West Highland White Terrier.

Any diet should be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior) and adjustments will be required as their needs change with age. Westies can be fussy eaters so it is suggested to add little treats to his food to encourage him to eat and make his food more appetitisng. Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. His diet should incorporate protein as well as good sources of fat. Puppies can benefit from DHA, a specific form of omega-3 fatty acid to aid their brain and eye development. Some ingredients should be avoided for Westies, including beef, corn, wheat, soy, meat by-products and garlic. Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet. As Westies are likely to develop food allergies and skin problems, you should consult your vet if you see any symptoms. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.

Westies are low to moderate shedders. They are also hypoallergenic dogs, making them suitable for owners with allergies. They have fairly short, dense white coats which can shed dirt easily. This consists of a soft, furry undercoat, and a more stiff outercoat. Regular brushing will ensure the amount of hair shed is minimal.

Whilst the West Highland White Terrier sheds a little amount, his coat needs to be clipped or hand stripped to work out the dead undercoat. Stripping is the preferred grooming method if you are interested in showing your dog, and should be done about twice a year. Alternatively, their coats may be clipped for neatness, around once every 4 to 6 weeks. As their outer coats are hard, it does not retain dirt, which helps to keep them clean and protect the undercoat. Therefore, they do not need to be bathed often. For their undercoat, it should be brushed or combed with a stiff bristle brush to prevent any mats at least once a week. Trim around his ears with blunt-nosed scissors, and trim his nails as needed. Brush your Westie’s teeth with vet-approved pet toothpaste for dental health.

With medium energy levels, the Westie will generally require less exercise compared to some other, more energetic breeds. They love to romp and play, and should be taken on one or two walks a day. Inside the house, the breed usually is lower-energy. Westies love playtime, as well as digging, running and hunting smaller creatures. Due to their hunting Terrier instinct, it is not recommended to leave your Westie off-leash in any open areas. Some Westies enjoy swimming, but should be supervised at all times.

Westies are hardy dogs with fewer health-related issues in their lifetime. They may be susceptible to ‘Westie jaw’, which affects their skull, as well as Legg-Perthes disease and cataracts. Veterinary care is essential to a dog’s health and wellbeing, however the frequency of treatment and checkups will depend on the dog.

Scheduled six-monthly health check visits with your vet are important to ensure your West Highland Terrier is healthy and happy throughout all life stages. In these annual visits, your vet will complete a physical examination, take your dog’s temperature and check his heartbeat, among other things. Routine maintenance for your dog gives you a chance to track your dog’s growth and development and discuss any concerns with your vet, and forms a key part of preventative care.

Fun-loving and friendly, the Westie gets along well with children. However, they are not as suitable for younger children as they can become irritable at times. It will usually not be tolerant of any rough handling or pulling on its ears or fur. The Westie can often be possessive of its food and toys. Westland Terriers generally get along with everyone, including strangers, and enjoys being a part of the family. He should be kept indoors, to prevent him from turning noisy and destructive. He can be spunky at times, with a typical Terrier temperament, being independent and slightly stubborn. Terriers generally are easy dogs to raise as they were originally bred to rely on their own hunting skills.

Westies have an alert and courageous temperament, making them suitable as watchdogs, despite their small size. They will often alert and defend their families by barking. They also retain characteristics of earth dogs, such as being inquisitive and investigative.

Westies can be quite independent and stubborn at times, making it sometimes challenging to train them. Therefore, training should start as early as possible, and incorporate a variety of creative and positive reinforcement methods. They are capable of soaking up everything they are taught, and it is important that they are correctly trained from the start. Their excessive barking may become a concern later on, so plenty of early socialisation with other dogs and proper training should be done to prevent this. A Westie may require its training to be refreshed at a later stage in its lifetime. As the Westie also possesses natural instincts to dig holes and bite, this should also be noted in their early training. The Westie’s natural Terrier ability can be tested through dog sports including agility, flyball, obedience and rally.

With other dogs, they are generally social and are good for multi-dog households. However, male Westies may show dislike towards each other. If they have been trained with proper leadership from their owner, Westies will usually be self-assured enough not to pick fights with other dogs. Westies are able to adapt and tolerate cats with enough socialisation, however, their strong prey drive should be noted. They will usually chase and sometimes attack smaller animals including hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits.