KeeshondWorld - V1 N1 - October 2010

Volume 1, Number 1

A truly INTERNATIONAL Keeshond Magazine October, 2010

MBIS, MBISS, Am/Can Ch Daimler’s Caviar Dreams Am/Can HOF, ROM**

MBIS / MBISS AUST & NZ CHAMPION KEESWEY THE MARKSMAN AT KEEZ (imp NZ)

Luca arrived on Australian Shores in July 2009. Within the 12 months since he has arrived he has amassed a total of 55 Best of Breed, 11 Group 1st, 8 Group 2, 2 Best in Show (all Breeds) and 3 Best in Specialty Show wins.

Luca easily gained the 100 challenge points required for his Australian Championship title in only 10 shows. He is now over 800 points towards his Grand Championship Title (1000 points are required) We look forward to Luca’s progeny in the ring in the near future.

Thank you to all of Luca’s supporters over the past 12 months, we really appreciate it!

We feed and recommend Trevor & Cheri Rogers KEEZ KEESHONDEN

Melbourne, Australia www.keezkeeshonden.net

BIS (O) / RUBISS AUSTRALIAN CHAMPION KEEZ IF THE SHOE FITS

Imelda was born on June 11, 2009 and easily gained the 100 challenge points required for her Australian Championship title at a year of age. In her short show career of only 9 months she has amassed a total of 6 Best of Breed, 18 runner up Best of Breed, 9 Best Puppy in Group, 4 Best Puppy in Show, 1 Best in Specialty Open Show and 1 Runner Up Best in Specialty Show. She qualified for the prestigious Puppy of the Year competition in Both South Australia (where she made it to the final 4) and in Victoria (where she placed 4th) We look forward to watching this amazing young lady mature and find her place amongst the best of the best here in Australian show rings.

Thank you to all of Imelda’s supporters over the past 12 months, we really appreciate it!

We feed and recommend Trevor & Cheri Rogers KEEZ KEESHONDEN

Melbourne, Australia www.keezkeeshonden.net

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Well the big day is finally here and the very first edition of KeeshondWorld online magazine is ready for viewing! For many years Trevor and I have discussed the idea of an online Keeshond magazine, FREE for all to view ANYWHERE in the world.

KeeshondWorld is a place where ALL keeshond lovers can showcase their dogs in any discipline. It is also a place where ALL keeshond lovers can come to read and learn about any discipline that our breed may enjoy.

KeeshondWorld is a truly International magazine that will feature Keeshond news from around the world. We have some first class columnists onboard to bring you show results, interviews, health information, tricks, tips and stories from the heart.

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Front Cover Story Celebrating a Historic Occasion Back-to-Back Best-in-Specialty Wins America’s #1 Keeshond 2008, 2009, 2010 All Systems* MBIS, MBISS, Am/Can Ch Daimler’s Caviar Dreams Am/Can HOF, ROM** Breeders/Owners/Handlers Terry and Diane Benz Co-Owner: Cathy Cinnamon (Canada) "Parker" Sire: Ch. Keeshee's Lock Stock 'N Barrel, ROM Dam: Ch. Daimler's Forever Vain HOF, ROM ¾ #1 Keeshond in America since 2007 ¾ #2 Keeshond in Canada since 2008 (behind is daughter 2009 and Kennel mate 2010) ¾ 10 Specialty Best of Breeds, including 2 National wins ¾ 5 All Breed Best in Shows ¾ 2 Westminster Best of Breeds Thru very selective and limited breeding, sire of 17 Champions to date: 6 Group Placing, 2 BIS, 5 BISP, 5 Specialty winning, 3 performance titled *Thru July 2010 Excluding KCA **Pending KCA confirmation

A Cherelle Australia Pty Ltd Publication © 2010 PO Box 330 Deer Park Victoria Australia 3023 Fax +61 3 9747 1176 – Tel +61 3 9747 1174

Email: magazine@keeshondworld.com www.keeshondworld.com

Health Matters Finders Keepurrs Positively Obedience Modern Natural Rearing Keemeritus Osteosarcomas Keeshond History Show Rings of the World

Feature Articles

Spotlight on

Britain – Part 1 Russia Australia Canada – Western Mid – Eastern New Zealand Russia United Kingdom USA - Western USA - Mid USA - Eastern Judging & handling the Kees Judging in Norway Top Keeshond Event An “Old Dogs” Disease?

DNA Making Inherited Disease History My Trip to the 75th National New Champions New Litters/Matings

Jane Saunders Alecia Novak Judi James Donna Stekli Debbie Eldredge Dr Michael Bell Christine Searle Ekaterina Nikitina Shirley Mewett Jeannie Owen Rob Harper Jeannette Wingels Ekaterina Nikitina Karin Hickson WANTED WANTED Terri VanSchyndel Phyllis Noonan Kathy Stewart Phyllis Noonan, Brenda Brooks & Trevor Rogers Laurie Lawver Jane Saunders Shirley Mewett

Kennel Directory KEESHONDWORLD, October 2010 Volume 1 No 1 published quarterly by Cherelle Australia Pty Ltd, Copyright Cherelle Australia Pty Ltd, 2010. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the publisher. Cherelle Australia Pty Ltd PO Box 330 Deer Park Victoria Australia 3023 The views contained herein do not necessarily reflect the views of KeeshondWorld. Complete neutrality will be maintained unless considered slanderous, defamatory or libelous.

KeeshondWorld reserves the right to correct articles for grammar, spelling and punctuation.

KeeshondWorld assumes no responsibility for any paid advertisement with regard to accuracy or description or ownership of such item at the time of publication of the advertisement. Reproduction of any content may be permitted upon written approval of the Editor, and acknowledgement of the source of the article, and a copy provided to the Editor.

HEALTH MATTERS

BY JANE SAUNDERS

LIEFKEES KEESHOND

Being asked to write a health column for KeeshondWorld magazine is an honour and I hope to add something of interest to readers wherever in the world you may be. The thread that joins us all is the love of a very special breed of dog - the Keeshond/Wolfsspitz.

Health work has grown steadily for me until it has become the ‘second job’! It started by chance back in 1999 when a friend here in the UK asked if I would be interested in helping a researcher at the Royal Veterinary College. This was Dr Rosario Cerundolo and he was researching Alopecia X in a number of the spitz breeds. I was happy to help and this was the seed of my involvement with the health of the keeshond.

Anni as a tiny pup; We were not to know what was to happen in later life

The work on PHPT started when my beloved Anni succumbed to the disease at the age of 10 years. She and her sister Lucy had been born in 1991 when we in the UK were totally unaware of the disease or the devastating effect it was to have on my keeshond family. Lucy had originally been sold but a family difficulty had caused her to be cancelled the day the new owner was to collect her. This was just before Christmas and by New Year we had decided that she was destined to remain with us. Thank God she did as it was Lucy who we bred on from and she turned out to be negative for the gene.

Some breeders around the world still feel that they have dogs that are so outstanding that they would consider breeding from them even though they have tested positive for the gene. I wish they could see the misery that this disease can cause the owner and the dog, yes it might be relatively easy to get specialist surgery in some countries but in others this is not the case, as there are not the vet school specialists to cope with the surgery and aftercare, and without pet insurance to cover veterinary bills this can be a real worry.

Gile aged 20 days, sleeping whilst being weighed; a pup saved the misery of PHPT by a simple test

A great deal has already been written about Anni and how her untimely death started research in the UK. If you would like to learn more about PHPT, and how the genetic test has made this disease history be sure to read the article DNA Making Inherited Disease History elsewhere in this publication.

We have a similar difficulty with Alopecia X research. Dr Rosario Cerundolo is keen to undertake research into the genetic cause of this form of coat loss in the breed. He needs more samples from dogs with a diagnosis of this condition. It is only with the support of owners that we can pursue this research for our breed.

Susie and Gile at 14 weeks, enjoying their first holiday. Hereditarily negative for the PHPT gene

When my Anja gave birth to her eight beautiful pups at the end of May the joy was made complete by the knowledge that they were hereditarily negative e for the PHPT gene and would never go onto develop the disease as Anni had done.

We can never sit back and be complacent as there are still diseases to eliminate from our breed. For many, primary epilepsy is the greatest fear for breeders, yet it still carries a stigma which often leads to secrecy for fear of the reaction of others. We are fortunate to have a research funding to look at the mode of inheritance of epilepsy in the breed. A major difficulty is the lack of samples from keeshonds diagnosed with primary epilepsy. Dr Barbara Skelly at the University Of Cambridge School Of Veterinary Medicine is always happy to receive information and a blood sample from any dog with a diagnosis. We are so grateful for the commitment of keeshond friends around the world who have already submitted samples to Barbara, but more are always welcome

How can we all ensure that we give our breed the greatest opportunity for lives free from genetic disease? We can start by supporting genetic research. I am indebted to breeders and owners in various countries who have already sent blood samples to Dr Barbara Skelly to advance the research into epilepsy. We always need more samples. Maybe someone will read this and be able to provide a sample or know someone else who can help. Please do not think, someone else will do it. You can find out about primary epilepsy and how to contact Dr Barbara Skelly in confidence http://healthmatters.keeshondclub.org.uk/html/epilepsy.html Write captions for the selected photos.

Please let me know if there are any health topics you would wish to see in the magazine? I am sure we have all lost a beloved pet to Cancer; it would be interesting to start a database of the types of cancer found in our breed. This could be invaluable to researchers at some future date.

We hold the future health of our breed in our own hands. By being open and honest and committed to participating in genetic research, rather than thinking that someone else will make the effort, we can consign other conditions to history as we can PHPT. Now isn’t that a goal worth going the extra mile for?

Jane Saunders liefkees@hotmail.com

To access the International open registers for PHPT http://healthmatters.keeshondclub.org.uk/html/phpt_open_registers.html#

FINDERS KEEPURRS

By Alecia Novak

Raffles and Rescues and Ribbons…

OH MY!

Alecia and her Keepurrs

I am honored to be a part of the KeeshondWorld Online Magazine. I don’t claim to know a lot about rescue, but I want to do my part by writing about the experiences of the rescues and the rescuers. I want to write the tales of those Kees who have been found and even those who have been lost, in hopes that we will learn from our successes and our failures so in future they may all find a forever home and be somebody’s “Finders Keepurrs”.

The Keepurrs moniker is something I have been using for a while and finally got personalized license plates with it on!

The “Kee” part is obvious to all my dog friends and the “purrs” part is twofold... in honor of my beautiful purebred Maine Coon Cat, Willow, and to celebrate the cat-like paws and antics of our wonderful Keeshonden. That it also enfolds the spirit of rescue is a happy twist of fate.

Somewhere, out there at the rainbow bridge, my Mom is laughing. She is laughing because she knows that the old adage “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” is true. And I know it is true too, because I have her disease...it’s called chronic volunteeritis – and I have it BAD! Friends have threatened to duct tape my hands to my side to keep me from saying those infamous words “I’ll do it!”, but there is no duct tape that can hold me back.. and I am in good company. Proof of that was evident at the 2010 Keeshond National Specialty in May where volunteers were in abundance, scurrying around like a dog on the scent of a squirrel.

Somehow, and it may have had something to do with getting a free volunteer position with every Kees puppy purchased, I got persuaded to be the organizer of the Rescue Pageant. I was bound and determined that this pageant would be a celebration befitting the KCA 75th Anniversary celebrations and would live up to the pageants I had seen in previous years. That left me with big paw prints to fill!!

And so it began – my journey to the enlightenment of what it means to be a part of rescue. You see, I had always supported rescue by buying calendars, donating money and donating time, but I had never quite had the “aha moment”. That was about to change.

Over the first few months of planning, I managed to pick the brains of some of the previous pageant participants and organizers. I also managed to rope in a few stray helpers. I had a vision and I bounced the ideas off of my helpers, surfed the Internet for ideas and got the ball rolling.

Told that the only budget available for the pageant was any entry fee charged, I set about calculating totals and getting the word out. To help fund the pageant, and because I had participated in a similar event before, I had decided that the event would be to celebrate the Keeshond as rescues, companions and service dogs.

In December, I found out what it was really like to be a part of rescue when I was part of a group of people from Keeshond Rescue of Ontario that helped spring a darling little female Keeshond named Yucon (now Chai) from a local shelter in Windsor Ontario Canada. Within three days of coming to our house to be fostered, she had wrapped my husband around her little paw until he cried “Uncle” and said she could stay forever.

Knowing Chai’s history of repeated trips to the shelter and seeing her pink skin through her recently shorn-to-the-skin coat incited a fire within me to do more. That’s when the idea took hold. How about a raffle to raise money to help those Kees in need?

“The only budget available for the rescue pageant was any entry fee charged”

I would donate, in honor of my Mother, a soft sculpture Keeshond collectable, hand crafted by a wonderful lady in Nova Scotia, Canada. We would sell tickets at the National and all the money would go to rescue Kees. As soon as the word got out, people were clamoring for tickets – could they buy online even if they weren’t attending the national? Thanks to Donna Powell, they could! Suddenly, people began to ask if they could donate to the raffle. They wanted to ship or bring all kinds of awesome stuff to the benefit of rescue!

By the time the raffle was done, we had 73 items donated plus the soft sculpture! My friend Cheryl Chapman and I were inundated with ticket buyers! We had to get help so Laurie Lawver and Nancy Koivisto gave us time for breaks and to show our dogs! No matter the crowded table – people came in droves and bought hundreds of tickets! The raffle was from Wednesday to Friday and we raised $1720.00 for the Keeshond Sunshine Rescue Fund!!

What a thrill!

J’s Story J was found wandering in Michigan. He wasn't neutered, his coat was a mess and he'd obviously never been inside any building before. Rescue cleaned him up (did not have to shave him :-)), had him neutered and he came to me via rescue railroad on January 8, 2007.

Several vets guessed that he was about 7. He shows signs of being caged -- broken tooth, grooves in his other teeth and small scars around his nose. I had to literally drag him into my house and he immediately tried to mark it.

He took about a month to understand that potty happens outside. His reaction to most everything was to roll over on his side and submit. He had not been socialized and was defensive with my girls but they soon taught him how to act.

Today he's my big, handsome, friendly and happy good boy and I wouldn't give him up for anything.

by Michelle Binder

While all this was going on, the pageant preparations were in full force. We had 21 rescue, companion and service dogs entered into the pageant! There are some who think that the pageant is not an appropriate place for a non-rescued Keeshond, especially show dogs, but I beg to differ. This pageant was about celebrating ALL Kees! It would have been a VERY small pageant without the companion and service dogs too! Besides, don’t they all deserve their moment in the spotlight to have the story of their humancanine bond told?

Booklets with those wonderful stories were made (online via “Blurb”) and were shipped to the hotel site. Custom engraved paw shaped medallions were ordered and Creative Expressions Embroidery (maker of all the beautiful National embroidered items) promise to donate and make some lovely bandannas and embroider them with the national logo! Everyone has a soft spot for the pageant!

Shortly before I had submitted the booklet to be printed and just 3 weeks before I was to leave for the National, I got an email from Sheri Koch. Sheri had entered her rescue Kees Riley in the pageant but he had suddenly gone to the Rainbow Bridge. I asked if she would still be attending as I wanted her to help me pass out the goodie bags in memory of Riley and if we could still read his story aloud at the pageant – and she agreed. Riley’s story is the first entry in the pageant booklet – and there was not a dry eye in the house when I read, chokingly, what was to be his eulogy.

After Riley’s story came the other participant’s stories, to the cheers, tears, laughter and clapping of the audience. Each furparent was presented with a gift bag full of goodies for them and their fur-kids to enjoy.

This truly was a memorable moment and for me, it was the “aha” moment that had eluded me. THIS was what it was all about – loving your dog to the point of silliness, donating, bidding and buying all kinds of trinkets to raise money for rescue, making room in your heart and your home for just one more Kees that needs rescuing and basking in the fellowship of like-minded humans who KNOW how special our breed is and will do whatever it takes to save them. I take my hat off to you all. ~Alecia Novak~ Luna, Chai & Taiga (Kees) & Willow (Maine Coon Cat) Chinook, Tundra, Kitty & Punkin ..... forever in my heart Windsor Ontario Canada keeshond@mnsi.net

Riley’s Story Riley has been our special friend since we got him as a rescue from the Humane Society in 2000. He was to appear in a special parade for rescue dogs at the National Specialty Show for the Keeshond Club of America on May 28th. The story below was to be his biography for the parade, as it turns out it is his eulogy.

At the time Riley knew few commands, so, we enrolled in training classes at one of the area dog clubs. I thought he was pretty smart and decided to show him in obedience, hoping to one day get a blue ribbon.

The AKC granted him an ILP number and Riley became “Bright Eyed Riley’s Oreo Cookie”…………. off to the shows we went!

He proudly holds 5 major titles: U-CD and U-CDX with the United Kennel Club And a CD, CGC and CDX with the American Kennel Club.

In the year 2000 I fostered a 2 year old male Keeshond from the local Humane Society for Keeshond Rescue named Riley. He was 25 pounds overweight and bounced with energy. After 3 weeks I knew he had been destined to stay with me forever.

Not only did he win a few first place ribbons and awards, but became the 2nd ranked Keeshond in obedience in the United States for 2003 and 25th overall in Open class competition for that same year.

