West Highland White Terrier Dog Breed

West Highland White Terriers are a breed of dog known for their small size and white coat; their fans often call them simply Westies. They are friendly, good with children, and thrive on lots of attention. Like most terriers, they have plenty of attitude (some might say "spirit") for a dog their size.

The Westie is a wonderful little dog. He's cute, apartment-sized, filled with personality-plus and very active. Some terriers, like the Westie, are "below the knee" in size, but in spite of their size, all terriers are masculine dogs and do not show any signs of timidity or shyness. These are busy dogs, on their toes and ready for action! If you are looking for a sedentary lap dog, this will not be the breed fro you. The Westie has a very steady disposition and fits well with family life. He gets along well with children and will accept strangers once he has had a chance to become acquainted. He is a cocky dog who may not go out and start a fight but he will surely stand his ground when pushed.

Common characteristics for all terriers are their desire to work with great enthusiasm and their courage. They all have large and powerful teeth for the size of their bodies; they have keen hearing and excellent eyesight.

The Westie is similar to his Scottish counterparts, the Scottish Terrier and the Cairn terrier. Of the three, the Scottie is the most substantial dog, the heaviest in weight, the largest in bone and the most dour in personality. The Cairn is the lightweight of the group. The Westie is nicely placed between these two breeds, in substance and personality. He has substantial bone, but weighs less than the Scottie.

Westies, as with other terriers, can be a challenge in the obedience ring. Terriers are not easy breeds to work with in obedience. Their intelligence and independent spirit can sometimes be more trying to train than most owners anticipate. The Terrier is easily distracted and busy but he is an intelligent dog, and he does respond to training.

There are health problems, too. Do remember to buy your puppy from a reputable breeder. Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease (LCP Disease) is a bone-related disease that affects short-legged terriers as well as humans. The disease appears between 4 and 10 months and is very painful. The dog will limp on one or both rear legs and eventually the leg muscles become wasted. There some treatments for this disease.

Craniomandibular osteopathy (CMO) is a fairly rare disease seen in Westies, Scotties and Cairns. It is apparently a hereditary disease although the exact pattern of inheritance is unknown. This is a calcification of the joint between the lower jaw and the skull, a multiplication in growth of bone cells. It usually occurs between 4 and 7 months and it must not be confused with a teething problem or with cancer. Puppies who have this disease have difficulty in opening their mouths.

Copper associated hepatitis is a serious problem in the Bedlington terrier and has been found in some bloodlines in Westies. Affected animals develop hepatitis and eventually liver cirrhosis. Reputable breeders will have their dogs tested and will not breed affected dogs.

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye) is a problem that was noticed in Westies in the early 1980s and owners should be aware of it. It is a recurrent form of conjunctivitis that becomes chronic and very painful for the dog. The problem can be treated with drugs, but this is not a long-tern solution.

Although this list of health problems may look daunting, the Westie is still considered to be a healthy breed. The problems mentioned are present in the breed and a buyer should be aware of them. Do not be turned away from the breed but do be aware that if the breeder of your puppy is reputable, he will be doing his utmost to keep them out of his line.

Photo courtesy of:  Bílá Amfora 

West Highland White Terrier Breed Outline

West Highland White Terrier Breed Outline

The Westie's perpetual animation will frustrate, yet entertain, delight, yet vex

The Westie's perpetual animation will frustrate, yet entertain, delight, yet vex. If this type of relationship doesn't appeal to you, please consider another breed. Before you buy, learn as much as possible about terriers in general and Westies in particular. Never imagine you can mold this canine personality to suit yourself; some inherited traits are stronger than human will. Neglect, boredom and lakc of human attention will ruin a nice Westie. Somewhat pugnacious around strange dogs, the Westie is generally sociable with family dogs and cats. Westies have double coat, the top of which is hard and wiry, in contrast to his soft, short undercoat. Westie's skin tends to be drier that that of most other breeds, which is why they have very little doggie odor. Plucking instead of clipping is necessary to achieve excellence in blending the softer undercoat with harder and longer top coat.

Posted by Guest_3444 on Thursday, January 22, 2009

Must Love Terriers

If ou are considering a Westie as a pet, you must like terriers! Or at least any other breed with similar get-up-and-go outlook on life. If your idea of a good pet is one who lies at your feet and is a passive presence in your life, a Westie would probably a poor choice for you.



People often speak disparagingly of "yappy little terriers", but what these critics fail to realize is that there were goof reaons for Westies and related breeds to be vocal when they routinely did a terrier's work. The nature of the breed goes back to their "job description."



Any dog going to ground was required to either to kill the quarry underground or or aler the hunter of the location of the prey so that it could be dug out and dispatched. To those hunters the terrier with a big voice and the inclination to use it was considered a valuable addition to any hunting effort.



Although Westies are rarely used for hunting nowadays, they are still equipped for their traditional calling and that includes using their voice. It is a fact: Westies are vocal, some more than others, but a Westie needs little encouragement his own opinion about the affairs of his world. This means that Westies are very keen watchdogs. You will need to train your dog will improve the matters.

Posted by Guest_3444 on Wednesday, April 09, 2008

A dog for the whole family

A Westie is a dog for the entire family. They can rough and tumble with the best of them, and peaceful and quiet when called upon to be.



The Westie can stand up to the rawdy play of teenagers and usually understands how to behave around younger children. Many elderly people own Westies and find them wonderful, understanding companions who bring a sunny outlook in their lives. But I would not recommend a Westie to families with children under five years of age. A very young child will no understand that this irresistible thing is sensitive to pain, needs rest on a regular basis and must be handled gently at all times.



The puppy will not understand that this small replica of all people she loves is not acting out of malice when a tail or ear gets pulled, a squeeze is too tight or an eye gets poked. Faced with physical torments, a young Westie puppy will respond in the only way he knows how - by putting teeth into his side of the argument. I have yet to meet a parent willing to give up the baby and keep the puppy if things fail to go smoothly.

Posted by Guest_3467 on Wednesday, April 09, 2008

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