PRESIDENT: Toni Yurkovic                 VICE   PRESIDENT: Tracey McCarriher                     TREASURER: Phyllis Vogt     SECRETARY:   Cathy Rupert           WESTIE RESCUE:        Tina Chergi WFA:            Phyllis Vogt    BOARD MEMBERS:             Cheryl Ferri                           Cookie Nee     Linda Kapalko Karen Tarolli Clare Schmalz 

                                              Mission Statement

The Mission of our Club is to protect and improve the West Highland White Terrier breed through:

· Providing information to educate people regarding all aspects of the breed.
· Promoting careful breeding practices so that the natural qualities of the Westie will meet the breed standard and be passed on from one generation to the next.
· Sponsoring AKC certified events and informal Fun Matches to strengthen the bond between man and dog while promoting good fellowship among members of the Club.
· Providing financial support to organizations dedicated to promoting the health and welfare of the breed through annual contributions.
· Promoting reasonable laws and regulations relating to issues of dog ownership.

Since 1974 our Club has been a not for profit organization and business has been conducted in a sound and ethical manner. Membership is open to like-minded individuals who desire to protect and help us to improve the West Highland White Terrier breed.

 Events Calendar for our Westie Club gatherings:

WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER CLUB OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

******************** THE SEVENTH ANNUAL WESTIE PICNIC    The rain did not deter the faithful westie picnicers.  We played agility between the raindrops. Then we ate  all of that wonderful food.  Our westies are quite the artists with their paw paintings. Look for the '08 picnic pictures in 'Westies on Parade'                                 2009 Westie picnic will be at:                                 White Oak Park                          Route 48 S. Allegheny County,                                  White Oak, Pa.                              Sunday June 28, 2009       Event Coordinator: Donna Pekar, for more information.            We are orgainzing a Westie Walk for this event.                      Check back for future details. The picnic will be at Beech Grove. you can find it in the "Park Map" click here:  http://www.alleghenycounty.us/ParksMain.aspx?id=12074&LinkIdentifier=id This event is schedualed for rain or shine, it cannont be cancelled. ***RAFFLE***PAW PAINTING***AGILITY GAMES***PELT RACES***

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THE WESTIEGRAM is our Club Newsletter, published 6 times a year and emailed directly to each club member. Hank Vogt is our news editor. For article submissions and information contact us at: wpawestie@wpawestie.org     E-mail your westie pictures to be posted on this website.    We are looking forward to hearing from you.

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THE WESTIE FOUNDATION OF AMERICA

www.westiefoundation.org

The Westie Foundation will be adding to their Westie Gifts collection and there are some great figurines for Christmas. They are made in England by Peaksdale, Ltd - a premiere sculpturer of Westies.

All proceeds go to the WFA for Westie disease research. To see the entire Westie Gift line, go to and click on Westie Gifts.

WFA RESEARCH

During the “Westie Week” at Kimberton, PA, the WFA held a seminar entitled: “Dealing with cancer in dogs: What this means to you and your Westie.” The leader was John Robertson, VMD PhD, Director of the Center for Comparative Oncology at Virginia Tech. He covered such topics as “How common is cancer in dogs? How is cancer detected? What causes cancer? Can the cancer epidemic in dogs be stopped?” The entire report of the seminar can be viewed on the WFA web site. www.westiefoundation.org
Cancer, CMO, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease IBD, Legg-Calve-Perthes, and Luxated Patella.    All the information is right there. Westie Health E-Book. Other subjects: Addision’s Disease, Atopic Dermatitus, Bladder

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Did You Know.......

This is a game terrier and has a very strong will. The first show held for the breed was at Crufts in London in 1907. The first AKC registration was in 1908. Originally registered as the Roseneath Terrier, the name was officially changed to West Highland White Terrier on May 31, 1909. The West Highland White Terrier, according to notable authors originated at Poltalloch, Scotland, where they had been bred and maintained for more than 100 years prior to their appearance at dog shows. In 1916 Colonel Malcolm of Poltalloch said that his father and grandfather both kept them. It is probable that the lineage of the Malcolm dogs goes back to the time of King James I, who asked for some ''earth-dogges'' out of Argyleshire. Years ago the breed was known as the Roseneath Terrier, also as the Poltalloch Terrier. The name Roseneath was taken from the Duke of Argyll's place in Dumbartonshire, Scotland. It is probable that the West Highland White Terrier and all the terriers of Scotland came from the same stock; the Scotties, Cairns, Dandie Dinmonts, and West Highland Whites are branches from the same tree and its roots. So you want to own a West Highland White Terrier? The West Highland is all terrier - a large amount of Scotch spunk, determination, and devotion crammed into a small body. Outdoors they are truly sporty, good hunters, speedy and cunning, with great intelligence. In the house they are all that can be desired of a pet; faithful, understanding, and devoted, yet gay and light-hearted. The Westie requires professional grooming every few months.

GENERAL APPERARANCE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WESTIE.....The game, hardy "Westie" presents a compact appearance, with good balance and hardy looking terrier, exhibiting good showmanship, possessed with no small amount of self-esteem, strongly built substance. It is short coupled and well boned.  The West Highland White is alert, gay, courageous and self-reliant while remaining friendly. Its expression is piercing, inquisitive and alert. Deep in chest and back ribs, with a straight back and powerful hindquarters on muscular legs, and exhibiting in marked degree a great combination of strength and activity. The distance from the withers to the root of the tail is slightly shorter than the distance from the withers to the ground. The coat is about two inches long, white in color, hard, with plenty of soft undercoat.

HEAD AND SKULL - The head is in proportion to the body. The hair on the head may be shaped (plucked) to present a round appearance from the front. The skull is broad, in proportion to a powerful jaw, and slightly domed between the ears. It is not too long, gradually tapering to the eyes. There is a defined stop. The blunt, powerful muzzle is slightly shorter than the skull and gradually tapers to the nose.

TEETH - A full complement of large (for the size of the breed), strong, white teeth meet in a scissors bite, with the upper incisors slightly overlapping the lower incisors. Tight scissors or level bites are acceptable. There must be six incisor teeth between the canines of both the lower and upper jaws.
Serious faults: Defective or misaligned teeth. Any missing incisors, or several premolars missing. Overshot or undershot bites.

EYES - The medium-sized, deep set, almond-shaped eyes are dark brown in color. Looking from under heavy eyebrows, and being widely set apart, they have a piercing look; and are sharp and intelligent. The eye rims are black.

Faults: Eyes too small or too full. Light-colored eyes.

EARS - The small ears terminate in a sharp point, but must never be cropped. They are carried tightly erect and are set wide apart on the top outer edge of the skull. The hair on the ears is short, smooth and velvety, and is free of fringe at the tips. Black skin pigmentation is preferred.

Serious faults: The following ears are very objectionable: round-pointed, drop, broad, very large ears, set too close together, not held erect, placed too low on the side of the head. 

NECK - A muscular neck gradually thickens toward its base and is well set on sloping shoulders. The length is in proportion to the whole of the dog.

Faults: Neck too long or too short.

FOREQUARTERS
The shoulders are well laid back and well knit at the backbone.

Faults: Steep or loaded shoulders.

FORELEGS - The muscular, well-boned forelegs are straight and relatively short, but are of sufficient length so that the dog is not too close to the ground. They are set under the shoulder blades with definite body overhang before them. The distance from the withers to the elbow is approximately the same as the distance from the elbow to the ground. Dewclaws may be removed.

Faults: Too short or too straight upper arm. Out at the elbows. Fiddle front. Light bone.
Body
The body is compact and of good substance. Whether standing or moving, the topline is flat and level. The very deep chest extends to the elbows, with the breadth being in proportion to the size of the dog. The deep ribs are well arched in the upper half, extending at least to the elbows and presenting a flattish side appearance. The back ribs are of considerable depth. The distance from the last rib to the hindquarters is as short as is compatible to allow free movement of the body. The back is straight. The short, broad loins are strong.

Faults: High rear. Weak back. Back too long or too short. Barrel ribs. Ribs too short, above the elbows.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters are powerful and muscular.

HIND LEGS - The muscular, sinewy hind legs are relatively short. The muscular, well-angulated thighs are not set wide apart. The hock is well bent. The rear pasterns are short and parallel when viewed from the rear. Dewclaws may be removed.

Faults: Weak hocks. Cow hocks. Long rear pasterns. Lack of angulation.
Feet
The round, strong feet are proportionate in size and thickly padded. The front feet are larger than the hind feet. The front feet may be turned out slightly. Black pigment on the pads and black nails are preferred. Nails may lighten in older dogs.
Tail
The tail is relatively short, but is never docked. When standing erect, the tip is approximately level with the top of the skull, thus maintaining a balanced appearance. It is covered with hard, straight hair, but no feathers. The tail is carried gaily, but not curled over the back. It is set on high enough so that the spine does not slope down to it.

Faults: Tail set too low. Tail too long. Thin. Carried at half-mast or over the back.
Coat
The ideal coat is an integral detail of the breed. A double coat is a necessity. The outer coat consists of straight, hard, white hair about two inches long and free from any curl. The abundant undercoat is short, soft and close, resembling fur in texture. The outer coat is shorter on the neck and shoulders blending into the longer furnishings on the stomach and legs. A hard, straight, white coat with wheaten-colored tips is preferable to a fluffy or soft white coat. The furnishings may be somewhat softer and longer, but must never appear fluffy.

The head may be shaped (by plucking) to present a round appearance and act as a frame for the typical Westie expression. The legs are covered with short, hard hair. The hair on the ears is short, smooth and velvety, and is free of fringe at the tips.

Serious faults: Soft coat. Silkiness or tendency to curl. Coat too short. Single coat.
Color
As defined by the name of the breed, the only acceptable color is white.

Disqualifications: Color other than white. Albinism.
Height
Ideal height, measured at the withers is: 11 inches for dogs; 10 inches for bitches; with a slight deviation being acceptable.

Faults: Over or under height limits.
Gait
The preferred gait is free, straight and easy all around, powerful, with reach and drive. The forelegs are freely extended forward by the shoulder. The hind legs move free, strong and fairly close. The hocks are freely flexed and drawn close under the body so that when moving off the foot, the body is propelled forward with some force. As speed increases, the dog single tracks. While moving, the topline remains level.

Faults: Lack of reach. Lack of drive. Stiff, stifled or too wide movement.
Disqualifications
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Color other than white. Albinism.

[ Go to our Westie Tips and Tricks page to see some creative things that you can train your westie to do. Westies on Parade has pictures  of our beloved club westies ]

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