About Westminster Dog Show: The Winner

affenpinscher

Photo credit: Wikipedia   Affenpinscher  ( this is not the winning dog)  obtained from Wikipedia

This winner this year, of this prestigious show, which by the way is a sporting event, rose from the ranks of the toy group. This might be a breed that many people have known little or nothing about.  He is a solid black cocky looking little Affenpinscher guy who trotted around  the huge ring as if he owned the place.

I’ve seen judges interviewed on TV and I’ve heard more than one say that sometimes the winner is the one that has the proud gait, an expression and demeanor  that seems to say “look at me” or something to that effect.

This was the 137th dog show held which is sponsored by the American Kennel Club. This event is considered  the oldest official sporting event of any kind.  This is sort of hard for me to wrap my head around but that is what I read about this very huge event.

www.petside.com/slideshow/westminster-photos-mondays-group-winners

Renal Failure in Dogs: Meds, Treatments, and Diet

Rocket loved to ride the electric cart.

Rocket walking toward me

 

 

 

 

Rocket just retrieved his favorite toy ball

Rocket watching for something to bark about

Rocket waiting for the driver.

As I  have written in an earlier post, I mentioned that my beloved Border Collie is in renal failure. Keeping my dog around longer requires a certain amount of nursing care/treatments each day. I try to make his food appealing so this is what I feed him: a very small amount of bits of chicken breast, canned Purina NF, and left over roasted chicken juice that I have concocted to pour over the his food mixture. Renal failure animals are SUPPOSED TO EAT A LOW PROTEIN DIET and that is one of the problems to get your pet to eat. The left juice of the cooked roasted chicken improves the flavor or so it seems.  Often times the sicker or more debilitated the animal becomes the finickier the appetite. Then add to all of that the propect that he might or might now eat depending on how worried he is about something going on outside that he deems his duty to watch  over.

I give him 250ml of Ringer’s lactate twice a day (that is BID in medical/nursing speak), 2 injections of Reglan about 10-12 hours apart and Pepcid 7.5mg po (by mouth) BID, and last but not least to keep him on his feet, he gets 1/2 tablet of Tramadol )for pain. I must say that the Tramadol makes a   huge difference. He runs almost as fast as he did as a young dog for the Tramadol keeps the pain, in his arthritic legs, at a level that enables him to function as a pretty happy dog. Oh, I forgot, every third day he gets 1 and 1/2 ml of vitamin B12 and 1 and 1/2 ml of vitamin B complex. B12 helps keep his RBC (red blood count) up,which keeps him from becoming totally anemic. B complex stimulates the appetite and aids the kidneys in some sort of way- I’m not sure just how that works but there is a new product on the market which is advertised as an aid to the kidneys. When I have time to look that up I’ll let you  guys know what I learned (hopefully something) Ha-ha!!!!

I loaned my truck to Dr. D’s once in while, part time week-end tech. She could get the brakes fixed in our little town a lot cheaper and worry free. So while “J” was here she drew blood on 3 animals one of which was Rocket. His BUN is pretty high and by that I really mean it is not pretty when it is 114. BUN stands for Bilirubin, Urea, Nitrogen. This is test that shows the level at which the kidneys are working or to put this in plain English, (how well the kidneys are clearing the waste (toxins) from the body. Once the kidneys stop working- that is all “she wrote” for no amount of sub cu fluids will help. The body just shuts down from toxicity which includes damage the heart and other vital organs.

I dread the day when Rocket can no longer get up from his bed or when he completely stops eating. Euthanasia of my animals does not get easier- in fact I think it has gotten harder the more I age.

Rocket still loves to ride on the electric cart and to retrieve a ball that I gently roll toward him so that he does not run after it in typical Border Collie fashion. As I write this I hear him barking as he is running around the house as Duke  (my helper with the animals) goes about his chores.

The top two pix were taken within the past 2 weeks. The botom pic was taken about November, I think. I the exact date that it was taken was on the [ic but I failed to get the date before I uploaded.

Post and photographs Yvonne Daniel

 

Big Money Wins: Animal Exploitation? January 30,2012 11:02pm

 

This post is about information that I garnered from The Dogster.com.  I’m going to give it a boost here- it really does not need any promotion because it has all the latest and greatest news stories about dogs and people. It is a wonderful web site that I discovered quite a while ago and then finally subscribed to their newsletter. The web site has wonderful articles/posts/stories or whatever you wish to call them. I read the post/s that I find interesting and most of them I read except for those that sound just too heart breaking.

But getting on with the crux of this post. Just about everyone who is anyone has probably heard of the shoe brand Sketchers. The company produced an ad that will air on Super Bowl Sunday. So bear with me and I’ll attempt to describe the ad. The ad people went to a greyhound track in Tuscon, Arizona where greyhounds have been raced for many years. According to people in the know, this track does not treat the dogs in a humane manner. I will not go any further here to describe the exact conditions but from what I have read, IT AINT, good.

Over the past three years, according again, to what I have read, 1000 dogs, (that is one thousand) have been severely injured. And if you are a dog person then I believe you know what happens to a racing dog that is injured. For those of you who do not know- the injured dog is disposed of (as in either given a lethal injection or gassed). I do not know what that particular track uses.

The ad was filmed at the track which pitted a French bulldog running a race with a greyhound and of course the bulldog wins the race. (Sketchers equals fast) The dog was wearing Sketchers on all four paws. In my humble opinion and in the opinion of many animal rights activists, the ad is a disgrace or maybe we should just say inappropriate since it all took place at a race track with a very poor record. I’m not writing about winning  greyhounds here. I’m pointing out that this track, among many others treats the dogs in a very poor manner. Furthermore, the ad appears to promote greyhound racing.

What really bothers me is the fact that most people who go to a race have not the slightest idea of what humane treatment means and probably do not care. Well there you have it. My beef for a good while to come.  Oh, I almost forgot- I have at least two more posts about greyhounds- in draft form.

I would love some input from a reader/s if anyone out there bothers to read this post. It is pretty sad when for the past several months, the only comments that I get are from spammers! 

Post Yvonne Daniel

 

Do You Allow Your Dog/s to Sniff the Ground When Outdoors?

 

 

Rocket on his way to find another pace to sniff

 

Rocket having fun sniffing

Rocket. Must have found an enticing scent

Rocket found a “lovely” scent

Rocket enjoying a good sniff

   

Several weeks ago I read that we, dog owners should allow out pet/s to enjoy themselves more- such as sniffing for all the various scents that our dog/s love. I thought that was rather odd since I just have never given sniffing much thought other than to watch my dogs have fun with their nose to the ground.   

I read this on an Internet site and their were some comments from readers that, we do not allow our pets much freedom and fun. According to the article, it was the writer’s opinion that sniffing is one huge pleasurable activity in which our dogs should be given more time to engage in and thus have more fun.  

For some dogs such as the Beagle and other hunting breeds one would think that the dog would constantly have its nose to the ground or concrete- whatever the case might be. I think most dogs- no matter the breed love to sniff.  

The comments went on to cats where some individuals believed that they were depriving their pet of the wonderment of the great outdoors. I, for one believe that is taking the subject of deprivation to whole new level. Several commenters said they had begun letting their cat go outdoors.  Guilt was the deciding factor. Apparently these people did not even begin to realize the perils of letting their cat roam around at will. From experience, I can tell you that many eons ago, my husband would let any cat go out the door that wanted out.  I then would chase the cat and bring it back inside. Sad, but true, I “lost” several cats to coyotes and two that were killed by cars.  I was finally able to add an addition to the back of the house with a large wire run and have not lost any cats since. My husband did not approve of the addition but I paid for all of it myself.   

I do not understand the justification for letting an animal roam which can not think for itself anymore than a toddler has the ability to realize all of the inherent dangers of what is lurking at just about every corner. I compare free ranging cats to letting your small child play unattended which could result in the child being kidnapped, killed, or run over by a car. Same thing goes for pet owners who let their dog  “potty” anywhere in the neighborhood or cat owners who have never considered the fact that your neighbors might just not like having a cat use their flower bed as a litter box or have paw prints that can clearly be seen going across the hood of their car.  

 I strayed from the original topic- sorry for the digression. I’ll stop with the lecture and get on with the sniffing thing. I am very lucky to live on an acre in the city. Our property was purchased many years ago when there was no one around. Now we are surrounded by homes but our acre is fenced and gated so I can let my dogs run, play, and sniff about every 2 hours or so during the day. I just happened to take some photos of Rocket my old Border Collie as he sniffed his way across our yard one day.  

Post and photography Yvonne Daniel   

   

Correction of Info Statistic for Dogs With Bloat (please re-read this article) 12/6/2011 5:50pm

 

This writer un-intentionally entered an incorrect number for a statistic. For dogs that have bloated, required surgery, and then had the stomach sewed to the wall of the abdominal cavity- the number of dogs that bloated again should have read approximately 6%. This has since been corrected but was done at approximately 3pm on December 6, 2011. I apologize for the error. (I did not proof read several times as I should have.)

Please note: Statistics vary a small amount in various reference articles that I read. The bottom line is to please know your dog, how to recognize the symptoms of bloat, and even if you are in doubt, DO NOT HESITATE. Get -Immediate- Help. Time is of the essence for a favorable outcome of this condition. Hopefully anyone that owns a dog that reads this is a responsible pet owner.

Post  Yvonne Daniel

Large Dog Breeds That Are At Risk To Bloat

The list in alphabetical order

Afghan Hound

Airedale Terrier

Akita

Alaskan Malamute

Bassett Hound

Bernese Mountain Dog

Blood Hound

Borzoi

Boxer

Bullmastiff

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Collie

Dachshund

Doberman

English Springer Spaniel

Fila Brasileiro

Great Dane

Great Pyrenees

German Shepherd

Golden Retriever

Irish Setter

Irish Wolfhound

King Shepherd

Kuvasz

Labrador Retriever

Miniature Poodle

Newfoundland

Old Englkish Sheep Dog

Pekinese

Rottweiler

Samoyed

Shiloh Shepherd

Standard Poodle

St Bernard

Weimaraner

Sight Hounds

Blood Hounds

Note: It is possible for any breed to bloat.

Post  Yvonne Daniel

 

Thanksgiving. Eat The Bird But Don’t Let Your Pet Escape: (Part III)

Holidays are a great source of happiness, merriment, and excitement. Your  home can begin to feel like Grand Central Station not only for you but most of all , for your pet/s. Too many unfamiliar faces with children and adults as well that don’t give a second thought to standing in the doorway which then gives your beloved animal a means for escape from all of the commotion and ado.

These are just a few suggestions to keep Fido, Fifi, Mittens, and Muffet safe from harm. If you have a spare room by all means relegate your pet to a quiet sanctuary where your pet/s can relax in peace and comfort. A bed or beds, food and water bowl and a litter box for the cat or cats. Putting your animal in a spare or quiet room- bedroom, bathroom, laundry room or even a large cage in the garage will allow you to relax and have comfort in knowing that your pet/s will not be able to run outdoors where it likely will get lost. Unfamiliar noise and people cause pets to panic or seize the moment to escape through a door that has been left ajar.

Many people lose a pet during holidays, traveling, an illness, or anything that causes a disruption in their regular pattern of living. So do not be lax – take precautions to keep your pet safely indoors. One more thing. There has been a huge increase in the numbers of pets that are stolen from backyards, front yards, inside homes, etc. Don’t take chances.  Keep your eye on your pet and if it is an outside dog or cat- put your animal inside or in a large cage in the garage or just the garage itself ) if you possibly can.

There is so much grief involved if you lose a pet. Looking for a lost pet is hellish. I know because I’ve been there-done that! And I never did find my pet. 

Last but not least- this is a bit late for Thanksgiving but get your pet/s microchipped. This gives you just one more tool to recover your pet should it be taken to an animal shelter when lost.

Did You Call My Dog a Mutt? (click on photo to enlarge)

Puppy: My Border collie x Australian Shepherd. A really smart dog.

Puppy waiting for a ride on the cart. Example of a mutt. Border Collie x Australian Shepherd cross.

Puppy is a Border Collie/ Australian Shepherd cross.

Numerous individuals take great offense if their dog is referred to as a mutt. Here in the states a dog of unknown ancestry which could mean the mix of numerous breeds, is generally called a mutt- AKA mixed breed, mongrel, feist, Heinz 57 variety and, cur. 

Folks who own a purebred dog with a known pedigree can laugh all they want but the truth of the matter, to me, is the heart of any dog. I am a strong proponent mutts. Throughout my life almost all of the dogs that I have been fortunate to call mine, have been mutts. This assortment of mutts were smart, loyal, watchful and, loving. Each of my dogs brought a different personality and all of them lived to  13-15 years of age with no health problems to deal with. Maybe I was lucky. 🙂 

A mutt simply means that it has no known history of its pedigree or that it is clearly not a purebred dog. It is generally the result of random breeding but often this type of breeding actually produces a healthier animal (as a rule). 

Then there is the dog of mixed breeding which some people still call a mutt (if you are a snob). Numerous individuals intentionally cross breed two breeds in order to create desired traits.  This is often seen in rural areas where farmers and ranchers are looking for a dog that has a little extra special something.  It may be to create a better hunting dog or herding dog. In central Texas the Border collie is often crossed with an Australian Shepherd and these dogs are indeed pretty, very smart and, are often much healthier than their ancestors. 

The smartest dog that I have ever owned happens to be a Border Collie and Australian Shepherd cross. I have taught him a number of tricks. If he were not intelligent, he would still be my favorite dog of all my dogs.  

An example of a mixed breed dog is the Labradoodle which has become quite popular. Obviously the name implies that this dog is poodle and labrador cross. I wrote an earlier post about the fascinating history of this breed.  

 Look for a re-posted “Designer Dogs, The Pros And The Cons   July 27,2011    (All about the labradoodle that is considered a mutt by AKC standards) 

Post and photography Yvonne Daniel

The Fuzzy Dog Being Groomed and More About the Book Sale

 

Wally with his “barber”

It is 2:42 am and I am just now getting around to writing a post for today ,Wednesday. When I arrived at the book sale which was held at the fair grounds, it was 10:15am and cars and trucks were in profusion. As I stood in line waiting to get through the door, a city policeman was stationed at the door and I spoke with him briefly. I said, Gee, I haven’t been to a book sale in 20 years and from the looks of things I should have been here as soon as the door opened. He  replied, “When I got here about 9:45 there were a number of people in sleeping bags and they had spent the entire night out here in the cold. I said, What in the world has made this book sale so popular?” The policeman replied, “well for one thing there are many books and all of them are organized in categories. People have been coming from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, etc to stock up on books for their shop or to resell on e-bay and so on.”

By the time I made it to the desk, a white band with the number 308 was placed on my wrist which meant that 307 people were already inside. And believe me, were they ever. People were going through stacks of books with a scanner- I suppose that was to help them locate a particular book.  These individuals, I could tell were the pros, meaning they were there to find books for resale and also hoping to locate a rare edition. The people with scanners used portable carts which really served the purpose. 

I had never been to a book sale of that magnitude. It was great for people watching. I had to ask directions to the pet section and nature section.  I bought about 16 books. No book cost more than $1.50 but most books were at least 15-25 years old or more. Despite the age of the books, all were in very good condition and those I bought, I considered to be worth the money. 

Dogs That Play “Rough and Tumble” (click photos to enlarge)

Thinking and watching

This berry looks just right

Molly in sepia color

I shall choose just the right one

Molly, “I’ll get even with that oaf.”

Rocket, “I will not look at dumb dogs.”

Perfect desert

Molly, “That pup is a butt biter. I am not a cow.”

Rocket (Border Collie), “Those dogs are disgusting”.

A quiet watch from the beautyberry shrub

Molly, “That pip squeak meeds to go home,now!”

