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Fancy Talk
Interview with breeder Toni Saira from Finland Carte Truffe French Bulldogs
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Herpesvirus in dogs and the fading puppy syndrome Dr. W. Jean Dodds DVM
Fancy Judging
FBDCA 2018 Coverage National Specialty Week
74 Fancy Details 88 Fancy Health
Help!!! My puppy has a... FAQ about common (abnormal) findings in puppies 4
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Twenty Basic Breeding Principles By R Oppenheimer
f ancy beginnings
Hi, Frenchie Lovers! Welcome to another year of the Fancy! We are so excited for this year’s New York Metro Specialties, which always seems to kick off the show year for us, leading up to Westminster. We can’t wait to see some of the new puppies out there and also some Frenchies that we already know that are going to kick off their specials careers! We have prepared a lovely edition for you. We had a rough time at the FBDCA 2018 Specialty week due to having one of our Frenchies get severely sick during that week, so we were not able to post to our Facebook all of the results and pictures like we normally do. Thankfully, our Frenchie girl is fine now (it was a big scare but she bounced back after that week and we were blessed to count with amazing friends that were local to that area). So now we can finally share some of the pictures from that week that Armando Neto was kind enough to share with us! We also have two amazing health articles this issue. Lori Hunt writes about what 99% of us wants to know... A great FAQ for breeders! A must read for everyone, because from what we’ve all learned... You breed long enough and you WILL experience most things! Also a great “introductory” article on Herpesvirus in puppies by the legend Dr. Jean Dodds which is also a must read so you can learn how to see the signs and act quickly if (knock on wood) you ever experience this terrible disease. And, as always, some of the most prominent Frenchies of the world!
Don’t forget ot like us on Facebook and subscribe to our magazine in pring! Simply go to our website or email us and we will be more than happy to assist you. Our next edition will be a special PEDIGREE edition! We are excited to present this to you, so contact us about spots. The prices are unbelievable. See you in New York! Love from the Frenchie Fancy team.
Fernanda Barlow, Matthew Dover, Vivianne Hulsey The Frenchie Fancy Team
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Contributors Anne Hier Dr. Jean Dodds, DVM Dr. Lori Hunt, DVM Matthew Dover Photography Armando Neto Reddogfoto Svetlana Aleshina
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FANCY advertisers BRAZIL
GUIMARAES, Sergio & Monik (SM CHEROKEE) ............. 82, 83 SBAMPATO, Marlon (USHA KALA) ….............................. 48, 49 VISCARDI, Pietro (BRISE BENIE) …................................ 66, 67
CANADA
SHEN, Jay & Weiwei (BLUEMOUNT) …....................... 16, 17, 72 STJOHN, Shelley (ROBOBULL) ..................................…. 14, 15
CHINA
LUO, Viva (OVERTOP) .................................................... 18, 19
COLOMBIA
GALVIS, Jairo (VILLA GLORIA) ........................................... 90, 91
ITALY
CALABRESE, Daniele .................................................…. 33
MEXICO
KUCHEL, Erwin (KUVIBULL) …....................................... 90, 91
PERU
ROLANDO, Luis (RAMBALA) ........................................... 90, 91
PUERTO RICO
ARROBA, Arturo …............................................................... 70
UNITED STATES
BARLOW Fernanda (CARAMURU) …............................... 92, 93 BRANSCUM, Hillary …...................................................... 46 BROTT, Karen (CHAMBORD) ......................................... 26, 27 BUTTERFIELD, Shannon (FANTASIA) ….............................. 47 CATON, Joe (SAFARI) …............................................. 94--99 CRON, Donna (MATISSE) ................................... 36, 37, 97 DALTON, James (Fabelhaft) ........................... 2, 3, 14, 15, COVER DENNY, Nicole (PINNACLE) ............................................ 34, 35 DONDA, Christine ............................................................ 95 DOWNS, Tonya (EMPIRE) .............................................. 80, 81 ECARIUS, Debra (SUIRAC) .................................................. 62 FORGIONE, Karen (DIAMONE RIDGE) …............. 10, 11, 50, 51 HULSEY, Vivianne (VIXBULL) .................................... 44, 92, 93 HUMMEL, Jennifer, Aubrey & Michael (Mi’OUTLAW) …. 64, 65 HUNT, Lori (ASSISI) ...................................................... 84, 85 JETER, Sharyn .......................................................... 86, 87 KLEIN, Mary (KANDU) ...............................................…. 8, 9 KOTT, Jody (GYPSY CANYON) ....................................... 44, 45 LENHERT, Toni …................................................................ 46 LEWIS, Michelle (2STARS) ….............................................. 7 MASSEY, David & Cindy (SANG REAL) ............. 52, 53 MILAM, Elizabeth & Jack (DE LA RIVE GAUCHE) ... 16, 17, 72, 73 MILLER, Stephen (PECHE MIGNON) …....................... 28-31 MULCHAHEY, Dr. Jeff & Melissa (ROSELANE) ….. 76, 77 MUSE, Kelli (CHER AMI) ….............................................. 63 MUSTO, Kathy (SAFARI) ….......................................... 94--99 NEWCOMB, Nancy (NEWCOMB) …................ 38, back cover PARSCHAUER, Lucy & Ken ....................................…. 96, 97 PATTON, Kevin (DAMARI) ........................................... 29--32 PAYSON, Perry (GOLDSHIELD) …......................... 46, 53, 70 PROPES, Pamela ….................................... 10, 11, 50, 51 RAY, Denice (URBANVENTURES) ...................................... 8, 9 SCHMIDTBAUER, James ............................................ 34, 35 SHAW, Patty Hearst (DIVA) ….................. 2, 3, 12, 13, COVER SHAW, Nancy (TEXAS STAR) .....................................…. 39 SINIBALDI, Gus (WINDSOR HILL) .....................…. 42, 43 SMITH, Becky (URBANVENTURES) .................................... 8, 9 SMITH, Robert (PECHE MIGNON) ............................ 28-31 SOSA, Patricia & Luis (BANDOG) .............................. 78,--81 TRAUFLER, Amy …..................................................... 96, 97 WALKER, Paula …........................................... 10, 11, 50, 51 WHITON, DAnn (CAROUSEL) ................................................. 32 WILLIAMS, Beth (BAYOU CITY) .......................................…. 69 WILLIAMS, Cheri & Davis (DARIMI) ....................................…. 70 WOLFINGER, Linda (LWOLFRANCH) …............................ 68
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FANCY TALK - NOORA & TONI SAIRA - CARTE TRUFFE FRENCH BULLDOGS
the ancy talk interview with noora & toni saira of carte truffe french BULLDOGS - FINLAND
How did you start with French Bulldogs, did you have another breed before Frenchies? Noora: I had been dreaming of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels due to the Swedish princess Victoria having one. Then I got a pug just before our first Frenchie in the late 80’s. Toni: I had always been involved with animals due to both my parents being from the countryside. Our dogs were hunting dogs. 20 frenchiefancy.com
What was your first Frenchie like? Noora got her first Frenchie Nasser from Mantymaki kennel in Finland at the end of the year 1994, just before we met. He was a nice small brindle boy who stole our hearts for the breed. Nasser was not a show star but he was the most wonderful pet.
FANCY TALK - CARTE TRUFFE FRENCH BULLDOGS
Did you have a mentor starting out? For our breeding we have had the most superb mentors – Steen Nielsen and Erik Kragh of French Affair’s Kennel in Denmark. We learned all the basics of breeding from them. Steen especially had a great impact in understanding what comes to selection of breeding dogs and combinations. After they were forced to stop breeding due to personal health issues, we promised to continue the breeding program we had created and started together. Other great mentors we have had are Mr Hans Lehtinen (he was a world famous judge), Mr Rainer Vuorinen (another world famous judge) & Mr Juha Kares (kennel Chic Choix). Additionally we have received plenty of support and help from breeder friends all over the world.
What are your thoughts on line breeding? What about repeating breedings? Line breeding is ok when it is done the smart way. When you are line breeding on long living healthy dogs then you are hopefully doubling up on good genes as well. Of course you lose something if you line breed all the time, or if your breedings have a high inbreeding percentage. Our criteria for inbreeding is 12.5%. Repeating the combination is also ok. We are not big fans of it, but we have done it a few times through the years when we have not been able to get good individuals for the next generation in the first litter.
What is your process to evaluate puppies as show prospects? When do you start looking at them and what do you look for? I (Toni) start evaluation from day one. I will evaluate them by hand to check bodies and main proportions. The next major step is the time when they are getting up on their feet. The most balanced ones are normally the first ones up. Then it is also the matter of temperament. The best show dogs are normally the most difficult ones to live with due to having a big ego and their own winner characters.
Of course the owner has to be the leader and there can be many great individuals in the same pack but true stars need their own attention and time. Due to this reason, we have a policy of certain age ranges (meaning never having too many dogs that are the same age). We do keep most of the dogs with us through their lives – just a few of them might move to our parents or friends after their show career, but they will still visit us regularly.
Do you think our breed is a “head” breed? Absolutely. Frenchies are a “head” breed but we can’t forget the rest of the dogs. It is very unfortunate when judges are seeing just the head and ignore the rest of the dog, especially when they can barely move and their body proportions or constructions are not healthy and not according to the standard. February 2019 21
FANCY TALK - NOORA & TONI SAIRA - CARTE TRUFFE FRENCH BULLDOGS
What has been the French Bulldog bred by you that has been closest to your ideal of type?
CARTE TRUFFE WICKED GAME
What is one trait that you simply cannot stand when you see in a French Bulldog, no matter how nice the rest of them are?
The closest dog until now is a young dog called “Fredde” – Carte Truffé Fame’n Fortune. He is living with our dear co-operative friend and breeder Mr Tobias Palmberg in Sweden. We have Fredde’s brother and sister here with us but Fredde is currently #1 dog ever bred by us. His litter mates are great too. He has all the qualifications we can ask for. Fredde was already 6 months old when he moved to Sweden but he was breaking all of the breed records from the puppy classes – 8 BEST IN SHOW placements in less than 3 months and 6 of them from all breed shows – before entering the official classes.
Actually there are a few details we are very strict about, but the biggest issue for us is general appearance – Frenchies shouldn’t be too slim and high in legs, neither too long or high in rear, which leads to an incorrect roach. The general appearance shall be of a strong and compact dog which should not be too short in body neither.
If you could breed to any dog, dead or alive, which one would you choose and why? We would pick the male that French Affair’s Kennel imported from The Netherlands – Mistral Hollande de l´Amabilité. He produced so many great long living dogs with different females, so we would like to line breed back to him as he is behind almost all of our most successful dogs.
CARTE TRUFFE FUNKY LADY
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FREDDE - CARTE TRUFFE FAME’N FORTUNE
FANCY TALK - CARTE TRUFFE FRENCH BULLDOGS
In your years of breeding, what has been your favorite litter that you have bred to date? Our favorite litter is our so called “P” litter out of Multi CH Carte Truffé Jewel Of The Crown & Multi CH & Multi Winner Tochka Pritjazheniya Varvara. The litter consisted of 5 puppies – 3 boys and 2 girls. The litter was a combination of two pied dogs and all the puppies are pied colored too. The most successful dog of this litter is: Carte Truffé Prince Coco Vialatte, with following titles won to date: C.I.B Champion International de Beauté NORD CH Nordic Champion FI CH Finnish Champion DK CH Danish Show Champion SE CH Swedish Show Champion NO CH Norwegian Show Champion EE CH Estonian Show Champion LV CH Latvian Show Champion LT CH Lithuanian Show Champion BALT CH Baltic Show Champion LT JCH Lithuanian Junior Show Champion EE JCH Estonian Junior Show Champion HeJW-13 Helsinki Junior Winner 2013 LTJW-14 Lithuanian Junior Winner 8.3.2014 EEW-14 Estonian Winner 31.5 -1.6.2014 FIW-14 Finnish Winner 2014 LTW-15 Lithuanian Winner 7.3.2015 SEW-15 Swedish Winner 3.-6.4.2015 EEW-15 Estonian Winner 30.-31.5.2015 HeW-15 Helsinki Winner 2015 SEW-16 Swedish Winner 3.-4.12.2016 EEW-17 Estonian Winner 3.-4.6.2017
CARTE TRUFFE PRINCE COCO VIALATTE (top and bottom)
All of the litter mates have done great by winning several BEST IN GROUP and BEST IN SHOW placements. Especially “Thamani” Carte Truffé Pardon My French of Kassinja, owned by Mrs Lori Thornhill, who is a record breaking dog in South-Africa by being runner-up in South-African SUPA7 competition, as well as being Frenchie of the year 2016 at the French Bulldog club of the Western Cape.
CARTE TRUFFE PARDON MY FRENCH OF KASSINJA - Thamani (top)
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FANCY TALK - NOORA & TONI SAIRA - CARTE TRUFFE FRENCH BULLDOGS
When you choose a breeding, do you put more emphasis on type or on pedigree? Both – the pedigree should be “full” of correct type and healthy dogs without being too linebred. Of course the breeder shall understand the pedigrees and the expected results when doing combinations of certain lines.
In your opinion, what should breeders from your country be working on to improve the breed?
ASTRID AND HECTOR
In Finland many serious breeders are doing great work for the breed. The breeders in Finland are doing a great amount of health testing voluntarily nowadays. The thing that should be improved according to my opinion is understanding of the general construction of the dog, meaning the purpose of ribcage vs front movement, etc. You can’t improve anything without understanding the root cause for certain issues.
Do you aspire to judge French Bulldogs? Yes I (Toni) do. I have passed all the required courses for this some years ago, but in Finland it is extremely hard to get the official judging license. Only 20 people every 4 years can be selected to train for judging after hard tests – written exams as well as a judging test where you have to evaluate 8-10 different breeds which are not known in advance, and write critiques in a limited time. I have done unofficial judging assignments several times every year, and my final target is to get the official license one day.
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CARTE TRUFFE YOU’RE MY EVERYTHING
FANCY TALK - CARTE TRUFFE FRENCH BULLDOGS
What has been your most treasured achievement or win so far? We have had several great moments throughout the years, but the achievement I do appreciate the most is the Finnish Kennel Club breeder of the year competition, where we won the breed record in 12th place with breed record 163 points. In Finland the breeder class is an extremely tough competition and there might be close to 200 groups at a given time in the Best in Show final ring, and only four best groups with BIS placements get points. Each group consists of 4 individual dogs and they should be of the same type, size, color etc. to create the most harmonious appearance possible. Of course, the moment when I won our first BIS placement with a Frenchie from my own breeding in an all breed show with more than 3000 entries was a once in a lifetime feeling as well.
If you could give someone who is starting out in our breed today an advice, what would it be? Be patient, study pedigrees, talk to people and learn from an experienced breeder with quality breeding. They have done their studies and by learning from them you can avoid some of the biggest mistakes – hopefully.
CARTE TRUFFE - 5 GENERATIONS
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f ancy details HERPESVIRUS IN DOGS AND THE FADING PUPPY SYNDROME
article by DR. JEAN DODDS, DVM republished with permission from author
I
t is estimated that at least 70% of the canine population is infected with the canine herpesvirus (CHV) , which generally does not cause clinically significant illness. However, the mortality rate of newborn puppies – that acquire the disease – is estimated at 100%. Indeed, CHV rapidly invades the entire body, affecting all organs, the lymphatic system, eyes and central nervous system. This begets the question: how has the dog population survived after all of these years? Background Canine herpesvirus is an alpha-herpesvirus more closely related to feline herpesvirus, equine herpesvirus-1, pseudorabies virus and human varicella-zoster virus than to other herpesviruses. It is found worldwide in domestic and wild dogs, but not in other species. Seropositivity rates of more than 30% are commonly seen, although some infected dog kennels have antibody prevalence rates as high as 100%, yet without any evidence of disease in infected puppies. Transmission is by direct contact with infectious body fluids, since CHV is unstable in the environment. Like other herpesviruses, it becomes latent after a primary infection and is shed periodically, primarily in nasal or rarely in genital secretions. The disease is usually asymptomatic in puppies exposed to CHV after 1-2 weeks of age. However, CHV infection is generally fatal in neonatal pups (1-4 weeks old) that lack maternal immunity. These pups may be infected during passage through their infected dam’s birth canal or, more commonly, by contact with oronasal secretions of the dam or other dogs in the kennel or home. Infected littermates, or neighboring dogs that are shedding virus, also can be sources of infection. The incubation period is about 6 - 10 days, and duration of illness in newborn pups is 1-3 days, with signs of anorexia, dyspnea, pain upon abdominal palpation, incoordination and a typical soft, yellow-green feces. There may be serous or hemorrhagic nasal discharge. Petechia (small pinpoint hemorrhages) are common on the mucous membranes, and thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) may occur. Rectal temperatures are usually not elevated. Occasionally, CHV may cause in utero infections that result in the death of fetuses or pups shortly after birth. The virus also has been isolated from dogs with vaginitis, conjunctivitis and respiratory illness. Asymptomatically dogs remain latently infected and virus can be excreted for about one week in nasal or genital secretions,
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A HEALTHY FRENCHIE LITTER
and, thereafter, at variable intervals for several months or even years. Recrudescence of latent virus may be provoked by stress (movement to new quarters, introduction of new dogs) or experimentally from use of immuno- suppressive drugs; the virus sheds for about one week. Once the virus enters a kennel, it generally spreads and causes asymptomatic infections, except in pregnant dams or very young pups from susceptible mothers. Such intermittent shedding assures the survival of CHV in the dog population and in breeding kennels. Development of CHV immunity in the form of neutralizing antibodies is transferred to pups via the placenta and colostrum.
Clinical CHV Disease and Recommendations Your first reaction to this scenario might be to remove the dog shedding the herpesvirus from your environment. Yes; this is advisable. The problem is though adult dogs shedding the virus do not exhibit any symptoms. Instead, we isolate the pregnant mother from all dogs three weeks before the litter’s birth to help prevent in utero infection. After the litter is born, we continue to isolate the puppies and the mother for another three weeks to prevent transmission via colostrum or close contact with other dogs. Herpesvirus survives in low body temperatures and does not do well in the environment. So, as a puppy ages, natural resistance to infection and the puppy’s ability to maintain a higher body temperature both increase. [Note: Do not expose puppies to dogs who have recently been vaccinated for parvovirus as the disease is shed through feces and urine.
PHOTO CREDIT - REDDOGFOTO
Clinical signs of canine herpesvirus if presented are: - Lethargy - Decreased suckling - Diarrhea - Nasal discharge - Conjunctivitis - Corneal edema - Red rash, rarely oral or genital vesicles - Soft, yellow-green feces - Notable absence of fever Remember, though, that herpesvirus is fast-acting so clinical signs may never present. In this instance, pet caregivers want to be on the defensive by acting preventatively. Not only should all caregivers isolate the litter and the possibly immunologically naïve mother from other dogs three weeks before and after birth, but also: 1. Alert your veterinarian about the upcoming litter. Let the clinic know if the pregnant mother has or has not been exposed to CHV. If you are unsure, admit her to your veterinarian when close to her due date for observation.
Prevention with Vaccine You might be thinking: how can puppies over the age of 3 weeks even be allowed exposure to other dogs without herpesvirus vaccination? Unlike distemper and parvovirus, no vaccine is available for CHV in the United States. Also unlike distemper or parvovirus, canine herpesvirus is fickle. An inactivated, subunit vaccine (Eurican Herpes 205, Merial Animal Health) has been available in Europe since 2003. As stated above It is not available in the Unites States. It consists of purified CHV glycoproteins in a mineral oil solvent. The vaccine is specifically indicated for mothers during pregnancy and two doses are given, first during estrus or early pregnancy and the second 1-2 weeks before the expected date of whelping. Although it has few undesirable effects, transient edema may occur at the injection site for up to one week. Presently, the value of this CHV vaccine in reducing neonatal puppy mortality is unknown. Please remember that you may not save the entire litter from canine herpesvirus. Pups that survive may have irreparable damage to some organs.
2. Purchase incubators and set the temperature at 95°F [35°C], 50% relative humidity.
W. Jean Dodds, DVM Hemopet / NutriScan 11561 Salinaz Avenue Garden Grove, CA 92843
3. Provide spotless hygiene.
REPUBLISHED WITH AUTHORIZATION FROM DR. W. JEAN DODDS.
Future Breeding and Treatment of Neonates The previously exposed or infected mother may be successfully bred and have future litters, as long as you skip the next estrous cycle and try again on the following one. In our experience, these females if bred again as advised here, can have healthy litters by: harvesting plasma at the time of the initial clinical infection from infected dams or kennel mates determined to have anti-CHV antibodies, taking the puppies by cesarean section, and giving them two doses of the plasma perinatally (orally) and then 5-7 days later (intraperitoneally). Such treatment is effective only if virus has not generalized. Once illness develops in pups, however, anti-CHV plasma therapy is ineffective.
REFERENCES Creevy, Kate E., DVM. “Overview of Canine Herpesviral Infection.” Merck Veterinary Manual, n.d. Web. 17 July 2017. http://www.merckvetmanual.com/generalized-conditions/canineherpesviral-infection/overview-of-canine-herpesviral-infection. Dodds, W. Jean, DVM. “Canine Neonatal Viral Diseases.” Antech News (2006): n. pag. Print.
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f ancy judging
FRENCH BULLDOG CLUB OF AMERICA NATIONAL SPECIALTY WEEK NOVEMBER 2018 - LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
articles by judges ANN HIER AND MATTHEW DOVER pictures by ARMANDO NETO exclusively for THE FRENCHIE FANCY
FBDCA NATIONAL SPECIALTY 2018 JUDGED BY MRS. ANNE HIER
I
was honored to judge the 2019 FBDCA National Specialty show with a spectacular entry of over 300. I would like to first give my opinion of the current state of the breed based upon the dogs I judged. I acquired my first Frenchie back in 1984 from the late Dr. Richard Meen. That year there were only 124 registered with AKC. As you can imagine, the breed has certainly come a long way, in both quantity and quality. When I was active in the breed I was also the FBDCA Judges Education Chair and AKC Gazette columnist for several years. I previously judged the FBDCA National in 2001 and I still have in my mind’s eye my BOB winner, the Italian import, Ch. Obsession Dell’Akiris. She was truly an exceptional specimen with a large square head, excellent mouth and jaw, correct ears, dark eyes, correct body proportion, excellent bone, feet, rib spring, and good movement. So, what about now? Overall, I would say the majority of the dogs in the ring had very good bone and feet. We no longer see the crooked, spindly fronts, or splayed feet. Overall, movement has improved, although more than a few I judged were paddling. The majority of the entry had very well-rounded ribs which had been a problem for a long time with dogs not having enough front rib. I was very pleased that with few exceptions the ears and ear sets were correct, with good length, rounded tops, and well carried. Most dogs were of correct body proportion – that is – compact with enough length that there is less worry about hemivertebrae (although, I realize that takes a medical diagnosis), and able to move freely. Now, the flip side. Personally, I thought a fair number of heads were disappointing. The head has to be balanced and square with a broad, not narrow, muzzle. A few were nosey and downfaced. Bites were all over the place on many with misaligned and/or small teeth, and some barely undershot. When I look in the mouth, however, it is for more than the bite. The underjaw is a distinguishing feature of the breed with 5 areas of consideration – “deep, square, broad, undershot, and well turned up.” Without the proper turnup, the entire expression of the dog is changed.
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From a health standpoint, I must say I have never gone over so many dogs with pinched nostrils. This has been going on for generations. But sooner, rather than later, it needs to be addressed and corrected. “Nostrils broad.” Additionally, it would appear that tails of more than one vertebra in length have all but disappeared. This was the first national judged under the new revised breed standard. Unfortunately, I believe the chickens will come home to roost with the change, “Lighter brown colored eyes are acceptable but not desirable.” Previously, lighter colored eyes were restricted to only the lighter colored dogs. Now it applies to all. I saw way too many light eyes in all colors, including brindles. Further, it is now left up to the judge to subjectively determine what “lighter brown” really means, while the initial statement of “dark, brown or approaching black in color,” leaves no room for doubt. Light eyes really make for a harsh expression, and good luck trying to breed that out. The big problem is that at all-breed shows in lesser competition, light eyes will not come into play in many decisions. But, believe me, in national competition where all the dogs were of quality, it was a deciding factor for placements with me. “Acceptable but not desirable” is not a recommendation to persist with light eyes, especially in the brindles. Hoping to end on a more positive note, one must take my comments above as coming from a breeder’s perspective. I believe the vast majority of the class dogs that were in the ring at the national specialty will have little difficulty finishing their championships. As a result, with such a large entry, I had enough dogs in the ring that I could focus on finer details of comparison. This meant that a lot of otherwise worthy dogs were out of the ribbons. But, on the other hand, that type of judging is so much more fun for the judge. And I did have a lot fun judging the show. It goes without saying that all the top winners were of correct type, balance, and expression.
FBDCA NATIONAL SPECIALTY 2018 RESULTS WD – 12 to 18. Vixbull Carbon Copy for Gypsy Canyon There is size variation in Frenchies and as long as they are within the weight limits that is all one has to be concerned about. This dog was well-balanced with a large, square head and had the best topline in the entire show – a correct roached back – which the revised standard now lists as one of the hallmarks of the breed. RWD – Bred-by-Exhibitor. Myshadow’s Metalica
Best of Breed
GCHP CH Iacta Alea Est de la Bête
Best of Opposite Sex
GCHS CH Matisse Razzmatazz
Best of Winners - Winners Bitch
Beautifully balanced dog with no exaggerations. Correctly shaped head with good ear set and placement. Compact.
Highwood Fancy Pants at Fox Canyon BN CGC RN TKN, RATI
BW,WB. Open Brindle. Highwood Fancy Pants at Fox Canyon, BN CGC RN TKN, RATI
Vixbull Carbon Copy for Gypsy Canyon
The overall bitch quality was very high. Both my WB and RWB were very close in quality and balance but WB had correct width of her front assembly, moved better in front, and was a bit more compact, with good spring of rib, and a feminine expression. I was pleased when I saw the catalog later to see that WB has numerous performance titles.
GCHG GCHG Chambord’s I’ll Not Be A Gentleman CGC
RWB – Open Brindle. Liburnium Diamond This bitch had the best mouth in the show. Beautiful placement of teeth and the lower incisors evenly placed on a broad, well-turned up underjaw. People accuse me of being a tooth fairy, but this is a very important feature of which breeders do not pay enough attention, in my opinion. Correct mouths also are an indicator of correct jaw formation. Unfortunately, her handler did her no favors by moving her too fast on a tight lead, despite my request to do otherwise, making it rather difficult to assess her true movement. When you realize how close I thought the two top class bitches were in quality, these things make a difference in national competition and it is not fair to the other exhibitors for the judge to repeatedly give handling instructions to justify putting one dog up over the other. BOB – GCH Iacta Alea Est De La Bete I put this bitch up several years ago at the specialty in NYC and she has aged well and is still competitive. This is a feminine bitch with correct structure and bone and a lovely expression. Ticks off all the boxes for correct proportions, ear set and carriage, square head, and good topline. BOS – GCH Matisse Razzmatazz My experience has been that a lot of black-masked fawns (actually, this dog is a red with a black mask), have a tendency to coarser heads. However, this dog has a lovely, masculine head without being overdone, dark eyes, correct ear set and carriage and beautiful expression. Good bone and feet with a correct front, good spring of rib, and overall a very pleasing package.
Winners Dog Select Dog
Select Bitch
GCH CH Lionheart’s Fortune Thank You Ma’am!
Awards of Merit GCHS Shady Harbor’s Mafia Princess CGC CH Crestagard’s Tattletail Mae GCH CH Trilogy’s Slight of Hand CH Goldshield’s Good Fortune of Mystik CH T and R’s Titan Slayer at the Circus
Best Bred By Exhibitor Epic’s Homewood Walk of Shame!
Best Veteran
GCHP CH JCRV-Klasse Warrior Raising The Banner
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weepstakes at a National is specifically designed to showcase and recognize outstanding up and coming young dogs and puppies. The chance for breeders to give us a sneak peek to the “future” of our breed. It reveals the next few years of the dogs that will be representing our breed in rings across the country. As a dedicated and passionate breeder we all live for the day that our hard work and dedication is recognized by the fancy and the breed collectively trusts your eye and admires your opinion of the breed. Being voted by the members to judge Sweepstakes at our Breeds National Specialty was in part a culmination of so many years of my hard work. So to say it was an honor is a great understatement. The experience was just as I hoped it would be too! A record entry, and everyone showing up with their “A” game! I really expected there to be inexperienced puppies afraid of the lead and table, but everyones dogs were so well behaved and confident! It was a real pleasure to see the connection and love all the breeders had with their babies. As a lover of this breed, it was so heartwarming to see exhibitors so focused on their babies and making sure they had a good time. This my friends is what it’s all about.
FBDCA SWEEPSTAKES 2018 JUDGED BY MR MATTHEW DOVER RESULTS Best in Sweepstakes
Bluemount’s Sky’s The Limit De La Rive Gauche
Best of Opposite Sex in Sweepstakes Lexus De Couture
Right from the beginning I saw I had my work cut out for me. The greatest numbers and depth of quality were in the 6-9 puppy classes in both the dogs and the bitches. It was a real treat to have more than 20 young babies standing before me that I would have easily chosen from to take home with me. This is very important. To see that other breeders share your passion and are breeding to the standard and always improving on the previous generations stock. I would say that as a general rule I saw some very pretty faces, nice heads, good ears and shape. The heads had lovely lay back under jaw and large dark eyes. The ears still need some work on size overall but really most were set high on their head and were elongated with a round tip. Our silhouette is so signature to our breed that I was pleased to see so many exhibited with nice rise and a low tail set. While I did see some dogs with very nice bone, rib spring and good movement, these are the areas that I would say needed the most attention. The greatest opportunity was the larger framed exhibits being reedy and tall, not exhibiting good breed type with bone and substance. Several were more tubular and needed the evidence of pear shape. Lastly a lot of dogs did not move well. I saw a goodly amount that moved very closely in the front placing their foot in front of their chest rather than their shoulders, and converged in the rear or tossed the rear back and forth as they moved away. There is always an area of opportunity so I was happy to say that while there were some things for us all to work on, there were no real faults. A very pretty bunch!
My Best in Sweeps came from the puppy class. He was a stand out from the very beginning. It is always lovely to see a nice silhouette while standing still but this young dog had terrific self carriage as he moved about the ring. As bulldogs often people make excuses for our structure impeding us from being elegant and poetic in motion. There is proof though that a well built french bulldog carries itself effortlessly and all the while maintaining our signature shape. As a long time breeder any area of opportunity I saw in this young dog I expect to improve with age. So to say he was hard to fault is something I take great joy in. My best of opposite was more difficult as there were a few different bitches vying for this prestigious spot. In the end the overall package in quality and type and that something extra “asking for the win, secured her spot. A lovely dark bitch with large expressive eyes an a terrific conviction to her stance. She really embodied being both bully and elegant, which is something our breed should always attempt to do. I have been attending our breeds National since 2004 and I can say that the quality of the breed has increased every year with more sound and quality dogs, that we should be proud as a breed to have witnessed and made contribution to. After all our commitment to our beloved breed really is why we all do this crazy thing called... show!
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FBDCA TOP TWENTY 2018 RESULTS TOP TWENTY WINNER
GCHG CH Haloridge’s Crusin The Open Sea Judged By: Jon Cole – AKC Judge Carole Ash – Wild Card Judge Becky Smith – Breeder Judge
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FBDCA INDEPENDENT SPECIALTY 2018 JUDGED BY MRS RITA HOLLOWAY RESULTS Best of Breed
GCH CH Newcomb’s Matisse Custom Blend
Best of Opposite Sex
GCH CH Shady Harbor’s Made Man of Bella Ridge
Awards of Merit
GCHP CH Bella Ridge Imperiale Shady Harbor Mafia Campcovo GCH CH Diva’s Fabelhaft Cream Come True CH Apollo of Villa Gloria
Best of Winners & Winners Bitch Goldshield’s Premier of Mystik
Winners Dog
Shady Harbor’s On The Lamb
Select Dog T and R’S Klasse King of the Hill
Best Puppy Goldshield’s Premier of Mystik
Best Veteran
GCHP CH Bella Ridge Imperiale Shady Harbor Mafia Campcovo
Select Bitch
GCHS CH Shady Harbor’s Mafia Princess CGC
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f ancy details
TWENTY BASIC BREEDING PRINCIPLES
by RAYMOND H. OPPENHEIMER, reprinted with permission
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ou may have seen this being passed around online, or even reproduced in dog magazines from the 80’s. Every now and then, it resurfaces. This collection of thoughts, guidelines and advices by Bull Terrier breeder and legend Mr. Oppenheimer is a timeless piece, and as current today as the day it was written. 1. Don’t make use of indiscriminate outcrosses. A judicious outcross can be of great value, an injudicious one can produce an aggregation of every imaginable fault in the breed. 2. Don’t line breed just for the sake of line breeding. Line breeding with complementary types can bring great rewards; with unsuitable ones it will lead to immediate disaster. 3. Don’t take advice from people who have always been unsuccessful breeders. If their opinions were worth having they would have proved it by their successes. 4. Don’t believe the popular cliché about the brother or sister of the great champion being just as good to breed from. For every one that is, hundreds are not. It depends on the animal concerned. 5. Don’t credit your own dogs with virtues they don’t possess. Self-deceit is a stepping stone to failure. 6. Don’t breed from mediocrities; the absence of a fault does not in any way signify the presence of its corresponding virtue. 7. Don’t try to line breed to two dogs at the same time; you will end by line breeding to neither. 8. Don’t assess the worth of a stud dog by his inferior progeny. All stud dogs sire rubbish at times; what matters is how good their best efforts are. 9. Don’t allow personal feelings to influence your choice of a stud dog. The right dog for your bitch is the right dog, whoever owns it. 74 frenchiefancy.com
10. Don’t allow admiration of a stud dog to blind you to his faults. If you do you will soon be the victim of auto-intoxication. 11. Don’t mate together animals which share the same fault. You are asking for trouble if you do. 12. Don’t forget that it is the whole dog that counts. If you forget one virtue while searching for another you will pay for it. 13. Don’t search for the perfect dog as a mate for you bitch. The perfect dog (or bitch) doesn’t exist, never has and never will! 14. Don’t be frightened of breeding from animals that have obvious faults so long as they have compensating virtues. A lack of virtues is far the greatest fault of all. 15. Don’t mate together non-complementary types. An ability to recognize type at a glance is a breeder’s greatest gift; ask the successful breeders to explain this subject - there is no other way of learning. (I would define non-complimentary types as ones which have the same faults and lack the same virtues.) 16. Don’t forget the necessity to preserve head quality. It will vanish like a dream if you do. 17. Don’t forget that substance plus quality should be one of your aims. Any fool can breed one without the other! 18. Don’t forget that a great head plus soundness should be another of your aims. Many people can never breed either! 19. Don’t ever try to decry a great Bull Terrier. [or Frenchie!] A thing of beauty is not only a joy forever but a great Bull Terrier should be a source of aesthetic pride and pleasure to all true lovers of the breed. 20. Don’t be satisfied with anything but the best. The second best is never good enough.
All stud dogs are rubbish at times, what matters is how good their best efforts are.
The right dog for your bitch is the right dog, whoever owns it.
PHOTO CREDIT - REDDOGFOTO
A lack of virtues is far the greatest fault of all.
The absence of a fault does not in any way signify the presence of its corresponding virtue.
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f ancy health HELP!!! MY PUPPY HAS A...
