The West Highland Terrier is a small dog belonging to the Terrier Group of dogs. West Highland Terriers (Westies) were originally bred to hunt otters, foxes, rats and other vermin. It is the most popular of the terrier breeds and one of the most popular breeds in the UK.
Westies share their ancestry with the Scottie, Cairn and Dandie Dinmont terriers, and appear to have originated in the 1800s from the rough-coated terrier stock in Scotland, where they were once known as Poltalloch Terriers in honour of the Malcolm family of Poltalloch in Scotland who may well have bred the West Highland White Terrier out of the white stock of their
Cairn Terriers. Colonel Edward Donald Malcolm is generally credited with creating the breed. Their white coats made them ideal dogs for working on the moors of Scotland because it made them easily distinguishable from the game being hunted. To this day, all West Highland Terriers are white. Westies were also once known as Roseneath Terriers or White Roseneath Terriers.
Westies are friendly, confident, affectionate and good-natured dogs. They make ideal family pets and are excellent with children. They are however energetic little dogs and need plenty of exercise. Considering their size, they are also have plenty of attitude. Their bark might be worse than their bite, but not everyone wants to wait to find out which makes them excellent little house dogs.
The West Highland Terrier is a small dog belonging to the Terrier Group of dogs. West Highland Terriers (Westies) were originally bred to hunt otters, foxes, rats and other vermin. It is the most popular of the terrier breeds and one of the most popular breeds in the UK.