The Aussie - Summer 2020 final

The

Summer 2020

AussieEdition

In the Dock

How much is

that Aussie

in the

window?

The Great

British

Bark-Off

Get down

and

get dirty

The Magazine only for members of the

Southern Counties Australian Terrier Club

SCATC CHAT

Aussie Garden Party

Frank Gale

Who were they?

The Great Bri<sh Bark Off

Get Down and Get Dirty

Nailed It

The Zoomies

In the Dock

Aussie Breeds

Talking Point

Training Tips

How Much is that Aussie in

the Window?

Touching Moments

Memories

Calm, Cool and Collected

Final Word

SCATC Contact

Chris FoskeU - Hon Secretary - email

wilfnbell@yahoo.co.uk

via PM on Facebook

mobile 0778105722

Please keep sending your ideas for ar<cles, your photos, ar<cles and items to include in future

Magazines. Some<mes it’s hard to squeeze the informa<on into 42 pages. Amazed we are saying that!

The email contact for the Magazine is bellefours@b<nternet.com. Always put the header - Aussie

Magazine.

Thank you for your con<nued interest in providing reading material for our members.

SCATC CHAT with

Chris Foskett

The Aussie

So what has been happening in the world of Aussies since the

last Magazine?

Chris

Well there has been no change in the enjoyment our

members are geMng from their Aussies I do know that many

owners were missing taking their Aussies out and about to

different places. But with the easing of lockdown, they are

able to enjoy longer walks and days out. I think the biggest

problem has been geMng to the Groomers. we have some

hairy Aussies out there.

The Aussie

Of course the Aussies are unaware of the pandemic and are

enjoying having people around. They are very much family

members.

Chris

And you can see that from all the photos posted as part of the

Aussie Garden Party.

The Aussie

What a great way to celebrate the breed.

Chris

With the cancella<on of the Windsor Dog Show, so many of

our members were disappointed. A Sunday, so everyone

could get there easily and we had reminded everyone about

the date for their diaries for so long. But we felt it was

important not to forget the day and get everyone in their own

homes to raise a glass to our wonderful breed and have a

garden party with their Aussie.

The Aussie

Of course in this Magazine we are featuring some of the

photos.

Chris

Plus the videos. Yes, it was a great way for everyone to be

together via social media.

The Aussie

The Facebook Group seems to have been very popular.

Chris

Not only have we had our current supporters pos<ng on a

regular basis, but we had a lot of interest from new members

wan<ng to join the Group. Which is very posi<ve for the

breed.

The Aussie

Many breeds have been men<oning a surge in interest in the

breed.

Chris

And the Aussies are no excep<on. Many people just couldn’t

get their bitches bred due to lockdown, so we definitely have

a demand at the moment. As lockdown eases, I think a few

more people will be breeding their bitches, so we hope that

everyone interested will not have bought another breed that

is available more quickly.

The Aussie

Because of lockdown there hasn’t been many

opportuni<es to introduce more people to the breed.

Chris

Yes, one of the best ways for people to see the breed id

for all our exis<ng Aussie owners to be out and about and

geMng the breed seen. This year we decided against

being a part of the Game Fairs as the dates clashed with

other events. There are some dates being suggested

when the Game Fairs might run in August and September.

But we feel that as a club we do not want to subject our

ambassador members to any unnecessary risk.

The Aussie

Do we have an update on Discover Dogs in London?

Chris

We know the topic was discussed at the Kennel Club

AGM. The comment was that, as with Crubs 2021, it is

s<ll being considered and the KC is taking guidance from

the Government. Again, I am not sure how our members

feel about being at an event in October . So un<l we have

any defini<ve statements, SCATC is not making any plans.

The Aussie

On the topic of AGMs, what is happening about the

SCATC one.

Chris

I have all the paperwork and the CommiUee was

considering how we could organise an AGM before the

usual deadline date. However, as the KC has extended the

date, we are monitoring Government advice and will

make a decision in the Autumn.

The Aussie

Are there any palns to reschedule our Club Show?

Chris

The CommiUee thought long and hard about this. But we

have decided that because there are so many unknows,

we would not hold the show this year and plan for

Windsor 2021.

The Aussie

Some Dog shows are being scheduled.

Chris

Yes Bournemouth and Blackpool Championship Shows

have been given a licence by the Kennel Club. SKC has a

date for November, so this may go ahead and in theoory

if it’s the May Show there will be Aussie classes. But it is

very much a wai<ng game. The 2 Shows that we support

have both been cancelled for this year.

The Aussie

Hopefully in the next edi<on we may have more news.

Chris

we will keep you up-to-date. Un<l then, stay safe

everyone

Aussie Day

5 July 2020

Our Aussie enthusiasts certainly joined in the spirit of

the SCATC celebra<on of Aussies Day. With many photos

and videos for everyone to enjoy. Hopefully, next year

we can all celebrate our wonderful breed at Windsor.

Just when we thought that Windsor was celebra<ng Aussie

Day as well, by floodligh<ng the Castle blue - it was not for

us - it was for the NHS 72nd anniversary.

Not Bondi Beach, but Filey Beach in Yorkshire. Oz

enjoyed his celebra<ons with his family on the beach -

socially distancing of course.

In true Aussie fashion - watch your drink -

many an Aussie will sample it if you are

not watching. Sally Clarke and Toto pose.

Bailey geMng the party started with the Pims

tas<ng!

Barney and Pixie chose to celebrate

the day with a stroll by the River with

their owner John Draper. A great way

for everyone to see and admire

Aussies.

One guess as to the name of this Aussie.

Twiglet keeping all these picnic snacks to himself.

Whilst Roxy and Harvey walked the Ridgeway

checking out Waylands Smithy and other scenic

loca<ons. Of course they would have stopped

for a quick refreshment break to celebrate.

The Club’s Treasurer Steve Taylor and his wife Wendy celebrated with

abernoon tea and Pip the Aussie. Think it as a proper tea dance as Wendy

was video’d dancing with Pip. Although, maybe she’s in rehearsal for Strictly.

Has the Aussie got a scoop?

No Regatta in Henley this year - instead Bonnie and

Evie enjoyed a picnic in their garden to celebrate

Aussie Day.

All this socialising with the family, aber

lockdown, obviously came as a bit of a

shock to Noodes. SpoUed having a quick

snooze.

Celebra<ng the SCATC Aussie Day in style was not just for

those in the UK. Our Aussie friends in Germany arranged a

celebratory Dinner for their Aussies. As you can see, perfect

table manners.

Dorica’s Xtra Ordinary Lady

Lesnoy’s Danilo

Lesnoy’s Donaltello

Sue Nuohuqloc headed back to France on the Aussie Day, but it didn’t stop her pos<ng a great video

compila<on called Fluffy friends which included her Aussies Trixie and Ossie. Bon voyage.

Another great video featuring Norman and Cousin

Rocky. What a great idea for the families to have a

get together to enjoy the Aussie Day. The Aussies

certainly had a lot of fun.

Norman and Rocky share an al

fresco buffet.

Frank Gale

I was so sad to hear the news that Frank Gale has passed away,

par<cularly as having broken a hip he was in a care home when he

succumbed to this dreadful virus.

I read tributes to Frank in both the Kerry Blue and the Sob Coated

Wheaten breed notes and felt that he should also be recognised for

his contribu<on to the Australian Terrier world.

Frank and Rosemary were already well established and successful

Kerry Blue breeders when they arrived on the Aussie scene and their

arrival into Aussie circles back in 1975 was certainly one with impact

as they imported Aus Ch Nukara Kennick Prince from Richard

Watson in Tasmania. Back then imports were few and far between

and the gene pool was very closed.

Over the years, the breed has been very

fortunate to have enthusiasts to keep the breed

alive. Recently, members were saddened to

learn of the death of Frank Gale.

Sadly another tragedy resul<ng from Covid 19,

which has touched so many lives over the last

months.

We asked Paul Eardley to reflect on Frank’s life

with the Australian Terriers.

It is an interes<ng story as Richard was a Kerry enthusiast from

Tasmania and Richard’s father had shown Aussies since the 1920’s.

Richard met the Gales at Crubs in 1969 and admired in par<cular Ch

Kennick Mulligatawny. He tried to buy Mulligatawny but

unfortunately he was not at that <me for sale. Notwithstanding this

they struck up a friendship and stayed in touch. A few years later

when Richard was again visi<ng the UK he saw Mulligatawny, who

was by this <me living with some rela<ves of the Gale’s. On this

occasion a deal was struck and it was agreed that Mulligatawny was

to go to Australia and in return Richard would send them a

champion Australian Terrier.

Richard had admired an Aussie called Ch Carna Cadet, bred by the

Neale’s in New South Wales and knew the Neale’s as they also had

Kerries. In due course the Neale’s produced a liUer sired by one of

Tommy Morgan’s dogs, Elmora Regal Stride with Cadet as the

maternal grandfather. A blue and tan boy out of this liUer went to

Richard and once he was <tled Prince was ready to travel to the UK

to spend 6 months in quaran<ne before his show debut.

Prince’s first show was, I think, Birmingham City 1975. Certainly that

is where I first remember seeing him. The breed judge was Anna

Care and she awarded him the CC and BOB. Back then in group

compe<<on the judge only placed a winner and a runner up and

Prince made it to the last three which was probably the highest

recogni<on an Aussie had had up to then in group compe<<on. A

month or so later he won the CC and BIS at the Australian Terrier

Club of GB’s annual Ch show judged by Bobby James. I dug out the

catalogue and there were 42 dogs entered with an entry of 87,

numbers we can only dream about nowadays. His <tle was not long

in coming.

One of his rivals in the ring at the <me was Rene Sanderson’s big

winning Ch Spenmoss Blue Jubila<on and interes<ngly the year aber

Prince arrived Rene achieved her biggest success in the group ring

taking runner up in the group at Blackpool 1976 with Blue Jubila<on

under George LeaU. I suspect that she was spurred on by the

addi<onal compe<<on.

Prince was inevitably a controversial dog as there had been very

liUle new blood in the UK for quite a while at this point in <me. A

Tinee Town dog had been imported by Mrs Curnell in the south a

few years prior to this but had been sparingly used.

Prince was probably more “stylish” than the Aussies in the UK at

that <me and also a liUle bigger than most of the UK dogs and

the established breeders of the <me were not always quick to

praise his virtues.

However no sooner had he arrived in the show ring than a

quaran<ne born liUer bred by a Mrs Valen<ne also entered the

arena in the shape of Sunnyland Kennel Sam, owned by Joan

Garlick (as she was then) and Sunnyland Kennel Sheila owned by

Kate Elwin. So suddenly there were new bloodlines available and

people’s minds did open to the opportuni<es that this presented.

These two boasted a well known Tinee Town sire, Aus/NZ Ch

Tinee Town Talespinna and at that point in <me Tinee Town was

arguably the most famous Aussie kennel in the world having

taken BIS at the Sydney Royal and numerous other big wins.

There is no doubt in my mind that Kennel Sheila in par<cular was

a strong influence as she significantly improved the Jeken stock

bringing that kennel much more to the fore over the next decade.

Sensibly, two of the high profile breeders at that <me did use

Prince at stud.

Rene Sanderson took her big winning Ch Spenmoss Dusky Dawn

to him and had a huge liUer of 9 out of which 6 were shown at

various <mes. Frank and Rosemary had two blue and tan girls

from the liUer, Spenmoss Friendly Persuasion who won a CC at

her very first show aged about 7 months under Joe Cartledge and

Spenmoss Fancy Free who won a CC at the Club Ch show in 1978

under Margot Carnegie. The male in the liUer, Spenmoss Princely

Lad won his first CC in the ownership of Rene who then let him

go to Mary Machin who won two more with him to gain his <tle.

Win Pearson bought a bitch out of the liUer, Spenmoss Sweet

ColleUe and I think that she too may have won a CC.

Unfortunately in lockdown I cannot check this so please forgive

me if my memory is lacking.

Aus & UK Ch Nukara Kennick Prince

with his Australian owner Richard

Watson.

Joan Dunn took her lovely red girl, Ch Tippon Harvest Gold to him

and several from that liUer also performed well in the showring.

Frank and Rosemary had a blue girl, Tippon Royal Strumpet at

Kennick, their daughter Amanda Prinold showed a red girl Tippon

Prince’s Gold and Joan showed a blue boy, Tippon Royal Mascot.

However probably the best offspring from Prince was Ch Sheila’s

Choice of Kennick, bred by Mrs Dawson out of a bitch called

Sprite of Kenstaff. This showy girl was a chip off the old block and

Frank campaigned her to her <tle rela<vely easily.

Aber this ini<al flurry we saw Frank, Rosemary and Amanda in

the Aussie rings from <me to <me, usually with something showy

and very much the type that they were aUemp<ng to establish.

They sensibly used Ch Spenmoss Blue Jubila<on on Sheila’s

Choice producing the liUer brother and sister Kennick Roobarb

and Kennick Custard. Roobarb won the Res CC at the ATC of GB’s

50 th birthday show judged by Mina Alexander. The entry that day

was 68 dogs making 110 entries. The last Aussie I remember

Frank showing was another showy blue and tan boy called

Kennick G’day and I gave him BOB at West Midland Terrier

Who

were

they?

When the Club was alerted to the

death of Frank Gale, it was via an

Aussie enthusiast from Australia,

Richard Watson. He was

instrumental in ge?ng Aus Ch, Ch

Nukara Kennick Prince to the UK.

His parents were great enthusiasts

for the breed.

The photo features his parents, Jim

and Beryl, with one of their

Durnsford Australian Terriers. The

photo is dated from the early

1930’s. It certainly gives a very

clear idea of the Aussies from this

Pme.

They bred the Durnsford Aussies,

but as Pme went on also had Cairn

Terriers and were successful with

both breeds. Richard has kindly

given permission for ‘The Aussie’ to

reprint an arPcle wriRen by his

father in 1965. It looks into the

breed in the early years.

Tasmanian bred Aussies from the 1930”s

When I started to exhibit in 1927 I was given a copy of a

standard taken from the dog column of a weekly publica<on

The Leader. This allowed the two types of ears, but preferred

pricked ears, while black and tan was introduced as an

allowed colour but no men<on was made of sandy.

In 1928 in the kennel column of The Leader, a standard for

Australian Terriers was published which it was stated was the

result of consulta<on and agreement between breeders and

clubs in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. In this, the

only changes were the disallowance of ears dropped forward,

the dele<on of black and tan, and inclusion of sandy. This

standard has remained unchanged and was apparently

adopted by the controlling bodies some <me aber 1928.

Although the origin of the Australian Terrier is not actually

known, we do know that a terrier-type dog known as the

Tasmanian Rough Coat-ed Terrier was developed in Tasmanian

the early days of the colony.

Some <me ago I discovered in an early book of the Cairn

Terrier that an Ensign MacDonald was posted to 99th

Regiment of Foot in Hobart Town. He was the son of

MacDonald of Neish, one of the very early pioneers of the

dogs we now know as the Cairn Terrier.

These Cairn Terriers were the forebears of the ScoMsh Terrier

and West Highland White, while the Skye Terrier is believed to

be the result of out-crossing the original Cairn in the Hebrides.

Ensign MacDonald brought to Hobart six terriers from his

father’s kennel. When the regiment was transferred to Cork

only two of the terriers returned with him. These dogs could

probably have been used to produce the Tasmanian Rough

Coated Terrier by crossing with Yorkshire Terriers which would

almost certainly have been brought out in the early fleets.

There are certainly marked similari<es between Cairns and

Australian Terriers.

There is no doubt that the Tasmanian Rough Coated Terrier

was, by selec<ve breeding, developed into the Australian

Terrier.

In the late 1920’s Australian Terriers in some of the Tasmanian

kennels were becoming a liUle light in bone structure due to

in-breeding and at least two breeders in Hobart, who had

heard that a ScoMsh breed of terrier had been used early in

the development, assumed that the ScoMsh terriers, as we

know them now, was used and crossed a ScoMsh Terrier into

their kennel with disastrous results. As a result, both these

breeders - Mr. D Saunders and Mr C Hosper - ceased breeding

Australian Terriers and concentrated on ScoMsh Terriers.

This kennel disappeared from the show ring in the early

1930’s, although judicious use of stock from this kennel may

have helped improve the tan colouring in stock from other

kennels.

In 1928 I purchased my first Australian Terrier bitch from Mr F.

Richardson. She was Medorah Julie, by Northumberland

Punch from Northumberland Trixie.

Prior to my purchasing Medorah Julie, she had produced a

dog Medorah Pat, who won best of breed at six months of

age and, up <ll the <me of Mr. Richardson’s death in 1932,

was never beaten by any other Australian Terrier. In my

opinion this dog was the best Australian Terrier I have seen,

even up to the present <me.

lIn Mr. Gil. Brown’s book in the Australian breeds, he states

that Mr. A.A. Laidlaw of Ararat purchased the Parkville

kennels from Mr. McGowan in Launceston which then ceased

to exist and the Ripon kennel came into being. This cannot be

correct for the following reasons: Aber the death of Mr. Fred

Richardson I acquired an outstanding bitch - Medorah Trixie.

This bitch was bred from a bitch Royston Trixie, purchased by

Mr. E. McCracken from Victoria (for the then large sum of

sixteen guineas), and sired by Northumberland Punch.

At this <me I was living at Lilydale just out of Launceston. I

later gave this bitch and a dog Durnsford Bill (out of Medorah

Julie by Medorah Nip, a liUer brother to Medorah Pat) to a

Mr. A. Brooks. These two terriers were given to Mr. Brooks to

his uncle, Col McGowan, who established the Parkville

kennels using these two terriers as his founda<on stock. This

was in 1933.

In 1929 Mr. Fred Richardson purchased two bitches from

Victoria, one of these was Ripon Rosie, from the Ripon

kennels and another from a kennel in Ballarat with the kennel

name Sturt. So it is clear that Ripon Kennels were in existence

at least four years before Parkville. Further, Parkville kennels

were s<ll opera<ve up un<l the end of World War II A very

nice dog Shwebo Tiger, out of Trixie by Parkville Tiger, bred

and owned by Capt. George Cooper, was being exhibited with

a lot of success, winning Best in Show and many Group

awards.

Newspaper ar<cle

featuring Jim Watson's

views on the Aussie

breeding.

Another breeder and exhibitor, Mr James Hogan of the

Athelmore prefix, imported from the U.K. a Manchester

Terrier, which was bred to Australian Terrier bitches.

Photographs from the Illustrated Tasmanian Mail, dated from

1923 to 1932, indicated the deteriora<on of type

in this kennel in 1932 with the disastrous result of this

Manchester cross.

The Great British

Bark O!

The end of August is fast

approaching and yes in the

normal world, everyone would

be geMng ready for the Great

Bri<sh Bake Off. Probably

more an<cipated than usual,

as during lockdown there

seems to have been a sudden

increase in interest in home

baking.

But you too can have your own

Bri<sh Bark Off at your home,

with some very willing judges

in the shape of your Aussies.

We asked a keen baker if they

would trial the products for

their dogs. I will add they

weren’t Aussies. We didn’t

want to test on our precious

breed!

You only have to search the internet or ask Google and you

will find hundreds of recipes for your Aussie to enjoy. You

will even find dog bakeries that have taken the hassle out of

you visi<ng the supermarket for all the right ingredients and

maybe even conver<ng from cups as it is a recipe with an

American source.

But don’t worry the solu<on is here. Oggi’s Oven Baking

Mixes. These are manufactured in the UK and are all free

from ar<ficial colours, flavours or preserva<ves and they use

the term made from human grade ingredients. Although

most dog foods sold in EU should have this criteria.

There are 3 varie<es available, Scones, Biscuits and

Cakes. With op<ons of Blueberry, carrot and cheese

available.

The packets contain the mixes ready to go, all you need to

add is water and/or vegetable oil and the Biscuits and

Scones come with their own cuUers. Full instruc<ons for all

are included on the box so now there’s no excuse not to get

baking.

Scones (with paw cu:er): £3.50 on Amazon

No need to use a mixer, I stuck with a bowl and spoon as

suggested and was pleasantly surprised to end up with a

lovely sob dough and less washing up! I rolled it out to what

I guessed was about 6mm and found that I didn’t have quite

enough to make the 14 scones stated on the box, instead I

ended up with 12. Luckily that was enough to divide evenly

between our 3 dogs.

They cooked quickly and rose slightly. When I took them out

of the oven, they smelled delighwul. The dogs were hanging

around hoping I may drop one or two but no such luck.

Biscuits (with bone cu:er: £3.50 on Amazon

Once again it was easy to mix straight from the packet but

this <me it was a much s<ffer dough to roll out. At first I

wasn’t sure about the cuUer as the bones seemed to s<ck

inside, but a firm tap was all that was needed to release

them. I managed to get 24 bones from the mix rather than

the 20 stated on the box and they were nice and chunky just

the way the dogs like them.

Cakes: £3.50 on Amazon

For the cake mix there are a couple of suggested

op<ons, either a 12 bun <n or a 7″ cake. I chose to use cup

cake cases in my bun <n. These need to be removed before

serving as I’m sure our dogs wouldn’t bother and would wolf

the whole lot down. I thought that the cup cakes cases were

a bit on the big side, our dogs have to watch their waistlines,

just like us, so I used some of the mix in pe<t four cases.

They were more bite size and would make a beUer training

treat.

I was a bit confused by the mixture, expec<ng it to be of

pouring consistency like a normal cake mix. Instead it was

like chewing gum. I thought maybe I’d not added enough

liquid but I’m sure I followed the instruc<ons to the leUer. I

carried on regardless and dolloped the mix into the cases

safe in the knowledge that the dogs wouldn’t complain if

they weren’t perfect (unlike some cri<cs I know, no names

men<oned!). Despite the thick mixture they cooked OK,

apart from the fact that I didn’t get the domed rise you

would expect to see on a cupcake, instead they remained

rather “rugged” looking, more like a muffin.

The verdict: All three mixes were quick and simple and

cooked perfectly – no soggy boUoms there. Since they state

human grade ingredients, we were keen to taste them

ourselves.

The scones we found slightly sweet, despite claiming to be

savoury on the box.

The biscuits I thought tasted a bit meaty but this may just

have been my imagina<on.

The cake, again was rather sweet and very “cakey”.

As suspected the smaller ones were beUer as quick bite.

Overall, I think they are ideal for a bit of a doggy treat. The

bones would be the beUer choice if you were going to use

them for training, you could always add a bit of smelly

cheese to the mix to give them some extra incen<ve!

Looking back on the baking day, it was good fun and an ideal

gib for any dog loving friends. WOUld certainly make them

smile.

And what did the dogs think?

Well there were no turned up noses, they were keen to try

all three, although Daisy was reluctant to let anyone else join

the tea party.

Would I do it again?

Probably when the grandchildren are round. A great ac<vity

for them and the dogs already associate them with FOOD.

You can’t beat a bit of home barking, sorry I meant baking….

Not sure Paul Hollywood would approve. Fortunately my

dogs have different views when it come to tasting!

