CRC 1st Quarter Newsletter

Colonial RottweileR Club QuaRteRly

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Colonial Rottweiler Club..................................Inside Back Cover Crim, Jody & Payne, Greg........................Front Cover/Inside Front Garvie, Jim & Linda...........................................................Back Cover Sabalos, Sharon..................................................................................7

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2nd Quarter 2023 Issue Available

3rd Quarter 2023 Issue *RESERVED - SPECIALTY ISSUE*

4th Quarter 2023 Issue Available

1st Quarter 2024 Issue

Greetings everyone,

By the time you receive this newsletter, Spring should be just around the corner. Hooray!

We all know how smart Rottweilers are and they often seem like they can read our minds. Inside this newsletter is an article on “Communicating with Cues.” The article touches upon the cues our dogs often give us in everyday life, while training, or showing.

Also inside is coverage of AKC’s Meet the Breeds. Many thanks to Sarah Janner for her write-up and photos!

Available

Club Officers and contacts

President: Doreen Luhrs 802 North Main GQ St. Granite Quarry, NC 28146 dluhrscrc@gmail.com

Vice President: Maureen Sullivan 34 Crestwood Rd. Leicester, MA 01524 sulliv91@yahoo.com

Secretary: Sarah Janner 256 Kasson La. Bethlehem, CT 06751 isengard3@aol.com

Treasurer: Jodi LaBombard 5580 Burgess Falls Rd Sparta, TN 38583 jodilabombard@gmail.com

Director: Tammy Murray 132 Pinewood Knoll La. Sudlersville, MD 21668 schipnrotts@gmail.com

Director: Deb Haldeman 349 Sunrise Blvd. Elizabethtown, PA 17022 3dognite@embarqmail.com

Director: Hollee Russell 108 Duncan Street Jeannette, PA 15644

Newsletter Editor: Liz Wertz P.O. Box 391 Chesterland, OH 44026 liz@vonwertz.com

Achievement Awards/Medallions: Julie McLain 1085 Hebron Valley Road, Madison, VA 22727-9337 juliemclain@vabb.com

Webmaster/Social Media: Denise Gross 25 Honey Locust Dr. Mills River, NC 28759 ddgcrc@gmail.com

Archivist: Coleen Hann 614 SE 36 Street Cape Coral, FL 33904 cthann27@gmail.com

May your day be touched by some Irish luck!

Both members and dogs did a great job of acquainting the public with our wonderful breed.

For those members who have experienced the loss of a beloved dog this past year, CRC offers a Rainbow Bridge table at the May Specialties to memorialize member’s special dogs. Inside you will find a form to submit for the Rainbow Bridge table in memory of your dog. Deadline for submissions to Julie McLain is April 1. The form can be found on page 9. Also, a new therapy dog award is being sponsored by Maureen and Doreen Sullivan - see page 13 for more information.

Lastly, don’t forget to save the dates for our Spring specialties: May 4 thru May 11, 2023. You can find more information on page 16 and the inside back cover.

Liz

Membership Chair: Patricia Wicks P.O. Box 749 Plaistow, NH 03865 nhrotties@yahoo.com

Health Committee: Sue Cohen mosescohen@aol.com

Quarterly Publication Dates & Deadlines

1st Quarter Feb 15 April

2nd Quarter May 15 July

*3rd Quarter July 15 Sept

4th Quarter Sept 15 Dec

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The opinions expressed by the contributors to this newsletter may not represent the official opinion of the Colonial Rottweiler Club. For updated news and information, visit the Colonial Rottweiler Club website: www.colonialrottclub.org.

Articles in this newsletter may only be reprinted with the explicit consent of each individual author/source. The newsletter is distributed free to all members. Individual subscriptions are available to non-members at $30/year.

The front and back covers are available on a first come first served basis. *The covers for the 3rd Quarter issue are reserved for the Specialty Winners and are printed at the club’s expense as a news item. Paid ads are also accepted for the Specialty Issue.

• Litter listings and listings for older dogs and puppies will be accepted from CRC members only. Each CRC member will be allowed two free litter listings per calendar year. A $5.00 fee will be charged for additional listings. Litter listings, and all advertisements must include hip evaluation number (OFA, Penn Hip or foreign registry).

• CRC members may advertise accomplishments of dogs bred by them, but not necessarily owned by them. The name of the owner may be listed but not his address or phone number unless he too is a CRC member.

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*3rd Quarter is the Specialty Issue

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Hi All!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful New Year. First thing I would like to do is thank Vicky Weaver for service on the Board of Directors with us. Unfortunately, Vicky needed to step down but we have very much appreciated her time with us. Vicky is a long standing member who has always helped out wherever she could and we will always be thankful for that. Vicky’s replacement will be Deb Haldeman. Deb is also a long time member who, with her husband Ron has always pitched in doing many, many jobs for the club. Welcome to the board Deb.

I want to congratulate the winners of our promising puppy contest: Crestwood’s Dazzling Crackle Pop v Isengard “ Emmy” and littermates CH Trilogy’s Shoot For The Moon “ Cosmo” and CH Trilogy’s Blinding Totality at Exodus BCAT, CGC, TKN “Grizz” who tied for the win. I know the future is bright for all of these youngsters.

