English White Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison

Both West Highland White Terrier and English White Terrier are originated from United Kingdom. West Highland White Terrier may grow 16 cm / 6 inches shorter than English White Terrier. Both West Highland White Terrier and English White Terrier are having almost same weight. West Highland White Terrier may live 8 years more than English White Terrier. Both West Highland White Terrier and English White Terrier has almost same litter size. West Highland White Terrier requires High Maintenance. But English White Terrier requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Terrier dog
undefined
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Height Male:
25 - 30 cm
9 - 12 inches
44 - 46 cm
17 - 19 inches
Height Female:
23 - 28 cm
9 - 12 inches
42 - 44 cm
16 - 18 inches
Weight Male:
7 - 10 kg
15 - 23 pounds
6 - 9 kg
13 - 20 pounds
Weight Female:
6 - 7 kg
13 - 16 pounds
5 - 8 kg
11 - 18 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 16 Years
5 - 8 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 7
5 - 9
Size:
Small
Small
Other Names:
Westie or Westy
Old White English Terrier, White English Terrier Old English Terrier British White Terrier. Old White Terrier
Colors Available:
White
brown, white with brindle, black or other markings
Coat:
‎Double
Close, hard, short, and glossy
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Friendly, Independent
Affectionate, Aggressive, Docile, Friendly, Gentle, Lively, Loving
Grooming:
High Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

west highland white terrierThe West highland white terrier originated from Poltalloch in Scotland. So they were initially called as Poltalloch terrier and after that they were called as Roseneath terrier. They were initially used for hunting fox, badger, otter and in killing the vermin like rats.

The breed history says that Colonel Malcolm of Poltalloch was the reason for the Westie's white colour. This is because in 19th centuryhe went for hunting with his dogs and accidentally he shot his dog as its colour was as fox. So he decided to breed only white colour dogs.

The English White Terrier was developed in the 1860’s by a group of breeders from the Sealyham terriers, the Jack Russell terrier, and the Fox Terrier. These breeders were looking for a white terrier that could be more successful in the show ring than the current prick-eared English terrier. They named their new breed, the English White Terrier or the Old English terrier. In later years in the United States, the English White Terrier was mixed again with the Rat Terrier and the Old English Bulldog to create both the Boston terrier and the Bull terrier.

Although the breed did not last long it did have a prestigious ancestry that could be traced back centuries in England among ancient terriers. The word terrier was in use in England in 1440, showing that the dogs were well known at that time. Most historians agree that the dogs were even older than the 1400’s. It is believed that terriers who “went to ground” after prey, existed as far back as the time of Christ in England.

Most of these ancestors of the English White Terrier were not white. White terriers came onto the scene around the 1700’s.The first picture of white terriers appeared in 1790 when Sawre Gilpin, a British artist, painted “A Huntsman with Hounds Foxhunting” and the terriers in the painting were white with brown marks. Others began to show the same kind of terriers in their artwork – white coated. Before this it is believed that breeders killed the white terriers at birth because they were often deaf and inferior to the other terriers. In the early part of the 19th century, the white terrier began to be completely white with no markings. The Kennel Club recognized them in 1874 as the White English Terrier.

The breed faced many genetic issues, deafness and the Kennel Clubs felt there was no difference between the current White English terrier and the English White terrier despite the difference in their ears. The new English White Terrier had dropped ears instead of Prick-ears. They considered them to be the same breed and not even different types. They were the smallest of all terriers and considered to be a good pet but not a show dog or a working dog. Because of this it was not very popular, and it actually had been bred to be a show dog and not a working dog. The English White Terrier was not recognized by any Kennel Club and within 30 years it was extinct.

Description

west highland white terrier puppy - descriptionThe Westie can be said as that a small dog having the talents of the big dog. They are very popular for their obedience. They are also working as therapy dogs and also some in search and rescue teams. The home having Westie will have fun always and be enthusiastic. They will suit them for country or city living, but they like to live with their family. They are well suitable for apartment living, but some training should be given to them for not barking. They can stay in home when you are at work. Westie can be taken to travel, whether it may be long vacation or a short visit.

