Posts by Laura Reeves
442 – How to Prioritize the Males in a Breeding Program
How to Prioritize the Males in a Breeding Program
Dale Martenson, renowned breeder at Touche Japanese Chin, joins host Laura Reeves for a conversation about when, why and how to prioritize male dogs in a breeding program. Everyone knows to keep a bitch. But it can be much more challenging to keep good stud dogs to move a breeding program forward.
With a shoutout to Kenny Rogers, “You gotta know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em”…
“Every gambler knows
That the secret to survivin’
Is knowin’ what to throw away
And knowin’ what to keep
‘Cause every hand’s a winner
And every hand’s a loser”
“Most breeders have two or three bitches,” Martenson said. “But (if they) keep a male puppy, he’s too closely related to the mother, the sister and the aunt that they already have … so really what needs to happen, is people need to get a circle of friends together where they can keep stud dogs in kind of a joint ownership that they can share … because very quickly after you’ve used your dog once or twice you may not need that dog …
“Your other option is you can go ahead and collect that dog, freeze it and put it on ice … so you can reuse that later on when your pedigrees are open enough to take it, when you’ve gone down the road a couple generations.
“We really have to try to keep as much diversity as possible (in our breeds) and it helps having those dogs available. But the other thin,g when you go to just use a stud dog and you haven’t bred from it, you really don’t know what you’re gonna get from that dog until you’ve had a couple of outcross litters, and a couple of line bred litters and you’ve watched the puppies grow up out of them. You won’t know your long run health testing for four or five years,” Martenson said. It’s a long range proposition, he added.
“We take such comfort in what we don’t know. Not knowing is like the blind faith in the universe that we’re not gonna worry ‘bout this it’s all gonna be fine… You go and you import something from another country … you don’t really know much of anything behind it… they’re pretty radical outcross and you just don’t know.”
For more of Dale’s take on prepotent sires, “name brand” sires, NOT breeding to ribbons and so much more, be sure to download and listen today.
441 – Veterinary Voice: Infertility in the Stud Dog
Veterinary Voice: Infertility in the Stud Dog
November is all about boy dogs! Dr. Marty Greer joins host Laura Reeves for a conversation about the causes of infertility in the stud dog. From poor collection technique to managing enlarged prostate and more uncommon problems, Greer provides invaluable insight into the causes and potential treatments of sterility or low fertility in male dogs.
“We can start with defining the difference between fertility, infertility and sterility,” Greer said. “Infertility is low fertility. Sterility is a permanent condition. So if your dog is sterile, there’s no going back. The implication is that his fertility is low and in some cases, not all but in some cases, we can restore fertility with the combination of appropriate diagnostic work up, appropriate intervention for medications and nutritional supplements and diet.
“So those are kind of the four hallmarks of what we can do for your stud dog. Sterile would be, by my definition, on more than one occasion doing a collection of the stud dog and getting no sperm. Zero live or dead sperm on multiple collections. So there may be sperm that are there that are dead. There may be sperm there in low numbers. But if you see absolutely no sperm on more than one occasion, and you think you had a pretty good collection based on his libido, then I would probably classify him a sterile. But we can certainly talk about some of the diagnostic testing that should be done.
“The sperm are made in the testicle and then the epididymis is the conduit by which the sperm leave the testicle and make it up into the urethra and are ejaculated. So it’s this series of really cool, tightly little coiled tubules that run on the backside of the testicle and up around and then into the urethra where the ejaculate comes from. So the epididymis, if it’s blocked somewhere in that on both sides, then you’re not going to get sperm.
Hands off the junk, lady!
Some young or inexperienced stud dogs may not fully ejaculate because “their head’s not in the game,” Greer noted. She shared tips for getting a better collection from the male.
“Mostly it’s practice. A lot of those are dogs that have been in pet type home, not a breeders type home. You basically need some practice. You need a dog that has a really good female in heat standing in front of him. A really cooperative female. So not a bulldog that’s making weird snorting noises, even if she’s nice, ’cause sometimes that’s misconstrued as a growl. Not a dog that’s going to turn around and kind of nibble at the boy. But a girl that’s going to back into him and send an engraved invitation, ‘hey big boy it’s over here.’ So you want to have an experienced, really cooperative, in heat, at the appropriate time in heat, female. That’s not always easy to achieve, as you know, you don’t always get to pull one off the shelf when you need one.”
Prostate myths
“Many people are confused about what to do with prostate disease,” Greer observed. “There’s basically four different categories of disorders we can see in the prostate. We can see benign prostatic hypertrophy, prostatitis, prostatic cysts and there can be cancer of the prostate. So those are the four general diseases that we see. A lot of dogs when they’re age 5 and older, when they’re around a female in heat … will stimulate the dog to develop some enlargement of his prostate. After age 5 will see these dogs stand up from laying down or walk into the house and blood will be dripping from the penis. Every veterinarian that doesn’t do reproduction says ‘oh OK, there’s two things we have to do here. One we have to put him on an antibiotic and two we have to neuter him.’ Well actually, both of those things are incorrect.”
440 – Successfully Collecting, Shipping and Freezing “Swimmers”
Successfully Collecting, Shipping and Freezing “Swimmers”
Shannon and Sydney Stone from ICSB NorCal join host Laura Reeves for a detailed and educational conversation about collecting, shipping and freezi
ng a stud dog’s semen, aka “swimmers.”
Mother and daughter share their vast experience with different extender media, freezing methods and tips and tricks for a successful collection of the stud dog.
Test drive extenders
For fresh chilled collections, Shannon strongly advocates for collecting a potential stud dog and doing a “chill test.” This enables the practitioners to save the semen in a variety of available media in order to be sure which one works best with the specific dog. Dogs are individuals and not all semen will survive in every media. It is critical to know this *before* that super important, exciting breeding that has been planned for years.
“It just basically boils down to finding the best media for your dog,” Shannon said. “There’s so many good medias on the market right now, it’s just what’s the best fit for your dog and what works best for you as a stud owner.
“Some of the best collections we see are ones where either the owner has a centrifuge or they took the dog to the vet and the collection is centrifuged and we’re only getting that sperm rich fraction added to the media.
“Kind of a rule of thumb that we’ve seen is, no matter what media you’re using, you can expect that … the loss of integrity to be about 20% per day that you’re holding a sample. So say you get a sample in on Friday or Saturday but the bitch really isn’t gonna be ready to breed til like Monday or Tuesday. We can check the semen and if we need to add a little bit, as long as we know what media was sent in, you can sometimes add a little fresh media to perk it up.
“What we say to our clients that are going to be shipping basically … a sample is always better in the bitch than in the box.”
Pellets vs straws
Frozen semen is stored in one of two methods. As “straws,” the original method developed by cattle breeders, often called “cattle straws” and “pellets” the method developed originally by ICSB. Sydney recommends, again, a freeze test to be sure which method is best for the individual stud dog.
The primary importance, Shannon noted, is to work with a veterinarian who is accustomed to the type of freezing method chosen. Thawing pellets and straws is two completely different processes. Using the wrong thaw method for the type of frozen semen will kill it immediately.
Collection Tips and Tricks
Technique, a teaser bitch and a relaxed stud dog are the keys to success, the team agreed.
“You have to know your dog and kind of change things up to accommodate him,” Shannon said. “It’s not one size fits all.”
Listen to our previous stud dog series with Shannon and Sydney here, here, here and here.
439 — Throwbacks: Competition vs Collaboration; Safety and Grace
Throwbacks: Competition vs Collaboration, Safety and Grace
Laura throws back to 2017 As the Wheels Turn columns touching on big topics to celebrate the final day of Back to School month.
You Win. I Lose.
Many of us involved with purebred dogs find purpose, excitement and enjoyment in the heat of competition. The adrenaline rush is part of the passion we bring to the game. Whether it is realized in the whelping box, in the show ring or in competitive performance venues. It becomes ingrained deep in the grooves of our brains…. Winning is good. Losing is bad.
That’s fine as far as it goes.
But…
Sometimes the passion morphs and becomes something altogether different. The “If You Win, I Lose” mindset is the root of many evils in our fancy. It applies to everything from jealousy over another exhibitor’s win to the fiefdoms of kennel clubs. We encounter it in the *expectation* that any friendly overture has an ulterior motive.
As a whole and with exceptions in emergencies, we are not a cohesive group. Number one. First. Best. Foremost. Record-setting. These are our golden idols and, too often, we guard them viciously.
But that “dog in a manger” attitude serves only to divide and conquer our fancy.
How does it hurt you to help someone else? What harm to have two good dogs, ideas or events? What if we celebrate, support and cheer on others who are doing well or doing good?
Teach the newbie. Help the youngster. Support someone else who has a good dog, a good idea or an exciting plan. What’s the worst possible thing that could happen? That you wouldn’t be the best? The point of the exercise to challenge ourselves to continue to improve — our breed, our skills, our knowledge. The only way that will happen is if someone comes along with a better mousetrap, as they say, and we have to improve on our design.
Ours is a tiny microcosm of the real world. We would do well to remember that making it smaller with petty squabbling does nothing more than weaken our ability to resist outside forces working hard to squash us all like bugs. Anybody read the AVMA proposal about “regulating breeders”? I highly recommend Bill Shelton’s article in the June 6 “Dog News Magazine” for a bit of perspective.
Let’s make a conscious decision to see others’ success as the same as our own. Because then, the purebred dog fancy becomes a powerful force for good in the world. When you win, we ALL win takes us to an entirely different level of influence. Whether in legislative matters or in creating an appealing and exciting sport which draws participation and builds our future from within.
Winter wonderland
Traveling to winter shows can be a little dicey (heck, in some parts of the country questionable driving weather lasts until May!). Ya’ll down there in Florida, just be careful of the weather envy being directed your way.
I can remember driving to the St. Paul, Minn. shows when I lived in Nebraska. Driving on I-80 looking at *hundreds* of cars literally upside down on the side of the road before I decided it was time to pull over and stop somewhere. Or driving home from Chicago and all of the sudden the water on the antenna in the RV wasn’t dripping anymore and the road was freezing around me…
In the dog fancy, we sometimes have to make choices. Decisions that should be easy in terms of safety first are often questioned … But, I could win! But, I could starve! But, but, but….
In the Pacific Northwest we don’t normally get hammered with the type of weather other parts of the country deal with routinely. Snow, ice, and dangerous roads. Here, sadly, we are often poorly equipped to deal with it… snow plows, de-icer, sand and salt being foreign language in the land where it never (well almost) gets above 80 degrees (F) or below 30…
I personally missed out on Palm Springs a few years back due to weather. A good friend (another handler) chose to cancel out on the Puyallup shows rather than fight through sheets of ice on the roads between here and there.
As we speak, people are stranded, the freeway closed for ice storms. Flights get canceled and judges can’t get out. Inevitably, every 5 years or so, even the Garden has such a horrible blizzard people can’t get there … one reason some folks were thrilled to see Westminster Kennel Club moved to June this year.
