West Highland White Terrier
Encyclopedia
The West Highland White Terrier, commonly known as the Westie, is a Scottish breed of dog
with a distinctive white coat. The modern breed is descended from a number of breeding programes of white terriers in Scotland prior to the 20th century. Edward Donald Malcolm, 16th Laird of Poltalloch, is credited with the creation of the modern breed from his Poltalloch Terrier, but did not want to be known as such. Other related breeds included George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll's Roseneath Terrier and Dr. Americ Edwin Flaxman's Pittenweem Terriers. The breeds of small white scottish terriers were given its modern name for the first time in 1908, with recognition by major kennel clubs occurring around the same time. The breed remains popular in the UK and in the top third of all breeds in the USA. It has been featured in television and film including in Hamish Macbeth
and in advertising by companies such as Cesar dog food and Scottish whisky Black & White
.
The breed is a small terrier, although with longer legs than other scottish breeds of terrier. It has a white double coat of fur which fills out the dog's face giving it a rounded appearance. The breed can be good with children, but will not tolerate rough handling. The Westie is an active breed, but are social with a high prey drive. Several breed specific and non-specific health issues appear in the breed including a condition in young dogs nicknamed "westie jaw
" which causes an overgrowth of bone in the jaw of the dog. It is also prone to skin disorders, with a breed specific condition called Hyperplastic Dermatosis occurring.
(VI of Scotland), who reigned between 1567 and 1625. The king ordered that a dozen terriers be procured from Argyll
to be presented to the Kingdom of France
as a gift. Sandy and brindle coloured dogs were seen as hardier than those of other colours, and white dogs were seen as being weak. At various times during the breed's existence, it has been considered a white offshoot of both the Scottish Terrier
and the Cairn Terrier
breeds.
There were also reports of a ship from the Spanish Armada
being wrecked on the island of Skye
in 1588. This ship carried white spanish dogs, whose descendants were kept distinct from other breeds by Clan Donald
, including the families of the Chiefs. Other families on Skye preserved both white and sandy coloured dogs. One such family was the Clan MacLeod
, and it was reported by their descendants that at least two Chiefs
kept white terriers, including "The Wicked Man" Norman MacLeod
, and his grandson Norman who became Chief after his death.
George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll
, bred a breed of white Scottish terriers known as the "Roseneath
Terrier". Another breed of white Scottish terriers also appeared at this point, with Dr. Americ Edwin Flaxman from Fife developing his line of "Pittenweem Terriers" out of a female Scottish Terrier
which produced white offspring. The dog seemed to produce these white puppies regardless of the sire to which it was bred, and after drowning over twenty of these offspring, he came upon the theory that it was an ancient trait of the Scottish Terrier that was trying to re-appear. He rededicated his breeding program to produce white Scottish Terriers with the aim of restoring it to the same stature as the dark coloured breed. Flaxman is credited with classes being added to dog shows for white Scottish Terriers towards the end of the 19th century.
The person most closely associated with developing the modern breed of West Highland White Terrier is Edward Donald Malcolm, 16th Laird of Poltalloch. Malcolm owned terriers used to work game, the story told is that a reddish-brown terrier was mistaken for a fox
and shot. Following this Malcolm decided to develop a white terrier breed, which became known as the "Poltalloch Terrier". The first generation of Poltallochs had sandy coloured coats, and had already developed prick ears which is a trait seen later in the modern breed. It is unknown if the Poltalloch Terriers and Pittenweem Terriers were interbred. In 1903 Malcolm declared that he didn't want to be known as the creator of the breed and insisted that his breed of white terriers was renamed. The term "West Highland White Terrier" first appears in Otters and Otter Hunting by L.C.R. Cameron, published in 1908.
The first breed club was set up in 1904; Niall Campbell, 10th Duke of Argyll
, was the society's first president. A second club was subsequently set up, with the Countess of Aberdeen as Chairman. Edward Malcolm succeeded the Countess as the club's second chairman. Kennel Club
recognition followed in 1907, and the breed appeared at Crufts
for the first time in the same year. The Westie was imported into the United States in 1907-1908, when Robert Goelet imported Ch. Kiltie and Ch. Rumpus Glenmohr. Initially it was also known at the time as the Roseneath Terrier, and the Roseneath Terrier Club was recognised by the American Kennel Club
in 1908. The club was renamed during the following year to the West Highland White Terrier Club of America. The breed spent the period that immediately followed as being "in vogue", becoming popular almost immediately upon its arrival in the USA. Canadian Kennel Club
recognition followed in 1909. Until 1924 in the UK, Westie pedigrees were allowed to have Cairn
and Scottish Terriers in them. By the time of Malcolm's death in 1930, a stable type had appeared with prick ears, a white coat and a short back.
