West Highland White Terrier - Perhaps one of the happiest dogs in the world...
Top tips for caring and owning a West Highland Terrier
Breed Introduction
The West Highland White Terrier, affectionately known as simply a Westie, is a cheerful, outgoing and popular member of the terrier family. Virtually tireless, the Westie simply brims self-esteem, and his loyal nature makes him an ideal companion and playmate for youngsters. Even though they have a playful nature, Westies can sometimes be quiet and determined. The West Highland White Terrier loves to entertain his family with his silly antics and sheer love of life. They are intelligent, quick learners and can be trained easily using positive training methods. They get along well with everyone including strangers. Westies can be quite noisy as they will bark at every little thing they see or hear. They will happily stay at home with proper stimulation while you're out at work.
Free Online Workshop On Dog Training
Join our next free online workshop and learn the secrets that the pros at the K9 Training Institute use to train service dogs to be so calm and well-behaved – and how you can use those same training methods to train YOUR dog!
Space is limited – so please reserve your spot right away.
Will a West Highland White Terrier be a suitable dog for my family?
- Yes, if you want a small dog (15-35lbs)
- Whatever size back yard you have, or even if you have no back yard at all
- If you do have a back yard, as long as it's secured by a highly visible fence
- If you are able to spend at least 45-60 minutes total per day for the feeding, exercising, training, and grooming of your dog
- You want a medium coated do
- If you prefer a dog that doesn’t shed, but may need to be clipped or groomed frequently. This type of dog is believed to cause less problems for those with an allergy to pet hair
- For those who have infants or young children in the house
- As long as you have the time and persistence to housebreak your dog
- You want a dog that's active as a puppy but that settles as he matures into adulthood. The Westie is a good choice for those who might need a dog to be home alone during the day
- If you want a dog that takes an average amount of time to train
- You want a dog that will bark to warn you of odd noises or strangers
- The Westie is a great choice for the first time dog owner
West Highland White Terrier Stat Chart
Rating System:
Ease of training: 1 is hard to train, 5 is easy
Ease of grooming: 1 is hard to groom, 5 is easy
Sociability: 1 is not social, 5 is very social
Guarding: 1 is not a good guard dog, 5 is very good guard dog
Suitable for Apartments: 1 is not suitable, 5 is very suitable
Noisiness: 1 is quiet, 5 is loud
Biting and Nipping: 1 is doesn't nip/bite, 5 high chance of biting/nipping
Energy Level: 1 is low energy, 5 is high energy
Shedding: 1 is low energy, 5 is high shedding
Affection: 1 is not very friendly, 5 is very friendly
Exercise Requirements: 1 is low exercise needed, 5 is a lot of exercise
Breed Stat
Size: Small,Toy or Tiny
Life span: Over 10 Years
Exercise: Up to 1 hour per day
Grooming: More than once a week
Coat length: Medium
Coat sheds?: Yes
Home Size: Large,Small,Flat
Garden Size: Medium,Small
Rating System:
Ease of training: 1 is hard to train, 5 is easy
Ease of grooming: 1 is hard to groom, 5 is easy
Sociability: 1 is not social, 5 is very social
Guarding: 1 is not a good guard dog, 5 is very good guard dog
Suitable for Apartments: 1 is not suitable, 5 is very suitable
Noisiness: 1 is quiet, 5 is loud
Biting and Nipping: 1 is doesn't nip/bite, 5 high chance of biting/nipping
Energy Level: 1 is low energy, 5 is high energy
Shedding: 1 is low energy, 5 is high shedding
Affection: 1 is not very friendly, 5 is very friendly
Exercise Requirements: 1 is low exercise needed, 5 is a lot of exercise
