Does your Westie need a dog house? He may not need it but he would probably like it. Even if you live in an apartment a small doghouse on your balcony could do a lot to improve your dog’s frame of mind.
Having a good doghouse can make a real difference in west highland terrier grooming. Giving the dog a place to get out of the weather can cut down the difficulties you may be experiencing keeping your Westie looking good. Westies usually love being outside, but this exposes them to mud and other things that make for mats and discoloration. Dog houses are a valuable counter-measure you can take to avoid this.
Another thing you can do to make grooming your Westie easier is to buy dog clothes. Don’t just get cute little outfits, though. Find dog clothes that will actually stand up to some abuse, that last and that don’t cost too much. Don’t fall for the cute factor. Price and durability are much more important than appearance, believe me.
So, what should you look for in dog house for Westies? This may surprise you, but one of the most important factor is that it have a flat roof. That’s right, a flat roof. The reason for this is that Westies love to perch on something and survey their domain. Whether you expect it or not, he’s going to wind up on the roof as much as inside. In fact, sometimes a simple little sleeping platform will do the trick without going to all the trouble of getting a full-fledged doghouse.
So, by that standard, the worst doghouse you could get is the round Dogloo type. They are really nice, and I like the looks of them, but there’s no flat spot for the dog to lie, and they are slippery to boot, so that kind of dog doesn’t work for a West Highland Terrier no matter how much I like them.
Flat roof is definitely the way to go, but that doesn’t mean that it has to be horizontal. That kind of roof will leak very soon if its exposed to the weather. A nice gentle slope is needed to get good drainage. Enough slope to shed water, but not so steep that the dog has trouble lying on it. That’s the ticket.
If you have the room anywhere, I’d highly recommend purchasing or building a good doghouse. Follow the guidelines I laid out here and your dog will thank you.
