Dog News
The Digest Volume 29, Issue 15
Of American Dogs $5.00
April 12, 2013
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*The Dog News Top Ten List - Breed points
Dog News 3
Contents 56 The Total Package: Pet, Guide Dog, Competitor
10 Editorial
BY ranny green
14 Inside Out: Back
58 Off The Leash: ‘State of Maine’
BY john mandeville
By shaun coen
18 Irving’s Impressions: Kennel Club Dilemmas
62 Making Amends On Two Fronts And More
By ronnie irving
BY matthew h. stander
22 Question Of The Week
66 True North Goes To South America
By Matthew H. Stander
BY allison foley
26 The Lighter Side of Judging: World Famous Chicken and Jesus
74 More Than A ‘Firehouse Ornament’: The Dalmatian
By michael faulkner
by mj nelson
30 Babbling: Remember Dolly?
86 The Human Aspect of Junior Handling
By geir flyckt-pedersen
BY yossi guy
34 Bests Of The Week 38 Ten Questions Asked Of John Miller
April 12, 2013
102 The Gossip Column BY Eugene Z. Zaphiris
104 Click - Troy Kennel Club
42 Pet Ownership Is Down, Is This Good?
BY Eugene Z. Zaphiris
By carlotta cooper
106 Letters To The Editor
44 Rare Breeds Of The World: Volpino Italiano By agnes buchwald
46 AAHA Report Recommendations Could Increase Vet Care Costs by $350 Million Annually BY sharon pflaumer
54 All In The Family: Is The Bark Louder Than The Bite Making Your Kennel Sound Proof
18 Click - San Mateo Kennel Club BY megan Bell
112 Click - The Way We Were BY Eugene Z. Zaphiris
BY charles s. robey
110 handlers directory • 114 subscription rates • 116 classified advertising • 118 ADvertising rates DOG NEWS (ISSN 0886-2133) is published weekly except the last two weeks in December by Harris Publications, 1115 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10010. Periodical Postage paid at New York. 4 Dog News
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to DOG NEWS, 1115 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10010 All advertisements are copyrighted and owned by DOG NEWS, Harris Publications, unless received camera-ready. Permission to reprint must be requested in writing.
e v a H We ! r e n n A Wi
Pictured with Best In Show Judge Mrs. Paula Hartinger Group First Judge Mr. Roger Hartinger and Handler on this occasion Alfonso Escobedo
Best In Show, Best In Specialty Show Winning
GCh. SAKS Winning Card Owners Anthony and Kim MacKenzie Cecelia Ruggles, High Ridge Sandra and Kieth Hanson, SAKS Breeders Roberta Bleecker Shirley Hamilton Handler Scott Sommer Associates Alfonso Escobedo and Ashlie Whittmore
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Dog News Cover Story - April 12, 2013
PUBLISHER
STANLEY R. HARRIS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
EUGENE Z. ZAPHIRIS CREATIVE DIRECTOR
SEAN K. GAFFNEY ADVERTISING MANAGERS
SHAUN COEN Y. CHRISTOPHER KING ACCOUNTING
STEPHANIE BONILLA GENERAL TELEPHONE
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Ian Miller 212 462.9624
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Contributing Editors Sharon Anderson George Bell Andrew Brace Agnes Buchwald Patricia Gail Burnham Shaun Coen Carlotta Cooper Geoff Corish Michael Faulkner Denise Flaim Geir Flyckt - Pedersen Allison Foley Yossi Guy Ronnie Irving Roz Kramer John Mandeville Linda More Desmond J. Murphy M. J. Nelson Sharon Pflaumer Kim Silva Matthew H. Stander Sari Brewster Tietjen Patricia Trotter Connie Vanacore Carla Viggiano Nick Waters Seymour Weiss Minta (Mike) Williquette Dog News Photographers Chet Jezierski Perry Phillips Kitten Rodwell Leslie Simis
*The Dog News Top Ten List - All Breed
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DOG NEWS is sent to all AKC approved Conformation Judges every week on a complimentary basis. No part of this publication can be reproduced in any form without written permission from the editor. The opinions expressed by this publication do not necessarily express the opinions of the publisher. The editor reserves the right to edit all copy submitted.
“Seemore”
GCh. Hil-N-Don & Canyonwood Seemore Of Me
e h t d e y “Enjo n r e h t u So ” y t i l a t Hospi Thank you Judges Mr. Robert Shreve and Dr. Steve Keating for the Group First awards. Also thank you to Judges Mrs. Marilyn Spacht and Mrs. Debra Verdon for awarding “Seemore” Best of Breed.
Owner Silsby S. Pelissero Shadow Hill ESS Santa Barbara, California
Co-Owner and CO - Breeder Jayne Crouch Canyonwood ESS
Breeder Donna Hoffman Hil-N-Don ESS
Exclusive Handler for Shadow Hill: Ellen Cottingham 360 904-1777 Dog News 7
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SOME KIND OF PUBLIC REACTION PLEASE Between New York State considering the rescue dog as its new state dog and the Colorado state Senate giving initial approval to use Shelter cats and dogs as its official state pets AKC is being out maneuvered in the very area in which it was expected to excel--that is the public relations area. Whether or not the hiring of a Social Media expert and an expected emphasis on that form of communication will counteract and help produce a friendlier and more receptive attitude towards the purebred dog by the general public remains to be seen. But one thing which can be safely stated is that unless some immediate and productive attitudes in these areas are instituted the purebred breeding community and the strength of the AKC as the leader of the American dog world are in serious jeopardy. Why even the chain store Crate and Barrel in its newest catalogue advances dog adoption from shelters advising customers to use the petfinder app to find their new household pets. The time to be conservative about spending monies to promote breeders and purebred dogs is long past. Unless an all out effort is started immediately by the people who control the monies at AKC all the promising financial data about Reserves held in abeyance for catastrophic days and increase in stock market holdings will be for absolute naught as we become less and less a factor in promoting the very people and dogs upon which the organization was originally founded. Which of course is the concerned and longtime breeder and the purebred dog itself. The time for Board action in these matters is yesterday and special initiatives and programs must be planned and announced forthwith. Look to endorsements from public influencing individuals and individual memberships into AKC as possible short term proposals to endorse our products and do so forthwith without further hesitation is the advice from these corners, for sure!
JOHN’S BACK When John Mandeville stopped writing regular weekly columns for DOG NEWS some three years ago these pages took this as a major loss for both our pages and for the Fancy at large too. Now that John is no longer a Delegate he has agreed to write for DOG NEWS again, periodically. Naturally these pages are delighted with his decision to so do. His very first tome is contained in this week’s issue and is primarily devoted to the need to restructure the Delegate Body specifically and AKC’s governance Body generally. This was a topic of his own choosing and a complete surprise to these pages, which have been supporting this idea and this concept even more strongly than ever particularly in light of the most recent Delegate vote which allowed Agility Clubs to become Member Clubs for the first time in the history of AKC. Now then be reminded immediately of the fact that these pages have for years supported and encouraged the idea of this Constitutional change with the caveat that prior to doing so a total restructure of the governance rules of AKC be restructured. Many of the Delegates-a 2/3rd majority rejected this idea and just decided to open the flood gates to the Agility clubs without APRIL 12, 2013 protecting the fundamental structure of the organization. This was considered poor planning on our part and these sentiments are echoed throughout the body of John Mandeville’s first column back. Please take the time to read what John has to say in this matter and then go back to your club and ask your club to help implement these ideas. Instruct your Delegate to act pro-actively in this area of restructuring AKC and don’t stop until something positive is accomplished, that’s for sure.
The
Editorial
HIGH COSTS AND HARD CHOICES Advances and expansions in veterinary medicine can present a problem to the average pet and or dog owner. Only two weeks ago an editorial in Dog News discussed the high costs of veterinary medicine which editorial provoked a national and international reaction. While many people can rationally discuss and sign medical directives concerning what should be done to prevent them from becoming a burden emotionally and financially to their families what happens in the case of our pets generally and our dogs specifically in terms of illness and pending death? How are decisions made about whether to spend thousands of dollars, possibly tens of thousands of dollars to save or extend a dog’s life? The fact that so many families consider their dog to be an integral part of their family life compounds the problem even further. The agonizing questions around human end-of-life medical intervention have made their way to the animal pet kingdom and many owners feel guilty, if they do not do everything possible, no matter the cost, to save or extend their animals’ lives. The question of how much of your resources do you expend to extend or save your dog’s life becomes imperative in the average family situation. These decisions are obviously highly personal ones to reach. Many people from more rural areas do not embrace the notion of the animal as a family member and allow nature to take its course. Other people can do a cost-benefit analysis while others act purely emotionally. Our thinking is to always consider the suffering of the dog concerned. It’s a very personal thing and everyone reacts differently but can anyone say on a strictly financial basis I am willing to spend $2,000 but not $3,000 to save or extend my dog’s life? Perhaps if you are really good at budgeting you could react that way but placing a financial value on the life of your dog is nearly as difficult to do as for any other family member. 10 Dog News
THE NEXT BOARD MEETING The April Board Meeting will be at the end of the month and not the usual second Tuesday of the Month. This change was precipitated by the new meeting dates established by Alan Kalter. Whether this will affect the sitting Board Members insofar as prior commitments are concerned remains to be seen but some Board Members had a history of missing meetings even when they were scheduled for the second Tuesday of the month, far in advance. Of interest for this late April meeting is that the second day of the meeting has already been set aside to discuss the existing changes to the judges approval system with an eye perhaps towards tweaking some of the changes. Perhaps the most important thing to change (OOPS TWEAK) is the designation of positions rather than number of people to sit on the new Committee. For instance the Smith Committee boxed itself in by designating the COO and the Head of Judges Operation to sit on these Committees. There has never been a replacement for a person to be designated as the Head of Judging Operations--that was Darrell Hayes’ old job and the new COO who is not a dog man at all has elected or been told not to vote as this is an area requiring an expertise he obviously does not have. Some new form of designation must be devised so that the five votes originally wanted can be redesignated or reduced as the Board sees fit. Let’s also hope the Chairman has not made any behind the scenes agreement with any members of the Judges Groups to have these people determine policy or even to be seated on one of these committees but one never knows. Other areas of discussion will probably include the letters of invitation for innumerable breeds and how far these invitations were really intended to be extended. THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK The May 3rd issue of DOG NEWS will have a section devoted to the World Show to be held in Budapest, Hungary starting May 16th. Some of you going there may want to let those know in Europe of your dog’s successes here in the States and those of you not going may want to do the same. In any event this could be a good opportunity to let the rest of the world know about your achievements in breeding your dogs as well. Just a reminder and a thought to pass on to you.
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InsideOut
You would think after all these years I would know when to say, “No.” Ok, so I have trouble with the definitive clarity of saying “No,” surely I should have long since mastered, “Let me get back to you,” however insincere that may be. But I haven’t. Really.
BACK By John Mandeville
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o it was some three years ago I was sitting in the exact chair I’m now sitting in when the phone rang. It was the president of our parent club asking me to be the club’s delegate. I agreed in less time than it’s taken me to type this sentence. It’s not like I was some sort of delegate-virgin with little or no idea of what was involved. From 1972 to 1997 I probably attended every delegates meeting – all expenses paid by AKC. It happens when you’re an AKC employee. Then as now my feelings about AKC’s delegate system are bipolar. Collectively the delegates are dedicated dog people committed to the welfare of the sport and AKC. As individuals there are many delegates I greatly respect; some are good friends. Then there’s the delegate system as an institution. It’s old, tradition bound, and arguably anything but what could best serve the interests of the sport. My impression is these days AKC doesn’t declare as often as it once did that, “individuals do not belong to AKC, only clubs are AKC members” combined with the mantra “AKC is a club of clubs.” That “club of clubs”
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assertion has long annoyed me, not because it isn’t “true” but because the reality is AKC is only a club of some clubs. That “some” is a tiny fraction of the number of clubs holding AKC events. There are 6,000+ clubs of all stripes holding events under AKC’s rules and regulations; just 622 of those clubs are AKC member clubs. Each member club is entitled to a representative – its delegate. The delegates meet four times a year: March, June, September, and December (in conjunction with AKC’s show). Technically those delegates are the American Kennel Club. Practically AKC is the delegates who show up at meetings, never a particularly impressive number. Take this March’s meeting. The March meeting is AKC’s annual meeting at which the delegates elect AKC’s board. That makes March the most important of the year’s meetings, except on the rare occasion when there is a significant/controversial amendment to AKC’s Bylaws or the Dog Show Rules, which both require delegate approval. March’s meeting had both a contested directors’ election and a contentious bylaw change which would’ve reduced the number of delegate meetings from four to three per annum. Meaning delegate attendance was as good as can be expected. 390 valid ballots were cast on the second directors’ election ballot, just 63% of the 622 member clubs and not even .07% of the more than 6,000+ clubs holding AKC events. Are those numbers particularly meaningful? I don’t know. What I am certain of is AKC’s club/delegate structure is an antiquated holdover from its past. Is it an albatross, potentially dooming AKC? Unlikely. But that’s the wrong question. The right question is: What structure will enable
AKC to best fulfill its mission well into the future: A future that will be fraught with ever more anti-purebred dog and anti-breeding activism? AKC’s structure must be overhauled. Such a revision should include: Individual memberships, geographic components, parent clubs, and specific representation from all event types held under AKC’s auspices. Obviously there are unlimited considerations and questions to be raised and answered. I believe done right it’s possible such reorganization could even have a salutary impact on AKC’s ghastly registration nightmare. At March’s delegates meeting, Peter Farnsworth, AKC’s new chief financial officer, reported AKC registered 5% fewer litters in 2012 than in 2011 and 7% fewer individual dogs, putting the lie to any notion registration’s decline has leveled off. In real numbers 2012’s results mean about 225,000 litters and slightly fewer than 500,000 individual dogs were registered. Those totals are comparable to the early 1960s, except back then U.S. population was 186,000,000 compared to today’s 315,000,000. Worse: industry sources, e.g. dog food manufacturers, etc., peg current total U.S. owned-dog population at as much as 78,000,000. How to address AKC’s antiquated structure? I can’t believe I’m saying this but hire expert consultants to assess and make recommendations. Involve the delegates in the process – no lip service, meaningful participation from first to last. So, who thinks the delegates would approve changing AKC’s basic structure before hell freezes over? P.S.: I’ve quit being a delegate.
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Special Thanks to Mr. Desmond Murphy
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IRVING’s impressions
By Ronnie Irving
Kennel clubs the world over face a number of dilemmas. The AKC in the USA and TKC in the UK are no exception to this rule. In fact in many respects these two kennel clubs are if anything slightly more affected than others.
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ne of the dilemmas that they face is that of deciding which existing dog breeding practices to defend vigorously, which to defend slightly less enthusiastically and which to abandon completely. Here I am mainly thinking of issues such as ear-cropping, tail docking, dewclaw removal and debarking. Other issues however, such as controls over breeding practices, can also be drawn into the equation as well. The dilemma that the kennel clubs face is that, over time, public opinion sometimes moves. This means that what was acceptable in the eyes of the general public fifty or sixty years ago may not be acceptable now. Indeed some previously acceptable customs in the long run even become total anathema to the public at large. Sometimes they eventually become a total abomination to previous adherents as well. BEAR BAITING Take for example the practice of bear baiting. Bear baiting was a very popular sport in the UK until the nineteenth century. In fact from as early as the sixteenth century onwards large numbers of bears were maintained just for the purpose of being baited. Arenas were built for the spectators of this popular sport and these were called bear gardens. They had as their central focus a circular fenced area which was called the pit. Round that, there 18 Dog News
was some tiered seating for the audience. A post was fixed in the ground near the edge of the pit and the bear was chained up to it by either its leg or its neck. Various breeds of dog were let loose on the bear until, when they got tired, they would be replaced by reinforcements of substitute attack dogs. These fine spectacles were watched and apparently enjoyed by the top people in society as well as by the lesser mortals. Apparently even Queen Elizabeth the First was a fan of this ‘sport’ and when attempts were made by parliament to ban it she overruled the decision and allowed it to continue. Eventually this cruel activity was made illegal in the 1830s. But the reason I mention this is that here is something which was once perfectly acceptable but is no longer so. Most people today would be absolutely horrified by the practice. Public opinion gradually moved against it and over time it became more and more unacceptable. Other examples are bull-baiting, cockfighting and more recently in the UK – still in dispute – is the practice of fox hunting. For many years those who supported fox hunting here simply could not believe that their pastime might become socially unacceptable enough in so many quarters as eventually to be declared illegal. For many years the foxhunting lobby was non-existent and its supporters took it for granted that it was totally right and didn’t make nearly enough effort to defend the sport. Only latterly did the supporters of fox hunting really put much effort into ‘selling’ the activity more widely but it was by then too late. Public opinion, at least among the chattering classes and in the House of Commons, was strong enough to decide that this pursuit was socially and culturally unacceptable – and it was, rightly or wrongly, banned. FASTER COMMUNICATION Where does this fit in with the dog fancy? Well in my view many of the issues raised by the history of bear baiting and more recently by foxhunting, are just the kind of issues that kennel clubs today are having to face. In this modern world of ours with more and more, and faster and faster communication, public opinion moves much more quickly than it used to. Bear baiting may have taken nearly three hundred years to go from great popularity to total banning. Fox hunting moved to that position much more quickly. Would foxhunting have survived unscathed if its supporters had moved more quickly to defend it in the eyes of the public? Could it have been saved from the Continued on page 70
*All Systems
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SHOULD AKC ADOPT A FORM OF GRADING SYSTEM FOR DOGS WRITTEN BY JUDGES SO EXHIBITORS CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND A JUDGE’S REACTION TO THEIR DOGS? Desi Murphy A grading system would not work in this country. If judges were honest in their evaluations and awarded a lot of poor to the novice exhibitors they would quickly stop showing and leave the Sport. Right now A.K.C. does not want to discourage newcomers. Clubs can also not afford to see their entries decreasing. Can you imagine how many Platinum Grand Champions might receive a rating of Poor. It would make our whole system of A.K.C. judging look foolish in theory. Most exhibitors do not enter to get a judge’s opinion. They enter in the hopes of winning points or further their status of Grand Championships. A.K.C. right now encourages judges to award Selects and it would look foolish to award Selects and rate a dog Poor!
