FAQ

Both Scout and Finnegan have been genetically tested with Wisdom Panel and Embark, their eyes certified through OFA with clear ratings, patellae certified as normal. Scout has had her hips OFA Certified Excellent. She was awarded a CHIC number - which means she has met all Breed Requirements & I have released that publicly on the OFA site. Finnegan's Hips were are OFA Certified as Good (this is the second highest rating of 7, second to Excellent).

All of our Puppies are sold with a limited registration which means they cannot be bred. We want our families to wait until the puppy is 12 months of age before spaying or neutering. We believe this sets up our puppies for the best long term orthopedic outcome. Puppies need their sex hormones to help to close their growth plates, and strengthens their bones and ligaments. There is a lot of research out there on this - you can see one article here. Should a family want to breed their puppy from Winchester West Highlands - we will consider amending your registration to a Co Owned Full Registration pending the same health clearances that both Scout & Finnegan have completed. We are committed to taking all possible steps to produce healthy puppies for our families. This is outlined in our Contract.

Our puppy pricing starts at $3500. There is no charge to be on our waiting list, we do ask that an application be on file. Once our puppies are 2 weeks of age we will talk with people on our list to determine if there is interest in this litter. We do not require a deposit. Puppies are matched to families around 8 weeks old. At that point families will have the opportunity to meet their puppy prior to pick up. Total payment will be due paid through Good Dog the Monday before Pick up. We also require a Bringing your Puppy Culture Puppy Home course be purchased & reviewed. Ohio requires a sales tax of 6.75% be collected.

We firmly believe that training your dog is critical to their successful integration into your home. We believe in this so much so that we will give a rebate of $100 back to families that earn AKC Star Puppy and AKC Canine Good Citizen in their dogs first year. While West Highland White Terriers are said to have "Westitude", we believe that if your dog isn't doing something you want - its the trainer not the dog. Structured classes that you attend with your dog will teach you as much as your puppy. The puppies want to please - getting formal training will allow you to have a well trained puppy and perhaps a sport you will both enjoy! Pictures of AKC Certificates can be emailed to Lisa for reimbursement. Lisa can help you find an AKC Training Center near you if needed.

We do not remove dewclaws from our puppies. We believe it will keep the leg more stable when running, as well as help to avoid arthritis later in life. It's important to keep the nail trimmed on the dew claw as you would the other nails on the dogs foot. More info can be seen here.

We recommend that you keep your puppy on the same food they have been eating with us. When going home the pups whole world is changing and that can be stressful. Keep some constants for at least the first month. We use Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Stomach - it has terrific ingredients with feeding studies that back up what it says it does. We also use Purina Pro Plan 30/20.

We do NOT ship puppies. Pick up is at our home. However, we do have clients send us the flight bag they are using & get the puppy used to it & have it smelling like their littermates prior to pick up. We've had 3 puppies fly with great success from Ohio to California.