The ShoGun Reporter Issue 2 Volume 5

Congratulations to Kathy Marshburn and CT ShoGun's Blaze of Glory Quigley on Quigley’s new Champion Tracker Title

Quigley Earns His Champion Tracker Title On Sunday, October 7, 2012 at the Denver Foothills Tracking Association test, Quigley, handled by his owner Cathy Marshburn, earned his VST title. Having previously earned his TD and TDX titles Quigley is now CT ShoGun’s Blaze of Glory Quigley.

Quigley is the 4th Clumber to achieve this title and he is the son of the first Champion Tracker Clumber CT CH Wicfair's Sir Cedric( who was also owned and handled by Kathy Marshburn). BIG Congratulations to Quigley's owners Kathy and Richard Marshburn and his breeder, Helen Marshall.

Birthday Greetings

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ShoGun's Little Dividend

Spencer

12/12/2005

ShoGun's Road Work Ahead

Detour

12/12/2005

ShoGun's The Good Doctor

Watson

12/12/2005

ShoGun's Duchess of Ipswich

Camilla

12/12/2005

ShoGun's Twice Spice Cottontail

Cotton

12/12/2005

ShoGun's Lydia Ladybug

Lydia

12/12/2008

ShoGun's Winchester Model 12

Wink

12/12/2008

ShoGun's Absolutely Jasmine

Jasmine

12/12/2008

ShoGun's Too Hot To Trot

Trotter

12/12/2008

ShoGun's Im It N Thats That

Emmet

12/12/2008

ShoGun's the Bee's Knees at One Ash

Bee

12/12/2008

ShoGun's Double Your Fun

Buddy

12/22/2008

ShoGun's Playing Double Solitaire With Nexus

Twoey

12/22/2008

ShoGun's Ooh La La

Lana

1/4/2006

ShoGun's Danny Boy

Danny

1/4/2006

ShoGun's Going My Way

Crosby

1/4/2008

ShoGun's Blue Dahlia

Dahlia

1/4/2008

ShoGun's High Society

Gracie

1/4/2008

ShoGun's Outlaw Josie Wales

Josie

1/4/2008

ShoGun's Ninjas Love Noodles

Noodle

1/4/2008

ShoGun's Charlie Wilson's War

Wilson

1/4/2008

ShoGun's White Poplar

Iris

1/18/2012

ShoGun's Gunflint Trail

Flynn

1/18/2012

ShoGun's Pretty Woman

Vivian

1/18/2012

ShoGun's Gitchi-Gami Trail

Gigi

1/18/2012

ShoGun's Honey Crisp

Izzy

1/18/2012

ShoGun's Northern Lights

Richard

1/18/2012

ShoGun's Stella D'oro

Stella

1/31/2011

Charlotte, ShoGun's Count Your Blessings 10/14/12 We went in obedience this morning and Charlotte got her 4th leg with a 186! Her best performance yet. There was a male Bassett who fell in love with Charlotte and tried to leave the ring twice to get to her. Fortunately he got his head stuck in the fencing and we were saved. He was supposed to do his stays next to us , but his owner had the graciousness and wisdom to pull him before it got ugly.

10/21/12 Charlotte loves to play with my golden puppy, Buffy. She even lets Buffy win occasionally.

Charlotte again went with me to the local fall festival to demonstrate how to use the rehab equipment. She not only enjoyed the physioball but also enjoyed all the people who rubbed her belly. She made lots of friends, including a corgi who was on wheels. Charlotte sends hugs and licks. and her best wiggles to you and Otto.

10/28/12 It is exciting that Charlotte now has both her majors and only needs 5 more points. We are prepared for Sandy all except for a one puppy litter that has not been born. The bitch belongs to my house mate and she cannot drive in the rain so I am driving both of them to the vet's in the morning and then home at noon. and Then I get to go back to the vet's for the rest of my shift. I am not excited about driving in this muck but I have 4 wheel drive and stick shift which other than those minor glitches we are ready for anything.

Take care. Charlotte , who was white until 2:30 this afternoon, sends her muddy kisses and wags.

Bernie, ShoGun's Ruff N Tumble Update We hope all is well with you. I wanted to give you a quick update on Bernie.

He just had his annual check up and is doing great. He weighs 67 pounds and is in really good shape. Other than his spider bite problem and eating some toy he had been a model citizen in the Hess house.

I have been working with him regularly on hunting and retrieving with scented dummies, bird wings and dead birds. He also has been hunting at Wild Wings game farm twice this year. I just took him to the Crandon area last weekend for three days of grouse hunting. He absolutely loves hunting and did a great job. He flushed a lot of grouse and made a great retrieve on a bird I shot at that I had no idea actually went down. Danny and I are taking Bernie up again this weekend for another hunt. I hope to get up at least one more time in November too.

The kids absolutely love him and he is the best family dog we could have hoped for. We definitely want to bring him for a visit, so Lisa and I will get back to you to see what your schedule looks like. We also saw the 2013 national specialty Clumber show is in your area next year. We are planning to go to the show to see all the dogs (hopefully you will have some dogs in the show) and I am going to try to swing by the hunt tests.

I'll send you some updated pictures if I can ever figure out how to get them from my camera to the e-mail, but he is still as cute as ever.

Dan Hess.

Here are two photos of Bernie hunting a few weeks ago. He did a really great job at flushing the birds and found this bird in the woods!

Bernie had a great time yesterday playing in a giant leaf pile with Katie (he loves the game where one of our kids hides and he is supposed to find them)

Editor’s note: Bernie has a new neighbor, Mabel, Valhalla's Meant To Be Me. Dam is CH ShoGun's Sierra Nevada Harvest. Sire is Emmet, GCH ShoGun's I'm it N Thats That JH RN. Her Breeders are Joanna Lee of Palmer, Alaska and Helen Marshall.