Judy Harrington No. I believe that those exhibitors who have put the “time” into knowing their breeds in depth already are aware of the virtue and faults of not only their exhibit, but those of their competitors. Sadly, the dog show world of today has moved further away from an agricultural mindset where breeding conversations and breed information were an important part of the day. That said, the judges, exhibitors and breeders that remain true to that continue to know what is taking place without a grading system.
Gretchen Bernardi I am absolutely in favor of any system, the grading system being one, that results in focusing the judge’s attention on the actual quality of the exhibits before him or her and requires that judge to take at least some responsibility for the placements. Such a system would be especially helpful at today’s shows, in which the class entries in many Beth Sweigart breeds are so small that exhibitors seldom get an idea of their dog’s overall quality, If you are talking about a system akin to the FCI and British systems only how it ranked against the other dogs in that where judges write reports critiquing the dogs, I don’t class. It might also reemphasize breed judging think that would work here. American exhibitors as opposed to higher competition. But embracing don’t like having their dogs criticized and to such a system flies in the face of what appears put something in print mentioning a fault to be our current thinking about conformation about their dogs would really upset dog shows, that, even as we cling to the notion them. I do think that it may improve of evaluating breeding stock, all dogs of whatever the quality of judging as one would quality should be welcome and all exhibitors should have to justify ones choices... win. And, in this mindset, would judges simply award “Excellents” to all the dogs in the ring? Gretchen Presumably, such grading would not take place Schultz in our BOB ring, since which judges would award I think there would not be “Goods” to finished champions? Twenty years ago enough trash bins at the show a new exhibitor would get or breed a dog, take it to hold all the “evaluations“.... to a few shows and, after losing at all of them, Not a viable idea from my would decide that he or she did not have a “show view! dog,” and then set about finding a better one. I did exactly that. Today that exhibitor with the same dog D e l o r e s will lose a few, win a few and eventually finish the Burkholder dog and breed it. That’s our world today. Once again we I do not feel that a system of are faced with a choice between doing what we know is grading could be implemented in the best for the sport of purebred dogs in general and doing current AKC judging procedure. Time By Matthew H. Stander what is considered necessary for our survival. wise it would make for a very long day of judging, increasing the hours a judge would be Donald Sturz in the ring to an unreasonable amount of time for This is a timely question for me as I just had a conversation this past weekend at everyone. It would be utterly exhausting for a judge having shows in Springfield with alpaca exhibitors who also had an event at the same venue. an entry of 175 dogs. It would necessitate educating all current judges They seemed perplexed as to how the dog exhibitors process the outcomes without and all new judges making implementation several years from now. feedback from the judges in the form of critiques. Conceptually, I like the idea of This could be a tool used at specialties where many clubs already ask grading and critiques. My experiences with this process elsewhere have been positive. judges for critiques and grading systems are used by many parent clubs I have also had the opportunity to do oral critiques a few times here at specialties to judge the Top 20 events. So far I’m speaking to the practicalities of and these were also positive experiences and seemed to have been well received and implementing a grading system. Now think of how this would impact new appreciated by exhibitors in that it brought closure to the process, providing insights exhibitors who receive a poor grade that would immediately discourage to the evaluation and sorting process. I have attended numerous livestock events their show involvement. Imagine the inconsistencies of the “grades” where this type of feedback is common for the exhibitors so that they get constructive from week to week. Then think of the gossip mongers in the sport who critiques of their animals which they utilize moving forward in their breeding and would have a field day with their competitors’ evaluations. I doubt such exhibiting ventures. However, as a general practice it would require considerable a system in this country would be of merit. Placing dogs 1st thru 4th analysis regarding judging assignment loads and time schedules as this sort of already speaks to the judge’s evaluation of the dog. process is time consuming. It’s success also hinges on the ability of adjudicators to implement it. With all due respect, it seems many are already struggling with Ken Murray moving ahead into breeds where they are not yet knowledgeable enough to provide My first inclination is to say no, however it may force some judges to think meaningful feedback beyond the sorting. It would also be a significant cultural shift a little deeper. for exhibitors. Exhibitors who I have interacted with regarding critiques and grading have been appreciative. However, there are those who struggle with the color of the Virginia Murray ribbon not being the one they desired let alone specific criticism of their dog. I support This is a trick question....no matter how I answer someone will be annoyed the addition of a grading system to our process but as I have delineated above it would or offended, so my answer is not to comment. be a challenging process to add it to our existing system.
Question Of The Week
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TheLighter Side By Michael Faulkner
of Judging
World Famous Chicken and Jesus!
I
moved to the old South from New York State, in the eighties shortly after graduate school; quickly learning the process of assimilation for a damn Yankee of German / Scottish / Irish decent did not happen overnight, and for some, NEVER. Living thirteen years in Kentucky, four years in Texas, and the past twelve years in Tidewater, Virginia, I have managed to eradicate all traces of a Yankee accent. I have cultivated southern charm/manners, have learned the art of eating/preparing Southern Fried Chicken, have discovered how to appreciate good Bourbon, and have come to understand, completely, the important role Jesus plays in the traditional Southern home. My partner Big Michael’s southern family is a bold mix of several denominations, including fundamentalist, Southern Baptist, and Assembly of God. I, on the other hand, was raised Episcopalian. My personal relationship with Jesus was the occasional Sunday morning, very private, self-contained, “Rite One” service. And, to this day, arm swinging, shaking bodies, high-pitched verbal “AMENS,” and over-joyous gospel tunes throw me into a state of pure panic. The strong need to balance spirituality along with the strong desire to judge purebred dogs routinely gets in the way of my personal journey with worship, leaving me a pilgrim in search of the perfect canine specimen. This weekend is no exception – I will leave the house in approximately one hour and thirty minutes, aboard JEEP -with DROID, black-ballistic-nylon-rolling-garment-bag (BBNRGB), personal Man-bag, I-PAD, and all documents related to my journey to Frankenmuth, Michigan for the Saginaw Valley Kennel Club Dog Show Weekend. I make sure Murphy French’s personal necessities are packed, too. I will drop the French Pig at Auntie Barb’s for a weekend visit, as Big Michael is working in Atlanta through tonight (Friday evening) and then he is off to Alabama for the weekend. “I wonder if he will choose an Episcopal Church or one his ancestors’ snake worshiping centers for Sunday service,” I chuckle to myself, while placing the last item---a pair of black shoes---into the black-ballistic-nylon-rolling-garmentbag. Zipping it tight, I remove the bag from atop the bed and place it near the front door, while also retrieving Man-bag. I sort through and remove all items unrelated to the show documents, carefully placing all relevant documents (plane reservation, car rental, hotel confirmation, show schedule, etc.) into Man-bag’s appropriate compartments. I sigh when placing the air travel document, remembering I opted not to fly USAIR, my preferred carrier, in support of a direct flight, cheaper ticket price and a better schedule. “Oh well---no double award points, no preferred boarding, no free luggage, and no Club Room access,” I remind myself. DROID signals, through the singing voice of Louis Armstrong, that Big Michael is calling.
I see trees of green........ red roses, too I see ‘em bloom..... for me and for you And I think to myself.... what a wonderful world. I see skies of blue....clouds of white Bright blessed days....dark sacred nights And I think to myself ....what a wonderful world. The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty…in the sky Are also on the faces.....of people…going by I see friends shaking hands.....sayin’ how do you do? They’re really sayin’...I love you. “Hey there – how are things in Atlanta?” I ask DROID. “Things are going well. I figured you must be getting ready to leave. I want to reach you before you leave the house and to find out where you are going and where you are staying.” “Well, the shows are in Birch Run, Michigan and I am staying at the Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth.” “Oh, boy – you must be excited---I bet you run into some of your ancestors in the process,” Big Michael jokingly imparts. Our conversation lasts for eleven minutes and six seconds. I refrain from ending the conversation with “have a great time handling snakes and speaking in tongues with your kin over the weekend,” and opt for---“See you next week. Tell everyone “Hello” and I will call you from Frankenmuth. Love ya!” Using the tip of my right index finger, I end the call, click the screen back to the home page, and Google-search the Bavarian Inn, Frankenmuth. The Bavarian Inn website home page fills DROID’s screen. I navigate the links and click away. The story begins with two bells that accompanied the first fifteen settlers who came to Frankenmuth in 1845. These bells were inscribed with the words Concordia Res Parvae Crescunt which translates as, “through harmony great things come from small beginnings”. Are you looking for fun and interesting places to go on your Michigan vacation? To find a place this perfect---this picturesque---one normally has to thumb through a book of fairytales, or peer into a sno-globe after a vigorous shaking….but here it is---in all of its Olde World, European flavor. The Bavarian Inn Lodge and the Bavarian Inn Restaurant come together in the way we skillfully simmer chicken and noodles. Separately they’re great; together they’re absolute paradise---a feast for your taste buds and your other senses. “OMG! Great food while experiencing life from a sno-globe, this place can’t be for real,” I say to Murphy French, who is watching me from the chair next to the bed. I continue to read: Step into the heart of Germany with your feet planted firmly in Michigan. Vacation with us to experience Bavarian Inn dining options that will make you think you’re overseas. Generations of American diners, lodgers. and tourists have discovered true Bavarian hospitality without crossing an ocean. And, no matter how you arrive---by car, truck, plane or boat--you’ll leave on a cloud! In anticipation of returning home on a cloud, I promptly depart Holly Springs on time for the Richmond International Airport, dropping Murphy French off at AB’s along the way. With Jeep secured in long-term parking, I walk and roll into the airport Continued on page 90
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babbling By Geir Flyckt-Pedersen
Remember Dolly?? No, not the lovely Parton, but the most famous sheep in the world. The first ever living creature officially produced by cloning!
H
earing about this new “technique” was a scary piece of news- I have always dreaded the day when human beings could be created by machines. Could this be the start of something we later won’t be able to control? Remember Frankenstein’s monster or when “walking on the moon” and “test tube babies” was only Fiction, “1984” and Big Brother Sees You was read with great interest, although we did not believe it would really happen! Boy met Girl, they fell in love, got married and had children! Standard procedure in most of the Western World for generations, did you ever think that would change? To breed a litter of puppies you needed a dog, a bitch and a natural connection betwixt the two! All traditional, simple, but the way we thought it was meant to be. We lived on a farm, we kept two separate herds of cattle and each herd had its own Mr. Bull, who had a hell of a time keeping up with his Harem. There were very few complaints as the fertility rate was excellent- and the Bull himself knew exactly where he first had missed and had to do the work again. But he never seemed to mind. The idea of frozen semen came along- and
many people able to predict the future- took action and froze semen from their most successful sires. I was personally dead against it- based on the principle that we as breeders should be able to move forward and that it would be a proof of failure to have to go back 3 or 4 generations- in order to move forward again. Basically, this is still my attitude- although I am still fascinated by the fact that the technology exists which enables breeders to have puppies by a dog who died 30 years ago. Well, no doubt the world has changed- and most of the “modern methods” of dog breeding originated in the USA. I don’t know if the law has changed, but to breed a litter in the UK conceived by Artificial Insemination you needed the Kennel Club’s advance approval. So, at least officially, the method was not used very frequently over there. I think I was a little shocked when I heard that prior to using a stud dog in the US, your bitch had to be tested for all kinds of diseases, but of course had to accept that you had a lot of problems, infections and viruses over here that did not exist in Europe. The next shock came when I found out how many breeders and stud dog owners ONLY used artificial insemination- even when breeding to their own dogs! Next shock was to find that so many breeders- of perfectly healthy, self-whelping breeds, as a routine had the puppies born by c-section, I suspect to make it fit into their own schedule… So what will the next step be? We will possibly be able to produce puppies without ever needing a dog- if the cloning technique advances- and if science really makes progress, we will probably not even need the bitch. The way things are going, I would not be at all surprised if scientists are able to construct an “artificial egg” where they can let embryos develop- and let puppies be hatched like chickens… Continued on page 94
30 Dog News
Dog News 31
32 Dog News
Dog News 33
Yosemite Kennel Club - Saturday & Sunday Smooth Fox Terrier Ch. Absolutely Talk of the Town Judge Ms. Janet M. Allen Judge Mr. James White Owner James W. Smith Handler Edward Boyes
Handler Michael Scott
San Jacinto Kennel Club - Sunday German Shepherd Dog GCh. Karizma’s Ike of Edale Judge Mr. Houston Clark Owners P. Buckles, D. Stern, J. Moses, S. & S. Birch, S. Moses Handler Lenny Brown
Saginaw Valley Kennel Club - Sunday Giant Schnauzer GCh. Kenro’s Witching Hour Judge Mrs. Barbara Alderman Owners Robin J. Greenslade & Luke Norton & Doug Hill Handler Amy Booth
Troy Kennel Club - Saturday Norfolk Terrier GCh. Yarrow Venerie Ticket To Ride Judge Mr. Thomas Feneis Handler Roxanne Sutton Owner John & Pamela Beale
Birmingham Kennel Club Whippet GCh. Karasar’s Remembrence Judge Mrs. Marilyn Spacht Owners Kerrie Kuper, Neil Barthelette, Karen Mlynar, William Othick & Drs. Manuel & Azalea Alvarez Handler Kerrie Kuper
Kennel Club of Yorkville, Illinois - Saturday Briard GCh. Lightning Strike El Xargall Judge Mr. Martin Doherty Owners Tommy & Merry Jeanne Millner Handler Gretchen Conradt Hutchinson Kennel Club Salina Kennel Club Wichita Kennel Club - Sunday & Monday Portuguese Water Dog GCh. Claircreek Impression De Matisse Judge Mr. Robert L. Vandiver Judge Ms. Patricia W. Laurans Judge Mrs. Susan St. John Brown Judge Mr. Carl E. Gomes Owners Milan Lint, Peggy Helming, Donna Gottenker
Kachina Kennel Club - Saturday German Shorthaired Pointer Ch. DogWdCreek’s La Vita E Bella, Judge Dr. Sophia Kaluzniacki Owner Lynne Duncan Handler Valerie Nunes-Atkinson Greater Orange Park Dog Club I & II Great Dane GCh. Longo Miller N Lore Diamond Lil Judge Mr. Roger Hartinger Judge Mr. Robert Stein Owners T. Longo, J. Miller, L. Matherly, C. Crawford Handler Laura Coombs Kennel Club Of Yorkville, Illinois II Standard Poodle Ch. Jaset’s Satisfaction Judge Mr. Bradley Jenkins Owners Michele Molnar & Jamie Danburg Handler Ann Rairigh
ts Week The
of the
To report an AKC All Breed Best In Show or National Specialty Win Call, Fax or Email before 12:00 Noon Tuesday. Fax: 212 675-5994 • Phone: 212 462-9588 Email: Dognews@harris-pub.com
34 Dog News
Dog News 35
*
36 Dog News
*The Dog News Top Ten List - Breed points
Dog News 37
ten
What person do you most look forward to seeing at the dog shows? kurt and amanda.
What is your greatest extravagance? my son and 4 wheel.
What do you dislike most about your appearance? how can you improve perfection?
What dog person would you like to see on ‘dancing with the stars’? my father, harry miller.
Questions
If you were forced to get a tattoo, what would it be? a ruler.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want to have with you?
asked of
John Miller
Born: Clinton, MD Resides: Mechanicsville, MD Marital Status: ?.
phone charger, grill, grahm.
When and where are you the happiest? when i get to be with owen.
Other people think i am...?
short and a mama’s boy.
What did you want to be when you were growing up? nfl football player.
What would be your last request? that owen would be taken care of.
38 Dog News
c
Best Wishes to
Nancy & Bryan Martin on their retirement from Professional Handling due to Bryan’s new position as an AKC Field Representative
With Love from
Murray’s Family
c
Dog News 39
“
” The Black & Tan Sensation
GCh. Yarrow Venerie Ticket To Ride Multiple Best In Show Winner
Judge Mr. Ronald Rella
National Specialty Winner
Owners Pam and John Beale Breeders Yarrow and Venerie Kennels Handled By Roxanne Sutton 215-919-2099 40 Dog News
Judge Mr. Randy Garren
Flash Best In Show Troy Kennel Club • A pril 6, 2013 Judges Mr. Rodner H erner and Mr. Thom as Feneis
Judge Mr. Whitney Coombs
Judge Mr. Dennis McCoy
Judge Mr. Rodney Herner
Judge Mr. David Kirkland Dog News 41
By Carlotta Cooper
Pet Ownership Is Down, Is This Good? I’m a great Celtics fan. Over the years I’ve gotten used to them getting out in front by wild margins only to surrender a big lead in the fourth quarter. Then they have to claw back into the game and try to win it at the buzzer. Which they do, more often than not. But it’s both frustrating and exciting to watch these games.
