If you’re after a pup with personality, meet the West Highland White Terrier (Westies to their family). These small, sturdy dogs were bred to be hunters of rats and other underground rodents, which means they’re independent, feisty, confident and have heaps of energy to burn. But that doesn’t mean they won’t charm you. With their high intelligence and playfulness, Westies will entertain you for hours. Although loyal to their loved ones, they can take a while to warm up to other dogs, pets and people. Daily training and early socialisation is a must and they suit homes with older children (8 years plus).
West Highland White Terrier Facts
West Highland White Terriers belong to a group of terriers called earthdogs - dogs bred to hunt rats out from their underground hiding spots. Because of this, they’re small (females grow up to 25cm, males 28cm), sturdy dogs with a bright white coat that makes them easy for hunters to see.
- Breed Group: Terrier
- Height: Female: 25cm, Male: 28cm
- Weight: 7-9kg
- Life Span: 13-15 years
- Coat: Double, medium
- Colour: White
What Does a West Highland White Terrier Look Like?
West Highland White Terriers are easy to spot: they’re small, sturdy dogs with a distinctive white coat. Westies have a typical terrier face. Think a blunt muzzle with a black nose, triangular ears that always stand to attention and bright, dark intelligent eyes. A West Highland West Terrier’s head often tilts to the side, giving them an inquisitive, alert look that lets you know this is a dog that’s always ‘on’!
Another distinctive feature is their carrot-shaped tail that’s usually happily wagging. Although a Westie looks cute and cuddly, their double coat is hard to the touch - not soft and fluffy. Happy-looking dogs, they’re actually strong, tough working dogs that were bred to hunt rats and other underground rodents.
West Highland White Terrier
West Highland White Terrier Temperament: Independent Charmer
Smart, confident and charming, West Highland White Terriers love nothing more than entertaining their humans and being the centre of the attention. Like a wind up toy, simply let them go and prepare to be entertained. Westies will dazzle you with their love and aptitude for games like chase and fetch and show off their tricks.
But if they don’t get the attention they crave, and a regular outlet for all that energy, Westies can misbehave. Expect them to chase anything that moves, dig up the flowerbeds and bark endlessly - all things they’ll find entertaining, but you won’t.
Westies are big barkers and will always let you know when someone is at the door. But once they’ve announced your visitor’s arrival, they’ll soon calm down and want to show off their tricks for their new friend. West Highland White Terriers can make great family pets, but they need to be properly trained and socialised from an early age. They do best in homes with children older than 8. With their strong prey drive, Westies can find it irresistible to chase small children unless they’re taught manners at a young age.
They might look small and adorable, but Westies are feisty, independent dogs - they’re not lap dogs. Which means people, and especially children, need to learn to respect a Westie’s boundaries. If they pick them up against their will, a Westie might nip.
Westies, especially puppies, can learn to live well with other pets, although their prey drive is strong. This makes living with a cat challenging. Consistent, patient training can help reduce this behaviour. If you’re bringing an older Westie into your home with existing pets, talk to a professional dog trainer with Westie experience.
Keeping West Highland White Terriers Healthy: 4 Issues to Watch Out For
Even though they were bred to be working dogs, West Highland White Terriers are prone to a few health issues. Watching out for these conditions will help your Westie live a long, healthy life.
Joint Problems
As active, energetic dogs it’s no surprise Westies are prone to a variety of joint problems, mainly luxating patella and hip dysplasia. Luxating patella causes a Westie’s kneecap to dislocate and sit incorrectly. Signs include walking stiffly, holding a leg out while resting or kicking a leg out. Medication, physical therapy and surgery can all help.
Hip dysplasia is an inherited condition that means a Westie’s hip joint doesn’t sit like it should, causing problems with standing, running or jumping. There are a range of treatments that can help with hip dysplasia, although responsible breeders should screen for it to ensure their puppies are free from it.
Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease is another hip disorder that can affect West Highland White Terriers. It causes the head of the femur to degenerate. Symptoms include limping and lameness and it can be treated with medication, physical therapy and surgery.
