How to Groom a West Highland White Terrier

By eHow Pets Editor

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

Pin brushes
Slicker brush
Metal comb
Thinning shears
Mild whitening shampoo

Step 1:
Brush out the soft undercoat with a slicker brush, pin brushes and metal combs. The undercoat can easily become tangled and matted and the knots are painful to remove if you don't brush your dog's coat regularly.
Step 2:
Use thinning shears to give your West Highland White Terrier's head and face a rounded look. You can also use thinning shears all over the body to get rid of stray hairs that can give the coat an untidy appearance.
Step 3:
Bathe the dog with a mild whitening shampoo. West Highland White Terriers tend to have dry skin, so don't bathe them too often or with harsh products. Shampoos high in protein are the best. If the dog gets dirty soon after bathing and stains their coat, use a cotton ball soaked in hydrogen peroxide to remove the marks.
Step 4:
Trim the hair around the ears and eyes with unsharpened scissors. Have someone help you hold the dog's head firmly but gently to avoid injuring her.
Step 5:
Strip the coat twice a year. Professional assistance may be necessary for this. Give the coat a regular trimming every 4 months and keep it at a length no longer than 2 inches.

Tips & Warnings

Westies have a life expectancy of at least 15 years.
Some West Highland White Terriers suffer from chronic skin problems, Perthe's disease (hip problems), hernias, liver disease and jawbone calcification.

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