pet connection

Last week I told you about the new cat at 10 Downing Street. Today, much bigger news.

Along with a new/old governor, the Golden State has a new First Dog. Welcome to Sutter (you gotta love the name), a Pembroke Welsh corgi. Governor Jerry Brown and First Lady Anne Gust Brown are happy to have 7-year-old Sutter in Sacramento after losing their previous dog, Dharma, last year. The Los Angeles Times reports that Sutter is already on the job.

“He finds all the extra food lying on the floor in the office,” Gust Brown told the Sacramento Bee of Sutter’s job duties. “He barks at anyone, he gives snuggles, he warms up the Republicans.” Beyond Republican-warming, his hobbies include herding and accompanying the Browns on jogs.

Corgi fanciers know the breed, famous for their appetite and their herding talent, is a longtime favorite of Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty has owned and bred Corgis since she was a teenager. If you are active on Twitter, you can follow Sutter @SutterBrown.

A mess in Memphis: There is no other way to say it – the Memphis Animal Shelter is broken. Shirley at YesBiscuit will give you the latest. The shelter’s director is definitely a piece of work.

Tell eBay to do the right thing: Technically, live animals cannot be sold on eBay. Unfortunately, all bets are off when it comes to their classifieds. That means that puppy milling scum have an unfettered avenue to do, and sell, whatever they want. You can support Change.org‘s petition to shut down this blatant loophole.

A true hero: James Campbell leases a kennel housing greyhounds. The kennel sits adjacent to the Derby Lane track in St. Petersburg, Fla. Last week, in the middle of the night, he was alerted by security that the kennel was on fire. A total of 46 greyhounds were trapped inside. Mr. Campbell rushed to the kennel and rescued the dogs — all of them. Meanwhile, the place was quickly burning to the ground. From the Tampa Tribune:

“It didn’t matter to me how much flames, how much smoke,” said Campbell, a father of three. “I was going in. I was getting my dogs.”

“I put them right below my kids,” he said. “Without thinking, I went in.”

There were 46 greyhounds in 46 crates stacked two high, with names such as JR’s Boy and Backwood Omar. As the fire crackled to life in the back of the kennel, with flames he described as 20 feet high, Campbell started quickly, but methodically, rescuing the dogs.

He unlatched the crate on top, helped the dog out, unlatched the crate underneath it, let that dog out. Then he went to the next stack, working down a row. Some of the dogs appeared to be oblivious to the peril, wagging their tails and staying close to Campbell rather than escaping through a side door into a penned area outside, he said.

“They still wanted to play,” he said. “They didn’t act any different. I’m not sure they were even aware of what was going on.”

Others were more easily led – or went on their own – to the penned area outside.

The fire department’s preliminary investigation points to the kennel’s HVAC system as the fire’s probable cause. (Tip of the cap to Cathy A.)

ASPCA-PetSmart partnership: In an ongoing effort to expand services across the country, ASPCA is putting clinics in place to assist with supplying ID tags and collars in selected communities. The project is underwritten by a just-announced $115,000 grant from PetSmart Charities.

Annandale’s gone to the dogs: Annandale, Virginia, just inside the Beltway, is a lovely place to raise a family. Ms. Beatha Lee relocated to Annandale from her previous home in Maine, and was nominated for the presidency of Annandale’s Hillbrook-Tall Oaks Civic Association.  Ms. Lee was elected easily. However, as the Washington Post tells the story, Ms. Lee will have some difficulty chairing meetings. It isn’t that she’s particularly old, it’s just that Beatha Lee is a Wheaten terrier. (Thanks, Susan)

Two unforgettable photo essays: In light of the Whistler massacre, how about a look at some sled dogs (thanks, Ericka). Next, as we wrap up coverage of Westminster, a final look at the doings in Manhattan, courtesy of the Boston Globe‘s Big Picture. Oh, and by the way, PawNation would like you to know positive reinforcement training is the norm at Westminster.

Remember the Ramones? They got the lyrics wrong. If this tune gets stuck in your head the rest of today, you’ll be in good company. Happened to me, too. Blame Animal Friends.

Turtle vs. kitteh: Ericka sent me this one, too. Tough little turtle, there. Liz, are you sure this one isn’t yours?

Engineer’s guide to cats: I neglected to ask Patti S. if she was an engineer when she forwarded this video, but now I feel much more enlightened.

I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories.  Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an e-mail.

Photo credit: Sutter, Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times. James Campbell, Chip Osowski/TBO.

