We rescued our second westie roughly 7 years ago when she was just one year old. We already had a one year old female and had been told of a man who bred toy poodles for show and had recently aquired a young femal westie that he was planning on breeding. He tried to breed her too soon when she was basicly still a puppy on her first heat and had become agitated with her when she wouldn’t breed. He basicly left her in an outdoor kennel/run, barely feeding or walking her. We met up with the owner and he agreed to let us have her for free as he has no use for her.
We knew straight away that she had been ill-treated. She wouldn’t accept dog bisquits from us, but was happy to sit next to the bin as if waiting for scraps. She was wary of leads and dog baskets. When we tried to stroke her she’d tense up and her ears would go back. If you opened a door to let her out she wouldn’t walk underneath your arm if you’re male. And she’s always had a sort of waddle with her back legs when she walks. Thankfully now she’s completely relaxed and is the most gently, sweet dog ever. She loves to play and run about and keeps our other two dogs in their place.
It was only recently when we took her to the vet to get an ear problem checked out that we started to doubt if she was a purebred westie. She came with papers and has a kennel club name, but our usual vet was out and we had a trainee instead. He actually asked what breed she was which we thought was strange because besides her being maybe an inch taller than your average femal westie and having a much longer tail she just looks the same.
Our other westie is the complete opposite to her in looks. The only thing they have in common is that they’re both white. And we’re noticing the differences more and more these days.
Her ears are much larger.
Her head is bigger and she has pink skin instead of the black-ish colour i was told westies have.
Her eyes are a very light amber colour compared to the dark chocolate brown they’re supposed to be.
She’s much longer in length and stockier.
Instead of cat like paws she has shovel like ones.
And her back feet turn out slightly to the side.
Her tail is very long and she rarely holds it up straight.
Her coat is soft and thick and she once broke a pair of dog clippers because it was so thick. Her fur is straight and we’ve never been able to grow a "skirt" on her unlike our other westie.
The trainee vet said that somewhere in her ancestery there might have been a glenn of imaal terrier that was mistaken for a westie. Her face and expression looks so much like a glenn of imaals.
Obviously it doesn’t matter what breed she is and she’ll always be loved no matter what, but it got me thinking about her bloodlines.
Thanks in advance
Here’s some pictures.
http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/zz349/_Raaheel_/003.jpg
http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/zz349/_Raaheel_/016.jpg
http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/zz349/_Raaheel_/0142.jpg
http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/zz349/_Raaheel_/017.jpg
http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/zz349/_Raaheel_/5770444991a11374705716l.jpg
This picture of a glenn of imaal always reminds me of her
http://www.petyourdog.com/images/dog%20breeds/glen_imaal_terrier.jpg
I take it she’s not registered?
If she’s not, I’d say she’s most likely a mix -regardless if she doesn’t have papers she’s considered one anyways.
Or just a poorly bred Westie (not insulting your dog, insulting the breeding).
From the sounds of the guy who got her, I doubt he even cared what kind of dog he was acquiring as long as it produced puppies.
Tags: WestieTags: Westie
I take it she’s not registered?
If she’s not, I’d say she’s most likely a mix -regardless if she doesn’t have papers she’s considered one anyways.
Or just a poorly bred Westie (not insulting your dog, insulting the breeding).
From the sounds of the guy who got her, I doubt he even cared what kind of dog he was acquiring as long as it produced puppies.
References :
She is a westie.
What you have to remember about any breed is that they very soon go off of standard when bred by just anybody (byb’s) that do know what to look for and don’t care either.
I see it all the time with rotties where they are pure bred but very bad examples.
So it is the case with westies as well.. and staffies even more in the UK. I see lots of badly bred westies around in the UK as they became so popular 20 yrs ago that lots of byb’s were breeding them. It has gone on from there.
So I believe she is a purebred – yes.
References :
If you have her KC Registration papers (and assuming they are not fake – you could phone the KC to see if she’s on their registration data, I think) then she’s purebred.
However as some Westies (and all other breeds for that matter) are ‘better’ than others, her faults may just be that – faults. And as such, it’s a good job she was never succesfully bred from!! Unfortunately this breed has become way too popular over the years, and BYBs are making a killing by breeding just any old b itch to any old stud dog.
Actually apart from her conformation faults (back feet turning out = cowhocked for eg.), she looks Westie to me. But her Registration papers (they must be from the KC of the country she was born in – any other Registry isn’t worth anything) will prove she’s purebred, or not!
ps There are examples of my own breed who, visually, hardly fit the Standard, but they are still Bassets!!
References :
Vets have no training in breed recognition! Glens do not come in White, so no one is likely to make that mistake, an inch in height is nothing – Glens should be a good 3 inches taller than a Westie -and she has a longer tail either because she was docked longer or she wasn’t docked at all.
Your b1tch is a WHWT – just not a very good example of the breed (sorry!) She is also a trimmed breed and, with skill, you can make a Westie look like a Glen, a Skye look like a Dandie etc. etc.
Glen of Imaals are extremely rare, both in Ireland and here – less than 50 a year are registered with the KC.
If you really want an opinion as to whether she is purebred, find your nearest breed club and ask an experienced judge their opinion.
She’s obviously a lucky dog with a caring owner, anyway.
References :
she looks like she has a little of a different breed
References :
Too long to read.
References :
[...] Is my Westie a cross breed? | Official Westie Blog [...]
[...] Is my Westie a cross breed? | Official Westie Blog [...]
[...] Is my Westie a cross breed? | Official Westie Blog [...]
[...] Is my Westie a cross breed? | Official Westie Blog [...]
[...] Is my Westie a cross breed? | Official Westie Blog [...]
[...] Is my Westie a cross breed? | Official Westie Blog [...]
Hi,
I have a Westie Mix who is also a Rescue Dog. She was used for breeding purposes in a puppy mill.. ggrr.. After reading your post I looked of Glen of Imaal dogs and lo and behold my Westie Mix looks exactly like a Glen except for her expressive upright ears. She’s the exact Wheaten color and everything from her coat to her stance to her personality says .. I might be a Glen.
On the suggestion of the Westie Rescue that I got her from I have ordered a DNA kit. She’s a mix and I love mixes and her to death… I just want to know and understand her better!!
I have nothing to gain by suggesting this but you could look up your dogs DNA from DNA my dog.. the proceeds go towards dog rescue.
I’m all exited about this project. I never knew there was a way to know for sure… and don’t get my wrong in any way.. I love this little girl to bits and she’s forever in my care.. I wanted a Mix. I already have a Westie/Poodle mix and he’s the best boy EVER!!
Anyways, just a thought if you want to know for sure.
Take care,
Robin
that is deffo a westie in every way, in build, stature and looks. And he is a beauty at that. your vet obviosly dont know one from the other, and must have dealt with only very similiar westies…
im breeding westies a long time now and they actually do come in all shapes and sizes, and the pink skin thing is a myth. all it means is that if you have a westie with predominantly pink skin, (very visible on their inner ear) it simply means your westie falls within that category of the rare 10% this occurs in. It is actually considered an advantage in showing your Westies, so dont worry about it.. your baby is gorgeous and im only sorry your not in ireland as i would let my girls breed with him anytime, mail me and ill forward you photos. kind regards , maria.
just noticed shes a bitch well shes still gorgeous, i thought you had called her HIM but i read it wrong …. sorry ….