60 – National Purebred Dog Day: Susi Szeremy
National PureBred Dog Day with Susi Szeremy
May 1
Don’t miss the fun and support your dogs by posting a photo with an I Love Purebred Dog Day sign!
Listen to Susi Szeremy Tell the Story of How it all Started
Susi and Laura laugh and entertain on this special day.
Find Me A Sign
Signs can be found here. I Love Purebred Dog Day Sign
59 – Stud Dog Management #4: Foreign Affairs – Critical Tips Before You Import or Export Semen
Foreign Affairs – Critical Tips to Know Before Import or Export of Semen
Every country has different requirements for import and export of semen and are constantly changing the rules!
Blood Tests
Some require blood testing prior to collection, some after collection, some after a waiting period. If that wasn’t enough, the tests vary and even the dilutions of the “standard” tests vary.
Ship the Stuff with an Expert
Sirius is one of the most recommended import/export all-in-one services for shipping semen safely.
Critical Tips to Consider 3-6 Months Prior to Shipping
- Group Shipments – Planning ahead allows for group shipping with considerable savings. Solo shipments can range around $2,500.
- Plan up to 6 months ahead – there are quarantine requirements, USDA requirements, and lots of paperwork
- Cryrodrum – NEVER USE! Use a dry vapor shipper with aluminum tank, shipped in outer fiberglass and with a shipper rated for 21 days. Yes, you have to pay round trip shipping on the tank, but better than dead swimmers.
- Fees on both ends – Someone familiar with procedure has to receive the shipment and work with authorities on acceptance
- Microchips are essential for most countries as permanent identification
- Collection vet (in U.S.) has to be currently accredited with USDA
- Get copies of foreign collections reports for review PRIOR to contracting the semen
- Ask Sirius for recommendations for collection in another country – get an experienced referral
Why Sirius Fertility?… Service!
Not just a great interview but Sirius handles all the paperwork and timing of tests and shipping. The Stud Dog owner just needs to follow the directions of when to make appointments.
Sirius handles the AKC registration and DNA so the litter can be registered.
New Gene Pool Horizons – Russia
Russian just opened up for import and export of semen. Most other countries are also on track to approve or consider import and export.
Just think of the gene pool opportunities in countries that breeders have not had access to.
As Bill McFadden would say:
AMAZING!
THANKS FOR A GREAT AND INFORMATIVE SERIES!
58 -Be the Expert That John Q. Public Needs: Michelle Santana and Foxfire Dobermans
Be the Expert That John Q. Public Needs
Michelle Santana – Foxfire Dobermans
35 years in Dobermans, inherited the love of the breed from her mother, Michelle Santana is dedicated to the future of her favorite breed.
While Michelle tried a brief stint in Collies, she returned committed to her mother’s breeding program, and describes Doberman as:
Labor Intensive, Destructive, Strong… and intent on following you into the bathroom
Michelle and her Foxfire Dobermans have been honored with the AKC Working Group Breeder of the Year Award and a Dogs in Review “Winkie” for Breeder of the Year.
Mentor – Bill Shelton
Bill Shelton is considered by Michelle to be a strong influence and mentor for her as an owner-handler, breeder, and exhibitor. She mirrored his handling style and listened as he spoke of purposefully bred dogs or breeding for the preservation of consistent and reliable traits, types, and temperaments.
Doberman’s Historical Tradition
Dobermans are a silhouette with cropped ears, docked tail, strength, and angles that cause pause to an intruder. Historically a personal protection dog, the upright ear and short tail made it difficult for a perpetrator to grab or defend against the Doberman.
Mentor a Junior, Mentor your Buyers, Mentor a Breeder
Juniors
Juniors are the key to the sport and Michelle encourages experience Breeders to support them. Give them a GREAT DOG to compete with, teach them how to BREED, pay for a junior to compete in the bigger competitions.
Buyers
Be a Mentor to your puppy buyers. Let them know that you are available and the FIRST resource. Encourage them to compete in dog sports, have fun in barn hunt or even consider showing.
Breeders of the Future
Mentor a future breeder. Take it upon yourself to teach one or two people so the knowledge is passed down. Breeding is hard work. We need others willing to carry our breeds forward.
John Q. Public Needs YOU!
OMG! Yes. Mentors in the breeds need to be the educated voice in the public Facebook groups, so answers to questions don’t come from the people who don’t.
