So....About Chevron.....

Before I get into about how I got Chevron, I'm just going to ramble a bit about this year.  2020 HAS BEEN HARD. LIKE HAAAAARD.  I'm not going to get into the details, but I had a falling out with someone I considered one of my best friends, and only RIGHT AFTER that was I actually able to get a depression treatment that...ya know...actually worked.  And the circumstances surrounding that came to light a bit after, and....honestly, people suck.  Well, some people suck, especially when they make you out to be the devil when they don't even know you and go destroying things without hearing the other side...but you know....whatever I guess.  It's been 7 months and I'm still broken over that.

Even without that, 2020 has been hard for just about everyone, and, let's face it, we ALL kind of wish that this year just kinda didn't happen.  Or at least most of this year.  

Before that happened though, our roommate who had adopted a dog from the city's animal shelter, had a new-to-us stove delivered....and the people who brought it were that dog's previous owners.  So they gave him back.  Props to that roommate, hard as it was.  Said roommate moved out, and a new one came in.  And then, shortly there after, their bike was stolen out of the backyard.  Which prompted me to go back to my searching for a dog (because of that falling out, I had started to, but lost steam because depression and upset).

So, with it being Covid-time, I knew, while I really, really wanted a dog to show, not to expect anything but a pet, especially with a limited budget.  I wasn't really hitting on a whole lot, but expanded my search because not a whole lot was really resonating with me.  

Cue me stumbling across a litter of Plott Hounds.  That would also have papers.  Ok.  I love HOUNDS.  Well, most hounds.  And I've grown fond of having a Treeing Walker bawling in my face at work, so basically, this felt like destiny. 

Here's the thing, the coonhounds tend to run pretty cheap all things considered.  They're also MOSTLY in working kennels.  There are some showlines, especially for Black and Tans, but for the most part, the coonhounds remain mostly in UKC, working lines, and aren't really health tested.  I knew this, I know this, and I know that in such a case, that things are really a gamble.  Like with breeds that aren't really seen outside of their country of origin, or never seen outside of their country of origin.  The saying 'gotta start somewhere' really is the name of the game in those cases. And in this one, as well, along with the fact that....well, we need more stock to be brought over to the AKC. Plott studbooks are open until question mark, there isn't a set closing date, and I don't know if there will be one in the foreseeable future. This isn't a bad thing, given that AKC registrations are so low for the breed.  

So, not requiring health testing and AKC show titles? This is ok, IF you understand that and accept it.  I do, I did. So cue my partner driving me to nearly the middle of nowhere and getting lost twice, to go look at a litter of Plott pups scrambling around in an outdoor kennel.  There were about three I eyed, two males and a female, and out of those, Chevron was the one I chose based on overall balance.  He puked twice in the car, but was a little trooper, if confused and mopey.  

And so came home a little hound puppy who mostly slept the first couple of days.  And after the newness to the roommates wore off, that's when he started getting loud.  I'm the only hound person in the house, apparently.  I do not regret my decision. '^' 

I do not regret my decision because even if Chevron is a little piranha at times, I see in him qualities of varying degrees that I loved in my Ibizan Hound, Dali.  And he really is turning out to be a good dog with a lot of potential.  I know there's a chance that he may not pass whatever health tests I throw at him, even though none are recommended in the breed, I still want to do at least the basics.  I know he may never be a big contender in the ring. He's my 'start somewhere' dog, and he's making me fall in love with a breed I hadn't really considered before.  I don't think I want to get massively deep into Plotts, but as a side breed....I'm considering it more and more with each passing day.  

Blog Name Will Change...

 It happened. A puppy.  A Plott Hound puppy to be exact.  And in time, once the plague is over, I will no longer be a spectator, but a participant.  What the name of this blog will change to, I'm not sure of yet as I'm just kinda mindlessly typing after 10 days of no power thanks to an ice storm.  I could have been thinking about that, but, nooooo, my brain said screw that.  It's basically been forever since I posted anything, there's a lot of half started things that I really didn't feel like I could go far enough with to post, or my thoughts were scrambled up something awful.  But, I've been stumbling across new resources, new people, new views that will help with some things, and I'm hoping I can get those half-written blurbs turned into something actually...you know...readable and makes sense.  I'll probably also start an instagram for Chevron, because quite frankly, we need more positive stuff on purebreds on every possible platform.  

Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover-Dog Edition

By now, everyone has seen one of those videos or articles on the internet that uses pictures of dog breeds from the late 1800s to early-mid 1900s and sets them against the absolute worst photos (usually, but not always) of modern counterparts.  Typically, it's the same handful of breeds because they can't possibly go through 400+ breeds and say they've all changed immensely because they haven't.  Ones that exhibit what seems like extreme physical changes. And the whole theme here is pretty much "BREEDERS RUIN BREEDS". 

Now, I want you to look at the title of this post again.  You've probably heard this phrase many times over in your life.  I'm not going to evaluate individual dogs, as I do my best to avoid copyright issues.  Instead....

I'm going point out a few things. 

1.One of America's most beloved breeds, the Labrador, is almost never on these lists.  Even though a good number are often kept over weight.  This breed is an average looking dog, nothing extreme, but distinct enough that you typically know a  Lab when you see it, probably because they're everywhere.  Not flashy, not extreme, though there are a ton over over-sized Labs.  But let's look into some of their health issues.  Hip and elbow dysplasia, luxating patella, progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, corneal dystrophy, retinal dysplasia, hereditary myopathy, autoimmune diseases, deafness, exercise induced collapse, and yes, obesity.  Because in a study of 310, most were missing all or parts of the POMC gene which plays a part in appetite regulation.  But it's okay, they look normal, so no concern there, right? 

2.Bull Terriers and their egg shaped heads....there's no known problems that can be attributed to their head shape alone.  The OCD.tail chasing is a mental thing, and there are other breeds that have dental problems just the same.  Now, the fact that Bull Terriers seem to literally use their heads may be a side effect of the head shape, but I kind of consider it a benefit. 

3.The Bull Terrier and the GSD were still rather young breeds back then.  Technically, they're still quite young when you compare them to Otterhounds, which are in NO way the oldest.  In early days of development, the breed may not be what it was meant to be.  Don't like them?  Don't get them. 

4.GSDs are popular and varied.  There's many different lines, many different types.  Also, you can stack a GSD four ways ( Example from google ) and, depending on the dog, get four different looks.  There's terrible working lines, awesome show lines, iffy bred lines...all kinds!  I used to harp on this breed myself, but I can no longer, with the evidence, paint the breed with the same paint brush. 

5.Basically, if you're going to judge health on looks, you are going to miss the fact of cancers, heart problems, mental issues, joint diseases, and a plethora of other things that AREN'T seen in a single photo.   You ARE judging a book by it's cover.  Because some of those weird looking dogs are just fine, are healthy, had health tested parents and won the Russian roulette of genetics when some of those normal looking dogs, purebred or not, didn't. 

Do not prioritize your idea of the appearance of health over the whole and deeper picture.  There is more going on under that cover.

