West Highland White Terrier

(Westie)

Becoming increasingly popular as a family dog, the West Highland White Terrier loves people and has a cheerful, outgoing temperament.

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Size	Small
Height	28 cm
Weight	7.5-8.5 kg (16-19 lbs)
Grooming	Medium
Exercise	Undemanding
Feeding	Easy
Temperament	Friendly, lively, excitable
Guarding instinct	Good
Life expectancy	14 years

West Highland White Terrier - Breed Profile

History:
Originating in Scotland, Westies were bred to hunt foxes, otters and vermin. They share their ancestry with many of the other true Scottish Terriers and became formally recognised as West Highland White Terrier’s in 1904.

Appearance:
Westie’s are compact, stocky little dogs with shaggy white coats. They have little button noses and small, erect ears.

They look very sweet but strong, and have a happy, proud air when they are trotting around the park!

Temperament:
Westies are confident little dogs, totally local to their family but they make good protection dogs as they are extremely alert and brave.

Westies are affectionate dogs but can withstand plenty of rough play, so make good companions and play mates for children.

They can be quite dominant with other dogs so care should be taken with socializing them with others. They will chase cats if not socialized with them at an early age.

Grooming:
Westies require a minimal amount of grooming – perhaps once a week, but will require their coats to be stripped by a professional 2-3 times per year.

Exercise:
They require a moderate amount of exercise and will appreciate long, off lead runs, especially chasing a ball around the park! Care should be taken with proper recall training when Westies are young, to ensure that they come back properly when called.

Health Problems:
Westies are hardy dogs and are unlikely to suffer from many ailments. Some do suffer from occasional skin problems, and deafness is a possibility.

By Stephanie Bayliss
Stephanie has written many articles on dogs. Visit Kennel Corner for more Dog Breed Profiles and other interesting dog resources, including a Dog Obedience School Directory
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