Day 35 - Stacked photos

So on my website, I talk about how I really did this litter for one purpose - to perpetuate solid cattle dogs and strong working ability. But one must remember that while I believe that this should be the Aussie's primary purpose, and the primary thought in your mind when breeding (again, this is *my* belief, no knocking other's opinions), I also have this goal of one day being a breeder judge for conformation. I started out as a conformation person - my first dog was just a couple points from his championship when he died. My second dog wasn't doing anything so I neutered him. My current dog, Fury, isn't so bad except she's tiny and she has a butterfly nose (okay, quick quiz, dear readers - what's that mean?) . . . . ......................................... if you said pink spots, you'd be right! Anyway, these two faults (size isn't really a fault, but trust me, it affects you) keep me from trying Fury out at certain shows. But I have handled a lot of dogs to their championships. What I need is to breed a couple.

On that note, I don't think anyone's going to have a butterfly nose at this point. They all have plenty of pigment where it counts, maybe Daca is cause for concern, but even then, she's got liver all along the top and that seems to fill in pretty healthily.

Anyway, in this day and age, how do you do that with working dogs? They really do look very different from conformation judges and we all get used to a certain look. I've seen judges put up nice working dogs and I believe in it. So if I stumble across a couple homes who are willing to give it a shot? SWEET! If they are local to California, I may just steal some puppies for weekends. I already have that deal with at least one home. You can be dang sure I will be doing it with Yishai's puppy (he says he is all about agility and stock handling, but no way is he doing the dog show thing).

So, by popular request, we have stacking photos. I actually did two sessions. They were taken by non-dog folks not familiar with my camera. The puppies were not into it. I would love people's opinions. I have not evaluated a litter for a very long time. Puppies are haaaaaaaaaaard.

First up, we have Miss Daca.

I think Daca is going to end up just like Fury. Same markings, same ear set, same head shape. She's got a nice, solid front, but she's a little light in bone.
I think she has some decent rear angulation compared to some of the other puppies in the litter, again, something Fury's got. I was actually running with the Furball today and she ran through a puddle and we singletracked the whole way home. Very efficient gait, Fury has. Sometimes I feel like Daca's a bit square, though - and I don't think she looks like that here in the photo. I don't know if it's the shorter neck or her coloring or what. Like her topline and neck arch.

NONE of the puppies stood for the rear shots. Anyway, looks pretty good to me.

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And then we have Mr. Earthquake, Terra Moto.

Motzi is my bet for a versatility dog right now. He's got some decent bone to him, nice masculine head with nice ears (I think they'll end up the traditional triangle set). Deep chest. He's running a little uphill right now, but remember, they're five weeks old.

Rear - I think it's nice.
Lean much? Nice toe arch and he's nice and straight, but not too much. Love his masculine head.

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And Mr. Tara Reid:

Poor Reidipoo did not get very good shots. If you imagine him straightening up, he really has some nice, functional angulation, good croup angle, solid topline, good neck arch - though I think it's a little short. That's a solid rear.
"I lick you?" Solid front, thankyouverymuch. Also - triangle ears, I betcha.

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Fie Dog:Dang, she was hard to pose. Did not want to stand up for the life of me. I know that ear looks white, but it's not. Kinda straighter on the angulation, this one. Also, pretty lightly built. Takes after Mom. Nice topline, nice neck.

Rear! The rears on this litter are quite nice. Not surprised, though. Working dogs tend to have nice rears - they have to rock back and such so I think sometimes performance naturally selects for that. I love watching Fury from behind.

I'm pretty much manipulating her in this shot. She's not that easty-westy. Love the head.

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Tara Firma - the little Dirt Dawg!She's got some bone to her, this one. And she's also running a little uphill according to her growth pattern. Not so worried about it. Also one of the better angulated puppies, I think. Nice rear. Surprise.

Nice front, if a bit wide here. Also like her head. Ears are smallish like Daca's, probably will have Fury's ear set.

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And it's not the last, it's the first: Optimus PrimeNice topline, a little straighter on the angulation, but not so much that I'd say it was "straight." She's very balanced at this stage.

Butts! Like.

Good front. Like! Love her expressions. "I hate this." I think she'll end up with traditional triangle ears, too.