"In the blockbuster movie, "Network", there was a famous line: "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore.
Well that's a line currently being used by breeders of a breed whose standard is being bounced around as if the judge is allowed to interpret it as they see fit. Add that to bringing in foreign judges whose country recognizes a different breed standard for most breeds. These judges come to the U.S. and seem to feel that it's OK to revert over to the standard of their country for this breed.
This recently happened in my own breed. Two foreigh judges awarded BOB over several top winning dogs. RELAX, that's not my complaint. My complaint is that on both days each foreign judge awarded BOB and BOS to dogs that are not as our standard says they should be. The standard for Rottweilers say" "Tail-Tail docked short, close to body, leaving one or two tail vertebrae. The set of the tail ismore important than length. Properly set, it gives an impression of elongation of topline; carried slightly above horizontal when the dog is excited or moving." I don't know how anyone can mistake or interpret the words to mean anything else. yet foreign judges, and unfortunately some American judges feel (they) have the right to change any breed standard to fit their own whim.
I once did a seminar on the breed and used pictures of undocked dogs whose heads I'd covered. Not one judge in the room identified the pictures as a Rottweiler. the attendees were shocked when I unveiled the whole dog.
I want foreign judges to have to attend a seminar for the breeds they will be judging before they are allowed to judge in this country. I know that it costs a lot to bring foreign judges here to judge. But, even beyond that fact, the kennel clubs that hire these people owe it to the exhibitors to be sure these judges know the Armerican standard that they're supposed to judge by. I refer to this not only for Rottweilers, I'm concerned about any breed wose standard calls for docking. If the standard says "docked" and the dog's tail is not docked, these dogs should be excused from the ring as they don't conform to the breed's standard. I've excused two Giants for this very reason.
I'm appalled that American judges would take it upon themselves to accept whatevery they choose in a standard and I'm angry that kennel clubs hire foreign judges and don't certify that these judges know our breed standards.
In the show that I refer to the foreign judges didn't even examine most of the dogs. They simply concentrated on the tailed exhibits. when the handlers in the ring brought this oversight up to the judges, the foreign judges said they didn't have to examine the dogs they weren't interested in. They told one very successful handler that she should learn the rules. Two other well known handlerswith two of the top winners of this breed held up their armbands and informed the judge that they were walking out. The judge didn't seem to care.
I was also surprised that the Working group judges didn't excuse either of these dogs. I wouldn't care if it was at the breed lever or group or, (God forbid) the BIS level. A dog who defies the breed standard needs to have a consequence.
When any American judge goes to a foreign country to judge it is understood that you follow the standard of the breeds you're doing for that country.
I hate it when these glitches happen. I am mad as hell because I don't like anything that makes it hard for me to "Rock "N Roll".
Recently, I was confronted with a comment regarding the distribution of information regarding legislation to the dog loving populace that actually set my hair on fire. I'm sure it was intended to be quite innocent, however, with all of the information flowing across the internet highway, I found the comment to be most degrading to those that have been working in the trenches with legislation issues across the country, protecting those that won't protect themselves and felt it was a worthy comment to respond to. The simple comment that had me talking to myself for several hours was "The animal rights activists seem to be the only people out there with the resources to inform the public. Somebody needs to let the public know what's really going to happen to mans best friend!" So, for all of you out there that have this same thought in your mind, this is for you.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
There are many of us, but not near enough, that have been preaching, writing articles, educating and literally begging for people to see what is going on around them, since the early 80's! The onslaught of information has been escalating over the years and only recently, has anyone decided to actually pay attention. Kennel Clubs across the country have and continue to use the media and the internet to disseminate information - organizations hold seminars regarding the issues confronting the dog loving populace - the AKC sends out alerts, but not near as often as other groups that work in the legislation trenches. Those alerts are non stop, daily and up to date. The internet is agog with information. There has never been a withholding of information or warnings - ever. It isn't the lack of information from our side - it's the apathy of the people who refuse to believe that the possibility of the demise of dog showing, breeding, and ownership could possibly exist. It's those people that, when legislation is mentioned, respond with, "I don't get involved in that." or "I don't have time for that and it will never pass anyway." Those people that say, "I'm sure somebody else is taking care of it." "That could never happen here," are only kidding themselves and in all actuality, are assisting in endangering their passion and sport as a whole. The worst response being, "I don't believe any of that stuff" clearly indicates that people
are not taking advantage of the information available to them and these people who simply refuse to believe or get involved, are a large part of the problem. It's ironic that those very same people who don't have time - seem to have time to be on the computer in some chat group, discussing where the majors could be, or how many dogs they finished so far this year, or how many champion get their dogs have produced, and even go so far as talking about some other breeder in their breed, (especially if it's some rumor) but, they don't have time to take an interest in something that will eliminate all of the discussions on those chat groups? All of that - "stuff" - won't matter if everybody doesn't take the time to get involved in the movement to save their passion and sport - to save their right of choice - to save their dogs.
Laying the cards out on the table and holding nothing back
It's the inability of the dog people to work with others who share the same feelings, whether they are a hobby breeder or a hi volume breeder. It's the attitude and elitism that keeps those who share the concern to "save our rights" from working together on issues that could save our dogs, rights and our sport. It's the refusal to set aside issues of husbandry, breeding practices and selfishness that will cause the demise of the very sport that people are so passionate about. It's the constant use of animal rights phrases and descriptions such as "puppy miller" & "back yard breeder", names that were coined by the animal rightists to use against us, yet our own people use those same animal rights names for those who are their fellow breeders ! The animal rights crowd loves the fact that the dog owning, showing, breeding fancy
can't seem to live in peace and harmony - it's one of their greatest weapons, created for just the purpose it seems to serve. How many times have we seen a fellow dog owner become engaged in problems, whether it is too many dogs or
too many litters and need assistance (for a variety of reasons such as age, health, loss of job, confiscations, et al) yet, people, and people in the very same breed, don't bother to help - in fact, they sit and talk about it and
refer to those people using animal rights terms and have even created their own AR term of "show millers". We're supposed to help each other, not assist in running our fellow dog owners and breeders down. You may not agree with
something they do or the way they do it, but they are still our fellow breeders and if they need help, in order to preserve our OWN integrity and rights, we should help as much as we can (and keep quiet about it) - but people don't.
The issue (and story) becomes compounded, (to the delight of the rightists) by spreading it further. They'd rather agree with those that are fully intending to get to your dogs at a later date, rather than help the poor soul whose
dogs need help. We may not agree with their practices, but that is something to be considered later, once we have managed to solidify our position to continue to do what we do. All else will cease to exist if we don't start
working together and put aside feelings.
People that know me, know I have been passionate about the subject for more years than they care to remember. and in those years, I have learned that there are those that simply choose to remain uninformed. It's not because the
information is not available to them - they just don't care to become involved and don't believe it could happen to them or it "won't affect them". Others are concerned but don't know what to do or perhaps they really don't
understand the severity of the problems, yet when offers are made to help educate people and assist them with truly understanding, nobody seems to want to participate. It is impossible to force people to be involved for they do have a
right to make a choice...for now.
Relax - Somebody will tell you what to do
It's unfortunate that the choice may come down to having animals....or not. Without the concern & assistance from the dog owning, dog loving, rights loving, freedom of choice loving, competitive people, (and I do mean each and
every one) - rest assured, somebody will soon be relieving the burden of your inactivity in legislation issues for they will be telling you how many dogs you can have, if any, what kind, where to get them, how many times you can
breed a dog, if at all, what vet to use, how many permits you will need to own/breed a dog, at what age your dog has to be spayed/neutered, the type of living arrangements required, what kind of records you must have and who gets
copies of them - the list will go on, making it impossible - monetarily, mentally and physically impossible - to consider owning any animal. How will you feel when somebody knocks at your door and tells you that you must "get rid" of
all but 3 dogs - which ones will you choose to keep and how will you feel watching the others loaded into a truck dispatched for some shelter? How will you react to five or six people going through your home, inspecting every
corner and crack, because somebody called in a complaint about your dogs? How much can you afford for citations, lawyers fees, shelter costs and how will you ever recuperate from the heartache? Forewarned is forearmed - sooner or
later, somebody will be making your choices for you and when that happens, there is nobody to blame but yourself. The information and people to help you become involved are out there!
Supporting Legislation and AKC
I just returned from the AKC Delegate meeting and it's dismal. At this time last year, registrations were 1.5 million and currently, for this year, they are 750,000 and continuing on a downward spiral. The AKC has acknowledged
that the future is becoming dim and the possibility of them remaining the reigning registry of the world may soon be history. Though that may not mean much to some of you, it should. If the AKC continues to lose ground, they will
also lose face in other areas, including having "clout" regarding legislation. The word of AKC and AKC breeders will mean nothing to legislators or the general public and AKC pups will be worthless, right along with AKC dog shows,
titles and awards. Although some profess that they don't want to be "thrown in the pile with those other breeders", it's ironic that because of apathy, you will become just what you dislike. The end of the sport, and your
passion for same, will be visible on the horizon. The choice will have been made for you.
Dog people tend to be their own worst enemy and sadly, doing a good job of it. You still have the freedom to choose to make a difference. I, and all the others that have been working to protect all dog owners in this country,
hope you'll make the right decision.
The cards are on the table. Bet, Call, Raise or Fold - the choice is yours.
Linda D. Witouski
The Toronto Humane Society officer at the
center of a 2007 controversy over a Rottweiler dying in an SUV pronounced satisfaction after the dog's former owner pleaded guilty in court.
Tre Smith told reporters Wednesday that the individual pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of animal cruelty and has been ordered to pay $3,500 to the humane society.
The man, who formally received a conditional discharge, will also be banned from owning any animal for a year and has formally relinquished ownership of Cyrus. The dog's foster family will now take permanent responsibility for Cyrus.
In a news release, the society said: "This precedent-setting judgment is the first criminal conviction under section 446.1C of the Criminal Code of Canada (did not provide adequate care)."
On July 31, 2007, Smith had broken into the man's vehicle to rescue Cyrus, who was dying from the high temperatures inside.
He struggled with the man, then handcuffed him to the vehicle while he rushed the critically ill dog to a veterinary hospital. The man later alleged that angry bystanders beat him.
"There's two things I needed to do that day -- Rescue a Rottweiler
named Cyrus and save his life, and to protect myself and the good Samaritans who were helping me," Smith said.
Cyrus "was on death's door," he said. Without help from those bystanders, "we'd be dealing with the death of a dog, and not the rescue of a dog," he said.
The Toronto Humane Society can use the reimbursement money, given that it is funded almost entirely on donations from the public, he said. "Given that this $3,500 came directly out of our pockets, I'm glad we were able to recoup the costs incurred in the rescue and rehabilitation of the suspect's dog," Smith said.
People should consider this case as a warning to take animal protection seriously, he said.
170-pound
Rottweiler takes orphaned baby sheep under its paw
DALTON
GARDENS -- People driving by Tim and Noelle Branen's
home in Dalton Gardens are stopping to take a second
look.
At first glance it appears that a large Rottweiler and
its puppy are bonding in the front yard, because of
their similar coloring. At second glance, you stop and
stare, and then start to smile, because the little one
is actually a 3-week-old Barbados blackbelly sheep,
named Cinnamon.
"If Cinnamon can't see the dog, she starts to
baaahhh in her sweet little voice and them finds him on
the grass somewhere and nuzzles up against him,"
Noelle said.
Cinnamon,
a 3-week-old Barbados blackbelly sheep, and J2, a
170-pound Rottweiler have been inseparable since
Cinnamon was rejected by her mother.
Cinnamon and
her twin brother, Moses, were rejected by their mother at birth.
"Instinctually
the mother rejects them for a reason -- they don't just reject
them," Noelle said. "We think there probably was
something wrong with him that we didn't know about, so she
rejected him."
Moses quit eating and died a week and a half ago, but Cinnamon
continued to thrive. Tim, who owns Tim's Special Cut Meats, had
gone to Twin Lakes to get a sheep and that is how he found
Cinnamon and Moses. The owner asked him to find them a home.
"He was tiny compared to her," Tim said of Moses.
But the minute the pair arrived at the Branen home, their
170-pound, 5-year-old Rottweiler, J2, assumed the duty of Mr.
Mom.
"He took
them both right away," Noelle said. "As soon as we
brought them home he instantly started cleaning them, licking
them and nurturing them and loving on them -- they were snuggled
up with him. They've been inseparable."
For the first couple of weeks Cinnamon slept in a kennel inside
their home, and J2 slept outside the kennel, not moving an inch.
Now, they are sleeping outside together. Wherever J2 goes,
Cinnamon follows and vice-versa.
"It was really cute, they were on the dirt piles in the
back, and she would run up and down the dirt piles because she's
twice as fast as he is, because he's a little heavy in the
mid-section," Tim said.
Noelle said it's common for blackbelly sheep babies to climb on
their mother's back and paw at them, which Cinnamon does to J2,
who doesn't seem to mind. She said he has done everything that a
mother would have done.
The Branens' neighbors are in awe, as are their friends.
"I can't believe this," said their friend Donna
Wallace. "I was thinking the attraction is the
coloring."
While J2 is black with cinnamon colored accents, Cinnamon is --
well, cinnamon, with black accents. They do indeed look related.
Noelle said J2 has never been a dominant dog and has always been
a nurturer. Right now, Cinnamon is still being bottle-fed by
Noelle, but they are introducing starter feed.
"She just got her teeth," Noelle said. "Here in
the next week or so she should be able to eat food."
With teeth, comes chewing. Cinnamon is starting to chew on their
couch, electrical cords, paper -- you name it. Noelle said it's
like having a precocious toddler in the house.
"We're starting to do more outside," Noelle said.
The couple have four children in their combined family, Hannah,
8, Jaylen, 8, Jack 6, and Cassidy also 6. The kids are ecstatic
with the new addition to the family. The family cat, Barnum, who
is 17, is not real happy about any part of it.
Too bad for the cat, because Cinnamon is now part of the family
and isn't going anywhere, Noelle said.
Dogs, like people, are susceptible to irritable bowel syndrome,
and Deuce came down with it in February.
It took its toll.
Norm
Tucker with Deuce, a 5-year-old Rottweiler. Tucker and
Deuce recently earned a Champion Tracker designation,
the first team from Nebraska to do so. (William Lauer)
The
5-year-old Rottweiler, once ranked among the top 10 show
Rotts in the country, was a mere shadow of himself.
His skull became pronounced, and his ribs showed from
losing 40 pounds. He had no energy, and almost no life.
His owner, Cyndy Roggenkamp of Denton, took him to
Kansas City, Mo., to see a specialist. The news wasn’t
good.
“They basically told me to change his diet again, and
if it didn’t work to prepare myself to lose him,”
she said.
She relayed the prognosis to Norm Tucker.
Roggenkamp owns Deuce, but Tucker of Lincoln has built a
bond with the dog. Deuce was bred by Roggenkamp and
Norm’s wife, Jayne.
“Cyndy always says, ‘I own Deuce, but he’s
your dog,’” Tucker said.
That’s
because Tucker has spent hours upon hours training Deuce
to track, taking him to participate in American Kennel
Club tracking events around the country.
In February 2005, Deuce and Tucker earned “Tracking
Dog” (TD) certification, a basic AKC tracking level,
on their first attempt.
Two months later, the pair completed “Tracking Dog
Excellent” (TDX), a more advanced level, also on their
first try.
The duo was working on “Variable Surface Training” (VST)
— considered the most difficult level of tracking —
when Deuce went down sick.
According to the AKC Web site, fewer than 100 dogs have
achieved a VST title since 1995.
Tracking
definitions
A Champion Tracker (CT) title is awarded to a dog that
has successfully completed all three tracking titles
(TD, TDX and VST). Here’s a rundown of three:
Tracking Dog (TD): A dog earns a TD by
following a track 440 to 500 yards long with three to
five changes of direction. The track is laid by a human
and is “aged” 30 minutes to two hours before the dog
begins scenting. The goal is to use the scented track to
locate an article left at the end of the trail by the
tracklayer. The owner follows the dog on a long leash
and can encourage the dog during the tracking test.
Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX): The TDX
is earned by following an “older” track (three to
five hours) that is also longer (800 to 1,000 yards) and
has five to seven directional changes. It also has the
challenge of human cross tracks.
Variable Surface Tracking (VST): In the
real world, dogs track through urban settings, as well
as through wilderness. A VST dog has demonstrated this
ability by following a three- to five-hour-old track
that may take it down a street, through a building and
other areas devoid of vegetation.
- American Kennel Club
Even
more rare is earning a “Champion Tracker” title, which goes
to teams that have passed all three tests (TD, TDX, VST).
Dian Quist Sulek, training director at Kenl Inn in Lincoln, said
fewer than 10 percent of tracking teams reach this level.
“It’s
a really big deal,” she said. “You have to have all three,
and the toughest test is the VST.”
She should know. Quist Sulek has a dog that has its TD and TDX
titles, but has failed in 12 attempts on VST courses.
“My dog has lots of tracking skills,” she said.
“It’s just a matter of being on the right track on the right
day.”
Well, you can guess where this story is heading.
The Tuckers took in the ailing Deuce, changed his diet and
watched the Rottweiler slowly put on weight. The dog’s
attitude also began to change.
“I played with him, and he perked up,” Tucker said.
Then Tucker put down a tracking course near his house, just to
see if Deuce was up for it.
“I talked to him while he was in his crate, and he started to
whine,” Tucker said. “He knew he was ready to do
something.”
The dog did it, sniffing and zipping around the course until he
found what he was supposed to find.
“He was a happy camper again,” Tucker said. “He had put
weight on. He had just really lit up. He had come back from the
brink.”
So much so, Tucker entered him in a VST event three weeks ago in
DeKalb, Ill. Tucker didn’t expect much. The duo had failed in
10 or so previous VST events, and Deuce still wasn’t 100
percent.
As Tucker said, the planets and stars seemed to align on this
spring day.
Deuce and his trainer took the course and “nailed it.”
“I thought a couple of times he was going in the wrong
direction, but I let him stick to his guns,” Tucker said.
Deuce, Tucker said, knew he had done something pretty cool.
“He carried the article (a plastic Tupperware lid) all the way
back to the car,” the trainer said. “I dumped a couple of
bottles of water on him and played frisbee with him.”
Afterward, the pair was awarded the “Champion Tracker”
title, becoming the first team from Nebraska to achieve the
honor.
“Just amazing,” Tucker said, “especially since he was just
one vet phone call away from being put down.”
ASPCA Success Story of the Week: Sweeter Than Honey
Date:
July 4, 2008
While
out for a Saturday drive with her two dogs, Janice Ledbetter of
Livingston, TN, spotted a young Rottweiler on the side of a busy
highway. The canine had scars on her face and appeared to be
starving and crippled in one leg. Remembers Janice, “I took my
dogs home and immediately brought the Rottweiler some food.”
Janice
approached cautiously, but very quickly relaxed—the pooch came
right over, allowing herself to be hugged. “Now I am a grown
woman, a mother and a grandmother,” Janice says, “but I
stood right there on the side of the highway and cried just
thinking about what this dog must have endured.” She
instinctively named the pooch Honey.
When Janice
returned to her car to get her phone, Honey—hungry as she
was—ignored the food, followed Janice and tried her best to
crawl into the back seat. “Seeing how much she savored that
little bit of human interaction,” remembers Janice, “I gave
her a boost into my car and took her home.”
A visit to
the vet revealed that Honey was about a year old and severely
underweight. In addition, one leg was broken.
“I started
her on puppy chow and wet food and medication from the vet,”
says Janice. Three months later, Honey weighs over 90 pounds and
bounces through the house. “She and her best friend, my black
Lab, Josie, tire themselves out wrestling together,” says
Janice, happily. And Honey’s never met a human she didn't
like. “She wags her stubby little tail at anyone who comes in
the door.”
But there’s
one human who comes before all others. “Honey rests in the
shower while I brush my teeth and sleeps under my bed at
night," says Janice. "She's become my shadow. I have
no doubt she’d give her life for me without hesitating.”
Obedience Judge
PREJUDICE Against Rottweilers
Subject: Obedience judge
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008
Jim was entered in Novice B at the Bainbridge shows.
Paula Barras an obedience judge, excused Jim with Leo yesterday from the sits & downs in Novice B, he had a qualifying score up til then, they were in the ring getting ready for sits when the judge came over to Jim and said " I am excusing you from the ring BECAUSE I do not like the way your dog is looking at the little dog next to him" !!!! If he was sitting next to a Saint or great dane who would be the little dog!
Jim left the ring. The worst part of it is when I checked the score sheets at the superintendents tent It said and I quote " THE DOG SEEMS TO BE DANGEROUS" Mind you Leo has a CGC and he passed the ATTS test at CRC and he is a Champion.
There was a flat coat retriever also looking around and sniffing others while they were getting ready for sits & downs but he was not excused. Then when they were called back in the ring for the ribbons the flat coat and a bulldog snarled & growled leaping at each other and what did the judge say "now boys no playing in my ring"!!!
Also 4 other Rottweiler breeders and owners were watching this.
We did as much as we could do to complain about this at the show but the AKC Rep said we have to file a complaint with AKC, which we plan on doing.
For now I would like to make everyone aware of this judge Paula Barras, be ware if you ask her to judge.
You may post this to CRC list and any other list that you want to make Rottweiler owners aware in my opinion that they are being discriminated against by this judge for the way they look at others in the ring.
Voters in Leola, South Dakota, have upheld a decision by the city council to make it illegal to possess pit bulls, bull mastiffs, Rottweilers, Doberman pinchers and German shepherds, and any dogs that are mix of those breeds.
The banned breeds -- get this -- are exempted from the law if they help or are being trained to help people with disabilities. How generous.
Mayor Dean Schock says the ordinance was passed due to concerns from people who walk and bike or whose children bike around town. Residents voted 103-27 last week to endorse the council's action.
Meanhwhile, up in North Dakota, officials in the town of Kenmare, which approved a similar ban last month, decided the proposal needed more review. The town has a scheduled a special meeting tomorrow night to discuss it.
The Kenmare council has been considering a ban on American Staffordshire terriers, Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers, pit bulls or crosses of any of those breeds. Officials said the ordinance was drafted due to fears of vicious dogs, but some dog owners threatened to move because of it.
For both these towns, I'd recommend doing a little homework on the issue. I'd recommend they meet my dog -- a combination of two "vicious" breeds -- but since that's not possible, maybe they could at least watch his movie, "Hey, Mister, What Kind of Dog is That."
LEOLA, S.D. (AP) Leola voters have approved the city council's decision making it illegal to possess pit bulls, bull mastiffs, Rottweilers, Doberman pinchers and German shepherds.
The vote this past week was 103-27 to endorse the council's action.
Not only is it illegal to possess the breeds. It's also illegal to have crossbreeds of them.
The new city ordinance also limits to two the number of any breed of dogs anyone can possess.
It has an exception for people who raise and sell dogs. Also, the banned breeds are allowed if they help or are being trained to help people with disabilities.
Mayor Dean Schock says the ordinance was passed due to concerns from people who walk and bike or whose children bike around town.
When they came for the Pit Bulls,
I remained silent;
Surely these dogs deserved death!
When they banned the Rottweilers,
I remained silent;
Who needs these dogs?
When they came for the Guardian breeds,
I did not speak out;
My dog was not one of these.
When they came for the large dogs,
I remained silent;
My dog was small.
When they came for all dogs,
there was no one left to fight with me.
She traveled across the United States four times on 17 planes, becoming such
a regular on United that she was allowed to fly free.
At the peak of her career, she could track a man for more than a mile,
at one time leading the search successfully for a drunk driver who
crippled a deputy who had stepped out of his car to check another driver's ID.