Now that the holiday’s have passed we can all get back to our normal activities. Some are back to performance trials, some are back in the conformation ring and some are just enjoying time with their dogs. Whichever you choose I hope you are doing it well. For us on the Board, it is time to start planning the specialties and supported shows. Maureen is hard at work on CRWG as well as the May specialties. As usual, we are in need of trophies, so please donate. We can not have trophies without donations and no amount is too small. There will be a few surprises on the trophy table this year as well. Stay tuned...

We have had some members give us some suggestions that have been well received and are now implemented for the up coming shows. Thank you - as we welcome any input as long as it’s constructive. Also, some members have stepped up and volunteered to help out, which is greatly appreciated. We always are thankful for the help. The more hands, the easier the job. So, please see if you can find a few minutes to chip in and do something to help out. If you don’t know where to start - we can help you, and if you don’t know how to do it - we will teach you. Don’t feel like it has to be something hard or very time consuming. It can be an hour at the ways and means table, selling catalogs or stewarding for obedience and rally. It’s totally up to you. We appreciate anything you can do to help out...and it can be fun. Make new friends, learn new things, meet more of the members and become part of our team. So, now it’s time to get things rolling and I look forward to hearing from you all soon!

Doreen

NEW MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS

JOANNE’S WORKSHOP COMMUNICATING WITH CUES OR...

Are You Smarter Than A Doberman?

By JoAnne Brettschneider

The following article first appeared in the December 2022 issue of The Doberman Network. Many thanks to Editor Amy Tourand and JoAnne for allowing CRC to reprint it.

We all know that communication with our canine partners is something we need to have the best performance or show ring companion. We hope our dogs read us when we move a certain way, position ourselves a certain way, or throw a hand signal, or a certain body position that indicates what our dogs should do.

So how does that transfer when our dogs throw out their cue to us? How many of us lack the expertise or the sheer comprehensive value to understand what it is that our dogs our asking of us?

Our training could be so much simpler and so much faster if we concentrated on mutual cues and understood what our dogs are saying. Of course, that doesn’t mean they aren’t telling us to go find another scapegoat.

People tend to teach cues and then not follow through on what the cues actually mean. Whatever your dog is doing when he gets rewarded, is what he thinks he is getting rewarded for. For example...I teach my dog to sit, then reward the dog as he stands up and moves to the reward. I just taught him that the release is the reward.

While you may think your dog understands what happened when he doesn’t hold his stay in the ring - perhaps he is trying to figure out what got him that reward. He was rewarded for releasing that stay, so now in the ring, with a bit of ring nerves for you both, you may look a certain way that you had looked when you released him to his treat.

That look taught him the release cue.

Taking it to the next level, I do not always want my dog to stay if I ask him to sit. If is a momentary cue, then release to another command, than that reward for the release can be worked into that series of cues.

Imagine heeling. What I had done a few times in a class was to have a “student” walk next to me as if he was the dog. I would then do a series

you are inviting him to not take the jump on the way back. After your dog picks up his dumbbell and glanced at you, eyes should drift to the jump.

Have you had a dog stop dead in his tracks after picking the dumbbell up? That is probably because you are staring at him, telling him to read your mind, instead of relaxing and letting him do his job.

of sharp turns without any cue, and would literally run into the person, or in turning away from that person, would increase a gap before he caught up to me. In doing this, a student can learn how very difficult it is for the dog to anticipate everything a handler is doing.

So doesn’t it make sense to have minor cues in place while heeling that tell the dog what you are doing? A shift of your eyes can tell your dog something is going to happen. Shifting left, can mean left turn, shifting right can mean right turn.

If you send your dog over a jump for a dumbell that has bounced off to the right, if you look straight at your dog,

I saw a person in the utility ring several years ago with a really nice working dog. The dog ran to the other side of the ring and sat in preparation for his directed jumping. The owner looked into his eyes as she threw her arm out to the right jump. The dog came into her. Why do you think that was? She later said her dog did it correctly in training, and in the ring, the handler was nervous, so gave the “read my mind” look to her dog, which made the dog second guess what he was supposed to do.

I can be just as guilty as anyone and have caught myself on many occasions miscommunicating cues to my dog. I had a dog that didn’t sit on our first halt, so I gave her what I thought was a “sit” look, but it turned it turned out to be a “you are in trouble” look, so she bolted. I wasn’t upset with her, just gave her a look that she incorrectly read, more than I incorrectly cued! I had to teach her in training that if I glanced at her, she wasn’t in trouble. I did this simply by glancing at her while heeling, then gave her a treat.

Cont’d on page 8

So doesn’t it make sense to have minor cues in place while heeling that tell the dog what you are doing?

Communicating with Cues (Cont’d)

Recently I showed my youngest dog in obedience and got her Companion Dog title. Because she was green, she was a bit nervous in the ring. She is a serious little girl, and tried really hard. When we halted, at least once at each trial, she walked in front of me, and peeked backwards at where the judge was. Because these were her first trials, I recognized this and knew that anything could happen when you are first introducing your dog to a show setting. This was her way of saying, “Who IS that walking behind me?”

Yes, we mimicked this in training, however it is people we know, so she had no issues. In a trial, it was important for her to figure this out. She will get better with more ring time. There is not a technical fix for this, as it was innocent and should be remedied with more ring time and confidence. She tries to be right, so she had no idea what she did was wrong.

