Westie Symbolism and Meaning

Introduction

The West Highland White Terrier affectionately called the “Westie”, is a small, energetic dog breed that originated in Scotland. With their bright white coats and confident personalities, Westies have become popular companion pets and show dogs around the world.

But beyond their cute appearance, Westies have taken on a symbolic meaning in literature, movies, and culture. Their white color has come to represent innocence, purity, and nobility. Their hunting heritage gives them an aura of tenacity, courage, and conquest. And their lively nature makes them symbols of vitality and optimism.

Westie Color Symbolism

The most recognizable feature of the Westie is its thick, pure white coat. This distinctive color has imbued the breed with some symbolic meanings:

• Innocence – White is strongly associated with innocence, especially that of a child. Westies retain a puppy-like playfulness their whole lives. Their white coat enhances this youthful innocence.
• Purity – Culturally, the color white represents purity of heart and mind, untainted by the dirt and grime of the world. Westies’ coats seem to stay bright white naturally.
• Nobility – White has also historically symbolized nobility, worn by kings, queens, and nobles in many cultures. With their proud gait, Westies can seem aristocratic.

This symbolism appears in movies like Hotel for Dogs, where Westies represent the innocence of childhood. And in literature like The Art of Racing in the Rain, where a Westie’s white coat reflects the purity of the story’s message.

Hunting Heritage Symbolism

While Westies may look cuddly today, they were originally bred to hunt vermin on Scottish farms. This hunting heritage has infused Westies with symbolic ties to:

• Tenacity – Westies were bred to fearlessly pursue rats, badgers and foxes into rocky dens and tunnels. This gives them a reputation for being stubborn, persistent and tenacious.
• Courage – Their small size belies the courage Westies needed to confront aggressive badgers and foxes in confined spaces. This courage transferred them from working dogs to war mascots.
• Conquest – As efficient hunting dogs, Westies symbolize the conquest of man over nature and the triumph of perseverance. Their white coat is like a victorious flag at the end of the hunt.

We see this symbolism in books like The Incredible Journey, where the Westie’s hunting skills and bravery are essential to the animal’s survival and eventual triumph. And in WWII, where Westies served as mascots on naval ships and army regiments.

Vitality and Optimism Symbolism

Beyond their coats and heritage, Westies have a lively, upbeat personality that has come to symbolize:

• Vitality – Westies pack a lot of vibrant energy into a small package. They have abundant stamina seen in their playfulness, speed, and love of activity.
• Optimism – With their enthusiastic, tail-wagging nature, Westies project an optimistic view of life. They take joy in small things and always seem to look at the bright side.

Literature and movies tap into this symbolism frequently. In Hotel for Dogs the Westie’s energetic, mischievous personality represents childhood vitality. And in The Art of Racing in the Rain, Westie embodies the optimism and enthusiasm we should view life with.

Conclusion

While the Westie was originally bred to be a working farm dog, this energetic breed has become a beloved companion pet. Their bright white coats, courageous heritage and lively personality have imbued Westies with symbolic meanings in culture, literature and film. When we see a Westie, we subconsciously associate them with innocence, purity, tenacity, courage, vitality and optimism – qualities we all aspire to achieve.