For January’s columns I thought we would explore the theme of “winter white” starting with one of the terriers, the “Westie” or West Highland White Terrier. A tough little dog, the Westie is the breed featured in the Lil Caesar dog food commercials on TV. With button black eyes peeking out from scruffy bangs, the Westie looks like a cute plush toy but don’t let that adorable face fool you, Westies are tough!
Originally developed to hunt vermin, the sturdy body and strong, short legs are perfectly suited for chasing rats and even foxes and badgers down holes and their personalities reflect the determination and toughness needed to do this kind of work. Although they make affectionate and cheerful pets Westies tend to be a bit stubborn and single-minded.
The coat of this tough little terrier is rough and wiry. They do require frequent brushing to prevent matting. Show dogs are “hand-stripped.” This means the wiry hairs are pulled out using fingers or a stripping knife. Every loose hair is grabbed and pulled. It sounds painful but the hairs are short-rooted and pull out easily. The hair is plucked in stages so that it is longer and shorter to keep the shape of the terrier coat.
Westies who are not show dogs are usually trimmed with clippers. The Westie clip is similar to any of the short legged terriers – the back and neck are kept relatively short with a tapered “carrot” tail and the face is left longer with a beard and eyebrows. Each of these terriers has a unique face trim: the Scottie with a long beard and eyebrows for example, but the Westie face is the cutest with a rounded beard and face and layering over the top of the head so that the smallish pointed ears and black button eyes peek out from a face that looks a bit like it has been electrified in all directions.
Westies must be like potato chips, it is hard to have just one. Most of the Westies I groom at Brouse Loop Kennels come in pairs. I groom Fergus and Finlay from Edgewood and also Bonnie and Chip who visit regularly from Calgary. Whenever these two city dogs visit their cabin in Galena Bay, their owners Bob and Barb Little makes an appointment for them to visit me for a grooming.
“I love Westies because they are an all-purpose dog,” said owner Barb Little. “They go where you go, do what you do. They love to play and run, come skiing or boating with us but they love to cuddle too.” Bonnie and Chip are the second pair of Westies for Barb who is devoted to the breed.
The benefit of a purebred dog is that certain traits are predictable. For the Westie it is the small size, white coat, charming face and determined but affectionate personality. But sometimes some traits are not as desirable. Westies tend to have skin problems, especially allergies and yeast infections. This may be related to their white coats and pink skin which can be a bit delicate. As tough as they are when cornering a badger, I have to be very careful when brushing their skin especially around their feet. It pays to watch their diets too, making sure that they are fed a good quality food and possibly avoiding common allergens like grain and chicken.
I always say that white dogs are God’s practical joke. They love being grubby and often arrive at the groomer’s as dirty as possible. But after a thorough combing and a shampoo, a trim and a good cleaning up there is nothing prettier than a fluffy white dog. The West Highland Terrier is one of the prettiest.
I am pleased to hear from so many readers that they enjoy my column. Nothing makes me happier than writing, talking or enjoying pets.