Deja Vu worked for the Tehama County Sheriffs Department
for nine of her 12 years. Here she is seen wearing her traditional orange coat and Tehama County Submarine Veterans patch.
After retiring from the Tehama County Sheriff's Department with nine
years to her credit, she made the rounds at educational events.
When not at Camp Tehama, she could be found assisting in hunting and
searching classes across the country with the help of Greg Gormley and
his wife.
She was recognizable by her orange coat, which bore a Submarine Veterans
patch, and her friendly demeanor.
Her name was Deja Vu and on April 28, 2008 she passed on at the age of
12 - 84 to you and me.
Deja Vu worked for the Tehama County Sheriffs Department for nine of
her 12 years. Here she is seen wearing her traditional orange coat and Tehama
County Submarine Veterans patch. She died April 28.
Gormley, the dog's owner and trainer, named her Deja Vu because driving with
a Rottweiler puppy reminded him of the last dog he had. Deja marked
the second Rottweiler he trained after his first search-and-rescue dog,
Badger, succumbed to cancer.
Deja enjoyed a long career as a dog for the sheriff's department and
served until she began to suffer from arthritis and other strains of age,
Gormley said.
"Nobody was ever found in an area that we had cleared," Gormley said.
Though trained as a hunting dog, Deja had a way of deterring narcotics
smugglers. On one flight, an attendant could not find anyone to claim
an unlabeled plastic bottle full of white powder. She went up and down
the aisle, holding the bottle at arm's length until she reached
Deja. She realized no one would claim the bottle with the dog aboard, Gormley
said.
Deja, however, was not a dog to be feared.
"She was the nicest rottweiler in the world," Gromley said. "She
wasn't aggressive in any way."
She loved meeting new people and was a favorite among kids, he said.
At 12, Deja Vu was old for a rottweiler - old enough to be experiencing
arthritis, seizures and enough ailments that she had to be put down,
Gormley said. Some rottweilers die as young as 10 and 14 years is almost
unheard of.
After 33 years with the department, Gormley is thinking about retirement.
But before he does, he has one more dog to train - a rottweiler puppy
by the name of Trace.
Trace will soon be reprising Deja's role at Camp Tehama and other
events, he said.
"I like rottweilers," Gormley said. "They're a noble breed."
If you’re the average dog lover, you think your pooch could out-pose even those silky Weimaraners in the picture books. But if you’re the average amateur dog photographer, your photos never match the athleticism, humor, or outrageous cuteness of the real thing.
We asked pet photographer Mark
Rogers, who immortalized our office dogs here, for his best tricks for taking high-quality dog pictures—without getting into stuff like f-stops and shutter speed. Here are our favorites:
Time it
well.
If you’re looking for action shots, have your photo shoot before
the daily three-mile run. If you want a serene portrait, make it
after.
Let
your dog get used to the camera.
The click and flash of a camera can rattle dogs at first, says
Rogers. Let your dog give the camera a good sniff, then start
casually shooting the surroundings (if you’ve got a film
camera, you can do this before you load the film). Once your
dog’s gotten used to the camera and starts doing his own
thing, begin taking pictures.
The idea is
to keep things natural and relaxed. What not to do: Grab a ton
of treats, abruptly shove the camera in your dog’s face, and
repeat, “Mommy’s gonna take your picture!” at high pitch.
Take
lots of pictures.
This is the first rule of photography, no matter what the
subject. The more you take, the better your chances of getting a
few amazing shots. “Always bring an extra battery,” warns
Rogers.
Turn
off the flash.
Most amateur photographers do best with warm, natural sunlight.
To avoid washed-out pictures, shoot in the mornings or evenings,
on slightly overcast days, or in the shade on a bright day.
For indoor
shots, you’ll probably need a flash. You’ll get a more
natural-looking shot if you use an off-camera flash and swivel
it upward so the light’s bouncing off the ceiling.
Get
down on your dog’s level.
“If you stand over your dog and look down, every shot you take
is going to look like everyone else’s,” says Rogers.
Pay
attention to background.
Simple backgrounds, like a white sandy beach or green
trees, make your dog stand out. If you’ve got a
point-and-shoot camera, have your dog at least a dozen
feet in front of the background so he’ll be more in
focus than whatever’s behind him, and of course, watch
for the tree branches growing out of his head. Pay
attention to color, too: No black backgrounds for black
dogs, brown backgrounds for brown dogs, and so on.
Enlist
help.
A friend with a squeaky toy will come in handy if you
want a head-on shot or a regal profile. However, keep
your dog’s personality in mind with this tip. “Some
dogs get amped up really fast when their toys are
around, so it can have the opposite effect of what you
intended,” says Rogers.
Get
creative and playful.
Lots of full-body shots taken from ten feet away can get
mighty dull. Get up close so your dog fills the entire
frame. Get even closer so you get the full effect of
that long, wet nose. Photograph your dog head on, in
profile, at 45-degree angles. And don’t get hung up on
perfection; sometimes that shot with your dog’s tail
out of the frame is the one you’ll have hanging on
your wall for years. “With pet photography,
serendipity is the name of the game,” says Rogers.
“The best shots are often the spontaneous ones.”
Standing outside the ring, I watched as the judge moved a large class of thirty exhibits. To me, the ring was too small and inadequate for a Rottweiler national specialty! As they moved with their handlers, most exhibits bunched upon each other resembling the rhythm of a giant accordion opening and closing; none could break out of a fast walk or switch gears into a trot. It seemed quite difficult for the judge to correctly evaluate this disorderly group for limping or preliminary assessments. Despite this obvious problem, neither the judge nor the club made any adjustments to ease the congestion. Was the small ring a management problem on the part of the club or simply an incomplete understanding in evaluating structure via locomotion? One can only guess.
At all-breed shows, time is paramount and space is limited. A judge may have upwards of 175 exhibits to adjudicate in different rings, hand out ribbons, mark the book and be available for photos. Neither the club nor the judge has the luxury of examining each exhibit for the fine details of a breed.
However, a specialty is the exception. There, the breed is exalted and exhibitors have high expectations from both the adjudicating official and the host club. Because of this, the bar is set high at a specialty since the details weigh heavy on all exhibitors’ minds. Time should be less of a factor and ring size should be large enough to thoroughly evaluate the exhibits while gaiting. Is this not why it is called a specialty? Nonetheless, the rings have grown smaller at many specialties preventing a complete evaluation of gait.
The Rottweiler is originally a drover/guard dog covering the most amount of ground with the least amount of effort. Therefore, his gait is evaluated in the trot. One should not dismiss the purpose of a breed; it is a fundamental aspect in all assessments of structure, temperament and locomotion.
In the evaluation of Rottweiler gait, a judge looks for the following:
1. Structure
a. Congruities
b. Incongruities
2. Harmony of the working parts
3. Temperament
a. Willingness to Perform
b. Endurance
4. The stride of the dog
a. Reach and Drive
b. Power of the Locomotion
At an all-breed show, it is difficult to acknowledge all the above factors; one does not have the opportunity to test the wider spectrum in regards to endurance, hidden incongruities or willingness to perform. However, at a specialty we can.
Once Is Not Enough
Exhibits can easily muster the energy to gait in a small ring without taxing the musculoskeletal system, heart
and lungs or temperament. Once around is sufficient. However, the bar and expectations should be set high at a specialty to separate the “best of the best”. To achieve these goals, we must change the dynamics with a large ring. Now, once is not enough!
This diagram shows the dimensions of a large ring that would be commensurate for a specialty. This size should be the minimum wherever possible. It is large enough to accommodate big classes, and is most importantly expansive enough for gaiting. It has several advantages over its smaller counterpart. This large ring is advantageous for the judge. The judge can step back far enough to gain a wide perspective. From such a vantage point, the judge has an improved view and can easily assess any exhibit’s change in gait, structure or temperament in comparison to others in the ring.
In the large ring, we can observe two aspects of the Rottweiler that a small one does not reveal 1. Hidden structural incongruities 2. Temperament
a. Willingness to Perform
b. Endurance
1. Hidden Structural Incongruities
Standing still, many exhibits look great with good to superior breed type, good expression and great structure. Move them more than once around a large ring and the dynamics change. For example, the judge asks the handler to move his dog up and back then around the ring. For now, all appears wonderful and in the judge’s mind or book, a placement is made for the exhibit. The best six to ten dogs remain and all are asked to gait the full distance of the ring until asked to stop. Suddenly, in the second lap, the great looking exhibit that had all the right stuff starts to limp! What occurred? There are several possible scenarios.
1. While gaiting, the exhibit encounters a low spot in the ground and twists a foot or shoulder.
2. The exhibit is “out of condition” and its musculoskeletal structure is not ready for the rigors of
extended running.
3. Somewhere in the musculoskeletal structure, lies a covert weakness either in a
ligament or tendon, bone incongruity or muscle.
Obviously, a dog with structural problems such as, straight in the stifle, or very east-west in the front feet, etc., will break down quickly in a large ring after several laps. No surprise here! Most would expect this to occur in a dog with such a problem. In the small ring, save for an environmental “twist of the ankle”, #2, and # 3 do not occur since no physical stress was applied. However, in the large ring there is considerably more exertion. Under the pressure of exertion, a weakness is revealed.
2.Temperament
Because the Rottweiler is a working dog, there must be some applied mental pressure affecting the temperament of the dog. This is necessary to insure the breed maintains its ability to overcome and endure the rigors of work. It is what the Germans call “Belastbarkeit”. What we call, testing the dog’s “Mettle”. This is the philosophical foundation for the sport of Schutzhund. An example of this is the gunshot test at a German shepherd sieger show. In the adult classes, the judge fires a starter pistol twice while the handlers stand with their entries. Any exhibit, which demonstrates nervousness, fear or viciousness as a result of the gunshot, is disqualified.
Whether the ring is large or small, there is a degree of stress and mental pressure exerted on an exhibit. Occasionally, we observe exhibits demonstrating extremes i.e. viciousness, shyness, fear, or the inability to stand for examination. Those dogs that display these extremes must be disqualified or excused. With more frequency, we observe dogs that fall in a grey area; they do not demonstrate the extremes, but a reluctance to be involved displayed by ears that are always back or hanging down. All these are obvious temperament flaws that are not acceptable for a working dog such as the Rottweiler.
A. Willingness to Perform
In the large ring, we can observe the temperament characteristic of “Willingness to Perform”. Its best example is the exhibit that maintains a high energy attitude with ears forward, head held up in exuberant expression, lap after lap. This is the exhibit that appears to enjoy the challenge; it has “Willingness to Perform”. Conversely, we can observe exhibits that demonstrate reluctance to gait with exuberance in the first or second lap and must be cajoled by their handler. These exhibits do not possess a physical problem, but are handicapped by incorrect temperament.
B. Endurance
Endurance is a necessary component of the working dog. Two factors play a role in endurance. 1.Physical condition of the musculoskeletal system and heart and lung capacity.
2.Mental attitude
1. Physical condition
All those that run, or are involved in a strenuous exercise program or body building, know it is impossible to maintain the physical exertion and stress demanded from the heart, lungs, and musculoskeletal system without being in good physical condition. The same is true for a dog. A Rottweiler that is in good physical condition should be able to endure a trot, without rest, in a large ring for at least 10 minutes. Because of, excess body weight, little or poor muscle mass and inferior heart and lung capacity, a great amount of today’s exhibits are “out of condition”. For them, this would be difficult. 2. Mental attitude.
Mental attitude (as part of general temperament) influences the dog’s ability to endure and persevere. As laps increase, it becomes more strenuous and exhausting to continue. Despite a dog being in excellent physical condition, without correct mental attitude, it will “shut down” or “run out of gas” early in the competition. The dog with drive, when confronted with resistance or difficulty, will continue. The one without drive will give up.
Caveat
There are two things that affect even the best conditioned Rottweiler, even those possessing an exemplary temperament … heat and humidity!
Because the muzzle on the Rottweiler is short and the coat is black, heat and humidity have a particularly debilitating effect. Other breeds do not have this problem like the Rottweiler. As the temperature rises and the humidity increases, clubs, judges and owners must take such factors into consideration when competing. Surely, the well conditioned dog with exemplary temperament can cope with these factors but there is a point where high temperature and humidity will take its toll. One must be careful!
In conclusion, many variables affect the success of a specialty dog show i.e., the location, adjudicating official, the management of the show, the time of the year, the weather, and attention to details. Some things are in our control, some are not. When the ring size is small, it sends a message that the judgment of the full spectrum of locomotion will be incomplete. We should demand more from hosting clubs than just providing a place to exhibit our dogs. At a specialty, we want to acknowledge the details of our breed. With correct breed type and the ability to sustain the rigors of the large ring, such are the Rottweilers that should be acknowledged and selected the
Best of the Best!
Note: Thanks to Kreg Zimmerman for help in editing.
Our Rottweilers are second only to Pit Bulls on the list of dangerous dogs. EVERY owner should do something to protect their breed.
There are already 75 breeds of dogs that are banned or restricted in cities across the United States. Breeds that include the Pug, Golden Retriever, and Labrador Retriever. No breed is safe from BSL. Just because a breed is not mentioned in a proposed bill, it doesn't mean it can't be added at a lower municipal level.
Let the world know that just because we have a working breed and do Schutzhund or other controlled bitework, it doesn't mean our dogs are mean or vicious. Remind people every chance you get that bad owners are the cause of the dog problems we hear about. If someone sees a movie or a photo of dogs snarling or doing bitework and asks if our dogs are like that, let them know its only a movie or photo for advertising a product. Let them know that it doesn't mean the dogs are really mean. Take advantage of every opportunity to educate every person no matter how young or how old. If they are listening, educate them. Too many people are believing that BSL is the best thing to protect them and make for a safer community. The reason is because there are many news reports on dog bites and not enough information from responsible owners and breed clubs. Remember the old adage, “the squeakiest wheel gets the grease”. That means if you don't speak up, BSL will win and our dogs will be the biggest losers. When someone asks your opinion, or tries to tell you BSL is good, let them have it.
BSL WILL NOT stop dog bites or maulings until ALL dogs are banned or extinct.
BSL provides a false sense of security.
BSL DOES NOT stop or punish bad owners. They will just get another breed or buy a gun.
BSL will increase the number of surrendered dogs to shelters and the euthanasia of healthy sound dogs.
BSL will force responsible owners to surrender or euthanize their beloved pet.
A New Jersey legislator introduced a new bill in the Assembly. It is A3401 and it “prohibits certain breeding and selling of dogs and cats”. YES, cats too. It defines a “Breeding Facility” as “any building or area whether outdoor or indoor, in which more than one cat or dog is housed”. The key word here is `any'. This N.J. bill has a lot of support because people don't see between the lines. It appears to be a perfect bill to control puppy mills, which it would, but it is very vague and can be interpreted differently at lower municipalities. It would add a tremendous burden to responsible multi pet owners that are not mills. This too is BSL. BSL is real and it is a major threat to domestic pets as we now know them and a threat to our right to own and care for them.
BSL and other breed ban policies will only legalize extinction. They fail to keep children and communities safe. Bad owners and criminals will continue to reek havoc in communities. BSL only punishes the good dogs and good owners.
The average citizen needs to hear our side of the argument. They need to be educated. Educated people know that dogs are not the problem, bad owners are.
I recommend that EVERY Rottweiler owner that has a website post BSL information and links to BSL information on their websites. It is a matter of urgence to get the message out. It is the responsibility of EVERY Rottweiler owner to do their part to protect our breed. Posting BSL information on your website won't take long and it won't cost anything either. That's the least you can do.
If you open any Breed Standard to small changes, everyone has an agenda and big or inadvertent changes occur. We are working with a half dozen Parent Clubs on changes to their breed Standards that have this problem. The Havanese people are seriously close to splitting a relatively new AKC breed. Why? Members don't like each other and the breed has coat issues.
Standards are written by and for people who know dogs and their breed. They are a blueprint with room for individual interpretation and do not need to spell out everything. Basic anatomy is assumed. Four legs are not really mentioned in any Standard but as a judge show me a three legged dog and see what happens.
The Afghan Hound breed is in great shape because the Afghan Hound Club of America
(AHCA) left the Standard alone. It is untouched since 1948. It is not archaic. It is in "memory of ages past". It tells me the world each time I read it. Yes, there are traditions and additional nuances in the breed not spelled out specifically. It involves knowing the breed. It involves study.
Better to educate the public, owners, handlers, breeders and the judges. The AKC is not responsible for breed education. The Parent Clubs are responsible for breed education.
The AHCA does have excellent programs for breeder's education, and judge's education. Ed and I presented The Heritage of the Afghan Hound in MN a few years ago at the National. We discussed mandarins, monkey whiskers, scented, etc. We discussed the nuances of the breed. We have a CD of the expanded version for sale to benefit Afghan Hound Health and Rescue Efforts.
There are books on the breed such as “The Complete Afghan Hound”, by Constance Miller & E. M. Gilbert Jr. (out of print).
Go to the AHCA website and read the excellent material there. It is written by some of the most prestigious past and present Afghan Hound people.
The people, the material, the videos, and the CD's are out there. You can lead the horse to water, but...today's horses act more like camels with no thirst for knowledge.
I cannot imagine getting involved in owning or showing or worse judging a breed without study. Yet many believe, people do it every day and it is common.
Yet some in the fancy really think the solution is to change a Standard for people who do not know what the words mean anyway. Change it for people who don't care enough to interpret the words? Change it for people who do not know basic anatomy? Change it for people who do not understand breed specific conformation or movement?
NOOOOOO. Leave the Standard alone and educate the people.
This is, as you can read, a hot point with me. Give them a copy of the Standard and then discuss the various points. Teach people how to read and interpret Standards. That is what Ed and I do at our seminars.
Some advocate changing the Afghan Hound Standard to include allowances for the differences between puppies and adults. Some have stated: "The Standard doesn't differentiate between puppy and adults." Yet a reading of the Standard shows this statement to be untrue.
The AKC Afghan Hound Standard states: “Coat - ...the saddle...hair is short and close, forming a smooth back in mature dogs...Fault - Lack of shorthaired saddle in mature dogs.”
A study of the breed and semantics will show that a puppy is not a mature dog and therefore is not expected to have a saddle.
Education is the only change I want to see.
When it comes to breed Standards it is best not to open Pandora’s box.
Courtesy of Ed & Pat Gilbert's K-9 Seminars.
Copyright 2008 / Web site: www.gilbertk9.com
RULE NUMBER ONE: The deeper the sleep, the heavier the Rottweiler. Most people who sleep with Rottweilers develop spinal deformities rather than rent the heavy equipment necessary to move their snoring canines to a more appropriate part of the bed. Cunning canines steal precious space in tiny increments until they have achieved the center position on the bed -- with all covers carefully tucked under them for safekeeping. The stretch and roll method is very effective in gaining territory. Less subtle tactics are sometimes preferred. A jealous Rottweiler can worm his way between a sleeping couple and, with the proper spring action from all four legs, shove a sleeping human to the floor.
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie:
If you own and/or love Rottweilers you will treasure this viewpoint (by unknown author).
RULE NUMBER TWO: Rottweilers possess superhuman strength while on a bed. As you cling to the edge of the bed, wishing you had covers, your sweet pup begins to snore at a volume you would not have thought possible. Once that quiets down, the Rottweiler dreams begin. Yipping, growling, running, kicking. Your bed becomes a battlefield and playground of canine fantasy. It starts out with a bit of "sleep running", lots of eye movement and then, suddenly, a shrieking howl blasted through the night like a banshee wail. The horror of this wake-up call haunts you for years. It's particularly devastating when your pup insists on sleeping curled around your head like a demented Daniel Boone cap.
RULE NUMBER THREE: The deeper the sleep, the louder the Rottweiler. The night creeps on and you fall asleep in the 3 inches of bed not claimed by a Rottweiler. The Rottweiler dreams quiet slightly and the heap of Rottweiler flesh sleeps -- breathing heavily and passing wind. Then, too soon, it's dawn and the heap stirs. Each Rottweiler has a distinctive and unpleasant method of waking the pack. One may position itself centimeters from a face and stare until you wake. The clever Rottweiler obtains excellent results by simply sneezing on your face, or they could romp all over your sleeping bodies -- or the ever-loving insertion of a tongue in an unsuspecting ear.
RULE NUMBER FOUR: When the Rottweiler wakes -- you wake. So, why do we put up with this? There's no sane reason. Perhaps it's just that we're a pack and a pack heaps together at night -- safe, contented, heavy and loud.
ATTACK: Berry charges, herds wild animal to save owner from likely harm.
By TIM MOWRY Fairbanks Daily
News-Miner
Published: January 29th, 2008
It was dark, but the glow of Julie Closuit's flashlight was bright enough and the moose was close enough that she could see it lay its ears back before it charged.
"I mainly remember it looking at me and putting its ears back and coming at us," Closuit said. "It didn't think twice. It came right for us."
That's when Berry, Closuit's 3-year-old Rottweiler, sprang into action.
"As soon as I saw the moose, she jerked the leash out of my hand," said Closuit, who is six months pregnant.
JOHN WAGNER / Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Julie Closuit was charged by a moose last week while walking her dog Berry, but the Rottweiler came to her rescue by scaring the moose away.
Closuit, 26, had taken Berry for a walk outside their Goldstream Valley home around 7 a.m. Jan. 21. As she does every morning, Closuit walked around the corner of the house with a flashlight to check for moose or the neighbor's loose dog before bringing Berry out. Seeing nothing, she returned with Berry on a leash.
"We got to right about here and Berry started alert barking," said Closuit on Sunday, re-enacting the week-old incident.
When Closuit shined her flashlight in the direction Berry was barking, she saw the silhouette of a moose's head and two glowing eyes. The moose was hidden behind a spruce tree about 20 feet away.
The sight of giant snow globes on front lawns and the clog of sale fliers in my mailbox are clear indicators that the holiday season is chasing me.
I've got lists to make, goodies to bake, and gifts to buy. Then there's the tree, the decorations, the lights, and of course there's the all-important task of puppy proofing my Christmas.
My holidays should be doubly fun this year because my little elf just turned eight months old, and she will be at the peak of her puppy obnoxiousness just about the time that Santa Paws is digging his way down my chimney. I'm already cringing at the not-so-sugar plum visions of her tearing the ornaments off the tree, drinking the water from the tree stand, and pee-peeing on the tree skirt. I know that this, and so much worse, is coming to town.
The holiday season is the most dangerous time of the year for dogs. I'm not talking about the kind of irreparable emotional harm that my puppy will insist has been imposed upon her by being safely abandoned at home while I am out battling tug-of-war for the last on-sale squeaky toy among the pit bulls of shoppers at the mall. I'm talking about the ho-ho-horrors associated with the everyday celebrations that occur within our dog dens.
Most every dog owner is familiar with the toxic dangers associated with the consumption of chocolate by dogs. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. In fact, one square of baker's chocolate can kill a small dog. As a general rule, you should keep all chocolate away from any place where a dog might reach it. Use extra caution when receiving boxes or gifts that may contain chocolate. Don't put these gifts under the tree, and exercise caution by asking that all deliveries be secured safely away from pets.
Believe it or not, the sugar substitute Xylitol that is commonly found in many chewing gums and some flavors of Altoids (which make wonderful stocking stuffers!) is toxic to dogs. Just two squares of gum can cause a reaction in a 20-pound dog, and higher doses can trigger seizures and liver failure. Similarly, raisins and grapes can cause kidney breakdown and macadamia nuts can cause dramatic muscle weakness. These are all treats that often adorn our holiday tables.
