West Highland White Terrier

The West Highland White Terrier is one of five terriers breed originally developed in Scotland. It is also known, more colloquially, as the "Westie"�. It is often called the "all terrier"� breed because its spunky personality so epitomizes the terrier character. The West Highland White Terrier is a friendly, happy, and strong-willed little dog. It was originally bred to hunt badger and fox; it was also used to keep rats and mice out of the farmer's grain and other produce. This breed is sturdy and compact, big of bone, with a long body and short legs, and a deep chest; it possesses large, round, dark, expressive eyes that are often likened to black buttons. It has a large skull for its size, and also large teeth. The Westie is very muscular and strong. The West Highland White Terrier possesses a double coat made up of a dense, woolly undercoat and a harsh, wiry overcoat. The coat is always a bright white in color. The Westie stands an average 9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder. The tail is never to be docked, and is about 5 to 6 inches long and is carried erect. It is likely that there were one or two types of terrier dog used in the highlands of Scotland several centuries ago, and these over the centuries were developed separately into the breeds we know today. Given this common history and similar physicality, it is accurate to say that these breeds all have very similar ancestry. These would include the Scottie, the West Highland White Terrier, and the Cairn Terrier, all of whom were included in the 1880's under the heading Scottish Terrier for the purpose of exhibition. In the 17th century King James VI of Scotland (he was James I of England), who was a great admirer of Scotch-type terriers, requested some of the "earth-dogges"� from Argyllshire for his hunting use. He was likely referring to the type of terrier that was bred at the Roseneath estate near Poltollach, Scotland. These terriers, usually referred to as the "Poltollach Terrier,"� had become legendary for their burrow-hunting prowess and determination. In the 19th century the Duke of Argyll, Col. Edward Donald Malcolm, recalled these terriers being bred at the estate by his grandfather and father before him. These terriers shared a common conformation, and were colored from red to cream to white, the white being the least preferred. One day as the duke was returning from a hunt, someone in the party mistook one of the little red terriers for a fox and shot it. Legend has it that from that day on the duke bred for the color white, so that his little dogs could be easily spotted during the hunt, and would never be mistaken for the quarry again. (The fox terriers of England were also bred to be primarily white, for the same reason.) When the Westie was first shown at the Crufts dog show in London in 1907, it was listed as the "West Highland White Terrier,"� to distinguish it from other short-legged terriers of the region. When it was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1908, it was called the "Roseneath Terrier."� The AKC changed the name to West Highland White Terrier in 1909. The coat of the West Highland White Terrier's requires some grooming. This breed should have regular trims, every four to six weeks. It can be bathed regularly as needed, but the Westie is prone to skin allergies, and some individuals will be especially sensitive to shampoos and detergents. The owner should take care to use only dog-specific shampoos on this breed. Many owners work to preserve the harsh quality of the coat, which traditionally protected the dog while it worked from extremes of Scotland's wet and cold. Keeping the coat in this rough state does not require brushing, but rather a technique called "stripping"� in which the dead hairs of the coat are plucked. This action encourages the harsh, protective quality of the coat. The owner may wish to learn the technique, which takes guidance and practice, or allow a groomer to do it. Many groomers do not know how to perform the technique; the owner should research to find a groomer who is experienced specifically in stripping. For the owner who is not interested in preserving the traditional coat, brushing should be done a few times weekly, to keep the coat reasonably clean and the skin healthy. When the coat is brushed, it will tend to grow in soft and will eventually loose its harsh quality altogether. The West Highland White Terrier should be leashed when walked because they will want to chase small animals such as squirrels and cats. They do very well with a well-fenced yard, but should also have a good walk several times a week. The owner should be warned that the West Highland White Terrier is predisposed to dig; it has hundreds of years of experience in digging foxes and badgers out of dens. Care should be taken to make certain that the dog isn't digging his way out of the yard to escape. This breed is prone to globoid cell leukodystrophy, a blood disorder. Also, Legge-Perthes disease shows up occasionally in individuals of this breed. Westies sometimes develop ear infections easily; care should be taken when bathing that water does not settle in the ears, and the ears should be checked routinely for signs of infection. The West Highland White Terrier is an active, lively little dog that makes a good family house pet. It is usually friendly with children who are taught to be respectful. It can do fine with other household pets, when it has been raised with them from an early age; however, the Westie is demanding and can tend to be jealous of other pets when not socialized to their presence. The Westie is naturally territorial and will want to guard the home from intruders, barking to warn the owner when a stranger approaches. Excessive barking can become an issue without proper early training.

Back to iAnimals.com home page Copyright Notice: This website is © . All Rights Reserved.  Click Here to contact us. Link Partners: Animals Go to Heaven | Adopt Me | Salt And Pepper | Singing Animals | Animal Noises