Kermit the frog prince

The best thing for me about this year's BYC was the opportunity to visit one of June's sons. I hadn't seen him since he left our house in August of 2011. Pictures were exchanged in the interim. The last ones I received were around the 13-15 month mark, and revealed a gawky but promising youngster.
 
Imagine my surprise when Erin opened her front door and out came Kermit (Zephyr's Going Green at Macfield) charging across her yard at just under 2 years of age.

 

Too good for a pet home

Lately it seems a number of Toller breeders have been producing whole litters they feel are “too good for a pet home”. Sometimes it’s in reference to structure; the breeder is convinced all of the puppies belong in show homes. Sometimes it’s in regard to drive; the breeder thinks all of the puppies belong in hunting homes or at least some kind of “serious” performance home. Sometimes it’s a combination of the two. As a fellow breeder I can certainly understand the sentiment. We spend a lot of time researching pedigrees, obtaining health clearances and putting titles on our dogs to promote their worth. Raising puppies is a lot of work and we want the best for all of our pups. However, since all of our Tollers are pets first, and whatever else they turn out to be second, I have a hard time wrapping my head around the concept of breeders who won’t sell puppies to people who "just" want a pet.

Some of the most wonderful homes we have placed our puppies in over the years are "just" pet homes. These homes are wonderful because they made their Toller an integral part of the family and provided excellent opportunities for socialization, as well as both mental and physical stimulation, though sometimes by less traditional methods than hunting. Tollers can be great therapy dogs, jogging companions or kayaking partners. Although most Tollers thrill to the sight of a duck or the sound of a shotgun, what's most important to them is active, supportive engagement in a caring household.

Over the years a rather common question asked of me in the course of puppy inquiries is, “do you sell to pet homes?” While I can’t speak for other breeders, my own response to that question is, “well of course we sell to pet homes!” I go on to explain how in our experience a litter of puppies tends to be like children within a family. Although they will have many similar characteristics, they may also have different interests and abilities. Some will excel at sports, others at math, while some may be content to coast a bit more through life. To offset this, we try to get a mixture of people on our waiting list for puppies who have different interests and expectations. It is our job to match each puppy to the right home. So far this model has worked well for us.

This is not to say we never have puppies we hold back or wish to consider only for a specific type of home. However, if I feel that way as a breeder, I believe it is my responsibility to keep and nurture the puppy until the right home comes along. Sometimes I am fortunate enough to find a local home to place the puppy in where bringing out the special qualities I see in the pup becomes a team effort.

If a breeder is unwilling to consider pet homes for any puppies within a litter due to the stated drive of the puppies, it begs the question of whether there is a proper emphasis on producing puppies who meet the breed standard in regard to temperament. Our standard states, "He is affectionate and loving with family members and is good with children, showing patience."

The trouble boys

In just over a week Lark's current litter will be headed for the their new homes. I am thoroughly enjoying them but life will definitely be quieter and a lot less trouble after they have departed. Earlier this week Aristotle figured out how to climb out of a 24" ex-pen. He continued to repeat his feat over and over until this morning, when I replaced the 24" ex-pen with a 30" one. Fingers crossed, so far he remains contained. Plato also managed one up and over yesterday, but I believe he was extra motivated due to it being supper time.

I think this ability shows gumption and I confess I have an extra soft spot in my heart for any of our puppies who manage this feat. Grandma June was the first climber we ever produced, so these boys are simply following one of the (very odd) traditions here at Zephyr Kennel.

Today I took this picture of the trouble boys:

Then I realized I couldn't see their water dish. This is where there water dish usually is:

This is where it was:

Note to self. I really must put a puppy cam up for subsequent litters so I can see what actually transpires while I am away.

What will they come up with next?

When success breeds incivility

While I feel fortunate to be in a breed which can still be successfully owner-handled, and among fanciers who generally work together for the betterment of our breed both in regard to health and structure as well as building points at local shows; as in every breed we do have a subset of fanciers who only seem to consider their own perceived best interest.

I have both experienced and heard tales of being run up on or crowded in the ring and exhibitors who position their in-standing-heat bitches right up against the ring gates while class males are showing. I have witnessed an exhibitor smack the nose of another dog with a pin brush because the dog dared to sniff hers, after she had moved her dog into the other dog’s space. I have seen a handler in our breed storm off to the superintendent’s table after the dog she was showing was not put up by the judge. I have heard of exhibitors muttering very un-sportsman-like comments while either in the ring, or at ringside, close enough for other exhibitors and even the judge to hear. Happily, these events are relatively few and far between in our breed.

Based on my own observations, those most likely to exhibit these behaviors are either big winners or have an expectation of winning. Basic common denominators in regard to the perpetrators are an attitude of entitlement coupled with an aversion to accountability. It is unfortunate these exhibitors perceive success achieved by someone else as translating to their failure. I recognize to a degree this is a broader cultural failing. There is an unhealthy emphasis on winning that permeates down to all areas of our society, including children's sports. I also acknowledge there is an addictive component to winning that is very likely a contributing factor. Who hasn't experienced an adrenaline rush over a big win and longed to repeat the feeling? However, I still believe we should strive for civility, both for the benefit of our breed as well as ourselves.

 

Toller fanciers still comprise a relatively small circle and most of us at least know of each other if we do not know each other well. A good reputation is of great importance, but reputation is more than how many champions a breeder has produced or how many BIS awards a particular dog has won. Reputation has to do with how you treat people when you are winning, but even more importantly, how you treat people when you are not winning. The next time you are tempted to lash out in an uncivil manner, try following “Thumper's law”. “If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all”.

 

I recently came across a reference to the "Three Pillars of Civility" which I think are worth noting here. These pillars embody some life skills worth mastering, and are applicable to all areas of life, not just the pure bred dog hobby world:

• The ability to be respectful of other people while expressing an opinion.
• The ability to acknowledge and appreciate the fact that opinions differ among people.
• The ability to engage with other people to constructively move discussion forward.

Those who have not yet mastered these skills should perhaps consider another less emotionally volatile hobby. As for those of you who have witnessed or borne the brunt of uncivil behavior in one form or another; it may be helpful to remember that those who appear most uncivil tend to be most insecure.

For more on a similar topic, check out: Are There Dog Show Bullies?

 

Looking good for a veteran

June finished her AKC Championship on May 4th by going WB/BOW for a 3pt major. This is an extra special accomplishment since some time ago I convinced myself she would never finish and pretty much stopped showing her except maybe once a year to help build points for an entry. When I did this last December the judge confounded all of my expectations by not only giving June BOW over the dog I was trying to build a crossover point for, he then proceeded to award her BOB over three male Specials! It was at that point I thought, well maybe… Of course June blew her coat soon after so any additional show plans were put on hold until recently. A few weeks ago she picked up 2pts by going WB/BOW at a show in Fond du Lac, WI. Still, that wasn’t the coveted second major we required to finish. When we entered the ring on Saturday I tried to empty myself of any expectations. I was confident she looked good, but the other class bitches were nice too, and it can be difficult to predict what a judge is looking for, and whether your dog embodies it. Happily for us, June did that day! When we had our win shot taken with the judge, he commented to me that "she had the cleanest movement both coming and going". His words meant a lot to me as a breeder because movement is something I tend to focus on, probably because in my younger days I was as stuck on horses as I am now stuck on dogs.

The championship completes June's requirements for the Rusty Jones award, an NSDTRC USA award which showcases the versatility of Tollers by requiring a breed championship, a CD (obedience title) and a WC (field title). In true June fashion the WC was the first title she earned, around 2 years of age.

