Westiepoo Grooming

The Westiepoo is a hybrid mix of a West Highland White Terrier (medium to long, wavy coat) and a Poodle (shorter, curlier coat). Though some Westiepoos can have coats more like one or the other parent, most are somewhere in between: medium in length and wavy, with perhaps a bit of curl. In any case, overall Westiepoo grooming will take a moderate amount of work.

Here you'll find details on maintaining the Westiepoo coat, including plenty of info on brushing and bathing. You'll also get descriptions of popular hairstyles. For answers to your questions about Westiepoo grooming and coat care, see the following sections!

Overall Westiepoo grooming will take a moderate amount of time--and much of the work will involve the maintenance of these hybrids' wavy to curly coats.

Since both its parent breeds need pretty frequent brushing, a Westiepoo will need that too (an average of 3-4 times per week) to keep the coat looking its best, and to minimize the development of tangles or mats. Use either a pin or slicker brush to go through the coat section by section, brushing in the direction of hair growth. If you do encounter a tangle, first try working it out with your fingers, then if needed continue working through it with the end teeth of a greyhound comb.

A Westiepoo bath will need to happen every 4-6 weeks--unless, of course, the dog gets especially dirty or stinky and an "emergency bath" is in order. When bathing a Westiepoo, be sure to use canine shampoo, as the kind made for humans has a different pH and can irritate the dog's skin. Also take the time to rinse the shampoo completely from the coat; leftover soap residue will cause further skin irritation.

Lighter-colored Westiepoos may also develop tear stains--which, while naturally occurring and painless, can look quite unsightly, and will need to be cleaned with a tear stain remover solution.

And these dogs' wavy coats are capable of sporting a number of attractive hairstyles. (See the Styling & Haircuts section below for descriptions of popular Westiepoo haircuts.)

Though it's possible for owners to learn all aspects of Westiepoo grooming themselves, a lot of people rely on professional groomers for major tasks like bathing and haircuts. In any case, it's a good idea to take your Westiepoo to a pro at least once. The groomer can give the dog a nice makeover, and provide tips on how to groom a Westiepoo at home.

These hybrids' wavy to curly coats make a lot of Westiepoo haircuts possible. Depending on the style, your Westiepoo cut will need a touch-up about every three months.

Some popular Westiepoo grooming styles:

• Puppy Cut: A pretty low-maintenance style. For the Westiepoo Puppy Cut, the entire coat is clipped short (to about two inches). Some people like to leave the hair on the face, head, ears, and legs a bit longer. Can be done at home with some practice.
• Show Cut: This style leaves most of the length, but takes some precision. The hair on the body and legs is scissor-trimmed and thinned out to reduce its volume; the hair on the face, head, and ears is rounded and shaped. Best done by a groomer.
• Teddy Bear Cut: Similar to a Puppy Cut. The hair on the body is clipped short, but the hair on the legs, face, and head is carefully rounded and sculpted to make the dog resemble an adorable stuffed animal. Probably best done by a groomer.
• Town and Country Cut: This style is more for Westiepoos with curly, Poodle-like coats. The body is clipped short, but the legs are left longer and shaped into a cylindrical pattern. The hair on the face, head, ears, and tail is rounded and teased out. Definitely needs a groomer's touch.