 

Three of my dogs love playtime which is several times a day. Lately they’ve had a visitor, Zoey, to play with who REALLY likes to play rough. She is becoming well socialized with other dogs and people. In fact, maybe she is too socialized, as far as her dog friends are concerned. There is one problem when she plays. Zoey, the none chocolate dog in the photos, happens to be an Australian Cattle Dog. This dog breed herds cattle by biting or nipping at the heels/butt of any cow that is not moving along with the herd. So, given the nature of this little dog, she bites the other dogs as she plays. The bites are almost always on the rump. I have watched the dogs play and she gets down and dirty with the two labs. Puppy, the other chocolate colored dog is a Border Collie and Australian Shepherd cross who is very nimble and is smart enough to stay out of her way. 

 

Puppy, is the smartest dog that I have ever had the privilege of owning. I have taught him several tricks that have people laughing and wanting to know how I taught him  one particular trick. One day, when I am brave enough to attempt a video with my camera, I will try to capture his best “bark forward.”   

I decided to see what some of the photos would look like posted with captions, so this will be my first attempt trying something different.    

Readers/ viewers please excuse typo under one photo which came out as (meeds instead of needs). I worked and worked to correct the error BUT, it ain’t (isn’t) easy for someone that had one short crash course in how to post pics- It is difficult to explain  the process of getting the photos over to the admin. section and then getting them into a thumbnail gallery plus trying to line them up which causes me a great deal of anxiety and frustration. Anyooooo, I hope to soon get a better handle on this admin. section. Please be tolerant of ignorance.  That old saying of “ignorance is bliss” it just not true in my case.  I am not joking. I have gotten tension headaches from working on this blog. I learned how to work in the admin section with one short tutoring session and the cotton-picking thing will just not behave.  Could I just blame it on my computer? 

Now I just committed another error which I have no idea how to get rid of. Folks, all of  my nutiness is making me really angry. I have no idea how I managed to get a Molly sepia photo in the gallery group of dogs. I can not get rid of it tonight and I am now too tired to keep trying.

Post and photographs Yvonne Daniel

 

 

The Australian Cattle Dog (AKA: Red or Blue Heeler) August 3, 2011 12:30am

Zoey: ” I’ve got the stick. They can’t catch me now.”

Australian Cattel Dog puppy: Zoey” four months old trying to catch the older dogs

The three popular herding breeds where I live are the Border Collie, Australian Shepherd and the Australian Cattle Dog (or blue or red heeler as they are called by some people).

Down in Australia, the early pioneers of the 1880s developed a breed that could endure the harsh environment of Queensland, Australia. A dog was needed that was smart and could instinctively herd with little training. Several breeds were used to develop this dog. So the settlers used the blue merle Collie, Dingo, Dalmation, black and tan Kelpie and some people believe that a little bit of Bull Terrier was also added. The Dalmation gene is also present. pies, from what I have read and observed, are born white.  

These dogs are compact, robust, muscled, agile, extremely intelligent, and easy to train. With an owner that understands this dog’s needs, he can be a master of just about any job. This breed is suited for herding, agility, frisbee, retrieving, and performing tricks. He is a rapid learner and it is believed that this dog can think for himself. Initially many people docked the tail-  now most people leave the tail long. Now and then a puppy will be born with a stumpy tail. This breed has a smooth, short double coat with an undercoat that is very dense. The cattle dog is known as a heavy shedder and needs a good combing and brushing at least weekly.

It is a dog that  MUST HAVE A JOB OR LOTS AND LOTS OF EXERCISE. It is not a dog for an apartment unless you can provide ample exercise. The dog should receive early socialization with other dogs, animals, and people. He can easily become dominant if the owner is not strong and able to be the pack leader. It is a dog that will bond with its owner and will make an excellent watch dog. I can not stress enough that early socialization is a must, for this breed can become dog and people aggressive.

If you want a dog to just be a pet and one to accompany you for jogging , hiking, etc, then do not obtain a dog from a working line of Australian Cattle Dogs. This is a fun breed to own but you must do your part to keep him happy, non destructive, and well balanced.

