Elise+Hudson

Thank you for all the advice given so far! I certainly appreciate everyone's opinions and I will take it all into account when I decide what I think will be right for me and my pup. I am so thankful to all here who are so willing to help such a poor hopeless newbie! I may ask some stupid questions sometimes, and you are all just so helpful! My breeder and I will likely not be attending the same shows, so I will be looking to all of you guys when I am standing there looking lost and stressed! experiencedfun - I havn't even met my pup yet and I love him. I understand the world of dog showing can sometimes be quite 'cut throat' but I will always just do the best I can for my dog, and train and prepare him to the best of the ability. It is the same in horse showing, it is all just the opinion of the judge on the day of your dog compared to those around, which can change from weekend to weekend. :D

Sorry to crash into this thread as well, but how do you enter for sweepstakes classes? Do you need to send a seperate entry or can it be done on the one form? If so how do you put the sweeptakes, since it doesn't really have a class number? Best of luck Just1More! I will be the same as you in a few months time!

I really want it too! I decided against the Nikon D7000 in the end, where I was purchasing it from was just too expensive compared to some places online. I am now trying to decide whether or not I splurge for the 7D, or do I settle with what the 600D can do for me for half the price? The only thing pushing me towards the 7D is the much faster shooting speed which I assume will do a lot better for fast moving dogs + horse sports. Ahh the dilemma!

You will find a lot of vets will keep the costs of spey and castrate as low as possible to try and encourage people to desex their pets. If you compare this surgery to a similar abdominal surgical procedure the fee is usually very low in comparison.

I just found out when my first show will be! I am so excited, but more excited just to see my little guy! Only 2 weeks to go now!

Your vet may advise you that getting a bitch desexed before her first season drastically reduces the risks of mammary cancers in the future. Although I think it is important to take everything into consideration, your own feelings, your vet + your breeder.

Gorgeous! I really love the first 2 shots! I wish I could get someone to come out and photograph my little guy when he is still a pup!

Thanks Gayle that is a great suggestion, I will get some good puppy shampoo and a pair of scissors. :D I was thinking that it probably won't need too much when the coat is still growing out. Unfortunaely the Albury weekend co-incides with the end of my trip to NZ and the date I am picking up my puppy from Sydney, so unfortunatly won't be able to make it.. But I will sure be asking for hints and tips from anyone who was able to attend! I guess they can't expect the world from a baby puppy! And I am sure once I have him home to start trying to show train, I will be even more sure of this point! Right now it looks like my first shows will either be the Grenfell/Riverina shows.

Fantastic, I will keep an eye out for cheaper suits. I am really intersted in getting the right kinds of grooming products to start with. As the breeder truely believes this pup has some show potential, I have promised I will show it for her - whether or not I decide after a while I don't particularly like it (Although I highly doubt this after visiting a few shows) so I think it would be worthwhile buying the good stuff now, and give myself a better chance of getting it right from the start. Otherwise I will just need to get the better gear later. :D I will look into where I can purchase a nice show lead. I am keen to maybe get a grey or charcoal lead with a teeny bit of bling, purple perhaps? The poor boy already has a bright purple collar and lead waiting for him!

If you see fleas or flea dirt on your dog you really do need to use a preventative.. as treating the fleas on the dog in that instant (like flea washes do) only copes with a very small number of the total flea population. Vaccuming carpets etc can actually make the situation worse by waking the pupae up, and it does not suck up all the eggs. Flea bombs and sprays also just sit on the top layer of the carpet, and don't get right down to where the fleas and their life stages are hiding. Half a dose of frontline is about as useful as dripping water onto your dog. I reccomend my clients use Advantage/Advocate/Advantix or Comfortis for flea control.

Thank you so much for the link to the grooming article! Looks like I will be stocking up on lots of grooming products for my boy! I am considering at the moment a charcoal or dark grey suit, and a grey lead to hopefully not stand out way too much!

It is a shame I am going to miss out on this circuit with my pup, as he will be just too young! Will try and come along to as many shows as possible though to watch!

