Breeding Better Dogs

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June 2010

NEWSLETTER # 36

"Building a Better World of Breeders"

Dear Reader

This FREE newsletter and our website was developed for breeders interested in continuing their education.

We reach more than 13,000 breeders in over 10 countries.

Why not invite your friends join our newsletter. Simply forward this email to them or paste this link http://breedingbetterdogs.com/phplist/?p=subscribe into a new email and sent it to them

Continuing Education

Continuing education means learning new ideas, better methods and skills development. To learn more, see our articles page. There you will find several that articles that should be useful. Three-ring notebooks are suggested for your articles, pedigrees, litter evaluations and these Newsletters. A second benefit is the learning experience. See the Seminars page and review the agendas. To find a Seninar near see the schedules page. Right now there are five scheduled between August and the end of October. Click on the contact person for more specific seminar information. If you do not see one near you, ask your club to host a breeder’s seminar. They meet AKC’s annual education requirement.

New Cream for Softer Skin

We have had good feedback about this product. It is a mineral-rich product that comes from botanical extracts and essential oils designed to provide therapeutic relief for dry cracked or other related skin problems. The perfect solution for handlers, groomers and breeders who need something for their hands, feet and legs. We recommend it having used it for more than two years.Find it here

BREEDING BETTER DOGS - VIDEO TAPE

A surprise finding in a small unpublished study shows that in many breeds, more than 60% of the top-winning dogs were found not to be owned by their breeders. Two of the most popular reasons given were: lack of skills necessary to choose or recognize the better pups and pressure from pet buyers to sell early. Experts agree that choosing puppies is perhaps the most underdeveloped of the eight breeder skills. To help solve this problem a video was developed called, Choosing the Best Puppy Now available in DVD.

2010 SEMINARS

Date	Host	Location	Format	Contact	Phone
Aug 7	Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club of Central Az	LaQuinta Hotel, on Greenway in Phoenix, Az	1 Day	Shelly Fields	480.707.2394
Sept 17	Tupelo KC in conjunction with Tupelo KC show	Lee County Agri-center, Verona, MS	1 Day	Tere Woody	662.416.1392
Sept 30	Black Russian Terrier Club of America	Lexington, Kentucky, Marriot Great Lakes Resort and Spa	3 hr	Susan Sholar	760.445.0557
Oct 20	Great Dane Club of American Kennel Club	Pine Bluff, ARK Seminar at: Ramada Plaza/Pine Bluff Convention Center	1/2 Day	Renea Crowell	580.763.3764
Oct 30-31	Greater St. Louis Shetland Sheepdog Club	AKC Museum of the Dog 1721 Mason Rd, St Louis, MO	2 Day	Tammy Riggs	623.824.5226

AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB NEWS

Stay and Save

AKC has entered into an agreement with Motel 6 and Studio 6 to offer all AKC dog owners a 10 percent discount on dog-friendly lodgings at 1,000 locations in the US and Canada.

To reserve a room and activate the discount, visit motel6.com and enter access code CP543764 (Motel 6) or visit staystudio6.com and enter the access code CP542765 for Studio 6. Additional info is here.

The First Ten

Did you know that the guiding force behind the AKC obedience tests was Helene Whitehouse Walker? The first test was given at the North Westchester Kennel Club show on June 9, 1934.

Health and Genetics

The following information is intended to raise awareness levels, not to prescribe medical treatment or offer self diagnosis. These short summaries highlight some notable health problems. Responsible breeders should be aware of their potential and try to eliminate them by using pedigree analysis to help make better breeding decisions.

Vet stresses need for lifetime dental care for pets

Proper dental care should be given to pets from their infancy to ensure that they live long and healthy lives. Dr. Greg McGrath of Cedar Lake Pet Hospital, Biloxi, Miss., writes that regular checkups and routine hygiene, such as brushing their teeth, will prevent bacterial infection that could cause ailments in other organs in the body.

Pets can help seniors maintain physical, mental functioning

Elderly individuals residing in assisted-living homes, as well as seniors living independently, can benefit from the companionship and stimulation of animal visits or pet ownership, experts say. Studies indicate that in addition to easing loneliness, increasing socialization and encouraging exercise, pets may help older adults overcome depression and lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

NEW STUDY ON BLOAT

In the next week or so our readers will receive an advance announcement that a survey will be posted on the internet. We are looking for two kinds of breeders:

Never had a dog bloat
Have had at least one dog bloat and others who did not bloat

This is a cooperative effort between Dr. Cindy Otto, DVM, U of Penn. Vet School and myself.

MANAGING THE CARRIERS

Polygenic Disorders

These disorders are the most difficult to control and manage because they are caused by more than one pair of genes and all affected individuals are not affected by the same combination of genes. For most of the traits and disorders caused by polygenes, no test has been developed. The problem in developing tests for these disorders is the number and combination of genes involved. One example of a polygenic disorder is hip dysplasia (HD). It occurs in many breeds and has been a problem for breeders since it was first reported in 1935. What further complicates a solution for this disorder is the number of genes involved and the fact that the genes for the right and the left hip and the genes for the right and the left femoral heads might be different genes. Therefore, a simple solution is not likely. The Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA) recommends the following:

Breed normal to normal.
Breed normal dogs that come from normal parents and grandparents.
Breed normal dogs that have more than 75% normal siblings.
Select dogs that have a record of producing a higher than breed average percentage of normal progeny.
Choose replacement animals that exceed the breed average.

In order to control or manage most problems, breeders must rely on pedigree analysis and information about litter-mates and offspring. This means knowing which ancestors and litter-mates are carriers or have produced the undesired traits. Two methods are useful for this purpose. The first is called depth of pedigree, meaning the direct ancestors found in the first three generations. The second is called breadth of pedigree, which means studying the litter-mates of the sire, dam and their other direct ancestors. Breadth and depth of pedigree works well when polygenetic disorders are the concern. For example, a dog with a low risk for HD would come from a litter where only one or none of its litter-mates were dysplastic and only one or two ancestors in three generations were dysplastic. This dog would be expected to carry a lower risk than another that had several litter-mates and several ancestors with HD. Two ancestors in three generations (24 relatives) will carry a lower risk than another that has several ancestors in three generations. When attempting to control and manage the carriers of polygenetic disorders, the best candidates with the lowest risk will usually come from pedigrees where most of the litter-mates and ancestors are not affected. In the absence of this kind of information the risk of managing the carrier’s will be slow and time-consuming. For more information click on the articles link under the archives header.

New Book "Breeding Dogs to Win"by Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia

Comments provided by:

Dr. Jerold S Bell, DVM, Clinical Associate Professor of Genetics Department of Clinical Sciences, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, offered the following comments: "Dr. Battaglia has a keen power of observation, and understanding of dog structure, movement, and genetic selection. This, combined with his ability to communicate in a clear and articulate manner, provides the reader with the tools needed to make informed breeding decisions".

Find it here

New article:

Popular Stud Dogs has been added to our list of readings.

New technology for old dogs

Advanced Magnetic Technology has worked well for humans. Now it is available for canines and felines. I tried it on several of my old dogs and found that they are better able to move after sleeping on it. The pad seems to provide comfort and warmth to their joints and muscles. My dogs are more active after they nap on it.

The NIKKEN Company says that the Kenko PetPad provides the "ultimate technology for your pet".

I think they are right; even my wife's cats sleep on it when the dogs leave. The Kenko PetPad is completely machine-washable and is available in two sizes; 48" X 30"and 29" X 20". Breeders are finding the PetPad a valuable tool.

Find it here