Westie Life is full of information about the gorgeous West Highland White Terrier.

The Westie is a faithful, loyal, fun-loving small dog that packs a big punch of courage. Don’t be fooled by their small stature – the Westie believes he is a big dog!

Originally bred to hunt vermin in the coarse terrain of the highlands of Scotland this stunning white terrier is tough, tenacious and very self assured. Westies have strong characters and can be stubborn, but that is more than out weighed by their loving nature.

Westies have hearts of gold and a head tilt that will make you melt!

We have owned Westies for many years and will share some of our experiences, highs and lows, throughout this site.

We will bring you lots of news along with plenty of adorable pictures of your Westies and our favourite Westie videos. Feature articles cover health, insurance, dog showing and activities plus posts on breed standard, buying and and microchipping. All with a Westie focus!

If you would like to know more about the breed visit our West Highland White Terrier History page. For your Westie Pictures visit the gallery or visit our favourite Westie videos. You can read our feature articles in any of the four categories. General Westie, Health and Wellbeing, Showing and Activities and All about the West Highland White Terrier.

I hope you enjoy the website!

Karen

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Is the adorable looking white coated Westie all he seems?

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There are many reasons why a Westie may end up in need of a new home. Each Westie in care or a rescue service will have a story. Most will be adult dogs.

The majority of Westies arriving into homes or rescue centres are due to a change in family circumstances. Dogs are surrendered as they can no longer be cared for. This can be due to a bereavement, arrival of children, changes in home circumstances or a change in financial circumstances. They are often loved and have been well looked after.

Dogs are sometimes found as strays and handed to dog wardens. Unfortunately there are also heartbreaking situations where Westies have been rescued from unsuitable or appalling conditions including puppy farms.

Finding a Westie to rehome

Westies will occasionally be found in all breed dogs homes but in most instances they will be passed to a breed specific rescue service. When a Westie has been surrendered there will often be a detailed history given which helps rescue centres to rehome him. These dogs will be checked by a vet and offered for rehome quite quickly. Dogs are usually chipped, spayed or neutered, wormed and treated for fleas before being offered for adoption. Most Westie rescue centres don’t operate a ‘dogs home’ so Westies will usually be placed with a foster carer until they are ready for adoption.

Where no history is available the rescue service will take time to get to know the dog. A full medical screening will be carried out and any illness treated. Abandoned and ill treated dogs will often have medical conditions. Some conditions may be short term as a result of poor care but some may be more significant underlying ailments. Foster carers will support these dogs whilst they recover and will then work with potential adopters to find the best long term solution.

To discover how rewarding adopting a rescue Westie can be just visit any of the pages listed below to read heartwarming stories. The Dogs Trust, RSPCA and Battersea sites have lots of information about adoption and rehoming. Many Westies are adopted and rehomed every year.

Adopting a Rescue Westie

When you apply to adopt a Westie you will be asked to complete a detailed application form. You will usually have a home visit and will be asked to visit the dog before the adoption takes place. Whilst the questions may seem extensive the centres work hard to get the adoption right first time, no one wants a dog to be rehomed to an unsuitable environment.

When you adopt a Westie you are taking ownership of the dog and that includes all care and costs. Consider taking out insurance and registering with a local vet. To ensure a smooth transition check what food has been given and an idea of the daily routine.

If you have never owned a Westie before take time to learn about the breed. Westies are energetic, loving and loyal little dogs who thrive on affection. Offering an older Westie a forever home is likely to be extremely rewarding for you both!

Fostering – Could you help?

There are several Westie rescue and rehoming services in the UK each of which uses foster carers. Fostering is different from adopting. You are not usually expected to pay for care and treatment whilst dogs are in foster care. Dogs may be unwell, or have been ill treated, they may be nervous or aggressive and require additional support whilst they settle into family life. Fostering is not usually long term but can be extremely rewarding. If you would like to consider fostering details can be found on each of the Westie Rescue pages shown below.

Westie Rescue Organisations: 

Westie Rescue Scheme, Westie Rescue UK, Westies in Need, UK Westie Rehoming

National Rescue Services:

RSPCA, The Dogs Trust  and Blue Cross

There are also many regional and local dogs homes that care for rescued dogs.

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There are plenty of options for finding a new Westie puppy, and many breeders that advertise across a range of different media, but which is best? Westie Life strongly recommends that you start by checking the Kennel Club Assured Breeders Register for reassurance.

Decide if you want a puppy as a pet or to show and that will help in your search. We would also recommend that you take a measured decision and plan for a puppy. You may need to make changes at home either in the house or the garden to puppy proof them ready for your new arrival.

