<C>Availability:</C> May take some effort to find.
<b>History:</> The West Highland White Terrier may have been developed from a few naturally occurring white Cairn Terrier puppies in mid-19th century Scotland. Though bred originally for controlling the population of rats, fox, otter and other vermin, this charming terrier is now mostly a companion dog.
<b>Description:</> A sturdy, hardy, compact little white terrier with small, erect, sharply-pointed ears and a black button nose. The skull is wide and slightly rounded. The blunt muzzle has a defined stop and is a bit shorter than the skull. The dark eyes have a keen expression. The hair on the head is clipped for a shaggy, rounded appearance. The teeth should meet in a scissors or level bite. The top of the back should be straight and level. The length of the back between the withers and root of the tail is slightly less than the height at the withers. The undocked 5-6 inch tail is carried gaily. The Westie has a double coat. The hard- textured outer coat is about 2 inches long, always pure white. It is not supposed to be silky or soft.
<b>Notes:</> Will accommodate to a household with children, but does better in one without. Easier to train than many terriers and easy to groom. A quick daily brushing, and shaping and scissoring every three months will keep the white coat looking its best. The coat sheds dirt and mud naturally. May chase a cat for fun, but usually not really to hurt it. Some males are combative with other males. Likes to bark and dig. Easy to travel with. A long-lived breed, but some lines are prone to skin conditions, Legg-Perthes disease, hernias, liver disease and jawbone calcification.
<b>Personality:</> Lively, ardent, sunny and outgoing. Delightful and alert. Self-assured, cocky and spunky. Knows he's wonderful. Playful and happy. Devoted to his family. May snap when irritated. Not as willful as many of the other terrier breeds.
<b>Behavior:</>
<C>Children:</C> Best with older, considerate children.
<C>Friendliness:</C> Fairly friendly with strangers.
<C>Trainability:</C> Easy to train.
<C>Independence:</C> Moderately dependent on people.
<C>Dominance:</C> Moderate.
<C>Other Pets:</C> Good with other pets if raised with them from puppyhood.
<C>Combativeness:</C> Friendly with other dogs.
<C>Noise:</C> Likes to bark.
<b>Grooming and Physical Needs:</>
<C>Grooming:</C> Regular grooming needed.
<C>Trimming & Stripping:</C> Skilled trimming or stripping needed.
<C>Coat:</C> Medium coat.
<C>Shedding:</C> Very light.
<C>Exercise:</C> Moderate exercise needed.
<C>Jogging:</C> Small, but a pretty good jogging companion.
<C>Indoors:</C> Very active indoors.
<C>Apartments:</C> Good for apartment living.
<C>Outdoor Space:</C> Does all right without a yard.
<C>Climate:</C> Does well in most climates.
<C>Owner:</C> Good for novice owners.
<C>Longevity:</C> Long (15 or more years).
<b>Talents:</> watchdog.
<b>For More Information:</>
Call the AKC Breeder Referral Hotline: 1-900-407-PUPS for the name of a breeder referral representative in your area. Cost is 99 cents per minute.
<b>Photo Caption:</> WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER
Photo copyright: Cook PhoDOGraphy 1995. All rights reserved.
