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Your Level of Arrogance Does Not Match Your Lack of Skills

I have talked to many "Longtimers" in the dog fancy and they all pretty much say the same thing, they all had great mentors and learned from the bottom up.  They spent hours and hours working with those that could offer them instruction and experience.  They were for the lack of  a better term, "the bucket bitches" for others in order to learn. 

I have a mentor that I also consider my best friend.  I know many such relationships in the dog fancy.  I have learned from her, worked beside her, and I am so grateful to her that I would stoop and kiss the hem of

her garment.  She has my undying loyalty and admiration.  I know many of you feel the same way about the person that took you under  their wing and gave you the benefit of their experience and knowledge.  So much of their knowledge you cannot find written down anywhere.  You can call them in the middle of the night with an emergency and they are always there for you.  They are standing ringside to offer you constructive criticism and praise when you are finished.  Your mentor is the person that promoted you in the breed and dog fancy and introduced you to those other "Longtimers" that could also offer words of wisdom and little snippets of advice that money could never buy.

Unfortunately, there are those that believe that they can achieve a high level of success with little to no learning and without gaining any real hands-on experience.  These people have not learned that success and respect are earned not bestowed.  I am two and maybe three generations beyond this new "entitled" generation.  But, my best advice is if you believe that the dog fancy is all about you and your personal success and not about learning as much as you can about your breed, apprenticing and learning from the bottom up, doing your fair share of poop scooping, dog bathing, watching more mature and experienced handlers in the ring and showing respect to those that have come before you, then you are in the wrong sport.  This sport is about promoting your breed, learning pedigrees, understanding structure and movement.  What it isn't..... is about how great your look for five minutes in the ring.  It is not about how many Rosettes you can win.  It's about nutrition, grooming, training, breeding.  It's about understanding the whole package.  If you want to make a name for yourself, do it by being the best overall dog person you can be.  Be known for breeding the best.  Be known for always being a student of dogs. Be known for always wanting to expand your knowledge.

Being a member of the dog fancy isn't about just showing up on show day with a dog and prancing them around the ring.  It's about the books you are reading, the questions that you ask about how your breed has evolved and wanting to learn how you can make a difference maintaining the breed standard and promoting the breed. It's about understanding what your dog's needs are nutritionally as they grow and mature.  It's about understanding what is the proper exercise for them at each stage of life.  It's about understanding the health issues that your breed suffers and what's being done to eliminate those issues.  If you don't have this interest, you are not a serious dog fancier.  

Respect for those that offer to teach, mentor or spend an hour giving you instruction on proper movement.  Respect is certainly in short supply these days.  Respect above all else should be given in a meaningful way in order for you to earn respect in the dog fancy.

I hope everyone has had a chance to go to CanuckDogs.com to see the new layout design.  It is fabulous.  All the same great information, but in a nicer, more up-to-date format.  CanuckDogs is a free service that is provided strictly by volunteers.  All advertising dollars go straight into keeping the website running and free.  

I am sorry that I haven't been writing weekly, but our family is taking care of Zachary who has just started an arduous stem cell transplant.  I am spending a lot of time taking care of Zachary and going back and forth to Juravinski  Hospital.  Please keep our family and especially Zachary in your prayers that the stem cell transplant is the much needed cure for his cancer.

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Education Education Education .....There Can’t Be Too Much Education

I attended the Judges’ Hound Seminar organized by the Oakville & District Kennel Club.  It was two full days of presentations by breeders of Irish Wolfhounds, Whippets, Scottish Deerhounds, Black & Tan

Coonhounds, Norwegian Elkhounds, Bassett Hounds, Afghan Hounds and Blood Hounds.  I had never been to a judges’ breed seminar before.  Now that I have experienced it, I will want to attend as many as I can.

First, I was very impressed with the Oakville and District Kennel Club that organized this event.  They did a great job with the venue, had beautiful handouts in a binder about each breed and also provided all the presenters’ programs on a CD to review again at home.

Second, it was interesting to see who showed up to the seminar.  I have a lot of respect for the judges that attended.  It proved to me that they truly are interested in understanding

the breeds and to make judging fair across the group.  The judges asked pertinent questions and genuinely seemed interested in understanding each breed presented.  There were a few owner handlers there, but not near enough.  These seminars are for anyone interested in learning about the other breeds.

Third, we compete in the Hound Group and I want to know about the breeds I regularly compete with.  How can I complain if I don’t know a good wolfhound or whippet?  I hate hearing people leaving the ring putting down another breed that won, when they can’t explain accurately why that dog wasn't worthy of the placement.  I encourage owner handlers to take advantage of this kind of educational opportunities.  It’s not enough to just know your

breed’s standard, you need to at least understand your group.  I really don’t think anyone can complain about a loss or tout a judge’s decision to award you the win if you don’t understand why it is happening.

Fourth but not the least, thanks to Pierry McLean for providing Royal Canin’s facility for the seminar, to Barbara Heal for taking great pictures, to all the presenters for sharing information about their breeds and again to the Oakville and District Kennel Club for providing a wonderful experience and a delicious lunch on each day and making the atmosphere very welcoming.

 Mixed Breeds Allowed at Westminster Agility Competition

Roo, "All American" Mix Breed competing at Westminster Agility 2014

I have been mulling this over for several weeks since I returned from Westminster.  I have seriously tried to weigh all information to make a final decision on my opinion about mixed breeds participating at the grandest Dog Show in the USA.

I don’t like it!  I don’t agree with it!  I hope it never happens again!

In my opinion the inclusion of mixed breeds at Westminster is a fissure that will get bigger and bigger unless the dog fancy steps up to make it clear that it is unacceptable.  When the dog fancy allows mixed breeds to compete in agility, the conformation of the dogs may not be well suited for the various obstacles and could cause pain and injury to the dogs.  How educated or informed are the mixed breed owners to conformation, structure and movement?  With so little information given at adoption, only a real dog fancier would see poor shoulder placement and lack of reach, etc, etc, etc.

True dog fanciers spend an outrageous amount of money, time and personal sacrifice to perpetuate the breed standards, healthy dogs and to research and find methods to eliminate genetic faults or disease.  How is this wrong? Why should we allow ourselves to be considered some kind of second class dog citizen? 

I say that the Prestigious Westminster Kennel Club allowing mix breeds to participate in the same forum as pure breeds, we have given the public and all our dog fancy opponents the message that we are willing to admit that we have been wrong, elitist snobs and we are now willing to recognize the error of our ways and welcome mix breeds as our equals. 

With comments like the one below, we will be hard pressed to combat puppy mills and pet store dog sales.

Here is an excerpt from CBS NY newscast:

Nicole Bozich of Southern Pines, N.C., recalls being petrified by dogs before her husband persuaded her to get Audie, a probably-pug-terrier mix that a pet store was selling for $20. Obedience classes evolved into agility training and, eventually, into a spot in Saturday’s contest.

“If you told me five years ago that I’d be at Westminster showing a dog,” Bozich said, “I wouldn’t believe you.” 

Congratulations to Colton O’Shea on winning the World Junior Handling Champion at the Crufts 2014 International Junior Handling Competition in Birmingham, England on March 8, 2014.  

Colton is a Nova Scotia native and qualified to compete at Crufts by becoming the Canadian National Junior Handling Conformation Champion 2013. 

Congratulations also to Colton's family, his mentors and the CKC Junior Handler's Program that helped to nurture him.

Colton has made Canada very proud and we wish him continued success in all his future endeavors.

Remember to go to www.canuckdogs.com for all the latest Canadian Dog Event Schedules, updates and results.  Canuck Dogs is a 100% volunteer service headed by Sue Coghlan.  Remember to contact Sue early about your 2014 advertising campaign.  

  

Welcome To My View

2014 Dog Fancy Has Started

We have our first Canadian shows behind us and Westminster has crowned its 2014 winner, so we are getting back into the swing of making our entries, bathing dogs, making hotel reservations and packing the vans.  I am looking forward to seeing all my peeps and meeting new folks at the shows.  This year, we are getting involved in Field Trials.  We can’t wait to test our boy, Chase, in the fields.  We are breeding our first litter of standard wirehaired dachshunds under our Kennel name, Sweetwires Dachshunds.  We will spend this year focusing on, Dillon Conod, our fabulous junior handler and his wonder dog, Cooper!  It’s so exciting to see this young man and his dog grow in knowledge and skills. 

I invite all of you to be an active part of this blog.  It is meant to be fun, informative and insightful.  Please send your stories, or write an article for the blog.  Send me your club announcements.  Remember to send in your “Spotlight” suggestions for those people in your area you catch doing nice things for others.  Make 2014 the best year ever by bringing your best out to compete, remember to use good manners and be a good sport no matter.  You never know who you are influencing.

Our Best Friends, Our Workmates, Our Heroes

Researchers have spent years and countless dollars trying to understand the relationship between man and dogs.  Researchers have figured out that dogs will carry their human's gaze off into the distance.  They have spent countless hours in a lab discovering that dogs have a sympathetic yawn reflex with their people.  Dogs have demonstrated they can identify hundreds

Anubis as a baby with broken leg

of items from verbal commands and can understand hundreds of spoken words.  Is it any wonder that dogs are also our heroes?

Lynda McFadden of Jalynn Kennels recently had a unique experience, when her Newfoundland puppy proved to be a hero to a little girl in the neighborhood. 

Anubis saved a little girl from being abducted by a sex offender in front of Lynda's house several weeks back.  The man grabbed an eight year old girl. He had rope and was dragging her to his car in the snow. Anubis, the Newfoundland puppy,  noticed the behavior and the young girl credits him with saving her. He barked and drew a lot of attention to the situation and scared the man away. She told her parents and the police what happened.  The police went to Lynda's house to let them know what a brave thing Anubis did. 

According to Lynda, Anubis was in his pen playing in the snow and they were all in the house and had no idea what was happening. Fortunately, the McFaddens had  installed a video surveillance system recently and taped the entire incident. They were able to give a  description of the man and  the car he was driving!!!  That was a good start for the police to locate the man.

Anubis did what comes naturally to our canine companions.They want to protect their home and family. He realized a little girl, that he didn't even know, was in trouble and he saved her from untold danger.  Lynda, explained to me that Anubis has been special from a small puppy.  He broke his leg in a freak accident and Lynda spent weeks being his litter mate.  Lynda

transformed her living room into sleeping quarters for Anubis and herself.  She slept on a mattress on the floor and she spent countless hours playing with him.  When the other litter puppies were outside running, Lynda would  take him on the other side of the fence so he could run and play at his own pace with his leg in a cast without being tripped by the other raucous puppies. 

Lynda says that Anubis will likely be a service dog.  This will be the second service dog placed by Jalynn Kennels.  Newfoundlands are not just great water rescuers, they have untapped abilities to understand and respond to humans.  Some, like Anubis, are even HEROES!

Are You Kidding Me??

Why in this world do we need 56 options to describe our gender on Facebook?  I consider myself to be a fairly liberal thinker.  I have many friends that are gay and lesbian.  I am a firm believer and would fight for equal rights for all people, regardless of race, religion, nationality or sexual preference.  Why can't people just be people?  Why is there this need for labels?

In my humble opinion, its the labels that create problems.  It makes the whole issue of gender too complex and when things get complicated, people stop trying to understand.  Whatever happened to the KISS philosophy?  KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID!   If gender identification is this

complex then what is next?  Are we no longer married, single, divorced or widowed? Perhaps, we need several hundred labels to describe more fully our individual circumstance.  I'm not just married.  I am agender-married to a cis-male in an intersex non-binary free spirit marriage.  

We are just people all wanting the same thing. Understanding, inclusion, fairness, equality, love and family.   Drop all the labels and let's just be Non-discriminatory, Open-minded human beings.

Welcome To My View

I don't know about you folks, but I'm so happy to move on to 2014.  We had some great moments in 2013 and we had some really crappy moments. Can GCh/Am Ch Daybreak's Design Inspiration, Cara, gave us a very exciting year.  She came into her own and proved that she loved the ring and the applause.  Cara, is Canada's  #1 Owner/Handled Standard Wirehair Dachshund in 2013, #2 in Canada overall and #1 in Ontario. 

Lyle and I learned so much in 2013.  Our skills improved. We learned a lot about advertising and ad design.  We got so much help from so many wonderful people.  We made so many lovely friends.  Lyle and I loved every minute.  

Lyle and I want to thank all the people that helped us along the way during 2013.  It really did take a lot of assistance, help, support and advice.  I hope that we proved to be good stewards of your time and help by listening, implementing the advice and being gracious and thankful.  For fear of forgetting someone that deserves a mention, I won't try to list the names here.  I hope we showed our deep gratitude all during the year.

Dillon Conod, our wonderful Junior Handler, also had a great year.  He got to meet the best in our breed, Dachshunds and he has a large following all over the world. Here are just a few pictures of memorable moments of 2013.

Dillon's very first time in the ring with Marg Brown as his judge.  Dillon has a very special place for Ms Brown.  He will never forget his first time showing or Ms. Brown.

Dillon at the Dachshund Club of America show in St. Louis, Mo at Purina Farms.  He showed his own dog, Ex Sentia Duece Coupe.  Cooper ribboned 4 days out of 4.  Dillon proved he has natural handling abilities at DCA.

Dillon got the opportunity to handle many different breeds during 2013 including the beautiful Great Dane puppy his Aunt, Donna Conod, Whispering Hill, bred.

Some of the other breeds were Shar Pei, Deerhound, Fox Terrier, Pekineses, Bassett Hound, Rhodesian Ridgeback,  Bernese Mountain Dog, Mini Smooth Dachshund and Mini Long Dachshund.

To top off the year, Dillon put a group 4 and finished his dog, Ex Sentia Deuce Coupe at the last show of the year, Elora Gorge.  

Dillon also won his 9th Best Overall Junior at the Elora Gorge show.  

Lyle and I are so proud of him.

The Jenkins Team would like to extend a huge 

CONGRATULATIONS

Can Ch Cahladen's Perfect Ten

"Tenasen"

and her Breeder/Owner

                    Lisa Maki

            2013 Canada's # 1 Standard Wirehair Dachshund

Lyle and I are so honored to be in Lisa Maki's company. Lisa

and her team conducted themselves as fair and worthy competitors. We are enriched by her example, friendship and share in her love of the breed.   Way to go Lisa and Tenasen! We share in your excitement for this great achievement.  

I believe in Corporate Sponsorship working with their community, getting involved in non-profits to benefit their consumers.  I have been a fairly successful fundraiser and I have worked close with Corporate sponsors to donate to the Catholic School Board, Sports Teams, Women's Crisis Centres and Local Vegetable garden projects.

I know that Lance Novak, Executive Director, of CKC agrees with me about the need for Corporate Sponsors to help finance activities within our sport.  I have a particular interest in the Canadian Junior Kennel Club, Junior Handlers Program.  I believe there are Corporate Sponsors that need to be tapped to help fiance new and improved programs for the Juniors.

There has to be an incentive for the company to want to participate.  We must be able to show that our membership is a patron of their business or closely related to their business.  It helps when the companies that we approach have an interest in dogs.  

I bet you would be surprised at how many companies allow their employees to bring their dogs to work.  Companies have figured out that allowing their employees to bring their dog to work actually reduces stress, gives their employees a reason to take breaks because they must exercise and feed their dogs.  It has been proven that employees that are allowed to bring their dogs to work are more willing to work overtime, since they don't have to rush home to take care of their dog.  It has also been proved that people that bring their dogs to work trust their fellow workers that also have dogs and it makes for better teamwork.  

