The more that I think I know about the breed, the more I realize that I don�t. This is just one of the things that I didn�t know that the German Shepherd Dog can be affected by. I never even heard of this disease before.
German Shepherd Dog Keratitis [pannus], medical name: keratitis superficialis vasulosa pannosa pigmentosa chronica, is a chronic inflammation of the corneal surface and, in most cases, of the conjunctiva of the eye. The reason it is called German Shepherd Dog Keratitis is because the disease is found predominantly in German Shepherds and is only rarely seen in other breeds.
Pannus is a condition where your dogs� immune system attacks the cornea. Symptoms include changes in color and the appearance of red blood vessels. While there is no cure for the syndrome, it can be controlled for the life of your dog. Failure to treat the condition can result in blindness.
It is normally seen in dogs between the ages of three and five. It first appears in the outer regions of the cornea and, in almost all cases, affects both eyes simultaneously.
The cornea is a membrane that covers the colored part and white part of the eye. Canine keratitis is a syndrome where the cornea becomes inflamed and discolored (corneal pigmentation). Pannus causes tissue to accumulate on the surface of the eye and cholesterol to form inside the cornea.
The cause of Pannus is not well understood, but several factors are involved. The breed incidence suggests a heritable predisposition. Additionally, UV (ultraviolet) radiation plays an important role as an inciting and propagating factor. Dogs living at high altitudes and low altitudes are more severely affected. Also, autoimmune factors and possibly genetics play a part.
Initially, redness and brown pigment may be seen in the conjunctiva (white tissue of the eye). White infiltrates made up of inflammatory cells then invade the clear cornea. Next blood vessels invade the cornea. Finally pink connective tissue grows into the cornea and later becomes brown. In a small number of cases, two other symptoms may occur either alone or together. A thickening, redness, de-pigmentation and lumpiness of the third eyelid may occur. This is called a plasmoma. The other condition which may occur is chronic, erosive ulceration of the lower eyelid near the inner and outer corners of the eye. Pannus is uncomfortable to the dog. When treated adequately, your dog can be free of this irritation even though the corneas may not clear up completely.
What is the treatment for Pannus? Despite intensive research efforts, no permanent cure exists for this disease. However, in the vast majority of cases, the diseases progress can be halted and the problem kept stable. In other cases, Pannus may be reversed and the corneas will clear. This is most probable if therapy is instituted early during the disease. The inflammatory cell infiltrate and blood vessel invasion are generally reversible with therapy. The connective tissue infiltration and pigment deposits are often not reversible once they have occurred.
There are four types of therapy:
1. Corticosteroid (cortisone) therapy. This is the main line of defense against progression of the disease and in most cases is effective. If the pannus is severe, cortisone may be administered by injections under the white of the eye. In all cases drops containing cortisone must be applied to the eye many times a day. Treatment must be kept up for the rest of the pet�s life. Even short periods of interrupted treatment, i.e., 2-to-4 weeks, may cause severe relapse with worsening of the patient's vision. The main side-effect of prolonged corticosteroid therapy is the adverse effect on corneal wound healing. Microscopic wounds of the outer layer of the cornea often occur. In a normal eye the cornea heals rapidly. If corticosteroid medications are being applied, minor wounds worsen leading to serious corneal ulceration. The main sign seen in patients with ulceration is pain. Therefore, should any patient on cortisone therapy show signs of pain, such as holding the eye shut or pawing at the eye, it is important that the medication be stopped and the doctor consulted immediately.
2. Cyclosporine is a new medication in the war on pannus. It does work on pannus and doesn't have the side effects of corticosteroids. Unfortunately, cyclosporine doesn't work as quickly and it is usually necessary to continue it twice daily for the rest of the patient�s life. Often, we will initially prescribe corticosteroids to be used in addition to the cyclosporine. When used together, greater improvements are seen without the side effects associated with high levels of corticosteroids.
3. Surgery may be used when medication does not completely clear the pannus from the cornea. A 'peeling' of the cornea may be required to restore vision in eyes that are severely scarred and pigmented. Unfortunately, treatment is required following surgery to prevent the pannus from recurring as the cornea heals. This method is only used if medication doesn't work.
4. Beta-irradiation may be used when medication and surgery prove insufficient. This will not be recommended unless all else fails.
Although Pannus can be a condition that requires life long treatment, with the correct diagnosis and early treatment, the dog's vision can be maintained.
From the top rated book: "THE 5-MINUTE VETERINARY CONSULT: Be ready to face the rush of common and not-so-common animal disorders with the Third Edition of 5-Minute Veterinary Consult: Canine and Feline. It's your complete, quick-reference resource, offering authoritative coverage and timely answers to your questions pertaining to canine and feline health. You'll also have the insights of more than 300 top veterinary specialists at your fingertips, plus complete coverage of more than 700 specific disorders.
My rating: Learning and educating yourself on the diseases of the German Shepherd Dog: (4)
Showing posts with label dog medicines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dog medicines. Show all posts
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
SO YOU WANT TO BREED A LITTER OF PUPPIES - (Conclusion)
Mother and her puppies are doing well. She�s eating her food right on schedule and you�ve increased it because of all the hungry little mouths she has to feed. You�ve kept a close eye on the puppies to make sure that they are all doing well and are nursing on their mother. You should note that when you observe the puppies while they are sleeping you will notice that their little bodies jerk quite often while they�re sleeping. This is normal and your puppies are healthy so no need to worry. They should feel warm to the touch. It�s the puppy that isn�t moving very much and feels cooler to the touch that you should have a concern with. Call your vet if you notice anything that doesn�t seem right. It�s better to be safe than sorry.
The first couple of weeks, you won�t need to do too much of anything besides change the newspapers in the whelping box and wash the towels or blanket. The mother is very capable of taking care of her babies at this stage. She licks and cleans them to help stimulate their need to defecate and urinate before they can do this on their own.
Normally you will see the puppies eyes begin to open around 10 � 14 days old. At this tender age, the best they can see is shadows. They will have a bluish looking tint to their eyes. By 3 weeks, most puppies are beginning to try to stand and walk although they are shaky at best. It�s comical to watch them as they fall like drunken sailors back onto the floor of the whelping box. They will try to play with their litter mates and you will see a pattern developing as the alpha puppy is determined among the litter.
It is also at this young age that the puppy will have been introduced to a mushy type food. Many breeders will first introduce the puppy to meat by putting a small amount of chop meat on her finger and put it in the puppy�s mouth. The funny faces that they make can give you a chuckle but no more so than when you place the puppies around their dinner bowel and watch them slide head and body first into their food. It�s not unusual that most of them will be wearing more of their food than eating it. But give it time, and they�ll get the hang of it. Then you can gradually add dry food to your puppy�s gruel like mixture which can consist of baby rice cereal, ground meat, puppy milk like replacement supplement that�s loaded with vitamins, etc. Most puppies will be fed four times a day with solid food while still being nursed by their mother.
Many times a breeder will take the puppies to different parts of the house at 4 � 5 weeks of age to get them familiar with different sounds and objects. Up to this time, I like to have a radio playing in the room where the puppies whelping box is so they are already familiar with different sounds. I love to put them on a rug and watch them taking their first steps in unfamiliar territory. By five weeks I�ve already picked my best puppies because at this age, I�ve get my first glimpse of their movement as they do their little puppy gaits across the rug. It amazes me how much a puppy at this age has already developed considering that five weeks ago they were still in their mother�s tummies!
Most mothers will still allow their pups to nurse for a little while, but the puppies at this age show their mother no respect and can be very rough on her by biting and scratching her already tender body. You may see the mother discipline them as well by gently but firmly biting them to let them know that she has had enough of their rough housing. As time goes by she�ll nurse them less and less but will still want to play with and discipline them. This bonding is necessary for their mental and emotional health. They learn from their mother who normally enjoys teaching her offspring.
In a couple of weeks, the puppies will receive their first inoculations. Most of the time you will have to bring a litter of puppies into your vets. If you�re lucky, you may have a vet that makes a house call. However, many breeders give their puppies their own shots that they�ve ordered from a veterinarian supply catalog. They will also have received their first worming mediation.
These initial weeks of a puppies life is crucial for their health and their mental and emotional growth. You don�t just breed a litter of puppies and leave them in a dog run. It is very important that they are played with and socialized. They should come into the kitchen where pots and pans are rattling or dropped on the floor intentionally to watch their reaction and recovery time from their initial �shock� of the intruding object. This is when you observe do your puppies come to investigate what it was that made all that noise? Do they sniff at the invading intruder lying on the middle of the floor or do they run and hide behind a chair? Do your puppies like people? Are they friendly towards strangers, or are they suspicious and cower in a corner somewhere unwilling to come and make friends? This is all an indication of the pups character and future personality.
This is also a good time to introduce them to being handled and groomed. Gently brushing them and combing their fur gets them used to being handled. Put them on a grooming table and most of the time they will stiffen up because they may be frightened. But once they get used to it, most puppies are cooperative. This is also the time that you can introduce them to their first bath. Oh they�re going to kick and splash and try to get out of the sink or tub but they�re German Shepherds and they learn very quickly.
Alright so your puppies are now eating solid food, they�ve had their initial puppy shots, they�ve been wormed, they�ve been handled and groomed and played with and socialized. You�ve enjoyed them, (but the parties over) and it�s time to find them their loving �forever� homes. Let�s hope that you have already received some deposits on these puppies when they were first born or you had a waiting list when you bred this litter. No litter (in my opinion) should be bred unless you have homes for them to go to. You�ve also probably advertised your litter and are hopefully receiving inquiries about them.
Your first concern as a breeder should be to find the very best homes that you can for your puppies. You�ve screened your potential buyers by asking them the right questions like what are their plans for your puppy? Do you have a fenced in yard? Do you have references? Who is the vet that you plan to take care of your dog? Do you work a full time job? Where will the people stay if you do? How will he be taken care of when you�re not home? Do you have other animals and how will they take onto the puppy? Do you have children and do they know how to treat a puppy? Do you know how to train a dog? Will you take him to obedience classes?
You will give the new owner a health guarantee on the puppy. You will tell them that they are to have the puppy neutered if they are not sold as a show or breeding animal. You will take the puppy back at whatever age it is if they can no longer keep him. You will give them a list of shots and worming and dates that they received them. You will tell them what food you recommend that they feed him. You might even give them some food for his first few days in his new home. You will ask them to get in touch with you with any concerns and ask that they give you an update on the puppy periodically. You will tell them that you might drop in on them occasionally just to see how things are going.
Now most of your puppies are sold into loving homes, but there still remains a few that were not so lucky. These are the puppies that no one seems to favor. Did you think of this BEFORE you bred the litter? Are you prepared to hold onto puppies after 8 � 10 weeks old knowing that the older they get, the less desirable they are to the pet market? Most pet people like to buy young puppies. Many a time a breeder will find themselves with puppies that are now over six months old? Do you have the space to hold onto them and the finances to feed them? This is all part of being a breeder��preparing yourself for the unexpected. Or how about the person that buys the 8 � 10 week old puppy and was never prepared for all the chewing, scratching, biting and destructive behavior of the little darling? Are you prepared when that person calls you first thing in the morning whining and complaining that they need to return the puppy to you and want their money back?
This folks is all part of being a breeder! So the next time you get an �urge� to breed Daisy to Duke, stop and think before you do it. Leave it to the breeder that knows what they�re doing because even the best of them can find themselves in situations that they didn�t plan for. It is not all about the cute, fluffy little butterballs that you see in the pictures that you just want to reach out and grab. It�s about the daily taking care of and meeting the needs of a very needy animal. Treat him right, raise him with love and care and he should give you 10 � 13 years of devoted and unconditional love that will leave paw prints on your heart forever!
KONG Extreme Kong Dog Toy, Extra Large, Black.........
* Stuff with KONG Treats and Ziggies
* Recommended for power chewers
* Keeps dogs busy and help deter misbehavior
* Made in the USA of nontoxic, extremely durable natural rubber
* Measures 5-inches long, for dogs 60 to 90 pounds
My rating: Dog breeding: (1 - 4)
The first couple of weeks, you won�t need to do too much of anything besides change the newspapers in the whelping box and wash the towels or blanket. The mother is very capable of taking care of her babies at this stage. She licks and cleans them to help stimulate their need to defecate and urinate before they can do this on their own.
Normally you will see the puppies eyes begin to open around 10 � 14 days old. At this tender age, the best they can see is shadows. They will have a bluish looking tint to their eyes. By 3 weeks, most puppies are beginning to try to stand and walk although they are shaky at best. It�s comical to watch them as they fall like drunken sailors back onto the floor of the whelping box. They will try to play with their litter mates and you will see a pattern developing as the alpha puppy is determined among the litter.
It is also at this young age that the puppy will have been introduced to a mushy type food. Many breeders will first introduce the puppy to meat by putting a small amount of chop meat on her finger and put it in the puppy�s mouth. The funny faces that they make can give you a chuckle but no more so than when you place the puppies around their dinner bowel and watch them slide head and body first into their food. It�s not unusual that most of them will be wearing more of their food than eating it. But give it time, and they�ll get the hang of it. Then you can gradually add dry food to your puppy�s gruel like mixture which can consist of baby rice cereal, ground meat, puppy milk like replacement supplement that�s loaded with vitamins, etc. Most puppies will be fed four times a day with solid food while still being nursed by their mother.
Many times a breeder will take the puppies to different parts of the house at 4 � 5 weeks of age to get them familiar with different sounds and objects. Up to this time, I like to have a radio playing in the room where the puppies whelping box is so they are already familiar with different sounds. I love to put them on a rug and watch them taking their first steps in unfamiliar territory. By five weeks I�ve already picked my best puppies because at this age, I�ve get my first glimpse of their movement as they do their little puppy gaits across the rug. It amazes me how much a puppy at this age has already developed considering that five weeks ago they were still in their mother�s tummies!
Most mothers will still allow their pups to nurse for a little while, but the puppies at this age show their mother no respect and can be very rough on her by biting and scratching her already tender body. You may see the mother discipline them as well by gently but firmly biting them to let them know that she has had enough of their rough housing. As time goes by she�ll nurse them less and less but will still want to play with and discipline them. This bonding is necessary for their mental and emotional health. They learn from their mother who normally enjoys teaching her offspring.
In a couple of weeks, the puppies will receive their first inoculations. Most of the time you will have to bring a litter of puppies into your vets. If you�re lucky, you may have a vet that makes a house call. However, many breeders give their puppies their own shots that they�ve ordered from a veterinarian supply catalog. They will also have received their first worming mediation.
These initial weeks of a puppies life is crucial for their health and their mental and emotional growth. You don�t just breed a litter of puppies and leave them in a dog run. It is very important that they are played with and socialized. They should come into the kitchen where pots and pans are rattling or dropped on the floor intentionally to watch their reaction and recovery time from their initial �shock� of the intruding object. This is when you observe do your puppies come to investigate what it was that made all that noise? Do they sniff at the invading intruder lying on the middle of the floor or do they run and hide behind a chair? Do your puppies like people? Are they friendly towards strangers, or are they suspicious and cower in a corner somewhere unwilling to come and make friends? This is all an indication of the pups character and future personality.
This is also a good time to introduce them to being handled and groomed. Gently brushing them and combing their fur gets them used to being handled. Put them on a grooming table and most of the time they will stiffen up because they may be frightened. But once they get used to it, most puppies are cooperative. This is also the time that you can introduce them to their first bath. Oh they�re going to kick and splash and try to get out of the sink or tub but they�re German Shepherds and they learn very quickly.
Alright so your puppies are now eating solid food, they�ve had their initial puppy shots, they�ve been wormed, they�ve been handled and groomed and played with and socialized. You�ve enjoyed them, (but the parties over) and it�s time to find them their loving �forever� homes. Let�s hope that you have already received some deposits on these puppies when they were first born or you had a waiting list when you bred this litter. No litter (in my opinion) should be bred unless you have homes for them to go to. You�ve also probably advertised your litter and are hopefully receiving inquiries about them.
Your first concern as a breeder should be to find the very best homes that you can for your puppies. You�ve screened your potential buyers by asking them the right questions like what are their plans for your puppy? Do you have a fenced in yard? Do you have references? Who is the vet that you plan to take care of your dog? Do you work a full time job? Where will the people stay if you do? How will he be taken care of when you�re not home? Do you have other animals and how will they take onto the puppy? Do you have children and do they know how to treat a puppy? Do you know how to train a dog? Will you take him to obedience classes?
You will give the new owner a health guarantee on the puppy. You will tell them that they are to have the puppy neutered if they are not sold as a show or breeding animal. You will take the puppy back at whatever age it is if they can no longer keep him. You will give them a list of shots and worming and dates that they received them. You will tell them what food you recommend that they feed him. You might even give them some food for his first few days in his new home. You will ask them to get in touch with you with any concerns and ask that they give you an update on the puppy periodically. You will tell them that you might drop in on them occasionally just to see how things are going.
Now most of your puppies are sold into loving homes, but there still remains a few that were not so lucky. These are the puppies that no one seems to favor. Did you think of this BEFORE you bred the litter? Are you prepared to hold onto puppies after 8 � 10 weeks old knowing that the older they get, the less desirable they are to the pet market? Most pet people like to buy young puppies. Many a time a breeder will find themselves with puppies that are now over six months old? Do you have the space to hold onto them and the finances to feed them? This is all part of being a breeder��preparing yourself for the unexpected. Or how about the person that buys the 8 � 10 week old puppy and was never prepared for all the chewing, scratching, biting and destructive behavior of the little darling? Are you prepared when that person calls you first thing in the morning whining and complaining that they need to return the puppy to you and want their money back?
This folks is all part of being a breeder! So the next time you get an �urge� to breed Daisy to Duke, stop and think before you do it. Leave it to the breeder that knows what they�re doing because even the best of them can find themselves in situations that they didn�t plan for. It is not all about the cute, fluffy little butterballs that you see in the pictures that you just want to reach out and grab. It�s about the daily taking care of and meeting the needs of a very needy animal. Treat him right, raise him with love and care and he should give you 10 � 13 years of devoted and unconditional love that will leave paw prints on your heart forever!
KONG Extreme Kong Dog Toy, Extra Large, Black.........
* Stuff with KONG Treats and Ziggies
* Recommended for power chewers
* Keeps dogs busy and help deter misbehavior
* Made in the USA of nontoxic, extremely durable natural rubber
* Measures 5-inches long, for dogs 60 to 90 pounds
My rating: Dog breeding: (1 - 4)
Friday, 20 August 2010
HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCED THE "WOW FACTOR?"
I wouldn�t trade places with the new people just coming into this breed for all the money in the world! (OK, maybe I just lied��.I think I�d take all that money in the world after all)! I am so happy that I came into this breed when I did���..all the way back in the 70�s. Gee, I just aged myself didn�t I?
Let me tell you guys what you missed. A big fat black and white German Shepherd Dog Review with pages and pages of the top (and hoping to get to the top) German Shepherd Dogs. I mean I saw pictures of Grand Victors that we�re still talking about today. Some of you know the ones that I mean. They still decorate some of the pedigrees of our dogs that we are breeding and showing today. A few of those Grand Victors that come to mind were Lance, Mannix, Scorpio, Judd, Harrigan, etc. And those puppy ads in the Review�..why I remember one time someone ran a two page ad on three or four month old champion sired puppies. Can I tell you about the pictures they advertised (I can still see them in my mind)��well let�s just say all of the puppies very equally magnificent looking. I dare say that they would still be winners today. They were that good! They were deep bodied, plush coated �champions in the making!� I�ll never forget that ad, it impressed me so much. Having subscribed to the Review, received it, read it, advertised in it and read it all over again��..we held in our hands a magazine that was on it�s way to be award winning and recognized by her peers in the world of dog specialty magazines. Yup, some of us experienced a WOW FACTOR!
Thumbing through the Review, you not only seen all the �greats� in the German Shepherd Dog kingdom, but you also seen all the �greats� in the handling profession as well. We�d see the smiling, winning or furrowed brow of a handler staring back at us from those pages in their show winning pictures. You�d get to say hello to Bob, Jim, LaMar, Sandy, Gail, and Gary, Gerry, Henry, Mary, Freddie, Terry and even that young curly haired, tall skinny guy. What�s his name? Jimmy? Isn�t that guy still around today?! Seeing these handlers lined up in the ring, competing and doing whatever it was to beat their fellow handlers was watching handling expertise at it�s finest. Having these �second to none� professionals handle your dogs was experiencing the WOW FACTOR!
And what about all those wonderful judges we had? Do you know what it was like to see Ernie Loeb standing in the middle of the ring evaluating one of your dogs? How about the ever wonderful true lover of the breed, Mrs. Connie Beckhardt? I think I saw Harry Schneider�s name on more Premium lists back in those days. Then there was Fran Ford. Was there ever a more �gentlemen� of the breed than Fran? He�s still judging today. How about Ralph Roberts? I�ll never forget the year that the German Shepherd Dog Club of Greater New Haven had Ralph and Mary Roberts fly in from the west coast to judge a futurity and a five point major show. Can I tell you Mary Roberts was a class act�.a true lady in every sense of the word? My bitch took Best Opposite Sex in the Maturity under her and a five point major reserve the next day under her husband. That was my �Nuance� that you see at the top of this blog. The futurity was so huge, that we were taking pictures of the winners in the dark! Yup you newbie�s, don�t know what you�re missing! Having these icons of the breed award your dog his championship points, well you just knew you were experiencing the WOW FACTOR!
Oh and lets not forget those most magnificent of all shows, the National Specialty show put on by the Parent Club each year. One�s coming up again real soon. Check out the dates on The German Shepherd Dog Club of America�s website. If you haven�t been to one of these shows, you just must put it on your �to do list.�
In my day I saw some of the top dogs in competition at these National shows. The Covy Tucker Hills magnificently pretty dogs dominated many of the entries at these Nationals. Their Christmas ads in the Review didn�t have too much competition for uniqueness and beauty. No, I take that back�..there were many wonderful Holiday ads now that I think about it! The stud dog classes and brood bitch presentation took your breathe away. Presentation after presentation of top quality filled classes. Youngsters that would go on to make breed history were getting their first introduction at some of these National Specialty shows.
Do you know what it was like being a newbie back then rubbing elbows with the elite in the breed? I sat next to and talked to living, breathing, walking encyclopedias of the history of our breed. I don�t know, but there must have been something in the water at that time because I can�t say that I had any problems meeting and befriending some of these marvelous people. When I hear new people in the breed complaining that no one will help them or even talk to them this only reinforces my belief that I�m glad that I started in the breed when I did! Yup, definitely something in the water back then and we didn�t even have what you guys have today with the vitamin and flavored enhanced waters! Exhibiting and attending a National in these days was experiencing a WOW FACTOR!
I want to know when�s the last time you experienced a WOW FACTOR in this breed. When�s the last time a dog stepped into the ring that took your breath away? Oh I don�t mean the pretty little bitch setting herself up in the ring all by herself or the handsome boy in the Best of Breed competition. All of them are nice representatives of the breed all right, but I�m talking about the one that you�re still talking about a couple of months later. I�m talking about the one that you�d take out a second mortgage on your home to make an offer to his owner for. Where are those dogs? He may not be the one with the most winning titles, but he�s the one that if he didn�t have a title at all, you would just have to have him anyway! Is he out there? Is someone hiding him just waiting to spring him on a hungry audience?
When was the last time that you went to a dog show and watched artistic expression from the tip of the dog�s nose to the handler�s expertise to the judge�s unquestionable knowledge? I mean did you ever walk away from a show knowing you just experienced a blending of like minds in the middle of the ring where you were awed by the dog�s quality, fascinated by the handler�s presentation and agreed with the judge�s decisions? Then you just experienced a WOW FACTOR!
How about watching the German Shepherd Dog do what he was bred to do? Did you ever sit at ringside watching a totally obedient dog in the ring being put through his exercises and come out with a 100% winning score? When�s the last time you saw a German Shepherd herding sheep, or have you ever seen them do this at all? Ever see a German Shepherd attack his handler�s padded sleeve? How about watching a German Shepherd be put through his testing for his Temperament certificate? Ever see a German Shepherd rescue a drowning child? How about a hero dog going back into a burning house to pull his master to safety? Has your dog ever put himself between you and a wild animal that wanted to make you his lunch? What about watching a dog trained for police work knock the breath out of a bank robber who�s running off with your life savings? Then you�ve experienced a WOW FACTOR!
I suppose a WOW FACTOR can mean different things to different people. A WOW FACTOR can be how in awe you are of your bitch that just produced a litter of twelve healthy fat new born pups. A WOW FACTOR can be how you shake your head in disbelief as you watch your young daughter pull your dog�s tail for the hundredth time without him even giving a whimper. A WOW FACTOR can be when you call the owner of the stud dog of your puppies and tell him after watching one of the youngsters in this litter gait around your backyard that you just watched a future Grand Victrix in the making! A WOW FACTOR can be that you are in awe and wonderment that one of the icons of the breed has decided to take a chance on you and mentor you and because of their help, you just finished your first champion!