The cup cakes before baking and after

baking

Get Down and get Dirty

Canine Biathlon

Never heard of it you are probably thinking. But for

the last 2 years an Aussie has been represen<ng the

breed at this annual event. Held every year in

August in the 320-acre canine training facility in

Anniston, Alabama. The Race Director and Founder,

Paul Hammond is Bri<sh, but affec<onately referred

to as the Mad Brit.

The Biathlon is the challenge of obstacle racing but

their canine companions. This 4+ mile event features

more than 40+ purpose-built obstacles over varied

terrain including forest, sand, and water.

The U.S. Canine Biathlon® is open to all types of

Handler-Canine teams including Civilian pets, Search

& Rescue, Military working dogs, or Police Dog

teams. In addi<on, the race is open to challengers

and thrill seekers of all ages and experience levels—

even those running with no dog. Scores will be

determined not only by course <me but also criteria

based on the age of both the runner and the canine

partner. The U.S. Canine Biathlon® is also open to

individual entries who wish to complete without a

canine partner or those canine teams who wish to

take on the course as a group.

So what beUer thing to do than have some fun with

your “High Energy” Australian Terrier. The photos

feature Charlie Dahling and Banjo’s second year

running in the US Canine Biathlon 2019. A 4 mile

with over 80 obstacles of creeks, converts to go in,

buses to climb, A frames to go over, major hills,

water and mud! Banjo is certainly an all round Aussie

as he features later in the Magazine doing Dock

Diving.

Nailed it!

Dogs nails grow. Even those walked a lot on pavements s<ll

need a trim. Many Aussie owners report their Aussies nails

seem to grow so fast and the dew claws are worrying. Of

course, there are many vet’s surgeries that run free or

inexpensive nail clipping op<ons. Groomers will take care of this

as well, but at a cost. However, all these need planning and

some<mes you think – I will do it myself.

How do I do it?

Most breeders are happy to show to show you and ‘The Aussie’

has featured a ‘how to’ o the subject in a previous edi<on. But it

can be a wrestling match for Aussie and owner when the

clippers appear and that is why some are turning to nail

grinders. While they aren’t always the best choice, filing tends

to be easier and less stressful than clipping.

If you’re not sure whether to invest in a nail grinder or s<ck with

tradi<onal nail clippers, we hope this ar<cle helps you decide.

Pros and Cons of Dog Nail Clippers

We begin with the nail clippers that are

widely used. There are 2 types that are

available. The guillo<ne type and the

scissor style.

Guillo<ne clippers have a hole in which

you insert the end of your dog’s nail. You

then press down to force the blade

through.

This style is great if you have mobility

issues with your hands, such as arthri<s.

The design makes it easier to create the

pressure required.

Scissor clippers, however, are stronger and

generate more pressure. This makes them

a beUer choice for large dogs with thicker

nails.

Here are some advantages and

disadvantages of dog nail clippers.

Advantages

¥ Fast. Because clippers require one or

two snips, rather than a gradual

filing down, they are quicker for

cuMng your pet’s nails. This is

useful if you have a fidgety or

nervy dog.

¥ Minimal noise and no vibraHon. While

clippers s<ll create a snip sound

when cuMng the nail, your dog

isn’t subjected to con<nual noise

or vibra<ons. You may have to

spend less <me desensi<sing them

to the clipping process, especially

if you have a sound-sensi<ve dog.

¥ Cheaper. It’s s<ll important to invest in a

good quality set of clippers, but

they are less expensive than a

grinder.

¥ Don’t need ba:ery or power cord.

Clippers are more convenient and

portable, as they aren’t reliant on

baUeries or a power cord. You may

also save money on replacing

baUeries.

¥ Easier to remove a broken piece of nail.

If your dog has snagged their nail,

leaving an awkward piece

remaining, it’s much easier to

remove this with clippers. If they

have a serious nail injury, you

should always take them to the vet

for an assessment.

Disadvantages

¥ Can be difficult to use on thick nails. If

you have a large breed with thick

nails, geMng the clippers to cut

through can be a challenge – even

using scissor-type trimmers.

¥ More likely to hit the quick. If you misjudge

where to cut, or your dog moves, it’s easy to hit the quick.

This is especially true for dogs with dark nails, which make

it tougher to see where the blood vessel begins. HiMng

the quick isn’t a medical disaster, but it can bleed

profusely and be painful for your dog. Aside from the

immediate pain, this experience can cause an aversion to

future nail clipping.

¥ Can cause jagged or split nails. Clipping doesn’t round

off the edge like a grinder. This can leave ragged

edges, which are more likely to get caught or

cause discomfort. It’s also easier to split the nail,

especially if you clip it at the wrong angle.

Can cause painful pressure. Clippers need to press down

with strong pressure. This can cause an uncomfortable

pressure or pinching. Clipping is oben more painful for

dogs with thick nails or if you’re cuMng at the wrong

angle.

Above - the Scissor

type nail clipper. To the

right, the Guillotine

naile clippers

Disadvantages

• Some dogs don’t like the noise or vibraHons.

Grinders are noisier than clippers. They also cause a

slight vibra<on when pressed against the nail. This can

make some dogs feel uncomfortable – especially if

they are nervous or anxious. However, by introducing

the grinder through a process of desensi<sa<on, you

can oben get them to accept it.

• Nail dust. Grinders create a fair bit of dust – especially

if you have a large dog with thick nails. Some grinders

have a protec<ve casing that gathers dust.

SHll need to avoid hiJng the quick. Using a grinder

isn’t foolproof. It’s s<ll possible to file down too far

and hit the quick. Make sure you don’t get

overconfident and, if in doubt, use the slower speed

seMng.

• Heat. The longer you use a grinder, the more heat is

generated. You may have to trim the nails in short

sessions if they are long or thick, to ensure you don’t

burn your dog’s paws. Using a grinder on a high speed

seMng causes it to heat up faster.

• Longer hair can get wound around the rota<ng band

of the grinder. You’ll need to cut this out, which can

cause discomfort and stress. Keep paw hair trimmed

or pulled back – especially for long-haired breeds.

• Noise. Some dogs find the sound of the motor

irrita<ng, so you need to acclima<se your dog to the

sound.

• VibraHon. This sensa<on can make the dog anxious as

the griner touches their nail. Just as with the sound. It

is all about introducing your dog to the sensa<on

before you go full blast on nail grinding.

Pros and Cons of Dog Nail Grinders

Successful users do suggest that you watch the guidance

videos on YouTube. They recommend introducing your

dog to them slowly for the best result.

Advantages

¥ Gradual grinding and more control. Grinders gradually

file the nail rather than cuMng it. You have more

control over how much of the nail you grind,

which reduces the chance of hiMng the quick (the

sensi<ve nail blood vessel).

¥ Smoother finish. Clippers can some<mes leave ragged

or sharp edges. Grinders create a smooth edge.

¥ Useful for dogs who fear clippers. If your dog has had a

bad experience with clippers, or they don’t like

the pressure on the nail, then they may be more

accep<ng of a grinder. You s<ll need to desensi<se

your dog to the noise and vibra<ons

though.

¥ Easy to use on thick nails. Some<mes clippers can

cause nails to split. This is more common with

thick nails, or if the clippers aren’t strong enough.

You can avoid these poten<al problems using a

grinder.

There are various makes of nail grinders. Check

out the specifica<ons and users comments to find

out which one might work for oyur dog.

The

Zoomies

Before the zoomies hit, dogs oben get a glint in their eyes,

and they may start to play-bow at you or other dogs. Dogs

with the zoomies oben run quickly from one side of the

garden, or room to the other, back and forth, or spin in

circles. Some really enjoy trying to catch their tail. While

zoomies in dogs and the fran<c movements your dog

exhibits when they hit might seem concerning, they are

actually a normal part of happy dog behaviour, and as long

as your dog is zooming in a safe space, these are nothing to

be concerned about.

Why do zoomies in dogs happen?

Dog zoomies tend to hit puppies and young dogs more

frequently than older dogs, but zoomies are a great way for

dogs of any age to release pent-up energy. Dogs get the

zoomies for a variety of reasons — when they are highly

excited or aroused, or aber watching another dog engage in

high-energy play. Some<mes, dogs get the zoomies when

they are confused, or slightly stressed at a dog-training class,

such as when the skills being worked on are challenging and

they need to blow off some of that nervous energy.

For many dogs of all ages, bath <me brings out the zoomies!

Even with the older dogs, who can suddenly start zooming

around like a puppy aber bath <me is over. While dog

zoomies are very natural for dogs, if they happen very

frequently, it might be a good idea to think about how much

exercise your dog gets, and if there are ways to add more

structured exercise outlets into his day.

Controlling dog zoomies

As zoomies are natural and not something you should worry

about preven<ng or discouraging, so long as your dog is

zooming in a safe place. This means inside your home or

fenced area, ideally on carpet, and away from breakable

items, or small children or elderly family members who could

be accidentally knocked over by a zooming dog. Try to avoid

leMng your dog zoom on hardwood floors, or other shiny

surfaces. While it might seem funny to see a frapping dog

slipping and skidding on floors, it can be very dangerous as

your dog could slip and injure himself.

So, instead of trying to control the zoomies in dogs, control

the environment in which he zooms. For example, if you

know your dog will get the zoomies aber a bath, be sure to

take him directly from the bath (either being carried or on

lead) to somewhere he can safely zoom.

Never chase a dog with the zoomies

Some<mes the dog zoomies will strike your dog not just at a

moment that’s inconvenient (like when dinner guests are

about to arrive), but at a <me or place that’s actually

dangerous, like when running free on a dog walk.

In a situa<on like that, you need to catch your dog quickly,

and when a dog has the zoomies he might “forget” his

training.

The most important thing, which seems counterintui<ve, is

not chasing aber a dog in the process of zooming around. If

you chase your dog, he is likely to misinterpret this as you

playing with him. That will inspire him to con<nue running!

Instead of chasing your dog, run away from him

(in a direc<on free of roads or other dangers) and

encourage your dog to follow you in a happy voice. It’s

good to be prepared for this moment, and make sure

to have high-value treats and/or toys on you at all

<mes.

Zoomies is just a descrip<ve name, but it turns out

there’s a technical term for this behaviour: frene<c

random ac<vity periods, also known as FRAPs. The

burst of energy dogs exhibit usually lasts only a few

minutes, but they can happen any <me, whether your

dog is excited or seemingly relaxed.

According to Dr. Patrick Mahaney, a veterinarian

based in Los Angeles, any and every dog can

demonstrate FRAPs, but surprisingly, very young

puppies may not show their exuberant selves in this

way as oben as older dogs do simply because their

bodies haven’t fully developed enough physically to

exert that much energy. In fact, if they’re healthy and

happy, adult dogs can zoom any <me.

Animal experts aren’t 100% sure why dogs get the

zoomies, but it’s possible that it’s simply a surge of

pent-up energy. Humans experience it, too. Normally,

adults know how to temper it when a bubble of

exuberance threatens to spill over, say during a

wedding, at work or some other inopportune <me.

When dogs experience a sudden surge of conviviality,

it’s actually a good thing.

In the Dock

photos by: Janine Pearman and

Marvellous Impressions Photography

The versa<lity of the Australian Terrier never ceases to amaze.

They may be few in number worldwide, but they make up for it

with a seemingly limitless range of talents. Many people cannot

believe that a terrier breed can claim to have dogs compe<ng at a

high level in so many performance sports. Successes have been

highlighted in this magazine on Agility, Flyball, Obedience, Rally,

Heelwork to Music, Tricks, Earth dogs, Barn Hunts, Herding,

Bloodtracking, Mantrailing, Tracking, Scentwork and just when

you think there can’t be anything else, you hear about Dock

Diving.

What the heck is Dock Diving?

Probably the next ques<on. Those readers who have been to

Specialised Dog events, like ’All about Dogs’, may have seen the

Dock Diving UK version. Set up to raise money for charity and

dominated by the gundog breeds. In the USA, it is firmly

established and already there are 4 Aussies compe<ng at this

sport and making a name for themselves and the breed.

To the uniniHated…

Dock diving or jumping is where dogs compete at either distance

Junior Division - 5’0” to 8’11”

or height jumping from a raised plaworm – usually known as the

Senior Division - 9’0” to 12’11”

Dock - into water. It first appeared in the USA in 1997 at the

Master Division - 13’0” to 17’11”

Eukanuba Incredible Dog Challenge and from that simple

Elite Division - 18’0” and above

beginning it has become one of the fastest growing dog sports in

the USA. It has already expanded into Canada resul<ng in the

forma<on of NADD (North America Diving Dogs). Subsequently

partnering with the AKC (American Kennel Club) to offer AKC

<tles. It is not surprising that people from other countries

watching this sport, seeing the fun that dogs and owners get,

want to introduce it more widely. Enthusiasts can be found in

Australia, Germany, Austria and as men<oned in the UK. Now,

dock jumping has world championships that take place annually.

How it works

Compe<<ons are open to all dogs – pedigree and nonpedigree.

Dogs must be over 6 months and no bitches in

season. Dogs must be registered with the AKC to get <tles. To

make it fair, dogs fall into 2 categories – up to 16” at the

shoulder (LAP Dog) and over 16”. The Aussie falls into the LAP

dog category. I’m not sure how the term lap dog suits the

Aussies street cred!

Most newcomers to the sport begin with the long jump. The

actual jump begins on the 40’ Dock - from which the dog leaps

into the approx. 41’ long pool aber a toy which the handler

has thrown into the water. The distance is measured from the

edge of the dock to the base of the dog’s tail as they land in

the water. They get 2 jumps and the longest is the qualifying

score for what is called the “Splash.” Each jump is limited to 4

minutes.

The LAP Dog classifica<on has 5 Divisions rela<ng to the

length of jumps needed to .qualify in the category.

Novice Division - 0’1” to 4’11”

Once your dog achieves 5 qualifying jumps in a Division, you

can apply for the relevant AKC <tle. Many work their way

through the <tles, whilst others s<ck in a Division and earn

further <tles. For example, if you get 25 further qualifying

jumps in the Division, you are eligible for the Advance <tle. Go

for 25 more and you get an Excellent Title. If that s<ll isn’t

enough, then for every extra 25 qualifying jumps you get a I, II,

III etc to add to the Excellent <tle. The fact these exists tends

to show this is an addic<ve sport. And for those of you who

concentrate on confirma<on, you thought that was addic<ve!

Going for the High Jump

The ‘long jump’ is not the only op<on. You can try for height (Air

Retrieve) there is a special sob bar, suspended over the water,

and the dog jumps out to grab the bar earning Titles for grab

distances. And yes, there are Aussies taking part in this. Then

there are the speed (Hydrodash), where a you can earn one

qualifying grab towards a Division <tle based on their fastest run.

Again, the same Divisions apply, but with varying qualifiers. And

of course, we have an Aussie working to achieve success at this

part of the sport.

Jumping for Glory

That’s the theory, but what is it actually like going to an event?

‘The Aussie’ asked Jan Dahling. When you enter an event,

typically we get 4 runs a day. We call each run a ‘Jump set’. when

you arrive you are given the opportunity to sign up for 1 or more.

In a Na<onal Event Qualifier, you have to sign up for a minimum

of 3 runs (jump sets). Each jump set has 2 jumps. For each, you

can decide if you want a prac<ce run, or not. From experience, I

never do a prac<ce run. But each compe<tor has a choice.

Typically, it’s about a two hour wait in between each jump set.

Your best jump of the two jumps is recorded. It is different In a

Na<onal Qualifier, where your 3 highest jumps are averaged and

the dog/bitch with the highest average, in each level, earns an

automa<c invite to that year’s Na<onal Dock Diving Event.

Although, you s<ll have to do a minimum of 15 jumps for the

year.

There are other ways to earn an invite to the Na<onal Dock

Diving event. You can:

- Be the number one in your Breed at year end (October 16th to

October 16th midnight yearly).

- Earn an Advanced, or Elite Title in any level.

Compete against yourself

The fun about Dock Diving is typically you compete against your

own record at each jump and event. You can Qualify to earn

ribbons and points toward AKC Titles. But this shows the

achievement of you and your dog. I have found there is always a

great atmosphere as everyone is helpful and cheers! Usually very

social with vendors, food and a decorated photo booth (COVID19

has changed it for now).

We know our Aussies can leap big distances.

This is Grete Johansen’s Aussie called Cherry

(Linnearud's Bosciaea Walker Cherry) in

Norway showing just what comes naturally. She

easily jumps 3-4 metres. Plus she swims under

water! Grete wonders how she lived to make

her first birthday she was so adventurous!

Building confidence around water is part of the

early training for Dock Diving. Banjo and Georgia

have no fears siMng at the bow of the kayak.

Some events will have a final but most of the <me you are

jumping for yourself and your pup. This is the reason NADD has

joined with AKC and to stay away from the overall compe<tor vs

compe<tor and more of an individual compe<<veness.

Is Covid-19 affecHng the events?

Currently, events are taking place, but with measures to help

prevent the spread of the virus. Now we are compe<ng in 2 hour

blocks. to reduce the number of compe<tors to a minimum in

the area. Not much <me for recovery about 30 minutes between

the jump sets. Currently, there are no spectators, vendors or food

sold. Of course there are hand sani<ser sta<ons before and aber

you leave the dock area and at the port-a-poMes sta<ons. You

also have to wear a mask when you sign in, or if you are fairly

close. You kennel at your car (tents are allowed). Masks are an

op<on when you are at your car, or on the dock. The events are

following all current state and local guidelines/requirements for

safety & social distancing.

In the UK, there are many Aussies taking part in Agility.

Here the Aussies can show off their jumping skills,

which we all know can be preUy impressive. ‘The

Aussie’ asked the owners just how good an Aussie can

be at this sport. They all agreed that although they are

classified in the lowest category due to their size, they

could easily jump in the Medium dogs class. Aussies

have even been tested over the large dog jumps and

proven they are no obstacle to them. Perhaps this is

why we all reckon there is Kangaroo in their unknown

heritage!

Introducing our

Dock Diving Stars

Our first Dock Diving Aussie to feature is Banjo, alias

Am CH Johmanda’s Banjo Dahling DCAT SIN SBN

SCN DSA CGC TKN. Proudly owned by Jan Dahling.

(And for those wondering why all the abbrevia<ons

aber his KC name, in the USA there are many AKC

sports that can earn <tles and these are added to

name.)

Jan was introduced to the sport when she was

helping her daughter, Jacqui Johnson, with her

Golden Retrievers who were regulars at Dock Dive

and Air Retrieve. As Banjo started swimming as soon

as Jan got him at 10 weeks old, it was a case of let’s

see if an Aussie can do the same.

He’s been Dock Diving for 3 years and although the

second Aussie to ever jump in Dock Diving, he was

the first to earn Dock Diving Senior and Dock Diving

Senior Advanced <tles in the Breed. The result was

invita<ons to the 2018 and 2019 NADD/AKC/

Eukanuba Na<onals in Orlando, Florida. Last year he

was placed 12 th in the compe<<on. His jump was

nearly 3 feet more than his previous year average.

When you consider that in the UK, the long jump in

agility that an Aussie is expected to do is just under 1’

8”, this hopefully put this into perspec<ve. We know

Aussies take <me to mature and now he is 3 years

old, he is reaching full maturity. He is all set to go

again this December and will just keep pushing that

distance further. Jan has promised to keep us

updated.

Like a Duck to Water

He took to the sport, one might say, like a duck to

water. His personal best so far is 11’6” jump. Pause

while you take on board just how far that is. His

incen<ve is his favourite toy - a tennis ball, preferably

yellow. Interes<ngly there are quite a few Aussies

that are besoUed with yellow tennis balls. But

equally, many owners who find their Aussies have

liUle, or no, interest in retrieving. Nor do they all

have a desire to swim. Most Aussie owners agree

that they can’t get their dogs out when it’s raining.

For many water – Aussies – that’s a NO NO.

How did you do it Jan?

There has to be a secret to the success, so ‘The

Aussie’ asked Jan the ques<on. “How did you do it?”

Banjo started swimming as soon as I got him at 10

weeks old and my second Aussie, Georgia, was

already swimming, with her Breeder, before 10

weeks old. Star<ng young, she found all the Aussies

she knows take to the water very easily.

The other skillset needed is the ‘Fetch’. By introducing

her pups early to ‘Fetch It’ as part of Play, play, play!

And lots of rewards food to start with. To build this

drive further, she plays fetch in the yard and over

jumps (when they are old enough). Also, to begin with

treat, treat, treat. Then slowly reduce as you aren’t

allowed to have food on the dock at an event.

Everything that is done as part of the training is made

Fun and the Aussie enjoys the games. Jan was able to

work her young Aussies all summer and had them

jumping off the top of the dock, at 4 months old! The

distance is 2’ from the deck to the top of the water.

This is a huge feat and requires confidence from your

dog.

Confidence and toy building drive is what this

performance is all about. Your dog cannot compete

un<l they are 6 months old, but the basics can be

taught when they are young. Just like with any dog

sport. As we don’t have an indoor pool so we had to

stop prac<ce through the winter as the water is too

cold. She was able to pick it up again in the following

April, aber they were a year old. The early training and

reinforcing the fetch meant they picked it up right

away and each entered their first event in May. And -

yes – they were successful.

Aussies are not Border Collies

Banjo does display some of the Aussie character

though. The one where they decide that they have

done it, got the T shirt, so why should they do it again.

He has earned the nickname “One and Done!” This

year Jan is working very hard to get a more regular and

consistent jump. But with all sport, you have to fine

tune to get the ul<mate results and that is part of the

fun of taking part. Always striving to do beUer.

An Aussie addict

These days, not only is Jan addicted to Dock Diving, but

also Aussies and she has a second Aussie Georgia (Temora

Georgia On My Mind Dahling DS CGC TKN). She is just a

liUle over a year old and this is her first year compe<ng in

Dock Diving. In her second event, she earned her Dock

Senior Title. That’s a jump over 9’. PreUy impressive for an

immature Aussie and must augur well for the future. She

has earned a Qualifier to make her the First Female

Australian Terrier to go to 2020 Na<onals. She’s my

consistent jumper and has already had a personal best of

10’-6.

There’ s more to these Aussies

Like so many Aussies, they are proving that this breed is

very versa<le. Banjo also competes in Conforma<on, (He’s

a Champion). He does Scentwork and has competed the

last 2 years in the US Canine Biathlon. Georgia is just

star<ng in Conforma<on. They both also love hiking and

Kayaking. Also, they are ‘models and actors’ having done

some Magazine print work and Georgia is currently in the

Georgia LoUo TV Commercial. And don’t forget they are

great companions.

photos by: Janine Pearman and Marvellous Impressions Photography

Meet Am Ch Temora Stryke While The Iron Is

Hot CGC, TKN, RATN, BCAT, BN, DS,DM or to

his friends – Stryker. We already know Jan

Dahling is hooked on the sport and when she

met up with Stryker’s owner Marvyl Grinney,

she suggested that they might ‘have a go’ at

this sport. As with most performance sports,

this is not something you try at home without

some knowledge, so quite sensibly in June

2019, Marvyl and Stryker took dock diving

lessons for the first <me.

