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J.D. and Cassie went Best Puppy and Best Opposite Sex puppy at the High Desert LRC Match today.  Neither one had been off the property prior to today, and knew nothing of leashes.  It took a bit of doing, but they caught on, and went on to win  in the 3-6 month puppy classes.   We were pleased and surprised when they were both pulled out for Best Puppy in match, and Best Op puppy.    They had a blast, but are exhausted from the long day.  While we wade through the prizes, they’re both sound asleep.

J.D. and Cassie are out of Blue Knight  Ch Epochs Bacardi Joe Banner and Blue Knight Shooting Star. 

J.D. 5 mos - Best Puppy

Cassie 5mos - Best Opposit Sex Puppy 

It is always a joy to watch a mother with her newborn.

Baby, I lie and gaze on thee
All other things forgot-
In dreams the things of earth pass by
But awake i heed them not.
I hear thy soft breath come and go,
Thy breath so lately given,
And watch the blue unconscious eyes
Whose light is pure from heaven.
~~Anonymous c.1860

To those watching, and to those who wrote me today, thank you for your kind words, and for finding pleasure in one of God’s greatest gifts – new life!

It’s funny how people have preconceived notions, and feel the need to vent their ‘upset’ with others.  Such is the story of one lady who wrote me last night.  She felt a need to tell me what sub-humans we were for keeping Gabby in her whelping box the last week of her pregnancy, without benefit of being able to play with the other dogs or us, and she observed our tussle on the camera trying to keep Gabby where she didn’t want to be just one hour after her surgery.  She noted that we weren’t constantly touching Gabby.  After all, rather than let her rest, and settle in with her babies, we were supposed to be in the box, constantly stimulating her to let her know how loved she is.     Yes, evidently, we are supposed to be keeping her awake with constant stroking.     Boy, did that note make me mad. 

And then I got this note from a lady who has no idea how much her note was appreciated.  She said :

“I have watched Gabby all week sleeping and getting ready for the birth of her puppies.  She looked like I felt the last weeks of my own pregnancy.   Then tonight I watched you trying to settle them all in, constantly checking her incision, and cleaning the towels under her rump so she wouldn’t have to lay in a mess.   I watched you bottle feed the puppies after it looked like you tried to get milk from her nipples, taking her temperature, and cleaning the puppies bottoms.  You were in and out of her area like the nurses who took care of me in the hospital were. They were in and out in a flash, flipping me and my baby around with skilled hands to do what was necessary, and then left me to continue to count fingers and toes.   I am amazed to watch your camera and see this dog get the same sort of care that I got when I had my baby.   She is sleeping now, and I was transfixed on the camera.   She isn’t even aware of the care you are giving her.  Thank you for putting up the camera.  I found myself wondering how I would ever sleep, and then you turned the camera off.   You must be going to bed, so I will check on them tomorrow.  Thank you again, Kristi”

No, thank YOU, Kristi.  I really needed your note.   No bed for me. Not tonight.   It is almost 4am.  I took the first night up with Gabby following her c-section.  Dan gets tomorrow night.   … And so it goes until we’re sure she and the puppies will be okay without constant observation.   

Gabby isn’t really appreciating motherhood right now.  You see, a c-section without labor, doesn’t let the normal hormone changes occur, that make a mother feel like a mother.  (progesterone declines during the last days of pregnancy  - estrogen increases just before birth  - prolactin increases just before birth).  These are the hormones of motherhood, and without the perfect balance, these puppies may as well belong to another dog as far as Gabby is concerned.  She can’t figure out why she is saddled with them, and would like very much to get away from them.  So, until that magical switch is flipped, she must be forced to do what nature is telling her she shouldn’t be doing.  In one to two days, she’ll be fighting to get in with them instead of away from them, and the fight will be in reverse… we’ll have to force her out! 

Perception is an interesting thing.  One person perceives cruelty, one person perceives care, and Gabby perceives some strange little creatures were forced on her.  A moment ago, I saw her dare to lick one of them <smile>, so maybe tomorrow her perception will be completely different. 

