A Chat with Sammy Taylor An Alaskan Malamute Breeder

A Chat with Sammy Taylor An Alaskan Malamute Breeder

Sammy has owned Malamutes for many years and has Lucien, Mina and Selene. Lucien is a big powerful boy of 3 years 5 months and his sister Selene 2 years old. Sam also has Mina who is 4 years and 3 months old. The dogs are showed and worked on a regular basis. Lucien recently won best of breed and Mina reserve best of breed. Sam spends hours grooming her dogs for shows and especially when the dogs are about to blow (shed hair). This happens when the females are in season and the males in the spring and Autumn. A very interesting point about their coat Sam made is that their double coat keeps them warm in the winter but also reflects heat in the summer. So don’t clip a Malamute’s coat as this won’t help them keep cooler, the only hair on Sam's dogs to get trimmed is the feet to keep them tidy and to stop any mud from accumulating between the toes. Sam uses a Static comb mainly to groom them and uses a slicker brush for the white patches. Most importantly Sam uses a Blaster to help remove the dead hair.

Picture of Selene.

Sammy hopes to breed from Selene in 2013 and is very strict about breeding tests. I personally wish everyone was so conscientious. Her dogs have a hip test which means an x- ray and a score of 13 (breed average is 13) or below is good. The test shows you how well the joints are fitted together. The dogs have to be sedated. They also have a elbow test. They also have an eye test for hereditary cataract. This should happen (with breeding stock) every year and should be carried out through the life of the dog even if the dog is no longer being bred from, this will highlight any health issues and help the breeder make informed decisions for future breeding plans. Sam also completes a DNA long coat test. In The Arctic, Malamutes with long coats would not survive as ice and snow would get caught in their coat and cause hypothermia, "Long Coats" are also prone to "matting" or "clumping". A coat which is matted or clumped can trap dirt and debris, leading to skin irritation and possible infection. A matted dog has little protection from the elements and can become very wet and cold. They also will suffer in the heat because air can not circulate through their coat.

Sam and her husband James work the dogs on a regular basis. Including rig racing (dry land mushing) where they pull someone on a three wheeled bicycle normally about 4 miles. They can also do this for ten miles which is called a trek but is not timed. Another event is carrying back packs which are 30% of their bodyweight, for 10 miles. The dogs can cover up to 40 miles. Lucien is a champion weight puller another event they do and he has pulled 21 times his own body weight on five separate occasions. His final pull was 2700 pounds. Lucien is a real heavyweight weighing about 50kg and has gained his Weight Pull Excellence (WWPDX) title three times over in the weight pulling event.

Picture of a Rig used for dry land mushing.

Wow what a chat I had! I really enjoyed myself and to top it off I was allowed to give Mina a wash which made my day! Sam is also a fantastic photographer for anyone interested, check out http://www.samnooshka.com/

http://www.luponooshka.com/ 

The Crufts Debate

In the last couple of years there has been a huge debate about the kennel Club and its prime show Crufts in the dog world. It all started with a BBC programme which documented how the Breed standard for pedigree dogs was leading to many health problems. As there was a lot of inbreeding and unhealthy dogs being bred to get the so called pure breed to get the right body, leg and head shape to win a show. Examples of health problems caused by breeding pedigree dogs are such as the brain being too large in Cavalier King Charles, Spinal problems in Rhodesian Ridgebacks, cancer in Retrievers, skin problems in West Highland Terriers and the list goes on. The RSPCA vet on the programme called pedigree dogs mutants. Other major issues was also raised in the programme such as how the dogs welfare seemed second too how much money the kennel club were getting and so called expert judges were not actually basing their best in breed or show on the supposed breed standard but was just a personnel choice.

Since this programme came out a couple of years ago the Kennel club have said they are changing their ideas but I went to Crufts in 2011 and still the RSPCA, BBC and Pedigree Chum are boycotting the event which must mean they are not yet totally happy. From what I saw the dog shows looked the same as they ever did and one of the events, the Terrier racing was very out of control and was not for the benefit of the dogs.

On the other side of the coin Crufts is a great place to learn, raise awareness about dog issues and to promote dog charities. I watched in the main arena the charity Pets as Therapy where volunteers go and visit people in hospitals and other places with their dog and awards were given to the most committed volunteers and dogs. This was a great spectacle and was very well done.

I think the jury is still out on the Kennel Club and Crufts. Lets hope that everyone can work together to make dogs healthier in the future.

http://www.woofingmarvellous.co.uk/

Dog Poop can you make money!

Dog poop became headline news in the UK for all the wrong reasons in 2011 when a little girl named Amiee Langdon put her hand in some doggie poop and then wiped her left eye. She was taken to hospital where tests confirmed she had picked up the infection toxocariasis.
Toxocariasis is a roundworm found in dogs and spread through their faeces. This disease can cause stomach upsets, sore throats, asthma and even blindness in rare cases.
In the UK. The 1996 dog's act states that if your dog fouls in a public place you must as the owner, clean it up. There is a £50 on the spot fine if apprehended and the owner can be taken to court and prosecuted with a maximum fine of up to £ 1000 should they refuse to pay.
Again in the UK the local council has a duty to keep public areas clean and free of dog poop. Nowadays different councils employ of tactics including CCTV, spray painting, patrolling by environmental rangers together with the use of special dog bins.
Nonetheless, Fido, Rover and their chums have to do what nature and intended on a very regular basis. With the dog population exceeding sixty million in the US and over twelve million in the UK this amounts to a sizeable daily problem, not only in public places but in the back yard as well!
In America cleaning up said problem is a very lucrative business. One example is the couple who work in the Long Island area, charging $12 per week for one dog and $ 21 for two dogs twice a week. Working 150 stops per week, this amounts to a very healthy income. All in all it is estimated that this amounts to a $ 2.6 billion industry in the USA. Who said there are no opportunities in a recession! There is even an association of animal waste specialists http://www.apaws.org/ who are a well recognised body in an industry that boats around 500 independents and at least three national franchises. Industry pundits state that there are substantial environmental and health concerns driving this industry. They also state that when you factor in the high cost of hospital treatment and need for people to spend longer at work in a tough economy and therefore wanting more " bought in " services, the industry is in its infancy.
In the UK, there is little visibility of such an industry emerging. This must represent an opportunity to " get in on the ground floor " and scoop up the rewards ( excuse the pun ) But in all seriousness there are a number of factors that drive the need for such an industry to grow. People are becoming much more environmentally aware these days. Pet ownership is increasing daily and regulation from Europe is bound to increase the need to legislate in this area. Who knows, you could be the first "poop scoop millionaire!"

http://www.ben-cornish.co.uk/

Now We Sell Leads for Walkies and Carriers to keep your dog safe in your car. There's also a wider range of Bowls and Beds!

www.woofingmarvellous.co.uk

BRAND NEW WEBSITE WITH ONLINE DOG STORE!

www.woofingmarvellous.co.uk

Why Grooming Your Dog Is So Important.

There are three main reasons why we groom dogs.

Firstly brushing a dog removes debris and disturbs the skins surface which releases the natural oil called sebum. This keeps the dog's coat glossy and healthy too. In the wild, the wolf will roll around on the floor in sand to produce the same effect.

As the vast majority of dogs actually quite like having their coats brushed, it is an ideal opportunity to carry out some important health checks on your pet. Checking and cleaning around the eyes is a must for every dog. This will ensure that there is nothing around that could penetrate the eye and cause severe discomfort or even blindness. Your dog’s ears are another area to keep clean to prevent infections. At the same time claws including dew claws can be checked and cut where necessary. If this is not maintained the dew claws can grow into the dog’s skin and cause a lot of pain to the dog. During the summer months many dogs pick up fleas or ticks, particularly when they walk through long grass. These pests are a danger not only to the dog but also to other members of the family. It therefore pays to check carefully. Bad teeth and gums can be a real problem for your dog and the problem here is that they cannot tell you about it. It is therefore very important to use the brushing period as a good time to check your dog's mouth. There are special toothbrushes and toothpaste for dogs which can easily be obtained at your local pet shop.

Thirdly grooming your dog is both a comfort to your pet and a good chance to show that in touching your pet all over, you not only bond with him or her, but show dominance and reassert your position as the Alpha leader of your pack family

 As we have said, brushing is both an essential and pleasant episode in any dog's life. Brushing though is only half the story. To ensure that your dog is happy fit and comfortable he or she should be properly washed and groomed on a regular basis. In today's hectic world and there are many constraints on people's time. Also the high cost of fuel and in addition the inconvenience of taking your dog to the grooming parlour make it far better ( and far less stress for your pet ) if the groomer comes to you. 

Please visit www.woofingmarvellous.co.uk to see for yourself how we offer convenience, care and comfort for your pet.

Gadgets used to control dogs are abuse

Gadgets and Equipment used to control dogs are Abuse and Torture and Nothing Less!

If every time some one sprayed some liquid at you when you talked or shocked you with an electric shock when you moved what would you think? Trust me you would not like it.

Electric shock collars and spray collars are abuse to your best friend. Spiked collars dig into and cut the dogs neck. They are absolutely barbaric instruments of torture. Just because some so called Dog Trainer tells you to use them or shop sells them, think of what you’re actually doing to your dog. Ask them why does it help? What does it do to my dog?

Instead of actually stopping the behaviour it makes it worse because the dogs are barking and pulling and jumping because they are trying to look after their pack which is you and this thought is so strong that they will go through a lot of pain to do their job.

Dog Owners should want a loving, trusting relationship with their dogs not a bullying one. Gadgets block learning and causes resentment. There is a better way. Amichien Bonding by Jan Fennell uses no gadgets except slip leads, long line and kind collar. We use the language of the dogs and our aim is for the dogs to do things because they want to not because they are forced.

All dog Owners should be on the dogs side and if your not you should not have them.

http://www.ben-cornish.co.uk/