If you’ve decided the West Highland Terrier is the dog for you, the next step will probably be looking at some Westie puppies or checking out a westie rescue organization. Rescue dogs are a great choice and I’ve gone that route a time or two. At present, though, I prefer to start with a puppy. That way you don’t have any personality problems or abandonment issues to overcome and you’re free to screw the dog up to suit yourself.

The most important factor at this stage is to find a reputable breeder. In most places you can find five or six within a fifty mile radius. You can find them online, through newspaper ads or in the phonebook. However you locate a breeder, you’ll really want to go out and see their facility. A good breeder never meets you in a parking lot somewhere and shows you a few puppies you can have right away. That’s the surest sign of a puppy mill operation and you want to run, not walk, away. With those guys you can’t even be sure of breed, let alone health. The same thing is true of pet stores, unfortunately. I’ve had very good luck with pet store dogs myself, but I wasn’t after a dog with any particular breeding. All I was after was a dog that was healthy, cute and intelligent.

If you want a purebred dog, though, you have to go to a breeder. The best breeders usually have a waiting list for their dogs, especially if they are producing show quality dogs. You have to decide what you are getting the dog for. If you are mainly interested in a great pet and a good companion then any reasonably good breeder will do. Should you want to show and especially if you are aiming at the higher levels you find that only a few breeders fit the bill and you will probably be waiting a while.

We got Willow from some neighbors in our complex. Her mom and dad are both registered, but neither of them are show quality. That doesn’t matter though, so everybody was happy. Its definitely possible to find people close by who are breeding Westies for fun. You may hear about them almost anywhere once you start looking. Don’t look down your nose at these dogs. If you don’t intend to show, the pedigree of the dog is almost irrelevant. What matters is health and intelligence.

How much should you expect to pay? Anywhere from nothing to the sky. If you happen to be in the right place at the right time, someone might give you a dog. It happened to us, so its not impossible. Not usual either, of course. The price you’ll wind up paying for westie puppies is a local phenomenon. I’ve heard of pups going for as little as $100 in some towns. Here in Maple Ridge people have no problem getting $500 for a Westie puppy and often charge $1000. So, check your bank account then start searching for a breeder. Once you find one, pay a visit ahead of time. This shouldn’t be a problem. If the kennel is responsible, they’ll want to get to know you and see if you are good enough take home one of their pups. Never forget that the selection process goes both ways. Good luck to you in your search. You’re embarking on a very rewarding journey and setting yourself up for at least a decade of delight and dedication.

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