Sayly

My Aunty is so dead set on the fact Holly isn't happy here because she's a working dog. She should be on a farm. Holly is her happiest cuddled up on the bed with me.

You cant saw sawdust. Enjoy your dogs and walk on When I hear somone tell me that they can get a crossbred rescue dog / byb that can do the job my dogs can do, I just laugh because they dont know what they are talking about; I dont get mad kind of pity the little ignoramuses. Oooh! how norty of me ... I'm sounding like a snob ;) - so what? Show me a cross bred byb rescue whatever that has the capabilty and is as sound pound for pound and then you might get my attention. But frankly, 1000 years selective breeding tempered by the elements - Vs some numpty nanosecond cross breeding idea: not likely Asserting that my dog breed(s) are better than any cross bred at their purpose bred task is not being a snob, it is stating a fact. Exactly. You left out the part of your post, where you called them ignoramuses & laugh at them, that is not only snobbery, but down right rude. Lilli isn't laughing because they have crossbreds, she is laughing at their ignorance for thinking that crossbred can do the same job as her purebreds. There's a difference. I laugh when people tell me I can't have a working dog in an average backyard, or that my dog has blue eyes thus she is blind, or that my Aussie is just a Coolie with a docked tail. No point getting angry! I laugh and if I have a chance, try and explain the truth. I don't see any difference to what Lilli is saying she does?

I'm sure that's not the case, otherwise why do people send those interesting in a puppy to dog shows to check the different breeds out. Other years the Autumn Inter has been no different to normal shows as to who can and can't come. It's simply a bigger show than most. If you want to come along, do so. I don't know how official the facebook page is. It is a great chance to meet lots of breeders and dogs as it is such a large show. My OH usually takes his camera and takes shots of (mostly) our dogs. If he sees another dog he thinks looks good he will take a shot, although never puts them online or shares them.

That's ok I didn't think you would! Sorry, didn't mean for it to come across like that!

Only info online that I know about is http://dogssa.com.au/documents/Autumn_Int_2010.pdf which is the schedule and http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?e...2004&ref=ts which is the facebook page. I haven't heard of any rules re taking pictures at dog shows, but some people may be funny about it if you put pictures online without their permission, especially if the dog looks crap in the picture. I have my Aussie Shepherd in and if you would like to take pics of her you are more than welcome! Same with the Irish. Our Border Terrier will also be out on one of the days for Earthdog.

To make sure you see some in the ring I wouldn't get there much past 9am, however in saying that they do have Cavs and Chis before them, which can take forever! It really depends on how many dogs are in of each breed as to when the Cresteds will go in. There were a few entered at Gawler the weekend just gone so there may be some entered down at Autumn Inter. I hope you get to see some! I am getting excited now! ETA: Kempe the canteen will be in operation like usual and the Autum International usually attracts some other food stalls too. BCs will be on early in the day too.

I got really offended when I read this, especially "you get what you pay for" part. I work with dogs and have done so all of my working life and I have owned them all my life. I respect individual choices to whether you want a purebred as I have owned pure bred dogs and I also respect individual choices to whether you want a cross breed dog which I have also owned. There is NO way I loved my pure breed dogs over my cross breed dogs and I am so grateful that I was blessed with every single one of them and how much I loved them just for being great companions. Two nights ago I had to put down my 14 year old Maltese X Griffin X and for someone to insinuate that she was less of dog because she was a cross breed was really offensive, to me she was the dog that greeted me when I came home, she was the dog who slept on my bed every night, she was the dog who loved hugs and she was mine and my family's dog and we will miss her immensely everyday and so will her companion a 16 year old wolf hound X (one of the most loyal dogs I have had). If you don't love dogs as a whole then how can you call your self a "dog lover"? I will also take this opportunity to pay respect to all of the dogs that I have owned and have touched my life and I love every single one of them the same for just being them: - Penny - German shepherd X Kelpie Marsique - Chihuahua Tess - Bull terrier X Grey hound Heidi - Maltese X Griffin X And those that are still with me Cerridwen Irish wolf hound X and Penny (2) Red heeler Life is too short to be judgmental Bonnie parker, and I am sure if I ever owned an Australian Shepherd I would love it just as much as the dogs that I listed above! I'm pretty sure Bonnie didn't mean cross breds were any lesser dogs. I think she means that she gets what she pays for as far as knowing what the structure, size and personality of a purebred pup will be as an adult. She knows their family, that they are health tested, she has breeder support when buying a purebred dogs. She gets what she wanted - the coat, personality, size she wanted. I don't think she was saying if she had a cross bred that it would be any less loved, but that she simply wouldn't go with a cross bred as she likes the purebred Aussies and she knows they suit her lifestyle. They are likely to be better suited to her and her lifestyle than a cross bred (for example, she bought a cute cross bred pup who turns out to be a much more independant dog, rough coat, too big or too small for her lifestyle than an Aussie, I doubt she would love this pup any less but an Aussie suits her better). Did any of your cross breds come with health testing? Did you know their parents, grandparents, greatgrandparents, brothers, sisters, cousins etc personalities and health test results? Did you get to meet any of them? Watch brothers and sisters grow as well as your own pup? Did you know what to expect as they grew (ie size, build, personality)? Did you get support from those who bred them? I sure didn't with my mutt (who I adore as much as my purebred dream girl Holly) - Bonnie gets all these things from her purebred dogs, on top of the all the great things she would have if they were mutts. ETA: In short I think Bon meant that there are more benefits from purchasing a purebred dog from an ethical, registered breeder than getting a cross bred. Not that they are any lesser simply for being cross breds. Bon please correct me if I am wrong, but this is what I got from your post above and from talking to you online. :D

The fact that very few turn up is great, and when they do if the breeder can be determined they usually take them back, but they are increasing in popularity and occasionally turning up in pet shops, I am sure there will be more in need of rescue in the future.