Some last words of advise. Be wise. Do your home work. Beware and check out the breeder’s property to make sure it is not a puppy mill. Never buy a puppy unless you can see the breeder’s property and breeding facilities. Last but not least- look for a puppy or adult dog  at your city animal shelter and save a life. You’ll be glad you did. </span

Westminster Dog Show: “The creme de la creme”

 Many years ago, when I began watching the Westminster Dog Show on TV,  I wondered what qualifications the dogs needed for entry into this most prestigious of all dogs shows.  In 2000 I finally bought a computer for home use and I was able to research just about everything pertaining to Westminster Dog Show. But be aware that if you have the intention of getting into the business of showing or owning a registered dog the cost is s-t-e-e-p!  Lots of travel is involved and merely buying a dog with show dog qualities will cost thousands of dollars. Some dogs are owned by 2 are more people and some of the owners prefer to hire a professional to handle their dog for showing. Some owners are also breeders and show their own dogs.

A Best in Show at Westminster sends the breeding fee of the bitch (female dog) and the stud (male dog) way up there and I mean above what the average person would pay for a registered dog.

I’ll name the qualifications which will get you and your dog an invitation to participate in the event.. 1. The dog must be in the American Kennel Club stud book or other recognized pedigree registry. 2. Your dog must be among the top 5 dogs within a recognized breed with the most points earned from other shows of the past year. 3. If you did not get an invitation then you can complete an entry form and hope that your dog will be among the first 2,500 entries being accepted to the show.  4. Entries are accepted from other countries.

The first Westminster show was held in 1877. That just proves that  purebred dogs have been in man’s favor for quite a long time.  The actual judging began in 1907. The dog show is the oldest continuously held sporting event. I did not realize that a dog show was considered a sporting event but none the less this event seems to gain in popularity.

Each year this event is held in Madison Square Garden which is quite a large arena to accommodate so many dogs and their entourage of handlers, groomers, cages, owners, and media people wandering around with cameras and microphones. This year there were 2,500 entries. Literally the place had gone to the dogs –of all sizes, colors, and some with bodies that don’t seem to go with the rest of the dog. Lest you think I’m mocking the event- well, think not. Watching the show on TV sort of boggles my mind. The dogs are so clean, groomed to perfection, and well mannered.

There are seven classifications  (groups) in which a particular breed is placed. The groups are: Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding. I garnered some interesting facts about the show’s winners. The Smooth Fox Terrier won best in show for three consecutive years: 1907, 1908, and 1909. And so it seems as if the Fox Terrier has been on a roll with the Wire Fox Terrier winning Best Of Show, 13 times.  Six dogs of various breeds have won Best in Show 2 times. It is interesting to note that no dog listed in the top ten of America’s favorite breeds has ever won. The Labrador Retriever has the distinction of the most dogs registered  in the AKC for a number of years.

Here’s a list of the  Best in Show winners  of the last ten years.

1998: Norwich Terrier  1999: Papillon   2000:  English Springer Spaniel   2001: Bichon Frise   2002: Miniature Poodle   2003:  Kerry Blue Terrier    2004:  Newfoundland   2005:  German Shorthaired Pointer   2006:  Bull Terrier (colored)  2007:  English Springer Spaniel    2008:  Beagle (15″)   2009:  Sussex Spaniel   2010: Scottish Terrier  2011: Scottish Deerhound.

Six new breeds were finally accepted into the AKC and they are: Boykin Spaniel (an American breed), Bluetick Coonhound (an American breed), Redbone Coonhound (an American Breed, Cane Corso, Leonberger, and Icelandic Sheep Dog.

Now to get to the 10 most registered breeds of dogs of the past year. These are listed according to popularity: 1. Labrador Retriever    2. German Shepherd   3. Yorkshire  Terrier   4: Beagle   
5.GoldenRetriever   6.Bulldog   7.Boxer    8.Dachshund                                                                                                                                        9. Poodle   10. Shih Tzu

Post by Yvonne Daniel     (My dogs are purebreds and mutts. All are rescues).    For the future:  posts re: my thoughts about purebred dogs versus mutts.