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West Highland White Terrier

General
Other Names
Dog Group Kennel Club		Terrier
Breed Classification		West Highland White Terriers belong to the terrier group and are today used as companions, in obedience trials and in the show-ring.
Cost of Ownership
Average Food Cost		< £4 per week
Feeding Requirements		This breed is easy and relatively inexpensive to feed.
		Try Royal Canin Breed Specific Dog Food
Other Expenses		Puppies will cost £400 upwards. Their grooming cost will have to be considered as they need stripped by a professional 2 or 3 times a year.
Average Puppy Price		£300-500
Lifespan		9 - 15 years Westies normally live for 13 or 14 years, declining rapidly when the end is near.
Average Litter Size		3 Westies have litters of around 3 to 4 puppies.
General Physical Description		The beautiful shaggy coat button nose and small erect ears give this breed a cute and cuddly image Their bodies are compact and their heads have a foxlike appearance The coat however is their hallmark a double coat the outer coat being straight hard hair and the under one being soft and plentiful Their movement is free straight and easy
Height Min Max Bitch 25cm (10") 28cm (11") Dog 25cm (10") 28cm (11") Weight Min Max Bitch 7kg (15lbs) 10kg (22lbs) Dog 7kg (15lbs) 10kg (22lbs)
Size Category		Small
Weight Height Range		Both dogs and bitches measure between 25 to 28 cms, weighing between 7 to 10kgs.
Ailments		Westies are generally hardy little dogs with few breed-specific problems being reported. Some Westies are prone to skin ailments and deafness.
Common Ailments		Deafness, Inherited metabolic liver defects Skin disorders, Epidermic Dysplasia Krabbe's Disease, CMO
Susceptibility To Illness		Low
Other
History		West Highland White Terriers were bred to hunt otters, foxes and vermin. They share their ancestry with the Scottie, Cairn and Dandie Dinmont terriers. From the rough-coated terrier stock in Scotland, white whelps were selected to form this breed. Records show that James 1, King of England in the 1620's requested some 'little white earth dogges' out of Argyleshire in Scotland and these were possibly Westies! Col Malcolm of Poltalloch, Argyleshire, accidentally shot and killed his favourite terrier (a dark coloured one) and vowed from then on only to have white dogs. He may have been the originator of the Highland Terrier but at that time they were called Poltalloch Terriers. The Duke of Argyll's estate at Dumbartonshire was called Roseneath and in the 19th century, Westies were known as Roseneath Terriers in honour of his patronage and interest. In the first organised dog shows in the late 1800's they were known as White Scottish Terrier until 1904 when they were classified under the name of West Highland White Terrier.
Intelligence		Westies are intelligent but can be rather naughty so remain consistent in their training.
Show Characteristics		All pigmentation should be black. The head should be slightly domed with a distinct stop. The teeth should be large for the size of the dog with a regular scissor bite. The eyes should be set well apart, medium-sized and as dark as possible. The ears should be small, erect and carried firmly with short and smooth hair. The neck should be muscular and sufficiently long merging into nicely sloping shoulders. The body should be compact with a level back. The front legs should be short, muscular and straight; the hind legs short, muscular and sinewy. The forefeet should be larger than the hind, round, strong and thickly padded and covered with short harsh hair. The hind feet should be smaller and thickly padded. The tail should be longish, as straight as possible with no feathering and carried jauntily. On no account should tails be docked.
Country Of Origin		Scotland
Famous Examples
Records Held
Characteristics
Energy		Medium
Overall Exercise		60 - 80 minutes per day. Westies need exercise. They are energetic little dogs who love to play with a ball. They enjoy digging and some do wander off, so make sure the garden is well-fenced.
Distress Caused if Left Alone		Low
Personal Protection		High
Suitability As Guard Dog		Medium
Risk of Sheep Worrying		High
Tendency to Bark		Medium
Ease of Transportation		High
Level of Aggression		Medium
Compatibility With Other Animals		Medium
Suitable For Children		High
General Character And Temperament		West Highlands are cheeky, confident and affectionate characters. They are alert and courageous, making them good guard dogs. They can also be cunning and stubborn but are totally loyal to their families. They make excellent playmates for children both indoors and outdoors because they can withstand rough play and get on reasonably well with others of their breed. However, they must be introduced to cats when they are young as they will chase them once they get older. Early social training is imperative if they have to live with other dogs as they can be rather dominant.
Grooming
Coat Length		Short/Medium
Grooming Requirement		Once a week
Trimming
Requires Professional Groomer		True
Grooming		Westies' coats are hard so they must not be bathed too often. When the dogs get dirty it is best to let the mud dry on them and brush it off when dry. The coat needs to be hand plucked two or three times a year by a professional groomer. A weekly groom is all that is needed to get rid of the loose hairs.
Colour		The breed is always white.
Shedding		Moderate
Suffers From Allergies		True
Tendency to Cause Allergies

Breed results: U-Z
Weimaraner Welsh Corgi (Cardigan) Welsh Corgi (Pembroke) Welsh Springer Spaniel	Welsh Terrier West Highland White Terrier Whippet Yorkshire Terrier