I just bought the Karen Pryor clicker book from the book depository! Thank you for the link!

I am going to have a bit of a guesstimate... :D around $200 if she was done under sedation, $250 if she required a GA. Edited to add: It looks like they did a good job though, nice and clean now!

Thanks for the detailed response Gayle! I didn't realise chalk was allowed, will have to look into purchasing the shampoos/conditioners and extra products. :D I think something neutral for the outfit sounds good, and do you think something to match the dog for the lead is the best?

Thanks so much! I would love to have some links for facebook pages selling show suits and leads/collars too! :D Great, so maybe a charcoal grey or something fairly plain might be the way to go. :D I will keep having a look on google for some more helpful training pages. I really wish I could do show training somewhere closeby, it sounds fantastic! But alas Dubbo is not helping me here.. haha

It may or may not need stitching, either way it is probably not an emergency but I would make an appointment for as soon as your vets are open. Dog bite wounds are deceptive, and there can be a lot more damage than what you may see. Antibiotics and possibly even a tetanus shot are two things I would be thinking may be required (similar to wounds on horses).

Thanks guys. fifi - I think I have read that thread about a thousand times in my nervous excitement! haha. I was just hoping for a few more tips more specific to my dog and where to find the right gear. Havasneeze - Unfotunately I am flying out to NZ on Saturday morning, so won't be able to attend any of the shows.. I am so bummed that I am missing it, but thankfully made the Gilgandra show only a few weeks back now. That is interesting about the snake chain! It must be some other chain I have been seeing on the Aussies, or maybe I am completely off track!

I am fairly sure I have finally decided on a name for my upcoming blue merle Australia Shepherd - Hudson! I will be picking him up in 2 weeks today!

Hey guys, As probably a lot of you have heard (as I am fairly excited) I will be bringing home my first main registered and show potential pup in 2 weeks. As soon as I have his papers in my hands I will start entering him in his first shows as a baby puppy.. but first I have a lot to learn and prepare for! My little guy is a blue merle Australian Shepherd dog, so my questions if they relate to any specific breed or type, I am talking about him. :D So I will start my list.. but please don't try and answer everything if you can't, any help is much appreciated. I just want to be as best prepared as I can in order to make the best entrance as a new shower. I know I won't be perfect by any long shot, but as long as I am acceptable and can do justice to the dog for my breeder. I have joined dogs NSW and have been in touch with my local KC, and will discuss as much as I can with the breeder when I pick him up, but I know it will take more than this. 1. Where do most people purchase show suits? Mix and match is fine, but are there particular shops you find helpful, online or not? 2. What colours do you think would suit my dog - for leads and show suits I am thinking. 3. Can anyone recommend good shampoos/conditioners? Are there any other types of grooming or shop preparation I may need? I currently have a slicker brush, pin brush and bristle brush just for starters. 4. What type of leads are used for this breed? I have been to a few shows to try and see but havn't got a great idea. Also where is the best place to purchase leads and snake chains (as far as I have seen so far, snake chains seem popular?) 5. When going to my first few shows, am I better to just set up a chair and my crate away from the main hustle? I don't want to miss anything, but don't want to get in the way of other exhibitors or their marquees. 6. Can anyone recommend any books or websites which are particularly useful for teaching a show puppy to stand and gait? I would like to do this as right as possible from day 1, but unfortunately they do not have show classes at my local KC. Thanks so much for the help anyone can give. I know I have probably forgotten a fair few things, just have too much going on in my head at the moment I think!

He is so gorgeous! I can't wait to have my little boy home too! They are really great pictures, he is such a poser! I hope I can get something similar to remember my little one with - they grow oh so fast!

You guys have no idea how long I have had this emoticon with nowhere to use it! hehe I will have to go have a look at these too.. I need a good workout bra, and will soon be hitting the rings with you all!

Oh thanks tlc! I hope everyone doesn't mind me joining in here late in the year.

Thanks!! This has come just at the best time!

I hope I can start with 'puppy preparation' shots! Pup in 2 weeks and so excited, you will be lucky if you only get 1 photo each week!