West Highland Terrier

Author's product rating:   

Advantages:	Loyalty, trust, affection, companionship
Disadvantages:	Mostly cost

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Is a Westie the right dog for you? To begin, here is a brief synopsis of the breed, just in case you've never heard of or seen one before!

West Highland White Terriers are small, white terriers up to about twelve inches (30cms) in height for a dog, slightly less for a bitch. They weigh about 22lbs (10kgs) for an adult male, a little less for a bitch. Their coats are short and white, coarser on the top and soft underneath. They have pointed upright ears that give them an attentive, alert look and a tail held upright, the shape of an inverted carrot. The fur around their head when trimmed to shape gives them their distinctive 'chrysanthemum' head. When my Westie shakes her head and fluffs up her fur, I think she looks like a dandelion clock! Although small, they are strong and muscular. They have a life expectancy of fifteen years or more. They were originally bred in the 1800's in Scotland by Colonel Malcolm of Poltalloch from Cairn Terriers and were used for controlling rats and other vermin. That's a very brief description of a smart little dog with a very large heart!

If you want to know about showing dogs then read no further as I will not be including any information in this review. Firstly, because I have never shown dogs so have no experience, and secondly because I don't agree with dogs for show. Westies should be investigating rabbit holes, swimming in ponds and streams and generally getting into as much mischief as possible! A clean Westie is not necessarily an unhappy Westie, but I can't imagine having one of these feisty little dogs and not allowing it to live life to the full in the way it was intended.

Are you considering owning a Westie and wondering if this is the right dog for you? Hopefully, I can give you some good reasons for choosing a Westie as your new companion, and maybe some reasons why not!

Maybe you would prefer a larger breed, but you haven't the space in your house or garden for a German Shepherd or a Labrador. Of course, I will suggest a Westie. They may be small, but they have character by the bucket full to make up for their lack of size. A man taking a Westie for a walk need not feel embarrassed in the same way as he might in taking a Chihuahua, Poodle or Yorkshire Terrier for walks. No disrespect intended for these breeds, but surely they are not a man's dog and this is one of the reasons that influenced our family in getting a Westie!

So if we've established that size does not matter (up to a point) the next thing to consider is how much time you have for w-a-l-k-i-e-s! If your time is limited, he will be quite happy with half an hour or so a day, so long as he can also run around the garden at home, scaring off the birds. He will not mind too much if you miss a walk or two a week, although of course he should get at least one regular walk a day if at all possible. If he has a reasonable amount of space at home and in your garden to run around, scaring of any wildlife and digging in your favourite flowerbed, then he will be fine if your time is limited and you happen to miss the occasional walk.

If, on the other hand, you have the time and the energy to take him on longer walks, he will go as far as you like - and more! They are very game little dogs, designed to trek through the heather in the Scottish Highlands. They will climb mountains and swim in lochs, given the chance, and guarantee that you will tire out long before he does!

So far we've established that you have room in your house and garden for him, and that you can fit his exercise requirements into your busy life. So far so good.

What if you have children? Westies make ideal family pets. Because of their size they are easily handled by children, provided, as with any dog, the children are taught to respect their pet. Any dog might snap, or worse bite, if badly behaved children treat them too roughly, but if the children are taught to respect their pet and not to treat him as a toy, then he will be fine. Young children should not be left unsupervised with a dog until they are old enough to be trusted not to tease or mistreat their pet. Westies have the undeserved reputation of being snappy, but this is a common misconception. If your dog does snap, blame yourself, not the dog! Most bad behaviour in dogs is down to lack of education in their owners, and just not knowing how to treat the dog correctly. My advice would be to take your Westie and your children if they are old enough, to your local dog training class. Westies are inquisitive and energetic, but relatively easy to train. Allow your children to help with the training. This will be of mutual benefit to them, giving the children responsibility in the handling of their pet and giving your Westie the experience of being handled by them as well as yourself. Training classes are good sources of advice in general and for meeting other dogs so that your dog becomes socialised at an early age. Generally, they get on well with other dogs. Any behavioural problems can be spotted early and corrected before you have a real problem, particularly important if children are involved.

