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Non-sporting Breeds
West Highland White Terrier
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Pedigree Points
Recognized: AKC, ANKC, CKC, FCI, KC (GB), KUSA
Height: Dog: 11 in (27.5cm) Bitch: 10 in (25cm)
Weight: 15-22 lb (7-10kg)
Coat: Harsh and free from curl, with a short, soft, close furry undercoat
Color: White
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Like other small Scottish terriers, the West Highland
White Terrier or Westie was bred to hunt vermin. At
one time it was classed along with the Cairn and Skye
Terriers as a Small Highland Working Terrier. The
Westie has also gone under a number of other names.
In the late 1800s, there was a strain of white
Scottish Terriers owned by Colonel
Malcolm of Poltalloch and
known as Poltalloch Terriers.
A picture of Colonel Malcolm
with his dogs reveals that they
were not all that different from
the Westie we know today.
Dogs of this type were also
known as Roseneath Terriers
or White Roseneath Terriers,
and in a breed supplement
published in 1899, they were
classified as a subvariety of
the Scottish Terrier. Today,
the Westie is among the most
popular of purebred dogs.
The Westie is described in its
standard as being "possessed of
no small amount of self-esteem
with a varminty appearance."
This game and hardy little terrier
is easy to train, gets on well with
children, and is a suitable
housepet for people in town as
well as in the country. Regular
brushing keeps the white coat
clean, but stripping and
trimming are required for
show, and if it is the intention
to exhibit, advice on
preparation should be
sought from the breeder. |
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