Highland — breed guide
The teddy-bear cow: thrives outdoors in brutal winters, needs shade far more than a barn.
At a glance
- Group
- beef
- Size
- Giant
- Weight
- 400–800 kg (882–1764 lb)
- Life span
- 18–22 years
- Coat
- Long shaggy double coat and sweeping horns
Living with a Highland
- Low energy — happy with gentle daily exercise.
- Regular grooming — brushing a few times a week.
- Heavy shedding, especially in season.
- Trainable with consistency.
- Quiet.
- Good with children.
- Gets along with other dogs.
- Typically lives happily with a cat.
- Not well suited to a flat — space, exercise need or voice works against it.
- Better with previous experience behind you.
- Struggles in heat — walk early, walk late, and watch for distress.
- Built for cold weather.
Temperament
Docile · Hardy · Unbothered
Health to watch
- Heat stress
- Fly strike under the coat
Owner-logged information shared via Leash Life is not veterinary advice; ask your vet about screening for these.
Did you know
The fringe over the eyes is a "dossan" — built-in weather and fly protection.
Questions people ask
Is a Highland good with kids?
Generally yes. Highlands are usually good with children when raised with them and given their own quiet space.
Is a Highland good with cats?
Usually yes. Highlands typically settle well with a resident cat — introduce them slowly and give the cat a high perch and a way out of the room.
How much exercise does a Highland need?
A gentle daily walk.
Can a Highland handle hot weather?
It struggles; keep summer outings short and shaded.
Leash Life keeps a Highland's day — walks, meals, meds, weight — in one shared feed for the whole household, and warns on the walk weather this breed can't take. Free to start.