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Fancy Talk
Anne McIntyre and Pat Berry Foxmoor Petite Cherie
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Fancy Health
I’ve Got Your Back, part I by Dr Lori Hunt, DVM
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Fancy Health
Frenchies and Achondroplasia by Juanita Imperiale
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Fancy Details
Frenchies and Barn Hunt by Michelle Hrnchar
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Fancy Judging
Mexican National Specialty by Patricia Sosa
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Fancy Details
Troubleshoot your way to breeding success, part I by Gale Golden
The Frenchie Fancy 2016 - The publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, images, photographs or other materials. By accepting and publishing advertising the publisher in no way recommends, guarantees or endorses the quality of the services of products within those advertisments. The information contained in this online and print magazine is for general information purpose only. The information is provided by us and our collaborators, and while every efford is made to provide information which is both current and correct, we make no representations on warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliavility, suitability or availability with respect to the online magazine or the information, products, services or related graphics contained within the online magazine for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. In no event will Frenchie Fancy be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loos or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising for loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this online and print magazine.
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Australian NSW Specialty by Diane Burvee
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f ancy beginnings
Welcome to our much anticipated FBDCA pre national edition of the Frenchie Fancy magazine! This is our fourteenth edition and fourth year of the Frenchie Fancy. We would like to thank everyone who has been supporting since day one and all who read, place ads and give us constant feedback. We are proud to represent our breed worldwide, because we believe that a beautiful Frenchie can win anywhere in the world!
To celebrate our amazing breed everywhere in the world, we are releasing this edition at the 2016 FBDCA National Specialty week as we do every year. As Frenchie Fancy is an international publication, it is fitting that we are bringing you two very comprehensive show coverages from the Mexican National Specialty and the latest Australian Specialty in NSW! Both judged by breeder judges!
Don’t forget that you can order your Frenchie Fancy magazine hard copy online, or purchase a full year subscription with a special price! For more details, please access our website: www.FrenchieFancy.com Our next issue will be out in 2017, so start planning your ads to celebrate your 2016 champions and national wins! For now, just sit back, relax and enjoy some of the very best French Bulldogs of the world. We will see everybody in Vegas! WIth love from your Frenchie Fancy team...
Our interview also celebrates two of the most prestigious North American breeders, Anne McIntyre and Pat Berry of Foxmoor Petite Cherie French Bulldogs. We hope that you can get ot know them a little better and some of the Frenchies behind their current top winners. Juanita Imperiale writes an extremely interesting article about Frenchies and Dwarfism, drawing a parallel between the condition in humans and our breed. Lori Hunt starts the very much anticipated spine series. Michelle Hrnchar brings the action, and Gale Golden talks repro, because we always want to learn more and more!
Fernanda Barlow, Matthew Dover, Vivianne Mello The Frenchie Fancy Team
Send us a message! info@frenchiefancy.com www.frenchiefancy.com | facebook.com/frenchiefancy
FRENCHIE FANCY Creative Director Vivianne Mello info@frenchiefancy.com
Advertising Director Fernanda Barlow ads@frenchiefancy.com
Marketing Director Matthew Dover mkt@frenchiefancy.com
Contributors Diane Burvee Gale Golden Juanita Imperiale Lori Hunt, DVM Michelle Hrnchar Patricia Sosa Photography Fernanda Barlow RedDogFoto.ru
Distribution
EUROPE
AUSTRALIA
Ana Jagtiani (Spain) Anna Denisova (Italy) Bitten Oldereide (Norway) Magnus Berglin (Sweden) Sarah Ventham (UK) Jakko Broersma (NL) Toni Saira (Finland) Daniela Akkad (Austria) Tove Rasmussen (Denmark) Mourning Chang (Taiwan)
Kelly McClelland UNITED STATES
Matthew Dover (East) Fernanda Barlow (West) Vivianne Mello (South)
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FANCY advertisers ARGENTINA CICCALE Romina (CIMABULL) ............................ 58, 59 AUSTRALIA ARUNACHALAM, Senthil (SENARABULL) ................. 100 DAVIDSON, Liz (D’ACCORD) ........................... 101 FRAZER, Charissa ............................................... 108, 109 ROSSER, Michael (D’ACCORD) ................................. 101 BRAZIL LUCIGNANO, Giovanni ............................................. 41 ROCHA, Alex (NOVIZALA) .................................... 41 SLAVIERO, Augusto (SLAVIERO BULL) .................... 66, 67 CANADA CRAM, Karen (KARENDON) ................................. 10, 11 BRENDAN, Deborah ............................................ 10, 11 ST.JOHN, Shelley (ROBOBULL) ........................ 44, 45 CHINA HUNG, Liao Chung ........................................... 56, 57 LUO, Viva (OVERTOP) ........................................ 18, 19 COLOMBIA GALVIS, Jairo (VILLA GLORIA) ............................ 35-37 COSTA RICA YIN, Siben & Stephanie (SAINT HONORE) ............... 48, 49 ECUADOR SOTOMAYOR, Jose Carlos (SECUTOR) .......................... 64 ENGLAND CLUBLEY, Ben & Aisha (FRABULL) .................. 12, 13 FRIEND, Darren & Natalie (KINGFRIEND) ................. 12 MEXICO VIANA, Ana (VIANAC) ............................................ 78, 79 THAILAND PHRUKWATTANAKUL, Viruch (NAPACHAI) ................ 14, 15 USA BARLOW, Fernanda (CARAMRURU) ............... 98, 99 BERRY, Pat (PETITE CHERIE) ............. Cover, 2, 3, 26, 27 BILHARZ, Shannon (FANTASIA) ................................. 35 BORROR, Jeniene ...................................................... 34 BROTT, Karen (CHAMBORD) ...................................... 53
CATON-MUSTO, Kathy (SAFARI) ....................... 80, 81 COVALUCCI, Billy (CAMPCOVO) ...................... 96, 97 DALTON, James (FABELHAFT) .............. 42, 44, 45, 58 DEBRUHL,Teri ............................................................... 42 DENNY, Nicole (PINNACLE) ............................... 82, 83 DOVER, Matthew (BELLA LUNA) ............................. 96, 97 FAGIN, Teddy ........................................................ 65 FORGIONE, Karen (DIAMOND RIDGE) ...................... 60, 61 GOLDEN, Gale (MORGAN MANOR) ..................... 91 HARPER, Lilly (ARLEES) ........................................ 32, 32 HAMMAN, Blake (LA BETE) ................................ 16, 17 HRNCHAR, Michelle ................................................. 68 HUNT, Lori (ASSISI) ....................................... 54, 55, 68 JOHNSON, Carol (IMAGINE) .............................. 8, 9 LEACH, Nick & Derek .............................................. 30 LITZINGER, Dana ........................................... 8, 9 MATTINGLY, Debra & Kenneth ......................... 86, 87 MCINTYRE, Anne (Foxmoor) ................... Cover, 2, 3, 26, 27 MCCANN, Beverly .............................................. 2, 3 MCCARTHY, Barbara (BANYAN) ............................. 70-73 MELLO, Vivianne (VIXBULL) ............................. 98, 99 MIKLOS, Jana (LIONHEART) ............................... 60 MILAM, Elizabeth (DE LA RIVE GAUCHE) .............. 30 MILLER, Stephen (PECHE MIGNON) ............................ 40 MONTPELIER, Denise .............................................. 27 NEWCOMB, Nancy (NEWCOMB) ........................... 43 NORRIS, Jane (FULLABULL) ....................................... 65 PATTON, Kevin (DAMARI) .................................... 84, 85 PAYSON, Perry (GOLDSHIELD) ........................... 28-31 POWERS, Shauna .................................................. 94, 95 PHELAN, Betsy (ORION) ...................................... 30, 31 PHOTOS, Pete (LA BETE) ................................. 15, 16 RAFFIO, Bill (SANS PAREIL) ........................... 46, 47 ROSARIO, Rodney (STORMY MOUNTAIN) ......... 94, 95 ROSEN, Dana (SANS PAREIL) .......................... 46, 47 SHAW Patricia (DIVA) ...................................... 16, 17 SINIBALDI, Gus ................................................... 112, 113 SMITH, Robert (PECHE MIGNON) ................................. 40 STOFFER, Donna ................................................. 70-73 SOSA, Patricia & Luis (BANDOG) ...................... 92, 93 STOYKA, Dr. William ..................................... 2, 3, 26, 27 VORBECK, Alex ..................................................... 29, 31 VENEZUELA CELIS, Diego (MokaoDC) ......... 07, 58, 110, 111, Back cover CLUBS Kennel Club do Estado de Pernambuco KCEP .... 69
this issue’s stats > Frenchies from 13 countries, in 114 pages.
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FANCY TALK - ANNE MCINTYRE & PAT BERRY
the ancy talk interview with pat berry and anne mcintyre foxmoor petite cherie french bulldogs
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ogether for the past 12 years, Pat Berry along with Anne McIntyre and her late husband Dr. William Stoyka, are Foxmoor Petite Cherie. They enjoy a close friendship and a love for the French Bulldog breed. Frenchie Fancy had the opportunity to find out more about them...
Tell us about your start in French Bulldogs. Pat Berry: I grew up an animal crazed child! I have owned dog(s) my entire life. My childhood home encompassed a large wooded tract of land and I adopted, fed and nursed back to health any creature that was injured or ill. My family always had hunting dogs – English Setters and English Springer Spaniels that my Dad would hunt over. Some days I would accompany them. I would help wash and pick the burrs out of their coats when they returned from the field. As an adult, I owned a Lab and Dobermans which I trained in obedience, field work for the Lab and dabbled in protection work for the Dobes. At obedience class I met my first well-bred Bulldogs and loved their silly personalities and squishy faces. After doing research on the Bully breeds, I decided that I didn’t want another large breed, so the Frenchie fit the bill! Same silliness, bit of stubbornness and that adorable face. I talked to everyone at the shows that had Frenchies. It took me five years until I acquired one. Anne McIntyre: I grew up riding and showing Hunters, and our family always had dogs in the home. My father 20 frenchiefancy.com
had a real passion for English Springer Spaniels and that breed was a constant in our family. In 2001 a dear friend suggested that a French Bulldog would fit into my lifestyle – perfect for taking to the office and toting around everywhere. After much research I found a breeder who had a lovely puppy available and while we only wanted a companion, she wished it to be shown and to finish her Canadian Championship. Her name was Lucy. The breeder suggested we use breeder/handler, Robert Lowes who along with his wife, Dianne (Sam) who are Robb Isle. You can find the Robb Isle dogs in many outstanding pedigrees. Bob finished Lucy and Bill and I so enjoyed the breed and the shows that we decided to continue on with Bob and Sam. We chose a puppy from them and called him Bandit (Am/Can Ch Robb Isle Stocks ‘n Bonds). In his first show in the US, Bandit was awarded Best of Winners and Best Puppy at the FBDCA 2004 National Specialty – truly a thrill and honor! Bandit went on to be Canada’s #1 French Bulldog for 2005 and an incredible foundation male for our breeding program. Bob and Sam continue to be wonderful friends and mentors.
FANCY TALK - Foxmoor Petite Cherie frenchies
How did you two meet? We met at the 2004 FBDCA National Specialty in Dallas. Pat was there with her “Rosie” who received an Award of Merit, Breeder/Owner/Handled. As mentioned above, Anne and Bill were there with Bandit, and it’s been a friendship and partnership ever since.
Do you see a clear difference between Canadian and American French Bulldogs? There should not be a “clear” difference between Canadian and American Frenchies since the two standards are essentially word for word the same. With ease of travel, exhibitors frequently compete on both sides of the border, so identical standards makes sense. The Canadian standard still lists two weight classes (under 22 lbs and over 22 lbs but not to exceed 28 lbs). Both standards have the same DQ’s of weight and color.
Would you change anything about the Canadian breed standard? The Canadian standard is missing a description of the French Bulldog gait. The Canadian parent club is looking to address that and also to better define the DQ color issue.
What would you say is the strong point of your French Bulldog line? We seem to be known for our cream/fawns and in particular for our bitches. We love the sweet expressions and small, round, tight feet of our Frenchies.
Name a male and a female Frenchie bred by you that have been the closest to your ideal. “Taryn” Am/Can Ch Petite Cherie Femme de Puissance who was a multi BIS, BISS winner in the US and in the top 5 for her Breed for 2009 and “Everett” Am GCh/Can GCh Foxmoor Petite Cherie Raison d’Etre who won multiple BIS, BISS and was #1 Frenchie in Canada for years 2012 & 2013; also BOW and Best Puppy at the FBDCA New York Metro Specialty.
We all know French Bulldogs are a hard breed to own and to breed. Could you share a misfortune that has happened in your years in the breed? It is extremely hard to talk about even years after it happened, but losing a girl on the table along with her puppies would be our worst misfortune.
Do you aspire to judge French Bulldogs? We were both thrilled and honored to judge Sweepstakes at the Santa Barbara shows as well as some other local assignments. Being on the “other side of the dog” sure gives one a different perspective. Perhaps one day we would like to judge.
What makes a co-ownership work? What we have is a friendship and partnership. We’re more like sisters.
(left) Marcelo Chagas and “Taryn” Am/Can Ch Petite Cherie Femme de Puissance
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FANCY TALK - ANNE MCINTYRE & PAT BERRY
What has been your most treasured achievements or win so far? “Taryn” Am/Can Ch Petite Cherie Femme de Puissance winning the Canadian National Specialty from the classes. Taryn winning Back to Back all breed Best’s in Show in New York. “Giselle” Am GCh/Can Ch Petite Cherie Savoir Faire at Foxmoor winning a BIS under noted breed authority Dr. Dick Meen at 7 ½ months old. Giselle is the youngest dog ever to win a BIS for our Canadian handler, Will Alexander, who has over 600 BIS wins and BIS at Westminster under his belt. Giselle was awarded Best of Opposite at Westminster and also winner of the Canadian National Specialty. “Nathan” Am/Can Ch Foxmoor Petite Cherie Tresor winning BIS from the classes to finish his Canadian Championship under breeder judge Mr. Chris Neilson. Winning Best in Canadian National Specialty with four different bitches that we bred.
“Bernard” Am/Can Ch Foxmoor le Jouet Petite Cherie
We have bred generations of multi BIS and BISS winners in both the US and Canada and numerous Awards of Merit honors at Westminster, FBDCA National, Eukanuba and Devon Dog Shows. Petite Cherie Foxmoor is proud to present our 8th generation of Frenchies to the fancy. “Giselle” Am GCh/Can Ch Petite Cherie Savoir Faire at Foxmoor
“Bandit” Am/Can CH Robb Isle Stocks ‘n Bonds “Hansel” Am/Can GCh Foxmoor Petite Cherie Creme Fraiche 5 generations - line breeding continues type
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FANCY TALK - Foxmoor Petite Cherie frenchies
“Bentley” Can GCh Foxmoor Petite Cherie Chamonix
“Miriam” Am/Can Ch Foxmoor Petite Cherie Creme de la Creme
“Eden” Am/Can GCh Foxmoor Petite Cherie Jardin d’Eden Pat Berry, Dave Berrey, Anne McIntyre, Dr. William Stoyka
“Everett” Am GCh/Can GCh Foxmoor Petite Cherie Raison d’Etre
“Giselle” Am GCh/Can Ch Petite Cherie Savoir Faire at Foxmoor at 7 1/2 months - with Dr. Dick Meen awarding BIS
“Pudge” Am GCh/Can GCh Foxmoor Petite Cherie Coup de Grace
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FANCY TALK - ANNE MCINTYRE & PAT BERRY
If you could breed to any French Bulldog’s dead or alive, who would it be? “Charlie Brown” Ch Cox’s Good Time Charlie Brown “Bul-it” Ch Blazin’Bul-Marc-It Marionette “Gambit” Ch Bandog’s One in a Million “Buddha” Am/Can CH Justamere’s Golden Buddha of Fabelhaft “Ben” Ch Sonlit Golden Rule “Boss” Ch C and D’s Laboss Mon Buntin
“Nathan” Am/Can Ch Foxmoor Petite Cherie Tresor
A word from Pat and Anne... When we got together, we decided we both like the same style French Bulldog. Line breeding is necessary to try to lock in a look while following the guidelines of our breed standard. The required characteristics are clearly stated in three various places in the Standard under: General Appearance: “compactly built and of medium to small structure” Proportion: “appears compact, well balanced and in good proportion” Neck, Topline, Body: “body is short and well rounded” Nowhere are the words longer or tubey in the Standard describing the Frenchie body. The mish mash of pedigrees being combined and out cross on top of out cross with no thought to what is behind the dogs concerns us. Some have a little of every pedigree and mix and match indiscriminately. They can’t produce two dogs that look alike. Line breed as consistently as you can and when you must outcross, do so with a dog that has a tightly line bred pedigree.
“Vivienne” Am/Can GCh Foxmoor Petite Cherie Je Ne Sais Quoi
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It is with deep sadness that Foxmoor Petite Cherie has recently lost an integral part of our Frenchie family. Dr. William (Bill) Stoyka was a passionate lover of the breed. His memory lives on in our future generations.
FANCY TALK - Foxmoor Petite Cherie frenchies Dr. William Stoyka and “Bernard” Am/Can Ch Foxmoor le Jouet Petite Cherie
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f ancy health i’ve got your back
part 1: back to basics - signs and symptoms of Spinal Disease
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written by LORI HUNT, DVM
drawing courtesy of JANICE GREBE
renchies and their backs... Where does one even begin? We’ve all seen the Frenchies in carts, the dogs who scuff around and wobble in the rear, the dogs who “drop” a piece of poop when they sleep, or lose control of their bladders when least expected. Unfortunately, this is an issue that is all too common, rarely discussed, and appears almost accepted by some as par for the course with French Bulldogs. I’d like to see us as breeders try to change these facts... To do that, we must openly discuss problems we see within our lines and share radiograph and/or MRI results. In this first part of the series, I plan to cover some common symptoms of back or neck injury and what you should be able to recognize as emergency situations. I think it’s important to be able to know the signs of neurologic pain and the potential resulting neurologic deficits. In part 2, I plan to move on to diagnostic tests and potential diagnoses. In the third installment, I hope to touch on heritability, if it exists, and what we as breeders can attempt to do to better our backs and quality of life in our beloved breed. It’s important to know that the window for recovery with spinal cord damage is small. Generally 24-72 hours, sometimes less. So any back or neck injury should be dealt with post haste! Do not wait and see, do not try to play doctor at home, do not waste time. Immediate treatment is crucial to recovery! And if you don’t get answers that seem to fit what you see, remember a second opinion can be priceless. Let’s start with the obvious symptoms - ACUTE EMERGENCIES. Though it seems unnecessary to mention, I still will... If your French bulldog can’t stand, walk or he’s dragging his rear, GO to the vet as soon as possible! If he can walk, but doesn’t do it with ease; perhaps he yelps when he, moves or when you pick him up, this is STILL an emergency! “Knuckling over” is another serious sign of a neurologic problem. This is a loss of conscious proprioception (CP) and can be from acute or chronic injury. Loss of conscious proprioception means the brain doesn’t quite know where the foot is in space. This is indicative of a break in communication between the brain and nerves in the foot, likely at the point of injury along the spinal cord (localizing spinal cord lesions will be discussed in part 2 of this series). Conscious proprioception deficits are easily detected by flipping the foot upside down and the dog should quickly pick his foot up and back to the normal anatomic position (this is a normal ‘righting reflex’). But in the case of decreased CPs, the dog
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stands comfortably, yet unwittingly, on its upside down foot. This is often accompanied by a “bouncy or wobbly” gait. As a veterinarian, I see this very very often in the breed, even in dogs considered normal by their breeders, owners or handlers. So far this seems fairly simple to notice, right? But it won’t always be this easy to figure out. Even veterinarians may have trouble diagnosing these injuries, because they can mimic many other issues and dogs can’t talk. Therefore, it’s imperative that you go prepared with a complete history and list of things you’ve noticed. In that vein, let’s discuss the moderately obvious but less specific signs. This can include a reluctance to eat. Usually anorexia is seen due to gastrointestinal upset, but in that case vomiting or diarrhea generally accompanies it. In this author’s experience, in the absence of other GI signs, I find anorexia can often be due to neck (or back) pain. When discs are bulging and/or muscles are spasming, something as simple as bending down to reach the bowl can be
painful, and so they smartly avoid doing it. Sometimes you’ll see lameness or stiffness that can be misdiagnosed as a leg problem. Trembling, either generalized or focal, can also be a sign of pain. Often I’ll see dogs in my office that simply stand still with a slight tremble. One of the first things I check is the spine. A rigid or tense abdomen often accompanies this due the dog attempting NOT to move its back. (Picture a person who’s back has ‘gone out’. Every muscle is tense and they do not want to move). Twitching is another possibility, particularly with neck issues. This may be seen as a sudden jerky movement of the neck, almost appearing like a “tick”, or perhaps the skin will crawl when the back is touched. Sometimes, simply a desire to stay motionless is a symptom, along with the general appearance of “discomfort”. By this I mean, they may have trouble getting into and/or staying in different positions. Thus, they may appear restless, by changing positions frequently, or conversely not moving all. Let’s delve into even more subtle signs, which are often only seen in hindsight. Your pet may seem depressed, calmer, less cuddly, or more distant. Perhaps he/she isn’t getting up on the bed or couch with you any more or refuses to jump down. You may notice hesitation in going up and down the stairs, a reluctance to come out of their crate or bed, increased respiratory rate/panting, and possibly aggression. You could notice he/she doesn’t want to chew bones anymore... or may start and then suddenly stops, seemingly painful. This is often mistaken for a bad tooth. Frenchies often have bad teeth (a downside of their wide undershot jaws), but in my experience, I’ve seen very few actually be bothered by bad teeth. I hope this has been helpful in allowing you to assess your French Bulldog for neurologic injuries or deficits. It should also help you provide the right information to your veterinarian. Remember, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! Seek immediate veterinary care and crate your pet until the vet can see him. Also it’s important to remember, back issues can happen in ALL French Bulldogs, from the puppy mill rescue to the well-bred dogs. In the next issue, we will discuss a list of differential diagnoses for these signs and symptoms, which tests are relevant for proper diagnosis, and what, if any, treatments are possible.
Synopsis of Signs & Symptoms Obvious emergencies: Unable to walk Yelping when moves or is picked up Knuckling Over Bouncy or wobbly gait Moderately obvious signs: Reluctance to eat Lameness/stiffness Trembling Reluctance to Move Twitching Subtle signs: Depression Calmer, less cuddly, more distant Not doing stairs, or getting on the bed/couch Doesn’t want to leave their crate or bed Stops chewing toys suddenly or not at all Increased panting Aggression October 2016
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f ancy health Frenchies and Achondroplasia (dwarfism) written by juanita imperiale
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chondroplasia! We have all heard this word when describing our breed, but what does it really mean? Two of the most common skeletal afflictions in humans are Achondroplasia and Hypochondroplasia. Both are a form of short-limned dwarfism. The latter tends to be a milder form. The word achondroplasia literally means “without cartilage formation.” The problem is not forming cartilage but converting it to bone. The process is called ossification, particularly affecting the long bones of the arms and legs.
In Humans, there are many forms of dwarfism. Achondroplasia is the most common type of shortlimbed dwarfism. The condition occurs in 1 in 15,000 to 40,000 newborns. Surprisingly, in more than 80 percent of cases, achondroplasia is NOT inherited. According to the National Human Genome Research Institute (“NHGRI”), these cases are caused by spontaneous mutations in the FGFR3 gene. According to the NHGRI, about 20 percent of cases ARE inherited. The mutation follows an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. This means only one parent needs to pass down a defective FGFR3 gene for a child to have achondroplasia. If one parent has the condition, the child has a 50 percent chance of getting it. If both parents carry the genetic condition, the child has a: 25 percent chance of normal stature 50 percent chance of having one defective gene that causes achondroplasia 25 percent chance of inheriting two defective genes, which would result in a fatal form of achondroplasia called homozygous achondroplasia. Infants born with homozygous achondroplasia are usually stillborn or die within a few months of being born. All people with achondroplasia are short in stature. The average height of an adult male with achondroplasia is 4 feet, 4 inches, and the average
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height for an adult female is 4 feet, 1 inch. Humans with Achondroplasia or Hypochondroplasia have short arms and legs, disproportionately large heads, limited range of motion at the elbows, a sway of the lower back and bowed legs. There are many complications of Dwarfism in humans; a few are listed below: • Delays in motor skills development, such as sitting up, crawling and walking • Frequent ear infections and risk of hearing loss • Bowing of the legs • Difficulty breathing during sleep (sleep apnea) • Pressure on the spinal cord at the base of the skull • Excess fluid around the brain (hydrocephalus) • Crowded teeth • Progressive severe hunching or swaying of the back with back pain or problems breathing • Narrowing of the channel in the lower spine (spinal stenosis), resulting in pressure on the spinal cord and subsequent pain or numbness in the legs • Arthritis • Weight gain that can further complicate problems with joints and the spine and place pressure on nerves • Short arms and legs, especially the upper arms and thighs, in comparison to body height • Short fingers in which the ring and middle fingers may also point away from each other • A disproportionately large head compared to the body • An abnormally large, prominent forehead • An underdeveloped area of the face between the forehead and upper jaw • Pregnancy; Women with disproportionate dwarfism may develop respiratory problems during pregnancy. A cesarean delivery is almost always necessary because the size shape and angle of the pelvis doesn’t allow for successful vaginal delivery.
the french bulldog may be the only true dwarf breed because of the abnormally large forehead,shortened ribs and being brachycephalic. Does any of this sound familiar? There are many dwarf type breeds with shorter limbs developed to do specific jobs. I have had many informal discussions with human Orthopedic Doctors specializing in dwarfism as well as veterinarians who specialize in orthopedic and neurology. Only, trying to get a better understanding of the breed I love so much. It is my understanding, a French Bulldog may be the only true dwarf because of the abnormally large prominent forehead along with being brachycephalic and shortened limbs. Although normal for the breed, as in human dwarfs, some veterinarians have debated whether French Bulldogs may have a slightly higher percentage of fluid around the brain than most breeds. To my knowledge, there have been no official studies presented on the subject, but, I do find the premise thought provoking! This statement is not to be confused with Primary Hydrocephalus and/or Secondary Hydrocephalus which is a medical condition (excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain). As in all breeds, French Bulldogs can acquire both conditions and should be diagnosed and treated if necessary. Achondroplasia in humans is one of many dwarf skeletal afflictions and accounts for 70 percent of all cases. There are over 200 diagnosed types of dwarfism and some that are never diagnosed definitively and/or have a condition that is unique to themselves or family. In dogs, there are also various types of dwarfism and most of them are what’s called “micromelic achondroplasia,” meaning they have short legs but are standard sized elsewhere. These canines were specifically bred to perform particular tasks for their human counterparts. Due to the lack of genetic, radiological, and molecular research, most types of skeletal anomalies in dogs are classified as achondroplasia. This is where I believe some of our medical diagnoses becomes fuzzy. Canine researches for the most part are NOT spending as much money on dwarf breeds as they would with more traditional breed types. It just makes more sense for them to spend their research dollars to cover the majority of the breeds and get more bang for their buck. We are grateful for whatever trickles down to our breed but it is not nearly enough. Even in human research, funding is scant
compared to other skeletal issues. Research has miles to go to fully understand dwarfism and little money to do it. Therefore, in my opinion, we have to think outside of the box when it comes to French Bulldogs, or for that matter, any other dwarf type breed. What do I mean by this? I mean, beside using the traditional health testing encouraged by our breed, cross reference diagnoses with human research, is another avenue. If you have read this article, you should see the similarities between dwarf humans and canine dwarfs. I am suggesting that breeders take the time to get a better comprehension for what is normal or not for our breed’s condition. Not all of human research will fit, however, in the very least, you will get a better understanding of what a particular diagnosis may mean for your dog. Share the information you learn with your veterinarian. To better illustrate the similarities of human dwarfs and our breed, Google Bone Clones and type in Human Female Achondroplasia Dwarf Skeleton Articulated. You will be able to view a human replicated osteological condition and judge for yourself the similarities to the skeletal abnormalities of a French Bulldog. If your veterinarian does not want to discuss your findings or concerns, you need a new vet. If you are not sure you understand what your veterinarian is conveying to you, communicate with one of our prominent breeder veterinarians, who do understand. Most of them are happy to help another breeder. Maybe with this approach and the growing numbers in our breed, we might stir the medical minds to spend a little more time on dwarf issue’s in dogs.
breeders should take the time to get a better comprehension for what is normal or not for our breed’s condition. Not everyone in this breed has access to a quality veterinarian who works with multiple French Bulldogs. Many veterinarians try to use a one size fits all approach to all breeds. As we well know, what is good for a Golden Retriever is not always good for a French Bulldog. We have all placed companion Frenchies with owners who go to the corner veterinarian specializing in spay and neuter. These veterinarians may diagnose the Frenchie with palate or nares problems simply because they believe all Bulldogs and French Bulldogs need them repaired. How many times have you heard the vet recommended unwarranted spine surgery for one of your companion puppies, while
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you, the experienced breeder, know that sometimes just simple cage rest and inflammation control, will fix the problem. We have to make sure the companion owner has a good understanding of this breed. More importantly, their breeder has to have competent resources to help them through stressful medical situations. Using some of the information of human research could better illustrate to the average pet owner an improved view of common afflictions that plague our breed. French Bulldogs have been bred for more than a century with little change to their structure. The very appearance that has drawn us to this breed is literally an incurable genetic mutation. We as breeders are not tying to change or remove dwarfism from this breed. We are not looking for a genetic marker to remove the gene. We as breeders are deliberately breeding to enhance some of these traits. We are not necessarily trying to produce genetic
complications either, although, in some cases that may occur. As a breeder, I believe it is impossible to avoid complications of dwarfism 100 percent of the time. No matter how carefully the breeding pair is vetted for potential health problems, we are still dealing with an unpredictable genetic mutation with little medical research behind it. I am not encouraging the breeding of dogs that outwardly show signs of problems, or that through health screening should be culled from a breeding program. I am saying don’t get rid of something unwanted at the cost of losing something essential. In other words; don’t set the house on fire to get rid of the rats. We must do our best to manage and produce the healthiest specimen that meets the breed standard, and learn as much as possible along the way. With adding some of the information from human research we might be able to start a dialog in medical fields to help us with that.
References - Human Female Achondroplasia Dwarf Skeleton Articulated https://boneclones.com/product/human-femaleachondroplasia-dwarf-skeleton-articulated-SCD-279-A - Human Female Achondroplasia Dwarf Skull
- Little People of America - Wikipedia (Reference Achondroplasia websites)
links
to
more
sutable
- Childrens hospital of Philadelphia
https://boneclones.com/product/human-femaleachondroplasia-dwarf-skull-BCD-279 - US. National Library of medicine
- Mayo Clinic Genome staff
- National Human Genome Research Institute Achondroplasia in dogs For the love of Dachshunds Dr Robert Hutchinson
About the Author Juanita Imperiale is a French Bulldog breeder from Michigan since 1984. Social media inept. Addicted to coffee, French Bulldogs and medical journals. Currently starring in a fashion reality show titled, “The bags under my eyes are Gucci”. Motto to live by: “The minute you know everything about breeding, STOP BREEDING. There is always something to learn.” 52 frenchiefancy.com
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f ancy details
FRENCH BULLDOGS AND barn hunt
written by MICHELLE HRNCHAR
I
t is often the assumption that bulldog in the name = couch potato. Some Frenchies certainly agree, preferring a nap on sofa only secondarily to a good meal. However it is not so uncommon for French Bulldogs to possess a fair amount of prey drive. Anyone who is a Frenchie fancier knows the history of the breed: toy bulldogs relocated from England mingled with terriers in rural France. The resulting French Bulldogs were valuable as vermin-hunters and ratters, so seeing prey drive still present in the breed today is not so mysterious after all. For those driven Frenchies, they’ll chase after all kinds of things, both by sight and by smell. It’s a behavior that isn’t easy to find a good outlet for, at least not until recently.
(so that dogs are secure and cannot get loose) of approximately 20-25 square feet. The course is built out of hay bales, with one or more rats to be found in order to pass the any of the competition classes.
Enter the Barn Hunt Association: an independent organization which was recognized by the AKC in 2013. With roots in Earthdog competition, the founders of Barn Hunt wanted to develop an event where any breed (not just terriers) could participate in a scent-based sport. It is modeled after a traditional barn setting, where rodents or other small vermin might hide amongst the bales of straw. In Barn Hunt the target of the search is a always a domestic rat, safely enclosed in an aerated PVC tube. That tube is hidden within a straw maze, where dogs must search through tunnels and climb over bales to search out the hidden rats. A little more about the hunt target: domestic rats. For those who might be concerned about any cruelty, Barn Hunt is not intended to harm or kill rats. Instead, it is about the search for the rats, which are safely enclosed in aerated tubes that are built to be tough enough for dogs to be unable to crush or even get a tooth into. The sturdy PVC tubes are comfortably sized for the rat, whose physical and mental welfare is of high importance to the sport. These are pet rats, hand-raised and trained to be comfortable in their interaction with dogs. It is said that the rats enjoy their jobs, and willingly hop into the tubes to work. The tubes are comfortably bedded, so the rats often spend their time grooming or even sleeping within them. Back to the sport itself. Although the majority of training for Barn Hunt involves honing a dog’s natural instinct to follow a scent, there is also a handler component. The handler must learn to “read” when their dog has found a rat, as in competition they must signal to the judge the location of the rat. Barn Hunt therefore requires the handler to have a good partnership with their dog, to know and understand their dog’s reaction when a rat has been found. Each dog has their own unique way to indicate; they need not “point” in any particular way. Some simply stare or freeze, others bark, dig or bite at the tube. As long as the handler can recognize the signal and it doesn’t endanger the rat, to each dog his/her own! Training and competitions need not be held in an actual barn; any location which can be safely enclosed is a potential site, indoors or out. A fair number of events are even held in climate-controlled buildings, so weather/temperature isn’t necessarily an issue. The competition ring is a fully fenced area
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Handler directing dog to assist with search (Deb Hamele with Ringo, Disturbing the Peace d’Assisi RATO)
Each dog/handler team competes one at a time. Dogs are brought to and from the test area on lead, however both collars and leads are removed for safety while the dog works. Although the handlers get a brief look at the course before the competition starts, they are required to wait their turn in a separate area (called the blind). The tubes are typically not visible to dogs or their handlers, and are moved around between teams so that only the judge and some ring assistants know where the rat tubes are. Handlers can verbally encourage and give unlimited signals to their dog during the test, but can only touch the dog to assist in safely removing the rat tube once it is found. There is a judge who oversees the test, keeping track of the location of the rat tubes, as well as keeping time for each dog, and making sure all rules are followed. An introductory level of competition called the “Instinct test” is available (but not mandatory) to help dogs and handlers increase their confidence. There are three tubes completely out in the open, placed so that they are easily seen by the dogs; one is empty, one has used rat bedding but no rat, and one with the actual rat. The goal of this test is for the dog to successfully indicate to their handler within one minute which tube contains the rat. The handler, not the judge, verbally calls the find - usually by saying “Rat”. Passing this test once earns a dog their RATI, the Instinct Certificate.
A Barn Hunt course
Coming out of the tunnel (Carmen, MACH3 Drama Queen D’Assisi RATO)
At the Novice level, three aerated rat tubes are hidden beneath loose straw and/or amongst the bales. Each dog has two minutes to find and indicate the correct tube, which may be either on the ground or atop a layer of hay bales. Within the allowed time, the dog must also perform a climb (getting all four feet up onto a bale) and go through a designated 18inch wide tunnel between bales. Teams who can successfully complete those three elements (climb, tunnel, find rat) are awarded based on the fastest time. Three passing scores earn the dog their RATN (Novice Barn Hunt) title. There are three more levels of increasing difficulty in the Barn Hunt title structure: Open, Senior, and Master. Each adds more rats to find (up to 5), with more decoy tubes as well (8 total tubes at the Master level). Although the time limits increase, so does the complexity of the course, which will have more complicated hay structures resulting in more search area and much tougher hiding places for the rat tubes. The required tunnel gets substantially longer and can include up to three turns for the dog to negotiate to find the exit. It is necessary that a dog be able to jump on/off a one-hay bale height (18 inches) in order to compete past the Instinct level. As the levels progress in difficulty, the structures built from hay bales get larger and higher. Since handlers cannot touch their dogs during the active hunt phase of competition, dogs must trained to climb and descend safely from stacks up to three bales high as they search the course.
PVC rat tubes and a rat relaxing in her tube
Overall Barn Hunt is a great event for French bulldogs, being that it does not require any substantial endurance or physical strength – just curiosity and a good nose. And brachycepalic or not, many Frenchies have a great sense of smell (just think of how they can smell the tiniest crumb of a treat in your pocket). It is a very rewarding activity for the dogs, whose excitement is obvious as soon as they realize they are going to have a chance to hunt, whether it is in training or competition! Despite the newness of the sport, a rapidly growing list of French bulldogs have already earned titles. As of August 2016, there are 40 Frencheis with an Instinct Certifcate (RATI)! Eighteen have finished the Novice title (RATN), and eight have gone on to earn their Open title (RATO). So far only one French bulldog has earned the Senior and Master level titles (RATS, RATM), but several are currently competing at the Senior level. There is a Championship title (RATCH) but as of yet no French Bulldog has earned it.
(left) Searching for the rat (Ringo, Love Me Do d’Assisi RATN) (right) Archie (CH Captivate the Crowd d’Assisi RATI) digs at the dube to indicate his rat (bottom) Striker (CH Dub’L-J Crosstrack SoLow Light’N Strikes the Heart RATN) performing the required climb
The popularity of Barn Hunt has exploded because dogs and people alike have found it to be fun and exciting. Instruction and competition opportunities are popping up all over the country, and registration of dogs with the Barn Hunt Association has surpassed 20,000! For more information on Barn Hunt, visit the Barn Hunt Association website at www.barnhunt.com.
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f ancy judging
french bulldog mexican national specialty show expocan 2016 - mexico city
article by PATRICIA SOSA (AKC JUDGE & FRENCH BULLDOG BREEDER under name bandog) pictures courtesy of LUIS SOSA and FEDERACION CANOFILA MEXICANA
BISS - JCH MX, CH MX, GCHMX, CH AMERICAS Y CARIBE VIANAC MARANELLO. Breeder owner - Ana Viana. Handler - Jorge Flores Martinez. DOB- 1-1-2015
F
irst I would like to give a big Thank You to Gerardo Bernard and the Federacion,for inviting me to judge the French Bulldog National in Mexico City during the wonderful 10 days known as the EXPOCAN. It was a week of firsts for me in many ways. It was my first trip to Mexico City, and I have to say it was nothing even close to what I expected. My husband Luis as well as my son Craig, joined me for a few days of exploring, before my assignment. We visited several incredible and beautiful museums. I have not even worked yet on the lovely photographs I took. We actually did some great shopping, which was my second
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surprise. Lovely designers that I was not familiar with, but I will remember them for my next visit. The Metropolitan Cathedral which we visited took my breath away. Its beauty and grandeur were not even explainable. It brought tears to my eyes. From the minute we stepped off the plane, we were treated with quick and precise attention provided by the Federacion. The hotel was steps away from the World Trade Center, which is where the dog show was held. What put a smile on Luis’s face very quickly was that Starbucks that was just outside our hotel door. The restaurants were abundant, and excellent. Bohemia,
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the locally brewed beer, is a new favorite of mine, and old favorite of my son Craigs. We arrived on the Friday before I judged, and we did visit the dog show, where the all-breed judging was going on. It was organized so well and promoted every aspect for the dog world, and it was an excellent learning source for the spectators. Of the many things we observed, there was agility, an above ground pool, a play area for kids, a police demonstration with a schutzhund german shepherd. The show also featured many booths with items for sale from food, supplies, and cute dog clothes and toys. I was very impressed. The show also seemed to be very exhibitor friendly. The crowds were not too overwhelming, but that was not the case on Saturday and Sunday. Local families were out on both days to enjoy what the Expocan had to offer. Then for me the real fun began on Monday afternoon. I enjoy each and every assignment, but a National is such an honor and brings great joy. I can still remember standing in the middle of the ring, with great anticipation as the first baby puppy entered the ring. Six adorable puppies were my first entries, most were trained very well, only 1 or 2 decided it was their time to shine and decided to stand and stare at all who were observing. I was extremely pleased with an entry of almost 60 dogs, with very few absentees. I was very impressed with the quality of the dogs; all were conditioned very well, and most presented to perfection. Many were owners-handled, and did as good a job as many of the professionals, especially with the fact I speak no Spanish (even though I have been married to a Cuban for 25 years). I have judged in many FCI countries, and the standard is a little different than our American AKC standard, but I do like the fact that faults are listed in degrees of severity, and there is a much longer list of disqualifying faults. I hope that each and every exhibit walked away with a feeling that I gave each dog the same consideration and each received the same time for my evaluation. I would hope that exhibitors could follow my placements, and where I put my emphasis was done with respect to their standard. With that being said, I had some very lovely dogs, but each class seemed to have a very obvious winner. As a breeder judge who has raised French Bulldogs for the past 30 plus years, I feel certain qualities are much harder to breed and I tried to reward dogs that possessed these qualities.
My Best of Breed winner, as well as my Winners Dog and Winners Bitch were all black masked fawns, a color I have never bred or owned. The breed winner was a lovely dog, with incredible balance, outline, movement, conditioning, and a headpiece that dripped of correct breed type. The icing on the cake for me was his side gait. Free, powerful and smooth. To me he was the opening paragraph of the standard for General Appearance. That was him! My Winners Dog who was also my Best of Winners was very similar in all respects to my breed dog, only less mature, as he was the tender age of 8 months old. It will be fun to watch to see how he matures and what his future will hold. My Winners Bitch was a lovely girl compared very closely to the breed and winners dog, just a feminine version. She was a handful with lots of energy to spare. All three of these winners were lovely and very similar in style, type and movement. Best of Opposite Sex went to a brindle girl who was sound and showed great style. A lovely head with an expression that melted you at first glance. Both my reserve dog and reserve bitch were brindle and have allot to offer the breed. I was very fond of my reserve winners dog, and easily on another day could have been winners. Excellent head with a great expression, and correct balance. He seemed to be a little off on the day he was shown to me. My reserve winners bitch was a young puppy, but showed as if a seasoned winner, again with a lovely expression. Time and a little more maturity will be all she needs. I could go on and on, as this breed is my life and will always be that. I am humbled and honored that so many fine breeders and owners took the time and made the effort to exhibit to me. As you already know, they are all winners, because they are all loved unconditionally by each and every one of you. Good luck to all both in the show ring and in the whelping box. If you are like me, each and every litter brings the same excitement with hopes of the next great dog to continue on. My only sadness is that I could not meet each and every one of you and get to talk Frenchies, breeding and pedigrees. I have actually been trying to follow as many of you as I can on FB. Please if anyone wants to talk dogs, pedigrees, philosophy of breeding, feel free to contact me. We all learn something new each day. Cheers!
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TROUBLESHOOT YOUR WAY TO BREEDING SUCCESS - PART 1 written by Gale Golden, Creator of the Breed Smart Program – 4 Steps to Bigger Litters and a Better Breeding Program
First, thank you to everyone who responded so positively to our first article on building a successful breeding program. Because of your great interest, I want to address in this article and the next one some common challenges I get from readers. This should help many of you quickly turn your breeding frustrations into breeding sensations!
Do you recognize the price? As early as the turn of the 20th century the sport of breeding pure bred dogs was reserved for the rich. Kennels were on large estates…had 50+ dogs…were staffed by a kennel manager…were a pastime…a diversion for folks who did not need to work full time and had unlimited funds to play. In some parts of the world, it is still that way…sigh. But more typically, today’s modern world breeder is a much different demographic. Typically, they are middle income, raising a family without a staff, working full time and with some discretionary income for the sport, but it certainly is not unlimited. The folks I meet at shows around the USA generally meet these criteria with a few exceptions. Let’s face it, breeding dogs is not cheap and comes with a price! It takes an inordinate amount of time - like having a full-time second job. It’s emotional - sometimes involving life and death of our beloved dogs or puppies. And, of course, it takes a bit of money - and I know you all have unlimited time and the money tree in the backyard like me…right!? If you aren’t willing to pay the price in time, emotion and dollars, this might not be the best aspect of the sport for you. There are so many ways to play this great sport.
Are you frustrated or elated? If you are putting in the effort described above and your program is still not getting results, I know you fall in the “frustrated” category. And, guess what you are not alone! Every breeder experiences frustration. This is because breeding is a skill…a journey…there are no shortcuts. Great breeders aren’t born knowing instinctively what to do. They learn from the school of “hard knocks” and from trying new things and making mistakes. But, what
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separates productive breeders from others is RESPECT FOR THE JOURNEY.
Start with a good dose of respect A longtime family of famous breeders who I stay in touch with regularly, recently thanked me for an update and commented I had “respect for the journey.” Honestly, I felt I had been awarded the gold medal of breeding! What do I mean by respect for the journey? It varies if you are a new breeder or an experienced one. As a new breeder, you need to recognize, you don’t know very much! You likely bought a dog, spent time finishing them by yourself or with a handler and then marched off to the local repro vet for your first breeding cycle. But, it isn’t their job to teach you…it is your job to get educated. If you don’t know how, there are tons of resources to learn – mentors, books, classes, etc. Much of it is free or low cost! The American Kennel Club website has a whole host of classes to help you learn genetics and more (visit www. akc.org). It is a great placed to start. I highly recommend the ABCs of Breeding by Claudia Orlandi as a good grounding in the science of genetics for the non-scientist. I occasionally repeat it myself as I learn more from the course each time. If you are a more experienced breeder, respect for the journey means you are on a lifelong quest to learn more and hone your skill. Just like breeding better dogs, it will take time to hone your craft. A master breeder with respect for the journey knows how to listen to advice… they are not afraid to ask for help. They never stop learning. In our Breed Smart seminars, I have had folks with a longer and stronger breeding record then I attending as a student. I recently had a student do a 1:1 seminar at my home with 20 years of successful breeding behind their belt. Their quest to continually hone their skill and become craftsman at the art of breeding identifies them to me as having “respect for the
journey.” If you are one, I salute your program! Whether you are new or experienced, I liken the “respect” aspect of our sport to Sudoku which takes mastery and skill. Not Pokémon Go where you are blindly following some phone screen instructions. Get “respect” and you are more than halfway to becoming more successful at the craft.
Case Study #1 - The Irregular Cycle Ok – let’s dig in. I have created a hypothetical case study from the hundreds of questions I get. This does not represent any one case or situation. In future articles, we will discuss other situations. Let’s start with a girl who does not cycle normally. What does a normal cycle look like? From start of one cycle to start of the next, the timing of a full cycle can vary from 6-7 months. A full canine cycle has four stages. Each one has a different length reflecting different hormone activity. Hormones rise, peak and fall as a sort of hand off to the next stage. They are like runners in a relay race. Here is what happens and to your girl ad the hormones do their dance. Is my girl normal? If your female follows this pattern you are in luck. Your girl falls right on the average. Nothing would be required for you to do except to track the phases and breed at the right times. More on that in another article. If your girl has a longer cycle than this is, I wouldn’t be too worried about this as long as it is regular. I have had bitches come in every 9 months or even once a year and still am able to get a pregnancy with lots of healthy pups. Keep in mind this is “average” and your girl may fluctuate. Regularity is the key to watch for. When is my girl not typical? I have seen atypical cycles fall in three distinct areas irregular swings, “split” seasons and “silent” seasons. They all indicate something is off with the typical hormone pattern. Sometimes this is problematic and sometimes you are able to secure a pregnancy. Here is what to look for Irregular seasons - If one season is 6 months long then the next one is a year later and then it jumps back to 8 months…that indicates the hormones aren’t running the typical race. It may not be cause for concern if you are still able to secure a normal pregnancy. But if you are not, it is worth a second look.
“Split” seasons - This is when your girl starts a season then appears to stop and then starts again. There may be just a few days or even a few weeks between them. It is always the second or later season that is fertile. But, it does indicate the starting and stopping of hormone cycles are off the norm. Again, it can be a problem if you can’t secure a pregnancy. But, if you can, count your blessings and move on. Silent seasons – This can be tricky to detect because when a season is silent there is typically no blood to indicate the start of Proestrus. But fear not, it is not impossible to detect. Watching for other signs and tracking can give you a heads up the fertile period is about to begin. Once you have compared your female to the average, the fun begins! If you are average…whoopee! Move on to determine your breeding timing. If not, you may have extra work to do. If you breed and get no puppies, then you might want to think about a way to normalize the hormone dance. This is definitely something to discuss with your vet. Over the years I have tried numerous things to normalize the hormone dance with mixed results. I also have mixed feelings about breeding girls who have atypical patterns as the reproductive ability is highly inherited. More on that in “Decision Time.” The most reliable way I have found to naturally normalize hormones without a lot of fuss is by using a product called Estrumate. Estrumate is a mix of supportive herbs added daily to your female’s food. It is typically used during Anestrus and Proestrus but you stop it when you start breeding. Estrumate can be started at any time once you are sure you do not have a pregnancy. Here are a few results I have achieved or have been achieved by my students. “Cocker Spaniel at five years old with irregular seasons and even some that are silent has a consistent pattern of failure to conceive. She is supplemented with Estrumate and has two litters of 5 and 7 puppies.” “French Bulldog at four years old with only a singleton pregnancy in 4 attempts with reproductive vet oversight is put on Estrumate and nets 5 puppies then a second litter of 4 puppies.”
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clinical signs
most active
cycle stage
length typically 6-7 months
in your girl
hormones
proestrus
approximately
Vulva swells and a red (bloody) discharge begins and intensifies Male dogs show interest but girl generally does not allow mating.
estrogen rises and peaks
blood discharge reduces or even stops. girl may “flag” and likely allows mating.
luteinizing hormone (lh) spikes in a 24-hour period indicating ovulation and progesterone begins to rise.
bleeding ceases. false pregnancy can result near the end of this cycle.
progesterone continues rising whether girl is mated or not. ends abruptly or with a whelping in a pregnant state.
4 stages of a canine
oestrus
DIESTRUS
aneSTRUS
9 days approximately
9 days approximately
45 days approximately
3-4 months
“Boston Terrier at six years old with no conceptions and numerous attempts with reproductive support is put on Estrumate and produces her first litter of 5 puppies.” Is this coincidence? Maybe. But, I have heard and seen numerous conceptions happen after its use. Does it work on every single dog…no! But your job is to sleuth out what is happening with your cycles, try something different and put those methods that are successful in your breeder bag of tricks. Estrumate is inexpensive and is available through Natures Farmacy. It can be ordered online at www. naturesfarmacy.com. Your reproductive specialist may also want to recommend various techniques to try.
Decision time You are a dedicated breeder and despite your best efforts with numerous attempts and with the help of a reproductive specialist, you fail to get a conception. It is time to decide when to move on. In my old days, I kept going and going… but now, since the development of the Breed Smart method, I give it three strong attempts. If no conception occurs, I conclude there must be an abnormality and certainly
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uterus shrinks down and repairs. vulva swelling shrinks back to normal.
follicle-stimulating hormone (fsh) rises falls signaling the body to begin pro-estrus.
don’t want to propagate that. I remove the girl from our breeding program. I recently spayed a beautiful French Bulldog champion after three strong attempts with no conceptions. Post procedure, my vet told me her uterus was normal but was as large as a German Shephards and was quite squished in there. I was convinced she was conceiving and not holding the pregnancy, probably due to the abnormal structure. I think I made the right decision. We each have a different tolerance for missed breedings and you will find the factors that work best for you…but now, you won’t be guessing, you will do it with knowledge! In the next issue, we will focus on another area I get a lot of questions - timing your breedings. In the meantime, if you have questions you can reach me through our website at www.morganmanorfrenchies.com. I look forward to your feedback, comments and questions. We are better together! Till next time,
- Gale Golden
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f ancy judging judging french bulldogs down under
2016 french bulldog club of nsw specialty
photography courtesy of Ffiona Erskine of ffire photography judged by DIANE BURVEE (qazara french bulldogs)
Best In Show, Best Bitch & Best Australian Bred: BIS CH SENARABULL MISS CLAIRE Handlers: Liz Davidson & Joel Vassallo Breeder/Owner : Senthil Arunachalam
S
idney is not only one of the most beautiful cities in the
world, but having lived there briefly in the early Nineties, it also holds a special place in my heart. When I judged the Afghan Hound Club of NSW’s 100th Anniversary Show two years ago, I told everyone that Australia has some of the best Afghan Hounds in the world. I am now happy to report that the French Bulldogs in Oz Land did not disappoint either! It is my earnest belief that the best ones can hold their own anywhere in the world today - kudos to the breeders and mentors who have worked so hard over the past years and decades to incorporate some of the world’s best French Bulldogs and lines to arrive at the caliber they enjoy today. It is evident there are some very smart breeders and clever mentors Down Under who are sharing crucial knowledge for the love of the breed, and not just pushing a personal agenda.
Having said that, like everywhere else I have judged, there is always room for improvement. There are dogs that are bigger and longer cast than what I am used to. And yes, I did peruse your Breed Standard (which I actually prefer over the American version) that makes provision for bigger sizes. While I did look at
tails (like your Standard asks for), I shall admit I am no tail Nazi, though an ideal low-set paint-brush tail does finish the outline with a perfect touch. Straight hindquarters, with short second thigh and lacking proper moderate angulation with well letdown SHORT hocks, appears to be a prevalent problem that haunts breeders on a global scale, and unfortunately, Australia is not sparred from this structural concern. A well-constructed solid front is a virtue I value, and I did witness some wonky fronts with weak pasterns and splayed feet. Fore chest is a hit-andmiss and so is set of shoulders and upper arm. I would also advise that special attention be paid to the underjaw, correct muzzle layback, and fill and cushioning to form the desired facial finish. I discovered some low noses, and heads that lack width and strength of muzzle and proper roping of wrinkles. Head and expression are of paramount importance to a selfproclaimed head hunter such as yours truly, and I was happy to find a handful of very beautiful well-cushioned headpieces with the quintessential smart, alert and sweet expression I desire. Someone had asked me afterwards for my take on light eyes, and my response is that as long as they fit, are not glaring and don’t distract from the expression, I can overlook lighter eyes because as both breeders and judges, we are constantly faced to make such decisions, and I believe in the need to always consider the whole package instead of zooming in on a single feature at the expense of the bigger picture. My favourite saying being “An amateur would dissect to find faults in parts during their process of elimination, but a true connoisseur seeks the greatness in virtues of the whole.” I am very thankful for the respectable entry of 120-something ( 2 entries short of the all-time record as I was informed,) and I did find some very beautiful and correct exhibits I truly admire and fancy. Temperament and breathing were good, and there was not a single exhibit that totally lack merits. The bitches definitely prevailed today with numbers and triumphed with a clearly greater depth of quality across the board. I am very grateful to each and every exhibitor who travelled to show under me. The trophy table was beautiful, and those sashes and jackets for the principal winners’ hand-stitched by Lisa Vassallo were well regarded, and I wish we bestowed similar prizes in America. May I extend my gratitude to the lovely Lynn Borg for opening her sprawling estate to all the next day after the show, which enabled me to meet all the wonderful Australian Frenchie folks on a more personal level. We had a little French Bulldog brainstorm and pow-wow session which I enjoyed tremendously. To my able steward Kim Moorey who kept my ring in order, to my most hospitable Show Secretary, Sheridan Ledger who took such fabulous care of me, and to the committee, members and friends of the French Bulldog Club of New South Wales, I say thank you for the privilege of judging your lovely dogs and for a splendid day I shall remember and cherish always.
Baby Puppy Dog 1st - MYRELUCHI MONSIEUR MARTY Sire: Ch D’Accord Laurent Perrier Dam: Keniso Mamselle Miley Breeder/Owner: L Doldissen An attractive almost 3.5 months old brindle dog puppy that would easily belong in the American show ring with his compact size, cobby body, and pretty expression. A lovely stamp of puppy that is well off for bone, substance and rib spring for his tender age. Flat skull with a nicely domed forehead and correct bat ears. Nice eyes of correct size and shape giving rise to a sweet expression. Good width of underjaw with developing upturn coming along nicely, and I was quite enchanted by his lovely headpiece and expression. Smart front assembly, well set shoulder, a good depth of brisket with a lovely spring of ribs for age plus a short strong loin. Could use a stronger rear action, which I hoped will improve with age, but it did not discount the lovely picture he made as he trotted round the ring like a little pro. 2nd - AVENIR DUKE LE REGAL (AI) Sire: Multi Ch Store Linde’s Kleos Le Regal Dam: Ch Avenir Chocolat Breeder/Owner: A Watson Another quality brindle puppy of the correct stamp with good bone and substance that stood out in this large class. Lovely head and foreface with correctly set ears, good crest of neck that suited his proportion and fitted nicely into his well set shoulder. A lovely body with a loads to like, this baby could benefit from a fraction more angulation in the rear. Well made for age, this baby moved well and showed great potential for a bright future.
Minor Puppy Dog 1st - SENARABULL MR ED Sire: Ch Boule & Onuba Glass (Imp Esp) Dam: Kingfriend Miss Senara (Imp UK) Breeder/Owner: S Arunachalam An easy win for this well-trained handsome 7 months old dark brindle boy. An attractive head, topped with bat ears of correct shape, size and carriage, he is attentive and shows off his attributes well. Lovely eyes that show off his soft expression, good nares and width of underjaw, but could use more cushioning and fill under eyes which will hopefully come with maturity and time. Front of good width and developing forechest, sound straight frontlegs, a correct unexaggerated topline with a round croup and low-set tail complete the lovely finish to his outline. A nice width and depth of body for age as well. Well handled and shown to showcase his strengths. 2nd - HUSHAN MR GERRIN Sire: Brebbie Napoleon B Dam: Ch Hushan Vanity Fair Daulokke Breeder/Owner: B & J Payne Another lovely puppy with lots to like about him. He has many of the similar virtues as the class winner, such as his well-placed shoulders, good front, topline and substance. An attractive head and alluring expression.
Puppy Dog 1st - BRIALLEN CASANOVAS HERO Sire: Ch D’Accord Valentino Dam: Pendragan Okey Dokey Breeder: B Miniter Owner: M Dengate A good-sized 9 months old black brindle puppy with lots to offer. He is a fraction too large for America, but I have to bear in mind that I am judging today in Australia with a different set of allowance for weight and size. To start, he projects a beautiful picture moving round the ring with his correct proportion. He has a distinct underline and topline, but it is not over exaggerated in any shape and form, and his low-set tail adds a lovely touch of finish to his beautiful shapely outline. Great pigmentation, dark nails ,plus good bone and substance for age. He has a lovely head with flat topskull, domed foreface, and dark expressive eyes that give rise to a soft expression. His ears are of correct shape, size and carriage and he also has good angles which some lack today. He needs more developing and strengthening in his front and pasterns before he competes and steals the thunder from the big-winning guys. A quality puppy with great appeal and promise. 2nd - PENDRAGAN COEUR DE LION Sire: Gr Ch Pendragan Quiet Riot Dam: Pendragan Sassafras Breeder: K Hedberg, S O’Rourke & A O’Rourke Owner: Frazer, Hedberg & O’Rourke A well-shown and handled crystal clear attractive brindle pied with great
pigmentation and a gorgeous headpiece. Flat top skull, rounded forehead and wellplaced facial features which I appreciated very much. Unlike some, he is not nosey, and has proper layback and fill, plus a well-padded muzzle. Good length of neck that fits nicely into his well-made front. Lovely angles and good bone for size. He puts his slightly extra body length to good use as he demonstrated good reach and drive when he trotted around the big ring in style.
Junior Dog 1st - SENARABULL MR PEDRO Sire: Ch Boule & Onuba Glass (imp Esp) Dam: Daulokkes Claudie Pierlot (imp Den) Breeder: S Arunachalam Owner: R Parry & S Arunachalam I am a sucker for beautiful headpieces, and this is one of the best heads and expression of the day. An impressive dark brindle yearling with so much to like about him. From his gorgeous headpiece with tremendous detailings, and his compact proportion, he caught my eyes right away. Fabulous headpiece and expression plus those delicious round scalloped Danish ears that he puts to good use when he is not distracted. Good fill under eyes, and a well-cushioned wide muzzle and underjaw. Lovely crest of neck that fitted tightly into his well-set shoulder. Good fronted with straight front legs of lovely bone and a cobby body with lovely top line, good rib spring, substance and tuck-up. Like a randy teenager, he was not always behaving, but it was easy to forgive his lack of concentration for his quality. While he could use more strength and angles in his rear, it is difficult to get past his beautiful TYPE. He has much to offer the breed with his attributes, and if used correctly with suitable bitches, I forecast him to be an asset that will benefit the breed with his beautiful breed type. 2nd - CH EMORETTE SEBASTIEN Sire: Ch D’Accord Valentino Dam: Emorette Fleur De Jasmin Breeder/Owner: K McAndrew A top-notch youngster of a lovely size and enough substance that I like very much. Well handled and shown by his handler, he makes a lovely overall package. Ideal shape and make which contributed to his lovely outline. His headpiece is correct and has great appeals. Flat between his ears with typical bat ears, lovely expression and width of muzzle, some might perhaps prefer a darker eyes but it did not distract from his expression. He is correctly balanced in body proportion with nice bone and substance for his age. Good neck, short compact body with correct topline and a lovely low-set tail, plus a well letdown and angulated hind quarters. He used himself very well, and was a lovely picture to watch him glide round the ring with such ease. I considered him strongly to win the class.
Intermediate Dog 1st - CH EMORETTE BLAISE PASCAL Sire: Ch Emorette Barnes Storming Dam: Emorette Rosalina Breeder/Owner: K McAndrew Another quality exhibit from this kennel that should be admired for their consistent high- calibre stock. A very handsome male that won his class very handily with his lovely shape and proportion. He is not exaggerated in any way with the correct amount of bulliness without being frumpy, and enough bone and substance not to appear weedy. Correctly balanced with a very handsome headpiece and brilliant expression that tantalize. His topskull is flat between his well-placed bat ears of divine carriage which shows off his smart and alert expression. His headpiece is yummy, and his expression divine. He has such a nice way about him, plus a nice width and strength to his front. Looking front on, he makes a stellar picture of high style. His neck fits smoothly into his well-set shoulders and he comes housed with a nice cobby body with good strength and substance. His topline is subtle, and it was a joy to watch him use himself with in such an efficient manner, and with such poise. A most deserving young male champion I was pleased to award Best Immediate In Show. 2nd - OPALGUARD SEXYBACK Sire: UK Ch & Ch Sarabar Continental Affair At Glenlee (imp UK) Dam: Ch Opalguard We Got Gold Breeder: N Kenwrick Owner: S Hodson A charming black-masked fawn male that in ways reminds me of some of famous black masked fawns abroad. Lovely size, shape and proportion. He has an attractive head with nice details and alert ears. Presents a pleasing overall picture standing with his lovely neck of good strength that fits smoothly into his well-laid shoulder assembly and compact body. Correct topline with the desired rise above the loin and a round finish of croup to a low-set tail. To be hyper-critical, I would prefer more forechest and rear angles, but he uses himself very well, and is nonetheless a most worthy exhibit with the overall outline he exhibits.
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Aust. Bred Dog 1st - CH JONHAH IM JUST A HOBO Sire: Ch Jonhah Trevatroubl Dam: Sup Ch Jonhah Taylor Made Breeder/Owner: S Ledger & D Paine A handsome dark brindle that simply out-moved and out-showed everyone to keep his nearest competitors at bay. Very well handled and trained, he is a lovely sized and proportioned. With good bone, substance and muscles, he cuts a fetching picture going round the ring in such an effortless ease. Attractive headpiece with flat topskull and well-placed ears. Good height to length ratio with sufficient neck and top line, plus good bone, substance and rib spring that allow him the complete picture presents. With his four 4 good agile legs that produced an effortless active side-gait, he sailed like a winner to first place. 2nd - SANCERRE DIDIER Sire: Ch Belboulecan Casino Royale (Imp Can) Dam: Ch Sancerre Petit Bonne Femme Breeder/Owner: M Duncan Another nice exhibit in the form of a rich black masked fawn dog that has much merits and a lovely headpiece. He has lovely bone, substance and oomph. Trotted round like a smart soldier, he did not disappoint at all. To nit-pick, I would prefer rounder and taller ears on him.
Open Dog Three EXCELLENT dogs with three EXCELLENT handlers who lobbied and worked very hard. Three entirely different types of males, and each with different strengths and weaknesses. In the end, I had to prioritize what was important to me, and consider the overall picture. But on any given day, one can easily swap the placements, and justifiably so. 1st - GR CH PENDRAGAN QUIET RIOT Sire: Pendragan Original Sin Dam: Ch Pendragan Chase the Wind Breeder: K Hedberg & S O’Rourke Owner: C Frazer The consummate showman who wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer, and he pushed hard to win the class. Without a doubt, this is a dream team, and one to beat as there is this special bond and chemistry between handler and dog that creates pure magic!!! Definitely a charmer who cast his effective spell on me, as I felt like a married woman cheating on my husband when I couldn’t resist him. A masculine headpiece packed with strength; flat top skull, and well-set ears of correct shape, size and carriage. He is all male but without any coarseness. Dark expressive round eyes, and well-developed cheek muscles. Strong arched neck of good length that fits nicely into his strong shoulders. Prosternum present, nice spring of ribs with good depth of brisket. He held his strong but gentle topline both on the move and free stack, which he executed perfectly on command at every opportunity which only confirms his wonderful structural confirmation. His silhouette is one of the best, and he has the wonderful rear angles that so many in the breed are so desperately lacking, which enables his strong rear action. This is a team that is truly in sync on every level, and this is a dog that can go on and on for days, as he clearly enjoys his mission at hand. This is the ultimate showdog, with no if’s or but’s. Together, they are a pleasure to watch in action, as he made the most out of himself the entire time to win this hotly-contested Open Dog class, Dog Challenge and Best Open In Show. Such a credit to handler-owner and breeders. 2nd - CH D’ACCORD FREDERIC Sire: Ch Pendragan Ellfor Leather Dam: Castlehaines Charisma (Imp UK) Breeder/Owner: M Rosser & L Davidson If I was shopping for a stud dog today, this is the dog I would use. He is more me in his size and stature, and he definitely would not look out of place in the stiffest of American show rings. A solid condensed male, he is a powerhouse packed with so much goodness in a smaller package which I prefer. A compact mature male shown in beautiful condition and muscle tone, there is so much to like about his most handsome guy. Masculine headpiece, with every facial features in the right places, and his fabulous front are just two of his many fortes. Good round bat ears, lovely dark expressive eye, and he is well-cushioned and filled under his eyes. Good width of muzzle and upsweep of underjaw giving him a lovely profile to the head. Strong thick neck of adequate length that fits so neatly into his tight cobby body, carried by his thick little legs. Correct topline and good depth of brisket. A striking brindle with ample stripes and good coat texture. Super shoulder which gave him one of the best front actions of the day. His handler pushed him hard in the class, and I only wish I had a second set of Dog Challenge to award him!!! Reserve Best Dog and Reserve Dog Challenge. 3rd - GR CH EMORETTE ROLLS ROYCE Sire: Ch Belboulecan Casino Royale (Imp Can) Dam: Ch Emorette Maggie May Breeder/Owner: K McAndrew A smart tidy guy with more a lean athletic built than a bully molossian. A masculine headpiece with a stoic expression, this fetching male exhibits good proportion/ balance, a correct rise and fall in the topline plus a lovely low-set tail. He actually has a tail which some others lack. He moved in ‘one piece,’ and with his stripey tiger brindle colour, he makes a striking picture. Higher-stationed and appearing rangier than my 2nd placed dog, but nonetheless, it does not distract from his
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balance and proportion. He has style, and he has charisma. This is a good honest dog with lots to offer. With thanks to his well-constructed form that allowed him the proper function of his free and easy gait. On this day, I felt he lacked a little in weight, padding and conditioning, but nonetheless he is a credit to his breed, and definitely would make a wonderful stud to contribute when paired with the right bitches.
BITCHES Baby Puppy Bitch 1st – MAPLEWOOD HELLO Sire: Ch Maplewood Crash Bang Boom Dam: Maplewood Legally Blonde Breeder/Owner: G Moxey A very stylish and well put together puppy that shows and looks more advanced than her tender age. Such a lovely profile and her silhouette was smooth as fine whiskey, something she held on the move as well. A very attractive baby with so much to write home about. Her biggest strength is her silhouette and balance that screams French Bulldog. But let’s not forget her pleasing headpiece and expression, her good bone and proper substance, her nice front and angled rear plus her lovely shape and make, plus her fluid easy gait. A total balanced package and I predict an easy future champion in the making. She is so deservingly Best Baby In Show. 2nd – MYRELUCHI MAMSELLE LILY Sire: Ch D’Accord Laurent Perrier Dam: Keniso Mamselle Miley Breeder/Owner: L Doldissen Litter sister to my Baby Puppy Dog class winner, and there is no doubt they were cut from the small cloth. It’s fascinating to see such consistency, and like her brother, she has a lovely head and expression with a thick cobby body proportion that she held well both on the stack and on the move. She is clean moving, and her compact body houses a good spring of ribs, good depth of brisket and a short strong loin.
Minor Puppy Bitch 1st - MOJAVI MISSKONDUCT Sire: Am Ch & Ch Fabelhaft Robobull Smokin’ Hot (Imp USA) Dam: Ch Jonhah Eva Peron Breeder/Owner: J Doherty A small but chunky brindle baby girl who will not look out of place in the America show arena. A lovely size, with a correct make and shape. She excels in her silhouette and balance, which kept both on the go as well as on the stack. She moves steadily and showed well. She is feminine but comes packed with adequate boning and substance for size, age and gender. She won the class on her balance, shape and outline. In a nutshell, she has beautiful lines. 2nd - PENDRAGAN COSI FAN TUTTE Sire: Gr Ch Pendragan Quiet Riot Dam: Pendragan Sassafras Breeder/Owner: K Hedberg, S & A O’Rourke A slightly larger substantial bitch puppy with a nice overall balance that I admire. She has an attractive head with pleasing expression and lovely good ears of right shape and placement. A nice neck that flowed well into her well set shoulders and compact bodywork. Her balance is lovely and her proportion is ideal. A wee bit misbehavin’ like a typical baby which makes judging her a wee bit more difficult. She has plenty of merits, and I wish she has performed slightly better to warrant the class.
Puppy Bitch A huge competitive class that I had to split into 2 groups to judge. If these young debutantes are an indication of what the future has in store, then boys you better watch out!!! A class I thoroughly enjoyed judging because there was depth in numbers as well as quality. I was spoilt for choices here. 1st - CH D’ACCORD ENCHANTRESSE Sire: Ch Belboulecan Casino Royale (imp Can) Dam: D’Accord Charismatique Colette Breeder/Owner: Rosser/Davidson Brindles accounted for most of my class winners, but there was no denying this lovely 11 months old pied bitch, whom I also considered seriously in the Challenge Bitch circle. She fought hard to win this class, and despite being in season, she was not temperamental as she out-moved, out-classed and out-showed the rest like a reliable well-toned showgirl destined for stardom. She had gorgeous inky pigmentation, beautiful brindle patches/marking against a background of crystal clear white coat of good texture. Superbly handled and presented in pristine condition/muscle tone, she moved with such ease and stood with such affirmation of pure regal quality. I witnessed sight of brilliance as she glided round the ring, only confirming her exemplary structural confirmation. A beautiful square head and expression, she is luxurious in her finer detailing and points. She has a well-padded muzzle with good fill under her eyes, plus lovely bat ears of correct shape, size, and carriage that added to her pristine expression. Her neck flows smoothly into her well-set shoulders, her body is solid and her outline is divine. She has lovely substance and good bone, but yet, she was neither overdone nor frumpy. Her movement is clean and sound from every direction, this is very pretty young lady of the highest caliber, and there is no doubt she is definitely a rising star. Best Puppy In Show.
RUNNER UP BEST IN SHOW: BIS CH ABIAAN PRIMADONNA GIRL - Breeder/Owner/Handler: Ben McWatt
BEST PUPPY IN SHOW: CH D’ACCORD ENCHANTRESSE - Breeders/Owners: Rosser & Davidson
BEST BABY IN SHOW: MAPLEWOOD HELLO Breeder/Owner: G Moxey
BEST DOG, CHALLENGE WINNER AND BEST OPEN IN SHOW: BIS GCH PENDRAGAN QUIET RIOT Breeder: K Hedberg & S O’Rourk Owner/Handler: Charissa Frazer
RESERVE BEST DOG AND RESERVE DOG CHALLENGE WINNER: BIS CH D’ACCORD FREDERIC Breeder/Owner: M Rosser & L Davidson Handler: Joel Vassall
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2nd - LIGIANNI DEMOISELLE ZOE (AI) Sire: Am Gr Ch A’vigdors Extase De Ma Beaute Dam: Zanzebern Iszabella Breeder/Owner: G Bekachvili A most attractive dark brindle girl that screams quality, and dominated the class. Only 8 months old, this typey girl with a very pleasing headpiece and lovely silhouette reminded me of her illustrious sire and her top-winning European half-siblings. Her balance and outline are spot-on, and she carried herself and moved round the ring with such grace and dignity. You don’t need to be a breed connoisseur to recognize her star quality, as I expect to hear more good things coming from this one. 3rd - AVENIR TALL POPPY Sire: Ch D’Accord San Rafael Rose Dam: Ch Avenir Field Of Dreams Breeder/Owner: A Watson Another outstanding bitch with such beautiful lines, balance and proportion. Just 11 months old, and hence, still developing. There are plenty to admire about this girl from her attractive head, and lovely neck to correct topline and cobby body with correct angles that fitted smoothly. With maturity, she should get more fill to complete her potential as a bitch to contend with. Handled and shown well.
Junior Bitch 1st - BOUDIN BINKI BABY Sire: Ch Tricibwythn Axel Dam: Boudin Cumbrian Lass Breeder/Owner: J Butler A very lovely dark bridle girl packed full to the brim with such style and quality. Just barely over a year old, she has correctly-shaped dark eyes, and well placed ears which she puts to great use to give rise to that curious and alert expression. Her nicely-arched neck fits smoothly into her well-placed shoulders, compact body with well-rounded ribs of good depth, and gentle roach in her topline just the way I like it, and a well-muscled and angulated hind quarters. She was very attentive and showed like a seasoned pro, as she moved round the big ring with nice reach and drive in an easy manner. She is of the correct proportion and such a lovely overall balance, and despite the challenge from the Junior Dog winner which I also like so much, I did not hesitate to award her Best Junior In Show. 2nd - LLACHAR ROMANCE IN VERONA Sire: Ch Llachar Je Suis Un Fantome Dam: Ch Llachar Key To The Future Breeder/Owner: K McClelland An attractive feminine brindle girl shown and presented ever so smartly by her able handler. A medium sized girl that is enjoying her day out, as she shows her little heart out to make her Mommy proud! A good-moving debutante with a nice head and pleasing overall make and shape, and four good legs.
Intermediate Bitch 1st - CH YOUSHI COUNTRY RHYTHMN Sire: Gefion Audacious (imp NZ) Dam: Youshi Fancy Edition Breeder: Youshi Kennels Owner: A Rebelo A good honest bitch with a lovely balance and proportion that is well handled. She has a square front, correct rib spring, and enough angulation in her rear quarters. A pleasant head with a kind expression and she could perhaps use more fill under her eyes ad a more padded muzzle. She has a nice neck of correct length, a slightly roached topline, and a deep brisket and tuck-up which completed her defined underline. Her silhouette is quite lovely and would be improved if she had a lower-set tail. Bone and substance very fitting for her bitch of her stature. Shown and moved enthusiastically to clinch her the first place. 2nd - KENISO MAMSELLE MILEY Sire: Ch Keniso Boris Dam: Ch Keniso Abigail Breeder: I Harris Owner: L Doldissen An attractive well-filled brindle bitch that was reluctant to do her utmost to strut her good looks and show me her virtues. I like her shape and make, and there were moments where she offered me a brief glimpse of her lovely topline, bodywork and proportion.
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Aust Bred Bitch Another big class that I had to judge in 2 groups to do the girls justice. There were 2 standouts that battled to the very end. Two bitches of different make and shape, but both filled with such outstanding virtues they are hard to overlook, and almost impossible to resist. 1st - CH SENARABULL MISS CLAIRE Sire: Ch D’Accord Valentino Dam: Ch Senarabull Happy Harriet Breeder/Owner: S Arunachalam A moderate seal-brindle bitch who is correctly moderate on all accounts, but she’s certainly not moderate in QUALITY!!! I knew this bitch was trouble as soon she sets foot into my ring. A trouble for her competitors but what an eye candy and pleasure for me!!!! A delight to judge on the table with her sound unexaggerated construction, and a poetry in motion to watch as she glides round the ring so effortlessly. Her solid front, which is wide and sturdy, and allowed her the clean front motion, serves as one of her big advantages today. She is thick at the right places, but defined in the others to show shape and symmetry so desired in the breed. With chunky round bones, and the correct angles both front and rear, she demonstrates no wasted exaggerated motion. She has a most glorious head and expression that scream FRENCHIE, and she is for me, a timeless classic bitch that will stand the test of time without succumbing to fleeting fads and trends. With nothing to hide but everything to flaunt, she is pure bliss. Topped with her gentle topline and seamless silhouette which she held on to perfectly both on the free stack and on the move, she truly had me at hello. She has one of the best layback, and underjaw upsweep of the day, and I was mesmerized by her beautiful feminine headpiece and detailing. Well-cushioned with ample fill under her brown eyes, which did not sway from her fabulous expression. She has a tight shapely body and four good legs which complete the whole package. Plus beautiful detailngs such as round scalloped bat ears, strong pasterns and tight cat feet which gave her the edge to keep her challengers away. A real credit to her breeder and pedigree, and shown to perfection by her handlers, she exemplifies what a well-made, smooth-moving correct French Bulldog bitch should be. I was smitten, as I awarded her the Open Bitch class, Challenge Bitch and ultimately, the coveted crown of BEST IN SHOW!!! 2nd - CH ABIAAN PRIMADONNA GIRL Sire: UK Ch Kingfriend Mr Wow Dam: Ch Emorette Eadee Ma Mere Breeder/Owner: B McWatt A very stylish 15 months old medium-sized dark brindle bitch in superb muscle tone and condition. Sound like a bell, and so easy on the eyes, she caught my attention from the word ‘Go!’. She spells STYLE and QUALITY in big block letters, and I bought every bit! A feminine head with expressive dark eyes, round velvety forehead and lovely ears of good shape and carriage, and she has one of the best width of under jaw with well-spaced incisors of the day. Her strong crested neck of good length flows beautifully into her smooth withers and well laid shoulders, and she has great spring of ribs and depth of brisket for her age. Though only a teenager who still needs maturity, she is so rich in virtues, and so gifted in attributes. Her balance is ideal for a bitch as she will not lack the room to carry puppies, and she conducts herself with such high style and pride around the ring only a true Prima Donna can manage. A definite top line with curves in the right places with an underline to match, her shape is lovely and her outline is fancy. In top form, and expertly handled to perfection, she has a sense of self importance about her that is bewitching! She is such a typical young Frenchie bitch and she moves so effortlessly round the ring like a quintessential beauty queen with that indefinable ‘wow’ factor. A credit to her breeder, and an asset to the breed, she is a privilege to judge and it was my pleasure to award her Reserve Bitch Challenge and Reserve Best In Show.
Open Bitch A lovely class of virtuous bitches and equally competitive lady handlers that garnered the top 2 spots. My first and second placed exhibits are half sisters sired by my Challenge Dog winner. The two top bitches in this class have some similiarities but also enough differences to set them apart. Both quality girls with good bone, substance and strength we all can only wish we have in all our bitches. 1st - PENDRAGAN ZERO TOLERANCE Sire: Gr Ch Pendragan Quiet Riot Dam: Pendragan Sassafras Breeder: K Hedberg, S & A O’Rourke Owner: Hedberg/O’Rourke/Gregor A very pretty crystal clear pied girl with a gorgeous headpiece and expression. Showed like a million bucks, and very well handled. She was not nosey and had a well-padded
muzzle of food width and wide underjaw with a nice upturn. I like her layback. Her headpiece is divine with her facial features all so well-placed and set in harmony. Plus, she had a gorgeous pigmentation and inky black points, which helped to clinch the class for her today. She has an alert temperament and like her sire, she never lets down or quit showing. She moves like the wind ( no pun intended as it was windy), with good extension in motion. She has the corresponding angles in her front and rear quarters which allowed her to move with such ease and style. A nice square front, good front construction, lovely body, topline and finished with a sound well let-down hocks quite a few lack today. This pied beauty is packed with quality with tones to offer the breed. A most dynamic overall package which caught my eyes, and earned my approval. 2nd - SUP CH JONHAH TAYLOR MADE Sire: Gr Ch Pendragan Quiet Riot Dam: Ch Jonhah Coral Taylor Breeder/Owner: S Ledger & D Paine A strapping black-masked fawn bitch that is built like a brickhouse and moves like a dream. Lovely head with very pleasing facial features and good ears of correct carriage. Her strong arched neck flowed neatly into sound well-laid shoulders. A good solid front assembly, she has plenty of brisket to allow great lung expansion, a correct topline and well muscled rear quarters of good angles. She has so much going for her, and one most breeders would be proud to have in their kennel as she is made to reproduce, which is fundamentally is
the main purpose of bitches. She has 4 good legs which she put to good use. She is sound but packed with enough substance and power to rival the best males. In an ideal world, I would wish to see more bitches of this stature, strength and beauty in America to marry the finer-boned American boys for the ideal match made in Heavens. I like so much about her, as she flew the flags high and proud to represent what strength, substance, health and movement mean in French Bulldogs without compromising beauty. Beautifully handled, both on the move and free stack, to perfection. A healthy strong girl, she showed like a super star and is such a credit to her owner-handler. _____________________________________________________________________ THE FRENCHIE FANCY MAGAZINE would like to thank Ms Diane Burvee for providing us with this judging critique, and the show photographer Ffiona Erskine of ffire Photography for kindly letting us reproduce the photos.
Head and Expression of Best In Show winner BIS CH SENARABULL MISS CLAIRE
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