Jeanius Teddy Roosevelt Terriers

24/08/2024

Yes!

A Breeder's Hopes

There are a lot of posts out there about how to find a reputable breeder, but not enough is said about what breeders look and hope for in a future puppy owner. The most important point I have to make is this: That for those of us who have invested so much in our chosen breed and our lines, the sale of a puppy is NOT a one-time business transaction, but the beginning of a ten- to fifteen-year relationship between not just dog and owner, but also the breeder and buyer/owner.

I get a lot of short inquiries that go like this: "Is the red merle male available?" I don't know from this if they want a dog just to hang out on the couch with or one that will hike the Appalachian Trail by their side.

I can't answer which puppy is available before eight weeks because I don't place puppies solely by color and haven't evaluated them yet. I understand having a preference (I have my own), but color is superficial. If I placed puppies that way, I'd be getting a lot of them back later.

Caring breeders know that what matters most is whether the potential home is the right match for a particular puppy. The personality and energy level of the puppy matter a hundred times more than its looks. If I place a puppy with someone based solely on color and it ends up being a terrible mismatch as far as the owner's needs vs. the pup's personality, then eventually the novelty of a fuzzy, cute puppy wears off and you have an unhappy owner and an unappreciated dog butting heads.

A caring breeder wants to know you're committed to the dog for its lifetime and will keep in touch with questions, brags about graduation from obedience class, and pictures of your dog along on the family vacation. What you tell me about yourself upon introduction can make all the difference going forward because it lets me know if you are what I, as a breeder, am looking for in a home. It’s more like an interview or a first date rather than a simple business transaction. You are communicating to me what YOU have to offer this puppy.

That future relationship between breeder and buyer is a big part of what makes breeding worthwhile. It can also be what makes it a nightmare if a breeder isn’t selective enough. Breeders need to know you're prepared for and committed to proper training and socialization and that your new puppy will be an integral part of your family for its lifetime. After all, we're letting go of the babies that we've poured sometimes generations of planning into. It's not a decision we take lightly.

In contrast to those window shopping for a specific color, when I get an inquiry that goes into detail about the potential owner's home and family, why they want an Aussie or this particular litter, what plans they have for a future pup (companion, service animal, running buddy, sport dog, etc.), something about their current or past pets... then I get a much better *feel* for whether they might be a good fit, as well as how good they might be at communicating with me in the future. Those things are what matter to a caring, reputable breeder.

I treasure all the wonderful owners who've come along in our three-plus decades in Australian Shepherds. Some have become very good friends. But some have also taught me what I don’t want or what isn’t right for this breed or my dogs. Above all, I want to feel that any potential owner will love and adore that dog not for how many "pretty dog" comments they might get in public, but that they will value the loyalty of that dog, the things they did with it, and the relationship they developed with it, just as we all do with any true friend.

Caring breeders don't just fill orders. They pair you up with a lifetime partner.

29/06/2024

I used to be very anti lepto vaccine.

Something I have looked into in the last year and encourage others as well. I’ve talked with 4 local vets, 2 of which work at emergency clinics they are all recommending vaccinating for Lepto now. In the past, they themselves didn’t recommend it either! Many dogs are loosing their lives to this and the vaccine has improved a lot.
Personally, I will not give it with other vaccines at all, and not a young pup!

In a significant move, veterinary health authorities have updated the core vaccine recommendations for dogs to now include the leptospirosis vaccine. This

20/04/2024

06/02/2024

The visual is pretty incredible.

This is why I ask my pups not be altered until a year at least. Fortunately growth plates close sooner on small breeds.

“These two boys are from the same parents, boy on the left was paediatric neutered and the other has stayed intact. As you can see, the development the right pup has compared to the left is undeniable, from his skull width, to his chest and shoulders.
This is the development pups will lose out on when desexing before full maturity.”
Credit - Bunny French.
You can view the full article here https://www.facebook.com/100000652508503/posts/4829274297104273/?d=n

05/02/2024

How cool!

Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge’s Cadillac “Dog Wagons”

Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge was an animal lover and she founded the Morris & Essex Kennel Club.

Her “Dog Wagons” were built on extended 1939 Cadillac “Sixty Special” chassis. The two cars, six and eight door limousines, fitted with coachwork by an unknown maker, were used to transport her show dogs.

It is a special Cadillac with a 200-inch wheelbase; the interior has ample accommodations for eight dogs to ride in comfort. The cages are made of duralumin and built as part of the car although they are removable if it is desired to take them out.

26/01/2024

3 years, I’ve learned a LOT and strive to keep learning.
I was new to TRTs and I was honored to have this sweet girl to win the breed specialty. She LOVES to show but is retired and spoiled by my 2 human kids.
It was kinda funny to me that she did so well. I love to show but my focus is not on the conformation ring. There is SO much more breeders should be focusing on in my opinion. We walk in that ring to get the judges opinion on that day, at that time. How much does that truly matter in a breeding program?
I strive to continue to learn and breed towards healthy and structurally sound dogs. Breeders should be able to see faults on their own dogs, not be kennel blind. I’ve been told for many many years that I’ve always been too hard on my dogs. I disagree, I see things and need to pay attention, not write them off and make excuses.
Will I show conformation more, oh I’m sure I will someday. Do I care if my dogs win big, nope, never been my worry as there’s a bigger picture.

UTRTCA Specialty, Lyla Won Best of Breed!!! Miss Disco won Best of Winners!
What an honor! Judge Dr. Kathryn Baxter Thank You!!

21/01/2024

AKC obedience regulation change.

Wow! Competition Obedience News!
The Board VOTED to modify the Obedience Regulations to change the design and construction of the high jump to allow displaceable panels. In order to not cause an undue burden on event giving clubs, this transition must be completed by July 1, 2025. Clubs may use a high jump with displaceable panels before then, if they should choose to do so.

18/01/2024

lol 😂

14/12/2023

I have 2 girls that are spayed and waiting for their own home(s) to love on them.
One is 2 years old and 13lbs. The other is 3 years old and 15lbs. I would really prefer they stay in Texas if possible.
I also don’t want them in the crazy of Christmas activities adjusting to a new home. So I prefer to wait to physically place them until after the Holiday. If you are interested please contact me for more information. Meanwhile, they have a home here till the perfect one comes along.

09/11/2023

More Victor foods recalled.

https://victorpetfood.com/news?fbclid=IwAR0zkeKfovxcSV1-lKIneDoy79ETXWsgO_m_--v1UXr8BX96qcEeP8ngkxk_aem_AUND9fJ2A5yLUIdpDRjaiguCTLqkKrNwb-suKRqe9ET8MPjYp8I_l6F1ZRH4IrrtgAQ

Keep up with VICTOR company news, formula updates, events and so much more.

08/11/2023

Be aware of electronic devices you use in your home.

PSA: We adopted our dog, Rowdy, from the shelter 5 years ago. He was already an adult dog, so we estimate he is about 11 or 12 years old at this point. I love this dog. He is the sweetest soul and my BFF. For the past week or so he hasn’t been acting like himself. He licked a raw spot on his foot. He was panting constantly. He was pacing. Sunday morning, the pacing and panting got so bad, and I was REALLY nervous that there was something seriously wrong with him. For 45 minutes, he panted like crazy and constantly paced back and forth. He was keeping his tail tucked down all the time. His ears were pinned back. He would not settle down and he wouldn’t eat. We tried everything. I ended up giving him a trazadone that he takes sometimes when he goes to the groomer. It seemed to take a little bit of the edge off, but not much. He still wouldn’t eat and still wouldn’t settle. I took off work on Monday so I could take him to the vet. We did bloodwork and x-rays. Knowing he is a senior dog, I was trying to prepare myself for the worst case scenario. I was glad to see his bloodwork was great except for some elevated liver enzymes. The x-rays showed he was a little backed up but no major issues. He got an anti-nausea injection and some Gabapentin to help with some tenderness in his back and to hopefully help keep him calm. When we got home, he was ok for a little bit, but eventually started pacing and panting again. We walked around the neighborhood for a long time and he used the bathroom a lot. He seemed pretty happy about that and was in good spirits until we got home and he refused to come back in the house. Every time I took him out that evening, he would hunker down like he didn’t want to come back in the house. When my vet called and I gave her the update, she suggested there may be some new electronic device in the house that was emitting a high frequency noise that is hurting his ears. We had just put new smart outlets in the house about a week ago. His pacing and panting were worse when the lamps were on, so I unplugged all the smart outlets. He stopped panting, stopped pacing, and ate his food. His tail was even up and wagging again. When I plugged the smart outlets all back in and asked Alexa to turn on the lamps, he immediately started panting and pacing again. My husband used an app to test the frequency of the smart outlets. It was off the charts. We've left the outlets unplugged for two days and have confirmed that it is definitely the smart outlets that are causing his stress and discomfort. He's back to being a totally normal dog now. I really thought this was the end for Rowdy based on the way he was acting. I am so thankful for Dr. Newell at BoonesCreek AnimalHospital for figuring out this simple solution. If your pets are exhibiting similar symptoms, you may want to consider checking your electronics first. I cannot express how relieved I am that he is ok now. 😭♥️🐶

02/11/2023

This is an X-ray of a dog’s bent front leg. See that tiny white spec? That’s a microchip! It has migrated down the leg....far from where it was inserted, between the dog’s shoulders. This is actually quite common.....

When lost pets are scanned, the entire body SHOULD be scanned to catch any that have migrated. But, as an owner, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AT THEIR YEARLY VET EXAM, to ask for a quick scan to make sure that: (1) the chip is still working, (2) the location of the chip is good, and (3) that the chip info is correct.

Remember microchips save lives and reunite families with their pet.... just have it checked regularly!

30/10/2023

Lol 😂

29/10/2023

Love Ratting dogs!! ❤️get those pests!!

I have said before that ratting does not have seasons - throughout the year there are jobs to do, venues to assess and dogs to be kept fit and entertained. However, the summer months mean the rats head out to the fields and aren’t causing much damage, so they are left alone. The smaller jobs often see us going out alone, or in pairs where dogs are needed to deal with problematic pests.

When the weather changes, the temperature drops and the ground becomes wetter, the rats move into the buildings causing damage to livestock and structures, not to mention eating A LOT of food!

Today we had our first big get together of ‘the season’. Always great to see the dogs of the pack meeting up again, and they soon remember how to work together.

The plan was to work a ditch line which was riddled with rat holes - for this to be as effective as possible we were going to use a digger. When the farmer arrived though this was postponed for an hour or so due to his ‘surprise birthday party’ the night before 🤪😂.

So we went for a walk around the farm and as always where they marked we dug, moved objects or they pushed rats out from the undergrowth themselves. Improvising fences out of old roofing we block the escape routes and the dogs made quick, sharp kills.

When the farmer returned with suitable levels of water and paracetamol in him, it was go, go, go! We headed to the ditch line and made short work of scraping the undergrowth off the top and sent rats bolting in all directions! Some of them had certainly eaten more than their fair share of pig food!

The strength of our pack is the variety of dogs we take out, every dog has their strength. Terriers for their noses and lurchers for their intelligence and ‘clearing up’ round the outside. However, today the spaniel ‘Willow’ stood out. She did a great service in the water and was blocking them with her paws while finishing another rat off with her powerful jaws.

We picked up 375 but a lot were left in the undergrowth - who knows what the actual total would’ve been?!

Great day with great people and great dogs - plenty of videos to follow 😊

🐀🐕👍🏻