That Outgoing West Highland White Terrier: 
Are They Right for You?

By Janice Jones   |Last Updated 04-17-2023

You might know the West Highland white terrier from his famous picture on the Caesar food can, or the adorable dog owned by Kahn, Hank’s neighbor depicted on the old TV series King of the Hill. 

Without a doubt, there is much more to endear you to this breed than their cute face.  Described as an alert, active, independent, friendly breed, these little dogs are true to their terrier heritage. 

Traits	Rating
Playfulness
Affection Level
Friendliness Towards Strangers
Good with Children
Good with Other Dogs
Good for First Time Owners
Exercise Needed
Ease of Training
Watch Dog Ability
Grooming Requirements
Shedding
Cold Tolerant
Heat Tolerant

Dog Breed Ratings Got You a Little Confused?
Here's a little help in understanding them

• Playfulness:   Most Playful = 5    Least Playful = 1
• Affection:  Most Affectionate = 5   Least Affectionate = 1
• Friendliness Towards Strangers: Most Friendly = 5  Least = 1
• Good With Children:  Great= 5    Not Good with Children = 1
• Good With Dogs:  Great = 5   Not Good Around Dogs = 1
• Good With First Time Owners:  Fine=5  Not Appropriate = 1
• Exercise Required:  Extensive Daily Exercise = 1  Minimal = 1
• Ease of Training:  Very Easy = 5     Difficult = 1
• Watch Dog:  Excellent Watch Dog = 5  Minimal = 1
• Grooming:  Time Consuming = 5   Minimal = 1
• Shedding:  Heavy Shedder = 5     Minimal = 1
• Cold Tolerance:  Well Tolerated = 5   Poor Tolerance = 1
• Heat Tolerance:  Well Tolerated = 5  Poor Tolerance = 1

They are quick to win your heart with their energetic persona and their bright white coat that just accents their button eyes, making them an initial hit among anyone who loves a people oriented canine. 

I remembered the first time I encountered a Westie many years ago.  It was a time when I was serving as a vet tech to a local veterinarian.  Working for a very small practice, I got to know all the dogs that walked through the doors. 

But the Westie I met so many years ago, never walked through the door, rather, he bound through dragging his unsuspecting new owner behind. 

Trying to dodge any obstacle in his path, he made his way to the reception desk where I stood and literally tried to scale all 3 feet of it to get to me.  I immediately thought, Wow, there’s some energy, waiting to be harnessed! 

Of course, I was thrilled and surprised because most dogs drag their owners in the opposite direction when they encounter a vet clinic.

What I later learned was that the West Highland white terrier makes a great hunter, though few people use them to hunt these days. 

Rather, people love them because well; they are just plain FUN. 

These dogs are self-confident and somewhat independent making them an ideal choice for someone who doesn’t want a really “needy” dog, but they are loyal and build close bonds with their favorite humans. 

As terriers go, they are highly social, happy and friendly.

If you think you’d like to participate in a dog sport, the West Highland White Terrier may be just right.  They do well in earthdog trials, agility, obedience and flyball. 

History of the West Highland White Terrier

All of the shorter legged terriers of Scotland including the Scottish, Skye, Carin, Dandie Dinmont and West Highland white terrier were bred to hunt small game. 

As the story goes, one day one of Colonel Edward Donald Malcolm of Poltalloch, Argyllshire, Scotland’s red dogs was mistaken for a fox and killed. 

After that, Malcolm decided to breed only white dogs so they could be seen and recognized during a hunt. These dogs were called "Poltalloch Terriers".

Later, Malcolm did not want to be known as the father of the breed and asked that the dogs be renamed. 

The first breed club was set up in 1904 and first recognized by the Kennel Club in 1907.  During the same time, the breed, then known as the Rosenearth Terrier was imported into the United States and recognized by the AKC in 1908. 

It was renamed the next year to the West Highland white terrier.   Over the 20th century, they gained in popularity.   

Personality and Temperament of Westies

Vigilant, Friendly, Spirited, Robust, Active, Independent—these are all words used to describe the Westie’s personality. 

While not considered to be hyper, they are energetic and will need plenty of exercises which suggest that they might not be suitable for couch potatoes. 

West Highland White Terriers do love to roam and a walk or two each day will help keep meet their curiosity requirements. 

Basically, they want to be doing what you are doing, so they work very well for active single, couple or family. 

This breed is much easier to housebreak than other small breed dogs, and they do well with training especially if you use positive reinforcement and rewards.

Some do very well in obedience trials as they primarily want to please.  There is that “what’s in it for me,” streak that is found so often in small breed dogs, so patience is the name of the game.  

They do have some inbred traits that may be difficult to overcome such as digging and chasing (especially little squirrels and chipmunks), so a fenced in yard is a good idea.

Remember, the West Highland White was originally bred to hunt and kill game and vermin in the rugged Scottish Highlands.  

No fence? No Problem, just keep your Westie safely on a leash when outdoors.

The breed as a whole usually gets along well with other dogs and household pets, but as you might expect, two unaltered males may not become best friends, especially if an altered female is nearby. 

Spaying and neutering the dog will take care of any issues in this regard. 

Any household pets that might be perceived as prey for the Westie (i.e. hamsters, birds, small guinea pigs) will not survive in the same home as a Westie. 

The West Highland White Terrier was traditionally bred for catching vermin so it’s not surprising that they have  a high “prey, drive,”as a result. 

Breeds with high prey drives enjoy tossing and retrieving games, but the object of the game should be a ball or a Frisbee, not a live animal.

They are not a “yappy” dog, but they will announce visitors with a bark or two, so they do make good watch dogs. 

They are smart, curious and will become bored easily if not given enough stimulation. 

If you’re looking for a lap dog, this may not be the breed for you.  Some West Highland White Terriers have been known to be excellent lap dogs, but the vast majority are just to independent, inquisitive and active to spend their day warming your lap.

Health Concerns of the West Highland White Terrier

Like all dogs, Westies are prone to certain problems many of which are genetic in nature.  Although the list seems long, it doesn’t mean that one dog will ever suffer from any of them.  

Atopic dermatitis (an inherited skin allergy)

Luxating patellae (knee caps that pop out of normal position),

Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease is a condition involving the hip joints.

Dry eye  is a condition of the eye where there is inadequate tear production.  Artificial tears may be necessary.

Addison’s disease: This is a rare disease which is also known as Hypoadrenocorticism. It  is characterized by a deficient production of glucocorticoids that lead to symptoms such as weakness, low blood pressure, blood in feces, weight loss and dehydration. 

White shaker dog syndrome (or idiopathic steroid responsive shaker syndrome) is a condition that occurs in small white dogs including the Westie and results in body tremors that can lead to seizures and difficulty walking.

Pulmonary fibrosis occurs when scar tissue replace normal lung tissue making it eventually difficult to breath.  

Juvenile cataracts:  Cataracts are changes that occur in the eye that lead to opacity of the lens.  They normally occur in senior dogs, but some breeds including this one may develop them as early as six months of age.

Craniomandibular osteopathy is a disease that causes jaw deformities in puppies usually under one year old; it is also known as lion jaw or Westie jaw. 

It is an autosomal recessive disease, meaning that both mother and father must be a carrier to pass on the defect to their offspring. 

The bones around the jaw thicken causing problems for the dog to chew and swallow their food.  Treatment involves administering anti-inflammatory medicine and offering a soft food diet. 

Some animals live with the disease throughout their lives but if the dog cannot eat and seems to be in pain, euthanasia may be the only option.

Grooming the Westie

At first glance, you might decide that a white dog is out of the question because they would need much grooming to keep their coat glowingly white. Not so.

The West Highland White Terrier has a double coat with an inner coat being soft, and the outer coat being harsh.  Puppies have one coat—the outer coat and the soft inner coat will not grow in until about a year old. 

Grooming a show Westie is very involved but for the pet, grooming is less intense.  A good brushing with a slicker brush followed by combing with a greyhound comb takes care of any snarls and keeps hair smooth. 

In addition, their outer coat tends to prevent dirt from remaining on the dog.  Even mud can be brushed off after it dries. 

Most pet owners prefer to have their dog groomed professionally every 6 to 8 weeks.  When done this way, their coat is clipped making the texture of their hair softer than would be the case for a Show dog. 