WOW means just that��WOW��how did that happen, what did I just witness, or how did I get so lucky? WOW means something extraordinary just happened and you just experienced the WOW FACTOR!
From the book: "SUCCESS THROUGH A POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE".... Your mind has a secret invisible talisman. On one side is emblazoned the letters PMA (positive mental attitude) and on the other the letters NMA (negative mental attitude). A positive attitude will naturally attract the good and the beautiful. The negative attitude will rob you of all that makes life worth living. Your success, health, happiness, and wealth depend on how you make up your mind! When motivational pioneer Napoleon Hill and millionaire CEO W. Clement Stone teamed up to form one of the most remarkable partnerships of all time, the result was Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude, the phenomenon that proposed to the world that with the right attitude, anyone can achieve his or her dreams. Now this remarkable book is available for the twenty-first century. You, too, can take advantage of the program that has brought success to generations of people seeking -- and finding -- a better way to live. Napoleon Hill was the world-renowned bestselling author of Think and Grow Rich. From a reader: "Next to the Bible, this is a must read!"
My rating: Living with German Shepherd Dogs is always a WOW FACTOR: (4)
Let me tell you guys what you missed. A big fat black and white German Shepherd Dog Review with pages and pages of the top (and hoping to get to the top) German Shepherd Dogs. I mean I saw pictures of Grand Victors that we�re still talking about today. Some of you know the ones that I mean. They still decorate some of the pedigrees of our dogs that we are breeding and showing today. A few of those Grand Victors that come to mind were Lance, Mannix, Scorpio, Judd, Harrigan, etc. And those puppy ads in the Review�..why I remember one time someone ran a two page ad on three or four month old champion sired puppies. Can I tell you about the pictures they advertised (I can still see them in my mind)��well let�s just say all of the puppies very equally magnificent looking. I dare say that they would still be winners today. They were that good! They were deep bodied, plush coated �champions in the making!� I�ll never forget that ad, it impressed me so much. Having subscribed to the Review, received it, read it, advertised in it and read it all over again��..we held in our hands a magazine that was on it�s way to be award winning and recognized by her peers in the world of dog specialty magazines. Yup, some of us experienced a WOW FACTOR!
Thumbing through the Review, you not only seen all the �greats� in the German Shepherd Dog kingdom, but you also seen all the �greats� in the handling profession as well. We�d see the smiling, winning or furrowed brow of a handler staring back at us from those pages in their show winning pictures. You�d get to say hello to Bob, Jim, LaMar, Sandy, Gail, and Gary, Gerry, Henry, Mary, Freddie, Terry and even that young curly haired, tall skinny guy. What�s his name? Jimmy? Isn�t that guy still around today?! Seeing these handlers lined up in the ring, competing and doing whatever it was to beat their fellow handlers was watching handling expertise at it�s finest. Having these �second to none� professionals handle your dogs was experiencing the WOW FACTOR!
And what about all those wonderful judges we had? Do you know what it was like to see Ernie Loeb standing in the middle of the ring evaluating one of your dogs? How about the ever wonderful true lover of the breed, Mrs. Connie Beckhardt? I think I saw Harry Schneider�s name on more Premium lists back in those days. Then there was Fran Ford. Was there ever a more �gentlemen� of the breed than Fran? He�s still judging today. How about Ralph Roberts? I�ll never forget the year that the German Shepherd Dog Club of Greater New Haven had Ralph and Mary Roberts fly in from the west coast to judge a futurity and a five point major show. Can I tell you Mary Roberts was a class act�.a true lady in every sense of the word? My bitch took Best Opposite Sex in the Maturity under her and a five point major reserve the next day under her husband. That was my �Nuance� that you see at the top of this blog. The futurity was so huge, that we were taking pictures of the winners in the dark! Yup you newbie�s, don�t know what you�re missing! Having these icons of the breed award your dog his championship points, well you just knew you were experiencing the WOW FACTOR!
Oh and lets not forget those most magnificent of all shows, the National Specialty show put on by the Parent Club each year. One�s coming up again real soon. Check out the dates on The German Shepherd Dog Club of America�s website. If you haven�t been to one of these shows, you just must put it on your �to do list.�
In my day I saw some of the top dogs in competition at these National shows. The Covy Tucker Hills magnificently pretty dogs dominated many of the entries at these Nationals. Their Christmas ads in the Review didn�t have too much competition for uniqueness and beauty. No, I take that back�..there were many wonderful Holiday ads now that I think about it! The stud dog classes and brood bitch presentation took your breathe away. Presentation after presentation of top quality filled classes. Youngsters that would go on to make breed history were getting their first introduction at some of these National Specialty shows.
Do you know what it was like being a newbie back then rubbing elbows with the elite in the breed? I sat next to and talked to living, breathing, walking encyclopedias of the history of our breed. I don�t know, but there must have been something in the water at that time because I can�t say that I had any problems meeting and befriending some of these marvelous people. When I hear new people in the breed complaining that no one will help them or even talk to them this only reinforces my belief that I�m glad that I started in the breed when I did! Yup, definitely something in the water back then and we didn�t even have what you guys have today with the vitamin and flavored enhanced waters! Exhibiting and attending a National in these days was experiencing a WOW FACTOR!
I want to know when�s the last time you experienced a WOW FACTOR in this breed. When�s the last time a dog stepped into the ring that took your breath away? Oh I don�t mean the pretty little bitch setting herself up in the ring all by herself or the handsome boy in the Best of Breed competition. All of them are nice representatives of the breed all right, but I�m talking about the one that you�re still talking about a couple of months later. I�m talking about the one that you�d take out a second mortgage on your home to make an offer to his owner for. Where are those dogs? He may not be the one with the most winning titles, but he�s the one that if he didn�t have a title at all, you would just have to have him anyway! Is he out there? Is someone hiding him just waiting to spring him on a hungry audience?
When was the last time that you went to a dog show and watched artistic expression from the tip of the dog�s nose to the handler�s expertise to the judge�s unquestionable knowledge? I mean did you ever walk away from a show knowing you just experienced a blending of like minds in the middle of the ring where you were awed by the dog�s quality, fascinated by the handler�s presentation and agreed with the judge�s decisions? Then you just experienced a WOW FACTOR!
How about watching the German Shepherd Dog do what he was bred to do? Did you ever sit at ringside watching a totally obedient dog in the ring being put through his exercises and come out with a 100% winning score? When�s the last time you saw a German Shepherd herding sheep, or have you ever seen them do this at all? Ever see a German Shepherd attack his handler�s padded sleeve? How about watching a German Shepherd be put through his testing for his Temperament certificate? Ever see a German Shepherd rescue a drowning child? How about a hero dog going back into a burning house to pull his master to safety? Has your dog ever put himself between you and a wild animal that wanted to make you his lunch? What about watching a dog trained for police work knock the breath out of a bank robber who�s running off with your life savings? Then you�ve experienced a WOW FACTOR!
I suppose a WOW FACTOR can mean different things to different people. A WOW FACTOR can be how in awe you are of your bitch that just produced a litter of twelve healthy fat new born pups. A WOW FACTOR can be how you shake your head in disbelief as you watch your young daughter pull your dog�s tail for the hundredth time without him even giving a whimper. A WOW FACTOR can be when you call the owner of the stud dog of your puppies and tell him after watching one of the youngsters in this litter gait around your backyard that you just watched a future Grand Victrix in the making! A WOW FACTOR can be that you are in awe and wonderment that one of the icons of the breed has decided to take a chance on you and mentor you and because of their help, you just finished your first champion!
WOW means just that��WOW��how did that happen, what did I just witness, or how did I get so lucky? WOW means something extraordinary just happened and you just experienced the WOW FACTOR!
From the book: "SUCCESS THROUGH A POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE".... Your mind has a secret invisible talisman. On one side is emblazoned the letters PMA (positive mental attitude) and on the other the letters NMA (negative mental attitude). A positive attitude will naturally attract the good and the beautiful. The negative attitude will rob you of all that makes life worth living. Your success, health, happiness, and wealth depend on how you make up your mind! When motivational pioneer Napoleon Hill and millionaire CEO W. Clement Stone teamed up to form one of the most remarkable partnerships of all time, the result was Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude, the phenomenon that proposed to the world that with the right attitude, anyone can achieve his or her dreams. Now this remarkable book is available for the twenty-first century. You, too, can take advantage of the program that has brought success to generations of people seeking -- and finding -- a better way to live. Napoleon Hill was the world-renowned bestselling author of Think and Grow Rich. From a reader: "Next to the Bible, this is a must read!"
