Although the West Highland White Terrier
-- or Westie -- is often thought of as the white version of his Scottie
relative, he is, in fact a separate breed that actually more closely resembles
the Cairn Terrier in type. In addition to the Scottish and the Cairn,
the Westie shares common ancestry with two other rough-coated terriers
from Scotland: the Dandie Dinmont and the Skye. It is also
believed that his bloodline contributed to the development of the Sealyham
Terrier.
Colonel Malcolm of Poltalloch is credited
with first breeding the Westie and for setting the breed type in the 19th
century. It is said that the Westie's white color resulted from a
tragic episode that occurred one day while Malcolm was hunting. It
seems the colonel mistook one of his beloved, wheaten-colored Cairns
for a fox and accidentally shot and killed the dog. Henceforth, he
vowed to breed white dogs only, with the hope of preventing the reoccurrence
of such a horrible mistake.
In addition to Malcolm's Poltalloch Terrier,
as he was called, there were two other early strains of the breed.
One sprang from a Scottish Terrier bred by Dr. Flaxman of Fifeshire, who
consistently threw white puppies; the other was developed by George Clarke.
Clarke's line was called the Roseneath Terrier.
The breed was recognized by the British
Kennel Club in 1907 and, in the same year, was shown at Crufts for the
first time. American Kennel Club registration of the breed began
in 1908, and the West Highland White Terrier Club of America was founded
in 1909.
Until the mid-20th century, the Westie
enjoyed moderate popularity in Britain and the United States. (During
World Wars I and II, when British breeding kennels were severely affected
by the shortage of food and strict government policies, many dogs were
destroyed and many of the 'best" were sent to Canada and the United States.)
In the early 1960s, however, the Westie
took the dog-owning world by storm and changed canine history. In
1961, Ch. Elfinbrook Simon, who was owned by Barbara Keenan, placed third
in group at Westminster and went on to win Best in Show In l962.
This canine coup increased Westie enthusiasm enormously and earned him
a ranking near the top of the breed popularity charts, where he has remained
ever since. (There were 9,459 Westies registered with the American
Kennel Club, placing the breed 36th in registrations in 1993.)
In terms of physical characteristics, the
Westie is intermediate in size to the Scottish and the Cairn terriers,
with the former being the heavier and -the latter being the lighter in
weight. According to the standard, dogs measure 11 inches at the
withers while bitches are about an inch shorter.
Compactness describes the breed's body
type. He has deep ribs, a level back, broad loins and muscular hindquarters.
Though short, his muscular legs keep him well off the ground.
The breed's skull is fairly broad but in
proportion to the Westie's powerful jaw. The muzzle tapers gradually
to meet a nose rather large in size and black in color. His dark,
widely set, medium-size eyes are noted for their piercing expression.
The well-spaced, tightly erect ears must
never be cropped. The short, undocked tail should not curl over the
back when erect; It should be as straight as possible.
Typically, the breed has between two and
five puppies per litter.
Some Westies have a wheaten dorsal stripe
down the back or on the sides. However, as the breed's name suggests,
an all-white coat is preferred. Any such deviation is undesirable,
even if it harkens back to the Westie's ancestry.
The coat is double with a soft undercoat
and harsh outer coat. It should be two inches in length, except for
on the neck and shoulders, where it should be slightly shorter. The
outer coat is hard and straight in texture, and curliness or silkiness
are considered faults.
As with many breeds, Westie grooming can
be quite involved if one chooses to show a dog. Those dogs who succeed
in the conformation ring require meticulous attention in this area.
The grooming mainstay of the Westie show
dog is stripping, a technique that promotes harsh coat growth. According
to Tom Barrie, president of the West
Highland White Terrier Club of America and a judge for the American Working
Terrier Association, "As commonly used, (stripping) means the general removal
of the coat, both the hard outer and soft undercoat, accompanied by the
removal of some of the furnishings. Stripping can be done by hand
as well as with the stripping knife."
Barrie, who has been breeding Westies for
30 years at his Westies O'Peter Pan Kennel, says, "Westies may
be stripped as frequently as twice a week when they're being campaigned
-- of course, only a few hairs are removed each time. As a result,
those who show their dogs must learn how to do it themselves." Since stripping
is a technique that takes time and experience to perfect, owners of pet-quality
dogs wishing them to have a show like appearance would be wise to contract
the services of a professional groomer
about every six to eight weeks.
The use of a terrier mitt for brushing
the show dog is recommended since it doesn't remove excess undercoat.
Brushing should be done daily, or at least every other day, for the dog
kept in top ring condition. And, the more furnishings a dog has,
the more brushing that is necessary.
To brush the Westie, the hair is back-brushed
first with the mitt. Next, it is brushed in the direction it naturally
lies. Finally, a wide-toothed, greyhound comb is carefully run through
the coat to ensure that no tangles or snarls were missed.
The show dog is not bathed very often because
the process softens the texture of the hair, and It isn't really necessary
since a Westie kept in harsh coat sheds dirt and remains clean and odor-free.
However, when the show dog is bathed (usually on the day of a show) the
washing Includes only the head and legs (i.e., face and furnishings).
The use of a whitening shampoo is recommended. After shampooing and
thoroughly rinsing the hair, the coat in these areas must be brushed and
blown dry to prevent curling.
For convenience sake, owners of pet-quality
dogs often opt for clipping them every six to eight weeks.
Although it softens the coat and makes it unacceptable for the ring, according
to Westie breeder Marilyn Foster, some really attractive cuts can be achieved
with this grooming technique.
Foster, whose kennel name is O'Shelly
Bay, has been breeding Westies for more than 15 years. Her
extensive experience in the breed paid off
handsomely in recent years when her dog, Ch. Holyrood's Hotspur O'Shelly
Bay ("Ted"), won the Pedigree® Award in 1992 and 1993, the Hill's®
Science Diet Award in 1993 and was
the No. 4 dog in the nation in 1993.
As of this writing (December 1994), Ted has 49 all-breed Bests in Show,
154 Group Firsts and 231 Best of Breed wins.
In-between care for the clipped dog, who
tends to have more undercoat, includes a good brushing with a slicker brush
and combing with a greyhound comb a minimum of once a week. When properly
brushed, the Westie sheds less than
most breeds and tends to have less dander than many -- a real plus for
owners with low-grade allergies to
dogs.
Because clipping softens the coat and causes
dirt and other debris to cling to It more readily, the clipped Westie is
bathed more often than the show dog.
However, because of the adverse affect shampooing has on the hair,
It should not be done more often than
once a month. Instead, many breeders
recommend dusting the coat with corn
starch and then brushing it out to
remove soil and eliminate doggy odor.
Another grooming essential for both the
show and pet-quality dog include regular trimming of the nails,
including the dewclaws. (Terrier nails
tend to grow faster and stronger than those of other breeds.) Also
trim the hair surrounding the anus
to prevent fecal matter from collecting there. Owners should also
regularly check for mats between the pads of the paws and trim them away
with scissors.
If exposed to
the grooming process at an early age, Westies take to it quite well.
Because the breed requires a fair amount of attention in this department,
owners should make a point of conditioning puppies to accept grooming.
As for temperament, the Westie is spunky
little dog with a joyful, happy attitude. He is also bold
and confident. Barrie says the standard captures the essence of the
breed's personality perfectly when it describes
the Westie as "possessed of no small amount of self-esteem." Indeed, those
who know him emphasize that, in terms of personality, the Westie really
is a big dog inside a small dog's body.
These traits were epitomized by a recent
incident involving one of Barrie's dogs. "Not long ago, one of my Westie
pups and I were at a show when two Great Pyrenees approached us.
Neither timid nor shy, my little female pulled
herself up to her full 9-inch height and barked a confident 'Woof! Woof!'
greeting at these two canine giants
as they neared," Barrie explains.
