Westie Facts

Scotch as a bagpipe is the phrase that best describes the West Highland White Terrier. With its soft white hair and black button nose, this little fellow almost resembles a stuffed animal in a toy store window. If you are looking for small, friendly hardy and cheerful dog, this may be the breed for you.

The terrier group, including the West Highland White, originated in the British Isles. The name "terrier" is derived from the Latin word terra, meaning, "earth". These "earth dogs" were bred to go to the ground, digging if necessary to hunt their prey.

In 1774, Oliver Goldsmith described the terrier as a small rough-haired hound, bred dog only to fight the fox and badger but to give notice of where it resided. The terrier was expected to bark constantly to tell the hunter where it was going, so that the earth could be dug and the prey captured. Sportsman had little regard for a dog without a "good voice". Today, the terrier's lusty bark is still in evidence.

The precise origin of the terrier is obscure. Early writers referred to any "earth dog" by this name. At one time, terriers were included in the same group as the Basset Hound and Dachshund. It was believed that all the short-legged breeds were derived from the same line.

In the 19th century, the writer Brown noted in his book Biographical Sketches and Authentic Anecdotes of Dogs that two types of terriers were present in the British Isles: the rough-coated Scotch, which was the pure form, and the smooth English. The Scotch Terrier was low in stature, not more than 12 to 14 inches in height, with a strong muscular body and short legs. The ears were small and the head was usually large in proportion to the body. According to Rawdon Lee in his book Modern Dogs, the Scotch Terrier was the oldest breed indigenous to northern Britain.

Early Scotch Terriers were referred to by many names which would be considered distinct breeds today. Reference books and illustrations indicate that terriers of different sizes, shapes, and appearance were known by the same name.

Although this has been confusing to historians, it has given credence to the view that many of the present terrier varieties have existed for years in different stages of development.

The formation of distinct breeds was the result of deliberate breeding practices, aimed at producing the best dog for a particular purpose. Crosses were made with the hound to increase keenness of scent and to improve temperament. Hunting breeds were introduced to develop tenacity and courage. As time went on, different regions of the British Isles produced terrier strains that best suited the purpose of the breeder.

This is, in fact, how the West Highland White Terrier evolved. The breed can be traced back to the Malcolm family of Poltallock, Argyll, Scotland, in the mid-19th century. Although the breed had been known for years in the area as the Poltallock Terrier, the Malcolm family was the first recognized fancier. They perfected and refined this breed for about 100 years.

The small white dog that we know today as the "Westie" actually owes its rise in popularity to a hunting accident. It is said that around the year 1860, Colonel Malcolm was out hunting with his favorite terrier, a reddish-brown dog. While the dog was running through the bush, he was mistaken for the game and was shot and killed. The Colonel was so grieved by the loss of his dog that he decided to propagate only the whites in his kennel. It took a great many years for the Malcolm family to develop the white strain that we know today.

Breeding of the West Highland White Terrier was not, however, confined to the efforts of Colonel Malcolm. Dr. Flaxman of Fifeshire also played a part in the early development of the breed. He had a Scottish Terrier that whelped white puppies in every litter. After about 10 years, Dr Flaxman produced a strain of these white Scottish terriers. Another breeder, George Clarke, developed a white variety known as the Roseneath Terrier.

The general appearance of the Westie is that of a small game, well balanced, hardy-looking terrier. It is a true showman -- proud and strong. It is deep in the chest and back ribs, with a straight back and muscular hindquarters. Its powerful short legs remind us of its past as a tenacious ground hunter.

The skull is fairly broad and not too long. Slightly domed, it should taper gradually to the eyes. The eyebrows should be heavy, with a definite stop to the skull. The Westie's muzzle should be powerful and slightly shorter than the skull.

Much of the West Highland White Terrier's charm comes from its small, erect ears. They must be set wide apart and come to a point. The ears of young puppies are bent over, but become erect at about nine weeks of age. The hair on the ears should be short, smooth, and velvety. Large or broad ears are a serious fault as are "mule ears."

The neck, body and legs of the Westie should be strong and muscular. Faults include steep shoulders, delicacy of bones, cowhocks, long or weak back, and barrel ribs. The tail should be 5 to 6 inches in length, but must never extend above the top of the skull. It should be carried gently and straight, not curled over the back.

As the breed name states, the only acceptable coat color is white. The nose should be black, as should the lips, eye rims, pads of feet, and toenails. The outer coat consists of straight hard hair, and is about two inches long. The undercoat should be soft and fluffy. A single coat is a serious fault, as is silkiness or a tendency to curl.

The West Highland White Terrier may have a shaggy casual appearance if not properly groomed. The amount of time spent on coat care will vary depending on whether the dog is a show specimen or a companion. Owners preparing their dogs for the show ring pluck the hair by hand.

