Pet Goddess

The West Highland White Terrier (Westie)

West Highland White Terrier Facts:

* AKA Poltalloch Terrier, Westie
* Size: Small to medium sized depending on gender, usually no more than 25 pounds
* Easy to train for the most part, though with a stubborn streak. Can be TOO smart, like most terriers.
* Grooming Medium to high depending on how ‘show quality’ you want it to look
* Shedding: Low, dead fur is stripped out, like plucking a turkey.
* Exercise needed, Average, daily walks, with a good romp every so often
* Energy level Medium to high depending on age and activity
* Protection: High, makes an effective watchdog due to his diligence, intelligence, and territorial behavior
* Good with children: Yes, with gentle, older children
* Health clearances: OFA, CERF
It is a great companion for the whole family, but needs a firm hand to keep the terrier side of this adorable pet in check

Posted August 11, 2008 Comments(0)

West Highland White Terrier Health Problems and Life Expectancy

The life expectancy of the West Highland White Terrier is around 11-14 years, and there are a number of health problems to look out for with this breed. This includes Legg-Perthes, cataracts, CMO, vWD, seizures, allergies, and luxating patella.

The parents of the West Highland White Terrier puppy should have OFA and CERF certificates. They should also be screened for GDC and luxating patella.

It is sad that this has resulted from overbreeding. The Westie is justly popular, but never ever buy from a puppy mill. If you don’t want to start with a puppy because they are too rowdy, look for one through breed rescue.

West Highland White Terrier History

The West Highland White Terrier was bred in the Highlands of Scotland, and was used as a vermin hunter. Several of these dogs were pictured in the famous ‘Breakfast Party’ painting by Sir Edwin Landseer in the 1830s. The breed was registered with the AKC in 1908, and has been popular ever since as a small, compact dog with real verve.

Posted August 9, 2008 Comments(0)

West Highland White Terrier Grooming

The grooming requirements for the West Highland White Terrier can be fairly extensive. You will need to brush his coat around twice a week, and you may need to get the coat trimmed or clipped every few months.

Show dogs will need to have the dead coat stripped every few months. The hair around the bottom needs to be kept trimmed for hygiene reasons, and monthly bathing is also recommended.

When groomed properly, the West Highland White Terrier is a low shedder, and may therefore suit those with allergies. As a terrier, they do not shed generally, but do need to be stripped, have the dead old fur plucked. If you start young, they will not object, and it is a good bonding and alpha ritual for you to help establish dominance over this rather bossy little baby.

Posted August 7, 2008 Comments(0)

West Highland White Terrier Appearance

The West Highland White Terrier is a sweet, elegant looking dog, and is small, sturdy, and hardy. He has a very appealing expression, with his dark eyes and black button nose.

The coat of the West Highland White Terrier is soft and dense underneath, with a wiry outer coat. The coloring of these dogs is solid white, hence the name.  A little touch of lemon is acceptable, and his tail should be shaped like a carrot and carried jauntily.

The West Highland White Terrier weighs in at around 14-18 pounds for females, and 15-20 pounds for males. The height of these dogs is around 10 inches for females and 11 inches for males. He is a doughty little beast fit for all terrains and will do well with as much or little exercise and grooming as you want to give your companion animal.

Posted August 5, 2008 Comments(0)

West Highland White Terrier Temperament

An adaptable, intelligent, and confident little dog, the West Highland White Terrier has become an enormously popular family pet over the years. These spirited creatures thrive on the affection, interaction, and companionship of their owners, and have bags of energy to burn up.

This is not the right choice of pet for those with little time or inclination to be active, as they do need a fair amount of exercise, preferably interactive play and activity. The West Highland White Terrier is courageous, inquisitive, and loves to chase, which means that he must be supervised in a safe and secure area when he is not on a leash.

These dogs can be a little arrogant, stubborn, and demanding, and are best suited to those with some experience of dog ownership and training. They are very intelligent, eager to please, and quick to learn, which makes training less of a challenge. They also have excellent problem solving skills.

The West Highland White Terrier will bark to raise an alarm, which makes him an effective watchdog. They love to dig, and many are a little too fond of the sound of their own bark, so be prepared for anything but a quiet life.

The West Highland White Terrier can have a possessive streak when it comes to his food and belongings. He tends to try to dominate same sex dogs. He does not get along well with cats unless raised with them at a young age.

Because of his high prey instinct, he will avidly chase and probably catch smaller running creatures and should not be trusted too far around them. The Westie tends to get along with visitors, and is fine around older, gentle children. Younger kids may be too boisterous and rough for his tastes.  On the other hand, some Westies can be trained up to be less head shy.

Posted August 3, 2008 Comments(0)

Treatment

Dog owners have access to a plethora of flea control products from herbs and electronics to biological controls.

Electronic collars are not effective. Electronic traps can be.

Powerful chemicals such as Dursban and diazinon and systemic insecticides such as the ingredients in Proban, Prospot, and Spotton seem to be on the way out.

The reason is that systemic insecticides can build to toxic levels in the dog if not used extremely carefully.

Some products repel fleas, some kill adult fleas, some kill larvae or eggs, and some prevent fleas from growing and reproducing. They all work in different ways, but the main point is to stop your animal from getting bitten, and to interrupt the flea life cycle so it can’t reproduce.

Garlic and brewer’s yeast are popular flea repellents with people who believe in natural remedies for their pets, but there are no tests that indicate these diet supplements are effective.  However, we do have quite a few natural remedies to suggest, covered in our article on the topic of natural remedies for fleas.

The essential oil citronella works well for both people and pets as an insect repellant.

These are just a few of the strategies to help you get through flea season better, as soon as spring arrives and warm weather appears all over the US.  For those of you who live in the southern and Gulf Coast states, we recommend natural remedies for flea protection and eradication so you can keep your home as chemical free as possible, and thus safe for your pets and family.

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Posted August 1, 2008 Comments(0)