Breed Comparison: Pekingese Versus West Highland White Terrier

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Pekingese Versus West Highland White Terrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Pekingese and for the West Highland White Terrier. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Pekingese or the West Highland White Terrier.

Pekingese versus West Highland White Terrier

Pekingese versus West Highland White Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Pekingese is a tiny-sized dog while the West Highland White Terrier is a small-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Pekingese belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

On the other hand, the West Highland White Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

Pekingese versus West Highland White Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Pekingese to the West Highland White Terrier based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier

Factor Pekingese West Highland White Terrier
Tolerates Hot Weather 1/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 5/5 2/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 16 years
Easygoing 4/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 2/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 2/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 3/5
General Health 2/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 4/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Easy To Train 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 3/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 2/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 2/5
Height 6 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder 10 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Weight 7 to 14 pounds 13 to 22 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 14.0 years
Average Price $1930 $2220
Price Range $1288 – $2500 $1600 – $2700
Temperament Score 93.3 percent 89.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Eye Examination- Recommend annual exams until at least age 8yrs (96mo)
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 86 41
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 73 47

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Pekingese in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the West Highland White Terrier. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Pekingese is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the West Highland White Terrier is 80 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the West Highland White Terrier is a better pet than the Pekingese. So, you should get the West Highland White Terrier!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Pekingese versus West Highland White Terrier

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier

    Below is a list of where the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier are most different:

  • Pekingeses do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful. However, West Highland White Terriers do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Pekingeses do not get along well with other dogs. However, West Highland White Terriers get along well with other dogs.
  • The Similarities Between the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier

    The Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier are most similar:

  • Both the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Pekingese versus West Highland White Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier.

    Pekingeses weigh 7 to 14 pounds when fully grown. Pekingeses are 6 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, West Highland White Terriers weigh 13 to 22 pounds when fully grown. West Highland White Terriers are 10 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Pekingese versus West Highland White Terrier

    The lifespan of Pekingeses is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Pekingeses is 13.5 years.

    The lifespan of West Highland White Terriers is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of West Highland White Terriers is 14.0 years.

    West Highland White Terriers live longer than Pekingeses.

    Pekingese versus West Highland White Terrier

    Temperament of the West Highland White Terrier Versus the Pekingese

    The Pekingese has a better temperament than the West Highland White Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Pekingese is 93.3 percent while the temperament score for the West Highland White Terrier is 89.7 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 93.3 percent, the Pekingese has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 89.7 percent, the West Highland White Terrier has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 15 Pekingeses and 68 West Highland White Terriers.

    Price of Pekingese versus Price of West Highland White Terrier

    The average price of the Pekingese puppy is $1930. The price of the Pekingese typically ranges from $1288 – $2500. However, the price of a Pekingese can be as low as $700 and as high as $7500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 138 Pekingese puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the West Highland White Terrier puppy is $2220. The price of the West Highland White Terrier typically ranges from $1600 – $2700. However, the price of the West Highland White Terrier can be as low as $600 and as high as $3999. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 103 West Highland White Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The West Highland White Terrier is more expensive than the Pekingese.

    Pekingese West Highland White Terrier
    Average Price $1930 $2220
    Price Range $1288 to $2500 $1600 to $2700

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Pekingese and West Highland White Terrier. For different price points, the charts show how many Pekingese puppies or how many West Highland White Terrier puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Pekingeses. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Pekingeses. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of West Highland White Terriers

    A breakdown of the prices of West Highland White Terriers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Pekingese puppy or the West Highland White Terrier puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Pekingese versus West Highland White Terrier

    Adopting the Pekingese versus Adopting the West Highland White Terrier

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Pekingeses and many West Highland White Terriers are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Pekingese named Dany that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Pekingeses like Dany on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Pekingeses, West Highland White Terriers are also available for adoption. For example, Asner In Tx is a Male West Highland White Terrier that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more West Highland White Terriers like Asner In Tx that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Prancer is the name of another Pekingese (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, Puddles is an adorable Male West Highland White Terrier on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Pekingeses and West Highland White Terriers are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Pekingeses and West Highland White Terriers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Pekingese versus the Intelligence of the West Highland White Terrier

    Pekingese West Highland White Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 73 out of 130 dog breeds 47 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More! Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Pekingese has an obedience intelligence rank of 73 out of 130 dog breeds. The Pekingese belongs to the `Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Pekingeses tend to learn new commands after 80 to 100 repetitions or more!.

    The West Highland White Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 47 out of 130 dog breeds. The West Highland White Terrier belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that West Highland White Terriers tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The West Highland White Terrier is more intelligent than the Pekingese.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Pekingese versus Popularity of West Highland White Terrier

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the West Highland White Terrier is more popular with dog owners than the Pekingese. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the West Highland White Terrier is 41 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Pekingese is 86 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Popularity of West Highland White Terrier

    Popularity of West Highland White Terrier

    Year Pekingese Popularity Rank West Highland White Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 77 36
    2014 82 38
    2015 80 41
    2016 93 41
    2017 88 42
    2018 92 42
    2019 83 44
    2020 95 44

    Tolerates Being Alone: Pekingese versus West Highland White Terrier

    Pekingeses can be left alone only for a short time.

