Ratings

Breed Introduction

The West Highland White Terrier, commonly known as Westie, originated in England and dates back to the 19th century. This pure white terrier breed from the western highlands of Scotland has a face somewhat resembling a fox with a long nose. It is said that all Scottish terriers have descended from a common ancestor, which then spread across the UK. The West Highland White Terrier was initially used to hunt otters, foxes, and rats.

In the 19th century, the notable breeder, the Duke of Argyll, established a breeding line in the village of Poltalloch, where Colonel Malcolm worked for over 60 years, mating white coated dogs to fix the appearance we know today. Therefore, the West Highland White Terrier was once called the Poltalloch Terrier. With its dense pure white coat, it requires careful grooming.

The development origins of the West Highland White Terrier suggest it, along with all Scottish terriers, may have originated from a common ancestor. The Scottish terrier, Cairn terrier, Dandie Dinmont terrier, and West Highland White Terrier are all branches from this ancestor. Authorities believe that the West Highland White Terrier originated from Poltalloch in Scotland, where it had existed for over a century before being exhibited for the first time. In 1916, Colonel Malcolm of Poltalloch stated that his father and grandfather both kept this breed. The Malcolm strain of this breed may trace back to the time of King James I, who sourced some land terriers from Argyleshire.

Many years ago, the West Highland White Terrier was known as Roseneath Terrier, also referred to as the Poltalloch Terrier, with the name Roseneath stemming from a man named Duke in Dunbartonshire, Scotland. The breed was first exhibited at Crufts in London in 1907 and registered with the American Kennel Club in 1908, originally named Rosenath Terrier, and officially renamed West Highland White Terrier on May 31, 1909.

The West Highland White Terrier is a versatile breed, exuding the temperament, determination, and loyalty of Scottish terriers in its small body. Outdoors, they are excellent hunters, agile, clever, and indoors, they possess all the qualities a pet should have—loyalty, understanding, dedication, and a lively temperament.

The reason why people enjoy keeping West Highland White Terriers is their resilience. They do not require pampering, enjoy playing in the snow, and like accompanying skiers or walkers across frozen rivers and through icy ports. They are easy to groom, requiring minimal upkeep, and look best when kept in a natural state, which also highlights their character traits. The West Highland White Terrier’s coat is stiff and should be maintained through proper grooming and dry cleaning rather than wet washing. Some believe that West Highland White Terriers are difficult to keep clean; however, this is not the case, as spending just a little time daily brushing or combing will keep them in optimal condition.