Shadow Ridge Ranch is located on the banks of Little Fall Creek, in beautiful Fall Creek, Oregon. We are a small Kennel which is dedicated to producing quality Cairn Terriers and West Highland White Terriers.We have been raising puppies here for the last 15 years.
A little History about myself: My Dads Great Grand Father and his Family are one of the first Ranchers to arrive in Oregon with a large herd of horses & cattle.
My Dad was the youngest of 9 who grew up on a Dairy Farm in Pistol River Oregon. He would get up every morning at 4 am to milk cows by hand until it was time to go to school. My Dad was wonderful with animals, I believe he could talk to them. He raised polled Herford Cattle, and Romney Sheep while I was growing up.
We lived in a tiny, little 2 bedroom house that was very cozy with my three brothers. Every January my Dad would bring home at least two new lambs a day during that cold rainy month, half frozen from the cold to my Mom the Nurse. She would take those little babies and put them in a pan of warm water, and give them a shot of Whiskey, karo syrup, canned milk, and egg. The next thing you knew we would have a herd of lambs in the kitchen running around that we all bottle fed until they were able to live with the flock.
My Dad was a very special person who I admired greatly as a child, and still do to this day. He instilled in me the compassion, and knowledge that we need to take care of other living beings beside ourselves. All he had to do is walk out into the pasture, and they would all come running to follow him anywhere.
Caring for animals, be it a dog, horse or what ever has been my life. I will do it until I can no longer. Thank you Dad for giving me the wisdom that you did when I was a child.
Having said all that I have been working with dogs since I was eight years old, a lifetime of learning has gone into what I am doing now, and I will always strive for improvement!
My background in dogs started as a 4H Dog member for 10 years, during those years I raised four Guide Dog's for the Blind.
I went on to co-lead my Group, and then on to Leader of the Group, which I enjoyed very much. During this time it became very evident to me just how important a dogs companionship can be to a person, it is very important to me to help people achieve that goal.
For those of you that are wondering I have recently retired all of my Westies to a lifetime of pampering. As of June 06 we decided to no longer raise the Westies for various reasons We have reconsidered the Westies due to popular demand, they will be back in 2008, very limited. I hope that all the people who has one, or two of our Westies are very happy.
We will continue to include the best bloodlines, coats, bone structure and most important, good temperaments in all our dogs. All of the dogs used for breeding are DNA tested. In Sept 03 we decided to add Cairns to our life, and found them to be the greatest, and healthiest little companion dogs who are the most fun little dogs ever.
I have a wonderful Veterinarian who I have known for 31 years, he is the one I look to for medical advice, and certification of health. If one of my dogs can not be used to produce then he/she is spayed/neutered and placed in a pet home. Only the healthy, with sound minds, and bodies will be allowed to produce.
Our dogs are part of the family, and are always allowed in the house to visit, and enjoy a snooze on the Master's bed. All of our puppies are whelped in the house under my watchful eye, and are handled several times a day from birth. As they grow they are stimulated in several ways to get them socialized, and ready for their new life.
My focus is to create the best quality dog that I can for families with children, or without children who just want that great dog that will be their friend for a life-time.
30 Good Reasons to Enjoy a Dog's Life.
Thirty reasons why it's great to be a dog:
1) No one expects you to take a bath every day.
2) Your friends never expect you to pay for lunch, dinner or anything else for that matter.
3) When it's raining, you can lie around the house all day and never worry about being fired.
4) If it itches, you can reach it.
5) And no matter what itches, no one is offended if you scratch it in public.
6) It doesn't bother you if your favorite television show is a rerun.
7) You can wear a fur coat and no one thinks your insensitive.
8) April 15 means nothing to you.
9) People at drive-thru windows never charge you for treats.
10) Your friends don't think less of you for passing gas.
11) A smoked cow hoof can entertain you for hours.
12) No one gets mad if you fall asleep while their talking.
13) As an adult, it's OK if you 'Haven't amounted to anything' except being a dog.
14) The older you get, the more people respect you.
15) You can sleep late every day.
16) If you grow hair in weird places, no one notices.
17) You never get in trouble for putting your head in a strangers lap.
18) There's no such thing as bad food.
19) You don't have to worry about good table manners.
20) Someone else combs your hair.
21) People think you're normal if you stick your head out the window to the feel the wind in your hair.
22) Your always excited to see the same old people.
23) Having big feet is considered an asset.
24) If you gain weight, it's someone elses fault.
25) Everything smells good to you.
26) A garbage can is a fast-food stop.
27) No one tells you to wipe your nose because it's wet.
28) No matter where you live, you own the place.
29) Your mate never complains because you whine.
30) Puppy love can last.
written by Dawn Dressler
