Miniature Schnauzer vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison

Miniature Schnauzer vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed ComparisonWest Highland White Terrier is originated from United Kingdom but Miniature Schnauzer is originated from Germany. West Highland White Terrier may grow 6 cm / 2 inches shorter than Miniature Schnauzer. Both West Highland White Terrier and Miniature Schnauzer are of same weight. Both West Highland White Terrier and Miniature Schnauzer has almost same life span. Both West Highland White Terrier and Miniature Schnauzer has almost same litter size. West Highland White Terrier requires High Maintenance. But Miniature Schnauzer requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Terrier dog
undefined
United Kingdom
Germany
Height Male:
25 - 30 cm
9 - 12 inches
30 - 36 cm
11 - 15 inches
Height Female:
23 - 28 cm
9 - 12 inches
30 - 36 cm
11 - 15 inches
Weight Male:
7 - 10 kg
15 - 23 pounds
5 - 10 kg
11 - 23 pounds
Weight Female:
6 - 7 kg
13 - 16 pounds
5 - 10 kg
11 - 23 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 16 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 7
3 - 8
Size:
Small
Small
Other Names:
Westie or Westy
Zwergschnauzer (Dwarf Schnauzer)
Colors Available:
White
salt-and-pepper coat – mix of black and white. , Black and silver
Coat:
‎Double
Double, wiry medium-length coat
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Friendly, Independent
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Detached, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
High Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
Yes
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.

miniature schnauzerMiniature Schnauzers were first bred in Germany in the 19th century being bred from Affenpinschers and Standard Schnauzers.

This dog was always used to control rats on farms, but these days he is more a companion. It is believed that the start of the modern Miniature Schnauzer in the United States was around 1924 when dogs were imported from Germany.

It was in 1933 that the Miniature Schnauzer was recognized by the AKC as a separate breed from the Standard Schnauzer.

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.

miniature schnauzer puppy - descriptionThe Miniature Schnauzer is a small dog breed that stands between 30 to 36cm in height and weighs between 5 and 10kg.

He has a sturdy body with a dense, wiry coat which most people prefer to have stripped. Because stripping is quite tedious, many of these dog owners prefer to have the coat clipped which actually gives the coat a greyish look to it.

The coat is usually a mix of black and silver. Some people refer to the Miniature Schnauzer as having a salt-and-pepper coat – hairs that are a mix of black and white. The dog has a double coat with the outer coat being wiry and the undercoat being a lot softer.

This is a dog that will need to be groomed frequently to prevent matting. A noticeable feature with these dogs is the rectangular shaped head with alert slanted eyes and bushy eyebrows, mustache and beard. In fact the word ‘Schnauzer’ means beard or muzzle.

The ears have been traditionally cropped but these days they are left and then they tend to be half-erect, half-floppy.

Temperament:

This is a tough little dog, fearless, cheeky, arrogant, alert and also friendly. A draw-card with him is that he is considered as a low-shedder and being hypoallergenic.

They’re very intelligent dogs too and will learn quickly when you give him training and socialization. This is important for a dog like this as he can quickly show you that he is strong willed and independent. Training and socialization makes him much nicer as he becomes more balanced and obedient.

He is full of life and extroverted and you can count on him to join you wherever you are and whatever you’re doing. Whether watching TV, swimming or hiking, he’ll be there and turn every occasion into a festive event. He is a loving, loyal dog, making a splendid pet.

He's protective of his human family and tends to be suspicious of strangers, and this is what makes him such a great watchdog.

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.

miniature schnauzer dog - characteristicsMiniature Schnauzers are such adaptable little dogs, quite happy to make a home with you in the city or in the countryside.

They’re sociable dogs, so just being with his human family wherever they are will suit him well. If he lives in the city however, he will need to have a walk everyday or taken to the park for a run.

He is also a dog that scarcely sheds, so he suits people battling with allergies. With an average life expectancy of 12 to 14 years, if you nurture your Mini Schnauzer and give him the best food and exercise there is, as well as loving him, you’re going to have a loyal and devoted pet.

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.

miniature schnauzer puppies - health problemsYour Miniature Schnauzer is pretty healthy and he isn’t likely to cost you much in terms of vet fees. There are however some common dog problems that you want to be aware of such as cataracts of the eye and hypothyroidism.

Cataract:

This a a problem in the lens of the eye. The lens should be clear, and when a dog has a cataract, it obscures the vision. The size of the cataract can lead to blindness.

Diabetes in a dog can bring on cataracts as can genetics or damage to the eye from exposure to ultraviolet light. Fortunately, dogs with cataracts can still see. Dogs with old cataracts can have surgery to remove them.

When a dog owner suspects a cataract in their pet’s eye it is best to treat it immediately with anti-inflammatory dog cataract eye drops. Cataracts never go away however without surgery.

Hypothyroidism:

The thyroid gland in the neck produces a hormone called thyroxine. It controls metabolism, but with hypothyroidism, enough of the hormone isn’t made. Its a common disease which affects all dog breeds.

Signs of hypothyroidism include hair loss, weight gain, intolerance to cold and a troublesome skin. To have the disease diagnosed, the vet will do a series of blood tests.

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.

miniature schnauzer dogs - caringLet’s look at several ways you need to care for your Miniature Schnauzer -

Make sure you have his puppy injections on time. This means knowing which veterinarian you’ll use. Later on if you don’t want to go in for breeding, you will need to have your pet spayed or neutered.

Make sure you have a nice warm, dry spot for your dog to sleep. It can be a cardboard box, or you can buy a dog basket or sleeping platform. Make sure your pet loves it and knows he can retreat to it anytime he wants.

If he goes outside for a few hours, make sure that he has a place to lie in the shade and away from the elements.

Good food promotes good health and longevity. You can feed your pet one of the top quality commercially manufactured foods and give your pet some variety by adding in some boiled chicken, vegetables and brown rice. Some raw meat occasionally can also be excellent for your pet.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Miniature Schnauzer vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Miniature Schnauzer vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Miniature Schnauzer vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Miniature Schnauzer vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Miniature Schnauzer vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Miniature Schnauzer vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Miniature Schnauzer vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Miniature Schnauzer vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Miniature Schnauzer vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Miniature Schnauzer vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Miniature Schnauzer vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Miniature Schnauzer vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Miniature Schnauzer vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Miniature Schnauzer vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Miniature Schnauzer vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Miniature Schnauzer vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Miniature Schnauzer vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Miniature Schnauzer vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Miniature Schnauzer vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Miniature Schnauzer vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Miniature Schnauzer vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Miniature Schnauzer vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Miniature Schnauzer vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Miniature Schnauzer vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Miniature Schnauzer 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