Shawnkara Australian Shepherds & Mini American Shepherds

11/05/2024

Do epileptic dogs have changes in the functional connectivity of different brain regions compared to healthy dogs? At NC State College of Veterinary Medicine & Veterinary Hospital, CHF-funded researchers are exploring this possibility to better understand a dog’s disease progression, severity, and treatment response. Learn more at https://bit.ly/40n9KKr.
This research is sponsored by the Australian Shepherd Health & Genetics Institute, Curly-Coated Retriever Club of America, German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America, Irish Setter Club of America, Inc. Foundation, Irish Setter Club of Milwaukee, and Toby's Foundation.

11/02/2024

Omg we are over the moon excited for this win. Ty going WD, BOS over two specials. (5pt) Thank you Moira for handling him to this win.

11/02/2024

So my girl went reserve winners bitch under SBR Denise Creelman. Thank you so much.

11/01/2024

Man they are maturing so nicely Jess and JR out of Tyme and Luke. They just turned 2.

10/29/2024

Early training starts on the table. It teaches them to stand and stay standing if you’re using stacking blocks or a stacking box. You should brush them while talking to them, teaching them that the table is nothing to fear. Each of these pups were around 8-12 weeks old.

10/25/2024

Wrapper had a spa day. Thx Alisha

10/18/2024

Thanksgiving oops litter!
Surprise #2
I have been dreading this post for a while now. When I was layed up from my back injections and my wrist and elbow surgery. My husband took care of cleaning and feeding my dogs. One day he came in and was upset, he yelled that two of my dogs were stuck together. I walked out to see which dogs it was. Crap wouldn’t you know it, it was Sailor and Wrapper. Sailor is a blue Merle boy and Wrapper is a red merle girl. To say I wasn’t happy was the understatement. I prayed that she wouldn’t take for several reasons. 1. Being Merle to Merle cross. I will not do the shots because they cause more problems. 2. Wrapper was only 10 months at the time of breeding. She turns one in November after she is due. Ugh 😩 3. Neither dogs have been pre-limed but are definitely getting done now. 4. Both dogs are clear of NAD, Sailor is full MAS panel clear through CHC, Wrapper carries the nbt gene and bet gene. Also carries one copy of CDDY, PRA-prcd, and Mdr1. Through CHC. 5. I won’t abort any litter, but we only seen 2-3.
I will be posting pictures but nothing is available as of right now. If anything becomes available it will be to pet/companion/performance home only. I plan on doing pre-lims on both dogs when the puppies are eight weeks old.
Please be kind this litter was not planned. Due date is November 1st.

10/17/2024

Happy 2nd Birthday to the Tyme and Luke litter. Red tri male is JR pointed in UKC, Tate red tri female is mjr pointed in ASCA, UKC Champion (pending) and the blue Merle girl if Jess mjr pointed also in ASCA. Happy Birthday the the rest of the litter out there. Tate is loved and owned by Jonnie Brewer and I own the other two.

10/16/2024

Southwest Kennel Club (UKC)

This past weekend wins.
JR 4 x Best Male Aussie
Riot 4 x Best Female MAS
Mani got to parade around with the puppy parade for a rainbow ribbon, Cocker Spaniel
Pepper 1 Reserve Female, 1 Best Female, 1 Best Of Breed, 1 group 3, Aussie

Thx to everyone that helped and to all the winners.

10/08/2024

Dog breeder friends who all uses tic tok to get your puppies and dogs out there. Curious minds (mine) wants to know! 🤔🤔🤔

10/08/2024

Surprise #1– As announced yesterday on my page. We added a new breed and member to our home. Mani is a 5 month old party tri black tan and white cocker spaniel. He is so chill, came leash trained, crate trained for nights, potty trained. His breeder doesn’t know how to show cut, so we will be working on it while it grows in. But we love him already. Welcome Shawnkara Take Me By Surprise.

10/04/2024

We have some exciting news coming! But we’re not ready to spill the beans just yet. Come next week we’ll post one of the two surprises.

10/04/2024

Pepper got some good mail today. OFAs hips Good and Elbows Normal. She has a clear genetic panel through CHC. Pepper turned two in June. She is co-owned with my dear friend Connie Buchanan in Phoenix AZ. They compete in Conformation (major pointed), Rally (4-5 titles there) Herding (training should be ready by December or January. They are a fantastic team. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

10/04/2024

WSAVA and IPFD have joined together to offer a free webinar on breeding healthy, quality dogs. Dr. Jarold S. Bell will be hosting this interactive webinar on Wednesday, October 23rd at 12:00pm EST. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity!

Sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/4nmn8j28

10/01/2024

Happy National Black Dog Day❤️❤️❤️❤️

09/16/2024

Good advice for people on a budget. You can still look nice even if you don’t buy St. John’s suits.

Video on tips to shop for dog show fashion: https://youtu.be/8tG7xo1ya6o?si=-EgEskJxnrHmcHu1Links to items in video (I will also list the size I wore):NOTE: ...

09/09/2024

Maac is searching for a new home. He’s five months old. Up to date on his shots, microchipped akc registered. If you’re interested pm me.

Edited: NAD results N/N clear
CHC genetic panel clear for everything.

09/09/2024

Why Choosing a Breeder Who Shows Their Dogs Matters, Even for Pet Owners

When selecting a breeder, you might wonder why it’s recommended to choose one who shows their dogs, even if you have no intention of participating in dog shows yourself. Does this focus on show standards seem excessive or elitist? It’s not, and here’s why.

Dog shows are more than just competitions; they serve as a rigorous evaluation process where dogs are assessed against the breed standard. This standard includes several critical elements:

• Soundness: This refers to a dog’s overall physical and mental health, ensuring all organs and faculties are functioning harmoniously.
• Type: Breed type encompasses not just appearance but also character, bone structure, temperament, and movement, reflecting the essence of the breed.
• Gait: The quality of a dog’s movement is assessed to ensure ease and freedom from structural issues.
• Temperament: This measures a dog’s general attitude towards people and other animals, an essential trait for a well-rounded companion.

So why does this matter to you as a prospective pet owner? If you chose a Poodle, you likely did so because of their renowned qualities: their gentle nature, compatibility with children and other animals, and their ability to make exceptional therapy dogs. Good breeders strive to uphold these positive characteristics through their commitment to breed standards.

While not every puppy from a show-quality litter will be destined for the show ring, all will benefit from the breeder’s dedication to preserving the breed’s positive traits. Puppies that are not suited for the show ring but are well-bred still embody the breed’s essential qualities, making them excellent family pets.

Choosing a breeder who shows their dogs is not about snobbery or elitism; it’s about ensuring that you get a puppy who will grow into a well-rounded, healthy companion that exemplifies the breed you fell in love with. It’s about the breeder’s commitment to preserving the breed’s best traits and ensuring every puppy, regardless of its future in the show ring, starts life with the best possible foundation.

In essence, selecting a breeder who shows their dogs is a way to ensure that your future puppy will be a healthy, well-adjusted member of your family. It’s a reflection of love and respect for the breed, ensuring that all puppies have the opportunity to thrive and bring joy into their new homes.

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Holly Merchant
Shawnkara Aussies and MAS’s