Bing, CH ShoGun's Blue of the Night JH is Four for Four Bing, handled by his owner Cathy Vinzant, in his first time appearing in a hunt test earned his first two Junior Hunter legs at the Fox River Field Spaniel Club hunt tests on 10/20/12 and 10/21/12.

On 11/10/12 and 11/11/12 at the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of America test in Heflin, Alabama Bing completed 2 more legs to earn his Junior Hunter title. He is in good company as two of his kennel mates, Zelda and Humphrey, hold Master Hunter titles with multiple legs towards their Grand Master titles. Congratulations to Cathy and Bing.

11/17/12 Bing’s OFA report just came in: Hips GOOD, elbows Normal Bing is out of CH Shogun's Going My Way (Crosby) and CH Shogun's Ooh-La-La (Lana).

We Have a New Canadian Champion Bee spent several weekends in Canada and on September 30, 2012 at the Pine River Kennel Club show earned her Canadian championship and is now Am/Can Ch Shogun's the Bees Knees at One Ash. Congratulations Bee and Kara.

Introducing Jewel, ShoGun's Platinum Cowgirl Say hello to Jewel our latest ShoGun addition. Jewel was born on September 14, 2012. Her Dam is Ch ShoGun's Alice Nimbletoes ( Alice ) and her Sire is Ch ShoGun's Kid Curry , Curry. Breeders: Britt Dalbec and Helen Marshall. You can see photos of Jewel in her gallery at http://www.pbase.com/owahl

Dori, CH Shogun’s Nileea Swingin' On A Star BN RE Update Dori got her Rally Excellent title at Sioux Empire Kennel Club, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Friday 10/26/2012.

Dori got her conformation Championship at Sioux Empire Kennel Club, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Saturday 10/27/2012.

Congratulations to Dori and to Susan Strinden Hall who has worked so diligently to achieve these titles.

A word of advice from Chris Saint Never use therapeutic laser if there is a chance there might be cancer as it stimulates cells it can set off cancer. Otherwise it is a great option especially for arthritis, and wound healing and other forms of pain and inflammation.. At our practice we do 10 -15 dogs a day with a few cats thrown in for good luck. There is a daily fight to use the laser next. ( Ed note: thanks for your warning)

Iris, ShoGuns White Poplar, Update All is well with Iris she was 10 months old on Saturday 11/18/12.

She is very happy,tail always wagging, and full of mischief. She loves to be outside and even likes to ride in the car to go to the grocery store. Tomorrow she will have her holiday bath and manicure. Iris watches TV with us every night in our family room.

The challenge is, she falls asleep around 7:00, but then she's up by 4:30 in the morning. She cries until we get up,which is now before 5:00 a.m. We hope this changes eventually. She is very talented walking on her hind paws!!! Iris greets us on her tip toes. She is in the kitchen with us, and likes to patrol the counter tops on her tip toes. She steals dish towels, and hopes someone will chase her! She is our only child, since everyone is grown, so she gets away with a lot. She entertains us every day.

Can’t Forget Emmet On October 14, 2012 Emmet earned his UKC Started Hunter Retriever title to add to his UKC CH title. That boy just keeps going.

Congratulations to Emmet and Gabe. Emmet’s AKC name is GCH ShoGun's Im It N Thats That JH RN

November 6, 2012 Dear CERF Breeder, As you probably already know, OFA’s new registry went live on November 1st. CERF is NOT affiliated with their new system, nor have we partnered with them or been acquired by OFA. There is no “transition plan” in place. CERF and OFA are two different systems, and we are now competing for your valued business. CERF will continue to operate independently as we have done in the past. We’re not planning on closing the doors anytime soon. We have the longest history and greatest experience with operating an established canine eye registration database.

That being said, I would once again like to make sure that you are aware of the deceptive practices that some people have been reporting to me. You still have the right to use a CERF form and submit your data to CERF, if you so choose. I sincerely hope that you continue to do so. If you sign an OFA “release form”, they will attempt to add your information into the new, unproven OFA registry. It will NOT be added to CERF if you sign this form. There is no “combined registry”. There is no “transition” from one registry to the other. CERF and OFA are two independent systems. I urge you to request an original CERF form, make your check payable to CERF, and avoid signing any type of “release form” from OFA. Thank you for your continued support of CERF. Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any concerns or suggestions.

Robert Malinowski, DVM, MA President, VMDB/CERF October 25, 2012 Dear CERF Breeder, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some updates on CERF. There seems to be a lot of misinformation floating around out there, so I’m hoping this letter will clarify a few things. Despite what you may be hearing, CERF is NOT going away, nor have we partnered with or been acquired by OFA. We are still an independent group, having the longest history and greatest experience with operating a canine eye registration database.

OFA is moving in their own direction, creating their own new registry that will be operational starting November 1st. CERF is not affiliated with this new system. You still have a choice! You can continue to request CERF examinations when making appointments with your ACVO Ophthalmologist. Utilizing CERF will guarantee that your data will be added to the largest, most established registry currently available. We need your help to ensure that this valuable resource doesn’t disappear.

Beware of deceptive practices! Signing a “release form” and making your check payable to someone other than CERF will add your data to the OFA registry. It will not be added to the CERF registry if you sign their release form. There is no “combined registry”. CERF and OFA are two independent systems.

I would certainly like to continue working with everyone that has supported CERF in the past as we navigate this complicated situation. I greatly appreciate everyone that continues to support CERF. Only through your continued efforts is CERF able to collect data and provide these valuable services. Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any concerns or suggestions.

Thank you for your continued support, Robert Malinowski, DVM, MA

The Dangers of Genetically Modified Ingredients in Pet Food http://tinyurl.com/b9vjp4a Story at-a-glance If you’re feeding your dog or cat a commercial pet food containing corn-based ingredients, chances are those ingredients are genetically modified. Over 60 percent of corn grown in the U.S. is genetically modified.

Studies of rats fed GM corn show evidence of severe kidney and liver disease, negative effects on the heart, spleen, and other organs, massive tumors, and premature death.

While the impact of GM foods on dogs and cats has not been scientifically studied, many scientists suspect these products have some common toxic effects and may cause disorders of the liver, pancreas and kidneys in humans and animals.

Dr. Michael W. Fox believes the high number of skin and food allergies, and other allergies associated with GI disorders in dogs and cats are caused or aggravated by novel proteins and other contaminants found in genetically modified crops.

Even conventionally grown corn is not a biologically appropriate food for dogs or cats. Both corn and soy products are linked to a wide variety of health problems in companion animals.

Why Do You Give Your Dog Toys?

Why do we give dogs toys? Well, because toys make them happy, of course! But they're also necessary for your dog's mental health, and that's why I want to talk about them today. What kind of toys does your dog like to play with? When I ask owners this question I usually get answers that are similar. That's because dogs have similar instincts and similar needs. Most dogs LOVE squeaker toys. But here's the question on most dog owners' minds: If my dog loves playing with squeaker toys so much, why does he destroy them in a matter of minutes?

That's a good question with an interesting answer.

This is a very frequent complaint. It's quite common for a dog to go after a squeaker toy like crazy until he finally "kills" it by ripping the squeaker out. The dog loves the toy - why would he destroy it and not be able to play with it anymore?

The truth is that this kind of play behavior is instinctual. "Killing" a squeaker toy is the dog's whole objective that's the real fun of it for them (although we might have a hard time seeing it this way.) And completing the mission is a very satisfying feat for your dog.

The squeaking noises remind your dog of the natural squeals and chirps made by live prey as they are caught, injured and killed. So the more the toy squeaks, the more excited your dog gets - and the more his instincts drive him to "finish the toy off", so to speak. Toys that squeak a lot can make your dog feel like an expert hunter, the king or queen of the pack. The process of ripping out a squeaker can be VERY satisfying to a dog, which is why squeaker toys are quite often a dog's favorite.

Keeping the Pounds Off Your Pooch Obesity is, pardon the pun, a big problem in America. And I don't just mean obesity in humans - I'm talking about dog obesity! It's estimated that a whopping 1 out of every 2 dogs in the United States is carrying around extra weight. I know I don't have to tell you that canine obesity can lead to health problems and discomfort for your dog. In order to accurately determine how your dog is affected, first you need to figure out how much (if any) weight your dog should lose. But sometimes it's not very easy to tell if a dog is obese. "He's just fluffy!" you might think. (I've also heard owners tell me their dogs are “big-boned” or “retaining water.”)

The surefire way to determine if your dog is obese is to ask a vet, but there is a quick check you can do to get a general idea. A pass of your hands over your dog's ribs and stomach can give you a lot of information about their current risk of obesity. A healthy dog's ribs are easy to feel individually, but they shouldn't be sticking out visibly.

His stomach should be slightly tucked in when viewed from the side. If you can't easily feel your dog's ribs, and if his stomach droops where his waist should be, your dog might be overweight.

If you find that your dog is overweight, there are a few things you can do to help him burn off the excess fat.

Increasing the amount of exercise in your dog's routine is one of the best ways to help drop those extra pounds.

This means taking him for a longer walk, out for runs, or even just playing for a longer period of time. I encourage finding a doggie park where he can run freely and unhindered by a leash.

A big part of keeping off weight is understanding how it got there in the first place. Sometimes weight gain can be caused by a drop in metabolism due to a surgery, medical procedure, or a separate health problem. If this is the case, your best course of action is to ask your vet for advice.

Increasing calories burned can help an obese dog but so can decreasing calories taken in. A major source of excess calories for many dogs is too many doggie treats or snacks of people food. Not only does human table food contain large amounts of calories, fat, and sugar, but regular consumption can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Speaking of deficiencies, it's imperative to ensure that your dog's food fulfills all of his or her nutritional needs. I can't stress this enough: check to make sure that the food you're giving your dog is high quality and contains no fillers. Fillers can cause a dog to eat more to get the right amount of nutrients from a meal, which in turn leads to weight problems.

However, the very best way to deal with dog obesity is to avoid it in the first place! A puppy's diet is critical in establishing and maintaining a healthy weight through their entire life. Feed your puppy a good, high quality puppy food to give him a healthy start for a happy life with you.

Don't let your dog become obese. Keep an eye on his diet to help him stay healthy and happy. And if your dog has put on a few too many pounds, don't worry - there are ways you can help.

Dr. Jon

Is Your Home Puppy-Ready?

Good pet owners do their research before adding a new furry family member. It's not uncommon for prospective puppy owners to ask me how they can be prepare for their new dog's arrival. After all, you baby-proof a house…why not puppy-proof it?. I usually direct the new owners to online resources (such as PetPlace). But just knowing is not enough! To do it right you'll need to do some physical work by making sure your home is ready for your new puppy before you bring him home.

Here are just three things you should do - or get - to make sure your home is ready for your new companion:

1. Puppy-proof the house. The first and most important thing that you will need to do is make your home safe for your puppy. This includes putting anything potentially harmful out of your dog's reach. Don't forget that even small dogs can jump or climb, and all it takes is one good kick to knock over items on pedestals or end tables. If you have plants at home, make sure they are safe for consumption. Any wires should be lifted off the ground, or hidden using “cord keepers.” Any household cleaners and other chemicals should be put away and even locked in a cabinet if possible.

Make your house safe from your puppy as well by putting away any items that you treasure. Things that are easily broken should be hidden, as well as any beloved toys or other items. If you would be sad to see something chewed, keep it somewhere safe. Puppies love to explore, so make sure you think of everything! I've known people who literally get down on all fours to see if they missed anything, from the puppy's perspective.

2. Make plans for a pet ID. Even if you plan on keeping your dog inside when not on walks, there is always the chance that your dog will get out or get lost. Just in case, you will need to make sure that your dog is properly identified. Many areas will bring untagged dogs to the local shelter if they are found outside so don't take th chance. Once you know the size of your puppy, get him a collar with your name, address, and phone number.

Some dog owners put their vet's phone number on the tag as well. Don't know your new dog's name yet? No problem—a tag without it will suffice for the time being, and replacements are inexpensive.

It's also recommended that you look into having your dog microchipped. The low-cost, nearly painless procedure ensures that your dog can be identified even if he or she loses his tags.

3. Buy pet supplies. You will want to already have everything ready for your new dog before he or she arrives home, so you can focus on playing rather than shopping. Buy a water and food bowl, a travel crate, and grooming supplies. You might also consider buying special cleaning supplies for the inevitable accidents, and an expandable baby gate to keep your puppy contained to a safe area when you can't watch him.

Give a lot of thought to what you will feed your puppy.

The three things I listed are only the start of the responsibilities related to life with a dog, but it's worth it. Your dog is sure to return your love for years to come.

Dr. Jon

How to Make Your Dog Happy in 3 Easy Steps Do you know what a bored dog looks like? They're likely pacing or panting, or maybe even be drooling and whining. But more often than not, you don't know that your dog is bored until you've left them alone for awhile.

That's when you come home to all kinds of things like shredded rolls of toilet paper and gnawed shoes. Most of my staff has stories about destruction caused by bored dogs. In fact, one of my staff has a dog who chewed clear through a door!

WOW...now that's a sign you can't ignore!

Bored dogs are unhappy. But more than that, bored dogs often use their energy in less than desirable ways. Think of it this way: if YOU were left all alone with nothing to do, how happy would you be? Providing your dog with toys is a valuable way to keep them happy and stimulated. When dogs are presented with a challenge or a puzzle, they are often less likely to bark or chew inappropriately. Dogs who have something to keep them busy are typically more enjoyable to be around, happier, and healthier in general. And no matter how sweet your dog is, we can all use a little help with behavioral issues sometimes.

Here are some ways you can challenge your dog and give their day a boost: 1. Play more often. When you tire your dog out they'll have less energy to burn in less desirable ways. It sounds simple, but if your schedule doesn't include daily playtime for your dog, try adding it in.

2. Find a game your dog loves. Dogs are like humans: they have their own favorites, likes, and dislikes. Not all dogs like the same games and toys. Try experimenting to see what gets them excited and playing.

3. Challenge them with a toy. If regular balls and bones aren't enough to keep your dog out of trouble, consider giving them a puzzle toy. While many toys are great for keeping dogs busy, sometimes your pup needs a little more stimulation or challenge. These can include toys that work like puzzles, float, or randomly dispense treats.

Dr. Jon P.S. - Stay safe with new toys. Never leave your dog alone with a toy where they can chew off parts and swallow them.

The Cha-Ching of the Ring I've just gotten a new puppy. Can someone tell me how to find a backer for him once he's finished? Thanks!" So read the post on a popular show dog list. The surprising part was that several people replied with advice, and not one said, "It doesn't work that way."

So how does it work? The majority of dogs being shown have no rich patron paying the bills, but the majority of dogs at the top of the charts either come from "old money" or they're beneficiaries of one or more newly named owners who provide the financial backing needed to compete at high levels.

"We once figured out that between entries, handling fees and travel expenses, the cost of campaigning a top dog for a year is higher than the average person's annual salary," says Desiree Livingston. Her husband, Brian, campaigned the Pharaoh Hound 'Qing' to the No. 2 Hound position in 2011, with expenses far exceeding several persons' annual salary. "If you want to place at the top of the group standings, these days you have to compete in 200 or more shows a year." That's out of reach for most owners. Desiree says dog shows have grown so competitive they're becoming a sponsored sport, comparing the situation to that of US Olympics teams that couldn't survive without sponsors.

Scott Sommer, whose Westminster BIS winners "Stump' the Sussex Spaniel and 'JR' the Bichon were sponsored

by Cecilia Ruggles (along with Beth Dowd for Stump), agrees, saying, "Dogs that compete at a top level need every dollar they can get." He points out that advertising is a major expense, and if the dog is taken to shows by itself rather than with the rest of the string, travel expenses can soar.

That's where sponsors come in. Anyone who watches Westminster or takes the time to read the owners of the top-ranked dogs has doubtless heard or seen their names, which include Patrick Allison, Ellen Charles, Kiki Courtelis, Beth Dowd, Dan and Carol Greenwald, Michael Jameson, Landon Jordon, Iris Love, Victor Malzoni, Sandra Middlebrooks, Jennifer Mosing, Dina Manship Planche, Cecilia Ruggles, Joe and Carla Sanchez, Ron Scott, John Shaw, Nancy Shaw, Mercedes Vila and even a collaboration known as Texas Top Dog LLC (actually Lori Darman, Kim Griffin and Barbara Weidner), among others. In the 1990s Sam and Marion Lawrence backed a top contender in almost every group. Even earlier, sponsors, such as Mrs. Cheever Porter, helped the careers of several top dogs, but never have sponsors seemed so prevalent — or so necessary.

