The shape of a Westie's sitter log
A care log for a West Highland White Terrier with a sitter in charge has to serve a small dog with a large sense of purpose: measured meals and times, water, toilet breaks, walks, skin and ear checks, health care already directed by the vet, house rules, emergency contacts, and a daily record. Westies are cheerful and self-reliant, which tempts owners to write a thin log, but the breed's sensitive skin and determined hunting streak mean the useful detail sits in the health and garden sections rather than in feeding times.
Feeding rules and why new treats stay out
Feeding notes for a West Highland White Terrier should give the food, the measured amount per meal, and the times, and then add a rule that matters more for this breed than most: no new foods, treats, or table scraps beyond what is written, however persuasive the dog is. Many Westies react to dietary changes with itchy skin or an upset stomach, and a sitter who experiments kindly at lunchtime can undo a carefully settled routine by the weekend. Note the water bowl's position and refills, and the toilet pattern: first thing out, after meals, after excitement, and before bed, with the reminder that a Westie distracted by a scent may forget the purpose of a garden visit, so the sitter waits rather than letting him straight back in.
Skin and ear checks written as daily tasks
Skin care is the section a Westie care log must schedule rather than mention. Write the checks as daily tasks: a quick look at the belly, armpits, and paws for redness or licking, a note of how much scratching happened that day, and a check inside the ears for redness, smell, or head shaking. If the vet has already set a bathing or skin-care routine, describe it exactly as directed and tell the sitter not to substitute other products or add home remedies, because with a Westie's reactive skin the wrong bath can start the very flare everyone is avoiding. Give the call threshold in plain terms: scratching that breaks the skin, a hot or smelly ear, bald patches appearing, or itching that keeps him awake at night means phoning you, and the vet if you cannot be reached.
Walks, digging, and terrier security
Exercise notes for a West Highland White Terrier should cover his regular walks, the routes he enjoys, and his play, pitched at a sturdy small dog who likes a job: sniffing games and garden exploration tire him as honestly as distance does. Security rules follow from the breed's original work: a Westie was bred to go after things underground, so the log should tell the sitter to check the fence line for digging, keep gates latched, and supervise garden time rather than assuming a small white dog will stay put. Recall near roads or wildlife is not to be trusted, so lead rules go in writing, along with the warning that he will bark importantly at visitors and squirrels alike and that this commentary is normal for him.
Contacts and the sitter's daily entries
Contacts for a Westie sitter log run you first, then a nearby backup, the regular vet, and the out-of-hours service, with the groomer added if a coat trim or a skin-soothing bath already booked falls inside the stay. The sitter's daily record should note meals and whether the no-extras rule held, toilet breaks, walks, scratching levels, skin and ear check results, digging attempts, and general mood, each with a time. Across a stay those entries build a skin diary, genuinely useful at the next vet conversation about his itching. Storing the log in KinsLe Care Pass gives your sitter temporary, clear access to this Westie's routine and care details while you are away.