Re: Rally Obedience 2004
Is it really fair to second guess every decision a Specialty comittee makes? I can understand the concerns about the Lancaster County issue -- I'm not arguing the merits of the boycott, I'm much more concerned about the potential of people being unwilling to attend because of it. But now that a NEW performance event isn't being offered, people are vocally up in arms again and calling for pressure to be put onto the *volunteer* comittee? Specialties are major projects for the comittees and sometimes hard choices have to be made. Occasionally, new stuff will be tried -- some will be popular, some won't. With Rally so new and so few people having had an opportunity to see or participate in it, it may not naturally have been included in the original schedule plan (which would have been in the works _well_ before this year's Specialty). Added to that the time, space and WORKER constraints endemic to specialties, it seems somewhat unfair to make such an issue of this at this time. Want Rally at BMDCA specialties in the future? Lobby for it and, as an added carrot, volunteer to help make it a reality. Make comittees lives miserable by telling them what they're doing wrong on a regular basis and you'll have to content yourselves with whatever is left on the local level since no one in their right minds will wish to subject themselves to the intense scrutiny, abuse and ridicule. If something had to 'give' to allow time/space/volunteers for Rally, what would you give up? Maybe Veterans Obedience? Drafting? Futurity? Preferred Agility? Puppy Sweeps? Specialties are notorious timehogs and there will be plenty of the inevitable laments about the Specialty requiring too much time for it to be attended in its entirety. Sometimes something old has to move to allow the new. But traditions are hard to break and even the 'old stuff' has its supporters. Push (politely) for change but please don't allow one omission from ruining the Specialty for everyone. By this time, even adding Rally could be difficult at best even if the comittee decided to do so. It's no as easy as simply deciding to make it so. All my hopes, Vicky and the Horde Seleya
Re: discouraged by breed post
In a message dated 6/12/03 7:37:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << If you think the breed is in trouble, well, of course it is! It has been for sometime. But ask yourself what small part you can play in helping to make things better. The person you take the time to talk to when you're out walking your Berner. The submission to Berner-Garde or a health study. Assisting at an education or ways and means table at a regional show. Asking that lost looking person at a dog show if they need some help or information. There are so many ways to just dig in and help out! >> Pat is so right! This is certainly one situation where the adage 'if you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem' applies. If you love this breed, then you'll 'post' your dogs and use the findings to participate in the health studies, mentor a newbie or ensure they find a suitable mentor for their interests, contribute to the many, varied programs being conducted in the best interests of the BMD breed and community, befriend newcomers to your area or breed There are so many ways to help make things better. So many ways. Anyone who does none of these IMO has no legitimate claim to complain. Improvement cannot occur in a vacuum. Only entropy can All my hopes, Vicky and the Horde =P~ [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Had Enough (What?)Long
In a message dated 3/9/2003 4:49:06 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > Mike, > > I have personally a big problem with people not signing their emails. This > was not directed toward you, because you signed yours properly:) > The person who said people didn't do this and that, well if I get an email > without a signature, it goes directly into the trash. > > Here we have a person, who complains about breeders. Well it sounded to me > she/he was just trying to steer the pot, so to speak. > > I send the person a private email with the rules of the list, but didn't > heard back. > > So if people wonder why they are not treated nice, they may > have to look > what they are doing that causes this behavior. > Maybe she was stirring the pot, maybe she wasn't. It sounded to me like