IRISH ALLSORTS …. Again
HEALTH ~
NAIL CLIPPING
INTERVIEW WITH THE DOG
IRISH SETTER SIGHTINGS
Oliva Newton John with Jack
Clark Gable & Lord Reilly
Nixon with King Timahoe
Beer Advertisement from 1950s
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HEALTH BENEFITS #1
HEALTH BENEFITS #2
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HAPPINESS
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THE BREEDER’S TWENTY COMMANDMENTS
There are a vast number of different breeding methods, some good, some bad. I should never presume to try to tell fanciers what is the right method because there is no such thing. Outstanding success can be achieved and has been achieved in a variety of different ways, so all I am going to do is to make some suggestions which I think helpful and to warn against certain pitfalls which trap too many of the unwary.
1. Don’t make use of indiscriminate outcrosses. A judicious outcross can be of great value, an injudicious one can produce an aggregation of every imaginable fault in the breed.
2. Don’t line breed just for the sake of line breeding. Line breeding with complementary types can bring great rewards; with unsuitable ones it will lead to immediate disaster.
3. Don’t take advice from people who have always been unsuccessful breeders. If their opinions were worth having they would have proved it by their success.
4. Don’t believe the popular cliché about the brother or sister of the great champion being just as good to breed from. For every one that is, hundreds are not. It depends on the animal concerned.
5. Don’t credit your own dogs with virtues they don’t possess. Self-deceit is a stepping stone to failure.
6. Don’t breed from mediocrities; the absence of a fault does not in any way signify the presence of its corresponding virtue.
7. Don’t try to line breed two dogs at the same time; you will end by line breeding to neither.
8. Don’t assess the worth of a stud dog by his inferior progeny. All stud dogs sire rubbish at times; what matters are how good their best efforts are.
9. Don’t allow personal feelings to influence your choice of study dog. The right dog for your bitch is the right dog, whoever owns it.
10. Don’t allow admiration of a stud dog to blind you to his faults. If you do, you will soon be the victim of auto-intoxication.
11. Don’t mate together animals which share the same faults. You are asking for trouble if you do.
12. Don’t forget that it is the whole dog that counts. If you forget one virtue while searching for another, you will pay for it.
13. Don’t search for the perfect dog as a mate for your bitch. The perfect dog (or bitch) doesn’t exist, never has or never will!
14. Don’t be frightened of breeding from animals that have obvious faults so long as they have compensating virtues. A lack of virtue is the greatest fault of all.
15. Don’t mate together non-complementary types. An ability to recognize type at a glance is a breeder’s greatest gift; ask the successful breeders to explain the subject – there is no other way of learning. (I would define non-complementary types as ones which have the same faults and lack the same virtues.)
16. Don’t forget the necessity to preserve head quality. It will vanish like a dream if you do.
17. Don’t forget that substance plus quality should be one of your aims. Any fool can breed one without the other!
18. Don’t forget that a great head plus soundness should be one of your aims. Many people can never breed either!
19. Don’t ever try to decry a great dog. A thing of beauty is not only a joy forever, but also a great pride and pleasure to all true lovers of the breed.
20. Don’t be satisfied with anything but the best! The second best is never good enough.
By Raymond H Oppenheimer
TWENTY BASIC BREEDING PRINCIPLES from The Complete Bull Terrier (E Eberhard)
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HUMAN HAPPINESS
Not what you have, but what you see;
Not what you see, but what you choose;
Not what seems fair, but what is true;
Not what you dream, but what you do;
Not what you take, but what you give;
Not as you pray, but as you live.
These are the things that mar or bless;
the sum of human happiness.
(Unknown)
WORRY
Is there a magic cut-off period when offspring become accountable for their own actions? Is there a wonderful moment when parents can become detached spectators in the lives of their children and shrug, ‘It’s their life,’ and feel nothing?
When I was in my twenties, I stood in a hospital corridor waiting for doctors to put a few stitches in my daughter’s head. I asked, ‘When do you stop worrying?’ The nurse said, ‘When they get out of the accident stage.’ My Dad just smiled faintly and said nothing.
When I was in my thirties, I sat on a little chair in a classroom and heard how one of my children talked incessantly, disrupted the class, and was headed for a career making license plates. As if to read my mind, a teacher said, ‘Don’t worry, they all go through this stage and then you can sit back, relax and enjoy them’. My dad just smiled faintly and said nothing.
When I was in my forties, I spent a lifetime waiting for the phone to ring, the cars to come home, the front door to open. A friend said, ‘they’re trying to find themselves. Don’t worry, in a few years, you can stop worrying. They’ll be adults.’ My dad just smiled faintly and said nothing.
By the time I was 50, I was sick & tired of being vulnerable. I was still worrying over my children, but there was a new wrinkle. There was nothing I could do about it. My Dad just smiled faintly and said nothing. I continued to anguish over their failures, be tormented by their frustrations and absorbed in their disappointments.
My friends said that when my kids got married I could stop worrying and lead my own life. I wanted to believe that, but I was haunted by my dad’s warm smile and his occasional, ‘You look pale. Are you all right? Call me the minute you get home. Are You depressed about something?’
Can it be that parents are sentenced to a lifetime of worry? Is concern for one another handed down like a torch to blaze the trail of human frailties and the fears of the unknown? Is concern a curse or is it a virtue that elevates us to the highest form of life?
One of my children became quite irritable recently, saying to me, ‘Where were have you been? I haven’t heard from you for ages, I was worried.’
I smiled a warm smile. The torch has been passed.
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I LOVE YOU
English………… I Love You
Spanish………. Te Amo
French……….. Je T’aime
German………. lch Liebe Dich
Japanese……. Ai Shite Imasu
Italian…………. Ti Amo
Chinese……… Wo Ai Ni
Swedish…….. Jag Alskar Dig
Eskimo………. Nagligivaget
Greek………… S’Agapo
Hawaiian……. Aloha Wau la Oe
Irish………….. Thaim In Grabh Leat
Hebrew……… Ani Ohev Otakh
Russian…….. Ya Lyublyu Tyebya
Albanian……. Une Te Dua
Finnish……… Mina Rakkastan Sinua
Turkish…….. Seni Seviyorum
Hungarian… Se Ret Lay
Persian……. Du Stet Daram
Maltese……. Jien Inhobbok
Catalan…… Testimo Molt
Redneck …. Nice Tits
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IRISH SETTER SIGHTING????
HOW TO INSTALL A HOME SECURITY SYSTEM
1. Go to a secondhand store and buy a pair of men’s used size 14-16 work boots
2. Place them on your front porch along with a copy of Guns & Ammo Magazine
3. Put a few giant dog dishes next to the boots and magazines
4. Leave a note on your door that reads:
Bubba –
Bertha, Duke and I went for more ammo and beer. Be back in an hour.
Don’t mess with the pit bulls… they attacked the mailman this morning and messed him up BAD. I don’t think Killer took part but it was hard to tell from all the blood. Anyway I locked all four of ’em in the house. Better wait outside. Be right back.Cooter
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DOGS & CATS ARE BETTER THAN KIDS BECAUSE THEY ..
Eat less
Don’t ask for money all the time
Are easier to train
Normally come when called
Never ask to drive the car
Don’t hang out with drug-using friends
Don’t smoke or drink
Don’t have to buy the latest fashions
Don’t want to wear your clothes
Don’t need a gazillion dollars for college
If they get pregnant, you can sell their children
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WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM HAVING SETTERS
by Kathy Parrott
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1. Do not get so involved in solving a crossword puzzle that you do not notice the chair you are sitting in being chewed in two.
2. If you have children & puppies, try to keep your shoes where neither one can reach them…they will share! (Thankfully during Roulette’s reign of shoe terror, the Ferragamos survived!) 3. Close your closet door very tightly, especially if you have an Irish Setter who is certain that he must wipe his wet face on your clothes (as they hang in the closet) every time he gets a drink of water!
4. Invest in a “Setter proof” trash can (assuming there is such a monster!), or be prepared to laugh as the two Setters who are certain they are royalty & can do whatever they want dance wildly around the garbage they have strewn all over the floor as they wag their tails & say “look ma, isn’t this just too cool!” (Then there is the perfect boy who would never get in the garbage lying next to the instigator, who has her halo shining as far as her kids are concerned, & her paws are neatly crossed, with what angelic look as if to say, “It wasn’t me, it must have been the evil cats!”
5. Training the squirrels to stay out of your yard is easier than teaching your kids to not take the dogs for a walk when you are not home…so do not be surprised when you come home to an Irish Setter who is glowing because she caught a squirrel, a kid who needs to go to the doctor because he was bitten by the squirrel he was trying to save…right before it dies, then you have to convince animal control that they need to rabies test the squirrel so that your kid does not have to go through the series of rabies shots.
6. When you are brand new into the world of dog shows & you have a handler showing your first show puppy at the Combined, do not even think it is a good idea to go to the ring entrance to get your very spoiled Irish puppy when he won his class (what do you mean he has to go back in again & I have to go back to hiding now that he knows I am here!), especially when the trophies are beautiful ceramic Irish Setter items sitting on the table right next to the ring entrance. (Levi decided to run to me via under the table, bumping it with his back, almost sending all the lovely trophies to an untimely demise. Thankfully they all survived! Though I barely survived the tongue lashing! lol) 7. While sitting ringside with your handsome Irish Setter, it is good to be aware of what is going on around you so that you do not end up flying out of your seat backwards as your dog drags you to meet that GSP that is wearing that special Eau de Parfum no male dog can resist…
8. English Setters & Irish Setters compliment each other…especially when they are food motivated! Who would have figured that one you put a lock on the pantry because the English can open doors, that the Irish would use brute force & pull the door off the hinges…the reward, 40 lbs of kibble.
Yum!
9. It is a necessary evil that all friends & relatives are aware that they must tell you if that package contains anything edible before you put it under the Christmas tree, then leave to go shopping. (Yes the door was closed, but there was that English Setter that could open doors. His nose always knew when & where there was food! So much for those three packages with Chocolate Pecan Turtles…where is the hydrogen peroxide?
10. The most important word in any canine vocabulary is not NO, COME, SIT, STAY…the most important word is COOKIE!!! Any of the others are a command…COOKIE is a reward! When all else fails & your Setter has managed to get the door front open, escape from a crate at a dog show or hotel, COOKIE will get your pup running back to your arms in a heartbeat!
11. Realize that you have been out-smarted when you crate your dogs in the back of the van, then by the time you get back to the drivers side your Irish Princess is sitting there asking for the keys!
12. Be sure to tell your handler that your little Princess rules, & left unattended she will be ruling the entire showsite if there is no lock on that crate! (Oops!) Thankfully (as one security guard at a North Carolina show site once said) she was the smartest dog he had ever met…when approached, she went straight back into her crate.
13. Careful as to what treats you give your dogs, or at least where they can enjoy them…if they bury their chew toys in your bedding, they may just eat a hole through the bedding to get the treat back.
14. Train your dogs not to bring in the wildlife (possums, etc.) through the doggie doors…those are Not toys!
15. Most important lesson of all…is to open our hearts to a purer, unconditional love like our Setters give us!
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THE RETIRED SHOW DOG
He sits to the side, out of the way
While others beg head rubs, or force you to play.
His dark liquid eyes watch your every move
Hoping and waiting, his love to prove.
He was shown many times, a promising pup
And he just got better as he grew up.
A picture of health, robust and strong,
His gait and topline, never went wrong.
But his prime has passed, and he seems to know,
That he’ll never again be put in a show.
He eats, he sleeps, not much more than that,
And maybe he’s getting a little too fat.
He loves to be brushed, when you have the time,
He waits for his turn at the end of the line.
You think of him, sure, but not nearly as much
As those promising pups, that new special and such.
So he sits and he waits, till you have the time,
To make the same fuss as you did in his prime.
A scrap of affection, or playful shove,
To him it means everything, to him it means love!
Author Unknown
USEFUL INFORMATION
IRISH SETTER SIGHTING…..
CALLING AN IRISH SETTER STUPID – RACISM?
Apparently, there’s a show on BBC Radio 4 called Any Answers.
It makes often hilarious or frustrating listening as the Great British Public expose their general ignorance and prejudices, but can also be educational and cathartic in a “glad it’s not just me thinking that” kind of way.
Every now and then, you get what is clearly a wind-up. And so, at first, I thought this next caller was.
On Any Questions the night before, in a special episode from America regarding the Obama inauguration, a questioner asked “What dog do you hope the Obamas have in the Whitehouse?”
It was one of those light-hearted end-of-show questions, to which Christopher Hitchens answered “Irish Setter – stupid, highly strung, but dead loyal”.Check out this link for the full story:
http://www.digitaltoast.co.uk/any-answers-irish-setter-stupid-racism-caller
WRAPPING PRESENTS…..
1. Gather presents, boxes, paper, etc. in middle of living room floor
2. Get tape back from puppy
3. Remove scissors from older dog’s mouth
4. Open box
5. Take puppy out of box
6. Remove tape from older dog’s mouth
7. Take scissors away from puppy
8. Put present in box
9. Remove present from puppy’s mouth
10. Put back in box after removing puppy from box
11. Take scissors from older dog & sit on them
12. Remove puppy from box & put on lid
13. Take tape away from older dog
14. Unroll paper
15. Take puppy OFF box
16. Cut paper being careful not to cut puppy’s foot or nose that is getting in the way as it “helps”
17. Let puppy tear remaining paper
18. Take puppy off box
19. Wrap paper around box
20. Remove puppy from box & take wrapping paper from its mouth
21. Tell older dog to fetch the tape so he will stop stealing it
22. Take scissors away from puppy
23. Take tape older dog is holding
24. Quickly tape one spot before taking scissors from older dog & sitting on them again
25. Fend off puppy trying to steal tape & tape another spot
26. Take bow from older dog
27. Go get roll of wrapping paper puppy ran off with
28. Take scissors from older dog who took them when you got up
29. Give pen to older dog to hold so he stops ******* your face
30. Remove puppy from present & hurriedly slap tape on to hold the paper on
31. Take now soggy bow from puppy & tape on since the sticky stuff no longer sticks
32. Take pen from older dog, address tag & affix while puppy tries to eat pen
33. Grab present before puppy opens it & put it away
34. Clean up mess puppy & older dog made playing tug-of-war with remnants of wrapping paper
35. Put away rest of wrapping supplies & tell dogs what good helpers they are
(author Christi Green)
CATCH THE DOG
Catch the dog, she stole the presents!
Fa la la la la la la la la
She thinks they’re ducks or upland pheasants!
Fa la la la la la la la la
Took them all while I was napping!
Fa la la la la la la la la
Ripped the boxes and the wrapping!
Fa la la la la la la la la
See her running right before us,
Fa la la la la la la la la
Loves the chasing and the big fuss
Fa la la la la la la la la
Follow her, your steps don’t measure
Fa la la la la la la la la
Or we’ll never get her treasure
Fa la la la la la la la la
Give it up, I think we’re beaten
Fa la la la la la la la la
All the gifts are torn or eaten
Fa la la la la la la la la
Get the cheque book ready, honey
Fa la la la la la la la la
‘Cause this year we’re giving money!
Fa la la la la la la la la
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HOW TO RECOGNIZE A BAD DOG BREEDER
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A very few breeders are downright evil and fail to provide for even the basics of their animals’ needs. A few more are mentally ill, living in filthy homes packed to the rafters with freely mating dogs. These people are fairly easy to spot and avoid – unless their pups are cleaned up and sold elsewhere.
Some backyard breeders are not uncaring, they’re just uninformed. They don’t know that many of the dogs they produce can end up in shelters or spend their lives in pain from a congenital illness. They want a litter “so the kids can see,” or because “puppies are fun,” or because they heard breeding dogs is an easy way to make a little money. They aren’t bad people, but they’re still not good breeders.
A few things that should give you pause when dealing with a breeder:
◊ Lack of knowledge about the breed. Someone who doesn’t know about the history of the breed or how suitable it is for different homes probably isn’t someone who’s too concerned about producing puppies that are fine examples of the breed.
◊ Ignorance or denial of genetic defects. Every breed has some problems, and some of the most common ones – such as hip dysplasia – can cause great pain and cost big bucks. A person who isn’t aware of congenital defects almost certainly isn’t screening breeding stock to avoid the defects.
◊ No involvement in dog sports. Every dog doesn’t have to be a champion before he’s bred, but you improve the odds of getting a high-quality purebred if you buy from someone involved in showing or otherwise competing with their dog. The point of a dog show, in fact, is to evaluate breeding stock.
◊ Not letting you observe the litter, meet the mother or other dogs, or see where the puppies were raised. Healthy, well-mannered adult dogs and a clean, well-run set-up are a breeder’s best testimonial. If a person doesn’t want you to see anything except the puppy he’s trying to sell, you ought to be wondering why.
◊ No documentation. If the purebred puppy’s represented as “AKC-registered” then registration papers should be available. (This goes for other registries, too.) So, too, should papers backing up health claims. A sales contract spelling out the rights and responsibilities of both parties is highly desirable. Such a document provides you with recourse should the puppy not turn out as promised – if he has congenital health problems or isn’t suitable for showing, if that was part of your intent in buying him.
◊ Doesn’t seem to understand the importance of socialization. Puppies need to be nurtured, loved, and handled to make good pets. Someone who can’t explain what they’ve done in this area, or who tries to sell a puppy less than seven weeks old, probably doesn’t understand enough about puppy-raising to be breeding dogs.
( Source – http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-recognize-a-bad-dog-breeder.html)
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I AM A BREEDER…..
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I am a breeder
My food receipts for a family of 7 and my dog food bills match
My water bill has doubled
My electric has tripled
It is I, a breeder, who when my fridge quit, saved the dog meds and let the food go bad.
My feet find the way to the kennel before I have even grabbed a cup of coffee in the morning and the kennel is my last stop before bed.
While my friends are on a cruise to the Bahamas and my family meets for Christmas I am home delivering puppies.
I haven’t had a real vacation in 7 years, but maybe soon.
All plans are made around heat dates, whelp dates and vet dates.
I shower and 10 minutes later my grand kids say I smell like a dog
My clothes are all stained with fecal matter, urine, afterbirth or bleach
I have to remember to clean my shoes before church
Most of my friends breed dogs – who else can you call at 3 am for support?
Who else has the experience I sometimes need, the med I sometimes need, or just an uplifting word I sometimes need ?
Who else would understand how it feels to have invested hours and hours in a weak puppy to lose it?
Or the joy in investing hours in one that lives?
I have slept on the floor beside a litter until the crucial 2 weeks have passed.
I have bottle fed a litter of 12…feeding every 2 hours and it taking 90 minutes to do for weeks at a time.
I have learned to be proficient at micro chipping, vaccinations, sub q fluids, bottle feeding and tube feeding.
My vet knows me by first name
the vet knows my children
the vet now knows my grand children
my vet knows it was I who added on the wing to the vet clinic
I am a breeder
It is to me that 63 days takes on new meaning still excited by every new life
It is I who delivers all my pups, towels and heat lamps on ready – happiness and sadness sometimes intermingled
Even though it increases my work load, I look forward to the 10 day stage when eyes open, and puppies begin to emerge from the helplessness of newborns.
Puppy breath, a first bath, and a heart of exploration.
I am not uneducated, unemployable, illiterate or lazy as some Animal Rights folks would imply of breeders.
I am a conscientious lover of animals and I have found my niche.
I am a breeder.
And although I feel no shame there is a part of me that feels the need to hide from powers that could come to invade my home and take my dogs …maybe for finding a mild infraction, a leaf in the water dish?
A kennel not yet cleaned for the day?
A rash I am home treating?
I tell my children and grand children to hush, do not tell others we are dog breeders, and I wonder when did breeding puppies go into the same secret place as criminal activity?
I am a breeder and I am not cruel, dumb, uncaring or criminal.
I am not raking in money while sitting on my butt.
Every penny I make I earn through blood, sweat and tears.
My greatest joy is a healthy puppy and a wonderful home.
The cards of thanks and the pictures of my puppy with its new family is the fringe benefits of my efforts.
I am an animal lover, nurse, midwife, heavy laborer, customer service representative, and marketer.
AND
I am a breeder.
The author has given permission for anyone to use this in support of responsible breeders.
Author: Lori Hallfrisch – Southernstyle Kennels
http://coalvalleynewfoundlands.com/iamabreeder.aspx
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PET DOG VERSUS SHOW DOG
Pet dogs shed ……………… Show dogs blow coat
Pet dogs are in heat ……… Show dogs come into season
Pet dogs trot ……………….. Show dogs gait or move
Pet dogs stand ……………. Show dogs stack
Pet dogs get a bath ……… Show dogs are groomed
Pet dogs beg for treats …. Show dogs bait
Pet dogs poop ……………. Show dogs toilet or eliminate
Pet dogs bark at other dogs ….. Show dogs spar
DOG SHOW DEFINITIONS
Great stud dog …………… Mounts anything that can fog a mirror
Excels in movement …….If he gets loose, run like hell
Personality Plus ………… Wakes up if you put liver up his nose
Good bite …………………. Missed the judge, got the steward
Large boned …………….. Looks like a Clydesdale
Good obedience prospect ..Smart enough to come in from the rain, but ugly
Quiet and good natured ….. In his kennel
Excels in type and style ….. However, moves like a spider on speed”
Won in stiff competition ….. Beat four puppies and a 9 year old novice dog
Multiple group winner ….. At two puppy matches
Pointed ………………… His head is shaped like a carrot
Noted Judge …………. He put up our dog
Respected Judge ……He put up our dog twice
Esteemed Judge …… He puts up anything that crawls
Specialty Judge ……. Puts up anything that looks like his own breeding
Won in heavy competition …The other dogs were revoltingly overweight
Shown sparingly ………..Only when we had it in the bag
Show Prospect …………. He has 4 legs, 2 eyes, 2 ears, 1 tail
Finished in 5 shows ….. And 89 where he failed to win a ribbon
Well Balanced ………….. Straight as a stick, front and rear
Handled brilliantly by …. Nobody else can get near him
At stud to “approved” bitches …… Those bitches whose owner’s cheque is good
Linebred from famous champions…… Ch. Whoozitz appears twice 6th generation
Terrific brood bitch …… Her conformation is the pits, but she conceives big litters
Wins another Best In Show … His second, under the same judge, our uncle
DOG SHOWAHOLICS ANONYMOUS
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Good Afternoon. I am a DOGAHOLIC. I would like to welcome all of you to this month’s meeting of “Dogaholics Anonymous”. Some of you are here tonight because a friend or relative brought you. You may be sitting here thinking that you are OK, and that you really don’t need any help.
It is not easy to admit that you are a Dogaholic, and it is even harder to bring yourself to a DA meeting for help. DA is here to assist you. I have some questions to ask. If you can answer YES to three or more of the following questions, you have come to the right place.
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* Can you say “BITCH” in public without blushing?
* Do you drive a station wagon, van, RV or 4×4 when everyone else drives a real car?
* Do you have more than one car? One for you, and one for the dogs?
* Do you spend your vacations and holidays going to shows, specialties, and seminars, when everyone else goes on a cruise?
* If you do go overseas, is it London in March to attend Crufts, or Finland in June to attend the World Dog Show?
* Do you discuss things at the dinner table that would make most doctors leave in disgust?
* Do you consider formal wear to be clean jeans, and freshly washed tennis shoes?
* Is your interior decorator R.C. Steele?
* Was your furniture and carpets chosen to match your dogs?
* Are your end tables really dog crates with tablecloths thrown over them?
* Do you know the meaning of CD, CDX, UD, UDX, TD, TDX, HIC, JH, SH, MH, OTCH, CH, AJ, AJX, MACH, FD, VST, FTCH, WC, FC, OAJ, NGDC and AFC?
* Is your mail made up primarily of dog catalogs, dog magazines, show photos and premium lists?
* Do you get up before dawn to go to training classes, dog shows and seminars…but have trouble getting up for work?
* If you have dresses, do they all have pockets? Do those pockets often contain freeze-dried liver, Rollover, clickers, or squeaky toys?
* When you meet a new person, do you always ask them what kind of dog they have… and do you pity them if they don’t have one?
* Do you remember the name of their dog before you remember their name?
* Do you find non-dog people boring?
If you answered YES to one of the above, there is still hope. If you answered YES to two of the above, you are in serious trouble.
If you answered YES to three or or more, you have come to the right place
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WORDS OF ADVICE …
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- Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully
- Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other
- Don’t believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want
- When you say, ‘I love you,’ mean it
- When you say, ‘I’m sorry,’ look the person in the eye
- Be engaged at least six months before you get married
- Believe in love at first sight
- Never laugh at anyone’s dreams. People who don’t have dreams don’t have much
- Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it’s the only way to live life completely
- In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling
- Don’t judge people by their relatives
- Talk slowly but think quickly
- When someone asks you a question you don’t want to answer, smile and ask, ‘Why do you want to know?’
- Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk
- Say ‘bless you’ when you hear someone sneeze
- When you lose, don’t lose the lesson
- Remember the three R’s: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions
- Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship
- When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it
- Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice
- Spend some time alone
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YouTube Video:
IRISH SETTER SIGHTING…..
Paul Timms offers this video of his 8 Brodruggan irish setters ‘On the Move’
.. to put a smile on your face 😆
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBw5qk4NiGY
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THINGS WE CAN LEARN FROM A DOG
- Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride
- Allow the experience of fresh air and wind in your face to be pure ecstasy
- When loved ones come home, always run to greet them
- Let others know when they’ve invaded your territory
- Take naps, and stretch before rising
- Run, romp and play daily – eat with gusto and enthusiasm
- Be loyal – never pretend to be something you are not
- If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it
- When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently
- Thrive on attention and let people touch you
- Avoid biting when a simple growl will do
- On hot days, drink lots of water and rest under a shady tree
- When you’re happy dance around and wag your entire body
- No matter how often you’re scolded, don’t buy into the ‘guilt thing’ – run right back and make friends
- Bond with your pack
- Delight in the simple joy of a long walk
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. LIFE EXPLAINED …
. LIFE
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On the first day, God created the dog and said:
‘Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.’
The dog said: ‘That’s a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I’ll give you back the other ten?’
So God agreed.
On the second day, God created the monkey and said:
‘Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I’ll give you a twenty-year life span.’
The monkey said: ‘Monkey tricks for twenty years? That’s a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?’
And God agreed.
On the third day, God created the cow and said:
‘You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer’s family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years.’
The cow said: ‘That’s kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I’ll give back the other forty?’
And God agreed again.
On the fourth day, God created humans and said:
‘Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I’ll give you twenty years.’
But the human said: ‘Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?’
‘Okay,’ said God, ‘You asked for it.’
So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren.. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.
Life has now been explained to you.
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CRANKY OLD MAN
When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in country NSW, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.
Later, when the nurses were going through his meagre possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital. One nurse took her copy to Melbourne. The old man’s sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in magazines for Mental Health.
With nothing left to give to the world he is now the author of this simple, but eloquent, ‘anonymous’ poem.
Cranky Old Man
What do you see nurses? . .. . . .What do you see?
What are you thinking .. .. . . when you’re looking at me?
A cranky old man, . . . . . .not very wise,
Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . . with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food .. .. . . . . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . . . . .. ‘I do wish you’d try!’
Who seems not to notice .. . . .the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . . . . . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not .. .. . . . . . . . . lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . . . .The long day to fill?
Is that what you’re thinking? . . . . . . Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse . . . . . . you’re not looking at me.
I’ll tell you who I am . . . . . . . As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, . . . . . . as I eat at your will.
I’m a small child of Ten .. . . . . . with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters … . .. . . . . . who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen . .. . . with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now . . . . .. . . a lover he’ll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . . . . . my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows .. .. . . . that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . . … . . . . I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . . . . . . . . .. My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . . . . . . With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons .. . . . .. have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me . . . . . . . to see I don’t mourn.
At Fifty, once more, . .. . . . …Babies play ’round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me .. . . . . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future … .. . . . . . . . . . . . I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing . . . . . . young of their own.
And I think of the years .. .. . . . . And the love that I’ve known.
I’m now an old man . . . .. . . . . and nature is cruel.
It’s jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles .. .. . … . . . . . grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone … . .. . . .. . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . . . .. A young man still dwells,
And now and again . . . … . . my battered heart swells
I remember the joys . .. .. . . . . . .. . I remember the pain.
And I’m loving and living . . . . .. . .. . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years . all too few . . . . . . gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact .. . . . . . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people .. . . . . . . . open and see.
Not a cranky old man . Look closer . . . . see . . . . . … . ME!!
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TO ACHIEVE YOUR DREAMS…..
REMEMBER YOUR ABCs
A void negative sources, people, things and habits
B elieve in yourself
C onsider things from every angle
D on’t give up and don’t give in
E njoy life today; yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come
F amily and friends are hidden treasures. Seek them and enjoy their riches
G ive more than you planned to give
H ang on to your dreams
I gnore those who try to discourage you
J ust do it!
K eep on trying, no matter how hard it seems. It will get better
L ove yourself first and foremost
M ake it happen
N ever lie, cheat or steal. Always strike a fair deal
O pen your eyes and see things as they really are
P ractice makes perfect
Q uitters never win and winners never quit
R ead, study and learn about everything important in your life
S top procrastinating
T ake control of your own destiny
U nderstand yourself in order to better understand others
V isualize it
W ant it more than anything
X ccelerate your efforts
Y ou are unique of all of Nature’s creations. Nothing can replace you
By Wanda Carter
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IRISH SETTER SIGHTING…..
Legendary English Footballer George Best photographed with his irish setter
… in his ‘little room’ … comforts of home .
I BELIEVE
I Believe…
Just because two people argue,
it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other.
And just because they don’t argue,
it doesn’t mean they do love each other.
I Believe….
We don’t have to change friends if
we understand that friends change.
I Believe….
No matter how good a friend is,
they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and
you must forgive them for that.
I Believe…
True friendship continues to grow, even over
the longest distance..
The same goes for true love.
I Believe….
You can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for life.
I Believe…
That it’s taking me a long time
to become the person I want to be.
I Believe…
You should always leave loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.
I Believe…
You can keep going long after you think you can’t.
I Believe…
We are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
I Believe….
Either you control your attitude or it controls you.
I Believe…
Money is a lousy way of keeping score.
I Believe…
My best friend and I, can do anything, or
nothing and have the best time.
I Believe…
Sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down,
will be the ones to help you get back up.
I Believe…
Maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had
and what you’ve learned from them and
less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.
I Believe…
It isn’t always enough, to be forgiven by others.
sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I Believe…
No matter how bad your heart is broken
the world doesn’t stop for your grief.
I Believe…
Our background and circumstances may have
influenced who we are, but.
we are responsible for who we become.
I Believe…
Two people can look at the same
thing and see something totally different.
I Believe…
Your life can be changed in a matter of
hours by people who don’t even know you.
I Believe…
Even when you think you have no more to give,
when a friend cries out to you –
you will find the strength to help.
I Believe…
Credentials on the wall do not make you a
decent human being.
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Training information:
IRISH SETTER SIGHTING…..
There is a new DVD from John Richardson (who is believed to be the original Dog Whisperer) which is a supplement to his new book recently released. It is all about positive training and no harsh words are used. It helps understand and explain why dogs do certain things.
Two irish setters are featured in the filming, Sir Dublin with Anneliese and Dublin’s brother Finn with owner Eric.
The dogs enjoyed their experience, I am told, and reacted positively to the gentle approach style of training displayed on the DVD.
If interested, details on how to obtain a copy can be found by emailing Anneliese directly – [email protected]
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A LIVING LOVE
If you ever love a dog, there are three days in your life you will always remember….
The first is a day, blessed with happiness, when you bring home your young new friend. You may have spent weeks deciding on a breed. You may have asked numerous opinions of many vets, or done long research in finding a breeder. Or, perhaps in a fleeting moment, you may have just chosen that silly looking mutt in a shelter–simple because something in its eyes reached your heart. But when you bring that chosen pet home, and watch it explore, and claim its special place in your hall or front room–and when you feel it brush against you for the first time–it instills a feeling of pure love you will carry with you through the many years to come.
The second day will occur eight or nine or ten years later. It will be a day like any other. Routine and unexceptional. But, for a surprising instant, you will look at your longtime friend and see age where you once saw youth. You will see slow deliberate steps where you once saw energy. And you will see sleep when you once saw activity. So you will begin to adjust your friend’s diet–and you may add a pill or two to her food. And you may feel a growing fear deep within yourself, which bodes of a coming emptiness. And you will feel this uneasy feeling, on and off, until the third day finally arrives.
And on this day–if your friend and God have not decided for you, then you will be faced with making a decision of your own–on behalf of your lifelong friend, and with the guidance of your own deepest Spirit. But whichever way your friend eventually leaves you–you will feel as lone as a single star in the dark night. If you are wise, you will let the tears flow as freely and as often as they must. And if you are typical, you will find that not many in your circle of family or friends will be able to understand your grief, or comfort you. But if you are true to the love of the pet you cherished through the many joy-filled years, you may find that a soul–a bit smaller in size than your own–seems to walk with you, at times, during the lonely days to come. And at moments when you least expect anything out of the ordinary to happen, you may feel something brush against your leg–very, very lightly. And looking down at the place where your dear, perhaps dearest, friend used to lay–you will remember those three significant days. The memory will most likely to be painful, and leave an ache in your heart–As time passes the ache will come and go as if it has a life of its own. You will both reject it and embrace it, and it may confuse you. If you reject it, it will depress you. If you embrace it, it will deepen you. Either way, it will still be an ache.
But there will be, I assure you, a fourth day when–along with the memory of your pet–and piercing through the heaviness in your heart–there will come a realization that belongs only to you. It will be as unique and strong as our relationship with each animal we have loved, and lost. This realization takes the form of a Living Love–like the heavenly scent of a rose that remains after the petals have wilted, this Love will remain and grow–and be there for us to remember. It is a love we have earned. It is the legacy our pets leave us when they go. And it is a gift we may keep with us as long as we live. It is a Love which is ours alone. And until we ourselves leave, perhaps to join our Beloved Pets–it is a Love we will always possess.
By Martin Scot Kosins
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DOG SHOW RULES ???….
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 practised
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 – get 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 of 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’s. 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 for 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 tooth 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, 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, and 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.
by Astrid Giercksky
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TWO WOLVES
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.
“One is Evil – It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
“The other is Good – It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf wins?”
The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
BET YOU CAN’T OWN JUST ONE
Why own a Show dog? There’s a danger you know.
You can’t own just one, for the craving will grow.
There’s no doubt they’re addictive, wherein lies the danger
While living with lots, you’ll grow poorer and stranger.
One dog is no trouble, and two are so funny,
The third one is easy, the fourth one’s a honey.
The fifth is delightful, the sixth one’s a breeze.
You find you can live with a house full, with ease.
So how ’bout another? Would you really dare?
They’re really quite easy, but Oh Lord, the hair!
With dogs on the sofa, and dogs on the bed,
And crates in the kitchen, it’s no bother, you said.
They’re really no trouble, their manners are great.
What’s just one more dog and one more little crate?
The sofa is hairy, the windows are crusty.
The floor is all footprints, the furniture’s dusty.
There’s hardly a limit to the dogs you can add.
The thought of a cutback, sure makes you feel sad.
Each one is so special, so useful, so funny.
The food bill grows larger, you owe the vet money.
Your folks never visit, few friends come to stay,
except other dog folks who live the same way.
Your lawn has now died and your shrubs are dead too,
Your weekends are busy, you’re off with your crew.
There’s dog food and vitamins, training and shots
and entries and travel, and motels cost lots.
Is it worth it, you wonder? Are you caught in a trap?
Then that favorite comes up and climbs in your lap.
Her look says you’re special and you know that you will
keep all the critters in spite of the bill.
Some just for showing, and some just to breed,
and some just for loving, they all fill a need.
Winter is a hassle, but the dogs love it true,
And they must have their walks though you are numb and blue.
Late evening is awful, you scream and you shout
at the dogs on the sofa, who refuse to go out.
The dogs and the dog shows, the travel, the thrills
the work and the worry, the pleasure, the bills.
The whole thing seems worth it, the dogs are your life.
They’re charming and funny and offset the strife.
Your lifestyle has changed, things just won’t be the same.
Yes, those dogs are addictive and so’s the dog game.
Author Unknown
THE MEANING OF LIFE
There is a moment just before
a dog vomits when its stomach
heaves dry, pumping what’s deep
inside the belly to the mouth.
If you are fast you can grab
her by the collar and shove her
out the door, avoid the slimy bile,
hunks of half chewed food
from landing on the floor.
You must be quick, decisive,
controlled, and if you miss
the cue and the dog erupts
en route, you must forgive
her quickly and give yourself
to scrubbing up the mess.
Most of what I have learned
in life leads back to this.
by Nancy Fitzgerald
from Poems I Never Wrote
CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM
“Constructive criticism” from ones peers in any sport is welcomed and actively sought.
“Peers” are people who have also achieved a high level of success in the field, and this therefore qualifies their opinion as meaningful.
Most definitely not every opinion is backed by credibility or right to pass judgment, and each must be taken in the context of the history of the individual proffering it.
When rewards do come along for the dedicated breeder, such as deserved show ring successes on a beautiful dog from many generations of planned breeding, sadly in addition to the valid accolades and uninhibited praise from some, also comes the inevitable feeding frenzy of raucous under-achieving critics.
Be aware that these are usually the ones that couldn’t cut it as breeders, exhibitors or judges themselves, and are merely going through the motions of being involved in the dog fancy, albeit up to their necks in mediocrity, failure, and bitterness. These pathetic souls are often nothing more than cyber-squatters that do little else but sit at their computers criticizing those that are out there actually in the arena, are really more to be pitied. If they were to apply a fraction of the effort towards improving their lot in life (or the dog world) as they do in attempting to unravel the good reputations of serious fanciers, there might be some hope for them to earn the respect and admiration they crave.
Unfortunately today anyone can jump online and claim to be an expert by inventing and or inflating a character for themselves, and even more unfortunately perhaps, is that there will always be an abundance of their ilk with which they can dance.
Successful people spot these naysayers instantly, and understanding the petty jealousy that incites their actions and afford their claims no validity.”
(author unknown)
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A RESCUER’S ANSWERING MACHINE:
Hello: You have reached ___-____, Tender Hearts Rescue.
Due to the high volume of calls we have been receiving, please listen closely to the following options and choose the one that best describes you or your situation:
Press 1 if you have a 10-year-old dog and your 15-year-old son has suddenly become allergic and you need to find the dog a new home right away.
Press 2 if you are moving today and need to immediately place your 150 pound, 8-year-old dog.
Press 3 if you have three dogs, had a baby and want to get rid of your dogs because you are the only person in the world to have a baby and dogs at the same time.
Press 4 if you just got a brand new puppy and your old dog is havingproblems adjusting so you want to get rid of the old one right away.
Press 5 if your little puppy has grown up and is no longer small and cute and you want to trade it in for a new model.
Press 6 if you want an unpaid volunteer to come to your home TODAY and pick up the dog you no longer want.
Press 7 if you have been feeding and caring for a “stray” for the last three years, are moving and suddenly determine it’s not your dog.
Press 8 if your dog is sick and needs a vet but you need the money for your vacation.
Press 9 if you are elderly and want to adopt a cute puppy who is not active and is going to outlive you.
Press 10 if your relative has died and you don’t want to care for their elderly dog because it doesn’t fit your lifestyle.
Press 14 if you are calling at 6 a.m. to make sure you wake me up before I have to go to work so you can drop a dog off on your way to work.
Press 15 to leave us an anonymous garbled message, letting us know you have left a dog in our yard in the middle of January, which is in fact, better than just leaving the dog with no message.
Press 16 if you are going to get angry because we are not going to take your dog that you have had for fifteen years, because it is not our responsibility.
Press 17 if you are going to threaten to take your ten year old dog to be euthanized because I won’t take it.
Press 18 if you’re going to get angry because the volunteers had the audacity to go on vacation and leave the dogs in care of a trusted volunteer who is not authorized to take your personal pet.
Press 19 if you want one of our PERFECTLY trained, housebroken, kid and cat friendly purebred dogs that we have an abundance of.
Press 20 if you want us to take your dog that has a slight aggression problem, i.e. has only bitten a few people and killed your neighbor’s cats.
Press 21 if you have already called once and been told we don’t take personal surrenders but thought you would get a different person this time with a different answer.
Press 22 if you want us to use space that would go to a stray to board your personal dog while you are on vacation, free of charge, of course.
Press 23 if it is Christmas Eve or Easter morning and you want me to deliver an eight week old puppy to your house by 6:30 am before your kids wake up.
Press 24 if you have bought your children a duckling, chick or baby bunny for Easter and it is now Christmas and no longer cute.
Press 25 if you want us to take your female dog who has already had ten litters, but we can’t spay her because she is pregnant again and it is against your religion.
Press 26 if you’re lying to make one of our younger volunteers feel bad and take your personal pet off your hands.
Press 27 if your cat is biting and not using the litter box because it is declawed, but you are not willing to accept the responsibility that the cat’s behavior is altered because of your nice furniture.
Press 28 if your two year old male dog is marking all over your house but you just haven’t gotten around to having him neutered.
Press 29 if you previously had an outdoor only dog and are calling because she is suddenly pregnant.
Press 30 if you have done “everything” to housebreak your dog and have had no success but you don’t want to crate the dog because it is cruel.
Press 31 if you didn’t listen to the message asking for an evening phone number and you left your work number when all volunteers are also working and you are angry because no one called you back.
Press 32 if you need a puppy immediately and cannot wait because today is your daughter’s birthday and you forgot when she was born.
Press 33 if your dog’s coat doesn’t match your new furniture and you need a different color or breed.
Press 34 if your new love doesn’t like your dog and you are too stupid to get rid of the new friend (who will dump you in the next month anyway) instead of the dog.
Press 35 if you went through all these ‘options’ and didn’t hear enough. This press will connect you to the sounds of tears being shed by one of our volunteers who is holding a discarded old dog while the vet mercifully frees him from the grief of missing his family.
~Author Unknown, but much appreciated
(crossposted with permission from Lorraine at Chinaroad Show Dogs)
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Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Love your neighbour as much as yourself.
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JUST A DOG
From time to time, people tell me, ”lighten up, it’s just a dog,” or, “that’s a lot of money for just a dog.” They don’t understand the distance travelled, the time spent, or the costs involved for “just a dog.”
Some of my proudest moments have come about with “just a dog.” Many hours have passed and my only company was “just a dog,” But I did not once feel slighted.
Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by “just a dog,” and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “just a dog” gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.
If you, too, think it’s “just a dog,” then you will probably understand phrases like “just a friend,” “just a sunrise,” or “just a promise.” “Just a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy.
“Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person.
Because of “just a dog”, I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it’s not “just a dog” but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.
“Just a dog” brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.
I hope that someday they can understand that it’s not “just a dog”, but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being “just a man or woman.” So the next time you hear the phrase “just a dog”, just smile — because they “just don’t understand.”
— Author Unknown
; THE “BE” ATTITUDES
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Be understanding to your enemies.
Be loyal to your friends.
Be strong enough to face the world each day.
Be weak enough to know you cannot do everything alone.
Be generous to those who need your help.
Be frugal with that you need yourself.
Be wise enough to know that you do not know everything.
Be foolish enough to believe in miracles.
Be willing to share your joys.
Be willing to share the sorrows of others.
Be a leader when you see a path others have missed.
Be a follower when you are shrouded by the mists of uncertainty.
Be first to congratulate an opponent who succeeds.
Be last to criticize a colleague who fails.
Be sure where your next step will fall, so that you will not tumble.
Be sure of your final destination, in case you are going the wrong way.
Be loving to those who love you.
Be loving to those who do not love you; they may change.
By: Author Unknown
SEVEN FOUNDATIONS
TO SUCCESSFUL DOG BREEDING
By: Jonathon Jeffery Kimes
I – ENJOY YOUR DOGS
The primary reason anyone becomes involved with dog breeding and showing is a fundamental love of dogs. We treasure the companionship, the never failing loyalty, the delight they exude. We love to have them on our beds. Their eagerness to face the new day, even when we wake them up at dreadful hours, provides us a wonderment that brings back the exuberance of childhood. They forgive us when we lose our temper, when we are impatient, when we are far less than they are. They bring out the best of ourselves, they nurture the “big” us. Unfortunately, dog breeding and exhibiting can tempt our “little” selves. It can feed a fragile ego until it becomes a raging ego. Often, this need to feel we are better than our fellow man is expressed in our possessions. We need to have the biggest winner, the producer of the most champions, the most champion puppies. We buy, we co-own, we collect. Soon we have no time for dog pleasures, no time to play or rub a grateful belly, no time to stroke a patient brow. Soon we have no room for more dogs; we stack them and crate them and store them as though they were baubles that have no meaning but to make us feel important. We lose our ability to love. Dog showing and breeding is a great vocation. It is creative and challenging and very rewarding. But we must never expect our hobby to take the place of a psychologist’s work. We must never expect an unhealthy mental state to be cured by self-indulgence. Far too many people take to showing and breeding for the wrong reasons. Their houses go to ruin, their bank accounts evaporate, their credit hits the skids, their spouses and children are left to survive on their own as the breeder pursues their own manifestation of what they perceive to prove their self-worth. Being a dog breeder is a huge commitment. It means we should assign ourselves the role of lifetime student. It means we will be humbled in countless ways and in countless circumstances. It means our lessons will be of the hard knock variety if we are to truly learn them. It means frustration, long hours, late nights and early mornings. It means never getting to sleep-in again. It means finding friendships – some of which will last for a lifetime and some of which will founder, being built on social advantage. It means being quoted and misquoted and having words put in your mouth. It means being given ample opportunity to be as “small” as a human being can be. But, hopefully, it can provide an opportunity to learn to be “big,” to be generous, inquisitive, and adventurous. We should never ask ourselves if we are envied or important or successful. Those questions are meaningless. At the end of the day, we should ask ourselves, “Am I proud of the person I’ve become? What we must always be are dog lovers. We must be their advocates. We must ensure the life of every dog we breed and every dog we own is fulfilled and an illustration of humanity at its nest hour. Our vanity must not be stroked by having our pictures in a magazine or seeing our name on some ranking system. Our self-worth must come from knowing we provide our dogs a life of love, of pleasure, and of happiness.
II – BREED FOR IMPROVEMENT NOT WINNERS
It is easy to become lost in the purpose of breeding quality dogs. For some, the attraction of the bright lights, the glamour and the glitz cause them to stray from the path. Developing a bloodline that is well considered and that is a positive influence for the breed takes considerable discipline. Too often, the seemingly slow and carefully orchestrated effort to improve a breed is crossed up with the immediate desire to breed that one big winner and become famous.
The breeder’s pledge must be to harbor and safeguard the breed. No breed is in perfect shape when the breeder happens upon it and none shall be perfect when they leave. But to leave a breed in better shape than it was when you came upon it is the greatest compliment. To improve type, movement, temperament and health must be the bottom line for every committed breeder.
Such accomplishment takes a long-range plan that is carefully thought through. It requires dedication and purpose. All too often, we are sidetracked by our desire to breed to the latest big winner, and then to the next and the next. Before long the pedigree is a long list of “who’s who” that have no relationship to each other, other than they found success in the ring. What is key to learn (and to believe) is success in the ring is not an automatic indication of the dog’s true quality. We all wish one indicated the other but that is too easy. It would require the removal of human fallacy to be accomplished!
Dogs do not excel for all the same reasons. Consequently, you can’t simply breed one big winner to another and produce more big winners. Every feature and their nature of inheritance must be studied and understood before you can “manage” the inheritance variables. Once you gain this skill, you are on the road to producing a great line of winners.
III – TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE
The breeding of fine purebred dogs should be considered the pursuit of perfection – it is not the maintenance of it. All dogs have faults, all dogs are less than ideal in some ways and areas. If not, the “ideal” has not been well enough conceived. It is very easy to fall into the trap of being defensive about one’s own dogs. This usually happens because what we assume to be correct is challenged by another as being less so.
This disharmony causes confusion in our mind and ultimately unhappiness. To right ourselves, we often become defensive and try to rid ourselves of that which is causing us the discomfort – namely the opinion that does not complement our own.
We must realize that “truth” is the ultimate standard by which our decisions should be made. In most cases, a roached back is a roached back, whether we choose to recognize it as such or not. Consequently, the best way for us to not be put into a position of being unhappily surprised is to pursue knowledge relentlessly to ensure our opinion is as accurate and close to the “truth” as possible.
This knowledge is gained in many ways, one of which is learning from fellow breeders. We must fight the urge to make up our minds about something and refuse to consider another viewpoint. Indeed, we do not make decisions based on facts when we are first learning, we are depending upon what we perceive to be the expertise of others to provide that for us. If that so-called expertise is, in fact, faulty, our whole knowledge base is called into question. And that causes us great anxiety.
The best place to sit is in the seat of the knowledge seeker. Whenever provided with an opinion that is different than the one you currently hold, always seek to understand the viewpoint of the other. Why does the person perceive something differently than you? Understanding another’s point of view can be the road to greater knowledge. If you shut that door and do not entertain the prospect of learning something different than what you think is truth you will never actually recognize the truth and you will not succeed in your goal.
Quite honestly, you should be more critical of your dogs than anyone else could possibly be. That is not to say you should attribute faults to your dogs they do not possess, but your evaluation must be as detailed as possible and you must strive to see clearly their true faults and virtues. From this comes the map to success.
IV – DEAL WITH OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DEAL WITH YOU
Sounds a bit like the golden rule that we learn in childhood. Yet it is amazing how many people forget this very important axiom. In dealing with others, regardless of the matter, think always of the other person’s position. I have heard repeatedly, people state how they were burned in a co-ownership agreement. All too often the agreement is geared toward benefiting one party (often the seller) over another. Written agreements somehow are tainted as being only needed in a contentious situation. This is the first misconception. Not having a written agreement should be the very rare exception, not the reverse. Too often, should a worthwhile puppy be produced from one of these undefined arrangements, the fight is on for possession. Before contemplating
selling a dog on a co-ownership or leasing it or offering stud service for a puppy back, you should think through what exactly you expect and desire from such an arrangement. Too often, these business dealings occur in the spur of the moment during a telephone conversation, and the deal is struck before either party has really had an opportunity to think it through. For some reason, rather than rethinking the situation, we tend to try to follow through on such an ill conceived arrangement only to end up bitter enemies in the end. If people would stop and think about the likely end result, they would realize the best possible thing to protect the friendship is to have a written understanding.
It is very rare a litter is going to have more than one star if any at all. Consequently, it is important to under-stand who is going to own that super puppy, should it appear. People are too willing to tear apart relationships should one person seem to benefit a bit more than another. This is too sad and is reflective of the self-benefit motivation that all too many find as the driving force for their actions. When pressed, it is far better to give than to receive.
It is far better to let the other seemingly benefit than to destroy a relationship and acquire the reputation of being disreputable and self centered, if for no other reason than it makes you grow as a human being, which is probably a fair trade off in the long run.
V – BY GIVING YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE
Another pitfall breeders often experience is the inability to celebrate others’ successes. While certainly we feel the route we are taking is the best way to approach that utopian plateau of breed perfection, there are actually many routes to that same goal. It takes nothing at all away from our own accomplishments to recognize the accomplished efforts of other breeders.
This inability and unwillingness to appreciate other’s efforts usually comes from having made a decision not to breed to certain bloodlines or deal with certain persons. When such a kennel then produces a success, it is difficult for us to acknowledge such an achievement for we tend to find that inconsistent with our opinion of that particular person or family of dogs. It takes quite an honest and secure person to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of others.
While it is probably good advice to hold our criticisms closer to our chest, recognizing another’s achievement only brings good things. By being someone who can see the virtues in breeding lines other than your own, you gain a reputation of fairness and objectivity that is a very rare pearl in dogdom. You may find, over time, your point of view and your philosophies are taken with much greater weight when others do not perceive them to have originated in a mind consumed with self aggrandizement. Thus, by doing so you lose nothing and yet you gain so very much.
VI – MAKE USE OF OTHERS’ ACHIEVEMENTS
One of the worst situations a breeder can find her/himself in is to partition themselves off from another kennel or bloodline. It is highly unlikely that all improvements toward the perfection of a breed are going to come from one single kennel or bloodline. Like flowers in the field, they will spring up in various places. The clever breeder is the one who knows how to pick from all the field those who will make the ultimate, sublime bouquet. And to do this, you must be able to use the strengths of other kennels and bloodlines. Breeders will tend to have certain biases; and quite honestly, there are certain strengths and weaknesses in most bloodlines. While you may feel you have achieved the highest ground in certain areas, there will doubtless be other areas in which your dogs and bloodlines are less strong than others. Not to recognize this fact is to ensure you will plateau quite early in your breeding career. And by that I mean you will stabilize and go no further. You must always keep a watchful eye for that very special bloom that will enhance your bouquet.
It is this sophisticated combining of families without losing the good points of your own bloodline that strengthen a kennel and move it forward in breed importance. It takes careful consideration, orchestration and pruning to come to fruition.
VII – YOU ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR MORALS
My last axiom addresses the whole issue of morality. It has many facets and many ways of expressing itself. Spreading rumors, the accuracy of which might be doubtful, is one very good example. Selling dogs on co-owner-ships as a means to control other breeders is certainly another. Accusing other lines of genetic problems while being less than entirely honest about your own is yet another. In all, it goes to the very core of who we are. Do we know right from wrong? Do we practice right in all circumstances? Dog breeding is not about that one great win or that one great winner. It is about breed improvement over time, it is about protecting a breed. Too many people are in search of some kind of sign of their self worth and they think they will obtain some special level of respect and honor if they have a big winner. Dog breeding is a lifetime’s work. It is a continuum of which, no matter how quickly you want to “put yourself on the map,” will ultimately be a reflection of your true character. To wit, you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.
There is no honor in “adjusting” reality to give you the appearance of achieving something you have not. Politicking for wins will not make your dogs any better than they are. Faking your dogs will not make them any better than they are. You may think you can fool the world, but you will ultimately pay the price. No one wants to be a pretender. And yet, some of the worst pre-tenders are people who seem to be infatuated with spreading rumors about other people and dogs.
These people live in glass houses and invariably they know it. The breeding of dogs is not about how you impress the neighbors, your peers or anyone else.
It is the expression of your love of dogs and your personal pursuit in creating an art. You cannot lie about the art you create; you cannot lie to yourself.
