AKC Australian Shepherds
TICA registered Pixie Bob Kittens
AKC Australian Shepherds
TICA registered Pixie Bob Kittens
About Us
AKC Standard Australian Shepherds
We are a small breeder on a farm in Touchet Wa. of Standard Australian Shepherds.
We work hard to make a better dog that is out going, brave, fun loving and just all around a happy puppy. Because of that, we work with the puppies from day 1 using hands on from touching their ears, paws and giving them love. We have been very successful in breeding dogs that adapt to their environment. We have lots of space for our dogs to run, play and
we plan every litter with best in mind!
Our puppies are for wonderful pet homes only and sell breeding stock puppies on a select basis only.
OUR DOGS RANGE FROM 48 LBS UP TO 70LBS
~18 INCHES UP TO 22 INCHES
About the Australian Shepherd
An active yet easy-going dog, the Australian shepherd loves to romp with children and tends to get along well with other pets.
Australian Shepherd At a glance
Australian shepherds are great family pets, herding animals, police dogs and competitors in obedience trials.
Size:
Weight Range:
Male: 50-65 lbs.
Female: 40-55 lbs.
Height at Withers:
Male: 22 in.
Female: 20 in.
Expectations:
Exercise Requirements: >40 minutes/day
Energy Level: Very energetic
Longevity Range: 12-14 yrs.
Tendency to Drool: None Tendency to Dig: Low Social/Attention Needs: High
Bred For:
Livestock herding
Coat:
Length: Medium
Characteristics: Double coat, straight
Colors: Black, red, blue merle, red merle, all with or without tan, and with or without white
Overall Grooming Needs: Moderate
Club Recognition:
AKC Classification: Herding
ASDR Classification: Herding Dog
Australian shepherds are medium-sized dogs with a solid build and low center of gravity.
They are about 18 to 23 inches in height, and weigh from about 40 to 60 pounds (18 to 27 kilograms). Males generally are taller and heavier than females. Aussies live about 10 to 12 years.
Aussies have a lush, medium-length coat that is straight or slightly wavy. They have feathering on the back of the legs and a generous mane around the neck. Coat colors vary and might be blue or red merle or red or black tricolor, all with white and/or tan markings. Most Aussies have a naturally short tail, but sometimes tails are docked if longer than four inches.
Personality:
Aussies are active yet easy-going dogs that love to romp with children. They tend to get along well with other pets. The breed is considered highly intelligent and easy to train. Aussies are known for being especially eager to please their owners.
True to their herding instincts, Aussies are very protective of their families and territory and will let you know if strangers approach, but they are not considered aggressive.
Living With:
Australian shepherds, particularly those from working lines of the breed, are active dogs that need to be busy. Left alone and confined, they become unhappy and can be destructive. They are best suited to country living or, at the very least, should have a large fenced yard and owners who want to spend time with their dog.
Aussies are considered average shedders. Despite their lush coat, weekly brushing with a bristle brush and bathing occasionally as needed will keep their coats nice and help prevent matting.
History:
Historical reports on the origin of the Australian shepherd vary widely among various sources. According to one theory, Aussies were entirely developed in the United States to work on ranches. Their ancestors may have been Spanish herding dogs that originated in the Basque region of Spain and France and were brought to the United States with herds of Merino sheep during the early colonial days. Collie may also be in the background of the breed. The dogs are called Australian shepherds only because they were associated with Basque shepherds that came from Australia to the United States in the 1800s.
Besides working as herding animals, Aussies serve as police dogs, narcotics detectors and competitors in obedience trials. They also make great family pets. They are a recent addition to the AKC herding group; some Aussie breeders fear AKC recognition may create undue emphasis on appearance over ability. The Australian Shepherd Club of America was the main registry of Aussies before AKC recognition and remains a powerful force in the breed.
TICA Registered Pixie Bobs
We are a small breeder on a farm in Touchet Washington of Pixie Bob kittens. The love for this breed came when I bought my first Pixie and the personality of this breed is amazing. I handle each kitten from every litter from the day they are born to give them the love and security as they grow. By the time they leave my home they are outgoing, loving and friendly and also raised with Dogs. Most of all funny and entertaining.
About The Pixiebob
This is the history of the Pixiebob told by the founder of the breed, Carol Ann Brewer.
In the spring of 1985 , Carol Ann Brewer purchased a polydactyl spotted male kitten, having a short tail and a spotted coat, from a couple who lived near the foothills of Mount Baker , in the Cascade Range .
In January of 1986 , she rescued a large classic patterned male cat having a bobcat-like tail, weighing 17 pounds, though he was starving to death. He was so tall it was noted that his back reached to Carol Ann's knees. She thankfully has photos of this.
In April of 1986 , a litter was born from this large male, whom we named Keba, and a female cat (Maggie) who was living next door. The litter was given to Carol Ann, from which a kitten was chosen and named Pixie, for her ethereal appearance.
By 1987 , Carol Ann realized that she had really never seen another cat similar to Pixie, who was now a year old, though she continued to seek cats with this wild bobcat-like appearance. She began to be concerned about being able to find another such cat, should something happen to Pixie. It was then determined that she would have to make more cats like her, as none were to be found anywhere. Therefore, a program unofficially began, to “make a thousand more like her”.
After creating a standard in 1989 reflecting the traits Carol Ann observed being reproduced in great consistency, the name Pixiebob was finally chosen for the breed (named after the first kitten born from two of her first Legend Cats), and soon, a goal was set into place to see the breed accepted by the three largest cat associations.
In 1993 , Carol Ann approached The International Cat Association, because it was the first place she needed to bring her breed. Another breed of cat, which had it's own look and development, contained breeders who decided they liked the look of the Pixiebob better than that of their own breed. Therefore, Carol Ann had no choice but to seek acceptance in this association first, in order to protect her own standard and cats' unique appearance, as time was of the essence.
In 1994 , after The International Cat Association did a great deal of research, it was decided that the Pixiebob was a unique breed which deserved to be considered for acceptance, therefore, the breed was allowed into “Exhibition” category in TICA. To be honest, this was not accomplished without some reservation on the parts of some of the Board members, however, in a short amount of time, all concerns completely vanished and we watched the support for the breed grow, as judges began to handle the cats.
In 1995 , breeders joined together to petition for the Pixiebob to be accepted into the NBC category, (New Breed Color) in TICA, for the 1996 show year, and the vote was overwhelmingly in favor of the breed's advancement.
In 1996 , the Pixiebob breeders joined together to divide up the regions between themselves, including Europe, for the purpose of insuring that the breed was exhibited at every important show in each region until all the requirements for attaining Championship status were met.
Finally, in 1997 , the many united Pixiebob breeders approached TICA once again, to request advancement into Championship status , which was given to the Pixiebob for the 1998 show year. The vote was unanimous in favor of this move.
Today, joining with the Pixiebob Advancement Board are 20 more Pixiebob breeders, who have pledged their support, having the insight to realize that the Pixiebob is not yet a fully accepted breed until it is known and welcomed into the two largest and oldest associations. These breeders have found the desire and drive, despite their busy lives, to now help us in seeking recognition and acceptance of the Pixiebob into ACFA. The Pixiebob Advancement Board consisting of Shari Fedewa, Mary Gilbert, Christine Humphreys, and breed founder, Carol Ann Brewer, has worked hard in behalf of our breed group, to bring the Pixiebob breed forward for you to consider.
Seeing the many different wild bobcat resembling traits and characteristics, and the wonderful loving, devoted and entertaining personality, a great many Pixiebob breeders (who have worked so diligently), feel that the Pixiebob has earned a unique place in the cat world and in history.
From the beginning of the program in 1985/86:
to 1993, when the breed was brought to the attention of The International Cat Association, and a year-long study was done to see if the Pixiebob could be likened to another breed; to 1994, when the study was finished and the head of genetics in TICA was able to see a prime example of the breed and declare that she had never seen anything like it; the answer has always been ‘no', regarding whether the Pixiebob resembled or should resemble any other breed whatsoever ;
rather, the Pixiebob has made great strides in being accepted as a completely new and unique breed .
From Sept 1993 to May 1998, (when the Pixiebob finally entered the Championship ring), 5 long, hard years of work went into gaining the trust of those who would be our leaders and peers in TICA. Now we are looking to find additional leaders and peers in ACFA, “The Friendly Association”, with which we have some experience now, enough to know that the motto is more correct than we could have imagined. We also believe that if Regional Board of Directors chooses to recognize and accept the Pixiebob into ACFA, that the association will benefit from the funds that will pour in, not only though individual and litter registrations, but through the many, many show entries that will come flooding in once the Pixiebob is eligible to be in the ring.
Our mainstream Pixiebob breeders are reputable, very hard working, conscientious and devoted to the promotion of the breed. There are a great many Pixiebob breeders who take exhibiting their cats very seriously! They are very proud of the cat breed that “was given” to us with all it's beauty and charm. And our breeders stand solidly behind the Pixiebob as being a beautiful, healthy, loving breed.
The Pixiebob, as a breed today, has absolutely *no known genetics faults because of their incredible genetic diversity. This was proven through DNA testing done in 1996 by Stormant Labs, in California , on all of the foundation cats brought into TICA. The cats are very dog-like, being tractable, loving, devoted to their families, extremely intelligent, fearless, who love to walk on a leash and ride in the car. These traits have been spoken of regarding the Pixiebob since 1992, when newsletters were printed about the breed. Nothing has changed since then. The standard remains virtually the same, with only some minor clarification and refinement over the years.
The Pixiebob is an Enigma ---fitting the description very well, being defined as
“a puzzle wrapped in a mystery” ---it is a domestic cat, very much like a bobcat in many ways. And their behavior is so unique, it only lends to the puzzle. That the original breeders originallybelieved the legend about bobcats mating with domestics is perfectly understandable, because although it is a breed seemingly created out of nothing, it is here, nonetheless, having a wonderful bobcat-like appearance and the temperament of a dog. Therefore, after being 20 years in development, we are now proud to bring the Pixiebob before ACFA's Officers and Board of Directors for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Carol Ann Brewer, breed founder, Washington