It's NOT All About How You Raise Them-And That's Understandable

This piece has been on hiatus for quite some time, I wasn't exactly sure if my initial ramblings were getting the point across or not.  Regardless, is it any wonder that one of my favorite dog blogs is 'The Dog Snobs'?  Ok, maybe it is.  Maybe it isn't.  The Dog Snobs blog is funny, insightful, and....well, they don't sugar coat anything.  They had touched upon a topic that I wanted to talk about at some point, and then they touched upon it in their own fashion: http://thedogsnobs.com/2014/01/28/genes-count-too-aka-if-i-hear-its-all-in-how-you-raise-them-one-more-time-a-rant-by-fang/

Many in the animal rights crowd or those well meaning dog lovers can sit there and mutter all they want that a dog is a dog, and it's all about how they're raised, but it simply isn't true.  Many times people seem to want to believe that dogs are a blank slate, innocent even, and that you can shape them completely into what you want them to be.  But how often does that fall short? Quite a lot.  Especially when people don't consider genetics.

Breeds are not a new thing, though closed gene pools are in the grand scheme of things.  Some people will simply say that types existed, that landraces existed, but regardless, different types, names given to different types of dogs of a certain kind, did happen.  Whether or not they were kept as 'pure' as the dog fancy does so now, doesn't really matter.  These different varieties often had different jobs, different drives, different ways of working and being....different temperaments.  You simply can't erase all that genetic history and believe that you're getting a perfectly clean slate. 

While temperament is one of the lowest inheritable traits, it still can be selected for, it can still be a bit consistent.  Compare Chow Chows to Golden Retrievers as a whole, and there's no way that anyone can say that the breeds are even remotely a like in temperament.  

Believing that 'it's all about how you raise them' does a grave disservice to breeds as a whole, even if you have a mixed breed, those breeds, whether you know them or not...gave you that dog.  To believe that undermines the fact that there are wonderful adult dogs out there who need homes.  To believe that undermines the fact that there are dogs who have been through hell and back and still come out for the better-it doesn't always happen, but it does happen.

And even more than that-it undermines the fact that genetic psychological issues do exist.

I'm talking about something like 'Springer/Cocker Rage' due to the occurrence in Springer and Cocker Spaniels, or just generally called 'K9 Rage', 'Rage Syndrome', 'Sudden Onset Aggression', or 'Idiopathic Rage' as it can happen in other breeds.

With K9 Rage, these are dogs which sometimes there's a trigger, other times, there's no trigger.  These dogs will freeze and then launch into a frenzied attack.  There's some suspicion about the actual causes, from thyroid to seizures, but 30 years of study and we're still fairly in the dark about it.  Granted, in the past, sometimes resource guarding aggression and other problems may have been attributed to K9 Rage, but this is a very real disorder that does happen.  The first story I had heard about it was actually from my mother who had met someone with a very physically restrained Rottweiler who suffered from it.  Just several years ago, I heard another story from a man who runs a large rescue who rescued a couple of German Shepherds from the street....one of which, with no triggers, tried to kill the man twice.  The dog was sent to one of the top dog training facilities in the state, but there simply was no help for it, and while I wasn't told whether or not it really was K9 rage, the way the dog's attacks were described to me made it seem likely.

Just in this alone, just because idiopathic rage does occur in dogs, means that nurture does not always over ride nature.  Nurture can only go so far with genetics in play.  Which, there can be an otherwise perfectly stable litter save for one pup that just had something wrong, and no matter how far the owner goes to try to manage and handle that dog, it's a lost cause.

Yes, you can say that a genetic mental disorder is an anomaly and we should just ignore it, that it shouldn't count.  I honestly don't think that we have anything to gain by ignoring the fact that it exists, and we have only more knowledge and understanding to gain by accepting it as a fact that no, it's not 'all about how you raise them'.  I think at some point I wanted to believe that it was about how you raised them.  However, my way of thinking left loopholes that developed into what I believe now, that only strengthened with time and evidence.

One part being the fact that, yes, idiopathic rage syndrome does exist.  Another being the fact that you can take dogs used in dog fighting, and they aren't ruined, defective, or dangerous, they can be rehabilitated, trained, and become perfectly fine pets in some cases.  Lastly, there exists breeds and random individual dogs with temperaments that if in the wrong hands, can be dangerous-yet some of them can be managed just fine through their lives with the right owner, though such homes are very few and far between.

For those owners who are out there dealing with dogs who seem to exhibit some severe temperamental issues, I want to tell you that it's not your fault.  It is completely understandable.  Sometimes, dogs are just broken from the beginning, and there is nothing we can do to fix it.  If you are an owner who has tried everything you possibly could and just can't....I want you to know it's ok to let the dog go peacefully under the eyes of your vet.  I want you to know that it's ok to wonder if.  And I want you to know it's not your fault, whether you raised the dog or not.

"Most Dog Breeds"

There is no quicker way to get me to anger than to spit out the phrase "Most dog breeds".  The reason is that every, and I mean EVERY time someone says that it is 1.ALWAYS in regards to health issues and 2.ALWAYS followed by examples of COMMON breeds -OR- the Neapolitan Mastiff and Dosa Mastiff on the rare occasion.  There has never been a general dog owner or dog loving person who has spit out this phrase followed by a rare breed other than the Neo or Dosa.  Serious dog people will talk about the health of various rare breeds, but I absolutely can not recall any one of them ever using the phrase "Most dog breeds".

I have then asked people who use the phrase to tell me how many breeds are there.  They never respond to the question.

In regards to health, most of the general public then throws out some of the most common breeds there are, like...German Shepherds.  Boxers.  Dachshunds.  These are the breeds they use as examples for the over 300 different breeds and land races out there.  The FCI recognizes 332 breeds officially with 11 more provisional breeds.  This may not even come close to all that is actually out there.  As more and more areas become connected to the internet, more and more people are popping up out of seemingly nowhere with a "Hey, this breed exists". 

It is important to realize the number of breeds, because when you start talking about health, it gets muddy.  You can't use a handful of popular breeds as examples of "purebreds" having health problems.  And you sure as hell can't judge a book by it's cover, appearance is only a part of health in dogs. 

Do you realize how many people are disabled but don't look like it?  Various auto-immune diseases, heart problems, visual and auditory impairments, cystic fibrosis, etc.  The wide scope of genetic diseases in humans, both visual and not? 

I've come across far too many people who start talking about health in dogs and they go straight to physical appearance.  People point out the Boxer's short muzzle, but two of the biggest problems are cancer and cardiomyopathy.  Things that aren't obviously visual from the start.  It's backwards thinking, to believe, that you can judge health on appearance.

The fact remains, however, that they still point out popular breeds that they refuse to research because they believe them sickly.  Why not do more research?  For whatever reason, they want answers given to them on a silver platter, and they accept the first ones they're given because it's dressed up in a neat little, simplistic package.  They are given these handful of examples and reasons and use them to wipe the entire dog world with the same brush.

Fact is...no, most breeds aren't that badly off.  Yes, all breeds can have genetic diseases occur.  However, there is a popularity issue at play.  The more popular a breed is, the more likely it is that there's questionable people breeding them, and breeding unhealthy examples. 

At the same time, the rarer a breed is, the harder it is to breed away from genetic problems, and this is especially true in breeds that had almost been wiped out, creating a genetic bottleneck.  Some of the middle of the road breeds are decently off, but it's not always the case.  There's some rare breeds who are quite healthy, there's some popular and middle-road breeds that are as well. 

