From Country Life Illustrated (5 December 1908).
The text has an interesting discussion about the proper type fo these dogs, for the ones pictured above are very different from the westies we know today. Even then, they weren’t exactly standard:
The show bench is all very well; but the game characteristics of the litile varmints are sacrificed to all sorts of notions and the door is opened to “docking” and “faking.” A most ludicrous instance of mistaken identity occurred once when one of the best – known breeders took one of my unplaced dogs off the bench and showed him in the ring for several minutes as his own champion until challenged, and then would scarcely admit his error. There is a craze for dead white in colour. As a matter of fact, the outer coat should be weather-beaten, hard and yellowish. Exhibitors are tempted, and sometimes succumb to the temptation, to treat the coats with alum and chlorides — even sheep dip — and generally to “fake” the little beauties. Such practices, and also the docking of tails, reinforcing of ears and darkening of noses and pads, should be rigorously dealt with and disqualify at all respectable shows. There is a difference of opinion among breeders as to what the true type of these terriers should be, and consequently there is no standard to refer to. The published scale of points is seldom adhered to, each judge being a law unto himself. As a rule, show-bench champions are useless on the hillside. They can neither run nor jump, but they stand very still to be photographed. It would be most interesting to be able to discover the causes of the likes and dislikes of these doggies. They hate postmen, and invariably bark at tradesmen’s carts, nor can they always resist a bite at the trouser leg or knickerbocker stocking of a stranger. They are not Scotch for nothing, even in their love of a ” nip ” on the sly.
They should be bright, keen, active, loyal and courageous, and able to kill anything twice their own weight. Like most dogs they readily devote themselves to children, and are easily taught to watch and guard properly. One of mine, annoyed at the destructive tactics of a huge mastiff puppy in tearing and scattering shawls and cushions on the lawn, collected the spoils into a heap, upon which it lay down growling defiance at the iconoclast. As ratters they are not easily beaten. I have never bred one that would not lace a rat (pg. 775-776).
