West Highland White Terrier: All About Dog Breed

Many breeds, species, subspecies, varieties of dogs are known in the world. Each has its own pros and cons. But the answer to the question of why a person gets this or that dog is also different. It is all the more interesting to find out how and why the west highland white terrier appeared - a snow-white dog in the mountains of northwestern Scotland.

To talk about the appearance of the West Highland White Terrier, you need to recall the history of dog breeding up to the 11th century, it was then that the first mention of terriers appeared. "Terra" is translated as "earth", that is literally terriers are earth dogs. These are hunters who rummaging in the ground, holes, looking for a badger, fox, otter. And when they find it, they drive it out or cornered and wait for the owner - the hunter. So such small, active dogs, which chased prey through bushes and rocky crevices, were described back in the 11th century.

In 1576, John Cayus, court physician to Queen Elizabeth I of England, mentioned in his narrative "About English Dogs" that terriers do an excellent job with rodents, and they are good at burrowing. In 1830, John Leslie wrote colorfully in his book about how earthen dogs "put badgers and foxes to flight."

I must say that there were already many different types of terriers at that time. They differed in color, structure of the coat (dogs), shape and set of ears. In addition, they were subdivided into short-legged and long-legged. Most of the breed is the result of crossing. The same applies to the West Highland White Terriers.There are two assumptions about their appearance: either the Cairn Terrier was its ancestor, or the Scotch Terrier. But it was in Scotland that white kitties appeared in the litter, which they tried to destroy, so as not to spoil the breed (we were sure that light-colored puppies are physically weaker, they get sick more).

In the late 19th century, Colonel Donald Malcolm of Poltalloch, Argyllshire, shot his favorite red terrier while hunting, mistaking it for a fox. This incident made him think of the white terrier kitties. But they would be clearly visible both in the mountains, on the rocks, and in the fields. This became the starting point for breeding work for the breeding of white terriers. Then they were called Poltalloch Terriers.

At the turn of the century, Malcolm introduced his white earthen dogs, calling them the West Highland White Terrier. Almost 10 years later, a club appeared, representing the interests of a new type of terrier. After another 3 years, they took part in an exhibition of breeds, after which they quickly began to gain popularity, and not only among hunters. In 1908, the American Kennel Club registered the first representatives of the breed in its registry. This was a real victory for the white Vesta from the Highlands of Scotland.

But the breeding work continued. In 1924, breeders were prohibited from showing dogs - mixing with other breeds of the terrier group. This is how the unique exterior of the White Terriers was formed. And only at the end of 1954, the West Highland White Terrier was registered by the international canine society as an independent breed.

In the late 90s of the XX century, residents of the Soviet Union were able to acquire Vesta for their homes. It was still used for fox or badger hunting, but gradually they began to get the dog as a companion, since her disposition is very flexible, and her appearance is unusual.

Today West Highlands are defined by the FCI standard No. 85, where all the characteristics are clearly spelled out, according to which the West Highland White Terrier belongs to the 2nd section of the 3rd group (small terriers).

