Contents - Versatility In Poodles

Transcription

Dedicated to the Health, Education and Performance of Poodles Everywhere
Volume 15 Number 3
June 2007
www.vipoodle.org
President’s Message
Contents
Another PCA National has come and gone…
VIP News and Information...................................2
PCA Event Reports................................................2
Canadian Tracking Seminar.................................6
Consequences of Spay/Neuter...............................7
Advance Notice.......................................................9
Rembrances...........................................................10
All the Good Dogs.................................................11
Bits and Pieces.......................................................11
Novice A Awards...................................................13
Northwest WC/X Test..........................................14
Training Treats and IBD......................................14
Temperament Study.............................................16
New Members.......................................................16
Brags......................................................................17
Animal Rights Warnings......................................19
Fundraiser.............................................................21
Make your plans now for the PCA Regional in
September and the AKC-CHF conference in
October!
Protect your Poodle ownership rights- learn
about the “Animal Rights Agenda”!
VIP Newsletter
June
There were many things that were done properly at this year’s
PCA, and amongst them is the variety and availability of the
health testing for Poodles.
This year, the opportunity to be tested for atrial septal defect
by Texas A&M was offered without charge. The National
Institute of Health representative was there gathering
information on canine morphology and squamous cell
carcinoma in black Standard Poodles. The University of
Missouri was there doing a blood draw and educating breeders
on neonatal encephalopathy. There were also blood draws for
Optigen (PRA) and for von Willebrand’s Disease.
I have heard that the Hunting and WC/WCX events, dinner
and presentation went quite well. Linda Miller will be
reporting on those events.
The entries for obedience were 198 and for rally 143 – clearly
a record for these events at PCA – and agility entries exceeded
350 and this required the hiring of a second judge.
And there was one thing that was wrongly handled...and that
was a poorly timed message that future Parades will be limited
to those Poodles who meet the solid-colored portion of the
breed standard. This announcement was delivered while 145
of us were awaiting our turn in the ring for the Parade. It takes
effect with the PCA Regional in Long Beach in September,
2007.
I will start this off by stating what I believe is already
common knowledge – I own, train and trial a Standard male
parti- Poodle. And for those who do not know it, I had asked
permission of PCA to bring my parti to the trials and enter him
in the 2007 Parade. That permission was given.
2007
Please keep in mind that while a full blown parti is a very
visible picture of the color disqualification, even a single
small patch of white on a dog, commonly referred to as a
mismark, is also, by PCA definition, a particolor.
I am sure PCA sees this issue only from the point of view of
their responsibility to uphold the breed standard. For that
they cannot be faulted. It is, after all, their job to safeguard
the breed.
However, there has never been a time when such restrictions
mandated by breed standard have been applied to obedience
Poodles; in fact, there have been partis and mismarks in the
Parade before this.
The name of this organization is Versatility In Poodles. We,
as an organization and as individual members, support in
many different ways the great range of activities that our
Poodles can do. We are also, in many ways, an advocate for
Poodles, regardless of breed standards and registries. All of
us understand the importance of activities of some sort for our
Poodles as an integral part of their health and well-being.
Many of us have devoted [hundreds to thousands of] hours
to different aspects of events for Poodles; all with the goal of
showing the great diversity and adaptability of this breed.
We are now being told that because of color, some of
our performance Poodles cannot be recognized for their
achievements by PCA.
During some private e-mails with Richard Lehman, he has
made it clear, as of the date of this writing, that PCA is not
interested in revising their stand on this and that they are not
interested in holding a separate Parade for Titled Performance
Poodles on Tuesday.
They apparently feel that the issue of color is more important
than a Poodle’s accomplishments in performance venues.
I am not advocating any sort of specific action against PCA,
and I am certainly not advocating any push to change the
breed standard. But I would ask our membership to keep
this situation in their thoughts. If you feel, as an individual,
that breed recognition of some sort should be open to all
performance Poodles, regardless of their place in the breed
standard, please make your feelings known to your parent
club during the coming year.
We may not be able to change PCA’s stand on this, but
perhaps we can make them understand that we value, greatly,
the accomplishments of our Poodles outside the conformation
ring.
I, personally, am both proud of and grateful for our
organization’s sponsoring of the Versatility and Versatility
Excellent Certificates – those certificates may be as close to
breed recognition that many fine Poodles can get.
VIP Newsletter
June
Many, many thanks to all who made their opinions and
thoughts known, and many thanks to PCA for listening to its
exhibitors!”
Irma Shanahan, President
Late breaking news: The news has just broken that PCA
has considered the impact of their change in the Parade, and
will now be holding separate Parades of Titleholders for
Obedience, Agility and Hunting Poodles on the day of each
event. Breed standard disqualifications will not be applied to
those parades.
This is great news - it will give all of us the opportunity to
show off our accomplishments in front of our peer group!
Full details are at http://www.poodleclubofamerica.org/news.
htm.
VIP News and Information
For your information, only VIP members are invited to
submit brags for each newsletter.
If you wish to help us save postage and printing costs and
can receive your newsletter via internet as a .pdf file please
let the editor know so that we can add you to our growing list
of people who get the newsletter via the internet. Contact the
current editor at cpoodle@earthlink.net.
The AKC-CHF Health Information Conference will
once again be held in St. Louis, MO, in October. The
organizers, sponsored by Purina, have always invited a
representative from VIP to attend this important conference.
In past years our representative has attended and submitted
a comprehensive report for the October newsletter. This
year the Board of Directors has chosen Grace Blair to attend
the conference. Purina supports this by paying for room
and board and either the representative or the club pays for
tuition. Grace will be donating the cost of the transportation
to VIP, as have several past representatives to the conference.
If you are not on the VIP members e-list and would like to be
please contact Carolyn Wray at: cswray@comcast.net
PCA Event Reports
Hunt Tests and WC/WCX
by Linda Miller
Junior Hunter: Judges Ms. Sandra E. Stiger, Ms. Mary C.
Williams
Ten Poodles were entered. One Poodle was scratched from
the test. Seven Poodles passed.
Tudorose McCheers NA, NAJ
Owner: Mary Ruth Calhoun
CH Ascot For Your Eyes Only RN
2007
Owner: Claudia Straitiff & Glenna Carlson
piece of land to get the bird.
CH Carylyn Clamity Jane NA
Owner: Joyce Carelli, Jeanne Kennedy & Michael Lamb
Master Hunter: Judges Mr. Michael K. Moss and Mrs. Sue
Shaw
K.C.’s Sassafras of Weilerbach UD RAE AX AXJ
Owner: Kevin J. & Carol Stone
Three Poodles were entered, two passed.
Ellery’s Salsa of Walnuthill JH
Owner: Emily Cain
Lonetree’s Go Bang SH
Owner: Jack D Combs & Mia DiBenedetto
CH Ascot Boucheron Joalleria CD RN SH
Owner: Claudia A Straitiff
Bibelot’s Tolka Hands Up
Owner: Jack Combs & Mia DiBenedetto
Master Test Description:
Finnesse All Jazzed Up CDX RAE MJP MXP
Junior Test description:
The Junior test was run as back to back land to water.
Land- Shot flyer was to the handler’s right (thrown left to
right) towards the berm. Distance about 50-60 yards. Dead
bird was tossed left to right on the handler’s left, toward the
shot flyer station, landing in front of the berm, distance 35
yards.
Water- Handlers went directly to water after the land marks.
Gunner’s station was located on island almost directly across
from the line. First bird, 40 yards, tossed to the right of the
island, bird landing in water. Second bird, 35 yards tossed to
the left of the island, landing just on the shoreline.
Senior Hunter: Judges Ms. Sandra E. Stiger, Ms. Mary C.
Williams
Three poodles were entered, one passed.
The Master test consisted of four series. The first series was a
land triple with a walkup and honor. As handler and dog were
walking to the line, the first bird was thrown without a call,
right to left, at the handler’s right side. Handlers immediately
sat their dogs while the second bird was thrown out in front of
the dog, right to left. The third or go-bird was a flier thrown
left to right angled back across a ditch.
Second series consisted of a double-land blind through heavy
cover and diagonally across a track run from the top of a
mound.
The third or land-water series consisted of a double mark with
a diversion bird thrown when the dog was coming back from
the first retrieve. The final series was a delayed triple. With a blind following
whose line was between two of the falls. I’d like to thank, Jack Combs, Mia DiBenedetto, Margaret
Fox and Dana Stewart for helping with the SH and MH test
descriptions.
WC/WCX Judges: Mr. Michael K. Moss and Mrs. Sue Shaw
Senior Test description:
WC Test description:
Land-The land was a walk up. The memory bird was about 20
degrees to the right of the center line between the walkup and
the two bird stations. It was thrown right to left , up on the
side of a mound towards the right rear of the blind. Distance
was about 70 yards. The flier went right to left. It was about
90 yards. The blind was to the right of the right hand bird
blind. Per the judge, Mary Williams, the blind was 90 to 100
yards and set at the tree line. There was a trough that ran
about 45 degrees across the blind line.
Land-The line was on top of the berm. Right mark 2530 yards, dogs running down edge of berm in short grass,
through about 10 feet of 2 ft. tall sparse grass which had
been packed down by tire tracks in certain areas, bird landing
in short grass. Left mark, same set up only about 20 yard
distance.
Water-The double was right to left. First bird was on the
opposite bank, so it about 50 yards of water and 15 yards
of land. The go bird was at about 60-70 yards in open water
thrown left to right. Blind- The line was about 25 yards to
the right at the water’s edge. The blind was to the left of the
left hand mark. You ran about 30 yards of water to an island,
across the island then about 30 yards of water onto another
VIP Newsletter
June
Water- Line was at the water’s edge. Left mark, bird falling in
open water, 25 -30 yards. Right mark, bird falling almost at
edge of opposite shore, distance 20 yards.
Working Certificate Passed:
Tudorose McCheers NA, NAJ
Owner: Mary Ruth Calhoun
2007
Working Certificate Excellent Passed:
Cosmic Mountain Scout SH WCX
Owner: Gary & Helen Scovel
Lonetree’s Go Bang SH WCX
Deaux Rey’s Splash N Fah So JH WC
Owner: Sheree Melancon
Ellery’s Salsa of Walnuthill JH
Owner: Emily Cain
CH OTCH MACH 4 Ravendune Rong On Q
Owner: Cathi & Dick Winkles
CH Carylyn Clamity Jane NA
Finnesse All Jazzed Up CDX RAE MJP MXP
Paradigm’s Walkn The Wild Side CD WC JH
Owner: Margaret Fox
OTCH Walnut Hill Castor of Tudorose
Owner: Emily Cain
Bibelot’s Tolka Hands Up
Owner: Jack Combs & Mia DiBenedetto
Jo Whirlwinds Majormajormajor
Owner: Patricia Rose
Valentine’s Ruby ‘N The Rough CD OA NAJ JH WC
Owner: Linda V. Miller
The weather was beautiful for both field days at PCA. Sue
and Mike offered a coaching session after the hunt tests on
Saturday. A dozen or more handlers and their poodles took
part in the coaching session. Prior to running any dogs, Sue
and Mike gave many helpful hints on training, along with
handling at tests. Then each poodle was run at the level they
were training, including beginner dogs. Questions were
freely asked and answered. Much was learned!