On a different level, I added to this article a photo of a friend that has done agility for a long time, and wants to put a CD title on her dog. People seem to think that obedience is boring after the dog has such a great time running agility. For some, this is probably true, but if the dog doesn’t know this is obedience, then he ususally doesn’t make the assumption that it is boring.

This picture shows a person just walking with her dog and communicating with him as she has so many times before. Voila! He is heeling, and quite nicely, I have to say. He doesn’t have a clue this is doing something “boring, like obedience.” He has no idea he is being trained for obedience. He is having fun with his owner, and looking into her heart as he has so many times before.

While obedience taught me how to train my dog to listen, agility taught me how to use motion for training

and cues through motion to open up a whole different avenue of training. Obedience and agiliity can go hand in hand with each other.

Dogs are so smart, and yes, they are smarter than we can ever give them credit for. Our problem is we try to get the dogs to understand our cues instead of understanding to theirs.

I hear all the time how it is always our fault if our dog makes an error in the ring. I hear that if the dog is doing something wrong, we have failed in training. While it is mostly

do something wrong, he is giving us a statement. He is making a decision. Whatever it is based on, and whatever the reason, he is making his own choice.

People that have said to me, “Dogs don’t think like that” are telling me that they have not spoken to their dogs and listened to them. They do not understand that yes, dogs DO think, and they do process thoughts.

I said to someone that my dog was “acting up” on a course. The response I received was: “Dogs don’t think like that. She is just frustrated.” Think like what? Call whatever you want, name it whatever you want, but my dog processed thought enough to try to communicate with me. What my dog was saying in this instance was, “I don’t undersand.” How could she tell me any other way?d

What about the dog that says “I don’t want to?” A bolt away, a snap at you, a flip over, trying to get away from the leash. What is this saying?

Dogs, like children, have to learn to deal with respect. It is up to us to show them how. Sometimes by showing them they still have to behave even if they don’t want to, can be a task. Sometimes you get a dog willing to learn and figure out what you want them to do. Sometimes you get a “NO” regardless.

the communication we have with our dogs. It is also the dog that is trying to communicate with us, and we are not listening. So yes, this is our fault. However, what the dogs are telling us is not always in our favor. Sometimes the dogs are saying they don’t want to do something. Sometimes the dogs just choose to not do what we ask. Our choices are: 1-Make the dog do the task. 2-Accept that our dog doesn’t want to, and give up our hobby.

3-Figure out what is causing the dog to do what he did. 4- Figure out how to fix the issue. When a dog chooses to

Did you ever reach for your dog’s collar, just to have him back quickly away? Reinvent the situation. Tell the dog, “I am going to touch your collar.” And reach for the collar. Did the dog still back away? Take the collar off, and tell the dog you are putting the collar on, then reward with a treat. Soon your dog has learned a sentence. “Let’s put your collar on.”

Cont’d on page 10

2023 Rainbow Bridge

This year’s Rainbow Bridge is a repeat of last year and is again by Sara England Designs. It’s a 4” sun catcher/ornament made of tempered glass and comes with a ribbon for hanging. The entry deadline to have the info and payment to me is April 1, 2023.

Your name_____________________________________________________________

Will you be at the specialty? Yes___ No___

* Dog’s call & registered name & titles ( please print clearly!)

Mailing address: ________________________________________________________

Email address: _________________________________________________________

Sun catcher/ornament (includes catalog listing) $ 24

Postage & packaging if it needs mailing $ 16

Fee if you would only like your dog’s name listed in the catalog $ 6

TOTAL: $____

Please submit entries with check payable to ‘Colonial Rottweiler Club’ to:

Julie McLain

1085 Hebron Valley Road Madison, VA 22727

juliemclain@vabb.com

* Please also include or email a copy of your favorite photo for the memorial table.

Communicating with Cues (Cont’d)

A client recently was fighting her dog to get drops in her ears. The dog was barring her teeth, and the owner was fighting the body, instead of fighting the brain. She asked me what to do. I showed the dogs the drops, and said, “Time for ear drops.” She backed away. I said, “See this treat?” as I put down a treat. I again showed her the ear drops, and just touched it to hear ear, then released to the treat. In one minute, we were putting drops in her ears, while her expression was, “Hurry up, I want that treat.” Communicate with the brain, not the body. If you fight your dog’s body, you won’t win, at least not easily.

By not addressing the fact that dogs think and process what they are thinking, is to demean their brains and how smart they are.

Sometimes we try to listen but just don’t pick up on what they want. My youngest, Tienna, will come and lay her head on my lap and stare into my eyes. She wants either to go outside, to play with the other dogs, or to eat, or a variety of other things. She hasn’t learned how to make me understand yet. I am the dumb one, not her.

Vira, on the other hand, lets you know when she is upset - she calmly goes in my room, jumps on the bed and starts shaking my blanket violently! I close the door and she goes and tries to knock over whatever is sitting on an end table. She will literally hit anything there with her nose.

She has a personality that says we better read what she wants, and if we don’t, then lookout! Dogs are so very smart; it is inconceivable what they would tell us if they could talk. Probably that they wanted another handler, for one!

A friend was over and sat on Vira’s couch. Vira jumped up, and sat next to her, attempting to kiss her in the face.

Vira does not kiss us in our faces, so the presumption is she is telling this person to get off her couch! The person laughed, thinking the dog really loved her, when in fact, she was irritated that someone dared to sit on her couch! If someone was in Tienna’s spot on the couch, she would lay her head on me and look into my eyes.

