Brushing should keep the coat clean, so bathe only when necessary. Simply brush regularly with a stiff bristle brush. The harsh, straight, shorthaired double coat is fairly easy to groom and sheds little to no hair. Weight: Males 15 - 22 pounds (7 - 10 kg) Females 13 - 16 pounds (6 - 7 kg) Do not allow the Westie to develop Small Dog Syndrome. These problems can be corrected once the owner becomes the dog’s true pack leader. A Westie that has an owner who knows how to display firm, confident, consistent, leadership will not experience these behavioral problems. A lack of leadership on the owner’s part can cause many behavior problems, such as biting, guarding food and furniture. If a Westie is allowed to become the pack leader, it may snap when irritated and be combative with other dogs. Despite their size, they make a very good watchdog. Robust, friendly and spirited, Westies just love companionship. They may chase a cat for fun, and need to be corrected if they do attempt this. ![]() These dogs are lively and extremely self-assured toward other dogs, but will not pick fights if their owners know how to display proper leadership. It is fairly friendly toward strangers and gets along well with children. The West Highland White Terrier is a game and hardy little terrier that is easy to train. The double coat has a straight, hard outer coat that is about 2 inches long (5 cm) and a soft, dense undercoat. The undocked tail is relatively short, about 5-6 inches (12.5-15 cm) long, thicker at the base and tapering to a point. The legs are somewhat short but not too low to the ground. The ears are erect, set wide apart on top of the head and triangular in shape, coming to a point. The almond-shaped, deep-set, dark brown eyes are set wide apart. The teeth meet in a scissors bite with teeth that are large in proportion to the dog. The blunt muzzle is slightly shorter than the skull and tapers toward the nose. The head is in proportion to the body and when viewed from the front gives off a round appearance. The West Highland White Terrier, often simply called the Westie, is a small, sturdy dog. Your browser does not support the audio tag. ![]()
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