So, I guess my point is this. When and what makes the call for you? Either professional or amateur. At what point is it not worth it?
When I announced to my social media (clients, friends, etc) that I wasn’t going to make it to that Palm Springs show, there were lots of supportive comments (at least publicly). Then I saw this note from a former boss, friend and mentor… I was quite startled at first, but it brought tears to my eyes as I read along.
“Oh for goodness sake Laura. I thought I taught you better than this. Toughen up girl.
You need to let the “Dog Show Addiction” take over your judgement. Screw with your safety let alone the dogs safety the(re) is a Dog Show to get to.
“Does it really matter if the end result is you end up in a ditch freezing? Maybe you just lose a dog or two. No matter someone will tow you out and you still may make the last day it’s the best judge for that last point anyway. As long as you don’t have a head on crash with a Semi that wipes you and the dogs out which God Forbid might break a major. At least they will say you tried to make it. …”
While the comment ended with praise for my decisions and generally glowing character, the initial shock to my system was I could actually **hear** other people saying *exactly* this… And meaning it.
In what world is a dog show worth risking our lives or our dogs’ lives? (PS I’m not even touching COVID, but it does have some bearing here….) The older I get, the more risk averse, I suppose.
It all goes hand in hand with when is it too hot in the summer to show dogs outdoors, and so on.
I guess, for me, the decision is about the dogs. Will they be safe? Is there a better than the average “every time I drive somewhere an idiot could crash into me” chance of disaster? We band together to watch each other’s backs, report road hazards, caravan, cover dogs, offer safe stopping places and otherwise be of assistance. But in the end, each of us has to make these decisions for ourselves and for the dogs in our care.
Let’s continue to support one another as we all do the very best we can do, with what we have to work with. To my friends, cohorts and companions, I bow to your strength and endurance and enduring humor in the face of what sometimes seems overwhelming adversity.
Seven virtues
Let’s all try to practice the grace we’d like to receive for our own failings…
“In the Catholic catechism, the seven virtues refers to the union of two sets of virtues. The four cardinal virtues, from ancient Greek philosophy, are prudence, justice, temperance (or restraint), and courage (or fortitude).
The three theological virtues, from the letters of St. Paul of Tarsus, are faith, hope, and charity (or love). These were adopted by the Church Fathers as the Seven Virtues.” — Wikkipedia
The beautiful part of this topic is it strikes to the core of why so many of us have stayed loyal to what can be a tough sport. I know there are folks out there who have never experienced some of these aspects of the fancy. It makes me sad. I can only offer the input of long-time fanciers. And suggest that, as in anything, we get what we give.
Courage
From reader Maryke Nau, Ridgefield, WA:
“One of the seven virtues that struck me for the dog show world based on many of the conversations I have been having with breeders was Courage, from a few different perspectives:
*Merely taking your beloved pet, the hours of time and money and raising, and asking somebody to give their objective opinion is courageous, especially when the “judge” rarely has to give any reasoning, you just have to suck it up and take the opinion.
*No other sport has amateurs competing against professionals. These owner-handlers who do this as a hobby and compete against someone that makes it their entire life is nothing short of courageous.
*Many breeds face challenges with clearances and health issues, but it is the courageous breeders that are public for the sake of learning and willing to address their issues, even it means starting over. When somebody says they don’t have any health issues, it merely means they haven’t been honest and courageous enough to look.”
Charity
From reader Linda Ercoli, Southern California:
This organization is perhaps the quintessential “heart” of our tribe. For every story of people helping people on a purely personal level, and they are legion,TTL multiplies the effort and takes it to a whole new level.
In the 20 years since its inception, TTL has paid out $3,879,017 to members of the fancy who were desperately in need.
From the TTL website:
“Take the Lead was founded in 1993 as a not-for-profit foundation under Section 501 (c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code dedicated to provide direct services, support and care for all qualified participants in the sport of dogs who suffer from the devastating realities of life-threatening or terminal illnesses.
The AIDS crisis opened our eyes to the many ruthless illnesses that were
challenging us to our very core. Though we came together week in and week out to compete at shows and trials, to participate in club activities, to share knowledge and common interests, we had inadequate resources in any one place to take care of those in our community who so clearly needed our help…….
In 1995, we established a permanent restricted fund and determined that up to one half of each year’s net income would be placed in it. Already we have seen this seed investment become a substantial asset. It is our goal that one day the interest earned on this endowment will provide more than enough income to cover the expenses of everyone in our sport who qualifies for assistance.”
Learn more at http://takethelead.org/
Prudence
A reader emailed me early on in the publication of this column with commentary on the topic of professional handlers being too chummy with judges. One of the statements in this missive completely floored me. “We don’t know any judges.”
My first thought was, why not? They aren’t aliens! Volunteer for your all-breed club. Ring steward. Help with hospitality. Join a committee within your national or local breed club. Get involved in something larger than just yourself. When you have that background, inevitably you will wind up being judged by someone you know personally. Use common sense and be polite but reserved in your public interactions. Everyone has lines they won’t cross. My rule is, I will not show dogs to my close friends or former clients. It invites bad juju. On the other hand, I know lots of members of this tribe — from casual acquaintances, to breeders with whom I regularly interact on club business or have known for years, to former colleagues and competitors who have “aged out” of handling and are now judging. I have to respect that these folks will judge the dog on the day or I would be left with a very limited pool of people to whom I could show dogs.
Hope (and Faith)
Perhaps there is nothing more hopeful in the world than a new puppy. Years are spent planning a breeding. In the best of all worlds, you are creating dogs specifically designed to make the next breeding. Without fail, there is a flutter in your chest, a glimmer in your eye, a catch in your breath when they start opening their eyes and forming their own little personalities. Every step of the way, from the second the sack is broken at birth, through evaluation and placement, weeding out, testing, watching and waiting for the ONE, there is hope. I know a few denizens of the sport who bought the ONE, some even by accident. But as a breeder (long before I was a handler), the hope, faith and joy involved in a litter of new puppies is unparalleled. Hope, often as not crashed on the rocks of some fault, small or large. Faith that the next “twist” will do the trick. Joy when all those plans and blueprints (ie pedigrees); all the blood, sweat and tears of pain and happiness; all the anguish and anticipation, finally gel and you get, almost, the ONE. Then, you try, again, to perfect it.
Justice (and Temperance)
Never let it be said there is no justice in this sport. I see it every weekend. The underdog wins far more often than the popular myth would have you believe. They just don’t talk about it as much. I love to watch talented breeder-owner-handlers. People who have studied and perfected the art of their breed. People who have bred, trained, conditioned and groomed their dogs to the nth degree. They routinely beat me. I find those people and learn from them!
These are competitors who practice temperance. They do not follow fads and trends. They doggedly (bad pun) breed to the standard, whether it fits with the current fashion or not. These people avoid excess in their breeding programs, in their advertising and in their behavior.
It matters not whether the breed is Basenji or Pug or Clumber Spaniel or Akita. Patience is part of this virtue. Breeders, owners and handlers who are building on a solid foundation for the future they envision, even if it is different than the one I would choose, will always be my heroes.
438 – Richard Reynolds – Rat Hunter of Manhattan
Richard Reynolds – Rat Hunter of Manhattan
Richard Reynolds joins me for part two of our conversation. This time we’re talking rat hunting with Terriers in New York City. Listen to part one here.
Richard Reynolds with a Jagd Terrier, shown in FSS at Open Shows.
“Quite fairly there was never a transition (from hounds to terriers),” Reynolds said. “I was always interested in hunting the terriers. We don’t have as many Fox in the United States as they do in England … and you had to work a little harder. Bringing up the terriers and putting the terriers to ground was always a part of our Fox hunt.
“When I left the pack, I wanted a purebred terrier that I could show. Somebody slipped me into a low mileage used Norfolk terrier and that suited me pretty good. But I didn’t know whether it could hunt or not. A few years later and a little experience and a few Norfolks later, we proved they were damn good hunters. In fact, the best terrier that I’ve ever had to this day remains one particular Norfolk.”
Reynolds’ rise to fame as the Rat Hunter of Manhattan started at a dog show in Liberty Park at the base of the Statue of Liberty. Rats had overrun one of the handlers’ setups and he turned his Norfolk loose to do its job. The park superintendent happened to see this feat. The rest, as they say, is history.
Jagd Terrier with Reynolds and one less rat on the streets of Manhattan.
“If I tell you that my dog is a good rat catcher, you won’t care,” Reynolds opined. “If a rat is headed to run up your pant leg and my dog stops it, you’ll have a lot of respect for that fuzzy little critter down there. So that’s exactly the way we’re trying to make our point.
“We’re all about an idea. That idea is preserving breed type through maintaining the actual function of the dog. You can simulate all these things but you can’t replicate the actual deed of hunting or ratting or whatever. It’s different. It’s about the dogs but don’t tell anybody because we get an awful lot of good press on the fact that we’re killing rats.
“We can’t show purebred dogs to the media. They don’t care. Dead rats are a big seller. We have media with us (nearly) every night that we go out. We’ve had a lot of media. But that’s our little way of selling purebred dogs to the public.
“We’re doing it for the sake of the dogs. There’s no money here. All sport is ruined as soon as you monetize it. So we don’t charge to hunt. Our members occasionally cough up $5 each time they hunt, but more often than not they forget to pay it and we forget to collect it. So it’s kind of a thing for the dogs, by the dogs and of the dogs. A good night is when the dogs work well together. A bad night is when we don’t get anything.”
Reynolds has been instrumental in setting up a training ground in southern New Jersey. The primary purpose of which is running AKC earthdog tests.
“We use it as a basic training ground for terriers and dachshunds,” Reynolds noted. “It’s not the same thing (as street hunting). Once they get through the earth dog program there’s a lot of on the job training but it’s a starting point. The sport of AKC earthdog or den trials or Jack Russell terrier Association go to ground is kind of diminished in recent years. We use it for training Street dogs but really what we’re trying to do is rejuvenate this sport in and of itself of earth dogs and den trials.”
437 – Richard Reynolds on Foxhounds and Favors
Richard Reynolds on Foxhounds and Favors
“Westminster 1977. BoV under Peter Knoop was 13” Ch. Englandale’s Crestwood Star. I sold her as a pet, but her owner believed that she could do anything and pushed me to show her. She not only finished her title, and won the variety at “the World Series of Dogdom”, she also had several obedience titles.”
Richard Reynolds is joining us today. This is the first part of a two-part episode. We’re going to talk about rat hunting and foxhounds and all kinds of fabulous historical stuff, because he is a brain trust of all things history in purebred dogs.
Reynolds said his involvement in purebred dogs “started from a National Geographic magazine. I was a young lad in his early teens and I came upon a National Geographic magazine that had an article Westminster, the World Series of Dogs” circa 1949.
