PUPPIES

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Purchasing a West Highland White Terrier from a quality breeder often requires being put on a waiting list. If you would like to be added to (or removed from) the waiting list for puppies from my Westies, please Click Here and type "Waiting List" in the subject line.

You can also call me at 732-604-7746.

Please Note that Being on the Waiting List is not a Guarantee for a puppy.

Please contact me to find out where you can meet my Westies, as we attend many shows and events.

Questions You Should Ask in Trying to Find a Reputable Breeder:

1. Does the Breeder belong to a Breed Club (National, Local, All-Breed..) ?

2. How long have they been involved with the Breed?

3. Do they have more than two breeds that they breed? (Reputable Breeders usually focus on one or two breeds to improve the Standard of Conformation, Health & Temperment)

4. Do the Parents have Conformation, Obedience, Working, Agility, or other titles?
(Quality dogs are usually working or have obtained a title.)

5. How does the Breeder choose their Breeding Stock? What qualifications are required of a stud dog?
(Was the Stud dog one that they just had on hand and used because there was no stud fee or did the Breeder search and make an educated decision on which stud was the right one that would improve the Conformation and Bloodline of the Breeding Female)

6. Can the Breeder provide pictures and information on the parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins of the puppies?

7. Do the parents have both OFA (www.offa.org) and CERF (www.vmdb.org) certifications for health?

8. Ask the Breeder why the parents were bred.

9. How old are the parents?

10. When and how often does the Breeder worm and vaccinate their dogs? Check that the pups are wormed or fecal samples checked and that they receive at least their first vaccination a week before going home.

11. When is the earlist the Breeder will allow a pup to go to their new home? (A pup should never leave its mother before 8 weeks of age, this is important for social as well as temperment development. Most Breeders will wait until 10 weeks of age.)

12. Ask what the Breeder will provide when you are ready to take the pup home.
(At the minimum you should be provided with: information on training and raising, a contract, AKC papers, copies of the parent's health certifications, a sample or information on what food the pup is being fed, vaccination and worming records, a vet schedule, pedigree.. and other useful information.)

Remember A good reputable breeder :
* Produces Puppies to improve the breed
* Does Genetic Screening on the parents to Minimize the chances of Hereditary Diseases
* Breeds their dogs infrequently and may have a long waiting list.
* Carefully screen buyers to ensure the puppies will have the best homes
* Requires spay/neuter contracts for pet quality puppies
* WILL TAKE THE DOG BACK AT ANY TIME!

Reputable Breeders care about the future of their Breed and the quality of puppies they being into the world.
Reputable Breeders DO NOT breed to make money but to produce the best quality companions that conform to the Breed Standard and can perform the work their breed was intended for with good working aptitude.

mckensiediamond@msn.com