Gayle.

It's actually a Santa hat. Dusty only does celebration-appropriate head gear.

Every home full of working dogs needs a princess. They make even the laziest dog look like a worker bee! I love the sound of Safire, I reckon her and Dusty could probably share a palace together as long as they could have a separate wing, each with their own turret. Totally- she tried flyball, agility, herding and obedience. And she managed to worm her way out of every restraint (fences, harness collar etc) and either end up watching from the car or squirming into someones crate- hers, or the poor cavalier (who was still resident in the crate tiny tiny crate) if its open then it is clearly an invitation for the Princess. She loooooooves hopping in the car and going places..... Not so much the doing. She is a great cuddle pot too!! I am glad someone understands- most people just say I should stop being lazy and train her, or that she is not a very good kelpie- I happen to think she is just very very very smart and knows what she wants! She also likes to paw dogs on the head- looks so regal (and condescending ) When it comes down to it, they really are the easiest of dogs to live with. Dusty is demanding only of my pats and cuddles, she has no desire to be doing anything particularly active, and if she doesn't get walked for a few days/weeks/months then she doesn't care. She's never destroyed anything in her life, and not being exercised doesn't turn her into a she-devil. She is extraordinarily well-behaved and would rather die than do something naughty. She has a very expressive face and you can usually read her feelings on her face. I tried to teach her some tricks.....we got "touch" down pat, she can now touch her nose to my hand; she can walk backwards, although what use that's going to be I have no idea. Then I tried to teach her to roll over. She couldn't see the point and her whole facial expression read "This is bloody stupid, I can do this whenever I feel like it without you telling me to!" So we abandoned that trick.

Every home full of working dogs needs a princess. They make even the laziest dog look like a worker bee! I love the sound of Safire, I reckon her and Dusty could probably share a palace together as long as they could have a separate wing, each with their own turret.

What I found with Dusty, after trying various things, is that she doesn't like to be the centre of attention.......in the show ring, she'd slink around with her head down, not wanting anyone to look at her. In the obedience ring, she'd try and hide behind my legs so the judge didn't notice her. At herding, she wanted to be right by my side rather than the other side of the sheep where the dog is supposed to be, then she'd cringe when the sheep came near her and pick her paws up daintily as she picked her way around the mud. Now, she's in her element. She stays indoors all day, snoozes on the couch and has nanna naps with me on the weekends, and just loves being the centre of MY world. And tha't just about perfect for both of us.

That pic is Miss September in the Australian Shepherd Club of Victoria's 2012 calendar, and I heard on the grapevine that at the meeting where they voted on the pics to go in the calendar, that photo was a unanimous choice.

She was my first show dog, but didn't like being shown so she's now retired. We tried obedience and she didn't like that either, so we gave herding a whirl and she wasn't keen on the sheep, the mud, the smell......etc. etc. So now she's a full-time princess and supermodel, and part time navigator and guard of the car. She loves coming on drives and she especially loves coming on photoshoots with me. She is Dusty (Tuscamada Tahoe Rose), she's 4 years old and I think she's awesome.

I don't usually because the one I buy, Black Hawk Holistic is very good value and top quality. But if I run out and buy something else (usually a bag of Optimum) to tide me over til I get more BH, I'll sometimes mix the tail end of the Optimum with one or two meals of BH until the Optimum is used up. I used to mix cat food kibble, but it would be varieties of Royal Canin or Hills Science Diet, mostly because I wanted them to eat some Oral Care but not for the whole meal.

She is adorable and I love her name. I have been following your posts about her in the breeders forum, and it's no surprise to me she's staying, You're clearly besotted with her and I can't say I blame you.

There is also confusion over "papers". My work colleague told me she bought a puppy with papers, turns out it was a payment receipt, a vaccination and worming record and a typed sheet of care details. Not the "papers" I would expect but paperwork nonetheless.

They must not go in alphabetical order then, we're near you and got ours Wednesday. Love the Weisnjac JRT starring in the calendar!

I only got mine yesterday. Love the calendar!

There is no seperate neuter registry, to be shown as a neuter the dog must be on main register but the pedigree is marked as neutered. It's not a separate registry though.

Aussie Shepherds are very easy to groom and prepare for a show, and there are some excellent Aussie people in Qld. Basically, they need their paws and hocks trimmed neatly and the fluff behind their ears trimmed. If they're a natural bob they might need their tail bob trimmed but that's all. For a show, mine get a thorough bath and blow dry the day before, then on the day of the show, a spot clean and a spritz with water to fluff the coat up. You can use chalk on their whites, but I don't bother with too much of that as it doesn't make much of a difference to my boy. Coat maintenance to keep it clean and in good condition is essential, and also to keep up with the trimming so it doesn't need doing the morning of a show. But really, it's quick and easy and if we're not showing for a few weeks he gets a break from regular baths.

I can fully understand a much higher charge for a dog on main register because it gives you access to the breeders lines to use in your own breeding program, or to begin your own breeding program. If the breeder has paid to import dogs or semen, that can be extremely valuable. It also recognises the value of he work that's gone on before your pup was born, by all the breeders.

Wasn't there a post on here about a blue Neo pup that had been stolen? The owner asked that people watch out for it. I saw it only a few days ago.