The world of designer canines retains rising bigger and we be taught extra about selectively bred blended breeds day by day. Loyal, spirited, and entertaining, the West Highland Doxie is an cute combine between the West Highland White Terrier and Dachshund, two father or mother breeds which have some very distinct variations but in addition a number of similarities.
Like with any canine, it’s vital to know what you possibly can anticipate from the breed, or on this case breeds, as a way to decide whether or not they’re properly fitted to you and your way of life. Preserve studying to be taught all in regards to the West Highland Doxie and what you possibly can anticipate if you happen to determine to make one a part of the household.
Breed Overview
| Peak: | 8–12 inches |
| Weight: | 12–25 kilos |
| Lifespan: | 12-15 years |
| Colours: | White, black, brown, purple, brindle, fawn, cream |
| Appropriate for: | These on the lookout for a companion, households with older kids |
| Temperament: | Loyal, pleasant, curious, spirited, cussed |
Whenever you combine a Dachshund and a West Highland Terrier, you’re positive to get a small, compact canine weighing wherever between 12 and 25 kilos and reaching not more than 12 inches in peak.
In the case of the coat, you will get all kinds of colours from Dachshund genetics or the pure snow white from the Westie. The coat texture can differ considerably by particular person and can vary in size, thickness, and coarseness.
You may anticipate a spirited companion that’s as loving and dependable as they’re cussed and curious. They’re properly fitted to these looking for a pleasant lap canine, and for households with older kids.
West Highland Traits
West Highland Doxie Puppies
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The West Highland Doxie isn’t essentially the most available designer breed, so you’ll have to perform a little research to discover a breeder. There’s all the time an opportunity chances are you’ll bump into this combine in a shelter or rescue as properly. In case you’ve determined to convey house one in all these puppies, it’s essential to make sure you discover a respected breeder that does the right well being testing for his or her canines to make sure you get the healthiest pup doable.
The value of a West Highland Doxie pet can differ from $500 to $1,200 from a breeder. Rescues and shelters typically cost wherever between $75 to $400 for adoption charges relying on the ability or group.
Any pet ought to start coaching as quickly as they arrive of their new house. Not solely will these puppies have small bladders and have to go potty ceaselessly, however they are going to have a number of power and can want an acceptable outlet.
Temperament & Intelligence of the West Highland Doxie
If properly educated and correctly socialized, the West Highland Doxie could make a beautiful pet that may get pleasure from being round individuals. Each father or mother breeds are loyal and loving canines which are very affectionate with their households.
They are typically open to strangers if socialized from an early age, although they are going to seemingly err on the aspect of warning at first. Each Dachshunds and Westies are typically protecting of their households and watchful of their territory, to allow them to get a bit snappy in the event that they aren’t used to new individuals.
These canines are clever and cussed and have a means of determining easy methods to get what they need. You too can anticipate a number of barking with this blended breed, as each mother and father are on the highest of the checklist in the case of being vocal. In case you don’t desire a canine that barks rather a lot, chances are you’ll want to contemplate different choices.
Whereas they are often taught to get alongside properly with older kids, it’s typically accepted that they shouldn’t be allowed round very younger kids, as they’ll’t all the time be trusted. They’re pretty playful and can get pleasure from being within the firm of older kids if they’re handled with respect and given their very own house. Given their genes, it’s no shock that the West Highland Doxie continues to have a developed prey drive. This will make their consideration span brief when outside as they’re consistently sniffing round for the closest animal. If raised with different pets from a younger age they might properly tolerate them, however we shouldn’t assume that they are going to.
Are These Canines Good for Households? 👪
West Highland Doxies could make wonderful household pets when properly socialized. They typically do a lot better with households which have older kids, as they’re of an age the place they know easy methods to gently deal with small canines and deal with them with respect.
Since youthful kids are sometimes rougher by nature and don’t perceive easy methods to deal with pets simply but, they are going to be extra prone to being bitten since these canines have a decrease tolerance and should growl, snap, nip, or chunk in the event that they really feel defensive or overwhelmed.
Every canine is a person and anybody with younger kids contemplating this blended breed ought to elevate the canine from a pet and guarantee they’re socialized properly and all the time saved beneath shut supervision when within the presence of kids.
Does This Breed Get Alongside With Different Pets?
These canines will typically get alongside properly with different canines, particularly if they’re uncovered to them ranging from a younger age. They do are inclined to exhibit “small canine syndrome,” the place they imagine they’re the boss and act like they’re greater than they’re. This may be problematic in the event that they grow to be aggressive with bigger canines, so it’s vital to maintain this conduct in verify with correct coaching.
In the case of cats and different small pets, early socialization is essential to a family of concord. Each the Dachshund and the Westie had been developed as searching canines, so that they have a pure prey drive that may take over when within the presence of smaller animals.
Issues to Know When Proudly owning a West Highland Doxie:
Meals & Weight-reduction plan Necessities 🦴
West Highland Doxies needs to be fed a high-quality food plan that’s acceptable for his or her age, dimension, and exercise degree. Whether or not it’s a industrial meals or house ready, it have to be nutritionally balanced to go well with their wants. It’s all the time a good suggestion to get dietary recommendation out of your veterinarian you probably have any questions or issues.
It will be essential that you just forestall them from turning into chubby. Not only for the well being issues related to weight problems usually, however with Dachshund genetics, these canines have a tendency to intervertebral disc illness and extra weight can put quite a lot of pressure on their backs. Be sure that to feed acceptable portions at mealtime, provide treats sparingly, and keep away from desk scraps.
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Train 🐕
Each the Dachshund and Westie are playful and energetic breeds that may require no less than 30 to 60 minutes of train every day. They’ll get pleasure from quite a lot of actions like outside play, every day walks, and might even excel in canine sports activities and agility.
It’s essential to maintain up with an everyday train routine with these canines for the sake of their well being and to forestall them from turning into chubby.
Coaching 🎾
You’re positive to have an clever, curious canine in your fingers that may have an plain cussed, unbiased streak. In the case of trainability, you possibly can anticipate some challenges and might want to stay constant, agency, affected person, and give attention to optimistic reinforcement methods.
You don’t need the West Highland Doxie to lose curiosity, so it’s greatest to maintain coaching periods brief, candy, and enjoyable – lasting not more than 10 to fifteen minutes every session. Potty coaching will seemingly show a problem, as each father or mother breeds will be tough to potty prepare, which is pretty frequent amongst smaller canines.
Grooming ✂️
The West Highland Doxie can have a assorted coat with size starting from the brief, smooth coat of the Dachshund to the medium to lengthy size and coarse double coat of the Westie. Relying on which coat the person will get, the grooming wants are topic to differ.
Shorter, sleeker coats will probably be a lot simpler to look after whereas the longer, coarser double coated canines will want common brushing to forestall tangles and can seemingly want extra common trimming. Regardless, you possibly can anticipate a average quantity of shedding from these designer canines.
It’s all the time really helpful to maintain an in depth eye on their nails and trim them as wanted to forestall overgrowth. Ears needs to be checked typically for cleanliness and needs to be cleaned of any dust or particles. If there may be lengthy hair close to the eyes, correct maintenance will probably be wanted to forestall staining and guarantee they’ll see clearly.
Since dental illness is frequent in small canines, it is best to begin brushing enamel at an early age and stay on a strict dental care routine as a way to forestall dental illness altogether.
Well being and Circumstances 🏥
Since each father or mother breeds are liable to a variety of well being circumstances, it’s vital to know what might have an effect on your valuable pup. Accountable breeding is important to producing wholesome canines and enhancing breeding inventory which is why discovering a good breeder is so vital.
Minor Circumstances
- Allergy symptoms
- Luxating patella
- Eye circumstances
Severe Circumstances
Intervertebral Disc Illness
Hip dysplasia
Weight problems
Intervertebral Disc Illness (IVDD)
Intervertebral Disc Disease, or IVDD is a degenerative illness that impacts the spinal wire and causes a variety of painful mobility points. IVDD will be described as ruptured, slipped, bulging or herniated disks and is frequent within the Dachshund.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia happens throughout progress and ends in the loosening of the hip joint, resulting in ache and dysfunction. Because the canine grows the cartilage and bone of the hip will put on down and over time result in arthritis, muscle atrophy, ache, and mobility points.
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Weight problems
Obesity refers to extra physique fats and might result in some very severe well being issues together with most cancers, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart illness, hypertension, osteoarthritis, quicker degeneration of affected joints, urinary bladder stones, and problems with anesthesia. Each breeds can simply grow to be overweight, so prevention is vital.
Allergy symptoms
Allergy symptoms happen because of an overactive or hypersensitive immune system that reacts to a particular substance, or allergen. Most allergy symptoms come from an immune response to sure proteins, crops, bugs, animals, or meals. Each Westies and Dachshunds are liable to allergy symptoms and pores and skin circumstances related to the allergic response.
Luxating Patella
Luxating patella refers back to the kneecap being dislocated or misplaced. dislocated. Each the Dachshund and Westie are liable to luxating patella, which has various levels of severity.
Eye Circumstances
West Highland Doxies will naturally be liable to sure eye conditions together with dry eye, cataracts, and glaucoma since each father or mother breeds are predisposed to eye issues, particularly of their later years.
Male vs Feminine
In the case of temperament, there’s not a lot distinction between women and men as every canine has their very own distinctive character traits that they’ll get from one or each father or mother breeds. Males are inclined to get bigger than females, however since these canines are a blended breed, they differ barely in dimension already.
After all, males can start to behave in a different way after they attain sexual maturity, which isn’t particular to any breed. They might grow to be extra territorial, start marking, and have a need to wander. This will simply be remedied by neutering, which is cheaper and a better surgical procedure total when in comparison with spaying a feminine.
No matter whether or not you might have a male or feminine West Highland Doxie, it is best to discuss to your veterinarian in regards to the well being and behavioral advantages of spaying and/or neutering and the very best time to have it accomplished.
3 Little-Identified Details In regards to the West Highland Doxie
1. Dachshunds Have been Bred to Hunt Badgers
Dachshunds had been developed in Germany for the aim of searching badgers. Their brief legs preserve them low to the bottom to raised monitor scent, and their slender, lengthy our bodies enable them to crawl and maneuver properly in burrows. They might be small in dimension, however they’re extremely fierce and brave searching canines.
2. West Highland White Terriers Have been Bred to Hunt Rats
Westies had been additionally bred as searching canines, however they originated in Scotland and got the aim of searching rats and different vermin. Their white, coarse coats had been a sought-after trait to assist hunters establish their canines in the course of the hunt because of these vivid, snow-white coats.
3. The West Highland Doxie Origin Is Unknown
No one is aware of or is certain when the designer breed now often known as the West Highland Doxie was first launched. There are lots of designer canines being bred these days, and whereas some will be traced again to their origins, these cute little pooches stay a thriller.
Remaining Ideas
The West Highland Doxie is an cute combine between the West Highland White Terrier and the Dachshund. They’re small canines weighing not more than 25 kilos however can differ considerably in seems to be together with physique form, coat texture, coat shade, and head form. These canines are recognized for being loyal, loving, and pleasant however will also be stubborn, independent, and a challenge to train. They’re greatest fitted to households with older kids or adults looking for a lap-sized companion.
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