Westy - Meet the little terrier that you will want to adopt

Knowing all the details of a dog before adopting it is the best way to gain its trust and, in addition, offer an adequate quality of life. Even more important is to know if the race we want Westy.

Size: Little.
Weight: Between 6 and 10kg.
Hair type: Abundant, messy and white.
Character: Balanced and affectionate
Health: Healthy
Life expectancy: Between 12 and 16 years.

Also known as West Highland White Terrier or Westie, this breed of dogs has a quiet, shy and tender appearance. But, as a good terrier, it is an energetic and fierce dog. In addition to the beautiful white color of his fur, this dog is characteristic of his incredible personality, so he has been described as One of the best pets. Although their origins in Scotland were destined for hunting and surveillance, regardless of their stature, these dogs were gaining popularity in society until they became excellent pets. Do you want to learn more about Westy? In this article we give you all the details you need to know about this race. So you will discover if it is the pet you are looking for for your home.

Westy story

The West Highland White Terrier, or White Terrier as it has also described, has its origins in Scotland, specifically in the highlands of the west of the country. In fact, the name "West Highland White Terrier" is translated as White Terrier of the West Highlands, which makes its origin clear. Used mainly for the hunting of small dams such as rabbits, foxes and will, these dogs were considered as part of the short -legged terrier herd that inhabited Scotland, such as the Cairn, the Dandie Dinmont and the Scottish Terrier. However, later, these dogs were separated until they identify themselves as individual breeds.

As for the specific appearance of the Westie, it has come to be said that it was due to an incident that the Colonel Edward Malcolm He had one of his red canines, where the small animal was killed when he was confused with one of the dams he hunted. From that moment on, Malcolm decided to start the breeding of white terrier dogs only, to be used in hunting. Although the absolute veracity of this story has not been confirmed, it agrees in some aspects with the origin of this friend, suggesting that it can be the foundation of its birth. After its appearance, This breed was won the preference of society, both as a hunting dog and for other activities, including surveillance and especially company. His popularity has not ceased since 1907, when they were presented in a canine exhibition, where the looks concentrated on them. Until now it continues to be very accepted within homes, large or small, ideal as a hiking partner, or simply to fill the whole family with love.

Aspect of the West Highland White Terrier

Although it is a small dog, the white terrier is characterized by its formidable and compact physical appearance. It has a well -formed, muscular and strong contexture. His back is straight, and his deep and muscular chest.

The extremities of these dogs are short but muscular, which provides it with great agility and excellent posture. They are ideal dogs for small spaces, due to their compact size that favors you on this subject. Let's look more thoroughly the physical characteristics of the Westie below:

Height and weight

As we have detailed, it is a dog with a small stature. In fact, it does not exceed 35 centimeters to the cross, being in the case of females, of a slightly lower stature. In the case of the weight, these dogs can reach up to 10 kilograms a maximum, that is, it is not a dog with exaggerated dimensions.

Head

His head is a characteristic appearance, because he tends to seem bigger than the rest of his body. In addition, it is covered by an abundant and slightly messy fur. Its facial expression is a curious aspect, because it shows great tenderness, but also the intelligence characteristic of an terrier. The eyes of these dogs are small, round and usually dark color.

His nose is black and medium -sized. While his snout is slightly outstanding, with a strong bite for his large and well placed teeth. This aspect provides you with a highlight in fox hunting inside its burrow. Westy's ears is another interesting point, they are high, pointed and lifted, although small. They appear to always be attentive.

Line

A detail of this terrier that is curiously valued is its tail: it is thin, but it covers an abundant and some thick fur that makes it look a little more thickened. It has a length of 12 to 15 centimeters, always remaining straight pointing up.

Fur

If there is something that cannot be passed when we talk about Westy is your fur. Bright white, the only one accepted in the standard, has an abundant canvas that grows until it exceeds its back, divided into two layers. The inner layer, ideal to protect from cold temperatures, is dense, smooth and soft. While the external, more rough, thick and abundant, makes it worthy of regular visits to the hairdresser to avoid knots and the excessive fur fall.

Westy behavior

The temperament of West Highland White Terrier makes it classified as one of the best pets, especially in homes where there are children. These dogs are balanced, affectionate, with a tender and alert look. In addition to that, They are characterized by a determined personality, very sure of themselves, brave and energetic. All these attributes seem exaggerated by their little stature, but the Westy is a dog that handles the dynamism it has very well. It's about Sociable dogs And that usually have to get along with other people and animals. However, the innate function of hunters and vigilants offers you an instinct that remains active. If you perceive any danger or risk towards yours, you will not hesitate to attack in some way.

