Alangus Mini Aussies: A Dog Blog

Just because I haven’t posted doesn’t mean that life is dull here at Alangus Toy Aussies!

Training has been in full swing for all three little Aussies and we are making really good progress. 

We also are working hard to get Fancy ready for the American Stock Dog (ASDR) event in late May.  That will be my first time to participate in conformation and I’m nervous and excited to learn the ropes.  My adult son is taking his Border Collie puppy along for the ride and may put him in the ring as well.

Spring has arrived in Kentucky so the Frisbees have been flying and the little wading pool is ready for some warmer temps.  Izzy is a Frisbee fanatic and Fancy has followed behind her enough now to get the idea and sometimes snatch one away occasionally.

 Toy Australian Shepherds are definitely spunky, but that’s what makes them special!  No lazy lap dogs in my house!

My son and I visited the litter of Border Collie puppies from which he will be getting a little male in 3 more weeks.  They were balls of snuggly black and white fur!!  I suppose puppy love runs in my family 🙂  Welcome to Terbo Cream Top Runaround Angus aka Gus!

I don’t think we’re ready for reality TV, but we are now a family of 3 Mini/Toy Aussies and the fun is rolling at our house.

I picked up Cattle Call Fancy Don’t Let Me Down at Alangus Wednesday morning at the Louisville airport coming in on a Continental red-eye flight (great for puppies).  As her breeder told me, she is a happy puppy and was ready to play as soon as the crate door opened.  I commend the breeder, Cattle Call Aussies, on sending me a perfect Toy Aussie puppy and Continental for a safe and seemingly uneventful ride.

We detoured on the way home by Feeders Supply to give her just a few of those important socialization snuggles from strangers and then to meet Ike and Izzy, who took her right in as though they had been waiting for their little sister to arrive forever.  Once home, of course, we had to do a photo shoot for the webpage but she took it all in stride and there were no shivers of nervousness at any of my silliness which makes me VERY happy.  A nap and she was ready to explore her new forever home.

Her first night required only one potty break, but of course she was snuggled on the couch with skin mommy and Ike, who’s job it is to make everyone feel comfortable.

Check out pictures at www.alangusaussies.com!

Alangus Aussies, my name, comes from the family farm in Southern Kentucky.  When I was a child, my parents asked me to name the farm and with a child’s mental processes, I took the AL from alfalfa which covered a large portion of the tillable fields and added ANGUS which was the breed of cattle to whom the alfalfa was fed, creating Alangus Acres.  As an afterthought, we realized that AL are also my father’s initials so the name became even more appropriate.

Only a few of the fields are now used to grow alfalfa, but Dad continues to have exceptional Angus cattle of which some have won state championship titles.

I talked to the breeder of my new puppy yesterday and after the 2 little females were evaluated, she suggested I do a switch and take the other one which she thinks will be higher quality for show.  I know that I’ll love either one, so it’s best for me to take her advice and get a good start.  Little Fancy is flying in from Oregon on the 28th!!  I’m hoping for moderate weather to hold out, but we’ll see.

I spent several hours yesterday with Izzy (Queen Isabella) working Obedience and Agility.  We are still at the Novice level, but I will be the only deterrent to success.  She has a spark in her eye and superior focus.  She wants to work soooo badly and has such a happy face when we accomplish the command correctly.

 Not everyone has the same interests, but I can’t imagine a loving dog owner not enjoying training their dog once they get started.  It’s almost addictive because you see a bit of success and it makes you want to push to the next level.  So much fun!!

I received word today that my female black tri puppy will be arriving the end of January.  I can smell puppy breath already, but do realize my work is cut out for me.  My two other dogs are “in training”, so I must be disciplined in order to give them all their due time in the limelight.

 I’ve spent a good deal of time in front of the computer screen researching kennels all around the United States that breed and show Toy and Mini Australian Shepherds.  I am eager for the opportunity to attend some shows this Spring and to meet some of these breeders in person and to see their dogs.

Toy Aussies are a terrific pet dog for folks that want an intelligent breed with that focus that comes from the herding breeds but in a small package that is more portable and takes up less “space” in the house.  In my case, the “less space” just means additional dogs much to the chagrin of my husband who has a “one-dog philosophy”.