West Highland White Terrier: all about the dog breed

Many breeds, species, subspecies, varieties of dogs are known in the world. Each has its pros and cons. But the answer to the question why a person starts a particular dog is also different. It’s all the more interesting to know how and why the west highland white terrier appeared - a snow-white dog in the mountains of northwestern Scotland.

To talk about the appearance of the West Highland White Terrier, you need to remember the history of dog breeding until the XI century, it was then that the mention of terriers first appeared. "Terra" is translated as "land", that is, literally terriers are earthen dogs. These are hunters who rummaging in the ground, burrows, looking for a badger, fox, otter. And when they find it, they drive it out or drive it into a corner and wait for the owner - the hunter. So these small, active dogs that pursued prey through shrubs and rocky crevices were described as early as the 11th century.

In 1576, John Cayus, the court healer of Queen Elizabeth I of England, mentioned in his narrative “On English Dogs” that terriers coped well with rodents and were good at burrow hunting. In 1830, John Leslie wrote colorfully in his book about how earthen dogs “flee badgers and foxes”.

I must say that there were already many different types of terriers at this time. They differed in color, structure of the coat (canine), shape and set of ears. In addition, they were divided into short-legged and long-legged. For the most part, the breed is the result of crossbreeding. The same applies to West Highland White Terriers.There are two assumptions about their appearance: either his ancestor was a core terrier, or an adhesive tape terrier. But it was in Scotland that white kittens appeared in the litter, which they tried to destroy, so as not to spoil the breed (they were sure that puppies of a light color are physically weaker, more sick).

At the end of the 19th century, Colonel Donald Malcolm from the town of Poltalloch in Argileshire County shot and killed his beloved red terrier on the hunt, confusing it with a fox. This incident made him think of the white habits of the terriers. But they would be clearly visible both in the mountains, on the rocks, and in the fields. This was the starting point for breeding work on the breeding of white terriers. Then they were called poltalloh terriers.

At the turn of the century, Malcolm introduced his white earthen dogs, calling them West Highland White Terrier. Almost 10 years later, a club appeared, representing the interests of a new type of terrier. After another 3 years, they took part in the exhibition of breeds, after which they quickly began to gain popularity, and not only among hunters. In 1908, the Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club, registered the first breed representatives in its register. This was a real victory for the West West from highland Scotland.

But breeding work continued. In 1924, breeders were forbidden to exhibit dogs - mixed with other breeds of the terrier group. So the unique exterior of white terriers was formed. And only at the end of 1954 the West Highland White Terrier was registered by the international cynological society as an independent breed.

At the end of the 90s of the XX century, the inhabitants of the Soviet Union were able to acquire news in their homes. He was still used for fox or badger hunting, but gradually the dog began to be brought in as a companion, as her temper is very flexible and her appearance is unusual.

Today Westhands are defined by FCI standard No. 85, where all characteristics are clearly spelled out. according to which the West Highland White Terrier belongs to 2 sections of 3 groups (small terriers).

