Everybody loves a cute, hairy and adorable looking dog. That is exactly what a Wauzer is.
A mixed breed of the West Highland White Terrier and the Miniature Schnauzer, the Wauzer is sure to make you go “WOW,” with its distinctive brilliant characteristics.
The Wauzer is becoming very popular among dog lovers due to its small compact size and the ease in training and keeping them in small spaces. These dogs can easily fit into any kind of environment.
Origin of the Wauzer
The Wauzer is a mixed breed of the West Highland White Terrier and the Miniature Schnauzer.
The origin of this mixed breed is not clearly known, but references can be made based on the origin of its parents.
The West Highland White Terrier has its lineage dating back to the 1600s century when King James I ordered for some “earth dogs” from Argyllshire.
These Scottish dogs were actually bred for attacking vermin and for hunting purposes by farmers and nobles in Scotland.
The white color of the terriers can be attributed to Colonel Malcolm, who decided to only breed white terriers after he accidentally shot down his reddish brown colored terrier while hunting.
These terriers were known as Poltalloch terriers or Roseneath Terriers.
They were bred for hundreds of years before they made an appearance at dog shows.
It first appeared in 1896 at a Scottish dog show and was named as West Highland White Terrier based on the northwestern Scotland where the breed was famous.
The American Kennel Club recognized this breed in 1906.
In case of the Schnauzer, its lineage dates back to around the 1500s in Germany, where the dog is seen in famous paintings and pastry.
Schnauzers were commonly used for communication and police work during WWI.
The Miniature Schnauzer seems to have been developed by crossing the Standard Schnauzer with small breeds like Affenpinscher, the Pomeranian and Poodle even.
They were originally developed in the late 1800s to hunt down vermin and rats in farms and also as guard dogs.
The Miniature Schnauzer is the most famous out of the three Schnauzer groups.
The colors of the Miniature Schnauzer today is mainly silver and grey. But, previously they were available in many other colors too.
The Miniature Schnauzer was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1926, while the Standard Schnauzer was recognized in 1904.
Physical Characteristics of the Westie Miniature Schnauzer Mix
The Wauzer comes with the best characteristics of both its parents.
With the thick and furry coat of the West Highland White Terrier and the medium length muzzle of the Miniature Schnauzer, this breed has it all.
It is a small dog with a compact body and shaggy appearance. The legs are short like a Westie, and his ears can be either erect or a flop over and they have a long tail.
The Wauzer has a long body with a broad head and big rounded eyes.
Some of its important physical characteristics are:
- Height: Males 9-15 inches; Females 7-13 inches
- Weight: Males 14-18 lbs; Females 12-16 lbs
- Eye Color: Black or brown
- Nose Color: Black
- Coat Color: Wide range of colors such as silver, white, brindle, and black
- Coat Length: Ranges from medium to long
- Coat Density: Dense coat
- Coat Texture: Long wiry coat on the outside with thick, dense undercoat
Temperament and Personality Traits of the Wauzer
Wauzer is one of the most fun-loving, intelligent, and happy dogs. They love playing around and is always on the lookout to do something new.
They are super intelligent and smart, which they inherit from the Miniature Schnauzer as well as curious and amusing like the West Highland Terrier.
Wauzers are active and outgoing dogs and highly adaptable to any environment. New environment and spaces do not scare them.
He loves to swim and play tug of war and is very affectionate towards people. He is very loyal to his owner and protective of him.
Some of the amazing personality traits of the Wauzer are:
Very Friendly
Wauzers are super friendly dogs and which is why they make a great family dog. They love to play and are totally comfortable with kids around.
They can work well even with other dogs. However, it is best to socialize your dog when small and not take any chances.
Intelligent and Curious
Since both of the parents were originally hunters, Wauzers have a great instinct and are always curious to know what is happening.
They are very intelligent when it comes to learning new skills and techniques. Training them is a fun process since they are quick to learn, but remember to keep a lot of treats handy.
Attention Seeker
Wauzers need attention from the people around them constantly. They are great pleasers and will do anything you just ask them to do just to hear you praise them.
Restless
Wauzers are also full of energy all the time, and that is why they are great to play with kids. They are also known to love digging and chewing things because of their restless nature.
So you should be careful about not leaving him unsupervised in your backyard and make sure to keep a lot of chewable treats and toys at home.
They are also prone to chase behind critters and cats. Better keep him locked inside the house when you are not home.
Health and Conditions
When it comes to the health conditions of the Wauzer, not much Is known since it is a relatively recent designer dog.
However, there are high chances that a progeny will inherit any genetic diseases of the parents.
