What is a Westie?

A Westie dog is is a part of the terrier breed. This dog is very cute and loves to run around. A Westie is a smaller breed of dog and usually weighs on average about 18 pounds. Westies are full of energy and were bred for hunting. They love to chase anything and everything, without any fear. Westie dogs are known for skin irritations, and do well if given lots of hygenal care.

Grooming

All dogs need grooming, but because of the skin sensitivity of Westies, it is appropriate to make sure they are well groomed all the time. This would include hair brushing, nail trimming, bathing, ear care, dental cleaning and hair cuts.

Since Westies have a medium hair length, brushing their hair should be done on a weekly basis to prevent any matting. Dog’s usually enjoy this type of grooming, because it feels good. This can be done at home with a store bought dog brush or you can take your Westie to a dog groomer. It is more ideal for you to do it at home, since a weekly brushing is needed.

Nail trimming or pedicures is also an important step in grooming a Westie or any dog. Making sure their nails are short is important whether you are showing the dog or your dog likes to climb up on people to get petted. Although most dog owners are afraid that trimming a dog’s nails will hurt or start to bleed, getting a little training from a professional dog groomer will help give you tips on how to trim and things to stop the bleeding if an accident does occur. If you do not feel comfortable trimming your westie’s nails, then take him or her to a professional dog groomer.

Bathing your Westie may be a little tricky. Even though they are a smaller dog size, they can make it difficult to bathe. It may take some patience, but your dog can be trained to take a bath without moving around too much. You should only use a dog shampoo on Westies, simply because human shampoos can change the color of your dogs hair and it is not the right formula for it’s skin. If your dog does not have any skin problems, try bathing once or twice a month. If your Westie does have skin problems, try using a medicated shampoos like Malaseb and Humilac or ResiProx as a conditioner for dry skin. You may want to bathe your Westie once a week it there are skin problems.

Cleaning a westie’s teeth can also keep your dog healthy. Like humans, dogs can get gum and tooth disease, which can also spread into their blood stream. There are several dog toothpastes on the market, like petrodex, and some have a beef flavor for your dog to enjoy.

Tending to tour westie’s ears is also very important for your dog’s health. Ear mites, ticks, and infections are things you should look for. If you notice anything unusual, like extreme scratching or shaking of the head, something sticking in it’s ears, or a discoloration, seek a veterinarian as soon as possible. It is not recommended to stick anything in your dog’s ears, like Q-tips or liquids. Try using a wash cloth or cotton ball to clean the outer portion of your westie’s ears.

Cutting a westie’s hair is the most trickiest part when grooming, especially if your Westie is a show dog. Getting a professional hair cut would be your best bet if you are planning to show your dog, since the shape and hairstyle of the dog determines a winner or not. If your Westie is not a show dog, you can get a professional trainer to teach you how to cut your dog’s hair.

Key Tips On Cutting Your Westie’s Hair

Getting the help of a qualified Westie hair cutter is your ticket to success. Whether you are going to get it’s hair cut by a dog salon, or you plan to getting some training to do it yourself.

Striping and clipping are ways to trim your Westie. This includes using a sharp pair of scissors, chalk, a brush, and a comb. But you also have to know that providing your dog the right shelter is also important. There’s a bearded dragon DIY terriarium setup class, so for sure, there is also some DIY lessons on how to properly create shelter for dogs.