West Highland White Terrier

Although the Westie makes a brilliant companion dog, he often has other ideas when it comes to being a lap dog. He’s never too happy when he’s restrained and cuddled. A very popular breed, the West Highland White Terrier is certainly loyal and affectionate, but also very self-assured and independent.

This fun-loving, confident and bold little dog, certainly enjoys many of the simpler things in life. Good food, a belly rub and several squeaky toys. Even though he can be slightly mischievous, his playful nature makes him a very popular choice of pet.

When he’s inside the home, often lazing around on the sofa, he’s usually a very calm dog. However, the moment he is outside, he turns into a speed demon who has great agility and stamina.

This small terrier is a quick learner and is very intelligent too. Providing his training remains consistent and positive, he will be quite happy to take part.

This hardy, stoic breed of terrier was originally bred as a hunting dog to chase out rats, badgers and foxes, both below and above ground. The Westie certainly fits into this group, with his great intelligence, cunning and speed skills.

The West Highland White Terrier will very quickly alert you to the presence of any strangers, however he will then proceed to give them a very friendly, tail-wagging welcome.

As a dog breed that has been used for ratting and hunting, the West Highland White must think for himself. Although he requires little pampering, training him can be quite a challenge because of his independence.

This is one rare breed of dog that is quite happy to be left alone during the day. Providing he is safe and has proper stimulation, he is quite happy to remain at home while you go about your daily business.

Although the Westie can sometimes be quite naughty, with firm and consistent training you can overcome his mischievousness. Often quite stubborn too, training can be a challenge for his owners. You will need to use reward-based training and be very consistent in your pursuits. This small dog won’t tolerate any harsh words, or you will find he might just become very stubborn and refuse to learn anything at all.

The West Highland White Terrier is known to be a very vocal dog, who will alert you to anything that passes by. Early training can limit this problem to make sure he only barks when you need him to announce someone at the door, rather than at every bird or insect that flies by.

As a dog bred to hunt and dig out rats and other vermin, he certainly needs to be controlled when out for a walk. The first sight of something in the distance and he will be off, giving chase.  As a prolific digger, make sure your boundary fences are very secure or he will be off on an adventure by himself.

This dog breed definitely needs regular exercise and other daily activities to prevent it from becoming bored. Otherwise, digging, chewing and other issues may arise.

He’s not usually a greedy dog at meal times, however when it comes to doggie treats, this is a different matter. He only has to look at you with his cute, pleading eyes, and you cannot help but offer him an extra treat.

The West Highland White Terrier can be a vocal, annoying watchdog at times, alerting you to everything and anything that moves in his vicinity.

With his fun-loving character, intelligent looks and easy-going personality, the Westie makes a brilliant first dog for any family. He also likes to be clean, so housetraining him doesn’t pose a problem. Just be aware of that stubborn streak which will require patience from you when training!

As a happy-go-lucky dog, the Westie is quite adaptable and happy to live either in the city or in the countryside. He is an inside pet though, and doesn’t take well to living outdoors. If he’s trained not to bark, and given adequate daily exercise, he will do just fine living in an apartment.

These small dogs don’t require too much exercise, but a couple of daily walks to prevent boredom and to keep him healthy are advised. He is equally happy running around indoors, chasing after a toy.

This dog is a comfortable traveller, whether on a short journey, or a longer holiday. He is happy to be carried if you need to travel on public transport with him.

This dog will happily adapt to having cats in the home, although he might just chase after them from time to time. The same cannot be said however, for other small pets such as rabbits or gerbils, as he will try to hunt them out.

It is a small dog that can be very sociable, but it requires early, regular and consistent socialisation. Positive encounters must be proposed to the West Highland White Terrier puppy to develop and reinforce his canine codes (especially towards large size dogs).

As very playful and happy dogs, the Westie is ideally suited to family life. He loves playtime above any other activities.

As a calm and independent dog, this breed makes a brilliant companion dog for an elderly person. Keep in mind however, that the dog has an expected lifespan of up to 15 years.