Its sympathy is not only towards people, but also towards other dogs, it is usually very playful and adapt perfectly to other dogs without any problem. With other animals it is a bit more limited, because he is a hunter by nature. In homes where there are children the Westy is an exemplary dog, perfect to play and entertain the little ones in the house with their tenderness and energy. However, it is necessary to take care of the treatment that children give to these dogs, because because of their size, sudden games can be counterproductive. The height and weight of these dogs allows them to be easy to adapt, especially to small spaces such as apartments. They do not usually remain very calm, in fact they have a pronounced trend to bark in excess and make holes on earth, so if you have a garden or you like permanent silence, this dog is not a good option. However, your training will not be complicated, because It is an intelligent animal that learns very fast The orders that are given, although it requires patience, because it is usually independent and stubborn, does not like to receive orders frequently.

Westy education

Although they have a strong, independent and very safe personality, The training of these terrier is nothing complicated. His great intelligence and attention capacity make training him very pleasant. However, it requires that this education process be constant and regular, because they also have independent and very lively behavior, so it will make their own actions on their actions. We must also remember that These are hunter dogs by nature, that is, with smaller animals they can be a bit aggressive because they are considered a dam. This instinct can be controlled with an adequate teaching process where socialization is the main basis. You should start educating at an early age because, although it does not have obvious behavior problems, if you do not educated it can be a dog with destructive behavior and uncontrollable barking. It is also important to take into account that traditional education or screams and abuse will not work in the training of a Westie. These dogs effectively respond to positive reinforcement, that is, the Technique based on motivation and reward. Although it is not necessary to be an expert in education to carry out the training of this canine, it is necessary to know how to handle its energetic and safe personality. So there is a connection between the dog and its owner, the teaching process will be easier and easier. The practice of tricks will be very funny and will also make you look more easily, as it tends to be a friendly dog by nature.

Westy health

Little Westy is a race, usually healthy. It has a life expectancy that reaches between 12 and 14 years, in perfect health common. However, There are specific race diseases that must be highlighted and that in most cases the main cause of appearance is genetic. These are:

Cranomandibular osteopathy

It is a pathology that consists of the abnormal growth of the canine jaw. It is mainly hereditary origin and begins to rule in the Westies from Cubs, around the first 3 months of life. Although it is not a high gravity pathology, it requires medical care and especially treatment application for disappearance. In most cases, this disease disappears at 12 months of life.

Others

Leukodystrophy of globeid, dislocations, eye problems and copper poisoning, are some of the diseases that affect these dogs on a strange occasions. However, adequate veterinary control and care adapted to your needs will be enough to maintain an adequate state of health.

How to take care of West Highland White Terrier

If you wonder the proper way to take care of your Westy once you have adopted it, you must read the following aspects that are fundamental to maintain an adequate state of health in these canines:

Bathroom

Westie's skin and fur are a bit delicate, which is why the bathroom issue must be treated with special dedication. First, it should be noted that if you bathe very frequently, they can suffer from skin rashes. For this reason, an adequate bathroom at least every four weeks will be enough to keep these canines impeccable. It is necessary to take into account that the useful shampoo and conditioner, must be exclusive to this breed. The veterinarian may give you more details about it. After each bath must be dried evenly and completely. Especially the ears, it should be taken care that they are not wet, because it can lead to infections.

Brushing

Regular brushing is indispensable to maintain hygiene, brightness and above all avoid knots in Westie's fur. The practice of this several times a week will be helpful. In addition, this is a dog dog that feels good when they do the brushing. It is necessary to pay attention to areas such as legs and mouth, which are the ones that tend to get dirty. A good way to clean its white fur in these cases, is with wet wipes, for example.

Exercises

Although it is not a dog that requires an exaggerated amount of exercises, It is necessary for these dogs to remain active constantlyWell, they must channel their energy in some way. At least three walks up to date, complemented with exercises either outdoors or at home, will be enough for the Westie to remain healthy, avoid obesity and also be a completely emotionally balanced animal.

Company

Despite characterizing their independence and security, these dogs greatly enjoy the company of their owners and the whole family. That is why they require attention and share frequently with yours. You must then have a considerable amount of time to dedicate to these canines and prevent them from suffering from anxiety due to separation or loneliness.

Conclusion

After having known the most precise details of Westy, we can highlight that it is a great dog in a small size. His energetic, aguerrid, independent, but also tender, friendly and fun personality, contrast perfectly and give their owners A perfect company dog. These canines are also excellent guards and protectors. Despite their stature, they have an outstanding courage and this makes them highlight, in addition to the easy adaptation to small spaces without problem. Enjoy the company of these canines at all times, now that you know more about them, consider whether it is the ideal pet for you. We suggest you:

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