Teach the public. Be the VOICE that they hear.
Shout Out to John Engstrom – You Asked!
Listener John Engstrom wrote and asked for a Michelle Santana interview – and Pure Dog Talk listened!
57 – Best in Show: How an Owner-Handler Competes with the Pros – Tricia Stanczyk
Ready to Win Best in Show as an Owner Handler?
Tricia Stanczyk says “You Can Do It Too!”
From English Setters to Parson Russell Terriers, Tricia Stanczyk is an Owner Handler with multiple Best in Shows and a National Specialty win.
Learn by Watching – Practice by Doing
Learning by watching and asking questions is critical. But practice by doing is the essential. Four weeks can’t go by between shows and then you try to remember what you saw.
Practice at home – grooming techniques, handling tips, and training suggestions. That way if you don’t nail it, you can always call or email the professional that helped you and ask for clarification.
Giving advice always feels better when it is listened to and used. Questions are good.
See and Be Seen
Why stay for the groups and Best in Show? Not only do you benefit from watching and learning from the professionals, studying the grooming and handling techniques, but you are also seen. Huh?
Yes. Human nature has the tendency to connect with the familiar. If you are asking the pros for help, they naturally with be more willing if you are familiar.
Ask the Professionals
Approach them when not busy. Be respectful. Offer to help.
Managing Your Nerves
Tricia has three tips for managing her nerve.
- Talking with friends
- Breathing
- Straight Talk – Getting “slapped up alongside the head” and back into reality by not talking herself out of the game.
Be a Worker Bee
Join your local All-Breed Club and Specialty clubs. Be the worker bee that suggests and takes on the responsibility for doing.
Ignore the nay-sayers and negative people.
It’s Just A Dog Show
Remember, it’s just a dog show. Have fun, laugh, love your dog, and enjoy life.
56 – Stud Dog Series: Fresh, Fresh Chilled and Frozen – Do’s Don’t and Why-Nots
What’s Best for Your Stud Dog?
Fresh, Fresh Chilled or Frozen?
Semen Quality
Fresh is Best… but not always an option. Fresh semen, of lower quality, might need a little reproductive vet help to improve the chance of getting your bitch pregnant.
Fresh Chilled Semen
Fresh Chilled requires Timing, timing, timing. For the DIY collectors, prostatic fluid kills the swimmers when shipped. Most of the commercial media’s are good, but some dogs do better in some than in others.
Prepare ahead of time – 7 Day Test
If your are offering your dog out to stud, have him tested in different medias for 7 days to see which is best. Some have egg, some have caffeine, some have antibiotics. Be able to responsibly tell the bitches owner that that your have tested and know that he is viable for X number of days.
Better in the Bitch than in the Box
There is only so much life and energy in the sperm cell. While there are extenders, each day the cells lose integrity… and the sperm still needs to do it’s job inside the bitch.
Fresh Chilled lasts 7-10 days, including the time needed to do the job.
Frozen Semen
When in question, go frozen. Plan ahead with your vet and know Fed Ex delivery times and dates.
Straws vs Pellets
Either is fine. There are extremely important thawing difference between the two. Be sure you know if you vet is familiar with the method used, or is able to ask the source of the semen’s vet.
Always use the thaw media that comes with the semen. Frozen, when thawed, lasts only 6 – 18 hours, including the time inside the bitch.
Viability Testing
New technology for viability testing is available – ask if your vet has it. Motility is not everything. The protein head of the sperm has to be healthy and viability testing is the only way to know for sure.
Timing, Timing, and Tips
- THE most important factor is timing and it differs with each method. Progesterone timing is the key.
- Collect a young and promising dog at 2 as soon as health clearances are done. You can always dispose of later.
- LABEL THE SAMPLE!!! Name, breed, dog’s name on every tube. Don’t rely on shipping label.
- Caution on supplements – be sure to tell reproductive vet everything at least a month prior to using the dog.
- Stress is a large infertility factor. Collect a dog before campaigning.
- Peas, flax and soy – Phytoestrogens convert to estrogen. Some dogs have sensitivities or may be low in estrogen.
SEMINAR COMING SOON!
Sirius Canine Fertility held a reproductive seminar. The lectures will be available soon.