Show Me the Money Let's address the question everyone whispers: How much does a backer typically spend? It depends. Dina Manship Planche, who sponsors several dogs shown by Lois DeMers, tries to keep it modest with "less than $5,000 a month." This figure doesn't sound so high until she adds, "per dog." She's aiming for a dog in each group. "It's not for the faint of checkbook!" she says.

The cost of sponsoring a top dog varies, but with fees, expenses and advertising, most handlers agree it can take from $200,000 to $500,000 a year to reach the top of the group. There are exceptions; sometimes it can be done for a lot less — and sometimes, a lot more.

Scott Sommer says there's no way to predict a budget ahead of time. A large part depends, for example, on whether the dog is flown or driven to shows, and that can be dictated by judging panels or what the competition is doing.

"I've had very few top-winning dogs where someone would say, 'We're almost No. 1, but we're not going to spend any more!'" he quips. "I've never shown a top-winning dog where I couldn't do whatever I wanted." Sommer says he usually decides where to go, but he doesn't abuse the privilege. If he's flying to a remote locale, for example, he always informs the sponsor of the ticket cost first.

Having a sponsor with resources can make travel significantly less stressful. Sommer recalls the time he missed a flight when showing JR. "I was stranded in this awful place for the next day, but then I see this guy holding a sign for me, and they'd arranged for me to take this tiny plane to the next town. It barely cleared the trees, but was better than being stuck! Of course, it got me to an even worse place!"

As for the rumors of private jets? They're true some of the time for some of the dogs. "Qing did have a jet available to him," says Desiree Livingston, explaining that in order to keep up with the competition for top hound, Qing couldn't just show locally. "Sometimes he flew in cargo commercially, but like most hounds, he didn't approve.

We didn't want to stress him out, and didn't want to go the fake service dog route. So out came the private jet!"

Desiree adds that eventually Qing didn't like to fly even in the private jet, so Brian often drove 13 to 15 hours instead.

Why? Why does anyone show dogs? To help a breed, to taste the thrill of victory, to show off a beautiful example of dogdom. As with dog show enthusiasts of more modest means, those who sponsor dogs have a variety of motivations.

Jennifer Mosing, for example, has sponsored many of the Livingstons' top dogs, including Qing, for the past 15 years. She started as a breeder, primarily of German Wirehaired Pointers. Brian showed her dogs for several years, but as she became more involved with other projects (including her heavy commitment to her horses, two of which were contenders for the US Olympic team), she bred less but still wanted to contribute to the sport.

Brian suggested she sponsor a dog and return it to its owner afterward, allowing her to remain active in the dog world without amassing a geriatric ward. She started with Sporting breeds (GWPs and Goldens), but that changed when Brian asked what her objectives were. "She wanted to make a difference and not stick to just the popular dogs," recalls Desiree, which led to an interest in rarer breeds.

For Sandra Middlebrooks, it started with a Border Terrier seven years ago. Its breeder/co-owner wanted it shown, and Erin Roberts showed it to a group placement, then to first AOM at AKC/Eukanuba, at which point Erin asked how serious Sandra wanted to get. Apparently, very serious: Sandra hired a plane and flew her dog to every show to meet Erin. Her first show dog won three BIS. Middlebrooks sponsored her first dog, 'Charmin' the Sealyham, five years ago, and has added several other noteworthy charges since, including the Pekingese 'Malachy.' "In five years, Sandra has won everything: BIS at Westminster, Eukanuba, Crufts, the World Show and Montgomery County," Roberts reports. But she is quick to point out that winning is not Middlebrooks' ultimate goal. "For Sandra, the No. 1 priority is keeping the dog healthy; No. 2 is having fun."

Roberts says another of her sponsors, Michael Jameson, M.D., backs dogs because it offers him a distraction from the harsh realities of his work as a nephrologist.

Dina Planche bought a Havanese for her daughter 10 years ago, and ended up training him in obedience and agility. She followed with another, but decided to finish him in the conformation ring as well even though her interest still lay mostly in performance. She was quickly hooked, and when that dog retired she decided to back another dog shown by her handler, Lois DeMers. DeMers now shows several dogs sponsored by Planche. "I get the enjoyment of having beautiful dogs," Planche explains, "and I get to see them and brush them. You have to be special for Lois to let you brush her dogs." Planche is a hands-on sponsor, often driving her motorhome to shows so she can root her dogs on, and maybe even get to brush one. She jokes: "If I was skinny and cute and smart, I'd be out there doing it myself. Well, I'm smart! And kind of cute."

Desiree Livingston points out that if you enter into an agreement with a sponsor, it's important to know their motivation and goals. "If the motivation is just to win, you're looking at a lot of pressure on the handler and dog." She recalls the last days of the 2011 race to top hound. With a few shows left, Qing still had a chance to overtake the Whippet. However, Qing and Brian were tired, and when it came time to make the flight to the next show, Mosing shocked everyone by telling him to come home instead. "Win or lose she is always going to place the well-being of handler and dog over the win," Desiree says. "Jennifer feels strongly that wins are great, but the experience is priceless. She said to Brian: 'You and Qing made history. You won 52 Bests in Show. Come home. Let's go to Disney World!' When Brian questioned all the money she'd lost, Jennifer replied, 'Quite frankly, I'm more ticked off at losing $5 in the drink machine outside!'"

The Fine Print With hundreds of thousands of dollars — not to mention a dog's well-being — on the line, you might expect there to be contracts with pages of clauses and contingencies. Generally, you'd be wrong. Although it varies from one sponsor or handler to the next, contracts overall are either verbal or short.

Erin Roberts says, "It's not about contracts; it's about honoring your word." She recalls her first backed dog, Johnny the Basenji, sponsored by Michael Jameson and Patrick Allison. They'd written a standard contract, and then Michael and Patrick took her shopping for a more suitable show wardrobe. "They bought me several thousand dollars worth of clothes," Roberts says. "When I got home and my husband saw what they'd done, he marked out all the Best in Show bonuses from the contract." Johnny went on to win 59 Best in Shows and four National Specialties, making Roberts' clothes possibly the most expensive dog-showing wardrobe ever. Since then Roberts prefers not to use contracts, relying instead on loyalty and a handshake. She says her sponsors are more like part of an extended family.

The agreement with the owner varies with the people involved. With Jennifer Mosing, she typically pays all expenses, including veterinary expenses and asks in return for the possibility of a puppy if one of her children wanted one. In one case, a Vizsla she was sponsoring developed pyometra. Despite spending several thousand dollars trying to save both her life and reproductive future, the bitch had to be spayed. "Jennifer called about her every day and felt so bad when she had to be spayed," Livingston recalls. "She tried to think of a way to make it up to her owner, and ended up offering the owner semen from a top Vizsla, but her owner had no need or room for a spayed bitch, and said she was going to place her. Jennifer got concerned for her welfare, and offered to keep her herself. She still has her living on her farm."

Planche also pays for everything when the dog is in her name. "At first I got the stud fees, but that turned out to be a hassle," she says. "I do ask to get a puppy back or stud service if I want one." She explains that it's the relationship that's more important for her.

Agreements depend heavily on what the original owner's concerns are. "Often the owners are worried about how the dog might be used at stud while in the backer's name," Sommer says. Such concerns are best addressed ahead of time. Stud fees may also prompt discussion. "Everything has to be upfront and honest," he says. "If everyone is going to be nickel and diming you to death it won't work. You either trust us or forget it."

Most agreements cover a one- to three-year period. Most often, they're a one- or two-year commitment with an option for an additional year. "We don't keep a dog out for more than two years because of the pace and schedule, as well as the need to be bred as in the case of a bitch," Livingston says.

At the end of the campaign, dogs typically return to their original owner, but not always. By mutual consent, Sommer still has Westminster BIS winners Stump and JR, aged 13 and 14 years respectively, as his personal dogs. ( Note: Stump has since died)

Backers-R-Us Many owners dream of their dog being "discovered" and sponsored, and for a very few, that dream comes true.

Chances are, contacting sponsors or even their handlers won't help owners attain that dream.

"We're sometimes approached by owners looking for a backer, and it can be a little uncomfortable because not everyone is prepared to hear assets and problems their dog has," Livingston says. "The best way to get noticed is to have your dog in pristine condition and show it. Show off its temperament and showmanship, its potential to keep showing after 200 shows. Show me a dog who loves it — one I can't keep my eyes off, and we will hopefully find it!"

"If you have a dog that is really good, word will get out, and somebody will find you," Sommer agrees. He cautions that finding a sponsor is only the first step. "Many people think that just because a dog has a backer it's going to win, but the dog plays a large role. You can have the greatest dog in the world, but it still has to click with the person to win. Not every dog can do this." He says that when he has a potential top dog, he takes it home for a month to see if it's happy and if it will work before committing to a campaign.

Owners who dream of securing a sponsor and showing the dog themselves are probably truly fantasizing. It's not impossible, but it's a long shot. Many sponsors prefer to work with one trusted handler; they either rely on that handler to find future stars or to contact owners who have dogs the sponsor has spotted. The handler has little motivation to find a dog for somebody else to show, and the sponsor runs the risk of entering into an agreement with all sorts of unknown variables. Although the owner-handler has the advantage of concentrating on one dog, knowing the breed and possibly being known in that breed, the professional handler has the advantage of face recognition and contacts at an all-breed level. If the goal is to be No. 1 in the breed, a sponsor could attain that goal by backing an owner-handler. If the goal is to be at the top of the group, the sheer number of shows required make that difficult for an amateur who may have other work commitments.

The Big Picture Sponsors can be controversial. If your dog has one, you probably think they're great. If your competition has one, you probably don't.

On the plus side, sponsors allow deserving dogs that might otherwise go unnoticed to make an impact on their breeds. They can bring rarer breeds to the forefront, increasing breed interest, and they help support many people associated with dog shows, including handlers, photographers and ad designers. Many also support causes, such as Take the Lead and the Canine Health Foundation.

On the minus side, they can discourage breed competition in their area, possibly enable a poor specimen to do better than it should and further the inflation of expenses needed to succeed in the sport.

Some individuals and even clubs aren't shy about voicing their displeasure with sponsors. "Jennifer's gotten hate mail from parent clubs and local clubs, claiming the dog she was sponsoring wasn't the best specimen of the breed," Livingston says.

Maybe that explains why most sponsors seem content to stay in the background. Try to get one to respond to an interview request (as, for example, for this article), and be prepared for the sound of crickets chirping in response.

Try to spot one at a show, and chances are they won't be in the win picture, and they won't be decked out in furs and jewels. They'll be the quiet ones in jeans and sneakers eating nachos, watching the groups and maybe whispering to their handler about your dog. They may command fortunes from real estate holdings, media empires or even a donut dynasty, but those who know them will tell you their real fortune is their friendship.

Could Your Pet Be Harboring This Miserable Little Parasite?

Story at-a-glance

Giardia infection is fairly common in pets – especially dogs. It is a zoonotic infection, meaning it can be passed between animals and humans. Animals that have been housed with lots of other animals are common carriers of the parasite.

The usual way a dog gets infected is by ingesting a giardia cyst contained in the feces of another animal.

Contaminated outdoor water is very often the source of infection, since the giardia parasite thrives in cool, damp environments.

Once inside your pet’s body, the cysts open and active forms of giardia attach to the walls of the intestine and begin to reproduce. Eventually some of these active forms build new cysts around themselves and pass from the pet’s body in feces and the cycle begins again.

