Grooming a West Highland Terrier; All the Groomer Insights
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- by Adam
- 04 Apr 2025
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A West Highland Terrier, also known as the Westie, is a Scottish breed known distinctively for its white coat. The white coat is the hallmark for this breed and the only acceptable color for it, it may range from snowy white to a creamy off-white,this color variation is particularly due to environmental reasons that may result in genetic variations. Grooming a Westie dog is not a very complex procedure, however there are a few learning curves which we will discuss in this article.
BREED PROFILE
- Height: 10-11 inches (25-28 cm)
- Weight: 15-22 pounds (7-10 kg)
- Lifespan: 12-16 years
- Grooming cycle: 4-8 weeks
- They have a rounded head with a domed skull, small pointed ears with a short upright tail. Their body is compact and muscular with a double coat that varies in texture.
- Outer coat has a harsh wiry and straight texture, 2 inches long in length. It is supposed to protect the dog from dirt and harsh weather.
- Undercoat is soft, dense and fluffy, it is supposed to keep the dog warm and insulated by regulating the body temperature.
- The only accepted colour for this breed is white.
- Low allergy and minimal shedding breed.
- Easy to clean, not oily or bad-smelling.
- Less prone to yellowing of the coat.
GROOMING TOOLS
- Andis ProClip 2-Speed Detachable Blade Clipper
https://andis.com/shop/detail/23335/ProClip-AGC-Super-2-Speed-Detachable-Blade-Clipper
- Andis UltraEdge Detachable Clipper Blade
- Andis Clipper Attachment Comb 7 Piece Set
- 7-inch Right-Handed Pet Round-Tip Grooming Curved Scissors
- Dog Thinning.Blending Shears
- Slicker Brush
- Stainless Steel Grooming Comb C10
NOTE: High speed blades tend to heat up and can burn the dog’s skin, always check the blade in intervals and let it cool down before reusing. Lower-speeds are used to reduce speed, heat and noise, for delicate areas, very noise-sensitive or touch-sensitive dogs, and to help blades run cooler for longer. You still have the same top speeds in reserve for very thick or difficult areas.
You can get standard steel blades sharpened when they become dull or blunt, rather than having to buy new blades every time. Ceramic blades stay sharper up to 5 times longer than full steel blades, but when ceramic blades eventually become dull or blunt, you can't get that blade type sharpened.
PROFESSIONAL TIPS ON HOW TO GROOM A WESTIE DOG
As per our groomers, grooming has three important aspects apart from just physical appearance.
1. Health: Regularly grooming your Westie will help you detect skin issues, infections, problems of ticks and fleas. It will help keep the coat clean and tangle free.
2. Comfort: If your dog is well groomed it caters to their comfort, help regulate body temperature. It prevents their coat from becoming too thick. Prevents hair from getting in their eyes and helps them see properly. Prevents over grown nails and dragging of the fur.
3. Hygiene: It reduces shedding, helps regeneration of the coat, prevents tooth decay, and helps maintain the overall well-being of the dog.
NOTE: Shaving a Westie's double coat is not advisable. The double coat protects them and helps in temperature regulation, shaving will disrupt this process resulting in skin issues and sunburns.
Bathing
Being a dog owner your of course familiar with the protocols of bathing your dog but there are things you need to be mindful of.
A Westie should be bathed once every 4-6 weeks, with an extensive grooming process. Your dog is to be double rinsed. Use products customised for a sensitive dog, free of artificial fragrances, as recommended by a professional vet or groomer when bathing at home. Frequent baths may result in overdrying the fur and irritating the Westie's skin. Keep an eye out for rashes and sores, as well as yeast-like odour, and schedule a vet appointment in such cases.
The first wash and rinse will help rid of all the dirt, debris and oil from the fur and skin. The second bath will help bring the fur back to life, you may even use a brightening and whitening shampoo for it. The second rinse isn't necessary but does vouch for best results.
If your Westie has skin issues, such as an yeast infection, the vet may recommend weekly or more frequent bathing with medicated products. Since Westie’s aren't typically oily or smelly, you can substitute full baths by using a waterless shampoo on them. It helps clean targeted areas and avoid full baths, because the protective oils on a Westie's coat are necessary.
NEVER use human shampoo, even something as mild as baby shampoo, because it can be 150 times more acidic on the dog's delicate skin.
Brushing
The Westie is a double coated dog, the undercoat is dense and soft but comprises of long guard hair peeking through it. The outer coat is silky to touch and should be kept at a,medium length to keep the grooming process easy. There are a few different approaches to brushing your Westie dog, lets discuss them.
Brushing your pooch for 3-5 minutes per day is mandatory. You can use a pin brush or a rake for frequent sessions. Regular brushing will remove all tangles and knots. For blow-drying you can use slicker brushed as you go back and forth with the dryer.
Brushing with stiff bristles can help untangle the wiry hair strands of this breed. Other options include a rubber grooming brush which aids in adding shine to their coat, a steel comb that helps remove knots around the head and ears.
The coat is non-shed, but like all coats it under goes minimal non-noticeable shedding and the loose hair need to be removed. Grooming helps remove the old dead hair, minimal of course.
A adult coat does not come through till the dog reaches 12 months of age and at times the coat doesn't develop till a few years. This implies that a young puppy's coat may start thin and light, making it easier to care for.
