Breeds / Small
Westiepoo puppies
The Westiepoo is friendly, outgoing and clever, very social with people and other dogs. They keep some terrier instincts, including a strong prey drive and a quick bark at the door.
The facts
- Size class Small
- A cross of West Highland White Terrier and Poodle
- Country of origin Not published
- Adult weight 9.1 to 15.9 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 20 to 35 lb
- Adult height 28 to 43 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Not published
- Coat type Medium length, wiry or curly
- Typical lifespan 12 to 15 years
- Good with children Not published
- Good with other dogs Not published
About the Westiepoo
The Westiepoo crosses the West Highland White Terrier with a Miniature or Toy Poodle and is also called the Westiedoodle or Wee-poo. Daily Paws says they are thought to have been first bred in the Americas around 1970, and gives adults as 28 to 43 cm (11 to 17 in) and 9.1 to 15.9 kg (20 to 35 lb), with a lifespan of 12 to 15 years. The medium length coat may be rough and wiry like a Westie's or soft and curly like a Poodle's, and is usually white, though black, golden, cream and brown also occur. Build ranges from the Poodle's longer legs to the Westie's short, stout outline.
A 30 minute daily walk and somewhere fenced to play and sniff are enough for most, and they adapt to flats as well as houses. They shed little, but the coat mats if left, so brush regularly, bath every four to six weeks and trim the hair around the eyes and ears. A vet quoted by Daily Paws calls them a very social breed prone to separation anxiety, best with someone home a good deal or a dog walker on longer days. Small pets may be chased, so introduce a cat carefully, and steer clear of anyone selling miniature or teacup Westiepoos.
A cross, not a breed. The Westiepoo is a cross rather than a standardised breed, and the AKC does not recognise them, so size, coat and build vary and puppies from one litter can differ. Daily Paws warns against miniature or teacup Westiepoo adverts: for a smaller dog, look for one with a Toy Poodle parent, since teacup dogs often come with health problems from unethical breeding.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Westiepoo puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Skin disease, caught early by checking the skin at least once a week for redness, hair loss, scabs or discharge
- Ear infections, helped by keeping the hair around the ears trimmed
- Dental disease and early tooth loss, prevented with daily tooth brushing using a dog toothpaste
- Heart disease, with a vet advising a check every six months from the age of six to assess the heart
- Epilepsy
- Hip dysplasia
- Obesity, kept in check with regular exercise
Your Westiepoo puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Westiepoo.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 9.1 to 15.9 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 30 inch (30 x 20 x 23 in, 76 x 51 x 58 cm) for an adult of up to 15.9 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other small breeds
More on the Westiepoo
Previous: West Highland White Terrier · Next: Wetterhoun
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- dailypaws.com for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- Health notes from Westiepoo breed information at https://www.dailypaws.com/dogs-puppies/dog-breeds/westiepoo. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
No published figure for grooming, the good with children rating, the good with other dogs rating and country of origin, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.
Photo: M. Pfeiffer alias Benutzer:Gordito1869, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.