R
ight now I have that same feeling about the American Kennel Club. You all know the story. For decades they were the only registry that mattered to most Americans. Then in the 1990s they tried to do the right thing – they instituted kennel inspections and DNA testing for high volume breeders and suddenly they were losing those breeders and registration dollars. This coincided with the rise of the shelter movement, with groups urging Americans to adopt dogs instead of getting their dog from a breeder. This double whammy has taken a toll on AKC and registrations are not what they were. As if this weren’t enough, the animal rights movement has become much more radicalized in the last 10 to 15 years, attacking breeders and the AKC. In every state and many cities and counties, you can find battles over pet breeding, pet limits, mandatory spay/neuter laws, and other issues that affect everyone who owns pets. If you breed purebred dogs it can sometimes feel like you’ve got a target on your back. Throw in a bad economy and it’s not an easy time to breed dogs. The AVMA published the new edition of their U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook recently and then expressed surprise and bewilderment at some of the findings. Between 2006 and 2011, pet ownership decreased by 2.4 percent in the U.S., to 56 percent of all households. One of the most notable changes is that cats have fallen in popularity, by nine percent since the last survey. The dog population fell by three percent. According to the survey there are 74.1 million pet cats and 69.9 million pet dogs in the U.S. today. Ownership of birds and horses has fallen even more drastically. Fish also dropped in popularity and so did rabbits. Dr. Douglas Aspros, president of the AVMA, says, “It’s one thing to look at the facts, and it’s another to interpret them. We simply don’t know for sure (why pet numbers have fallen).” There could be a lot of reasons for decreasing pet ownership, in general, but I think we might have already seen the high point of the shelter movement. In many cases shelter pets have been over-sold in the sense that people who should not have owned a pet were encouraged to get one. The result was predictably a bad experience for the owner and the pet. Owning a shelter pet became a fad. It was the thing to do and everyone had to have one. But it wasn’t the right choice for every person or family. While there are many well-run, ethical shelters and rescues, there are also some very bad groups. The shelter industry operates without any oversight. Betty Luann Bigheart can stuff crates and dogs in her garage and call it a rescue – and take donations online. The next time you hear about sweet Betty Luann, she might be pulled over on the Interstate with 100 dogs in a U-Haul. Situations like these have soured many dog lovers on getting a dog or working with rescues. There can also be problems working with well-intentioned shelters
42 Dog News
and rescues who try to attach too many strings to the pets they have up for adoption. There are countless stories about people who tried to adopt a dog and were denied because they had a purebred dog, had a cat, didn’t have a big enough yard, didn’t stay home all day, had another pet that wasn’t spayed or neutered (even though the shelter pet was spayed or neutered), and the list goes on. It really seems that some shelters and rescues do not actually want to let anyone adopt their animals. Some groups also don’t relinquish ownership. They have contracts stipulating that they can take the pet from you at any time if they don’t like something you are doing. You don’t actually “own” the dog. You’re just a temporary caretaker. In addition to the trials and tribulations of working with shelters and rescue groups, which may be contributing to a downturn in pet ownership, laws in many places are also making it harder to own dogs. This fact doesn’t seem to have occurred to the AVMA since they supported the recent PUPS legislation and have supported other animal rights-oriented bills. But pet limits, mandatory spay/neuter policies, and anti-breeder laws affect dog ownership numbers. Laws against bark softening also affect pet ownership – if you can’t keep a dog because of its barking, it will obviously reduce how many dogs you can own. Legislation has consequences.
S
o, what does all this mean? Lower AKC registration numbers, lower pet ownership numbers, too many bad pet laws, problems with shelters – what’s the answer? I think when everything shakes out, the people who will still be standing and committed to owning dogs are more likely to be purebred dog breeders and owners. When we make it through this trying time the people who will still be around will be the ones who care the most about dogs, and I think that’s AKC and the rest of us who have given our lives to dogs. People who get dogs on a whim or because of a fad won’t be here. They can move on to their next hobby. Of course, we should keep the good things we have learned about keeping shelter numbers lower. Work with breed rescue groups and reputable shelters to encourage adoptions. But hopefully the crazy people running their ramshackle groups will disappear. We need to revisit places that have draconian laws against breeders and breeding and pet limits and repeal them. If we do these things, I think there’s every chance that AKC’s registration numbers can increase again in the near future. I think the mantra about spaying and neutering is so ingrained in Americans now that we are not going to have any kind of pet population problems for generations. Seventy-eight percent of dogs owned are already spayed or neutered and most pet owners opt to get their pets spayed at relatively early ages. What we need now are good breeders.
are
by Agnes Buchwald
Of The World Volpino Italiano – Italy
What is the fatal charm of Italy? What do we find there that can be found nowhere else? I believe it is a certain permission to be human, which other places, other countries, lost long ago.� –Erica Jong
I
taly is famous for its Coliseum, Vatican, Rome, the Channels of Venice, and of course the Pizza Italiana, (Pizza is one of the very few words which is pronounced and understood all over the world). The macaroni, sausage, bread, and wine, in addition to the magnificent Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, and Alfa Romeo are all Italianos. Above the hundreds of personages of every kind of art, the country has fabulous old and modern places to visit and to enjoy the warmest hospitality in the world, besides the Vientiane lace, and masks, the crystal of Murano, the marble of Carrara, and so forth. La Bellisima Italia in my humble opinion is the jewel box of the world. The country has the highest number of cultural sites recognized by UNESCO world heritage. Of course the country has a great number of known and not so known native dogs as it is the rare Volpino Italiano. Archeologists proved that origins of dog domestication began in Europe, dating as long as 30,000 years ago. It is probable that all European Spitz breeds are originated from dogs of the Neolithic era,
44 Dog News
which were the first dogs known as having been practically utilized. Concerning to Italy, archeologists found in Pompeii (city of the Roman Empire - which disappeared under the lava when the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79) a piece of mosaic “Cane Canem” (meaning beware the dog) with the inscription which is proof of the local dog’s domestication, trained for guard and defense. Also in Italy, excavations discovered remains of a dog dated from 1700 o 1150BC that was close to the Italian Fox-Dog (Volpino Italiano). Important archaeological discoveries prove that Spitz type dogs have existed in European soil for at least 4500 to 7500BC years! Skeletons, pottery (dating more than 450 hundred years BC), cave paintings of spitz like dogs, and collars have been found, showing that owners of antiquity held these small dogs in high esteem. The findings were discovered in ancient sites all around central Europe and Italy, so the archeology proves that the Volpino and its close cousin the German Spitz have been in existence since ancient times. The German name spitz refers to a group of dogs of the Stone Age that lived in the cold regions of North Europe, and humans selected and used them as watch, hunting or companion dogs. The “spitz” dogs have generally longer coat, fox-like face, upright triangular ears, and a plumed tail that usually curls over its back. As the Stone Age men migrated they took their dogs with them, spreading the spitz across Europe, and other continents. The spitz group probably was the first type of dog to inhabit Europe. Three of the primary descendents of the antique European type are the German Spitz, Dutch Keeshond, and Italian Spitz (Volpino Italiano).
W
hen the migration ceased and humans were more conscientious of their surroundings and needs, the spontaneous dog breeding changed to a selective breeding always fulfilling their need and of course the geographical conditions and isolation. The spitz breeds ended up into a variety of breeds; the modern descendants of the Stone Age spitz like dogs are the Huskies, Eskimo Dogs, Samoyeds, Pomeranians, and others. All those breeds standards have common goals referring coat color; the preferred are the ones different of wolves so not be confused with them by their master. In closer eras we can visualize and appreciate in Italian artists paintings of little white spitz dogs which can be identified as either Pomeranians or Volpinos. We must remember that Volpino and Pomeranian dogs in the past were different as we know them today. Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel between 1508 and 1512 and sitting on a pillow was his constant company: a Volpino like dog. Also an Italian painter, Carpaccio (1502), presented
his “The Vision of St. Augustine” depicting a diminutive small white Spitz, usually identified as a Pomeranian but more accurately a Volpino. The English writer and poet Walter Savage Landor lived for a period in Italy at the villa Fiesole, once Michelangelo’s home. As the great painter had, he also acquired a little white dog, similar to a Volpino, and named it Pomero. Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811– 1896), American abolitionist and author of the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852) mentioned in her notes its small white Volpino like Spitz. In her words; what is peculiar to these little dogs is the entireness of devotion to their master. They have not a look, not a wag of tail, for anyone else; It is vain for a stranger to try and make friends with them – they have eyes and ears for one alone. At the Birmingham Agricultural show in 1862 both Pomeranians and ‘Volpino’ sometimes called Roman Dogs were exhibited. The Pomeranian was one of the original breeds recognized by the KC in 1873. However, it is clear that this name referred to a group of Spitz including the Volpino, the Keeshond, and the German Spitz dog. Continued on page 50
Dog News 45
by Sharon Pflaumer
AAHA Report Recommendations Could Increase Veterinary Care Costs by at least $350 Million Annually T
he average U.S. veterinary hospital is losing at least $40,000 annually in preventative care revenue by not booking follow-up, Wellness Exams in advance when owners visit with their pets initially. That was the finding of the State of the Industry Report presented at the Annual American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Conference held in Phoenix, AZ on March 14, 2013. The report goes on to say that additional revenue generated by advance appointment bookings could further increase to $450 million if they’re done in conjunction with automated client reminders. Revenues could still further increase to $1 billion if add-ons like dentals are included. The advance appointment booking recommendation is modeled after the forward booking concept used by human dentistry practices. AAHA is based in Lakewood, CO. Its Communications Manager, Kate Spencer, discusses the report’s recommendations and the methodology used in the study behind them in the following interview. Who compiled the data for the report? Spencer: The report was based on data from earlier surveys and interviews conducted by IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. in Westbrook, ME. It compiles data from surveys and interviews for the State of the Industry Report that’s presented each year at the AAHA Conference.
In regard to the 2013 State of the Industry Report specifically, which data was looked at and for what period of time? Spencer: The data used was collected from approximately 4,000 U.S. veterinary practices between 2011 and 2012. Although AAHA accredits animal hospitals, the data included non-accredited as well as accredited veterinary practices so the sample reviewed was random. What specific factors were studied? Spencer: Year-over-year revenue growth was examined. Within this context, the report classified veterinary practices as either “growers” or “decliners.” How did it define “growers” and “decliners”? Spencer: “Growers” were those practices that showed an increase in year-overyear revenue. “Decliners” were those practices that showed a decline in it. Which operational procedures did AAHA and IDEXX analysts identify as differing between “growers” and “decliners”? Spencer: “Growers” were marked by a clear dedication to their clients and their pets and included factors like focusing on clients getting their pets in for regular Wellness or preventive care visits. Strategies for doing this included using reminders, providing pre-visit education content and sharing post-visit report cards and diagnostic results. Forward booking also was an important practice. In veterinary medicine, only 5% or less of owners are forward booked for their pets’ next preventive care visit as compared to human dentistry where approximately 80% of clients are forward booked for their next appointment. The report identified this as an opportunity to ensure that regular preventive care visits don’t get lost in the shuffle. Continued on page 78
Mike Cavanaugh, DVM, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), presents the State of the Industry Report at the organization’s Annual Conference held in Phoenix, AZ on March 14, 2013. AAHA is the only accrediting body of companion animal hospitals in the United States and Canada. Photo credit: © 2013 Mark Skalny
46 Dog News
HOME OF RUNNERS
Q
Multiple Specialty Best In Show Winner
GCh. Fanfare’s Cordova At Runners HHH
Wins Another Hound Group HHH
Q Dova has always been very popular with the Breeder Judges and now he is becoming popular with the Hound and All Arounders too, thank you Judge Mrs. Donnelle Richards for this exciting win in tough California competition.
Q
OWNER: ISABELL STOFFERS • email: lasma@earthlink.net OWNER/HANDLER: CHRISTY NELSON Dog News 47
48 Dog News
Dog News 49
Rare Breeds of the World Continued FROM page 45
H.M. Queen Victoria of England was perhaps the most significant fancier of Volpino. She traveled to Italy (Florence), from where returned with her foundation stock. The Queen liked small to medium size dogs, and the little Italian dogs suited her. The editor of the Stock-keeper magazine George Krehl, visited the Queen’s kennel in 1891 and featured this visit in The Scotsman newspaper, (Dec 26th 1891), stating, “The Queen’s pets are not Pomeranians in the ordinary acceptance of the term, being rather Italian Spitz dogs’. The names of her original dogs and their progeny reflect Italian ancestry - Beppo, Lenda, Nino, Gilda, Alfio, Mina and Lula”. Queen Margherita visited Queen Victoria during her Florence’s vacations so it is possible that she influenced the English Queen, who prior to this visit never had any interest in Spitz breeds. Due the Queen’s love for the Volpino, and having discovered them in Florence sometimes are referred to as the Florentine Spitz, but it is possible that the name was originated by the fact that in the late 1800s they could be commonly seen in this city. Called also Cane de Quirinale or “Dog of Quirinal” - the site of the Quirinal Palace of Rome (This palace was built by Pope Gregory XIII in 1574 as a summer residence, which serves today as the residence of Italy’s president) - proves how closely the Volpino was related to the aristocracy. In 1913 at the American Pomeranian Club show in New York Mr. George Ford of New Haven, Connecticut, had acquired from the Royal Kennels of the Italian Queen Margherita of Savoy, five dogs; Tulipiano, Violetta, Bello, Bianco and Bambino Caesar. It is very possible that some or all of these ‘Poms’ were in fact Volpino. Despite the resemblance to Pomeranians, the two breeds are different. It must be accepted that the Volpino Italiano has an ancestry that traces back to centuries (around 4,000BC), is much older than the Pomeranian, and has a different ancestral as well. The Volpinos are larger and heavier; in fact they are closer in lineage to the German Spitz than to Pomeranian. The Volpino Italiano has been kept by nobility as well as by the common man. This little dog has been the favorite and has given valuable service to royalty, to peasants, to artists, to merchants and just about any type of people. They could be seen wearing bejeweled collars, and were the spoiled pets of the upper class. Those ladies’ dogs also could be seen working, travelling, guarding the merchandise, and alerting the master against strangers. The little spitz was also used by Italian shepherds to guard the flock. Due their working ability they have earned the name Il Picoli Guardiani (the little guardians). A small Spitz dog, 50 Dog News
the Volpino Italiano is noticeably compact in appearance. The breed is typically square, and has a large head. The head is flat and the eyes are almond-shaped. The Volpino has a coat that is very long and bushy, and stands away from the skin. The texture of the dog’s fur should be fairly harsh in texture, and should be especially thick around the neck area. The hair on the tail is typically very long and silky, while the hair in the muzzle and ear areas is short and smooth. The most common fur color of the Volpino Italiano is white, with red coats being very rare. Champagne and orange shades are also possible, but these are considered to be outside the standards of the breed. A vibrant pet, the breed is known for being lively and playful and for being good-natured and merry. These dogs are very intelligent, and easy to train, but Volpinos are over protective of their families and passionate for their owners. They’re known for being unfriendly to strangers, and will bark or growl if faced with an unknown person. While they’re not highly effective as guard dogs, they are effective at warning their owners, or other animals, about the presence of an intruder. Although Volpinos are small they’re very active, and need regular attention and exercise. They need to be entertained to stave off boredom because if left alone for long periods of time or not given enough attention they may become destructive. The long coat needs a regular brushing but frequent bathing is not advised. The Volpino Italiano is a rare breed of dog, although its numbers are slowly increasing once more. The breed almost vanished entirely in the 1960s, but was revived at the request of the Italian government as part of a program to re-establish declining breeds. Though numbers are improving today, some varieties of the Volpino Italiano, such as the red variety, remain very rare (from the Standard). In 1984 the ENCI (Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana,(Italian Kennel Club) has initiated programs that will promote and revive Italian breeds. Some specimens that conform to the standard were found, and became the foundation of the recovery program. The breed is rare even in Italy and almost unknown outside its country. Lately they can be seen at dog shows not only in Italy but in some European countries as well. Certainly due dedicated American breeders it is only a matter of time before the fancy enjoys them at our local dog shows. Our dear readers will find the complete standard at; Volpino Club of Italy (Italian) http://www.volpinoatavi.it/standard.html, North American Volpino Club – (English) http://www.northamericanvolpinoclub.com Volpino Italiano Club of the U.S. (English) www.volpinoclub.us
Dog News 51
52 Dog News
Is The Bark Louder Than The Bite Making Your Kennel Sound Proof
Y
ou’ve probably heard the old idiom “the bark is louder than the bite�. However, the bark may still be annoying for you, your neighbors and the government powersthat-be. You cannot always completely stop this bothersome, irritating sound, but with a little innovative energy, you can certainly reduce the situation. Recently, I had a breeder inquiry as to an effective way of controlling kennel dog barking both indoors and in outside runs. Obviously, dogs will be dogs and thus the barking problem. There is probably no definitive answer to the question or total prevention, outside of debarking. And since I do not necessarily advocate debarking, I will attempt to look elsewhere for a solution. Dogs are creatures of habit and the number one cause of dog barking is that the dog is communicating, either by imagination or by real contact, with another animal or human being. And, dogs bark for a number of reasons such as, being bored, becoming excited, being scared, wanting attention, being alarmed, and being hungry or thirsty. One cannot necessarily stop all barking, but good dog training and socialization certainly helps. So, what are some demographic kennel retrofits that may encourage the kennel dogs not to bark or reduce the noise? Most kennels are perfect examples of amplified noise, with the cement floors and cinder block walls. This type construction thus causes the sound waves to bounce around. To reduce the noise, these sound waves must then be soaked up or reflected, rather than being amplified out into space. Obviously, this type construction is mainly due to easy maintenance as the surface is easy to clean. In most situations, the problem is confined to the outside runs, rather than inside the kennel proper. However, here are just a few common sense suggestions for the sound abatement in kennels, both indoors and outside and some effective ways of controlling the dog barking both indoors and in outside runs.
Continued on page 82
All In The Family by Charles C. Robey
54 Dog News
Dog News 55
The Total Package:
Pet, Guide Dog, Competitor By Ranny Green • photos by Jerry and Lois Photography
J
anine Prindle, of Enumclaw, Wash., has been in the midst of a 33-year battle with retinopathy but that has not deterred her mental focus in the American Kennel Club obedience ring for years. Legally blind since 2006 (her field of vision is approximately 15 degrees; 180 degrees is normal), she and her Yellow Labrador Retriever Guide Dog Cranberry are on the threshold of accomplishing something no other blind individual or Guide Dog have managed –a Versatility title. The two are one leg away from gaining that distinction, which requires earning 170 or more points out of 200 and at least 50 percent of the points in each exercise. Earning that final leg will most likely have to wait until June, however. Prindle can only see Cranberry when the dog is directly in front of her. In practice, she will ask a training partner if Cranberry is in the correct heel position. And to establish a comfort zone beforehand, she watches the judge or steward walk the heeling pattern and eyes the exhibitors who come before her. Prior to going into the ring, she informs the judge that she is visually impaired. “My goal all along for Cranberry was to gain the Utility title, which we already have. The Versatility title will be like frosting on the cake,” she adds. Asked if she could tell on-site if Cranberry has brought her A game at each competition, Prindle responds, “She is
Cranberry eyes owner Janine Prindle, of Enumclaw, Wash., who is legally blind, in the ring. 56 Dog News
Cranberry relaxes and waits her turn in the obedience ring. very food motivated and when she knows I have a treat available outside the ring she perks up. Some times more than others. You can’t bring treats into the ring but if I mention the word between exercises and she perks up, I get a sense that she is on.” But sometimes Cranberry will fool her partner. At recent Washington state back-to-back weekend competitions Cranberry put in a better overall performance one day but failed to nail one exercise, hence losing her bid for a title leg. The following day, she scored the
Cranberry clears a Rally hurdle as Prindle watches.
Cranberry follows Prindle through a Rally course during a walk-through.
needed 170-plus points but Prindle assessed her performance as less than the previous day. Incredibly, Cranberry, who will be retired from Obedience competition after eventually earning the Versatility title, is the former teacher’s (she retired in 2011) fourth dog to earn a coveted Utility title – and first Labrador Retriever. “Being yellow really helps visibly,” she adds, “versus a black coat. “I don’t see vivid colors. Before Cranberry, I used a white cane for about year while I was on the waiting list for a dog. A blind person must have good cane skills before he or she can get a Guide Dog.” There is plenty of irony with Prindle’s story as well. Between 1985 and 2007 the Prindle family (husband Jack and sons Doug and Aaron) raised 30 puppies to about age 1– mostly German Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers – for Guide Dogs for the Blind and two for Summit Assistance Dogs. About half graduated. The family’s involvement stemmed from a visit she had with a 4-H leader at a local fair and observing several children with Guide Dog puppies. This left Prindle, a lifelong dog owner, thinking her family could do the same. “Doug was 8 and we felt that would be a good opportunity to see if he could make the long-term commitment of raising a puppy,” Prindle recalls. “Aaron wanted to get involved and we found ourselves raising two at a time. It taught our entire family about responsibility, commitment and personal growth.” “I’ve pretty much come full circle,” she smiles. “Cranberry has really enriched my life. She’s my Velcro dog and with me 24/7. She sleeps next to me on the floor at night.” In the house with the harness off, she reverts to family pet. In addition to her immediate family, Prindle’s biggest booster is Kathy Lang, her instructor, mentor, coach and friend, a “bond” that extends back into the 1980s. “What makes Janine remarkable,” says Lang, “is her positive attitude, combined with determination. Even before she
Prindle is all smiles and Cranberry is relaxed after earning the final leg of their Rally Excellent title a couple of years ago.
began having vision issues she was – and remains – the most positive and determined trainer and handler that I’ve ever known. No dog is perfect, and every dog has training issues, especially when the handler is working towards the Utility Dog title. As common training challenges arose with each dog, Janine always took the ‘OK, we can do this’ approach. She put in the hard work necessary to overcome whatever the particular issue at the time happened to be.” Lang recalls one of Prindle’s dogs earning its UD title in three consecutive shows, a feat almost unheard of and far surpassing the average qualifying rate of 13 percent. Prindle’s positive energy rubs off on Lang’s fellow students and competitors. “She is a joy to be around,” adds Lang. “She’ll tell everyone what her dog did well, then note the problems that arose. Next she will immediately – and enthusiastically – talk about what she is going to do to fix things before the next trial.” As Prindle’s vision deteriorated, she talked to Lang about getting a Guide Dog. Lang, her fellow students and friends followed her journey through the process of getting Cranberry. “Janine immediately talked about putting obedience titles on Cranberry and we discussed ways to help the dog understand the different ‘jobs’ she had to do – guiding Janine vs. performing obedience routines.” Whenever Cranberry became confused, Prindle and Lang brainstormed ways to overcome the issue. Prindle’s dedication and commitment extends even further. On days when she could not find a ride to the training center, she signed up for an Access Bus to transport herself and Cranberry to class. As Cranberry’s competition career is nearing an end, Prindle is hopeful the 7½-year-old Guide Dog will continue to perform her working duties for another year or more. “She is slowing down and making mistakes she hasn’t in the past,” Prindle acknowledges. She is evaluated annually by a Guide Dogs for the Blind regional representative to determine her capabilities. Pet, Guide Dog and fervent competitor, Cranberry is the total package, concludes Prindle. “She has always given me her best, which is all I could ask.”
Prindle and Cranberry enter CenturyLink Field Event Center in Seattle prior to a Seattle Kennel Club Dog Show. Dog News 57
S
Off LEASH
pring has finally sprung, albeit a month or so later than normal in some parts of the country, and soon pet owners will be faced with some of those pests associated with the spring and summer months, such as fleas and ticks and other parasites. Many pet owners will be visiting supermarkets and pet shops to purchase over-the-counter flea-and-tick products, as evidenced by the $552 million Americans spend on these items each year, according to IBISWorld. Now the question has been raised, should pet owners be allowed to apply spot-type parasite treatments, or over-the-counter flea-and-tick collars to their pets? Or should pet owners be required to bring their pets to a veterinarian for such services? Those familiar with animal husbandry practices will probably think this is a no-brainer, replying with an attitude, “Of course pet owners and caretakers should be allowed to administer such minor care to their animals.” But believe it or not, this very issue is being considered this week in a bill in Maine. Known as LD 1202, a bill seeking to make significant changes to the Maine Veterinary Practice Act will change the definition of the term “practice of veterinary medicine”. Under LD 1202, applying a flea-and-tick collar or one of the plethora of over the counter “spot shot” type ointments would fall under the activities defined as “practicing veterinary medicine” and as such would be prohibited by dog owners who are not licensed veterinarians. Isn’t that going a bit overboard? What’s next? Will pet owners be prohibited from brushing their dogs’ teeth? Granted, veterinarians work hard and many have outstanding education loans to pay off and their salaries can’t compare with those of CEOs of financial institutions or of animal welfare groups for that matter, but there are some minor care procedures that pet owners can and should be allowed to perform without a trip to the veterinarian’s office and the additional expenses associated with it. Applying a flea-and-tick collar or ointment ought to be in this realm of care. This is just one of many pieces of legislation being considered in Maine that may greatly impact dog owners. Also on the docket in The Pine Tree State this month is LD 1239, a bill seeking to clarify Maine’s animal welfare laws. This bill would create new definitions and require licenses for commercial boarding or training kennels, commercial breeder kennels and personal kennels. If provides guidelines for inspections of licensed entities, such as when they can occur, and removes a provision in current law that requires a person to obtain a vendor’s license to sell a dog or cat. This law deserves the support of all responsible dog owners and breeders. The Agriculture, Conservation, and Forest Committee will consider the bill on Tuesday, April 16th, so time is of the essence in voicing support. There are also a couple laws addressing animal cruelty being considered in Maine. LD 703 would set the minimum amount of time a person convicted of animal cruelty is prohibited from owning, possessing, or having an animal on their property. No decision has yet been reached on this bill, which was heard by the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on March 29. There is also a bill, LD 1289, which seeks to create an Animal Abuser Registry. Much like the sex offender registries that have been established, this bill requires that a person convicted of animal cruelty under Maine’s criminal law or convicted of a comparable offense in another state must register annually as an animal abuser with the county sheriff for a period of 15 years. It requires each county sheriff to maintain a registry and disseminate information on the registered animal abuser. It requires the Department of Public Safety, State Bureau of Identification to maintain a central registry of animal abusers. Offenders must register with the sheriff within ten days of moving to a new location within the state. An animal abuser who fails to comply is guilty of a Class C crime.
Another bill in Maine, LD 1192, has been assigned to the Insurance and Financial Services Committee but has yet to be scheduled for a hearing. It will certainly be welcome news to homeowners of the much maligned ‘bully breeds’ as well as owners of other breeds dogs often addressed in ‘dangerous dog’ type legislation. LD 1192 would prohibit the refusal to issue or the cancellation or nonrenewal of a property insurance policy, or an increase in the premium for the policy, based solely on the basis of a policyholder’s ownership of a certain breed of dog. Similar bills have been introduced in other states with varying degrees of success. In Maryland, a bill that would prevent insurance companies from discriminating against breeds was tabled. In New York, the Assembly Insurance Committee Approved a bill that would prohibit insurance companies from canceling and/or raising premiums of a homeowner’s liability insurance policy based solely on the ownership of a specific breed of dog. It has been referred to the Assembly Codes Committee. Likewise in West Virginia, a pair of bills that would prevent insurance companies form discriminating against specific breeds of dogs are currently assigned to the House Banking and Insurance Committee. Dog lovers in all of these states are urged to contact legislators to support these bills. Although enough support has been garnered to clear the initial hurdles and committees in many states, the legislative process is often a drawn out affair and an effort to sustain the energy in order to help these bills become laws must be encouraged, which can swing momentum in dog owners’ favor in other states as well. A bill — LD 703— that was struck down in Maine sought to create a cause of action for noneconomic damages to be collected by a pet owner when another person or the person’s animal kills or fatally injures a pet. On the heels of this bill being killed, the Texas Supreme Court issued its opinion on the case of Strickland v. Medlen, deciding that non-economic damages are not available in cases involving the negligent death of a pet. This reversed a decision of a Texas appeals court, which previously held that noneconomic damages should be available in such cases. In Texas, Maine, and many other states, pet owners can recover the economic value of a pet, any veterinarian bills resulting form an alleged injury and other reasonably and necessary costs arising out of the injury, but compensation for an owner’s emotional loss is typically not available in cases involving damage or loss of personal property (as pets are considered), and are reserved for cases involving immediate family members such as a spouse or parent. Though pets are considered family, in the court of law they are considered property, as evidenced by similar decisions in Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The American Kennel Club and other pet welfare organizations believe that the adverse consequences that may result from such awards (increased pet health care costs, increased public health risks, discouraging animal ownership that may result in euthanizations, etc.) would outweigh any benefits they might provide. It should also serve as an example of how other states follow suit in adopting legislative policy, which is why it’s imperative that dog owners stay abreast of the legal issues concerning dogs, breeders and owners in all states, not just their own. The legislative ‘state of Maine’ could very well be the state of your own state in due time.
‘State of Maine’
ByShaun Coen
58 Dog News
Amelia
“
”
Multiple Group Winner!
GCh. Blackstone Very Vassar Many thanks to Judges Mrs. Kathryn Cowsert & Dr. John Reeve-Newson Loved and Owned By Eileen Courtney, Alana Howland & Joanne Torres
Handled By Even & Stacy Threlfall AKC Registered Handlers Assisted by Brian Hubbard Dog News 59
60 Dog News
Best In Show & Multiple Best In Specialty Show Winning
Dog News 61
I
n all the years I have been reporting and writing about the dog world I must admit that my most grievous error in the reporting of happenings at dog shows occurred in the March 29th issue when I condemned the Dogue de Bordeaux Club and the exhibitors at its Specialty as a whole for a trashing incident alleged to have occurred at a hotel they used for their Specialty. The facts seem to be that if any incidents of trashing did occur there were very few of them and very possibly not done by the DDB exhibitors as originally claimed by the Hotel Manager of the Holiday Inn in York. I am both embarrassed and contrite about what I wrote and apologize to one and all as all the DDB exhibitors who have gotten in touch with me claim to have not only taken perfect care of their rooms and their dogs but supervised others to do so as well. Here’s what happened as far as I can tell. In my initial report of March 22nd about the Celtic Circuit I made no mention of any problems at the nearby hotels with regards to any trashings whatsoever. I either had not heard of any incident at that point or they were not confirmed to me. Sometime between the 22nd of March and the 26th of March rumors began spreading that the Holiday Inn in York which was the headquarters for the DDB Specialty had been trashed by a number of DDB people. A complaint was made I am told by the Holiday Inn Manager to either the Compliance Committee of AKC or the Events Committee at the Cluster concerning the alleged actions of certain DDB exhibitors. The exact quote to me was that the hotel manager knew the procedures based on his prior experiences with trashing from other clubs a year
Photos of Troy Kennel Club by Eugene Zaphiris
Making Amends On Two Fronts...
More By Matthew H. Stander
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or two ago. I was told that an investigation was in fact begun into the alleged allegations. I checked this out with three different individuals all of whom said this was true and indeed it turned out as I understand it to be the case insofar as the complaint having been made and the investigation was concerned. Where I went wrong was that I presumed the hotel manager to be correct and the extent of the trashing commensurate with what he stated to be the case against the DDB exhibitors. I am now told that while some sort of trashing may have taken place it was done by an extremely small number of exhibitors--perhaps as few as two rooms being involved-- some of which may not have even been DDB exhibitors at all!! I should have known better than to have listened to dog show people and just jumped to incorrect conclusions. I certainly should have waited for the results of the investigation to be made public and never should have indulged in such generalities. From what I am hearing it looks as though the DDB exhibitors may have been squeaky clean in this matter and I certainly again apologize to all involved. On an entirely different front we went to Springfield on Saturday where the Troy Kennel Club of New York was holding its show. ‘Nuff said except that when I walked in a number of people expressed surprise at Continued FROM page 115
Type
America’s #2 Mastiff*
Bone
Drive
The Big Cheese - A Tremendous Force
Thank you Judge Mrs. Houston Clark
The Reserve Best In Show & Multiple Group Winning
GCh. Talamascas Big Cheese La Selva Beach Mastiffs topmastiff.com
*The Dog News Top Ten List - Breed
Professionally Presented By Terry Smith vonmozart@msn.com Dog News 63
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Dog News 65
RUE T North
(Goes to South America) By Allison Foley
T
ourism Colombia has the slogan “Come to Colombia, the only risk is you will want to stay!” and truer words were never spoken. Attending the “Circuito International de Bogota 2013” we were amazed at the professionalism and organization of this event. For anyone wishing to attend a South American dog show this event should be on your to do list. Traditionally held over 4 days in March these 4 shows could easily be dubbed the “Santa Barbara of South America”. To start with there were 6 outdoor rings all completely covered by tenting, the ring dividers were 4 foot sprays of red and white roses and the main tent was lit at night as group and best in show judging went on. All around the rings were tents for grooming and vendors all walled and ready to go as you arrived at the show. The dining area had several kiosks from different local food establishments (including the fast food chain Subway) and the main food vendor had
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a menu of 6 to 8 full service items that changed daily along with waiters in shirt and tie. There was full seating and a separate seating area for the judges that also had its own waiters. With an entry of more than 800 dogs and a few specialties going on the shows started promptly at 8:30 am and breed judging was done by about 12:30 each day, which gave everyone time for lunch as the group judging started at 2pm. With the equivalent of 30 groups to judge (under FCI rules there are 10 groups and each is divided into Puppy, Junior and Adult) and 3 Best in shows with 4 awards in each. The shows were generally done well before 7 pm. This was possible due to the high efficiency of the ring stewards. All the ring stewards have to take a course and pass a written exam. They all seemed to be University students and spoke Spanish and English. They were excellent and had the rings running without a hitch. Very aware of and helpful to foreign exhibitors, they made a great show even better. The quality of dogs and their presentation were both excellent as well. Some breeds like Golden Retrievers, Border Collies, Boxers, Pointers and Labradors were strong throughout and presented in beautiful condition. There were also some breeds that were less popular but still had some amazing dogs. The black American Cocker owned by the Barths was outstanding. Ivan Sandoval’s
Welsh Terrier, the OES that was Top Dog in 2012, the Fila Brasilero Piloted by Gabriel Valdez, and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever that was Best in Show under Dr. Francisco Chappa all spring immediately to mind as outstanding dogs that could hold their own anywhere. The Rottweilers, Neapolitan Mastiffs, Bracco Italianos and Bichons all had wonderful exhibits as well. Indeed the quality was evident throughout the show. The condition of the dogs and the excellence of their handlers was equally impressive. The shows were judged by an International panel of judges. Dr. Francisco Chappa from Mexico, Mrs. Yolanda Nagler of Israel, Mr. Cristian Stefanescu of Romania, Mr. Joy Lim of Australia, Sr. Ricardo Torre Simoes of Brazil, Mr. Fernando Marichal of Honduras, and the reserve judge was Mr. Carlos Quinones of Colombia. Held under FCI rules the 10 groups were divided as follows. Group 1 Herding Dogs, Group 2 Pinschers, Schnauzers and Working breeds, Group 3 Terriers, Group 4 Teckels, Group 5 Spitz and Primitive Breeds, Group 6 Scent Hounds, Group 7 Pointers and Setters, Group 8 Retrievers and Spaniels, Group 9 Companion dogs and Group 10 Sighthounds. Getting into Colombia with your dog is relatively easy. Your dog requires proof from your vet of up to date vaccinations including rabies, and a topical and oral administration of an anti parasitic. This is then confirmed by your state (Provincial) veterinarian. Once in baggage claim you will be directed to the CIA (Agriculture) office by the very friendly Customs agents where your paperwork is stamped and you and your canine friend are welcome in Colombia. There are direct flights to Bogota from Newark and Houston as well as many other US hubs. Getting your Colombian Championship requires your dog to win winners male or female with a rating of excellent twice under two different judges. The good news is that once your dog has achieved this they will confirm it at the show and print your Championship Certificate right there for a small fee. At this same show you can also win Certificates towards your Pan-American and International Championships. Another happy note was that a high resolution copy of your win photo only costs 13 USD! The people and hospitality at the show and within the dog community were without par, more about this in the next installment of True North. Meanwhile in Canada, the top dogs as of April 3 2013 according to Canuck Dogs are: 1 Westie Ch Whitebriar Jawdropper 2 Afghan Ch Polo’s Air Force One 3 Dobe Ch Goldgrove High Intensity 4 Aus Shep Ch Valor’s King of Blue 5 NSDT Ch Roaneden’s Int’l Harvester 6 Malamute Ch Mytuk’s Technical Knock Out 7 Yorkie Ch NikNak’s Second to None 8 Affen Ch Champagne Charly Tani V Kazari 9 Dach SWH Ch Cahladen’s Perfect Ten Eng Setter 10 Bouvier Ch Rocheuses Play Something Country at DND That’s it for now in the True North. Dog News 67
*The Dog News Top Ten List - Breed points
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IRVING’s impressions Continued FROM page 18
fate it suffered at the hands of what some people regard as the animal welfare extremists, if its proponents had acted earlier and more loudly? KENNEL CLUB BALANCING ACTS That brings us to some of the dilemmas that kennel clubs and dog breeders often face today. Do they start early to defend the practices that they have employed for hundreds of years and do they defend all of those practices with equal vigour? Or do they decide that some practices have to be abandoned under the weight of public and veterinary opinion against them? These are very difficult balancing acts to keep up. Those who take a hard-line view of defending every single issue will certainly point to the fact that the foxhunting lobby was too slow to react and should have spoken out much earlier. Had they done so and done so more forcefully, maybe foxhunting in the UK would still be lawful. The hard-liners would maintain that kennel clubs should loudly defend every single tradition that they hold dear. They would say that conceding on one issue would doubtless simply lead to demands for equal concessions to be made quickly on many other issues. APPEASERS On the other side of the debate there are those who say that trying to defend every single dog breeding practice, especially if public opinion is moving away faster from some of these than it is from others, is a recipe for failure. Some customs, they will claim, are bound not to retain enough long term public support and ought to be abandoned. For example, defending other less controversial issues such as dewclaw removal in the same way as defending arguably more debateable practices such as ear-cropping, risks all of these traditional procedures being tarred with the same brush. Maybe some customs should be abandoned in order to protect others? Moreover other appeasers will claim that any organisation that tries to defend what its attackers and public opinion consider to be the indefensible, merely brings discredit on the organisation doing the defending. That in its turn is bound to reduce the impact of that organisation when it comes to support other important issues in the future. A TACTICAL VIEW? Then there are other tactical issues to consider when kennel clubs are deciding what to defend and what not to defend. Take as an example TKC’s current problem of the silly law here in England that says that even dogs that have been docked legally can’t be shown at dog shows where the pubic pays for admission. Legally docked dogs on the other hand can be exhibited at shows where the public can have free entry as spectators. It will probably eventually be only Crufts, with a public attendance figure of 150,000 people that will remain as the sole dog show affected. Very few of the other
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big shows find it worth charging the public and therefore they allow free admission. But this is obviously a stupid situation and the supporters of the breeds which can be docked legally for working purposes, want TKC to fight the silly rule tooth and nail. But should it? What has to be remembered is that the legal concession that allowed the docking of working dogs to be left as legal, only managed to get passed in the House of Commons by a very small majority of Members of Parliament. Would it be worth risking losing this more important concession that allows working dogs to be docked, just to enable some docked dogs to be shown at Crufts? That is the dilemma that TKC faces. What would you do in the circumstances? I would certainly choose not to rock that particular boat. SINGLE ISSUE ORGANIZATIONS During the debate on banning tail docking here in the UK there were two main defendants of the practice. One was the Council of Docked Breeds (CDB ) and the other was TKC. At times the CDB was very critical of TKC for not shouting what it considered to be loudly enough against the docking ban and for not taking a very hard and at times disrespectful line against the government’s agricultural department which was in charge of framing the legislation. Again TKC was not a single issue organization. The CDB was not dealing with the department on a whole range of other issues at the same time - as was TKC. Moreover the CDB was not going to have to deal with that government department ever again after the docking issue was resolved either one way or the other. And besides, TKC also had a membership which was split on the issue. Some KC Members were in favour of the docking ban and others were against it. Kennel clubs therefore do have to employ a measured approach to the issues on which they are lobbying. This doesn’t mean that they don’t take up the cudgels at all, but it does mean that they may have to be reasonable and polite in the way that they attack the various issues. LIKE THE NRA Should the AKC be attacking every single piece of legislation that comes forward and might affect even just a small proportion of those that it represents, or should it be selective and only defend those issues that affect the majority and are likely to be the most defensible? That is a key question and not an easy one to answer. I guess that on the one hand there will be those that say the AKC should be like the NRA, which seems to take the line that every single piece of legislation that attacks gun ownership must be opposed at all costs. That is an approach which seems to work for the NRA. But then they are perhaps much more of a single issue organisation than the AKC. Or should the AKC be more selective in what it defends and thus protect its reputation for only defending what is most likely to be considered as defensible? Only time will tell which approach is best.
