Breed profile
West Highland White Terrier
Explore the care, lifestyle and household factors that matter before making a commitment.
SizeSmall
ExerciseModerate
GroomingModerate
ChildrenGood
BarkingHigh
HealthModerate
What this means
Source-linked data has been researched to help you make an informed decision about life with this breed.
Read how evidence is handledAt a glance
Key facts
Size classSmall
Adult weight6 to 9 kg
Exercise needModerate
Energy levelHigh
BarkingHigh
Grooming effortModerate
Health burdenModerate
Breed profile
Life with this breed
Home and lifestyle
- Flat suitability
- Good fit
- Alone tolerance
- Moderate
- Energy level
- High
- First-time owner fit
- Possible
Care and training
- Minimum daily exercise
- 60 minutes
- Mental stimulation
- High
- Trainability
- Moderate
- Grooming effort
- Moderate
- Professional grooming
- Professional grooming likely
- Shedding
- Moderate
Household fit
- Children
- Good
- Dogs
- Moderate
- Cats
- Limited
- Prey drive
- High
- Visitors
- Moderate
Health and evidence
- Health burden
- Moderate
- Heat tolerance
- Moderate
- Cold tolerance
- Moderate
Health-burden evidence confidence: Medium.
Recorded health considerations
- Skin allergies
- Craniomandibular osteopathy
- Luxating patellas
- Ear conditions
- Eye problems
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (Westie Lung)
- Legg-Perthes disease
These are breed-level considerations, not a diagnosis or a guarantee that an individual dog will be affected.
Children and pets need supervision and careful introductions. Individual behaviour varies.