Good Bye Cloud, Have A Great Life!

Watson is introducing himself to his daughter Cloud. She had seemed kind of depressed when she came home from Sedalia with us, and a comfy crate in the living room plus lots of walks didn't seem to cheer her up. Then it occurred to me that she had always lived with a houseful of dogs at Janey's and was lonely. I took her out to the dog yard with Watson, then added Argus to the mix, and Cloud was almost immediately her happy self again. Even though she loves people, she missed being with dogs.

Ken was scheduled to pick Cloud up at 5:00 PM and as I expected he was waiting in front of the house when I arrived. Ken has a liver boy from us, and has wanted a second dog for a long time. We think this should be a good match but told him that if for some reason Cloud did not work out, that she was to come right back to me. Cloud fits in well here, and I almost always have someone on my list looking for a good natured adoptable adult from a known background. I had assured Janey that if there were any problems, I would take responsibility for Cloud.

Although it's hard to place beloved adult dogs, when really good homes come along it's sometimes best to let one of the resident dogs go. There is a limit to how many dogs we can give proper time and attention to, and my feeling has always been that I OWE my dogs the best possible situation. Although I have had at many as 8 dogs at one time, I know that I really can't do a good job with more than 5, and that's only because Ron helps out. If I were a single person I would never try to keep more than 3, no matter how much room I had. My feeling has always been that if you do not not have time to do something with each individual dog every single day, then you have too many dogs.

As breeder-exhibitors, if we want to keep new dogs to show or breed, we may need to consider letting one the retired dogs go to a carefully selected home. Of course some of our dogs will stay forever, but not every dog can be our #1 favorite. I've placed quite a few adult dogs in the past with most satisfactory results, although it's a lot easier to make that decision before you get too attached (and sometimes that happens very quickly).

And no, Coral, Watson, Josie and Argus are NOT available!

Where Are The Pictures?

Well, most of them are still on my camera. Note to self, "Self, download pictures tonight!". Do need to take a new picture of Audrey, the giant cup plant, as she is now more than 8 feet tall and getting ready to flower - of course you would have to be at least 8 feet tall to actually appreciate those flowers! This picture is Victory, an Argus puppy who is being shown in Texas by Becky his novice owner. Got some real nice feedback on this pup and we're hoping that Becky stays committed to showing him. Sure is a pretty boy. He was my pick pup (from pictures) but unfortunately the breeder would not let him come up here, but that's another story.

Up early to walk Cloud who came home from Sedalia with Argus and me. She's a retired champion show dog who is going to a new home with a gentleman who has one of my dogs and was ready for a second dog. She's a Watson daughter, so is "family". Because she's had one litter and her breeder did not have plans to breed her again, this seemed a good solution for everyone. Cloud is very sweet and will love being one of two dogs rather than one of many. Hope I can get a picture of her with her dad before she leaves, as she is unmistakeably a Watson daughter!

Very nice weekend in Sedalia, even the weather. Warm and sunny, but not nearly as humid as I would have expected and the show buildings were air conditioned - actually a bit TOO cold! Argus was a knothead on Friday, as he figured out that his daughter Echo (needs two points to finish) was in season, and he tried to spot her while gaiting - tough to do a decent down and back while looking over your shoulder. Because the ring was WAY TOO SMALL it was not easy to deal with this, and Argus lost - and deserved to lose! Dogs will be dogs.

On Saturday he had his act together and showed quite well in breed. He got it together by Group and gave me a good performance, showing like he can and moving particularly well. Tough tough group full of handlers with excellent dogs, and the Standard Poodle bitch is standing season. (The handler was nice enough to let me know that at ringside - thanks Sharon! I've sure had great experiences with pro handlers this year - most are truly class acts, at least the genuine professionals.) Argus won the Group, his 20th Group One win. Good boy, Argus!

Had a great time outside the show ring too, and a nice dinner with Dal friends Donna, Kelly & Becky on Friday. Somehow we missed Kathy who I had hoped could join us too - hard to get the connections worked out sometimes. Janey arrived from Florida on Saturday afternoon, and must have brought us luck. It was nice to have one more person cheering ringside - thanks everyone! We enjoyed a nice dinner at Patricia's (how's that for a name for a Mexican restaurant?) and the fish tacos were really good. The Margarita was just as good as it had been the previous evening. While we were eating, Argus was cooling down in my motel room, so I retrieved him and we introduced him to Sugar. Wham! He was ready (he's always ready), she was ready too, and after very minimal introductions we they were bred. About as easy as it gets.

We did a repeat the following morning just as a precaution, and then we both headed for home, Cloud joining Argus and me for the trip home. Sunday judging was late, the judge was not really very good for us, the group was super tough, and I had a 10 hour trip and a bad weather forecast. Hit some scary storms in Kansas City and was fortunate to be able to exit the freeway safely and wait it out in a Denny's parking lot.

It was nice to see Hollie Scott and her parents, and to see Watson's brother Peter who finished his Rally title on Friday. Like Watson, Pete looks really good at 10. He's such a cool dog, and so much loved by Hollie and her family.

Ken comes to retrieve Cloud later today - she'llhave a great home and he'll have another wonderful Dalmatian. Hopefully his liver Coral son Magoo won't be too jealous if his new roomie!

On Reaching Retirement Age . . .

Happy Birthday to me, and a significant one it is. Today I am 62 years old! How can that be? I don't FEEL 62 years old, at least not most of the time. Mostly I feel just the way I've always felt. Guess I'm lucky that way, but I work at it too. This was my first birthday since joining Facebook, and it's kind of cool having dozens of on-line "friends" wish you Happy Birthday. Seems like a nice connection.

When I was young I assumed that by the age of 62 I would be retired, or perhaps just playing at a "for fun" job, like working in a garden store during the busy season, or volunteering at Como Park. Of course I also assumed that I would still be married to David, and that his salary would make retirement possible. I also assumed that my stocks & bonds would be worth something, which is definitely not the case. How things change! David is retired now, but married to Judy who makes far more than he ever made, so his retirement will be comfortable. Do I resent that? Nope. I've been divorced for over 20 years and have no regrets.

I've also been working at my job for 30 years, which is pretty amazing as I started working for MNDOT as a temp 31 one years ago. Who ever guessed that I would still be there? At least for now, although the security of state jobs no longer exists. If MNDOT decides to offer the retirement buyout, with two years of paid health coverage, I won't be one of those who decides to go. I'm TOO YOUNG to retire, still enjoy me job, get high on the stress, and know that the challenges are good for my brain. Although my assorted hobbies would keep me busy, retirement now would not leave me with enough money to pursue them, so there's really no point in considering it. Living in an apartment with a cat and a canary, and relying on public transportation, doesn't sound like a good match!

Out Of Time Already

Had to pack up some fish that will be picked up today, and enter a couple of shows with noon closing, and already I am out of time. Guess I will have to settle for this cute picture of Lucy (Argus/Boji) splashing in Lake Superior. Hopefully when Penny is finished we can bring Lucy down and show her in the states, IF we can pry her away from her family for a couple of months!

Sugar is not co-operating and will probably not be ready to breed this weekend. Her owner may have to drive all the way to Minnesota next week, rather than meeting me halfway in Missouri. Or we can do chilled semen. We shall see. Tess as not come in season yet - she's the Watson daughter we are leasing for a litter. Really excited about that breeding. Hopefully Sugar or Tess produce a pup for ME to keep.

Who Stole The Weekend?

OK, who stole my weekend? How can it be over already? Three day weekends seem so long at the beginning, but when they're over you always wonder how they slipped by so quickly. "Sleeping in" unti 7:00 seems luxurious, but it does eat away at the allotted time. I could have been "doing something". My self-imposed guilt about sitting around is always right below the surface. Although I got a lot of projects completed, it would take more than 3 days to catch up on the things that really need to be done around here! So I keep pecking away, little project by little project, and by the time they are all completed it will be time to start over again. Maybe it would be easier to decide they don't need doing after all, but there comes a time with the layers of dust on the blinds is more than even I can ignore!

So nice to see my Aunt Karen & Uncle Gordon who were here from California. Gordon still makes the trip by car, but says this will be the last year for that. He must be close to 80 and that's a long trip at any age. We went to dinner with them, Karen & Gordon, my mother, my daughter Jess, plus Ron & I. Had a great time and did a lot of laughing. I took some video clips, and Jess & Karen took some pictures. Karen brought along pictures of my cousins & their families. Because everyone is in California, I really don't know them as "family", something I regret.

She also brought old family pictures for us. I brought them home, will pass them on to Jess, and they will end up with my sister Kris who is the family historian. Lots of pictures of my father as a boy and a young man, and pictures of my mom and dad as newly weds. Old family pictures of relatives I didn't know but also pictures of my brother, sister and I at various ages - some of the pictures are ones I've never seen, particularly the pictures of my brother during his "hippy period" and my sister as a teenager. Because I was the oldest, I was out of the house at the time. I'll scan some of the pictures to save. Although many are old and faded, they are easy enough to enhance on the computer.

The picture at the top was part of the group Karen had. That's my Beagle "Robbie", the first Rob. (The second "Rob" was a wonderful Dalmatian.) Robbie was a great family dog, and a darned good obedience dog too. He was very competitive and always placed well in his classes, winning a few of them with very high scores including 198.5 and 199 (our of 200). I took obedience competition seriously and learned a lot training Rob. Rob was trained all the way through Utility, but never competed after Novice as he limped, and limping dogs can be disqualified. Hip x-rays showed that he was dysplastic, very dysplastic. Nope, it's not just Labradors and German Shepherd Dogs who can have Hip Dysplasia. No doubt that's the reason I have always been so adamant about doing all available health testing on my Dals.

Heard yesterday that one of my competitors was bragging how many times their dog had beaten Argus. Yep, the dog has beaten Argus from time to time, although not nearly as often as Argus has beaten that dog - no one wins all the time, but why would you brag about it to a stranger, someone from another breed even? Some people are odd that way. The odder part of the story is that this person claims that I "trashed" the dog on my Blog. Hahahahaha. Can't recall that I've even mentioned the dog on my blog, but if it will make them happier I can do that today. Pretty markings, beautiful face, lovely temperament, adequate mover (but more like a Dobe gait than a typical Dal gait), a bit lacking in breed type, but a handsome quality dog who will no doubt beat Argus again, and deservably so. If dogs are healthy, attractive and have good dispositions they do not deserve to be trashed by anyone. Not even me!

Back to work . . .

Something's Fishy . . .

Seems as if I rarely mention the fish these days. It's not as if I am not as interested, or that I have fewer fish. On the contrary, the numbers and variety have actually been increasing this summer, and three tanks that sat empty for several months have now been redone and are occupied by new residents. The fishkeeping did suffer a bit after I broke my ankle, but fortunately Laurie was there to help with massive water changes when it first happened, and I was able to keep up with enough changes to keep the fish healthy. The keys to successful fishkeeping include appropriate temperature, sufficient space, adequate diet and WATER CHANGES. The last point can't be emphasized enough, and neglecting that is the reason many people are not successful fishkeepers.

Fish live in a limited volume of water and the quality of that water degrades over time. Fish waste, decayed plant materials, and uneaten food all break down and affect the water chemistry. If there are no water changes, the fish are slowly pickled, and although they will survive for some period of time as they acclimate to the increasingly toxic environment, it isn't possible to add any new fish, who will quickly die when exposed to poor water quality. Water changes don't mean emptying and scrubbing the tank, it means replacing an appropriate amount of water on a regular basis. Water from the same source, adjusted to a similar temperature, with the proper chemicals added to eliminate the ammonia or chloramines used by the city to kills bacteria (and fish as well!). If water changes are done regularly, it is safe to replace 90% of the water everyday if one desires. If the water changing has been put off for too long, it's necessary to do smaller amounts so that the change does not shock and kill the fish. I try to do 40% every two weeks on the larger established tanks containing adult fish. If I am dealing with a smaller tank (the water quality degrades more quickly), am growing out young fish, or trying to get adult fish to spawn, I do water changes at least weekly.

I've been fortunate to spawn a variety of fish, including domestic & wild Bettas, domestic & wild livebearers, Paradise fish, South & Central American cichlids, Tanganyikan cichlids, several kinds of Gobies & Gudgeons, catfish, and other less common species, such as Badis. Some species breed no matter what - I often joke that many kinds of cichlids could breed in Kool Aid, while others have never been successfully spawned in captivity. Some livebearers are very easy to breed, while others live out their lives without ever producing offspring, no matter what the fishkeeper tries. I particularly like wild livebearers, especially the ones that are extinct or endangered in the wild. Goodeids from Mexico are often victims of habitat loss and a significant number of species only exist in the aquariums of hobbyists.

Although many kinds of fish do just fine on dry flake food, all of them do better with the addition of some frozen or live foods, and some of them will only eat live foods. We often keep live blackworms (in the refrigerator) and they work well to get some species of cichlids to spawn. Ina the winter we can also keep live glassworms in the fridge. Some fishkeepers raise white worms & grindal worms, while microworm & vinegar eels are raised for tiny fry. Almost all fish love newly hatched baby brineshrimp, and they are almost essential for raising some kinds of fry. In the summer some fishkeepers collect (or even raise) mosquito larvae, and fishkeepers often raise tubs of daphnia. The live foods do add to the work involved in keeping fish, but they also increase the success rate in both keeping and spawning fish.

My 35 gallon pond was going to be used for spawning fish this summer - my skiffia (a species of goodeid) did well outdoors two years ago - but I decided instead to raise daphnia in the pond. I've raised it in 5 gallon buckets and 20 gallon aquariums, but decided the pond ought to provide a useful amount of live food. I was also given two bags of mosquito larvae yesterday, so the Betta picta dined in style. I checked to be sure that all the larvae were consumed, so I won't have a basement full of mosquitos in a few days.


The newest fry here are the Red-finned Halfbeaks, amongst my favorite fish. I have a reverse trio (two males and a female) and the female produces youngsters on a regular basis. Because the adults will eat the fry, I only get fry if I see them first. I could take mom out and let her spawn in a seperate tank or breeder box, but I'm not actually trying to breed them anymore. I just want enough to eventually replace the adults . My big Guppy tank has 3 young Halfbeaks, plus the 4 new babies that I rescued on Friday night. The adolescents swim with the Guppies & Corys that live in the tank, but the newborns have a small net tank that sits in the big tank, as they will be snack size for a couple of months. The oldest of the adolescents will soon be large enough to pick off Guppy fry, so he may move in with the adults soon - assuming he will be accepted. We shall see.

I've also got young Limia melanogaster (Black-Bellied Limias) and Limia vitatta (Cuban Limias). Both Limia species are colony breeders and the fry swim safely with the adults. That's also true of my little colony of Lamprologus multifasciatus - the baby Multis swim with their older sibs and parents, and like many cichlid species they are safe from predation. Another livebearer species that is doing well for me is the Giardinus metallicus, or Black-chinned livebearer There are always fry of various ages in that tank. The Goodeid tank is the home to Ataeniobius toweri (Blue-tailed Goodeids) & Illyodon furcidens and there are about 20 youngsters in that tank too - but until they are older I won't know for sure which species they are - or perhaps both species have spawned recently. The Xiphophorus alverazi a handsome wild swordtail species always have youngsters of various ages, and I have distributed a number of them in the area.

A Sort One Toda

Leaving in a few minutes to pick up my mother and go to the Como Park Conservatory. She hasn't been there since all the wonderful changes were completed, and because it is going to be HOT, we are going to be there when it opens.

See you tomorrow.

Imagine The Horror . . .

A most disturbing story made the rounds yesterday, showing up on both Facebook and the Dal list, and I am sure on many other dog related lists as well. We often think that animal abuse happens only in puppy mills, dog fighting establishments, and in junk strewn backyard full of rusted car bodies and garbage. Unfortunately, just as with child abuse it can happen anywhere. The following links concern a horrific situation involving a (previously) well-respected dog show person who sentenced her elderly Afghan Hounds to die of starvation. She just shut them away and ignored them. Apparently she was tired of the hounds, but took care of her Cavaliers. These were retired show dogs, not breeding stock in a puppymill. This woman lived in a nice neighborhood and her neighbors had no idea of the horrors that were taking place "behind closed doors". Fortunately, two dog handlers realized something was amiss and got involved - they rescued the dogs, who might not have survived more than a few more days.

If you are interested, read this article -
http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20100701/News01/100709956/1129/News

If you want to see what the dogs looked like, check out these pictures -
http://s764.photobucket.com/albums/xx290/LisaBettis/Afghan%20Rescue/?action=view¤t=IMG_3476.jpg

If you want to get involved, please sign the petition -
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/criminal-charges-agsinst-cindy-chandler

When people are convicted of animal cruelty charges, the American Kennel Club automatically takes away their privileges to show or register dogs, for a very long time. The people who initiated the petition want to insure that this happens.

I was the 852nd person to sign the petition which just went up yesterday. They are hoping for 5000 signatures, which seems like a very reasonable goal. It seems to me that mental illness must be involved here. Hard to believe that a sane person could do something so incredibly horrible.

On a more cheerful note, I got 5 new species of wild livebearers yesterday, several of which I have wanted for a long time. I won the B. roseni on Aquabid and asked if the seller had anything else available. Turns out that Steve and I have similar taste in fish and he had a number of other interesting species. I had just redone a few tanks, so I had room for them, and Steve threw in a few little bonus babies with the interesting name of Flexipenis vitatta. I also read that the scientific name had been changed to Gambusia vitatta - not nearly as interesting!

On My Soapbox Again

Watson has started his thyroid medication, just half of an incredibly tiny pill, twice a day, with a recheck in 4-6 weeks. His mother Coral had her blood work done yesterday too, just to be sure that she is OK, AND because she was due for a checkup. Had planned to get the dogs in in April, but never quite got to it. Pending the blood work results, Coral appears to be doing great at 12. Eyes are just a tiny bit cloudy, and she's got the beginnings of a very small heart murmur, nothing to be concerned about. She's a bit quieter these days, and does not get into the middle of the wrestling matches, but enjoys a long walk every day and is still fast enough to steal ANY toy she covets! Her coat & spots are still beautiful and she still has a puppyish face - people often ask how old my puppy is.

We weighed both Watson and Coral when they got their checkups and their weights are still perfect, just what they weighed when they were young show dogs. Watson is 54 pounds, Coral 50. She's actually a bit taller than her son, but he has more bone and a deeper chest. Both had gained a few extra pounds over the winter and went on spring diets. It's important to keep older dogs in good condition, as excess weight puts a lot of stress on joints, as well as on the dog's heart and other organs. Just as with people, leaner is better for longevity.

I've never understood why owners can not manage their dogs' weight. The owners are the ones who decide what to feed, how much, and how often. How hard is that? Fat dog, feed less, cut back on snacks, and NO food left in the dish to nibble on later. Unfortunately, too many people equate food with love, and feel "guilty" if the dog begs for more food. Seems to me that if you really love your dog, you will keep it in the proper weight! I also have no tolerance for the argument that the dog is fat because it does not get enough exercise - if it does not get enough exercise, it's the owner's responsibility to change that, BUT that is not the basic problem. Too much food = fat dog. Just as with humans it's all about calories. Feed too much, dog gets fat. If he gets more exercise it will take more calories to make him fat, but it still goes back to too much food = fat dog.

Charlie, Day Two

We're surviving! So far Charlie has actually been easier than I had anticipated. He's got pretty good leash manners, is good in his crate, and slept quietly last night - was afraid he was used to getting up at 4:00 AM or some such ungodly hour, but he was quiet in his crate until I went down at 6:30. Jess took him to the office yesterday where he got lots of exercise exploring the warehouse and playing with Stella the Cavalier, plus she took him for several walks. I walked him twice yesterday evening, and I think he was absolutely exhausted!

His owners switched Charlie's food to Costco Kirkland brand which is a reasonably good food, actually made by Diamond, supposedly with Diamond's regular formula. The only problem with discount dog foods is that the ingredients may vary from batch to batch depending on the commodity prices, and the concern that lower quality ingredients are often used. At least he is not eating Sprout or Old Roy, bottom of the line store brands. I'd prefer he was eating Pro Plan, but try not to be too "bossy" about the dogs I sell. This food is a good bit less expensive than what he was eating before, but cost should not be the deciding factor when feeding dogs.

I am somewhat concerned about the fact that Charlie is too thin - he's lost a couple of pounds since the last time I saw him when he was already lean. His owners will need to increase the amount of food Charlie is getting because he is an active young dog. We'll discuss that when I return him tomorrow. It's sometimes difficult to get the amounts right on young dogs and they are often too thin or too heavy. I would rather have him a bit thin and everyone who knows me well, knows that I hate to see fat dogs.

It appears that Charlie's owners took my suggestions to heart last time, as his leash manners seem much better already. They had gotten too dependent on using a prong collar rather than actually training him. Prong collars, like those nasty head collars, give the owner more control of the dog, but they are often used as a substitute for actually training a dog to walk properly on leash. Charlie understands to wait at the door and before coming out of his crate, which is also very handy, and is quite responsive to a sharp EERRRRR as a distraction when I need to get his attention (such as when he is focusing on a squirrel or obsessed over a good smelling post). The prong collar is fine when they take Charlie jogging, but for walks around the neighborhood a simple chain training collar is best.

He's also much better about having his teeth checked, and being "examined" which means being touched all over. Young males are sometimes hesitant to have their hindquarters examined, but Charlie seems to have gotten past that. It's important to pet dogs all over their bodies, so they can be examined by a dog show judge OR by a veterinarian. All the things that a dog needs to know to be a good show dog also help him be a better pet. As with children, the more dogs learn, the more they CAN learn. Charlie seems very open to learning new behaviors, and I'm extremely pleased with his temperament, how well his owners have socialized himm and how willing they are to take advice.

The only real problem to overcome is Charlie's tendency to sit whenever collar pressure is applied, and to sit for a treat - both learned behaviors that work well on companion dogs. We just need to teach him the stand command as an alternate behavior, so he does not sit unless he is told to sit. Automatic sits are required for obedience competition, and are taught in most obedience classes, so we will have to work around this. A sit is also used as a "control position" when Charlie gets overly excited - control positions are very helpful in managing enthusiastic dogs. We'll show Charlie on a soft cloth slip collar (like a chain training collar but made of woven material) which might help, as Charlie is used to wearing a metal collar when he is trained or goes walking. We'll work hard on this over the weekend, and encourage Charlie's owners to work on a stand command too.

Jess reserved ring time at Pet Junction tomorrow, so we will have a chance to work with Charlie (Argus/Nikon) and with Jax (Argus/Lilly) who Jess co-owns and wants to start showing this summer. Hopefully we can get good pictures of both boys. Am so pleased with both of them. Jax was difficult last fall, but has really grown up over the winter. Like Charlie's owners, Jax's owners have worked hard to make him a good companion.

Furry House Guest

Nope, we don't have mice if that's what the blog title suggested, at least no mice indoors at this time. I've seen a number of Centipedes this week though. UGH. I am not generally a squeamish person, and really enjoy snakes, salamanders, lizards, pet mice & rats, big pet spiders. I keep live bloodworms in the fridge for the dogs. You name it, I covet it. Still arguing with myself over getting a baby Bearded Dragon - that will happen eventually. But Centipedes, oh my! I HATE Centipedes, especially when I find one trapped in the sink when I get up in the morning. The worst was waking up to find one sauntering across my bedroom ceiling. Still sends chills up and down my spine. How to kill him without having him fall down on to me. Eeewwww. Just too gross.

My house guest will be much more attractive, and definitely furrier! Charlie Brown is coming to spend the weekend while his folks go camping. He'll get some intensive show training while he's here, and Jess really wants to get him ready for a Specialty this month. I humored her, and entered him, but will not hold my breath. Some dogs are naturals though and require less work than others. However, he will need to learn about gaiting on a leash, standing to be examined, and will also need to accept having his bite and his testicles checked, things not always easy for year old boys. At least he has excellent crate manners and is an experienced traveler. I've asked that his owner take him back through a basic obedience class, just as a refresher. Charlie is very well socialized, and because his owners are runners, he is also fit and well exercised which help a great deal. Charlie was sold "with stings". A pet dog at a pet price, but I reserved the right to show him at my expense if he turned out well. Actually, he turned out better than I had anticipated!

Bless the Salvation Army, they took the old furniture yesterday and I finally had a chance to put my living room together. Furniture looks fabulous, but I am not real happy with the new carpet. Guess it will take some getting used to. Next project will be the dining room which will require a new ceiling and new wallpaper. Perhaps one room a year is enough and I can put this off for awhile longer. I'd rather work with the yard, the dogs and the fish.

Picked up some new fish last night. Betta bellica is a species of wild Betta. Our speaker last night brought along some really nice fish for the auction and I was pleased to pick these up. Also a bag of lovely new Cichlids which I did not need, but took pity on. They should be gorgeous as adults, if they don't kill one another. New livebearers arriving today, Xiphophorus xiphidium, the Spiketail Platy, another wild livebearer. Not quite sure where I will put them, but suspect the young Firemouths will have to join their parents in the 55 gallon tank. Also got another batch of bloodworms so hope to get the Goo Obo Gudgeons and Betta picta in spawning mode. And now to decide which fish will summer outside in the pond.

The Showy Ladyslipper bloomed this week. Hope to post a picture tomorrow.

Don't Throw The Baby Out With The Bath Water

Many of the problems we encounter in dogs, both purebred and mixed breed, can be classified as hereditary, although the mode of inheritance is often complex and dependent on the actions of a number of genes. Each breed has it's own list of potential problems, and mixed breeds can inherit a variety of problems from their assorted ancestors. (No, they are NOT healthier.)

Some of these inherited traits are only tendencies that can be modified with proper care. For instance, both shyness and aggression can be inherited, but in many cases they can be modified with proper training and socialization. The same is true of structural issues like hip dysplasia - in breeds where it is common problem, pups that are allowed to carry too much weight while growing seem to be at increased risk. Excessive supplementation has been tied to other orthopedic problems in growing pups. Atopic dermatitis is a commonly inherited allergy in dogs, but some dogs will have serious allergies while others will be only mildly affected because of differences in diet & environment. Responsible breeders try to minimize the possibly inherited problems when they plan a breeding, but it's impossible to prevent everything. A famous geneticist explained to us at a seminar that we have to decide whether a problem is serious enough to eliminate all potential carriers from a breeding program, but if you also eliminate the dogs who produce minor/manageable issues, you might end up eliminating the entire breed!

A reader posed an interesting question -
i bought a puppy who at about ten weeks old began displaying signs of entropion (spelling?). we took her in and the vet "tacked" her eye lids and now she is just fine and you can not even tell that she had the procedure done. it caused no damage whatsoever. i was talking to a friend today whose mastiff puppy had the same condition, only much worse. she told me that my puppies' parents should never be bred again because entropion is hereditary. is this true? my puppy's sire is a champion and has produced several litters (and a couple champions). is this problem always hereditary? thanks.

Entropion is characterized by one or both eyelids rolling in, causing eye irritation and damage as the hair rubs on the eyeball. It's more common in breeds with excessive skin folds (like Chows & Shar Peis) but can show up anywhere. It's considered a serious problem in Mastiffs, but not in Dalmatians, and its not at all common in this breed. I've only seen one affected pup in 40 years, and it was in a puppy bitch I purchased about 10 years ago. One of her eyelids started rolling when she was about 4 months old. My Vet "tacked it" (a few small stitches to help it stay in the correct position) and explained to me that this was normally enough to allow the eyelid to tighten as the dog "grew into" it's facial skin. Had it been successful, I would probably have shown her but not bred her. The tacking didn't work and she eventually had surgery, was spayed, and was placed in a pet home.

