| Species | Dog |
|---|---|
| Origin | United Kingdom |
| Size Category | Small |
| Weight Range | 6.8–10 kg |
|---|---|
| Height Range | 25–28 cm |
| Lifespan | 12–16 years |
| Juvenile Stage Ends | 12 months |
| Senior Age Threshold | 10 years |
| Exercise Needs | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Grooming | High |
| Annual Exam Focus | Cardiac auscultation; Eye exam; Joint palpation; Skin and coat evaluation; Dental exam |
| Routine Care | Monitor for signs of Addison's disease, diabetes, and kidney issues. Regular bi-annual exams are crucial. Watch for joint pain, vision changes, and manage weight to prevent arthritis. |
| Condition | Onset Stage | Risk | Hereditary | Screening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atopic Dermatitis | Adult | High | No | N/A |
| Luxating Patella | Juvenile | High | No | N/A |
| Addison's Disease | Adult | High | No | N/A |
| Hip Dysplasia | Adult | High | Yes | Recommended |
| Patellar Luxation | Adult | High | Yes | Recommended |
| Craniomandibular Osteopathy | Adult | High | Yes | Recommended |
| Eye Conditions | Adult | High | Yes | Recommended |
| Risk Level | High |
|---|---|
| Ideal BCS | 5/9 |
| Visual Cues | Ribs easily palpable with slight fat covering; visible waist from above; abdominal tuck visible from side. Westies have dense coats that can hide weight gain, so hands-on checks are essential. |
| Daily Activity | 60 minutes |
| Caloric Notes | {"daily_kcal_per_kg": 51, "RER_factor": 70, "activity_multiplier": 1.6} |
| Litter Size | 2–5 |
|---|---|
| Dystocia Risk | High |
| CHIC Required Tests | Eye Examination; Hip Dysplasia; Patellar Luxation; Craniomandibular Osteopathy (CMO) |
| Recommended DNA Tests | Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy (GLD); Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKD); Primary Lens Luxation (PLL) |
| Neonatal Weight | 176–224 g |
|---|---|
| Growth Notes | Monitor for craniomandibular osteopathy (CMO) during growth. Ensure proper socialization to prevent terrier tenacity issues. |
| Vaccine/Health Schedule | {"start_weeks": 6, "series_count": 4, "core_vaccines": "CDV; CAV-1; CAV-2; CPV-2", "socialization_end_weeks": 16} |
| Anxiety Proneness | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Top Triggers | Separation; Loud noises/Thunderstorms; Strangers; Confinement; Lack of stimulation |
| Separation Anxiety Risk | Moderate |
| Calming Interventions | Desensitization training; Puzzle toys/mental stimulation; DAP pheromone diffuser; Regular exercise routine; Prescription anti-anxiety meds |
| Enrichment Needs | High |
| Cognitive Dysfunction Risk | Moderate |
| Sociability Score | 4/10 |
| Locomotion | Energetic trotting; Quick directional changes; Pouncing; Digging motions; Zoomies/FRAPs |
|---|---|
| Social | Play bow solicitation; Alert greeting; Jumping up to greet; Leaning against owner |
| Comfort | Circling before lying; Shaking off; Stretching; Self-grooming |
| Stress/Displacement | Lip licking; Yawning; Pacing; Whale eye; Avoidance/turning away |
| Breed-Specific | Earthdog digging; High prey drive chasing; Shaking prey objects; Alert stance with erect ears |
| Types | Bark (alert); Bark (play); Growl; Whine |
|---|---|
| Frequency Range | 500-2000 |
| Tendency | High |
| Primary Modality | Balanced Vocal/Body |
| Tail/Body Signals | High stiff tail = alert/aroused; High rapid wag = excited; Tucked tail = fearful; Horizontal wag = relaxed |
| Top Problems | Excessive barking; Digging; Aggression towards other animals; Resource guarding; Separation anxiety |
|---|---|
| Medical Etiology | Restlessness and irritability (atopic dermatitis/pruritus); Aggression when handled (craniomandibular osteopathy/pain); House soiling (urinary tract infections) |
| Fear/Anxiety Etiology | Noise phobia (thunderstorms/fireworks); Separation anxiety; Fear-based aggression towards strangers |
| Frustration Etiology | Destructive digging (under-stimulation); Excessive barking (boredom); Leash reactivity (barrier frustration) |
| Learned Behavior | Demand barking; Jumping on people; Begging for food |
| Cognitive Dysfunction | Disorientation in familiar environments; Night waking/pacing; Loss of house training; Altered interactions with family members |
| AI-Trainable Signals | Tail position/stiffness; Ear orientation; Vocalization pitch and frequency; Body posture tension; Facial muscle tension |
|---|---|
| Context-Dependent Vocalizations | Sharp bark at window = alert vs sharp bark during play = excitement; Low growl with toy = play vs low growl with stiff body = warning; Whining at door = need to go out vs whining near owner = attention seeking |
| Interspecies Communication | Uses intense direct eye contact to demand attention; Modifies bark pitch and persistence based on urgency; Uses pawing or nudging to initiate interaction |