Photo: Christopher Walker from Krakow, Poland, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Size
- Small
- Height
- 25–28 cm
- Weight
- 6–10 kg
- Energy
- High
- Intelligence
- High
Overview
The West Highland White Terrier is a white, compact earth dog from Argyll, bred to hunt fox and vermin in rocky country. Bright-eyed and self-assured, it is a true terrier in a wash-and-wear show coat that still wants to dig.
Origin
Colonel Edward Donald Malcolm of Poltalloch and other Highland sportsmen selected white terriers so they would not be mistaken for the quarry in the field. The type was related to Cairn and Scottish Terriers. The breed was shown in Britain in the early 1900s and AKC-recognized in 1908.
Size & weight
About 28 cm for males, slightly less for females. A sturdy, square outline with a carrot tail and a distinctive round, broad skull.
Temperament
Friendly for a terrier, but still independent, vocal, and sure it is in charge of the garden. Westies usually enjoy people and can live with other dogs if raised together. They will chase small animals. House manners require persistence.
Energy
High for their size. Walks, play, and earthdog-style games are better than being carried as a handbag. They remain playful well into age.
Intelligence
Westies are busy, confident terriers: they learn household rules, with the usual terrier habit of questioning why they should.
Intelligence here means typical trainability, not a ranking of the dog.
Coat & grooming
A harsh, straight white outer coat about five centimeters long and a shorter, soft undercoat. The head is typically styled with a round chrysanthemum look in the show ring.
Regular brushing and periodic stripping or clipping. White coats show dirt and tear staining. Bathing must be balanced against skin dryness—the breed is prone to allergies.
Health notes
Atopic dermatitis and other skin disease are very common. Craniomandibular osteopathy, Legg-Calvé-Perthes, dry eye, and a predisposition to copper hepatopathy (in some lines historically) are documented. Pulmonary fibrosis ('Westie lung disease') is a serious later-life concern.
Care
Keep them lean and well exercised. Manage skin with vet-guided diet and grooming; do not over-bathe. They dig: provide a legal pit or accept the flower beds. They are not a silent breed.
Fun facts
- The Cesar brand's mascot is a West Highland White Terrier.
- White was selected so hunters could distinguish the dog from fox and hare on the moor.
- Westies share Highland terrier ancestry with Cairns; color and outline were later specialized.
The Dog Codex is an editorial reference, not veterinary advice. Health notes summarize conditions that appear in breed literature; they do not diagnose an individual dog and do not replace examination by a licensed veterinarian.