Mistletoe, holly, and poinsettia plants have toxic leaves and berries that can be extremely poisonous. I never send these plants to pet owners, and whenever I receive one, I play it safe by donating the plant to the local community center. Glass tree ornaments, angel hair, metal ornament hooks and tinsel can also severely damage and obstruct animal digestive systems. I don't use any of these, but if they are a must in your doghouse they should always be placed on high branches as far away from Fido's forepaws as possible.
My puppy puts everything in her mouth, and last week I caught her standing on the dining room table. Unfortunately, I missed the opportunity to make a correction because I was laughing too hard, so I'm sure she'll do it again. Aye Chihuahua, surviving the holidays will be a Griswold adventure in my house this year.
Cat is Mans Best Friend A Rushford plumber and his Rottweiler pitch in to help, comfort after flood
By Elena Grimm | Winona Daily News
RUSHFORD, Minn. — You could say that Cat is man’s best friend.
For Jeremy
Volkman, Cat, a 2-year-old Rottweiler, is not only his best friend but his partner in helping flood victims clean up and move back to their homes.
Since his hometown of Rushford flooded five weeks ago, Volkman has spent about 80 to 100 hours a week doing “whatever needs to be done,” he said.
Cat has been with him every day. Cat rides in Volkman’s red Ford pickup into town, where Volkman hitches the 130-pound dog to a wagon for bringing water and supplies wherever needed.
On Saturday morning, the 33-year-old plumber was hauling hay. The afternoon he spent replacing plumbing at a home.
Volkman’s own house suffered only a wet basement in the Aug. 18-19 flood that hit about two-thirds of the town’s homes. He spent the early hours of the morning after the storm pumping water out of his basement.
Jeremy Volkman and his 2-year-old Rottweiler, Cat, have been helping with flood cleanup in Rushford, Minn. for the past five weeks. Cat, with Volkman's help, can haul 600 pounds in the wagon. "He just wants to help people," said Volkman.
(Photo by Paul Solberg/Winona Daily News)
Then he took his first walk through town. After seeing diesel fuel from Kwik Trip floating on top of the floodwaters and the roofs of trailer homes sticking out from what he calls “a big trailer court lake,” Volkman knew how lucky he was.
“I almost felt bad not getting flooded,” Volkman said. “It’s horrible to watch everyone else go through this.”
Instead of watching, Volkman and Cat pitched in. He has opened his home to friends who lost their homes, including a woman with three children and three foster children. Others have been in and out of his house the past month, along with pets.
When parts of town were blocked off, Volkman admits he had to sneak in or “politely ask” to be let in. He said that the work he does is in return for all the people who have helped him.
“It is my regular job; I’m just not charging as much for it,” he said.
Volkman grew up in his grandmother’s house in the Brooklyn section of town. Now, what’s left is a wood frame of 2-by-4s.
“I used to go in the house and you could smell the aroma, and once you smell it you almost see your grandpa,” Volkman said. His grandfather died shortly after Volkman graduated from high school.
After graduating from Rushford-Peterson High School, Volkman spent 10 years away from Rushford, but he and his wife,
Candi, moved back to raise their sons, Dalton, 15, and Gaige, 11.
After pumping water out and seeing the deterioration that lay underneath, Volkman said that the hardest part will be keeping the value of Rushford the way he knows it — a small, safe community to raise children.
“I guess the future of Rushford is pretty uncertain,” he said. “They say it’s a 1,000 year flood, but it could happen tomorrow.”
Volkman has owned Rottweilers since he was 16. Cat, short for Catastrophic, is the opposite of what his name implies. A hard worker, the dog provides comfort for people who need it, Volkman said
“He is something to hug,” Volkman said. “And Cat got a lot of hugs in all this.”
A dog is an instinctively aggressive creature. In the wild, aggression came in very handy: dogs needed aggression to hunt, to defend themselves from other creatures, and to defend resources such as food, a place to sleep, and a mate. Selective breeding over the centuries has minimized and refined this trait significantly, but there’s just no getting around it: dogs are physically capable of inflicting serious harm (just look at those teeth!) because that’s how they’ve survived and evolved. And Mother Nature is pretty wily – it’s hard to counteract the power of instinct!
But that doesn’t mean that we, as dog lovers and owners, are entirely helpless when it comes to handling our dogs. There’s a lot that we can do to prevent aggression from rearing its ugly head in the first place – and even if prevention hasn’t been possible (for whatever reason), there are still steps that we can take to recognize and deal with it efficiently.
- Different aggression types -
There are several different types of canine aggression. The two most common ones are:
- Aggression towards strangers
- Aggression towards family members
You may be wondering why we’re bothering categorizing this stuff: after all, aggression is aggression, and we want to turf it out NOW, not waste time with the details – right?
Well … not quite. These two different types of aggression stem from very different causes, and require different types of treatment.
- Aggression towards strangers -
What is it?
It’s pretty easy to tell when a dog’s nervy around strange people. He’s jumpy and on the alert: either he can’t sit still and is constantly fidgeting, leaping at the smallest sound, and pacing around barking and whining; or he’s very still indeed, sitting rock-steady in one place, staring hard at the object of his suspicions (a visitor, the mailman, someone approaching him on the street while he’s tied up outside a store.)
Why does it happen?
There’s one major reason why a dog doesn’t like strange people: he’s never had the chance to get used to them. Remember, your dog relies 100% on you to broaden his horizons for him: without being taken on lots of outings to see the world and realize for himself, through consistent and positive experiences, that the unknown doesn’t necessarily equal bad news for him, how can he realistically be expected to relax in an unfamiliar situation?
What can I do about it?
The process of accustoming your dog to the world and all the strange people (and animals) that it contains is called socialization. This is an incredibly important aspect of your dog’s upbringing: in fact, it’s pretty hard to overemphasize just how important it is. Socializing your dog means exposing him from a young age (generally speaking, as soon as he’s had his vaccinations) to a wide variety of new experiences, new people, and new animals.
How does socialization prevent stranger aggression?
When you socialize your dog, you’re getting him to learn through experience that new sights and sounds are fun, not scary.
It’s not enough to expose an adult dog to a crowd of unfamiliar people and tell him to “Settle down,
Roxy, it’s OK” – he has to learn that it’s OK for himself. And he needs to do it from puppyhood for the lesson to sink in.
The more types of people and animals he meets (babies, toddlers, teenagers, old people, men, women, people wearing uniforms, people wearing motorcycle helmets, people carrying umbrellas, etc) in a fun and relaxed context, the more at ease and happy – and safe around strangers - he’ll be in general.
How can I socialize my dog so that he doesn’t develop a fear of strangers?
Socializing your dog is pretty easy to do – it’s more of a general effort than a specific training regimen.
First of all, you should take him to puppy preschool. This is a generic term for a series of easy group-training classes for puppies (often performed at the vet clinic, which has the additional benefit of teaching your dog positive associations with the vet!).
In a puppy preschool class, about ten or so puppy owners get together with a qualified trainer (often there’ll be at least two trainers present – the more there are, the better, since it means you get more one-on-one time with a professional) and start teaching their puppies the basic obedience commands: sit, stay, and so on.
Even though the obedience work is very helpful and is a great way to start your puppy on the road to being a trustworthy adult dog, really the best part of puppy preschool is the play sessions: several times throughout the class, the puppies are encouraged to run around off-leash and play amongst themselves.
This is an ideal environment for them to learn good social skills: there’s a whole bunch of unfamiliar dogs present (which teaches them how to interact with strange dogs), there’s a whole bunch of unfamiliar people present (which teaches them that new faces are nothing to be afraid of), and the environment is safe and controlled (there’s at least one certified trainer present to make sure that things don’t get out of hand).
Socialization doesn’t just stop with puppy preschool, though. It’s an ongoing effort throughout the life of your puppy and dog: he needs to be taken to a whole bunch of new places and environments.
Remember not to overwhelm him: start off slow, and build up his tolerance gradually.
- Aggression towards family members -
There are two common reasons why a dog is aggressive towards members of his own human family:
- He’s trying to defend something he thinks of as his from a perceived threat (you).
This is known as resource guarding, and though it may sound innocuous, there’s actually a lot more going on here than your dog simply trying to keep his kibble to himself.
- He’s not comfortable with the treatment/handling he’s getting from you or other members of the family.
What’s resource guarding?
Resource guarding is pretty common among dogs. The term refers to overly-possessive behavior on behalf of your dog: for instance, snarling at you if you approach him when he’s eating, or giving you “the eye” (a flinty-eyed, direct stare) if you reach your hand out to take a toy away from him.
All dogs can be possessive from time to time – it’s in their natures. Sometimes they’re possessive over things with no conceivable value: inedible trash, balled up pieces of paper or tissue, old socks. More frequently, however, resource-guarding becomes an issue over items with a very real and understandable value: food and toys.
Why does it happen?
It all boils down to the issue of dominance. Let me take a moment to explain this concept: dogs are pack animals. This means that they’re used to a very structured environment: in a dog-pack, each individual animal is ranked in a hierarchy of position and power (or “dominance”) in relation to every other animal. Each animal is aware of the rank of every other animal, which means he knows specifically how to act in any given situation (whether to back down, whether to push the issue, whether to muscle in or not on somebody else’s turf, etc etc).
To your dog, the family environment is no different to the dog-pack environment. Your dog has ranked each member of the family, and has his own perception of where he ranks in that environment as well.
This is where it gets interesting: if your dog perceives himself as higher up on the social totem-pole than other family members, he’s going to get cheeky. If he’s really got an overinflated sense of his own importance, he’ll start to act aggressively.
Why? Because dominance and aggression are the exclusive rights of a superior-ranked animal. No underdog would ever show aggression or act dominantly to a higher-ranked animal (the consequences would be dire, and he knows it!)
Resource guarding is a classic example of dominant behavior: only a higher-ranked dog (a “dominant” dog) would act aggressively in
defense of resources.
To put it plainly: if it was clear to your dog that he is not, in fact, the leader of the family, he’d never even dream of trying to prevent you from taking his food or toys – because a lower-ranking dog (him) will always go along with what the higher-ranking dogs (you and your family) say.
So what can I do about it? The best treatment for dominant, aggressive behavior is consistent, frequent obedience work, which will underline your authority over your dog. Just two fifteen-minute sessions a day will make it perfectly clear to your dog that you’re the boss, and that it pays to do what you say.
You can make this fact clear to him by rewarding him (with treats and lavish praise) for obeying a command, and isolating him (putting him in “time-out”, either outside the house or in a room by himself) for misbehavior.
- If you’re not entirely confident doing this yourself, you may wish to consider enlisting the assistance of a qualified dog-trainer.
- Brush up on your understanding of canine psychology and communication, so that you understand what he’s trying to say – this will help you to nip any dominant behaviors in the bud, and to communicate your own authority more effectively
- Train regularly: keep obedience sessions short and productive (no more than fifteen minutes – maybe two or three of these per day).
Why doesn’t my dog like to be handled?
All dogs have different handling thresholds. Some dogs like lots of cuddles, and are perfectly content to be hugged, kissed, and have arms slung over their shoulders (this is the ultimate “I’m the boss” gesture to a dog, which is why a lot of them won’t tolerate it.) Others – usually the ones not accustomed to a great deal of physical contact from a very young age – aren’t comfortable with too much full-body contact and will get nervy and agitated if someone persists in trying to hug them.
Another common cause of handling-induced aggression is a bad grooming experience: nail-clipping and bathing are the two common culprits.
When you clip a dog’s nails, it’s very easy to “quick” him – that is, cut the blood vessel that runs inside the nail. This is extremely painful to a dog, and is a sure-fire way to cause a long-lasting aversion to those clippers.
Being washed is something that a great many dogs have difficulty dealing with – a lot of owners, when confronted with a wild-eyed, half-washed, upset dog, feel that in order to complete the wash they have to forcibly restrain him. This only adds to the dog’s sense of panic, and reinforces his impression of a wash as something to be avoided at all costs – if necessary, to defend himself from it with a display of teeth and hackles.
Can I “retrain” him to enjoy being handled and groomed?
In a word: yes. It’s a lot easier if you start from a young age – handle your puppy a lot, get him used to being touched and rubbed all over. Young dogs generally enjoy being handled – it’s only older ones who haven’t had a lot of physical contact throughout their lives that sometimes find physical affection difficult to accept.
Practice picking up his paws and touching them with the clipper; practice taking him into the bath (or outside, under the faucet – whatever works for you, but warm water is much more pleasant for a dog than a freezing spray of ice-water!), and augment the process throughout with lots of praise and the occasional small treat.
For an older dog that may already have had several unpleasant handling/grooming experiences, things are a little more difficult. You need to undo the damage already caused by those bad experiences, which you can do by taking things very slowly – with an emphasis on keeping your dog calm.
The instant he starts to show signs of stress, stop immediately and let him relax. Try to make the whole thing into a game: give him lots of praise, pats, and treats.
Take things slowly. Don’t push it too far: if you get nervous, stop.
Dogs show aggression for a reason: they’re warning you to back off, or else! If your dog just can’t seem to accept being groomed, no matter how much practice you put in, it’s best to hand the job over to the professionals.
Your vet will clip his nails for you (make sure you tell him first that he gets aggressive when the clippers come out, so your vet can take the necessary precautions!). As far as washing and brushing goes, the dog-grooming business is a flourishing industry: for a small fee, you can get your dog washed, clipped, brushed, and whatever else you require by experienced professionals (again, make sure you tell them about your dog’s reaction to the experience first!)
The town of New Bedford Massachusetts has come up with what is actually a good law in regards to dangerous/vicious dogs. Basically, the law is structured to focus on “the deed, not the breed”. That is, the law is geared to imposing penalties and restrictions on individual dogs that show signs of being dangerous/vicious.
“It goes after the deeds of the dog, the temperament it is showing,” said Mr. Maciel. Drafted by City Councilors Linda Morad and Jane Gonsalves along with Mr. Maciel’s office and various animal control groups, the ordinance avoids being breed-specific.
Instead, said Mr. Maciel, it allows animal control officers to judge a dog’s aggressiveness and actions before slapping restrictions, requirements and increased possible penalties on owners who ignore the rules.
He said a dozen dogs are now on the “dangerous and vicious” list, and only three are pit bull mixes. The others include a boxer, three German shepherds, a Rottweiler, Labrador retriever, “mini-pini” (Doberman)-chihuahua mix “and, unfortunately, a Boston terrier, the state dog,” he said.
This is exactly the right approach. Any dog can be vicious and size and breed are at best questionable guides in that regard. Take for example the chihuahua. Most people think that is an okay dog to own because of its small size. Even a young child could probably handle a chihuahua. However, chihuahuas are some of the most animal aggressive and human aggressive dogs. They also tend to be rather excitable and their small size could make it easier for a small child to injure or hurt the dog. While the latter might look like a possible benefit in terms of the child dealing with an aggressive chihuahua it could also mean that children will be more likely to have problems with this type of dog. Will a chihuahua kill a child? No probably not, but still it could inflict a nasty bite and since children like to do things like cuddle with dogs, that could mean getting bitten on the face or some other part of the body besides the ankle. So in this case, size is not a good indicator as to danger the breed poses.
At the same time a larger dog like the labrador retriever tends to be a stable even tempered dog. This dog passes temperment testing at one of the highest rates (and if we go with breeds that have had more than 200 dogs tested it has perhaps the highest pass rate). But this dog is also a medium sized dog and around infants and toddlers even an accident could send the child to the ground, off a chair or bed leading to injury.
A large part of the problem with dangerous/vicious dogs is that people often do not know how to behave around dogs and make for irresponsible owners. Did you get a cute little puppy that you failed to get neutered, licensed and usually spends the majority of its time alone in the backyard? I don’t care what breed you have, chances are your dog is more dangerous than the person who owns a rottweiler who has neutered his dog, licensed it, and the dog is well integrated into the family strutcture and well socialized around other people. Yet, most people would have the knee-jerk reaction of looking at the rottweiler as a death machine and the other dog as a lovable family pet.
Then there is the issue of training our children how to approach and deal with dogs. Dogs are ubiquitous in our society so it would be prudent for parents to periodically remind their children what do around dogs. Things like,
1: Never approach a loose/stray dog.
2: Never surprise a dog.
3: Always ask the owner for permission to pet the dog.
4: Let the dog sniff you before you try to give a hug.
5: Never surprise a dog (e.g. wake it up by running up to pet it)
6: Never run from a stray dog.
If more owners would spay/neuter their dogs, make sure they had a secure dog run, kennel, crate or back yard, socialized their dogs (and to be sure this is a continuous process), and train them in basic obedience there would be far, far fewer dog bites and
maulings.
And for God’s sake treat your dog like a dog. I hate it when I hear peopel say, “They are babies,” or “I can’t help it, I spoil them.” Sorry, but you are a complete idiot. These are dogs and they should be treated as such. Trust me, the dog and you will be happier that way. It doesn’t mean you can’t love your dog, that you can’t buy it treats, or even let the dog sleep in your bed or take it with you when you go on trips. What it means is you should establish yourself as the pack leader, you should be set rules and boundaries for your dog, and when you give a command it should listen and follow the command. And if necessary, you may have to give the dog a job, even if it is something as mundane as carrying some water bottles in a doggie backpack during your walks.
And if you aren’t up for doing all of the above, then don’t get a dog. Get a cat, or even better get some goldfish. When you go out and get a dog you should be prepared for the commitments that such an action entails. Dogs are social/heirarchical creatures. They do well within the family and they languish and suffer outside of it. If you aren’t prepared to have a dog in your life, then you aren’t prepared to own a dog.
Still there are some bad parts to that article, IMO.
Dr. Dodman said any legislation ought to target breeders who purposely develop aggressive dogs. He cited the Doberman pinscher as one example of a dog that had a bad reputation, but has since had the aggressiveness removed through good breeding.
Karen Harght, co-owner along with Joan Hopkins of American Canine in Westport, concurred.
“When I was a child, Doberman pinschers had a horrible reputation. They were very aggressive, like pit bulls were. Then they kind of fell out of favor. And over the course of the last three decades the aggressiveness has been bred out of them. Now I see a lot of Dobermans that are sweet as pie.”
I don’t think that aggressivness has been breed out of the doberman, my guess is that since the breed is no longer the fad breed the many of breeders are responsible/reputable breeders who view themselves as “stewards of the breed”. These breeders are careful in what dogs they breed. First they’ll look at the overall health of the dog, then the temperment and only the best dogs with good marks in both areas will be bred. The rest will be spayed or neutered and placed as pets. Further, these breeders tend to be very rigorous when placing a dog. When the dog is in a fad phase every idiot with an unfixed dog looks to turn a quick buck through breeding their dog(s). They don’t worry too much, if at all, about health, and temperment isn’t even something they can judge. All dogs are placed with people unfixed and there are no conditions about taking the puppy back if things don’t work out. In this situtation you get badly bred dogs, dogs that wind up on the streets because their owners abadon them or lose them, and you have a much larger population of that dog. Hence dog attacks by that breed increase and they show up in the paper and you have the new “demon dog de jure”. This has been seen time and time again. Dobermans were the bad dog. Then german shepherds, St. Bernards, and Rottweilers and now pit bulls.
On the other hand, she said, “If I see an Akita, I turn around and go the other way.”
While the Akita isn’t a dog for your novice/first time dog owner this is just ridiculous. While there are quite a few dog bites every year (several million) there are tens of millions of dogs. And fatalities are even less frequent. Given this, the above attitude is emblematic of people simply not evaluating the risks correctly. If you get so nervous around an Akita that you head the other way, you probably should never go near a car, a pool, or take a bath or shower. Your risks of death/injury with all of these “safe” items probably far outstips any dangers posed by an Akita.
In New Bedford, Mr. Maciel said, the ordinance may require a succession of precautions to restrain and confine troublesome dogs, and fines for breaking the rules can be heavy, up to $600.
Bad dogs will be spayed or neutered and have a microchip implanted under the city ordinance, and annual licenses will cost more, along with the secure enclosures the city will require — and inspect.
Preventing the dogs from reproducing is the most important component, he said. “We don’t want them breeding and the offspring having the temperament of the mother and the father,” he said. “That way our community becomes safer.”
Somebody in the local government of New Bedford is guilty of having a brain.
AVOIDING HARM FROM DOGS Properly trained, even aggressive breeds won't attack.
Experts say injuries can be avoided when animals understand their place.
From Freep.com (Detroit Free Press) ~ Detroit MI ~
September 15, 2007
BY AMBER HUNT
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
One dead baby. Two dead adults. One euthanized dog, and four more possibly will face the same fate.
It didn't have to be that way, animal experts say.
"Most dogs are very stable underneath it all," said Cindy O'Malley, a Howell dog trainer who goes by the moniker Canine Whisperer. "Ninety-nine percent of the time, it's the owners."
Everyone should use caution when approaching a dog on foot, especially larger breeds, O'Malley said.
Jackie Takacs of Huron Township's Obedience Laboratory said it's important to learn how to read a dog's body language. If a dog's ears are back, tail is tucked and eyes are glaring, back off, Takacs said.
"When a dog is looking like that at you, the dog is clearly telling you, 'I'm afraid,' " she said. "Just leave it alone."
Plenty of so-called aggressive dogs -- even the often-maligned pit bull -- can make great pets, Takacs said. The problem, she said, usually lies in lax or improper training or people having too many dogs that end up forming packs.
"If you leave multiple dogs just out in a yard not supervised by humans, when they break loose, they'll go as a pack," she said.
Michigan State Police said it was a pack of dogs that killed a 91-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman Thursday in Livingston County. Those deaths have been blamed on four dogs identified as American bulldogs.
Even dogs with aggressive reputations, such as pit bulls and rottweilers, often can be trained to be trusted when their owners are around, area dog trainers said. Among the tips they offered:
. Make it clear you're the boss. That means training your dog to let you answer the door first and refusing to let the dog sleep with you so it doesn't think it's your equal.
"A dog will work its way to the top of the pack, and if you're not going to be pack leader, then your dog will be pack leader," O'Malley said.
. Begin training early, especially if you have a dog with aggressive breeding in its past. Heather Armbruster of the Birmingham Dog Obedience School recommends at least at eight weeks, with brush-ups as the dog gets older.
. Never leave a dog alone with a baby or child, even if the dog is loving and playful when you're around, Armbruster said.
. Don't assume an aggressive dog will ever have 100% of that aggression trained out of it, said Karen Vaden, who runs Attaboy Dog Training in Pinckney.
On the flipside, any dog can be trained to be aggressive, said Doug Whitman, chairman of the psychology department at Wayne State University.
"It fundamentally comes down, not to the pets, but to people," he said. "You can teach any creature to attack, and you can teach any of them not to."
Many pet owners would say their animals - sometimes seem human, but when a kitten is orphaned, you might expect it to be adopted by another cat. Not so in Lockport, where a dog has begn nursing a kitten.
Three year old Jade is a rottweiler with a soft spot for cats. Her owners say she's always had her share of feline friends.
"She's always loved cats. She thinks she is a cat basically," said 13 year old David Stanley of Lockport.
These days, she's acting the part. She's adopted a hungry little kitten.
"She thinks it's her baby. It is actually. She just didn't give birth to it," said Stanley's mother, Bonnie Donaldson.
Donaldson says Jade's never had any puppies of her own, but she's decided to become a mom anyway. Much to Donaldson's surprise, Jade is actually nursing.
Donaldson says Jade took over after the kitten's mom, Lulu, was hit by a car. At the time, there was a litter of five.
"And then she started to develop milk, and they just started feeding on her," said Stanley.
"I'm glad she's doing it. She survived obviously, which is good," said Donaldson.