Doesn't it make sense, we should start approaching these companies to join us at the CKC to preserve our sport and the pure blood lines of our breeds.  It makes sense that they would find it of value to support young people in the dog fancy.  The same young people could be the corporate leaders of tomorrow.

Here is a list of well known Corporations that allow dogs at work:

Replacements, LTD - Did you just break a plate from Grandma's beloved antique china set? If so, Replacements, Ltd. may be able to save the day. The company is the go-to place to find a missing piece of fine china, crystal or silver. One would think that china and dogs wouldn't be a good mix, but Replacements, Ltd. has been a dog-friendly workplace for years. 

Google - Google's dog policy provides employees with a basic set of guidelines including cleaning up after the dog makes and being mindful of allergic co-workers.

Proctor & Gamble - Iams and Eukanuba are 

just two of the many brands under the Procter & Gamble label. Employees of P&G's Pet Care division in the Cincinnati area are welcome to bring their dogs to work every day, not just on Take Your Dog To Work Day. The company even has a V.P. of Canine Communications, Euka (pictured right). Euka, a cross between a Labrador retriever and a Bernese mountain dog, will be retiring next year after eight years of service. P&G Pet Care recently announced that Pawl Griffin (left), a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, is already in training to jump into the V.P. role.

Ben & Jerry's - If you're also a dog lover, Ben & Jerry's could be the ideal place to work because you can bring your pooch to the office. 

Autodesk - Autodesk employees are offered a generous benefits package including a six-week paid sabbatical every four years, paid time off between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day, discounts on a variety of group insurance options and, of course, the option of bringing their dogs to work. About 5 percent of the company's nearly 7,000 employees take advantage of this benefit.

Build-A-Bear-Workshop - The company's love of animals goes beyond the stuffed kind, however. Employees at the World Headquarters  can bring their dogs to work. The company even has a chief executive dog, Milford, who celebrates his birthday every year by throwing a grand party for the other company dogs. Build-A-Bear Workshop's dog-friendly workplace policy is just one reason the company has been named one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For three years in a row.

Amazon - Internet retail giant Amazon is also a dog-friendly workplace. Visitors to the company's corporate headquarters in Seattle can expect to find between two and three dozen dogs on any given day.

Here are Canadian Companies that allow dogs in the office:

Reports to: Brett Wilson, chairman, Prairie Merchant Corp.  “Every day that I’m in the office, Cash is here, even if I come in on the weekend,” says Wilson. “He’s the one person in the office that will listen to me.”

MIKA

Reports to: Ryan Holmes, CEO, HootSuite Media Inc.

“When you work long hours, the office can feel like your second home,” says Holmes. “I encourage my employees to embrace it. My dog, Mika, is such a big part of my home life, so my office wouldn’t feel like home without her.”

LEBOWSKI

Reports to: Robbie Eddison, supervisor, Softchoice Corp.

“There’s something about him that embodies our corporate culture,” says Eddison. “We’re a technology company, but we’re unique, fun and different—and that’s what he is.

PENNY

Reports to: Connie Wilson, Editor, Modern Dog

“Penny helps me unwind by reminding me it’s time for a treat, a walk or a tummy rub,” says Wilson. “Her timing is impeccable, making me take a break when I seem to need it most.”

LAILA

Reports to: Shmuel Farhi, president, Farhi Holdings Corp.

“For the past 20 years, I’ve had dogs working with me. I cannot see doing what I do without Laila here,” says Farhi, who refers to Laila as the chairdog of the board. “She gives two woofs for yes and one woof for no.”

DIGBY

Reports to: Frank Bassett, senior director, EA Canada

“It’s fun having dogs at work. It changes the mood in a room when there’s a pet involved,” says Bassett. “He knows where the treats are and where to go for pee breaks. He could probably find my office without me.”

A dog's life at the office!

For many years, Mars Canada Head Office has opened its doors for associates to bring their dogs to work.  Introducing dogs into the workplace plays an important role in bringing to life the values of Petcare.  The dogs offer a sense of comfort,help relieve stress and in some cases, even improve productivity.

I believe that the Solution for CKC and the Dog Fancy Success hinges on the Corporations we can attract as partners.

Christina Heard, Summerford Newfoundlands, photo bombed Donna Conod, Whisper Hill, and Donna Jenkins.  Christina should give lessons to most of us on how to be fun, supportive and all around nice person!  This photo also proves white women can jump!  lol

Happiest of 2014!  Make it a Great Year!

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

Welcome To My View

        MERRY   CHRISTMAS

Canadian Kennel Club Answers Questions

I asked questions that I believe many of you are looking for answers about our CKC IT issues and upgrades.  Here are the questions and answers from Lance Novak, Executive Director.

What is being done to improve CKC IT and bring our systems up-to-date?

We submitted a business case to the board for a significant investment in our finance, website and backend system and it was approved. The investment will be over three years.

What time frame are you looking at for the system to be completed?

Tangible results will be realized during the three-year investment. The first item being delivered is a new website in the first quarter of 2014. It will be easier to navigate and will have more information. Additional features, such as better and more online forms will be delivered throughout 2014.

Replacing our 28-year-old customized backend system will take longer. Work will begin in 2014 and will be ready in 2015.

Will the membership see improvements in service at all during the upgrade?

Yes. After the new website is launched improvements to current functions, new content and services will be launched throughout the three year period. Improvements that require our new backend system will likely be rolled out at the earliest in Q1 2015.

What service improvements or changes will the members enjoy with the upgrade?

We want to increase the opportunities for members to be able to have more self-serve options. We are also aware that we need to improve the time it takes to register and process event results. We want our website to be easier to use and develop content for members and the public that best serves their needs. We will be forming a committee made up of a balanced matrix of breeders, exhibitors/competitors, junior handlers and public pet owners to assist with determining the right content.

One of the biggest complaints is not being able to register dogs online.  Will

that be happening in the near future?
Currently dogs can be registered online by logging in and visiting the Membership Services -Application Centre and selecting the “Dog Registration” option on the left hand side. It is integrated with the Litter Application. We will be working towards having a clearer process and a greater variety of dog registrations that can be done online.

Second complaint is not being able to have a timely points tracking system online at the CKC.  Will this be something coming in the near future?

CKC recognizes that event results should be timelier.  We will begin to deliver improved event results in 2014.

It took almost a year for the CKC to announce 2012 Top Dog points.  Is this going to improve for 2013 points?

Our aim is to have the results out by March.

I was noticing as I drove around the Juravinski Cancer Centre, where Zachary has been treated for cancer since March this year, that there are still people that have not caught on that smoking kills.  We typically park across the street from the main entrance and must climb a set of stairs from the street to the entrance.  I am always amazed how many people, including the hospital's employees that gather at the bottom of the stairs to smoke.  They gather there because it is technically off hospital property where smoking is not allowed.  I'm sure most people would say that I'm a nice person that doesn't look for trouble, but I must tell you that I've got to where I say something nasty to these people every time we pass them.  I say something like, "You'd rather be a patient than an employee" or "What you don't see enough suffering, you want to see your family suffer, too"!  Or I say something as simple as, "that is revolting, we are here to save a life, please don't smoke in this area"!   

People have become insensitive to others.  Either they don't care if they are disrespectful, or we are failing to teach respect. I don't just see disrespect at the hospital.  I see it at the grocery store, in parking lots, at the movie theaters and dog shows. There is a southern saying, "You can't teach Class, either you have it or you don't".  I hope to see more respect at the dog shows.  Perhaps the list below will give all of us some guidelines to follow and we will be more classy.  

Lyle, Zachary and I wish you and your family the happiest of holiday season.  Make it a season to remember.  Be safe and joyous.

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