LisaCC

I agree with this, I would want to know who they are and avoid them like the plague.

Dawwwwww!

My daily checks are mainly going all through his thick fur for any stray grass seeds, testicles are just another thing to check.

I have my first intact dog too, I do my own physical checks daily like Bjelkier, then a vet yearly if there is no other reason to go in. If he needs to go to the vet for any reason I ask for a check up then too. I did want to mention that desexing males does not necessarily decrease the chance of prostate cancer, there is research suggesting the opposite actually.

Wow congratulations! Awesome effort for both of you! Ziggy going down in history

Not sure, it still sounds as though you are saying the dogs are bred for performance or dog sports rather than for their ability to work. Working ethic in those dogs is still paramount, if people source them for performance rather than work it shouldn't be held against them. There are working people who will not sell their dogs to agility homes for fear of having their reputation tarnished. Even though the characteristics (structure, work ethic, flexibility/agility) of a good working dog actually lend themselves quite well to dog sports. I agree with that, but there are still differences in dogs that are bred soley for the work originally intended and dogs bred for performance (a relatively new type of work). I'm not saying ones better than the other, I'm just saying that there are differences.

Sorry DC excuse my terminology. Does it make more sense if I said 'performance' I didn't mean sporting register.

Depends when they sent it off and how busy DogsNSW is. I think DogsNSW gives a 10 day average once they receive the forms, then they will post it back to the breeder, then the breeder will probably post it out to you. It's pretty normal, especially if choices on which puppy is going where and on which register are left to closer to 8 weeks. I got my boys papers quicker than I expected, about 2 weeks later, but some have taken a while longer.

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't the benefit of breeding working line dogs to show dogs is to ensure the structure and look remain inside the breed standard? To make sure the working dog still looks like a kelpie rather than losing that aesthetic aspect and looking like something else altogether. I am guessing if someone is breeding selectively for working ability and ignoring the coat, colour, size etc then some very different looking dogs may result. (Though I am guessing farmers really wouldn't care what it looks like as long as it does the job) I like to look at a dog and be able to tell straightaway "That is a kelpie, that is a border collie, that is a Rottweiler" rather than looking at a dog and thinking..."Um.. is that a kelpie? Maybe it's a mix?" If you know what I mean. Working line Kelpies still look like Kelpies :) They don't need to be a show dog to have breed type. This is Kaos's breeder. Her dogs are obviously Kelpies :) http://www.avenpart-avenel.com/ Gorgeous dogs!! Wow there are some great shots on that website! Yes you are right of course, but I was also thinking of other breeds. Again taking border collies purely as an example, I've looked at a working line border before and didn't realize it was a purebred border until the owner told me! I found this with the sporting aussies. Had no clue as i had only ever known the 'show look' type! I can tell now, but upon first meeting i thought they were BC's I personally think the working lines are closer to Show line looks than the sporting ones. But I'm sure that's a flame suit argument for elsewhere

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't the benefit of breeding working line dogs to show dogs is to ensure the structure and look remain inside the breed standard? To make sure the working dog still looks like a kelpie rather than losing that aesthetic aspect and looking like something else altogether. I am guessing if someone is breeding selectively for working ability and ignoring the coat, colour, size etc then some very different looking dogs may result. (Though I am guessing farmers really wouldn't care what it looks like as long as it does the job) I like to look at a dog and be able to tell straightaway "That is a kelpie, that is a border collie, that is a Rottweiler" rather than looking at a dog and thinking..."Um.. is that a kelpie? Maybe it's a mix?" If you know what I mean. Working line Kelpies still look like Kelpies :) They don't need to be a show dog to have breed type. This is Kaos's breeder. Her dogs are obviously Kelpies :) http://www.avenpart-avenel.com/ Gorgeous dogs!! Wow there are some great shots on that website! Yes you are right of course, but I was also thinking of other breeds. Again taking border collies purely as an example, I've looked at a working line border before and didn't realize it was a purebred border until the owner told me! Oh wow! I have a dog crush on Thor

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't the benefit of breeding working line dogs to show dogs is to ensure the structure and look remain inside the breed standard? To make sure the working dog still looks like a kelpie rather than losing that aesthetic aspect and looking like something else altogether. I am guessing if someone is breeding selectively for working ability and ignoring the coat, colour, size etc then some very different looking dogs may result. (Though I am guessing farmers really wouldn't care what it looks like as long as it does the job) I like to look at a dog and be able to tell straightaway "That is a kelpie, that is a border collie, that is a Rottweiler" rather than looking at a dog and thinking..."Um.. is that a kelpie? Maybe it's a mix?" If you know what I mean. Sticking with Aussies, check out Rozates website. They have an imported a working line stud dog from America, and are mixing working and show lines to get what you are saying. He also looks quite a bit different to the sporting aussie that was posted earlier. I would call them "sporting lines" not working.

Like Borders there is a big difference between working and purely sporting lines too.

Somehow I missed this thread from the day before the pups were born until now, have just spent the last half an hour catching up. Cutest thread everrr!

You are welcome to have cuddles by my love bug to fulfil your blue merle wishes

LisaCC, how would you describe your Aussie Shepherd? I wonder how they compare to a Border collie. Border Collies temperament doesn't appeal to me at all, but I love my Aussie. My boy is high drive and can be a nutter, wants to work, needs plenty of exercise and mental stimulation, but has a good off switch. They are individuals but I would definitely not recommend my boy for an inexperience owner or someone who doesn't want to work him regularly in some way or another. He can be very manipulative and gets bored quickly. They have different working styles than borders and are more clownish. I know some people that have both borders and Aussies and they seem to prefer one or the other as apparently you need to train them a bit differently. I've been told borders will work for you, aussies will work for something.

Most likely another Aussie, I would LOVE a red tri next Possibly my dream breed of a Dalmatian though I kinda want to put that off until LUAs are in Australia and breeding well. I would also like to one day have a working line GSD or possibly a Belgian Terv.

I'll take one in isabella, but only if it comes in miniature.

I can understand the chi as its conformation you are after, but what you are describing in a sheltie is pure coat colour. If you are 100% on those markings you need to be prepared to wait for a pup that not only looks like that but actually suits you temperament wise. As others have said multiple times, I suggest you go meet breeders at a show or trial in person and build a relationship and WAIT for a litter. The better relationship the more likely you might be to get the dog you are after, especially as by what you are saying the looks you want are normally kept for show/breeding.

They are a favourite here, has put up to a years worth of river retrieving and countless sand burying sessions without a mark so far. I leave christmas shopping to the last moment so I'm not sure

House and Yard photos: I was asked to provide them for my new dog, and my Mum was asked to provide them 13 years ago for our labrador. The photo of yourself is a bit odd but I can imagine some reasons, I also think asking about your drives and motivations is a good question, it gives insight on how the dog may live in the future, not right now when it's shiny and new. Not at all saying you would do this but there are lots of cases of people buying a dog with all good intentions, then something happens, they get an intense job, they have children etc and they decide the dog is the least important thing now and it gets turned into a lawn ornament.

Don't say where it is publicly! Greyhounds, even GAP ones, are not supposed to be off lead in Vic, unless private property. What? Even a green collared one in a fenced in dog park?

That looks like an awesome dog park!

Aww gorgeous photos everyone! How great are all the different retriever breed pups Alvse I'm also somewhat jealous of your nice looking house lol, I love big windows!

Nova hates slicker brushes the most. He used to hate pet shop pin brushes, then I got a Chris Christensen polished wood pin brush, and it just glides through his hair. He will even roll over for me to brush his tummy now. He still hates his butt hair being brushed but he will tolerate it now. I found having him up on a grooming table, or even just on top of his kennel helped heaps. Treat and leash (incase he decides to make a run for it) in one hand and brush in the other. Nova LOVES tomatoes, and grooming is the only time I give them to him. They are his extra special grooming treats He doesn't particularly like his shedding rake either but being up on something and all our treat training he tolerates it. I use a kong zoom groom just to finish after de-shedding, it gets any floaty hairs off before it rubs into me or the carpet. I actually prefer the cheaper Purina version, looks more like a horse brush.

Had a stinking hot summer here last year, a few weeks of 40+, sometimes didn't drop below 30 at night. Those weeks the aircon was on almost constantly. If it's cool in the morning I'll come home and lunch, let Nova in and put the aircon on, otherwise he's in all day with it on if it's over 30 since early morning. Especially since our sun baking snake scare. Still my summer bills last year were cheaper than winer bill using the same reverse cycle unit, and the heat is only put on in the evenings, Nova certainly doesn't need it during the day with his coat. I think the system must use less power if it stays on for longer, as it's not changing the temperature extremely like it would in winter.