
Westies are typically agreeable and friendly dogs. Temperament Yorkies have higher energy levels than Westies, but they both love to run around and play. Yorkies stand with a straight line from rump to shoulder. Their ears are small, V-shaped, and erect. Usually, especially if the owners desire pedigree in their dog, a Yorkie will have a docked tail. With a short haircut, Yorkies have a very similar appearance to a teddy bear. Yorkie haircuts vary with their owners’ tastes, with one popular haircut trimmed at floor length to give the appearance that the dog has no feet. Unlike the Westies, Yorkies have very silky, straight coats that are more like human hair than fur. They are long-haired toy Terriers with tan, grey, and black coloring.

They can be even smaller if they are of the Teacup variety. Yorkies are smaller than Westies by quite a bit, growing to a height of about 7-8 inches and weighing around only seven pounds. The breed is part of the terrier group of dogs, whereas the Yorkie is technically part of the toy group. A deep chest and turned-out feet add to the Westie’s stable form and solid footing. They have a double coat, a harder and tough topcoat, and a soft undercoat beneath.Ī Westie generally has a robust demeanor with a proud stance and upright stature. Ears are pointed and far apart but usually unseen due to the popular hairstyle they receive. They have relatively short tails often carried upright. They look a bit more like other terriers than they do the Yorkie. They have pure white coats without spots, mottles, or blemishes, usually trimmed to a medium length and kept very fluffy around the face for a round, friendly look. Westies are the larger dog, standing at the height of 10-11 inches and weighing 15-20 pounds. Appearance Though both breeds are small, the Yorkie is smaller, only weighing up to seven pounds.

Now they are well known as lapdogs and show dogs. They became popular as lapdogs for Victorian ladies and subsequently diminished in size. This decision made Yorkies suddenly very fashionable. The English Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1886. Their small size and quick movements were ideal for squeezing into narrow crevices and catching rats and other vermin. Their coats were often referred to as the ‘ultimate product of the looms’ of their owners. Because of the Yorkies’ silky hair, they were very fitting pets for the weavers. These Scotch Terriers refer to Terriers from Scotland and are not the same as the Scottish Terriers found today.Īs a working-class dog, Yorkies were owned primarily by weavers. These breeds were mostly Scotch Terriers brought to England’s northern Yorkshire and Lancashire counties by their owners. They come from various breeds of Britain, some of which are now extinct. Yorkies were originally bred to be exterminators and rat-catchers during the mid-1800s. Yorkshire Terrier The Yorkie’s tiny frame and speediness made it optimal for hunting small rodents and vermin. Cesar Dog Food and Black and White Scotch Whiskey are examples of products today that use the Westie as their brand symbols. Nowadays, they are popular show dogs who excel in agility courses.

These dogs were occasionally called Poltalloch Terriers or Roseneath Terriers, after their homes on Scottish estates.īy 1896, the breed was called the West Highland White Terrier after the region in which they were commonly found. Other areas in Scotland also began breeding White Terriers until eventually, a single breed emerged.

In the 1700s, the Scottish clan Malcolm began breeding little white dogs to exterminate rats. It is unclear precisely when Westies became an official breed. The first acknowledgment of a Scottish White Terrier recorded was between 15, during the reign of James VI of Scotland. Westies come from the general breeding of rat-catcher dogs and exterminator dog Terriers (known as earth-dogs) in Britain. West Highland Terrier The Westie was bred to catch vermin and rodents in Scotland hundreds of years ago. Let’s learn a little bit more about the history of each breed. The origin of both breeds also comes from Scotland or Northern England, where they were bred to act as exterminators. Both breeds were bred as rat-catcher dogs and still retain many of those traits today.
