We cannot talk about the West Highland White Terrier origins without having a thought about the steep and rocky places of the West Highlands of Scotland. They constituted an optimal refuge for all wild animal where, a small robust and tenacious Terrier, were used for hunting foxes, wild cats, badgers and other vermin.

The Westie history is linked to all the Terriers of Scotland. It is said that the Cairn, the Skye Terrier and the Scottish Terrier were ancestors of the westie, but all of them share a common origin lost in the darkness of the times.

At the beginning of the XVII century, the King James I favoured the King of France with six white Terriers of Argyllshire. During the XIX century the breed was being outlined and it varied depending on the zone, receiving therefore different names like Poltalloch Terrier, White Reseneath Terrier, White Scottish Cairn and Litle Skye.

But it wasn’t until 1904 when the name of West Highland White Terrier was officially recognised by The White Terrier Club of Scotland.

Colonel Malcolm of Poltalloch was one of the breeders responsible for the development of the breed at the end of the XIX century. Due to a hunting accident in which his favorite terrier (a Cairn) was mistaken for the hare, shot and killed. He decided, therefore, to select white dogs (white Cairns puppies) that could never be confused with the prey.

Dr. Flaxman of Fifeshire owned a Scottish Terrier female who bred white puppies in all its litters, creating another white scottish terrier parallel line.

At the beginning of the XX it was still frequent that certain Westies had in their pedigree different breeds like Cairn or Scottish Terrier.

It wasn’t until 1917 that The American Kennel Club prohibited registering Westie’s pedigrees with Scottish or Cairn in the three first generations, This was also soon prohibited by the English Kennel Club.

This common origin explains that still nowadays is so frequent end difficult to eliminate the white spots in the Scottish and the Cairn.

The West Highland White Terrier Club of Scotland was founded in 1904 with Duke of Argyl as president. The same year the breed was recognised as West Highland White Terrier in the annual Show of the Scottish Kennel Club.

In 1907 The Kennel Club recognised the breed and the Standard, in which the colonel Malcolm had a decisive influence.

Many people think that the Westie is the dog of the XXI century.

At the beginning of the XX century the appearance of the Westie is still remembered the Cairn ones.

The two World Wars supposed the disappearance of many westies and that for the second time the breed had to began since a little number of dogs (between 1917 and 1918 the animal breeding was prohibited because of impossibility to fed them).

After the War the Westie started its popularity. From 1946 the appearance looked more like the nowadays one with the only difference that it was a little smaller.

After decades of introduction in numerous countries and its consolidation in the top shows, the West Highland is expected to be one of the most popular and well-known breeds in the world.

Its majestic appearance and its charming character makes it suitable to be the ideal companion in many homes, as well as being a spectacular show dog.

The westie has adapted admirably to the cosmopolitan lifestile and at the present social situation without losing its independent and playful mind.

He is considered the "eternal puppy" because he always maintains throughout all life his open-hearted, joyfulness and spontaneity, whose are their main enchantment.

Their white hard coat, their compact size, their charming behaviour, their independent and sparkling look, their strength and courage have profiled it in the first preference positions of people of any age and condition.

Hunting alone forged a intrepid, tenacious and plucky dog with self-confidence. The hunting in group eliminated the disobedient dogs and those who faced with other dogs.

Living in farms made him a loyal guardian, rodents hunter and a great companion dog. It is friendly, well tempered, self-confident, courageous, sweet but without being cloying.

Nowadays the Westie is a small, robust, intelligent, well-balanced dog with a playful and joker appearance. He is an excellent hunter, alert and very resistant dog and not prone to diseases. They do not bark without cause but report unusual noises (they are always ready to protect their family).

Their passionate love is to please and make their family happy. They are the "eternal puppy" because always maintain puppy energy, spontaneity and vitality but with the intelligence and mature of an adult dog.

The charming and open minded character of the westie makes him suitable to people of all ages and condition.