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Gina’s trying to get a week’s worth of work done before she heads for the Western Veterinary Conference next week, so of course, you know what that means…

The Scottish Deerhound had its fifteen minutes of fame recently, after the lovely Hickory took top honors at the Westminster Kennel Club Show. I went from getting 2-3 Google alerts a month on the phrase “Scottish Deerhound” to getting several hundred in a few days. Should those of us in the deerhound world worry about popularity cursing our breed?

I don’t think so. Partly that’s because most deerhound breeders are careful to the point of near-paranoia about who gets puppies, but “most” isn’t all, and greed is a huge motivator for a lot of people, so that alone won’t protect the deerhound.

What I think will protect my beloved breed is this: There are almost no Scottish Deerhounds. I mean, we registered around 120 puppies last year in the whole country. Even if breeders wanted to ramp up their breeding capabilities to fill a sudden spike in demand, by the time those few who would be willing to do that could get enough litters on the ground to meet the demand, the demand would have burned itself out. People who pick the kind of dog they want based on a Westminster win aren’t the kind to stick around for two years on a puppy waiting list. And even I, who have been in the breed for decades and was getting my last puppy, Rawley, from a good friend, had to wait a year.

What could happen, and I think is a valid concern, is that our breed could attract more attention from those who are more concerned with ribbons than the dogs who earn them. That could be problematic.

The Scottish Deerhound is a sensitive breed, and doesn’t do well on the road. Hickory lives with her breeders, Scott and Ceil Dove, on a 50-acre farm where she can run and play in the fields and snuggle on the sofa in the evening (which, as Rawley tells me, is what the Scottish Deerhound was bred for).

But since there is no money in this breed — the huge stud fees some breeds command are directly linked to how salable the puppies are, not as pets but to other fanciers, and that’s directly linked to how many dogs of that breed are shown, and how many of them do a lot of post-breed ring winning — it’s always tempting to those showing a really beautiful hound to take some financial support from a co-owner who is, essentially, investing in the dog.

Some people invest simply because that’s how they get their pleasure, being the co-owner of a big winner. But some are looking for a financial return, not just ribbons and glory.

Still, I’m not sure even that will happen. As you can see from how Hickory buried her face in her handler’s side when the paparazzi got too annoying, this isn’t a breed that likes a lot of hoopla. One-on-one, no breed can beat them for loving companionship, but in a crowd, they’re easily overwhelmed.

One other interesting side note to the saga: I was contacted by my local NBC affiliate the day after Westminster, asking if they could come interview me about the breed and tape some footage of Rawley being adorable. I agreed, and when I posted about it to Facebook, it turned out that dozens of deerhound friends all around the country had received similar requests, and gone on their local news, too.

When I was interviewed, I was asked, “What advice would you give to someone interested in getting a Scottish Deerhound?”

I said a bit of what I said here — that there are so few dogs of the breed in the world, that it’s quite hard to get a puppy, and they’d be in for a long wait. I also talked about all the reasons this isn’t the right breed for everyone — the usual patter about their love of running, their size, and all that — but I added something else.

If, I said, you really love this breed, not because they won Westminster but because of their wonderful qualities — the loving way they gaze at you, their deep connection with their people coupled with a calm presence in the house, the way they are wild and free and beautiful in the field (or at the beach or park!) but, once adult, quiet at home, their grace and athleticism — consider adopting a racing Greyhound.

Greyhounds are more similar to the deerhound in personality, temperament, and other lifestyle factors than any other breed. They’re a little smaller — a plus for most people — and they have a short coat — ditto — and as an added bonus, they come in all the colors of the rainbow, unlike deerhounds, who come in any color you might want as long as it’s gray.

Best of all, there are thousands of greyhounds looking for homes every day, all over the country. You can actually get one!

Well, my recommendation got cut, as I kind of assumed it would. And as far as I can tell, everyone else who made the same suggestion saw it land on the digital version of the cutting room floor.

Too bad. It demonstrates that many of us who keep and love our purebred dogs, despite all the problems in the purebred dog world, do care, and actively advocate, for dogs less fortunate than ours. And that we’re not selfishly hoarding all potential deerhound homes for ourselves, and ignoring the plight of our breed’s cousins, the greyhounds.

And, had even a few of those cut words aired, some dogs might have found good homes.

Interested in adopting a greyhound? Start here.

Photos: Top: Scottish Deerhound Connection logo by KT Jorgensen. Second: Rawley at 12 weeks old,  with me, by Gina. Third: Lillie with roses, by me. Fourth: Dylan, AKA Ch. Caber Feidh Rockin’ Robin, FCh, SC, GRC, ORC, VC, in the field, courtesy of Terri Campbell. Bottom: A Greyhound. Really. Not a Scottish Deerhound! (Stock photo.)

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Where pets are concerned, what may be the most-watched legislative battle in the country is brewing in the New York State Assembly.

Oreo’s Law (Bill 4480) would mandate all municipal shelters in the state hand over any animal in their care to a non-profit animal protection organization if the animal is scheduled to die, and provided the non-profit wants and is able to take possession. The language of Oreo’s Law has been reworked a bit since it was introduced in Albany last year, where it died in committee.

High profile groups are lining up in favor of Oreo’s Law. The latest is Alley Cat Allies. In a carefully worded release, ACA admitted the bill could be improved, but they’ll stand behind it:

Alley Cat Allies believes that when it comes to animals’ lives, it’s important for animal advocates to work together to ensure all animals’ best interests are considered. We will continue to work with New York State and others to ensure all animals receive the protections they truly deserve. More important than any single bill is the guarantee of shelter access, and Bill 4480 is just the beginning of shelter reform. Above and beyond preventing animals from being killed in shelters, we also need to prevent feral cats from entering them at all.

Careful isn’t a word usually associated with Nathan Winograd. He skewers Best Friends Animal Society for being decidedly against 4480. Before borrowing a juicy paragraph from our own Christie Keith, Nathan equates Best Friends with the administration of a recently deposed world leader:

Choosing to defend the rights of shelters to kill animals in the face of readily available rescue alternatives, Best Friends CEO Hosni Mubarak, I mean Gregory Castle, says the people cannot be trusted. That corruption and oppression by the current regime should continue. Those in power should stay in power. Rescue groups should continue watching the animals they want to save be put to death. Their pain, their oppression, their hurt, not to mention the needless violence inflicted on the animals, should continue. But he cannot come right out and say that. And so he and Omar Suleiman, I mean Francis Battista, claim that the people are not ready for democracy. And hence lies the real issue: money and power.

As long as Nathan keeps doing what he does, I’ll never be bored.

Attention rodents: There’s a new sheriff at 10 Downing. The downsizing of the British government doesn’t preclude new hires being made when necessary. The newest staff serving Prime Minister David Cameron is named Larry.  Larry is a tabby, and has been appointed the latest Ten Downing Cat. Unauthorized rats have been spotted on the premises, and as both BBC and NPR tell us, the PM is taking decisive action.

All hail Hickory: Rawley the Deerhound is a happy boy today, because on Tuesday night, Westminster crowned Hickory, a gorgeous Deerhound America’s top dog. The New York Times has a sortable photo essay showing 102 best of breed winners. Right here and now, I predict that 2012 will be The Year of the Dachshund.

The newest Canadians: Los Angeles is chock full of Chihuahuas, in no small part because L.A. is a movie town, and Chihuahuas have been popular film dogs. Paris Hilton doesn’t help matters, either. Today, there are so many of the little guys and girls clogging shelters in that corner of California that they need to be exported, or else. So what’s the solution? Air Chihuahua — destination: Edmonton. Dress warmly, kids. You’re not in Hollywood any more. Thanks to PetMD for the link.

Stain remover worth checking out: My pal Ericka Basile has a new product review post up this week. Ericka reviews The Equalizer (I just love the name), by Vetoquinol.

A Flounder/Tiger Mom: I enjoyed this post from Kathy Flake on how she negotiates training with her Golden, the lovable Sparky.

I could stay here forever: This article from the Wall Street Journal confounds me. I have read it five times. I still don’t know how I feel about it. Want to be buried with your pet? How about part of you being buried with your pet? Yeah, it’s definitely thinking outside the box. Or urn.

Two cat videos you will love…I hope. ABC News has the story of a cat burglar. Not a figure of speech. This guy must have done hard time in a previous life. Finally, my #1 favorite video of the week. Snooky lives with a musician. That means there’s a metronome in the house. Snooky met the metronome. Although there’s a happy ending, you MUST watch the whole thing. Then watch it again. Eventually, you’ll watch it without laughing. Let’s see how many viewings that takes.

I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories.  Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an e-mail

Photo credit: Cat in cage, alleycat.org. Hickory, Spencer Platt/Getty.

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One of the pleasures of watching the Westminster Show and, even better, being there in person is the opportunity to see so many rare breeds, like those discussed in this New York Times article this morning.

