Sculptors

In our “Sculptors” series we ask blue breeders questions to provide some insight into the various schools of thought found around the world. In this article, we interviewed Lileen Dunn of Shiloh Valley Farm in Brooksville, Florida, USA. She is a longtime member of the Great Club of America.


BGD: How did you get started in Danes?

LD: I got my love of animals from my dad. We were into the horses and I didn't understand why I couldn't have a horse as a bed partner. (I was VERY young at that time) so the Great Dane was the closest thing to having a horse in my bed. Seriously, I have had Danes in my life as companions, always. Being at horse shows late at night, in not the best part of towns, I always felt very safe with a Dane by my side. When I had my first Kidney Transplant in 1987, it was a Blue Dane, "Guardian Angel",
that saved my life. I got her from Jill and Jerry Wiechens as a pet to keep me company The rest is history.

BGD: Who has helped you the most in your time with Danes?

LD: As far as pointing me in the right direction for showing Danes, I have to say that I am thankful to many who helped. It's a very long story.

BGD: Is there a particular dog or bitch you felt epitomized what you were striving for in your breeding program?

LD: I'm still looking and striving for that one. I don't mean to sound flip but Epitomize is a strong word. When I look at TOMMY, at 7 years old, HotZ's sire, he comes darn close and he's Blue to boot.

BGD: Who was your first champion?

LD: From the early '70s I did obedience with all my Danes on a local level. I didn't show dogs in conformation until I decided I wanted another Dane after my "Angel" died in 1991. That was 10 years after she was physically gone from my life. I had been searching with the help of the internet and found Linda Arndt. It took about 2 years to find exactly what I was looking for. It helps to have bred and shown World Champion American Saddlebred horses and top winning cats. I have a good eye and that is a gift you are born with. You can develop your knowledge of confirmation and learn by studying and doing but a natural good eye for a great animal is a gift. I wasn't ready for a Blue even though it had been 12 years. When I found New Years KISS, I knew she was the one. After many conversations with Georgia Hymmen and Edie Lind, she came to live with me. Jeff Lawrence handled her at the National Futurity and she won a HUGE class of fawn puppy bitches. It was between KISS and a 3 month old bouncy, adorable puppy for the bitch win over 89 puppy bitches. KISS did her DIVA act and the young puppy got the nod. KISS was my first show dog and Champion that I didn't breed. Her son CH SVF's SHILOH THE ONE N ONLY was her first born and my first homebred champion.

BGD: What has been your greatest achievement to date?

LD: Putting KISS in the TOP TWENTY and living through it. All of KISS's produce, except for one, are pointed or finished. Two having won AB PBIS and having her son, SHILOH, win multiple BOB over many specials from the puppy class. He took BOB over high ranking top dogs on more than one occasion. He finished from the puppy classes. This is what it is all about. Breeding for a better animal in health, temperament and performance.

BGD: Greatest challenge?

LD: Educating people to the scientific knowledge we have at our hands and getting them out of the dark ages of dog breeding. Taking on the BLUES and Natural ears in the show ring has to rank high up on the challenge list. I love the look of a cropped ear when done right but I adore the natural ears.

Also, finishing my first Blue, CH Wiedanes Too Hot To Handle SVF and seeing the young potential champions from her.

BGD: What health testing, if any at all, do you think should be performed on a Dane? Why or why not?

LD: There's no question of why not health test. The question is which tests are valid to perform. Heart echo-cardiograms, thyroid and general chem. screens and CBCs on a yearly basis are a MUST with this breed.

These are the basics. I also do titer testing as I do not vaccinate after the first year. I have done this for over 10 years and my dogs all have shown a good immunity. And then there are the hips. This will open up a big can of worms but it needs to be said. OFA is passé. There was a time when that was all we had but we need to move up out of the dark ages. PennHip is
a scientific method that is a measure and not some ones opinion. I liken OFA vs. PennHip to how Cancer was diagnosed and treated 40 years ago. We have made quantum leaps for diagnosing and treating Cancer. I would want to be diagnosed with TODAY's methods not the methods of 40 years ago that couldn't tell you at all or until after it was too late. Look at the survival rates of today vs. just 10 years ago. That says it all. Change is difficult for most people but we need to keep up or die on the vine. (I don't think my inbox will be able to handle all the emails. I can hear my phone ringing already.)