While this list, I am quite sure, sounds like a sermon from the mount, it encompasses the many pitfalls that we dog breeders face every day. Some of us are equipped to navigate these disturbances better than others, but all of us CAN navigate them. We are all tested from time to time, even the most educated, psychologically balanced, intelligent and honest amongst us. There are times when it feels much better to zing someone who has been hurtful, to control those whom we feel do not have the proper motivation, to become the ones who attract the adulation. Only through careful thought and well-considered action can we hope to become better people and therefore better dog breeders.
About the author:
Jonathan Jeffrey Kimes (Pluperfect Kennels, Kansas City, Missouri)
The article first appeared in the 1996 Cardigan Welsh Corgi handbook.
It is on the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America website.
Stars of the Screen
Mary Merlo (Evergreen Irish Setters (USA)) writes: My two girls featured on the “white” background during the Animal Planet’s DOGS 101 show.
** Rita Mae is Am/Can CH Evergreen Designer Dreams JH &
Leezette is Ch Evergreen B’briar Celebration
The segment was taped in NY City one morning this past summer. It was actually filmed in an apartment that was set up as a very small studio with amazing lights strung from all angles and a giant white screen that also encompassed the floor. No one was allowed to wear shoes on the set. The dogs were asked to pose and stand there while a cinematographer sidled towards them and away from them at every angle possible. I was pleased that neither shied away as they had never experienced such a strange apparatus before. At one point, the director asked if I could get them to drink out of a water dish…My answer was “Put it down and see.” They slurped up that water in perfect setter style, including getting splashes on the camera lens. The tensest moment came when the director wanted to see them play with toys and so he threw out a few samples onto the white screened area. Leezette promptly chased one down and took off…only she took off in the direction of many cameras on stands and almost knocked over their “million dollar” cameras when she got tangled up in all the wires. Needless to say, it was quite neat to see the finished production. ** Rita Mae is daughter of Australian bred Am/Can/Aust Ch Tullane Thesis By Design
Click on the following ANIMAL PLANET video:
ANIMAL PLANET – Irish Setters 101
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The Breeder
I love my little puppy; she makes my house a home.
She is my very sweetest little friend; I never feel alone.
She makes me smile; She makes me laugh; She fills my heart with love . . .
Did some person breed her, or did she fall from above?
I’ve never been a breeder, never seen life through their eyes;
I hold my little puppy and just sit and criticize.
I’ve never known their anguish; I’ve never felt their pain,
the caring of their charges, through snow or wind or rain.
I’ve never waited the whole night through for babies to be born,
The stress and trepidation when they’re still not there by morn.
The weight of responsibility for this body in my hands,
This darling little baby, who weighs but 60 grams.
Should you do that instead of this . . . or maybe that was wrong?
Alone you fight and hope, one day, he’ll grow up proud and strong.
You pray he’ll live to bring great joy to someone else’s home.
You know it’s all just up to you; you’ll fight this fight alone.
Formula, bottles, heating pads, you’ve got to get this right,
two-hour feedings for this tiny guy, throughout the day and night.
Within your heart you dread that you will surely lose this fight,
To save this little baby, but God willing . . . you just MIGHT.
Day one; he’s in there fighting; you say a silent prayer.
Day two & three, he’s doing well, with lots of love and care.
Day four & five . . . he’s still alive; your hopes soar to the heavens.
Day six he slips away again, dies in your hands, day seven.
You take this little angel, and bury him alone.
With aching heart and burning tears, and an exhausted groan,
You ask yourself, “Why do this? . . . Why suffer through this pain?”
Yet watch the joy your puppies bring, and everything’s explained.
So, when you think of breeders and label them with “Greed,”
Think of all that they endure to fill another’s need.
For when you buy your puppy, with your precious dollars part,
You only pay with money . . . while they pay with all their heart.
(Author Unknown)
THE JOURNEY 
When you bring a pet into your life, you begin a journey. A journey that will bring you more love and devotion than you have ever known, yet will also test your strength and courage. If you allow, the journey will teach you many things, about life, about yourself, and most of all, about love. You will come away changed forever, for one soul cannot touch another without leaving its mark.
Along the way, you will learn much about savoring life’s simple pleasures — jumping in leaves, snoozing in the sun, the joys of puddles, and even the satisfaction of a good scratch behind the ears. If you spend much time outside, you will be taught how to truly experience every element, for no rock, leaf, or log will go unexamined, no rustling bush will be overlooked, and even the very air will be inhaled, pondered, and noted as being full of valuable information. Your pace may be slower, except when heading home to the food dish, but you will become a better naturalist, having been taught by an expert in the field. Too many times we hike on automatic pilot, our goal being to complete the trail rather than enjoy the journey. We miss the details: the colorful mushrooms on the rotting log, the honeycomb in the old maple snag, the hawk feather caught on a twig.
Once we walk as a dog does, we discover a whole new world. We stop; we browse the landscape, we kick over leaves, peek in tree holes, look up, down, all around. And we learn what any dog knows: that nature has created a marvelously complex world that is full of surprises, that each cycle of the seasons bring ever changing wonders, each day an essence all its own. Even from indoors you will find yourself more attuned to the world around you. You will find yourself watching: summer insects collecting on a screen; how bizarre they are; how many kinds there are or noting the flick and flash of fireflies through the dark. You will stop to observe the swirling dance of windblown leaves, or sniff the air after a rain. It does not matter that there is no objective in this; the point is in the doing, in not letting life’s most important details slip by.
You will find yourself doing silly things that your pet-less friends might not understand: spending thirty minutes in the grocery aisle looking for the cat food brand your feline must have, buying dog birthday treats, or driving around the block an extra time because your pet enjoys the ride. You will roll in the snow, wrestle with chewie toys, bounce little rubber balls till your eyes cross, and even run around the house trailing your bathrobe tie with a cat in hot pursuit, all in the name of love. Your house will become muddier and hairier. You will wear less dark clothing and buy more lint rollers. You may find dog biscuits in your pocket or purse, and feel the need to explain that an old plastic shopping bag adorns your living room rug because your cat loves the crinkly sound. You will learn the true measure of love. The steadfast, undying kind that says, “It doesn’t matter where we are or what we do, or how life treats us as long as we are together.” Respect this always. It is the most precious gift any living soul can give another. You will not find it often among the human race.
And you will learn humility. The look in my dog’s eyes often made me feel ashamed. Such joy and love at my presence. She saw not some flawed human who could be cross and stubborn, moody or rude, but only her wonderful companion. Or maybe she saw those things and dismissed them as mere human foibles, not worth considering, and so chose to love me anyway.
If you pay attention and learn well, when the journey is done, you will be not just a better person, but the person your animal companion always knew you to be. The one they were proud to call beloved friend.
I must caution you that this journey is not without pain. Like all paths of true love, the pain is part of loving. For as surely as the sun sets, one day your dear animal companion will follow a trail you cannot yet go down. And you will have to find the strength and love to let them go. An animal companion’s time on earth is far too short, especially for those that love them. We borrow them, really, just for a while, and during these brief years they are generous enough to give us all their love, every inch of their spirit and heart, until one day there is nothing left. The cat that only yesterday was a kitten is all too soon old and frail and sleeping in the sun. The young pup of boundless energy now wakes up stiff and lame, the muzzle gone to gray. Deep down we somehow always knew that this journey would end. We knew that if we gave our hearts they would be broken. But give them we must for it is all they ask in return.
When the time comes, and the road curves ahead to a place we cannot see, we give one final gift and let them run on ahead, young and whole once more. “God speed, good friend,” we say, until our journey comes full circle and our paths cross again. Author Unknown
The Meaning of Life
There is a moment just before
a dog vomits when its stomach
heaves dry, pumping what’s deep
inside the belly to the mouth.
If you are fast you can grab
her by the collar and shove her
out the door, avoid the slimy bile,
hunks of half chewed food
from landing on the floor.
You must be quick, decisive,
controlled, and if you miss
the cue and the dog erupts
en route, you must forgive
her quickly and give yourself
to scrubbing up the mess.
Most of what I have learned
in life leads back to this.
by Nancy Fitzgerald from Poems I Never Wrote
