The West Highland white terrier, or Westie, is a small terrier dog breed from Scotland with a medium-length coat that’s typically pure white. The Westie’s dark, almond-shaped eyes and black nose pop against its white coat. Overall, it has a muscular build with a deep chest, and its tail is fairly short and thick. Westies are typically confident and charming little dogs. They were bred to hunt, but they also tend to love playtime with their family.

Characteristics of the West Highland White Terrier

Westies tend to have very affectionate and playful personalties. While they do make for good watchdogs, they also are usually open to meeting strangers. High intelligence helps to shape this terrier’s personality, as well, and can make it strong-willed at times.

History of the West Highland White Terrier

Terriers have a long history in the Scottish Highlands, dating back centuries as working farm dogs and hunting dogs. Many were used to keep the rodent population at bay. Besides the Westie, the Scottie, cairn terrier, and Dandie Dinmont are other breeds that descended from these dogs.

The Westie breed can trace its roots to the 1700s when Edward Donald Malcolm, 16th Laird of Poltalloch, bred for white terriers to exterminate the rodents on his estate. Thus, the breed was sometimes referred to as the Poltalloch terrier. It’s said that Malcolm had a reddish dog that was shot when it was mistaken for a fox. Consequently, he wanted only white dogs that would be identifiable. 

By the end of the 1800s, the West Highland white terrier had its present name and was being entered in dog shows. The American Kennel Club first recognized the breed in 1908, and since then it’s become quite popular in the U.S. People might recognize the breed as the mascot for the dog food Cesar.

West Highland White Terrier Care

Westies need a moderate amount of exercise each day and have somewhat involved grooming. They also should receive training and socialization from a young age.

Exercise

Plan to give your Westie at least an hour per day of exercise to keep it healthy and happy. A couple of daily walks and some vigorous playtime are ideal ways to burn both mental and physical energy. Westies also enjoy dog sports, including agility, rally, and earthdog events.

Unless your Westie is in a securely fenced area, avoid letting it off leash outside. This breed’s high prey drive can cause it to take off quickly chasing small animals and other perceived prey. 

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Grooming

The traditional way of grooming a Westie’s coat is stripping (the plucking of dead hairs with a special tool) roughly every month. But some owners opt to have the coat clipped instead every four to six weeks, which tends to make it softer and curlier. You also should brush your Westie’s coat at least weekly to remove any loose hair and dirt, prevent tangles, and distribute oils.

Plan on a bath every four to six weeks, depending on how dirty your dog gets. Check your dog’s nails roughly every month to see whether they’re in need of a trim. Look in its ears at least weekly for wax buildup, debris, and irritation. Aim to brush its teeth daily. 

Training

Westies are quite smart. But they can have an independent and stubborn streak that might make training difficult. Start both training and socialization from an early age to prevent bad habits from forming. Keep training sessions fun and varied to hold your dog’s attention, and always use positive reinforcement. 

Try to expose your Westie to different people and other dogs starting when it’s young to help it become comfortable around strangers. Westies usually can get along with other dogs and even cats when raised together from a young age. But they might view smaller household pets as prey, especially rodents.

Westies often can be problem barkers, alerting you to every passerby and moving creature. But if you are diligent, you can train them to bark just once and quiet on command. Westies also can have a tendency to dig. But if you’re consistent about redirecting that behavior from a young age, you might be able to put a stop to it.

Common Health Problems

Westies are prone to some hereditary health issues, including:

• Heart disease
• Patellar luxation
• Hip dysplasia 
• Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
• Eye problems 
• Craniomandibular osteopathy (also known as Westie jaw)

Diet and Nutrition

Always have fresh water accessible for your Westie. Feed a high-quality canine diet that has balanced nutrition. It’s typical to feed two measured meals per day. But you should always discuss the amount and type of food with your vet to make sure it’s suitable for your individual dog. Also, monitor treats and other extra food to prevent your dog from overeating.

Where to Adopt or Buy a West Highland White Terrier

Westies are a fairly popular dog breed in the United States. So it’s possible to find one in need of a home at local animal shelters and breed-specific rescue groups. If you’re looking for a puppy from a reputable breeder, expect to pay around $1,000 to $1,500 on average.

For further information to help you find a Westie, check out:

• West Highland White Terrier Club of America
• Westie Rescue USA
  

West Highland White Terrier Overview

More Dog Breeds and Further Research

As with any breed, if you think the West Highland white terrier is right for you, be sure to do plenty of research before obtaining one. Talk to veterinarians, pet professionals, Westie owners, reputable breeders, and rescue groups to learn more.

If you’re interested in similar breeds, check out:

• Scottish terrier
• Skye terrier
• Cairn terrier

There’s a whole world of potential dog breeds out there—with a little research, you can find the right one to bring home!