a person who was frustrated and asked a question. A question many people ask after encountering a number of breeders who come across a certain way whether they intend to or not. Instead of getting much feedback and discussion, she was judged by her AOL profile. LOL!!! Which, BTW, pretty much reflected what she stated about herself (got the state right, her sex, and she has interests outside sitting home and judging others) Also, she had the added benefit of receiving a copy of list rules, will get her mail in the trash etc. just because she forgot or neglected to sign her mail. (how many of us have done that?) She came to us with a question -- innocent or not there are sure to be other people on this list on a regular basis with the exact same questions. The replies she got in some cases from where I'm sitting on the sidelines *were* judgemental or snotty whether *that* was initially intentional or not. What sort of message are *we* sending with this attitude? Pet shops don't do that -- they stroke people looking at their wares. They thank us for repelling otherwise good homes directly into their lair We may have to look at what *we're* doing that causes this behaviour. No flames intended, just my perspective. All my hopes, Vicky and the Horde =P~ my AOL profile is public for your scrutiny my patience is thin for *private* flamers (been there before with this list for observations much less compelling) =b
Re: Had Enough
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: <<>> What questions did you find off-putting? Typically responsible breeders *do* ask a great number of questions. Oftentimes, the questions are tucked within the initial few conversations but certainly some folks can come across as being more than a wee bit judgementally militant. ;-) What in particular especially troubled you? Questions? Attitude? Something else? I am sure when one calls a breeder and thinks they are a shoo-in for the bestest home possibly available, even some mild questions can take some aback. Interestingly enough, even some innocent comments from an otherwise wonderful prospective home can make a *breeder* shut-down, in a manner of speaking. I have given up homes for what may seem insignificant things but I have to sleep well at night knowing my puppies are safe. Some other breeders have subsequently sold to those homes with mixed results. As for being 'forced to' get a puppy mill pup No one can make you do anything you don't want. It's up to you to weigh the ethical, emotional and financial costs of going this route. All my hopes, Vicky and the Horde =P~ Seleya
Re: Question about Dog Call Names
In a message dated 2/17/2003 1:32:05 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
writes:
> We wanted to name her Bridger after the
> Bridger Mountains near Bozeman Montana, where my husband and I met at
> college and lived for 6 years. We just tacked on the kennel name to Bridger
> for AKC registration, but have no idea if that's what you are supposed to do.
That's a good way to name her. Or if the breeder didn't care what you used, you could
have named her something related to that period in your life or locale for her
registered name (the name the AKC knows her by) and used Bridger for her call name
(the name everyone who knows and loves her by)
> I figured I'd ask the question, since everyone's talking about it. So,
> what is involved in the name? What does Ch. mean? What does what do you
> mean by "c" litter or "p" litter. I feel ignorant, but I guess I'll never
> learn if I don't ask the question.
Ch. means the dog earned the title Champion, just as you'll see dogs mentioned on this
list with initials after their name denoting other titles the dogs have earned.
Most breeders want their kennel name included in a registered name. For simplicity in
reading pedigrees or catalogs (aside from the fact it can be fun playing word
games)many breeders use some sort of theme or letter association to differentiate
litters. Some use the same word in each littermates name "Get the show on the road"
"Showstopper" "Show me the money" Some use themes "Mercedes" "Porsche" "Four-by-four"
and some {like me ;-)]use letters "Get Sirius" {Spock} "Glass Slippers" {Cinny} "Gimme
a Chance" {Chance} Some breeders even give you a short list to choose from or register
the litter themselves with names they like before you even see the pups.
