How We Began
My concept of a registry designed to preserve the White English first begun in 1999 when I realized just how difficult it was to actually find a WE that had not been crossed with other bull-breeds. My husband and I had gotten a CWE pup, a Buddy Roe son, from my father. This was the last litter my father ever produced! He was finding it increasingly difficult to locate the CWE. My father was down to one male, Buddy Roe. We began our search for a female or two with no luck. A search that lasted years. In the meantime, we had begun our own efforts to back breed on the CWE blood from those dogs crossed into AB lines, in hopes we could achieve something close to the CWE. It never worked. We were producing two types in every litter and had no choice but to consider these dogs simply as ABs. We established a personal site discussing our back breeding program using Buddy Roe. Ultimately this program was never able to reproduce the CWE. Though reminiscent of the original American Pit Bulldogs as first registered by JDJ, thus began our program of the Vanguard Bulldog.
My great grandfather and Kate.
I have known the CWE my entire life, just as my father, his father and mother, and his grandfather, my great grandfather, have. They extend back generations in my family, the earliest documentation of them in my family so far is 1893. (see photo below). No other contemporary breeder can prove or even claim this extensive history with the WE or even with the recently developed AB, a descendent of the WE! Legendary 'old-timers' today can only prove their involvement with the WE or the AB no longer than 40-50 years. These 'old timers' obtained their foundation stock from rural southern farmers such as my great grandfather, to include Mr. Carr, whose foundation stock came from my great grandfather. Over many decades during the early 20th century, they swapped and bred dogs together until what is known locally as the "Carr dogs", was developed. The CWE is the same today as it was in my great grandfather's day, unchanged in form and function. They remain and will remain in my family, unchanged, and passed on to my children. I personally am not a professional breeder, hobbyist or fancier, I'm not doing this for money or recognition, I'm in this for the passion I have for these dogs and to keep a family tradition going strong for my children. If a professionally bred show dog is what you're seeking, there are other breeders out there ready to sell. The OWEPS is a small operation and we plan to keep it that way.
In 2000, we were reacquainted with John Conner by my father. Local residents, John and his father, Curtis Conner, were long time bulldog breeders. Mr. Curtis had bred the CWE most of his life and this is was what John was most familiar with. At this particular time, they were breeding mostly ABs, and some ABBB. The two had played a major role in the development of the ABBB, working closely with Lana, and supplying her with many of the WE she used in her program, such as pictured below left, Cody, aka Lana's Dakota Conner Lane, was in fact a CWE from Hawkinsville, Georgia, as attested to by Al Walker, ARF registrar and genealogist; John's, Curtis', and my hometown; which is within the 75-100 mile radius Lana often spoke of. Compare Cody to the CWE with my great grandfather above left and my CWE, Dixie, below right!
Hedden's CWE Buddy Roe
Art Parker presenting Buddy Roe his plaque.
In 2003, John Conner wrote the very first WE standard for the NKC. According to John, he allowed for outcrosses within the NKC standard as he said there just weren't enough WE around anymore that hadn't been cross-bred, and that in order to hold a class for them and to ensure adequate competition, he needed to make these allowances, as well as to ensure WE registrations with the NKC would increase. (Though a very close friend, we disagreed with this and chose to no longer use the NKC as our registry for the our dogs. The OWEPS DOES NOT recognize ANY OWE or WEB registered with any registry or club that is not OWEPS sanctioned.) Allowing for outcrosses in the WE for numbers sake is not doing the WE a favor, rather, it's the surest and fastest way to destroy the breed as a whole. This has been our position from the start and why the OWEPS was formed...To preserve the WE, not to facilitate their demise by allowing for crosses.
At the urging of our friend John, we took my father's CWE Buddy Roe, pictured right, with us to the show as we had, and still have, no interest in showing a working farm dog, or even taking one to a show. Once at the show site with Buddy, John approached us about entering him in the WE class. This was the first and only show we ever entered a WE in and was done so at the request of John Conner, as the only two dogs entered belonged to the same owner. Yet another dog, belonging to Danny Barnes, was asked to be entered as well, to provide adequate competition for the class. We have never believed in showing the WE as they have been and are working farm and guard dogs.
At the urging of our friend John, we took my father's CWE Buddy Roe, pictured right, with us to the show as we had, and still have, no interest in showing a working farm dog, or even taking one to a show. Once at the show site with Buddy, John approached us about entering him in the WE class. This was the first and only show we ever entered a WE in and was done so at the request of John Conner, as the only two dogs entered belonged to the same owner. Yet another dog, belonging to Danny Barnes, was asked to be entered as well, to provide adequate competition for the class. We have never believed in showing the WE as they have been and are working farm and guard dogs.
Buddy Roe was one of the first of only four WE shown as a WE at the very first NKC show with a WE class in March of 2004, and was the first WE ever to place first in ANY dog show sanctioned by ANY registry both nationally or internationally. (Mentioning this NKC show and standard is important, as it is relevant as to why we did not stay with the NKC as a registry for the WE and was pivotal in the formation and establishment of the OWEPS. Had the NKC standard required and enforced breed purity, as is our goal, we would have remained with the NKC.) In order to ensure the survival of the traditional function of the OWE, we do not approve of turning a working farm and guard dog into a show dog, and believe this is the surest and quickest way to alter a breed from it's traditional form and function, ultimately corrupting a breed. The WE has nearly been lost to the world due to the practices of allowing for outcrosses and alternate functions.
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The goal of the OWEPS is to prevent the demise of the WE from cross-breeding. In a phone conversation with Alan Scott in 2008, I asked him why there were no more NKC WE shows and his response was that there were just too few to even hold a show. (This is exactly what John Conner had said and why he allowed for outcrosses.) He went on to say that he thought what we were doing was a great thing, that he was glad someone was breeding and finally saving the old stuff. While Alan was at the 2004 show with Crusher, he was not shown in the WE class...much respect to Mr. Scott! He refers to Crusher, as well as much of his stock as OSW, a WE and AB hybrid. (see Breed Names).
In 2004 we were contacted by Ray Lane of Mississippi. After obtaining one of our back bred pups, he too joined our search for the CWE. We spent the next couple of years researching and educating ourselves, not just on dog history written by biased cynologists on breeder's payrolls, but by studying world and American history ourselves. This was how we learned of the real story behind not only the WE and CWE, but the AB, APBT, American Pit Bulldog and various southern cur and hound breeds. What we found was amazing, and yes, contradictory to the 'histories' people had been told and sold by many AB 'old timers'. The more we researched, the more archaeologists, historians, history professors and researchers, geographers, cattlemen both here and abroad, and breeders of various alaunt type dogs from around the world, the more the pieces began to fit together, to take shape, revealing the truth. These, archaeologists, historians, history professors and researchers, geographers, cattlemen both here and abroad, and breeders of various alaunt type dogs from around the world have been intrigued by our work and continue to work with us in our efforts and progress. They have been an enormous help in our work. During this we have befriended several Alano breeders in Spain. After reviewing our findings, they are convinced, as our we, that the OWE is unquestionably of very early Spanish imported origin.
In 2006, we finally organized and published an official organization to preserve the WE...The OWEPS. Though our concept had begun some 7 years prior, we felt it dishonest to claim the OWEPS had begun and was established from the time of it's conception in 1999 when it was no more than a thought, an idea. Rather, we chose to wait until after we had done our research and had overwhelming evidence and the support of top experts in their field of study to officially establish ourselves. We press on with our research and with the help of these experts, continue to unravel mysteries, debunk myths of various breeds and uncover facts once lost to time. The information we have discovered can and we believe one day WILL re-write the history of various breeds.
During this very long process, we have learned a great deal about people as well. Over the years, we have taken unbelievable flack from fanciers of these various breeds, including the WE. We have found that most people are content with the 'histories' they have been told and sold for years, and are unwilling to accept the evidence-based information we have found and provided to the public. People prefer romantic tales and are deeply offended and angered that we offer an alternate yet evidence-based history, choosing to see themselves as competition rather than breed conservators. Sadly, we have also learned that people are more concerned with their dog's titles and trophies than they are concerned about their breed's purity or the truth of it's origins.
