Dog breed profile
West Highland white terrier
A detailed profile covering characteristics, everyday care and linked health conditions.
Quick facts
Typical guide only; individual needs vary.
Profile description
The West Highland White Terrier, commonly called the Westie, is a small Scottish terrier developed to hunt foxes, badgers and vermin in rocky countryside. Most adults stand around 25 to 28 centimetres tall and weigh approximately 7 to 10 kilograms. The breed has a compact, sturdy body, short legs, erect ears and a harsh white double coat. Modern representatives of the West Highland white terrier type may live primarily as companions, but inherited body shape and behavioural motivations remain relevant to exercise, training and home selection.
Westies are typically lively, confident, affectionate and curious. They often form close bonds with their families and can be playful, alert and entertaining household companions. Their hunting background gives them determination, a strong prey drive and an instinct to dig, chase and investigate small animals. They may bark readily at visitors or unfamiliar sounds and can become assertive with unfamiliar dogs.
Westies are intelligent but independent and may ignore commands when a scent or moving animal captures their attention. The white coat requires regular care, while the breed can be vulnerable to chronic skin and allergy problems. They generally suit owners who can provide daily exercise, patient training, secure fencing and attentive grooming and skin management. Individual West Highland white terriers still vary with breeding, early experience, health and training, so these breed tendencies should guide preparation rather than predetermine the personality of every dog.
Choosing a West Highland white terrier should involve considering the whole adult dog rather than appearance alone. A well-matched West Highland white terrier is normally included in everyday family life and given clear outlets for the same instincts that shaped the breed's original work or companionship role.
First-time dog owner tips
Practical preparation for welcoming this breed into your home.
Care requirements
Daily West Highland white terrier care requires moderate daily exercise, including walks, scent games, controlled play and supervised exploration. Off-leash activity should occur only within secure fencing because the dog may chase wildlife or follow scents. Training should begin early and focus on recall, lead manners, quiet behaviour and impulse control around smaller animals. Positive reinforcement and short, varied sessions work best. Build the West Highland white terrier's weekly routine around several forms of movement rather than repeating one route, and include lower-intensity recovery after unusually demanding activity.
The harsh double coat should be brushed and combed several times a week and professionally hand-stripped or clipped approximately every six to eight weeks. Frequent or harsh bathing should be avoided unless recommended by a veterinarian because it may worsen skin irritation.
The skin should be monitored for redness, itching, hair loss, odour or recurrent ear problems. Teeth should be brushed frequently, nails kept short and ears checked for wax, moisture or infection. Food portions should maintain a lean body condition.
Regular veterinary examinations should monitor skin, ears, knees, eyes, lungs and dental health. Persistent scratching, paw licking, coughing, exercise intolerance or recurrent infections should be investigated promptly. Secure fencing and scent-based enrichment help manage digging and chasing behaviour. Owners should establish the West Highland white terrier's normal appetite, breathing, movement, sleep and social behaviour so a persistent departure from that baseline can be investigated promptly. Care requirements for a senior West Highland white terrier should be reviewed as mobility, senses and recovery change; shorter sessions, better footing and easier access can preserve independence without removing enrichment. Seek veterinary advice promptly if a West Highland white terrier develops breathing difficulty, collapse, severe pain, repeated vomiting, inability to urinate, sudden weakness or a rapidly worsening change in behaviour.
Conditions linked to this breed
Hypoadrenocorticism [Addison's Disease]
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Atopy, Allergic and Autoimmune Diseases
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Cataract [Cloudiness of the Lens of the Eye]
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Chronic Inflammatory Hepatic Disease [Chronic Active Hepatitis]
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Congenital Myotonia
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Congenital Renal Disease [Hereditary Nephropathies]
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Copper Hepatopathy
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Craniomandibular Osteopathy
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Demodectic Mange
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Diabetes Mellitus
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Glaucoma (Primary, Inherited)
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Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy (Krabbe Disease)
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Ichthyosis
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Inherited Deafness
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Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca KCS, Dry Eye
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Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head
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Panosteitis
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Persistent Pupillary Membrane & Persistent Hyaloid Remnants
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Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)
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Pulmonary Fibrosis (Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis)
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Pulmonic Stenosis
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Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (Non-spherocytic haemolytic anaemia)
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General dog health conditions
These conditions can affect dogs generally and are not presented as conditions specifically associated with this breed.