If you got your Westie in PA, please share your experience.
What breeder did you go through? (name, website if applicable)
Would you recommend them? Are they reputable?
How old is your dog now? Is he/she healthy and good tempered?
I am NOT looking to purchase a dog. So I do not need to know where I can purchase one. I merely am looking for some other information.
I am familiar with the westieclubamerica.com website. Just because a breeder is listed on the site does NOT mean that they are reputable.
Rarely do reputable breeders "advertise" on the internet…because they don’t have to. Reputable breeders normally have a waiting list and/or will hold the puppies until the perfect home comes along. Starting with a breed club, local or national, is, however, a good starting point. Know that anyone who will sell anyone a puppy who shows up with the money is not reputable. If they sell you a puppy without a spay/neuter clause, they are not reputable. If they want to meet you in a parking lot, they are not reputable. If they refer to "ACA" registration or anything other than "AKC", they are not reputable. AND…just because a dog is AKC registered, does not mean it is a quality dog. There are sooooo many variables people just don’t realize when purchasing a dog. Westies from "reputable" breeders in this region run around $2,000 and up. Anything less is normally a back-yard breeder or puppy mill dog. ALL Westies in pet shops are from puppy mills or back-yard breeders. Period. PA has two regional Westie clubs – the William Penn Club and the Western PA Club…you might contact them for info as well.