West Highland White Terrier Dog Breed

Below are details and specs for the Westie dog breed:

Although Westies are considered medium-sized in comparison with other terriers, they are still a small sized dog breed. They are 15-20 pounds and 14-16 inches of pure excitement and spunk.Members of this breed are happy, excitable and generally good-natured. Their curiosity and independence can sometimes result in stubborn pet that can be difficult to train and requires frequent refreshing. West Highland White Terriers play well with other dogs, as they are social with abundant energy but may have hunting instincts with smaller pets or outdoor animals such as squirrels. They make great dogs for families with children that are old enough to handle them gently; Westies are equally as good a choice for a single owner. Strangers will be barked at with great bravado. These pets make great watchdogs since they are very confident and vocal.

To maintain the Westies fitness they should be exercised daily for a minimum of 15-30 minutes; indoor dogs may need an hour. They especially enjoy hunting and chasing games. Grooming is not difficult as they only require a few weekly brushings and twice yearly trimming of their hard outer coats. This breed is suggested to have regular checkups. They are prone to several genetic issues including skin diseases and neuromuscular diseases.

Whatever the Westie's history, they were always well liked. The breed was documented as early as the reign of King James the I. During the reign of James VI of Scotland they were presented as gifts to France. They were also recorded to accompany the Spanish Armada around the late 1500s. The main purpose of these dogs at the time was to hunt small animals such as badgers and foxes in the rocky Scottish highlands.

An interesting historical note can be made about how the white coat coloration was exclusively bred in West Highland White Terriers. Originally these dogs could range anywhere from red to black or cream to white, however Colonel Edward Donald Malcolm, of Poltalloch, Argyllshire, Scotland is rumored to be responsible for the remarkable transition to a white coat standard. Supposedly after one of his beloved red - colored terriers was shot when mistaken for a fox, he was determined to only have white terriers on the hunt so to make them visible and avoid another accident. These Poltalloch Terriers were actually sandy in color and bred with similar white terriers Pittenweem Terriers (credited to Dr. Americ Edwin Flaxman) and Roseneath Terriers (credited to George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll) to achieve the end result of consistent white coat.

They were acknowledged by the AKC in 1908 after arriving in America one year prior and during this time were still called the Roseneath Terrier. In 1909 the name was officially changed to the West Highland White Terrier This breed is now recognized by almost all organizations. Many West Highland White Terrier clubs began coming together shortly thereafter, among the earliest of which is the West Highland White Terrier Club of America. This breed has remained popular into current times.

The characteristic white coat of the breed is double-layered. The 2 inch long outer coat is naturally rough and somewhat hard but this is often removed when the adult dogs are groomed. The undercoat is soft and thick, providing a rounded look to the breed- especially the head area The lower jaw is placed so that the lower teeth overlap the upper ones; Westies often suffer from an overgrowth of the lower jaw. This breed always has a black nose, dark almond-shaped eyes set deep into the skull, and pointy ears on top of the head.

Don't let this small dog fool you. The legs, although longer compared to some terriers, are short and strong with the feet pointing outward; as the West Highland Scottish Terrier originated in the rugged, rocky Scottish terrain this was an asset for grip and balance.

Genetically, the West Highland White Terrier doesn't show much variation from dog to dog. True to its name, Westie hair is always white, and the coat is long, rough, and double-layered (though some groomers prefer to remove the outer coat when the dog matures).

Size is fairly constant as well: 14-16 inches in height, 15-20 pounds in weight. Though the Teacup Westie is both adorable and highly sought-after, it is not a true variant of the breed; in reality, disreputable breeders and puppy mills offer "Mini Westies" or "Toy Westies" for sale simply because of the dogs' appeal, but which have been developed using unethical breeding methods.

These dogs are happy, friendly and high energy. Although they look like cute, cuddly lap-dogs they actually have quite a varied personality. West Highland White Terriers are independent so there is a possibility that they may prefer their space. Generally however, they play well with other dogs. Smaller pets may inspire their natural instinct to hunt and treat these animals as prey. They are not patient with rough handling so a family with young children may not make the best companion for these dogs, as children sometimes unintentionally may play too hard with them. Other than that, this dog is a wonderful friend for all other ages. This breed has the loyalty and confidence to be a watchdog and alert (bark) the owner to strangers.

Training is not very easy with this breed even though they are curious and investigative. Since they are independent and confident they can also be stubborn and hard to train, so not only does the owner need plenty of patience but plenty of time as well; training will need to be refreshed frequently. The owner should be completely capable of having authority over such a dog or this will be even more difficult, but once respect is established, communicating should not be as difficult. When bored these dogs may bark and dig.

Due to the small size and happy nature they make good travel dogs. Just make sure to have these dogs on a leash whenever they are outside of a secure area as they love to chase anything small in size. Overall, this is a lively, happy and energetic pet.

As an established breed, purebred West Highland White Terriers are prone to several health disorders. Skin abnormalities such as Atopic Dermatitis and Hyperplastic Dermatosis (both can result in hair loss) should be watched for; eye issues such as dry-eye and cataracts should be monitored as well. Ailments of moderate concern are Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Craniomandibular Osteopathy. Craniomandibular Osteopathy is quite common and is the overgrowth of the lower jaw and this condition can cause feeding and swallowing problems. Several other neurological issues such as White Dog Shaker Syndrome and globoid cell leukodystrophy are also not unusual for this breed and can result in tremors, loss of movement control and even paralysis. If the general health of your Westie is monitored he/she may enjoy a lifespan of 12-16 years; this information is varied with some sources reporting an average of 11 years while others say 13 years.

Below is an overview of the most common health issues in Westies: