IRISH ALLSORTS
IRISH SETTER SIGHTING # 1:
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Newspaper Advertisement for premium wine label…..
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IRISH SETTER SIGHTING # 2:
Blinks card
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SOCIAL SETTER:
CHRISTMAS GATHERING
for owners and friends of ALL Irish Breed Dogs
is on Sunday, 28 November 2010
… 10am to 2pm (or later) …
at Ruffey Lake Park in Templestowe, Victoria.
- Gather at the under cover Picnic & BBQ area, near park’s internal car park. Enter Ruffey Lake Park, off Church Road, on the NORTH side of the park. Access Church Road via King Street, which runs off Williamsons Road (Melways 33 H 9)
This is a FREE event … and you can bring your dog
- B.Y.O. food and drink …
- Father Christmas (Santa) and the Irish bagpipers to be in attendance …
- make sure you bring the kids, the dogs, and a camera !!!
Time Table of Activities:
1. 10.00am – arrive ‘Ruffey Lake Park’ – leave vehicles at small car park inside ‘Ruffey Lake Park’ on the “Church Road extension” (near electric BBQ and picnic shelter building)
2. Irish Bag-Pipers will be playing to meet and greet the “Irish” as they arrive …
3. 11am – “Best Irish Dogs & Handlers” competition (great prizes for the “Wearing of the Green”)
4. 11.30am – “Irish Challenge” Obedience Competition (great prizes)
5. 12 Noon – LUNCH
6. 1.30pm – Novelty Event (great prizes)
7. 2pm – group walk in the park
Please confirm you will be coming
All Enquiries :
Contact: Michael Doyle ~ Email: [email protected]
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IRISH SETTER SIGHTING :
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A DOG’S SOUL
Every dog must have a soul,
somewhere deep inside
Where all his hurts
and grievances are
buried with his pride.
Where he decides
the good and bad,
the wrong way from the right,
And where his judgment carefully
is hidden from our sight.
A dog must have a secret place,
where every thought abides,
A sort of close acquaintance that
he trusts in and confides.
And when accused unjustly
for himself, He cannot speak,
Rebuked, He finds within his soul,
the comfort he must seek.
He’ll love, tho’he is unloved,
and he’ll serve tho’badly used,
And one kind word will wipe away
the times when he’s abused.
Altho’ his heart may break in two,
his love will still be whole,
Because God gave to every
dog an understanding Soul!
(Author Unknown) ———————————————————————-
IRISH SETTER SIGHTING :
Found beneath the bushes at my new house – a gnome (!) featuring an irish setter
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Held on the first Sunday in September, the date of Father’s Day in Australia is not fixed (unlike several other countries). Father’s Day gives us all an opportunity to express gratitude to father and thank him for all his care and support. Celebrated with much enthusiasm and joy, families organise get-togethers to honour their Dad, who is often the gracious recipient of gifts including neckties, books or the age-old favourite soap-on-a-rope! In the end, however, the day is to strengthen the bond of love between father and child – no matter how old the child.
F-A-T-H-E-R-S
F aithful
A lways there
T rustworthy
H onouring
E verloving
R ighteous
S upportive
– Author Unknown
IRISH SETTER SIGHTING #1:
Nixon’s Dogs
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BREED STANDARD OF EXHIBITOR
CHARACTERISTICS:
A pleasant intelligent person, helpful, considerate, attentive and of a sporting demeanour. Always willing to give advice and assistance to newcomers, or to others needing it. Attentive to the needs of the dogs being handled, and presents each dog to its best advantage.
GENERAL APPEARANCE:
A neat, smart, fit looking individual, well-groomed, well shod and well equipped, who moves freely both in and out of the ring.
TEMPERAMENT:
Calm, confident, unhurried and friendly.
HEAD:
Neither big nor pin headed. Skull broad to allow for plenty of brain room. Expression pleasant and smiling, regardless of judges’ decisions, other exhibitors’ actions and the dog’s behaviour. Nose small so as to not be stuck into where it is not wanted.
EYES:
Sharp and bright, observant of other exhibitor’s locations, judge’s hand signals and the movement and position of all dogs in the ring.
MOUTH:
Usually best kept closed except to briefly answer judge’s questions or to congratulate successful exhibitors. Teeth clean, white and presented in a smiling fashion at all times.
NECK:
Long enough to hold the head up proudly and flexible enough to turn the head as to observe everything that is happening in the ring. Should never be stuck out.
FOREQUARTERS:
Shoulders broad and able to shrug off unsporting comments from other exhibitors. Arms of sufficient length and strength to extend a handshake to the winners, keep a firm hold on the dog, collect any prize cards, and give a friendly pat to the dog all at the same time.
BODY:
Sufficiently slim as to not impede other exhibitors leaving the ring and to not completely block the judge’s view of all the dogs behind.
HINDQUARTERS:
Well developed and strong so as to be able to move the dog in the ring at its optimum speed.
FEET:
Firmly on the ground as this is only a sport after all. To be kept out of the mouth at all times.
GAIT:
Free moving and graceful, moving in harmony with the dog’s speed.
COAT:
Dress should be neat, clean and tidy, neither flamboyant nor immodest, but designed to allow free movement without distraction to any dog in the ring. Feet should be well shod in practical shoes to allow for easy movement.
COLOUR:
Should be chosen to complement the colour of the dog, or if several different coloured dogs are being handled, to at least not completely hide the outline of any dog; eg, wearing a long black skirt when showing a black dog.
SIZE:
Exhibitors may come in all sizes and shapes, the only limitation being ability to do justice to the dog when in the ring.
MAJOR FAULTS:
Dirty or scruffy appearance, grumpy, vicious or flustered temperament; swollen head; loud mouth, especially when used for insulting comments or bad language; unsporting behaviour; unkempt dress.
(Author Unknown)
IRISH SETTER SIGHTING #2:
STEP BY STEP ON HOW TO BECOME A BAD LOSER
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If your dogs do not win as much as you think they should – you have two choices:
• You can concentrate on improving your dogs, or – if you find this to hard, you can;
• Look for excuses why they don’t win enough – which is by far the easiest way out.
If you choose the latter option, you will also need to learn how to become a bad loser – step by step:
1. The most important rule to remember is never to congratulate the winner of the class. If you ever feel that you have to, do not try to produce a smile. Unless you have practiced at home, it’s not going to look real. The best thing to do is just to walk out of the ring, with an “Oh my God” expression on your face, before anyone – including the ring steward – gets a chance to see your placement.
2. As there is only one winner, and many losers, you will find yourself in good company as soon as you get out the ring. These will make wonderful listeners, so take this opportunity to convince them, and yourself, that the judge was probably a friend of the winner. In other words, the decision was corrupt. The word corrupt is willingly adopted by people who are looking for excuses.
3. If the dogs of the same people beat your dogs again and again, it’s time to slightly change the excuses. Now, tell yourself and the other losers that they win only because they are famous. Ignore the fact that they may have become famous for a reason, for instance – having the best dogs.
4. Another good excuse for constantly losing, is to let people know that you find health and temperament more important than exterior, when breeding. In other words, you are a more serious breeder than the winner. Serious is another good word. It creates a lot of credibility.
5. The more the dogs of your competitors win – the better reason you have to be suspicious. Tell people that the top winner has most probably been dyed, is wearing switches, is drugged or has had several teeth and testicle implants. Choose one, not all.
6. If you feel that the above arguments are fading, you can always move on to the more hidden faults. If you think carefully, surely you will have heard rumours that the top winner has left a problem in at least one of his offspring. You have a wide range to choose from: try PRA, HD, patella, and epilepsy or leg-perches disease. Once the rumour is out and about, the damage is done.
7. To change the subject slightly, you can excuse your loss by blaming the owner of the winner for walking his dog too close to yours and thereby disturbing it. This will win you a great deal of sympathy.
8. Another good excuse is that the winning dog is “made-up” by the groomer and the handler. Whether or not you have touched the dog, just tell people that underneath that fantastic coat and behind that flashy picture seen in the ring – hides a total wreck.
9. If everything should fail, you have a final devastating card on your hands: the private lives of those who win. If you try hard enough you can probably dig up something, which makes a story. Look for a divorce, an affair – hopefully including a person within the breed, or some financial problem. If you really can’t find anything, start to watch their eating and drinking habits. Then when you add some of your own spice to the story, you will find that most people will eat the dish with great appetite.
10. When, and if, you do win a class, make sure you win in the style you lose. Tell everybody that finally there was an honest judge, who looked at the dog – not the handler.
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IRISH SETTER SIGHTINGS:
Krysta De Bue illustrations on The Setter Club of South Australia’s 1979 calendar
LIPSTICK IN SCHOOL
A number of 12-year-old girls were beginning to use lipstick and would put it on in the bathroom. That was fine, but after they put on their lipstick they would press their lips to the mirror leaving dozens of little lip prints.
Every night the maintenance man would remove them and the next day the girls would put them back.
Finally the principal decided that something had to be done. She called all the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the maintenance man. She explained that all these lip prints were causing a major problem for the custodian who had to clean the mirrors every night. To demonstrate how difficult it had been to clean the mirrors, she asked the maintenance man to show the girls how much effort was required.
He took out a long-handled squeegee, dipped it in the toilet, and cleaned the mirror with it.
Since then, there have been no lip prints on the mirror.
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SPORTSMANSHIP
What does it mean to be a good sport?
A good sport is someone whose conduct and attitude demonstrate gracious behaviour before, during, and after competition. In fact, good sportsmanship demands that nothing be done before, during, or after a game to cheapen or detract from victory.
What does being a good sport look like? Here are some examples:
Hugging or shaking hands with a competitor after a competition
Showing appreciation for those who support you
Assisting a competitor in need
Acknowledging a competitor’s skills to others
Accepting praise with grace and humility
Avoiding or deflecting all opportunities to criticize competitors or judges
Sometimes, it seems the concept of good sportsmanship has been lost. Sportsmanship is a manifestation of our own ethics in real life – like ethics it reflects your character and projects your image in and out of the ring.
The following are good sportsmanship rules:
Apply the golden rule – do unto others as you would have them do unto you
Have an understanding and an appreciation of the rules
Enjoy yourself and encourage enjoyment of others
Take responsibility for your actions
Exhibit respect for the officials – umpires/judges are impartial arbitrators who perform to the best of their ability to ensure fairplay and within the rules; mistakes made by all those involved are part of the game and must be accepted.
Do not tolerate bad behaviour from your teammates.
Cheer in a positive manner
Accept all decisions [of judgment] by officials without question.
Applaud good plays by both teammates and opponents.
Applaud at the end of the contest for the performance of all participants.
Encourage all surrounding people (fans included) to display a sportsmanlike behaviour.
Show concern for an injured player, regardless of the team.
Win with class, lose with dignity.
“For when the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name,
He writes not that you won or lost – but how you played the game.”
(Grantland Rice)
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TEN WORDS
The most selfish 1 letter word : I – avoid it
The most satisfying 2 letter word : WE – use it
The most poisonous 3 letter word : EGO – overcome it
The most used 4 letter word : LOVE – value it
The most pleasing 5 letter word : SMILE – keep it
The fastest spreading 6 letter word : RUMOUR – ignore it
The hardest working 7 letter word – SUCCESS – achieve it
The most enviable 8 letter word – JEALOUSY – distance yourself from it
The most powerful 9 letter word : KNOWLEDGE – acquire it
The most valued 10 letter word : FRIENDSHIP – maintain it
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LIFE IS BETTER WITH AN IRISH SETTER
I can honestly say there’s nothing better
Than owning a beautiful Irish Setter.
The lick in the morning to wake you up,
The expectant face of a naughty pup.
The wagging tail by the kitchen door,
Lead in the mouth of the one I adore.
There is no need for her to talk,
The face says it all. “Lets go for a walk.”
Off to the park in the back of the van.
As one with nature- dog and man.
Frolicking around in the trees and bushes
Into the stream by tall bullrushes.
Chasing scuttling rabbits in vain
The flowing hair on her rust red mane,
Setting the birds for which she was bred,
Her aristocratic elegant head.
She can run all day and not perspire
Brimful of energy, she won’t tire.
Bred for the hunter, bred for the gun,
A gangly red ball of endless fun.
The awful sad look when our walk’s at an end
The trust and the love of my best friend…
Life is much better with an Irish Setter.
(author Robin Tumman)
PERCEPTIONS
funny how easily perceptions of people can change depending on whether or not they wear glasses
IRISH SETTER SIGHTING #1
IRISH SETTER SIGHTING #2
IRISH SETTER SIGHTING #3
OLD SHOW CATALOGUE
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IRISH SETTER SIGHTING
Found:
Transfer/decal …
note the expression on the dog’s face 
CUTE CARD
No ifs or butts …
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POLITICS IS SIMPLY AN EXCUSE!
I personally feel that there is VERY LITTLE POLITICS involved in the sport of dogs. As I say in my seminar, one of the most important things you have to learn is that it is not the DOG that is judged at a show. It is the PACKAGE. That package need to include a good dog but it must be properly raised, fed, taught, trained, groomed, conditioned and presented. The judge has 2.4 minutes to judge your dog. That includes his paperwork, winners classes and taking pictures. That does not leave much time to judge the dog. Most judges do not have the ability to see, in that tiny amount of time, other than what the handler presents. Keeping that in mind, it is very simple to understand why the best dog does not necessarily win. The judge plainly does not have time to see past a poorly groomed, conditioned, trained, presented dog to see what might be there if things were different.
Becoming a judge does not change who you were before you were a judge. If you were a crooked handler you will probably be a crooked judge. If you were a stupid breeder you will probably be a stupid judge. If you did not have a clue as a breeder or exhibitor you won’t have a clue as a judge.
That is not POLITICS; that is human nature.
If everything a judge learns about a breed comes from just one area or one breeder then that judge is probably going to judge that breed differently than another judge who has watched the breed all across the country and has been mentored by breeders from entirely different lines. That again is human nature not POLITICS.
Every human uses one side or the other of their brain in a stronger fashion. If you happen to use your artistic side more then you are much more likely to judge more on type. If you use the other side which is more logical and systematical then you are probably going to look more at structure. Who
you are and how your mind works determines to a large extend how you judge. But here again that does not make it POLITICS.
Then factor into it the simple fact that the majority of people on this earth are followers. Not just in our sport but in the world at large. If you are born a follower then you do not like to make waves. If everyone else is doing something then I guess that is what I should be doing also. That is why advertising works. Here again this is not POLITICS; it is human nature.
In the classes there may be a lack of knowledge but very seldom will you see any politicking going on. When it comes to the Groups and BIS there may be a little of it involved but I think the fancy at large would be shocked at how little politics there are, even at that level.
Personally, I feel the least political show in the country is Westminster at the Garden. I feel that every judge there is doing his absolute best to put up the best dog of that breed on that day. No one ever said you had to agree but if the choice is different that yours might have been it does not make it POLITICS.
(Pat Hastings)
IRISH SETTER SIGHTING
A School Zoology template
A man loves his sweetheart the most,
his wife the best,
but his mother the longest.
~Irish Proverb
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M-O-T-H-E-R
M is for the million things she gave me,
O means only that she’s growing old,
T is for the tears she shed to save me,
H is for her heart of purest gold;
E is for her eyes, with love-light shining,
R means right, and right she’ll always be,
Put them all together, they spell MOTHER,
A word that means the world to me.
– Howard Johnson
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THE KNOTS PRAYER
Dear God:
Please untie the knots that are in my mind, my heart and my life.
Remove the have nots, the can nots and the do nots that I have in my mind.
Erase the will nots, may nots, might nots that may find a room in my heart
Release me from the could nots, would nots and should nots that obstruct my life.
And most of all, Dear God, I ask that you remove from my mind, my heart and my life all of the ‘am nots’ that I have allowed to hold me back. especially the thought that I’m not good enough
IRISH SETTER SIGHTING…….
Advertising Logos from
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IRISH SETTER SIGHTING…….
FREE FUN DAY OUT FOR IRISH DOGS – Irish Breeds Dog Club
Irish Breed Dog Club – Walk and Picnic
Breeders are very welcome to invite their puppy & Pet owners.
When? 11am, Sunday 2nd of May
Where? ‘Ruffey Park’ Templestowe Melways 33 G 9
How? Please use the Church Road entrance
Object of the day? Have ‘fun’ with your dog, family, and friends
Faye Cox (Wolfhound owner) has invited us to join in with the Irish Wolfhounds, who have been ‘walking with the Wolfhounds’ at this park for several years now, and perhaps have a picnic lunch. (the Irish Wolfhounds now call this event, “John’s Walk” … in memory of the late John Hudson, a former Hon. Secretary of the Irish Wolfhound Club, who some will remember from events at the Mornington Racecourse in previous years)
All Irish dogs are welcome. They must be on-leash and controlled by their owners at all times.
i.e. the smallest misdemeanour is not tolerated. It’s simply a case of “take your dog aside, talk to it, bring it back, make it behave.” (If you need ‘space’ for your dogs, it is your responsibility to see they get it.)
Please feel free to invite friends who own Irish dogs.
There will be wine prizes for the best-dressed humans accompanied by Irish dogs … the theme is ‘wearing of the green’ (of course !).
You may like to bring water for the dog, a picnic rug, human food for lunch, and, of course, some ‘drinkies’.
To confirm your attendance and numbers and breeds of dogs, please e-mail Michael Doyle via [email protected] … or you may also confirm by snail-mail via P.O. Box 173, Dromana 3936 … or by ‘phone on 0419 988 260.
Cheers – Michael
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ANZAC DAY FACTS
* ANZAC is an abbreviation for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
* ANZACs were all volunteers
* AIF is an abbreviation for Australian Imperial Force.
* April 25, Anzac Day, was the day the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915.
* The first dawn service on an ANZAC Day was in 1923.
* The ANZACS were on the Gallipoli Peninsula for only 8 months, where around 8,000 of them died.
* There is no town called “Gallipoli”. It is the name of an area. Visitors to Gallipoli usually stay at nearby towns – like Ecubeat.
* The date, 25 April, was officially named ANZAC Day in 1916.
* ANZAC Day was not a public holiday in New Zealand until 1921.
* ANZAC Day was not a public holiday in Australia until 1921. However it was not observed uniformly in all the states.
* The Gallipoli Peninsula is very near the famous ancient city of Troy.
They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, Nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun, And in the morning.
We will remember them.
Lest We Forget.
JUST A COMMON SOLDIER
He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the RSL,
Telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.
And ‘tho sometimes to his neighbours
His tales became a joke,
All his mates listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.
But we’ll hear his tales no longer,
For ol’ Bob has passed away,
And the world’s a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.
He won’t be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won’t note his passing,
‘Tho a Soldier died today.
When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?
The politician’s stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.
While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.
It’s so easy to forget them,
For it is so many times
That our Bobs and Jims and Johnnys,
Went to battle, but we know,
It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?
Or would you want a Soldier-
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end.
He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier’s part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honour
While he’s here to hear the praise,
Then at least let’s give him homage
At the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
“OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY.”
(A Soldier Died Today – Lawrence Vaincourt)
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KEEPERS
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Some things you keep.
Like good teeth. Warm coats. Bald husbands.
They’re good for you, reliable and practical and so sublime that to throw them away would make the garbage man a thief. So you hang on, because something old is sometimes better than something new, and what you know is often better than a stranger.
These are my thoughts, they make me sound old, old and tame, and dull at a time when everybody else is risky and racy and flashing all that’s new and improved in their lives.
New careers, new thighs, new lips, new cars.
The world is dizzy with trade-ins. I could keep track, but I don’t think I want to.
I grew up in the fifties with practical parents – a mother, God bless her, who washed aluminium foil after she cooked in it, then reused it – and still does. A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones.
They weren’t poor, my parents, they were just satisfied. Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away.
I can see them now, Dad in trousers and tee shirt and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, dishtowel in the other. It was a time for fixing things – a curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress.
Things you keep. It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy.
All that re-fixing, reheating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant there’d always be more.
But then my father died, and on that clear autumn night, in the chill of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn’t any more. Sometimes what you care about most gets all used up and goes away, never to return.
So, while you have it, it’s best to love it and care for it and fix it. When it’s broken and heal it when it’s sick. That’s true for marriage and old cars and children with bad report cards and dogs with bad hips and aging parents.
You keep them because they’re worth it, because you’re worth it.
Some things you keep.
Like a best friend that moved away or a classmate you grew up with. There’s just some things that make life important…people you know are special…and you KEEP them close!
Author unknown
KENNEL BLINDNESS: A CLOSER LOOK
By Claudia Waller Orlandi, Ph.D.
A dog breeder’s knowledgeable use of genetic principles is of paramount importance to the success of a breeding program. But an all-too-common phenomenon known as kennel blindness can stop some breeding programs dead in their tracks. Most works on dog breeding devote relatively little space to the concept of kennel blindness, although the seriousness of this “breeder defect” and the lasting harm it can have on breeding success merit a closer look.
Found in many purebred dog kennels, kennel blindness is a “disease” that results in breeders’ inability or refusal to admit to the failings in their own lines of dogs, whether they relate to conformation traits described in the AKC breed standards, behaviour or genetic disease. Kennel-blind breeders are given to justifying the dogs they breed by developing warped and unrealistic interpretations of their breed’s standard, said Ann Seranne in her book, The Joy of Breeding Your Own Show Dog.
Prognosis
Because a kennel-blind breeder can become “blind” to serious faults and health defects in their dogs, these problems may become fixed in a couple of generations. Unless quickly diagnosed and treated, kennel blindness can lead to the demise of a successful breeding program.
Symptoms
Fortunately, most common symptoms of kennel blindness are easy to spot. Following are three of the most pervasive symptoms:
Symptom 1
The tendency to ignore the virtues and focus on the faults of a competitor’s dogs. Kennel-blind breeders tend to focus on negative features in dogs that are not their own. Oftentimes, what they view as a fault in someone else’s dog may be an acceptable variation of a style in that breed.
Treatment
Reread your breed’s AKC standard and understand that standards outline the essential aspects of a breed and that more than one style may be acceptable in your breed.
Be sure you understand the difference between breed type and style. A dog’s breed type is defined by its breed standard, which is the written description of the ideal dog of that breed. Style, on the other hand, is how individual breeders interpret the standard and artistically express various elements of breed type in the dogs they breed. Each breeder’s interpretation of the standard can therefore result in a variation of styles within a breed. This may produce a range of excellence in a breed and allow dogs of various styles to be correct and fit their breed standard.
Finally, pretend you are a dog show judge, and get into the habit of looking first for the virtues in dogs bred and owned by others. If a dog is consistently winning under a number of different judges, it usually means that the dog has obvious virtues compared to its competition.
Symptom 2
The belief that you have bred the “perfect” dog. No “perfect” dog has ever or will ever be bred in any breed. Even what you consider your best can usually be improved upon.
Treatment
Realize that your concept of what is an ideal representative of your breed may become modified with the passage of time. Experience with a breed may gradually change the priority a breeder gives to certain features. A breeder who is a stickler for correct heads may gradually start realizing that angulation and movement are also important aspects in their breed.
Symptom 3
Blaming the fact that your dog is not winning on bad judging, politics or anything except the possibility that there may be something wrong with your dog. Bad sportsmanship and kennel blindness can go hand-in-hand. Kennel-blind people always have an excuse for why their dog didn’t win. While some of their reasoning may be legitimate, consistently losing under a variety of judges usually means a dog does not fit the standard in one or more important aspects.
Treatment
If your dog is not winning, ask several knowledgeable people to objectively evaluate your dog. Tell them to be honest, and listen to their comments with an open mind.
Are you at risk?
Kennel blindness is more apt to be a problem for :
Breeders who do not have an “eye” for a dog.
An eye for a dog is an almost innate ability to view a dog as one piece and to recognize balance, quality and correctness in any breed. Some breeders are simply not born with an eye for a dog. Despite having read and studied their breed’s standard, they may be incapable of correctly evaluating structure and movement in the dogs they breed. Hence, they are blind to their dogs’ shortcomings.
Novice or even long-time breeders who are strongly affected by a dog’s temperament and personality.
Many kennel-blind breeders think all puppies are cute. These owners usually decide to breed their dog, not to improve the breed, but because they love its personality and want more puppies just like it. Breeders such as these are blinded by the love they have for their dog and can remain “blind” to the fact that their dog may lack quality.
Breeders who have produced quality animals in the past but are now struggling to stay on top.
Breeders who may have had a superstar in the past are usually looking for their next big winner. In some cases, their superstar may have resulted from good luck as opposed to thoughtful breeding practices based on genetic principles.
One scenario is a breeding program based solely on non-genetic breeding practices, such as like-to-like matings. Offspring of like-to-like matings cannot usually be counted on to pass on their traits because their homozygous gene pairs are not identical by descent. It is an accepted genetic principle that offspring that carry higher proportions of identical by descent genes have a greater chance of passing on traits that are influenced by these genes. As a result, there may be less consistency and quality in the offspring.
A second scenario concerns the breeder who is confronted with inbreeding depression but refuses to consider outcrossing (the mating of unrelated individuals of the same breed) to bring in hybrid vigour. With each generation, the quality of dogs declines. In both scenarios, a burning desire to produce the next star may make breeders blind to the fact that they are producing below-average dogs.
Breeders working with small numbers of dogs.
Because small breeders have less to choose from, there is more pressure to make a litter “work out.”
Breeders for whom every waking moment revolves around dogs.
Making dogs a live-or-die situation can hamper the breeders’ ability to objectively admit to their dog’s shortcomings.
Individuals who were mentored by kennel- blind breeders.
In these cases, like may beget like.
Characteristics of the NON-kennel-blind
They are truly objective concerning what they produce and are always aware of what they need to improve in their next generation.
Regardless of time and effort already spent, they are ready to remove dogs from their program that do not pan out, even to the point of starting over with new foundation stock.
They have an eye for a dog and can appreciate an outstanding dog regardless of who bred or owns it.
Tips for correcting vision
If caught in time, kennel blindness can be cured before it has a lasting, detrimental effect on your breeding program.
Try these tips:
Avoid over-emphasizing a certain feature in your breeding program to the detriment of overall correctness. Although many breeders try to emphasize the excellence of the whole dog, it’s human nature to be drawn to certain features. In fact, the importance we give to a particular trait in our dogs may be part of how we express our breeding style. One breeder may be a stickler for fronts and another for backlines. The danger here is that by focusing on just one feature we can become blind to other faults that may be creeping into the breeding program.
To assess your kennel blindness level, ask someone whose opinion you respect to objectively evaluate your dogs. Some of the best people to ask are knowledgeable breeders who have produced good dogs and who are not kennel blind themselves. Request they honestly critique the virtues and shortcomings in your dogs. Ask more than one qualified person, and compare their evaluations with your own.
Be prepared to make changes, even to the point of eliminating or adding new dogs to your breeding program. As difficult as it is to admit we are not succeeding, the realization that our dogs are not measuring up to our expectations can be the first step in devising a plan to obtain what we really want.
IRISH SETTER SIGHTING
A St Patrick’s Day March held in Sydney on Sunday 21 March 2010 was well attended by a group of devoted irish setter owners and their dogs … what a picture they must have presented to the public.
Congratulations on a wonderful turn out!
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THE DOG SHOW WORLD
If you love to talk about dogs, you’re a know-it-all.
If you don’t talk about dogs, you know nothing.
If you stop to chat at a show, you’re a show-off.
If you don’t, success has gone to your head.
If your dogs are at all the shows, you’re not letting others in on the wins.
If you’re absent, you’re afraid of the competition.
If your dog wins, you know the judges.
If you don’t win, it’s obvious your dog isn’t quality.
If you win and thank the judge, you’re playing politics.
If you win and don’t thank the judge, you’re rude.
If you lose and congratulate the winner, you’re a hypocrite.
If you lose and don’t say anything, you’re a poor sport.
If you’ve been breeding less than 20 years you’re a newcomer.
If you’ve been breeding for more than 20 years, you should get out of the way of the up-and-comers.
If you use your own stud, you’re kennel blind.
If you go outside for stud services, you don’t think much of your own breeding.
If you sell most of your puppies, you’re trying to flood the market.
If you keep most of your puppies, they’re not good enough to sell.
If you keep your health testing up to date, you’re admitting your lines are full of problems.
If you don’t check for every condition known to veterinary science, you’re irresponsible and have no integrity.
If you choose to mentor or offer ‘free’ advice, you’re arrogant.
And finally, if you keep your opinions and knowledge to yourself, you haven’t learned anything.
(kindly reprinted with the permission of Chinaroad Show Dogs)
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ST PATRICK’S DAY TOAST
May your joys be as bright as the morning,
And your sorrows merely be shadows that fade,
In the sunlight of love.
May you have enough happiness to keep you sweet.
Enough trials to keep you strong.
Enough sorrows to keep you human.
Enough hope to keep you happy.
Enough failure to keep you humble.
Enough success to keep you eager.
Enough friends to give you comfort.
Enough faith and courage in yourself to banish sadness.
Enough wealth to meet your needs.
And one thing more: enough
determination to make each day a more wonderful day than the day before.
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A SMILE IS CONTAGIOUS
A smile costs nothing, but gives much
It enriches those who give it. It takes but a moment,
but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.
None is so rich or mighty
that he can get along without it,
and none is so poor
that he cannot be made richer by it.
A smile creates happiness in the home,
promotes good will in business,
and is the cornerstone of friendship.
It can perk up the weary,
bring cheer to the discouraged,
sunshine to the sad,
and is nature’s best antidote for trouble.
Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen,
for it is something that is of no value to anyone
until it is given away.
When people are too tired to give you a smile,
give them one of yours.
No one needs a smile so much
as he who has none to give.
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