How to groom a Westie?

How to groom a Westie? (Expert Guide)

The west highland white terrier, affectionately known as the "westie," is renowned for its strikingly beautiful, furry long coat, confident personality, and friendly nature. They possess a double coat that needs a lot of care.

Here comes the grooming. Grooming not only helps you to look good, but it is also important to keep them happy and healthy. 

In this article, I will walk you through all the steps that are necessary for grooming and also tell you some tips and tricks to have a positive experience with your dog.

Supplies:

You should have these supplies before starting the grooming. Because these things will be required when you are doing cleaning sessions for your dog.

1.      Nail trimmer

2.      Ear cleaning solution

3.      Dog shampoo

4.      Dog conditioner

5.      Cotton pads

6.      Brushes

7.      Scissors

8.      Shears

9.      Comb

10.  Clipper

11.  Towel

12.  Dryer

With all these things, make sure to do this session in a quiet place so that your dog feels less stressed and more comfortable during the session.

Tips for the grooming session:

Let's talk about some tips that will help you if you are a beginner and have never done grooming before. However, it can even be helpful if you have already done some sessions.

Also, these tips will not only make grooming a more pleasant experience for your Westie but also strengthen the bond between you and your furry friend.

So, let's begin.

1.      I will recommend starting the grooming session when your dog is a small, little puppy. This will help the dog to adjust with this routine.

2.      If you are a beginner, make sure that your dog can understand the basic commands like sit, stand, come. These will be going to work throughout the session and will make the process a breeze for you.

3.      Try to have a short session so that your dog will not get exhausted.

4.      Throughout the grooming session, give your dog treats after each task. This will be the best way to get the dog's trust and for a positive experience.

5.      If you sense that your dog is becoming stressed, take a break. And then start again after a few minutes.

6.      Before beginning the grooming session, desensitize your dog by gently introducing it to various tools and equipment. The dog can become afraid if it does not see these tools near it. This will really help them to overcome their fear and anxiety.

Grooming process:

Now, start the grooming process. The grooming process for a West Highland white terrier (Westie) involves several essential steps to keep its coat clean, healthy, and looking its best. These include brushing, bathing, clipping, nail care, mouthwash, ear cleaning, trimming, and many more.

Let's get started:

Brushing:

Brushing is very helpful for Westie as this will really help remove tangles and matted hairs. Gently brush your dog's coat with a wide-toothed comb to remove the loose hairs and tangles.

While doing this, give special attention to areas that are mostly prone to matting, such as behind the ears, under the belly, and on the legs. Be careful that you are not pulling the skin of the dog while doing this.

If the comb cannot remove the matted hairs, try to use a matt splitter; this will remove all the matted hairs.

Bathing:

Since these dogs have a long double coat, bathing your dog is helpful before starting the trimming session. Some groomers do perform trimming before bathing, depending on the haircut.

Place your dog on a non-slip pad so that it won't slip during bathing. Wet the hairs of your dog with lukewarm water. Make sure to avoid ears and eyes.

Then dilute the shampoo in water; this will really help to evenly spread the shampoo throughout the coat. Gentle work on it and make a good leather. Ensure that you apply shampoo to every area of your dog's coat using your hands. You can also use a loofa for this task.

Rub the shampoo on the coat so that it can reach deep and can, cleanse all the dirt and remove bacteria. Rinse off the dog till the clean water comes off.

If the shampoo remains in the coat of the dog, this will really cause irritation to the dog, and the dog becomes stressed and uncomfortable.

Follow it with the conditioner, and make sure to dilute it as well for better results. Then rinse off the dog again after a few minutes. This step will make the hairs silky and shiny and remove all the tangles and matted hairs.

Drying:

It is mandatory to dry the dog after bathing. Use the towels first to absorb all the water from the dog's coat. Then, follow it with the hair dryer. Make sure to constantly move the dryer while drying.

Set the dryer on low heat so that it won't harm your dog. While drying,  make sure to brush the coat so that it won't tangle again. It will also help to circulate the blood in the whole body, and your dog will feel happy.

Trimming:

Trimming your west highland white terrier's (Westie) coat is an important aspect of grooming, helping to maintain their neat appearance and overall comfort.

With long hair, your dog can feel uncomfortable. Begin with trimming the head. I will remind you to use different scissors, shears, or clippers to shape the hair around the ears and face. However, you have to be careful when trimming the eyes, ears, and mouth area.

Aftewards, start trimming the hairs of the body to the length you actually want for your dog. Make sure to trim the legs, belly, tails, and back of the dog as well. And give it a uniform look.

For blending, you can use various shears based on the haircut you want to achieve. Here is the tip to give a uniform haircut: you can use a comb in the direction of hair growth and trim any stray or uneven hairs.

Nail trimming:

Nail trimming is essential as it can make your dog uncomfortable during walks or it can hurt anyone with them. Carefully trim nails using dog-specific nail clippers. However, do not go too close to nails to prevent bleeding.

Ear cleaning:

Ear cleaning is also important to protect your furry friend from any infection. Dampen a cotton ball or pad with an ear-cleaning solution. And put it in the ear of your dog. After that, wipe the inside of your dog's ears to remove dirt and wax.

Be cautious while cleaning, and make sure not to move the dirt towards the war canal. This can cause a lot of problems for your dog.

Conclusion:

Remember, grooming should be a positive and bonding experience for you and your Westie. With patience, practice, and following the tips mentioned above, you can help your Westie stay clean, healthy, and looking their best while building a strong connection with your furry friend.