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Profile Dog Food - Understanding Animal Nutrition

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To train for Terrain Trials or varmint hunting is quite easy and can prove quite helpful around the house if you have a rat, ground hog or mole problem. These trials aren’t just for Terriers either; any small dog can have a blast doing these exercises. The first thing you will need to do is build a tunnel. A simple ‘L’ shape tunnel will do just fine. The tunnel should have two sides of wood, and the roof should be of wood, all secured together so that the dog or quarry will not get hurt when entering. The floor should ALWAYS be dirt or the ground.

You want to introduce your dog to the quarry. Set the quarry in front of the dog (in the container) and let the dog see, smell and investigate the quarry. Encourage any barking or digging at the quarry. Encourage your dog’s interest by gently rocking the cage. Place the cage at the end of the tunnel, opposite from where you want your dog to enter. Bring your dog to the entrance, and always associate a command with entering the tunnel.

Not every dog gets it the first time. You may need to do a little coaxing, such as tossing a ball into the tunnel, tying a piece of bait to a string and dragging it through the tunnel, or leaving a scent trail (rat and fox pee is available in some areas and is a useful training tool). Just do whatever it takes for the dog to want to go into the tunnel. Another good rule of thumb is to use an experienced dog first. Let them go into the tunnel and let your dog listen as the other dog barks at the quarry. Dogs are naturally nosey and relish in activating the Buddy System, and they will usually rush to see what the fuss in the tunnel is all about. As soon as you see your dog carrying out the duties of a hunter, praise him or her like crazy! This is the most important element of any training.

This is the way that small dogs and Terriers have been trained for hundreds of years to help put food on the table or rid farms of pesky fox. The smallest, prettiest and bravest of them have pulled rabbits, foxes, badgers and even wolverines out of the dark holes and tunnels of the most ferocious game this way. It’s hard to think of your Yorkie, Westy, Jack Russell or Dachsy as being a voracious hunter, but it was from those extreme working dogs that your little house pets have descended. You will be surprised as to what they aren’t afraid of and what they can do.

The working abilities of small dogs are fading more and more every day as people become more interested in showing and breeding for companions. These are simple exercises to bring out or heighten your dog’s natural talents and it is one more step towards preserving the breed’s original purpose.
 

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"Yorkshire Terrier" 

This month’s “Breed of the Month” is one of the most highly sought after canines available, the Yorkshire Terrier. Their affectionate and playful antics and adoring spunky personalities make the Yorkie ranked in the top 5 best companions. Their small size makes it hard to resist spoiling and babying them. They originate from Great Britain; the first one appearing around 1850. Originally, they were bred from the Old English Black & Tan Terriers, Broken Coated Scotch Terriers, Paisley Terriers, Skye Terrier and Clydesdale Terriers, to make for an all around terrier. It is believed that the Maltese contributed to the long coat, sweet tiny size and baby doll face. The little dogs soon became very popular within the area of Yorkshire, especially with the well-off. The less wealthy families were able to make a profit by breeding these little dogs and selling them to the rich. Every different breeder used a different combination of breeds, and it wasn’t until around the mid-1800's that the breed started breeding true.

The Yorkie has become wildly popular as a pet, mainly because their size is convenient. Also, they are good with the elderly, children and anyone else alike (unlike some breeds that are naturally snappy towards children or too rambunctious for the elderly). The best word to describe the Yorkie is “bursting,” because they are a breed that is literally bursting with every likable attribute a person could possibly want in a canine companion. They are loving, loyal, and spunky and are very personable little dogs. Always up for whatever their owners are up for, whether it’s a walk down the street or an evening in a recliner, they’ll be there right with you.

Their size is really a cover up for what the Yorkie is really capable of. Not only do they make admirable companions to anyone, they are fierce at heart. They are easy to teach and are willing students. Once taught, they make ferocious competitors in whatever sport they are trained in, whether taught to sound at the first sign of intruders, chasing squirrels or agility. They are commonly used as therapy animals. Also, they excel in narcotic detections. This is due to their tunneling background, which requires an excellent nose, an iron will, and the drive to fit into small spaces and hunt. This is something their larger colleagues cannot do. They also do extremely well in Agility, Obedience, Tracking & Article Search. They make great guard dogs for the house, they can be taught to tree, and they love to dig. Fine tuning their natural tunneling and hunting abilities can be an enjoyable sport for both the owner and the Yorkie, and it is one more step in preserving the breeds original purpose.