When vets get involved, things get even more absurd.  They run a business, they went to school to learn to deal with health related issues.  They're not geneticists, they're not often involved in breeding any more, they deal mostly with....health problems.  And, again, this becomes a popularity thing....the rarer a breed is, the less likely anyone is going to see it, including vets.  So if they're using the examples of "purebreds are unhealthy because German Shepherds"......they haven't dealt with even a large number of breeds.  You'd think they'd be more wise to the whole situation.

For the most part, from my crazy research and interest in the vast number of breeds.....most....aren't seriously unhealthy.  Problems do occur, there are things to watch for, there may be a few common-ish problems, but typically the issues are not nearly as common as a handful of example breeds.

20 breeds out of over 300 isn't even a quarter of the breeds and landraces out there.  On top of it, most breeds aren't "extreme" physically, so, there really is no reason to complain or say that phrase I hate so much..."Most dog breeds". 

So stop saying it. 

Dog Breeds And Hollywood Fame

In the movie and TV industry, whether animated or live-action, when dogs have been involved, there has been little to almost no mention to the general public that the simple fact is that these are professionally trained or, in the case of animation, fake, animals, and that you should do your research before acquiring any animal or specific breed. 

The fact that no public service announcement of the sort has ever been standard in regards to animals in movie and tv, has caused some serious problems in the past and will likely continue to do so in the future.  The general public will often see these trained animals as being typical of the breed, and they end up often liking what they see as they have no idea that it's common place to have multiple animals play a part in a movie, much less the amount of training that goes into these animals so they can play these parts. 

The best example of the problem is that many people wanted their own "Pongo" or "Perdita" after seeing 101 Dalmatians, after all those spotty little puppies were just so adorable and would grow into elegant adults!  However, the Dalmatian breed was developed to have a fair amount of energy.  Those who expected the spotty pups to turn into easy going adults laying by the fire without any training or work, were surprised to find that these were active and athletic dogs!  In addition, because of the movie and the sudden increase of popularity, there were dogs being bred to fill the market with little regards to proper temperament or health.  It wasn't hard to find partially or completely deaf Dalmatians and those with temperament issues in shelters as they were surrendered by people who could not handle the breed's energy, much less a special needs one.  Responsible breeders of Dalmatians were upset, and many Dalmatian rescue groups sprung up as a result.  In the first decade of the 2000's, Dalmatian registrations in the AKC dropped by a whopping 90%, as the public interest in the breed died off from the live-action remakes.

This trend has happened multiple times with different breeds, and since the development of breed rescues, responsible breeders are always worried that their breed will be the next in the spotlight, increasing the need for rescue and foster homes for their beloved breeds to try and save as many as they can.  The dogs are the ones who pay the price, sometimes with their own lives, simply because the public fails to understand that movie and tv is not real life, and that every breed has it's downsides that can make them unsuitable for the wrong home.  In the future, I hope that the outcry from responsible breeders wanting to prevent their breed from falling into the wrong hands continues to ground and will hopefully encourage the movie and tv industries to encourage research before getting any animal.

In the meantime, with the movie "Max", right around the corner, social media has erupted to try and educate people that while, yes, Belgian Malinois are amazing dogs, this is not a breed for most people. Belgian Malinois can be very driven, and very, very high energy depending on the individual breeder's line.  They do have an incredible amount of flexibility, capable of herding, police and military work, search and rescue, tracking, agility, flyball, and much more.  This is a breed that can typically work all day and still be ready for action while you're ready for bed.  Without the proper outlets and training, which can take a lot of time, money, and effort, the breed can easily become destructive.

And while the breed is highly trainable, it still took 5 different trained dogs to play one in the movie. 

My own biggest concern, as someone who loves the various breeds, is that the breed is more popular in the working dog community than the show dog community, and many of the working lines are even more unsuitable for the average household.  The pups are often started early on jute tugs to make the transfer to the padded bite sleeves used to train protection work and sports easier, and Malinois use their mouths a lot which leads to their nickname of "Mali-gator".  As the working lines are more plentiful, they would be easier for the unsuspecting public to get a dog from.  I can only hope that the working dog community also does their best to protect their breed from falling into hands that would not be able to cope with this amazing working breed.

For more on breed popularity due to movies, please see the following links:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140910152512.htm

http://consumer.healthday.com/mental-health-information-25/behavior-health-news-56/films-featuring-dogs-seem-to-boost-a-breed-s-popularity-691551.html

If The Were No Dog Breeders In The Country....

This post comes about due to a dream that started me down the thought path, pulling me out of the dream, into the twilight between being asleep and being awake, and then finally into full alertness.  I don't remember that path clearly, nor do I remember the dream at all, but I remember the feeling of sorrow that people....people know not what they do when they rally against ALL breeders, what that could lead to.

So, what could it lead to?

If breeding dogs/cats/whatever else was banned...

-Breeding would go underground.  Any time anything goes underground, it is harder to regulate, harder to find, harder to make sure the animals have at least the minimum of care.  Animals would be more likely to be used for profit without any care to their health or well-being by those who would break the law.

-Accidental litters could cost good people their freedom and more.  Do we really need even more good people with no criminal history or violent offenses taking up space and tax payer's money over such a small thing?  Aren't there more important concerns?

-Dog shows would pretty much cease to exist, dog shows which generate massive amounts of revenue, bring people together with old friends, and, despite politics and it's own variety of issues (like everything....find me one thing that doesn't have an issues across the board, I dare you), does help further breeding programs.

-Breeds would vanish from the country.  This means the Otterhound population alone would drop by around 300-350 individuals, out of a worldwide estimate of 800-1000.  It would bring multiple breeds closer to extinction, possibly bring some recently created American breeds to actual extinction, and cripple gene pools in a variety of ways. 

-Various lineages would be lost, never to be regained, the dog world, globally would lose a lot of variety as a whole, making it even more difficult to eradicate genetic diseases.

-Only those well off enough to afford to import would truly have a choice in being able to get a breed-if importation wasn't cut off.  Small farms scraping by wouldn't be able to get dogs that were more likely guaranteed to guard, rather than eat, their livestock for example. 

-^-Those with special requirements would be relegated to taking a risk on what is hopefully a small-type pup, but could get over their expectations, putting them in a bind with landlords.  Or someone could end up with a mixed that has a high drive, more than they can handle.  The rich would be able to truly choose what they want, the rest would have to deal with whatever was in shelters and rescues.

-Those dogs in shelters and rescues?  If breeding was illegal, chances are most of them, over time, wouldn't just be "street" dogs from other countries, but also flat out feral dogs.  And having known someone with a feral dog-most people wouldn't be able to handle the special requirements to keep and maintain a true feral dog.  Feral cats can at least be maintained on farms

-More "rescue" imports=more diseases coming over which may or may not be communicable to other animals and people.  A dog imported from Mexico exposed family members and dogs it interacted with at a training class to rabies in 2004: http://www.naiaonline.org/articles/article/thriving-animal-shelter-businesses-assure-more-rabies-in-american-pets#sthash.H1irkpvY.dpbs
Growing concerned over the Asian Canine Influenza outbreak, which may have been brought over with the recent imports: http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/canine-influenza-outbreak-caused-asian-virus-scientists-say

-To cease breeding of dogs, or any other animal, would be considered a win to animal rights activists, who want to see people cut off completely from nature, and it would steam roll from there, no more farms, no more meat, no more companions.  I would think that they expect us to start living underground or in bubbles there after.

