WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER

To say that the West Highland White Terrier — or Westie, as he’s affectionately called — is a “big dog in a little dog’s body” doesn’t do him justice. He’s not pushy or temperamental, and he doesn’t need to challenge or demand. He’s not stubborn so much as just interested in what’s in it for him. Convince him that what you want is in his best interests, and he’ll jump right on board with your plan.

Originally developed for hunting and ratting, the Westie learned to think on his own, a trait he still enjoys indulging in today.

Mostly, though, the West Highland White Terrier is a companion, and he enriches his family’s life with his silly antics and love of life. He’s a social guy who gets along well with everyone, strangers included, and he is not a one-person dog. He’s affectionate with children of all ages, and he does well living with older kids. He gets along with other dogs in public settings (unless he’s one of two intact males in the group), and he positively thrives in homes with multiple dogs. He can adapt to cats — despite chasing them from time to time, he will usually settle down nicely with friendly kitties. What he cannot adapt to are small animals that run free, such as rabbits or gerbils, since the wee white one has a strong prey drive.

The Westie is happy in any type of living situation and will do well in the country or in the city. He needs to live inside with his family, however, not outside. He makes an excellent apartment resident if properly exercised. and trained not to bark. He’s happy to stay at home while you’re at work, and — with proper stimulation and safety precautions — he’s fine on his own during your workday. To top it all off, he’s also an easy traveler, whether on long vacations or short errands.

The West Highland White Terrier can be trained easily. He’s intelligent and a quick learner, and training will amuse him as long as it remains positive and consistent. In fact, using positive reinforcement laced with consistency is the only way to train a Westie. Clicker training is an excellent training method for him. You’re wasting your time using harsh corrections, since his “what’s in it for me” attitude is likely to kick in, causing him to shut down and ignore the commands.