WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIERS 

The West Highland White Terrier, also Known as the "Westie"   is a small but mighty breed.  The Westie can be described as a   big dog in a little dogs body who thinks highly of itself.  You will    always find the breed in the thick of things, but very friendly    dog.  A Westie enjoys life with a passion.

The Westie is an alert, gay, well-balanced and strongly built Terrier.  It should be deep in the chest and back ribs with a straight back and powerful hindquarters on muscular legs.  The Coat should be about 2 inches long, white in color and hard with plenty of undercoat.  Its tail should be short and when standing erect should not extend above 
the top of the skull.  The tail should be shaped like a carrot, flat on the back, with no feathering and should be as straight as possible.  It is never docked.  The hair around the head should be shaped like a chrysanthemum to show off the typical whimsical expression that a westie has.  Eyes should be dark and almond shaped.  Nose should 
be black.  Preferred skin pigmentation is dark.  

With a hard, white and double coat, a Westie does not require frequent baths.  Its coat
will repel dirt.  A light dusting with corn starch and brushing can quickly clean the coat. 
Brushing about once a day will also keep the coat tangle free as well as clean.  When 
you bathe, it is recommended that you use an oatmeal based shampoo which is soothing
to the skin.  A blue shampoo is also good for keeping the coat nice and white.  Westies 
do not shed.

Whether you have a show Westie or a pet Westie, it is a high maintenance dog when it
comes to grooming.  If competing in breed a Westie must be hand stripped on a regular
basis, about every 2-3 days.  A pet Westie can be clippered by a groomer who is
familiar with the breed, approximately 6-8 weeks.

Westies adapt well to apartments, condos and townhouses but do require a good walk
each day and/or a place to run to exercise.  As puppies, westies can be big chewers.
It is very important that they have plenty of toys, especially chew toys.  Supervision
is very important at this stage so they learn what they can or can not chew on.  A good
fenced-in yard is a must if you live in a house.   Westies are earthdogs, meaning they
love to dig.  You must be prepared for this.  

With its spunky attitude and energy, a Westie can very easily be a man's dog but its 
small size and sweetness can please the lady of the house as well.  When brought up 
with children, the Westie makes an excellent companion and playmate.  They enjoy 
a good game of ball.  Westies have a long life span, living 12-17 years of age.  Some
have been known to live longer.

A good puppy class as well as an obedience class or two is highly recommended.   The
puppy class gives you and your puppy a chance to bond and your puppy will learn some
welcomed manners.  Obedience classes will teach you how  to have better control of 
your puppy.  Contact your local breed or obedience club to see if any classes are offered.  Well worth the money spent.

Brief History

Where the Westie came from is still debated to this very day.  One of the most
accepted theory is that the Westie is a cross of the Scottish and Cairn Terrier, with 
a few other breeds tossed in.  In the early 1800's if a white Cairn was born it was
considered an impure dog and was put down.  It is said that one day, Colonel Malcom
of Poltallock was out hunting for small game and accidentially shot one of his favorite
brown terriers.  After this hunting accident, he limited his breeding to lighter colored
dogs.  They were easier seen and not the same color as the game he was hunting.  It
took him many years of breeding and experimentation to eliminate any color in his
dogs.  This breed was later known as the Poltallock Terriers.

Another gentleman by the name of Dr. Flaxman was also known to breed a strain of
white Scottish Terriers, Lighter in color than the well-known Scotties.  Also the Duke
of Argylle bred dogs with soft, white coats.

The Westie was originally bred to roam the highlands of Scotland.  With the rugged
land and craggy countryside, they were used for hunting game such as fox, otter,
badger and other small wild animals.  They had to be able to follow these animals
through rocks, between crevices and into the lairs/nests of their prey.  Ribs needed 
to be small and flat so they could squeeze into these area.  Westies love to run in packs
and had to prove themselves before they were allowed to do so.  It was important for
the Westie to be intelligent so they could outsmart the game they were hunting.   The
short tail came in very handy for pulling them out of some of these predicaments that
they got into.

Westie Today

The Westie today can be seen in numerous different dog sports.  Everything from
breed, obedience, flyball, tracking, agility to earthdog.  They all have their favorite
and seem to do well at it.  

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