More and more rare breeds are being admitted to the American Kennel Club’s registry. It used to take years, decades sometimes, for a breed to move from the Miscellaneous Class (sort of a holding pen for breeds that weren’t quite ready for prime time). Now, they seem to be fast-tracked. A cynic might suggest that it’s for the additional money brought in from registration and entry fees, and that people in those breeds have sold their souls–and their dogs–to the devil. I have talked to enough of them, though, to know how dearly they love their dogs and how committed they are to their well being. Therefore, I have to hope that they will be lucky enough and smart enough to navigate the pitfalls that can come with AKC recognition. With that, here are the three new breeds we’ll be seeing tonight in the Sporting and Working Groups of the Westminster Kennel Club show.

Boykin Spaniel, Sporting Group

I love spaniels, of course, so it’s disappointing that I haven’t yet had a chance to meet a Boykin. Nicknamed “little brown dog” for his liver, brown or dark chocolate-colored coat, he’s the state dog of South Carolina and was developed early in the 20th century to hunt waterfowl, wild turkeys and upland game birds such as pheasants. He’s just the right size to ride in a boat with a hunter and is known as “the little dog that doesn’t rock the boat.” A typical spaniel, he’s enthusiastic when it comes to flushing and retrieving birds. The Boykin’s size and hunting ability are attractive characteristics, but like every breed he is predisposed to certain health problems, including eye disease, hip dysplasia, and some instances of exercise-induced collapse and heart problems. To its credit, the Boykin Spaniel Club and Breeders Association of America has established a Canine Health Information Center database. To receive a CHIC number, a Boykin must have an annual Canine Eye Registry Foundation test for eye problems, an Orthopedic Foundation for Animals patella evaluation, and one of three available tests for hip dysplasia. Optional tests are OFA evaluations for congenital cardiac diseases and elbow dysplasia.

Cane Corso, Working Group

The Cane Corso is a type of Italian mastiff who was used on farms to manage livestock, hunt big game such as wild boars, and guard the property. As with so many working breeds, modernization nearly brought him to extinction, but Italian fanciers in the 1970s worked to revive the breed. The Cane Corso was recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale in 1996 and by the United Kennel Club in 2008. This is a large and impressive-looking guardian breed who is devoted to his family and suspicious of strangers. He needs extensive early socialization and training. Let’s hope he avoids the fate of other big, powerful dogs who became popular because of their macho appeal and then ruined because they were carelessly bred. Health concerns include hip dysplasia; demodex mange, which can have a genetic component; eyelid abnormalities; and gastric torsion (bloat).

Leonberger, Working Group

The Leonberger was invented in Germany in the mid-nineteenth century, when the Victorian-era craze for dogs was beginning. The dogs were successfully marketed by their German creator, Heinrich Essig of Leonberg, and popular with celebrities and wealthy people of the time. Although Essig wasn’t detail-oriented when it came to keeping breeding records, he claimed that he used Saint Bernards and Great Pyrenees to establish the breed.

The Leo is a big dog, meant to be gentle and sweet. He is, if he has been bred for temperament and received plenty of early socialization and training. Without those elements, he can become fearful, shy and difficult to train — not good in a 120-pound dog. Health concerns include orthopedic problems –hip dysplasia, osteochondritis dissecans and panosteitis–Addison’s disease, and ectropion and entropion, eye abnormalities that can be genetically transmitted. The breed’s deep chest and giant size also predispose him to gastric torsion (bloat) and osteosarcoma (bone cancer). The Leonberger Club of America has also established a CHIC database.

People who live with Leos love them.

“Leonbergers are the most loving, loyal and easily trainable dog I have owned,” says Mary Ruggiero-Smith, who has bred Leos for 15 years. “My Leonbergers have brought the most wonderful people into my life and have given so much more love back than I could ever have imagined.”

Photo credits: Boykin Spaniel, www.boykinspanielclub.org; Cane Corso, www.canecorso.org; Leonberger, Mary Ruggiero-Smith

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Six new breeds are eligible to compete this year at the 135th Miss Canine Amer, um, Westminster Kennel Club show, bringing the total number of breeds and varieties that can be seen there to 179.

At this rate, they’re going to have to expand the show to three days or move it to Yankee Terrier Stadium. (Can someone tell me why New York doesn’t have any domed stadiums?)