If that Show Dog appearance is what you love, learning to hand strip the coat is a must and usually the best way to learn this is through the breeder or groomer familiar with this technique. 

Hand stripping rather than clipping will retain the wiry texture of the coat.

If cost is a factor and grooming your Westie at home is a real alternative.  The cost of Professional clippers is about the same as a couple of professional grooming visits and well worth the investment. 

Bathing about one per month is usually sufficient as most Westie’s coats tend to repel dirt.  Some owners will use corn starch on the coat sprinkling it on, fluffing out the hair and then brushing. 

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This keeps the coat clean and odor free.  Other grooming tasks that should be performed include brushing the teeth, clipping the nails, or grinding them down, and trimming any hairs from between the foot pads. 

Westies do shed, but not as much as you might think.  Brushing weekly will help with this. 

Caring For Your West Highland White Terrier

Best Owners for This Breed

A Westie is an excellent choice for novice or experienced dog owners.  They do well with singles, couples, and families.  Their playful and comical nature make them an ideal companion for children, and older retirees love the idea of having a ready source of entertainment.  

If these dogs are walked regularly, they can make good apartment dogs, but barking may be a problem so that will need to be taken into consideration.

They do equally well in family homes and rural settings.  A fence will help keep your dog safe while playing outdoors.

He does well with other dogs especially if all dogs in the household have been fixed.  Normally cats are not a problem if they have grown up together, but chasing the cat can be an issue. 

We don't recommend mixing Westies with small pocket pets due to their ratting and chasing instincts.

Energy and Exercise Requirements

Your Westie will benefit from a once or twice daily walk or a romp in the yard. 

Due to their innate nature to chase anything that movies, your West Highland White Terrier should not be trusted of a leash when outdoors. 

A securely fenced area is ideal for rigorous play and exercise and will appreciate and enjoy a game of fetch with his favorite human.

If you are included towards doggie sports, this breed does extremely well in obedience, rally and agility and are naturals at earthdog events.   

Training a Westie

This breed is highly intelligent may have an adverse effect on training.  They are independent and confident, typical characteristics of terrier breeds. They learn quickly, but many have a very short attention span making long training sessions nearly impossible.

Training can be accomplished through patient positive short training sessions.  New owners should expect to have a well trained dog as long as they are consistent and stick with the program.

Housebreaking is a bit easier with this breed than with other small breed dogs.  Start from day one to establish a house training schedule and reward for good behavior.

Socialization is very important with this breed so don't neglect this very important early activity.  Since barking can be a problem for some Westies, teaching them to curb their impulses will make life much easier for everyone.

Possible Problem Behaviors of Westies

• Chasing
• Digging
• Not Coming When Called
• Barking

What to Feed the West Highland White Terrier

These dogs do well on a high quality dog food that is either dry, canned, frozen or raw.  Kibble can be provided twice a day after the dog turns 6 months of age. 

Before then, meals served three times a day are a good rule of thumb.  Depending on the size of the dog, they will eat anywhere between 1/2 to 1 1/2 cups per day.  Very active dogs may need a little more.  

Check out Evaluating dog food by learning to read labels for more information on how to choose a high quality food.  Also, see our guidelines on feeding a puppy or feeding an adult dog.

Snacks can be given in moderation.  Both vegetables and fruits make healthy treats but don't over do as you don't want to end up with an overweight dog.

How Much Does a Westie Cost?

Most dog adoptions cost approximately $250 to $350 in the U.S. for an adult dog.  Senior dogs can be adopted for lower costs and puppies may be a bit higher.  To purchase a Westie from a reputable breeder, expect to pay around $1000.

Gifts for the Westie Lover

Did You Know?

The West Highland White Terrier is used frequently in advertisement and branding.  Have you seen  

Westie on the Black & White Whiskey label?

Caesar Dog Food label

Two Westies on the Juicy Couture’s Company Logo

My Dog Brand dog food made by the Australian dog food company, Mars, Inc.

Resources and Further Reading

The more you know about the breed you are considering, the better pet parent you will be.  We always recommend purchasing a book or two so you will know and understand your breed thoroughly. 

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Breed Club

The West Highland White Terrier Club of America 

West Highland White Breed Rescue

Westie Rescue USA

Pin for Future Reference

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