Total Dog Magazine

Category: Talking Points

  • An Open letter to Bill Lambert at The Kennel Club

    Dear Mr Lambert,

    Re: Open Letter

    You may be surprised to hear that I don’t disagree with everything you said when we were both interviewed for BBC Radio 4’s You & Yours programme on 23rd April to talk about the health crisis affecting Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

    I appeared in the studio to argue the case for mandatory testing for the two most serious and widespread hereditary conditions: mitral valve disease and chiari-like malformation/syringomyelia (CM/SM). The Kennel Club opposes this, arguing it is a quick fix.

    However, I am in agreement with you that Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) would play an important part in the fight to tackle these horrendous hereditary health problems. Tools such as EBVs, which help breeders make decisions based on indicators of genetic risk of inherited disease, can only help the dire situation facing these little dogs.

    There is a question I wasn’t given the opportunity to ask on the radio programme: how does the Kennel Club propose to obtain the data (health test results) required to create EBVs for Cavaliers?

    There is no official heart testing scheming for the breed, despite one being promised in 2008, and fewer than 200 scans have been submitted to the CM/SM scheme since its launch in early 2012. While the £30,000 recently put forward by the Kennel Club to allow older scans to be graded and submitted is a welcome step, at best this would only add 300 scans.

    The Kennel Club’s own website says of EBVs: “An EBV can only be calculated for a breed if enough individual dogs across the breed have been scored.” The majority of Cavalier breeders have proved their unwillingness to have health tests officially recorded so it seems logical that making testing mandatory is the only way the Kennel Club can possibly obtain the data it so badly needs.

    Offering EBVs as a solution to the plague of Cavalier health problems when the Kennel Club has no means of actually creating them makes me doubt the sincerity of the statement you made on air that the Kennel Club is “trying to improve the health of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel”. In case you need reminding of what you said during the interview, here is the link to the podcast.

    I very much look forward to receiving an answer to my question.

    Yours sincerely,

    Charlotte Mackaness

     

    On 29th April 2014 Bill Lambert responded to Charlotte’s open letter. 

     

    Dear Charlotte

    Thank you for your letter.

    The Kennel Club does not argue, as you claim in your letter, that mandatory testing for CM/SM and MVD in Cavaliers is a quick fix – quite the opposite.  Making testing mandatory for registration would not fix anything in terms of improving breed health, and could serve to drive away responsible breeders and owners from the Kennel Club’s umbrella of influence, information and education, which could have a negative effect on the breed.

    A recent paper by the RVC’s Vet Compass project supported by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, estimated there is a prevalence rate for Syringomyelia of around 1.7 percent in the breed. We know that much more information needs to be collected for a fuller picture to emerge and we are leading the charge in saying that this must not make us complacent, because of the seriousness of this terrible condition, but we need to consider the evidence about prevalence, alongside the costs of testing and the fact that the test requires people to put their dogs under general anaesthetic, in order to understand why there is some resistance to testing.  Making testing mandatory for those who register with the Kennel Club would not have any impact on the thousands of Cavaliers outside of our fold and would likely drive those who might be potential friends into forces of resistance.

    You say in your letter, quite rightly, that the number of results submitted for dogs screened for CM/SM under the KC/BVA CM/SM Scheme (currently 253) is not sufficient to develop Estimated Breeding Values – however, we are not far off.  The £30,000 pledged by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust and the British Veterinary Association to have old scans assessed by the BVA/KC CM/SM Scheme may ‘at best’ add 300 scans, but an additional 300 scans on top of the existing number could be enough to calculate initial EBVs, which would give us a good start at enabling inherited risk factors to be generated for the breed – and as more results get submitted, the more precise in risk assessment the EBV becomes.

    You ask how we plan to get more people to submit results.  Our belief is that with education and with increased and improved communications we can increase the number of people who are voluntarily submitting results, for the good of the breed. Anyone with a Cavalier can screen their dog and submit the results – not just breeders – so dog owners who wish to help improve the health of the breed can do so by having their pet health tested.  We would gladly work with others to help us mobilise those who care about the breed.  Some 10,000 people have signed the Cavalier petition – presumably many are Cavalier owners and breeders – so can we mobilise them to health test their dogs?  Surely they would want to contribute towards the solution to the breed’s health issues by having their dogs tested?

