Toy Fox Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison

Toy Fox Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed ComparisonToy Fox Terrier is originated from United States but West Highland White Terrier is originated from United Kingdom. Both Toy Fox Terrier and West Highland White Terrier are having almost same height. Toy Fox Terrier may weigh 6 kg / 13 pounds lesser than West Highland White Terrier. Both Toy Fox Terrier and West Highland White Terrier has almost same life span. Both Toy Fox Terrier and West Highland White Terrier has almost same litter size. Toy Fox Terrier requires Low maintenance. But West Highland White Terrier requires High maintenance

History

toy fox terrier - historyThe small Toy Fox Terrier was developed in the United States of America and is a smaller look-alike of the larger Smooth Fox Terrier.

Several toy breeds as well as the Smooth Fox Terrier were used to bring about the small Terrier dog.

Small though they are, they have had a role to play, particularly on farms where they've been used as ratters. They’ve also been used in circuses to perform tricks. These days they excel as being devoted companions of their human masters. These dogs are recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC).

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.

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Terrier dog
Origin:
United States
United Kingdom
Height Male:
22 - 29 cm
8 - 12 inches
25 - 30 cm
9 - 12 inches
Height Female:
22 - 29 cm
8 - 12 inches
23 - 28 cm
9 - 12 inches
Weight Male:
1 - 4 kg
2 - 9 pounds
7 - 10 kg
15 - 23 pounds
Weight Female:
1 - 4 kg
2 - 9 pounds
6 - 7 kg
13 - 16 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
12 - 16 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
3 - 7
Size:
Small dog
Small dog
Other Names:
American Toy Terrier
Westie or Westy
Colors Available:
White with tan or black markings
White
Coat:
Short and smooth
‎Double
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Friendly, Independent
Grooming:
Low maintenance
High maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

toy fox terrier puppy - descriptionThe Toy Fox Terrier stands at between 22 – 29cm in height and weighs between 1.5 and 4kg. He is squarely built, with alert, dark eyes, and large, erect ears.

The high set tail is nearly always docked. The coat of this dog is short and smooth and it sheds moderately. Color is mostly white with tan or black markings. The face is nearly always black and tan.

His body is lean, lithe and muscular and gives the impression of being well-groomed. The females give birth to between 2 and 6 puppies with the gestation period being 60-64 days. Have your dog spayed to avoid unwanted puppies.

Temperament:

Toy Fox Terriers are loyal, protective dogs and they make excellent watchdogs in terms of barking a lot when needed.

He is such a sport and wants to be part of all the activities that his human family are busy with. They make great playmates for older children, but care should be taken with toy breeds and small, undisciplined children who could hurt them.

These dogs also get on well with other pets in the home and they can adapt easily to life in the city or the countryside. He isn’t the brightest dog, but intelligent enough to learn some basic commands.

His deep loyalty to his human family makes him a little bit aloof with strangers. While he is eager to please, he also has a mind of his own and this is when training and socialization turn him into an obedient little dog.

He has loads of energy too and will rely on his human owners to take him on walks and play ball games with him.

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

toy fox terrier dog - characteristicsSmall and spunky, the Toy Fox Terrier is such an entertaining little pet, full of beans and curiosity.

He has sharp eyes and his hearing is good and this makes him a good watchdog. He is independent and intelligent, playful and jaunty.

When you allow one of these little dogs into your home, you’ll wonder how you ever got by without one, as he promises to be loving and loyal throughout your friendship with him.

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

toy fox terrier puppies - health problemsToy Fox Terriers are generally healthy, but like all breeds, they're prone to certain health conditions.

It is highly unlikely he’ll get any of the common dog illnesses there are if he is looked after well, but he could.

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease: 

This is a common dog disease of small breeds, and it is very similar to hip dysplasia. Problems with the femur causes wear and tear with arthritis coming about as well.

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

toy fox terrier dogs - caringThis little dog is essentially a companion. Just like people get these little dogs to be a companion, the dog also needs to receive proper care too.

Make sure your pet gets the right amount of food and also the right type of food. He’ll need food rich in vitamins and minerals. He’ll also benefit from wholesome home-made food – boiled chicken, brown rice, sweet potato, spinach and carrots – simple, harmless foods like that.

Don’t be tempted to pop peanuts, chocolates, grapes, onions and other human foods into his mouth as it can give your pet a stomach ache and diarrhea.

Get your pet to the vet if he’s sick. He’ll need vaccines too to prevent some of the deadly canine diseases there are.

Provide your pet with adequate games and other forms of exercise. Exercise is essential for good health.

Spay or neuter your dog to avoid an unwanted litter of puppies. There are health benefits to having this done too.

 

Groom your small dog regularly and get rid of those loose hairs. With his short hair, the Toy Fox Terrier is considered to be a low maintenance dog.

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.

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. Toy Fox Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  27. Toy Fox Terrier vs Jack Russell Terrier - Breed Comparison
  28. Toy Fox Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  29. Toy Fox Terrier vs Miniature Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  30. Toy Fox Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Toy Fox Terrier vs Border Terrier - Breed Comparison
  32. Toy Fox Terrier vs Rat Terrier - Breed Comparison
  33. Toy Fox Terrier vs Scottish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Toy Fox Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  35. Toy Fox Terrier vs Patterdale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  36. Toy Fox Terrier vs American Hairless Terrier - Breed Comparison
  37. Toy Fox Terrier vs Bull Terrier Miniature - Breed Comparison
  38. Toy Fox Terrier vs Norwich Terrier - Breed Comparison
  39. Toy Fox Terrier vs Norfolk Terrier - Breed Comparison
  40. Toy Fox Terrier vs English White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  41. Toy Fox Terrier vs Parson Russell Terrier - Breed Comparison
  42. Toy Fox Terrier vs Russell Terrier - Breed Comparison
  43. Toy Fox Terrier vs Feist - Breed Comparison
  44. Toy Fox Terrier vs Manchester Terrier - Breed Comparison
  45. Toy Fox Terrier vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Toy Fox Terrier vs Miniature Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  47. Toy Fox Terrier vs Cesky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  48. Toy Fox Terrier vs Glen of Imaal Terrier - Breed Comparison
  49. Toy Fox Terrier vs Schnorkie - Breed Comparison
  50. Toy Fox Terrier vs Sealyham Terrier - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds