<![CDATA[Love the Breeds - Pure Dog Talk]]>169186f8-066f-5c75-bb4e-ff3e41512c60Wed, 08 Apr 2026 02:46:42 +0000Captivate.fmLaura Reeveshttps://artwork.captivate.fm/a704ac25-bd82-4d66-a7e5-d62a61fa1675/itunes1800_a.pngLove the Breeds - Pure Dog TalkLaura ReevesLaura ReevesLaura interviews the *experts* to learn about breeds from Azawakh to Xoloitzcuintli. Long-time breeders, respected authorities and devoted owners cover personality, activity levels, grooming requirements, health and longevity of their chosen breeds. Dive into the living history represented by dog breeds from around the world and across the ages.Pure Dog Talk is the VOICE of Purebred Dogs. We talk to the legends of the sports and give you tips and tools to create an awesome life with your purebred dog. From dog shows to preservation breeding, from competitive obedience to field work, from agility to therapy dogs and all the fun in between; your passion is our purpose. Pure Dog Talk supports the American Kennel Club, our Parent, Specialty and All-Breed Clubs, Dog Sports, Therapy, Service and Preservation of our Canine Companions.https://puredogtalk.comfalseepisodichttps://feeds.captivate.fm/puredogtalk/collectionnopodcastSupport the show!387 – WHAT Are Rare Breeds and WHY are They Rare387 – WHAT Are Rare Breeds and WHY are They RareWHAT Are Rare Breeds and WHY are They Rare [caption id="attachment_8016" align="alignleft" width="225"] Susi Szeremy, working media at Westminster Kennel Club, with BIS winner GSP, CJ.[/caption] Susi Szeremy, founder of National Purebred Dog Day, joins host Laura Reeves to talk rare breeds, the #NPDD Photo Contest and celebrating our purebred dogs on May 1. Enjoy this excerpt of our fun and fascinating conversation. Click the play button to hear all the details in the podcast. “What is a rare breed and why is it rare,” Szeremy asks. “I suppose that rareness is determined by our experiences … I recently observed that if you and I have never seen an example of a breed, given all of our travels at dog shows, it's either because it really is a very rare breed or it's a working breed that hasn't experienced a push for recognition amongst more established registries.

Low Numbers or No Exposure

“For example, there is a Blue Lacy. There is a kelpie. I've not seen either of them because they don't belong to any registry that I'm aware of. There's not a push to get them recognized, but it doesn't mean they don't exist. In fact, the Blue Lacy is the state dog for Texas. It’s a very cool dog, named after the Lacy family, not because it's like blue lace, but it is a wicked working dog and so is the Kelpie. Unless I hightail it down to Texas or Australia, I'm unlikely to see either of these dogs anytime soon. Conversely, I find it interesting that just four years ago the AKC put out an article entitled ‘11 rare dog breeds you never knew existed’ … I know I've seen every one of those breeds. They are considered rare according to this article. What I consider rare is something that I've never seen.

Vulnerable breeds

“I think it's a perfect storm of different elements. Now, I make a distinction between what breeds are vulnerable in the UK and what breeds are vulnerable here. In the UK, there are 13 breeds that are coming in at 100 registrations as of 2019. That is in their country of origin. That's how they make it on that list, if that was their country of origin and they have fewer than 300 registrations each year, in the UK they are considered a dog that cannot sustain itself moving forward unless they get over that 300 mark. And there's 13 of them. I think the worst number that I saw in 2019 belonged to the Irish red and white setter and that only had 39. The Otterhound, I think surprisingly, came up a little better at 44. But worldwide there's maybe 800 Otterhounds, which I don't understand because it is a scruffy wonderful dog. Yeah, we don't hunt otters anymore, but in my opinion an Otterhound can be repurposed… to track and trail.

Too much Choice or No Choice...

“So far as why I think this is happening to some breeds, I think among the reasons is too much choice and no choice. Let me explain. We're getting more and more breeds known to the public. So there's more choices for them to pick from if they go to a breeder. However, the adopt don’t shop and rescue world has had its impact. So if you're vulnerable to feeling the guilt that you must adopt and you must rescue then your choices are very limited because I don't think you're probably going to find a rescue Azawakh.

Societal changes

“I think size is not all of it because I think a lot of people are inclined to say 'well the dogs are very big and people don't want big dogs anymore.' Yet the King Charles spaniel, 93 dogs in the UK last year were registered, and that's a small dog. It's a marvelous dog. I think the culture has changed as well. We are living in more urban settings. We’re closer together, so a hound that bays is probably not going to be appreciated by our neighbor. “We don't hunt as much … so we have less land … we live on less land and there is less land available to people to hunt on. People I think are vulnerable, if they don't do their homework, they see a dog on TV or in the movies that they fall in love with because the dog has a character. The character’s portrayed as having a quirky personality. People fall in love with that personality, not necessarily thinking or realizing that that may be a character written in but the actual breed itself comes with a different set of attributes. If they don't do their homework, they're going to be disappointed.”]]>WHAT Are Rare Breeds and WHY are They Rare [caption id="attachment_8016" align="alignleft" width="225"] Susi Szeremy, working media at Westminster Kennel Club, with BIS winner GSP, CJ.[/caption] Susi Szeremy, founder of National Purebred Dog Day, joins host Laura Reeves to talk rare breeds, the #NPDD Photo Contest and celebrating our purebred dogs on May 1. Enjoy this excerpt of our fun and fascinating conversation. Click the play button to hear all the details in the podcast. “What is a rare breed and why is it rare,” Szeremy asks. “I suppose that rareness is determined by our experiences … I recently observed that if you and I have never seen an example of a breed, given all of our travels at dog shows, it's either because it really is a very rare breed or it's a working breed that hasn't experienced a push for recognition amongst more established registries.

Low Numbers or No Exposure

“For example, there is a Blue Lacy. There is a kelpie. I've not seen either of them because they don't belong to any registry that I'm aware of. There's not a push to get them recognized, but it doesn't mean they don't exist. In fact, the Blue Lacy is the state dog for Texas. It’s a very cool dog, named after the Lacy family, not because it's like blue lace, but it is a wicked working dog and so is the Kelpie. Unless I hightail it down to Texas or Australia, I'm unlikely to see either of these dogs anytime soon. Conversely, I find it interesting that just four years ago the AKC put out an article entitled ‘11 rare dog breeds you never knew existed’ … I know I've seen every one of those breeds. They are considered rare according to this article. What I consider rare is something that I've never seen.

Vulnerable breeds

“I think it's a perfect storm of different elements. Now, I make a distinction between what breeds are vulnerable in the UK and what breeds are vulnerable here. In the UK, there are 13 breeds that are coming in at 100 registrations as of 2019. That is in their country of origin. That's how they make it on that list, if that was their country of origin and they have fewer than 300 registrations each year, in the UK they are considered a dog that cannot sustain itself moving forward unless they get over that 300 mark. And there's 13 of them. I think the worst number that I saw in 2019 belonged to the Irish red and white setter and that only had 39. The Otterhound, I think surprisingly, came up a little better at 44. But worldwide there's maybe 800 Otterhounds, which I don't understand because it is a scruffy wonderful dog. Yeah, we don't hunt otters anymore, but in my opinion an Otterhound can be repurposed… to track and trail.

Too much Choice or No Choice...

“So far as why I think this is happening to some breeds, I think among the reasons is too much choice and no choice. Let me explain. We're getting more and more breeds known to the public. So there's more choices for them to pick from if they go to a breeder. However, the adopt don’t shop and rescue world has had its impact. So if you're vulnerable to feeling the guilt that you must adopt and you must rescue then your choices are very limited because I don't think you're probably going to find a rescue Azawakh.

Societal changes

“I think size is not all of it because I think a lot of people are inclined to say 'well the dogs are very big and people don't want big dogs anymore.' Yet the King Charles spaniel, 93 dogs in the UK last year were registered, and that's a small dog. It's a marvelous dog. I think the culture has changed as well. We are living in more urban settings. We’re closer together, so a hound that bays is probably not going to be appreciated by our neighbor. “We don't hunt as much … so we have less land … we live on less land and there is less land available to people to hunt on. People I think are vulnerable, if they don't do their homework, they see a dog on TV or in the movies that they fall in love with because the dog has a character. The character’s portrayed as having a quirky personality. People fall in love with that personality, not necessarily thinking or realizing that that may be a character written in but the actual breed itself comes with a different set of attributes. If they don't do their homework, they're going to be disappointed.”]]>04c7ca90-b5d2-4573-b661-086c173ee21dMon, 27 Apr 2020 09:00:00 -070039:06falsefull37 – Foundation Stock Service: The Pumi and Rare Breeds Journey to AKC Recognition37 – Foundation Stock Service: The Pumi and Rare Breeds Journey to AKC Recognition

Chris and Tom Levy and the Pumi

When Chris and Tom Levy first imported their Hungarian Pumi to work as a herding dog, the breed was not recognized by the American Kennel Club.  It was an eleven year journey to full recognition

FSS to Miscellaneous

The journey to rare breed AKC recognition begins with FSS or Foundation Stock Service.  Formation of a parent club, a breed standard, and 150 dogs are a few of the requirements to move a breed from the FSS status to Miscellaneous. Listen to #37 of PureDogTalk and how Chris and Tom championed the Pumi to AKC recognition in the herding group.
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Chris and Tom Levy and the Pumi

When Chris and Tom Levy first imported their Hungarian Pumi to work as a herding dog, the breed was not recognized by the American Kennel Club.  It was an eleven year journey to full recognition

FSS to Miscellaneous

The journey to rare breed AKC recognition begins with FSS or Foundation Stock Service.  Formation of a parent club, a breed standard, and 150 dogs are a few of the requirements to move a breed from the FSS status to Miscellaneous. Listen to #37 of PureDogTalk and how Chris and Tom championed the Pumi to AKC recognition in the herding group.
AMY_1041.CR2
]]>https://puredogtalk.com/?p=2002Wed, 08 Mar 2017 10:00:00 -070028:32falsefull175 — Tibetan Mastiff History, Lore and Modern Living175 — Tibetan Mastiff History, Lore and Modern LivingTibetan Mastiff History, Lore and Modern Living “No one knows where they came from,” said Sabrina Novarra, one of the original Tibetan Mastiff breeders in the U.S. “The myth of the old monks of Tibet say that snow leopards bred with wolves. Now, we know that’s not true. But, we cannot trace the ancestry. They are the oldest large breed in existence.” Novarra acquired her first Tibetan Mastiff in 1987 and worked to help establish the breed with the American Kennel Club, where it was recognized in 2007.

Low key breed is long-lived but not easy to train

She said this ancient breed is relatively healthy and long-lived, but, while generally low key, they are not particularly biddable. “This is a landrace breed,” Novarra said. “… basically, a breed that has evolved itself as opposed to us evolving it. They are self-thinkers. They are not easily trained. You learn after you’ve had them as long as I have, that you make them think it’s their idea to be trained.” In Tibet the dogs developed as family and flock guardians who were tied during the day and roamed the village at night as protection. They still bark at night if they are outdoors, as that was their job in ancient times.
“This is not a dog if you want to do agility and obedience and take 300-mile hikes, this is not the dog for you … they’re very lazy,” Novarra said. She did note that she accomplished an obedience title on one of her older girls.
The dogs are very large and powerful and need significant amounts of socializing, according to breeders.
“Tibetan mastiffs need to see everything twice,” said Dan Nechemias, owner of the 2018 National Specialty Best of Breed winner. “Just because they saw a red basketball doesn’t mean that they’ll accept a yellow basketball. They were bred for 2000 years to be suspicious of absolutely everything but their family. So, everything that they see in their space — which is their entire visual field — is a threat until they decide it’s otherwise.”
Nechemias, who purchased his first Tibetan Mastiff in 2001, adds that, like many of the working and guardian breeds, the Tibetan Mastiff is very discerning about people they meet.
“… Tibetan Mastiffs are wary of people that are determined to meet them,” Nechemias said. “So what happens is the person’s just really working hard. They’re staring at the dog — you should never stare down an Asian breed much less a Tibetan Mastiff — they’re in their face. … If you ask a Tibetan Mastiff permission to touch it, it will wonder why you’re asking it permission. They’re an incredibly sensitive breed and then they say well this person’s asking me permission they must not be OK.”
]]>Tibetan Mastiff History, Lore and Modern Living “No one knows where they came from,” said Sabrina Novarra, one of the original Tibetan Mastiff breeders in the U.S. “The myth of the old monks of Tibet say that snow leopards bred with wolves. Now, we know that’s not true. But, we cannot trace the ancestry. They are the oldest large breed in existence.” Novarra acquired her first Tibetan Mastiff in 1987 and worked to help establish the breed with the American Kennel Club, where it was recognized in 2007.

Low key breed is long-lived but not easy to train

She said this ancient breed is relatively healthy and long-lived, but, while generally low key, they are not particularly biddable. “This is a landrace breed,” Novarra said. “… basically, a breed that has evolved itself as opposed to us evolving it. They are self-thinkers. They are not easily trained. You learn after you’ve had them as long as I have, that you make them think it’s their idea to be trained.” In Tibet the dogs developed as family and flock guardians who were tied during the day and roamed the village at night as protection. They still bark at night if they are outdoors, as that was their job in ancient times.
“This is not a dog if you want to do agility and obedience and take 300-mile hikes, this is not the dog for you … they’re very lazy,” Novarra said. She did note that she accomplished an obedience title on one of her older girls.
The dogs are very large and powerful and need significant amounts of socializing, according to breeders.
“Tibetan mastiffs need to see everything twice,” said Dan Nechemias, owner of the 2018 National Specialty Best of Breed winner. “Just because they saw a red basketball doesn’t mean that they’ll accept a yellow basketball. They were bred for 2000 years to be suspicious of absolutely everything but their family. So, everything that they see in their space — which is their entire visual field — is a threat until they decide it’s otherwise.”
Nechemias, who purchased his first Tibetan Mastiff in 2001, adds that, like many of the working and guardian breeds, the Tibetan Mastiff is very discerning about people they meet.
“… Tibetan Mastiffs are wary of people that are determined to meet them,” Nechemias said. “So what happens is the person’s just really working hard. They’re staring at the dog — you should never stare down an Asian breed much less a Tibetan Mastiff — they’re in their face. … If you ask a Tibetan Mastiff permission to touch it, it will wonder why you’re asking it permission. They’re an incredibly sensitive breed and then they say well this person’s asking me permission they must not be OK.”
]]>https://puredogtalk.com/?p=3950Mon, 16 Apr 2018 16:18:00 -070031:34falsefull182 – Love the Breeds: Clumber Spaniel Roundtable182 – Love the Breeds: Clumber Spaniel RoundtableLove the Breeds: Clumber Spaniel Roundtable Clumber Spaniels are not for everyone, these three breeders say, but for those who love them, they’ll never have another breed. Shedding, snoring, and slobbering aside, they agree that the dedication and humor of the Clumber Spaniel is what endears them to their owners. “You can come home from work after having a bad day and you open up the door and here’s this ball of fuzz with a toy in their mouth and their butt’s going everywhere. Not to give you the toy, just to show you the toy,” said breeder-judge Jan Sutherland.

Meeting a Rare Breed

With only an estimated 3,000 dogs in the U.S., the breeders strongly recommend prospective owners go to a national specialty as well as meet dogs in their home environments, so they can experience “love mauling” in person. “Attend a national specialty before you even make the plunge,” breeder judge Jim Fankhauser said. “Look at the extent of what’s out there before you jump in and make that commitment.”

Excellent Hunting Dogs

A very old flushing spaniel named Clumber Park in Sherwood Forest in England, the breed was developed to push through low hedges in search of game. They remain determined, a methodical hunting dog that works close to the hunter. Breeder Dr. Roe Froman, DVM describes them as the “Humvee” of spaniels.
“Find it, flush it, fetch it,” Froman said of the breed’s job. “I love hunting with Clumber Spaniels. I don’t know how many hunt test legs we’ve put on our dogs. Many, many, many for the 20 years we’ve been doing this. It is the most fun I think we can have with our dogs. We love it. They love it. I love it.”
While a Clumber’s antics are charming, and they are deeply devoted to their people, breeders agree that new owners should be aware of potential health concerns and idiosyncrasies.

Health Issues to Consider

Clumbers are notorious for eating foreign objects. Froman said it is the number one health risk in her experience. The discussion included who had the most foreign body removal surgeries. More than one had stories of dogs opening up six and seven times to take out blankets, socks, rocks, towels, plastic, toys, etc. Potential disease risks include neck and back problems common to long-bodied dogs, autoimmune-mediated hemolytic anemia, and an enzyme deficiency called PDP1.
“So, if you’re going to have a Clumber or multiple Clumbers,” Froman said, “pet insurance is a really good thing to think about. … they’re worth every penny of it, but they are not an inexpensive breed either. So, don’t think you have to have be rich to have a dog but you have to be responsible. You have to know those things might occur.”

Judging the Clumber in the Show Ring

Clumbers in the show ring have become more successful in recent years, but the unique proportions of the Clumber, described as “long, low and substantial,” can be challenging for conformation judges to asses properly. The standard describes the dog as “9 tall to 11 long measured from the withers to the base of the tail.” This is a much longer dog than most judges are accustomed to seeing. “It’s the training, in a sense, of a lot of the new judges that are coming into the breed,” said Fankhauser, “because they see rectangular, but it’s rectangular from, as Laura mentioned before, point of shoulder to buttocks. It’s not rectangular as we measure. So, you have to get them to retrain their eye to long enough. … You’re never going to find one too long.” We hope you enjoy today’s podcast sharing the love of a special breed. You can find more information at http://www.clumbers.org/  ]]>Love the Breeds: Clumber Spaniel Roundtable Clumber Spaniels are not for everyone, these three breeders say, but for those who love them, they’ll never have another breed. Shedding, snoring, and slobbering aside, they agree that the dedication and humor of the Clumber Spaniel is what endears them to their owners. “You can come home from work after having a bad day and you open up the door and here’s this ball of fuzz with a toy in their mouth and their butt’s going everywhere. Not to give you the toy, just to show you the toy,” said breeder-judge Jan Sutherland.

Meeting a Rare Breed

With only an estimated 3,000 dogs in the U.S., the breeders strongly recommend prospective owners go to a national specialty as well as meet dogs in their home environments, so they can experience “love mauling” in person. “Attend a national specialty before you even make the plunge,” breeder judge Jim Fankhauser said. “Look at the extent of what’s out there before you jump in and make that commitment.”

Excellent Hunting Dogs

A very old flushing spaniel named Clumber Park in Sherwood Forest in England, the breed was developed to push through low hedges in search of game. They remain determined, a methodical hunting dog that works close to the hunter. Breeder Dr. Roe Froman, DVM describes them as the “Humvee” of spaniels.
“Find it, flush it, fetch it,” Froman said of the breed’s job. “I love hunting with Clumber Spaniels. I don’t know how many hunt test legs we’ve put on our dogs. Many, many, many for the 20 years we’ve been doing this. It is the most fun I think we can have with our dogs. We love it. They love it. I love it.”
While a Clumber’s antics are charming, and they are deeply devoted to their people, breeders agree that new owners should be aware of potential health concerns and idiosyncrasies.

Health Issues to Consider

Clumbers are notorious for eating foreign objects. Froman said it is the number one health risk in her experience. The discussion included who had the most foreign body removal surgeries. More than one had stories of dogs opening up six and seven times to take out blankets, socks, rocks, towels, plastic, toys, etc. Potential disease risks include neck and back problems common to long-bodied dogs, autoimmune-mediated hemolytic anemia, and an enzyme deficiency called PDP1.
“So, if you’re going to have a Clumber or multiple Clumbers,” Froman said, “pet insurance is a really good thing to think about. … they’re worth every penny of it, but they are not an inexpensive breed either. So, don’t think you have to have be rich to have a dog but you have to be responsible. You have to know those things might occur.”

Judging the Clumber in the Show Ring

Clumbers in the show ring have become more successful in recent years, but the unique proportions of the Clumber, described as “long, low and substantial,” can be challenging for conformation judges to asses properly. The standard describes the dog as “9 tall to 11 long measured from the withers to the base of the tail.” This is a much longer dog than most judges are accustomed to seeing. “It’s the training, in a sense, of a lot of the new judges that are coming into the breed,” said Fankhauser, “because they see rectangular, but it’s rectangular from, as Laura mentioned before, point of shoulder to buttocks. It’s not rectangular as we measure. So, you have to get them to retrain their eye to long enough. … You’re never going to find one too long.” We hope you enjoy today’s podcast sharing the love of a special breed. You can find more information at http://www.clumbers.org/  ]]>https://puredogtalk.com/?p=5524Thu, 10 May 2018 17:34:00 -070035:30falsefull191 — Love the Breeds: German Shorthaired Pointer Roundtable191 — Love the Breeds: German Shorthaired Pointer RoundtableGerman Engineered for Versatility German Shorthaired Pointers are “energetic and athletic,” “full of vim and vigor” and “need a little room to burn off energy *every* day,” according to the experts. PureDogTalk caught up with three long-time GSP breeders at their national specialty show in Boise, Idaho in May. Char Rutar, AKC Conformation judge, Bob Straight, AKC Field Trial judge and David Nauer, AKC Agility judge, whose wife, Karen, judged the national specialty.

Living with German Shorthaired Pointers

You’re not buying a maniac, the breeders said, but the breed is built to work for a long time with tremendous endurance. They are high drive and high energy. Biddability, the dog’s willingness to work for its owner, is a key quality for which breeders strive. “People need to be aware of how they will enjoy life with this breed,” Straight said. Nauer added that owners can choose a variety of venues to vent the breed’s energy. Jogs, hiking, hunting, agility, dock diving, scent work, and tracking are all games these dogs like to play. All three of our experts agreed that a dog’s structure is the key for its longevity in active sports.  “Your pick conformation dog is my pick agility dog also,” Nauer said. “They are extremely people-oriented,” Rutar noted. “While there are differences in bloodlines, they aren’t as needy as some hunting breeds.”

Hunting with GSP

“If I had half the energy these dogs have in the field, I’d control the world,” Straight said. “Talk to the breeder,” Rutar added. “Find out what makes the breeder tick and you will find out what is important to them in their dogs.” Straight, agreed, noting that buyers should ask the right questions of the breeder to get the right match with the type of hunting dog they want.
From “All Age” field trial dogs, those that show the maximum independence when the handler is on horseback, to “meat dogs” that work close to a walking handler, Shorthairs offer a working style for every hunter.

Healthy dogs

“It’s important to deal with a breeder who will guarantee the health of dog,” Straight noted. “The breeder should warrant that the dogs have met the (GSPCA) health testing requirements.” The national club recommends that breeders test for health hips, hearts, eyes, elbows, and a genetic disease called CD. “Shorthairs are relatively healthy,” Rutar said. “We’ve seen some epilepsy. Some cancers pop up. A few heart problems. These are all there at a pretty manageable level. Breeders have religiously been screening hips for at least 30 years.” A note from your host: The human race is the least inbred mammalian species in the world. WE have all these diseases. Breeders can mitigate the incidence with ethics and responsibility.

The BEST thing about GSP?

  • Enthusiasm at whatever they do.
  • Versatile hunter, versatile companion.
  • They exude joy.

Parent Club Website: http://www.gspca.org/ Notable moments in GSP Conformation history: https://www.si.com/vault/1974/02/25/617716/he-pointed-the-way-at-westminster https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2016/02/16/german-shorthaired-pointer-cj-wins-westminster-dog-show/80482536/

Allison Foley’s Leading Edge Dog Show Academy Tip of the Week

Grooming the dog so it’s comfortable for you, might make the dog uncomfortable. Allison gives us her tips on how to avoid battles on the grooming table.
]]>German Engineered for Versatility German Shorthaired Pointers are “energetic and athletic,” “full of vim and vigor” and “need a little room to burn off energy *every* day,” according to the experts. PureDogTalk caught up with three long-time GSP breeders at their national specialty show in Boise, Idaho in May. Char Rutar, AKC Conformation judge, Bob Straight, AKC Field Trial judge and David Nauer, AKC Agility judge, whose wife, Karen, judged the national specialty.

Living with German Shorthaired Pointers

You’re not buying a maniac, the breeders said, but the breed is built to work for a long time with tremendous endurance. They are high drive and high energy. Biddability, the dog’s willingness to work for its owner, is a key quality for which breeders strive. “People need to be aware of how they will enjoy life with this breed,” Straight said. Nauer added that owners can choose a variety of venues to vent the breed’s energy. Jogs, hiking, hunting, agility, dock diving, scent work, and tracking are all games these dogs like to play. All three of our experts agreed that a dog’s structure is the key for its longevity in active sports.  “Your pick conformation dog is my pick agility dog also,” Nauer said. “They are extremely people-oriented,” Rutar noted. “While there are differences in bloodlines, they aren’t as needy as some hunting breeds.”

Hunting with GSP

“If I had half the energy these dogs have in the field, I’d control the world,” Straight said. “Talk to the breeder,” Rutar added. “Find out what makes the breeder tick and you will find out what is important to them in their dogs.” Straight, agreed, noting that buyers should ask the right questions of the breeder to get the right match with the type of hunting dog they want.
From “All Age” field trial dogs, those that show the maximum independence when the handler is on horseback, to “meat dogs” that work close to a walking handler, Shorthairs offer a working style for every hunter.

Healthy dogs

“It’s important to deal with a breeder who will guarantee the health of dog,” Straight noted. “The breeder should warrant that the dogs have met the (GSPCA) health testing requirements.” The national club recommends that breeders test for health hips, hearts, eyes, elbows, and a genetic disease called CD. “Shorthairs are relatively healthy,” Rutar said. “We’ve seen some epilepsy. Some cancers pop up. A few heart problems. These are all there at a pretty manageable level. Breeders have religiously been screening hips for at least 30 years.” A note from your host: The human race is the least inbred mammalian species in the world. WE have all these diseases. Breeders can mitigate the incidence with ethics and responsibility.

The BEST thing about GSP?

  • Enthusiasm at whatever they do.
  • Versatile hunter, versatile companion.
  • They exude joy.

Parent Club Website: http://www.gspca.org/ Notable moments in GSP Conformation history: https://www.si.com/vault/1974/02/25/617716/he-pointed-the-way-at-westminster https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2016/02/16/german-shorthaired-pointer-cj-wins-westminster-dog-show/80482536/

Allison Foley’s Leading Edge Dog Show Academy Tip of the Week

Grooming the dog so it’s comfortable for you, might make the dog uncomfortable. Allison gives us her tips on how to avoid battles on the grooming table.
]]>https://puredogtalk.com/?p=5668Mon, 11 Jun 2018 16:17:00 -070034:18falsefull203 – Love the Breeds: Harriers – Rare, Smart, Vocal203 – Love the Breeds: Harriers – Rare, Smart, VocalHarriers Are Small in Numbers, Big in Personality Fewer than 300 Harriers, total, are registered in the US, according to breed experts. Just two litters were whelped nationwide in 2017.
“There are probably more tigers in the U.S. than Harriers,” said Donna Smiley, the only Master of Harriers in the country.
PureDogTalk host Laura Reeves caught up with some of the breed’s most ardent supporters at the Harrier Club of America National Specialty.

Ancient breed now endangered

Donna Smiley’s book about the Harrier is one of few modern resources available.

One of the first five breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club, records of Harrier packs in England date back to 1100 AD. Harriers are believed to predate both Beagles and Foxhounds in England. They were bred to hunt hare, which was one of three “appropriate” quarry, along with boar and stag, for royalty to hunt. Foxhunting is a more recent tradition. “They are an endangered species,” said Linda Johnston. “And they’re just as cuddly as Pandas!” While there are hundreds of Beagle packs and at least 40 Foxhound packs in the US, Smiley owns the only Harrier pack in competition. “We never want to see a dichotomy,” Smiley said. “We don’t want to see a show hound/pack hound divide.” The Harrier’s quarry, the hare, is a different and larger species than a rabbit. The snowshoe hare and the jackrabbit are hares in the US. “Hares when pursued, will cover miles in a circle,” Smiley said. “Rabbits, when pushed too hard, will bolt down a hole.”

Adaptable problem solvers

Harriers are good in a household and will adapt to their owners’ lifestyle, said Kevin Shupenia. “They are as active as you want to be. We have several with marathon runners. But they are not a breed to ignore. They will find their own fun if left to their own devices. It’s important they don’t get bored.” Contrary to popular myths, hounds are not dumb, these experts agreed. They are independent and self-thinkers. On the issue of trainability, Smiley noted that other dogs, such as sporting breeds were developed to take direction from people. Pack hounds, not so much. “It was their job to figure it out,” Shupenia said. “They are not being directed. They are problem solvers.” Kristi Bowers, the newest member of the group, laughed that “if harriers went to college they’d study engineering.” Harriers in general are very healthy but they are not good off leash dogs. They thrive on routine and they are vocal. “They’re job was to tell the hunter they were on a scent,” Smiley said. “Don’t try to make them in to a dog that is silent.” Many thanks to our panel: Donna Smiley, Erick Arceneaux, Kevin Shupenia, Linda Johnston and Kristi Bowers. For additional information on this ancient and little-known breed, visit some of the links below. http://www.harrierclubofamerica.com/ https://www.betterworldbooks.com/product/detail/harrier-1593784201 And don’t miss Allison Foley’s Tip of the Week from the Leading Edge Dog Show Academy on  Appropriate Attire for the dog show!]]>Harriers Are Small in Numbers, Big in Personality Fewer than 300 Harriers, total, are registered in the US, according to breed experts. Just two litters were whelped nationwide in 2017.
“There are probably more tigers in the U.S. than Harriers,” said Donna Smiley, the only Master of Harriers in the country.
PureDogTalk host Laura Reeves caught up with some of the breed’s most ardent supporters at the Harrier Club of America National Specialty.

Ancient breed now endangered

Donna Smiley’s book about the Harrier is one of few modern resources available.

One of the first five breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club, records of Harrier packs in England date back to 1100 AD. Harriers are believed to predate both Beagles and Foxhounds in England. They were bred to hunt hare, which was one of three “appropriate” quarry, along with boar and stag, for royalty to hunt. Foxhunting is a more recent tradition. “They are an endangered species,” said Linda Johnston. “And they’re just as cuddly as Pandas!” While there are hundreds of Beagle packs and at least 40 Foxhound packs in the US, Smiley owns the only Harrier pack in competition. “We never want to see a dichotomy,” Smiley said. “We don’t want to see a show hound/pack hound divide.” The Harrier’s quarry, the hare, is a different and larger species than a rabbit. The snowshoe hare and the jackrabbit are hares in the US. “Hares when pursued, will cover miles in a circle,” Smiley said. “Rabbits, when pushed too hard, will bolt down a hole.”

Adaptable problem solvers

Harriers are good in a household and will adapt to their owners’ lifestyle, said Kevin Shupenia. “They are as active as you want to be. We have several with marathon runners. But they are not a breed to ignore. They will find their own fun if left to their own devices. It’s important they don’t get bored.” Contrary to popular myths, hounds are not dumb, these experts agreed. They are independent and self-thinkers. On the issue of trainability, Smiley noted that other dogs, such as sporting breeds were developed to take direction from people. Pack hounds, not so much. “It was their job to figure it out,” Shupenia said. “They are not being directed. They are problem solvers.” Kristi Bowers, the newest member of the group, laughed that “if harriers went to college they’d study engineering.” Harriers in general are very healthy but they are not good off leash dogs. They thrive on routine and they are vocal. “They’re job was to tell the hunter they were on a scent,” Smiley said. “Don’t try to make them in to a dog that is silent.” Many thanks to our panel: Donna Smiley, Erick Arceneaux, Kevin Shupenia, Linda Johnston and Kristi Bowers. For additional information on this ancient and little-known breed, visit some of the links below. http://www.harrierclubofamerica.com/ https://www.betterworldbooks.com/product/detail/harrier-1593784201 And don’t miss Allison Foley’s Tip of the Week from the Leading Edge Dog Show Academy on  Appropriate Attire for the dog show!]]>https://puredogtalk.com/?p=5843Mon, 23 Jul 2018 13:59:00 -070036:48falsefull215 – Lowchen in Danger: Could be Extinct in our Lifetime215 – Lowchen in Danger: Could be Extinct in our LifetimeAncient Lowchen breed holds threatened future

Alexia Rodriguez and Gracie Lou…

Alexia Rodriguez, breeder and Lowchen Club of America Director, talks about these non-shedding, healthy, active “best kept secret” little lion dogs. With depictions dating to the 1400s in Germany, Lowchen see only 80 dogs total registered annually in the U.S. Rodriguez said that in 2015, only 18 litters of Lowchen were whelped in the US, with an average litter size of only three puppies. On its current path, the club estimates Lowchen could become extinct by 2044. “Our numbers indicate only 37 percent of dogs in the U.S. contribute to the gene pool,” Rodriguez said. She added that the tight line breeding required to re-establish the breed following WWII is suspected to be the cause of the low litter numbers. Nonetheless they breed and whelp naturally.

Best kept secret

Dealer in his “Marvin the Martian” up-do, on the couch watching TV with his owner.

“The thing I love the most,” Rodriguez said, “is that Lowchen can be high level agility or performance dogs, and then they are just as happy to lay on the couch and snuggle for three days if you don’t want to do anything.” Lowchen’s unique coat and “lion” trim is relatively low-maintence, Rodriguez said. “You can go tracking one day, and the next day, give them a bath and blow out, and they’re ready to go in the ring,” she added. “If a smooth coated Cane Corso person can handle it, most people can…” In German, Lowchen means “little lion dog” so they were shaved in the shape of a lion, Rodriguez noted. The trim includes “bracelets” on all four legs, with each leg shaved about half way, the body shaved from the last rib back and the tail shaved about half way up. No scissoring is allowed. “They are tie- dyed dogs,” Rodriguez noted. “They come in all colors. Sables even look like a lion.”

Beatrice shows off her “mud dog” look.

The luxurious coat is not all one texture of hair, Rodriquez said. “Parti colors tend to be a little more curly and cottony,” she added. “White coats are the most difficult and tend to mat. Blacks and sables tend to have more easy to manage coats.”

Legends of the Lowchen

The breed was developed in Germany. One legend has it, Rodriguez said, that if a knight was killed in battle, they put a lion on his tombstone. If he died at home, they’d put a Löwchen on the tombstone. The breed was rumored to be a favorite of the ladies of European royalty because the dogs would attract fleas and keep them off the people.

Living with the Lowchen

Weighing about 15 pounds, the breed is easy to travel with, Rodriguez observed, and very healthy. “As a breeder we test eyes, hips, knees. There are not many heart problems. We test for PRA,” she added. “Breeders in the breed are very open, and willingly and publicly share information.” These healthy little dogs will often live 17 to 18 years, Rodriguez noted. They are resilient and not at all fragile. In fact, Rodriguez commented that they are phenomenal in agility, where they mostly compete in the 12” class. For more information or breeder referral, visit: http://www.thelowchenclubofamerica.org/ http://www.thelowchenguardian.com/european_history/ http://www.lowchenworld.com/wp/]]>Ancient Lowchen breed holds threatened future

Alexia Rodriguez and Gracie Lou…

Alexia Rodriguez, breeder and Lowchen Club of America Director, talks about these non-shedding, healthy, active “best kept secret” little lion dogs. With depictions dating to the 1400s in Germany, Lowchen see only 80 dogs total registered annually in the U.S. Rodriguez said that in 2015, only 18 litters of Lowchen were whelped in the US, with an average litter size of only three puppies. On its current path, the club estimates Lowchen could become extinct by 2044. “Our numbers indicate only 37 percent of dogs in the U.S. contribute to the gene pool,” Rodriguez said. She added that the tight line breeding required to re-establish the breed following WWII is suspected to be the cause of the low litter numbers. Nonetheless they breed and whelp naturally.

Best kept secret

Dealer in his “Marvin the Martian” up-do, on the couch watching TV with his owner.

“The thing I love the most,” Rodriguez said, “is that Lowchen can be high level agility or performance dogs, and then they are just as happy to lay on the couch and snuggle for three days if you don’t want to do anything.” Lowchen’s unique coat and “lion” trim is relatively low-maintence, Rodriguez said. “You can go tracking one day, and the next day, give them a bath and blow out, and they’re ready to go in the ring,” she added. “If a smooth coated Cane Corso person can handle it, most people can…” In German, Lowchen means “little lion dog” so they were shaved in the shape of a lion, Rodriguez noted. The trim includes “bracelets” on all four legs, with each leg shaved about half way, the body shaved from the last rib back and the tail shaved about half way up. No scissoring is allowed. “They are tie- dyed dogs,” Rodriguez noted. “They come in all colors. Sables even look like a lion.”

Beatrice shows off her “mud dog” look.

The luxurious coat is not all one texture of hair, Rodriquez said. “Parti colors tend to be a little more curly and cottony,” she added. “White coats are the most difficult and tend to mat. Blacks and sables tend to have more easy to manage coats.”

Legends of the Lowchen

The breed was developed in Germany. One legend has it, Rodriguez said, that if a knight was killed in battle, they put a lion on his tombstone. If he died at home, they’d put a Löwchen on the tombstone. The breed was rumored to be a favorite of the ladies of European royalty because the dogs would attract fleas and keep them off the people.

Living with the Lowchen

Weighing about 15 pounds, the breed is easy to travel with, Rodriguez observed, and very healthy. “As a breeder we test eyes, hips, knees. There are not many heart problems. We test for PRA,” she added. “Breeders in the breed are very open, and willingly and publicly share information.” These healthy little dogs will often live 17 to 18 years, Rodriguez noted. They are resilient and not at all fragile. In fact, Rodriguez commented that they are phenomenal in agility, where they mostly compete in the 12” class. For more information or breeder referral, visit: http://www.thelowchenclubofamerica.org/ http://www.thelowchenguardian.com/european_history/ http://www.lowchenworld.com/wp/]]>https://puredogtalk.com/?p=6014Mon, 03 Sep 2018 17:47:00 -070028:27falsefull206 — Love the Breeds: Shar Pei with Andrea Robins206 — Love the Breeds: Shar Pei with Andrea RobinsAncient Chinese Shar Pei Breed Finds Resurgence in North America

Andrea Robbins and “Ever”

Andrea Robins, a founding member of the Chinese Shar Pei Club of Canada, acquired her first Pei in 1983. She worked to get foundation stock registered in Canada and this ancient Chinese guard breed recognized there in 1991. According to the CSPCC, “It is generally accepted that the Chinese Shar-Pei originated during the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD) in the village of Dah-Let near the South China Sea. These dogs were all purpose working dogs to guard the family, farms and temples.”

Plea for help

In 1972, a breeder in China sent a plea begging westerners to help save his breed from extinction. This missive began the long process for Robins and many other North American breeders. The distinctive appearance of the Shar Pei had a very specific purpose, Robins noted. The loose, wrinkly “outerwear” allowed the dogs to literally turn inside their skin to bite a dog that was attacking them, while the tiny ears made it difficult for another dog to grab or pin them by that appendage. Although used primarily as guard dogs, Shar Pei were also employed as fighting dogs in China. “Our dogs’ natural stance – the topline rises, the high tailset, the ears forward on the head pointing to the eyes – they naturally look like they want to fight,” Robins said. “They even get picked on at the dog park because of it!”

“We’ve come a long way baby!”

The breed has changed from the original breed fanciers first saw in North America, Robins said. She noted breeders have worked hard to “soften” the temperament, socialize the puppies and help make them great family pets. “If you don’t socialize heavily, they can still be the stand-offish, aloof dog they were,” Robins noted. “We (also) rarely see skin problems anymore. Breeders have really worked together to fix a lot of these issues. We’ve come a long way baby.” But the Chinese did not have dogs as “pets,” Robins said. The breed had a purpose. “They are great with friends and families, but they should still have that guard nature,” she added. New Shar Pei owners need to know the breed can be stubborn, are wicked smart and need a strong leadership presence. “Don’t let the dog run the place,” Robins said. “They need to know who the boss is, and to do what they’re told. They are extremely smart, they want to please, so don’t confuse them.”

Preservation breeders make a difference

As in any purebred dog, choosing a conscientious breeder is imperative in Shar Pei. But even more than most, the breed’s responsible, preservation breeders make a difference, Robins said. “Our most common health problem is kidney failure caused by Amyloidosis,” Robins said. “There is finally a test to help us breed smarter. In this case, conscientious breeding determines whether you will have a dog that lives to 12 years old versus one who might not make it to two.”

The Chinese Shar Pei’s distinctive appearance was created for it’s original job dating back to 200 AD.

Hallmarks of the breed

When judging Shar Pei, Robins said the hallmarks of the breed are:
  • Movement is essential
  • Substance to the head
  • Tiny, tight ears
  • Small almond shaped eyes
  • “Scowly” expression
  • Big fat head
  • Black mouth
  • Topline rises to very high-set tail

One of the fascinating details of the Shar Pei is the difference in coat types. The shorter horse coat is the traditional/original coat, Robins said. In horse coat versus brush coat, in most cases, horse coat dogs have a different temperament, she added. “The horse coats are more standoffish and aloof,” Robins said. “They are smarter. They’re always way ahead of you. The brush coats are more laid back.” Interestingly, Robins noted that she does not recommended breeding horse coat to horse coat. “You lose bone, substance and head,” Robins said. For more specific input on breeding, judging and owning Chinese Shar Pei, be sure to listen to the podcast! You can also follow the links to the Canadian and American parent clubs.]]>Ancient Chinese Shar Pei Breed Finds Resurgence in North America

Andrea Robbins and “Ever”

Andrea Robins, a founding member of the Chinese Shar Pei Club of Canada, acquired her first Pei in 1983. She worked to get foundation stock registered in Canada and this ancient Chinese guard breed recognized there in 1991. According to the CSPCC, “It is generally accepted that the Chinese Shar-Pei originated during the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD) in the village of Dah-Let near the South China Sea. These dogs were all purpose working dogs to guard the family, farms and temples.”

Plea for help

In 1972, a breeder in China sent a plea begging westerners to help save his breed from extinction. This missive began the long process for Robins and many other North American breeders. The distinctive appearance of the Shar Pei had a very specific purpose, Robins noted. The loose, wrinkly “outerwear” allowed the dogs to literally turn inside their skin to bite a dog that was attacking them, while the tiny ears made it difficult for another dog to grab or pin them by that appendage. Although used primarily as guard dogs, Shar Pei were also employed as fighting dogs in China. “Our dogs’ natural stance – the topline rises, the high tailset, the ears forward on the head pointing to the eyes – they naturally look like they want to fight,” Robins said. “They even get picked on at the dog park because of it!”

“We’ve come a long way baby!”

The breed has changed from the original breed fanciers first saw in North America, Robins said. She noted breeders have worked hard to “soften” the temperament, socialize the puppies and help make them great family pets. “If you don’t socialize heavily, they can still be the stand-offish, aloof dog they were,” Robins noted. “We (also) rarely see skin problems anymore. Breeders have really worked together to fix a lot of these issues. We’ve come a long way baby.” But the Chinese did not have dogs as “pets,” Robins said. The breed had a purpose. “They are great with friends and families, but they should still have that guard nature,” she added. New Shar Pei owners need to know the breed can be stubborn, are wicked smart and need a strong leadership presence. “Don’t let the dog run the place,” Robins said. “They need to know who the boss is, and to do what they’re told. They are extremely smart, they want to please, so don’t confuse them.”

Preservation breeders make a difference

As in any purebred dog, choosing a conscientious breeder is imperative in Shar Pei. But even more than most, the breed’s responsible, preservation breeders make a difference, Robins said. “Our most common health problem is kidney failure caused by Amyloidosis,” Robins said. “There is finally a test to help us breed smarter. In this case, conscientious breeding determines whether you will have a dog that lives to 12 years old versus one who might not make it to two.”

The Chinese Shar Pei’s distinctive appearance was created for it’s original job dating back to 200 AD.

Hallmarks of the breed

When judging Shar Pei, Robins said the hallmarks of the breed are:
  • Movement is essential
  • Substance to the head
  • Tiny, tight ears
  • Small almond shaped eyes
  • “Scowly” expression
  • Big fat head
  • Black mouth
  • Topline rises to very high-set tail

One of the fascinating details of the Shar Pei is the difference in coat types. The shorter horse coat is the traditional/original coat, Robins said. In horse coat versus brush coat, in most cases, horse coat dogs have a different temperament, she added. “The horse coats are more standoffish and aloof,” Robins said. “They are smarter. They’re always way ahead of you. The brush coats are more laid back.” Interestingly, Robins noted that she does not recommended breeding horse coat to horse coat. “You lose bone, substance and head,” Robins said. For more specific input on breeding, judging and owning Chinese Shar Pei, be sure to listen to the podcast! You can also follow the links to the Canadian and American parent clubs.]]>https://puredogtalk.com/?p=5881Thu, 02 Aug 2018 18:45:00 -070026:22falsefull223 — Rhodesian Ridgeback: Power and Elegance223 — Rhodesian Ridgeback: Power and EleganceBalancing act of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Denise Flaim, Rhodesian Ridgeback breeder, judge and historian, shares her knowledge as the RRCUS National Specialty kicks off in Colorado.
The first impression of a Rhodesian Ridgeback, Flaim said, is a “smooth dog with an unbroken fluid line from the top of the head, lovely crested neck, smooth withers, straight topline, gently sloped croup, slightly longer than tall, handy sized for trotting all day. Well angled. Not an empty front, moves freely and effortlessly. Lovely head, round dark eye, triangular ear.”
The Ridgeback, Flaim noted, is that perfect balance of speed and strength. The original dogs routinely coursed large African antelope. As with other sighthounds, the size and bone of the breed always parallels the prey it hunts. They need to be heavy enough to bring down large game like a 200-pound Nyala; lithe and fast enough to catch it. While the breed features a diversity of style within type, the ideal is a dog lacking exaggeration in any part. “If you don’t know (a breed’s) history you’re doomed,” Flaim said “because you can’t understand its function and morphology.”

Ch. Swahili Jeff Davis — first American champion — with owner and founding Ridgeback breeder Col. Morrie de Pass of Mississippi.

Ridgebacks in Africa

In brief, according to Flaim, when the Dutch went to southern Africa in the late 1600s, they found an unimproved “border collie looking” dog that had a dorsal rise of hair on its back, Flaim summarized. These indigenous dogs that hung out with Koi Koi people, interbred with the Continental dogs, resulting in dogs that had native knowledge, resistance to tse tse flies and more.

Buff of Between Two Rivers, South African, whelped 1924.

The Boers moved to Rhodesia in the late 1800s, and a popular big game hunter acquired ridged bitches and interbred them with his pack. The resulting dogs were excellent at lion hunting. Flaim was quick to clarify what that actually entailed. The dogs would be taken with rich European hunting parties, in small packs of two or three, to find a lion and harass it, like a matador. Overall athleticism that let the dogs get out of the way of claws was most important.
“Any Ridgeback foolhardy enough to make contact with a lion, soon exited the gene pool in an unceremonious fashion,” Flaim said.

What travels with the ridge?

An endurance trotting breed, the Rhodesian Ridgeback should move effortlessly and freely.

The breed’s trademark ridge is important, Flaim observed, because “nothing exists in nature if it’s not functional. In Ridgebacks, the dogs that carried the ridge were superlative hunters and could survive in the harsh climate of southern Africa.
“Who knows what native knowledge or traits travel with that ridge,” Flaim said. “For example, Ridgebacks don’t jump into standing pools of water. They want graded entrances. In Africa, if you jump into a standing pool of water you encounter something that wants a snack.”
Rhodesian Ridgeback parent club website: https://www.rrcus.org/ And Allison Foley, Leading Edge Dog Show Academy, tells us how to use cornstarch for dematting.]]>Balancing act of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Denise Flaim, Rhodesian Ridgeback breeder, judge and historian, shares her knowledge as the RRCUS National Specialty kicks off in Colorado.
The first impression of a Rhodesian Ridgeback, Flaim said, is a “smooth dog with an unbroken fluid line from the top of the head, lovely crested neck, smooth withers, straight topline, gently sloped croup, slightly longer than tall, handy sized for trotting all day. Well angled. Not an empty front, moves freely and effortlessly. Lovely head, round dark eye, triangular ear.”
The Ridgeback, Flaim noted, is that perfect balance of speed and strength. The original dogs routinely coursed large African antelope. As with other sighthounds, the size and bone of the breed always parallels the prey it hunts. They need to be heavy enough to bring down large game like a 200-pound Nyala; lithe and fast enough to catch it. While the breed features a diversity of style within type, the ideal is a dog lacking exaggeration in any part. “If you don’t know (a breed’s) history you’re doomed,” Flaim said “because you can’t understand its function and morphology.”

Ch. Swahili Jeff Davis — first American champion — with owner and founding Ridgeback breeder Col. Morrie de Pass of Mississippi.

Ridgebacks in Africa

In brief, according to Flaim, when the Dutch went to southern Africa in the late 1600s, they found an unimproved “border collie looking” dog that had a dorsal rise of hair on its back, Flaim summarized. These indigenous dogs that hung out with Koi Koi people, interbred with the Continental dogs, resulting in dogs that had native knowledge, resistance to tse tse flies and more.

Buff of Between Two Rivers, South African, whelped 1924.

The Boers moved to Rhodesia in the late 1800s, and a popular big game hunter acquired ridged bitches and interbred them with his pack. The resulting dogs were excellent at lion hunting. Flaim was quick to clarify what that actually entailed. The dogs would be taken with rich European hunting parties, in small packs of two or three, to find a lion and harass it, like a matador. Overall athleticism that let the dogs get out of the way of claws was most important.
“Any Ridgeback foolhardy enough to make contact with a lion, soon exited the gene pool in an unceremonious fashion,” Flaim said.

What travels with the ridge?

An endurance trotting breed, the Rhodesian Ridgeback should move effortlessly and freely.

The breed’s trademark ridge is important, Flaim observed, because “nothing exists in nature if it’s not functional. In Ridgebacks, the dogs that carried the ridge were superlative hunters and could survive in the harsh climate of southern Africa.
“Who knows what native knowledge or traits travel with that ridge,” Flaim said. “For example, Ridgebacks don’t jump into standing pools of water. They want graded entrances. In Africa, if you jump into a standing pool of water you encounter something that wants a snack.”
Rhodesian Ridgeback parent club website: https://www.rrcus.org/ And Allison Foley, Leading Edge Dog Show Academy, tells us how to use cornstarch for dematting.]]>https://puredogtalk.com/?p=6074Mon, 01 Oct 2018 14:08:00 -070033:45falsefull227 — German Pinscher: All-Purpose, Robust Dog for Active Owners227 — German Pinscher: All-Purpose, Robust Dog for Active OwnersGerman Pinscher is up for anything, but not for everyone

Valerie Vihlen Schluter, left, and Janet Oatney, right, show off their winnings and their dogs at the GPCA national specialty in Washington.

I visited with German Pinscher fanciers at the GPCA national to learn about this ancient breed. Valerie Vihlen Schluter and Janet Oatney were kind enough to share their enthusiasm and words of advice for potential owners. German Pinschers date to the 1800s. This family farm dog was the foundation for Doberman Pinschers and Minature Pinschers. They are also split off as the “smooth coat” variety of the dogs that became the Standard Schnauzer. In fact, in Germany to this day, Oatney said, the Pinscher Schnauzer club remains united. Like so many other purebred dogs, the German Pinscher was salvaged after the devastation of WWII. Werner Jung, the breed warden, smuggled a GP bitch out of East Germany and mated her with oversized Miniature Pinschers to establish the modern breed.

A Ferrari vs a Cadillac

German Pinschers excel at many sports, including Fast CAT.

German Pinschers excel at many sports, including Fast CAT.

“These dogs are competitive in all kinds of sports,” Oatney said. “They take an experienced dog owner. They are not a good breed for the first-time dog owner.” Ferrari and Cadillac are both great cars, Oatney offered as a comparison. “These are like the Ferrari of dogs… You need to be on your toes.” Vihlen Schluter also noted that because the breed is so in tune with its owners, they can make excellent service and therapy dogs. In this arena, the breed boasts a FEMA certified disaster assistance dog that dispatches to disaster areas to comfort victims. The German Pinscher Club of America has excellent resources available at https://germanpinscher.org/

From the national club:

A Working Dog of Great Intelligence An ancient breed of great intelligence and high energy. They are medium sized and robust with a strong prey drive. Alert and intelligent, they are outstanding performance dogs as well as companions with an instinctive drive to protect home and family. Because of their strong will, intelligence and independent nature, obedience training is a MUST!

AKC Standard

The German Pinscher is a medium size, short coated dog, elegant in appearance with a strong square build and moderate body structure, muscular and powerful for endurance and agility. Energetic, watchful, alert, agile, fearless, determined, intelligent and loyal, the German Pinscher has the prerequisites to be an excellent watchdog and companion. Allison Foley, Leading Edge Dog Show Academy, offers her Tip of the Week on using available classes to best showcase your individual dog. And learn more about Trupanion’s “breeding rider” insurance policy with Harin Greer. Don’t forget to check out Pure Dog Talk’s new online store for great swag!]]>German Pinscher is up for anything, but not for everyone

Valerie Vihlen Schluter, left, and Janet Oatney, right, show off their winnings and their dogs at the GPCA national specialty in Washington.

I visited with German Pinscher fanciers at the GPCA national to learn about this ancient breed. Valerie Vihlen Schluter and Janet Oatney were kind enough to share their enthusiasm and words of advice for potential owners. German Pinschers date to the 1800s. This family farm dog was the foundation for Doberman Pinschers and Minature Pinschers. They are also split off as the “smooth coat” variety of the dogs that became the Standard Schnauzer. In fact, in Germany to this day, Oatney said, the Pinscher Schnauzer club remains united. Like so many other purebred dogs, the German Pinscher was salvaged after the devastation of WWII. Werner Jung, the breed warden, smuggled a GP bitch out of East Germany and mated her with oversized Miniature Pinschers to establish the modern breed.

A Ferrari vs a Cadillac

German Pinschers excel at many sports, including Fast CAT.

German Pinschers excel at many sports, including Fast CAT.

“These dogs are competitive in all kinds of sports,” Oatney said. “They take an experienced dog owner. They are not a good breed for the first-time dog owner.” Ferrari and Cadillac are both great cars, Oatney offered as a comparison. “These are like the Ferrari of dogs… You need to be on your toes.” Vihlen Schluter also noted that because the breed is so in tune with its owners, they can make excellent service and therapy dogs. In this arena, the breed boasts a FEMA certified disaster assistance dog that dispatches to disaster areas to comfort victims. The German Pinscher Club of America has excellent resources available at https://germanpinscher.org/

From the national club:

A Working Dog of Great Intelligence An ancient breed of great intelligence and high energy. They are medium sized and robust with a strong prey drive. Alert and intelligent, they are outstanding performance dogs as well as companions with an instinctive drive to protect home and family. Because of their strong will, intelligence and independent nature, obedience training is a MUST!

AKC Standard

The German Pinscher is a medium size, short coated dog, elegant in appearance with a strong square build and moderate body structure, muscular and powerful for endurance and agility. Energetic, watchful, alert, agile, fearless, determined, intelligent and loyal, the German Pinscher has the prerequisites to be an excellent watchdog and companion. Allison Foley, Leading Edge Dog Show Academy, offers her Tip of the Week on using available classes to best showcase your individual dog. And learn more about Trupanion’s “breeding rider” insurance policy with Harin Greer. Don’t forget to check out Pure Dog Talk’s new online store for great swag!]]>https://puredogtalk.com/?p=6150Mon, 15 Oct 2018 15:51:00 -070036:01falsefull257 – The Ancient Breed Believed to Predate all European Hunting Dogs257 – The Ancient Breed Believed to Predate all European Hunting DogsThe Ancient Breed Believed to Predate all European Hunting Dogs

The Bracco Italiano is depicted in the fourth and fifth centuries BC.

Dating back 2500 years, the Bracco Italiano is one of the world’s oldest hunting dogs. Host Laura Reeves is joined by Bracco Italiano Club of America member Marilyn Vinson to learn more. Braccos are frequently compared to the Spinone Italiano, but Vinson said the similarities are more in country of origin than in appearance. “The Bracco is a breed of angles,” Vinson said, “the Spinone a breed of curves.” And while the Bracco may have a very houndy look, Vinson said, they are a versatile hunting dog, designed to hunt, point and retrieve.

Hot Knife Through Butter

Vinson said the breed’s characteristic trot is one of its most identifying features. While the Bracco may sometimes appear to be “put together with rubber bands,” Vinson said the trot “is like a hot knife through butter, so smooth.” The breed’s enormous 10- to 12-foot long stride is designed to keep them working efficiently all day in the hunting field.

The Bracco Italiano is a “breed of angles,” according to enthusiast Marilyn Vinson.

Braccos came to the attention of enthusiasts in the US in the late 1990s, with the first dog registered with AKC’s Foundation Stock Service in 2001. According to Vinson a teenager in the Midwest formed original club, with help from other fanciers.

Dual Dogs a Must

The priority for the Bracco is to be a dual dog, Vinson said. The standard is the description of dog best able to hunt all day.
“I don’t care how well your dog hunts, if it doesn’t look like a Bracco I don’t want it,” Vinson said. “And I don’t care how pretty my dog is, if it doesn’t hunt I don’t want it.”
Currently working its way from FSS to Miscellaneous, and eventually regular group status, the Bracco has become popular with exhibitors for their easy-going disposition and “Gumby-like” properties, Vinson said. The breed currently competes in AKC pointing breed hunt tests, agility and more, as well as in FSS/Open conformation shows.

Health Considerations

The breed is generally long-lived, but can encounter issues with skin allergies, kidney problems caused by amyloidosis and is affected by bloat. For more information, visit: https://www.thebraccoclub.org/]]>The Ancient Breed Believed to Predate all European Hunting Dogs

The Bracco Italiano is depicted in the fourth and fifth centuries BC.

Dating back 2500 years, the Bracco Italiano is one of the world’s oldest hunting dogs. Host Laura Reeves is joined by Bracco Italiano Club of America member Marilyn Vinson to learn more. Braccos are frequently compared to the Spinone Italiano, but Vinson said the similarities are more in country of origin than in appearance. “The Bracco is a breed of angles,” Vinson said, “the Spinone a breed of curves.” And while the Bracco may have a very houndy look, Vinson said, they are a versatile hunting dog, designed to hunt, point and retrieve.

Hot Knife Through Butter

Vinson said the breed’s characteristic trot is one of its most identifying features. While the Bracco may sometimes appear to be “put together with rubber bands,” Vinson said the trot “is like a hot knife through butter, so smooth.” The breed’s enormous 10- to 12-foot long stride is designed to keep them working efficiently all day in the hunting field.

The Bracco Italiano is a “breed of angles,” according to enthusiast Marilyn Vinson.

Braccos came to the attention of enthusiasts in the US in the late 1990s, with the first dog registered with AKC’s Foundation Stock Service in 2001. According to Vinson a teenager in the Midwest formed original club, with help from other fanciers.

Dual Dogs a Must

The priority for the Bracco is to be a dual dog, Vinson said. The standard is the description of dog best able to hunt all day.
“I don’t care how well your dog hunts, if it doesn’t look like a Bracco I don’t want it,” Vinson said. “And I don’t care how pretty my dog is, if it doesn’t hunt I don’t want it.”
Currently working its way from FSS to Miscellaneous, and eventually regular group status, the Bracco has become popular with exhibitors for their easy-going disposition and “Gumby-like” properties, Vinson said. The breed currently competes in AKC pointing breed hunt tests, agility and more, as well as in FSS/Open conformation shows.

Health Considerations

The breed is generally long-lived, but can encounter issues with skin allergies, kidney problems caused by amyloidosis and is affected by bloat. For more information, visit: https://www.thebraccoclub.org/]]>https://puredogtalk.com/?p=6376Mon, 28 Jan 2019 19:32:00 -070020:01falsefull270 – David Fitzpatrick on Pekingese, the Palace Dogs of Peking270 – David Fitzpatrick on Pekingese, the Palace Dogs of PekingDavid Fitzpatrick on Pekingese, the Palace Dogs of Peking David Fitzpatrick, 2012 Westminster Kennel Club BIS winner with the Pekingese, Malachy, was obsessed with dogs as a child. Although his parents wouldn’t let him own a dog, he found ways to be involved  with them by walking and housesitting dogs in the neighborhood.

David Fitzpatrick receiving the Westminster Kennel Club BIS ribbon from judge Cindy Vogels.

His passion took off around 1970 when he wrote a letter to a local handler to see if she needed help. Before he knew it, he was being picked up after school, earning $5/day helping her with Pekingese and other toy breeds. “It could have been pretty much any breed,” Fitzpatrick said. “I fell into the lap of the Pekingese and loved them from the start. It was fate really.”
“Speak to anyone who is remotely involved with the Pekingese breed and the mention of David Fitzpatrick’s name will result in a degree of awe and reverence, for this American gentleman is acknowledged as being as fine a handler and presenter of a Pekingese as has ever been seen,” says noted British author Andrew Brace.

What is it about Pekingese?

The dogs of royalty in China, the first Pekingese specialty show was held in the US around 1908, Fitzpatrick said. “The breed attracted the pillars of society. They were the status symbol dog of the day and were the most popular toy breed into the ‘60s.” “It is a detail oriented breed,” Fitzpatrick noted, “with their pear shaped body, rectangular head, features spread out and not crowded, heavy bone, crooked legs, level back and high tail set.” Pekingese should have an intelligent expression, one that is almost arrogant and disdainful.
“Their true temperament is snooty,” Fitzpatrick said. “They were developed as palace dogs in China. They were royalty and had their own servants. They are generally waiting for you to do for them. It’s not a breed that really wants to please their humans.”

Pekes as pets

Fitzpatrick said the breed is great to live with. “They blend into the household,” he noted. “They get their loves and then go entertain themselves. They’re not constantly clawing at you like some dogs. They’re more independent.” Pekingese have a great deal of personality, Fitzpatrick added. While they are at a show they are performing, showing their regal and aristocratic nature. At home, they’re like any other dogs, they chase squirrels and his dogs even dug out a nest of baby bunnies.

Breed specific presentation

“It’s up to us to show our dogs in a proper manner, not succumb to this crazy show biz of dogs chasing bait around the ring… an aristocratic breed really should not be begging for food, should they?”]]>David Fitzpatrick on Pekingese, the Palace Dogs of Peking David Fitzpatrick, 2012 Westminster Kennel Club BIS winner with the Pekingese, Malachy, was obsessed with dogs as a child. Although his parents wouldn’t let him own a dog, he found ways to be involved  with them by walking and housesitting dogs in the neighborhood.

David Fitzpatrick receiving the Westminster Kennel Club BIS ribbon from judge Cindy Vogels.

His passion took off around 1970 when he wrote a letter to a local handler to see if she needed help. Before he knew it, he was being picked up after school, earning $5/day helping her with Pekingese and other toy breeds. “It could have been pretty much any breed,” Fitzpatrick said. “I fell into the lap of the Pekingese and loved them from the start. It was fate really.”
“Speak to anyone who is remotely involved with the Pekingese breed and the mention of David Fitzpatrick’s name will result in a degree of awe and reverence, for this American gentleman is acknowledged as being as fine a handler and presenter of a Pekingese as has ever been seen,” says noted British author Andrew Brace.

What is it about Pekingese?

The dogs of royalty in China, the first Pekingese specialty show was held in the US around 1908, Fitzpatrick said. “The breed attracted the pillars of society. They were the status symbol dog of the day and were the most popular toy breed into the ‘60s.” “It is a detail oriented breed,” Fitzpatrick noted, “with their pear shaped body, rectangular head, features spread out and not crowded, heavy bone, crooked legs, level back and high tail set.” Pekingese should have an intelligent expression, one that is almost arrogant and disdainful.
“Their true temperament is snooty,” Fitzpatrick said. “They were developed as palace dogs in China. They were royalty and had their own servants. They are generally waiting for you to do for them. It’s not a breed that really wants to please their humans.”

Pekes as pets

Fitzpatrick said the breed is great to live with. “They blend into the household,” he noted. “They get their loves and then go entertain themselves. They’re not constantly clawing at you like some dogs. They’re more independent.” Pekingese have a great deal of personality, Fitzpatrick added. While they are at a show they are performing, showing their regal and aristocratic nature. At home, they’re like any other dogs, they chase squirrels and his dogs even dug out a nest of baby bunnies.

Breed specific presentation

“It’s up to us to show our dogs in a proper manner, not succumb to this crazy show biz of dogs chasing bait around the ring… an aristocratic breed really should not be begging for food, should they?”]]>https://puredogtalk.com/?p=6463Thu, 14 Mar 2019 17:35:00 -070023:40falsefull277 – Hunting Poodles at Poodle Club of America: No, Really!277 – Hunting Poodles at Poodle Club of America: No, Really!Hunting Poodles at Poodle Club of America… No, Really!

Jaci Bowman hunting with two standard poodles

Jaci Bowman, owner, trainer and handler of hunting Poodles, joins host Laura Reeves to talk about retrieving, upland bird hunting and the history of poodle participation in hunt tests. Bowman began hunting with her poodles in the 1990s. She said that Poodle Club of America originally created a working certificate for the breed, but later poodles were accepted to compete in AKC licensed retriever hunt tests. Three years ago, poodles were also approved to participate in AKC’s hunting tests for spaniels.
From the PCA website: “Upland hunting traditionally consists of walking through the fields, locating birds, flushing them out of cover, and shooting and retrieving them.  Upland hunting varies widely from the sparse vegetation of the high desert, to the high cover of corn fields, to the dense cover of fence rows, to woodlands.  The type of bird varies, based on the habitat.  Game birds include pheasant, chukar, partridge, woodcock, doves, various kinds of quail and grouse, and pigeons.  With all of them, a good dog makes a valued hunting partner, a role that poodles have been filling for a long, long time.”

Poodle History

The breed was developed to hunt in marshes, with ancestry tracing to the Irish Water Spaniel, Bowman noted. As a result, they aren’t what she thinks of as “non-slip” retrievers like Labradors and Chesapeakes that were developed exclusively for retrieving downed waterfowl.

Not Just Show Dogs

PCA national events feature a working certificate test, a retriever test, and a spaniel test, along with an opportunity to introduce new dogs and owners to the sport. Bowman said that even though the field events are held before the dog show, newly popular “modified” trims enable dogs to transition from one to the other easily. Many of the dogs competing in the field tests are also show champions and compete in other performance venues like agility and obedience as well.]]>Hunting Poodles at Poodle Club of America… No, Really!

Jaci Bowman hunting with two standard poodles

Jaci Bowman, owner, trainer and handler of hunting Poodles, joins host Laura Reeves to talk about retrieving, upland bird hunting and the history of poodle participation in hunt tests. Bowman began hunting with her poodles in the 1990s. She said that Poodle Club of America originally created a working certificate for the breed, but later poodles were accepted to compete in AKC licensed retriever hunt tests. Three years ago, poodles were also approved to participate in AKC’s hunting tests for spaniels.
From the PCA website: “Upland hunting traditionally consists of walking through the fields, locating birds, flushing them out of cover, and shooting and retrieving them.  Upland hunting varies widely from the sparse vegetation of the high desert, to the high cover of corn fields, to the dense cover of fence rows, to woodlands.  The type of bird varies, based on the habitat.  Game birds include pheasant, chukar, partridge, woodcock, doves, various kinds of quail and grouse, and pigeons.  With all of them, a good dog makes a valued hunting partner, a role that poodles have been filling for a long, long time.”

Poodle History

The breed was developed to hunt in marshes, with ancestry tracing to the Irish Water Spaniel, Bowman noted. As a result, they aren’t what she thinks of as “non-slip” retrievers like Labradors and Chesapeakes that were developed exclusively for retrieving downed waterfowl.

Not Just Show Dogs

PCA national events feature a working certificate test, a retriever test, and a spaniel test, along with an opportunity to introduce new dogs and owners to the sport. Bowman said that even though the field events are held before the dog show, newly popular “modified” trims enable dogs to transition from one to the other easily. Many of the dogs competing in the field tests are also show champions and compete in other performance venues like agility and obedience as well.]]>https://puredogtalk.com/?p=6526Mon, 08 Apr 2019 15:38:00 -070018:31falsefull287 — Tibetan Spaniels: From Monastery Walls to the Back of the Sofa287 — Tibetan Spaniels: From Monastery Walls to the Back of the SofaTibetan Spaniels: From Monastery Walls to the Back of the Sofa

Ch. Avalon Riker of Ebonstern, circa 2002.

Host Laura Reeves caught up with three longtime breeders of Tibetan Spaniels, Kay Dickeson, Mallory Driskill and Carol Tyte, at the 2019 National Specialty in Albany, Ore. Tibbies, as their owners call them, are a small, low-maintenance, long-lived, affectionate but independent breed. The breed’s history takes shape from the mists of time. These were the alert watch dog that ran the along the thick walls of the monasteries in Tibet, alerting their much larger brethren, Tibetan Mastiffs, to any approaching danger. Weighing in at 9 to 15 pounds, Tibbies require no trimming for the show ring, are easy to maintain with simple brushing and frequently live to 16 years of age. The ancient breed is a big dog in a little dog body, Tyte noted. Their instincts still guide them to “be up high and watch things” Dickeson said. “They will get on the back of the sofa to look out the window,” Driskill noted, adding that “off the furniture” isn’t really a concept Tibbies honor.

Tibetan Spaniels may be any color or mixture of colors.

The first Tibetan Spaniels were imported to the U.S. from England in early 1970s. The breed was introduced to England in the early 1900s, Driskill said. Marlin Perkins, host of the Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom television show, imported Tibetan spaniels. Tyte, who owns descendants of these dogs, noted that in the second and third generation pedigrees of those imports, the dogs names were listed as “unknown.” Believed to predate Pekingese and Lhasa Apso, our panelists recommend Tibbies as a welcoming and engaging breed for owner handlers. Moderation in all things is the goal for the Tibetan Spaniel in the show ring. Driskill noted the breed is not extreme in any area – coat, head or bone. The characteristic hare foot is important for the “wash and wear” dogs. Aloof with strangers but not aggressive, Tibbies are generally not good off-leash and have a mind of their own, the panelists agreed. “You can do obedience,” Driskill said, “but be prepared to cry.” Tyte observed that the dogs have long and accurate memories. “They’re like small children,” Tyte said. “You can’t let them get away with anything even once.”]]>Tibetan Spaniels: From Monastery Walls to the Back of the Sofa

Ch. Avalon Riker of Ebonstern, circa 2002.

Host Laura Reeves caught up with three longtime breeders of Tibetan Spaniels, Kay Dickeson, Mallory Driskill and Carol Tyte, at the 2019 National Specialty in Albany, Ore. Tibbies, as their owners call them, are a small, low-maintenance, long-lived, affectionate but independent breed. The breed’s history takes shape from the mists of time. These were the alert watch dog that ran the along the thick walls of the monasteries in Tibet, alerting their much larger brethren, Tibetan Mastiffs, to any approaching danger. Weighing in at 9 to 15 pounds, Tibbies require no trimming for the show ring, are easy to maintain with simple brushing and frequently live to 16 years of age. The ancient breed is a big dog in a little dog body, Tyte noted. Their instincts still guide them to “be up high and watch things” Dickeson said. “They will get on the back of the sofa to look out the window,” Driskill noted, adding that “off the furniture” isn’t really a concept Tibbies honor.

Tibetan Spaniels may be any color or mixture of colors.

The first Tibetan Spaniels were imported to the U.S. from England in early 1970s. The breed was introduced to England in the early 1900s, Driskill said. Marlin Perkins, host of the Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom television show, imported Tibetan spaniels. Tyte, who owns descendants of these dogs, noted that in the second and third generation pedigrees of those imports, the dogs names were listed as “unknown.” Believed to predate Pekingese and Lhasa Apso, our panelists recommend Tibbies as a welcoming and engaging breed for owner handlers. Moderation in all things is the goal for the Tibetan Spaniel in the show ring. Driskill noted the breed is not extreme in any area – coat, head or bone. The characteristic hare foot is important for the “wash and wear” dogs. Aloof with strangers but not aggressive, Tibbies are generally not good off-leash and have a mind of their own, the panelists agreed. “You can do obedience,” Driskill said, “but be prepared to cry.” Tyte observed that the dogs have long and accurate memories. “They’re like small children,” Tyte said. “You can’t let them get away with anything even once.”]]>https://puredogtalk.com/?p=6591Mon, 13 May 2019 16:30:00 -070023:02falsefull291 – Shetland Sheepdog – Smart, Versatile, Adaptable291 – Shetland Sheepdog – Smart, Versatile, AdaptableShetland Sheepdog – Smart, Versatile, Adaptable

BISS Bronze GCh Solange Body Language, Flirt. Photo credit Cheryl Krajcar.

Host Laura Reeves visited the American Shetland Sheepdog Association National specialty for a multi-generational roundtable discussion of Shelties — what makes them good companions, fancy show dogs and fierce competitors in performance events. The roundtable participants captured the breed beautifully. Shelties are “fancy for their size,” “athletic and eager to please,” “smart, versatile and adaptable.” A long-lived, healthy breed, these experts said temperament and training impact how much vocalizing an individual dog will do. While the experts agree that in years past, the quality of the sable color exceeded the others, today, they said, blue merle, tri and bi-black color dogs have improved in quality significantly. Correct Sheltie expression, head planes and size are imperative to success in the show ring, our panel noted. They added that aspiring exhibitors need to be prepared for a “survival of the fittest” type commitment to the breed. A “young” breed, Shelties can be challenging to produce quality consistently, the panel noted, so new owners of show-potential pups are carefully screened.

ASSA Winners Bitch. Photo credit Cheryl Krajcar

According to “Shetland Sheepdog History” by Charlotte McGowan,

The history of the Sheltie is relatively recent and its earliest history is rather undistinguished. The Shetland Islands are remote and sparsely inhabited, although there is evidence of a long history as a stepping stone from Norway in ancient times. The general nature of the Shetland Islands, the windblown climate and somewhat sparse vegetation, have contributed to the miniaturization of livestock there in general. Because of the isolation of the Islands and the difficulty of making a living, animals there had to be very hardy.

The early native dogs were a very mixed lot but were generally very small, often 8-10 inches in height. It has been said that the ancestors of the dogs were Spitz type dogs brought from Scandinavia by early settlers, along with the large white Pomeranian, King Charles Spaniel, and smaller working sheepdogs from Scotland. The native dogs were rather inbred as no one kept more dogs than were needed for work.

The dogs were used to work Shetland Sheep, a small, extremely agile, almost goat-like breed. These original Island dogs were bred solely for utility. Because there are no fences on Shetland, the dogs did not do traditional sheep herding. They were used to drive sheep into rough stone enclosures so they could be dipped or “rooed,” as pulling the wool off them was called. They were also used to drive the rather wild sheep away from the crofter’s meager gardens. Another task was staying with the sheep on the more remote uninhabited islands in the summer. There they needed to be able to protect lambs from birds of prey like eagles, and traverse the seaweed covered rocks. The dog used its vocal abilities to bark at birds and scare them away. Barking was also a way to move sheep away from the croft and to locate the dog.

….

To continue reading this fascinating article, visit: https://www.americanshetlandsheepdogassociation.org/2016/07/08/shetland-sheepdog-history-mcgowen/

]]>Shetland Sheepdog – Smart, Versatile, Adaptable

BISS Bronze GCh Solange Body Language, Flirt. Photo credit Cheryl Krajcar.

Host Laura Reeves visited the American Shetland Sheepdog Association National specialty for a multi-generational roundtable discussion of Shelties — what makes them good companions, fancy show dogs and fierce competitors in performance events. The roundtable participants captured the breed beautifully. Shelties are “fancy for their size,” “athletic and eager to please,” “smart, versatile and adaptable.” A long-lived, healthy breed, these experts said temperament and training impact how much vocalizing an individual dog will do. While the experts agree that in years past, the quality of the sable color exceeded the others, today, they said, blue merle, tri and bi-black color dogs have improved in quality significantly. Correct Sheltie expression, head planes and size are imperative to success in the show ring, our panel noted. They added that aspiring exhibitors need to be prepared for a “survival of the fittest” type commitment to the breed. A “young” breed, Shelties can be challenging to produce quality consistently, the panel noted, so new owners of show-potential pups are carefully screened.

ASSA Winners Bitch. Photo credit Cheryl Krajcar

According to “Shetland Sheepdog History” by Charlotte McGowan,

The history of the Sheltie is relatively recent and its earliest history is rather undistinguished. The Shetland Islands are remote and sparsely inhabited, although there is evidence of a long history as a stepping stone from Norway in ancient times. The general nature of the Shetland Islands, the windblown climate and somewhat sparse vegetation, have contributed to the miniaturization of livestock there in general. Because of the isolation of the Islands and the difficulty of making a living, animals there had to be very hardy.

The early native dogs were a very mixed lot but were generally very small, often 8-10 inches in height. It has been said that the ancestors of the dogs were Spitz type dogs brought from Scandinavia by early settlers, along with the large white Pomeranian, King Charles Spaniel, and smaller working sheepdogs from Scotland. The native dogs were rather inbred as no one kept more dogs than were needed for work.

The dogs were used to work Shetland Sheep, a small, extremely agile, almost goat-like breed. These original Island dogs were bred solely for utility. Because there are no fences on Shetland, the dogs did not do traditional sheep herding. They were used to drive sheep into rough stone enclosures so they could be dipped or “rooed,” as pulling the wool off them was called. They were also used to drive the rather wild sheep away from the crofter’s meager gardens. Another task was staying with the sheep on the more remote uninhabited islands in the summer. There they needed to be able to protect lambs from birds of prey like eagles, and traverse the seaweed covered rocks. The dog used its vocal abilities to bark at birds and scare them away. Barking was also a way to move sheep away from the croft and to locate the dog.

….

To continue reading this fascinating article, visit: https://www.americanshetlandsheepdogassociation.org/2016/07/08/shetland-sheepdog-history-mcgowen/

]]>https://puredogtalk.com/?p=6613Mon, 27 May 2019 17:25:00 -070034:40falsefull312 — Susan Giles on the Lhasa Apso, Grooming and Breeding312 — Susan Giles on the Lhasa Apso, Grooming and BreedingSusan Giles on the Lhasa Apso, Grooming Secrets, and Breeding Susan Giles, Lhasa Apso breeder for 45 years, shares her grooming and breeding secrets, as well as the history of this ancient breed. The Lhasa Apso is thought to have been the alert dogs in Tibetan monasteries, where they would bark to alert their larger brethren, the Tibetan Mastiff. “These dogs are extremely intelligent,” Giles said. “They’ll make you think they don’t know anything. They are aloof with strangers. An independent breed, they’re not sitting on you or demanding.”

Hair, not fur

Apsos have hair, not fur, Giles noted, so owners don’t have hair shedding or dander. Dogs kept in coats require maintenance, but she says brushing the coat is calming. “The important part is to stay on top of it,” Giles said. “They need to be brushed a couple of times a week and, bathed each week. The texture and hardness of the coat depend on how much brushing you’ll do. Clean coats are easy. Dirty coats mat.” The Lhasa Apso temperament, although aloof, can be sweet, Giles observed. “It’s all a matter of breeding,” Giles said. “A sharp temperament will take over in a pet home with growling and biting, if it’s sweet, it takes over by being cute.” A proper Lhasa Apso expression is like “looking into the eyes of a very old soul,” Giles said.]]>Susan Giles on the Lhasa Apso, Grooming Secrets, and Breeding Susan Giles, Lhasa Apso breeder for 45 years, shares her grooming and breeding secrets, as well as the history of this ancient breed. The Lhasa Apso is thought to have been the alert dogs in Tibetan monasteries, where they would bark to alert their larger brethren, the Tibetan Mastiff. “These dogs are extremely intelligent,” Giles said. “They’ll make you think they don’t know anything. They are aloof with strangers. An independent breed, they’re not sitting on you or demanding.”

Hair, not fur

Apsos have hair, not fur, Giles noted, so owners don’t have hair shedding or dander. Dogs kept in coats require maintenance, but she says brushing the coat is calming. “The important part is to stay on top of it,” Giles said. “They need to be brushed a couple of times a week and, bathed each week. The texture and hardness of the coat depend on how much brushing you’ll do. Clean coats are easy. Dirty coats mat.” The Lhasa Apso temperament, although aloof, can be sweet, Giles observed. “It’s all a matter of breeding,” Giles said. “A sharp temperament will take over in a pet home with growling and biting, if it’s sweet, it takes over by being cute.” A proper Lhasa Apso expression is like “looking into the eyes of a very old soul,” Giles said.]]>https://puredogtalk.com/?p=6776Thu, 08 Aug 2019 05:48:00 -070028:26falsefull316 — Ireland’s “Heritage Status” for Native Dog Breeds316 — Ireland’s “Heritage Status” for Native Dog BreedsIreland Designates “Heritage Status” for Native Dog Breeds Sean Delmar, president of the Irish Kennel Club and Kerry Blue Terrier breeder, has just achieved the holy grail of “heritage status” for the nine native Irish breeds.

Heritage Status

JULY 16, 2019

I am pleased to announce that the 9 Irish Breeds have been granted National Heritage status by the Minister.

This is a wonderful step in the future protection and development of our amazing Irish Breeds and comes after many years of representations by those committed to Irish Breeds.

On behalf of The Irish Kennel Club I would like to specifically acknowledge the commitment of the following who put there heart and soul into making this a reality. Cathy Delmar, Eddie Burke, Vincent Flannelly.

Sean Delmar, President

“I thought there was a chance these breeds could go out of existence,” Delmar said. “I thought the Government should take some responsibility. We wanted to convince them these dog breeds are part of the patchwork quilt of the Irish people.”
This exciting success required a lot of initiatives over 10 years, Delmar noted. The small group of folks involved did demonstrations, paraded dogs at schools, had dogs on “chat shows” on TV. “We built up a portfolio so we had something to show the government, not just an idea,” Delmar said. “We created a heritage weekend revolving around dogs. Even hawking with setters in the midland bogs. People learned a lot about Irish breeds. The general populace is now more aware.” The Irish Kennel Club was only the national body that made the application. So much enthusiasm and work done was from a handful of devoted fanciers, Delmar said. “Dogs developed because of working ability originally,” Delmar observed. “Ireland has the Irish Wolfhound and Kerry Beagle, Red setter, Red and white setter and Water spaniel. In the terrier group we have Kerry Blue, Irish, Glen of Imaal, Soft Coated Wheaten.”

Purebred dogs are history and art

Wolfhounds are one of the ancient symbols of Ireland along with the shamrock and harp. Kerry beagle are a hunting pack unique to Ireland. During the potato famine in Ireland, ships carrying refugees to the US, took Kerry beagles with them. Delmar expects these dogs could be found behind coonhounds in the US. Romantic figures in Irish history hunted on horseback with hawks and setters, using nets before guns were invented. Delmar’s telling of the rich tapestry of Irish history, includes Grace O’Malley — one of the earliest known female pirates, born around 1530 in Ireland and growing up to lead a 20-ship fleet. Her contribution to the development of the Irish Water Spaniel was the connection to her incursions on the Iberian Peninsula.
“We just undersell everything we do,” Delmar said. “We don’t spend enough time telling people that what you get with pedigree dogs is predictable qualities, predictable characteristics. Don’t get that in crossbreds. Can be great dogs. They might have one or two of the qualities. But it’s a lucky get. Like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates.”
]]>Ireland Designates “Heritage Status” for Native Dog Breeds Sean Delmar, president of the Irish Kennel Club and Kerry Blue Terrier breeder, has just achieved the holy grail of “heritage status” for the nine native Irish breeds.

Heritage Status

JULY 16, 2019

I am pleased to announce that the 9 Irish Breeds have been granted National Heritage status by the Minister.

This is a wonderful step in the future protection and development of our amazing Irish Breeds and comes after many years of representations by those committed to Irish Breeds.

On behalf of The Irish Kennel Club I would like to specifically acknowledge the commitment of the following who put there heart and soul into making this a reality. Cathy Delmar, Eddie Burke, Vincent Flannelly.

Sean Delmar, President

“I thought there was a chance these breeds could go out of existence,” Delmar said. “I thought the Government should take some responsibility. We wanted to convince them these dog breeds are part of the patchwork quilt of the Irish people.”
This exciting success required a lot of initiatives over 10 years, Delmar noted. The small group of folks involved did demonstrations, paraded dogs at schools, had dogs on “chat shows” on TV. “We built up a portfolio so we had something to show the government, not just an idea,” Delmar said. “We created a heritage weekend revolving around dogs. Even hawking with setters in the midland bogs. People learned a lot about Irish breeds. The general populace is now more aware.” The Irish Kennel Club was only the national body that made the application. So much enthusiasm and work done was from a handful of devoted fanciers, Delmar said. “Dogs developed because of working ability originally,” Delmar observed. “Ireland has the Irish Wolfhound and Kerry Beagle, Red setter, Red and white setter and Water spaniel. In the terrier group we have Kerry Blue, Irish, Glen of Imaal, Soft Coated Wheaten.”

Purebred dogs are history and art

Wolfhounds are one of the ancient symbols of Ireland along with the shamrock and harp. Kerry beagle are a hunting pack unique to Ireland. During the potato famine in Ireland, ships carrying refugees to the US, took Kerry beagles with them. Delmar expects these dogs could be found behind coonhounds in the US. Romantic figures in Irish history hunted on horseback with hawks and setters, using nets before guns were invented. Delmar’s telling of the rich tapestry of Irish history, includes Grace O’Malley — one of the earliest known female pirates, born around 1530 in Ireland and growing up to lead a 20-ship fleet. Her contribution to the development of the Irish Water Spaniel was the connection to her incursions on the Iberian Peninsula.
“We just undersell everything we do,” Delmar said. “We don’t spend enough time telling people that what you get with pedigree dogs is predictable qualities, predictable characteristics. Don’t get that in crossbreds. Can be great dogs. They might have one or two of the qualities. But it’s a lucky get. Like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates.”
]]>https://puredogtalk.com/?p=6799Thu, 22 Aug 2019 16:04:00 -070034:43falsefull333 – Pyrenean Shepherd: Small, Smart, Rare333 – Pyrenean Shepherd: Small, Smart, RarePyrenean Shepherd: Small, Smart, Rare Pyrenean Shepherd fancier Joni McKeown shares details of this endangered herding breed from the Pyrenees mountains of France. The small herding breed accompanied the Great Pyrenees guarding the flocks that moved between the isolated and remote regions of the mountains and valleys.
“When people come to shows, everyone thinks they are cute.  They have a mischievous, funny sense of humor, and a really cute little head, but this is a working dog. It should not just be a pretty face,” McKeown said.

A brindle PyrShep showing cording on the back half of the dog as is correct.

From the AKC website: These tough, lean, and lively herders, famous for their vigorous and free-flowing movement, come in two coat varieties: rough-faced and smooth-faced. Roughs have profuse, “windswept” hair above the muzzle and a generally harsh coat; smooths have short facial hair, a finer-textured coat, and a slightly longer, pointier muzzle. Both varieties of this sinewy, rectangular breed come in many colors and patterns. Pyr Sheps see the world through dark almond-shaped eyes conveying an alert and cunning expression. PyrSheps are a prime example of why pet owners should learn the history of a breed in order to better understand its temperament and behavior.
“Because of their job, the breed is just hardwired to see the world as friend or foe. There’s not a lot of grey area for them. Preserving that heritage is so important. French judges fuss at us for how friendly our dogs are. We kind of live in a world where we need the dogs to be friendlier. But we’re losing genetics if we start turning a Pyrenean Shepherd into a Golden Retriever (temperament). You can’t expect to have that across the board,” McKeown said.

Faces rough or smooth

Differences between the two “types” are notable. Head and body structure are different and both types are born in the same litter. Traits definitely pass together, McKeown observed. The rough face develops a characteristic “windblown look” of hair on its face, she added. “This is the only breed that only cords on the back half of the body. In France all the adult dogs are corded. Different dogs have different types of cords. In the US you don’t see that many people cording the dogs. It’s a very rustic look. But you can keep them brushed out,” McKeown said. The standard offers no preference for corded or not in the show ring. The coat is described as half way between sheep and goat hair. It has a very coarse texture. Exhibitors are encouraged to not do a lot of bathing or blow drying as it changes the coat texture. The standard also includes strong penalties for trimming anything but the pads of the feet.

Best owners

PyrSheps can live 17 to 20 years. They need a dedicated owner who will give them lots of activity, McKeown noted.
“These dogs really, really need a job. The breed is brilliant. Almost frightening sometimes the things they figure out. They’re not always the best breed for a novice dog owner. More intense even than other herding breeds because they’re closer to the roots,” McKeown said.
]]>Pyrenean Shepherd: Small, Smart, Rare Pyrenean Shepherd fancier Joni McKeown shares details of this endangered herding breed from the Pyrenees mountains of France. The small herding breed accompanied the Great Pyrenees guarding the flocks that moved between the isolated and remote regions of the mountains and valleys.
“When people come to shows, everyone thinks they are cute.  They have a mischievous, funny sense of humor, and a really cute little head, but this is a working dog. It should not just be a pretty face,” McKeown said.

A brindle PyrShep showing cording on the back half of the dog as is correct.

From the AKC website: These tough, lean, and lively herders, famous for their vigorous and free-flowing movement, come in two coat varieties: rough-faced and smooth-faced. Roughs have profuse, “windswept” hair above the muzzle and a generally harsh coat; smooths have short facial hair, a finer-textured coat, and a slightly longer, pointier muzzle. Both varieties of this sinewy, rectangular breed come in many colors and patterns. Pyr Sheps see the world through dark almond-shaped eyes conveying an alert and cunning expression. PyrSheps are a prime example of why pet owners should learn the history of a breed in order to better understand its temperament and behavior.
“Because of their job, the breed is just hardwired to see the world as friend or foe. There’s not a lot of grey area for them. Preserving that heritage is so important. French judges fuss at us for how friendly our dogs are. We kind of live in a world where we need the dogs to be friendlier. But we’re losing genetics if we start turning a Pyrenean Shepherd into a Golden Retriever (temperament). You can’t expect to have that across the board,” McKeown said.

Faces rough or smooth

Differences between the two “types” are notable. Head and body structure are different and both types are born in the same litter. Traits definitely pass together, McKeown observed. The rough face develops a characteristic “windblown look” of hair on its face, she added. “This is the only breed that only cords on the back half of the body. In France all the adult dogs are corded. Different dogs have different types of cords. In the US you don’t see that many people cording the dogs. It’s a very rustic look. But you can keep them brushed out,” McKeown said. The standard offers no preference for corded or not in the show ring. The coat is described as half way between sheep and goat hair. It has a very coarse texture. Exhibitors are encouraged to not do a lot of bathing or blow drying as it changes the coat texture. The standard also includes strong penalties for trimming anything but the pads of the feet.

Best owners

PyrSheps can live 17 to 20 years. They need a dedicated owner who will give them lots of activity, McKeown noted.
“These dogs really, really need a job. The breed is brilliant. Almost frightening sometimes the things they figure out. They’re not always the best breed for a novice dog owner. More intense even than other herding breeds because they’re closer to the roots,” McKeown said.
]]>https://puredogtalk.com/?p=6884Mon, 21 Oct 2019 18:30:00 -070032:13falsefull337 – Black & Tan Dynamos: The Wash & Wear Manchester337 – Black & Tan Dynamos: The Wash & Wear ManchesterBlack & Tan Dynamos: The Wash & Wear Manchester The Manchester Terrier has two varieties, Standard and Toy, both descended from the extinct black and tan terrier, according to a panel of experts at the American Manchester Terrier Club National Specialty. The Manchester’s job was to hunt rats and other vermin in England and they retain the high prey drive today. Our experts encourage new owners to be sure their Manchester is on lead when outside a fenced area.
“You can have a good recall, but a squirrel will always take precedence,” said Marla Zoz.

Key Manchester Points:

  • High drive, are food motivated but easily distracted.
  • Very smart, pick up new skills quickly.
  • Get very attached to their people. Suitable for a house or apartment.
  • Need lots of physical activity.
  • Require a lot of attention.
  • Love being a part of the family.
  • Need to spend time to develop well balanced companion.
  • Low maintenance grooming… nails, clean teeth, wash and wear.
  • Longevity – 15+ years.
  • Health issues include cardiomyopathy and vWD, a bleeding disorder. When visiting with a potential breeder, be sure to ask if he/she is testing for these conditions with available DNA tests.

Standard Manchester Terriers are allowed to have naturally erect ears, button (shown here) or cropped. Toy Manchesters are only shown with naturally erect ears.

“You want to go, they’re ready at a moment’s notice. You want to cuddle on the couch, they’re right there,” said Jim Burrows.
These dogs are terriers, whether standard or toy sized, our panelists noted. They can “talk a lot.” Everyone agreed that the “four-footed burglar alarm” breed can be vocal. “They’re going to bark if they see something they don’t know,” Burrows said. While generally aloof with strangers, the Manchester will warm up to new folks quickly. The breed needs a lot of socializing to develop a well-rounded dog, the breeders all agreed. Dog aggression, typical of many terriers, is manageable with appropriate socializing and training.]]>Black & Tan Dynamos: The Wash & Wear Manchester The Manchester Terrier has two varieties, Standard and Toy, both descended from the extinct black and tan terrier, according to a panel of experts at the American Manchester Terrier Club National Specialty. The Manchester’s job was to hunt rats and other vermin in England and they retain the high prey drive today. Our experts encourage new owners to be sure their Manchester is on lead when outside a fenced area.
“You can have a good recall, but a squirrel will always take precedence,” said Marla Zoz.

Key Manchester Points:

  • High drive, are food motivated but easily distracted.
  • Very smart, pick up new skills quickly.
  • Get very attached to their people. Suitable for a house or apartment.
  • Need lots of physical activity.
  • Require a lot of attention.
  • Love being a part of the family.
  • Need to spend time to develop well balanced companion.
  • Low maintenance grooming… nails, clean teeth, wash and wear.
  • Longevity – 15+ years.
  • Health issues include cardiomyopathy and vWD, a bleeding disorder. When visiting with a potential breeder, be sure to ask if he/she is testing for these conditions with available DNA tests.

Standard Manchester Terriers are allowed to have naturally erect ears, button (shown here) or cropped. Toy Manchesters are only shown with naturally erect ears.

“You want to go, they’re ready at a moment’s notice. You want to cuddle on the couch, they’re right there,” said Jim Burrows.
These dogs are terriers, whether standard or toy sized, our panelists noted. They can “talk a lot.” Everyone agreed that the “four-footed burglar alarm” breed can be vocal. “They’re going to bark if they see something they don’t know,” Burrows said. While generally aloof with strangers, the Manchester will warm up to new folks quickly. The breed needs a lot of socializing to develop a well-rounded dog, the breeders all agreed. Dog aggression, typical of many terriers, is manageable with appropriate socializing and training.]]>https://puredogtalk.com/?p=6915Mon, 04 Nov 2019 20:03:00 -070021:31falsefull340 – The Uber Dog Needs a Job: German Wirehaired Pointer340 – The Uber Dog Needs a Job: German Wirehaired PointerThe Uber Dog Needs a Job: German Wirehaired Pointer The German Wirehaired Pointer is generally the smartest dog in the room, according to panelists at the GWPCA national specialty show. “They’d rather break in to your house than out of your house. They want to be with you. They want lots of attention and want to be part of the family. I want to sell a dog to someone who is active, does a lot, tries new things. You need to do something with the dog.” — Breeder and Judges Education Coordinator, Judy Cheshire

Robin Nelson

“They do require a tremendous amount of time. You have to be with them. You cannot not have a plan regarding all the events you do with them and commit to that from day one. I can’t even imagine not crate training a wirehair. I love how they learn, I love how they think. They’re people in their previous lives.” — Veterinarian and GWP owner, Robin Nelson “Owners with small, furry, edible pets are screened out from the beginning. They’re incredibly smart loyal and manipulative. To successfully live with GWP, you need structure. Left without structure they are sort of like Dennis the Menace crossed with Home Alone. It’s not enough to just exercise the dog. They enjoy doing things. But they tend to thrive in a benevolent dictatorship.” — Breeder, Conformation, Hunt Test and Field Trial Judge, Laura Myles

Versatile hunting dogs, versatile performance dogs

“The Germans in the late 1800s wanted a dog that could do everything. Hunt fur and feather, retrieve on land and in water, track wounded game, dispatch small predators, guard hearth and home,” Cheshire said. “A lot of breeds were being developed at that time. This splinter group broke off  who decided performance was most important. The early GWP motto was ‘Breed as you like, be honest, tell what you’re breeding to, make progress,'” Cheshire added. “They don’t quit. They go til they’re dead. I love their drive. I truly believe you can teach them anything,” Nelson observed. “If you can break it into the steps, there is nothing you can’t teach them. They get bored easily and they rewrite the lesson plan for you. The dog needs to buy in to the lesson plan with you. You have to be prepared. And always stop on a positive,” Myles noted. For more information, visit: https://gwpca.com/]]>The Uber Dog Needs a Job: German Wirehaired Pointer The German Wirehaired Pointer is generally the smartest dog in the room, according to panelists at the GWPCA national specialty show. “They’d rather break in to your house than out of your house. They want to be with you. They want lots of attention and want to be part of the family. I want to sell a dog to someone who is active, does a lot, tries new things. You need to do something with the dog.” — Breeder and Judges Education Coordinator, Judy Cheshire

Robin Nelson

“They do require a tremendous amount of time. You have to be with them. You cannot not have a plan regarding all the events you do with them and commit to that from day one. I can’t even imagine not crate training a wirehair. I love how they learn, I love how they think. They’re people in their previous lives.” — Veterinarian and GWP owner, Robin Nelson “Owners with small, furry, edible pets are screened out from the beginning. They’re incredibly smart loyal and manipulative. To successfully live with GWP, you need structure. Left without structure they are sort of like Dennis the Menace crossed with Home Alone. It’s not enough to just exercise the dog. They enjoy doing things. But they tend to thrive in a benevolent dictatorship.” — Breeder, Conformation, Hunt Test and Field Trial Judge, Laura Myles

Versatile hunting dogs, versatile performance dogs

“The Germans in the late 1800s wanted a dog that could do everything. Hunt fur and feather, retrieve on land and in water, track wounded game, dispatch small predators, guard hearth and home,” Cheshire said. “A lot of breeds were being developed at that time. This splinter group broke off  who decided performance was most important. The early GWP motto was ‘Breed as you like, be honest, tell what you’re breeding to, make progress,'” Cheshire added. “They don’t quit. They go til they’re dead. I love their drive. I truly believe you can teach them anything,” Nelson observed. “If you can break it into the steps, there is nothing you can’t teach them. They get bored easily and they rewrite the lesson plan for you. The dog needs to buy in to the lesson plan with you. You have to be prepared. And always stop on a positive,” Myles noted. For more information, visit: https://gwpca.com/]]>https://puredogtalk.com/?p=6931Thu, 14 Nov 2019 19:47:00 -070040:36falsefull349 – Azawakh: The Camp Guardians of the Tuareg People349 – Azawakh: The Camp Guardians of the Tuareg PeopleAzawakh: The Camp Guardians of the Tuareg People

“Nothing Fragile About This Breed at All”

The Azawakh is one of AKC’s newest recognized breeds. The long-legged, aloof hounds have been in the US since 1988, but were only approved for the hound group in January 2019. With only an estimated 150 dogs in the States and less than 3,000 worldwide, Azawakh fall in to the category of “threatened” breed populations. Aliya Taylor, a retired Philadelphia Police Officer, acquired her first Azawakh in 2012. She grew up in dogs with her family and eventually showed dogs around her police work. Like everyone else in dogs, she scheduled her vacations around dog shows and hoped for no emergencies. A desert dog, the Azawakh is taller than it is long. They hail from West Africa where they were known as the camp guardians of the nomadic Tuareg people in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. “These guys are basically guard dogs,” Taylor said. Despite appearing emaciated to the untrained eye, “there is nothing fragile about this breed at all. They will guard you and your property.”
“Everything in that part of the world is long on leg, tall off the ground,” Taylor noted. “Azawakh are an evolutionary development. Man had nothing to do with how the Azawakh looks. They are not mixed with any other type of hound and developed independently in an isolated area.
“If you’re fat in the desert, you don’t survive very long,” Taylor added wryly. While she hears a lot of well-intentioned cooing about her “sick or rescued” dog, Taylor said, “They’re supposed to look like this! These dogs eat more than I do. They are physically unable to carry much body fat.” Taylor encourages judges to approach the breed appropriately.
“You should never approach head on. Approach on an angle, on the side. Keep a calm body demeanor. Put a hand on the dog’s shoulder. Don’t challenge with direct eye contact. Dogs are still primitive & semi feral. Approach cautiously but without fear. Calm, confident, not rushing, no fast hand movements,” Taylor said.
Azawakhs are not the best choice for a first-time dog owner or someone who hasn’t owned a primitive breed. “They are not Golden Retrievers. They will not be friendly to strangers. They may not be friendly to every person in your home,” Taylor said. Nonetheless, “These guys are highly trainable. You can teach them to do anything, but you have to get their trust. You have to treat them as an equal. They’re not like other dogs in the sense that you give them a command,” Taylor opined.]]>Azawakh: The Camp Guardians of the Tuareg People

“Nothing Fragile About This Breed at All”

The Azawakh is one of AKC’s newest recognized breeds. The long-legged, aloof hounds have been in the US since 1988, but were only approved for the hound group in January 2019. With only an estimated 150 dogs in the States and less than 3,000 worldwide, Azawakh fall in to the category of “threatened” breed populations. Aliya Taylor, a retired Philadelphia Police Officer, acquired her first Azawakh in 2012. She grew up in dogs with her family and eventually showed dogs around her police work. Like everyone else in dogs, she scheduled her vacations around dog shows and hoped for no emergencies. A desert dog, the Azawakh is taller than it is long. They hail from West Africa where they were known as the camp guardians of the nomadic Tuareg people in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. “These guys are basically guard dogs,” Taylor said. Despite appearing emaciated to the untrained eye, “there is nothing fragile about this breed at all. They will guard you and your property.”
“Everything in that part of the world is long on leg, tall off the ground,” Taylor noted. “Azawakh are an evolutionary development. Man had nothing to do with how the Azawakh looks. They are not mixed with any other type of hound and developed independently in an isolated area.
“If you’re fat in the desert, you don’t survive very long,” Taylor added wryly. While she hears a lot of well-intentioned cooing about her “sick or rescued” dog, Taylor said, “They’re supposed to look like this! These dogs eat more than I do. They are physically unable to carry much body fat.” Taylor encourages judges to approach the breed appropriately.
“You should never approach head on. Approach on an angle, on the side. Keep a calm body demeanor. Put a hand on the dog’s shoulder. Don’t challenge with direct eye contact. Dogs are still primitive & semi feral. Approach cautiously but without fear. Calm, confident, not rushing, no fast hand movements,” Taylor said.
Azawakhs are not the best choice for a first-time dog owner or someone who hasn’t owned a primitive breed. “They are not Golden Retrievers. They will not be friendly to strangers. They may not be friendly to every person in your home,” Taylor said. Nonetheless, “These guys are highly trainable. You can teach them to do anything, but you have to get their trust. You have to treat them as an equal. They’re not like other dogs in the sense that you give them a command,” Taylor opined.]]>e1462277-cf75-428a-8928-6f10ccda23b0Mon, 16 Dec 2019 09:00:00 -070023:01falsefull350 — Guy Hull: Australian Cattle Dogs and the History of Australia350 — Guy Hull: Australian Cattle Dogs and the History of AustraliaAustralian Cattle Dogs and the History of Australia Author, researcher and purebred dog enthusiast Guy Hull shares the fascinating history of the development of Australian Cattle Dogs and how they helped build a fledgling nation. Today’s episode is brought to you in cooperation with Canine Construction and Conformation Facebook group. Hull is the author of The Dogs That Made Australia: The Story of the Dogs That Brought About Australia's Transformation from Starving Colony to Pastoral Powerhouse. Australian Cattle Dogs, Hull said, are the only breed resulting from the successful hybridization of dogs and dingoes.
“Australia, more than any other country, was so dependent on dogs,” Hull said. “Especially native bred dogs that could cope with all of the hardships of the land.”
The progenitors of the breed were created by the Hall family. These early Australian settlers owned 700+ square miles outside of Sydney. They needed a dog that could deal with wild cattle imported from South Africa. Sheep didn’t survive well in the hostile environment of the new country. Beef cattle could survive, but they needed tough dogs to help manage them. The Hall family crossed an English dog known as the “droving cur,” tailless, square in profile, speckled blue, with dingoes. Dingoes, as a species, are classified as wolves.

Hall's Heelers

Dingo genes are so strong they dominate domestic genes, Hull said. It took multiple generations of back crossing to the domestic dogs to create the dog we know today. By 1832 the Halls had two types, including the Australian Cattle Dog progenitor. These dogs, known as Hall’s Heelers, were privately held from 1830-70. Managers of 200 Hall properties carried forward the breeding program. When the family sold all of their holdings after 1870, the dogs became available to the general public. Around this same time, long distance droving dogs became redundant with the advent of wire fencing and railroads. Hall’s dogs were designed to work wild cattle. When cattle became quieter and easier to manage, with the import of new cattle breeds, fences and transportation, the dogs were too “hard” for the domestic cattle. Border collies, kelpies and other “collie” type breeds became popular to work the more domesticated stock. The show fraternity preserved the Australian Cattle Dog after its job was no longer needed.
“They are a dog that has re-invented itself as all around Australian guard dog and companion,” Hull said. “They are supposed to have a suspicious glint in their eyes.”
]]>Australian Cattle Dogs and the History of Australia Author, researcher and purebred dog enthusiast Guy Hull shares the fascinating history of the development of Australian Cattle Dogs and how they helped build a fledgling nation. Today’s episode is brought to you in cooperation with Canine Construction and Conformation Facebook group. Hull is the author of The Dogs That Made Australia: The Story of the Dogs That Brought About Australia's Transformation from Starving Colony to Pastoral Powerhouse. Australian Cattle Dogs, Hull said, are the only breed resulting from the successful hybridization of dogs and dingoes.
“Australia, more than any other country, was so dependent on dogs,” Hull said. “Especially native bred dogs that could cope with all of the hardships of the land.”
The progenitors of the breed were created by the Hall family. These early Australian settlers owned 700+ square miles outside of Sydney. They needed a dog that could deal with wild cattle imported from South Africa. Sheep didn’t survive well in the hostile environment of the new country. Beef cattle could survive, but they needed tough dogs to help manage them. The Hall family crossed an English dog known as the “droving cur,” tailless, square in profile, speckled blue, with dingoes. Dingoes, as a species, are classified as wolves.

Hall's Heelers

Dingo genes are so strong they dominate domestic genes, Hull said. It took multiple generations of back crossing to the domestic dogs to create the dog we know today. By 1832 the Halls had two types, including the Australian Cattle Dog progenitor. These dogs, known as Hall’s Heelers, were privately held from 1830-70. Managers of 200 Hall properties carried forward the breeding program. When the family sold all of their holdings after 1870, the dogs became available to the general public. Around this same time, long distance droving dogs became redundant with the advent of wire fencing and railroads. Hall’s dogs were designed to work wild cattle. When cattle became quieter and easier to manage, with the import of new cattle breeds, fences and transportation, the dogs were too “hard” for the domestic cattle. Border collies, kelpies and other “collie” type breeds became popular to work the more domesticated stock. The show fraternity preserved the Australian Cattle Dog after its job was no longer needed.
“They are a dog that has re-invented itself as all around Australian guard dog and companion,” Hull said. “They are supposed to have a suspicious glint in their eyes.”
]]>8ccd0b50-3445-4639-a4b2-7897ed25e1ddThu, 19 Dec 2019 14:00:00 -070034:40falsefull368 – Beauceron: Rustic Farm Dog and Living Fence368 – Beauceron: Rustic Farm Dog and Living FenceBeauceron: Rustic Farm Dog and Living Fence Our Love the Breeds panel discusses Beauceron, the ancient French farm dog described as a “living fence” in their native country. [caption id="attachment_7723" align="alignleft" width="300"] Beauceron may be shown with cropped or uncropped ears. This is a litter with dam at center bred by Elaine Giannelli.[/caption] According to breeder Elaine Giannelli, in France, the Shepherd would go out to the field with his sheep and the Beauceron would go out like a fence and keep the sheep where they were supposed to be while they grazed … “The Beauceron was a farm dog so he did a lot of things besides just move the sheep… he would take the sheep out during the day to graze, move them to another graze and then bring them back home and then protect the farm in the evening,” said third-generation French breeder Eric Vavassori. [caption id="attachment_7727" align="alignright" width="300"] Beauceron were developed more than 600 years ago to serve as rustic farm dogs and a "living fence" to move stock to new pastures and keep them where they belonged.[/caption] Moving sheep and cattle required a substantial, hardy dog, the panelists noted. The Beauceron stands up to 27 ½” tall and is considered a stronger, lower key type of dog than the German Shepherd Dog or Malinois. “They definitely have an activity level,” Beauceron owner Sidney Wilcox said, “but they're not manic … they're not a Border Collie, they're not constantly go go go go go go go go go …. they don't have the focus, the intenseness of a Border Collie or [caption id="attachment_7724" align="alignleft" width="196"] Panelist Sidney Wilcox and her harlequin Beauceron.[/caption] Malinois, but they are high-energy with a sense of humor.” New Beauceron fancier Sara Reid agrees. “Never laugh at a Beauceron! They’ll just keep doing whatever made you laugh.” The Beauceron was accepted in AKC’s registry in 2007, but the history of the breed dates back centuries. “They say that when the French settled in Louisiana that they brought a couple Harlequins with them,” Giannelli said, “and that's where the Catahoula (Leopard Dog) got (the merle gene)… that was from way, way back when the French first came to Louisiana.” [caption id="attachment_7726" align="alignright" width="300"] Panelist Sara Reid with her Beauceron, Misha.[/caption] The breed has a strong personality, the panelists observed. It needs firm, fair and consistent training and above-average amounts of socializing, they noted. “Temperament could be an issue,” Vavassori said. “Why? Because a long time ago, the Beauceron was a farm dog and he was on the farm only to protect the family and to manage the sheep. So, the dog was not socialized. The dogs must be socialized early, early by the Breeders and after by the owners, more than German Shepherd or Labrador…” A healthy breed, the Beauceron is generally long-lived by large breed standards, with a strong worldwide population. Learn more here.]]>Beauceron: Rustic Farm Dog and Living Fence Our Love the Breeds panel discusses Beauceron, the ancient French farm dog described as a “living fence” in their native country. [caption id="attachment_7723" align="alignleft" width="300"] Beauceron may be shown with cropped or uncropped ears. This is a litter with dam at center bred by Elaine Giannelli.[/caption] According to breeder Elaine Giannelli, in France, the Shepherd would go out to the field with his sheep and the Beauceron would go out like a fence and keep the sheep where they were supposed to be while they grazed … “The Beauceron was a farm dog so he did a lot of things besides just move the sheep… he would take the sheep out during the day to graze, move them to another graze and then bring them back home and then protect the farm in the evening,” said third-generation French breeder Eric Vavassori. [caption id="attachment_7727" align="alignright" width="300"] Beauceron were developed more than 600 years ago to serve as rustic farm dogs and a "living fence" to move stock to new pastures and keep them where they belonged.[/caption] Moving sheep and cattle required a substantial, hardy dog, the panelists noted. The Beauceron stands up to 27 ½” tall and is considered a stronger, lower key type of dog than the German Shepherd Dog or Malinois. “They definitely have an activity level,” Beauceron owner Sidney Wilcox said, “but they're not manic … they're not a Border Collie, they're not constantly go go go go go go go go go …. they don't have the focus, the intenseness of a Border Collie or [caption id="attachment_7724" align="alignleft" width="196"] Panelist Sidney Wilcox and her harlequin Beauceron.[/caption] Malinois, but they are high-energy with a sense of humor.” New Beauceron fancier Sara Reid agrees. “Never laugh at a Beauceron! They’ll just keep doing whatever made you laugh.” The Beauceron was accepted in AKC’s registry in 2007, but the history of the breed dates back centuries. “They say that when the French settled in Louisiana that they brought a couple Harlequins with them,” Giannelli said, “and that's where the Catahoula (Leopard Dog) got (the merle gene)… that was from way, way back when the French first came to Louisiana.” [caption id="attachment_7726" align="alignright" width="300"] Panelist Sara Reid with her Beauceron, Misha.[/caption] The breed has a strong personality, the panelists observed. It needs firm, fair and consistent training and above-average amounts of socializing, they noted. “Temperament could be an issue,” Vavassori said. “Why? Because a long time ago, the Beauceron was a farm dog and he was on the farm only to protect the family and to manage the sheep. So, the dog was not socialized. The dogs must be socialized early, early by the Breeders and after by the owners, more than German Shepherd or Labrador…” A healthy breed, the Beauceron is generally long-lived by large breed standards, with a strong worldwide population. Learn more here.]]>2e17b19f-d3dd-4c87-88a5-c169b0e7353cThu, 20 Feb 2020 09:00:00 -070031:26falsefull371 – Pugs: Mischievous and Charming Companions CAN Work371 – Pugs: Mischievous and Charming Companions CAN WorkPugs: Mischievous and Charming Companions CAN Work Three long-time breeders join host Laura Reeves to talk about all things Pugs. Kim Langlands, Brenda Belmonte and Patti Kolesar Stoltz share the joy of Pug dogs, their companionship, their functionality, their snoring and their health.

Ancient history

[caption id="attachment_7742" align="alignleft" width="225"] Patti Kolesar Stoltz[/caption] “The exact origin of our breed is actually lost in antiquity,” Kolesar Stoltz said. “What we do know is that the Pug is of Chinese origin … he was known in the Orient as early as 700 BC … the breed was developed as one of three short faced dogs bred in China for the Imperial court … it's believed that the Pug found his way to the western world via Dutch merchant traders … because when people from the Western world, at that time, would go to China and conquer, they would bring back presents for their Royals. Pugs were one of the presents that they brought back and they became the favored of monarchs throughout Europe. There is no doubt that the Royal patronage helped to establish the popularity of the breed. In fact, Pug dogs were twice the most popular breed in Europe, in the late 1600s and during the Victorian era… the wonderful thing about Pugs being so popular in the Victorian era is we can visually follow our breed through history because it was very often the favorite subject depicted in many forms of art -- early paintings, sculptures, porcelains, so we can follow his history … the breed has a wonderful temperament. They make ideal companions. We were admitted to the American Kennel Club in 1885. We are the largest of the toy breeds and we are one of the most mischievous, also the most fun. And we still remain dignified loving and trusting of everybody.”

Myth busting

[caption id="attachment_7745" align="alignright" width="242"] Brenda Belmonte[/caption] It's a pervasive myth that these flat nose breeds can't breathe normally, Belmonte noted, therefore they can't do normal things. “It's unfair to our breed to just assume that because it's a Pug it's unhealthy,” Belmonte added, noting her work with the breed in nosework, agility and obedience. “I think the general public needs to hear that and they need to see what our pugs can do so that we can combat this belief that, ‘Oh my gosh our pugs are unhealthy,’ that’s very, very far from the fact. As a [caption id="attachment_7740" align="alignleft" width="300"] Belmonte's pug competing in nosework.[/caption] breeder and somebody who's been in the breed a long time, I truly believe that good breeders have the best interest of their dog’s health at heart. So yes, it's about being a good, responsible breeder and it's about knowing that these dogs can breathe normally and they can do the things other dogs can do.”

Healthy habits

Langlands observed that, although the breed has evolved as time has gone on, the brachycephalic dogs were never intended to run marathons. [caption id="attachment_7743" align="alignright" width="300"] Kim Langlands[/caption] “This is a breed (that is) more than capable of doing agility and other performance events and going out and being good little happy pets and going for walks,” Langlands said. “They’re as healthy as people want them to be and take care of them to be. If you take good care of your dog, you're going to have a happy healthy pet … and that includes taking care of their teeth, their nose roll, their weight. I mean the weight is a huge issue.”

Color questions

[caption id="attachment_7748" align="alignleft" width="300"] Pugs are black or fawn.[/caption] Kolesar Stoltz, who heads up education for the Pug Dog Club of America, reminds our audience that pugs come in fawn or black. Period. “Fawn has various shades of real light blonde to what we call an apricot fawn, which has got a very, very pale, pale orange tinge to it… the fawn dogs also have black guard hairs … the fawn dogs all have black masks and black hairs and usually black in their head wrinkle. The black dogs are black … black can be various shades of black depending on if your dog’s been out in the sun and his coat is sunburned, so he might get a little reddish tinge to it or undercoat … grey undercoat …. but pugs are not albino. They're not spotted. They're not black and tan. They're not brindle and they're not blue. Pugs come black or fawn. Any other color is a disqualification in our breed and somewhere back in their pedigree is something that shouldn't be there.” Visit the PDCA website for more information]]>Pugs: Mischievous and Charming Companions CAN Work Three long-time breeders join host Laura Reeves to talk about all things Pugs. Kim Langlands, Brenda Belmonte and Patti Kolesar Stoltz share the joy of Pug dogs, their companionship, their functionality, their snoring and their health.

Ancient history

[caption id="attachment_7742" align="alignleft" width="225"] Patti Kolesar Stoltz[/caption] “The exact origin of our breed is actually lost in antiquity,” Kolesar Stoltz said. “What we do know is that the Pug is of Chinese origin … he was known in the Orient as early as 700 BC … the breed was developed as one of three short faced dogs bred in China for the Imperial court … it's believed that the Pug found his way to the western world via Dutch merchant traders … because when people from the Western world, at that time, would go to China and conquer, they would bring back presents for their Royals. Pugs were one of the presents that they brought back and they became the favored of monarchs throughout Europe. There is no doubt that the Royal patronage helped to establish the popularity of the breed. In fact, Pug dogs were twice the most popular breed in Europe, in the late 1600s and during the Victorian era… the wonderful thing about Pugs being so popular in the Victorian era is we can visually follow our breed through history because it was very often the favorite subject depicted in many forms of art -- early paintings, sculptures, porcelains, so we can follow his history … the breed has a wonderful temperament. They make ideal companions. We were admitted to the American Kennel Club in 1885. We are the largest of the toy breeds and we are one of the most mischievous, also the most fun. And we still remain dignified loving and trusting of everybody.”

Myth busting

[caption id="attachment_7745" align="alignright" width="242"] Brenda Belmonte[/caption] It's a pervasive myth that these flat nose breeds can't breathe normally, Belmonte noted, therefore they can't do normal things. “It's unfair to our breed to just assume that because it's a Pug it's unhealthy,” Belmonte added, noting her work with the breed in nosework, agility and obedience. “I think the general public needs to hear that and they need to see what our pugs can do so that we can combat this belief that, ‘Oh my gosh our pugs are unhealthy,’ that’s very, very far from the fact. As a [caption id="attachment_7740" align="alignleft" width="300"] Belmonte's pug competing in nosework.[/caption] breeder and somebody who's been in the breed a long time, I truly believe that good breeders have the best interest of their dog’s health at heart. So yes, it's about being a good, responsible breeder and it's about knowing that these dogs can breathe normally and they can do the things other dogs can do.”

Healthy habits

Langlands observed that, although the breed has evolved as time has gone on, the brachycephalic dogs were never intended to run marathons. [caption id="attachment_7743" align="alignright" width="300"] Kim Langlands[/caption] “This is a breed (that is) more than capable of doing agility and other performance events and going out and being good little happy pets and going for walks,” Langlands said. “They’re as healthy as people want them to be and take care of them to be. If you take good care of your dog, you're going to have a happy healthy pet … and that includes taking care of their teeth, their nose roll, their weight. I mean the weight is a huge issue.”

Color questions

[caption id="attachment_7748" align="alignleft" width="300"] Pugs are black or fawn.[/caption] Kolesar Stoltz, who heads up education for the Pug Dog Club of America, reminds our audience that pugs come in fawn or black. Period. “Fawn has various shades of real light blonde to what we call an apricot fawn, which has got a very, very pale, pale orange tinge to it… the fawn dogs also have black guard hairs … the fawn dogs all have black masks and black hairs and usually black in their head wrinkle. The black dogs are black … black can be various shades of black depending on if your dog’s been out in the sun and his coat is sunburned, so he might get a little reddish tinge to it or undercoat … grey undercoat …. but pugs are not albino. They're not spotted. They're not black and tan. They're not brindle and they're not blue. Pugs come black or fawn. Any other color is a disqualification in our breed and somewhere back in their pedigree is something that shouldn't be there.” Visit the PDCA website for more information]]>b6946ed2-6efa-40ae-bbdd-8dd5eda84199Mon, 02 Mar 2020 09:00:00 -070047:08falsefull382 – Skye Terriers: Hardy, Devoted Breed of the Scottish Isles382 – Skye Terriers: Hardy, Devoted Breed of the Scottish IslesSkye Terriers: Hardy, Devoted Breed of the Scottish Isles [caption id="attachment_7959" align="alignleft" width="269"] Skye Terrier puppy[/caption] Our panel of Skye Terrier breeders represents nearly 150 years combined experience in the breed. Michael Pesare, Elaine Hersey and Karen Turnbull join host Laura Reeves to share their love of this hardy, devoted breed of the Scottish Isles. Depicted in art through centuries and with history dating back to the 1500s, the Skye is an old breed. [caption id="attachment_7956" align="alignright" width="252"] Michael Pesare[/caption] “The Skye definitely shares his heritage with a number of other terrier breeds from the Western Isles,” Pesare said, “the West coast of Scotland, where it can be quite rugged, damp, cold, rocky … breeds like the Cairn, the Scottie, the Westie… they were kept by the land owners to rid the farms of vermin. But not just small vermin, we’re talking Otter, Badger, foxes all the vermin that would do damage to the crops… there are references to long legged terriers and short crooked legged terriers going back to the 1500s, and so our Skyes definitely have a very long history.” An achondroplastic breed, the long, low Skye is heavy bodied and heavy boned. [caption id="attachment_7957" align="alignleft" width="300"] Karen Turnbull[/caption] “This is actually a very, very healthy breed,” Turnbull said. “I think because they've been rare that's worked in their favor and there are very hardy breed, a sturdy breed … one question that we get frequently because they are a long and low breed I think people instantly think back problems. Our breed is not prone to back problems. The first thing I do when people say that is I invite him to feel the back and feel the legs. They’re always surprised because they have so much bone and there's such a sturdy dog … people are always surprised at how much dog is underneath that coat.” Made famous for their loyalty by the story of Grayfriars Bobby, the Skye is deeply devoted to its family. [caption id="attachment_7962" align="alignright" width="242"] Elaine Hersey[/caption] “It's a breed that wants to be with its person,” Hersey said. “They are very, very sensitive. They are very intuitive. They love their people. They're not a breed that you can put out in the backyard and forget about. They need to have, I think, early socialization. They need to have continued socialization as a puppy if you want to have the best Sky you can. So they need somebody that's committed to doing the work and then they're going to have a wonderful, wonderful dog.” For more information about the Skye Terrier, visit the Skye Terrier Club of America.  ]]>Skye Terriers: Hardy, Devoted Breed of the Scottish Isles [caption id="attachment_7959" align="alignleft" width="269"] Skye Terrier puppy[/caption] Our panel of Skye Terrier breeders represents nearly 150 years combined experience in the breed. Michael Pesare, Elaine Hersey and Karen Turnbull join host Laura Reeves to share their love of this hardy, devoted breed of the Scottish Isles. Depicted in art through centuries and with history dating back to the 1500s, the Skye is an old breed. [caption id="attachment_7956" align="alignright" width="252"] Michael Pesare[/caption] “The Skye definitely shares his heritage with a number of other terrier breeds from the Western Isles,” Pesare said, “the West coast of Scotland, where it can be quite rugged, damp, cold, rocky … breeds like the Cairn, the Scottie, the Westie… they were kept by the land owners to rid the farms of vermin. But not just small vermin, we’re talking Otter, Badger, foxes all the vermin that would do damage to the crops… there are references to long legged terriers and short crooked legged terriers going back to the 1500s, and so our Skyes definitely have a very long history.” An achondroplastic breed, the long, low Skye is heavy bodied and heavy boned. [caption id="attachment_7957" align="alignleft" width="300"] Karen Turnbull[/caption] “This is actually a very, very healthy breed,” Turnbull said. “I think because they've been rare that's worked in their favor and there are very hardy breed, a sturdy breed … one question that we get frequently because they are a long and low breed I think people instantly think back problems. Our breed is not prone to back problems. The first thing I do when people say that is I invite him to feel the back and feel the legs. They’re always surprised because they have so much bone and there's such a sturdy dog … people are always surprised at how much dog is underneath that coat.” Made famous for their loyalty by the story of Grayfriars Bobby, the Skye is deeply devoted to its family. [caption id="attachment_7962" align="alignright" width="242"] Elaine Hersey[/caption] “It's a breed that wants to be with its person,” Hersey said. “They are very, very sensitive. They are very intuitive. They love their people. They're not a breed that you can put out in the backyard and forget about. They need to have, I think, early socialization. They need to have continued socialization as a puppy if you want to have the best Sky you can. So they need somebody that's committed to doing the work and then they're going to have a wonderful, wonderful dog.” For more information about the Skye Terrier, visit the Skye Terrier Club of America.  ]]>63a0a87d-ce13-406a-bc9b-930d417778a4Thu, 09 Apr 2020 09:00:00 -070040:09falsefull383 — Barbet: French Water Dog, NOT a Doodle383 — Barbet: French Water Dog, NOT a DoodleBarbet: French Water Dog, NOT a Doodle [caption id="attachment_7988" align="alignleft" width="300"] Judy Descutner and Barbet[/caption] Judy Descutner joins host Laura Reeves for a conversation about Barbet, the newest member of the AKC sporting group, in our continuing series for rare breed month on Pure Dog Talk.
“Being asked if they’re a doodle is a really good gateway to the fact that there is a purebred dog with a lineage that I can trace that is exactly what people are looking for who are buying a doodle,” Descutner said.
As a breeder, exhibitor, and long-time board member of the Barbet Club of America, Descutner has been instrumental in promoting the Barbet in the United States. Also involved with Whippets since 1985, she lives at Hickory Tavern Farm and is the delegate for the Western Pennsylvania Kennel Association.

History

“Further back, obviously, they share a lot of relations with some of the other curly coated water dogs in Europe … definitely they share a lot with like the Portuguese Water Dogs and there's some Irish Water Spaniel … the Barbet definitely has its own outline that makes it really distinguishable from the other breeds.”

Water Party

“People think they’re a water dog that loves the swim, but they're not. … they're really good in the water, in fact you know they're pretty strong to go through a marshy area and retrieve a  downed bird that way. But they generally really like water that's 1 – 1 ½ feet deep and they want to crash around in it … they've got to have that retrieving drive, like most of the retrieving breeds, but … they're not a really strong driven breed. They're certainly not like a field bred Labrador.”

Coat Maintenance

“It is a hair coat that always is growing and does need to be trimmed. So people with allergies, most of them do quite well with the breed, but of course you know there's no such thing as hypoallergenic and some people are still gonna have problems with them. The coat itself can range from a wavy coat to a very tight curl … each coat probably has its own challenges to live with but no matter what it's a high maintenance coat. Keeping it combed through to the skin and all the dead hair pulled out is a constant job. I think this is one of the things that’s super important for pet owners to understand … this is not a breed that gets to be just ignored. You have to trim, it you have to comb it out all the way to the skin.”]]>Barbet: French Water Dog, NOT a Doodle [caption id="attachment_7988" align="alignleft" width="300"] Judy Descutner and Barbet[/caption] Judy Descutner joins host Laura Reeves for a conversation about Barbet, the newest member of the AKC sporting group, in our continuing series for rare breed month on Pure Dog Talk.
“Being asked if they’re a doodle is a really good gateway to the fact that there is a purebred dog with a lineage that I can trace that is exactly what people are looking for who are buying a doodle,” Descutner said.
As a breeder, exhibitor, and long-time board member of the Barbet Club of America, Descutner has been instrumental in promoting the Barbet in the United States. Also involved with Whippets since 1985, she lives at Hickory Tavern Farm and is the delegate for the Western Pennsylvania Kennel Association.

History

“Further back, obviously, they share a lot of relations with some of the other curly coated water dogs in Europe … definitely they share a lot with like the Portuguese Water Dogs and there's some Irish Water Spaniel … the Barbet definitely has its own outline that makes it really distinguishable from the other breeds.”

Water Party

“People think they’re a water dog that loves the swim, but they're not. … they're really good in the water, in fact you know they're pretty strong to go through a marshy area and retrieve a  downed bird that way. But they generally really like water that's 1 – 1 ½ feet deep and they want to crash around in it … they've got to have that retrieving drive, like most of the retrieving breeds, but … they're not a really strong driven breed. They're certainly not like a field bred Labrador.”

Coat Maintenance

“It is a hair coat that always is growing and does need to be trimmed. So people with allergies, most of them do quite well with the breed, but of course you know there's no such thing as hypoallergenic and some people are still gonna have problems with them. The coat itself can range from a wavy coat to a very tight curl … each coat probably has its own challenges to live with but no matter what it's a high maintenance coat. Keeping it combed through to the skin and all the dead hair pulled out is a constant job. I think this is one of the things that’s super important for pet owners to understand … this is not a breed that gets to be just ignored. You have to trim, it you have to comb it out all the way to the skin.”]]>846a4f86-1596-4582-89f2-3245f9c0c8b2Mon, 13 Apr 2020 09:00:00 -070028:10falsefull384 – Hungarian Breeds and Plato’s Theory of Forms384 – Hungarian Breeds and Plato’s Theory of FormsHungarian Breeds and Plato’s Theory of Forms Maria Arechaederra’s passion for Hungarian breeds started early. She was about 10 years old, she said, when “flipping through the AKC breed book one day, I saw a picture of the Kuvasz. And it was like a lightning bolt. Love at first sight.”

Plato and Breeding Philosophy

“To me you have to have a vision everyone understands how to read and dissect a breed standard. But if you don't have a vision all it is is a bunch of parts. You know how a lot of breeds have an illustrated standard. I think those are great but I believe in being your own illustrator.   Not that you're an artist but in your mind you have to have that vision of what the perfect Pug or the perfect Kuvasz or the perfect Doberman is … when you look at your dogs you have to stack them up against that perfection. You can't just say I want to fix rears the next generation, I wanna fix ears, you always have to be devoted to that vision.
"Look up Plato's theory of forms … Plato's belief was that there was a perfect everything in the realm of the soul, whether that be a chair or a tree or a dog. He said those exist in the realm of the soul and everything we see here on earth is just an imperfect version of that. I always joke that we are striving to build perfection, which is an impossible goal, but damn it, that's the drive and the fun of it. We're trying to create perfection.”

Kuvasz History

“OK the one beautiful thing about an ancient rare breed like the Kuvasz is that it's survived the perils and tests of times of centuries of world wars. Even in their native Hungary they went from being livestock guards to the Royal dogs of the court of King Matthias of Hungary … he would have them in his Castle because according to legend King Matthias didn't even trust his closest allies and guards more than he trusted his Kuvasz. So he always had them in the Royal Court and they also were used as napkins believe it or not people would wipe their hands on the white fur… "To me that showed versatility, that this wasn't just some kind of a wild animal out with the sheep. It could be even in a Royal Court as a personal guard … I can tell you personally from living with them and raising two children, that there is no greater babysitter than a Kuvasz. When my children were outside with a Kuvasz, I knew all was well with the world.”

Adding Pumik

[caption id="attachment_7993" align="alignleft" width="284"] Left to Right:
"Bebe" (Ch. Ederra's Meant to Be)
"Zsa Zsa" (Ederra's Lovely to Look At)
"Sandy" (AKC and Bah Ch. Ederra's Sabbia Bianca )
Bebe and Zsa are sired by Ziggy-multiple group winning Gch. Catskill's Hajas Hippie and Sandy is sired by Casper (BIS/BISS/RBIS Gch. Italianstyle Casper)[/caption] “With my love of Hungarian breeds, (I thought) this is a perfect segue. I already know a lot of people in Hungary and I want (an) old age breed … that was a little bit of a misconception on my part, I will say, because what I found is that as cute as they are, they are every bit tough pound for pound herding dogs, with a very short off button. What they've done, inadvertently, is made me have to move more. So I guess it's good for me, but I thought it was gonna be my old lady breed and actually they hike more than my Kuvasz, so I love that. I love them. They're great dogs. They do like the sound of their own voice, so a lot of people don't like the barking. They're very vocal because the Pumi actually uses its voice as part of its herding tools.”]]>Hungarian Breeds and Plato’s Theory of Forms Maria Arechaederra’s passion for Hungarian breeds started early. She was about 10 years old, she said, when “flipping through the AKC breed book one day, I saw a picture of the Kuvasz. And it was like a lightning bolt. Love at first sight.”

Plato and Breeding Philosophy

“To me you have to have a vision everyone understands how to read and dissect a breed standard. But if you don't have a vision all it is is a bunch of parts. You know how a lot of breeds have an illustrated standard. I think those are great but I believe in being your own illustrator.   Not that you're an artist but in your mind you have to have that vision of what the perfect Pug or the perfect Kuvasz or the perfect Doberman is … when you look at your dogs you have to stack them up against that perfection. You can't just say I want to fix rears the next generation, I wanna fix ears, you always have to be devoted to that vision.
"Look up Plato's theory of forms … Plato's belief was that there was a perfect everything in the realm of the soul, whether that be a chair or a tree or a dog. He said those exist in the realm of the soul and everything we see here on earth is just an imperfect version of that. I always joke that we are striving to build perfection, which is an impossible goal, but damn it, that's the drive and the fun of it. We're trying to create perfection.”

Kuvasz History

“OK the one beautiful thing about an ancient rare breed like the Kuvasz is that it's survived the perils and tests of times of centuries of world wars. Even in their native Hungary they went from being livestock guards to the Royal dogs of the court of King Matthias of Hungary … he would have them in his Castle because according to legend King Matthias didn't even trust his closest allies and guards more than he trusted his Kuvasz. So he always had them in the Royal Court and they also were used as napkins believe it or not people would wipe their hands on the white fur… "To me that showed versatility, that this wasn't just some kind of a wild animal out with the sheep. It could be even in a Royal Court as a personal guard … I can tell you personally from living with them and raising two children, that there is no greater babysitter than a Kuvasz. When my children were outside with a Kuvasz, I knew all was well with the world.”

Adding Pumik

[caption id="attachment_7993" align="alignleft" width="284"] Left to Right:
"Bebe" (Ch. Ederra's Meant to Be)
"Zsa Zsa" (Ederra's Lovely to Look At)
"Sandy" (AKC and Bah Ch. Ederra's Sabbia Bianca )
Bebe and Zsa are sired by Ziggy-multiple group winning Gch. Catskill's Hajas Hippie and Sandy is sired by Casper (BIS/BISS/RBIS Gch. Italianstyle Casper)[/caption] “With my love of Hungarian breeds, (I thought) this is a perfect segue. I already know a lot of people in Hungary and I want (an) old age breed … that was a little bit of a misconception on my part, I will say, because what I found is that as cute as they are, they are every bit tough pound for pound herding dogs, with a very short off button. What they've done, inadvertently, is made me have to move more. So I guess it's good for me, but I thought it was gonna be my old lady breed and actually they hike more than my Kuvasz, so I love that. I love them. They're great dogs. They do like the sound of their own voice, so a lot of people don't like the barking. They're very vocal because the Pumi actually uses its voice as part of its herding tools.”]]>21b2c309-8293-40b6-85bc-6c05804656d5Thu, 16 Apr 2020 09:00:00 -070036:02falsefull385 – Bedlington Terrier: “Head of a lamb and the heart of a lion”385 – Bedlington Terrier: “Head of a lamb and the heart of a lion”Bedlington Terrier: “Head of a lamb and the heart of a lion” Three Bedlington Terrier breeders -- Laurie Friesen, Gaby Gilbeau and Lucy Heyman -- join host Laura Reeves during Rare Breed Month to share their passion for their unique dogs.

Kissing Cousins?

“So, what we know about the development of the Bedlington is kind of people's best guess,” Laurie Friesen said. “We assume that they were bred with long-legged and short-legged dogs in a litter and the Dandie Dinmont actually evolved from the short-legged variety, where the Bedlington evolved from the long-legged variety. The Bedlington was sort of the poor man's hunting dog and they used them for game to feed the family. They were very tenacious. As the Bedlington evolved they also, because of their tenacity, were used in other terrier breeds … I know the Lakeland has some Bedlington heritage. It's also noted that when the hunt season was over, they were known to be pit fighters.
[caption id="attachment_8002" align="alignright" width="226"] Laurie Friesen[/caption] “We have a saying in our breed that they have “the head of a lamb and the heart of a lion.” That's one reason we don't spar the Bedlington today. The other thing that's interesting about the history and the hunting ability is we call them sort of a generalist. They were bred to course above the ground as well as go under the ground like your typical terrier.”

Versatile competitors

[caption id="attachment_8003" align="alignleft" width="298"] Gaby Gilbeau[/caption] “Building on that very colorful past,” Gaby Gilbeau said, “Bedlingtons are really kind of a Jack of all trades kind of dog. They are incredibly smart and unlike a lot of terriers, they're actually very much people dogs. They really care about what their owners think. They are highly intelligent more in tune to what their owner is hoping that they will do, rather than some of the other terrier breeds which may have a little bit stronger of an independent streak. You see them at the highest levels of many of the events that the American Kennel Club offers. We compete in a huge range of activities with our dogs, from barn hunt and earthdog. They’re absolute machines on the coursing ability field. We've actually had some hunt masters ask us to run them against their whippets, just to see which one will be faster. “I always say Bedlingtons are the dog world’s best kept secret. They are hypoallergenic. They don't shed, so you have no doggy odor. They are rambunctious enough to still be active with a family with young kids. There's some same sex (dog) aggression sometimes, but you know those are not extremely common. They're great for families. They’re extremely active when you want them to be, like you're gonna go on a five mile hike they're game to tag along. But if you want to sit on the couch and watch Netflix all day, they are also cool to just hang out with you. They're a very versatile dog that really fits a lot of different households.”

Grooming and Health

[caption id="attachment_8000" align="alignleft" width="219"] Lucy Heyman[/caption] “The Bedlington coat is very different from a poodle coat or Bichon coat or even a Kerry Blue coat in that it is quite unforgiving,” said Lucy Heyman. “You have to be extremely confident and skilled with the scissors in order to do it properly. That said, a lot of the grooming can be done with a clipper. “It's every 6 to 8 weeks with the groomers if you're not going to tackle it yourself. I've had clients that have been able to tackle it themselves and turn them out looking like Bedlington should. It certainly isn't beyond the average person’s reach if they work at it. “For many, many, many years it was well known in the fancy and among the public that Bedlingtons had a disease called inherited copper toxicosis. It is essentially the same disease that humans have that's called Wilson disease. This problem has been virtually resolved in our breed. There are very, very few dogs these days, well under 5%, that are affected when copper toxicosis.”]]>Bedlington Terrier: “Head of a lamb and the heart of a lion” Three Bedlington Terrier breeders -- Laurie Friesen, Gaby Gilbeau and Lucy Heyman -- join host Laura Reeves during Rare Breed Month to share their passion for their unique dogs.

Kissing Cousins?

“So, what we know about the development of the Bedlington is kind of people's best guess,” Laurie Friesen said. “We assume that they were bred with long-legged and short-legged dogs in a litter and the Dandie Dinmont actually evolved from the short-legged variety, where the Bedlington evolved from the long-legged variety. The Bedlington was sort of the poor man's hunting dog and they used them for game to feed the family. They were very tenacious. As the Bedlington evolved they also, because of their tenacity, were used in other terrier breeds … I know the Lakeland has some Bedlington heritage. It's also noted that when the hunt season was over, they were known to be pit fighters.
[caption id="attachment_8002" align="alignright" width="226"] Laurie Friesen[/caption] “We have a saying in our breed that they have “the head of a lamb and the heart of a lion.” That's one reason we don't spar the Bedlington today. The other thing that's interesting about the history and the hunting ability is we call them sort of a generalist. They were bred to course above the ground as well as go under the ground like your typical terrier.”

Versatile competitors

[caption id="attachment_8003" align="alignleft" width="298"] Gaby Gilbeau[/caption] “Building on that very colorful past,” Gaby Gilbeau said, “Bedlingtons are really kind of a Jack of all trades kind of dog. They are incredibly smart and unlike a lot of terriers, they're actually very much people dogs. They really care about what their owners think. They are highly intelligent more in tune to what their owner is hoping that they will do, rather than some of the other terrier breeds which may have a little bit stronger of an independent streak. You see them at the highest levels of many of the events that the American Kennel Club offers. We compete in a huge range of activities with our dogs, from barn hunt and earthdog. They’re absolute machines on the coursing ability field. We've actually had some hunt masters ask us to run them against their whippets, just to see which one will be faster. “I always say Bedlingtons are the dog world’s best kept secret. They are hypoallergenic. They don't shed, so you have no doggy odor. They are rambunctious enough to still be active with a family with young kids. There's some same sex (dog) aggression sometimes, but you know those are not extremely common. They're great for families. They’re extremely active when you want them to be, like you're gonna go on a five mile hike they're game to tag along. But if you want to sit on the couch and watch Netflix all day, they are also cool to just hang out with you. They're a very versatile dog that really fits a lot of different households.”

Grooming and Health

[caption id="attachment_8000" align="alignleft" width="219"] Lucy Heyman[/caption] “The Bedlington coat is very different from a poodle coat or Bichon coat or even a Kerry Blue coat in that it is quite unforgiving,” said Lucy Heyman. “You have to be extremely confident and skilled with the scissors in order to do it properly. That said, a lot of the grooming can be done with a clipper. “It's every 6 to 8 weeks with the groomers if you're not going to tackle it yourself. I've had clients that have been able to tackle it themselves and turn them out looking like Bedlington should. It certainly isn't beyond the average person’s reach if they work at it. “For many, many, many years it was well known in the fancy and among the public that Bedlingtons had a disease called inherited copper toxicosis. It is essentially the same disease that humans have that's called Wilson disease. This problem has been virtually resolved in our breed. There are very, very few dogs these days, well under 5%, that are affected when copper toxicosis.”]]>535443cf-c6ff-4b21-8cc5-3331e176dc68Mon, 20 Apr 2020 09:00:00 -070035:54falsefull394 -- Chongqing Dogs: Saving a Primitive Breed from Extinction394 -- Chongqing Dogs: Saving a Primitive Breed from Extinction

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]]>68906e7b-962c-42aa-98d9-8d216c3c70bcThu, 21 May 2020 09:00:00 -070027:47falsefull404 – The Athletic, Wicked Smart, Primitive Xoloitzcuintli404 – The Athletic, Wicked Smart, Primitive Xoloitzcuintli

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]]>bbef18b7-1d15-4923-85a7-775b556d7178Thu, 25 Jun 2020 09:00:00 -070042:02falsefull408 – Janina Laurin Reflects on a Lifetime in Dogs, the Belgian Breeds408 – Janina Laurin Reflects on a Lifetime in Dogs, the Belgian Breeds

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]]>eb8178c9-aed7-4f0e-af04-7ad05050dbb3Thu, 09 Jul 2020 09:00:00 -070034:27falsefull410 – Jim Moses and Deborah Stern on German Shepherd Dogs410 – Jim Moses and Deborah Stern on German Shepherd Dogs

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]]>10efd7f6-ef97-484c-b8f1-0aac7a894f27Thu, 16 Jul 2020 09:00:00 -070024:38falsefull412 – German Shepherd Dogs: Myth Busting and Truth Telling412 – German Shepherd Dogs: Myth Busting and Truth Telling

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]]>5cfcd0f7-570b-41fb-bfe8-6b013e023cdcThu, 23 Jul 2020 09:00:00 -070037:43falsefull420 – Living History on the Silk Road420 – Living History on the Silk RoadLiving History on the Silk Road

Landrace or Breed in Asiatic Sighthounds

Dedicated dog enthusiast and researcher Neil Trilokekar joins host Laura Reeves on the fascinating topic of Asiatic Sighthounds and their development from the landrace dogs of the Silk Trail over the Millenia.

Listeners may remember Trilokekar as part of our panel discussion of “new” exhibitors. This extended conversation touches on his personal

[caption id="attachment_8304" align="alignleft" width="300"] Caravan Hound from India. Photo credit: Neil Trilokekar[/caption]

journey searching for authentic Caravan Hounds in his homeland.

The recent news of researchers nailing down the DNA of some sled dogs as a landrace, prompted the opportunity to dig into the endlessly intricate history of the elegant dogs of Central Asia. Additional DNA studies gather more information on the evolutionary development of landraces and the breeds that follow.

Landraces in dogs are defined as "dog or any livestock animal has been bred without a formal registry, although their breeders may have kept written or informal pedigrees of their animals." These are distinguished from dog breeds which have breed standards, breed clubs and registries. Trilokekar expands on this concept in relation to the breeds about which he is passionate.

“My understanding of the concept of landrace as it relates specifically to Asiatic sighthounds, which is what I'm most familiar with,” Trilokekar said, “is that this type of dog which we could refer to something similar to saluki, probably originated in Mesopotamia or somewhere in Central Asia at one point. Then just through the natural course of human history kind of spread out to various parts of Asia, and in some cases North Africa as well, and evolved through selection by the local populace or the demands of climate and terrain and the local game into different breeds or types however you choose to see it.

[caption id="attachment_8306" align="alignright" width="300"] Sloughi from North Africa. Photo courtesy Erika Wyatt[/caption]

“…let us presume this Asiatic sighthound type originated in Mesopotamia and from there spread into Afghanistan and became the type of dog we now refer to as an Afghan hound. They needed more hair because it was cold, and a slightly different structure to work in different terrain. … and spread out to North Africa, where it became the Sloughi.

[caption id="attachment_8305" align="alignleft" width="300"] Azawakh from Central Africa. Photo courtesty Patrick Guilfoyle.[/caption]

“So this is my understanding of what a landrace is. Something that occurs naturally because of human history more than someone sitting down and, for example like Louis Doberman saying I'm going to create history. I think it varies depending on the location, on the population. The Tuareg bred their dogs (Azawakh) to resemble camels, which they value above all else, so therefore you have the standing rectangle shape. That's an active thing versus the passive. The population’s like this is the ideal of beauty for them so they are going to create dogs that resemble the camel, whereas I would imagine the Bedouin that is a more passive role because they are going solely on bringing dinner in.”

Watch this space for part two of this detailed and passionate conversation, continuing with the Caravan Hounds in India.

]]>Living History on the Silk Road

Landrace or Breed in Asiatic Sighthounds

Dedicated dog enthusiast and researcher Neil Trilokekar joins host Laura Reeves on the fascinating topic of Asiatic Sighthounds and their development from the landrace dogs of the Silk Trail over the Millenia.

Listeners may remember Trilokekar as part of our panel discussion of “new” exhibitors. This extended conversation touches on his personal

[caption id="attachment_8304" align="alignleft" width="300"] Caravan Hound from India. Photo credit: Neil Trilokekar[/caption]

journey searching for authentic Caravan Hounds in his homeland.

The recent news of researchers nailing down the DNA of some sled dogs as a landrace, prompted the opportunity to dig into the endlessly intricate history of the elegant dogs of Central Asia. Additional DNA studies gather more information on the evolutionary development of landraces and the breeds that follow.

Landraces in dogs are defined as "dog or any livestock animal has been bred without a formal registry, although their breeders may have kept written or informal pedigrees of their animals." These are distinguished from dog breeds which have breed standards, breed clubs and registries. Trilokekar expands on this concept in relation to the breeds about which he is passionate.

“My understanding of the concept of landrace as it relates specifically to Asiatic sighthounds, which is what I'm most familiar with,” Trilokekar said, “is that this type of dog which we could refer to something similar to saluki, probably originated in Mesopotamia or somewhere in Central Asia at one point. Then just through the natural course of human history kind of spread out to various parts of Asia, and in some cases North Africa as well, and evolved through selection by the local populace or the demands of climate and terrain and the local game into different breeds or types however you choose to see it.

[caption id="attachment_8306" align="alignright" width="300"] Sloughi from North Africa. Photo courtesy Erika Wyatt[/caption]

“…let us presume this Asiatic sighthound type originated in Mesopotamia and from there spread into Afghanistan and became the type of dog we now refer to as an Afghan hound. They needed more hair because it was cold, and a slightly different structure to work in different terrain. … and spread out to North Africa, where it became the Sloughi.

[caption id="attachment_8305" align="alignleft" width="300"] Azawakh from Central Africa. Photo courtesty Patrick Guilfoyle.[/caption]

“So this is my understanding of what a landrace is. Something that occurs naturally because of human history more than someone sitting down and, for example like Louis Doberman saying I'm going to create history. I think it varies depending on the location, on the population. The Tuareg bred their dogs (Azawakh) to resemble camels, which they value above all else, so therefore you have the standing rectangle shape. That's an active thing versus the passive. The population’s like this is the ideal of beauty for them so they are going to create dogs that resemble the camel, whereas I would imagine the Bedouin that is a more passive role because they are going solely on bringing dinner in.”

Watch this space for part two of this detailed and passionate conversation, continuing with the Caravan Hounds in India.

]]>73cb5d22-ed0e-44b7-bbc2-68272c52cbdbThu, 20 Aug 2020 09:00:00 -070022:38falsefull422 – Exploring the Caravan Hounds of India422 – Exploring the Caravan Hounds of India

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]]>8567ea2c-c4b4-433c-a9d5-14706b3e08eaThu, 27 Aug 2020 09:00:00 -070026:10falsefull428 -- The Versatile, Velcro Vizsla: Hunting Dog of the Magyar428 -- The Versatile, Velcro Vizsla: Hunting Dog of the Magyar

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]]>fad1dc06-f169-4cac-bb7e-bf36890e643fThu, 17 Sep 2020 09:00:00 -070025:23falsefull431 – Dalmatians: the “Brilliant, Spotted, Energized” Dogs of Croatia431 – Dalmatians: the “Brilliant, Spotted, Energized” Dogs of CroatiaDalmatians: the “Brilliant, Spotted, Energized” Dogs of Croatia Dalmatians are our Love the Breeds topic today with enthusiasts Meg Callea, Molly Spengler and Stephanie Podejko joining host Laura Reeves for a timely conversation ahead of the release of the “101 Dalmatians” remake.

History

[caption id="attachment_8353" align="alignleft" width="225"] Historic illustrations of Dalmatians accompanying coaches.[/caption] “Dalmatians have kind of … a mixed historical background,” Callea noted. “There are spotted dogs on tombs in Egypt, on frescoes in Italy… theoretically they were started in Dalmatia … which is a historic province of Croatia. They were developed to be basically a dog to go with horses and a guard dog. They were to guard the horses and guard the stables. While they were in the stables, (a) desired trait was to kill vermin. So they do that really well. They have a lot of prey drive, some of them have a lot more than they need, which is why they do really well at some of the other performance events. [caption id="attachment_8352" align="alignright" width="300"] Dalmatian competing in tracking event.[/caption] “There are illustrations of Dalmatians as far back as the 1600s. They were brought into being a breed more in the early 1800s, during the Regency period, where they were bred for their markings to look real fancy with the carriages and coaches. They were bred to run around and go with the carriage all day long, so that’s somewhere between 25 to 40 miles a day. Their job was to alert the carriage people if there was a bad guy around, to chase off rogue dogs or Wolves, and to protect the carriage and its contents. And to keep the horses company, because the horses that ran were pretty high strung. Which is how they came into being with the fire Department. [caption id="attachment_8350" align="alignleft" width="300"] Dalmatians are iconic symbols for fire departments world wide.[/caption] “The fire Department used to have carriages that were horse drawn. The horses that drew those things were really high spirited, so the dogs kept them company while they were sitting around waiting for something to happen. When something happened, they ran with the horses, they broke up the traffic in front of them. They also kept the horses calm at the fire because horses do not like fire. They also protected the water spigot. Potable, drinkable water was hard to come by, so while the guys were fighting a fire somebody would come in to disconnect their hose and steal the water.”

Coaching Competition and Performance Events

[caption id="attachment_8351" align="alignright" width="300"] Dalmatians excel in all performance events, according to our panelists.[/caption] “This is a breed that can do it all,” Podejko said. “There isn't a sport out there that I have found, a performance sport, that Dalmatians don't excel at. They're just a brilliant breed.” The Dalmatian Club of America features a breed specific test and competition called a Road Trial. The most advanced level requires the dogs, horses and riders to cover 25 miles in an endurance competition. According to Podejko, “A Dalmatian Road Trial is a performance event and test in the field designed to evaluate the Dalmatian’s ability to “coach,” or follow the horses. Exhibitors compete as handler on horseback or in a horse-drawn cart or carriage, with dog(s) off-leash. The Dalmatian Standard of the American Kennel Club states that the Dalmatian “should be capable of great endurance, combined with a fair amount of speed,” qualities essential to his successful use as a horse/rider and horse/coach escort. The purpose of a Road Trial is to demonstrate the use of purebred Dalmatians as a companion of man in the role that they have been bred to perform.”

Health and longevity

[caption id="attachment_8348" align="alignleft" width="300"] Breed specific health concerns have been mitigated by conscientious breeders testing their dogs.[/caption] Spengler shared information on breed specific kidney stones and how to manage them with appropriate diet. Our panelists also discussed the success of preservation breeders testing for and drastically reducing the number of dogs produced with deafness issues and how that was managed. "It's very important to do your research (when considering purchasing a Dalmatian) because there are some key things that go along with the breed," Spengler advised.     Panelists: [caption id="attachment_8349" align="alignnone" width="240"] Meg Callea[/caption] [caption id="attachment_8354" align="alignnone" width="298"] Stephanie Podejko[/caption] [caption id="attachment_8347" align="alignnone" width="300"] Molly Spengler[/caption]]]>Dalmatians: the “Brilliant, Spotted, Energized” Dogs of Croatia Dalmatians are our Love the Breeds topic today with enthusiasts Meg Callea, Molly Spengler and Stephanie Podejko joining host Laura Reeves for a timely conversation ahead of the release of the “101 Dalmatians” remake.

History

[caption id="attachment_8353" align="alignleft" width="225"] Historic illustrations of Dalmatians accompanying coaches.[/caption] “Dalmatians have kind of … a mixed historical background,” Callea noted. “There are spotted dogs on tombs in Egypt, on frescoes in Italy… theoretically they were started in Dalmatia … which is a historic province of Croatia. They were developed to be basically a dog to go with horses and a guard dog. They were to guard the horses and guard the stables. While they were in the stables, (a) desired trait was to kill vermin. So they do that really well. They have a lot of prey drive, some of them have a lot more than they need, which is why they do really well at some of the other performance events. [caption id="attachment_8352" align="alignright" width="300"] Dalmatian competing in tracking event.[/caption] “There are illustrations of Dalmatians as far back as the 1600s. They were brought into being a breed more in the early 1800s, during the Regency period, where they were bred for their markings to look real fancy with the carriages and coaches. They were bred to run around and go with the carriage all day long, so that’s somewhere between 25 to 40 miles a day. Their job was to alert the carriage people if there was a bad guy around, to chase off rogue dogs or Wolves, and to protect the carriage and its contents. And to keep the horses company, because the horses that ran were pretty high strung. Which is how they came into being with the fire Department. [caption id="attachment_8350" align="alignleft" width="300"] Dalmatians are iconic symbols for fire departments world wide.[/caption] “The fire Department used to have carriages that were horse drawn. The horses that drew those things were really high spirited, so the dogs kept them company while they were sitting around waiting for something to happen. When something happened, they ran with the horses, they broke up the traffic in front of them. They also kept the horses calm at the fire because horses do not like fire. They also protected the water spigot. Potable, drinkable water was hard to come by, so while the guys were fighting a fire somebody would come in to disconnect their hose and steal the water.”

Coaching Competition and Performance Events

[caption id="attachment_8351" align="alignright" width="300"] Dalmatians excel in all performance events, according to our panelists.[/caption] “This is a breed that can do it all,” Podejko said. “There isn't a sport out there that I have found, a performance sport, that Dalmatians don't excel at. They're just a brilliant breed.” The Dalmatian Club of America features a breed specific test and competition called a Road Trial. The most advanced level requires the dogs, horses and riders to cover 25 miles in an endurance competition. According to Podejko, “A Dalmatian Road Trial is a performance event and test in the field designed to evaluate the Dalmatian’s ability to “coach,” or follow the horses. Exhibitors compete as handler on horseback or in a horse-drawn cart or carriage, with dog(s) off-leash. The Dalmatian Standard of the American Kennel Club states that the Dalmatian “should be capable of great endurance, combined with a fair amount of speed,” qualities essential to his successful use as a horse/rider and horse/coach escort. The purpose of a Road Trial is to demonstrate the use of purebred Dalmatians as a companion of man in the role that they have been bred to perform.”

Health and longevity

[caption id="attachment_8348" align="alignleft" width="300"] Breed specific health concerns have been mitigated by conscientious breeders testing their dogs.[/caption] Spengler shared information on breed specific kidney stones and how to manage them with appropriate diet. Our panelists also discussed the success of preservation breeders testing for and drastically reducing the number of dogs produced with deafness issues and how that was managed. "It's very important to do your research (when considering purchasing a Dalmatian) because there are some key things that go along with the breed," Spengler advised.     Panelists: [caption id="attachment_8349" align="alignnone" width="240"] Meg Callea[/caption] [caption id="attachment_8354" align="alignnone" width="298"] Stephanie Podejko[/caption] [caption id="attachment_8347" align="alignnone" width="300"] Molly Spengler[/caption]]]>24edb6b3-9b76-4620-ac12-60a9ab6f462bMon, 28 Sep 2020 09:00:00 -070035:44falsefull450 -- Lancashire Heelers: Scrappy, Smiling and Opinionated450 -- Lancashire Heelers: Scrappy, Smiling and Opinionated

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]]>a6338b71-4a56-4281-af4d-503bf9a8cb3dMon, 07 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -070033:41falsefull452 – Drentsche Patrijshond: Hunting Dog, Property Dog, Family Dog452 – Drentsche Patrijshond: Hunting Dog, Property Dog, Family DogDrentsche Patrijshond: Hunting Dog, Property Dog, Family Dog Rare breeds spotlight continues with the “Drent,” short for Drentsche Patrijshond, the all-purpose hunting dog of The Netherlands. Brian and Jenna O’Connor join host Laura Reeves to share their passion for this ancient breed. “(The breed is) about 350, almost 400 years old,” Brian said. “They were brought up through the Spanish occupation that went all up through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, in that little bit of western Germany. They brought over camp followers and their dogs, and they deposited all these dogs along the way. The Drent is one of these dogs that was kind of brought up through this phenomenon. “Part of what makes the history of the Drent really unique is the province of Drenthe. It is a province with rolling hills. That's where Vincent van Gogh came from … all those dark brooding skies is very typical of that landscape out there. … “The common man had the right to hunt there… This is 300 years ago. That wasn't normal. So, if you were a priest or farmer, any professional class, you had the right to hunt. That was even unique within the country of the Netherlands, where hunting was reserved for nobility.

SUV of hunting dogs

“So, you were this relatively poor person, odds are you were a farmer, and you could afford one dog … that one dog had to be able to do everything. So, if you were hunting Fox …if you're hunting Swan or pheasant or Hungarian Partridge, if you’re hunting ducks whatever… oh, and by the way, when you needed to cart your milk or cheese or your vegetables to market on Wednesday, you would rig up your dog and the Drent would haul your goods to market for you. “They're really close to their people, even if they don't need to be sleeping on you. They're going to be near you. There are the kind of dog that will not thrive in a kennel environment because they build that bond with their people and they're not going to do well without their people. We don't have a lot of reports of separation anxiety in the breed, but I would advocate for people to kennel train them. Otherwise, they're going to find something to get into. They fall in the category of that smart continental versatile hunting dog that never should be left on its own.” “(The Drent) really doesn't have a lot of grooming,” Jenna said. “You wouldn't treat a dog for a show much different than you would treat a dog going on a hunt or around the house. (A) good brushing once a week, maybe more when they shed once a year. Some Drents can get a little bit longer ear hair. You can either pluck it with your fingers or you can use a stripping knife and just pull that dead hair out. Other than that, they have feathering but you really don't trim that. If you want to trim their hair on the feet that's great but really they're pretty au natural.” “The numbers we just got last week was 3,600 (Drents worldwide). In the States, we have less than 150. Of that 150, less than 10% of those are approved for breeding. We only maybe have two … active breeders. So we are definitely in the realm of needing some breed fanciers to step in and really invest some time into these guys 'cause they're amazing dogs,” Brian noted. For more info: Brian’s book: https://www.blurb.com/b/5491948-the-drentsche-patrijshond-for-the-north-american-f Drentsche Patrijshond Club of North America: www.ADPA.org  ]]>Drentsche Patrijshond: Hunting Dog, Property Dog, Family Dog Rare breeds spotlight continues with the “Drent,” short for Drentsche Patrijshond, the all-purpose hunting dog of The Netherlands. Brian and Jenna O’Connor join host Laura Reeves to share their passion for this ancient breed. “(The breed is) about 350, almost 400 years old,” Brian said. “They were brought up through the Spanish occupation that went all up through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, in that little bit of western Germany. They brought over camp followers and their dogs, and they deposited all these dogs along the way. The Drent is one of these dogs that was kind of brought up through this phenomenon. “Part of what makes the history of the Drent really unique is the province of Drenthe. It is a province with rolling hills. That's where Vincent van Gogh came from … all those dark brooding skies is very typical of that landscape out there. … “The common man had the right to hunt there… This is 300 years ago. That wasn't normal. So, if you were a priest or farmer, any professional class, you had the right to hunt. That was even unique within the country of the Netherlands, where hunting was reserved for nobility.

SUV of hunting dogs

“So, you were this relatively poor person, odds are you were a farmer, and you could afford one dog … that one dog had to be able to do everything. So, if you were hunting Fox …if you're hunting Swan or pheasant or Hungarian Partridge, if you’re hunting ducks whatever… oh, and by the way, when you needed to cart your milk or cheese or your vegetables to market on Wednesday, you would rig up your dog and the Drent would haul your goods to market for you. “They're really close to their people, even if they don't need to be sleeping on you. They're going to be near you. There are the kind of dog that will not thrive in a kennel environment because they build that bond with their people and they're not going to do well without their people. We don't have a lot of reports of separation anxiety in the breed, but I would advocate for people to kennel train them. Otherwise, they're going to find something to get into. They fall in the category of that smart continental versatile hunting dog that never should be left on its own.” “(The Drent) really doesn't have a lot of grooming,” Jenna said. “You wouldn't treat a dog for a show much different than you would treat a dog going on a hunt or around the house. (A) good brushing once a week, maybe more when they shed once a year. Some Drents can get a little bit longer ear hair. You can either pluck it with your fingers or you can use a stripping knife and just pull that dead hair out. Other than that, they have feathering but you really don't trim that. If you want to trim their hair on the feet that's great but really they're pretty au natural.” “The numbers we just got last week was 3,600 (Drents worldwide). In the States, we have less than 150. Of that 150, less than 10% of those are approved for breeding. We only maybe have two … active breeders. So we are definitely in the realm of needing some breed fanciers to step in and really invest some time into these guys 'cause they're amazing dogs,” Brian noted. For more info: Brian’s book: https://www.blurb.com/b/5491948-the-drentsche-patrijshond-for-the-north-american-f Drentsche Patrijshond Club of North America: www.ADPA.org  ]]>9028a923-6b1e-4fc0-8868-e3184e0760f2Mon, 14 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -070029:29falsefull454 – Danish Swedish Farmdogs – Friendly, Low Maintenance, Sturdy454 – Danish Swedish Farmdogs – Friendly, Low Maintenance, SturdyDanish Swedish Farmdogs – Friendly, Low Maintenance, Sturdy Dr. Marty Greer joins host Laura Reeves to talk about the FSS breed with which she’s fallen in love. Danish Swedish Farmdogs date to the 1700s but were saved from extinction by the joint effort of the Danish and the Swedish Kennel Clubs in 1987.

History

Greer notes that the breed was originally from Denmark and their job was “sort of an all-purpose farm dog”.. so they were to herd, they were to play with the kids, be able to be Watch Dogs … “that's kind of what appealed to me about them, is they’re a hardy little dog.” “They’re cool little dogs,” Greer said. “I find them to be absolutely fascinating and really easy to get along with. Every time you see pictures of them, they are stacked on top of each other sleeping. They don't have that terrier snarky, sparring kind of attitude.

Size and Grooming

“The males are probably 22 to 24 pounds. The females are 18 to 20. They are small enough dog that you can pick them up under one arm, you can put them in a Sherpa bag and fit them under the seat of an airplane. So if you're going to be traveling they're portable. “One of the things that appeal to me about them is that easy to maintain coat. When I got into Corgis back in the 1980s, you'd wash your dog, you blow her out and you take her in the ring.  You didn't do anything else. Now there's quite a bit of grooming that goes into a Corgi … I find that to be a little upsetting when you're supposed to be showing a dog that's natural. "Well, this dog really is natural. There's no trimming. There's nothing you could trim other than their toenails. When you travel with them you just need a towel. You don't need a brush. You need a towel and a leash.

Temperament and Activity

“There’s no dog aggression, no people aggression. Just kind of chill little dogs … they come in the house, do one loop-through, flop down on the couch and hang out with you the rest of the day. I really appreciate that about a dog because, by the time I'm done with a 14-hour shift, I don't really want to come home and throw the tennis ball for two hours. So I appreciate a dog that has the ability to settle in the house. At the same time, there are a lot of activities that people do with them. They're doing lure coursing, lots and lots of flyballs, lots of agility. They can be shown in FSS in AKC.
“They do have the ability to jump. My 4-month-old Farm Dog puppy is already scaling expenses. They're relatively quiet. They will bark occasionally if the Corgis set them off, but they don't usually initiate the barking."
For more information, check out these resources. http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/356g02-en.pdf https://dsfca.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=0&club_id=459025]]>Danish Swedish Farmdogs – Friendly, Low Maintenance, Sturdy Dr. Marty Greer joins host Laura Reeves to talk about the FSS breed with which she’s fallen in love. Danish Swedish Farmdogs date to the 1700s but were saved from extinction by the joint effort of the Danish and the Swedish Kennel Clubs in 1987.

History

Greer notes that the breed was originally from Denmark and their job was “sort of an all-purpose farm dog”.. so they were to herd, they were to play with the kids, be able to be Watch Dogs … “that's kind of what appealed to me about them, is they’re a hardy little dog.” “They’re cool little dogs,” Greer said. “I find them to be absolutely fascinating and really easy to get along with. Every time you see pictures of them, they are stacked on top of each other sleeping. They don't have that terrier snarky, sparring kind of attitude.

Size and Grooming

“The males are probably 22 to 24 pounds. The females are 18 to 20. They are small enough dog that you can pick them up under one arm, you can put them in a Sherpa bag and fit them under the seat of an airplane. So if you're going to be traveling they're portable. “One of the things that appeal to me about them is that easy to maintain coat. When I got into Corgis back in the 1980s, you'd wash your dog, you blow her out and you take her in the ring.  You didn't do anything else. Now there's quite a bit of grooming that goes into a Corgi … I find that to be a little upsetting when you're supposed to be showing a dog that's natural. "Well, this dog really is natural. There's no trimming. There's nothing you could trim other than their toenails. When you travel with them you just need a towel. You don't need a brush. You need a towel and a leash.

Temperament and Activity

“There’s no dog aggression, no people aggression. Just kind of chill little dogs … they come in the house, do one loop-through, flop down on the couch and hang out with you the rest of the day. I really appreciate that about a dog because, by the time I'm done with a 14-hour shift, I don't really want to come home and throw the tennis ball for two hours. So I appreciate a dog that has the ability to settle in the house. At the same time, there are a lot of activities that people do with them. They're doing lure coursing, lots and lots of flyballs, lots of agility. They can be shown in FSS in AKC.
“They do have the ability to jump. My 4-month-old Farm Dog puppy is already scaling expenses. They're relatively quiet. They will bark occasionally if the Corgis set them off, but they don't usually initiate the barking."
For more information, check out these resources. http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/356g02-en.pdf https://dsfca.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=0&club_id=459025]]>0b1e5ef5-c105-46e9-9f41-cbb2ac814290Mon, 21 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -070026:58falsefull459 – Eurasiers: “Floofy,” quiet, mellow companions459 – Eurasiers: “Floofy,” quiet, mellow companions

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]]>5a6cdaf3-7e63-411a-82f9-18c9d75d9d92Mon, 11 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -070035:57falsefull466 – Borzoi: Epitome of Elegant yet Powerful Hound466 – Borzoi: Epitome of Elegant yet PowerfulBorzoi: Epitome of Elegant yet Powerful

Borzoi breeders Kristina Terra and Corrine Miller join host Laura Reeves to learn more about the powerful, elegant sighthounds made popular by Russian nobility.

Once known as the Russian Wolfhound, the Borzoi's history provides a fascinating study of the Russian aristocracy.

"I think the Russian Wolfhound, it's a bit of a misnomer," Terra, president of the International Borzoi Council, said. "Because, actually, the breed in its native land used to hunt many things other than Wolves, but Wolves also. So they were initially bred as a typical sight hound that would hunt the European hare, kind of like a jackrabbit. They're big in the Russian steppes and the big open spaces but also the forest meadows. So those sighthounds initially had to have a lot of speed on short distances."

Terra, along with her mother, moved from St. Petersburg, Russia to the United States and acquired their first Borzoi in 1993.

"The first depiction of a Russian wolfhound, Borzoi, is actually at the Saint Sophia cathedral in Kiev, Ukraine," Terra noted. "It's one of the frescoes. Since Sophia cathedral dates back to 1037, that is one of the first depictions (of the breed) And also in the illuminated Chronicles of a couple of centuries later, there's another beautiful depiction of one of the czars hunting with Borzoi. So that's kind of the second depiction of the breed.

"So the breed goes back ancient and it has changed over the years. Different breeds have been added to it. As the country changed both geographically, you know the forests were cleared, so more stamina was required of a sighthound, the breed changed. Also as the country changed politically, for instance when the serfdom was abolished, when the big aristocratic families of Russia could no longer take care of big kennels, then the breed changed again. But it has always been the symbol of that country and just the epitome of an elegant, yet powerful creature.

"The Royal family is always the one that draws the most attention and just kind of nostalgia, and these beautiful tales and palaces. Of course the Russian czars, they had their own hunt it was the Imperial hunt and it was in the suburb of Saint Petersburg. But one of the biggest breeders and the most famous kennels of the time was actually the czar's uncle.

"But that was just the czar's family. There were many Noble families across this vast country and they all considered it their duty to have their own line of beautiful Borzoi and they all competed against each other in how beautiful their Borzoi were, and how fast and agile they were, and how many Foxes or hare or Wolf they could catch.

"They would have many kind of field trials, where different neighboring land owners would get together with their dogs and just compare them. The very first written description of the breed appeared in an article in a hunting magazine in 1888. That description was voted on by the Imperial hunting society members. They all voted on that and I suppose that could be called the first standard of the breed."

Miller added, "a lot of them (breeders) wrote their own standards, which was interesting. There was one (that was) like 'oh the black and tan ones are the best' and then this other guy that lived over the other ways like 'Oh no, tan markings is bad."

]]>Borzoi: Epitome of Elegant yet Powerful

Borzoi breeders Kristina Terra and Corrine Miller join host Laura Reeves to learn more about the powerful, elegant sighthounds made popular by Russian nobility.

Once known as the Russian Wolfhound, the Borzoi's history provides a fascinating study of the Russian aristocracy.

"I think the Russian Wolfhound, it's a bit of a misnomer," Terra, president of the International Borzoi Council, said. "Because, actually, the breed in its native land used to hunt many things other than Wolves, but Wolves also. So they were initially bred as a typical sight hound that would hunt the European hare, kind of like a jackrabbit. They're big in the Russian steppes and the big open spaces but also the forest meadows. So those sighthounds initially had to have a lot of speed on short distances."

Terra, along with her mother, moved from St. Petersburg, Russia to the United States and acquired their first Borzoi in 1993.

"The first depiction of a Russian wolfhound, Borzoi, is actually at the Saint Sophia cathedral in Kiev, Ukraine," Terra noted. "It's one of the frescoes. Since Sophia cathedral dates back to 1037, that is one of the first depictions (of the breed) And also in the illuminated Chronicles of a couple of centuries later, there's another beautiful depiction of one of the czars hunting with Borzoi. So that's kind of the second depiction of the breed.

"So the breed goes back ancient and it has changed over the years. Different breeds have been added to it. As the country changed both geographically, you know the forests were cleared, so more stamina was required of a sighthound, the breed changed. Also as the country changed politically, for instance when the serfdom was abolished, when the big aristocratic families of Russia could no longer take care of big kennels, then the breed changed again. But it has always been the symbol of that country and just the epitome of an elegant, yet powerful creature.

"The Royal family is always the one that draws the most attention and just kind of nostalgia, and these beautiful tales and palaces. Of course the Russian czars, they had their own hunt it was the Imperial hunt and it was in the suburb of Saint Petersburg. But one of the biggest breeders and the most famous kennels of the time was actually the czar's uncle.

"But that was just the czar's family. There were many Noble families across this vast country and they all considered it their duty to have their own line of beautiful Borzoi and they all competed against each other in how beautiful their Borzoi were, and how fast and agile they were, and how many Foxes or hare or Wolf they could catch.

"They would have many kind of field trials, where different neighboring land owners would get together with their dogs and just compare them. The very first written description of the breed appeared in an article in a hunting magazine in 1888. That description was voted on by the Imperial hunting society members. They all voted on that and I suppose that could be called the first standard of the breed."

Miller added, "a lot of them (breeders) wrote their own standards, which was interesting. There was one (that was) like 'oh the black and tan ones are the best' and then this other guy that lived over the other ways like 'Oh no, tan markings is bad."

]]>e9464fc2-e9be-47c5-b95a-28ef54414c0aMon, 01 Mar 2021 09:00:00 -070035:53falsefull485 — Korean Jindo: Independent, reserved, polite and serious485 -- Korean Jindo: Independent, reserved, polite and seriousKorean Jindo: Independent, reserved, polite and serious

[caption id="attachment_8587" align="alignleft" width="225"] Hannah Yi and her Jindo practicing for Junior Showmanship competition.[/caption]

Hannah Yi and Nichole Royer join host Laura Reeves to share information about the rare and fascinating Korean Jindo.

Developed on Jindo Island, off South Korea’s coast, as an isolated population of centuries old village dogs, the breed is a cultural icon in its home country. Renowned for its ability to find its way home, a feature memorialized in Korean culture, Jindo are dedicated hunting dogs and very serious about guarding their home.

[caption id="attachment_8588" align="alignright" width="156"] Jindo in South Korea.[/caption]

“They were developed as a pretty hardcore hunting and guard dog,” Royer noted. “They are generally used for hunting small game, but they also hunt deer and even wild boar in small groups. They are not a breed that developed hunting along with their owners. They actually expected Jindos to go out and catch small game on their own and bring it home.

“When they chased down something like a deer, and I should add the deer and the wild boar on Jindo island are not the size of the deer and wild boar we have here in the US. The deer are much smaller … a small group of Jindos would chase them down and then a couple of the Jindos would stay there to guard the deer, while one or two dogs went to find the owner.

[caption id="attachment_8589" align="alignleft" width="300"] Jindo in South Korea[/caption]

“(They were) designed to go out, be able to think for themselves, be able to make their own decisions. They take their owner’s wishes under advisement, but really are not designed to go around saying ‘what can I do for you.’ It's a partnership rather than being what the dog can do for their owner.”

“I visited Korea a couple of times as a child,” Yi said, “and in the neighborhood and a bit of the rural parts, you would see them outside … I always (had them) pointed them out ‘hey, that's a Jindo dog.’ They've always been a really independent spirit. Even though I didn't know much about them as a kid, I just knew that (they were) culturally ingrained in your knowledge.

“(The story in Korea is) there was this dog and it was a white Jindo dog … it lived with its elderly owner in the city. But one day the owner had to sell the dog. So it was really far away. Then seven months later, the dog appeared back to the owner’s house. It found its way home. So that's just really stuck to a lot of people. There are a lot of children's books and merch made about that and it was just really interesting to me. I've just always known that story.”

While Dog Aggression is a serious awareness with the breed, Royer notes, “They are intelligent guard dogs that are not looking for that excuse. They will act if they have to, but they're not looking to want to act.

“Same sex dog aggression is absolutely the norm in this breed. This breed in public should not be aggressive towards other dogs without good reason. However a strange dog getting in their personal space absolutely is good reason. They do not tolerate fools lightly and they do not tolerate rude behavior from other dogs. Jindos never pulled their punches. If they choose to use their teeth, they intend to do damage.

“Jindos tend to be a one person or one family dog. They should never be aggressive without good reason. But they also generally are not going to be like my malamutes who will jump into everybody's lap and everybody is their new best friend. They range from being very reserved ‘I don't know you, so I don't really want you touching me’ to being calmly friendly. Very polite.”

]]>Korean Jindo: Independent, reserved, polite and serious

[caption id="attachment_8587" align="alignleft" width="225"] Hannah Yi and her Jindo practicing for Junior Showmanship competition.[/caption]

Hannah Yi and Nichole Royer join host Laura Reeves to share information about the rare and fascinating Korean Jindo.

Developed on Jindo Island, off South Korea’s coast, as an isolated population of centuries old village dogs, the breed is a cultural icon in its home country. Renowned for its ability to find its way home, a feature memorialized in Korean culture, Jindo are dedicated hunting dogs and very serious about guarding their home.

[caption id="attachment_8588" align="alignright" width="156"] Jindo in South Korea.[/caption]

“They were developed as a pretty hardcore hunting and guard dog,” Royer noted. “They are generally used for hunting small game, but they also hunt deer and even wild boar in small groups. They are not a breed that developed hunting along with their owners. They actually expected Jindos to go out and catch small game on their own and bring it home.

“When they chased down something like a deer, and I should add the deer and the wild boar on Jindo island are not the size of the deer and wild boar we have here in the US. The deer are much smaller … a small group of Jindos would chase them down and then a couple of the Jindos would stay there to guard the deer, while one or two dogs went to find the owner.

[caption id="attachment_8589" align="alignleft" width="300"] Jindo in South Korea[/caption]

“(They were) designed to go out, be able to think for themselves, be able to make their own decisions. They take their owner’s wishes under advisement, but really are not designed to go around saying ‘what can I do for you.’ It's a partnership rather than being what the dog can do for their owner.”

“I visited Korea a couple of times as a child,” Yi said, “and in the neighborhood and a bit of the rural parts, you would see them outside … I always (had them) pointed them out ‘hey, that's a Jindo dog.’ They've always been a really independent spirit. Even though I didn't know much about them as a kid, I just knew that (they were) culturally ingrained in your knowledge.

“(The story in Korea is) there was this dog and it was a white Jindo dog … it lived with its elderly owner in the city. But one day the owner had to sell the dog. So it was really far away. Then seven months later, the dog appeared back to the owner’s house. It found its way home. So that's just really stuck to a lot of people. There are a lot of children's books and merch made about that and it was just really interesting to me. I've just always known that story.”

While Dog Aggression is a serious awareness with the breed, Royer notes, “They are intelligent guard dogs that are not looking for that excuse. They will act if they have to, but they're not looking to want to act.

“Same sex dog aggression is absolutely the norm in this breed. This breed in public should not be aggressive towards other dogs without good reason. However a strange dog getting in their personal space absolutely is good reason. They do not tolerate fools lightly and they do not tolerate rude behavior from other dogs. Jindos never pulled their punches. If they choose to use their teeth, they intend to do damage.

“Jindos tend to be a one person or one family dog. They should never be aggressive without good reason. But they also generally are not going to be like my malamutes who will jump into everybody's lap and everybody is their new best friend. They range from being very reserved ‘I don't know you, so I don't really want you touching me’ to being calmly friendly. Very polite.”

]]>76d79c42-19c5-4093-93f5-95a1c07a90beMon, 12 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -070043:19falsefull489 – Lorraine Bisso on the Irish Setter: “most beautiful of all dogs”489 – Lorraine Bisso on the Irish Setter: “most beautiful of all dogs”Lorraine Bisso on the Irish Setter: “most beautiful of all dogs”

AKC judge and Irish Setter breeder Lorraine Bisso shares her passion for the breed with host Laura Reeves.

“The standard tells you that it's termed by artists, the most beautiful of all dogs,” Bisso said. “I tell people when I do judge’s education, when the dog walks in the ring, if your heart doesn't skip a beat by the beautiful color, the symmetry, the silhouette, before you even get to know the dog, then something is missing. In this beautiful, drop-dead gorgeous dog beats a soul not to be matched. He would give his life for you. He also cheats at cards.”

Bisso has been involved with Irish Setters for more than 50 years and brings us a little myth busting.

“They are smart,” Bisso said. “That's something that's very misunderstood in this breed. They earned a reputation at one point for not being smart… they are very creative and often the problem is that they are one step ahead of their owners.

"Irish setters do not like to do things over and over and over again. They will go from point A to point B quite willingly several times. Then they will decide to take the scenic route. When they get to point B, they're really mystified as to why you are upset. They got there, they just took the scenic route. It's a charming part of the breed.

“The standard describes a hunting dog. When you judge them, you should keep in mind that singular point. They are the most beautiful of all dogs and they are bred to hunt. Everything in the standard relates to those twin elements of type, shall we say. They have to be beautiful, but they also must be the active gundog that the standard talks about. That's the reason for the feet, the tail set, the proportions. the bite, the head, the eye. Everything in that standard is about a working gun dog and as you judge the breed, you should keep that in mind.

“Irish Setters are a single coated breed. Their coat is designed to have things come out if you brush them. Again, our standard calls for a “pleasing fringe of hair.” It does not call for a foot of hair, it calls for pleasing fringe. While we all love the beautiful show coats, don't get me wrong on this, I’m a sucker for the full on press, all you really need is the pleasing fringe. So again I tell judges, do not walk past a dog because you don’t think that he has quote enough hair. If it's good hair and it's the right quality and it's the right color then you're good to go.”

Tune in next week for more from Lorraine Bisso and hear all about the history and excitement at this year’s Morris and Essex dog show.

]]>Lorraine Bisso on the Irish Setter: “most beautiful of all dogs”

AKC judge and Irish Setter breeder Lorraine Bisso shares her passion for the breed with host Laura Reeves.

“The standard tells you that it's termed by artists, the most beautiful of all dogs,” Bisso said. “I tell people when I do judge’s education, when the dog walks in the ring, if your heart doesn't skip a beat by the beautiful color, the symmetry, the silhouette, before you even get to know the dog, then something is missing. In this beautiful, drop-dead gorgeous dog beats a soul not to be matched. He would give his life for you. He also cheats at cards.”

Bisso has been involved with Irish Setters for more than 50 years and brings us a little myth busting.

“They are smart,” Bisso said. “That's something that's very misunderstood in this breed. They earned a reputation at one point for not being smart… they are very creative and often the problem is that they are one step ahead of their owners.

"Irish setters do not like to do things over and over and over again. They will go from point A to point B quite willingly several times. Then they will decide to take the scenic route. When they get to point B, they're really mystified as to why you are upset. They got there, they just took the scenic route. It's a charming part of the breed.

“The standard describes a hunting dog. When you judge them, you should keep in mind that singular point. They are the most beautiful of all dogs and they are bred to hunt. Everything in the standard relates to those twin elements of type, shall we say. They have to be beautiful, but they also must be the active gundog that the standard talks about. That's the reason for the feet, the tail set, the proportions. the bite, the head, the eye. Everything in that standard is about a working gun dog and as you judge the breed, you should keep that in mind.

“Irish Setters are a single coated breed. Their coat is designed to have things come out if you brush them. Again, our standard calls for a “pleasing fringe of hair.” It does not call for a foot of hair, it calls for pleasing fringe. While we all love the beautiful show coats, don't get me wrong on this, I’m a sucker for the full on press, all you really need is the pleasing fringe. So again I tell judges, do not walk past a dog because you don’t think that he has quote enough hair. If it's good hair and it's the right quality and it's the right color then you're good to go.”

Tune in next week for more from Lorraine Bisso and hear all about the history and excitement at this year’s Morris and Essex dog show.

]]>636613c2-4202-4de0-93e7-9930d90fae4fMon, 09 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -070030:21falsefull492 – Made in America: Western Ranch Dogs Go Mainstream492 – Made in America: Western Ranch Dogs Go Mainstream

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]]>91c491a1-90f8-46bb-8116-cc6cd91e79faMon, 30 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -070028:05falsefull514 – Chesapeake Bay Retrievers: An American Success Story514 – Chesapeake Bay Retrievers: An American Success StoryChesapeake Bay Retrievers: An American Success Story Betsy Horn Humer has spent a lifetime with Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. Her parents acquired their first dog in 1947 and Betsy has been deeply involved in the breed since childhood. A conformation and obedience/rally judge, Betsy brings tremendous depth and width of experience to her understanding of the sport. "They're very different from the other retrievers," Betsy said. "They're not like Goldens and Labs who love everybody and wanna be your friend. They're much more reserved. They're much more like some of the working breeds -- German Shepherds and Dobermans, Rottweilers. "They have a real work ethic and they're serious. They're much more serious than your average Golden and Labrador. They're not the dog for everyone, especially a first dog. "They're very protective and that's really because of their heritage and why they were originally developed. "They were originally developed on Chesapeake Bay, of course. The story is that there was a shipwreck. There were a couple of dogs on the ship and they swam to the shores. One was named Sailor and one was named Canton. They were not Chesapeakes but they were more like the Saint John's dog. The Labrador also goes back to that particular breed. "They were bred with a couple of the other local hunting dogs and some of the background includes setters and bloodhounds and other retrievers. It's an interesting mix and it does explain why we do have different types of coats and different kinds of hound markings because of the genetics that's actually behind the breed. [caption id="attachment_9536" align="alignleft" width="290"] 2021 National Specialty show- Award of Merit. GCHB Eastern Waters’ Pink Power O’MesaRidge, BN RI. Owners/ Breeders - Betsy Horn Humer & Rupert J. Humer[/caption] "The breed was really developed and records were kept by the wealthy land owners who owned property on the Chesapeake Bay and had huge hunting clubs. It was the local marketers, the duck hunters and the water fowlers that used them for hunting back in the late 1800s. "There were no limits on how many ducks you could take and these hunters would take several hundred a day. The Chesapeake would just go out in the Bay and retrieve them all, that was his job. When he wasn't actually swimming and retrieving, his job was to guard the pile of ducks so that nobody else would take them. These ducks were sold to expensive restaurants in Baltimore. They were considered a real treat. "Winters were much colder then. There was ice to be broken. The Chesapeake Bay is huge. I mean you're not talking just like a little lake it is huge. You get tremendous amounts of tides, wind. It can be a very unpleasant place during hunting season. But these hunters, that was how they made their living and that was what they did. "(Chesapeakes) are very strong. They're much stronger than they look. They've got very strong bone. Their coat was developed in order to keep them warm. They have what's referred to as a double coat. There's a very soft undercoat and it's interesting because it's all one hair. The tops of the hair are very coarse and wiry but as you get closer to the skin, the coat is actually very soft and the outside harshness keeps the inside, the other part of it, dry." Be sure to listen in to this wide ranging conversation for more insights on the Chesapeake, judging in the show ring and the obedience ring, dog breeding and more.]]>Chesapeake Bay Retrievers: An American Success Story Betsy Horn Humer has spent a lifetime with Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. Her parents acquired their first dog in 1947 and Betsy has been deeply involved in the breed since childhood. A conformation and obedience/rally judge, Betsy brings tremendous depth and width of experience to her understanding of the sport. "They're very different from the other retrievers," Betsy said. "They're not like Goldens and Labs who love everybody and wanna be your friend. They're much more reserved. They're much more like some of the working breeds -- German Shepherds and Dobermans, Rottweilers. "They have a real work ethic and they're serious. They're much more serious than your average Golden and Labrador. They're not the dog for everyone, especially a first dog. "They're very protective and that's really because of their heritage and why they were originally developed. "They were originally developed on Chesapeake Bay, of course. The story is that there was a shipwreck. There were a couple of dogs on the ship and they swam to the shores. One was named Sailor and one was named Canton. They were not Chesapeakes but they were more like the Saint John's dog. The Labrador also goes back to that particular breed. "They were bred with a couple of the other local hunting dogs and some of the background includes setters and bloodhounds and other retrievers. It's an interesting mix and it does explain why we do have different types of coats and different kinds of hound markings because of the genetics that's actually behind the breed. [caption id="attachment_9536" align="alignleft" width="290"] 2021 National Specialty show- Award of Merit. GCHB Eastern Waters’ Pink Power O’MesaRidge, BN RI. Owners/ Breeders - Betsy Horn Humer & Rupert J. Humer[/caption] "The breed was really developed and records were kept by the wealthy land owners who owned property on the Chesapeake Bay and had huge hunting clubs. It was the local marketers, the duck hunters and the water fowlers that used them for hunting back in the late 1800s. "There were no limits on how many ducks you could take and these hunters would take several hundred a day. The Chesapeake would just go out in the Bay and retrieve them all, that was his job. When he wasn't actually swimming and retrieving, his job was to guard the pile of ducks so that nobody else would take them. These ducks were sold to expensive restaurants in Baltimore. They were considered a real treat. "Winters were much colder then. There was ice to be broken. The Chesapeake Bay is huge. I mean you're not talking just like a little lake it is huge. You get tremendous amounts of tides, wind. It can be a very unpleasant place during hunting season. But these hunters, that was how they made their living and that was what they did. "(Chesapeakes) are very strong. They're much stronger than they look. They've got very strong bone. Their coat was developed in order to keep them warm. They have what's referred to as a double coat. There's a very soft undercoat and it's interesting because it's all one hair. The tops of the hair are very coarse and wiry but as you get closer to the skin, the coat is actually very soft and the outside harshness keeps the inside, the other part of it, dry." Be sure to listen in to this wide ranging conversation for more insights on the Chesapeake, judging in the show ring and the obedience ring, dog breeding and more.]]>48e68c38-6052-4f23-9415-97e2ff64f39cTue, 01 Feb 2022 09:00:00 -070046:25falsefull524 – Norrbottenspets: “Your GPS in the woods”524 – Norrbottenspets: “Your GPS in the woods”Norrbottenspets: “Your GPS in the woods” Gabi Vannini, breeder and fancier of Norrbottenspets, joins host Laura Reeves for a Love the Breeds episode during Rare Breeds month at Pure Dog Talk. Currently judged in the Miscellaneous group with AKC, this ancient hunting dog is used to tree game for the hunter. “They'll be in the hound group,” Vannini said. “They're hound spitz, so they don't look like every other dog in the hound group necessarily and in Europe they are in the primitive group. They are tree barking hunting dogs, so they're gonna be kind of like a coonhound as far as barking at things up the trees and then letting you shoot. “Back before we had GPS collars and fancy things, they were kind of your GPS in the woods because they would go hunting on their own and find something for you and then bark their fool heads off until you found them.” Related to the solid red Finnish Spitz, the Norrbottenspets were the parti colored members of the ancient breed. As breeders selected for the solid color dogs, the spotted dogs dwindled away, Vannini noted, “They actually got really close to being extinct before there was kind of a project made to go out and find some of them.” More popular in their native Sweden and Finland, Vannini estimates there are only about 250 in the US. “They are really, really nice dogs and honestly a really well-kept secret. I think a little bit of it is the barking stuff. If they're hunting, they're working but other than that they're really not obnoxious or reactive barkers. “(At 16-18 inches tall), they're nice little go anywhere dogs. We've got a lot of dogs in and out and that's been one of my big things is having dogs that are very tolerant of that. They're just really good with other dogs and really sweet with people. “It's a double coated breed. Typically, they drop the coat every six months kind of thing, but it's a nice shorter double coat. We're actually explicitly not supposed to blow dry them for shows. They shouldn't be back brushed and fluffed up. The coat should be a tight natural easy coat and that's something that's really nice about them and easy to live with.” Long lived with few genetic health issues, Vannini noted, these hardy little dogs often live well into their teen years. Typical hounds, they require creative training but are not demanding or needing a job.  ]]>Norrbottenspets: “Your GPS in the woods” Gabi Vannini, breeder and fancier of Norrbottenspets, joins host Laura Reeves for a Love the Breeds episode during Rare Breeds month at Pure Dog Talk. Currently judged in the Miscellaneous group with AKC, this ancient hunting dog is used to tree game for the hunter. “They'll be in the hound group,” Vannini said. “They're hound spitz, so they don't look like every other dog in the hound group necessarily and in Europe they are in the primitive group. They are tree barking hunting dogs, so they're gonna be kind of like a coonhound as far as barking at things up the trees and then letting you shoot. “Back before we had GPS collars and fancy things, they were kind of your GPS in the woods because they would go hunting on their own and find something for you and then bark their fool heads off until you found them.” Related to the solid red Finnish Spitz, the Norrbottenspets were the parti colored members of the ancient breed. As breeders selected for the solid color dogs, the spotted dogs dwindled away, Vannini noted, “They actually got really close to being extinct before there was kind of a project made to go out and find some of them.” More popular in their native Sweden and Finland, Vannini estimates there are only about 250 in the US. “They are really, really nice dogs and honestly a really well-kept secret. I think a little bit of it is the barking stuff. If they're hunting, they're working but other than that they're really not obnoxious or reactive barkers. “(At 16-18 inches tall), they're nice little go anywhere dogs. We've got a lot of dogs in and out and that's been one of my big things is having dogs that are very tolerant of that. They're just really good with other dogs and really sweet with people. “It's a double coated breed. Typically, they drop the coat every six months kind of thing, but it's a nice shorter double coat. We're actually explicitly not supposed to blow dry them for shows. They shouldn't be back brushed and fluffed up. The coat should be a tight natural easy coat and that's something that's really nice about them and easy to live with.” Long lived with few genetic health issues, Vannini noted, these hardy little dogs often live well into their teen years. Typical hounds, they require creative training but are not demanding or needing a job.  ]]>d2b5cf9b-fa7a-44b8-822a-79bfbc2544e0Mon, 11 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -070028:40falsefull525 – Nederlandse Kooikerhondje: The Original Duck Decoy525 – Nederlandse Kooikerhondje: The Original Duck DecoyNederlandse Kooikerhondje: The Original Duck Decoy Marlene Valter and Susanne Martin join host Laura Reeves to share their passion for the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje during Pure Dog Talk’s Rare Breeds Month. The progenitors of these rare Dutch duck decoy dogs are depicted in paintings dating to the 1600s, Martin noted. Saved from near extinction after World War II, they received full recognition by the American Kennel Club in 2018. The breed was used to lure ducks into traps in man-made Dutch ponds. Their flashing white tail acts as a decoy. In fact, the word decoy derives from the Dutch name for these water features, Eendenkooi. “I fell in love with how pretty they are first of all,” Valter said. “They're really beautiful and attractive. It's a double coat, so it's weatherproof. My dog Harvey, he'll go out, run around in the mud and you can put him away, sometimes not even showered him off or anything at all, he's just full of mud. A half hour later, all the mud is on the ground and his coat is completely white.”

Hallmarks

Kooiker coloring is very specific, Martin said. They always should have a white blaze and the orange patches. (It was) thought that ducks were most attracted to the orange and white color combination. “So, the blaze, it goes to the nose,” Martin said. “The orange covers the eyes and then you have these black earrings which are pretty much the signature, the black eartips, and then the white plumy tail. But the real way that you know at Kooiker, in many respects, is because if you look at the standard it talks about lively, agile, self-confidence and that's what they are. They prance and step in this very deliberate kind of movement.”