• A thoroughbred body is distinguished by a thoroughbred individual endowed with an even back line, strong croup, sinewy limbs under a wide chest. West has a moving temperament (if they were talking about a person, they would say that he is a sanguine person). The dog is brave, active, strong. Behind injustice is dignity and obstinacy. Moreover, the white terrier seems carefree, but wary, he is friendly with everyone, but he will stand up for the owner without hesitation.
• On the head is a dense dog, the skull is parallel to the ground and perpendicular to the cervical vertebrae. The distance between the back of the head and the eye sockets is slightly larger than the length of the muzzle. Black nose not protruding forward. The head is already from the eyes to the nose. Thanks to widely spaced fangs in strong, even jaws, the impression is made that West smiles slyly. The upper row of large teeth tightly covers the lower.
• Eyes of medium size, slightly elongated, dark, widely spaced from the nose. The West Highlands have a smart gaze that penetrates from beneath an overhanging eyebrow into the depth of the beholder. Bright eyes are considered a flaw.
• The ears are pointed, small, easy to stand upright, set on the head very proportionally. The ears are covered with short and soft, velvety hair, according to standards it is impossible to cut it. There is no fringe on the ears. By standard, a dog should not have round, large, thick ears. Also, a large number of hairs on the ears is considered a retreat.
• The neck, due to its length, ensures the correct position of the head. The neck smoothly passes into sloping shoulders, thickening to the base.
• The body is dense, compressed, with a straight back, powerful croup and a wide chest.
• The tail is not very long - 12.5-15 cm (cropping is not allowed), with a stiff dog, without fringe. It should be located almost parallel to the ground or rise a little higher, not to tip back.
• The limbs are strong, sinewy, short, straight. They are covered with a thick, short, hard dog. The hips are very muscular. Paws are strong, front ones are larger than hind ones. Pads are thick, protected by short, stiff hair. According to the standard, it is desirable that the claw pads are black.
• The gait is flying, free. Thanks to its well-bent joints, the vest can be pushed forward strongly during the jump.
• The dog is two-layered: the undercoat with short, soft, dense hair, and the outer layer, 5 cm long, is hard. There should be no curls according to the standard, as well as non-adherent wool.
• The color is white, due to external factors it is quite unstable, therefore, a yellowish tint can occur.
• The size, determined by the height of the withers, is about 28 cm. Experts explain that females can reach 23-28 cm, and males 25-30 cm at the withers.
• The standards do not define the weight of the West Highland White Terrier, but in females it can reach 6-7 kg, and in males - 7-10 kg.

The difference between a thoroughbred dog and a design one is that if the breed does not meet the standards, then at least the breeders will not receive documents for such an individual. If you get a dog, hoping for further participation in exhibitions, then you need to know that the wavy or curly coat, non-standard ears, neck of atypical length, improper positioning of the limbs will reduce the exhibition rating. But if the dog shows causeless aggression and cowardice, or if it has too obvious physiological and behavioral defects, then it will not be allowed to compete.

If the future owner is not interested in documents, then he should know that because of its small size the dog is quite suitable for living in an apartment, but it has so much energy that it takes a lot of walking with it, giving an active load. She compensates for the "underperformance" with gnawed and rassuzhannym things in the house.

This terrier has a very subtle sense of smell, which helps rescuers a lot in finding people, especially in tight, inaccessible places. But this means that sharp smells should not be used at home in order to protect the nose of a hunting dog.

The intelligence level of the vestik is quite high. This quality, combined with smart eyes, will convince anyone that your pet understands you from a half-view. But for this he needs to be educated and become his friend.

Not only thanks to external data, but also to his character, the messenger has earned himself a good name. He is a true actor, whom the directors of feature films, documentaries and commercials love. This suggests that the dog has a high level of intelligence. At the same time, pets are very curious and restless, at any age they remain young adventurers. The main negative habit is the desire to "get to the truth", and he will dig both on the street and at home.

The reasons for this behavior are inexhaustible energy. To cope with this problem, Vesta must be brought up from an early age. And here, the main thing that the owner will have to face is the natural obstinacy prescribed in the standard.

If the dog is raised, then it is quite peaceful, sociable, ready for travel. In relation to other animals, caution should be exercised: the messenger is quite jealous. If you can make sure that the animals get along with each other, then it is better to introduce them in advance.Otherwise, in a fit of jealousy, he can throw himself at both the hamster and the alabai. But with children they are quite able to coexist, if children are older than 10 years old and see a friend in the dog.

And do not forget, West needs movement: dog sport, walking, hunting. This creature is clearly aware that movement is life. Moreover, at this moment the dog is not alone, but for him it is important. These terriers do not like loneliness, although they are able to stay without owners for some time. No matter how big the family may be, the owner of the dog will be alone, he will raise and feed. All other family members are neighbors with whom the messenger will be friendly.

Vesta is called a restless and cheerful dog that just needs attention. A voiced, but not nasty voice, will help to find out about the arrival of guests. He loves to bark, but most of all he likes to dig - hunting genes affect. Living in a private house, in the country, can result in the loss of beds and flower beds. To avoid this, you need to allocate the territory where the pile will be unloaded (sand, foliage, old safe things, toys). It is also not bad to equip a sports ground for training. The more busy the dog, the less problems you have.

