Miniature Poodle vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison

Miniature Poodle vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed ComparisonMiniature Poodle is originated from Germany but West Highland White Terrier is originated from United Kingdom. Miniature Poodle may grow 8 cm / 4 inches higher than West Highland White Terrier. Both Miniature Poodle and West Highland White Terrier are having almost same weight. Both Miniature Poodle and West Highland White Terrier has same life span. Both Miniature Poodle and West Highland White Terrier has almost same litter size. Miniature Poodle requires Moderate maintenance. But West Highland White Terrier requires High maintenance

History

miniature poodle - historyThe Poodle is no stranger to the dog world and has been a familiar face in Western Europe for hundreds of years. Though they have lived in Europe for centuries, their origins are unsure, with some saying they hail from Germany and others say France.

The Miniature Poodles have been used in both countries as gundogs for water birds.

They have always been admired for their intelligence, and Miniature Poodles are believed to have been bred from Standard Poodles. It is interesting to note the 3 official sizes of the Poodle are Toy, Miniature and Standard – all considered one breed and judged according to the same written standard, just with different size requirements.

west highland white terrier - historyThe 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.

Description

miniature poodle puppy - descriptionWith good care the lifespan of the Miniature Poodle is 14 – 16 years of age. This purebreed dog is small, standing at 28 – 38cm in height and weighing 7 – 8kg.

The coat is typically curly, springy and dense. Colors of the coat can be cream, beige, silver, black, brown or apricot. They are low shedding dogs and are regarded as being hypoallergenic. The ears are floppy and the tail is usually docked to give the dog a nice, compact look.

Temperament:

The Miniature Poodle is intelligent and learns easily, so you won’t have any trouble with training him and having him socialized.

He is a lively dog and loves a game and a walk, loving as much time as possible spent with his human family. He gets on well with other pets in the home as well as with children who have been taught to be kind and gentle with animals.

They are not overly-friendly with strangers, and therefore make excellent watchdogs. They’re the kind of dogs who need both physical and mental stimulation though, and he won’t be content to be left and ignored – after all he counts himself as a member of your family! They make wonderful pets, being playful and energetic and loving water, always ready to swim with you.

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.

Characteristics

miniature poodle dog - characteristicsWhen you take a Miniature Poodle into your home and your heart, there are many wonderful positive aspects that come with him.

You won’t have any trouble training him as he is clever and bright. He is such a loving, loyal pet and he takes his job of guarding you seriously too.

Because they aren’t aggressive, they're easy to keep in the city or the countryside, so long as he receives plenty of love, companionship and exercise. Perhaps the only thing that may require a little bit of effort on your part is the fact that his coat will require quite a bit of upkeep to keep it looking good and healthy.

In exchange for looking after him, you’re going to benefit from having a wonderful canine friend and family pet in your life for many years.

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.

Health Problems

miniature poodle puppies - health problemsDog’s thrive on good nutrition and exercise, and if your Miniature Poodle gets both of these combined with plenty of love, he can live to be up to 16 years of age and even older.

They are robust little dogs, but even so, they can get sick. Ear infections, joint diseases, obesity, dental disease and bloat are common dog diseases to look out for -

Bloat:

This is a life-threatening condition where your pet’s stomach fills with gas. The swollen stomach puts pressure on the diaphragm and the dog battles to breathe. The dog could also vomit, be drooling and lethargic.

The stomach can also twist putting the dog in shock. This bloating can occur with any dog breed and efforts can be made to avoid it by feeding the dog smaller more frequent meals as opposed to one larger meal which he gobbles up.

The dog shouldn’t exercise immediately after a meal either. You also want to avoid obesity at all costs.

Mitral Valve Disease:

When the mitral valve malfunctions, blood isn’t being pumped out of the heart to the rest of the body. If the mitral valve weakens or leaks it can lead to endocarditis.

Quite a number of dogs develop some form of heart disease during their lifetime, with a high percentage being due to mitral valve insufficiency, which is more common in smaller dogs.

Your dog may have a cough, be lethargic and lose weight. The first signs of a leaking mitral valve is a heart murmur. At first MVI doesn’t have obvious clinical signs, but with time the efficiency of the heart is reduced and congestive heart failure develops. Your veterinarian will evaluate your pet and suggest treatment.

Sebaceous Adenitis:

A skin problem sounds fairly mild but it can cause havoc in your pet’s life, causing him to be constantly licking and scratching himself. The hair becomes dull and brittle, and breaking the skin from continuous scratching invites bacterial infection. These skin infections will require veterinary intervention.

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.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

miniature poodle dogs - caringIf you opt to keep your Miniature Poodle’s coat long, it will actually require regular brushing – every day in fact, if you want to avoid matting and tangling. Most people don’t like the work this involves and they have their Poodle’s hair cut short all over, then he only needs a brush once or twice a week. Your Miniature Poodle just loves the time you spend with him grooming him. It’s your time to feel for any unusual lumps and to also check for fleas and ticks. Some people take their pet to the doggy parlor to have the coat clipped.

The dog’s nails should also be trimmed regularly, and their ears also need to be checked for wax buildup and debris which can lead to an ear infection.

Teeth need to be checked over too because dental disease won’t only lead to loss of teeth but it could be toxic for important body organs too.

Wipe around your pet’s eyes as tear stains can form under the eyes.

Make sure to feed your pet a top quality diet full of vitamins and minerals. Get to know the foods which can be toxic for your pet and cause stomach upsets. Dogs appreciate simplicity and consistency with their diets, and apart from dry kibble, home-made food such as boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables can be excellent for your 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.

Basic Information

Group:
Non sporting dog
Terrier dog
Origin:
Germany
United Kingdom
Height Male:
28 - 38 cm
11 - 15 inches
25 - 30 cm
9 - 12 inches
Height Female:
28 - 38 cm
11 - 15 inches
23 - 28 cm
9 - 12 inches
Weight Male:
7 - 8 kg
15 - 18 pounds
7 - 10 kg
15 - 23 pounds
Weight Female:
7 - 8 kg
15 - 18 pounds
6 - 7 kg
13 - 16 pounds
Life Span:
14 - 16 Years
12 - 16 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
3 - 7
Size:
Small dog
Small dog
Other Names:
Mini Poo, Barbone, Caniche
Westie or Westy
Colors Available:
Cream, black, silver, beige, brown or apricot
White
Coat:
Curly, springy and dense
‎Double
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Friendly, Independent
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
High maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Boston Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  2. Jack Russell Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  3. Miniature Schnauzer vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  4. Cairn Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  5. Border Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Rat Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  7. Scottish Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  8. Australian Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Patterdale Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  10. American Hairless Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  11. Bull Terrier Miniature vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  12. Norwich Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  13. Norfolk Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  14. English White Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  15. Parson Russell Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  16. Russell Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  17. Feist vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  18. Manchester Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  19. Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  20. Miniature Fox Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Cesky Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  22. Glen of Imaal Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  23. Schnorkie vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  24. Sealyham Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  25. Chilean Fox Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Miniature Poodle vs Lhasa Apso - Breed Comparison
  27. Tibetan Spaniel vs Miniature Poodle - Breed Comparison
  28. Pomeranian vs Miniature Poodle - Breed Comparison
  29. Pug vs Miniature Poodle - Breed Comparison
  30. Miniature Schnauzer vs Miniature Poodle - Breed Comparison
  31. Papillon vs Miniature Poodle - Breed Comparison
  32. Miniature Poodle vs Maltese - Breed Comparison
  33. Miniature Poodle vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Miniature Poodle vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  35. Miniature Poodle vs Maltipoo - Breed Comparison
  36. Miniature Poodle vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  37. Miniature Poodle vs Bichon Frise - Breed Comparison
  38. Miniature Poodle vs Dachshund - Breed Comparison
  39. Miniature Poodle vs Jack Russell Terrier - Breed Comparison
  40. Miniature Poodle vs Cockapoo - Breed Comparison
  41. Miniature Poodle vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  42. Miniature Poodle vs Cavapoo - Breed Comparison
  43. Miniature Poodle vs Corgi - Breed Comparison
  44. Miniature Poodle vs Cavachon - Breed Comparison
  45. Miniature Poodle vs Mal-Shi - Breed Comparison
  46. Miniature Poodle vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Miniature Poodle vs Miniature Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  48. Miniature Poodle vs Japanese Chin - Breed Comparison
  49. Miniature Poodle vs Miniature English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  50. Miniature Poodle vs Miniature Dachshund - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds