West Highland White Terrier Temperament

An adaptable, intelligent, and confident little dog, the West Highland White Terrier has become an enormously popular family pet over the years. These spirited creatures thrive on the affection, interaction, and companionship of their owners, and have bags of energy to burn up. This is not the right choice of pet for those with little time or inclination to be active, as they do need a fair amount of exercise, preferably interactive play and activity. The West Highland White Terrier is courageous, inquisitive, and loves to chase, which means that he must be supervised in a safe and secure area when he is not on a leash. These dogs can be a little arrogant, stubborn, and demanding, and are best suited to those with some experience of dog ownership and training. They are very intelligent, eager to please, and quick to learn, which makes training less of a challenge. They also have excellent problem solving skills.

The West Highland White Terrier will bark to raise an alarm, which makes him an effective watchdog. They love to dig, and many are a little too fond of the sound of their own bark, so be prepared for anything but a quiet life. The West Highland White Terrier can have a possessive streak when it comes to his food and belongings. He tends to try to dominant same sex dogs. He does not get along well with cats at all. Because of his high prey instinct, he will avidly chase and probably catch smaller running creatures and should not be trusted around them. The Westie tends to get along with visitors, and is fine around older, gentle children. Younger kids may be too boisterous and rough for his liking.

History
The West Highland White Terrier was bred in the Highlands of Scotland, and was used as a vermin hunter. Several of these dogs were pictured in the famous 'Breakfast Party' painting by Sir Edwin Landseer in the 1830s. The breed was registered with the AKC in 1908.


Appearance
The West Highland White Terrier is a sweet, elegant looking dog, and is small, sturdy, and hardy. He has a very appealing expression, with his dark eyes and black button nose. The coat of the West Highland White Terrier is soft and dense underneath, with a wiry outer coat. The coloring of these dogs is solid white, hence the name. The West Highland White Terrier weighs in at around 14-18 pounds for females, and 15-20 pounds for males. The height of these dogs is around 10 inches for females and 11 inches for males.


Grooming
The grooming requirements for the West Highland White Terrier can be fairly extensive. You will need to brush his coat around twice a week, and you may need to get the coat trimmed or clipped every few months. Show dogs will need to have the dead coat stripped every few months. The hair around the bottom needs to be kept trimmed for hygiene reasons, and monthly bathing is also recommended. When groomed properly the West Highland White Terrier is a low shedder, and may therefore suit those with allergies.

Health
The life expectancy of the West Highland White Terrier is around 11-14 years, and there are a number of health problems to look out for with this breed. This includes Legg-Perthes, cataracts, CMO, vWD, seizures, allergies, and luxating patella. The parents of the West Highland White Terrier puppy should have OFA and CERF certificates. They should also be screened for GDC and luxating patella.

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