“Willa” ALIOOP ‘N CATCHPEN’S PILLOW TALK
Owned by:
Liz Stenning Photo by:
Jeff Jaquish zingpix.com
Spotlight on Breeder—Bendigo Kenels Spotlight on a FIRST in the breed Spotlight on Dogs With Jobs #2 Spotlight on Jeff Jaquish how to photograph our dogs. ( this was a popular request for reprint‌)
Next issue breeder interview will be Hillhaven Kennels; Louanne & Jim
Brooks
Take the lead
Dog are smart when it comes to fetching slippers, predicting a thunderstorm or looking sheepish when the sandwich you left on the coffee table goes missing. But when it comes to road sense, they just don’t get it!. “Dogs don’t know that cars are potentially dangerous, and that if they step in front of one it could hurt them,” says dog owner Josie Knowles. "Noises like cars and trucks can worry them, but as a species, dogs simply aren’t evolved enough to cope with traffic conditions." Glen Jones from the Queensland RSPCA Superstore agrees that road sense is just not an instinct with dogs. "Dogs are like little children. They have no concept of traffic,” he says. “They don’t look, they just run blindly out onto the road." Making your pet visible With the autumn and winter months approaching, it’s never been a more dangerous time for your pet. That’s why a new partnership between Orbiloc and EzyDog has been formed, providing advice to prevent both you and your dog from becoming another roadside accident statistic. Walking a beloved pet outside in the evening sounds like a lovely idea. But in reality, strolling with a dog in the dark can have many pitfalls -‐ including not being easily visible to drivers. Take extra care with your dog during the darker months, especially if your pet is used to enjoying life off the lead. A dog running freely in the dark makes it a prime target for drivers, who have decreased visibility when the sun sets early. “Our Orbiloc Safety Light is great when it gets dark, as my black Lab is visible for miles,” says James Meekin, owner of six-‐year-‐old Labrador Polly. “Drivers can see her from a distance, which gives me peace of mind if she’s off the lead in particular.” Making sure that your dog is highly visible can ensure that drivers stop in time, which in turn can help save lives, both yours and your dog's. If
drivers can’t see what’s before them, you both risk being hit. Dressing up for safety Many dog owners indulge their pets by buying them fancy coats, collars and even the latest trend: canine shoes. But making sure your dog has the proper night-‐time attire is about more than just looking good and staying warm. Fashion aside, perhaps the most important doggie accoutrement is night-‐time visibility gear, including a bright light on Fido’s collar and lead so he is highly visible in the dark to motorists.
Other safety tips include: • Make sure to use a reflective collar or harness • Use a short lead in traffic, especially at night • Use a strong light on the collar, harness or lead, or on yourself • Walk on the right hand side, with your dog facing traffic Your dog is your best friend, and even well-‐ trained pets often have behaviour that is erratic and unpredictable. To ensure traffic safety, dog owners must always be cautious, especially when it’s dark outside. It’s up to you to keep your dog happy, healthy and safe – all year long.
www.orbiloc.com
For more information connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/havendesign1 or email: havendesign1@aol.com
Get on board with the “Special” ACD Spotlight Design Rate: ■ ■
GCH Oakwood’s
Full Dentition • BAER Normal • PRA Clear • OFA Hips Excellent • Elbows Normal •
Refried Beans
Group 4 Thank you, judge Dr. Donald Gill
Handled by: Chris Ann Moore
Matthew & Jacquelyn Johnson www.oakwoodacds.com
OAKWOOD Cattle Dogs
We think Mirk is a special boy w
Thank You
Sara Jo Gahm, with On The Lamb, for breeding this wonderfu l boy! Whelped: June 27th, 2012 Bilateral hearing prcd A
• Entered his first show Feb 15th… finished his Championship Feb 18th Undefeated from the classes. • Finished with 4 — 4 point majors. 1 dog short of being a 5 point major, and over several major pointed dogs.
ALL AS A 7 1⁄2 MONTH OLD PUPPY! • At 9 months Mirk was entered in his next show as a Champion and won BOB, over 4 other experienced Specials, and 2 professional handlers — Under Judge Dr Robert Smith. He was awarded Select the following day. Mirk has 11 points towards his Grand Champion.
FINISHED HIS GRAND CHAMPION AT 12 MONTHS!
Sire: HC On The Lamb Ride An Old Paint HSADSC HIADSC HXAd Dam: GCH Corral West Forever Entwined Safira HSASC
Corral West Cattle Dogs
with a lot to offer in the future!
GCH Hillhaven Journey the Rapids HSAsd
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CH Hillhaven’s Viva La Vie Parents both are PRCD pattern A, hips good, elbows passing, full hearing, full dentition *Top 5 ACD conformation in 2011 and top 10 ACD Herding; proven sire
Serious inquiries welcome:
HILLHAVEN Australian Cattle Dog Companions Who Work Show
&
Jim, Louanne & Amelia Brooks • 31835 Oak Ridge Ave Way • Lake City, MN 55041 • hillhaven1@gmail.com or phone 651-345-3749
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2012 ACDCA Versatility Winner!
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The ACD Xtreme Juniors Newsletter is a subscription p Front cover is not for sale Back cover $75 All othe
All Junior ads are FREE For more information, Contact theresa@junct.com 918-256-2555
publication. er ads $30
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Owned by Geri Calvert r & Mike Hunte Professionally presented by on Clint Livinigst
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Stock Options ACDs proudly announces our first Bred By Herding Champion/Dual Champion,
HC WTCH Stock Options Cowculated Risk HXAsd HXBd HIAcsd HIBd HSAcsd HSBd RN HRD1s HTAD1sd HTD1d QW CHIC # 82307, PRA prcd pattern A, OFA Good Hips, Normal Elbows and Patellas, Cardiac and BAER Normal ad CERF Clear, PLL Clear and PRA rcd4 Clear
STOCK OPTIONS ACDS
Competitive by nature, capable by design.
Kim & Darren Broster www.stockoptionsacds.com â– (270) 978-5599 AKC BREEDER of MERIT
Reckon has earned multiple HIT and RHIT on cattle, sheep and ducks at al levels, including RHIT on Cattle at the 2011 ACDCA National Specialty. We are looking forward to pursuing his AHBA Herding Trial CH next and seeing his pups follow in his paw prints.
Boots I first saw Boots on New Year’s Eve 2000 at the Mike Johnson’s World’s Richest Roping. It was very cold and had been snowing off and on all day long. Some folk’s I was with found these pups and was pestering me to go see them. I really didn’t want a puppy but went to look at them anyway. After spying Boots laying down in a crate full of puppies laying down eating puppy chow keeping the others away while half way smiling about it. So I started talking the Lady that had him we started talking about price then about doing some trading and she ended up with a hand carved toilet seat and I had a puppy named Boots. I have a Small Saddle shop so I named him Boots. He would Become almost my constant companion first to the shop in the morning and early afternoon and sometimes even to work in the evenings. We went to Rodeo’s , Team Ropings , Horse Show’s and even a few Dance Halls. He would always seem to have a smile as long as he could go with me . he had so much personality Just about everyone Loved Him Especially Children. Thru many ups and downs Boots was always there looking out for me always there in a pinch. In the fall of 2005 I was at Judy’s place and wanted to take ride not having a saddle I just slipped a bridle on the ole yeller horse and took a little ride bareback. Now Judy’s place was just full of rocks to make a long story short ole yeller wheeled out from under me leaving me hanging out in mid air and I crashed into a large rock pile. Well ole yeller just turns around and walks back to and started grazing while there I am gasping for air like a fish. Boots didn’t like this at all and proceeds to run ole yeller thru the brush to the back side of 60 acres then beets a path to me licking my face and barking then runs to Judy’s barkin up a storm until she comes and gets me . I know we all have a lot of stories I know I do. We are so Lucky when we have friends like these they love with out question they give all they have just so they can earn our love and affection that is all they want. They come into our lives and pass back out leaving us better People than we were before. We are truly blessed to have them in our lives the make life Richer then they leave only a short while .We will see them again.
Good bye my good friend Boots, & thank you for just being you!
New Champion!
CH Buzzards King of Brokenhearts CH Brokenhearts Hollywood Nights CH Buzzards Biscuit Girl
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Thank you Jim for sharing this strong young dog and thank you Theresa and Colston for showing him to his championship! Owned and Loved by: Rick and Judy Rogers
ACD BreederSpotlight
Bendigo Kennels Cathie Brown How long have you been in Dogs? I have been in dogs for 25 years. How long have you had the ACD and what is your background.? I purchased my first ACD in 1998. I started bathing dogs for a groomer in 1985. That groomer exhibited English Bulldogs and she was the one that introduced me to the dog show world. Why did you choose the ACD? After being around different breeds at a grooming shop, I wanted a good companion for being around my horse and being able to have the stamina to be outside and active. How did you decide that this breed was for you? After being around them and seeing the versatility they had, I feel in love with the breed.
How did you first get involved in the ACD? My old boyfriend had an ACD and I decided to show it for him. Once I started to show that ACD, it led to more. What do you do with your dogs (i.e. herding, performance, conformation)? I have mostly done confirmation but have had a little bit of experience with agility. I would like to get more involved with agility in the future.
Ch Bendigo Renegade Laughter
What titles have your puppy buyers put on your dogs you have bred? My dogs have excelled in every venue. I have dogs with herding championships and several agility titles. I have bred over 25 AKC confirmation champions. Some of my puppy buyers have many titles on their dogs. One dog in specific “Mudd” has many titles: CD, RA, PT, NJP, NAP, NA, TD What made your decision to start breeding? I wanted to continue showing and wanted to have my own line of dogs to exhibit. What caused you to pick the particular dog/ bloodlines (S) that you did to start your breeding program? When I did my research, I continually liked the same type of dog so I looked for breeders with that pedigree. What dog/bitch to date is your best dog/ bitch produced and why? CH Bendigo American Rebel is my best dog to date. Rebel finished his AKC Championship in six shows and was undefeated. He received an Award of Merit at the 2003 National Specialty. In 2007 Rebel was ranked number one in the county for breed from Jan to November. Ch Bendigo Reneagade Laughter was awarded winners bitch at the 2003 National specialty. There, success speaks for it’s self.
CH Bendigo American Rebel
When deciding on a breeding do you outcross, line breeding, inbreeding, or a combination of all? I seem to do mostly outcross breeding’s they have worked well for me. Do you breed to outside females and if so what is your criteria? I do from time to time bred to outside girls, they must have all health testing completed. Who influenced your breeding choices the most & why? Pam Gipson, she has given me so much help and mentoring. Talking to breeders who had the years of experience What dog has made the biggest impact on your breeding program to date? Ch So los Hard Working Man
Bendigo Look It UP
What bitch has made the biggest impact on your breeding program to date? Ch Hilltops Ice Capade
Which Dog & Bitch in your breeding program was most successful or that you feel contributed the most to the breed? So far I have had a few dogs to help contributed to my program most of them going back to CH Brairmoor Bugle Boy How do you raise your puppies I am lucky to have a 13 year old son who is very helpful with my puppies, I am also trying to instill in him all that must take place to raise a good puppy. We raise them in the house for the first 4-5 weeks then put them in the barn/outside area for a different place and different surfaces for the to encounter.
What bitch has made the biggest impact on your breeding program to date? Ch Hilltops Ice Capade Which Dog & Bitch in your breeding program was most successful or that you feel contributed the most to the breed? So far I have had a few dogs to help contributed to my program most of them going back to CH Brairmoor Bugle Boy What do you feed your puppies? Diamond chicken and rice, I get great results for this food. How did you come up with your kennel name? BENDIGO is a city in Australia, I chose that name as it is short and catchy Do you have a distinguishable line? I like to think so. If you were going to rate type, temperament, & soundness in what order of importance what would be the order & why? Temperament Soundness Type Temperament is so important without it you got nothing. Soundness Type is what makes me fall in love What do you think are the most serious faults in the breed today? Temperament Do you consider yourself a mentor to others coming in the breed? I try to be helpful and encourage anyone in the breed. What advice would you give them in starting out on the right road?To do right by your dog, You are their voice and protector. Describe an average day living with your dogs? The first thing I want to kiss in the morning, someone usually goes to work with me in my mobile grooming van. Then home to play feed and do a little training.
Bendigo Stare Into The Sun & Bendigo The Cats Out of the Bag What should people who are interested in this breed know before they bring one into their homes? They are able to do anything, and they will only be as good as you make them Do you feel the current AKC/UKC/ANC/FCI/ANKC standard is adequate? Yes I think It fits the breed correctly
Will Brown with his first champion. Ch. Bendigo Blue High Heels
www.bendigokennels.com
“Bindi” CH Castle Butte Bindi CD RE HXAds HXAcM NA OAJ OAP MJP NFP CGC HTADIcgs HTADII cs HTADIII ge,s HRDIs STDdsc OTDcd ATDc Is the first Australian Cattle Dog to earn the Herding Masters title in Advanced Cattle and the second dog in AKC history to do so.
Bindi is the Blessing that opened the door which started us in competitive herding. She came from Castle Butte Kennels (Paul & Marilyn Myers) and was originally going to be my conformation and agility dog. All of that changed after we watched Steve Waltenburg and “Kate’ work cattle together at the 2004 National Specialty. Bindi was a 6 month old puppy at the time and we had no idea how old or young they could start herding, but knew it was something that we wanted to try someday. At the age of 3, Bindi and Jesse started training with Steve Waltenburg and after only 3 lessons on cattle we entered her in her first cattle class which was at the 2007 National Specialty. Bindi really stood out in the started cattle class and she and Jesse did a great job the first day but timed out at the gate. (Cattle classes were 10 min then) The second day, they came back and made sure they were able to finish the run and even placed 4th and we were thrilled with that.
From there, Bindi and Jesse have continued to improve and learn together and have really tried to develop that ‘team’ for herding that we had previously seen in Steve and Kate. I showed Bindi in conformation to her Championship and trialed her some in agility, obedience and rally, but herding is what Bindi has made it clear that she wants to do most. She loves working cattle the best, and will tolerate ducks and geese. She really enjoys goats and works sheep with a lot of enthusiasm. When not competing in AKC trials Bindi & Jesse have also competed in a few horseback trials. She enjoys helping with daily chores around our home and makes it clear to the other dogs that the stock is ‘hers’. Bindi has a very sweet and kind disposition, so when folks see pictures of her on cattle, they are surprised at the change of ‘attitude’ that they see in her. In 2012, Bindi received an award from the ACDCA for the Dam of Most Herding Titlists during 2011. This meant a lot to us as we only bred her once. All of her offspring seem to be following in Bindi’s paw prints as we have so far 2 Champions out of her. My dog, who is her son, “Dozer” GCH Bar H Blue Bulldozer BN RN HSAdsc CGC is also a Grand Champion. In fact, all of her pups are titled on sheep and ducks/geese and 2 are now titled on cattle. Her daughter, who is Jesse’s girl, ‘Lash” CH Bar H I’m A Cover Girl RN HSAdc HSAsM CGC HTADI-s was the first ACD to earn the Herding Masters title in started sheep. Bindi has another daughter in Oregon, Bar H Pistol Packing
Lakota Cowgirl HSAs HRDI-s who is titled on sheep and very close to receiving her started cattle title. She is pointed in conformation as well. Our other little girl, “Belle” Bar H Tinkerbelle Trail RN HSAds CGC is also very close to her conformation Championship. There is a fifth puppy girl who is very happy on a working ranch here in our area. One of the most rewarding accomplishments is that all of the titles earned and training on all of the dogs has been owner/handled and we are very proud of that. We were pleasantly surprised when we were told by AKC that Bindi was the first ACD to earn The Herding Master’s Title in Advanced Cattle! And, to be the second dog in AKC History (after a Border Collie) was really exciting as well.
Bindi and Jesse were at a trial down in Escondido, Calif. But I didn’t let him know how many more Q’s they needed for her Advanced Masters Title, as I didn’t want him to be
thinking about it. After he called with his news of his runs for the day, I told him about Bindi’s accomplishment! I could tell by Jesse’s voice that he was grinning ear to ear and very proud of his girl. Bindi and Jesse are currently going for those hard to earn CH pts in herding and also close to earning her WTCh. She has done everything we’ve asked of her and more and she is truly enjoying her job along the way. We are very thankful for the friends that we have made throughout this journey and how this little Blue girl has changed our lives. We’ve learned and continue to learn something from everyone we’ve met and we have come to appreciate each and every day with our girl, Bindi and all of our other dogs. Every run we run is special and we try to continue to keep it fun for both the dogs and us. Bindi’s love and passion for herding has really showed us that the Cattle Dog is happiest when they’re doing what they’ve been bred to do. We hope to keep this going on in the generations to come as the Herding Bug has bitten us for good!
Bindi’s 2nd High In Trial With Jesse and Lisa Hampton
Submitted by Lisa Hampton Bar H Australian Cattle Dogs Lisa and Jesse Hampton Barhcattledogs1@verizon.net Www.barhcattledogs.com
Dogs Wi
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every of
ith Jobs
erious jobs,
y day jobs & course the fun jobs
Seven is my Search and Rescue K9 partner. He's 4.5 yrs old and has been certified for about a year and a half. We are certified and deploy with the California Rescue Dog Association and we are also members of and deploy with the Alameda County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Unit and the Yosemite National Park Service Search and Rescue K9 Unit, YODOGS. Seven is certified in several ways and therefor gets to work a great deal: Area 1 (finding live missing persons in the back country high elevation), Avalanche 1 (finding buried live persons under snow in the back country at high elevations), Cadaver 1 (human remains detection, including buried, in buildings, hanging and small disarticulated sources), Cadaver 2 (human remains detection whole surface in a large area while still also finding and reporting live finds as an Area Dog) Cadaver 3 (human remains detection under the water from boats and shoreline). Seven has been sent on 30 searches so far and gotten to work on 28 of them (we get cancelled if the subject is located). He recently got back from a three day search to the high back country with me. He has finds, but we cannot discuss them since our work was for Law Enforcement. Seven has ridden in helos, under helos on short hauls several times, on many different types of boats and of course trucks. Seven recently has worked from the Sierra Crest at 12K ft to the waterways of Oakland in one week's time, and is always up for more. He has travelled across much of California and is comfortable in just about all terrain.
CH. Pioneers Tip’s Lucky Seven PT, SAR-W
Seven is my third Search and Rescue Dog. Bandit, his grandfather was my first and Tiger, his uncle, was my second. I am lucky to have him and am grateful to his breeder, Lorrie Pruett, for him. Seven is now also a Champion and has a PT on sheep. Unlike his grandpa and uncle, he doesn't get to work stock or compete at those events, because I have chosen to focus as much energy and time as I have to making him the best, most effective search dog he can be. Please stop by and say hi to Seven at this year's Nationals! Eric Sheets
Duck Dog Dynasty
Jeff Long’s ACDs in California are showing the versatility of the breed, as they have an unconventional job as waterfowl hunting/retrieving dogs. Jeff is a lifelong fowl hunter and before ACDs, trained Labs and other retriever breeds for his hunting partners. Then, along came Scrappy, an ACD from Gwen Shepperson (KS Ranch ACDs) in Wyoming. “He wanted to learn whatever I would teach him, and he was so eager, I thought, why not see if he can retrieve for me? He wanted to be wherever I went anyways, so I thought I might as well try!” Scrappy went off to a trainer and “retrieving school”, where he graduated top of his class ahead of all the other, more traditional bird dog breeds. “Even the trainer thought it was a crazy idea at first, but Scrappy proved him wrong at every turn!”, recalls Jeff. And he started a trend in the Long household of having ACD retrievers that continues to this day. Jeff now owns 4 KS Ranch ACDs: Scrappy, Teddy, Holli and Luna; and they all participate in a variety of bird hunting activities. Jeff says, “They are just as reliable, consistent and suited for retrieving work as any other breed I have owned, and definitely love their job.” Scrappy started out retrieving ducks and geese, but these days, he has traded in his boat and float vest for quail hunting. “He decided quail hunting was much more fun, mostly because it does not involve cold water!”, laughs Jeff. But Scrappy spent many years watching the sun come up from the deck of a boat. “He was such a fast learner, we were out hunting and retrieving with just a few months of training, and he was having a blast.
But I think he likes the quail hunting because he gets to both find and retrieve the birds.” Then, along came Teddy and Luna, who came to Jeff as adult dogs. They had lived their first years as “city dogs” in Vancouver, BC, but quickly fit right in. “They rode in the ATV the first day at our house, and Teddy jumped into the passenger seat like he’d lived here all his life.” They both were a little apprehensive about gun noise at first, but now are old pros at days on the duck boat. “Teddy sees me with a gun now and is ready to go. He will retrieve anything I put in the water and really enjoys hunting. He is my go-to dog for duck and geese.” Luna loves to ride on the boat and swim out with Teddy to get the fowl, but Teddy usually beats her to the retrieve, as he is the stronger swimmer of the two. Holli, the last to join the Long hunting crew, came to Jeff as a puppy in 2011. “Holli was sporting a float vest and riding on the boat with the other dogs from the first week I had her” says Jeff. “She learned a lot by just watching the other dogs, before any of her formal
training began.” Holli is a great swimmer, loves the water and has spent many days hunting ducks and geese with Jeff. “She is great swimming through the thick marsh, bringing the fowl back into the blind when we are hunting, and she loves to practice with the retrieving dummy too.” When not out hunting, Jeff’s dogs enjoy life on the ranch in Chilcoot, California. “They are great at keeping the antelope out of the alfalfa hay, and Luna is a terrific watch dog.” They also enjoy hiking in the mountains nearby and go with Jeff whatever he’s doing. Jeff says, “They are just great dogs, ready to do anything you ask, and we just have a lot of great times together. Life without them wouldn’t be nearly as much fun!” Reprinted from Extreme Juniors Newsletter.
World's first 'bionic dog' steps up to challenge
There isn't much Naki'o, a 2-year-old red heeler mix, can't do. He just might do it a bit differently than your average canine. Two years ago, Naki'o was abandoned in a foreclosed home in Nebraska. He lost all four of his paws to frostbite before he was rescued by Colorado's All Aboard Animal Rescue. As soon as Christie Pace, a veterinary technician who lives in Colorado Springs, saw Naki'o's photo, she knew she had fallen in love. "When I got him he was 8 weeks, 4 pounds, and he was missing patches of fur because he had mange. But, he was just such a happy guy," Pace said. She knew Naki'o was missing all four paws, as well as part of his tail and nose, but she also knew she would be able to find a solution down the road. "As he started getting older, I started seeing changes and he started limping and going three-legged. That's when I knew I needed to do something," Pace said. She says it was a blessing when she discovered OrthoPets, a Denver-based company, and the only in the world, to design and make custom animal prosthetics. Veterinary Anesthesiologist Dr. Patsy Mich with Orthopets knew Naki'o's situation would be a challenge. "He can't really feel the ground at all with any of his four limbs, which is different than most patients. His contact to the earth is entirely mechanical," Mich said, "So the challenge was to create the world's first
dog with four prosthetic limbs." Naki'o has a can-do attitude. Obstacle? He can step over it. Challenge? Bring it on. So he jumped into his prosthetics, and his rehabilitation training, with all four paws. At first, he would collapse as he was learning to walk with his prosthetics, but he never gave up. Now, Pace says, he runs and plays with her other dogs without a care in the world. He even gets excited when she takes the prosthetics out to go for a walk. Pace has now made it her mission to rescue other disabled animals. Naki'o is the 'spokesdog' for her rescue organization, Naki'o's Underdog Rescue. "Love has no boundaries. I love to help any animal with a disability and show the world how capable they are. Now that he has prosthetics I don't think he realizes he's different at all," Pace said. Even Dr. Mich has taken a lesson from the world's first bionic dog, "What I've learned personally and as a doctor is courage. My patients teach me every day that you just have to take the next step, literally, and boldly." Naki'o is also up for an award as the 'Emerging Hero Dog' at the Hero Dog Awards. You can vote for Naki'o beginning on May 7 here. (KUSA-TV Š 2013 Multimedia Holdings Corporation) http://www.9news.com/pets/petline9/334171/250/Worlds-first-bionic-dog-steps-up-to-challenge-----
FLYING WITH Man’s Best Friend Text and Photos by Jim Urquhart/Reuters Dan McManus is a professional paragliding and hang gliding instructor in Utah. He has been flying for about 37 years and he can be found most days catching the breeze at the flight park on a mountain ridge at the south end of the Salt Lake valley. However, in recent years he has also been joined on many flights by his service dog Shadow. McManus suffers from a general anxiety disorder but manages to keep many of the symptoms in check with the constant companionship of his Australian cattle dog. While flying in itself has been a calming pursuit he soon found out that his service dog never wanted to be away from him (a bit of separation anxiety for Shadow). http://news.yahoo.com/photos/flying-with -man-s-best-friend-1374525195slideshow/
My name is Bill and I have a Blue Heeler Harlequin Dane mix named Blu. His mother was ACD, and by appearances a pure breed but the father was unknown as she was a pound rescue with pups. I picked the most aggressive feeder when the pups were two days old and the pup that most resembled the mother. I figured out the father when I noticed similar markings on a television ad to my puppy. Most of the litter was predominantly white in color but he has the cattle dog color. He has stayed outside since he was brought home at 7 weeks and I had to instruct him how to climb the stairs to the deck. I only had to show him once. My wife ranted for about a week about the new puppy, she did not want another dog, but Blu is the reason I get out of bed in the morning. I am disabled with multiple health issues and my ACD mix is the reason I still keep going. He is my therapy and I am his. I brush him every morning with a brush coated with pine tar & turpentine and the fleas, ticks & mosquitoes leave him alone. I have never seen him scratch. I give him fresh water @ eight gallons daily and feed him dry food Lamb & Rice for large breed puppies. He weighed 42.6 pounds at six months and 70 pounds at 18 months and in perfect health. The vet said he will groom until he is two years old and maybe a bit longer. He was born on Halloween 2011. I make his dog biscuits with either beef or pork broth and rolled oats & brown rice.
He gets three of those per day and a can of sardines in olive oil once per week.
He has the ACD skills from his mother and even my daughter noticed when he ran sideways as a puppy. I work with him everyday in his limited backyard and he runs and cuts for me as I turn and use a walking stick to direct him. He also sits, stays, retrieves and looks for things on command and he finds his collar (which he is always taking off) and will give you five and go to his bed on command also. He is very intelligent and has great natural instincts which I have tried to enhance by using only positive reinforcement in his training. He has never even gotten a scolding. He has learned a lot and is still learning and I try to nurture his positive natural instincts. He does not mind the rain but hates the water hose turned on him and he has webbed feet. I do not know if that is from his mom or not.
Anyway, I saw you list about submitting ACD stories so here is mine, even though he is only part ACD. Thank you, Bill D. Jennings
Woylie's Freddy has been voted Dog of the Year 2012 by French ACD & Kelpie Club (CF-BAK) Imported from Germany, Woylie’s Freddy owned by Mathieu Nicourt He stood out last year in several different ways and was therefore congratulated by the French ACD & Kelpie Club. When it comes to showing, he achieved the title of Champion of France within less than 4 months. To this end, he had to also supply clear health tests (PRA, hips, elbows and hearing) as well as a herding instinct test. As for sporting titles, he obtained enough points from his first two competitions in IPO 1, to move on to level II. His following two compÊtitions in level II qualified him for the French IPO Grand Prix, equally in the level II category and to move on to level III. Last but not least, he was also successfully Herding Instinct Tested on both sheep and cattle and obtained the title of recommended stud dog. Indeed, just four years old Freddy has got IPO 3 level, obtaining the first place and become the first French ACD to go to this level. He is already the proud father of three French litters and soon of a new one in Sweden. https://www.facebook.com/#!/ pages/Freddy-Australian-CattleDog/110729019180?fref=ts Email: mathieu.nicourt@free.fr
Woylie's Freddy: Date of birth: 07/05/2009, LOF 1AUST.CA 595/79, VDH 09/180 0032, (Red Manor Barak vom Landhof Rothaus X Danbar's River of Dream) IPO 3; recommended Stud Dog, champion of France 2012 PRA A (tested by Laboklin); Full hearing, Full dentition Hips B/B- Elbows 0/0 Height - 50 cm Herding tested on sheep and cattle Good behaviour tested Activities - IPO and Herding Available for stud services Proven sire (three litters)
I ran across your website when I was researching information about my Australian Blue Heeler. He is 20 months old beautiful dog. I rescued him from the American Humane Society, and he saves my life every day. I am hearing impaired, and have a debilitating medical condition that causes me to lose my balance, my ability to see, and to hear. Blue helps keep me steady on my feet, goes with me everywhere, alerts me to alarms and bells, people, and traffic. He travels with me on the Metro Mobility buses. We shop together and he travels with me to work every day. Blue lets me know when people are approaching from the side or behind me, prevents me from walking into someone coming around a corner, keeps me from running into things, carries my medicine and ice pack. Blue is an absolute dream. He is sweet, loving, completely protective and loyal. When I am down on the ground, he helps me regain my feet. He stays right with me until I have help when I need it. Blue tells me when the phone rings, someone is at the door, and when the alarm clock goes off in the morning. He loves to run and play. His favorite inside game is to chase a laser light and dog bones used for fetch up and down the stairs. When we are out at the park he chases balls and toys. When he is working he is attentive to everything and everyone. He is patient and gentle when children run up to him. People think I saved his life – but he really saved mine. I named him Blue, not because of his breed, but because when he is out in the sunlight – the silver in his fur is absolutely blue! Blue works from 4 in the morning, until 11 at night – he is right with me all the time. I often thing about what life was like before he was part of my life and realize how much he is a miracle for me every single day. The Christmas photo is Blue with his best friend Raven. Dona
Blue, Donna and Raven
Angelyne “The Amazing� DEAF Cattle Dog A special dog partnered with a special human for many special jobs. By Eric Melvin (human, trainer and chauffeur of Angelyne) With opportunity comes responsibility and Angelyne and I have an abundance of both. My life changed when I kept Angelyne and started an uncertain future with her after learning 5 weeks after I brought her home that she was born bi-laterally deaf. What we are today as compared to how we began astounds me. Life with Angelyne transformed me from a guy with type 1 diabetes challenged with living a normal life despite complications to an accomplished public speaker, published author, sought-after deaf dog trainer and one half of a unique and inspiring partnership that has touched lives all over the globe. Angelyne was an unexpected gift that was meant to be shared. I have dedicated my life to her and our job is to share both of our talents and gifts with others. The following is a testimonial from a recent character education show and appearance we made at a middle school. It describes the goal and mission for my work with Angelyne and explains perfectly who we are, what we do and why we do what we do. “ Eric & Angelyne are a dynamic duo, who portray a heartfelt story about the life-altering impact that a canine companion can generate. In addition, their saga illustrates timeless lessons about overcoming adversity and turning challenges into strengths. Our students were captivated by the knowledge & feats Angelyne demonstrated, along with Eric's skill and dedication in facilitating her keen sense of visual observation. The pair inspired a few of our students to create a video recognition of the show in response to the overarching
and profound message that Eric & Angelyne convey, which is, 'make a positive contribution to your world & never give up'....a lesson that was readily evident in their life work !" Thank you again for your kindness, generosity and leading by example! Heather Study Student Services Director Mountain Middle School Durango, CO Angelyne and I surpassed our 300th appearance and presentation in early 2013. We’ve consistently performed for over 15,000 people in each consecutive year since 2010 for a wide variety of audiences and it continues to grow despite our focus on character education and advocacy for animals and people with disabilities. Our story has been published in three books and we’ve shared the stage with such famous “dog-people” as Wendy Francisco, author / singer of “GoD-DoG,” Guy Gilchrist, cartoonist for Today’s Dogg, The Muppets and Nancy as well as Shorty Rossi of the television show “Pit Boss.” We also performed at Erik Weihenmayer’s “No Barriers Summit” for people with disabilities.” We’ve donated over 300 hours to advocate for rescues and various non-profits, schools and more. We hold an educational exhibitors license with the U.S.D.A. Animal Welfare Act and Angelyne is also registered as my ESA (Emotional Support Animal) for my type 1 diabetes. Sometimes the best things in life happen when you least expect them. Angelyne’s deafness, my type 1 diabetes and the many other forms of disabilities are unexpected challenges but that’s where the triumph begins. Angelyne has profoundly changed who I am and who I want to be. My life and work with her have taught me how to be a teacher, inspirer, leader, companion, provider, buddy and best friend. Angelyne is exceptional despite her deafness / disability and our job /show illustrates my point. Once people see what we’ve accomplished despite our “disabilities” no one feels sorry anymore. Eyes light up, smiles widen and hearts melt when people see what Angelyne and I can do by each other’s side. To be able to inspire people with our story, talents and skills makes me feel like I’m the luckiest man and dog owner on earth.
For more information about Eric & Angelyne please see www.amazingangelyne.com or like their Facebook page - “Angelyne the Amazing DEAF Cattle Dog �
Eric & Angelyne story links http://www.fortmorgantimes.com/fort-morgan-local-news/ci_20415237/deaf-dog-inspires -cdot-leaders http://www.reporterherald.com/news/education/ci_20545509/mary-blair-studentsloveland-learn-theres-more-than http://www.coloradohometownweekly.com/news/louisville/ci_20841142/amazing-deafcattle-dog-owner-teach-lessons-compassion http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19073413 http://milehighdog.com/images/Mile_High_Dog_-_April_2012_Angelyne_story.pdf http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20110929/NEWS/709299981?layout=default http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20110508/ NEWS/110509819&parentprofile=search http://durangoherald.com/article/20130424/NEWS01/130429766/0/SEARCH/Doggiesign-language http://www.durangoherald.com/article/20111016/NEWS02/710169970/-1/News01/ Deaf-cattle-dog-teaches-Colorado-kids-life-skills http://issuu.com/thedenverdog/docs/denver_dog_summer_2013/43 Eric & Angelyne Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJkZJuil_70 Eric & Angelyne Books http://www.happytailsbooks.com/books/dog-breeds-e-l/herding-breeds/ http://www.bearportpublishing.com/productdetails.cfm?SKU=26972 --
Angelyne
www.amazingangelyne.com
Croco - Working champion Croco Dundee Cidabro (C.I.B. Windwarrior´s Flying Force x Bushranger´s Celtic Queen), dob 10.5.2002. Croco won Czech championship of rescue dogs of all breeds in 2008 + 2010!!! , 3rd place in championship 2006, won many famous competitions in our country including cadaver. Croco passed 21 working exams.
Racy = Racy Blue Rebecca Cidabro (Grand Ch. Durango z Lodice x x C.I.B. Miss Aussie Cidabro), dob. 6.5.2010 - agility, coursing
Sophie and Sheila taking their job seriously .
KS RANCH Gwen Shepperson 38605 Buffalo Creek Rd Arminto, WY 82630 307-267-1956 ksranchcattledogs@gmail.com
This is Uluru(red) and Boomerang(blue). They are The Mobile Dog Wash Dogs and they come to work everyday with me. They live with Diesel the Poodle,6 cats,2 shetlands, a horse, a goose and 5 chickens. They work very hard and get a ÂŁ1 a day. We live in Margam village Sth Wales. Gregg Booth
ACK ACK SALT WATER
Dobie and Butter
?? Who Ya Gonna Call ??
GOOSE BUSTERS
The 2013 Goose Bustin’ Crew (left to right): Denali, Bert (who live with my Aunt Lynn around the corner), Free-da, Jess, Goose (pup), Dinka, Sally (my oldie) & Jackie (my failed foster gal).
GOOSE BUSTERS The Life and Times of Goose Bustin’ with ACDs in New Jersey. My name is Karen ‘Cattledog’ Cox and I’ve been hopelessly addicted to the Australian Cattle Dog since 1993…oh wait, singular ‘cattle dog’ isn’t correct, for me it’s practically always been MULTIPLE cattle dogS. I am currently owned by a whole crew and I’m seriously outnumbered in my house. There are currently EIGHT Australian Cattle Dog mouths to feed and exercise. But this Cattle Dog Crew does not sit around or rest on their hind-quarters, they work and bring in the money by chasing geese away.
I am the Goose Van driver and their Cattle Dog Butt Hauler. I live and work in central NJ. This area along with many others has a huge problem with resident and migrating Canada Geese. The birds are a nuisance and leave behind a mess of goose poop where ever they go (up to 2lbs per bird per day). Poop is left on driveways, walkways, lawns, basically everywhere they visit and feed. During the nesting season geese become very aggressive and have been known to attack people.
This is where we enter the scene. People contract with us and we show up every day to chase the geese. My Goose Busters business began in late 1999 when I was told by a friend, that there was a local corporate property that was having a huge Canada Goose problem. They were looking for a local dog owner that could come by and chase the geese away. The corporation had tried all sorts of things in the past to keep the geese away, but nothing worked for any length of time. I thought, I’m sure my dogs could do that. They’d probably even LOVE it. I was local enough, had time available and was working from home. I contacted the company and set up an appointment to “demo” (fake) my service. A few days later I met up with several men in suits on the front lawn of the property with the first ACD I owned, Dingo. He was a 1992 pup out of the Pittsburgh PA area and my heart dog (aka:CH Jems Prized Dingo For Karen). I got out of the truck (no Goose Van yet), put a leash on Dingo and introduced myself to the men standing around. I then walked towards the front lawn full of geese, took the leash off and told him to “go-get-em” while walking in the direction of the geese. Dingo bounced a little, barked a little and trotted towards the geese. All of a sudden the geese took flight. They honked and carried on all the while flapping their way skyward. It was amazing, even to me! I knew an ACD could do it. After the sky lightened up and the birds were gone, I called Dingo back, put him on his leash, gave him a treat and turned to see the men in suits all clapping and quite happy with our (faked) demo.
Needless to say we got that client and have them to this day.
From there, Goose Busters developed into a full time company picking up more clients, mostly by word of mouth and soon after, by driving around the now highly decorated Goose Busters Van. Goose Busters is our name and geese are our game (pardon the pun). Yes, it’s a little dated, taken from the Ghostbusters movies, but it fits the business and the logo was a free-bie. Instead of Ghosts, we bust Canada geese. Then, with a growing clientele, more properties, along with my aging ACDs I found the need for more dogpower. I adopted/rescued an ACD, had my first litter of ACDs out of Dingo/Rodeo and gained pups from other breeders -- Thanks to Monica, Claire & Tina. Since that time, some have passed away, I recently had two litters at one time, kept a pup now named ‘Goose’ and failed a foster dog I had through ACDRA.Org. Jackie, the failed foster gal was a feral pup that came up from NC with her momma dog and siblings. She has become one of my best goose chasing dogs. She runs like a deer and looks almost as pretty. Her mom and siblings were placed in good homes via ACDRA. Over the years, I’ve learned a ton about training the dogs on geese. I’ve also found I can ruin a dog by overwhelming them. Thankfully, those dogs have been few and far between because ACDs are so driven, bold and tough. I know I cannot afford to keep a dog that does not pull its weight or enjoy itself chasing geese. A goose dog must ride well in the van, have good herding instincts, enjoy the job and ‘turn on’ to the chase. I’ve been lucky with the dogs that didn’t like chasing geese and I’ve found them wonderful homes. The job needs to be FUN for a dog, although ACDs take it pretty seriously just like everything else in their world. If only cattle or sheep could fly!?! Other than that, Goose Bustin’ seems to be one of the best gigs for a cattle dog in suburbia.
Once a client is on our schedule, we hit the road, visiting every client’s property at least once a day. Thankfully the properties are local, because gas for the van does not come cheap, but the doggie employees work for treats which is a great trade off. And no health insurance premiums need to be paid! Most companies that contract my service have a year round problem with Canada Geese and a few we service for only a few weeks a year. I’m told there over 800,000 resident Canada Geese in the State of NJ. Yes, that’s “resident” geese. They no longer know how to migrate and unlike the migratory flocks, they are a constant problem. I think the resident geese have come to know and love NJ with lush lawns and plenty of ponds, lakes, streams and rivers for nesting. Why should they bother with flying north and south any longer? NJ is perfect year round. So as permanent resident geese the dogs and I have to work in all kinds of weather -summer heat, mud, rain, snow and ice from dawn to after dusk and 365 days a year. I've never been successful in training geese to take weekends or holidays off. Geese can learn and adapt to a routine, so we do not have a set schedule and show up at random times from dawn to dusk, at times visiting a client up to six times a day. Sometimes I think I’ve been busting geese far too long. I know more than anybody wants or needs to know about Canada Geese and their habits.
Geese are not stupid, geese are lazy and don’t like being asked to leave. That’s one question I get asked most often about Goose Busters; “When your dogs chase the geese, where do they go?” I tell people that they go someplace else and hopefully that place will call me for their Goose Removal Service. I’m also asked; “Don’t they come right back?” I say yes, and that’s why it’s a year-round gig. Some geese can be persistent, but showing up several times a day gives them the idea to go elsewhere. The migrating geese are easy to push off and they continue with their travels. I rarely get bored Goose Bustin’. Every day is different and I must be on my toes at all times. I’ve come to learn which one of my dogs does best on which property or in what instance and under what circumstances. Some are long legged and can cover ground quicker, some work best alone, some work near people without interfering while some are over-friendly (Dinka!) and want to visit with people we come across. Some work better with other dogs or in a group and then they compete with each other racing to get to the geese first. Some are great swimmers and love being wet and muddy – and you can tell by looking at the inside of the Goose Van, yuck!
Although no dog can out-swim a goose, I have battery powered back-up for chasing geese off lakes and ponds which is a remote control boat. And on occasion I will use a kayak in conjunction with a dog, either in the kayak or swimming along side in a doggie life vest.
The ACD work ethic is the best! They are so very versatile, loyal, honest and they adapt very well. They love to work, learn, and please. I find mine arguing several times a day, who's 'turn' it is to chase the geese and often *bark* their frustration, whether we’re going out of the house to the van or out of the van at a client. As a side benefit this job keeps my dogs in shape! An obedient and thoroughly trained dog is a huge necessity. So I work and train the crew constantly --at home, at the clients’, in the open and I dabble a bit in obedience and agility. Think about the traffic, other dogs or animals, and people we come across daily - a ‘stop whatever you are doing’ and return to me, is one of the most important things I need in a goose dog. My crew is taught to respond to my verbal commands, hand signals and whistle cues and to ignore most distractions such as other dogs, people who may be on a golf course or on a campus (although the occasional squirrel may take precedence). We are there for one job and one job only; ridding the property of GEESE! We get them out and then it's a short ride and on to the next property.
In my opinion there is no better canine for this job than the Australian Cattle Dog. Highly trainable, smart, fast, intelligent, food motivated, perfectly sized along with the neverending desire to work. The ACD does this job so well and it surprises me that almost all companies in this business use Border Collies, although I’ve recently heard of some using an ACD/BC mix, so they may be getting wiser. I believe the ACD surpasses the BC in speed, with the return to the Goose Van as fast as the 'Go-Out' and chase. My dogs harass and chase, not hunt or hurt geese. I utilize and build on the cattle dogs’ herding instinct to bring the geese to me. Of course the geese take flight instead of being 'rounded-up' and penned like cattle or sheep. After a short time it becomes more like a race for the dog and they blast out of the van and return in a flash.
Sometimes the dog must run a long distance, out of sight and basically be on its own to find and chase geese. I watch the sky to see geese flying off knowing the dog is still working on clearing the property. The whistle I use is mostly for distant work to let the dog know where I‘m located. I’ve had some dogs get 'lost' in the chase and forget which direction they came from. Other times a short run is all that is needed. According to the dogs, the worse of all are when the geese that fly off as soon as I pull the Goose Van onto a property. Those times I can almost hear my dogs cursing that they didn’t get a chance to run or get out of the van. Geese are smart, they learn to recognize the van and that the dogs are next if they don’t leave.
Starting a new client is always interesting and it can take a few days before the dog gets used to the property and marks (pees on) it up sufficiently. I find most clients’ properties become an extension of my dogs’ back yard with the focus only on geese. Even the geese we pass around town lift their heads and 'honk' as we drive by wondering if they're going to be harassed and chased.
My cattle dog crew eagerly jumps into the Goose Busters van and off we go to earn our pay. These dogs make it possible to earn a pretty decent living. Life with the Goose Bustin' crew is not only about work, they are my companions 24/7. They live in the house, hog the couch, steal the covers, torment and play with one another as only an ACD would. I am very fortunate that when I leave for work...morning, noon, or night my crew of ACDs gets to go with me. It is a special bond we share as my team and I spend our days working, training and playing in New Jersey.
Yes, I get paid to exercise and work with my dogs! Could there be a better gig? I think not.
The loyalty of the ACD is true blue ......and so is my whole crew.
Karen ‘Cattledog’ Cox & Goose Busters with ACD crew in New Jersey
Portrait-izing Your Dog By Jeff Jaquish When we last met, we talked about some tips and techniques about how to capture some action shots of dogs at herding trials. In this installment we are going to talk about getting a portrait of your dog that is good enough to have enlarged, framed and displayed on your wall or to display on a website. My tips will apply mostly to people using a single lens reflex (SLR) camera. If you are using a point-and-shoot camera, there are some tips here that may also be of some value. In this article we will examine lighting, focus, f-stop, lens selection, composition and backgrounds. I'll also let you in on a little secret when it comes to post-processing an image of a “blue” cattle dog. So, let's get started! I always like to encourage people to know their camera and to know the basics of exposure. To do this, take an evening to sit down with the camera in your lap and the camera's manual at your side. Go through each page and make the camera do what the manual is illustrating. Knowing what your camera is capable of doing and how to do it is fundamental. In addition, I always suggest reading and understanding a book about exposure. Learning the triad of exposure is essential in photography. The book I always recommend is Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition by Bryan Peterson. It is richly illustrated and covers the essentials in an easy to understand format. It is a good investment at $14.99! When I am referring to a dog portrait, I am thinking about the traditional idea of a portrait which mostly contains the head, neck and “upper” torso of the dog or what is commonly referred to as the “headshot”. In my view, there is only one required element in a great dog portrait. I have boiled it down to this and it makes life so simple when shooting a dog portrait (and for human portraits). There must be at least one eye that is in focus. That's it. With few exceptions this simple rule works very well. It almost always works better if there is only one eye that is in focus that it be the eye that is closest to the camera. As humans, our brains are engineered to look at the eyes and to study them even if it just for a microsecond. Because of that, an in-focus eye is usually the fundamental element in a good dog portrait. It forms the basis for us to make a connection to the subject. When selecting a lens for a portrait, generally speaking, the same lenses that work with humans will work with dogs. The only different consideration is the dog has a longer
distance from the tip of the nose to the plane of the eyes than (most) humans. For that reason, your lens selection and f-stop selection may vary from what you may use for humans if you want the nose and eyes of the dog to both be in focus. For most human portraiture, we usually will select a lens in the range from 50mm to 200mm depending how far away from the subject we are working. Some dogs may feel much more comfortable with you working 10-20 feet away. In that case a longer lens may be best. The other bonus with using a longer lens is that you can choose a narrower, simpler background. With a wider angle lens, you are taking in more background which may or may not be beneficial to your portrait. In essence, usually almost any lens can be used for a successful portrait lens. Keep in mind that a wide-angle lens (30mm and under) will most likely distort the features of the dog making it look more like a caricature of a dog than a dignified portrait. The nose will be out of proportion to the rest of the face, for example, when the nose is closest to the lens.
Illustration 1 – My model was Dot. She is my most experienced model and she willingly works for a few biscuits. The 15mm image shows a lot of distortion to the nose. The working distance is very short and the lens is taking in a large amount of background. This may be a good lens to use if you want to show a lot of the environment. The 30mm is a step better but there is still some distortion. The working distance improves but you may be too close for some dogs. Of these three, the 50 mm is probably the best over-all choice. There is less distortion, a better working distance and reduced background to worry about. In all these sample images, I placed Dot 6 feet from the shrubs. With the 15mm lens, it looks like she is much farther away. Again, that all has to do with the characteristics of wide angle lenses These demo images were taken in stark, mid-day light. I don't recommend shooting in these lighting conditions.
Illustration 2 – Most times when I shoot a portrait, I'll use a lens in the 70 – 100 range. With the images shown here from 100 – 200 you are not seeing any dramatic differences. The only differences will be a slight change in the depth of field and a narrowing of the background angle. You may not want to be so far from your subject as with the 200mm.
When choosing lighting for your portrait, you can effect the whole mood of the image. If you are outdoors, try to avoid the direct sunlight and choose an area of open shade. An overcast day can work to your advantage by providing a soft, even light similar to a photographer’s softbox. If you can utilize the outside light in the Golden Hour (one hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset) you may be able to create a very warm and dramatic mood. As you are setting up your shooting position and the dog's position, make sure you don't have the dog's face both in severe light and shadow. Most cameras won't be able to handle the exposure very well. If you can position the dog so that there is even lighting on the face and the glint of the sun reflected off-center in the eye, you'll be on your way to a nice portrait. Also, place the dog at least 8-10 feet away from any objects in the background. If you are ever forced to use flash, it is always best to use offcamera flash and use it only for fill flash (to fill in the shadow areas). Any on-camera flash is going to most likely play havoc with your portrait by creating stark light, casting shadows and giving your dog those intolerable, yellow, monster eyes. Spooky! Now you have selected the lens, you know the lighting and how you are going to position yourselves for the best lighting and background. I prefer shooting in manual mode in these situations. When I am not in manual mode, for portraits I will shoot in Av mode (aperture priority). If you shoot in AV mode, choose the widest f-stop to begin with and the pick an ISO that will support the shutter speeds you need. If you are shooting in manual mode, now it's time to set your f-stop, shutter speed and ISO. For shutter speed, usually you'll choose something in the range of 1/60 to 1/125 of a second. Remember the dog is usually not very good at maintaining a stoic pose for your convenience and a faster shutter speed may be in order. You will also make sure you maintain that rule-of-thumb that minimally matches your shutter speed to the
millimeters of your lens. So if you are shooting with a 200mm lens you want a minimum shutter speed of 1/200 of a second. A 50mm lens would demand a minimum of about 1/50 sec. If you are using a camera that is not a full-frame camera (most SLRs have a crop sensor formula) then you have to take into account the crop sensor size and add that to your shutter speed. For example, if you are using a lens at 50mm, multiply that by your crop sensor size 1.6 (a common Canon crop sensor size) which would equal 1/80 sec. Next, most portraits are shot with what ever the widest f-stop setting (i.e. f2.8) the camera is capable of. The wider the f-stop, the narrower the depth-of-field which will result in a nice out-of-focus background (bokeh) especially if your subject is set a distance away from any objects in the background. But as I mentioned before, a wide fstop may not get the dog's nose and eyes in focus. You may have to narrow the f-stop a half or full stop to get the full face in focus if that's what you want. Different lenses at different f-stops and different focus distances will have a different depth-of-field. Having a depth-of-field chart at hand will help determine the specifics but you can always take a few test shots and adjust for your intentions. Lastly, choose an ISO that will support your shutter and f-stop decisions. Remember, a lower ISO setting will deliver an image with less noise. Lastly, capture your portrait using the RAW file selection. The RAW file is your negative and for post-processing it is the best file to work with for professionals and amateurs alike.
Illustration 3 – Using the widest (smaller number) f-stop will blur the background in a pleasing sort of way, but it will make focussing more critical. The f2.8 setting removes distractions and sometimes, depending on the lens quality, a pleasing “bokeh� or out-of-focus area can add to the image.
Now it is time to take your image. It is always necessary to have some quality treats and a variety of squeaky toys at hand to get the dog's attention. Once the dog is positioned, try to get the dog to look at the camera. Some dogs may do this naturally but others may need to be convinced with a treat or a squeak. Have the dog's owner/handler stand next to you or behind you and have them hold the toy or treat just above the lens of the camera almost touching it. This will get the dog to make “eye contact” with the lens an create an engaging image. With a little bit of good fortune, you may even get a head tilt with the eye contact. Another thing to try is to throw an article of interest into the air in proximity to the camera. As it comes down near the camera, and with good timing on your part, you may get the dog looking towards the camera. One of my ultimate dog attention-getting tricks is to use an electronic device that is sold to attract coyotes. It consists of a remote control and a separate speaker containing a chip that emits sounds of distressed small animal that a coyote would love to eat. I haven’t yet met a dog who wouldn't respond to that.
Illustration 4 – The image on the left was taken while I was kneeling on the ground and the lens was at the same level as Dot's head. Note the focus and nearly focused areas. This angle provides a view that is not normally seen from humans and adds some 'dignity' to the over-all image. The image on the right was taken with me in the standing position pointing down to Dot's head. This is the view we normally see. Since the camera was pointed down at an angle, the focus plane has shifted to only allow her head and face to be in focus. Also, in the downward position I am using the grass as the uncluttered, simple background. You can use this to your advantage if you don't have any other good background choices.
While getting the dog to look to the camera is great, sometimes it just doesn't work. Getting a pose where the dog is looking off to the side with both the dog's eyes in view (¾ view) can be a great image. In this case, you can have the handler a few feet off to your left or right and have the treat or squeaky positioned so the dog is looking upward slightly. Don't be afraid to try something different. Whatever you can do to get that great portrait is all that matters. All cameras are sold with a disc containing software for you to “develop” your images. You don't have to have the very expensive and difficult to learn Adobe Photoshop. There are many other alternatives and some that are free. But no matter what software you use, there is one thing I want you to consider that effects dogs that are “blue”. As you know, we call a dog “blue” because sometimes when the black and white hairs combine they often have a blue appearance. Sometimes cameras will capture the color of a blue cattle dog as blue. The sensors in the camera will sometimes be confused and actually capture the blue dog with blue colors. I find this very irritating but in one step, I can change the blue dog from a fantasy blue color back to a combination of black and white fur. In your software adjustment toolbox, choose the Hue/Saturation tool. Choose the “Blues” option and then desaturate just the blues in your image. You'll end up with more realistic looking “blue” cattle dogs and you'll also be surprised how much blue tint your camera was interpreting in the image.
Illustration 5 – In this portrait of Mr. Spud, on the left you can see the camera processed the blue cattle dog as BLUE! I don't know about your dogs, but my blues are a mix of black, white and red hairs. To make your blue dog look more realistic, lower the blue saturation with the Hue/Sat tool.
Those are the basics and I hope you find my hints valuable as you try to capture that great portrait. Remember it is not just the equipment but the photographer's knowledge, experience, skill (and luck) that captures the image. Shooting digitally allows you to practice and take many different images with different settings. So, get out and shoot and shoot often. With a little knowledge and a lot of practice you'll soon be capturing many memorable shots. If you have questions, you can contact me using my email, jeff@zingpix.com . You can also visit my site www.zingpix.com . Thanks and keep shooting the dogs (with a camera). Information about me: I started photography in high school and continued to learn and improve little by little. I had a commercial photography course in college, numerous workshops, seminars and read photography related materials for enjoyment. Today I supply advertising agencies, book publishers, magazines, websites and corporate clients with images mostly of dogs. I self-published an Australian Cattle Dog calendar for 2011 and am currently working on a new calendar of working ACDs for 2012. All photographs are Š Jeff Jaquish – www.zingpix.com