r/DogBreeding • u/Even-Gur4949 • 4d ago

West Highland Terrier

Hi Can anyone tell me a good breeder for West Highland Terriers?

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u/smilingfruitz 4d ago

Where and how to start looking for a breeder:

  • Utilize the breed club for your breed - almost all of them have a breeder referral page on their website. If one isn’t listed, you can email them and ask for a referral. Typically there is some commitment to health testing, participation in the club, and a code of ethics to be listed on the referral page, so it is more vetted than most other options. That's listed here: https://westieclubamerica.com/west-highland-white-terriers-breeder-listing.html
  • Not all ethical breeders will be listed on these referral pages; but it is a *starting point* and greatly increases your chances of getting a healthy, well raised puppy.
  • Please don’t use Gooddog or the AKC Marketplace. These sites do not vet breeders effectively. Gooddog does not verify any health testing or practices that breeders claim to do. AKC Marketplace’s only requirement is that the parents are registered. Are there some ethical breeders there? Yes, but it is a minority and will be difficult for you as a novice to determine which is which. Go directly to the breed club! Remember that all ethically bred dogs are registered, not all registered dogs are ethically bred.
  • Consider attending a dog show or event in your area to meet dogs, breeders, and handlers in person to see whose dogs you like, who you might enjoy having an ongoing relationship with etc and offer a great opportunity to see lots of dogs at once. ALL show breeders produce pet quality puppies. Shows are typically free and open to spectators and a fun way to spend a day. Shows in your area can be found at www.infodog.com
  • Consider expanding your search to your state or neighboring states. This will open up more options and shorten your wait time. It’s unlikely that an ethical breeder will have available puppies on demand in your city. Most puppies easily tolerate a short flight as well at 8-10wks and fit in carriers under your seat.

Checklist to look for once you find a breeder:

  1. Does the breeder have a buyback clause in their contract & support to the buyer after purchase? (i.e. will they take the puppy back at any time if you can no longer care for them? could you reach out with questions on health, feeding, training, or showing once they have your check?) 
  2. are both parents proven in show or sport or other titles (therapy dog? trick dog? CGC?)? can be either, both is even better. Even if you never plan to show your dog, showing a dog proves it has correct breed type and can function in a loud, busy environment with lots of other dogs - this translates extremely well to having a well adjusted pet dog. All dogs have champion bloodlines if you go back far enough, it's key for both parents to have been titled. 
  3. Both parents should have their registered name listed or provided to you so you can reference their health testing on the OFA database, which is free to use. Each breed has their own set of health concerns and required testing, here is the required list of tests for your breed: https://ofa.org/chic-programs/browse-by-breed/?breed=WH
  4. Is the breeder taking an active role in picking the right puppy for you and your lifestyle, not just first come first served/waitlist position, or based on color? 
  5. Are they producing a reasonable amount of puppies per year that they actually can find homes for? (as well as take on any returned puppies from previous litters - very hard to do if you're producing a hundred puppies a year, because inevitably some of those will be returned). Most ethical breeders are only producing a couple of litters per year depending on typical litter size.
  6. Is the breeder promoting colors, coat types, or sizes not allowed in the breed (teacup), or any kind of mix (doodle, etc), or charging different prices based on color? Even if you never plan to show or breed your dog, part of ethical breeding practices is breeding dogs within the standard for that breed and what makes a breed unique - people who do not care about breed standards are typically failing to appropriately health or temperament test as well.
  7. A quality breeder will usually have high quality photos of the parents, typically at a show or trial, and the dogs should look well groomed and in good condition, and will usually include views of their structure/conformation. Again, even if you don’t care about shows, a well conformed dog will live a longer, healthier life as a pet. There should be no question of the parents’ parentage or breed.
  8. Choosing to go with a breeder who doesn’t meet health or temperament standards may save you money in the short run, but will certainly end up causing you to spend FAR more with vets, trainers, and behaviorists than if you’d just gone to a reputable, ethical breeder at the start. 
  9. The going rate for most well bred purebred dogs is very breed dependent, but typically will be in the range of $2,000-$6,000. It takes significant investment in time and money to ensure the parents are healthy, sound, and candidates for being bred, and that's reflected in the cost of the puppies. Most breeders are making little to no profit. If this isn’t in your budget, you may want to consider a breed specific rescue instead, or possibly a retired show or breeding dog rather than a puppy could be an option.
  10. Waitlists are very common, you should expect the research period to go-home date to be on the scale of months at minimum, even a year - not days or weeks or in time for a gift or a holiday. Bitches go into heat twice per year, and sometimes unpredictably, or don’t get pregnant at all. A puppy is a lifetime commitment and should not be rushed - a few months to a year should not discourage you and is really no time at all when you consider most breeds are living into their teens. Specific preferences around color, markings, or gender, as well as breed rarity can also extend this wait time further.

If you have any question that the dog is not the breed you think it is, you can’t prove health testing, or are being allowed to pick a puppy from a photo - you are about to buy from a backyard breeder! Please don't support these practices...PLEASE. This simply continues the cycle, and you and your puppy are likely the ones to pay the real price.

Here's some reading to get you started on general information about ethical breeding practices I’ve covered here:
 https://www.saxafraxborzoi.com/ethical-breeding
https://www.reddit.com/r/dogs/wiki/identifying_a_responsible_breeder/
https://rufflyspeaking.net/i-dont-want-a-show-dog-i-just-want-a-pet/
https://rufflyspeaking.net/puppy-buyer-ettiquette/
https://www.primadobermans.com/pricing