Many pets with giardia have no symptoms. The most common symptom is diarrhea, which can be acute or chronic. Left untreated, a giardia infection can cause serious GI inflammation, chronic diarrhea, malabsorption and other digestive issues, and weight loss.

Diagnosis of a giardia infection requires a special test that not every vet uses. Effective treatment of an infection requires thorough follow-up to insure the parasite has been completely cleared from your pet’s body. http://tinyurl.com/7k2cl9b

The Critical Details of a Physical Exam March 26, 2012 Posted by Shawn Finch, DVM in Health Do you ever wonder what goes into a wellness exam when you bring your dog to the veterinarian? I imagine it appears as though we pet your dog, listen to his heart for a moment and perform whatever vaccinations or other care he needs and move on. In actuality, much observation and interpretation goes into that examination that you and your pet may never realize. Until now that is…

I start by spending time talking with you, because…I like you, and I am honored you have brought your pet to me! I also need a thorough history on your dog – lifestyle, diet, exercise, housemates…anything that could help us both as a a team provide the best possible care. While we discuss your dog, I try to not make eye contact with him, cute as he is, and I get down on his level and allow him to greet me. Even if we know each other, but especially if we do not, these few moments are crucial in setting a positive and non-threatening tone for your dog.

Before the examination officially even starts, I am gauging his neurological and orthopedic status – how he sits, stands and walks and interacts with his environment.

I am gauging his mood and stress level. Will an exam be less scary on the floor or the table? Will it take more time to earn his trust? Do I need to be playful or gentle? Does he want to be talked to and doted on or does he want the visit over as quickly as possible?

Next, I will either sit with him on the floor or gently lift him onto the exam table.

I pet him from head to tail, feeling for healthy skin and coat, any bumps or painful areas or other abnormalities.

I check his body condition – whether he is an appropriate weight and how developed or atrophied his muscles are.

I feel over the neck, back, shoulders and hips – some of the more common areas for arthritis and injury. I am checking for pain and the ability to move well.

I pet his forehead back to check the whites of his eyes and pet his lips back to check his mouth.

I inspect all the teeth, feeling for tender areas, gauging the amount of tartar present, and looking for fractured teeth, discoloration or tooth root exposure. I examine the color of the gums and gently press them to see how quickly turn white and then turn back pink again and whether they are moist or dry. On a puppy, I check the progression of baby tooth development and replacement by adult teeth and check for a cleft palate.

I examine the rest of the face – Are the eyes clear? Is there ocular or nasal discharge? Can he breathe well through his nose? Is everything symmetrical?

I pet under the opening of both ears. If an ear infection is brewing or present, the vertical canal will almost always be tender. I turn the ear flaps inside out one at a time. I smell the ears and look for redness, discharge and excess hair. I look at the skin on the underside of the ear flap and feel if the flap itself is thicker than it should be.

I feel five paired sets of external lymph nodes, mainly to see if they are bigger than they should be. The ones I routinely check are under the jaw, in front of the shoulders, in the arm pits, in the inguinal area (on the inner side of the back legs near the abdomen) and behind the knees.

I feel the abdomen for abnormal lumps or pain. I gently lift and drop the skin over the scruff to check for adequate hydration.

On a puppy, I will check the belly button and inguinal area for hernias. On a boy puppy, I will check for the presence of one or both testicles in the scrotum.

I check the nails to make sure they are healthy and an appropriate length and check between the toes for moisture or redness.

I look at the tummy and armpits and groin area for redness or itchiness. I pet the fur “backwards” over the head and back and sides to look for parasites (fleas, ticks or lice) and any skin abnormalities.

I listen to the cranial and caudal lung fields on both sides. I count the breaths per minute and make sure the breathing is even and clear.

I listen to the heart on the right side and then the left side. I count the beats per minute and determine if the rhythm is normal or abnormal and if there is a murmur and if so, what kind of murmur and how pronounced on a scale of one to six.

Then I say “Your dog is perfect” or “Your dog is perfect, and I found these abnormalities that we should address…” and we go from there. If need be, I continue the examination, focusing on areas, ears, eyes, joints or whatever else, that need more attention. Only then will we take the next steps of any needed testing and treatment.

More and more, I have been trying to do examinations “out loud.” As your dog’s person, I think it is good to let you know what all goes into examining your friend. And I believe that in wellness, but even in disease, every detail of wellness – every positive exam finding – is a detail to be celebrated. ***********************************************************

Medical tests: when to accept, when to decline Medical tests are commonly recommended by vets, and it seems that pet owners may be confused by their purpose.

Are all those fancy tests just a big scam to pad the bill? Are all tests worth it? Should you say yes to everything?

Should you politely decline?

Let me begin by saying that vets are not exactly in the business of performing unnecessary tests. They're in the business of keeping your pet healthy, or of fixing your pet. There really are few useless tests. There are tests that help us find the diagnosis, and some that won't. As we say, which test to choose is a matter of indications. Let me take a silly example: if you want to know if a skin lump is cancerous, you wouldn't run a fecal parasite test.

This doesn't mean the fecal exam is a bad test, it just means the fecal is the wrong test for our specific purpose (the skin mass), so it would be the wrong indication. * Speaking of... Most vets recommend to run a fecal test once a year. The purpose is to look for parasite eggs to determine if your pet has worms, mostly GI, such as hookworms and tapeworms. Some vets have a nurse look at your pet's poop sample in-house, under the microscope. Other vets will send the sample to the lab, where is will be examined by a professional lab technician. Which option is better is subjective: you need to take into account the experience of the technician and the cost difference. If it doesn't cost much more to have the lab do it, it may make sense to choose that option. * Blood work is probably one of the most commonly performed tests. There are 3 main reasons to recommend blood work: 1. Screening your pet once or twice a year to make sure everything is OK inside. There are 2 main parts to this type of blood work.

