Appearance of the French West Highlander
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| French West Highlanders closely resemble a compact Terrier breed. However, they inherit the "bat" ears of the French Bulldog and a short, rounded body. This breed reaches between 6.5 and 10 kilos and between 25.5 and 40.5 centimeters in height. Its coat is a compromise between its two parent breeds. It is of medium length, straight and rough like a Westie coat, but comes in multicolored combinations of white, fawn or cream with a possible brindle pattern and ticked markings, like a Frenchie coat. French West Highlanders have curious expressions with medium-sized, almond-shaped, dark-brown eyes. Their legs are straight and relatively short, with medium-sized feet and compact toes. |
Temperament of the French West Highlander
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| French West Highlanders are generally cheerful, playful and alert pets. They are descended from two highly intelligent breeds, which means they can sometimes be stubborn. As such, strict and consistent obedience training, especially at a young age, is important for this breed. Nevertheless, these little dogs are brimming with courageous personalities and love for people. They are good with children, but may need supervision with other dogs, especially furry strangers. Although this breed is very loyal to its owners, it can be surprisingly independent. As a result, owners don't have to worry about showering French West Highlanders with constant attention. As a result, these dogs can work well with busy families whose schedules require coming and going throughout the day. Nevertheless, when French West Highlanders feel sociable, they will be very affectionate and start playing with everyone around them. Even though this breed is relatively independent, it still needs regular exercise and attention to stay happy and healthy. |
Needs and activities of the French West Highlander
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| French West Highlanders are a mix of high-energy and low-energy breeds. As a result, they fall somewhere in between when it comes to energy and activity requirements. In fact, dozing and gnawing on chew toys could be some of this breed's favorite activities. As such, French West Highlanders are well suited to both apartment and city living. When not relaxing all day, French West Highlanders enjoy moderate walks, casual romps in the park or indoor play with their owners. Note that this breed should not be exercised in hot weather, but will generally do well in all types of climates. When it comes to meeting the exercise needs of this breed, moderation is key. |
Maintenance of the French West Highlander
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| French West Highlanders are not completely hypoallergenic, but they produce fewer allergens due to the hair-like coat they inherit from their Westie parent. They are low-maintenance, although some owners occasionally strip, also known as "plucking", and trim their dogs' medium-length coats to keep them clean and shiny. In addition, French West Highlanders should have their nails trimmed once a month and their teeth brushed once a day. Owners shouldn't bathe their French West Highlander more than once a month, otherwise they risk drying out the dog's already rough coat. Finally, this breed's "bat" ears should be checked regularly for wax build-up to avoid infection. |
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