Veterinarian Dr. Stephanie Wolf says it is possible for a dog to produce milk without having babies of her own, but it's "very rare."
"The actual lactation process is not associated with the breeding process. It's a completely different set of hormones," said Wolf.
Bonnie has been supplementing Jade's milk with bottle feeding, and says Jade has become so attached to the little kitten, she just can't bear to separate them.
"I think she'd be lost if I didn't have a cat in the home," she said.
Halloween is for humans not dogs. Screaming, running, spooky children in masks make many dogs uncomfortable, nervous and frightened. <<<Not to mention igniting PREY DRIVE>>
Halloween costumes are fun and are meant to disguise our normal appearance. Dogs do not understand this change in appearance and may become frightened. Costumes that change the way a person walks, stands, or their general appearance may cause a dog to react different then usual even with those they know.
Keep in mind that children on Halloween night are excited and doing their best to be scary. This is not a fair or safe situation to put even the best of dogs in. Even the normally terrific tolerant family dog can find this night hard to handle.
Along with costumes being frightening to a dog there are some that may become interesting too. Swords, tails and dangling things may be fun for an excited dog to chase and toddlers certainly won't appreciate that.
Every child and every costume is a new opportunity for different reactions from the same dog.
I recommend setting up your dog with their own private Halloween bash in a safe quiet spot with a yummy treat of their own. Here are some tips to help make this safe haven most comfortable.
1.Stuff a food dispensing toy with yummy mush and freeze it until it is Halloween time.
2.Use a fan or radio for white noise. Something consistent is best.
3.Be sure the blinds are down or the dog is not watching kids coming and going by the window. This will only frustrate him and allow him to practice barking and carrying on at the window.
Chocolate is toxic to dogs. Put candy in a safe spot.
Many dogs are stolen, poisoned or injured by Halloween pranks. Keep your dog safe and sound inside your home.
Two strangers brought together by cancer developed a bond that would give a little boy battling the disease something to look forward to. FOX 9’s Scott Wasserman has their story!
Click image (outside link) to see the video of Chopper(owned
by Pat Kinch) doing his job!
To AKC Judges:
Are You Part of the Problem?
Are You willing to be Part of the Solution?
It used to be that the purpose of dog shows was to showcase
your best breeding stock. In my opinion those days are mostly a thing of
the past. It seems that shows today have become so political and so money
oriented that the dogs themselves have gotten lost in the shuffle. Sadly,
the dogs are often stripped of their dignity by the “win at any cost” tactics
put upon them. With that said, I believe it is reasonable for all
exhibitors entered at a dog show to have the expectation that their entry will
get an equal and unbiased assessment by the judge based on their breed
standard. An exhibitor has the right to expect that their entry has an equal
chance of going Best of Breed whether their entry is a class dog (that includes
6-9 puppy!) or a Special. The AKC Judges Guide tells judges they should,
“Always judge dogs solely on the basis of their condition as they are
presented in the ring on show day.” (emphasis AKC). The judge is
responsible for judging each dog by the breed’s standard. (emphasis mine)
In most cases, entry fees are the same for all dogs
entered. (Some clubs will give price breaks to puppies and bred
by). The judging guide does not state that if there are price breaks for
certain classes that those entries receive less consideration and are not
eligible for Best of Breed. In fact, no where does the guide state
that the Winner’s Dog/Bitch shall receive less consideration for the award of
Best of Breed.
In theory, since a dog show judge’s duty is to select the
best representative of the breeds exhibited to them, you would expect a dog
show to be an equal opportunity sport. You would expect that every
exhibitor should feel confident that they are getting a fair shake, but are
they? With the above facts in mind:
Are you a judge who, if you disagree with a breed
standard, will not hesitate to award your personal preference, even in some
cases when your preference is a fault? Just two examples are:
1.
having a preference for a specific color and never putting up other equally allowed colors.
2. ignoring the breed standard for minimum/maximum heights
If you answer “yes”.
You are part of the
problem.
Judges should be professional and their personal preferences
should be set aside. The breed standard is the rule not a
guideline. If the standard states that there is no color preference, what
right does a judge have to assert their preference for color? It is unfair to
the exhibitors that have paid their money for equal assessment.
Judges should not penalize dogs for size when the size of
the dog is in standard. Statements like, “I prefer them bigger” (who
cares?) is fine as long as the “bigger” is equal or better and preferably In
the standard. Too often, that is not the case. For example, if
a Samoyed looks to be the same size as an American Eskimo, that probably means
that you have a Samoyed bitch at the bottom of the standard. The bottom
for Samoyed bitches is 19” and the top for the American Eskimo male is
19”. Both are correct, neither should be penalized just because you
dislike one end of the standard more than the other. In the case of the
Samoyed, a judge will often put up a dog or bitch out of standard, (on the big
end) or a dog of lesser quality rather than reward the more correct dog that
looks like an “American Eskimo”. This is not judging a breed by its
standard and it hurts the breed when judges insert their personal preferences.
Are you a judge who believes you have the right to
interfere with a dog owner’s right to decide what is best for their dog by
withholding the award the dog deserves? In other words you have a dog/bitch
that should win BOB, but you have decided that the dog is too young, too old,
the owner too novice, etc., etc. to go to the group?
If yes, you are part of the problem.
Judges are to judge dogs in their ring based on their
standard. Whatever might happen in the Group should not be of any concern
of the breed judge. The breed judge is supposed to award BOB to the best
dog. That is what exhibitors expect and that is what they pay for.
Exhibitor’s do not need nor want judges denying their dogs the award they
deserve due to the judge’s personal speculations on who is ready for the Group
ring. A judge who does this interferes with the dog owner’s right to make
their own decisions regarding their dog. Judges who do not just judge
dogs, but insert their personal feelings as to who might look better in the
Group actually change the outcome because the Group judge is deprived of
actually judging the best dogs.
Are you a judge that knows or has
strong suspicions that a dog has been groomed illegally and you ignore
it? Examples might be wigs in poodles or over trimming in the Golden
Retriever and Pomeranian, etc.
If yes, you are part of the problem
Judges have the obligation to investigate any
suspicions they may have. The AKC guidelines state, “In reviewing a class, avoid
excessive rearranging of a dog's coat, whistling, gesturing or baiting.
However, do not hesitate to feel out a suspected fault beneath a highly groomed
coat.” Over grooming has become epidemic. Almost everything in
a breed ring today is “sculpted”. A friend of mine recently relayed
a phone called she received from a friend of hers who is a Field Rep. The
Field Rep. asked, “what the %&*#@ is going on with Newfoundlands? She
was very angry and said, “They all look like cookie cutters in the
ring!!” Frankly, I don’t know why breeders and handlers make more work
for themselves on dogs that should be shown in a clean, groomed and natural
state. If judges would not reward this, it would not continue.
Are you a judge that faults a dog based
on your speculation of what the dogs height, bite, or color might be later?
If yes, you are part of the problem
The Guideline states, “Give absolutely no consideration to
what a dog's quality may be at some future time, or what a dog's condition
might have been were it not for some disease or accident” Enough
said.
Are you a judge who, regardless of the
quality of competition, always puts up the ranked dog even though it may not be
the best on that day?
If yes, you are part of the problem
Please stop it. This common practice is a total disservice to exhibitors and to the sport of
purebred dogs!
I have heard some lame excuses for this.
One is they do it out of respect for the dog’s show record. They do it
because of all the money spent on advertising. IF there is a
better dog, please do the ethical thing and award that dog what it deserves on
that day. That is a judge’s duty.
Are you a judge that will not put up a
dog unless it “asks” for it?
If yes, you are part of the problem.
Not all breeds are the bubbly, crowd pleasing,
free stacking stars that “ask” for it. Several standards state that the
breed is reserved/conservative with strangers or when out of their territory.
(Judges are strangers!) Some of those breeds are Rottweilers, Kuvaszok,
Samoyeds, Clumber Spaniels, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Caanan Dogs and Anatolian
Shepherds. The Rottweiler standard specifically warns judges not to
penalize dogs that are aloof or reserved, “as this reflects the accepted
character of the breed.” The Mastiff standard states, “Judges should also
beware of putting a premium on showiness.” If there have been a few dogs
in one of these breeds that were exceptions to the standard’s description, that
is all it is, an exception and the rest of the breed should not be judged and
compared to the “exceptions”. Since the “exceptions” are not displaying
the typical character/demeanor as described in the “breed standard” some might
consider that in itself a fault. Judges should be mindful of the breed
standards and the descriptions of character and temperament. Frankly, I’m
tired of hearing, “well, it is a ‘show”. Unfortunately, it
is that kind of thinking that has turned the purpose and priorities of dog
shows (including the character and temperament of some breeds) up side
down. As an experienced breeder, who would select the dog that simply has
to “ask for it” over the dog that has the best overall qualities of the dog
you’re looking to breed to? Not all breeds are going to “ask” for it, but
are still exquisite representatives of their breed and should be appreciated
and rewarded when they deserve it. That is a judge’s duty.
If you answered “NO” to the above questions,
most of us probably already know who you are and appreciate your dedication to
our breeds and more importantly to our breed standards. It takes an
honorable and ethical person to set aside personal feelings and reward the
exhibitor what they deserve on that day.
If you answered “YES”
to the above questions, one has to wonder why you decided to judge. You
are taking too many liberties with the standards. People spend their
hard-earned money for that "equal opportunity” in the breed ring. Please give it to them.
Be part of the solution. It’s just a
thought…
Correct breed type is disappearing!
The powerful bone substance and definitive masculinity of the Rottweiler we once apprized is now hard to find. Replacing these traits are pinheads, fine bones, distilled facsimiles. Not only is breed type on the decline, so is correct working Rottweiler temperament. In its place we now have, shy, soft, little to no “willingness to work” temperaments. Few Rottweilers in the show-ring and outside it could make the transition from that to the working arena.
At the conformation/working spectrum, with rare exception, what we encounter are the extremes; they are beautiful show specimens either with no working temperament or on the working side, great working temperaments with poor structure and marginal breed type. How did this happen?
When enthusiasts decide to purchase a new puppy or a breeder selects breeding partners for their future litters, they draw conclusions and evaluate their choice from a narrow perspective using only a specific aspect of the breed as their criteria. For example, some breeders only seek to use the construction of the Rottweiler as their mark of excellence. They demand only the best angulated, the most correct fronts and rears as their guide for breeding partners omitting other important aspects that comprise the whole picture. Some only use health certifications as their guide. They will only breed or keep dogs that have attained all the necessary certifications such as OFA, heart and CERF clearances, dismissing from the formula, breed type, construction and gait. From a long-term breed viewpoint, this single-aspect criterion is myopic and disastrous. Is there a guide to facilitate a comprehensive approach to the breed without sacrificing one aspect for another? The answer is yes.
Euclid, the Greek mathematician, stated in his axiom, “the whole is equal to the sum of its parts.” Despite this being of mathematical relevancy, we can apply this statement to help guide us in a more complete understanding and evaluation of the Rottweiler. By using a “Rottweiler Pyramid”, where each element of the Rottweiler is prioritized in a hierarchal order of importance, Breed Type, Temperament, Construction, Locomotion, one can view each part on its own merits. Once a thorough understanding of these related elements is achieved, a complete and balanced picture results. It should be the goal of every breeder to incorporate all of these aspects into a breeding program.
(Note: For this essay, I have distilled the topics down to their basic, large block ideas. I also have omitted health clearances from the pyramid, since they are a
prerequisite for breeding, showing and training. It would be foolish to pursue a show/sport career with a dog that possessed dysplasia or other serious health issues further than as a personal companion)
1.
Breed Type
Number one in the pyramid is Breed Type. The description of it comprises 85% of the standard, its major and defining aspect. Its correct understanding is the foundation of any breeding program, evaluation for judgments in the conformation ring and the first rung on the ladder for the
complete understanding of the Rottweiler. In this area, some prefer to take shortcuts by reinterpreting the standard and taking liberties with its translation, instead of traveling the more difficult path by reading and completely understanding its blueprint. Without a thorough and broad perspective about breed type (or any other segment of the standard), one can only build a house of understanding that is incomplete. This argument, that many do not understand or know what “correct” breed type is, can easily be proofed with the fine boned, narrow muzzles, pinhead, absence of masculinity exhibits we now encounter in the show ring and obviously on the street.
An excellent and easy test for “knowledge of breed type” is asking the simple question, “What is Breed Type?” Many have great difficulty with the answer. When asked this question exhibitors and owners have articulated breed type as “excellent gait”. Some say it is “correct temperament”.
Yet others define it as “performance on the working field”. None are correct. Breed Type should be defined as
“the essence of characteristics that distinguishes it from
others."(1) In simpler terms, it is the appearance of the breed, which separates it from others. Is that not what first attracts us to the Rottweiler?
In the show ring, where we should see only the best examples of type, save for a small percentage that is not, we see the lack of correct breed type abundantly demonstrated. Currently here in the states, many exhibits do not possess the minimum essentials in head and body type. In fact, many heads and bodies are at best, only sufficiently correct and do not possess the implied masculinity of the breed. The most defining aspect of correct breed type, the Rottweiler head, the breed’s icon, should have great prominence. The standard devotes detail to its description with its
“Broad between the ears, broad muzzle at the base, moderate arch of the
topskull, pronounced stop, zygomatic arch and specified 3 to 2
skull to muzzle ratio.” In essence, the head is powerful, substantial and impressive. Yet, so many exhibits now possess
the opposite of what is correct, a long, soft in appearance narrow muzzle, shallow zygomatic arch and stops. This creates a head
type, which recedes in to the body having no prominence. The power and strength specified in the standard for the muzzles and topskull is not there; the heads are hound-like.
In correlation with the details of correct head type, are the details of correct body type. The standard specifies,
"His bone and muscle mass must be sufficient to balance his frame, giving a compact and very powerfulappearance." The standard is direct with its specifications on body type with the key words of compact, powerful and muscle mass.
The bone should be ample in proportion to the size of the body, the muscles mass should be strong and well defined and the body length should appear to be short and compact. There should be not doubt in appearance concerning the amount of bone mass, muscle mass and compactness of the body. However, what we encounter are fine and spindly bones, long bodies, little to no muscle mass and definition.
The underlying theme in the standard for the Rottweiler is masculinity. Correct breed type requires it. The standard does not specifically mention this word; it is implied. Even the bitches should possess power and substance without weakness. Softness, slight in build, refined, feminine are not words to use when describing or having a mental picture of the breed.
2.
Temperament
The second tier on the pyramid and essential aspect of the standard is temperament. Without correct temperament, all other aspects or traits, even if they are of superior quality, have little value! It is important to understand what correct temperament is and how to evaluate it. From the standard,
“The Rottweiler is basically a calm, confident, courageous dog… A Rottweiler is self-confident and responds quietly and with a wait-and-see attitude to influences in his environment.
He has an inherent desire to protect home and family, and is an intelligent dog of extreme hardness and adaptability with a strong willingness to work, making him especially suited as a companion, guardian and general all purpose
dog.” What is correct temperament? How can we recognize it? We must take our template from the standard. Ideally, he is a calm, confident, courageous dog of extreme hardness and adaptability with a strong willingness to work. Few Rottweilers fit the ideal of the standard, which can demonstrate all of its positives. More likely, they measure up or down in differing levels. Because he is working dog, we must test and evaluate these differing levels of temperament through his work.
Albeit, the show ring is largely popular here in the states and in the international community, many rely solely on a dog’s behavior within the show ring as a demonstration of temperament. This is dangerous because it does not give us any keen insights to the complete spectrum of temperament; its main purpose is to evaluate conformation. Some would say that the show ring does give us a window into the dog’s nature. However, exhibiting and gaiting in the conformation ring can only demonstrate the extreme problems in a dog’s temperament, such as the inability to stand for an examination, shy, nervousness or viciousness. It has extremely limited value when assessing the complexity of temperament.
The Germans use the term “Belastbarkeit”, a dog’s capacity, whether high, medium or low, to sustain its drive, tractability and nerve under the conditions and pressures of work. In Germany, they place a high value in the dog’s level of courage and its ability to deal with stress. There, the minimum test is the Zuchttauglichkeitsprufung (breed suitability test where the dog is tested for its courage and stress level); one cannot breed their Rottweiler unless it has passed the “Ztp”. They also believe that the attainment of a working title is a demonstration of
Belastbarkeit.
By putting a Rottweiler through its paces in its attainment of a working title, be it a CD, CDX, Tracking,
Sch, etc., we gain valuable information about the strengths and weakness of its temperament. In some countries, the attainment of a working title is so highly prized, that a conformation championship title is only awarded when a working title has been previously achieved. Assessing character, the dog’s ability to deal with corrections, stress, and its level of enthusiasm while working, tells us much about its mind-set. Without this knowledge of temperament, one cannot have a complete picture for a breeding program.
3.
Construction
Third in the pyramid is construction, a balanced, harmonious
musculo/skeletal system in accordance with the blueprint of the standard. Understanding the construction of a Rottweiler is analogous to the building of a house. The builder (breeder) must adhere to the architect’s design (the standard), maintain a stable foundation and alignment of walls (the skeletal system), while creating continuity so that all the segmented parts of the house work together harmoniously (the locomotion of the dog).
As a breeder, owner or exhibitor, it is important in the complete understanding of Rottweiler construction, to acquaint oneself with the skeletal anatomy of the dog.
The standard dictates how the proportions and ratios, angles and layout of the skeleton should be so that the Rottweiler can gait with the highest efficiency in harmony with its breed type. This insures that its architectural design will best suit the Rottweiler for its task as a multi-purpose working/guard dog. A house must have structural integrity. Walls must be plumb, materials used in the construction must have strength to withstand ware and tear, and parts must work. This applies to the Rottweiler as well. Front and rear legs must be balanced, strong and straight, the back must be firm but flexible, angulations must be ample enough to support proper reach of the front and drive of the rear. There should be symmetry and harmony of the working parts as well as a defined amount of muscle mass to support the skeletal frame.
Like temperament, correct construction is the by-product of a thoughtful, careful, breeding program. A Rottweiler cannot develop good construction from within. With the exception of building stronger or larger muscle mass via a weight gaining and conditioning program, when a dog possesses an incongruity or imbalance in the skeletal system, it cannot be corrected. A short upper arm, long in the back, shallow sternum, east-west feet, low pastern, poorly angulated croup, etc. impedes efficiency. These problems are inherited from the pedigree.
We have often heard exhibitors and breeders say, “Don’t worry, he’ll out grow this or grow into that.” Unfortunately, ugly ducklings do not become swans! Problems related to the skeletal structure are indelible and take many generations to improve or correct. The most direct path for correct construction is to breed with pedigrees that possess it.
4.
Locomotion
Fourth in the pyramid is locomotion. Because the Rottweiler was used for driving cattle, its modality for locomotion is demonstrated in the trot. Unlike the other aspects in this pyramid, construction and locomotion have inexorable linkage in that; exemplary gait is the result of outstanding structure. When a Rottweiler is correct in construction, according to the blueprint of the standard, this balanced skeletal architecture produces an unrestricted, harmoniously flowing powerful gait.
Unfortunately, few Rottweilers possess construction with such a high degree of balance and harmony that they move with this ideal effortless grace. Similar to the levels of temperament, locomotion has differing levels of efficiency dependent upon the correctness of construction or conversely, the amount of imbalances within the dog. The more “imbalances” or incorrect construction the dog possess in its angulations and ratios, the more impedance occurs to free flowing gait.
The best perspective to assess locomotion is to view the dog, going away, coming towards and in the side gait. When the dog moves going and coming, we assess its lateral displacement, which has influence on the lateral center of gravity. A correct front and rear assembly stabilizes the dog and prevents him from excessive side-to-side movement, similar to the effect of torsion bars in a car. Incorrect construction such as, out at the elbow, east–west feet, crossing over, moving wide and fiddle fronts etc., destabilizes the center of gravity. These incongruities produce impedance, which requires more energy, puts stress on the bones and muscles and leads to fatigue.
In the side gait, we assess all the moving parts working together. Once in the trot and at a reasonable speed, not to fast or slow, the mechanics of the
musculo/skeletal structure is set in motion. Here, we can observe the reach, the drive of the rear, spring of step, amount of ground covered, and temperament in the dog’s “willingness to perform,” an important element. Within the side gait, we observe many examples of locomotion from exemplary to the unharmonious.
Occasionally, we encounter a dog that appears to be sound in structure when standing still, but during the examination of the side gait, they show a short stride of the front legs and rear legs, or a mix of this with a correct front stride, but short rear drive. Here, a problem may exist that does not easily reveal itself. That is why gaiting in a small ring or by moving the exhibits once around does not do justice for the complete assessment. Adding to this mixture is the exhibit that is pushed or cajoled around the ring. Outwardly, the dog appears good in construction and theoretically should gait correctly but for some reason it has “no willingness to perform.” This is one example of how temperament plays a factor in gait.
The field of canine gait is complex and requires a good knowledge of anatomy, mechanics, breed type and purpose. It is important for the concerned breeder and student of the breed to gain at least a proficient knowledge of these topics to understand Rottweiler locomotion.
References
1. The Priority of Breed Type in the Rottweiler, Wolfson, Steve, Steve Wolfson publisher, 2003
2. The Dog in Action, Lyon, MacDowell, Howell Book House publisher, 1982
It seems that in the news, when ever there is a story or article about a Pit Bull/ Pit Bull type dog, a Rottweiler, German Shepherd, or any dog that is seen in society's eyes as a dangerous dog, the story is negative. One of these dogs have bitten, attacked or mauled a person, another dog or other animal. These incidents are spread across every local paper and
TV News program like wild fire. Society only sees these negative images sent out by the media towards these dogs. They never see anything positive; therefore creating the disillusion of viciousness bred into these breeds, and spreading the fear and problem. Where are the good stories? The positive image of these dogs? Because, they are out there. However, the ugly images of these dogs, the shock value of these stories, sells the papers and makes the ratings. No one wants to hear the good things.
Most people will see a Rottweiler or other type of large strong breed of dog and see them as a threat and dangerous. I myself have Rottweilers, one adult and one puppy in training. I will be the first to say that this breed is not for everyone. They need an experienced dog owner and someone who is a calm-assertive leader. When people read manuals and books on getting a puppy, usually the first thing the book will tell you is to find a breed of dog that best suits your lifestyle and family. This could not be more true. It is when a dog and human are mismatched, or when a person should not even have a dog (due to lack of knowledge and commitment) that issues will arise.
My 3 year-old male Rottweiler, Xander, could be seen as one of those positive stories about the breed that is out there, but rarely heard of by society. Xander is a dog who is actually helping people. He is a registered Therapy Dog with a non-profit organization called Therapeutic Paws of Canada (www.tpoc.ca). Every week Xander and I travel to hospitals/retirement homes and homes for rehabilitating patients where we visit these people. Now, some people were scared of his size, but not his breed. But their size is a good thing. Those people who are not able to bend down to pet the smaller dogs, don't need to move much with these breeds. They are also sturdy and tolerant to those who aren't as gentle when petting; they can take the bumps and bruises. Yet, some people will walk up to him and give him a big huge and kiss.
We visit one gentleman in a home, where at first he would not make eye contact with Xander. Now to be honest, this is a man who has a very serious mental illness, and does not talk or communicate with people much. But now, every time he sees Xander he smiles, something that the nurses say he has not done in 5 years. He keeps a picture of my dog attached to his dresser mirror, and refers to him as “My Xander.” When this man feels up to it, he will brush Xander, and even throw a ball for him.
