About Weshi
| Height | 8-11 inches |
| Weight | 11-18 lbs |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years |
| Group | Not applicable |
| Best Suited For | Singles, active seniors, families with older children, people who live in a house with a backyard, apartment dwellers |
| Temperament | Energetic, stubborn, affectionate, lively, friendly, attention-seeking, smart, curious |
| Comparable Breeds | Shih Tzu, West Highland White Terrier |
Weshi Basics
The Weshi is a playful crossbreed hybrid dog. They combine the West Highland White Terrier also known as Westie and the Shih Tzu. Small affectionate dogs weigh anything from 12-20 pounds. They are cheerful and active. They have a double coat, which can be silky to slightly wavy in texture, and may inherit some of the hypoallergenic traits of the Westie parent, making them an excellent choice for allergy sufferers.
Weshis are smart and easy to train, but a bit headstrong at times, so early training and socialization would be beneficial. Weshis require moderate exercise and should be taken on a daily walk and be given playtime, and they remain healthy and happy this way. Their friendly, loyal, and social nature makes them great with children and other pets. A Weshi is a perfect addition to any household.
In addition to the wonderful personality, Weshis are low shedders that make them excellent for most owners searching for a non-shedding pet. However, the coat on a Weshi can get very messy with matting unless it is kept under regular groom. Regular brushing with occasional visits to a groomer keep the Weshi’s coat smooth and healthy. These types of Weshis tend to be very attentive toward their family members and form close relationships, so quite often they tend to cling to the owner. Loves attention; it can actually suffer from separation anxiety. Therefore, it prefers its homes to spend a maximum amount of time with humans. Their adaptable nature will do well in any given living environment, whether apartment or house with a yard. Proper care and attention to them will make good loyal, loving pets that brighten up any home with joy and companionship.
Origin
Thousands of years ago, mixed-breed dogs have been around, and Westie/Shih Tzu mixes certainly were around long before they were bred on purpose. Still, what makes the Weshi unique is the deliberate reproduction of this designer dog. Little is known about how the Weshi breed came to be because no one knows who created it. This “murky past” is typical for hybrids because it is often unclear when they switched from unintentional crosses to deliberate breeding for designer dogs. Still, it’s thought that the Weshi was bred some twenty years ago, probably in the United States. A very rare breed, relatively new, the Weshi has gained popularity through the unique characteristics of the West Highland White Terrier and Shih Tzu; thus, a dog lover can easily own an affectionate, loyal companion who is low shed.
Pedigree
Though not a pure breed like other traditional breeds, the Weshi has ancestry to breed the characteristics of its parent breeds and does not have a traditional pedigree like most purebred dogs. The Westie is considered to be a dog that is very independent, alert, and keen on hunting instincts. They originated from Scotland as working dogs for catching small game. Rather, the Shih Tzu is the dog of centuries-long breed as a loyal companion dog, bred to the Imperial Courts of China throughout these centuries, and it knows to be loving but temperamental and devoted all his life. All these properties come together in this exceptionally versatile Weshi through their friendly nature in Shih Tzu and playfulness paired with resilience like that depicted in Westie.
As hybrids, Weshis do not have the formalized pedigrees accepted by kennel clubs, but their parent breeds can be an insight into what might be expected of them. The designer dog breeders will try to create hybrids that inherit the best qualities of both parents, and in the case of the Weshi, it would be a low-shedding, adaptable, friendly pet with moderate energy. The formal registries for Weshis are very scarce, though a few may qualify for hybrid dog clubs that take on mixed breeds for events and competitions targeting these designer dogs.
Food/Diet
Just like humans, the Weshi requires a balanced diet which is instrumental in maintaining health and leading a long, happy life. Dogs are omnivores and hence should eat a diverse diet: protein coming from meat, healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, and fiber. These are the items that are generally required to have a balanced meal. Nevertheless, it can be very challenging to figure out the precise vitamins and minerals that your pet needs in its diet which you will not always be confident about, although the best suggestion will be a high-quality dry product. The diet is prepared to meet the needs of your dog, plus it is the most convenient for you. There is some very good food that is prepared that way. Just open the bag and serve the pet.
