You are too big to show, sugar!

[Smudge]

I wasn't hating on people who show their dogs at all. The point I was trying to make is how can you know a dog is good at something and how can you tell somebody your dog is right for this sport if you yourself have never competed in it? How can you know what it takes to be a big competitor in a sport you have never competed in?

I hope that made sense.

Because, yes, as we all know, I would rather somebody buy a dog from a show home and do performance events than buy from a puppymill/byb. Because this is what I hope to one day do - buy from a show home to do performance events.

 

[Lightplum]

I wasn't hating on people who show their dogs at all. The point I was trying to make is how can you know a dog is good at something and how can you tell somebody your dog is right for this sport if you yourself have never competed in it? How can you know what it takes to be a big competitor in a sport you have never competed in?

I hope that made sense.

Because, yes, as we all know, I would rather somebody buy a dog from a show home and do performance events than buy from a puppymill/byb. Because this is what I hope to one day do - buy from a show home to do performance events.

exactly I think that is a good point. I was going to reply last night but never got to it on that point. Can I sell my puppies as performance..heck yeah but will I no only pet because honestly I do not do agility herding, freestyle etc enough to know how much drive is needed and what personality quirks would perform well in it.. Structurally can my puppies, yes, but I myself unless its a venue I personally compete in will NOT market my puppies for it.

 

[corbinam]

I think a quality breeder usually knows enough about certain venues to say whether or not the dog will have an aptitude for it.

We got Lexi, and the breeder described her to us as "sassy", and that she would be ideal for agility. She is! She loves to do everything.

On the other hand, there is another person who used to do agility with us that got a puppy at the same time. She told the breeder she wanted to do agility, but the puppy she ended up with is timid and anxious. It has taken her a good bit of work, and I don't know if she will ever be able to perform.

 

[Justicemom]

Lol, well if things go to plan I may have three dogs running at agility by the end of 2012. I haven't figured out how that will work yet, especially with the display team, maybe I'll just have to keep swapping dogs.

Here is Sophie and Cadbury...

Oh, and look its Sophie again this time with "..."

And once again, here is Sophie and she is running "..."

But then you know I am crazy

Hey then you can join my in the crazy dog competitor category. I just rotate around who I want to work with or go with their strengths if my doing obedience. Ember does a great drop on recall, heeling and directed jumping. Diva loves rally and has a rocket recall. Justice does anything.

Competing wise, I usually have one dog starting and one dog in the advance classes of any event. However, they are starting to pile up lately and I then just go with the older dog and get them to a higher class before showing the younger one.

I'm doing a demo next weekend for local Halloween event and for the first time in a long time, I only have one dog to bring. Justice will love being solo.

 

[Justicemom]

I wasn't hating on people who show their dogs at all. The point I was trying to make is how can you know a dog is good at something and how can you tell somebody your dog is right for this sport if you yourself have never competed in it? How can you know what it takes to be a big competitor in a sport you have never competed in?

I hope that made sense.

Because, yes, as we all know, I would rather somebody buy a dog from a show home and do performance events than buy from a puppymill/byb. Because this is what I hope to one day do - buy from a show home to do performance events.

I don't think you can make that decision if you haven't competed in that venue. You generally don't know what it takes.

Just like I am not that experienced in the breed ring, I am not the best one to pick out the show quality one in 8-10 weeks old pups. I good on body structure but that head quality I'm not sure on. But I have a mentor and I am learning. I belong to the local sheltie club and get opinions of my pups. Just like my friends will ask my opinion on obedience/agility hopefuls.

Performance placement is hard. Because personality and training style of the individual handlers plays a huge role in the selection of a performance dog too. Some people can handle that over the top, active pup and others need a responsive and more laid back pups. Experienced performance people generally know what they like to work with and it becomes a cooperative venture with the breeder so they get the type of pup they want. But if you don't know what your pups are like, as with uninterested BYB/puppymill that is impossible. Good breeders know their pups.

 

[Lovely]

I know that Flyball is one of the sports not as well known amongst Sheltie owners, but I made some interesting observations while I was at the last competition.

The sport is really competitive. All about speed, team bonding, etc. My team is competitive, but in a building phase as many dogs just retired. I'm lucky for that. I assume conformation, obedience, rally, agility, etc are all the same. There are those owners who you could swear are out for blood and those you know value their dogs as pets.

When I met people and I told them I was new to the sport, they had the same reaction when I told them what kind of dog I have. Squinched (that's a word, of course) noses and skeptical looks. And then they saw my Duncan. Runner's body, lanky, (all kinds of wrong for conformation I'm sure), short (height dog!), eager to be there, tons of drive. (Not that the first 30 minutes in the place he wasn't taken aback, but he was snoozing and back to his laid back self quickly.)