The Yorkshire Terrier is pretty much a hearty little dog. Unfortunately as breeders keep breeding for smaller dogs (under 7 pounds), more and more health problems are arising in the breed. Their original weight was between 12-14 pounds. The most common health problems in Yorkie are collapsed tracheas, luxating patella, liver shunts, Legg-pertheas. In order to ensure that you are purchasing a healthy Yorkie, it is just as much the prospective owner’s duty to research the breed, as well as the parent dogs of the litter in which you choose to purchase your puppy. A good breeder will be honest and tell you if she or he has had any puppy problems and will give you a list of references. The breeder should also let you see both parents, provide proof or registration (along with the puppies’ papers), and proof of regular veterinarian visits for both the mother and the pups (this should include shot records for your new pup). It is then the new owner’s responsibility to get the new pup to the vet as soon as possible. With a healthy and happy start in life, your Yorkie can live well over 15 years.

Grooming and exercise for the Yorkshire Terrier varies depending on the clip you choose and the environment you live in. Many people like the long silky coat of the Yorkie, but this requires daily brushing, detangling, conditioning and a good deal of work. The more manageable clips are the Teddy Bear clip and the sanitary clip. These keep the coat short and basically care free. Regular exercise is a necessity as with any breed. Yorkies are good in either the town or country setting, their small size usually allows them to muster up enough space to have a good workout in any home, but supervised outside exercise is good for them also (small dogs become prey to animals such as owls, bigger dogs and vehicles).

Next month's breed of the month will be the beloved Dachshund (Standard and Miniature). Feel free to send in photos of your Dachsy buddies doing what it is they do best.

Click here for breeders of Yorkshire Terriers.

NEW OWNER'S GUIDE TO YORKSHIRE TERRIERS			YORKSHIRE TERRIERS
GUIDE TO OWNING A YORKSHIRE TERRIER			LITTLE DOGS

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1. Brush the dog with the slicker brush and attempt to get all mats out of the coat with a matting comb. Then, comb through the hair with a fine metal comb.

2. Use the medicated ear powder to clean the ears and pluck any stray hairs inside of the ears.

3. Carefully cut only the tips of the toenails.

4. Use cotton with eye drops to clean the eyes. Use scissors to snip away any stained hair from the corner of the eyes.

5. Shave the ears, inside and outside, to about ½” with a #15 blade. Then, use scissors to finish off the shaved tips.

6. Shave the anal area with a #10 blade, being careful not to come in contact with the skin.

7. Shave the abdomen, from groin to navel, and the inner thighs with a #10 blade.

8. Bathe the dog and fluff him dry. Putting cotton in his ears may prevent water from entering.

9. Part the hair in the center from the top of the head to the base of the tail with a medium metal comb.

10. Gather the hair from the outer corner of each eyes, across the head and from ear to ear. Secure this hair with a rubber band and a bow.

11. Cut the hair between the foot pads with scissors, then cut around the edges of the feet for a rounded effect. Comb the hair on the legs downward.

12. Cut the hair underneath and around the tail for a neat appearance.

13. Lastly, with a fine-tooth metal comb, comb through the entire coat.

 

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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.

August's Theme of the Month
is
"My dog missed me!"

We’ve experienced it, you have experienced it, just about every dog owner has had an experience with dogs and their separation anxiety. We’ve heard the stories about odd and destructive behavior when the owners leave, and now we want to see the proof. Send us the photos of your canine companion caught in the action or the aftermath of a Separation Anxiety fit! The messier the better, you can even include a short story of the events that have taken place.

I WASN'T IN YOUR FLOWERS....REALLY!

Get those cameras out and have some fun.

Congratulations.....

Our top 6 finalist for July's Theme of the Month, "Family Dog" are below.

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How many times a month can you say that you have had the opportunity to help something completely helpless of its situation and own fate? Some of you who rescue can say that regularly, but for most of us, we can't say that too often. I'm not talking about feeding the birds at the park, or riding down the highway and looking at the dogs on the side of the road without homes saying, "That poor thing." But when have you really opened your home and your heart to something that ask nothing more than to live and let live peacefully.

We would like to extend this opportunity to some special person out there by introducing you to Zeke. First off, Zeke is looking for a forever home, not a person or family willing “to give it a try.” (That's how he has ended up in the situation he is in now, inexperienced people “trying a pet out." Luckily for Zeke, he's with his foster mommy and family who love him dearly.)

It's funny that Zeke has ended up with the name that he did, for Zeke is the shortened form of “Ezekiel," meaning “God Strengthens.” This dog has lived by that definition all of his life now. Zeke was the unfortunate victim of his first owner’s personal drug problems. When he was just a puppy he was thrown across a room into a wall by his owner, who was under the influence of drugs at the time, which shattered his leg completely. He was brought to the vet and because the leg had been so severely broken it had to be amputated. He is now approximately one-year-old, and you would never know that there was anything different about him than any other dog. As a matter of fact, by definition, he's the perfect all around dog; the only thing he is missing is a family to love him forever and ever.

Zeke's foster mommy has taken the best of care of him to ensure that he stays happy and healthy. He's up-to-date on all vaccinations and heartworm prevention. He's even neutered and is good with the vet. He's also house-broken and crate-trained and prefers to sleep in his crate with the door opened. Zeke LOVES all men, women and children. He has no preferences and greets everyone with enthusiasm and excitement and any attention you give him is welcomed whole-heartedly. He's excellent with other dogs and loves to make friends with them. As far as training goes, he's an excellent student and learns very easily.

Zeke's foster mommy would like anyone interested in giving this WONDERFUL guy a forever home to know that he MUST have flea and tick prevention because he is allergic to fleas. He also likes to chew, as most every dog does, so don't leave him unattended with leashes or they become victims of his tendency. There isn't much that Zeke doesn't like, he loves toys, and belly rubs, treats, and especially loves to play fetch with tennis balls. His distinction doesn't slow him down one bit, but it does make his size a little more manageable (80 pounds and growing!) He also thinks that cats like to be barked at. His foster mom is willing to drive 100 miles out to meet anyone who is sincere about adopting Zeke, and is even willing to waive the adoption fee. For more information, give her a call at the information listed below.

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The answer to your question is YES! The correct medical term is actually called Heteropaternal Superfecundation. This happens when a bitch in heat has been bred to 2 (or more) different dogs. The result is not puppies with 2 (or more) different sires, but a whole litter with 2 (or more) different sires. The individual pups in each litter will be from either one or the other sire (not a wacky combination of both). The only way to tell which pup is from which sire is to DNA test all the pups, the Dam and all the Sires involved with the breeding.

Please e-mail your questions to editor@ckcusa.com, so that we may share them next month.

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Continental Kennel Club loves to hear stories from our customers and there’s nothing that anyone else enjoys more than hearing a funny story. We would like to share your funny doggie stories with our readers. Remember, we’re all dog people here, so we’ll understand. Just submit to us a funny story and we’ll choose one each month to post on the newsletter and the winner will receive a free Continental Kennel Club mug.

Send your stories to editor@ckcusa.com. We can't wait!

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Hey Kids! We would like to invite you to participate in our new art contest. Create your very own masterpiece of your dog or any other dog that you love. You can e-mail or mail your beautiful work of art, ATTN: Art Contest, PO BOX 1450, Walker, LA 70785.

We will begin featuring the incredible pieces of art that we receive next month. So hurry, we can't wait to see what you have come up with!

Don’t forget to include on the back of your drawing:
- your age
- your T-shirt size
- your dog or drawing name
- your mailing address
- and a phone number we can reach you at.

The winner of the drawing contest will receive a free T-shirt with their drawing printed on it.

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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.