By the second lesson Stryker was already

jumping off the dock which is two feet off the

water. He had never even swam before and

really didn’t like water much. Perhaps this

shows that when an Aussie realises that water

can mean fun and a reward, they take a

different view of swimming!

Flying Start

Stryker skipped right over the Novice and

Junior Divisions for LAP dogs. Stryker got his

Dock Senior <tle and his Dock Master <tle last

summer. Remember he only began in June of

last year. So, certainly this Aussie is showing he

has a natural flair for this sport.

The Length of a Car

As a result of his success, he got an invite to

The Na<onals in Orlando, Florida. Just like the

other Aussie, Banjo. However, Stryker’s invite

was due to having made the longest distance

jump in his breed. We know an Aussie can

jump – but how far was that leap? 14’ 6”.

Quite simply the average length of a Bri<sh car

That’s preUy spectacular. I guess this proves an

Aussie can jump and this test of skill shows

just how far.

Stryker at the Eukanuba Na<onals in Florida. Aber only 6 months of working

at this sport.

Up in the Air

As explained earlier, Air Retrieve is another one of the

elements within Dock Diving. No Aussie has ever had a

go at this and so Marvyl decided to find out whether

Stryker could be the first.

The photos to the right show the process. Stryker had to

run a long the dock and launch himself forwards

towards what is called a ‘bumper’. It is hung over the

water with two clips holding it in the air. Stryker had to

catch and dislodge the bumper. and then fall into the

water holding it and swim and exit the pool. If

successful, the bumper is moved farther away at 1 foot

increments un<l the dog misses twice.

A natural

The photos show just what he was able to achieve. But

we need to backtrack here. Stryker had his first lesson

on June 16th. That is about one year aber his first ever

lesson at Dock Diving. Although, as we have read earlier,

Covid-19 has placed restric<on on the Dock Diving

events, 2 days later Marvyl was on her way to a four-day

trial. The plan just to do the distance jumping.

When she arrived, there were openings for Air Retrieve.

Tempta<on, do you have a go or not? They had only had

one lesson and that was only 2 days ago. With

encouraging words from her trainer, who must have

realised there was an underlying talent. They went for it.

Stryker got his first AR leg that day by jumping 5’ and

another leg the next day with a one foot increase in

distance from the day before. The speed at which he

picked this up just shows the ability of our Aussies and

you all have to admit - that jump is preUy impressive.

He is learning more every day and in prac<ce is reaching

7’. They have more trials coming up in July and

September and hope to obtain 3 more legs to <tle and

be the first Australian Terrier to <tle in Air Retrieve.

Hopefully, Marvyl will keep in touch and let us know if

we can celebrate yet another first <me success for our

breed.

When not in the water

Like most Aussies Stryker has a lot of other ac<vi<es

where he proves that there isn’t much an Aussie cannot

try. He is a Champion in the show ring, he has a Fast Cat

<tle. (More about that in the next edi<on of The Aussie),

he has an obedience <tle, Novice Trick Dog <tle, he’s got

the Canine Good Ci<zen award and is working towards a

Scentwork <tle. He’s even had a go at Barn Hunt and

<tled in that as well. Another Aussie proving that there

is not much this breed cannot do.

We have just been advised that the Eukanuba Na<onals in Orlando have

been cancelled. Although, there is to be 9 Regional events instead.

Hopefully, our Aussie representa<ves will be there to fly the Aussie flag.

Most people think of Australian dogs as being the Dingo.

Often as Aussie owners, we do find interested people ask if

there is any DIngo in their heritage. Obviously, it is the case

of who knows what was used to create the Aussie. We can

make assumptions. But Aussies are not the only Australian

created breeds. This1938 article talks about the evolutions

of the Australian breeds.

Aussie Breeds

EvoluHon of the Kelpie, Heeler and Terrier

Published in 1938

In contradistinction to most countries of the Old World,

most of which have native breeds- of dogs whose

pedigrees, can be traced back for centuries, dogs which

have come to-be recognised generally as Australian are of

comparatively recent origin. Nevertheless, such excellent

types, as the kelpie and heeler have been evolved on

sound lines, and they have many ' fine attributes. The

Dingo, bane of sheep farmers, may be said to be

indigenous to Australia, and though no records are

available of the types and varieties of dogs imported by

early settlers, it is beyond doubt that the Dingo was

utilised with admirable result in the evolution of a working

dog suited to Australian conditions.

The Australian heeler and Australian kelpie are both

reputed to be the result of imported working strains

crossed with the Dingo. It would not be possible to find

anywhere a tougher, hardier, more .'Intelligent, or willing

worker than our heeler. This dog seems capable

of enduring the most prolonged periods of work under the

severest conditions, either in the arid waste of the North or

on the snow covered Alps and tablelands.

Dutch Sheepdog, possibly was part of the

development of today’s Dingo

Obscure Origin

While it must be admitted that the damage done annually

td stock, by Dingoes in Australia reaches a large figure the

origin of the Dingo still remains obscure. One school, of

thought claims that the Dingo represents one of the first

species of dogs evolved. Others accept the theory that the

Dingo came to Australia as the domestic dog of certain

Asiatic tribes, which were thought to have visited our

shores many centuries ago. The log of a Dutch vessel

which, came to Australia, nearly 100 years before the visit

of Captain Cook (1770), may be seen in the Mitchell

Library, Sydney. It describes how a sheepdog and eight

puppies were placed, ashore on what is now the north

coast of New South Wales. The reason given was that the

bitch was ill, and the superstitious sailors dreaded to have

a death on Board the ship. There ls a definite resemblance

between the Australian Dingo and the Dutch sheepdog.

The same pricked ears and alertness ls to be found In the

kelpie and heeler. Is it not feasible to assume that the

Dutch sheepdog from centuries ago has become the

Dingo of today?

Scottish Element

It is claimed that different types of Scottish working dogs

were used in the development of kelpies and heelers.

These included the Scotch collie and a sharp-eared

Lurcher that was a noted worker with sheep. Whatever the

actual crosses used ls Immaterial compared with the

result. In all the world there ls not, to be found a better

sheepdog than the Australian Kelpie, or more sagacious

cattle dog than the Australian Heeler. Both dogs are active;

lithe and

alert. They are much the same size and both have

remarkable suppleness of limb. Muscular substance is a

pronounced feature of each dog, but there must not be any

appearance of coarseness or cloddlness, nor should there

be any suggestion of the greyhound. The height at the

wlthers should be about 18 to 20In. for dogs, and about an

inch less for bitches in each breed. According to the

standard of points adopted by the Kennel Control Council,

the coat of the Kelpie should be moderately short, flat,

smooth, and weather-resisting, with a dense undercoat.

Kelpies are to be had in colours of black, black and tan,

red, red and tan, fawn, chocolate, and smoke-blue.

Because of Its unusual muscular development, the Heeler,

although the same height as the Kelpie, often gives the

impression that it ls a smaller dog. Although not always as

fast in action as the Kelpie, the Kelpie ls equally tenacious,

and would probably prove to have greater stamina. The

Heeler also has a thick undercoat. Except for that behind

the legs, the coat should be smooth, straight, and short.

Colours in this breed are described as blue mottled and

red speckled.

Australian Terriers

A recent inspection of some municipal dog registration

records revealed that more dogs were described as

Australian Terriers than any other two breeds combined.

There ls a galaxy of Terriers in every country in the world,

most of which came originally either from England, Ireland,

Scotland, or Wales. There appears to be some doubt and

very

little proof regarding which dogs were used in the

production of Australian Terriers. It is evident that some of

the best imported Terriers were crossed. It is known that

Yorkshire, Scottish, and Skye Terriers were used and in all

probability Dandie Dinmonts, of which a number were at

one time known on Mainland, participated in the

development of the dog.

Value and Merit

The popularity of the Australian and the Silky Terrier is

sufficient evidence of their value and merits. For so small a

dog they have a remarkable temperament. Their courage is

not excelled by that of the largest of dogs. They are

Intelligent, affectionate, and loyal. They make an admirable

watchdog or companion, and may be used with success in

hunting rabbits or other small game. This famous little

Australian is divided into two classes - silky terrier, whose

coat must be of a soft, silky texture and hot less than 6

inches. in length, and the Australian Terrier, whose coat

must be harsh and not more than 2 inches long. With Silky

Terriers the weight must not exceed 121b., but with

Australian Terriers the weight may vary.

Talking Point

If we think about our daily lives this year, it has all been about

the impact of coronavirus. For many lives have been changed

forever, for some more drama<cally than others. Things we have

taken for granted suddenly stopped and we have all had to

adapt. But that doesn’t mean that mainstays of our lives are not

forgoUen.

For those with dogs and in the case of this readership –

Australian Terriers – many of the usual ac<vi<es changed. Just

one walk and social distancing was the first change. Most

Aussies can cope with this – although many owners having to

shout conversa<ons are their dog walking friends was

something requiring a new understanding.

Dogs suddenly became something everyone wanted. There was

a rise in demand for pups. As with any situa<on the more

unpleasant side of human nature emerged. Pups in some breeds

escalated 100 -200%. People started to cash in on the supply

and demand. The fact that new owners couldn’t visit pups and

the breeders could only evaluate the poten<al new owners by

media like Zoom, introduced concern by many as to

whether the new owners were perfect for pups. Lockdown

meant people were at home, but when lockdown became

relaxed there started to appear adverts for pups needing a

new home.

With owners not able to collect pups, but relying on third

par<es, there suddenly became a new opportunity for the

less honest in society. People in good faith would pay up

deposits, costs of transport and even vet costs to reserve a

pup they had remotely seen. Only to learn that the pups did

not exist. Whilst the puppy farmers were able to sell pups to

unsuspec<ng new owners.

Meanwhile, those breeders who had decided against having

a liUer have been receiving enquiries and not everyone is

prepared to wait. Can’t get their first-choice breed, another

is adver<sed and the desire to have a pup is greater. So,

breeds that do need to expand have poten<ally lost out. But

there again, if they are desperate for a pup, any pup, were

they right for the breed in the first place?

There seemed to be a lot of dogs being stolen, found and lost.

The later never seeming to be found. With the inability for

searching to take place due to lockdown, well if a dog vanished

and group searching out of the ques<on finding a missing dog

was made incredibly difficult. If a missing dog had been

acquired by a new home, with lockdown no one might realise a

new dog had appeared. And if it did, with the sudden desire to

get a dog, neighbours might not be aware that it is a missing

dog.

With the government rules, breeding bitches became very

difficult and so with many people delaying their breeding

plans, it is going to make an interes<ng situa<on with any dog

shows that might start to take place. No puppies and this will

mean that there will be a shortage of dogs going through the

classes at the shows in future years. Talking of dog shows.

None are happening. Well in the UK. On the Con<nent there

are a few taking place. Crea<ng a lot of mixed feelings here.

However, those countries who are running the shows are

following strict guidelines and appear to have virtually no

cases. With Judges not doing hands-on, many feel that it is

impossible to assess the dogs sufficiently well to make a sound

judgement. What value can be aUached to any awards being

aUained.

Training classes stopped. Some trainers did on-line training, but

this is not quite the same as being there with a trainer and

there is the social aspect. And not just for the dogs. Although

121s with social distancing have begun. Many workers in the

dog businesses have struggled through this <me and these

classes are becoming a lifeline. For all the new puppies that

have been acquired, the training is invaluable – not just for the

pups. Many suggest with the lack of schooling and socialisa<on

there could be behaviour problems in the future. Time will tell.

The show training is another area which was stopped dead in

its tracks. Although shows are not running, people with young

dogs needing training were missing out. Plus, even the regular

show dogs, without shows need a refresher every now and

again.