Ellery’s Bright Star In Nixie NA NAJ
Owner: Terry Pearce
Paradigm’s Walkn The Wild Side CD WC JH
Owner: Margaret Fox
Lonetree’s Go Bang SH WCX
Sue and Mike had a special surprise for every entrant at this
year’s working tests. They had made each participant a hot
pink blind pole. Wrapped around the pole was a bird bag tied
with pink surveyors tape. Both were superb judges, as were
all the judges, everyone enjoyed the weekend.
Jo Whirlwinds Island Rook
Cheryl Ingwersen
The caliber of work performed by the poodles this year was
outstanding. Pass or fail, every poodle tried their hardest,
putting forth terrific effort. Both poodles and handlers had
more experience under their belts and it showed by the pass
rate. Very exciting to see!
Ellery’s Salsa of Walnuthill WCX JH
Owner: Emily Cain
Tudorose Blk Forest Calla Lily
Owner: Helen & Gary Scovel
WCX Test description:
Land- Line was on top of the berm. Memory bird fell on the
right side of the berm, distance 35 yards. Go bird fell on the
left side of the berm, distance 30 yards.
Water- Line was on water’s edge. Island was directly across
from the line. Go bird was tossed off the right side of the
island, landing in open water, distance 35 yards. Memory bird
fell about 30 degrees to the left of the line, landing just on the
edge of the island, although in enough water to make a splash.
Distance 20 yards.
VIP Newsletter
CH Carlyn’s New Moon JH WCX
June
The weekend ended with the Hunting Poodle Medallion
dinner. Poodles past and present were recognized for their
efforts, along with those Poodles who qualified receiving their
medallions.
Congratulations to all who participated. How thrilling to see
the hunting Poodle movement growing in leaps and bounds.
2007
Obedience at PCA, 2007
by Irma Shanahan
As the obedience community made preparations to attend
PCA this year, we were greeted with the news of the demise
of Dr. William Wisecup, an obedience judge who was
scheduled to judge Open B at the nationals this year. Bill was
a well known and liked judge, who had earned the respect
of many of us. He was a resident of western Maryland, and
spent his time split between obedience and his love for nature
photography. His loss to the obedience community will be
felt for a long time.
As usual, Susie Osborn was ahead of the game, and had Don
Levenson join the judging panel in Bill’s place. As Susie has
done in the past, she provided us with judges who are known
for their fairness and consistency in judging, and truly love
the sport.
We had the largest obedience entry in PCA history, with 198
entries in traditional obedience, and 143 rally entries. To get
a comparison on this, there are many all-breed obedience
trials in this area that do not draw these kinds of entries.
Given the large entry that came in for agility on Monday and
the entries for obedience and rally, PCA’s decision to open
the second floor for crating space was a good one. Since
many obedience people came in on Monday also, the second
floor was a good and much quieter spot to use. By Tuesday,
space downstairs had emptied out enough so that anyone who
wished to move to the first floor had room to do so.
Another nice thing was that by starting the trial at 10 AM
instead of 8 AM, the great majority of grooming set-ups had
been completed. This was a great improvement over last year
when people were struggling to get into the rally ring entrance
at the same time others were struggling to get grooming
equipment and dogs past to their set-ups.
The actual classes seemed to go smoothly, with the Poodles
either opting to be very serious about their PCA appearance,
or be the clowns we all know they are under that fur. The full
range of non-regular classes were offered, including team,
which was its usual success for the spectators.
HIT went to VIP member Cathi Winkles with Ch. Ravendune
Right on Target, AX MXJ RE, and HC went to Tatiana Nagro
with OTCH Ridgewood Quintessence UDX. Both ladies are
long-time PCA exhibitors, and both are really nice people
who deserved to win.
But then, everyone seemed to come away as a winner this
year – there were lots of people celebrating at the Obedience
Dinner in the evening.
The PCA decision of having a Performance Parade for
Titleholders on the day of the event is one that should benefit
many obedience and rally exhibitors. Being held the same
day will mean that it won’t be necessary to stay over an
VIP Newsletter
June
extra day to participate or to watch the Parade, which will
encourage more people to participate. It also means that, for
those of us who will be watching, we can deeply appreciate
the amount of time and effort that goes into training these
dogs to earn titles.
And, hey, since people will be there a little later, they may as
well stay for the Obedience Dinner, too?
Hope to see you all at PCA next year!
2007 PCA Agility
by Helen King
Last December, my husband, Mel, and I packed up our six
dogs (four Standard Poodles, a Border collie and a mutt) into
our motorhome and headed out for a countrywide agility
tour that led up to PCA in June. This was the first year we
attended PCA. We didn’t know what to expect and had no
preconceived notions.
“Sod over concrete?” We said when told about the surface.
How on earth could this possibly be any good? Well, the
surface at PCA was by far THE BEST agility surface on
which we have ever run (and we have run on a LOT of
different surfaces)! The air conditioning was awesome and
very much appreciated by dog and handler! The first thing
that struck us was how many wonderful Poodles there were!
We have never seen so many Poodles in one place . It was fun
to see most of the Poodles exhibit the great love of life for
which they are so well known. The quality of performances
was better than we expected at all levels, especially the
Excellent B dogs. Many were willing working dogs with
good speed and focus.
There did seem to be a lack of work ethic in some Poodles.
This, however, could easily be changed with good instruction
and toy drive work to increase focus and speed. It was easy
to spot the happy dogs that were trained with positive
methods.
Some Poodles performed very entertaining zoomies or IPE
as we call it (Irrational Poodle Exuberance). Zoomies are a
form of stress in the ring, just as sniffing and wandering are
and we found competing at PCA much more stressful than at
regular trials. After all, these were our peers! We compete a
lot during the year and rarely get nervous but have to admit
to a few butterflies at PCA. The large number of spectators
in the stands gave the feeling of being on center stage when
stepping to the start line.
The courses were fair but tricky with some subtle traps. We
did think the judge they brought in for the overflow was a bit
uptight in his calls. He called several dogs for running out
of the ring after their go. Most judges would not have been so
strict in their interpretation of AKC’s under control rule at the
end of each run. We like fun judges who smile and make us
feel welcome but some judges are just more serious than
2007
others.
The trial ran very smoothly and the ring crew were awesome!
So many pitched in to help and this made the whole day go
a lot faster. One of the few complaints we heard was that the
results were never posted. The only way to know what you
did was to go see if there was a ribbon with your name on it.
In the future, it would be great to have the results posted as
soon as the class is over.
PCA was an amazing experience. One of the highlights for us
was the wonderful MACH parade! Hopefully, next year they
will consider having twelve weave poles instead of six for the
Parade. Twelve poles are a lot more impressive and the dogs
can really get a head of steam going better than with six.
It was wonderful meeting so many terrific people and great
Poodles. It was a supercharged atmosphere of fun and we
hope to return again next year with all four of our girlz.
And The Rest of PCA:
Best in Show was: Toy Poodle- Ch. Smash JP Win A Victory
Owners: Ron Scott., Breeder: Yukiko Omura. Handler: Kaz
Hosaka
Miniature Poodle BOV: BOV: Ch. Zelon Driving Miz Daisy
Crazy
Standard Poodle BOV: Ch. Brighton Minimoto
Health testing during the show included: Echocardiograms for
atrial septal defect, blood draw and cheek swabs for Optigen,
von Willibrand’s disease, neonatal encephalopathy, juvenile
renal disease, Addison’s disease and epilepsy studies. There
were auctions, dinners, meetings and a seminar as well. All
reports are that the 75th Poodle Club of America Specialty
extravaganza was a resounding success and everyone is
looking forward to next year’s event!
(example of “head down tracking”)
Canadian Tracking Seminar
by Margot Jorgensen
As a friend just commented over the phone - “methods of
teaching tracking in the Comox Valley will now change
dramatically.” Our club was privileged to host a Tracking
VIP Newsletter
June
Seminar presented by Carol Pernicka this last weekend. Present were many novices as well as a number of very
experienced trackers, and Carol taught us all new skills. On Saturday she helped a number of green dogs and
handlers begin on soccer field grass, and in the afternoon
moved on to a hay field to assist some more experienced
handlers in assessing and learning how to correct problems in
field tracking at the TD level.
Sunday she amazed many skeptics by starting their green
dogs on pavement and ably demonstrated to us that “tracking
is tracking, whether it be on grass or hard surfaces”. She
also clearly convinced all that cross-contamination of a track
will not distract a dog from following the correct scent. We
finished with three short demo tracks in the urban style and
learned the difference between tracking and trailing. Carol
convinced several of us that we have allowed our dogs far
too much leeway with line in training urban tracking, that the
dogs can work methodically and stay closer to the laid track
rather than range afar checking out doorways and other areas
where scent flows and gathers. I will certainly begin a totally
new style with my Dono. Another dog demonstrated clearly
that although he’d learned to cross pavement assuming he’d
find the track on the other side, he was not actually tracking
the hard surface.
Carol handled people so tactfully, and spoke so clearly,
explaining things in basic terms that I have already received
extensive positive feedback on her presentation, and have
heard of several small groups of those attending who
have set dates already to begin tracking together. As well,
she rekindled interest in Urban tracking in several who had
tracked field for years, but not tracked on hard surfaces. With
a group of 35 participants and 25 working dogs, Carol kept
things moving smoothly, held the interest of all, answered
any and all questions and retained her sense of humor to
the end making it one of the best seminars I have ever
attended. Already people are talking about inviting Carol back
in the future for a possible seminar/test weekend. Our breed
was represented by 7 Standards (including two of Dono’s
offspring) and a Mini as well as two people who audited, but
didn’t work their SP’s, so tracking with Poodles is alive and
well in this area !
I highly recommend to other clubs that they arrange a
seminar with Carol. I had been teased a little by my friends
with Goldens and Flatcoats that I was bringing in a “Poodle
expert”, but Carol more than justified my faith in her ability
to present a very clear picture of the perfect tracking dog, no
matter the breed, and earned the respect of everyone. Thanks
so much, Carol, it was great !
