Purebred West Highland White Terriers are white. It’s in the name. If you’ve seen a “black westie” or a “chocolate brown westie” online, you’re almost certainly looking at a mixed breed, a Scottish terrier, a cairn terrier, or a westie mix that inherited coloring from the other parent.
Why Westies Are Always White
The white coat is the defining feature of the breed, and it’s there on purpose. The story goes that Colonel Edward Donald Malcolm of Poltalloch developed the breed in the 19th century specifically for their white color after one of his reddish-brown terriers was mistaken for a fox during a hunt and shot. He bred selectively for white dogs that couldn’t be confused with prey.
The breed standard across all major kennel clubs specifies white as the only acceptable color. A westie that’s any other color isn’t recognized as a purebred West Highland White Terrier for show purposes.
What About “Black Westies”?
Black dogs that look like westies are almost always Scottish terriers (scotties). Scotties share the same Scottish terrier heritage and have a similar build and facial structure, but they come in black, wheaten, and brindle. A black scottie can look remarkably similar to a westie in shape and size.
If someone is selling “black westie puppies,” they’re selling either scotties, scottie-westie mixes, or another terrier mix. A purebred westie cannot be black.
What About “Brown Westies”?
Brown or “chocolate” dogs marketed as westies are typically westie mixes – commonly westie-cairn terrier crosses or westie-poodle crosses where the other parent contributes brown coloring. Cairn terriers in particular come in a range of colors including brindle, cream, red, and dark brown, and they’re closely related to westies genetically.
The search term “chocolate brown westie” is one of the most searched westie color queries. People see adorable brown terrier mixes on social media labeled as westies and want one. These dogs can be wonderful pets, but they’re not purebred westies.
Color Variations in Purebred Westies
That said, not every purebred westie is the same shade of white. There are legitimate variations:
Cream or wheaten tinge. Some westies, especially puppies, have a slight cream or yellowish tone to their coat. This can be genetic, or it can be caused by repeated clipping (rather than hand-stripping), which softens the coat texture and can shift the color over time. It’s cosmetic and doesn’t affect health.
Puppy coat color changes. Westie puppies sometimes go through a slightly cream-colored phase before their adult white coat fully develops. This is normal and corrects itself.
Saliva staining. The reddish-brown staining you see around a westie’s mouth, paws, and sometimes eyes is caused by iron in their saliva oxidizing on the white fur. It’s particularly common in westies with allergies who lick their paws frequently. It’s not a color variation – it’s a sign of licking or tearing. Addressing the underlying cause of the licking resolves the staining over time.
Skin darkening. The skin underneath the coat can darken to grey or black in areas affected by chronic allergies or yeast infections. This is called hyperpigmentation and it’s a skin condition, not a coat color. If your westie’s skin is turning black, see our skin allergies guide and talk to your vet.
How to Tell if Your Westie Is Purebred
Color alone doesn’t determine whether a westie is purebred – there are other traits to check: the characteristic blocky head shape, pointed or rounded ears (depending on grooming), a compact body, a carrot-shaped tail, and the harsh double coat texture. Breed-specific DNA tests can confirm heritage if you’re genuinely unsure.
But honestly, whether your dog is a purebred westie or a westie mix doesn’t change how much you’ll love them. Sami is a purebred, and he’s the most opinionated creature I’ve ever met. I’ve met westie mixes with the exact same personality. The westitude transcends genetics.
For more on what makes a westie a westie, see our westie temperament guide. For the coat care that keeps a white westie looking white, see the complete grooming guide.
Watch: Sami’s Story
Keeping a white westie coat white – including dealing with staining:
