Highland terrier westie dogs can make great pets or show dogs as long as you care for and train them properly. These are small dogs, but they act like they are big dogs. There are a number of things you need to do in order to keep them happy and healthy.

One of the more important things that these dogs need is exercise. Highland terrier westie dogs are very active, and although they can get a lot of exercise through play, they will still need to have a daily walk. They can be happy living in apartments as long as they get plenty of exercise both indoors and outdoors. It is nice if there is an enclosed area where they can play outside off of their leash, like a large yard or dog park.

Training is another important part of the care of any dog. It is important that it is made clear to the highland terrier westie that you are the pack leader. You don\’t want to use yelling and reprimands as way of training this type of dog however. They should be taught the basic commands (sit, stay, heel, down, and come), they should be house trained, and they should be leash trained at a minimum.

Although these dogs have a short coat and don\’t really shed a lot, you still need to brush them at least every other day, preferrably daily. This redistributes the oils from their skin and also cleans their coat. They need to be bathed rarely, and when they are it is necessary to use very gentle soap. Every few months they need to be clipped or stripped, and they need their coat trimmed in between clippings.

It is necessary to provide these dogs with a lot of companionship, exercise, and a clear idea of what they can and cannot do or else your highland terrier westie might start to exhibit behavior problems. They like to bark and dig, and they will sometimes chase after other small pets and animals if you do not make it clear to them that these behaviors are not acceptable. You also have to be on the lookout for small dog syndrome since this might also become a problem for westies.