Pure Dog Talk

Be the Expert That John Q. Public Needs Michelle Santana - Foxfire Dobermans 35 Years in Dobermans, inherited the love of the breed from her mother, Michelle Santana is dedicated to the future of her favorite breed. While Michelle tried a brief stint in Collies, she returned committed to her mother's breeding program, and describes Doberman's as: Labor Intensive, Destructive, Strong... and intent on following you into the bathroom Michelle and her Foxfire Dobermans have been honored with the AKC Working Group Breeder of the Year Award and a Dogs in Review "Winkie" for Breeder of the Year. Mentor - Bill Shelton Bill Shelton is considered by Michelle to be a strong influence and mentor for her as an owner-handler, breeder, and exhibitor.  She mirrored his handling style, and listened as he spoke of purposefully bred dogs or breeding for preservation of consistent and reliable traits, type and temperament. Doberman's Historical Tradition Dobermans are a silhouette with the cropped ears, docked tail, strength and angles that cause pause to an intruder.  Historically a personal protection dog, the upright ear and short tail made it difficult for a perpetrator to grab or defend against the Doberman. Mentor a Junior, Mentor you Buyers, Mentor a Breeder Juniors Juniors are the key to the sport and Michelle encourages experience Breeders to support them.  Give them a GREAT DOG to compete with, teach them how to BREED, pay for a junior to compete in the bigger competitions. Buyers Be a Mentor to your puppy buyers.  Let them know that you are available and the FIRST resource.  Encourage them to compete in dog sports, have fun in barn hunt or even consider showing. Breeders of the Future Mentor a future breeder. Take it upon yourself to teach one or two people so the knowledge is passed down.  Breeding is hard work.  We need others willing to carry our breeds forward. John Q. Public Needs YOU! OMG!  Yes.  Mentors in the breeds need to be the educated voice in the public Facebook groups, so answers to questions don't come from the people who don't. Teach the public.  Be the VOICE that they hear. Shout Out to John Engstrom - You Asked! Listener John Engstrom wrote and asked for a Michelle Santana interview - and Pure Dog Talk listened!    

Ready to Win Best in Show as an Owner Handler? Tricia Stanczyk says "You Can Do It Too!" From English Setters to Parson Russell Terriers, Tricia Stanczyk is an Owner Handler with multiple Best in Shows and a National Specialty win. Learn by Watching - Practice by Doing Learning by watching and asking questions is critical.  But practice by doing is the essential.  Four weeks can't go by between shows and then you try to remember what you saw. Practice at home - grooming techniques, handling tips, and training suggestions.  That way if you don't nail it, you can always call or email the professional that helped you and ask for clarification. Giving advice always feels better when it is listened to and used.  Questions are good. See and Be Seen Why stay for the groups and Best in Show?  Not only do you benefit from watching and learning from the professionals, studying the grooming and handling techniques, but you are also seen.  Huh? Yes. Human nature has the tendency to connect with the familiar.  If you are asking the pros for help, they naturally with be more willing if you are familiar. Ask the Professionals Approach them when not busy. Be respectful.  Offer to help. Managing Your Nerves Tricia has three tips for managing her nerve. Talking with friends Breathing Straight Talk - Getting "slapped up alongside the head" and back into reality by not talking herself out of the game. Be a Worker Bee Join your local All-Breed Club and Specialty clubs.  Be the worker bee that suggests and takes on the responsibility for doing. Ignore the nay-sayers and negative people. It's Just A Dog Show Remember, it's just a dog show.  Have fun, laugh, love your dog, and enjoy life.

What's Best for Your Stud Dog? Fresh, Fresh Chilled or Frozen? Semen Quality Fresh is Best... but not always an option. Fresh semen, of lower quality, might need a little reproductive vet help to improve the chance of getting your bitch pregnant.

  Canine Epilepsy: Bring the Breeders to the Scientists Liz Hansen, University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine Genetics Lab, and breeder of Standard Schnauzers and Berger Picards, is helping to coordinate the international consortium on epilepsy. Affected and Family Members Blood Samples Needed DNA Banking of affected dogs and their immediate affected or non-affected family members increase the ability of researchers to compare the genome sequences. Since there are multiple forms of epilepsy. An online survey to assist owners willing to donate blood for the DNA bank.  Cheek swabs are not adequate for this particular research. Canine epilepsy is one of the most emotionally devastating problems facing dog owners and breeders today. A consortium of researchers from the University of Missouri, University of Minnesota, Ohio Sate University, and the Animal Trust (England) are currently doing DNA research to try to locate the mutation(s) responsible for causing epilepsy in dogs. The genes controlling seizure problems in dogs are not well understood, but this project is attempting to find the marker(s) or mutation(s) responsible. READ MORE ABOUT CONTRIBUTING DNA Mice, Rats, Humans, Canines Epilepsy is being studied across species.  A canine discovery helps people too. Listen as Liz Hansen explains the advancements and current research on both seizures and epilepsy.  One seizure is not necessarily epilepsy. CANINE EPILEPSY RESOURCE CENTER Sketchbook Berger Picards

National Specialties and Mentor Opportunities: Eileen Hackett Where but a National Specialty can you pull up a ringside chair, in the company of top breeders, and watch hundreds of dogs in your breed? Where but a National Specialty can you see two or three generations of progeny from a stud or dam? Where but a National Specialty are the mentors gathered that can tell you about dog's 3, 4, 5 generations of more back in your pedigree? Win or Lose: Go to your National Specialty Eileen Hackett, Professional Dog Handler and Breeder of English Setters talks about why Nationals and what you can learn by attending. Enjoy Episode #54 of PureDogTalk!  