                               

A breed registry is an official list of animals within a specific breed whose parents are known. A kennel club is an organization for canine affairs that concerns itself with the breeding, showing and promotion of more than one breed of dog.

The most widly acknowledged (as reputable) and oldest kennel clubs with accurate registries are:

For those living in the U.S. (note, there are many Kennel clubs in other countries), wanting a puppy from Champion lines, and see a dog is titled Ch. you now have to clarify with the breeder if this dog is a AKC Champion. How do you know? You need to see the certificate of Championship, and look for the official AKC seal.

Today, there are many new registries popping up, which are often used by those who can not successfully compete in the events hosted by the oldest, well known registries.

Any reputable breeder knows that a litter out of non-champions is fine, but when one uses the title "INTL CH." to promote their dogs, a buyer should know what they're getting (or not getting).

A dog does not compete outside the USA to obtain this title, as it might appear. Because one registry has opted to use titles such as "Nat'l Ch." and "Int'l Ch." it allows for others to be fooled into thinking the dog competed in multiple other countries. You will see dogs listed as an Int'l Ch., when that dog that has *never* traveled outside of the USA to obtain this title, or even out of the state it was born in, and won that title sometimes with no competition at all !

If one lists such a Championship, it should be listed as a IABCA Int'l Ch. to prevent people from thinking it competed ouside of the U.S. in several countries to become a true International Ch.

All one needs to register with the IABCA is a three generation pedigree (this could be dummied), and the dog and its parents numbers from any other registry (some of these registries require only a photo of the dog to "determine" if it "looks" purebred).

You've probably seen breeders on the web, who recommend giving Vitamin C to "prevent" hip dysplasia.

Vitamin C will NOT *prevent* HD.

If only Hip Dysplasia could be prevented by something so simple as taking Vitamin C !!! If that were true, there would be no dysplastic dogs. Sadly, this isn't the case.

This theory was proposed by Dr. Wendell O. Belfield in the late 1960's based on the notion that Vitamin C is used to make collagen, one of the major tissues of cartilage, bone and tissues supporting the joint.

Dogs, unlike people, make their own Vitamin C. They produce an enzyme called L-gulonolactone oxidase, which allows them to synthesize vitamin C from glucose without having access to a dietary form of vitamin C.

Still, Belfield suggested that a deficiency of Vit. C causes joint laxity seen early in hip dysplasia. The study, which showed some benefit from Vit. C supplementation, can not be repeated by others who have tested the theory.

Research has shown that Vit. C adversely affects the dogs' calcium balance, so it is possible that in excess, it can actually increase the risk of some bone diseases, including hip dysplasia [Dr. Cindy L. Shmon article]. One test conducted in 1980, by Teare et al., showed that supplemental vitamin C can aggravate skeletal disease induced by overfeeding protein, energy, and calcium to Labrador Retriever puppies. The test by Teare et al. is shown on page 38 in the US Government National Research Council's publication, Nutrient Requirements of Dogs - Revised 1985. National Research Council's, Nutrient Requirements of Dogs Revised 1985, from: National Academy Press - P.O. Box 285 - Washington, D.C. 20055. The National Academy Press also has on-line ordering at: The National Academy Press bookstore (Nutrient Requirements of Dogs Revised 1985)

Cornell's work has debunked Belfield's unscientific claims. Belfield's theory will always be touted by those who simply operate on a wish and a prayer, instead of careful breeding, and culling of breeding stock with less than normal hips.

Hip dysplasia is a genetic disease.The genetic transmission of hip dysplasia involves multiple genes. Dysplastic hips are recessive to normal hips. Dogs with x-ray evidence of hip dysplasia, regardless of the severity, carry the genes for hip dysplasia and should not be used for breeding. Dogs with normal hips on x-ray may carry the genes for the disease, however, this is the only safe method to prevent hip dysplasia -- decrease the incidence by only breeding dogs with normal hips.

http://siriusdog.com/chd2.htm

BE SURE your breeder has cleared the joints of their breeding animals via x-ray, and not simply playing vitamin roulette with a puppy that you will be making part of your family.

Ask your vet about vitamins he or she wants you to include in the diet of your puppy.

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