brittany13

Hi Sheridan Thanks re the offer to help out. I just noticed my profile says I am from Queensland though, where you are listed. I just fixed it. I am actually from Victoria not Queensland. Don't know when that changed

I have another breed of interest in my short list - what do people know about Brittany's? They sound pretty good :)

Hi there, before I tell you about wheatens from my point of view, what interests you about them? Hi Sheridan :) From what I have gleamed so far, the SCWT's seem to tick many of the boxes for us for a future possible breed. They seem to have a good all round temperament if properly socialized growing up. Be very people orientated. Can live inside with us, enjoy a cuddle on the couch, but still enjoy daily walks, car trips, trips to the lake for a swim or play, holidays trips away with the family, suitable for some obedience trialing and endurance - which we have enjoyed with our previous dogs. The general public would not be put off by the appearance of a SCWT. Having owned Staffords and Rottweilers for many years, we are tired many peoples apprehension even before they met our nice natured dogs. They are a good medium size for us, have a minimal shed coat (one I could learn to maintain and clip) All that sounds good. Now, here's a caveat because a lot of people are interested in wheatens because they're low shedding. Wheatens require daily brushing and combing out to the skin. Not clipping and maintenance but actual brushing and combing. Your best friends when you have a wheaten are a slicker and a fine-toothed comb. There is a period I call the 'Oh, FFS, I just combed out that bit' and it goes on for months. I posted on FB that my Roo had reached the 'orange fuzzies' and received much sympathy from fellow wheaten folk because all of us have wept during this time and all the times afterwards. If not brushed and combed out they mat and mat badly. Clipping doesn't do it. I noticed an earlier post about you preferring a dog that's easy to maintain. That is not wheatens. Not remotely. But if you're not put off by weeping and daily grooming let's talk some more, like about the digging (do you like your garden? Too bad!), the thievery (all wheatens are thieves), the psycho dog running around (no one knows why they do this but all of them do it), how they won't do anything they don't think is their idea (stubborn), the couch cuddles (top marks), the kisses (gold star), and how they're the best breed ever! Aside from kerry blues, of course (but don't go there). Hi Sheridan Thanks for the great feedback on the Wheatens, its appreciated What you have told me doesn't totally put me off them so to speak. I will however need to investigate the grooming side of them alot more. We are planning to go to some shows soon to try and meet up with some breeders and their dogs and chat face to face so we can get some first hand experience with the breeds we have short listed. :)

Hi there, before I tell you about wheatens from my point of view, what interests you about them? Hi Sheridan :) From what I have gleamed so far, the SCWT's seem to tick many of the boxes for us for a future possible breed. They seem to have a good all round temperament if properly socialized growing up. Be very people orientated. Can live inside with us, enjoy a cuddle on the couch, but still enjoy daily walks, car trips, trips to the lake for a swim or play, holidays trips away with the family, suitable for some obedience trialing and endurance - which we have enjoyed with our previous dogs. The general public would not be put off by the appearance of a SCWT. Having owned Staffords and Rottweilers for many years, we are tired many peoples apprehension even before they met our nice natured dogs. They are a good medium size for us, have a minimal shed coat (one I could learn to maintain and clip)

Thanks for your advice Cosmolo

Thanks karen15 :) Yes Westies are nice but would prefer bigger. A Cocker could be a possibility to add to our short list :)

Thanks cazablanca for your suggestions :)

We have stayed at a friends house for a while with a lovely Dalmatian. She was lovely with a really nice nature, however we were constantly coated in copious amounts of her white hair - and that really put us off.

Haha its enjoyable researching but also scary. :) We have only ever owned 2 breeds - Rottweilers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers - both lovely breeds that we will always have soft spots for. Its really hard trying to settle on a new breed ...one we do the right thing by and can fit to our current lifestyle. Not too big, not too small. One we can do some obedience and endurance with, maybe some showing, take away on holidays, something the public isn't generally wary. Also one that has an easy care coat or one that we can learn to properly clip

Hi RiverStar-Aura, :) thanks for the great info on the Aussie and the Norwich, they sound nice but I think they might be just that bit too small for us. We are really looking for a bit bigger than 10 inches. The terrier temperament - we are used to having had 2 Staffords (terriers), so that wouldn't worry us greatly. Having had the 2 Staffords for years, we are used to something around the 16 inch height and a similar weight. The SCWT comes in at around the 18-19 inch height so not too much bigger. We wouldn't want to go much bigger than that though. Thanks again for your input though

Thanks mackiemad. Started reading a bit on them last night and they sound really like a possible option for us too :)

What about Soft Coated Wheatens? What are they like?

Thanks for your info mackiemad Of the 3 breeds we are looking in to so far - the Mini's seem to tick more boxes :D

Thanks tdierikx for sharing the link with me and the breeder info. Wow what a great post - a lovely well bred and beautifully raised litter. Best of luck with your future puppy :)

Thanks for the info showdog its much appreciated.

Thanks Starkehre :) We still have a real spot for Rottweilers, but not sure if we want to go down that path again. One of the reasons we shifted to Staffords when our last Rottweiler died 11 years ago, was size .... we could fit 2 kids and 2 Staffords plus the luggage in the car for a trip...with 2 Rottweilers we needed a trailer. :laugh: Totally 100% agree with you re choosing your breeder carefully - there are alot of dodgy breeders (of many breeds) out there sadly selling poor quality pups to unsuspecting buyers I must say I was very impressed when I viewed the link to your puppy post tdierikx put on here. That brought back fond memories of our Rottweiler days. What a beautiful well bred litter.

Hi all In the preliminary stages of researching the next breed for us. We have recently lost our beloved 11yr old Stafford 4 weeks ago to cancer (and sadly his beloved 8yr old spouse 1 year ago also to cancer) and wish to look to the future for a new soulmate. Hubby and I are both semi retired so someone is at home 90% of the time and have plenty of time to devote to a new pup.Our kids are in early 20's and living away for university, but visit often. We also have a friendly 2yr old rescue cat. We like to go on regular family holidays with our dogs and rent a pet friendly beach holiday house where possible or employ a friendly house sitter. Our dogs have always lived inside with us, going outside - mostly when we are outside (of course :D ) on our 3/4 acre block and enjoy daily walks, car rides, outings to the lake for a walk/swim and even occasional boat and kayak outings. With both breeds we also loved quiet snuggles on the couch and bed. We have over the years owned and loved 3 Rottweilers and 2 Staffords - both fantastic breeds. We enjoyed sharing our lives with these breeds and competing in Obedience trials, endurance and showing. We are now looking for a new breed for us. As much as we love both breeds we would now prefer one that the general public is not so bias with opinions of. We are researching what new breed would best suit us. Ideally a breed that won't shed too much or is easy to maintain perhaps with a clip. We are quite open to learning how to use clippers ourselves. Also something not too big or too tiny. At the moment we are very interested in Miniature Schnauzers, Standard Schnauzers and the Lagotto Romagnolo. Any suggestions/feedback welcome on these breeds or others. Thanks in advance

All good now, found a local practitioner. http://www.highcountrymassagecentre.com.au/ Can't deny we were skeptical, but it worked. Our 10 year old Staffy was feeling sore and wouldn't jump, within 24hrs he was as good as gold :)

thanks for all the suggestions, much appreciated

OK thanks, will check them out. :)

Hi Looking for a good canine chiropractor or similar for our 10 year old Stafford. Anyone know of any within reasonable traveling distance of Mansfield,North East Victoria. Used to go to George Schofield in Yuroke many years ago and he was fantastic.Not sure who is around these days though. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks

Hi all Planning to do an Endurance Test this year with our Stafford. Does anyone know if the breed club tests are restricted to that breed only ? ie the Hungarian Vizla Club is holding one on Sat 24 th May at KCC Park...can a Stafford enter ? Also the Dalmatian Club is holding one on the 31st of May..can a Stafford enter it, an does anyone know where it will be held ? And the German Shepherd Dog Club of Vic is hosting one on Sat 21st June......can a Stafford enter it, an does anyone know where it will be held ? Thanks Cheryl

Thanks for your help. Cheers Cheryl

Hi all :p Could anyone tell me, if a pup is registered on the Limited Register in Victoria/ Australia (as apposed to the Main Register) can this dog compete in Obedience Trials and have the title gained be added to these papers (as they do with Main Registered) OR do they have to compete as an Associate Registered Dog ? Couldn't find the info on the VCA website. Thanks :p Chery

Hi all Just wondering if anyone knows which clubs will be hosting Endurance Tests in 2008. Victorian areas or just over the border preferably. Cheers Cheryl