What advice would you have for anyone who is looking into owning a PWD?
Since our country is so big, there is a lot of diversity from region to region. I am so happy to see most of the exhibitors
Do your homework. Don't just look for a reputable breeder
in Ontario show in the traditional Lion Clip. In B.C. I see most
although that is important. Look into training. There are so
dogs in the Retriever Clip and some good dogs in the Lion Clip
many people who don't really understand the underlying prin-
are overlooked because they don't look like the majority (one
ciples of training and the amount of work and time needed to
of the Retriever Clip dogs was of my breeding too).
raise a puppy properly. Some breeders also don't really understand training and temperament development and I think that is dangerous when they try to place puppies in homes without knowing how to guide new puppy people so they are successful with their puppies. Too many people want to choose a puppy by color instead of temperament.
How do you see the future of this breed in Canada? I am really worried about this precious breed. There are breeders breeding for their own egos or for financial gain instead of the welfare of the breed. I wish everyone who bred did so for
I would love to see the PWDCC take seriously a code of ethics. I am surprised to hear some people breeding without the accepted health tests (GM1, OVC or OFA for hips, Optigen, and yearly CERF exams). How can this be good for the breed? The PWDCC is a great club and has come a long way. I hope they see the path of setting a standard for responsible ownership and responsible breeding. Then cross our collective fingers and hope that people will care enough about this breed to contribute to the welfare and not the downfall of this truly wonderful breed. It's in all our hands.
the welfare of the breed. That means they donate part of the
Thanks, Barb!
proceeds to health research, donate their time to raise litters
Eden Veres, Waterlog Editor
for research and are truly interested in furthering the welfare of the breed.
What do you think of the PWDCC now? I think as a club they are fantastic. I am really impressed with what the people in Ontario have done working wise with the breed. (I don't really know what is happening in the other provinces right now.) We have a group of dedicated owners who can hold their own in any Water Trial and have done well at American Specialties. They are an inspiration to the breed. I am also impressed with the fantastic improvement in the PWDCC magazine, The WaterLog. It is a great magazine. The website is fantastic too. The PWDCC has a lot of fresh blood which is also good for any breed. I wish there were more informational seminars given by people who really have been in the breed a long time and know what they are talking about – Conformation, Agility, breeding, positive training methods. I wish there were more breeder education seminars or that breeders could attend Judges’ Seminars. A great club will rally around education, in my opinion. It takes time and volunteers to do the work necessary for a club to provide education. We are lucky to have the PWDCA as an inspiration. They have more years experience, a greater population, and more money to research into health problems. I guess our club could raise money for research to donate to the PWDCA or the PWD Foundation, could openly publish and have the general public
Bogey today and bottom with Erin, enjoying the good life and a quiet retirement, keeping the youngsters in line at Barb’s.
aware of the need for rescue but the PWDCC is doing an excellent job on what they are doing and it takes time to develop these programs. 4
AUGUST 2005
www.pwdcc.org PWDCC Waterlog