My Life As A Dog Trainer

Does Your Dog Need AKC Papers?

I get asked at least a few times a month by someone wanting to know if their dog needs their AKC papers.  Not only is there a question as to why they need them, but how to get them, and which dogs are eligible for AKC registration.

I'll answer the most popular question first. Does your dog need AKC papers?  Well that depends.  It may not matter so much if your dog has papers as that you keep the registry going for AKC.  After all, that is one of their main purposes is to maintain a registry.  Now, that registry does not in anyway handle health issues or give people access to knowing more about your line's genetic stability as far as health issues or longevity.  Those issues are handled through registries like OFA or ones established by National Breed Clubs.  I would recommend that you have your dog tested for health screenings and register with whichever organization is best suited for maintaining the database, such as testing for hip dysplasia and registering with OFA.  Testing for PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) if you have a dog prone to that disease and registering with CERF.

Registering with these organizations allows researchers to determine genetic links, allows breeders to breed for health, allows potential buyers to beware of certain genetic links in lines.  Which brings up another issue: does your potential breeder screen for health issues or if you are a breeder do you screen?  Buying from a breeder that does not do screenings is a no-no.  If health screenings are not an issue for you then adopt from the shelter, for there can be more than 50% purebred dogs residing in a shelter at any time.  Rescues have almost 100% purebred dogs available for adoption.  Why give money and encourage a breeder that does not do health screenings?  There are plenty of dogs, even puppies in shelters and rescues that need homes.  You can still do health screenings on your own to know the status of your dog's genetic build or present health and conformation.  If it turns out your dog has hip dysplasia with no signs at this point then you can help your dog for the future.  A responsible breeder does screen and requires any offspring to be tested before breeding.  Don't think that this is uncommon.  It isn't.  It is just that you won't find a breeder doing these things advertising in your local paper classifieds.  To find a responsible breeder you should contact a Parent Breed Club.  To do that, go to www.akc.org and look up the breed you are interested in, then along the side of the breed information there will be a link to the Parent Breed Club, such as the Labrador Retriever Club, Inc.  The people that are members of these clubs follow ethical breeding, are responsible breeders, and have the welfare of the breed and dog in mind when breeding, not money.

Why should you care about the AKC registry?  Well, because the money received from registrations goes to fund several things that are very important.  One being the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation.  This is one of my favorite things the AKC supports.  They are doing a tremendous job of finding cures and genetic markers of diseases that effect our dogs and also sharing that information with human disease researchers.  The AKC funds all of the operational expenses so when you donate to the CHF all of your money goes to research!  The AKC registry also funds the CGC programs and public education and is an overall great advocate for our canines in the Legislative world.  So that registration fee goes to good use.  To understand more about where the money goes visit this link: Why Register?

Is it worth the fee?  Well, when you consider they give you some complimentary magazines, a very nice Puppy Handbook, valuable information about your breed, a trial health plan for 60 days and a complimentary veterinarian visit, then definitely yes, it is worth $20.

So, you can register the dog or puppy and maintain the AKC registry and its efforts.  If you neuter or spay your dog do you need to contact them?  No.  If your dog develops cancer?  No, again this would be a health registry and one most likely maintained by the Parent Breed Club.

Do you need your AKC registration to get a Canine Good Citizen Certification?  No.  In fact, the CGC program is open to both purebred and mixed breed dogs, so a registration is not required.

Do you need papers to breed your dog?  No.  Dogs are born everyday without registration papers.  Unfortunately that means the breeder was not a responsible one.  For why breed if not for the improvement of the breed?  Why breed if you are not maintaining a registry of dogs to be able to track health issues, temperament, and longevity for the benefit of the dog and breed?  Don't breed unless you are going to be responsible, which means you are willing to provide health screenings of the parents for genetic tests that could be passed to the puppies, a contract to puppy buyers to be responsible for the life you bring into the world for its life - meaning you will take back the dog no matter the reason or age if the owner no longer wants it.  If you can't do that, don't breed.  Just don't.  Can't find a breeder willing to do that?  Again, you haven't found a responsible breeder and should contact the Parent Breed Club of your breed. 

I wrote a whole post on the issuing of registration papers through other organizations, such as Continental Kennel Club, or Northern Kennel Club which are all basically puppy mill registries in my opinion.  They will issue registration papers easily and just so someone can tell you that these puppies are "registered".  You will often find puppies sold at pet stores with these type of registrations.

If you want to be a responsible breeder then yes, you do want to have dogs that are registered.  You do want to register the litter.  Now AKC issues registration papers with information about the health clearances the dogs in the pedigree have, such as OFA ratings of "Fair, Good, or Excellent".  By the way, your dog's sire and dam should have a rating of Good or Excellent and not a Fair.  Want to check on your dog's pedigree or the potential parents?  Want to see if they really have "Champion" pedigrees? or OFA ratings? (You can check OFA clearances through the OFA, and remember doing OFA testing is not enough - you want the rating, for the parent could have been tested and gotten back a rating of being dyplastic and not a rating).  You can get an AKC 5 generation pedigree for $12 and a 4 generation for only $10 right on line, just follow this link: on line pedigree.  All you need is the registered name or registration number of the dog.  If there is an AKC Champion in the pedigree there will be a "CH" before the name, and other titles will be listed after the dogs name.  There is a guide to what those titles are on AKC's website at this link: titles.

You aren't planning on breeding, why else would you need a registration?  What I think is the most important reason: to enter performance or companion events.  If you want to compete in Rally-Obedience, Agility, Tracking, Hunting Trials, Earthdog Trials, etc. then you will need a registration number through the AKC.  That number will be used to track your dog's accomplishments and a way to distinguish your dog from other entries.  By having a registration it means there will not be dogs entered with the same name, as no two dogs can have the same registration name.  If they are exactly the same name, AKC will put a roman number after the ones that are the second, third and so on entered after the first submitted name.

What if you lost the papers and you still want to register?  You must contact your breeder.  Your breeder will need to request a duplicate registration paper (they can call, write or do it online) and then once that is received by them, fill it out and then give it to you to register.  Don't remember your breeder's name?  address?  Well, that could cause a problem because the AKC will not release that information to you, even if you know everything about your dog's sire and dam except the breeder.  But all is not lost! 

If you have lost the papers and cannot find the breeder to ask for a duplicate registration form?  You could get an online pedigree of one of the parents, especially the dam since that info would give you the name of the owner which is probably the breeder of record, but you would need to have the registration name of the dog.  If you have no idea if the parents were registered.  If you had a breeder that was foolish enough to withhold papers for more money (it happens despite that not really being ethical, since if they want you not to breed they can just check the box "limited registration" to prevent offspring from being registered).  If you don't know the name of the sire or dam or the breeder.  If you rescued your dog and want to compete and need papers.  Or you just want to have that registration to hang on the wall and you don't know a thing about Mom or Dad, you still have an option.  You can get what the AKC calls a PAL (used to be called an ILP).  The PAL, or Purebred Alternative Listing is a way of getting a dog that looks like a purebred Boston Terrier, acts like a Boston Terrier, registered.  You will need to do a few things.  One, the dog will need to be spayed or neutered and you will need to have vet papers saying so.  If your dog was spayed or neutered prior to you getting the dog then your vet can give you a simple form, even the dog's info sheet noting the dog is spayed or neutered.  You will then need to take a few pictures of your dog standing.  A color picture of your dog from the front and one from the side showing the dogs conformation, or build and type (there are samples of what is and what is not an acceptable picture on the downloadable form).  It helps them determine if what you think is a Curly Coated Retriever is a Curly Coated Retriever.  Once you have the pics and the spay/neuter info together then you just need to print out the AKC form to register your dog, which can be found here: PAL form.  The form is pretty straight forward except people are often confused when the form asks for the dam and sire names.  Simply stating "unknown" is sufficient if you don't know.  In a few weeks you will get your PAL number.

