Overview: A small breed with lots of energy, the West Highland White Terrier is playful and loves to be with its master. It gets along pretty well with other dogs and pets, and it likes to be around people, even those unfamiliar. The Westie, as it is known by its nickname, likes to learn new things and aims to please so training isn't hard. The West Highland White Terrier makes a pretty decent watchdog, however it has poor guard dog skills so it shouldn't be used as such. Grooming takes a dedicated owner however its hair does make it fairly resistant to both cold and warm climates.

Temperament: The West Highland White Terrier is a happy, curious, and busy dog sticking its nose into everything. It is very friendly and seeks love constantly, making it one of the friendliest of Terriers. The Westie may be friendly toward many things, however it is not friendly to small animals. It does dig and bark.

History: Sharing some of the same history with the other Terriers from Scotland, the West Highland White Terrier is quite capable with hunting small vermin like fox, and badger. At one point in its past the Westie, the Dandie Dinmont, Skye, Cairn, and the Scottish Terriers were all lumped together as one breed with diversities between. Selective breeding based on coat types and colors among other things produced breeds that could have been easily maintained. The West Highland White Terrier was first named the Poltalloch Terrier in the early 20th century. This name was derived from the home of Col. E.D. Malcolm. Malcolm had been breeding similar white haired and short legged terriers for 60 year. It has been known by several different names since including Roseneath, Poltalloch, White Scottish, Little Skye, and Cairn. The AKC first recognized and named the dog the Roseneath Terrier in the early 20th century but was changed to its current name, West Highland White Terrier about a year later. Since then it has become quite popular making a name for itself as a very competitive dog in shows and one of the most friendly Terriers.

Names: The West Highland White Terrier is also known as the Poltalloch Terrier and quite often referred to as Westie.

Groups: The West Highland White Terrier was formally recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 and assigned to the Terrier Group.

Physical Characteristics: The average adult West Highland White Terrier can be 10 to 11 inches in height and can weigh between 15 and 21 lb. The breed size is small and it is a well-balanced with a strong build. The coat is a double, the outer coat with straight and hard hair and always white in color.

Care: Both an indoor and an outdoor breed, the West Highland White Terrier should live indoors and have access to an outdoor area that is safe. It loves to run and should do so on a daily basis to stay in shape. The coat should be combed about three times a week with shaping every three months.

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