West Highland White Terrier Problems.?
Filed under Care & Training Q&As
hi! i’m gettin a westie and i’m so excited! is there any problems or things they tend to do a lot? i just wanna get a heads up before i get one! thanks! 
Related West Highland White Terrier posts:
If you want a dog who…
Is small, yet sturdy and tough — not a delicate lapdog
Has a natural appearance
Needs only moderate exercise
Makes a keen watchdog
Doesn’t shed too much
Is easier to handle, friendlier with strangers, more amenable to training, and more tolerant of other pets than most terriers are
A West Highland White Terrier may be right for you.
If you don’t want to deal with…
The dynamic terrier temperament (see full description below)
Providing enough exercise and activities to keep them busy
Aggression toward other animals — chasing instincts
Stubbornness
Digging holes
Barking
Regular brushing and clipping of the wiry coat
A considerable number of health problems
A West Highland White Terrier may not be right for you.
If I were considering a West Highland White Terrier…
My major concerns would be:
The dynamic terrier temperament. Most terrier breeds are remarkably similar. The same words are used over and over — quick to bark, quick to chase, lively, bossy, feisty, scrappy, clever, independent, stubborn, persistent, impulsive, intense.
Providing enough exercise and mental stimulation. West Highland White Terriers are active go-getters. They MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy and to use their busy minds to do interesting things.
Animal aggression. West Highland White Terriers are less scrappy toward strange dogs than many other terrier breeds, but they are still a determined force to reckon with if they decide to initiate or accept a challenge to fight. Most terriers have strong instincts to chase and seize small fleeing creatures. This can make for conflict if you own a cat. It may be much worse than that if you own a pet rabbit or hamster!
Fence security. Many terriers are clever escape artists who will go over or under fences in search of adventure. You may need higher fences than you might imagine for their small size. You may also need to sink wire into the ground along the fence line to thwart digging. Gates should have the highest quality locks.
Barking. Terriers are often too quick to sound the alarm at every new sight and sound. You have to be equally quick to stop them. If you work all day and have close neighbors, terriers are not the best choice for you. For the same reason, terriers should NEVER be left outside in your yard, unsupervised. To make matters worse, some terriers have high-pitched barks that can set your teeth on edge.
Mind of their own. Westies are not Golden Retrievers. Though they are more amenable to training than some other terriers, and indeed can excel in obedience competition, they must still be taught at an early age that they are not the rulers of the world. The toughness that makes them suited to killing vermin can frustrate you when you try to teach them anything. Terriers can be stubborn and dominant (they want to be the boss) and will make you prove that you can make them do things. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.
Defensive reactions. If you need to physically chastise a terrier, and you go beyond what THEY believe is a fair correction, terriers (as a group) are more likely than other breeds to growl or snap. It may be because they were bred to become more fierce when their prey fought back, i.e. terriers are apt to “return pain” if they “receive pain.” As an obedience instructor, I’m always extra careful when putting my hands on any terrier for a correction
Grooming. To keep their rough coat free of mats, West Highland White Terriers require regular brushing, and also clipping and trimming every few months.
Serious health problems. Westies are more prone to health problems than most other terriers.
If you’re considering an adult West Highland White Terrier…
There are plenty of adult Westies who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don’t let “typical breed negatives” worry you.
When you acquire a puppy, you’re acquiring potential — what he one day will be. So “typical breed characteristics” are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you’re acquiring what he already IS.
They tend to get allergic skin disease and itch a lot. Nearly every one of them develops a skin problem at some point.