West Highland Terrier

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Will a West Highland Terrier Make a Good Addition to Our Family?

If you're considering a West Highland Terrier, or Westie as they're commonly known, then you must be in the market for a friendly little dog who have a personality that shines!

West Highland Terriers, which grow to be about 15-20 pounds, were originally bred as hunting dogs in Scotland, with a focus on tracking down otters and foxes.  Their small stature has nothing on their big attitude, making them a wonderful watchdog to alert you to intruders at home.

Because it's a small breed, the West Highland Terrier is perfect for a small apartment or a large country estate.  As long as they get plenty of exercise, either roaming the grounds or on long walks with their owners, they'll be happily suited to most any family.

If you have children, you'll want to make sure they don't pick on the dog.  Although it is amicable with kids, it can snap at them if it gets annoyed.  However, training is a breeze with the West Highland Terrier because of its ability to be a great service dog who wants badly to fit in with your brood.

If you have other dogs, the Westie will fit in well, because they're not normally aggressive with other pets.  They may like to chase - but harming them isn't in their nature :)

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The Rex and Libby Showcase 

How cute!

Rex & Libby

Rex & Libby - brother & sister West Highland White Terrier puppies.

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Caring for Your West Highland Terrier 

A West Highland Terrier is a small dog, but its coat requires constant attention. The white coat is about two inches in length, making it a natural attraction for outdoor debris. They're prone to matting unless you groom them to prevent tangles.

Using a brush with stiff bristles and frequently combing the coat will keep it free from mattes and bathing is only done when necessary. A West Highland Terrier needs to have its facial fur trimmed around the eyes and ears and a full-body trim should be done about two or three times a year. Many owners shave the fur off twice a year to allow for new growth.

Aside from grooming, you'll need to attend to health care concerns for your Westie. This breed of dog is generally healthy, but they can get skin infections, hernias, and liver disease.

Taken to the vet on a regular schedule, a West Highland Terrier will be around for 15 years or longer and make for a great companion for families, single adults, or elderly citizens.

You can find more grooming tips for your dog in Mad About Westie: Secrets of HOW to Have the Happiest, Healthiest and Most Well-Behaved Westie You've Always Dreamed Of!

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Easy Training for the West Highland Terrier 

As with many dogs, harsh training methods don't work well for the West Highland Terrier breed. Their energy helps them with training, but they also need multiple naps during the day, and may tire out before training is complete in your view.

A Westie responds well to loving training methods. Introduce harsh training techniques and you'll probably be met with aggression and stubbornness.

In Mad About Westie: Secrets of HOW to Have the Happiest, Healthiest and Most Well-Behaved Westie You've Always Dreamed Of!, you can learn many methods that will help shorten the time you spend getting your Westie to obey.

From potty training to jumping, this guide helps West Highland Terrier owners curb their pet's out-of-control nature and turns them into properly-behaved pets who can be one of the family.

The best thing about this guide is that it speaks to people who aren't home 24 hours a day to train their dog. You have a life, too! Between work and family outings, you don't want to have to spend every waking hour teaching your dog to behave.

The book also focuses on both puppy training and adult dog training, so that whatever age your Westie is at, the methods will work and you won't have to go back to the drawing board in frustration.

Check out Mad About Westie: Secrets of HOW to Have the Happiest, Healthiest and Most Well-Behaved Westie You've Always Dreamed Of! today and ensure you create a happy, loving home for your West Highland Terrier.

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West Highland White Terriers, commonly known as Westies, are a breed of dog known for their spirited personality and brilliant white coat. They are friendly, good with older children, and thrive on lots of attention. Westies, like most terriers, have plenty of spirit for a dog their size.

This breed is commonly recognised through its use as a mascot for Black & White (a brand of Scotch whisky), and on the packaging of Cesar brand dog food. Moreover, the West Highland White Terrier has appeared frequently in broadcast commercials, three examples being Target fashion outlet, Mondo fruit drinks and Kraft Philadelphia Light Cream Cheese.

W...

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Do You Have Tips on Raising a Happy West Highland Terrier? 





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by KayeSwafford

Hi,

I love dogs and their humans. Come visit my dog Krystal and me at www.happydoggies.com!

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