What to name your dog?  The dog's call name is enough or you can give the dog the name of queens and kings as long as it is under 30 characters including spaces.  Chances are there have been other "Snoopy" names registered, so unless you want your dog's name to be "Snoopy XV" then add a little more to the name to make it unique.

Can a dog registered with a PAL number compete in Junior Showmanship as well as performance/companion events?  Yes.  Which makes adopting a rescue wonderful for a child to begin Showmanship.

Maybe your dog is not an AKC registered dog breed, then it would do you well to check the breeds in the "wings" that will soon be fully registerable and recognized dog breeds with the AKC.  Right now there are many breeds in the FSS (Foundation Stock Service) and once they are accepted in the Miscellaneous Class they can get PAL numbers as well.  To find the list and check your breed go here: FSS Breeds.  There are also some registries accepted by the AKC in which if your dog is already with one of these registries you can then obtain an AKC registry.  The list of acceptable registries, which are mostly Parent Breed Club Registries can be found here: Acceptable Registries for Open Registration.

What if someone else owned and registered the dog and you want the papers transfered to you?  You will need to obtain a Supplemental Transfer form which can be downloaded online and both the previous owner(s) and you will need to sign it.  If you don't like the dog's registered name, the AKC now allows for you to change that if the dog was whelped in the US.  There are rules about the change and you can find those here: Dog Name Application Form.

Of course, more detailed information can be found at www.akc.org, but I hope this helped you make a decision about whether that registration is important to you or not.  Keep in mind a dog is never too old to register, it isn't necessary that the dog be a puppy.  However, it is necessary that the dog receiving a PAL with the AKC be at least 6 months old. 

Good luck with your decision, and by all means if and once you do register, get involved in companion events with your dog and consider the CGC program or Rally Obedience.  Both are great programs to start off on a lifetime adventure for your and your dog.

Till later, woofs!

Doberman Recovering From Surgery Shot 8 Times By Police

I heard about this story through an email list for the Doberman Pinscher Club of America.  There was a vague reference to it, and out loud I said "What?" and then googled key words and found pages about this story.  It is so wrong!  Links to story: Dog Shot By Officer, Doctor Demands Answers For Dead Dog

Jax, a 4 year old Doberman, had one month prior received surgery for a crippling disease called Wobblers.  It is known as Wobblers because that is the way it looks.  The dog walks wobbly, almost as if it is wobbling and can barely stand and keep its balance.  It is technically called cervical vertebral instability, or CVI.  It can affect several breeds of dogs, but usually it is a Doberman.  Horses can have the disease as well.  Surgery is sometimes helpful but never totally fixes the dog.  In other words, the dog will never be as active as a healthy dog the same age. 

Jax and another female Doberman have access to their backyard through a doggy door.  On April 14th, in New Orleans, police officers responded to a false alarm at their owner's home and broke through the wooden gate of their 10 foot fenced in yard to respond to the alarm.  Jax, recovering from the surgery went outside to investigate and an officer unloaded 8 - that is EIGHT shots into Jax, some of them as he was retreating back into his house.  The owner found Jax bleeding to death and his female shaking and cowering in the corner.  The owner, Dr. Patrick Coleman, is a physician and stated in a news story that as he was administering CPR and life saving measures to Jax, and his female was nearby shaking and frightened, the police entered and yelled for him to control his dogs.  Not one was even barking.

This was not the first time the police had responded to an alarm at this home.  There had never been a previous incident with Jax.  The officer fired eight shots at this crippled dog coming out of his doggy door into his own safe yard and going back into his home.

Jax died.

The officer said that Jax came through the doggy door and was running and lunging at him.  He's horribly mistaken.  Having seen Wobblers, and dogs that were recovering, and having taken care of two Doberman rescues with it, and one of my own with a mild case, I can tell you that running at and lunging at are not things a dog striken with Wobblers and recovering from surgery can do.  Jax's veterinarian stated the same.

So, here is Jax, in his own yard, in a fenced in yard.  He is simply coming outside to see what is going on, like any dog would do.  Even a chihuahua.  Unfortunately this officer is prejudiced and afraid of dogs, or possibly just afraid of Dobermans.  Jax, who was doing what any dog would do, investigating, and then upon realizing that this was more than what he wanted to take on returned to the safety of his home.  Eight bullets?  The officer shot eight bullets!  He could have done many other things.  Yelled at the dog to get back, said no, used pepper spray, fired a warning shot into the air maybe?  He would have found that Jax, as commented on by his neighbors is a very good dog. 

I can't imagine the pain the owner must be going through.  I would be so devastated to think that I had been a responsible owner and still couldn't keep my dog safe from the prejudice of anti-canine thoughts and feelings.  What happened to the way things used to be?  Why do responsible owners keep being punished for the actions of those that are irresponsible?  There was an incident a few years ago where a family was traveling through Tennessee and they were stopped and asked to get out of their car, even their children.  The call to police came from someone that reported a car was throwing money out of the window.  The police apparently thought this car was the one.  The family asked to be able to shut the door to keep their family dog from coming out.  The officer refused.  The family dog came out of the car and came walking toward its family.  Not rushing, not running, not lunging.  The officer shot and killed the dog because the dog was a pit bull.  The city later had officer training to teach them how to deal with dogs.  To that officer he was killing a vicious breed of dog - all through prejudice.  The family's view was an officer shot and killed their family member without cause.  We have got to start standing up for these dogs that are harmed due to their breed. 

A well known dog trainer on TV makes fun and is quoted often about how horrible and stupid he thinks we Americans are because we treat our dogs as family members.  He is WRONG.  Shame on him for giving his so called professional permission to people to treat their dogs with aversive and painful treatment, to put chain collars on their necks, to put their lives in a constant state of fear through intimidation and punishment.  Whispering he may be calling it, and I say it is screaming of all the things that true professionals have been trying to get away from for over 25+ years.  STOP.  Just stop the intimidation.  The pain.  Stop putting fear of family into the family dog.  It leads to dogs being unstable, unpredictable, and to biting and aggression.  Do not listen to this self proclaimed expert that every well known trainer in this country is yelling, not whispering, that he is telling you things to do to your dog that will lead to problems.

I had a lady come up to me at an Expo event and proudly tell me that she had read all of this trainer's books.  I told her that I did not agree with his training methods.  She proudly told me that he had given her permission that she had always needed to put her dog in his place as a dog.  Excuse me?  If anything, we don't give them enough credit for what they do, their attitudes, ability to forgive, etc.  What are we teaching children when they watch adults deal with a simple dog misbehaving and we use pain and intimidation to change the behavior? 

I once had a local groomer's daughter doing a natural canine nutrition internship with me and upon her telling her mother that she no longer wanted to hit dogs in their care, her mother stated "Oh no, are you becoming a bunny hugger?"  What is sad is that this groomer advertises herself as a holistic groomer.  Most would connect that with humane as well. 

What I am getting to is that we have many problems here.  One is that people are getting away from being humane and realizing that bad behavior produces bad dogs, those bad dogs cause problems, and then that in turn causes prejudice.  Prejudice from neighbors, citizens, and police officers.  They are judging the breed and not the deed.  This officer shot because it was a Doberman, because it was a big dog.  We need to embrace kindness.  Anything from wave at your neighbor to be kind to a stray dog.  Teach our children kindness is better, always better.  Forgiveness is good.  Patience and staying in for the long haul and not giving up when things are hard, or your dog is having problems housetraining.  Teach adults that we can learn new ways, and give the benefit of the doubt without judging.  I know lots of stuff, but it really does all come together.  Our environment, our lives are all connected by these things.

State your outrage of the fate of poor Jax and the heartache of his family.  Tell New Orleans that you still don't like how their police treat the animals of that town.  Remember how this police force justified driving down the streets and shooting dogs that were loose after Katrina?  Dogs that were not being aggressive.  Dogs misplaced and looking for help.  Google that story and you will find journalists filming it, and it is hard to watch and even harder to see the police officer explain how it was justified because the dogs were having a hard time finding water.  Let the New Orleans police know you are outraged. 

You should be shocked about this story and help and support Jax's family in this.  Your own dog, in its own yard, going out its doggy door to find out what is going on, even when not able to walk well, and returning into its home can have a police officer fire eight shots at it. 

We have got to shun trainers and so called professionals that tell us that punishment, intimidation and fear are a way to maintain and produce a relationship of respect.  Everything about that is wrong, everything sounds wrong doesn't it?  Fear, intimidation, punishment produces respect, trust and love. 

We have to punish bad dog owners, not the dog.  We have to realize that any dog can be a bad dog and any dog can be a good dog.  It it depends on the owner.

So, stand up for the good owners when you can.  Fight the ones that are bad, and call for your community and those near by to be educated and fair. 

Jax, died and didn't need to.  Take up for your fellow responsible owner.  Express that you think this is way too extreme a behavior.  This should sadden anyone that reads about it, and frighten any responsible owner.  The old quote, stated many different ways by many different people, that a society can be judged by how it treats its animals is true.

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.. I hold that, the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man"
-- Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948)

So, here is another call to action.  Take a minute.  Read further about this event, and send your thoughts to those that can make a decision to train their officers.  The local humane society has offered to bring someone in to train at their expense. 

I am so sorry for Jax.  It is hard to lose a family dog, a family pet.  I can't imagine having tried to save the dog from a horrible disease, and then losing the dog in this manner.  Remember: "...the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man".

Here is a link to contact the New Orleans Police Department: email form for N.O. Police Dept.

Till later, woofs.

   

Starving Dog Used In Art Exhibit

I have received over the past month or so several emails about a starving dog being used in an art exhibit.  I got links to the petition.  I was asked to sign it.  Every time I got the link it was difficult to read the petition, mainly due to the lack of information saying what exactly happened at this exhibit.  I don't speak nor read Spanish and that caused even more of a problem in reading the petition page.  I even used a translator and copy and pasted into it, but it still didn't seem to explain the complexity and the horror of the event it was protesting.

Today I got a link to a myspace blog that had a video of the exhibit, which you can view here:

I was horrified.  I did more research.  One source that I often check when I get lots of emails about something is www.snopes.com.  They routinely check out things going around on the internet and determine if they are hoaxes, scams or true.  Their website listed this case as "undetermined".  Not undetermined if the event happened, just undetermined if the dog starved to death during the exhibit.  Here is the link to their account of this circulating email: Starving Dog Art.

I googled the artist's name, Guillermo Vargas Habacuc, and the art exhibit for hours off and on this week trying to find out something that said this person or the gallery had been charged with animal abuse.  Or something telling me this didn't happen.  I had hoped that possibly they tied up the dog for quick photos and then took it to a vet.  That was the least horrific thing I could connect to this story.  I found tons of information, and yes, he did have children catch the dog and he did leave it as it looks in the picture.  Artists and exhibitors sometimes try to shock us, to make us talk.  Apparently the artist wanted to make a point that people would walk by and not care, but people did care and asked that the dog be released, to be fed and given water.  The artist apparently refused. 

I searched and could not find one major news story on this event.  I found lots and lots of outrage, videos protesting it, and even blogs totally dedicated to making sure the artist does not repeat this exhibit.

I found where the artist at first stated the dog did not die, and then another place where he was quoted as saying the dog would have died anyway.

If the dog died - it says a lot about every single person that was involved in this event, the artist to the person taking tickets.  From the government to the person that approved this exhibit.  But how horrifying that there was a panel of judges that awarded him for this event.

The dog should have been taken to a vet.  Yes, the dog was starving, but being tied where it could not search for food or water is condemning it to death.  Empathy for this dog requires that you consider its feelings, physical and emotional.  Being a dog trainer, being a dog lover, being a dog rescuer, being a human being this kills heart. 

Here is a link to the petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/13031953/petition-sign.html

Here is another video with more written detail:

Here is a link to a blog devoted to keeping this artist aware that what he did was horrific: Habacuc Blog

On a daily basis in my job I receive lots of email and calls of dogs that need homes.  Dogs that have been abused that need help.  Dogs that are misunderstood that need someone to help them.  Sometimes it can be overwhelming.  My husband, Brad, said people will call the person they think most likely to help when in need.  So, if no one asks you for help, then you must not be someone that is thought of as being a giver.  When asked, do you give?  In this case, all you have to give is a minute to sign a petition.  To log this into your head and into your heart.  I don't care that the artist wanted to stir up things.  When the dog was caught he should have saved it as well.  Keep this dog's face in your head today and do one thing, just one thing to help an animal that you do not own.  Either with money or your time, or both.  Do something.  Please.  I once said in a post about a rescue I had named Ruby, that it is most important that when a situation arises and your help is needed that though you could have easily have said no, you said yes.  Try doing that.  It will make all the difference in the world, and make the world different.

Till later, woofs.

Birthdays Are A Blessing

Aren't birthdays a blessing?  Funny how women will tease and make jokes when it comes to birthdays, and yet we should stand on a hilltop and open our arms wide and embrace the blessing of yet another year.  I did just that for someone else's birthday, my eldest dog, Cocoa.  He is the sweet boy on the header of this blog.  He turned 12 last week on the 17th!  "Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you..."  I've been singing that since last week.  The dogs love it.  We all dance around excited and happy and sing and bark to Cocoa.   

It used to be that dogs were young seniors at age 12, more and more it is a rarity.  I know less and less highly aged senior dogs each year, and I see more and more dying from diseases that are young.  Just last week a sweet dog boy of 6 years died of renal failure. 

My mother in law called me last week and read me an article where there had been a study that found excessive levels of toxins in dogs and cats.  They are exposed to so many bad things in the yards, in poorly made treats and food.  Please make sure you are feeding premium food, keeping your dog's exposure to chemicals at a minimum, and limit vaccinations.  Go to the link about the article and you can find all kinds of ways to protect your pet.  Do research, purchase the best food and treats you can get your hands on and afford.  Don't buy bad treats just because good ones are more expensive, you can buy organic dried apple slices, organic banana chips, organic baby carrots, fresh fruit and berries!  So much better than any over processed, poorly nutritious, chemical laden treat! 

Give your dog every possible chance to be healthy.  "Set them up to succeed" is something I say all the time in classes.  Set them up to succeed in health as well.  Give them many, many Happy Birthdays! 

I have been having fun celebrating Cocoa's birthday all month.  He has too!  Heck, I might celebrate it all year, along with all the other birthday's to celebrate.  Do the same.  Stand up and let the sun hit your face, lean back, spread your arms wide and celebrate with abandon another day of life.  Yours and those you love around you.

Happy Birthday Cocoa - all year long!   

Till later, woofs.

Things About Dogs You Should Know

(Originally published 6/15/07 - Here is another of my accidentally deleted archived posts - too good to not post again and have listed - enjoy!)

Sometimes I get the neatest things through e-mail.  I have a few friends that send me the things that just make you want to pull your hair out, like "send this e-mail to 10 friends and Bill Gates will send you money", or "this e-mail will bring you luck", or "send this on to 12 people and help this person get the world record".  Yes, those make me want to scream.  I used to send them a link back to a "Is it a hoax?" website that would explain how Bill Gates is not going to send you money, it won't bring you luck, and that you sending an e-mail to 10 people will never be tracked for that kid to win the world's record, but it got to be too often and they still sent me the same stuff anyway, so I just gave up and found my delete button.  BUT, then I get some really neat things, like a link to this artist that does some amazing chalk drawings that look 3-D, an artist that makes sculpture horses out of driftwood, and then a fun one the other day about just ordinary things that people should know.  It listed things like that honey never spoils, and that Susan Lucci is Phyllis Diller's daughter.  I knew about the honey, but not about Susan Lucci.  It turns out that the list was right about the honey, but wrong about Susan Lucci and Phyllis Diller, they aren't related.  So, this time some of it was right, and some of it wasn't.  Either way, it gave me an idea.

It got me to thinking about little known facts about dogs that people might be interested in, so I decided to make my own quick list of things you should know about dogs: (By the way, these are all TRUE)

-All puppies loose their baby teeth, they start out with 28 and end up as an adult with 42!

-Black spots on a tongue does not mean the dog is mixed, nor does it mean the dog is related to a Chow Chow, (yes, it is officially Chow Chow, not Chow, but they don't mind the nick name) there are many purebred dogs that will be born with a black spot or not on their tongue, it can happen in the majority of breeds, including the popular Labrador Retriever.

-Chow Chows are born with pink gums and tongues that turn a dark blue black by the time they are 3 months old.

-Miniature Pinschers and Doberman Pinschers are not related, not at all.  In fact the term Miniature Pinscher actually means "a small terrier" since pinscher means terrier.  Doberman Pinschers are a much younger breed of dog than the Min Pin and their name means they are a Terrier related breed having been developed using terriers, and the Doberman is the last name of the man that developed the breed, having spelled his name Dobermann.  In other countries, the Doberman Pinscher is known simply as the Dobermann (with no Pinscher).

-Many breeds of dogs are completely white when born and develop their colored coats as they age.  The Dalmatian and the Australian Cattle Dog are just a few that are born all white.

-If you have more than one Keeshond, you don't have Keeshonds, but Keeshonden.

-Dogs should not eat chocolate, macadamia nuts, or sugar free gum.  All three are very toxic to a dog.

-Dogs that are born deaf can be taught commands through sign language and/or a light code kind of like Morse Code with a flash light for night time when they can't see your hand in the dark.

-Akitas are originally from Japan, and are considered a National treasure.

-Dogs known for "not shedding" really just have different kinds of coats than most dogs.  While most dogs have coats that have an undercoat and outercoat, non shedding dogs have hair like humans that grow to a certain length and then typically fall out.  That is why most non shedding type dogs must be groomed often to keep the length manageable.  Also, lots of shedding is not common, in fact minor shedding is a sign of good health and nutrition.

-Dogs that have arched spines like Whippets and Greyhounds are able to stretch out their bodies while in a gallop and cover more ground, making them very fast.  Whippets and Greyhounds can travel faster than 35 miles per hour!

-Dogs that have short pasterns (the area between the foot and the first "knee", actually called the hock joint of their back legs, or also called the metatarsus) can not run fast, dogs that have medium length hocks can run reasonably fast, and can do it for a long period of time.  Dogs with long hocks, like Greyhounds and Afghan Hounds can run quickly in short spurts but will tire before a dog with a hock of medium length.  Knowing the anatomy of a dog and its purpose can therefore help you decipher what mix a dog is and what skills and instincts it probably possesses, or exactly what a purebred can probably do or not do.  To study this look up a dog's standard at the AKC website at www.akc.org.  Just because a dog has short hair, is black and wags its long tail doesn't mean it has Labrador Retriever in it.  If it has webbed feet, well, I'll give you a better degree of odds it does.  Webbed feet make a dog a better swimmer, hmmm, now are you curious enough to look up a standard? 

-Dogs with large ears that stand up can loose more heat from them than dogs with floppy ears.  Which is a good thing for some to either have one or the other depending on where the breed originated from, the purpose of the breed, and where it lives now.  For instance, a Pharoah Hound, which has standing ears orginated in an area where it would be important to be able to loose heat from the ears.  They have large, standing ears. 

-Dogs born white, but without pink eyes can still be genetically an albino.  White dogs can have skin problems and should be treated with sunscreen if they do not have undercoats. 

-Lassie was not a girl.  I know, it shook me up for awhile when I first found out when I was young, but I decided it was OK later on.  Now it seems weird to me when I hear an Englishman call a young girl a "Lassie", shouldn't that be a boy?

-There are very few dogs that have originated in the United States, the Boston Terrier, Black and Tan Coonhound, and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are a few. 

-The oldest American breed is the American Foxhound that can be traced back to the 1650's.  The oldest breed is the Saluki which can be found in carvings dated 7000BC.

-A Bloodhound was not named that because it can smell blood, it was named so to reflect that it was of "Good Blood" or good breeding.  It has all the wrinkles in its face so that when it leans forward to sniff the ground the skin folds can trap scent.

-Some dogs have dew claws not only on their front legs like most dogs do, but also on their back legs, in fact, some have more than one set of dew claws on their back legs.  That can mean 6 extra nails than a regular dog if it has 2 on front and 4 on the back!  If you don't like cutting your dog's nails then you better do your research! (Hint: You'll want to skip on looking at a Great Pyrenees, there are others too - so do the research!)

-Dogs doing agility and herding will use their dew claws when landing or turning.  Dogs will also use them to hold bones between their front paws. 

-German Shepherd Dog is the correct name of what most refer to as a German Shepherd.  So whether or not it is a male (dog) or a female (bitch) both are known as German Shepherd Dogs.

-Shetland Sheepdogs are not miniature Collies.

-Not all dogs can swim.  Dogs of long and heavy bodies with short legs can not propel enough force with their legs to swim, nor can they hold their heavy bodies out of the water.  If they do swim it would be for a very short time.  Some dogs are just totally made for swimming (read those standards - you can learn so much!) like the Labrador Retriever which not only has webbed feet, but a tail that serves as a rudder, and ears that are at their set on the head to be out of the water when swimming, ears that hang to keep water out as much as possible, and a body shape that allows the dog when carrying a heavy bird in its mouth when swimming will balance in the water so that the head can still stay up and out.  Ok, and you thought they just liked to retrieve and get wet!

OK, that's enough fact stuff for this time.  Hope you enjoyed it, and remember if you send a link to this blog to your friends they won't get a check from Bill Gates, or be in the running for a world record, but they won't be fast to use that delete button, and just might thank you for it and read your next e-mail!   

Till later - woofs!

Easter Revisted, Posts Recovered, and Bunnies Galore

OK, I'm going to cheat a little bit.  I wrote a post a year ago about Easter and I am just going to put a link to it here: Easter, Peeps, and Dogs.  Make sure you check it out - Easter can be a dangerous holiday for dogs with all that chocolate going around.  Yes, chocolate is dangerous for dogs, it is not a myth!

Last year I accidentally lost many, many of my posts, the most current one I had at that point after the "delete" was the Easter one.  They were floating out there in Internet land and couldn't be found.  Gone forever, or so I thought.  I got an email from someone that told me they had saved them on their blog reader.  Bless them, they sent me copies of the ones they saved!  Over the next few days I am going to be reposting them, hopefully into the time slot they were originally posted.  I'll give you updates as to what ones have been reposted just in case you would like to go back and read them.  A few are my very favorites and I am so glad to have them again!

Now, come Sunday, go easy on that chocolate bunny (eat the ears first!), and load up on the Peeps (you have to read my post from last year!) - too bad they don't come in sugar free!  I know someone who takes Peeps and coats them in chocolate and redecorates them (she likes playing Martha Stewart).  Of course, not a good dog treat, but after you eat them you definitely will need to go on a walk, a long walk with your dog - to burn off the energy and the calories.  So, I guess it is worth mentioning if it gets you out with your dog - so slather them in chocolate, have fun poofing the Peeps, and on your walk! 

I couldn't close this without mentioning what a great time of year this can be for a dog that LOVES stuffed animals.  They make the biggest, softest, floppiest bunnies this time of year.  Our sweet girl Caddie's first stuffed toy was a bunny.  She had toys galore, bigger, smaller, newer stuffed toys but always picked "Bunny" to rest with and sleep with.  You should supervise your dog with a stuffed animal to make sure they don't consume any of the toy, but most will play with them and enjoy them without tearing them up.  An occasional removed ear or foot can be easily fixed with a needle and thread and your dog will think the improvement to the toy was grand.  Stuffed toys, especially big ones, can serve as a litter mate for your puppy and teething becomes much easier on the family and the dog if the puppy cuts new teeth and loses them on the stuffed toy versus your arm.  Here is Caddie with her first Bunny.

   

Many bunnies were bought during Easter and stashed away to become Caddie's new friend throughout the year.  Some were "saved from their stuffing" by Cocoa and others came apart in the washer after a few times and it would make it necessary to pull out a new one.  If there was more than one bunny at a time, it caused her much stress to attend to more than one.  There could be many chicks, dogs, bears, etc, but there could only be one bunny at a time.

It has been fun walking past all of the big bins of Easter Bunnies these past few weeks.  Sometimes it brings a tear to my eye as I wish we still had Caddie to bring a bunny home to, but we have kept up the tradition of loading up on bunnies for the others.  Even with a tear, the thought of her warms my heart and makes me happy.  So, load up on a few bunnies for your kids, and especially the day after Easter when they are marked down. 

Here is another pic of Caddie that I have to share that is Easter related.  Caddie, Max and Cocoa were excellent at hide and go seek.  Cocoa still is!  They could track anything.  They would alerted us to what they tracked and then as a reward they could pick up the article.  Now, don't do this with any dog, you would have to be careful!  BUT, my mom gave us some plastic easter eggs stuffed with great dog friendly treats and we hid them for the dogs to find.  We did it for weeks - they had so much fun with it.  Over time the eggs wouldn't close good and we slowly ran out of them.  You just can't find plastic eggs after Easter.  It was great fun and it seems I enjoyed the time, but forgot to record it - other than the first egg that Caddie found.  She was very proud of it.  The fact that it had Grandma's scent, ours and a treat in it was just so much better than finding a glove, wallet, or other article when tracking!  She could have cared less that the others were finding more of them all over the back yard.  Her first one was a treasure and she was relishing the moment and brought it inside to put it in a safe place.  So, here is definitely a happy girl on Easter morning!

  Happy Easter!  Till later - woofs!

A Great Little Video About A Shelter Dog

I happened across a cute video today and enjoyed seeing shelter life from the viewpoint of a little 2 month old black puppy named Holiday.  It is a cute video, kind of documentary, about a day in the life of Holiday.  It spares the viewer the horrors of shelter life, which sometimes is NOT a good thing, because lets face it,  horror is definitely a part of what shelter life is, period.  There are several videos, all on a website named ON Networks. 

This little movie that makes you want to go and get a shelter dog.  It takes that "fear of entering" a shelter away and focuses on the puppy.  If I hear it one time a week, I hear it a dozen, about how people just can't bring themselves to enter a shelter.  It isn't fun.  It isn't a joy.  Keep in mind the dogs don't want to be there either.  Neither do the cats.  But this little movie might just make it worth your while to put your fears aside to find and then adopt a dog such as Holiday. 

Lots and lots of barks and wags to the people behind these videos, the one about Holiday, and the others on Frodo, Velvet, and Sweetie.  Please watch them, please send others to the site!  While you are there rate the videos and answer their short surveys.  Lets support anyone doing anything different, and trying to make a difference.  I could see this developing into series of videos on hard to adopt dogs, dogs with special needs, and senior dogs.  Make this site popular so they are supported and can do more videos!  They have apparel you can buy, but I didn't see any with "Sheltered", the name of the series on anything for purchase.  They should definitely do it.

Enjoy!

Holiday, the black puppy

Frodo, the chow

Velvet, the kitten

Sweetie, the rascally puppy

Till later, woofs!

Doggie Tidbits Of Fun

OK, it is time to take all the little post-it notes I have across my desk, gather them, and pass on the little tidbits of info I felt important enough to write down and share:

What would you do with a $100,000?  How would your dog like being a spokes-dog for a national brand?  Well, Milkbone is celebrating their 100th Anniversary and are asking dog owners to share their "Milk Bone Moment" by photo or video.  They will then pick a spokes-dog and you could win the $100,000 contract that goes with it.  So, go through those photos, and make some new ones and send them in.  You have until September to enter.  Make sure you share with me too!  Here is the link: MilkBone Moment.