In major conformation show
s, the breed have been equally successfull on both sides of the Atlantic. The first member of the breed to win a show championship was Ch. Morvan in 1905, owned by Colin Young. The dog was registered at the time as a Scottish Terrier, and won the title at the Scottish Kennel Club show at the age of seven months. Because the breed wasn't yet recognised independently, the championship title wasn't retained when the dog was re-registered as a West Highland White Terrier. The first win at a major show came at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
in 1942 when Constance Winant's Ch. Wolvey Pattern of Edgerstoune won the title of Best in Show. The same title was taken by Barbara Worcester's Ch. Elfinbrook Simon in 1962. It took a further fourteen years before the breed took its first Best in Show title at Crufts
, the UK's major dog show. Ch. Dianthus Buttons, owned by Kath Newstead and Dorothy Taylor, took the title for the breed in 1976. The most recent win for the breed at a major show was again at Crufts, this time in 1990 with the Best in Show title going to Derek Tattersall's Ch. Olac Moon Pilot.
The popularity of the breed during the early 20th century was such that dogs were being exchanged for hundreds of guineas
. As of 2010, the Westie is the third most popular breed of terrier in the UK, with 5,361 puppies registered with the Kennel Club. However, this is a decrease in numbers since 2001, when it was the most popular terrier breed, with 11,019 new dogs registered. The breed's position in the United States is more stable with it remaining in the top third of all breeds since around 1960. It was ranked 30th most popular in 2001, based on registrations with the American Kennel Club, which has varied around the 30s in the decade since, with it ranked 34th in 2010.
produced television series Hamish Macbeth
owned a Westie named "Wee Jock". The appearance of a Westie in the role of Greyfriars Bobby
in the 2006 film The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby
caused protests from the Skye Terrier
breed club, who complained about filmmakers using an incorrect dog breed. Black & White
whisky
have used both Scottish Terriers and Westies in their advertisements, and the breed is used as the mascot of dog food
Cesar.
. The body should be shorter than the height of the dog at the shoulder; its legs are typically longer than those of other Scottish terrier breeds.
It also has a deep chest, muscular limbs, a black nose, a short and a closely fitted jaw with "scissors" bite (lower canines locked in front of upper canines, upper incisors locked over lower incisors). The Westie's paws are slightly turned out in order to give it better grip than flat footed breeds when it climbs on rocky surfaces. In young puppies, the nose and footpads have pink markings, which slowly turn black as it ages.
It has a soft, dense, thick undercoat
and a rough outer coat
, which can grow to about 2 inches (5.1 cm) long. The fur fills out the face to give a rounded appearance. As it develops into adults, its coarse outer coat is normally removed by either 'hand-stripping', especially for dog-showing, or otherwise clipping.
It is a hardy breed, and can be stubborn leading to issues with training. A Westie may need to have his training refreshed on occasion during its lifetime. Having a typical terrier prey drive, it tends to be highly interested in toys
especially chasing balls. It does retain the instincts of an earth-dog, including inquisitive and investigative traits, as well as natural instincts to both bark and dig holes. It is ranked 47th in Stanley Coren
's The Intelligence of Dogs
.
There are breed predispositions to conditions found across many dog breeds, such as abdominal hernia
s. Westie puppies may be affected by Craniomandibular osteopathy
, a disease also known "lion jaw", and is sometimes also referred to as "westie 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
. The condition appears across many breeds, including several different types of terrier, as well as other unrelated breeds such as the Great Dane
. It typically appears in dogs under a year old, and can cause problems for the dog to chew or swallow food. Radiographic testing
can be conducted to diagnose the condition, in which the bones around the jaw thicken; additionally the blood may show increased calcium levels and enzyme levels. The condition often stops progressing by the time the dog is a year old, and in some cases can recede. It is normally treated with anti-inflammatory medications, and the feeding of soft foods. In some cases, tube feeding may be necessary. However, if the animal still cannot eat and is in uncontrolled pain, then euthanasia may be the only medical option remaining.
The breed is prone to skin disorders. There is a breed-specific skin condition that may affect West Highland White Terriers affecting both juveniles and adults dogs. This condition is called Hyperplastic Dermatosis. Affected dogs can suffer from red hyperpigmentation
, lichenification and hair loss
. In the initial stages, this condition can be misdiagnosed as allergies or less serious forms of dermatitis.
An inherited genetic problem that exists in the breed is globoid cell leukodystrophy. It is not breed specific, and can appear in Cairn Terriers and other breeds including Beagle
s and Pomeranian
s. It is a neurological disease where the dog lacks an enzyme called galactosylceramidase. The symptoms are noticeable as the puppy develops, and can be identified by the age of 30 weeks. Affected dogs will have tremors, weakness in its muscles and difficulties in walking. Symptoms will slowly increase until limb paralysis begins to occur. Due to it being a hereditary condition, it is recommended for owners to avoid breeding affected animals in order to eliminate it from the breed. Another genetic condition that affects the breed is "White dog shaker syndrome
". As this condition is most commonly found in Westies and in Maltese, the condition was originally thought to be connected to the genes for white coats, however the same condition has since been found in other non-white breeds including the Yorkshire Terrier
and the Dachshund
. The condition typically develops over one to three days resulting in tremors of the head and limbs, ataxia and hypermetria. Affected males and females can be affected for different lengths of time, with symptoms in females lasting for between four to six weeks, while males can be affected the rest of its life.
Other less common conditions which appear in the breed include hydroxyglutaric aciduria, which is where there are elevated levels of alpha-Hydroxyglutaric acid
in the dog's urine, blood plasma and spinal fluid. It can cause seizures, muscle stiffness and ataxia
, but is more commonly found in Staffordshire Bull Terrier
s. A degeneration of the hip-joint, known as Legg–Calvé–Perthes syndrome also occurs to the breed. However the chances of this condition occurring are much higher in some other breeds, such as the Australian Shepherd
or the Miniature Pincher. The breed is also one of the least likely to be affected by a luxating patella
, where the knee cap slips out of place.
Dog breed
Dog breeds are groups of closely related and visibly similar domestic dogs, which are all of the subspecies Canis lupus familiaris, having characteristic traits that are selected and maintained by humans, bred from a known foundation stock....
with a distinctive white coat. The modern breed is descended from a number of breeding programes of white terriers in Scotland prior to the 20th century. Edward Donald Malcolm, 16th Laird of Poltalloch, is credited with the creation of the modern breed from his Poltalloch Terrier, but did not want to be known as such. Other related breeds included George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll's Roseneath Terrier and Dr. Americ Edwin Flaxman's Pittenweem Terriers. The breeds of small white scottish terriers were given its modern name for the first time in 1908, with recognition by major kennel clubs occurring around the same time. The breed remains popular in the UK and in the top third of all breeds in the USA. It has been featured in television and film including in Hamish Macbeth
Hamish Macbeth (TV series)
Hamish Macbeth is a television series made by BBC Scotland and first aired in 1995. It is loosely based on a series of mystery novels by M. C. Beaton . The series concerns a local police officer, Constable Hamish Macbeth in the fictitious town of Lochdubh on the north coast of Scotland. The titular...
and in advertising by companies such as Cesar dog food and Scottish whisky Black & White
Black & White (whisky)
Black & White is a blended Scotch whisky. It was first produced by the London-based whisky blender founded by James Buchanan. Originally known as House of Commons , its nickname, referring to the black and white labelling, was eventually adopted as the official brand instead.The brand's motif Black...
.
The breed is a small terrier, although with longer legs than other scottish breeds of terrier. It has a white double coat of fur which fills out the dog's face giving it a rounded appearance. The breed can be good with children, but will not tolerate rough handling. The Westie is an active breed, but are social with a high prey drive. Several breed specific and non-specific health issues appear in the breed including a condition in young dogs nicknamed "westie jaw
Craniomandibular osteopathy
Craniomandibular osteopathy, also known as lion's jaw, is a developmental disease in dogs causing extensive bony changes in the mandible and skull. In this disease there is a cyclical resorption of normal bone and replacement by immature bone along the inner and outer surfaces of the affected...
" which causes an overgrowth of bone in the jaw of the dog. It is also prone to skin disorders, with a breed specific condition called Hyperplastic Dermatosis occurring.
History
Scottish white terriers were recorded as early as during the reign of James I of EnglandJames I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
(VI of Scotland), who reigned between 1567 and 1625. The king ordered that a dozen terriers be procured from Argyll
Argyll
Argyll , archaically Argyle , is a region of western Scotland corresponding with most of the part of ancient Dál Riata that was located on the island of Great Britain, and in a historical context can be used to mean the entire western coast between the Mull of Kintyre and Cape Wrath...
to be presented to the Kingdom of France
Early Modern France
Kingdom of France is the early modern period of French history from the end of the 15th century to the end of the 18th century...
as a gift. Sandy and brindle coloured dogs were seen as hardier than those of other colours, and white dogs were seen as being weak. At various times during the breed's existence, it has been considered a white offshoot of both the Scottish Terrier
Scottish Terrier
The Scottish Terrier , popularly called the Scottie, is a breed of dog. Initially one of the highland breeds of Terrier that were grouped under the name of Skye Terrier, it is one of five breeds of terrier that originated in Scotland, the other four being the modern Skye, Cairn, Dandie Dinmont, and...
and the Cairn Terrier
Cairn Terrier
The Cairn Terrier is the oldest of the terrier breeds, originating in the Scottish Highlands and recognized as one of Scotland's earliest working dogs...
breeds.
There were also reports of a ship from the Spanish Armada
Spanish Armada
This article refers to the Battle of Gravelines, for the modern navy of Spain, see Spanish NavyThe Spanish Armada was the Spanish fleet that sailed against England under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia in 1588, with the intention of overthrowing Elizabeth I of England to stop English...
being wrecked on the island of Skye
Skye
Skye or the Isle of Skye is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate out from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillin hills...
in 1588. This ship carried white spanish dogs, whose descendants were kept distinct from other breeds by Clan Donald
Clan Donald
Clan Donald is one of the largest Scottish clans. There are numerous branches to the clan. Several of these have chiefs recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms; these are: Clan Macdonald of Sleat, Clan Macdonald of Clanranald, Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, and Clan...
, including the families of the Chiefs. Other families on Skye preserved both white and sandy coloured dogs. One such family was the Clan MacLeod
Clan MacLeod
Clan MacLeod is a Highland Scottish clan associated with the Isle of Skye. There are two main branches of the clan: the Macleods of Harris and Dunvegan, whose chief is Macleod of Macleod, are known in Gaelic as Sìol Tormoid ; the Macleods of Lewis, whose chief is Macleod of The Lewes, are known in...
, and it was reported by their descendants that at least two Chiefs
Chiefs of Clan MacLeod
The Chiefs of Clan MacLeod claim descent from Leod, a high-born Norse-Gael who is thought to have lived in the 13th century, but whose ancestors are known from multiple pedigrees at least into the early 12th or late 11th centuries...
kept white terriers, including "The Wicked Man" Norman MacLeod
Norman MacLeod (The Wicked Man)
Norman MacLeod , also known in his own time and within clan tradition as The Wicked Man , was an 18th century politician, and a clan chief of Clan MacLeod. In the 20th century, one chief of Clan MacLeod attempted to have his nickname changed from The Wicked Man, to The Red Man...
, and his grandson Norman who became Chief after his death.
George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll
George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll
George John Douglas Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll KG, KT, PC, FRS, FRSE , styled Marquess of Lorne until 1847, was a Scottish peer, Liberal politician as well as a writer on science, religion, and the politics of the 19th century.-Background:Argyll was born at Ardencaple Castle, Dunbartonshire, the...
, bred a breed of white Scottish terriers known as the "Roseneath
Roseneath
Roseneath is the name of several places:*Roseneath, an historical mis-spelling of name of the village of Rosneath, Argyll and Bute, Scotland and from which a number of other place-names derivein Australia*Roseneath, Victoria, in Australia...
Terrier". Another breed of white Scottish terriers also appeared at this point, with Dr. Americ Edwin Flaxman from Fife developing his line of "Pittenweem Terriers" out of a female Scottish Terrier
Scottish Terrier
The Scottish Terrier , popularly called the Scottie, is a breed of dog. Initially one of the highland breeds of Terrier that were grouped under the name of Skye Terrier, it is one of five breeds of terrier that originated in Scotland, the other four being the modern Skye, Cairn, Dandie Dinmont, and...
which produced white offspring. The dog seemed to produce these white puppies regardless of the sire to which it was bred, and after drowning over twenty of these offspring, he came upon the theory that it was an ancient trait of the Scottish Terrier that was trying to re-appear. He rededicated his breeding program to produce white Scottish Terriers with the aim of restoring it to the same stature as the dark coloured breed. Flaxman is credited with classes being added to dog shows for white Scottish Terriers towards the end of the 19th century.