• The thoroughbred individual is distinguished by a firmly built body, endowed with a flat back line, strong croup, sinewy limbs under a broad chest. The West has a mobile temperament (if they were talking about a person, they would say that he is a sanguine person). The dog is brave, active, strong. Dignity and stubbornness are hidden behind restlessness. Moreover, the White Terrier seems to be carefree, but alert, he is friendly with everyone, but will stand up for the owner without hesitation.
• On the head is a dense dog, the skull is parallel to the ground and perpendicular to the cervical vertebrae. The distance between the occiput and the eye sockets is slightly greater than the length of the muzzle. Black, not protruding nose. The head becomes narrower from the eyes to the nose. Thanks to the wide-set fangs in the strong, even jaws, it seems that the West is smiling slyly. The upper row of large teeth tightly covers the lower ones.
• The eyes are of medium size, slightly elongated, dark, widely spaced from the bridge of the nose. West Highlands have a clever gaze that penetrates from under overhanging eyebrows into the depths of the beholder. Light eyes are considered a defect.
• The ears are pointed, small, easily stand upright, set on the head in a very proportional manner. The ears are covered with short and soft, velvety hair that cannot be cut according to standards. No fringe on the ears. By the standard, a dog should not have round, large, thick ears. A large number of hairs on the ears are also considered a retreat.
• The neck, due to its length, ensures the correct position of the head. The neck merges smoothly into sloping shoulders, thickening towards the base.
• The body is dense, compressed, with a straight back, powerful croup and broad chest.
• The tail is not very long - 12.5-15 cm (docking is not allowed), with a stiff dog, without fringes. It should be located almost parallel to the ground or rise slightly higher, not topple over onto its back.
• The limbs are strong, sinewy, short, straight. They are covered with a thick, short, hard dog. The thighs are very muscular. The paws are strong, the front paws are larger than the hind ones. Thick pads, protected by short coarse hair. By standard, it is desirable that the claw pads are black.
• Flying gait, free. Thanks to the well-flexing joints, the west can push hard forward during the jump.
• The coat is two-layered: the undercoat is short, soft, dense, and the outer layer, 5 cm long, is hard. There should be no curls according to the standard, as well as non-adherent wool.
• The color is white, due to external factors, it is rather unstable, therefore, a yellowish tint may occur.
• The size, determined by the height of the withers, is about 28 cm. Experts explain that females can reach 23-28 cm, and males - 25-30 cm at the withers.
• The standards do not define the weight of the West Highland White Terrier, but in bitches it can reach 6-7 kg, and in males - 7-10 kg.

The difference between a purebred dog and a designer dog is that if the breed does not meet the standards, then the breeders at least will not receive documents for such an individual. If you buy a dog, hoping for further participation in exhibitions, then you need to know that the show rating will be reduced by wavy or curly hair, non-standard ears, a neck of atypical length, incorrect positioning of the limbs. But if the dog shows unreasonable aggression and cowardice or has too obvious physiological and behavioral defects, then it will not be allowed to compete.

If the future owner is not interested in documents, then he should know that, due to its small size, the dog is quite suitable for living in an apartment, but it has so much energy that you need to walk a lot with it, give it an active load. She compensates for the "undershoot" with gnawed and fluffed things in the house.

This terrier has a very delicate sense of smell, which greatly helps rescuers in finding people, especially in narrow, hard-to-reach places. But this means that strong odors should not be used at home in order to protect the nose of a hunting dog.

The intelligence level of the Vestnik is quite high. This quality, combined with smart eyes, will convince anyone that your pet understands you from a half glance. But for this he needs to be educated and become his friend.

Not only thanks to external data, but also to its character, the Vestik has earned a good name for itself. He is a real actor who is loved by directors of feature films, documentaries and commercials. This suggests that the dog has a high level of intelligence. At the same time, pets are very curious and restless, at any age they remain young adventurers. The main negative habit is the desire to "get to the bottom of the truth", and he will dig both on the street and at home.

The reasons for this behavior are inexhaustible energy. To cope with this problem, Vesta needs to be educated from an early age. And here, the main thing that the owner will have to face is natural stubbornness, prescribed in the standard.

If the dog is educated, then it is quite peaceful, sociable, ready to travel. In relation to other animals, you need to be careful: the Vestik is quite jealous. If there is an opportunity to make sure that the animals get along with each other, then it is better to introduce them in advance.Otherwise, in a fit of jealousy, he can throw himself at both the hamster and the alabai. But with children, they are quite capable of coexisting if children are over 10 years old and see a friend in a dog.

And don't forget, the West needs movement: dog sports, walking, hunting. This creature is clearly aware that movement is life. Moreover, at this moment the dog is not alone, but for him it is important. These terriers do not like loneliness, although they are able to be without owners for some time. No matter how big the family is, the dog will have one owner, he will educate and feed. All other family members are neighbors with whom the vestik will be friendly.