The breeds making their debut at the Garden are Bluetick and Redbone Coonhounds, Icelandic Sheepdogs, Boykin Spaniels, Cane Corsos and Leonbergers. I was fortunate to meet several of these breeds and talk to their people at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship show in Long Beach over the past few years. Here’s a brief introduction to them. Look for the first three in Group competition tonight.

Bluetick Coonhound, Hound Group

Picture a hound with a dark blue, thickly mottled coat, dotted with black spots on his back, ears and sides; droopy black ears; tan markings over his eyes and on his cheeks; and dark red ticking on his lower legs, paws, chest and beneath his tail. That’s a Bluetick Coonhound, formerly a color variety of the English Coonhound before becoming recognized as a distinct breed with the United Kennel Club in 1946. The one who caught my eye at the Eukanuba show back in 2006 was Jebbie, more formally known as OTCH UUD Smokin’ Bullet Jebediah Blue UDX3 VER Bh (NAPWDA Cadaver/SAR). He was there to compete in the National Obedience Invitational and was named third runner-up. Yes, really! A coonhound placed fourth in a national obedience competition. In addition to his hard-earned talents in the obedience ring, Jeb has been a search and rescue dog (his preferred job) and is the Boise Parks and Recreation Spokesdog. I’ve stayed in touch with Jeb’s owner, Paula McCollum of Boise, Idaho, and she says she was first attracted to Blueticks because of their striking markings, but she has come to love their loud bays and goofy hound personalities. In the field, the Bluetick is a cold-nosed hunter with a big bawl mouth (a long, drawn-out bark). With family, they are highly affectionate and loyal, not to mention super couch companions. They are not the easiest dogs to train, as McCollum will attest, but she says that even when Jeb is being naughty, he’s pretty darned cute.

Redbone Coonhound, Hound Group

I love a good red dog. It must be my Scottish and Irish ancestry. Red hounds came to the U. S. with Scottish and Irish immigrants, and they became the ancestors of the Redbone, a hound with a rich, deep red coat. The dogs that were probably used to create the breed also included Bloodhounds and Foxhounds. Like every hound, the Redbone has a pleading expression with dark brown or hazel eyes and, of course, a sweet voice that carries over long distances, whether he is working in swamps, mountains or plains. Redbones are cold-nosed dogs, meaning they are good at finding and following old tracks with little scent. Redbones are probably the most easygoing of the coonhounds, not that that means a lot. They still need lots of exercise and a patient trainer. My friend Kathleen Samuelson has become a fan of the breed, and her Syd (Ch. Tree Rizin’ Maine Edition) took Best Opposite Sex at the 2010 National Championship show.

“This breed is just awesome,” Samuelson says. “They can be totally goofy one minute, then disarm you with their empathy and intelligence the next. They do everything with gusto, whether they’re lazing around on the couch, vying for our attention with kisses and snuggles, or focusing intently on the scent of an animal that has just made its way across our wooded property. They have found a very special place in our hearts.”

Icelandic Sheepdog, Herding Group

This hardy Nordic breed is said to have come to Iceland on the longboats of early Viking settlers. I am never sure just how much I believe of romantical-sounding breed histories (Dachshunds in ancient Egypt! Really?), but this one is kinda plausible. At any rate, the Icelandic Sheepdog has the typical prick ears, curled tail, thick coat and barkful nature of his Spitz relatives. I talked to a woman about the breed at the 2009 AKC/Eukanuba show, and I am sorry to say that I don’t have her name recorded anywhere in my notes. Based on our chat, though, the breed has been brought from near-extinction in the 1950s, with only about 50 dogs left, to a current population of more than 800 in the U. S. alone. Icelandic Sheepdogs are cheerful, friendly, curious and playful, not to mention self-cleaning. Their coat of many colors sheds dirt (also hair, of course) and doesn’t require frequent bathing. What’s the Icelandic like to live with?

“He’s the best dog. He’s very smart. I take him running every single morning and he goes with me off lead. He won’t approach another dog if I tell him no, and he waits to cross streets until he’s instructed. He really loves children. They typically bark a lot, but we heavily discouraged barking and we won that battle.”

Just remember that you can’t go out and buy an Icelandic puppy and have him behave that well all on his own. To get to that level of behavior takes lots of socialization and training, not to mention surviving the one- to two-year adolescent phase.

Next: the Boykin Spaniel, Cane Corso and Leonberger.

Photo credits: Bluetick, Paula McCollum; Redbone, Kathleen Samuelson; Icelandic Sheepdog, www.icelanddogs.com

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