West Highland Doxie Information – Everything You Need To Know

The West Highland Doxie is a small-sized sturdy dog breed. The dog has a scruffy, medium-length coat and is a hybrid.

This article will go through information related to the West Highland Doxie, such as its origins, diet, size, personality, characteristics, and much more.

West Highland Doxie’s History

The West Highland is a Designer dog, so we are unaware of its history. We only know that the dog is a mixture of the Dachshund and the West Highland white terrier dog breed.

The West Highland white terrier is a Scottish dog breed developed in the 1700s. The breed was developed for hunting purposes, and it was efficient at disposing of foxes, otters, badgers and rats.

In 1908, the West Highland white terrier was recognized by the AKC (American Kennel Club). Not long after that, the ‘Westie’ gained immense popularity in the United States. On the other hand, the Dachshund was developed in Germany, and it was bred for hunting purposes.

The Dachshund is officially recognized by the AKC and is a mix of the following dog breeds:

• Pinscher
• Spaniel
• Terrier
• French Basset Hound

While the West Highland Doxie is usually kept as a pet, it might inherit its parents’ hunting mentality and skillset.

While the AKC doesn’t recognize the West Highland Doxie as a hybrid, it is officially recognized by the IDCR (International Designer Canine Registry).

West Highland Doxie Characteristics

Since the West Highland white terrier and the Dachshund have different appearances, the West Highland Doxie has varied characteristics.

Generally, the dog is sturdy and small-sized; it has crooked arms and a rectangular-shaped body structure.

The eyes can be hazel, blue or brown, and the nose is typically brown or black. The snout is well defined and small in size, and the short tail is kept straight.

The coat of the West Highland Doxie comes in different colors, such as grey, black or brown. Patches of color, speckles and spots are commonly found on the fur.

How Big Can A West Highland Doxie Get?

The average weight of the West Highland Doxie is 6 to 11 kg. The dog stands 22 to 28 cm at the shoulders.

How Long Can A West Highland Doxie Live?

The lifespan of the West Highland Doxie is 12 to 14 years.

How Much Does A West Highland Doxie Cost?

The average price of a West Highland Doxie puppy is around $ 1000.

West Highland Doxie Personality/Temperament

Since the West Highland Doxie is a hybrid breed, the temperament is often derived from the parent breeds. The dog can inherit traits from the Westie or the Dachshund.

However, the West Highland Doxie can also be a blend of both its parents. Generally, the West Highland Doxie is devoted, sweet and smart, especially when raised in a healthy environment.

If you socialize and train the dog properly, it won’t be hostile and aggressive towards strangers or kids. These dogs are perfect for families with old children, as they don’t tolerate toddlers pinching them constantly.

The dog is curious and lively by nature and loves to play and explore. The West Highland Doxie always loves to cuddle with its owner.

However, since both the parent breeds of the West Highland Doxie were hunters, the dog has a high prey drive. To reduce the prey drive, you will need to socialize the dog with small animals at a young age.

Due to the Doxie having a high prey drive, you should never let him off-leash, especially in insecure areas.

West Highland Doxie’s Nutrition

You must feed the West Highland Doxie a well-balanced and healthy diet. A healthy diet can reduce the risk of dangerous health conditions.

You can feed the Doxie a highly-quality variety of dry dog food. If you can’t find dry dog feed, feed the dog Dave’s dog food or Beneful dog food.

How Do You Groom A West Highland Doxie?

You will need to maintain the West Highland Doxie frequently, especially if its coat is similar to that of the West Highland white terrier. The dog sheds seasonally, but you should keep the dog clean regularly.

You should always have some basic grooming tools at home, such as a Dog bathtub and Dog grooming table.

You should also clean the ears regularly to prevent ear infections. Nails need to be clipped weekly, and you should brush the dog’s teeth 3 to 4 times a week to avoid gum diseases.  

Activity Levels of the West Highland Doxie

The Dachshund and the West Highland white terrier are highly energetic dog breeds and require at least 30 minutes of daily physical activity. The West Highland Doxie also requires at least 30 to 40 minutes of exercise daily and is suitable for warm climates.

The dog can live in a house or an apartment, but and loves digging up the garden, a trait it has inherited from its parents.

Health Concerns for West Highland Doxie

The West Highland Doxie is generally a healthy dog breed. However, there are a few health concerns you should be aware of:

• Epilepsy
• Atopic Dermatitis
• Cushing’s Disease
• Addison’s Disease

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a type of neurological disorder and is common in canines. The condition affects almost 0.75 % of the global canine population.

Epilepsy is a heterogeneous condition that can cause consistent and unprovoked seizures in the brain. The condition can also cause abnormality in the brain.

Atopic Dermatitis

Itchy skin can be caused by various factors such as bacterial and parasitic infections, one of the main causes is Atopy.

This is a type of allergy, and dogs suffering from this condition, are allergic to a few elements in their environment, such as grass or pollen. Atopic Dermatitis is tough to manage and requires medication.

Cushing’s disease

Also referred to as Hyperadrenocorticism, it is a condition that appears when there is a lot of cortisol, a type of stress hormone, in the body. Some signs of Cushing’s disease are thirstiness, pot belly and excessive panting.

Addison’s disease

This is a difficult condition to diagnose for vets as it comes and goes. Dogs suffering from this condition can suffer bouts of diarrhoea and vomiting.

Blood tests are the best way to diagnose Addison’s disease.

Breeds Similar To a West Highland Doxie

• West Highland White Terrier
• Dachshund
• Corillon
• Dandie Dinmont Terrier
• Rattle Griffon

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Sources

• dogbreedinfo.com
• dogzone.com
• petguide.com