Kia

Llante....prices quite often relate to health testing, importing semen, AI. There is also the raising of pups and their health testing, microchipping and so forth. I don't have Beagles so someone who does might be able to give you a clearer picture. Researching the breeders, visiting their kennels if you can and asking questions of them should give you a clearer idea of why the prices vary. There is also demand and supply. Good luck in your search for your puppy.

A lot of merles will have blue in the eye be it a full, half, marbled. But that is due to the merle gene and not every merle will have blue in their eyes. The blue eyed tri's on the other hand is due to a recesive gene...both parents must carry a copy to produce it. Sometimes they will only have 1 blue eye but the eyes are a solid blue not half or mabled. In America some breeders charge extra for the blue eyed merles and tri's. As a breeder I have lost count of the number of people who are wanting a blue eyed merle....because of the random nature of the merle gene we often don't know what we will get.

14-18" Not all aussies are reserved and many aussies these days have been bred to have the friendlier temperament. Mine will alert bark. Due to extensive socialisation most of mine love every body but I do have 1 who is reserved with strangers until she decides they can be friends.

They are also known as the North American Shepherd. While many of the breeders claim they are bred down from aussies there appears to be some that have a striking resemblance to other breeds. The NAS may find it's way onto the AKC in the future. But I would be wary of what other health issues they might carry if they have other breeds in the mix.

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/ here is a link to the information that i send out with all puppy purchasers.

purebred always use to refer to a dog/pup sold without papers.....even if the parents themselves weren't papered but purebred. A pedigree dog always has the paperwork to back that up.

Hi GeorgieB I have had aussies since 1999 and was lucky as I put the early ones on heartworm meds. I didn't even know about it back then and didn't have a computer. Although these days I test and know the MDR1 status of my dogs I still don't give them heartworm meds. If you google heartworms you will find plenty of info and the conditions that are needed for mozzies to transfer the microfilae. I did have one MDR1 carrier that didn't handle a desexing surgery well....she wouldn't drink for over 12 hours and wouldn't eat for nearly 24 hours. The medications were not on the list to be avoided so we assume she just was one of those dogs that didn't do well with anesthetics. These days all of mine that go in for anything that has the dog put under gets extra fluids to help flush it out of the system quicker. I have desexed affected with no complications doing it this way. Give the vet the list of problem drugs and have it put on the pups records.

This type of attitute from parents really annoys me. As a dog owner I have to make sure my dogs are well rounded good canine citizens. As a breeder I am expected to produce healthy pups who will be good canine citizens. We are regulated by government and our canine associations. All of my good work can come unstuck because of unthinking parents and feral kids. A bit of common sense would go a long way....but so many seem to lack it...bad training or breeding?

The first thing you would be looking for is a well constructed dog.....any weakness will usually show up when competing and those injuries can take a long time to heal. Heart is something that isn't really explainable....but you will know after studying the pups for a while.

Such a well thought out response Espanay2. Something for all breeders to stop and think about with their breeding program. So many times we hear that breeders aim to 'improve' the breed. But are we? With so many changes to breed standards over the years many breeds aren't what they use to be when the orgininal standard was written. My goal is to produce puppies who are going to be wonderful family members, who are long lived and mentally and physically able to do any thing that their owners would like to try.

merle x merle can be done but breeders need to be responsible about any resultant pups that are double merles. Not every pup produced in one of these litters will be a double merle.

For my breed Australian Shepherds, we have a website that covers the health issues that can arise and the protocol many breeders follow for testing (it is a USA website). It is writen with the lay person in mind and very easily understood. I send the link so anyone wanting to can research and see what questions they need to ask. Although I usually have explained what testing I have done before they ask. Perhaps sending pet people to the breed club website of their state is a place to start and they can research the health issues from there.

how sad for all involved. Brave puppy to protect a young child. RIP little one

It is incredible isn't it.....a pet shop can charge $1000 for a cross bred mutt with no health testing of it or parents and nobody batts an eye lid. Responsible breeders get boohoo'd for asking that amount after doing all testing on parents and pups. Oh well,,,,,our aussie babies will have extra special homes<g>

Sorry, but if it was one of mine it would be PTS or micro managed. Depending on the reason for the first bite as to what course I would have taken from there. Any dog bites that a DR sees has to be reported but it is up to the person to report to council at least. Why hasn't the parents reported this dog if it has biten 2 of their children? I see no reason for the class not to read the Companion Animals act....more pet owners should