A Westiepoo – also known as Westie-Doodle or Wee-Poo – is a mixed breed dog obtained by crossing the West Highland Terrier White and a Mini or Toy Poodle. The resulting beautiful designer dog is as cute as a teddy bear and just the right size to carry, cuddle, and care for.
If you’re planning to buy or adopt a WestiePoo, this guide is for you! In it, we cover the following topics:
- What is a Westiepoo?
- Physical attributes and temperament of the Westiepoo.
- Do Westiepoos make good pets?
- What to feed a Westiepoo?
And more!
What is a Westiepoo?
The Westiepoo or Westiedoodle is the cross between a West Highland White Terrier and a toy or miniature Poodle. The resulting hybrid dog is compact-sized, active, trainable, and intelligent like its parents.
History and origin of the Wee-Poo
It is difficult to trace the exact origins of the Westie-Doodle but the trend of mixing dogs might have started around the 1990s. The first hybrid or designer dog was a Labradoodle – obtained by crossing the Poodle with a Labrador Retriever. Soon the demand for the Labradoodle grew because people loved its high trainability combined with a relatively low-shedding coat.
Around the early 2000s, breeders started mixing Toy and Miniature Poodles with other small dogs since more and more people wanted intelligent small-sized companion pets with hypoallergenic or low-shedding coats.
One such mix was the West Highland White Terrier and the Mini or Toy Poodle. The resulting Westie-Doodle fit the bill perfectly as it is a small, highly affectionate dog that is also relatively easy to train. Today, the Westiepoo is in great demand thanks to these attributes. While the breed is not officially recognized by the AKC, many dog fanciers and breeders are taking efforts to ensure its well-being.
Physical Attributes
How big will a Westiepoo get?
As with any mixed breed dog, it is difficult to say for sure how big the Westiepoo will get in its adulthood. After all; canine genetics is a complicated matter and many factors impact it. In general, the Westiedoodle is a small dog. Most weigh 10-35 lb (4.5 to 15.8 kg) and measure between 9 and 17 inches (22 to 43 cm) at the shoulders. Due to their compact sizes, Westiepoos make excellent lapdogs – especially for seniors.
The common coat colours seen in the mixed breed dog are usually white, tan, cream, or black.
Do Westiepoo ears stand up?
It is difficult to say whether your Westiepoo’s ears will stand up or remain floppy. The answer depends on its genes. Most Westiepoos have erect standing ears.
Are Westiepoos hypoallergenic?
To answer the question ‘are Westiepoos hypoallergenic?’ let us consider the parent dog breeds.
The Poodle is considered hypoallergenic as it has a low-shedding coat. Similarly, the West Highland White Terrier is also considered hypoallergenic as it sheds very little or not at all. The combination of the two breeds, therefore, goes on to produce an offspring that is hypoallergenic as well.
It is worthwhile noting that pet allergies are not only triggered by the dog’s shed fur but also due to the proteins in its saliva and urine. Therefore, an individual who is allergic to dogs could still experience symptoms around a Westiepoo. No dog breed – even Doodles (the word for Poodle mixes) – are 100% hypoallergenic.
Westiepoo Temperament – Is the Westiepoo a Good Dog?
Westiepoos are excellent dogs due to the following reasons:
They love people
Most Westiepoos are very loving and affectionate dogs. These teddy bear dogs love to cuddle and, as mentioned before, are compact enough to make wonderful lapdogs for elderly people. Most Westiepoos love being hugged, although there are some that could be reserved. It all depends on how the dog was socialized as a puppy. One thing is for sure: if you’re involved in an activity, your Westiepoo will be right by your side!
They love other dogs
Most Westiedoodles love other dogs as they are inherently playful and love company. However, you need to still socialize your young Westiepoo puppy with other dogs in order to create positive associations between them. Most Westiepoos will gladly welcome another dog (even a cat!) into their life!
They get along well with children
The playful Westielpoo loves kids and is known to get very excited around them. Therefore, you will need to train your small dog to play calmly with children – right from puppyhood. If you have kids at home, this training will take place automatically. If not, you might want to invite kids over or take your Westiepoo to the park where there are plenty of kids.
They are entertaining
Once you have a Westiepoo – your life will never be the same! This cute little goofball will bring a smile to your face with its playful antics. As your dog learns and trains, it will come up with new behaviours or a combination of behaviours that will impress everyone! The smart little Westiepoo is always eager to please and loves attention. So, it will continue to find innovative ways to make you happy!
They are highly trainable
The Poodle blood in the Westiepoo makes it very smart and easy to train. Naturally, the training should begin right from its puppyhood since younger dogs learn faster than older ones. While training is mostly easy, some Westiepoos can be willful and independent. Therefore, consistency and patience are key to achieving success.
How much exercise does a Westiepoo need? How long should you walk your Westiepoo?
Westiepoos are active dogs and depending on your pet’s size, it will need at least 20-45 minutes of exercise daily. Younger Westiedoodles have a lot of energy so they need exercise not only for their bodies but also for their minds. Without exercise, your little Doodle could easily gain weight and also become bored or destructive.
How much you walk your Westiepoo again depends on its age, weight, and overall health. You can walk a small-sized Westiepoo (up to 15 lb.) for 20 minutes a day and the larger ones for about 30-45 minutes. You can divide this into 2-3 shorter walks a day.
Do Westiepoos like water? Do they enjoy swimming?
No two dogs are the same – even if they are of the same breed. Most Westiepoos enjoy swimming and love the water; others might be terrified of it. You can get your pet used to water by taking it out to the beach or the swimming pools. Always watch your pet while it is in the water. This small dog can tire easily while swimming so make sure it wears a safety vest at all times.
How Much Does a Westiepoo Cost?
Many mixed breed dogs do not cost as much as purebred dogs but good breeders of the Westiepoo breed strive for excellence. This increases the puppy adoption price considerably. The best Westiepoo breeders in Australia conduct health checks on their Poodle and West Highland White Terrier and only select the ones that are cleared by these genetic tests for their breeding programs. Also, once the puppies are born, good breeders will worm, vaccinate, train and even socialise them.
All this can raise the puppy price considerably. In Australia expect to pay anywhere between $2000 and $4000 for healthy Westiedoodle puppies for sale.
What do You Feed a Westiepoo?
The spunky Westiepoo loves to eat and can be prone to obesity. Therefore, you must practice portion control and only feed the exact calories it needs. In general, an active, neutered adult Westiepoo weighing 20 lb. will need around 580 calories per day. This quantity will change if your dog participates in agility competitions (or if you have a pregnant/lactating Westiepoo). So, always consult your vet or pet nutritionist to ensure you’re feeding your pet well.
Puppies will need at least 3-4 meals a day which you can bring down to 3 meals as it grows. An adult Westiepoo can do with 2 meals a day. Avoid kibble containing corn, wheat, and beef as most Westiepoos are allergic to these ingredients. Also, most of them love chicken, fish, eggs, lamb, and turkey, so you may look for dog food containing these proteins.
These days, there are many high-quality commercial dog foods available for Westiepoos. The first choice for most Doodle parents is grain-free dry food because of its long shelf-life, raw food and raw meaty bones to keep your dog’s teeth clean. Some pet parents like to mix wet/canned food with dry food or kibble.
Your Westiepoo will never say no to treats but make sure to feed them sparingly. This is essential to avoid unhealthy weight gain.
Lifespan and Health Issues in Westiepoos
Westiepoos are prone to the health issues seen in their parent breeds. This means that they have a propensity to develop hip/elbow dysplasia, seizures, cardiac diseases, and neurological health issues.
It is very important that the parent dogs are cleared for genetic issues and joint problems in the breed and should demonstrate excellent health overall. The Poodle breed is known to carry genes for inheritable eye problems so the breeding stock should be cleared through CERF exams and DNA testing. The lifespan of this small-sized dog is 12-15 years.
Westiepoo Puppy Availability in Australia
The Westiepoo is one of the rarer poodle mix breeds in Australia. If you’re having trouble finding Westiepoo breeders or puppies for sale near you, consider looking for a rescue or other similar poodle mix breeds such as the ShihPoo, Schnoodle or Bichoodle.
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The information on temperament aligns with my furry friend’s loving nature, and the exercise tips have helped create a balanced routine. The emphasis on health checks reassures me about my pet’s well-being. Thank you for sharing such a helpful resource!
The young westipoo in the photos with the ponies is our dog Daisy . She is turning 13 yrs old next month May 2025.We had some devastating news last week that she has a mass over her chest . We don’t know how long she has but everyday has been a blessing with her in our lives and even now she continues to give so much love and affection to everyone she is around .She is truly loved and we genuinely get excited every morning to spend the day with her . We have had so many great times together out on the New Forest and local areas of Dorset in the UK. We will continue to give her the best life until the very end . She really is and will always be an incredible soul.