Vesta is called a restless and cheerful dog who just needs attention. A clear, but not disgusting voice will help you to know about the arrival of guests. He loves to bark, but most of all he loves to dig - hunting genes have an effect. Living in a private house, in the country, can result in the loss of beds and flower beds. To avoid this, you need to allocate an area where the heap will be unloaded (sand, foliage, old safe things, toys). It is also a good idea to equip a sports ground for training here. The more busy the dog is, the less problems you have.

If we talk about grooming, then the main plus and at the same time a minus is the beautiful white wool. After all, it is difficult for a temperamental dog to remain white on the street, and this is an additional concern for the owners - to wash, dry, comb. And so after every walk.

Another disadvantage is the desire to win a place for yourself near the owner: jealousy forces him to fight both rodents and large animals. At the same time, he is ready for a lot for the owner, he is very attached to him. And the mischievous character and appearance of the soft toy make him a universal favorite.

As with all pets, the life span of the West Highland White Terrier depends on the conditions in which it is kept. By virtue of character, not only the number of square meters, quality food, veterinary care are important here, but also communication with family members. Alone, the dog will yearn and will not live long. With good care, the Vestikas live up to 13 - 15 years.

The West Highland itself is a type of terrier. There are no subspecies within the breed. But there is a classification for participation in dog competitions starting from 3 months of age. There are also class differences. Professional breeders easily determine which class a small terrier belongs to.

• Show- and Top-class. These are the best puppies in the litter, in the future they may turn out to be winners of exhibitions. Physiologically, they are 100% compliant with the requirements of FCI No. 85. Minimal defects are possible, but breed defects are not allowed. Usually these puppies are born to champion parents. This is the breed's benchmark determined by the highest price tag. But it is almost impossible to buy such a baby - breeders will probably keep it for themselves for later breeding.

• Breed-class - a category that includes healthy white terriers with an excellent pedigree and good data for reproduction. For this class, it is important to choose a pair correctly. If done correctly, you can get show-class offspring. Most often, bitches are considered to be in the breed class, and males with very similar characteristics are assigned to a lower Pet class. The breeds have a show temperament.

• Pet class - these are rejected puppies that have inconsistencies with breed standards: wrong color, wool marriage, breed defects (the life of the dog is not threatened, but can have a bad effect on the offspring). Animals of this class cannot participate not only in exhibitions, but also in breeding. This fact is indicated in the accompanying documents. Also, puppies of unscheduled mating are referred to the pet class.

The decision to get a puppy for many rests on the question of why it is purchased: if for breeding, exhibitions, then the purchase criteria will be very different from those when you get yourself a companion or a hunting dog. Having made a decision, it is worth paying attention to certain aspects.

• Regardless of the country, choose kennels that are registered with cynological federations. Take advantage of tips from acquaintances of West Highland White Terrier owners, reviews of the kennel. In good places, almost all mating is planned, which means that the baby will be with documents.
• Take your time to buy a puppy from the first acquaintance. Better to see several litters from different parents. Each dog has its own character, habits, external data.
• Specialists have the term "breeders", but there are "breeders". The breeders will help you with advice throughout the puppy's growing up. The task of the breeders is to sell the goods. Before buying, it is worth asking if the nursery provides consulting services and on what conditions.
• The conditions in which the puppies and their parents are kept in the kennel will tell you a lot. Unsanitary conditions in the cages can backfire on your pet with diseases acquired in the first days of life. If the dogs have a large enough territory over which they can freely move, cleanliness in the pens, then confidence in such a place of sale of puppies increases.
• It is believed that girls are more trainable, but this is not the case with Vestik: males learn faster. The sex of the puppy has practically no effect on the character and intellectual abilities.
• At the time of choosing a pet, try to assess its physical condition: the puppy should not be lethargic, but should confidently keep on its paws. Experienced dog breeders recommend paying attention not to the largest in the litter, but to the nimble one. Feel the navel area: there should be no swelling and protrusion of the abdomen - these are signs of a health problem. The baby's eyes should be clean, without discharge. The nose is clean and moist, the ears are pink. There should be no traces of loose stools under the puppy's tail.
• Perhaps, like all breeds, the West can have genetic diseases. Before mating, parents are tested. Do not be lazy to ask the breeder for the test results. This is not a 100% guarantee that your little one will not have problems with this, but the absence of diseases in the parents dramatically reduces the risk of illness in the puppy.
• A Show-class representative costs about 40,000 rubles. But if you take a puppy only for the soul, and not for exhibitions and competitions, then you can look for a dog much cheaper, without documents. But to be sure that you are buying a Vesta, go to exhibitions, meet breeders and follow their advice in choosing a pet.
• Attending shows prior to buying will also give you a wealth of information on how to care for, feed, and raise your puppy. If there are children in the house, then it is very useful to take them to such events.
• Experts recommend paying attention to the dog's bite: the upper jaw is on the lower one, from below and from above there should be 6 incisors and 2 canines.
• With or without documents, you take the dog, it must already have a veterinary passport, in which the data on the vaccinations given are entered. With this passport, you will continue to visit your veterinarian to continue vaccinations.

