Hi All.  Brand new to this forum and from Australia.  i was wondering if breeders/showies can give me their thoughts on whether they would ever be willing to send a dog as far as Australia, what the circumstances would have to be, and what kind of criteria they would be looking for from the potential owner?
I currently have English Setters and although it is way into the future I am trying to make some contact with breeders so that in the future they may consider selling me a pup.  As yet, i have not been overly successful and I am not sure if it is because i am just trying to make contact and they don't have time to respond, or if they see that i am from another country and hit the delete button... (i haven't tried calling because I have no plans for when, so figured emailing might just be a start)
So, if you please, your thoughts on the above.  If i can improve my communications it may open some doors for me in the future.
I'd also like to hear your opinions on what you think would be a better approach. :)
Please note: I have a very clear plan as to what I want to do with this breed in Australia and it is all to improve the breed, IMO. I do not intend on breeding on a large scale, and I believe that the current Australian dogs will not meet what i see to be correct type, and therefore, i am after specifically UK and/or European lines.  I already have a prefix which i will maintain  until such time as i can get a bitch and suitable semen/stud.

Hi, welcome to Champdogs!

Firstly, do you show?
If not then it would probably be a good idea to start!

If a breeder over here sees you are doing well in the showring I think you have a better chance of someone eventually exporting a pup.

I know someone who exported to Australia, but it was to an established kennel who have a lot of success in the ring over there and the pup was also going to be shown.
Good Luck for the future:-)
I've just seen on another thread that you do show!

I guess that the problem i have is that success in Australia isn't really like Success in the UK... our shows are very small.  When i show my wei, the most i have ever shown against has been 7.  In addition, I cannot establish a kennel if the dogs that are over here are dogs that i do not want to use.  We have very different lines, and while there is nothing BAD about them, I do want to start as i mean to go on.
There are not many, if any, English setter breeders here who have UK lines.  I was showing my setter boy up until a few months ago and have now retired and desexed him.  He was from old, Australian lines and didn't look like the current stuff in the ring, which is all rather flashy and heavily coated.
I currently am showing a Weimaraner but as I am happy with my breeding prospects here i do not think that I will need to import anything in the future.
What i need breeders to understand is that yes, I am new to breeding of this breed, but not new to the breed itself, and I know what i want for my kennel.

People do export to Australia but the dog of course does have to do a short spell in quarantine. 

Would the British lines get anywhere though in Australia if they are not of our type being shown out there?

Oh yes quarantine isn't an issue... i believe it is 30 days now.
The british lines do get through... a lot of "old school" judges like them and we do have quite a variety of International judges here as well.
We have quite a few kennels of Irish setters from UK lines doing well here but they are a lot more popular than the English.  It really isn't so much about the showing, for me, however... i want the look i like best, classic heads, correct coats, nice round bone and level toplines... all that is sadly disappearing over here.

Personally I would never consider it because I could not bare the thought of a dog so far away that I could not assist if their owner hit on hard or difficult times.  Even if that issue was resolved, perhaps by having a trusted friend there to deputise in that way, I could not contemplate the journey for a dog.  I have done the journey myself and I can imagine how arduous it could be for a dog.  Stop offs are frequently required in very hot countries who do not have the same regard for animals as we do and I would fear casual handling that may expose the dog to be left out in the box on the tarmac with the rest of the baggage with nobody bothering to either check on them or take action if they were distressed.
However, there do seem to be plenty of dogs that do go and I do recognise the important of the exchange of blood lines. 
I would imagine those that do export, the responsible ones anyway, will be looking for reassurance in the way of either knowing the recipient or someone who can speak for their character so perhaps the key is to develop your network there in order to meet people who have contacts here rather than trying to approach it directly.

Thank you Isabel :)  That is some good advice.
I can understand how you feel about the exporting itself, particularly to such a far away country.  It is, however, done everyday with both pups and older dogs and they seem to survive it ok... but i can see your concern.
I do know of one or two people that have contacts in the UK who may be able to vouch for me.  My breeder (who is involved with the more American type lines now) does have some contacts, as does a person who breeds Irish Setters (and has, in the past, bred English Setters)...
So... if you would all be so kind as to answer another question now - how would you feel about exporting frozen semen to Australia.  What would be your conditions?

Never thought about it, but then I have only ever owned bitches!   Wouldn't have any worries about welfare on the flight though :-D so seems a better idea for getting blood lines to me although success is varied isn't it?
I guess from the stud dog owners point of view they are going to have the same questions and concerns as to verifying suitability of the recipient.

Hi Belbracon,

I think semen is the easiest option for you.   This is meant to discredit any breed or breeder but sometimes Australia & NZ were looked upon as the place to send out 'ok' dogs but certainly never your best and the Aussies & Kiwi's were frequently sent substandard stock.  I, personally, congratulate you on wanting to breed what you consider typical dogs rather than just flashy show dogs.  I have known people in Australia for almost 20 years now, in my breed, but I know Heather Beasley too (Sherwyn) and used to subscribe to Australasian Gundog.  I feel because you tend to have 'allrounders' rather than breed specialist judges, the allrounders don't tend to know the intircacies of each breed standard so tend to opt for flashy movement & slightly exaggerated outlines.

If you go for semen, you may be able to buy from a top producing titled dog whereas that dog would never be considered for export.  

i gave exported semen to australia but only to someone i know and only with a contract to say where it can be used and what happens to the rest afterwards should mating be successful.

Thank you ChristineW.  I know of many that have said that i should work at establishing myself first but I honestly can't see myself doing that when I can't get my hands on a bitch who i see as something i would like to breed from.  Even if i found something I thought was worthy, it is unlikely to be from lines which will easily meld with those that i want to use (if using semen) from the UK.  I thought perhaps trying to get to know various breeders in the UK may put me in good stead in the future.  I know of Heather Beasley and I do like her dogs but i still feel as though perhaps i am just looking for an easy way out when I know that what i really want is the best I think i can get.
I have also heard of the fact that many substandard dogs were sent to Australia.  It is a shame, really, that this is the case but i guess i can see why it may be so.  Why would you send your best stuff to a country on the other side of the world when it is unlikely you would ever have access to that dog or it's progeny again? 
I totally agree with you regarding "all rounders' vs specialty judges - it is so easy to gain your judging certificate here and you do it group by group, not breed by breed.  A "trainee" judge in the UK would have seen probably 20 times as many dogs in one breed than a judge in Australia.  They go for flash because that is what is winning and there is no individuality.
Anyway, I do have plenty of dogs in mind for semen but I know that there will be conditions and quite frankly i really want to get myself a worthy bitch and then i can go about choosing semen that will complement her and bring out the best traits of the breed as i see it!!  I'll keep trying!!!
Thanks so much for the encouragement though.  it is nice to hear that there are people that understand my goals.

ETA ChristineW i love Munsterlanders!  I was fairly interested in expanding to this breed at one stage, but i wasn't too keen on our genepool size!!

Sorry i am quite chatty tonight... just wanted to add that we did, at one stage, have a fairly large number of Imports and dogs from stunning UK lines... this was before my time in the 70s, but i have seen some year books and the dogs were stunning.  Unfortunately, most, if not nearly all, those lines have been lost and the newer lines are all American and Canadian... So all i can do is drool over the yearbooks...

> This is meant to discredit any breed or breeder but sometimes Australia & NZ were looked upon as the place to send out 'ok' dogs but certainly never your best and the Aussies & Kiwi's were frequently sent substandard stock.

Ooops I meant that to say that 'This isn't meant' -  slip of the tongue............

If you want to get a foot in the door, why not join some of the breed clubs in the UK to get the newsletters etc. of the breeds you're interested in, see if there's any Yearbooks or Handbooks available.    If you sound the genuine article, I think people will listen to you.   I know of friends who imported semen to NZ from a LM in the UK years ago & they weren't known to anyone here, then a few years later they went back to the breeder (Who had owned the stud dog they used for AI) and bought a very nice bitch from them.