With any of these naming schemes, you can use whatever you want for the "Call Name",
it's simply the registered name you may be asked to participate within certain
parameters. No one can tell you what to call your dog in your own home. ;-)
All my hopes,
Vicky and the Horde =P~
Re: Dogs in pick up trucks-a bit off topic
In a message dated 1/18/2003 6:16:39 PM Eastern Standard Time, Sweattees writes: Does > anyone live in an area with this policy? Does anyone have a resource for > statistics of injury to dogs or even humans/cars/property hit by dogs that > were projected from a truck during an accident? Does anyone have any > documented or personal stories they want to share, for ammunition? Any > suggestions for the best way to make this happen? If we can make this happen > for the County, then I will be off to the State! Thanks a > ton for the help, This is a law in several States -- certainly in Massachusetts for starters. The Mass Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners could probably provide you a template and other salient info. One of the most 'innocently' frightening things one can do to their animal (or *child!!!*) is to leave them unsecured in the back of a pick-up. The results can be unimaginable if you haven't seen them for yourself. *TRUST ME!* Good luck! All my hopes, Vicky and the Horde (w/ the neato *enclosed* van) =P~ Seleya
Re: Dosing Glucosamine/Chondroitin
After having my "parts puppy" on Cosequin DS for a few years, she went down one day and was put on Rimadyl for two weeks. The response was amazing -- in two days she was up and about. At the end of the 2 week course, I switched her back to the Cosequin, due to concerns about the emerging evidence of previously undocumented sideeffects, and continued on that until she went down again about 6 months later. One quarter of one 75 mg chewable had my voracious foodhound off her food for 3 days. Shortly thereafter, one of her nephews was put on Rimadyl post-ACL surgery with the same reaction. I recommend against Rimadyl with my line of pups for that reason. Not long after this all happened, I tried SynoviCre (DVM Labs) and would not use Cosequin DS again! =) With the Cosequin, if I missed so much as one pill, Chance would be showing signs of discomfort and some days it just wouldn't do the job. The SynoviCre, in my experience, has been amazing -- miss a dose (thanks to Razzy stealing the tub and sprinkling it throughout the yard!) and she can go a good week without. I have suggested it to several of my clients and they all have had good results as well. I have recently switched to their new Synovi G3 and am still happy with it. It comes in liver flavored granules which I sprinkle over the food. All my hopes, Vicky and the Horde =P~
Re: Young studs (was: cancer advice)
In a message dated 12/28/2002 12:59:24 PM Eastern Standard Time, BernerFolk writes: > My experience is limited to one dog and I have to say, after years of being > told "leave it", performing as a stud dog was clearly not routine for him. > He did get the job done but I wonder whether it would have come more easily > to him if he'd been used as a teen so that 'memory' would kick in later on. > LOL, I used a 7 1/2 yr old boy once who had spent his entire life being told to "leave it" and he sniffed the girl, went up on his toes, sniffed again, snurfled in her ear, then looked at his 'mother' and backed down. He was sure he was being 'set up.' This went on until we sent "mommy" out of the room. Then he tried to mount the girl but she squeaked and he backed down again. Finally, we took them outside into their fenced yard -- one lap of the pool later and clandestine peeks from Dot and me from our vantage points and they were tied. Poor Homer was trapped in the act tho he relaxed when he was praised as to what a good sort he was being. Two days later, he showed 'Mom,' 'Dad,' and anyone who wanted to watch, just what a clever boy he was. My girl got 3 hours of 'romancing' the first time, 5 minutes the second. And Homer impressed his 'Dad' with that neat "trick" he could do turning around mid-tie. ahem... LOL! All my hopes, Vicky and the Horde
Re: cancer advice
Ask me how much I hate AOL... g (after 8 yrs. on AOL, it might just be time for a change. =b) Sorry about the double-posts for those who saw this the first time. =) <<>> There are several breeds with identified "cancer issues" also and many more with a high incidence of certain cancers but they're either too widespread a breed to be able to do an accurate count or have other issues which make understanding true percentages difficult at best. There is a saying in the Flat-Coat world that "if you get them to 7, you have them forever." The Flat-Coated Retriever Society of America conducted a thorough health survey several years ago. This is a breed with an average life span of 7 1/2 years -- in large part due to cancer including hemangiosarcoma and malignant histiocytosis. The leading cause of _young_ FCRs death is accidental (Flatties being Flatties). The second leading cause of death in young dogs is cancer. When one of my FCRs was misdiagnosed with round cell sarcoma, I contacted one of the people involved with the cancer studies they were doing at the time. What they found with their study was : (going on memory here) approx. 34% of Flat-Coats die of cancer * Being the offspring of an affected dog increased your odds by slightly less than 2% * Being the sibling of an affected dog increased your odds by slightly over 4% * The same cancers were being found worldwide, however they were slightly different on the various continents much the same as red is different from maroon. A slightly earlier study found, at that time, that a great number of cancers were being misidentified or labelled with one name instead of another name of the same malignancy. So people weren't necessarily relating these malignancies together due to the disparity in names. Many a breeder of long lived dogs has stated that they have yet to see any rhyme or reason to one dog being affected and another entire litter going to graceful old age together. Some have had generation after generation live long then lose an entire litter by the age of 5, yet some of those dogs' get live to old age as well. If only it could be easy I totally agree with Ruth Reynolds that too much of the Berner breeders' emphasis is directed towards the coat due to the standard. This breed has been chosen in no small part due to coat genetics since the early days when it would have had to have been very strictly adhered to to generate the uniformity we see today. Additionally, all the clearances must be satisfied as well. That said, aside from being solid black or liver, the Flat-Coats don't have those concerns to any great degree (one *expects* to pass clearances -- failures are not common at all) yet they appear to have similar percentages if the data Jordan cites is correct. That is truly a puzzlement. Perhaps, the extreme narrowing of the FC gene pool during both World Wars tossed that breed into the same liferaft as the Berners? One thing in the Berner world that continually amazes me is the frequent use of "underage" studs (especially, since it's usually the boys being used young). Longevity aside, in a breed, such as Berners, where orthopedics, PRA and thyroid are such a concern, the use of dogs under 2 or 3 seems amazingly counterproductive especially in any great numbers. My own preference is to use older gentlemen -- boys who have proven their longevity in a way the girls can't safely before being bred. Trust me, I have yet to have an older statesman not be able to figure the whole game out when he's been given a "young chickie" to procreate with. ;-) I'm not totally condemning the use of _younger_ studs, there are plenty of times when the best dog for the job is a young adult and, if he is the best choice for a bitch, then so be it (tho I'd be peeking at his father, grandfathers and uncles, too!) But the key word is "adult." I'm glad Hesse is responding to his treatments, Jordan -- may you have a long time to enjoy each other! All my hopes, Vicky and the Horde =P~ "Nothing's as friendly as a wet dog!"
Re: cancer advice
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Re: SARDS
:::copy and pasted entire post for list::: ;-) In a message dated 12/11/2002 11:01:39 AM Eastern Standard Time, FlowerPower216 writes: <<>> I have checked both Padgett and Ackerman and, unless there is another name for it they don't include in their detailed references, it is not listed as a genetic condition. Then again, with "sudden *acquired*" in the name, one would tend to think it is not genetic but acquired -- sometimes bad things 'just happen' to good dogs. Hopefully, your opthamologist can give you the information you need. Please share your experiences with the rest of us when you have an opportunity. Take heart, as another poster shared, that dogs typically handle blindness very well and there are e-lists and books which offer support (including US! =) ) My thoughts are with you and your pup today. All my hopes, Vicky and the Horde =P~ Seleya "Don't demand perfection -- everything has cracks in it. It's what let's the light shine through."
Re: BERNER-L digest 4149
In a message dated 11/29/2002 6:51:37 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > Hi All, > I need some help on 2 issues. One, Ripley ate > a Christmas bulb should I rush him to the vet > he seems to be ok? Give him at least 4 cotton balls soaked in heavy cream (milk will do if that's all you have)The cotton will wrap around any glass it might encounter. Keep an eye on him for the next couple of days for obvious signs of distress (bloody stools, excessive drinking, tucked belly/roached back) If in doubt at all, go to the vet. He should be fine, tho. =) > Also he is always chewing on himself is this normal? How or :::ahem::: what is he chewing? How often? Is he doing damage? (loss of hair, sores etc) Have you checked for obvious irritants? (parasites, carpet powders etc) How old is he? Good luck! All my hopes, Vicky (back on after a long listserv induced hiatus) and the SELEYA Horde =P~ Cape Cod, MA
