Outdoors, the Westie can be a capable little hunting dog: agile, smart, and full of spirit. Indoors, it has all the qualities people expect from a pet dog: loyalty, understanding, liveliness, and devotion. Many people love the Westie because of its endurance. It does not ask for excessive pampering, and it loves playing in water, rolling in snow, and following people around. It is energetic and seems rarely to get tired.
Main Feeding and Care Points
When raising a Westie, you must make sure it gets enough exercise every day and has regular outdoor activity. Its white coat is one of the breed's most beautiful features, so daily brushing is necessary. However, bathing should not be too frequent, or the coat oils will be washed away and the shine of the coat will suffer.
The Westie is carnivorous by ancestry. Its forebears lived by hunting small animals and occasionally eating plant foods such as tubers to fill the stomach. After long domestication by humans, the breed became more omnivorous, though meat still remains an important part of its natural food preference.
Things to Pay Attention to When Raising a Westie
Even though the Westie is small, it is active enough that its exercise needs should never be ignored. After exercise, it can drink more water, and once it has rested for a while, some pet treats can be given as a reward. Training a Westie is considered relatively difficult, so owners need more time and patience in education. Many people raise Westies because of the thick, beautiful coat, which means they must be willing to groom it carefully.
When bathing, owners must never use their own shampoo or body wash. Dog-specific products are required. The dog's ears also need regular care, and owners should not stop cleaning simply because the dog looks uncomfortable when ear hair is plucked. Brushing the teeth, controlling internal and external parasites, and taking care of these small routine tasks are all necessary if the dog is to grow up healthy.
The Westie is small and does not require a large living space, so it adapts very well to city life. For a family, its lively personality makes it a very pleasant companion. It is therefore an excellent breed for household living. The main disadvantage is that its white, beautiful coat needs daily attention, so it may not be suitable for people who are too busy to give it enough time.