How to avoid buying from a puppy farm?

Puppy farming is unethical mass breeding where dogs are often left in appalling conditions. Mass bred puppies are often sold in poor health with flea infestations and can often have enteritis or more concerning heredity ailments. Puppy farming is often presented professionally with the sellers appearing to comply with legal requirements.  Dogs will be microchipped and often have some paperwork but look out for the tell tale signs. Puppies are often sold from a donor home, away from the mother and there may be more than one breed on offer, don’t be fooled. Always ask to see the mother, even after the 8 weeks it would be very unusual for puppies to be separated from their mother before being sold. In order to tackle this appalling trade the government have introduced legislation governing the sale of puppies. If you see a dog advertised that is cheaper than the norm – beware!!

The RSPCA offer advice on how to avoid supporting the puppy farm trade. They have a list of tips on how to check telephone numbers, photographs and descriptions.

If you are offered a Westie puppy from a Kennel Club breeder you can check their credentials on the Kennel Club Register for reassurance.

Once you have decided on a puppy and found a litter you need to decide if you want a boy or girl, neither is better than the other so this is really down to personal preference. If you already have dogs and need to avoid unwanted pregnancies then picking the same sex could be a good solution.

Top Tips for checking a puppy:

Look for clear bright eyes with no discharge or redness. Ears should be clean with no smell. A dog’s nose is a clear indication of health, please check for a cold wet nose. Skin should be clean with no rashes, sports or sores. The puppies fur should be clean and soft. The puppy should be quite strong and able to stand with no limp.

Westie Puppies should be alert, active and friendly.

When you view the litter the breeder will usually allow you to handle the pups to make choosing easier. Good breeders will be happy to answer your questions and will welcome an opportunity to share advice. Expect the breeder to show you the puppies with their mother.  The breeder will also give you details on the dogs pedigree including details of parents and grandparents.

If you would like more information please visit the Kennel Club or RSPCA websites using the links below.

https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy

https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dog-or-puppy/

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From the 6th April 2016 it has been a legal requirement in the UK to have all dogs microchipped but is the practice safe? Leading experts across the field of veterinary practice promote and support the use of microchipping. The procedure is considered to be extremely safe and in the event of your dog getting lost or stolen it is the best way to aid their return. Thousands of dogs, and cats, are microchipped every year in the UK and only a tiny minority suffer any after effects. The most noted issue is a slight swelling at the site of insertion which usually resolves within a couple of days.

What is a pet microchip?

A pet microchip is a tiny chip that contains a registration code that is no bigger than a grain of rice. The chip is inserted under the dog’s skin usually in the nape or scruff of the neck using a needle. For those that are needle phobic this sounds quite daunting but dogs tend to have quite a thick pocket of skin in this area and the needles used are small. The experience is no different to having inoculations. The microchips do not have or need a power supply and most have a lifespan of twenty to thirty years.

What happens to the chip and how is it useful?

The chip sits in your pets neck and over time a small pocket of fibres envelope and protect it which help to hold it in place. A chip reader is used to read the data on the microchip. Veterinary practices, dog wardens, rescue centres and dog rehoming centres will usually have access to chip readers. Once the chip number has been identified it can then be checked on the pet register and the owner identified. It is believed that this will enable dogs to be reunited with their owners quickly and avoid the need for long stays in pet shelters. It has been suggested that microchipping will save several thousands of healthy dogs being euthanased every year if they can’t be rehomed.

Where do you register your Microchip?

When you first get your puppy or dog, or if you have taken your pet to the vet to have a microchip fitted, you will be given a copy of the chip’s unique code number. These are usually provided on a sheet along with a barcode. Your will be given the details of where the chip is registered which you can then go and update online. Each time you move you need to update the register.

Does a microchip need any maintenance?

No, once inserted microchips are maintenance free. You can ask your vet to check the chip at a regular check up for peace of mind.

Do Microchips fail?

It is extremely rare but not impossible for a chip to fail. In most instances this would be detected before the microchip is implanted. The vet or clinician will usually check the chip and its manufacture date before use. Periodic checks will ensure that the chip is still working. There have been reports of failure but this is often caused by reader issues or the chip having moved. There are reported cases where chips have migrated to other areas under the skin or further down the back.

As it is now a legal requirement in the UK for a dog to be microchipped vets and rescuers will check thoroughly until they find the code. The biggest risk to failure is not the chip itself but the contact records being out of date where owners have moved house or sold a pet and the records have not been changed.

Do Microchips work?