Our visiting therapy partners are Kim (a professional dog trainer) and her intact male Rottweiler, Luke. Xander and Luke are best of friends. They will give each other kisses, they love spending time with each other, and the patients love to watch. Anyone who thinks that two male Rottweilers cannot co-exist, should see these two boys play. They have done demonstrations for Therapeutic Paws and are a big success with all the patients.
Soon Xander and I wish to do volunteer work at local schools to help children who are having difficulties learning and reading. Research has shown that dogs can actually help motivate these children to read, because they relate more to the dogs than the adults that are teaching them. Also, the anticipation to have these dogs around gets the children excited to read to the them.
Rottweilers are very good with children, if they are socialized around them. Xander has been around kids from 2 years to 14 years of age, and enjoys their company. He will actually bring his chew bones over to them, so they can hold it while he chews on it. But to do such volunteer work we have to complete a whole year of regular therapy work before we can be evaluated and tested to work with these children. We have to take the responsibility to make sure that both Xander and myself are qualified and able to do such work.
Xander also helps the community by raising awareness and funds towards human diseases. He has raised over $1,000 each year towards Multiple Sclerosis (also a canine illness) and the MS Super Cities Walk. Him and I go store to store and put up posters, hand out collection boxes and when the time comes, trek the 10km around the city to prove that we appreciate all the funds raised.
Xander competes in Agility, Obedience and was a demonstration dog at the dog school we had worked at. We have volunteered our time to demonstrate his abilities as a dog at local festivals and canine exhibitions. We also make sure he is well socialized with other dogs by taking him for numerous walks and taking him to Doggie Daycare. YES, Doggie Daycare. A place where dogs have supervised playtime and multiple walks together. He loves it. Xander even has his own web site to display all of his talents and accomplishments:
Home.cogeco.ca/~xander-vk/
And Xander isn't done. As far as obedience titles, we are working towards his Companion Dog title and more.
Now, Xander isn't perfect. He is still young and growing. If he is showing signs of dominance (which is typical of any maturing male dog), it's right back into the dog academy and into serious training. I take the time, commitment and money (lots of it) to make sure my dog is well trained, socialized and his working dog nature is put into a active and positive direction. People out there who get a strong willed and muscular dog who are not willing to spend the time and money towards doing this, should not have this type of breed, or any dog. Why have a dog if you are not going to do anything with it? That's when dogs become destructive and
behavior problems arise.
I am not here to argue the point of dangerous dogs. That has all been done and said. In my opinion EVERY breed of dog, whether they are large, medium or small has the potential to bite and/or worse. If a dog is; mouthing their owners, nipping at the kids, showing distress or shyness towards people, or dominance over people and/or animals, they have the potential of biting, attacking or worse, if these problems are not seen, and solved accordingly by a professional.
Working with dogs, and assisting at a local dog training school here in my city, I have seen where people's lack of education of the dog world can create problems in the human world. I encourage anyone with a new puppy to seek out a certified dog trainer/obedience school to help socialize and train that puppy with other humans and dogs. With proper training, for both the human and dog, there should be minimal to no problems. Any breed of an adult dog who you think maybe showing signs of dominance/aggression/shyness should be observed by a trainer. Then with the proper guidance from the trainer, the owner can take steps to correct and prevent any issues. Every dog owner must take the responsibility to make sure that their family and community will accept their dog and enjoy having them around without fear or hesitation. Being a proactive and motivated owner makes all the difference for everyone involved.
Calvin - 2006 Service Dog Of The Year Submitted
by Beverly Bulson, Owner/Handler/Best Friend
Tagar’s Carbon Copy V
Blazin, CD, RE, CI, CST, AXP, AJP, PDII, EAC, O-OJC, OGC, CL3,
TT, CGC, TDIA
Calvin
with breeder, Tamra Bojarski (left)
and owner, Beverly Bulson (right)
Calvin was bred by Tamra Bojarski of Amsterdam, NY and is accompanied by his
owner, Beverly Bulson, of Scotia, NY.
Calvin began his service career as a puppy participating in educational
demos. In 2003, he became a registered therapy dog. Since them, Calvin
regularly visits senior citizens, battered women's shelter residents, and the
developmentally disabled. Calvin has developed deeply rewarding, long-term
relationships with those he visits, becoming fast friends with the
elderly residents, and even one young boy who struggles with autism.
As the owner of Rottweilers, a breed often targeted by breed-specific
legislation, Bev feels Calvin's work carries with it a special purpose, as
each visit is an opportunity to educate people who might otherwise never
know just how gentle a large dog like a Rottweiler can be.
Calvin has been a therapy dog for a number of years. We teamed together with the Schenectady Chapter of TDI. We have had upwards of 75 documented visits many of which were between 1 to 4 hours each and many that were not documented. These visits included working with Schenectady Chapter of TDI as well as demos with Schenectady Dog Training Club.
Our visits consisted of trips to the YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter, the YWCA of Schenectady, The Terrace at Glen Eddy, Alterra Wynwood and St. Mary’s Hospital. We visited monthly at the YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter and at the YWCA of Schenectady. Both of these visits were well received. The children who are staying at the domestic violence shelter very much enjoy their visits with Calvin. At times they can be quiet a handful, but Calvin works with the kids and helps to settle them. They all tell us about their own dogs that were left behind. Spring through fall, our visits were out in the yard and the children and their mothers enjoy playing ball or frisbee with Calvin and the other dogs.
Our visits with residents at The Terrace at Glen Eddy were originally scheduled for once a month, and we soon had to change the schedule to every other Tuesday. These residents just love to sit and pet the dogs. One of the residents has named Calvin “Calvin Coolidge”.
The residents greet us at the door for every visit. When we pull up, we can see their faces peeking through the windows waiting for the dogs to come in. During the summer, we have done obedience/agility/therapy visit during the day at the Glen Eddy. The residents enjoyed seeing the dogs work as much as they did petting and loving the dogs. One of the residents moved from the Glen Eddy to another assisted living facility. When George moved, his aid called and asked if we could visit at the Alterra facility. We have added the Alterra Wynwood visit to our monthly schedule. George has moved again and his aid again has requested us to visit at the new facility.
One of our special visits that we do is at a local hospital. I received a call from a Mobile Crisis Counselor who asked if Calvin and I would come to some therapy sessions with a woman who is diagnosed with schizophrenia. This woman was attached to a Rottweiler who was owned by her sister. The dog passed away suddenly and the woman was very distraught. The counselor asked if Calvin could come to the therapy sessions. We visited once a month, however we worked with the counselor and were on call for whenever the patient needs us to visit. The first time we met this patient, it was so rewarding to see the smile on her face. She just loves to see Calvin. I believe Calvin has truly made a difference in her life. He is very well received throughout the hospital. Many of the heads of the departments come to visit with Calvin while he is at the hospital. We also visit with the outpatients in the lobby while we are waiting to be escorted to our visit in the mobile crisis unit.
Many of the other visits that we do are one time requests from schools, nursing homes, and camps for handicapped children and adults. Even Boy Scout troops have requested visits. We also participate in local parades, Girl Scout days, and responsible dog ownership days. We love to participate in obedience and agility demonstrations, parades and therapy dog visits whenever possible.
Another one of Calvin’s specialties is visiting with one of our friends’ child. This child has a disease called Asperger’s Syndrome which is a form of Autism. Whenever this child is visiting at our house or we are away on camping trips together, this child looks to Calvin for a calming influence. We can tell when he is getting upset because he starts to shake his hands and gets very antsy. When he starts this, he will come to me to ask if he can go and rub Calvin. The rubbing and cuddling of Calvin causes him to relax and calm himself. It is very interesting to watch how Calvin can sense that this child needs his attention. He will sit with the child for anywhere from 15 minutes up to an hour or so. These visits are ones that are not documented by any paperwork. They are just special to us as we enjoy helping our friends in times of need.
Calvin is truly a wonderful ambassador for the Rottweiler breed. He is very gentle and loves everyone. He is the guardian and best friend to my Boston Terriers. He often sits out in the yard watching over the Bostons and their babies making sure that the hawks and other predators don’t run off with his friends. Because of his wonderful manners, he has won the hearts of many individuals who otherwise had a bad opinion of the Rottweiler breed. I am truly fortunate to have the opportunity to own and love Calvin.
Calvin has received the Seger Award from the Colonial Rottweiler Club in 2005
(which is the volunteer of the yearaward) and just recently he received the 2006 Mohawk Valley Kennel Club Service Dog of the Year Award.
Even though her dogs have their share of titles, they’re not what puts the biggest smile
on breeder Glenn Pollock’s face. The big grin comes when her Rottweilers, Asgard’s
Covergirl (Dinky) and Ch. Asgard’s Dive Bomber (Buzz), light up the
faces of the children they meet when they are in volunteer mode, giving cart rides for charity.
Every year, Pollock and the dogs offer cart rides to children at fairs and parades,
including the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life”
fund-raiser in Charlotte County, Virginia.
“We haven’t raised a ton of money,” says Pollock, “But everyone enjoys it, including the
dogs.”
Pollock’s initial interest in carting developed out of a very practical need. “We were
living on four acres in Lancaster, Pennsylvania,” she explains. “I was using a lawn
tractor to get around and pick up all the rocks on the ground. Then it occurred to me that
it might be better to use a dogcart. I had working dogs and I knew that Rottweilers were
used for carting ...” So she stopped by her local carriage store and had a wagon made.
A New Calling Takes Shape Carting as more of a dedicated pursuit really got under way in 2000, when Dinky competed
in the American Rottweiler Club’s first carting trial at the national specialty in
Petaluma, California. There, Pollock also offered the kindergarten children touring the
show rides in Dinky’s cart—and the kids’ joy told her she was on to something.
The following year, both Dinky and Buzz earned their CS (Carting Started, On Lead) and CI
(Carting Intermediate, Off Lead) titles, as well as a CST team title, placing first.
At home in Pennsylvania, Pollock took the dogs and their cart to the annual
“PawsAbilities” fund-raiser organized by Susquehanna Service Dogs in Harrisburg. Again,
the cart rides for kids—including those with disabilities—were an instant hit, and
organizers invited Pollock, Dinky, and Buzz back the next year. These days, Pollock lives in Keysville, Virginia, where she breeds under the Asgard
Rottweilers banner. This December, for the third year in a row, Pollock and her dogs will
march in the town’s Christmas parade. To get into the holiday spirit, Pollock decorates
the cart with garlands and battery-operated lights, and fills a second wagon with plush
Rottweiler toys and candy to hand out to children. It’s a festive gesture, but one with
another important purpose: “In any parade, I take the candy and weave from left to right
as we walk,” says Pollock. “The kids come forward to get the candy and it helps them get
close to the dogs as well.”
Out and About, and Into the Classroom
Educating children and the public about dog safety is one of Pollock’s passions. “Dogs
should be able to live in the community,” she says. It sounds obvious, but unfortunately
Pollock knows all too well that not everyone shares her view. When she and her family
moved from Lancaster to Keysville in 2002, she was shocked to discover that her dogs were
not given a warm welcome. “In fact, they were feared. We could not secure homeowners’
insurance due to the community’s past experiences with Rottweilers and our breed’s
reputation.” Back in Pennsylvania, Pollock had been giving her “Dog Manners” elementary school programs
for over 15 years—using the AKC Safety Around Dogs and the AKC Best Friends kits to teach
children how to behave around dogs. Knowing how effective they were, she decided to offer
the programs as a Canine Ambassador in Virginia. She is also in talks with Virginia
Senator George Allen’s office, pitching the idea of legislation that would require all
schools to offer dog safety programs. “It helped a lot when the locals had the chance to meet our dogs and see that they were
well-behaved,” she says. (Pollock’s Asgard Rottweilers contract requires puppy buyers to
complete obedience classes and to earn their CD and AKC Canine Good Citizen® certificate
on the dogs by the time they are 25 months.)
“Because of the bad publicity Rottweilers get, the cart rides and manners classes give me
an opportunity to present the breed in a very positive way,” she says. Her hope of convincing
her new neighbors that her dogs aren’t monsters has been realized through her tireless work in the
community. Many residents were surprised to see how sweet and calm Dinky and Buzz were,
especially amid the clang and clamor of a parade.
Spreading the Word
After years of winning over crowds with her bouncy demeanor, Dinky, who is 12 and suffers
from lymphangiectasia (an inflammatory intestinal disease which causes a loss of protein),
is retiring from carting, relinquishing her duties to another of Pollock’s dogs, Ch.
Acosta Mobster’s Carolina Lily, who will join Buzz for upcoming appearances.
“I’d recommend carting to anyone with sound dogs built for the work,” Pollock says, but
she does stress the importance of having the right equipment and well-fitting harnesses.
Whatever the activity, Pollock hopes that more and more breeders will become Canine
Ambassadors.
“I would love to see more people in the dog sport get involved in the community,” says
Pollock. “My feeling is: You’ve got to get your dog out of the show ring.” Not that she
doesn’t enjoy conformation, or the agility and rally events her dogs compete in. But
seeing the dogs bring joy to people outside the dog world goes a long way toward
nourishing the soul: “I find it just as rewarding as a championship.”
First
published in the December 2006 issue of the AKC
Gazette. Used with permission.
We are a nation of animal lovers. Raised on “Bambi” and “Black Beauty”, we grow up
believing in the inherent innocence and good nature of all creatures, and in the notion that
if left to their own devices, all animals would
exist in a sort of modern Peaceable Kingdom. When someone adopts a dog from a shelter or rescue agency, there is an
assumption that the dog is there solely because of some heartless negligence or outright violence.
While this can be the case in all too many situations, a more honest look at the facts will
show that most pets are given up to shelters by people who are not all that different than
the people who wish to adopt or who work at the agency in question. Job relocation,
divorce, a death in the family, loss of income, medical problems, and the threat of
insurance cancellation for the owners of some breeds are the most common practical
reasons people give up their dogs. While we are all familiar with the staggering numbers
who are turned in for real or imagined behavior problems, even that diagnosis doesn’t
necessarily jibe with the invocation of abuse that usually accompanies it. If anything, the
more common behavior problems associated with most surrendered dogs are
symptomatic of an indulgent or at worst, benignly neglectful home where no one took time
to address the issues before they got out of hand.
However, the cases of outright abuse against any animal are heinous enough to make
the evening news, and will almost always find their way into the public eye. As animal
lovers, we are horrified to hear about what a few truly brutal humans enact upon an
animal unfortunate enough to cross their path. We feel a genuine surge of compassion for
the beaten dog, the deliberately starved horse, and the litter of kittens saved from
drowning, and we want to distance ourselves from the type of person who could commit
such an act. It is proof of our empathy when such a story gets public attention in the
media and hundreds of outraged citizens line up to adopt the victim. But it is also proof of
our relative shallowness that the victim’s less notorious kennelmates at the shelter go
unnoticed and unadopted, perhaps for lack of such a tragic back story. It may be cynical
to say that many of the people who devote so much of their energy and emotion to shelter
and rescue work feel best when they feel bad, but as someone who works full time in the
shelter industry, I don’t think it’s untrue.
Based on the horrific nature of the abuse cases which actually make the news and on
the institutional support of their prevalence among some of the major fundraising humane
organizations and animal rights groups, it only follows that an animal lover interprets any
defensive, aggressive or predatory behavior on the part of his dog as being evidence of
some sort of abuse.
Abuse
vs. neglect;
and the effects of each on rehabilitation; First, what is the difference between “neglect” and “abuse”? On a very basic level, we define neglect as passive and usually a result of ignorance
rather than malice, and abuse as active and intentional. Neglect is a dog who is raised
outside, tied to a tree, hardly fed or attended to. Abuse is a dog who is struck, kicked or
otherwise used as an object of physical violence. Neglect is embodied in the dog of an
animal collector: living in a cage, parasite-laden, ignored except as a possession; a notch
on the belt of a sick person who, ironically, usually thinks he is saving the dog from a
worse fate. The local sociopath who was prosecuted for the hoarding of over one hundred
Shar Pei but who called himself a “rescuer” who “didn’t believe in giving up on a dog” is an
extreme, but telling, example. Abuse is embodied in the dog of a violent human (who,
according to sociologists, is also much more likely to abuse human members of the
family): physically threatened and beaten, with the attacks usually culminating in an
extremely sadistic event which causes the animal to finally die or be abandoned in critical
condition and/or the abuser to be reported. A female Dobe in our system who had been
corrected with a baseball bat to the jaw for barking is one of our more grotesque in-house
models of true abuse. Neither condition paints a pretty picture. Neither is better than the
other. But they are different, and I find they have different effects on the unfortunate
animals subjected to them. There is a third condition which merits more attention than
either neglect or abuse in its devastating effect on a dog. I’ll save that for last.
How does the abused dog differ from the neglected dog when it comes to behavioral
rehabilitation? To explain to new volunteers and employees at our facility, I use the
following anthropomorphic analogy. Obviously, because of self-awareness, the concept of
morality and the ability to question another's motives (among so many other things that
contribute to what we think of as human consciousness), a human psyche can be muchmore permanently scarred by the type of mistreatment we’re discussing. With that in mind,
please accept this analogy as a parable rather than a literal comparison.Three young adolescent kids are put into a progressive reform school. One has been
smacked around and verbally abused since he could answer back. One was the middle
child of a huge family, and it was hardly ever noticed if he was around or not. One was the
spoiled only son and heir of an indulgent parent. How do you think each of them will do?
The abused kid will have a hard time for awhile. He is so used to ducking his head and
cringing that it’s an automatic response. His teachers and leaders are tough, but unlike
anyone else in his previous life, they’re fair. At first, their demands on him seem too
challenging, and he assumes that he will always be punished for whatever effort he puts
forth. But as time passes he realizes that what they’re asking him to do isn’t that hard.
More importantly, it’s actually something concrete and doable. Pretty soon he starts
hearing how smart he is, and how far he'll go. Maybe he’ll never forget what happened to
him in the past. But he’s better equipped to deal with the future thanks to the trust he’s
learned. The neglected kid figures he’s just another number. He’s not used to it when he gets
called on, and he’s nervous. Sometimes he stammers. He’s afraid to get things wrong, but
he’s almost afraid to get things right, because he doesn’t know how to deal with the
attention. Sometimes he’s the opposite: he’s too overbearing and exuberant in social
situations because he’s really never learned how to deal with others. Sometimes he goes
from one extreme to the other...school is pretty overwhelming. With time he finds a middle
ground, and eventually he begins to set himself apart as an individual. He still has the
security of a big group, but he also knows his name and his place in that group, and he’s
happy with it. He’s prepared for the world. The spoiled kid has a problem. Who do all these peasants think they’re talking to? Don’t
they know who he IS? When pouting and sulking don’t make things grind to a halt like
they did at home with Mummy, he throws tantrums. Sometimes he hurts people when he
throws tantrums. No matter what his teachers do, they can’t convince him that he is part of
a team. They can never tell what will offend him and how he’ll express that offense. He is
finally expelled. And, the administrators and teachers say, it’s
a shame, because sometimes he could be such a sweet kid. But he doesn’t have what it takes to succeed in
real life.
But why does it matter if we assume the worst about a dog’s past? When one works on the front lines of rescue and animal care, one sees some real toe curling
horrors enacted by genuinely stupid or evil humans upon their dogs. Any abuse is
too much. But we owe it to the dogs who rely on us to improve their lives to recognize the
limits that abuse has on their minds and behavior. I firmly believe that any behavior or
reaction a person puts into a dog is something a knowledgeable and determined person
can remove. Dogs are far more resilient than the people who care for them. In my practice
I have worked with dogs who have been struck with shovels, who have had cigarettes put
out on them, who have been repeatedly booted and beaten, according to actual
documentation, and in all too few cases, with prosecution of the offending humans.
Regaining their trust is nowhere near as difficult as it was for their abusers to lose it. We
all marvel at a beaten dog’s tendency to adore its abuser, yet we can’t imagine that very
same dog acting normally ever again once it’s in a normal home. To blame defensive or
aggressive behavior solely on an abusive past can end up hurting the dog even more.
How?
First, writing off a dog’s inappropriate behavior as a by-product of abuse cancels out the
diagnosis of other potential reasons: health problems, ineffective training, bad genetics
are just a few of the possibilities. I have had clients in the past whose dogs suffered from
epilepsy, half-blindness, and severe hypothyroidism to name a few examples but who
went undiagnosed for months: the owners were advised by other trusted canine
professionals that their respective dogs were spooky and defensive because they had
been “abused”. They were assured by well-meaning animal lovers that all their dogs
needed was “love” and “understanding”, when what they truly needed was veterinary
attention.
More commonly, the “abuse excuse” also prevents people from training and controlling
their dogs. Convinced that their dog has suffered enough hardship, they decide to “make
up” to the dog for his past torment at the hands of lesser humans. This is poisonous, as
the overindulgence of a dog is the main reason he fails in a home. When he arrives with
an either real or supposed diagnosis of abusive treatment, the more compassionate
nature of his caregivers is to spoil him. When he responds to the lack of leadership and
structure by becoming possessive or defensive, his “abused” status is invoked and a few
more privileges are added in the hopes that he might be placated into pethood.
Suggestions to take away these freebies and to insist on serious compliance with
obedience commands are met with accusations of “cruelty” and lack of empathy. In too
many cases, this dog is literally spoiled to death: his nasty, defensive behavior finally
results in an injury to a human family member, he is turned in to a shelter or brought to the
vet for euthanasia with the reassurance that they “tried everything” and that the dog is
hopelessly unable to overcome his horrible past and is better off at rest.
Although their history may not be as colorfully violent as the abused dog, the dogs who
have been either benignly or intentionally neglected are sometimes tougher to help. Often,
they only view a human being as the bearer of a food dish and the occasional giver of a
pat on the head. When they are exposed to humans who actually want to interact with
them, to touch them and speak with them and be close, they are sometimes overwhelmed
with confusion, and can give off a number of mixed messages. This is the trait that gets
them labeled as unpredictable. In almost every abuse case I‘ve dealt with, the dog is often
a pet who has lived in the house and who suffered his fate due to some transgression of
house rules he was never taught in the first place. The neglected dog is more often a
stranger to normal human contact, good or bad. His rehabilitation tends to take longer
than the dog who has been actively, and usually by human standards, much more
abusively treated. The seriously abused dogs I’ve worked with were always a challenge. The neglected
ones required the patience of a saint. But the very worst Dobermans I’ve ever dealt with in
rescue have been the ones that came from super-indulgent homes where the dog was
allowed to rule like a privileged prince; treated as a human child; and
otherwise given full charge of the house, its contents and occupants. Unlike their
neglected or abused cousins, these dogs frequently have bitten people in their own family,
and usually more than once. To see them surrendered to the shelter with an honor guard
of teddy bears, a soft bed, special treats and a long list of requests is particularly
heartbreaking, as these are often the dogs that we are least likely to be able to help.
Rather than experiencing a specific, violent set of horrible behaviors enacted on them by a
human, or the desolate vacuum of total neglect, these dogs have been insidiously and
actively “lied to” for their entire lives. If their innate temperament is particularly defensive
or aggressive, convincing them that they must respectfully defer to kind human leadership
is sometimes impossible. They have been conditioned in such a way that they have an
entirely upside-down view of the world which is often unchangeable in a shelter setting
and which therefore makes them unadoptable. Compared to the neglect or abuse cases,
"removing" the damage done by their well-meaning past owners is a much slower-moving
process with many more risks to the people charged with doing the rehab, two conditions
which get them placed in the highest risk category of training/rehab subjects. Dig deep
enough in the history of one of these tragic cases, and you are likely to find that there was
no actual training or structure in the dog’s life, or if there was it was abandoned as being
“too mean” or because “he didn’t like it”. The owners of these dogs are the ones most
likely to call the shelter frequently, demanding a detailed update on the welfare of their exdog.
