Australian Shepherds
The Australian Shepherd is not a dog for everyone. This breed requires constant and ongoing socialization throughout their developmental stages. Aussies are a breed that can think for themselves and are extremely intelligent and are not suited for all lifestyles. In the right homes where they receive the proper socialization, training and adequate exercise (which walks - no matter how long, don't count. Aussies need to get out and run every day). If this breed fits into your home- you will be happy you found the Australian Shepherd.
Aussies at young ages, prior to twelve to sixteen weeks must be exposed to a variety of people, places, sounds, and that they have a happy positive experience. As a breeder I spend a lot of time with my puppies every day picking them up, turning them over, smooching on them and exposing them to as much as I can. That experience needs to be carried over and continued on when the puppy goes to it's new family. I always tell people that raising a puppy is like raising a child, it is constant and ongoing. You must be firm and establish the alpha roll but loving as well.
Training your puppy starts the day you take it home and continues on. When your puppy is old enough a Puppy Kindegarten class is imperative. This allows your dog to take what it has already learned and put it use in a strange situation with strange dogs all around. The more you do with your dog the more confident and outgoing he becomes. No dog should be left in a house or yard and not taken places, this sets the stage for a dog to become shy and fearful, not a good thing especially for an Aussie.
In addition to daily exercise the Australian Shepherd needs mental stimulation as well. Each dog is different, but typically the Aussie needs some type of job to do. If you have TIME and spend it training and doing things with your dog then an Aussie can be the right dog for you. As I stated earlier this is not a breed that just requires a "walk around the block". They need to get out and "RUN" every day. Teaching them to retrieve is an awesome way to achieve this, with this being said you need to be careful if you use a frisbee and not have the dog jumping for it - this could lead to injuries - throw it level, approximately 2-3 feet off the ground. If we have several days of constant bad weather where my dogs can't get out and run - they drive me crazy:))
Now what I am about to say is not intended to offend anyone. Aussies that are from "working lines" tend to be more driven, much more intense and work oriented. The tend to be smaller in size (not always), lighter in bone and coat. I say they are more "Border Collie like" - they have to have a job to do. This dog is better off in a home where he can work stock or be in a serious performance home. Conformation lines are usually, not always a little heavier in bone and coat. They are a little less intense (don't get this wrong - they still have tons of energy). They are a little easier going than that of a working line dog. Trust me I know I have both.
Positive things about the Aussie are that they are very easily trained, very intelligent and loving, they are a truly versatile dog with a high activity and stamina levels. If you are an active person that has lots of time to spend with your dog and you want a dog that is pretty easy to care for and of medium size. The Australian Shepherd is a very loyal and loving dog who always wants to be with their people. Negative things can be that they are high energy, they have a "guarding instinct", they can be sensitive to moving things (cars, bikes, kids) and also sound sensitive. They do shed (blow their coat) usually twice a year which requires getting that undercoat out of them.
Aussies and children can live together very harmoniously if raised together and they have the right temperment. Aussies need to be watched as they can be protective of their children so this needs to be controlled. Dogs and children should ALWAYS be supervised. As puppies Aussies love to run after children and nip their heels - this needs to be discouraged.
Aussies are a truly wonderful breed in the right homes This is a breed that can truly "do it all". Just as with any breed do your homework and research the breed. Visit lots of breeders, as all are not as they may seem on their websites. A breeder who is passionate and protective of their breed is a good thing, so if you feel you are being drilled with a thousand questions when you meet a breeder - take that as a good sign..
Aussies at young ages, prior to twelve to sixteen weeks must be exposed to a variety of people, places, sounds, and that they have a happy positive experience. As a breeder I spend a lot of time with my puppies every day picking them up, turning them over, smooching on them and exposing them to as much as I can. That experience needs to be carried over and continued on when the puppy goes to it's new family. I always tell people that raising a puppy is like raising a child, it is constant and ongoing. You must be firm and establish the alpha roll but loving as well.
Training your puppy starts the day you take it home and continues on. When your puppy is old enough a Puppy Kindegarten class is imperative. This allows your dog to take what it has already learned and put it use in a strange situation with strange dogs all around. The more you do with your dog the more confident and outgoing he becomes. No dog should be left in a house or yard and not taken places, this sets the stage for a dog to become shy and fearful, not a good thing especially for an Aussie.
In addition to daily exercise the Australian Shepherd needs mental stimulation as well. Each dog is different, but typically the Aussie needs some type of job to do. If you have TIME and spend it training and doing things with your dog then an Aussie can be the right dog for you. As I stated earlier this is not a breed that just requires a "walk around the block". They need to get out and "RUN" every day. Teaching them to retrieve is an awesome way to achieve this, with this being said you need to be careful if you use a frisbee and not have the dog jumping for it - this could lead to injuries - throw it level, approximately 2-3 feet off the ground. If we have several days of constant bad weather where my dogs can't get out and run - they drive me crazy:))
Now what I am about to say is not intended to offend anyone. Aussies that are from "working lines" tend to be more driven, much more intense and work oriented. The tend to be smaller in size (not always), lighter in bone and coat. I say they are more "Border Collie like" - they have to have a job to do. This dog is better off in a home where he can work stock or be in a serious performance home. Conformation lines are usually, not always a little heavier in bone and coat. They are a little less intense (don't get this wrong - they still have tons of energy). They are a little easier going than that of a working line dog. Trust me I know I have both.