"Generally, the Westie is very outgoing
with people as well," he adds. "For the breed, there are only two categories
of them: friends he knows and those he hasn't met yet."
This doesn't mean that the West Highland
White Terrier isn't a good watchdog, however. He will alert owners
to the presence of strangers by barking, although most will not behave
aggressively toward them.
The
Westie also likes to be kept busy, and if an owner fails to keep him so, he
will find ways to amuse himself. (Boredom can result in destructive
behavior, especially in puppies.) Not surprisingly, Foster says they're
always into something. She recalls leaving her dog Ted alone with an
empty 35-pound sack of dog food. In her absence, he crawled all the way
inside it, only to emerge with a face and body full of kibble dust.
In most breeds, it is usually felt that
the female is the more home-loving and the male is less so. Not so
with the Westie. In Barrie's experience the exact reverse is true:
females tend to be the more active and less hearth-and-home-oriented.
Barrie compares this reversal of the usual canine male and female roles
to that of the lion, where the male stays "home" while the lioness does
the hunting. Unlike many breeds smaller in size, the Westie is a
sturdy fellow. "He is tough as nails," Foster says. "And, within the bounds of common-sense behavior,
owners need not be greatly concerned about injuring him by stepping on
him when he's underfoot or when he interacts with larger dogs."
Foster also describes him as a true terrier
in that he tends to be somewhat independent by nature -- almost catlike.
This is not to say, however, that he is not a devoted and loyal pet.
In fact, the Westie adores his family, and if given the choice, would be
part of all its activities.
The Westie's independent nature no doubt
results from his "go-to-ground" breeding. He, along with many of
his terrier relatives, was originally bred to chase small, ground-tunneling
prey. (The word "terrier" comes from the Latin word "terra," meaning
earth.) Such dogs literally burrow into the ground in pursuit of
their prey when necessary, all the while barking furiously to alert their
masters to their location.
These terriers work at great distances
from their handlers and, therefore, must be able to think for themselves.
For example. a dog must be able to decide what action to take next if an
obstacle is encountered when tunneling after the game, else he lose his
quarry.
Unlike numerous other hunting breeds that
have had the working ability bred right out of them, the Westie's hunting
ability remains intact in spite of the fact that he's a very popular dog
in the conformation ring today. The survival of his working ability
no doubt results in part from the interest of many Westie breeders in go-to-ground
tests and in the earning of Certificates of Gameness on their dogs.
To earn a Certificate of Gameness from
the American Working Terrier Association, a dog must traverse a 9-inch-square-by-30-foot-long
tunnel containing three right-angle turns independently in less than 30
seconds. Upon reaching the tunnel's end, the dog must "work" (i.e.,
dig, bark, bite, growl or lunge) at the caged prey he finds there for one
minute. By "working," the dog marks the location for his handler.
(Note: The quarry, which usually consists of laboratory rats, is well-protected
by a sturdy, impenetrable enclosure.)
The AKC instituted Earth Dog Tests effective
October 1, 1994. Eligible breeds will be able to earn Junior, Senior
and Master Earthdog degrees.
The Westie personality also has a streak
of stubborn willfulness. This means, quite simply, he likes to do
things on his own terms and in his own way -- if given the option.
As a result, indulging him too often can prove unwise, since bossy, opportunistic
Westies easily gain the upper hand on owners and may exhibit serious behavior
problems such as aggressiveness in the form of snapping.
Given the Westie's independent, willful
nature, one would not expect him to heel or sit on a dime. He is
a dog who first considers what's being asked of him, and then decides whether
he should comply. Though the Westie can be a bit more challenging to train
in obedience, his keen, inbred desire to please almost always wins out
and generally assures his cooperation.
With the right trainer -- one who is patient
and persistent -- the breed can do quite well in the sport. Currently,
there is a flurry of Westies participating in obedience as well as in agility.
Positive reinforcement training methods,
which incorporate the use of bait and play, seem to work best with him.
Keeping commands clear and consistent is also helpful.