55 – Seizures and Epilepsy: Genetic Testing for the Cause – Liz Hansen
Canine Epilepsy: Bring the Breeders to the Scientists
Liz Hansen, University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine Genetics Lab, and breeder of Standard Schnauzers and Berger Picards, is helping to coordinate the international consortium on epilepsy.
Affected and Family Members’ Blood Samples Needed
DNA Banking of affected dogs and they are immediately affected or non-affected family members increase the ability of researchers to compare the genome sequences.
Since there are multiple forms of epilepsy. An online survey to assist owners willing to donate blood for the DNA bank. Cheek swabs are not adequate for this particular research.
Canine epilepsy is one of the most emotionally devastating problems facing dog owners and breeders today. A consortium of researchers from the University of Missouri, University of Minnesota, Ohio Sate University, and the Animal Trust (England) are currently doing DNA research to try to locate the mutation(s) responsible for causing epilepsy in dogs. The genes controlling seizure problems in dogs are not well understood, but this project is attempting to find the marker(s) or mutation(s) responsible.
Mice, Rats, Humans, Canines
Epilepsy is being studied across species. A canine discovery helps people too.
Listen as Liz Hansen explains the advancements and current research on both seizures and epilepsy. One seizure is not necessarily epilepsy.
54 – Why National Specialties are Mentor Magic – Eileen Hackett
National Specialties and Mentor Opportunities: Eileen Hackett
Where but a National Specialty can you pull up a ringside chair, in the company of top breeders, and watch hundreds of dogs in your breed?
Where but a National Specialty can you see two or three generations of progeny from a stud or dam?
Where but a National Specialty are the mentors gathered that can tell you about dog’s 3, 4, 5 generations of more back in your pedigree?
Win or Lose: Go to your National Specialty
Eileen Hackett, Professional Dog Handler and Breeder of English Setters talks about why Nationals and what you can learn by attending.
Enjoy Episode #54 of PureDogTalk!
53 – Stud Dog Series #2: Management for Better Semen Production
Learn How to Increase Your Stud Dog’s “Stuff”
Healthy Semen 101
Sirius Canine Fertility returns for Part 2 of our Stud Dog Series.
LISTEN to episode #53 and learn:
- Reproductive Soundness
- Collection Do’s and Don’ts
- Environmental Conditions
- Stress
- Managing Stud Dogs around Breeding Bitches
52 – Simple Tips on Whelping Puppies: Myra Savant Harris
Myra Savant Harris
Whelping puppies is often panic time for even experienced breeders. Myra Savant Harris, RN, gives simple tips on the do’s and dont’s of whelping puppies. What is the green fluid and is it an emergency, to don’t swing the puppy, to gurgling pups, to stuck pups… Myra covers it all.
Author & Speaker on Dog Reproduction and Whelping, Breeding and Puppy Care, Myra Savant-Harris is a dog breeder and Registered Nurse with many years experience working in labor & delivery and neonatal ICU. Along with her interest in genetic research and experience dog breeding, she brings a wealth of knowledge and techniques to help you in your breeding program.She also is a sought-after and highly informative, entertaining speaker who had published several books.
- Advanced Canine Reproduction and Puppy Care
- Puppy Intensive Care
- Canine Reproduction and Whelping.
51 – Finding the Genetic Test: Pat Fendley’s Fight Against Cerebellar Ataxia in Spinone Italiano
But I Don’t Have Spinone Italiano’s?
Every breed has something lurking in it’s DNA. Pat Fendley’s sacrifice to “save” her breed is a lesson for all breeders.
Cerebellar Ataxia
Cerebellar Ataxia is a horrific disease that affect puppies. They start with wobbling or stumbling. Within months, the disease rapidly progresses until the young dog can not even stand on it’s own and is euthanized.
Breeder’s Secret
For many years, the existence of Cerebellar Ataxia was denied or ignored by some breeders. In 1998, Great Britain publicly acknowledged the disease in the Spinone Italiano. Lack of knowledge of it’s genetic origin caused many unaffected dogs to be removed from the gene pool. Some even believed it was a communicable disease, rather than genetic.
Pat Fendley
Pat Fendley tells her story of working with the Animal Health Trust in Great Britain by breeding a carrier test litter to develop a genetic test to identify carrier dogs. This test litter made it possible for many other dogs and owners to not suffer the disease.