In Tennessee, where I live, the ability to get a three year rabies vaccine is wonderful.  I understand that there are many states that still require an annual shot of rabies.  I hate over vaccination.  I think that it is probably one of the worst things we do to our dogs that inhibits their immune systems.  Being able to get a three year rabies is wonderful compared to that awful annual one.  Now there are studies going on that are trying to prove that the usual rabies vaccine is actually good for 5 or even 7 years.  Can you imagine?  Dogs are getting a vaccine every year of their life that they might only need twice in a lifetime. There is an organization that is funding this research called the Rabies Challenge Fund.  Of course, there are many veterinarians and drug companies that would not be happy about not getting those once a year rabies vaccine charges, but I know of some veterinarians that would cheer such a thing due to the cases they see each year of dogs compromised by the vaccine.  Check out the link above and become knowledgeable on vaccination schedules and problems with overdoing it.  Go to your favorite search engine and do a search on "vaccination schedule for dogs", "over vaccinating dogs", and other similar topics.  Educate yourself, and let's hope the Rabies Challenge Fund comes through with their funding and research.  Your dog depends on you for keeping their immune systems strong through diet, environment, and definitely not over vaccinating.

Here is a link to a website that lets you calculate your dog's biological age according to lifestyle, diet, etc.  Take the quiz and see how they're doing:  Dog Age

Looking for a pet, know someone that is?  It still amazes me that people are not aware of Petfinder.  On Petfinder you can find a rescue for any breed or mix of breed of dog, and actually almost any animal possible, including horses, donkeys, birds, and rabbits.  You can search by sex, age, breed, location, almost any criteria.  If you are looking for any animal, consider rescue first, please.  Just in telling someone about Petfinder can save the life of an animal.  So spread the word, maybe even get one of their great bumper stickers for your car!

Speaking of rescue, there are two other sites I want to tell you about to check as well, the new adoption program by Pedigree called Pedigree Adopt A Dog.  While Pedigree is not my favorite food for your dog, they could do so much more to make healthier food, I do love them for what they are doing to help get dogs adopted.  Their adoption commercials are making a big impact and they are definitely getting people to think about adopting from shelters and rescues.  So check out the link above and look around.  The other site is our own, Canine Hope All Breed Rescue.  We have dogs posted and always know of great dogs that need homes.  In fact, there are a few dogs that are on our site that it astonishes me that they are not in forever homes yet!  Wally and Bodie are both dogs that have completed their CGC training, are house trained, and are great playing with other dogs. 

Little Roo is still available and today I actually got a burst in my heart seeing this little guy play with a big Great Dane.  He has gained such joy and appreciation for life and is such a very, very good dog.  If you live in the East Tennessee Area, please consider opening your heart for one of these guys.  If you don't, please consider adopting a shelter or rescue dog wherever you live!

Did you know that there are constantly laws being introduced and considered all over the nation, even in your own town that can compromise your ownership of your dog?  Don't be fooled into thinking that if your breed isn't mentioned in a breed banning law that it won't be simply added later when a irresponsible owner has an incident with their dog.  It is important that we support laws that punish those owners that are not responsible instead of hurting those that are responsible.  Fight the laws that discriminate against certain breeds and responsible ownership.  That we judge the owners and the deeds of a dog not the breed.  If you would like to stay up to date on the latest canine legislation, you can do so easily at AKC Legislative Alerts.

And for a real treat, I have gotten this link from a few people and actually have it saved in my bookmarks.  It is one of the cutest videos of a dog I have ever seen on YouTube.  When I go back to see it periodically, I forget how much of a smile it can bring to my face!  Make sure you check out this one and pass it around, it is definitely a keeper.  I thought it would be fitting due to the fact spring is suppose to be here and it is snowing like mad across the nation.  Check out Bailey, and have fun!

Till later, woofs!

If Your Dog Has AKC Papers It Is Not A Guarantee

As I begin this post I have to make a confession, I am a HUGE fan of the American Kennel Club.  I believe they are better than any other organized group at getting information out to the public on responsible dog ownership, promoting the purebred dog, and holding great dog events all year long around the United States.  I have met some remarkable and very good friends through AKC events, and some of my favorite life memories have been at AKC events.  I can't say enough of what the AKC Canine Good Citizen program has meant to the canine being better prepared to be a part of a community, and I am always thankful for the AKC Canine Health Foundation and its advancement to find a healthier life for our best friends.  So you may find it surprising when I say that you won't impress me if you say "My dog has AKC papers". 

Unfortunately, the prestige of the American Kennel Club has led people to believe that the registered papers of a dog with the AKC is a stamp of excellence.  Actually it just means that the sire and dam of the puppy were registered with the AKC.  If the parents are registered the offspring are then allowed to be registered.  So the papers just mean the parents are registered. 

There is no guarantee as to the health, temperament, or ability to perform when a dog has AKC papers.  I have seen some dogs that barely resemble their breed and their owners have assured me their dog was registered with the AKC.  The one thing that I always want to scream about is when someone will tell me they had a breeder that wanted to charge them more for the papers of a puppy and they decided not to do it.  SHAME on that breeder!  A responsible breeder will want to maintain the integrity of the AKC registry and will definitely want you to register your puppy, not try to charge you more money.  So, please don't buy from a breeder that wants to charge you more for your papers.

Don't take the puppy if you don't get the papers.  Don't count on getting the papers if you don't have them in hand when you get the puppy.  Many times a back yard breeder will tell people that they haven't gotten the papers in yet, and hope that you will buy the puppy and fall in love with it and forget about the papers.  Should you send the puppy back to the breeder because you don't have papers.  No, I wouldn't because unless you were wanting to breed or show in conformation then you don't need the papers.  Just don't fall for that line next time.

The breeder that tells you they will give you the papers once you have the dog spayed or neutered is not following a good practice either.  I think a dog that is neutered or spayed is a better family dog for a family with children or are new to dog ownership.  I think a dog that is neutered or spayed will have less health problems.  So, yes I do advocate spay or neuter but not holding onto the papers to make sure you do it.  The AKC already has a way for the breeder to assure that a puppy should not be bred and have registerable litters.  That is by checking the box on the registration papers that says "limited registration".  A dog with limited registration cannot have offspring registered with the AKC.  Responsible breeders that want a puppy to not reproduce can mark limited registration.  The puppy is still registerable and can still compete in performance events like agility, obedience, etc., it just can't have registerable litters.

If you have a purebred dog that maybe you lost the papers and have no documentation to help you determine the breeder, parents, etc., or you have a purebred dog where one of the parents was never registered, which means your dog could not be registered.  You can still get AKC papers to allow you to compete in performance events.  Even if you have a rescue dog that's parentage is completely unknown.  If your dog is deemed to be purebred, looks like a particular breed, and acts like the breed then you can apply through the AKC to get ILP (Indefinite Listing Privilege) or as of February 2008 was changed to the PAL, Purebred Alternative Listing.  Your dog must be spayed or neutered to get a PAL.  You will fill out a very simple form, send two specific pictures of your dog (explanation of the views of your dog required are on the form), paperwork from your vet confirming the spay or neuter, plus the PAL fee of $35.  In return your dog will be registered with the AKC and you can now enter any event other than conformation.  You can compete in agility, obedience, rally, tracking and any other of the many AKC events and get titles and have all the fun your heart desires. 

