Hi

More advice needed please from you Westie experts.

Lucy is beginning to eat better now and settle in.

Now, I am ignorant about hairy little dogs like her. Looking at pictures of show Westies in books they seem to have long silky coats. Lucy has a shortish curly coat and looks like a lamb! She is quite hairy about the head. So are there two sorts of Westie coats, shortish and curly like Lucy's and long and silkier? Or is it to do with clipping and grooming?

I would like to know the following:

a) How often should she go to the grooming parlour? She looks as her coat etc could do with some attention but is it too cold?

b) I have bought all the grooming stuff and am doing my best. Despite my trying to be ever so gentle she does NOT like it and hides under the stairs. I've bought (can't remember name) little wire type thing (sold for Westies), brush and special comb. Is there anything one could spray on to the coat (like conditioner?). I spray special stuff on my horse Humphrey, mane and tail to help brush go through more smoothly!

Any tips and advice much appreciated.

Sixpence

Hi
I'm no Westie expert by any shape or form but there are a couple of people who use the site that are and i'm sure they will pick up on your questions soon.
My Westie (Buddy) is a bit of a mixed bag. His coat is mainly smooth but on his rump and backs of his hind legs it becomes more kinked but not exactly curly. He too does not like being groomed which is a shame cause he looks so gorgeous. I try to give him a good brush every 2nd or 3rd day but he needs lots of treats and patience on my part. He's booked in for a professional grooming session tomorrow as it happens. I read somewhere that Westies need trimming at least 4 times a year.
Hope someone knowledgable answers your questions soon.
Budmag