Our dogs look to us for cues constantly. If you have a strong relationship with your dogs, sometimes the cues are really hard to hide. My husband and I cannot carry out a convrsation without the dogs getting involved.

“I am going to...” means we have just cued our dogs that they are going out, going to eat, going for a ride, or a variety of whatever they think we are going to do. They escalate out of a sound sleep, and start going a bit nuts! Another extreme cue to them is me putting my shoes on. Shoes mean the same thing, well except for eating. Shoes mean playtime. Going into the room means, “Shoes going on” with the same results.

All my dogs will bring me my shoes on command, and they know it means we are doing something. I used to have a dog, that when she thought I had been sitting long enough, would go get my shoes and drop them in my lap. “Get off your *** NOW.” She would drop them then start spinning as if I initiated this playtime.

Tesa, my oldest, has been known to find my shoes, after my husband asked when I was leaving, and I answered with “when I find my shoes.” Tesa’s nose went into the air, and she came back with the last shoes I had worn, which were amidst others strewn all over. This wasn’t taught, it was cued, without me even realizing how she figured this out.

Talk to your dogs, and they will talk back. It may not always be what you want to hear, but isn’t that what makes them stand out from the rest? They are so intelligent. While training, it is so important to talk to them, not just teach commands. Imagine taking your child to an amusement park and standing in line, expecting your child to stand still, not making a scene about being excited, then go on the ride and be thrilled. Kind of dull.

Communicate with your dog. Tell him what you are going to do. Tell him when he won. Let him express his joy. When you walk in the ring, tell him he did a great job, now he gets to retrieve his dumbbell. When you walk in for a qualifying or better ribbon, and walk up to the judge to take it, show it to him, and tell him “This is what you won. I am so proud of you.” Let him sniff it. After a few times, you will see your dog lift and be proud when he sees that ribbon. It makes your time in the ring so much better.

Communicating with our dogs trains them on a level that they will understand. It works better than any method or technique. If your dog understands, he will do it... Or will he? A dog that is smarter than his owner will be issuing the commands, and the owner will be obeying, without even realizing it. I think that is something we are all guilty of, and we love our dogs even more for it.

AKC’s Meet the Breeds

Jacob K. Javits Center, New York City

On the weekend of January 28th and 29th, thousands of people flocked to the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City for AKC’s “Meet the Breeds.”

Always ready for a new adventure, yet not quite realizing what we were getting in to (as usual), Sue Marucci and I – with Rottweilers Fiesta, Rolando, and Teeter in tow – jumped in the car and headed into NYC. We were met by ARC’s Meet the Breeds Liaison/Booth Coordinator and CRC Member Alexandra Gebhardt-Niles, as well as CRC members Donna and Pat Worthington and Rottweiler Maverick.

We had a few moments to unpack and prepare before hoards (and I mean HOARDS) of public arrived to do exactly what was advertised – meet the breeds. Our day was busy to say the least. People of all shapes and sizes, young and old came to talk to us and inevitably pet and love on our dogs. I was pleasantly surprised with the depth of the questions asked, and I spoke to several people who owned Rottweilers, a few of them from wonderful breeders I know. All four dogs were just incredible, surpassing the amount of patience and kindness than I could have ever hoped for. I heard that Saturday’s crew had an equally awesome day. Alex, Donna, Pat and Maverick were accompanied by Laura Wells, Anne Coy, and Rottweilers Denver and Jameson.

I’m writing again about a situation that I’ve never been in – and once again I’m left in awe of those humans and dogs that donate their time for public good. At the end of the day, that one belly rub, pat on the head, or slobbery kiss might have been all that was needed to change someone’s world. To top it all off, ALL the volunteers were CRC members! Thank you all for sharing your time and wonderful dogs. See the next page for more photos!

Sarah Janner

Pat & Donna Worthington, Sarah Janner, Alexandra Gebhardt-Niles, Sue Marucci

Donna & Pat Worthington, Alexandra Gebhardt-Niles, Laura Well, Anne Coy

AKC’s Meet the Breeds (Cont’d)

The CRC Jaedyn Annual Volunteer Therapy Award

I would like to give you a little background about our Jaedyn. Jaedyn was a natural born therapy dog. She had a special gift that allowed her to know when someone needed her most. She changed many lives through her years of service visiting patients at hospitals, rehab centers, children’s wards, psychiatric units and hospice. She even saved my mom’s life by detecting her heart disease before she even knew what was wrong. Her instincts were spot on.

On one particular visit a patient asked, “does her name mean anything?” I answered, “yes, it means God hears.” She threw her arms around Jaedyn’s neck and sobbed, “I thought God forgot me a long time ago.” The doctors told me as we were leaving that Jaedyn had just done what the doctors had been unable to do. That Jaedyn had given the women the breakthrough the doctors had been hoping for.

So, this award is in honor of Jaedyn, who passed away in 2021 from osteosarcoma, and all the Rottweilers that change people’s lives through their love and dedication to helping people in need.

This award will be awarded annually if the CRC board of directors and myself feel a dog and team has meet the following criteria as set by Maureen and Doreen Sullivan, the sponsors of the award. One recipient will receive a trophy (that is yours to keep) and their names placed on the perpetual trophy that will remain with CRC.

On one particular visit a patient asked, “does her name mean anything?” I answered, “yes, it means God hears.” She threw her arms around Jaedyn’s neck and sobbed, “I thought God forgot me a long time ago.”

1 - The humans and dog team must be a member of a recognized organization (can be local or national). You must provide proof of membership.

2 - The dog must be a Rottweiler.

3 - Therapy work can not be done during the time you are being paid to be at work. You must be volunteering your time.

4 - You can nominate yourself - however, you must provide a letter from someone who runs the facility you volunteer at or who’s life your dog has touched. I want to know how our dog made a positive impact on his or her community, the facility they volunteer at, or how they have helped an individual get through a challenging time or provided comfort in an exceptional way.

5 - The hours you have volunteered do not matter, the quality of the connection your dog has with the people does.

Jaedyn was mine and my mothers heart, so in her honor, please send in your applications. The CRC board will choose the team who they feel best meets the criteria above. Please remember this award is about the quality of therapy work and not the quantity. It’s about the human/canine connection and how our dogs can heal people in ways that doctors cannot.

Please send the following information to Maureen Sullivan at sulliv91@yahoo.com with your submission. Please include the following: your name, your dog’s names “Call name” and registered name (if applicable), your email and phone number to contact you, and the organization you are a member of with proof of membership including letter(s) of recommendation. The applications must be received by April 1, 2023.

Jaedyn

COLONIAL ROTTWEILER CLUB MEDALLIONS

CRC Medallion Policy

Medallions will be awarded for all AKC titles. All requests must be supported by a copy of the AKC title certificate, which can either be snail mailed or emailed. All titles for which a medallion is awarded must be earned while the dog is owned by a CRC member in good standing. To receive a medallion, all requests must be sent to the Medallion Chairman within 12 months of the title being earned. Send medallion info to Julie McLain 1085 Hebron Valley Road Madison, VA 22727 Email: juliemclain@vabb.com Congratulations to all who earned new titles! The newly earned titles are listed in bold and are underlined.

GCH CH Jasta’s Spirit Of Love CD BN RM RAE3 HSAd HSAsM THDA FDC BCAT ACT1 ACT2J TT THD CGCA

CGCU TKP VHMA (Owner: Donna Worthington)

Timonte’s Nala SCN SIN CGC TKN (Owner: Terry Timonte)

Eis Haus Ruby and Roses BN RI (Owner: Althea Stowe)

CH Topaz Cha Cha Born To Be Fast V Cammcastle TKN CGC (Owners: Tammy & James Oswald)

Amelyns Dreams Do Come True PCD BN RM3 RAE2 SWN SHDN CGCA TKE CD-V VHMA VSWE (Owner: Sharon Saballos)

Eis Haus Tornado Alley CD BN RE CGC TKA (Owner: Janice Lengvarsky)

Woodrott’s Flirty Gertie CD BN HSAd PT HT CGC TKN (Owner: Rebecca Forry)

Woodrott’s Don’t Poke The Bear CDX RI HSAd HSBd HIAds HSAsM HXAsM HXAdMsM PT HT FDC CGC

TKN (Owner: Becky Forry)

CH Winning Hand Pathway To The Starz CD BN RI NJP NFP TKA TKI TKN CGC (Owner: Diane Noe Gilliam)

GCH CH Von Marc’s Life In The Fast Lane CGC TKN ATT FITB (Owners: Anthony & Kelly Skiptunas)

GCH CH Woodrott’s Stars And Stripes TT THDX CGCA TKN FITB (Owners: Anthony & Kelly Skiptunas)

CORRECTION

A correction to the breeders and owners of the Best of Breed winner at the Fall 2022 CRC Specialty at Goshen Fairgrounds.

Best of Breed

GCH BISS Wllslands Kurve In The Road V Bethany Farms

Bred by: Joseph DeVito, Giselle DeVito and Laura Wells

Owned by: Robert Daniel, Melissa Daniel and Amanda Daniel

Degenerative Myelopathy in Dogs Symptoms & Treatment Options

by Dr. Jean Dodds, Hemopet

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) is a degenerative disease of the white matter of the spinal cord in dogs, and was first described in 1973. DM is equivalent to some forms of Lou Gehrig’s disease (human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS]).

Symptoms of DM often appear around four years of age or older and often resemble osteoarthritis. Eventually, disease progression could result in muscle weakness, paralysis, and loss of bowel and urinary control.

Further complicating the matter is accurate diagnosis, which – at this time – can only be definitively concluded upon post-mortem examination. However, we do have a variety of diagnostic tests at our disposal, as well as genomic testing for mutations of the superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) gene.

In fact, it is recommended that breeds who are at the highest risk of developing DM –German Shepherd, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Siberian Husky, Boxer, Labrador Retriever, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, and Bernese Mountain Dog – should be tested for the mutation. Dogs with two copies of the mutated gene are at higher risk of developing DM. However, there are some reports of dogs with two copies that never develop the disease.

It should go without saying, that all dogs of breeds at higher risk of DM should be tested prior to breeding and should not be bred if they have the mutation. Breeding dogs that have the mutation for this essentially fatal disease is inhumane because of its impact on future generations.

On the bright side, gene therapy studies are on the horizon. But, that does not help dogs afflicted with DM now. So, what can we do to make their lives better?

