Fads create plenty of problems in the dog world. The resultant spikes and plummets ripple through a breed’s gene pool for generations. Prevention and damage control largely focuses on the capricious pet buying public.
Several years ago, an idea was mooted in the canine press about “compulsory microchipping” of dogs in the UK. The word ‘compulsory’ always makes me immediately suspicious.
America’s native canines are sort of like the dinosaurs: they were all over the place; then they suddenly disappeared. The prehistoric dog world was similar to how it is now. From the Arctic Circle to Tierra Del Fuego; no matter where you went, the place was overrun with dogs of every shape and size.
Historically the conformation sport has been the primary venue used by breeders and exhibitors to observe stud dogs, brood bitches and the results of breedings along with the progress and development of their breed.
Not a year goes by that somebody doesn’t post a link to an article “exposing” the money-grubbing conspiracy that is supposedly behind heartworm prevention. At first reading, their claims can be pretty convincing. Are we really being duped into dosing our dogs with expensive medication against a disease that barely exists? Let’stake a look.
By Caroline Coile Ph.D. Meet Jake. He gave up on a dog show career because he won’t let the judge touch him. He’s so afraid of the vet that he has to be held down and muzzled to take blood. But at home he’s a great dog. Too bad nobody else ever gets to see [...]
By Caroline Coile Ph.D. “I’m sorry, dogs.” These were my last thoughts right before slamming head-on into a concrete interstate barrier at 65 mph. This being my first try at high speed collisions, I wasn’t sure if I would live, but I was sure my loose dogs would not. Yes, I knew they should have [...]
Junior Showmanship is the hardest thing at the dog show to judge! And arguably the most important! It behooves those of us tasked with this responsibility to take it very seriously. We study hard to become licensed to judge the various breeds. Our juniors deserve our best efforts at educating ourselves and pursuing excellent judging.
“Good judges owe their success to those exhibitors who recognize the quality of their work, the way they interact with the entrants… ”
