Page 97 - Aussie Magazine - 2024 Issue 3

I have been lucly enough to I think the added difficulty in
attend many great shows
overseas including the AKC
National, Westminster,
Multiple USASA nationals and
the CKCS National in the US.
Are you showing your dogs
yourself?
The dogs that live with
Dominic and myself are
handled by us. Sadly in
August last year I injured
by back and am currently
working with a neurosurgeon
to get back to full fitness
to be able to show more
than one dog again. All of
the grooming of our team
is done by Dominic. We are
very lucky to have some
sensational, owners, co-
owners and friends help to
campaign our dogs.
We do not have professional
handlers as such showing
our dogs. We are very lucky
to work with Plush Puppy
Australia as Coat Specialists
and find their products to be
by far the best for maintaining
an Aussies coat and
presenting them at their best
at shows.
What do you like the most
on breeding Aussies? And
how many litters you have
bred so far?
My most favourite part of
breeding is researching
pedigrees and looking at
genetics, I like to look at what
is being produced in the US
from dogs with similar lines
to what I am playing with
in Australia and try to do
breedings with pedigrees and
dogs that are complimentary.
I much prefer to see what
having to choose breeding puppies do naturally and I have
partners where colour, often had pick of litter that
health and NBT status being haven’t necessarily been the
complimentary a challenge. best puppies stacked because
So far I have found Aussie they would fight and spoil their
mothers to be exceptional, 9 of outsides. With some of the
the 11 litters I have had have lines I am working with I have
been whelped naturally with an idea of what I will keep at 6
ease. (Both C-Sections were weeks, and with others it’s not
done on Secret due to the size until 10 or 12 weeks I made the
of her litters and puppies on final decision on which puppy
board). The girls have all been or puppies will stay or go on to
meticulous in keeping their be shown and bred from.
babies clean and do the most
amazing job raising them. Aussies with tails – a big
topic last years because more
Since being involved in the and more countries give a
breed I have bred 11 litters (3 ban for docking tails. Can you
have been co-bred), I have a explain to our readers how it
couple of litters planned for is in Australia with tails and
2024 that I am very excited docking?
about. I have matings planned Docking of tails was banned
from both Jack and frozen in Australia many years
semen from dogs that haven’t ago, it was done by state
been used in Australia to date. governments one at a time.
At what age(s) do you
evaluate your puppies to
show potential?
I start evaluating puppies
once they are on
their feet and their
footfall can be
assessed I am not Australian shows are
really a fan of held all over the country
stacking and
evaluating not just in the capital
puppies. cities so you get to visit
many regional spots to attend
shows. These show circuits are
great for smaller communities
because of how much money it
generates for the local economies.
A Worldwide Magazine for the Aussie • Issue 3/2024 | 97