Loving Trail Aussies-Toy Australian Shepherds

11/17/2023

4 Days old. Here's a size reference for you.

11/17/2023

I got the sweetest update from Sugar Britches in the pre-6:00AM time frame this morning. Sugar Britches was about to accompany her owner on a flight from FL to Missouri for the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Sugar Britches (Betty-Boop X Cowboy)

11/17/2023

Tail & dew claws done today. 11-16-23
She was a Sweet -Tea.
Mama Dixie taking good care of her.
Look at that tiny paw in the 2nd picture.
Pardon the amateur photos. It's a rush job to sneak in a photo shoot while Dixie takes a quick break. She knows I am going to steal puppy kisses every chance I get.

11/15/2023

RTF 11-14-23 Sneak Peek Video
Tomorrow is tail & dew claws day.

11/14/2023

Dixie X Snickerdoodle blessed us with a ITTY-BITTY singleton girl.
Est. to mature to 8"-9" like her parents & though it's not a guarantee... 👀 are anticipated to be BLUE like Mama & Daddy.

11/14/2023

I'll take more pics after her coat is dry & you can tell more about her. She's ITTY-BITTY.
Already feisty.

11/14/2023

DIXIE X SNICKERDOODLE
Nesting & heavy panting have kicked in. Going to be a LONG NIGHT.

11/11/2023

I LOVE feeling puppies actively moving in Mama tummies. Dixie just gives me THE LOOK as if I'm annoying the heck out of her.

11/08/2023

For those who need to know: Snickerdoodle's Pedigree consists of some pretty famous lines.
Mexican Jumping Beans
Uncle Remus' Brer Rabbit
Energizer Bunny

11/04/2023

Dixie was loving her Maternity Spa Treatment. She's further along than I thought. Milk is coming in & she was stressing out when I got to trimming her feet. She just wanted to go into her crate. I'm guessing, there may be pups on the ground this week.

11/01/2023

I just can't keep this secret any longer...

It's looking like THE STORK will make an appearance here well before the THANKSGIVING TURKEY or SANTA.

8"-9" Toys & Blue peepers without a doubt
All will have RED COATS year round, not just at Christmas. 🤩

09/15/2023

https://fb.watch/n3oemDfEpD/

09/09/2023

https://fb.watch/mY9LVsy2EN/

09/07/2023

https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=6_1fnH7zocXbqUl1&fbclid=IwAR2EWXpj4DIKBV8RfE4XRQuYj6m-QnziVMx2lIshfTbtrO_NaNHRu9-Vf6E&v=PYBtdaYcOFc&feature=youtu.be

Brief tutorial on how to glue ears on Australian Shepherd show puppies. www.paramountaussies.com

09/07/2023

https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=x67nC1bkK2yRTNLD&fbclid=IwAR3UU7ld06Q4TaaxGMZztxUOdxujzRClstCB_l6VoReBKj2l_U5-vS07ooA&v=PiqDLcg7x7M&feature=youtu.be

Tear Mender & Moleskin Padding link: https://www.amazon.com/shop/sandollaraussies?listId=ZF48JBOO2TYB&ref=idea_share_infVideo Table of Contents coming soon!

09/07/2023

08/30/2023

Betty-Boop is one HAPPY ITTY-BITTY girl this afternoon. After 4 hours of JUST brushing her coat out she is about 5 lbs lighter & near naked compared to this morning. I took her outside for water and potty break & she bounced around like a super-ball! She was so excited she couldn't decide between zoomies or water. We may put off the bath & blow out to tomorrow.

08/29/2023

https://www.groomerisms.com/doublecoat/infographic1500.jpg

08/29/2023

NFS-Another Pup-date picture.

08/27/2023

I can't STRESS this enough! I PREACH THIS TO ALL OF MY FRIENDS & POTENTIAL HOMES of my pups.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/804500921377657?s=yWDuG2&fs=e&mibextid=Nif5oz

08/27/2023

In light of National Dog Day it's only befitting to recognize one special ITTY-BITTY Toy Aussie. Sugar Britches pupdate in the last few days...
Goes EVERYWHERE with her owner. To the point that she racks up the FREQUENT FLYER MILES!!!! She's an active ITTY-BITTY Toy Ambassador for LTA in her travels. She's a Registered ESA working dog & still training. She loves swimming, boating & sunbathing. And yes, she still loves to play fetch the ball. So proud of all she's become.

08/26/2023

Happy National Dog Day
My handsome PRESLEY will be 13 years old come November 2023. He has produced some of the BEST pups over the years. The most recent litter was 2 years ago.

08/25/2023

https://click.convertkit-mail.com/0vuqqppqp0i9hoglg8rtlhwnwwk55/08hwh9hdw3okezul/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_dj1Bak50T1NDOVlRVQ==

When stacking your dog for the show ring and while grooming your show dog, it’s very important that you understand what “four square” is and that you are alw...

08/23/2023

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1395089107704739?s=yWDuG2&fs=e&mibextid=Nif5oz

08/09/2023

I never knew there was a name for this but have witnessed it. Interesting read & important to be aware of.

Have you ever heard of a big dog suddenly chasing and killing a much smaller one? Perhaps they were playing even, just before the sudden switch. I have. It's unfortunately happened in the last few years in my own village. It's devastating, it's unpredictable, and it's real.

Importantly, IT IS NOT AGGRESSION. It's a phenomenon called predatory drift and it's why my own canine family are managed so closely and responsibly.

Pictured are two of our dogs. Little and large. Beast and button. Big sis and little sis. Call them what you like, but just because they know each other VERY well does not mean they will ever coexist together like similar sized dogs can. It would just not be safe. And it would be neither of their faults.

Just a run and squeal from the little'un could trigger off the big'un. Any "prey-like" behaviour and she could trigger off instincts in her that are akin to a wolf catching and ingesting prey. It's instincts, not aggression. It's not even a choice she would be making.

ALL DOGS CAN BE TRIGGERED INTO PREDATORY DRIFT if the environmental circumstances around them trigger it off e.g. if they're around a dog much smaller than themselves. Daycares for example and even dog walkers need to be aware of this when mixing breeds.

The risk of predatory drift is heightened as well if:

* There is more than one large dog to the small
* They are allowed to play (which has its risks just for sheer size differences as well!)
* The smaller dog is in any way fearful and likely to run, whine or squeal
* The dog is likely a "finisher" i.e. would normally not hesitate to catch a squirrel and eat it right then and there. Some parts of the predatory sequence have been enhanced and/or inhibited in some breeds, but some dogs would still exhibit the full sequence from eye to kill to digest.

How do we manage our family?

* The dogs are never walked together without the both of us humans present. EVER.
* We use long lines as a management tool
* We keep all walks calm and environment focused.
* Absolutely no direct interactions with each other is encouraged on walks. They are in fact called away from any direct interactions.
* They are kept in separate rooms in the house. ALWAYS.
* We do not slack on our management or supervision even for a second. Because that's all it could take. And again, it would be neither of their faults.

(It is our choice to implement this level of management from our own risk assessment of these particular dogs since our family joined together a year ago. Our dogs also have other difficulties beyond the risk of predatory drift so strict management is key for their safety).

As you can see the size difference is significant. They have a lovely relationship. Their tails will wag when they see each other coming into the house and they will touch noses either side of the baby gate. But being the "best of friends" wouldn't stop an accident happening. Predatory drift is not born out of anger, frustration, dislike of one another. It's completely separate. The only way of ensuring it doesn't happen is through awareness and management.

A quick google search will bring up lots of articles on predatory drift and the risks. It is important to be aware of this, whether you're the guardian of a giant breed, or guardian of a toy breed, or frankly, anything in between. Predatory drift between dogs is not too common, but it always has devastating consequences.

Knowledge and awareness is key 🐾💜

Please note: predatory drift is NOT dogs fighting as a result of over stimulated play. Predatory drift is NOT dogs arguing over a resource such as food. Predatory drift is NOT dog-dog reactivity. There are many reasons why one dog may show aggressive behaviour responses to another and the majority of them would not count as predatory drift.