West Highland White Terrier
A West Highland White Terrier has a hard, wiry coat. It is meant to feel rough. Clipping makes it soft and lighter in colour, and it stays that way. Hand stripping keeps it hard. Most Westies come in every ten weeks.
- Coat type
- Wire
- Groom every
- 10 weeks
- Brushing at home
- Line brush twice a week
- Shedding
- Very little while the coat is stripped
- Watch for
- Grass seeds in the skirt and feet
- Time in the salon
- About 85 minutes for a Full Groom
Why the coat feels rough
The Westie coat has two parts. The outer hair is harsh. Under it is a short, soft layer. Dogs NSW says the coat should be regularly hand stripped so it stays a hard coat. Hand stripping means taking the dead outer hair out by hand, a few at a time. The new hair that grows in is harsh again. Clipping cuts the same hair instead, and the soft layer takes over.
Why ten weeks
Ten weeks fits the way the coat grows. Stripped hair comes out when it is ready, not before. Come too late and the coat is blown and dull. Come too early and there is little to take. We check the coat at the door and tell you which it is. White coats also show everything. Pink skin, rubbed patches and stained feet all stand out. We tell you what we can see and send you to your vet.
If your Westie has been clipped for years, the coat may not come back hard. We will tell you what we can do.
Home care between grooms
- Line brush twice a week. Hold the coat up with one hand and brush a thin line at a time, working out from the skin. Then comb through the beard, the skirt and the legs.
- The skirt picks up grass seeds and mud. Check it after every walk in long grass.
- Wash the beard and feet with plain water after meals and walks. Dry them properly afterwards.
Line brushing, shown by iGroomHub, our partner. This is how our groomers brush, and it is the way to do it at home.
What you need at home
- Steel comb
Run it down to the skin. If it stops, you have found a knot.
- Slicker brush
This is the brush you line brush with. Follow it with the comb.
- Shampoo and conditioner
Use a plain shampoo and go easy on conditioner, which softens a wiry coat. Our range is made with chemists: 100% natural, vegan and palm oil free.
What we do for Westies at WOOOF
Most Westies book a Full Groom. That is a bath, a dry, ears, nails and the coat finished the way you choose. It takes about 85 minutes. Ask for Hand stripping if you want the coat kept hard. It is slower work than a clipped finish. If your Westie is clipped, we keep the same shape and schedule.
What a West Highland White Terrier groom costs
Set to a small dog with a wire coat. Hand stripping takes longer than a clipped finish, so tell us which one you want when you book.
Showing the lowest prices, for a small dog with a wire coat. Pick your dog’s weight and coat to see their price.
Add to any service
- Teeth Brush$30
- Nail Trim$25
- Nail filing$15
- DemattingFrom $34quoted on arrival
- DesheddingFrom $34quoted on arrival
Specialist grooming and programmes
Grooming that is priced after a conversation, a consultation, a coat assessment or a programme rather than a standard slot.
Happy Puppy Club
Short, positive sessions that teach a puppy the salon is a good place, so their whole grooming life is easier. Start any time from their first vaccinations.
See how the club works →
Spa treatments
Hydrospa and therapeutic treatments for coat, skin and muscular health, for itchy skin, dull coats, and older dogs who feel their walks the next day.
Browse treatments →
Hand stripping
Terriers and Spaniels whose coats are better hand stripped, or stripped and clipped. Duration and price depend on the coat.
Talk to our team →
Asian freestyle groom
Soft, sculpted, toy-like styling by an award-winning stylist: rounded faces, fuller legs, even braids. For smaller dense or curly coats groomed every 4 weeks.
Talk to our team →Cancellations and late arrivals
Please give us 24 hours if plans change. Arriving more than 15 minutes late may mean we cannot finish the groom booked.
Safe handling fee
A $30 safe handling fee applies where a dog needs two groomers or extra time to stay safe and comfortable. We always call you first.
Ready when you are
You’re 2 minutes away from happiness. Our booking portal helps you select the right services for your dog and shows you live calendar availability.
Book nowService prices are a starting point. The exact price is confirmed at drop-off, based on grooming time, coat condition, size and any extra handling. Add-on prices are exact.
Common questions
How often does a West Highland White Terrier need grooming?
Every ten weeks. That is roughly how long the hard outer hair takes to be ready to strip out.
What is hand stripping?
We take the dead outer hair out by hand, a few at a time, so the new hair grows back harsh. Dogs NSW says regular hand stripping is what keeps a Westie coat hard.
Where this comes from
Dogs NSW, West Highland White Terrier. "Its coat should be regularly hand-stripped to ensure it stays a 'hard coat'."
RSPCA South Australia, The complete guide to grooming your dog. Poodles, poodle crosses and wiry haired terriers need regular combing. Trapped hair can cause ear and eye infections.
RSPCA Australia, Why and how should I groom my dog? Brush knots out before they turn into mats.
PetSure, Pet Health Monitor 2026. Ear infections in adult dogs cost $473 on average to treat.
WOOOF groomers are not vets. We tell you what we see on the table and send you to your vet. Nothing here is vet advice.