West Highland White Terrier

West Highland White Terrier

This plucky little breed has an interesting history. The original West Highland White Terriers were once outcasts; now they are firm favorites.

History:

The West Highland White Terrier is directly derived from the Cairn Terrier. In the nineteenth century, those who used the Cairn Terrier for hunting felt that the white puppies were defective in hunting ability, and so culled them at birth. However, after Colonel Malcolm of Poltalloch accidentally shot his own dark-colored dog (mistaking it for the game it was chasing), he decided that he would keep the white puppies. He selectively bred the white and near-white dogs and created the Poltalloch Terrier. There is speculation that at one time Sealyham Terriers were incorporated into the breeding program. However, this created a dog with too long a back, and so the influence was subsequently bred out.

For a while they were also known as the White Scottish Terrier and the Roseneath Terrier, after the estate of the Duke of Argyll, a famous fancier of the breed. The name West Highland White Terrier was adopted at the beginning of the twentieth century. The Scottish Kennel Club officially recognized the breed in 1904 and the English were not long behind (1907).

Physical characteristics:

Height: 10 - 11 in (25 - 28 cm). Weight: 15 - 22 lb (7 - 10 kg). This small dog is compact and strong, with a deep chest and a level back. The Westie has very small pointed ears that sit erect on the top of the head. The medium-sized dark eyes are partially obscured by the profuse coat that frames the head and face. The largish black nose is a prominent feature. The selective breeding program of Colonel Malcom removed all the genes for the darker Cairn colors; consequently, the Westie comes only in the purest of whites. The top coat is never soft or silky but must be harsh and straight, while the undercoat is short and soft.

Behavior:

The West Highland White Terrier makes a wonderful companion animal. Although its ancestors were originally hunting dogs, nowadays its behavior is far more mellow. However, the West Highland White Terrier is still a precocious little dog, which delights in informing its owners when an intruder dares to enter its patch. Even though this dog is very cute and in danger of being spoilt, it is less likely to become too bossy than other small breeds. This delightful little dog can be very good with families, but the usual care should be taken that it is not injured by over-zealous children. This dog responds well to training even at a very early age.