Besides medications, we found some fascinating studies that took a basic look at exercise. A pivotal study from 2006 divided 22 dogs with DM into three groups: intensive physiotherapy, moderate physiotherapy and no rehabilitation.

Intensive physiotherapy included active exercises 3–5 times per day, massages three times per day, and hydrotherapy (underwater treadmill or swimming pool) once per day. Dogs participating in the a moderate physiotherapy program performed three sessions of active exercises per day and hydrotherapy once per week.

Intensive physiotherapy delayed disease progression significantly and dogs receiving any physiotherapy remained ambulatory longer. Dogs in the intensive program lived an average of 255 days. The dogs that received moderate treatment lived an average of 130 days. Finally, dogs with no therapy sadly only lived 55 days.

In addition to exercise and medications, another study added a new component to the mix: laser therapy, which can suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines (certain proteins that effect the immune system), decrease invading T lymphocytes and macrophages, as well as a host of other benefits.

All 20 dogs received laser therapy. You may be thinking that one group was not used as a control. Well, laser therapy brings with it a cornucopia of variables, such as where to point the laser. But this team targeted the same section of the spine on all of the dogs. Additional variables the team considered were class of laser used, wavelength, grid method or continuous movement, and duration.

A class 3 laser was used on dogs in Protocol A. A class 4 laser was used for Protocol B. The researchers considered this to be the lynchpin and that the class 4 laser worked more effectively because it had a higher intensity to positively interact with the underlying tissues and create a therapeutic effect. Why did it work more effectively?

The times between symptom onset and euthansia of Protocol B were 38.2 ± 14.67 months compared to Protocol A dogs (11.09 ± 2.68 months). Additionally, times between symptom onset and nonambulatory muscle weakness or paralysis of dogs of Protocol B were 31.76 ± 12.53 months, compared to dogs enrolled in Protocol A (8.79 ± 1.60 months).

EDITOR NOTE

Degenerative Myelopathy is an inherited neurologic disorder caused by a Mutation of the SOD1 gene known to be carried by Rottweilers. This mutation is found in many breeds of dog, though it is not clear for Rottweilers whether all dogs carrying two copies of the mutation will develop the disease.

Colonial Rottweiler Club 2023 Specialties

May 4 thru May 11, 2023

Schedule of Events

In the Net Sports Complex Palmyra, PA

Thursday, May 4  Tracking Trial – at 36 Finn Rd. Pittstown, NJ 88067 Judges Gina DeAlmeida and Stephanie Crawford

Friday, May 5  Agility Trial #1 (All Breed) – Judges Don Wittke and Jen Young

Saturday, May 6  Agility Trial #2 (All Breed) – Judges Don Wittke and Jen Young

 Herding Trial #1 and #2 – Judges TBD

Sunday, May 7  Scent Trial #1 – Judge TBD – at Elizabethtown Fairgrounds

 Agility Trial #3 (All Breed) – Judges Don Wittke and Jen Young

 Herding Trials #3 and #4 – Judges TBD

 ATTS Test at Elizabethtown Fairgrounds

Monday, May 8  Scent Trial #2 – Judge TBD – at Elizabethtown Fairgrounds

 Carting Trials #1 and #2 – Judge Tonya Williamson

 CGC/CGCA

 Trick Dog

 Puppy Match – Judge Leslie Kovacs

 Obedience Run-Thrus

Tuesday, May 9  Sweepstakes #1 and Veteran Sweeps #1 – Judge Joe Panaro

 Sweepstakes #2 and Veteran Sweeps #2 – Judge Linda Thompson

 Obedience Trial #1 – Judge Stephanie Podejko

 Obedience Trial #2 – Judge Jean Nocilly

 Rally Trials #1 – Judge Jean Nocilly

 Rally Trial #2 – Judge Stephanie Podejko

 Parade of Titleholders & Rescue

 CGC/CGCA

 Trick Dog

 Annual Meeting

Wednesday, May 10  Show #1 Conformation Classes – Judge Charles Olvis

 Obedience Trial #3 – Judge Stephanie Podejko

 Rally Trial #3 – Judge Jean Nocilly

 Show #2 Conformation Classes – Judge Dana Cline

 Obedience “Best of the Best”

 Rally “Best of the Best”

Thursday, May 11  Sweepstakes #3 – Judge Julie Higgins

 Veteran Sweepstakes #3

 Show #3 Conformation Classes – Judge Deb Thornton

 Conformation “Best of the Best”

Specialty Chair: Maureen Sullivan Sulliv91@yahoo.com

Show Superintendent: BaRay Event Services dogshows@baray.events.com

WE NEED YOUR TROPHY DONATIONS!

Send to Treasurer, Jodi Lombombard 5580 Burgess Falls Rd. Sparta, TN 38583

jodilabombard@gmail.com

2023

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

Colonial Rottweiler Club

Your renewal is due January 1, 2023

**Renewals Received by January 1, 2023 will receive a $10 discount on the yearly printed newsletter subscription

Renewals received after January 31st will incur a $10.00 late fee.

1. Fill out the renewal form completely. Please be sure your information is legible.

2. Check appropriate box for membership type.

3. If you wish to make a fund donation to support rescue, health and/or the trophy fund, please enter the amount on the appropriate line.

You may Pay your dues via PayPal through the CRC website at: https://colonialrottclub.org/paypal-renewal/

Please e-mail your PayPal receipt to Jodi LaBombard at jodilabombard@gmail.com

Please let the membership chairperson know if you do not want your e-mail and/or phone number published on our membership list. The list is only used by the club. CRC uses the membership email list to send notices of CRC events and club business to members. In the event you have a joint membership, we request the e-mail addresses of both members to enable each of you to respond to member surveys that will be e-mailed occasionally. We will not send you these e-mails if you have opted out. We will not share, sell, rent, swap or authorize any third party to use your email address for any purpose without your permission. If you feel you have received an e-mail from us in error, please contact ddgcrc@gmail.com.

**EFFECTIVE 01/2022 THE NEWSLETTER WILL BE SENT ELECTRONICALLY TO YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS ON FILE. THERE WILL BE A $20.00 ANNUAL SURCHARGE IF YOU ALSO WANT TO RECEIVE A PRINTED NEWSLETTER. IF YOU RENEW BY JANUARY 1, 2023, THE NEWSLETTER IS ONLY $10 FOR THE YEAR.

When renewing by mail, please return this form with your check or money order made payable to CRC to:

Patricia Wicks, Membership Chair

P.O. Box 749

Plaistow, NH 03865-0749

Questions: Contact Patti at 978-273-5396 or via e-mail at nhrotties@yahoo.com

By renewing your membership, you accept and agree to abide by the current CRC Code of Ethics.

Thank you for renewing your CRC membership for 2023!

I. PURPOSE

COLONIAL ROTTWEILER CLUB CODE OF ETHICS

In Rottweiler breeding, the emphasis shall be placed on working ability and other outstanding qualities of character of this breed, as well as upon appearance. It is mandatory that a Code of Ethics be subscribed to by those who are concerned with the propagation of physically, mentally and temperamentally sound Rottweilers of proper breed type. Measures should be taken to acquaint the general public with the contents of this Code so that they might not become innocent partners in improper breeding practices. Consistent with the above, I will agree to breed discriminately and only upon strong evidence of finding suitable homes for the resulting puppies. I understand that to breed inadvisably may lead to over‐population and contribute to the deterioration of the Rottweiler breed.

II. RECORDS: If I breed my bitch or use my stud dog in service, I agree to keep accurate records of stock, matings and pedigrees, and to register my breeding stock with the American Kennel Club

III. BREEDING: I agree to use for breeding only those Rottweilers which have no disqualifying faults and no radical departures from the official AKC Rottweiler standard. I agree NOT to use for breeding monorchid or cryptorchid dogs, or Dogs/Bitches with any of the following: undershot or overshot bites, more than one non‐eruptive or missing adult tooth (unless the Dog/Bitch has an OFA Dentition certification at the time of breeding); ectropion or entropion; long or curly coats; unsound temperament such as extreme shyness, nervousness or viciousness; excessive white markings as described in the Standard; incorrect or very pale markings. Further, if to the best of my knowledge I should breed from lines in which any of the above occurs, I will disclose this to my buyers.

A. Dogs/Bitches Born in the United States

1. HIPS

Hip evaluations are to be done at 24 months of age or older. Dogs/Bitches used for breeding must have an OFA Normal certification number or, if utilizing PennHip, be in the 60th percentile or better (for both hips), for the current calendar (Jan 1‐Dec 31) year. Breeders are required to keep PennHip assessments and produce the documents upon request.

CARDIAC

a. Dogs/Bitches to be used for breeding and born after January 1, 2016 must be OFA Cardiac Normal at 24 months of age or older with the evaluation performed by a Board Certified Cardiologist.

b. Dogs/Bitches to be used for breeding and born between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2015 must be cardiac “normal” at 24 months of age or older with the evaluation performed by a Board Certified Cardiologist.

c. Dogs/Bitches to be used for breeding and born prior to January 1, 2009 must be cardiac “normal”. This does not apply to Dogs that have passed away and were collected prior to January 1, 2009.

d. Any Dog/Bitch born prior to December 31, 2015 that has had cardiac screening, must have an OFA Cardiac Normal at 24 months of age or older with the evaluation performed by a Board Certified Cardiologist prior to being bred This does not apply to Dogs that have passed away and were collected prior to January 1, 2009.

It is strongly recommended that Dogs/Bitches to be used for breeding be screened via Echocardiogram by a Board Certified Cardiologist.

B. Dogs/Bitches Not Born in the United States

1. Imported Dogs/Bitches may be used for breeding for the first six months they are in the United States if they meet the following criteria.

a. Hips: Hips have been x‐rayed and certified HD Free by the appropriate Certifying Organization in the country of origin at 24 months of age or older AND

b. Cardiac: Have a cardiac “clear” reading from a Board Certified Cardiologist in their country of origin. After six months in the United States the Dog/Bitch must meet the same Hip and Cardiac requirements as Dogs/Bitches born in the United States.

2. Dogs/Bitches residing outside the United States and being used for breeding via natural, fresh or frozen semen must have certified Hips and Hearts at 24 months of age or older, with said certifications performed by the appropriate Certifying Organizations in their country of residence.

C. CHIC: It is strongly recommended that Dogs/Bitches to be used for breeding have an OFA CHIC certificate which provides a source of health information for owners, breeders and scientists that will assist in breeding healthy dogs. CHIC is intended to encourage health testing and sharing of all results, normal and abnormal, so that more informed breeding decisions can be made.

D. BITCH OWNERS: As the owner of a Bitch, I will breed only to normal, healthy, mature dogs which have met the required health certifications. I will not permit my Bitch to produce litters in more than three consecutive seasons. I will place on limited AKC registration any puppy with a non‐life‐threatening medical deformity or other substantial deviation from the AKC Rottweiler Standard, and require spay/neuter of said puppy at an appropriate age.

E. STUD DOG OWNERS: As the owner of a Stud Dog, I will breed only to normal, healthy, mature bitches which have met the required health certifications. I will refuse stud service to any Bitch that does not meet the required health certifications, has disqualifying faults, or which I consider to be in poor health. When a Bitch has failed to conceive after being bred to my Stud Dog, I will allow one repeat service, at such time and place as are mutually agreed to by the owner of the Bitch and myself, provided that the Stud Dog is still in good health and condition.

IV. HEALTH: I agree to maintain good standards of health and care for my dogs, including proper veterinary care. I further agree that proper health includes regular contact with people and exposure to the outside world.

V. SALES: I will refuse to recommend or sell to breeders who do not conform to this code or to dog wholesalers and retailers. I will not donate a Rottweiler for raffle purposes or sell to any home if I have reason to believe that the puppy or dog will not receive proper care.

I will use a written sales contract with any sale or purchase involving a dog. To the best of my ability, I will state clearly to a buyer whether the puppy or dog being sold is potentially a show or pet type.

I will not release puppies before they are seven weeks of age and only with full knowledge that they are healthy and have had the required medical inoculations and care. I will give buyers of puppies or adult dogs accurate health, breeding and registration records and at least a four generation pedigree. Full AKC Registration papers may be withheld on a dog which is suspected of carrying a serious fault that would make it unsuitable for breeding purposes, until the dog has been proven otherwise or rendered in capable of reproducing. Proof required with a veterinarian’s letter.

I will adhere to the terms of my written sales contract with the buyer(s), following the general practice of breeders that any puppy sold as a show prospect, which subsequently develops hip dysplasia or a disqualifying defect shall be: (1) replaced by the breeder with another show prospect puppy or (2) returned to the breeder who will then refund the sales price or (3) retained by the buyer, with the buyer’s money being refunded by the breeder to the extent of the difference between price paid and the price of pet puppies sold from the same or similar litters, after the breeder has received veterinarian’s certification that the dog has been rendered incapable of reproducing or (4) any other mutually agreeable alternative made between the buyer and breeder.

I will urge my puppy purchasers to provide obedience training at the proper age.

I will recommend to my puppy purchasers that they render incapable of reproducing any dog which has developed disqualifying or serious faults.

As a breeder, I recognize that I have a lifetime responsibility to ensure that every dog I place has a safe home and will be provided proper care for life. Unless required by law, no CRC member will allow their puppies or dogs to be disposed of in an animal shelter or allowed to remain in or be rehomed by a rescue organization

VI. ADVERTISING: : I agree that my advertising, both oral and written, shall be factual and not worded as to attract undesirable buyers or to encourage the raising of Rottweilers as any easy money scheme. No price shall be given in public advertising of Rottweilers

VII. GENERAL CONDUCT AND SPORTSMANSHIP: I shall conduct myself at all times in a manner which will reflect credit upon me and the breed, regardless of the location, circumstances or medium, especially when attending dog shows or trials whether as an exhibitor or spectator. I agree that I will not co‐own a dog or participate in the breeding of said dog with a person who does not subscribe to and support this Code.

I agree that I will not have members of my household or immediate family participating in activities that are contradictory to the principles set forth in this Code.

If I should become aware of the mistreatment, misuse or need for relocation of any Rottweiler, I will notify any or all of the following for resolution to the problem: a member of the Board of Directors, the current authorities in my area, the breeder or Rottweiler Rescue.

VIII. VIOLATIONS AND RECOURSE COMMITTEE: The incoming Board of Directors shall appoint, at its first Board meeting, a three member Violations and Recourse Committee and one alternate member, for a two year term. Written charges of this Code by a member may be sent to any member of the Board of Directors. The Board member will send the allegations to the Committee within two weeks of receipt. The Committee will investigate and report its findings to the Board of Directors within 60 days from receipt of the charges and may recommend any or all of the following levels of discipline. Following receipt of the Committee’s report and recommendation, the Board of Directors (BOD) will proceed as described in the CRC By‐Laws:

A. Warning: A member may not receive more than one warning in a year’s period without incurring further disciplinary action.

B. Fine: A monetary fine which shall be awarded to either the Rottweiler Rescue Foundation or Rottweiler Health Foundation at the discretion of the BOD

C. Action: As described in the CRC By‐Laws, Article VII.

A fifty dollar fee will be required from any person bringing charges. If the charges are upheld, the fee will be refunded. If the charges are dismissed, the money will be retained by the CRC.

If a member has special problems or circumstances or if through no fault of his own is in violation of any of the provisions of this Code, he may have the Committee review the matter and make recommendations

If, after charges have been filed and a decision has been made, either of the parties discloses the information regarding the charges and discusses same with the general public including any form of social media, the BOD reserves the right to publish the charges, information garnered, and reason(s) for the decision(s)

Revised August 2015