My rating: Living with German Shepherd Dogs is always a WOW FACTOR: (4)
Thursday, 12 August 2010
WILL YOU ONLY BREED TO DOGS THAT ARE OFA CERTIFIED?
I�ve recently discussed here about some of those breeders that knowingly breed to animals that have genetic health problems or those that breed to dogs that have undesirable temperaments. But what about those breeders that don�t x-ray their dogs that they use for their breeding program or breed to dogs that is not x-rayed? The majority of stud dog owners do x-ray their dogs and many of them are OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) certified. Then there are those others that are not concerned about x-raying their dogs because they say that the animals in his dog�s pedigree come from good hips.
Would you breed your x-rayed bitch to a stud dog that wasn�t x-rayed or had an OFA number showing that he�s certified? Do you think it�s an important part of having a good breeding program or do you think it�s just one more nuisance that you don�t want to be bothered with? And speaking of x-raying, how important are those elbow x-rays? And what do you think of some of those dogs that only have an OFA number for hips attached to the back of their name? Does this mean the dog�s elbows were x-rayed and he doesn�t have good elbows? Would you breed to a dog that only has one set of OFA numbers for his hips and not his elbows?
I believe that more and more breeders are conscientious about x-raying their breeding stock. I personally haven�t heard about too many animals that are crippled from dysplastic hips or elbows, although I�m sure other people have.
So here�s a question for you. If you x-rayed your animal and he or she didn�t have perfect hips or elbows and wouldn�t OFA certify would you still use him/her for your breeding program? In order to answer a question like that, one would also want to know about the litter mates to the animal that you are considering breeding? Were they x-rayed? Were there others in the litter that didn�t have good hips and elbows? What about the parents and the grandparents? Were they all OFA certified?
Some breeders feel that if they x-ray their bitch and she won�t certify because one of her hips is not as good at the other one, they will breed her anyway. They feel that if she is of superior quality that they will take a chance on breeding her and only to stud dogs that are OFA certified and come from a long line of OFA certified dogs and bitches in their pedigree. Are they taking a chance? Well of course they are. We all know that even dogs that are OFA certified can produce bad hips. There are no guarantees when you elect to breed dogs.
Do you feel as a breeder that you owe it to your puppy buyers to have the parents of the puppies that you�re selling be OFA certified or at least having been x-rayed? What responsibilities do you owe your puppy buyers? It is after all about more then producing the prettiest puppies. It�s about producing the healthiest puppies as well.
I think if one goes on the Parent Club website (The GSDCA) and you were to look at the stud dogs that have produced winning progeny, more times than not, you will see that those dogs have OFA numbers. Speaking of stud dogs, there are some stud dog owners that will not even allow a bitch to be bred to their dog unless she too has a certified number.
Now there are different degrees of dysplastic hips and elbows. As I said, some breeders will breed a bitch that doesn�t have perfect hips. But where do you draw the line as to what you will breed and ones that you will not breed? Would you breed one that is slightly dysplastic or would you breed one that has one good hip and the other is more severely dysplastic? Is there a line that you draw as far as considering using these animals in your breeding program? And would you tell your puppy buyers about the mother�s hips?
Will you only breed to a stud that has both OFA hips and elbows? If you see a stud with only an OFA number for his hips and not for his elbows, do you automatically eliminate using that dog in your breeding program?
There will be those breeders that will say there are too many things to take into consideration when choosing breeding partners. They will further argue that the whole dog�s package both physically and mentally must be taken into consideration. What do you think�..only breed good hips/elbows or is it ever alright to breed those that don�t qualify for an OFA number?
From the book: THE GENETIC CONNECTION: A GUIDE TO HEALTH PROBLEMS IN PUREBRED DOGS....The Genetic Connection: A Guide to Health Problems in Purebred Dogs offers the most complete collection ever assembled of breed-specific information for the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions with a genetic basis. For the veterinary practitioner and the serious breeder, The Genetic Connection covers more than 240 genetic disorders, including how they are genetically transmitted in different breeds, how they are best identified, and strategies to help prevent them from occurring in future generations. The book is cross-referenced by both condition within bodily systems and by breed. It includes an in-depth index and table of breeds, along with a detailed bibliography of supporting articles and texts. An appendix of the major players in canine genetics completes this substantial publication.
My rating: X-raying dogs BEFORE they're bred: (4)
Would you breed your x-rayed bitch to a stud dog that wasn�t x-rayed or had an OFA number showing that he�s certified? Do you think it�s an important part of having a good breeding program or do you think it�s just one more nuisance that you don�t want to be bothered with? And speaking of x-raying, how important are those elbow x-rays? And what do you think of some of those dogs that only have an OFA number for hips attached to the back of their name? Does this mean the dog�s elbows were x-rayed and he doesn�t have good elbows? Would you breed to a dog that only has one set of OFA numbers for his hips and not his elbows?
I believe that more and more breeders are conscientious about x-raying their breeding stock. I personally haven�t heard about too many animals that are crippled from dysplastic hips or elbows, although I�m sure other people have.
So here�s a question for you. If you x-rayed your animal and he or she didn�t have perfect hips or elbows and wouldn�t OFA certify would you still use him/her for your breeding program? In order to answer a question like that, one would also want to know about the litter mates to the animal that you are considering breeding? Were they x-rayed? Were there others in the litter that didn�t have good hips and elbows? What about the parents and the grandparents? Were they all OFA certified?
Some breeders feel that if they x-ray their bitch and she won�t certify because one of her hips is not as good at the other one, they will breed her anyway. They feel that if she is of superior quality that they will take a chance on breeding her and only to stud dogs that are OFA certified and come from a long line of OFA certified dogs and bitches in their pedigree. Are they taking a chance? Well of course they are. We all know that even dogs that are OFA certified can produce bad hips. There are no guarantees when you elect to breed dogs.
Do you feel as a breeder that you owe it to your puppy buyers to have the parents of the puppies that you�re selling be OFA certified or at least having been x-rayed? What responsibilities do you owe your puppy buyers? It is after all about more then producing the prettiest puppies. It�s about producing the healthiest puppies as well.
I think if one goes on the Parent Club website (The GSDCA) and you were to look at the stud dogs that have produced winning progeny, more times than not, you will see that those dogs have OFA numbers. Speaking of stud dogs, there are some stud dog owners that will not even allow a bitch to be bred to their dog unless she too has a certified number.
Now there are different degrees of dysplastic hips and elbows. As I said, some breeders will breed a bitch that doesn�t have perfect hips. But where do you draw the line as to what you will breed and ones that you will not breed? Would you breed one that is slightly dysplastic or would you breed one that has one good hip and the other is more severely dysplastic? Is there a line that you draw as far as considering using these animals in your breeding program? And would you tell your puppy buyers about the mother�s hips?
Will you only breed to a stud that has both OFA hips and elbows? If you see a stud with only an OFA number for his hips and not for his elbows, do you automatically eliminate using that dog in your breeding program?
There will be those breeders that will say there are too many things to take into consideration when choosing breeding partners. They will further argue that the whole dog�s package both physically and mentally must be taken into consideration. What do you think�..only breed good hips/elbows or is it ever alright to breed those that don�t qualify for an OFA number?
From the book: THE GENETIC CONNECTION: A GUIDE TO HEALTH PROBLEMS IN PUREBRED DOGS....The Genetic Connection: A Guide to Health Problems in Purebred Dogs offers the most complete collection ever assembled of breed-specific information for the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions with a genetic basis. For the veterinary practitioner and the serious breeder, The Genetic Connection covers more than 240 genetic disorders, including how they are genetically transmitted in different breeds, how they are best identified, and strategies to help prevent them from occurring in future generations. The book is cross-referenced by both condition within bodily systems and by breed. It includes an in-depth index and table of breeds, along with a detailed bibliography of supporting articles and texts. An appendix of the major players in canine genetics completes this substantial publication.
