Is a West Highland Terrier a good pet?
Fun-loving, cheerful and active, the West Highland White Terrier is inquisitive, independent and makes a good family pet and playmate for those with younger children. Commonly known as a ‘Westie’, this is one of the most popular of the terrier breeds.
How long do Westie dogs live?
12 – 16 yearsWest Highland White Terrier / Life span
The Westie dog breed, which has an average lifespan of 12 to 14 years, may be prone to minor health problems like Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS), copper toxicosis, patellar luxation, and cataract, and major problems such as Legg-Perthes Disease, Craniomandibular Osteopathy (CMO), globoid cell leukodystrophy, and skin …
Do Westies drool?
Westies do not drool as some other big dogs such as Bulldogs and Mastiffs do. But of course, he will drool when he is excited about food or is stressed.
Do Westies smell?
The wire coat on a West Highland White Terrier is short and coarse, keeping scent from being trapped. In addition to this, the grooming needed to keep this breed’s hair and skin healthy adds to the protective factors that keep Westies from smelling.
What age do Westies calm down?
Usually, it takes anywhere from seven to 12 months before a Westie reaches adulthood.
Do Westies go blind?
Primary concern is often found with an older Westie’s vision and hearing Westies may develop a grayish haze in the eyes. This is due to the aging of the lens and may be an early sign of cataracts. Even if opaque senile cataracts do occur, a considerable amount of useful vision can be obtained.
Why does my Westie stare at me?
Just as humans stare into the eyes of someone they adore, dogs will stare at their owners to express affection. In fact, mutual staring between humans and dogs releases oxytocin, known as the love hormone. This chemical plays an important role in bonding and boosts feelings of love and trust.
Why does my Westie smell fishy?
If your dog is emiting a fishy odor, the most likely cause is that the anal glands are impacted and need to be released. The anal sacs are the size of peas and are psoitioned on both side of the inside of your dog’s rectum. These sacs have an oily substance that is released through your dog’s excrement.
Can Westies go on long walks?
As they are a small breed, up to 1 hour of exercise a day should be sufficient for the Westie. As with many lively Terriers, they’ll never say no to more walks… whatever the weather. Westies are very playful dogs who are full of fun but, at the same time, don’t mind being carried around to take in their surroundings.
Are Westies hard to housebreak?
Part of the difficulty of training a Westie isn’t unique to the breed, it might have more to do with the terrier’s diminutive side. The website Pet Helpful says that small breeds often get bad reputations for being difficult to train, especially when it comes to potty training.
What food should Westies not eat?
By-products and grain fillers like corn and wheat shouldn’t be a primary ingredient as these are not easily digestible and can cause stomach upset to breeds with sensitive stomachs like the Westie. Premium pet foods contain fewer of these hard-to-digest ingredients.