Westies are a dog breed that immediately bowl over the faint-hearted with their charming recklessness and gentlemanly swagger. Also known as west highland white terriers, this small terrier has a smart-alecky appearance, wide piercing eyes, bullet-shaped body, and smart intelligence that ships with large amounts of self-esteem. He is too independent to be a lap dog, but immensely appreciates being acknowledged. He can be easily trained though, and with patience and reinforced training can be an ideal obedience dog, as some clubs have verified.

Prepare everyday to get a good laugh or be impressed by your westie. His first hobby is going after the scents of real or imagined vermin (his target for hundreds of years already), and will make quick or long-winded sorties into bushes, garden beds and lawns. They can be territorial, which is bad news for the loitering neighborhood pets. He also likes to watch anything furry among the trees above. In sum, these otherwise angelic looking dogs literally cannot wait to lay their paws and teeth on many an interesting critter!

Baby puppies get a kick out of moving earth (read: digging lots and lots of soil), and chewing anything that catches their fancy. So hang on to your garden and put up some really strong barriers. But your westie will still need all the training he can get, so training needs to start the moment the puppy arrives. As dog owner, show the dog that you are leader of the pack, and this will help tone down dominance tendencies early on in your westie.

The westie is currently a perfect fit for all families. He is hardy, and is a sociable little dog that does not want to be left alone. This dog enjoys brisks walks on the lead, traveling by car, warming the couch, or just being closest to his favorite human. Nothing can seem to dull the curious edge of this dog, and is always investigating things, full of fun and mischief. If all goes well, this terrier can live up to twelve to eighteen years. Older people may take time to appreciate this loud dog full of antics, but children and teens are sure to be held captive by the breed. Nevertheless, if an older person wants to own a westie, the best thing to do is for that person to meet a breeder who can look for a "past the puppy" age companion that would be satisfied with walks and life in a one-on-one household.

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