Small, strong and smart, the West Highland White Terrier He stands out for his adorable looks and energetic character. Known generally as westy, this dog is often somewhat stubborn and a bit disobedient, but also affectionate and very attentive with children. In addition, he is generally in good health.
It is believed that its origins are in the west of Scotland, specifically in the Argyll region. There their ancestors, the Cairn Terriers, were bred to hunt foxes and rabbits during the XNUMXth century. Of these, the white ones were not considered useful, since they could not be easily camouflaged in a natural environment.
This would change thanks to Major Malcolm de Poltalloch, who found that brown or reddish dogs could be mistaken for their prey and decided to breed only white specimens. These would be mixed with other Scottish terriers until giving rise to the West Highland breed, around 1904. Years later began to be considered as a companion animal.
It is one of the most dynamic and cheerful breeds that we can find. It is kind, smart and stubborn, so we must be strict about their training. Faithful to its owners, it fiercely defends its territory against the slightest sign of alarm. However, he is also very sociable, which is why he ends up accepting strangers once he has spent some time with them. Confident and enthusiastic, he is highly active, requiring long daily walks.
Regarding your personal care highlights its double coat, which we must brush every day, keeping it clean and without knots. The Westy does not shed its hair, so it is necessary that we remove dead hair with brushing. In this way we will avoid dermatitis, to which this breed is prone. Oral hygiene is also essential, as it tends to accumulate tartar.