2007
Physical and Behavioral Consequences of
Neuter/Spay in Dogs
By ©Lynne Edwards, Ph.D.
Is early neutering safe or more desirable than a later
neutering? What is the optimal neuter/spay timing?
What are the risk factors? These questions have been
raised continuously and yet there has been no consensus.
Neutering timing remains a highly and hotly contested
topic. Many research studies attempted to tackle selected
facets of this complex puzzle, but the overall picture
has not been forthcoming. Recently Laura Sanborn has
reviewed over 50 peer-reviewed articles on this topic titled
“Long-Term Health Risks and Benefits Associated with
Spay/Neuter in Dogs’ (2007) (http://www.naiaonline.org/
pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf).
Her review is only 12 pages long and readable. I highly
recommend reading it in full, as this seems to be the most
updated and fairly extensive review on this issue to date.
However, one word of caution is warranted that the Sanborn
review itself has not gone through the peer-review process
either at an online or printed scientific journal. Therefore,
her review should be read as a good starting point to survey
the issue and its scope rather to accept what is reported as the
definitive word on this issue. To the extent my independent
review of this topic contains the same research articles as
Ms. Sanborn’s, I present conflicting results where they are
apparent.
examined was from 1990 to 2007, written either in English
or in German; the journals were either printed or online,
and all publications were peer-reviewed; the veterinary
journal studies chosen excluded case studies of a few dogs
or by a single veterinarian or a rescue operator. I searched
the literature through PubMed, Agri, AnimalScience,
BioSis, and OVID with gonadectomy, ovariohysterectomy,
or orchiectomy as a keyword. Because of the policy
implications of neutering, it was especially important not
to focus on advocacy positions or on policy studies, as they
can bias an objective assessment of the scientific research.
Since Ms. Sanborn’s review appeared in the midst of my
research into this topic, I switched gears to supplement and
complement her work.
References: Selected references are attached at the end, but
they are not meant to be exhaustive or complete. Most of
them are already cited in the Sorbone’s paper [1]. [2, 3, 4,
5] are often quoted in the current veterinary positions on this
issue; [6, 7, 8] represent various European studies; [9, 10]
are specific to the behavioral impact on working dogs; and
[11] has a unique implication for athletic dogs but has some
methodological/analytical problems.
Highlights from Sanborn review [1]: The studies considered
for her review ranged from the late 1960’s to the present and
mainly appeared in the peer-reviewed scientific journals.
My attempt here is not to duplicate her efforts but to
supplement and complement her review on skeletal and
physical consequences of neutering. I will not focus on the
unwanted pet population control policy of the neutering or
the timing for such, but rather try to discuss a study on ACL
injuries, the behavioral consequences not discussed in Ms.
Sanborn’s work, and the European perspectives on this issue.
First, I’ll discuss how the scientific research on this issue
was selected; second, I will summarize the highlights from
Sanborn’s review [1], then present a closer review of an ACL
injury study, a behavioral study on service dogs, followed by
some alternate European perspectives, then a summary of this
issue for working and performance dogs.
Her conclusions on the effects of neutering for male dogs at
any age are:
Pros:
1. eliminates the very small risk of (<0.1%) dying from
a testicular cancer, which can be detected early and
for which the prognosis is good.
Cons:
1. increases the risk of osteosarcoma (bone cancer) for
medium/heavy dogs if neutered <1 year;
2. increases the risk of cardiac hernangiosarcoma by a
factor of 1.6;
3. triples the risk of hypothyroidism;
4. increases the risk of orthopedic disorders (CCL);
5. increases the risk of adverse reactions to
vaccinations.
How early is early? Any neutering before the “traditional”
timing of 5 to 10 months will be called “early” or pre-pubertal
in this discussion. Some research reviewed included results
of neutering as early as of 6 weeks of age. The questions
we ask here are: (1) What are the pros and cons of prepubertal neutering compared to the traditional neutering at
5-10 months? (2) What are the consequences of neutering
at any time in terms of the skeletal, physical, and behavioral
consequences?
Her conclusions on the effects of spaying for female dogs at
any age are:
Pros:
1. if neutered before 2.5 years, greatly reduces the risk of
mammary tumors which are difficult to detect early and have
poor prognosis;
2. nearly eliminates the risk of pyometra (mortality rate of 1%
of intact female dogs);
3. reduces the risk of perianal fistulas.
Background: I started to answer these two questions by
examining scientific research on neutering in the peerreviewed journals; the subjects used were exclusively dogs
(not rabbits, rats or any other species); the time span I
Cons:
1. if done before 1 year, increases the risk of osteosarcoma
(bone cancer);
2. increases the risk of splenic henangiosarcoma by a factor
VIP Newsletter
June
2007
of 2.2 and cardiac tenangiosarcoma by a factor >5;
3. triples the risk of hypothyroidism
4. causes urinary “spay incontinence” in 4-20% of female
dogs and increases the risk of persistent urinary tract
infections by a factor of 3-4;
5.increases the risk of cystitis, vaginitis especially if spayed
before puberty;
6.increases the risk of orthopedic disorders (CCL);
7. increases the risk of adverse reactions to vaccinations.
Although Sanborn (2007) [1] summarized an increased risk
of obesity for both neutered females and males based on one
study in the UK and another in Australia, this conclusion was
counter indicated among the dogs studied in the United States
[2, 5] (although they found cats to be heavier if neutered.)
The common image of inactive neutered dogs is contrary
to what was reported: the activity level of neutered dogs
increased in comparison to the intact counterparts [2, 5]. Ms.
Sanborn has not mentioned for both female and male dogs
that if neutered before 5.5 months old they tended not to
escape from home [3]. This is a serious problem, especially
for adopted rescue dogs. Barking or growling at visitors (for
males only) increased if neutered early [3]. This point is
consistent with the service dog study [9] I will discuss later.
As to the risk of osteosarcoma, it was found that the earlier
the neuter/spay takes place, the higher the life time risk of
bone cancer.
On ACL injuries: Although the title of the paper suggests that
the neutering (at any point) can increase ACL ruptures in dogs
[11], the further scrutiny of the research suggested that this
is based on one private clinic’s records over two years. The
biggest factors known to affect ACL, namely, the breeds and
the age of the dogs were not discussed in the results. One of
the analytical models claimed to have included “breed” as a
factor, but it was not properly isolated nor fully reported. Age
of the dogs was never examined in their models. Typically
older females in heavier breeds such as Rottweillers are
known to have a higher prevalence of ACL ruptures and the
analyses reported did not successfully dispel such alternative
explanations on age and breeds. One analysis did report
higher odds of ACL ruptures among heavier dogs compared
to medium/small dogs and the effect of neutering remained.
On behavioral consequences: Early neutering produced more
noise phobias, reactivity, and generally high activity levels
in dogs [3, 5]. However, little is known about the behavioral
aspects relevant to working, service or performance dogs.
One such rare research study is by Kim et al. [9] and the guest
editorial on this research [10]. This is an experimental study
of military service dogs where German Shepherd Dog (GSD)
bitches were randomly assigned to being left intact or being
spayed during 5.5 to 10 months, i.e., at a traditional neutering
time. They found various forms of behavioral reactivity, such
as showing teeth, ears pushed backward, growling stances on
6 out of 7 spayed bitches over 4-5 months after the surgery,
while the intact counterpart were non reactive to a strange
person-dog pair. This is a critical study, of interest to those
VIP Newsletter
June
who are concerned with the performance dogs as well as
service and working dogs. At least for females, the impact
of spaying, even with the traditional timing, can result in
undesirable behavioral traits impacting their ability to perform
the service they were assigned. The clear implication so far
is not to spay service prospect females until past 10 months,
although it is not clear at this point whether a delay of spaying
time beyond 10 months will moderate the dogs’ reactivity. A
similar reactivity was reported for early-neutered male dogs
in another study [5].
On European perspectives: There hasn’t been a promotion
of early neuter in Europe unlike in the United States. One
European study recommends waiting at least past the first
heat cycle [8] because of the mammary cancer can be well
controlled if spayed before 2.5 years and because the maturity
of genitals helps reduce chronic or repeated infections in
female dogs [7]. Another study compared the bone density
levels of early-neutered dogs to the intact counterpart. The
result from Hungry showed an increased bone density in the
accessory carpal bone (ACB) in the early-neutered group
measured at 6 months in comparison to the intact group. [6]
This may be due to the faster body weight increase among the
neutered group as opposed to the counterpart who received a
sham surgery. However, the long-term effect of neuter/spay
with the body weight has not been established. Therefore, we
need to wait for their longitudinal report of the experimental
subjects for a clearer picture. What they suspected was that
the measuring method (invasive vs. non invasive) and the
exact location of bone density testing may very well produce
different results. Since the growth plate closure gets delayed
by neutering, potentially the neutered dogs may have had a
higher growth rate than the counterpart until the plates are
fully closed, which in turn, is correlated with the ACB bone
density.
The implications for working dogs: For male dogs, aside
from rescue dogs potentially running away [3], there is
no health or behavioral benefit to neutering. The early
detection and prognosis of a testicular cancer is good, and
the prevalence is low (<1%) and the mortality rate is even
lower (<0.1%). Noise phobia and reactivity to strangers is
less likely for the intact males than the neutered males [3].
For female dogs, there seems to be enough evidence to wait
for spaying until close to 2.5 years without increasing the
mammary cancer risk. As opposed to testicular cancer in
male dogs, a mammary cancer has a poor prognosis even
spaying takes place 2 years prior to the detection and a
surgical removal of the tumor. As there is no study comparing
spayed service or working dogs at 2.5 years vs. those left
intact to see whether there is any behavioral change, the
jury is still out on the optimal neutering time. Reactivity to
strangers seen in spayed female working dogs is a serious
behavioral consequence among the service or performance
prospects [9]. Again we do not have research studies yet to
answer the question whether spaying female working dogs
after 10 months can curve undesirable reactivity.
2007
In closing: The short-term surgical consequences [4] showing
no ill effects on early neutering with an advent of anesthesia
for small patients are often cited in advocacy position of early
neutering. However, it is a policy decision and not the study
in and by itself that automatically favors early neutering.
Further, consequences should not be generalized beyond the
scope of the study. Although studies focusing on diverse
physical impacts are available today, there are few studies
on behavioral consequences. In most cases, the neutering
timing cannot be totally controlled and it is dependent on
the voluntary timing of the pet owners or the intake time at
the humane societies. There is not likely to be any definitive
study conducted on the optimal neutering timing.
