The West Highland White Terrier 

" THE WESTIE "

OTHER NAMES

West Highland White Terrier ; Terrier blanc du West Highland ; Westie

ORIGIN

The West Highland White Terrier, according to notable authors, originated at Poltalloch, Scotland where they had been bred and maintained for more than 100 years prior to their appearance at dog shows in 1916.   Colonel Malcom of Poltalloch said that his father and grandfather both kept them.  It is probable that the lineage of the Malcolm dogs goes back to the time of King James 11, who asked for some "earth-doggies" out of Argyleshires.  Years ago the breed was knows as the Roseneath Terrier also as the Poltalloch Terrier.  The first show held for the breed was at Crufts in London in 1987.  The first AKC registration was in 1908.  Originatly registered as the Roseneath Terrier, the name was officially changed to West Highland White Terrier on may 31, 1909. 

TEMPERAMENT

"Westie", is a  rustic style of dog.  Must be alert, gay courageous, self-reliant and friendly, a Westie is lively and joyful, but not turbulent. We describe him as having an alive character and a player, sure of him and without a shade of aggressiveness. It is the friend of children and he adapts itself well to the other animals of the house, he is extremely affectionate. He is a good guard who alerts in the slightest suspect noise but remains friendly with the foreigners. Not aggressive but brave he will sound the retreat and will face a bigger animal than he if necessary, it remains a redoubtable hunter of foxes, badger, and other harmful if he lives in the country. Stubborn with a stalk of independence and a lot of intelligence, he requires a firm education so that it is easy to live.  In the house the Westie is all that can be desired of a pet faithful understanding and devoted,  and lighthearted. Not recognized as a dog particularly usher he has to learn all the same young person not to yap pointlessly. He is more and more appreciate worlwide.

CARE

Westie is a part of terrier which adapts itself most to the life in apartment but he likes to have an outside space for  playing and exercise and if he is city he appreciates the daily walk.  Live expect is 12-15 years old.

HEALT

Westie has a very good constitution and possesses generally an excellent health. As all the dogs he have some  weaknesses but not frequent like a possibility of chronic skin disease, problems of faith and hernias.   The Westie are recognise like non allergen dog.

GROOMING   "Clic here to go to grooming page"

In spite of its white colour, its maintenance puts not many difficulties if its life is dedicated to a pet. A weekly brushing, the maintenance of sub-legs, ears and eyes and some baths a year are enough for him.  Westie does not require grooming.  However the cute and sweet little face of the Westies is the result of a more particular grooming.  Besides the regular brushing, the subject presented in the ring for exhibitions, show dogs,  will be depilated with a trimmer knife  approximately every three months. Hairs around the head will be cut " in chrysanthemum ", the tail " in carrot ", ears and clear feet, and fringes will be left under the stomach.  For exhibition some breeder put pulverized chalk and the coat, and, having let act, brush energetically to eliminate the chalk loaded with dirt and to restore whiteness in the dress.

STANDARD

The West Highland White Terrier is that of a small, game, well-balanced, hardy-looking Terrier exhibiting good showmanship, possessed of no small amount of self-esteem, strongly built, deep in chest and back ribs, straight back and powerfull hindquarters on muscular legs, and exhibiting in marked degree a great combination of strength and activity.  The coat should be about 2 inches ( 5cm) long, white in colour, hard, with plenty of soft undercoat. The dog shoul be neatly presented.  The ruff of hair around the head should act as a frame for the face to yield a typical Westie expession.

Neck

Should be sufficiently long to allow the proper set-on head required, muscular and gradually thickenning towards the base, allowing the neck to merge into nicely sloping shoulders.

Forequarters

Forelegs should be muscular and relatively short, but with sufficient length to set the dog up so as not to be too close to the ground.  Height from the highest point of the withers to the ground should be approximately equal to the length from the withers to set-on of tail; height from elbow to withers and elbow to the ground should be approximately equal. The shoulder blades should be well  laid back and well knit at hhe backbone.The chest should be relatively broad and the front legs space apart accordingly. The front legs should be set in under the shoulder blades with definite body overhang before them, and should be reasonably straight and covered with short, hard hair.  The forefeet are larger than the hind ones, are round, proportionate in size, and strong; thickly padded, and covered with short, hard hair; they may properly be truned out a slight amount.

Chest

Chest very deep and extending at least to the elbows, with breadth in proportion to the size of the dog.  Body compact and of good substance, level back, ribs deep, and well arched in the upper half of rib, presenting a flattish side appearance; loins broad and strong, hindquarters strong, muscular, and wide across the top.

Hindquarters

Should be muscular, the hing legs relatively short and sinewy, the thighs very muscular, well angulated, and not set wide apart.  The hocks well bent and parallel viewed from the rear.  The hind feet are smaller than the forefeet, and thickly padded.

Galt

Should be free, straight and easy all around.  In front, the leg should be freely exteded forward by the shoulder.  The hind movement should be drawn close under the body so that when moving off the foot is thrown or pushed forward with some force.

Head

Skull should be fairly broad, being in proportion to the powerful jaw, not too long, slightly domed, and gradually tapering to the eyes.   Shaped to present a round appearance from the front. There should be a defined stop, eyebrows heavy.

Eyes

Widely set apart, medium in size, dark in colour, slightly sunk in the head, sharp and intelligent.  Looking from under heavy eyebrows, they give a piercing look.  Eyes rim are black

Ears

Small, carried tightly erect, set wide apart and terminating in a sharp point. They mus never be cropped.  The hair on the ears should be short, smooth and velvety.  Ears shoud be free of fringe at the tips.  Black skin pigmentation is prefered

Muzzle

Muzzle should be blunt, slightly shorter than the skull, powerful, and gradually tapering to the nose, which should be large and black.

Tail

Relatively short, when standing erect it should be approximately level with the top of the skull, thus maintaining a balanced appearance.  It should be covered with hard hairs, no feather, as straight as possible, carried gaily but not curled over the back.  The tail should be set on high enough so that the spine does not slope down to it.  The tail must never be docked.

Coat

Coat, very important, and seldom seen to perfection, must be double-coated.  The outer coat consist of straight, hard hair, at least 2 inches (5cm) long on the body of mature dogs, with proper blending of the shorter coat on neck and shoulders.

Colour and Pigmentation

Coat must be white, as defined by the breed's name.  Nose must be black. Black pigmentation is most desirable on lips, eye rims, pads of feet, nails and skin.

Size

Dog should measure  10 à 12 inches (25 à 30cm) at the withers, bitches 9 à 11 inches (23 à 28 cm).

Pound

Dog should have 15 à 22lb (7 à 10 kg) and bitches 13 à 16 lb (7 à 8 kg).

The Westie is very friendly pet companion and ideal dog to work in zootherapy.