It should also be noted that severe or
jerk correction-type training is not effective with this breed. The Westie
takes corrections hard and won't be bullied into compliance. And,
because the Westie is a highly intelligent canine with a sense of humor,
a trainer should be prepared for his or her dog to throw the occasional
curve. Barrie reports that a friend's dog did just that at an obedience
trial.
"It seems that the Westie, who had already
earned his first leg on his CDX (Companion Dog Excellent) with an impressively
high score, decided to combine his exercises. Going out for the retrieve
on the flat, he jumped the high jump, retrieved the dumbbell, and came
back to do a perfect front!"
When the Westie is first brought home,
and until he has passed through his adolescent or "teen-age" period,
Foster recommends owners limit the area in which the pup is allowed to
be for three reasons. First, it facilitates housetraining; second, it limits
damage to the surroundings; and third, it helps keep the dog safe.
Until the Westie reaches maturity, he has a high potential for destructive
behavior such as chewing and digging, especially if left alone for long
periods of time.
To combat separation anxiety, some breeders
recommend that two Westies be purchased to act as companions to each other
if owners must be gone regularly for long periods of time. Others
caution against this on the basis that it results in the two dogs bonding
more with each other and less with their owner.
In regard to housetraining, Westie pups
benefit from a feeding schedule that is closely adhered to and regular
walks immediately following meals, play sessions or naps. As with
other breeds, socialization is an important aspect of the young Westie's
early conditioning; he should be exposed to everything he will be expected
to accept as an adult at an early age. This includes children, other pets,
guests, delivery men, etc.
It is important to remember, though, that
socialization situations must always be carefully controlled so they are
positive experiences and, therefore, net the desired results. Allowing
a young Westie pup to be mauled by 5-year-olds won't increase his tolerance
of children.
Also, in regard to the interaction of the
Westie and youngsters, dogs should be provided with a crate or area
where they may go if children become too noisy or exuberant for them, or
if they are simply tired. Parents
should also make it an enforced rule that when dogs are in their crates/areas
children are to leave them alone.
Handling is a final important aspect of
socialization and Westie development. Owners should make a point to physically
touch puppies in every possible way on a regular basis: handling the paws,
rolling the dog over on its back, rubbing the stomach, etc. This
ensures ready compliance to grooming sessions and veterinary checkups and,
ultimately, makes dogs more obedient to commands.
Puppy kindergarten classes conducted by
dog obedience groups offer a structured approach to socialization
and handling. They are also an excellent training opportunity for the Westie
pup and his owner.
Like most popular breeds today, the Westie
suffers from some serious, genetically based health problems. In
fact, the West Highland Anomaly Task Council Inc. (WatcH) has identified
several inherited diseases affecting the breed. WatcH operates a
genetic data registry that lists dogs both free of and affected by inherited
health disorders.
Although operated independently of the
national breed club, WHWTCA supports WatcH with financial contributions
and recommends its services to those breeders who wish to reduce the incidence
of genetic disease in their stock.
WatcH lists the following as inherited
conditions in the breed:
Atopic dermatitis, an inherited
condition in which the dog expresses clinical allergic signs to environmental
allergens, such as an allergy to pine tree pollen, which is breathed in
and causes itchy skin and scratching among other symptoms.
Cleft palate, a disorder in which the
two bony palates of the hard palate fail to fuse normally and allow milk
or water to dribble or run from a puppy's nose.
Copper toxicosis, a potentially fatal
inborn metabolic error that allows copper to accumulate in the liver and
results in cirrhosis of the liver.
Craniomandibular osteopathy, a non-cancerous
growth of bone on the lower jaw (ramus of the mandible), tympanic bulla
(the bony structure protecting the inner workings of the hearing mechanisms),
skull or foreleg that causes pain and inflammation.
Globoid cell leukodystrophy, a degenerative
disease of the white matter of the brain and spinal cord.
Hip dysplasia, a condition where the
head of the femur fits improperly into the hip joint socket, causing lameness.