There are those who would see all of this as a good thing, everything that we would lose.  Breeds, gene pools, companions, working animals.....they WANT them gone, they want us separated.  I truly believe that these people see us as cut off from nature, cut off from life and the balance.  The dogs that we share our lives with are a part of that balance, thousands of years of history together, walking, working, surviving.  It would be a crime to cast all the diversity we created aside so blindly because bleeding hearts can't see the positives that so many of us live every day.

Do not let them win.

If You're Gonna Have An Opinion On Mixed VS Purebred Dog Health, Then You Need To Know The Basics Of Genetics

Over the past week, I have seen multiple comments that have bothered me something fierce.  At the core, it comes down to the simple fact that the general public doesn't know the basics of genetics, nor the modes of inheritance.  And where as it seems rather cruel to expect everyone to know the basics of the basics, these people can't even draw the some of the same conclusions by looking at their fellow human beings.  Which is truly odd, considering all the medical shows, both fictional and non. 

Hell, even when there is an article that talks about a certain genetic trait in humans, and how it is a dominant gene that only takes one parent, I have still seen people go on about inbreeding being the cause.  Reading is fundamental, sir.

My simple belief is, if you're going to have an opinion on something that has science behind it, know the damn science, even if it's just a little bit.  So, this is what I'll be talking about today. 

Dominant Gene:  Only one parent is needed to pass the trait/disease at a 50% chance, and only one copy of the gene is needed for expression.

This means, if you have a human with Huntington's or a Brittany Spaniel with Hereditary Canine Spinal Muscular Atrophy, it doesn't matter how unrelated the other parent is (same breed or not), there is always a 50% chance of any given offspring getting the disease. 

Recessive Gene:  Two copies of the gene is needed for expression.  If an animal or human only has one copy, it typically has no effect, and those with one copy are called "carriers".  A human or animal who is a carrier, can breed to a non carrier, and will produce non-carriers and carriers.  An affected human or animal with two copies of the gene, bred to a non carrier, will produce all carriers.  Two affected will produce all affected.  An affected with a carrier will produce 50/50 carrier/affected.  Two carriers will produce 25% affected.

If you have a Siberian Husky who carries Progressive Retinal Atrophy and breed it to an Irish Setter that also carries Progressive Retinal Atrophy, you have now produced a litter of carriers and 25% affected.  Congratulations, you have produced a genetic disease in the supposedly healthier "mix breed".

Polygenic Genes:  Multiple genes combination to produce a trait or disease.

If you have a German Shepherd with A and B parts of a 3 part code for a disease, like say, Hip Dysplasia, and you have some random Boxer mix who carries A and C....you're likely going to get some Boxer/GSD/? mixes with HD. 

Now, this is just a simplistic overview.  There's also Sex-linked genes, mitochondrial DNA, and other factors that we're still learning about. Genetics is a fairly young science.  Some health issues can even be caused.  But the basics give you a basic understanding of how and why things can go wrong with the health of mixed breeds, why mixed breeds don't magically get a pass with health.

Now, in theory, if two breeds had completely unrelated problems that were solely recessive, could a mixed breed between the two be healthier?  Possibly.  But you still have to take in another issue that isn't related to genetic diseases, but the genetics behind conformation-how a dog is put together. 

This area is tricky.  We can't map out everything in dogs, at least not yet.  However, consider two different head types.  Now, some of the discussion I've seen has people saying that the genes for the top jaw and lower are different sets.  So, if this is true, you could end up with a mouth in a crossbreed that is poorly put together and may cause the dog some issues, however minor.  When you look at the whole picture, every part of the dog, you could very well end up with a mishmash of conformation that may or may not cause the dog to break down physically as it ages.  Within an entire litter, there may be a wide variation of traits, and some may be fine, others may live a life of pain or discomfort from early on.  It's Russian Roulette with genes, especially as the majority of people breeding crosses on purpose seem to do no genetic testing (because "mixed breeds are healthier", so why bother?) and have little to no understanding of genetics in the first place. 

And we're not even touching on the subject of temperaments and drives, which....is one more very important factor in breeding.  

All in all, it's important to go to a breeder who knows their lines, health testings, does something with their dogs, and has an understanding of genetics.  Doesn't matter what breed, or even if it is a cross, it is.  This is how you stack the odds of health in your future dog's favor. 

But wait!  There's more!

I'm going to give a basic run down of some facts.....

-Health tests are available for some diseases.  However, the number of tests available vs genetic diseases out there is quite small, though ever growing. 

-Health tests are often breed specific/limited to a number of breeds, as even though a number of genes are the same across breeds, not all are.

-Health tests should NEVER be confused with "Vet Checked".  Health tests are DNA tests that look for markers, or specific testing to check body parts.  Vet Checked is just a vet going over a dog/puppy to see if it is healthy at that point in time, and is no guarantee of future health.  And sometimes, vets do misunderstand certain things that may be breed traits or common in development in a specific line-vets are fallible, do not make any rash decisions or get angry until you've talked to your breeder about the report.

-Health tests are not perfect, and because there are so few health tests compared to the number of diseases, there may still be something that pops up.  Always let your breeder know so they have all the information possible to prevent and/or study such issues.

-Breeders, like vets, are fallible.  If there really is a problem, approach with a clear and level head, try to have an idea of what you want to do regarding the problem, and ask what your options are.  Flies, honey, vinegar, you know?

-Be mindful of the fact that even the best breeders are not psychic, and sometimes new problems in a breed will pop up with little to no warning.  This is a fact of life.

-If ever you are angry about an unpredictable health problem with your pet, look to the world, look to your fellow humans.  We have a right ol' mess of our own with genetic diseases.  And you know what?  You can't directly blame purity, inbreeding, or linebreeding for the majority of it.  Unless if you want to blame nature for possibly squishing our gene pool a couple of times, if I recall what science suspects correctly?

"The Puli Lady" At Westminster

There's been tons of talk in the dog world about the.  Some bad, some good, some meh. 

My thoughts?

I don't care what a handler wears, so long as it's not hindering the handling or presentation of the dog.

If anything, she was probably more relatable to the general public watching the show than those who were dressed up.  And the fancy kinda needs more of that. 

I get that it's a big, prestigious, and hell, even glamorous show.  And I'm not saying the fancy should do away with that.  But at the same time.....maybe there should be a little thought put into how being so fancy as a fancy may make it seem that the sport is only for the well-off who have money to spare for sparkly outfits?  Even though we know it's not true.  At least for a short bit? 

Because the fancy is in trouble, from both people and issues within and outside of it. 

If You Really Love The Breed You Own....

In the same theme as yesterday's post, people suggesting people get a particular breed because they own one.

I get it.  You love your chosen breed.  You've had great experiences with them, they're a good match for you.  However....

Not everyone is. 

Just as not everyone is suitable to take on a random rescue dog, not everyone will be a good match for your breed.  But I see it time and time again.  People, the general public, suggesting people get their own breed because....

They're wonderful.
They're great with kids.
They're fun.
They're mellow.
They're sweet.
They're loyal.
They're smart.

And so on.....