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Dog News 73
MORE THAN A “FIREHOUSE ORNAMENT” Dalmatians, historically, have performed in many roles. Almost as soon as they became favorites of the British aristocracy, they were used as carriage dogs by the elite who loved to show off their spotted dogs. The breed still retains its affinity for horses and the many Dals that have earned road dog titles from the parent club provide proof of this horse-loving trait in the breed.
BISS GCh Am/Can Ch CT Blackthorn Coreopis of PatchMTN RA OA OAJ NF RD CPC Can TDX (“Corey”) and Sara Pruyne do some training for the Dalmatian Club of America’s road test program.
Corey is one of only seven Dalmatian champion trackers in the nation.
By M.J. Nelson The British upper classes also discovered that the breed was really good at killing vermin in the stables and this led to the breed’s famous role as a firehouse dog as the firehouses in Great Britain, where horses were the horsepower that moved the fire engines, were, like the stables of the elite, overrun with rats and mice. But, since the fire engines were horse-drawn in those early days and the dogs loved horses, it wasn’t long before they were racing ahead of the horses and the engine whenever the alarm sounded. While the dogs no longer run ahead of the fire engines and the internal combustion engine largely solved the problem of firehouse vermin, Dalmatians still serve as mascots for many fire departments. Dalmatians have also worked as war dogs, done sentry duty, have served as shepherds’ dogs, as draft dogs and as circus dogs where they are popular with the clowns serving as “assistants” to the clowns as
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The Dalmatian Club’s road trial program is designed to test endurance, a breed trait. Laurie Isaacson and one of her Dalmatians do some carriage work at a DCA road test.
Dalmatians are capable of almost any dog sport including dock jumping as Isaacson’s Dal BISS Silver GCh Ch Sweetspot Hot2spot Best of Both Worlds RN BN CA SPD TT TDI CGC demonstrates. (Jim Bagby photo)
Ch MACH C-ATCH Snowood Spirited Double IPA CD BN MXB MJB XF T2B (“Indie”), John Wilson’s Dalmatian is proof that agility is not just for herding and sporting breeds.
their intelligence, aptitude, athleticism and showy appearance make them particularly well suited for this role. All of which has made the Dalmatian a very versatile breed capable of doing just about anything its owner wants to do with their dog. “Dalmatians are brave, alert, curious and have incredible stamina. They also have a great sense of humor, not only at your expense but at theirs as well. Bravery lets them climb to heights that other breeds require coaching to attempt. Curiosity lets them examine obstacles and find them safe. Their stamina allows you to work for long periods with them as long as there is variety in the training session. With enough food and play, you can keep a Dalmatian’s attention for more than an hour and they will not get tired of working. Their alertness, however, can be a two-edged sword. But, what distracts them can be turned into sharp focus with training and motivation,” said John Wilson, who owns Ch MACH C-ATCH Snowood Spirited Double IPA CD BN MXB MJB XF T2B (“Indie”). “With the right pedigree, they really do have a strong work ethic,” said Sara Pruyne, who owns two champion tracker Dalmatians, BISS GCh Am/Can Ch CT Blackthorn Coreopis of PatchMTN RA OA OAJ NF RD CPC Can TDX (“Corey”), Ch CT PatchMTN C Pepper N Paisley RE OA OAJ OAP HJP NF RD CPC PAC Can TDX AG AGN as well as Am/ Can Ch GCh Patch Mt Spring Thyme at Blackthorn TDX. “They want to please and be with you. Corey has always been ready to work and will give his best effort no matter what I ask him to do. Dalmatians should be an active dog wanting a job and to be doing something. There are many areas where dogs can compete and many are tailor-made for Dalmatians. They are capable of great endurance combined with a fair amount of speed.” “Dalmatians love to please but you have to be able to teach them to do the things you want them to do,” said Laurie Isaacson, who owns BISS Silver GCh Ch Sweetspot Hot2spot Best of Both Worlds RN BN CA SPD TT TDI CGC. “Dalmatians got such a bad rap after the movies but they are a breed
The Dal’s ability to go long distances effortlessly came with a more rigid central body that makes sharp turns slow and wide according to Wilson (Kevin Devine photo)
that can do it all. Still, one of the problems we face as a breed is this negative public image. I do rescue and breed support and I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard ‘Dalmatians are deaf,’ ‘Dalmatians are not good with kids,’ ‘Dalmatians are not very smart.’ Most times it’s the owner who can’t teach. If you can’t teach, the dog can’t learn.” Linda McSherry has had Dalmatians for almost 30 years, has bred three of the seven champion tracking Dalmatians in the country including her current female Maeve (Am/ Can Ch CT Patch Mountain’s About Time Am/Can CD RE AX NAJ NAP NJP VCD1 OAJ CGC) that owns nineteen titles and said she has always believed that the breed was multi-talented. “Although I have bred many top winning dogs in the show ring, it has always been important to me for them to have an active life after the show ring. What this means is that you have to have a dog that is structurally correct in order for the dog to also do road trials, agility, obedience, rally and tracking. Dalmatians are smart, very athletic and highly trainable. But, they are also clowns that make you laugh so you have to be prepared for and tolerant of some of their antics. However, they really do want to please you and they definitely want to be with you. Dalmatians that have achieved Continued on page 111
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Multiple Group & Best In Specialty Show Winning
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AAHA Report Recommendations Could Increase Veterinary Care Costs by at least $350 Million Annually Continued FROM page 46
How far in advance does the report recommend Wellness Examinations be booked and what would determine their frequency? Spencer: The report doesn’t recommend any specific time frame for booking preventive care visits in advance. It’s up to the veterinarian and the pet owner to decide that based on the health status of the pet. An owner might need to bring a senior pet in every six months. But, for a younger dog without any health concerns, a veterinarian might recommend a less frequent visit. What the owner feels comfortable with also would be considered. It’s about the owner and the veterinarian working together to determine what’s best for the pet’s health care plan. However, we do recommend that pets be seen by a veterinarian at least once a year for a preventive care visit because a lot can change in 12 months. What services would a follow-up Wellness Visit include? Spencer: A Wellness Visit would include an examination: checking the pet’s temperature, eyes, ears, scoring the pet’s body condition and looking for any abnormal growths. Another important part of a preventive care visit would be talking about the pet’s overall lifestyle. That would include things like the pet’s activity level and whether it’s appropriate for the animal’s age and health. Would a veterinarian recommend tests like blood work or a urinalysis during a Wellnness Visit? Spencer: The pet’s lifestyle and where it’s at in terms of health would determine if blood work or other tests would be recommended. The report uses human dental practices as a model for advanced appointment bookings, where dental cleanings are performed routinely during a follow-up visit. Does the report likewise recommend dentals be performed routinely at follow-up Wellness Visits? Spencer: No. How often does the report recommend that dentals be done? Every six months? Annually? Spencer: The report does not directly address the frequency of dentals. It is up to the veterinarian to determine what should be recommended based on the current health status of the pet. The report is about the opportunity to get pets in for preventive care. Other reports in recent years have shown that veterinary checkup visits are down, while visits relating to emergencies and preventable diseases are up. So, it’s not that preventive care visits would be combined with a dental; but rather that they would be about having the opportunity to educate owners about the importance of good dental care to promote good pet health.
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The report focuses on the potential for veterinary practices to increase their revenue annually. It makes no mention of how pets would benefit from its recommendations. Shouldn’t that be the most important consideration when determining which services veterinary practices offer and at what frequency? Spencer: The report’s underlying focus is getting animals in for regular checkups. Regular checkups are of benefit because they help prevent chronic diseases that cause pets a lot of pain and cost owners a lot of money to treat. To do that, the report focuses on driving preventive care visits. In this way, the report is intended to help veterinarians focus on the reason why they went into veterinary medicine in the first place: to keep pets healthy and happy. Overall pet ownership declined 2.4% from 2006 to 2011 according to a survey conducted by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).1 Is it possible the increasing cost of veterinary care was a significant factor in that decline? Spencer: I’ve seen a variety of reports about pet ownership–the American Pet Products Association [APPA] Report showed an increase in pet ownership of 2.1% between 2011 and 2012. It reported dog ownership at 78 million; cat ownership at 86.4 million; bird ownership at 16.2 million; and horse ownership at 7.9 million. Conflicting figures make it difficult to define a trend. AAHA doesn’t do those kinds of surveys so I can’t speak to that definitively. [But, if ownership is down] I think it’s the overall state of the economy and the fact that costs are going up everywhere. It would be because of the cost of pet food and caring for a pet in general and not just because of the cost of veterinary care. The AVMA Pet Ownership Survey also showed the amount of money spent to provide veterinary care for pets increased to $19.1 billion in 2011. That’s up 18.6% from 2006 for dogs and 4.2% for cats. Given those increases plus the fact many owners still are struggling financially due to the economy, is it realistic to think they can spend an additional $350 million or more for veterinary care each year? Spencer: I don’t think the expectation is that each pet owner is going to be paying that much more. As I already stated, many owners don’t bring their pets in to see a veterinarian regularly. The goal of the report is to get those owners to bring their pets in more often. So rather than adding increased cost for every owner, it’s really about increased education for owners of pets that aren’t seen by a veterinarian often enough. Is there anything else you would like to add? Spencer: The reason we’re very excited about the report is because it underscores what we’ve been trying to bring to the forefront for the last few years. That veterinarians need to be focusing on their clients and their pets—That they need to be effectively communicating with owners because good communication can create opportunities for pets to be seen more often. Regular Wellness Visits would help prevent painful, long-term diseases that are expensive to treat. 1) The results of the AVMA Pet Ownership Survey showed dog ownership was down 1.9%, while cat ownership was down 6.2%. Horse and bird ownership also declined, with horse ownership down 16.7% and bird ownership down 20.5%.
Dog News
The Digest
Of American Dogs
at the
WORLD DOG SHOW Budapest, Hungary May 16, 17, 18, 19, 2013
Be included in our special World Dog Show Section in the May 3rd Issue deadline April 26, 2013 Dog News 79
*
*
*The Dog News Top Ten List - All Breed
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Dog News 81
INSIDE KENNEL PROPER • Consider good sound barriers to cut down on the echoes and reverberations. Such items as side and top insulation and a good absorbent material for the floor base may help. • Consider good sound absorption drapes or panels for the windows to control the sound, as well as preventing the dogs from the outside world. • Consider sealing and insulating the empty overhead roof space.
• Consider regulating the heating and cooling, as dogs become restless under extreme weather conditions. • Consider preventing artificial light shadows from appearing on the walls. These sometimes will startle the dogs. • Consider separating the dogs in heat, and their boyfriends, from the other dogs. • Consider simply playing good soft, savory music to help drown out the barking, thus calming the dogs.
OUTSIDE RUNS • Consider keeping the runs away from heavy foot traffic, especially in an area where children walk by. Often times, children will provoke mass barking. • Consider isolating the known trouble barkers as to not provoke the other members of the kennel into barking. (This may work indoors as well.) Consider using a bark retardant collar on the trouble makers. • Consider the proper fencing to absorb the sound and limit the dogs’ outside view.
• Consider installing a good outside lighting system shining inward, as to help prevent dogs from seeing the preverbal ghostly outside shadows or night wondering varmints. • Consider good landscape barriers, such as thick shrubbery, close to the dog runs. • Consider isolating the dominant dogs, both male and female, as not to excite the other dogs.
KENNEL FENCING • Wood fencing is a top choice for dog fencing because it is often beautiful as well as functional. Most types of wood fencing work well. However, those types with wide spaces between pieces such as split rail require a layer of wire mesh to be attached to them to be effective in containing even the smallest or largest dog. • Solid panel wood fencing is the most popular of the wood fence choices for dog enclosures because it provides a complete barrier to your dog. It is excellent for privacy as well and may also cut down on barking because your dog can’t see what is going on outside of his yard. • Chain link fences have long been a popular fencing choice for all types of yards. This fencing is strong and durable and makes a good choice for all breeds. It does not do much to cut down barking as it is open so your dog can see everything going on outside the yard. Chain link can also cause some
All In The Family Continued FROM page 54
problems if there are children in the neighborhood who might tease the dog by poking things through the fence or taunting him from outside the fence. • If chain link fencing is used, you may want to consider placing heavy weight tarpaulins around the sides, to help prevent the above problems. The curtain needs to be taller than the dogs. •Various fencing may also be isolated by planting natural sound barriers such as shrubbery. Note: Consideration should be given to a good professional acoustical contractor. This would not only assist in the prevention of the problem but will serve to support your concern in the event of neighbor complaints and/or governmental legal action.