My rating: X-raying dogs BEFORE they're bred: (4)
Monday, 9 August 2010
ESOPHAGEAL DIVERTICULA
When I had a puppy spitting up at most of her meals, my immediate thought was �Oh no, I�m dealing with Mega-esophagus!� Now mind you, in all my years of breeding and having puppies, I never heard of this before as I never dealt with it. If other breeders had it, I never knew about it as no one ever discussed it with me. After numerous tests and ruling out of heart problems, mega was suspected but never diagnosed as such. Instead I was told that my puppy had esophageal diverticula. Well that�s nice because I never heard of Mega before and never heard of esophageal diverticula either. So just what the heck is this anyway?
Esophageal diverticula are large pouch like sacs on the esophageal wall. Pulsion diverticula is a pushing outward of the wall. This will occur as a consequence of increased pressure from within the esophagus as seen with obstruction or failure of the esophageal muscles to move food through. Traction diverticula occurs secondary to inflammation, where fibrosis and contraction pull the wall of the esophagus or near the diaphragm with food being taken into the mouth and getting caught in a pouch as it travels down the esophagus towards the stomach. The organ that is affects includes the gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and respiratory. At this time, no genetic basis has been proven although it may be congenital (present at birth) or acquired.
These are the symptoms of this disease: regurgitation following eating, difficult swallowing, lack of appetite, coughing, weight loss, respiratory distress (aspiration pneumonia).
The causes associate with this disease are: Pulsion Diverticulum, embryonic developmental disorders of the esophageal wall, esophageal foreign body or failure of the muscles to move food through, traction diverticulum, inflammatory process associated with the trachea, lungs, lymph nodes or lining of the stomach; causes fibrous tissue formation around the esophagus.
In order for your veterinarian to diagnosis this disease he will conduct an esophagram or an esophagoscopy to examine the diverticula in order to determine whether there is a related mass. An x-ray of the chest area and a fluoroscope examination to evaluate the movement of food through the esophagus will give your doctor a better idea of where the diverticula are placed in the esophageal wall. An injection of a radio contrasting agent into the esophageal passage may be used to improve visibility on an x-ray so that an exact determination can be made, as the substance flows down the esophagus, filling the pouches as is does.
Sometimes the treatment of this disease is that your veterinarian might recommend a change in your dog�s diet if the diverticulum is small and is not causing significant clinical signs. Usually this will consist of a soft bland diet given to the dog frequently rather than in one big meal. If on the other hand the diverticulum is large, or is associated with significant clinical signs, surgical resection will probably be recommended. The potential for food being drawn into the lungs and leading to aspiration pneumonia makes the importance of dietary management key to avoiding fatal complications. Aggressive care will be called for if aspiration pneumonia is present. Fluid therapy, antibiotics, and nutrition via tube will be necessary. Your veterinarian will prescribe medications for your dog on the basis of the diagnosis.
Your doctor will want to monitor your dog for evidence and prevention of infection or aspiration pneumonia. You will need to maintain a positive nutritional balance throughout the disease process. Patients with diverticula and impaction (i.e., food material that is packed tightly) are predisposed to perforation, fistula, stricture, and postoperative rupturing of the incision. For this reason, your veterinarian will want to revisit your dog on a regular schedule. Prognosis is guarded in patients with large diverticula and overt clinical signs.
For some breeders at the first sign of a puppy throwing up, they will think that they are dealing with mega-esophagus and in some cases have the puppy put to sleep. I am one of those breeders that putting a puppy down is the very last thing that I do when nothing else can be done. As in that disease and in esophageal diverticula there all different degrees of these illnesses. Some of these animals can go on to live healthy full lives. Obviously if you choose to keep the puppy and raise it yourself, then you take the responsibility of raising a dog with a health issue. However, selling a puppy with a known health issue is a whole other thing entirely.
From the book: THE NEW HOLISTIC WAY FOR DOGS AND CATS: THE STRESS-HEALTH CONNECTION.....Stress. It's the single, universal cause of both wellness and illness. While this theory is widely supported in the human medical community, it's still controversial among veterinarians. Dr. Paul McCutcheon examines the all-important health-stress connection while drawing upon the latest scientific thinking and combining it with a comprehensive, preventive, and holistic philosophy of pet care. So if you're among the millions of caring, responsible pet owners who visits the vet more often than your own doctor but still wonders what more you can do for your dog or cat, The New Holistic Way for Dogs & Cats is the next best thing to a consultation with Dr. McCutcheon. If only he saw human patients in his practice, too!
My rating: Esophageal Diverticula: (1), Different degrees of this disease: (1 - 4)
Esophageal diverticula are large pouch like sacs on the esophageal wall. Pulsion diverticula is a pushing outward of the wall. This will occur as a consequence of increased pressure from within the esophagus as seen with obstruction or failure of the esophageal muscles to move food through. Traction diverticula occurs secondary to inflammation, where fibrosis and contraction pull the wall of the esophagus or near the diaphragm with food being taken into the mouth and getting caught in a pouch as it travels down the esophagus towards the stomach. The organ that is affects includes the gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and respiratory. At this time, no genetic basis has been proven although it may be congenital (present at birth) or acquired.
These are the symptoms of this disease: regurgitation following eating, difficult swallowing, lack of appetite, coughing, weight loss, respiratory distress (aspiration pneumonia).
The causes associate with this disease are: Pulsion Diverticulum, embryonic developmental disorders of the esophageal wall, esophageal foreign body or failure of the muscles to move food through, traction diverticulum, inflammatory process associated with the trachea, lungs, lymph nodes or lining of the stomach; causes fibrous tissue formation around the esophagus.
In order for your veterinarian to diagnosis this disease he will conduct an esophagram or an esophagoscopy to examine the diverticula in order to determine whether there is a related mass. An x-ray of the chest area and a fluoroscope examination to evaluate the movement of food through the esophagus will give your doctor a better idea of where the diverticula are placed in the esophageal wall. An injection of a radio contrasting agent into the esophageal passage may be used to improve visibility on an x-ray so that an exact determination can be made, as the substance flows down the esophagus, filling the pouches as is does.
Sometimes the treatment of this disease is that your veterinarian might recommend a change in your dog�s diet if the diverticulum is small and is not causing significant clinical signs. Usually this will consist of a soft bland diet given to the dog frequently rather than in one big meal. If on the other hand the diverticulum is large, or is associated with significant clinical signs, surgical resection will probably be recommended. The potential for food being drawn into the lungs and leading to aspiration pneumonia makes the importance of dietary management key to avoiding fatal complications. Aggressive care will be called for if aspiration pneumonia is present. Fluid therapy, antibiotics, and nutrition via tube will be necessary. Your veterinarian will prescribe medications for your dog on the basis of the diagnosis.
Your doctor will want to monitor your dog for evidence and prevention of infection or aspiration pneumonia. You will need to maintain a positive nutritional balance throughout the disease process. Patients with diverticula and impaction (i.e., food material that is packed tightly) are predisposed to perforation, fistula, stricture, and postoperative rupturing of the incision. For this reason, your veterinarian will want to revisit your dog on a regular schedule. Prognosis is guarded in patients with large diverticula and overt clinical signs.
For some breeders at the first sign of a puppy throwing up, they will think that they are dealing with mega-esophagus and in some cases have the puppy put to sleep. I am one of those breeders that putting a puppy down is the very last thing that I do when nothing else can be done. As in that disease and in esophageal diverticula there all different degrees of these illnesses. Some of these animals can go on to live healthy full lives. Obviously if you choose to keep the puppy and raise it yourself, then you take the responsibility of raising a dog with a health issue. However, selling a puppy with a known health issue is a whole other thing entirely.
From the book: THE NEW HOLISTIC WAY FOR DOGS AND CATS: THE STRESS-HEALTH CONNECTION.....Stress. It's the single, universal cause of both wellness and illness. While this theory is widely supported in the human medical community, it's still controversial among veterinarians. Dr. Paul McCutcheon examines the all-important health-stress connection while drawing upon the latest scientific thinking and combining it with a comprehensive, preventive, and holistic philosophy of pet care. So if you're among the millions of caring, responsible pet owners who visits the vet more often than your own doctor but still wonders what more you can do for your dog or cat, The New Holistic Way for Dogs & Cats is the next best thing to a consultation with Dr. McCutcheon. If only he saw human patients in his practice, too!
My rating: Esophageal Diverticula: (1), Different degrees of this disease: (1 - 4)
Friday, 6 August 2010
TO BARK OR NOT TO BARK.....THAT IS THE QUESTION!