The person most closely associated with developing the modern breed of West Highland White Terrier is Edward Donald Malcolm, 16th Laird of Poltalloch. Malcolm owned terriers used to work game, the story told is that a reddish-brown terrier was mistaken for a fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
and shot. Following this Malcolm decided to develop a white terrier breed, which became known as the "Poltalloch Terrier". The first generation of Poltallochs had sandy coloured coats, and had already developed prick ears which is a trait seen later in the modern breed. It is unknown if the Poltalloch Terriers and Pittenweem Terriers were interbred. In 1903 Malcolm declared that he didn't want to be known as the creator of the breed and insisted that his breed of white terriers was renamed. The term "West Highland White Terrier" first appears in Otters and Otter Hunting by L.C.R. Cameron, published in 1908.
The first breed club was set up in 1904; Niall Campbell, 10th Duke of Argyll
Niall Campbell, 10th Duke of Argyll
Niall Diarmid Campbell, 10th and 3rd Duke of Argyll was a Scottish peer and historian.-Background:Campbell was the son of Captain Lord Archibald Campbell, second son of George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll, and his wife Janey Sevilla Callander of Craigforth and Ardkinglas, daughter of James Henry...
, was the society's first president. A second club was subsequently set up, with the Countess of Aberdeen as Chairman. Edward Malcolm succeeded the Countess as the club's second chairman. Kennel Club
The Kennel Club
The Kennel Club is a kennel club based in London and Aylesbury, United Kingdom.The Kennel Club registration system divides dogs into seven breed groups. The Kennel Club Groups are: Hound, Working, Terrier, Gundog, Pastoral, Utility and Toy...
recognition followed in 1907, and the breed appeared at Crufts
Crufts
Crufts is an annual international Championship conformation show for dogs organised and hosted by the Kennel Club, currently held every March at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England. It is the largest annual dog show in the world, as declared by Guinness World Records, and lasts...
for the first time in the same year. The Westie was imported into the United States in 1907-1908, when Robert Goelet imported Ch. Kiltie and Ch. Rumpus Glenmohr. Initially it was also known at the time as the Roseneath Terrier, and the Roseneath Terrier Club was recognised by the American Kennel Club
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club is a registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. Beyond maintaining its pedigree registry, this kennel club also promotes and sanctions events for purebred dogs, including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, an annual event which predates the official...
in 1908. The club was renamed during the following year to the West Highland White Terrier Club of America. The breed spent the period that immediately followed as being "in vogue", becoming popular almost immediately upon its arrival in the USA. Canadian Kennel Club
Canadian Kennel Club
The Canadian Kennel Club is the primary registry body for purebred dog pedigrees in Canada. Beyond maintaining the pedigree registry, the C.K.C...
recognition followed in 1909. Until 1924 in the UK, Westie pedigrees were allowed to have Cairn
Cairn Terrier
The Cairn Terrier is the oldest of the terrier breeds, originating in the Scottish Highlands and recognized as one of Scotland's earliest working dogs...
and Scottish Terriers in them. By the time of Malcolm's death in 1930, a stable type had appeared with prick ears, a white coat and a short back.
In major conformation show
Conformation show
Conformation shows, also referred to as breed shows, are a kind of dog show in which a judge familiar with a specific dog breed evaluates individual purebred dogs for how well the dogs conform to the established breed type for their breed, as described in a breed's individual breed standard.A...
s, the breed have been equally successfull on both sides of the Atlantic. The first member of the breed to win a show championship was Ch. Morvan in 1905, owned by Colin Young. The dog was registered at the time as a Scottish Terrier, and won the title at the Scottish Kennel Club show at the age of seven months. Because the breed wasn't yet recognised independently, the championship title wasn't retained when the dog was re-registered as a West Highland White Terrier. The first win at a major show came at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a two-day, all-breed benched conformation show that takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York City every year. The first Westminster show was held in 1877....
in 1942 when Constance Winant's Ch. Wolvey Pattern of Edgerstoune won the title of Best in Show. The same title was taken by Barbara Worcester's Ch. Elfinbrook Simon in 1962. It took a further fourteen years before the breed took its first Best in Show title at Crufts
Crufts
Crufts is an annual international Championship conformation show for dogs organised and hosted by the Kennel Club, currently held every March at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England. It is the largest annual dog show in the world, as declared by Guinness World Records, and lasts...
, the UK's major dog show. Ch. Dianthus Buttons, owned by Kath Newstead and Dorothy Taylor, took the title for the breed in 1976. The most recent win for the breed at a major show was again at Crufts, this time in 1990 with the Best in Show title going to Derek Tattersall's Ch. Olac Moon Pilot.
The popularity of the breed during the early 20th century was such that dogs were being exchanged for hundreds of guineas
Guinea (British coin)
The guinea is a coin that was minted in the Kingdom of England and later in the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom between 1663 and 1813...
. As of 2010, the Westie is the third most popular breed of terrier in the UK, with 5,361 puppies registered with the Kennel Club. However, this is a decrease in numbers since 2001, when it was the most popular terrier breed, with 11,019 new dogs registered. The breed's position in the United States is more stable with it remaining in the top third of all breeds since around 1960. It was ranked 30th most popular in 2001, based on registrations with the American Kennel Club, which has varied around the 30s in the decade since, with it ranked 34th in 2010.
In popular culture
The titular character in the BBC ScotlandBBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
produced television series Hamish Macbeth
Hamish Macbeth (TV series)
Hamish Macbeth is a television series made by BBC Scotland and first aired in 1995. It is loosely based on a series of mystery novels by M. C. Beaton . The series concerns a local police officer, Constable Hamish Macbeth in the fictitious town of Lochdubh on the north coast of Scotland. The titular...
owned a Westie named "Wee Jock". The appearance of a Westie in the role of Greyfriars Bobby
Greyfriars Bobby
Greyfriars Bobby was a Skye Terrier who became known in 19th-century Edinburgh for spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner, John Gray , until he died himself on 14 January 1872...
in the 2006 film The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby
The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby
The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby is a family-based Scottish film released in the USA in 2005 and the UK in 2006, and directed by John Henderson. It is set in Edinburgh, Scotland, and tells the story of a West Highland White Terrier called Bobby, who will not leave his master's grave after his...
caused protests from the Skye Terrier
Skye Terrier
The Skye Terrier is a breed of dog that is a long, low, hardy terrier.-Coat:The Skye is double coated, with a short, soft undercoat and a hard, straight topcoat. The ideal coat length is 5 inches , with no extra credit for a longer coat. The shorter hair of the head veils the forehead and...
breed club, who complained about filmmakers using an incorrect dog breed. Black & White
Black & White (whisky)
Black & White is a blended Scotch whisky. It was first produced by the London-based whisky blender founded by James Buchanan. Originally known as House of Commons , its nickname, referring to the black and white labelling, was eventually adopted as the official brand instead.The brand's motif Black...
whisky
Whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
have used both Scottish Terriers and Westies in their advertisements, and the breed is used as the mascot of dog food
Dog food
Dog food refers to food specifically intended for consumption by dogs. Though technically omnivorous, dogs exhibit a natural carnivorous bias, have sharp, pointy teeth, and have short gastrointestinal tracts better suited for the consumption of meat...
Cesar.
Appearance
Commonly, Westies have bright, deep-set, almond-shaped eyes that are dark in colour. Its ears are small, pointed, and erect. Members of the breed typically weigh between 15 and 20 lb (6.8 and 9.1 kg), and the average height is between 10–11 in (25.4–27.9 cm) at the withersWithers
The withers is the ridge between the shoulder blades of a four-legged animal. In many species it is the tallest point of the body, and in horses and dogs it is the standard place to measure the animal's height .-Horses:The withers in horses are formed by the dorsal spinal processes of roughly the...
. The body should be shorter than the height of the dog at the shoulder; its legs are typically longer than those of other Scottish terrier breeds.
It also has a deep chest, muscular limbs, a black nose, a short and a closely fitted jaw with "scissors" bite (lower canines locked in front of upper canines, upper incisors locked over lower incisors). The Westie's paws are slightly turned out in order to give it better grip than flat footed breeds when it climbs on rocky surfaces. In young puppies, the nose and footpads have pink markings, which slowly turn black as it ages.
It has a soft, dense, thick undercoat
Down hair
Down hairs, also called the ground hairs, are the very fine, fluffy hairs closest to the skin on some mammals. The hairs are short and crimped, which makes them highly efficient for trapping air and insulating the animal....
and a rough outer coat
Guard hair
Guard hairs are the longest, coarsest hairs in a mammal's coat, forming the topcoat . They taper to a point and protect the undercoat from the elements. They are often water repellent and stick out above the rest of the coat...
, which can grow to about 2 inches (5.1 cm) long. The fur fills out the face to give a rounded appearance. As it develops into adults, its coarse outer coat is normally removed by either 'hand-stripping', especially for dog-showing, or otherwise clipping.
Temperament
The temperament of the West Highland White Terrier can vary greatly, with some being friendly towards children whilst others prefer solitude. It will not tolerate rough handling such as a child pulling on its ears, and can be both food and toy possessive. Members of the breed are normally independent, assured and self confident and can make good watchdogs. It is a loyal breed that bonds with its owners, but is often always on the move requiring a fair deal of exercise. Westies are highly social and are the most friendly and jolly of all the Scottish breeds of terrier.It is a hardy breed, and can be stubborn leading to issues with training. A Westie may need to have his training refreshed on occasion during its lifetime. Having a typical terrier prey drive, it tends to be highly interested in toys
Dog toy
A dog toy is a toy that is specifically for dogs to play with.Dog toys come in many varieties, including dog bones, puppy toys, balls, tug toys, training aids, squeaky toys, discs and frisbees, plush toys, and sticks.Dog toys serve different purposes...
especially chasing balls. It does retain the instincts of an earth-dog, including inquisitive and investigative traits, as well as natural instincts to both bark and dig holes. It is ranked 47th in Stanley Coren
Stanley Coren
Stanley Coren is a psychology professor and neuropsychological researcher who has become best known to the general public for a series of books regarding the intelligence, mental abilities and history of dogs...
's The Intelligence of Dogs
The Intelligence of Dogs
The Intelligence of Dogs is a book on dog intelligence by Stanley Coren, a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Published in 1994, the book explains Coren's theories about the differences in intelligence between different breeds of dogs...
.
Health
US owner surveys put the average lifespan of a Westie at 12 to 16 years, and some beyond that; while the average litter size is between three and five puppies.There are breed predispositions to conditions found across many dog breeds, such as abdominal hernia
Hernia
A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or the fascia of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it. A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach protrudes into the mediastinum through the esophageal opening in the diaphragm....
s. Westie puppies may be affected by Craniomandibular osteopathy
Craniomandibular osteopathy
Craniomandibular osteopathy, also known as lion's jaw, is a developmental disease in dogs causing extensive bony changes in the mandible and skull. In this disease there is a cyclical resorption of normal bone and replacement by immature bone along the inner and outer surfaces of the affected...
, a disease also known "lion jaw", and is sometimes also referred to as "westie 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
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
. The condition appears across many breeds, including several different types of terrier, as well as other unrelated breeds such as the Great Dane
Great Dane
The Great Dane , also known as German Mastiff or Danish Hound , is a breed of domestic dog known for its giant size...
. It typically appears in dogs under a year old, and can cause problems for the dog to chew or swallow food. Radiographic testing
Radiographic testing
Radiographic Testing , or industrial radiography, is a nondestructive testing method of inspecting materials for hidden flaws by using the ability of short wavelength electromagnetic radiation to penetrate various materials.Either an X-ray machine or a radioactive source can be used as a source...
can be conducted to diagnose the condition, in which the bones around the jaw thicken; additionally the blood may show increased calcium levels and enzyme levels. The condition often stops progressing by the time the dog is a year old, and in some cases can recede. It is normally treated with anti-inflammatory medications, and the feeding of soft foods. In some cases, tube feeding may be necessary. However, if the animal still cannot eat and is in uncontrolled pain, then euthanasia may be the only medical option remaining.
The breed is prone to skin disorders. There is a breed-specific skin condition that may affect West Highland White Terriers affecting both juveniles and adults dogs. This condition is called Hyperplastic Dermatosis. Affected dogs can suffer from red hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation
In dermatology, hyperpigmentation is the darkening of an area of skin or nails caused by increased melanin.-Causes:Hyperpigmentation may be caused by sun damage, inflammation, or other skin injuries, including those related to acne vulgaris...
