Overview of the West Highland White Terrier breed, covering its origins, physical traits, temperament, care needs, training, common health problems, and typical lifespan.
The Westland Terrier, or Westie is a small, friendly and very brave dog. Developed as a hunting dog, it is currently one of the most popular dog breeds. If you are also a true lover of this dog and want to know more about its origin, its care or its physical characteristics, in this new video from Animal Expert, we will talk about this and much more. The Westie originated in the Western Highlands of Scotland. In fact, the literal translation of its name is West Highland White Terrier. Initially, the breed was indistinguishable from other short legged Scottish Terriers such as the Keer, the Dandie Demon or the Scottish Terrier. However, over time each variety was bred separately until they became true dog breeds. The West Highland White Terrier was created as a dog for hunting fox and badger and had coats of different colors. It is said that Colonel Edward Donald Malcolm decided to breed only white dogs after one of his red dogs died after being mistaken for a fox when leaving its burrow. The Westie is a small dog measuring about 28cm at the withers and usually weighing no more than 10 kilogram. Females are generally slightly smaller than males. It is a compact and strong dog with a level back, broad loin and deep chest. Its legs are short, muscular and strong. The head of the West Island White Terrier is slightly bulky and covered with abundance. Its nose is black and somewhat elongated. The teeth are large in relation to the size of the dog and very powerful. Its eyes are medium sized and dark and have an intelligent and alert expression. In general, the face of this dog is sweet and friendly. The tail is one of the most appreciated elements of the Westie's appearance. It is covered with abundant rough hair and is always held as straight as possible. It is shaped like a small carrot, measuring between 12 and 15 centimeters long and should not be docked under any circumstances. However, the most notable characteristic of this dog breed is its beautiful and soft white hair, the only accepted color. Its coat is divided into two layers, an inner layer of hard, coarse hair and an outer layer of soft, dense hair. Brave, mischievous, very self confident and dynamic, the Westie is perhaps the most affectionate and sociable of the Terrier dogs. However, it should be noted that it is a somewhat rough dog because it was designed to hunt dangerous animals such as foxes. Although this will depend on each specimen. The Westie usually gets along perfectly with other dogs thanks to its balanced and friendly temperament. Of course, it is important to socialize it correctly from a young age in the animal's usual environments so that it learns to deal with other pets and people on the other hand, this wonderful dog can also become the ideal companion for children, since it usually enjoys playing with them very much. In these cases, it is essential to train both the dog and the child so that both learn to respect each other and play without harming each other. This dog has a tendency to bark and dig, especially if it spends many hours alone at home or is bored. In this way, it is an excellent companion animal for active people who do outdoor activities, but totally not recommended for those who prefer silence and tranquility. In short, it is a dog with a strong personality, courageous and determined despite its small size, active and affectionate, it loves to feel like the center of attention. The Westie's skin is somewhat dry, and bathing too often can make it prone to rashes. To avoid this problem, it should be bathed once a month or every month and a half with a shampoo exclusively recommended for the breed. After bathing, it is necessary to dry its ears well with a towel, a part of its body that needs regular cleaning. The outer layer of hair of this dog usually grows to 5 or 6 cm, so it is essential to brush it regularly. Thus, although maintaining its coat is not excessively complicated, it is true that it tends to get dirty easily due to its white color. For this reason, it is advisable to clean its muzzle and paws after eating or playing if necessary. A very effective trick for this task is to use a baby wipe to clean the areas. It is also important to pay attention to the Westies tear ducts to clean accumulated eye mucus and avoid brown stains. As for exercise, this is not a dog that needs large doses, but it does require a minimum of two or three active walks and games to keep it well stimulated. Due to its size, it can be exercised indoors, but it loves doing outdoor activities. In addition, it is essential to provide it with all the company it needs due to its sociable and affectionate nature, as we have already mentioned do. The Westie is a dog that tends to get along very well with other animals and people as long as it has been properly socialized. Therefore, it is essential not to take it in until it is at least two months old, since it is with its mother and siblings that it begins the socialization period. Once in its new home, the process should be continued in all the environments it is going to frequent. It is worth noting that its strong hunting instinct makes it unsuitable for living with small animals, as it tends to hunt them. However, not all Westies are the same, and it is therefore possible to socialize it from a young age so that it learns learns to tolerate them. The strong personality of this small dog has led many to think that it is difficult to train. However, it is a very intelligent dog that learns quickly when trained in a positive way with methods such as clicker training, treats and rewards. It does not respond well to traditional training techniques based on punishment and negative reinforcement. Also, as it is quite a barker, it is important to train it so that it learns to manage barking appropriately. The Westie is a dog that is always alert, aware of its territory and ready to defend it. For this reason, it is an excellent watchdog. The Westie puppy is especially vulnerable to suffering from craniomondibular osteopathy, a disease that consists of the normal growth of the jaw. It is genetic and must be treated correctly with the help of a veterinarian. Due to the characteristics of its skin, it is one of the dog breeds most prone to dermatitis, especially atopic dermatitis. Other diseases that this dog often suffers from are globoid cell leukodystrophy, leukodystrophy, Peretz disease, ear infections, cataracts and patellar lux. To prevent and detect any of these, it is necessary to visit the vet regularly, keep the vaccination schedule up to date and keep the Westie properly dewormed. If we give it all the care it needs, the West Highland White Terrier is a long lived dog that can be with us for 12 to 16 years. And that's it for today's video about Westies. I hope you enjoyed it. If so, give us a like. Subscribe to the channel and we'll see you in the next video. Until next time, experts.