“All of my colleagues had Playboy magazine hidden under their mattresses and I had National Geographic,” Reynolds said, “not for the same purpose of course.”
Reynolds said he acquired his first Beagle “for the princely sum of $35 from a gentleman who hunted them and, as they say, the rest was history.
“The hound was Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Federal, a gift to me from Nancy Penn Smith Hannum, MFH. There weren’t any other AKC English Foxhounds around, so we finished him the hard way…by winning groups. I believe he was the second AKC Ch. English Foxhound.”
“The first Beagle fell somewhat short of being a show dog, but the next one was a show dog. It cost a great deal more than $35, although I’m not sure it was worth much more. That kind of got me started with the dog showing thing.”
Reynolds’ focus has always been on preserving breed type through concentration on performance ability. He was a Master of Foxhounds with the only dual registry recognized hunting pack. His Old English hounds won a group at Westminster, many Bests in Show, many Large Pack classes at hound shows and the occasional Grand Championship.
“These were my hounds in the Five Couple class at the Virginia Hound Show some years ago,” Renolds noted on social media.
Most important, Reynolds noted, each hound hunted a regular three day a week schedule.
Comparing the English and American Foxhounds, Reynolds notes, “The old English Foxhound is heavier, larger. Level top line. Picture, if you will, a bulldozer on feet. The American foxhound is lighter, leggier, has a slight rise over the loin to give it speed. It’s of course descended from the English Foxhound, but it’s not exactly the same.
“When one is a visitor, hunting with another recognized pack, it is courteous to wear a black coat rather than scarlet with your home hunt colors. This was on such an occasion with my ex-three day eventer, Eastwick.”
“They both have their purposes and, like all of the hounds and terriers, that purpose is directly related to the country, the land where the dog hunts and works. American foxhounds are suited to the wide open spaces in the United States and the English are suited to the Gorse hedges and stone walls and whatever of England. We found them very useful in Pennsylvania where I’m at because we have a wonderful agricultural phenomenon known as the multiflora rose.”
Ch. Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Winslow. In 1983 Winslow was number one amongst all hound breeds and in 1984 won the hound group at Westminster.
Reynolds’ most famous dog was Ch. Mr Stewart’s Cheshire Winslow.
“He hunted pretty good and he was a reasonably good stud dog,” Reynolds quipped, “but he was a really good show dog. He was the top of all hound breeds in 1983, won the Quaker oats award for the top winning hound, and then he kind of walked out of Westminster in 1984 with the hound group. So having done that, we figured that we were duty bound to get him back to the hunt field the following morning. So he won the group at Westminster on Tuesday night, and hunted Fox from horseback on Wednesday morning.”
Reynold’s wry, self-deprecating humor is a treasure to the dog community. Enjoy this episode and join us next week for our conversation on terriers.
436 – 10 Tips to Ease Your Journey in the Dog Show World
Laura on Etiquette – 10 Tips to Ease Your Journey in the Dog Show World
Alright crew, we’re here in October, Back to School Month at Pure Dog Talk, and we’re going to touch on ten different areas that are common questions from listeners. Many of these are topics that have been addressed, either in passing or at some level, but now we’re going to drill down on some of them to the nitty gritty details.
One of our earliest episodes, available in the archives at 4 – How to Master the Dog Show Ring, covered these and a variety of other topics. If you haven’t, for sure take a listen to that episode for more on these areas.
Bitches in Season
- Vicks/vanilla for dogs
- Pants other cleanliness for bitches
- Courtesy check
Distraction
- Was it Intentional or Otherwise
- Bait and Squeakies
- Watch Me covers a multitude of sins
- Just like our other rights, you do you, right up until it hurts somebody else
Spacing in the ring
- Special COVID note
- Normally 3’ between dogs, especially on the move, now 6’ and it’s even better!
- Judge’s perspective
- Handler’s perspective
CLEAN dogs
- I’m STILL hearing judges talk about dirty dogs. CLEARLY those are NONE of my listeners!
- Revisit episodes 4, 73 and 107 if you have questions or want a refresher course on getting your dog CLEAN.
- Share the information with friends and newer exhibitors who might not have it.
Multiple entries
In many low entry or rare breeds, toy and specialist breeds, 4-8 dogs isn’t an uncommon entry for one owner or handler to bring to the ring. Handlers generally have assistants and a proven system for getting the dogs smoothly and easily into the ring. Here are some of the methods they use to succeed.
- Plan ahead
- Find a friend – junior handlers, friends in other breeds, friends or competitors in your own breed. Whoever it is, plan for the ring AHEAD of time, not as you’re all rushing to the ring with two dogs in each hand. And yes, trust me, I’ve done this. Owner handlers have a decided advantage in this area by having only their own animals and ring time to worry about.
- Be organized
- Bring crates, have leashes for each dog, put armbands in order on YOUR arm if you will show them all in their respective classes, armband stays with the dog if someone is holding.
- Don’t enter 6 dogs and try to do it all by yourself. Chihuahuas flying everywhere, crates stacked above eye level, frustrated judge, exasperated ring steward, frantic owner, NONE of this is a recipe for success.
- Remember, the judge has been scheduled for 2 minutes per dog, if they are lucky. Every second you waste juggling dogs is time the judge isn’t evaluating your entry.
Showing in the Group
With the advent of Owner Handled groups, I see this less often. But I still hear from owner handlers that say “why should I waste my whole day waiting around for groups when I’m just going to lose”…… I wish I could say that I’m kidding. OK, so there’s a whole lot to break down there.