  Learn How to Increase Your Stud Dog's "Stuff" Healthy Semen 101 Sirius Canine Fertility returns for Part 2 of our Stud Dog Series. LISTEN to episode #53 and learn: Reproductive Soundness Collection Do's and Don'ts Environmental Conditions Stress Managing Stud Dogs around Breeding Bitches   READ FULL ARTICLE HERE SIRIUS CANINE FERTILITY

Whelping puppies is often panic time for even experienced breeders. Myra Savant Harris, RN, gives simple tips on the do's and dont's of whelping puppies. What is the green fluid and is it an emergency, to don't swing the puppy, to gurgling pups, to stuck pups... Myra covers it all.

  But I Don't Have Spinone Italiano's? Every breed has something lurking in it's DNA.  Pat Fendley's sacrifice to "save" her breed is a lesson for all breeders. Cerebellar Ataxia Cerebellar Ataxia is a horrific disease that affect puppies.  They start with wobbling or stumbling.  Within months, the disease rapidly progresses until the young dog can not even stand on it's own and is euthanized. Breeder's Secret For many years, the existence of Cerebellar Ataxia was denied or ignored by some breeders.  In 1998, Great Britain publicly acknowledged the disease in the Spinone Italiano.  Lack of knowledge of it's genetic origin caused many unaffected dogs to be removed from the gene pool.  Some even believed it was a communicable disease, rather than genetic. Pat Fendley Pat Fendley tells her story of working with the Animal Health Trust in Great Britain by breeding a carrier test litter to develop a genetic test to identify carrier dogs.  This test litter made it possible for many other dogs and owners to not suffer the disease.   READ THE FULL ARTICLE MORE ON CEREBELLAR ATAXIA

Progesterone: Part 1 of 4 on Stud Dog Management Sirius Canine Fertility Welcome to the first of four Friday episodes on understanding stud dog management and insemination techniques. Bridgett Higginbothm, AKC Judge, Bulldog breeder, licensed Vet Tech, and owner of Sirius Canine Fertility (formerly ICSB Grass Valley) and Shannon Stone guest on PureDogTalk and answer many of the common questions about reproductive services.

  From the Judges Perspective As an AKC Judge, Lee Whittier often saw quality, but untrained dogs with exhibitors that could use some help.  Digging a little deeper, Lee realized that the exhibitors that really needed a mentor were not just the beginners, but the Owner-Handlers that have been showing for 5-15 years. Owner Handlers - Help from the Judge's Perspective Many owner-handlers have ring experience, but have also developed habits, attitudes, or beliefs about their breed, dog, or ring procedures that actually keep them from succeeding. What is the Dog Show Judge Thinking? Ever walk out of the ring wondering what the dog show judge was thinking?  Many exhibitors lay "blame" on the professional handler in the ring, rather than examine other reasons? Dog Show Mentor is a program developed by Lee Whittier to mentor owner-handlers from the judge's perspective. Enjoy listening to Lee Whittier as she gives 3 tips and a few suggestions to help you improve today.   READ FULL ARTICLE

From Apprentice to Master Handler to Mentoring the Next Generation   Mike Pitts, along with his wife Linda, are among the top tier handlers in the country, having run multiple top dogs over the years. Most recently, Linda piloted the Puli, Preston, to number one all breeds all systems in 2016.   Back in the day, they studied under top handlers, including Linda’s time working for Houston and Toddie Clark, now well-known and respected AKC judges, and Mike’s apprenticeship with top Cocker handlers of the day.   But they also carried their knowledge forward to the next generation, mentoring other aspiring young dog people. One of those folks you heard from last week when we talked to Jason Lynn about his second win at Crufts in the last few years.   Mike and Linda live in Knoxville, Tenn. Mike’s recommendation for new and hopeful dog people (handlers or breeders) is to bring your passion, your determination to succeed and a willingness to embrace brutally hard work. And, most importantly, to ask for help. “We will help anyone who has a legitimate desire to learn,” he said.   The operative phrase there is “desire to learn”… Mike expresses frustration with folks who don’t want to put in the effort to get ahead. “We had a kid, he was always on his phone…. With my dog on the table…” His expression spoke volumes about this lack of attention and focus on the number one priority… The dogs.   “It isn’t about politics, it isn’t about who you know…. It’s about doing the work, putting in the time, paying your dues,” Mike says.

Remember the 60's? Tie Dye, Rock and Roll, Yellow Submarine, the Beatles and Woofstock... oh yeah, peace out man

Winning Crufts Dog Show not once, but twice with both an American Cocker and Standard Poodle. Co-bred with Michael Gadsby and handler on both is an amazing feat. Listen to American-born Jason Lynn on the road from a 7 year old Kentucky born kid watching Jimmy Moses and German Shepherd Manhattan win Westminster Kennel Club to Crufts double success.

Dixie Rae Sick on Canine Conditioning Canine Conditioning is fitness for all our canine competitors and athletes.  Whether your dog is a show dog, an agility dog or a frisbee dog, a herding, hunting, working or field dog, or just your best backpacking companion; fitness prevents injury and encourages a healthier, happier experience.   READ FULL ARTICLE AND WATCH THE VIDEOS HERE

  Jason Duby and Blue Tick Coonhounds Big Adventures Jason Duby loves to run his blue tick coonhounds.  Bench shows, field trials, nite hunts and water races are all coonhound competitions that earn AKC titles. This introduction will be shorter than usual as nite hunts and water races are new to me, but sound like "great time had by all". Competitions are held under both UKC and AKC guidelines and are most prevalent in the southern portions of the U.S. Please enjoy Episode #44 on puredogtalk.com READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE