West Highland White Terrier Information
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Dogs » Dog Breeds » 
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West Highland White Terrier Information

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West Highland White Terrier
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West Highland White Terrier, 6 months, WhiteWest Highland White Terrier, 6 months, White

General Description

(Westie)The big eyed West Highland White Terrier is a small dog covered in fluffy, white fur. The hair on their bodies is close to the skin while the hair on their legs and under their bellies is loose and thick. One of their most distinguishing characteristics is their shaggy manes which frame their small but always alert faces.  Their short, fur-covered muzzles end in a tiny black nose.  Their tiny ears stand straight up on their head, and their large, dark-colored eyes stand out against the whiteness of the rest of the dog.   At the end of their compact bodies is a 5 to 6 inch tail that, like its ears, sticks straight up as if it is constantly at attention.  Despite its small size, the dog should be muscular and have a deep chest since they were originally designed for running after small vermin.

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Westies have carrot shaped tails that should never be docked.

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Character

The West Highland White Terrier is a friendly breed. They are outgoing with strangers and other dogs. They will play well with children as long, as those children are not overly rambunctious. Westies need moderate exercise but are generally good companion dogs. They are lively in the house, but they do bark frequently as is the case with many small breeds. If allowed, they will dig which can cause problems for owners who value their gardens and landscaping. As with many hunting dogs and terriers, the West Highland White Terrier can be slightly stubborn and difficult to train.

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Westies may become more stubborn as they get older. They are easily motivated by treats. They may tend to be snappy with too much commotion or over active children. It's important to socialize them from birth.

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Size

9-12 inches

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Weight

13-22 pounds

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General Health

West Highland White Terrier run the risk of acquiring a number of health problems such as cataracts, copper toxicosis, craniomandibular osteopathy, deafness, enzyme deficiency, inguinal hernia, and Legg-Perthes disease.  Despite this seemingly long list of health issues, the West Highland White Terrier is generally healthy and can live to be over 15 years of age.

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Some Westies suffer from a skin condition that affects the underarm. The affected area will become black and gummy. Others may have paws that go bald. Keep this breeds ears cleans as they are prone to ear infections.

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History

West Highland White Terriers arose after a breeder of Cairn Terriers in Scotland started finding all-white pups in his litter.  He decided to begin specifically breeding for white Cairn Terriers and eventually developed this breed.  The modern West Highland White Terrier’s loyal and self-confident personality developed over time thanks to selective breeding.  Although the dog was originally used to hunt and kill vermin, such as rats, today it is mostly used for companionship.

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Maintenance

Grooming West Highland White Terriers is relatively simple. They need to be brushed once a week which should keep them from needing a bath very often. They need the hair around their ears and eyes trimmed regularly. They should also have their coat stripped twice a year.  Like any dog, they need some exercise. However, many West Highland White Terriers release their energy by just playing in the house.

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Ideal Environment

West Highland White Terriers can live in small apartments or large houses. They are good for families with well-behaved children and other animals. The breed can live in almost every climate without problem. The breed makes especially good companions for the elderly since most of their exercise is obtained simply from playing in the house. If children are around the dog, they need to be supervised so they do not harass the dog.  The breed can become angered and will snap. West Highland White Terriers are protective of their families and love to travel with them.

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This breed is prone to sunburn on the tips of their ears if they live in a sunny environment.

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Quick Links:
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  • West Highland White Terrier Training

Dog Training!

If you're having problems training your dog or getting control, you should read our review of DogProblems.com.  Adam will do whatever it takes to help you whip your dog into shape. I've used them to help with my Great Dane as well as help friends train their dogs. It's the first place I go to help answer users Questions. Many training issues are too extensive to answer in this forum, which is why I refer a lot of the load to his site.

Update: I've been using and recommending DogProblems for three years now. I, as well as my users, value the techniques we've learned. I get weekly emails from users who have become better owners from the information they received.

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West Highland White Terrier
Evening Shade, AR
Quality AKC Champion grandsired male westie puppy to pet homs. $1,000, several more litters due soon! Visit my site for...
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West Highland White Terrier
Evening Shade, AR
AKC Champion grandsired male westie puppy to pet home. $1,000, several litters due late this month too. Visit my site for...
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West Highland White Terrier Q&AAsk a Question

  • West Highland White Terrier
    How bad are they to shed.

    How bad are they to shed.

    Asked by Anonymous - 7 answers
  • West Highland White Terrier
    we are thinking of getting a westie puppy but live in an apartment and are worried if left ...

    we are thinking of getting a westie puppy but live in an apartment and are worried if left alone will it bark alot??obviously we will be training it but does anybody know if they are still prone to barking?

    Asked by Anonymous - 10 answers
  • West Highland White Terrier
    what do you do when you are allergic to the dog's hair?

    what do you do when you are allergic to the dog's hair?

    Asked by Anonymous - 5 answers
  • West Highland White Terrier
    I have a 5 month old westie and her ears have not gone fully up yet, does anyone know when ...

    I have a 5 month old westie and her ears have not gone fully up yet, does anyone know when the ears become erect?

    Asked by Anonymous - 3 answers
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West Highland White Terrier PhotosUpload a Photo

West Highland White Terrier, 6 months, WhiteWest Highland White Terrier, 6 months, WhiteWest Highland White Terrier, 10 mo., WhiteWest Highland White Terrier, 1yr, WhiteWest Highland White Terrier, 4, whiteWest Highland White Terrier, 4, whiteWest Highland White Terrier, 10 months, whiteWest Highland White Terrier, 3 months, whiteWest Highland White Terrier, 4 months, whiteWest Highland White Terrier, 1, WhiteWest Highland White Terrier, 1, WhiteWest Highland White Terrier, 1, white
West Highland White Terrier, 2 years, WhiteWest Highland White Terrier, 1.5 years, WhiteWest Highland White Terrier, 2 years, WhiteWest Highland White Terrier, 2 years, WhiteWest Highland White Terrier, 1 year, WhiteWest Highland White Terrier, 1 year, WhiteWest Highland White Terrier, 1 year, WhiteWest Highland White Terrier, 10 months, whiteWest Highland White Terrier, 2 years, WhiteWest Highland White Terrier, 1 year, WhiteWest Highland White Terrier, 8 months, WhiteWest Highland White Terrier, 4 months, White
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