Spring 2013 by The Dog and Hound

Volume 2 â&#x20AC;˘ Number 2

Spring 2013

The Dog & Hound

Spring 2013

P.O. Box 332 • Montmorenci, SC 29839-0332 • 803.643.9960 •

www.TheDogAndHound.com • Editor@TheDogAndHound.com

Time Dated Material • Periodicals • Volume 2 • Number 2

elcome to the Spring issue of The Dog and Hound. We had a great time putting this issue together and you will find it full of interesting articles on a variety of subjects. We start with an article on agility, which is the fastest growing dog sport in the world. Since we have high energy, high drive dogs ourselves, we’ve been pretty interested in the sport for a while, and we had a good time learning more about it. For this article, we spoke to a local agility trainer, Wanda Gipp, and had the chance to meet her wonderful Doberman, Tattoo, who gave us demonstrations on her agility equipment. You will find this story (and pictures of Tattoo) on page 6. Our second main feature is our breed spotlight on Border Collies. In many circles, this breed is strongly identified with agility, and there is no question that Border Collies are top dog in the sport, so you might think there would be a connection between these two features. The Border Collies we met, however, do not compete in agility. Instead, they work sheep, which is what they have been bred and trained to do for centuries. We don’t have a lot of sheep in the Aiken area because sheep do better where it is not so hot. We do have Border Collies that work sheep, however, and a small group of dedicated people who travel to clinics and trials upstate, or to North Carolina and Virginia. We spent some time with one of these people, Donna Brooks Brisbin, whose dogs were happy to show us how they work. Our Border Collie feature is on page 12. We also had a chance to meet two people who make their livings in the dog world here in Aiken, but with companies that have a national, and even a global reach. First we talked to Carly Jordan, a

young entrepreneur who owns and runs Bone-ifide Bakery downtown. Bone-i-fide is Aiken’s own specialty bake shop that caters to dogs, and Carly is hard at work giving her business a reputation that goes beyond downtown, as well as creating wholesome dog treats for her customers and their dogs. Our dogs were thrilled when we brought them home a bag of chicken jerky, handmade right here in Aiken from organic chicken and nothing else. (They think we should do an article on a dog bakery every issue.) Read all about it on page 8. The other person we met was Ursula Dodge, whose charming dog posters, cards and magnets are available at Aiken Dry Goods downtown, or online wherever you happen to be. Ursula has been in the design business for a long time. She and her husband, Eric Gum, moved to Aiken recently from Washington State along with their horses and their dog Miles. These days Ursula’s specialty is a series of dog designs, each featuring a different breed. We enjoyed hearing about the process she goes through creating her designs, and were amazed by how many different paintings she has done. Her article is on page 14. Finally, we have an article on allergies in dogs. Allergies are an increasingly common problem among dogs and people alike. If you have a dog that is constantly itchy, or always licking his paws, this might be caused by an allergy. Our article will give you some ideas about how you might be able to make him more comfortable. Of course, we also have our news column and our regional calendar of events, highlighting just a few of the things that are happening in the dog world, both locally and nationally. It’s a full issue and we hope you enjoy it. We are always interested in your ideas for stories as well as in your news, so please send us email if there is something going on that we should know about. Email us at editor@thedogandhound.com, or catch up with us on Facebook. Have a great spring and enjoy your dogs!

Pam Gleason Editor & Publisher

The Dog and Hound EDITOR & PUBLISHER Pam Gleason ART DIRECTOR Gary Knoll ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jean Berko Gleason LAYOUT & DESIGN Gary Knoll ADVERTISING 803.643.9960 editor@thedogandhound.com PHOTOGRAPHERS Pam Gleason Gary Knoll

Going Out Of Town? Don’t miss future issues of The Dog and Hound. We will send you a one year subscription (4 issues) for $14.00. Just send us a check or credit card number & your mailing address: P.O. Box 332, Montmorenci, SC 29839 editor@thedogandhound.com Or sign up on the web at www.TheDogandHound.com

About the Cover Our cover shows Squeak, a coming 4 year old American Border Collie Association registered dog bred from herding lines. She is owned by Donna Brooks Brisbin of Aiken and has been working sheep for about a year.

Photography by Pam Gleason The Dog and Hound Policies: The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers, editors, or the policies of The Aiken Horse, LLC. The Dog and Hound is owned by The Aiken Horse, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Spring 2013

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Table of Contents 6 Agility 8 Baking for Dogs 12 Border Collies 14 The Art of the Dog 16 Dog News 20 Regional Calendar of Events 22 The Allergy Connection

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Dog Games

Introduction to Agility

by Pam Gleason, Photography by Gary Knoll

gility is the fastest growing dog sport in the world. It originated in England in the late 1970s, and spread to North America, Europe, Australia and South Africa. Today, there are well over a million agility competitions each year in North America alone. There are many more in other countries, as well as annual international competitions put on by the International Federation of Cynological Sports (FCI). The FCI World Agility Championships will be held in Johannesburg this May. The American Kennel Club (AKC) will be sending a team, and so far there are 10 countries that are confirmed to attend. Of course, most people who compete in agility are not striving to be world champions. Most of them just want to pursue agility as a hobby. According to Wanda Gipp, an Aiken-based obedience and agility trainer who competes in trials and gives classes, agility is an addictive sport. “I love it, and dogs love it, too. You can see it when you’re training them, and they suddenly figure out what it’s about. Something just clicks in their head, and they say ‘this is fun.’ What is so great about it is that it is self-rewarding.”

What is Agility?

Agility competitions most likely started as contests at agricultural fairs in England during the 1970s. The first official public demonstration took place at the Crufts dog show in Birmingham in 1978. It was designed as entertainment for the audience, with the dogs competing on a course patterned after equestrian show jumping. There were fences to jump over, as well as a set of poles to weave through, a tunnel, and a dog walk. The demonstration so captivated the audience that, within a year, there were dog clubs offering agility training, leading up to the first agility stakes competition, held at the International Horse Show in London in 1979. The sport came to North America in the mid-1980s, and there were soon several different organizations holding trials and formulating their own rules. At its most basic level, agility requires a dog and a handler to negotiate a course of obstacles within a maximum time limit. There are separate levels of competition for dogs of differing experience and skills. Dogs of all sizes and breeds can compete, and they use the same course. The only difference is in the height of the jumps. This means an 11-inch Papillon can compete against a 32-inch Great Dane. The American Kennel Club (AKC) which is just one of five major sanctioning bodies for agility in the United States, has five different height divisions. The smallest dogs are required to jump 8 inches, while the largest will jump 24 inches. There are also different kinds of courses. Some include all the agility equipment; some just have jumps and weave poles, some have no jumps or consist entirely of hoops the dog must run through in a predetermined sequence (“hoopers.”) Most competitions are over a specified course, though some trials also offers “gambler’s choice” classes, in which the competitor chooses which obstacles to tackle and in what order. In the AKC, you can obtain titles for your dog by earning a certain number of qualifying scores, which typically means that you make no errors and finish the course within the maximum time. The levels start

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at Novice, then progress to Open and then Excellent. You need three qualifying legs to earn a title at each level. To earn a Masters Agility Excellent title, you need 10 qualifying legs in the Excellent division. After that, you will be competing for a Master Agility Champion title, and then various lifetime achievement titles. Other agility associations have a similar structures, though the names of the levels and titles your dog can earn are different.

So You Want to Do Agility

According to Wanda Gipp, there are plenty of opportunities to try agility in the Aiken area, although there are few recognized trials here – the closest is in Columbia, where there are two trials a year. However, there are several trainers and agility courses in town. If you get bitten by the agility bug and your dog is keen, you can also travel to Atlanta where there are frequent trials. Wanda, who owns Aiken Dog Sports, teaches both private and group lessons at her home agility field, which has jumps, weave poles, hoopers and all the ‘contact equipment’ (This is the general term for obstacles that have marked contact zones that the dog must touch as he negotiates them. Examples are the seesaw, which has contact zones on each end, and the A-frame, which is a five-and-a-half-foot tall obstacle the dog must walk over.) She also has stadium lights in her field, enabling her to teach even at night. Wanda prefers to teach dogs that are what she calls a blank slate, which means that they have not done agility before. She does require that they have basic obedience training, preferably with a Canine Good Citizen certificate. “We don’t start off-lead, but we progress to off-lead,” she says. “If you don’t have a recall or a stay, a sit or a down on your dog, it’s just much harder. It makes life easier if you have a dog that will stay if you tell it to and comes when you call. “Dogs learn to love the sport,’ she continues. “I got involved with agility back in the 1990s, back in the dark ages. What I liked about it was that it got a lot of people to be more positive in their training. If a dog is loose on an agility field, he doesn’t stay with you unless he wants to and unless he’s clued in to the game. That’s why agility has really helped push positive training methods.” The first piece of equipment Wanda teaches is the tunnel, because most dogs really love it. Some of the contact equipment takes a little more persuading for most dogs to try, such as the A-frame, which makes many dogs wary when they are unfamiliar with it. At first, Wanda helps motivate the dogs by using food rewards, and then switches over to using toys because she says that toys keep the dog’s thinking in the realm of play. “It really is a game for the dog.” As far as what kind of dog can do agility, the sport is open to all breeds, including mutts. Border Collies are the most popular, followed by Shetland Sheepdogs, Corgis, Jack Russells and Australian Shepherds. Wanda herself has always competed with Dobermans. Her current dog, Tattoo, gives agility demonstrations. She says that there are other breeds that tend to take to it very quickly, such as Standard Poodles, Boykins and Boston Terriers. And there isn’t an age limit, either. At a recent class that Wanda taught, the dog that learned the fastest and did the best was a 10-year-old Greyhound. She says that the most important thing is that the dog and his or her owner are enjoying the game. “Most dogs love it,” says Wanda. “I love it. I have a real passion for it. I do recommend it for anyone who wants to try. It’s the most fun you can have with your dog.” For more information, visit the websites of the United States Dog Agility Association, the American Kennel Club, the North American Dog Agility Conference or the United Kennel Club. To get in touch with Wanda Gipp, call 803.642.2945.

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Baking for Dogs

Carly Jordan of The Bone-i-fide Bakery By Pam Gleason, Photography by Gary Knoll

ccording to Carly Jordan, who owns and runs The Bone-i-fide Bakery in Aiken, baking for dogs is not much different from baking for people. Carly and her crew cook up many different types of dog treats, from cookies and cakes to organic, locally-sourced chicken jerky. The Bone-i-fied Bakery, which is located on Laurens Street, sells dog treats locally, and also ships them around the country and the world. In addition, it offers a full selection of premium dog and cat foods, as well as pet toys and accessories. Finally, it houses a dog grooming business in the back called Doggy-Need-A-Do. “As far as baking for dogs goes, there are some differences in our ingredients,” says Carly. “But there’s nothing bad in any of our dog treats. We use all human-grade ingredients. The main difference is that if you are baking a peanut butter cookie for people, you naturally would put sugar in it, but you don’t sweeten it for the dogs. But it’s not that different; sometimes we do use honey as a sweetener. We have a lot of people who come in, and they say they have to try one of the treats. And they’ll taste it and they’ll say it’s not half bad.” Of course, many of the handmade dog treats that Carly sells are pretty clearly not intended for people. Peanut butter or pumpkin pie cookies are one thing, but bacon cookies and BBQ beefy bones are obviously baked with a dog’s palate in mind. “Our best-selling cookie now is our oatmeal soft bite,” says Carly. “These are round cookies with oatmeal and honey. People like them because, not only do they taste good, but people like the size and the texture. They crumble, so they are easier for small dogs to eat. Since those were so popular, I wanted to add another soft bite. Cheddar and bacon pair well together, so I recently added a cheddar and bacon soft bite. It’s doing really well.” Carly, who is 26, never knew she was destined to run a bakery for dogs. In 2009, after earning a degree in education from Wheelock College in Boston, she came to Aiken to join her parents, Arthur and Sandra Vann. The Vanns were good friends with Kim Diehl Herrick, who had recently purchased the bakery. “I was not quite sure if I wanted to teach, or what I wanted to do,” says Carly. “Then, Kim said she needed some help here, so I thought I would come and do it as a part time job. I started off baking cookies about two days a week in November and then in December when it got busier, I started working five days a week.” Unfortunately, Kim who had been battling cancer, suffered a health setback that winter. Because she and Carly had always worked so well together, Kim hired someone else to do the baking, and asked Carly to handle the front desk, where she could deal with customers and help manage the store. In February 2011, when Kim was going through some very difficult treatments, she decided to sell the bakery, and she was determined that Carly, who had worked so hard to make it successful, should have it if she wanted it. Carly did want it, and was able to buy it from Kim soon afterwards. Sadly, Kim died about 18 months later. Since taking over Bone-i-fide, Carly has made a number of changes and innovations. Perhaps most significantly, she has established an active online presence, which has enabled the bakery to reach far beyond Laurens Street and downtown Aiken. With an interactive website and a lively Facebook page, Bone-i-fide now has a national and even a global following. Carly runs and maintains both the website and the Facebook page herself. It helps, of course, that she is from the “internet

Spring 2013

generation.” “Bone-i-fide never had a website before,” says Carly. “I’ve always had a Facebook, and when I realized I could use to expand my business, I jumped on it. It’s such a good platform for us. It definitely has grown our online business.” The Bone-i-fide Facebook page offers promotions and give-aways, often in collaboration with a national dog food company. Through the buzz generated, people have placed orders from as far away as Germany and India. On a recent afternoon, Carly was packing up a large order of dog cookies that she baked for a boarding kennel and spa in Texas. In the

future, she hopes to have a special printer that will enable her to print custom logos her cookies Other innovations include revamping the recipes of many of the bakery’s treats and adding some new specialties. “I’m all about health for dogs,” says Carly. “When I got here, the treats were not quite as healthy as I would have liked them to be. So we switched over to whole meal flours, especially brown rice flour, which is better for dogs. And then we also increased the flavor of each cookie. For instance the beefy bone, which is a bone-shaped cookie, was originally made with ground beef broth. Now we also add barbecue sauce. The cheese in our cheese cookies used to be canned cheese, but now we use organic shredded cheddar.” The hottest seller at Bone-i-fide today is chicken jerky. Most dogs adore chicken jerky, but the commercially available product has been plagued with difficulties in recent years, and many different brands have been recalled because they have been found to contain various contaminants. Tired of dealing with recalls and concerned about the health of her customers’ pets, Carly began making her own jerky. She purchases organic chicken from the same companies that supply Aiken’s top restaurants, cuts that chicken into strips, and then dries it in the oven for several hours. Bone-i-fide Bakery chicken jerky had no additives of any kind, and comes in vacuum-sealed plastic bags. It smells just like

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Locally made, organic chicken jerky.

fresh chicken, and it sells so quickly Carly can’t keep it in stock. Although she doesn’t know if running Bone-i-fide is a lifetime career for her, Carly clearly has a passion for the business, as well as for the animals she serves. The front windows of the store have been converted into a luxury cat condominium which houses adoptable cats from the Aiken County Animal Shelter, giving them great exposure and an excellent chance at a better life. At home, Carly and her husband Patrick

live with four dogs, including a mixed breed dog adopted from Equine Rescue of Aiken, a pug that was found in the street, and a 14-year-old rescued Chihuahua. Bone-i-fide supports animal rescue, reaching out to groups in Barnwell as well as in Aiken to help keep them supplied with quality dog food. “I think I’ll always do something with animals because it’s a passion of mine,” says Carly. “I really want to take Bone-i-fide as far as it can go. It’s a creative outlet for me, and it gives me a nice platform to help dogs.” Carly gives credit to her family for supporting her and the store. Her mother works at the cash register, and Patrick and her brother James take care of all the deliveries. There are also a number of other people who work in the bakery, and some young volunteers who help care for and socialize the cats. Today, Bone-i-fide Bakery has become an institution on Laurens Street, attracting animal lovers of all kinds to buy food, treats and toys, or just to admire the cats in the window. Carly is also becoming a familiar face around town: she was selected as one of NBC Augusta’s 26 Women to Watch in 2012, and you can see her in television spots promoting pet adoptions on the same station. She says she happy to be part of the Aiken scene, and especially enjoys participating in promotions and activities sponsored by the Aiken Downtown Development Association. And there are a lot of dogs in town who are happy that the bakery is part of the Aiken scene too, especially a Golden Retriever named Beauregard, who stops by on his walk almost every day, and has the good fortune to act as the official taster for Carly’s new recipes. He gave paws up to the cheddar and bacon soft bite, as well as to the latest innovation, a piece of bacon dipped in melted carob and yogurt – for a dog, this must be the perfect combination of sweet and savory. Beauregard’s verdict? “He gobbled it up,” says Carly. “It made him very, very happy.” For more information, visit www.theboneifidebakery.com

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The Border Collie Type A Personality by Pam Gleason

sk people what the smartest breed of dog is, and they will A probably tell you it is a Border Collie. In fact, pretty much any list of the smartest dog breeds puts the Border Collie on top. Border

Collies are also on top when it comes to herding sheep, as well as to competing in agility, flyball and disc dog competitions. If a task requires quick thinking, lightning reflexes and athletic ability, it is right up the Border Collie’s alley. In addition to intelligence, the Border Collie’s most distinguishing trait is his drive. This is not a dog that will be happy as a couch potato. Border Collies need a job. If you do not give them something to do, they will invent their own activity. This may mean digging in the garden, chewing up the furniture, or opening your refrigerator and helping themselves to something to eat. Border Collies are said to be the best dogs in the world if you want a working animal, but if they don’t get enough exercise and attention, they can become obsessive, neurotic and destructive. They are not a dog for everyone, but if they are the right dog for you, there is no other breed that can compare. “They are the smartest breed of dog I have ever seen,” says Donna Brooks Brisbin, who lives in Aiken, and has had over a dozen Border Collies over the last 30 years. “They’re so smart and so kind. You can teach them anything; they can do anything. You can teach them any kind of trick. You can teach them agility, and their herding ability is just phenomenal. But if you don’t keep their minds busy, they get crazy. That’s why it’s not a dog for everyone.”

History of the Breed

First and foremost, the Border Collie is a working sheep dog. The breed originated in England and Scotland during the 18th and 19th centuries, where it was used to help manage sheep in the rugged Highlands. Some Border Collie enthusiasts trace the history a lot further back, citing a book called the Treatise on English Dogges, written by Queen Elizabeth I’s physician, Johannes Caius, and published in 1576: The Shepherd’s Dogge . . . either at the hearing of his master’s voice, or the wagging and whistling in his fist, or at his shrill and hoarse hissing, bringeth the wandering weathers and the straying sheep into the self same place where his master’s will and wishe is to have them. The 16th century shepherds’ dogs that Caius described are likely the ancestors of today’s Border Collie, but they are probably also the

Old Hemp, born in Scotland in 1893, is considered to be the founding father of the Border Collie breed.

ancestors of all the other types of dog that shepherds have used in England and Scotland. These include the show-type collie (Lassie), the Australian Shepherd, the Kelpie and the McNab. The rise of the Border Collie as a distinct breed is connected to the establishment of sheep dog trials, which became popular in Australia and New Zealand in the late 1860s, and made their first appearance in Great Britain in Bala, Wales, in 1873. Sheep dogs were called “collies”, which may have been a reference to their color, which was generally black, like coal. In 1860, the first Collies entered the show ring in England, and from that point, the working sheep dog and the show Collie became distinct breeds. The show Collie, bred for appearance, grew larger and prettier, while the working collie, bred to gather sheep in the Highlands and to win sheepdog trials, developed his herding instincts to a high degree. By the end of the 19th century, working collies had their first celebrity, Old Hemp, who was whelped and trained by a shepherd and sheep dog breeder named Adam Telfer. Old Hemp was known for the quiet way he worked, controlling sheep with his eyes. He sometimes worked so intensely, he trembled. Old Hemp sired 200 puppies and became known as the father of the Border Collie. The name “Border Collie” itself is said to have been coined in 1921 by James Reid, the secretary of the International Sheepdog Society. Border Collies were not selected for any particular physical standard, and purebreds come in a wide variety of colors and shapes. The traditional image of a Border Collie is of a medium-long haired, medium sized black dog with a white ruff. In fact, Border Collies come in a wide variety of different colors, from black and tan, to tricolored, red, and red and blue merle. White markings are common, and the coat may be short (smooth) or medium-long (rough.) There are a number of different registries for Border Collies, including the International Sheep Dog Society in Britain, and several American

Rico knew the names of 200 different objects. registries, such as the American More recently, a Border Collie named Border Collie Association (ABCA) Chaser, who lives nearby in Spartanburg, S.C. and the North American Stock along with her owner Professor John Pilley, Dog Society (NASDS.) In 1995, proved she had a vocabulary of over 1,000 the Border Collie was approved to words. She also seemed to be able to learn the be registered with the American names of new things in her environment the Kennel Club. Although this made it same way that young children do, by “fastpossible for Border Collies to earn mapping” new words that she hears onto new AKC points in agility, obedience objects that she sees. Chaser was featured in and other sanctioned sports, a segment in the PBS television show Nova, sheepdog purists were horrified, and there is a book about her coming out in and fought desperately to keep the October. (Chaser: Unlocking the Genius of AKC from “getting” their dog. the Dog Who Knows a Thousand Words. Their chief objection was that, if the You can pre-order it now on Amazon.com. ) Border Collie were to be bred to a Many people gravitate to Border Collies physical standard rather than for its because of their potential to excel in dog ability to work, its herding instincts sports such as agility and obedience. For other would be bred out of it. (You can people, having a Border Collie becomes a read more about this in Donald catalyst for getting involved in a dog centered McCaig’s book, The Dog Wars.) sport. That is what happened to Donna Today, there are two distinct Brooks Brisbin, who had had Border Collies strains of Border Collie in the for a number of years before she took one of U.S.: ABCA dogs and AKC dogs. her dogs to a herding clinic. The clinic was Border Collie people, like their conducted by Wink Mason, a well-known dogs, are intense and passionate, sheep dog trainer from Virginia, and held at and although tempers have cooled a farm owned by Peggy Langford, another somewhat in the past 18 years, there Border Collie enthusiast who lives in Aiken. are still zealots on either side of the Donna says that her dog Bob Riley had “Border war.” Some AKC people never seen a sheep before, and that when she think the sheepdog people are snobs; some sheepdog people look A show-style Border Collie, exhibited at the Westminster Kennel Club went to the clinic, she couldn’t handle the dog annual show. Photo: Steve Surfman, Westminster KC. herself because she had a badly broken arm. down on the prettier AKC dogs, Instead, she paid for a private lesson and had Wink handle him while referring to them as “Barbie Collies.” she watched. Wink took Bob Riley out with the sheep. The dog walked Border Collies Today around, looking about him for a minute. Today, the Border Collie is increasingly popular, especially “The next thing you know, he’s circling behind the sheep like he’s among people who like the idea of doing things with their dog. supposed to. It was like something just turned on. Then, the trainer – a It is also a desirable breed for people who value brains: Border leather faced-man who looked like he has more to say to animals than Collie intelligence is something that has gotten quite a bit of to people – he’s dancing like a fairy, waving his fingers, and my dog is press lately. As the Einsteins of the canine world, Border Collies moving sheep around. All these people are sitting there watching, and they start saying, ‘Oh, you brought a ringer!’ And I say, no, I swear, Bob Riley has never seen a sheep before. Everyone agreed that he must have been up watching the movie ‘Babe’ every night after I went to bed.” (This movie features a piglet, Babe, that learns to herd sheep like a Border Collie – with the hope that if he is useful on the farm, he will not end up on the breakfast table.) After seeing what a natural her dog was, and how much he enjoyed the work, Donna realized that she was wasting his mind by not doing anything with him. That is how she got into herding. Today, she has her own small flock of five sheep in New Ellenton, and a number of Border Collies to work them. These include several dogs that are rescues, as well as dogs like her homebred Squeak, a smooth coated, black and tan dog with an intense eye and dramatic movement, which in the Border Collie world is known as style. Donna goes to occasional sheep dog trials, and gives stock dog demonstrations at country fairs along with her friend Joyce Burnham, a professional trainer from Illinois. Stock dog demos involve moving sheep, and sometimes, also ducks – it is always a big hit to have the dog herd the ducks across a seesaw. The demonstrations are very well attended. “It’s an incredible thing to see a dog ‘turn on’” Donna A Border Collie competing at the National Finals Sheepdog Trials in Virginia. Photo by Donna Brooks Brisbin. says, talking about exposing a dog to sheep and having him realize what he is supposed to do. “Of course, if you have been the subjects of a number of scientific studies examining such thought you had your hands full with a Border Collie before? You’ll things as how many words a dog can learn and how much language they really have your hands full now. All they want to think about is herding can understand. It started with Rico, a dog who was studied at the Max sheep. That’s what they have been bred to do.” Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany.

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Art of the Dog Ursula Dodge Designs

By Pam Gleason, Photography by Gary Knoll

rsula Dodge’s dog designs are immediately recognizable. She paints each dog in bold colors with a vibrant background, often outlining the figure in red. The dogs are both simplified and strangely realistic, and the paintings seem to capture the essence of the animal, though not necessarily the minute details of his anatomy. Her designs can be found on posters, cards, prints, magnets and various home décor items. Ursula’s main focus today is a series of paintings that represents all the different breeds of dogs: Boxers, Golden Retrievers, Australian Shepherds, Bulldogs and so on. Each painting also includes a number of words that describe the breeds’ traits. The Pomeranian is “Bold {bright} attentive sharp-eyed busybody spirited {inquisitive} foxy.” The Bulldog is “Sweet-natured * Easy Going * Kind * Dignified * Resolute * Amiable * Frisky * Snores.” The Jack Russell is “Obsessive * Tenacious * Sociable * Brash * Tough * Watchdog*” and also “Hunter * Digger * Barker * Bright * Clever * Energetic*” “Ursula has gotten very good at distilling the breeds’ characteristic into a few words,” says her husband Eric Gum. “I start by going to the AKC website,” says Ursula. “And then I also visit trainers’ websites and see what they say about the dogs, and Eric will go the library and come home with stacks and stacks of books. We start reading, and we come up with a long list of adjectives. By the time the painting is done, I have narrowed it down to the best and most essential features. I try to get a balance between the funny naughty stuff and the noble, serious stuff.” Ursula and Eric recently relocated to Aiken from Washington State to get away from the cold, snowy winters and to enjoy the southern lifestyle. They are currently in the process of building a home in Three Runs Plantation, meanwhile renting a small hunt box, where they live along with their two horses and their wirehaired Dachshund, Miles Vorkosigan. This dog, a character in himself, is named after the protagonist in a series of science fiction books written by Lois McMaster Bujold. Although things are a little cramped, Ursula and Eric are running their business in their rented home. In one small, well-lit room, Ursula paints, using oils on paper. In another, she scans her paintings into a computer where she adds finishing touches. Then, Eric prints the designs onto photo paper, and affixes them to magnets, or makes prints, creating as many as 5,000 separate pieces in a week. The room where Ursula paints is lined with box after box of magnets, each depicting a different dog breed. For their mail order business, Eric and Ursula fill all the orders themselves, communicating with clients and making regular trips to the post office to ship out the products. The cards, prints and magnets are also available at select stores throughout the nation. “I have found, especially in smaller cities, that it works best to have a flagship store,” says Ursula. “That’s why you’ll see in all my advertising here that my designs are available exclusively at Aiken Dry Goods downtown. Ursula has been working on the dog breed project for four years and has created several hundred dog paintings. Not only does she paint each breed, she paints the different types of each breed. For instance, she has several colors of Dachshund, as well as wire-haired and smooth coated varieties. She is working on various colors of Border Collie, and Boxers with both cropped and natural ears. She says that she likes to work from a high quality photo, and that she gets many of her photos from friends, as well as from customers who send in pictures of their dogs with the hope they will be chosen to represent the breed. “I love this business so much,” she says. “I’ve lived my whole life with

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that same connection to animals that probably everyone in Aiken has – that’s why we’re all here. So I love the subject matter. And then, there is something that happened to me after four years of painting the same thing over and over and over. The discipline of that has made me become a really good painter. It is an art exercise to paint the same thing every day.” Ursula attended the University of Washington, where she studied both painting and theater. While there, she took a job at a porcelain jewelry factory, where she started out as a production painter and ended up designing earrings and pins. Then, after graduating with her BFA, she bought a kiln and started her own company, creating and selling ceramic tiles at the Fremont Sunday Market in Seattle. Within a year, she had a thriving business, selling individual pieces as well as wholesaling to stores all over the country. The ceramic tiles led to licensing deals, and

soon her artwork was appearing on everything from greeting cards to coffee mugs, pet food bowls and paper plates. She and Eric moved to Montana as “an adventure” and pretty soon, her entire business was licensing, and her designs were mass-produced and featured on hundreds of different items. She had some pet designs – dogs and cats and horses – as well as insects, flowers and fish. With the downturn in the economy in 2008, many of her formerly lucrative licensing deals disappeared, so she and Eric moved back to Washington and went back to working directly with customers. They decided to focus on magnets for two main reasons. First, they are inexpensive, so everyone can afford to buy them. Second, they are lightweight, so they are easy to handle and ship. “We used to sell ceramic tiles,” she says. “Those were so heavy.” Since getting into the dog painting business, Ursula has been to many trade shows in the pet industry, which she says were a revelation to her. “What we noticed right away is that almost everyone in the pet industry is drawn to it because they’ve come to that point in their life where they want to do something that they’re passionate about. Either

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to get to a point where we’re donating about $10,000 a year in product to rescues. We’re not quite there yet, but I hope we will be soon.” Ursula and Eric say that they have found Aiken to be extraordinarily warm and welcoming, and they are glad they made the move to the Southeast – their only real regret is not having done it earlier. In the future, Ursula hopes to create more designs that will appeal to the Aiken community, especially some with equestrian themes. She and Eric even talk about making some designs inspired by the dog breed line, but this time featuring people along with lists of adjective to describe them. “We have a beagle magnet. It says “selective hearing,” says Ursula. “We talked about having something like a husband magnet.” “That could say ‘selective hearing’ too,” chimes in Eric. They look at each other and laugh – it seems they have talked about this before. “Well, maybe not,” says Eric. “Maybe not.”

they were in the corporate world and retired, or they have a dog they have this intense connection with, and it had a problem they couldn’t fix – a wheat allergy and they couldn’t find the right food, so they started manufacturing their own. Or maybe they liked hiking with their dog, but they couldn’t find doggy backpacks to fit their breed. Everyone is flocking to the industry out of this deep love. I know it sounds completely corny, but that feeling is totally conveyed at the shows. “When I go to a show, maybe Eric will be taking orders, and I will have a line of women coming up with their iPhones to show me a picture of their dog. They hug me, and they want to talk about their dogs. It’s completely different from a regular trade show.” Ursula says that another gratifying thing about her dog breed line is the opportunity it affords her to make contributions to animal welfare. “We give a significant amount to almost any rescue that contacts me,” she says. “Right now my line is breed-specific, so I do a lot of work with single breed rescues. I have a goal

To learn more, visit www.ursuladodge.com

a much larger venue along the Hudson River at 55th Street in Midtown Manhattan. This meant that there was room for over 50 percent more dogs to be shown and entries were up to historic levels with over 2,700 dogs competing. Westminster also relaxed its standards somewhat, letting in dogs that had previously won points but were not already champions. In another new development, the show also named a reserve champion for the first time. As it happened, this honor went to a fluffyfaced, 20-month-old Old English Sheepdog named Swagger, who, before Westminster, had only been to three shows in his life and would not have qualified for entry under the old rules. Swagger, owned by Colton Johnson from Colorado Springs, was the clear crowd favorite. He had the audience, (normally a rather subdued group) cheering for him loudly during the Best in Show judging: “Pick the sheepdog!”

