Bathing
When you first bathe your pup, make sure the house is warm. Puppies can lose body temperature quickly. While bathing, wash his face last. By this time he has adjusted to the experience. They get calmer the more you bathe. Be patient!  Avoid getting shampoo in his eyes and try to keep water out of his ears. If necessary, put cotton balls in his ears. Unless your pup has been rolling in something he shouldn’t have, pups should not be bathed very often. Any surface dirt can be left to dry and brushed out, without the need for a bath. I have found an emu shampoo that is good for Westies if you shampoo often. Towel dry your pup as quickly as possible. You may also use a hair dryer, but be careful not to burn him!

Some say you should never bathe your pup because they say that you wash out the inner coat and protective oils leaving him more susceptible to skin problems that cause unpleasant odors. However, for years we have bathed our Westies every week to 10 days and have never had a problem. We use Bio-Groom Super Whitening Shampoo, especially for the face, because it is “tearless”. This shampoo is hypoallergenic. We think the coat is softer and healthier looking when bathed often. Just be sure to use the right shampoo and rinse, rinse, and then rinse again!

If he has a skin problem see your vet immediately.

Nails/Paw Care
It is very important to check the paws and nails weekly. The hair should be trimmed between the paws and nails. I have found that a Dremel Tool is the best way to trim nails rather than a typical nail clipper. Our dogs tolerate the Dremel Tool better than typical nail clippers however, it is a power tool and should be used with caution. You can begin as a pup and there is no problem at all in getting them to tolerate this chore. Always have a small treat ready afterwards.

Tip: since their paws are full of hair, you can dampen the feet so you can pull back the hair easier and then hold each individual nail while trimming your pups nails with any tool.