Quick Links: Table of Contents
- West Highland White Terrier Breed Overview
- History of the West Highland White Terrier Breed. Where West Highland White Terriers came from
- What the West Highland White Terrier Looks Like
- How Much is the West Highland White Terrier Puppy?
- Best West Highland White Terrier Breeders
- Adopting or Rescuing the West Highland White Terrier
- West Highland White Terrier Growth
- What Colors do West Highland White Terriers Have?
- The Temperament of the West Highland White Terrier
- How Long West Highland White Terriers Live
- West Highland White Terrier Litter Size
- How Fast West Highland White Terriers Can Run
- Good Names for West Highland White Terriers
- How Intelligent are West Highland White Terriers?
- How Popular are West Highland White Terriers with New Dog Owners?
- Health Problems in West Highland White Terriers and How to Prevent Them
- How to Take Care of West Highland White Terrier
- Dog Breeds That Are Similar to West Highland White Terriers
- Other Things to Know About West Highland White Terriers
West Highland White Terrier Breed Overview
The West Highland White Terrier is a small-sized dog.
The adult West Highland White Terrier stands 10 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder.
The West Highland White Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group.
Dogs in the Terrier Dogs group, like the West Highland White Terrier, were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin).
Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.
The fact that the West Highland White Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group is one of the reasons why West Highland White Terriers have the personality and temperament that they have.
The temperament of the West Highland White Terrier is generally described as:
- Active
- Alert
- Courageous
- Friendly
- Gay
- Hardy
- Independent
History of the West Highland White Terrier Breed. Where West Highland White Terriers came from
Because they are all descendants of the same breed, the West Highland White Terrier is thought to have a similar history to other similar breeds such as the Scottish, Skye, Dandie Dinmont, and Cairn Terriers.
This breed originated in Scotland, where it was used to hunt rats and other vermin.
They were also used for fox, otter, and badger hunting.
Although the exact history of these dogs is unknown, many believe they have existed since the 17th century.
Although white was not always the only color available for this breed, it is now its signature color.
Colonel Malcolm of Poltalloch and one of his loyal Cairns dogs were said to be on the hunt for foxes one day.
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What the West Highland White Terrier Looks Like
These sturdy and compact little dogs will be slightly longer than tall and rectangular in shape.
They have dense double coats that are white, of course, and adorable black button noses.
This breed will have dark pigmentation around the eyes and mouth as well.
They have round, broad skulls that are slightly longer than the muzzle.
The halt is clearly defined, and the intelligent eyes are dark in color.
They will have level teeth that meet in a scissors bite.
The West Highland White Terrier has erect, wide ears set on the sides of the skull.
They have broad shoulders and deep chests.
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How Much is the West Highland White Terrier Puppy?
The average price of a West Highland White Terrier puppy is $2220. The price of a West Highland White Terrier puppy ranges from $1600 to $2700.
A lot of factors determine the price of the West Highland White Terrier. These factors include what health records the West Highland White Terrier puppy has, the lineage of the West Highland White Terrier puppy, the US state the breeder is located in, etc.
To estimate how much you can expect to pay for a puppy West Highland White Terrier based on the many factors that determine the price of the West Highland White Terrier puppy, check out our calculator that lets you estimate how much you should expect to pay for the West Highland White Terrier puppy based on what you want in the puppy.
When looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of the West Highland White Terrier breed, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.
You may also consider adopting instead of buying a puppy. Adoption costs are very low compared to the price of a puppy.
Best West Highland White Terrier Breeders
We have researched reputable West Highland White Terrier breeders that you can buy a puppy.
Go to this page for our complete list of reputable West Highland White Terrier breeders in various states in the United States.
On this page, you will see how much these breeders sell their puppies for, and how many puppies they have available.
A few of these breeders are listed below.
Angelina Jensen
Puppy Price: Check with breeder
Troy Grant
Puppy Price: $2000.00
Burr Oak Stock Farm (BOSF)
Puppy Price: $2000
Mary Stevens
Puppy Price: $2500.00
Holly Stellitano
Puppy Price: Check with breeder
Adopting or Rescuing the West Highland White Terrier
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many dogs, West Highland White Terriers included, are currently available for adoption in your local dog shelters.
These helpless but adorable dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Dog adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300 or even less.
In addition to your local dog shelter, another good place to find dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.
Below is an adorable Male West Highland White Terrier named Wesley 2022-369 that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely West Highland White Terriers like Wesley 2022-369 on pefinder.com.
Wendell is the name of another West Highland White Terrier (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new forever home.
You can find more West Highland White Terriers that are available for adoption on petfinder.
West Highland White Terrier Growth
New West Highland White Terrier owners need to know about the growth of their West Highland White Terriers. This will help them plan their living spaces accordingly.
Also, knowing the typical growth pattern of the West Highland White Terrier will help new owners catch the abnormal growth of their West Highland White Terrier early.
See our calculator for predicting how big your West Highland White Terrier puppy will get. You will also learn about the typical weight of the West Highland White Terrier at different ages and how to catch abnormal growth in your West Highland White Terrier
What Colors do West Highland White Terriers Have?
West Highland White Terriers come in the following beautiful primary colors:
- White / Cream
- Apricot / Beige
The Temperament of the West Highland White Terrier
The temperament of the West Highland White Terrier based can be summarized as in the table below.
The table shows the scores of the West Highland White Terrier for 13 important dog behavioral factors.
We obtained these scores by analyzing raw data from the C-BARQ dog personality survey tool. The higher the score of a dog for a factor, the worse the temperament of the dog regarding that factor.
The C-BARQ tool was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, and it is a scientific tool that is used worldwide for reliably measuring the temperament of dog breeds.
See our complete analysis of the temperament of the West Highland White Terrier here.
| Factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Prey Drive | 82.0 percent |
| Energy Level | 65.5 percent |
| Excitability | 62.8 percent |
| Attachment Attention Seeking | 60.6 percent |
| Dog Directed Fear | 42.9 percent |
| Dog Directed Aggression | 42.7 percent |
| Nonsocial Fear | 36.5 percent |
| Stubbornness | 36.1 percent |
| Touch Sensitivity | 34.5 percent |
| Dog Rivalry | 32.5 percent |
| Separation Related Behavior | 32.5 percent |
| Stranger Directed Aggression | 27.2 percent |
| Stranger Directed Fear | 22.7 percent |
| Owner Directed Aggression | 13.1 percent |
How Long West Highland White Terriers Live
The lifespan of the West Highland White Terrier is typically from 12 to 16 years.
Moreover, a few years back, veterinarian researchers performed a scientific study to determine the lifespan of the West Highland White Terrier. In this study, the scientists collected data on how long 127 pet West Highland White Terriers lived.
From the study, it was found that West Highland White Terriers have an average lifespan of 13 years. Furthermore, the study found that it is not uncommon for West Highland White Terriers to live as long as 18.1 years.
Note that you need to put in some effort if you want your West Highland White Terrier to live long.
West Highland White Terriers live long if they eat well, drink well, exercise well, and visit the veterinarian regularly.
There are also dog supplements that you can give your West Highland White Terrier to improve your West Highland White Terrier`s quality of their life.
Click here to learn more about how to make your West Highland White Terrier live long.
West Highland White Terrier Litter Size
Researchers from the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science did a study where they counted the numbers of puppies in 37 different West Highland White Terrier birth litters.
From this study, the researchers found that the average number of puppies that West Highland White Terriers can have is 3 puppies. Also, the West Highland White Terrier can have as few as 1 puppies per litter and as many as 8 puppies per litter.
The number of puppies that the West Highland White Terrier will have depends on factors such as the age of the West Highland White Terrier, the method of pregnancy, etc.
Click here to see our calculator for predicting how many puppies your West Highland White Terrier will have and how the litter size of the West Highland White Terrier compares to the litter size of other dog breeds.
How Fast West Highland White Terriers Can Run
How fast a dog breed can run is a good measure of how athletic the dog breed is.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) regularly conducts dog running competitions. The AKC records the running speed of competing dogs in these competitions. These competitions are open to all dog breeds.
Based on our analysis of the speeds of 147 different West Highland White Terriers, the average speed of the West Highland White Terrier is 15.6 mph (25.0 kmph).
The fastest speed on AKC record that the West Highland White Terrier ran in a race is 21.26 mph (34.2 kmph) and the minimum speed on record in a race for a West Highland White Terrier is 5.48 mph (8.8 kmph).
Click here to see how the speed of the West Highland White Terrier compares to the speed of other dogs and other mammals such as cats, horses, humans, etc.