And they do truly believe their breeds are that.  Their own dogs have probably been that to them.  I'm NOT denying that.

What I am denying is that any given breed is suitable for any given person.  It's simply not true.  EVERY breed has their pros and cons.  EVERY SINGLE BREED.  That is NOT a bad thing.  If anything, it makes dogs in all their different breeds, that much more interesting in their diversity. 

You should absolutely take pride in the differences, the challenges, the quirks, the traits that make your breed that breed.  And if you REALLY care about your breed, you'll stop trying to shove them down everyone's throat. 

Yes, they're great.  They're particularly great for you!  That's awesome!

However, not everyone can deal with a Lab's energy, especially when they're young.  Most Labradors get dumped within the first 2 years because they are slow to mature and can be more than just a handful.  That's one of their downsides, it takes a few years for them to mellow out.  Let me ask you, if you are a Lab person.....

Do you LIKE the fact that so many Labradors get dumped? 

The answer, if you really care about Labrador Retrievers, should be "No".  You should not want to see this breed in shelters or rescues at all.  So why do you recommend them to anyone and everyone?  Because you want to share your awesome breed?  Then share them with the right people.  Be honest.  If you see someone who isn't very active, don't encourage them to get a Lab.  Tell them the downsides to the breed, why the breed probably is probably a bad fit.  Encourage them to make an educated and informed choice, encourage research into other breeds that are more suitable for their lifestyle. 

The same goes for any breed.

And please, please, please, do not try to push a breed that is totally opposite of what a person is looking for onto them. 

Furthermore, I also feel that with the general public's suggestions with breeds, is out of hand.  You see the same common breeds being suggested over and over and over.  I don't hate popular breeds, but I do hate popularity for what it does to a breed.  Encouraging that popularity of already popular breeds to continue to grow is BAD for those breeds.  Willy nilly interest is bad for any breed.

If you're going to be one of those people who gives recommendations, please.....research and learn breeds yourself.  You don't need to know all the ins and outs of all of the breeds, but having a good general idea of breeds they may want to check into, especially outside of the common breeds, DOES make an impact of "Wow, I've never heard of that breed before" and sometimes encourages further research.  And who knows, their perfect match might just be a breed that needs a little bit of a boost. 

It's no secret that I love rare breeds and want to see them stick around long after I'm gone.  I also want to encourage people to look at the dog world as a whole, see it as vast and amazing as I do, and encourage people to research instead of just diving into the first breed they get told they should get.  I want to see a world where most people research breeds they're interested in more so than they do appliances, cars, and computers.  I want to see a world where impulse buying of pets is not the main thing that happens (because there will always be odd things that happen, the oops litters, shelter dogs-yes I consider that buying, experienced people looking for a dog suddenly and a breeder may have had a buyer or 3 back out, etc). 

It Is NOT "Cool" To Pressure Or Guilt-People Who Ignore Other's Reasons, Wants, And Needs

Over the years, I have seen an increasing number of people suggesting people adopt.  Go to a shelter, go to a rescue, save a life!  A noble cause, truly. 

But there is a point where it becomes pressuring, guilt-tripping, and in some cases, down right bullying.

"I want a dog that is good with kids."
"Go to the shelter, take your kids, adopt!"

"I want a dog that is good with cats."
"Go to a rescue, adopt!"

"I want a dog that I can do agility with."
"Shelter, rescue, adopt!"

"I want a dog that is mellow."
"Adopt!"

"I want a dog that won't eat my chickens."
"Adopt!"

Because you know, shelters test dogs regularly for compatibility with livestock.  -.- 

Because you know, shelters aren't high-stress environments.

Because you know, no one ever returns a dog they've adopted because behaviors have emerged that no one had a clue about.

Fact is, rescues dogs aren't always a guaranteed option. 

Shelters and rescues ARE high-stress environments, even at the best of times.  Dogs can shut down while they're there.  Or!  Dogs can become overly anxious and hyper due to lack of stimulation, wrong stimulation, lack of exercise, or just plain stress.  They're strictly controlled, yet stressful, environments that are so vastly different from home life that you can't see the dog for what it really is.  A kennel isn't going to have drywall that can be chewed through, or couches that the dog can destroy.

Even when shelter and worker volunteers go above and beyond the basics, there is still only so much they can see.  Only so much that they notice.  Only so much that any given dog will give to them. 

It's not a bad thing-it's a complicated thing.  It's the reason why I believe that a large number of rescue dogs are best off in hands that have at least some dog experience, flexibility, and the ability to resort to various resources if needed. 

Dogs that are still rescues, but have been in foster homes are a step up.  Still, there can be quirks that aren't seen depending on how that household runs, which could be very unlike the one the dog ends up in.  Plus, the foster home may have very old, quiet cats, and the adopting one may have very active cats that set off prey drive.  There may very well be incompatibility. 

Where cat-testing is a thing in some shelters and rescues, not all do it.  Different animals smell differently, move differently, act differently.  There's no guarantee that a cat-safe dog will be fine with rabbits, ferrets, birds, etc.  Hell, there's no guarantee that a 'cat'-safe dog will even be fine with kittens because kittens move and smell differently than adult cats (and this is something I've had experience with, not through a rescue dog, but a roommate's dog-fine with adults, not safe with kittens).

And if someone is looking for a dog to be around livestock at the shelter?  Oh boy, that's a HUGE gamble.  Even if you do find a herding or livestock guardian in the shelter, there are those who just have the wrong drive and are there because they ARE a risk to livestock and got dumped for it.  You don't know. 

You also don't know what a shelter dog's health is going to be like.  No, mixed breeds aren't healthier, they have their own set of common problems and can pop up with uncommon ones just the same.  If anything, the early-fixed pups are at a high risk of ACL tears, which makes agility a risk.  Not every dog, mixed or not, will have health issues, even when they've had things stacked against them.  But it is what it is, which is a question mark with a dog whose history is unknown.

I would love if we could really just magically pull all of a dog's quirks and traits and health out of the air so they could be placed perfectly.  I wish we could have that guarantee, but we don't.  Sometimes adoptions and trials don't work out.  That's ok.  Not every and any dog is for anybody who comes along, that is important to note.

So here's the deal.  Here is where I have serious issues with a number of pro-adoption/rescue people...

You push.  No matter what reasons the original person who was asking for help says, you push.  You shove.  And sometimes, when they stand firm, insults start getting thrown about.  Accusations of them "killing dogs" by going to a breeder.  By knowing what they want and are looking for. 

Not all dogs are the same.  They're dogs, then they're their breeds/mix, then they're individuals.  If you expect someone who is wanting a Pug, has researched Pugs for the past year, to go to a shelter and be happy with some random Catahoula mix.....you're risking setting them and whatever dog you have guilt tripped them into getting into failing.  That's not nice.  It's not responsible or fair or right. 

If you tell someone who is looking into a livestock guard to watch their flocks to go to a shelter and adopt whatever, you are RISKING THEIR LIVESTOCK.  You!  You are risking the death of animals on an unknown because they should save a life.  What happens when that saved life takes other lives?

If you bully them into feeling so bad about even thinking about going to a responsible breeder they've been referred to, that they end up adopting a high energy, anxiety ridden dog who eats their walls and doors in the short time they've gone to get the mail...you should be paying for repairs and apologizing. 

