Posts by Laura Reeves
Mentor Monday: Become a Master Handler – the 4 Levels of Handling Skills
Each of the four levels of handlers require specific building blocks, goals and skill development. Listen as Laura coaches four different handlers at their individual levels.
Read Full Post14 – Dr. Gayle Watkins #2 – Breeder’s Guide to Neonatal Puppies
Dr. Gayle Watkins – Part 2
Gayle continues providing the latest research for Breeders with this episode on the Neonatal period of puppy development/
Dr Gayle Watkins has been breeding and showing multipurpose golden retrievers for 38 years under the kennel name Gaylan’s. Driven by a passion for science, she has taken her background as both a researcher and teacher, and applied it to breed and raise healthy, stable dogs. With the help of hundreds of wonderful Gaylan’s owners, Gayle has produced nearly 70 conformation, obedience, agility, tracking, and rally champions, as well as many Qualified-All-Age field trial goldens and master hunters. She was recently recognized by the AKC as one of the 2016 Breeders of the Year for performance sports. Gayle lives in the mountains of western North Carolina with her husband and longtime breeding partner, Andy Chmar, and her beloved dogs.
Video: Friday Fun: Dr. Gayle Watkins #2 – Breeders Guide to the Neonatal Period for Puppies
Starting from birth, Dr. Watkins covers puppies brain and nervous system development, Mothering, Stress, Traction/Hip Dysplasia, Early Scent and Stimulation Exercises.
Read Full Post13 – Legendary AKC Judge Virgina (Ginny) Lyne
AKC Judge Virginia Lyne
AKC Judge Virginia Lyne Takes Us to School! Miss Lyne, with almost 50 years of judging, speaks directly to judges and exhibitors on fascination with dogs, critiques, hands on training, judges study groups, breed comparisons and joy.
Recorded Live at AKC Nationals in Orlando, Florida.
Hosted by Laura Reeves.
Virginia Lyne, of Saanichton, B.C., Canada, grew up in many different countries, following her father who was involved in the oil business. She was born in Borneo and lived in Trinidad, Australia, Jamaica, Colombia and Texas.
After college and a year in Great Britain, she came home with a black and white English Cocker Spaniel that became the foundation of Ranzfel English Cockers. Obedience attracted her initially, and she taught classes for many years. Breeding continued under the Ranzfel prefix with many champions and Best in Show winners being successful in both Canada and the US.
Ms. Lyne began judging in Canada in 1969 and got her AKC license two years later. She has been an AKC all-breed judge since 1979. Ms. Lyne has judged across North America and around the world.
Past president of the Canadian Dog Judges Association and a member of the Dog Judges Association of America, Lyne served on the executive boards of the English Cocker Spaniel Club of America and English Cocker Spaniel Club of Canada. Ms. Lyne has written extensively about English Cockers, and has been a moderator and presenter at judges’ education seminars on both sides of the border.
Ms. Lyne’s life work was education. She retired in 1996 after 35 years in secondary school education, teaching English and working as a guidance counselor. Probably as a result of this background, she is committed to judges education and has been active in seminar presentations and judges training for many years.
We are thrilled the inimitable Ms. Lyne has joined us for a chat during the AKC National Championship. She shares her thoughts on judges education, the future for exhibitors and her fascination with all dogs, even those she about whom she remarks, “Darling, your mommy loves you.”
Wednesday Wisdom: AKC Judge Virginia Lyne
AKC Judge Virginia Lyne Takes Us to School! Miss Lyne, with almost 50 years of judging, speaks directly to judges and exhibitors on fascination with dogs, critiques, hands on training, judges study groups, breed comparisons and joy.
Read Full Post12 – Test Your Dog’s Instincts – Wonderful World of Dog
Tests, Training, Trials, and Tributes
Our dogs have natural instincts that have served us for thousands of years, and their natural abilities remain innate today.
Explore all the wonderful ways to play and test your dog’s instincts, size them up against the best, and maybe get your exercise too.
Breeders Voice: Wonderful and Amazing Things to Do with your Dog
Working History of Purebred Dogs Purebred dogs were developed by humans more than 3,000 years ago for specific reasons and to do specific jobs. According to author James Serpell, in…
Read Full Post11 – Dr. Gayle Watkins – Nutrition of the Dam, Canine Nomograph and Puppy Immunity
Dr. Gayle Watkins from Avidog.com
Addresses the latest research on proper nutrition of the dam prior to breeding, and how the dam’s nutrition affects immunity, temperament, and life-long health in our puppies.
The 7 Stages of Growth
Macro Nutrients: Sources and minimum requirements at pregnancy, neonatal, lactation and weaning stages.
- Protein,
- Fat and
- Carbohydrates – their sources and minimum requirements at stages of pregnancy, neonatal, lactation and weaning are discussed.
Micro Nutrients:
- Folic Acid to enhance brain and nervous system development and to reduce cleft pallet occurences.
- Probiotics for immune support and to help establish a healthy microbiome in the puppies
How the vaginal birthing process affects immune system development.
Importance of colostrum in the first 12 hours.
Canine Nomograph
Blood Test on the Dam that tells:
- When maternal antibodies drop
- When Puppies are vulnerable to parvovirus and distemper
- Identifies when to vaccinate – when puppies can respond to the vaccine
- Reduces the number of puppy vaccinations required for protection
- Enables better socialization
Breeders Voice: Dr. Gayle Watkins, Nutrition of the Dam and Canine Nomographs
Dr. Gayle Watkins from Avidog.com addresses the latest research on proper nutrition of the dam prior to breeding, and how the dam’s nutrition affects immunity, temperament, and life-long health in our puppies. Blood tests for maternal immunity in puppies and vaccinations are discussed.
Read Full Post10 – Bill and Taffe McFadden Live at AKC Nationals – Wisdom Wednesday
Bill and Taffe McFadden
Two of the most beloved professional handlers in the United States. Based in Northern California, they have worked together for well over 30 years to present some of the top dogs in the country. Three times they have taken dogs to #1 all breeds in the nation, including the incomparable Mick, the Kerry Blue Terrier who won Best in Show at the Garden in 2003, Spirit the Giant Schnauzer, and Harry the Dandy Dinmont Terrier.
They have a half dozen top handler awards and 10 Westminster KC group wins between them. Their proudest accomplishments? Raising three sane children. Mick and McFadden’s win Westminster.