Origin:
The Westie originated from Scotland. Originally breed for hunting and digging out any small ground dwellers and working along side farmers!

The Westie's instinct to work is now usually channelled into agility and obedience competitions rather than getting rid of rodents. He also works as a therapy dog, and a few Westies have even joined search-and-rescue teams.

Expected Adult Weight:
13 - 22 lbs.

Expected Adult Height:
10 - 11 inches.

Expected Life Span:
12 - 16 years.

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.

The West Highland 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.

West Highland Terriers are double coated (wire outer coat and soft undercoat).
Regular Grooming Frequency:
Regular grooming is required about every 8-10 weeks to ensure no knotting of coat along with regular brushing.
Regular nail trimming should be done about every 5 weeks.
Home Grooming Tools Required:
Metal comb and soft slicker

The German Shepherd was originally bred to herd flocks in harsh climates, and his medium-length double coat fits the job perfectly, protecting the dog from rain and snow, and resistant to picking up burrs and dirt.

The coat types of the German Shepherd are as varied as his color; some German Shepherds are long-haired. However, the ideal German Shepherd has a double coat of medium length. The outer coat is dense with straight hair that lies close to the body, and is sometimes wavy and wiry.

Regular Grooming Frequency:
Weekly brushing and seasonal grooming needed.

Trim nails on a regular basis to prevent painful splintering. If you can hear the nails clicking on the floor, they're too long.

Home Grooming Tools Required:
Metal comb and soft slicker.

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

The Westie is happy in any type of living situation and will do well in the country or in the city. He makes an excellent apartment resident if properly exercised and trained!

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.