The Curious Compendium 2023 Tour Finale: Australian shepherds!

Saarlooswolfhound wrote:

Thank you both!

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], if I am looking at the right model- the figute you like is the Newray that is a custom repaint by myself (fawn is the color name)

Very great custom, looks like an official figure, and fawn really suits this breed, very elegant

I also like your Pointers, would love to see schleich make one in the future. :)

What is your favorite dog breed?
Mine is the Lagotto Romagnolo, would love to see them made by the toy companies.

Wonder how the schleich golden doodle would look as a custom Lagotto Romagnolo.

Also I have a special heart for basset hounds. :)

Thank you both!

Oh man... I am a canid enthusiast and I really love a variety of dog breeds. As a pet for myself I really love my Decker Rat Terrier as he suits my personality etc. really well. I hope to own a longtime favorite someday- an Ibizan hound or even an Irish Wolfhound. But I also love the very rare Saarloos Wolfhound (hence my screenname) as it retains the remnants of European gray wolf genetics that were largely lost due to extirpation. But again, I am a HUGE canine lover whether it be wild or domestic animals.

Goldfish and carp!
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Goldfish were originally domesticated in China about 1,000 years ago from wild Crucian carp, they were considered a symbol of good luck and good fortune during the Song dynasty. They later spread to Japan during the Muromachi period and became popular; the first English mention was in 1711 via a drawing by botanist James Petiver; they weren't introduced to the US until about the 1800s and were first mentioned in Webster's dictionary in 1817. The oldest ever in captivity got to be 48! Most stay small but they can grow to be over 18 inches long! They have a great memory, can be taught tricks, and even recognize people.

I struggled to find information on domestic carp but here goes...Romans are suspected of the first "captive carp"; farming spread to Europe between the 13th and 16th centuries. They are still widely farmed today both for food and "colored" carp as pets. Japanese "nishikigoi" can go for INSANE prices at auction (think along the lines of race horses). In 2018, S Legend (a Kohaku variety koi) sold for $1.8 BILLION dollars!

Beautiful selection of English pointers-our current dog is part pointer! I hope I don't upset but the New Rays and the little bowing brown Schelich dog are to me German Short haired Pointers due to the colouring and the short tails.
You have an amazing collection of goldfish and carp! I have about 2 or 3 I can think of.
When I was younger I used to keep fancy goldfish both indoor and outdoor and they were a very relaxing hobby.

Beautiful fish! Wow I knew some koi could be expensive, but that is insane!!

Amazing models again!

Thank you everyone! I would like to share what sbell shared over on the ATF as this was moreso the info I was looking for last night while making this post but frustratingly couldn't find...
"It turns out there are multiple species of carp identified now.

The European carp Cyprinus carpio is now considered separate from Crypinus rubofuscus, the Amur carp, which is probably the origin of domestic koi.

And since most carp figures are koi or Japanese/Chinese in origin, most figures are probably the Amur carp.

The Bullyland and some French ones are probably the exception if only by geographic origin"

And [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], please NEVER worry about upsetting me! My brain honestly doesn't work the way it used to and I really do appreciate your insight! Usually, its the case where I should have known/remembered that but my broken brain slid that information away while I prepare my photos and informational commentary...

In this case I will make that adjustment with the photo and for my website- and again, THANK YOU for the gentle correction. :)

Nice Goldfish collection. :)

Thank you for sharing also personal preference about your favorite dogs.

I looked some of them up, nice to learn something new today. :)

The Ibizan hound looks very cool, would love to see some figures made for them. I really like the way their ears look. They would look very nice next to a Mawari Horse. :)

Thanks Moehe, and I would love to see models made of Ibizan hounds!

Boxers!
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Another ancient breed believed to be descended from the extinct Molossian dogs of Rome- in ancient times boxers and their Molossian cousins were used for war by the Assyrians. The breed as we know it in modern times was refined in Germany in the 1800s. At this time, just like other "bully type" dogs they were used as an aide to help in controlling cattle (i.e. in city environments such as at the butchers) and for the bull baiting sport. It wasn't until 1951 when Bang Away won best in show at Westminster that they gained popularity. The breed is generally considered intelligent, playful, energetic, and family loving depsite their sometimes intimidating appearance. They need lots of opportunities to excercise! The modern breed does suffer from a littany of health concerns- hopefully someday this breed too can benefit from breed renovation to move away from these issues.

Saarlooswolfhound wrote:

Thanks Moehe, and I would love to see models made of Ibizan hounds!

Boxers!
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What is the brand of Top right? and boxer below it

Beautiful array of Boxers
Nice to see a white Boxer as well-do you know the maker?

Nice boxers! I was always scared of dogs as a kid because our neighbors had extremely aggressive ones. However our neighbor on the other side of the house had a very sweet Boxer named Max that would bark at everyone except my sister and I. He would always come up to the fence so we could pet him through it. Very beautiful dogs. Sad that they are a breed where their tails are cropped. I never understood why people did that.