Because people who want predictability of a certain breed and a good match because they know they can't handle anything that gets thrown at them aren't bad people.  If anything, they're more responsible and aware than the people who try to shove the adoption agenda down their throats.  It's okay if their wants, needs, and reasons are different than yours. 

And before you set off on the "you can find purebreds in rescues!"......Let me fix that for you.  "You can find questionable quality purebreds of the COMMON breeds in rescues and shelters".  Many of the rarer breeds...not even the national breed club rescues will pull many of them in a year.  That's what happens when there's only double digits of a breed registered each year, or even just triple.  Most breeds do NOT have the numbers behind them that Labs, Goldens, German Shepherds, or any of the other top 20 or so breeds do. 

It IS ok to ask them how they feel about rescue, if they're interested in adopting.  It's horribly annoying to be the 28th person telling them to adopt.  It's awful to be that person who insists on adoption at all costs, trying to think of ways and reasons for them to do it when they have stated they're not interested or that they're looking for particular things.  You, at that point, are pushing.

Peer pressure isn't cool.  Remember your parents telling you about peer pressure in regards to sex and drugs?  Yeah.  Pressuring people is bad, Mmmmkay?  Guilt-tripping is bad.  Bullying is bad. 

Know what is awesome though?  Being a helpful person.  Being insightful.  Being respectful.  Because I'll tell you a secret.....I get a lot of people thanking me when I'm giving them spiffy information and options they never would have thought of otherwise.  So let's help each other while respecting each other choices. 

Finding a purebred of a popular breed in a shelter is NOT impressive! Stop acting like it is!

I don't know how many times I see people basically say "Yes, a purebred _____, in a shelter!", often followed by how you can find purebreds in shelters and you shouldn't dare go to an "evil" breeder. 

Ok, look, if the breed you found is in the top 50 AKC registered breeds, that means squat.  OF COURSE you can find popular breeds in the shelter.  Especially the top 10.  Plus various bully types, be they actual American Pit Bull Terriers or those American Bully things, or mixes of. 

But!  It doesn't mean they're well bred.  Those popular breeds are....well...popular.  And are readily bred by questionable people EVERY SINGLE DAY.  Why?  Because they're popular and people want them, even when they haven't don't one iota of research or spent any actual time with them. 

It may be based on a friend of neighbor going "Oh yeah, they're great, perfect dogs!  Not a single problem.  You should get one."  Because everyone gets along with peanuts and onions, right?  No.  -.-

It may be based on looks.  Often times, it is.  They see a cute puppy, where ever they are, or in some book or on a website, then they want one.  So they go buy a puppy of that breed or mix like they buy shoes....actually...no, I think even shoes often get researched more than when people decide to buy a dog.  -.-

It may be based on some reputation, like being a guard dog.  And then you have people failing to realize that to be a well balanced dog that isn't a liability and gonna get your ass fined or sued, you have to SOCIALIZE AND TRAIN IT.  And even then, depending on breed and personality, there's MANAGEMENT! 

And often, these breeds people get are readily available, commonly seen, often bred by people who have no idea what they're doing because they're doing it because "everyone wants one".  

So what happens then?

People are shocked when that adorable Labrador puppy tries to chew and eat everything, and needs surgery to remove a bunch of rocks and socks from it's belly.  People are surprised when they realize how much that Golden Retriever sheds.  They're taken aback when they don't understand why their 1-year old Boxer hasn't settled down like the 7-year old they met!  They are horrified when their Siberian Husky tries to eat the neighbor's cat.  They are appalled to find themselves in danger of losing everything they own because their German Shepherd threatened to eat a kid.

And then off to the shelter they go.  Popular breeds, more likely to end up in the wrong hands, more likely to be gotten without research, more likely to be shipped off to the shelter. 

Really, you don't see Dandie Dinmont Terriers or Sussex Spaniels everywhere.  So typically, hardly anyone knows about them, and you don't have a plethora of "can't be bothered to research a living thing, but oh I'm going to research the shit out of these headphones" members of the public falling in love over dumbass reasons and getting them willy nilly.  And even if tomorrow, everyone wanted one, the circle of breeders is so small that they just don't produce many litters, and the breeders are highly protective of their breed.  Occasionally, one will fall into a shelter or rescue.  It happens in rare breeds, I'm not going to deny it.  However, depending on the people in the breed, how the breed is or isn't promoted, and the area, it can vary greatly.  Which is why you're far more likely to see a Dogo Argentino in a shelter than a Sussex, why you're more likely to find a coonhound in the south rather than on the north coast, more likely to find more Chihuahuas in cities, and herding and livestock guards in rural areas. 

Even if a rare breed does end up in a shelter, a rescue (breed club rescue or otherwise) may pull the dog, the responsible breeder may pull it, there may be someone who was waiting longer than you, or it may simply be a mislabeled mixed breed-which happens a LOT.  Furthermore, you may have to travel, or possibly wait years and years. 

So if you're one of those people who is in love with a popular breed that can be readily found, and doesn't give a shit about proper temperament or health testing, go.....feel free to find your next dog at the shelter.

But stop being a Judgey McJudgerson for those who do care or are in love with a breed that is difficult to get even when going to a responsible breeder (some waiting lists for the rare breeds can be years long).  And stop acting like it's some impressive feat to find a common, questionably bred purebred in the shelter.  It's not. 

When thousands of Goldens, Labs, and German Shepherds are registered every year, and you're lucky if there's 16 new English or American Foxhounds...there's a huge difference in availability no matter where you go.

Common=More of.  Easier to find.  More often to end up in the wrong hands.  Simply. 

If You Own It, You Should Be Able To Spell It

It seems as time goes on, I see more and more horrific misspellings of breed and species names.  By people who are trying to re-home, or more often than not just flat out sell whatever animals they have.  Both owners who have whatever reasons, bad or reasonable, for giving up a pet they've lived with for a while to people who have bred said animals for....well, if you can't spell the breed(s) you've bred, you probably have shitty reasons and are breeding animals that shouldn't be bred. 

Look, you're on the internet.  The occasional misspelling is fine, but unless if there is something seriously wrong with the spell check on your computer, I shouldn't be seeing.......

"unbrella kockatoo"

Yes, there was an "unbrella kockatoo" on my local CL. 

And that is just one example of many, but I'm not up for dragging myself around the net, trying to find the most asinine spellings. 

I'm here to tell you that if you are one of these people who can't even be bothered to cross check your spelling VIA GOOGLE, you are lazy, and your lazy posting will likely end up attracting idiots.  Because serious animal people who are dredging the cesspool of CL will 9 times out of 10 will laugh at you and leave you be.  The ignorant, the desperate, the foolish, the wrong people will likely be the ones who touch upon your ad and see absolutely nothing wrong.

Further more, incorrect names are just as bad.  Unless if you went up north and brought back a sled dog that is just bred with competition or purpose in mind, and is most likely a random mix of whatever sledders found works for them, you do NOT have an Alaskan Husky.  You, if you have a purebred, have a Siberian Husky, and if you can't even learn the difference then I highly doubt that dog is as well behaved as you say it is.  Why?  Because a well behaved dog doesn't magically happen.  It takes work, and it takes pride in your work, which means being proud of your dog and likely proud enough to learn what you have and their history. 

And if you think I'm being too harsh on you adults out there, my 13/14 year old self could spell Karjalankarhukoira off the top of her head, and so it remains to this day.  And no, I'm not Finnish. 

There Are Worst Things I Could Be

The other day I was told that my reputation within the fandom that I take part in is that of an "elitist out-of-touch snob dog-fancier bitch".  I'm still not sure if that is all connected.  I'm an introvert and introverts commonly often get called snobs, bitches, elitist, and more.  I'm not sure if other introverts get the whole 'out-of-touch' bit, but maybe they do.  Maybe I shall ask the introvert group I'm a part of later. 

I do know that if it all does run together in saying that I'm all those things regarding dogs....I'm ok with that.  I actually laugh at it because it shows my acquaintances' disconnection with the entire picture of animal ownership.  The disconnection which happens when you live in your own little bubble, living with your own animals, maybe talking to your friends who also own animals, but have no understanding or care beyond that, thinking that everything is all right with the world and nothing will ever, ever come between you and your animals. 

And how truly terrible that disconnection is.  How dangerous it is to assume that everything is just dandy. 

Yes, when it comes to dogs, you can call me a snob, an elitist.  You can call me out-of-touch.  Yet I'm the one who people come to when there's a problem or a question, though they often write me off because it's not what they want to hear.  Or because I'm honest and I'll say 'I can't tell anything from pictures on your phone, especially when all I can see is the tummy'.  I'm not afraid to say 'I don't know'.

Am I really those things?

Snob, elitist?  Because I have an intense interest in purebred dogs and genetics?  Because I champion the responsible breeder over rescues and shelters who already have thousands upon thousands of champions of their own?  Because I worry about breeds vanishing, living history, great dogs, wonderful breeds?  Because I try to educate that you shouldn't go to just 'anyone' and why?  Because I think that first time owners should go to a responsible breeder, if not for a puppy, but a retiree so they can get experience and learn and make connections at obedience class so they have someone to call at 3am if their rescue has broken it's crate and is now eating the door?  Fine.  Call me those things.

Out-of-touch?  Because I know with a certainty that animal rights activists want complete separation of humans from any and all animals?  Because I'm aware of how vague laws can hurt great breeders?  Because I actually see what's going on?  Or is it because I don't simplify everything in my life and just waltz along without a care?  Is it because I watch your dog and how it acts and what it's doing and I'm thinking, processing, figuring the animal out?  Out-of-touch is probably the one thing out of the entire sentence that I'm most certainly not.  But I can't help but to find it funny. 

So I laugh.  I laugh because I am misunderstood again.  Written off once more. 

Yet inside I ache because I want them to understand where I'm coming from and why.  I want to find a way to encourage them to jump into the fight that animal owners are facing even if they don't realize that they do have a dog (or cat, or bird, or fish, etc) in the fight.  I want these people and people like them to see what I see.  To wonder, to explore, to love the animal world enough to keep us from being cut off by those who would rather see it all destroyed. 

How my views of various breeds developed into what it is now.

  When people are involved with dogs, it's quite common for them to have their favorites.  It's also extremely common for people to utterly hate other breeds.  This could be for multiple reasons, be it a bad experience, just not liking the look of the breed(s), not liking the size, thinking that some breeds have been ruined, not liking certain aspects of a breed, or any other number of reasons. 

  To be perfectly honest, I used to be like that.  Though the breeds I hated were few, and my reasons varied. 

  I recall a time in which, even though I was in love with molossiods, I hated Neapolitan Mastiffs.  Why?  Because every picture I had seen in ads or some books made me think that they were nothing but a mess of wrinkles who couldn't move.  I did a complete turn around watching The World Dog when it was being held in Milan, Italy in 2000.  I believe it was Ch. Urania Del Castellaccio who made it to the BIS ring.  I had never thought that I would see a Neapolitan who would take my breath away, but watching the tv, she did.  Power and movement, with size and flews, not overly done like some of the Neos I had seen before which made me wonder if they were melting.  She was amazing.  It was a complete turn around for me, I knew there were great Neapolitans out there now, and I never looked back. 

  I grew up in South Florida, so I had more than enough run ins with small dogs, especially Chihuahuas, to make me want to dismiss them and their 'small dog syndrome'.  I generally loved dogs, but small dogs just had iffy temperaments from my experience.  Nothing ever happened that was too bad besides a bite from a Rat Terrier and a Boston who tried to go for my Ibizan's throat.  However, my mother had been a groomer, had plenty of bad experiences herself with the small dogs, so that didn't help with hearing her stories. 

  I always knew it wasn't so much breed that made a poor temperament and bad behavior, but could easily be bad genetics, poor or no training/socialization, bad experiences, abuse, or what have you.  I knew it and I have always been against breed-specific legislation because of it.  However it doesn't make dealing with small dogs that are allowed to misbehave and run loose around the neighborhood any more easier to deal with, and those dogs can make one a bit frustrated at the very least. 

  Becoming a dog nerd at age 13 and getting around shows, I saw some pretty awesome little dogs that were at their best, both mentally and physically.  And you know what?  I loved it, I love seeing what these little awesome dogs could be.  (Pekes can still make me giggle, the tough little rug-tanks that they are-and I do say that in fondness.)  I also got to know some little dogs who were just pretty darn cool regardless of whatever background, and even if their conformation wasn't sound.  Some which captured my heart at the dog daycare I worked at.  A French Bulldog that wasn't a dog's dog and would test new people (this little Frenchie had some serious muscle to him, and boy, could he jump).  An undersized Shih-Tzu who was all about play.  A beautiful and enchanting Papillon that gave me my first real one-on-one experience with the breed and made me fall in love with the breed.  Another Frenchie whose barking sounded like rapid sneezing, and he could run with the big dogs.  Just a few really great little dogs.

  Between shows and experiences, both on tv and off, my views and how I saw different breeds changed.  And while there are some breeds closer to my heart than others, and some breeds I wouldn't ever own and am generally 'meh' about...and I'll confess, there's one I feel particularly bad about due to conformation and high rate of HD....I tend to have a vast love for the variety.  Over 500 breeds, possibly over 800, and it seems we're finding 'lost' breeds and land race types as we go.  It makes my head swim, it fills me with this absurd giddiness because there's almost certainly a breed for everyone who actually wants to include a dog in their life.   

  I'd like to think that because of that change, I have learned a lot more than I would have otherwise.  That I did open myself up that much more to the dog world.  It's been an interesting journey so far.

Not All Rescues Are Saints

  What really prompted me to start this blog was the fact that I had run into a question thread yesterday that left me rather worried from some of the responses.  When you have been floating about the skirts of the dog world like I have, you see and hear things, you learn things.

  The questions that set this all off were asking if anyone had bought a pet from a breeder, and why would someone choose that route. 

  The questions alone gave me icky feelings, as if buying a pet from a breeder makes one not normal.  I suppose in this day and age, thanks to the AR propaganda machine doing it's job so well, it isn't considered normal these days in the typical 'just want a pet' circle of pet owners. 

  The responses varied.  One person felt guilty over their bought dog that had been a gift.  Another 'adopted' retirees from breeders, and another got a rehome from a breeder.  A few people did buy from breeders.  Some people hadn't, but knew someone who did, and some of those people 'didn't understand it'.  Comments saying there's too many unwanted animals in the country.  A comment calling breeding an 'industry' which paints all breeders with the same brush, which also insulted people who wanted a specific breed.

  And I was worried.  I was horrified actually.  Because the general mass of these comments showed a vast support for rescues without question.  Only a few comments mentioned anything about some possible negative aspects of some rescues.

  Before any rescue supporters stop reading and write me off as some ignorant fool, please, continue reading.  I have no problem with rescues, I have a problem with how some rescues do things.  I am upset with how so many people can sit there and act as if all rescues and shelters are saints, and all breeders are evil.  You can't EVER paint an entire group with the same paintbrush, you can't say they're all the same.  Because they're not.  There's many shades of grey.  And just as there are bad breeders and great breeders and mediocre breeders and everything in between, there is just the same in rescues.

   I have a friend who worked for a rescue not too far from me.  A rescue that should have been shut down years ago, yet to this day, continues to hoard animals.  Yes, the rescue is a hoarder.  They have twice as many animals, if not more at this time, than they are allowed to.  The number is such that only half the dogs get walked for a short bit while the rest stay caged/crated.  There's cats in the ceiling, animals in rooms that should not have them, and no real drive to try to adopt out these animals, and they bash every other rescue and shelter in the area.

  In fact, this rescue is such that they judge you by what you wear, what you drive, and where you live.  The list of basis of refusal that my friend gave me can pretty much be summed up as 'if you have any signs of living in the country or being a redneck or hunter, you are evil' and they'll turn you away.  Camouflage, orange collars on your own dogs, pick-up truck, owning land, etc. 

  The rescue will also refuse you to spend time alone with an animal for fear that you will steal it, so with a volunteer in the area, the dog may, depending on it's personality, be more focused on the person it knows.  How is a person going to be able to tell if they mesh with the dog if it is distracted?

  For all it's issues, the rescue has been reported, multiple times, and apparently to no avail.

  That's not the only rescue around here that has had it's issues.  Another rescue has appeared to adopted out feral cats, only to berate the adopters when they return a cat that is acting violent.  This hasn't just been one person, it's been a few.

  Shelters and rescues all over have been up to really strange things.  I had alerted the Vallhund people to a Vallhund in another state.  The breed club's rescue had no idea, and normally they're on top of things.  The rescue that had the dog refused to turn it over to the breed club.  Why would they?  They were going to charge a $300 'adoption fee' for a healthy, spayed rare breed.  Never mind that Vallhunds are not like Corgis, never mind that the breed club knows more about the breed than the rescue, and could probably place it far better. 

  Rescues refusal to work with breed clubs is one of the thing that makes me incredibly irritated.  It's no secret that some rescues will charge more for purebreds and certain breeds.  But hoarding dogs because of their breeds just so you can charge more for them is not in the best interest of the dogs, nor potential adopters.  It is the breed clubs who know their breeds inside and out, who know the types of people who are suitable and can screen properly for their breed.  Being able to charge extra because of a dog's breed is greedy as the dog's expense. 

  There's also plenty of rescues who refuse to work with breeders on fostering as well, turning away many breeders who, again, know their breed.  There has not been any decent answers as to why.  It's not as if the breeder is getting an intact dog unless if the rescue releases it like that, which is irresponsible on part of the rescue, and possibly even illegal in some places.  Breeders get people looking for their breed often, they have are a powerful, untapped resource for many rescues who seem to loathe breeders as the cause of all their 'problems' and then cry when they are overcrowded.  To me, you are making your own bed when you refuse to use a resource like that.

  I also question some rescue's screening.  I have heard multiple reasons for people being turned down, some of which simply don't make any sense.  Not owning your own home even if the landlord allows pets, not having a yard even if the people living an active lifestyle or they're wanting a small breed they can simply walk, being single, having kids, having other pets, having intact pets who are either working or show or maybe have health problems which put them at risk for death if they're put under, having certain other pets, never having pets.  I'm sure there many more I'm forgetting.  But all this turning people away without any further questioning does nothing to increase adoption.  I have heard many people who have given up trying to adopt and end up going to whatever breeder they can find, reputable or not, and writing off all rescues and shelters forever.  Some of these people are great owners who just get passed up because they're not exactly like the people running some of these rescues.

  These are just a few of the big issues I can think of off of the top of my head which causes me to wonder WHY?  Why does it seem that for all we promote 'screen your breeders, ask questions', no one asks rescues anything?  Where does your money come from?  How do you use your resources?  Who do you work with?  Who can foster?  Do you work with breed club rescue?  If an answer is questionable to you, do you inquiry further?  How do you place your animals?  How many animals do you usually have?  How many are in foster?  Do you temperament check your animals?  Do you consider breed/activity level/training level/etc in placement of a particular animal?  And so on.

  I think these questions need to be asked.  I think we need to support good rescues who do right by their animals.  I think that maybe if we do this, other rescues will notice and take some time to reflect if they're really doing right by their animals, or if they're actually harming them because of their own beliefs. 

Introduction

  I've debated about starting a blog about dogs for a while now.  Who am I, as nothing more than a spectator at this point, to speak frankly about my opinions and things that I've noticed/learned/think about/etc? 

  Yet, I already do it.  On my art accounts, on LJ.  To people who follow and friend me on Facebook.  So why not?  Maybe some random person will find something of value in my words.  Maybe some good will come of it.  I do say so often that knowledge is power and education is key. 

  Of course I could just have started an early mid-life crisis.  Who knows?!

  Anyways....

  Hi. 

  My friends call me Karja.  I'm currently nothing but a spectator in dogs.  I have had many animals in my life, all my life, and have worked at an exotic animal farm that did many things, as had a short stint at a non-profit zoo.  I live with my boyfriend and a couple of roommates.  We currently own an American Eskimo (Cassidy), 3 cats(Spider, Diva, and Khalil), 2 rabbits (Juniper and Raditz).  I also have multiple bettas which I'm trying my hand at breeding.  It's going ok I suppose, fish can be tricky.  One of the roommates has a low content wolfdog and a fish tank, but there won't be any more mention of them in all likeliness.

  I'm an animal nerd, especially when it comes to dogs and camels.  I took an interest in learning about dog breeds at 13, discovering so many at the library in various books, and it just snowballed.  By 14, I had talked my grandparents into letting me get an Ibizan Hound and started getting more immersed in dogs.  Had many adults blown away when I could identify their rare breeds without a second guess (though sometimes a second guess is needed when you get into very similar rare breeds that are more deviations of a land race). 

  It never stopped.  I soon got an interest in genetics, and of course I was all over the place, though I really wanted to show.  It just never came to be for one reason or another.  I try not to get down, though at my age, people don't take you seriously when you're just starting out to show.  I hold out hope and try to remember that I have learned, and I have grown in this time and maybe, hopefully, that will be a good thing if and when I can finally take the plunge. 

  So, more about me.....I am an artist, if you haven't guessed by my mention of art accounts, however I am searching for actual 'normal' work because I can't make it as an artist.  I'm an introvert by nature.  Love to read.  Love to cook when I have the energy.  And I am bored talking about myself...

There you have it.  Really all there is to know at this point.  I may end up discussing other animals here as well, but I don't know.  Guess time will tell.