Guide to the

West Highland
White Terrier
by Alan McKay
Table of Content

Preface
Origins
General Appearance
Breed Standard
Nutrition
Daily Care
Diseases
Best Breeders
Preface

The West Highland is a friendly terrier with a no-too-large size, an excellent

exterminator of mice, and a good hunter of rabbits, which knows how to
discover in the most inaccessible and rugged terrains.
Origins

Its homeland is the Argyllshire county, where many animals have completely
white coat (foxes, mountain hares and cocks) as a result of rare mutations.
This dog was used as a fox hunter and particularly valued for its very visible
coat, even at night. Despite its ancient origins, the official breed recognition
occurs in the early years of this century, and since then, it has spread rapidly
in many nations.
General Appearance

With a perfectly white coat trait, it has an attentive, vigilant, and intelligent
expression, accompanied by an affable and playful character that make it an
excellent companion dog capable of living in an apartment and even in small
spaces. Although many argue that the origins of the West Highland are the
same with those of the Cairn Terrier (based, among other things, in the fact
that the crossbreeding between these two breeds were allowed until 1924), it
is more credible the thesis supported by several cynologists that states this
breed as almost originally native, which has undergone a series of changes
over time, even with the contribution of others.
The West Highland White Terrier usually has a robust appearance, with a
straight dorsal line, powerful and muscular limbs, and an unfolded and
defined movement as "pendulum".
Breed Standard

Height
Its height at withers is approximately 28 cm. (11 inches)
Head
Its head has a black and relatively large nose. Its snout thins gradually from
the eyes to the nose. In addition, it has short jaws that come together
perfectly and large teeth with a scissors bite. Its stop is well accentuated, and
its skull is slightly convex.
Eyes
Its eyes are far apart, slightly fitted with a medium size and dark eyes color.
Ears
Its ears are small and erect with a short and smooth hair and a fine-point
ending.
Neck
Its neck is fairly long, muscular, and it widens gradually toward the
shoulders.
Forequarters
Its forelimbs are strong, muscular and straight. It has sloping shoulders with
wide shoulder blades that are adherent to the rib cage. Also, its elbows are
very backwards.
Body
Its body is compact with a deep chest. Furthermore, it has well-barreled ribs
on top and significantly bent posterior ribs with a straight back line, and wide
and robust kidney.
Hindquarters
Its hindlimbs are short, muscular and nervous. Its thighs are very muscular
and not very far between each other with very-angulated and relatively close
hocks.
Feet
Its forefeet are larger than hindfeet with round and thick paws, and covered
with short hard hair. Its paws and nails are preferably black.
Tail
Its tail is from 12.5 to 15 cm. long. It is straight, covered with hard hair, and
without bangs.
Coat
Its coat is double with a hard outer hair of an approximately length of 5 cm.
without curls, and short, soft, and dense undercoat. Its coat is pure white
color.
Nutrition

Nutritional needs for the adult specimen are between 450 and 530 Kcal. daily
as a maintenance ration. It is a dog that is valued not only for its courage and
particular vocation of hunting that make it a great enemy of mice, but also
for its character and great strength.
Daily Care

Skin and coating cleaning are performed with a wide toothbrush and a wire
hair brush.
Diseases
In the West Highland White Terrier, eczematous lesions with a rounded
shape have been described that appears in areas with less hair like the ventral
region. The origin of this vesicular dermatitis is still uncertain. The therapy is
based on the use of antibiotics in conjunction with cortisone of local or
systemic application. Undoubtedly, it is advisable to use a shampoo weekly
or a disinfectant soap that, ensuring the health of hair, accelerates the healing
process.
Best Breeders
 United States
Arizona
Sundast
That's my puppy in the window
California
Kandi's Kritters
Colorado
Green Valley Kennel
New York
Vanity Pups
Wee Westies
New Jersey
Yellowgate Kennel
North Carolina
Nocturnal Kennels
Arrowhead Acres
North Dakota
Ohio
Little Bitty Paws
Oklahoma
JP's Country Westies
Pennsylvania
Farms Kennel
Country Manor
Texas
BEP Kennels
Utah
River Westies
Virginia
Foxcreek Kennel
Iron Horse Westies
 Canada

Brittish Columbia
Cleghorn Kennels
LadyLeigh
Mysticgold Terriers

Manitoba
Ontario
ARDENDALE KENNELS
KOZO KENNELS
RAGLAN WESTIES
Quebec
WINTERGEMS (REG'D) KENNEL
 United Kingdom
England
Boadacea
Burneze
Lynnsto
Woofstock Kennels
Ireland
Killynether
Scotland
Pearly Place
 Australia
Ailton
Barbaron Westies
Celticbrae
Dassindogz
Glemand
Withew