West Highland White Terrier
Westie
West Highland White Terrier: does it suit you?
11 quick questions, the same ones this page answers. After each answer you see what the breed needs, and at the end whether it fits your life.
West Highland White Terrier: a good fit for you
West Highland White Terrier: could work, with compromises
West Highland White Terrier: probably not the right dog for you
Your answers match what the breed needs.
Most of your answers fit. Check the points below before you decide.
Some of your answers don't fit what the breed needs. The points below show where.
What to think about
What fits
A better match for your answers:
None of the 42 breeds on this site fits your answers better.
The West Highland White Terrier is one of many terriers developed in the British Isles by farmers and country gentlemen to keep down rodents.[1] The ‘West Highland’ in its name refers to the north-west of Scotland, where the breed made its name.[1] Its standard describes a small, active, game dog with no small amount of self-esteem: alert, courageous and self-reliant, but friendly.[2]
- Size
- Small
- Weight
- 6–10 kg
- Life expectancy
- 13–15 years
West Highland White Terrier: origin and history
The breed was developed from Cairn Terrier stock: in the mid-19th century the Malcolms of Poltalloch in Argyllshire bred a white strain of Cairns.[3] Many Cairn breeders culled white puppies, but the Malcolms held that white dogs were easier to see when working on the moors.[3]
Early names for the breed were the Poltalloch Terrier and the Roseneath Terrier, the latter after a strain developed on the Duke of Argyll’s Roseneath estate.[3] The Kennel Club recognised the breed in 1907.[3] Under the FCI, with Great Britain as the country of origin, it belongs to Group 3 (Terriers), Section 2 (Small-sized Terriers).[2]
Fact sheet
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Size
- Small
- Height at withers
- 25–28 cm [4]
- Weight
- 6–10 kg
- Life expectancy
- 13–15 years
- Coat
- Wiry
- Colours
- White
- Low-shedding coat
- No
Character and needs
Rated on a scale from very low to very high.
- Exercise needsmoderate
- Trainabilitymoderate
- Grooming needsmoderate
- Sheddinglow
- Barkinghigh
- Good with kidsmoderate
- Good with other dogsmoderate
- Good with catslow
- Apartment-friendlyhigh
- Copes with being alonemoderate
- Watchdog instinctmoderate
- Good for first-time ownersmoderate
- Affectionhigh
West Highland White Terrier: questions and answers
Is it a good dog for first-time owners?
With good preparation. It rates 3 out of 5 for first-time owners. Training takes patience and consistency (3 out of 5 for trainability).
How long can it be left alone?
Up to 4 hours, once the dog is an adult and has learned to be alone step by step. A few hours alone work if you build up slowly (3 out of 5 for coping alone). More than 6 hours at a stretch isn't fair on any dog; plan for a dog sitter or daycare. Puppies need company: start with a few minutes and build up.
How much exercise does it need?
1 to 2 hours a day, spread over several walks. A mix of walks and play keeps the dog balanced.
How long does it live?
13–15 years is the typical life expectancy. That is longer than the average of the 42 breeds on this site (12.6 years). Breed-typical health risks: skin allergies, ear infections, dental problems.
How big does it get?
25–28 cm at the withers and 6–10 kg. Size class: small.
Is it a good family dog?
Best with older children. It rates 3 out of 5 with children. With other dogs it rates 3 out of 5, with cats 2 out of 5. Never leave young children alone with any dog.
Does it shed a lot?
Little: 2 out of 5 for shedding. Brush two or three times a week.
Male or female?
28 cm at the withers for males and 25 cm for females, according to the breed standard. Character differences between the sexes are smaller than between individual dogs; upbringing matters more. Unspayed females come into heat about twice a year, and unneutered males can be restless around them.
West Highland White Terrier or Dachshund?
Biggest difference: trainability (moderate vs. low).
| West Highland White Terrier | Dachshund | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Small | Small |
| Weight | 6–10 kg | 4–12 kg |
| Life expectancy | 13–15 years | 12–16 years |
| Coat | Wiry | Short |
| Trainability | Moderate | Low |
| Grooming needs | Moderate | Low |
| Good with cats | Low | Moderate |
Who it suits
A good fit if you…
- live in an apartment
West Highland White Terrier: the downsides
Every breed has a flip side. Before you decide, check that you can live with these:
- Barks a lot
- 4 out of 5 for barking. With thin walls that can cause trouble with neighbours; training helps but rarely makes the dog quiet.
- Chases cats
- 2 out of 5 with cats. Living with a cat works best if they grow up together, and even then not always.
- A long commitment
- 13–15 years of daily walks, vet visits and holidays planned around a dog.
West Highland White Terrier: puppy price and monthly costs
£1,000 – £2,500 for a puppy from a breeder in the UK (Waggel). From £69 a month in running costs in the UK (PDSA, 2024). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, other costs.
| Country | Puppy from a breeder | Running costs per month |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | £1,000 – £2,500 [5] | from £69 [6] |
| United States | $900 – $2,500 [7] | $116 [8] |
| Canada | no data | CA$367 [9] |
| Australia | no data | A$210 [10] |
| New Zealand | no data | NZ$100 [11] |
- Set-up costs at the start: £415 – £560 for basic equipment, first vaccinations, wormers and neutering (PDSA, 2024).
- Dog licence in Northern Ireland: £12.50 a year; England, Scotland and Wales have none (nidirect, 2026).
- Dog licence in the US: $5 – $20 a year, set by the city or county (American Kennel Club, 2021).
- Dog licence in Canada: CA$25–60 a year in Toronto, less for a neutered dog (City of Toronto, 2026).
- Dog registration with the council in Australia: A$20–200 a year, depending on the council and whether the dog is desexed (Mozo, 2026).
- Dog registration with the council in New Zealand: NZ$78–182 a year in Auckland, depending on the dog (PetMall NZ, citing Auckland Council, 2026).
- Puppies far below these prices often come without health checks or papers.
Health
Breed-typical health risks
- Skin allergies [17]
- Prone to itching and skin inflammation.
- Ear infections [18]
- Floppy ears trap moisture. Check them regularly.
- Dental problems [18]
- Small jaws build up tartar quickly. Regular brushing helps.
Health tests for the parent dogs
5 health tests appear in the breeding rules for the breed.
- No health test is required for breeding in the UK (The Royal Kennel Club); the table shows what is recommended.
- Needed for a CHIC number in the US (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) / Canine Health Information Center): hip X-ray (HD), kneecap check, eye exam, and DNA tests (CMO).
- No health test is required for breeding in Canada (Canadian West Highland White Terrier Club); the table shows what is recommended.
- No health test is required for breeding in New Zealand (Dogs New Zealand); the table shows what is recommended.
| Test | United Kingdom [19] | United States [20] | Canada [21] | New Zealand [22] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip X-ray (HD)Hip dysplasia | not in the rules | Required | not in the rules | Recommended |
| Kneecap checkPatella luxation | not in the rules | Required | not in the rules | Recommended |
| Eye examInherited eye disease, by a certified vet ophthalmologist | not in the rules | Required | not in the rules | Recommended |
| DNA test: CMOCraniomandibular osteopathy | not in the rules | Required | not in the rules | not in the rules |
| DNA test: PKDPyruvate kinase deficiency (anaemia) | not in the rules | not in the rules | not in the rules | Recommended |
● Required. ○ Recommended: advised, not required. – Not in the rules. The clubs and their rules are in the source list.
United Kingdom: the Royal Kennel Club’s Health Standard requires no test, so every test is ○ recommended.
United States: ● means the test is needed for a CHIC number from the OFA; taking part in CHIC is voluntary.
Canada: ● means the breed club’s code of ethics requires the test of member breeders; the kennel club registers litters without it.
New Zealand: the kennel club lists these tests as advice and requires none, so every test is ○ recommended.
What to ask the breeder
- Certificates for both parents: hip X-ray (HD), kneecap check, and eye exam. A claim that the parents are “health tested” is not enough.
- DNA results of both parents for CMO, or proof that both are clear by descent.
- To see the puppies with their mother, at the breeder’s home.
- The pedigree papers (United Kingdom: Royal Kennel Club registration certificate; Canada: CKC certificate of registration; Australia: Dogs Australia pedigree, issued by the state body; New Zealand: Dogs NZ certificate of registration). [23] [24] [25] [26]
- 8 weeks: the youngest age at which a puppy may leave its mother in the UK, in Canada (Quebec), and in Australia (New South Wales). [27] [28] [29]
- Advice on buying a puppy: The Royal Kennel Club, The Canadian Kennel Club, Dogs Australia, and Dogs New Zealand. [30] [31] [32] [33]
Similar breeds
Sources
- American Kennel Club (AKC): West Highland White Terrier Dog Breed Information
- FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale): Breed standard No. 85: West Highland White Terrier (2026)
- The Royal Kennel Club: West Highland White Terrier
- American Kennel Club (AKC): Official breed standard: West Highland White Terrier (2024)
- Waggel (UK pet insurer): West Highland Terrier Breed Guide: Temperament, Training, Health.
- PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, UK veterinary charity): The cost of owning a dog (2024). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, other costs.
- PetMD: West Highland White Terrier (Westie) Dog Breed Health and Care (2023)
- ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): Cutting Pet Care Costs (2021). Covers food, vet visits, preventive medicine, insurance, toys and treats, boarding, dog licence, grooming supplies.
- Pets Plus Us (Canadian pet insurer; figures from OVMA 2024 Cost of Care research): HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGY? (EN-DOG_PPU_Cost-of-Care_Aug2024_v3.pdf) (2024). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, dog tax, accessories.
- Animal Medicines Australia (survey by Sweeney Research/SNR): Pets in Australia: A national survey of pets and people (Pet Ownership Study 2025) (2025). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, parasite treatment, vet medicines, supplements, grooming, training, accessories, dog walking, boarding, transport, memberships, alternative healthcare.
- Companion Animals New Zealand (NZ Companion Animal Council): Companion Animals in New Zealand 2016 (section 6.3 Dogs, Fig 50) (2016). Covers food, vet visits, dog tax, boarding, equipment, grooming, healthcare products, insurance, training, other costs.
- nidirect (official government website for Northern Ireland): Dog licensing and microchipping (2026)
- American Kennel Club: Are You Financially Prepared for a Puppy? Explore Costs of Owning a Dog (2021)
- City of Toronto: Pet Licensing Fees (2026)
- Mozo: How much does it cost to own a dog or cat in Australia? 2026 (2026)
- PetMall NZ, citing Auckland Council: Auckland Dog Registration 2026–27: Late Fees Now Apply — Full Fee Table (2026)
- The Royal Kennel Club: Breed Watch: West Highland White Terrier - Category 2
- Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 6:7 (O'Neill DG et al., VetCompass): West Highland White Terriers under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2016: demography, mortality and disorders (2019)
- The Royal Kennel Club: Royal Kennel Club Health Standard: A complete guide to health testing for responsible breeding (2026)
- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) / Canine Health Information Center (CHIC): CHIC Program Requirements and testing statistics: West Highland White Terrier
- Canadian West Highland White Terrier Club: Member Breeder Code of Ethics (2023)
- Dogs New Zealand: Accredited Breeder Health Tests for the WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER (former Accredited Breeders Scheme test list)
- The Royal Kennel Club: What should the breeder give me?
- The Canadian Kennel Club: By-Laws (incl. Code of Ethics (2025)
- Dogs Australia: Getting a Dog: Importance of Pedigree Papers
- Dogs New Zealand (New Zealand Kennel Club Inc.): Registration Regulations (Section 4, Reg. 24: Litter Registration Limitations (2026)
- UK Government (legislation.gov.uk): The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/486), Schedule 6 (breeding dogs) and Schedule 3 (selling animals as pets) (2018)
- Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ): Guide d'application du Règlement sur le bien-être et la sécurité des animaux domestiques de compagnie et des équidés (reproduces CQLR c. B-3.1, r. 0.1, art. 36) (2023)
- NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), State of New South Wales (fact sheet hosted by Dogs NSW): New laws for dog breeders in NSW (fact sheet on the 2024-25 amendments to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 and Companion Animals Act 1998) (2025)
- The Royal Kennel Club: Questions for the breeder
- The Canadian Kennel Club: Finding an Accountable Breeder
- Dogs Australia: Getting a Dog: Choosing a Breeder
- Dogs New Zealand: How do you go about purchasing a pedigree pure bred dog?
Breeding rules, health sources and breed standards checked October 8, 2026.
Prices as published by the sources; collected October 8, 2026.
Breed traits describe typical tendencies. Every dog is an individual, shaped by genes, upbringing and training.