Terrier Club Rescue Forum A Terrier Question  From:  Message: Barbara January 07 at 18:45 A Terrier Question I adopted a mixed bred terrier from a rescue group, which rescues many different kinds of pups. I am trying to find out which breed may possibly have this to learn more about the breed. Our puppy is a mixed terrier, looks like a westie, West Highland white terrier, poodle and possibly a cairn but honestly she is a variety probably of several terrier breeds. She is a wonderful puppy. My question is an unusual one I am looking to find information on in my search and hope you can provide a suggestion: We have owned goldens for years that as you know are longhaired, but not a dog with a wiry coat type. Our puppy that thoroughly is enjoying her first winter loves the snow here in IL, which is great. The problem is when she comes in every single bit of snow she has touched attaches to each part of her coat, but primarily around her nose, legs and entire under belly- while this may not seem usual in my description- it is the most unusual thing I have ever seen being a dog owner all my life- as she needs to be brushed to remove the mass of snow balls which collect on every part of her referenced body. The snow just seems to be a magnet to her. I joke with my children that she appears to be part goat as the fur, like one of my flocati carpets, seems to be of the same texture. Again, this may sound funny, however it takes close to 30 minutes to remove the snow from her fur, to towel her dry to ensure she does not catch cold. Do you know of any terrier breed with a similar type of coat that this happens to? Does any member know of anything like this with any type of terrier breed? I am planning on buying her a dog coat and reversing it to protect her underside and hopefully I will find one that covers her legs as well. Would appreciate any info you can provide describing any terrier breed having this issue. Thank you Barbara bsarris25@hotmail.com Brenda January 07 at 19:24 Re: A Terrier Question Sounds like you have a terrier for sure!!! Many people will put their westies in a crate with a warm, fluffy towel. This will get the snow off and will dry her all at the same time. If you don't use a crate then just put a towel or blanket out for her and she'll probably roll around and get all that snow out all by herself!! Brenda Barbara January 07 at 19:50 Re: A Terrier Question Brenda, Thanks for your reply. Is it unusual for the snow to cling, attach and mat up with it seems a million snow balls which even seem to get inside the layers of her wirey fur. I have never seen anything like this and I have owned dogs all my life. Is this common for all terrier types or is one terrier or a few terriers more prone to this ? The idea of wrapping her up in a towel and putting her in the crate sounds fine, but the snow balls are so bad and so many I don't want to leave them on her in case she gets chilled. She is only a puppy. Barbara Denise and the Iowa Girls January 07 at 19:49 Re: A Terrier Question Your right thats a terrier for sure I have a westie and a cairn (and a foster cairn right now) and we got 15 inches of snow they love it but they are caked with it. I have put them in thier crates with a towel also but they really would rather run. so I do my best towel drying them then let them go I finally decided (took me a while to get there)that it is clean snow so it shouldn't hurt anything and it drys... Good luck Eve January 07 at 19:55 Re: A Terrier Question I have a Westie with a very soft coat, she brings all the snow from outside into the house. Using towels don't work with her, I have to put her in the tub of warm water and rince the snow off, takes maybe 2 minutes and then I dry her with a dryer. I have always done this after I had a Westie get swollen tonsils. Barbara January 07 at 20:03 Re: A Terrier Question You are so right- towels do not work. My younger son suggested puting her in a warm tub but never seriously considered doing this. Believe I may need to as I am concerned about her getting chilled. I have never seen anything like this before. Jokingly, we now call her "Nanook" of the Arctic when she comes inside ! She looks like she's been in the deep freeze when she comes back inside after only being out there for 10 minutes ! Do you put your dog in a warm tub several times a day after coming in and was her skin ok ? Barbara Eve January 07 at 20:16 Re: A Terrier Question I would say about 3 maybe 4 times a day when we have snow because she just loves it. But I make sure she is very dry and never let her out for at least two hours after she is totaly dry. I also don't use any shampoo, just warm water and so for her skin is fine. Barbara January 07 at 21:14 Re: A Terrier Question Eve, I tried your suggestion and it worked like a charm-only with warm water-- really appreciated your thoughtfull reply because you are right, the toweling did nothing to remove the zillion and one snow balls. Thank you very much. I will remember not to put her out for at least a couple of hours, but it was very good to hear you do this severla times a day without any problems arising to the your dogs skin. Whatever she is, she is a little character and one we are very happy to have found to join our family- now if only I could get the housebreaking down while she is loose in the house with the chidlren and other pets! I have a crate I use when we are out, but sometimes she even goes in there- she is about 5 months old give or take a couple of week. Any issues you have had with housebreaking? thanks Mary January 07 at 22:09 Re: A Terrier Question that is a terrier for sure. as I live in North Carolina we don't get the snow like other places. When we do I rub her with a towel and usually wind up siting there and slowly working them out. the snowballs gather all around and poor thngs have a hard time walking, but sure do love being out there. We usually have that problem when we visit my Dad up in New York Nancy and D Gang January 07 at 22:56 Re: A Terrier Question I use a pin brush and comb out the snow balls when they come in and also use leggy fleece coats to decrease the snow balls. Hope you find what works for you all! Lynda and the Minkies January 08 at 06:58 Re: A Terrier Question How nice of you to save her. She sounds just lovely...I don't live where we get extreme snow but looking at snow photos of terriers they usually always have lots of snowballs. Try dipping her in a warmish bowl of water when she comes in, then towel dry her !! XXX. john / irene TOBY January 08 at 08:01 Re: A Terrier Question Hi Barbara We see many pictures of the terriers With lots of snowballs attatched to them Glad you got the advice you were looking for Sounds like she is having fun in the snow John / irene TOBY Pam and pups January 08 at 09:32 Re: A Terrier Question Oh yes, you have got a terrier on your hands! We have two Westies and the one with the soft hair has the biggest issue with the snowballs sticking to her hair. So as bad as it sounds ot most here, I try to keep her in a modified puppy cut during the winter so it does not take so long to do all of the above all the time. I do find that putting a fleece sweatshirt type thing on her helps a lot. She loves the out of doors! Pam and pups From the Frozen Tundra (Wisconsin) Barbara January 08 at 14:05 Re: A Terrier Question Thanks to everyone for their replies. As this is the first time we have ever owned a terrier breed dog, it was terrific to receive everyone's help and advice. What definitely worked for us, was placeing her in the kitchen sink with the warm water spray, which immediately melted the zillions of smallballs attached and entwined in her fur---then drying her. I had tried the wire brush but it did not work as effectively as the warm water. This was the solution we were looking for. Will ask another question in a new message also. Thanks to everyone ! B.

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