Pure Dog Talk

Jeff Pepper on PBGV and Understanding Standards Through Performance Jeff Pepper judging the hound group at Westminster Kennel Club in 2018. Jeff Pepper, AKC judge, breeder and Take the Lead Treasurer, joined host Laura Reeves at the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin. Listen in for this absolutely fascinating conversation on the history and type differences of PBGV (petit basset griffon vendéen) and GBGV (grand basset griffon vendéen) and much more. Pepper started his purebred dog journey with a pet Golden Retriever in 1968. After breeding Goldens for many years, he became involved in PBGV in 1984, importing one of the earliest dogs into the country. "You have to watch them work" A strong advocate for the functionality of breeds under judgement, Pepper said, “You can’t understand any breed if you haven’t seen them performing their job.” He even went so far as to attend a duck tolling test Ch Pepperhill East Point Airily, BOB at the 1984 Golden National and a multiple BIS winner. She was owned by Dan Flavin and Helene Geary. for the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers to understand the nuances of the breed. Grooming to meet the standard Following suit with the functionality, Pepper is also a stickler for a more natural look in the ring, particularly on those sporting and hound breeds whose standards call for minimal grooming. He advocates presentation based on performance requirements. “When you over-neaten these dogs, you take away basic characteristics of the breeds,” Pepper said. A PBGV Pepper whelped in the late '90s. Needless to say, this doesn’t mean to show him a dirty dog, but “if you wash the dog two hours before you show, it makes a soft coat,” Pepper reminded. Specifically, the PBGV and GBGV coats are 2-3 inches long, “like a goat.” And while he doesn’t recommend not grooming at all, he advised exhibitors to understand they are not supposed to pull all of the coat off the PBGV or the GBGV. “They are not scissored. Don’t pull too much out, it doesn’t come back quickly. The hole will be there a while. Trim in front of a mirror. The dogs should be neat but not overly neat. A little unevenness. A little rustic,” Pepper said. History of the rough coated French Hounds Pepper’s in-depth observations on the character, type and history of the breeds is must-listen content. It isn’t just a size difference, Pepper noted. “Everything is longer on the GBGV – legs, ears, tail, body – but the differences in head planes, skull structure and more are critical.” An avid amateur photographer, Pepper travels to Africa regularly.

David Fitzpatrick on Pekingese, the Palace Dogs of Peking David Fitzpatrick, 2012 Westminster Kennel Club BIS winner with the Pekingese, Malachy, was obsessed with dogs as a child. Although his parents wouldn’t let him own a dog, he found ways to be involved with them by walking and housesitting dogs in the neighborhood. David Fitzpatrick receiving the Westminster Kennel Club BIS ribbon from judge Cindy Vogels. His passion took off around 1970 when he wrote a letter to a local handler to see if she needed help. Before he knew it, he was being picked up after school, earning $5/day helping her with Pekingese and other toy breeds. “It could have been pretty much any breed,” Fitzpatrick said. “I fell into the lap of the Pekingese and loved them from the start. It was fate really.” “Speak to anyone who is remotely involved with the Pekingese breed and the mention of David Fitzpatrick’s name will result in a degree of awe and reverence, for this American gentleman is acknowledged as being as fine a handler and presenter of a Pekingese as has ever been seen,” says noted British author Andrew Brace. What is it about Pekingese? The dogs of royalty in China, the first Pekingese specialty show was held in the US around 1908, Fitzpatrick said. “The breed attracted the pillars of society. They were the status symbol dog of the day and were the most popular toy breed into the ‘60s.” “It is a detail oriented breed,” Fitzpatrick noted, “with their pear shaped body, rectangular head, features spread out and not crowded, heavy bone, crooked legs, level back and high tail set.” Pekingese should have an intelligent expression, one that is almost arrogant and disdainful. “Their true temperament is snooty,” Fitzpatrick said. “They were developed as palace dogs in China. They were royalty and had their own servants. They are generally waiting for you to do for them. It’s not a breed that really wants to please their humans.” Pekes as pets Fitzpatrick said the breed is great to live with. “They blend into the household,” he noted. “They get their loves and then go entertain themselves. They’re not constantly clawing at you like some dogs. They’re more independent.” Pekingese have a great deal of personality, Fitzpatrick added. While they are at a show they are performing, showing their regal and aristocratic nature. At home, they’re like any other dogs, they chase squirrels and his dogs even dug out a nest of baby bunnies. Breed specific presentation “It’s up to us to show our dogs in a proper manner, not succumb to this crazy show biz of dogs chasing bait around the ring… an aristocratic breed really should not be begging for food, should they?”

Clean Paws Are Very Important For a Scottie, You Know DWAA Award Winners Rod Ott, Pilar Kuhn, Larry Linder and Lisa Peterson at the awards banquet. Pilar Kuhn and Rod Ott, authors of the award-winning children’s book “Clean Paws are Very Important for a Scottie, You Know” joined host Laura Reeves live at Westminster Kennel Club. Scottie registrations are down, Kuhn said. The breed has witnessed an astonishing 70 percent decrease in overall number of registrations in the last 15 to 20 years. Ott believes the “Adopt don’t shop” mentality has impacted registrations. He also notes that breeders have aged out and the overwhelming number of activities available makes it harder to get young people involved. Kuhn and Ott share with Laura the five-year long story of developing the book idea, acquiring the illustrations, battling cancer, and the life-saving focus the project provided. The hardback book brings children’s attention to purebred dogs, teaches life lessons and features charming illustrations of Scottish Terriers. "With every purchase of our book, we will be donating a portion of the profits to help fund research for childhood cancer and to the Scottish Terrier Club of America Health Trust Fund,” Kuhn said. “Why? Our lives were changed several years ago when we sold a Bouvier in 2014 to a young girl Noah Nechemia who was going through recovery from medulloblastoma. She is now 4 years a Survivor. Childhood cancer receives less than 4 percent of all funding toward research and we are not OK with this. We are donating a portion of the profits from the sales of our books to the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas that did so much for Layla Stamp and her family and because of our dedication to preserving the Scottish Terrier, we want to help support research on health problems affecting Scottish Terriers." Bravo Scotties Chicory and Dee Dee will be going through the Pet Partners International Therapy Dog program to become certified Therapy Dogs and will later accompany the authors not only to hospitals to visit children, but also to elementary schools around the country. In the schools, Kuhn will read the book to children and help educate them on the Scottish Terrier and give kids a chance to meet a real, live Scottie.

Managing the Neonate – Early Detection and Management of Newborn Risk Factors By Dr. Marty Greer, DVM, JD Breeders, experienced and inexperienced, will benefit from monitoring their newborn pups for the following parameters. This information is modified from recent research gleaned from Neocare in France. Having specific numbers to assess and monitor can be very helpful in early intervention with newborn pups, to avoid and prevent loss of these fragile new pups. Simply peeking into the whelping box does not give adequate information for either the breeder or the veterinarian asked to help with intervention. Once you have collected this information, you can open a productive dialogue with your veterinary team. You can only manage what you can measure. With this data, we can assess, intervene and provide specific treatments early enough in the first few days of life. This will significantly reduce neonatal loss, sometimes reported to be as high as 40 percent of newborn pups. Parameter Risk Managing the Risk 1. APGAR score Appearance, pulse, grimace, activity and respiration A Problem APGAR score of <7 is associated with a 22x risk of death in the 1st 8 hours after birth. Pups with an APGAR of 4-7 can achieve a 90% survival rate with appropriate intervention. Repeat or continue resuscitation efforts of suctioning, oxygen, epinephrine, caffeine, ventilation and veterinary care as indicated.   Pups with an APGAR score of 0 – 3 need intensive resuscitation efforts. 2. Weight Low birth weight pups have an 81% chance of death in the 1st 48 hours. Pups in the lightest 25% of its breed has an increased risk of mortality during the 1st 2 days of life. Weight loss - >4% weight loss associated with 8x risk of death. See formula. Digital Scale – essential – grams preferred. Toy breeds – 100 – 200 gm Medium breeds 200-400 gm Large breeds 400 – 600 gm Giant breeds – 600 to 800 gm 3. Litter size Large litters have a 4x increased risk of neonatal death associated with low birth weight. Nutritional support with bottle or tube feeding. Nuby medi-nurser bottle recommended. Plasma if colostrum is limited. 4. 3 H syndrome Hypothermia à ileus of gut. à dehydration à hypoglycemia. Room temperature - 75o F. Surface temperature – 90 to 95oF. Rectal temperature 94 – 96oF 1st 24 hours. Rectal temp 96-98o F 1st week. Hypothermic pups – 4x increased risk of death. Humidity should be 55% +/- 10%. Monitor hydration with MM moisture and urine color.   Plasma (IV, IO, SQ or oral) or colostrum orally along with appropriate antibiotic therapy should be prescribed. Rectal thermometer and Weather station to monitor temperature and humidity. Pups cannot regulate their body temperature until they are 3 weeks old. PuppyWarmer incubator and oxygen concentrator recommended.   Increase surface temperature. Avoid use of heat lamp due to risk of dehydration, overheating and starting a fire. T.E. Scott Whelping nest recommended.   Avoid feeding until pup has appropriate rectal temperature for 1 hour. Pups should be warmed slowly. 5. Hypoglycemia Glucose of 90 mg/dl or higher at 24 to 48 hours of age– normal. Glucose < 90 gm/dl = 4x increased risk of death....

Travel with your dog to see amazing sights David Blank founded Happy Tails Canine Adventure Tours, designed specifically for people who want to travel and adventure with their dogs. Blank is a professional tour guide and dog trainer who has been to 49 US states and 45 countries. He has hitchhiked from the US to Guatemala to study Spanish, backpacked and hitchhiked throughout East and South Africa, and spent a year motorcycling 20,000 miles throughout the US, Canada and Mexico with his dog Max. He has an MBA in International Business and has lived and worked in Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, China and France. “As a guide, the only thing that is really important to me, besides sharing my love for the world, is that my clients have a unique, fulfilling experience that they will remember prominently and fondly for the rest of their lives!” The Happy Tails tours are designed to learn about traveling with dogs and build great relationships with dogs while seeing new sights on guided tours. The next tour travels to the desert southwest before the heat of summer. Tour participants will swim at Lake Powell, spend time on the Colorado River in Moab, Utah with a barbecue dinner on the river beach and hiking in the Grand Canyon. “We want good travelers with dogs,” Blank said. “We want to make sure their dog gets along with other dogs. That the dogs are trained, behave well and are open to new experiences. We want to make sure everyone safe and everyone has a good time. “The dogs get tired,” Blank said. “There is so much information for them, going to new places, seeing new stuff. The dogs’ safety is a premium for us.” What about a PureDogTalk Adventure Tour? Listeners, think about that! Anybody interested in a tour with host Laura Reeves, learning handling tips while seeing the sights, shout out! Check out the links below for more information. - The Coyote - Southwest 8 Day Adventure Tour link: https://www.happytailstours.com/tours/southwest-usa/ - Peaceful Paws - A Southwest Canine Human Spiritual Adventure: https://www.happytailstours.com/PeacefulPaws - Testimonials on our site from Trip Advisor, Facebook, etc: https://www.happytailstours.com/tour-testimonials/ - Trip Advisor reviews of Happy Tails: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g49022-d14932745-Reviews-Happy_Tails_Canine_Adventure_Tours-Charlotte_North_Carolina.html - Free e-book created as a primer to get people started and thinking about what traveling with their dog entails. https://www.happytailstours.com/free-ebook

Westminster KC Treasure Trove: The VOICE of MSG and Yukon Vet Michael LaFave, Westminster Kennel Club Announcer “May we have the hound group please” may be the most thrilling line in dogdom. Westminster Kennel Club announcer Michael LaFave has been the announcer voice at Madison Square Garden for 18 years. Host Laura Reeves caught up with LaFave and Yukon Vet Dr. Michelle Oakley in New York City earlier this month. LaFave was a Basset Hound fancier and president of Eastern Dog Club in Boston when the revered Roger Caras fell ill before the 2001 Westminster dog show. That last minute “fill in” assignment launched nearly two decades associated with his deep, powerful voice describing each dog being judged on the green carpet. Intense moments and gorgeous dogs mark his tenure speaking to the thousands of fans filling the seats at the famed Manhattan venue. His favorite winner? Uno, the Beagle. His most memorable moment? The presentation to the Search and Rescue dogs who worked 9/11, just months after the tragedy. Yukon Vet Debuts at Westminster Nat Geo Wild series star Dr. Michelle Oakley, Yukon Vet. Unlike LaFave, Oakley was brand new to Westminster Kennel Club. The TV star of the Nat Geo Wild reality series Yukon Vet was star struck herself as she met our famous canines. Fan girl moment? Biggie the pug. Oakley has a pug herself who she zips up in her snowmobile suit to take on two hour rides to her cabin. She compared the agility competitors to sled dogs in their enthusiasm to work and reported “puppy breath wafting” from the floor of the show while watching the groups. Her practical tips for living in sub-zero weather with dogs is to make sure they have boots, coats and possibly even an outdoor heat lamp for a place to potty when the weather is extreme. Take a listen to her stories of weather change extremes in the Yukon, which disrupt and even kill hibernating animals. Westminster was a “happy hunting ground” for podcast topics this year and we’re happy to share our discoveries with you.

#takebackourstory: how YOU Can Help the Fight for Breeders' Rights AKC Vice President of Government Relations Sheila Goffe shares details about the Political Action Committee. This fund, administered by AKC, is another tool helping breeders #takebackourstory. "We are constantly fighting bad legislation," Goffe said. "One of the things we can do that is the best short cut is make sure the folks who get elected understand us. The PAC provides campaign contributions to people running for office. Our Board looks at candidates who are already in office, people in position to make a difference. People who have worked with us in the past, we want to be sure they get re-elected." The AKC PAC makes contributions through YOU, Goffe said. "This is your dollars, but we work with local clubs to invite local people in specific district to deliver the donation. The enables us to develop relationships in the local community with local legislators." The reality of money in politics, Goffe noted, is it's not a quid pro quo. "But when you hand them a check and they know who’s contributing, it gives you an opportunity to be heard. Then it’s up to us. We are the subject matter experts. Many groups writing breeder laws have no experience breeding dogs. We are the experts." #takebackourstory Regulation vs legislation AKCGR is currently tracking more than 1500 bills nationwide. One of the hotspots of contention is in Ohio. "There’s a lot of confusion about what’s going on in Ohio," Goffe said. "Definitions impacting hobby breeders have not changed. We are working with them directly, with the director of Ohio legislature, to ensure that the correct intent of the laws and regulations are adhered to." In a shorthand version of the legislative process, Goffe noted that once a bill passes and becomes law, administrators create regulations that implement the law. The people who are determining how the Ohio law is to be implemented are misinterpreting the regulation. There are a whole lot of reasons that legislation and definitions matter, Goffe said. Proposed legislation needs to be reviewed because even though it may not impact breeders today, the question remains how easy would it be for it to have impact in the future. "It may not apply to you until it’s “misinterpreted”… the intent of legislators is one thing, then it goes to how is it implemented. The application of the statute can be a problem," Goffe said. It matters. Pay attention. 98% of success is showing up. https://www.akc.org/clubs-delegates/government-relations/toolbox/ https://www.akc.org/clubs-delegates/government-relations/federations/

Carlos Puig: All About Dachshunds and Getting in a Dog’s Head Handler Carlos Puig and Longhaired Dachshund, Burns, Hound group winner at the 2019 Westminster Kennel Club. Anyone who watched the joy with which the Longhaired Dachshund, Burns, showed at Westminster Kennel Club last week, or loves Dachshunds in general, will appreciate this talk with handler Carlos Puig. A Dachshund fancier, breeder and handler for 45 years, Puig brings out the pure spirit in each of his charges. How and why this “jazz pianist” of dog handlers does this is an amazing story. His encyclopedic knowledge of the Dachshund breed is equally impressive. “(Dachshunds) are almost like an accordion,” Puig said. “They are very flexible because they had to be able to get in the badger den, maneuver underground and then back out.” Dual Champion Does it All In fact Burns, GCHP DC WALMAR-SOLO'S OMG SL JE, is believed to be the first dual champion of any breed to win a group at Westminster Kennel Club. Puig is proud that Burns has been successful in both field trials and earth dog events, proving that great show dogs can still do the work for which they were bred. While Standard and Miniature Dachshunds have the same breed standard, Puig notes there are distinct differences between the varieties of coats and sizes. Smooths are the guard dogs, Longs are the snugglers and Wires will make you laugh, he said. And while Standards were bred for hunting badger, Minis are more about speed and were bred specifically for hunting rabbits and flushing deer. “Back in the day (as the breed was developed in the 1800s) the best wires were standard longhairs bred to Dandie Dinmonts,” Puig said. “Which is why you still see lighter color hair on the heads of some Wire Dachshunds.” Dog Handler as "Jazz Pianist" Puig began his journey as a shy 11-year-old, house sitting for a neighbor who owned and showed Great Danes and later Dachshunds. He helped socialize puppies and groomed dogs for the owners while they were at shows because his parents were very protective and wouldn’t let him travel out of state. “I learned to communicate with dogs before I learned to communicate with people,” Puig said. “I am grateful to the dogs…. they literally saved my life. I feed off the dog’s personality. You gotta get in their heads. I hate the robot dogs. There are never two dogs that are exactly alike. If you can’t pick up on that, you’ll get nowhere. I’m fortunate I started with Dachshunds, because I had to convince them they were doing what they wanted to do, not what I was making them do.”

Flying the Not so Friendly Skies with Dogs PLUS Woof by WoofWest Sheila Goffe, AKC Vice President of Government Relations, shares what she’s learned from the airlines about flying with dogs, what her team is doing to help the purebred dog fancy and what we can do to help. March 1 is the date Delta will stop flying dogs in crates larger than a 300 size. Goffe said her office has been developing relationships to be able reach out to airlines and have a voice in the conversation. “Really think about what it is we can do to concisely explain to (the airlines) about our experience flying dogs. Their concerns are liability. We need to think like the airlines,” Goffe said. “Sharing YOUR experiences with us and with the airlines is invaluable.” Goffe noted that her concerns about United Airlines are regarding breed specific limits. “American Humane Association provided these guidelines. We’re trying to work with the airline and provide them with the science,” Goffe said. “We can’t make (the airlines) ship our dogs. Our choice is to be a good partner and help them.” Fake Service Dogs – Just Say No Flying “not your service dog” is hurting all of us, Goffe said by taking away the credibility of legitimate service dogs. “When we go in there committing fraud, we are hurting ourselves. It’s understandable why. I’ve shared with airline groups that the more they restrict cargo the more they provide incentive to commit fraud,” Goffe said. “But, if you ever think about putting a vest on a show dog to get it where it’s going, remember you can potentially be putting a person who legitimately needs that help through a very traumatic experience.” WxWW Stick around for a special guest appearance from David Frei discussing Woof by WoofWest, presented by Seattle Kennel Club. This innovative approach to bringing the public to purebred dogs includes “My Dog Can Do That,” as well as a booth with PureDogTalk friend Debra Hamilton on estate planning with your pets, a Veterinarian who can answer general questions, Meet the Breeds and more.

Will Alexander on Grooming, Handling and Heroes Will Alexander winning BOB in Gordon Setters at Westminster Kennel Club this week. Canadian dog handling legend, Will Alexander, shares his memories, his handling tips and grooming tools that have brought him significant success in the last 25 years. “My heroes were people like George Alston,” Alexander said. “He basically taught me to trim Irish Setters over the phone.” “I always wanted to be a handler, but before embarking on a handling career I worked for Garry MacDonald in Canada, and for Bobby Stebbins in the States,” Alexander said. Carving the picture Will Alexander grew up with Irish Setters and learned from George Alston, over the phone, how to trim them. Grooming is not a recipe, Alexander noted. Every dog is different. Famous for his meticulous grooming of setters particularly, Alexander describes a process to “build a shell around the dog” when trimming the back coat. He works with a stripping knife, his fingers, a grooming stone and, the most important piece, a bristle brush to bring up the oils in the coat. Attention to detail “I hate it when I hear “Oh, they won because they are so and so… well, they didn’t just grow up and they were so and so… they had to work hard to become so and so,” Alexander said. “It’s hard work. For every 15 minutes of fame there are 23 hrs 45 minutes working on your dog. It’s not age, it’s mileage.” Tips of the trade * Think in slow motion. In real time you’re doing exactly the right speed. “When Miss P won the group at the Garden, George Alston called and yelled at me that I had gone too fast on the down and back. It was terrifying!” * Attention to detail. “I like to sit and watch the ring, pretend I’m in there already, making my mistakes in my head so I don’t make them in the ring.” * “Old fashioned” isn’t bad “I have a mind’s eye picture of the dogs. So much of type is in how they move, how they carry themselves,” Alexander said. “We need to be preserving the breeds not ‘improving’ them.” Dream Best in Show Lineup * English Springer Spaniel Ch. Salilyn's Condor * Borzoi Ch. Kishniga's Desert Song * Doberman Pinscher Ch. Brunswig's Cryptonite * Wire Fox Terrer ch galsul excellence * Pekingese Ch. Wendessa Crown Prince * Standard Poodle Ch. Rimskittle Ruffian * German Shepherd Dog Ch Altana's Mystique BIS to Robert the Springer For more information, videos, the book and more, visit http://www.doghandlingtips.com/

AKC Doubles Your Cancer Research Dollars More than 50 percent of dogs over 10 years old will be diagnosed with cancer. Dr. Diane Brown from AKC Canine Health Foundation wants to change that statistic. AKC has pledged $250,000 in matching funds this year toward research into prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of all cancers in dogs. This enables individuals and clubs who donate to the matching fund to literally double the impact of every dollar. Age is not a disease “Age is not a disease,” Brown said. “There are quality of life issues to consider, but I believe we can get to a point of treating older dogs.” Since people and dogs are affected by the same types of cancers, much of the research being done can be applied in what Brown describes as comparative oncology. Prevention and Detection In the prevention category, some cancer vaccines are a reality today and more are being studied. A melanoma vaccine is on the market now, Brown said. Early detection of cancer saves lives in dogs and in people. Current research is looking at markers circulating in the dog’s system identified in blood samples that indicate increased risk for a specific disease. Investing in personalized medicine is the wave of the future, Brown said. Using immunotherapy that is individualized for each dog is a very real possibility. She added that within five years many of these options will be realistically available. Visit the AKCCHF crew on the west coast at the Beverly Hills Dog Show March 2-3. Brown encouraged visitors to share their stories and their questions. Visit the AKCCHF website to learn more. And listen to past episodes with Brown to hear details on some of the research studies being conducted, particularly regarding epigenetics and hemangiosarcoma.  

Special: Allison & Laura Handicap the Line Up at Westminster Kennel Club Special edition!! Allison & Laura jam on the Westminster Kennel Club show, the fabulous contenders and who may or may not rise to the top of the pack. Las Vegas oddsmakers have occasionally offered up a “line” on the Garden. But those are not Dog Show Divas! Pure Dog Talk brings you two of the sport’s long-time observers with input on who stands a good chance in the green carpet final seven line up this year. Whiskey the Whippet and King the Wire Fox Terrier are high on the list of the potential winners. The Havanese, Bono, is peaking at the right time but could be pushed by Treasure, the Papillion. The Border Collie, Slick and the new German Shepherd Dog, Tony, are set to duke it out in the herding group. A surprise appearance from Elsa the Old English Sheepdog could upset that applecart. Breed judging on Tuesday will make or break a lot of the group judging. Will Bean the Sussex Spaniel who won the group last year come back and play in BIS again? Or will the brand new English Setter, Penny, come on strong? Sporting is in play! Working group is being judged by Jimmy Moses. Questions about what Doberman will get to the group and what Boxer will win the breed have a lot to do with which dog could win the group. Once again, up in the air. Allison says, “Jimmy Moses will pick a solid dog, but what’s he gonna get to work with?” Jim Reynolds to Christine Erickson to Peter Green. Is this the fairy tale line up for King and Gabriel? Allison is going all Ws…. She’s putting her line up as BIS to the Wire Fox Terrier and RBIS to the Whippet. Laura has her heart and her money, long odds, on the Wire Fox Terrier and the Havanese as RBIS. Check out the Dog Show Divas with the best line on the best in show line up at Westminster Kennel Club on Pure Dog Talk! Vegas got nothin’ on us, baby!

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction is More Than Old Age Dr. Marty Greer, DVM is back with this month’s Veterinary Voice topic, Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. Canine Cognitive Dysfunction/Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome: (CDS) is a neurobehavioral disorder affecting geriatric dogs and cats that is characterized by an age-related decline in cognitive abilities sufficient to affect functioning, with behavior changes that are not attributable to other medical conditions. Signs of Dog Dementia To look out for canine cognitive dysfunction, remember to check your dog's "DISH": * Disorientation * Paces * Wanders aimlessly * Becomes stuck on the wrong side of the door or behind furniture * Staring at walls or into space * Seems lost in the yard or forgets the purpose of going outside * Forgets where the water and food bowls and doors are * Fails to recognize familiar people or dogs * Reduced responsiveness to name or verbal commands * Abnormal response – increased or decreased – to familiar objects * Difficulty learning new tasks * Difficulty performing previously learned task * Loss of interest in food * Repetitive behaviors * Interaction with Family Members * Seeks less attention (petting, belly rubs, play) * Less enthusiastic to greet people or other pets in the home * No longer greets family upon arriving home * Fails to respond to verbal cues * Increased irritability and/or aggression with family and pets * Changes in exploratory behavior * Intolerant of being left alone * Sleep and Activity * Sleeps more hours per day, especially during the daytime * Sleeps less throughout the night * Reduced daily activity * Lack of interest in his surroundings * Restlessness, pacing, wandering or circling at sunset (sundowning) * Vocalization at night (barking or howling) * House Training * Urinates or defecates indoors * Urinates or defecates indoors soon after having been outside * Failure to indicate need to go outside * Accidents occur in front of his owners * Elimination at uncommon outdoor locations such as on concrete Cause The neuroanatomic pathology in dogs and cats shares some characteristics with human Alzheimer’s disease, specifically β-amyloid accumulation, tau phosphorylation and neuronal loss in the frontal cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus. Managing Canine Cognitive Dysfunction * Purina Neurocare/Bright Minds * Hills B/D * Royal canin * Addition of antioxidants (Vitamin C and E) for cellular-level health and medium-chain triglycerides for cognitive improvement. L-Carnitine for muscle mass. * Phosphatidylserine, Apoaequorin and S-Adenosyl-l-Methionine (SAME) * Anipryl/selegeline - Is a selective monoamine oxidase -B inhibitor, which could enhance catecholamine neuron activity and increases dopamine levels in dogs. * DHA * Avoid unnecessary vaccines * Skip pharmaceuticals when possible * Reduce stress including changes in their routine and environment * Potty pads, confinement, outside more often * Pet-proof the house * Social interaction and mental engagement/ environmental enrichment * Keep the day/night cycles regular with sunlight * Walking/exercise/stroller if needed * Situational anti-anxiety drugs – trazodone and gabapentin

"Judges Were Not Hatched From an Egg" Regina Kennel Club judging panel on Ugly Sweater Day. Host Laura Reeves moderates an international judges panel discussion at the Regina Kennel Club in Saskatchewan, Canada. The panel includes Lee Anne Bateman, Saskatchewan, Linda Buckley, Australia and Tabatha Buckley-Bettis, United States. The panel discussed their views on how to “mentor the future” of purebred dogs. Bateman noted that it’s important for judges to remember “how much fun it is to have dogs in your life” and to be proud of ones dogs, “that’s how everyone feels coming in your ring.” “Just because I don’t put your dog up today, it doesn’t mean I don’t like YOU,” Buckley said. “On the day, I preferred someone else’s dog, but I’d still like you to come out and have a drink with me.” Everyone Wins a Prize? Tabatha Buckley-Bettis observed that “giving everyone a ribbon” isn’t necessarily improving the sport. “Unlike where most people think everyone should get a prize, how I excel is people telling me what I did wrong, then trying to improve and get better,” Buckley-Bettis said. “When the people who have been in the breeds come and correct you, it’s a good thing.” The judges all offered important advice for everyone in the sport. These suggestions are consistent and recurring themes. Watch and Learn “Stay at the dog show all weekend,” Bateman said. “Go watch. Watch handlers. Watch and learn. It’s hard to get better if you don’t immerse yourself in it. Don’t just watch your own breed. Watch people in grooming area. Video your performance and watch it critically. Give new people in your breed a hand and be NICE to them.” Buckley reminisced about the old-time English Cocker breeder who helped her when she was new. He groomed one side of the dog and told her “Do the other side to match.” This was a very common learning method and is still employed by many of us today. “If you want help, come and ask us,” Buckley-Bettis said. “We can’t come and find you because we don’t know what you need. Don’t be intimidated.” “Seriously people, we’re not curing cancer here,” Buckley-Bettis observed. “This is something we should all be enjoying, but we can’t all win.”

Mari-Beth O’Neill: "Guardian of the Galaxy" American Kennel Club Vice President of Sport Services, Mari-Beth O’Neill, is the walking, talking institutional memory of the organization. One of the longest serving current staff members, O’Neill is also a second-generation AKC employee. Her father was Executive Vice President of the organization and show chair of the AKC Centennial Show. “I attended dog shows in utero,” O’Neill said. “My parents had Dobermans, but the rule was I had to have a dog I could pick up and carry out of a situation. That led to Manchester terriers.” O’Neill owned and showed the top winning Toy Manchester Terrier of the time period, winning the toy group brace at the Garden in 1968 and the toy group in 1969 with Ch. Renreh Lorelei of Charmara. No Gypsy Caravan Her parents insisted she couldn’t “just be a gypsy,” so she went to college and worked as a classroom teacher, along with working as an assistant for then-handler (Theresa) Terry Hundt. “It was held over my head when I was growing up, if I didn’t maintain my grades, I didn’t play,” O’Neill said. That upbringing is what shapes the requirements of today’s Junior Showmanship contestants at AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin. In December, 160 juniors, the largest entry at the show, competed for Best Junior. All of them had won first place in an open class at least five times and maintained a 3.0 GPA during the year. The winner of the competition, Claire Ctibor, was interviewed on PureDogTalk last year. Chipping Away at the Iceberg Juniors have always been a passion for O’Neill. As she moved through the ranks and roles at AKC, she eventually wound up in a position to make a difference. In 1995 she helped establish the national junior organization for AKC. Since then she has continued to work to support the youth and future of the sport. “Judging juniors is the hardest thing you will ever judge,” O’Neill said. "It’s a subjective sport. And it’s hard for new people to understand how subjective it is.” An expanded coordination with 4H clubs, Junior showcase events, Junior scholarship programs and more are all the direct result of O’Neill’s passion for the program. “I have this ice pick and there’s this big iceberg out there… I just keep chipping away at it…” “We need to wake up and smell the coffee,” O’Neill said. “This ain’t my father’s AKC anymore. We have a lot more events, a whole different society to address. In many cases people love dogs but they’ve never been around them." “The greatest joy for me is meeting these young people, seeing how wonderful they are. What great careers they are pursuing, how they are maintaining their passion and involvement with dogs.