Breed of the Week: West Highland White Terrier Country of origin: Scotland Height: 23-30cm / 9-12 inches Weight: 7-10kg / 15-22lbs Life Expectancy: 13-15 years Westies were recorded as early as the reign of James I of England (VI of Scotland) during 1567-1625, and are believed to be developed by breeding Scottish, Cairn and Dandie Dinmont Terriers. They were used for otter and fox control and developed mainly by Colonel E. D. Malcolm in Argyllshire, Scotland in the 1800s – at this time they were known as Poltalloch Terriers. A dozen were presented to the King of France as a gift. Sandy and brindle terriers were seen as the hardiest dogs whereas white dogs were seen as weak. Despite this they became so popular in the 20th century that one dog could be worth thousands of guineas. Westies vary greatly in temperament, but in general they will not tolerate rough handling and can be prone to possessive food and toy aggression. They are independent, self assured and make great watchdogs. Loyal, friendly and social, they are the friendliest of all the Scottish breeds of terrier. Wilful, full of character and cheeky, but can be sharp with strangers, or guests they deem unwelcome! They are playful, affectionate and calmer in temperament than most terrier breeds. Westies require regular brushing, trimming and occasional bathing to keep the coat in good condition. Westies need firm training as they are strong willed and can be stubborn. Moderate exercise is needed as they need to run off their terrier energy! Westies love ball games and will play for hours, be careful when letting off the lead as they will chase small things and may get lost or run in front of a car. Ailments they tend to suffer with include: • Skin problems – Westies are prone to allergies that can affect the skin, such as food intolerances and reactions to pollen, grass and dust mites. These can be treated – depending on severity – by cutting out certain foods, veterinary skin diets and in bad cases a monthly allergy injection. They can also suffer from hyperplastic dermatosis, which causes hair loss and the skin to become thick and leathery, usually as a result of excessive scratching and itching. Treatments for this condition include medicated shampoos, anti-histamines and steroid tablets or creams. • Patella Luxation – This is a dislocation of the kneecaps and can be mild or severe in one leg or two with the worse cases meaning the dog cannot bear weight on the leg at all. It is usually characterised by the dog hopping on the affected hind leg when moving faster than a walk. It can be fixed with orthopaedic surgery. • Diabetes – This is a disease in which the beta cells in the endocrine pancreas can no longer produce insulin, or cannot produce enough of it for the body’s needs. If left untreated it can lead to cataracts, weakness in the legs, malnutrition, dehydration and eventually death. It can be treated with daily insulin injections and a special diet and need not shorten the animal’s life or interfere with day-to-day living. Most dogs affected by diabetes are older and usually overweight, although juvenile cases can occur. Keep the weight off your Westie to lessen the chances of them getting diabetes. • Keratoconjunctivitis – Also known as ‘dry eye’ and reduces the production of tears, can be treated with eye drops to reduce the symptoms. • Craniomandibular osteopathy – also known as ‘lion jaw’, this is characterised by the thickening of the bones around the jaw, making it difficult for the dog to chew or swallow, and usually becomes obvious in the first year of the dog’s life. It can be treated with anti-inflammatories and the feeding of soft foods, but in extreme cases may require tube feeding – a dog with a case this severe may have no other option than euthanasia. The Westie has little or no doggy odour if bathed enough. They retain the instincts of an earth-dog so you may find many holes dug in your garden if they get bored! The Westie is used as the mascot for Cesar’s Dog Food and also starred in the film ‘Greyfriar’s Bobby’ – based on the true story of a dog that stayed by its master’s grave until it died itself – much to the outrage of the Skye Terrier breed club, who claimed that the wrong breed was used. Westies are now the second most popular terrier breed in the USA, beaten only by the Miniature Schnauzer, and has been in the top third of all dogs since the 1960s.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 10:53:53 +0000