One important reminder is that neuter timing and the health
consequences go well beyond the immediate post surgical
risk factors. Another important point is that what may appear
to be contradictory results are not necessarily contradictory
when the study targets are thoroughly examined. For
example, one study may find a gender difference in CCL
injury rates while another may not. I found that heavier, older
female dogs tended to have a higher prevalence of CCL and
that the former study used dogs of all ages while the latter
used only young dogs (<2 years). Hence, their conclusions
do not really contradict each other. Such an example shows
us that cursory readings of abstracts can easily lead us astray.
The question of when to neuter or whether to neuter at all
needs further investigation. While it is easy to adopt an
advocacy position and “cherry-pick” one study or another or
one aspect or another to generalize and solidify one’s position,
it’s important to keep an open mind to scientific research
results and to objectively weigh among the risk factors for the
welfare of our performance dogs.
Selected References
[1]Sanborn, L. J. “Long-term health risks and benefits
associated with spay/neuter in dogs” http://www.naiaonline.
org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf
(2007).
[2]Salmeri, K. R., Bloomberg, M. S., Scruggs, S. L., Shille,
V. “Gonadectomy in immature dogs: Effects on skeletal,
physical, and behavioral development” JAVMA (1991).
198(7): 1193-1203.
[3]Spain, C. V., Scarlett, J. M., Houpt, K. A. “Long-term
risks and behefits of early-age gonadectomy in dogs” JAVMA
(2004). 224(3): 380-387.
[4]Howe, L. M. “Short-term results and complications of
prepubertal gonadectomy in cats and dogs” JAVMA (1997).
211(1): 57-62.
[5]Howe, L. M., Slater, M. R., Boothe, H. W., Hobson, H.
P., Holcom, J. L., Spann, A. C. “Long-term outcome of
gonadectomy performed at an early age or traditional age of
dogs” JAVMA (2001). 218(2): 217-221.
VIP Newsletter
June
[6]Ekici, H. , Sontas, B. H., Toydemir, T. S. F., Senmevsim,
O., Kabasakal, L., Imre, Y. “Effect of prepubertal
ovariohysterectomy on bone mineral density and bone
mineral content in puppies” Acta Veterinaria Hungarica
(2005). 53(4): 469-478.
[7]Shafer-Somi, S., Konig, G., Aurich, J. E. “Zur Kastration
juveniler und prapubertarer Hunde und Katzen” Wiener
Tierarztliche Monatsschrift (2003). 90: 160-168.
[8]Stolla, R. “Kastration vor oder nach der ersten Laufigkeit?”
Tierarztliche Praxis (2002). 30(K): 333-338.
[9]Kim, H. H., Yeon, S. C., Houpt, K. A., Lee, H. C., Chang,
H. H., Lee, H. J. “Effects of ovariohysterectomy on reactivity
in German Shepherd dogs” The Veterinary Journal (2006).
172:154-159.
[10]Overall, K. L. Guest Editorial. “Working bitches and
the neutering myth: Sticking to the science” The Veterinary
Journal (2007). 173: 9-11.
[11]Slauterbeck, J. R., Pankratz, K., Xu, K. T., Bozeman,
S. C., Hardy, D. M. “Canine ovariohysterectomy and
orchiectomy increases the prevalence of ACL injury” Clinical
Orthopaedics and Related Researcch (2004). Dec (429): 301305.
Advance Notice – Watch for…
As part of the VIP, Inc. fundraising efforts, we are putting
together an arrangement that will provide magnetic stickers
for our vehicles, etc. Details will follow shortly, but right
now, we are planning to offer the magnets in the fields of
agility, obedience, and hunt work. Watch the website <www.
vipoodle.org> for updates.
These would make excellent stocking stuffers for Poodle
friends, too, so be prepared……
Carolyn Wray still has some note cards from past fund raisers.
So if anyone is looking for cute note cards, she can offer
the following: pencil sketch by Irma Shannahan of a Poodle
puppy with a toy box: 10 cards and envelopes for $10. Or a
set of six cards, two each of three designs, with envelopes for
$10. I would like to clear these out of my closet and complete
this fund raiser. Carolyn Wray cswray@comcast.net
We still have DVDs of the “Versatile Poodle release 2006”.
These would make nice gifts for new puppy owners and are
good for educational programs as well. Information about
these are on the VIP website www.vipoodle.org.
2007
Remembrances
Susan Fleisher
We are sorry to report that one of the founding members of
VIP and a tireless worker for the health of Poodles passed
away on June 17. This information was submitted by Laura
Zulch-Hays:
Susan Fleisher died peacefully in her own bed this morning
at around 4 AM with [her Standard Poodle] Cricket nuzzled
peacefully beside her. She wanted to die without morphine
and drugs and she did.
Graphic Moonstruck, (Luna) CD, RA, CGC Delta Pet
Partner
A donation was received from the Deep Peninsula Dog
Training Club of Los Altos, CA, in memory of Standard
Poodle, Graphic Moonstruck, CD, RA, CGC Delta Pet
Partner, owned and loved by Lynn Benson-Colbert. This
donation was directed for Addison’s Disease research in
Standard Poodles. In addition, a donation was received from
Randi and Maggie (owned by Miriam Hillier) in memory of
Luna, their best friend, who they miss very much.
Her decline had been steady since her last hospitalization after
her last birthday around May 10th. She put off being admitted
to Hospice until she was sure she would not recover—a week
and a half ago. She had been able to take care of herself until
yesterday. Her mobility and breathing plummeted yesterday.
By late afternoon she could no longer talk or move.
There was a team of us, taking turns being with her so she
was not alone.
We will miss her sharp mind, open heart, humor, infinite
passion for Poodles; her deep appreciation and high standards
for art, music, specifically opera, fine food, beer, good friends
and good conversation; her sense of fairness and generosity.
Her ability to beam joy and gratitude or blow up with anger
and frustration with a rare gusto. The joy and appreciation
drew us to her, and fortunately the blow-ups never lasted
long.
At this moment, I am filled with deep gratitude for her and the
place and presence she had in my life.
Laura Zulch-Hays, The neighbor and fellow Poodle owner
who has been taking Cricket out to play every afternoon since
Susan’s decline in November.
VIP and Cathy Rainer have made donations for Poodle renal
health research in memory of Susan.
Cosmic Halley’s Comet UD
From Joan and Gary Heymann:
It is with very heavy hearts that we need to let you know
that our wonderful Halley died , after 13 years and 1 week
of life. He had multiple ailments, and after days of pain and
suffering, he was peacefully put to sleep. So good-bye loving
companion and obedience dog – Cosmic Halley’s Comet, CD,
CDX, UD, who also participated in conformation, agility,
tracking, and flyball. Halley accumulated 12 conformation
points including a major as a puppy but Gary refused to live
with a Poodle in an adult show clip so he was withdrawn from
conformation competition and began his obedience training.
We had a grand life together, and miss him terribly. Gary
and Joan Heymann (owners) as well as Grace Blair (breeder)
have made donations to VIP for health research in memory
of Halley.
VIP Newsletter
June
Don and Geronimo
Photo by Nickie McAuley
Cosmic Geronimo UDX, CGC, RTD
A donation was received from breeder, Grace Blair, in
memory of Standard Poodle, Cosmic Geronimo UDX,
CGC, who passed away at the age of 14 1/2 years. He had
OTCH points and two first place finishes toward an OTCH.
He was also field and water trained for retrieving. He was a
Registered Therapy Dog and had approximately 250 visits
to rest homes, retirement homes, homes for the memory
impaired and schools. He also went to special education
schools for kids. He loved every minute of it and loved kids.
Geronimo was also nominated twice for the AKC award for
Canine Excellence and has two very nice certificates on the
wall to remember these nominations. Geronimo was a very
special animal, owned and loved by Don and Martha Stuart
of Oregon. As well, Miriam Hillier made a donation for
Addison’s Disease research in memory of Geronimo, much
loved companion of Don Stuart.
U-CD Cole’s No Doubt About It UD
A donation in memory of U-CD Cole’s No Doubt About It
UD “Rocky” was received from friends on the BIOlist.
Ch Cosmic Fantasia (Tessie) CDX, OA, NAJ, WC, WCX,
JH, VCX, Herding Instinct Certified
Breeder/owner, Grace Blair, has sent a donation to VIP for
health research in memory of Ch Cosmic Fantasia (Tessie)
CDX, OA, NAJ, WC, WCX, JH, VCX, Herding Instinct
Certified. Tessie won the Open A Agility class at PCA
2007
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when she was 6 years of age and prior to her retirement
had accumulated a greater variety of titles than any other
Standard Poodle in North America. (Her titles have since
been surpassed by several talented Poodles.) She was truly
a versatile Poodle. Tessie had her 15th birthday on May 19
and had been very healthy until she suffered a sudden stroke
on Memorial day and was sent to the rainbow bridge the next
day to await the future arrival of the many people and dogs
whom she loved. She is very greatly missed by Grace as they
had been inseparable for the entire 15 years. Tessie and her
daughter, Leica, were listed and pictured in the 2007 “North
American Working Poodle Hall of Fame” Poodle Club of
America catalog. Miriam Hillier also made a health research
donation to University of California, Davis, Vet School and to
VIP in memory of Tessie, a dear friend.
All the Good Dogs
by George and Helen Papashvily
What purpose did they serve, all the good dogs that once ran
through the world and wait now in the shadowy quiet of the
past?
They lightened our burdens and drove away our enemies
and stayed when others left us. They gave aid and comfort,
protection and security. They held a mirror wherein we might
see ourselves as we long to be. They gave us a glimpse of the
world beyond the narrow confines of our own species.
Although we make dull students, slowly they help us learn
how to command and to protect with wisdom and justice and
imagination.
They taught and still teach us the joy of giving generosity and
kindness and love—without thought of gainful return.
And now—all the fleet hounds, the staunch mastiffs, the loyal
shepherds, the dancing toys, the fumbling puppies, pets on
silk pillows, workers plodding at their tasks, the special ones
you loved best, those of ours we still miss—all the good dogs,
goodbye, until on some brighter day, in some fairer place you
run out again to greet us.
Bits and Pieces
For anyone who has frozen semen stored with the San Diego
SYNBIOTICS CORPORATION, they have moved in order to
be more centrally located in KANSAS.
