WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER Breed Standards
The West Highland White Terrier shares its roots with those of most other terrier breeds from Scotland, including the Cairn, Skye and Scottish Terrier. For many centuries, these dogs were put to work ridding stables, kitchens and farmland of mice, rats and other vermin. They were also used to hunt other burrowing animals such as fox, badger and otter. Up until the 19th century, the West Highland White Terrier was lumped together with its Scottish cousins, which were collectively referred to as Scottish Terriers. Around this time, however, dog fanciers decided that it did not make sense to have one breed with such great diversity, and efforts were made to separate and distinguish the various terriers.
A West Highland White Terrier was shown for the first time in 1907 by a man named Colonel Malcolm. Malcolm called the dog a Poltalloch Terrier, after his home. During this period, the breed went through several name changes, including the Poltalloch, White Scottish and Little Skye Terrier. The breed was finally recognized under the name Roseneath Terrier by the American Kennel Club in 1908, only to have its name changed the following year to the West Highland White Terrier. The last name finally stuck, and the breed has since become a renowned champion in the ring and a common fixture in homes both in its native Scotland and elsewhere.
SKILLS: The West Highland White Terrier, is a small, game, well-balanced hardy looking terrier, exhibiting good showmanship, possessed with no small amount of self-esteem, strongly built, deep in chest and back ribs, with a straight back and powerful hindquarters on muscular legs, and exhibiting in marked degree a great combination of strength and activity. The coat is about two inches long, white in color, hard, with plenty of soft undercoat. The dog should be neatly presented, the longer coat on the back and sides, trimmed to blend into the shorter neck and shoulder coat. Considerable hair is left around the head to act as a frame for the face to yield a typical Westie expression.
SIZE: The ideal size is eleven inches at the withers for dogs and ten inches for bitches. A slight deviation is acceptable. The Westie is a compact dog, with good balance and substance. The body between the withers and the root of the tail is slightly shorter than the height at the withers. Short-coupled and well boned. Faults--Over or under height limits. Fine boned.
COAT: Very important and seldom seen to perfection. Must be double-coated. The head is shaped by plucking the hair, to present the round appearance. The outer coat consists of straight hard white hair, about two inches long, with shorter coat on neck and shoulders, properly blended and trimmed to blend shorter areas into furnishings, which are longer on stomach and legs. The ideal coat is hard, straight and white, but a hard straight coat which may have some wheaten tipping is preferable to a white fluffy or soft coat. Furnishings may be somewhat softer and longer but should never give the appearance of fluff. Faults--Soft coat. Any silkiness or tendency to curl. Any open or single coat, or one which is too short.
Color - The color is white, as defined by the breed's name. Faults--Any coat color other than white. Heavy wheaten color.
CARE REQUIRED: The harsh, straight, short-haired double coat is fairly easy to groom and sheds little to no hair. Simply brush regularly with a stiff bristle brush. Brushing should keep the coat clean, so bathe only when necessary. Trim around the ears and eyes with blunt-nosed scissors. The whole coat should be trimmed about every four months and stripped twice a year.
CHARACTER: Alert, gay, courageous and self-reliant, but friendly. Faults--Excess timidity or excess pugnacity.
EXERCISE: These dogs enjoy a regular walk or sessions of play in the park, but won't be too upset if they miss a day.
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR: West Highland White Terriers are suitable for people in towns and cities as well as in the country. They are very active indoors and will do okay without a yard.
TRAINING: Hardy little Terrier is easy to train. They are fairly friendly toward strangers and get along well with behaved children. Westies may snap when irritated, but are not as willful as many of the other Terrier breeds. They are lively and extremely self-assured toward other dogs. Westies usually do not pick fights with other dogs, although some males are combative with other males.