BGD: Do you have any advice for someone getting started in the Dane world?

LD: Yes, don't argue with success. If you want to make a difference in the breed and enjoy a GREAT dog, then do your homework. Remember we are human and we all make mistakes, learn from the mistakes others made and don't make them yours because in this game it is our wonderful dogs that suffer our mistakes. And don't forget to ask God for help and give thanks for all your successes and challenges along the way.

BGD: How do you feel about cross-color breeding?

LD: I think we are doing a disservice by not crossing colors due to the limited gene pools we generate. I don't mean to just take any color and breed to any other color. It must be done with thought and consideration of what it is we are trying to achieve. I was told by a legendary cat breeder/judge, "First you build your house, then you paint it." I think that sums it up very nicely.

BGD: At what age do you evaluate a litter to decide a "keeper"?

LD: It depends on the litter and the pedigree. There is no set rule in my book for doing that. Different lines develop at different times. That is yet another good reason for doing your research and studying dogs in the ring. Looking at the get of a dog and produce of a dam for consistency is yet another avenue to study.

BGD: We know you have an extensive cat breeding/showing background. How does breeding and exhibiting Danes differ from doing the same with cats?
LD: I had the number one All Breed cat in the country until, at the end of the year, I had to have a Kidney Transplant. We still ended up in the top 5 AB position for the year.

There are subtle differences in the breeding aspect of animals. Dogs, cats, horses, it all comes down to knowing intimately the lines you are working with. Of course the physical differences are obvious. In 20+ years I bred over 30 litters with many firsts in CFA. As with the Blues in Danes being difficult, I took on the Shell, Smoke and Shaded Persians. I had many Grand Champions and National Winners.

I also have a bit of horse breeding experience since 1988. With the horses we do embryo transfers and one mare can have a litter of foals in the same year with different stallions. It is all very high tech and extremely fascinating.

As far as showing, well that is entirely a different story. All cat shows are benched and you are a captive audience. The cats are not performing as we think of performing. The judge takes them and sets them on the judging table. Part of the show is getting their attention with various toys and feathers etc. The exam for conformation is about the same; comparing the cat to a standard of perfection. It never ceased to amaze me at how trained a cat could be. One thing I like very much in the cat shows is the amount of care in cleaning that goes on in the ring. The cages are ALL disinfected in between each and every cat. The judge sterilizes their hands in between EACH cat. There is little room for spreading disease by direct contact. As Show Chair for many All Breed shows I also made sure the show hall was thoroughly disinfected before and at the end of each day. I also had vet inspections of each exhibit prior to allowing them in to compete. I would like to see our dog shows adopt some of these good habits.

In closing I want to say thank you for this opportunity to reach those who are thinking of getting into this magnificent breed of dogs and allowing me to share some of my personal insights and thoughts. It has been a journey of gathering knowledge and friendships along the way that have been and continue to be priceless.

Lancashire Heeler Health

PRIMARY LENS LUXATION

This is a little more tricky to deal with as signs of this problem rarely show in a dog until they are at least 3 years old, by which time the affected dog could have had litters and some of the pups from them could also have produced litters themselves. If a quality male shows Affected he could be sire of many puppies by this time.

For the potential pet owner.
The risk of your pet contracting Lens Luxation from our kennels is percentagely very low indeed (we can only talk of our kennel and in no way imply others are higher risk, that is for you to discuss with the Kennel you decide to buy from), but, like any risk, it is still there and we want to make you aware of this.

In the main the Lancashire Heeler is a very healthy little dog and all breeds of dog have related health problems, we are just being open and upfront about ours to help you know all there is to know about this fantastic little dog

Heres a link to explain the basics of Lens Luxation

http://www.caninegeneticdiseases.net/GLX/basicLUX.htm

Until there is a DNA test for this eye problem breeders must take great care when choosing there matings.

Breeders also have a responsibility to one another and must tell the truth about their affected dogs, so each one of us can make informed decisions when choosing a mating.

Any comments or questions on the above are more than welcome. I will be happy to add any points I have missed.

About the Pug Breed

What is the primary function of the Pug?

As a member of the Toy group, the pug is a tolerable "watchdog" who will alert to the presence of strangers, while being an excellent companion in a family situation. They have been accepted in programs as therapy dogs, as well as hearing aid dogs. Originally, they were bred for lap dogs.
What kind of personality does the Pug have?

Pugs are extremely people oriented dogs; they even go through stages of maturity. Puppies are especially playful and always underfoot for want of human company. If you have another dog, a Pug puppy will often seek out their company for play and adventure. The puppy stage can often last until the Pug is about 2 years old, so be prepared with plenty of patience! Older dogs seem to "settle" into a daily routine, and can be almost invisible until you want them. Pugs want nothing more than to please their owners, but you will have to show them just what it is you want. Pugs do need to have a bit of firmness, in that they really should have some training, or they'll try to run the house. But, you have to show them what to do; they are not mind readers! They are very smart dogs.

What ownership situations are suitable?

First and foremost, a Pug is not a dog to be left outside! Heat and high humidity can easily cause death in this breed, due to the flatness of their faces. If you don't want a dog in the house, you don't want a Pug. But, if you have limited yard space, if you want little grooming, if you want an intelligent companion who's just a little hard headed, if you want a dog that doesn't yap (usually - there are exceptions to every rule!) but sounds instead like a bigger dog behind a closed door, if you want a dog that is very tolerant of people, then you want a Pug. Left untrained, they do not track (except cookie crumbs); they do not hunt (except the food bowl); they only fetch if they really want to (and then it is still up in the air as to whether you get to have it back!). Pugs think for themselves, and are smart enough to get into trouble. But, they will make you laugh at them, for they are natural clowns. They will give you every ounce of love they have. They will steal your heart and that of your family, and they still won't come to you if they've gotten into trouble!
Known Medical Problems in the Pug breed:

As with any breed, the Pug is not without problems, and many of these are directly related to the dog's structure. The shortened muzzle (referred to as brachiocephalic) can cause breathing problems and air gulping, which can give him gas and cause problems in hot, humid climates. Air conditioning in summer months in the south is essential. Signs of heat prostration are common in brachiocephalic dogs and include difficulty in breathing, wheezing and heavy panting. Pugs in heat distress should be cooled with cold water and taken to a veterinarian as soon as possible. A cold water enema may be necessary to bring the internal body temperature back to normal. Some pug owners keep a child's throat ice collar - an ice bag for a small throat - on hand in case of heat emergency. Again, they do not tolerate heat or heat stress situations well. Many pugs have died just from being out a few minutes in a locked car. You must always be aware of how the heat will affect your dog before you do anything or go anywhere with him. Pugs are not dogs to run or hike in the heat of summer.

Tooth and gum problems are also possible with this breed because of the slightly undershot jaw. Owners should examine the mouth of a growing pup to make sure baby teeth are not retained and to watch for mouth tumors. Brushing the teeth is strongly recommended to prevent gum disease.

Pugs have large, round, expressive eyes, that don't have the protection of a large nose like other breeds. Their eyes are often scratched as a result. An owner should learn how to recognize when the eye is scratched and have it treated or it could eventually cause the dog to become blind. As their eyes are set shallowly into their heads, sometimes eyes do come out. Some Pugs go through their lives without any eye problems, some have chronic problems.

The following is a partial list of potential medical problems associated with the Pug breed. Please note that not every Pug will have one, or any of these problems. A reputable breeder will be happy to discuss these issues and any history of these conditions in their lines.

Stenotic Nares :

In lay terms Stenotic Nares is narrow or restricted nostrils. This restriction puts a strain on the dog's system and can lead to an enlarged heart. Some of the indications are that the dog tends to mouth breathe or a foamy nasal discharge. Surgical correction can enlarge the nasal opening alleviating complications related to this condition.

Entropion :

In lay-terms entropion is the inward rolling of the eyelid(s), usually resulting in the eyelashes or hair rubbing the surface of the eye. This rubbing can cause irritation, ulceration, or minor scratches. This condition is serious. The irritation can cause swelling which further complicates the condition, therefore early treatment is critical. Surgical correction is the most common course of action.