    We are confident that with a collaborative approach we will get there.  As we’ve seen for Hip Dysplasia and Elbow dysplasia we can encourage breeders and owners to screen through education, motivating people to screen, getting breed club support, encouraging vets to recommend this screening for breeding animals in particular (not forgetting of course that data from any animal can contribute to EBVs, whether they are used for breeding or not).

    Regarding heart testing, a major study into the prevalence of all health concerns in Cavaliers, funded by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, has been recently undertaken and confirmed that heart murmurs do seem to be a particular concern for the breed.  It is commonly accepted amongst cardiologists that the Cavalier form of mitral valve disease is complex and behaves differently than other dogs’ manifestations of the disease.

    The Kennel Club has been working collaboratively with the Cavalier breed clubs, British Veterinary Association and Veterinary Cardiology Society to develop heart schemes for a number of breeds, and as with many complex inherited diseases the development of a scheme is not a quick, simple process.  We need to understand the disease, determine heritability, come to a consensus on the best technology for assessing the heart, when the optimum time(s) for heart testing throughout a dog’s life are, understand the progress of the disease, determine a system of assessment that is clinically and scientifically robust, plus provide breeding advice and recommendations.  There needs to be a protocol and assessment accepted and agreed by experts before the Kennel Club can make a scheme mandatory for Kennel Club Assured Breeders.  Until that time we make tests, such as heart testing for Cavaliers, recommendations under the Assured Breeder Scheme, and work with owners and breeders to encourage them to health test their dogs and submit results in order that the Kennel Club and breed clubs can build a fuller picture of how conditions are likely to be inherited.

    I can assure you that the Kennel Club is dedicated to improving the health of dogs and does far more than any other organisation to achieve this, and we will continue to do so.

    We would very much welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss how you see the future of the breed being protected as we are open to ongoing dialogue on this issue.

    Yours sincerely

     

    Bill Lambert

    Kennel Club Health and Breeder Services Manager

  • Why The Pit Bull Ban Must Go

    I’m writing this not in my position as editor of K9 Magazine.

    Nor do I write it as a former professional dog trainer.

    I don’t even write this having seen and reported on some of the barbaric and inhumane treatment of innocent dogs condemned to die after been taken from their owners having committed no other ‘crime’ than looking like and matching the Government mandated description of ‘Pit Bull Terrier type’.

    pit-bull

    I write this, quite simply, as a human being with a compassion for animals.

    Since 1991 the United Kingdom has operated a piece of flawed legislation known as the Dangerous Dogs Act. This poorly thought out, ill judged, in-effective law sought to ban particular dogs based on nothing more than what they look like. In particular, Ken Baker (the MP who rushed through the act and has openly admitted his dislike for certain ‘types’ of dogs), targeted the Pit Bull.

    Since then a large mythology has grown up around this most misunderstood dog breed.

    It seems that if you say the words ‘Pit Bulls should NOT be banned, they should be a legal breed the same as any other’ you are immediately challenged to defend that position.

    Why?

    Because by banning the breed, Baker immediately smeared an entire group of dogs (and indeed their owners) as ‘dangerous’.

    In the cold light of day, this is laughable. But there’s absolutely nothing funny about the countless dogs who’ve been killed, by the Government, and the owners whose lives have been altered forever as a result.

    This is neither the time nor the place for me to list the many victims of breed specific legislation. I simply want to state, unequivocally, that the Pit Bull witch-hunt must end.

    Since 1991 successive Governments have conceded the folly of the Dangerous Dogs Act, which has not achieved any of its stated aims either by way of reducing dog attacks or even removing Pit Bulls from UK homes.

    Those who support the law are hard pressed to defend it when it is put under scrutiny.

    Pit Bulls are a dog like any other.

    They are large. They are powerful. Can they be dangerous? Yes! JUST LIKE ANY OTHER.

    People have been attacked and killed by many different dog breeds. If our aim, as a society, is to produce only dogs that are incapable of injuring or killing people then we had better get to work quickly on producing dogs made out of cotton wool with marshmallow teeth.

    I admit I may be preaching to the choir here, but I wanted to do it any way. So I ask this one, simple question and encourage you to contribute below…

    Do you believe that Pit Bulls are inherently more dangerous and should therefore be exterminated in the United Kingdom?

    If you do, then I’m willing to listen to your reasons why. If you do not, then please feel free to add your experience and opinion on why the UK still has a policy of operating failed, draconian, cruel breed specific legislation.

    I urge and encourage our overseas friends to add your opinions too. Pit Bull owners particularly.

    Thank you.

  • Is it Safe to Let Dogs Lick Your Face?

    Rare is the dog owner who’s pet has never given them a canine kiss.

    Sloppy, wet dog kisses – it would seem – could hand in paw with the dog ownership experience. But can dogs pass on germs when they lick your face? One of the more commonly asked questions we get here at DogTips.co is whether dogs can pass on germs to humans, particularly by licking…

    http://i.imgur.com/vly2J.png

    Why Do Dogs Lick Faces?

    Dogs use their long tongues for mopping up lunch crumbs, removing mud from their feet, and cleaning their privates. And yet, when they give our faces sloppy licks, there’s something endearing about it. Apart from occasional attempts to retrieve bits of glazed doughnut from our chins, dogs lick us because they like us. It isn’t a kiss, but it’s close.

    Almost as soon as they’re born, dogs experience the soft warmth of their mothers’ tongue, which bathes them with maternal affection. The licking never really stops after that. Mothers take advantage of their puppies’ relative immobility during nursing to lick them clean. They also lick their bottoms to jump-start their impulses to relieve themselves.

    Is it OK to Let Puppies Lick Faces?

    Puppies do their share of licking too. They lick older dogs’ chins and faces to greet them and show respect. And when they’re hungry – and puppies are perpetually in search of something to eat – licking their mother will sometimes stimulate her to regurgitate a meal, which the puppies regard as an appetizing lunch.

    As dogs get older, they lick each other less often, but they never quit entirely. At the very least, in the absence of hands and hairbrushes, they do each other’s hair with their tongues.

    A Show Of Respect

    Dogs don’t lick people because they’re hoping for a hot meal. They lick because we’re their parents, or at least the head folks in the house. Even when dogs are old, gray, and grizzled, they see themselves in some ways as being our children, and a lick shows how much they respect us.

    You can tell a little bit about your dog’s personality by how much licking she does. Dogs who are very bold or independent are restrained with their licking because they don’t feel as though there is anyone they have to win over. Outgoing, sociable dogs, on the other hand, lick everyone all the time.

    We play a role in all this licking too. It doesn’t take dogs very long to learn that laying a wet one on the cheek is a great way to get cooed over and rubbed the right way. So in a way, the instinct to lick is both ancient and immediate; dogs do it naturally, and we en- courage them to do it more.

    How To React to Dog Face Licking?

    People are never sure how to react to licks. The first emotion is generally “Aw, that’s cute,” closely followed by “Yuck.” Imagine where that tongue has been! But it’s not as unhygienic as it seems. At worst, dog licks are like wiping your face with a slightly dirty washcloth. Not exactly cleansing, but hardly worth worrying about. In fact, there’s some evidence that it may be good for you.

    So whilst a dog lick on the face might not be to everyone’s taste, judging by the millions and millions of dog owners who’ve received a dog lick to the chops, it’s not going to kill you (or your children!).

  • Proof: Owning a Dog Makes You More Attractive to Opposite Sex

    Having a dog could increase your chances of finding a love match, according to research conducted by Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity. Of 700 respondents to a recent survey, 60% said that owning a dog can make people more attractive, while 85% think people are more approachable with a hound at their heels.

    We all know it’s tough starting a conversation with someone new, but owning a dog can ease the awkwardness. In fact nearly all of those surveyed (over 95%) said they would feel more comfortable speaking to someone they didn’t know, if they had a dog. Of those who gave a reason for this, two thirds said dog owners seem friendlier; they are also perceived as more approachable and trustworthy. So even those owners who don’t find love through their furry friend, are still likely to widen their social circle and meet new people because of them.

