Fourche Terrier

The West Highland White Terrier, affectionately known as the Westie, is a small, sturdy, and well-balanced dog that stands between ten and eleven inches at the shoulder and weighs between thirteen and twenty-two pounds, with most falling in the fifteen to twenty pound range. The breed presents a compact, muscular build that reflects their heritage as working terriers bred to hunt vermin in the rugged Scottish Highlands. Their body is slightly shorter than their height at the shoulder, creating a square-appearing profile that conveys strength and agility in a small package. The chest is deep and the ribs are well-arched, extending at least to the elbows, providing ample lung capacity for an active terrier. The Westie's head is one of its most distinctive features, appearing round when viewed from the front due to the arrangement of hair around the face. The skull is slightly domed and broad, with a defined stop and a blunt muzzle that is slightly shorter than the skull. The teeth are large in proportion to the dog and meet in a scissors bite, reflecting their vermin-hunting heritage. The deep-set, almond-shaped eyes are dark brown and convey a sharp, intelligent, piercing expression that is characteristic of the breed. The ears are small, erect, and set wide apart on top of the head, pointed at the tips and covered with short, velvety hair that should not be trimmed. The breed's pure white double coat is perhaps its most recognizable characteristic and serves as the breed's hallmark. The outer coat is straight, hard, and approximately two inches long, providing excellent protection against harsh weather and rough terrain encountered during hunting expeditions. The undercoat is soft, dense, and provides insulation in cold Scottish climates. The coat requires regular grooming, including brushing several times weekly and professional trimming or hand-stripping every four to six weeks to maintain proper texture. The legs are relatively short but muscular and straight, and the undocked tail is shaped like an inverted carrot, approximately five to six inches long, thicker at the base and tapering to a point, carried gaily but never curled over the back. The overall expression should convey alertness, determination, and confident self-assurance.

The Yorkshire Terrier is one of the smallest dog breeds, standing only six to eight inches tall at the shoulder and weighing no more than seven pounds according to breed standards, though many pet Yorkies range between four and eight pounds. Despite their diminutive size, these dogs present a compact, neat, and well-proportioned appearance with an upright carriage that conveys confidence and self-importance. The body is well-balanced with a level back, and the overall impression should be of a small but spirited terrier with elegant bearing. The Yorkshire Terrier's most striking feature is its magnificent long, silky coat that hangs perfectly straight from a part running from nose to tail tip. The coat is glossy, fine, and silky in texture, distinctly different from the wiry coats of most terriers. Puppies are born black and tan, with the adult blue and tan coloring developing gradually over the first three years of life. The mature coat color should be a dark steel blue on the body extending from the back of the neck to the tail, with rich tan or gold coloring on the head, chest, and legs. The tan coloring should be darker at the roots, shading to lighter tones at the tips. The head is small and flat on top, not overly round or domed. The muzzle is of medium length with a black nose, and the teeth meet in either a scissors or level bite. The dark, sparkling eyes are medium-sized and convey an intelligent, alert expression. The ears are small, V-shaped, and carried erect, set not too far apart on the head. When the coat is kept long, the fall of hair on the head is typically tied back with one or two bows. The tail is traditionally docked to medium length and carried slightly higher than the level of the back, though natural tails are increasingly common in regions where docking is prohibited.