Dog News by Pam Gleason

What’s Up at Westminster

The 137th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, held February 11-12, crowned an Affenpinscher named Banana Joe as the Best in Show. The Affenpinscher is in the toy group, and the name is derived from the German for “monkey terrier.” The dog is known for his monkey-like face and mischievous, fun-loving personality. Banana Joe, a 5-year-old owned by Mieke Cooymans was handled by Ernesto Lara, and is the first of his breed to win best in show honors at Westminster. He is no stranger to the winner’s circle however: Westminster was his 86th Best in Show title, and will be his last. Having won the big prize, he is now retiring with his owner to the Netherlands, where he was bred and born. Westminster added two new breeds to its lineup in 2013, the Russell Terrier and the Treeing Walker Coonhound. The Russell Terrier is related to the Parson Russell Terrier – both breeds are show (AKC) versions of the Jack Russell Terrier, which is a working dog. While the Parson Russell Terrier is the taller type, the Russell Terrier is short-legged, standing 10 to 12 inches at the withers. The AKC approved both the Russell Terrier and the Treeing Walker Coonhound in 2009. The Treeing Walker is a large, preferably tri-colored hound standing between 20 and 27 inches tall, and was developed from the Virginia Walker Foxhound. Neither of these two new breeds won their group to make it to the Best of Show competition, though the Russell Terrier did

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Best In Show: Banana Joe. Photo by Jack Grass, Westminster KC

place fourth in the terrier group. Westminster has added three more breeds to the competition for 2014. These are the Rat Terrier (terrier group) the Chinook (working group) and the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno (hound group.) This brings the total number of breeds competing to 190. Just five years ago, there were only 170. Westminster is the oldest and most prestigious dog show in the country. It has traditionally been held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This year, the preliminary rounds took place at Piers 92/94,

Runner Up: Swagger. Photo by Mary Bloom

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Westminster this year was not without its controversies. First, there were the traditional picketers and protesters from the activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, who are against dog shows because they are against dog breeders. (They have been known to compare the AKC to the KKK.) Then there was the mysterious death of a Samoyed named Cruz, who competed at the show and then went back to home to Colorado where he took ill and died, possibly as the result of having consumed rat poison. According to the veterinarian who examined him, Cruz’s symptoms were consistent with his having eaten the poison five days earlier, which would place him at Westminster. The owner and handler suspect foul play, asserting that someone could have put something in his cage. The Westminster Kennel Club issued a statement denying any responsibility. “We have never, to our knowledge, had an incident at our show where a dog has become ill or was harmed as a result of being poisoned,” they wrote. “We are ultra cautious.”

Vets versus Shelters

There is a general consensus in the world of animal rescue that low cost spay and neuter is crucial to lowering the number of animals entering shelters, and therefore to reducing the numbers killed in them. Reasoning that many people who don’t get their animals altered might do so if it were more affordable, many humane groups have made it a priority to construct spay and neuter clinics and to offer their services at a substantial discount over similar operations performed in a private clinic. Many of these spay and neuter clinics also perform other services, such as discounted vaccinations and heartworm testing and medication. A group of South Carolina veterinarians is not too happy about this competition. They say that the nonprofit groups offering these services are often the recipients of government grants and public money that gives them an unfair advantage in the marketplace. They would like to limit the services that nonprofit groups can provide, especially to people who could afford to go to a regular veterinarian. The S.C. Association of Veterinarians is pushing for a pair of bills, H.3492 and S. 194, that humane groups say would result in a setback in recent progress that has been made to slow shelter killing. The House bill, sponsored by David Hiott (R-Pickens) and the Senate bill sponsored by Daniel Verdin (R-Greenville) would require that groups receiving public money be permitted to provide spay and neuter services only for animals in the shelter, rather than offering these services to the public. It would also require that veterinary services provided for adopted animals be available to low income people only. Another provision in the original bills (which has since been struck from the House bill) would require that any animal adopted from a shelter be seen by a private veterinarian within 72 hours of its adoption. Still another provision would require that mobile

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veterinary clinics have an affiliation agreement with a brick-and-mortar clinic within 20 miles of where they operate. The bill is certainly a controversial one. Shelter groups say that if passed, it would cripple their activities, resulting in fewer adoptions, more animals going without health care and more unwanted animals being born only to die in our overcrowded shelters. Word in the community is that the veterinarians who are pushing the bill have been spurred by the success of the new, modern Pawmetto Lifeline shelter and spay and neuter facility that opened in Columbia in March of 2012. (www.pawmettolifeline.com) The Humane Society of the United States is working with the veterinary group to try to find compromises and come up with drafts of both bills that will not harm humane groups, but would still be palatable to veterinarians. Kim Kelly, who is the South Carolina State Director of the HSUS will be discussing the bill with the public at the South Carolina Humane Lobby event on April 17 at the Palmetto Club in Columbia. The meeting is from 9 a.m. until 4. For more information, visit www.humanesociety.org.

Breaking Ground in the County

Aiken County is moving closer to having a first class animal shelter to replace the 20-year-old, outdated structure it has been using. On March 3, they broke ground for the construction of the new, $2 million shelter, which is being financed through a public/ private partnership between Aiken County and the Aiken Friends of the Animal Shelter (FOTAS). The new shelter is going up on four acres of county-owned land at the corner of Wire Road and May Royal Drive. FOTAS raised the money to pay for the design of the new building, and is now conducting a capital campaign to buy all the kennel furnishings, cat cages and the like. (It’s called the Fit Furnish Finish Campaign.) FOTAS will also pay for the construction of some paddocks for horses – in Aiken, dogs and cats aren’t the only strays. When it is finished, the new shelter will be a big improvement over the one currently in use. For one thing, it is being built to accommodate more animals, since the old shelter is chronically overcrowded. FOTAS frequently points out that the county shelter handles over 5,000 animals per year, which is many more than the shelter was designed for.

Cary Perkins, the artchitect, with Joya DiStefano, Jennifer Miller, Mary Lou Welch from FOTAS; Nathan Stewart from Stewart Builders, Todd Glover and Bobby Arthurs, the shelter director. The dog is Conway the Aiken County Animal Shelter mascot. Tom Bossard photo.

For another thing, it is being built with the health and comfort of the animals in mind. There will be up-to-date ventilation systems, and a place to quarantine sick animals so that the ones that are healthy can stay that way. FOTAS is always in need of volunteers and fosters, especially now that is it puppy and kitten season. The organization has an active transfer program, regularly sending dogs and cats to rescue groups in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic. They often need very short term fosters to care for the animals in the weeks before their transport. If you would like to donate to the Fit Finish Furnish campaign or volunteer to help the animals, please visit www.fotasaiken.org.

The SPCA Wag-Inn

The Aiken SPCA recently moved all of its operations to the new Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare on Willow Run Road. It still owns its old adoption facility on Wire Road, which was completely rebuilt in 2011 after it was badly damaged by a fire. The old facility has been used to house animals not yet ready to go to the adoption floor at the Albrecht Center, such as mothers with litters of puppies. The main kennels, however, have been mostly empty, and the whole place was recently repainted. The SPCA realized that the facility would make a perfect boarding kennel, since it was already set up and staffed by dedicated animal lovers. This spring, they opened the Wag Inn on Wire, which offers dog and cat boarding as well as doggy daycare. The dog kennels include an outdoor run, and the staff will walk your dog twice a day or play with him in the spacious fenced exercise area. You can even rent a “dog suite” which means your dog will have his own private room. Proceeds from the kennel will help underwrite the cost of caring for and placing homeless pets in the area.

The new SPCA Wag-Inn on Wire boarding kennel and doggy daycare facility.

The SPCA has some other new programs in addition to the Wag-Inn on Wire. On February 26, they held a “Spay-ghetti” dinner at the shelter to celebrate World Spay Day (the last Tuesday of February each year) and to help raise funds to provide low cost surgeries at their new clinic. The dinner was so wellattended, they decided to make similar parties a common occurrence. The first “Yappy Hour” will be on May 2 from 5:30-7:30. Guests are invited to come to the shelter with their wellbehaved, leashed dog. There will be a cash bar, and the dog park will be open to all. For more information, visit www.LetLoveLive. org, or text PETS to 95454 .

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Classifieds ADOPTIONS/PUPPIES Adopt a Shelter Dog or Cat from the Aiken County Animal Shelter. Make a friend; save a life. Many beautiful, healthy, friendly animals to choose from. 411 Wire Road, Aiken. See the pets at www. fotasaiken.org. 803.642.1537. Trinity Farms Terriers: Quality family dogs with proven calmer

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dispositions. Generations of great temperaments. Health/dispositions guaranteed. Breeders of terriers for 30+ years. Donna Fitzpatrick. 803.648.3137. www.easyjacks. com & trinityfarmskennel.com & trinitynorfolkterriers.com. Albrecht Aiken SPCA. Dogs, puppies, cats and kittens for adoption. Hours of operation: Mon-Sat. 11 am - 5 pm. weekly

offsite adoptions at Aiken Petsmart, Sat 10 am- 3 pm; Sun 1:30 pm 6:30 pm. www.LetLoveLive.org 803.643.0564 . Pointers! More than just bird dogs. Many beautiful purebred Pointers of all ages available for pets or for hunting. See them on the web at www.pointerrescue.org.

ANIMAL CARE Horses And Hounds Aiken. Pet & Horse-Sitting. Reasonable Rates, Bonded and Insured, Vet Assistant. 803-643-9972/803-443-8303. horsesandhoundsaiken@gmail. com Pet sitting, farm sitting, expert horse care. References available. Mary Jane Howell. 802.295.8294

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Regional Calendar of Events April 1 Hoarding: Unlocking the Mystery and Understanding the Illness. Guest lecturer Norma J. Worley, who will present case studies and results to help us better understand the animal hoarding mentality. SPCA, 199 Willow Run Road, Aiken, SC. 4 Ruby Tuesday’s Thursday. Print out the flyer from Ruby Tuesday, North Augusta or Aiken, take it with you today and they will donate 20% of your purchase to the SPCA! www.spca-albrecht. org. 5 Professional Retriever Trainers Association Field Trial. Pavo, GA. Terri Curtis, 715.495.5455, foxhollowretrievers@me.com. 5-7 Greater Columbia Obedience Club Inc. Agility Show. South Congaree Horse Arena, 301 Oak Street, West Columbia, SC. Karen Wlodarski, 843.696.2892, karen-w@msn.com, www.gcoc. net. 6 Bark in the Park. Join the Pacers for a double header against Augusta State during Bark in the Park. Off-site adoptions and information provided by SPCA from 12:30-2:30 pm. USCA’s Roberto Hernandez Stadium, Aiken, SC. www.spca-albrecht.org. 6-7 Scottish Terrier Club of America Show. Jim Miller Park, 2245 Callaway Road SW, Marietta, GA. Rhea Spence, 770.784.6543, scottieree@bellsouth.net, www.stca.biz. 6-7 North Georgia All Breed Herding Dog Association Herding Event. Woods End Farm, Farmington, GA. Gay Silva, 706.474.2744, anitasilva@bellsouth.net. 6-7 Palmetto Pointing Breed Club Hunting Test. 106 Whitetail Drive, Walhalla, SC. Debbie Darby, 864.882.0215, whitetailgwp@ mindspring.com. 6-7 Palmetto Retriever Club Hunting Test. Cooper Black Wildlife Management Area, Cheraw, SC. Jane Doolittle, 803.321.0430, sundaysam1@yahoo.com. 6-7 Metropolitan Atlanta Whippet Association Coursing Trial. Chattahoochee Hills Farm, 9440 Brouus Lake Road, Fairburn, GA. Shirley Akey, 770.778.4346, sbwtlc@yahoo.com. 11 Ruby Tuesday’s Thursday. Print out the flyer from Ruby Tuesday, North Augusta or Aiken, take it with you today and they will donate 20% of your purchase to the SPCA! www.spca-albrecht. org. 11-15 Perry Dog Show. Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter, 401 Larry Walker Parkway, Perry, GA. Onofrio Dog Shows, 405.427.8181, mail@onofrio.com. 12 Down East Hunting Retriever Club of North Carolina Field Trial. Pen Brook Farm, Rocky Point, NC. Gwen Pleasant, 919.795.7541, blackriver1@msn.com. 13 6th Annual Barn Tour. 11 am - 2 pm. Get an inside peek at some of Aiken’s most stunning new barns, stables, and arenas. Three Runs Plantation, Aiken, SC. 803.648.6863, www.spca-albrecht.org. 13 German Shepherd Dog Club of Greater Charlotte Show. Piedmont Kennel Club Showplace, 13607 Choate Circle, Charlotte, NC. Patti Hart, 704.792.0680, pattihart@ctc.net. 13 Atlanta Retriever Club Hunting Test. Black Dawg Farm, Buckhead, GA. Kate Hovan, 404.680.5256, katehovan@gmail. com. 13 Cove Creek Beagle Club Hunting Test. Cove Creek Running Grounds, Pickens, SC. Sherren Powell, 864.419.8582, mrslrabbit@bellsouth.net. 13-14 Pet Fest 2013. Charleston’s premier pet festival. Palmetto Islands County Park, 444 Needlerush Parkway, Mount Pleasant, SC. 843.795.4386. 13-14 Carolina Terrier Association Earth Dog Test. Owl Hollow Farm, 6515 Whitney Road, Graham, NC. Tina Lunsford, 336.552.8369, tjoyl@ yahoo.com. 18 Ruby Tuesday’s Thursday. Print out the flyer from Ruby Tuesday, North Augusta or Aiken, take it with you today and they will donate 20% of your purchase to the SPCA! www.spca-albrecht.org. 19 Flat-Coated Retriever Society of America, Inc. Field Trial. Pickering Farm, Mansfield, GA. Karen Peterson, 708.848.8498, kfpsardou@yahoo. com. 19 Cove Creek Beagle Club Field Trial. Cove Creek Running Grounds, Pickens, SC. Sherren Powell, 864.419.8582, mrslrabbit@bellsouth.net. 19-21 Atlanta Obedience Club, Inc. Agility Show. Wills Park Equestrian Center, Wills Coliseum, 11915 Wills Road, Alpharetta, GA. Donna Slavin, 706.254.3451, atlantaobedienceclubsecretary@gmail.com, www. atlantaobedienceclub.com.

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20 Flat-Coated Retriever Society of America, Inc. Hunting Test. Starrsville Plantation, 283 Bo Jones Road, Covington, GA. Sherie Catledge, catledges@aol.com, www.fcrsainc.org. 20-21 Carolina Cocker Club Show. E.Clarkson Rhame Memorial Arena, Broad Street, Camden, SC. Robert McKinney, 540.982.7433, cameocockers@cox.net.

20-21 Neuse Retriever Club Hunting Test. Neuse Way Nature Center, 401 W Caswell Street, Kinston, NC. Keith Maready, 252.531.2875, keithmaready@gmail.com. 22-27 Flat Coated Retriever Society of America National Specialty Show 2013. Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, GA. 706.742.7503. 26 Atlanta Retriever Club Field Trial. Black Dawg Farm, Buckhead, GA. Kyle Brousard, 678.485.2717, kbroussard@kslaw.com. 26-28 Adoptathon. 11am-2pm. PetSmart, Whiskey Road, Aiken, SC. 27 Foothills Beagle Club Hunting Test. 417 Oakhill Road, Belton, SC. W Lewis Wilson, 864.915.7973, lwilson534@charter.net. 27 Doggie Dash Benefiting the Boston Terrier Rescue. Little Mulberry Park, 3855 Fence Road, Auburn, GA. bostonvolunteer@gmail.com. 27-28 Piedmont Border Collie Association Herding Trial. Way to Me Kennel & Farm, 6480 Poplar Springs church Road, Sanford, NC. David Raper, 919.245.0553, david_raper@bellsouth.net, www. piedmontbordercollie.com.

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27-28 Carolinas Retriever Association Hunting Test. Diamond E. Farm, Mullins, SC. Lee Hanes, 336,391,2558, blhanes@att.net. 27-28 Sawnee Mountain Kennel Club of Georgia Obedience Show and Rally. Family Pet Obedience School, 4890 Hammond Industrial Drive, Ste 100, Cumming, GA. Gina Bonner, 404.409.2712, gfbonner@gmail. com, www.smkcga.com.. 28 Atlanta 5K9 Walk Run. Lake Forest Elementary School, 5920 Sandy Springs Cir NE, Sandy Springs, GA. 760.635.1795, hv@5k9walkrun. com. 29-30 Irish Wolfhound Club of America Show. Crowne Plaza Asheville, One Holiday Inn Drive, Asheville, NC. Foy Trent Dog Shows, 573.881.2655, info@foytrentdogshows.com, www.iwclubofamerica.org.

May

Ruby Tuesday’s Thursday. Print out the flyer from Ruby Tuesday, North Augusta or Aiken, take it with you today and they will donate 20% of your purchase to the SPCA! www.spca-albrecht.org. 3 Tall Pines Retriever Club Field Trial. Beaver Run Farm & Surrounding Farms, Leesburg, GA. Linden Dunaway, 229.226.8397, dunaway@rose. net. 3-5 Winston-Salem Dog Training Club, Inc. Agiity Show. Lone Hickory Indoor Arena, 1950 Bethel Church Road, Yadkinville, NC. Karen Wlodarski, 843.768.8452, karen-w@msn.com, www.wsdtc.org. 4 Greyfest. Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, GA. Lisa Strickland, 678.462.9383, www. greyhoundadoption.org. 4 WAG ‘n Walk Pet Festival. To benefit homeless animals. Meridian Park, Highway 81 and Twin Lakes Road, Loganville, GA. 770.207.1896, wagwalton@yahoo.com. 4 Vaccination Clinic. 199 Willow Run Road, Marr Education Center, Aiken, SC. www.spca-albrecht.org. 4-5 Oconee River Kennel Club Show. Oconee Heritage Park, Highway 441 S, Watkinsville, GA. MB-F, 336.379.9352, mbf@infodog.com. 4-5 Labrador Retriever Club of the Piedmont Hunting Test. H. Cooper Black Jr. Memorial Field Trial Area, Patrick, SC. Lee Hanes, 336.391.2558, blhanes@att.net, www.piedmontlabclub.com/home.cfm. 9 Yappy Hour. Come out and celebrate the dog days of summer with Yappy Hour from 5:30 - 7:30 pm. 199 Willow Run Road, Aiken, SC. www.spcaalbrecht.org. 9 Pups, Yups and Food Trucks. Palmetto Islands County Park, 444 Needlerush Parkway, Mount Pleasant, SC. 843.795.4386, customerservice@ccprc.com. 9-12 Perry Dog Show. Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter, 401 Larry Walker Parkway, Perry, GA. Onofrio Dog Shows, 405.427.8181, mail@onofrio.com. 9-12 Canaan Dog Club of America Agility Show. T. Ed Garrison Arena, 1101 W. Queen Street, Pendleton, SC. Laurene Galgano, 757.481.4854, gonedoggin@cox.net, www.cdca.org. 11 Dog Wash to benefit SPCA. Cold Creek Nursery, Aiken, SC. SPCA Albrecht Center, 803.648.6863. 11 Star 94 woofstock. “Pet Party in the Park:” pet lovers and owners enjoy pet related vendors, Frisbee and Agility demonstrations, discussions with pet experts, and even adoptions with local rescue groups and adoption agencies. 330 Town Center Avenue, Suwanee, GA. www.star94.com/ Woofstock.aspx. 11-12 Mid-Atlantic Hound Association of Central North Carolina Show. NC State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC. Brenda Adams, 336.379.9352, approvals@infodog.com. 11-12 Fall Line Retriever Club of Georgia Hunting Test. Lincolnton, GA. Gina Blitch, 706.830.2603, gina.blitch@gmail.com. 11-12 Greater Columbia Obedience Club Inc. Obedience Show. Tri-City Leisure Center, 485 Brooks Avenue, West Columbia, SC. Chris Brooks, 864.292.0876, cbrooks120@gmail.com, www.gcoc.net. 13 Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of America, Inc. Hunting Test. Luke Weaver Farm, Lee Maddox Road, Jackson, GA. Frank Pampush, 404.239.8410, frak22@bellsouth.net, www.wssca.com. 16 Yappy Hour. James Island County Park dog park, 871 Riverland Drive, Charleston, SC. 843.795.4386, customerservice@ccprc.com. 16 Ruby Tuesday’s Thursday. Print out the flyer from Ruby Tuesday, North Augusta or Aiken, take it with you today and they will donate 20% of your purchase to the SPCA! www.spca-albrecht.org. 2

17-19 Youngsville Agility Club of North Carolina Agility Show. Teamworks Dog Training, 195 Robbins Road, Youngsville, NC. Patty Novak, 919.803.7142, patty@shutterpaws.com, www. youngsvilleagilityclub.com. 17-19 Cocker Spaniel Specialty Club of Georgia Agility Show. Chateau Elan Winery and Resort, Pavillon 100 Tour De France, Braselton, GA. Karen Wlodarski, 843.696.2892, karen-w@msn.com, www. cockerspanielclubofga.org. 18 Charlotte Pet Expo. Chantilly Shopping Center, 800 Briar Creek Road, Charlotte, NC. 800.977.3609. 18-19 Raleigh-Durham Labrador Retriever Club Show. NC State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC. Dan Frye, 919.971.2634, fryedk@earthlink.net, www.rdlrc.com. 18-19 Mid-Atlantic Hound Association of Central North Carolina Coursing Trial. Flintrock Farm, 221 Flintrock Trail, Reidsville, NC. Edward Kominek, 919.323.3353, eddie@kominekafghans.com. 23 Ruby Tuesday’s Thursday. Print out the flyer from Ruby Tuesday, North Augusta or Aiken, take it with you today and they will donate 20% of your purchase to the SPCA! www.spca-albrecht.org. 24-26 Blue Ridge Agility Club Agility Show. McGough Arena WNC Ag Center, 1301 Fanning Bridge Road, Fletcher, NC. Jayne Abbot, 828.713.3278, jhabbot@charter.net, www.blueridgeagility.com. 25-26 Tara Afghan Hound Club, Inc. Show. Holiday Inn Select Perimeter, Holiday Inn Select, 4386 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA. Karen Mays, 678.957.9544, karen@zencor.com. 25-27 Greyhound Association of North Georgia Coursing Trial. Chattahoochee Hills Farm, 9440 Brouus Lake Road, Fairburn, GA. Sharon Webb, 770.778.4346, sbwtlc@yahoo.com. 30 Ruby Tuesday’s Thursday. Print out the flyer from Ruby Tuesday, North Augusta or Aiken, take it with you today and they will donate 20% of your purchase to the SPCA! www.spca-albrecht.org. 31 Cape Fear Retriever Club Field Trial. Pembroke Farms, Rocky Point, NC. John W Thomas, 910.547.7062, gunzup@earthlink.net.

June

1-2 Piedmont Border Collie Association Obedience Show. Durham Kennel Club, 7318 Guess Road, Durham, NC. David Raper, 919.245.0553, david_raper@bellsouth.net, www.piedmontbordercollie.com. 6 Yappy Hour. Come out and celebrate the dog days of summer with Yappy Hour from 5:30 - 7:30 pm. 199 Willow Run Road, Aiken, SC. www.spcaalbrecht.org. 7-9 Moore County Kennel Club of North Carolina Agility Show. Bon-Clyde Learning Center, 3030 Lee Avenue, Sanford, NC. Karen Wlodarski, 843.696.2892, karen-w@msn.com, www.mooreckc.org. 8 Dog Wash to benefit SPCA. Cold Creek Nursery, Aiken, SC. SPCA Albrecht Center, 803.648.6863. 8-9 Fletcher Dog Show. WNC Agricultural Center, 1301 Fanning Bridge Road, Fletcher, NC. MB-F, 336.379.9352, mbf@infodog.com. 8-9 Dogwood Rottweiler Club of Metropolitan Atlanta Herding Event. Sugre Herding Facility, 6985 Matt Highway, Cumming, GA. Cathy Karidel, 770.887.9195, sugre95@aol.com, www.dogwoodrottweilerclub. com. 8-9 Palmetto Obedience Training Club Inc. Obedience Show. Northwest Recreation Center, 701 Saxon Avenue, Spartanburg, SC . Rose Schwietert, 864.579.1164, rose.schwietert@gmail.com, www.palmettotrng.com. 15-16 Western Carolina Dog Fanciers Association Show. Haywood County Fairgrounds, 758 Crabtree Road, Waynesville, NC. MB-F, 336.379.9352, mbf@infodog.com, www.dnet.net/wcdfa. 21-23 Central Carolina Poodle Club Agility Show. Bon-Clyde Learning Center, 3030 Lee Avenue, Sanford, NC. Laurene Galgano, 757.481.4854, gonedoggin@cox.net,www.centralcarolinapoodleclub. org. 22-23 Savannah Dog Training Club Obedience Show. Groves High School, 100 Priscilla D. Thomas Way, Savannah, GA. Ginger Robertson, 912.308.1007, muttloverx2@gmail.com, www. savannahdogtrainingclub.com.

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Spring 2013

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The Dog & Hound

The Allergy Connection Could Your Dog be Suffering? By Mary Jane Howell

neezing, runny nose, red eyes and congestion are just some of the symptoms of allergies in humans. Fortunately, we can run to the local pharmacy when we start to feel bad. But it’s not so simple when our dogs start to suffer. It’s true that dogs can’t tells us in words what is bothering them, but they have certainly developed some strong outward signs to get our attention. Just like people, dogs can show allergic symptoms when their immune system begins to recognize certain everyday substances as dangerous. Things that cause allergies are known as allergens. Even though many allergens are common in most environments, a dog with allergies will have an extreme reaction to them. Allergens can be problematic when inhaled, ingested or in contact with a dog’s skin. As his body tries to rid itself of these substances, he may suffer from a variety of skin, digestive and respiratory symptoms. Some common signs of allergies in dogs include itchy, red, moist or scabbed skin; increased scratching in various part of the body; runny eyes; ear infections; sneezing; vomiting; diarrhea; paw chewing; and constant licking of various parts of the body. Not a pretty picture. Because we all share the same environment, it should come as no surprise that people and dogs with allergy problems are sensitive to many of the same things: tree, grass and weed pollen; mold spores; dust mites; food ingredients; heavily scented shampoos, and so on. Jeri Barrett, who owns Herbal Solutions, a natural food and supplement store for people and their pets in Aiken, is a big believer in the benefits of cod liver oil. She carries the Nordic Naturals brand, which is specifically dosed for dogs and cats. She says cod liver oil helps to combat allergy symptoms in pets while also strengthening their immune systems. Nordic Naturals cod liver oil is derived from wild Arctic cod caught in the Norwegian Sea, and is an excellent source of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA as well as naturally occurring vitamin A. “Using cod liver oil as a supplement can reduce itching and shedding and really supports a pet’s overall health,” says Jeri. “Because these omega-3 fatty acids cannot be made in the body, they have to come from food and/or supplements.” Jeri says she has also seen dogs develop allergies after being fed the same brand of dog food for years and years. “Sometimes a ‘cure’ is as simple as changing brands every few months,” she says. Jeri knows from experience the difference a good dog food can make. She says that her 20-year-old Dachshund/Chihuahua named Skipper developed food allergies. She switched him to a new brand of limited ingredient food, and she saw a marked improvement in his health. “If we are talking about food allergies, then I believe if you limit the ingredients in their food, then you can limit the problems,” she says. “We get a lot of pet owners who come in with recommendations from the veterinarians for certain types of food. Some dogs have developed allergic reactions to chicken and beef and do better on fish or lamb.” Although her veterinary practice is centered on horses, Dr. Stephanie Simonson knows first-hand how severe allergies can adversely affect a beloved pet. Her 11-year-old Golden Retriever Winnie has suffered from allergies her whole life. “I got Winnie when she was a year old – she had been found tied to a tree and was just in horrible shape. I think she had every allergy imaginable,” says Dr. Simonson. “Allergies are an immune problem so it’s important for you to feed your pets good, nourishing food and keep them healthy. If their immune system is strong you will see a big improvement.” Over the years Winnie’s symptoms have been reduced, thanks to her owner’s persistence. She gets probiotics daily for a healthy gut, which in

The Dog & Hound

turn promotes overall health; a kidney/liver flush several times a year; a limited ingredient, grain-free dog food (turkey and fish) supplemented with freeze-dried vegetables, and some coconut oil mixed in to supply those important omega-3 fatty acids. And although Dr. Simonson says she is tempted to bathe Winnie frequently (especially after she rolls in a muddy field) she knows that too many baths do as much harm as good, since they dry the skin out. We can’t put our dogs in a plastic bubble. They need to romp around outside, go for walks and eat. But when you think about it, they are walking magnets for pollen and other allergens that lurk in the environment – allergens stick to their coats and the pads of their feet. When they groom themselves all of those allergens are ingested. A large percentage of dogs stay healthy throughout the year, no matter what’s in bloom. But as with people, the incidences of severe allergy reactions in dogs are on the rise. How do you know what your dog is allergic to, if anything? Your veterinarian may recommend a blood tests (the RAST test) or a dermal reaction test to determine allergen sensitivity. If allergies are severe, your vet may prescribe the synthetic corticosteroid drug prednisone, but because of the long list of side effects, it is not a drug that should be given long term. Your veterinarian can also recommend specific shampoos to help ease itching. Fleas are another source of irritation for your dog, but one that is easier to solve today since there is a wide variety of flea control products available. A flea-infested dog may be very itchy, but if your dog becomes allergic to flea bites, he does not need to have a large load of fleas to be miserable – one bite can set him off. Dr. Elinka Beck works for Carolina Veterinary Acupuncture and is based in Aiken. She has says that acupuncture treatments can also relieve the outward signs of allergies as well as help strengthen the immune system. “I work on referrals from other veterinarians and go right to the patient’s home,” says Dr. Beck. Veterinary acupuncture is intended to stimulate the release of the body’s own pain relieving and anti-inflammatory substances; and improve tissue blood flow, oxygenation, and removal of metabolic wastes and toxins. The goal of acupuncture is to encourage the body to heal itself. In the war against allergens, acupuncture is becoming an increasingly common tool to aid an owner in search of relief for an allergic dog. While cases of dogs with allergies may be on the rise, owners have never had so many options on hand to help their pets. Veterinarians and acupuncturists; specialized dog food and herbal shampoos, essential oils and natural cleaning products – the list goes on. No plastic bubble needed.

Spring 2013

The Dog & Hound

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