    Clarissa Baldwin, CEO of Dogs Trust comments:

    “The results of this research come as no surprise to Dogs Trust, as we hear stories every day of people meeting new friends or a partner through their dog. Put simply, the world is a friendlier place when you have a dog.

    “This research shows that not only are dog owners perceived as more approachable and friendly, but that having a dog can make you more attractive. With canine companions making such great ice breakers too, they really are the 21st century cupid!”

    Unsurprisingly, the best canine conversation starter is cute puppy, but over a third of respondents are also attracted by scruffy mutts. Supposedly ‘cute’ handbag dogs are actually seen by many men as a deterrent. But whether you enlist the help of Rover to find romance or not, you can always rely on him to snuggle with you on the sofa.

  • What Is Markiesje Dog Breed?

    If anyone has had experience with this newly revived (remade) Dutch breed, I’d be interested in hearing it, especially re their temperament.

    I’m really wishing I could read Dutch right now, as it says the breed was formed from Friesian “Bykes”. My FIL was Friesan, but I have no idea what a “Byke” is. (OK, just found it. It is a small mole dog.)

    “The Markiesje was a well known spaniel in the Netherlands in the 18th century and had the same ancestors as other toy spaniels, the King Charles Spaniel in England and the Epagneul Nain Continental (Papillon and Phalene), except that the Markiesje was somewhat larger and looked more like the larger spaniels.

    The dogs that were too small to be used as hunting dogs became women’s lap dogs. These “non-useable” little dogs were often seen in the patrician households. They were black or black with small white markings and were called Dutch spaniels. The same type of dog in red and white was usually called an Italian spaniel. In bed the little dogs served as foot warmers and in the bedroom they kept out the rodents. According to the legend, the breed name, the “Markiesje”, referred to the Marquise de Pompadour, the famous mistress of Louis XIV.

    But it could come from the French word “maquer”, which refers to a pointing breed, or from the habit of Spanish ladies to carry them around in baskets. Various French queens reported that these little dogs were their favorite companion dogs. They all had drop ears and only in the 19th century did some toy spaniels develop the semi-erect ears.”

    link to more photos and history here: Welkom

    CC

  • The Terrier Song

    Now after enquiring about entering a dog show and finding out patterdale’s aren’t allowed as they they aren’t registered by the kcc?, I found this song and chubby wanted to share it with you.

    The Terrier Song

    Now there’s many a song about hunting,
    Packs and huntsmen are honoured by name,
    But there isn’t a song about terriers
    Which in lakeland have gained lasting fame.

    Chorus:
    So always remember your terriers,
    Protect them from wet and from cold,
    For the love of a tyke for his master
    Can never be measured in gold
    Whether it’s Fury or Trixie or Nellie,
    Or Rock, Jock or Turk it’s the same,
    One quality you’ll find among them,
    And dalesfolk call it ‘dead game’.
    And whether he’s rough or smooth coated,
    He’ll tackle badger, otter or fox,
    Run a drain or creep into a soil hole,
    Or squeeze through a grike in the rocks.
    Chorus:

    He’ll yield not one inch though they maul him,
    He’ll fight to the death on his own,
    Though sometimes he’ll be imprisoned
    By a rush in of soil or of stone.
    And then the brave lads of the valleys
    To save him will toil day and night,
    And join in a Hallo of triumph
    As he blinks back to god’s blessed light.
    Chorus:

    Now at Cruft’s famous show down in London,
    They have Lakelands that aren’t worth the name.
    If you showed ’em a fox or an otter
    They’d fly for their lives without shame.
    They’re not built to creep or do battle,
    But to sit on a chair in a house,
    And they do say that one recent champion
    Was chased down the road by a mouse!
    Chorus:

    So here’s to our gallant laal workers,
    Not beauties, perhaps, but they’ll do.
    With gameness they’ve also affection,
    And make you a pal good and true.
    And when your terrier, in old age, is dying,
    And the world all about you seems sad,
    A lick on the hand will console you,
    For a truer friend man never had.
    Final Chorus:
    D.P. Todd, Kendal (Tune: ‘Laal Melbreak’)