If we talk about leaving, then the main plus and at the same time a minus is a beautiful white coat. After all, it is difficult for a temperamental dog to stay white outside, and this is an additional concern for owners - to wash, dry, comb. And so after each walk.

Another disadvantage is the desire to win a place near the owner: jealousy makes him fight both with rodents and with large animals. Moreover, for the owner, he is ready for a lot, very attached to him. And the mischievous nature and appearance of a soft toy make him a universal favorite.

As with all pets, the lifestyles of the West Highland White Terrier depend on their living conditions. Due to its nature, not only the number of square meters, good nutrition, veterinary care, but also communication with family members are important here. Alone, the dog will yearn and will not live long. With good care, the messengers live up to 13-15 years.

Westhayland itself is a type of terrier. There are no subspecies within the breed. But there is a classification for participation in dog competitions, starting from 3 months of age. There are also class differences. Professional breeders can easily determine which class a small terrier belongs to.

• Show and top class. These are the best puppies in the litter, in the future they may be winners of exhibitions. Physiologically, they are 100% compliant with FCI No. 85. Minimal flaws are possible, but breed defects are not allowed. Usually such puppies are born by champion parents. This is the benchmark of the breed, determined by the highest price. But to buy such a baby is almost impossible - the breeders will surely leave it for themselves for subsequent breeding.

• Breed class - a category that includes healthy white terriers with an excellent pedigree and good data for reproducing offspring. For this class, it is important to choose the right pair. If this is done correctly, then you can get the offspring of a show class. Most often, females are assigned to the brid class, and males with very similar characteristics are assigned to the lower Pet class. Brides have show temperament.

• Pet class - These are rejected puppies that have discrepancies with breed standards: the wrong color, wool marriage, breed defects (dogs are not in danger of life, but can have a bad effect on the offspring). Animals of this class can not participate not only in exhibitions, but also in breeding. This fact is indicated in the accompanying documents. Also, unplanned puppies are classified as a pet class.

The decision to get a puppy for many rests on the question of why they buy it: if for breeding, exhibitions, then the purchase criteria will be very different from those when you get a companion or a hunting dog. Having made a decision, it is worth paying attention to certain aspects.

• Regardless of the country, choose nurseries that are registered in dog training federations. Use the tips of the familiar owners of West Highland White Terriers, reviews about the kennel. In good places, almost all mating is planned, which means that the baby will be with documents.
• Do not rush to buy a puppy from the first acquaintance. It is better to watch a few litters from different parents. Each dog has its own character, habits, external data.
• Specialists have the term "breeders", and there are "scammers." Breeders will help you with advice throughout the puppy's maturation. The task of the scouts is to sell the goods. Before buying, you should ask whether the nursery provides consulting services and on what conditions.
• The conditions in which the puppies and their parents are kept in the kennel will tell you a lot. Unsanitary conditions in the cells can come back to your pet with diseases acquired in the first days of life. If dogs have a sufficiently large territory through which they move freely, cleanliness in pens, then trust in such a place of sale of puppies increases.
• It is believed that girls are more trained, but the messenger is not so: males learn faster. The sex of the puppy has practically no effect on the character and intellectual abilities.
• At the time of choosing a pet, try to assess its physical condition: the puppy should not be lethargic, but should stay confidently on its feet. Experienced dog breeders recommend paying attention not to the largest in the litter, but to the smartest. Feel the navel area: there should be no swelling and protrusion of the abdomen - these are signs of a health problem. The baby's eyes should be clean, without discharge. The nose is clean and moist, the ears are pink. Under the tail of the puppy should not be traces of loose stools.
• Perhaps, like all breeds, West can have genetic diseases. Before viscous parents are tested. Take the time to ask the breeder for test results. This is not a 100% guarantee that your baby will not have problems with this, but the absence of diseases in parents dramatically reduces the risk of illness in a puppy.
• A representative of the Show-class costs about 40,000 rubles. But if you take a puppy only for the soul, and not for exhibitions and competitions, then you can look for a dog much cheaper, without documents. But to be sure that you buy Vesta, go to exhibitions, get acquainted with the breeders and use their advice in choosing a pet.
• Visiting shows prior to purchasing will also give you a wealth of information on how to care, feed and raise your puppy. If there are children in the house, it is very useful to take them to such events.
• Experts recommend paying attention to the bite of the dog: the upper jaw is on the lower, bottom and top should be 6 incisors and 2 canines.
• With or without documents, you take the dog, it should already have a veterinary passport, in which data on vaccinations made are entered. With this passport, you will continue to visit your veterinarian to continue vaccination.

Before the baby gets into your home, he needs to prepare places for sleeping and games, for eating and for the toilet. And if at first these zones can be located next to each other, then the older the puppy, the faster he needs to be accustomed to the functionality of each zone.

• For sleep and games, it is advisable to purchase a dog basket or warm litter. The puppy must have toys: rubber, silicone or wooden. Carefully monitor the quality and individual elements of toys: they should not have a strong chemical smell and small parts - everything is like in children.If there are no more furry animals in the house with whom the puppy would like to sleep, then buy him a soft toy by the side.
• For food you need 2-3 bowls: for dry food, for natural food, for water. It is better to immediately put the bowls where the dog will always eat. They should not get in the way under your feet. And be prepared for the fact that around them there will always be at least a little, but dirty: do not forget to clean up the place after each feeding of the dog, as well as wipe the face of the terrier with a damp cloth. If this is not done, then the remnants of the food will get stuck in the wool and will gradually dye it in various colors.
• To cope with natural needs, at first the kitten will need a diaper - a waterproof one. Most likely, at first it will be near the berth, but gradually you will move it to the place where the tray will stand. If you have acquired enough adult puppy that you have been accustomed to the toilet, then the breeder will tell you how to teach your puppy to the toilet place in your house.

After the puppy settles in the house, you will have to accustom it to bathing, haircut, walking, combing. If you are preparing an exhibition dog, you will often have to visit the groomer. If not, then these procedures are carried out with a certain periodicity.

For our active dog, this is important after eating and sleeping. From 3 to 6 months, the messenger is taken out (not taken out) for a walk 5-6 times a day in order to accustom to relieve themselves on the street. This can only be done after scheduled vaccinations and weekly quarantine. Those who don’t have the opportunity to go out with the dog so often will benefit from waterproof diapers. The necessary minimum of walks for an adult dog is twice a day for half an hour, despite the snow and heat, the host's malaise and other problems.

But West is ready to walk much longer if it is a sports ground or, as mentioned earlier, an artificially created bunch of autumn leaves, toys, etc. A leisurely walk on a harness next to an elderly person is not what you need to know. But as soon as the dog was lowered from the leash, it gets numb from the abundance of smells and the ability to rummage through all kinds of heaps and becomes uncontrollable. If there is a sports town or a hall for dogs nearby, then West will be happy to join agility and freestyle.

Vesta teeth must be brushed twice a week. To maintain them in good condition in the diet should be solid foods - abrasives, and you can also buy bones, toothpicks. Eyes should be examined daily. The presence of brown streaks under the eyes is considered a sign of an allergy - you should immediately contact your veterinarian. Once a week, the news is cleaned by ears, plucked out long hair inside the auricle.

Claws with intense street traffic can wear off themselves, if this does not happen or the dog is a show, then the claws need to be trimmed. Paw pads should be washed after each walk. If it is cold outside, and the tracks are also sprinkled with reagents, then after walking and washing the paws, the pads are lubricated with a nourishing cream. So that the hair does not interfere with the dog, as well as for hygiene, the hair is cut around the anus and genitals.