    West Highland White Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Pekingeses shed more than West Highland White Terriers?

    Pekingeses shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    West Highland White Terriers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Pekingese or the West Highland White Terrier

    Pekingeses do have a very low tendency to drool.

    West Highland White Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Pekingese or the West Highland White Terrier?

    Pekingeses require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    West Highland White Terriers are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Pekingese Have a Higher Prey Drive than the West Highland White Terrier?

    Pekingeses have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    West Highland White Terriers have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Do Pekingeses Bark and Howl? What about West Highland White Terriers?

    Pekingeses are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    West Highland White Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Pekingeses Tolerate Cold Weather? And can West Highland White Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Pekingeses can very well tolerate cold weather.

    West Highland White Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Pekingese vs. West Highland White Terrier

    Pekingeses have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    West Highland White Terriers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Pekingeses Tolerate Hot Weather? Can West Highland White Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Pekingeses cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    West Highland White Terriers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Pekingese or the West Highland White Terrier?

    Pekingeses do not get along well with other dogs.

    West Highland White Terriers get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Pekingeses good family dogs? What about West Highland White Terriers?

    Pekingeses are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    West Highland White Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Pekingeses and West Highland White Terriers?

    Pekingeses do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    West Highland White Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Pekingese Easier to Train than the West Highland White Terrier?

    Pekingeses are fairly easy to train.

    West Highland White Terriers are very easy to train.

    Is the Pekingese Better for Apartment Owners than the West Highland White Terrier?

    Pekingeses adapt very well to apartment living.

    West Highland White Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Pekingese or the West Highland White Terrier?

    Pekingeses are very good for new dog owners.

    West Highland White Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Pekingese

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Pekingese that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Pekingese:

  • Dandie Dinmont Terrier (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the West Highland White Terrier vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
  • Mal Shi (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the West Highland White Terrier vs Mal Shi.
  • Pomeranian (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the West Highland White Terrier vs Pomeranian.
  • Pomsky (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the West Highland White Terrier vs Pomsky.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the West Highland White Terrier

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the West Highland White Terrier that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the West Highland White Terrier:

  • Bearded Collie (82 percent match with West Highland White Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Bearded Collie.
  • Cardigan Welsh Corgi (84 percent match with West Highland White Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Cardigan Welsh Corgi.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Pekingese and how the West Highland White Terrier compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Pekingese and of the West Highland White Terrier to other breeds:

    Pekingese Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pekingese versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     Pekingese versus Dogue de Bordeaux     Pekingese versus Saint Bernard     Pekingese versus Schnoodle     Pekingese versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     Pekingese versus Maremma Sheepdog     Pekingese versus Miniature Poodle     Pekingese versus Tibetan Spaniel     Pekingese versus Shih Tzu     Pekingese versus Briard     Pekingese versus Field Spaniel     Pekingese versus French Spaniel     Pekingese versus Estrela Mountain Dog     Pekingese versus Carolina Dog     Pekingese versus Saint Berdoodle     Pekingese versus German Shepherd Dog     Pekingese versus Afador     Pekingese versus Xoloitzcuintli     Pekingese versus Briard     Pekingese versus American Foxhound     Pekingese versus Bluetick Coonhound     Pekingese versus Xoloitzcuintli     Pekingese versus Shetland Sheepdog     Pekingese versus Korean Jindo Dog     Pekingese versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     

    West Highland White Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    West Highland White Terrier versus Australian Shepherd     West Highland White Terrier versus Whippet     West Highland White Terrier versus American Bulldog     West Highland White Terrier versus Korean Jindo Dog     West Highland White Terrier versus Redbone Coonhound     West Highland White Terrier versus Whoodle     West Highland White Terrier versus Scottish Deerhound     West Highland White Terrier versus Bearded Collie     West Highland White Terrier versus Swedish Vallhund     West Highland White Terrier versus Cavapoo     West Highland White Terrier versus Goldendoodle     West Highland White Terrier versus Cockapoo     West Highland White Terrier versus Mudi     West Highland White Terrier versus Lagotto Romagnolo     West Highland White Terrier versus Cane Corso     West Highland White Terrier versus Standard Schnauzer     West Highland White Terrier versus Gordon Setter     West Highland White Terrier versus Great Pyrenees     West Highland White Terrier versus Saluki     West Highland White Terrier versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     West Highland White Terrier versus Italian Greyhound     West Highland White Terrier versus Australian Shepherd     West Highland White Terrier versus Bernese Mountain Dog     West Highland White Terrier versus Chinese Crested     West Highland White Terrier versus Whippet     

    Conclusion: Pekingese versus West Highland White Terrier. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Pekingese and the West Highland White Terrier better suits you and your family.