Occurred to me immediately I saw Best in Show .    It's quite often a given that as soon as a breed goes BIS, it's a potential recipe for disaster for the breed.   There we had a dog of stunning merle coat - sure the demand will be there for dogs of merle colouration.

And just as surely there will be 'breeders' who don't know how to deal with the genetics of merle colouration, ,and who don't realise that it can be a lethal combination when doubled up on .   These double-merle dogs are usually predominantly white, and most often are deaf and/or blind, and can develop numerous other problems, such as organ failure, auto-immune disorders, and other disorders.

Be nice to know who is breeding Aussies on Champdogs - they may have some input.

Jo andthe Casblaidd Flatcoats

Margot breeds - she was around :)

Gabrielle (a breed puppy co-ordinator) has already had an increase in enquiries :(

Daisy

Had a few for Pom's too, but that has been ongoing for a few months now.

Hi Jo,
        I am pleased for Chance's win, but personally am very aprehensive about what it will do for the breed in the UK

Since he won the Group on Thursday, through my job as puppy/rescue co-ordinator I have had 9 phone calls and 39 e-mails.... the majority wanting bitch puppies to breed..... :rolleyes:

Most breeders in this country, have spent years researching pedigrees and learning about the 'ins and outs' of the breed and now the one or two puppy farmers we know exist will be rubbing their hands with glee and seeing £ signs, with no thought to pedigree compatibility, merle x merle breedings etc......

Only this week I have seen golden retriever x aussie crosses, and while I have been writing this e-mail, I have just answered two more puppy telephone enquiries. It was bound to happen I suppose.....

I know most good breeders will probably be very wary and be careful where their stock goes. One can only hope the fuss dies down quickly........

Gabrielle

Hi Gabrielle

Yes, I surely don't envy you.

Had a look on the BBC Crufts website - there's a place where you can fill in feedback - much of it is from pet people, of course, and there's a pretty vitriolic one about a docked breed going BIS.     No-one bother to mention the fact that Aussies are frequently born bob-tailed.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

I've already had emails from the local Village website asking if I was breeding this year:rolleyes:

If it do - it will probably be my lab :D

Margot

No one really ever mentioned their temperaments or exercise requirements on the coverage though did they? All they said was do they make good pets, but that is all relative as to what you want from a pet.

Just a quick question about Aussies...
What is the frequency of seizures?
My Belgian has seizures and at one point I was considering adding an Aussie to my family but for some reason I have it in my head they also have a higher tendency towards lower seizure thresholds.

Thanks....
Not wanting a pedigree lesson...just want to be sure I have the right info...
Cheers
Julie

Yes, there can be seizures in certain lines - but, so far as I am aware, at the moment, with the relatively few breeders in the UK, it is known which lines seem to have a higher incidence than others, and are not therefore used in breeding programmes - of course, this could now change:rolleyes:

However, I think the incidence is no greater than with BCs or BSDs.

Margot

The last few days I've had sooooo many people coming up to me saying "That's the same breed as the one that won Crufts isn't it?" ... and then go on to say "I've heard they make wonderful family pets" ... and even the dreaded "we thought of getting one now".

So I then spend a good 10 mins putting them off by telling them how drivey/active my puppy is (and say it's a  good job I work from home). I'm also stressing how much mental stimulation she needs (we go to puppy training twice a week - once for fun and once for competitive obedience). Hopefully this word will get around a bit :)

I've got a friend who has 2 Goldens and she has been telling everyone how much more of a handful our pup was, and how she could never live with her 'cause she's always on the go

I love my pup to bits and wouldn't swap her for the world ... but as a breed I'd say they're not suited to everyone. I'm keeping everything crossed that Aussie breeders really make sure that all their pups go to suitable homes ...

Such a shame the aussie may get ruined :(

Julie I'm just about to e-mail you :)

Gabrielle as soon as I saw it my heart sank. I watch every year with relief that a BC doesn't make it into the final line up, mean I know but the potential problems that could cause.... Chance is a lovely dog but now everyone is going to want one just like that :-( And don't forget that lovely fox terrier that was reserve, I would love to know just how much more interest has been shown in that breed now? Anybody on here with fox terriers?

I said to my hubby as we were watching the highlights on Thursday that it will only lead to trouble within he Aussie breed :(

I have also had the 'Is that the same 'type' as what won Crufts?' questions, and Jed is a black tri, I didn't think anyone would catch on! It is amazing before the weekend, the only questions I used to get were 'Is he a Collie?' or once 'Is he some sort of Spaniel?' ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I hope you get a break soon Julie, it must be so upsetting for you.

(How's your pup doing BTW? I haven't had chance to do anything, still got new emails sat in my inbox from January!! :rolleyes: And AussiesRock, I hope you enjoyed Crufts? And I hope Tui is still doing well :) )

My hubby is wellknown at work for showing at Crufts, and yesterday people apparently kept telling him "Wasn't that a WEIRD looking Collie that won Crufts??" Fingers crossed a large proportion of the population didn't catch on what the breed was........... It truly is each breed's ultimate nightmare really to go BIS a Crufts.

its not better that they go out & all buy badly bred collies instead though,for £50 off of the farm,maybe £70 for a blue merle!

I have owned a Wire Fox in the past and have always taken an interest.  It is not so many years ago, or perhaps it is , when one went best in show but I don't recall the breed taking a hoik up the numbers chart despite the usual public interest. A lot of the interest expressed at this point will fizzle out long before puppy waiting lists come to fruition.   It is going to happen every year with every winner isn't it, even the pretty everday ones like the Cocker and infact they are much more succeptible to this sort of impact as, with them, there will be many more irresponsible breeders ready and able to leap into the breach. 

Our breed has won the Group 3 times in th4e last 10 years, yet our puppy registraions and enquiries have been under 150 a year throughout that time.

There will be the odd extra enquiry, but by the time those becoem puppies the casual interest will long since have waned.

We usualy find enquiries up just after Crufts, with Spring around the corner anyway, as serious people often use Crufts as their chance to meet their shortlisted breeds, and finally contact the breed club.

I was watching Crufts with my mum and she was rather miffed about the Tibetan Mastiff never being pulled out... her 'grandson' is one. She'd been to Crufts with me and met his daddy and siblings, so think they are the best dogs in the world now. I told her thank god as it's probably the single worst thing that can happen to a rare breed short of appearing in a movie or TV advert.