A
special thank you On
behalf of the Canadian West Highland White Terrier Club, the Website Committee
would like to express their thanks to the following people for their contributions
of articles, graphics, photographs and/or expertise: Marie-José Benoit,
Linda Carmichael, Monique Courtois, Brad Cruxton, Margaret Duffy, Sheila Ehmann,
Jackie Gomm, Dr Yves Gosselin, Kevin Howells, Wanda Konski, Jeanette Graves, Margaret
Halliday, Marie Ison, Yvonne Lord, Jane McLaughlin, Anne Matheson, Kathleen May,
Cheryl Shea, Lynda Scott, Jacquelyn Wilson Grattan. Without
the involvement of our members, none of this could have been possible.
Anyone who has an idea
for an article, or is willing to write an article, send us graphics or photos,
please contact us at editors@canadawestieclub.ca
Marie-José
Benoit Marie-José bought
her very first Westie, Bianca, in 1983. She spent some wonderful and precious
years with this little girl and this is when she fell literally in love with the
breed... little hearts wrapped in fur. But everything really started in 1997 when
her darling Paloma was born... at 3 months she started obedience, got involved
in go-to-ground sports with a little zootherapy when available... In
1999, Paloma welcomed her little brother Sir William who had to hurry to get involved
in obedience classes too with all the rest that was also going on. She participated
in obedience competitions in Canada, USA and in Bermuda. Every year she does her
pilgrimage to Montgomery where Paloma and Sir William are very proud to be wearing
their kilts. Marie-José's passion is canine fashion. She is also a member
of the West Highland White Terrier Club of America and has recently accepted the
position of Quebec director for the CWHWTC.
Monique
Courtois
Monique
has had dogs almost all her life. She bought her first Westie in 1980 and
started at the bottom, learning to groom, to train and to show her dog both
in obedience and in conformation. This was the beginning of an exciting
experience as this Westie was shown in many countries and became the
famous Can Am Bda Mex Int'l Ch Scottland's Fiona Can Am Mex UD, Bda Pr CDX,
Bah CD, TT, the most titled Westie in the history of the breed. Froufrou
got her UD before she was 18 months of age and has been so far the only Westie
to break into the top ten of all-breed obedience in Canada. Because of her
family situation, Monique bred only one litter with this bitch and
got two champions and kept one which became almost as famous as her mother,
Can Am Bda Ch OTCh Gailuron Capucine, Am Mex CDX, Pr Bah CD, TT.
Monique, a retired
physiotherapist, now owns two Westies, both of which are trained in obedience.
She has been a member of the CWHWTC since 1982, is currently the CWHWTC
past president and is the webmaster for this site since June 2001. She has written
some of the articles herself and has done most graphics and all of the French
translations.
Sheila
Ehmann My
family adopted a stray Westie-cross and we enjoyed Button's personality for about
10 years. He was followed by a Sheltie cross and then after being married,
I entered the German Shepherd world and bred 3 litters. My kennel name, Damara,
was registered in l983 and in l985, I purchased my first Westie, followed by my
most favourite dog, Am Can Ch Sallydean's Duglad of Damara, R.O.M.C. He
was a multiple Best in Show and Best in Specialty Show winner and was considered
a Top Ten producing son of the great Eng. Am. Can. Champion Whitebriar Jeronimo.
I have bred
more than 15 homebred champions, showing and grooming almost all of them myself,
no mean feat in B.C.'s Westie show world. I
was the Editor of the Westie News for 6 years; Dogs in Canada Westie Breedlines
contributor for nearly 6 years; Show Chair of the l997 Westie National Roving
Specialty; Show Chair of the inaugural BC All Terrier Regional Specialty Show
for 2 years and even Show Chair of the Canadian National Irish Setter Specialty
in 2000. I am currently the President of the Skaha Kennel Club in Penticton,
BC and was co-chair of this year's show, the largest outdoor dog show in British
Columbia. I have taught Basic Dog Obedience through the local recreation
department of Summerland for 5
years
and am currently operating my own grooming shop out of my home. I have written
articles for Dog World out of New York and have been re-printed in breed publications
in Canada and in Australia. I
currently own a 6 year old Greyhound who was l999 Top Dog Greyhound in Canada.
