West Highland Terrier Dog

We elaborate the west highland terrier puppy breeds with west highland terrier puppy temperament, training, appearance, weight, life spam and much more information about this breed.

Other names: Westie

West Highland Terrier Puppy Appearance

Westies are small and compact, well balanced and tough. They have raised eyebrows, a black nose, and small upright ears.

West Highland Terrier Weight

15 – 22 lbs.

West Highland Terrier Size

Average life span

13-15 years

West Highland Terrier Temperament

They are cheeky, confident, affectionate, stubborn and kind dogs. They are not very suitable for young children as they do not like rough play. They would be more suitable for a family with older children who respect your attitude. In general they are excellent companions for the family. They are good with other dogs as long as they have been properly socialized at an early age, however, they must be trained to live with cats when they are young as they will chase them once they grow up. They are always alert and courageous, making them good watchdogs.

Training

They like to please people so they respond well to training, however, they can be very stubborn, so owners must be firm and consistent in their training.

Cleanliness

They should be groomed once a week to keep the coat clean and tangle-free. When dogs get dirty, it’s best to let them dry and then dry brush clean. The beard is a special place for matting, a typical problem in this breed, this area may need daily grooming and brushing.

Exercise

They need daily exercise to consume their average energy requirements, they love to play with balls, and they also enjoy digging and running away, therefore, it must be ensured that the yard or garden where they are going to play is well fenced.

Health. Hip Malformation or Dysplasia

Results in a poor fit between the head of the femur bone and the hip socket. This condition can be alleviated by surgery, although with consequences for dogs and owners since dogs with dysplasia usually produce puppies with the same condition. Buyers should ask if both the parent of the puppy they are interested in has been recently tested and is free of hip dysplasia. Don’t take yes for an answer without seeing a certificate and ask for a copy to take to your vet.

Patellar Luxation

Slippage in the knee joints (also known as a dislocated patella or spilled fluid) is a common problem in small breeds. In this condition, the kneecap slides out of its groove and moves against the thigh bone (femur) instead of in its natural groove. Although it is a hereditary condition, small and active breeds tend to develop it as a result of their natural activities (jumping from one place to another around objects such as furniture and others).

Legg Perthes disease

(commonly confused with hip dysplasia) is due to death of the head of the femur bone. This causes wear and tear and promotes arthritic changes, therefore, after the disease has progressed, it is difficult for a time to diagnose whether the resulting degenerated joint is a manifestation of hip dysplasia or LeggPerthes. This condition is congenital and has no known cure. The pain that accompanies arthritic changes can be controlled with steroids.

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)

It is a group of dog diseases that involve all the gradual deterioration of the retina. It is diagnosed by retinoscopic examination using an electroretinogram (ERG). Early in the disease, affected dogs begin to suffer from night blindness and lack the ability to see in low light, and later day vision also fails. As their vision deteriorates, affected dogs can adjust to their disability very well, as long as their environment remains constant. Some breeds are affected early in life, while in other breeds, PRA develops much later.

Juvenile cataracts

Condition that causes the opacity of the ocular lens causing total or some degree of blindness with an early onset in the puppy’s life.

History

Westies are essentially descendants of Cairn White Terriers, which sometimes give birth to white puppies naturally, or Scottish White Terriers. At Argyll (or Poltalloch) in Scotland in the 1800s, Colonel Malcolm and his family bred these white dogs to develop a new breed. The white fur made them highly visible when hunting in the Scottish moors and they could easily be distinguished. The ‘Westie’ was bred to be small enough to fit between the rocks and small passageways typical of fox houses in the Scottish countryside. The Westie’s tail is traditionally longer and straighter than most small dogs. Due to his instinct to head into a fox or rabbit hole,

The breed was originally known as the Poltalloch Terrier, although they were also known as the Roseneath Terrier, the White Roseneath Terrier, and, at the end of the 19th century, as a white variety of the Scottish Terrier.