There is no better way to raise our collective hackles than to use the word “doodle” in a sentence. With fair warning, I’ll be doing exactly that. Sorry. Someone has to do it. Labradoodles and goldendoodles are everywhere with no end in sight. We can either curse them or learn something from them. Personally, I chose to do both.
As the hazy summer days fold into the promise of a cooler fall, I cannot be the only person wondering, “What happens next?” Although many amusement parks remain closed or have limited capacity, we continually get to ride the roller coaster in our daily lives. Are numbers for COVID-19 going up in my state? Will the dog show I entered be canceled once again? Can I go into the vet’s office to help with my newborn puppies? Are our lives ever going to be the same?
They are frozen in time and sometimes deceptively real. Perpetuated in stone or bronze, looking over water, streets, parks or squares, dog statues can be found all over the world.
“Take a deep breath. Inhale through your nose. Feel the air as it flows over the back of your throat, into your lungs. As it fills your belly, slowly, very slowly, exhale through the nose. Now, do it four more times, making sure to slow down the breath. Inhale through the nose to one, two, three, four. Hold for a count of two. Exhale to a count of four. Be aware. Notice how that feels.” The intoxicating voice of the Yin Yoga teacher, with his very proper British accent, pours like cream from my computer on Zoom. I want to do nothing more than listen and comply.
It was a beautiful litter of three healthy, lively puppies — one girl and two boys. While I had shown several breeds and whelped numerous litters for nearly 50 years, this was only my second litter in a new, small breed. The litter was whelped in March, 2010.
But these distinctive dogs aren’t (relatively) modern day creations. There is considerable evidence to suggest that small ‘rough-haired’ white
terriers have been very much a part of life in the Western Highlands of Scotland for a considerable time.
I hope that by the time you read this, things will be slowly getting back to normal for all of you. These past few months have been very strange and unsettling for millions of us all around the world.
In 2020, the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) celebrates its 25th anniversary. Founded by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1995 as an independent, 501c3 non-profit organization to focus on research specifically for canine health, CHF has invested more than $56 million in research and educational grants and canine health projects. Bolstered by outstanding donor support, CHF continues to make great strides in advancing the health of all dogs.
The Vizsla evolved in Hungary, the favorite hunting dog of Magyar tribes and a valued and protected hunting and companion dog of early nobility. It is one of the smallest pointing retrieving breeds. Its golden rust short coat, moderate size, and robust but light build are among its trademarks. The Vizsla community is justifiably proud of the many “dual dogs” in their breed.
While stewarding for a friend and breed colleague, she said to me, “I believe I am going to breed Martha (not the bitch’s real name) when she comes into season.” I am well acquainted with her bitch’s pedigree and accomplishments in conformation, so, all I had to ask was “To what dog?” and “What is his pedigree?” There was some beating around the bush and then she responded, “My only real requirement for using any stud dog on one of my bitches is that he must have won at least two Bests in Show.” I have to admit, I could not believe what I had just heard. It was breeding practice blasphemy. It was diametrically opposed to everything I had ever read or had been told by my mentors and highly successful breeders, whom I most respect.