Family pets, unlike show prospects, can be groomed with a scissors-cut. Trim when necessary to keep the body hair about two inches long and tidy the "ruff" around the face. Because Westies are clean and tend to have dry skin, frequent bathing is not necessary. There is rarely a problem with doggy odor.

The West Highland White Terrier makes an excellent family pet. Coming from the family of terriers, it is a dog that is easy to keep and rarely gets sick. Westies, like all terriers, are seldom sick and when they do become ill, they respond quickly to treatment.

This breed is intelligent, curious, friendly, and quite easy to train. It is alert, eager to please, and noted for its retentive memory.

Although small and compact, the Westie is sturdy and strong-boned. Unlike many of the more delicate toy breeds, the Westie makes a wonderful playmate for children, especially older children as toddlers and infants tend to torment dogs of any kind. Whether it lives in an apartment or a larger home, the West Highland White Terrier is always ready to retrieve a ball, chew a bone, or curl up on its owner's lap.

This breed is always ready for a ride in the car, which is especially desirable for owners who like to take their dogs with them on vacation. Our Westie gets very pumped up when she hears the words "bye-bye". She will literally run circles around the car. However once we are moving down the road she gets very whiny. But maybe its just related to my mom's driving habits.

If you are looking for a cute little dog with all of the "good" terrier qualities and none of the "bad", the West Highland White Terrier is the ideal choice.

Physical Appearance

The Westie is a compact, hardy, white coated, and people oriented terrier. People unfamiliar with the breed often will mistake the West Highland as a "Scottie." Although Scotties do appear in a medium cream color, they are never true white. If the terrier is solid white, it is a Westie.

The Westie is 10-11 inches at the shoulder and normally weighs 14-22 lbs. The breed attains an alert appearance from its dark rimmed eyes, prick (pointed) ears, and carrot shaped tail, which it carries straight up when spotting prey or a potential dog treat. The white coat is about two inches long when trimmed and consists of a somewhat wiry outer coat and a soft undercoat (pet dogs may lack this hard outer coat and just have straight, wavy, or slightly curly soft hair). They need brushing weekly and trimming at least quarterly to maintain a traditional "Westie" appearance.

An untrimmed, ungroomed Westie may not appear as depicted in photo books as its fur will get shaggy, tangled, and dingy. If, after bathing, the dog is white, has prick ears, erect tail, and meets the height and weight criteria, it is more than likely a Westie

The breed adapts well to most climates with normal precautions taken for extremes in temperature and sunburn. A Westie does equally well in the city as in a more rural setting -- as long as the dog receives the amount of attention from its owner that it feels it deserves. Adult dogs have no problem residing in the house while the owner is away for an average 8-9 hour work day. However, the breed is very people oriented and tends to get into trouble (barking, chewing, etc.) when left alone in a yard too long or not receiving adequate attention or exercise upon the return of the owner. Westies are intelligent dogs and most are easily trained as they are good natured and eager to please. With kindness, consistency, and patience, Westies respond well to house and obedience training. Some dogs may get bored with repetitive work so training in short sessions and offering a variety of tasks is most effective.

The Westie was originally bred to hunt vermin such as mice, badger, and groundhogs in Scotland so any interaction with other house pets such as cats, hamsters, birds, etc. should be closely monitored as the dog may see the animal as prey not a companion pet. Westies raised as puppies with such animals tend to live more peacefully than adult dogs introduced into a household with existing non-dog pets. Ours goes absolutely crazy whenever a squirrel crosses her path.

Also, due to a history of going down holes into the ground to hunt prey, consideration must given to the possible need to place bricks or boards at the bottom of yard fencing in order to deter the dog from digging under the fence. A Westie must be on leash when not in a securely fenced area. No matter how well obedience trained, when the dog spots a squirrel across the street it will go after the furry fiend rather than hear (much less respond to) any owner commands or pleas not to run out in the street.

Westies are generally healthy dogs but can be affected by canine diseases such as distemper and rabies (thus the critical need for preventative vaccinations) and by diseases that affect both man and dogs such as cancer, diabetes, heart failure, etc. The most common problem seen in Westies is allergic reaction to certain foods, fleabites, and seasonal pollens, which result in itching skin, biting, and fur loss. A balanced diet and flea prevention can prevent the first two causes and administration of a simple antihistamine will relieve itchiness during periods of heavy pollen.

Puppies mature mentally and physically at about two years of age. Westies puppies are active and require extra exercise and owner interaction until they are mature. With good nutrition, preventative care, and exercise, the life span of a Westie can exceed 15 years, with recorded longevity of more than 20 years.