Opponents of frequent bathing dogs recommend washing them every 6 months, so as not to wash off the protective fat layer from the body and coat. With regard to vest, this is hardly possible - white wool should be washed at least once a month, and after the street - if necessary. For washing, use zoo shampoos, bleaching shampoos (not for puppies!), In extreme cases - baby shampoos. In general, they need detergents for wire-haired dogs.

West sheds a little, but during molting it is necessary to comb it daily, the rest of the time - every 2-3 days. The furminator is very suitable for this procedure. It is recommended to use a metal brush with rare cloves so as not to tear the coat. The procedure for the dog is pleasant, as it removes dead hair, pieces of dirt, thorns from a street walk. Soft hair is recommended to comb out more often to avoid tangles.

To preserve the color of the coat and remove yellowness, it is recommended to clean it with a mixture of crushed chalk and boric acid. The product is rubbed into a slightly damp coat, and then combed out with a regular brush.

If you want to cut the dog shortly, then you can do it yourself with a machine. A good groomer will make your dog a haircut. Grooming is required for show dogs. But professionals say that the white terrier, because of the stiffness of the hairline, needs not a haircut, but trimming. The procedure for plucking dead hairs is more useful, as they interfere with the dog, being stuck among live hair.

The owner can choose for his West food dry food, natural products, or both. But here is what the dog chooses, you can find out only with time. Therefore, when introducing a new dish, you should not use several new products at once, otherwise it is not clear what exactly the news liked or did not like.

When buying dry food, it is worth choosing super-premium and premium-class feed. They will be the salvation for dogs with allergies and diabetes. With natural nutrition, the following products are recommended:

• low-fat boiled meat, except for chicken (pork vest is not fed), offal, cartilage;
• low-fat sea fish;
• buckwheat, rice, oatmeal (millet porridge, flour - prohibited);
• cottage cheese, kefir, sour cream;
• vegetables (except potatoes and onions) and fruits.

The number of feeds depends on the age of West:

• up to 3 months - up to 6 times a day / serving size - 150 ml;
• 3-4 months - up to 4 times / 200-250 ml;
• 4-6 months - up to 3 times / 500 ml each;
• 6-8 months - 2-3 times / 750-1000 ml;
• over 8 months - 2 times / 1.5 liters.

The upbringing process starts from the moment a puppy appears in the house. It is necessary to accustom a very small newcomer to a diaper, an older one to a tray or to ask him to go outside. How to do this, tell our video. Little ones are always a pity, and the owners often try to take the puppy in their arms, on the sofa, in their own bed.

Being a smart dog, West clearly feels the strength and weakness of the owner. For a dog to fulfill your commands, you must achieve his respect, be morally stronger than him. This is manifested in confidence, sequence of actions, perseverance. During the training it is advisable to stay alone with the dog, so you will make it clear who is the boss in the house and concentrate the attention of the beast. Approximately from the age of three months, during the game, the puppy can be accustomed to the commands “to me”, “aport”. From 6-7 months of age, dogs are taught more complex commands: "lie down", "sit", "fu", "voice", "give a paw", "next to". To do this, you can contact the club of dog breeders or try to educate yourself. It is interesting for the dog to deal with the owner.If you see that the pet was distracted, switch your attention to another team, a little later you will return to the initial one.

Teams are given clearly, calmly. Older dogs are talked stricter, but without screaming. Any correct execution of the command is necessarily encouraged by intonation, stroking, delicious. Punishment is a change in intonation, but absolutely not assault. Since the news is very wayward creatures, you can not poke and indulge with them: affection should always be adjacent to rigor.

For training, you must use:

• favorite toy, ball;
• goodies (dry food);
• harness or soft collar;
• long and short leashes.

According to numerous reviews that are found on the Internet, we can conclude that the West Highland White Terrier is a true friend for loving owners. They characterize Vesta as a kind and affectionate dog that eats almost everything. Negative aspects of the content include hair care, unwillingness to cooperate with young children, as well as those who encroach on the owner’s love. Hunters praise Vest for courage, strength, endurance, energy. But they warn that it is necessary to deal with the dog regularly in order to overcome its obstinacy.

All about the West Highland White Terrier dog breed in the next video.