Before your baby enters your home, he needs to prepare places for sleeping and playing, for eating and for the toilet. And if at first these zones can be located next to each other, then the older the puppy, the faster it needs to be taught to the functionality of each zone.

• For sleep and play, it is advisable to purchase a dog basket or warm bedding. The puppy should have toys: rubber, silicone or wooden. Carefully monitor the quality and individual elements of toys: they should not have a strong chemical smell and small parts - everything is like children.If there are no more fluffy animals in the house with which the puppy would like to sleep, then buy him a soft toy by his side.
• For food, you will need 2-3 bowls: for dry food, for natural food, for water. It is better to put the bowls right where the dog will always eat. They should not get in the way of your feet. And be prepared for the fact that there will always be at least a little, but dirty around them: do not forget after each feeding of the dog to put things in order in this place, and also wipe the terrier's face with a damp cloth. If you do not do this, then the remnants of food will get stuck in the wool and gradually dye it in different colors.
• To cope with natural needs, at first, the kutenka will need a diaper - a waterproof. Most likely, at first it will be next to the sleeping place, but gradually you will move it to the place where the tray will stand. If you have purchased a puppy that is old enough to be toilet trained, the breeder will tell you how to toilet train the puppy in your home.

After the puppy settles in the house, you will have to teach him to bathe, cut, walk, and comb. If you are preparing a show dog, you will have to visit the groomer often. If not, then the named procedures are performed at regular intervals.

For our active dog, this is the main thing after eating and sleeping. From 3 to 6 months, the messenger is taken out (not taken out) for a walk 5 - 6 times a day in order to teach people to relieve themselves on the street. This can be done only after scheduled vaccinations and weekly quarantine. For those who do not have the opportunity to go out with the dog so often, waterproof diapers will help. The required minimum of walks for an adult dog is twice a day for half an hour, despite the snow and heat, the owner's malaise and other problems.

But the West is ready to walk much longer if it is a playground or, as mentioned earlier, an artificially created pile of autumn leaves, toys, etc. A leisurely walk on a harness next to an elderly person is not something that needs to be led. But as soon as the dog was released from the leash, it becomes crazy from the abundance of smells and the opportunity to rummage in all sorts of heaps and becomes uncontrollable. If there is a sports town or a dog room nearby, then West will be happy to join agility and freestyle.

The West's teeth need to be brushed twice a week. To maintain them in proper condition, the diet should contain solid foods - abrasives, and you can also buy toothpick bones. The eyes should be examined daily. The presence of brown streaks under the eyes is considered a sign of allergies - you should immediately contact your veterinarian. Once a week, the Vestika's ears are cleaned, and the long hair inside the auricle is plucked out.

Claws under intense street load can wear off themselves, if this does not happen or the dog is showing, then the claws need to be trimmed. The paw pads should be washed after each walk. If it is cold outside, and the paths are also sprinkled with reagents, then after walking and washing the paws, the pads are lubricated with nourishing cream. So that the coat does not interfere with the dog, as well as for hygiene, the hair is cut around the anus and genitals.