A brief word about dog barking punishment. As this article has suggested, the four reasons dogs bark are 1) extreme noise 2) visual stimuli 3) animals and 4) people. No punishment will permanently prevent or reduce the response to these factors, as punishment will not teach a dog not to bark. Punishment will only provide a temporary solution. A positive reward system does, however, help as well as good training and socialization. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of documentation, when it comes to dog barking complaints. The barking preventive documentation is very important in support of your efforts of reducing the barking. Just in case a meddlesome neighbor complains to the authorities or sound ordinances are enacted, on your behalf. Author’s Note I have experienced unscrupulous animal control personnel confiscate dogs for personal gain. And, when they could not use the excuse of a dirty kennel, they would try the excessive barking or noise ploy. Obviously, not all apples are bad but it only takes one rotten apple to spoil the entire basket. So, just be careful and don’t fall into this type of trap.
82 Dog News
Dog Judges Association of America Advanced Institute Hound Breeds Workshops and Seminars in conjunction with the
RELIANT WORLD SERIES OF DOG SHOWS Reliant Center, Houston, Texas
All this is coupled with the Reliant World Series of Dog Shows in the spacious and beautiful Reliant Center in Houston. Majors and mentors will abound. If you’ve never seen these shows or venue, you are in for a real treat.
July 18, 19, 20 & 21, 2013 Registration Deadline: June 28, 2013
When you make plans to come, the nearest airport is Houston Hobby.
No Refunds after July 5, 2013 SCHEDULE Thursday
9:30 AM Session
12:45 PM Session
Greyhound Norwegian Elkhound
Irish Wolfhound Sloughi
Friday
8:00 AM Session
10:45 AM Session
2:30 PM Session
Port. Podengo Pequeno Afghan Basenji
Dachshund Rhodesian Ridgeback Black & Tan Coonhound
American Foxhound Whippet Bloodhound
Saturday
8:00 AM Session
10:45 AM Session
2:30 PM Session
Basset Hound Pharaoh Hound Otterhound
PBGV Borzoi Saluki
Beagle Ibizan Hound Cirneco dell’Etna
8:00 AM Session
9:30 AM Session
11:00 AM Session
*Bluetick/Plott *English Foxhound *Portuguese Podengo
*American English/Treeing Walker *Scottish Deerhound *AKC Jr Showmanship Seminar
*Redbone *Harrier
Sunday
*Seminar Refreshments will be provided prior to the morning sessions and breaks.
FEES All Four Days Per Session DJAA Members $200.00 $30.00 Non-Members $230.00 $40.00
Register On Line: djaa.org Dog News 83
Introducing
eggie R
“
”
Typey, Stylish, Sound and Showy; Reggie is a Keeshond bitch that can compete with the boys!
GCh.Cascadia Playing Charades at Shamrock Owners Teresa & Brian Cook Cedarhills Keeshonden cedarhillskeeshonden.com 541-913-5409 Breeders Helen Wymore Alan Leff
84 Dog News
Reggie is pictured first time out
with Handler Andy Linton winning Group First under Judge Mrs. Dianne Besoff Dog News 85
The
Human Aspect of Junior Handling
86 Dog News
The International Junior Handling competition at Crufts is among the most exciting events that make the world’s oldest show into a truly international event. This year, the judge was the famous American handler, Bill McFadden, who placed Naomi Van Mourik from the Netherlands first. Second was Emma Greayson Echols from the USA and third place was awarded to Victoria Gill from Norway.
Story & Photos By Yossi Guy Instead of describing the competition itself, here are several interviews with the judge and competitors that can perhaps give us an insight on what this competition is all about.
B
ill McFadden, a renowned handler, began his way in the dog world immediately after graduating high school. He bred Cairn Terriers with great success, including many Best in Show and Specialty winners. In the early 80’s he added Wire Fox Terriers and has bred over 60 champions during the past 30 years, including many BIS winners, the most prominent of them being Ch. Random Reaction, a Westminster group winner in 1997. “I’m from California and have been a professional handler for over 30 years,” Bill told Dog News. “I won BIS at Westminster with the Kerry Blue Terrier, Nick (Ch. Torum’s Scarf Michael), among other achievements.” Was judging junior handling at Crufts what you expected it to be? “It was a little different than I expected. I was looking for a connection between the handler and dog, and when the dog gave them problems I wanted to see that they didn’t panic.” What puts you off with certain handlers? “I don’t like to see them moving dogs too fast. I am averse to unnecessary handling.” What tips do you have for beginners? “I would suggest to novice competitors to breathe and calm themselves down before they go into the ring. They should watch what the others do. They should try to gain as much experience as possible. I was taught you shouldn’t notice the handler, he should be invisible.” What do you like about junior handling? “I have three children, two of them participated in junior handling. I love their passion, excitement and moves. We have also hosted and mentored many juniors from the USA and around the world and appreciate very much the dedication they exhibit.” Continued on page 98
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TheLighter Side.. Continued FROM page 26
ground-level entrance. Two weeks ago, the up-escalator, leading to the second-level ticketing, was under repair. An internal happy face appears in my brain, as I walk through the sliding glass doors and step onto the now repaired, moving human transport. Once on the second level, I struggle to keep from turning left towards the USAIR kiosk and channel the right side of my body toward the Delta Kiosk. Other than paying twenty-five dollars for my check bag, the process is efficient, pleasant and I am greeted with exceptional, friendly service. Gate Agent Jim (GAJ) enthusiastically provides me with current Detroit political and financial data while checking my one bag. “I have checked your bag to Detroit, Mr. Faulkner, is this correct?” GAJ inquires. “Yes, that’s great,” I politely respond. “Did you know that nearly half of the owners of Detroit’s real estate properties failed to pay their tax bills last year? I read their property taxes are the highest in the nation and homes are assessed at more than ten times their value,” GAJ continues, while handing me my boarding pass. “I knew they were struggling, but I had NO idea. Thanks and with any luck, things will take a turn for the better.” With boarding pass in hand, I turn and proceed to the departure gate. Multiple years having passed since flying Delta, I take note of the aircraft – Pinnacle Airlines / Delta Connection CRJ – 200 LR, 50-passenger, with a maximum speed of Mach.81. “How fast is Mach.81?” I ask myself. A quick Google search provides me an answer: Mach 1---761 mph, depending on altitude, humidity and whether or not you are traveling by air or in water. “Hmmmmm---I wonder how fast my cloud will be traveling upon my return trip from Frankenmuth?” Delta Flight #3764 departs Richmond and arrives at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport on schedule. The distance between the airport and Frankenmuth is one-hundred and one miles. Enterprise Car Rental provides me with a free upgrade to a full-size Impala, two bottles of water, and a personal escort to the car. Capitalizing on Droid’s navigational capabilities and cruising at an average speed of eighty miles per hour (Speed limit is 70 and the majority of cars are passing me.), I arrive at the Birch Run, Michigan exit in under two hours. Frankenmuth is approximately five miles from route 75. Impala makes a right turn onto the exit ramp. I am suddenly captivated by a huge sign that reads: BRONNER’S FAMILY CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND – World’s largest year-round Christmas display, attracting more two million visitors annually, located in Frankenmuth. A few yards further down the road, another large sign pops to my attention. THE BAVARIAN INN of FRANKENMUTH – Home of the WORLD FAMOUS CHICKEN. “Lord, how am I going to survive all this stimulation in one dog show judging weekend, and what in the hell is World Famous Chicken, and exactly when did Germany become famous for its chicken?” I ponder. 90 Dog News
Impala approaches Frankenmuth at sunset. The street sign to my right reads---25 Christmas Lane. I am welcomed---and blinded---by a lighted Christmas display encompassing what appears to a Christmas village the size of five-football fields. Welcome to BRONNER’S FAMILY CHRISTMAS. As it is Friday, April 5 and I had just managed to put the last of our holiday decorations to bed for the season, I have to fight the urge to seizure my way past BRONNER’S FAMILY CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND towards the BAVARIAN INN and WORLD FAMOUS CHICKEN. Frankenmuth is a charming village, where Bavarian-inspired architecture abounds. At the intersection of Gunzenhausen Street and 1 Covered Bridge Lane, Impala turns right. The Bavarian Inn Restaurant, home of The World Famous Chicken, stands at my left and the Bavarian Inn Lodge is directly ahead, across the covered bridge. The jam-packed parking lot and teeming lobby lead me to believe there is more afoot than a collection of dog show judges in search of World Famous Chicken and Christmas decorations. “Good evening, last name is Faulkner---that is F, A, U, L, K, N, E, R---first name Michael. Checking in…and I am with the dog show,” I graciously state. The Inn is mammoth in scale with staff members traipsing around in German-inspired costumes. The young lady dressed in a Bavarian Dirndl---two sizes too small---hands me my room key. Two young men in Lederhosen assist numerous young people dressed in swimming gear, dragging towels behind. “What is going on this weekend?” “Oh, this is our big Spring Break Week. The inn is full with family and children. We feature seven acres of family fun---including an indoor water park with four pools and three whirlpools. Enjoy your stay!” Ms. Dirndl shares, with Bavarian authenticity and gusto. I guide Impala around the right side of the Inn and enter through the side door shown on a map provided by Ms. Dirndl. Hundreds of pastywhite humans of various ages and sizes, dressed in swim attire, crowd the hallways leading to my room on the third floor--- number 328. Swiping the magnetic strip in a downward fashion through the narrow slot, the little light turns green, the door clicks, and I enter. As a matter of custom, I unpack BBNRGB, adjust the room temperature, and open a personal envelope from the kennel club, containing three meal vouchers. One for tonight’s dinner and two for breakfast Saturday and Sunday morning, to be used in Oma’s Restaurant located in the Inn. Oma’s is packed with guests waiting in the hall when I approach. I opt for the Lorelei Lounge and Schnitzelbank Biergarten around the corner. A solo guitar player blasts an eclectic mix of songs from the stage area. Children in swim gear dance around. I snag the only remaining high top table in the bar area and immediately order a tall Hofbrau. I open the menu and in bold, extra-large type, I read---WORLD FAMOUS BAVARIAN FRANKENMUTH CHICKEN---The Chicken that Put Frankenmuth on the Map! I almost succumb to the temptation, but order the German Sampler Plate instead. Wiener Schnitzel, Jaeger Schnitzel, and Bratwurst are combined to give you a taste of Germany---served with potato cheese dumpling
and vegetable du jour. While waiting for my German Sampler Platter to be delivered by a young man in lederhosen, I become somewhat hesitant after reading that quesadilla, empanadas, and Thai Chili Shrimp are also offered on the menu, confusing and diluting the entire German-inspired, sno-globe, fairytale experience. Dinner proves to be good. The guitar-playing entertainment breaks into a medley of Barry Manilow tunes sending one particular gentleman at the bar into a whoop-hooting holler of a good time and sending me directly to bed. In preparation for bedtime, I methodically complete my nightly personal ritual, lock and chain the door, close the curtains, set DROID’S alarm, establish a reserve wake-up call and before turning out the various lights, take notice of a collection of numerous black and white framed photographs hanging on the wall, along with a type-written history of the Vietengruber family. The Veitengruber family would certainly be high in contention if a single family were to be chosen as having the largest number of descendants from an immigrant couple. The family name has been extended to eight generations of ancestors of Johann Michael Veitengruber and Anna Maria nee Auernhammer who arrived in Frankenmuth in 1846 – the year after the German colony was founded. The couple’s descendants are known to number more than 2,000 as of the year 2005. The Veitengrubers had a distinct advantage in establishing their enormous lineage in America. I continue to read and marvel at thought of the Veitengrubers making the long journey from Germany with six grown children between the ages of 10 and 22. Like myself, Johann George, the youngest of six Veitengruber children, never married (or never was allowed to marry) and never produced any children. Having established a common bond with young Johann George Veitengruber, I turn the lights out and go to bed.
S
aturday morning, in preparation for a full day of judging, I rise early and join my professional colleagues for breakfast in Oma’s restaurant. Fellow judges are scattered about. I join Mr.CHOWMAN, who is seated by himself, at a table for two---next to a booth of four honorable dog enthusiasts, two of whom are judges from England. Like any good American, I introduce myself and welcome our European Guests and judges to America. The irony of Europeans coming to the United States to stay in a German/Bavarian-inspired Disney World practically sends me off the cliff and I work extra hard to contain my laughter. MR.CHOWMAN fills me in all the latest details and I take note of the other colleagues who make up the judging panel--The lovely MS.GREATLEGS, MR.JTALL, MR. & MRS. BERNARD and the infamous MS.MMPOINTER. After breakfast, we arrange transport to the show site with MS.PATSY. One of the judges from England will be riding with me. MS.PATSY and I click immediately. Within minutes, we are like a pair of long lost brothers and sisters. Upon our arrival, we are greeted by none other than Show Chairman, CURLYW, and his lovely wife CURLYL and other club members. I marvel at how
CURLYW and CURLYL, through hard work and dedication, have taken what was once a very small show and turned it around with entries over fifteen hundred dogs. The quality of the event is evident when I enter the ring to judge Saturday’s Best in Show winner. I would be proud to award the top prize to each one of the group winners. I narrow it down to the final two and choose the stunning Black Toy Poodle bitch for Best and a handsome Gordon Setter dog for Reserve, to whom I had the pleasure of awarding the National Specialty Best of Breed, two years ago. After Best in Show, the troops return to the Bavarian Inn Restaurant for the official club dinner. All of the judges, along with numerous club members, gather in a private room on the second floor of the vast restaurant. Using two large, linear table configurations, we dine German family style. I choose to sit next to CURLYL across from their good friend, MR.WEINER. MR. WEINER proves to be very entertaining---a man in his late forties, early fifties with two pet Dachshunds and no desire to show. “Oh, I also have two turtles, two Guinea Pigs, and Fish,” he adds, after I ask him what breed of dog he owns. DIRNDL arrives with a tall Hofbrau to quench my thirst. I listen as she takes each dinner order---WORLD FAMOUS CHICKEN takes control of the table with only MR.WEINER ordering fish. I am last to order. Succumbing to the mass pressure, I say: “I will also have your World Famous Chicken.” Numerous side dishes are delivered to the table prior to the World Famous Chicken. I wait in ever-escalating anticipation. “What does World Famous Chicken look like? What will it taste like? Will it leave me in culinary bliss?” I silently inquire, hoping my fairytale/ sno-globe dining experience with World Famous Chicken transports me back to Virginia, tomorrow, aboard a giant, billowy cloud. MS.GREATLEGS sits at another long table on the other side of the private dining room. She looks in my direction. I blow her a kiss wishing she was seated at our table. MS.GREATLEGS’ slight distraction forces me to reconnect and ask direct questions to MR.WEINER---in order to participate fully in the present table conversation. DIRNDL enters the room and begins to place dinner plates on the far end of the long table. I shutter with anticipation knowing, VERY soon… WORLD FAMOUS CHICKEN will be stimulating my every sense. I will smell it, look at, taste it, and fondle it between my fingers---thanks to Emily Post. MR.WEINER’s white fish is delivered first and then my WORLD FAMOUS CHICKEN. I take a moment to fully appreciate the experience---a round white dinner plate, two pieces of chicken ---dry in texture, with a light coating of some indeterminate kind, a scoop of mashed potatoes, a little round globe of what appears to be stuffing, and a bowl of plain brown gravy to be passed at the table. Side dishes include egg noodles and beans. After a few bites of the World Famous Chicken, I instantly conclude that the celebrity status is due to the stagelike atmosphere, the costumes, and the never-ending, very large glasses of good beer. All in all the evening is thoroughly enjoyable, and it is so nice to finish dinner at reasonable hour with the Bavarian Inn next door. MR.CHOWMAN and I do not wait for the shuttle and opt to walk across the covered bridge to the Bavarian Inn, conversing most of the way over the shared discovery of a mutual friend’s new Hollywood celebrity status, his new celebrity name, and his latest award winning accomplishments on screen. The hotel lobby and halls are once again filled with swimmers of all ages and numerous Dirndl’s and Leder-
hosen. I say goodnight and go directly to room 328 for a quick visit with Johann George Veitengruber’s image and a good night’s sleep. The BBNRGB is strategically placed on one of the two double beds, next to the window. I pack for tomorrow’s morning departure, leaving only bathroom essentials to add before closing and zipping. With one last glance towards the Veitengruber family, I set DROID’s alarm, establish the reserve wakeup call, turn off the lights and go to sleep. The first few hours I have difficulty settling down. I rise at 11:10 PM, use the bathroom, get a drink of water, and try to blame the WORLD FAMOUS CHICKEN for my anxious state. Sleep finally takes hold around 12:10. I toss and turn in my sleep, slipping in an out of various, not so pleasant dreams. At 3:09 AM, there is large thump between the bed and the wall; the distance only measuring twelve inches or so. I have managed to roll off the relatively high-stationed double bed and lodge myself between it and the wall. On my back, bare-assed I have wedged myself in tight. My left leg is extended underneath the bed. My right leg extends forward between the bed and the wall. I use my right hand and arm to free my neck and left arm from the tangled white top sheet that is strangling regions of my upper body and head. I take a moment to collect my thoughts, wake up, and assess the situation. It is dark and I can’t see a damn thing. Taking a deep breath, I try to relax my body, in an effort to pull my left leg free from under the bed, swing around while pressing my upper body against the wall, lift both heels onto the bed, and pull myself up by supporting my left side with the nightstand. One, two, three---I lift. Within a matter of seconds, I hear and feel a slight twinge/pull/tear/extreme pain in my left lower back. Son of a #$*(^$(*^$#, I scream to Johann George Veitengruber, wishing he would pop off the wall and make himself useful. In agonizing pain, I manage to roll onto my side and slide towards the foot of the bed, using my arms to pull myself up and onto the bed. Sixteen hundred milligrams of Ibuprofen are immediately ingested. I quietly pray to Jesus for relief. “If I had not eaten the WORLD FAMOUS CHICKEN, this would have never happened.” I attempt to justify my restless state of mind. The rest of the morning, I fail to acquire rest. I find myself drinking coffee at 5:00 AM and slowly crawling into the shower at 5:30. The morning ritual takes twice as long due to the pain. I find some comfort in the anti-inflammatory drug and manage to join the other judges at roughly 6:30 AM for breakfast in Oma’s. In an attempt to appear normal, I only accentuate the fact I am in pain. “Are you O.K?” MS.GREATLEGS asks with compassion in her voice. I share the eventful story, leaving the breakfast crowd concerned, empathetic, and laughing. “It so funny---I dreamed all night, too.” MS. GREATLEGS shares, while continuing to describe her bizarre dream in vivid details and color. “OMG! I had nightmares, too---all night.” MS.MMPOINTER proclaims, and she too shares with the breakfast club. MR&MRSBERNARD also provides details of their restless evening/morning events, leaving me certain that the WORLD FAMOUS CHICKEN is responsible. MR.CHOWMAN is the only one, who had been seated at the table who did not experience unrest and, one would have to determine if he ever actually went to bed. After breakfast, I slowly waddle back to room 328 for my BBNRGB, Man-bag and my coat. I check out of