I think when you own dogs and live in an area where you live close to your neighbors; you become much less tolerant of your dogs barking. That�s usually due to the fact that your neighbors are much less tolerant of your dogs barking. I know I�m sensitive to my dogs barking and I live in a rural area, yet still there are neighbors that can hear my dog�s barking. I don�t like listening to them and I own them so I can sympathize with people that don�t own dogs and don�t want to be serenaded by their unwelcome annoying little yaps!
Now days it seems that people are less tolerant of things than they were years ago. Years ago if you lived in a neighborhood, hearing a dog bark was part of living in America. Johnny rode his bike down the center of the street, while Julie skipped rope on the sidewalk. A few stray dogs ran loose on Bill and Ethel�s front lawn and still others could be heard making a commotion behind someone else�s fence. This was a part of America. This is how we lived. Dogs and kids doing what dogs and kids do��playing and barking and living life to its fullest. Momma stayed home and cooked and baked while daddy went out to make a living.
Then all of a sudden we become a two income family. Less chocolate chip cookies were baked because momma had to go type up some �memos� for her boss and dad worked longer hours and couldn�t coach the little league team anymore. Nerves were stretched to its limit. Less time with the family and patience levels were tested on a daily basis. This is where the things that we once tolerated had all of a sudden become a nuisance to us. Children looking for help with their math homework, daddy looking to share his day with mommy who had all she could do to pull out yet another frozen meal for supper from the freezer. �Rover� is barking in the back yard looking to come in the house where he once laid by the fireplace. The dynamics of the family structure has changed and in many cases the tolerance level has gone out the window as well. What we used to classify as normal behavior is now classified as annoying behavior.
We�ve all heard this overused term a lot in these last several years and that is we live in a �sue happy� society nowadays. If you look at someone cross eyed, expect to be taken to court. Well dogs that bark even like a �normal� dog would back because a stranger comes into his yard is now considered a nuisance. Some neighbors would say that this dog was disturbing the peace! The next thing you know is that the animal warden is knocking on your front door looking to seize your dog and put him in an animal shelter were he spends a few of his last days before taking a trip to the �Pearly White Gates!�
So because many people have made it harder to live in some neighborhoods some owners of dogs have decided to debark their dogs so no one can complain anymore. Some people think this is a cruel and unfair punishment to a dog�s natural instinct used to warn their beloved owners of impending danger. Others feel that it is better to debark their dogs and insure that their animals won�t be taken away. However, even after a dog has been debarked, he can still bark with a lower tone or a squeak. Some feel that it gives a dog an emotional problem and others feel that that�s a bunch of hog wash! Those that are against this medical procedure feels why take a risk with your dog going under the knife and perhaps losing his life. They feel that unnecessary surgery is well unnecessary!
When a veterinarian does a debarking surgery, the vocal chords of a dog are cut and partially removed so the dog cannot bark as loudly. In some areas of the country, debarking is banned like in New Jersey. In some other countries it is also banned.
Some people are of the belief that you can train a dog to stop barking and others believe that you can not especially in breeds that are known to be constant barkers. Those that believe you can train a dog not to bark feel that by having a dog debarked you are not addressing the problem of why the dog is barking in the first place. Having this surgery doesn�t take the desire to bark away from the dog. Some people are looking for a quick fix when it comes to stopping their dog or dogs from barking. The stress that they receive from unforgiving neighbors finds them doing something that they otherwise would not be doing.
Sometimes after having the surgery, the debarked dog may be silent or have a low, hoarse bark, which sometimes is even more annoying than the original reason you had him debarked in the first place.
Some feel that debarking their dogs was a necessary thing that they needed to do in order to keep their dogs in the neighborhoods that they live in. They are no longer worried about their dogs being taken away from them because of their noisy barking all the time. They feel that their level of stress is reduced as well as their neighbors.
In the end, I suppose we all do what it is that we need to do to co-exist in an ever expanding population. If you live among other people, one must realize that the love we feel for our animals doesn�t mean our neighbors feel the same way about them. They pay their mortgages and their taxes and they are entitled to have a cook-out in their own backyard without the constant and annoying barking of the dogs on the other side of the fence! I know I wouldn�t like it. Heck I don�t enjoy listening to my own dogs barking no less anyone else�s doing the same thing.
So what do you think? Is it ever a good idea to put your dogs through this surgery just to keep the peace? And what�s next, will someone be knocking on your front door ready to �take you downtown� and lock you up for the night because you felt the need to clear your throat and spit on your neighbors front lawn? Will that little nasty act get you locked up? Or maybe your hacking cough woke up Susie Q who was napping in her stroller. Stay tuned���..
My rating: debarking dogs: (1 - 4)
Now days it seems that people are less tolerant of things than they were years ago. Years ago if you lived in a neighborhood, hearing a dog bark was part of living in America. Johnny rode his bike down the center of the street, while Julie skipped rope on the sidewalk. A few stray dogs ran loose on Bill and Ethel�s front lawn and still others could be heard making a commotion behind someone else�s fence. This was a part of America. This is how we lived. Dogs and kids doing what dogs and kids do��playing and barking and living life to its fullest. Momma stayed home and cooked and baked while daddy went out to make a living.
Then all of a sudden we become a two income family. Less chocolate chip cookies were baked because momma had to go type up some �memos� for her boss and dad worked longer hours and couldn�t coach the little league team anymore. Nerves were stretched to its limit. Less time with the family and patience levels were tested on a daily basis. This is where the things that we once tolerated had all of a sudden become a nuisance to us. Children looking for help with their math homework, daddy looking to share his day with mommy who had all she could do to pull out yet another frozen meal for supper from the freezer. �Rover� is barking in the back yard looking to come in the house where he once laid by the fireplace. The dynamics of the family structure has changed and in many cases the tolerance level has gone out the window as well. What we used to classify as normal behavior is now classified as annoying behavior.
We�ve all heard this overused term a lot in these last several years and that is we live in a �sue happy� society nowadays. If you look at someone cross eyed, expect to be taken to court. Well dogs that bark even like a �normal� dog would back because a stranger comes into his yard is now considered a nuisance. Some neighbors would say that this dog was disturbing the peace! The next thing you know is that the animal warden is knocking on your front door looking to seize your dog and put him in an animal shelter were he spends a few of his last days before taking a trip to the �Pearly White Gates!�
So because many people have made it harder to live in some neighborhoods some owners of dogs have decided to debark their dogs so no one can complain anymore. Some people think this is a cruel and unfair punishment to a dog�s natural instinct used to warn their beloved owners of impending danger. Others feel that it is better to debark their dogs and insure that their animals won�t be taken away. However, even after a dog has been debarked, he can still bark with a lower tone or a squeak. Some feel that it gives a dog an emotional problem and others feel that that�s a bunch of hog wash! Those that are against this medical procedure feels why take a risk with your dog going under the knife and perhaps losing his life. They feel that unnecessary surgery is well unnecessary!
When a veterinarian does a debarking surgery, the vocal chords of a dog are cut and partially removed so the dog cannot bark as loudly. In some areas of the country, debarking is banned like in New Jersey. In some other countries it is also banned.
Some people are of the belief that you can train a dog to stop barking and others believe that you can not especially in breeds that are known to be constant barkers. Those that believe you can train a dog not to bark feel that by having a dog debarked you are not addressing the problem of why the dog is barking in the first place. Having this surgery doesn�t take the desire to bark away from the dog. Some people are looking for a quick fix when it comes to stopping their dog or dogs from barking. The stress that they receive from unforgiving neighbors finds them doing something that they otherwise would not be doing.
Sometimes after having the surgery, the debarked dog may be silent or have a low, hoarse bark, which sometimes is even more annoying than the original reason you had him debarked in the first place.
Some feel that debarking their dogs was a necessary thing that they needed to do in order to keep their dogs in the neighborhoods that they live in. They are no longer worried about their dogs being taken away from them because of their noisy barking all the time. They feel that their level of stress is reduced as well as their neighbors.
In the end, I suppose we all do what it is that we need to do to co-exist in an ever expanding population. If you live among other people, one must realize that the love we feel for our animals doesn�t mean our neighbors feel the same way about them. They pay their mortgages and their taxes and they are entitled to have a cook-out in their own backyard without the constant and annoying barking of the dogs on the other side of the fence! I know I wouldn�t like it. Heck I don�t enjoy listening to my own dogs barking no less anyone else�s doing the same thing.