A CBC, or Complete Blood Count, is meant to check white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. We can find conditions like anemia (low red blood cells), infection (high white blood cells) or clotting disorders

(abnormal or low platelets). A chemistry panel helps us check kidney and liver health, as well as electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium etc).

Vets will sometimes add other tests to the basic CBC-chemistry. For example, thyroid hormone levels are often recommended in older pets: this helps us screen for a lazy thyroid (hypothyroidism) in dogs or a hyperactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) in cats.

I would highly recommend running blood work once or twice a year. As long as you understand that we can't diagnose "everything" based on blood work (for example, most cancers don't show up on blood work), it's the right thing to do.

2. The next major reason vets recommend blood work is to test for a specific condition. Examples include thyroid disease (see above), kidney disease, liver disease, Cushing's disease, Addison's disease etc.

The reasons for the test are a little bit different than above. Here, your vet suspects a condition based on your own observations, such as increased thirst, or the physical exam, or an X-ray, and needs more information to confirm a suspicion. So of course I'd suggest following your vet's recommendation. But don't hesitate to ask WHY these tests are suggested, until you truly understand the reason.

3. The third major reason we recommend blood work is what I do most: to make sedation or anesthesia as safe as possible, most often before surgery. If blood work is normal, it doesn't eliminate all risks of anesthesia, but it certainly makes things safer. If we find a problem, such as kidney or liver disease, then we may change the plan quite a bit: perform additional blood work or a belly ultrasound; we may change the anesthesia or pain medications we use; we may change the IV fluid protocol .

A classic example is NSAIDs, or Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, which we may not give around surgery time or at home in pets with liver or kidney disease, since these drugs can have liver or kidney side-effects.

Another example: if we find that your pet is anemic (low red blood cell count), we may recommend a blood transfusion.

Overall, we tend to recommend fewer tests for young, seemingly healthy pets, and more tests for older or sick pets. * X-rays are used to screen for various situations or diagnose a specific condition.

"Screening" X-rays are used to see if your pet has a tumor in the chest or the belly. For example, before amputating a leg because of bone cancer, we need to make sure it hasn't spread to the lungs (metastasis). It's not a guarantee, since we may miss tiny, early masses. The best test for this is a CAT scan. We also would use this screening test before we give stem cells to a patient, since cancer is pretty much the only known contra-indication.

"Diagnostic" X-rays are used, for example: . to see whether a foreign body may have caused an intestinal blockage, or is still inside your pet. . to confirm and assess a fractured (broken) bone . to assess bone healing (after a fracture repair or a TPLO) . to study a joint (elbow or hip dysplasia, arthritis...) . to confirm a suspicion of bone cancer . to evaluate the lungs and heart and belly etc.

* Ultrasound is used to explore countless condition, mostly in the chest (heart and lungs) and belly (everything from liver and spleen to kidneys and intestines). * MRI & CT scan, called advanced imaging, are used to diagnose a number of conditions in the head, spine, chest, belly and legs. * A fine needle aspirate is a test performed with a needle (the same tiny needle as one to inject a vaccine) to take a few cells from a mass and look at it under the microscope, either in house or at the lab. * A biopsy is different. Here, the needle is bigger, so we get a small chunk of tissue, which is sent to the lab.

Because we get much more tissue that way, we can often get more and better information, ie a better diagnosis.

Surgeons say about a mass that "If it's worth taking out, it's worth sending in." What it means is that we strongly feel that all masses should be sent to the lab for a biopsy. If the results are bad (ie cancer), then we can deal with the situation. At least we know for sure. If the results are good (ie benign), then we can all celebrate and sleep in peace. * A culture is a sterile swab that tells us which bacteria might be growing somewhere (eg the bladder). The "sensitivity" tells us which antibiotic might kill the bacteria, which is really what we need to know.

I could go on and on with these tests!

Here is the bottom line you should consider, every time you wonder if a test should be ran by your vet: . Why is the test recommended? . Who is the best person to run the test (your family vet, a nurse or a specialist)? . What will running the test change to what you're doing?

My general philosophy is to only run a test if the results might change what we do. Let me conclude with a classic example.

As explained above, when we want to give an anti-inflammatory drug to a pet, it is important to run blood work to make sure the kidneys and liver are healthy enough, since the drug itself could potentially damage them. If there is a problem with these organs, we may decide not to give the drug. Since the test may change what we do, I would recommend running the test.

So there you go. When to run a test is not always a black and white decision. My suggestion is to have an open dialogue with your family vet to really understand the purpose and the benefits of a test. Only then can you make an educated decision.

Until next time.

Phil Zeltzman, DVM, DACVS, CVJ

Ever My Pet In the face of such loss, what do we do How can we truly memorialize you How do we find something that shows what you meant How do we show what we felt when you went When faced with deep grief, we humans despair Did we do all we could, do you know how we care You’ve gone on before us, and you truly know How deeply you’re loved, wherever you go I’ve learned throughout life, to reflect on the good We’ll forget any strife, and know we did all we could We’ll remember our days that were happy and fun We’ll remember the times that we played in the sun You gave us great love, and we gave it too Unconditional love, from us and from you We feel you around us, you’re here and you’re there You’re still in our hearts, you’re still everywhere You chase after your toy or you fly through the air You hop through the door or you trot without care Feathers or fur, cold and wet nose Getting a bath or warming our toes We’ll remember the good times more and more every day We’ll honor your life in that special way We’ll see you again where your spirit is free You’re thriving, you’re soaring, and happy to be Ever our cuddles and snuggles and heart Ever our baby, right from the start Ever my pet, my companion, my friend Ever our family, love never ends © Susie K Parkhurst