Long before appearing at exhibitions in Scotland, a small white dog belonging to the breed with a proud and sonorous name - West Highland White Terrier was well known. These are miniature, but very persistent workers who have earned respect for their incredible performance, strength, endurance and courage.
From the history of the breed
This cute dog was bred for fox hunting, badgers in the mountains. Such an activity required a reliable and active companion, which was the Westhairland White Terrier. He is full of courage and courage, easily moves from cliff to cliff, without fear penetrates into deep crevices, cleverly emerges victorious in the battle with prey. In addition, the white terrier was displayed for hunting underground, where he could not hear the commands of the owner. In such a situation, animals had to rely only on their own ingenuity and mind. As a result, it was possible to bring an amazing dog with an inquisitive disposition, independent spirit and unwavering determination.
Character
Experts unanimously claim that the Westhill White Terrier has collected all the best qualities of terriers and at the same time has not taken a single bad thing. He is not a badass, although he may well stand up for himself, fighting a much larger enemy. This is such a sweet creature that no one will remain indifferent when meeting him. It has everything you could want to see in a dog. Cheerful, courageous, absolutely self-confident and at the same time extremely friendly. He is soft, gentle and faithful, but by no means sneaky. West is very smart and easy to learn.
He is too smart to argue, but he will never shy away from the fight, no matter how big the opponent is. According to many experts, those who have a vest do not need a large-sized pet, because the dog himself believes that he is a big dog. This is a unique combination of a home guard and an affectionate cat. Hunting instincts were absorbed into his flesh and blood.
Appearance
A native of Scotland, the West Highland White Terrier, whose photo you see in this article, is small in size, with standing ears and a high tail. They never stop it. This dog surprisingly combines activity, strength and a funny look. The limbs are shorter and much flatter than the scotch terrier. They allow the West to cleverly wade among stones and along mountain paths, and the thick coat on the neck and head protects the animal from the bites of the enemy.
For this breed, white is dominant. The height of the dog at the withers does not exceed 30 centimeters, weight - not more than 9 kilograms. Strong physique, compact body, wide and strong lower back, withers and the upper point of the croup are on the same level. The head is densely covered with hair. She should not be too forward. The muzzle narrows smoothly to the nose. The ears are small, erect, triangular in shape, covered with short and dense, like velvet, hair. The tail is up to fifteen centimeters long. It is covered with short, coarse, hairless hair. It is set high and gives the animal a perky look.
Maintenance and care
The undoubted advantage of the Westhill White Terrier is the absence of molting. This greatly facilitates the life of the owners, but at the same time there is a need to trim the animal at least three times a year. Using a hair clipper is not recommended, as this greatly affects the structure of the animal’s hair. Properly processed (using a trimmer knife), it becomes stiff and dense.
But comb your pet with a stiff brush every day. In this case, the dog always looks very well-groomed and neat.
Even if you are not a hunter, but really want to get a smart, affectionate and loyal pet, then the Westhill White Terrier is a dog for you.