What’s most amazing to me is that June will be turning 8 in less than a month, so has been eligible to show as a Veteran for almost a year. I've always thought Tollers are a slow maturing breed at their best, so it's pretty special to me that at an age when many breeders are retiring their bitches, June seems to be just hitting her stride in many ways.

 

Skunked!

I took the girls outside for the last time around 11pm Friday night. Lark was on a flexi-leash as she has been showing a proclivity for digging since she whelped her litter on April 2nd (gotta have an extra den ready for the pups, just in case!). Everything was proceeding as normal until June alerted to something I couldn't see and Lark chimed in. At first I assumed it was a late night jogger or someone walking home from downtown after an evening out. June tore off toward the back of the yard to investigate and Lark lunged on her leash, longing to follow, but thankfully was held in check. Because June raced straight to the back of the yard instead of along the side of the fence line which parallels the street, it then struck me she might have fixed on a critter vs. a person. As she disappeared behind the big fir tree I shouted "June!" but it was too late. In moments, June was racing back with a snoutful of skunk so strong it smelled more like industrial strength burnt rubber than the smokey, musky smell we more often associate with skunks.

Lark REALLY wanted in on the action but I kept a firm grip on her leash. June made a move as if she was going back for another pass so I told her, "June, NO!" and thankfully she obeyed. I hustled Lark into the house, asking George to keep an eye on June until I could put Lark back with her puppies and whip up some de-skunking formula. This formula is made from common household ingredients but it is important to note it cannot be prepared ahead of time. It is described in detail here: http://dogs.about.com/od/caringfordogsandpuppies/ht/deskunking.htm.

Once I was back outside I confirmed June had taken the blast of skunk spray full in the face. Her eyes were red and puffy and she was foaming a bit at the mouth. Although a few of our dogs have been skunked before, no one has ever been hit as hard as June was that night. I wiped down her head and neck with the de-skunking solution, being very careful to avoid her eyes, nose and mouth as this formula is somewhat caustic and can cause pain and even damage to her eyes and mucous membranes. After I had done as thorough a job as I could we went inside. Unfortunately, June was still in so much discomfort from her encounter she began rubbing her muzzle on the kitchen rug and parts of the kitchen floor. She was also rubbing quite a bit at her eyes. A quick search on the Internet by George had me heading to the bathroom cabinet for saline solution. We used this to flush out her eyes as well as her nose and mouth and it seemed to help quite a bit. Soon after that I put June in the tub to rinse off the de-skunking solution. By then it was obvious to me there was still some on her lips and mouth so I did some additional flushing of that area with water.

By the time we had June, the kitchen and ourselves cleaned up as well as we could that night it was past midnight. We put June in a crate as she still seemed somewhat stinky despite our best efforts. About 1am we realized she had thrown up in her crate. Although most dog/skunk encounters are smelly and annoying they aren't generally life threatening, at that point I started to get a little worried because we had read that skunk oil ingested in large quantities can be toxic, causing lethargy, vomiting, seizures, anemia and liver damage. Her gums had color and her energy was good so I didn't think we needed to rush off to the emergency vet, but I decided to spend the rest of the night closer to her in order to better monitor any additional symptoms. Needless to say, no one slept well that night though June did not vomit again and seemed none the worse for her experience. I did dose her with some milk thistle in the hope of combating any potential liver issues.

In the morning we went out to buy additional cleaning supplies, then spent 3-4 hours doing laundry and deskunking the back steps and the kitchen.

I hope June has learned her lesson about skunks but I rather doubt she has, knowing June. And of course now that we are past the work and worry we can't help but wonder if June did this to get our attention. It's been a tough couple of weeks for her what with Lark and her pups getting the bulk of our attention.



Do I have your attention now?

Larkie's boyz take 2

What is it with Lark and male puppies? On April 2nd, we welcomed Lark's second litter of three boys into world. As before, mom and pups are doing great. Everyone hit 2lbs or above on the sixth day, beating her first litter, which achieved that mark on the eighth day.