Sometime around the 1700’s, the Isle of Skye and other highlands in Scotland were already producing lots of small terriers. Scottish breeds were separated into two: the Skye terriers and the Dandie Dinmont terriers.
The Dandie Dinmonts were categorized as a separate breed. The Skyes included the Scotties, the Cairns and the West highland white terriers or the Westies.
It was also noted that these terriers were the hybrids among the crossed Cairns, Scottish, and Dandies terriers. One could assume that the hybrid would really be loyal and its hunting instincts could not be belittled. In fact, many royalties in Scotland owned terriers that were very similar to the Westies of today.
In the first-ever dog show that were organized in the late 1800s, the Westies were called as White Scottish terriers. In 1904, they were classified under the name West Highland White terriers.
Following are some items in the history that show the Westies’ reputation of being owners’ favorite companion dogs.
Records in the history mentioned that around 1620, King James 1 of England requested some small white dogs from Argyleshire in Scotland. Colonel Malcolm, who was considered as the originator of Poltalloch terriers, that are very similar to the Westies of today, accidentally shot his terrier (a dark one). From then on he vowed to have only white terriers
One old story concerns a family pet that stopped a mother from constantly yelling at her daughter. Every time the mother would yell at her teenage daughter, the Westie would growl at the mother and attempt to “protect” the child. The aggression of the dog continued to worsen over the years that resulted in the mother’s complete inability to scold her teenager. It turned out that the girl was actually rewarding the dog for his protection by calming and soothing him down after every “threat” from her mother. Many would perceive that the daughter was able to help her mother to change her ways when in fact she was helping herself by rewarding the dog for its behavior.
The following are some of the basic facts breeders would really love to know about Westies:
- Category: Terrier Living Environment: indoors (highly recommended); outdoors (fenced yard)
- Coat: about two-inch coarse and wiry outer coat and soft, dense, and furry undercoat
- Color: white
- Height: between 10 and 12 inches
- Weight: between 13 and 22 pounds
- Temperament: Westies do like to bark and dig.They love companionship When properly trained they usually become very friendly towards strangers and they develop close affinity with behaved children. While they love to chase cats, they do not typically really try to hurt them. Westies can become very good watch dogs and are a very lively small breed.
Breeders should note of the following health issues:
- 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
Care and Exercise:
- Their coat should be brushed regularly using a brush with stiff bristles.
- They should bathe only when necessary.
- Their whole coat should be stripped at least twice a year and trimmed every four months.
- The fur on the eyes and ears should be trimmed using blunt-nose mirrors.
- They will surely be more agile and healthy after regular sessions of play and/or walk.