The West Highland White Terrier is known to have various genetically caused diseases such as abdominal hernia and the “lion jaw,” which is commonly seen mostly in puppies.
Skin diseases are also common with this breed.
The Miniature Schnauzer is a comparatively healthy breed, but there can be some health issues related to this breed. These include cataracts, urinary stones, pancreatitis, and others.
Other infections that a Wauzer is prone is have are eye infections, allergies, ear infections, Westie Lung Disease, Myotonia Congenita, and so on.
The Wauzer is otherwise a healthy dog will a life span of 12-16 years and is not prone to any major ailments during its lifetime.
Dental infection is a common problem seen in Wauzers. Hence, regular brushing of teeth and dental checkups should be followed.
In order to prevent any major health problems in the future, it is always advised to undertake a full body examination of the pet after it is brought home.
Skin tests, total blood count, dental checkups should be done in order to keep your Wauzer safe and healthy.
In terms of their grooming needs, Wauzers are low shedders and hence perfect for people prone to allergies.
They have long and hairy fur which needs to be brushed every day at least once.
The hair around their eyes, paws, and ears will tend to grow longer and make it uncomfortable for the dog; hence, regular trimming is required.
Make sure to brush your Wauzer both before and after baths. This will ensure that no fur remains entangled inside.
Diet and Nutrition
The Wauzer is a small sized dog with a moderate appetite for food. They are very active animals and therefore should be fed with high-quality, nutritious food.
A healthy Wauzer diet should contain balanced nutrition and calorific needs according to its size.
The diet must contain the right proportion of carbohydrates, protein, and fiber in order to fulfill its daily needs.
Since Wauzers are prone to skin allergies, it is suggested to them keep away from foods that contain wheat.
Make sure to read the ingredients of the dog food before purchasing.
Wauzers need a high-protein diet to go about their daily activities. The protein should be from food items like meat, fish, lamb, and others.
Foods made from by-products such as wheat and corn should be avoided as your Wauzer may find it hard to digest.
Do not overfeed your Wauzer. Instead, divide the meals equally and spread it over two to three meals daily.
Since Wauzers have a long and thick coat, it is important to give foods that will keep his coat smooth and healthy. For that, you can either provide supplements for the hair like salmon oil or give a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids.
Pros and Cons of This Designer Breed
Pros
- Very friendly with kids and other dogs
- Great family dog
- Highly intelligent and learns skills and techniques very fast
- Alert and makes very good guard dogs
- Highly energetic and plays well with children
- Low shedding compared to other dogs
- Small and compact in size makes it perfect for small apartments
- Not noisy and can stay home alone for long hours
Cons
- Has the habit of digging around
- Very restless and needs constant exercise
- Need to take for a walk for at least 30 minutes everyday
- Requires regular grooming
- Socialization at an early age is required
- Prone to chasing cats and small animals
3 Common Questions Asked About This Mixed Breed
1. Is the Wauzer easy to train?
The Wauzer is a very easily trainable dog compared to other breeds. It is intelligent, and its smartness makes it learn many tricks and skills in no time.
The Wauzer loves to please its owner. So, it will do anything to ask him to do.
You won’t need to do much of repetition of commands when it comes to this breed. Make sure to praise him and give him plenty of treats during the training session.
Maintain training time every day to make it easier for him to understand the schedule.
Do not ever punish or torture the dog while training, since it will only make things worse.
2. How does the Wauzer behave with kids and other animals?
You don’t need to worry about your Wauzer attacking other animals or children. Wauzers are very friendly dogs and love children.
Wauzers are generally very affectionate and loving towards children and loves to play with them. They also work great with other animals.
But, it is recommended to let them socialize with other animals at a younger age itself.
Otherwise, due to their hunting instincts, these dogs tend to chase other smaller animals.
3. Is it difficult to maintain this breed?
For those of you who have don’t have the experience of taking care of a pet, this breed can be a little challenging.
Due to their long and thick fur, these dogs need a lot of grooming and maintenance regularly. You need to make sure their hair around the ears, eyes, and paws are trimmed regularly.
Their muzzle also needs to be trimmed to make the dog feel more comfortable.
They also need to be taken out for exercises every day for at least 30 minutes to ensure their good health.
However, with time and patience, it will become a cake-walk for you to take care of these dogs.
Final Thoughts
The Wauzer is a great dog to own if you are looking for a friendly, active, and intelligent pet. They work perfectly as a family dog due to their affection towards children and people.
They need your constant attention and will go to great lengths just to please you. You will sometimes find them playing on their own and hence can be left alone at home with few toys.
This mixed breed is becoming everyone’s favorite due to its adorable qualities.