West Highland white terrier

West Highland White Terrier

A West Highland White Terrier.
Other names	Poltalloch Terrier Roseneath Terrier White Roseneath Terrier
Nicknames	Westie (or Westy)
Country of origin	Scotland
Traits
Classification & standards FCI Group 3 Section 2 #085 standard AKC Terrier standard ANKC Group 2 (Terriers) standard CKC Group 4 - Terriers standard KC (UK) Terrier standard NZKC Terrier standard UKC Terriers standard

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.^[1] This breed is commonly recognised through its use as a mascot for Black & White (a brand of Scotch whisky), Cesar brand dog food,^[2] and various other logos.

Appearance

Westie Terriers have bright, deep-set eyes which tend to be dark, with a "piercing" look. Their ears are generally small, pointed, and erect.^[3]

They typically weigh from 15 to 20 lb (6.8 to 9.1 kg) for male dogs and 13 to 16 lb (5.9 to 7.3 kg) for female dogs and their average height is 9 to 11 inches (23 to 28 cm) at the withers.^[3] The Kennel Club has recommended that their tails, typically "carrot-shaped", should never be docked;^[4] hence the tail should be between 5–6 inches (13–15 cm).^[3]

A sleeping Westie puppy

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).^[5] Their teeth generally appear quite large for the size of the dog.^[3][5] Westies have a very strong bone structure for their size.^[5]

They have a soft, dense undercoat and a rough outer coat, about 2 inches long, that requires regular grooming.^[3] Some Westies have "wheaten tippings" on their backs, though for individuals put forward for conformation showing this can be regarded as undesirable.^[5] Also, some Westies do not have a top corse 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.

Their paws are slightly webbed and thickly padded.^[3]

A "smiling" Westie.

Care

Westies are prone to allergies and dry skin issues, and bathing too frequently may aggravate these problems. Washing once a month or on a longer interval will generally not cause issues. 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

Like most other dogs, these terriers generally require 13 hours of sleep out of every 24. Westies will usually conform to the sleep patterns of their human companions, and take several naps during the day as well, to accrue their needed sleep.

West Highland White Terrier puppies may be affected by a disease known as craniomandibular osteopathy, known colloquially as "Lion Jaw". The disease is an autosomal recessive condition such that for a puppy to be affected by the disease, both the parents must be 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^[specify] 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.^{[citation needed]} 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.^[6] Some dog breeders and lovers incorrectly believe that Westies developed from white dogs in the litters of Cairn Terriers.^[6]

Footnotes

1. ^ "Distinctive white coat": quote from "West Highland White Terriers - Good Dogs Wear White" article (Dog & Kennel Magazine, online edition). Retrieved on January 11, 2008.
2. ^ "Cesar Living Products". Cesar.com. http://www.cesar.ca/index.aspx#null,null,null,productindex. Retrieved on 2007-12-02. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "West Highland White Terrier Breed Standard". The Kennel Club. 2006-05-10. http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/89. Retrieved on 2009-01-06. 
4. ^ http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/westhighland.htm
5. ^ ^{a b c d} "American Kennel Club Official Breed Standard". West Highland White Terrier Club of America. 1989-02-01. http://www.westieclubamerica.com/breed/standard.html. Retrieved on 2009-01-06. 
6. ^ ^{a b} Grosvenor, Melville B., and Merle Severy, eds. Man's Best Friend: National Geographic Book of Dogs. Chicago: R.R. Donnelley and Sons Company, 1966.

References

• Pet Owner's Guide to the West Highland White Terrier, Sheila Cleland (Ringpress Books Ltd 1995), ISBN 1860540155.
• A New Owner's Guide to West Highland White Terriers, Dawn Martin (TFH Publications 1996), ISBN 0793827655.
• Guide to Owning a West Highland White Terrier, Martin Wallace (TFH Publications 1996), ISBN 0793818656.
• The West Highland White Terrier: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet, Seymour N. Weiss (Howell Book House Inc 1996), ISBN 0876054947.
• West Highland White Terrier, Penelope Ruggles-Smythe (Interpret Publishing 1999), ISBN 1902389123.
• West Highland White Terrier: An Owner's Guide, Robert Killick (Collins 2003), ISBN 000717831X.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: West Highland White Terrier

• West Highland White Terrier at the Open Directory Project