FAQ ABOUT COMMON (ABNORMAL) FINDINGS IN PUPPIES
Written by LORI HUNT, DVM - Assisi French Bulldogs
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ore often than not, as breeders we have less than perfect puppies. These puppies may have small things that make them “pet quality” but do not affect their life at all. Often when explaining these imperfections to potential buyers, we can struggle. Potential new frenchie folks may balk at accepting a puppy with a a diagnosed condition that is unknown and scary to the average person. This is particularly true if they consult “Dr. Google”, “Dr. WorstCaseScenario” or “Dr. Overreaction”. As I am a Veterinarian who has hundreds of frenchie clients, as well as I am a breeder myself, I am often consulted when odd things pop up in litters. Hence, I thought I’d give everyone an unbiased reference to provide puppy buyers when these imperfections arise. These answers are based on my observations over twenty years in this breed, as both a breeder and vet. Below are a few of my most Frequently Asked Questions.
Q: “My vet examined my litter and one of the puppies has a small murmur. My vet called it a ‘puppy murmur’. Can I keep this puppy? Or how do I explain this finding to a buyer?”
On a personal note, when I’ve placed puppies with small murmurs, I tell the owners that if it’s still present at 18-24 months, I will pay for an echocardiogram. I’ve never had to do it as all have gone away. This promise makes all parties comfortable. When I’ve considered keeping a puppy with an innocent murmur, I have the same requirement of myself. If a murmur was still present then an echo would be done around a year old.
Q: “One of the puppies in my litter has a reducible inguinal hernia, how do I address this with the new owner?” Dr. Hunt: An inguinal hernia occurs when the opening
of the inguinal canal in the dog’s groin widens, allowing abdominal contents to bulge out of or pass through. I find this condition to be fairly common in Frenchies. Affecting approximately 5-10% of all frenchie puppies. In many cases, the hernia closes on its own with age. And in the cases where it doesn’t, in my experience, surgery is an option but not always necessary. In my years as a practicing veterinarian, I’ve seen many animals living with inguinal hernias their entire lives without issue. I’ve also known many bitches, with inguinal hernias, to carry multiple litters without issue.
Dr. Hunt: Puppy murmurs, aka innocent murmurs,
are a common finding in puppies, across all breeds. An innocent or physiologic heart murmur is a heart murmur that has no impact on the dog’s health. It is very common for young puppies to develop an innocent heart murmur while they are growing rapidly. The murmur may first appear at 6-8 weeks of age, and a puppy with an innocent heart murmur will usually outgrow it by about 4-5 months of age, but may take as long as 12-18 months. This type of murmur is benign. In general, a physiologic or innocent heart murmur will have a low intensity (usually Grade I-II out of VI), and does not cause any symptoms or clinical signs.
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In general, a physiologic or innocent heart murmur will have a low intensity (usually grade I-II out of VI), and does not cause any symptoms or clinical signs.
PHOTO CREDIT - SVETLANA ALESHINA
Q: “A puppy I’m looking to buy and add to my breeding program has a reducible umbilical hernia, should I pass on the puppy?”
Dr. Hunt: Umbilical hernias are VERY common in french
bulldogs. Sometimes they are genetic and sometimes caused during birth. It’s impossible to know which is the case. As a breeder, I would not be turned off by an umbilical hernia one bit. I would be considering the WHOLE dog. As a pet buyer, this is of a negligible consequence as well. Umbilical hernias may or may not need to be repaired. In a pet puppy, destined for spay or neuter, it can easily be done at the same time for a minimal extra cost. In show puppies, you may elect not to repair it, unless it becomes necessary due to the hernia losing reducibility or causing the pet discomfort. Strangulation of umbilical hernias occur in approximately 15-25% of the cases I’ve seen in french bulldogs.
Q: “A puppy in my current litter was found to have a dermoid cyst on its eye. What is this and how do I explain it to potential buyers?” Dr. Hunt: Ocular dermoids are simply normal tissue
growing in an abnormal place, in this case on your puppy’s cornea and/or conjunctiva. It sounds scary, but most often these go unnoticed and cause zero issues during the dog’s life. Exuberant surgeons may suggest removal, but in my opinion, removal should ONLY be considered if it’s causing pain, especially considering anesthesia risks in this breed. Personally, I’ve never seen one necessitate removal. The cause of ocular dermoids is unknown. They are congenital (meaning they are present at birth) but not considered hereditary by most sources. They are thought to be a gestational abnormality. In my opinion, this is likely to be a non issue for the dog and should not deter a person from purchasing a puppy.
Q: “One of my puppy owners has called me to say that the puppy I sold them has stenotic nares and needs surgery. My vet, who is familiar with Frenchies, thought they were particularly good and open for the breed. How do I explain this discrepancy to the puppy owner?” Dr. Hunt: Well let’s face it, what is wide open for a
frenchie is still not the nostril of a Labrador or German Shepherd so in some way, both veterinarians are correct. That being said, I only recommend airway surgeries for Frenchies when absolutely necessary... many other vets will recommend it for all Frenchies. I feel it’s important to keep an open line of communication with your puppy buyers so you can guide them in these situations. As an aside, many stenotic nares will widen with age and head growth.
My goal with these direct answers is to provide a common sense approach to these relatively benign, yet potentially scary conditions. Knowledge is power and many of these conditions may not be seen often by an individual breeder or an individual vet. However, other than stenotic nares, these issues are not unique to Frenchies. As a reproductive veterinarian I see these very commonly across many different breeds of dogs and have seen those same dogs grow old without consequence. If you have a question you would like me to address in a future FAQ edition, feel free to email me:
assisifrenchies@aol.com
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