The Otterhound traces its roots back to medieval England. They were initially developed as hunting dogs to catch otters in rivers, ponds, streams. The otters were valued for their fur, meat, and oil and also competed with people for fish. Otterhounds were so successful that otters nearly went extinct and hunting them is now against the law.
Will Alexander Drops Some Knowledge About What’s Happening in the Sport of Dogs. It’s Deep… It’s Humorous… It’s Provocative… It’s Will Unfiltered! Will Alexander has an in-depth conversation with Sally George. Click here to watch on Canine Chronicle TV!
Click here to read the complete article 274 – April, 2024 Click here to read the complete article 274 – April, 2024
The whole subject of endorphins came into my purview when I began reading a fashion-related article online from the thestreet.com. By now, you all are well-acquainted with the fact that I keep my “eye on fashion” at all times. The headline of the feature read, “Popular clothing retailer shuts down unexpectedly,” written by Daniel Kline for The Street on March 16, 2024. He explains some companies who start as digital businesses (DTC: directly to consumers) also start selling in brick and mortar retail stores, too. The concept is sales made in the store, where the consumer can actually see and touch the merchandise, will result in future online orders from return buyers. The problem with that, according to Mr. Kline, is eventually, operational costs of the physical stores begin affecting profitability. When the pendulum swings in that direction, the cost of maintaining storefronts is a losing one.
Several recent experiences occurred causing me to review and change my mind about things that were always considered to be true. It all happened because of three well-known problems that were being included in a new book I was writing. My research uncovered information that was contrary to some of the long-accepted truths that had been told and accepted by breeders in the dog world. These events reminded that when the information you have seems to be overwhelming and convincing, it can still be wrong. And so it was, with each of these topics despite their acceptance by experienced breeders and owners.
The basic size and shape of the dog’s ear was, obviously, inherited from its wild ancestors. Nature designed and developed the dog’s ears for hearing and their sense of hearing is about four times more acute than humans. Their ears can move independently and that makes it easier for dogs to pick up sounds and determine the direction from which sounds come.
The wildfires that devastated Maui last August provided incredibly graphic documentation of an unfolding catastrophe. And dogs were front and center of the story–on both sides of the equation. Heartbreaking images of residents fleeing their homes clutching pets reinforced the notion of “most prized possession.” Frequently, the speed and ferocity of the blaze permitted no time to think or plan as they escaped the encroaching deathtrap. Those heartbreaking scenes were rivaled by the pleas of desperate owners hoping to find their missing animals.
I recently got back into show dogs, Labrador Retrievers specifically, after 40 years. Things have changed, and I keep hearing about it being a graying sport with trouble eliciting newcomers. I thought it might be useful with respect to recruiting new people, to share how I got involved in showing dogs in the first place–and how I got re-engaged in the dog show world again.
Just as you never forget your first love, it’s often said you never forget your first Crufts, and I can attest to the truth of this statement–well, the Crufts bit anyway.