They wish to know how he's eating, how many times a day does he get run in the
yard, have we found a family "just as loving as theirs" except one without kids, other dogs,
old people, men with beards, cats, etc. When it is my sad duty to inform this type of owner
that this dog is beyond my help, it is why I will answer his angry protests by telling him that
he has abused his dog in a much more damaging way than if he had put his boot in its
side. The number of dogs surrendered to our agency with a documented abuse is slight. I
have only seen about five actual abuse cases in the past six years, out of the hundreds
who have passed through the rescue system. Severely neglected dogs often come in as
singles or groups from Animal Control cases; picture emaciated, wormy, physically
compromised animals with no normal human contact and you will understand what I mean
by genuine neglect. Sadly, we see a comparatively high number of those, compared to the
abuse cases. But the number of dogs surrendered with an over-indulged history (ie, no
training, no crating, total and unearned freedom in the house, free choice feeding,
furniture and bed access, etc) is far higher. Of the dogs with known backgrounds
euthanized for serious and irreversible behavior issues in our records, almost all come
from the indulged profile. None have a documented or even circumstantially estimated
abuse history.
More than 100
Rottweilers spent a
peaceful weekend at Onslow Pines Park. And Gaye Trevor of Hubert says that is
proof that the breed itself isn't unsafe or aggressive.
Disproving the stereotype is one factor that drives the East Carolina
Rottweiler Klub to put on its Winter Sieger Show each year.
"With the Rottweiler breed the stereotype can be a pretty bad one,"
said Trevor, vice president of the eight-member club. "This show is to
promote this as a good, friendly family dog. With the right training and
handling, these dogs can be a great neighbor."
THE DAILY NEWS / Randy Davey / Going
to the dogs: Gerard O'Shea, looking at the female Rottweilers during the
East Carolina Rottweiler Klub 2007 Winter Sieger Show, traveled from Sweden
to judge the show at the Onslow Pines Park.
Around 200 people participated in the event, which took place Saturday and
Sunday at Onslow Pines Park. Rottweiler enthusiasts came from as far as
Florida and New York to participate in the club's third show.
"It's our sport; we go wherever we can to compete," said Alex
Rodriguez of Nashville, Tenn. "I've had Rottweilers since I was 9 years
old. I have a passion for the dog."
Rodriguez, who runs a construction company, travels as far as Europe each year
for competitions - something he says is just a hobby. He entered four dogs in
this weekend's show and took best overall male and female.
"It was just a beautiful show," he said. "It's worth it."
Rottweilers, which originate from Germany, were judged for structure, shape,
color and breedability, said Trevor, who has entered her dogs in more than 40
shows. Her female Rottweilers took fourth place and her male took a second
place this weekend.
Gerard O'Shea of Ireland came from Sweden to judge the show. He has worked
with Rottweilers for over 25 years around the world.
"I love the education aspect of it," O'Shea said. "My main
passion is the breed and being able to look at dogs and people in different
cultures. I've judged dogs from eastern Russia to South America."
O'Shea gives each dog a specific critique, which Trevor says helps owners
improve for future competitions. Training is a necessity for show dogs, who
must stand still while judges inspect their teeth and other areas.
But training is important for all dogs, Trevor said, as a number of people
cite lack of obedience when they give up a large-breed dog.
"If they aren't trained, they become too much to handle," she said.
"If it's a working dog, it needs a job, even if that is just
obedience."
For more information on the East Carolina Rottweiler Klub, call president
James Bougie at 326-5835.
Contact staff writer Chrissy Vick at cvick@freedomenc.com or by calling
353-1171, ext. 239.
Rottweiler
Molly showing her maternal instincts with lambs Lucky
and Charm. She has been doing exactly what a ewe would be doing" to look after the new-born lambs.
They have a fearsome
reputation, but one Rottweiler is proving that the breed has a
softer side by helping to rear two lambs.
Molly has been using
her maternal instincts after lambs Lucky and Charm were born
with complications on a farm.
Her owner Maria
Foster, 38, from Forden, near Welshpool in Powys, said Molly
slept with the pair at night, and even protected them from other
animals.
Lucky and Charm are
recovering and will be placed in a field in about 10 days.
Ms Foster said the
pair needed help to improve their circulation soon after they
were born.
They were placed in an
Aga oven for warmth and after being lifted out Molly took over
and started licking them as a ewe would have done.
"The first 12 to
24 hours for a lamb are absolutely crucial and if Molly hadn't
been doing what she was doing, I would have had to have been
there rubbing the lambs through most of the night to keep their
circulation going," said Ms Foster.
"She could have
ignored them but she didn't and it is quite comical to
see."
Now 11-month-old Molly
is like a mother to the two lambs, who stick closely to their
unlikely guardian.
Molly
protects the lambs and sleeps with them
Ms Foster added:
"The cat came into the kitchen the other day and walked
over to the bucket where the lambs were sleeping, but Molly
pushed her away as if to say: 'They are mine.'
"She will let the
sheepdog have a look, but only for so long before she pushes him
away as well."
Ms Foster said they
cannot be returned to their mother because they would be
rejected by her after so long apart.
A spokesman for the
Kennel Club, which organises Crufts, said: "Rottweilers
were originally bred as guard dogs in Germany, but in the right
hands they should not pose a problem.
"They are not
born aggressive, they learn it from us.
"Nonetheless,
it's certainly the first time I've ever heard of a Rottweiler
caring for lambs."
Pat Kinch and her Rottweiler Chopper (along with another dog, Cooper, from Pals on Paws, a Therapy Dog chapter located in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN) were on their local
Channel 4 news, showing their
R.E.A.D. skills. R.E.A.D. is a certification program, Reading Education Assistance Dogs, launched by Intermountain Therapy Animals in 1999. This program improves children's reading and communication skills by reading to a dog. Could you put this link below from Channel 4 on your web site? It's a news video, so not sure how long it will be available.
Pat owns two R.E.A.D. certified Rottweilers -- Chopper (Greatheart's Comanche, TDI, CGC, R.E.A.D.) and Panzer (RedHawks Absolute Power, TDI, CGC, R.E.A.D.). Pat is very active in Pet Therapy, she is an evaluator and has a training class at Elk River K9 located in Elk River, MN
(www.elkriverk9.com). She has done a lot to improve the public's opinion of Rottweilers, by doing all these things outside of the usual show venues. She has also encouraged us to do therapy, and all of Panzer's siblings and his dam (our Ivana) are active therapy dogs, too.
Ever have a litter of Rottweilers born without tails???
Graudstarks Nafu and CH Hy Tymes Kickin' Ash produced a
litter if 5 pups, 2 of which had no tails, 1 had a very
short tail.
Some breeders say it isn’t possible, others say Rottweilers cannot be born without tails. A few say maybe it could happen. Well, I am here to tell you all it is very possible and I have the proof!
I purchased 2 bitches,
(Nafu and Pella) from a friend, Diane, who originally got them from Judy Johnson of Graudstark Kennels. When Diane got the bitches Judy told her one of them, Graudstarks Nafu could possibly have puppies born without tails. Diane got out of Rottweilers before ever breeding Nafu so she really didn’t know if it was true or not. After I had Nafu for a little while we bred her to my Champion male Hy Tyme’s
Kickin’ Ash (Monti). Her first litter Nafu had one pup born tailless. I thought
"this is very cool" but didn’t really tell anyone except for a couple of my closest friends. When I decided to breed her to Monti again, I mentioned to a few people that I wondered if she would have any tailless pups in this litter. Well she had 5 pups and 2 were born completely tailless, one pup has a tail that is very short and 2 were born with normal tails.
I have pictures of them when they were first born and I am documenting them for myself and anyone who thinks it isn’t possible.
Nafu’s pedigree doesn’t contain a lot of “well-knowns.”
Monti has sired a few other litters and all of his other pups have been born with full tails so my conclusion is that it has to be from
Nafu.
We had a specialty. Lots of people came.
Dogs were shown. Dogs won, dogs lost.
Lots of great trophies were awarded.
Everyone had a good time!
We all went home.
Now seriously, the ARC Region IV Specialty was held Labor Day weekend, specifically on Monday, September 4, 2006. The newly reformed Carolina Rottweiler Club sponsored the event.
A huge amount of work went into this event and we need to thank Cathy Rubens and Bob Busby for the effort they put into getting the ball rolling and keeping it rolling. That is not to say that a lot of other people didn’t put many hours of effort into the event both behind the scenes and at the show. Some of those folks, to name a few are Rebekah
Pless, Michelle Lennon, Kay Lackey and many others. To those I haven’t named, please forgive me. My memory has never been good and as I age it isn’t improving any!
Since I haven’t been able to make it to the Nationals, CRC or many Regional Specialties for several years the entry was the largest I’ve seen for some time. Obviously I don’t get out much! It was a pleasure to sit and watch the judging of a group of very nice dogs.
One of the special things that went on all four days was the anti-BSL table. Volunteers manned the table from the start of judging to Best in Show. Information on the current problems facing owners of so-called “vicious” or “aggressive” breeds was presented to anyone who stopped by and items such as
anti-BSL pins, buttons stating “I own a dog and I vote” , and auto magnets were available for the sum of a donation. Over the course of the four days, donations for
anti-BSL efforts totaled $900.00! This surpassed everyone’s expectations and really pleased Bob. I’d like to thank several folks who worked hard to make the BSL table a huge success. Suzi Faulkner, Denise
Nardini, Diane Garnett, Tracy Fowler and Brona Hicks, thank you all for the time and effort you put into this important effort. For those whose names my miserable memory won’t allow me to include, a huge thank you to you as well!!
Another part of this great weekend was the Judges Breed Study Seminar presented by Cathy Rubens. Those who participated in this event with ringside mentoring came from New York, Ohio, New Jersey and Florida. Everyone appreciated Cathy sharing her knowledge and expertise. I’m sure they went home with a lot of new knowledge swirling about in their heads!
Not only did the ARC Region IV have Sweepstakes and Veteran Sweeps on Monday but at the Durham Kennel Club show on Saturday the entry of Rottweilers was supported by the American Rottweiler Club, Michelle Lennon, and Cathy Rubens. It was wonderful to see the young dogs as well as the veterans strut their stuff. We all enjoyed having two days of Sweeps. Next year will be even better, more to come on that.
I especially love the veterans. They usually make me cry because they seem so happy to be out there working again. Actually CH Hopehill’s Diamond Affair CD
(Shea) made her mother cry on Monday. She went Best of Opposite Sex to Best Veteran in Sweeps on both Saturday and Monday. I had the privilege of handling her on Monday. Shea really doesn’t need anyone to “handle” her. She tolerates us humans who think we need to be in the ring with her. After she won her class on Monday I came out of the ring with her to find her “mother” Kay Lackey sitting ringside sobbing. Kay was thrilled to see Shea enjoying herself so much. I think all of the veteran dogs and bitches looked like they were having a ball. I wish them many more happy years.
Let me fill you in on the day of the Specialty. It started early with quite a few of us meeting to set up the trophy table. What an effort that was! There were loads of lovely trophies! We kept having to spread out more and more and ultimately added another table. Stuffed toys were also abundant. They were given out to the placing dogs in the ring during sweepstakes, were offered as trophies for second through fourth place winners in the regular classes and seemed to be multiplying as the day progressed. There were three Awards of Merit as well. Everyone went all out to make this day and Specialty something to remember. Many of the trophies in both conformation and obedience were donated in memory of Rita Welker, Welkerhaus Rottweilers. Rita was a long time breeder and champion of Rottweilers. Many of the donations in Rita’s memory were actually trophies Rita’s Welkerhaus dogs had won over the years. Many thanks to everyone who donated money, time, and trophies. You are all awesome!
After the trophy table was set up, it was time for the judging to begin. First, I’d like to thank all of the judges who did an excellent job and helped to make the weekend special. Friday’s judge Suzan Otto, Saturday’s Sweeps judge Diane Garnett, Cathy Rubens in the regular classes, Sunday’s judge Tony
DiCicco, Monday’s Sweeps judge Danny Moore and judging the regular classes Grace McGlynn.
There were 5 point majors four days in a row! Looking for that last, elusive major in 2007? Keep reading!
Results for Friday 09/01/2006 Alamance Kennel Club Judge Suzan Otto
B CH. RUDEO’S FOREVER CIMMERRON
OS CH. D’ORO SOLIDO’S DARLIN DARLA
WD TEXADEL’S BEST MAN
RWD ETERNAL FIRE’S HEARTBREAKER
WB/BW VON WILHELMS JESSICA JAMES
RWB TAGAR’S I VANT IT ALL
Results for Saturday September 2, 2006, Durham Kennel Club
Puppy and Veteran Sweepstakes Judge Diane Garnett
BSW VON WILHELMS JESSICA JAMES
BOSW ETERNAL FIRE’S HEARTBREAKER
BVSW GRANT’S KHARBEN COPY
BOSVSW CH HOPEHILL’S DIAMOND AFFAIR CD
Results for Salisbury Kennel Club Sunday 09/03/2006 Judge Anthony DiCicco
B CH APOLLONIA ANYTHING GOES
OS CH. D’ORO SOLIDO’S DARLIN DARLA
WD WOODROTTS WORTH THE WAIT
RWD TARAGWYN’S TIME KEEPER
WB/BW VON ROXMAR’S RACING THE DESERT SUN
RWB TAGAR’S I’VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES RN
Results for the ARC Region IV Specialty Monday 09/04/2006
Puppy and Veteran Sweepstakes Judge Danny J Moore
BSSW TARAGWYN’S TIME KEEPER
BOSSW MYSTIC’S ESSENCE OF THE HEART
BVSW CH ETERNAL MOON LORD OF THE RING CD RA
BOSVSW CH HOPEHILL’S DIAMOND AFFAIR CD
Regular judging Judge Grace Mcglynn
B/G4 CH WOODROTT ABBAZ KAZMOPOLITAN
OS CH ECKO RIDGE’S ALL ABOUT MATHILDA
AOM CH TAGAR’S IKON DO IT ALL RA
AOM CH APOLLONIA ANYTHING GOES
AOM CH VON GAILINGEN’S GAIUS MAXIMUS
WD/BW D’ORO SOLIDO’S ETTORE THE HERO
RWD VON RIDDLE’S DESPERADO V MYSTIC
WB TAGAR’S I’VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES RN
RWB SILVERHILL’S HOT TAMALE
BP BARSTES TEJAS FOR CIMMERRON
If I have transcribed anything incorrectly or otherwise made an error please accept my sincere apologies!!!
One of my favorite parts of the day was the Parade of Rescues. That could be because I got to see one of my Katrina rescues again. Does anyone remember “Dumpster”? She now lives with a wonderful couple in South Carolina and has gone from being a skinny, sad, frightened little wild woman to a well-fed, well-behaved, well-adjusted and much loved little girl. I cried when I saw her. To say that she has fallen into the best situation one could want for any dog is an understatement. Bless you Tim and
Verena.
All of the dogs who participated in the Parade were obviously in such loving and caring homes. Many of them have overcome tremendous obstacles. Some are still struggling but those who have adopted them are patiently working them through their issues. To those who have any part in rescuing and those who have adopted the rescued, you are all jewels. Kiss and hug those babies for me.
Plan now to attend the 2007 ARC Region IV Specialty Labor Day weekend in Raleigh, NC. I’m told the event will be a five day cluster with four days of sweeps!!!! Cathy says to polish up your puppies and come to Raleigh. And Barbara, PLEASE don’t forget to bring the rum cake! Until then, see you all at the Nationals in the spring.
From 1990 to 1998 I was very active showing Rotties in obedience and conformation, my second passion was mountain biking about 50-60 miles per week. In '98 I began experiencing extreme fatigue and muscle cramps with joint pain. I was diagnosed with post-polio syndrome (polio survivor of 1954). A large number of us that recovered from the initial polio began to experience problems 30-40 years later. Usually it shows up with those that are atheletic and do alot of repetative motion. I saw a well known authority on the disease and was relieved to learn it did not have to progress to requiring a wheel chair--if I paced myself and learned to conserve energy.
I gave up biking and when it became too painful, I gave up showing.
In 1993 I bred my girl Cajun Arianna V Ashlind, CGC, TT, (only lacking majors to finish) to Multi-V1, BIS, BISS, SKC, AKC Ch Dillon Von Wacissa, CD, CGC, TT, HIC, RTD. That breeding produced my heart dog, Multi V1 Ch. Dillon's Rope the Moon, CGC, TT, HIC--Dooley. The last litter Dooley sired out of Franlynn's Majestic Amen produced Elric. A tall, gangly pup, tons of enthusiasim but lacking in ring presence. For some reason of the 3 sons I owned during Dooley's life, Elric was his favorite.
In 2003 I left Florida and returned to Georgia to care for my ailing mother. On weekends Elric was my "demo" dog for some small obedience classes I taught.
My symptoms worsened gradually over the next couple of years. I could no longer endure walking on hard surfaces for any length of time due to severe joint pain and muscle cramps. Sitting on the floor or ground made getting up difficult, even getting out of bed was painful. I had to avoid the 12 steps up from my backyard and exit through the gate and go to the front door.
It was while sitting on the ground playing with my dogs that Elric began to
try and assist me. He would stand near and allow me to support on him to get up. Soon no matter where he was if I said "help" he was right there assisting me. Napping on the sofa found him near by and ready to help me up and wait until I was ready to walk. Soon he began to walk with me and even help me up the stairs. When my hands are full he has learned to open the screen door and pick up items. I often joke that I don't know how many commands he knows as we only speak conversational English that do not sound like commands.
I had stopped so many activities because I would begin to limp severly and Elric now helps much like a cane to relieve some of the weight on painful joints. All my energy had to be focused on earning income as I am my only source of income. Recently I was able to limit my home health care job to remaining with one patient for 8 hrs instead of running from patient to patient. My patient is fond of Elric and he now accompanies me to my patients' home and does duel duty as assistance/therapy dog on a daily basis.
It has been wonderful to have his help and a joy to see a working dog performing work he loves and as an added benefit the community sees a Rottweiler in such a positive light and we are able to educate so many. I am so grateful to Elric for giving some of my mobility back to me with so much love.
Tom Tilden and his dog Bernie are both in
custom wheelchairs. He says,
"this dog has my
heart." Here, they're both out for a stroll in Magnuson
Park.
"Bernie never gave up on me, and I
wasn't going to give up on her," Tilden says.
Using a specially built ramp, Tilden is
able to have Bernie, his three-legged Rottweiler, exit his
van.
There are a few things about Tom Tilden that you should know:
He's not some sort of softie animal nut. He'd never even had a dog before
Bernie, his 8-year-old Rottweiler. He realizes Bernie probably won't beat the
bone cancer that led to the loss of a front leg in January. And he's not doing
anything extraordinary by giving Bernie a custom-made wheelchair to help her
get around after her surgery. He's just doing what anyone would do when faced
with a loved one's serious illness: He's trying to buy more time.
Tilden can relate to Bernie's plight in a way that few others could. He's
been in a wheelchair since 1986, when a training accident in the Army left him
a paraplegic.
"Before my accident, I was talking to an Army buddy about people who
were paralyzed, and I said to him, 'If that ever happens to me, I want to
die.' One month later, my back was broken and I became a paraplegic. My first
thought was, 'I want to live.' It's probably the same for Bernie."
The 40-year-old Tilden, a freelance editor who lives in North Seattle, grew
up in Eastern Washington, the youngest of eight children of a farmer who
didn't believe in having indoor animals.
Eight years ago, his future wife, Nancy, said to him, "I love
dogs." Tilden figured they were having a hypothetical discussion, so he
replied, "I love dogs, too." He soon found out that what this really
meant was, "Let's get a dog together."
When the couple went on a fact-finding mission to a kennel, they vowed they
would not come home with a puppy. Then 13-week-old Bernie, a gal with an eye
on the future, crawled onto Tom's lap, and it was all over.
"I had no idea what I was in for," he says. "I didn't know
how much Bernie was going to become a part of me. If I had, I probably
wouldn't have gotten her."
From the outset, Tilden and Bernie were inseparable, spending "every
waking hour within 10 feet of each other." They participated in
competitive obedience training for two years, the major requirement for which
is reciprocal trust and devotion.
Bernie was such a star that Tilden tried her at sheep herding, and she
excelled. "She was gentle enough to herd ducks," he explains. More
important was Bernie's skill with people. "When we went for a walk,"
says Tilden, "everyone would notice how well-behaved she was. I wouldn't
know any of my neighbors if it weren't for Bernie."
Early last year, Tilden noticed that Bernie was tiring easily and that her
enthusiasm for herding had waned. After having surgery to repair a torn
ligament in her right hind leg, she was still limping.
The vet thought she had a sprain, but when it failed to heal, the Tildens
got a grim diagnosis: Bernie had an aggressive type of bone cancer in her left
front leg.
Tilden knew he couldn't leave a fallen comrade. "Bernie never gave up
on me, and I wasn't going to give up on her," he says.
The Tildens debated about how many extra miles they were willing to go with
Bernie, and then decided that her best chance would be amputation of the
cancerous limb, followed by chemotherapy.
This could buy Bernie another 18 months. Without the amputation, she would
have had three months at the most.
"My accident," Tilden says, "influenced me to believe that
just because a dog doesn't have a leg doesn't mean she doesn't want to be
alive."
The Tildens have been working to get Bernie accustomed to her wheelchair.
She still yaws to one side, but Tom is confident she'll get the hang of it.
It's a matter of getting the cart to bear enough weight, without taking so
much weight off that she doesn't have good traction.
The custom-made wheelchair takes some of the weight off her remaining front
leg, which will help to protect her from arthritis and other joint problems.
The $1,100 chair was made by Doggon' Wheels, a custom canine-cart manufacturer
in Bozeman, Mont.
Bernie will have to get over her prejudice against wheelchairs. "She's
suspicious of everybody else in a wheelchair," says Tilden. "She
even barks at them on TV."
So far, she's doing well. She is receiving a drug that was tested at the
University of Wisconsin and found to extend cancer patients' lives by up to
six months. She has finished her chemotherapy and still receives regular
acupuncture, chiropractic care and treatment with Chinese herbs. She also goes
swimming twice a week at Wellsprings, a canine hydrotherapy studio in West
Seattle.
"The swimming optimizes what Bernie has left," says
hydrotherapist Sheila Wells. "In the olden days, people would just shoot
a dog if it got a broken leg. Now you can get them into the pool one week
after surgery, or as soon as the stitches have healed."
Swimming provides Bernie with exercise, with relief from weight-bearing and
with the chance to do a job.
One of Bernie's jobs is to continue to heal and adjust to her new wheels.
But perhaps her biggest job is one that just comes naturally: not to give up.
"The thing that makes Bernie happiest," says Tilden, "is a job
well done."
Dana Standish is an occasional contributor to The Seattle Times.
Jan Cooper has been an AKC Legislative Liaison since its inception, due to a newsletter which she published about her breed of choice, the Rottweilers.
Jan cooper has been educating the general public and various officials for 2 decades on the problems with Breed Specific Legislation (BSL). She has discussed how any form of BSL is not only impractical, but it does not prevent or reduce canine aggression or irresponsible individuals from obtaining dogs that can become aggressive.
Jan has spent over 40 years owning, training and working around various exotic and domestic members of the Pet Community. She has written various articles during her lifetime on animal behavior to help the average pet owner. She was taught to train using what is now called positive reinforcement, by a respected dog trainer in the field. She has been honored and privileged to know some of the finest animal trainers in history. She became an ardent follower of the well known behaviorist, Conrad Lorenz.
