Sayly

Another vote for Rivers here. Love them and like others said, not too expensive so if they get trashed it's no biggy.

Our household has 4 that live here all the time - two are mine, one is Mum's and the other is Dad's. My brother also lives here, and my OH may as well live here. So 4 dogs between 5 adults has been really easy. While I have been on holidays, one or two of the Aussies I co-own have been staying here for varying lengths of time so we have had 6 dogs at times. Maizie may as well live here now with the time she's spent here, and I found having the normal 4 plus her is a good number and mix of dogs. 6 hasn't been a big issue either. I couldn't imagine having 6 Irish Terriers in our set up would work but 6 Aussie Shepherds woud be fine. I think it would be different if it was just me as compared to 5 adults shared between 6 dogs.

We currently have dogs from 3 registered breeders and each experience was a positive one. Gracie is a pet. Her breeder was lovely and now we show we make sure to update her when we see her on how little Grub is going. While I wouldn't say we are friends she is someone I respect. Ruby is from an absolutely fantastic breeder who sold our family our first Irish Terrier. We kept in contact with her (roughly once a year contact, sometimes more) to let her know how Bridget was going. Once Bridget had passed and we were ready for another Irish she was the only one we would even think of getting a pup from as we had such a great experience. We now have a show dog and possible breeding bitch (if it goes right this time...) and we are in close contact with her breeder, who is a major mentor for both Mum and I. And of course the Aussies. I own one outright and co-own 3 more with their breeder (1 lives with me 100% of the time, the others technically live at the breeder's but come to mine for extended sleep overs and I handle them). I'm in close contact with their breeder and we can send 20 emails back and forth in one day. We share decisions about each dog so our relationship is probably closer than others. The other three breeders of Aussie Shepherds in SA that show have also been fantastic to me and more than happy to share knowledge and mentor me in anyway they can. I would reccommend all of them to pet buyers as I have found them to be incredible knowledgable, helpful and friendly with lovely tempered dogs. In fact several breeders from interstate have been the same when they have come to SA for shows. Happy to help and really friendly. I've found the majority of Aussie Shepherd breeders I've met or had much to do with have been wonderful. I know there's some dodgy ones around but thankfully I've had little to do with them and now know who to stay well away from.

Working in the boarding kennels meant taking one or two of the girls in wasn't an issue. Owners were happy for me to use to hydrobath whenever so when I had time I'd go in early and wash one or two of them then they'd chill in the kennels until I was finished my shift. Holly came in a couple of times when I went to work on the way home from staying at OH's shack.

Awww poor Duke. He's really not a lucky dog is he?

Who called them homicidal and evil? And you reminded me, our council called Ruby an Irish Setter to our neighbours when they were asking them if they minded if we got another dog. And yes, a red Schnauzer at Royal Shows all the time, how could I forget.

If they are asking you because you are Australian, have they have actually researched the breed or their history?

The Aussies are usually BCs, Coolies or Husky crosses. And we get the whole "what did you do to their tails" or "I thought you weren't allowed to dock anymore". Plus the "blind in the blue eye". Ruby has been called a "Whiskey" Terrier :p and of course ugly. We've been asked if she's an Airedale or a Fox Terrier too. One year at the Adelaide Royal, we had the Irish and our friend with her Lakeland was next to us. We ended up looking after the Lakie when our friend was off running her stand, so of course we got asked if the Lakie was a baby Irish.

I'm glad Issak has such a pretty girlfriend in his life! I wish you could bring her with you when you come over for the shows but I'm sure 2 dogs is enough, let alone 3 or 4!

Congratulations!

Our neighbours are HUGE Holden fans. Guess what their GSD is called? We had a Snickers, he was a chocolate rescue from Vic. When I was growing up we had a cat called Maestro. The rest of ours tend to have human names. Bridget (already named), Lilly, Gracie, Poppy, Ruby, Holly (already named), Maizie (favourite dog name), Bree (suggested Breeze, shortened it) and the cat is Emmy. Most had middle names thanks to Dad! Some of my favourite names for the future are non-human like Fizz and Shimmer. :D

Very cute! Hopefully it won't be too long until I get to meet little miss Halo! WA and I have already said we have to catch up for a playdate with Rory and Halo before their first shows.

Congratulations Pappy!

I've met Ms Cookie a couple of times now and she's so sweet, and what a pretty lady she is! I love the creams, wish someone here would show one so I could get cream cuddles! :) Tobster? :D

Congratulations Amanda!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! She's gorgeous! ;) I love the LHs!

Well done on your first show without any hassles! :D I'm going to get giggled at when my new baby hits the ring, I'm sure he's going to be naughty like his mother was! He will be entered for Ladies, if you see a baby red merle Aussie that's him! ETA: And I'll likely be somewhere near Whiskedaway!

How did it go? Are you doing next weekend?

Ruby sends her whiskery kisses to Grumpy for his birthday!

Exactly. Black Russians were bred as guard dogs but are said to have Airedale in them. Irish, Kerries, Wheatens are all larger, leggier terriers too that don't go underground. To me a terrier is a fearless hunter of small game or vermin with a wiry and alert appearance and personality.

I think everything you need to know is here: http://www.adelaidehillskc.kirada.net/ If you could, aim to get there a little before the show starts. Aussies are one of the first breeds in the ring but most/all of us stick around for group. Sounds like there will be a few Aussies there and everyone is happy to talk to people interested in the breed. Holly will only be out Friday night but Maizie is in all of the shows.

More neuter shows in SA: Gawler 9th & 10th April - 2 shows Easter: Pt Pirie 23rd - 26th April 6 shows!

Awesome!

Tomorrow night but it's at Gawler. Next weekend there are 2 night shows (Fri and Sat nights) and a Sunday show at Heathfield in the hills. Then nothing until end of Feb but that's at Naracoorte! If any of the above interest you let me know and I can give you times and places. :D

Pick the runt of the litter. My friend's berner girl is way smaller than a standard poodle and smaller than a collie rough. She's a bit bigger than an aussie... Sounds like you are becoming set on an aussie though - and they are great and I love them. If I had a bigger yard so they could run a bit i would seriously consider one too - but wouldn't have said they are chilled out... all I have met have been pretty exciteable. Come meet Holly and Maizie the next show, they are on the chilled out end of the scale. There are some pretty full on ones in the ring at the moment though (lovely dogs). ETA: Bree is one of them!