West Highland White Terrier

The origins of this most popular of robust terriers is both dramatic and tragic. In the late 1800s, a Scottish landowner, Colonel E.D. Malcolm, out rabbit hunting with his favourite Cairn Terrier, mistook his dog for a rabbit and accidentally shot it. Wheaten-coloured Cairns occasionally produced white pups, and so the Colonel chose to selectively breed his Cairns for white coats to improve the visibility of his hunting terriers. By the early 20th century, these dogs, now called West Highland White Terriers, as they originated near Poltalloch in Argyllshire in the west of Scotland, were appearing at dog shows in England and the United States. Westies are among the most popular of terriers in many countries. In Japan, their white colour signifies good luck as well as good looks. To keep coats pristine, and skin free from irritation, routine body maintenance involves daily brushing and occasionally clipping the hair on the ears to keep it short. Some Westies have a grey or golden look because of chronic skin irritation, the breed having extremely high incidence of allergic skin disease. Sadly, allergy can also affect the lungs, causing connective tissue changes leading to a chronic cough later in life. Westies are zesty, natural diggers and clowns, happiest when there’s lots to do.