West Highland White Terrier Profile

PERSONALITY and PROFILE
OF THE
WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER
By Lee Weston

     The West Highland White Terrier, referred to as the "Westie", is a member of the Terrier Group. It is all white in color, although there are some who still have a little wheaten color as a throwback to the other Terriers that share its gene pool. If you are going to be showing your Westie in conformation, this wheaten color is considered a fault. It is double coated, that is, it has a coarse, about 2 inches long, hair as a top coat, and a soft, dense coat next to its skin. There is black pigmentation on the Westie's lips, eye-rims, the pads of its feet, nails and skin. The Westie's eye's are dark in color. The dog is approximately 11 inches high at the withers, the female is about an inch shorter. The average life span of this breed is about 14 years.
     If you are considering this breed as a pet, be aware that this dog is not a rinse and go, wash and wear type of dog. Grooming can be quite challenging, and this is especially the case when showing in conformation. The properly groomed Westie is a beautiful dog to look at, but to get it that beautiful is a meticulous, time consuming job. This is probably the number one reason so many are abandoned at dog pounds, or end up having to be rescued. The Westie you see at dog shows has been groomed by a person who has hand plucked the undercoat and has used special grooming tools to get the dog in what is known as "show coat". For the Westie that is to be kept as a family pet, you will need to dedicate approximately an hour a day to brush and comb your dog, and about once per month take the dog to a grooming shop for bathing and clipping. During your daily grooming periods, you will also need to check nails, ears and teeth. This may seem to be a lot of time to devote to a house pet, but if you have a love of these dogs, it can be a time of bonding and it can be fun as well, and not just another chore. Please keep this in mind when making a decision.   A dog is more than just a compliment to your home's decor.
     As to the personality of the West Highland White Terrier, please remember he is a terrier. The Westie has a hunter's heart, and loves to chase small, ground dwelling, tunneling prey. So that hour you spent grooming him, the money you spent this morning on a groomer, the dog just came home covered in dirt, and has wet, matted hair, and is very pleased with himself. He won't understand why you just screamed and fainted. On the "up" side, the Westie is a gay, alert and courageous dog. He is friendly, and very people oriented. He loves to please people, so he does respond to training well. One point to make here, is that the Westie takes correction very hard, and he won't be bullied into compliance. He can demonstrate a certain amount of willful stubbornness, but it is balanced with the sense to please his owner. The West Highland White Terrier is a dynamic, self reliant canine, and is a terrific family pet. The new owner of a Westie must remember however, that this is a small dog, and is not tolerant of small children who poke, pull or prod him.
     The West Highland White Terrier is a compact, strong little dog. He has muscular legs and deep ribs. Altogether a very sturdy dog, certainly not a powder puff.

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