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West Highland Terrier Facts & Worksheets

West Highland Terrier, most commonly known as Westie, is a breed of medium-sized terrier from Scotland.

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West Highland Terrier, most commonly known as Westie, is a breed of medium-sized terrier from Scotland. Aside from its cute face, Westies are lively, smart, independent, and clever hunters as well. It has been seen in a lot of advertisements, especially for dog supplies, using the breed as model or mascot.

See the fact file below for more information on the West Highland Terrier or alternatively, you can download our 23-page West Highland Terrier worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

History

  • West Highland White Terriers are in the same breeding family with that of the Dandie Dinmont, Skye, Scottish, and Cairn Terriers.
  • Westies were used for hunting foxes, badgers, otters, and rats.
  • They were ratters at first, bred in Northwestern Scotland where they used to clear out mines, farms, and barns of rats.
  • The breed can be traced back to the 17th century coming from a small breed of earth dogs given to the king of France.
  • Its white color is said to have come from the tragic incident from the 19th century when a colonel accidentally killed his own Cairn mistaken to be a fox.
  • Because of this, he became determined to breed dogs with only white color so that it would not be confused with foxes.
  • Their white fur makes them easier to spot in the fields.
  • They have sometimes been called a Poltalloch Terrier and a Roseneath Terrier.
  • They were formally acknowledged by the Kennel Club of England in 1906. The word terrier came from the Latin word ‘terra’ which means earth.

Physical Characteristics

  • A West Highland Terrier weighs 13 to 20 pounds and stands 10 to 11 inches tall.
  • Their coat color is white.
  • They have a medium-length coat.
  • The top coat is stiff and dry, while its undercoat is thick, soft, and silky.
  • Westies have a deep chest and a rectangular-shape body, and short legs.
  • They have carrot-shaped tails.
  • They have bright, deep-set, almond-shaped eyes, that are dark in color.
  • Their ears are pointed and erect.
  • They have sensitive ears and it is recommended to use sunscreen if they are spending time under the sun.
  • Westies are believed to have thick and sturdy tails because they used to catch rodents before.
  • Their thick tails were used so that they can easily be pulled out of holes.
  • Their jaw is tight and close-fitted – the desired jaw for hunting rodents.
  • They have bullet-shaped bodies and thinner, heart-shaped thoraxes to help make their way through underground caverns.
  • Their body build makes them able to squeeze through small and narrow places.
  • They can live for 15 to 20 years.

Behavior

  • The West Highland Terrier is a bold, confident, and intelligent dog.
  • Westies are bred for active working duty around Scottish farms so they need to have regular exercise and physical activities to stay healthy.
  • They are little dogs determined to go after foxes or badgers.
  • They are simple and easy to please.
  • Westies are a happy and loving dog that gets along with everyone, but they are not that suitable for children below seven years old because they tend to snap when irritated.
  • Being a descendant of earth dogs, they have retained their inquisitive and investigative traits.
  • They bark and dig holes a lot.
  • They are best kept indoors because they tend to keep moving and running.
  • They chase small animals in sight, especially rabbits.
  • With its usual terrier temperament, Westies are not always good with other dogs and can be dangerous around other small house pets.
  • They are one of the short-legged breed of terriers, but are quick and agile.
  • They compete in earth dog trials and competitions.
  • Westies are ranked 47th in Stanley Coren’s The Intelligence Dogs.
  • Vermin chasing cannot be altered when it comes to Westies.
  • Although they can get used to cats, they can’t adapt to other small pets such as rabbits and birds because of their strong prey drive.
  • It takes time and effort to train them into being a house pet.
  • They are destructive when their owners are not home.

More Trivia

  • A health condition named “Westie jaw” occurs in young westies that causes an overgrowth of bone in the jaw of the dog.
  • The ‘spokesdog’ of the dog food brand Cesar is a West Highland Terrier.
  • It has appeared on several product labels and television commercials.
  • Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who is the founder of Pakistan owned a Westie.
  • JK Rowling and John Green, both award-winning and best selling authors, each own a West Highland Terrier.
  • Black and White whiskey used Scottish Terriers and Westies in their advertisements.
  • There are still Westies who compete in earth dog trials and many still dig holes for miles in backyards.
  • Westies are very popular in the United Kingdom and are at the third spot of all breeds in the United States.

West Highland Terrier Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about West Highland Terrier across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use West Highland Terrier worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the West Highland Terrier, most commonly known as Westie, which is a breed of medium-sized terrier from Scotland. Aside from its cute face, Westies are lively, smart, independent, and clever hunters as well. It has been seen in a lot of advertisements, especially for dog supplies, using the breed as model or mascot.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • West Highland Terrier Facts
  • History Blanks
  • Westie in Words
  • Terrier Family Hunt
  • Paws or False
  • Who, What, How?
  • Decode Descriptions
  • What’s a Terrier?
  • International Fame
  • The Perfect Home
  • Westie Appreciation

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Link will appear as West Highland Terrier Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, March 25, 2019

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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