Hello :D

Is panting, or at least sticking their tongues out, part of being an Aussie? We notice that Jed does is quite a bit, so we show him his water, sometimes he will have some sometimes not, he seems to be drinking enough, we were starting to get a bit worried but then it dawned on me that in a lot of pictures you see of Aussies, they have their tongue hanging out, is it an Aussie thing? Or a dog thing? Or should we get it checked out?

Thank you :D :D :D

Panting is the dogs way of sweating.  I know our setters will pant but won't drink and the aussies do while we are at a show but I don't live with them to comment on in house.  If he is drinking enough I wouldn't worry :)  His proberly just tired out after playing :D

Thought as much, thanks Rox :D

Hi Natalie!
   Our Jazz does this - in fact, since he's started coming up to the bedroom to sleep, when I go to bed, I've noticed he will just start doing it in the middle of the night - when he's not even moved from his corner!  I'll just hear this pant pant pant!!  Usually if I tell him to shut up he stops doing it!
  Hilda  - (and I haven't got the heater on or anything, it's quite cool up there!)

Sounds like it is exactly the same Hilda! Earlier he was led on my feet, he woke up hadn't even moved and started panting, he had a drink and was still panting I have had a look on that calender I bought, and most of the dog's on it have their tongues sticking out, maybe it is a breed thing?!

Change of subject but if you get a second, could you send me the details for Preston please, I have had a quick look for them myself but can't find them, and I wanted to make sure we had the same address this time, then at least if the address is wrong, we will be lost together!!! ;) :P

Hi Natalie

>I have had a look on that calender I bought, and most of the dog's on it have their tongues sticking out, maybe it is a breed thing?!

Many breeds require in their standard a dry, well defined head with quite distinctive appearance of contours of the muzzle, strength of jaw, split of mouth, pigment of lips etc - hence those who know how to photograph such breeds correctly, specifically wait for a shot where the dog is panting and if not doing so will encourage the dog by play/exercise - it's not a coincidence nor something unique to the ASD, merely a method of showing the head properties to their best advantage in such breeds  ;)

Regards, Teri

Oh I see, well that has cleared that up then!! Many thanks Teri :D

So the panting or open mouth in photies would not for example have anything to do with it being a hot day, or under hot lights for the photographs then...............?

That would certainly save the handler running around with them Tohme ;)  Plenty of crisp winter outdoor snow shots are taken with the dog fresh from the grooming table hence required to be encouraged to pant.  As I said, for those breeds (my own being one) where dryness, chiselling and wide split of mouth are of paramount importance to the head properties (in addition to a lively expression and attitude) dogs photographed correctly will only ever be shown when panting.

Regards, Teri :)

Teri, When Dad does his photography he tries so hard to get a dogs mouth closed in order to show correct shape of Muzzle.  He was the other day taking photo's of a dog for the owner of top dog in the breed (dog was son of top dog) and the owner loves the photo's but would like one's with mouth closed....and know this dog does not have faults she is trying to hide.

It is more difficult to close a mouth then open it because of the way a dog's body works :) however mouths closed is what owners want in their pictures :)

Peanut butter on roof of mouth..............

:D

Well as suggested by the title, this is for Aussie people - so perhaps I should have kept my mouth shut.

However I stand by the comments in a more general sense and specifically in my own breed.  I have taken a limited (and grudging) number of photographs myself intentionally with the mouth closed for American interest.   Perhaps America being the stronghold of the ASD it is for similar reasons?

>It is more difficult to close a mouth then open it because of the way a dog's body works

Really   Must tell the dogs that then, LOL

>however mouths closed is what owners want in their pictures

Not in my breed ;)

Infact where I was talking was not aussie's but infact gundogs and nothing for american people.  (and the mouth open pictures will be american photo's that Nat has. :)

I have many times assisted Dad with the photography and getting the mouth closed is normally always the problem.

I also cannot recall seeing starprint photo's on diaries etc with mouths open!

However Teri are you not in belgiums?  (sorry have forgotten) where they seem to have this lovely grin without a toung sticking out the whole time?

>However Teri are you not in belgiums?  (sorry have forgotten)

No, Scotland :P (sorry, couldn't resist!) But my breed is Belgian Shepherd ;)

> where they seem to have this lovely grin without a toung sticking out the whole time?

As I said, they are photographed by those in the know (as opposed to "snapped" for the dog press) with the desired wide split shown at it's best - panting.

Regards, Teri
just for the record, have been known to assist in a few photo sessions myself - both sides of the camera ;)

Is that when he is photographing Setters ? I know in the ring when the judge comes round to look at heads you have to try to get the dogs mouth closed as that shows the head at his best.  I guess some breeds have their heads better when they are panting as Teri was saying.

sorry just read the end of this thread and realised you were talking about gundogs.  I agree it is a nightmare getting their mouths closed, especially on a hot day :(

Hi ClaireyS

No, we were originally talking about Aussies, then Belgians - Rox just threw gundogs in at the last minute :D  I agree, gundogs and most terriers are normally pictured mouth closed ;) (and apparently Aussies should be too :P )

Teri

my favorite phots of the BCs are with open gobs!!!!!

It's difficult to get my Aussies to keep their gobs shut :D :D :D

They're either shouting at something, or they have these great silly Aussie grins all over their faces :D

Margot

I always get told to try to get pics of my Cavalier with his mouth shut, not open. Mind you I think he's gorgeous either way - he looks like he's laughing with his mouth open! :-)

Oh of course Lucy!! Jed looks gorgeous no matter if his mouth is open or shut, just didn't know if the panting it self was a sign of something going on inside or anything! I think it is safe to say there is nothing to worry about though!!! :D