, lichenification and hair loss
Alopecia
Alopecia means loss of hair from the head or body. Alopecia can mean baldness, a term generally reserved for pattern alopecia or androgenic alopecia. Compulsive pulling of hair can also produce hair loss. Hairstyling routines such as tight ponytails or braids may induce Traction alopecia. Both...
. In the initial stages, this condition can be misdiagnosed as allergies or less serious forms of dermatitis.
An inherited genetic problem that exists in the breed is globoid cell leukodystrophy. It is not breed specific, and can appear in Cairn Terriers and other breeds including Beagle
Beagle
The Beagle is a breed of small to medium-sized dog. A member of the Hound Group, it is similar in appearance to the Foxhound, but smaller, with shorter legs and longer, softer ears. Beagles are scent hounds, developed primarily for tracking hare, rabbit, and other game...
s and Pomeranian
Pomeranian (dog)
The Pomeranian is a breed of dog of the Spitz type, named for the Pomerania region in Central Europe . Classed as a toy dog breed because of its small size, the Pomeranian is descended from the larger Spitz type dogs, specifically the German Spitz...
s. It is a neurological disease where the dog lacks an enzyme called galactosylceramidase. The symptoms are noticeable as the puppy develops, and can be identified by the age of 30 weeks. Affected dogs will have tremors, weakness in its muscles and difficulties in walking. Symptoms will slowly increase until limb paralysis begins to occur. Due to it being a hereditary condition, it is recommended for owners to avoid breeding affected animals in order to eliminate it from the breed. Another genetic condition that affects the breed is "White dog shaker syndrome
White dog shaker syndrome
White dog shaker syndrome causes full body tremors in small dog breeds. It is most common in West Highland White Terriers, Maltese, Bichons, and Poodles, and other small dogs...
". As this condition is most commonly found in Westies and in Maltese, the condition was originally thought to be connected to the genes for white coats, however the same condition has since been found in other non-white breeds including the Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier
The Yorkshire Terrier is a small dog breed of terrier type, developed in the 19th century in the county of Yorkshire, England to catch rats in clothing mills. The defining features of the breed are its size, to , and its silky blue and tan coat...
and the Dachshund
Dachshund
The dachshund is a short-legged, long-bodied dog breed belonging to the hound family. The standard size dachshund was bred to scent, chase, and flush out badgers and other burrow-dwelling animals, while the miniature dachshund was developed to hunt smaller prey such as rabbits...
. The condition typically develops over one to three days resulting in tremors of the head and limbs, ataxia and hypermetria. Affected males and females can be affected for different lengths of time, with symptoms in females lasting for between four to six weeks, while males can be affected the rest of its life.
Other less common conditions which appear in the breed include hydroxyglutaric aciduria, which is where there are elevated levels of alpha-Hydroxyglutaric acid
Alpha-Hydroxyglutaric acid
α-Hydroxyglutaric acid is an alpha hydroxy acid. In humans the compound is formed by a hydroxyacid-oxoacid transhydrogenase whereas in bacteria is formed by a 2-hydroxyglutarate synthase. The compound can be converted to α-ketoglutaric acid through the action of a 2-hydroxyglutarate dehydrogenase...
in the dog's urine, blood plasma and spinal fluid. It can cause seizures, muscle stiffness and ataxia
Ataxia
Ataxia is a neurological sign and symptom that consists of gross lack of coordination of muscle movements. Ataxia is a non-specific clinical manifestation implying dysfunction of the parts of the nervous system that coordinate movement, such as the cerebellum...
, but is more commonly found in Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a medium-sized, short-coated, old-time breed of dog. It is an English dog, where it is the 5th most popular breed, and related to the bull terrier...
s. A degeneration of the hip-joint, known as Legg–Calvé–Perthes syndrome also occurs to the breed. However the chances of this condition occurring are much higher in some other breeds, such as the Australian Shepherd
Australian Shepherd
The Australian shepherd is a breed of herding dog that was developed on ranches in the Western United States. Despite its name, the breed, commonly known as an Aussie, did not originate in Australia They acquired their name because some of the Australian sheepdogs arrived in the United States with...
or the Miniature Pincher. The breed is also one of the least likely to be affected by a luxating patella
Luxating patella
Luxating patella is a condition in which the patella, or kneecap, dislocates or moves out of its normal location....
, where the knee cap slips out of place.