Opponents of frequent bathing of dogs recommend washing them every 6 months, so as not to wash off the protective fat layer from the body and coat. With regard to the West, this is hardly possible - white wool should be washed at least once a month, and after the street - as needed. For washing, use zoo shampoos, whitening shampoos (not for puppies!), In extreme cases - baby shampoos. In general, they need detergents for wire-haired dogs.

West sheds a little, but during the molting period, it must be combed out daily, the rest of the time - every 2-3 days. The furminator is very suitable for this procedure. It is recommended to use a wire brush with sparse teeth to avoid tearing the fur. The procedure for the dog is pleasant, as it removes dead hairs, pieces of dirt, thorns from a street walk. It is recommended to comb out softer coats more often to avoid tangles.

To preserve the color of the coat and remove yellowness, it is recommended to clean it with a mixture of crushed chalk and boric acid. The product is rubbed into a slightly damp coat, and then combed out with a regular brush.

If you want to cut your dog's hair short, then you can do it yourself with a clipper. A groomer will give your dog a good haircut. Grooming is compulsory for show dogs. But professionals say that the white terrier, due to the stiffness of the hairline, does not need a haircut, but trimming. The procedure for pulling out dead hairs is more useful, as they get in the way of the dog, getting stuck among the living hair.

The owner can choose dry food, natural products, or both for his West. But what the dog chooses can only be found out over time. Therefore, when introducing a new dish, you should not use several new products at once, otherwise it is not clear what exactly the message liked or did not like.

When buying dry food, you should choose super premium and premium food. They will be the salvation for dogs with allergies and diabetes mellitus. For a natural diet, the following foods are recommended:

• lean boiled meat, except for chicken (pork is not fed to Vesta), offal, cartilage;
• lean sea fish;
• buckwheat, rice, oatmeal (millet porridge, flour - prohibited);
• cottage cheese, kefir, sour cream;
• vegetables (except potatoes and onions) and fruits.

The number of feedings depends on the age of the vest:

• up to 3 months - up to 6 times a day / serving size - 150 ml;
• 3-4 months - up to 4 times / 200-250 ml each;
• 4-6 months - up to 3 times / 500 ml each;
• 6-8 months - 2-3 times / 750-1000 ml each;
• over 8 months - 2 times / 1.5 liters each.

The upbringing process begins from the moment the puppy appears in the house. A very small new settler needs to be taught to a diaper, an older one to a litter box or to ask him to go outside. Our video will show you how to do this. It is always a pity for the little ones, and the owners often try to take the puppy in their arms, on the sofa, in their own bed.

Being an intelligent dog, the West clearly feels the strength and weakness of the owner. In order for the dog to carry out your commands, you must gain his respect, be morally stronger than him. This is manifested in confidence, consistency of actions, perseverance. During training, it is advisable to be alone with the dog, so you make it clear who is the boss in the house, and concentrate the attention of the animal. From about three months of age, during the game, the puppy can be taught to the commands "to me", "aport". From 6-7 months of age, dogs are taught more complex commands: "lie down", "sit", "fu", "voice", "give a paw", "beside". To do this, you can contact the dog breeders club or try to teach yourself. It is interesting for the dog to be engaged with the owner.If you see that the pet is distracted, switch your attention to another command, return to the initial one a little later.

Commands are given clearly and calmly. Older dogs are spoken more strictly, but without shouting. Any correct execution of the command is necessarily encouraged by intonation, stroking, and tasty treats. Punishment is a change in intonation, but categorically not assault. Since the Vesta are very wayward creatures, it is impossible to lisp and indulge with them: weasel must always coexist with severity.

For training, you must use:

• favorite toy, ball;
• goodies (dry food);
• harness or soft collar;
• long and short leashes.

According to numerous reviews that are found on the Internet, we can conclude that the West Highland White Terrier is a real friend for loving owners. They characterize the Vesta as a kind and affectionate dog that eats almost anything. The negative aspects of the content include caring for the coat, unwillingness to cooperate with young children, as well as with those who encroach on the owner's love. Hunters praise Vesta for bravery, strength, endurance, energy. But they warn that you need to deal with the dog regularly in order to overcome its stubbornness.

All about the West Highland White Terrier dog breed, see the next video.