West Highland Terrier
Popular Dog Breeds
All about the West Highland Terrier
A West Highland Terrier is a friendly and easy going dogs that are recognised as the most social of all the terrier breeds. They love to be around their owners and family and will thrive when they receive regular attention from all of their family.
They get on well with children, but care must be taken with smaller children due to the small size of this dog. Westies can be aggressive with smaller animals as they will see them as prey.
They are easy enough to train although some can be stubborn. Westies love to dig and they are also known to love barking, which makes them good watchdogs.
Grooming a West Highland Terrier
Hair type: A West Highland Terrier has a double coat made up of a straight, strong outer coat that is about 4-5cm long and a soft dense undercoat. Westies do not shed much hair.
Daily coat care: Your Westie’s hair should be brushed a few times a week using a stiff bristle brush. Chronic skin allergies are quite common in Westies, particularly in males, signs of which will become visible while brushing. These can normally be managed quite easily with some adjustment your daily care regime and we recommend you speak with your groomer.
Recommended groom frequency: A full groom is recommended for your every four months, and his coat should be stripped* twice a year. Mid-groom wash and dry is recommended to keep his coat clean and fresh.
*Stripping a Westie’s coat can take a number of hours. Your groomer will advise of the need to strip your dog’s coat*
At Petmania Grooming Studios we have a full range of treatments available for your West Highland Terrier. If you get puppy, we recommend our Puppy’s First Visit at around four months, once your puppy has received all his vaccinations.
Diet
Depending on the size and age of your West Highland Terrier, you will need to feed between 124g and 163g of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. Choose a food which offers well balanced nutrients and feed treats as treats.
Our pet advisors in-store can help you find the most appropriate food for your dog, while you can find out more about the different dog food brands we stock here.
Activity Level
These little dogs have lots of energy and need a daily walk to prevent them from becoming disruptive. Regular interactive play is also recommended while your westie will also enjoy a good romp in a safe, open area off lead, such as a large, fenced-in yard.
Where to get a West Highland Terrier
There are lots of places offering dogs or puppies for sale in Ireland, but we would always ask that you consider adopting a dog first. Our animal rescue partners have 100’s of rescue dogs and puppies seeking a forever home and would be delighted to introduce you to them.
However, if a rescue dog is not for you, we do recommend that you choose a registered breeder and seek Irish Kennel Club registration papers which will confirm that the dog has been bred to their strict code of ethics.
