Westie

[craft1948]

I have just got a rehomed Westie who is gorgeous but compared to all the other Westies I've seen he is massive with a long body,big head and feathery tail. He is kennel club registered and came with a 5 generation pedigree chart so how come he looks so different?

[catcuddler]

i have a yorkie and she varies from all the pics i have seen.she is also quite podgy despite not eating that much.i also know of a yorkie who has a skinny body despite eating like a horse long legs and a funny shaped head.i know its a different breed to yours but i think all breeds vary to a certain degree.if your unsure you could find a westie expert of get in touch with the kennel club to check the registration is genuine.i wouldnt worry too much unless you want to show him.my dog has a wonky ear which would be no good for shows but doesnt bother her and looks cute
hope this helps a bit

[lankeela]

Maybe all the others are wrong lol.

Glad to hear you have rescued him, but not sure how you have got the pedigree if he is rescued. There are lots of Westie breeders who do not bother about 'breed standards' so breed from any dog whether or not it is a good specimen.
This is what breed standards are for, so breeders have a 'blue print' to work towards, rather like the instructions with an airfix kit, without the instructions your plane might have its wings in the wrong place! Unless breeders choose good specimens to breed from and use a good dog, the pups can look very different from what they are supposed to. This can happen in any breed, but more so in the common breeds. I saw a Cavalier the other day that was as big as a Springer Spaniel, but the owners assured me he was 'Champion bred' whatever that means. Its even worse if dogs do not have papers, they can use what they like and say they are what they like!

All I would say is love him to bits and don't worry what he looks like. If you give us his Pedigree name and date of birth I will make enquiries about the breeding for you.

[craft1948]

Thanks for your replies. He wasn't a rescue dog he was rehomed because his owner couldn't keep him so she gave me his papers.He is lovely anyway. He was born 3/3/2006 and his kennel club name is Kenmillix Shy Ghost - but he is just called Casper.

[lankeela]

I will check the details, but from the name it tells me that the breeder did not have an 'affix' i.e. Kennel Name, as Kenmillix is an affix issued by the Kennel Club for breeders who don't have their own. It relates to the year of birth, i.e. the 'millix' on the end means 2006, mill is for millenium and ix is six, so 2006, every year has its own name with Ken on the front so Kenmilleven would be 2007 and Kenmill would be 2000. Most breeders have their own affix or kennel name which they use to name their puppies with (mine is Lankeela) so their dogs are easily recognisable as their own breeding. For instance the Queen's dogs are all called Sandringham something. Although not having an affix does not necessarily mean the pups are any less quality, many 'pet' breeders don't bother to go through the process of registering an affix.

[craft1948]

Thanks lankeela much appreciated