@Nasreddin- the top boxer is from a boxed set off of Amazon called Stargo, thr one below it is Chap Mei.

@Taos- the white boxer is the New Ray, its been custom repainted by myself as when I got it (years ago) it wasn't in the best paint condition.

Thank you,Paige.

Joliezac wrote:

Nice boxers! I was always scared of dogs as a kid because our neighbors had extremely aggressive ones. However our neighbor on the other side of the house had a very sweet Boxer named Max that would bark at everyone except my sister and I. He would always come up to the fence so we could pet him through it. Very beautiful dogs. Sad that they are a breed where their tails are cropped. I never understood why people did that.

The original purpose of cropping ears and tails was actually for the dogs health- for example in working breeds that herd/gaurd livestock if a tail got stepped on that not only would be very painful but could be a death sentence if it got infected. In other breeds at the time, ears and tails would be cropped for blood sport dogs as it reduced the things an opponent could latch onto and tear.

Today, cropping and docking is largely unneccesary for most dogs if they are not working animals (aka pets). For one- it may be done to continue AKC style breed standards, and for two- should be done by licensed breeders and/or veterinarians. But too often it ends up being a "home job" and is done unethically (i.e. a pair of scissors or other household items). My cocker spaniel for instance, he has a very short nub of a tail which I feel is much too short for the breed standard and was probably done by an inexperienced breeder (it has a lot of scarring). Too often in breeds like boxers or doberman pinschers it gets done to make the dog "look tough". In "pitbulls"  they often get the entire ear flap cut off- leaving a ragged and obviously once painful reminder of their background. This all is further compounded by the fact that ears are very vascular and bleed a TON, and tails contain the end portion of the spine- if done incorrectly both croppings can kill the animal.


So all in all, cropping/docking does serve a purpose for working animals, but all too often is a dangerous and useless aesthetic point in "pets".


One more point- an example in another animal is sheep. Sheep actually have long tails but they get docked (the length depending on breed and the sex of the sheep) in order to prevent a condition called flystrike. If you wish to learn more I reccomend googling it. My point is just that there is a purpose for these things!

Very interesting! I knew cropping was done for aesthetic purposes but it being done for working dogs makes sense. I had no idea about the sheep though!

Glad you found it interesting! Here is an animal figure example of a long tailed sheep, vs one with a docked tail , and lambs can go the same way- long tail lamb vs. short tail lamb

Nice Boxers and backup information :) Very educational.

@Jolie, your personal experience is also very heart warming. It shows that dogs can have very different personalities and it also depends how a pet owner cares for them.

Thank you Moehe!

Akita inu, Kai Ken, and Shikoku dog!
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Akitas date back to more than 3,000 years old in Japan and were originally used for gaurding and hunting. They habe webbed toes that help them walk on the snow, acting like snowshoes. The Japanese consider them to represent good luck, success, and good health. The breed is generally considered courageous and protective, but they are also known to have a bit of a hair trigger when it comes to potential threats.

The Kai Ken hails from the Kai province in Japan, near Mount Fuji. Also a hunting dog, they may have pursued Japanese deer, black bears, serow, and wild boar. They are prized for their intense hunting drive, agility, and stamina; this is a protected breed.

The Shikoku comes from the Japanese island of the same name; developed by hunters known as the Matagi. This breed was originally known as the Tosa Ken- but the name was changed to avoid confusing it with the Tosa Fighting Dog. This dog is known for its urajiro (the lighter markings on the face). The breed is intelligent, independent, fairly aloof, but docile and obedient. This is another nationally protected breed.

I don't have a Japanese dog yet in my collection but it will change some day. Thanks for the pictures and also for the iformation abut the breeds.

Thank you guys! I really am fond of the Japanese breeds and their history.

Some more rabbits! Angora, black and tans, Dutch, and lionheads!
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Angoras are generally thought to have been developed in Turkey in the 1700s but there is some evidence they may be as old as 100 BC. They produce wool that may be less allergen heavy than other animal fibers. They have been developed into roughly 11 varieties and come in lots of colors!

Black and tan rabbits hail from England and came onto the scene in the 1880s. Originally black, they now come in 4 colors with the tan markings; black, blue, lilac, and chocolate.

Dutch rabbits descend from the Petit Brabancon (a breed from Belgium); the Dutch developed in the 1830s in England. They all retain the distinctive pattern but can be other colors- black is the most common. Female rabbits if this breed do seem to have a higher risk of uterine cancers and thus breeding issues.

Lionheads came from crossing Swiss fox rabbits with Belgian dwarf rabbits- this caused a genetic mutation for the fluffy head. Their home of Belgium these dwarf sized and lion maned rabbits became very popular; they do easily become stressed so they aren't reccomended for families with young children.