This pup came from a pedigree that I was very familiar with, dogs from breeders who I knew well. None of them had ever seen a case of Entropion. Several of her littermates have produced multiple litters without producing a single case of Entropion and some really fine dogs have come from this pedigree.

Because this is not a problem in the breed, because it can be related to a variety of developmental factors, and because it is normally easily managed, I do not agree that the parents should never be bred. The breeder needs to be informed that this happened, and should check on the littermates and any other dogs produced by the parents, but one isolated case is not sufficient reason to stop breeding the parents.

On Your Mark, Get Set . . .

There may be no blogging for a few days as Argus & I are leaving for Bloomington Illinois this afternoon. One of my projects when I get back is a better phone or some sort of Netbook so I can stay in touch when I travel. Am so used to being connected all the time, I feel really isolated when I am on the road. Can't believe it's been over 3 months since we have done a show weekend! Judges are not very good for Argus, and unfortunately I was never able to get Lucy down here from Canada (she's entered, but still wwaayy up north), so I don't anticipate any excitement BUT it will sure be nice to be back in the ring. This will be our practice weekend, as Argus and I relearn how to work together in the ring. A lot of successful showing is about timing and presentation, and after three months of enforced absence from the ring, I have a lot of work ahead of me.

Last Physical Therapy appointment today. I'm very grateful for it as the exercises made all the difference in both strength and flexibility. I'm not 100% and certainly not pain free, but hopefully everything goes alright.

My new fish Badis sp. "Buxar" arrived safely yesterday and were eating well last night - frozen bloodworms. One is starting to color up already and is going to be a beauty. I love getting new fish species - never heard of these until I saw them offered on Aquabid. I've bred a few Badis species already, though none this lovely. Only problem with keeping these guys is that they don't eat flake, only live or frozen. Hopefully they survive until I get a new batch of blackworms next week. Hate keeping blackworms alive (in the fridge, with daily water changes) but they sure make a difference in the growth and spawning of many species. Need to start getting the Goo Obo Gudgeons & the Betta picta in spawning mode.

Half day of work, last PT appointment, then I come home to bathe and trim Argus, load the car, and explain the lists to Ron. Lots of plants that need to be watered this weekend and several tanks of fish that will need feeding. Adult fish can easily go 4 days (although Edd Puffer will be annoyed) but the fry will need to be fed, hence the fish list.

Dalmatian Coats

I was reading your blog about recessive genes such a liver spotting and long coats. Do you mean longer than normal coats or full out "shaggy" coats? We have two Dals- one's hair is about twice as long as the other. It doesn't hang off of her or anything like that but it is definitely longer and she has a bit of fuzzy shag on her back legs. Ironically she has a full champion pedigree, whereas my other girl- (prettier) slick haired Dal- came rescued from a puppy mill. I've often wondered what caused the one to have hair so much longer than the other. Is this considered a disqualification in the breed?

The Dalmatian Standard reads, "The coat is short, dense, fine and close fitting. It is neither woolly nor silky. It is sleek, glossy and healthy in appearance." That pretty much says it all. Remember that the breed standard is our guideline for breeding the very best Dalmatians. That being said, there is quite a bit of variation in coats in this breed.

Dal coats come either short (acceptable) or long (not acceptable for showing) but in addition to the dominant gene for normal coat and the recessive gene for long coat there are probably a number of modifier genes that affect the texture, thickness and length. Some Dals have harder almost wiry coats that are often "open" - that means not tight and slick and close-fitting, while other have the normal flat sleek coat which can vary in both thickness and length. Some coats are so short they almost appear to be painted on, while others are longer and softer and the dogs may have a bit of fringe on the backs of their thighs, on their tails, and sometimes even a wavy look to the coat over their rumps. These variations are all the result of modifiers and are all acceptable for showing, although the ones with a bit more length may require the judicious use of a scissors before a dog show!

The long coats are just that, although they too will show the affect of modifier genes, but there is no mistaking a true long coat - they look more like spotted Golden Retrievers. A number of normally smooth coated breeds also carry the recessive for long coats - Weimaraners for instance. German Shepherds also carry a long coat gene - if you have ever seen a "fluffy" Shepherd, you may have seen a long coat. Some bloodlines will carry the recessive gene, most won't, but there is now a simple DNA test that can be used to see whether a dog carries that gene. Remember, because the long coat is a recessive, a dog can carry a single copy of that gene but have normal coat length. He can pass the gene on to offspring however. A puppy that inherits a copy of that gene from each parent will have a long coat. It's not common in this breed, but their were kennels in Southern California and Texas that did produce these dogs from time to time, and there is apparently someone in the Waco Texas area who has been getting these dogs as they are showing up in rescue. Beckett who is pictured about is one of those dogs.

There are more pictures of long coated dogs (as well as all the unusual colors that show up from time to time) on my website. Some of the genetics are a bit outdated as there have been some recent discoveries in the inheritance of things like brindles, but the pictures are worth looking at, and most of the information is correct. I have not worked on the color pages for a long time and do have more pictures that should be added. www.paisleydals.com/color

The Three Stooges

Carrie had this picture of the brothers taken at the National to celebrate the fact that all three boys were ranked in the Top Twenty last year. Left to right Joey, Andy & Argus. Joey is the silly giggly one, Andy is a mild-mannered serious one, and Argus is always looking for the next adventure. All different and all appealing in their own ways.

We broke a record for temperature yesterday - 96 degrees! The old record was 88. Hopefully we don't have too many 90+ days this summer as I am not a hot weather person. After such a gorgeous spring I guess we have to take some knocks. Minnesotans don't just accept beautiful weather, they think "we'll pay for this later", a self fulfilling prophesy. Gotta get used to this weather though if I am going to show Argus this summer - he does too, so I dropped off the car at Tires Plus, and walked back to pick it up later. A rather warm walk, but not too bad and my ankle felt pretty good.

I'm doing my Physical Therapy every evening, plus walking for at least half an hour, and my ankle feels better every day other than some early morning stiffness. I still get twinges of pain especially if I turn sharply, but can finally walk without a limp until I get too tired. Still hurts to run, but not so that it's unmanageable, and my foot is starting to get the flex back so I don't feel as if I am running while wearing a swimfin on my right foot! Was really looking forward to camping at the shows this weekend, but now Ginger may not be able to go as her motorhome is not cooperating. Wish she had taken it out for a checkup before yesterday so she'd have had a chance to get things fixed in time. Sigh. Guess Argus and I will get a motel and commute back and forth.

Got an interesting question about raw feeding -

I'd like your advice. I have two Dals. One eats chicken wings, necks, backs slowly and crunches them up and swallows them. The other Dal eats really fast. She almost sucks down her food. A few times, when I have fed the chicken, several hours later, she will throw up a small amount and there is always a bone that is about an inch and a half long. Is there a way to get her to slow down? She eats the veggie mix and the ground up meat well. I feed them in separate rooms so there is no competition.

