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West Highland White Terrier

History

Everyone interested in Westies will at one time wonder how they came about. Many other breeds have their history well documented. Not so for the Westie. In fact, its history is as foggy as the Scottish Highlands themselves. There are many difficulties in tracing the exact development of the West Highland White Terrier and when exactly they came about as a breed in their own right.We must rely on what has been written previously to decide which is to be believed. In Roger Wrights book on West Highland White Terriers he has two poems. One written by John Whitaker in 1771 and another by Dr Gordon Stables in 1879 both depicted a small, game, hardy terrier with a harsh coat existed as early as the 18th century. In another book it states that white dogs of the Westie type were seen on the ships of the Spanish Armada and that these dogs were on board to catch rats. There are references to white "earth dogs" as far back as 1566 when it was reported that James I requested 6 of them to be sent to the King of France as a gift.There are many other references and paintings of early westie type dogs. Paintings such as Edwin Lanseers "Dignity and Impudence" which showed a bloodhound and an early highlander.Most breeds are the result of cross breeding and the Westie is no exception. There are also different views as to which breeds were crossed to develop what we know today as the WHWT. The most common being a cross between the Scottish and the Cairn Terrier. In the mid 1800's white puppies which appeared in litters where thought to be impure, weak and undesirable and as a result were put down. Colonel Malcolm of Poltaloch is said to be one of the earliest breeders of the Westie. This is said to have come about after the accidental shooting of one of his favourite brown terriers while out hunting in the late 19th century. After this hunting accident is it said that he limited his breeding to light or white dogs, which of course took years to eliminate any colour. He is by no means the only person to be involved in the development of the breed. Dr Flaxman also bred a strain of white Scottish Terriers that were lighter in build than the Scottie. Also the Duke of Argylle from Roseneath produced dogs with soft, white coats. Hence early breed names differed. Poltalloch, Roseneath, Pittenweem and White Scottish Terriers. The Poltalloch Terriers were considered to be the true type because of their round heads and short muzzles.It is well to remember that the Westie was bred to have specific characteristics to allow him freedom to carry out those chores for which he was bred. The highlands of Scotland were rugged, craggy countryside and short legged terriers were needed for hunting game such as, fox, otter, badger and wildcats. They had to be able to follow their quarry whereever they went. Narrow passes, between rocks and often in total blackness as their game made their lairs in, under and between rocks. If a dogs ribs were too round they would get stuck too easily. Therefore small and flat ribbed was a necessity. He also need to be intelligent in order to outwit the crafty game in short order. Once you can picture the speed, stamina, determination and courage required for this work then you have a clear picture of a West Highland White Terrier. As the standard states, "possessed of no small amount of self esteem" and seeing what they were required to do is it any wonder?

General Appearance **** The West Highland White Terrier is a small, game, welll-balanced hardy looking terrier, exhibiting good showmanship, possessed with no small amount of self-esteem, strongly built, deep in chest and back ribs, with a straight back and powerful hindquarters on muscular legs, and exhibiting in marked degree a great combination of strength and activity. The coat is about two inches long, white in color, hard, with plenty of soft undercoat. The dog should be neatly presented, the longer coat on the back and sides, trimmed to blend into the shorter neck and shoulder coat. Considerable hair is left around the head to act as a frame for the face to yield a typical Westie expression.

Size,**** Proportion, Substance The ideal size is eleven inches at the withers for dogs and ten inches for bitches. A slight deviation is acceptable. The Westie is a compact dog, with good balance and substance. The body between the withers and the root of the tail is slightly shorter than the height at the withers. Short-coupled and well boned.

Faults * Over or under height limits. Fine boned.

Head*** Shaped to present a round appearance from the front. Should be in proportion to the body. Expression-Piercing, inquisitive, pert. Eyes-Widely set apart, medium in size, almond shaped, dark brown in color, deep set, sharp and intelligent. Looking from under heavy eyebrows, they give a piercing look. Eye rims are black. Faults- Small, full or light colored eyes. Ears-Small, carried tightly erect, set wide apart, on the top outer edge of the skull. They terminate in a sharp point, and must never be cropped. The hair on the ears is trimmed short and is smooth and velvety, free of fringe at the tips. Black skin pigmentation is preferred.

Faults * Roundpointed, broad, large, ears set closely together, not held tightly erect, or placed too low on the side of the head.

