jr_inoz

But would you prefer a judge, at an all breeds show who was a specialist in your breed? I know I do.

I know a breeder whose kennel is in the suburbs. All of their kennel dogs are de-barked. They are happy, healthy and don't seem at all bothered by their 'lack of voice'. As others have said - it is a much better way of dealing with barking than some training methods.

Na - white will be fine with the shelties.... If you end up chalking their feet - white pants are about the only colour that wont show up their paw prints.... the other colour I reckon would be a nice light/bright blue - sky blue/aqua colour would be good.

I am pretty sure that all choices are put through a computer and it spits out the one it says you can have... (at least thats what they told me earlier this year when I got mine). Oh for goodness sake - these are way different. Go check out the prefixes in shetland sheepdogs - heaps are very very very similar - way more than yours. So many have "shel" as the start of them. Do they really advertise new prefixes? haven't seen them in the DogsSA journal.

someone I know lost their Ridgeback a couple of year ago, in the southern suburbs, to baiting. From the neighbour over the back fence. Didn't like the dog barking. Was very sad. Police report made but because they didn't actually see the neighbour throw the bait, nothing was done. I couldn't understand that. Very sad

My friends have one of these - they are gorgeous! So very good with kids. (especially if from the right breeder) I still reckon you ought to convince your husband to get a sheltie..... (I am biased of course). Would a Japanese Spitz work in this situation or a shiba inu?

lots of sheltie people use snake chains as they don't get caught in the fur. Not sure what state you are in - Complete Canine in Adelaide always has them in stock. Maybe at your local dog show?

I have a chamois one for my shetland sheepdog. works very well. Also keeps the coat sitting nicely. I did have a cool champions trolley mate, which both dogs would scrunch up, out of the way so that they didn't have to sit on it. They hated it. Ended up giving my trolley mate to an ACD breeder whose dogs love them.

Yes - but if a dog can't beat another dog at all, either in specialty shows or at group level and gets it's "grand" title by not beating anything.... how is this dog worthy of the "grand champion" title which suggests they should have beaten "champions" to earn that title. Without a 25pt qualifier, it is possible for a dog to win the Grand title without beating a thing.

If you have to sleep over - you'll need a tent. I have found the black wolf easy up tents really good for one person. The smaller one of these will fit in the back of a small car. I have an oztrail one that was cheaper, but they don't make it anymore. I wouldn't trust mine in really windy conditions though anyway. (Might be why they don't make it anymore and only make a canvas version). The black wolf ones are used by my work and the outdoor ed guys swear by them. this is the black wolf one. A 2.4m compact gazebo is possible to put up on your own and fits in the back of a small car. I use this for weekend shows here in the city. ETA - meant to add - in spring/summer/autumn, if I am only doing one day - I take an umbrella. You can get umbrella spikes to hold them in the ground. I find this a really easy and quick set up - especially with just one dog.

it sounds like a corgi or a schnauzer might be good. I'll start planting seeds for them. I think a retired show dog might be the answer for them. I know they would probably love a puppy but I think it will be out of their price range (knowing that my breed are now around $1000, I think corgis and schnauzers are that or a bit more....). I suspect their decisions are a bit further down the track though. Hopefully I'll be able to slowly work on them. Might take the dog mad younger ones to a show in the next month or so...

what are shiba inus like? would they be suitable? or a tibetan spaniel?

better them knowing what they want over getting a dog that they wont groom and who ends up matted and horrible. I hate grooming and brushing and this is a deal breaker for me, i dont want a dog that has a long coat as i am not huge into brushing. +1 I agree with both Teebs and Aussielover that it's better that people are realistic about how much grooming they are prepared to do. An active family with 3 kids will likely find it easier to incorporate exercise than grooming into their dogs day. I'd rather walk/ train my dog than spend heaps of time grooming it. I picked a breed accordingly. Yes, he sheds a little, but I have to vacuum my house frequently anyway because I have messy kids. Dog hair is least of my complaints! For the family the OP is speaking of though it sounds like allergies are a concern so their needs are more specific regarding coat type. They may have to compromise and be prepared to get a dog whose coat does require more grooming. Yes - I am glad they are realistic about it too. I think they are aware that low-shedding doesn't necessarily mean low maintenance. Yep - my sheltie's coat doesn't require a lot of grooming (especially when we aren't showing) but when she blows her coat.... just lets say - I could vacuum my hard floor twice a day and it would still look like I hadn't vacuumed in a month - especially right at the moment - she is blowing her coat big time. I am brushing her each day to get rid of it all, in the hope of having less on the floor - but she still leaves fur behind. Mind you - I do love that she doesn't shed much at all for the rest of the time. I had a miniature fox terrier growing up (suspect it would be a tenterfield now...) and he shed all year round. Short little hair everywhere that got stuck in everything. I should ask them more questions about what they are after. What are havanese like for grooming? Can anyone tell me about an Aussie Terrier? I'll mention corgis. There are some lovely ones here in SA. Keep the ideas coming. I am not very knowledgeable about dogs outside of the working dog group.

As much as they love her, I think the twice a year coat blow puts them off.

ok - I know, another one of "those" thread. took my little sheltie to a friend's bbq at a park today. Everybody loves her. She loves kids and so the little ones there had lots of fun giving her cuddles and pats. A couple of them were talking about how they will be getting a dog one day. They have obviously been talking as a family because they are looking at either a "spoodle" or a "cavoodle". I said to the little ones, I think a miniature schnauzer might be a better fit for your family, or a havanese. Of course, they went straight to mum to talk. Mum was receptive but commented "we can't afford a nice pure bred dog - we can only afford a cross breed". I told her they were around the same price. (hope this is right, but when i see labradoodle prices of over $1000 I don't think I am far wrong. I would like to keep "planting seeds" about suitable breeds for them so that they can go and do their research. So... what breed. Family with 3 children - youngest is 8 I think. Fairly active family, but not a huge yard. Working dog would be out (unless it was a sheltie or corgi - something that didn't need lots of yard). Youngest also has pet hair allergies (not all animals - she seems fine with my sheltie), so something low shedding would be good. Yes - I've told them all dogs shed some fur, even poodles. They would need something that didn't require lots of brushing. They would also need a small dog (not toy size). They think my sheltie is the ideal size. any suggestions? thanks....

