West Highland White Terrier

Coat and looks how to spot one

double coat: harsh, straight outer coat over a soft, dense undercoat

The Westie's outer coat is wiry and straight, roughly 5 cm long and without curl, sitting over a short, furry undercoat that keeps the dog weatherproof. Under the coat is a compact, sturdy little terrier with a deep chest, level back, strong hindquarters and short muscular legs. The head is framed by a fuller coat that gives the breed its well-known rounded face, with dark eyes, small pointed upright ears and a short, straight, carrot-shaped tail.567

Personality what they are like

A small dog with a big personality: lively, alert, bold and very sure of itself, but friendly with its people. Westies are clever and pick things up quickly, though their independent terrier streak means training goes best when it is patient, short and fun. They still carry a keen hunting instinct, so chasing small animals, digging and sounding the alarm come naturally. They tend to prefer gentle, respectful handling.5437

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Moderate. The Royal Kennel Club suggests up to an hour of exercise a day, while Hill's says 20-40 minutes of daily activity is a minimum. Brisk walks, play sessions, and games that use its nose and digging instinct keep a Westie content.243

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Brush more than once a week to keep the harsh coat and soft undercoat free of tangles. Pet Westies are often clipped by a groomer a couple of times a year, while show dogs are hand-stripped to keep the correct wiry texture, which takes more time. The coat does shed.24

Home where they are happiest

Adapts well to flats or houses thanks to its small size, provided it gets daily walks and play. A securely fenced garden is useful, since a Westie may dig or dash after small wildlife.47

Company who they like around

Affectionate and sociable with its own family. Because of its hunting background it may be unsure of unfamiliar dogs and keen on chasing small pets, so early socialisation and supervised introductions help.43

The story where it all began

The Westie grew out of the short-legged working terriers of the Scottish Highlands, the same pool that produced the Cairn, Scottish, Skye and Dandie Dinmont terriers, whose coats once came in shades from black and red to cream and white. These tough little dogs were used to hunt fox, badger, otter and rats both above and below ground. In the mid-19th century the Malcolms of Poltalloch in Argyll began selecting for white dogs, which were easier to spot on the moors; family lore says Colonel Edward Donald Malcolm switched to white after one of his reddish terriers was mistaken for a fox. Around the same time George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll, kept a similar strain known as the Roseneath Terrier, and a line in Fife was called the Pittenweem Terrier. The first breed club was formed in 1904. In 1907 the breed appeared at Crufts and was recognised by The Kennel Club under the name West Highland White Terrier, and the AKC followed in 1908. The West Highland White Terrier Club of America was founded in 1909, UKC recognition came in 1919, and the FCI gave definitive acceptance in 1954. The Westie went on to win Best in Show at Westminster in 1942 and 1962 and at Crufts in 1976, 1990 and 2016.823761

Recognised by the official bits

FCI

Standard No. 85, Group 3 (Terriers), Section 2 (Small-sized Terriers); definitive acceptance 29 Oct 1954; current standard published 13 Oct 2010; no working trial1

The Royal Kennel Club

Terrier Group; recognised 19072

AKC

Terrier Group; recognised 19087

UKC

Terrier Group; recognised 19196

Popularity AKC rank 45 of registered breeds (down from 41 in 2024)9