Inguinal hernia, a disorder where the
abdominal organs protrude through the inguinal ring forming a skin-covered
sac in the groin, which can strangulate.
Juvenile cataracts, a condition of
opacity of the ocular lens causing total or some degree of blindness with
an early onset.
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, an acute
or chronic inflammatory disease of both the conjunctiva and cornea that
may result in sight loss.
Legg-Calve-Perthes, a non-inflammatory
avascular necrosis of the femoral neck and head resulting in lameness.
Primary seborrhea, a disorder characterized
by oily, scaly lesions on the skin.
Pyruvate Kinase deficiency in red blood
cells, which causes a severe hemolytic anemia resulting from the premature
destruction of PK-deficient red blood cells. This results in dogs
that may acutely decompensate and die when exposed to severe stress or
exercise.
Temperament problems may result from poor
breeding as well. While a sweet-natured dog can have its personality
spoiled by poor socialization and mistreatment, and one with a shaky character
can be stabilized with proper training, the raw material for temperament
is in the genes.
Because of the severity of many of these
disorders, Westie breeders as a club are aggressively trying to rid the
breed of these conditions through the conscientious screening of breeding
stock when possible.
Further, the parent club is currently participating
in a study being conducted by the University of Wisconsin School
of Veterinary Medicine. The study seeks to discover a blood tracer
that will act as a potential allergy indicator in dogs of this breed.
Despite the presence of numerous genetic
maladies in the Westie, well-bred dogs are long-lived and tend to have
an average life span of about 13 years, with 17 to 18 years a very real
possibility. Not surprisingly, the major killers of such dogs are
those associated with old age: renal failure or cancer.
As with the owning of any breed, there
are some disadvantages to owning this gay fellow. Sadly, Westies
often translate into an unwanted and abandoned dog. Westie rescue
has become a concern on a national scale, and the WHWTCA has set up guidelines
for rescue programs for regional clubs to follow.
Nancy Stalnaker, who has been involved
in the breed since 1979 and finished 12 champions and three obedience titles,
is active in Westie rescue. She volunteers for her local organization,
Black and White Rescue (the group finds homes for Scotties as well) in
Scottsdale, Ariz.
Black and White Rescue is involved in the
rescue of about 30 dogs annually in Stalnaker's community -- a relatively
low number when compared to the abandonment of the breed in other parts
of the country. She believes the breed has a high rate of surrender
to animal shelters for three primary reasons.
"First, people see Westies as such cute
little dogs -- and they are. But, that stuffed toylike appearance
is deceiving. Underneath all
that icy white fluff is the fiery heart of a terrier. Those who impulsively
buy a Westie without first researching the breed's personality often learn
about it the hard way.
"Most Westies, for example, simply will
not put up with a toddler poking them in the eye or pulling their tail
the way (some other breeds) will. Nine times out of 10 they will
snap. I can't tell you how many dogs our organization has had to
find new homes for this reason alone.
"Second, there is flea bite dermatitis,
an inherent condition in the breed which causes dogs to scratch themselves
silly and ruin their coats. Probably no other health problem contributes
to the breed's abandonment more. This is especially true when pet
owners live in climates that are warm and humid year round and, therefore,
highly supportive of flea infestation. Southern California, Texas
and Florida all have very high rates of Westie surrender to animal shelters
as a result. (The Los Angeles area has an especially high incidence.)
"Ownership of the Westie in these regions
presents an expensive and time-consuming continuous challenge as owners
must wage an on-going battle with the flea.
"Third and finally, the last factor in
abandonment is care of the coat. The Westie requires a fair amount
of proper grooming, and I emphasize the word 'proper' here. To keep
the coat clean, many mistakenly wash the dog once a week, which only serves
to remove the natural oil and soften the texture, causing even more dirt
and debris to adhere to it.
"Unless an owner is especially skillful,
the Westie really needs professional attention. This, however, is
expensive on a regular basis and may be an expenditure the uninformed owner
didn't count on."
