Hello, I have 2  bitches and although they were bought purely as pets the groomer where I take them to is begging me to breed them. He says that if I don't breed them then it will be such a waste as they have really good bloodlines and show qualities.
They are not old enough to breed yet anyway as they have only just had their first season but I have had conficting advice about when the best time to breed a bitch for the first time.
I thought it was best to wait until the bitch was at least 2 years old before breeding, then I have been told that it's best the 2nd season as their pelvis is still flexible.
I am confused.
IF and WHEN I decide to breed I think I will wait until they are at least 2 years as they are still really puppies themselves until then.
Was just curious as to what you experienced breeders think.

I'd have to ask by what criteria the groomer is judging them? Is he also a show judge, specialising in Westies? If not, you need to get them independently assessed as to whether either of them are suitable for breeding (ie, with the correct harsh coat, not a soft, woolly one). There is also an eye problem under investigation in the breed, so they'd need to have their eyes checked by a specialist ophthamologist. The breed clubs would be able to give you more information.
:)

First off, if you bought them as pets, they may well be endorsed on their registration certificates saying they are not to be bred from, and if this is the case you cannot register puppies from them  -so check this out first and then talk to the breeder of your dogs as he or she really is the best person to advice.

Marianne

Sadie your dogs are puppies only nobody could say if they are good enough just now. They haven't finished maturing.   If a dog has a good pedigree that doesn't mean it should be bred from. Some people breed 2 champions and get a lot of rubbish ..it happens

I am not sure what terms you bought them under but I would have suspected the breeder sold them as pets and pets only.  Possibly endorsed. Most westie folk endorse them nowadays to prevent people taking pet litters for the sake of having a pet litter.

The only reason you should breed your bitch is if she is really nice.  Are you planning to keep something? 

If it is a pet litter only I would suggest forgetting it. Let them be puppies for a couple of years.  I certainly would put a bitch a risk on the basis of my groomer saying I should. Westies can often require c-sections, they can be slow whelpers not the easiest of breeds to whelp. 

PS this is another thing about buying 2 together sometimes the fighting of siblings doesnt start till they have been mated etc.

I suggest you speak to the breeder of your puppies first. Get them out and get them shown.  If they do well then perhaps think about it.

There are a lot of litters around at the moment and not the buyers there to buy them. I have had a few phone calls asking me to pass on enquires as a few people have puppies at 8 weeks still not sold and that is show , experienced breeders.  You just have to look in the papers and some of the internet sites there are loads of pet bred puppies .

I take your points about my puppies being pets but they have not been endorsed so I will be able to breed them if I wish and register any puppies.

They are both kennel club registered.

My groomer is also a Westie Breeder with 2 stud dogs(who I would not use) not because there is anything wrong with his dogs he has studied my dogs pedigrees and I have copies of his stud dogs pedigrees,but because I prefer to go to the breeder who bred my dogs.

I took my pups last week to see the breeder just to show her how they were developing and she was very pleased with them.

As for showing them I do not have the first idea of how to start, when I bought them I wanted good puppies with no skin conditions or hereditary health problems as I have had pet westies before I know they are prone to certain health conditions.

I also know that westies are not the easiest of breed to whelp, the mother to 1 of my pups had to have a c-section.

Letting them have a litter is not a decision I would take lightly as I know the risks involved, the only problem I could forsee is that I would become too attached and finish up keeping them all.

Getting into showing is easy, though the most dificult thing is in your breed learning to prepare the coat properly.  I am assuming that your groomer has been hand stripping the coats?  This will be vital if they are to be shown.

As fat as the rest you should find a local Ringcraft class, ans take the girls along and learn how to show them.  Get some entry forms for shows ans away you go :D

Do you mean you let the stud dog owner of the puppies look at your 2. Maybe I am confused here but I thought the breeder had this litter they you bought 2 puppies from and it was only a pet litter but she used the stud dog of people that show.. Do I have this wrong?   Maybe I have this wrong but if not the person who actually bred the puppies is the breeder. The stud dog owner is not the breeder.

Anyway forgetting all of that  perhaps it would be worth trying to show them if they have turned out good and are well bred.  Your proof will be in the pudding if you get my drift. :-)

No you do not have it wrong Blue,
I did get my 2 from a breeder that has not show dogs in the past but they were not bred just for pets(the difference being I don't know) as she was wanting to keep 1 of the pups herself to start showing, she did use a show stud dog and you know who the stud dog owner is. The mothers of the pups although have not been shown do come from the same background.

She has kept 1 of the pups herself and is hoping to start showing but has little time as she spends all her spare time showing cattle as she breeds show cattle.

I don't think I want to get into showing I have heard that it is a very bitchy buisness and not really for me.

That is what I thought.

So the breeder seeing the pups and thinking they are fantastic probably isn't the guarantee of them being to breed standard. The stud dog owners would perhaps be able to give you better guidance on this and may also point you in the right direction of showing etc and ring craft clubs and grooming.

The underly thing though whether they are good enough or not is why breed them? unless you plan to keep puppies to show from it and even at that you don't really at this moment or in the next 12 months need to as you could show the 2 you have.

I can't tell you what or what not to do and am not trying to do that honestly  but I do think people should have a good enough reason for breeding litters.