Positive things about the Aussie are that they are very easily trained, very intelligent and loving, they are a truly versatile dog with a high activity and stamina levels. If you are an active person that has lots of time to spend with your dog and you want a dog that is pretty easy to care for and of medium size. The Australian Shepherd is a very loyal and loving dog who always wants to be with their people. Negative things can be that they are high energy, they have a "guarding instinct", they can be sensitive to moving things (cars, bikes, kids) and also sound sensitive. They do shed (blow their coat) usually twice a year which requires getting that undercoat out of them.
Aussies and children can live together very harmoniously if raised together and they have the right temperment. Aussies need to be watched as they can be protective of their children so this needs to be controlled. Dogs and children should ALWAYS be supervised. As puppies Aussies love to run after children and nip their heels - this needs to be discouraged.
Aussies are a truly wonderful breed in the right homes This is a breed that can truly "do it all". Just as with any breed do your homework and research the breed. Visit lots of breeders, as all are not as they may seem on their websites. A breeder who is passionate and protective of their breed is a good thing, so if you feel you are being drilled with a thousand questions when you meet a breeder - take that as a good sign..
English Cocker Spaniels
The very first line in the breed standard says that the English Cocker should be a "merry little dog" who is very loyal to it's family!! These dogs have great personalities and are funny. In many ways they remind me of Aussies. The English Cocker is a "big dog in a little package", they have alot of heart and are extremely athletic and intelligent, a sturdy little dog.
One thing about owning an English Cocker is that I believe you MUST have a fenced yard, as they are a sporting dog and will "follow their nose". English Cockers make wonderful companions and family dogs. They are great with children and usually love everyone they meet. The English Cocker Spaniel retains his popularity for a variety of reasons. First his compact size, averaging about 16 inches at the shoulder and about 30 pounds, is small enough be a practical house dog for a family , but still large enough to be hardy.
This breed is very athletic and has retained a strong hunting instinct, they can excel in many areas of competition or be just as happy being someone's house buddy. They can bark and dig like any sporting dog, but I haven't found that to be a big problem with mine. They are not usually quite as easy to housebreak as an Aussie but I have found them to be easy to housetrain.
Just like the Aussie the EC comes in a variety of colors. The most common coat color seen is blue roan, which makes up nearly 60% of the English Cocker population. Blue roan coloring can best be described as black spots on a white background that is laced with black hairs. The result is a color that ranges from pale silver to a nearly solid black appearance. Twenty percent are solid colors, black or various shades or red or golden. English Cocker reds are deeper and richer in color than those seen in American Cockers, but not so red as Irish Setters. The remaining 20% includes black and white, liver and white, black/white and tan, liver/white and tan, blue roan and tan, liver roan, liver roan and tan, orange and white, orange roan, black and tan, solid liver and liver and tan.
The breed is a pretty hardy and healthy breed but can have some health issues. The good thing, although rather expensive there is testing for most of the issues. Of course having their hips examined when they turn two years of age is a must. The other testings available are: BAER Test - to test their hearing, as some can be deaf or partially deaf; PRA Testing - a DNA test to see if the dog is clear, a carrier or affect with Progressive Retinal Atrophy (eye disease which results in blindness); FN - DNA Testing for Familial Nephropathy (FN) which is a recessively inherited renal disease. Again this test will show if the dog is clear, a carrier or affected. These tests are expensive but provide responsible breeders with valuable information about their breeding program.
I never thought that I would own any other breed than an Australian Shepherd, but the English Cocker has found a special place in my heart also:)))
One thing about owning an English Cocker is that I believe you MUST have a fenced yard, as they are a sporting dog and will "follow their nose". English Cockers make wonderful companions and family dogs. They are great with children and usually love everyone they meet. The English Cocker Spaniel retains his popularity for a variety of reasons. First his compact size, averaging about 16 inches at the shoulder and about 30 pounds, is small enough be a practical house dog for a family , but still large enough to be hardy.
This breed is very athletic and has retained a strong hunting instinct, they can excel in many areas of competition or be just as happy being someone's house buddy. They can bark and dig like any sporting dog, but I haven't found that to be a big problem with mine. They are not usually quite as easy to housebreak as an Aussie but I have found them to be easy to housetrain.
Just like the Aussie the EC comes in a variety of colors. The most common coat color seen is blue roan, which makes up nearly 60% of the English Cocker population. Blue roan coloring can best be described as black spots on a white background that is laced with black hairs. The result is a color that ranges from pale silver to a nearly solid black appearance. Twenty percent are solid colors, black or various shades or red or golden. English Cocker reds are deeper and richer in color than those seen in American Cockers, but not so red as Irish Setters. The remaining 20% includes black and white, liver and white, black/white and tan, liver/white and tan, blue roan and tan, liver roan, liver roan and tan, orange and white, orange roan, black and tan, solid liver and liver and tan.
The breed is a pretty hardy and healthy breed but can have some health issues. The good thing, although rather expensive there is testing for most of the issues. Of course having their hips examined when they turn two years of age is a must. The other testings available are: BAER Test - to test their hearing, as some can be deaf or partially deaf; PRA Testing - a DNA test to see if the dog is clear, a carrier or affect with Progressive Retinal Atrophy (eye disease which results in blindness); FN - DNA Testing for Familial Nephropathy (FN) which is a recessively inherited renal disease. Again this test will show if the dog is clear, a carrier or affected. These tests are expensive but provide responsible breeders with valuable information about their breeding program.
I never thought that I would own any other breed than an Australian Shepherd, but the English Cocker has found a special place in my heart also:)))
http://www.ecsca.info This website is for the English Cocker Spaniel Club of America
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