West Highland Terrier Dog Breed Profile
The West Highland White Terrier is a hardy, happy little
terrier that love the companionship of people. They
are very good looking and make good watch dogs. They
can get along with other pets, especially if socialized
when young. They have been known to chase cats as a
sport. They are generally very good with children. As
a reminder, never leave a child unsupervised with a
puppy or dog.
*Approximate Adult Size. The approximate adult
size (two years old or older) of the male is 10 to 12
inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder)
and 15 to 22 pounds. The female ranges from 9 to 11
inches to the withers and 13 to 16 pounds.
*Special Health Considerations. Most dog breeds
have certain inherited health problems associated with
that specific breed and the West Highland White Terrier
is no exception. Be on the look out for skin allergies,
progressive neurological disorders and tear duct problems.
This disease list is an informative guideline only.
Other diseases may also be significant threats, please
contact your veterinarian for a complete list.
She should visit the veterinarian several times in the
first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as
an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for
shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and
on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for
check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog
sweets.
*Grooming. They have a double coat. The inner coat
is soft and fluffy. The outer coat is white, straight
and hard hair. This is a breed that needs to be professionally
groomed regularly. She should also be brushed regularly.
Brushing will help her maintain a clean and healthy
coat, avoid mats, help you keep a closer eye on her
health and strengthen your emotional bond with her.
Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with
toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing
removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which
can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease.
Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth,
bad breath and other serious disease.
Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and
clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow
slower than the toenails of the front feet.
*Life Span. The West Highland White Terrier can
live around 15 or more years with proper nutrition,
medical care and excellent living conditions.
*History. The West Highland White Terrier comes
from Scotland where they were raised to hunt vermin.
They were first registered by the American Kennel Association
in 1908.
Some Registries:
* West Highland White Terrier Club of America
*UKC United Kennel Club
*NKC National Kennel Club
*CKC Continental Kennel Club
*APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc.
*AKC American Kennel Club
*FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale
*NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club
*KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain
*ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club
*ACR = American Canine Registry
Litter Size: 2 to 5 West Highland White Terrier
puppies
Category: Terrier
Terms To Describe: Alert, friendly, reliable,
happy, balanced, hardy, self-esteem, strength, affectionate
*SPECIAL GOOD POINTS
Makes a good watch dog.
Sheds almost no hair.
*SPECIAL BAD POINTS
Makes a poor guard dog.
They may dig.
They may bark plenty.
*Other Names Known By: Toseneath Terrier, Poltalloch
Terrier
*Every dog is an individual so not everything in this
information may be correct for your dog. This information
is meant as a good faith guideline only.
About the Author
Mitch Endick is a short article writer, editor and website
developer for the popular pet site petpages.com.
www.petpages.com
is a pet information site with free pet ads, dog classifieds,
and puppy for sale info Petpages.com also offers
information on cats, fish, reptiles, birds, ferrets,
rabbits, mice and even pet bugs.
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