About Us
WASCUNY was organized many years ago by a handful of people who all owned a breed considered "rare" at the time - the Australian Shepherd. These people got together to train their dogs in obedience and to socialize with each other. They soon found enough interest in the breed to affiliate themselves with the parent club of Aussies, the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA). At the time, the American Kennel Club (AKC) did not recognize the breed and would not allow Aussies to participate in any AKC activities. With sanctioning by ASCA, the club was able to put on dog shows and trials in which the Aussies participated with great talent. Some of the members do not show their dogs, but have joined for the friendship and camaraderie that a group with similar interests can offer. The primary objective of WASCUNY and ASCA is to protect and advance the Australian Shepherd breed. In service of this goal we:
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1. Encourage and promote the breeding of purebred Australian Shepherds in such a manner as to bring their natural qualities to the highest degree attainable; 2. Strive to promote, educate and assist all owners of the breed to improve their knowledge of the breed and its history; 3. Protect and advance the interest of the Australian Shepherd breed and to encourage ethical breeding practices and sportsmanlike competition at all dog shows and trials; 4. Conduct conformation shows, obedience trials, rally obedience trials, agility trials, stockdog trials, dock jumping trials, tracking tests and other events in conformity with ASCA rules and regulations;
5. Encourage all breeders to accept the ASCA breed standard as the only standard of excellence by which the breed shall be judged. At present we have several members, most of who help at the shows and trials that we sponsor each year. Our July Sparkler Show, held currently at the Washington County Fairgrounds each year, is one of the biggest and most extensive ASCA shows in New York State, offering breed, obedience, and rally competition. In past years the show has also offered herding and agility competition. In addition to the Sparkler we host other events throughout the year offering agility, obedience, rally, herding, dock jumping, and tracking. We also strive to sponsor various seminars for our club members. WASCUNY supports ethical and humane breeding practices which include not allowing "backyard breeding", and insisting on hip, eye and congenital disease clearances before planned breeding.
