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Westie | West Highland White Terrier Dog Breed Introduction
Westie ( officially known as West Highland White Terrier) is a small-sized sturdy terrier from Scotland. It was originally bred for hunting small rodents in places like farms. Westies have a distinctive white double coat which fills out the dog’s face, giving it a rounded appearance. Therefore, a teddy bear cut would look good on them. Although, some Westies have light wheaten coat color variations. The youngsters of this breed usually have pink markings on the footpads and nose which slowly turn black as they mature.
True to its terrier roots, a Westie is an independent thinker, stubborn, and hardy breed which can make training difficult. However, it the most friendly, highly social, and jolly of all the Scottish breeds of terriers. It is also an alert and self-confident dog that makes a great watchdog. Modern Westies still retain the instincts of an earth-dog such as investigating, inquisitiveness, barking, and digging holes. A Westie may not typically tolerate rough handling from children such as pulling its fur or ears. These dogs may frequently be both toy and food possessive.
West Highland White Terrier Origin | Westie Origin | History
The Westie originated from Scotland. It was used for hunting and protecting the farms against rodents, badger, and fox. Initially, Westies, Skye, Scottish, and Cairn Terriers were considered one breed. Although, they began to be bred separately based on color in the 20th century. The progenitors of Westies came into the the historical focus in the 18th century after the Malcolm clan began breeding them in their estate under the name of Poltalloch, the estate in which the Westland Highland White Terrier were bred and maintained for over a century. Over the years, this breed was described under several different names such as Roseneath, Little Skye, White Scottish, and Cairn. Although, the breed was officially recognized as the West Highland White Terrier by the Kennel Club of England in 1906.
Westie Lifespan | West Highland White Terrier Life Span
A Westie has a lifespan of 12 to 16 years according to the American breed club. Although, AKC puts the lifespan of Westies at 13 to 15 years.
Westie Grooming | West Highland White Terrier Grooming | How To Groom A Westie
A Westie has a double layered coat. The outer coat is straight and wiry while the undercoat is short, dense, and soft. To keep the coat healthy and looking its best hand stripping is required every few weeks especially for Westies that participate in conformation shows. Hand-stripping helps to maintain the harsh structure of the coat and promotes new hair growth. The coat is clipped for pets that don’t participate in show dogs. However, it changes the texture of the coat over time. Clipping also causes a bit of shedding since the dead hair has only been reduced in size but has not been removed completely.
Frequent grooming sessions help in curbing skin irritation and matting. Keep the coat matt and dirt free by brushing it at least twice a week. Before brushing, spritz the coat using a detangling spray or water conditioner solution especially if the dog has severe matting. Brush the coat with a pin or wire brush while paying attention to areas that are prone to matting. If you spot mats, use a slicker brush.
After brushing, comb the coat using a metal comb. While grooming the coat, ensure you get through the top coat and undercoat to stimulate the skin and promote good coat growth. While brushing, be gentle around the sides and belly since they tend to be sensitive. A clipped coat may require regular baths as compared to a hand stripped coat. The wiry texture of the coat will tend to resist dirt as compared to a soft coat (clipped). A Westie that has a hand stripped coat only needs brushing to remove the dirt even after a serious digging episode. Bathing is recommended for times when the dog rolls into something stinky. However, if the pet comes in with mud on the feet and belly, a quick wash of the undercarriage will do.
Use a special crisp dog coat shampoo or the one made for Terriers with a harsh top coat. After a bath, thoroughly rinse off the cleaning products from the coat to prevent skin irritation using tepid water. Use a damp washcloth or a unscented canine wipes to clean the eye corners. Trim the nails fortnightly using nail clippers or grinder to prevent splitting, overgrowth, or cracking. Overly grown nails are painful for Westies as they walk and run.
Keep a mental note of trimming any long hair between the pads and around the feet. Brush a Westie’s teeth on a daily basis or at least twice a week using a dog-formulated toothpaste and toothbrush to remove excess tartar and stuck food particles. Clean the ears on a weekly basis using cotton balls and an ear cleanser solution to remove excess wax and dirt. While wiping the ears, remember to check out for odor, redness, and discharge that are signs of dog’s ear infection.
Westie Cut | Haircut | West Highland White Terrier Haircut
The Show cut – To achieve the show cut, the dead hair is pulled using hand stripping knives in order to promote new hair growth, remove dead hair, and stimulate oil production. Hand stripping helps to maintain the hard coat texture.
Puppy Cut – To achieve this cut, the fur on the body is clipped to about one inch while leaving the fur on the face a little longer.
Teddy bear cut – to achieve this grooming style, the hair on the face and head is plucked to present a round appearance. The fur on the body is also clipped to a length of 1 to 1.5 inches.
Summer cut – This grooming style is suitable for summer months. The fur on the body is clipped to a length of 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
Westie Grooming Tools
To fully groom a Westie, a parent needs the following grooming tools: pin or wire brush, slicker brush, metal comb, detangling spray or a water conditioner solution, grooming table, a shampoo and conditioner formulated for harsh coats breeds, lukewarm water, dry towel, nail clippers, cotton balls, ear cleanser solution, tasty canine toothpaste and toothbrush, scissors, hand stripping knives or an electric hair trimmer, and damp washcloth or unscented canine wipes.
Westie | West Highland White Terrier Shedding
Contrary to the belief that Westies have a non-shedding coat, they shed at minimal levels all-year round. Regular brushing helps to keep shedding to a minimum.
Westie Coat | Hair
A Westie has a double-layered white coat. The top coat is hard and straight while the undercoat is soft and dense.
West Highland White Terrier | Westie Hypoallergenic
A Westie is considered a hypoallergenic breed. It has a low-shedding coat and produces relatively low dander according to AMA reports. However, there is no truly 100% hypoallergenic purebred or crossbred. Therefore, pet parents should spend lots of time with the dog they want to adopt to determine whether it triggers their allergies.
Westie Training
A Westie is an intelligent, playful, and enjoy pleasing their owners. Although, they are independent thinkers and hardy dogs which may cause issues with training. Occasionally, Westies will have “What’s in it for me?” attitude. However, a firm and gentle hand during training will be required to train new behaviors. Start training a Westie immediately they join you home from the age of 8 weeks before they get inclined towards bad habits. Owners should also help the pooch to learn its place in their home. This can be done through consistent training and assuming pack leadership.
After the dog learn it place, it grows and learns to be the very best pet possible. Furthermore, pack leadership allows a Westie to reach its full potential. This is because they now understand they are under the leadership of a loving, caring, trusted, and respected leader who will make decisions for the well-being of the entire pack. Socialization training is key in raising a well-adjusted and well-mannered Westie. The training normally starts from the age of 3 weeks while the pet is with the breeder until the age of 16 weeks after the pet has already settled in its new home.
To socialize a Westie, expose it to a wide variety of people, animals, surfaces, sight, places, smell, situations, experiences, and sounds such as door bells, baby crying sounds, sirens, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, whistles, and lawn mowers. Enrolling a Westie in a puppy class will also serve as a form of socialization. These classes create a controlled environment where puppies interact with each other. A puppy class is also beneficial to a Westie owner. It not only allows them to correct bad habits such as food and toys possessiveness but also have access to training information and assistance.
Keep the training sessions short, interesting, and upbeat for a period of 5 minutes distributed throughout the day. This will help to avoid boredom and distraction. Use positive reinforcements methods to encourage positive behaviors with your Westie through use of toys, playtime, treats, verbal praise, and petting. Avoid use of harsh corrections methods especially yelling or physical correction such as beating, kicking, shoving, and use of choke or prong collars. Negative training methods are counterproductive.
Parents should note that some Westies may need their training refreshed on occasion during their lifetime. Teach basic commands such as come, sit, wait, lie down, stay, heel, and leave it that are potentially life saving immediately the dog joins you home. Teach one basic command at a time to avoid overwhelming your pet. Avoid issuing commands while too excited or frustrated since they no longer sound the same for your Westie. Effectively housebreak Westies by creating a feeding schedule, crate training, and potty training.
Westie Potty Training
A Westie is relatively easy breed to potty train especially if they were kept clean during their formative years.
Potty training commences immediately the puppy comes home. The rule of thumb when housebreaking is understanding that the bladder and bowel muscles of a pup strengthens as it matures. Generally, an 8-week-old pet is able to hold for 2 hours before eliminating while a 12-week-old dog is able to hold for a period of 3 hours.
This is especially true for small, medium, and large-sized dogs. Before bringing a Westie home, choose a delegated area where it will be doing its business. Owners should also decide whether a Westie will eliminate inside or outside especially for apartment dwellers who have a hard time accessing a yard or street. Indoor potty training uses puppy pads and litter boxes that are available for retail in the pet stores. However, a parent should not start indoor potty training if he or she wants the puppy to eliminate outside later on and vice versa. This will confuse the dog hence having a relapse in house training.
A crate is an indispensable device while potty training. It allows the owner to monitor a Westie for signs of elimination such as whining, sniffing, circling, squatting, restlessness, and lifting a leg against the crate wall. A crate should be able to hold a mature West Highland White Terrier. If the crate is too big, use a divider to adjust the crate size gradually as the pet matures. This will ensure the crate is not too big for the Westie to eliminate in one corner and sleep in the other corner. Although, canines will naturally avoid soiling where they sleep.
If a parent is not comfortable using a crate, he or she may use the umbilical cord method. This methods utilizes a leash which is attached to the owner. The Umbilical cord method enables the owner to closely monitor the dog within a 6-foot range. Before a Westie is fully housebroken, it should not be allowed to roam freely in the house to minimize accidents. For positive outcomes while potty training, take a Westie to the designated toilet area immediately it wakes up, 20 minutes after meals and drinks, every 2 to 3 hours, following an exciting activity such as playtime and car ride, after naptime, and before bedtime.
In outdoor potty training, the chosen toilet area should be far from the Patio deck or BBQ spot. Once you take your Westie to the elimination spot, utter the command word “toilet” or “potty” to give the dog the cue to eliminate. Resist from interchangeably using the two command words even if they mean the same since it will be confusing for your pet. Wait in the toilet area for a period of 15 minutes to allow the pooch to relax the bowel and bladder muscles for a pee or poo. If the it fails to eliminate, take the dog back to the house and return it to the delegated area after a period of 15 to 30 minutes.
Before a Westie is fully housebroken, it may experience accidents in the house. If you get your pup in the act, clap your hands to distract the dog and utter a firm No. Immediately scoop it to the delegated area. If the a Westie eliminates there, give it a treat so that it will associate the area with elimination. At all times, purpose to wipe the mess using an iodine solution or an enzymatic detergent to get rid of the odor.
If the odor is retained, a Westie will likely eliminate in the same spot encouraging future accidents. Prior to the age of 16 weeks, owners should set an alarm to take the pup to the delegated area at least once during the night. From the age of 8 months, the potty breaks will be after every 6 hours since the bladder and bowel muscles have strengthened.
Westie Temperament | Personality | Traits
- Independent.
- Intelligent.
- Stubborn.
- Self-confident.
- Alert.
- Playful.
- Energetic.
- Cheerful.
- Alert.
- Faithful.
- Lively.
- Curious.
- Investigative.
- Affectionate.
- Hardy.
- Friendly.
Westie Intelligence Ranking
According to the Intelligence of Dogs by Professor Stanley Coren, Westies were ranked 88th in the average range.
