West Highland White Terrier
A small, sturdy white Highland terrier that is cheerful, confident and always keen to see what's going on.
At a glance
- Size
- Small
- Height at the withers
- 25–28 cm
- Weight
- Males 7–10 kg · Females 6–8 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–16 years
- Exercise
- 45–60 min a day
- Grooming
- Regular trips to a groomer
- Coat
- Wire-haired, Double coat, medium
- Colours
- White
- Bred for
- Terrier work, Companionship
- Country of origin
- United Kingdom
- FCI
- Group 3, no. 85 · Terriers
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with other dogs | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 4/5 – High |
| Energy | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 5/5 – Very high |
| Watchful and protective | 2/5 – Low |
| Barking | 4/5 – High |
| Shedding | 2/5 – Low |
| Grooming effort | 4/5 – High |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 4/5 – High |
| Suits apartment living | 4/5 – High |
| Adaptability | 4/5 – High |
| Copes with being alone | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a small, friendly and robust dog
- live in a flat or town house
- enjoy a confident, cheerful character
Think twice if you …
- keep rodents or other small pets
- don't want to deal with skin care
- need a quiet dog
Care
Temperament
Cheerful, confident and curious, with a friendly attitude towards most people. Independent and quick to bark.
Exercise
Daily walks of about an hour plus play are enough; it enjoys sniffing outings and earthdog-style games.
Grooming
Brush several times a week and have the coat hand-stripped or clipped every few months; shedding is light.
Training
Learns with positive and consistent training, but is independent; keep sessions short and rewarding.
Health
Skin allergies are common, and craniomandibular osteopathy, dry eye, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease and pulmonary fibrosis also occur. Ask the breeder for eye, knee and DNA results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Eye examination
- Kneecaps (patella)
DNA tests
- Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GCL)
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The West Highland White Terrier was developed in western Scotland in the 1800s from the same roots as the Cairn and Scottish Terriers. White dogs were favoured by some breeders, notably the Malcolm family of Poltalloch, partly so they could not be mistaken for quarry.
Westies are friendly, self-assured and adaptable companions that do well in town or country. They enjoy walks and games, love to dig and will chase anything small. Their white coat looks smart but needs regular grooming, and skin health deserves attention throughout life, including a good diet and prompt care for itching.
Did you know?
A well-known story says Colonel Edward Malcolm of Poltalloch began breeding white terriers after one of his reddish dogs was shot by mistake for a fox.