Now, back to the registry.  While the fact that your dog has AKC papers won't impress me, if you tell me that your dog is registered with perhaps the Continental Kennel Club or the American Purebred Registry or any of those other registries that are out to get your money and help puppy mills make a buck at the expense of the dog and the buyer, I will be sorely disappointed.  There are lots of registries out there that will register any dog of any breed, whether you just made it up, or it is actually your cat who thinks it is a dog.  Really.  They will take your money, give you a sheet a paper and tell you that the dog is registered.  Most of these registries are to help puppy mills sell their dogs.  Pet stores will then tell you that the dogs are registered, and make a big deal out of helping you fill out your paperwork.  Also, back yard breeders that bred dogs that don't have AKC papers will try and make it up to you by registering the litter with another registry.  I have even been told that one of these particular registries was actually picked by the breeder instead of the AKC because they didn't like how the AKC was breeding dogs.  Hmmmm, the AKC doesn't breed dogs.  My guess is that the breeder COULDN'T register the litter with the AKC and decided to turn it into a statement that would make it look like a CHOICE.  No responsible breeder would bother with these immoral registries. 

Beware of dogs that are registered with some of these groups.  Sometimes the litters are from commercial breeders, puppy mills, and from breeders that have been banned by the AKC.  The AKC will ban breeders that are arrested and convicted of animal abuse and neglect.  The will also "unregister" a litter and ban a breeder if the litter is found through DNA tests to not be from the sire and dam stated on the paperwork. 

So, don't think that papers are a selling point.  Don't think your papers are a guarantee of anything other than the dog's parentage.  Don't feel left out if you have a dog that isn't registered, get your dog's Purebred Alternative Listing (PAL).  Don't even feel left out if your dog is a mixed breed, because the AKC is thinking of allowing some events to be open to mixed breed dogs in the future.

My heart breaks every time someone who finds out their 3 month old puppy has hip dysplasia, or their dog's temperament is not what it should be and they state to me with emotion "...but it has AKC papers".  That is why I decided to write this blog post.  I hope you will visit the AKC website before you buy a puppy.  Learn what you need to know about registration papers.  Don't use the papers as a guarantee of anything.  Meet the dam of your puppies, ask important questions of your breeder (go back and read my previous posts on responsible breeders), research health issues of your breed and expect health checks and clearances on the parents, grandparents and many generations back.  Ask these questions on the phone before you see the puppies so your emotions don't get the best of you when you see those little fuzzy faces.  It is up to you to make sure your puppy has been bred with the betterment of the bred in mind, with important health tests done and clearances received, that it is healthy, and you have a breeder that will be there for the puppy and for you for its entire life.  If you don't, then you put money in the pocket of someone who is not doing the right thing and you are contributing to their practice.  They will breed more puppies.  More puppies will have health problems, and more dogs will live lives of pain and ill health, and more families will have heartbreak.  It is up to you.  It isn't up to the AKC.

Till later, woofs!

It's Time for Westminster - The Ultimate Prize

One thing my husband and I are passionate about is Dog Shows.  We love competing in them, attending them and even watching them on TV.  With the addition of Animal Planet and ESPN covering both conformation and performance event shows, more and more people have been exposed to them.  We love to watch the ones on Saturday mornings on Animal Planet because they are usually many years old.  We get to see dogs that we haven't seen in the ring in years and remember the great ones from that time period. 

One dog show that almost everyone is familiar with is the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show that is held every February.  Coverage for that show is on the USA Network.  The Westminster is the crown jewel of dogs shows for those in the dog fancy.  It is the ultimate show, the ultimate prize.  It is not the show with highest entry in the world, nor in the United States.  It is however the oldest and the one we all anticipate each year.  It is the second oldest continuous running sporting event in the United States, being one year behind the Kentucky Derby.  It is also older than the AKC having occured before the AKC was established.

This show is different from other shows in two distinct ways.  One is that it is a benched show.  At a regular dog show the dogs show up for the ring at their designated time.  They can be kept anywhere before and after showing.  They can be just arriving, in an RV, in a hotel room, in a car or van, or sitting ringside watching.  After they show they are free to leave or go rest before their next showing.  In a benched show there is a designated area with assigned areas appointed to each entered dog.  The dogs must all be present at a specific time in the morning and must remain at the "bench" until the end of the show.  The bench area is different according to the size of the dogs, proportioned appropriately to accommodate a crate, but a crate is not necessary.  The dog being present is.  At Westminster there is no room in the benching area for the human with the dog to sit.  It is crowded with spectators coming through to see the dogs.  It is a tiring experience.  Owners or Handlers must stand by the bench area and answer questions and attend to the dog's needs.  The dogs can sleep and rest or greet people.  It is a great way for dog owners or potential dog owners to learn more about the breeds.  Talk to experienced owners, handlers and breeders of the breed.  Pet and see the dog's temperaments and ask questions.

This is what the benching area looks like.  We showed our dog Jazz there two times.  A third time he was injured and had to be pulled from the lineup.  He actually was stepped on by someone in line as we waited to enter the building on the day of the competition.  He went lame in the foot that was stepped on and could not compete.  All that way to New York City and we couldn't show.  It was disappointing and Jazz certainly didn't understand why he was not going through a routine he now knew and why he wasn't getting to do something he definitely enjoyed.  We got asked so many questions at the shows and Jazz loved all of the attention, napping only when he could barely hold his eyes open!  He didn't mind the occasional hand that stroked him even as he slept.  We finally decided he needed good sleep and closed the door on his crate and let him get some good sleep while we continued to talk.  As one of us stood beside of Jazz the other took in the show.   

When in the benched area you get to meet and talk with spectators, but also your fellow breed owners and handlers.  I must say the first year was a great experience for us as a nice owner had come prepared and brought great food to share with everyone all day.  She baked some wonderful things!  I remember one time munching on a brownie and just looking around and it hit me - "I am standing by my dog, who is entered in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show!  I am at Westminster.  Brad is going to show Jazz on the floor of the Madison Square Garden.  We are at Westminster."  I immediately stopped chewing, wondered if I could swallow and I am not sure how long I stood there in that moment, not breathing, with my mouth full of brownie, just starring out into the activity of the benching area.  I just knew I had to pull it together or I would make Brad nervous.  I looked at Jazz and said "I am so proud of you.  I hope I don't puke!"  Jazz wasn't shaken at all by my behavior.  He looked like he had done it a thousand times.  He laid there with his front feet crossed, tail slowly swishing like a cat, head high, a slight pant, and drew people to him like flies to honey.  You just couldn't walk past such a sweet, beautiful dog that was just ASKING you to stop.  Meanwhile, I just talked, answered questions, and decided I would stay away from reality moments until after Brad and Jazz had shown.