Westie Exercise
Westies are energetic and playful dogs that love to play romp, and also enjoy a nice walk. Due to the high prey drive, this breed will run after anything that moves. Therefore, it should exercise in a safely secured yard or go for walks while on leash. This breed can also excel in a variety of canine sports and activities such as agility, obedience, earthdog, and rally due to their energy, intelligence, and can-do attitude.
Westie Barking
A Westie is not an overly vocal breed. Although, it will bark to announce a visitor or stranger. Teaching the quiet command and giving the dog adequate attention will lessen the chance of nuisance barking.
Westie Height
A female Westie has a height of 10 inches ( approx. 25 cm ) while its male counterpart has a height of 11 inches ( approx. 28 cm).
Westie Weight
Mature Westies have a weight of 15 to 20 pounds ( approx. 6.8 to 9.1 kg ).
Westie | West Highland White Terrier Size
A Westie is a small-sized Terrier that has a height of 10 to 11 inches ( approx. 25 to 28 cm ) and a weight of 15 to 20 pounds ( approx. 6.8 to 9.1 kg ).
Westie Bite Force
A Westie has a bite force of less than 200 PSI.
Westie Ear Infection
A Westie has V-shaped erect ears. Therefore, it is less susceptible to ear infections as compared to drop shaped dogs such as Basset and Bloodhounds. Although, 10% of Westies are prone to ear infections. Causes of ear infections in dogs include excess buildup of wax or debris, moisture accumulation, injury to the ear canal, yeast imbalance, excessive cleaning, ear mites, endocrine disorders such hypothyroidism.
A Westie may suffer from externa, media, and interna otitis respectively. Externa otitis is the most common. It causes inflammation to the cells located in the external ear canal. If the owner won’t act first and contact a vet, the infection spreads to the middle and inner ear canal. Inflammation to the cells in the middle and inner ear canal is media and interna otitis respectively. These infections causes vestibular signs such as dizziness, deafness, and facial paralysis. Symptoms exhibited by a Westie that is suffering from an ear infection include redness, dark discharge, rubbing the affected ear against the surface, walking in circles, pain, head shaking, scabs in the affected ear, itchiness, and odor.
Westie Eye Problems
Some of the eye problems that affect Westies include:
Cataracts – this is an eye problem that makes the eye lens to be cloudy and whitish eventually leading to vision loss.
Dry eye – This is where the tear glands are no longer able to produce enough tears to keep the eye moist resulting in infections, itchy eyes, and soreness.
Westie Health Issues | Health Problems
A Westie is a generally a hardy and healthy breed that has a lifespan of 12 to 16 years. However, it may suffer from certain health issues such as eye disorders like cataracts, craniomandibular osteopathy (westie or lion jaw),abdominal hernias, atopic dermatitis, hyperplastic dermatosis, globoid cell leukodystrophy, white dog shaker syndrome, Legg–Calvé–Perthes syndrome, luxating patella, hydroxyglutaric aciduria, Pancreatic enzyme deficiency, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, ear infection, etc.
Apart from Westies, other dog breeds include:
Westie Names
The Westie parent may decide to get a name for the pet before it joins them from the breeder or days after the pet joins them home to understand more about a particular dog. Owners may get name inspirations from the Scottish heritage, coat color and texture, personality, celebrity Westies, books, brands, movies, television shows, songs, nature, and historical figures.
Regardless of where you source your name, ensure the name chosen freely rolls off your tongue and it will not make you embarrassed once it is uttered out loud in the public places such parks and malls. Westies and other dog breeds better understand names that have vowels. Avoid giving your pet a name that rhymes with the command word to avoid confusion.
If a Westie owner settles with a long name, he or she should find a cute nickname for the dog. If this dog shares a name with any family member or guests who frequent your home, it may cause chaos.
Westie Female Names
- Venus.
- Ellie.
- Emma.
- Maddie.
- Matilda.
- Zoe.
- Empress.
- Maggie.
- Oprah.
- Abby.
- Bambi.
- Layla.
- Shiva, etc.
Westie Litter Size
After conception, a Westie dam has a gestation period of 63 days before whelping a litter size of 3 to 5 puppies.
Male Westie Names
- Riley.
- Jack.
- Max.
- Gus.
- Otis.
- Rex.
- Oliver.
- Bobby.
- Duke.
- Murphy.
- Gizmo.
- Cooper.
- Tintin, etc.
Westie Harness
A Westie is a playful and energetic dog that has a tendency to run after everything that moves. It should go for a walk while on a leash that can be attached to a harness or collar. A harness is a good accessory for a dog that has a high tendency to pull since it evenly distributes the pressure exerted on the shoulders and back. It also allows the parent to have better control over the Westie.
Westie Food | Dog Food
The amount of food that a Westie feeds on depends on its age, activity level, metabolism, size, and body build. Puppies tend to eat small portions of food 3 or 4 times a day due to high metabolism rates from when they start weaning until the age of 6 months. From the age of 6 months, Westies should feed on a total two meals a day. Look out for the weight level and calorie consumption to avoid overfeeding especially with treats.
Westies may feed on dry food, wet food, home made, or a raw diet depending on the budget and time of the pet parent. Regardless of the food type, parents should ensure that a Westie feeds on a balanced diet to maintain a good health eventually allowing it to develop cognitively and physically. If a Westie parent decides to feed the pet with the commercial dry or wet food, he or she should ensure the first three ingredients are proteins from a known source.
The commercial pooch food should neither contain preservatives, chemicals, additives, Meat by-products, generic meat products, nor fillers. The same goes to the snacks. Dry or wet food should also be formulated for small-sized, puppies, adults, and senior depending on the age of your Westie. Check the physique of your fur baby to tell whether it is overweight or underweight.
If you can see the ribs, chances are the pet is underweight. However, if the ribs are not visible but can be felt without pressing hard, a Westie has an ideal weight. If the ribs can’t be felt, the pet is overweight and should be exercised. Pet owners who want to switch to another quality food should gradually do this over a period of one month by mixing both new food and old food. As the weeks progresses, the amount of old food reduces as the new food increases until the Westie is only feeding on new food during the fourth week.
Westie Neck Size
A Westie has a neck size of 10 to 14 inches ( approx. 25 to 35 cm ).
Westie Black | Colors
A Westie has a white double-coated coat. Although, some can have a light wheaten color which is considered a fault. Pure bred Westies have no black coat color.
Westie Allergies
A Westie is susceptible to various forms of allergies as discussed below:
Food allergies – Although rare, some westies may suffer from a true food allergy that results in an immune response. Therefore, it is accompanied with a wide range of symptoms ranging from skin issues such as sores, hives, itchiness, facial swelling, lesions, hot spots, dermatitis and pruritus as well as gastrointestinal stress such as acute vomiting and/or diarrhea. Apart from food allergies, a Westie may also suffer from food intolerance. This is a response to an offending ingredient in the diet of a Westie. However, it does not cause an immune response. Some of the ingredients that may cause food intolerance in Westies include wheat, corn, soy, fillers, chemicals, additives, preservatives, beef, milk, chicken, eggs, pork, lamb, fish, turkey, etc.
Skin allergies – A westie may be susceptible to skin allergies due to food, contact, and environmental allergies that manifest on the skin. As a breed, Westies are also prone to atopic dermatitis, hyperplastic dermatosis, and Malassezia Dermatitis that makes them susceptible to skin allergies.
Contact allergies – This allergy causes inflammation to the skin of a Westie once the allergen comes in contact with the skin. Some of the contact allergens that affect Westies include plastics, lawn chemicals, grooming products, carpet cleaning detergents, poison ivy, nylon carpets, certain fabrics, latex, and medications. Commonly affected body parts include feet, paws, and around the muzzle.
