Pure Dog Talk

Epilepsy is the number one neurological problem in dogs Dr. Diane Brown and the Canine Health Foundation are doing battle with neurological disease, specifically epilepsy, in an effort to improve the lives all dogs, and their people. Dr. Diane Brown, CEO, AKC Canine Health Foundation. “Epilepsy is a complex disease,” Brown said. “It presents in different ways. It is present in all dogs, mixed breed and purebred, and in people.” Epilepsy is a catch all term applying to different breeds, different ages, different causes of seizures. “Idiopathic epilepsy” in layman’s terms means, “we don’t know why your dog is having seizures, but we’re calling it epilepsy.” Brown notes that seizures can be caused by clearly genetic cases, toxicity, structural defects, inflammatory diseases, brain tumors and other underlying issues. Even more terrifying, up to one-third of epilepsy cases are noted to be resistant to current medication “We really wanted to make a concerted, multi-year effort trying to address epilepsy in dog

Common Ground Brings Everyone to the Table Debra Hamilton helps clients work through high stakes, high intensity situations through the use of mediation. Attorney Debra Hamilton finds common ground in the most challenging situations. Whether in interpersonal, transactional, public or even adversarial relationships, the solution, Hamilton suggests, is simple. Just listen! Can’t we all just get along? “We are so passionate as a sport that we sometimes can’t find common ground on which to speak with people who disagree with us,” Hamilton said. “How do we carry on a conversation that helps the greyhounds, for example?” Stop, drop and roll Hamilton has an excellent and easy to remember format for working through difficult conversations. *Stop* talking and listen. Keep yourself grounded. Breathe a lot. No name calling. Pause before talking or typing. *Drop* the need to be right. You are right, this is how you feel. Nobody can tell you you’re wrong. You’re just listening to someone else talking about what they

Supporting reproductive specialists for the future of our dogs Reproductive specialists in veterinary medicine are known as Theriogenologists. In a world where spay/neuter is the “popular” approach to veterinary care, the Theriogenology specialty was on the verge of collapse. The American Kennel Club and Canine Health Foundation have joined forces to support these “OB/GYNs of the dog world.” Dr. Diane Brown, CEO and Chief Science Officer of the Canine Health Foundation. Many breeders know the frustration of trying to find a modern veterinarian who will work with them in developing their breeding programs. Dr. Diane Brown, CEO of Canine Health Foundation shares her insight on this forward-thinking collaboration to promote and encourage canine reproduction veterinary specialties. Recipient of the AKC/CHF Theriogenology Residencies “There are a limited number of board certified practitioners in Theriogenology,” Brown said, “And most of them are in the large animal industry.” The AKC/CHF Theriogenology Initiat

AKC’s Detection Dog Legislation Promotes Purpose Bred Dogs AKC Vice President Government Relations, Sheila Goffe and her Siberian Husky Sheila Goffe, AKC Vice President Government Relations, joins me for a conversation about legislation and the old adage about law making and sausage making. TSA came to AKC to address shortage of detection dogs in the USA several years ago. Dr. Carmen Battaglia led the development of the Detection Dog Task Force. The first legislation AKCGR worked on in this area was passed last year and required the government to provide a report on comparative expenses of acquiring dogs from overseas for this critical work. (Check out my interview with Mark Dunn from last year on that topic!) Meanwhile, AKCGR and the Detection Dog Task Force have not rested on their laurels. Goffe has worked for years to establish relationships with legislators and create an “honest broker” reputation that came to fruition again this fall. Passing new legislation Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL) sponsored t

Dr. Marty Greer, DVM, JD. Co-owner of Veterinary Village in Lomira, WI and board member of NAIA. Dog Food and Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) The UC Davis Cardiology Service has developed this document in response to the alerts from the FDA. These alerts identify an associated risk for some grain-free diets containing certain ingredients (legumes like peas, pea components, lentils; white potatoes, sweet potatoes) and a diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Taurine Test Results Are IN – and It’s Frightful FDA Alerts found here: https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/CVMUpdates/ucm613305.htm https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/ResourcesforYou/AnimalHealthLiteracy/ucm616279.htm What is Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)? DCM is a heart muscle disorder that results in a weak pump function and heart chamber enlargement. In the early stages of this disease pets may appear totally healthy with no apparent clinical signs. Later in the course of this disease, dogs may have a heart murmur, an arrhythmia (irre

Research shows growing problem with ticks Ticks are creepy crawly creatures we all love to hate. But they are also dangerous disease vectors transmitting deadly organisms. Dr. Diane Brown, CEO of the AKC Canine Health Foundation, shared incredibly Dr. Diane Brown, CEO, AKC Canine Health Foundation. valuable information about what her organization is doing to lead the fight against these diseases. CHF funded research has identified a class of tick-borne organisms, called Bartonella. Bartonella invades the host’s blood vessels and can cause inflammation in the heart. “What if that (bartonella infection) is the early trigger that leads to chronic inflammation in the blood vessels,” Brown posits, “potentially leading to the development of cancer.” Current CHF funded research is looking at bartonella in association with hemangiosarcoma, literally cancer of the blood vessels. “It’s a little controversial,” Brown said “but there’s a lot of impetus driving the research in this direction.” Tick-borne organisms ass

Storm Kloud team of Alaskan Malamutes proved their heritage in 1994 After two years and 3,000 hours of training, Nancy Russell’s Storm Kloud Alaskan Malamutes were ready to compete in the iconic Iditarod Race in 1994. Storm Kloud Alaskan Malamute team at a check point on the Iditarod in 1994. Russell shares her stories of this epic journey, noting that she was proud to show that “Our dogs can still go on and do what they were bred to do.” Twenty below for eight days Russell and her crew drove with the five females and 10 males, all but one bitch intact, that made the final team. “It was 20 below zero when we left Minnesota. And it never got above that for eight days, all the way to Alaska,” Russell said. "There was no snow in Anchorage," Russell said "so they hauled in snow and put enough on the street to run the teams 15 blocks. Because a driver would not be able to set a snow hook if they had trouble with a team, an extra person had to ride with them. Therefore I got to ride in the sled for the ceremon

World Dog Show unites dog enthusiasts Allison Foley at the World Dog Show 2017 in Germany. Allison Foley talks with host Laura Reeves about the incredible spectacle that is the World Dog Show. “The World Dog Show really does bring the dog world together in one place,” Foley said. She added that this year’s event in Amsterdam was particularly well attended by dogs and fanciers from North America due to the relative convenience. “There are lots of direct flights to Amsterdam,” Foley noted. “The show allowed dogs to be shown that are legally docked in the country where they were bred, which was not the case in Germany last year.” The World Dog Show in Amsterdam boasted an entry of just under 22,000 dogs. The enormous difference in numbers relative to North America led to tremendous depth of quality in every breed, Foley observed. Quality throughout “You’d watch a ring and there would be five dogs in a class that could win 25 Bests In Show,” Foley marveled. She also made the comparison that while North Americ

Legendary Storm Kloud Alaskan Malamute Breeder Nancy Russell Shares Her Story Nancy Russell, breeder of Storm Kloud Alaskan Malamutes In 1994 Nancy Russell bred and fielded the only AKC registered Alaskan Malamute team to ever enter and compete in the Iditarod. In part one, today’s talk, she shares the foundation of that journey, her breeding program and some of the incredible stories along the way. In part two next week Russell takes us through the arduous process of actually competing in the greatest endurance race on Earth. Russell acquired her first Alaskan Malamute in 1964. She became involved in showing dogs, like so many of us, by going to her first dog show at the suggestion of her mentor. “I got a blue ribbon and a trophy,” Russell said. “(My dog) beat two other dogs. I was hooked.” Champion Glacier's Storm Kloud, the foundation of Nancy Russell's breeding program. At that show Russell saw what “I still believe is the best Malamute I’ve ever seen.” His name was Bear, Multiple Best In Show, Best