This is a common problem with raw fed dogs. Some are such eager eaters they gulp rather than chew. There's really no way to solve that problem because it's just the way that dog eats, like the person who swallows before chewing their food thoroughly. In every group of dogs you will get slow chewers, brisk chewers, the ones who chew very little and the ones that gulp. My current group consists of Argus who is a slow chewer, Josie and Coral who are brisk chewers, and Watson who chews very minimally. Watson will occasionally bring up a larger piece for rechewing, which is why the dogs all eat in their crates. About the only way to slow down the fast eaters is to feed larger cuts. Turkey necks normally work really well for that - but the dogs will still gulp smaller pieces. When a dog brings boney pieces back up, it is normally part of a chicken wing, or a few turkey neck vertabrae. I'd be inclined to feed backs and necks but no wings to a gulper.

Hoaxes and Partial Truths

A Vet Tech friend forwarded the following article (which lost it's formatting when I uploaded it, sorry). Although I'd heard about the dangers of cocoa bean mulch, and also that the whole thing was a hoax, I decided to pass this article on as it has lots of good information. I also did an internet search on cocoa bean mulch hoaxes, with pretty mixed results. Hoax, partially true, false. Sounds as if it would take a fair amount of the product to cause any symptoms in the "average" dog, but there is still reason for concernm and it's amazing what our dogs sometimes ingest! Although I love the smell of the stuff (anything that smells like chocolate appeals to me!), and would like to use something that repells slugs, guess I'll pass on it for now. Apparently it is now possible to purchased the mulch with the theobromine removed - sounds like a better option.

Warning: Cocoa Mulch Toxicity
Dr. Donna J. Spector, 4/22/10
As spring and summer approach, many people begin tending to their lawns and gardens. Many will consider using cocoa bean mulch as a natural, chemical-free fertilizer. This mulch is made from the shells of spent cocoa beans used in chocolate production. It degrades into an organic fertilizer which naturally deters slugs, snails and other pests, while giving gardens a very attractive rich color and appealing chocolate smell. Unfortunately these same characteristics may make it appealing to dogs, who can be easily poisoned from its toxic effects.
Cocoa bean shells and mulch contain the stimulants theobromine and caffeine; methylxanthines which are both toxic to dogs. Dogs are highly sensitive to methylxanthines and low doses can cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Higher doses can cause rapid heart rate, muscle tremors, seizures and even death.
The following chart indicates the signs that could be expected in a 50-pound dog eating different quantities of cocoa bean mulch:
2 ounces
Stomach upset

4.5 ounces
Increased heart rate

5.5 ounces
Seizures

> 9 ounces
Death

　
This is compared to a 50-pound dog eating milk chocolate (found in most candies):
<7.5 ounces
Often no signs

>7.5 ounces
Stomach upset

>16 ounces
Increased heart rate

These differences exist due to the concentration of methylxanthines in each product. Cocoa bean mulch contains between 300-1200mg of theobromine per ounce while milk chocolate contains approximately 50mg of theobromine per ounce. However, if you suspect your dog has gotten into ANY type of chocolate, contact your veterinarian for immediate advice.

As a pet owner, it is advisable to use less toxic, pet-friendly alternatives such as shredded pine or cedar bark in landscaping projects. Prevent dogs from wandering unsupervised into other landscaped yards to avoid unintentional poisoning. If you suspect your dog has eaten cocoa mulch or any other toxic substance, seek veterinary attention immediately. Prompt action by your veterinarian can save your dog’s life.
Dog owner alert: common spring and summer toxicities
Fertilizer
Signs include stomach upset and/or obstruction

Insecticides/pesticides (sprays, granules, mole/gopher/rat baits)
Signs vary from stomach upset to life-threatening bleeding and seizures.

Slug and snail bait (contains metaldehyde)
Signs include anxiety, muscle tremors, seizures or death.

Compost
Certain food waste can be toxic to pets (caffeine, certain fruits, mold, etc)

Toxic plants (sago palm, azalea, foxglove, rhododendron, mushrooms, etc)
Signs vary with plant species but can cause general stomach upset to liver and heart failure.

Avocado
Signs include stomach upset

Grapes and raisins
Signs include stomach upset and kidney failure

Macadamia nuts
Signs include stomach upset, weakness and muscle tremors

Antifreeze (contains ethylene glycol)
Signs include stomach upset, seizures, kidney failure, and death.

　

Another Rainy Day, Hooray!

If the sun was shining and the temperatures a bit warmer, I could have planted my new Dahlias yesterday, but I guess they will have to wait another day as it is raining. Again. Perhaps we are back to a more normal rain cycle, after several years of very dry weather. I found these at Gertens, and although I had planned to look not buy, I could not resist. Lovely!

Signed the paperwork for a new leather sofa and chair yesterday. Hate having one more financial commitment, and COULD have put it on my Visa, but decided to take advantage of the interest free financing at Slumberland. Hope to pay it off quickly, but you can never be sure what expenses are Right around the corner, and the brakes on my Minivan are not sounding quite like they should. Brakes and tires, oh my. . .

New furniture is not scheduled to arrive until next week, giving me a chance to do some cleaning (ugh) and hopefully get the old furniture picked up by then. Who wants an old sofa and love seat? Sofa is in pretty good shape, love seat is in excellent shape, primarily because we spend so little time in the living room, preferring to share the family room with the dogs. My gosh, but the dust behind the love seat was thick - when did I last move it out from the wall and clean? Years? Decades? And the radiator in the corner between the love seat and sofa. Oh my! Finally decided to let the dust settle last night and get back to the project tonight. That includes washing the drapes - and if they fall apart I will have to buy new drapes too. And of course lovely new furniture will make the area rug look even older than it is . . . But I have been looking for a new rug for a year, so now I will have another reason to find the right one!

Where does dust come from? Dog hair I understand, but there's a lot more in that gray fuzzy stuff than dog hair. A quick search on the Internet says,

. . . there are three main components of dust: first, dead skin cells, second, the dried feces and dessicated corpses of dust mites (oh lovely!), and the last component by volume is tiny fibers shed by clothing. Ugh!

Electronics Dependency

Am always amazed at how dependent I am on my computer and how much I use it for. Just this morning I have already checked my email and responded a couple of things, ordered meat for the dogs (chicken backs and ground turkey), entered Argus at some shows over Memorial Day weekend, sent an email to Lucy's owner in Canada to discuss the possibility of getting her down here for some shows, sent an email to another Canadian friend to see if she might be coming down anytime soon so I could save myself a trip, checked Facebook to see how everyone is doing, and here I am updating my blog. How did I survive without my computer, and what would I do if it failed? I do have a nice little backup gizmo called Clickfree - sure hope it works like it is supposed to, if this computer fails. And if it fails it will be from overwork, I am sure!

A reader asked how to see my Facebook page. The answer is to join Facebook, search for me, and invite me to be your friend. When I accept, we can see each other's profile page (which can have as little or as much as you care to reveal about yourself and your family). My brother won't join because he is concerned about security issues, and that's a decision everyone needs to make for themselves. You'd be amazed at how much information about you is already out there! If you don't believe me, check www.spokeo.com, and search for your name. If you have any kind of an Internet presence, you will find out that there is probably a lot of information on you already.

The picture above is one of the candid shots from DCA week. Not a perfect moving shot, but it's pretty nice, showing good foot fall, balanced movement, proper topline and tail carriage. Wish Argus had his mouth shut, but Jess said he started sneezing right about then - and a couple of additional shots in that sequence seem to show that. Bad timing! I get so tired of seeing bad gaiting shots with tails up, toplines looking like the dogs are running downhill or with a big hump in the middle, or with so much over reaching that you can tell the dog is running sideways, even without seeing the down and back.

We had a really nice Mothers Day. I picked up mom and met up with Jess & Ron at Chatterbox for the Mother's Day Brunch which was good, although I thought the place was awfully dark and would have benefitted from better lighting. After eating we dropped Ron off, and the rest of us went out to Gertens which looked like a Plant Store Theme Park on steroids. Oh, so busy. Found a good parking spot though, and Gram sat and people watched while Jess and I did a bit of shopping. We both avoided the temptation to purchase tender annuals though - just too early!

Rain due again today, and the grass looks great. We're still two inches behind in precipitation for the year, but things are getting better!

Happy Mother's Day

It was 32 degrees when I woke up, but my freezable plants are sitting on the bar in the kitchen rather than in the ground. Hopefully all the perennials will be OK as many of them are quite large and lush already. And the rhubarb - hope that's OK as it's time to pick a second batch of it for mom. The outdoor thermometer currently says 77 degrees, a minute ago it said 81, but it's in the sun of course. Dogs are laying sprawled in the family room staring at me, telling me that it's time for breakfast, but they'll have to wait just a bit.

Brunch reservation at noon, so I'll pick up my mother and meet Jess & Ron at Chatterbox. Then, if mom is interested, we will head out to Gertens which will no doubt be a Garden Store Theme Park on steroids today.

Squirrel on the deck, but only Watson sees it as the other dogs are still staring at me. Oops, Argus and Josie are now standing at attention at the patio door. The wretched squirrels come to drink out of the bird bath, and I pray the dogs don't decide to take matters into their own paws and go right through the patio door!


Went to see Charlie yesterday as his owners were painting in their new house which is only a mile from me. Now what are the odds of that? If we decide to show Charlie, he's certainly handy! (Occurs to me that I need to check and see how THEY spell it, Charlie or Charley? He's really looks nice, and the 4 mile jogs have tightened him up nicely so that he's a lot sounder than the last time I saw him as a rubbery teenager. Was a bit concerned about size as he grew so quickly, but he's just the right size. I sometimes forget that kibble-fed pups seem to grow faster than raw-fed pups even though they end up the same size.

Time for breakfast.

Where In The World Is Fujairah UAE?

My nephew who in the Navy posted to Facebook that they had Beer on the pier in Fujairah UAE . . . I know he is in the Middle East or thereabouts, but where in the world IS UAE? Knew it stood for United Arab Emirates, but where are those? Are they independent countries? How large? Is Fujairah a city? Friendly to servicemen? Resort for the wealthy? Another opportunity to use Google, as I use it many times a day - to answer my own questions. What did I do before Google? And why have I not pursued the idea of Droid so that I can Google whenever I want? Lots of stuff on Fujairah, for example it could be my next vacation destination. Do they have dog shows? http://www.destination360.com/middle-east/united-arab-emirates/fujairah

A little further research tells me there was a dog show in Dubai, there are pet friendly hotels in Fujairah, I can board my dog in the UAE and there are breeders as well. Such a small world we live in!

Spring is out in full force this week. Not quite as warm as it was last week, but bright and sunny and because of last week's rain everything is growing like mad. I got the fertilizer down before the rain came (organic Milorganite, safe for all of us) and seeded a couple of thin spots. My yard came through the winter well, the fall fertilizer must have made a difference. The hardy Azalea will be in full flower by the end of the day and it's starting to look more like a tree than a bush. Lovely! My perennials all seem to be doing well and the old Trolleus and Coral Bells are flowering, along with the Ajuga on the front slope. Too early for annuals, either flowers or herbs, but the Oregano & Marjoram I planted last year look good. Need to find a major use for Oregano as the plant is going to take over the herb bed. Won't be long now before I buy my tomato plants, and one of them will try out in the upside down tomato hanger.

Made Ron a short shopping list and included a LARGE bottle of Ibuprofen. Things are NOT going as well as I had hoped, and in addition to continuing ankle pain the opposite knee is becoming a problem. Have a PT appointment on Friday, as well as an appointment with the Sports Med doc on Tuesday for a second opinion. Hope she opts for an MRI as there is something amiss with my ankle, and the pain is not from the area of the break. Hoped I could get in sooner, but I suppose Sports Med docs are pretty busy this time of the year as everyone is outside and overdoing it.

The chiropractic visits seemed to help some and everything feels better the evening after the appointments. Additionally, I was able to bathe 3 dogs without a backache on Sunday - something I have not been able to do all in one day for a long time. Yesterday my ankle felt very good by evening so I went for a bike ride - one of the things I am supposed to be able to do - no hills of course, and I ended up with an excruciating pain in the front of my ankle. This morning it feels good again. I've tried a variety of shoes, looking for the most comfortable because my plantar fasciatus has flared up some and I have to be careful. Tried on a dozen pairs of shoes on Sunday and none were more comfortable than the ones I already own. I DID discover that all tie shoes put pressure where it causes pain, but slip ons make my knee feel worse, and no shoes at all (sorry boss) aggravate my foot problems. Jeez! My patience is running thin!

Stop whining Sue. It's a beautiful day, and things will get better!

This Sucks

For a person who is never sick and rarely goes to the doctor, this is going to be a really strange day. Finally contacted my doctor yesterday and have an appointment for this morning. Thank you! He took me seriously which is nice, but also a little scary. Why is my ankle so slow to heal? Why does it hurt just as much as it did when the cast first came off? The range of motion is a lot better, but it sure seems as if it should be working and feeling better than it does. Hate to be a whiner, but I did not want to let things go any longer and then regret that I had not had things checked out sooner. The concern is whether or not the fracture may have shifted after the boot/cast came off. If that is not an issue, I can tough it out. If that IS a problem . . . Not sure if the rest of my body can endure surgery and 6-8 more weeks in a cast. I'm a really positive person, but this is really weighing heavily on my mind.

Then in the afternoon I have my second chiropractic appointment. Maybe I should just pack my lunch and stay at the clinic!

