Scottish Terrier vs Westie: Fundamental Variations (With Photos)

The Scottish Terrier and West Highland White Terrier are purebred canine that belong to the terrier group. Each are Scotland natives and are identified for his or her shiny and assured personalities. Although they’re each on the smaller facet, they’ve large personalities and sometimes add extra enjoyable and pleasure to folks’s lives.

Whereas they share many similarities, Scottish Terriers and Westies even have many extra variations apart from their coat colours. Attending to know every breed’s temperament and distinctive care wants will provide help to decide which one is a greater match for you. Preserve studying to get to know every breed and what every day life with every of them might appear like.

Visible Variations

At a Look

Scottish Terrier Overview

Character / Character

Scottish Terriers have a little bit of a critical and dignified persona, however they do present a extra playful and spunky facet to their households. These canine are extremely impartial and have a tendency to have a thoughts of their very own. They’re not identified to be cuddlers, and regardless of their small measurement, they’re additionally not identified to be lap canine. They usually choose simply being in the identical area as their households without having very many pets.

Whereas they’re impartial, they’ve a powerful sense of loyalty and don’t do nicely being alone for lengthy hours. They’re additionally dependable watchdogs and have a loud bark. Whereas they’re not identified to be aggressive towards strangers, they are usually aloof and often maintain to themselves when there are company of their houses.

Scottish Terriers usually do finest in houses which have older kids that may deal with them gently and know to go away them alone once they need to be by themselves. They will get together with different canine, however they’re often to not be trusted with different pets as a consequence of their robust prey drive.

Train

Scottish Terriers have lots of vitality to expend and often require at the least 45 minutes of every day train. Whereas a brisk stroll can suffice, these canine often love working wild and would like to play in a fenced yard and discover and sniff round. Scottish Terriers received’t decide fights and problem different canine, however they’re additionally not identified to be very social and doubtless received’t take pleasure in going to the canine park recurrently.

As canine that had been initially bred to hunt, Scottish Terriers are a hardy breed and can take pleasure in accompanying you on out of doors excursions. They might not take pleasure in water actions, however they sometimes love climbing and exploring new locations with their households.

Coaching

One factor to find out about Scottish Terriers is that they’re extremely impartial. So, though they’re shiny and clever, they are often tough to coach. It takes time to steer Scottish Terriers, they usually do finest with a number of enjoyable and quick coaching classes scattered all through the day.

As a result of Scottish Terriers have such a powerful prey drive, leash coaching will be notably difficult. It’s often very tough for them to chorus from chasing squirrels, rabbits, and different small animals that skirt throughout their path.

Well being & Care

Scottish Terriers are a usually wholesome breed. Nevertheless, the breed has genetic predispositions to Scottie cramp, Von Willebrand’s illness, and patellar luxation.

This canine breed additionally requires an honest quantity of grooming. Their shedding degree ranges from gentle to reasonable, and every day brushing will help decrease shedding round the home and stop matting and tangling. Since Scottish Terriers are likely to have dry pores and skin, it’s necessary to not over-bathe them and solely give baths when vital.

Appropriate For:

Scottish Terriers could also be small, however they’re usually well-suited for all times in single-family houses as a result of they tend to bark and have lots of vitality. They’re higher matches for older kids and households with out different pets. Resulting from their impartial personalities, they’re not advisable for first-time canine homeowners. Coaching Scottish Terriers require lots of persistence and expertise with understanding canine habits and constructive coaching methods.

West Highland White Terrier Overview

Character / Character

West Highland White Terriers, or Westies, are one other iconic and well-recognized canine breed. Much like Scottish Terriers, Westies are assured and impartial. Nevertheless, they’re not as strong-willed as a Scottish Terrier and are sometimes extra playful and affectionate.

Westies love being round their households and sometimes do nicely with kids and dwelling with different canine. They have an inclination to type robust bonds with one or two of their favourite folks however are usually not identified to be needy or consideration seekers. They often don’t like being within the highlight and simply choose being in the identical neighborhood as their members of the family with out being the focal point.

Westies are alert and will generally tend to bark, however they’re not essentially the most dependable watchdogs. They adapt nicely to condo dwelling so long as they’re educated out of barking. Additionally they have a powerful prey drive, so they could by no means be totally trusted to be left unsupervised with different pets, particularly small rodents.

Train

Westies are energetic, however they don’t require as a lot train as Scottish Terriers. Whereas they’ll take pleasure in walks across the neighborhood, they’re terriers at coronary heart and revel in romping round off-leash and exploring their environment. Simply remember that Westies can develop a behavior of digging, in order that they’re not the most effective match for individuals who make investments lots of time and vitality into gardening and landscaping.

Coaching

Westies are usually simpler to coach than Scottish Terriers. They’re extremely smart and just a little extra desirous to please. Nevertheless, they’ll have a cussed streak, particularly in the event that they’re not having enjoyable throughout coaching classes. So, it’s finest to comply with a coaching technique much like the Scottish Terrier. Conserving coaching classes quick, constructive, and inspiring will assist Westies keep motivated and be taught instructions and tips extra rapidly.

You too can count on leash coaching to be notably difficult with Westies. As looking canine, they’ve a powerful prey drive and can generally tend to lunge and chase small animals.

Well being & Care

Westies are wholesome and hardy canine, however you could discover some genetic situations that develop as they age. Some widespread well being points present in Westies embrace Legg-Calve-Perthes illness, cataracts, and patellar luxation.

Westies are low-shedding canine. They do finest with every day brushing to stop their skinny hairs from getting tangled and matted. Like Scottish Terriers, Westies don’t require frequent baths, and their pores and skin is vulnerable to drying out from too many baths.

Appropriate For:

Westies make great companion canine and are appropriate for first-time canine homeowners. Whereas they will not be overly affectionate, they like being with their households and don’t do nicely being dwelling alone for lengthy hours. These canine are usually adaptable and easygoing, to allow them to thrive as city condo dwellers so long as they get their every day train wants met.

Which Breed Is Proper for You?

Normally, Scottish Terriers do finest with extra skilled canine homeowners, whereas Westies are a substantial breed for first-time canine homeowners. Each canine breeds have impartial personalities, however Westies are likely to need just a little extra affection and a spotlight. Scottish Terriers are completely content material with simply being in the identical room as you, they usually received’t actually trouble you if you happen to’re working from dwelling.

General, each canine are loyal companions that take pleasure in spending their days with their favourite folks. They each have a lot love to present and find yourself changing into beloved members of the family that convey lots of pleasure to the folks they love.

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Featured Picture Credit score: Left – doanme, Pixabay | Proper – chriskeller, Pixabay