First and foremost, select premium dry food that is natural and of high quality to make sure that there are no fillers and artificial substances in the edible that you’re providing for your pet. Moreover, you must check with the kibble you wish to get whether your pet has its characteristics such as the age range, size, or energy level. One of the food brands that have a small-breed formula specialized for Weshis is among our best choices.
Curing the disease through allergy to food is found in the cause of these pups that just may not be able to take some food because they can also have a sensitive stomach. Getting food allergies is common in this species mostly because they have West Highland White Terrier genes which are associated with their digestive tract issues. Moreover, it so happens that these little compact dogs are also prone to diabetes so keep a check on their weight gain you don’t want them overweight. Go by the guidelines of the manufacturer for the portion sizes and divide their day ratio into two.
Thanks to the special mix of their parental breeds, Weshi is a great family pet and companion.
Weshi Dog Training
The Weshi is a clever and inquisitive little dog who is into everything that goes on around him. It’s a pity if the smartness of your pet does not lead to the trainability you hoped for. In truth, intelligence can bring even a little stubbornness and wilfulness to the dog. At times, the terrier genes managed to evoke their characteristics in Weshi so that he emerged to be an aggressive and obstinate dog that then turned out to be a little harder for the owner to deal with. Overwhelmed by this statement, if the analogous relation between the Shih-Tzu and the terrier genes causes the same outcome, which makes Weshi have two melodies of his soul, it is a matter of right approach that can correct this. The Shih Tzu mixes in with the Terriers and gives Weshi the calmness to be the people pleaser usually. But it is not out of the question, but rather a particular circumstance; generally, the Shih Tzu genes calm down the fierceness of the terrier and make the Weshi easy to train. But if successfully applied, no problem will occur in the teaching process.
It is paramount to strike a balance between the strong, confident authority and the prize-based procedure. You must stick to the training lessons consistently and never let a stubborn dog who is training himself to dominate you have his way. This does not mean you should be rough; however, shouting and punishing will only aggravate the situation. Weshi training through positive reinforcement turns out to be conducive and as a result, both electronic devices and toys of all shapes and sizes are available on the market. The trainers have the most efficient way of training Weshis. They will be both motivated and involved in your quality relationship when they are trained with the tool of positive reinforcement.
Weight
An average Weshi grows to a weight range of 11-18 pounds as an adult. Male puppies with the Westie genes tend to be heavier unless the female genes are stronger which leads to that situation.
Temperament
When you have mixed-breed dogs like Weshi, you cannot predict which one of the two parents will be more dominant. Each dog is unique to themselves and how they act will largely depend on how you train and socialize them, so there are only general features you can notice before meeting your new puppy.
The exclusive blend of the parental breeds gives Weshi the chance to fulfill the roles of pet and family pet in a one-of-a-kind way. Besides being sweet and loving, these dogs are very affectionate and people-oriented. They spend much of their time with you and want to take part in every family event- best of all at the center of it. Weshi is so willing of attention and will aspire to be put through many affectionate and laudable paces.
Although it must be emphasized that they are very friendly animals and they are very attached to people, without correct socialization, Weshi can be mayhem in families with small children and multi-pet households. Since terrier genetics are linked to a greater possibility of becoming snappy with kids that play roughly, as well as a high prey drive and bossy attitudes that result from not socializing, it brings them down from the top pets among dogs and cats.
Common Health Problems
The mistaken and uninformed belief that all mutt puppies are healthier than purebreds is due in part to the hybrid vigor rationale. This hypothesis implies that the hybrid offspring is more adaptable and healthier than their parents. Regrettably, a credible breed that says designer dogs are the real hybrid is not true because it is not a cross between species but breeds. Thus, the secret detective to a hole-healthy designer dog lies in the check-up breeding. A good breeder who is a Kooiker will give birth to healthy Weshi puppies, but there are still chances that they may be susceptible to some health problems that affect their parents as well.
The diseases that can develop such as brachycephalic syndrome and canine disk disease may occur if the puppy gets the features of the Shih Tzu parent, such as the head or the flat face. Moreover, West Highland Terrier is considered to be a kind of illness such as diabetes, allergies, Krabbe’s disease, Craniomandibular Osteopathy, and Legg-Calve Perthes disease.
Life Expectancy
The typical future for the Weshi is somewhere in the range of 12 and 15 years.
Exercise Requirements
Weshi is a toy-sized dog breed but it is known for being highly energetic. These dogs are very active, vivacious, and exceedingly inquisitive. They like to go around smelling and hunting for small animals which they acquired having vermin-hunting ancestors. Of course, being fairly small by nature, the Weshis are not high-maintenance dogs when it comes to their activity needs. On average, they will require only 40 to 60 minutes of planned exercise a day to support their good health and keep them happy.
Regular walks and interactive play are the best ways to maintain the Weshi. This way, you keep them occupied both mentally and physically. Meanwhile, not only the workout is the exercise of the Weshi but the daily puzzle toys, provided they are alone, are also equally important. These dogs can easily get bored and destructive, so play cunning tricks on them for their clever little brains. Puzzle toys are a good way to stimulate your dog’s brain and keep them involved at the same time.
Weshis are not complicated dogs regarding their activity needs, considering their size.
Recognized Clubs
The American Kennel Club and other major canine organizations do not even acknowledge designer dogs like Weshi. A mix, which is the Weshi, is registered by the American Canine Hybrid Club, Designer Dogs Kennel Club, Dog Registry of America, as well as the International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR).
Coat
The Weshi is a mixed-breed dog and his characteristics are largely unpredictable making his look the most unpredictable thing of all. Some puppies in the litter could resemble the mother or father like two peas in a pod, and the other could combine some features of both parents. In the case of the fur of the puppy, the breeder may not be able to make any particular promise, but there is a higher probability of getting a dog with medium to long hair and that the dog will have a medium shedding pattern. The quality of the coat will be set by the parents. Notice that the West Highland White Terrier is characterized by stiff hair while the Shih Tzu has a soft long glossy plume. As for the coloring of the fur, the most common are white and cream, although bi-color coats are also possible, where black, brown, or grey are combined with a white base.
The care for his grooming is rather simple, they don’t need much. Light coat dogs, such as Weshi’s should just get brushed a few times a week for detangling and extra shine, and even then, they might not need a bath.
Puppies
The West Highland White Terrier is always the larger of the two breeds, so Weshi litter size is generally between 3 and 5 puppies. Although there may be variations between siblings, that’s the only thing. Idealizing the first one among his siblings. Weshi pups are extremely cute and mischievous, as well, so you need to start training and socialization from the earliest time. Thus, by so doing you make sure your cute little pup grows to be a well-behaved pet full of friendliness.
Similar Breeds To a Weshi
- Finnish Spitz
- West Highland White Terrier
- English Shepherd
- Ratshire Terrier
- Bully Kutta
- Shih Tzu
The Best Dog Crate for Weshi
The perfect dog crate for Weshi is the Double Door Collapsible Wire Dog Crate. This cage is made of solid wires. It is a stable and secure place for your puppy to sleep. It is also convenient to clean due to the plastic pan. A divider panel is also included for size adjustment, and it features rounded corners for a higher degree of safety. The electro-coated wires make them long-lasting and rust-resistant.
- A divider panel that can be used for resizing the crate is included.
- It includes rounded corners for greater security.
- The electro-coated wires are durable and rust-resistant.
3 Little Known Facts About Weshi
Here are three little-known facts about Weshi dogs, a mix between the West Highland White Terrier and Shih Tzu:
- Minimal Shedding: Though Weshi dogs appear fluffy, they are low shedding, and therefore they are ideal for people who have mild allergies.
- Naturally Curious: Weshis tend to take after the nature of Westies from which they are bred. They love exploring and sniffing new interesting odors.
- Independent Yet Loyal: As a legacy of having the Westie genes, weshis can be more independent than most lap dogs but are also completely loyal and love being close to their families; hence, they make a well-balanced companion.
Related: Briard