Temperament

“There's a 30 second rule with Kooikers,” Valter said. “You meet them and you give them 30 seconds to just think about it. Then, when they come to you, you pretty much got a friend. They're just a discerning group. They're watching whether I'm accepting this person. If I do, they tend to. If I'm being aloof, they tend to be also. They're very kind of quick. One of the most unique things about them, in my mind, is that they’re puzzle solvers. So almost the more complicated the situation, the more interested they are.”

Summary

[caption id="attachment_9823" align="alignleft" width="302"] Susanne Martin works Search and Rescue with her Kooikers.[/caption] The Kooiker is a “dainty, pretty, sensitive, active and versatile dog with low maintenance that needs a very special owner with the right intuition,” Martin said. “I'll share a story of my experience,” Valter said. “So, we're getting ready to go to this show and … we get to the hotel and it has a pond… I need to go take my dog out for a walk. So, he goes out walking, without a leash, and he just starts trotting along and I look up and I see a duck. And then he's trotting along and I look up a few seconds later and there's ten ducks. And then he's moving right along in this very deliberate, quiet movement. I felt like I went back centuries the way he was moving quietly along … I quit counting at 35 ducks within a matter of minutes, (just following him)…” Be sure to LISTEN to the full episode for more details on this fabulous little sporting dog.  ]]>Nederlandse Kooikerhondje: The Original Duck Decoy Marlene Valter and Susanne Martin join host Laura Reeves to share their passion for the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje during Pure Dog Talk’s Rare Breeds Month. The progenitors of these rare Dutch duck decoy dogs are depicted in paintings dating to the 1600s, Martin noted. Saved from near extinction after World War II, they received full recognition by the American Kennel Club in 2018. The breed was used to lure ducks into traps in man-made Dutch ponds. Their flashing white tail acts as a decoy. In fact, the word decoy derives from the Dutch name for these water features, Eendenkooi. “I fell in love with how pretty they are first of all,” Valter said. “They're really beautiful and attractive. It's a double coat, so it's weatherproof. My dog Harvey, he'll go out, run around in the mud and you can put him away, sometimes not even showered him off or anything at all, he's just full of mud. A half hour later, all the mud is on the ground and his coat is completely white.”

Hallmarks

Kooiker coloring is very specific, Martin said. They always should have a white blaze and the orange patches. (It was) thought that ducks were most attracted to the orange and white color combination. “So, the blaze, it goes to the nose,” Martin said. “The orange covers the eyes and then you have these black earrings which are pretty much the signature, the black eartips, and then the white plumy tail. But the real way that you know at Kooiker, in many respects, is because if you look at the standard it talks about lively, agile, self-confidence and that's what they are. They prance and step in this very deliberate kind of movement.”

Temperament

“There's a 30 second rule with Kooikers,” Valter said. “You meet them and you give them 30 seconds to just think about it. Then, when they come to you, you pretty much got a friend. They're just a discerning group. They're watching whether I'm accepting this person. If I do, they tend to. If I'm being aloof, they tend to be also. They're very kind of quick. One of the most unique things about them, in my mind, is that they’re puzzle solvers. So almost the more complicated the situation, the more interested they are.”

Summary

[caption id="attachment_9823" align="alignleft" width="302"] Susanne Martin works Search and Rescue with her Kooikers.[/caption] The Kooiker is a “dainty, pretty, sensitive, active and versatile dog with low maintenance that needs a very special owner with the right intuition,” Martin said. “I'll share a story of my experience,” Valter said. “So, we're getting ready to go to this show and … we get to the hotel and it has a pond… I need to go take my dog out for a walk. So, he goes out walking, without a leash, and he just starts trotting along and I look up and I see a duck. And then he's trotting along and I look up a few seconds later and there's ten ducks. And then he's moving right along in this very deliberate, quiet movement. I felt like I went back centuries the way he was moving quietly along … I quit counting at 35 ducks within a matter of minutes, (just following him)…” Be sure to LISTEN to the full episode for more details on this fabulous little sporting dog.  ]]>4df01778-697e-4374-8e82-c74965088d6fMon, 18 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -070037:21falsefull526 – Chinook: The Gentleman’s Carriage Horse of Sled Dogs526 – Chinook: The Gentleman’s Carriage Horse of Sled DogsChinook: The Gentleman's Carriage Horse of Sled Dogs Rare Breeds Month continues today at Pure Dog Talk. Our final conversation is with Karen Hinchy and Ginger Corley about the Chinook, the Gentleman’s Carriage Horse of Sled Dogs. Corley, one of the longest-term Chinook breeders in the US today, acquired her first in the 1980s. “I wanted a dog that was large but not bigger than me,” Corley said. “I wanted a dog that was friendly. I wanted a dog that didn't require a lot of grooming. Eventually, I kept narrowing down the list and came to Chinooks without really grasping how rare they were at the time. “It was designed to be a mid-level dog … it fills the niche between the smaller, racier Siberian and the large freighting Alaskan Malamute. The Chinook is the gentleman's carriage horse of sled dogs. It may not be as fast as the Alaskan Husky, which is the racing machine that is on your Iditarod teams. Those dogs are much smaller than your average Chinook. It's not going to be the huge freighting dog that the Alaskan Malamute and some of the other indigenous freighting breeds of the northern extremes were. “But it can go for a reasonably long distance at a darn good clip carrying a relatively heavy load. Plus it is the sled dog you can live with. They don't want to run away from home like your average Siberian. And they have very little urge to fight with other dogs. A lot of us will own multiples. “They were developed in the New England area by Arthur Walden, a gentleman who had been up in Alaska during the Yukon gold rush. He had worked as what was known as a dog puncher back then. He was delivering supplies and mail to the prospectors that were looking for gold. His favorite dog while he was up there was one he called Chinook. “Eventually he decides to breed his ultimate sled dog. They were a unique look of their own. They were a big yellowish, what we now call tawny or might be considered fawn, sled dog. Their coat rather than standing off from the body like you see in a show Husky or Malamute, it's more of a short-coated Saint Bernard type, where it lies flatter to the body, but there is a substantial undercoat. There were three in the initial litter and they turned out to be just magnificent sled dogs. And from there, things took off.” “The Chinook is the state dog New Hampshire,” Hinchy noted. “I think there are only a few States and dog breeds that we have where American breeds are recognized as official state dog, so we're pretty proud of that. The actual dog Chinook, and his progeny, were a large number of the dogs that competed in the first races in the New England sled dog club, which is a pretty famous group up here. This is before Leonard Seppala and some of the Siberians arrived and took over the speed scene. “The interesting thing about Chinooks is Arthur Walden sort of created them and stewarded their future and their breeding for the first 10 years (in the 1920s). Then he went off to Antarctica and when he came back, ultimately the breed ended up passing through one person at a time as the main breeder. All the way through the ‘70s there was generally one single breeder in the country that controlled the breeding of Chinooks. As a result, of course, it kept the numbers low and the breed very rare. "In 1965, Chinooks were listed in the Guinness Book of world records as the rarest dog in the world, with 125 alive. Fast forward to just before Ginger stepped onto the scene, we know there were eleven intact Chinooks anywhere in 1981. There are still only about 1,100 chinooks in the world.” Listen to the full episode to hear more fascinating details about saving and growing the population of this rare breed, the cross-breeding that was done to salvage them, and their unique characteristics in the working group.]]>Chinook: The Gentleman's Carriage Horse of Sled Dogs Rare Breeds Month continues today at Pure Dog Talk. Our final conversation is with Karen Hinchy and Ginger Corley about the Chinook, the Gentleman’s Carriage Horse of Sled Dogs. Corley, one of the longest-term Chinook breeders in the US today, acquired her first in the 1980s. “I wanted a dog that was large but not bigger than me,” Corley said. “I wanted a dog that was friendly. I wanted a dog that didn't require a lot of grooming. Eventually, I kept narrowing down the list and came to Chinooks without really grasping how rare they were at the time. “It was designed to be a mid-level dog … it fills the niche between the smaller, racier Siberian and the large freighting Alaskan Malamute. The Chinook is the gentleman's carriage horse of sled dogs. It may not be as fast as the Alaskan Husky, which is the racing machine that is on your Iditarod teams. Those dogs are much smaller than your average Chinook. It's not going to be the huge freighting dog that the Alaskan Malamute and some of the other indigenous freighting breeds of the northern extremes were. “But it can go for a reasonably long distance at a darn good clip carrying a relatively heavy load. Plus it is the sled dog you can live with. They don't want to run away from home like your average Siberian. And they have very little urge to fight with other dogs. A lot of us will own multiples. “They were developed in the New England area by Arthur Walden, a gentleman who had been up in Alaska during the Yukon gold rush. He had worked as what was known as a dog puncher back then. He was delivering supplies and mail to the prospectors that were looking for gold. His favorite dog while he was up there was one he called Chinook. “Eventually he decides to breed his ultimate sled dog. They were a unique look of their own. They were a big yellowish, what we now call tawny or might be considered fawn, sled dog. Their coat rather than standing off from the body like you see in a show Husky or Malamute, it's more of a short-coated Saint Bernard type, where it lies flatter to the body, but there is a substantial undercoat. There were three in the initial litter and they turned out to be just magnificent sled dogs. And from there, things took off.” “The Chinook is the state dog New Hampshire,” Hinchy noted. “I think there are only a few States and dog breeds that we have where American breeds are recognized as official state dog, so we're pretty proud of that. The actual dog Chinook, and his progeny, were a large number of the dogs that competed in the first races in the New England sled dog club, which is a pretty famous group up here. This is before Leonard Seppala and some of the Siberians arrived and took over the speed scene. “The interesting thing about Chinooks is Arthur Walden sort of created them and stewarded their future and their breeding for the first 10 years (in the 1920s). Then he went off to Antarctica and when he came back, ultimately the breed ended up passing through one person at a time as the main breeder. All the way through the ‘70s there was generally one single breeder in the country that controlled the breeding of Chinooks. As a result, of course, it kept the numbers low and the breed very rare. "In 1965, Chinooks were listed in the Guinness Book of world records as the rarest dog in the world, with 125 alive. Fast forward to just before Ginger stepped onto the scene, we know there were eleven intact Chinooks anywhere in 1981. There are still only about 1,100 chinooks in the world.” Listen to the full episode to hear more fascinating details about saving and growing the population of this rare breed, the cross-breeding that was done to salvage them, and their unique characteristics in the working group.]]>827f1eb3-12c7-4c39-bd23-3f48129d2454Tue, 26 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -070031:48falsefull549 – Finnish Lapphunds: Trainable, Lovable, Cuddly Dogs of the North549 – Finnish Lapphunds: Trainable, Lovable, Cuddly Dogs of the NorthFinnish Lapphunds: Trainable, Lovable, Cuddly Dogs of the North [caption id="attachment_10909" align="alignleft" width="273"] Linda Marden and Tori.[/caption] Host Laura Reeves kicks off Love the Breeds month talking with Linda Marden, who imported the first Finnish Lapphunds to the US and worked to have them recognized by the American Kennel Club. “I very pointedly and purposely set out to import Finnish Lapphunds and get them recognized by AKC,” Marden said. “It took pretty close to 25 years to get it done. I couldn't find anybody that would export one to the United States. Back then, we didn't have Internet or anything like that. To them, sending a dog to the United States was basically the same as taking it out and shooting it… it was never going to come back to them. It wouldn't be part of their gene pool because once they're gone and registered in the United States … at that point, because we weren't AKC recognized, we couldn't send dogs back to them. So that line, as far as they were concerned, was lost. Getting a dog was really difficult. [caption id="attachment_10910" align="alignright" width="358"] Finnish Lapphunds are a medium-sized double coated Spitz-type breed.[/caption] “When I first started, I had a breed which had a very definite well-recorded history and we had multiple generations pedigrees. This was not in any way shape or form a created breed. Every dog I imported had at least a three-generation pedigree, which was an AKC requirement. We never had anything that wasn't three generations, and they still made us wait until we had 400 dogs in the United States before we could even take another step forward. When I first started working on importing Lappies. It was before AKC had the foundation stock service. So, it instantly became much easier once that got started. “Finnish Lapphunds obviously are from Finland. That type of breed is all over the northern part of Europe. So, what actual breed you get depends on where in northern Europe you are. So, the “Lapphund” part comes from Lappland, which was an area of Europe that was never a country but "pre-countries" it was recognized area. It covers the northern parts of Norway, Sweden and Finland. And Sammies came from also basically the same area, but it was Russia. So, it's just the area you were in because these were nomadic people that are relatively isolated. So, the breeds that formed, formed because of the human isolation. [caption id="attachment_10908" align="alignleft" width="233"] The breed comes in a wide array of colors, love to learn tricks and are very docile with people.[/caption] “All of those breeds were kept by the nomadic people and their primary job was to help herd the reindeer. Now, the dogs were multi-purpose. They were not exclusively bred as herding dogs. So, we see differences in their temperaments because of that. They were also used to occasionally pull sleds. They were alarm dogs. They hung out with the people. We all joke that we know exactly what a “three dog night” is. It's really cold. The dogs lived very closely with their people, and you can see that in their temperaments. All of those breeds actually are exceedingly people oriented because they lived in the tents with the people.” For more information on the breed: https://www.facebook.com/groups/finnishlappundclubofamerica]]>Finnish Lapphunds: Trainable, Lovable, Cuddly Dogs of the North [caption id="attachment_10909" align="alignleft" width="273"] Linda Marden and Tori.[/caption] Host Laura Reeves kicks off Love the Breeds month talking with Linda Marden, who imported the first Finnish Lapphunds to the US and worked to have them recognized by the American Kennel Club. “I very pointedly and purposely set out to import Finnish Lapphunds and get them recognized by AKC,” Marden said. “It took pretty close to 25 years to get it done. I couldn't find anybody that would export one to the United States. Back then, we didn't have Internet or anything like that. To them, sending a dog to the United States was basically the same as taking it out and shooting it… it was never going to come back to them. It wouldn't be part of their gene pool because once they're gone and registered in the United States … at that point, because we weren't AKC recognized, we couldn't send dogs back to them. So that line, as far as they were concerned, was lost. Getting a dog was really difficult. [caption id="attachment_10910" align="alignright" width="358"] Finnish Lapphunds are a medium-sized double coated Spitz-type breed.[/caption] “When I first started, I had a breed which had a very definite well-recorded history and we had multiple generations pedigrees. This was not in any way shape or form a created breed. Every dog I imported had at least a three-generation pedigree, which was an AKC requirement. We never had anything that wasn't three generations, and they still made us wait until we had 400 dogs in the United States before we could even take another step forward. When I first started working on importing Lappies. It was before AKC had the foundation stock service. So, it instantly became much easier once that got started. “Finnish Lapphunds obviously are from Finland. That type of breed is all over the northern part of Europe. So, what actual breed you get depends on where in northern Europe you are. So, the “Lapphund” part comes from Lappland, which was an area of Europe that was never a country but "pre-countries" it was recognized area. It covers the northern parts of Norway, Sweden and Finland. And Sammies came from also basically the same area, but it was Russia. So, it's just the area you were in because these were nomadic people that are relatively isolated. So, the breeds that formed, formed because of the human isolation. [caption id="attachment_10908" align="alignleft" width="233"] The breed comes in a wide array of colors, love to learn tricks and are very docile with people.[/caption] “All of those breeds were kept by the nomadic people and their primary job was to help herd the reindeer. Now, the dogs were multi-purpose. They were not exclusively bred as herding dogs. So, we see differences in their temperaments because of that. They were also used to occasionally pull sleds. They were alarm dogs. They hung out with the people. We all joke that we know exactly what a “three dog night” is. It's really cold. The dogs lived very closely with their people, and you can see that in their temperaments. All of those breeds actually are exceedingly people oriented because they lived in the tents with the people.” For more information on the breed: https://www.facebook.com/groups/finnishlappundclubofamerica]]>9d40f129-ee15-40fb-970e-0e4fe6159aaeMon, 03 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -070027:17falsefull551 – Sealyham Terriers: Favorites of Royalty and Hollywood551 – Sealyham Terriers: Favorites of Royalty and HollywoodSealyham Terriers: Favorites of Royalty and Hollywood [caption id="attachment_10929" align="alignleft" width="264"] Leslie Jaseph with two of her Seabrook Sealyham Terriers.[/caption] Leslie Jaseph joins host Laura Reeves for the next in our Love the Breeds Month, by listener request, Sealyham Terriers. Sealyham Terriers were once the favored breed of Queen Elizabeth’s sister, Princess Margaret, and Hollywood legends from Alfred Hitchcock to Betty Davis, Rock Hudson and Cary Grant. Today they are ranked 139th out of the 197 AKC breeds by registration numbers. Developed in Wales and named for the founder’s estate, Sealyhams were used to go to ground after badgers and run with the Otterhounds hunting otters. Jaseph, a Sealyham breeder, owner and exhibitor for 50 years, showed her first Sealy in Junior Showmanship. “They're tough in the field,” Jaseph said. “And they're really engaging. They love to chase and run and track, but they're not aggressive with other dogs. They are a pack animal, so their pack is their home. Beyond their pack they can be a little more assertive in personality, but within their pack it's a very distinct order. “They're happy to be the boss of the house. If you don't want to do that, they'll take over. They'll be in control. But you might not like how that works. So, you do have to be to stay strong, although you don't want to be heavy-handed with them at all. “They're very bright, they're very inquisitive. They have a terrific sense of humor. They do things for effect and watch if you're paying attention, and then they'll repeat it. Or maybe sometimes if they see you watching, they'll just stop and walk away. “They were bred to be a dwarf breed, and so they have nice bone. I think our standard mentions strength and power something like 10 times within the opening paragraph and getting into the standard. Good bone, not overdone. Not coarse, still able to be agile. “I know Sealys that live very, very happily with cats, that's not a problem. But as far as rodents and other things like that, I think you would need to be very judicious on how you handled that situation. I actually take ours and we've done urban rat hunting in Washington DC and so they do have an instinct to do that. “So the reason why they're white is because Captain Edwards wanted them to be able to be spotted when they were out hunting. Now, granted, when you're in the mud, you're going to get muddy, but you're still going to have that white. But a good coated Sealyham really is a dog that the dirt doesn't cling to them. “If they have that harsh, crisp coat, they really don't stain at all. And they do have a double coat. So you have this 50% harsh coat, 50% undercoat, which was weather resistant and kept them warm and somewhat dry.” “They do love their people and they want to be with their people. They’re wonderful companions. They love to go for walks. They don't need to go running, but they do enjoy being with you as companion dogs.”]]>Sealyham Terriers: Favorites of Royalty and Hollywood [caption id="attachment_10929" align="alignleft" width="264"] Leslie Jaseph with two of her Seabrook Sealyham Terriers.[/caption] Leslie Jaseph joins host Laura Reeves for the next in our Love the Breeds Month, by listener request, Sealyham Terriers. Sealyham Terriers were once the favored breed of Queen Elizabeth’s sister, Princess Margaret, and Hollywood legends from Alfred Hitchcock to Betty Davis, Rock Hudson and Cary Grant. Today they are ranked 139th out of the 197 AKC breeds by registration numbers. Developed in Wales and named for the founder’s estate, Sealyhams were used to go to ground after badgers and run with the Otterhounds hunting otters. Jaseph, a Sealyham breeder, owner and exhibitor for 50 years, showed her first Sealy in Junior Showmanship. “They're tough in the field,” Jaseph said. “And they're really engaging. They love to chase and run and track, but they're not aggressive with other dogs. They are a pack animal, so their pack is their home. Beyond their pack they can be a little more assertive in personality, but within their pack it's a very distinct order. “They're happy to be the boss of the house. If you don't want to do that, they'll take over. They'll be in control. But you might not like how that works. So, you do have to be to stay strong, although you don't want to be heavy-handed with them at all. “They're very bright, they're very inquisitive. They have a terrific sense of humor. They do things for effect and watch if you're paying attention, and then they'll repeat it. Or maybe sometimes if they see you watching, they'll just stop and walk away. “They were bred to be a dwarf breed, and so they have nice bone. I think our standard mentions strength and power something like 10 times within the opening paragraph and getting into the standard. Good bone, not overdone. Not coarse, still able to be agile. “I know Sealys that live very, very happily with cats, that's not a problem. But as far as rodents and other things like that, I think you would need to be very judicious on how you handled that situation. I actually take ours and we've done urban rat hunting in Washington DC and so they do have an instinct to do that. “So the reason why they're white is because Captain Edwards wanted them to be able to be spotted when they were out hunting. Now, granted, when you're in the mud, you're going to get muddy, but you're still going to have that white. But a good coated Sealyham really is a dog that the dirt doesn't cling to them. “If they have that harsh, crisp coat, they really don't stain at all. And they do have a double coat. So you have this 50% harsh coat, 50% undercoat, which was weather resistant and kept them warm and somewhat dry.” “They do love their people and they want to be with their people. They’re wonderful companions. They love to go for walks. They don't need to go running, but they do enjoy being with you as companion dogs.”]]>6841cd4b-954d-4a64-9117-18bd97d4a5d5Mon, 17 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -070032:32falsefull552 – Spinone Italiano: Storied Bird Dogs of Gentle Character552 – Spinone Italiano: Storied Bird Dogs of Gentle CharacterSpinone Italiano: Storied Bird Dogs of Gentle Character Long time breeder Allison Schultz, of del Caos Spinoni, joins host Laura Reeves for a Love the Breeds month discussion of the fascinating history and empathetic nature of the Spinone Italiano. [caption id="attachment_10948" align="alignleft" width="264"] Allison Shultz' "Limbo," shown by Nancy Martin, the breed's first Best in Show record holder, with five lifetime BIS awards.[/caption] Schultz acquired her first Spinone in the early 1990s, long before they were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club. The breed dates back thousands of years in Italy, to when birds were hunted with nets. “(It) probably started 2,500 years ago. Long before there was a gun, there was a hunting dog in Italy. They were known as the pointing griffon, rough coat griffon, because they have a wire coat. “Interestingly enough, when you go to Italy and you go to some of the palaces as a tourist, you'll see the Bracco in the mosaics and in the paintings, because they were the dogs of the Lords. The Spinone was really the dog of the peasant. [caption id="attachment_10949" align="alignright" width="270"] Spinoni move quietly through even the toughest cover.[/caption] “When they first started hunting, it was either maybe slingshots, but mostly nets. So, they had to be really quiet in the field. (The dogs) had to be intuitive because you couldn't yell at them because the birds would fly away. So, they really became very close working, silent hunters. “They work at a trot so that the human can keep up. They're not one to bolt a half a mile away looking for a bird because it's so ingrained into them and so intrinsic that they had to hunt close (so) the hunters could throw nets over the flocks of birds. [caption id="attachment_10945" align="alignleft" width="312"] Ch. Elettra del Subasio showing correct coat and skin.[/caption] “They developed a really thick skin, which is really, really important to the breed. And the thick skin is as thick as a cow. It's called the skin of the bull in Italy. And the name Spinoni means thorn. They can go through any kind of cover without even noticing it. “They have this ability to move quite silently through even the hardest cover, and even though they could break through easily. They just don't do that. They're very, I hate to say, careful because that implies slow, but they're very, very careful about how they move. “And the other thing they did is that they naturally flush. So, they point and let the human being know where the birds are. Then if the net gets thrown or they throw the net up in the air, Spinoni will then flush the bird into the nets. That's how they provided food long before there were guns and bows and arrows or anything, actually. [caption id="attachment_10950" align="alignright" width="283"] The gentle, empathetic character of the Spinone is paramount.[/caption] “The first thing in the original standard, which the Italians still hold today, is they must be of the sweet temperament. So that means in 1,500 years of record keeping there was never a bite in Italy from a Spinone. One of the reasons their temperament must be so sweet is that they have to live with other dogs. Because the Italians usually had Segugios to hunt and take care of the rats and the vineyards and the gardens, and that's what they depended on for living. "So, the Spinoni had to be a dog that got along well with other dogs, always. But the first thing in that standard is character. And the most important thing about Spinoni is the character has to be  sweet. Dolce, they call it, gentle character. That's very, very, very important. “And a little interesting point about World War Two, in the Italian resistance, which one of my mentors was in... They used the Spinoni when they went on things because the Spinoni could tell the difference between Italians coming to meet them and Germans. That was by the diet, we believe, because the Germans ate mostly German food and smelled differently than the Italians did. They could identify the Germans quite readily. “And remember, the resistance in Italy, after Mussolini fell, were a lot of teenagers 15, 16, 17, 18 year olds, it wasn't necessarily the old guard. But many of those men were in families that were fifth, six, 7th, 8th generation Spinoni breeders. A lot of the old breeders… would have seven generations of their parents’ records, as Spinoni breeders.”]]>Spinone Italiano: Storied Bird Dogs of Gentle Character Long time breeder Allison Schultz, of del Caos Spinoni, joins host Laura Reeves for a Love the Breeds month discussion of the fascinating history and empathetic nature of the Spinone Italiano. [caption id="attachment_10948" align="alignleft" width="264"] Allison Shultz' "Limbo," shown by Nancy Martin, the breed's first Best in Show record holder, with five lifetime BIS awards.[/caption] Schultz acquired her first Spinone in the early 1990s, long before they were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club. The breed dates back thousands of years in Italy, to when birds were hunted with nets. “(It) probably started 2,500 years ago. Long before there was a gun, there was a hunting dog in Italy. They were known as the pointing griffon, rough coat griffon, because they have a wire coat. “Interestingly enough, when you go to Italy and you go to some of the palaces as a tourist, you'll see the Bracco in the mosaics and in the paintings, because they were the dogs of the Lords. The Spinone was really the dog of the peasant. [caption id="attachment_10949" align="alignright" width="270"] Spinoni move quietly through even the toughest cover.[/caption] “When they first started hunting, it was either maybe slingshots, but mostly nets. So, they had to be really quiet in the field. (The dogs) had to be intuitive because you couldn't yell at them because the birds would fly away. So, they really became very close working, silent hunters. “They work at a trot so that the human can keep up. They're not one to bolt a half a mile away looking for a bird because it's so ingrained into them and so intrinsic that they had to hunt close (so) the hunters could throw nets over the flocks of birds. [caption id="attachment_10945" align="alignleft" width="312"] Ch. Elettra del Subasio showing correct coat and skin.[/caption] “They developed a really thick skin, which is really, really important to the breed. And the thick skin is as thick as a cow. It's called the skin of the bull in Italy. And the name Spinoni means thorn. They can go through any kind of cover without even noticing it. “They have this ability to move quite silently through even the hardest cover, and even though they could break through easily. They just don't do that. They're very, I hate to say, careful because that implies slow, but they're very, very careful about how they move. “And the other thing they did is that they naturally flush. So, they point and let the human being know where the birds are. Then if the net gets thrown or they throw the net up in the air, Spinoni will then flush the bird into the nets. That's how they provided food long before there were guns and bows and arrows or anything, actually. [caption id="attachment_10950" align="alignright" width="283"] The gentle, empathetic character of the Spinone is paramount.[/caption] “The first thing in the original standard, which the Italians still hold today, is they must be of the sweet temperament. So that means in 1,500 years of record keeping there was never a bite in Italy from a Spinone. One of the reasons their temperament must be so sweet is that they have to live with other dogs. Because the Italians usually had Segugios to hunt and take care of the rats and the vineyards and the gardens, and that's what they depended on for living. "So, the Spinoni had to be a dog that got along well with other dogs, always. But the first thing in that standard is character. And the most important thing about Spinoni is the character has to be  sweet. Dolce, they call it, gentle character. That's very, very, very important. “And a little interesting point about World War Two, in the Italian resistance, which one of my mentors was in... They used the Spinoni when they went on things because the Spinoni could tell the difference between Italians coming to meet them and Germans. That was by the diet, we believe, because the Germans ate mostly German food and smelled differently than the Italians did. They could identify the Germans quite readily. “And remember, the resistance in Italy, after Mussolini fell, were a lot of teenagers 15, 16, 17, 18 year olds, it wasn't necessarily the old guard. But many of those men were in families that were fifth, six, 7th, 8th generation Spinoni breeders. A lot of the old breeders… would have seven generations of their parents’ records, as Spinoni breeders.”]]>5da5d812-0105-4920-b63f-fd6a68b0db84Mon, 24 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -070029:51falsefull