If you looked around, you would see a sea of black and white - Border Collies, Jack Russells, Border-Jacks, Staffies, Staffie-Jacks... It made me think - how many of those people with their 'performance' Bo-Jacks would dump the dog if he turned out to be a couch potato? And how many people would have dumped Duncan if they had gotten him to be a snuggle-bug (which he is much of the time) when they realized he has more energy than the Energizer Bunny (more of the time)?

Lol, well if things go to plan I may have three dogs running at agility by the end of 2012.

What? Three? When did this happen?!?!?

 

[Justicemom]

I know that Flyball is one of the sports not as well known amongst Sheltie owners, but I made some interesting observations while I was at the last competition.

The sport is really competitive. All about speed, team bonding, etc. My team is competitive, but in a building phase as many dogs just retired. I'm lucky for that. I assume conformation, obedience, rally, agility, etc are all the same. There are those owners who you could swear are out for blood and those you know value their dogs as pets.

When I met people and I told them I was new to the sport, they had the same reaction when I told them what kind of dog I have. Squinched (that's a word, of course) noses and skeptical looks. And then they saw my Duncan. Runner's body, lanky, (all kinds of wrong for conformation I'm sure), short (height dog!), eager to be there, tons of drive. (Not that the first 30 minutes in the place he wasn't taken aback, but he was snoozing and back to his laid back self quickly.)

If you looked around, you would see a sea of black and white - Border Collies, Jack Russells, Border-Jacks, Staffies, Staffie-Jacks... It made me think - how many of those people with their 'performance' Bo-Jacks would dump the dog if he turned out to be a couch potato? And how many people would have dumped Duncan if they had gotten him to be a snuggle-bug (which he is much of the time) when they realized he has more energy than the Energizer Bunny (more of the time)?

There are people, top obedience people, I would never ever sell a dog to. They do not want a teammate or companion but a robot. Their training methods are well.. lets just say one of my dogs will not be subjected to it. If that dog doesn't fit the mold they are out of there. I believe you are correct in what you are seeing.

 

[Smudge]

What? Three? When did this happen?!?!?

Hey! I didn't catch a hold of that until you pointed it out! Sophie, are you getting two shelties?!

 

[labgirl]

Hey then you can join my in the crazy dog competitor category. I just rotate around who I want to work with or go with their strengths if my doing obedience. Ember does a great drop on recall, heeling and directed jumping. Diva loves rally and has a rocket recall. Justice does anything.

Competing wise, I usually have one dog starting and one dog in the advance classes of any event. However, they are starting to pile up lately and I then just go with the older dog and get them to a higher class before showing the younger one.

I'm doing a demo next weekend for local Halloween event and for the first time in a long time, I only have one dog to bring. Justice will love being solo.

That sounds like a plan I imagine I will be doing a lot of rotating, working out who is right for the day, etc. Plus Cadbury doesn't like being over-worked so will appreciate another dog to take the strain!

Good luck at the Halloween demo, any chance of getting someone to video it?

What? Three? When did this happen?!?!?

Hey! I didn't catch a hold of that until you pointed it out! Sophie, are you getting two shelties?!

Its a bit of a story. My brother has sheep and his flock is expanding to the point where they are getting unmanageable when we try to herd them. He needed a dog to help.

However, his job was short hours bumped up by overtime. On an overtime week it was really good, but when overtime was cut it was drastic. So he couldn't get a dog without knowing how much he will be earning.

Then an opening came along at a higher full-time level. It was a stressful fortnight waiting to see if he got it, he was up against some tough competition - but he did

This meant he could now afford a dog and all the bits and bobs that go with it.

So he is now planning on getting a border collie pup, possibly before Christmas, but more likely after.

Because he works I will be official pup sitter (well if I've got one I might as well have two driving me mad). The deal is that while he'll be doing obedience, herding with the BC, when its old enough I can borrow it for agility.

BC pup and sheltie pup will be ready for agility at the same time, so around the beginning of 2012 I will be doing a lot of running!

So that's the story of dog 3. And am I excited? You bet!!!!

 

[OntarioSheltie]

Since I had interest in showing, Sadie's breeder did mention to me that if I was interested she'd be willing to sell her on a show contract. She'd been debating keeping Sadie or her sister, but she wanted a bi-black so somewhat reluctantly sold Sadie to us as a pet. Sadie was the smallest in the litter and showed the best prospects as a show dog, so the breeder was flabergasted when Sadie went oversized by almost 2 inches.

Sadie is so gorgeous and has such a wonderful temperment, I would have LOVED to breed her if I had experience. Oh well, what can you do.