The West Highland White Terrier has been called “a lot of dog to handle” by many who own them. Indeed, they are spunky, stubborn and have seemingly endless energy! Even those who have experience with other dogs (other terriers included) are often surprised at the difficulty of living with a Westie… yet still find themselves obtaining more. For despite the almost chaotic nature of the breed, they are charming beyond belief and have huge personalities. People who live with this breed either scramble to re-home the dog (leading to an unfortuate number of Westies in rescue), or instead become completely devoted to these little white dogs.
Some Westies get along great with children while others don’t. The likelihood of them getting along is highly dependent upon the situation. For example – older children (over 10) and well-behaved children are much better matches for life with these terriers. Supervision is also always recommended to ensure that the kids are being fair to the dog. Although the breed is fairly hardy for a small breed, no dog should have to deal with its ears or tail being pulled – and Westies aren’t likely to sit by quietly and let it happen. Finally, the breed doesn’t normally like to be included in a large group of children. They may get frustrated being the center of attention at a huge birthday party, for example.
When it comes to other animals, once again it depends on the situation. How much socialization did they get to other dogs (or cats, or other animals) when they were young? How friendly are their parents and other relatives? How skilled is the owner at introducing them to new things/animals? Many live peacefully with other dogs and cats while others have issues in this area. Other breeds may find the Westie’s play style too rough. Male Westies who have not been neutered are more likely to be aggressive to other intact males.
Some Westies are vocal dogs while others are less so, but all will bark to announce visitors. Furthermore, Westies are high energy dogs and don’t tend to calm down until they have gotten much older. There really is no “waiting a couple of years” for them to slow down. A would-be owner needs to be prepared to spend a lot of time exercising and training the dog, so that the energy can at least be channeled into more productive arenas.
The breed has an independent nature and is usually more interested in exploring (or getting into trouble) than sitting quietly on your lap. Not to say that they can’t be occasional lapdogs… it just isn’t their activity of choice. They are much more into adventure – car rides and other such trips are exciting, and they would much rather go and “do stuff” with you than sit around. While they do enjoy the comforts of the home, they will leap at the chance to explore the backyard, even when it’s dark and freezing outside! This is a great hiking buddy… provided they are kept on a leash. Westies have a very high prey drive and tend to wander away in search of animals to chase (or joggers, or other dogs, etc…).
Westies are highly intelligent, which means that they get bored very easily. It is absolutely imperative to keep their minds engaged and one good way of doing that is with obedience training. Most really enjoy learning and then “showing off” their new skills, so obedience can often be fun for both owner and dog! Teaching them new things is easy – the hard part (for many owners) is keeping up with the necessary practice. All dogs need to practice their obedience skills throughout their life, but Westies who don’t get their regular practice time tend to slip back into disobedient behaviors more quickly.
Fastidiously clean, Westies are easy to housebreak. They may, however, muddy themselves up in the backyard if given the chance – the breed loves to dig! These white dogs were bred to hunt for vermin which means digging is in their genes. It can be difficult to cure this bad habit in many individuals, especially if there actually are critters in your yard! Killing gophers and other small rodents are at the very top of the list when it comes to having fun. Owners may find the remains of the small animals around their yard.
The West Highland White Terrier has been said to be hypoallergenic, as they have low dander. This is good news for people who have allergies! Keep in mind, however, that it is still possible to be allergic to the dog’s saliva. If the allergy is related to dander, many people find they are able to live with this low-shedding breed as long as the coat is kept clean and brushed out. Although hypoallergenic, the coat is not as easy-care as some other breeds. In order to keep the correct texture and have the right look, the breed needs to be hand-stripped every couple of weeks.
