West Highland White Terrier
I’m in surgery today, so enjoy a gently used post from the past
I met the cutest dog you’d ever want to see this weekend. Do y’all know Preston, from Preston Speaks? He’s a West Highland White Terrier, or Westie.
Is he not the most adorable dog you’ve ever seen? As his mama pointed out, he looks very much like one of my dog besties, Gizmo.
Both are terriers, though Gizmo is a mixed breed with a lot of grey. I think they’re even about the same size. Let’s dive in with a description of the West Highland White Terrier from the AKC breed page.
About the Breed
The hardy West Highland White Terrier, more commonly known as the “Westie,” is known for its friendly, strong-willed personality and a remarkably bright white coat. Said to be “all terrier,” this breed possesses a large amount of spunk, determination and devotion stuffed into a compact little body. The confident Westie excels in a variety of AKC events, from conformation to agility to obedience.
Spunky. Compact. Strong-willed. Friendly. This sounds like a great dog. We’re going to look at the pros and cons of owning a sparkling white small terrier. I like Dog Breed Info for comprehensive breed information.
Pros:
- Easy to train – if you’ve ever owned a small terrier and tried potty training it, you know that this is a plus
- Great travelling companion – not all dogs travel well, but this breed does
- Great with kids – if your children are young and you’re looking for the perfect family dog to grow up with them, this just might be your dog
- Long life span – 15 years or more
- Great for apartment dwellers, though they can be quite active indoors (I’m guessing zoomies are a favorite past time)
- Some grooming required, but not much in the way of shedding – this terrier has a double coat and will need stripping a couple of times a year
- Good watchdog – but the barking needs to be controlled
Wow. Sign me up! Let’s look at the cons, before I get too carried away and start digging into the Oklahoma West Highland White Terrier Rescue.
Cons:
- Can develop Small Dog Syndrome – be firm and confident with this breed, or it will guard food and furniture, snap at people, be combative with other dogs
- Westies have a penchant for barking and digging
- Health – hernia, liver disease, hip problems, cherry eye, jawbone calcification, skin problems
- High energy – HIGH energy
- Food and toy possessive – again, this tends to rely on the owner and their treatment of this small dog
I’d say that if you’re looking for a family dog and travel companion, this might be the dog for you. Know what you’re getting into. Take this dog for daily long walks. Have balls and toys on hand for games of fetch. Make sure your West Highland White Terrier isn’t the boss, the spoiled, pampered pooch. Like children, no dog really wants to be a spoiled boss. That gets ugly quickly.
Treats for Westies
Last, but not least from my perspective, what treat would a Westie like?
I gave Preston some Beef Liver Taffy while at Bark World. I’m thinking he’d probably like a Jones Knee Cap, too, or a Steer Stick.
Giveaway
Even though I’m in the hospital, Jones Natural Chews is still giving away the best treat ever, their stuffed Bandit’s Bone! Click on this sentence and scroll down to the Rafflecopter, then click and follow instructions! You won’t regret it. This is a big-time favorite for Jones’ fans!
Spreading the good chews …
Flea
