Westie History
Breed Information!
The West Highland White Terrier is a medium-sized terrier, although with longer legs than other Scottish breeds of terrier. It has a white double coat of fur which fills out the dog's face, giving it a rounded appearance. The Westie is an active and intelligent breed, and is social with a high prey drive, as they were once used to hunt rodents. The average life span of a Westie is 12 to 16 years. Westies are hypoallergenic.
The temperament of a Westie can vary greatly, with some being friendly towards children, whilst others prefer solitude. It will not tolerate rough handling such as a child pulling on its ears, and can be both food- and toy-possessive. It is normally independent, assured, and self-confident, and can make a good watchdog. It is a loyal breed that bonds with its owner, but is often always on the move, requiring good exercise (15–30 min). The Westie is highly social and is the most friendly and jolly of all the Scottish breeds of terriers.
Several breed-specific and nonspecific health issues appear in the breed, including a condition in young dogs nicknamed “westie jaw” which causes an overgrowth of bone in the jaw of the dog. It can also be prone to skin disorders, with a breed-specific condition called hyperplastic dermatosis occurring.
Please visit the American Kennel Club website for more information!
http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/west-highland-white-terrier/
The West Highland White Terrier is a medium-sized terrier, although with longer legs than other Scottish breeds of terrier. It has a white double coat of fur which fills out the dog's face, giving it a rounded appearance. The Westie is an active and intelligent breed, and is social with a high prey drive, as they were once used to hunt rodents. The average life span of a Westie is 12 to 16 years. Westies are hypoallergenic.
The temperament of a Westie can vary greatly, with some being friendly towards children, whilst others prefer solitude. It will not tolerate rough handling such as a child pulling on its ears, and can be both food- and toy-possessive. It is normally independent, assured, and self-confident, and can make a good watchdog. It is a loyal breed that bonds with its owner, but is often always on the move, requiring good exercise (15–30 min). The Westie is highly social and is the most friendly and jolly of all the Scottish breeds of terriers.
Several breed-specific and nonspecific health issues appear in the breed, including a condition in young dogs nicknamed “westie jaw” which causes an overgrowth of bone in the jaw of the dog. It can also be prone to skin disorders, with a breed-specific condition called hyperplastic dermatosis occurring.
Please visit the American Kennel Club website for more information!
http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/west-highland-white-terrier/