Canis lupus familiaris
West Highland White Terrier
Featured photowest-highland-white-terrier.jpgThe West Highland White Terrier is a white-coated Highland working-terrier formalized in 1908 from the Poltalloch and Roseneath lines. The West Highland White Terrier descends from the white-coated cull dogs of the rough-coated Highland working-terrier landrace.
Quick facts
- AKC group
- Terrier
- Origin country
- Scotland (West Highlands)
- Origin period
- 19th century (formalized 1908)
- Coat type
- Wirehaired
- Coat colors
- Pure White
- Average lifespan
- 13-15 years
- Recognition
- AKC 1908 · FCI 1955 · UKC 1948 · Group 3 — Terriers (Section 2: Small-sized Terriers)
Origin
The breed descends from the same Scottish Highland rough-coated working-terrier landrace as the Cairn Terrier, Scottish Terrier, and Skye Terrier; the white-coated dogs were originally cull animals — culled, that is, until breed tradition holds that Colonel Edward Donald Malcolm of Poltalloch began breeding selectively for the white coat after a cinnamon-coloured terrier of his was mistaken for a fox and shot during a hunt in the late 19th century. White Highland terriers had been bred at Poltalloch (Argyll) and at Roseneath (Dunbartonshire) for several decades; the breed was first registered as Poltalloch Terrier and renamed West Highland White Terrier in 1908. The Kennel Club and AKC both recognized the breed the same year.
Recognition
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1908, the United Kennel Club followed in 1948, and the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 85) in 1955. The FCI assigns the breed to Group 3 — Terriers (Section 2: Small-sized Terriers).
Standard
The AKC and FCI standards describe a small, game, well-balanced, hardy little terrier, possessed of no small amount of self-esteem, with a varminty appearance. The defining feature is the pure white double coat: a soft, short, dense undercoat under a hard, straight, weather-resistant outer coat about 5 cm long. The skull is slightly domed, the muzzle blunt, the eyes small, dark, and almond-shaped, set wide apart and deeply set under heavy brows. The breed stands 25-28 cm at the withers.
Sources & further reading (3)
- kennel-club-registry — accessed 2026-05-04
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-04
- fci-standard — accessed 2026-05-04
Frequently asked questions
What is the West Highland White Terrier's AKC group?
The American Kennel Club places the West Highland White Terrier in the Terrier Group. The Terrier Group gathers breeds developed to hunt and dispatch vermin or to go to ground after fox and badger; the name derives from the Latin terra ('earth'). The breed's foundation working role was as a white-coated Highland working-terrier formalized in 1908 from the Poltalloch and Roseneath lines.
When was the West Highland White Terrier officially recognized?
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1908; the United Kennel Club followed in 1948; the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 85) in 1955.
What is the average lifespan of a West Highland White Terrier?
Kennel-club longevity surveys place the West Highland White Terrier's average lifespan in the 13-15 years range. The figure here represents the spread reported by the major parent-club studies and the Kennel Club (UK) purebred-dog health surveys.