Skin Issues
Westies are at risk of developing atopic dermatitis, which causes them to have dry, itchy skin. Normally triggered by allergens in their environment, a Westie with atopic dermatitis will scratch, rub, lick or shake to try to get rid of the itchiness. There’s a range of treatment options depending on the severity, including medicated baths, ointments and medication.
Craniomandibular Osteopathy (CMO)
Westies suffering with craniomandibular osteopathy will start showing symptoms when they’re between 1 and 10 months old. It causes noncancerous bone growth on their lower jawbone and results in difficulty chewing or opening their mouth, a swollen jaw and excessive drooling. Not only is it easily treated with medication, it’s an inherited condition that should be screened for.
Caring for Your West Highland White Dog
Regular grooming, exercise and training is on the cards if you have a West Highland White Terrier. But in return you get a happy, loyal little dog that’ll entertain you for hours.
Grooming
Pet parents of Westies have a few choices when it comes to grooming. Sure, Westies shed less than other dog breeds, but their coat needs a lot of maintenance. If you’re after a show-ready pup (fluffy around the legs and face, shorter on the back and tail), you’ll need to hand strip them every month. This removes the dead fur so new fur can come through and ensures their hard, coarse coat stays as is.
If you’re not bothered about keeping them in show condition, treat them to a professional groom every 4-6 weeks that will keep your Westie’s coat trimmed short. This normally results in a softer, curlier coat. Whichever style you go for, you will still need to give them a daily brush and comb to remove dead fur and stimulate new growth.
Baths should be kept to a minimum - bathe them too often and it can damage their naturally hard coat. Trim their nails every 2 weeks and brush their teeth every day to reduce tartar build-up and avoid dental problems
Nutrition
West Highland White Terriers do well on quality premium dog food. They’re not picky eaters, just ensure the food you choose suits their life stage (puppy, adult or senior) and is made for smaller breed sizes like the Royal Canin Mini Adult Dog Food range. Better yet, feed them a breed specific diet like the Royal Canin West Highland White Terrier Dry Dog Food.
Treats will probably form a big part of your daily training, but keep an eye on how many you’re giving them. Small dogs like Westies can be prone to obesity, and treat calories count towards their daily calorie intake.
Exercise
With heaps of energy and smarts, West Highland White Terriers love playing, romping, and walking. Even though Westies have a high energy level, they’re happy with a 30-minute walk a day, plus some play time. This can be off-lead but make sure they’re only let off lead in a secure, fully fenced area. Their instinct to chase is strong - they find it impossible to resist chasing a passing cat or critter! Surprisingly fast, it can be hard to catch a Westie.
When it comes to play time, fetch is a Westie’s dream game - be prepared though: they can play for hours. If bad weather keeps you inside, games of hide and seek and puzzle toys will keep their brain and body busy, as will teaching them tricks, like play dead and paw shake.
Keeping your Westie physically and mentally stimulated is really important. Without enough outlets for their energy, they can turn disruptive - from digging up the garden to chasing next door’s cat. Creating a sand pit in the garden for them to dig in can help channel these behaviours.
Training Your West Highland White Terrier
Like all terriers, Westies were bred to work alone, making them independent dogs. Although this can make training challenging, they respond well to patient, positive, consistent lessons and their intelligence helps them pick up things easily. Plus, training is excellent mental and physical stimulation for them and valuable bonding time with your pup.
Choose your training location carefully. It should be a quiet, distraction-free area, like your securely fenced garden. Once that’s sorted, you’ll still have to contend with your feisty Westie’s firm belief that they should be in charge. Positive reinforcement, including tempting treats, will help your Westie focus. Chat to a professional dog trainer with West Highland White Terrier experience to help you get the most out of training.
A Westie needs to be trained from when they’re a puppy and training should be done daily. Westies should also be socialised from a young age to help them become accepting of other dogs and people. Puppy classes are a good idea, as well as leashed walks in your neighbourhood where they can meet other pup pals.