National Poem in Your Pocket Day Dogging Me

I love this day!  Love folding the poem littler and littler and littler into squares and secretly stuffing it in my pocket to share later; opening and closing it over and over.   The twitters have been fun too.  My favorite twitter:

RT: Is that a poem in your pocket or are you just intellectually aroused? (via @mrharrybay)

Of course they – as I have two because I am so indecisive – are about dogs.  I got them from Southern dogs & Their People by P.S. David & Roberta Gamble.  It is a sweet little book published by Algonquin Books, that my sister gave me.  She works at Algonquin as an editor and of course, has great taste in books.  The photos are precious.

Here are the two poems I am carrying, interestingly by the same author.  Let me know which one you like better!

…through briars had scratched maps

across the back of my hands

and stumps were aimed like mortars

straight up for a last stand,

it was not my war.

the five warm lumps at my back

were quail minus their heads

the setter had swallowed intact,

spoils for having had the nose

that turned to steel before they rose.

-D. C. Berry

We call him George

Maestro Handel. He thinks

he’s a conductor, wags

his tail constantly as

if every direction he turns

he’s got an orchestra

back there.

-D. C. Berry

Obama Helps Rescue Purebreds!

Yes, the purebreds need rescuing now and I appreciate that the Obamas chose one!  It has become almost a crusade to champion rescues and to put down the purebred dog.  So now it almost seems the purebreds need the rescuing from the politically correct.  C’mon people, purebreds are better!  And for the purposes of this blog, I am referring to purebreds from reputable, good breeders who care about their line.

With a purebred and a good breeder, you know what you are getting – size, temperment, grooming needs, health issues and someone who will help you; even taking the dog back if need be.  No, I am not a breeder and wouldn’t want to be.  It is hard work and basically a hobby, as with all the money a breeder puts into their dogs, they rarely make any profit.  And, people who pay the high cost for a purebred usually do their homework and get a breed and individual dog that is suited to their lifestyle and family.

Dogs become rescues and why?  Usually because of behavior problems.  Not as big a problem with purebreds as much of behavior is genetic; so you know what you are getting.  A Border Collie that herds!  Of course.  Ever see a Terrier point?  Uh, no. 

Puppies become rescues and why?  Usually because someone has allowed the dog to reproduce without given demand for the puppies.  Good breeders have buyers waiting for puppies, are picky about who they sell to, and keep puppies that are not placed.  

Purebred puppy mills are a different story and many rescues result from those pups.  

I want every rescue to find a home.  As I sit here in my warm home, dogs at my side, it haunts me that dogs are lying in cold concrete cages without a home.  I truly think that if we encourage people to get purebreds, we would end up with less homeless dogs.  Then when people do relinquish dogs, if the breeder doesn’t take them back, breed rescue groups may help.

POINT is if people know what they are getting ahead of time, they will be more likely to get the right match and keep their dog for a lifetime.  So, purebreds rock.  Don’t get me wrong, rescues rock too but let’s move towards purebreds as the norm.

So tell me what trait you love in your breed!

Can Obama, leader of the free world, lead a “good” Portuguese Water Dog too?

What leads to a good dog? A good leader, of course!  But wait, what is a “good” dog? Well, in my house, my “good” dog may not be acceptable in yours – in fact, in my sister-in-laws house, no dog is a good dog! But I digress.  She just hates dogs – especially black dogs…so I got a black dog. ;>   But seriously, it is extra important that I have a dog with manners for those, such as her, or perhaps the leader of Russia, that come by to visit.

Just like husbands, your perception is what is important as to what makes a good dog.  (Do I need to explain the comment on husbands?)  Maybe a good dog to you doesn’t go on the furniture or chews only your old shoes.  Once you decide what is acceptable, you need to be the leader to establish those qualities in your dog.  To get started, I highly recommend the book or rather the pamphlet or wait, it really is a book……How to be the Leader of the Pack…and Have Your Dog Love You for it! by Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D. In only 16 pages, she manages to give you all the information you need to keep most of your dog’s behavior in check.   Some say it is a cursory read, but I don’t think they know dogs well.  They don’t realize the book is rich in information.  It isn’t the only book you’ll need on raising a dog but I believe it is the most important one.  In fact, I bought it in bulk to give to friends and clients that are having problems with their dog or embarking (no pun intended) on new ownership.

Behavior problems are the number one reason people relinquish their dogs and often is cause for euthanasia.  How wonderful to have a 16 page easy read that will prevent and/or remedy most of those problems.  Sure, I know as a professional that medical problems are often a cause of undesirable behavior and that other factors such as the environment or age can also lead to issues but the lack of leadership almost guarantees problems and is often the cause. So, if you are having problems or are smart enough to want to avoid them, I highly recommend Patricia McConnell’s book and actually, I recommend all her books.

I also got the pleasure of attending one of Patricia McConnell’s day long seminars at the last convention I attended in Columbus, OH.   If you ever get the chance to hear her speak, you will be glad you did.

I am dropping one off for a friend today.  Perhaps I should send one to the Obamas.  Anyone have their address?

Obama gets a cooool Portuguese Water Dog!

Wow! I love this breed! I see them from time to time in agility and they have such grace as they very aptly take the obstacles and one could see why. They were bred to be on boats where balance and grace are a must – certainly something I could use when boating with my husband! Of course, they have webbed feet and I don’t!

I love herding breeds as I have an Aussie and a Corgi, but who would’ve thought of herding fish? And with a dog yet? Well, the Portuguese did and used them on the southern coast for centuries. They call them Cao deAgua meaning “dog of water”. It’s very clever when you think about it – what better way to get the fish in the net? But they also took on many other duties. They could spot shoals of fish with their amazing eyesight, barking to alert; they warned other vessels of their approach in the fog; fetched nets and other marine items; carried messages; and even caught fish that escaped the net. They were extremely valuable and protected until technology made them obsolete.

Their history is exciting and ripe for folklore yet there was a time when they almost went out of existence. Fortunately, people loved their personality and brought the population back. In the 1960’s and 70’s, the breed went from only 11 in America to 339 dogs.

Now with the Obama’s First Dog status, the Portuguese Water Dog will become even more popular. This could be a good thing. Any breed they chose would become popular and we have seen the “train wrecks” of past breeds due to media exposure causing mis-matched dogs and owners. For example, remember 101 Dalmations and all the poor Dalmations that ended up homeless? They are a great dog but not the best family dog or as Brian Kilcommons puts it, it is a “Not for Everyone” dog. He says, “The right Dal in the right hands is a great dog, but both those dogs and those hands are difficult to come by.” One of my best agility buddies owns a Dal and she’s great, but my girlfriend is a great handler. Likewise, I have an Aussie and that is also a “Not for Everyone” dog, in my opinion. They can be bossy and aggressive; they need a job and lots of activity. But, the Aussie is the most wonderful dog for me! In this case, the media will be focusing on a breed that is, in general, a great family dog!

Portuguese Water Dogs are:
 fun and charming
 do well in many dog sports, having great ability and endurance
 a good medium size – ideally 19 inches at the withers and about 40-50 pounds on average
 come in lots of colors
 easy to train
 no shedding
 non-allergenic
 usually good with other dogs and pets

The breed does have some issues to watch for and has some needs that not every family can fulfill. It is typically a friendly and relaxed making it an excellent companion dog but as with most herding breeds, they need exercise and a job. They are athletic, lively and intelligent. They also need regular grooming as do the other breeds that don’t shed.

Sadly, they also have a number of recognized medical issues. Troubling conditions include their genetic tendency for Progressive Retinal Atrophy – an eye disease that occurs slowly and can result in blindness; reports of puppies with heart disease (dialated cardiomyopathy), puppy eye syndrome, sudden puppy death syndrome, congenital kidney disease, Addison’s disease, nervous system disease (gangliodosis or GMI) , hip dysplasia, and follicular dysplasia – a skin disease resulting in hair loss.

So, be sure to check with the breeder about these genetic tendencies in their lines.

I am happy for the Obama’s and hope they have a wonderful future with their new dog. If you consider the same breed, just beware of the medical issues and the need for exercise. Medical issues seem trivial until you are faced with the agonizing decisions and costs these can create. Be sure you are prepared. Otherwise, I was taken and smitten the first time I saw the beauty and grace of this breed at an agility trial.

Sources:

 Dogs, The Ultimate Dictionary of over 1,000 Dog Breeds by Desmond Morris
 Paw To Consider, Choosing the Right Dog for You and Your Family by Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson
 Medical & Genetic Aspects of Purebred Dogs II, by Ross D. Clark, DVM and Joan R. Stainer
 Breed Predispositions to Disease in Dogs & Cats, by Alex Gough & Alison Thomas