I do get envious of the Victorian system and opportunities. Rommy has had a couple of lessons on ducks, and she is very good with them. Close to being able to do a PT. (Although I need to learn more.) No opportunities to train on ducks here at the moment. We were entered in a trial a month ago on ducks, but it was cancelled cos the stock died. Herding club has just become official here - just got its DogsSA affliliation so hopefully things will get better. Will be interesting to see how your girl goes on ducks. Rommy is good, but the other sheltie who was at the lesson on sheep the other day with me, can't work ducks. Her owner was telling me that she tried to kill the stock, so not a good option for her. She's sticking to sheep.

Rommy is a bit the same. She is ok around other dogs most of the time, but definitely very wary - especially if she is on lead. At obedience, it would depend on the dog along side her. She got 'rolled' by 3 large dogs at a park once (never been back) and also lunged at with snapping teeth by the GSD in front of her just as we were both about to go in for our class in group. She is very wary of all of those breeds now. Do you think Shae will get better around other dogs when she's been with you for a while longer? Rommy loves agility - but I don't so that isn't something I am likely to put time into. We both like herding, even though it is physically exhausting for me too. The sport, in terms of ANKC trials etc is just starting up, so there aren't many opportunities for lessons that fit with my working life as well. We took the opportunity that came up yesterday with both hands. If you like that one of her getting into it - here is one of her staring down a sheep that wanted to try and prove a point. The sheep lost.

She looks great Gayle You are right about loving what they are bred to do. This is a quick (bad - no one around who knew how to take photos) picture of my girl at her first lesson on sheep yesterday. She loves it! I know nothing, so we have a very very very long way to go...

whether its easier for a rare breed to gain its title over a common breed, has been discussed numerous times. Theres such a thing as a non award, and i for one, in a rare breed, hate turning up to no competition, and with a good example of the breed with little competition it will actually take longer to get his title than an equally good example in a common breed. so don't cry foul. Not necessarily Pixie. JR is in SA and shows Shetland Sheepdogs. That breed is of a very high quality. There are some outstanding youngsters who have to go up against several older dogs who are multi BIS winners. Only one dog can go through to CC of each sex and one for BOB. The standard is very high in this breed and often one dog does not dominate so it can be difficult to gain a title fast. Thanks SnD - that was the point I was trying to make. I see very promising dogs out each week - but with only one place to show, they regularly come up against multi BIS GrCHs week in and week out. They struggle to get their title, which they deserve. We are often told by interstate visitors "Your dog would have its title by now if you were showing in this or that state or place". Some of these promising ones have multiple class in group wins and even class in show wins, but are still working toward their title, a couple only have a handle of points yet are multiple class in group winners. I am not saying that a rare breed doesn't necessarily deserve its title and I am always excited and pleased when the good example of the rare breed gets acknowledged at group level. It is why I think the current system for a Grand title is important and worthwhile. If you are good enough, you will win at group and qualify for the GrCh. It should be something special, not something that you can get by being the only one of your breed at a show and never able to beat anything else. You've got your Aust Ch title for that. It is also why I like the ROMA title the sheltie clubs have. It acknowledges how good that dog or bitch and its contribution to the breed itself. Which is fantastic and what I've been trying to say. If you are good enough, even though rare, you should be winning at Group level and so be congratulated accordingly.

my other two cents worth is that it is easier for a rare breed to gain its title (not grand under the new rules) than for those breeds with larger numbers. Here in SA, where there is no choice of shows - (we're altogether every week - just the one show each time to go to, not a choice) - competition is much tougher in some breeds. Some dogs shown here are very good examples of their breed and struggle to get their title. A dog in a rare breed gets its title easily, with no competition, and can be a not so good example of the breed, because there is nothing else for it to compete against. Am happy to see the 'popular' breeds gain their titles here in SA - you know they have beaten outstanding quality to get there. A title in this state in a popular breed is harder to come by than it is in other states where there is less competition. A Gr Ch title, even more so.

They don't always check. Case of a dog here in Adelaide who attacked and killed a smaller dog at an off leash park. They said that they would comply with the council and not let their dog return to that park or be offlead whilst the investigation took place. Other community members who witnessed the attack said that the owners had been back at that park just a few days later with the dog, offlead again. Council has done nothing.

Yep - someone I know has a "purebred" malteze/shihtzu - according to her - it is 'purebred' because both parents are 'malteze/shihtzu' (pet shop bought, same litter, not desexed).

woo hoo lisey. Look forward to the pictures. Hop on to the canon eos website and sign up to the my canon section. The tutorials in there are really good. They were great for me when I got my speedlite (flash). I still don't know how to use it properly, but the good basic tutorials on there were really helpful.

The ROMA title is not an officially recognised title - ie - not awarded by the ANKC. This is no way suggests that I don't like it - think that it is a fabulous thing to acknowledge that the individual animal has had an impact on the breed. Yep - with Shetland Sheepdogs - it is awarded by the club - I think the historian for the NSW club has all the records. Dogs need to have sired 10 champions, bitches 5 champions. so a ROM with Dobes is obviously a bit different to a ROMA for a shetland sheepdog?

slightly OT - but I was still wondering what other breeds have a ROMA title? Is it all other breeds or just shelties?