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.