As you have I have learned, Jan's love of the Pet Community compelled her to spend her life promoting ethnical dog ownership, and I am proud to know and support her efforts to prevent Breed Specific Legislation.
Jan has spent her professional career protecting the rights of responsible dog ownership by influencing the field the federal statutes and regulations of the Pet Community. The various federal agencies Jan has worked for include USDA, APHIS, VS; USF&WS, LE Div; and NOAA, NMFS, to name a few.
Jan's dedication to the preservation of the right and privilege of owning the breed of dog of your choice has been surpassed by few. It has always been that she believes every citizen should be allowed to own the breed of their choice BUT not that every citizen should be allowed to own a dog.
It is BreedersUSA's privilege to know a person with such passion for the Pet Community. Please visit Jan Cooper's web site at www.rott-n-chatter.com/bsl_broadcasts .
If one were to take a survey asking, “Why did you purchase a Rottweiler”, “Why this breed over
others”, it would certainly elicit intriguing answers. I cannot say for sure what the attraction others
had to the Rottweiler when first encountered, however for me, it was his raw masculine appeal, his
unique head and the impressive musculature and power he exuded. From his appearance, one could easily
understand that this was a serious dog! Not alone in this view, many other Rottweiler
aficionados have recognized this hallmark of the breed and expressed a similar perspective as well.
After all, is not the “look” of a dog that makes the first and lasting impression? Surely, his breed
type is what makes the Rottweiler unique The Germans understood the Rottweiler’s
distinction when they came together to codify the standard at Heidelburg, Germany in 1907. They
were deliberate when articulating and fixing the appearance of the Rottweiler, which is why the standard
uses detailed language in its description of this essential aspect of breed type. The standard was
modified since 1907, but the general appearance of the Rottweiler has not. Reading the current standard,
one finds the word “powerful” written 6 times, “bone” mentioned 3 times and “muscle” mentioned 5 times.
No other words have such repetition when describing the details.
Excerpts from the
standard:
“The ideal Rottweiler is a medium large, robust and powerful dog - Dogs are characteristically more
massive throughout with larger frame and heavier bone than bitches - His bone and muscle mass must be
sufficient to balance his frame, giving a compact and very powerful appearance - Neck- Powerful, well
muscled - Loin is short, deep and well muscled - Legs are strongly developed with straight, heavy bone -
Upper thigh is fairly long, very broad and well muscled - Lower thigh is long, broad and powerful, with
extensive muscling - His movement should be balanced, harmonious, sure, powerful and unhindered, with
strong forereach and a powerful rear drive ” Despite his distinctive breed type and the words used in the blueprint to describe it, a
negative, subtle change has occurred over the years, which ultimately is disastrous to his appearance.
Currently in the US, which is observable both in the show-ring and out, is a great loss in the
general power of the breed’s masculine design. Now, a rarity and an oddity, the once major factor in the
breed’s appeal, its power and substance, were put on the “back burner” in many breeding programs. One
must look carefully to find this trait; the breed has lost its distinction. On the street, we encounter Rottweilers that are a poor representation of once was. They possess
“pin heads”, narrow, snipey, muzzles, and spindly bones, no muscle mass and shallow frames. To the
knowledgeable, these Rottweilers appear to be a mix breeding, although they are not. To the
unknowledgeable, they appear to be correct! In the show-ring, this problem has crossed the boundaries. One should expect poor
examples of the breed on the street since they are comprised of non-show dogs. However, the show ring
should be the exception. Presently, many exhibits share the same problem of their street cousins and are
only a notch or two above. Many exhibits that enter the show-ring are constructed well but are also as
weak in substance, spindly in bones and musculature as their pet counterparts are. Now, when a dog or
bitch that is in the ring with correct breed type, exuding power and substance, it appears as the “odd
man out”. A strong masculine dog or powerful bitch seems strange among exhibits with spindly frail
bodies and Doberman-like heads. To the newbie's and unknowledgeable judges, it is untypical and put at
the end of the line. Often, I have heard that a female, which possesses strong bones, muscle and a
powerful head, is now deemed “too strong” and considered a “doggy bitch”. What was once correct and
typical is now abnormal. The dogs, which should embody power and masculinity, are now so weak in type
they can be considered “beautiful females”!
WHAT ARE CORRECT BONES AND MUSCLES?
The standard does not give a numerical value for the appropriate bone mass or muscle, only a
verbal guide. Therefore, to state a formula, “Dog x must have y amount of bone and muscle to be correct
is not possible.” To understand what is appropriate for the correct amount for these attributes, one
must refer to the blueprint. From the standard: “His bone and muscle mass must be sufficient to balance
his frame, giving a compact and very powerful appearance.” A reasonable guide when assessing an exhibit, one should ask, “Does this exhibit exemplify a
powerful appearance”? - “Is the bone and muscle mass substantial, so that its appearance exudes power”?
One should be impressed with the overall appearance for power, muscle and bones.
A. BONE MASS
Bones mass should be thick enough in width so that it appears to support the frame of the dog in
a substantial and powerful manner, without being refined, elegant, too massive or grotesque.
The place to visually assess the bone mass on a Rottweiler, correct or incorrect, is the
thickness in the radius/ulna and humerus. When making an evaluation, the dog is presented “head on” so
that the full width of the chest (from East to West) can be seen. If a numerical evaluation for the
thickness of the bones is desired, it is measured by using a tape measure and wrapping it around the
circumference of the pastern (see Fig.1). Here is where the least amount of skin, muscle and tendon can
be found. Correct bone mass is correlated to the height. The taller the dog, the more bone mass it should
possess, compared to dogs of lesser height. Additionally, bone mass should always be proportionate and
balanced to the frame of the dog. “Out of balance” is not correct. Good examples of this are the
extremes. They are exhibited when a tall dog possess long, fine bones of the radius/ulna and
humerus,
giving the appearance of spindles, or when a short dog possesses too strong bone mass appearing like
“tree trunks”. These dogs are “out of balance”. The Rottweiler is not a St. Bernard or a
Dobermann.
B. MUSCLE MASS
The general muscle mass should be substantial, well defined and in proportion to the frame of the dog so that it exudes strength, masculinity and athleticism. The muscles should be apparent, yet not overpowering, like the Bull and Pit Bull Terriers’. The muscle groups that comprise this “appearance” are the muscles of the front and rear assembly.
In the front assembly, the muscles of the shoulders, the upper arm and forearm should be well developed and obvious. These muscle groups are the Deltoids, Biceps, Triceps and the Extensor muscles of the radius/ulna.
In the rear assembly, the muscles of the Gluteus and Biceps Femoris should be well developed and defined. Viewing the rear muscles from the back, the depth and width of the Biceps Femoris and Gluteus should be full, supporting the Femur (see Fig.2). Here is where all forward locomotion begins.
C. THE CORRELATION OF MUSCLE AND BONE
With human body-building, the muscles can be developed, shaped and improved, with discipline,
hard work, good nutrition and much sweat. However, improvement has limits, since body-building is
dependent upon the size, mass of the muscle groups and bone substance. In essence, “you are what you
inherited”. The thin framed, fine boned man or woman will always work harder and strain longer to build
bulk and definition in the muscle tissue. With this body type, a major factor is bone mass! Strong bone
mass is supported by thick muscles. The same principles hold true for the Rottweiler.
Dogs and bitches that are fine boned possess muscles, which are light in their mass and often
show little or no definition. This type, will always work very hard to make strides improving and
developing what it inherited from the pedigree. Conversely, there are those dogs/bitches, which impress
us with their natural well-developed musculature and powerful bone mass. Their musculature is correlated
to their robust bone mass.
BREED TYPE IS A STEPCHILD
Why is the great majority of Rottweilers here in the states, (especially in the show ring), not uniformly masculine in type with powerful muscle and bones, which is specified in the standard? Why have they become slight in bone, shallow in substance, and soft in appearance? The answer is breed type has become a stepchild.
In the US, the accent is on the best possible construction demonstrated by superior gait. Those dogs, which display this attribute, are the ones that win in the show-ring. Placing the accent on this attribute is both good and problematic. It is good since all concerned breeders have this as one of
their goals in mind when planning their next litter. Sound construction, in accordance with the breed standard is essential. All exhibitors want to
win in the show-ring; therefore, many breeders make superior gait their only goal. With this as their prime directive, many breeders have made a detrimental detour; they traded breed type for locomotion. This is problematic.
Often, at ringside, one can hear spectators and breeders alike say, “Oh that dog moved beautifully with great reach and drive”, “It
was well put together.” Yes, that could be said however, the dog looked more like a Doberman than a Rottweiler. Excellent construction with outstanding gait is not breed type. These two attributes are separate entities in a breeding program and are not mutually interchangeable or should be misconstrued for breed type. Over the years, the masculinity of the Rottweiler, here in the states, has slowly eroded. Its masculine power and substance, clearly specified in the standard, has been oozing away. Spindly, fine bones with narrow long muzzles and smooth body lines have replaced broad top skulls, wide, short muzzles and powerful bones and muscles. Working character has also eroded and replaced with many Rottweilers that are
shy and lack confidence in their temperament. This is a negative and detrimental trend. Once set in motion, it is extremely difficult to reverse. One only has to see our European and
International counterparts by comparison to understand the differences in breed type and working temperament. In the international community, the accent is placed on breed type and working temperament.
Some would argue there is nothing to improve. All is well within the Rottweiler and breed type is where it should be. That is a myopic view. It is valuable and healthy for all concerned to step “out of the trenches” and obtain an international perspective by making comparisons with our domestic breeding program and our international counterparts. Exchanging ideas and methods to improve genetics and techniques will benefit all. Additionally, it is extremely important to promote and make available more breed seminars in all Rottweiler clubs. There, is where real progress is achievable in an open dialog exchanging opinions and ideas. The benefactor of this is the Rottweiler.
References
Fiftieth Anniversary of the Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler Klub, Powerhorn Press, 1978
American Rottweiler Club Standard, May 1990
Dog Anatomy-Illustrated, Way Robert VMD, MS Dreenan Press 1974
Der Rottweiler, Korn Hans 1939
She was in Las Vegas, behind bars, when Michele Mauldin rescued her. Now
her favorite things to do are visit nursing homes and help children
learn to read.
Sophie, a 4-year-old Rottweiler, has come a long way from the Las
Vegas animal shelter where Mauldin adopted her two years ago, only
minutes before she was scheduled to be euthanized.
"I had previously adopted a Rottweiler from the rescue group
that saved her, and when I saw her picture it was love at first
sight," Mauldin said.
It's also love at first sight for many of the people whom Sophie
visits every week. The 87-pound dog's excitement is obvious when her nub
of a tail starts wagging as she approaches one of her favorite residents
at Casa Arena Blanca.
"She's just adorable," said Mary Ellen White. "There's not a vicious bone in her body." White has her bed made neatly just for Sophie. "This is her bed," she says as Sophie gently steps up onto her red flannel blanket and rolls on her back, awaiting White's hand on her stomach.
White remembers the
first time Sophie visited the home in May last year. White was in bed,
and her wheelchair was nearby. Sophie stepped onto the chair and
delicately made her way to the bed. Now she's made the event a weekly
ritual.
When asked why she
enjoys seeing Sophie, White says, laughing, "maybe because she
enjoys visiting me. We just kind of bonded."
Sophie became a
therapy dog after Mauldin took her to an obedience trial in Missouri.
They were testing therapy dogs, and Mauldin thought Sophie's sweet
personality would make her perfect for the job.
Mauldin's instinct
was right -- Sophie tested very well. Now Sophie visits Betty Dare Good
Samaritan Center and Casa Arena Blanca weekly.
"Many of the
residents consider Sophie a great friend and anxiously await her weekly
visits," Mauldin said. "Her intuitive nature and gentleness
gives great comfort and enjoyment to the residents and staff
alike."
When Sophie enters
Sacramento Elementary School to participate in their after school
Community and Family Enrichment program, children who see her call out
her name and run toward her, giving her a hug.
"She's cute and
cuddly," said third grader Yasmina Hernandez. "She's so
nice."
Yasmina and her
friends, Isabella Garcia and Emily Hingano, also third graders, get up
to offer Sophie a chair at their desk. Sophie accepts. The girls stand
around the dog, generously hugging and petting her behind the ears.
Once, before
Christmas, the class sang the "12 Days of Christmas" and
replaced the partridge with "Sophie in a pear tree."
"If you sing a
song about her, she likes it," Yasmina said.
Fourth grader Frank
Gonzalez also runs to Sophie when she arrives.
"She always
remembers me," he said.
The dog does remember
him, and gives him a chance to rub her stomach by rolling over and
pawing at his arm.
Darlene Lucero, CAFE
site facilitator, said the children in her program love Sophie.
"My kids can't
wait for (her) to come," she said. "It's such an asset."
Typically, Sophie
visits with the children and then sits while one of them reads to her.
"For kids who
are timid about reading out loud, she's great," Lucero said.
"She's not intimidating."
Sophie also calms
some of the rowdy children, Lucero said. One student in particular
always behaves well when Sophie is around.
"I think it's
the relationship he has with her," she said. "She is so
calming to him."
Though Sophie has
many fans, sometimes people who don't know her are frightened by such a
large Rottweiler.
"Some people
will literally cross the street," Mauldin said. "But
generally, they'll like her and ask, 'What kind of dog is it?" As
soon as I say 'a Rottie' they go, 'Oh!' They fall in love with
her."
Mauldin said the
breed gets a bad rap, but many of them are sweet and gentle dogs.
"A lot of it is
socialization and training," she said. "With this breed in
particular, they shouldn't be left chained in the backyard."
Any breed or size of
dog can be a therapy dog, as long as they have a good temperament,
Mauldin said.
"It's
wonderful," Mauldin said. "Its the most rewarding things I've
done with dogs, and I've been in dogs for 30 years."
Mauldin started
showing dogs in the 1970s. Though she has six dogs, Sophie is her only
therapy dog.
Rescuing a dog can be
a rewarding option for people looking for a pet, Mauldin said.
"A lot of dogs
that end up in shelters are really truly wonderful animals,"
Mauldin said. "They can do good for mankind in a variety of
ways."
Leana suffers from epilepsy. Her service dog Faith, a Rottweiler, has been trained to detect changes in Leana's body chemistry to warn her before a seizure
hits. One night, after Leana went to bed, Faith refused to let her sleep.
"She jumped up on the bed and started running in circles," Leana says. "You have to listen to your service dog's instincts so I got out of bed and sat up with her."
Then, Leana went into the kitchen to make some hot chocolate. Moments later, she passed out. Leana hit her head on a cabinet and immediately started having grand mal seizures. Faced with a life-threatening emergency, 4-year-old Faith leapt into action. Faith ran for the phone and brought it to Leana, but when Leana didn't respond, Faith took charge! She went back to the base of the phone and pressed the speed dial for 911—using her nose!
When the 911 operator picked up, Faith replied the only way she knew how—by barking incessantly. "The dog that was barking was very insistent," says operator Jenny Buchanan. "It sounded like it was trying to say that there was some sort of a problem…I checked to see what the address was and we sent officers out to see what the problem was."
After that miracle phone call, Faith then unlocked the front door and laid down next to Leana, keeping her safe until help arrived. Leana was hospitalized for three weeks after her fall; she is now back at home with her life-saving hero!
Our dog recently ate 7 ounces of Baker's chocolate and a half-ounce of gourmet ground coffee and swallowed a marble, to boot. None of these things is part of recommended canine diet. Chocolate is toxic to dogs - a 1-ounce square of Baker's chocolate can kill a
10-pound dog, and it's a wonder 7 ounces didn't do in our 15-pound dachshund. Coffee holds the same dangers.
The whys and wherefores of this accident are irrelevant. Everyone feels badly enough already. The upshot of the whole thing is that the vet bills totaled more than $1,200. Coming on the heels of a rough year and a recent layoff, our little dog effectively ate Christmas.
On the way home from the vet with our pooch, groggy and sore after surgery to remove the offending blue marble, we joked gently about all the things that $1,200 could buy. "Dexter ate a 24-inch flat screen LCD TV," my husband said, laughing. "He ate a lot of video games," my son chimed in. "He ate a used car," one of my daughters added. "A very old and very used one," her father started to correct her. But then we remembered we'd sold our old car for $300 and agreed that Dexter had eaten the equivalent of four old minivans.
Once home, everyone fawned over our sick little dog without reproach, glad he was home and on the mend, the $1,200 and abandoned Christmas gift ideas irrelevant.
Because, truth be told, we're still in debt to Dexter for all he's done for us in the last couple of years.
We adopted him as something of immersion therapy for our then-10-year- old son, who was suffering from an increasingly unreasonable and debilitating fear of dogs. Like many phobias, cynaphobia, the medical term for fear of dogs, doesn't require any negative experiences to exist. Our son's fears had grown to such proportions he couldn't walk down the street or ride his bike without heart-racing anxiety on just seeing a dog.
When we adopted Dexter from a breed rescue group, he was a year and a half old, weighed 13 pounds and stood a foot high at the shoulders. Our daughters were delighted. Our son wouldn't come out of his room for three days. He crawled across the tops of chairs to get to the table to eat and then crawled back across them to return to his room.
On the fourth day, he sat on a stool and observed the dog, who looked back questioningly with those irresistible dark brown eyes of his. At the end of a week, our son was carrying the dog around the house. After a few weeks, he was more comfortable with other dogs. Now, two years later, he still doesn't care for large dogs, but he's not fearful and he roams the neighborhood with a confidence that's carried over to other areas of his life. He's playing piano, riding horses, doing well in his studies and generally a happy-go-lucky kid with a dog.
And that's just what Dexter did for our son.
Each person in the family has a special and unique relationship with the dog. He plays gently and obligingly with our son. With my rambunctious, outgoing daughter, he races and wrestles. He leans against my quiet daughter like a cat, savoring her strokes. And while originally suspicious of men, Dexter adores my husband. They play wild games of chase and spend warm devoted moments snoozing.
I had never owned a dog before and was concerned about how long I could be away from home; picking up after the dog in addition to the rest of the family, who at least could flush; annual shots, tags and whatever other dog ownership issues were bound to occur.
But I found that walks took on new meaning with a little dog trotting at my side. An occasionally bizarre meaning, as we sometimes stopped every few feet so Dexter could check what the girls called his "pee mail" at every post and trunk. But I walk more briskly and more often now.
And coming home has never been so rewarding! No one else in the family greets me so ecstatically and with such genuine joy. Whether I've been gone 15 minutes or a day, Dexter is enormously and unapologetically glad to see me. He's a cuddler, shamelessly squeezing between the desk and my lap while I work, cruising from lap to lap while we watch TV at night. He won't crawl into his bed until the last family member is in his or hers, and he lies curled up beside us until morning, when he starts his equal opportunity doting all over again.
He has taught us patience, charity and the value of forgiveness. He never holds grudges, whether his tail is accidentally stepped upon, or he's ordered out of the kitchen for being underfoot. He certainly didn't like the vet's office during the chocolate Incident. But when we came to take him home, he clearly didn't associate us with his aches and pains. Through the haze of drugs after his surgery, he wagged his tail vigorously when he saw us.
Dogs aren't for the shallow and self-absorbed. They're childlike but without the growing cognizance and independence of children. We are always their heroes; they're always our friends. Even with three children and a quarter-century marriage, I didn't fully understand unconditional love until Dexter came into our lives. The obligation to live up to such devotion and loyalty can be a daunting task and a humbling experience.
Yes, our dog ate Christmas. But the gifts he's given us are priceless and more enduring than anything we could ever put under the tree and more than we could ever repay.
The Christmas tree came down before the holiday at the Patrick's
home in Victor. Sue and Bill Patrick said they simply
couldn't stomach the holiday after losing five of their precious
pets, all Labrador Retrievers.
The couple's been breeding Labs for 35 years and has never seen
anything like this: dogs dying from liver toxicity, their pet
food to blame. Vets at Mendon Village Animal Hospital were
the ones who made the link to Diamond Pet Food, after examining
the Patrick's dogs and several unrelated cases.
Diamond confirms it discovered something called aflatoxin in
some of its pet foods. According to the company's web
site, aflatoxin is a "naturally-occurring toxic chemical
by-product from the growth of the fungus Aspergillus Flavus, on
corn and other crops." The company says all affected
products will have this identical code: DMD1001JC32GJL____, BB
11APR07. (The last four digits of the code will vary)
19 different varieties of Diamond Pet Foods are listed as being
suspect on the company's web site. Diamond says the bad
batch of food came from its plant in Gaston, South Carolina.
That plant supplies pet food to 22 states.
"We don't know how far-reaching this is, at this point, how
many dogs are affected," said Dr. Sara Sanders of the
Mendon Village Animal Hospital. "And we also don't
know if the dogs that are affected, how effective our treatments
are going to be at helping them."
Dr. Sanders said all the cases she saw had one thing in common:
the owners reported their dogs stopped eating the food.
Other symptoms include lethargy, yellow eyes, orange-colored
urine, vomiting, and in extreme cases, bloody diarrhea.
Dog lover Rosie Downey immediately booked an appointment at
Mendon when she heard the news. She's been feeding Diamond
food to her dogs, Max and Brownie, for two years.
"I'm very, very upset," Downey said. "I
mean, my dogs are like my other kids." She'll have to
wait a couple days for her dogs' test results. Right now,
they don't appear ill.
"Hopefully, they'll be OK," said Downey.
The Patrick's are holding out hope the 6 dogs they brought to
Cornell's Veterinary School will pull through. And despite
the ordeal, they don't lay the blame on Diamond, saying,
"it could've happened to any dog food."
WASHINGTON - A puzzling outbreak of respiratory disease in dogs has been tracked to a virus that has infected horses for decades — a transfer researchers say is rarely seen.
The illness first drew attention sweeping through kennels of racing greyhounds in several states and has also been found in household dogs in some states.
The flu kills between 5 percent and 8 percent of infected dogs, Dr. Cynda Crawford of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine said at a briefing Monday. Some dogs get a cough, runny nose and fever while others show no symptoms at all.
The flu can cause symptoms similar to the common illness known as kennel cough, Crawford said. But kennel cough is usually caused by a bacteria while the new illness is caused by a virus.
Dr. Brad Fenwick, vice president for research at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, said he thinks mortality from this flu is even less than estimated by Crawford. If infected dogs are treated, mortality can be much lower, Fenwick said in a telephone interview.
While the new virus is easily transferred between dogs, Crawford said people should not panic.
Owners of dogs that have a respiratory infection should keep the animal home for at least two weeks, she said.
Asked if dog owners should avoid kennels or other activities, Crawford said she plans to continue boarding her dogs when needed, walking them in areas with other dogs and entering them at dog shows.
Fenwick agreed, adding that people should not use vaccines intended for horses on their dogs because the safety of the vaccines hasn't been tested in canines.
As for transmission to people, Crawford noted that the strain of flu has been known in horses for more than 40 years and there have been no documented cases of it moving to people.
Nonetheless, Dr. Nina Marano of the Centers for Disease Control said the agency will monitor human exposure to the virus.
Dr. Ruben Donis of the federal Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta called the transfer of a virus from horses to dogs "a very rare event of considerable scientific interest with regards to understanding influenza virus transmission across species."
Donis said the researchers have identified between eight and 10 genetic changes between the virus in horses and dogs, and they speculate that these changes affect the ability of the virus to attach to receptors on cells.
The findings of the research team led by Donis were published online by the journal Science.
He said the research began in Florida and has since traced the virus to dog tracks in other states and to pets in Florida and New York and possibly Massachusetts.
Fenwick, who was not part of the research team, said it is not clear whether the transfer occurred first from horses to the racing greyhounds or to house pets.
