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"A Program for Youth with Precious Little Time to Lose"

   The Continental Kennel Club would like to thank everyone who participated in the Catch-A-Dream fundraiser on March 27^th, 2004.  All in all, it was a total success with over $10,000 raised for the Catch-A-Dream foundation.  Some of you may not be familiar with Catch-A-Dream or the many efforts of the hundreds of people involved in making the program a success.  "Catch-A-Dream grants once-in-a-lifetime outdoor experiences to children 18-years-old or younger who have a life-threatening illness."  Catch-A-Dream was founded in 2000 with the idea in mind to "Provide consumptive use outdoor experiences to fill the 'gap' created when the Make-A-Wish Foundation established national policy that precludes granting a child a wish that involves hunting or use of '.firearms, hunting bows, or other hunting or sport-shooting equipment.'"  (To learn more about Catch-A-Dream, click here to visit their website and see their many corporate sponsors, mission statement and testimonials).

Catch-A-Dream realizes that it is not every child's dream to go to an amusement park.  Some children will never know what it is like to experience nature in all of its glory.  Catch-A-Dream consists of a network of volunteers, or Dream Makers, which donate their money, equipment, homes and, most importantly, their time to these children and their families.  When Catch-A-Dream heard about all of the good will and efforts to grant little Chance Wroten his dream (see special report in this issue), it inspired them to offer everyone a chance to get involved.  Many of the children that do qualify for the Catch-A-Dream program are severely sick and are not able to be outside and participate in the things they love.  Simple joys can come from placing a warm, cuddly and loving animal in the life of these unfortunate children. The Continental Kennel Club and Catch-A-Dream are extending an invitation of kindness and charity to all of you out there.  If you find that you are able to contribute to Catch-A-Dream in any way, whether it is by time, facilities, money, equipment, companion animals or hunting animals, please feel free to submit your information to Catch-A-Dream and the Continental Kennel Club at the information listed below.  All of your donations will go directly to Catch-A-Dream and straight to a child in need.  Your contact information will not be released to any other parties than CKC and Catch-A-Dream.  Your donations are most appreciated by everyone here at Continental Kennel Club, Catch-A-Dream, and a very special child.

"It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving."
--Mother Teresa

To make monetary or in-kind contributions or become a volunteer, click here to learn more, or E-mail Martin W. Brunson, Ph.D.-Extension Leader/ Professor of Fisheries, click here. 

If you have a companion animal or hunting animal that needs a loving home with someone very special to care for, you may contact the Continental Kennel Club by clicking here.  Give your name, address, phone number, hours when to be reached, list the animal species (kind), breed, age, and Continental Kennel Club will keep your information on a list for when some very special child wants a wiggly, caring wish.
 

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Profile Dog Food - Understanding Animal Nutrition
The CKC would like to offer a special thanks to Profile for their
nationwide support of CKC Performance Events and Competitions.

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"Big Hearts Pay Off for One Little Guy"

   Continental Kennel Club is always on the watch for a real heart warming story.  One where the hero of the day has fur, four legs and a wet nose, or one where the human spirit and condition triumph over all in a world when people need it the most.  We, at Continental Kennel Club, still believe in modern day heroes and miracles.  We believe that they come in all shapes and sizes: big, small, young and old, even a dog can be a person's hero.  There are several quotes that have expressed the impact that a dog has had in the lives of humans.  If you can't relate to these sayings, then you haven't owned a dog that you have called a friend.  Thanks in part to the efforts of several people and organizations, one little six-year-old boy will now relate to the quote, "Dogs are not our whole lives, but they make our lives whole"~Roger Caras. 

   On his fourth birthday, Chance Wroten was diagnosed with Leukemia.  He has undergone countless hours of chemotherapy treatments, and now at the age of six and after a wearisome battle, his cancer is currently in remission.  Not many people are familiar with the effects of chemotherapy; the most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, hair loss and bone marrow depression.  These side effects would take their toll on an adult, let alone a growing four-year-old child who should be out playing in the dirt and grass, enjoying the sights and smells of life.  Luckily, Chance had developed an idea to keep his mind occupied through this time of despair.  He decided one day that he wanted a "Bloodhound Dog", so he asked his parents if he could have a hound dog for Christmas.  He told them, "When I get my hound dog, I'm going to name it Copper Bush.  Copper Bush Wroten, like the President."  His parents thought about it and decided it would be a good thing for him, after all, every little boy should have a dog to call their own friend!  The only problem was that they weren't sure if Santa Clause was going to be able to find one in time, so they couldn't make any promises. 

   This one little boy's wish put into effect a lengthy chain of events, fueled solely by good intention and true good heartedness.  A friend of the family, who was trying to find this hopeful little boy his hound dog, contacted the Continental Kennel Club to see if anyone could help them in their pursuit.  The CKC was able to get in touch with a representative from Louisiana State Penitentiary, Dixon Correctional Institute, in Jackson, Louisiana, yet they had nothing available.  However, they did  get in touch with Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola, in Angola, Louisiana.  Angola just happened to have a female Bloodhound available.  The good will did not stop there.  The pup was sent to Dixon Correctional Center and from there to Amite County Co-op to be held until Christmas. 

Christmas day finally rolled around, and Chance was excited to open his presents.  Amongst the presents he was opening were a collar and a leash, and the collar said, "Copper Wroten".  Chance was a little puzzled at first, but it doesn't take a child with such high hopes that long to catch on!  His sister told him to look outside, so he raced outside, and sure enough, there she was in a horse trailer, a beautiful red Bloodhound, all for him!  Along with all the charity so far, Dixon Correctional Institute donated Chance an official DCI cap and T-shirt.  Profile Nutrition volunteered to feed the pup, and the local co-op, Amite County Co-op, supplied all the equipment needed to train a "Bloodhound Dog" for anything a little boy's imagination can ponder up.  In addition, CKC is going to register the dog free of charge.  So many people contributed to one little boy and his family to ensure that their Christmas was a merry one, and that the one little boy's Christmas wish came true.

   Chance Wroten would like all the law enforcement offices and officials to know that if there ever is a time when you need a team to track someone in the swamp, call on Chance and Copper Wroten!  That's his reply every time someone asks him what he is he going to do with that big dog.  Chance's family wrote to us and in their letter said: "Little joys like seeing Chance when he got Copper for Christmas are so fulfilling." Their sentiments prove this final quote:

"There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face."
~Bern Williams

   We would like to thank the following people and their efforts in making this all possible (listed in order of events): Charles Wascom, friend of the Wroten family; Mark Harrell, CKC Chief of Operations; Major Joey Harrell and Warden Leblanc of Louisiana State Penitentiary-Dixon Correctional Center; Johnny Dixon, Joe Norwood and Warden Cain of Louisiana State Penitentiary-Angola; Dennis Wilson of Amite County Co-Op and Profile Nutrition.

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"The Doberman Pinscher"
There's more to them than you may think!

 Standard
OTHER NAMES: Thuringer Pinscher, Plizeilich Soldatenhund, Dobermann, Dobey
ORIGIN: Germany 
HEIGHT: 24-28 in.
GROUP: Mastiff 
WEIGHT: 66-90 lbs.
COAT: Short and smooth
COLOR: Solid White, Black, dark brown, fawn, red, or blue; all with tan markings.

This is a breed that every dog owner should be knowledgeable of, whether you own a 758-generation pedigree champion bloodline pure bred dog, or have picked up a stray solely as a pet.  The Doberman Pinscher teaches us all a little something on one big question and that question is "What exactly is a pure bred dog?", not to say that the Doberman Pinscher in any way is not a pure breed, but looking back at its history, one must ask, what separates this breed, or any breed from all the developmental breeds of today? 

Their stare is as intense as a fire, they're as powerful as they are beautiful and they're built for speed, authority and precision.  How could one not help but have respect and admiration for an animal so stunning as the Doberman Pinscher?  What most people don't know is that the Doberman Pincher, or Dobey, is a rather recent success story for entering the world of the pure bred dog, and by being so, it is also an ambassador for breeds considered in  "developmental state" or otherwise known as "miscellaneous breeds" and sometimes referred to as "Mutts" by those lesser knowing.

Herr Louis Doberman, a tax collector and dog pound keeper, developed the Doberman Pinscher in the late 1860's to 1870's in Apolda, Thueringen, Germany.  Tax collectors weren't exactly the most welcomed group in European homes at that time, especially if you didn't have the money to pay your taxes.  There were many obstacles that Louis Doberman was constantly facing in order to do his job, there were robbers, disgruntled taxpayers and their guard dogs.  Going through the bad areas wasn't safe for anyone in his line of business.  Louis Doberman had decided upon creating a dog so agile, so smart, so very fearless and intimidating that people would be more cooperative in giving him his collections, yet would make a fine companion in the home.  Louis developed and perfected the breed in approximately 15 years, a remarkable short period of time.

The Doberman Pinscher is composed of 7 different breeds.  Louis crossed the Manchester Terrier for the short lustrous coat, the Weimerainer for dilute colors and it's sense of smell. Their momentum and streamline body is credited to the English Greyhound. The previous German shepherd types (not by any means the German Shepherd Dog breed of today, some called them Thueringen Shepherds, some called them Apolda Shepherds) were used for aptitude, analytical ability and accuracy.  The German Pinscher was incorporated for their intense belligerence and tenacity.  The Rottweiler was introduced for their boldness, allegiance and sentinel abilities.  The idea and ending result was the Ultimate Terrier.  These are not the Yorkshire or West Highland White Terriers of today.  Back then Terriers were the most tenacious of all dogs. They were bred and worked for apprehending or killing game far larger than they were without hesitation. Louis Doberman ended up with 4 dogs which became the foundation for his breeding program: Landgruff, Schnupp, Lux and Rambo.  These dogs set the benchmark for the breed.  They were reportedly uneasy on the eyes and able to strike the fear in the hearts of even the most brave of men. 

The Dobey is a relatively healthy breed, needing regular vet checks and exercise, some problems that should be checked and tested for in the Doberman Pinscher breed include, hip and elbow dysplasia, von Willebrand's disease (vWD), thyroid disease, genetic eye disease, normal cardiac function, and normal liver function. All of these diseases can be tested for, and they should be something you inquire about to the breeder or seller in which you are planning on purchasing a Dobey from.  A good breeder can explain the measures they have taken to prevent any such afflictions from appearing in their breeding stocks offspring. 

The breed has outdone itself in building its reputation as a wonderful companion and guardian.  They are intelligent, agile and protective.  If raised with children they become a second or third parent, keeping the child always in sight and even stopping them from leaving its set boundaries. Unfortunately, the Doberman Pinscher's reputation grew both famous and infamous around the same time.  The Dobey is yet another victim of Breed Specific Legislation in many countries, states, cities, counties and parishes.  They have been picked on by uneducated congressmen, senators, insurance companies, newspapers, television, Hollywood, and the general public and are now on an ever-growing list of endangered breeds, solely due to the irresponsible owners.

Dobermans today are used to assist handicap, search and rescue, tracking and article search, fire arms, explosive and narcotics detection, criminal apprehension, hunting, weight pulling, obedience, agility, sledding, fly-ball and several other activities that only a dog with the ability to learn obedience, has strength and a stable temperament can accomplish.  They are wonderful life long companions with limitless love and affection to give.  They prefer to be treated more as a member of the family where they can observe your daily interactions, rather than being just a pet. 

Click here to view Doberman Pinscher for sale on the CKC website
 

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CKC would like to see your canine buddies in action! Each month we will pick a theme and ask you to submit photos of your dog(s) relating to the theme of the month. You can e-mail or mail your snapshot ATTN: Snapshot of the Month, PO BOX 1450, Walker, LA 70785.

April's Theme of the Month
is
"Hop into Action (Easter Themed)"

Get those cameras out and have some fun.

Congratulations.....

It happened again, the winner of March's Theme of the Month, "Kids & their dogs",
was too hard to decide, so we give you the top 6 finalists.

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Preparing To Give a Pet As a Gift?

Easter is right around the corner. Does anyone remember the gifts that they received during this time? Maybe a cute, little baby chick or a sweet, cuddly rabbit. What about an adorable puppy? Do you remember what happened to these "surprise" pets?

Gifts such as these have wonderful intentions; however, we must think of the animal first before making such a purchase for someone else. In reality, most of these pets often end up pinned up far in the back of the yard, and each visit becomes less and less often, until they are just forgotten. Ultimately, if they are lucky they end up in an animal shelter.

Before a person receives such a gift, much thought should go into it. Many questions need to be answered first, such as what is the best pet for the person, what kind of time can they devote to it, where will the pet's home be, and is the person truly responsible enough to care for this type of pet? All of these things should be considered thoroughly prior to making the purchase. Also, the person receiving the gift should be part of the decision making process before the purchase is made.

You may be thinking, however, that you wanted to keep this gift a surprise and discussing all of these things prior to receiving the gift on that special holiday certainly would ruin the surprise. Well, there are many alternatives to actually giving the "real" pet on the special day. Creativity is your key to the gift.

We have come up with some ideas to make your gift creative without subjecting the "real" pet to any misery, until plenty of thought has actually gone into deciding on a pet.
 

*	Present a giant stuffed version of the pet with a little gift tag stating what you plan to do
*	Prepare a gift basket containing such things as a training book, various types of pet feed and treats, some bowls or toys, etc.
*	Create your own gift certificate with pictures of the type of pet you would like to get, stating that you agree to pay for the price of the pet
*	For children, you may find some videos or books instructing them how to care for their new pet.

Taking some time to get creative and prepare for the gift would mean so much more to the person receiving the gift. It shows that you put plenty of thought and preparation into the gift.

Keep in mind that holidays are a very hectic and time-consuming part of the year. Purchasing a pet may need to be done when things have calm down a little after the excitement of the holiday. This can allow for more time to become accustomed to the new pet, time for training, etc.

Approaching this type of gift in this way will allow that person to decide if they really do want a pet. If they decide that they do not, this gives them the opportunity to think about the idea of a pet, without the guilt of giving it away when they realize that it just was not the right time.

For more research on various breeds of dogs and breeders, check out our webpage here.

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If you would like to submit an article for an upcoming issue or have a question for the editor, you can submit it via email to editor@ckcusa.com or mail it to:

Continental Kennel Club, Inc.
PO BOX 1450
Walker, LA 70785

Note: All articles & pictures submitted become property of Continental Kennel Club
and may be used at our discretion.

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Copyright© 2004 Continental Kennel Club, Inc. - No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express written permission by the publisher.