7 Fascinating Facts About the Westiepoo
The Westiepoo crossbreed is one most people can easily mistake for any other small dog with white curly hair. And that’s understandable, as the Westipoo does share parts of its appearance and some key characteristics with dogs like the Maltese, the Bichon Frise, or its two actual parent breeds – the West “Westie” Highland White Terrier and the Poodle.
You can easily look at the Westiepoo as yet another small white dog but you’d be making a mistake. Thanks to it being half a Poodle, the Westiepoo is quite diverse compared to its Westie parent and possesses quite a few unique traits. So, what are the 7 most curious factoids about the Westiepoo?
Here’s what you need to know about the Westiepoo
First and foremost, it’s crucial to remember that this is a designer crossbreed and not a purebred dog. This matters because the Westiepoo doesn’t have a solid standard for its physical and temperamental characteristics yet and they can therefore vary a bit between those of a Poodle and a Westie. Fortunately, while Westies and Poodles are different, their traits do combine pretty well which makes the Westiepoo a pretty well-balanced crossbreed.
1. These small dogs are easily manageable enough for apartment life
The Westiepoo can be a mix between a Westie and either a Medium Poodle or a Miniature Poodle. Technically, it can be mixed with a Toy or a Standard Poodle too, but these two sub-breeds tend to be too small and too big respectively, so most breeders seem to choose the two mid-sized Poodle options instead.
The end result is a crossbreed that averages 11 to 17 inches of height at the shoulders (28 to 43 cm) and 20 to 35 pounds (9 to 16 kg) of total adult body weight. This puts the Westiepoo fairly firmly in the “Small dog” category. So, if you want a small and easy to handle dog that doesn’t necessarily need a house with a big yard, the Westiepoo can work just fine.
2. Westiepoos may be small but they are incredibly energetic and playful
Don’t mistake the lack of a need for a yard with the Westiepoo being low-energy – far from it. As the offspring of a terrier breed and a gun dog, the Westiepoo has enough energy to put many larger breeds to shame. The smaller size compensates for that as it means your dog can get some of its exercise indoors but that energy will still need to be expelled.
This means a few things for you:
- Your dog will need at least 60 minutes of outdoor time a day, divided into at least two long walks
- Whether you live in an apartment or a house, the place should be spacious enough for your little dynamo to run around and play
- There should be plenty of fun and interactive dog toys around, with a new one being brought in every couple of weeks to keep your dog’s mind exercised as well
- You should play with your dog too, don’t just leave it with the dog toys to its own devices all day – Westiepoos need frequent interaction to feel happy and satisfied
3. As the offspring of a gun dog breed, Westiepoos are highly intelligent and need mental stimulation
Terrier breeds are often viewed as too willful, self-driven, and stubborn – so much so that many don’t see them as “smart enough” compared to shepherds or gun dogs. And while the last part isn’t true, it is valid that terriers are quite stubborn. As the Westiepoo is a part gun dog, however, this crossbreed is as smart as it is trainable. As long as the initial course of obedience training is passed while the pup is still young, you should then be able to train your Westiepoo to do anything a Poodle can.
The flip side of that, as we alluded to above, is that such a smart and trainable dog does need lots of mental stimulation. This means lots of interactive dog toys and a ton of personal interactions.
4. Their energetic nature doesn’t get in the way of their cuddliness
People often think that a dog breed can be either energetic or a lapdog. While many dog breeds do lean a little too far in either direction, many are like the Westiepoo and offer the best of both worlds. These small dogs do need lots of playtime and exercise but are also exceptionally cute, cuddly, and affectionate. So, if you want a dog to sleep on your lap while you work or watch TV, all you need to do is get a Westiepoo, give it an hour of playtime in the dog park, and then you’ll get cuddles for hours.
One thing to remember about all smart and affectionate dogs, however, is that they can suffer from separation anxiety and the Westiepoo is no exception. What exactly does separation anxiety mean?
It means that if you work away from home for long hours every day, you’d need to do some or any of the following things:
- Get another family member to be home while you’re away
- Hire a dog sitter or a dog walker
- Arrange for doggy playdates with other dog-owning friends
- Get your dog with you whenever possible
- Get plenty of interactive dog toys
- Use pet doors and gates to keep your dog away from some areas of your home (but don’t restrict its living space too much)
- Give your dog plenty of exercise and playtime before you go out
- Consider getting a second pet to keep your Westiepoo company
If none of the above is an option, the Westiepoo may not be the best pet breed for you.
5. These dogs can easily be socialized to get along with almost anyone, including kids – just be careful with smaller pets
Getting a second pet may sound great but do Westiepoos get along with other dogs? Other pets? Like any other dog, the Westiepoo does need socialization. Once that’s taken care of, however, any Westiepoo should gladly welcome home any guest or strangers, and should have few issues interacting with other dogs or living with kids.
The one potential drawback in terms of social interactions is one that’s common for many terrier breeds – small non-canine pets. These dogs were bred and trained for hunting small game in urban environments so they have very strong prey drives for anything smaller than them that isn’t a dog. This means that cat owners should be careful with this breed. That being said, good socialization, a proper introduction, and enough initial supervision can make even living with a cat possible for a Westiepoo.
6. The Westiepoo’s coat can come in different types but is usually pretty low-maintenance
Small and white dog breeds like the Miniature Poodle and the Maltese are famous for having low-shedding and nearly hypoallergenic single-layer coats. At the same time, many others – like the Bichon Frise and the Shih Tzu – are double-coated. And the West Highland White Terrier falls in the latter category too.
What does this mean for your Westiepoo?
It means that it can either be single-coated like a Poodle or double-coated like a Westie – there’s a 50/50 chance for either. Even in the latter case, however, your Westiepoo still shouldn’t shed very much and its coat should be pretty easy to take care of. Plus, by the 8th week, it’s usually easy to tell what type of coat the pup is going to have.
In any case, your dog will still need daily brushing and good grooming even if it doesn’t shed much. That’s just important to prevent matting and skin problems.
7. This is a pretty healthy breed if you look after it adequately enough
Neither the Poodle nor the West Highland White Terrier is a particularly unhealthy breed. Of course, they are not immortal either, so you should still be careful not to get a pup from sickly parents. That’s why we always recommend asking your breeder for both the pup’s health certificate and for its parents’ certificates too. Or, if you’re adopting, ask to see the dog’s detailed health information. Doing this all but guarantees that your pet won’t have any or many hereditary health problems.
After that, it’s all a matter of good care. Feed your dog well, give it plenty of physical and mental exercise, don’t skip the routine bi-annual vet visits, and you should easily avoid all major health issues that can befall a Westiepoo such as:
Or, to put all of the above more succinctly – Westiepoos are exactly what you’d expect when you look at them. Tiny, playful, clever and mischievous, yet affectionate and cuddly, easy to care for, and great with kids. The only stumbling block in front of this crossbreed’s popularity is that there are many other similar breeds yet not all dog owners are looking for this type of dog.
If you are, however, and you want to bring home a mostly indoors and small canine that’s more than energetic enough to be fun but is also loving and gentle, the Westiepoo is a great candidate to consider.