There are a lot more pet dogs around horses than racing dogs, he noted. The fact that it was first diagnosed in greyhounds could be because it spread to several animals in kennels where veterinarians were called in to treat the dogs. Since mortality is so low it may have gone largely unnoticed in pets, he suggested.
The published paper reported respiratory disease outbreaks in from June to August 2004 at dog tracks in Florida, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, West Virginia and Kansas. From January to May 2005 outbreaks were reported at dog tracks in Florida, Texas, Arkansas, Arizona, West Virginia, Kansas, Iowa, Colorado, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
The research was funded by the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering of the State of Florida.
“I cannot
live with those feet”, the judge privately exclaimed to meafter placing a bitch first in a class of
excellent specimens. The two bitches up for final
placement of V-1 and V-2 in the working class were
excellent in type, harmonious locomotion, yet, had
important differences between them. Both had superior
heads, good bones, dark eyes, type, however, one was
splayfooted with soft pasterns, the other was a bit soft
in the topline. After pacing back and forth several
times, the judge made a switch and gave the V-1
placement to the bitch that had the correct feet,
strong, firm pasterns, well knuckled, tight fitting,
cat-like paws.
The feet play
a subtle but vital role in Rottweiler type. More
importantly, they are a fundamental component in
Rottweiler locomotion. Possessing correct feet is
essential.
The standard specifies, “Pasterns are strong,
springy and almost perpendicular to the ground. Feet are
round, compact with well-arched toes, turning neither in
nor out. Pads are thick and hard. Nails short, strong
and black”.
Despite
these exacting words from the standard, one encounters
with great frequency, sloppy feet, low on the pastern
and splayfooted Rottweilers.
The foot is the contact point where the body
meets the ground and where a great deal of torque,
occurring from the torsion of gait is dampened. The feet
are in essence, the canine “shock absorbers”. It is
valuable for an aficionado of the Rottweiler to
understand the subtle yet powerful influence the feet
have upon the entire musculo/skeletal workings of the
dog.
To understand
what is incorrect, it is important to start with a good
example of what is correct.Fig 1, is an illustration of correct feet. In Fig
2, is correct feet in 3/4 view and profile.
When standing,( Fig 3.) the feet should be incorrectalignment
so the balance point of each leg runs directly in thecenter of the pastern through the center of the
toes. Thiscreates
an equal distribution of body weight in the front
section, through theradius, ulna, humerus and scapula(the front assembly).
When viewing the Rottweiler head on , one shouldnot see the feet turning in or out. The legs must
be straight, with a distance from the sternum equal to
50% the width of the chest . Additionally, elbowsshould be close fitting to the chest. With this
correct alignment, the front assembly evenly distributes
thetorsion and shock created by forwardmotion.
From the standard, “Pads are thick and hard...” “Pasterns are strong,
springy and almost perpendicular to the ground…
“Compact with well-arched toes...” This is important for four reasons.
1.The
foot helps initiate forward motion (Fig 4) by
acting as a lever and fulcrum. As the weight of
the body shifts forward, the ball (pad) of the
foot becomes a fulcrum and the pasterns/toes
become a lever. A flat pad and poorly knuckled
toes lessens the
angle of the fulcrum, therefore resulting in
less lift .
2.Since the pads are the first in line to
absorb the shock transmitted up the frontassembly, it is necessary to have thick
pads to diminish the shock.
3.The pasterns are part of the lever action
of the foot and absorb shock from forward movement.
4.Well arched, compact toes also dampen
shock and heighten lift.
Problem
Feet
People
with problem feet can have an adjustment made by an
orthotic support in the shoe. For horses, a shoe can be
tailored to adjust for specific foot incongruities. With
dogs, a corrective device is not possible. Corrections
can only be achieved in the next generation via a
careful and thoughtful breeding program. Therefore, it
is valuable to examine the anomalies found occurring in
the field that effect the feet and pasterns of the
Rottweiler.
The
most common anomalies.
1. The primary occurring foot abnormality is not
specifically a problem with the feet, but an out- ward
turning of the pastern. This is commonly named “east-west” feet
(Fig 5). Here, the foot on each leg turns outward in an
east-west direction. It can be observed on pups as early
as eight weeks old and may remain this way for the
entire life of the dog or correct itself as the chest
develops. Dogs or bitches with this anomaly should be
avoided in a breeding program since this condition is
passed on to the progeny.
2. In addition to “east-west”
feet, a structural fault that may accompany it is a “Fiddle-Front” (Fig.6).Here, not only are the feet turning outward, but
the elbows turn away from the body as well producing the
appearance of a fiddle .
Interestingly, a major factor influencing the
feet is not necessarily the feet, but incorrect
construction of the chest in depth, width and placement
of the sternum. When the chest is broad possessing the
correct width, and a well pronounced sternum, it
correctly supports the upper arm assembly (shoulder
blade, humerus, see Fig. 2), producing a wide center of
gravity. Each foot is positioned from the sternum,
approximately 50% the total width of the chest . When
the chest is narrow, possessing a close center of
gravity (slab sided, pinched front, incorrect spring of
rib) and or shallow in depth, the laws of physics forces
the feet to turn outward, compensating for the incorrect
width or depth (see Fig. 7)
3. Correctly constructed,
the pasterns act like a shock absorber, dampening the
impact while gaiting and help initiate lift.From the standard,“Pasterns
are strong, springy and almost perpendicular to the
ground”. Nonetheless,
incorrect pasterns are visible in the show ring.
Occasionally,
the pasterns are observed to be soft (“broken
down”). This is not a problem in the bones of the
pastern but a laxity in the muscles of the radius/ulna
and or a laxity in the ligaments and tendons of the
forearm.
Commonpastern problems
A.
Too soft with too much slope (Fig 9), the dampening
effect greatly diminishes in the pastern and the ability
of the foot to help initiate lift is also significantly
reduced. Often, this problem is accompanied by poorly
knuckled toes and splayfooted.
B.
Too stiff and upright (90 degree angle to the ground) in
the pastern. The opposite of too soft, the same effect
results.
When the pastern is too
lax, the shock transmitted through the upper arm from
gaiting cannot be correctly dampened. This results in
possible structural damage to the upper arm assembly,
poor front arm extension and early fatigue.
4. Splayfooted (Fig.10) is a problem frequently
observable. This anomaly,too much space between the toes, is caused by a
laxity in the ligaments and muscles of the phalangeal
bones. When the dog is observed to be splayfooted, it
most often has poorly arched toes as well.
Nails
Nails
are always thick, black and rigid. Occasionally, white
nails are observable.It is not correct.
Additional anomalies
1.Too long in toes (Hare-like feet)
2. Insufficient thickness in
the pads
3. Toes that curl to one
side.
FUNCTION
DICTATES FORM
Because
the feet have a fundamental role in Rottweiler
locomotion and share an importance to correct type, as
breeders and exhibitors it is essential we understand
that “Function Dictates Form” when discussing this
area. The standard is specific in its blueprint for the
feet. Deviations from the blueprint such as, soft
pasterns, poorly arched toes, long toes, thin pads etc.
impede the initial lift and the ability of the feet to
be the first in line to absorb shock. Any incongruity in
structure impedes its efficiency while gaiting.
The
Rottweiler is a working dog and moves via the trot .
Once around the show-ring or a short exercise can only
result in a limited evaluation about its locomotion.
Therefore, it is possible for an exhibit to go once or
twice around the ring and be observed to gait reasonably
well. A more thorough evaluation about the dog’s
entire structure must be determined with at least 5
minutes of gaiting.
"In the blockbuster movie, "Network", there was a famous line: "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore.
)
Standing outside the ring, I watched as the judge moved a large class of thirty exhibits. To me, the ring was too small and inadequate for a Rottweiler national specialty! As they moved with their handlers, most exhibits bunched upon each other resembling the rhythm of a giant accordion opening and closing; none could break out of a fast walk or switch gears into a trot. It seemed quite difficult for the judge to correctly evaluate this disorderly group for limping or preliminary assessments. Despite this obvious problem, neither the judge nor the club made any adjustments to ease the congestion. Was the small ring a management problem on the part of the club or simply an incomplete understanding in evaluating structure via locomotion? One can only guess.
At all-breed shows, time is paramount and space is limited. A judge may have upwards of 175 exhibits to adjudicate in different rings, hand out ribbons, mark the book and be available for photos. Neither the club nor the judge has the luxury of examining each exhibit for the fine details of a breed.
and lungs or temperament. Once around is sufficient. However, the bar and expectations should be set high at a specialty to separate the “best of the best”. To achieve these goals, we must change the dynamics with a large ring. Now, once is not enough!
B. Endurance
In this area, some prefer to take shortcuts by reinterpreting the standard and taking liberties with its translation, instead of traveling the more difficult path by reading and completely understanding its blueprint. Without a thorough and broad perspective about breed type (or any other segment of the standard), one can only build a house of understanding that is incomplete. This argument, that many do not understand or know what “correct” breed type is, can easily be proofed with the fine boned, narrow muzzles, pinhead, absence of masculinity exhibits we now encounter in the show ring and obviously on the street.
Yet others define it as “performance on the working field”. None are correct. Breed Type should be defined as
“the essence of characteristics that distinguishes it from
others."(1) In simpler terms, it is the appearance of the breed, which separates it from others. Is that not what first attracts us to the Rottweiler?
The second tier on the pyramid and essential aspect of the standard is temperament. Without correct temperament, all other aspects or traits, even if they are of superior quality, have little value! It is important to understand what correct temperament is and how to evaluate it. From the standard,
“The Rottweiler is basically a calm, confident, courageous dog… A Rottweiler is self-confident and responds quietly and with a wait-and-see attitude to influences in his environment.
He has an inherent desire to protect home and family, and is an intelligent dog of extreme hardness and adaptability with a strong willingness to work, making him especially suited as a companion, guardian and general all purpose
dog.” 
The Germans use the term “Belastbarkeit”, a dog’s capacity, whether high, medium or low, to sustain its drive, tractability and nerve under the conditions and pressures of work. In Germany, they place a high value in the dog’s level of courage and its ability to deal with stress. There, the minimum test is the Zuchttauglichkeitsprufung (breed suitability test where the dog is tested for its courage and stress level); one cannot breed their Rottweiler unless it has passed the “Ztp”. They also believe that the attainment of a working title is a demonstration of
Belastbarkeit. 
hird in the pyramid is construction, a balanced, harmonious
musculo/skeletal system in accordance with the blueprint of the standard. Understanding the construction of a Rottweiler is analogous to the building of a house. The builder (breeder) must adhere to the architect’s design (the standard), maintain a stable foundation and alignment of walls (the skeletal system), while creating continuity so that all the segmented parts of the house work together harmoniously (the locomotion of the dog). 
A house must have structural integrity. Walls must be plumb, materials used in the construction must have strength to withstand ware and tear, and parts must work. This applies to the Rottweiler as well. Front and rear legs must be balanced, strong and straight, the back must be firm but flexible, angulations must be ample enough to support proper reach of the front and drive of the rear. There should be symmetry and harmony of the working parts as well as a defined amount of muscle mass to support the skeletal frame.
Fourth in the pyramid is locomotion. Because the Rottweiler was used for driving cattle, its modality for locomotion is demonstrated in the trot. Unlike the other aspects in this pyramid, construction and locomotion have inexorable linkage in that; exemplary gait is the result of outstanding structure. When a Rottweiler is correct in construction, according to the blueprint of the standard, this balanced skeletal architecture produces an unrestricted, harmoniously flowing powerful gait. 
It seems that in the news, when ever there is a story or article about a Pit Bull/ Pit Bull type dog, a Rottweiler, German Shepherd, or any dog that is seen in society's eyes as a dangerous dog, the story is negative. One of these dogs have bitten, attacked or mauled a person, another dog or other animal. These incidents are spread across every local paper and
TV News program like wild fire. Society only sees these negative images sent out by the media towards these dogs. They never see anything positive; therefore creating the disillusion of viciousness bred into these breeds, and spreading the fear and problem. Where are the good stories? The positive image of these dogs? Because, they are out there. However, the ugly images of these dogs, the shock value of these stories, sells the papers and makes the ratings. No one wants to hear the good things. 
Our visits with residents at The Terrace at Glen Eddy were originally scheduled for once a month, and we soon had to change the schedule to every other Tuesday. These residents just love to sit and pet the dogs. One of the residents has named Calvin “Calvin Coolidge”.
Carting as more of a dedicated pursuit really got under way in 2000, when Dinky competed 
Educating children and the public about dog safety is one of Pollock’s passions. “Dogs
should be able to live in the community,” she says. It sounds obvious, but unfortunately
Pollock knows all too well that not everyone shares her view. When she and her family
moved from Lancaster to Keysville in 2002, she was shocked to discover that her dogs were
not given a warm welcome. “In fact, they were feared. We could not secure homeowners’
insurance due to the community’s past experiences with Rottweilers and our breed’s
reputation.” Back in Pennsylvania, Pollock had been giving her “Dog Manners” elementary school programs
for over 15 years—using the AKC Safety Around Dogs and the AKC Best Friends kits to teach
children how to behave around dogs. Knowing how effective they were, she decided to offer
the programs as a Canine Ambassador in Virginia. She is also in talks with Virginia
Senator George Allen’s office, pitching the idea of legislation that would require all
schools to offer dog safety programs. “It helped a lot when the locals had the chance to meet our dogs and see that they were
well-behaved,” she says. (Pollock’s Asgard Rottweilers contract requires puppy buyers to
complete obedience classes and to earn their CD and AKC Canine Good Citizen® certificate
on the dogs by the time they are 25 months.) 
I purchased 2 bitches,
(Nafu and Pella) from a friend, Diane, who originally got them from Judy Johnson of Graudstark Kennels. When Diane got the bitches Judy told her one of them, Graudstarks Nafu could possibly have puppies born without tails. Diane got out of Rottweilers before ever breeding Nafu so she really didn’t know if it was true or not. After I had Nafu for a little while we bred her to my Champion male Hy Tyme’s
Kickin’ Ash (Monti). Her first litter Nafu had one pup born tailless. I thought
"this is very cool" but didn’t really tell anyone except for a couple of my closest friends. When I decided to breed her to Monti again, I mentioned to a few people that I wondered if she would have any tailless pups in this litter. Well she had 5 pups and 2 were born completely tailless, one pup has a tail that is very short and 2 were born with normal tails.
I have pictures of them when they were first born and I am documenting them for myself and anyone who thinks it isn’t possible.
Nafu’s pedigree doesn’t contain a lot of “well-knowns.”
Monti has sired a few other litters and all of his other pups have been born with full tails so my conclusion is that it has to be from
Nafu.
A huge amount of work went into this event and we need to thank Cathy Rubens and Bob Busby for the effort they put into getting the ball rolling and keeping it rolling. That is not to say that a lot of other people didn’t put many hours of effort into the event both behind the scenes and at the show. Some of those folks, to name a few are Rebekah
Pless, Michelle Lennon, Kay Lackey and many others. To those I haven’t named, please forgive me. My memory has never been good and as I age it isn’t improving any!
One of the special things that went on all four days was the anti-BSL table. Volunteers manned the table from the start of judging to Best in Show. Information on the current problems facing owners of so-called “vicious” or “aggressive” breeds was presented to anyone who stopped by and items such as
anti-BSL pins, buttons stating “I own a dog and I vote” , and auto magnets were available for the sum of a donation. Over the course of the four days, donations for
anti-BSL efforts totaled $900.00! This surpassed everyone’s expectations and really pleased Bob. I’d like to thank several folks who worked hard to make the BSL table a huge success. Suzi Faulkner, Denise
Nardini, Diane Garnett, Tracy Fowler and Brona Hicks, thank you all for the time and effort you put into this important effort. For those whose names my miserable memory won’t allow me to include, a huge thank you to you as well!!
Not only did the ARC Region IV have Sweepstakes and Veteran Sweeps on Monday but at the Durham Kennel Club show on Saturday the entry of Rottweilers was supported by the American Rottweiler Club, Michelle Lennon, and Cathy Rubens. It was wonderful to see the young dogs as well as the veterans strut their stuff. We all enjoyed having two days of Sweeps. Next year will be even better, more to come on that.
Let me fill you in on the day of the Specialty. It started early with quite a few of us meeting to set up the trophy table. What an effort that was! There were loads of lovely trophies! We kept having to spread out more and more and ultimately added another table. Stuffed toys were also abundant. They were given out to the placing dogs in the ring during sweepstakes, were offered as trophies for second through fourth place winners in the regular classes and seemed to be multiplying as the day progressed. There were three Awards of Merit as well. Everyone went all out to make this day and Specialty something to remember. Many of the trophies in both conformation and obedience were donated in memory of Rita Welker, Welkerhaus Rottweilers. Rita was a long time breeder and champion of Rottweilers. Many of the donations in Rita’s memory were actually trophies Rita’s Welkerhaus dogs had won over the years. Many thanks to everyone who donated money, time, and trophies. You are all awesome! 
One of my favorite parts of the day was the Parade of Rescues. That could be because I got to see one of my Katrina rescues again. Does anyone remember “Dumpster”? She now lives with a wonderful couple in South Carolina and has gone from being a skinny, sad, frightened little wild woman to a well-fed, well-behaved, well-adjusted and much loved little girl. I cried when I saw her. To say that she has fallen into the best situation one could want for any dog is an understatement. Bless you Tim and
Verena. 
In 1993 I bred my girl Cajun Arianna V Ashlind, CGC, TT, (only lacking majors to finish) to Multi-V1, BIS, BISS, SKC, AKC Ch Dillon Von Wacissa, CD, CGC, TT, HIC, RTD. That breeding produced my heart dog, Multi V1 Ch. Dillon's Rope the Moon, CGC, TT, HIC--Dooley. The last litter Dooley sired out of Franlynn's Majestic Amen produced Elric. A tall, gangly pup, tons of enthusiasim but lacking in ring presence. For some reason of the 3 sons I owned during Dooley's life, Elric was his favorite.
try and assist me. He would stand near and allow me to support on him to get up. Soon no matter where he was if I said "help" he was right there assisting me. Napping on the sofa found him near by and ready to help me up and wait until I was ready to walk. Soon he began to walk with me and even help me up the stairs. When my hands are full he has learned to open the screen door and pick up items. I often joke that I don't know how many commands he knows as we only speak conversational English that do not sound like commands.
If one were to take a survey asking, “Why did you purchase a Rottweiler”, “Why this breed over
others”, it would certainly elicit intriguing answers. I cannot say for sure what the attraction others
had to the Rottweiler when first encountered, however for me, it was his raw masculine appeal, his
unique head and the impressive musculature and power he exuded. From his appearance, one could easily
understand that this was a serious dog! Not alone in this view, many other Rottweiler
aficionados have recognized this hallmark of the breed and expressed a similar perspective as well.
After all, is not the “look” of a dog that makes the first and lasting impression? Surely, his breed
type is what makes the Rottweiler unique The Germans understood the Rottweiler’s
distinction when they came together to codify the standard at Heidelburg, Germany in 1907. They
were deliberate when articulating and fixing the appearance of the Rottweiler, which is why the standard
uses detailed language in its description of this essential aspect of breed type. The standard was
modified since 1907, but the general appearance of the Rottweiler has not. Reading the current standard,
one finds the word “powerful” written 6 times, “bone” mentioned 3 times and “muscle” mentioned 5 times.
No other words have such repetition when describing the details.
“The ideal Rottweiler is a medium large, robust and powerful dog - Dogs are characteristically more
massive throughout with larger frame and heavier bone than bitches - His bone and muscle mass must be
sufficient to balance his frame, giving a compact and very powerful appearance - Neck- Powerful, well
muscled - Loin is short, deep and well muscled - Legs are strongly developed with straight, heavy bone -
Upper thigh is fairly long, very broad and well muscled - Lower thigh is long, broad and powerful, with
extensive muscling - His movement should be balanced, harmonious, sure, powerful and unhindered, with
strong forereach and a powerful rear drive ” Despite his distinctive breed type and the words used in the blueprint to describe it, a
negative, subtle change has occurred over the years, which ultimately is disastrous to his appearance.
must look carefully to find this trait; the breed has lost its distinction. On the street, we encounter Rottweilers that are a poor representation of once was. They possess
“pin heads”, narrow, snipey, muzzles, and spindly bones, no muscle mass and shallow frames. To the
knowledgeable, these Rottweilers appear to be a mix breeding, although they are not. To the
unknowledgeable, they appear to be correct! In the show-ring, this problem has crossed the boundaries. One should expect poor
examples of the breed on the street since they are comprised of non-show dogs. However, the show ring
should be the exception. Presently, many exhibits share the same problem of their street cousins and are
only a notch or two above. Many exhibits that enter the show-ring are constructed well but are also as
weak in substance, spindly in bones and musculature as their pet counterparts are. Now, when a dog or
bitch that is in the ring with correct breed type, exuding power and substance, it appears as the “odd
man out”. A strong masculine dog or powerful bitch seems strange among exhibits with spindly frail
bodies and Doberman-like heads. To the newbie's and unknowledgeable judges, it is untypical and put at
the end of the line. Often, I have heard that a female, which possesses strong bones, muscle and a
powerful head, is now deemed “too strong” and considered a “doggy bitch”. What was once correct and
typical is now abnormal. The dogs, which should embody power and masculinity, are now so weak in type
they can be considered “beautiful females”!
Bones mass should be thick enough in width so that it appears to support the frame of the dog in 
The general muscle mass should be substantial, well defined and in proportion to the frame of the dog so that it exudes strength, masculinity and athleticism. The muscles should be apparent, yet not overpowering, like the Bull and Pit Bull Terriers’. The muscle groups that comprise this “appearance” are the muscles of the front and rear assembly. 
Why is the great majority of Rottweilers here in the states, (especially in the show ring), not uniformly masculine in type with powerful muscle and bones, which is specified in the standard? Why have they become slight in bone, shallow in substance, and soft in appearance? The answer is breed type has become a stepchild.
In the US, the accent is on the best possible construction demonstrated by superior gait. Those dogs, which display this attribute, are the ones that win in the show-ring. Placing the accent on this attribute is both good and problematic. It is good since all concerned breeders have this as one of 
one can hear spectators and breeders alike say, “Oh that dog moved beautifully with great reach and drive”, “It
was well put together.” Yes, that could be said however, the dog looked more like a Doberman than a Rottweiler. Excellent construction with outstanding gait is not breed type. These two attributes are separate entities in a breeding program and are not mutually interchangeable or should be misconstrued for breed type. Over the years, the masculinity of the Rottweiler, here in the states, has slowly eroded. Its masculine power and substance, clearly specified in the standard, has been oozing away. Spindly, fine bones with narrow long muzzles and smooth body lines have replaced broad top skulls, wide, short muzzles and powerful bones and muscles. Working character has also eroded and replaced with many Rottweilers that are
shy and lack confidence in their temperament. This is a negative and detrimental trend. Once set in motion, it is extremely difficult to reverse. One only has to see our European and
International counterparts by comparison to understand the differences in breed type and working temperament. In the international community, the accent is placed on breed type and working temperament.
Some would argue there is nothing to improve. All is well within the Rottweiler and breed type is where it should be. That is a myopic view. It is valuable and healthy for all concerned to step “out of the trenches” and obtain an international perspective by making comparisons with our domestic breeding program and our international counterparts. Exchanging ideas and methods to improve genetics and techniques will benefit all. Additionally, it is extremely important to promote and make available more breed seminars in all Rottweiler clubs. There, is where real progress is achievable in an open dialog exchanging opinions and ideas. The benefactor of this is the Rottweiler.
