Using input from 8 top Westie breeders, accomplished author Vanessa Richie has created the perfect guidebook for the West Highland White Terrier. It will help any new Westie owner to raise a happy and healthy dog from puppy to old age.
Covering "Westie specific" advice on topics such as:
How to find a reputable and high-quality breederRescuing an older Westie from a shelter or rescue organizationPreparing your home, family, and pets for the arrival of your new WestieHousetraining and crate trainingNutrition for every stage of your Westies lifeGrooming, health care, and vet visitsPhysical and mental exercise needsCaring for a senior Westie in their golden years
The West Highland White Terrier is everything that people typically associate with terriers: a lot of energy and personality are packed into a smaller dog. You'll find that under all of that long, coarse fur is an incredibly sturdy dog that seems like a bundle of energy.
As a highly intelligent breed, Westies can be easy to train, especially if you provide the right positive reinforcements. They are a great example of why you should only use positive reinforcement – when you try to use negative reinforcement, they tend to get a lot more stubborn. That intelligence tends to make them independent, so you aren't nearly as likely to have problems with separation anxiety as you do with many other smaller breeds.
Loyal and faithful, Westies are great for individuals and families. They want to play and have a great time, making them quite the entertaining addition to the family. Once they've gotten all of that energy out of their system, they make great lounging companions. It's hard to go wrong with a West Highland White Terrier because they have lived and worked very closely with people for generations. Once you have a West Highland White Terrier in your home, it's really hard not to want to make them a permanent part of your family.
