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Meet the breedWhite coat, terrier heartCharacter, size, and what surprises new owners
The Westie is a Scottish terrier in a bright white coat, with the self-possession of a much larger dog. Digging, chasing, and examining garden corners are easier to manage when there is a game worth returning for.
Adults commonly weigh 15–20 lb; a typical lifespan guide is 13–15 years. These are breed-wide guides, never targets or forecasts for an individual pet.
Daily life & exerciseA day with a West Highland White TerrierExercise, play, and a practical daily rhythm
Regular walks and play are a sensible starting rhythm for a West Highland White Terrier. Then look at your dog's energy, age, and health to decide whether they want more adventure or more time on the sofa.
For the West Highland White Terrier, a small obstacle game can be fun to learn together; keep jumps and difficulty suitable for age and build.
What would your West Highland White Terrier love?
Add their age, size, and favorite things. We’ll find a few good places to start.
Training & temperamentLearning together with a West Highland White TerrierGood manners and individual personality
The West Highland White Terrier is often loyal, happy, and entertaining.
Make time for shared activity and teach brief, comfortable separations gradually. Good company is part of the plan, not a substitute for training.
Coat & groomingThe West Highland White Terrier coatGrooming and everyday care
The West Highland White Terrier's wiry coat may need dead hair removed by hand-stripping; ask a groomer to show you the right method. Plan on daily coat work, with a lighter touch for a puppy or sensitive skin. A professional groomer may help keep the coat comfortable.
Bringing home a West Highland White Terrier puppy?
Plan their first days with a little help from our puppy welcome kit.
Build a puppy welcome kitProduct starting pointsGood finds for your West Highland White TerrierFood, play, care, and rest
Choose food for your West Highland White Terrier's life stage and measured weight. The breed range is a clue, but the portion and fit should follow the individual. Use this smaller dog's measurements for a harness, carrier, crate, or bed; a breed name is not a size chart.
For your West Highland White Terrier, start with something suited to agility-style games, plus groomer-approved tools for a wire coat. Add a comfortable rest spot; a good product list should follow this dog's interests, not a breed stereotype.
Health & lifespanCaring for a West Highland White Terrier over time13–15 years is a guide, not a forecast
The West Highland White Terrier has a lifespan guide of 13–15 years, though no range predicts one dog's future. Keep a record of weight and changes in appetite or activity, and plan preventive care with your veterinarian.
If you are meeting a breeder, ask to see the parents' screening records. The AKC lists knee evaluations, hip evaluations, and eye examinations for the West Highland White Terrier. These checks are questions for breeding stock, not a prediction of a puppy's future health.