Elongated Soft Palate:

The soft palate is a continuation of the palate forming the roof of the mouth. If a dog is born with this structure being too long, it can restrict the airflow into your Pug's lungs. This condition can be evaluated under anesthesia by a veterinarian. This condition can frequently be surgically corrected.

Slipped Stifles (patellar luxation):

The patella (kneecap) is a small bone which guards the knee joint. The patella sits in a groove in the femur, and is held in place by a combination of ligaments and muscles. This bone can slip out of position due to injury, poor alingment, weak ligaments, or insufficient grove in the femur. Generally the dog will limp, carry the leg off the ground, or hop when running. If the problem is severe it can necessitate surgery. Patellar luxation can be either hereditary or due to injury.

Dry Eye:

While normal dog eyes are lusterous - dogs with dry eye have eyes lacking in luster and appear textured. This condition is caused by the lack of tear production. This can be due to lack of nerve stimulation of the tear glands, failure of the tear glands, or blockage of the ducts that carry the tears to the eyes. Full diagnosis can only be performed by a Veterinarian to determine the cause. Treatment will be dependant upon the cause and severity of the condition.

Bilateral Cataracts:

Cataracts in dogs can be identified as opaque spots on the lens of the eye. These spots may cause total or partial loss of vision. Some cataracts are hereditary while others are not. In some cases surgery may help the dog recover.

Corneal Ulcers:

Any scratch or injury to a dog's eye can result in an ulcer. Ulcers must be treated by a veterinarian immediately or there will be some loss of sight. Only a veterinarian can determine the best treatment or combination of treatments for your dog. Some lines of pugs appear to have more eye problems than others.

Demodectic skin mites (Demodectic mange):

Pugs have a high incidence of demodectic mange, especially when they are still puppies. Mange does require a veterinarian to treat it. When demodectic mange occurs it may take one of two forms. The localized form usually occurs in dogs under one year old.

Distichiasis :

Some dogs have a double row of eyelashes. These double eyelashes normally occur on the lower eyelid. Their presence causes irritation of the eye similar to that of Entropion. Surgery is required for correction.

Encephalitis :

Encephalitis is the medical term for inflammation of the brain which can cause seizures. This is a very serious condition and should only be diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian.

Generalized Progressive Retinal Atrophy:

PRA is a hereditary eye disease causing the breakdown of the cells of the retina. The breakdown is gradual leading to mid-life (age 5-7) blindness. Many breeders have their dogs screened for this condition.

Hip Dysplasia:

The hip joint is a ball and socket connection. If the joint is malformed the head of the femur will not properly align with the cup of the hip socket. This misalignment can range from mild to severe. In mild cases, with proper diet and exercise the animal can lead a full and active life. In more severe cases surgical correction or euthanasia are the only alternatives. The most common indications of hip dysplasia, in small dogs, is when the dog older. Generally with this late-life onset surgical correction is never required. Your veterinarian can X-ray your dog's hips for evaluation.
Black Pugs

While we have chosen to limit our breeding program to the fawns, this is a matter of personal choice...there is certainly nothing wrong with a black pug. In fact, they are beautiful dogs. The following is intended to provide some information on black pugs and the intricacies of breeding black pugs. Please read on if you are considering purchasing or breeding this type of pug.

Generally, it is not acceptable to breed a black pug to a fawn. Crossing colors will not improve the pigment of a fawn, head or substance on black pugs or the coat and color of either type. This is because the color genes behind fawn and black pugs are blue, black, liver, yellow, brown, white, silver fawn, tan, and apricot-fawn. Because of the wide array of colors involved, it is important to know that improper breeding can destroy the proper color genes in pugs, which is why we are seeing so many odd colored pugs these days.

If a fawn is bred to a black, a breeder may luck out and have two clear black puppies, but what about the rest of the litter? Over the years, there have been pugs born out of these types of breedings that have been zebra striped, black and white, fawn with black heads, black with fawn legs, fawn with white legs, and almost any combination imaginable. This is simply not acceptable, and an example as to why careful breeding is so important.

A pug should be double coated, and there are too many pugs being shown with single coats. This is due to black and fawn crosses. Most black pugs are single coated - blacks having fewer hair follicles to the inch than fawns - and due to these crosses, we are seeing more fawns with single coats. These type of crosses obviously will not improve the quality of blacks, but will reduce the strength of both black and fawn lines. Coat and pigment color will be diluted, and smudgy pugs will result. By breeding a fawn to a black, you will see a washed out coat that is extremely light, white toenails and a mask that is not as black as it should be - that is, even if you have a clean coat to begin with. Most of the time, the coats will be smudgy, and the blacks will have fawn or rusty hairs running through their coats.

A breeder develops a pure, sound black line by breeding black to black. If interested in a black pug, be sure to check the pedigrees of the dam and sire to see what lines the pup comes from. Ask your breeder about cross breeding and where his/her lines have come from. A reputable breeder will be glad to answer these questions and more for you.

Papillon Breed

Country of origin: France, Belgium.

Size: Small.

Weight: 3-5 kg.

Height: 20-30 Inches.

Color: Bicolor.

Description: It is a small and very well proportioned dog, papillon hair is long and silky smooth, very easy to care for. The most striking feature of this breed are its erect furry ears with form butterfly.


Breed papillon is gentle character, affectionate and protective. They are ideal as pets. They Love the games especially if they are outdoors. They are excellent watchdogs.

You can adopt dogs papillon in Australia.

Other breeds of dogs; Great Dane, English greyhound

Canada has become a second chance for abandoned dogs in the world

During the past 10 years Canada has imported many the world stray dogs and given them a home. 

Citizens of Canada can consult websites animal adoption worldwide and because Canadian law can take these dogs to Canada without much trouble. 

An example of this awareness in Canada happened during Hurricane Katrina where over 15,000 dogs and cats was left to fend, a campaign was launched in Canada able to place many of these animals with Canadian families 

Refer in to the above map the availability of adult dogs and puppies for adopt. 

Great Dane

Country of origin: Germany.

Size: Large.

Weight: 70-100 lbs.

Color: Merle, black, blue, boston, fawn, brindle.

Features:  It is a loving, loyal and sociable dog, loves being surrounded by family and coexists perfectly with children. They need to be trained from an early age to control their strength and mark from the beginning what your place in the family, so training should be constant, conscious and responsible. They need daily walks but not subjected to great efforts, avoid sudden temperature changes.  It is a large but elegant and physically gifted dog, short, shiny and thick hair. The head is long and rectangular. The eyes are large and almond. Mundimascota Canada

It is a dog that requires a lot of care and maintenance is very expensive, you have to take this into account before purchasing one.

English greyhound

• Country of origin: It is uncertain but possibly Middle Eastern or Spain.
• Weight: From 27-40 kilograms
• Height: from 68-76 inches
• Colors: White, gray, red, black, among other colors which may appear alone or in combinations. 

• Features: English Greyhound are athletic, noble and quiet dogs.  But what is especially prominent is your speed. Greyhounds were historically considered a unique race of kings and nobles for their delicate, obedient and affectionate. The hunting instinct has so developed that combined with its speed are perfect for hunting. They are perfectly suited to family life and coexistence with other animals, but for an adult greyhound is healthy and balanced requires at least 20-30 minutes a day of walking. www.puppiesca.com

Photos

Diesel alaskan malamute and staffordshire bull terrier

Diesel

• Breed: alaskan malamute and staffordshire bull terrier 
• Gender: Male 
• Size: Large 
• Age: Adult, 1 year and 10 months or so 
• Location: Dakabin 
• Contact Number: 0734806450 

 Diesel is a sweet, friendly and very active dog, need long walks to burn all the energy you have. It is also very playful and loves to chase the ball. If you think you're the right person for this dog contact us, please note that no animals are reserved by phone. More information

    

Dogs abandoned in australia

In Australia 500,000 pets are abandoned, to solve this problem found a solution that are proving successful. A law was passed in favor of the animals that punishable by jail and fines on important economic people abandon animals. Fines can be up to $ 100,000 and jail sentences of up to 5 years depending on the state in which you are.

Among the abandoned animals top the list followed by cats, the reasons that Australians have for  abandon animals; change of residence, economic problems, divorce ..

In Australia making strong campaigns to creating quality shelters, mobile adoption centers, sterilization programs and effective behavior modification of animals.

Some animal shelters; Australian Animal protection society, RSPCA