Other breed
disadvantages include the following:
For those considering the acquisition
of this breed, Stalnaker recommends researching the breed's personality
and care requirements thoroughly. If after doing so Westie fanciers
are still interested, she recommends they contact reputable breeders
who guarantee puppies.
At all costs, she warns against purchasing
a dog from a source other than a reputable breeder. Other sources
sell dogs from puppy mills or dogs that have resulted from uninformed,
backyard breeding practices. Both may be poor examples of the breed
and riddled with health and/or behavior problems.
Given the Westie's special attributes,
there are homes in which he does not belong. Barrie, Foster and
Stalnaker will not sell a puppy to those who
lack a fenced enclosure or who have very small children. They also
evaluate owners carefully in terms of their ability -- or inability --
to act as "master" to this small in stature but giant in personality canine,
who can easily gain the upper hand on an easy-going owner.
And since these little dogs tend to be
very long-lived, Foster grills potential owners to determine the depth
of their commitment to dog ownership. Barrie also evaluates potential
owners in this regard carefully, and cites the "A puppy is for life --
not just for Christmas" bumper sticker as summing up his motto.
Potential Westie owners should be aware
that the Westie is not an inexpensive dog to purchase, either. Show quality
puppies range from between $650 to $1,000, while pet-quality pups go from
$800 and less. (Editor's note: Please bear in mind this article was written
in 1995.)
When purchasing the Westie, it is unwise
to play bargain hunter. As the old saying goes, you get what you
pay for. In fact, any Westie puppy being sold for a low price is
likely to be a dog with the potential to cost an owner a bundle in veterinary
or training bills in the long run. (Obviously, this doesn't include adult
and rescue Westies who sell for less and may be very sound and healthy.)
As a show dog, hunter and companion, the
Westie is unsurpassed. His size and hearty durability allow him to
adapt well to most physical environments with ease. He easily adjusts
to most lifestyles -- be they sedate or active. And, his gay disposition,
fun-loving attitude and loving devotion to his master are guaranteed to
brighten the day of any dog fancier.
However, he should be owned only by those
who are willing to understand his unique personality, make a long-term
commitment to his ownership and provide the proper care, training and environment.
Those who fit this description may obtain more information about the breed
by contacting Anne Sanders, corresponding secretary, West Highland White
Terrier Club of America, 33101 44th Ave. N.W., Stanwood, Wash. 98292-7106.
Bibliography
Lehman, Patricia F. "The West Highland
White Terrier." Dog Fancy, January 1987, pp. 36-41.
Pacey, May. West Highland White Terriers.
London: W.G. Foyle Ltd., 1973.
Weis, Helen and Seymour N. "White Dynamite."
Dog
Fancy, August 1991, pp. 48-54.
West Highland Anomaly Task Council Inc.
Understanding
and Reducing Generic Disease in West Highland. White Terriers
(a brochure).
Second edition. June 1991.
Books about Westies
Faherty, Ruth. Westies From Head to
Tail. Loveland, Cole.: Alpine Publications, 1988. Alpine Publications,
P.O. Box 7027, Loveland, Cole. 80537; (800) 777-7257.
Marvin, John T. The Complete West Highland
White Terrier. Fourth edition. New York: Howell Book House, 1977.
Available from DOG WORLD's book department.
Nicholas, Anna Katherine. The Book of
the West Highland White Terrier. Neptune, N.J.: T.F.H. Publications. 1993. Available from DOG WORLD's book
department.
Weil, Martin. West Highland White Terriers.
Neptune, N.J.: T.F.H. Publications, 1983. T.F.H. Publications. 1
T.F.H. Plaza, Third and Union Aves., Neptune City, N.J. 08075; (800) 631-2188.
Wright, Roger. West Highland White Terriers.
Ramsbury, England: The Crowood Press, 1992. Available from DOG WORLD's
book department.
Sharon Pflaumer works at Residence Food
Services at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.
Other Suggested Reading:
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