I have a real soft spot for Westies from my childhood when we had a Labrador called Apple and a Westie called Blossom.
Those two would get up to no good, with their best trick being Apple opening the fridge door and dragging over a stool and Blossom getting up and into the fridge to root out the good stuff for both to share on the floor. So cleverly naughty! Us young children could not hope to compete with such audacity.
Apple and Blossom were best buddies and Apple even produced milk to help Blossom out when she had 6 overwhelmingly hungry puppies. Good memories...
But I digress. West Highland White Terriers are very fun if you have the energy for them. The write up over at the Embrace Pet Health site has this to say:
Few sights elicit more delighted comments than a well-groomed West Highland White Terrier in a well-fitted tartan-patterned raincoat, and that’s because few breeds “clean up” as stylishly as this one. The Westie is comfortable in the city, the suburb and the country, and at their best, they are energetic, happy, people-oriented dogs, beloved and admired for their bright white coats and shiny dark shoe-button eyes. They're also true terriers, which means they live to dig, chase and, if they can, to destroy small furry creatures.
They also have more than their fair share of hereditary conditions:
That's an awfully long list for such a small dog :( In the hopes of controlling the genetic diseases that already affect the breed and preventing any new ones from emerging, the West Highland White Terrier Club of America, which is the American Kennel Club parent organization for the breed in the United States, participates in a program operated by the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC).
Please see the breed profile for West Highland White Terriers for more details on how to find a healthy puppy.
Have you experienced health problems with your Westie?