But what will the post Covid-19 dog show scene be like? Will

there be a rush to the first shows, the show enthusiasts

needing to get back to their ‘hobby’. How many shows will

actually happen? There is a sugges<on that many of the

associated businesses that enable a show to exist might not

have survived the financial stresses of the lockdown. Will the

Clubs and organisa<ons running the events have healthy bank

balances. Likewise, will the dog show goers have the spare cash

to afford entering a show. It is not a cheap hobby. Especially if

exhibitors have got out of the habit of the dog shows, will they

be inclined to start up again. Especially in the winter months.

As was suggested, many have got out of the habit of driving

long distances and geMng up at silly o’clock. As have the dogs.

Perhaps those who do show, and wish to con<nue, did not

produce their planned liUer due to the lockdown and need to

use their <me and effort to produce the next star for their

kennel. This becoming the priority rather than aUending the

show.

There is much specula<on as to what will happen with

Crubs. Will there s<ll be a qualifier? Obviously hardly any

dogs in 2020 will have qualified. There are many sugges<ons

as to how Crubs might play it. Limi<ng the numbers by

having the show open to all, but on a first come first served

basis. Once the max total has been reached – that’s it. Will

they accept the 2020 show qualifica<on and perhaps any

pups born in 2020 and are old enough to enter? So many

ques<ons and sugges<ons being thrown out.

Dog shows have been showing signs of decline over the last

10 years for a string of reasons. Will the effect of the

lockdown be another nail in the coffin of dog shows. Crubs

might be an excep<on, especially if open to all. People who

would never dream of dog showing might enter. Would this

impact on the quality at the show considered by many to be

the flagship event in the UK where the best of the best is

seen.

One topic of discussion whilst everyone has <me to think is

how to make the dog shows more invi<ng. A common

theme coming out is that the ‘fun’ has gone from the shows.

It has become all about the winning and the the smiles have

gone from people’s faces. It is interes<ng that the organisers

of 2 European Show have been increasing their entries

annually and they are sure this is because they do

everything to make the day fun and enjoyable for all.

Of course, we must not forget there are other dog sports.

These will face the same dilemmas. Although, some are

more easily adaptable to social distancing. Agility being just

one. Will people use this as their spur to look to other dog

ac<vi<es. Moving away from the show world. Time will tell.

The world of dogs is ever changing. With the issues arising

as a result of the 12 Brachycephalic breeds in the

Netherlands, does this mean the an< dog/pet lobby is

making another aUack on any of us wan<ng to own a dog?

or a pet for that maUer.

You might think, this doesn’t affect our breed. It is true, we

don’t have major health issues in our breed. . But there are

rules through Europe about dogs on tables, types of collar,

only using loose leads when walking the dogs in the ring.

Banning dog shows and other pet related events from a

major European city. These are all part of the lobby that

appears to want pedigree dogs to no longer exist. What will

be the next issue they aUack? This could affect our breed

and prevent us breeding in the future and in essence make

our breed ex<nct.

There is much talk that all the dog enthusiasts worldwide

must use this shock to the system as a catalyst to start

working together to ensure that dogs remain in peoples’

lives in the future and they are not turned into a dodo

species.

There’s a lot to consider in this Talking Point and the hope is

that it will get everyone thinking and talking.

Training Tips

Changing Wrong

behaviours

Our local Southern Trainer has provided us with another insight into their

world and the ques<ons they get asked on a regular basis. Here is the latest

for ‘The Aussie’s” training <ps feature.

We get a lot of ques<ons about dogs who misbehave …. dogs who counter

surf, raid the bins, destroy the flower beds, run away when called. You might

know a dog like this, or it could even be your dog. One thing we all know is

that our dog’s misbehaviour can be frustra<ng! You have spent hours

teaching your dog what to do, but he s<ll ignores it.

When your dog does something like raid the bins, or destroy

the cushions, and you walk in on it, it’s natural to think that

your dog knows beUer, as he looks guilty or does not even

greet you.

You imagine the dog is giving you the middle doggie digit, or

even being just plain vengeful. Or, maybe the dog is just plain

stubborn. When you see your dog has done, or is doing,

something it shouldn’t, it’s natural to feel frustra<on, maybe a

bit of anger mixed in with disappointment. And it becomes a

session of judgement… someone is to blame and that

someone is the dog because he is guilty of the misdeed.

What if we suspend the feelings of frustra<on, anger and

judgement for a short while when looking at all the naughty

behaviours our dogs do. When it comes to people, we believe

they are doing the best they can with the educa<on they have

and the environment that they’re put in. I believe our dogs are

doing the same. Our dogs are doing the best they can with the

educa<on we have given them, in the environment we’ve

asked them to perform in.

When it’s simple

With anything your dog is doing at any point in his life; what if

it’s the best he can do? If he takes a toy and does not bring it

back, if he ignores you calling him, if he chases the neighbour’s

cat … what if it’s the best he can do with the educa<on you

have given him, in the environment he is in at that <me?

Some<mes it can be really difficult to believe that it is the best

your dog can do! We have tried to invest so much <me and

effort into him. He is top of the class at training, therefore

these misdemeanours are on him.

Let’s look at training and behaviour from one of the first things

a dog is taught. House training. A pup arrives and generally is

not house trained and everyone is aware that is has to be a

121 learning with us and our pup. We all know that ini<ally

there are going to be accidents. But eventually we help our

dog to understand that we want them to do. We don’t start

yelling at our pup in the early stages for having an accident,

because we understand he is doing the best he can and any

accident is on us, because maybe we fed him and didn’t take

him outside, didn’t realise that they can get excited and have

accidents, or forgot their bladders can’t cope with our Sunday

morning lie in. We understand we are in this together with our

puppy and will have success in the end.

As <me goes by we are certain our dog is housetrained, but he

then has an accident inside… we instantly think all is not well,

we monitor him and maybe even head to the vet fearing a

kidney infec<on or whatever response has come from an online

search. We believe our dog is doing the best he can, so

this accident is not his fault.

So, what is the difference between something like

housetraining and chasing deer? The difference is that every

distrac<on we add to our dog’s behaviour, we are adding a

layer of complexity. With house training, your dog grows to

dis<nguish the difference between inside and outside because

you know the steps and how to set him up for success.

When things get tricky

Let’s look at a seemingly simple behaviour. “Sit” is

something nearly everyone will train their dog to do at

some point. Most likely your dog will sit every <me you ask

when you have a treat and are in your kitchen. But then you

are in the garden and ask your dog to sit, but you don’t

have a treat … chances are that sit is not going to happen.

Performing the behaviour in the garden where there might

be birds, squirrels, or the neighbour’s dog running back and

forth is a different environment to being in the kitchen

when a treat is readily accessible. It’s a massive increase in

complexity for the dog, if he has not been prepared for it in

his educa<on.

There are layers of learning to any behaviour we want to

teach our dogs. Distrac<ons are added strategically to

protect our dog’s confidence and grow his capability to

perform the behaviour anywhere. Layering the learning

leads to our dogs being able to make complex decisions in

the face of distrac<ons. This is why there are an increasing

number of classes offering ways to make the basic training

in a village hall more appropriate to today’s environment.

Your dog is doing the best he can with the educa<on you

have given him, in the environment you’ve asked him to

perform in.

I’m Sorry

It is important to understand that dogs are great at figuring

out paUerns of reinforcement and punishment, and they

want to avoid that punishment. That’s why your dog might

appear ‘guilty’, but in reality all he is doing is avoiding

punishment. If he has destroyed the cushions and you come

home and he does not greet you at the door, it’s not

because your dog feels guilty. It’s because the associa<on of

bits of cushion on the floor and you coming home means he

knows there is not going to be a happy welcome.He is not

stupid and realises it’s best to avoid you because it’s a

paUern for punishment.

Think about it – are his misdemeanours really him rebelling,

or simply doing the best he can? What does that idea do

when you turn the magnifying glass on yourself? When we

think our dog is doing his best, we can ask ourselves the

cri<cal ques<ons like: Did I put my dog in the right

environment? Did I give him enough educa<on?

If you’re honest with yourself, and you think – yes that’s

right maybe I didn’t give him the right educa<on; too much

freedom that he was not ready for, and you put him in an

environment where he did not have enough experience

with to be able to make good decisions.

It’s like giving your 16 year old the keys to your Masera<,

the same day you gave him the keys to your drinks cabinet

…. that’s too many choices and some bad ones are going to

be made …. and that’s what happens with our dogs.

How much is

that Aussie in

the window?

By comparison to many breeds, Australian Terriers are very

affordable. Pups might be few and far and difficult to obtain

but unlike many breeds in this category they don’t come with a

premium price. Breeders love their Aussies and prefer to seek

the right owners and charge a sensible price. Long may that

con<nue, but we would all like a few more people wan<ng an

Aussie!

The purchase price is just the start of the price of a pup.

Despite the well-documented significant cost of owning a

dog, 58% of dog owners do no research in to the costs

associated with their future pet prior to owning it, with one in

five not even thinking there was research to be done. The cost

of the ini<al vaccina<ons being one of the first outgoings. But it

doesn’t stop there. Puppies food tends to be more expensive,

there is the cost of beds, collar and leads, cages in cars, dog

bedding, anything that might be chewed other than the toys

bought.

A recent study found that Bri<sh dog owners are spending an

average of £240 each month, with costs incurred including

food, treats, professional grooming, pet insurance and vet’s

fees. This equates to a whopping £24.5 billion being spent on

dogs in the UK each year. In the US, Americans are spending

more than US$70 billion last year on their dogs. This far

exceeds the $7 billion spent on legal marijuana, and $32 billion

on pizza, just for two examples.

Survey also revealed that 60% of dog owners have insurance,

which can mean expensive repercussions for many in the event

their dogs is ill or injured. When asked how much an owner

would spend at the vets on trea<ng their dog, the average

amount was up to £1,271. While this may sound like a large

sum of money, the research also showed that pet owners

consistently underes<mated the cost of the most common

medical condi<ons. As part of the survey dog owners were

asked to es<mate the cost of a cruciate (knee) rupture. The

average amount suggested was £873. At the same <me Vets

were asked to price the treatment and the average cost was

£2,029. A £1,156 difference. Quite a shock to the credit card!

Owners were asked how much the cost would be if taking a

dog to the vet as it was showing signs of lameness. Once again,

the reality and the guess was out by £217. Owners reckoned

the cost to £508 on average; however the real average cost was

revealed to be £725.

The study also revealed that 18% of owners admiUed their pet

requires regular medica<on – on average cos<ng £109.19 per

month – a staggering £1,310.28 per year! Although Aussies

don’t tend to need the medica<on when young, these costs

can occur as they age and need medica<ons for old age

ailments.

So how do pet owners pay for unexpected treatment if they

are not insured? Worryingly many would get into debt. The

research showed that just over half would dip into their savings

(51%) , but almost two in five would use a credit card (39%),

26% would take out a loan, while nearly a quarter (23%) would

borrow from family and friends. Other op<ons are to take their

dogs to rescue and rescue centres do have many stray dogs

turning up with health issues.

Most shockingly however, 8% admiUed they’d be forced

to have their pet put down.

So how much is a dog’s life worth?

To most dog lovers, including yourselves, the answer is

obvious: They are priceless. As true as this answer may

be, it provides liUle guidance on how to value not just a

replacement cost of a new Aussie, but the effect of

private and public life of our four-legged companions.

To provide an answer, to begin with we looked at a

na<onal survey undertaken in the US. The results were

sta<s<cally analysed and ul<mately the value of a dog’s

life produced a figure of about $10,000. That’s around

£8,000.

Whether we agree with this figure or not, it at least gives

a bigger value than the replacement costs or current

value of a dog. Well in the case of Aussies. Some of the

so-called designer dog owner may feel that including their

ini<al purchase price this is a bit low!

Un<l this figure was available, those wan<ng to establish

a value had to rely on their best guesses to value their

costs and benefits as they related to their effect on

dogs. Why is this value important? Because if anything

happens to the dog what level of compensa<on is

appropriate. Recently there has been numerous cases of

contaminated dog food or pharmaceu<cals present a case

in point. But there are other situa<ons like road accidents,

things that go wrong at the Vets, or maybe the results of

an<-dog neighbours or the theb of a dog – the price of

the reward.

Naturally, if $10,000 is the maximum, even this severely

limits compensa<on for many dog owners. The research

showed compensa<on for owners should be much higher

to account for the loss of companionship and associated

emo<onal distress. And what value do you put on a Guide

Dog, hearing dog, medical alert dog. Their training alone

can be more than the $10k suggested.

Finally, like the baby presented to King Solomon, dogs

cannot be split in half. Today, most countries s<ll treat

dogs merely as property. Par<cularly, in messy divorces,

custody baUles over dogs can quickly escalate and turn

nasty. Our es<mates offer a reasonable reference point to

make divorce seUlements less conten<ous, at least when

it comes to four-legged companions.

But how do you value the invaluable?

Dogs mean so much to humans that it is hard to

determine what a dog’s life is worth.

Enriching your dog’s life

Touching

Moments

There are more and more opPons for dogs when there

are physical issues. Many Vets offer associated

physiotherapy for dogs, but there are more and more

variaPons on this treatment. One of these is Galen

Myotherapy. Many dog owners have been delighted

with the results. Could this be perfect for an Aussie with

an injury, or suffering with arthriPs. ‘The Aussie’

provides you with an insight.

What is Galen Myotherapy?

It is a unique and highly specialised manual therapy and

exercise management. It uses appropriate, effec<ve and

targeted specialised massage techniques and exercise

management to manage the chronic muscular pain and

inflamma<on that is caused from many different

condi<ons that are so common in a dog’s life.

Chronic muscular pain cannot always be detected as dogs

can hide the symptoms extremely well. But using these

techniques, the improvement that can be seen through

physical and behavioural changes.

It falls into the wider category of manual therapies, which

are considered mainstream in human medicine. Galen

Myotherapy adds observa<ons of behaviour, posture,

muscle balance and gait into the assessment before

treatment, thus targe<ng aUen<on to the areas of the

body that require it.

The Founder

The therapy was first conceived as a result of Julia Robertson’ s

own 6 month old Labrador puppy, Huffo, was recommended to

be put to sleep because he was suffering from an inability to lib

his head from the ground aber an accident. Through Julia

adap<ng exercises for Huffo she was able to improve his

condi<on and he lived happily un<l he was 17 years old! This

led Julia to realise that many dogs were not finding a solu<on

to muscular based problems.

As a result, in 2002 Julia established Galen Therapy Centre.

Since then has worked <relessly to improve dogs lives and their

health, trea<ng over 8,000 dogs and training hundreds of

people. i

Julia was one of the very first in the UK to understand and treat

the effects of adap<ve change (or muscular compensa<on) in

dogs and through years of dedica<on has learned that trends,

paUerns of behaviour and physical changes occur in a dog when

they are suffering with muscular pain. This quan<fica<on of the

nature of the changes has now been formalised into the Galen

Comfort Scale©, which is being used in the many studies and

treatments that Galen are involved in.

ISince 2019 it has been called 'Galen Myotherapy'. This decision

was based around the fact that Galen Myotherapy is now

synonymous globally with the work.

Why is muscle pain so important to understand?

When the body suffers muscle pain the affected muscle

starts to shorten in length. This becomes apparent when

observing changes in a dog’s posture. The shortening is

due to the pain from the injured or inflamed muscles,

where the body is trying to avoid using these painful

regions where possible, further inhibi<ng it.

Why is muscle pain so important to understand?

Dogs tend to hide their pain, oben suffering in silence!

Look for subtle changes in your dog’s mobility and

behavioural paUerns. When your dog is excited, adrenalin

can temporarily mask whatever pain they have, so it is

important to look for changes in mobility and behaviour

when your dog is relaxed too.Have you no<ced any of

these signs that your dog may be uncomfortable…?

Is your dog:

Struggling to jump in and out of the car or on and off the

sofa?

Changing its gait?

Struggling to get up from lying down?

Not interac<ng as much with you on a day to day basis?

Showing discomfort when being touched anywhere on

his body?

Dislikes being groomed?

Showing behavioural changes around other dogs for no

known reason?

Licking his paws constantly?

In the same manner as us, dogs some<mes need a

helping hand to address exis<ng mobility issues as well as

preven<ng future degenera<on. Massage has been

around for thousands of years as a therapy that targets

muscles, effec<vely easing chronic muscular pain as well

as reducing inflamma<on, easing joints and promo<ng

mobility and flexibility.

Could your dog be suffering from a repeHtaHve strain?

Repe<<ve strain in human terms is oben thought of as

office work, siMng at a desk and how we work with our

computers. These are most certainly repe<<ve strains,

but more usually from a sta<c perspec<ve, which are

impacwul to the bodies posture. Dog’s suffer repe<<ve

strains, but more commonly from the kine<c perspec<ve,

or their ac<ons.

A body, both ours and dogs, are designed to work

mul<ple planes of movement, i.e. forwards, backwards,

sideways and in rota<on, but not con<nuously or

repe<<vely in any one. Also, not con<nuously at one

pace/gait or speed. Therefore, it is so important to give

our dogs a variety of ac<vity – and I use that word wisely

– not ‘exercise’! We are condi<oned to ‘exercise’ our

dogs, to take them for walks that oben involves running

and chasing objects. This appears to ‘exercise’ them, <re

them, so they will sleep when they return home. Most of

these ac<vi<es are causing repe<<ve strains and also

over exci<ng them crea<ng addi<onal psychological

problems.

Common ac<vi<es causing repe<<ve strains

• Slippery floors within their living environment

• Ball chasing (likewise s<ck/frisbee)

• Car jumping in and out

• Always told to ‘sit’

• Running with your dog

• Cycling with your dog

• Always walking on one side when on a lead

• Doing the same ac<vity or training

• Going up and down steps or stairs

• Jogging or running with a person or person on bike

All these done repe<<vely i.e. more than twice a week will cause

issues within your dog’s muscles. An over worked muscle will

naturally repair but by doing so will shorten in its total length,

therefore create a closing of healthy gaps between joints. This

change will go unno<ced for possibly many years, eventually

leading to secondary joint disease as well as other health issues.

Other musculo skeletal condiHons

There are other instances when Galen Myotherapy can be a

useful treatment.

• Post-opera<ve care

• Compensatory issues caused by condi<ons such as hip

and elbow dysplasia and arthri<s

• Lameness

• Cruciate ligament issues

• Assis<ng the older dog with mobility problems

• To help keep your working dog working, op<mising their

performance by maintaining their muscles.

Galen Canine Myotherapy can be highly effec<ve in many

condi<ons and situa<ons. These include:

• Ongoing lameness that is hard to diagnose

• Repe<<ve strain injuries

• Sub-luxa<ng patellas

• All types of muscle tension

• Behavioural issues

• Compensatory issues

• Pre/post-opera<ve

• To enhance the health and performance of working and

spor<ng dogs

• Puppy development

• The elderly dog

It can also be used with great effect as a management

programme for trea<ng secondary issues or compensatory issues

of pathologies which include:

• Osteoarthri<s – especially in dogs that are intolerant to

an<-inflammatory drugs

• Hip dysplasia

• Elbow dysplasia

• OCD (osteochondri<s dissecans)

• Cruciate issues

• Spondyli<s

• CDM (Canine Degenera<ve Myelopathy)

There are six main reasons Galen myotherapy is different from

other treatments.

• Choice led treatment

• It is vital for the dog being treated that they feel they

have a choice in the treatment. We never use forced

restraint, and treatment will always take place on the

floor or on a low level, where a dog is most comfortable.

• Owner empowerment

• We always include the owners in their dog’s recovery

plan, impar<ng techniques that are safe to use, along

with exercise planning and environment management.

• High level of specialist knowledge and training

• All Galen Canine Myotherapists® are qualified to a high

level. They understand the dog’s anatomy in terms of

movement, how the dog’s body works and how physical

stress can be reflected through behaviour. This

knowledge is then directed into a dog-centric applica<on

of choice-led treatment.

• Behavioural Understanding

• We guide owners and handlers in understanding how

muscle pain can be reflected in their dog’s behaviour.

• Sharing of knowledge

• The welfare of dogs is our primary concern, we believe in

sharing knowledge through training, workshops,

symposiums and events all over the world.

• Con<nual Development

• Much of our course content has changed radically over

the years due to our discoveries, our science led studies

and our research in understanding the behaviour and

physical changes of dogs with muscular issues. We

ensure we keep up to date with the latest evidence and

findings and modify our treatment and teaching to

incorporate this.

Galen Myotherapy treatments are totally specific to your

dog. The consultants work very closely with you as the

dog owner, giving clear informa<on and instruc<ons all

the way through the treatment process.

Galen Myotherapy’s unique Posi<ve Pact treatment

protocol ensures all dogs being treated have a ‘choice’.

We never use forced restraint and treatment will always

take place on the floor or on a low level, which is where a

dog is most comfortable.

A Galen Myotherapist only works on dogs that have a

signed a veterinary consent form that adheres to the UK

Veterinary Act and all Galen Myotherapists are fully

qualified and insured.

During the first appointment the Myotherapist will use

the Galen Comfort Scale© to gather informa<on about

your dog from you. This includes history of injury/

accidents, environment, exercise rou<ne and any

behavioural issues to help build a comprehensive picture

of your dog’s health and comfort.

Following a postural and hands on assessment, the

Myotherapist will use specialised massage techniques to

treat any areas of muscular tension. They may also use

dynamic remedial and strengthening techniques, to

manage any chronic muscular pain and inflamma<on.

During the appointment the Myotherapist will give you

tools to help your dog between treatments which may

include small changes to their environment or ac<vi<es

which will posi<vely impact your dog’s health.

You are likely to see a change in your dog’s movement or

behaviour aber the first treatment but it usually takes

three treatments to make an effec<ve change to a dog’s

muscular health.

More and more people are training in Galen

Myotherapy and not just in the UK.

Memories

Have a think – how does your Aussie react when it sees

its breeder?

Generally, they appear to remember them and are

excited to see them.

For anyone who has had to give up a dog due to

unforeseen circumstances, you've no doubt wondered if

your dog will remember you in the same way you will

remember them for years. AlternaFvely, if you've ever

adopted a dog who had one or more owners before

you, you've probably wondered if your dog

remembered his past owners, whether they were kind

or cruel. ‘The Aussie’ invesFgates.

While a dog’s memory may not work the same as ours, both

scien<fic and anecdotal evidence indicates that they can

remember their previous owners. Why is this? We need to

begin by explaining how a dog’s memory works.

Evolved memories

Humans have what is known as "episodic memory," which is

<ed to our sense of <me, including ar<ficial measures of

<me like minutes, hours, and years. We link events to other

events and look back on things and say, "I remember ea<ng

at that restaurant. It was a few months aber I was married."

Dogs do not relate <me to memories, they have what is

known as associa<ve memory. They s<ll remember things,

but in a much different manner than we do. Dogs remember

that when they go on walks, their owner grabs a collar and

lead and puts on coats and maybe specific shoes. The result

is when they see their owner looks like this is what is going

to happen, they get excited because they think they will go

on a walk.

