Happy, social, and always ready for play, the West Highland White Terrier (Westie) is one of the more popular terrier breeds. However, to keep your Westie looking and feeling his best requires regular grooming on a weekly basis. The pure white double coat needs trimming every 4 to 6 weeks to maintain the breed cut which is about two inches long.
EQUIPMENT & TOOLS
Assemble and familiarize yourself with the materials necessary for grooming the Westie.
• Dematting rake
• Slicker brush
• Fine-toothed metal comb
• Scissors
• Nail clippers and styptic powder
• Alcohol
• Cotton balls
• Electric clippers
• Clipper blades: #10, #8 ½, #7, and #5
• Tearless dog shampoo
• Whitening shampoo (optional)
• Coat conditioner (optional)
PRE-BATH
The coat of the Westie must be brushed out before bathing. Start with the dematting rake to remove any mats in the fur with minimal discomfort to the dog. Follow with brushing using the slicker brush. Finally, comb through the coat with a fine-toothed metal comb to make sure all tangles have been removed.
Clean the ears using alcohol. Gently squeeze a small amount into the ear canal and stand back, as the dog will sling his head. Using the cotton balls, wipe the inside of the ear to remove any dirt or debris.
BATHING
Place the dog in the tub. A rubber non-slip mat will help maintain more secure footing. Place a cotton ball gently in each ear opening. With the water temperature lukewarm, wet the hair beginning at the feet and work up the legs and onto the body. Make sure the water goes all the way to the skin. Wet the head and face last, being careful not to get water into the nose.
Apply tearless shampoo and gently message into the coat making sure soap goes to the skin. Beginning with the head, wash around the eyes and ears. Work up the lather down the neck, back, and down the legs. Gently rub the shampoo in between the pads on each foot. Be sure to wash the genital and anal areas carefully, but thoroughly. Rinse with lukewarm water until the water runs clear. Do not leave any trace of soap on the skin or coat, as this will cause dryness.
Since this breed’s color is exclusively white, a whitening shampoo can be used. Be careful to choose a mild, non-bleaching formula. Rinse the shampoo completely from the coat and skin to prevent drying.
Once the soap has been completely rinsed out, a coat conditioner may be used if desired. Massage a small amount of conditioner into the ends of the coat hair. Do not rub the conditioner into the skin. Rinse the conditioner out completely until the rinse water runs clear.
Remove the dog from the tub and towel dry. Comb through the wet hair being careful to work out any tangles. The dog can then be either cage or blown dry. Once the coat is completely dried, brush once again with a slicker brush.
NAIL TRIM
Immediately following the bath is an excellent time to trim the Westie’s nails. The nails are usually softer, more pliable, and easier to cut. The pink vein of the quick is easy to see in the Westie’s white nails. Be careful not to clip the nail too close to the quick. This is painful for the dog and will cause bleeding. Styptic powder will stop the bleeding should you accidentally clip the quick. Always keep styptic powder close at hand when trimming nails.
GROOMING
Before using the electric clippers, be sure to read and adhere to manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and lubrication. Attach the #10 blade and trim around the anal opening about one-half inch. Also, trim the hair from the stomach and groin area. With the same blade in place, trim the top half of outside of the ears.
Decide how close you want the hair trimmed on the body and choose one of the #5, #7, or #8 ½ blades. The larger the number, the closer the cut. Start at the base of the skull and clip down the back to the base of the tail. Trim from the neck down the shoulders. Continue clipping from the neck down to the shoulder line all the way to the rear of the dog. Using the same blade, trim the top of the tail from the base to the tip and leave the hair on the underside. When using the electric clippers, be sure to stop frequently and allow the blade to cool.
Scissor any flyaway hairs around the tips of the ears. Trim the hair left on the tail in a triangle shape, longer at the bottom and shorter at the tip. Trim the hair under the feet level with the footpads. The hair on the Westie’s face just above the eyes should be trimmed to look like a visor. Scissor the head to a round, neat shape. Very carefully trim the hairs around the dog’s eyes.
Finally, brush out the bottom half of the Westie’s coat which was not clipped and use the scissors to trim any stray hairs. The legs and feet hair should be left long, but neat.
The West Highland White Terrier should be completely groomed on a regular basis of four to six weeks. If the grooming process begins at an early age and the dog is handled carefully and patiently, this duty becomes less of a dreaded chore for both the dog and the owner.