So what do you think? Is it ever a good idea to put your dogs through this surgery just to keep the peace? And what�s next, will someone be knocking on your front door ready to �take you downtown� and lock you up for the night because you felt the need to clear your throat and spit on your neighbors front lawn? Will that little nasty act get you locked up? Or maybe your hacking cough woke up Susie Q who was napping in her stroller. Stay tuned���..
My rating: debarking dogs: (1 - 4)
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
IN DREAMS I WALK WITH YOU
I wrote this a few years ago and it was published in the AKC Gazette. I've tweaked it a little bit. It was written for one of my all time favorite "heart" dog's "Nuance" pictured with her half brother "Rajah" at the top of this blog. She was truly a German Shepherd in every sense of the word and no matter how many years go by, I still miss her!
IN DREAMS I WALK WITH YOU
By
Barbara J. Galasso
The moonlight shone through the parted curtains in my bedroom window the other night as my eyes slowly shut and my body surrendered and gave itself up to sleep. Oh it was a simple dream at best. Nothing special about it, so I thought at first. My dream was about an old house; one that was unfamiliar to me. But I've had dreams of this kind before. There are strange places, strange people, and strange surroundings. The only thing that I recognized was you and how you once shared my life and now instead tiptoed through my dreams. I welcomed your presence in these strange surroundings. For it was you, my beloved dog who came to keep me company. You were in the old house with me, but because you were there, everything was familiar again. You followed me from room to room like you used to do so many years before. Everything about you was the same; all your actions, all your emotions, all your affection, and all your devotion to me. My love for you flooded over me and I thought I'd drown from it because I couldn't reach out and touch you. You played with me. You teased me. You were beyond my reach. My heart felt you right down to my soul, but I could not reach out and touch you even though I desperately tried. How unfair!
Your heart was only loaned to me; on borrowed time I'm told. Has it really been so many years that you are gone, when you are so alive in my dreams? In my dreams, it's like you never left me at all. Everything about you is real again. You walk with me and beckon me to follow you. Happiness floods my dreams when you pay me a visit, but when I awaken, my heart cries out for you and my arms long to hold you again. The pleasure of your company has once again eluded me and in my waking hours, I find myself eagerly longing for your next visit.
If I can't have you while I'm awake, than may my dreams keep me in slumber a little longer each morning I pray, for I know when I awaken you will be gone, not knowing when you'll return again. A few hours of you in my dreams is all God shares with me until he decides to send you to me once again. But alas, you don't come to me every night, and I selfishly find I want more of you each time you leave. Haunt me if you must then. Just stay a little longer with me before you leave. In my dreams, you are alive again as if fate has played a cruel trick on me. Or is it just my imagination that makes you so real and you are once again with me like you never left at all? I twist and turn stubbornly fighting from waking up for I know that you will be taken from me when I do. "Don't leave", my brain seems to plead in its dream like state, but you fade into the background and become a shadow as reality sets in, and I'm left with the after glow of knowing it was only a dream. I wipe the star dust from my eyes and realize you only visited my dreams for a few stolen moments. �Not long enough," I cry, ........never long enough with you"
Not all my dogs come to pay me a visit in my dreams like you do, you know. Although they all were loved, few were special and those are the ones who come back to remind me why they were designated as such. Gone maybe in body, but in my soul the memories I carry once again brings them back to life leaving their paw prints upon my fragile heart.
So until we meet again my friend, I will have to be content with the little windows of light that is bestowed upon me that reflects your image until I too reach the place that is called dreams. "Only a dog some may say?", but then they've never known the unselfish love between a man and his dog for nothing is expected from us, and everything is given from them. So come if you must and play with my emotions for a little while longer for the piece of my soul that you took when you left, is restored and renewed when once again in dreams I walk with you.
From the book: "SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR ANGEL ANIMALS: FINDING COMFORT AFTER LOSING YOUR PET: In this thoughtful book, Allen and Linda Anderson walk you through the numbing pain and dreadful sense of loss that arise when a beloved animal dies. They offer solace to help you deal with grief, remember and honor key moments in the animal�s life, find comfort through groups and with professionals, and get past the depression. They also include exercises, affirmations, and meditations to use through the various stages of grief. The Andersons� caring, practical advice covers all aspects of pet loss, offering guidance on: helping children grieve :: honoring your religious beliefs :: grieving for runaway pets :: helping others know what to say or do to console you :: planning an appropriate memorial ceremony or tribute. The book also explores the concept of after-death experiences of departed companion animals and relates many beautiful stories, including the Rainbow Bridge story, that reinforce the love and sense of peace that come from honoring the place animals hold in our lives.
My rating: heart dogs: (4)
IN DREAMS I WALK WITH YOU
By
Barbara J. Galasso
The moonlight shone through the parted curtains in my bedroom window the other night as my eyes slowly shut and my body surrendered and gave itself up to sleep. Oh it was a simple dream at best. Nothing special about it, so I thought at first. My dream was about an old house; one that was unfamiliar to me. But I've had dreams of this kind before. There are strange places, strange people, and strange surroundings. The only thing that I recognized was you and how you once shared my life and now instead tiptoed through my dreams. I welcomed your presence in these strange surroundings. For it was you, my beloved dog who came to keep me company. You were in the old house with me, but because you were there, everything was familiar again. You followed me from room to room like you used to do so many years before. Everything about you was the same; all your actions, all your emotions, all your affection, and all your devotion to me. My love for you flooded over me and I thought I'd drown from it because I couldn't reach out and touch you. You played with me. You teased me. You were beyond my reach. My heart felt you right down to my soul, but I could not reach out and touch you even though I desperately tried. How unfair!
Your heart was only loaned to me; on borrowed time I'm told. Has it really been so many years that you are gone, when you are so alive in my dreams? In my dreams, it's like you never left me at all. Everything about you is real again. You walk with me and beckon me to follow you. Happiness floods my dreams when you pay me a visit, but when I awaken, my heart cries out for you and my arms long to hold you again. The pleasure of your company has once again eluded me and in my waking hours, I find myself eagerly longing for your next visit.
If I can't have you while I'm awake, than may my dreams keep me in slumber a little longer each morning I pray, for I know when I awaken you will be gone, not knowing when you'll return again. A few hours of you in my dreams is all God shares with me until he decides to send you to me once again. But alas, you don't come to me every night, and I selfishly find I want more of you each time you leave. Haunt me if you must then. Just stay a little longer with me before you leave. In my dreams, you are alive again as if fate has played a cruel trick on me. Or is it just my imagination that makes you so real and you are once again with me like you never left at all? I twist and turn stubbornly fighting from waking up for I know that you will be taken from me when I do. "Don't leave", my brain seems to plead in its dream like state, but you fade into the background and become a shadow as reality sets in, and I'm left with the after glow of knowing it was only a dream. I wipe the star dust from my eyes and realize you only visited my dreams for a few stolen moments. �Not long enough," I cry, ........never long enough with you"
Not all my dogs come to pay me a visit in my dreams like you do, you know. Although they all were loved, few were special and those are the ones who come back to remind me why they were designated as such. Gone maybe in body, but in my soul the memories I carry once again brings them back to life leaving their paw prints upon my fragile heart.
So until we meet again my friend, I will have to be content with the little windows of light that is bestowed upon me that reflects your image until I too reach the place that is called dreams. "Only a dog some may say?", but then they've never known the unselfish love between a man and his dog for nothing is expected from us, and everything is given from them. So come if you must and play with my emotions for a little while longer for the piece of my soul that you took when you left, is restored and renewed when once again in dreams I walk with you.
From the book: "SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR ANGEL ANIMALS: FINDING COMFORT AFTER LOSING YOUR PET: In this thoughtful book, Allen and Linda Anderson walk you through the numbing pain and dreadful sense of loss that arise when a beloved animal dies. They offer solace to help you deal with grief, remember and honor key moments in the animal�s life, find comfort through groups and with professionals, and get past the depression. They also include exercises, affirmations, and meditations to use through the various stages of grief. The Andersons� caring, practical advice covers all aspects of pet loss, offering guidance on: helping children grieve :: honoring your religious beliefs :: grieving for runaway pets :: helping others know what to say or do to console you :: planning an appropriate memorial ceremony or tribute. The book also explores the concept of after-death experiences of departed companion animals and relates many beautiful stories, including the Rainbow Bridge story, that reinforce the love and sense of peace that come from honoring the place animals hold in our lives.
My rating: heart dogs: (4)
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