GASTON NY AKC

With so much personality and confidence, it’s hard to believe that the West Highland White Terrier is so small. Westies need to be around people but prefer to have their humans all to themselves. Dogs and cats beware: these little white pups are no angels. Full-grown, they typically weigh 15-20 pounds and stand 10-11 inches tall.

West Highland White Terriers are generally excellent with children of all ages. West Highland White Terriers are great with children and enjoy being their playmates. Their small size doesn’t stop them from trying to dominate other dogs, and they’re also known to chase cats. They're very vocal and bark quite a lot.

Westies are high energy dogs that need lots of playtime and exercise. They’re big diggers and loud barkers, but keeping them busy helps curtail their bad habits. Westies enjoy dog sports that stimulate their muscles and minds, like agility, earthdog training, and flyball. Overall, their exercise needs are high.

Westies have white double coats that may look angelic but are stiff to the touch. However, the tough texture repels dirt and keeps them pretty clean, so they don’t need to be bathed often. Westies don’t shed much, but their coats need to be brushed at least once a week, cut regularly, and hand-plucked twice a year. Grooming-wise, this breed is moderate. West Highland White Terriers are considered hypoallergenic, which can be a plus for allergy sufferers.

West Highland White Terriers are best suited for apartments and smaller homes. Westies love being around people, so they need to live indoors and be with family. They are moderately trainable with consistent effort.