Pure Dog Talk

John Buddie part 2: Respect, Reverence and Romance Master Breeder, John Buddie, Tartanside Collies, talks about the three "Rs": Respect of the individuals who went before, reverence of finding and holding these people in high regard, and the romance of the history and studying the lore of the breed. "If it’s all statistics and numbers and cut and dried, I think you burn out," Buddie said. In the second half of our interview, Buddie talks about maintaining virtues, the importance of selection and having heroes. "You can lose the existing quality in a line by not maintaining emphasis on virtues, especially when you are trying to achieve improvement in an outcross," Buddie said. "Don’t put so much emphasis on that new added characteristic that you lose sight of what you’ve worked so hard on to date" Outcrosses "You don’t always get the results you were aiming for until the generation after what you’ve done. The key is what you do with the outcrossed generation that makes or breaks you." Selection, selection, selection * Take time to really observe and evaluate puppies at various ages. * Don’t get rid of a puppy too early or too late. * Good, but not good enough. Is it the best of the best or the best of what you have? * Make a list of virtues of sire/dam… Identify what you most want to keep a puppy for from the litter. * Watch puppies in a pen. Too many folks want to just pick up and look at profile. * I take my time when evaluating puppies. People rush to judgement. * Photos give you a static picture and can be inaccurate based on how legs are placed. * More important to see in a natural position. Back in the day, the optimum time to finish a dog was three years old, Buddie noted. "I'm afraid too many people are just getting the points, not really appreciating the dog show itself, the evaluation process, who you showed to and what a difference it made. "Be stimulated by being inspired. Just make sure you’re inspired by the right person who really believes in the sanctity of the breed and the sport," Buddie said. Listen to Part 1 of our conversation here. Pure Dog Talk is sponsored by:

Breeding Rules from John Buddie, Tartanside Collies John Buddie with L to R - Ch.Tartanside Picturesque, Ch. Tartanside Audaicious (lying) Ch. Tartanside Arabesque, Ch. Tartanside Limerick Debut, Ch. Tartanside Aliage, Ch. Tartanside Imagination. John Buddie has spent a lifetime with Collies. His Tartanside family of dogs is world famous and widely respected. His Breeding Rules are a distillation of more than 50 years' experience and success. This is part one of a two part series. Buddie's original breed mentor gave him much of the knowledge he continues to share today. "This was mentorship in the days of letter writing, plus weekends spent doing kennel chores, brushing dogs, really hands on work," Buddie said. "When I asked a question, she would ask me a question to make me think." Spoon-feeding someone an answer doesn’t have the same impact as helping someone come to their own conclusion, Buddie observed. Buddie's "rules" are guidelines that are applicable across breeds and generations. *Leave the sport/breed no worse than you found it Show respect for the lines and breeders who came before by preserving that quality. *The number of champions finished/ribbons earned is not the measure of a breeder "There have been many important contributing breeders who changed the face of a breed who bred on a small scale," Buddie said. "For every record achieved there will always be someone who can break that record." *Learn to read a pedigree Research, look to breeders of the past, learn what they accomplished and how. *Look to the grandparents Most top producing dogs are just carrying the pedigree forward. Top sires, often the strength comes from dam side. "I've had great success using the Maternal grandsire effect, in other words breed a quality bitch to her maternal grandsire," Buddie said. *You can never outrun a problem "It's a lot easier to rid yourself of problems with testing now. But you have to admit the problem and deal with it. It can mean scrapping a couple generations of breedings to clear it out. But you have to protect your breeding program as a whole." *Learn to see quality in other people’s dogs "We make evaluations of dogs when we’re competitors… when you're judging you realize you weren’t as open minded as you thought you were." *Attend national to see dogs that you wouldn’t see any other time Join us next week for the continuation of this fabulous conversation. Pure Dog Talk is sponsored by:

Dogs Saving Cats: Livestock Guardians and Cheetahs Dr. Laurie Marker with one of the Livestock Guarding Dogs bred and raised by the Cheetah Conservation Fund to give farmers in Namibia safety for their flocks. My very special guest today is Dr. Laurie Marker of the Cheetah Conservation Fund. We discuss her work with Cheetahs and "dogs saving cats"... dogs as "emotional support" animals for Cheetahs raised in captivity, as livestock guardians for flocks in Namibia so the farmers don't kill the Cheetahs who might otherwise prey on their stock, even dogs tracking down "scat" for research. I first met Marker some 40 years ago when she was working in my hometown at the Wildlife Safari. What an incredible opportunity this conversation was! LGD Program began in 1994 “We decided to celebrate the program anniversary by naming 2019 the Year of the Livestock Guarding Dog. The program holds a special place in my heart. It has been incredibly successful at mitigating human/wildlife conflict not only in Namibia but across the cheetah’s current range,” Marker said. “Anatolian shepherds were chosen for many reasons,” Marker notes on the organization’s website. “The breed has a 6,000-year pedigree and history of guarding sheep in Turkey. Their short coats protect them from thorns and bushes being caught in their coats, and make it easier for them to adapt to fluctuating temperatures – both hot and cold. Their independent nature and ability to think for themselves means they don’t need to have people with them to successfully guard their livestock. They were the best choice for the conditions faced on Namibian farmlands. They have the will and drive to travel vast distances with their herd due to their natural loyalty and endurance. In February, 1994, four Anatolian shepherds, the breed of dogs used in the research that took place in Oregon, were established with herds of sheep and goats here in Namibia. The dogs were donated by the Birinci Kennels in the USA.” Endangered species and endangered breeds Puppies in the CCF's Livestock Guarding Dog program. The LGD program has since placed close to 700 dogs with farmers in and around Namibia. Marker said she has seen a dramatic decrease in the number of big cats killed to protect livestock and a stabilization of the numbers in this critically endangered species. Fewer than 7500 Cheetahs are believed to exist in the wild. Listen to the podcast for more of this outstanding discussion. Amazingly, genetic diversity concerns of the same kind we face with purebred dogs are also an issue for these unique big cats. Learn more about Marker’s Cheetah Studbook! Pure Dog Talk is sponsored by:

Poopy Happens: Puppy Diarrhea Causes and Treatments Puppy diarrhea can be serious and dangerous due to dehydration risks, says Dr. Marty Greer, DVM. While “poopy happens” is a pretty common issue in a litter of puppies, some causes are more serious than others. Causes of "bad potty" can range from the benign to the deadly and knowing which is which and how to treat them can be a matter of life and death. "I can't believe I ate the WHOLE thing...." Overeating is pretty common, particularly when puppies transition to solid food during weaning. "While nursing, the diarrhea is white in color, and the puppy is very hefty," Greer said. She strongly recommends dog specific probiotics during weaning, particularly Proviable or Fortiflora. "What do you have in your mouth?!" Eating inappropriate stuff like rocks, sticks, leaves is another common problem in puppies that can cause stomach upset and loose stools. Since puppies are curious and often investigate their new and expanding world with their mouths, it can also be dangerous! Watch what they pick up and police their areas for hazards. All kinds of bad bugs Viral infections such as parvovirus and distemper are life threatening emergencies. Certain breeds don't titer well to parvo vaccines and these diseases can even be transmitted by raccoons in “latrines.” Parasites, Greer noted, affect as much as 95 percent of puppies. Worm puppies at 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks if the bitch is not on dewormer *during* pregnancy. Greer recommends a specific protocol of treating the pregnant bitch with fenbendazole daily from the 5th week of pregnancy to the 2nd week of lactation. "You can worm bitch forever, but parasites will encyst in her muscles," Greer said. "The stress of pregnancy and lactation reactivates these into her bloodstream. The parasites are then passed through placenta AND milk to the puppies. Puppies that are still nursing, are still receiving the larval form of the parasite through milk." Giardia and coccidia are common in puppies. Giardia responds to Panacur. Coccidia responds to Albon. Cleanliness is next godliness Bleach is my favorite disinfectant. Visit this site to learn about proper dilution in different scenarios: https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/bleach-dilution-calculator Treatment Kaopectate, the human grade over the counter item, has changed formula and metabolizes as aspirin in the dog, Greer said. She strongly recommends a low-cost and effect solution, the original kaolin-pectin. And don't forget to send your puppies home with insurance!! Pure Dog Talk is sponsored by (and highly recommends!):

MORE on Preserving Our Breeds. What can WE do? Today we have more lively conversation. Pure Dog Talk’s host Laura Reeves moderates part 2 of a Saturday Symposium panel discussion at the Rogue Valley Kennel Club show on the topic of “Preserving Our Breeds. What can WE do?” Panelists are Ed Thomason, professional handler and noted breeder of American Staffordshire Terriers; Michelle Santana, AKC Breeder of the Year of Doberman Pinschers; and, Fran Stephens, Saint Bernard breeder-judge and AKC delegate for Puyallup Valley Dog Fanciers. The panelists discuss a recent presentation to the delegate body by Bill Shelton and Doug Johnson among other areas of interest in which purebred dog fanciers can promote their breeds and purebred dogs in general. Reach out to the community "Quit blaming other people," Reeves said. "WE need to step up and not just on Facebook, all social media is important. All breeders are on the same side. We don’t have to like how other people breed. We can help them do better. Help them improve." Thomason agreed. "Some of the greatest breeders in this country that ever bred dogs kept and housed over 100 dogs. Why wouldn’t we help these commercial breeders breed better dogs. "We don’t breed enough dogs. It's as simple as that," Thomason said. Go out in public with your dogs Stephens related her all breed club's struggle to get club members to come share their dogs at the Washington state fair on Labor Day weekend. "We have a barn and booth space from PVDF," Stephens said. "We see *hundreds of thousands* of people, families with children. come to see the dogs… It's like pulling teeth to get club members to come. Go, take your dogs to public events. Put your dogs out in public so people can see you. Then breed more dogs." Audience member Ray Brinlee, who started showing dogs in 1959, noted that the ’73 oil embargo is what brought on dog show clusters in order to save gas. "It was a terrible mistake," Brinlee said. "Dog shows need to serve the community." Just Be NICE! An audience member, Rebecca, recounted her own efforts to educate clients who hire her for behavioral training of their dogs. "When I recommend they come to a show and talk to people, the breeders start with why they shouldn’t own this breed," Rebecca said. "It took *15* years to talk someone into selling me a show dog. It frustrates me that my clients go to people with no health testing on their dogs because those people are nice to them. It’s sad that we have to tell people to make friends in other breeds and get a thick skin. Hardest thing to be a new person, and you don’t know who you can go to..." "The main thing we need to keep in mind," Stephens said, "is we have to keep breeding our dogs. Our breeds. If we don’t, they’ll go away. It’s as simple as that. Deciding to spay/neuter everything not in your control is detrimental to the breed. The dog may have a fault you don’t want, but may have good qualities from your line that can complement someone else’s lines. We have shot ourselves in the foot by spay/neuter more than 50% of our litters." Borzoi breeder Kristina Terra ended the discussion with a positive idea. When members of the public as if one of her dogs is a rescue, she replies "No! In fact she hasn’t had a bad second in her life. And neither has her mother or grandmother…" Pure Dog Talk is sponsored by:

Preserving Our Breeds. What can WE do? Pure Dog Talk’s host Laura Reeves moderates a Saturday Symposium panel discussion at the Rogue Valley Kennel Club show on the topic of “Preserving Our Breeds. What can WE do?” This is part one of the discussion. Part two will post next week. Panelists are Ed Thomason, professional handler and noted breeder of American Staffordshire Terriers; Michelle Santana, AKC Breeder of the Year of Doberman Pinschers; and, Fran Stephens, Saint Bernard breeder-judge and AKC delegate for Puyallup Valley Dog Fanciers. The panelists discuss a recent presentation (watch the entire presentation here) to the delegate body by Bill Shelton and Doug Johnson among other areas of interest in which purebred dog fanciers can promote their breeds and purebred dogs in general. "Tell our story” “We have fallen into hiding the fact that we’re breeders,” Thomason said. “Don’t be afraid to say I breed purebred dogs because I’m want to know what I’m going to get,” Stephens said. “We have allowed doodle breeders to become a fad,” Thomason said. “You go underground because you have more dogs than you’re supposed to. But on social media, you can promote your breed, your breeding program without telling where you live. The pet puppy market is a billion dollar industry. Not saying leave here and be puppy mills. Market being manipulated by doodle breeders and rescues. We don’t share our stories. We have to or this ain’t going to be here." Education is critical Santana discussed her goal of educating John Q Public. "I picked a random pet Doberman social page," Santana said. "Thousands of people who own a companion Doberman. They need education. Any time I come across an educational article I share to that page. Spay/neuter as an example. Just pick one site that doesn’t get a broad spectrum of education and share to that page. We need to spread this information to people not in our circle. We’re myopic. We can talk to ourselves all we want. But we need to reach out to these people outside our circle." Stephens noted that there is a vast market for dogs in this country that is largely being filled by doodle breeders and rescue imports. "There are plenty of people wanting dogs," Stephens said. "It's how we reach them. How we talk to them." Join us next week for Part 2 of the discussion!! Pure Dog Talk is sponsored by:

Dog Judging, Rumors and Reality Checks AKC judge Lee Whittier, founder of Dog Show Mentor and a former AKC Field Rep, and host Laura Reeves talk turkey about judging, judges, the process and the results. Some of the key take-aways from the conversation: * Judges are not all created equal. Some ARE better than others. * Judges WANT and TRY to do a good job. * Judges spend a LOT of time, money and grief to earn the honor of presiding from the center of the ring. Check out the YouTube video of the PureDogTalk Friday Night Forum panel discussion. Current AKC Executive Field Representative Bryan Martin, and AKC judges Brian Meyer and Sylvie McGee share a TON of information about the process of becoming an AKC approved judge. * What a judge sees in the center of the ring is often WAY different than what you see outside the ring. When you see a dog week in and week out, the accumulated knowledge may, in some cases, create a different picture than what the judge has during his/her 2 minutes in the ring. * Judges are NOT hatched from an egg! I say this all the time at the panel discussions. I think exhibitors forget this part. All judges started at basically the same place you are today. They showed dogs, they bred dogs, they schlepped the gear and scooped the poop, they drove the miles and slept in the sketchy hotel rooms. Every single judge in the ring has been there, done that and most likely a whole lot more. * Lee and I agree that we risk accusations of being a bit Pollyanna and acknowledge that bad apples exist, but that we, the exhibitors, should not allow them to spoil the whole basket. * Exhibitors will get the most enjoyment from their dog show experiences if they choose a positive social group, do a little research about their judges and try not to get wrapped up in the rumor-mongering when it happens. Make sure you download and listen to the episode for more “inside insights”… Pure Dog Talk is sponsored by:

Veterinary Voice: Allergies! Food, Inhalant, Fleas & More Food allergies are not as common as people believe, according to veterinarian Marty Greer. Inhalant, contact and flea allergies are more prevalent. Food allergy is mostly associated with chronic ear infections and recurrent skin problems. Conclusive diagnosis requires tedious food elimination diets. "Fall is a terrible time for allergies," Greer noted. "Especially inhalant allergies and contact allergies of pollen in the grass. You can wash the dog's feet at night to help reduce symptoms." Foot chewing is the top symptom for inhalant/contact allergy, Greer said. She also observed that allergies can also be additive. A dog may have a food allergy that is only triggered by the addition of a seasonal contact allergy, for example. It only takes one! Flea allergy is signaled by dogs that are itchy around the rump, Greer noted. She added that one flea bite is all it may take to set off an allergic response. "Flea control products today are really good. Topical or oral, they are very effective. Vacuuming regularly is an important control system for fleas," Greer said. Newer flea/tick control products affect the nervous system of only the parasite, Greer said. Older organophosphate-based products were not as good, she added. Pro/Con of flea/tick preventatives Oral meds are not recommended for patients with a history of seizures, Greer said. "They are not going to make a normal dog have a seizure. But they could trigger seizure sensitive dogs. Bravecto is the only oral medication labeled for breeding dogs," she added. Advantages to the oral preventatives are that they leave no residue on coat, Greer said. The advantages of topical treatments is they are not a concern in seizure sensitive patients and they make a repellant shield to biting insects. Topicals also get rid of fleas/ticks more quickly. Anti inflammatory treatments "In the last 10-15 years, new products have come on the market to help to replace long-term steroid use," Greer said. "Short course steroid use is effective and the side effects are minimal." Links and information from Dr. Greer to learn more: * Atopica https://www.elanco.us/products-services/dogs/atopica-cyclosporine-capsules-usp-modified Dog Quiz: https://us.atopica.com/survey-dog , Cat Quiz: https://us.atopica.com/survey-cat * Apoquel https://www.zoetisus.com/products/dogs/apoquel/index.aspx * Cytopoint https://www.zoetisus.com/products/dogs/cytopoint/the-itch-cycle.aspx * Do not use APOQUEL in dogs less than 12 months of age or those with serious infections. APOQUEL may increase the chances of developing serious infections, and may cause existing parasitic skin infestations or pre-existing cancers to get worse. APOQUEL has not been tested in dogs receiving some medications including some commonly used to treat skin conditions such as corticosteroids and cyclosporine. Do not use in breeding, pregnant, or lactating dogs. Most common side effects are vomiting and diarrhea. APOQUEL has been used safely with many common medications including parasiticides, antibiotics and vaccines * CYTOPOINT is a monoclonal antibody (mAb)* treatment for dogs that specifically targets and neutralizes canine IL-31,† an important cytokine‡ involved in sending the itch signal to the brain in chronic atopic dermatitis2 * Because it is highly targeted to a specific cytokine involved in canine atopic dermatitis, CYTOPOINT has minimal impact on normal immune functions3 * CYTOPOINT is eliminated via normal protein degradation pathways in the same way as naturally occurring antibodies...

Marketing Strategy Ensures Viability of Endangered Breed Dandie Dinmont Terrier Jody Moxham is a Dandie Dinmont Terrier fancier and a globally successful marketing professional. She was asked by her club to create an ad for the breed. She refused. And created far more than just an “ad.” DDTCA created the Strategic advisory committee, which Moxham chairs, exclusively dedicated to ensuring the long-term viability of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. Surging numbers In three years, the work of the committee has increased registrations of the breed by more than 150 percent. Membership in the club is surging to the point it can’t keep up with printing the membership roster, Moxham noted. According to AKC statistics, the breed has risen six points in popularity after years of decline. “I asked myself, ‘How would best marketers address this.’ There is a thing called the product life cycle in marketing,” Moxham said. “A lot of breeds are in the “decline” phase…. Marketers reposition a “product” and put it back in to introductory stage. That’s what we’re doing. Product marketing techniques “I created a methodology for forecasting success of marketing communications while they were just ideas on paper. We marketed it to multi-national corporations and helped them strengthen the persuasiveness of their strategies and their communications. We were proven effective in 40-some countries, according to the tough measures marketers use. A month after 9/11, the US Government called and asked if we would be willing to see if the methodology that worked so well in the commercial world could also work for national security interests. We gained contracts from across all arms of the USG - Defense, Military, Intelligence, and State. “It has been a fascinating journey. What drives me is making a difference. I thrive on doing things that have never been done before. Or that are super tough. Easy can be done by anyone. Really hard piques my interest. "We will not stay vulnerable" Betty-Anne Stenmark and Jody Moxham bred Dandie Dinmont Terriers together for many years. “That is the background that I brought to tackling the objective of ensuring the viability of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier for generations to come. You probably know we are a highly vulnerable breed. But we will not stay vulnerable. “We started this program three years ago and formed the Strategic Advisory Committee as an action arm of the DDTCA. “The first of four surveys has been released, each dealing with a specific area of breeding and raising healthy litters. Collectively they will be the foundation for mentoring programs for DDTCA and other breed clubs that want to use our findings. We want the DDTCA to be known as the innovator of support programs for breeders … and as a sponsor of best breeding practices.” To learn more about the DDTCA visit: https://www.ddtca.org/ To hear conversation with legendary Master Breeder Betty-Anne Stenmark about the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and its "gene puddle," click to listen here.

The Winning Edge! Panel Discussion With the Masters Host Laura Reeves moderates a Friday Night Forum Panel Discussion on the topic of the "Winning Edge" with Judges Rick Gschwender and Pluis Davern and Professional Handler Bill McFadden. It is not the judge’s job to find a “diamond in the rough,” Reeves posits. “Polish your “gem stone” for your best chance of success.” Good habits Gschwender starts the discussion by asking the audience about their habits with the dogs they exhibit. “How many of you train your dog? Road work him? Take video to see what the judge sees? Clean their teeth?” Gschwender queried. “I see people all the time, they’re paying $30 to enter the dog and haven’t even cleaned teeth.” Gschwender adds, “Watch the judges. If you pay attention, you will see consistency in what they put up. You might not like it, but you will figure out what I like and come back and show that to me.” Motivated by motion Davern noted, in a fascinating observation, that people are *predators.* Which means “we are motivated by motion. What are judges looking at?” Davern asked rhetorically. “Motion. It catches the eye. You can *subtly* move your hand to show a pretty head, for example. “You’re in the ring, you’re all showing the same “product.” There’s 20 boxes of cornflakes. What makes yours better than the others?” Owner handlers have a huge advantage, Davern said. They are spending time with the dog they love. “This is a great sport! Nobody takes a golf club to bed at night,” Davern said. “Life is not all about winning.” Be prepared “Take a deep breath and don’t rush,” McFadden advises. He also notes that in some cases, owner handlers who are long time breeders are “experts showing to novices.” Judges are life-long learners and may be new to a breed. “Present your breed the way it should be shown.” Most importantly, McFadden said, be prepared. “Make sure your dog is in condition, physically, mentally, emotionally.” “You’ll have successes and failures you deserve and ones you don’t. It happens to handlers too. We show 20 dogs and might win with two,” McFadden added. For more insight from a couple of these panelists, you can listen back to: https://puredogtalk.com/10-bill-and-taffe-mcfadden-live-at-akc-nationals-wisdom-wednesday-2/ https://puredogtalk.com/26-winners-of-westminster-dog-show-bill-mcfadden-valerie-nunes-atkinson-andy-linton-2/ https://puredogtalk.com/34-sussex-spaniels-hunt-tests-search-and-rescue-pluis-davern-tells-all-2/ https://puredogtalk.com/35-dogs-to-the-rescue-firefighters-first-responders-and-pluis-davern-2/

Tricks Are for Show Dogs! Improve Focus in the Ring Show Dog Prep School founder, Vicki Ronchette, provides tips for training tricks to show dogs to help them focus and have fun. "Training tricks is fun," Ronchette said. "People and dogs enjoy it more than they do training traditional exercises. It is relaxing. And it's a good way for people to improve their mechanical training skills." Teaching a "bow" is a great trick for the conformation ring. Dogs get bored in the ring, Ronchette noted. Having a repertoire of tricks available helps dogs and exhibitors relax, she said. Bonus, the dogs and handlers having fun makes a good impression on audience and serve as crowd pleasers. Note the phenomenal success of the "sit up" by the Sussex Spaniel, Bean, at the 2018 Westminster Kennel Club show. Ronchette shared a few of her favorite "tricks" to teach clients that provide specific benefits to dogs and their performance. Touch! Target training is a favorite of Ronchette's. She trains the dog to touch its nose to her hand. "It's so beneficial," Ronchette said. "It's easy to teach. And when you have a distracted dog, it gets their attention." Sit Pretty Sit up and beg can be a controversial trick, as some feel it can be harmful to the dog's back. Other trainers argue it is indispensable core conditioning that strengthens back muscles. Either way, that super cute "begging" for attention is a sure fire winner. Get on top Teaching the dog to get up on a big rock, grooming table or other high perch, Ronchette says, is a great confidence builder. "They need to own these behaviors," she noted. AKC's Trick Dog program allows owners to put a fun title on the end of the dog’s name, Ronchette noted, helping them "get their feet wet in something other than conformation." To learn more about the origins of the Trick Dog program, take a listen to my interview with AKC's Doug Ljungren, the program's biggest advocate. 128|Doug Ljungren is Up to Tricks…Trick Dogs|AKC VP of Sports and Performance|Pure Dog Talk

You ARE What You Eat and So is Your Dog Dr. Diane Brown, CEO of the AKC Canine Health Foundation, joins us again to talk about fascinating new research on the “gut-brain axis.” In other words, the microscopic bugs inside the dog’s body are being proven to interact with what’s going on in its brain. From the CHF Newsletter: “The adage “you are what you eat” may be more profound than we ever realized. A growing body of evidence shows a complex system of two-way communication between the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and neurologic system in humans and dogs. The link between GI health and diseases such as multiple sclerosis, autism, and epilepsy has been studied in humans. In fact, patients with celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease have an increased risk of developing epilepsy. Since the community of microorganisms that live in the digestive tract – known as the gut microbiome – plays an important role in GI health, what impact does it have on neurologic disease? AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) funded researchers are exploring the role of this microbiomegut-brain axis in canine epilepsy.” http://www.akcchf.org/educational-resources/library/articles/AKC-CHF-Discoveries-Summer-2019.pdf Gut microbiome “The bacteria that live in the gut have been shown to have importance to both health and disease,” Brown said. CHF research is determining what type of bugs normally live in the gut (literally any part of the digestive system from top to bottom). Which ones of those bugs are pathogens and which ones prevent disease is an enormous topic. Many of us understand, for example, that antibiotics completely change the gut microbiome. But this new research is documenting associations with other disorders, including the impact of bacterial content in the gut and how it is influencing epilepsy and anxiety. Using proprietary probiotics to manage post antibiotic diarrhea is one thing. But Probiotics used over the course of six weeks is showing an impact on anxiety behaviors in dogs, providing a non-drug based treatment for this frequent issue in all dogs. Poop is cool! Researchers speaking at a recent CHF conference even discussed using fecal transplants, delivered as an enema, to transplant healthy flora fecal material thereby improving the health of the dog.

Cavalettis for Show Dogs with Vicki Ronchette Vicki Ronchette with her Lowchen. Show Dog Prep School founder Vicki Ronchette shares her tips and tools for using cavalettis to train body awareness, conditioning and more. Cavalettis, Ronchette said, are useful for a variety of issues. Dogs who pace, forge on the leash, need to know where to put their feet amongst other topics are well served by practicing with caveletti training. One of the most common uses is to build muscle memory to increase reach and extension, Ronchette said. “Most dogs love doing the cavalettis,” she added. Using simple, inexpensive materials, Ronchette provides direction for building and utilizing these obstacles in an exhibitor’s “tool kit” of preparing the dogs for the show ring. How To's and Why For's One of Ronchette’s most frequently asked questions is how far apart to set the poles for proper gaiting. She said she measures from the front toe to the back toe when the dog is in a comfortable stack. That is the “elementary” distance the poles are placed apart. As the dog gains skill and confidence, the poles are moved further apart to make them the dog increase its stride. “We’re asking these dogs to be athletes in the show ring,” Ronchette said. “It’s more than just walking around. It’s walking around and looking fabulous.” One specific training opportunity Ronchette uses the obstacles for is to teach not to chase other dogs. “I make them concentrate on foot work instead of chasing,” she observed. “I strongly believe that if there is any physical limitation the dog is aware of it and it increases anxiety,” Ronchette said. “When you do these type of exercises, the dog ‘owns’ that behavior and it creates confidence. Confidence changes a dog’s carriage.” Ronchette's course at Show Dog Prep School. Canine Conditioning with Dixie Rae Sick.

