The game, hardy "Westie" presents a compact appearance, with good balance and hardy looking terrier, exhibiting good showmanship, possessed with no small amount of self-esteem, strongly built substance. It is short coupled and well boned. The West Highland White is alert, gay, courageous and self-reliant while remaining friendly. Its expression is piercing, inquisitive and alert. Deep in chest and back ribs, with a straight back and powerful hindquarters on muscular legs, and exhibiting in marked degree a great combination of strength and activity. The distance from the withers to the root of the tail is slightly shorter than the distance from the withers to the ground. The coat is about two inches long, white in color, hard, with plenty of soft undercoat.
HEAD AND SKULL - The head is in proportion to the body. The hair on the head may be shaped (plucked) to present a round appearance from the front. The skull is broad, in proportion to a powerful jaw, and slightly domed between the ears. It is not too long, gradually tapering to the eyes. There is a defined stop. The blunt, powerful muzzle is slightly shorter than the skull and gradually tapers to the nose.
TEETH - A full complement of large (for the size of the breed), strong, white teeth meet in a scissors bite, with the upper incisors slightly overlapping the lower incisors. Tight scissors or level bites are acceptable. There must be six incisor teeth between the canines of both the lower and upper jaws.
Serious faults: Defective or misaligned teeth. Any missing incisors, or several premolars missing. Overshot or undershot bites.
EYES - The medium-sized, deep set, almond-shaped eyes are dark brown in color. Looking from under heavy eyebrows, and being widely set apart, they have a piercing look; and are sharp and intelligent. The eye rims are black.
Faults: Eyes too small or too full. Light-colored eyes.
EARS - The small ears terminate in a sharp point, but must never be cropped. They are carried tightly erect and are set wide apart on the top outer edge of the skull. The hair on the ears is short, smooth and velvety, and is free of fringe at the tips. Black skin pigmentation is preferred.
Serious faults: The following ears are very objectionable: round-pointed, drop, broad, very large ears, set too close together, not held erect, placed too low on the side of the head.
NECK - A muscular neck gradually thickens toward its base and is well set on sloping shoulders. The length is in proportion to the whole of the dog.
Faults: Neck too long or too short.
FOREQUARTERS
The shoulders are well laid back and well knit at the backbone.
Faults: Steep or loaded shoulders.
FORELEGS - The muscular, well-boned forelegs are straight and relatively short, but are of sufficient length so that the dog is not too close to the ground. They are set under the shoulder blades with definite body overhang before them. The distance from the withers to the elbow is approximately the same as the distance from the elbow to the ground. Dewclaws may be removed.
Faults: Too short or too straight upper arm. Out at the elbows. Fiddle front. Light bone.
BODY
The body is compact and of good substance. Whether standing or moving, the topline is flat and level. The very deep chest extends to the elbows, with the breadth being in proportion to the size of the dog. The deep ribs are well arched in the upper half, extending at least to the elbows and presenting a flattish side appearance. The back ribs are of considerable depth. The distance from the last rib to the hindquarters is as short as is compatible to allow free movement of the body. The back is straight. The short, broad loins are strong.
Faults: High rear. Weak back. Back too long or too short. Barrel ribs. Ribs too short, above the elbows.
HINDQUARTERS
The hindquarters are powerful and muscular.
HIND LEGS - The muscular, sinewy hind legs are relatively short. The muscular, well-angulated thighs are not set wide apart. The hock is well bent. The rear pasterns are short and parallel when viewed from the rear. Dewclaws may be removed.
Faults: Weak hocks. Cow hocks. Long rear pasterns. Lack of angulation.
FEET
The round, strong feet are proportionate in size and thickly padded. The front feet are larger than the hind feet. The front feet may be turned out slightly. Black pigment on the pads and black nails are preferred. Nails may lighten in older dogs.
TAIL
The tail is relatively short, but is never docked. When standing erect, the tip is approximately level with the top of the skull, thus maintaining a balanced appearance. It is covered with hard, straight hair, but no feathers. The tail is carried gaily, but not curled over the back. It is set on high enough so that the spine does not slope down to it.
Faults: Tail set too low. Tail too long. Thin. Carried at half-mast or over the back.
COAT
The ideal coat is an integral detail of the breed. A double coat is a necessity. The outer coat consists of straight, hard, white hair about two inches long and free from any curl. The abundant undercoat is short, soft and close, resembling fur in texture. The outer coat is shorter on the neck and shoulders blending into the longer furnishings on the stomach and legs. A hard, straight, white coat with wheaten-colored tips is preferable to a fluffy or soft white coat. The furnishings may be somewhat softer and longer, but must never appear fluffy.
The head may be shaped (by plucking) to present a round appearance and act as a frame for the typical Westie expression. The legs are covered with short, hard hair. The hair on the ears is short, smooth and velvety, and is free of fringe at the tips.
Serious faults: Soft coat. Silkiness or tendency to curl. Coat too short. Single coat.
COLOR
As defined by the name of the breed, the only acceptable color is white. Disqualifications: Color other than white. Albinism.
HEIGHTIdeal height, measured at the withers is: 11 inches for dogs; 10 inches for bitches; with a slight deviation being acceptable.
Faults: Over or under height limits.
GAITThe preferred gait is free, straight and easy all around, powerful, with reach and drive. The forelegs are freely extended forward by the shoulder. The hind legs move free, strong and fairly close. The hocks are freely flexed and drawn close under the body so that when moving off the foot, the body is propelled forward with some force. As speed increases, the dog single tracks. While moving, the topline remains level.
Faults: Lack of reach. Lack of drive. Stiff, stifled or too wide movement.
DISQUALIFICATIONS