In 2007, the BBC as well as the ARF began their recognition of the WE and the OWEPS as the Parent Registry of the breed. We provided the first written WE standard to be implemented by both the BBC and the ARF. Very shortly after establishing a working relationship with the ARF, and providing them with the accurate history of the ABBB, AT THEIR REQUEST, we chose to terminate our relationship with the ARF and requested our information be removed from their site. This was done after the research we had done on the ABBB and providing the ARF with accurate pedigrees on merit registered dogs as well as photos never before seen, Mr. Walker chose to publish a series of 'books' revealing the results of 'his' 'investigation' into the ABBB history, and did so only upon finding out that we too were going to publish the results of the 'investigation', aka the truth about the ABBB. His publications were contrary to the truth of the ABBB history and had been re-written to serve the desires of the ARF. (see The ABBB Disclosure Project).
In 2010, the President of the BBC, with the backing of the owner at that time, demanded that we, as a private club, and in violation of our contract, began to show our dogs and to allow for outcrosses. This was in complete contradiction to everything the OWEPS stands for. We refused to sacrifice our principles for profit. Shortly after, we parted ways with the BBC and are once again an independent, private club and registry for the WE. We are finding this to be much more suited to our goals and our hand-selected members. We will not sacrifice our principles for profit! We will not bend nor will we be bought. The OWEPS is a private, non-competitive group, breeding non-competitive dogs. If competition, either in breeding or with dogs, is what your looking for, please feel free to look elsewhere.
Today, the OWEPS is focused primarily on the CWE as their numbers dwindle to near extinction. As the CWE is native to a small area of middle Georgia, our efforts are geared heavily towards preserving a breed so rare as to classify them as critically endangered. Several breeders worldwide have been granted exclusive access for the use of CWE specimens in helping them to re-establish the traditional alaunt type in their own endangered alaunt type breeds that too have nearly been bred out of existence by modern breeders. I'm not in this for puppy sales or making a name for myself, I'm in this to preserve the dogs I grew up with. I am achieving that with the tremendous help of those I've placed my CWE with!! I'm there ya'll!
The OWEPS continues working with experts in numerous fields worldwide. With their help, our achievements thus far have been ground-breaking, though largely criticized and rejected by mainstream breed fanciers: Those content with mediocrity. We have also received a large and welcome response by many people from all over the world. Specifically, those truly familiar with the old alaunt type breeds such as the CWE. These are the people we wish to reach the most. Those who are seeking the truth and have a firm understanding of the basics of history and the ability to think for themselves. We have endured slander and criticism of every sort by every sort for years. These attempts at driving us away or shutting us down have and will remain only attempts. We will not waiver from the facts we have uncovered, facts that are upheld and proven by parties larger and greater than us. We stand firm in what we have proven and will continue to prove. Since 2006, the OWEPS has been the world's largest, most inclusive and accurate source for information pertaining to the OWE and will remain so.
The OWEPS DOES NOT recognize ANY OWE or WEB registered with any registry or club that is not OWEPS sanctioned.
Heather Wilkins
OWEPS Founder
Hawkinsville, Georgia 31036;
In 2004 we were contacted by Ray Lane of Mississippi. After obtaining one of our back bred pups, he too joined our search for the CWE. We spent the next couple of years researching and educating ourselves, not just on dog history written by biased cynologists on breeder's payrolls, but by studying world and American history ourselves. This was how we learned of the real story behind not only the WE and CWE, but the AB, APBT, American Pit Bulldog and various southern cur and hound breeds. What we found was amazing, and yes, contradictory to the 'histories' people had been told and sold by many AB 'old timers'. The more we researched, the more archaeologists, historians, history professors and researchers, geographers, cattlemen both here and abroad, and breeders of various alaunt type dogs from around the world, the more the pieces began to fit together, to take shape, revealing the truth. These, archaeologists, historians, history professors and researchers, geographers, cattlemen both here and abroad, and breeders of various alaunt type dogs from around the world have been intrigued by our work and continue to work with us in our efforts and progress. They have been an enormous help in our work. During this we have befriended several Alano breeders in Spain. After reviewing our findings, they are convinced, as our we, that the OWE is unquestionably of very early Spanish imported origin.