Stain Removal and Coat Maintenance
This breed, in particular, is extremely prone to staining its coat, especially around the mouth and eyes.
Tears and saliva are two factors that may stain your Westie's coat because the breed is less prone to a yellow stain. The saliva staining on the paws and around the mouth area can result in a red-brown to burgandy-ish stain.
To counter these problems you can use a stain remover, specially around the eyes. Another option is to use a whitening shampoo to maintain the coat. But, of course if the staining is that bad you will have to consult your groomer. Tear and saliva stains can easily be removed.
Paw licking results in stains from saliva, but if it is excessive, this maybe a sign of a fungal or yeast infection which may cause staining around the fur in this area. If the coat is white at the base of the fur, staining may likely occur because of paw licking, however, if there is discoloration down all the way to the skin, it implies an infection. Take you pooch for a consultation to a vet immediately.
To cope with staining around the mouth, you should keep the fur short so that it doesn't enter the mouth. Food and treats that may result in staining should be avoided. Try to keep the area dry, such as wiping it down after meals and when they drink. Use a stain remover as a part of your daily grooming routine. Your groomer may provide stronger options if the problem precedes.
Ear Plucking and Cleaning
Westies have upright ears with fur growing in the ear canal which is why they are more susceptible to ear infections. They need to clean around every 4 weeks and be regularly checked for infections because of excessive gunk stuck in their ears.
Always remember to pluck out the excess hair in the ears; you can use tweezers to aid the process. Once the gunk is removed, you can then use a mineral oil-soaked cotton ball, hydrogen peroxide solution or an ear-cleaning solution to wipe the insides. Use scissors to trim the fur around the years in an upright manner. However, we must warn you not to do this process too frequently as it can irritate the skin inside the ears.
Stripping the Fur
Traditionally a Westie used to be hand stripped, but modern day owners and groomers fear the process as they do not want to hurt the adorable little dogs.
The process basically removes the old dead fur to replace it with new healthy fur. If the hair follicles are clogged, they could result in skin problems such as dermatitis, yeast infections and other allergies.
Stripping is much popular among show dog owners as it helps produce a coarse wavy coat. We suggest a groomer, or you if you're grooming yourself, only strip the coat after your dog is bathed and blown dry. This makes the dead fur come out much easily and you are less likely to hurt your furry little friend. Another option is using a stripping knife, brush to remove all tangles and knots before using it.
Some groomers suggest that stripping should be a part of your regular grooming routine, if you don't remove the dead fur you may have to end up stripping all the way down to the undercoat. This will leave your Westie looking bare, hence a must avoid.
Trimming
Without a doubt you have to regularly trim your little pooch to avoid dragging and discomfort as well as maintain a tidy appearance.
Use a stripping knife to trim ears, such as behind the ears, about 5cm, and shoulders in a downward manner. Follow this by using a clipper with a blade of the desired length and running it from the back of the neck down the tail. Keep combing to spot any un-trimmed stray hair. Level lines from the elbows and take it down to the pelvis such that it forms a skirt. Blend the skirt into the body using thinning shears, use the same shears to trim the ears, and hold and point them upright before you snip them. Trim the area between the eyes to remove enough hair to reveal them.
To trim the tail, you can use stripping knives, hand plucking, or thinning shears, whichever you're more comfortable using. Trim the area under the tail as well, especially around the anus, and make sure to follow the direction of hair growth. Some owners ask for their Westie's legs to be snipped up to 10 cm in a downward-facing blend with a shortened around the bottom. If your Westie has hair under their belly or between their legs, you can have it clipped with a no.10 blade, starting from the chest to the stomach and have it blend into the genital area.
Trim/Clip your pooch before bathing and then follow with a blow-dry brushing through the coat.
MIDI Trimmers, featuring a medium-width blade of approximately 4 cm, are a popular choice for first-time clippers, ideal for all-over grooming of a Westie puppy while their coat is still thin and easy to trim. They can later be used as a precision trimmer on the adult coat.
Avoid using “skip tooth” blades. Skip tooth blades are those that have wider teeth. Avoid these blades because they can cut your Westie, especially on delicate areas such as the legs, and furminators are to be avoided always.
Do not use clippers on the head; it should always be trimmed with scissors. This needs to be done more frequently to maintain their ease and distinctive looks.
Nails and Teeth
Of course the grooming process is to be completed by trimming their nails using dog clippers and regular brushing of their teeth using a dog tooth paste.
CONCLUSION
To summarise, grooming a West Highland Terrier is an important aspect of their well-being, which includes their health, comfort, and appearance. Their double coat has a wiry outer layer and soft cotton-like under layer, which needs regular brushing to prevent matting, reduce shedding and maintain the fur, including its colour. Grooming helps keep the coat clean and aids their hygiene by removing gunk, debris and dirt. It helps detect akin-related problems and regulates their body temperature.
Use of proper tools, such the right clipper, brushed and scissors is mandatory. Techniques such as hand-stripping are to learnt and then implied for coat maintenance. Additionally, one must maintain their nails, ears and teeth to keep them infection free and in top notch condition. Consistent grooming routines will keep your Westie pristine and promote their aid to their long term health.
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