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West Highland White Terrier
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West Highland White Terriers, commonly known as Westies, are a
breed of dog known for their distinctive white coat. Originating in
Scotland, the breed was used to seek and dig out foxes and
badgers. This breed is commonly recognised through its use as a
mascot for Black & White (a brand of Scotch whisky), Cesar brand
dog food, and various other logos.
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Description
Appearance
Commonly, Westies have bright, deep-set eyes that are dark in
color. Their ears are small, pointed, and erect. A male typically
weighs between 15 and 20 pounds (6.8 and 9.1 kg) and a female
between 13 and 16 pounds (5.9 and 7.3 kg). average height is 9 to
11 inches (23 to 28 cm) at the withers. The Kennel Club has
recommended that their tails, typically "carrot-shaped", should
never be docked; hence the tail should be between 5–6 inches
(13–15 cm).
They also have deep chests, muscular limbs, a huge skull, a short
and a closely fitted jaw with "scissors" bite (lower canines locked in
front of upper canines, upper incisors locked over lower incisors).
Their teeth generally appear quite large for the size of the dog.
Westies have a very strong bone structure for their size.
They have a soft, dense undercoat and a rough outer coat, about
2 inches long, that requires regular grooming. Some Westies have
"wheaten tippings" on their backs, though for individuals put
forward for conformation showing this can be regarded as
undesirable. Also, some Westies do not have a top coarse coat,
and just a second silky coat.
This breed is a non-shedding dog. As they develop into adults,
their thinner "puppy coat" is normally removed by either 'hand-
stripping' or otherwise clipping.
Care
Westies are prone to allergies and dry skin problems, and bathing
too frequently may aggravate these problems. Washing once a
month or on a longer interval will generally not cause problems.
However, frequent brushings are needed to keep the coat clean
and oils evenly distributed throughout the coat. Washing with a
detergent-free, baby-oriented, or another soft skin shampoo will
help keep a Westie's skin hydrated. Weekly washing of the inside
of the ears with cotton balls will prevent oil and wax build-up and
ear infections. Water in the ears must be removed before an
infection develops. Westies should be groomed at least every two
months, and bathed and brushed as needed between
appointments.
Health
As with most other dogs, westies generally require around thirteen
hours of sleep per day. In order to accrue their needed sleep,
westies will usually follow the sleep patterns of their human
companions and also take several naps during the day. Westies
can live up to 15 years.
Craniomandibular Osteopathy
Westie puppies may be affected by craniomandibular osteopathy,
a disease also known "lion jaw". (The disease is an autosomal
recessive condition and so a puppy can only be affected by it if
both its parents are carriers of the faulty gene.) With this disease,
the only current way to identify carrier breeding stock is if an
affected puppy is produced. Therefore, breeders may be unaware
that breeding stock are carriers until an affected puppy is born.
Craniomandibular osteopathy is a non-neoplastic proliferative
disease of the ventral mandibular ramus, occipital base of the skull
and tympanic bullae, characterised by excessive bone deposition
in these areas. In most incidences, the defect is bilateral, although
this is not always the case. The disease varies in severity, the
region(s) affected and the individual pain threshold of the affected
puppy. Definitive diagnosis is achieved by radiographic
examination.
Craniomandibular osteopathy is extremely painful to the puppy.
Affected puppies will most likely display signs of pain or discomfort,
such as yelping, when their head is touched and when chewing or
eating. The puppy may be lethargic and be reluctant to eat as a
result.
The condition usually manifests when the puppy is around 3–6
months of age, and regresses spontaneously around 12 months of
age. Treatment of the disease is concerned with managing the
symptoms and providing appropriate analgesia to improve quality
of life and enable the puppy to eat until the disease resolves
spontaneously. Corticosteroids are the usual therapeutic agents
used to manage the disease. The exact treatment protocol
depends on the severity, localisation and pain sensitivity of the
affected puppy. In extreme cases, euthanasia may be required.
History
Some sources credit Colonel Edward Donald Malcolm and his kin
of Poltalloch in the Argyll region of western Scotland as an
originator of this breed in the 19th century. It is thought that the
breed gained its white coat after Colonel Edward Donald Malcolm's
red terrier was mistaken for a fox and shot. Thus, the breed was
only to be white in colour as to help distinguish it from its quarry.
Other sources credit the 8th Duke of Argyll (Chieftain of Clan
Campbell) as an originator.
The Westie came to the United States in the early 1900s, originally
proclaimed Roseneath Terrior. The name was changed to manifest
the breed's origins. Some dog breeders and lovers incorrectly
believe that Westies developed from white dogs in the litters of
Cairn Terriers.
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West Highland White Terrier
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Country of Origin
Scotland
Weight
Male: 15-20 lb
Female: 13-16 lb
Height
9-11in
Coat
Soft, dense undercoat, rough outer
coat
Color
White
Life span
About 15 years
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Dog Breed Test samples analyzed in about two weeks
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