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The Westiepoo is a friendly dog that breeders create by mixing a West Highland White Terrier with a Poodle. You might also hear people call it a Westiedoodle or a Wee-Poo, but the Westiepoo seems to be the most common. This dog is the perfect size for almost any home, large or small, and they’re highly intelligent and fun to teach new tricks.
Breed Overview
Height:
11 – 17 inches
Weight:
10 – 20 pounds
Lifespan:
12 – 15 years
Colors:
White with patches of blonde, blue, and silver
Suitable for:
Attentive, families, small homes apartments
Temperament:
Friendly, social, attentive, short-tempered
If you were thinking about getting one of these pets for your home but would like to learn more about them first, keep breathing while we discuss temperament, diet, grooming, and more to help you make an informed decision.
Westiepoo Characteristics
Westiepoo Puppies
While Westiepoos are friendly and attentive, they do have a short temper that can lead to lots of barking or chewing on furniture. However, with patience, dedication, and the right techniques, they can be successfully trained, and the result is definitely worth it! It is good to know what you’re getting into before bringing home one of these pooches, though, so you should do your research and prepare for short but daily training sessions.
Be sure to read the Westiepoo’s full care guide so you know what to expect from these pups and how you can take care of them so they grow into happy and healthy dogs.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Westiepoo
The Westie Poodle mix is a popular designer breed because it has a fantastic personality. These dogs get along well with children and are usually tolerant of rough play. They enjoy being around people and participating in family activities, so they can get upset if you spend a lot of time away from home. They may even start barking, digging holes, or chewing on furniture. Service dogs are better suited to people who spend plenty of time at home.
Since the Westiepoo has a poodle as a parent, they will be extremely intelligent, both a blessing and a curse. They will be easy to teach new tricks, and they will find where to help you around the house. However, they have a strong will and can be difficult to sway once they want something.
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🧑🧑🧒
Yes. The Westiepoo, as we mentioned earlier, enjoy beings around family members and is tolerant of children. This dog has plenty of energy for games, and a large family will help them get the exercise they need, while their smaller size makes them suitable for smaller homes and apartments. This dog is cautious around strangers, so one will make a great watchdog without being excessively barky unless you leave them alone too long.
Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽
The Westie Poodle mix gets along extremely well with other dog breeds and is usually friendly and outgoing on the walking trail. However, like many terriers, this dog has a strong prey drive and may chase small cats, rabbits, and squirrels. Early socialization can help them get along with other pets, but they will be hard to control in the yard.
Things to Know When Owning a Westiepoo:
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
Your Westiepoo has plenty of energy, so they are going to need high-quality food to stay healthy and happy. We recommend choosing brands with real meat like chicken, beef, turkey, or salmon listed as the first ingredient. Brands that provide real fruits and vegetables, like broccoli, pumpkin, blueberries, and more, can provide important vitamins and minerals that your pet needs. These ingredients also provide important antioxidants and prebiotics that help nourish your pet’s good gut bacteria leading to less frequent occurrences of constipation and diarrhea. Avoid foods with chemical preservatives or artificial dyes, and make sure any corn or soy ingredients are lower down the list and not near the beginning.
Exercise 🐕
Your Westiepoo is a high-energy dog that will require plenty of exercise. Luckily, their smaller size means that a good walk each day will allow the dog to burn off most of their excess energy. We recommend setting at least 30 minutes aside each day to walk or play with your Westiepoo to keep them healthy and less likely to disturb you while you sleep at night. Bored dogs often resort to barking or other bad behavior to get the attention they crave.
Training 🎾
Your Westiepoo is extremely intelligent, and it should be easy to teach them all kinds of tricks, at least when they feel like learning. The Westiepoo is very strong-willed and can get easily distracted by small animals or other “shiny things.” We recommend holding short training sessions at the same time each day to help get your pet into a routine. Right after playtime usually works best because your pet will have gotten most of their running out of their system and will be more inclined to focus on what you’re trying to teach.
Giving the dog plenty of treats and other positive reinforcement will keep them coming back for more. Consistency and patience are your keys to success. Even a highly intelligent dog like the Westiepoo can take several weeks to learn a new trick and commit it to memory.
Grooming ✂️
Luckily, your Westiepoo is not a heavy shutter and will leave next to no fur around your home. This breed is also a great choice for people who suffer from allergies. Although not completely hypoallergenic, they’re pretty close. However, they will require frequent brushing because the fur can get tangled and knotted. The longer you let it go, the more painful it will be for the dog, which will cause them to hate grooming. Start grooming early when the dog is still a puppy to help them get used to it, and brush frequently so that there will be less uncomfortable hair pulling.
If your dog spends most of their time in the house, you will need to trim the nails when you hear them clicking on the floor. We also recommend manually brushing your dog’s teeth with a pet-safe toothbrush to help slow the progression of dental disease.
- You might also be interested in: Best Dog Wipes: Reviews & Top Picks
Health and Conditions 🏥
- Liver disease
- Obesity
- Epilepsy
- Progressive retinal atrophy
Minor Conditions:
- Liver Disease – Liver disease can occur in any dog breed, but it’s more common in the West Highland Terrier parent breed of the Westiepoo. Early signs include a yellowish tint to the skin, and you will likely see it first in the eyes and ears. Your pet may also suffer from depression, personality changes, and even blindness, and you may also notice a decreased appetite, diarrhea, and vomiting. In some cases, diet and medication can help, especially when it hasn’t progressed too far.
- Obesity – Obesity can affect any breed, and it’s extremely common in the United States. Some experts suggest that more than 40% of dogs older than 5 years are overweight. Obesity can lead to several other health problems, including heart disease, liver disease, diabetes, and more. Obesity can also make it difficult for your pet to move around and will likely shorten their life expectancy. You can prevent obesity with proper portion control and by keeping vigilant about setting aside enough time each day to walk and play games with your pet.
Serious Conditions:
- Epilepsy – Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders that affect dogs. It affects the brain and causes unprovoked and uncontrollable seizures. Dog owners will need to keep a diary of the signs and how long they occur, as this diary will help determine treatment. There is currently no cure, but medication can help your dog manage it and improve their quality of life.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy – Progressive retinal atrophy is a condition that affects the photoreceptors in the back of your dog’s eye, inhibiting its ability to detect light. Early signs include night blindness, and you may notice your dog hesitate to go into dimly lit rooms. If the disease progresses enough, it can lead to blindness. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure, but vitamins and other nutritional supplements may help slow the progression.
Male vs Female
Since the Westiepoo is a mixed breed, it’s not easy to tell the difference between the male and female, as which parent they take after more will have a bigger impact on their final appearance and temperament.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Westiepoo
1. The West Highland White Terrier Parent breed is white so hunters could distinguish it from a fox.
The West Highland White Terrier was originally bred to hunt rodents on farms. Edward Donald Malcolm was the first person to breed terriers in the 1700s to have dogs that would help exterminate rodents in Britain. He started breeding little white dogs on his property and the family continued to breed them for over a century. This means the Westipoo is likely to have a high prey drive.
2. The special haircut a Poodle receives was originally to help them swim better since this breed is a water retriever.
Poodles were originally bred as water dogs, but their curly coats could weigh them down while swimming To help Poodles swim faster and improve their mobility in the water, their coats were shaved except for the chest and extremities. These areas were left unshaven to keep them warm and prevent sicknesses from the cold water temperatures. The Westipoo won’t likely need this cut but having a good-swimming parent may help them in the water.
3. The Poodle parent breed is one of the most intelligent dog breeds behind only the Border Collie.
Poodles are naturally energetic dogs with surprising learning abilities. Originating as water retrievers, their problem-solving skills have been their main area of expertise for many years. Their affectionate, people-pleasing nature makes them easy to train, and they excel in agility and obedience competitions. Having a poodle parent generally makes the Westiepoo intelligent as well.
Final Thoughts
The Westie Poodle mix makes a fantastic family pet, and they will enjoy spending time with you and the children. These dogs are wary of strangers, so they make great watchdogs, but they’re not hostile toward people or animals, though they will chase squirrels and rabbits around the yard. Westiepoos are intelligent but strong-willed, so they require patience and positive reinforcement to teach new tricks, but once you’ve bonded, they will be inseparable from the entire family.
We hope you enjoyed this short guide and found the answers you need.
See Also:
- Weeranian (Westie & Pomeranian Mix): Care, Pictures, Info & More
- Wauzer Dog Breed: Info, Pictures, Care Guide, Temperament & Traits
- Can Dogs Eat Mushrooms? Vet-Reviewed Safety & Health Facts
Featured Image Credit: Westiepoo 2014 3 (Image Credit: Gordito1869, Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported)
