IMPORTANT
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT BUYING A PUPPY
How long have you been raising dogs?
We
have been breeding, training and showing dogs since 1968 under the kennel name
MARDOT. Dalmatians were our first love,
and then, in the past fifteen years, Westies have joined the family.
Why do you show dogs?
Besides
the fun of traveling and meeting wonderful people, taking the best of what we breed to a show for evaluation by
others helps us keep the "ideal Westie" in mind. It also gives us another's educated opinion
of the quality of our breeding.
I'm not interested in a "show"
dog. I just want a family pet.
This
is what most people ask us when looking for a companion. We might have one puppy out of a
litter that could be promising as a show winner ... but certainly, you
would not be able to tell the difference between him and the littermates, and
certainly, no one can say which is a show dog at 8 weeks of age. The advantage to buying from someone who
shows their dogs is that all the puppies get the advantage of special care in
the hope that one might be that BEST IN SHOW winner of tomorrow.
The
showing breeder will also have a long range plan and will be more careful about
who is bred. She is motivated by having
a wonderful dog and not by making a quick monetary profit. Our high ethical standards have kept many of
our customers for years. Right now, we
only breed and show West Highland White Terriers, board and groom Westies as
well as some other small dogs for clients residing in several states.
I've heard that "show dogs" are
bad tempered, unhealthy, and don't make good pets.
Actually
the opposite is true. If dogs are not of
sound body and temperament, they could not stand the rigors and stress of
traveling, conditioning, and performing that is necessary to win in the show
ring. However, when picking breeding
stock, it is important to balance appearance with brains and a good attitude so
our dogs just don't have a pretty face.
That is why we show our dogs in obedience and terrier working trials.
There are cheaper puppies advertised in the
newspaper. Why should we pay more for
just a pet from your kennel?
If
all goes well, you will be owned by your Westie for 10-15 years. You probably would like a companion that is
healthy and won't cost a fortune in vet fees.
To raise healthy animals costs more than not doing so. Our puppies have a money back guarantee for
life against inherited diseases; they are healthy and socialized properly; they
have dew claws removed ("thumbs" on the front legs that can cause
problems in later life); they have had the appropriate inoculations and
parasite control; and have a microchip implant for identification
purposes. When health issues are not
considered carefully and thoughtfully, it can often cost you later ... much
more than the few dollars invested now.
We
can also guarantee the parentage of each litter since we attend every
mating. Some people, acting as breeders,
selling dogs out of their home, actually buy puppies from big breeding farms in
the
You
will see AKC papers immediately, and receive yours once you decide to keep the
puppy. We also provide lots of
What are some of the things we should watch
for in Westies? Inherited diseases?
Showing
a dog can confirm the quality of the "outsides" of a dog, but we take
great care about the "insides" of our breeding stock. Both of these things are important when you
are looking for a loving companion.
We
regularly monitor things that can affect the quality of offspring. Our dogs are checked for Von Willebrand's
Disease (VWD), which is a blood disease affecting many purebred dogs and can
lead to sick or bleeding puppies.
Thyroid disease is common in our terrier, so checking for normal
function is important. Some other
inherited diseases common in Westies are Cranial Mandibular Osteoporosis
(miss-formed and over calcified jaw) and Copper Toxicosis, a liver disease. Skin allergies and other types of dermatitis
are the number one health concern of Westies breeders. Breeding from clear parents is
important. These illnesses can be
monitored through careful pedigree research or simple blood tests and x-rays.
Tell me some more about your credentials.
Member: West Highland
White Terrier Club of
West
Highland White Terrier Club of Greater Atlanta, Inc. (founder, president
1985-99)
Dalmatian
Club of America (past magazine editor)
Atlanta
Kennel Club (past board member)
Working
Terrier Association of America (apprentice judge)
Licensed
Judge for the American Kennel Club
Licensed
by the
Finished
over 40 AKC Champions, Obedience and AWTA working titles.
Can we talk to someone about your kennel and
its reputation?
The
following people would be happy to speak to you about our ethics and the
quality of our dogs:
|
Linda
Carroll (404)
252-5277 Westie
breeder, national Club Board |
Doc
& Jean Murphy 7
704-884-7957 bought
puppy |
|
Cheryl
Braswell, DVM 4773
Covington Highway Decatur,
GA 30035 (404)
289-6570 veterinarian |
JoAnn
Yendle 2850
Spalding Drive Atlanta,
GA 30350 770-668-0410 bought
puppy |
Please
feel free to ask some question of your own.
If you should decide to adopt a wee pup or an older dog, we might have
one for you, too. Marleen
10-00