West Highland White Terrier vs Wire Fox Terrier – Which one is a better dog breed for you?
"Find similarities and differences between West Highland White Terrier vs Wire Fox Terrier"
Compare West Highland White Terrier and Wire Fox Terrier. Which is better: West Highland White Terrier or Wire Fox Terrier?
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Name | West Highland White Terrier | Wire Fox Terrier |
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Origins | ![]() | ![]() |
Group | Hunting Dogs | Hunting Dogs |
Popularity Rank | 42 | 99 |
Reviews | 1 | 1 |
Rate |
Other Names | Poltalloch Terrier, Roseneath Terrier, White Roseneath Terrier, Westie (or Westy) | Wire Fox Terrier, Foxie, Wire Hair Fox Terrier, Wirehaired Terrier |
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Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
AKC Group | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Terrier breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885 as a Terrier breed. |
FCI Group | Recognized by FCI in the Terriers group, in the Small sized Terriers section. | Not recognized by FCI. |
Breed Recognition | American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Club Espanol De Terriers | American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Club Espanol De Terriers |
Price | $900-$1200 | $800-$1200 |
General Appearance - West Highland White Terrier vs Wire Fox Terrier
Size | Small | Small |
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Weight | Male: 15-22 pounds (7-10 kg), Female: 13-16 pounds (6-7 kg) | Male: 15-20 pounds (7-9 kg), Female: 13-18 pounds (6-8 kg) |
Avg. Weight | Male: 18.5 pounds (8.5 kg), Female: 14.5 pounds (6.5 kg) | Male: 17.5 pounds (8 kg), Female: 15.5 pounds (7 kg) |
Height | Male: 10-12 inches (25-30 cm), Female: 9-11 inches (23-28 cm) | Male: 14-16 inches (36-41 cm), Female: 13-15 inches (33-38 cm) |
Avg. Height | Male: 11 inches (27.5 cm), Female: 10 inches (25.5 cm) | Male: 15 inches (38.5 cm), Female: 14 inches (35.5 cm) |
Hair & Care - West Highland White Terrier vs Wire Fox Terrier
Coat | Dense | Wiry |
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Colors | White | White White & Black White & Tan White & Black & Tan White & Tan & Black |
Grooming | Advanced: The West Highland White Terrier requires a lot of grooming. | Average: The Wire Fox Terrier requires average grooming effort. |
Shedding Level | West Highland White Terriers shed none to minimal. | Wire Fox Terriers shed none to minimal. |
Characteristics - West Highland White Terrier vs Wire Fox Terrier
Temperament | Affectionate Courageous Friendly Independent Alert Intelligent | Alert Fearless Keen Intelligent Bold Friendly Quick |
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Intelligent Rank | Average: West Highland White Terrier's has average obedience intelligence. | Average: Wire Fox Terrier's has average obedience intelligence. |
Trainability | West Highland White Terriers are easy to train. | Wire Fox Terriers are easy to train. |
Playfulness | The West Highland White Terrier is a highly playful breed. | The Wire Fox Terrier is a highly playful breed. |
Sensitivity Level | They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds. | Wire Fox Terriers have an average emotional level and are not the most sensitive dog breed. |
Affection Level | West Highland White Terriers are highly affectionate dogs. | Wire Fox Terriers are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. |
Social Needs | West Highland White Terriers are a social breed. | Wire Fox Terriers need a lot of social interaction. |
Barking | High: The West Highland White Terrier is a very vocal breed. | High: The Wire Fox Terrier is a very vocal breed. |
Watchdog Ability | West Highland White Terriers are average watchdogs. | Wire Fox Terriers are average watchdogs. |
Territorial | West Highland White Terriers are extremely protective guard dogs. | Wire Fox Terriers strongly protect their territory. |
Biting Potential |
Low The West Highland White Terrier has a low chance of biting somebody. |
Low The Wire Fox Terrier has a low chance of biting somebody. |
Mouthiness | West Highland White Terriers have lower than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. | Wire Fox Terriers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. |
Impulse to Wander or Roam | West Highland White Terriers have average wanderlust potential. | Wire Fox Terriers have high wanderlust potential, which means that this breed has a strong desire for exploring the world. |
Prey Drive | West Highland White Terriers have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. | Wire Fox Terriers have a high impulse to chase and catch something. |
Apartment Friendly | West Highland White Terriers are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day. | Wire Fox Terriers are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day. |
Adaptability | West Highland White Terriers adapt well to lifestyle changes and different living environments. | Wire Fox Terriers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. |
Tolerates Being Left Alone | West Highland White Terriers do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work. | Wire Fox Terriers tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them. |
Fighting Dog |
Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog. |
Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog. |
Good With - West Highland White Terrier vs Wire Fox Terrier
Stranger Friendly | West Highland White Terriers are stranger friendly dogs. | Wire Fox Terriers are average friendly towards strangers. |
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Child Friendly | West Highland White Terriers are kid-friendly dogs. | Wire Fox Terriers are very kid-friendly dogs. |
Cat Friendly | West Highland White Terriers are average friendly towards cats. | Wire Fox Terriers are not cat-friendly dogs. |
Dog Friendly | West Highland White Terriers are dog-friendly dogs. | Wire Fox Terriers are not the most dog-friendly dogs. |
Office Friendly |
No West Highland White Terrier is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No Wire Fox Terrier is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
Senior Citizens Friendly | West Highland White Terriers are usually recommended for elderly people. | Wire Fox Terriers are one of the best breeds for elderly people. |
Pet Friendly | West Highland White Terriers are generally with other pets. | Wire Fox Terriers do best when they’re the only pet at the family. |
Good For First Time Owners |
No West Highland White Terriers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality. |
Yes Wire Fox Terriers are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality. |
Service Dog |
Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog. |
Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog. |
Therapy Dog |
Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog. |
Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog. |
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog |
Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones. |
Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones. |
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR) |
Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people. |
Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people. |
Boat Dog |
Not really West Highland White Terrier breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
Not really Wire Fox Terrier breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog |
Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. |
Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. |
Health Factors - West Highland White Terrier vs Wire Fox Terrier
Health Issues | Very healthy dog breed. | The Wire Fox Terrier is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. |
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Health Problems | Atopic Dermatitis Cataracts Craniomandibular Osteopathy Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy Hyperplastic Dermatosis Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Legg-perthes Disease Patellar Luxation Pulmonary Fibrosis White Dog Shaker Syndrome | Arthritis Deafness Epilepsy Eye Problems Legg-perthes Disease |
Life Expectancy | 12-16 years | 13-14 years |
Hypoallergenic | Yes | Yes |
Energy Level | West Highland White Terriers have a higher energy level than other dog breeds. | Wire Fox Terriers are high energy dogs. |
Exercise Need | West Highland White Terriers need quite a lot of exercise. | Wire Fox Terriers need a lot of exercises. |
Sleeping Need | West Highland White Terriers are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping. | Wire Fox Terriers don't need too much sleep. |
Avg. daily food consumption | 1/2 to 1.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. | 1 to 2 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. |
Weight Gain Potential | Average to High. | Low to Average. |
Weather & Climate |
Prefers average to cold weather conditions The West Highland White Terrier can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog. | Tolerates warm and cold weather. |
Stinkiness |
Low The West Highland White Terrier has a low chance of bad smell. |
Medium The Wire Fox Terrier has an average chance of bad smell. |
Drooling tendency | The West Highland White Terrier is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. | The Wire Fox Terrier is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. |
Reproducibility - West Highland White Terrier vs Wire Fox Terrier
Gestation Length | 60-64 days | 60-64 days |
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How often can the have a litter? |
Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. |
Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. |
Litter Size | 2-5 puppies | 4-6 puppies |
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