West Highland White Terrier

The West Highland White Terrier is a game, hardly little dog that originated in Argyll, Scotland. In recent years it has gained tremendous popularity because of its attractive appearance, sporting instincts and handy size. It gets on well with children and other dogs and makes the ideal family dog.

Origin and history

The first West Highland White Terrier clubs were formed in 1905, when breeds such as the Cairn Terrier and Skye Terrie_ which in the past had all been classified as Small Highland Working Terriers, attained individual status.

It does appear that in the late 1800s there existed a white Scottish Terrier, or Scottie. A strain of this breed was bred by Colonel Malcolm of Poltalloch, from which the name Poltalloch Terrier was derived; they were also known as Roseneath Terriers.

West Highland White Terrier Puppies

Good points

• Easy to train
• Gets on well with other dogs
• Good with children
• Handy size
• Suitable for town or country

Take heed

• No drawbacks known

Size

About 11in (28cm) at the withers. There is no weight standard for this dog in the United Kingdom or the United States.

Exercise

The Westie will adapt to town or country. However, it will be happiest as a family pet allowed to share the comfort of the fireside but given adequate free runs in the countryside. Remember that it was originally used as a working terrier, and its job was to hunt fox and badge_ It is also, of course, a good rattel. This breed will enjoy an energetic ball game.

West Highland White Terrier Information

General appearance
The general appearance of the West Highland White Terrier is that of a small, game, hardy-looking terrier, possessed of no small amount of self-esteem; with a varminty appearance; strongly built, deep in chest and back ribs; level back and powerful quarters on muscular legs, exhibiting in a marked degree a great combination of strength and activity.

Colour
Pure white.

Head and skull
The skull should be slightly domed and, when gripped across the forehead, should present a smooth contou_ There should be only a very slight tapering from the skull at the level of the ears to the eyes. The distance from the occiput to the eyes should be slightly greater than the length of the foreface. The jaws should be strong and level. The nose must be black and should be fairly large, forming a smooth contour with the muzzle.

Tail
About 5-6in (12.5-15cm) long, covered with hard hair, no feather, as straight as possible, carried jauntily, not gay or carried over the back. A long tail is objectionable, and on no account should tails be docked.

Feet
The forefeet are larger than the hind ones, round, proportionate in size, strong, thickly padded and covered with short hard hai_ The hindfeet are smaller and thickly padded. The under-surface of the pads of the feet and all nails should be black.

West Highland White Terrier Feeding & Grooming

Grooming

Although the Westie may be the ideal choice for someone who wants a healthy and active dog, it is perhaps not so ideal for the show aspirant who does not want to spend much time on grooming. The Westie's coat must be brushed and combed nearly every day and have surplus stripped twice a yea_ The neckline is particularly important, and straggly hairs should be removed from ears and tail. Ideally, the Westie's coat should be approximately 2in (5cm) in length with the neck and throat hair shorte_ It is probably wise to ask the breeder to demonstrate what is required before you make your purchase and to let you have a grooming chart with full instructions. If you feel you cannot handle the task yourself, you can entrust it to a dog grooming parlour.

Feeding

Thirteen-200z (369-587g) of a branded, meaty product with biscuit added in equal part by volume, or 2-3 cupfuls of a dry, complete food, mixed in the proportion of 1 cup of feed to V2 cup of hot or cold wate_ The Westie loves burrowing in the earth, often retrieving a long­discarded, much-loved bone; so do let it have the occasional marrow or chop bone to get its teeth into ­ but no splintery bones, please.

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