"Breeders" who are effing clueless when you talk to them!

I've owned westies for most of my life, and I'm in a position now that I can think about owning one again (in a comfortable position with my flat and things like that,) so I decided to contact a few breeders through the kennel clubs website. I figured that the breeders there, because they KC register, must know what they're doing at least slightly.

Hardly any of the breeders even knew what I was talking about when I mentioned hip scoring, they ummed and ahed about the subject of health/eye tests, didn't seem to know what endorsing a litter meant, and the subject of how far the dam's lines went back was met with a stunned silence. I even had one that had to ask me what a dam was! It's a mother dog you *&^)*&!

If I could just find a westie breeder in Scotland that knew what they were talking about I would be happy, but no such luck!

Check this site:
West Highland White Terrier Breeders

I am shocked that the breeders didnt know what a dam was....or could answer how far back the pedigree's went.

Thanks Shetlandlover, I had a look and may contact a few of the breeders featured. Hopefully they might know what they're doing.

Shame the KC dont have some sort of requirement, you have to know what a dam is surely!

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Good lord.... I know how hard it is though, trying to find a decent breeder in Scotland.... It's taken me a year, finally found mine though Have you contacted all of them? I went on champdogs and went through the regions, Scotland, then NE etc. until I found the right one. I went through every single long coat GSD breeder and didn't find a single reputable one though lol! Short coat breeder it is

Good luck finding a nice healthy pup! x

I'm not a Westie breeder (as is probably obvious by my username),and over the year's I've bred some Ridgie litters (hip scored parents and now I'm elbow scoring my dogs too, and I do endorse the KC registrations of my puppies, and I know what a dam is ) but I wouldn't be sure exactly what you meant by the question I've put in red. Do you mean how far back can they trace the pedigree or perhaps how far back the breeder's affix appears in the pedigree? Perhaps you could explain what you mean?

Someone at obedience (who plans on breeding!) ask if Blu is a breeding dog. Told them no he hasn't been used at stud yet so isn't proven. I just got met by a blank face. Mentioned health testing to them and yet another blank face. Trynig to help educate them but they don't seem to want help!

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Some people are hopeless even if you try to educate them. If you're going to breed an animal you should know as much about them as possible. Or at least know basic breeding terms

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"A dog is not "almost human," and I know of no greater insult to the canine race than to describe it as such."
John Holmes

Owned by Buster cairn terrier mix and Leo netherland dwarf mix bunny

Oh the joys of finding a decent breeder in a world of terrible ones.......

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I'm just glad when I was looking I could talk to people who already had the breed who could recommend breeders. Made it so much easier and they're not a hugely popular breed anyway not like westies

Are there any westie forums you can go on to ask about breeders? That way you could talk to people who own dogs from those lines and find out who are good breeders and who to avoid

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"A dog is not "almost human," and I know of no greater insult to the canine race than to describe it as such."
John Holmes

Owned by Buster cairn terrier mix and Leo netherland dwarf mix bunny