Pet Travel Up In The Air
For immediate release and communication to Canadian
Kennel Club members:
Air Canada announced late Thursday June 20 that they
have terminated in cabin pet travel on all domestic flights
beginning July 15. This is the worst possible news for the
VIP Newsletter
June
many CKC members who frequently fly their dogs and we
urge you to respond today. We are suggesting to any CKC
member or pet owner that if this has an impact upon you
and your travel plans with your dog make your position and
opinion clear to the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister
of Transport, at mintc@tc.gc.ca as well as copies to Air
Canada media team at media.relations@aircanada.ca. Air
Canada President and CEO Montie Brewer can be reached
via fax at (514)422-4945. We have been unable to find email
for the Executives and Board of Directors for Air Canada
for quick communication but postal information is available
on their website at www.a ircanada.com. We would like
to remind all CKC Members that for over a year now the
Canadian Kennel Club Mosaic MasterCard (available to
CKC Members at no charge) provides WestJet Airmiles.
WestJet is both a family and pet friendly airline. For further
WestJet information please visit their website at www.westje
t.com.
The Pet Food Institute has formed a National Pet Food
Commission which will be investigating the massive pet
food recall this spring and making recommendations on how
to prevent a similar event from occurring in the future. For
more information go to www.petfoodreport.com.
From Julie Borst Reed: The OFA hip and elbow submission
forms now have a question for the vet as to whether they
checked the identification of the animal presented!
See new form: http://www.offa.org/hdappbw.pdf
Now, the other forms just have to follow suit . . .. . . .
and dog breeders and owners may need to petition the
CERF vets to get serious and take our applications as a true
scientific finding, as they are usually not checking microchip
identification in most instances across the US today. Report
all non-compliant vets to CERF. The lady I called twice
about this, was so disappointed, because they had scanners
donated to every CERF ophthalmologist a few years back.
The good news, OFA hip and elbows are to either be
checked or noted as No Positive ID (NOPI) - by the vet! For PennHip forms, I plan to have them sign the OFA form
at the time of the x-ray - before I just put down PennHip in
the vet information.
PETA worker charged with theft of deputy’s hunting dog: http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=127403&
ran=159617
Hunting dog owners will be interested in the charging
documents reproduced at CCF’s site:
http://www.consumerfreedom.com/news_detail.cfm/
headline/3391
2007
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American Kennel Club Announces Tulsa, Oklahoma Will
Host 2008 National Agility Championships
--Three Day Competition Slated For Newly Renovated
Facilities at Expo Square - New York, NY— Today the American Kennel Club®
announced that the National Agility Championship will be
held at Ford Truck and Mustang arenas in Tulsa, Oklahoma
on March 28-30, 2008. This is the second time the state will
host the AKC® National Agility Championship, which will
feature teams competing for top titles in the AKC’s fastest
growing canine sport.
The Ford and Mustang arenas are located adjacent to one
another in the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex, and will
be able to accommodate up to five agility rings. The 13th
annual AKC National Agility Championships will award six
National Agility Championship titles to dogs in the 8”, 12”,
16”, 20”, 24” and 26” jump height categories.
Agility allows dogs and handlers to demonstrate their agile
nature and versatility by overcoming a challenging course of
obstacles, such as weave poles, tunnels, jumps and seesaws. Teams who have earned at least 6 double qualifying scores
and 400 speed points will be eligible to compete in the
national championship.
“We are thrilled to be holding the nationals at the Ford and
Mustang arenas in Tulsa. With over 1,000 teams likely to
compete, these venues will be ideal for competitors as well
as spectators,” said Sharon Anderson, AKC Agility Director. “We look forward to working with all agility enthusiasts in
the state of Oklahoma who will help us put on a top notch
event.”
For more information about the 2008 AKC National Agility
Championship, visit: http://www.akc.org/events/agility/
national_agility_championship/index.cfm
AKC Introduces Online Record Keeping -- Free, Web-based Service Helps Breeders Manage Dog and
Litter Records - New York, NY – The American Kennel Club® is pleased
to announce that Online Record Keeping, a new service
for breeders of AKC® registered litters and dogs, is now
available. Any breeder with a My AKC account now has
access to this free service, which provides a centralized area
to manage and maintain dog and litter records online.
“We are pleased to offer breeders of AKC dogs this new
complimentary online feature to help them manage their dog
and litter information,” said David Roberts, Assistant Vice
President of Registration and Customer Service. “Breeders
can access their personalized breeding, ownership, and
registration records from any computer with internet access
at any time. This service is only the beginning of a variety of
online features planned for the future.”
VIP Newsletter
June
With the new Online Record Keeping service, breeders can
record mating and birth information for litters and view
official AKC litter registration information including dog
registration status for all puppies in a litter. There is also a
handy address book function that gives breeders an easy place
to store contact information for co-owners and puppy buyers.
And the AKC’s secure, password protected breeder record
service keeps your information secure and private. In addition to being able to record and view information,
breeders can also quickly print AKC Dog Ownership,
Breeding, and Litter records. If the breeder completes the
necessary fields in the record-keeping system, all of the
information required for AKC record-keeping rules and
regulations will be pre-populated on these forms. This new service also allows a breeder to record sale and
ownership information for the puppies and to manage puppy
records by adding notes about breeding and whelping.
For those breeders that have already taken advantage of
online dog registration to record sale and new ownership
information for their puppies, this information has been
moved to the Online Record Keeping section of My AKC for
easier access.
If you have an authenticated My AKC account (or want to
start one - just go to the home page on the upper right hand
box and start the quick process), maintaining your dog and
litter records online is just a click away.
Follow these easy steps to get started:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Log in to your My AKC account. Sign up for Online Record Keeping services from
the main page. Go to the My Dogs and Litters section. Click Breeder Records to view, create and maintain
breeder records, view AKC litter and puppy
registration information, and manage puppy records. For more information go to: http://www.akc.org/services/
breeder_records.cfm
From the Internet:
Mary Whiteley www.dogenes.com is doing research on
the genetic component of struvite bladder stones. Shesays
that Miniatures are the only “breed/variety with a “high”
percentage of dogs with struvite stones who do not also have
JRD, thus they offer a unique opportunity to get to the bottom
of the problem. Contact her at info@dogenes.com for more
information and test kits. At this point “all” she wants are
affecteds. She will, of course be asking for samples from
known carriers and siblings when/if she finds the gene!!!
Isn’t life grand that there are more and more research studies
being done to get to the bottom of what bothers our furry
friends? Also, those who have SA affecteds can contact Mary
for test kits as she is doing significant research on that as
2007
12
well. In addition, we should be proud of the fact that Mary
is very impressed with the cooperation of Poodle Breeders in
research, as not every breed is so inclined. So HOORAY for
us!!!
A new drug for motion sickness in dogs has been approved.
The drug is maropitant citrate and is called Cerenia. It should
be available from veterinarians soon in tablets and injectable
formulations. This is the first such medication specifically
for dogs. Previously used drugs for motion sickness were for
humans and had inconsistent results in canines.
From Lynne Edwards: OFA’s e-newsletter is at http://www.
offa.org/enewsmar2007.pdf
Notable: OFA funded research areas for 2006-2007 include:
*Determination of Breed Specific Reference Ranges for
Assessing Thyroid Function in Several Breeds – University of
Minnesota
*Mapping Refinement of Quantitative Trait Loci for Canine
Hip Dysplasia – Cornell University
*Development of a New Resource for Positional Cloning of
Hip Dysplasia Genes: A High Density SNP Map of Canine
Chromosome One – CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche
Scientifique), Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center,
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
*Patella Luxation in Dogs: A Molecular Approach –
University of Utrecht Research abstracts may be accessed via
the OFA Website at: www.offa.org/research.html
A gene which is associated with human autoimmune
diseases has been identified. Can a similar gene discovery be
far behind for our beloved Poodles?
This indicates that the tail wag direction indicates the dog’s
emotional state http://www.nature.com/news/2007/070319/
full/070319-6.html
Gene Test For JRD Now Available
Great news! There is now a DNA test available for Juvenile
Renal Disease in Standard Poodles through the Dogenes
lab in Canada. It’s a direct test which is more accurate then
a linkage test. For more information you can go to www.
dogenes.com. The DNA test is a simple cheek swab test
with a brush to collect the cells. Normal cost of the test is
$90, however there will be a special clinic price of $75 at
the Poodle Club of American National Specialty Show in
June and on August 26th at the Watchung Mountain Poodle
Club Health Clinics. So if you’ve been wondering whether
it’s safe to breed your dog or bitch that is from a line that
has produced JRD you will be able to get the information
you need. The test is also available for Lhasas, Shih Tzu,
Miniature Schnauzers, Boxers and Soft Coated Wheaten
VIP Newsletter
June
Terriers. Dogenes also does DNA banking and was the
repository for the VIP DNA samples prior to being moved to
the OFA respoitory.
Breeder’s Symposium
Presented by the American Kennel Club and AKC Canine
Health Foundation
Hosted by the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary
Medicine
August 4 & 5, 2007
Saturday 8:15 AM - 5:00 PM (7:30 Breakfast) Sunday 8:00
AM - 12:00 PM (7:30 Breakfast)
Hollingsworth Auditorium, Universityof Tennessee
2431 Joe Johnson Drive(corner of Joe Johnson Dr.and
Chapman Dr.) Complimentary Parking available in Lot 66
Program check-in begins at 7:30 am on 8/4/07 Cost $125.00
- includes materials, breakfast both days, lunch on Saturday
and parking
Topics to include:
Canine Reproduction - Tulio Prado, DVM, MS, DACT
Building a Better Breeding Program - Jerold Bell, DVM
Use of Genetic Tests - Jeff Phillips, DVM, PhD, DACVIM
Nutrition for Canine Reproduction - Deborah Greco, DVM,
PhD, DACVIM
Canine Oncology - Amy LeBlanc, DVM And other topics!
To register online, go to: http://www.Cvent.com/ In the top
right corner of the screen click on “RSVP for an Event”
Under Respond to an Invitation, enter the event code
7CNP6TVYNTX
For More Information:
AKC
Ronald Rella
212-696-8303
e-mail: rnr@akc.org
Novice A Trophy Awards!
Congratulations to the following owners and Poodles for
winning the Novice A obedience class at a Poodle Obedience
Trial. They have each won a one year subscription to the VIP
newsletter.
Colleen Britos and her Standard Poodle, Samovar’s
Maximillian, won Novice A obedience at the Poodle Club of
Las Vegas
Janet Elwert and her Standard Poodle, CH Delta’s Captain In
Control won Novice A. The sponsoring Poodle Club was not
listed.
Helen B. Esmond and Spangle Rockin Robin Hood, Standard
Poodle, won Novice A at the Watchung Mountain Poodle
Club obedience trial.
2007
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Sally Beckner with her with her Toy Poodle, Sierra, from
Middletown, CA also won Novice A. The sponsoring Poodle
Club was not listed.
Two Miniature Poodles, ages twelve and thirteen, ran the
WC. Though they didn’t qualify, their training, willingness,
and birdiness impressed everyone. Imagine what you would
think if asked to retrieve a duck that was as heavy as you!
During the water marks, diversion was provided by three
very curious Muscovy Ducks.
The artistry of photographer John Harbour captured the
mood, the magic, and the moment of handlers and their dogs
working together.
A perfect ending to a perfect day was the workshop presented
by Jac Harbour. “An Introduction to Retrieving” was the
topic. It was well attended by those interested in learning
more about retrieving with their Poodles. Even handlers
with experience listened and enjoyed watching dogs discover
their own birdiness.
Training Treats for Poodles with IBD
by Cathy Rainer
Miniature Poodle at NW WC test, photo by John Harbour
Northwest WC and WCX
by Tracy Lone
May 19th, 2007, was a perfect day for the VIP sponsored WC
and WCX test. The Northwest offered up its best weather, a
light marine cover, no moisture, a nip in the air and a bit of
sun. It took place at Cindy Leung’s property in Cornelius,
Oregon, nestled in the rolling hills of the Tualatin Valley way
out in the country.
The WC/WCX was orchestrated and coordinated by Jac
Harbour who had just returned from a trip to England and
Scotland the week before the event. Accolades to Sylvia
Dodgson Martineau for the computer skills, efficiency, and
energy she put forth before, during and after. The outcome
was an event that was planned and implemented just right.
Part of that “just right” feeling involved the many
participants who not only entered their dogs, but also
prepared food for the potluck lunch, accepted registration
fees, brought equipment, carried blinds, marshaled for the
judges, acted as gunners, blew duck calls and tossed birds. A
frequently heard comment was, “I’ve never done this before
but…..”
They later walked away with a smile and a new skill.
The judges for the event were Nikki Illias and Kurt Fordice.
Their expertise and critique were invaluable in making this
an enjoyable experience.
There were eleven entries in the WC and eight passed and
three in the WCX with 2 passes. In addition, three dogs ran
the WCX as noncompetitive singles in preparation for an
AKC Hunt Test held the following day.
VIP Newsletter
June
Ginger, a lovely, cream, 10-month old Standard Poodle, was
on course to become a service dog until she was diagnosed
with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The IBD diagnosis
meant that Ginger was pulled from the service program.
Ginger’s puppy-raiser was smitten by her and decided to
keep Ginger and begin CGC and other training.
Depending upon where the IBD occurs in the dog’s digestive
tract, there can be vomiting and/or diarrhea. IBD dogs have
inflammation and an allergic immune system response to
many foods, which can affect food absorption and motility of
the digestive tract.
Several IBD-affected Standard Poodles are listed in the
Poodle Health Registry at:
http://www.poodlehealthregistry.org/docs/Standard/PHR_
Standard_IBD.html.
The PHR gives links to more in-depth information about the
disease.
Dogs with IBD may be put on a diet with a protein source
different from foods the dog had in the past. In Ginger’s
case, she cannot have poultry, beef, corn, wheat, soy or dairy
products. Her regular diet is now fish and potatoes. Ginger’s
owner was looking for treats she could use in training with
Ginger, and members of the VIP list gave some excellent
suggestions. Thanks to all of you who contributed with your
experience, ideas and suggestions.
Fortunately, there are now many more products available
to use as training treats for dogs on restricted diets that in
former years. The following are the suggestions made by
VIP members.
Veggies and Fruits:
2007
14
Grace Blair suggests small carrot slices, which many dogs
love and Bev Duerst recommends partially cooked carrot
slices. Louann Currey adds green beans to the veggie
list. Another small veggie treat suggested by Renee Koch
is hashbrown potatoes roasted on a tray in the “oven until
they’re just a bit crispy-browned.”
Mary Ainsworth recommends fruit as a good treat, too,
because the dogs like the sweet taste. Mary finds apples and
strawberries to work well for her dog who is on a restricted
diet.
Processes:
Use your microwave, says Mary, to dehydrate various foods
such as fish or sweet potatoes. Drying the food allows you
to carry these treats in your pocket without the treats being
greasy or wet. Bev Duerst also recommends dehydrating
fish. Sweet and white potatoes can be sliced very thin and
baked in the oven, says Bev.
Roslyn Beaman developed a novel method of turning the
canned version of her IBD dog’s food into treats. Roslyn
says to gently slide the canned food out of the can, slice the
food, then bake it in the oven until it is “a little crispy on the
outside.” Roslyn has been known to bake a salmon
steak, too!
you can use various ingredients:
Liver Cookies
1 lb. liver
3 eggs
3 cups of any combination flour (any kind), oatmeal,
cornmeal, etc.
2 cloves garlic
Puree it all in the food processor and bake at 350 for 20
minutes. It seems you can’t make a mistake with it; I’ve
heard it done with fresh salmon and chicken too. I double
the recipe. Cut it into small pieces while warm, then freeze.
Doubled, it makes 3 quart bags full.
Quick Treats:
Dried rabbit food pellets from the veterinarian (Marcia
German).
Flint River has a fish and potato treat, without the wheat
(Marcia).
Tuna from the pouches (Roslyn).
Fake crab meat (Mary Ruhe).
Brandname Treats:
Salmon Rollover (Roslyn).
Homemade Treats:
Mary also suggests using potato flour (from a kosher foods
market) rather than wheat flour to make your own dog
biscuits. Mary adds that, “Prepared fish stock is available
these days too, in cartons so (that could be used) to punch up
the flavor of more dull items, if need be.”
Linda Gower sent the following recipe for Tuna/Fish treats
(Please note the egg content of the recipes in case your dog
cannot have chicken products):
Tuna/Fish Treats
1 can Salmon (or 2 cans Tuna) mostly drained (also
Mackerel)
1 1/2 cups flour (Louann suggests substituting potato flour
for the regular flour and Linda says that various mixes can be
used including cornmeal.)
2 eggs
1 tsp. garlic
Yummy Chummy treats (Mary who says the Yummy
Chummy treats “are fish based but may have some other
ingredients so owner should check the label.”)
Wellness Fish and Sweet Potato biscuits (Mary says, “All
the dogs love them. They crumble well, which would be
necessary for effective training treats.”)
Treats from Internet Sources:
Mollie Harris gives these links to internet sites which carry
limited ingredient treats and may work for an IBD dog.
Fish treats from sitstay.com:
http://www.sitstay.com/store/edibles/fish1.shtml#EDWS04
Natural Balance makes fish and potato cookies for dogs:
http://www.sitstay.com/cgi-bin/sdisp.cgi/EDNBPF.lg.jpg
Mix and press onto greased cookie sheet.
Bake at 250 for 20-25 minutes, or until firm.
Flax seed can be added for an additional health bonus.
Linda warns: The mackerel and tuna really reek while
cooking, but salmon doesn’t smell quite as bad.
Mollie suggests that Simon & Hueys (soy is not used in
their treats) treats are excellent treats because they are
small and moist and her Toy Poodle “really likes the peanut
butter+molasses and the salmon + dill treats training treats:”
http://www.sitstay.com/store/edibles/treats3.shtml
http://www.simonandhuey.com/bakery/softtrainingtreats.html
Carol Pernicka sent the following variation on the recipe
above and says as long as you keep the proportions the same,
Another fish treat popular at Mollie’s house:
http://www.puplife.com/dogsupplies/lakse-kronch-dog-treats.
html
VIP Newsletter
2007
June
15
Mollie gives another site, but adds that she has not tried this
source:
http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/product_detail.asp?pf_
id=10312505&dept_id=17&brand_id=111&Page=
Temperament Study: Florida State
University
by Dr. Barbara Licht
Below is a request from a student of mine to participate in
her study on the temperament and health of various breeds
and mix-breeds of dogs. I am hoping that you will help her
by completing a survey on one of your dogs. Her study has
been approved by her thesis committee consisting of myself
and two Biology professors at Florida State University
(FSU). If you have any questions or comments, feel free
to contact me (850-644-6272 or blicht@psy.fsu.edu) or the
Chair of the FSU Institutional Review Board (850-6448633).
dog_temperament_health@psy.fsu.edu
(Note: this is an email address—not a web site link.)
In order to make scientifically accurate conclusions about
the temperament and health of various breeds, it is important
that owners answer each question as truthfully and accurately
as possible. The goal of this study is NOT to show that any
one breed or mix of breeds is better or worse than any other.
Your honesty and carefulness in answering these questions is,
therefore, GREATLY appreciated.
Feel free to email me at the above address, or contact me or
Dr. Barbara Licht (blicht@psy.fsu.edu) at 850-644-6272, or
you may contact the Chair of the Florida State University
Institutional Review Board at 850-644-8633 if you have any
questions or comments. I thank you for your consideration
and time. It is greatly appreciated.
--Ruth Marcec
Welcome to Our New Members!!
Dear Poodle Owners and Breeders,
My name is Ruth Marcec, and I am an undergraduate Honors
student attending Florida State University in the field of
Biology (Pre-Veterinary). I am conducting my Honors Thesis
research on the temperament and health of various breeds
and mixed breeds of dogs. My major professor is Dr. Barbara
Licht.
One of the breeds included in my study is Poodles. I am
requesting owners of Poodles to fill out a short questionnaire
on your dog. All information provided will be held strictly
confidential, to the extent allowed by law. Findings from
this study will be posted in this newsletter after the data are
analyzed (February, 2008). I am interested in all varieties
of Poodles. So that no one spends too much time on the
questionnaire, I ask that you complete the questionnaire on
ONLY ONE of your Poodles. If you have more than one
Poodle, write each dog’s name on a piece of paper, fold up
the paper, and blindly (randomly) pick one. This way, I can
get an unbiased sampling of Poodles.
The study consists of two short questionnaires. The first asks
you to rate the temperament of your dog on 23 temperament
items. It takes between 10 and 20 minutes. The second
questionnaire asks about your dog’s health history. It takes
between 5 and 15 minutes. This second survey is optional,
but your input would be extremely helpful to the study.
I strongly encourage you to complete the second survey,
but if time is an issue, I understand. If you are interested
in participating, please send me an email at the address
below, and tell me the breed and variety of your dog. You
will receive the questionnaire via e-mail within 2-7 days of
your request. The questionnaire will come from the e-mail
address:
VIP Newsletter
June
Donna Kaplan
Tucson, AZ
Interests: Education, service dogs, obedience, tricks, CGC,
hiking and jogging, rally.
