West Highland White Terrier

About the West Highland White Terrier

The West Highland White Terrier was bred in the Highlands of Scotland as a hunter of fox, badger and vermin among the rocks, and legend has it that the white coat was fixed so the dog would not be mistaken for a fox and shot. It is now one of the best-loved companion terriers in Britain and around the world.

Westies stand about 28 cm, with a harsh, straight white outer coat over a soft undercoat, kept in shape by hand-stripping rather than clipping if the texture is to be preserved. The breed is confident, busy and sometimes bossy with other dogs; a stud with an even, outgoing temperament is the one to want. Westies live long, and a stud still lively in later years is a good sign for the line.

Skin is the Westie's weak point. Atopic dermatitis and other allergic skin disease run in the breed, no test exists for them, and the honest question to a stud owner is about skin health in the dog and its relatives. Craniomandibular osteopathy, a painful jaw condition in puppies, has a DNA test; ask for the result. A current eye certificate and patella examination round out the list.

Health & breeding

We check every hip, elbow, eye and DNA result you give us against the Royal Kennel Club’s public records by hand, and we record who checked it and when. The Royal Kennel Club’s public records may not include all the screening a dog has had, so a dog with no Royal Kennel Club record showing is not necessarily untested.