Toy and Mini Aussies

Toy and Mini Aussies are moving....

2011-02-13T05:15:00.001-06:00

Kibby's ready for the move, are you?

To all my faithful followers and the ones that stop by from time to time to read this blog,

We have made the decision to move our posts to the new face book group Toy And Mini Aussies. We invite you to join us there.

For those of you who posted your own information here you will find it easier to post to face book than to this blog. If you have been thinking about sharing your pictures and stories about your Toy or Mini Aussie, you will love how easy it is to share at face book.

If you just like to keep up with what is going on with Shade Tree Aussies, you will find it all there as we will be posting pretty often on that page.

So change your book marks, meet some new people who have joined us already, learn more about this wonderful breed and lets have some fun posting and sharing those cool pictures and great stories you have of your Toy or Mini Aussie(s).

See you there,
Karla

Where have all the puppies gone?

2011-02-04T06:20:00.001-06:00

We are often asked about where the pups have gone after they are taken off the puppies page at Shade Tree Aussies. We thought we would make it easy for folks to follow a puppy so we would put a new page on the site. Please take a minute and check out Past Puppies by CLICKING HERE

We also have pictures and information about the new litter from Kibby and Rascal up on the puppies page. This is a large litter (8) and Kibby is doing well with them. Waiting on their eyes to open so we can tell what the eye color might be is making time drag. Both parents have blue eyes so we are hoping for a majority of them to have blue eyes, however there is never any guarantees with this breed. Even if the eyes look blue when they open at 2 weeks, you can't be sure they will stay that color until they are about 8 weeks old. For more information about eye color in Aussies check out the Eye Color page on ToyMiniAussies.net

Miss Kibby, a black tri with blue eyes.

Keep watching the Shade Tree Aussie site for updated information and pictures of the newest babies.

Sad loss of a dear family four legged friend...

2011-01-31T07:04:00.000-06:00

I was recently asked to help a family member of a very good friend to get his family dogs weight under control. We took them to the website Shade Tree Pets for our homemade dog food recipe and the list of A+ rated dog foods. They had been feeding dog food that could be purchased at your local large chain stores that carry groceries to tires (you know what I am talking about), or at the neighborhood grocery store. This 12 to 14 year old female dog was a large breed dog, possibly a lab mix. She had packed on a lot of weight and was becoming very lazy. She even at times refused to complete the daily walks her human took her on. He mentioned to me that she had been drinking a lot of water.

He attempted to make the switch to a better dog food supplemented with our homemade formula. She refused to eat and even was vomiting up what she did eat. At first I thought perhaps he switched her too fast, which he had done in my opinion, however the other dog was fine. While Elvis the male, another large breed dog that is overweight, made the switch and loved the new food, Abby would barely touch it.

I went through the list of possibilities in my mind and suggested they see their Veterinarian right away. My first though was that she maybe had cancer or something else wrong in her digestive system, perhaps she was going into heart failure. I missed the key to the problem, did you?

Abby was rushed to an emergency clinic on Sunday, January 30. She had to be put to rest from advanced complications of Canine Diabetes. This family is suffering greatly from the loss of their Abby. They are blaming themselves for not seeing she had a problem sooner. We all miss signs of problems. If our four legged kids could only talk, it would be much easier.

I have spent some time researching Canine Diabetes since yesterday afternoon. The common thread in all the information I can find about this devastating disease is that the only hope of extending the life and helping the quality of life for dogs with diabetes is early detection and treatment. Do you know the signs? Do you know what I missed? The increased amount of water she was drinking was a huge sign.

This takes me back to the article on the home page of ToyMiniAussies.net Do You Know Your Dog's Health? If you have not read it, this is a good lesson for us all. Know your dog's health before they are sick. If you are taking the time to record what is normal for your dog, you are more likely to catch problems before it is too late for your best friend. I do it, it isn't that hard to do. Please take the time to pay attention to how your furry children are feeling, behaving, eating and drinking. Know what is normal so you know when something isn't normal. There is a print out provided for you to record information on. It is a good tool to help you see problems before it is too late. Your Veterinarian can use the information as well. They appreciate good records when trying to diagnose problems.

Look for new articles about Canine Diabetes coming soon to Shade Tree Pets.

New litter of Toy Aussies at Fenix Toy Aussies

2011-01-19T13:34:00.000-06:00

Mike and Vicki are the proud owners of a new litter of Toy Aussies. Shade Tree Aussies helped them get the parents of this new litter and have tried to be of assistance through the process of becoming breeders. Since this is the first litter of puppies they are learning very fast the joys and frustrations of raising babies.

Lilly and Koda litter at Fenix Toy Aussies.
They are starting to venture out! Let the games begin.

Check out the new babies at Fenix Toy Aussies

Maxine Nap Time

2011-01-12T15:19:00.000-06:00

Maxine napping sitting up on the couch.

I asked Maxine's Mom if she was the lap dog she had hoped she would be. She replied "Maxine is wonderful. She learned how to navigate the stairs this week..She is loving the snow. She plays and romps every time she goes out. She's pretty playful, so during the day, she's not one to curl up on my lap. At night, she sleeps right beside me. At first she slept at the foot of the bed. Now she plants herself in the small of my back or right between us!"

Then she sent me this picture. She may not want to sleep in Daira's lap but here she is sitting up, as close as she get, sound to sleep! She may not be a lap dog, but I can assure you that is a happy, well adjusted, Momma's girl right there. Isn't that just the cutest thing you ever saw.

Winning Smile

2011-01-09T06:06:00.001-06:00

Have you ever seen an Aussie smile? It is a fairly common trait in the Toy and Mini Aussies. Often people who are not familiar with the breed think they are threatening with the display of the pearly whites, but generally speaking it is more a sign of submission or joy. If you have an Aussie who smiles it is pretty easy to teach them to do it on command. Every time they smile at you, say "Smile" and reward them with "Good dog, boy, girl" and lots of pets. Soon you will be able to show off your new trick where ever you take your hairy children. I personally like to have them smile at drive thru bank tellers, fast food service people and at the Lowe's cashiers.

What? You have never seen a Toy or Mini Aussie smile. Well, it just so happens that Itty Bitty from Carousel Aussies was captured showing off her very big grin just recently.

Itty Bitty is a Tiny Toy or Micro Aussie.
She loves to show off that winning smile!

Don't forget to to take your four legged kids to vet for an annual check up. While you are there, ask them about the condition of your babies teeth. Dental care can extend the years you have to share with them and can improve a case of bad breath.

Baxter and Reggie on Vacation

2011-01-08T07:33:00.001-06:00

Left to Right; Hailey, Baxter, Reggie, Marissa
hanging out in the motel after a day romping at the beach.

"The boys are SO glad to be home! They are back to their "normal" selves, eating and sleeping and romping! I really was glad they did so well in the car and at the hotels. Would recommend travel with them again... might just be the breed that does well, might be the dogs, don't know, but they made believers out of me as far as taking dogs on vacation! I had a lot of nay-sayers, thought we were out of our minds taking them; boy were they surprised too." By Karin

We here at Shade Tree Aussies always take at least 2 of the hairy kids with us when ever we are away from home for even one night. The size of the Toy or Mini Aussie makes them perfect travel companions. Give them lots of rides in the car or truck and you will soon have willing travelers. The are so naturally protective that I just feel safer with my little body guards along for the ride. There are many hotels and motels that allow pets these days.

Aussies are family committed companions. They don't do well away from their people. Please consider traveling with yours. You both will be very surprised at how easy it is.

Bella's Christmas

2011-01-01T04:23:00.000-06:00

Bella, a Toy Aussie, is one of the last of the puppies produced by the original Carousel Aussies. When Bonita found herself traveling more for her job, it became impossible for her to care for the adult dogs the way she wanted to, so after much deliberation and many tears, she sold the dogs and then the website/kennel name later. Many of us miss her around the dog shows and events.

Bella was placed with a family in Austin Texas. She sure looks happy and healthy!

We would like to thank Bella's human for sharing this really cute Christmas picture.

vacation with "the boys"!

2010-12-31T14:25:00.004-06:00

Vacation this year to Florida - of course Reggie and Baxter came along! They were super in the long car ride and we really think they think we moved to this big water/beach area.... they love it! Both were afraid of the water - waves coming in scared them - but when the girls waded to a small sand bar, and I had both dogs and a camera, Baxter went right in with them! They really loved racing on the sand and chasing sea gulls - a particular favorite of Reggie! Reggie finally went in the water, but it was on his terms while chasing a sea gull.

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T06:48:00.000-06:00

All of us here at ToyMiniAussies wish you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!

If you are looking a New Years Resolution you can keep, please go to ToyMiniAussies and read the new article, Do You Know Your Dog's Health? Print off the record keeping sheet and start tomorrow! Your baby will thank you!

Also we would would like to congratulate FenixToyAussies on their first litter of Toy Aussies. Watch this site for baby pictures coming soon.

Toy and Mini Aussie puppy picture updated...

2010-12-28T07:11:00.003-06:00

Shade Tree Aussies has updated the pictures of the puppies that are available. We are now accepting deposits on them. They are 5 weeks old and sooooo cute.

Black Tri Female

Blue Merle Female

Black Tri Female

Black Tri Male

Blue Merle Female

Black Tri Female

For more information, please visit Shade Tree Aussies.

Snow Snow Snow!!!

2010-12-27T13:01:00.016-06:00

We got a lot of snow in New Jersey last night!! Our town actually had the most in the state! I took the boys out for a photo shoot, and they were having a blast! All of the trails in the big piles of snow were made by Mac, the black tri, not even by the big Labs. He loves to climb in the snow which you will see in the pictures. This morning at about 5:30, he begged us to go out to bury his toy duck in a huge pile after he tossed him around for about 20 minutes. I guess he figured he finally killed the duck, so he had to bury him, even if it was in a huge pile of snow with whipping winds! Good thing he went where we could see him!
Buddy, the little red tri, had such a great time hopping through the snow with the big guys. They made big trails so they could have room to chase each other, and they all had so much fun. Here are some pictures of them from a few hours ago. Enjoy!!!

Another Toy Aussie for Christmas!

2010-12-27T12:33:00.012-06:00

This Christmas we had the joy of having a new member of our family at the party, Buddy! We got buddy in early December for my grandpa, and he absolutely LOVES him! He is a wonderful little dog with a great personality. He is the half brother to my dog, Mac, and since Mac is so territorial it took him some time to get used to Buddy, but once Buddy got big enough to run with Mac and his 2 big brother labs, Ben and Ralphie, that was it...Mac was hooked...he found someone who could keep up with him.

On Christmas Eve we also had my aunt's puppy that she got about a week and a half ago. His name is Rocky, he's a Viszla, and he gave Buddy someone a little more his own size to play with on Christmas Eve. In this picture Buddy looks like he was losing the battle, but he had Rocky in someone's lap not wanting to get down by the end of the night. He's a tough little guy!

Here are some pictures of Buddy on Christmas at my house.....

Transitioning

2010-12-27T09:26:00.003-06:00

I had my two young grandchildren here with me over the Christmas holiday. Little Joe has never been around little people (Champ is an old hand at it now), and we were not quite sure how Joe would adapt to them. He is not in favor of fast moves and surprises, and my two little ones are famous for that. At first, Joe would just sit on my lap, growl at them and not let them near him. It did not take long though for them to win him over. He began to let them pet him and give him kisses, and he even was returning those kisses.While they are not the best of friends yet, it has begun. He figured out that they are a great source of snacks he does not normally get! Joe began to run and play with them. He even curled up and slept with my granddaughter.

Mini Aussies love to run and play, and with patience and time, they adapt easily. Since Joe is not used to being around children, this was a big step for him. I don't think it will be very long at all before they are the best of buddies. After all, he does have Champ to show him just how good it can be. When he gets to snuggle with my grandchildren, maybe I can have my side of the bed back!

Lucy goes to Grandma's...

2010-12-24T05:39:00.000-06:00

Over the hill and through the woods to Grandma's house we go... you know the rest.

ARE WE THERE YET?

Your 4 legged kids get just as bored on long car rides as your 2 legged kids. Plan to have things with you that they like as well. Chew bones, favorite toys, etc.

Remember that those rest stops that have pet area's can be breeding grounds for all kinds of diseases. If your Toy or Mini Aussie is not used to long car rides this can be a stressful time for them as well. Stress will lower the immune system and make them more susceptible to diseases. Try to pick places that you don't think many people would take a dog out to potty. Check with your Vet to make sure your baby is current on vaccinations before you leave home.

Be a good dog owner and pick up after them when needed. If you forgot to take something to pick up with, those plastic food service gloves they use in the fast food places work really well. If you ask for one most places will gladly give one. The plastic shopping bags you get everywhere you go work well too.

To avoid digestive upset, take along the normal food you feed and some water from home for your Aussie. It is surprising how a change in water will effect them, a drastic change in food can have disastrous results when your in someone else's home.

If your Toy or Mini Aussie is used to a crate, take that along too. It may be a pain to you, but it is a piece of home to them. Besides if it should become hectic or stressful for the hairy child you can always put the kennel or crate in another room and give them a place to be quite for awhile. Your host and your baby will thank you!

Everyone have a Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-20T05:54:00.000-06:00

With Christmas so near I thought it would be a good time to remind you that table scrapes and people food treats can have deadly consequences to your Toy or Mini Aussie. While it is very hard to tell them no with all the food, remember it is for your babies own good.

I think the hardest thing to control is your guests. Often each one thinks just a little won't hurt a thing. Well, if you have a houseful and a small dog, those "just a little" bits add up quick. While it isn't always easy to do, take the time to tell your guests NO right up front. Children are the hardest ones to make understand and often your Aussies prime target for begging. If it becomes a problem, now is a good time for the crate.

Chocolate can be deadly! I know they love it as much as we do, however, it is toxic to them. Should your baby get into the chocolate chip cookies or worse, be sure to call your vet right away. Most vets will give advice over the phone at times like these. Depending on how much they ate and how long it was before you found out they ate the chocolate, it can be as simple as giving them something to make them sick to the stomach.

Let me offer a suggestion to you. Make up a batch of homemade liver treats, set out on a plate how much your dogs can have a day, let your guests know they are for the dogs only (they won't hurt people, just tastes like liver and looks a little like brownies)! Then when your guests can't stand the sad eyes any more, there is something good to give your babies. Recipe and video by Uncle Mike CLICK HERE

We wish a safe and happy Holiday Season!
Merry Christmas from: Karla, Larry, Hoot, Rascal, Deuce, Buddy, Jazz, Zoie, Maggie, Donna, Visa, Kibby, Little Bit and Marie....

Puppy Update

2010-12-16T03:51:00.000-06:00

Estee


Maybelline

Well, it is a good thing, but I am always a little sad when I have placed the last of the puppies from a litter. Maybelline will be going to Austin Texas and Estee will moving to Denver Colorado. I am sure both these girls got great homes. Maybelline will be able to go to work with her new Mommy everyday. Estee's new family travels a lot and she will get to go with them. I think she will racking up her own frequent flier miles soon.

Puppy shots today

2010-12-08T06:57:00.001-06:00

This is Maxine! She was know as Mary Kay around here. Her new Mom took her to the Doctor for her next puppy shot. She sent us this picture with the caption "Puppy shots today. She's nervous! 3.3 pounds".

I just can't stress enough how important it is that you get your babies in for the puppy shot series. If you have an older dog, don't forget those all important annual booster shots too. It is easy to get them done when you get your rabies shots for your Toy or Mini Aussie.

This gal is not going to get very big in size but I can assure you she will make up for the stature with attitude. She now has a big brother, and I mean big brother, that is a Golden Retriever. It seems that Maxine's favorite new toy is his tail.

We love to get pictures and stories from all our owners!

Adopting a Mini Aussie

2010-12-06T22:12:00.003-06:00

We have never adopted a Mini Aussie, as we have always loved the larger breeds of dogs. Upon being around this particular breed, we fell in love with them immediately. How can you help but fall in love with them. They are a smart dog, playful, energetic while maintaining a laid back personality, loyal, loving, and a joy to be around. ~~~
We were fortunate enough to adopt our Little Joe, and he is such a pleasure to have in our home. Joe is just 7 months old, and is the smallest in his litter. But only in size though. He has a personality larger than life, and displays this in many ways. It took him about 2 minutes, if that, to win our hearts. ~~~
I have to share with you a little story about Joe. He was used to being around a "no paper", though it had never been used on him. He just knew what it was. As it is about Christmas time, I came home the other day with a roll of gift wrap. When Joe saw it, he took off, knowing he had not done anything to warrant a no paper. Well, it took some convincing that it was not a no paper! When he finally did come out, he sure didn't want to see that gift wrap anymore! I guess this goes to show how simple it is to train a Mini Aussie. Now, I must admit, I am concerned about the packages under the tree, and just how far he will go to avoid them!

Baxter and Reggie

2010-12-05T05:37:00.001-06:00

This comment came from Karin yesterday. These great folks from Indiana now have 2 Shade Tree Toy Aussies. Sounds like the boys and the family have a great time together. We love to hear from our puppy owners and to share the fun times and pictures with everyone. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Baxter and Reggie had a surprise this morning when the headed out for their morning potty break - SNOW! Did not seem to bother Baxter at all. Reggie, on the other hand, ran from the cold stuff on his feet, back into the garage and parked himself by the inside door. Once I stopped laughing at his reaction, I coaxed him back to me and put him in the snow, encouraging him the whole time. Once he got the hang of it, he absolutely loved it! They have been spending much of their playtime on the deck, romping in the snow!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thank you to Karin for taking the time to share with us. All this message lacked was a picture or short video of the "boys" romping in the snow!

2010-12-04T04:22:00.000-06:00

With Christmas just around the corner, I thought I would share this video with you on how to get good dog or puppy pictures. It isn't always easy to get a Toy or Mini Aussie to sit still long enough to get that shot that will work for a family portrait. Here are few tips and tricks I use.

Raisins and chocolate are harmful to dogs

2010-12-03T04:56:00.000-06:00

It is the season that we all do more baking and have more treats for humans around the house. So I thought it was good time to remind all my Toy and Mini Aussie friends and family about the harmful effects of sharing some things with our furry part of the family...

The following is an exert from the website drweil.com For more information about Toxic Foods for Dogs CLICK HERE

Toxic Foods for Dogs....
Chocolate can be deadly for certain dogs, but the size and breed of the dog and the amount of chocolate consumed determine how sick a pooch can get. Grapes and raisins are a different story - very small amounts can lead to kidney failure in some dogs.

So far, however, vets haven't been able to determine what it is about grapes and raisins that make them so dangerous. They've looked at the chemistry of grapes and raisins and at possible residues of pesticides, heavy metals, fertilizers, and other chemicals that may have been used in cultivation, but no chemical culprit has emerged.

As far as chocolate is concerned, you don't have much to worry about if your pet snags a piece of candy. Toxic reactions generally don't develop unless a dog ingests 100-150 milligrams of theobromine per kilogram of its weight. That would average out to about an ounce of chocolate per pound of body weight for milk chocolate. Semisweet and Baker's chocolate contain more theobromine so the rule here is one ounce per three pounds of body weight for semisweet chocolate and one ounce per nine pounds of body weight for Baker's chocolate.

Symptoms of chocolate toxicity in dogs include hyper-excitability, hyper- irritability, increased heart rate, restlessness, increased urination, muscle tremors, vomiting, and diarrhea. There is no specific antidote, but if you believe your dog has eaten too much chocolate, take him to the vet as soon as possible for treatment of the specific symptoms. Just to keep things in perspective, I might mention that my daughter's Welsh Corgi once consumed seven chocolate oranges in a raid on a Christmas stash in a closet; she had nothing worse than diarrhea for a few days.

In 1989 the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) began tracking a trend which showed that dogs who ate grapes and raisins developed kidney failure. The type of grapes or brand of raisins doesn't matter. Neither do the amounts the dogs ate: these can vary from more than a pound of grapes to as little as a single serving of raisins.

After eating grapes and raisins, dogs typically vomit within a few hours and then stop eating and develop diarrhea. Then they become quiet and lethargic, and show signs of abdominal pain. These symptoms can last several days - sometimes even weeks. Blood tests can reveal changes in kidney function so if you know or suspect that your dog has eaten either grapes or raisins, get him to the vet immediately. Treatment can save his life.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

P.S. from Karla,
Remember that onions and garlic in large amounts can cause emergency trips to the vet as well. It takes a pretty large amount of these to cause a problem. Just a reminder to all that the juice off that roast with all the onions in it for flavor can be harmful.

Enjoy the Holidays, Have a Merry Christmas, but don't share the treats with the 4 legged kids. Feel guilty? Make them some of Uncle Mike's homemade liver treats - Watch the video on how to make them by CLICKING HERE

My Boys

2010-12-01T13:37:00.000-06:00

We have had the big white Labrador for a couple of years now. Champ has beautiful blue eyes. We recently acquired Little Joe, a Black Bi male Miniature Aussie, and the two boys are the best of buddies. We were not sure how Champ would adjust to having to share our attention, but he has chosen to be a really great big brother to Joe. To watch them play together will bring tears to your eyes from laughter. Champ is so protective of Joe, and will even give up his treats if Joe chooses to take them! As you can see from the picture, they are very close. Joe will end up being a small dog with a big dog attitude.

Welcome to all our Toy and Mini Aussie family and friends

2010-12-01T11:30:00.000-06:00

Lately, I have decided to share stories and pictures with all my clients/friends/puppy owners and would like all of you to participate.

I figure that if we all share information then we all share in the learning and fun.

Please sign up to become an author. As soon as I authorize you, you will be able to start blogging about your babies too.

If you have any questions, get back to me and I will gladly help you get started.

Babies are growing really fast

2010-12-01T10:11:00.000-06:00

Zoie Roo had her litter of 2 on November 24. Donna had a litter of 4 babies on November 23.

Zoie had a lot of trouble delivering the second puppy. When we finally got the puppy pulled (backwards and upside down) she weighed 12 oz. Since there are only 2 of them they are so fat that their little faces are even fat. As of November 30th she weighs 1# 5 3/4 ounces.

Donna on the other hand had 3 nice sized females and then came the shocker! Her last born was a tiny black tri male that only weighed 4 ounces. I had some serious doubts if he was gonna ever draw a breath. I worked at getting him to breath for a good 10 minutes. I was almost in tears before he finally gasped his first breath. As of December 1st, he is up to a Whopping 9 ounces.

Pictures coming soon...

Canine Influenza - H3N8 Virus

2010-11-16T05:45:00.000-06:00

Flu season is upon us, not only for human but for your dogs as well. In doing some research I found an article at Revival Animal Health. It is worth the time it takes to read it if you take your dogs anywhere. That includes dog parks, the vet, the pet store, dog shows etc. You can read the entire article at Toy and Mini Aussies.

Puppy Up Date

2010-11-08T09:40:00.000-06:00

Mary Kay has been spoken for and will be gong to West Virgina when she is old enough. Her name has been changed to Maxine in honor of her new Mommy's Grandma.

Almay will be going to Houston the first part of December to live with her new family and another Toy Aussie. She will be in heaven there as she will be living on a Ranch.

Note: Heza Blue Eyed Rascal, sire of this litter, was shown at Van, Texas on November 6, and scored a perfect 200. These pups are nice enough to become show dogs as well if you are interested in getting involved.

Please click here to the puppies Shade Tree Aussies/puppies

New babies!

2010-10-13T17:44:00.000-05:00

New litter of pups posted on Shade Tree Aussies.

This is a litter by Rascal and out of Visa.

These should all be Toy in size and pretty athletic.

We couldn't be happier about the markings on these pups, they are just to cute. I am not getting much done for sitting here watching them.

It looks to me like we may have 3 with blue eyes but they can still turn.

Check them out and share with your dog friends.

What is bloat in dogs?

2010-08-22T17:38:00.000-05:00

Bloat is the second leading killer of dogs, after cancer! - For more information about Bloat please visit the In Memory page on ToyMiniAussies.net by clicking HERE

You will find the information in the section about "Huck" shown above. We have provided a printable pdf file for you there.

Summer Fun in the sprinkler

2010-08-21T07:33:00.000-05:00

We have 7 Toy and Mini Aussies for sale! This video will show you each of them having fun in the sprinkler! To contact Shade Tree Aussies CLICK HERE If you would like read more about each puppy please CLICK HERE

These puppies are ready to go to forever homes and are all current on vacinations and worming. This is a really nice group of Toy and Miniature Australian Shepherd pups. Some of these puppies are show prospects, several are breeding prospects.

I have a free ride for any of the puppies from Oklahoma to Colorado so if you live along the way your puppy can be hand delivered to you free of shipping costs.

Hot Summer Days and Toy and Mini Aussie Pups

2010-08-11T13:26:00.000-05:00

This is "Hoss" enjoying the sprinkler on a 100 degree day. All of the Deuce litter seem to like the water, but Hoss is the king of the hose. He is going to be a very easy to train small Miniature Australian Shepherd. This pup already knows his name and the words, breakfast, out an NO.

They spend most of the day in the house laying around in the air conditioning (mostly up side down). However, even our evenings are pretty warm so I put the sprinkler out to try to keep the grass around the house from going dormant from the dry heat. To my surprise, most of the pups seem to really enjoy playing in the water. For more information visit Shade Tree Aussies Shade Tree Aussies

10 new Toy and Mini Aussies posted on Shade Tree Aussies

2010-06-26T23:04:00.000-05:00

The puppies are now 4 weeks old and I finally got them posted to Shade Tree Aussies. This is a very healthy and busy bunch of Toy Aussies puppies. We even have a little female that I am sure will be a Micro or Tiny Toy. She is half the size of her brothers and sisters.

Federal Dog Breeding Bill, PUPS Act

2010-06-25T06:13:00.000-05:00

I want to make you aware of the following pending federal legislation. While I do not support so called "puppy mills" or substandard kennels, this bill will restrict our rights even more. There are enough laws on the books now to stop the bad breeders. We just need the authorities to do the job they are supposed to be doing.

PUPS Act is the name of federal legislation proposed in the wake of the audit by the Office of Inspector General that condemns USDA's lax enforcement of regulations that apply to puppy mills.

The Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act, Senate Bill 3424 and House Resolution 5434 would target retail breeders: defined as anyone who, "in commerce, for compensation or profit" owns or has custody of at least one breeding female dog and sells or offers for sale, whether over the Internet, telephone or newspaper or otherwise, more than 50 of the offspring "for use as pets" in any one year. "High volume retail breeders" would no longer be exempt from Animal Welfare Act licensing and other regulation if they sell dogs directly to the public, whether over the Internet, telephone or through newspaper ads. The bill also closes the loophole exempting high volume breeders from licensing requirements if they sell to research facilities.

If you would like more information about H.R. 5434/S.B. 3424 please visit this link PUPS Bill Reintroduced In U.S. Congress

Seeing Lucy!

2010-04-19T09:13:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I delivered our last puppy from the Visa litter. Due to a death in the family that Sweetie was going to live with, the lady that has Lucy (see earlier blog, Dream Breeder) met me to pick her up and take her to her new humans. I feel confident Sweetie will be the love a 12 year boy's life.

More importantly I got to see Lucy yesterday. I must say I left there both happy and sad. Seeing her brought a flood of tears and emotion. I know now, seeing it with my own eyes, that Lucy is where she should be! Lucy loves her new Mom. She knew us, and was willing to be held by myself and my husband, but she was looking over her shoulder to make sure Lori wasn't far away.

This meeting was very scary for Lori as well since she was worried that Lucy would want to go with us. Not a chance. Lucy is so devoted to Lori, that is a great thing!

The moral of the story is this... spending the time to make sure where your babies are going is well worth the effort. There are great homes out there for your older dogs if you just look for them. I believe that every dog has a place that they are supposed to be. It is our responsibility to help them be there. Lucy filled a huge need while she was here, now she is filling Lori's heart with love and companionship when she really needed that unconditional love after loosing her older dog.

Hip dysplasia and your Toy or Mini Aussie

2010-03-30T07:22:00.000-05:00

Since most people I talk to have heard of hip dysplasia but don't seem to know how it effects their dog or what the chances are they will get it, I thought it was something I needed to share.

Researchers agree that hip dysplasia is a genetic disease. If a parent has hip dysplasia, then the animal's offspring are at greater risk for developing hip dysplasia. While most effected breeds are larger breeds than the Toy or Mini Aussie, it does happen. Remember these little guys started out as a smaller breed, then they were crossed with larger dogs to create a herding dog that could handle cattle. Now they are being bred back down in size and so are the hip problems.

We have our breeding dogs X-rayed by our Veterinarian. With his guidance we determine which dogs are fit to breed and which dogs should not be bred to each other based on those X-rays. This can be heart breaking when you have nurtured a dog until they are 14 to 18 months old and they fail. Some breeders use the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (know as OFA) to certify their dogs. You will often see this on breeders websites. While this is awesome, we don't do OFA certifiation at this time. The dog has to be heavily sedated to take the X-ray's required to be certified. I am opposed to doing that if we don't have to. I feel very confident in Dr. Bret Whites ablitliy to read the films and he spends a great deal of time going over them with me, using the OFA standards to determine the hip condition of every dog we have.

If you would like to know more about Hip Dyslpasia, including some information about how diet and weight can effect how it will effect your dog if he is pre-desposed to the disease please visit Toy and Mini Aussies.com

A Breeders Dream Owner

2010-03-30T06:37:00.000-05:00

I just have to share a story about one of Toy Aussies. I purchased a pretty red tri female from a small family breeder in Kansas. We named her Lucy and she became a favorite around here with a personality that you just couldn't ignore. When my husband had back surgery a year ago she become his constant companion, sleeping on his chest and alerting me every time he moved. Lucy didn't play fetch, she played keep away from the other dogs, often creating a small mountain of toys on one end of the couch by the end of the day that she defended fiercely.

Lucy would soon be old enough to breed so it was time for her hip X-ray's. We do this with our dogs around 14 to 18 months just to help us know we are not creating puppies that will suffer with hip problems later in life. Much to my dismay, Lucy failed. I was sick. I called the breeder telling her she needed to have her 3 dogs checked and that she really needed to make it right. Needless to say that will never happen.

Just before the trip to the vet for the X-ray's I had a lady contact me about Lucy. She had seen her on my web site and wanted to know if I would sell her. Before the hip check the answer was NO. I did tell her that we would be doing the hip check and if she didn't score high enough we might consider it but I rarely have one fail. We talked back and forth about several puppies over the next few months. Lori and I become friends and she seemed like the perfect owner. Then the news came that Lucy wasn't fit to breed. My husband I talked it over and decided to give it a try and with a heavy heart I called Lori. I was crying so hard I could hardly talk. With Lucy in my lap, licking the tears from my checks, I committed to letting her go. That came with some heavy conditions that didn't seem to matter to Lori. I even went in to detail that she could have hip dysplasia later in life. She really wanted Lucy.

When Lucy went to live with Lori, there was an older Border Collie that lived there as well. Not long after they picked Lucy, the Border Collie was hit by a car after bolting out of the back seat of Lori's car at a busy intersection. Lucy is now an only child. Lucy once again, took up the post as the healer and helped Lori and her family grieve their loss.

Today, I have never felt better about re homing a dog! Lucy goes every where Lori goes. She is a Realtors assistant. She is now getting emails and even has her own personal shopper (she still likes her toys and piles them up). I get emails with pictures several times a week with stories about what they are doing. Lucy goes to lake most weekends, she goes shopping with Lori everywhere she can go, even helping picking out the new garden plants. Lucy recently supervised the remodel of the kitchen, winning the hearts of the workers.

Lucy is an ambassador for the breed, meeting lots of people and winning hearts every where she goes. Lori is the owner every breeder dreams of. Lucy couldn't be in a better place. I often thank Lori for the wonderful home for such a special girl.

If you don't personally know a Toy or Mini Aussie you are missing something very special in your life.

What to look for in Toy or Mini Aussie and the breeder

2010-03-23T14:42:00.000-05:00

I answered an email today from someone wanting a Toy or small Mini Aussie puppy that was mostly white with black and brown spots and it had to have blue eyes but ti had to be a working Aussie. They said they saw one on another site that was $800.00. I took the opportunity to try to educate this person. After giving it some thought, I think I should share this everyone, especially breeders of Toy and Miniature Australian Shepherds. So take a minute and read this maybe you can learn something from it as well. Maybe you can teach me something as well.
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First lets talk about blue eyes. Blue eyes in either a tri or a merle are light sensitive, and are not the most desirable trait for working dogs. The more time they spend out in bright sunlight, the more the UV rays damage the eye. A brown eyed dog will out last a blue eyed dog in conditions for a working dog by 2 to 5 years, depending on the amount of time spent in the sun. Blue eyes are popular with fanciers of the breed, but are often rejected by serious stock dog owners who buy them to work for a living. Blue eyed dogs often squint to see diminishing their field of vision.

Because of the fanciers, blue eyes cost more. Let's talk about merles first. A brown eyed, blue merle puppy may start at $750.00. The prices goes up and down on a sliding scale from there, based on size, sex, markings and conformation. Blue eyed blue merles may start at $1,000.00, and are priced on that same scale. A perfect blue eyed blue merle female puppy that will be about 12 to 13 inches in height may start at $2,000.00. Tri puppies may start at $500.00, and are priced on the same criteria. The exception to the rule here is that a tri with one blue eye may start at $1,000.00; 2 blue eyes may start at $2,000. It doesn't matter if it is a red tri or black tri.

Next lets talk about the amount of white on any size Aussie. This is an exert from the breed standard: markings: on all colors, areas surrounding ears and eyes dominated by color other than white; white is acceptable on neck (either in part or as a full collar) chest, legs, muzzle, under-parts, blaze on head and white extension from under-part up to four inches, measuring from a horizontal line at the elbow; white on head should not be predominate, eyes must be fully surrounded by color and pigment; hairline of white collar should not exceed the point of the withers. There is good reason for this, as an excessive white Aussie can be both deaf and blind. The color of the dog does not make it work better. That is a matter of personal preference. It is kind of like owning the most beautiful paint horse in the world with perfect markings that you can't ride.

The dogs should all be registered, had hip x-rays, and are cared for far beyond what is required by USDA inspected kennels. The dog should be purchased under a contract, that guarantees you the dog will be healthy, unless you do something to injure them, or exposed them to something without the proper vaccinations. Your breeder should be able to tell, though cannot guarantee, if the dog will be a working dog, or a couch potato. This will help to insure your happiness with your new love.

A busy week at Shade Tree

2010-03-20T10:09:00.000-05:00

It has been a busy week around here. We have sanitized everything we can, treated all the dogs, and given most everyone a bath. I think we have the giardia on the run.
On Wednesday Dandy went to live with a couple in the Tulsa area. They have 12 grand children so he should be a busy boy. As a truly good example of a Toy Aussie, these folks are considering keeping him intact (not neutered) for a breeding dog.

My Veterinarian was here on Thursday to do health checks on most of the adults and all the puppies. Everyone check out clear for the giardia.

While he was here we X-rayed all the hips of our adult breeding dogs. In case you are wondering why, hip dysplasia is very common in herding breeds. We feel that we want to be proactive to prevent producing puppies that may have a problem in the future. We don’t have the results yet but will post them here when we get them.

On Friday, Mr. Black went to live in Indiana. His new family has 2 daughters. I think he will be very happy with them as he gets to be the only house and truck dog. Since he is going to be a Micro Aussie or Tiny Toy Aussie he should be great for the family to travel with.

This morning I got more information that I have posted to Pet Owners and Breeders website. If you have ever been torn by the commercials you see on TV about contributing to the Humane Society of the United States you really should visit this site.

I have also posted Pet Only prices on the 3 puppies I have left as they are now 10 weeks old. Visit the Shade Tree Aussie website to see how cute they have become.

Diarrhea in Puppies and Dogs

2010-03-13T06:56:00.000-06:00

We recently sent a Toy Aussie puppy to Phoenix. When she got there she had a slight case of diarrhea. At first I thought it was just the stress of the trip to vet for a well puppy check the day before, flying to Phoenix and new people. However within a day, I noticed a couple of the puppies still here were starting to get loose stools. I called the new Mom in Phoenix and told her to take that puppy straight to her Veterinarian and then called my vet. These puppies had just been there 2 days before for a well puppy check that included a fecal exam and were given a clean bill of health. I was surprised to find that Giardia is hard to detect and that fecal float rarely shows they have it in the early stages.

In case you didn't know I have a web site that I have all kinds of information on about Toy and Mini Aussies, most of the information pertains to all dog breeds. Because of my recent experience with the puppies I set out to do some research. If you would like to know more about causes of diarrhea in puppies and dogs please visit Toy and Mini Aussies I have included information that can be easily printed by clicking on the provided links.

Ever had your homeowners insurance re-evaluated?

2010-03-06T21:20:00.000-06:00

This was submitted anonymously as a general warning/suggestion to anyone having home insurance re-evaluated. Isn't it sad that we live in a society in which we are afraid to let anyone know how many dogs we have? There is no indication that the insurance adjuster would have done anything differently if all five of the Cockers had been home, but why do I get the distinct feeling that it might not have gone as well? How about if there had been five Pit Bulls or Am Staffs or German Shepherds? Even well-behaved ones
who didn't make a peep the whole time? When did the tide in this country turn against dog owners?

Homeowners Insurance - Avoiding a Bad Outcome

Several weeks ago we got a letter from our insurance company - USAA - that they were going to send out an adjuster to make sure our house was insured at the correct replacement value. We have been in this house almost 15 years and have never had such an event. Being as how we had just done some remodeling we felt it was probably a good idea to make sure we were insured at the correct amount. Anyway, they weren't asking us, they were telling us. The company agent called and we set up an appointment for a few weeks later.

Meanwhile I'm thinking about all the stuff I've read on web and heard from other dog owners about insurance being revoked or denied for too many animals or the wrong breeds and I decide when this adjuster comes we will be a one-dog household - not a five-dog household. I got rid of all the evidence, including putting 4 dogs in their crates, loading them up in the car and parking it down the street in a neighbor's driveway.

When the adjuster arrived our oldest was in a crate in the family room. We moved through the house with the adjuster noting various improvements and taking pictures. We got to the family room and she leaned down and took a picture of Camille in her crate. I asked her why she was taking the dog's picture and she said they are always expected to take a picture of the dog. Boy, was I glad I had paid attention to my intuition.

I thought my experience might be useful to other dog owners. So how did I erase the presence of 5 dogs? I made a list during the first week as I noticed things that said DOGS LIVE HERE! Then I went to work hiding and concealing those things. This is not as simple as just throwing stuff in an empty bedroom as the adjuster was going to look at the entire house. Granted we live in a suburb and do not have outside kennels and runs so it was possible to create a different picture. Here is what I did:

--Took down all pictures and ribbons of everybody but Camille.
--Put outside water bowls in the grill.
--Took apart the Jog-A-Dog and put a blanket over it and set boxes on it.
(Blended well with all the other boxes in the basement.)
--Hid all the extra beds, bowls, and leashes. Put away the treat bowls all
over the house.
--Stashed all the bedroom crates in an attic alcove and piled boxes in front
of that entrance. Covered crate marks in the carpet with throw rugs and a
hamper.
--Removed all gates and ex-pens to another inaccessible hiding place.
--Cleaned paw prints and nose smudges from glass doors and windows.
--Closed curtains on the downstairs windows where they all go to jump and woof at passersby. Over the years this activity has resulted in deep gouge marks to the window and sill. Moved some of the furniture around too.
--Cleaned multiple muddy paw prints off the white panel fencing in the side yard.
--Made sure all poop was picked up.
--And one that I almost missed - changed my screen saver that showed all the dogs out in the snow!

I don't know what the insurance company would have done about five cockers but I did not want to find out. Since I have never heard of anyone getting a discount for multiple animals I figured better safe than sorry.

Open letter to my Oklahoma Congressmen

2010-03-03T12:19:00.000-06:00

Open letter to my congressmen...

I would like for you to consider voting NO on Oklahoma House of Representatives HB 2745 and Oklahoma Senate SB 1712 should either of these come before you. These bills are based on emotion instead of science and were written by animal rights activists. I feel the possibility of a better suited alternative exists. Ms. Denny, even though she is a Veterinarian, has a very narrow view of her bill. I have tried to talk to her in the past about sitting down with Oklahoma breeders, but to no avail. This is not legislation based on representation, this is a witch hunt! A witch hunt based in special interest! As many times as I have offered to have a open conversation about the issues, no one seems to want to do that.

I would like to point out one key point, assuming the passing of HB2745 as written, upon signing into law HB2745, will create a "fire sale" of Kennels and Canines in Oklahoma where in turn financial institutions, mostly local, will lose HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF IF NOT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS! Peoples homes and personal assets used as collateral to secure these loans will be forfeited. We are already seeing record high rates of unemployment and inflated costs of living in this state. Please do not contribute to these statistics. I know this is starting to sound like the proverbial 'broken record', but we are talking about our livelihood, our futures.
There is a better way! Don't let a narrow minded person driven by the Animal Rights Activists, destroy an entire industry when there are only a few bad apples. Most breeders take excellent care of the animals they have. Like farmers and oil men if you destroy the very thing that makes your living, you won't be doing it for long. Perhaps if you considered enforcing the animal cruelty laws that are already in existence, we wouldn't need to spend more money to regulate an industry right out of business in Oklahoma. That is provided that people are not falsely accused which is an ear mark of the HSUS, Peta and the SPCA!
The American Kennel Club (AKC) defines a responsible breeder based on the quality of care and conditions provided to breeding stock and puppies, and the quality (including health, temperament and breed type) of the puppies they produce. Responsible breeders are not defined by the number of dogs kept, or whether they make a profit in selling dogs .
The AKC works hard to educate the public about responsible dog ownership and to defend the rights of all responsible owners and breeders. The AKC opposes the concept of breeding permits, breeding bans or mandatory spay/neuter of purebred dogs. Instead, they support reasonable and enforceable laws that protect the welfare and health of dogs and do not restrict the rights of breeders and owners who take their responsibilities seriously. America's Pet Registry and American KennelAssociation have taken a very similar stand.
Did you know that the dog breeders are already taxed beyond any other agriculture business in Oklahoma. When purchasing supplies for cattle, hogs, chickens, goats and horses you can use your farm tax exemption, however if you also raise dogs there is no sales tax exemption for feed or supplies.
Did you know that applying a sales tax to dogs will not generate the funds you will need to support this new bureaucratic entity? The reason why? Simple, anything sold out of state is not taxable by law. I would venture to guess that over 80% of dogs raised in Oklahoma are sold out of state.
Did you know that you can stop substandard kennels from operating in Oklahoma by enforcing the laws on the books, such as animal cruelty. This will also bring in revenue while not costing the people of this state more tax dollars to support another agency we don't need. We need to set an example by prosecuting the worst of the worst. We don't need to create another economic problem by regulating good breeders (see definition as per the AKC above) out of business.
Did you know that the goal of the Humane Society of the United States is one generation and out. In case you didn't know what the means, let me explain. The goal of the upper management is to pass a no breeding law in every state, or a mandatory spay and neuter bill in every state. This would effectively take away every companion animal and that is the goal. When they have taken your pets away they will start on your right to have livestock. This is a huge impact on a state that depends so strongly on agriculture.

Did you know that the Humane Society of the United States does not operate one shelter? Not one, yet they tug at the heart strings of all of us with those commercials. They take our money and do nothing but lobby against us. They do this under the veil of protection from taxation. You want money to help rid the state of substandard kennels, go after them for tax on the money they collect but don't pay tax on. Want proof, go look at their tax returns for the last 10 years. Go look at http://humanewatch.org http://consumerfreedom.com http://www.activistcash.com http://www.animalscam.com Take the time to educate yourself about the other side of the issue before you make one more vote that effects the future of so many.

SB1712 is authored by Sen. Anderson with Rep. Denney co-authoring. It requires that sales tax be collected on all animals sold. It requires a board to administer it that will consist of 8 people, heavily loaded on the animal rights' side . This Board will adopt the rules by which we will be regulated, but they will adopt them after the bill is enacted. That way we will have NO say in the regulations we will have to follow. It allows the director to contract with another agency to get the inspectors. Can we say HSUS? This is just a couple highlights of SB1712. I don't want the political machine know as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) telling you me how to run my kennel or take care of my dogs. The result will be confiscation, search & seizure and euthanasia.

Now for HB2745. This bill was written by Rep. Denney and co-authored by
Sen. Anderson. This bill is a rewrite of HB1332 that we fought so hard to defeat last year. This time around she says it is voluntary, but she was heard to say in committee that she wants it to be mandatory. That will take just one little amendment tacked on when legislators is tired and wanting to go home, to get the job done. She says that because of the budget shortfall, it might not be implemented for 2-3 years. You want to bet? Make it mandatory, let them see dollar signs, and see how fast it gets enacted.

Neither one of these bills has a USDA exemption. Would you want to try to comply with two sets of rules? USDA isn't going away because Oklahoma passes a new bill. That is Federal Law.

Both bills speak of fines and fees. SB1712 calls them 'reasonable fees'. Reasonable to whom? Can you put a number on what is reasonable to this legislature? Can you put a number on what is reasonable to a poor kid in South East Oklahoma who needs a way to support his family?

Neither bill tells anything about how they will stop the substandard kennels let alone find them. So, guess who will get found and inspected first. Who they will cut their teeth on while trying to figure out their new system? I can guarantee you that they will start with the good breeders that are already USDA inspected as they are easy to find.

This is our future and the future of our children. For many of us, this is our primary source of income. For some, it is the difference between meds and food for us after we buy the dog food. It is the future of agriculture in Oklahoma. When they are through with us, they will move on to the cattle, horses, hogs and other livestock.

Remember we put you where you are and we can just as easily keep you from being re-elected. This is Oklahoma and the last time I heard, it was still part of America which is governed by the Constitution which gives you freedom of speech among other freedoms that they are constantly being taken away.
Just so you understand, I want to make the point that I am very small hobby breeder and fall under the amount of dogs that makes me a target of these bills. I feel strongly that there should be consequences for abuse of all types. I hate to see substandard kennels. I am as opposed to so called "puppy mills" as Oprah Winfrey. However, I think the impact this type of legislation will make is only going to drive an already hard hit economic state even farther down, when all that is needed is to direct law enforcement to do their job.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Spring vaccinations

2010-02-28T06:17:00.000-06:00

Vaccinations for your dog are very important. Early Spring is a good time to get your Toy or Mini Aussie current on vaccinations.

In the winter time we don't seem to go places as much with our Toy and Mini Aussies as we do the rest of the year. So come those first nice days of spring we all want to get out including your Toy or Miniature Australian Shepherd. Keep in mind, so do all the other critters that carry diseases your best friend can pick up. While we can't be sure that every person is vaccinating their dogs that you may run across, or that there wasn't an opossum that wondered across the same path last night that your dog is on this morning, we can be sure our dogs are protected.

Most people don't know what all those diseases are that they have their dogs vaccinated for. Have you ever wondered what Leptospirosis is? We have listed a few of the more common diseases on our other site http://toyandminiaussies.com/ with links to pages that explain the symptoms of the disease as well as how it is transmitted.

Hope you enjoy the new site.. Karla

New pet bills coming to Oklahoma

2010-02-26T11:34:00.000-06:00

Below you will find a letter I wrote to Oklahoma Senator, Patrick Anderson. Many of you may not know how hard it is be a dog breeder due to the pressure from the Animal Rights people i.e.: HSUS, Peta and the Humane Society. While the face they show the public to get your donations appears to be one of real concern, further investigation of who they really are will reveal a much different face. If you would like more information from various sources please visit More Information

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Senator Patrick Anderson,

I watched you on News 9 this morning. I must say that I was impressed in a way and disappointed in another. Your comment that you were only looking at dog breeders at this time has me a bit concerned. Are you supported in any way by the Humane Society?

You stated that the vast majority of pups produced in Oklahoma are shipped out of state. You should know that the state of Oklahoma does not charge sales tax on out of state sales of any item or service. Therefore your argument for this bill won't hold water. So there has to be an underlying reason for pursuit of this bill. Perhaps it lies in special interest support?

I am so tired of big government. This is just another example of regulations and laws we don't need. All that needs to happen is that the people hired to enforce the current laws be compelled to enforce them. Perhaps if you want to rid Oklahoma of poor breeders and your so called Puppy Mills, you only need to have the animal cruelty laws that are already in place be enforced. Since I am not an attorney or a judge I can't speak to the penalties and fines the state can glean from proper enforcement, but I certainly think we could increase revenue with out creating another law, another bureaucratic mess, red tape choked arm of an already bloated state government!

You of all people being part of the agriculture committee should know the laws that effect agriculture. You should also know that most breeders are also farmers in some way. Most pet breeders are not solely pet breeders but farmers in some way. Due to the restrictions placed on the number of pets by most incorporated areas (towns, cities) most breeders are in rural areas. The bad breeders are hiding now and will continue to hide. Those people do need run out, but you aren't going to do anything with this bill except create more government and put more rural people out of work. This hardly seems the time to increase the employment roles and welfare rolls.

Sales tax on the sale of pets would be very discriminating. As a farmer you can sell a cow and not pay sales tax. If you sell produce, you don't pay sales tax on your crop. If you sell hay, it's the same thing. As farmers, dogs/cats are part of the livestock, farm inventory, why should they be discriminated against? Dog breeders are already discriminated against in the tax laws of this state since you can get a farm tax permit and not have to pay tax on cattle/hog/goat/sheep feed, supplies and medications. However dogs are exempt from this law so you have to pay sales tax to the state for every bag of dog food, ever collar, every kennel, every wormer or medication. This state already collects more sales tax from dog owners than they collect from farmers. This is bias against one agricultural group. What is good for one should be good for all. Dog breeders and most dog owners are part of the agricultural industry of Oklahoma.

Toy and Mini Aussie puppies are growning fast!

2010-02-24T17:23:00.000-06:00

The babies are changing daily. It is so fun to watch their personalities form and change daily. Tiny Dancer is trying to become a working dog. She is up to heeling me at every chance. She grabs my pant legs and drags around the house behind me. While it makes it slow going I know she is developing skills that will serve well. Dandy is becoming a Momma's boy! He wants to be held and loved more and more each day. Romeo is such an affectionate boy always ready with a kiss anybody that comes close to him. Sweetie is working on far you can slide across the kitchen floor if you get a running start on the carpet in the living room. They are sure growing fast! Visit them on Shade Tree Aussies

Puppies currently For Sale...

2010-02-22T11:31:00.000-06:00

Puppies currently For Sale at http://shadetreeaussies.com

"Mister Black" is small - he may fall into the Micro or Tiny Toy range but will call him a Toy for now. At 9 weeks he only weighs 5 pounds.

"Sweetie" is just that, very sweet. She will be about 14 inches full grown.

"Tiny Dancer" is a pretty blue merle girl. She is a very sweet girl! Dancer stands up against the side of the puppy kennel and jumps up and down when you get close to the kennel. It appears she is dancing!

"Romeo" is the kissing kid of the bunch. When you pick him up his tongue starts going as soon as he gets close to your neck. He loves human attention. So much so that he could care less what the other pups are doing. If you have ever wanted one of those devoted dogs that will follow you anywhere, here's your man.

"Dandy" carries himself like he knows he is handsome. He doesn't seem to be afraid of anything and is ready to go at the drop of hat. I would call him a medium tempered dog. He would make the perfect agility prospect. Enough bravery and fire to do the job with enough calm to be controllable.

Sad Story with a lesson for all of us!

2010-02-20T20:53:00.000-06:00

I received an email from a friend of mine that purchased a year old female Toy Aussie, Lucy, from me. Earlier today she wrote me to tell me the said news about her Border Collie:
"My husband is out of town this weekend so my girl friend and I were taking the girls (the dogs) to the lake to play. We stopped to get gas and when my friend opened her door, Maggie bolted out probably thinking we were at the lake. She ran full speed right into traffic and was hit. I rushed her to the emergency clinic but we lost her right after we got there. My heart is truly broken. She was a wonderful dog and she loved me as much as I loved her. Lucy stayed in the back seat and never made a sound but I am sure she knew something was wrong."

She is now left with Lucy (her toy Aussie) to love her and help her heart heal. Lucy too, is lost without her friend. Aussies are so intuitive about when your sad or hurt I have no doubt that she will love this lady as much as she can until it feels a bit better anyway.

Here at Shade Tree Aussies, we have become really adamant that the dogs wait until they are told they can get out of the car or truck for this very reason. We work on sit and stay at home while they are puppies. Then when we go in the vehicles they are made to sit and stay with the car door open until they given the command to get out. We start with short rides around town and then back home without anyone getting out. Before you open the door, they are commanded to sit and stay. Should one bolt from the car, we catch them and make them get back in the car. We go though it again, and again until they stay in the car while you back up a few steps from the door and they stay. After a couple seconds we go back to the door and give the command to "unload" and then give them loads of praise for doing it right. This just drives home for me why we started doing this long ago. It has become a habit for us and our dogs and you sometimes need a sharp reminder of why it is so important to keep up your training program.

6 week old puppies on the loose

2010-02-18T18:37:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to share with everyone that the puppies will be 6 weeks old tomorrow so I have started putting them outside in an exercise pen a couple times a day (weather permitting). When it looks like everyone has taken care of business, I turn them loose in the living room and sit on the floor to play with them. Since this is fairly new to them, they have been cautiously exploring the new space up until today!

They went wild! Running everywhere, jumping on my legs, growling at each other, racing around the recliner and back and forth. They love the room to run and stretch their legs but the funnest thing of all seems to be pulling on my Mom's shoe laces. Penny and Romeo got on either side of her shoe, each with a shoe string, shaking the shoe strings like rag dolls, pulling and growling the whole time. It won't be long and they will be going to forever homes and I will miss the couple times a day we spend playing.

Welcome to Toy and Mini Aussies

2010-02-18T10:44:00.001-06:00

We have decided to start this blog for all Toy and Mini Aussies owners, exhibitors and breeders. While we don't claim to be experts we will try to answer any questions you might have or direct you an information source that will help you.

Also please share you Toy and Mini Aussie stories with other owners here. We love to hear about your experiences with your Toy or Mini Aussie.

Complete information can be found at our website at:
Toy Mini Aussies

We also list our BLOG at My Directory Live