West Highland Terrier dog breed

Puppies should be fed three to four times a day so they can get enough nutrients and calories to grow strong and healthy. Their small tummies can’t handle big meals, but once they reach full size you can reduce mealtimes to twice per day and increase the portion size. 

Westies can be fussy eaters,  so finding a kibble or wet food your dog likes will make mealtimes more enjoyable. The recommended portion sizes will be printed on the packaging. Make sure to give your dog the right amount of food for its weight and try to avoid giving your Westie too many treats, which could put them off their food. 

Westies have a double coat, meaning the undercoat is short and close to the body to regulate their temperature, and the outercoat is longer and coarser to provide protection from the elements. A weekly brush with a grooming mitt or brush should help keep their coat shiny and tangle-free, and prevent their fur shedding around the house. 

Although small, West Highland Terriers still have plenty of energy. As working dogs, they were bred to be active and to dig . This can be a problem if your garden isn’t secure, and something to watch out for in public parks. If you’re able to, Westies love nothing more than hunting for buried treasure – a sandpit can give them an outlet for this activity without damaging your plants. Hide some treats or toys in there to keep them entertained for hours.  

Aside from digging, Westies can be walked for 60-90 minutes each day, broken up into several trips. They will be happy on or off lead, but if you’re letting them roam in a public place make sure they have strong recall to prevent them from getting up to mischief. 

Quick to learn and eager to please, Westies pick up training fast. Clicker training is particularly effective with West Highland Terriers as they respond well to praise. 

While smaller breeds might not be as difficult to handle as larger dogs, untrained Westies can bark a lot. Socialisation from a young age will help them learn to behave around other dogs without reacting by barking. 

In Westies, the ear canal can become irritated  by outside objects like grass seeds, parasites or other allergens. This can cause inflammation of the ear canal. You will notice your dog itching its ears and shaking its head more frequently. The inside of the ear will look red and inflamed and may smell bad. Treatments like ear drops and antibiotics can help to clear up the condition, but if left untreated it may become chronic and require continuous medication. 

Westies can also suffer from eye conditions:

• Dry eye, when the dog’s tear ducts fail to produce enough to keep the eyes moist, can result in itchy and red eyes. 
• Corneal ulceration is caused by dust or dirt scratching the surface of the eye. This can be exacerbated by your dog itching its eyes. 
• Cherry eye is an unsightly condition where the tear duct pops out of the eyelid, forming a red lump inside the eye socket. 

When the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin, the dog’s body is unable to regulate sugar and fat metabolism. Westies are more prone to the condition. It can be managed with regular injections or insulin. Preventing your dog from becoming overweight can also lessen the likelihood of the condition developing. 

The most common cause of repeated seizures in Border Terriers is idiopathic epilepsy. Seizures can last between one and three minutes - some dogs can have several seizures a day, while others have one every few months or years.

Idiopathic epilepsy is a genetic lifelong condition that can affect dogs between six months and six years old. While there is unfortunately no cure, in most cases it can be well managed with medication.