The West Highland White Terrier is a small, active, and fearless dog with great confidence. Not only is it a familiar face of the Cesar dog food brand, but it’s also a popular family pet. Learn more about the breed in the profile below.

History of the West Highland White Terrier

In Scotland, terriers have been used for fox, marten, and otter hunting since the 19th century. These small hunting dogs pursued their prey into burrows and flushed them out. The West Highland White Terrier is one of the direct descendants of the old Scottish hunting terriers. According to legend, Colonel Edward Donald Malcom accidentally shot his Cairn Terrier during a hunt. From then on, he began breeding only white dogs that stood out from their surroundings. The breed became known as the “Poltalloch Terrier.”

The popularity of the robust white terrier grew rapidly, and the first West Highland Terrier Club was founded in 1905. The Westie, as it’s commonly called, gradually evolved into both a show dog and a family companion. The breed is recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale and is assigned to FCI Group 3, which includes terrier breeds, such as the Westie, a high-legged terrier. Today, it is one of the most popular small dog breeds in Europe and the United States. The terrier experienced a real boom, especially in the 1990s.

Nature and Character

The West Highland White Terrier is lively, courageous, and friendly. It possesses the basic characteristics of a terrier and has a tendency towards independence. Moreover, Westies are very loyal and love their family above all else. They get along well with other dogs and are extremely lovable. The breed enjoys playing, loves new challenges, and is always up for fun.

Unlike other terrier breeds, it is not a barker and is not nervous or temperamental. However, they will bark loudly to alert to any unusual activity and greet visitors. Representatives of the breed generally like to be the center of attention and require a lot of stimulation. Due to its size, you should not underestimate the Westie and label it as a lap dog. The hunting instinct is quite strong, and you should address it early on.

Affection Level	High
Friendliness	High
Kid-Friendly	High
Pet-Friendly	Medium
Exercise Needs	Medium
Playfulness	High
Energy Level	Medium
Trainability	Medium
Intelligence	High
Tendency to Bark	High
Amount of Shedding	Low

Acquiring a West Highland White Terrier

What should I consider when buying?

Despite its small size, the Westie is not a beginner’s dog and requires a confident, consistent owner. With proper socialization, it gets along well with children, as well as other dogs and cats. Before purchasing, be absolutely sure that the West Highland White Terrier is the right dog for you. After all, the four-legged friend will remain a part of your family for the next 12-16 years.

On the internet, you’ll find a whole lot of unscrupulous providers who don’t care about the well-being of dogs and see them purely as a source of income. For this reason, you should take a close look when choosing a breeder. It’s best to buy your puppy from a breeder who is a member of the Terrier Club of America. These breeders must adhere to strict guidelines, and you’re guaranteed to get a healthy puppy.

Of course, this also comes at a price, and you can expect to pay up to $1000 for a Westie puppy. A good alternative to buying a puppy is, of course, getting a Westie from a shelter. For a small fee, you can give a poor West Highland White Terrier a new chance with you.

Puppy Development and Training

Even though the little dog is not only cute as a puppy, proper training should not be underestimated. It’s a true terrier and behaves accordingly. You should pay attention to consistent training from an early age and occasionally set boundaries for the Westie. Despite its size, the little dog is very self-confident and dreams of taking over the leadership of the pack. If you train the little rascal properly, he will become a sociable and friendly companion.

How do I care for a West Highland White Terrier?

What activities can I do with the West Highland White Terrier?

Caring for the West Highland White Terrier is quite uncomplicated. If he can take daily walks, he’ll feel comfortable even in a small apartment. Despite his white fur, the little nature lover is not deterred by rain, mud, or cold and enjoys being outdoors. If you’re looking for a well-behaved lap dog, the West Highland White Terrier is not the right choice! The Westie is a dominant powerhouse in a small package and needs an active person who spends a lot of time with him. He’s always up for fun and eagerly learns small tricks.

The Westie can be enthusiastic about many activities, but only participates when he feels like it. Running or cycling is less suitable for the breed. The former hunting dogs prefer to cover the distance at a slower pace while sniffing through the undergrowth. In bad weather, you can keep your Westie entertained indoors with intelligence toys and search games.

Due to his playful nature, he particularly enjoys sports like flyball or agility. The little dog hasn’t forgotten his original use as a hunting dog. Therefore, he always needs the full attention of his human during walks to prevent him from misbehaving and giving in to his hunting instinct.

Health and Grooming

The snow-white, long fur of the West Highland White Terrier might suggest that grooming is quite high-maintenance. In fact, you don’t need to groom him much more than other long-haired breeds. Bathing is only necessary in exceptional cases when there’s no other option. Usually, brushing the Westie’s coat regularly to remove excess undercoat is sufficient. Since the breed doesn’t undergo a natural shedding process, the dead fur needs to be regularly trimmed. Depending on the quality of the coat, you should visit the groomer with your dog every 6 to 11 weeks and have the fur professionally trimmed.

Interesting and Notable

West Highland White Terrier in Film and Television:

Westies are popular dogs in film and television not only because of their cute appearance. In the film adaptations of the Asterix comics, Obelix’s dog, Dogmatix, is portrayed by a shaved West Highland White Terrier with black-tipped ears. As you may know, the dog food brand Cesar has been promoting its products with a Westie for a long time. The breed gained particular prominence through the adorable TV commercials featuring the small white dogs.

Other companies also feature a Westie in their logo or advertise with the little terrier. The Scottish whiskey brand “Black & White” depicts a Scottish Terrier and a Westie on the label of its bottles. Some old Scottish locomotives feature an image of the breed because the Westie was the mascot of the Eastfield Scottish Railway Depot.

Do you also have a West Highland White Terrier or are you planning to get one? What makes your Westie so special? Tell me more in the comments!