Skull Broad *** slightly longer than the muzzle. not flat on top but slightly domed between the ears. It gradually tapers to the eyes. There is a defined stop, eyebrows are heavy.

Faults * Long or narrow skull.

Muzzle *** Blunt, slightly shorter than the skull, powerful and gradually tapering to the nose, which is large and black. The jaws are level and powerful. Lip pigment is black.

Faults * Muzzle longer than skull. Nose color other than black.

Bite*** The teeth are large for the size of the dog. There must be six incisor teeth between the canines of both lower and upper jaws. An occasional missing premolar is acceptable. A tight scissors bite with upper incisors slightly overlapping the lower incisors or level mouth is equally acceptable.

Faults * Teeth defective or misaligned. Any incisors missing or several premolars missing. Teeth overshot or undershot.

Neck* Topline * Body*** Neck * Muscular and well set on sloping shoulders. The length of neck should be in proportion to the remainder of the dog.

Fault * Neck too long or too short.

Topline *** Flat and level, both standing and moving.

Fault * High rear, any deviation from above.

Bo *** Compact and of good substance. Ribs deep and well arched in the upper half of rib, extending at least to the elbows, and presenting a flattish side appearance. Back ribs of considerable depth, and distance from last rib to upper thigh as short as compatible with free movement of the body. Chest very deep and extending to the elbows, with breadth in proportion to the size of the dog. Loin short, broad and strong.

Faults * Back weak, either too long or too short. Barrel ribs, ribs above elbows.

Tail *** Relatively short, with good substance, and shaped like a carrot. When standing erect it is never extended above the top of the skull. It is covered with hard hair without feather, as straight as possible, carried gaily but not curled over the back. The tail is set on high enough to that the spine does not slope down to it. The tail is never docked.

Faults * Set too low, long, thin, carried at half-mast, or curled over back.

Forequarter *Angulation ** Shoulders *** Shoulder blades are well laid back and well knit at the backbone. The shoulder blade should attach to an upper arm of moderate length, and sufficient angle to allow for definite body overhang.

Faults * Steep or loaded shoulders. Upper arm too short or too straight.

Legs *** Forelegs are muscular and well boned. relatively short, but with sufficient length to set the dog up so as not to be too close to the ground. The legs are reasonably straight, and thickly covered with short hard hair. They are set in under the shoulder blades with definite body overhang before them. Height from elbow to withers and elbow to ground should be approximately the same.

Faults*Out at elbows. Iight bone, fiddle-front.

Feet *** Forefeet are larger than the hind ones, are round, proportionate in size, strong, thickly padded; they may properly be turned out slightly. Dewclaws may be removed. Black pigmentation is most desirable on pads of all feet and nails, although nails may lose coloration in older dogs.

Hindquarter * Angulation *** Thighs are very muscular, well angulated, not set wide apart, with hock well bent, short, and parallel when viewed from the rear.

Legs * Rear legs are muscular and relatively short and sinewy.

Faults * Weak hocks, long hocks, lack of angulation. Cowhocks. Feet-Hind feet are smaller than front feet, and are thickly padded. Dewclaws may be removed.

Coat *** Very important and seldom seen to perfection. Must be double-coated. The head is shaped by plucking the hair, to present the round appearance. The outer coat consists of straight hard white hair, about two inches long, with shorter coat on neck and shoulders, properly blended and trimmed to blend shorter areas into furnishings, which are longer on stomach and legs. The ideal coat is hard, straight and white, but a hard straight coat which may have some wheaten tipping is preferable to a white fluffy or soft coat. Furnishings may be somewhat softer and longer but should never give the appearance of fluff.

Faults * soft coat. Any silkiness or tendency to curl. Any open or single coat, or one which is too short.

Color *** The color is white, as defined by the breed's name.

Faults * Any coat color other than white. Heavy wheaten color.

Gait *** Free, straight and easy all around. It is a distinctive gait, not stilted, but powerful, with reach and drive. In front the leg is freely extended forward by the shoulder. When seen from the front the legs do not move square, but tend to move toward the center of gravity. The hind movement is free, strong and fairly close. The hocks are freely flexed and drawn close under the body, so that when moving off the foot the body is thrown or pushed forward with some force. Overall ability to move is usually best evaluated from the side, and topline remains level.

Faults * Lack of reach in front, and/or drive behind. Stiff, stilted or too wide movement.

Temperament *** Alert, gay, courageous and self-reliant, but friendly.

Faults *** Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Note *** Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.