DUNGAVIN WESTIES
The people behind Dungavin Westies
Dungavin Westies was founded by Eileen McGavin in 2018, with her son Andrew and his wife Lysandra joining her in 2022 as registered breeders. In late 2023, Lysandra and Andrew decided to form a business around their Westies and registered with the Australian Government as a business as of the start of 1-January-2024.
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Lysandra and Andrew married each other in the height of the Covid pandemic, in June 2020 with Andrew bringing to the marriage a Westie named Kip and Lysandra a Maine Coon, named Boots. With Andrew's mum breeding westies and the love of the breed that Lysandra and Andrew had they decided to become breeders in 2021 with the introduction of Angie. Thus the journey of breeding Westies began.
Andrew McGavin
Andrew has been around dogs all of his life with his first family dog being a Westie called Dougal. Since then he and his family have had a number of different breeds including Jack Russells and a Saint Bernard. Andrew wanted another Saint Bernard, but talking with his mum, they decided that a Westie was a better choice due to being a small breed of dog, with big dog personality. Thus Kip was purchased. Unfortunately, Kip didn't become a stud dog, due to an undescended testicle. However, the love of the breed continued with Andrew's mum purchasing a little girl called Caddie and later Molly. With Andrew and Lysandra purchasing their first Westie, Angie, together.
Lysandra McGavin
Although new to dog breeding, Lysandra is not new to animal breeding, having grown up on a farm producing both prime lambs, wool and beef cattle and having a career in livestock research and now in human health, her skills and knowledge of animal breeding are invaluable.
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Lysandra has been on a steep learning curve when it comes to breeding and maintaining westies. Under the guidance of mentors, Lysandra has learnt how to assess a puppy to ensure its suitability for future breeding by following the breed standards. She has also learnt how to groom Westies both for the show ring (handstripping) and as a pet (clippering).
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Eileen McGavin
Eileen has had dogs all of her life and Dougal her first Westie entered her life in the early 1970's and fell in love with the breed. However, another Westie didn't enter Eileen's life until Andrew bought Kip in 2014. Several years later Caddie joined the family where she become Eileen's first breeding westie.
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Eileen wasn't new to breeding dogs as she has breed Jack Russell Terriers in the past.
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Eileen is an integral part of Dungavin Westies as she assists in the care and handling of the various dogs at different stages.
