West Highland White Terrier Adult
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West Highland Terrier - Breed Facts & Characteristics
Notable for their snowy white coats, West Highland White Terriers (or ‘Westies’) are sprightly, solid and surprisingly strong. Full of character, these wee little Scots are also intelligent, curious and can be quite feisty. Forming strong bonds with their human families, they will sound the alarm over any perceived threat, making them good watchdogs too. Originally bred for ratting, Westies still retain something of that tenacious hunting instinct today and can be quite determined when they want something.
Official name: West Highland White Terrier
Other names: Poltalloch Terrier, Roseneath Terrier, Westie
Origins: Scotland
| Drooling tendencies |
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Warm weather? |  |
| Grooming needs | |
Cold weather? | |
| Shedding level |  |
Suited to apartment living? |  |
| Barking tendencies |  |
Can stay alone?* | |
| Energy Level* | Low | Family Pet?* | |
| Compatibility with other pets | |
* We advise against leaving pets alone for long stretches. Companionship can prevent emotional distress and destructive behavior. Speak to your veterinarian for recommendations.
Every pet is different, even within a breed; this snapshot of this breed specifics should be taken as an indication.
For a happy healthy and well-behaved pet, we recommend educating and socialising your pet as well as covering their basic welfare needs (and their social and behavioural needs).
Pets should never be left unsupervised with a child.
Contact your breeder or veterinarian for further advice.
All domestic pets are sociable and prefer company. However, they can be taught to cope with solitude from an early age. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or trainer to help you do this.
Male
28 cm
Height
6.8 - 9 kg
Weight
Female
26 cm
Height
6.8 - 9 kg
Weight
| Baby age | Birth to 2 months |
| Puppy age | 2 to 10 months |
| Adult age | 10 months to 8 years |
| Mature age | 8 to 12 years |
| Senior age | From 12 years |
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Get to know the West Highland White Terrier
All you need to know about the breed
One of the most popular breeds of terrier, West Highland Whites have bags of personality. Sociable, friendly and smart, they definitely have a mind of their own. This can make training a Westie a little more challenging, but with patience – and a few healthy treats – they’ll get there.
Generally, though, these diminutive dogs adapt well to most domestic set-ups. Growing to a maximum height of around 28cm (11 inches), Westies will do fine in an apartment situation, as long as they have a decent amount of exercise every day. Just one thing to bear in mind is that they can occasionally react with a snap if feeling threatened, so it’s best to keep them supervised with small children.
Originating in the Scottish Highlands, where they were bred to hunt rats and foxes, West Highland White Terriers still retain something of that instinct today. As such, they are the first to chase other animals or humans, and always enjoy a good game in the garden. Westies also thrive on exploring, digging and sniffing things out – whether you’d like them to or not.
Surprisingly strong for their small size, West Highland White Terriers are made of pretty stern stuff. A fairly healthy and robust breed of dog, they have a good lifespan too. In fact, Westies can easily live well into their teens.
Their distinctive white double-coat is actually quite coarse, to protect them from the elements, and they move faster than you might think. Their dark brown eyes are usually bright and alert, and their pricked ears are constantly listening out for the slightest sound.
Quite protective when they are on their own territory, the West Highland White Terrier is also quick to bark at any approaching strangers. This means they make a good guard dog – though are less suited to environments where noise might be an issue. Other than that, however, these lively little terriers will make a terrific addition to any household.
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2 facts about West Highland White Terriers
1. Going underground
Given their background as hunting animals,
when they would burrow underground to flush out their prey, the West Highland
White Terrier is always up for a good dig today. In fact, the name “terrier”
itself derives from the word “terra” meaning earth.
2. Home alone (or not...)
Despite having an independent streak, West
Highland White Terriers shouldn’t be left on their own for too long – otherwise
you may return to find your newspaper chewed up. If you do have to leave your Westie,
a brisk walk or run beforehand will help to tire them out. For information on
training your Westie, see below.
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History of the breed
Originating in the rugged terrain of Scotland, the history of the West Highland White Terrier begins several hundred years ago. Bred to hunt foxes and rats, they would charge around the Scottish countryside retrieving quarry for their masters with their powerful teeth.
In fact, the story goes that their snowy white coat – which once came in a variety of colors – has its roots in their hunting heritage. In the 1800s, a dog belonging to a certain Colonel Edward Malcolm of Poltalloch, on the west coast of Scotland, was accidentally shot dead after being taken for a fox. As a result, they were henceforth bred to be white to avoid the mistake happening again.
Originally called the Roseneath Terrier – after the Scottish estate from which the white line emanated – they became known as the West Highland White Terrier from the late 1800s. The breed was officially recognised by the Kennel Club of the United Kingdom in 1907, and by the American Kennel Club in 1908.
Interestingly, Scotland has become somewhat synonymous with terriers. As well as the Westie, this northerly country can also lay claim to the Cairn, Skye, Scottish and Dandie Dinmont terriers.
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From head to tail
Physical characteristics of West Highland White Terriers
1. Head
The head appears round, with a slightly domed skull, and usually covered with thick hair.
2. Ears
Large, prominent ears are softly rounded at the tips.
3. Body
They have dark, bright eyes, small, pointed ears and large teeth for their size.
4. Double-coat
Thick coat is white in colour with a soft undercoat.
5. Tail
Tail is 13-15cm long and is often compared to the shape of a carrot
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Things to look out for
From specific breed traits to a general health overview, here are some interesting facts about your West Highland White Terrier
One thing that can be a problem is their sensitive skin
West Highland White Terriers belong to the group of dogs that can be prone to ‘allergic dermatitis’ – or, to put it more simply, allergies. An overreaction of the immune system, these often result in itching that the dog will try to relieve by licking, scratching, biting or rubbing. This behaviour can cause more skin lesions and open the gate to other infectious agents such as yeasts or bacteria. Triggers can include specific foods, environmental allergens and even fleas. Fortunately, there is plenty that can be done and – together with your vet – you can find a routine to make your Westie more comfortable. This can range from special socks to various therapeutic options to tailored diets.
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Caring for your West Highland White Terrier
Grooming, training and exercise tips
Given their background as working terriers, it’s perhaps not surprising that the West Highland White Terrier is quite a high-energy breed. The Westie therefore requires a reasonable amount of exercise each day. Shoot for a minimum of 30 minutes – but, ideally, up to an hour. A very friendly and sociable breed, Westies also enjoy playing games, chasing balls and meeting other dogs. Because of the Westie’s innate hunting instinct, care must be taken when letting them off the lead – unless you want to be retrieving them from a fox’s burrow – and they should also be kept away from any small animals.
With their thick double coat, comprising a coarse outer coat and a softer one underneath, daily grooming is important for the West Highland White Terrier. As well as the usual brushing, some owners also use a technique called stripping (or plucking) where the old, dead hair is gently pulled out – but others prefer to take them to a professional groomer every four to six weeks. On the plus side, the Westie’s shedding is on the lower side of average. Also, due to the specific nature of their outer coat, which contains few oils and is relatively resistant to dirt, baths will only be needed very occasionally. Teeth should ideally be brushed daily, nails clipped as needed and ears checked regularly.
A highly intelligent breed, the West Highland White Terrier is a quick learner – but it has to be said that they can also be a little bit stubborn. As working terriers, they were bred to operate alone, giving them their independent streak, and something of that spirit definitely resides in them today. On the plus side, the affable personality of the Westie means they respond well to reward-based training and positive reinforcement. Patience is the key! Once you’ve cracked the initial commands, Westies actually excel in a variety of canine sports, ranging from obedience and tracking to agility.
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All about West Highland White Terriers
It’s true that West Highland White Terriers are not backward at coming forward when it comes to expressing themselves. But this is mainly for good reason – such as to announce the arrival of a stranger or something unexpected. So, if Westies do bark excessively, there is normally a logic to it.
As West Highland White Terriers form strong bonds with their owners, they shouldn’t be left alone for too long. Otherwise, your Westie may become distressed or exhibit destructive behaviour. Having another dog to keep them company can sometimes help.
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Sources
1 - Veterinary Centers of America https://vcahospitals.com/
2 - Royal Canin Dog Encyclopaedia. Ed 2010 and 2020
3 - Banfield Pet Hospital https://www.banfield.com/
4 - Royal Canin BHN Product Book
5 - American Kennel Club https://www.akc.org/