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Pure Dog Talk is the VOICE of Purebred Dogs. We talk to the legends of the sports and give you tips and tools to create an awesome life with your purebred dog. From dog shows to preservation breeding, from competitive obedience to field work, from agility to therapy dogs and all the fun in between; your passion is our purpose. Pure Dog Talk supports the American Kennel Club, our Parent, Specialty and All-Breed Clubs, Dog Sports, Therapy, Service and Preservation of our Canine Companions.
The podcast Pure Dog Talk is created by Laura Reeves. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
Tasha Mesina, new owner of Cindra, joins host Laura Reeves to discuss resurrecting a legendary grooming product.
“I had used the brand Cindra since the beginning of time on the Belgians and I loved it,” Mesina said. “Unfortunately, Cindra closed with COVID like many things did, supply chain issues, blah, blah, you know the story that everybody has. And I missed it. I really missed it.
“And I maybe didn't realize they had closed for a hot minute until I tried to find Super Coat and then it was like why am I going on eBay to find super Coat? And so I kind of followed the chain, and found out that the company was for sale.
“It was kind of a little bit of a process to buy it, but unfortunately with them closing (during) COVID, it made it affordable for me. I couldn't afford it before so and then closing a grooming shop, selling a property in California, it just kind of all came together at one moment.
“The Phillips started the company. Cindy Phillips was the gal and actually I got to talk to her. I actually bought the company from her son, Seth They have been absolutely fantastic to help me transition. I literally have every document that Cindra ever produced in the history of time, which is really cool. It was a lot, but it was neat to see, you know how the company got started. I mean, they had testimonials from the 80s, you know?
“It was the family owned company. It was the mom, dad and a son that took it over when they retired. Fantastic people. I mean, they're just great. Still to this day, if I have a question, I pick up the phone, they instantly have an answer. I mean, he really, I feel, wants this to succeed because it was their baby for so many years.
“I was a dog groomer. I'm a dog breeder. Like, I didn't understand the nuts and bolts of running a shampoo company. So it's kind of been a huge, huge learning curve for me to understand how all of it works. People can find it at distributors, they can order it directly.
"That's good people that I gave a good dog, just like my sister and I got a great dog to start with. I try to coach people along.”“I like to coach the people that get my dogs,” Hansen said. “We've got over 200 champions and most of those are standard schnauzers and well over 250 performance titles on the standard Schnauzers. And that's not all me. That's good people that I gave a good dog, just like my sister and I got a great dog to start with. I try to coach people along.”
“We spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives ... not looking for flaws but for potential.”Just like judging the whole dog instead of fault judging, consider making 2025 the year you find the beauty in yourself, and in everyone else’s dog….. Peace …
“I think of the genetic component as starting the dog somewhere on a spectrum. It's like dropping that dog on the spectrum from extremely fearful to extremely friendly, their genes are giving them a starting place. I think that the socialization and training that the dog gets throughout their lifetime can absolutely move them on that spectrum.“Now, a dog that has a genetic background that is resulting in them being on the very far fearful end is probably never ever going to be socialized well enough to get to the very far friendly end. There is a limit to how far on that spectrum they can move from where their genes drop them. But I think there is generally a lot more wiggle room there than many people give credit for. “And one of the interesting studies on this that came out just a couple years ago in 2022 was looking at breed specific genetic backgrounds. And what that study found was that while the genetics of specific breeds were pretty tightly correlated with physical traits, there was really not much behaviorally, which surprised a lot of people because there are many beliefs that, ‘Oh, Golden Retrievers have this temperament and some of these more ancient breeds have this temperament,’ but there was not much evidence for that in that study. There, in fact, was almost as much variability within a breed as there was between breeds.”
Listen in for the full, in depth, fascinating conversation and join us in promoting Domestic Violence Awareness month with a bonus discussion of the Purple Leash Project.Dr. Valuska can be followed at @annieknowsanimals on TikTok and Instagram.
“When we looked at it, one of the things we were wondering was, do purebred dogs have more disease than mixed breed dogs? And we found, no, that's not the case. In fact, it might even be slightly suggested into the opposite, 'cause we looked at, of all of these dogs, how many of them did not have any health conditions reported?“These are our healthy dogs. Nothing has been reported to be wrong with them. And we found that 22 percent of the purebred dogs had no reported medical conditions. And just under 21 percent of the mixed breed dogs had no medical conditions. So, there was really a 1.6 percent difference between the two of them, which is not a huge difference, but it was actually statistically significant that the purebred dogs were actually more likely to have no owner-reported medical conditions than our mixed breed dogs.
“It’s really not more likely to have disease in your purebred dogs.“Now, specific breeds may be more likely to have specific conditions. And that goes along with, you know, I do a lot of stuff with the heart. I know that if we think of degenerative valve disease, Cavaliers come to the top of your mind, or if you think of dilated cardiomyopathy, Dobermans come to the top of your mind. And we're not saying that certain breeds aren't more prone to very specific diseases or medical conditions, but as a whole, being purebred doesn't show a higher reporting of medical conditions compared to mixed breed. “It’s turning out that common things happened commonly, where even though we're looking at these purebred dogs, where you might think they're prone to very specific diseases or medical conditions, it still is things like dental disease, dog bites from other dogs. Those are still some of the things that are showing up frequently across breeds, not just with one specific breed.”
