Dog breed

West Highland White Terrier

The West Highland White Terrier, or Westie, is a small white terrier from Scotland, bred to hunt foxes and badgers in rocky dens. It is cheerful, self-confident and surprisingly brave for a dog just 28 cm tall. It has a harsh white coat with a soft undercoat that needs regular hand-stripping.

FCI Group III · Terriers · standard no. 85

Weight: 7–9 kg
Height: 25–28 cm
Lifespan: 12–15 years
Origin: United Kingdom (Scotland)

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Photo: Mider, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

The Westie has a typical terrier personality in a handy, friendly package. It is cheerful, playful and very self-assured, and the AKC gives it top marks for playfulness, alertness and barking. It loves its family, happily plays with children and usually greets guests politely, but it loudly announces every ring of the doorbell. It has a strong prey drive: it chases anything that moves, digs in the yard and shows no mercy to rodents. It gets along with other dogs to varying degrees and won't back down from bigger ones. It learns quickly if lessons are interesting, but typical terrier independence means it isn't always in the mood to listen. Short, varied work sessions and rewards suit it best.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the West Highland White Terrier for?

The Westie is a good choice for a family with children, an active senior and an apartment dweller who enjoys walks and doesn't mind barking. It needs a budget for the groomer and time for daily brushing. It won't work in a home with rodents, for someone looking for a perfectly obedient dog, or for anyone who can't tolerate barking.

Pros

cheerful and playful
a good companion for children
handy size
handles cold well

Challenges

barks a lot
prone to skin problems
needs hand-stripping
strong prey drive

Size and looks

Size and looks: West Highland White Terrier
Height at the withers	males 28 cm, females 25–28 cm
Weight	males 7–9 kg, females 7–9 kg
Lifespan	12–15 years
Coat	wire
Colors	white
Country of origin	United Kingdom (Scotland)
Classification	Group III: Terriers
Also known as	Westie, WHWT, West Highland Terrier

Care and exercise

45–75minof exercise a day

3/5grooming needs

3/5shedding

A Westie needs 45–75 minutes of exercise a day, ideally with some play and sniffing built in. Outside fenced areas, keep it on a leash, because it will chase a cat or squirrel. It thrives in dog sports: rally, agility and especially earthdog trials. The coat needs daily brushing and combing plus a trip to the groomer every 4–6 weeks. Hand-stripping, or plucking out dead hair, keeps the coat harsh and white; clipping is easier, but the hair turns soft. Bathing too often harms the harsh coat and the skin, so wash the dog only when needed. Brush the teeth regularly and check the ears every week. Watch its weight, because obesity is common in the breed.

How much should the West Highland White Terrier eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

Westies live 12–15 years on average. A 2019 VetCompass study by the Royal Veterinary College, covering more than 6,600 Westies, found a median of 13.4 years, with males outliving females. The most common disorders were periodontal disease (15.7% of dogs in a given year), otitis externa (10.6%), overgrown nails, allergic skin disease (6.5%) and obesity. Skin disease as a group was the most common, and lower respiratory tract disease and cancer stood out among causes of death. The American breed club recommends that breeders test hearts and kneecaps. The breed often ends up at the veterinary dermatologist, so ask the breeder about skin problems in the parents.

allergic skin diseaseSkin disease is the most common group of disorders in the breed; atopy shows up as itching and inflammation.
otitis externaIn a VetCompass study, it affected more than 10% of Westies in a given year.
periodontal diseaseThe single most common disorder in the breed (15.7% of dogs).
lower respiratory tract diseaseOne of the most common causes of death in Westies in the UK.
luxating patella and heart diseaseUS breeders screen the parents for these.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

patella exam
cardiac exam
eye exam (ECVO)

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The Westie comes from the same stock as the Cairn Terrier. In the mid-19th century, the Malcolm family of Poltalloch in Argyllshire began breeding white terriers, even though other Cairn breeders usually culled white puppies. The Malcolms argued that a white dog was easier to see on the moors and harder to mistake for a fox. Early names for the breed were the Poltalloch Terrier and the Roseneath Terrier, after the Duke of Argyll's estate. Over time the Westie became a little shorter in the body than the Cairn and carries its tail higher. The British Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1907.

Fun facts

The white coat was meant to make it easier to tell the dog from a fox on the moors.
The FCI standard allows only one color: white.
In the VetCompass study, adult Westies weighed 9.6 kg on average, with males heavier than females.
The Westie is a close relative of the Cairn Terrier and differs from it mainly in its white coat, shorter body and higher tail carriage.

Frequently asked questions

Do Westies shed?

Moderately. The harsh outer coat and soft undercoat do shed, but regular hand-stripping removes dead hair before it lands on the floor. Still, the Westie isn't a typical breed for people with allergies, and it often has skin problems of its own.

How long do Westies live?

Usually 12–15 years. A UK VetCompass study found a median of 13.4 years, with males living 13.8 years on average and females 12.9 years. The most common causes of death were lower respiratory tract disease and cancer.

Do Westies bark a lot?

Yes, it is one of the barkier breeds, rated highest by the AKC in that category. A Westie is alert and likes to comment on everything happening outside the window. Settling exercises, daily exercise and nose work help, but they won't change its nature.

How often should a Westie be groomed?

Usually every 4–6 weeks at the groomer, with daily brushing and combing at home. Show dogs must be hand-stripped; pet dogs are often clipped, which is easier but softens the hair and makes the coat get dirty faster.

How much does a West Highland White Terrier weigh?

Adult dogs of this breed usually weigh: males 7–9 kg, females 7–9 kg. Height at the withers: 25–28 cm. That range is for healthy adults in good condition.