Buying a West Highland White Terrier Puppy
What to expect from a breeder who puts Health, Welfare and Temperament first.
Essential Documents
- Heath Certificates (both parents)
- Signed AWF Puppy Contract
- KC Registration Certificate (if applicable)
- Microchip Registration Certificate
- Temporary Pet Health Insurance
- Vaccination Certificate
A Good Breeder Will:
- have socialised and habituated the puppy
- provide a supply of food
- provide a blanket smelling of Mum
- follow the Code of Practice for Dog Breeding
Official Health Schemes
- BVA/KC eye scheme – DBRG recommends that all dogs should be visually examined by an ophthalmologist for inherited eye disease before breeding
- available for all breeds, and checks for many inherited abnormalities that can cause progressive blindness or pain
Other Diseases
No current health scheme or DNA test available.
- Atopic dermatitis
- allergic skin disease
- Hormonal diseases
- various, particularly Addison’s disease and diabetes mellitus
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca
- insufficient tear production, can lead to eye infections and ulcers
- Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease
- painful disease of the hip joint in young dogs
- Liver disease
- various
- Luxating patella
- abnormal kneecap causing pain and lameness
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- progressive lung disease, often eventually fatal
DNA Tests Relevant to Breed
- Craniomandibular osteopathy
- abnormal bone growth, usually in lower jaw
- Globoid cell leukodystrophy
- progressive, fatal disease of nervous system
- Pyruvate kinase deficiency
- causes anaemia through damage to red blood cells
Other Tests
- Putnam scoring for patella luxation