- Wasted days – don’t waste your time! Spend it wisely. Watch professional handlers showing breeds like yours. Watch owner handlers showing other breeds. Learn by watching. Look up from your phone long enough to actually see what’s happening in the ring. Watch a talented professional or amateur trim their dogs. Ask a respected professional to evaluate your dog, your trim or your handling. Watch a judge go through an entire ring of different breeds. What stands out? Learn to SEE not just look. Watch where the judge puts their hands on the dogs. Use your smart phone for something useful and pull up the breed standards of the breeds being judged and follow along.
- Negative attitude – One absolutely guaran-damn-teed way NOT to win is not to show up. The second easiest way to not win is to have that type of negative attitude. Dog shows are a stage. You are *presenting* your dog… when was the last time you saw Tom Cruise or Demi Moore or Pink up on stage lacking confidence? They rise because of that, not the other way around. What you give off is what you get back.
- Missed opportunities – what other chance are judges, other exhibitors and, someday again, spectators going to have to see your breed. Judges pay attention. They sit outside the group ring and watch and chat amongst themselves. You aren’t just showing to the judge in the ring, you are showing to tomorrow’s breed judge and the group judge the day after that….
Win photos
Judge Changes/moveups/juniors with dog change etc
- Judge change – can receive refund, why you need to arrive at the show early, pay attention to online alerts etc. May mean schedule change, etc. If you can’t/choose not to arrive at the show by 30 minutes before judging begins for the day (not your ring, for the day) you don’t get to bitch when your 10 am ring is re-scheduled for 2 p.m. … Piss Poor Planning …. Leads to Poor Performance…. on Your Part Does Not Create an Emergency on Mine… both are true
- Finished champion, move up to BOB
- Do it the day before… easier on everyone
- Juniors can change dogs when bitch in season, original dog not available etc…
Sportsmanship
Congratulations and thank you are not poisonous substances that will strike you dead on the spot. In COVID times, you don’t even have to worry about shaking hands. Understand that as much as you are SURE your dog is 1000x better than the dog that won, that owner loves their dog also. Don’t be a joy thief.
COVID Considerations
Mostly covered in Monday’s ep w/ Mr. Bill…
- In and Out
- Armbands
- Spacing
- Ribbons
435 – Hot Topic: Are we “protecting our breeds into extinction”?
Hot Topic: Are we “protecting our breeds into extinction”?
Join host Laura Reeves and Amanda Kelly of Fwaggle Toy Manchester Terriers for a conversation on the hot topic of “protecting our breeds into extinction” with non-breeding contracts, limited registration and more.
“Your concept that originally we were talking about was non-breeding contracts, mine is limited registration,” Reeves said. “Which is the conversation that’s been happening down here in the States.
Advertisement in the 1956-57 Sears & Robuck Catalog.
“You’re basic posit is that most of us who are in purebred dogs today did not start with a dog that had a 10-page contract. We probably started with the dog from the newspaper. What we would today term ‘the right place’ (to buy a dog) … has changed. It was very normal, go back and look the ‘40s and ‘50s, and there were dogs advertised in the Sears catalog.”
“There’s lots of layers as to why and very good reasons (for the growth of restrictive contracts),” Kelly observed. “Regardless of the reasons why they’ve changed, we have to kind of look at what the effect of that is on the world that we live in, in the dog world, and the repercussions that are associated with this rise of more restrictive opportunities to take part in our sport.
“In Manchester it is one of the conversations that comes up again and again is this idea of ‘protecting our breeds into extinction.’ That’s not a judgment. I’m not saying that as if somehow we’re doing something wrong. We obviously are all working with the very best of intentions and with the greatest hope in our heart to keep the breeds that we have going.
“So for all the right reasons, we’re doing these things. But it doesn’t change the fact that on the other end of that there is a negative impact just from a numbers perspective. That may not make as much of a difference when you’re talking about a breed like Golden Retrievers, but when you’re talking about Otterhounds or Manchesters it does make a big difference.
“One of the things I love about Pure Dog Talk is that your conversations recognize that all of these issues are layered. Nothing is black and white. There is no right or wrong decision. You do the best that you can with the information that you have.
“You try to do the best that you can for the dogs that are in your care and the breed that you are a steward for. I think the beauty of a conversation like this is not necessarily for everyone to go out and suddenly change everything they’ve done. It’s just to prompt you to question why you do the things you do.”
If you enjoyed this conversation, check in on Amanda’s previous conversations here and here and here and here.
434 – Bill McFadden on Dog Shows During Covid: Safety First
Bill McFadden on Dog Shows During COVID: Safety First and Other Observations
Professional handler Bill McFadden has attended shows across the country in the four months since the “Learning Cluster” in Oklahoma. A two-time Westminster Kennel Club BIS winning handler, lifetime participant in the sport and all-around good guy, McFadden’s observations, notes on what worked and self-appointed “bathroom police” stories provide a glimpse into this unprecedented time in American history.
“My overview would be that I am proud of our community,” McFadden said. “I think that they’ve stepped up and either endured or participated in whatever protocol was established for each show. I hope it continues that way. I hope that we continue to be safe. I hope we get through this and maybe learn a few things about ourselves and our sport in the process.”
Host Laura Reeves commented that the silver lining of the year’s trying times is that we can “apply lessons from what we’re provided by the universe. You don’t get to pick (the circumstances) but you can pick how you respond to it.”
“Everybody just be safe and set your own limits for what you will or will not tolerate and stick to it,” McFadden added. “I actually have been impressed by people that step outside their comfort zone and say ‘you know, you’re standing too close.’ Some of the shows, the stewards actually will come up and say ‘could you guys spread out,’ ’cause we all kind of congregate during the groups. You kind of hang out while everybody else is being gone over. Old habits die hard. It wasn’t being defiant, it’s just you need someone to remind you.
“So, I’ve been really impressed by those actions by individuals and by clubs. Some of them do it in the most unbelievably gentle and kind way where you’re just like ‘oh gosh I’m so sorry’ … every once in a while there will be someone that’s a little snarky, but for the most part I think people have been doing a really good job.
“I will admit that I was nervous as I drove 24 hours to Oklahoma … I think everybody was. I know my assistant was. I was pleasantly surprised. Personally, I just thought that there might be a few resistant people that wouldn’t want to follow the rules that were set up. I was super impressed. I thought everybody complied. It’s definitely different showing with a mask on.
“…(P)articularly in the beginning, with the first few shows, we were just so happy to see each other. A lot of us hadn’t communicated so we weren’t really sure how our lives had gone and how are you surviving … initially I think there was a lot of that. I mean it was like going to a family reunion. We were just was so happy to see people … as it’s progressed, there’s people that we’ve seen several times, so it doesn’t feel like you’ve been away for so long.
“But I really think most people are just… we’re all in it together. We’re enduring it. We know we’re going to get through it and we’re helping each other out as much as we can. If there is one downfall, it’s really hard to control the social distancing after the show…”
Listen in as McFadden covers hotels, airplanes, COVID testing and more.
433 — Five Tips for Staying Motivated During Uncertainty
Five Tips for Staying Motivated During Uncertainty
The global Coronavirus pandemic has brought with it a plethora of change. Staying motivated to train, groom and condition our dogs has been a challenge.
Event cancellations, isolation, quarantine, toilet paper hoarding and stay at home orders crashed down on all of us in March. And here we are, nearly seven months later. A few events of various types have been held around the country since this summer.
The purebred dog fancy has generally been careful to follow all mandated precautions at these events (More on this next week in my conversation with handler Bill McFadden) in order to encourage more events to resume. A great many more events have continued to be cancelled for any number of reasons.
Exhibitors are frustrated. Exhausted by the ups and downs. It can seem daunting and pointless to maintain our usual routines when there is no identifiable goal. The finish line is uncertain and hazy off in the distance.
My regular listeners know my “penchant for Polyanna” … a tendency to focus on finding what sliver of a silver lining shines through any storm … a lemonade out of lemons mentality that helps keep me grounded.
With that, here are five tips for staying motivated in your training, conditioning and grooming plans.
Win the War on Weariness
We are all tired. Tired of home schooling and masks and no hugs. Exhausted by national politics and worried about money, health, and the future. Weary of the unending unfolding nightmare that 2020 has come to represent to nearly everyone.
One guess as to the best medicine for this type of fatigue and burnout… Yep. Dogs. EVERYONE is either buying or attempting to buy a new dog. We have all seen the registration numbers going up and our inboxes flooded with puppy requests.
So, if John Q Public sees the benefit in acquiring a new best friend, *clearly* we dog people are ahead of the game! We often have *multiple* dog households! We have dogs to snuggle, to listen to our darkest fears. We have dogs to distract us, get us off the couch, away from the fridge and keep our blood flowing.
Celebrate “man’s best friend” and all she represents to you by practicing your stand stay, your send out, your watch me. Whatever your discipline, there are games you can play to keep your dog sharp and your muscle memory intact, while simultaneously beating back the looming grey clouds hanging around our heads. I’ll include links in the blog post to previous podcast episodes with some good doggy conditioning exercises. Listen here and here and here.
Working from home, home schooling and limited social outlets can feel chaotic, confused and disorderly. One of the few things you can absolutely take into your own control is the time you spend with your dog. Whether you choose to carve out an hour a day for training, trimming, trotting or simply tears behind closed doors, you are in charge of that. And our dogs are always up for the attention and the time spent together.
That small measure of being in control of SOME damn thing is a major component of defeating depressed moods and being better able to cope with rest of the daily aggro.
Prevent Pandemic Pounds and Pandemic Puppies
While we’ve all been eating — and possibly drinking — our feelings during the last seven months, our young dogs have had nearly zero socialization opportunities. Our motivation to improve our dogs’ future success can provide the kick in the pants we need to get up off the couch, push back from the dinner table and head for the grooming table.
Even if you have to wear a mask while doing it, walking around the neighborhood is allowed everywhere. Walking or running or biking with your dog will keep both of you fit and ready to handle whatever comes next, including fitting into show clothes …
Innumerable studies have proven conclusively that the more physically active we are, and the more time we spend with our dogs, the healthier we are physically AND mentally. The healthier we are, the safer we are from ALL types of viral infections.
Socialization is tough in these times, but even getting your dog out and walking around the parking lots of the stores that are open allows them to see and hear new sights and sounds. Varying surface texture — from gravel to concrete to grass to dirt to asphalt — is critical for young puppies once they are vaccinated and able to be on the ground. That can be done outdoors in a safe and socially distanced way.
Car rides to open spaces are excellent opportunities for training and socializing to new environments. Check out the podcast on Sniffspot to find spots in your area where you can run or train your dog safely off-lead without fear of germs, for you or your dog, or encountering uncontrolled dogs.
Build the Bond
One of the most valuable results of spending time training your dog, or grooming or conditioning, is building the unshakeable bond of trust that our dogs crave.
Every time we reinforce “watch me” for eye contact, every time we use our quiet hands to calm their excitement, every single time we work through a knot in their coat or pull coat in wire coated breeds or run a clipper or a Dremel, every time we take off on a loose lead walk or jog, we are teaching our dogs.
Every single interaction between us and our dogs is an opportunity for us to teach and mold them…. Or, conversely, for them to learn that our cues are meaningless and it’s easy to blow them off and do their own thing.
I repeat. EVERY interaction with your dog is a training opportunity. Of either them or you. Choose wisely! Dogs respond to affection, to food, to toys, but mostly to trust.
If the dog knows you won’t hurt him or allow him to be hurt, if the dog TRUSTS that if you give a verbal or non-verbal cue it means the same thing every time, if the dog is 1000 percent confident in you as the lead dancer in your performance, whatever event it might be, you will be miles ahead of your competition. Even when your puppy hasn’t had all of the “hands on” socializing and people interaction you would prefer due to the pandemic.
I recently attended the very first west coast dog show since March with my own personal pandemic puppy. Agatha is a Spinone Italiano… The litter was born the day they shut down Louisville. I’ll never forget her birthday… The breed in general and this individual dog tend to be a bit hesitant with strangers.
We have worked at it, but getting enough “hands on” has been a struggle. The only handling class we could make it to, I was teaching. Her co-breeder/co-owner brought her and I worked with her a few minutes. But that was *literally* her only practice before the shows in Washington last month.
PS it was the worst dog show weather known to man. Raining sideways in torrents, wind, blowing tarps flying, gallons of water being dumped off tents inches from her nose, raincoats, rainhats, masks, gloves, barking dogs and weirdness at every single turn, from her perspective.
She wasn’t perfect, she melted on exam. She *leeeeeeeeeeeeaned* on exam. She wasn’t sure what the heck to do with a dog running behind her. But she trusted me. She stood up, shook it off and wagged her tail after every encounter. She moved head and tail up, stacked on the line, considered free stacking before she was just toooooooo distracted. She won. She wasn’t perfect, but she trusted me.
I was soooooo proud of this little dog who had to suck it up in the very worst of conditions for her first actual dog show. Trust, along with all of the things that we COULD do, made the difference.
One thing that I made clear going in. The dog show was five days. If I felt she was becoming overwhelmed or having a bad experience, I would walk away. As it turned out, a crisis at home cut our week short and I wasn’t sad.
I think it’s important to remember the old axiom, always end a dog’s experience with anything on a positive. Don’t push young dogs to do more than they can handle. If you eat an entry fee, it’s a small price to pay for not blowing the dogs brain up and ruining it for the long run.
Find the Fun
Wait for it….. This is, or it’s supposed to be, fun! Whether you are showing your dog, running fast CAT, barn hunt, agility or a field trial, it’s OK to have a good time! Competition is great. It keeps us sharp and striving to succeed and improve. But as soon as you aren’t having a good time, rethink what you’re doing. Because if you hate it, the dog definitely does.
I just had a young woman tell me this exact story about a dog show a few weeks ago. Her dog lost, she felt her dog was a better example of the breed, but her dog moved head and tail down in true Eeyore fashion. She admitted that she was sooooo not interested in being there and that it traveled directly down the leash to her dog. Which caused her to lose and become more frustrated. This vicious cycle can happen to ANY of us.
Remember, our dogs count on US to be the fearless leader. Their knight in shining armor. Their Princess Bride. It’s why it’s so critical to get YOUR head space right before you try and ask the dog for a *performance*…
When you can take away the ribbon part. Focus on your partnership with your dog. Quit worrying about blue or white. Just concentrate on the dog in front of you. On getting inside that dog’s head. On pouring confidence and strength right down the lead and into their bodies. Make sustained eye contact. Communicate on a private level. Quit jacking your jaws with friends and competitors ringside and inside the ring and completely concentrate on your dog. THEN you will be able to find joy. To find power. You may or may not win, but you sure the heck will have fun with YOUR DOG!
Because It’s All About the DOGS
This final point is one I see waaaaaaaaaay too often left behind. Walked past. Ignored. Don’t know what you’re talking about.
In the race for points or rankings or notoriety or whatever one hopes to gain from dog events, folks have a painful tendency to forget the dog entirely. They lose, so they yank the dog around. The dog fidgets, so they yell at the dog. They’re so busy jacking their jaws about the unfairness of professional handlers or politics or mean girls or whatever has them all busted up on the given day, they pay NO attention to the dog… Is it spooked? Doesn’t feel good? Uncertain? Jacked up? Mad? Who knows! Exhibitors of this stripe rarely even look down the leash, never mind feel the vibe up it from the dog.
It’s About the Dogs. Period. End of discussion. You have paid someone for an opinion and received it. If you didn’t like it, step back, like my friend did, and figure out why. If you aren’t willing to do that, you are doing the DOG a giant disservice.
Bad things happen when you are focused on YOU and not on the DOG. It can be a small bad thing, like losing out on a ribbon. Or a very large bad thing, like losing a dog. I can’t say it often enough or loudly enough. The DOGS are why we do this. The DOGS come first. In EVERYTHING. EVERY time. If that is too hard, perhaps you should consider goldfish instead.
So, in the final analysis, our *motivation* is always the DOGS. There will be a next year. Or the year after. There will be another dog event. There might even be another dog. But there will never again be THIS dog. So, find your mojo. Give her the best you have of time, training, grooming, conditioning and effort. Build your bond with your dogs. And, for the love of all that is holy, have FUN!