Monday, January 28, 2013

Welcome To My View

I've Done It All Now!

While we were in Novi, Michigan my husband told me that there was the possibility that I would have to take one of our girls into the ring. Believe me, I can speak to an audience of 10,000 people, so being shy isn't one of the adjectives that most people would use to describe me. However, I don’t handle dogs. I think it is important that we all recognize our talents and limitations. I work hard to groom my girls and get them ready for the show ring. I watch my husband very carefully to offer my advice about movement in the ring and areas he may want to pay special attention.

To be a good handler, you must be able to move around the ring, effortlessly. If you have a small dog, like Dachshunds you must be able to get down to stack them and be able to lift them onto the examination table. Believe me, my running, trotting and skipping days are long over. I prefer to not breathe heavy. I would struggle to get down on the floor and it would be impossible for me to get back up. I’m not certain what the rules say about asking the Judge to give you a hand up. I had a doctor tell me once after surgery that I could not lift anything heavier than a frying pan. I have lived by that advice for many years with no intention of changing.

So the day came. Looked like we were going to have our class dog and bitch both need to go back into the ring. That didn't include having to take our Special girl in. Lyle was the only person that could really handle our young dog, so he would have to take him in. I enlisted another Dachshund person to take Cara in. Cara is pretty much automatic and should be easy. Oh man! Looks like I will have to take Abby in. At least she has had plenty of experience and she loves me. So maybe this will work.

Time comes and I gather up all my courage. Abby and I enter the ring. That is all I remember until I got to the examination table. My mouth was so dry that I couldn't work up a spit. Nervous? Heck yeah! I go to pick up Abby and she has hunkered to the floor and wasn't going to give me any help. I pick her up and I can feel the judge’s eyes on me while I stack her. The judge comes around to Abby’s head and as he is petting her, he asked me how I was doing. I took this opportunity to explain my predicament and said, “ I’m not a handler. I was needed to show, and oh by-the-way, I am supposed to tell you she is in heat.” He chuckled and told me I was doing fine. He instructed me to go down ¾ way on the down and back. I am thinking about all the advice I had given Lyle about handling her and the things he should be doing. Now, I can’t remember should she be on a loose lead, move moderately fast and did the judge say ¾ way? Holy crap....remember to stop and free stack her. Expression is important and it isn't the look on my face of a deer caught in headlights. The judge says take her around. I am last in line and I bend over in the most feminine and graceful way possible and still not blackout the entire ringside view. I get her stacked and I try to look at the judge demurely as to say, Pick Me PLEASE!

We didn't win anything that day. It wasn't Abby’s fault. She is a champion in two countries. I hugged her and told her I was sorry. The judge on the way out of the ring, tapped me on the arm and said, “ You did a really nice job for your first time.” What a nice guy! No worries. I will do better planning and lining up folks to handle in the future. As we say in Georgia, This ain't my thang!

ASK THE EXPERTS

This is a regular feature of my blog. I will be asking a question to a cross-section of Canadian experts involved in various areas of the dog world. If you would like to participate or have a question you would like to have asked or have an expert you would like to answer a question, feel free to contact me.

Dr. Karen Becker

Dr. Becker is a licensed veterinarian in Illinois. Voted one of Chicago's top 10 veterinarians, she is certified in veterinary acupuncture and homeopathy, and opened her clinic, the Natural Pet Animal Hospital, in 1999.

Some good news for a change from the pet poisoning front.

U.S. manufacturers of antifreeze and engine coolant have agreed to voluntarily begin adding bittering agents to their products to discourage pets, children and wildlife from sampling the sweet-tasting liquid.

The estimates are that from 10,000 to 90,000 animals are poisoned each year by antifreeze spills in driveways or garages, or from products left in open containers. Only one teaspoon of antifreeze or engine coolant can kill an average-sized cat.

Manufacturers will add bitter-tasting denatonium benzoate to antifreeze and coolant products sold throughout the U.S. Denatonium benzoate has been used in common household products and as an anti-nail biting formula in the U.S. for decades.

Ethylene Glycol Toxicity

Ethylene glycol is the problem ingredient in antifreeze. What many people don’t realize is that it is also found in relatively high concentrations in brake fluid, condensers, heat exchangers, home solar units, and the bases of portable basketball goals. It is also used to winterize toilets in recreational vehicles and summer homes in colder climates.

Ethylene glycol is also found in much lower concentrations in household paints, inks, ink pads, polishes, finger moistening compounds (e.g. Tacky Finger), and other office supplies.|

Ethylene glycol is highly toxic, with a sweet smell and taste that attracts both animals and children. It is rapidly absorbed, which leads to systemic poisoning that starts with the central nervous system. Symptoms may be less obvious in animals than humans.

No toxic doses of ethylene glycol have been established for dogs and cats. Most of the data available is based on instances of acute toxicity that resulted in death. The data doesn’t take into account pets that survive the initial poisoning but die of kidney failure within a few days.

It’s important to note that ethylene glycol is a very potent form of alcohol, so many of the symptoms of a potential poisoning will be similar to those of severe alcohol intoxication. There are typically three stages of symptoms:

· Neurologic, in the form of “drunk behavior” from the effects of the alcohol

· Cardiopulmonary, as the result of severe acidosis and electrolyte disturbances

· Renal, due to renal tubular injury from calcium oxalate crystals

Since no “survivable” exposure levels of ethylene glycol have been established, if you suspect your pet has ingested antifreeze or another of the substances that potentially contain the toxin, you should seek immediate veterinary care.

You should also carefully inspect the labels on all antifreeze and automotive coolant products in your home and follow instructions on how to use, store and dispose of them.

Reducing the Risk

To avoid the risk of poisoning animals a few basic safety measures are required:

When changing antifreeze keep your pets indoors.
Avoid spilling antifreeze on the ground and don't drain radiators into ditches or storm drains.
Keep the new antifreeze in its original container.
To store used antifreeze before disposal, put it into a clearly labelled, sealed container. Recycle or dispose of it at a garage with appropriate facilities for disposing of antifreeze. Keep antifreeze off the floor and away from pets.
Wipe up and wash away any spills.
If your pet returns home covered with an unknown substance, wash it off immediately.
Winter automobile window washing fluids and products to prevent freezing in plumbing can also contain ethylene glycol. Check the ingredients, and if it contains EG, treat it the same as antifreeze.
There is a safe alternative - switch to non-toxic Propylene Glycol formulated antifreeze.

I like to see people do nice things for others. If someone does something nice for you at a show or you see or hear about something nice being done, please send me an email at djenkins@shaw.ca. Be sure to put in the subject: Nice

We will mention that person by name in the blog.

Spotlighted this week is: Helene Belanger, Sassy Tails Crested; Christine Warden, Kristari Poms; Myara Harris Savant; Barbara Bond; Pierry McLean; Cathy Siverns;
Janet Levans and Rebecca Stanley

Deborah, BabyDoll Poms, called Helene Belanger at Sassy Tails Chinese Cresteds nearly in tears to ask if Helene had a lactating bitch. Deborah’s bitch had a C-section the week before, and she had three puppies, but had already lost one. The two remaining puppies were trying to feed but they were not getting enough milk, and they were not gaining weight despite Deb’s best efforts to tube feed them. She was exhausted, desperate and didn't know who to turn to.

Helen recommended that Deborah go on the Myra Harris Savant’s Yahoo Group, Canine Repro Care, and post for help. Meanwhile, Helen sent out the alarm on Facebook and ShowDogsOntario. Deborah sent a message to Myra on Facebook, who answered immediately. Then Barbara Bond posted on the CanadianShowDogs list the call for help, and literally within minutes, messages via Facebook and e-mail started to come in. Pierry McLean had some Royal Canin Baby Dog and was willing to deliver it to Deborah and help feed. Cathy Siverns, who breeds toy poodles, was suggesting feed mom vanilla ice cream to help milk production. Janet Levans has a friend whose Westie bitch had a litter the previous week that might be able to help. Rebecca Stanley responded that she had 7 week old Havanese puppies and the mother was still producing a lot of milk.

Deborah called Helene back in tears saying a wonderful pom breeder, Christine Warden from Kristari Poms in Caledon told her she had one week old puppies that were round and fat, and to bring her two babies. She also had another bitch due to whelp the next week so plenty of milk to go around. Last word was the babies were accepted by the surrogate and she loved them up and was feeding them like they belonged to her. Deborah reported by to Helene that Christine Warden’s operation has immaculate dogs in immaculate bedding and playpens. You would not even know a dog was in the house, there was NO smell of ANY dog there. Her setup was geared so she can cater to her dogs all the time. Her commitment was so evident the minute she took the babies to the surrogate mom. The Surrogate had 3 babies and they looked HUMONGOUS next to the adopted babies. Christine said she would separate the bigger kids and put on the two new ones, allow them to eat and then when they are done, put them on heat, and give the other babies their turn. Seymour and Lacey, the little babies, are in paradise, lapping up the attention and being served high up on the silver platter.

Deborah says that she is so indebted to Helene and Christine. “I am overwhelmed at all the outpouring of people wanting to help me. I am so touched beyond whatever you can imagine. I want to say Thank You to Helene who facilitated getting me the help and to Christine for being the help that saved my two puppies.”

You have to admit, that when the going gets tough, you can count on people in the dog world to come to the rescue.

Remember to watch for "Nice Deeds". They are happening all around us. Let's talk about the people helping others.

Be sure to go to Canuck Dogs, http://www.canuckdogs.com, to see all the upcoming events and to check stats. You should bookmark it. That's where you will find my blog.

XXXOOO

Monday, January 21, 2013

Welcome To My View

Junior Handlers.....How Do We Encourage Them

The CKC Junior Kennel Club is made up of youngsters and teens from across Canada. They are the juniors learning how to handle dogs in the conformation rings and obedience competitions. The juniors are judged on their handling skills and their knowledge of dogs and show rules. The CKC statement of purpose is " to introduce and encourage youth to participate in the sport of purebred dogs, and to provide them with meaningful competition where they can learn, practice, and hone their skills and knowledge of the various breeds. Above all, it is an opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie of competing with those of a similar age."

The CKC Junior Kennel Club is split up in zones and each zone has a director. Kennel Clubs sponsor the Junior Clubs and provide mentors, seminars, handling classes and field trips for the Juniors. Juniors can start as a Pee Wee or Junior Novice A from the age of 4 and can be a Junior until they are 18 years old. To move from one class to the next higher, the Junior must win six competitions in their currant class. There are Junior competitions at dog shows that we should all take more interest in.

There is a Zone competition for Best Junior Handler. Each winner from the zones then competes at the National level. There are four place winners and the first is declared Canada's Top Junior Handler. Second place is Reserve Winner. It takes fundraisers, Dog Club donations and fellow dog exhibitors to finance the opportunities for Juniors.

Royal Canin Canada partnered with the CKC to support National Junior Handing in 2012. They sponsored the Junior Handling Program with support for the Junior Handling Zone Finals across Canada. They also provided support for National Championships held in Orillia, Ontario this year with financial help for competitors, gift packs and a dinner celebrating their achievements. Royal Canin Canada also will help send the National Junior Handling Conformation Champion to compete internationally and represent Canada at Crufts, one of the world's great dog shows, in March.

Other than the fact that it's FUN, there are lots of good reasons to show in Juniors. It is a great learning experience. It gives the Junior self confidence, teaches good sportsmanship, prepares them for the conformation ring. It helps them become a better handler by making them focus on their handling skills and encourages them to improve. They get to meet friends who share their interest in dogs. Juniors get a solid foundation in doggy hobby. The list goes on and on.

The judge is supposed to evaluate the Juniors in 4 different areas: 1-proper breed presentation, 2-skill in presenting the individual dog, 3-knowledge of ring procedures, and 4-appearance and conduct. Some things that a judge looks for are: economy of motion (no over or under handling) and correct breed presentation, do the dog and handler work as a team, is the dog posed and interested at all times, is the dog under control, is the dog moved correctly, are the dogs main faults minimized, are the dog and handler relaxed, does the junior know proper ring procedure, is the dog correctly groomed, and is the handler's appearance suitable?

Hopefully, now that we have a better understanding about the Junior Handling Club, what can we do to get more kids interested in participating. I'm not sure, so I asked some experts. See what they have to say in the next Feature, "Ask the Expert".

ASK THE EXPERTS

Stephanie Chuchman and Amelie Syvestre

Expert - Stephanie Chuchman, Owner/Handler Breeder

I have used Juniors during my entire 35 year show career. I use them for many reasons. They are friendly, warm, wanting to please, and it allows me to extend the number of dogs I can show at any given event. The cute factor with well groomed and trained pee wee's is just off the chart fun. I had Maira from the time she was 6 to 11 handling for me in the USA and Canada. She won many times during our partnership. Amelie started with me at 12 she is 15 now. She took our dog to #1 in Canada. I could not of done it without her.

What could be done to promote more Junior participation? I think scholarships for university would be a great start to get Juniors in the sport. Host Clubs could offer discounts to exhibitors that have Juniors handling for them. This could promote more owner/handers to use the Juniors. Perhaps if they changed the rule so Juniors could show all 3 days instead of just 1 day a weekend. I would like to see a Juniors Best In Show. That would provide a larger audience for their competition. The Photographers could offer a free winning Photo for Juniors. I could go on and on with ideas of how to promote the Juniors program and how to help Juniors. This is a wonderful program. I hope more people will take advantage of the opportunity to work with a Junior.

Expert: Sarah Muth, Junior Handler

I got involved in Junior's because of my parents, who are in the business and I grew up with dogs. I would dedicate my success to my parents.

I think for a young person to get involved with Junior Handling that does not come from a dog show family would be relatively hard. They would need to have access to purebred dogs and dog shows. They would need to be aware that CKC Junior Handling is available to them. It would also be difficult for them to learn the strategies that a junior needs to be successful in the sport, without someone with a dog show background.

In my opinion, the positives for being a Junior is the experience you get when you work and handle so many different breeds. Everyone has to start somewhere and being a Junior allows you to have many opportunities to work with amazing people, and learn the ins and outs of what it takes to be a handler.

Nagatives of being a Junior are politics. Politics play a huge role in the reason kids don't stay or enjoy juniors anymore. I think Juniors should be about fun, and learning new things, if this is how it is when you start Juniors why would you want to stay?

In order to promote Juniors in Canada, I believe we should have more classes to help newcomers practice, such as sanction matches for Juniors, and speeches about what Juniors is about and how the sport works. Juniors want to learn about dogs and if the clubs could be more involved in teaching us about breed standards, movement, health issues and the business side of handling, we would be much more successful.

A good working relationship between an owner and a Junior handler is the big S for Support. An owner that wants the Junior to succeed just as much as they want their dog to succeed, is what I think everyone should expect in this relationship. An owner is someone who puts trust in the Junior to make the best presentation of themselves and their dog. Being a good Junior is about goals, and I think one of the goals every Junior needs to remember before going into the ring is to be a good sportsman and treat your dog with just as much respect any team member. And the other goal should be to have FUN!

Expert: Hailey Griffith, Past Junior Handler now Professional Handler

How to "Refresh" the Canadian Junior scene?

Showing dogs on both sides of the border, I see the pros and cons to each "system". In reference to Junior handling, in the United States it is very successful with large turnouts, many rules and VERY competitive, so why is it in such decline in Canada where just having fun is the main emphasis?

With anything in life when you put more care into it, you will receive more in return. Structure and priority is the ONLY way Juniors will flourish again. Some ideas are; Using licensed judges, charging a small fee and having a cash prize for best overall (Model after sweepstakes) and also having a top Junior Handler tallied by points on Canuckdogs.com -the winner can be awarded at the Top Dog Dinner. Another idea would be to somehow approach the local schools to offer some sort of credit for an accumulation of first place wins, or best over-all wins, much like is done with hours of Community Service.

Growing up as a "dog show kid", Juniors was a large part of my life, I am so blessed for the assortment of animals I had the pleasure of exhibiting from the very glamorous CH Dawin Quick Trick (Hillary) to a puppy fox terrier my first time in the ring. It was all a learning experience, and I must extend my gratitude to the people who lent me their Canine charges and shaped me to be the handler I am today. I urge all the kids out there to: find a mentor, get in the ring and have some fun!

We will mention that person by name in the blog.

Spotlighted this week is: Maria McDonald, Owner of Kohlein German Shepherds Kennel in Victoria, British Columbia.

Canuck Dogs Volunteer

Maria has the distinction of being the very first Canuck Dogs results volunteer. The first show she sent in results for was the Oceanside Kennel Club show (March 23-24-25-26, 2006 in Maple Ridge, BC).

She has bred 29 Canadian |Champions, 3 American Champions, Best In Show, Best in Specialty, Best in Futurity, Best Puppy in Shows and Obedience/Agility titled dogs. Also among her many accomplishments are her two daughters who were Junior Handlers with a lot of success of their own.

When you are looking up British Columbia's show results, please think about Maria and thank her for taking the time to report the show results to Canuck Dogs. Her dedication as a Canuck Dog's volunteer makes it the great website everyone loves and can't live without.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Welcome To My View

Newbie Information - Part Two
Entering A Dog Show

One of the benefits of going to handling class is you will get information on how to find out about CKC dog shows and how to enter them. Here is a list of websites that are helpful:

www.canuckdogs.com This is a website dedicated to the dog fancy world. Canuck Dogs has a list of all the upcoming shows by providence. You can click on a show Premium List and get all the show information. This website is 100% volunteer. This blog is there. They not only have all the shows listed, but they keep up with the show results and list that information. You should spend some time browsing through Canuck Dogs to see what all you can learn.

www.entryline.com This is a website that is used for online dog show entry. When you go to their website you can read how to register and how to use the site. If you like you can also enter by telephone if you aren't comfortable with a computer. There is a nominal fee for using this service, but believe me, it is worth the fee. Also, I have made a mistake a time or two and they are terrific at contacting me to get it fixed. Very good customer service.

http://www.ckc.ca/ This is the Canadian Kennel Club website. If you go to their home page you will find The Calendar of Events at the bottom of the middle column. You can look up under various event types such as Conformation then by Province, etc.

Now, let's start at the beginning. You have successfully completed many weeks of handling class and your instructor tells you its time to enter a show. After the panic subsides, you will want to determine which show to enter. Normally your instructor or your classmates will know about upcoming shows. You should probably start with a small show. (Unlike Lyle and me. We did the Purina National as our first show. A huge show can be done if you are really adventurist).

Finding the show...use one of the 3 websites listed above. I prefer Canuck Dogs for finding my shows. It is just easy. Once I find the show I want to enter, I go to The Entry Line to actually enter.

Premium Lists is what they call the flyer or information sheets about the show. It will tell you on the cover Who is sponsoring the show (Kennel Club) the location of the Show and the dates. A show can be from Wednesday through Sunday or it could just be Friday through Sunday. Also interesting, each day is a totally different show. For instance, on Friday could be hosted Ancaster Kennel Club, Saturday is hosted by Hamilton Kennel Club and Sunday by Oakville Kennel Club.

The Premium List will tell you if there is limited entries and the closing date to get entered. It will also give you the entry fee, typically $29 or $30 dollars per show. You must decide which class you will show in. That is broken down in Baby Puppy (not all shows offer this class). This is for puppies between 3 month and 6 months of age. Junior Puppy is 6 months to 9 months. Senior puppy is 9 months to 12 months. 12 months to 18 months is next. Canadian Bred is for all dogs and bitches born in Canada and not a champion in any other country. Bred by Exhibitor class is for dogs which are owned and handled in the ring by the breeder. The handler must be the owner/co-owner and breeder/co-breeder of the dog. The owner/breeder must handle the dog in this class, but need not handle the dog for further awards. Usually the older and more experienced show dogs are to be seen in Open class. Specials Only Dogs are those which have a recorded CKC registration, Event Registration Number (ERN) or Miscellaneous Certification Number (MCN) and have attained the required number of points for Championship status. Dogs entered in this class will compete for Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex and Best Puppy if eligible. There are a few more classes but you won't have to worry about those for a while.

Typically you will enter in one of the Puppy classes or Open to start. If you have a Junior or Senior puppy, I would prefer to enter that class because you will be competing with the same age group and not with the older more experienced dogs. If you win in that class you will have an opportunity to compete with the more experienced dogs for Best of Breed, Best of Winners and Best of Opposite.

Now you have decided which show, which class and it's time to make your entry. You go online to The Entry Line or you phone them to make your entry. It's pretty easy at this point.

Let's assume you have made your entry and you have got your confirmation of entry. Once the show entry has closed, you will get another email with your entry information and this time it will show your Catalog number. This is the number that has been assigned to your dog. Interesting fact.....Bitches are always even numbers and dogs are odd numbers. That number will be printed on your armband that you wear while showing your dog. You can order a catalog when you enter the show.

What do you need at the Show depends on what breed you have. If you have a dog that will be examined on a table or requires a lot of grooming, you may want to take a grooming table to the show. If you are like me and have a breed that required trimming, stripping or fluffing, you will want to bring a toolbox with your brushes, combs and grooming potions, lotions and doodads and a blow dryer. If you require a blow dryer then you will want to bring a 15 to 20 foot extension cord. You will need a crate for your dog to rest in. Remember to bring water from home or bottled water. Water that is out of a foreign tap can give your dog an upset tummy. Remember to bring bait or a squeaky toy to use in the ring.

Grooming Space is normally designated at indoor shows. Claim your space. Don't be intimidated by the more experienced people. The grooming space is for everyone. The only exception is if the prime grooming locations may require a reservation and has a fee that must be paid. Outdoor shows sometimes have space available, otherwise you can buy an "Easy Up". That is the tent type structure that you can set up under off to the side of the rings. No electricity available normally. Look for all the details about grooming areas in the Premium List.

Arm Bands are picked up at the Show Superintendent's Table. At your first show, just ask someone to point you in the direction to their table. When you get there, give them your name and your arm band number. Also, this is where you will pick up your catalog if you reserved one when you entered, or you can buy one at this time. REMEMBER to pick up a half dozen rubber bands. You will need one to hold your arm band on. Always have extras in case one breaks.

Catalog and/or Show Schedule will tell you what ring you are showing in and at what time. The catalog has a lot of information. It will list all dogs entered by breed under the group. For example, we show in the Hound Group which is Group #2. We show Standard Wirehaired Dachshunds so our breed will be listed with all the dogs and what class they are entered in. Dogs are listed first and then bitches.

Timing your arrival to the ring is important. If you arrive too early your dog can get bored and unruly. If you arrive just in the nick of time, your rushed excitement may run down the lead to your dog and they may get hyper and unruly. Get to the ring too late and you may be marked absent and not get the chance to compete that day. So, you should know how many dogs are ahead of you and give 2 minutes for each on average. Example: We are entered and there are 5 breeds ahead of us for a total of 28 dogs. We are under the 9:00 am time. 28 x 2 = 56 minutes so I won't enter the ring until around 9:50 am. So I will plan to be ringside by 9:45 at least. That will give me time to watch the judge to see what his procedures are. Is he requiring all the dogs to do the down and back then go around. At your first show, be sure and tell the Ring Steward that you are new and ask for their help. They will be more than happy to make sure you know what to do.

Good Luck and remember to have fun no matter what!

Dr. Joanne Fagervik
on Your Dog's Health

Vaccinations. Controversial? You Bet!

Fact: Vaccinations are an aid in the prevention of disease. Fact: Vaccinations can cause adverse reactions. So, do we stop vaccinating our pets/companions/show dogs out of fear of adverse reactions? I think not. Vaccinations do not promise to completely prevent or eradicate disease. They are meant to reduce morbidity (the number of the population of interest (in our case dogs) that get sick when exposed to a pathogen or disease causing organism) and mortality ( the number of dogs that die when exposed to a pathogen). This they do very effectively. I have been in practice for 25 years and see fewer and fewer cases of parvo and other diseases that we routinely vaccinate against every year. We all know people that proudly state that they never vaccinate their dogs and their dogs never get sick. Since we see fewer cases of disease and pets that don’t get vaccinated don’t get sick, does that mean we don’t need to vaccinate? Again, I think not.

In areas where it has become fashionable not to vaccinate, we are seeing outbreaks of these deadly diseases again. Why does this happen? We go back to what vaccines purport to do. They reduce morbidity and mortality, they do not eradicate disease. When the percentage of the population which is vaccinated falls below a certain critical number we see outbreaks of disease because the vaccinated population is insufficient to protect the unvaccinated. There is no longer a buffer between unvaccinated individuals and when contact between them increases, they get sick. Anybody who has ever seen dogs suffer and/or die from parvovirus, distemper, leptospirosis or rabies would not wish it on anyone. In the case of breeders or owners of quality purebred dogs, why would you risk losing your precious genetics or substantial investment – not to mention that invaluable life – by not vaccinating it?

We come back to fear. Fear of adverse reactions specifically. From my standpoint as a veterinarian in private practice for 25+ years, I feel that fear is an over-reaction, fueled by hype, often through the internet. Similar to the type of knee-jerk reaction that led to a breed ban that as “dog people” we all agree is totally misguided. Yes, adverse reactions do occur. However, serious, life-threatening reactions are extremely rare. I have administered over 100,000 doses of vaccine in my career. I have yet to see one of those reactions – I hope I never do. I have seen occasional swollen faces and hives but that, too, is uncommon and is easily controlled. Further post-vaccinal reactions are also easily controlled. In some cases, I have pre-treated with antihistamine those individuals who have not themselves suffered adverse reactions but who have had multiple close family members react to vaccines. Another strategy is to stage vaccinations out over two 6 or 8 weeks in sensitive individuals. There are ways around vaccine reactions that do not necessitate lack of protection.

The bottom line is that vaccines save far more lives than they take (think seat belts . If you are one of those people who proudly don’t vaccinate, thank your neighbours who do – they are saving your dogs from disease and you had better hope they keep on doing it. And, by the way, keep your sick dogs home and away from dog shows!

If you have a dog health question you would like to submit to Dr. Fagervik, please send your question to djenkins@shaw.ca .

Please remember that Dr. Fagervik can not diagnose your animal with the limited information you provide in your question and without the benefit of having examined your dog and diagnostic tests. Dr. Fagervik and I encourage you to use our blog information only as a point of reference and to please seek your veterinary's care and treatment for any issues your dog may be having.

We will mention that person by name in the blog.

This week the spotlight is on

Sue Coghlan, Owner of Canuck Dogs

Sue is probably going to be embarrassed that I am spotlighting her. Sue leads the team at Canuck Dogs. She gives endless hours keeping the information current and managing ad space to keep Canuck Dogs the fabulous website it is. I really don't know what Dog people would do without this site. She would be the first person to say she doesn't do it alone. She has volunteers across Canada that report show results so the site stays up-to-date. We will be "Spotlighting" those volunteers in the coming weeks.

So on behalf of all the Canuck Dogs fans, Thank you Sue!

Monday, January 7, 2013

Welcome To My View

Happy New Year!

The holidays are over and we are into the first week of 2013. This is a year that holds a lot of promise for success in Dog Fancy. No matter what your area of interest, I hope you are rewarded for your hard work.

I don't make New Year's Resolutions, anymore. I don't think I have ever achieved a single one. It always seemed to put too much pressure on me to keep the resolutions. So instead, I work every day to be better at everything I am doing.

So I will just wish you to "Be Better"!

ASK THE EXPERTS

I am going to be my own expert this week. I have something on my mind that I'd like to share. I hope you will send me emails with your thoughts on this subject.

What is happening with Conformation?

I am not a breeder, but I am learning from my mentor, Debby Krieg, of Daybreak Wires. She has very generously talked to me for hours regarding breeding stock, line breeding, out crossing, and inbreeding. She has sent me pictures of potential candidates to be used for breeding and had me look at them and offer my opinion of positives and negatives. This is a wonderful education into the whole breeding process.

I understand that there are always going to be great breeders that obtain much success in Dog Fancy and there are also so-so breeders to very bad breeders. I'm not even talking about backyard or puppy mill breeders. I'm not considering them for this conversation. Having spent the past year, learning and listening and observing dogs, I must say it makes me go "Humpth"!

I have looked at dogs in my own breed that have very short ribbing, no fore chest, straight shoulders (not all on the same dog) and I think to myself, what was the breeder trying to achieve with that breeding? I have seen dogs that are literally walking on their hocks or their elbows are so loose they can hardly stand straight. I am no expert on any breed, however, I believe I am becoming one in Standard Wirehair Dachshunds and again I am wondering what the heck?

I was sitting ringside not too long along and the judge was looking at the only entry in this particular breed and surprisingly the judge did not award BOB to that single entry, but awarded 2nd place. I was so proud at that moment that the judge saw the lack of merit and sent the message to the owner/handler that it wasn't deserving of first.

That leads me to another question. How do we feel if a judge disallows a dog due to lack of merit and it results in reducing the points from a major? I know that I want my dogs to win on their merit. I love a judge that really gives my dogs a good once-over to make a decision. In my breed, there isn't much you can hide from a hands-on examination. I love it when the judge really watches my dog move. I get excited when the judge asks for my dog to move on a loose lead and to self stack. I like it when I watch a judge check for correct coat. All this inspection can prove that my dog can actually perform the job it was bred to do. It not only looks good, but can move.

I've had people tell me that they don't show their dog on grass because their dog doesn't perform well on grass. I want to say, "Are you kidding me? How can you expect your dog to perform its job if it can't move on grass?" Aren't we supposed to be showing the best breeding stock available? That is the purpose of Conformation shows. Would I want to use your dog in my breeding program if your dog can't move on grass?

Perhaps many of us should go back to basics and learn structure and movement. The breed clubs should be having some sort of continuing education programs to help their membership maintain a high standard in the breed.

Breeders please make sure that your pet puppy buyers understand what the difference is in "pet" and "show" quality. If you sell a puppy as show quality, please be sure and discuss the positives and negatives of the puppy. The show ring is not the place a new puppy owner learns about their dog.

I have beautiful wirehaired dachshunds. Are they perfect? No! Are they as close as you can get and still not be perfect? Yes! Was it an accident? No! My breeder has worked hard for 20 years to produce the best. Will I ever breed a litter? Maybe. But, really why would I when there are others out their that have dedicated much of their lives to do it right. Is it wasting my time to learn about good breeding? No, absolutely not. It has given me the ability to recognize quality and to see areas that need improvement.

Judges, you have my permission to disallow or set aside any dog that does not meet the breed standard and lacks merit. I will stand and applaud you! You will make us all better.

We will mention that person by name in the blog.

The Dog Show World is a real family. I witnessed it myself at the Brantford Kennel Club Show the end of November.

Mark Ragusa with Ace

BIS BISS BPIS A/C Gr. Ch. Mario N Beechwood's Midnight Express CGN, Ace

Ace is grand champion in both the USA and Canada. He has won 25 Best In Shows at many specailties on both sides of the border. He has won the Canadian National ans was Select dog at th American national and at ASC 2012. Ace also won BOV at Westminster 2012

Owners/Handlers, Professional Handlers, Dog Owners all joined to surprise Mark and Pam Ragusa, Breeders and Co/Owners and Frank & Cathy Charest, Co/Owners on being the 2012 #1 Dog All Breeds in Canada.

Their Dog Show friends and family hosted the surprise party in the grooming area. There was food and drinks and lots of warm congratulations and "Hip Hip Hoorays". There may be competition all year to have the Best and to be #1, but when one among us achieves it, its wonderful to see the comradery.

Handler Marlene Ness took Ace to the top!

CONGRATULATIONS ACE AND TEAM