In 2006, we finally organized and published an official organization to preserve the WE...The OWEPS. Though our concept had begun some 7 years prior, we felt it dishonest to claim the OWEPS had begun and was established from the time of it's conception in 1999 when it was no more than a thought, an idea. Rather, we chose to wait until after we had done our research and had overwhelming evidence and the support of top experts in their field of study to officially establish ourselves. We press on with our research and with the help of these experts, continue to unravel mysteries, debunk myths of various breeds and uncover facts once lost to time. The information we have discovered can and we believe one day WILL re-write the history of various breeds.
During this very long process, we have learned a great deal about people as well. Over the years, we have taken unbelievable flack from fanciers of these various breeds, including the WE. We have found that most people are content with the 'histories' they have been told and sold for years, and are unwilling to accept the evidence-based information we have found and provided to the public. People prefer romantic tales and are deeply offended and angered that we offer an alternate yet evidence-based history, choosing to see themselves as competition rather than breed conservators. Sadly, we have also learned that people are more concerned with their dog's titles and trophies than they are concerned about their breed's purity or the truth of it's origins.
In 2007, the BBC as well as the ARF began their recognition of the WE and the OWEPS as the Parent Registry of the breed. We provided the first written WE standard to be implemented by both the BBC and the ARF. Very shortly after establishing a working relationship with the ARF, and providing them with the accurate history of the ABBB, AT THEIR REQUEST, we chose to terminate our relationship with the ARF and requested our information be removed from their site. This was done after the research we had done on the ABBB and providing the ARF with accurate pedigrees on merit registered dogs as well as photos never before seen, Mr. Walker chose to publish a series of 'books' revealing the results of 'his' 'investigation' into the ABBB history, and did so only upon finding out that we too were going to publish the results of the 'investigation', aka the truth about the ABBB. His publications were contrary to the truth of the ABBB history and had been re-written to serve the desires of the ARF. (see The ABBB Disclosure Project).
In 2010, the President of the BBC, with the backing of the owner at that time, demanded that we, as a private club, and in violation of our contract, began to show our dogs and to allow for outcrosses. This was in complete contradiction to everything the OWEPS stands for. We refused to sacrifice our principles for profit. Shortly after, we parted ways with the BBC and are once again an independent, private club and registry for the WE. We are finding this to be much more suited to our goals and our hand-selected members. We will not sacrifice our principles for profit! We will not bend nor will we be bought. The OWEPS is a private, non-competitive group, breeding non-competitive dogs. If competition, either in breeding or with dogs, is what your looking for, please feel free to look elsewhere.
Today, the OWEPS is focused primarily on the CWE as their numbers dwindle to near extinction. As the CWE is native to a small area of middle Georgia, our efforts are geared heavily towards preserving a breed so rare as to classify them as critically endangered. Several breeders worldwide have been granted exclusive access for the use of CWE specimens in helping them to re-establish the traditional alaunt type in their own endangered alaunt type breeds that too have nearly been bred out of existence by modern breeders. I'm not in this for puppy sales or making a name for myself, I'm in this to preserve the dogs I grew up with. I am achieving that with the tremendous help of those I've placed my CWE with!! I'm there ya'll!
The OWEPS continues working with experts in numerous fields worldwide. With their help, our achievements thus far have been ground-breaking, though largely criticized and rejected by mainstream breed fanciers: Those content with mediocrity. We have also received a large and welcome response by many people from all over the world. Specifically, those truly familiar with the old alaunt type breeds such as the CWE. These are the people we wish to reach the most. Those who are seeking the truth and have a firm understanding of the basics of history and the ability to think for themselves. We have endured slander and criticism of every sort by every sort for years. These attempts at driving us away or shutting us down have and will remain only attempts. We will not waiver from the facts we have uncovered, facts that are upheld and proven by parties larger and greater than us. We stand firm in what we have proven and will continue to prove. Since 2006, the OWEPS has been the world's largest, most inclusive and accurate source for information pertaining to the OWE and will remain so.
The OWEPS DOES NOT recognize ANY OWE or WEB registered with any registry or club that is not OWEPS sanctioned.
Heather Wilkins
OWEPS Founder
Hawkinsville, Georgia 31036;
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