Thoughts

I wrote this a few weeks ago, before Thanksgiving  and after our club's Earthdog tests in early Nov. Just some things that crossed my mind during the three days and on the drive home. Finally got this up and hopefully still timely!

One of the guys who came to help dig-in on Friday (for you novices, thats when we do the digging of the earthdog tunnels -with aid of a backhoe thank goodness!)  was a guy who came to his first ED a couple of years ago with his wife looking to learn more about Border Terriers. Well, they eventually did get a nice girl BT from N Ca and they have been at ED ever since. He has helped dig-in at the past 4 trials and last week he was the first non-committee person there to help. Because I hadnt seen him since the spring ED trial, I asked him how he had been, how was the dog doing and how was his wife who was also on our Specialty trophy committee. He told me she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer awhile back and had just finished her latest chemo. So she likely wouldnt be there for ED but he would see if she wanted to come watch on Sunday. They arent that old, maybe in their late 40s or early 50s. The dog was staying home with her on Friday- taking his place. He worked his butt off all day Friday. He never complained, we shared a few laughs about the tunnels and the tree roots, and then he left for home. When you are a caregiver, you sometimes just need a little time "off duty", even if it is hard manual labor, to maintain your own peace of mind.

On Sunday, there was a couple at ED with their BT who also are relatively new members. That day their dog earned his first Qualifying run. They had guests with them. A dazzlingly beautiful blonde young lady and her mom. Maybe in her late 30s with short cropped blonde hair and a smile that would light up any room. Drop-dead gorgeous didn't do her justice. I dont know if she had muscular distrophy, or had a stroke or was in an accident, but most of her right side was heavily injured from the neck down. She walked with her mom and her BT friends to watch the JE and IQ tests and seemed very much at ease with the hand that life had dealt her. Her friends said she loved seeing the dogs and meeting and holding a few of them. As I watched them leave on Sunday I was glad the club members had brought her, glad she had what seemed like a pleasant time, and thankful that "but for the grace of God, there goes I". I'm sure I wouldnt have been that courageous, that resilient or that forgiving.

Then there was the club member family who came on Sat and ran their dogs but had to leave early because their son was going to call home that evening. He was at Ft. Benning in Georgia, just completing his Infantry Basic Training that very day. They didn't know where he would be stationed afterwards. Mom was abit worried, Dad was proud and said he could notice more maturity in the way his son talked on the phone. But you could tell that as proud as they were, and as happy for their son who was thrilled with his career choice as they were, they were hoping he'd be able to stay out of harm's way. He was training to be a medic in a infantry platoon. Helping his fellow soldiers when they might need him most.

Finally on the drive home through the Central Valley and the ranches there, I just happened to look over as I drove past a farmhouse and saw two teenage boys in the driveway. They were walking down the drive twirling lariats. Big, roping lariats and each was doing the "cowboy twirl" with a loop about 10 feet in diameter spinning around their body as they walked. No Sunday afternoon TV football for them, no video games, no Twitter. Just old fashioned, simple, western, cowboy fun. If I hadnt just happend to look at that instant, I'd have missed it. Probably the only kids like that in existence anymore!

Things to think about this holiday season.

It's a Small World!

I was walking my puppy outside the local Petsmart one day last week when a lady with a Westie came up and asked what kind of dog Shannon was. I replied, "Border Terrier" at which point she remarked that "there was a gentleman she saw most days walking two or three Borders at Harvey Bear Park". I replied that I thought it was me! "Oh, yes!", she exclaimed. "I didn't recognize you without the cap and sunglasses!". That has happened several times now so I guess I am becoming a "fixture" at the park! At least they are still referring to me as a "gentleman"!

We spent a few minutes talking dogs when another younger lady walked up. "Is that a Border Terrier?" she asked. "Sure is", I replied. "How do you know about BTs?" It turned out her mom owned two and was showing them in conformation. I asked who that might be and had to smile when she told me her mom was a lady I know quite well and whose dogs I have groomed occasionally in the past! I had never met the daughter before and we all laughed at how small a world it was!

What Breeders REALLY Do!

Ever wonder if you wanted to breed a dog and what a breeder goes through? I'd bred dogs before but not Border Terriers. And not in the last 25 years or so! So I boned up about breeding and whelping and all the possible problems you might encounter. I read books, attended seminars and watched DVDs. Come the big day I was as prepared as I could be. But the whelping was the easy part, and, in retrospect, maybe not the most important part. Sure, you need to get the pups out and everyone stable and nursing. The first week is nerve racking. Dewclaw removal can be traumatic. If someone gets sick, what should you do now? But I believe that the real work begins with the rearing and socialization that starts around week four.

I have seen Borders that bark at just about everything and everyone; there are many web sites that say BTs are "barky". I have even seen "aggressive" BTs. Thus I was determined to do everything I possibly could to socialize and introduce my pups to the world as best as possible.
I made a list and started checking things off:
Pee and poop on papers. Intro them to crates. Don't jump up when I approach; calmly (somewhat) sit while I come closer.
This is your food- enjoy it, but do not play IN it (too much!).
This is a broom; you do NOT eat it or chase it! Here's what a vacuum cleaner sounds like and the doorbell, the telephone and the microwave.
Come on out and watch TV with us (in your crates) and BTW, please behave; i.e do NOT cry and whine. I am impervious (I hope!) to that and will not let you out until you behave.
This is how to eat treats from my hand; you do NOT go into my pockets yourself even if I am laying down next to you! And you do not jump up and put your teeth anywhere near me, especially on my ears or face!
This is what a hardwood floor feels like, while this other thing is carpet. Yes, its soft! No, you don't get to pee here either! This is what grass feels like underfoot; isn't that neat? This is sunshine and THAT is your shadow!!! Yes, it is following you!
This is how we ride in the car. This is a vet and her office- no, you don't treat her like a sibling! Yes, she has some treats too, but you have to earn them!
This is the grooming and show table. Yes, that "other" dog there IS YOU- that is a mirror!
This is a collar and this is a leash. We go to nifty places when these come out! No, the collar does NOT go in your mouth and you do not get to EAT the leash!
This may taste terrible but it's necessary. Please "Enjoy!" Would you rather have worms? Here, have a treat! See? I'm not SO BAD!
Oops, we just poo'ed off the papers. Too bad! Now let's go outside and see if you have anything else to do. WAIT! Don't STEP in it! Let ME clean it up!
This neat, new toy is a cardboard box! See I have put some holes in it so you can play house and hide 'n'seek! And THIS is a PVC pipe! (Think Earthdog!) No, you do not EAT the box!
These are the "older" dogs. Treat them with SOME respect, please. That is, if you value your lives! Though they have seen ALL this before, (and done it themselves), even their patience is limited.
And these are "little people" - they are the SAME AS ME. Don't ever forget that, even if they forget who you are and how to treat you correctly.

When all that (and more) is done, then you can start to believe that you have prepared your puppies for their new homes. And maybe, just maybe, you have started down the road to becoming a true breeder!

Carbohydrates, Grains and Your Dog's Diet

I wrote this article as part of a series on dog nutrition for our local club newsletter. I will post more from this series later.

Last time, we talked about reading parts of the label on dog food packages and we casually referred to carbohydrates as something whose amounts in food can sneak up on you. Let’s examine how carbs and grains pertain your dog’s diet.

First of all, it’s important to recognize that the importance of carbohydrates in the canine diet is still widely debated. Carbs are almost impossible to avoid even in home-prepared foods and there are situations where carbs have been thought to provide an advantage to the dog(pregnant and lactating bitches for example). Nearly all dog food contains some carbohydrates with dry foods (kibble) possessing the most, on average. As we stated last time, kibble needs binding agents, and grains and plant-based food derivatives fill this requirement nicely. When you use grains, starches and plant-based ingredients, you get carbohydrates galore. Even in “wet” foods (canned) there are typically 15% to 20 % carbohydrates depending on whether the food is grain-free or not, and which types of grain or starch it utilizes.

Second, while dogs do not need carbohydrates in their diet, they do need sources of glucose (which the body converts to glycogen) to fuel their energy requirements. If a dog had a zero-carbohydrate diet, they would have to get the glucose needed from food proteins or fats (from the glycerol in fat). If the glucose in the diet is insufficient to meet the energy needs of the dog, their bodies will “steal” glucose from amino acids in proteins in lieu of building muscle or bone. Minimizing amino acid conversion is why lactating bitches and puppies should have some carbohydrates in their diets.

“Feeding Your Dog for Life” (Diane Morgan, 2002) gives four uses for carbs in a dog’s diet. Ominously the third reason listed is to create a store of glycogen but excess ends up being converted to fat. It is that last phrase that unfortunately is the most common result of high carb diets. Note that proteins and fats can also perform the four things in a dog's diet just as well as carbs. (Also remember that proteins and carbs have the eaxact same caloric content- 4 calories per gram). Another use for carbs in dog food is as an inexpensive protein source. The book “K9 Kitchen” (Monica Segal, 2002) lists several grains along with their carbohydrate, protein and mineral content. Most grains possess 2% to 4 % protein and 20% to 30% carbohydrate. Since grains are cheap relative to meat and fish, and since dry foods need binding agents anyway, plant-based foods are an inexpensive way to augment the protein content of a food while providing teh binding agents necessary for it's production. Lastly, cheap foods use sugars to improve taste; something that all owners should try to minimize. Even good, highly rated foods sometimes use beet pulp and other plant sources as a binder. Others use berries and fruits as a source of anti-oxidants (this is GOOD!- albeit these are sugar rich). And low-end foods utilize a lot of corn which contains significant sugars. If a dog food contains 40% or more carbohydrate (from grains and sugars), the amount of glucose the dog could potentially derive from that much carbohydrate far exceeds their daily need. Thus the excess carbohydrate is turned to fat. Interestingly, if the protein content of a food far exceeds the needs of the dog, the excess can be removed from the body through urination although at some strain on the kidneys.

Grains are problematical because many dogs have allergies to certain grains. Wheat and corn are the most common allergens. Grains must be cooked or processed to be digested by the dog. Well, I say that tongue in cheek because my dogs eat the raw wheat kernels from the horse hay that falls on the driveways here. They enjoy the crunchiness I guess! Mostly the grain kernels pass right through undigested but they must get some carbs from eating the raw grain because their weight is harder to control when they eat a lot of grain kernels!
Another issue with grains is that some grains bind certain minerals and prevent their assimilation. Grains, like carbs, are difficult to avoid in food, although today there are more “grain-free” foods available. However, many of these foods include other starches like potatoes and tapioca. Starches, like grains, must be cooked for a dog to assimilate them and they are less digestible than grains like rice and corn. By the way, rice is the most digestible of the common grains and is one reason why a “bland” diet (chicken broth and rice- with their respective protein and glucose sources) is often used to feed a dog with an upset digestive system.

I have had good success in managing my dogs’ weight (apart from the hay issue above!) with daily exercise and diets that minimize carbs and grain. Their diets consist of about 25% (by weight- possibly 40% by kilocalories of energy provided) high-quality, grain-free, low-carb kibble. Raw and cooked protein sources such as meat, green tripe, fish and chicken make up the remainder of my dogs’ diets.

The Puppies Are Almost "Grown"!

It is one of the most unimaginable things! I cannot believe tomorrow will be 8 weeks since our puppies were born! Where has the time gone? From blind little "moles" to "real dogs" in just eight weeks! Unbelievable!
In a couple more weeks most of them will have new homes and those people will be thrilled. I think the pups will be also as we have tried valiantly to find good homes and I think the pups are ready for "people bonding". But it is going to be pretty hard to see them go. The saving grace is that (hopefully) we will keep in touch and follow them throughout their lives while hearing about and enjoying all their adventures!
I have tried to socialize and acclimate them to a variety of different experiences. They have been such beautiful "blank slates" - ready for learning and such happy, willing students. What precious little gems they are!
When the dust settles I will have more "reflections" about this experience. For now I am amazed every day how they grow and how vital the role of the breeder is in their development. It would be easy to just let them sit around in a pen and when they are old enough, send them out into the world. But it is infinitely more important to them and their new families (and to me!) to do all I can to start their lives on a solid and loving footing. They didn't ask to be born.... I, as a breeder, made a decision to bring these puppies into the world and it is my obligation to make their existence as happy and productive as I can through the limited time I have with them. AND IT IS SO MUCH MORE FUN!!

Where Have I Been?

Sorry if anyone has been wondering what has happened to my posting. We were blessed with 3 beautiful girl Border Terrier puppies in late July. My youngest girl "Ellie" presented these to us in a textbook easy whelping.
They are having a ball! Growing like weeds and now are in a big 6ft x 9ft play area where they can run and romp. They have a small teeter-totter to play on and a short section of PVC tunnel to investigate so they are budding Earthdogs and maybe we have an agility dog or two in there! They're eating mush and nursing some still from mom and have been learning to pee and poop on the papers in the back of their area. Later this week we will go outside! First time stepping on grass should be a treat to watch!

Their puppyhood here goes by so quickly. Pretty soon they will go off to their new homes (all are spoken for!) and we will be wondering what happened! In the meantime, we get to enjoy them and watch them learn and grow daily! I have to admit we have had it pretty easy this litter. Breeding animals is fraught with risks and disappointment sometimes, but litters like this one make up for all that and more!

The Great Triangle

I was chatting the other day with a very nice couple about Border Terriers. They are hoping to adopt one soon having owned a BT previously. They were kind enough to complete a puppy application in much detail. And I realized as we talked that I knew a lot more about them than they did about me. I had wanted to meet them so I could evaluate them as a potential home for a puppy, but hopefully they were likely evaluating me as a breeder just as carefully.
I realized that I knew the breeders of my own dogs only superficially in most cases. We meet the breeder maybe over the telephone or via email, and maybe we are lucky enough to be referred to them. We have a few conversations, exchange a few pictures, answer their questionairres and maybe meet them for a few hours when we pick up the puppy, or before, if we live close by. But in both directions, it's a pretty basic acquaintance.
Do we need to know more? Not really. But we do share a dog's life that hopefully will be long and bring much joy to both sides. Our puppy homes shepard that little pup through all his life and we are the people they will turn to if they have questions or problems. They depend on our expertise in selecting breeding stock, on providing the basic socializing for the puppy, and for ensuring the initial health and disease prevention for the dog.
Some of us breeders believe that these puppy homes are part of an extended family of our dogs and ourselves. We love to hear how the dogs are doing, what they are learning and acheiving, and always enjoy seeing pictures, if not the actual dog itself. Some of us like to keep in touch while other breeders seem too pre-occupied and busy with the rest of their lives.
As a potential puppy home you need to be comfortable with how your dog's breeder treats the breeder-owner relationship. If you are a "sharer" of news and joy, but your breeder doesn't return emails or letters, etc.; perhaps you would have been happier with a more personable breeder. Much of the joy of living with a dog is sharing. Sharing activities with your dog brings much joy, and sharing this joy with others can be very important for some owners.
As breeders we need to realize that every potential puppy owner is as different as each of our puppies; and that some owners appreciate a stronger relationship than others. As a service to our potential puppy homes, we need to take a few minutes and get better acquainted with those who seek us out. We are all part of a great triangle- breeder, owner and dog. Through the dog we have been brought together, our paths have crossed and our lives somewhat intertwined. In some cases, we may discover a better friendship than we could have ever imagined. We might become partners, advisors, mentors, co-breeders, or more. It would be a shame to miss such an adventure.

The Position to Win

Sometimes it seems you and your dog try and try but still can't come out a winner or get the score you need to qualify. Ever wonder how some of the pro handlers and trainers seem to always win? Here's something I was discussing with a handler the other day.
The secret to winning or getting a qualifying score is to have your dog in the position to win every time you enter the ring. Every dog is different and every dog gains the skills, experience and emotional maturity to be a winner at different times. You just have to wait for the dog to get it together mentally or physically before they can win. But even if they are mentally, emotionally and physically capable of winning, you still must place them in the position to win.
What do I mean by this? It means that they must have the basic training and skills needed to be winner firmly entrenched in their minds and bodies. For example, in conformation, they must know how to trot on a loose lead, stack both free and by hand, be at ease on the judging table when being evaluated, and have learned that the show ring is a fun place to be. In earthdog, they must learn to drive through the darkness of a complex tunnel system to the quarry, must have developed the instinct to work the quarry aggressively and learn to use their nose as a guide to locating the quarry. In Rally they must know the basic commands, hand signals and movements and know that, no matter the distraction, their place is at the heel position or where you have told them to go. In all activities, they must have had the physical development, athletic conditioning and nutrition to remain competitive throughout the length of the competition.
When you have the skills taught, you need to remember the mental aspect of your sport. Mental conditioning is as vital as the physical. When all individual skills and training have been learned, you must tie them all together in your dog's mind like you are developing a dance routine for your sport. We go here and do this, next we go here and do that, etc. It becomes routine and dogs love routine! Finally you must anticipate, and train for, the unexpected as well as those things that are expected, but are not always the same. In conformation, you need to train for the "go round" at the head of the line, in the middle and as the last dog in line. You need to train the "down and back", the triangle and the "L" because any of these can be chosen by the judge. And you need to train for getting bumped, being in a tight line-up and having the dog in front of you go very slowly. Some of these skills are for you to learn and some for your dog, but all are necessary for you both, as a team, to master.
Once you have these elements down, you can start placing your dog in the position to win. Now you refine posture and gait, enhance presence, build more enthusiasm and develop speed (in those sports where speed is a requirement). But every time you enter the ring, you do the same basic things that you trained- the basic skills. You continuously place your dog in a position to win by having the skills down. When the dog is ready, when he / she is mentally and physically prime, then you will begin to win or score. But while you are waiting for the dog to mature in their bodies and their sport, you are developing them and constantly striving to place them in a position to be a winner.
Our dogs mature at their own pace. For some it's at nine months, for others two years, for some or in certain sports, it can be many years. It's our responsibility as trainers and handlers, every time we take them into the ring or to the test, to give them every opportunity to win so that when they are ready, they can win.

Ellie has 'em up a Tree!

Well, I knew my little girl was smart! Seems she remembers about the tree squirrels she saw while at summer camp!! ("Summer camp" is our term for where she was while she was being bred! )
Yesterday when I came home for lunch Ellie was standing in the dog area under one of the trees on her hind legs looking up at the tree. Now we dont have THAT many trees here as this was all a big, flat hay field when we bought it except for the few scrub oaks in the creek bed. And I can't remember seeing a real tree squirrel around here ever. Anyhow, I have planted a bunch of trees over the years and there is a nice big one in the dog run area and two bigger ones just outside. She was looking up at the one in the run. So I came over, looked up but I couldn't see anything.
Then she BOLTED over to the tree just outside the run. And sure enough, when I looked up, there was a tree squirrel up in that tree! It must have lept from tree to tree! Well, she had a grand time watching that squirrel most of the rest of the afternoon. Sometime later he must have jumped down and gone over to the neighbor's trees because when I checked him out later he was gone.
So now Ellie and Kate know about tree squirrels. (Kate learned about them long ago on one of our walks!) Now they BOTH will stop and look up at the trees as we go on walks! You never know....there may be a varmit up there! Thanks to "summer camp" my little girl is ever more educated!

Loss to the Breed

Linda Cribbs (LNDI'S was her kennel name) passed away this morning. A long-time Border Terrier breeder from Taft, Ca., Linda was a fixture at many S. Ca. and N. Ca. shows. Many times she would make the long trek up to N. Ca. to help support a major or a terrier show. I last saw Linda in January at the Indio shows. She wasn't in the ring, but many of her dogs, or the offspring of her dogs, were. She always treated me with a kind "hello" and we occasionally compared notes about her leg problems and my knee problems. She bred the type of dog she liked and tried to remain true to the Border Terrier breed standard. She will be missed.

The Best Dog He Ever Had

I was out walking my dogs this evening and a family passed by with a mixed breed dog. Off leash but very well behaved. Part Chihuahua and part Corgi?? As we passed by, I asked the owner the usual questions: How old? What mix? Etc. etc.

His response was enlightening. She was a pound-puppy and the best dog he had ever had. Didn't know exactly what she was but she was six years old. She was smart and listened to him and was very obedient. And she had never had one obedience class.

His response triggered something in my memory. Long ago when my wife was starting to breed dressage horses, we imported a mare with a filly at side and a foal inside. A 3 for 1 package. The filly was nice but my wife didnt think she would ever be a top level dressage competitor and so we sold her to a nice home with an experienced trainer. Long story short, the filly became an FEI level (WORLD CLASS!) dressage horse! From then on I always believed that the horse was the least critical of the partnership elements. When asked how far a horse might go in competition, I always said that, given good health, I thought the horse would usually NOT be the limiter.

And I think the same is true for our dogs. No matter if a pure bred or a mixed breed, given a good sendoff and start in life by the breeder, all dogs are very likely capable of much more than we sometimes think they can achieve. It's usually our poorly conceived training, our ill-timed cues and responses, our lack of quality time with our dogs that limits their acheivements. The man this evening and his little girl are proof of that.

Images from Virginia

I was back in Virginia the past two weeks while Ellie was being bred. Unfortunately I couldn't stay the entire time- had to come home for work issues. But the two short stays I had there were filled with wonderful images. Here are some of my favorites:

The first image is one of Ellie's co-breeders (and the stud-dog's owners) standing in the family room of their home next to the indoor kennel. She is trying to figure out and keep track of which dog she has given Frontline to. She is using her memory of where they are kenneled to keep track. Thre are sixteen Border Terriers swirling around at her feet, glad to be out and happy for the attention. She reminds me of Santa Claus with her elves! A true mother hen with her brood. Saint Francis of Assisi comes mind as well. She dotes on her dogs- the young ones full of promise, the middle aged ones still raring to go, and the elder "statesdogs" needing a little more time and a little more love. She and her partner are truly credits to the Border Terrier breed and all dog-dom!

The next is of Ellie enjoying "summer camp"! She is running full tilt toward the meadow where she had previously seen the squirrel. Tail stiff at the ready, flying over the grass and ground, bounding through the leaves. A sight of rapt attention and pure joy! When you see them this way, you know what a blessing they are and why God made them.

The next is the home of my friends. Just beyond the road, next to a grassy meadow and in the middle of a wooded glen, the dignified home stands. Strong and solid but without any hint of pretense. Hewn stone walks and steps lead up to the entry. Lovingly furnished- full to the brim with Border artworks, mementoes and treasured memories. A cozy family room downstairs next to the kennel combines the best of home, hearth and heart as evidenced by the Wall of Champions- framed pictures of each dog winning and their AKC CH certificate below. Throughout the home, Best of Breed and Best in Show ribbons hang beside beautiful Border Terrier art pieces. A private place where two people's lives are being defined, shared with their dogs and filled with love.

Happy Birthday!

Today is my Ellie's second birthday. And also the birthday of the three sisters and one brother in her litter. I dont know exactly where the one sister and brother are, but her other two sisters are in Virginia and doing fabulous! "Tilda" is owned by her breeder and the stud dog's owner. She is a finished CHampion earning four majors on the way. Absolutely the nicest of the litter with the prettiest head and with a wondeful owner. "Reed" is owned by another of Ellie's co-breeders and she has three majors under her belt- just looking for a few minor points. What a family!
Happy Birthday to them all!
Ellie had some special steak tonight- NY Steak Prime cut. And she got four new toys to play with and share with Kate and Devlin.
Happy Birthday, my sweet Elllie! You are two years old, barefoot and I hope PREGNANT!! But in whelp or not, you're my little girl and my snuggle bunny in bed! I love you lots and lots!!! Thank you for a wonderful first two years! They have been a blast!
Thanks forever to her breeders!

Summer camp

My youngest girl has been at "summer camp" the last ten days. No, not your normal summer camp; she has been back being bred and staying with the stud dog's owners at their beautiful kennel and home. I had planned on staying there as well for the duration of her breeding but some work issues forced me to make two round trips. One to take her and make sure she was settled in, and a second to pick her up and bring her home. Alot of red-eye flights but well worth it.
The people who she stayed with were absolutely fantastic and wonderful. They cared for Ellie as one of their own and kept me informed daily on what was happening and how things were progressing. That they were one of her co-breeders was not significant- they treat all their breeding clients superbly. Their home and kennel was beautiful and located in a gorgeous wooded area with an open meadow and a nearby lake. Their hospitality was fabulous.

Ellie got a chance to meet alot of new BTs, chase tree squirrels around and up trees, dig in big piles of leaves, and explore a whole world of new smells, sights and sounds. And besides all the fun things, new experiences and other doggies, she even got to have sex at camp! Summer camp was never like that in my younger days!

Now we wait a few weeks and then will get a sonogram done to see what we have "in the oven". I had charted her previous heat cycles and this one was pretty much similar in timing. She was bred three times about 36 hours apart and I think she was pretty well covered. We are very optimistic, hoping for beautiful puppies and thrilled with her and so thankful to our wonderful friends. I won't mention any names here but they are long-time Border Terrier people and are truly a credit to the breed and all "dog-dom". Their dogs are their family and are well cared for; young, middle-aged and elderly. Ellie and I are so blessed to have them as the stud-dog's owners and as friends.

Two Master Earthdog Titles on the Same Day!

I'm catching up on some posts I wanted to write the last few weeks, but have been too busy with work and breeding my youngest bitch to get written.
We had a SPECTACULAR weekend at the BTCR Earthdog tests in early May. My two oldest BTs , "Kate" and "Devlin" both earned their Master Earthdog titles the same weekend! They have been sitting with two ME legs for awhile while I finished getting certified as an AKC Earthdog judge most of last year. I would judge or apprentice at an ED test and not be able to run my dogs. This year I dedicated to the dogs and their having some fun getting the RATS!

And, boy, did they ever! They hunted during the walkup as nice as I could have wanted and they both found the rats first and marked them well. Kate had one minor issue with the digging during one unsuccessful run (she backed up) and Devlin wanted to come back out and see me on one test (but made it back in and to the rats in time!). I worked Sunday AM with Kate in a small section of tunnel above ground. I baited her with some chicken as she came through the tunnel section. And as she ate (while still inside the tunnel section) I scratched and clawed on the tunnel section top and, in general, made a big racket above her head. If she stopped eating or backed up, the chicken disappeared. We did this about four times. Next run she had no problem with the judge's digging! I'll post a picture of them getting their qualifying ribbons shortly!

Why We Show Our Dogs

Been out of town for a few days so behind as usual! The BTCR (Border Terrier Club of the Redwoods) held our Earthdog tests a couple of weeks ago. The AKC rep, Barb Tiegen, was there. Nice lady!
I had a short discussion with Barb about the results of one of the tests by one of my dogs. I will ALWAYS remember what she said to me. We were talking about how one of my dogs didnt get a qualifying leg that test. She said to me,"What did YOU think of his performance? How did he hunt in your opinion? Were YOU proud of HIM?" And then she said, "Do you think he cares if he gets a green ribbon or not? Did HE enjoy himself?"
What a great response from the AKC rep!
The next day, both my dogs earned their ME titles!! I was so proud! But the high point of the weekend was the comments from Barb. Earthdog is alive and well if the thoughts she expressed are what the AKC, the judges and the dog owners are thinking!

They're ALL Companions!

Someone the other day asked me about prices for puppies and whether there were price differences for a companion dog versus a show dog. I told her I priced my ALL my dogs the same. I could tell you the pros and cons of each scenario in terms of "costs". For example, a show dog has training and showing costs: entry fees, handler fees, travel and hotel fees, etc. But who exactly gets the benefit of a dog being a "show dog"? I've never met a dog that gave a hoot about the ribbons or the CH title.
A breeding dog may have a full AKC registration but also has increased potential of getting a uterine infection, prostate cancer, breast cancer, reproductive disease, C-sections, or even loss of life during whelping. Dog breeding, like horse breeding or similar activities, is fraught with high cost and risk of loss. Yes, a companion dog has to be neutered or spayed, and gets different colored registration papers, but, again, does the dog care? And, except for breeding and showing, these dogs can participate in all the other activities of any other dog. We can go on and on.

The thing that struck me most profoundly was that no matter what their "early career" may be, showing, breeding, companion, performance, search & rescue, or whatever, eventually ALL our dogs become companions. They may take on new careers as they get older such as therapy or baby-sitter or just be fireside, trailside or couch companions. But they all eventually become our companions and friends.
I also remembered something the breeder of my "Kate" told me the day I was blessed to get "Kate". She said that her goal as a breeder was to breed the best companion dog possible. If some were show quality or breeding quality, that was a plus. I had forgotten her words until the other day. Her thinking was so enlightened.

The answer to that person's question is that it really makes no sense to differentiate dogs as show versus companion. We are all breeding companion dogs, or we should be. While their early careers may be varied, all their latter years are spent as devoted companions to us, as we should be devoted to them. What they did or accomplished in their younger years becomes but a memory for us. What they give us as our companions goes way beyond and is much more valuable than any price.

Earthdog Thoughts

We're getting ready to hold the Border Terrier Club of the Redwoods spring Earthdog tests in a couple of weeks. There was a discussion the other day about the Intro to Quarry test and whether it should be used as a "Warmup" for dogs entered in a Junior Earthdog test the same day.
I personally am not in favor of using IQ for that purpose. I think it dilutes the time that a judge has to spend with the dogs truely needing IQ as a developmental step. And that is the hallmark of a good IQ test- a judge who takes the time necessary and works with dog and handler to overcome the initial fear of a dark tunnel, to instill confidence in the dog (and handler) and to acquaint the dog with working quarry.
One of the things that came up in our discussion was what things had to be learned or overcome to progress successfully from IQ to a JE title. The neat thing about Earthdog, besides being a great way to develop and satisfy a terrier's natural instincts, is that it is a progression of learning along with a progression of testing.
The things a dog must learn to progress to a JE title include:
1) entering and driving through a LONGER, DARKER, MORE COMPEX, tunnel - it is definitely darker inside a JE 30 ft tunnel with its 3 turns than a 10 ft IQ tunnel with its single turn!
2) that the SCENT of quarry will lead them to the quarry- i.e the reward! Every step in ED develops a dog's confidence in their nose.
3) no handler or judge help is available- the dog is on his/her own. JE is a very simple test to judge: either the dog gets to the quarry in time, begins work in time and works the quarry long enough or they dont.
4) that actively and continuously working the quarry is the objective- not staring at the quarry.
5) being retrieved without resistance or backing up into the tunnel.

If a handler has a dog that is stuck getting to JE and if the issue is item #1 above, additional IQ work will likely NOT help. If the issue is with one or more of the other items above, more IQ work could help. But so could individual training of the dog by the handler.

Item #4 above is interesting in that some dogs just naturally seem to prefer to stare and hold a quarry in place. They will aggressively chase a fleeing quarry but will hold a quarry that is relatively motionless. The criteria of ED is that active working is required. It is up to the handler to train and reinforce aggressive, active work by the dog when confronted by quarry regardless of how the quarry behaves. That means that the handler must THINK ABOUT and UNDERSTAND HOW his dog thinks and reacts to various stimuli. No amount of IQ (or JE) work will, by itself, get them where they need to go. This is an issue that needs development outside the ED tunnel, as well as within it, using very specific action / reward training.

Walkin' In the Rain

It's the third week of April and we are still experiencing rain today here in N. Ca. Unusual, yes, but not rare. The dogs and I took our walk today under winter-ish skies with billowy, silver clouds and fog atop the hills. Accompanied by some drizzle, some rain, and temps in the 50s. Perfect Border Terrier weather!
The hills are still very lush. The combination of the low clouds hanging upon the green hills made it feel like the Scottish moors! The dogs felt right at home and the breeze brought, and amplified, many fresh scents. We were virtually alone so we stopped often and enjoyed our hike. And why not? We were walkin' in heaven!

Different Perspectives

This isn't a dog story or even dog related but it's a great example of different perspectives!! Gave me a big grin when I heard it! And it is true!

A DJ on a radio station was talking to a young caller when the conversation turned to birthdays. Seems the DJ just celebrated one and the caller had one coming soon.
DJ: So which brithday will you be celebrating?
CALLER: The eleventh one.
DJ: Do you remember any of the others you had?
C: The tenth, the nineth and the eighth.
DJ: Does it seem like it's a long time between birthdays, that a year is a long time?
C: No, not really. It goes by pretty fast.
DJ: Well, time seems to go by alot faster when you get older. A year seems to fly by.
C: Cool!
DJ: No, not cool! Don't rush those birthdays. Enjoy the 16th and the 21st and all of them!
C: OK!

When you have alot of time, time seems to crawl, and you want it to speed up. When you're faced with diminishing time, or not enough, time seems to go by way too fast and you want it to slow down. Enjoy every day with your dog. The time they have with us is so limited.

More on Selecting a Breeder

I had an exchange the other day with a potential BT home who ended up going to a large, out-of-area breeder. I dont know if they researched the other breeders here in N Ca or if they were in a hurry to get a dog or what. But that discussion has led me to continue with the breeder thread as more things come to mind.

I advise ALL my inquiries about Border Terriers (and all dogs) that they should investigate the health clearances of the dam and sire of any puppy they are considering. Don't be afraid to ask the breeder what clearances their stock has and what their policies are about testing their dogs. Also ask about how they support a dog they bred who develops serious issues.

Here's an idea on how to do more of the fact-finding yourself.
Use the OFFA website: http://www.offa.org/ . The Orthopedic Foundation For Animals has a database of all dog breeds where breeders and owners can submit data on the health clearances and test results of their dogs. This database is entirely voluntary so not all puppies in a litter will have data submitted nor will every breeder submit all of their breeding stock's test results. That is unfortunate, but also the way it is. So there are limitations on the completeness of the data but GOOD breeders DO SUBMIT the data on their breeding stock and thus it is a very helpful tool.

On the website you can check out the specific health clearances for the sire and dam of a litter from which you are considering getting a puppy. You can also see the results of some of their related siblings and half-siblings, as well as (for Hip Dysplasia only) a vertical three-generation pedigree. This pedigree will show (if all the members of it are in the database) the test results for HD for sire, dam, grandsires and granddams and numbers by category for siblings and offspring.
This is a very useful tool for assessing the risk (not the occurrence) of HD in a pedigree.

If the sire and dam are not listed on the database, that's something to ask the breeder about. It could be as innocent as that they were bred before they were 2 years old. Some test results are not listed or "final" by OFA until 24 months of age. Hip dysplasia is one of these. But if they are older and not listed, or are listed but don't have complete data shown in the database (any and all test results can be withheld by an owner), take the hint and ask the owner/ breeder.
Having good test data is not a guarantee of a healthy dog or a perfect puppy from that dog, but it is a great head start.

In a later post I will analyze some example vertical pedigrees of hip dysplasia data and suggest things to look for and things to be careful about if you see them.

What I Learned From MY DOG

I wrote this in Sept 2008 just before that year's BTCA National Specialty, and with the next National Specialty coming up in May, it still applies. I have moved on with "Devlin" to other pursuits, and we have added another CH titled BT in our household since then, but "Devlin" continues to be one of my greatest teachers, if not the best one. Sometimes we forget why they are given to us, and it's always good to reflect on what they have given us. BTW, "Devlin" has earned all his Rally titles thru RE, his SE title and is working on his CD and ME. He continues to teach me each and every day, and I thank him for the priviledge.

From Sept 2008:
With the Specialty coming up next week, many thoughts are on winning classes, finishing and earning new titles. Recently I had the opportunity to sit and reflect about my experiences in the show ring with my CH titled bitch and my unfinished dog. It struck me that while earning that coveted CH title (or any other title) is a grand moment that one never forgets for each dog, I found that I had more memories and felt more pleasure from all the things that happened along the way. It was the learning, the teaching, the dog teaching me, both of us learning together, and the little successes that make the titles happen that were my fondest memories. It's the journey, not the destination. And it's how you make that trip that counts!

A true story....

MY DOG "finished" his conformation career this weekend. No, he didn't earn his CH, and he never will. We tried and tried, but it's not in the cards for him. We have much more we want to go and do, so it was only slightly bittersweet that we made the decision to stop. After our class we were sitting with some friends near the ring and beside some other large dogs in some rather large crates. MY DOG was lying at my feet. I didn't notice but a young girl and her mother walked up and the girl came close to the large white dogs in the large crates. Unfortunately she was met with a deep, throaty growl for her trouble. When I turned to see what was happening, the girl was clutching her mother's skirt and huddled next to her. She wasn't harmed physically, but a bit shell-shocked for sure. MY DOG was watching the girl and I noticed that she was looking at him, still clutching her mom's hand and skirt. I asked if she would like to pet MY DOG. Her mom wasn't too sure, but the girl said "yes' immediately. So MY DOG got up and came over. He sat down, but she wasn't getting too close. Then MY DOG performed a few of his tricks- he begged, he rolled over and he played dead. He finished with a big smile and a "high five". By now the little girl was smiling and reached out to pet him. Her mom asked what kind of dog he was and then they left. As we sat back down, one of my friends leaned over and said. "That was a very nice thing for him to do."At that moment I knew that while MY DOG would never have his CH title, in my mind and heart, and maybe in the little girl's as well, he was already a champion. With that little episode, we moved on. Though we didn't reach the CH destination, it's one of many memories from our journey that I will always treasure.

Notes to a Potential Border Home

I wrote this tonight as part of a response to a person looking for a BT who was unsure of what a breeder was saying in their dialog.

I would invest some time and go see the puppies when available and meet the breeder. I think you may be more impressed than one email may suggest. Remember what I said about getting a leg up in the breeder's "puppy home list" by having a personal , face-to-face relationship with a breeder. You are basically an unknown quantity to her and are asking her to part with one of her "kids' kids". One of her extended family. Like many things in life, to get the one you want, you may need to sell yourself while evaluating her and her dogs. In some ways, picking a dog is a lot like picking a spouse - you just don't get to have as much of a courtship! Don't be afraid to go with your gut, but don't be afraid to not take one if none seem what you want. The worst mistake is taking a dog you dont really really want because you are afraid you won't find another one. There will always be another one. Keep hunting! What you want is as close to "THE ONE" as you can imagine at that time. None will be perfect. But you and I aren't either. These are great dogs and they will worm their way into your heart and make you a different person at the same time.
A dog is for life as we discussed on Sat. You are looking at 11 to 15 years with this dog. So do what's best for the dog FIRST and yourself next. You will make that choice many times in your life with your dog. Choosing a dog ain't easy but it's a heck of alot of fun! So go, enjoy the ride and have some fun while you learn!

Picking Breeding Stock

How does one increase the odds of getting a nice puppy from a breeding? Is going to a famous or top-name kennel sufficient? What about the small breeder who only breeds a litter every year or two? Would they be a better bet?
When two dogs are bred, the laws of genetics take over in all cases and will determine the quality of dogs produced. Two dogs of so-so genetics will produce only so-so dogs ON AVERAGE at best. Every once in awhile, even so-so dogs can produce a beautiful, show-winning specimen. But it will be rare, if ever. And it will likely not breed true.
When choosing a breeder one has to look beyond size and even reputation. Look at the dogs themselves. A big breeder whose emphasis is on breeding top show dogs may produce many puppies by a chosen sire using several bitches. If they take the top dog or dogs and show them, their reputaion as a "top breeder" based upon show results will likely remain intact or even be enhanced. But these litters are still governed by the statistics of genetic law. There will be a standard distribution (bell curve) about some mean or average quality level. That level is set primarily by the parents' levels of quality. There will be a few dogs of better quality, many about the same as their parents and a few that are worse in some respects. The advantage a big breeder has is that they get to see more of the distribution faster than a small breeder simply because the big breeder whelps more puppies every year. But the fact remains that the distribution of quality in the puppies from either breeder will have some standard deviation about the mean quality, and the tightness of that deviation (or how similar ALL the puppies are) depends on what the parents are like. Two very different dogs (or dogs with vastly different positive and negative attributes) will have wide deviation and a wide range of quality among the puppies. That's why some litters have puppy siblings that are so different. Take two dogs that have many of the same strengths, and maybe one has a weakness that is not in the other, and you will get litters that are very strikingly similar among the siblings.
So why doesn't every breeder do this? Because sometimes they need to go fix a fault that is hard to correct or they see a dog that is popular and has some features they want. If they don't look AT THE WHOLE DOG when selecting a sire or dam to bring this feature into their line, they may end up with more disimilarities in the puppies than they planned upon. A big breeder maybe can "experiment" a little to gain a certain feature or look. They rigorously select from all the pups and keep the best of the bell curve distribution. But the rest of the puppies may be very different from that one special puppy the breeder keeps, especially if they are used as breeding stock themselves.
Rather look at the parents. And their pedigrees if you know the dogs in them. Then look at the puppies. Is the litter tight within itself on most features and faults? Or is there a wide disparity between puppies in the litter. Better a litter that is consistent than one with a single super-star puppy and the rest average. Especially if you plan on breeding one of the pups yourself.

Why Do We Breed?

This came to me as I was sitting with one of my dogs tonight. Maybe it was triggered by an extra glass of Chardonnay and the fact that I received a call today from a person looking for a BT puppy.
One of the things I think a person looking for a dog should ask the breeder (and I hope the breeder has already asked and answered this question for themselves!!) is why are you breeding? What type of dogs are you trying to produce and why? Can you describe the perfect adopted home for your puppies?
I know some BT breeders that breed to produce the top winning BT in the country- showing and winning in the conformation ring is paramount. I know other successful breeders that breed for temperment and want to produce the perfect companion. Others want to retain that stellar hunting drive or breed the best all-'round performance dog. And others have a picture in their minds eye of the "perfect BT" (whatever that is!) and want to reproduce that in their dogs.
Whatever our goals as a breeder, we should have answered these questions way before we did our first insemination of a bitch. And we should have these answers ready for any prospective new home for our puppies.
In a future post, I will pose (and try to answer) a few questions that I have asked myself about breeding. Mainly, how is the Border Terrier to function best and remain most true to his original reason for existence in today's 21st Century? What makes him a Border Terrier first and foremost TODAY, as opposed to just another dog? And how should that be reflected in the dogs that I breed? I hope you will think carefully about this as a "keeper of the flame" for our wonderful breed and have your answers to compare with mine!

Getting Connected with Your Dog

You've maybe seen it in the obedience ring or at an agility trial. Some dog handlers always seem connected to their dogs as if they have a telepathic link between them. Want to get more connected to YOUR dog?
I've been reading a book by Brenda Aloff titled "Get Connected with Your Dog". Brenda has several dog training and dog "understanding" books in print. I have also been trying some of Brenda's methods with my dogs. This book is NOT an easy read. Lots of text and actually a lot of pictures to augment the text, but A LOT of text!!! Comes with a nice DVD depicting an example training session. At almost 400 pages it's not an one-evening read. You will make margin notes and dog-ear pages and refer to it forever.
You need to read it once almost 100% and then RE-READ IT. Especially if you are going to try some of Brenda's techniques. But it's well worth the effort as THEY WORK!! I have made huge strides with Devlin's and Ellie's walking on a loose lead (well, almost loose!) even in the middle of a field of ground squirrels! Brenda's understanding of the psychology of dogs is fascinating and enjoyable reading. If you are like me, you'll be nodding your head in agreement as you read! Her emphasis on positive training and her love for, and respect of, her dogs comes through on every page. She employs many "games" (exercises) to help you get connected with your dog. She gives excellent guidelines for how to treat (reward) your dogs and when and how much to treat. There is a method to using rewards! She also explains how to use YOUR body language to communicate with your dog at all times in many different situations. Well worth the $49.90 cover price (less at discount book sellers).

How Do They Know?

How does a dog know where you hurt? So many days when my knee is bothering me one or more of my dogs will come up when I am sitting and gently lick right on the sore spot. It's not as if there's a sign there. But they are uncanny at knowing exactly where to give aid. Maybe the sore spot is hotter than surrounding tissue. Or maybe there is some kind of throbbing that I can't feel underneath the normal pain that they can sense. Or maybe they just are God's angels. Amazing......

Another Great One is Gone

Any website, email list or blog devoted to Border Terriers would be terribly remiss if it didn't mention the passing last Wednesday, March 17th, of "Spike", a BT owned and loved by Joke Miedema. Spike was essentially the "poster boy" for CECS, the Canine Epileptoid Cramping Syndrome, that afflicts some BTs. Originally nicknamed "Spike's Disease" before it was more widely known and studied, CECS is not completely understood even today, years later. CECS shows up in afflicted dogs around age two years and its affects remain with them for the remainder of their lives. Somewhat controlled by diet and medicines, CECS remains a mystery in many respects and a terrible experience for those watching their beloved dog suffer a cramping session. Spike did not die from CECS according to Joke, but rather suffered a gran-mal seizure and was mercifully put to rest.
God speed, Spike. Thank you, and thank you to Joke, for all you gave us through your too-short years.

Go Do Somethng With Your Dog!

I recently watched the Westminster Kennel Club show on TV- only 4 weeks after the fact! David Frey, the marketing voice of WKC, was saying something that struck home to me. David said, "People should get out and do something with their dog!" Whether you take your dog for a walk, teach him / her a new trick, take them to the pet store or try a new competitive sport, spring is a great time to "do something with your dog!" Spend some quality time together. It will do you and your dog a world of good.
After taking my dogs for a 2 to 3 mile walk most days in a big park near our home, I come back refreshed and re-invigorated. My stress level is way down and the walking is keeping my waistline in check as well!
Recently I have been spending some additional, one-on-one quality time with each dog. Sometimes I take one for a walk alone and the others as a group later. Other times I make sure one gets some extra, special playtime with me. Their attitudes change remarkably when they get this special attention. You bond improves and training becomes easier, more effective and more efficient.
Spring is a great time to be out with your dog. The hills and fields are greening, the weather is mild, many clubs re-start activities like earthdog and tracking trials, and others begin new training classes after a winter's hiatus. Find one or more activities you and your dog would like to try and "go do something with your dog!"