How to Groom a Westie: 5 Expert Tips

Grooming your West Highland White Terrier is not only essential for its neat and clean appearance, but it also helps to keep it comfortable and healthy. Regular grooming is essential for removing dead skin and hair and keeping its coat free of dirt and dandruff. You must know how often to groom your Westie, the appropriate tools, and what areas should be the primary focus.

To help make this an easy and pleasant experience for you and your pet, we have compiled a list of five expert tips on how to groom a Westie.

The 5 Tips on How to Groom a Westie

1. Keep the Coat Free of Mats

To keep your Westie’s coat free of mats, it is recommended that you use a process called stripping. This is done by pulling excess hair from its coat using your hands rather than a brush. Gently pull the hair in small amounts daily. Doing so will help to ensure a mat-free coat while exposing your pet to being handled in this way.

West Highland White Terrier being brushed — Image Credit by: Elena Sineglazova, Shutterstock

2. Bathe Your Westie Regularly

Regular bathing of your Westie will help to ensure a fresh and clean coat. You will need to brush the dog before bathing, however. If you do not brush the dry coat, you run the risk of the hair becoming further matted when it gets wet.

For most dogs, regular bathing means once every 2 to 3 months—depending on their activity level or if they have been rolling around in the dirt or mud. Westies do not have very long or thick hair, so bathing a few times a year will be sufficient.

3. Clean the Westie’s Eyes

It's not a good idea to try to trim around the dog’s eyes if there is a buildup of discharge. It's recommended that you clean around the eyes before trimming. This can be done with a cotton cloth. Gently wipe the area around the eyes in a downward direction to loosen and remove any gunk that has built up in the eye area.

West Highland Terrier Close up — Image Credit by: ana_olly, Pixabay

4. Trim the Nails

It is a good idea to check your dog’s nails regularly. Typically, they should be trimmed about every three to six weeks depending on how fast they grow. A good way to test if the nails need trimming is to see if they are touching the floor or the ground. If you hear a clicking sound when the dog is walking, the nails need to be trimmed.

5. Reward the Dog With Treats

To help make the grooming process a positive experience for both you and your dog, use praise and treats. During its bath, you may want to use a lick mat with suction cups. Fill the mat with its favorite treat, like puppy ice cream or peanut butter, and stick it to the side of the tub or basin. Hopefully, the dog will be busy licking up the treat while you tend to the task at hand.

West Highland White Terrier dog at home eating_alejandro rodriguez_shutterstock — Image Credit: alejandro-rodriguez, Shutterstock

Other Things to Remember

Always use dog-safe cleaning products. While it is tempting to grab a bottle of shampoo made for people, avoid this. Dog-safe products will ensure your dog does not have any adverse reactions to the shampoo’s ingredients, like drying out the skin or causing a rash.
To keep the dog’s coat free of pollen after a romp in the yard or a daily walk, it is recommended that you brush the coat with a slicker brush.
To prevent your Westies from getting a buildup of discharge around the eyes, we recommend that you clean them daily or as often as possible.
We recommend that if you are unsure of yourself when it comes to trimming your dog’s nails, you get it done by your veterinarian or groomer. This will prevent the dog from having a negative experience if you were to accidentally hurt it or make it bleed.

Conclusion

The grooming process can be stressful for a dog. However, done properly, grooming your Westie can be a bonding experience for both of you. You should only do things that you are confident in doing. Be sure to be patient and gentle with your pet. And, to make it a positive experience, give the dog lots of love and treat rewards.