Well must admit that I picked the Aussie!  Thought that it was a great line-up this year.  What did everyone else think?

Yes, I thought it was a great line up.  Personally I thought the Wire Fox was amazing for ring presence but the Australian was also a great looking dog so a very worthy pair at the top.

I loved the aussie, but I did think it was between the poodle and the fox terrier. Probably because the judge seemed to look more at those two than any of the other dogs! But I cannot disagree with her final choice, both fantasic dogs

I loved the aussie to, was really praying for him, an excellent line up, nice to see some different breeds up there, was shouting for the poodle and the welsh springer to, if I was her I would have put the aussie first and the poodle reserve, hard job though would have been there all night!!

made up it was the aussie and the fox terrier was my second choice too so was delighted.

My money was on the fab fox terrier with attitude, with the pom as runner up.

My money was on the Aussie....although i did think it was a good line up, even if a boxer didnt make it

I would have put Aussie first and Pom reserve.

Me too.

Yes that is how I saw the results, I was over the moon Chance took BIS, what a way to end his show career

thats how i wanted it to go as well aussie first and then pom thought the pom was fab

Agree with you there ;)

I thought the fox terrier first with either the Aussie or the Welsh springer runner up - so pretty good :)

I prefer the Appleton Aussies!  But I did like the WHFT, the Pom and the Poodle! :D

Val - do you mean Applethorn :D ?   They are absolutely super!

Margot

I thought it was a bit over the top calling the Appleton sisters dogs :o :D :D

I was surprised to hear the ASD handler say he exercised the dogs even if it was 100 degrees !!!!!!! He isn't retired according to the handler but will come back to the UK to get made up !!

I would like to see him after working sheep/cattle in the real world knee deep in mud & not just the pretty herding tests they do in the USA with conditioned to herding sheep(which Kerry Blues have loads of champions in BTW)That lovely long coat would soon get damaged & have clarts hanging off those OTT feathers at the back

It said that he herds sheep at the farm where he lives!

In California not Australia so there will hardly be the same numbers or conditions & his handler did say "herding"not working Actually I don't think ASD are used in Australia as my relatives have headers(BC by another name), kelpies & ACD(for the cattle)& they've never heard of ASDs

LOL would love to have seen him run the year it rained for 4 days over the English national & everywhere was deep in mud & the sheep were right s*ds even the smooths got clarted up !

So no one has a problem exercising dogs in excessive heat ! I pity the sheep if he's herding them in 100 degrees of heat

Actually I don't think ASD are used in Australia as my relatives have headers(BC by another name), kelpies & ACD(for the cattle)& they've never heard of ASDs

I  believe they are actually an AMERICAN breed despite the name aren't they?

Yes they are.  They originated in America.

I read on another forum that the Aussie also does agility adn has novice jumping and agility titles - isn't that great :)

>That lovely long coat would soon get damaged & have clarts hanging off those OTT feathers at the back

I imagine that would be the same with Rough Collies, OES, Beardies ...

Aussie coats are quite resillient - Tara frequently gets covered in mud. Once it dries it comes off the coat very easily :) She rarely gets bathed :)

Daisy

Good working coats of all types are generally designed to aren't they :)  My predominately white cocker just sheds the mud as soon as it is dry, any remaining is easy to brush out.

Ditto the Rough Collies - they come back muddy, and within an hour or two they're relatively clean but the floor isn't!

M.

Ah but none of the winners in those breeds are stated to work sheep or did I miss that ?

It would be interesting to see if the instinct was still there, regardless of their coat! ;)

Hmmmmmmm so show aussies can't work? Will have to tell Arwen shes doing something shes not supposed to when she goes up to the farm during brakes from showing ;)

I didn't say they couldn't work I said the handlers of other breeds didn't state that the winners worked(or herded too be totally correct from this mornings interview with the handler who said he did herding trials in the USA not that he worked sheep & cattle on a working ranch like a work dog) Didn't see any footage of him working a flock either

I don't recall the BOB winners in the collie breeds & OES stating their dogs worked I'd love to see a Rough or a Smooth or OES showdog work sheep BTW

I was most concerned that they worked & exercised him in temperatures in excess of 100 degrees tho' Actually he stated he worked & exercised all his charges irrespective of how hot or cold it was

I do think that dogs in the pastoral group should all be Sh CH unless they show they can work just like the BCs

Yep!  Of course you're right.  These fingers (and brain!) haven't got going yet!! :)

Hi Val

Thank you for your compliment about the "Applethorns " !!!  I was just catching up on the board after a hectic week of international visitors and it was a nice suprise to see such a lovely comment !...

Just to let you know Val & Everyone .. Applethorn aussies will now be bred under a new affix of Applefire ... the Applethorn affix will still be held in joint Ownership with me and my ex husband Wally.

Was a thrill to see an Aussie win BIS at Crufts, as you can imagine the phone has been hot with puppy enquiries ! Not always a good thing !

Jayne

Hi Jayne (waves :D )

Good to see you posting.....looking forward to seeing what you have under Applefire.......you know I'd steal any of them, don't you :D!

whispers:   any more thoughts of the 3 peaks??

Margot

I personally loved the Elkhound. 

Ditto for Elk Hound Kris :D

I wanted the Aussie to take BIS before I saw the whole line up, smashing dog and I also really liked the Welsh Springer - he seemed to love the ring :)  Oh I did also like the Elk Hound too :D

I would have a hard job deciding as I thought it was a really strong line up this year but probably the Elkhound or Welsh Springer would have ben my choice.

I wanted Poodle first then Welsh but must admit that I thought them all worthy winners.
Becky

I was rooting for the Wire Fox Terrier, followed by the Welsh Springer (which unfortuantly looked a little tired by the end).

My mum had great difficulty chosing a favourite when I told her to imagine all the dogs shaved, as it took away her reason for liking the Aussie and disliking the Poodle!

>when I told her to imagine all the dogs shaved, as it took away her reason for liking the Aussie and disliking the Poodle!

That's really good advise to a less doggy person :), I think a lot of them are swayed by a coat one way or another.
Yes, I think the Springer might have done a lot better if it had had the opportunity to refresh itself.

But it would be like men - they all look better with their clothes on ;)

Daisy

Well imagine them in little furry swimming trunks then :)

>Well imagine them in little furry swimming trunks then

Isabel...I'd thank you to keep your sordid little fantasies to yourself in future :p :D

I'll have to email BF and make the suggestion for his attire when (lol) he presents Crufts next year :D Specially for Isabel :D

Daisy

You silly pair :p  I'm suggesting we imagine the dogs in furry swimming trunks.....................!!!!is that worse?!

i thought chance deserved to win,but a fantastic line up

I was so cross yet again how dismissive they were of the Elkhound.

Surprise winner my ass.  the breed has had 3 Group winners in the lat 10 years!  the last was Kris Grandmother and two years earlier her Paternal half sister, and another Kestos bitch whose brother is behind Kris and his Grandma won in the 80's.

Not bad going for a breed with under 150 registrations annually throughout that period, with about 120 each year recently.