This is a picture taken right before they left for the ring.  Brad and Jazz made the first cut.  We didn't win Breed but we were still very excited as his brother from another litter, Zeus, (same mother), won the Best of Breed and went on to win the Sporting Group that evening.  Zeus went on to later become the top winningest Flat-Coated Retriever of all time, and we still consider it a honor in our heart that we were there with Jazz when he won the Breed and Group.

Here is a picture of Brad and Jazz waiting to enter the ring.

If you can't get there this year or any year, then by all means don't miss it on television.

While USA Network covers the Group Judging on each night and the concluding Best In Show, there is so much going on during the day.  What happens during the day is the other difference from WKC and other dog shows. 

OK, hang with me here, because this can be confusing, but I will try and keep it simple.  Dog shows follow this simple program: Breed judging occurs first, then Group, then Best In Show.  The Breed judging includes puppies of at least 6 months old to adults.  There are both males (dogs) and females (bitches) judged with males going first. 

The judge decides the best dog of all of the non-champion males and then the best bitch of all the non-champion females.  These two dogs are awarded points toward their championship, which is the goal of all non-champion competitors.  Once those two dogs are decided, they then are brought into the ring with the Champion Dogs of that breed.  The judge then decides a few things:  1)They pick the best of the best dog and bitch of that day.  So out of the Winners Dog and the Winners Bitch they pick Best of Winners.  2)They also pick Best of Opposite Sex.  This dog or bitch will be the opposite in sex from the judges pick of Best Of Breed.  3)Then they pick the Best of Breed.  It can be awarded to either a non-champion or a Champion. 

The one picked for Best of Breed is then the one that represents that Breed in the Group ring and then one of each of the seven Groups goes on to compete for Best In Show. 

While that is what usually happens during a show, Westminster is different.  Different in that the only dogs competing are all Champions.  Every single dog entered has been recognized as a Champion in their own breed.  So there are no other classes at Westminster, only Champions trying to win Best of Breed and move on to Group Judging.  That is the biggest difference as Westminster is the first All Champion Dog Show.

This is a picture of the Breed Judging that takes place during the day.  Brad is in the white jacket, and you can follow down the lead and pick out Jazz.  There can be 10 or more people thick around the Breed Judging Ring.  These dogs are so steady in all this activity.

Here is another view of the Breed Judging from the stands.

The WKC allows only Champions to enter and the entry is limited to 2500.  This entry fills quickly, usually in less than 10 minutes.  To make sure that at least one dog in every breed is represented, a few years ago it was decided to extend an invitation to the top dogs in every breed.  Once those invitations are accepted or returned, the open slots available to 2500 are filled by dogs applying for entry. 

All the dogs converge upon Madison Square Garden in New York City the weekend before Valentine's Day each year.  The City opens its arms wide to the dogs and their families and fans.  There are many dog events preceding the WKC.  There are parties, special events at the AKC headquarters, Dog Art events, special events held by major dog companies, making New York City THE Dog City.  Because of the prestige of the show you usually will only see the best of the best of the Champions at this show. 

The show is traditionally held the Monday and the Tuesday before Valentines Day.  Breed judging of all the Champions to determine who will compete in the Group Judging occurs during the day.  Used to if you weren't attending you had to wait until the live coverage of the groups to find out who won.  If you knew someone that would call and tell you right after judging that was great, but a few years back cell phone calls were very expensive especially on roaming and pay phones always had long lines.  You never wanted to ask someone to wait in a long line instead of watching the next breed in the ring.  So you awaited the results until night.  You sat awaiting to see who entered when the late Roger Caras announced "May we have the Working Group into the ring please."

Now you can be a part of the show from home all day long!  The Internet has made it so that everyone can watch and get almost instant results of the Breed Judging.  You can see who is entered as soon as the first day of judging begins.  With the start of judging comes the release of the information of who has entered.  Then you can find out who won as soon as the results are posted, which is quick actually.  Then not long after that you can now actually see the winning dogs pictures and see video of the competition.  I love that!  Friends and family will quickly start calling and sending emails of upsets and predicted wins.  Everyone wants to try and guess the winner.

The first day is the breed judging of all the breeds represented in four of the seven groups.  That night there is live coverage starting at 8pm until 11 pm of those four groups.  This year the first hour, 8-9 is covered on USA and then from 9-11 on CNBC.  The Hound, Terrier, Non-Sporting, and Herding are on Monday.  The next day is breed judging of the breeds represented in the final three groups, Working, Sporting, and Toy and then all the group winners enter the ring for Best In Show. 

It is amazing the amount of people that attend.  Not only during the day but the lucky people that have seat tickets for the night group judging.  Which brings us back to the time frame for benching.  If you show your dog has been there since early morning and must remain until all breeds are released from benching which is usually 8pm.  At that point the group judging begins.  If you are in the last group to be judged you will enter the ring a little after 10 pm.  A dog going to Group has been there all day, met hundreds of people, competed, been groomed probably twice, exercised and played with, and then they show again.  This is definitely something only a seasoned competitor can handle.  Not to mention the toll it takes on the handler or owner who is working all day as well, and is excited and nervous.  But not one person, whether a Best In Show winner or a Champion competitor would say it wasn't worth it.  A dog that does not LOVE to show will never show well at this kind of competition.  Those dogs have had a very long day by the time you see them move like a dream around that huge ring on the floor of the Garden in the Group Competition.  To be well mannered, "on" for the show and show their athletic ability and strong confident personality at 8 pm on that night is definitely something to admire.  That is why when you see the handler get interviewed they are so proud and amazed at how well their dog has peformed, not only in the ring but all day long!  Those dogs deserve to be bragged on, even the ones that were done after benching was over.   

So, we are weeks away.  Those that are entered in Westminster found out their entry was accepted sometime in December.  They are gearing up for this big event.  Those on the west coast are making their way out to the east coast, showing and gaining experience and working out the rust from a few weeks of no shows the end of 2007.  Dogs are being exercised and are eating meals programmed for their bodies like an athlete competing for the Olympics.  Those in the dog fancy and fans are scrambling for hotel rooms, tickets, and transportation.  Others staying at home are clearing their schedules and buying big screen TVs to watch the show!  Just like a football fan watches the Super Bowl, a Horseman watches the Kentucky Derby and a golfer watches the Masters.  I watch all four, but the WKC can give me chills when I first get a view of that group ring.  Yes, those Champions are getting ready for the most prestigious show in the United States, and at the shows going on this week and those over the next year are young adults and puppies working to gain the points to become a new Champion.  New Champions are proving themselves over and over that they are special and deserve another Best of Breed.  All of them on a hopeful path to the next WKC in 2009.  A new year starts us all off with new goals and new dreams.  In February, one dog, with a team of responsible breeders, handlers, vets, and trainers all behind it will share in the achievement of winning the ultimate.  This year there are four new breeds that will be represented for the first time.  Now, I hope you will better understand how truly remarkable it is that the dogs perform as they do when you see them live on the television.  Be there on February 11th and 12th to cheer them all on, either on line at www.westminsterkennelclub.org and/or with the USA Network at 8pm each night.  I will be!  And I will be fondly thinking of Jazz and our memories together there, and smile.

Till later, woofs!