Food Survey

There's a new food survey posted to Show Dals as well as to the DCA Members List.  If you belong to either list, please take a moment to respond.  There are only three questions that need to be answered, although extra details are always welcomed.

The surveys have been done twice in the past and the results were quite interesting.  With so many new products on the market, and so much more positive information available on raw diets, I thought it was time for a new survey as I still get requests for the old ones.

You can access the previous surveys at:

2005 Dalmatian Food Survey

2008 Dalmatian Food Survey

My goal is to get at least 100 responses.  I started with the Dal lists again because people who breed and show (conformation and/or performance) are more likely to put some thought into feeding their dogs properly.  Too many pet owners buy the cheapest thing on the market, or the most heavily advertised, and are not aware of such things as good coat, proper body condition, or even appropriate stool volume.  (Better foods may require only 2 or 3 cups to keep your dog in good condition, while cheaper foods made with lower quality ingredients may take many more cups of food to provide sufficient nutrition to maintain an active dog.)  I'm asking for both Brand and Variety since many dog food companies manufacture both low end and high end products.

The survey may be posted to Facebook later, depending on the response.  If you are an enlightened and educated Dal owner but do not belong to either list or Facebook, you can still respond.  Just let me know.

Absolutely Nothing In Mind

Although I normally have a topic in mind when I start a blog post, today I have absolutely nothing in mind.  Nothing I feel strongly enough to rant about - except perhaps how the cost of everything has gone up, but my salary has stayed the same.  Why is that?

There was a time when being a state employee was a good thing.  Adequate pay, good benefits, job security.  Pay has not kept pace with the cost of living (and in fact we have had only two very small raises in the past ten years), our benefits become a little "less good" with each new contract, and as we have discovered there really IS no job security.  Now "they" are talking about changing the way we do our sick leave.  Many people "tough it out" when they are sick, allowing their sick leave to accrue so they will have it for a real emergency, or so they can take away some cash (or add it to their health care savings account) when they retire.  Now that may be changed too, as it "costs the state money".  Well, Duh - it does cost the state money to have employees.  One gets tired of being the proverbial whipping boy.

On the other hand, I AM lucky to have a job, even though I do two jobs for the price of one - with no increase in salary, I might add.  But I am not alone in that.  It will be interesting to see how things go if anyone gets sick, or even if anyone takes a long vacation.

Oh, enough grousing.  I don't feel very strongly about that either.  Guess I'll just continue to do my job and keep my head down - and pray that I can afford to continue to live in my house for a few more years.   

A Most Successful Weekend

Gimme that cheeseburger!

A great weekend, just far too short.  Now it's snowing hard on top of ice - wish this was another holiday Monday!  It's going to be hard to work 5-day weeks after all the short ones.

Argus got to celebrate with a cheeseburger yesterday because his lovely daughters all did so well at the shows.  We started with a long off-leash run in Hidden Falls Park.  Very few people there yesterday, and the only dogs we saw were far down the beach or at the Dog Park across the river.  The Mississippi is trying to freeze over - finally.

We stopped at Burger King on the way home and bought a Whopper Junior With Cheese.  We tried a begging picture but Argus was a little frantic and this is the best shot we got, so we also used it for practicing a Down Stay.  Oh my, the looks he gave me while laying there looking longingly at the burger!  Dog abuse, he said.

Letty also got a nice off lead run in the big field behind St. Thomas.  So far no one has come out to yell at me for running my dog there, so we will continue to enjoy it on Sunday afternoons.  She's been very good off lead and traffic is light, so it's been a lot of fun for both of us.  She's discovered the joy of carrying sticks and actually chased a few, but will never be a natural retriever - what's the point, she says.  I got some excellent free standing shots of her too.   Absolutely love the way she looks, other than the way she carries her tail, but we'll see how it looks after she's been in season.  Still hoping for improvement, but . . .

Although I was disappointed that I could not be there to see it happen, Argus's daugher Nena finished her championship yesterday, handled the whole way by our friend Stephanie.  She and Nena have become an excellent team.  Nena is from the litter in Texas sired by Argus, and I was the one who suggested that Stephanie buy her, so am particularly pleased that they finished with a very nice record including a Specialty major.

Out in Oregon, Argie's daughter Tia finished her Grand Championship in a very few shows and mostly on Specialty weekends.  Her owner Jen had major surgery just two weeks ago, so that made it even more amazing!  Tia is from the repeat of the litter that I lost several years ago, so am particularly pleased to see her do so well.  She's an older sister to Baby Bella who recently finished her Championship from the Puppy Class with  4 majors.

Puppy Weather (Letty's sister) earned her first point on Sunday, and Pauli won two Bests Of Breed and a Group Two.  Altogether an excellent weekend, while WE stayed home.

On the fishy front I spent a lot of time working on my tanks.  Fish club auction next week and I need to have a couple of tanks ready for new fish, if I purchase any.  Hahaha. IF I purchase any.   I was delighted to see new babies in the tank with the Phallythys fairweatheri, handsome unusual wild livebearers.  This is the first time they have spawned, but with 2 males and 6 females, I hope to see more babies in there soon.  We shall see if the parents eat them, or if it's safe to leave the fry in with the adults. 

Top Twenty - Show Or Not

Received Argus's Top Twenty invitation last week, the 4th time he has been invited.  The Top Twenty is held with the National, this year in Tulsa, and the Top 20 Dalmatians in breed/all breed competition are invited to compete.  It's a big deal to many, everyone in formal dress, and the dogs all have appropriate music played during their performances.  The dogs come out as a group, then individually, and are judged by a Group of three "judges" whose names are kept secret until the event.  Spectators buy tickets to the event, and the competing dogs have their cheering sections.  Drinks and snacks are served and everyone has a good time.  Most of the dogs enjoy it, although some are intimidated by the non-show atmosphere.

Top Twenty is a big deal to many exhibitors and being invited to compete is often the goal of those who campaign their already-champion Dals during the previous year.

Me?  Not so much.  Because the judges judge to a score sheet rather than just judging the overall dog, the results are sometimes a bit odd.  I've heard many judges say that they ended up giving the highest score to a dog they don't particularly like - which is one of the reasons AKC does not want standards to contain point schedules - but the Dal standard still has one and it is used for Top Twenty judging.

The biggest problem is no accountability.  If a particular judge really likes a dog (or it's handlers or owners) it's really easy to "fix" the judging.  Because the winner is based on an "average" of the three scoring results, all a judge has to do is score two dogs very low, and give the dog they want to win the maximum number of points, and it can easily affect the results.  And it obviously happens.  The person compiling the score is a non-dog person, and no one ever gets to see the ballots.  If the individual scoring was made available (even without any judge names) it would be a lot fairer.  A handler friend of mine who has judged a number of these events in other breeds mentioned that as an option to make things more fair.

I've competed with Argus for the past three years - well actually, Jess showed him the year I had a broken ankle.  It can be an expensive proposition if you have to go out and buy a new outfit you may never wear again, and can be exhausting.  It is also very nerve wracking, not like a real dog show.  

I'd sort of hoped that Argus would NOT qualify for this year as I did not want to have to make the decision on whether or not to show.  He was only shown for a couple of months, but winning a big Specialty BoB pushed him over the top in breed points.

Will I show again? Probably not, but we'll see. Argus is going to compete in the breed ring and the stud dog class, and that's probably enough.

Time For A Change

Went to visit Twin Cities Obedience Club last night to check out the classes and talk with the trainers. I've decided that I'm ready to make a change in where and how I train Argus, and need to find a place to start Letty in Basic Obedience.  Am just not happy with the class Argus is in, and I KNOW the methods used by that trainer will NOT work for emotional Letty.  Argus is starting to show signs of stress and I want to switch to a more positive training method for him.  I prefer to train with treats and a lot of praise, and find almost everything easier to teach with rewards.  Training a dog by correcting mistakes (a traditional method) can work OK, but positive training shapes behaviors. Letty's puppy class used the latter and she responded very well to that method, so I would like to continue with that. 

Argus is a bit soft and quite emotional and doesn't respond well to physical corrections, and there are so many other ways to teach things.  Because he's such a happy dog, and because I particularly love that part of his personality, I want to be sure he doesn't lose that.  It's time to take a step back, re-evaluate techniques, and try a different path with him.  We've been a team for a long time and I want us to continue being a team.  And I want him to have fun.

Met with the Training Director, explained my goals and my concerns, and she will test Argus on Tuesday to determine an appropriate class for him.   They have many different levels of training, which is a nice change from where I am training now.   There are a number of school in this area that use the positive training methods, but TCOTC has been using them for many years.  

I'd like to get back into serious obedience work, since that was where I started.  I've trained at a number of schools, using a variety of methods over the years, and just need to find the right school that uses techniques that are a good fit for me and for my dogs.

Puppy Inquiries

Need to sit down and do a Puppy Page for the (planned) upcoming litters.  Lucy definitely and Pauli possibly.  Have not even put together pedigrees yet.  There have been several inquiries the last few days and I need a link for puppy information.  Gone is the day when I put together a Puppy Pack of information and MAILED it out.  How times have changed.  Back when Dals were so popular, I sent out a number of packs every week.  And speaking of pups, "Crystal's" litter by "Bennett" (one of the 5 champions from the Argus/Boji litter) is due this week.  I'm taking a stud fee puppy, so am anxiously awaiting their arrival.

Two stud inquiries for Argus as well, both from people who have been considering him and now need to make up their minds.  It actually amazes me that he has not been used more than he has - and I am even more amazed at the odd criteria some people use when deciding how to breed their bitches.  Argus is a an extremely good sire - and I'm saying that as his owner, not his breeder. (Wish I had bred him too, but at least I was smart enough to buy this awesome dog!)  I'm exceptionally proud of the quality of his offspring and how well they have done in the ring.  Just got word that his daughter "Tia" became Argus's 6th Grand Champion offspring (he has 17 Champion kids already and another who needs just 1 more point), and she finished it in just a couple of weekends of showing, mostly with Specialty and Specialty weekend wins.  Cheeseburgers for all - our dog show tradition when Argus was being campaigned - we now do that when his kids have particularly nice wins.

Just got Argus's invitation for the Top Twenty, his 4th year of qualifying, but I don't think we'll show in it this year as I would rather be in the audience and cheering for his daughter Pauli this year,  Argus will be entered in breed competition at the National, with no expectations.  He's had a wonderful run, with a Best of Breed and 3 Awards of Merit in the past 4 years, PLUS winning the Stud Dog Class for 3 years in a row.  Good dog, Argie.

Picked up two new species of fish last weekend, bred locally.  Pelvicachromis taeniatus "Moliwe" and Hillstream Loaches (gotta get their scientific name memorized!).  That required some fish relocation and the little Characodon audax "Black Prince" got moved to a smaller tank so the P. taeniatus could have the 20L planted tank.  All seem to be doing well.  Am also waiting for the Limia nigrofasciata to be shipped from Colorado, but not until the weather warms up a bit.  They'll come Express Mail overnight and be picked up at the PO, but no point in taking any chances with fish I have been wanting for a long time.

Really enjoying my iPhone as I check out the Apps.  Too bad there are not Apps for dog walking and house cleaning!

The New Middle-Age

Several readers took offense at the the title of yesterday's blog, and assured me that we are NOT old ladies.  Of course we aren't old as in OLD, but for much of my previous life I would have considered this age to be "old-ish".  Certainly being old enough to retire was once considered old, and I have met many people younger than me who looked and acted OLD.

Am I actually old?  Nope, I am not really ready to be categorized as old, and in fact think I am probably middle-aged, the new middle-aged.  I can still do most of the things I once did, though perhaps a bit more slowly now, and I know I am not as strong as I once was.  But I can still carry 40# boxes of chicken backs down the basement stairs which is one of the little tests I set for myself.  I can still carry and empty the 5 gallon buckets of water when I siphon fish tanks - though probably should stop doing that.  I can still run with a Dalmatian of course, no small feat, but I "feel" these things now, and I automatically grab the jar opener instead of trying to open jars by hand.

My weight is the same as it was 40 years ago, and I still wear the same size clothes, but it's distributed a little differently and I have to eat a bit more carefully to stay at this weight.  I AM more tired at the end of a tough work day and have a bit more trouble dragging myself out of bed at the crack of dawn.

I've always been forgetful, so that's not much different, although I can't spout off pedigrees as well as I once did, but I continue to challenge myself with electronic gadgets to keep my mind agile.  My eyes and ears are showing their age a bit, but they still work OK.  How lucky I am!

When I have a doctor's appointment I'm always pleased to be able to say that I take no medications other than my eye drops and the nurses invariably comment on how fortunate I am.  And I am!  Part of it is because I take care of myself, watch my weight and get lots of exercise, but part of it is being born with pretty good genes.

Age is partly a state of mind and I do not FEEL old.  I feel just like I always did, so the aging is mostly on the outside.  We'll put off the old lady stuff for a few more years I guess - at least until I can afford to retire!   

Old Ladies Need Toys Too

This is truly "The Winter Of The Toy" for me.  Three wonderful new toys to get me through the winter.  None of them essential, but all of them quite enjoyable.   First was the new camera, the Nikon L120 which has a terrific zoom lens, something I have always wanted for taking outdoor pictures.  Because my old camera was dying, or rather was wearing out, this was a justifiable acquisition.  I take LOTS of pictures, and red eye is often a problem when taking shots of liver-spotted Dals using a flash.  It's a bit less of a problem with this camera, though not by any means perfect.  The camera was a Christmas gift from Ron, and he gave it to me before Christmas because HE was interested too.

For Christmas I got my Keurig coffee maker which we are both enjoying.  My old coffee maker still works, but it now lives on the top shelf in the kitchen closet and plays "back up".  Of course I am drinking more coffee now, partially because it is so GOOD, and partially because it's fun to sample the different K-cup flavors.  I love this toy, especially in the morning.  It certainly lives up to it's billing.  I don't drink flavored coffee, but will probably buy some of the teas that are available, and will definitely use it for iced tea in the summer.

And yesterday my first smart phone arrived, my iPhone 4S.  Such fun!   I've wanted a smart phone for a very long time, and often feel as if I am the last person on earth still using a regular cell phone.  My cell phone contract was up last summer, but the contract for my little modem (used on my Netbook) is not up until next month, and I did not want to spend much more than my current monthly bill.  Assuming my data package is sufficient for my needs, this should work out about right, and for approximately the same amount of money.

The learning curve seemed a bit steep when I first tried to set up my phone, and I was overwhelmed at first.  Set up never goes quite like the instructions say it will, but I got through that. First I had to update iTunes, which I normally only use for downloading books to my iPod Nano, and read about QWERTY keyboards since I hadn't a clue how to do capital letters.  My hands seem enormously huge and clumsy when I am typing on my phone, and I miss the "real" keyboard on my old phone, but practice should make the difference.  Today I need to download the instruction manual - something like 165 pages - argh.  Hope there is a way to make the font size larger on my email, or I'll probably go blind trying to read the messages!

The most impressive part of the phone (to me) is the camera.  First thing I did was take a picture of Argus, looking right at me.  No red eye!  Amazing!  The camera gets raves, and my first attempt to use it sure impressed me.  I was able to crop the picture and post it to Facebook without much difficulty.

The number of Apps was one of the reasons I went with an iPhone rather than a Droid, and perhaps also the fanaticism of iPhone users.  The only Apps I have downloaded so far are Angry Birds (which I have never played but which is apparently a Must Have), and Facebook.   I can check my email, find my messages, text, useFacebook, and take pictures.  A good start, I think.  Tonight I want to download one of the photo editing software Apps that is available for an iPhone.

Wonderful toys! 

Monday At Home

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." ~Martin Luther King Jr. 

This has never been more true than it is today, when it is almost trendy to hate other people, whether they be Blacks, Asians, Hispanics, Muslims, Christians, Jews, the unemployed, the poor, the rich, the educated, the uneducated, gays, the obese, the disabled, the mentally ill, alcoholics, the drug addicted, or anyone else that is not "just like us".  It is particularly ugly when political parties endorse these these feelings . . .

The dogs and I have had a lot of fun this weekend.  Letty has gone for two off lead runs and had such a good time racing in giant circles.  Yesterday she met a ball-crazy Chesapeake and ran with her after the tennis ball, but could not understand the appeal of picking up a slimy ball and bringing it back.  The fun was all in the chase.

We had ring time on Saturday, and after a good half hour of training, Argus and I went to the Dog Park.  It was packed when we arrived, but almost empty when we left and getting too dark.  Not sure I would want to be stranded in Rice Creek Park at dusk, as the trail back to the parking lot would be dark and deserted.

Yesterday Argus and I went down to Hidden Falls Park, the same place Laurie and I took Argus & Nikon swimming last summer.   The river is not frozen over, and there were only shelves of ice along the shore.  We watched a brave soul take off in his Kayak, and Argus decided that it must be OK for swimming, or at least walking on the ice shelves.  I convinced him to settle for wading (brrrr) and we had a lovely walk along the river bank.  Because the river is so low right now, we could walk a long way, on a beach that is normally underwater.  My camera battery died, so I missed a lot of potentially good shots, but we had a great time.   Because the park was practically empty, Argus was off lead most of the time.

Argus and I have explored a lot of new territory over the past 6 months, something I have enjoyed a great deal.  There's nothing like an enthusiastic dog to go walking with.  If it's too cold or I am short on time (or feeling lazy) we just walk the neighborhood, but if time allows there are so many adventures just waiting up ahead.

My iPhone is supposed to arrive today!  Hooray!

Designer Dogs - aka Expensive Mutts

Interesting article.

The person who created Labradoodles and is responsible for the Designer Dog boom, regrets it.

No More Phone Envy

Eewww, spent too much money yesterday.  A perm and cut are NOT inexpensive, but if done well are so very much worth it.  After years of budget perms and cuts I've been going to Denise for a year and am so satisfied with her work.  She's very careful and thorough and loves to cut hair.  Watching her work is like watching an artist, and she can do things with my hair that I never thought possible.  I'll be pretty curly for the first week until the perm relaxes a bit, but with a good cut too I can wear it that way with little extra work on my part.  After sleeping on rollers for 30 and using my curling brush for 20 years, it's nice to have some time off.  Especially when it looks so good.

Last night I finally ordered my iPhone!  After suffering Phone Envy for many years I am finally getting a smart phone, but am sure it will be smarter than I am, at least for awhile.   Gotta remember to read the instructions, but I suppose they are on-line rather than included in the shipping box.  Ah, remember the days of getting a manual with all electronics?  I wonder if anything comes with instructions now, or if Quick Start Guides are the norm?  What do people do that don't have computers?  

Falling Apart

Honest to gosh, there are some days when I feel as if I am falling apart!  Aging sucks, although I suppose that it beats the only actual alternative!  This morning I start with an eye pressure check with Dr. Blatt who I see almost as often as I see my mother!  My borderline glaucoma decided it was no longer under control, and no longer responds to the drops I have been using for years.  He's testing me with different drops to figure out the best alternative.  My extreme nearsightedness was resolved when I got corrective lens implants after cataract surgery, but the perfect vision I had then isn't quite as good anymore.  The AMD has also been "under control" for a long time, but that could change tomorrow.  Pigment Dispersion Syndrome adds to the fuzzy vision as well.  Am lucky to have a good health plan and an excellent specialist.

This afternoon I get a new perm for my thinning hair.  Thinning hair runs in my mother's side of the family - thanks, Mom!

Tomorrow I get fitted with a hearing aid in my left ear.  Unfortunately, that ear has two different kinds of deafness, and the nerve deafness can not be corrected with a hearing aid.  So my hearing will be slightly better in that ear, but probably not enough better to keep me from saying, "What?" so often.

And then I need to decide if I will drive the dogs out to Jess's for baths this weekend.  In the summer I can bathe them on the grooming table outdoors, but in the winter they have to stand over the floor drain in the basement and my back does NOT like that, and limits me to one dog bath per day. 

Although I've always taken good care of myself, watching my weight, getting plenty of exercise and eating sensibly (most of the time), there are some things that are beyond my control.  I'm fortunate that the only prescription drug I use is eye drops, and that my ankle break healed uneventfully, but there are some mornings when I feel particularly creaky.  Maybe another cup of coffee and a couple of Ibuprofen will do the trick!  And perhaps a visit to the Sports Med Doc for some exercise tips.  Am sure I can do better.

So Ready For Boredom

OK, I'm ready for some boredom around here!  No holidays, no extra dogs, no company, no places to go or things to do.  I just wanna go to work, come home, and spend peaceful evenings and weekends for awhile.  I'll get the house cleaned, do water changes in all the fish tanks, work on my website or blog, order my iPhone and learn to use it, and play with and train the dogs.  Maybe we will go out to eat a few times, but mostly I will just hang out at home!  And everyone needs to stay healthy!

But first, an eye appointment and perm tomorrow, an audiology appointment on Friday, and I really need to get the dogs bathed.  Because my back objects, I'll have to drive them out to Jess's or make an appointment at PetCo.   And Friday is Friday The 13th, which I hate.  Not exactly superstitious but that is NOT my favorite day.

I really just want to be bored for awhile.  I want to go to bed early, finish the book on my iPod and get a tank ready for the new Limia nigrofasciatus that I will order on Friday.  I've been looking for "Humpback Limias" for ages.  No dog shows for awhile which is fine.  We had fun last weekend, but I can go another 5 or 6 weeks without shows.

The Responsibility Of Dog Ownership

And that, my friends, says it all.

Although genetics is an important part of temperament, how dogs are raised can make such an enormous difference.  Owning a dog is a serious responsibility.  Even small dogs can do damage if they apply their teeth to inappropriate things - such as faces and fingers.

Dogs and puppies should NOT be added to the household unless you have the time and motivation to raise them properly.  Firmness, consistency, exercise, and training are absolutely essential.  Even the small things make a difference.

Although Eddie is a wonderful dog, inherited a terrific disposition, and is very well socialized, he is going home with a list of training suggestions.  Putting the time into training a young dog can make such a difference and make him so much easier to live with.  Little things like waiting at the door, sitting to have the leash put on, waiting in a crate until told it's OK to come out.  Sits and waits make dog ownership so much easier, and they remind the dog to pay attention.  The little things all add up! 

All Is Well

. . . but no time to post this AM.  Good weekend at the dog show, with Eddie going BoW both days, Nena WB both days (needs only a single point to finish) and Pauli going BoB both days with a Group placings on Saturday.  Everyone showed well and schmoozed with the public, so they did their doggy PR.  Rosie brought Weather along - she's Letty's sister, the other pretty liver bitch from the litter.  We were delighted with how she is looking right now - what a pretty girl!

Too Many Fishes?

Enantiopus sp "Kilesa"

Although the name of my blog is "Gone To The Dogs or Something's Fishy", the fish seem to get short changed here.  I need to remedy that!  I've been putting a lot of time and effort into the fish tanks for the past month, and everything is looking good.  If you maintain a tank (with gravel vacuuming and partial water changes) you almost never have to take down and redo a tank - unless you want to.  Maintenance is the key to keeping the work manageable too, and a regular schedule of water changes keep the fish and tank healthy.   Most of my tanks have at least floating plants, which also helps with water quality, but of course requires some lighting.  Many of my tanks have rooted plants although none of my tanks are as beautiful planted and maintained as those of the hobbyists who are into landscape gardening.  I don't have any high output lighting and I don't use CO2 in my tanks. 

Someone asked me at the fish club meeting last night how many tanks I had.  I wasn't exactly sure as I have tanks set up all over the basement, but only one upstairs in the kitchen.  Although I have a heated fishroom (so the tanks there don't require auxilary heating) many of the tanks have overflowed into the rest of the basement!  When I counted this morning I discovered that I had 46 tanks set up, although 2 do not yet have fish in them.  They range in size from the 2.5 gallon tank that houses the newest babies - the Haps whose mouthbrooder mother was recently removed to rejoin her fellows in a larger tank, to the 55 that contains a family of Thorichthys meeki (Firemouth Cichlids).  Several tanks have just one fish, as my my Puffer Edd, the surviving Ctenopoma, and the largest Purple Gudgeon live alone, and one of the Labidochromis caerulus "Yellow Lab" females is in a tank by herself with a mouthful of eggs or fry (see yesterday's post).    Most of the tanks hold breeding groups of fish I hope to spawn or family groups with adults and fry, while others hold "retired" fish that I have spawned or given up on.  Two tanks are "widow tanks" with a mixture of fish, often retirees.  I keep my fish as long as they are healthy, and have a lot of elderly fish still taking up tank space.  I consider them pets, although only the elderly Puffer Edd has a name.

The fish pictured above are amongst my favorites.  I am growing out three youngsters and was fortunate enough to obtain two more from their breeder last night, so I will have a nice colony.  Hopefully they will spawn for me.  More on them later.

Ranting On Rescue

Must be a snarly time of the year, but I have to admit that I am sure getting tired of all the Rescue Rhetoric.  Seems that is all I see & hear these days.  When a Facebook posting appeared about rescue dogs being "good enough" for George Clooney, thereby inferring that if they were good enough for HIM, certainly they should be good enough for ME, that was the final straw.    Good for George Clooney, and good for the Animal Rights people.  Isn't that just fine?  Let's all play right into their hands and eliminate purebred dogs (and eventually all companion dogs).  We should all give up our purebreds, and descend on the shelters to select a homely mutt from an unknown background, with unknown health and temperament issues.   If it's a puppy we will have no idea how it will grow up to look or act or what issues it might have.  We won't even know where it came from since Rescue Dogs are being shipping in from other countries because Rescues sell.  Yes, SELL.  And we will be better people because of that.   Yeah right.  As one person noted on Facebook, many people adopt shelter dogs because it makes them feel better about themselves.  Had never thought of it that way, but I think she is absolutely right.

As for me, I love looking at beautiful purebred dogs.  I love knowing how my pups will grow up to look and act.   I know that responsible breeders do the appropriate health testing on their breeding stock, select the parents with care, and raise and socialize the pups properly.  Many of us devote our lives to doing just that.

If you prefer shelter dogs, that is your right.  Those dogs need home too, but don't infer that I am somehow a bad person because I admire purebred dogs, and not just Dalmatians.  A beautiful, sound well-bred dog is a feast for my eyes.  A really good one still sends shivers up and down my spine.  My father used to call me a Dog Snob.  He was right!  I still am.

Me, A Snack Lady?

Most raw meat with ground up bone that comes in "chubs" has organ meat in it, hearts, liver, gizzards, (which are muscle, not organs). From what I've read, Dals are not to have organ meats. So, is it best to grind my own meat without the organs and also feed the raw pieces of meat on the bone, or occasionally give them organ meats? Also, can you say other kinds of meat that you give your dogs other than turkey and chicken? Thanks, Jen

Jen asks about organ meat for raw fed Dals.  Most "recipes" for home prepared raw diets, as well as most commercial raw diets contain a significant amount of organ meats.   Because organ meats are much higher in purines than most muscle meat, we tend to stay away from them when feeding Dalmatians.  Purines are the "bad guys" when it comes to urate stones, and are associated with an increased risk of stone or excessive urate crystal production.  Although the average Dalmatian will not become a urate stone former, the purines from organ meats are definitely a risk factor and one that is best avoided.  Because organ meats ARE nutritious, we substitute eggs with the perfect protein and no purines.  We purchase the chubs of plain ground turkey and use ground primarily for mixing with veggies and supplements.  Ground meat really isn't necessary otherwise as long you feed some poultry parts with a fair amount of meat (like thighs).  Most chicken parts come with a bit of organ meat attached and I do not remove that, but don't normally add organ meats.  Heart is NOT and organ meat, but rather a muscle meat, so I do feed some heart.

Met up with Lisen & Jerry last night to pick up Eddie for the shows this weekend.  Because Jerry's political views are very similar to my own, we had an excellent discussion on the Iowa Republican Caucus taking place that very day. 'Nuff said.    Also a rather nice meal at Perkins.  Don't laugh.  I generally like eating at Perkins and miss it when we are not doing dog shows.

Tonight I have to pick up supplies for my new job as "snack lady" for Minnesota Aquarium Society meetings.   A cooler full of soda and bottled water, and a box full of the unhealthy snacks that people insist on eating.  Don't suppose they would appreciate my selling snacks complete with a lecture on soda pop and junk food and it's relationship to obesity . . .

Still Ranting

My posting yesterday was certainly timely. Facebook contained terrible puppy pictures by someone who should know better - they certainly send the wrong message. Puppy pictures should show a puppy in a square stack, the way a dog would be stacked in the show ring. I firmly believe that Facebook can be educational - but sometimes newer people are getting a faulty education. Better no pictures than bad ones. If you can't get stacked shots, settle for cute "pet shots" of the dog sitting or playing or whatever. Same holds true with pictures used in breed magazines - if you got a bad picture of a nice win, do NOT use that picture. How hard is that? Advertise the win but use a picture from another show if you need to advertise something. A really good stack with a neutral background works perfectly. There is nothing to be gained by publishing a bad picture - and there is no point in embarrassing the judge who gave you that nice win.

And then, a forwarded posting about a Dal or Dal mix who needed a home. One posting suggested the dog was a Dal/Labrador cross. It was a white dog with no eye trim, and skin spotting, small ticky skin spotting with very few colored hairs. And a Pitt Bull head. No way was the dog either Dalmatian, a Labrador, or a combination there of. The speckles were NOT Dalmatian-related spotting. No way. Repeat after me "The presence of ticking does NOT mean the dog is a Dalmatian".

Tomorrow - answering a food related question.

Dog Shows, Fish Kids & Pet Peeves

Where did my weekend go?  Seems as if I was just anticipating the second of two 3-day weekends and now all I can see ahead of me is a busy 4-day work week.  Obedience class tonight, on Tuesday an evening trip to Owatonna to meet old friends Lisen & Jerry for dinner and pick up Puppy Eddie for the upcoming dog shows.  Fish club meeting on Thursday, and dog shows this weekend.  I'm not showing anyone this weekend, but most of the entry will be Argus kids, including Pauli.  I'm stewarding both days (see below), probably starting rings at 8:00 AM.  Dal judging is late both days, so hopefully my rings will be done in time to watch the Dals.  1900 dogs entered and only 6 Dals.  We obviously need more Dals and Dal exhibitors around here! 

Breed (conformation) judges often judge up to 175 dogs in a single day, and it's important to keep things running smoothly so they can stay on schedule.  25 dogs an hour plus time for pictures makes for a busy day.  Stewards give out the arm bands, get the exhibitors in and out of the ring, in their correct classes and in a timely fashion, put out the ribbons, mark their catalogs (but only the judge can mark the official Judges Book), move the tables in and out of the ring for examining small breeds, call for clean up if needed (especially in Cocker Spaniels for some reason), and answer exhibitor questions.  Some judges are great fun to steward for, while others are anything but.  My favorite judges on the panel happen to be the ones who are judging Dals and the Group, so unfortunately I can't steward for them this weekend.

New Years Resolutions this year included eating better and wasting less.  I already blew spending less time on Facebook!

As I was looking at puppy pictures posted to Facebook, I wondered if this might be a bad thing.  One would hope that if a well known breeder is posting puppy pictures, they would be good pictures.  Some are awful pictures of poor quality pups, but others are terrible pictures of what might actually be nice puppies.  Why would you post pictures where a puppy is standing out at the elbow with crooked front legs and cowhocks?  If you don't know what pups should look like, you shouldn't be posting pictures - actually, you should not even be breeding a litter.  Posting pictures of gross structural faults is anything but educational, and they encourage newcomers to assume that is perfectly OK.  It is in pets, but certainly not in show dogs.

That Pet Peeve is right up there with calling any mixed breed dog with freckles a Dalmatian cross, or worse yet a Dalmatian.  Dals are not speckled, they are spotted.  Purebred Dals have distinct spots, not fuzzy freckles.  They may have some small markings mixed in, but they are basically SPOTTED.   Dal crosses have smaller indistinct spots, but many other breeds can produce those same markings.  The small indistinct spots are found in many breeds and are called ticking.  A dog with ticking is not necessarily part Dalmatian.  It may be part Pointer, Springer, Cattledog/Kelpie/Blue Heeler, part Pitbull, Boxer, Beagle or Terrier.  Ticking is does NOT necessarily come from Dalmatians.

I finally took the female Haplochromis sp "Dayglow" out of the tank where she was living with her youngsters.  When frightened, she was still gathering them in her mouth for safekeeping (Haps are maternal mouthbrooders), but they were getting much too large for that and she could no longer close her mouth.  I was never quite sure how many there were, as even when some were out feeding, others were hiding out in the safety of her mouth.  On Saturday I caught her by surprise, dipped her out of the small tank, and put her back in with the other adults.  I was surprised to find 10 large robust fry, who are doing just fine without their mama.

Pleased with the success, I spent about two hours catching one of the female Labidochromis caerulis "Yellow Labs" who was also holding eggs/fry.  She was incredibly hard to catch and I had to take all the furnishing out of the tank to catch her, but now she's in a small tank by herself and will hopefully be successful too. 

Breed Specific Legislation

Please take a moment to read this interesting blog posting.  We ALL need to be aware of the issues involved here . . .

Pittbull Problems - OUR Breed Could Be Next

Worth Sharing!

A Mouthful Of What?

Baby fish?   Have had a lot of fun watching my female Haplochromis sp "Dayglow" tend her batch of fry.  These Haps are maternal mouthbrooders, which means that the female gathers up the freshly fertilized eggs in her mouth and keeps them there until the eggs hatch.  And beyond.  This is my first batch of Haps, so am not sure how long this behavior continues, but it's great fun to watch.  When I realized that the female had a mouthful of eggs (called "holding"), I netted her out and put her in a tank by herself.  One of the options is "stripping", forcing the female to spit out the eggs which are then hatched artificially, but I preferred to try it the natural way.  The fry have been coming out to feed for several weeks, but when the female thinks there is danger (such as when I siphon out the tank and add fresh water), she still gathers them up in her mouth for safekeeping.  They are so big now that she can't completely close her mouth when she is protecting them.  Too funny.  I suppose this weekend I will try to catch her when the fry are all out and feeding.  It's been great fun to watch, but I'm sure she will be pleased to get back in the much larger tank with her Cichlid peers.

One of my other Cichlid females is also holding, one of the Yellow Labs (Labidochromis caerulis), but I have been unable to catch that wretched fish.  I have a smaller tank set up for her and her family, so will have to take all the filters and rocks out of the big tank this weekend so I can catch her and move her out.

Yellow "Lab"

Fun with fish!

I Own Dogs & Occasionally Sell Puppies

Call me old fashioned, but I can't get used to the idea of being contacted about "adopting" a puppy and being asked about my "adoption fee".  Although we rarely have a litter, when we do I SELL the puppies to new OWNERS.  Not "pet guardians" or "pet parents".  Dogs are not little furry people in need of parents - they are dogs in need of responsible caring owners who will raise them to be confident, well-adjusted, well-mannered dogs.  I do not charge an "adoption fee" - that may be what you pay when you get a dog from the Humane Society or other rescue group, but when you BUY a puppy from a breeder you pay a Purchase Price.

I am very concerned about the goal of many Animal Rights groups to take away my right to own a dog or breed a litter of pups, and feel some of the current language plays into their hands.  If you doubt that, go back and look at my posting on the goals of PETA.

Retraining My Blogging

Three days without posting and I could not even remember my Blogger password.  Not sure why I find time to blog on workdays, but not on weekends!  Password taken care of now, but no time left to post.  Lot of happenings, lots of picture, no time.  Guess I'll have to concentrate on catch up this week! 

We had a wonderful Christmas weekend and everything ran smoothly except when the washer stopped working, but we got that fixed too for now.  Saw the whole family, at least the ones that still live in the area.  Dogs had a great Christmas as well, and got lots of extra attention.