Do Westies make good travellers? Yes they do. As with any dog, get them used to travelling in your car at an early age, secure in a travel crate if possible. Dogs like the security of a crate, they can't slide about in a too large an area, but they can turn around and get up and lie down when they want too. When returning from a muddy walk, your dog does not need to lie on your clean seats, getting muddy paw prints all over your smart upholstery. Our Westie has travelled hundreds of miles like this. She can't wait to get in her crate, because she knows at the end of the trip a lovely walk is usually involved, and once in the crate she settles down and rests. We never hear a peep out of her, and she has never once been travel sick. In the case of an accident, heaven forbid, your dog has the protection of the crate and will not be thrown around in the car. However, if you have only a small car and no room for a crate this need not be a problem. There are restraining aids for dogs these days, specifically made to keep your dog safe in the car. The only disadvantage with this is that your dog will have to lie on a seat, so you will need good covers to protect the cloth. Never travel with a small dog loose in the car. I personally know of an incident where a man drove his motor home with his three Jack Russell terriers loose in the vehicle. One of the dogs got under his feet and pedals and I think stopped him from using the brake pedal. The result was a fatal crash. The man and one of his dogs died, another dog lost one of its back legs. I see his wife from time to time walking the two remaining dogs, the three-legged dog a constant reminder of that horrific accident. Definitely a lesson to be learned.

Other reasons for owning a Westie? I've dealt with the practical bits, now for your emotional needs! Westies make superb companions. You no longer need to come home to an empty house; there will always be a friend to welcome you on your return. Westies are very affectionate and love their cuddles. They are also fun loving and always ready to play! Westies can talk with their ears! It's true, my Westie may not be able to talk in the human way, but boy, are her ears expressive! You can tell her mood by her ears. If she wants something, up and down her ears go, as if to say 'look at me, I'm asking you for a tummy rub!' Ignore her at your peril. If the ear twitching doesn't work, she scratches you on the leg or arm until you have to take notice! Ouch! Her claws aren't long, but nevertheless pack a mean scratch! Bless her. Take her for walks and she will reward you with the sight (off the lead) of a furry white blur, one back leg kicking cutely out to the side as she dashes to catch up with my other dog. Her laughing face grins at you as she passes, pink tongue flopping, beaming button eyes intent on the race to catch up. When finally at the end of a busy day she stops to have a rest, she can usually be found lying at my feet, as she is now, never far away, a constant companion.

If you are at all house-proud it is useful to know that Westies do not moult excessively. Maybe you will find a few white hairs around the place, but not to any great extent. The main problem may be the muddy paw prints from digging in your garden!

As with all good things, there has to be downsides.

With any pedigree dog the main drawback is the cost. The better the pedigree, the more you may expect to pay for a puppy, but if you are looking for a family pet and not a dog to show, then you don't need a long list of champions in his ancestry. I cannot give you here the cost of a Westie puppy as this will vary greatly from breeder to breeder and will depend on his pedigree. You would certainly expect to pay three or four hundred pounds for a puppy, maybe considerably more. I have tried to research an 'average' price, but have been unable to come up with one, so if you are serious about buying a Westie you will have to make enquiries through your breeder.

Do your research well. Never buy from a puppy farm. They certainly will not care what home their puppy is going to, and will only be interested in taking your money. A reputable breeder should ask you many questions about your home and circumstances. Indeed you should expect this and not be offended by these questions. Anyone who truly has the well being of the puppy at heart will need to ask you these things. For instance, are you out at work all day so the puppy would be left alone for long periods of time? Do you have a secure, well-fenced garden? Are you able to take your puppy for regular walks, keep it well groomed, feed it correctly, and so on? These questions should be of help to you too, as there may be areas that you have not considered and might need further thought from you before you commit to buying this new friend. After all, as I mentioned at the beginning, a Westie can live in excess of fifteen years, so this is no commitment to be taken lightly. You should see the puppy with its mother and ask the right questions regarding potential health problems. If the mother is obviously fit and healthy, it's a very good start.

I would certainly recommend pet insurance, and this is more expensive for a pedigree dog than for a crossbreed or mongrel. My pet insurance for my Westie is almost £17 a month and just under £13 for my Collie cross Springer, but when you think what you might pay in vet's fees for major illnesses or accidents, or liability should your pet cause an accident, then this has to be worth the peace of mind.

There is the added cost of pet food, but this need not be a major expense. A Westie is a small dog and if you feed a healthy, raw meat diet, he will only cost you a few pence a day to feed. See my other review 'Feeding your dog - Paws for Thought' for more information on the raw meat diet. By feeding a natural diet your Westie is less likely to succumb to skin problems, the main health issue that Westies are known for. Other problems can be patella luxation, hernias and cranio mandibular osteopathy (lion jaw), deafness and congenital heart disease. I admit to having no idea of these last problems until looking health issues up for this review, but all breeds will have their own inherent problems, and Westies are no exception. I know lots of Westies but have never come across these other diseases, so wouldn't think these problems are too common.

You may be considering having an older dog, maybe a rescue dog. You will not have the initial outlay of buying a puppy from a breeder, so you can save yourself money in this respect, but don't make this your reason for considering a rescue dog. You might also need to contribute a donation to the charity from which you obtain your dog. They need re-homing for a reason and can need special treatment and lots of patience from you to adapt to their new situation. Not all rescue dogs have been mistreated. Maybe their owner has died, or is ill and in hospital. Many changes in circumstances can lead to a dog needing a new home. I can highly recommend http://www.westierehoming.me.uk if you are serious about adopting such a dog.

Maybe you will need to re-fence your garden to make it Westie proof. Westies are great diggers, and I had to be one step ahead of the 'tunnel to freedom' game when my Westie was a pup. Thankfully she grew out of this stage (eventually) but I had to be quite inventive to stop the would- be-escapee from discovering life on the other side of the fence. Westies are naturally inquisitive, so I tried not to take this too personally! Did I mention they are great diggers? If you value your prized Chrysanthemums, don't get a Westie! There is nothing he will enjoy more than digging up your favourite flowers. Don't say I didn't warn you!

There is another reason for making your garden secure and not just so your pet can't escape. Dog theft is a real problem and if you have a Westie then they are obvious targets. They are small enough to pick up and carry, and their affectionate nature can be their downfall. My Westie loves people and would welcome anyone into our house, so I definitely would not recommend them as a guard dog. A watch dog maybe, as they will let you know someone's about. So please never leave your Westie anywhere unattended, for instance outside a shop while you go in, in your car (and of course, never in hot weather) in an insecure garden, and even be watchful when he runs free in a park. I would definitely recommend that you have your Westie micro-chipped for these reasons. If he wanders off or does manage the 'dig to freedom' despite your best efforts, at least you know that whoever finds him should be able to return him to you. You may find this site www.dogtheftaction.co.uk of interest to you, regardless of your chosen breed of dog.

Holidays could be a problem, but since you've chosen a Westie he wouldn't be difficult to take with you. As I've said before, they travel very well and would love to share your holiday. In fact, this can add a new dimension to your holiday, making you find places to walk that you might not have explored without your dog. If you must leave him behind, then consider carefully who will look after him while you're away. Kennels have their place, but should be a last resort. Think how you would feel if you were suddenly deserted by your family and left in a strange place with other noisy dogs, as far as he knows never to see you return. The cost of kennels will also add to your holiday expense. Consider leaving him at home but with a close friend or family member who can stay with him. Next best thing, maybe he can stay at their house, and as he is only little, he need not be too much of an encumbrance to them. But make sure they are aware of the problems mentioned in the last paragraphs!

Finally, the cost of grooming. Westies need regular brushing by you at least three times a week, ideally every day. This is special time with your Westie. He will be getting used to being handled and it is a good time for you to notice any problems he might have, such as wounds, lumps, fleas, etc. Get him used to you looking at and cleaning his teeth. All this will be of huge benefit if you need to take him to the vet for whatever reason, as he will be well used to being handled. He will enjoy his grooming and this can be a good bonding time with your pet. He will also need trimming from time to time to keep his fur shape. This is additional expense, but you can learn to do this yourself. I keep my own Westie trimmed, so it can't be that difficult! As I don't have my Westie professionally trimmed I'm not up-to-date with the cost, but I imagine it would be in the region of £15 depending on the condition of his coat.

When my Westie was younger, and after I had had her professionally trimmed, I bought my own pet clippers and managed to keep the shape that she had after her professional trim. Doing this regularly before her fur became long again was fairly easy, and I soon learned how to keep her in shape. There are so many photographs available of how a Westie should look that it is not difficult to follow the basic shape and if you do make mistakes it need not be a disaster - unless you intend to show your dog! The fur will quickly grow back and you will have learned what to do and what not to do. The fur under the tail and around the bottom needs to be kept very short for hygiene purposes. I don't look at grooming as a chore, but enjoy giving my Westie her trim. She's very used to the procedure. The only problem I have is stopping her going to sleep while I'm doing it! Ideally, your Westie should be hand stripped from time to time, particularly if you are showing your Westie. This involves plucking the fur by holding small tufts between the index finger and the thumb, and is another technique you can learn to do yourself.

All in all it might seem that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages, especially if you look on owning a Westie in purely financial terms. You should never buy a puppy simply because they look cute and cuddly and you can't resist the pleadings of your children. Realise all the pitfalls and secure the new friendship with your eyes clearly open and rose coloured spectacles firmly removed.

But costs and inconveniences aside, a Westie will cheer you up when you're feeling unwell. He will greet you on your return home as though he hasn't seen you for days. Westies make excellent P.A.T. dogs (Pets as Therapy), visiting people in hospital or residential homes and thus providing valuable therapy to the sick and the elderly. Visit the P.A.T. web site for further information. He will repay you ten times over with his loyalty, trust, affection and companionship. He is a constant friend, always there for you when others may not be. He might be the reason for you to get up in the mornings.

You can't put money on that.

Enjoy your Westie, and thank you for reading.