Although the Westie is small, it often has a big personality, and training can be difficult without the help of treats. Even so, owners must clearly remember the relationship between main food and snacks. Treats are only a supplement to dog food. If too many snacks are given, the dog may become picky or even suffer from poor nutrition.
In daily feeding, dog food should remain the main staple. Good professional dog foods are now nutritionally complete, palatable, and well balanced, so under normal circumstances the dog's main daily diet should be kibble. Owners can occasionally prepare a small homemade meal, but it should always stay low in oil, low in salt, and low in sugar, because these things are harmful to a dog's health. Treats should be limited and mainly reserved for training rewards. If too many are given, the dog may become very fussy and stop eating normal dog food well. Sweets such as gum, ice cream, or cake should be avoided as much as possible because they can contribute to tooth decay, obesity, stomach upset, and reduced appetite for regular meals.
When changing dog food, never switch all at once. Mix in half of the new food at first, try that for two or three days, then increase the proportion gradually. Over seven to ten days, the old food can be replaced entirely. This gives the Westie's digestive system time to adjust and greatly reduces the chance of diarrhea. At the same time, the dog must always have enough clean water available during feeding.
Some owners try to save money or trouble by buying food meant for large breeds even though the dog is a small breed, or by buying cheaper adult food for a puppy. This is not a good idea. It may fail to meet the dog's nutritional needs and also cause poor digestion and illness. Westie dog food should therefore be chosen according to the breed's body size and life stage.
Of the points above, the hardest for many owners is actually the first one: balancing dog food and treats. Many people spoil their dogs with too many snacks, but this is bad for healthy growth. Nutritional balance, fixed feeding times, fixed feeding amounts, and only occasional rewards are the real core of feeding a Westie well.