If you want a wonderfully happy small compact dog that is an all around joy to be around you should select the west highland white terrier as your pet. These mostly always healthy and happy dogs make great family companions.

One of the main issues that may crop up with Westies is a genetic problem with jaw and bone calcification. This problem is commonly known as “Lion\’s Jaw”. Only puppies who receive this gene from both parents can have this problem. The bone softens and dissolves, but is regrown. This issue spontaneously disappears around 12 months of age. Puppies affected get this around 3 to 6 months of age. West Highland White Terrier breeders screen for the disease but may not know that parents of a litter are carriers until one of the puppies is affected by it. More common problems include allergies and skin issues. If you do not bathe your dog too frequently but keep their coats well brushed and cleaned the skin problems do not happen very often, if at all.

The west highland white terrier originated in the Highlands of Scotland. Some credit Colonel Edward Donald Malcolm in the Argyll region of western Scotland as an originator of this breed in the 1800s. Others attribute the 8th Duke of Argyll (Chieftain of Clan Campbell) as a founder of the breed. However, these two great men may have collaborated together to further the breed. Westies are said to come from four Terrier Breeds. These are: the Cairn, Scottish, Bedlington and Dandie Dinmont Terrier. The Scottish Terrier did, on occasion, have a white terrier in the litter, as did the Cairn. This stock was mixed with the stock from the Bedlington and Dandie Dinmont Terriers to produce better offspring. This practice was stopped in the 1850s.

The west highland white terrier has been used in hunting. This is why this breed became so important to hunters on the Scottish moors. The breed\’s white coat helped to distinguish them from foxes or other game. Female Westies are even said to be better hunters than their male counterparts. Westies love to hunt foxes, small animals, rabbits, badgers, mice and other rodents.

Make sure that your Westie gets proper training, and daily walks. This will keep this keen intelligent breed from being mischievous.