Variety: Standards
Loanne and Roger J. Maier
Forest Grove, OR
Interests: Education, team obedience, service dogs,
obedience, working (hunting), CGC, hiking, therapy dogs,
scent hurdles, charity walks, tracking, rally, herding (I had
the 1st AKC title on a Rottweiler).
Other--Children reading out loud to dogs in libraries and any
other event I learn about that a mini is allowed to enter.
Variety: Miniatures
Darlene Kelley
Suwanee, GA
Interests: Agility, education, conformation, obedience,
therapy dogs, tracking, rally.
Variety: Toys and Standards
Hilary Ellis
San Ramon, CA
Interests: Agility, hiking and jogging, tracking, rally.
Variety: Standards
Carol Hamblin
Indian Trail, NC
Interests: Agility, education, team obedience, service dogs,
obedience, working (hunting), tricks, CGC, hiking and
jogging, therapy dogs, charity walks, tracking, rally, herding.
Variety: Miniatures and Standards
2007
16
BRAGS
(including those from April which were not previously
published)
Jac Harbour, OR
On April 23 Cheers earned her Started title in UKC and Brag
and Sur each earned one leg.
On Saturday both Sur & Brag thought the first water mark
was too long and the breeze had died down so there was no
help here, it was blowing from the duck to the dogs on line.
But in HRC you are allowed to get every bird even if your
dog has blown it. The second bird was much closer and with
a little encouragement they both went swimming and got a
lovely duck.
One Sunday we started with land again - yea ! and by the
time we got to water Brag was all fired up, first bird was the
shorter one. He went in a bit hesitantly swam out about 15’
turned left to the lily pads nope no duck there, looked out
and to the right and saw more lily pads, checked them out, nope then spotted the duck, nice delivery to hand. Second
mark was 60 yards and he leaped in did a bit of a serpentine
checking out the lily pads but kept on going to get his duck,
nice delivery to hand again.
Sur did similar only he went in for the first one, did a circle
and came almost up on shore, looked at me, I avoided
making eye contact, said nothing and he turned around and
went back in checking out the lily pads like Brag and got his
bird. He grabbed it by the wing, he does not like opening his
mouth in water. At the shore he stepped on the neck, dropped
the bird, took his foot off and picked it up and delivered to
hand - Good boy! The dogs do not have to deliver to hand in
UKC Started but I like them to if they look to have a solid
hold on the bird.
Second mark he went straight in and swam a dead straight
line to the duck, no checking out the lily pads he knew what
they were, and a straight line back for a leg to his Started
title which needs 4 passes.
He is so much better this season, one thing he does not have
is any kind of heavy coat to swim with, he is in a short all
over clip. Sure makes a difference to him. He is also not
shivering when he comes out, more body fat and maturity.
“Trip” a son from Cheers’ first litter also earned 2 legs
towards his title, this was his first test ever.
Marcia German, NJ
I am proud to announce that Rosie, Kali’s Lil Apacchi
Rosebud, earned her Rally Novice title. She did it in 3
straight shows. First show, Watchung Mt. Poodle Club, score
97, 1st place. Second show, Poodle Obed. Training Club,
score 99, 1st place. Third show, Washington Poodle Club,
score 97, 2nd place.
VIP Newsletter
June
Tom Reese, Maryland
Dr. Tom Reese reports that his SP Wicket finished a TDX
in March and an RE in April. So he is now “Miles Wicket
of Wide Water VCD3, RE, SH” This makes Wicket the 4th
VCD3 Standard Poodle in AKC records.
Eva Mitchell, IN
In April, it wasn’t pretty (I forgot myself and spoke to Faith
on the fast. ), but it was for real. Am/U-GR CH Dream Faith
in Freedom CD RE CGC (CHIC) completed her third CD
leg at the St Paul Training Club show . She is CH Parade
Protege TP X Am/Can/Int CH Tanzen Muffin’s Dream TP
(CHIC) and was bred and is owned by Eva. She actually had
a pretty credible run. She was lagging just a bit and I called
her up (which judge had instructed those of us in Novice A
to do if that happened.). As we went into the fast, she was
right with me and I totally forgot and told her to “let’s go”
which I would have done in Rally. It cost me points. Then,
on the recall, she went right to the finish for the first time in
her life. We were #112 (yes, this was Novice A and a nice
class of 13 dogs showed!) and she sat and watched all of
those people in front of us and figured out that everyone was
calling their dog back to heel after the recall and she might
as well just go there in the first place. She had a 181 1/2
which is a qualifying score, not a placement. We had been in
Minneapolis to CERF dogs, deliver puppies to new owners,
and for this show. We drove back to Indiana right after the
show on Friday. Molly Brown (Dream Simply Irish Blessing
RN-CHIC) was in whelp and due on May 4th. Saturday
morning she decided to scratch around a bit and started
popping out toys. Black toy girl, 4 oz. Brown toy boy, 4 1/2
ounces, and a really pretty brown girl that is 5 oz. Proud dad
is Am/U-CH Dream Pickets Double Class RN (CHIC).
Claudia Straitiff, NC
Today (March 20, 2007) we picked up Ruffian from Chris
and Rachel. We celebrated his Championship with duck
throwing and swimming... He looks like a hairy wood tick
swimming in the water -- but I am holding on to that hair
until the title shows up on AKC then it is on to a nice short 7
or 5 blade!
Claudia also managed to put together a wonderful PCA
field event...an awards dinner and catalog of all the previous
field and WC/X title holders. In addition, Mulligan attained
another MH leg and a JH leg on CH Ascot For Your Eyes
Only RN, the only SH pass with CH Ascot Boucheron
Joalleria CD RN SH, and Wc and WCX passes at the PCA
2007 field events.
Roslyn Beaman, ON
In April, at the Victoria County Kennel Club show in
Oakwood, Ontario, Owen picked up two more Open B
legs and finished his CDX!! Oddly enough his scores were
exactly the same (183) for each of the three legs so although
what he goofed around with changed each time, he was
certainly consistent...now, on to flyball and field work for the
rest of the year....and utility in the fall! Bronte picked up two
2007
17
more CARO Rally legs a couple of weeks ago and earned her
CARO Rally Novice title all with scores between 192-196...
not too bad for a Poodle who doesn’t like regular obedience! This means that her title can read Rally Novice Magna Cum
Laude.
places, two were in Excellent B JWW 24”, one in Excellent
B Standard 24”, and one in Novice FAST 24”. Her other
qualifying run was a 4th place in Novice FAST 24”. With
her two Novice FAST qualifications, she earned her Novice
FAST title. She also earned her first Double Q. Her total
points earned for the weekend were 94. Agility in Motion
filmed Tia’s runs and has posted one of our runs on her
website. The website address is www.agilityinmotion.com
Carolyn Wray, OR
Howie got his first CD leg....192.5 and 2nd in Novice B. He
worked better than that until the recall where he ran in at a
gallop, head and tail up and used my legs to brake so lost
points for handler contact that plus his lame-brain mom sent
him to heel to the left knowing that he does a better finish
to the right. I was so happy by his fast recall that I lost my
brain...poor Howie.
Roslyn and Owen
Charlene Shelton, HI
Jon Jon and I got our second RAE leg. We had a 98 score in
RE and a perfect score of 100 in RA (we took fourth place).
And more recently....
On June 9 and 10 Sparkle and I were at the first two agility
trials in Hawaii for 2007 and did very well. Sparkle got two
legs in standard course & JWW and one leg in FAST all
first places except for one second place in standard course
on Sun. I blew the second leg in FAST because I stepped in
the send out box. All her times except for the JWW on Sun
were below SCT. We really had fun this weekend!
Louann Currey, NY
April 1, at the Staten Island UKC obedience trials, Ree
finished her UCDX out of the Open B class with a 1st place,
beating Nick who earned a 2nd place and the final points for
his UOCH. :) In addition, I have a history making brag.... I
did research at UKC. Nick’s UOCH has since been verified.
It appears he is the first Triple Ch with a GRCH.
Marlene Jurkovich, CA
Friendships Ravens Tia O’MandM, AX, MXJ - call name Tia
earned her MXJ Title in March at the Columbia River Agility
Club Trial held in Albany, Oregon. At the Mensona Agility
Trial held in Santa Rosa, California, May 5 & 6, Tia had a
stellar weekend. Out of six runs, she qualified in five. Out
of those five runs, she got four 1st places. Of those four 1st
VIP Newsletter
June
And at PCA.....
Shelby got a first in Novice JWW (8” Preferred) and Howie
got a 2nd (12” Preferred). I was thrilled to have rosettes from
the national! Shelby also got two first places in JWW at the
all breed agility trials the weekend before. Howie was a wild
boy in JWW and neither one would do the chute in Standard
any of the three days. It was Howie’s first flight and he had
to go cargo all the way to Dulles then we drove 4 hours to
Salisbury. Howie also got his 2nd CD leg, a placement on
PreNovice and 97 in Rally Novice B. And they both
participated in a Parade of Champions and Titleholders......
beautiful rosettes with the 75th Medallion and their names
and tiles printed on the streamers.....very cool! They had
a jump, 6 weaves and a tunnel out and you could run your
dogs through the sequence while all the crowd cheered and
clapped and they played “Fame.” A kind breed person
even scissored Shelby’s topknot up for me so she would look
cuter doing her little course....not that Shelby could be much
cuter than the little Toy poodle that she is LOL
Shelby was entered in Rally Advanced B but informed me
Tuesday AM that the princess was not inclined to do rally
that day, and being the sometimes smart girl that I am, I
listened to her and she spent her day keeping various laps
occupied.
PCA was great fun and the very best part is meeting so many
friends...many of whom I only knew via internet.....and I
somehow managed to NOT get on any toll roads except the
Bay Bridge! Probably because I had my roll of quarters close
at hand .
Cathi Winkles, MI
CH OTCH MACH 4 Ravendune Right on Q, UDX, RE
earned his MACH 4 Agility Championship recently. At age
11 he’s still flying around the agility ring at top speed.
Both Q and his “little brother” T, CH Ravendune Right On
Target, RE earned their RE titles this spring as well. AND,
Ch Ravendune Right On Target was High in Trial at the
PCA 75th Anniversary Show!!
2007
18
Mary Ruth Calhoun, VA
Tudorose McCheers NA, NAJ qualified for his first JH leg
at the Labrador Retriever Club of The Potomac on May 5,
2007.
Julie Piomiroo, CA
Julie reports that Remy (Cosmic Love at First Sight CDX
RA) earned his CDX June 10 at Contra Costa Kennel Club in
Antioch. Now on to Utility!
