edgesmum

;) Little buggars sure do! I'm doing all I can to get him as presentable as I can! otherwise he can stay home! ;)

;) Thankyou for that, Alyosha! I would guess: 1 Open Dog (mine) and an Aust Bred or Intermediate dog, 1 Junior Bitch (mine) and two other bitches, in Intermediate, Austbred or Open Bitch but 2 dogs 3 bitches?? right? Its not a huge entry as sometimes at EP you can have 14 or 15 entered, so I would consider only 5 to be quite a disapointing entry really. I have a neuter entered, and my baby ETT! (his very first show) and he's gone and got a bloody grass allergy and his coat looks moth eaten from where he's scratched! ;) Edited cause I can't spell on Sunday evenings! LOL!

:p I haven't got my numbers back yet! Anyone know how many in the Neuter Sweepstakes???? and how many German Spitz (mittel) entered???? please! Guess I'll have to wait till my numbers arrive! ;) hope its soon!

I was at a show last night, where my little one won BEST NEUTER IN SHOW, and there were 20 neuters entered in the show! A) its a good way of getting newbies into showing Congratulations on your win last night. I was there with my neuter and was in the Show lineup with you. You are right about getting newbies in the show ring. It was our first weekend in the show ring and I was really happy with her at her first time out Thanks Weigirl! WELCOME to the show ring! I started showing in confirmation with an ACD!! Neuters are a good place to start! I have only had my little girl a few weeks!!! I was thrilled with her! Well done on your Neuter in Group too!!!!! keep up the good work! We will be there again for Gawler, so come and say hello!

Thanks TerraNik! I have only had my little girl since 8th November, and in that time I've shown her 5 times, for Neuter in Group at each show and 2 Neuter in shows! To say I'm estatic with her is an understatement!

YEP SA have Neuter classes at 95% of its Clubs now, its a pitty the others don't. I have looked at doing some shows interstate, but won't because they don't have neuter classes. :D Why should I have to leave my neutered girl at home, when I can take her with me to show! I was at a show last night, where my little one won BEST NEUTER IN SHOW, and there were 20 neuters entered in the show! :D A) its a good way of getting newbies into showing B) some dogs are neutered for health reasons, but LOVE to show, so why should they be disadvantaged!!! C) it give the club up to 20+ more entires per show that they may not have had! yeah, I hear them saying, it costs more! what 8 ribbons!!!! ok, but the entry fees would cover that plus more! looks like a win - win situation to me! ;) More clubs in more states should get behind it!

I'd have to say that seeing the shows are being held in SA, you'd be following the SA Schedule. Good luck!

Anyone know the results of the Japanese Spitz?????? Thanks in advance!

I was showing at Adelaide Show on Monday, and when trying to groom a double coated breed, and having kids trying to pat the dogs. I got fed up, and said to a rather feral looking teenage boy................'Please DON'T try and pat my dog'! he said in a very feral way.................'why the F*** not!' he didn't like my reply, it went along the lines of if he did, I'd have to go to hospital and have his arse removed from my foot!

4 Basenji

Thanks for a great weekend as usual! Even the rain on Saturday didn't distract from the warm country hospitality! Great Job done by all

Whippets are on first day! Friday 3rd September. Breed Judge is Mrs M MacBeth (Canada) Whippets are last breed for her to Judge for the day!

in past years the entries have closed first week in June, I don't see why this year would be any different, the full schedule is generally printed in the April edition of the Dogs SA Journal.

;) I'm heading over Leanne, only with two! the monster and a new baby............it will be her second lot of shows! so it should be interesting! I was going to camp, but had an offer to stay with a friend, decisions, decisions, decisions............................. warm comfy bed, and good shower, air con if needed V tent, possible wind, possible cold night and cold back in the middle of the night!!!!! NO contest..............the comfy bed wins hands down! gem

Thanks Mandalay!

I'm not going this year, too many things happening, and I can't get the time off work, but can anyone please tell me how m any German Spitz are entered this year! many thanks in advance

What a brilliant idea! ;) I hope it catches on nation wide!

My girl doesn't like to get her tootsies wet! Chai on the other hand is a water baby! The deeper the better, he often has wet paws............he will paddle in ANYTHING! I was at a show today, and put him in his crate for a minuite while I got Elsa organised..............only to find him absolutly drenched in the front! legs, bib, chin...........total front end!!! and he had to go back very quickly for Group specials! so in the end I suppose it depends on the dog really! same as in people!

Mmm if only German Spitzies came in the same colour as Keeshonds... I could just tell people Jedi spawned a clone? Or that they must be hallucinating... or that it's Jedi and he shrunk? OR he could just stand under Jedi and hide his head... "What do you MEAN my dog has 8 legs??!!!" Oowwww but they DO! 'Wolfspitz' Standard states 'All colours and colour combinations acceptable' the come in colours from white, right through all shades of cream, to golds, red, chocolate, black, blue, sables (many different colour sables) Parti colours (any colour on a predominanlty white background) I have a very light cream bitch a chocolate dog and a dog who is the colour of milky tea, with lighter pigment on his nose, pads of his feet and gold coloured eyes, who has recently got his Aust Ch title! at the tender age of 12mth and 2 weeks. he is the one pictured in my original post.

Hi TerraNik! I have a huge soft spot for Keeshonds, and Lappies too! Like any dog, if bought up with other animals or kids for that matter, they would be accepting! again it depends on the temperament of the dog and cat in question! I have a bitch here, and I don't have any small children here, (only grandchildren who visit) and she is the most gently girl with them, but my young dog is too boisterous for them, he likes to jump up and play rough! so it depends on the individual dogs temperament.

Hi Wolfsong yep, I agree! But I do need to clarify something.............when I said my guys ran with a friends Kelpies, they were never unsupervised, and her keplies are older and more mature and are not into burning around the place, and it was in a house yard, and usually my three spitzies and 1 kelpie at a time! Agile they are, very! They excell at Agility! They do have a height difference of 3" in the breed from the smallest to the largest allowed in the standard, and in a dog this size, it can be quite a difference. but they are a fairly robust breed!

Hi Kavik they can be, but only if you allow them to be! but then any dog can be! they are a watch dog.

Hi wolfsong! My bitch has always had a fancy for a Great Dane, even though she's told its never going to happen!!!! LOL! so to that question, I'd have to say no, but then again it depends on the tempreament of the two dogs in question! They have also run with my friends Kelpies, so they are fairly robust, but I'd never leave a pair of dogs together with a great size difference anyway!

QUESTIONS 1. What is my relationship with the breed? (ie breeder, first time owner etc) I became involved in this breed about 4 years ago, when I got my first Mittel, although I had known about them since the early 1990's when a friend of mine had one which she trialled in Obedience. Thats when I fell in love with them. 2. Where and why was the breed first developed? The breed was developed in Germany (which is their Country of Origin) They were good watchdogs, alerting the larger and protective dogs to the presence of intruders or strangers on their territory. Being watch dogs they can be vocal. They were used by travelling merchants to accompany them, protecting their possessions, and would run along side the horses and at would sit anywhere high, either on the waggon, on a tree stump, or even on the horses, and keep watch over their domain. 3. How common is it in Australia? While not being a true 'Rare Breed', the German Spitz isn't huge in numbers, or as common as many other breeds in Australia, and have really only been in the Country in any numbers since the late 1980's. So numbers are still growing. They are spread accross the whole country, but again not concentrated numbers or in any one area. The most exhibits of the breed that will see at any one time, would most probably be at any of the Royal Shows held around the Country. There are even fewer Klein's being shown or even Bred. The Klein is the same dog as a Mittel but smaller. 4. What is the average lifespan? The average lifespan would be 12-15 years. 5. What is the general temperament/personality? This is a confident, lively and bright breed, who is highly intelligent, but can need plenty of mental stimulation to keep themselves occupied. They do have an independant streak to their nature, as does many of the "Spitz" breeds, but having said that, they are very trainable and are very willing to please their owners. They are devoted to their family and home. 6. How much daily exercise is needed for the average adult? This breed will take as little or as much exercise as you are capable of giving them. In an ideal world, a good walk daily is sufficient, but they also thrive on dogsports, such as Agility, flyball, Obedience, or just going for a morning walk, or run. 7. Is it a breed that a first time dog owner could easily cope with? As long as the new owners are aware of ALL their needs as to grooming, exercise, and are fully informed, I'd have to say yes. But they are not a breed for the feint hearted, or those who don't want to deal with a little bit of brushing. 8. Can solo dogs of this breed easily occupy themselves for long periods? To a degree I would say yes. But like any breed of dog, a bored dog is a distructive dog, so they do need to be mentally stimulated, so lots of toys, would help keep them occupied. I have more than one, so they interact with each other. 9. How much grooming is required? The dogs do drop coat once a year, and the bitches do drop coat twice a year, usually before a season, but if you desex your dog and bitch, they will drop coat once a year. When they drop their undercoat, it does come out, and the best thing to do is to brush it out. Apart from that, a good brush to the skin, once a week, should be enough to keep their coats looking good. If you allow them to get burrs etc and tangles in their coats, you will have matts and problems. 10. Is it too boisterous for very small children or for infirm people (unless the dog is well trained)? The answer to this question depends on two things. 1: is the nature and age of the child, the other is the nature and age of the dog. 2: Some older people can have quite shaky hand, or limb movements, which can make some dogs (of any breed) wary or nervous. 11. Are there any common hereditary problems a puppy buyer should be aware of? This breed is normally a healthy and robust breed, and one which is free from most health problems. 12. When buying a puppy, what are the things you should ask of the breeder? (eg what health tests have been done (if applicable) and what is an acceptable result to those tests so the buyer has an idea of what the result should be) There are no real specific health testing which is done on this breed in Australia. Photo is a young dog aged 10mths at the time of this photo being taken

Well, there went my old keyboard. Just doesn't like the coffee sprayed all through it's innards. ;) ;) dont know which comment I am laughing about more...nut sack and mental picture of the coffee spray ... my question to them would probably be: 'and how do you know how shavved nut sacks feel?' but then again.................thats probably WAAAAAY more information than I really need to know or really want to know about! ;)