By Amy Fernandez DNA analysis has revolutionized the painstaking craft of archeological investigation. Traditionally, human evolution has been the primary focus of that research. Canine evolution came under the microscope simply because it was nearly impossible to sift through early human settlements without finding evidence of domestic dogs. Theories abound regarding how, when and where […]
The Samoyed was developed by nomadic people in Siberia. The dogs were working dogs, helping with reindeer herding, hunting, and pulling sleds. Rumor has it that it was one of the breeds referred to in the phrase “three dog night,” where it was so cold that you need three dogs in bed with you.
It seems as though whenever those of us in the sport of purebred dogs and the dog fancy in general find that things are not going our way (with pending anti-dog legislation mostly) we rally to the battle cry, “We need to educate the public!” But, what exactly is the message we wish to convey to the public? Where should we go to find the public we are seeking to educate? And, what is our plan for reaching them?
Situated in the heart of Europe, Hungary (Magyar Köztársaság) is the country of pusztas (prairies) and the Danube, but also of Turkish occupation, Habsburg emperors, communist regimes and the 1956 uprising against the Russians. Until 1989, Hungary was a Socialist People’s Republic, but today it is an independent democratic republic.
It’s weird how the simplest old-fashioned remedies never seem to fail. Chicken soup really does help cure a cold, and chocolate actually does ease heartache. Scientific backup also confirms the therapeutic effect of physical contact with dogs. It measurably reduces stress and anxiety, and floods the brain with feel-good hormones.
I am saddened by the horrific act of violence in Orlando this past weekend and wish to extend my condolences to all those affected. This act of terrorism reminds me that we cannot take our safety and that of our dogs for granted: We must stay on our toes and be mindful of those around us. There has been more theft at shows in the recent past than any of us would like to acknowledge i.e. things disappearing from set-ups, motorhomes, booths, etc. We all need to take note and try to secure our belongings, merchandise, and dogs.
Anyone who is connected to the world of dogs and loves to learn new facts on the topic is pretty likely to know the term ‘domestication’. The word itself originates from the Latin word ‘domesticus’, which means ‘belonging to the house’.
There are some dogs that are simply born to work who also take their jobs very seriously and nothing will deter them from doing that work. If you have been lucky enough to have owned one of these dogs, you know that they are the type that,
You do all you can, each and every day, to make their lives happy and healthy. Some do this full-time (handlers); others do this part-time (owner, breeders or junior handlers) while they also work or go to school.
By the 1950s, one could easily notice that the sport of dogs had evolved and turned another corner. Changes occurred in almost every area of the sport, mainly through the efforts of new research, technologies and better breeding methods.
