All about the West Highland terrier
These dogs, popularly known as Westies, are basically terriers and possess most of this breed’s characteristics. Hence, this dog is not really lapdog – and if that is what you are seeking, this is not the right dog for you. Though they look extremely cuddly since they are impeccably white and small; however, they do not prefer to be held or handled for long periods of time.
What Goes Into the Making of this Spirited Little Animal?
According to history, the West Highland terrier origin is credited to two different people in Scotland, i.e. Colonel Donald Malcolm (Argyll) around the 1620s and the eighth Duke of Argyll around 1800s. What we see today is the result of more than a century of selective breeding to ensure that these dogs have the perfect genetic make-up. These dogs were specifically bred for hunting foxes and rats (vermin in general) and this is how Westie got the habit of digging in the courtyard.
The West Highland terrier is always bright white. The color used to help when it was used as a hunting dog, because it was easily distinguishable and hence, not shot at (confused with the prey) by the hunters (of fox and rabbits). Owing to its origin, this dog is known for its tenacity, aggression and energy. It has a single-minded approach when it hunts, even today. This dog comes with a lot of spunk and makes for an excellent watchdog. Their best pastime when not playing is sleeping; you will observe that a West Highland white terrier almost invariably chooses secluded places to sleep, and needs to have his back towards a wall, or something solid.
Coat
This dog has two coats of fur – one dense and wiry, and the other one, soft and fluffy. The coat was meant for its protection – so the prey was not able to hold it down. Today, the advantage of its coat is that being dry it does not need a bath too often. Grooming involves normal daily brushing and trimming of hair wherever you feel that it will affect its hygiene – around the mouth, around the ears and also around the eyes, though the latter is for cosmetic purposes.
The West Highland white terrier is normally a healthy breed, The most common health problems you will encounter with this Scottish Terrier is skin problems. It is not known exactly why, but this dog is highly prone to all type of skin allergies and infections and even cancer. Other common diseases are Perthe’s disease that affects the hip, liver problems, hernia and jawbone calcifications. In spite of all this, this dog’s life expectancy is on an average more than 15 years.
They love to be exercised, but since it is extremely energetic indoors as well, it will not hanker for the outdoors. They are very playful and need many naps during the day. This dog makes a wonderful companion pet because it gets along very easily with children, elder people and all other pet animals at home – including cats.
Its instinct of hunting is still alive, and if it has the opportunity, it would love to rush after a rat and catch it. This trait is owed to the history and origin of the West Highland terrier, which shows it is basically a hunting dog.
