Best Dog Diet

What’s the ideal diet for your dog?

Discover more about the history of your dog’s breed, its temperament, appearance and diet

Border Terrier Diet

Bull Terrier Diet

Bulldog Diet

Boxer Diet

Cavalier Spaniel Diet

Cocker Spaniel Diet

German Shepherd Diet

Golden Retriever Diet

Labrador Retriever Diet

Lhasa Apso Diet

Miniature Schnauzer Diet

Pug Diet

Shih Tzu Diet

Springer Spaniel Diet

Staffie Diet

Westie Diet

Whippet Diet

YorkshireTerrier Diet

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West Highland White Terrier (Westie) Diet

West Highland White Terriers are from the Terrier family of dogs and were originally bred for digging out fox and badger. Their natural diet would have included small mammals.

The amount and type of food will depend on the individual dog. A complete and balanced diet is recommended to include poultry and raw meaty bones. The Westie was bred specifically for its white coat to distinguish from its quarry.

West Highland White Terrier Temperament

Westies generally get on well with humans and other dogs and are recognised as quite self-reliant. They are hardy and courageous and often live to a good old age. Frequent napping appears key to their lifestyle.  

Westies are relatively independent and will immerse themselves gaily into all activities. Their all-round friendliness and even temperament make them an ideal family pet.

West Highland White Terrier Appearance

The Westie is strongly built with a deep chest, level back and powerful quarters on muscular legs. They have bright deep-set eyes, quite wide apart. Their ears are small and erect.

The Westie has a harsh dense outer coat free from curls and a short, soft and close undercoat. The UK Kennel Club standards ideal height is 35 cms for a male and female. Weight from 5-9 kgs.

Westies are white in colour, having been bred to distinguish them from their quarry when hunting fox. They have a moderately short tail, typically shaped like a carrot. The breed has a non-shedding  coat.

West Highland White Terrier Facts

Westie History

West Highland White Terriers get their name from the the West Highlands of Scotland where they were bred by Colonel Edward Donald Malcolm and his family from the mid 19th Century. They were originally called the Poltalloch Terrier after the estate in Argyl.

Westies were bred specifically for their white coats so as to distinguish them from the foxes they were used to flush from underground.

Westie Known Disorders

West Highland White Terriers are prone to suffer from eye problems, heart problems, blood disorders and some skeletal issues.