I also have one male Westie and 2 female Westies. I continue to show these dogs
and am active in the dog show world showing, working to stage shows and judging
puppy sweeps competitions.
Jackie
Gomm In 1954, Jackie's
parents purchased their first terrier, a Scottie. She herself has over 17
years of ownership of - and enchantment with - Westies, and over 12 years of rescuing
both Westies and Scotties. She has been actively involved in showing, breeding,
boarding, grooming both breeds, but now prefers to just enjoy her dogs as pets
while they are still with her. Jackie
is retired from the Federal Public Service. Her computer experience began in 1981
- in the first Computer Support Group at Agriculture Canada - providing software/technical
support, testing, analysis, programming, database design and creation, instruction
on use of computer software, hardware, and databases. She currently does independent
web site design/creation
Jackie has been director
of Eastern Ontario for the CWHWTC and is or has been member of
many other dog clubs. She has been member of the CWHWTC website
committee and set up the actual website template. She is co-founder
of Scottish Terrier Rescue of Canada and co-founder of a rescue
service for West Highland White Terriers, but returned to independent
West Highland White Terrier rescue activities.
She dreams of a peaceful very old
age in a small village with her beloved dogs beside her - and they will all be
'rescues' because they are so needy and grateful for a little love and attention!
Marie
Ison Marie
has written a number of short articles for other publications, but has never
written anything as extensive as the grooming article for the CWHWTC’s website.
For many years,
Marie wanted to breed dogs, but as she had a daughter who was severely asthmatic,
she waited until her daughter was grown and away from home. In 1977, she
purchased her first Westie (Langmuir’s Highland Heather) This dog was an
absolute delight, but not a show girl! In 1981, Marie’s other daughter,
Brenda Kenney, joined forces with her, and they established Brenmar Kennels.
Since then, they have finished twenty-six homebred champions plus four other champions.
All of these dogs were groomed by Marie, and most of them were handled by Brenda.
Marie feels very fortunate in having had Anja Wilson as her grooming coach and
mentor. In
1979, Marie joined the Canadian West Highland White Terrier Club and has been
fairly active since. She also belongs to the American Westie Club and has
been to Montgomery once.
Wanda
Konski I
have always had a dog of some sort in my life. When I was little, my father
raised German Shepherds and of course, we always had a little mixed breed around
when I was older and living in the city. So it was only natural that I keep
up the tradition. I
purchased my first Westie in 1987 and have had at least one, usually more ever
since. I have been a member of the CWHWTC since 1989, I have held the position
of Director for Saskatchewan for several years, then moved into the position of
Treasurer for the CWHWTC for several years and I am currently a member of the
Edmonton Kennel Club. Although
Playmates Kennels only has had two homebred champions to its credit, I have finished
many other dogs, which were from other kennels. I have bred several litters
over the years, placing most of the puppies into loving companion homes.
I have also
done some judging over the years with sanctions matches and puppy sweepstakes.
I feel very
fortunate to have had several people help me out in the Westie World: Tom Fraser
who taught how to groom properly, Claire Dirk for letting me purchase my first
Westie from her and of course Sheila Ehmann who leased to me my foundation bitch,
who is totally spoiled and has given me lots of pleasure as well as a couple of
great dogs to show. I
currently live with 6 Westies, 5 Borzoi and one Silky terrier, 3 cats and one
hamster, all of which make life interesting.
Yvonne
Lord
Yvonne
has owned, shown, trained and bred dogs since 1980. She has been
involved in training as a trainer as well as a competitor.
Most of the training issues that interest her involve helping
dogs to live amicably with their people, rather than competitive
obedience. She has ring stewarded for a number of clubs, and has
been chief ring steward, and show superintendent as well.
She organised a number of sanctioned obedience trials and a clicker
training weekend, and has written a handbook on
ring-stewarding.
Yvonne has been actively involved in the CWHWTC, acting as Westie
News editor for two years, British Columbia director as well as
an active member of the Website Committee. She also writes,
draws and paints, and somehow her usual subjects are - surprise!
- Westies.
Jane
McLaughlin
Jane McLaughlin has owned Westies
for 23 years, and currently lives with Towynridge Once Upon a Time CDX, Am CDX,
Ber CD, VMADC, AAD, AX, NAJ, NAC,NJC, NGC, TD, CG, CGC, FDX and Ch Hayastan's
Kinetic Kyla, CDX, Am CDX, AADC, AX, NAJ, AgN, NGC, CG, CGC and the puppy, Bella
Vista's Briahga XTerra. These Westies, as you can see from their numerous titles,
have been involved in obedience, conformation, tracking, agility, earthdog, flyball
and having a lot of fun along the way. They were fortunate to showcase
our breed to the public in Superdog Shows across the country.
Jane's interest in doing activities
with her Westies has led to a better understanding of her dogs. She hopes to encourage
others to try these activities with their dogs through her writing. For five years
Jane has written articles on the sport of agility for 'Dogs in Canada'. Along
with this, she has authored the breedlines article in 'Dogs in Canada' for the
August obedience issue for the past several years. She continues to write about
obedience and performance activities in the Westie News (the CWHWTC's national
publication). She has been a member of the Club since 1987 and is currently (2002)
serving as the First Vice President.
Anne
Matheson
In my growing-up years,
we always had dogs -spaniels mostly, and one wire-haired fox terrier. I had a
little book of breeds that pictured a Westie called Ch. Ray of Rushmore, and he
was my favourite. However, I didn't
get my first Westie until our youngest child was in high school. It was through
taking Ned to obedience classes that I was introduced to the world of dog clubs
and obedience trials, as well as drill teams and agility demos to entertain the
public. Teaching obedience classes followed. Duffie was next - you can read her
story on this website. There
are always surprises. Our Toby worked 5 years to get his CD, then finished it
in two weekends. Our youngest dog, Izzie, is a very energetic and enthusiastic
learner. We're perfecting all three levels of obedience, as well as some tricks
and agility. All this is threaded through a life as clergy-wife and mother of
five, with five grandchildren.
Kathleen
May
Kathleen May is one of the
CWHWTC's 'out of country' members. Kathleen has been a Westie owner/breeder for
over 25 years. She got her first Westie in 1975… her beloved Buckie. She
only was looking for a pet. The breeder said, "He has show potential."
Kathleen had never in her life been to a dog show, but said, "I can do that!"
With the help of many new Westie friends, Buckie became "Ch. Briarwood Buccaneer."
Buckie got Kathleen "hooked" on Westies. One Westie was fun, so two
Westies had to be twice as much fun...enter Wendy! She was Kathleen's foundation
bitch in establishing her kennel name, Woodbriar. Besides
breeding, showing, and obedience, Kathleen is a certified Tester/Observer for
Therapy Dogs, Inc. Dog handlers come to her to get their dogs certified as Registered
Therapy Dogs based on a structured program. Kathleen has continued to do therapy
dog work on her own as a volunteer with her three Westies. Kathleen
is a member of six dog clubs...four of which are Westie Clubs. Kathleen has written
several articles as well as poems for both the Westie News and the CWHWTC's website.
Her passions in life are simple. Her Westies...her job as a Therapeutic Recreation
Director and as a creative writer.
Ardena
Peters
Ardena Peters lives with
her husband, Pete and their three Westies, Brittany, Kyler and
Skeeter, in Chesterton, Indiana. The Peters have been Westie owners
since 1978. Ardena works as a commissioned portraitist as well
as muralist and faux finisher. Ardena's love of Westies has inspired
her to create many Westie paintings and pen and ink pictures.
You'll also find her Westies added into many of her other paintings,
just to spice the pictures up a bit!
Katharina Round
Katharina Round has been
breeding Westies under the kennel name Champernoune in France
for more than 25 years. She is currectly the vice-president
of the Club des terriers d'Écosse (Scottish Terrier
Club) in France and a judge for some breeds of terriers.
Jacquelyn Wilson Grattan
Jacquelyn Wilson Grattan
loves Chopin, cookbooks, consignment store shopping, bright colours
and positive people. She also loves to travel, especially in Japan,
Ireland, Italy and India. A flamenco dance student and swimmer,
she would appreciate more time to just sit and read. She intends
one day to teach a night school course on “Poetry for the
Disinterested and Unconvinced”. In the meantime, she is
thankful to be leading an interruption-rich life as a freelance
writer and the chatelaine of a household in Vancouver, B.C., Canada
that includes her Belfast-born husband, Norman, her preschool
daughter, Tierney, and the half-sibling Westies, MacDuff and Skye.
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