Owner Handler Secrets to Success: Make a Plan and Be Consistent Remy Smith-Lewis, breeder, owner, handler of Portugese Water Dogs, shares the secrets that took him to the top, winning his National Specialty as an owner handler. Remy Smith-Lewis, winning best junior handler. Smith-Lewis said he did not come from a "dog" family. He was awestruck by his breed when the San Francisco Giants began using the dogs to retrieve balls that were hit over the fence. He started as a junior handler, worked for professional handlers Sally George and Bill and Taffe McFadden. He showed his first big winner to multiple Best in Show awards and a national specialty win before turning over the dog's career to the McFadden team to manage. "I was at a place in my career that I really needed to decide what to do and focus on it," said Smith-Lewis, who began his career at Google and now works for a new tech start up in the Bay Area. Remy Smith-Lewis handling his Portugese Water Dog to Best in Show at Del Monte Kennel Club under judge Pluis Davern. His recommendations to owner handlers working a full time job is, "You CAN do it!" But his secrets are: dedication, making sacrifices, having a plan, keeping on a schedule and staying consistent. Condition, Condition, Condition Whether it is road work, coat work or trimming, competitive dogs MUST be in condition, Smith-Lewis noted. If that means skipping company happy hour in order to spend the extra time brushing, bathing, biking or trimming your dog, that's what needs to happen. "Complaining about handlers always winning is the easy way out," Smith-Lewis said. Owner handlers need to remember that dogs need routines, Smith-Lewis noted. The dog can’t always be on the couch. And the owner needs to find a mentor and *listen* to the mentor. Smith-Lewis laughingly recalls a favorite admonition from one of his early mentors, Bill McFadden, "God gave you two ears and one mouth, use them wisely." "We need to break away on our own at some point," Smith-Lewis said. "But a mentor's job is to guide you back onto a good path when you get too far out of line." One final suggestion? "Join an all-breed club and work and learn," Smith-Lewis said. Want to hear more from Owner Handlers? Check out these past episodes: 57 – Best in Show: How an Owner-Handler Competes with the Pros – Tricia Stanczyk 25 – Patricia Trotter: Legendary Breeder, Author, and AKC Judge – Vin-Melca’s Norwegian Elkhounds 103 – Ed Thomason Tips for the Owner Handler – From a Breeder Owner Handler Turned Professional Dog Handler

New Resources for Purebred Dog Enthusiasts Host Laura Reeves visits with two exhibitors, Cara Ryckman and Michelle Conroy, who have each taken huge steps to create resources to benefit purebred dogs and their people. These three 50something women with passion, dedication and a desire to “*do* something, not just complain” encompass close to 120 years combined experience in purebred dogs. Both Ryckman and Conroy saw voids in the world of purebred dogs and created ingenious ways to fill them. Spending their own time and resources, they have created a brand new social media ap (Ryckman) and a certification of breeders/rescues for the general public’s use (Conroy). Cara Ryckman - Social media gone to the dogs Cara Ryckman with her heart dog, GCH-S CH Hi-C Chanel Pearls and Ice at Terlingua. “Dogs are our life! This page and our site brought to you by Cara Ryckman of Terlingua Chihuahuas. I strive to create a friendly, positive, free social experience for people who love purebred dogs! This site was created as a positive step in uniting the dog fancy and the general public in the hopes of preserving our heritage breeds for the future and bringing awareness to the predictability and dependability of purposefully-bred dogs and the fun of the purebred dog world. All are welcome!" https://dogpeoplelife.com Michelle Conroy - Applying a lifetime of knowledge to certify breeders Michelle Conroy with Willie, Caeruleus Winds of Fortune “After more than 30 years working with animals, we have seen a lot and we haven’t always liked what we saw. Bad breeding practices and low-quality rescue operations are gaining ground. Many buyers and adopters hold negative views of breeders, and that’s largely due to a lack of quality control across the industry. Here’s the truth: There are many quality breeders and fantastic rescues out there. The problem is that it’s almost impossible for buyers and adopters to identify them. From mountains of misinformation to practically zero credible resources for finding ethical breeders or rescues, the public struggles to figure out what’s what. We think it’s time for that to stop.” https://breedercertification.org/ Listen now to hear their stories. Then check out these amazing new resources. Join Laura in her ongoing initiative to build up and showcase other innovative folks in the sport. You, too, can support MORE dog people helping dog people. Listen to our previous episodes with OTHER great resources. 79 – Valerie Nunes-Atkinson Handling Seminars: Ready to Handle Like a Pro? 60 – National Purebred Dog Day: Susi Szeremy 91 – Dog Show Grooming, Poodle University, Online Handling and Allison Foley 201 – Exhibitor Education Courses Come Online | Pure Dog Talk