Terriers in general should start training as soon as possible and with creative and positive methods, backed up by a firm hand. Westies are alert and will alarm bark to defend their homes and families. Left to their own devices, they will excavate your yard and bark while doing so. These are dogs still close to their roots of hunting and do best with plenty of exercise. These are hardy little dogs, often living well into their teen years.Īll Westies should be socialized early and continuously, especially to other dogs and to other pets. Too much indulging in rich treats can lead to a very heavy dog. Terriers in general are easy dogs to keep, bred to exist on scraps and their own hunting skills. As befits their heritage, they have a tendency to be nuisance barkers and serious diggers. They are lively and fun dogs but do not always feel the need for human direction.Īgain, showing the terrier temperament, Westies are not always good with other dogs that they have not been raised with and can be dangerous around other small house pets such as bunnies. This can make them of a handful to train, and much patience and firmness is in order. Obviously they are tough, determined little dogs to be willing to go underground after a fox or badger. They are smart, independent, and a little stubborn. The sturdy tail is used to haul the dogs back out of underground burrows when they pursue their prey. The ears are prick and the tail moderate in length and sturdy. They should have dark pigment around the eyes, mouth and nose. Despite the white coat color, these dogs are not albinos. The white color helped their guardians to see them in the fields and distinguish them from the prey they were hunting. The coat needs to be clipped or hand stripped to work out the dead undercoat. These are fairly short coats but tough enough to push through brambles and harsh enough to shed dirt easily. West Highland white terriers are immediately identifiable by their dense, harsh white coats. They are stocky little dogs but quite fast and agile. The "Westie" is one of the short-legged terriers, running 10 or 11 inches tall and 14 to 20 pounds in weight.
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