Good Names for West Highland White Terriers
Here are some really good names that are typical for the West Highland White Terrier ranked by popularity:
- Junior
- Moe
- Spudbuckley
- Gentleman
- Venom
- Ziggy
- Toby
- Puddles
- Buddy
- Simon
How Intelligent are West Highland White Terriers?
| West Highland White Terrier | |
|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 47 out of 130 dog breeds |
| Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions |
According to Prof. Stanley Coren, a Canadian psychology professor/dog trainer, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:
- Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence that comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that have been historically bred to be guard dogs will have a high `guarding` intelligence compared to dogs that were not bred for guarding.
- Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. You can improve your dog`s adaptive intelligence by investing time to train your dog.
- Working/Obedience Intelligence: This type of intelligence is breed-specific. Certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. This type of intelligence can be measured for each dog breed and compared to that of other dog breeds.
Professor Stanley Coren measured and ranked the working intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.
Prof. Coren found that the West Highland White Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 47 out of 130 dog breeds. Thus, Prof. Coren put West Highland White Terriers in the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category.
This means that West Highland White Terriers tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.
However, we should mention that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone. There are other important factors you need to consider when deciding on which dog breed to get. These other factors include sociability, adorability, and compatibility of the dog breed with your lifestyle.
See the intelligence ranking of some other dog breeds below:
| Breed | Intelligence Rank |
|---|---|
| Labrador Retriever | 7 |
| Rottweiler | 9 |
| Cocker Spaniel | 20 |
| Belgian Malinois | 22 |
| Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 26 |
| Border Terrier | 30 |
| Welsh Springer Spaniel | 31 |
| Kuvasz | 42 |
| Finnish Spitz | 43 |
| Pug | 57 |
| French Bulldog | 58 |
| Great Pyrenees | 64 |
| Saint Bernard | 65 |
| Basset Hound | 71 |
| Beagle | 72 |
| Pekingese | 73 |
| Bloodhound | 74 |
| Borzoi | 75 |
| Chow Chow | 76 |
| Afghan Hound | 79 |
How Popular are West Highland White Terriers with New Dog Owners?
Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds.
The graph below shows the popularity trend of the West Highland White Terrier.
The popularity of the West Highland White Terrier averaged over the years is Number 41 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Do not get a dog breed just because it is a popular dog breed. And do not reject a dog breed just because it is an unpopular breed.
Health Problems in West Highland White Terriers and How to Prevent Them
Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it tends to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.
The West Highland White Terrier is prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is an organization that keeps track of genetic health problems in dog breeds.
From the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop.
Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.
If you want a West Highland White Terrier puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your West Highland White Terrier breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen West Highland White Terriers for:
- Eye Examination- Recommend annual exams until at least age 8yrs (96mo)
- Hip Dysplasia
- Patellar Luxation
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for West Highland White Terriers here.
How to Take Care of West Highland White Terrier
To take good care of your West Highland White Terrier, you need to make sure that you groom your West Highland White Terrier regularly.
Secondly, you need to find a veterinarian in your area that will routinely check the health status of your West Highland White Terrier regularly, and give you appropriate recommendations on your West Highland White Terrier`s preventative care.
Thirdly, you need to commit some time to exercise your West Highland White Terrier daily. Regular exercise helps improve the health and quality of life of your West Highland White Terrier.
Also, you need to feed your West Highland White Terrier high-quality dog food, and the food should be of the right amount to prevent your West Highland White Terrier from getting overweight or underweight.
See our recommendations on what to feed the West Highland White Terrier and how much food to feed the West Highland White Terrier at different life stages.
Finally, you need to make sure that your West Highland White Terrier has access to clean water all the time. See our recommendations on how much water your West Highland White Terrier needs to drink at different ages.
Dog Breeds That Are Similar to West Highland White Terriers
If you have not made up your mind on which dog breed to get, you may also want to consider some other dogs similar to the West Highland White Terrier.
We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds that have similar behavior and temperament as the West Highland White Terrier:
- Bearded Collie (82 percent match with West Highland White Terrier). Learn more about the Bearded Collie here.
- Keeshond (81 percent match with West Highland White Terrier). Learn more about the Keeshond here.
- Cardigan Welsh Corgi (84 percent match with West Highland White Terrier). Learn more about the Cardigan Welsh Corgi here.
Other Things to Know About West Highland White Terriers
Here are some of the very important characteristics of the West Highland White Terrier that you need to know about the West Highland White Terrier breed: