Saffioraire

Hi all. Sent my membership application into the VHA today, quite excited about it. There are no clinics listed on the website yet and I'm a bit at a loss of where to start with herding. We are out in the Yarra Valley, so if there is anyone who lives out this way who trains frequently and feels like involving a newbie then I'd love any opportunities I can get. Happy just to tag along and watch and learn at first. My girl is "out" with a litter at the moment, but I do have a male I am keen to get working with. He's a bit of a big goof ball but he's obedient enough with the basics and recall. Both have seen livestock as we have 40acres of our own, but maybe not ducks, just chickens! Excited to get started, especially as Tracking is put on hold every warm season and obedience schools are out for recess. Thanks

Monash Vets in VIC said the cost is comparative, and only slightly more expensive as it is a longer procedure.

Do we need to RSPV again, or is it just assumed original interested parties are still coming? I dont want to miss out!

OH and CONGRATULATIONS Trisven, your girl made it look like she didn't even break a sweat

I had my girl Prog tested in the morning, her temp had dropped slightly (was probably on the way down) the Vet rang me at 5.00 pm to tell me the Prog test result, which was also 2. So they are busy telling me the result and suggesting if she hasn't had it in two days to come in and have her tested again. I had much amusement in telling them she's had the pup a half hour earlier. Which Vet do you get to do all of your repro' Liz? And which Vets do you have on your emergency list? My fallback is Chirnside as I've heard a few people say really good things about them, but I'm interested if someone else has other suggestions also.

The search and rescue makes sense, given who showed it to me! We will be looking into serious obedience training next year, along with agility so will see how we go and which road we travel. Thanks for your knowledge (and google skills ) Good luck with your work with your own dogs too

Ok, now I am even more confused but I think I sort of understand... maybe I think the better way to ask would have been, 'What is this'? It's very stylised and concise. I watched a DVD I borrowed from the KCC library on the 2006 FCI Agility trials and now I think of it I think there was Jumping AND Agility on there. Of course thinking back I'm pretty sure I only watched the Agility section, but I do recall what you are saying about the jumping having no weaves or contact, and being faster. I also watched a DVD on 'Walking the Course' about crossovers, approaching jumps and signaling of the handler to the dog. After watching this I've practised signaling Kesari over a log jump with body language and also from a distance, in conjunction with voice. I would love to do this slow paced obedience styled jump work or agility, as well as agility. Being so new at proper dog sports I'll admit getting into it is all very daunting, but next year I'll be giving it a red hot go!

Is Jumping Dog (JDX) similar to agility without the pace? Ie. judged on how the dog handles the jump only - without a time judging also? I am looking at this as I'm wondering if it is better overall for the health of a dogs joints to do the 'jumping' minus the speed...?

I have my fingers and toes crossed for you Liz. I forgot to say THANK YOU for your kind offer of help. We supplemented for the first couple of days, but her milk has come in properly now and they are ALL gaining weight at a rate of knots! So I'm delighted about that, and I can get a full nights sleep again! If you need some puppy socialisation time later on we'll have our dogs at the farm over Christmas, which is in Steels Creek, so you'd be welcome to let her run around with our crazy lot!

I can't help myself.... what about Magnum PI ? HAHA!

Seems like we were equal last Liz - and just around the corner from one another... must have been that storm?! Kesari started at 4.20 finished at 10.30, so not bad for 11 pups Super duper proud of her. 5 boys 6 girls in all. Can't load photos but there are some at: for anyone who's really keen! P.S Yell out if you want to borrow a few to beef up your litter of one!

Well considering I can't sleep I figured I'd do some updating. Looks like I posted in the wrong thread - Kesari had 11 pups Tuesday 28/11 In 6 hours, Not bad for a maiden litter. Good luck to you all for December's babies x

Dex, I think if you believe that your dog is a fine example there is no harm in collecting semen or using him now or in the future with a clear bitch. I have a dog and a bitch in my home, both MDR1 clear. As well as semen from 3 dogs all clear. HOWEVER I have chosen to use a carrier for my first litter, because I firmly believed he could provide me with what I was trying to achieve for my female's first litter, moreso than my other options. I will be having all breeding prospects MDR1 tested when they are DNA profiled, and decisions can be made there after. It is a simple process of common sense. Considering the breed trend is to DNA profile it is scarcely more expensive, and no more trouble to test for everything at the same time. I would rather use a carrier of something like MDR1 or EIC than one of HD, UAP or other serious disease. Despite a particular breeds smaller gene pool, the reality is it is not hard to find new bloodlines free of disease. I am always looking for a potential litter to import from eventually, and of the many matings I see plenty are of bloodlines not yet here, and they are free from all disease. In my search at least 75%+ of matings I looked at were to produce clear dogs with parets of A or B hips and 0 ED. My decision will actually be made VERY difficult from too much choice! Bilbo I am interested to hear how the 'Changes to Importing Rules' will affect anything? What changes are you talking about?? There was a good thread Re. Arab horses and how natural selection allowed for a breeding group of 4 horses to found an entire population - DNA testing provides us with selection tools human interference removes. I think it is often forgotten that Australia is an island, with it's only "native" canine being the Dingo. So everyone's breed has been founded entirely on imports - so far most of them seem to be doing alright I agree with not throwing the baby out with the bathwater, DNA testing is a brilliant tool we can use to strengthen genetic variation and breeding for 'better' overall without causing affected dogs to be produced.

Unfortunately OSO there is 1 clear bitch in the country. Really??? Because I know of at least two!! And several more on the way - all clear!

Holy crap - I wasn't going to post, but AMEN!!! I am terrified of pigs - have you ever been bitten by a pig? Put me in a cage with a foul dog any day, just dont set your boar on me! Edited to add - horses don't always go scott free. I've seen people (even the experienced) do some STUPID things with horses and blame the animal. We've had to put down a horse because it was mad, I'm quite convinced it had a brain tumor and he WOULD in no uncertain terms kill you, and himself at the same time, if you got him in the right situation. I was always taught, it's never the horses fault, it's yours, because even a bad horse has been made bad, but a truly dirty sod who is dirty of his own accord is never to be trusted.

GOT IT! "Properly Socialized" by Pat Schaap, Shenanigan Shetlands, Clarksville, Maryland.

Your probably right, I only read over it quickly as at the time I was searching for something else. Always the way! Nice to hear you've had success with it, gives me a bit more confidence I'll be on the right track when I find it! It's always a little daunting looking at different methods of socialisation. Considering it's already a topic of your discussion ( ) you might be interested in a DVD I hired not long ago from our Dog Library, in regards to temperament testing. The DVD highlighted means such as the 'Volhard Aptitude Test' which is for working dogs, but the interesting points raised were how the breeders assessment was as equally, or debatably more, reliable than the test itself. Of course the *type* of breeder here is the important part. DVD was by Patricia McConnell called 'Testing Puppy Tests' or something similar. You might find it interesting! Good luck with your ACD's!!!

Had found an interesting information on the '7 before 7' ideal - which is 7 different types of experiences ie. Walked on 7 different types of flooring, held by 7 different types of people, etc etc - to do up to the crucial development stage of 7 weeks. Of course now I can't find it anywhere! Does anyone have any links to this school of thought that I can re-read? Thank you!

Our litter of White Swiss Shepherd Dogs 'Kesari of Skah Dakota' and 'Aus CH Vållgardens Ghostly Gladiator' has been confirmed. We will be expecting a reasonable to large sized litter early December! Yay For more information see the advert under the Breed Section of DOL

Really?! Is that a real statistic? Is it only me who has found JRT's and crosses to be one of the most feisty dogs to own?

Ah that's only for Windows - is there a Mac version?

Someone said to me the other day that "ethics" are what you do when no one else is looking.

That set up looks brilliant. How much did it cost you (if you dont mind me asking?) What bedding have you used in that photo? I'm tossing up whether we are better to make one or just buy one.

Which means there is no difference. The difference MEANS an ANKC pedigree, not the difference IS an ANKC pedigree. Read the sentence again. The initial reference was to do with morphology and physical capacity - so in the context of the OP discussion, ANKC pedigree has nothing to do with it and is no point of difference. I dont buy in to colour determining a new breed from the same genetic base, because an ANKC pedigree paper says it is so; the kangal retardation in Australia being a prime example. If White GSD and WSS are a separate breed then there is no need for an ANKC pedigree to determine one from the other. You clearly don't understand what I am trying to say. There is much more to the difference of breed than colour. I am happy to mail you both standards if you need? And as I said this is not the place for the discussion. I am happy to talk with you on it someplace else.

Which means there is no difference. The difference MEANS an ANKC pedigree, not the difference IS an ANKC pedigree. Read the sentence again. There is a difference, quite a marked one. But that is not what we are here to argue - if you wish to press this point there are 2 White Shepherd Threads in General Discussion and a WSSD thread in Breeds 101