“He will, on the slightest invitation, leave the cream cakes to follow the guns.”Lyne shared the following excerpt to describe the breed: “In Sport, as in ladies’ hats, fashions have changed with each decade… Though fashions may change, we find that the merry little Cocker has always maintained his place in the esteem of the public and sportsmen alike, by dint of his extreme adaptability and courage and, let us face it, also by his hardiness to withstand the rigors of our English climate. He should never have been allowed to become a pampered pet, although the vast majority are, nowadays just that. Again, blame his adaptability and lovable nature: but anyone who has ever seen these game little dogs working in the field must admit that this is their rightful heritage and the place where they are truly happy. A Cocker that has once tasted the delights of bustling in and out of the hedgerows and thickets and has had the scent of hare, pheasant, partridge, or the humble rabbit in his nostrils is lost forever to the drawing room. He will, on the slightest invitation, leave the cream cakes to follow the guns.” Quote from "The Dual Purpose Dog" by A.W. Collins, circa 1950 (Collinwood Cockers, Kent, England) Watch the entire discussion, including expanded comments on judging the breed, HERE.
“Something that I always say when people ask me, I think it's very important, especially today for our younger generation, to at least get some sort of a business degree. You want to handle dogs, you got to know how to do the business side of it too, because it's not just the glamour and the walking in the ring and the winning. I mean, that's very small portion of it.[caption id="attachment_12173" align="alignright" width="339"]
Type of stone | Cause | Prevention | Treatment |
Struvite or magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate. Usually located in bladder but can be in renal pelvis. This is the most common stone in dogs at an incidence of 53%. | More common in female than male dogs, usually young dogs. Frequently multiple. Secondary to undermanaged bacterial bladder infection incl most commonly Staphylococcus spp., but less commonly seen urease-producing bacteria include Proteus spp. or Enterococcus spp. Rarely Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas spp., Klebsiellaspp., Corynebacterium urealyticum, or Ureaplasma/Mycoplasma spp. May have a genetic component. Breeds: American cocker spaniel Bernese Mountain dog Bichon frise Dachshund Golden retriever Lhasa apso Miniature poodle Miniature schnauzer Pekingese Poodle Rottweiler Saint Bernard Shih tzu | 1. Find and manage cause of recurrent bacterial bladder infection. 2. Preventive diets lower in protein, phosphorus and magnesium including: Royal Canin® Veterinary Diet Urinary SO, Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d™, Hill’s Prescription Diet w/d™, and Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary St/Ox. 3. Increased water intake 4. Weekly monitoring of urine pH and intervention if pH rises. 5. Periodic imaging for early detection of recurrence. | 1. Dissolution diet combined with appropriate long-term antibiotics. May be dissolved medically unless obstructed. 2. Acidifiers such as D,L-methionine combined with appropriate long-term antibiotics. 3. Surgical removal or Cystoscopic retrieval 4. Physical removal. |
Calcium oxalate or calcium oxalate combined stones. Usually in the bladder but can be in the renal pelvis. 2nd most common bladder stone seen in dogs. | More common in males, middle aged. Patients who have increased urinary excretion of calcium /or oxalate. May include Cushing’s disease, primary hyperparathyroidism, or cancer causing elevated calcium levels. Obesity. Steroid administration. Genetic predisposition. Bichon frise Cairn terrier Chihuahua Lhasa apso Maltese Miniature poodle Miniature schnauzer Pomeranian Shih tzu Yorkshire terrier | Calcium oxalate uroliths recur 8-9% after 6 months, 35-36% after one year, and approximately 50% after 3 years. 1.Diet Royal Canin® Veterinary Diet Urinary S/O Lower Urinary Tract Support, Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary St/Ox™, Hill’s Prescription Diet w/d™, and Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d™. 2.Potassium citrate orally. 3.Thiazide diuretics. 4.Vitamin B6 | There is no known way to dissolve this stone type so must be physically removed. |
Cystine | More common in males, young to middle aged. Occurs secondary to cystinuria, which is caused by increased levels of cystine excreted into urine. Uncommon. Inherited mutation of SLC3A1 gene, which leads to defective amino acid transport, described in the Newfoundland, Labrador retriever, and in the cat. Missense mutation in SLC7A9 is another cause of cystinuria in the dog. Androgen-dependent cystinuria has been described in dogs. Genetic Test: DNA testing for genetic traits is available at vetGen, Penn Gen, Paw Print Genetics, DDC, Animal Genetics, and UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory in the USA, as well as Animal Genetics-UK, Laboklin, and Animal DNA Diagnostics in Europe. Breeds: American pit bull terrier Australian cattle dog Bullmastiff Chihuahua Dachshund English bulldog French bulldog Labrador retriever Landseer Mastiff, English Miniature pinscher Newfoundland Rottweiler Scottish terrier South African boerboel Staffordshire terrier, American/bull | 1. Feed protein-restricted, low-sodium diet. 2. Potassium citrate to maintain alkaline urine. 3. Some patients may also require 2-MPG therapy. 4. Do not breed affected dogs, their parents, or any other offspring. 5. For breeds with androgen-dependent cystinuria, castration can help in controlling cystinuria. | 1. Low protein, low sodium, alkalizing diet: Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d™ and Royal Canin® Veterinary Diet UC Low Purine 2. Potassium citrate to alkalinize urine with a pH goal of 7.2 to 7.5 and dilute urine. 3.Physical removal. |
Xanthine incidence 0.5 to 1% incidence of bladder stones in dogs | An uncommon type of purine urolith. Adults 2 to 6 years of age. No sex predilection. Causes: Allopurinol administration Diet Idiopathic, unknown Genetic, hereditary: Cavalier King Charles spaniel Dachshund English cocker spaniel Manchester terrier | Purine-restricted, alkalinizing, diuretic diet helps prevent xanthine recurrence including renal failure diets or ultra-low protein diets with low purine levels (Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d™ or Royal Canin® Veterinary Diet Vegetarian) may help. Add water to food to keep urine dilute. Use potassium citrate may be needed to keep urine pH alkaline. | Will not dissolve. Must be physically removed. Stop allopurinol treatment if possible. |
Silica incidence 0.9% of canine bladder stones | Incidence world-wide seems regional. Primarily male dogs. Usually 6 to 8 years of age. May be genetic with German Shepherds, Labradors, Golden Retrievers and Old English Sheepdogs being over-represented. Cause unknown. | Monitor with urine testing and imaging to check for recurrence. May help to feed more animal protein and less vegetable protein to reduce recurrence. Feeding diets higher in animal protein and lower in plant-based proteins (such as soybean, rice, corn gluten feed, oat-based cereals) may be beneficial. Increasing water intake may help decrease silica concentration in urine. Do not allow patients to eat grasses and soils with higher silica content. | No dissolution therapy known. Must be physically removed. |
Calcium phosphate - incidence 1 to 2% of canine bladder stones | Brushite more common in males. Breeds predisposed include Shih tzu Lhasa apso Miniature Schnauzer Yorkshire terrier Miniature poodle Pomeranian Bichon frise American Cocker Spaniel | Identify and treat the underlying cause such as primary hyperparathyroidism or Cushing’s diease (hyperadrenocorticism). Keeping urine pH of 6.5-7.5 and urine dilute helps reduce risk of recurrence. Ideal preventive diet is unknown; diets aimed at preventing calcium oxalate uroliths are reasonable options. | Associated with primary hyperparathyroidism or Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism). These also may occur as part of stones that are largely composed of struvite or calcium oxalate. Associated with alkaline pH. |
Urate incidence 5 to 8% of canine bladder stones | Either sex, usually young dogs. Uric acid and its various salts. Associated with liver disease, hepatic dysfunction, portosystemic shunts, inherited, or less commonly, caused by urinary tract infections (UTI) with urease-producing bacteria. Genetic mutation in the SLC2A9 gene: Australian shepherd Black Russian terrier Dalmatian English bulldog Miniature schnauzer New Zealand huntaway Parson Russell terrier Shih tzu Spanish water dog Yorkshire terrier | Frequently recurrent at rates of 33 to 50%. Annual or biannual imaging with ultrasound or x-rays to monitor. | 1. Dietary therapy with low purine diets (eggs, dairy and vegetable protein) - may be dissolved medically unless obstructed: Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d™, Royal Canin® Veterinary Diet Canine Vegetarian, and Royal Canin® Veterinary Diet Urinary UC Low Purine. 2. Potassium citrate at 50-150 mg/kg PO q 12 hrs or sodium bicarbonate at 25-50 mg/kg PO q 12 hrs may be used. Avoid pH above 7.5 3. Allopurinol 4. Physical removal 5. Managing underlying liver disease. |
Combination stones | Any combination of the above stones can occur. The largest % component is reported when there are several mineral components to the stone. | Based on analysis | Based on analysis |
Dried solidified blood | Cats only |
Statistics from the Suicide & Crisis Center of North Texas:
Suicide is the third leading cause of death of young people between the ages of 15 and 24.
5,000 young people complete suicide in the U.S. each year.
Each year, there are approximately 10 youth suicides for every 100,000 youth.
Each day, there are approximately 12 youth suicides.
Every 2 hours and 11 minutes, a person under the age of 25 completes suicide.
In the past 60 years, the suicide rate has quadrupled for males 15 to 24 years old, and has doubled for females of the same age.
For every completed suicide by youth, it is estimated that 100 to 200 attempts are made.
"Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."Watching friends battle back from injuries, defeats, disappointments and setbacks has been inspiring for me, particularly this year. Kelly Shupp, who just handled our Spinone to win the Sporting group here, shattered her ankle in September and we really didn’t think she’d even be walking by this time. She fought through pain and frustration and disappointment and dedicated herself to being on the end of Josie’s leash to wrap up what had been a history making year already. Her strength and determination and sheer will power literally bring me to tears of awe.
From the Study: “A recent comparison of genome-wide patterns of genetic variation in a large panel of dogs and wolves identified genomic regions that were affected by directional selection during early dog domestication “(Axelsson et al. 2013). Through functional characterization of genes residing in these domestication regions, new light was shed on characteristics of adaptive advantage to early dogs. These analyses identified several genes involved in digestion and energy metabolism, suggesting that the transition from wolf to dog was accompanied by a change in diet. Augmented by evidence from expression analyses and enzyme assays, it was concluded that changes in three consecutive steps in the pathway responsible for starch digestion and subsequent glucose absorption allowed dogs to rely on a diet rich in starch relative to the carnivorous wolf diet (Axelsson et al. 2013).”Find the entire study HERE.
Four-time AKC Breeder of the Year in four different sports, Dr. Gayle Watkins, founder of Avidog, speaks about how we create working and competition dogs through proper socializing.
Watkins observes that socialization is building social relationships with humans and dogs. And the current method of socialization causes more harm than good. Puppy development should be manners, mental resilience, civility and trust, she posits.
“The vast majority of people think socialization ends at 16 weeks, the sensitive period. Those first four months so important to puppies. But most dogs need socialization or “development work” through 15 months,” Watkins said.
Another misconception Watkins notes is that 8 to 10 weeks is a fear *imprint* period, not a time in which dogs are necessarily more fearful.
“They're not more afraid at that age,” Watkins said. “They're going through continual progression towards fear that starts at 5 weeks. It’s what a canine is. They are fearful creatures. This is inherent in this species, so fear is inherent in dogs.”
“If you go online and you Google socialization and puppies, you’ll get a million hits, over a million hits, and you will get checklist after, checklist after checklist. This is not a checklist. We're talking about teaching skills. What is stability? It’s the appropriateness of the dog’s response to stress.
“I also want to build resilience. Putting them under stress very, very early. So that they can be resilient. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from stress and frustration. If you think about it, we can't make every puppy bombproof. More than anything else. It is built through inoculation to stress. When we are aiming for stability, we want to introduce stress to teach them the right behaviors. Here we must introduce stress to teach them to be resilient.”
Watkins’ insights on raising sensible, calm competition ready dogs is invaluable. Listen HERE to one of her first conversations on Pure Dog Talk, on bomb proofing your puppies.
“We are responsible for creating trust,” Watkins said. "We do it by being trustworthy and reliable. We are often not trustworthy with our dogs. Teach your puppy they can rely on you.“Civility is the appropriateness of behavior around people and dogs,” Watkins added. “It is keeping your mouth shut, not biting anyone, not climbing on anyone. Not assaulting other dog or people as you are meeting. Civility is not the same as friendly. It does not require physical interaction. More important to teach our dogs indirect interaction, when they see a person or dog and do not interact.” Getting puppies “out” to see urban centers, hear different noises and so forth does not also necessarily mean *meeting* other people and pets right away, Watkins noted. She also advocates for supervised puppy classes long before training classes begin.
Puppies handle stress best if we give them cues they can fall back on, Watkins said. If a situation is causing stress for the puppy, have them offer a sit and watch behavior, for example. She adds that forcing a puppy in to a situation that is clearly uncomfortable or scary for them can cause you to break the trust you are hoping to build with the puppy.Watkins also discusses acquired fear or aggression in dogs that can actually be passed on in the whelping box – epigenetics is the name of this phenomena. Her emphasis on raising stable and trusting dogs springs from studies that indicate 80 percent of aggression is genetically based. The bottom line, Watkins said, is that raising confident, stable puppies takes time, effort and commitment.
“Thinking of you and all the amazing people brought into your life through the dogs. Does not make their passing any less sad, but oh how it has enriched your life.”This small note brought me such comfort. And I wanted to share this bright spot with all of you who are hurting right now. Our lives are all immeasurably enriched by our community of fellow dog lovers. Whether you started yesterday or have spent 50 years in this sport, the camaraderie and shared love of dogs is literally a lifeline for many. The litany of those gone in the last few years is nearly unbearable. Respected judges. Gifted breeders. Talented handlers. Beloved family. Bastions of passion and commitment to purebred dogs who are so nearly irreplaceable. Joe Gregory Barbara Alderman Pat Laurans Pat Hastings Linda Souza Jerry Moon Jamie Donelson So very many more near and far, bright stars each within their own universes. The smiles and voices that will forever stay with us. I will never forget literally sitting at Jerry Moon’s knee while he taught me how to trim Cockers properly so I could show an ASCOB dog for a new client. Or the time Jerry went down at the old Brush Prairie show site during the Cocker specialty. He had won the variety with his beloved Fosse and would not leave in the ambulance until he was assured I would take Fosse back in for the breed. We won that day under Dale Simmons and against Don Rodgers with the ASCOB dog. That they are all gone now is hard to navigate in my mind. Working with Pat Laurans on the GWPCA board. Even before then, picking her brain about old dogs and pedigrees. There was literally nothing Pat couldn’t accomplish if she put her mind to it. She left her mark on Take the Lead, the AKC Reunite Pet Disaster Relief Trailers, the Parent Club Committee for the Delegates and so much more. She was a fierce advocate for our breed and a good friend to me over the years. Just this spring I spent months working with Pat Hastings, Chris Levy & Nancy Martin on a presentation to vet students at OSU when they were invited to a local dog show. She was such an inspiration to me, not just in her knowledge, but her skill at wielding it to such dramatic effect. Linda Souza’s support and kindness to me as an Irish Wolfhound handler back in the day… in a breed where professional handlers are not the norm … was such a gift to my young self. Barbara Alderman’s kilowatt smile and the mind-bending opportunity to join her for dinner as a fellow judge. Joe Gregory’s dance moves. Talking Spinone with Gloria Geringer and Wirehairs with Roger Hartinger. Watching from afar as Jamie Donelson beautifully showed a dog we raised here. These are memories stored carefully away in the heart. I’ve talked often about our tribe. The people who find their place here in our big tent. We really are all branches of the family tree, with DOG as our common denominator. But a lot of these folks, they were roots and trunks and giant limbs on that tree. And their loss is deeply felt. One Pure Dog Talk Patron sent me this note and it has re-kindled the fire in my soul…
“This is very sad news. Irreplaceable loss for the dog community. In their honor we must continue their path and make the sport stronger and welcoming to all. It does not honor those we lose if we sit around in sadness. We must take their teachings to the next level.”So, with that my friends, I challenge you. If any of the people we have lost meant something to you, even tangentially, take their mantle. Lift their spirit. Wear their colors and then take it further. Wear their hearts as yours. What stands out about the losses we’ve suffered recently is that many of these folks didn’t just “do their thing.” They gave. And gave and gave and gave and gave. Of themselves, their passion, their commitment, their devotion. Their time, their money, their blood, sweat and tears. Their joy. Their humor and creativity. We can all do more. Give more. Be more. For the people we love and treasure and honor and grieve. We can give them a gift that WILL keep on giving if we can emulate even 10 percent of their dedication and love and kindness and mentoring. Let their passing break you. Let it smash you to the ground. And then build yourself again in their images. Here are a few ideas. No matter your role in our sport, from newbie to lifer, from owner handler to all breeds judge, club president to chief of poop patrol. You can incorporate these or use them as a springboard for your own plans. Let’s call it Giving Grace.
April is Rare Breeds month here at Pure Dog Talk! Watch for upcoming episodes with deep dives into Norrbottenspets, Chinooks and Nederlandse Kooikerhondje.“Pick one thing a year that you're going to try to work through in your breed,” Greer said, quoting from Dr. Ian Dunbar. “Pick what your priorities are. You have to pick. I can't pick for you. You know your breed. You know your genes. At some point we have to really say this is what I'm going to focus on, this is what I'm going to try to breed for or away from, and try to take those incremental steps. You're not gonna get it all in one generation.”
“We don't have any studies showing those are directly related to the length of the nose.“The component that we really have to look for, that we know make the biggest difference in these dogs, is the elongated soft palate…
“That's not related to how long the nose is, that's related to different genes that are writing for the length of the soft palate. We see long soft palates in dogs with long noses. We see this in Labradors, we see this in mixed breed dogs. So, it's not only a brachycephalic issue."I think it's really important to note that these things can occur in any breed of dog. They do happen to occur more in brachycephalic dogs, but we don't have concrete evidence that it's directly related to the length of the nose. “Most brachycephalic breeds, with the exception of some of the more mastiff types, these dogs were bred to be companions. That's their job and they do that very, very, very well. Part of the reason we love them so much is that these brachycephalic facial features elicit almost an infantile like response to people. I think that focusing on the fact that these are companion dogs.
"These dogs are not out flushing birds, they're not working dogs, they are meant to make people happy, sit on your lap. I absolutely believe that they should be able to do things like go on a little hike …. they should absolutely be able to do that and be able to breathe while they do that. But this is not a dog that's out herding sheep in the summer. I think keeping that in perspective is really important.“I think we need to focus, as preservation breeders, on doing a little bit of a better job on selecting breeding stock and producing healthier versions of every breed. But for brachycephalic, specifically, we all know that there are some dogs out there that are not good breathers and that happens. "I think the hard part as a breeder is to say ‘OK this dog might be beautiful, this dog might have a great top line and this has great movement but he cannot breathe and I should probably put him in a companion home where he won't be bred.' That's a really, really hard decision to make, but I think as we move forward, especially in this new culture and climate, we have to make more of those decisions.
“I've actually done a little self-study where a dog comes to see me and I always find out where the dog came from. Then I make a note what issues does this dog have. About 95% of brachycephalic dogs I see that are bad breathers are from a pet store, a puppy mill or rescue. That is just the fact that I've gotten over six years of being a veterinarian, that these dogs are often the ones that they ordered online."Listen to this fabulous interview with Bulldog specialist Jay Serion to learn more about the Bulldog Club of America's work on breeding healthy dogs. And this outstanding Love the Breeds episode with more information about Pugs from three nationally renowned breeders.
“The dog shows of the past were not at all like modern dog shows. There was often a best in show award but even defeated dogs could actually compete for it. There were no groups and there were not even necessarily breeds."In 1924, the American Kennel Club introduced new regulations and since then it's basically been (the same). The number of groups has increased slightly and the number of breeds increased drastically, but their regulations for competing have remained unchanged. “Even in my early days, in the 1980s in this country, there was not even necessarily Best in Show. I remember very, very vividly that I had a group winner who was not allowed to compete for Best in Show because there wasn't a Best in Show at that show. In the beginning, only half the number of shows had the best in show award … eventually that grew up to present day. “There have always been people who are nuts about competing for best in show and campaigning dogs. I mean you don't think of people in the ‘30s or ‘40s or something that is campaigning dogs. But they were. There was that Pointer in 1860 or something from Wales, that was shown at least 60 times. How do they even get to the show? And he was shown overseas too. How do you even know where the shows were? It's amazing. "In the 1950s, there were certainly not flights available as today and there were far fewer shows and dogs still managed to win 20 or 30 best in shows per year. People were competitive even then.
“I think it's a pretty rarified sport in many ways. I mean they make it fun sometimes and I think it's fascinating. I think there's nothing like sitting with a catalog and watching a bunch of dogs of the same breed being judged by an expert. That's totally fascinating. But most people don't think so. I think you need a special type of interest or mind or something like that. Maybe you have to just be a little weird.”[caption id="attachment_9450" align="alignleft" width="328"]
Amanda Kelly of Fwaggle Toy Manchester Terriers joins host Laura Reeves for some final thoughts on Owner Handlers and how they can earn the advantage in the ring.
“There is nothing more eye catching than looking in the ring and seeing a dog that is having a good time and a handler having a good time. Maybe the dog isn't standing perfectly. Maybe it's got one foot out in the wrong place or whatever. I guarantee you that if that dog is having a good time it has better posture, he has better expression, it's holding its shape and its outline regardless of whether every foot is where it needs to be it is a more attractive dog to look at then the perfect statue at the end of the line.
“It is so imperative that you see yourself, because showing dogs is just about making pictures. That's all that we do when we go in the ring. We make a picture on this mat and then we make a hopefully nice picture as we move around the ring and then we get on the table and we make another picture and then we do the down back we make another picture. And in all those photos the handler’s job is to frame the artwork that is the dog but you don't know what that picture looks like if no one's ever shown you.
“I think that one of the best ways of figuring out what picture you want to make in the ring is to choose handlers who present dogs in a way that you appreciate. You can do that really easily. Start with Westminster videos or maybe your national video. Watch it. Pick out someone who you think is the whole package and then look at what they're doing, what are the little detailed pieces that make the difference in your mind.
“The entirety of learning how to handle (is to move) from worrying about one thing to worrying about the next thing, because you've mastered the other thing that you used to worry about. Now you don't think about it anymore. I can tell you I've shown my breed 35 years. I still have a thought process when I'm in there, but I'm not thinking about my lead. I'm thinking about things like when is the judge watching the dogs in the lineup and how do I stand so that I have the right angle, showing the profile that I want to show or how do I get this dog to stop shivering because it's so cold.
“Every single day at every show across America, across the world, people like me, people like you, people like those who are listening, are successful. You just have to make a plan. Learn manage your expectations so that you're picking goals that work and are realistic. I would encourage you to go one step further and make sure that the goals that you set for yourself are achievable goals that have nothing to do with who the judge points to. If your only measure of success is whether or not you won a point or whatever, you're doomed. You are doomed. If your measure of success is ‘I want to go in that ring and I want my dog to do X or I want to remember to hold my elbow in against my body and not have it flail around, whatever it may be. It needs to be something that's within your control. I guarantee you that if you go at it with that attitude and you adjust your idea of winning and losing, you will have more fun. And if you have more fun you will win more.
AKC judge and Irish Setter breeder Lorraine Bisso shares her passion for the breed with host Laura Reeves.
“The standard tells you that it's termed by artists, the most beautiful of all dogs,” Bisso said. “I tell people when I do judge’s education, when the dog walks in the ring, if your heart doesn't skip a beat by the beautiful color, the symmetry, the silhouette, before you even get to know the dog, then something is missing. In this beautiful, drop-dead gorgeous dog beats a soul not to be matched. He would give his life for you. He also cheats at cards.”
Bisso has been involved with Irish Setters for more than 50 years and brings us a little myth busting.
“They are smart,” Bisso said. “That's something that's very misunderstood in this breed. They earned a reputation at one point for not being smart… they are very creative and often the problem is that they are one step ahead of their owners.
"Irish setters do not like to do things over and over and over again. They will go from point A to point B quite willingly several times. Then they will decide to take the scenic route. When they get to point B, they're really mystified as to why you are upset. They got there, they just took the scenic route. It's a charming part of the breed.
“The standard describes a hunting dog. When you judge them, you should keep in mind that singular point. They are the most beautiful of all dogs and they are bred to hunt. Everything in the standard relates to those twin elements of type, shall we say. They have to be beautiful, but they also must be the active gundog that the standard talks about. That's the reason for the feet, the tail set, the proportions. the bite, the head, the eye. Everything in that standard is about a working gun dog and as you judge the breed, you should keep that in mind.
“Irish Setters are a single coated breed. Their coat is designed to have things come out if you brush them. Again, our standard calls for a “pleasing fringe of hair.” It does not call for a foot of hair, it calls for pleasing fringe. While we all love the beautiful show coats, don't get me wrong on this, I’m a sucker for the full on press, all you really need is the pleasing fringe. So again I tell judges, do not walk past a dog because you don’t think that he has quote enough hair. If it's good hair and it's the right quality and it's the right color then you're good to go.”
Tune in next week for more from Lorraine Bisso and hear all about the history and excitement at this year’s Morris and Essex dog show.
[caption id="attachment_8587" align="alignleft" width="225"] Hannah Yi and her Jindo practicing for Junior Showmanship competition.[/caption]
Hannah Yi and Nichole Royer join host Laura Reeves to share information about the rare and fascinating Korean Jindo.
Developed on Jindo Island, off South Korea’s coast, as an isolated population of centuries old village dogs, the breed is a cultural icon in its home country. Renowned for its ability to find its way home, a feature memorialized in Korean culture, Jindo are dedicated hunting dogs and very serious about guarding their home.
[caption id="attachment_8588" align="alignright" width="156"] Jindo in South Korea.[/caption]
“They were developed as a pretty hardcore hunting and guard dog,” Royer noted. “They are generally used for hunting small game, but they also hunt deer and even wild boar in small groups. They are not a breed that developed hunting along with their owners. They actually expected Jindos to go out and catch small game on their own and bring it home.
“When they chased down something like a deer, and I should add the deer and the wild boar on Jindo island are not the size of the deer and wild boar we have here in the US. The deer are much smaller … a small group of Jindos would chase them down and then a couple of the Jindos would stay there to guard the deer, while one or two dogs went to find the owner.
[caption id="attachment_8589" align="alignleft" width="300"] Jindo in South Korea[/caption]
“(They were) designed to go out, be able to think for themselves, be able to make their own decisions. They take their owner’s wishes under advisement, but really are not designed to go around saying ‘what can I do for you.’ It's a partnership rather than being what the dog can do for their owner.”
“I visited Korea a couple of times as a child,” Yi said, “and in the neighborhood and a bit of the rural parts, you would see them outside … I always (had them) pointed them out ‘hey, that's a Jindo dog.’ They've always been a really independent spirit. Even though I didn't know much about them as a kid, I just knew that (they were) culturally ingrained in your knowledge.
“(The story in Korea is) there was this dog and it was a white Jindo dog … it lived with its elderly owner in the city. But one day the owner had to sell the dog. So it was really far away. Then seven months later, the dog appeared back to the owner’s house. It found its way home. So that's just really stuck to a lot of people. There are a lot of children's books and merch made about that and it was just really interesting to me. I've just always known that story.”
While Dog Aggression is a serious awareness with the breed, Royer notes, “They are intelligent guard dogs that are not looking for that excuse. They will act if they have to, but they're not looking to want to act.
“Same sex dog aggression is absolutely the norm in this breed. This breed in public should not be aggressive towards other dogs without good reason. However a strange dog getting in their personal space absolutely is good reason. They do not tolerate fools lightly and they do not tolerate rude behavior from other dogs. Jindos never pulled their punches. If they choose to use their teeth, they intend to do damage.
“Jindos tend to be a one person or one family dog. They should never be aggressive without good reason. But they also generally are not going to be like my malamutes who will jump into everybody's lap and everybody is their new best friend. They range from being very reserved ‘I don't know you, so I don't really want you touching me’ to being calmly friendly. Very polite.”
Supply and Equipment List: • Whelping box • Puppy Scale • Rectal thermometer • Room thermometer • Vaseline • Notebook • Cotton balls • Method to identify puppies – fingernail polish or fabric paint • Heat source • Graph paper • Exam Gloves • Starter mousse • Soap • Whelping pads • Towels • Ice cream • Brats • Oatmeal • Puppy or kitten formula • Feeding tubes and syringes • Feeding bottles • Electrolytes • Car with a full tank of gas • Cell phone and charger • Ice chest or other transport device with heat for taking puppies to and from the vet • Lubricant – non petroleum • Hemostat • Dental floss to tie off cords • Gauze • Scissors • Tincture of iodine • Chlorhexidine disinfectant and shampoo • Vanilla ice cream • Cotton balls • Tarps or flannel backed tablecloths to cover the floor | Drug and medical equipment list: • Fenbendazole • Frozen Plasma • 5 Hour Energy • Dopram • Vitamin K • Oral Cal plus calcium gel • Nuture-mate • Probiotics • Forti-cal • Delee mucus trip • Bulb syringe • Feeding tube syringe and formula • 25 g needles • Oxy momma • Adaptil or ThunderEase Pheromone collar • Glucometer and strips • Oxygen concentrator • Pulse oximeter • Pyrantel pamoate • Stethoscope • Oxytocin • Fluids for SQ use • Eagle Sweetened Condensed Milk • Needles and syringes • A great friend who knows about dogs and can remain calm |
Malena DeMartini, canine behavior specialist focused on separation anxiety, joins host Laura Reeves for some mythbusting around anxiety, separation anxiety, genetics and heritability of anxieties and fears, and more.
“When we're talking with regard to separation anxiety, your dog is not being a jerk,” DeMartini said. “Nor are they being spiteful. Nor are they just angry at you because you're not spending enough time with them. All of that discussion, that is not what's happening. What is happening is so important that we understand from a compassion and empathy standpoint, as well as from a training standpoint. These dogs are panicked. This is a true phobia to being left alone. I want to remind people that, by definition, phobias tend to be rather irrational, or at least irrational to the person that's not experiencing that.
“Spoiling, and this is how they represent spoiling: letting a dog sleep on the bed, letting a dog on the furniture, giving them lots of treats or feeding them extra goodies, or taking them on car rides with us, all these sorts of activities, which in my head are part of having a family member, none of those things are either causational or correlational for separation anxiety.
“When you have a dog with separation anxiety, you are going to get every naysayer in the universe coming after you saying it is your fault … I just want people to absolve themselves from that guilt and no they did not create an animal with separation anxiety by letting him snuggle on the couch.”
DeMartini also offered recommendations on how to not “feed the beast” of a dog’s anxiety.
“When I talk about nonchalant exits and entries, we have to remember that dogs are masters of discrimination. Yes, they know when we're leaving and so taking an extra five minutes to give them kissy sounds can just put more emphasis on the exit. So, I tell people your dog has figured out that you put on your shoes, you've grabbed your backpack, got your keys in your hand, your dog is fully aware that you're about to leave, you don't have to tell him anything.
DeMartini provided insight on the genetics and epigenetics of anxiety and fear in dogs, as well.
“In the last few years (researchers) have actually identified a haplotype, so sort of a genetic marker, that is specifically in accordance with separation anxiety. Here is the important aspect: just because (a dog has) that particular haplotype, where those genetic markers exist, does not mean that the behavior problem is going to occur. That's where the epigenetics play a role. These are like toggle switches. So that toggle switch may remain off for the lifetime of that animal but there are some environmental influences that could flip that toggle switch.
“You can have the most beautiful well-bred dog physically, but if they are suffering from a welfare perspective because of their mental health that's a problem.
“Separation anxiety is actually a behavior that is quite modifiable. It's not easy and it takes time, but we can do a lot to optimize dogs for a long-term success in the beginning of their lives. Just because there's that genetic potential predisposition, that doesn't mean that we can't change it. Heritability is not a diagnosis of a permanent state.
“Separation anxiety behaviors are evolutionarily appropriate for puppies at a young age. How many of us have seen a puppy cry and the bitch comes back. We've seen it over millions of years of evolution that there is a purpose for vocalization and some of these other behaviors when these pups are really, really young. But the majority of them do grow out of it. If they don't it’s become sort of maladaptive. When it becomes maladaptive in a 14 or 16 or 18 week pup, no amount of letting them cry it out and try and get over it is going to help them grow out of it. That is a moment in time where we say, ‘we've got to give this pup some training and give them that metaphorical soft place to land in order to help them through this.”
Dr. Gayle Watkins, founder of Avidog and Head of Education at Good Dog, joins host Laura Reeves for a fascinating and informative conversation on the nutrition requirements for breeding dogs.
Watkins addresses raw feeding, kibble and specific nutrient requirements, especially calcium:phosphorus percentages, that enable the animals in our breeding programs to be successful in conceiving and raising their litters.
“We don't have a lot of really good research on optimizing nutrition for breeding animals, either stud dogs or bitches, and we have a lot of myths,” Watkins said.
“If you are in the US, you need to feed an all-life stages or growth and reproduction diet to your breeding dogs. Ideally, that is also for stud dogs, but we don't have much information on that. Definitely your bitches, as they prepare to breed, while they're being bred, during pregnancy and during lactation. Adult maintenance food is inadequate for reproduction. It is not designed for reproduction.
“Dogs are scavengers … think about the stuff they eat! But breeding animals, we're asking those bitches to do so much. They not only have to create puppies, they have to maintain their own body while that's happening and they have to maintain their brain. So I think we have an obligation to not do homemade foods with our breeding bitches.
“I'm a big fan, if we can find those foods that are also certified by AAFCO through feeding trials. The all life stages feeding trial covers just prior to being bred, pregnancy and it covers their puppies for 10 weeks. So it's a big feeding trial and that food has been tested as much as it could possibly be tested.”
Watkins continues with specific recommendations on additional micronutrients, fatty acids, probiotics and other supplements.
For previous Pure Dog Talk episodes on breeding topics with Dr. Watkins, click here, here, here and here.
Amanda Kelly, Fwaggle Toy Manchester Terriers, joins host Laura Reeves for a conversation about dog breeding when you plan ahead, do your research and then the results don’t match the expectations.
Amanda and Laura swap stories about all of the times a breeding looked great on paper and was a disaster on the ground in one way or another. The takeaway? Breeding dogs will keep you perpetually humble and learning.
Unexpected markings. Dual sired litter rabbit holes. Repeat breeding pros and cons. And permission to fail.
A sense of humor helps keep it all in perspective. Keeping temperament and health as top priorities in a breeding program means that even if the pups in a litter don’t meet your expectations for the show ring, they will still live long, healthy lives as beloved companions.
“What I love about (dog breeding) is that there's not clear answers,” Amanda noted. “We can ponder the theories and the different ideas and we can try new things if we give herself permission to do it. I hope when breeders have been around for a long time and are helping others that, I hope, is the gift that they're giving them. Permission to try things, to try something new and different. What's the worst thing that happens? They had some pets. The pet people are pretty happy about that.
“There's not a right or wrong way to do this. If I've learned anything from doing this for many years and watching different breeders, there are 1000 different ways to do this. None of them are right or wrong, as long as we have the welfare of our dogs at heart. And we will learn something new every time.
“Every breeding that you do has value. You said it earlier, you learn something. You learn about what not to do, you learn about how your line is producing. So when that best in show dog winds up neutered because you made a bad choice in your puppy evaluation, you have to let it go.
“You need to be able to make a decision and live with it in the planning of a breeding and the evaluation of puppies. So allowing yourself to fail without feeling like a failure is the greatest freedom that you will give yourself as a breeder. I think sometimes we just get so wrapped up in the breeding that's in front of us that we won't allow ourselves to fail, we won't allow ourselves to say ‘you know what, there's nothing in here that I want to keep and so I'm going to let them go (to pet homes).”
“I have people that come in all the time with older dogs. They may be sick. They may be elderly. And they're just like I really, really, really wanna puppy out of this guy. I really need semen… and they've got three sperm and two of them are swimming backwards and there's nothing we can do with that. Nothing you can do. We have a sign on our wall in big letters that says ‘Freeze early and freeze often.’”
En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.