Becky Baxter, CO
UKC/Int CH, UCD Anutta DeVyne Trick Or Treat CD, RA,
NA, OAJ, PK1, PJ1, PI, PI Pairs, PDI, CGC/TDI “BOO”
Received his AKC CDX title with 3 qualifying scores in a
row! Boo is owned by Patti and Gene Downing and bred by
Becky Baxter.
Anutta New Years Resolution CD, RA, CGC- “MACIE”
received her RE Rally title. Macie is owned by Sherrie
Pendleton and bred by Becky Baxter.
Anutta Ready Set and Intuit CD, RN, CGC - “REMY”
receives her RA and RE Rally titles in one weekend. Remy
is owned by Katheen Thompson and bred by Becky Baxter.
Marquis Anutta Fine Wine CD, NA, CGC - “MERLOT”
received his NAJ agility title. Merlot is owned by Becky
Baxter and bred by Kathi Johnson.
Moonstone’s Anutta Lucky Charm - “CHARM” is now a
UKC conformation Champion. Owned by Becky Baxter and
Gloria Ogdalh and bred by Kim Koopman.
Debbi Cole, Fl
Debbi reports that her bitch, CH. Debonair Da Maya First
Belle CGC, NA, NAJ, VC and Ch. Huffish Entrapment,
TP, produced a litter of Standard Poodle puppies was on
Jun14th. This litter has wonderful potential for field , agility,
obedience and conformation showing. Debbi is looking
forward to the next “Versaility Poodle” to show at PCA in
2008. There are SEVEN male puppies in this litter.
Correction:
In the brags section of the April VIP newsletter the owner of
Ch Cosmic Kabiri CDX, RN was incorrect. She is owned,
trained and loved by Miriam Hillier, CA and not Grace Blair,
who is the breeder and lives in MT rather than CA.
Warning...Our Dog Ownership Rights
Are in Danger!!!
Letter to the BOD:
The newsletter is always full of useful information-I read it
cover to cover the moment I receive it.
what to do with my Poodles now that Albuquerque, NM
passed such draconian pet laws with mandatory spay and
neuter. It’s disgraceful how a political body can, with a vote
(not listen to the dog people) take so much pleasure out of
living, loving and working with dogs. Animal Control here
has taken on a gestapo attitude about mandatory spay and
neuter or pay $150.00 per year per intact dog (limit 4). It’s
a scary proposition when one considers Animal Control can
come onto your property and confiscate your dogs from an
anonymous telephone call.
This brings me to a real issue to me about Dog Fancy, the
magazine. Several of us in Albuquerque and across the
country asked what is the criteria for #1 Dog Friendly City
(as listed by Dog Fancy Magazine). The answer from
Dog Fancy was “a city that has mandatory spay and neuter
laws”. Because of this Animal Rights criteria, several people
unsubscribed and pulled their ads.
I would hope VIP places their educational ad NOT in Dog
Fancy but in a magazine of the Animal Welfare philosophy
not Animal Rights pholosophy.
An aside: The bill HB1106 for mandatory spay and neuter in
New Mexico was withdrawn by the sponsor. She vows to be
back at next year’s legislative session, however.
We have another insidious bill SB458/HB453 called
Sheltering Services that has made it through committees
with DO PASS. Unfortunately, this bill(s) if passed by the
legislature forms a NM Department of Euthanasia with tax
money funding to train people off the street to euthanize
animals, puts controlled substances into their possession
and trusts them to safeguard these substances properly. This
department would not be under the Veterinary Board but
under the Animal Protection NM jurisdiction which is the
Animal Rights group with lots of money behind it. APNM
has Governor Bill Richardson’s blessing. Richardson is
running for nomination for President on the Democratic
ticket. He is very shrewd and knows how to use the media to
his advantage and has lots of dollars behind him.
Sincerely,
Frances Lavender-Fish
P.S. Use my dues toward anything but an ad in DOG
FANCY.
Dr. Carmen Batagglia has written a detailed article about
the erosion of our rights to own animals:
Dr. Carmen Batagglia’s article:
http://www.charlestonkennelclub.org/ (go to the bottom of
the news section to find the link)
Dog ownership is under a severe attack in
California. (And the rest of the USA as well.) A bill
I’m sorry to send my dues check so late. My quandary is
called AB 1634 has passed the California Assembly and
is now before the California Senate. Vote is set for July 9.
This bill mandates the spay or neuter of ALL dogs over the
VIP Newsletter
2007
June
19
age of four months unless the breeder/owner has a costly
permit which can only be obtained by proving that their dogs
compete in certain approved dog events. This bill is just the
tip of the iceberg which is sweeping across the US. Please, if
you value the companionship of a dog, get yourself informed
and work to defeat this bill and those who sponsor such
draconian ideas.
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and
the HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) are two of
the most insidious organizations which want to eliminate all
animal ownership. I am not kidding! Their stated goal is the
elimination of ALL animal ownership. How could anyone
be against the “ethical treatment of animals”? The details are
in the understanding of the meaning of the statement. These
people are eco-terrorists and individuals supporting them
have been prosecuted for such actions as releasing thousands
of domestic fur-bearing animals into the countryside where
they were slaughtered by the hundreds on an interstate
highway and the rest quickly killed by predators. These
AR people have performed many more horrendous acts
including taking “rescue dogs” from veterinarian offices
(after telling the vets that the animals were going to loving
homes which were waiting for them) and killing them and
dumping them into dumpsters in shopping malls. There are
literally hundreds of examples of the actions and ideas that
the PETA and HSUS organizations condone with the goal
of eliminating animals from our lives. “Better Dead than
Owned” is their motto. They would like to FORCE each of
us to become vegan vegetarians as well.
Many wealthy and well-meaning people donate to PETA and
HSUS, believing that the names of the organizations indicate
their goals. If you are unaware of the ethics, morals and goals
of PETA and the HSUS it is time that you did some studying!
Read articles in the Canine Chronicle, go to the National
Animal Interest Alliance website < http://www.naiaonline.
org/> and study the links. Sign up for news bulletins from
http://www.petpac.net/, http://saveourdogs.net/ and http://
www.saova.org/. And then also go to the PETA and HSUS
websites and critically read their information.
Some of the impacts of a successful “Animal Rights”
program would be:
9. No more police dogs for officer protection and criminal
apprehension
10. No land mine detection animals
11. No more equestrian events
12. No more 4-H activities for the education of children
about farm animals
13. No more aviaries or pet birds
14. No more zoos or captive breeding for the preservation of
endangered species
15. And of course, no more pet dogs, cats or other animals
16. Mandatory spay/neuter laws don’t work
http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/BigLieGraphs.pdf
http://www.naiaonline.org/issues/California_graphs.htm
https://petpac.net/PetPAC_Truth_Graph.pdf
After you have become educated on the issues and dangers
then please consider some of these actions:
1. Donate to the organizations working to protect our rights
to own and live with our animals (NAIA, PetPAC, SOAVA,
ADOA and Save Our Animals for instance)
2. Vote with your pocketbook, don’t buy from stores and
organizations which support and/or donate to any of the
“Animal Rights” organizations
3. Talk to your neighbors, friends and family members to
help them understand the dangers of the legislation being
proposed and the dangers of the AR agenda
4. Write to your local, state and national legislators as soon
as they are elected and regularly thereafter in an attempt to
help to educate them about the “Animal Rights” agenda
5. Vote, vote, vote at every opportunity
1. No more dog shows or performance events
6. Write to organizations which support the “Animal Rights”
ideas to let them know why you are not buying from them
2. No more dairy products on the store shelves
7. Let AKC know that you are opposed to supporting any and
all AR activities, including holding dog shows in cities which
support AR policies (For instance, the big AKC show in
Long Beach, CA, schedules for this autumn should be moved
to a different state because the Long Beach members of the
CA Assembly voted in favor of the AB 1634 bill!)
3. No more meat or eggs to eat or cook with
4. No more drug detection dogs
5. No more search and rescue dogs
6. No more leather products
8. Continue to stay informed, educate others and VOTE
7. No more use of animals for medical research so new
vaccines and drugs would be nearly impossible
VIP Newsletter
8. Minimal new genetic tests for human diseases would be
found
June
2007
20
New VIP Fundraiser
Sponsored by Jac Harbour
This statue, made from a plastic-like material,
is about 30 1/2” tall by 23” long and weighs approximately 10 pounds. It is probably
not weather resistant. The raffle will run for 6 months from June 19 until December
19 with delivery after Christmas. Winner to pay shipping and handling charges.
Tickets are a $1.00 each or 3 for $2.00 or 15 for $12.00
Contact Jac Harbour at tudorose@opusnet.com or send money to 58380 S Division
Rd, St Helens, OR 97051, USA
VIP Newsletter
June
2007
21
Versatility In Poodles, Inc.
OFFICERS
President: Irma Shanahan, Baldwin, MD
Treasurer: Grace Blair, Sheridan, MT
Recording Secretary: Roslyn Beaman, Oshawa, ON, Canada
Vice President: Dudley Fontaine, Fletcher, NC
Corresp. Secy: Becky Baxter, Elbert, CO
NEWSLETTER POLICIES
CONTENTS The aim of this newsletter is to publish articles, stories, pictures, etc. which will educate Poodle owners and
breeders about the health of the breed and promote the welfare of the Poodle as a versatile breed of dog. Contributions are
welcomed. The opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the newsletter, it’s editors, the Versatility
In Poodles, Inc. or it’s members. All content is subject to final approval by the editors and/or the Board of Directors of the
organization.
COPYRIGHT: 2007, Versatility In Poodles, Inc. Any portion of this newsletter may be reprinted for educational purposes,
provided that correct acknowledgement is given to Versatility In Poodles, Inc. or the author of the item.
ADVERTISING: rates: $15-full page; $10.00 half page; $6 1/4 page or business card size; subject to approval of the Board
of Directors and/or editor.
CIRCULATION: The newsletter will be sent to members and subscribers. Complimentary copies will be sent to non-member clubs and contribotors. Requests for subscriptions and address changes should be sent to the Treasurer at the address
below. Membership: $25 USA, $30 foreign countries. Subscription: $20 per year USA and $25 foreign countries. Dues and
subscription fees are due by December 31 of each year.
Dedicated to the health and welfare of Poodles everywhere!
Treasurer: Grace Blair, P.O. Box 892, Sheridan, MT 59749 cpoodle@earthlink.net
Canadians may pay in Canadian funds to: Barbara O’Donaughy, P.O. Box 1436, 370 4th Ave,
Hope, BC, V0X 1L0, Canada
Editor:
P.O. Box 892
Sheridan, MT 59749
VIP Newsletter
June
2007
22

Contents - Versatility In Poodles

Transcription

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