Kate captured this action shot of Freya after a dip in the dam.

Tex & Jake

The Morgan boys Tex & Jake dropped in yesterday to say Hello & what a handsome pair they are even in their advancing years. It is wonderful to know they are so well loved and are such valued companions, warms the cockles of the heart!

Congratulations to the Tasmanian Flyballers

I hear that 9 of the dogs from the Tassie teams came home from Sydney with flyball titles. Maudie's Jeanie SARASOTA SENSATION FDX HT was the first dog in Tasmania to attain a FD title & I reckon Greg's Echo SARASOTA WHOS ECHO is the youngest - he is only 13 months old - Congratulations Every-One - it also shows inter-staters how it is possible to organise travel to and from Tasmania -  adding to the confidence to the organisers of the 2012 Border Collie National that it is all possible!
Yesterday was the first day of the Royal Hobart Show & members of the Tasmanian Canine Association manned a Meet and Greet stand, here is a pic of Freya promoting pedigree dogs to families. She had a busy day with heaps of school kids and farmers coming thru the kennel pavilion she is off to do some more PR tomorrow.

What's in a name?

Andrew sent this great pic of Domino a Dallie we bred She certainly was well named. I love to hear the reason people select names for their dogs. You may wonder how I got my moniker..... well my Grand-Father's semen was imported from South Africa & at the time I was a pup Afroman had that hit "Cause I Got High" & Siggy didn't want Tull to call me Riley (she said there was a guy @ school called Riley & she didn't want a Riley sleeping on her bed) So Afro it was.

Colt foal for Carousella

Just after midnight our Hula Chief mare Carousella produced a big strong bay colt by Redoubt's Choice's son Decides. Carousella is twenty years old having been born in 1989, the foal is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Riley Redwing who was born in 1999 and the colt was born on October 9th, 2009, he will be the ninth named foal of his dam. The drought of recent years caused us to reduce our thoroughbred broodmare numbers drastically, such that this year we will only have two foals. We are expecting a Hemingway from the Orpen mare, Be Prepared, in November.

The Smithfield puppies are nearly ready to venture off to their new homes. Born on August 15th, 2009 by Dunorlan Uncle Arthur from Orabanda Popcorn they are an important part of our efforts at Sarasota to preserve the heritage of the Smithfield breed. Described by cynologist  Robert Kaleski as:

"..a big rough-coated, square-bodied dog, with a head like a wedge, a white frill round the neck, and saddle-flap ears; he got over the ground like a native bear. Faithful enough, handy, and sensible; but he couldn't stand the heat and long trips. Besides, he bit like an alligator, and barked like a consumptive. The other faults were bad, but the last was a finisher. How could a man borrow any of his neighbours cattle with an advertisement like that..."
the Smithfield was more suited to Tasmanian conditions than those in the northern regions of NSW & Queensland where it was infused with other breeds to create the Australian Cattle Dog & possibly the Australian Shepherd.
Any one interested in the conservation of the breed, which has become somewhat of a Tasmanian icon, should contact Tull on 0428123864

Sarasota Rainbow Warrior PT