Environmental allergens – Some of the environmental allergens that affect Westies include ragweed, pollen, mites trees, grass, fleas, house molds, and dust and dust mites. Flea’s saliva causes flea allergy dermatitis especially on the back legs and underneath the tail resulting in intensive scratching and biting until the skin around the bite area is raw. If left unattended, it may cause secondary skin infections. Symptoms of environmental allergies include sneezing, nasal discharge, congestion, and itchiness on various body parts including underarms, muzzle, feet, paws, ears, belly sides, between the toes, around the eyes, and groin.
Westie Skin Allergies
As earlier discussed, a Westie is more prone to skin allergies due to the contact, food, and environmental allergies that manifest on the skin. This breed also suffer from certain skin conditions such as atomic dermatitis, Malassezia dermatitis, and hyperplastic dermatosis hence susceptible to skin allergies.
About a quarter of Westies that have been surveyed suffer from atopic dermatitis, an allergic skin condition that causes mild to severe itching as a result of rubbing or scratching often leading to skin irritation, infection, damage and discomfort. Atopic dermatitis result from an exaggerated immune system response that causes pathological damage that is associated with antibodies that are usually directed against environmental allergens such as pollen, ragweed, trees, grass, and house dust mites. A higher proportion of male Westies are affected as compared to females. This condition can cause paw licking, redness, rashes, and itchy skin.
Westies are also affected by Malassezia Dermatitis. This is not an allergy condition but a yeast infection that is found on the skin of a Westie due to an allergic reaction. Symptoms of Malassezia Dermatitis include foul-smelling skin, itchiness, black pigmentation, oily skin, and hair loss. Apart from atopic dermatitis and Malassezia Dermatitis, Westies may also suffer from hyperplastic dermatosis. This is a skin issue that causes hair loss, hyperpigmentation, and lichenification, In the early stages of this condition, it can be misdiagnosed as a less form of dermatitis or allergies.
Westie Eyes
A Westie has almond shaped and deep-set eyes that are dark in color.
Westie Head
A Westie should have a head that is proportion to the body. The hair on the heat is plucked to present a round appearance from the front.
Westie Tail
A Westie has a carrot-shaped tail that is relatively short.
Westie Teeth
A Westie has a total of 42 permanent teeth that are large for the size of the dog. Puppies have 28 deciduous teeth.
Westie Jaw
Some Westie puppies may be affected by craniomandibular osteopathy( also known as lion or Westie jaw). This is a condition that appears in dogs under the age of 1 year resulting in problems while the dog is chewing or swallowing food. A lion jaw is an autosomal recessive condition that only affect the puppy if both parents are carriers of the faulty gene.
Do West Highland White Terrier Shed
Yes. A Westie shed all-year round at minimal levels.
Are Westies Hypoallergenic
Yes. Westies have a low-shedding coat and produce less dander hence regarded friendly for people who suffer from dog allergies. However, there is no truly hypoallergenic crossbreed or pure breed. Therefore, parents should spend lots of time with a particular Westie to determine whether it aggravates their allergies before adopting.
Are Westies Smart
Yes. Westies are smart dogs ranked 88th in the Intelligence of Dogs by Stanley Coren.
Are Westies Aggressive
No. However, some Westies cannot tolerate rough handling from children such as pulling its ears or fur.
Are Westies Affectionate
Yes. Westies are friendly, loving, and affectionate dogs. They are also jolly, friendly, and highly social as compared to other breeds of Scottish Terriers
Are Westies Good Family Dogs
Yes. They are friendly, energetic, playful, lively, cheerful, alert, and faithful dogs.
Are Westies Cuddly
No. Although, Westies are loyal and bond with their owners, they are not in need of any pampering. They are often chasing anything that moves.
Westies Quick Facts
- Westies have been used as mascot of certain brands including Harrods, Cesar, Black & White Whisky, and My Dog brand.
- The author of Harry Potter Series, J. K. Rowling has a Westie by the name of Brontë.
- Westies have been among the top dog breeds in the USA since 1960s.
