A is for Australian Shepherds!

Awwwww!  I realllllly wish you had a camera!

Sounds cute!  I can just picture it.[]

Wish I could see it, but can picture the cuteness!

Hey, Aussie people!!  Help me out here.  DH really wants an Aussie as our next breed.  Fine by me ... BUT, I want one I can show in the breed ring AND one that has enough brains to do some type of work.  Herding is low on the list due to lack of nearby trainers.  But obedience, agility, tracking - any of those would be great.

Sooo ... I'm starting to look for breeders.  I want show lines that work, or work lines that can be competitive in the AKC ring.  I don't need top OTCH dogs or Westminster BIS dogs - just something that can do both with some degree of success.

And if they were raw raised - even better!!

Any recommendations would be glady accepted.  We're talking at least a year (if not two or more) before we are ready for a pupster so I've got lots of time to research!

Thanks!

I emailed you some info on breeders.  Be careful, and do not go cruising on the Internet for a dog - Aussies have a very small gene pool.  If you want a show dog, you need to find a breeder who is honest about epilepsy, iris coloboma and other eye diseases, etc.
Keep in mind that some Aussies, like Collies, have a mutant gene that makes some medications toxic to them, like Ivermectin.  Until you get your pup tested for that, use Interceptor for heartworm.
Show dogs from all show lines are generally too heavily coated and blocky to be able to work stock as efficiently, and some won't work at all - they're more like Goldens in fine clothing.  But, the working Aussie can be very intense and not suited to a life on the couch, or even more than average exercise.  They really do need a job, although it can be agility instead of stock.  They have very strong herding and guarding instincts and may decide to herd your kids, your vacuum cleaner, empty soda bottles - anything.

Argh! Aussie fever is getting to me! I got from a bad breeder, but he is fine so far. I hope I won't be sorry, Sam is a pretty sturdy boy, though. I want another one []