picklepeg

Picklepeg White Frost (Mark). Two CCs & Five Reserves, and many other wins to his credit. Sire of Picklepeg Sprite.







Picklepeg Westies by Miss Angela Brocklehurst (Breeder). Kennel Club affix held since 1969.

My interest in, and my love for the Westie started during childhood in Scotland. My first Westie came from there soon after I had finished my training at St.Thomas's Hospital, London in 1956. Wendy was sheer delight and was later joined by her half-sister Pippa. Both originated from the famous Kendrum kennel.

For me, these will always be the golden years of Westies. More details about my early years can be found on my website.

Apart from being inordinately fond of my Westies I found myself becoming more and more interested in their history, and how the years of breeding had brought about such significant changes since the days of Colonel Malcolm and his Poltalloch Terriers circa 1900. I studied genetics carefully and thoroughly and I began to think in terms of founding my own line of Westies one day with the hope that my Picklepegs could and would be recognised as such.



Below is a picture of one of my successful show team between 1987-1988.

Picklepeg Sprite (Hannah). Winner of Four Best Puppy in Breed awards at Championship Shows 1987.




In order to achieve my aim I moved to the country in 1970. Stables were converted into super kennel facilities with whelping rooms where the future generations of Picklepegs would be born. My dogs have always been my pets first and foremost, and live as part of the household, however when one has several of them they must also be trained to a little kennel discipline!
My breeding programme got under way and slowly but surely I could detect improvements towards required conformation of the Breed Standard, eg shorter and stubbier tails. Other aspects of improvement followed until I thought the time had come to put my work to the test. By the 1970s I was attending Open Shows and found the judges' comments, criticisms and encouragement very helpful. Onwards and upwards we went until 1985 when I reached what the late Ed Keenan was kind enough to call a pinnacle in my breeding programme. I have to admit that was very gratifying.

I still breed my Westies and when the pups are ready to leave home and enter the big wide world I get a buzz of excitement and pleasure for them. To see them leave with caring and loving owners and all the trappings and toys that accompany most small creatures is a great joy to me. It gives me a feeling of confidence for their future....but oh how I miss them!

They leave me in the knowledge that they have already had several weeks of homoeopathic treatment against all the canine diseases. In fact, I have used homoeopathy for all minor ailments wherever possible, and as the first line of treatment and defence since 1970.

Below is a picture of some of the latest bubbly Picklepegs.