What are the sleeping habits of the Westie?

West Highland White Terriers, like many breeds, need more sleep than humans to stay healthy. During a twenty-four hour period, these energetic pooches require a minimum of thirteen hours of sleep in order to get enough rest. However, they will easily adapt to their family’s sleeping habits, often sleeping most of the night when their humans are sleeping. In addition to this sleep, the West Highland White Terrier will take several naps during the day. New Westie owners can train their dogs to learn good sleeping habits, and with the right information, they can determine when their Westie is sleeping too much.

Where your Westie will sleep is an important part of his training and education. The place you choose for your Westie to sleep should be a safe haven for your pet, where he can retreat after an energetic play session or for the night. Highly recommended by Westie fans, crate training will appeal to the dog’s natural den instinct. Some owners prefer to place the crate inside a playpen, so the Westie has a safe place to play and an area to sleep in peace. Others simply use the crate as a safe place for the dog to stay while alone or taking a nap.

It is very important not to use the cage as a form of punishment, since no pet will consider it a safe haven if they associate it with the place they have to go when they have done something wrong. The box itself should be large enough to be comfortable but not stuffy, and it should have plenty of soft padding. When used correctly, the crate will provide your Westie with a place where he will go to sleep, and it will also provide a way to transport him from one place to another safely.

Some Westie owners prefer that their West Highland White Terrier sleep with them in the bedroom. Although there is nothing wrong with this choice, it may be a good idea to give your pet his own bed on the floor near yours. This principle is the same as creating: giving your dog a safe place to go when he needs to take a nap or be alone for a while. Closing the bedroom door at night will prevent your Westie from wandering around the house at night and will teach him to sleep at night, rather than wander.

It’s not unusual for West Highland White Terriers to shed easily after a vigorous round of play, so your pet will certainly want to take a nap. However, sleeping too much can be a sign that something is wrong. Continuous sleepiness, combined with general weakness or lack of appetite, can be symptoms of medical problems, such as autoimmune disorders or cancer. Reputable breeders do everything in their power to weed out Westies that can carry dangerous diseases, so not all Westies will develop medical problems. However, if you suspect your Westie is sleeping too much and may have a medical problem, a visit to the vet for a complete checkup should be in the near future.