A Christmas Story

Once upon a time there lived a charming little girl named Carla.    Her best and closest friend was named Digby.   He was an adorable bit of silky fluff with four legs, a wagging tail and black intelligent eyes.

Carla and Digby shared a bond without parallel.  Digby was pampered to say the least and enjoyed all the comfort and care a loving owner could bestow.   He slept on Carla's pillow and was bathed and brushed each week.   He ate the best of dog foods and special treats.

One Christmas Eve, Digby was playing with his ball in his shaded fenced garden when a big strong hand reached over the fence and snatched him away from his happy home.  Digby could see Carla calling him earnestly through the back window as the car sped away.

She did not hear his desperate barks.   Carla's continual search for Digby was in vain, but she never forgot her friend and never stopped looking for him.

Digby barked and barked;  he could not control himself.  The man yelled at him to be quiet.  Stunned by the man's gruffness, yet still true to his teachings, he lay motionless.

What had happened?   Digby just did not understand.  The car had travelled many miles; it seemed like a lifetime to Digby.   He now could not control his body from quivering.

Finally the car stopped.   Digby tried to hide under the seat, but that big hand searched him out.   Two young unkempt children ran squealing and yelling to greet them.   They pulled and tugged and pinched Digby.   The man made it clear to the children that the dog could not come in the house.

This was their Christmas present.

The children were very rough with Digby, but delighted in their own way to have a pet.

Darkness soon covered the landscape like a shroud, enveloping everything, including Digby.  He missed his home and Carla desperately.   He spent a tortured tearful night, shivering from cold and hunger.

The children soon tired of their new pet and Digby was virtually left to himself.   They fed him scraps in a dirty foil pan almost every day.

His beautiful silky coat was now dull and knotted and he itched all over.   There was a tiny space in the back of his mind where he faithfully kept his memory of Carla. 

Many months passed by and he was deeply depressed, thin and covered with fleas and sores.

One day he noticed a big fuss going on next door.  People hustling about, some were sobbing and they were all dressed in black.   After a few hours, all became quiet, except for a loud meowing noise.  Digby decided to investigate.   There on the porch of the house next door, he met Mischka.    She was lonely too;  abandoned through the death of her mistress.

Mischka was a master hunter and she taught Digby very well.   Life was taking a change for the better, now that he had a friend and plenty to eat.   Digby had more or less moved in with Mischka and they had a nice warm spot arranged on her porch.

Then it was Christmas Eve, and as they snuggled for warmth and comfort, Digby heard tiny bells ringing.   He jumped up and ran to the edge of the porch.   He looked upward as he heard someone calling his name.   A large and jolly man in a red suit, sporting a long white beard, sitting in a sleigh that was tethered to some sparkling reindeer, magically reached down and pulled Digby into his arms.

"I'm taking you home to Carla" he pronounced, "it is her Christmas wish."

HOME TO CARLA  !!   WAS THIS A DREAM ??

How could he leave without Mischka ?   The man understood and reached down to her.   She scrambled into his arms and away they flew.

Carla was awakened by a very dirty bedraggled but elated Digby.   Carla held him close and squeezed him until he could not breathe !!

The past year was now only a memory to Digby and Carla, and with Mischka they all lived happily ever after.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL !!!

The ANKC official Standard for the Australian Silky Terrier.

I have owned and bred Australian Silky Terriers since 1972 and have studied the Standard and how it defines the Silky. Many breeders and judges have become removed from what the Standard requires and  breed and judge  more to their personal likes and dislikes.

I will endeavour to explain the Standard and hope breeders and judges will pay attention to the Standard and not what is winning at shows. Many times the top winners do not meet the Standard as written, which is now noticeably becoming more and more evident. 

Excuses range from, but he is so showy or I love the silver coat; and the long neck and legs make them look so elegant; or I like the tiny ones; and love the bouncy movement, he looks so happy; or I don't worry about the pug tail, none of them are perfect!

None of the above is in the Standard and in some cases are listed as unacceptable or "must nots".

This is the Australian National Kennel Council approved  Standard of the Australian Silky Terrier as revised in 2009. 

New Babies

Been awhile since I blogged.   
Breeding, whelping and raising babies takes up a lot of time.

