What is “Westitude”?

Westitude is the award winning personality of West Highland White Terriers (Westies)! No other breed has a word invented to describe them in quite the same way. Westies are well known for their love of life and bold personalities which command attention when they walk into a room. Westies are often described by enthusiasts as a big-dog in a small package.

The Canadian Kennel Club provides a breed standard of the ideal temperament for a Westie, “Must be alert, gay, courageous, and self-reliant, and friendly. Faults: Excess timidity or excess pugnacity.”

These personality characteristics make Westies reliable, loyal, fun, and incredibly entertaining!

Westies have been described as having no small amount of self-esteem which we have found to be undeniably accurate. Their confidence however is not to be mistaken for aggression. They do not go looking for a fight and enjoy the company of children and other pets.

Other personality characteristic which ring true for all of the terrier breeds include independence, perseverance and a strong sense of justice. In our experience Westies are particularly easy to reason with, and thrive when allowed to make some choices for themselves which preserves their dignity. The confident little Scottish hunter is sensitive to our feels and needs and eager to please.

Other appealing characteristics to the Westie is their appropriate vocalization. In our experience Westies are not “yappy” or excessive barkers. They do not bark for the sake of hearing themselves or garnishing attention. They will provide an appropriate alert when necessary and once they receive acknowledgment for the notification nothing further needs to be said.

Loving life and loving their family is deeply engrained in every Westie’s heart. Praised for their personality, the word “Westitude” is a tribute to the breed and their exceptional character!