Are West Highland White Terriers Friendly Or Dangerous To Strangers?

Looking to adopt a West Highland White Terrier and want to know whether West Highland White Terrier are friendly or aggressive to strangers?

According to pet experts, West Highland White Terrier Dogs score 4 star out of 5 in the scale of breeds that are considered the friendliest dogs to strangers.


Are West Highland White Terriers Friendly?

Are West Highland White Terrier Dogs Aggressive To Strangers

    When it comes to deciding on a pet dog, you probably want one that is friendly, whether that's toward people, other pets, or both. In other words, a happy-go-lucky pooch that gets along with everyone.

    While most dogs are definitely fond of people, some are very sociable and love to meet new people all the time. Kindness doesn't necessarily depend on breed. The majority of dogs are friendly if they have been exposed to new people, places, and adventures as they were growing up.

    Ultimately, you can make any dog into a friendly dog if you make sure they have an energetic social life and a happy home. Pretty much all pet dogs will be social with their owners, but some breeds were bred as guardians and can be wary and even threatening toward strangers.

    Top 5 Friendly Dog Breeds

    1. Labrador Retrievers temperament towards people is almost incomparable. Labradors are incredibly social toward everyone they meet and many behavioral problems in the breed arise because of their aspiration to be around people.

    2. Poodles very active, social, and smart dogs that make extraordinary friends. They do very well in a variety of different dog sports and enjoy the company of people, friend or stranger.

    3. Pug is so liked partially due to its looks, but also because of its wonderful character. Pugs are very social, they love everyone and get along very well with other animals.

    4. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is among the smallest spaniels, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was bred mainly as a friend and lapdog. Because of this, they are extremely friendly with their families and strangers, happily meeting as many new people as they can.

    5. Boxer was initially bred as a guard dog in Germany, but there are very few working Boxers left. Today, most are energetic, intelligent family companions that are great for individuals and families alike. They are really social dogs and enjoy meeting and playing with new people and other dogs.

Do West Highland White Terrier Dogs Need to Be Groomed Regularly?

West Highland White Terrier Information

The Westie is compact and short-coupled. It must be small enough to fit between rocks in a narrow passageway that was the typical fox den in its area of origin. These passages were often so narrow that the dog could not turn around. Short legs aided in maneuverability in the cramped passages. It had to have formidable teeth and jaws in order to face a fox in closed quarters. The harsh double coat, especially the hard, straight outer coat, provided protection from the fox's teeth, especially around the head, as well as from the elements. The tail needed to be sufficiently long to provide a handhold by which the dog could be pulled from shallow holes.

The busy Westie is happy, curious and always in the thick of things. It is affectionate and demanding, one of the friendliest terriers. It is not friendly, however, toward small animals. It enjoys a daily romp in a safe area or a walk on lead, as well as playtime at home. It is independent and somewhat stubborn. It barks and digs.

What to do if you lose your West Highland White Terrier

If your West Highland White Terrier Dog or any other pet has gone missing and it does not have an identification tag with a phone number, you can:

1. Report your missing pet details at Pet Reunite website here.

2. List the missing pet on the Local Facebook Lost Pets Groups Here.

3. Call the nearby vets to see if anyone has brought in your missing pet.

4. Phone the RSPCA or Visit the RSPCA Lost Pets website and complete a Lost Pet Report.

5. Visit Lost Pets Pages of Animal Shelters.

What to do if you find a lost West Highland White Terrier

If you find a West Highland White Terrier Dog or any other pet and it does not have an identification tag with a phone number, you can:

1. Report the found pet details at Pet Reunite website here.

2. Register the missing pet on the Local Facebook Lost Pets Groups.

3. Contact the Local Authority to collect the lost animal.

4. Take the animal to the local Animal Pound near to your suburb.

5. Take the pet to the local Vet who can scan the animal’s microchip and contact the registered pet owner.

Laws Regarding Missing Pets

1. It is against the law to keep any animal that you find.

2. Pets are generally considered property and it is illegal to take and keep someone else’s property.

3. You must contact your local animal control unit and file a FOUND AN ANIMAL report for any dog or cat you find.

4. To reclaim your lost dog, cat or other pet from the animal shelter you must pay a release fee.

5. If your dog or cat is unregistered, you will have to register your pet before you can take it home.