The Australian National Kennel Association refused my American Prefix of Centella, but accepted
my second choice of DABNE pronounced dabnee.

My Stella, Ch Allannette Stellar Dream had three babies, a girl and two boys on the 6th June 2019.
Ch Nantiki Mr. Darcy is the Sire and is such a good Daddy.
The girl is named Dabne Miss Georgiana Darcy and has gone to her new home recently.
The boys are named Dabne Mr. Wickham and Dabne Mr. Bingley in keeping with the 'Pride and Prejudice' theme.

I showed them at the Brighton Kennel Club show, just making it at 3 months and one day.  Being their first time out having not left my yard and with little contact with other humans or dogs, I didn't expect too much.
I showed Mr. Wickham in the Baby Sweepstakes on a very cold, windy and rainy day, and Mr Bingley and Mr. Wickham along with their Daddy in the Toy Group later in the day.
Mr. Bingley was Best Baby Puppy and Mr. Darcy was Best of Breed.

The photos from the
Brighton Show are on my
iphone and need to be
downloaded later on.

Mr. Darcy

I once again contacted Jan Boyce, and she had a litter coming, but had promised a bitch and was keeping a bitch for herself, so I said well would she keep me in mind.   

The litter arrived and only two girls and two boys.   I didn't want another boy, but she said I will send you a photo and you can make up your mind.

As soon as I saw his picture, I said I will have him. 

  Here he is all grown up and winning lots of  ribbons and is not only an Australian Champion, but is well on his way to becoming a Grand Champion.   The most adorable little dog with a personality to be envied.   He just turned four years old and we are looking forward to some of his get in the near future.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

USA

I have been absent from my Blog for a long time.   Had a new computer installed and had a lot of
trouble getting my head around all the new functions and spending way too much time searching for
this and that.
Got very frustrating and I " kicked it to the kerb " for a good long time.

I arrived in the USA in February of 1972 and got my first silkys in December of that year.
I imported a male Ch Waitink Tiny Tink (Waiton line) and a female Grajule Sparklet (Lylac line)
from June Chivers of Sydney NSW. 
I named them Tinky and Precious.   They were mated several years later and they had one male.
Ch Centella Lil Fellah ROM.
I later brought into the family Grajule Claudine and she had 4 babies with Tinky.
Centella Sweet Roll ROM was one and  after producing some lovely pups in 3 litters total, was bitten
by a Copperhead snake and died several hours later.   A little bit of me died with her.
She was a very special silky.
Claudine also produced Ch Centella Senorita Chica out of the same litter, who was a big winner.

I travelled throughout the USA in my 28 foot motor home and began a career as a professional
handler and dog show groomer, while at the same time showing my silkys.

I also studied several years at the Texas A&M Veterinary School, in Nutrition, Genetics and
hereditary diseases.   I worked with a veterinarian at the same time, and learned so much from
him.   It was an invaluable experience.

Sadly, my house and kennel burned to the ground in 1980 while I was away and I lost my dearest
Champions Lil Fellah and Senorita Chica.   I lost all my records, books, study notes, and had no
Insurance.   So I was not only homeless, but nowhere to keep my 22 dogs that were left.
A friend kindly ran an ad in the Houston Chronicle and I homed 11 of the dogs that were left.

We lived in a tent on our property for around 6 months, until I sold the land to a neighbor
and built a house in another area. 

I was so traumatised, I pretty much did nothing for another year.   It took 2 years to retrieve most of the dog's registrations.   I had to rely on friends who had show catalogues and thankfully returned
many pictures I had sent them.

I obtained Championships on 13 of my Silkys whilst living in the USA.

I spent 26 years in Texas, before moving back to Tasmania, Australia

I had two girls and an ex-husband and 4 silkys.    The girls and my silkys I brought with me.

When 3 out of my 4 silkys died of old age, I contacted Jan Boyce in NSW and she sent me
a dear little silky CH Nantiki Hot Topic (Tootsie)  and when she reached 12 years, I knew it
was time to get another silky, as the thought of being without a silky at my side was not negotiable.

Next time I will catch up to the present, and now all is working again, I can hopefully make
more entries.

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.