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 Pinsche

Jane Killion on Puppy Culture for New and Experienced Breeders Alike Jane Killion, Mark Lindquist and Bull Terriers. One of my most frequently requested interview subjects, Jane Killion, author and breeder, joins me today to talk about how Puppy Culture got started and why even experienced breeders should check it out. Killion is a Bull Terrier breeder since 1997. She wanted to do some performance sports with her famously not very tractable breed. So, she wrote a book called When Pigs Fly to help folks train their non-biddable dogs in agility. When that took off, Killion left her corporate job with the intention of making a video about the book. Meanwhile she had a litter due and said, to herself, “Wouldn’t it be fun to video development periods in Pat Hastings Puppy Puzzle book.” Explosion of demand “Four years later, we have a five-hour DVD and an entire series of protocols per development period,” Killion noted. “I thought it would be a 20 minute video!” That idea changed and developed as Killion saw ho

Inside the battle to preserve racing Greyhounds Jennifer Newcome, chair of the committee to support greyhounds, joins me to talk about the fight to preserve Greyhound participation in a sport they love and the current ballot initiative in Florida to ban betting on Greyhound racing. The proposed legislation is a Constitutional amendment that effectively allows Animal Rights extremists to define what constitutes humane treatment of animals, rather than breeders, owners and exhibitors, Newcome said. Equating a dog’s purpose-bred job with inhumane conditions, is a “terrifying” concept, Newcome added. It creates a vehicle for banning all activities with animals at the constitutional level. From the Greyhound Club of America: About The Greyhound Purpose The Greyhound is a sighthound and one of the oldest breeds of dogs. Sighthounds are hunting dogs that pursue running game by sight rather than by scent. This manner of hunting is called “coursing”. The attributes of speed, agility, strength and endurance are nece

Pyometra is a life threatening disease Pyometra is a severe bacterial infection with accumulation of pus within the uterus. Though it often occurs with middle-aged or older unspayed females, younger dogs are sometimes affected. Pyometra most commonly develops a few weeks after a heat cycle. The condition results from hormonal changes that decrease the normal resistance to infection. As a result, bacteria enter the fluid in the uterus and large volumes of pus can accumulate. Signs of Pyometra include loss of appetite, excessive thirst and urination, lethargy, and/or vomiting. Sometimes, there is a vaginal discharge. The disease may develop very slowly over several weeks. This condition often requires emergency surgery, provided the animal is stable. Surgery consists of removing both ovaries and uterus, which not only corrects the condition, but also eliminates bothersome heat cycles. Because the patient is ill and the uterus is infected, the surgery is more complicated and carries a higher risk than a routin

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

Loving life and living for Cairn Terriers I visited with Lydia Hutchinson, renowned AKC judge and breeder, owner, handler of Wolfpit Cairn Terriers, at Westminster Kennel Club earlier this year. After a day of stewarding, this enthusiastic septuagenarian was bubbling with enthusiasm about pedigrees, breeding and the sport of conformation dog shows. Watch the video. Lydia Hutchinson in 2007 showing a dog she bred and co-owned. A lifetime in dogs “I wasn’t quite born in to (dogs),” Hutchinson said, “But my parents got their first Cairn Terrier two months before I was born.” Following a familiar path, Hutchinson and her family eventually wound up at a dog show. The year was 1949 when she attended her first dog show “when I was 9 years old.” In the intervening 70 years, Wolfpit Cairns have produced 270 champions, Hutchinson said, almost exclusively homebred and largely owner handled. Breeding, handling, judging Hutchinson is still actively breeding and showing her Cairns. She said showing and judging dogs

Research to develop scientifically based information about fear in dogs Candace Croney is one happy researcher. Her team has received a grant for a ground-breaking study on the genetics and biological markers of fear in dogs. “This study is going to give us information nobody has,” Croney said. The $2 million grant will continue Croney’s work with commercial kennels and is designed to investigate how to best identify dogs which can be successfully rehomed as adult dogs. Part of the Canine Care Certified program is making sure the dogs are treated humanely after their breeding career is done, Croney noted. Her hope is that she will be able to look at which dogs are more or less likely to run into trouble when transitioning from kennel to home Measurable results But all of the research is giving Croney invaluable information about how to measure fearfulness in dogs. The research is looking at both phenotypical manifestation of fear (spinning, pacing, freezing) and actual biological markers such as cortisol l

Take the Lead founder Tom Bradley on supporting our “family” of dog fanciers Take the Lead started with a phone call. Tom Bradley shared his memory of receiving a call for help from a young friend in need. That one conversation, and the subsequent private assistance provided to this individual, launched an enduring gift to the entire dog community. Since 1993, according to Bradley, Take the Lead has distributed more than $5.5 million in assistance to dog fanciers around the country affected by the AIDS epidemic, cancer and every kind of life-threatening and terminal illness. “We call ourselves a family,” Bradley said. “I’ve been involved in the sport since 1954. AIDS was the impetus for starting this. It began with one friend who needed help.” Bradley began his involvement in the sport as a teenager exhibiting and later breeding German Shorthaired Pointers, Pointers and Labrador Retrievers under the Luftnase kennel name. He owned and handled other breeds over the years including Cairn Terriers, Whippets

Tips and tools for managing canine aggression using positive reinforcement Lisa Moore, canine behavior counselor, with three of her dogs at a recent dog show. Lisa Moore is a canine behavior counselor who works regularly for clients dealing with aggression issues in their dogs. She uses positive reinforcement and counter-conditioning methods to bring these dogs to a point at which they can be safely managed. “One of my Belgian Tervuren had aggression issues,” Moore said. “The old techniques I had used were not going to be effective without somebody getting hurt. This was my primary motivation for making the switch to positive reinforcement and clicker training.” A successful obedience competitor prior to her introduction to clicker training, Moore noted that, dog training is an unregulated profession. “Anybody can hang up a shingle and call themselves a dog trainer,” she said. Moore strongly recommends working with a trainer certified by the Karen Pryor Academy and/or the Association of Professional Do

Peter Green riffs on great dogs, great rivalries and great memories Join a wonderful conversation between legendary dog man Peter Green and his former apprentice Robert Paust, now an AKC judge in his own right. The two old friends reminisce about great dogs of the past, great wins, great friendships and great rivalries. Green’s Welshman brogue has blurred but not faded from his voice in the 50-plus years he’s been working with dogs in the U.S. Starting in dogs showing Welsh Terriers with his uncle, Green began his career in the States in 1963. As was common at the time, he worked as a private handler for a prominent kennel to learn the business. WKC BIS with the Lakeland His professional handling career kicked in to high gear after he won Best in Show at Westminster Kennel Club with the great Lakeland Terrier, Ch. Stingray of Derryabah, in 1968. In a career that spanned 40 years as one of the pre-eminent professional handlers in the country, Green piloted dogs to the big ribbon at the Garden four times. He i

Behavior analysis and positive reinforcement create success Animal behaviorist Lara Joseph shares her expert knowledge on understanding our dog’s behavior, how to read signals from the dog and use behavior analysis to shape a new future. Joseph knows for a fact that positive reinforcement training works. She uses it extensively with zoo animals and exotics, as well as companion dogs. Lara Joseph using a "target stick" to shape behavior in a giraffe. “You can’t use force or aversives on exotics,” Joseph said. “You know you can make your dog sit by pushing its butt down... try doing that with a giraffe!” Joseph discusses redirecting behaviors by correctly identifying the reinforcers. In other words, what, exactly, does the dog want and how is the behavior he is exhibiting fulfilling that desire. The “Terrible twos” are a tremendous opportunity to train a dog, Joseph said. The dog is at an age where it is constantly manipulating its environment to get the consequences it desires. “The animal is learning con