the Bavarian Inn and crawl to the Impala. Attached to the driver’s side door is a white piece of paper, folded in half. I lift the paper and open it. I read aloud to all who can hear: “THE RAPTURE IS IMMINENT! You MUST Repent Every Day of Your Sins – You must mean it with all your heart! • No Sex Outside of Marriage. • No Addictions (smoking, pot, drugs, etc.) • No Pornography. • No Fighting, Anger, Dissensions or Hatred. • You MUST have forgiven EVERYONE. YOU MUST BE SIN FREE---PLEASE REPENT---TAKE NO CHANCES! Otherwise, YOU WILL BE LEFT BEHIND! A Massive Earthquake/Tsunami will Likely Precede the Rapture! California and New York will be Destroyed!! “What about Frankenmuth?” I ask myself. THIS IS IT! DON”T GET LEFT BEHIND! JESUS CHRIST is coming for a SPOTLESS BRIDE!” “Well, I guess that leaves me to burn in hell according to Pastor Harry Walther,” I declare while gingerly lowering myself down and into the driver’s seat. Impala arrives at the Expo Center and parks close to the entrance for my personal needs and comfort. Once again, the day proves to be exciting from the canine perspective and extremely challenging from the physical perspective. AKCSD offers a ramp for use in the AM and I refuse the kind gesture, choosing to handle the situation as best I can, relying on my upper-leg strength to do most of the work. My day starts out with Junior Showmanship and ends with the Sporting Group judging. The Gordon Setter, to whom I awarded Reserve Best in Show the evening before was defeated at the breed level, opening the door truly wide open to the other various breed winners. The eventual victor of the Sporting Group was my Best of Breed Golden Retriever from the classes. A stylish, dual-purpose dog. He took my breath away, and helped take my mind off my back pain. After photographs and a few small conversations, I bade farewell to all and departed for Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport. The drive back is not so easy. Left-lower back has a mind of its own, causing me to grit my teeth the entire way. Once back at the Enterprise Agency, I find relief in crawling from the car and from being in a sitting position. The shuttle ride from the rental agency proves to be sheer agony. I tip the driver extra money, for assisting my sorry ass off the bus, with BBNRGB deposited on the ground next to me. Delta Kiosk proves to be efficient and the ticket agent, once again, could not have been nicer. Security screening is a bear! In an attempt to take off and then put on my shoes again, I practically send TSA into complete turmoil---as they are unable to process my low moans and groans of pain. I am disappointed to learn my departing vehicle is not a BIG WHITE BILLOWY CLOUD, as promised by the Bavarian Inn---but yet, another fifty-passenger, tight-fitting, knee-kissing CRJ – 200LR aircraft. Seat 10B. I board the plane with other passengers in zone three. Thankful 10B is an aisle seat. I mentally prepare myself for the uncomfortable journey to the Old South. No fairly tales, no fantasy sno-globes, and no “cloud” transportation. Just a temporary bad back situation, good dog-show-weekend-memories and the promise of cooking some kick-ass Southern Fried Chicken for Big Michael, along with drinking some outstanding Bourbon upon my return home. Hallelujah! Amen Jesus! Dog News 91
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*The Dog News Top Ten List - Breed points
Dog News 93
b a bbling Remember Dolly?? Continued FROM page 30
I am a “propagandist” for all things natural- at least when it concerns our dogs. When distemper struck all those years ago, before a working vaccine had been developed, many big, successful breeders had most of their breeding stock wiped out. Of course a disaster, but I actually spoke with a couple of breeders who thought that was nature interfering to get rid of the weakest individuals before they were able to reproduce. I am for immunization- or we would never have inoculated any of our dogs against any possible disease, which is what we all do. Still, what impressed me with many of these breeders, were their motivation and dedication to carry on with what they were left with- and what some of them really achieved. Every kennel I visited during the first years of my many visit to the UK, fed “natural”! In other words, raw, uncooked meat or tripe mixed with some biscuit meal- added natural bone-meal and cod liver oil. Some of the old kennels used to feed their dogs by throwing in entire carcasses of rabbits or deer, arguing that if the dogs were fed an entire animal it would cover the entire register of nourishment, minerals and vitamins a dog needed. The dogs lived on straw- hay in some cases- and the floors covered in sawdust. If the kennels were ever cleaned properly (as we see it) it happened maybe once a year. I know some kennels used disinfectant in their outside runs to kill smell, but never inside. Most dogs never saw soap and water, they were cleaned with sawdust- and if necessary- chalk.(And of course – in some cases even flea-powder!!!) The dogs were growing up in a very natural environment and exposed to any bugs out there and were given the chance to create antibodies and build up their immune system! I believe that’s the way it had always been. A lot of breeders let their bitches whelp unsupervised in their kennels- and if the bitch rejected some of the puppies- so did the breeders. Never gave them any assistance to live on- as they believed the bitch knew there was something wrong, better than they did.
94 Dog News
A number of the most successful early dog breeders, were also seasoned stockmen, who without sentimentality got rid of any individual not living up to expectations. Although their actions-or just knowing what would happen to some of the youngsters that licked our faces during our visits- I think we all owe a lot to these people for the health of the current dog-population. BUT- I think there is a great risk that we today are in the process of wasting all the sacrifice, expense and suffering they endured by interfering too much in so many ways. Just a simple routine like breeding naturally is to me of great importance! As an example: We bred Greyhounds for many years. Supposedly one of the healthiest and soundest breeds of all. What was shocking to us was that so many males were uninterested and unable to breed a bitch!!! We avoided dogs like that as if they were the Plague! You breed from dogs that have all the characteristics you want and need- an important one of course being natural reproduction! Well, we tried to preserve the natural status of the breed, but far too many litters are produced by A1- so nobody knows if some of these dogs have any ability or interest in the “reproduction” procedure at all. Then into today’s picture comes the standard use of antibiotics before the bitch is mated, in some cases possibly required, but many seem to do this as a routine. What happened to naturally built up immune systems and creation of antibodies?? I believe a contributing factor to necessitate this overuse of medication is the often very sterile environment our dogs live in nowadays plus the clean “processed” food most of them eat. We had a spell in our lives where maybe due to factors mentioned above, we had a high percentage of puppies born seemingly healthy, but then fading away and dying within a week or so. Eventually each and every body were sent off to the lab for testing- and they all come back with the same diagnosis: Cause of death: Pneumonia! We knew this was not the answer, so we ordered the lab to create a vaccine from the bodies, which they did. In addition to abolish the use of disinfectants when cleaning the kennel and reverting to old fashioned “dirty” natural food like raw meat and tripe- the problem went away- and we could again look forward to each whelping with excitement instead of anxiety!
I have seen so many unpleasant indications that we are heading for a world where dog breeders more and more move away from the way things were supposed to be- and do stuff that in the long run will weaken most breeds- and breed from dogs and bitches who under natural circumstances would not even be alive. Sadly- I think the same is happening to the Human Race- but that subject is too loaded with so many different views that I dare hardly mention it. Think about it before it is too late! Without doubt, the progress and miracles created by our scientists within the medical sector is a blessing, we all should be grateful for- but if nature can handle some of these problems “without help”- why then interfere? It will surely be beneficial in the long run! -------------------Well then, a different perspective: the Human Beings? I think I am basically a Darwinist, believing things happened through evolution, but although I have not read about it for so many years- I think God created Man from soil (which I have always thought would have to be clay!). And what a masterpiece he created! Then he obviously came up with the idea that Man – in this case Adam- needed company and someone who could cook, clean and generally look after him. So he created Eve using a couple of his ribs to construct the framework. I think it is of importance here to stress that Adam had to sacrifice parts of his own body to make this possible. God most likely from the very beginning had plans to populate the Earth with his new “invention”- and obviously came up with the brilliant time- and clay- saving idea to create Adam and Eves bodies in such a way that they themselves could add to the population! We all guess- based on personal experiences- that Adam probably was more enthusiastic about the reproduction method than Eve- and I think it has remained like that, which is understandable -as after the creation of this new life, he was off the hook for the next 9 months or so. And this was the way life was. I will not dwell on the incident with the apple tree. Adams were served by Eves and apart from a few Queens who managed to
change the history a little- that’s how things were until the last century when women through action of the Suffragettes and organizations like Women’s Lib demanded more influence and power in the world. Names like Golda Meir, Indira Ghandi, Margaret Thatcher became prime ministers in different countries- and even in this country people talk about Hillary Clinton as our next president. Some Kennel Clubs, which were started for men only- were forced to include women as members. In effect the women don’t any longer accept that their mission is to serve the man. Maybe time for revenge after so many years in active service? The perspective is kinda scary- isn’t it? My reason for mentioning this problem: What if in the end cloning is developed to the point that MAN no longer is needed for the reproduction process, which in my humble opinion would give the women power to do whatever they like to us and the World! Instead of marrying and having husbands, they might start a breeding program totally without involving us- and following ideas from the old dog breeders and start breeding MEN, created for their own specific needs: Some for farm-work and herding sheep, some big and strong ones as guards, some elegant stylish, tall and long-legged ones to hunt wolves, some-probably flat-nosed to use as bouncers, for wrestling and boxing- and some lucky ones without any purpose in life- apart from being their “companions” and pets! Personally I think this should give today’s scientists food for thought – at least the males among them- and not let what they consider “progress” make us all surplus to requirement. Most financiers of these projects are also maleso I hope that they take the threat seriously and act accordingly. Well whether male or female I suppose you agree: An interesting and scary perspective!?? But whatever “they” (the opposite sex) plan to do to us- I certainly hope our sense of humor- however perverse and absurd it might seem- will never be affected!
Dog News 95
CARDI
96 Dog News
BACARDI
THANK YOU JUDGE MRS. MARILYN C. SPACHT
GCh. Hillock’s Bacardi, CD, RE, CGC, TDI
BEST IN SPECIALTY SHOW MULTIPLE GROUP PLACEMENTS Owners: Tammy Tomlinson and Dr. Charles and Dianne Ross
Handled By: Karen and Sam Mammano
Dog News 97
The Human Aspect of Junior Handling Continued FROM page 87
From among the 38 participants, we spoke to three – Naomi the winner, Simon Garesse the youngest, and Yael Davidovich, who has an interesting life story.
N
aomi van Mourik, 16, represented the Netherlands this year. This was her third time at Crufts although the previous years she represented another country, Romania.
Who taught you to handle dogs? “Well it was Liz Gonzalez who has helped me get to the point where I am now. She breeds and shows Dachshunds at shows all over the world. She also judges in competitions even as far as Australia and is very involved in the Gibraltar Kennel Club. Since I won the title of junior Gibraltar handler she has offered me lots of advice and help. Before I won the junior handling competition in Gibraltar it was one of my mum’s friends who is a dog handler and breeder who helped me by giving me advice. My parents do not breed dogs at the moment but we may be thinking of breeding our French bulldog.
How did you start out in junior handling? “When I was nine I began to take part in junior handling. I have many teachers, in particular Christen Lace from the Netherlands and Attila Schlosser from Hungary.”
How did you qualify for Crufts? “I qualified by winning the Gibraltar dog show junior handling competition. This is a very well attended show by many breeders in Europe.”
What brought about your win? “This time I won because of the dog. He was well trained and he connected with me well. I used to have a Basenji. The judge is from the USA so I took a short coated dog because the Americans groom long coated dogs different.”
What is your impression of the show? “I thought it was an extremely prestigious and well organized event. We were treated fantastically and it was a great experience. It was not what I expected because there was so much going on other than just the showing of dogs in the rings. All the events and shows in the big arena were amazing.”
Does your family breed and show dogs? “We show our Bull Mastiff and French Bulldogs. I show American , Cockers, Akitas and others. I like big dogs and feel better with them.” What does wining junior handling at Crufts mean to you? “I think Crufts is the most important junior handling competition like the champion of champions for junior handling.” Now that you have reached the peak, will you continue? “I may stop taking part in junior handling now, but I may change my mind.” Do you have any tips for next year’s competitors? “I would advise the girls and boys who come here to have a good time and relax. It’s a lot of fun and I have friends from previous years here.” What do you see yourself doing in the future? “I hope to be a professional handler and travel all over the world with my dogs.”
S
imon Garesse, 14, from Gibralta, was the youngest of the junior handlers this year.
When did you start participating in junior handling? “I started roughly around a year ago in junior handling and showing other dogs.”
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Did you make any friends from among the other junior handlers? “I made friends with all the other junior handlers. One of the first friends I met was Naomi from the Netherlands who ended up winning the competition. She was very friendly and staying in the hotel next door to mine. I also travelled in the flight with the Spanish representative Borja whom I had previously met in dog shows in Spain. All of them were very friendly and we keep in touch.” Do you think you will continue with junior handling and what do you see yourself doing in the future? “Yes, for sure. I love it and this experience has only served to make me do it more. I would love to handle dogs for others locally and abroad. Hopefully in the future I would love to have my own French bulldog kennel and even progress to judging at shows. I would like to be a lawyer and breed and show dogs in my spare time.” Perhaps the most unique of the national representatives at Crufts 2013 was Yael Davidovich from Israel. Yael, 16, is a black girl with a decidedly Polish last name. This is derived from her adoptive family, who took her and her older sister in at the age of 3 and 4, respectively. The Davidovich family, who at the time lived on a kibbutz in the Golan Heights, had two daughters of their own and later had another. A warm and open couple, they have done a wonderful job with the two additions, even though Yael was never very easy to get along with and hates school to the point of missing as much of it as she can. Nowadays, it is quite impossible to avoid noticing Yael, a tall, slim girl who puts together some outlandish outfits that display her personality. She makes friends very easily and even though her English is not fluent, she
makes up for it with her charm. However, she also tends to tantrums every once in a while and exhibits very selfish behaviour at times. Her contact with the family dogs and involvement in handling has been a huge stepping stone for this teenager who without dogs would probably have been much more troubled. What did representing Israel at Crufts mean to you? “Taking part in Crufts was a real experience for me. Ever since I began in junior handling when I was six, I dreamed of flying to England and representing Israel there some day. It was real fun.” How did you start out? The Ethiopians don’t really keep dogs? Were you afraid of dogs as a child? “As far as I remember, I didn’t grow up in an Ethiopian family. I know I was in an institution for children waiting for adoption and when I was three my sister and I were adopted by a family that loved dogs, and I began to love dogs then. I wasn’t afraid of dogs and even after I was bitten in the ear when I was five and had to be put in hospital for several days I didn’t care because I loved dogs and I will always love them!” When you moved in with the Davidovich family and lived on the kibbutz, did you feel different from the other children? “When I was little, I didn’t feel different, but when I began to go to school I did, because they kept laughing at me about being adopted and such things.” And how did you react to that? “I was hurt. When I was little, I would beat up the kids who laughed at me, and I wasn’t really good at school. When I was in 1st grade I would go to the kennel at Kibbutz Afikim (where my dad worked) several times a week to be with the dogs and chill out.” What is it about dogs that calms you down? “I don’t know, but they say dog is man’s best friend and I think it’s definitely true! They always calm me down and love me no matter what. Even when I was in pre-school, I used to drive to summer camp at the kibbutz Kennel. I wasn’t a good girl then but with the dogs I would always do what had to be done, until someone got on my nerves.” How did you start out in junior handling? “When I was little, I always went with my dad, who breeds Lhasa Apso, to dog shows. One day, I was about 6, we went to a show with my older sister Paz [one of the Davidovich biological children – YG] and I took part with our Pomeranian, Laila, and won! Because I was alone in my age group…”
Did the trophy you received make you want to continue? “I don’t remember anything, I was really young, but I think I liked it, because If I hadn’t liked it I wouldn’t have continued till now.” So did you start to train then? Dad and Paz tried to teach me but I didn’t really pay attention. They taught me everything I know.” When did you feel the urge to take part in shows in other countries? “It was always on my mind, but I really began to understand the fact that I was going to compete overseas when I was placed 3rd at the finals in 2009 and got the opportunity to represent Israel at the European Winner Show.” I remember we were there together and your behavior was quite problematic. Was it due to tension? “No, I behaved that way because that’s the way I behave. And I was there with older people, without anyone my age, so it was a bit hard on me.” What was it like, entering the main ring at the European Winner? “It was very exciting because it was my first time abroad and the show was so big. I met some of the children there, but I didn’t speak to them because I didn’t know enough English. But we got by somehow.” Do you make friends easily? “I usually get along well with people, but my real friends are in dogs.” Did junior handling give you motivation to do better at school? “Not really, but I did understand the need to learn English so I could get along with my friends. I started to learn on my own, my older sister helped me and I also studied a bit at school.” Correct me if I’m mistaken, but I think your best experience abroad was in Montenegro. “Yes! Wow, Montenegro was really, really, really fun.” The interesting thing in that trip was that Yael attracted an unusual amount of attention from the locals, who, it turns out, are not used to seeing people of African origin. They would ask Yael to take a picture with her and she lapped up the attention. In Montenegro, Yael also began to dress in a very unique fashion which complemented her overall look. “The attention I got there was really annoying. At first it was funny, but when they wanted to take my picture every 5 seconds, it became annoying.” I noticed you began to dress very creatively there, where did that come from? “I always dressed creatively, it’s not because of Montenegro. I wear the clothes I like. I also like to help others but not everyone likes my style.” Do you think you will be a fashion designer when you grow up? “I don’t know yet, but it could be cool. In the meantime, a Swiss breeder has asked me to come and work with her for a few months. I hope to learn more about showing, grooming, taking care of dogs, going to shows in Europe, getting to know new people and a new language. It’s real fun to have this opportunity.” So what are your hopes for the future? “I would like to be a handler, both in Israel and abroad. I really hope and want to get the chance to fly to America and learn from the professional handlers there.” Dog News 99
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Dog News 101
Gossip The
By Eugene Z. Zaphiris
Column
Congratulations to handlers SHELBY ROBERTS & LENNY BROWN on their recent engagement (heaven knows we waited long enough for it to happen). SHELBY’S parents ELLEN & DAVID ROBERTS are old and dear friends and I’m sure they are pleased to know their little girl is settling down. SHELBY and her brother CHRIS were both christened at at the WORLD DOG SHOW along with PETER our home many years ago and we have a GREEN, SCOTT KELLOGG, FRANK SABELLA special affection for the whole family. We and EDD BIVIN. This year’s world show deswish them all the best of luck and haptination is Budapest and they are expecting piness in the future. Another handling a large entry. The Memorial Weekend Clascouple, JODY PAQUETTE and LEONARDO sic dog shows in New Castle, Pennsylvania GARCINI, have just announced their enwill be held in the memory of the late TOM gagement to be married. Together as GLASSFORD. LUC BOILEAU has made a a couple for awhile, they have become quick and complete recovery from his recent a formidable pair in the show ring. I surgery and should be back judging shortly. can safely and happily say that JODY’S We were so saddened to hear that the stroke Canada & LEONARDO’S Mexico’s loss that BILL CUNNINGHAM suffered last week, is our gain…congratulations. The toproved to be fatal. He passed away at home tal amount of participating parent and and the services were held on Tuesday. Our regional specialty clubs is climbing deepest sympathies to his partner PHILIP quickly for the next MORRIS & ESSEX DAILEY. VIRGINIA JENNER, widow of the late KENNEL CLUB dog show. So far there are ED JENNER, has passed away at the age of 11 specialties and 28 supported entry 90. Services will be held in Lake Forest this breeds as of this writing. If your specialty week. Our deepest sympathies to their three club is interested in holding its event at sons BAKER, DANNY and KELLY and their this once every five year show, contact families. Sad news from England, with the specialty coordinator LORRAINE BISSO passing of TESSA GAINES, noted Brussels at 504.833.1780 or regel@bellsout.net. griffon breeder. Her Gaystock dogs were big RON MENAKER is off to Italy where he will winners and their pedigrees can be found judge this weekend. Home long enough around the world. to repack and return to Europe to judge 102 Dog News
The Multiple All Breed Best In Show & Multiple National Best In Specialty Show Winning
Bronze GCh. Pleasant Hill Magnum Of Samara Honey, it’s MY turn to drive...
Judge Mr. Thomas A. Kilcullen
Judge Mrs. Monica Canestrini
Four Herding Group Wins in Four Consecutive Shows Number One Canaan Dog Top Twenty Herding Dog *
Owned By Pamela Rosman and Richard Vulliet DVM Presented By Bruce and Tara Schultz Photo by InFocus by Miguel *The Dog News Top Ten List - All Breed **CC System
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K C I CL ld e fi g n i r p S Troy l Club Kenne OS BY PHOT HIRIS Z. ZAP E N E EUG
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LettersTo The Editor
Turmoil At ASPCA
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is in chaos because it can’t find a new leader to replace outgoing president Ed Sayres — despite the $555,824-a-year salary for the job. Sources tell us ASPCA board members, who include Yankees president Randy Levine, Broadway scion Jimmy Nederlander, Post columnist Cindy Adams, Arriana Boardman and Tracy Maitland, are frustrated with the slow progress in finding a new head after Sayres announced in July that he would step down and leave at the end of 2012. One source said, “Even after a seven-month search by recruitment agency Korn/Ferry, the board has not been able to appoint a new president because certain socialites, who spend all year worrying what they’ll wear to the ball, don’t agree with the business people on the board who want to get things done.” After certain board members blocked excellent potential candidates including Bill Thompson’s wife, Elsie McCabe Thompson, and Hearst publisher Valerie Salembier, the board is so divided, some key members are threatening to quit. We’re told Sayres was pushed out following a series of missteps including the ASPCA campaign against horses and carriages while supporting the Hampton Classic jumping horse show. Another source said, “Ed was pushed to resign. He wasn’t doing what needs to be done. Some of us on the board care only for animals, we are not interested in the social aspect. It is time to get someone to move the ASPCA forward in a modern world.” An ASPCA rep said that under Sayres, the organization has upped its “fight to end homelessness and cruelty toward animals, operating and funding some of the most effective welfare programs in the country . . . The ASPCA board is unified in its approach . . . to select the best new CEO. This process continues, and we won’t comment until it is complete.” Cindy Adams New York, NY 106 Dog News
Plaintiffs Must Pay Ringling Brothers
FELD Entertainment is a family-owned business that produces the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which brings joy to millions of children of all ages each year. It also brought a little justice to the nation’s courts. Feld defended itself against a lawsuit filed by animal rights groups and now stands to recover millions from those accusers for legal fees. The company said it has spent $20 million to defend itself. In 2000, several groups sued Feld under the Endangered Species Act, alleging that the circus mistreated Asian elephants. The plaintiffs included the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Animal Welfare Institute, the Fund for Animals, and Tom Rider, a former Ringling employee. In 2006, the Animal Protection Institute joined the plaintiffs. The case went to trial in 2009. Feld prevailed by showing that Rider was not a credible witness. “Rider’s claim that he received written reprimands from [Feld] for complaining about animal abuse was false; he received written reprimands for, e.g., missing work, insubordination, and drunk and disorderly conduct,” U.S. District Judge Emmett Sullivan wrote in dismissing the suit in 2009. The elephant trainer was “essentially a paid plaintiff and fact witness,” he said. The company filed suit against the ASPCA, the Humane Society of the United States, other animal rights activists and attorney Katherine Meyer of Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal. The ASPCA agreed in December to pay the company $9.3 million for its trouble. On Friday, Sullivan ruled the other animal rights groups will have to pay attorneys’ fees. He didn’t say how much. This is justice. The irony is that Ringling Brothers has probably done more to help the cause of Asian elephants than its accusers. It built a 200-acre Center for Elephant Conservation devoted to studying and caring for elephants. This lawsuit underscores the need for judicial reform. Getting justice in this case was a 13-year ordeal that cost $20 million. This is what U.S. companies are up against. Courtesy of Charlotte McGowan Newton, MA
Celebrate A Heroic Dog With An AKC Humane Fund Award For Canine Excellence
New York, NY – Heroes may not necessarily lend a helping hand – for some heroes, it’s a paw! To celebrate the life-changing and important ways that dogs impact our lives, the AKC Humane FundSM is once again seeking nominations for its AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). ACE nominations are open to all dogs. The submission deadline is June 1, 2013. Former ACE dogs have been awarded for everything from recovering $70,000,000 in drugs and drug-tainted cash to participating in “read-to-a-dog” programs at local libraries. Read more about the past ACE honorees here. “Dogs give of themselves generously to assist humans with many tasks and make our lives better, so we are pleased to recognize their unselfish contributions with the ACE,” said Lisa Peterson, AKC Spokesperson. “We encourage anyone who knows a canine hero to nominate them for the award so we can spotlight all the good things that dogs do!” The American Kennel Club will present an Award for Canine Excellence in each of the following six categories: Companion, Law Enforcement, Search and Rescue, Therapy and Service. The dog’s heroic acts can be large or seemingly small, but must have significantly benefited a community or individual. Honorable Mentions are awarded to outstanding entries in each category. Each of the five honorees will receive an engraved sterling silver medallion and an all-expenses-paid trip for dog and owner to Orlando, Fla., to be honored at the 13th annual AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in December 2013. A donation of $1,000 will also be made in each recipient’s name to a pet-related charity. The names of the five recipients will be added to the ACE plaque that is on permanent display in the AKC Humane Fund Library at AKC’s headquarters in New York City. Dogs receiving honorable mention will be awarded an engraved bronze medallion and all entrants will receive an ACE Certificate of Recognition in acknowledgement of their nomination. Anyone, including the dog’s owner or handler, may submit a nomination form. Submissions for the AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence for 2013 must include: • A non-returnable, original print or digital photograph of the dog. All digital photos must be larger than 1MB in size. The photo should feature solely the nominated dog. • A 500-word-or-less description of how the dog has demonstrated excellence. • Dog’s call name, breed, age and sex. • Owner’s/Nominator’s name(s), address and phone number. E-mail address if available. Nominations will be accepted by mail or email until June 1, 2013 and should be sent to: Taleen Terjanian: ACE Awards 2013 The AKC Humane Fund 260 Madison Avenue, 4th Floor New York, New York 10016 akchumanefund@akc.org For more information about the ACE awards or to download a nomination form visit http://www.akchumanefund.org or http:// www.akc.org/news/ace/.
Bravo,Bravo!
Judge Mrs. Anne Savory Bolus A Top 10* Beagle in limited showing, this young dog is making his mark! Owners Molly Martin Bill & Cecile Busch
Handler Connie Conger *All Systems
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K C I CL o e t a M n a S & Oaklalnudbs Kennel C
L N BEL
EGA S BY M O T O PH
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Dog News 109
Handler’s
Directory Safari Handling and Training LLC
Robert A. Fisher Kaki Fisher
All Breed Professional Dog Handlers
Kathy Eiler
614-352-5017 cell safarikathy@gmail.com
Professional Dog Handlers Frakari Kennels 194 Quivey Hill Road/P.O. Box 204 Middle Granville, NY 12849 518.642.9225 KNL • 440.813.6388 c 12.09 kakifisher@earthlink.net
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(email)
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40181 STANLEY LANE MECHANICSVILLE, MARYLAND 20659
LISA A. MILLER
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113 Capone Lane Saylorburg, PA 18353
Diana Wilson
Show Dogs Beautifully Presented
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Clint and Karen Livingston 1981 East 141 Avenue Brighton, Colorado 80602 210 865 8415 - Clint 210 865 2348 - Karen
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www.tiffanyknoxhandling.com All Breed Dog Handler 7.13
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Heritage Show dogs
Professional Handling
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MORETHAN A “FIREHOUSE ORNAMENT”
Continued FROM page 75
Maeve (Am/Can Ch CT Patch Mountain’s About Time Am/ Can CD RE AX NAJ NAP NJP VCD1 OAJ CGC), one of Linda McSherry’s Dalmatians is also one of three champion trackers bred by McSherry.
If McSherry finds an event that her Dals don’t enjoy, she simply doesn’t do it with them.
titles in several areas are really important for the breed. Dalmatians are smart, athletic, trainable, sound and have great endurance. There aren’t many horses and carriages to coach these days so it is important that we find ways to show the world just how talented this breed really is.” Road trials are a sport that is unique to the Dalmatian Club of America. One of the attributes of the breed, according to these fanciers, is its great endurance and the road trial program is designed to test that ability. “To do road trials, you have to have a horse, be able to ride and control your dog at the same time as well as be able to condition the dog for the distance of the trial,” said Pruyne. “The physical requirements these trials impose on you and the dog make for a challenge that only a small number can meet. Conditioning for these events requires many, many hours but it is so enjoyable that I hardly count it as training. Last year, Corey and I rode about 300 miles during the summer and while most of the rides were about an hour in length, several three to four hour rides were also part of the program. I try to trail ride several days a week except in the winter because here in Maine, that can be pretty uncomfortable. In order to be successful in road trials, the dogs have to be obedience trained, sound in both mind and body, hard conditioned and well mannered. This is a tough combination. Temperament and conformation flaws will not hold up to the long training and conditioning required to earn this difficult title but once you earn it, it is definitely worth all the effort necessary to achieve a road title because this is one of the tasks this breed was originally meant to do.”
O
ne problem that Wilson encountered working with his dogs in agility and obedience was that many instructors did not do well training breeds other than herding or sporting dogs. “Most of the dogs participating in agility are either herding or sporting dogs and have been bred to please their owners. Many of the training techniques in agility or obedience are designed to work best with a dog that wishes to please you first and then get their gratification from your response. Dalmatians, as protection dogs, first survey the situation and make a decision that it is safe to do what you are asking but they retain their vigilance throughout a training session particularly when learning something new. The problem arose with instructors
who treated all dogs as having the same internal motivation. With Sophie, my first obedience dog, this became such an issue that she hated going to class. It finally dawned on me that changing instructors might help. It was the right move as the change of methods and an acceptance by the new instructor that Dalmatians are not Goldens made all the difference with her. As with people, all breeds don’t learn alike so I had to find instructors who had experience with many different breeds from a wide variety of groups. I also try to train in a lot of different situations because the more familiar a Dalmatian is with a situation, the less the protection instinct kicks in and the better they do. One thing that has given us some problems is the lack of a long coat. In obedience, Golden Retrievers and Border Collies can hide some imperfections with their coats, an advantage that is not available to Dalmatians and other short-coated breeds. Also, with Dals, in agility, the ability to go long distances effortlessly came with a more rigid central body that makes sharp turns slow and wide. Someday I’d like to see how different breeds would do on a 100 obstacle agility course where endurance came into play.” When a dog indicates they are tired of an activity, McSherry tries a variety of techniques to rekindle their interest. “Usually a break will fix things because they really want to do stuff with you. Sometimes working another dog and letting them just watch is motivation enough. But, in the end, if there is an event that my dog doesn’t enjoy, they let me know and we don’t do it. I want the time I spend with my Dalmatians to be enjoyable for both of us.” One area that needs constant vigilance with the Dalmatian breed is overall breed health. “Probably the greatest challenge facing Dalmatian owners and breeders is improving health while maintaining sound temperaments and structure. We are fortunate in that the breed has a standard that is based on function. That said, we are still working to improve the temperament of the breed as a whole from what it degenerated to in the early 1990s when a re-release of 101 Dalmatians caused Dals to become a puppy mill commodity. Ethical breeders hearing test all puppies and do not place bilaterally deaf pups. They test and publish results from health screens and they are open to changing their practices as new research guides us to new policies. The breed will only prosper when we keep the whole dog in mind with every litter we breed. Breeding for sound structure and a desire to work and play can only improve the breed.” Dog News 111
112 Dog News
Dog News 113
Handler’s
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Guy H. Fisher
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5540 San Miguel Rd. Bonita, California 91902
Bruce: 951 314-8357 Tara: 951 515-0241
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Photos of Speedway Classic Concord, NC by Bob Busby
Continued FROM page 62
seeing me there as I had written I would not attend another show in Springfield so long as shows out of their territory were held there. Well never use the word never!! We had a dinner appointment nearby in the evening and since it was such a nice day decided to go to the dog show first. Turned out to be a rather pleasant surprise perhaps because it’s been so long since I was in Springfield at all. The venue was as clean as could be and the Eddie Lyons clean up crew did a great job keeping the place in good condition. Also the pots of red and white tulips on each judges tables added a nice spring touch and I had a good opportunity to renew acquaintances with a number of people I had not seen in quite a while, watched some interesting breed judging of Dobes and Havanese and in the latter case picked up some good pointers about the breed itself. We stayed for only three or four Groups and am told the Norfolk shown by Roxie Sutton was awarded Best. She looked particularly good that day in the terrier group so was not too surprised to have heard that result as well.
The failure of the Maryland State Legislature to pass and overturn the breed specific legislation now on its books was sad and disappointing considering how hard AKC’s Legislative Department and the dog clubs in Maryland through the Maryland Dog Federation worked to achieve its overturn. The original ruling issued in April 2012, declared all “pit bulls” as inherently dangerous and held landlords liable for any actions caused by these dogs on their properties. On reconsideration in August of ‘12 the Maryland Court of Appeals stated this ruling did not apply to mixed breeds. It is still unclear how the court defines a “purebred pit bull” unless of course one accepts the UKC as the arbiter in the matter. It was reported to us that the Arizona shows held this past week-end were virtually blown away by wind and sand storms but that the show committee managed to rent 16 golf carts and was transporting exhibitors to and fro throughout the windy stormy days. Dog News 115
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116 Dog News
HOT OFF THE PRESS... DOG NEWS columnist and international judge Andrew Brace has just published the third edition of his universally popular
ALL ROUNDER’S TEN YEAR DIARY PLANNER
The Diary Planner measures approximately 6 inches wide x 11 inches deep (15 x 28 cms) and, although it has a robust cover, is still slim enough to slip into any purse or briefcase. Covering 2014-2023 (one double page spread per year) with provision for future bookings up to 2028, the diary planner is invaluable for judges of all levels, show chairmen, stewards and kennel clubs; in fact anyone who needs to know what date falls on what day for the next ten years! Each year is displayed as a double-page spread with weekends shown in red whilst a separate double-page spread at the back of the diary enables you to keep track of all your individual breed assignments in your own country until 2023. The cost is US $30 inclusive of air mail postage and padded packing and payments can easily be made either via PayPal or by personal check. Payment via PayPal can simply be made to AndrewHBrace@aol.com and be sure to include your full postal address in the payment instructions.
Checks should be made payable to Andrew H. Brace and mailed to 30 Cefn Road, Blackwood, Gwent NP12 1QA, UK. These Diary Planners make perfect judges’ gifts so quantity discounts are available to kennel clubs and canine societies wishing to order TEN OR MORE – please contact Andrew Brace at AndrewHBrace@aol.com
Dog News 117
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