You aren't a snob, you are being responsible in finding the right breed that you know will suit your lifestyle, not some Xbred who may or may not suit and may end up needing to be rehomed! I have a Xbred and I adore her, but we were lucky she turned out the size she is and has the temprement she has. I doubt I will own a X bred again, I want to breed Aussies but I also want to be involved in my Aussie Shepherd and Irish Terrier rescue too.

Dogmad - they do occasionally turn up but individual breeders or the breed clubs generally rescue and rehome. The one I have heard of who may be put in the hands of rescue soon was bought from a petshop and the owner sounds very irresponsible. If the OP wants to rescue an Aussie it is possible, although they may well be waiting a while! As I said, it is very occasionally.

This seems like a pretty common misconception about the breed!

Westies do seem to be an easier breed to own out of the terriers (in general of course), more average-family-friendly dogs than some other terriers (like the Scotties, Irish, Kerries etc). I love the stubborness of the terriers and working out how to train them, but they can be bloody frustrating at times! The Aussie Shepherds are a real joy to work with though, for me. ETA: I know a fantastic Westie who is very well behaved, trusted off lead, not dog (or people) aggressive in any way and lets many strange dogs come into his house and lay on his couch with nothing more than a dirty look. He even lets Holly play with his toys without becoming agro, and he loves his toys. But he has been so well socialised from day one, he was taken everywhere and still is. He has always had strange dogs coming into his home and so it's no big deal. He's an easy dog to live with and take everywhere.

See westielover I have met a breeder who has the most darling Scotties I have ever met or seen. No aggression at all, absolutely, gorgeous, sweet dogs. Yet I have seen some very narky Scotties too - which highlights my point above of getting a dog from a good breeder. Having been involved with terriers since I was born and now working dogs, I have found terriers are much more difficult to train, personally. They need a different sort of training and more patience I think. However, I have no doubt some terrier individuals are easier to train than some working dogs individuals.

Gayle beat me to it. If you want a rescue Aussie (occasionally they do crop up) contact the breed clubs and let them know. I know of an Aussie who may be in need of rescue soon (he was a pet shop puppy). You are the one sharing the next 10+ years with this dog, not the individuals who are trying to guilt you into a rescue. Which means finding the right dog for you is vital. By buying from a registered, ethical breeder you are supporting those who do the right thing. ETA: If everyone got rescues and stopped getting purebreds there would no longer be purebreds around, including Aussies. That would be a terrible, terrible thing, from my point of view anyway! I get what you mean about feeling like they are just the right breed and not being able to put your finger on it. BCs seem quite similar in many ways, but they hold very little interest for me, and yet I can't work out why? I know they are lovely dogs and I think they are beautiful but they have nothing on Aussies for me.

Westie grooming is not just brushing, it is hand stripping which can be difficult to learn and takes a bit of time. Some people shave them which softens the coat and I don't particularly like it and think it ruins the coat, someone with more Westie experience may be able to speak further about this. Westies CAN be great dogs, but this takes time and effort to get there. They need to be purchased from a good breeder with dogs with stable temprements and then well socialised, this means you will need to take them out of your own yard and get them out and about as much as possible. Many dogs (of any breed) don't simply find a large amount of space to be adequate for their mental and physical needs, often they don't exercise themselves and still require walking and training. Westies are terriers, if something catches their nose they are likely to be pretty selective in their hearing too. From what you have said, a Cav sounds more suitable although any breed will need to get out and about and be socialised to become well rounded dogs who won't be fearful and destructive.

I agree with you stormie, Dad had a face mask on and one of those plastic suits you wear when doing work with insulation and things like that and the dogs went nuts when they saw him! Ruby freaked out and hid, Poppy, Holly and Gracie raced towards him barking their heads off. As soon as he took the face mask off they were fine. Tried it a couple of times with things over my face and the same thing happened.

My red devil is a bit of a princess... Our old Irish was probably closer to a Kerry though, much more full on and very terrier-y.

When you put something false in your DOL profile I think it's wrong, therfore I will tell you so. It's a public forum which means we can voice our thoughts should we want to. Go ahead and ignore them if you want, but I have found being open to other people's thoughts and ideas to be very beneficial. No one is bagging you out, simply pointing out facts you don't seem to be able to see yourself. You will become a better asset to the breed if you can see things for what they are. Have fun showing your dog, I have no doubt you are a wonderful owner and no one is picking on you, just pointing out things they may well be very passionate about.

Mollie10 - Kerries are amazingly impressive! I love love love the look but have had little to do with them personality wise, except for a couple who came into work (I fell in love)!

Uh that's scary! We have already done titre tests (3rd year vet student) ourselves!

GSDlover, if your dog was vaccinated last year, he does not need to be done for things like Parvo (ie the C3 vac) for three years after that according to the AVA. According to the AVA though you should still get him done for canine cough every year. Check out http://ava.informz.net/ava/data/images/doc...inal-june09.pdf and chat to your vet about it. Many vets are still sticking with yearly vaccinations but the data is there supporting 3 yearly vacs instead.

You do know they come in a smooth coat don't you? As NZVizsla said, SMOOTH collies may be suitable.

Because they are not true terriers, simply the name they were given, nothing to do with their purpose.

There with the Aussies and the Irish! Looking forward to it, I love the Autumn International!

Mollie10 I believe Kerry's have a different gene that gives them the "blue" colour. They aren't dilutes like the staffords but it's a greying gene instead. I may be wrong though. Kerry's are born black and have black noses.