They are quick learners and so training them is not difficult. Mistakes of them can be corrected patiently since they don't like harsh activities against them. Westie will definitely bark when he sees something or hear different sounds. He will bark on seeing visitors or even other dogs. Sometimes they will bark for very silly things but when given appropriate training in their young stage, they can bark only for alerts.

The English White Terrier had a pure white coat with no markings of any kind. His coat was short, hard, and glossy and his body was firm, muscular and hard. The breed was small – almost a toy. They had a body like the Manchester Terrier. They had long legs and large feet. The tail was medium size and straight out from the body.

The English White Terrier had a very refined head with a fairly long muzzle. Their bite was even, and their eyes were brown, amber or black. Their ears dropped – unlike the pricked ears of the White English Terrier.

Characteristics

Children friendliness

west highland white terrier dog - characteristicsThe Westie is friendly with children but not all the time. So some care should be taken while they are near children.

Special talents

They like to chase rodents like rabbits as they are interested in hunting.

Adaptability

They are suitable for apartment living unless they are left alone for a very long time. They love cold weather more than hot.

Learning ability

They can be trained by giving some extra efforts.

The English White Terrier was affectionate and devoted to his family. It was the softest tempered of all terriers and made an excellent pet. Some of the English White Terriers were animal aggressive while others were not. Training was difficult because of the wide-spread deafness in the breed. IT loved to be cuddled and held. They were also tenacious and game for any type of fight or hunt despite their size and deficiencies.

Health Problems

west highland white terrier puppies - health problemsItchy skin and pyoderma are common in terriers. Skin diseases such as Seborrhea and epidermal dysplasia are also found in them.

Hair fall

Westies have possibilities of getting yeast infections in skin[Malassezia Dermatitis] and due to that hair loss will be more.

The breed was considered to be unhealthy for the most part and became extinct because of this. Many complained that the breed was inbred and had a weak constitution because of it. Deafness was prevalent throughout the breed. This deafness occurs in many white animals, but the English White Terrier had the highest rates among all white dogs.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

west highland white terrier dogs - caringThe puppy should be fed 3 to 4 times per day as it requires a considerable amount for their growth. Cooked chicken breast and turkey are best for them and also vegetables should be given to them. Beef and chicken should be kept a limit as it will lead to itchy skin and allergies.

Feeding the adult

The preferable food for the Westie is home cooked. The home food will only contain all the essential nutrients for the Westie.

Points for Good Health

Eventhough the Westie is suitable for apartment living it is recommended to have a daily walk for him to be active and refreshing.

Games and Exercises

They should be made to play for atleast 30 minutes per day for their health as to not gain overweight. Grown up children can play with them as they like it.

Feeding

It was best to feed the English White Terrier 1-2 cups of dry meal per day served in 2 meals.

Health issues

As mention previously, the English White Terrier was congenitally deaf and had a weak constitution.

Exercise and games

This little dog with all its problems was still a very energetic dog and needed considerable exercise. Owners had to develop exercises and games to keep the English White Terrier occupied as with any terrier. If they didn’t have a job or something to occupy their minds and bodies, they were destructive.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. English White Terrier vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. English White Terrier vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. English White Terrier vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. English White Terrier vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. English White Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. English White Terrier vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. English White Terrier vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. English White Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. English White Terrier vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. English White Terrier vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. English White Terrier vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. English White Terrier vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. English White Terrier vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. English White Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. English White Terrier vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. English White Terrier vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. English White Terrier vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. English White Terrier vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. English White Terrier vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. English White Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. English White Terrier vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. English White Terrier vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. English White Terrier vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. English White Terrier vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. English White Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. West Highland White Terrier vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. West Highland White Terrier vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. West Highland White Terrier vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. West Highland White Terrier vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. French Bulldog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Beagle vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  32. Yorkshire Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  33. Poodle vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Rottweiler vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  35. Boxer vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  36. English Pointer vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  37. Siberian Husky vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  38. Doberman Pinscher vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  39. American Bully vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  40. Abruzzenhund vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  41. Affenpinscher vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  42. Afghan Hound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  43. Aidi vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  44. Airedale Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  45. Akbash Dog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Akita vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  47. Africanis vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  48. Askal vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  49. Atlas Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  50. Aussie Poo vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison