Bits ABOUT ME

My Grandfather Gillon had a little "Sydney Silky" (as called back then in the 1940's), and every time my Dad would go over there it would nip at his heels and Dad hated that dog.  Needs training, he would say.   Our property and my Grandparents' property backed onto one another, covering an area between two streets.   We had stables, where Dad kept pacing horses, and he would drive  them back and forth from Elwick Racecourse attached to their jinkers.   We also had a large vegie garden and Dad had his chickens and Mum had her bantams.   So I grew up amid animals and a city/country life.  Our property is now a concrete parking lot for Woolworths and our house is a shop and my Grandparents' house is completely gone.   Progress they call it !!!
  Dad had two red Kelpies that he showed and dearly loved, especially Flash.   He talked about him until the day he died.   The bitch was named Flame.   Sadly, both died with distemper and Dad never owned a show dog again.  Back then there were no vaccinations.    I don't think he ever got over it.

 Dad continued his interest in the shows and kept, trained and showed other peoples' dogs and often advised Judges, at their request, while serving as a Ring Steward.

  He also had an Australian Terrier named Snoop and I watched her litter be born in amongst some hay in the stable.   That's how it was back in the 1940's.  She had 3 puppies, two were sold and they kept a boy, named Ricky.   He was later re-homed and we just had Snoop then.   She was the best ratter and definitely earned her keep.   Dad bragged a lot about her too.   Here I am with my brothers at the old place with Flash and Flame, and a few photos of Flash and Flame by themselves.

That is Flash on the left and Flame on the right with myself and my brothers.

This is Flash in the top photo and Flame bottom left and Snoop and her baby Ricky (Australian Terriers) circa 1947.

The next picture is of me at the Royal Hobart Showgrounds with my first show dog....Colliehaven Regal Duke.   Circa 1958.   Picture take by the Mercury Newspaper.

Next time my involvement with Silky Terriers and 26 years spent in the USA.

 

A few more helpful hints.

 Just a couple of ideas that may work for you.
If you are having a problem with sunburn on your silky's coat or any other long coated breed, you can move the parting from the centre, a few centimeters either to the left or right, that way when show day comes, you can part it back down the centre line and the sunburned coat will disappear underneath.

Training a new puppy, or raising a home born litter,  hold the puppy a  lot and touch face, inside of mouth, around the gums,  top of head and ears along with feet, nails, tail and the underside as much as possible.   No use waiting until they are at training classes or their first baby puppy exhibit.  It will be a long struggle to get the puppy used to being handled with ease by a judge or for veterinary care.  
The first time I took my silky to the vet. for a check up and shots, he stood in a perfect show stand on the table for the full exam and shots.   The vet was amazed.  She had never seen such a well behaved dog.   He was used to being handled from the day he was born and handled a lot when he came to me at 10 weeks.  

You cannot successfully train a dog without eye contact.   That should be encouraged as soon as the eyes open or as soon as you are in possession of the puppy.   To do that try to get the pups attention with a toy, ball or treat.   Let them smell or mouth it, then move it slowly away toward your own eyes, until they follow the item all the way from them to you.  Then once the puppy locks eyes with you, give them the treat or toy.  NEVER reward a puppy until they do what you are asking them to do.   May take a few times, but they soon figure out how to get what they want, which is the treat.   Only ever feed them that treat when training.  Once you have eye contact with your puppy, that places you in control.   All dogs need a leader for their health and well-being.   Always be training.  Such as don't just throw the ball and wander off.   Stay and call, "bring it" and when they do give them a treat.   Gradually, you will be able to fore-go the treat for a "good dog" and a pat.

When out for a walk, let the puppy sniff and wander on a loose lead.   At the end of the walk pull the collar up under the chin and straighten the lead where the puppy has to walk with the head in a high position, and finish up the walk.   Stop and get the puppy's attention (eye contact) and "stay".
Then give the treat.

The next few Blogs,  I will fill in the "about me" section and post a few pictures from the "good old days".  Also some of my background experience in dog training, showing, grooming etc.

A few helpful hints.

Since I have been without a computer and phone for a long time, while the powers that be fixed lines and more lines to our NBN hook-up, I haven't been able to do any more research on the first silky shows, so I am going to make this post about some helpful hints.  

When buying your first puppy and have set your mind on a certain breed,  do as much research as possible from the internet, breeders at the shows, and books.   Once fully educated, and you make your choice of puppies offered, ask many questions of the breeder as to its' health, parentage, training and known hereditary diseases (which you should know if there are any common to the breed from your previous research), and especially grooming.   If you are not satisfied with the answers, you should abandon this choice even though the puppies are ever so cute.   Don't be in a rush to get A puppy.  You will have to tend to and care for this puppy for around 14 to 16 years, so choose carefully.

NEVER encourage biting (even in play).  Once a puppy lays its' teeth on you at any time for any reason, stop what you are doing and say NO BITING in a firm but calm way.   If the puppy persists, put them away on their own in their crate or bed and totally ignore them for at least an hour.  May take a few times, but patience, patience and more patience.   NEVER lay an angry rough hand on your pup.  NEVER yell !!!   NEVER reward bad behavior, by taking notice of it.   Ignore bad behavior and reward good.  They soon learn what gets them the most attention. Always, calm and assertive.


 Brushing and grooming should always be done on a table and the puppy encouraged to "be still".  If you are lucky enough to have a show quality puppy, investing in a small grooming table with a noose or lead attachment would be worthwhile.   So helpful in training and gets them used to being above the ground, when in the show ring they have to be displayed on a table and will feel secure if trained at home beforehand.   At first keep the brushing and grooming to a few minutes a couple of times a day.   Remember:  Brushing with a natural hog bristle brush (men's brush as the bristle are shorter and stiffer) is all that is needed for a silky terrier coat.   Bathing can be as little as when needed.  The brushing promotes blood supply to the skin and rids the coat of dirt and dead hair.   Since a silky does not shed,  the hair still dies off and must be brushed out or it will knot and that leads to many other problems.   Bathing too much washes out the natural oils and can leave the skin dry and itchy.
ALWAYS cut your shampoo and conditioner to a 50-50 radius mixed with water.
ALWAYS  rinse, rinse and rinse again.   Shampoo left in the dog's hair or on their skin can lead to yeast infections or other bacterial infections (hot spots, rashes etc).

Well, that is all for this week.  Back again next week, with a few more "helpful" hints.

The Australian Terrier

Just came across some interesting facts about the Australian Terrier (whose genes are in  our silky terriers).

Firstly, I am guessing that the rough terrier, first exhibited in the first Canine Exhibition on 12th November, 1862, was the fore-runner of the Australian Terrier.   There were 18 rough terriers exhibited at that first show.   Quite a lot really, considering the total entries.
So in search of the first show where the soft or silky coated terrier first appeared, I found the following:-
in the Mercury dated 27 March, 1890

THE AUSTRALIAN TERRIER

 The "doggy world" is excited just now over the Australian terrier.  This is a wiry-haired little animal that has been evolved in the colony.  Mr. Coupe, the judge at the Victorian dog shows, declares him to be a mongrel, and has a real John Hull kind of contempt for him.   But, to the horror of Mr. Coupe and all his friends,  Lord Hopetoun has actually bought two of the breed, and everyone is anxious to know if he is going to exhibit them, and if he does whether the uncompromising Mr. Coupe will turn them out of the ring as he has always done hitherto.  Dog fancying in Melbourne is progressing vastly.  

However, in the Mercury, 22 August, 1895 at the Tasmanian Poultry and Dog Society Show there were 8 Blue and Tan or Sandy Rough Terrier entries.   So it would seem that 5 years hence, the Australian Terrier was still being names Rough Terrier, but with the addition of Sandy, not seen before.  

So then jump ahead to 1903 at the Kempton Poultry and Farm Produce Society Show, held on the 19th August, 1903 the entries were named Blue and Tan Terrier (dropping the term Rough).

I hope by my next post I will have found some soft/silky coated terriers in the show ring in Tasmania.

The first show in Northern Tasmania

Five years have gone by now to 22 September, 1867 where the first Northern Tasmanian Poultry and Dog Society Show was held.

Then onto Friday, the 10th of October, 1873, as printed in the Mercury, the first Campbell Town Poultry and Dog Show was held.
As written.."Poultry and Dog Shows are daily becoming increasingly popular.
Hobart Town and Launceston having initiated the movement, Campbell Town followed suit, holding a very successful Show."

Amongst the entries of Spaniels, Greyhounds, Setters etc. I noticed one entry of particular note.
Kangaroo - dogs and Kangaroo - sluts.   This term "sluts" was apparently used for "bitches" at the time or changed from bitches since the first show in 1862, where the females were labelled " bitches."
I have been wondering if this term may have been applied to wayward wenches (humans), who were a little too promiscuous, in later years and often heard used even today.
The other entry that peaked my interest, was the Scotch Colley...now known as the rough or smooth collie.  
If anyone has an idea about the breed Kangaroo (canine that is) please feel free to leave a comment.

Up until this point, I have not seen any entries of soft or silky coated terriers, just rough terriers, which were most likely the fore-runners of the Australian Terrier.  

I hopefully, will have found one or both entered in a show as my research moves along. 

I discovered recently from a sight hound owner who once owned a  kangaroo dog.  He said his was crossed between a Greyhound and a Great Dane.   He said his was huge and could run like the wind and fell a full size kangaroo in one strike.   They are not recognized as a breed, rather a type and breeders have never shown any interest in trying to register them with the ANKC.  

If interested the full history of this breed can be seen on Google...Kangaroo Dog.

The first Dog Show in Australia

This,  the first Dog Show in the Australian Colonies,  was a huge event back on the 12th of November, 1862.
The following is the "write up" in the Mercury on the 13th of November, 1862.

                                             CANINE EXHIBITION

The dog is proverbially the companion and friend of man in all climes.   He is marked amongst what is called the brute creation, for his desertion of his own species to attach himself to man.  He is domesticated in our homes, the courageous sharer in our dangers, and the faithful comrade in our sports.   Yet, the family of dogs has its disreputable members as well as the family of men.  And the lovers of this noble animal would be glad to see the breed free from the perpetuation of the useless non-descript curs, that are to be met with at every corner, and in every gutter; not only thoroughly useless , but in many cases mischievous pests; and even sometimes to cause loss of valuable life, as in the case occurring not so many months ago in Melbourne, where a worthless cur sallying out from some hole or other, at the heels of the horse of a gentleman of high military rank was the cause of death to that gallant officer.
A Society having for its objects the improvement of the breed of dogs, and an attempt to check the multiplication of the aforesaid mongrels, has initiated an exhibition of a somewhat novel character, (at least in these parts) in the shape of a real bona fide Dog Show, which, accordingly, took place yesterday, at Moore's Horse Bazaar in Liverpool-street.

***This we may note is the first Dog Show that has been held in the Australian Colonies.

In the said locality, with which most of our readers are no doubt familiar, might therefore be seen a large congregation of these true philanthropists (we use the word in its literal signification); big dogs, little dogs, handsome and ugly dogs (though not ugly in the conventional sense), dogs with curly tails, and dogs without any tails to speak of , dogs cheerful, dogs of a morose turn of mind; in fact no end of dogs.   The whole pack, too, keeping up a continual chorus (for no solos were to be thought of, or suffered for a moment) in a charming variety of keys, with more modulations and occidentals than ever a composer thought of; the general purpose of each chorus being apparently to express their decided objection to being where they were, and a universal wish to be "over the hills and far away"  or in any other indefinite locality.   There was one noticeable exception to the rule of impatient remonstrance however, in the shape of one of the most patriarchal looking dogs ever seen, a beautiful Setter rejoicing in the name of "Hector" and which evidently considered it to be his duty to maintain his dignity properly, but at the same time to exercise a proper amount of calm forbearance towards the petulance of his peers.   But to go into canicular details; the entries were numerous, as will be seen from the following list, to which we append the prizes awarded by the judges, such prizes being denoted by the figures, 1st and 2nd attached to the respective entries

***Here to save time and space I will list all the entries in groups...................

16 Setters   - 1 Imported.    10 Pointers  -  2 Imported.     Other Field Dogs - 1 Hound, 4 Harriers, 2 Beagles and 1 Retriever.   5 Bull Dogs - 2 Imported.    9 Bull Terriers  -  4 Imported.    18 Rough Terriers - 2 Imported.    13 Smooth Terriers.   2 Fox Terriers - 1 Imported.   2 Newfoundlands - 1 Imported.  2 Sheep Dogs.   1 Esquineaux Dog.   2 Poodles - 1 Imported  and 1 Breed Unknown.

Then the Article continued with a summary..............

Not assuming to be in any way competent judges we leave the merits and demerits of the respective breeds on the decisions above given, merely remarking that to all interested in such matters the exhibition was no doubt highly gratifying, and even to those perfectly uninitiated the genus is so favorably familiar, that pleasure could be derived by all from a visit.  From such cause no doubt the attendance throughout the day was tolerably numerous, and the fair sex contributed their presence to the scene.
Of course on such an occasion the animals sent are supposed to be amongst the best of their respective species; and therefore in all some real or comparative beauty or merit may be found; but some peculiarities strike the eye more than others.   We could not help noticing a truly fine bull-dog with an honorable scar-covered nose, about half an inch long and most particularly turn up; but nevertheless said bull-dog being of a most benevolent disposition towards the public generally.
Then in contradistinction to his majesty of dogs, might be noticed a spaniel with magnificent ears, reminding one only of Brobdiguagian  nettled silk purses.  To our patriarchal setter friend Hector we have already alluded.   One dog called an Esquimaux Poodle (if we remember rightly) was remarkable for his woolly coat trailing to the ground, and if he had been a little bigger might have passed very well for a  brown sheep.
There was one sheep dog too, a real Smithfield colley, we warrant; for on suggesting to him privately to "turn 'em down Hosier Lane, he expressed his perfect willingness to do so as far as dog could.
The mutilation of the ears of which folks are now beginning to see the evil, was sadly apparent in two terrier pups; entirely marring them.
And now we leave the Canine Exhibition with a good wish for the furtherance of the objects of the Society.

                                                    _______________________

The first dog show.

This in the Mercury, Wednesday 22 October,1862.

CANINE EXHIBITION - In our advertising columns will be found the notification of the first
exhibition of dogs in Tasmania, which will take place at Mr. Moore's Horse Bazaar, on the 12th of next month, and when prizes will be awarded to the owners of the best bred dogs, of both sexes, (also to whelps under six months old) of any distinct variety or breed, provided they are of sufficient merit.  For the regulations of the show we must refer our readers to the advertisement, where they will find them duly set forth but we cannot omit observing that the object of the society for the improvement of the breed of dogs is a praiseworthy one as holding out an inducement to owners of dogs to cultivate a good breed of these useful animals.  We wish too that the society could adopt some efficient means of ridding the city of the numerous useless curs, which are permitted to prowl about the streets to the annoyance and even injury of the passers by.   We are aware that there is a law to punish persons who allow their dogs to roam about "unprotected", but the machinery to put this law in force is somewhat cumbersome, and if some more prompt measure of prohibition could be adopted, it would be a decided benefit to the citizens.   We look forward to the forthcoming show with some interest, and hope that the breeders of good dogs will not "be backward in coming forward"on this first exhibition of the kind in the colony.

and the Advertisement :

CANINE EXHIBITION. The First Exhibition of DOGS in Tasmania will be held at Mr. Moore's Horse Bazaar, Hobart Town, on 12th November next, when Prizes will be awarded to the owners of the best bred Dogs of both sexes (also to Whelps under six months old) of any distinct variety or breed, provided they are of sufficient merit.
Competitors must forward their entries to the Thatched House, Collins-street, on or before the 5th November, stating the breed, sex, age, and color of their Dogs, also whether bred in the colony or imported.   All Dogs must be delivered at the place of Exhibition by nine o'clock a.m., 12th November, and be provided with suitable chains and collars for their security.
The gates will be open from 12 o'clock at noon till 6 o'clock p.m. on the day of the Show, during which time a full and efficient Band will be in attendance.
                                                      Admission, 1 shilling   Children, half-price.

                                                                                                       J. HUTCHINSON,
                                                                                                               Hon. Sec.

Next week I will share the commentary and results of the first dog show held in the Australian Colonies - IN TASMANIA on the 12th November 1862 !!

Australian Silky Terriers in Tasmania

This is a copy of a newspaper clipping from the Mercury, featuring a photo of my great, great grandfather's masonry business in Macquarie Street, Hobart circa 1860 - 1880.  Right in the bottom front you will see one of the first silky coated terriers, being developed as a breed in Tasmania, with "flop ears".  So this breed has been in my family since those early days - now known and refined into the Australian Silky Terrier. 

Welcome

Welcome to my blog. My name is Jan and I own Centella Silky Terriers. I have been showing and breeding pure bred Australian Silky Terriers since 1972.

On this blog, I'll be sharing stories, tips and information on Australian Silky Terriers including dog shows. Also, I will be posting some of my handy home improvements ideas and other parts of my daily doings.

I look forward to posting my next article soon.

Cheers,

Jan