West Highland White Terrier

Appearance
Westie Terriers have bright, deep-set eyes which tend to be dark, with a "piercing" look. Their ears are generally small, pointed, and erect. They typically weigh from 15 to 20 lbs (6.8 - 9 kgs) for male dogs and 13 to 16 lbs (6 - 7.2 kgs) for female dogs and their average height is 9 to 11 inches (23 - 28 cm) at the withers.[3] The Kennel Club has recommended that their tails, typically "carrot-shaped", should never be docked.[4] The tail should be between 5-6 inches (13 - 15.5 cm). They also have deep chests, muscular limbs, a huge skull, a short and a closely fitted jaw with "scissors" bite (lower canines locked in front of upper canines, upper incisors locked over lower incisors).[5] Their teeth generally appear quite large for the size of the dog.[3][5] Westies have a very strong bone structure for their size.

Care
Westies are prone to allergies and dry skin issues, and bathing too frequently may aggravate these problems. Washing once a month or on a longer interval will generally not cause issues. However, frequent brushings are needed to keep the coat clean and oils evenly distributed throughout the coat. Washing with a detergent-free, baby-oriented, or another soft skin shampoo will help keep a Westie's skin hydrated. Weekly washing of the inside of the ears with cotton balls will prevent oil and wax build-up and ear infections. Water in the ears must be extracted before infection can set in. Westies should be groomed at least every two months, and bathedHealth and brushed as needed between appointments.

Health
Like most other dogs, these terriers generally require 13 hours of sleep out of every 24. Westies will usually conform to the sleep patterns of their human companions, and take several naps during the day as well, to accrue their needed sleep.