Dog Breed Guide

West Highland White Terrier

Profile

Size

Small

Country of origin

United Kingdom (Scotland)

Origin

19th century

Bred for

Hunting fox, badger and rats

Height

about 28cm (11in)

Weight

7 - 10kg (15 - 22lb)

Life span

13 - 15 years

An adorable terrier with a pure white harsh coat, black eyes and nose, small erect ears and a full, round face. Its nickname is "Westie." It is small but sturdy and trots about busily on its short legs.

Bright, cheerful, self-confident and curious, the Westie loves its family and loves to play. Brave like any terrier, it has strong instincts to chase small animals and dig. A slightly stubborn streak is part of its charm.

The harsh white coat sheds dirt easily, but keeping it beautiful requires regular grooming. Many have sensitive skin, so watch out for allergic skin disease.

Good to know

There is a sad reason for its white coat. In 19th-century Scotland, Colonel Edward Malcolm, laird of Poltalloch, accidentally shot his own reddish-brown dog, mistaking it for a fox. To make sure the tragedy never happened again, the colonel is said to have bred only pure white terriers that could be recognized at a glance in the field.

White puppies were sometimes born to Cairn Terriers and Scottish Terriers, and by selecting and breeding those white dogs, the white color was fixed. At first the breed was called the Poltalloch Terrier after the colonel's estate.

The American Kennel Club recognized it in 1908 under a different name, and the following year it was renamed the West Highland White Terrier (the white terrier of the West Highlands of Scotland).