West Highland White Terrier

Despite their cute appearance, the character of these dogs is far from cute. They are stubborn, independent, and self-reliant. The West Highland White Terrier does not like to spend much time alone. He gets very quickly attached to his owner and tends to be near him all the time. These dogs love children and especially love to play with them.

Breed Photos

Origin History

The breed’s origin is ancient, but breeding work on the breed began only in the early 19th century. For the first time, West Highland White Terrier was mentioned in the XII century, but it is unknown whether these dogs or their ancestors were. Relatives of the West Highland White Terrier are, most likely, Kern Terriers and Scotch Terriers, which are very similar in appearance.

At the beginning of its appearance, representatives of the breed could have white color and cream and brown. At that time, the primary purpose of the dog was working. They hunted wild animals, thanks to their small size, could easily get into caves. The white color was advantageous for dog owners because they could not be confused with foxes and other predators.

Appearance

Small but harmonious build, male dogs’ height is about 28 cm, bitches – 25 cm. The weight does not exceed 9 kg. The coat is medium, tight to the body, to the touch is stiff, straight. There is a dense, furry undercoat. The color is solid white. But sometimes, there are dogs with a slightly yellowish hue. It is not considered a defect.

Despite the small, ornamental body, the pet’s muscles are strong; the owner won’t have to watch the dog’s every jump and not worry that they’re too fragile.

The head is wide, slightly convex, with well-defined brow arches. The eyes are deep and wide-set, almond-shaped, and always with dark iris coloration.

The ears are small in size with pointed ends, usually standing straight. The West Highland White Terrier’s front paws are slightly larger than the hind paws. The tail is straight, always upright, and up to 15 cm long.

Character

Despite their cute appearance, the character of these dogs is far from cute. They are stubborn, independent, and self-reliant.

The West Highland White Terrier does not like to spend much time alone. He gets very quickly attached to his owner and tends to be near him all the time. These dogs love children and especially love to play with them. However, if children are obsessive and capricious, the pet may be reluctant to hurt them.

These dogs do an excellent job as watchdogs and guards because they have excellent hearing, loud barking, and strangers’ distrust. Of all the terriers, the West Highland White is considered the most affectionate and friendly, but when the owner spends a lot of time with other pets or children, the dog can become jealous.

Care

The West Highland White Terrier requires a lot of exercise and active play. If he is not walked often and ignores sports training, he can damage the house and chew on furniture and household items.

Twice a week, their hair should be brushed with a special brush. Also, twice a year, the hair should be trimmed or trimmed.

The hair should be plucked around the eyes and ears because it is long enough there and disturbs the pet. Once a month, it is recommended to bathe the vest using a special shampoo. It is vital to check the pet’s teeth several times a week and regularly adds plaque remover to the diet.

The terrier’s eyes require special attention, and it is important to examine them daily. If sweat forms under the eyes, it could signal an allergy.

Training

It is essential to show your pet who his real master is and not allow him to do even the most harmless pranks from an early age. As an adult, he will not listen to someone he thinks is weaker than he is.

When training a West Highland White Terrier, he must always be motivated by something. It is not a pet that will do everything just for approval. They must receive praise and tasty treats after a successful training session.

It would help if you chose secluded areas for training, as puppies can be distracted by objects and other people. Even before your puppy goes out for his first walk, it’s essential to get him accustomed to his collar and leash.

Common Diseases

The health of these dogs is a little stronger than that of all members of the terrier group. But they are all prone to such diseases:

• osteopathy;
• dermatitis;
• deafness;
• hip dysplasia;
• diabetes;
• ichthyosis;
• Willebrand’s disease.

With proper care and regular checks, they can safely live up to 15 and beyond.

Nutrition

The dog’s diet is best chosen as a baby and stuck to for life. It can be both dry food and natural food. With the second option, half of the diet should be meat. Besides, you can give vegetables, cereals (rice, buckwheat), dairy products, and fruit.