About West Highland Terriers
West Highland Terriers have a special charm, capturing the hearts of their owners with their thick, snow-white coats and piercing beanie eyes. This little breed has many delightful qualities. However, for the dog owner who wishes he had a cat when uninvited house guests appear, it's an added bonus to have a dog that goes after rodents.
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Features
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A West Highland Terrier is a playful, extroverted dog with abounding energy and much confidence. A popular dog, these independent terriers were rated 35th in best breeds by the American Kennel Association in 2007 (See Resources). They're hairy, round in appearance, have a short, erect tail and are white all over. In fact, the breed only comes in white.
A sturdy, short-legged terrier, this breed, known as Westies, sports a tough white outer coat, about two inches thick, as well as a soft, short inner coat. They have intense, dark eyes that are deep-set with small, pointed ears that are upright. The weight of an average Westie ranges from 12 to 22 pounds, and stands 9 to 12 inches high, with males slightly taller and heavier than bitches.
History
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Westies have their roots in the terriers of Scotland. In the mid-1800s, the breeder of the Cairn terrier of Argyll, Scotland, took white puppies from a litter and bred them, producing the West Highland White Terrier (white Cairn). Although they're known as "Westies," the breed has undergone several names changes, including Roseneath, Pltalloch, White Scottish, Little Sky and Cairn. Originally bred for hunting, today they're popular house pets and competitive show dogs.
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Benefits
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There are many advantages in adopting a Westie. For example, they have a pleasant personality, making ideal family pets.
Because they're terriers, they're natural rodent hunters, easing the problem of rodent infestation.
Although Westies love the outdoors, they adapt easier to the indoors, so they can work well as apartment dogs. Just be sure to take them on daily walks.
As for training, West Highland Terriers are intelligent and learn quickly. However, they can be obstinate, so you need to be firm and consistent.
Because of their small size, they may not protect you but they do make ideal guard dogs, as they'll let you know when someone's at the door. Once they know the visitors aren't threatening their owners, they make friends, showing affection to anyone who wants to play.
Warning
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Although Westies are friendly with most dogs and children, they're don't socialize with smaller animals. Therefore, it's not a good idea to add another pet such as a hamster (who's also a rodent) or another dog that's smaller, as a Chihuahua.
They're basically healthy dogs, but need to be checked for skin disease and globoid cell leukodystrophy, especially as they age.
Misconceptions
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Westies have the negative reputation for snapping. If they do snap, it's usually not the dog's fault, but the owner's. Often, owners don't take the time to train their dogs or treat them properly. As with any breed, it's beneficial to enroll a newly adopted pup in a local dog training class.
Prevention/Solution
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Because they're natural hunters, Westies chase other animals. This can be a problem if you don't have a fenced-in yard. Be cautious about letting your dog off the leash, unless he's trained to come when called.
They also love to dig. Dogs usually dig whether or not they see you work in the dirt, but there's a greater chance if you're a gardener. Do your gardening while your Westie isn't around, because this breed loves to mimic. Another solution is to give a Westie his own personal sandbox, demonstrating that this is where he should dig.
Considerations
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If you don't want to spend considerable time and money in upkeep, then think twice about adopting a Westie. Because of their wire coats, they require a good deal of grooming, including combings two to three times weekly, plus shaping every three months. Shaping entails clipping fur and for show dogs it's even more elaborate, such as stripping. Also, it's hard to keep the coat white if it rains often.
Make sure you're able to give a Westie the physical and mental stimulation it needs. In addition to regular walks, Westies love to play and need to use their active minds for constructive activities rather than get into mischief. This means providing enough safe toys that keep them occupied.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Vitaly Shabalyn