They remember not just good things, but those which they

regard as less fun. Like the chairs at the Vet when they are

aware the next place they go is the table where they have

things done which they have not enjoyed. Their memory

brings about their fear response.

Dogs have evolved using these memories to survive. If a

situa<on puts the dog in danger, the dog needs to remember

that situa<on so it can be avoided it in the future. Similarly,

the dog needs to remember people who may be a source of

food and a safe place to live as well as people who mistreat

them. In other words, they have evolved to be aware of

benefits and remember where they are treated well or not.

Dogs seem to remember specific things

The ques<on was, do they remember us, or it is just our

imagina<on? Animal behaviourists and specialists in rehoming

centres will quickly pick up the fact that dogs abused by past

owners oben show fearful or aggressive reac<ons towards

people with similar characteris<cs. For example, men with

beards or women with long ponytails. From this we can

establish that dogs can remember specific things about their

previous owners, at least to some extent.

For more posi<ve anecdotal evidence that dogs can

remember past owners. There are many tales of soldiers

returning home, where their dogs have been leb in the care

of a friend, or family member for years, yet the dog runs to

their previous owner, immediately recognising them.

Anecdotes are great, but is there any proof?

Some research has taken place in the USA, where

they studied dog memories and has documented two

different <mes where a dog was reunited with a former

owner aber being rehomed. From the controlled results, it

was clear the dogs both remembered their former owners.

Interes<ngly, the dogs happily returned to their new family

at the end of the visit.

Is it good for dogs see previous owners?

Whether dogs should see previous owners is a complicated

ques<on. The research men<oned did quan<fy a few

examples of <mes that dogs saw their previous owners and it

resulted in posi<ve experiences, but from an animal

behaviourist point of view it may not be a good thing.

Much depends on the rela<onship the dog had with the

previous owner. If it was not a good one, then it may set back

a dog’s retraining. However, they cited many instances of

dogs seeing their past owners and then gladly returning home

with their new families. If the dog and his past owner had a

par<cularly close connec<on, or if the new owner does not

sa<sfy certain needs of the dog, it is possible the dog will

want to live with his former owner again. If this is not a

possibility, exposing the dog to his former owner could be

more stressful than helpful, leaving the dog to feel

abandoned by the person he loves the most.

How long can a dog remember a person?

How long a dog remembers a person usually depends on how

the dog was treated by its previous owner or owners. As we

have men<oned, dogs use their memory as a survival and

safety tool. They do not forget dangerous situa<ons and

people, so they can avoid the situa<ons in future. If you have

a rescued dog with an abusive past, he clearly won't miss his

previous owners but he will make sure to remember them as

a means of survival. On the bright side, a dog will also

remember owners and friends that were kind and

trustworthy. These memories teach the dog what types of

people to gravitate towards in the future (although memory

aside, a dog will learn preUy ins<nc<vely whom to trust).

If a dog is coming from a dangerous past, he can remember a

previous harmful owner for a long <me, some<mes even

years. This is merely a tool he uses to keep himself safe but a

new and loving environment is his best tool for forgeMng a

painful past. A healthy environment will teach him what a

loving rela<onship between human and pup should look and

feel like.

Do dog’s really miss people?

The simple answer seems to be YES. When a dog misses

someone, you will see small clues. For example, if the dog’s

special member of the family goes away on a trip, you may

no<ce your dog sniffing their clothes, or chewing on their

shoes. They will examine a loved one's belongings and

wondering, "Where did they go?" They can be anxious

looking out of windows, looking at cars driving past.

Leaving your dog alone for a short period of <me is much

different than leaving forever. Under the unfortunate

circumstances of an owner dying, a dog may have changes in

their behaviour. Things like, becoming listless or disinterested

in things that were once favourite pas<mes. They may

become less social, and appear to be wai<ng for their human

to return.

What to do when a dog misses their owner

If the dog is mourning a deceased owner, you want to show comfort without reinforcing an unwanted behaviour. It is temp<ng

to give a grieving dog lots of aUen<on when he is moping or crying, but you don't want to teach the dog that this behaviour

will be constantly rewarded. Mourning is natural aber any loss, but if the symptoms persist for weeks, consult with a

veterinarian as soon as possible, especially if the dog isn't ea<ng. With the vet's help, you can come up with a plan to get a

grieving dog back to his normal disposi<on and behaviour. And remember, it’s not just mourning people, some dogs suffer

when another household pet dies or leaves.

Will my dog miss me when they move to a new home?

As a caring owner, some<mes you realise your home may not be the best place for your dog. Breeders can find homes for

young dogs that don’t quite make it in the show ring, or those who re<re from showing aber a successful career. You've

accumulated many great memories made sure your dog has always felt loved and secure. Your dog will most likely miss you for

a bit if they move on. Good owners are hard to forget! But, if you're sending your dog to a new, equally loving home, then their

care and aUen<on will mean the dogs becomes happy and comfortable in the new home. If you ever come across your dog

years later, a change in your appearance may make it difficult for them to remember you, or your scent will have him leaping

and licking you like not a day has passed. Either way, most know that their new home is great and mee<ng up with you is just

an added bonus for their day.

Calm, Cool and Collected

Are you confident when you compete with your dog?

This might not be the obvious dog compe<<ons, it could be

doing the Good Ci<zen Award, or even a training club task.

The Aussie was sent this ar<cle which might just give owners

a different view on how they can increase confidence and

improve their part of the team. Your emo<ons are felt by

your dog, so by remembering some of this advice can help

your chances of success.

Compe<ng with dogs is really a mental game. Compe<tors

are con<nually trying to reach new goals and surpass

expecta<ons. However, the road to success always hits a

bump or two along the way. This is perfectly normal and is

even experienced by athletes in every sport.

Unfortunately, this causes many to have self-doubt. This

doubt kills more dreams than anything else can. The feeling

of incapability even leads some to quit altogether. The

problem is that the con<nuous striving for perfec<on oben

drives people away from the big picture.

Overcoming self-doubt is what sets the winners apart from

the other compe<tors. It is essen<al to strive for progress,

but do not let the bumps in the road crash your dreams.

Realise that you are more than capable

You are a dog enthusiast. Do not take this label lightly. You

are a person who with an animal that does not speak the

same language and for many breeds are stronger and

tougher than ourselves. If that isn’t courage and bravery,

what is?

Everyone hits a bump now and then, but that should not take

away your en<re confidence. You are more than capable of

overcoming any challenges that you may face.

Ac<vi<es with dogs has become a mental game that you have

to play wisely. Most dog owners in this category are

energe<c, passionate, and courageous, even in <mes of

doubt. Recognise your capabili<es and be proud of yourself.

Change each doubt into a statement of confidence

“I can’t…” or “I won’t…” are the two killers of confidence.

Sport is challenging; exhibitors pay for other people’s

opinions of their capabili<es. You must first recognise the

obstacles and think of ways to turn that doubt into a

confident statement.

For example, “I’m not going to win today because I don’t

think my dog is concentra<ng,” becomes “We will try our

best and highlight our talent with what I can get the dog to

do.” Focus on the good, acknowledge the bad, and try your

best. Never underes<mate the power of posi<vity.

Show graHtude

The world is full of the hustle and bustle, geMng from one

thing to the next. Through this chao<c state, it is easy to

forget to show gra<tude. If you start having those feelings of

self-doubt, realise how many people support you. This could

be your family, trainer, etc. It indeed takes a village to

achieve success. Therefore, it is crucial to appreciate those

who make your journey possible.

Ask for advice

Do not be afraid to ask for help. Even if it is nerve-wracking

at <mes, the informa<on may change your outlook. The dog

community is full of individuals who would be more than

happy to offer some wise words. Whether this is a friend, or

even an exhibitor who you look up to, ask a friendly face for

their thoughts. The best way to learn is from one another.

Give yourself Hme to grow

Chances are you have heard the saying, “Good things take

Fme.” This rings true in every facet of life, including in the

world of dogs. Allow yourself to make mistakes, but most

importantly, learn from them. Use your newfound

knowledge to beUer your skills. Self-doubt hinders your

ability to learn from prior experiences. Time is the most

valuable tool, and it is essen<al to recognise this. Good

things honestly do take <me.

Remember that everyone feels doubt someHmes

You are not the only one who experiences the plague of selfdoubt.

Everyone from the highest to lowest levels has felt

this at one point or another. Aber all, we are human. Do not

feel like you are alone or the only one who understands.

Connec<ng with a friend, fellow exhibitor, etc. and sparking

a conversa<on would be extremely beneficial.

Keep hustling

James MaUhew Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan, once

said, “The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease

forever to be able to do it.” When in doubt, keep hustling.

The only way to overcome self-doubt is to face it head-on. If

you are struggling then push forward and go for it to the

best of your ability.

Hard work is essen<al to achieve success and overcoming

doubt. Be posi<ve about yourself and your abili<es. Always

strive for improvement, but do not believe in non-existent

perfec<on. Overall, remember why we do these things in

the first place – for fun.

Final Word

The Aussie Toilet Roll challenge

certainly became an instant hit

with everyone. So far nearly 1000

views, which is impressive for a

breed with not a huge number of

followers. A challenge to get as

many people involved. Sadly the

wet and snowy weather did

prevent some owners from taking

part. But we are grateful that a

few took time to organise a video

clip and Anka Van de Sand.

For those who missed the video

here is a link.

Allergy test

Yes, dogs can get allergies as well. And

Aussies are no excep<on. It could be

something in the food they eat or one of the

common environmental triggers include

fleas and dust mites as well as moulds and

pollens from trees, grasses, weeds and

flowers. Reac<ons are caused by an

overac<ve immune system that perceives

harmless substances as threats. This will

trigger reac<ons which can include common

symptoms such as itching and sneezing. For

those owners wondering whether this is a

problem with their dog, you can get your

dog tested at the vets. However, there is

now another op<on, companies are offering

home tests and evalua<ons. There are

several companies adver<sing their services.

Cos<ng around £90

hUps://youtu.be/q74TzEuR__w

We are always trying to find new ways of

making people aware of our breed. Not

just because we have to explain to most

people we meet that it’s an Aussie! This

year the pandemic has meant the Cub

cannot get the Aussies out and about to

introduce more people tot he Aussie.

Imagine our delight to find that Country

Living Magazine has featured Aussies in

its ar<cle about 8 Dog breeds with

exo<c origins. The link sent also gave

details of an offer for the Magazine.

Included incase anyone needs some

extra reading.

hUps://www.countryliving.com/uk/

wildlife/dog-breeds/a32929079/dogbreeds-with-exo<c-origins/

Increasingly owners are looking for ways to control parasites that involve

fewer and fewer chemicals. Recently, owners have been men<oning the using

of dried rabbit’s ears with fur dog chews as a great way to manage worming.

The dogs love them and with this added bonus that owners are repor<ng, it is

something worth considering. Although, you do have to look around for

suppliers.

Please note that the views expressed in this magazine

are those of the authors of the ar<cles and not

necessarily those of the CommiUee and Officers of

The Southern Coun<es Australian Terrier Club. We

would like to thank all the contributors for their input,

without which the Magazine would not have such a&

diverse range of topics supported by some wonderful

photographs. All images have been provided for

the sole use of The Aussie Magazine and are not for

reproduc<on without consent from the owner(s) of

the image.

In the last Magazine, we featured Ticks. Thank you to a reader who forwarded

this image to show the different types of <cks being found on our dogs during

walks. This year seems to be a bumper year for <cks, so make sure you use

protec<on for your dogs and watch out yourself. Ticks like us too.

The Aussie

Look out for the

Autumn ediHon of

The Aussie.

Only for members

of SCATC

The Aussie - Summer 2020 final

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