Every time I read negative stories or postings about HMOs, I am so grateful for mine. Oddly enough I have been going to the same clinic since I was a teenager! My father worked for the Federal Government and had Group Health Insurance way back then. When we moved to St. Paul 40+ years ago the family went to the little Como Clinic and I was covered on my father's policy until I left home to get married. David had insurance through the County, but we still went to the same hospital, St. Paul Ramsey where Jess was born. When I went back to work for the state I picked up Group Health again and went back to the same clinic which was now much larger. It later became Health Partners and the hospital name changed to Regions, BUT they are still the same clinic and the same hospital, but both MUCH larger! Several years ago I participated in a phone survey on Health Plans and was surprised that my response to every single question was Very Satisfied. I have been.

Puppy Purchasing - Let The Buyer Beware

Haven't posted a new picture of Bennett for awhile, but this one's a beauty! Ben picked up two Group Seconds a couple of weeks ago, and this is one of the photos. Lovely! Photographer was Callea Photos, and Meg really got a terrific picture, the best one I've seen of my granddog Ben. Ben was sold with the provision that I could breed to him if I wished, which I might do next fall if I can get the details worked out to my satisfaction. Mom would be a nice champion liver female who is Paisley-bred on her dam's side. She still needs to get her health testing done before this is a go. Ben is from an excellent litter and I am eager to see what he might produce.

A question from a reader - . . . can you tell me about what a champion bred pup costs? pet quality and show quality. my friend found a litter of 6 week old dals that are priced at $800 - $1000. they haven't been BAER tested, microchipped or anything. they will not be vet checked before leaving, they will be given their immunizations and that is all. i saw the pictures and they don't even look like normal dal pups, not to mention they all have big pot bellies so i am thinking they probably have worms. i am trying to convince her that is way too much to spend for such a pup and that she should just add a little with it and get one from a reputable breeder so that she can be sure the pup she is getting is of great quality, health and temperament. i don't really know exactly what per say one of your pups would cost but i'd like to give her an idea so hopefully she will realize she is getting, for lack of a better word, SCREWED. thank you!

Sounds like a bad deal to me. The price range quoted would be similar for a pet quality puppy from a well bred litter, but a pup from a responsible breeder would also be BAER (hearing) tested and have had a vet check in addition to the first vaccination and worming (if necessary). (Yes, pot-bellied pups are normally wormy, or worse. I've seen some of those under-nourished pups on several Internet sites.) Also, the parents of a litter from a responsible breeder would have some health testing themselves. An OFA number for hips, BAER testing, perhaps a CERF eye exam, or even better a CHIC number. Because people tend to be impulsive and impatient they often settle for less because they are in a hurry, but these randomly-bred dogs generally cost as much as a quality pup would cost, and you get far less. She should also ask where the pups were raised, why the breeder did the litter, what kind of contract/guarantee will be given, and she could ask for references. If she found this breeder on the Internet and the breeder does not show her dogs, this could easily be one of the Internet puppy mills that sell direct via a website.

Happy Birthday Coral

Still working on Bunny's Tale. Check back later.



Today is Coral's 12th Birthday! She's still in charge of all new toys and all pans that need to be licked clean.

If In Doubt, Read Instructions

I'd been having problems with my little Nikon CoolPix camera and could not get the flash to come back on. I remembered how to turn it off and on, one of the few things I had taken the time to learn, but that was no longer working. The problem started when I decided to take a video of Argus on the treadmill, which I eventually did, but then I could not get the camera out of the video mode and spent hours fussing with it, changing this and that without a clue as to what I was doing. FINALLY, I broke down and spent a couple of hours studying the manual, something I have never done before even though I've owned the camera for a year.

Wow, it does so many cool things like taking pictures in sepia (see above). Could be interesting to do a group of liver Dals in sepia. And a sports mode of continuous shots, one per second. I was jealous that a friend's camera did that. Never occurred to me that mine did too. So many interesting things to try! Reading the manual, what a concept!

A reader asks, "What exactly does it mean when someone says a dog has good bone or a lot of bone? Don't quite understand the meaning."

The AKC standard says that the Dalmatian's legs are "straight, stong and sturdy in bone". Not really a very good description, but it means that the Dalmatian is not fine-boned. He does not have skinny legs! Some breeds are heavy in bone, like the Rottweiler, with big thick legs, while others are light in bone like Italian Greyhounds and Miniature Pinchers, with thin delicate legs. Dalmatians are actually moderate in bone, but it's rather common for Dals to not have quite enough bone for their size. By saying that a dog has good bone or heavy bone, we normally mean that he has plenty of bone - neither big thick legs like treat trunks, nor skinny little legs like toothpicks. To complicate the matter, some standards call for oval bone, while others call for round bone (which is usually heavier bone for the size of the dog). Hope that helps!

Dewclaws Optional

The handsome boy on today's posting is "Krash" Ch. Choco Chip Krash Asteroid, a son of Argus & litter brother to Bad Pauli. His owner Jordan is new to the show ring, but finished Krash with a nice record that included a couple of Specialty majors. He's pictured here going Best of Breed at a recent show. Jordan also works Krash in Agility. Everyone starts as a newbie, and Jordan & Krash caught on fast!

An interesting question from one of the readers.

Do dewclaws have to be removed in order for a Dal to show in conformation (and actually win)? and if they can compete, do judges frown upon the intact dewclaws? I have often wondered that.

The Dalmatian standard reads -

Feet are very important. Both front and rear feet are round and compact with thick, elastic pads and well arched toes. Flat feet are a major fault. Toenails are black and/or white in black- spotted dogs and brown and/or white in liver- spotted dogs. Dewclaws may be removed.

The standard is always our guide in such issues as this varies from breed to breed. It tells us dewclaw removal is optional. Most breeders remove dewclaws most of the time, and when we share information on rescue dogs that is always one of the things that comes up. In general, dogs without dewclaws come from show breeders, who (if they are responsible breeders) want to know if any of their dogs are in a bad situation. Commercially bred pups and pups from pet-bred litters normally have their dewclaws.

Dewclaws are removed for safety reasons, cosmetic reasons, or both. They may be removed because of the risk they will get caught and torn or even ripped off, a painful, messy, and bloody business. A friend at work used to give me grief about having this done on puppies until her adult Pitbull cross tore a dewclaw while playing in the yard. The injured dewclaw had to be removed, a much more serious surgery than dewclaw removal on pups.

Dewclaws are generally removed when pups are about 2-3 days old. The little "thumbs" are attached only by cartilage at that age and can easy be snipped off, with a single stitch (or not) to prevent bleeding. Most of them don't bleed at all, and although the pups object vocally (probably to the restraint as much as the snipping) they quickly go back to sleep.

Whether or not a dog has dewclaws (or whiskers, for that matter) makes no difference in the judging. Dewclaw removal may create a "cleaner" look to the leg, especially if the dewclaws would have stuck out or been loose and floppy. Most Dalmatian dewclaws are small and tight and barely noticeable.

We've removed dewclaws on most of our litters, but a few litters did not get done because of weather or health issues. One litter would have needed a vet visit during a blizzard, another during an incredible cold spell. Just not worth the risk. Our last litter did not have them removed because we had a difficult whelping and most of the pups were very small and we were not sure if they would make it. So lovely Penny still has her dewclaws, but we don't expect that to handicap her in any way in the show ring.