West Highland White Terriers Trivia Quiz

Answer: 16th

Although the modern West Highland White terrier dates only from the nineteenth century, there are records of all-white terriers being common during the reign of James VI (of Scotland) whose reign began in 1567.

The development of what is now called the Westie began because of an accident, when a landowner accidentally shot one of his own dogs, a rusty red colour, mistaking it for a fox. To avoid a similar incident, he deliberately chose to breed from only light coloured animals, beginning the development of a new breed.

Answer: False

In fact, the opposite is true. White terriers were considered to be weaker and more prone to illnesses than darker coloured dogs. Even worse (look away now dog lovers) white puppies were often drowned soon after their births as they were considered useless.

Westies are quite hardy although, like most breeds, there are specific conditions that they are prone to. The average life span is around thirteen years.

Answer: Vermin control

Terriers were mostly bred to keep rodents under control, and Westies were no exception. Farmers needed dogs to keep mice and rats under control as they would eat stored grain. The terriers could also be sent underground to keep down the numbers of other animals, including badgers, foxes and rabbits, which caused problems for farmers by killing livestock or eating growing crops.

The name of terrier is derived from the Latin word for earth, which is terra, and so these breeds are sometimes referred to as earth dogs.

Answer: Cairn terrier

Both the Cairn terrier and the West Highland White terrier hail from the Scottish highlands, and the Westie was progressively developed from lighter coloured Cairn terriers to obtain the white coat which is its distinguishing feature. Both breeds have similar shapes and sizes, with sturdy bodies, although Westies are said to be more sociable.

Cairn terriers come in brindle, red and grey coats while Westies are, of course, only white.

Answer: Skye

The Skye terrier is one of Scotland's older breeds and is believed to derive from a shipwreck which allowed Spanish dogs to reach the island. They bred with local terriers and created a new breed. It was recognised by the Kennel Club only in 1936 and is considered vulnerable.

Other terries with Scottish connections include the Dandie Dinmont, the Border terrier and the Scottish terrier.

Answer: Double

Westies have a soft undercoat with a harsher to the touch top coat. The double coat provides protection against weather conditions, both hot and cold, since the dogs were originally working animals, not the pampered pets of modern times.

The coat needs regular brushing to keep it tidy, prevent it from matting and to maintain the whiteness. Westies also need regular grooming with a couple of months between each visit.

Answer: Stripping

Stripping by hand is the traditional and preferred method, especially for dogs which are for showing. Clipping can be carried out but carries the risk of changing the texture of the top coat, making it softer to the touch, and can also affect the colour.

During grooming, the hair around the face should keep a rounded shape - this is known as the chrysanthemum cut as it resembles the look of the flower.

Answer: Carrot

The tail is trimmed and groomed to form the shape of a carrot, which just means it is broad next to the body and tapers to a point at the tip, just like the carrot. Tails are about 5 to 6 inches (around 13 to 15 cm) in length and are normally held in a erect position, unless the dog is nervous.

Westies should never have their tails docked, a practice which is now mostly illegal in the UK. There are exceptions, such as after an injury, but docking is strictly controlled.

Answer: True

The first win came in 1976 when Dianthus Buttons claimed the title. Olac Moon Pilot won in 1990 while the most recent winner, at the time of this quiz, came in 2016. This dog was Burneze Geordie Girl, who had the everyday name of Devon. Pedigree dogs have official names registered, which are used in shows, and are often given a pet name in the family.

The Best in Show title is awarded to the dog judged the best from the winners of the different groups. Devon had already won 'Best of Breed' and the 'Terrier Group', qualifying her to compete for the top prize.

Answer: Scottish terrier

The Scottish terrier is a different breed and is known as a Scottie dog. It is often seen with a black coat but can be grey, fawn or even a pale colour usually called 'wheaten'. This breed has shorter legs than the Westie in modern times, although photos of them in the early twentieth century indicate that they were taller at that time.

The other names listed refer to the two estates where the original Westies were selectively bred. Colonel Malcolm of Potalloch is the man who accidentally shot one of his own dogs and decided to breed white animals as a result. The Duke of Argyleshire also bred white terriers on his estate called Roseneath, giving the breed that name. West Highland White Terrier was officially recognised as the breed name in 1904 by the UK's Kennel Club.