The internet is awash with tales of pets being reunited with their owners as a result of microchipping. When a lost dog is taken to a veterinary surgeon or to the dog warden a simple scan of the neck area will reveal the chip which can be checked on the register and the owners contacted. In these circumstances pets can be returned to their owners quickly. There are many heartwarming tales of pets being reunited after long periods where a routine check on a microchip has revealed that the dog in question was stolen, often where the new owners have believed they were giving a home to an unwanted pet.

How much does it cost?

The costs vary but expect to pay in the region of £25 – £40. You can also check on the UK Government website for advice on organisations that may microchip your pet without cost.

Can a dog be exempted from having a microchip?

In exceptional, health related, circumstances an exemption certificate may be possible if arranged by a vet.

Is there a penalty if a dog is found without a microchip?

When the regulations were introduced a penalty was implemented at the same time to encourage pet owners to comply. The penalty for not having your pet microchipped is currently £500.

What happens if you buy a dog that already has a microchip?

When you buy or rehome a Westie that has a microchip ask the current owner for the microchip registration documents. Update the register as soon as you bring the dog home, there may be a small charge to do this.

Lost your microchip number?

What do you do if you have lost the paperwork and don’t have a record of the microchip? The best option is to contact your veterinary practice or whoever fitted the microchip. If that is not an option ask your vet, dog warden or rescue centre to scan your pet. Be prepared to provide some form of ID.

Find out more about microchipping your Westie on the RSPCA or the UK Government websites.

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There is no subject more likely to evoke a range of opinions than Pet Insurance. It would be difficult to cover such a big subject on one page but I am going to share my experience with Pet Insurance and why I would always recommend you have it. For every one like me there are many other pet owners who have never had or needed insurance, but is the risk worth taking?

Why have pet insurance for your Westie?

As modern medicine continues to make massive strides in treatment, prevention and cure for us humans so it does for our canine companions. Trauma injuries can now be treated by vets with the latest technology in scans and x-rays or in serious instances pets can be transferred to animal hospitals or centres of excellence scattered across the country. Illness, including the most serious of cancers, can be diagnosed and treated with a wide range of disciplines, surgery, oncology and holistic therapies. You only need to watch an episode of Supervet to see what is possible!

If you want the very best for your canine companion can you afford the cost which may sometimes run into the thousands of pounds? – I was amazed to learn that a brain scan for a dog is actually more expensive than that for a human but it makes sense. Capital costs cannot be recovered in anything like the same time and the level of expertise needed requires massive investment in training and knowledge.

We are a nation of dog lovers and commit daily to providing the very best we can. Our dogs become a member of the family and our reliance on their devotion is intrinsically woven into our family life. We never want to have to say no so the best way to ensure that we can offer the best is to take out insurance to protect against all ills.

The pet insurance market is massive. From specialist companies to national supermarkets policies are available everywhere. The cover and terms are often similar but it is really important to read the small print.

What are the options with Pet Insurance?

Policies are offered in two fundamental ways. Year by year or covered for life. There is a cost differential. Everybody will say that insurance is expensive until you need it, then, you want the very best.

Understanding the two choices

Year by year pet insurance is just that, a policy taken out for one year. At the end of the year you can renew, go elsewhere or do without. If you have a claim in that one year the claim would be taken into consideration at renewal. When you renew the ailment, injury or illness may be excluded and therefore not covered on any future policies.

Covered for life is a more costly product but provides greater cover. This type of policy ensures that if your pet is the subject of a claim for either illness or trauma the cause is not excluded from future policies. In the case of a long term condition you can continue to claim. However, there must be no break in the insurance cover so you must renew at each anniversary.

Pet Plan offer a simple comparison on their website. With both our dogs we took out covered for life policies and this is the option I would always recommend. Westies are known for having certain skin problems for example which could mean a life of medication and treatment.

How can you reduce the premium?

There are ways to reduce premiums. Consider paying a higher excess, contributing a percentage to treatment costs or reducing the non essential cover. If you don’t take your Westie abroad ask if that cover can be removed. Likewise if your dog doesn’t ever stay in kennels do you need the cover? Talk to the insurance provider. Identify which of the two main principles you want to adopt within your policy and then fine tune what you need. If the insurer is not flexible look at another.

You can opt to ‘self insure’ where instead of paying insurance you put an amount of money aside each month. This requires discipline and accepting the risk that one trauma or significant illness could easily wipe out (or exceed) the pot.

Our Story!

One of our beautiful Westies is epileptic. He was diagnosed at just 18 months old and has a severe form of idiopathic epilepsy. He has had a battery of tests including brain scans, blood tests and heart testing.  All of these, often costly, tests were essential if we were to have a diagnosis and understanding of what we were facing. Riley was transferred to a specialist centre and has his care overseen by a canine neurologist – think Supervet! His care and treatment was outstanding. We were offered no cure or fix but were given a very detailed plan of treatment and care.

Thankfully we had a covered for life policy. The policy has remained in place and continues to pay significant costs each month to help control his epilepsy. Every year when we renew the policy cost increases due to his age but he is not penalised for his condition.

My advice would be to read all you can, and look at the options before making a decision.

For an informative unbiased view you can read more on the Which Website

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The West Highland White Terrier, or ‘Westie’, owes its heritage to the Scottish terriers bred hundreds of years ago to hunt in the harsh Scottish highland terrain of Argyllshire. The name Terrier is derived from the Latin terra which means earth. Terriers are earth dogs, they were selectively bred to go underground to chase and hunt vermin.

The Westie as we see them today has a distinctive brilliant white harsh outer coat with a soft downy undercoat for warmth. It is this double coat that gives the Westie its trademark round white face. The Westie is a small/medium sized dog. Over the years careful breeding has led to the distinctive varieties of hardy terriers from Scotland.

The modern West Highland White Terrier is descended from a number of breeding programs of White Terriers in Scotland in the 19th Century. Credit is given to Colonel Edward Donald Malcolm, 16th Laird of Poltalloch for breeding a White Poltalloch Terrier by carefully selecting cream and white dogs from his Highland Terriers, at the time most resembling the Cairn. Colonel Malcolm like other lairds kept only the best working dogs for hunting irrespective of colour. It is claimed that an unfortunate hunting accident resulted in Colonel Malcolm inadvertently shooting one of his favourite dogs mistaking it for a fox. Determined to prevent this from happening again Colonel Malcolm kept only cream and white highland terriers, despite the regions superstitious belief that white dogs were inherently inferior to their darker counterparts. It is believed that the Westie we see today is a direct descendant of the Poltalloch dogs.

Other related breeds

Other related breeds include the white Roseneath Terrier, bred by George Campbell the 8th Duke of Argyle’s estate and the Pittenweem Terriers bred by Dr Americ Edwin Flaxman. The Pittenweem Terriers were white in colour but closely resembled the Scottie with a larger head.  The Roseneath Terriers although white had a soft coat and featured a longer head. All three breeds were entered at dog shows in the early nineteenth century with the Poltalloch Terriers being favoured. Colonel Malcolm is also credited with naming the breed the West Highland White Terrier.

The early Champions

By 1911 Mrs May Pacey had started breeding using the Wolvey prefix. The first of her Champions was Ch. Wolvey Piper. Mrs Pacey devoted her life to developing the breed, and a quarter of the West Highland White Champions in a twenty year period between 1920 and 1940 carried the Wolvey prefix. Mrs Pacey sent many puppies overseas to ensure the the breed survived during the war when both breeding and showing were restricted. The breed flourished post World War II with new breeders committed to producing champion offspring.

The first Westie to win supreme Champion at crufts was Ch. Dianthus Buttons in 1976 followed by Ch. Olac Moon Pilot in 1990. After a 16 year wait the next Westie to be crowned Supreme Champion was Burneze Geordie Girl (born 14 July 2014). Also known as Devon, this stunning little Westie took to the stage with tremendous confidence. The earliest record of West Highland Whites arriving in the United States of America is around 1906 but at that time they were often called the Roseneath terrier. By 1908 the breed was renamed the West Highland White Terrier and gained accreditation with the American Kennel Club in 1909. In 1942 one of the Wolvey Westies Ch Wolvey Pattern of Edgerstoune won the coveted best of show at Westminster.

Today the terriers of Scotland are represented by five distinct breeds, the West Highland White Terrier, Skye Terrier, Scottish Terrier, Dandie Dinmont Terrier and Cairn Terrier.

Westie Breed Standard

The breed standard is a detailed description of an ‘ideal dog’. The standard is compiled by the Kennel Club and should be considered as a guide to perfection.

Breeders use the standard along with a programme of controlled breeding to produce dogs which are as close to the standard as possible. The wording is often vague which allows for flexibility in interpretation. If you want to show and ultimately breed Westies then you need to learn as much as you can. Find out about breed lines and look at the Champion Dogs at each of the breed kennels. It is important to gain an understand of the standard and how judges interpret it.

If you intend to show your Westie they must not be spayed or neutered.

If you would like to read the full breed standard text along with guidelines visit the Kennel Club Website:

The Kennel Club Westie Breed Standard

More information on breed standard can be found here….

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Do they live up to their innocent pure white angelic looks?

Life with a West Highland White Terrier – My Westie story

Don’t be fooled by angelic looks, stunning white coat and diminutive size in reality the Westie is a BIG dog in a small body. Fearless and free spirited the Westie is no toy dog. With strong stocky legs and sturdy body the Westie was bread to hunt and loves the outdoors. Be prepared for holes in your garden, never ending games of chase and a warrior to ward foes! Westies have the most beautiful big black eyes, are adorable and loving and have the cutest head tilt. It is impossible to stay cross in light of misdemeanours!

Our Westies

When we bought our first Westie we thought we were buying a pretty white ball of fluff that would grow into a loving gentle dog who would curl up on your lap to be indulged with strokes. Think again, Westies can be very stubborn, highly opinionated and are full of character.

We have two now with only one years age difference, one boy, one girl but they couldn’t be more different. Bonnie (nod to her Scottish heritage) is a lively 7 year old who is fiercely protective. Every leaf that drops on the front drive, or person that dares to walk past our house gets her full throttle warning bark! Her bark is without doubt worse than her bite as the saying goes. Once we allow an impostor into the house she smothers them with kindness. Our boy, is a far more laid back character who often awakens from a slumber to gaze quizzically at Bonnie’s antics. He doesn’t do guard dog patrols, doesn’t bark at every perceived foe, and raises a gently woof only when he is in need of a bit of TLC!

Westies are definitely not lap dogs! The are a typical terrier, tenacious, love to dig and hunt and will shake a toy until the stuffing escapes! On the contrary they are loyal, loving and friendly, immensely amusing and great fun to have around!

Karen

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A Breed Standard is a guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, appearance and health of a dog. This ‘blue print’ of perfect characteristics is used by breeders and judges. The Westie Breed standard states that the dog should be ‘strongly built, deep in chest and back ribs with a level back and powerful quarters on muscular legs’.

The breed characteristics describe the dog to be ‘small, active’ and ‘possessed of no small amount of self esteem’. In other words a small stocky dog that is full of Westitude! – Jill Arnold in her book The West Highland White Terrier describes the Westie as ‘small but potent’!

The Westie is a terrier, an earth dog, selectively bread in the Scottish Highlands to go to ground to capture prey. The Westie bark is integral to the job. Hence, as anyone with a Westie will tell you – they like to bark!

The ‘blue print’ describes the temperament and the most desirable physical attributes all essential to an exacting standard if you are to show your Westie but can be compromised for a family pet. Of our two Westies our little girl was bred from two champions, she has the perfect coat, gait and conforms closely to all but the size of the breed standard being quite petite. What she lacks in size she makes up for in all other aspects! Our boy was bred from family dogs and has only a single layer coat but still has all the stockiness, tenacity and gait that the breed standard describes.

Does Breed Standard matter?

When buying any Westie they should all ‘loosely match’ to the breed standard – the only criteria is to what extent. Breeders put a lot of effort into working breeding lines to achieve the perfect specimen. For showing, the closer the dog is to the Breed Standard the better, but for a family pet the same exacting criteria is not crucial. More important is the dogs personality and temperament.

If you want a dog to love and be part of the family many of those same breeders will have the perfect puppy for you. Dogs can also be purchased from registered reputable breeders where the dogs are not Kennel Club registered. In this case the breeder should still offer a  pedigree showing at least two generations of ancestors. Breeders have to register with their local authority in order to sell puppies. Always check the registration and never buy away from the home/farm etc. Always ask to see the puppies with their mother and if possible with their father.

Show Quality vs Pet Quality

Both of my dogs are undoubtedly Westies, both beautiful examples of the gentle, loving breed. They both have plenty of ‘self-esteem’ but neither would receive a CC at a show and one would never make it there as he doesn’t have Kennel Club registration. If you want to show a dog and have aspirations to show at Crufts then you need a dog that conforms, or is expected to conform as close as possible to the Breed Standard. Most likely this dog will have been parented by Champions or dogs who have performed well in the ring. Not all puppies littered by Champions will go on to be a champion. Breeders often refer to puppies as ‘show quality’ or ‘pet quality’, out little girl fell into the latter category.

Showing and Dog Activites

If you want to attend dog shows there are plenty of opportunities with any dog. Events such as agility, obedience, flyball or even heel work to music. Search for a local club or more information can be found on the Kennel Club website.

If you are looking for an older dog contact the Westie Rescue or register with local dogs homes.

More information on Westie breed standard can be found at:

The West Highland White Terrier Club of England

The Kennel Club

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