West Highland White Terriers

If your preference when looking for an ideal dog is favoring a small breed dog, you will not go far wrong by choosing a Westie.

Being a dog lover I made a conscious decision to always have rescue dogs , and adopted  a four year old  Westie in 2004. Like most rescue dogs the background history is often vague, so you need to be fully aware of all the potential issues that may arise, and will need to have a resource to help you with any training requirements.  

 Brief History

The breed originates from the highlands of Scotland and are one of the breeds within the Skye terrier group, the others being Scotties and the Cairn Terrier. These breeds can be traced back to the 1700`s.

 Did you know that Westies were originally  bred for hunting and their prey would have been  small animals such as rabbits, squirrels and mice, but they were also used to hunt foxes and badgers. Surprisingly the young females were the keenest hunters.

Firstly here are some basic facts about the breed

Apperance

• Height: 9 to 11 inches (28 cm)
• Weight: 15 to 20 lbs for male dogs / 13 to 16 lbs for female dogs
• Color: White

• Coat: about two-inch coarse and wiry outer coat and soft, dense, and furry undercoat

 All dogs regardless of their breed will require a level of care and the Westie is no exception, here are a few tips to help keep your Westie looking at their best.

Care and Exercise

Westies are prone to allergies and dry skin issues, and frequent  bathing may aggravate these problems.

• Washing once a month or on a longer interval will generally not cause issues. Washing with a detergent-free, baby-oriented, or another soft skin shampoo will help keep a Westie's skin hydrated.
• Weekly washing of the inside of the ears with cotton balls will prevent oil and wax build-up and ear infection.If water gets inside its ears you must extract it before infection.
• Frequent brushings are needed to keep the coat clean and oils evenly distributed throughout the coat.
• Groom at least every two months. Between grooming appointments, bathe and brush as needed. Their coat should be brushed regularly using a brush with stiff bristles.
•  The  fur on the eyes and ears should be trimmed using blunt-nose scissors.
• They will surely be more agile and healthy after regular sessions of play and/or walk.

Health

I would strongly recommend that you take out a pet insurance plan for your dog, as again it is your responsibility to look after your chosen dog and it can be a very costly experience when they become ill.

 Below lists the conditions and ailments that are specific to this breed.

•              Chronic skin problems

•              Perthe's disease (hip problems)

•              Jawbone calcification

•              Cranio mandibular osteopathy (lion jaw)

•              Patella luxation, a disorder in the kneecap

•              Liver ailments

•              Deafness

•              Congenital heart disease

Like most other dogs, these terriers generally require 13 hours of sleep out of every 24. Westies will usually conform to the sleep patterns of their human companions, and take several naps during the day as well, to accrue their needed sleep.

Temperament:

Naturally,

•           they like to bark and dig

•           they are not as willful like most terriers

•           they love companionship

When properly trained

•           they can become fairly friendly towards strangers

•           they develop close affinity with behaved children

•           they love to chase cats but they do not hurt them

•           they can become a very good watch dog

•           they can become very lively

One of the best purchases I made to help me understand how to care properly for my dog and also to train them effectively is The complete D.I.Y Dog training package by Sharda Baker.This has been  money well spent as we have had five rescue dogs, all different breeds, all with different needs and history, and all have had training via this package.

Sybil Fowler

www.slrmarketing.com

www.wealthynet.co.uk