Riley is now 12 years old and retired from competition. He seems happy and content just “Living The Life Of Riley”

This is what a dog, once homeless can do, if given the chance!!!!

by Sheryl & Keith Koch

POSITIVELY OBEDIENCE!

By Judi James - KPA-CTP, Salem, Oregon

Judi has been training and competing in obedience and other dog sports since the 1960’s. She acquired her first keeshond in 1975 and has been teamed with keeshonden ever since exploring and playing obedience, rally, agility, tracking, and other fun games. Judi is a Certified Training Partner with the Karen Pryor Academy of Animal Behavior & Training (KPA-CTP).

Judi operates My Dogs Gym & Training Centre in Salem, Oregon encouraging dogs and their people to come and play while learning.

Judi teaches people and dogs how to build a joyful relationship for a lifetime of learning and companionship.

Judi is also a licensed AKC obedience, rally, and conformation judge. Judi currently serves on the board of the Keeshond Club of America as the Corresponding Secretary.

A big thank you to Trev & Cheri for the new KeeshondWorld online magazine! My goal with this column is to introduce keeshond fanciers to teaching Keeshonden using positive, no-force, and behavior-based techniques. Our keeshonden, like all of the spitz breeds, are very intelligent and fun-loving characters. Sadly, many methods of training (and I’ve tried most of them!) teach dogs to follow orders but don’t encourage a dog to think or have a dialog with a human.

Thankfully, the behavior approach using the science of classic and operant conditioning, is not only fun to do, but encourages the dog to think. Even better for our keeshonden, from the dog’s point of view, the dog is manipulating the human to share resources and engage in the game of learning.

What is this technique? It is commonly called mark and reward (or reinforce); in dog training circles it is often called ‘clicker training’. The ‘mark’ may be anything the animal can perceive; that is short, distinct, and not used in everyday language; and can be reproduced consistently and precisely. With marine mammals and zoo animals, the marker is often a whistle, flash of light, or water splash. The marker is often a mechanical click or chirp with dogs and other domestic animals.

The marker is paired with a reinforcer that is valuable to the animal. Carrot and apple slices are common reinforcers for horses and elephants.

A fish often reinforces dolphin antics, while a chunk of meat is offered to lions and hyenas; fruit chunks such as mango or banana encourage the great apes to play the game with handlers.

Our dogs may be willing to offer behaviors for kibble, liver, beef jerky, hot dog slices, chicken chunks, squeeze cheese, tennis balls and tug toys.

Scientists studied operant conditioning throughout the twentieth century and research continues today.

Pavlov and B.F. Skinner were prominent researchers in describing and testing techniques to condition an animal (the operator) to do behavior to acquire resources or reinforcement.

For example, Skinner’s pigeons and chickens were conditioned to peck a lever or key and receive a piece of grain. Skinner was also the first to realize that the ‘click’ the device used to load the food bowl made actually triggered the bird to press the lever and thus release the grain kernel.

In the 60s operant conditioning was used with dolphins to get them to perform at the first Sea World in Hawaii. Karen Pryor, a young marine biologist, was the trainer. Since then, what we now call ‘clicker training’ has been evolving and coming into active use with animal trainers in many settings: zoo animals, horses, llamas, cats, rabbits, veterinary offices, research facilities, kennels and shelters, and well as training dogs to do what people ask of them.

Why does it work? Operant conditioning has been studied and used by many different disciplines including psychologists, ethologists, biologists, zoologists, neuroscientists, and child development professionals over the last 50 years.

Combining kernals from research projects by all those teams, we now know that when a marker is used to identify or mark the muscle movement that creates a behavior several things happen: The marker establishes a bridge to communicate between species. Animals don’t understand our language; but they do read body language. Humans don’t use body movements consistently to communicate, confounding an animal trying to understand what we are asking. The marker enables a way to isolate and encourage repetition of desired actions.

The amygdala, a very primitive part of the brain that is involved with instinct, memory, emotion, and fear, becomes active when the marker occurs and records a muscle memory when it results in resources to the animal. In most animals, it also triggers a pleasurable sensation.

To learn more about this method of learning and conditioning, check out Reaching the Animal Mind by Karen Pryor and The Dog Vinci Code by John Rogerson. .

When a particular action or behavior is marked and positively reinforced repeatedly, it gradually becomes more frequent and bigger or stronger.

When that occurs, a cue can be added to signal the desired behavior. Then the marker and reinforcement are no longer needed.

Things learned this way do not degrade over time as with other techniques, yet it’s possible to refine the response to a cue to make it more precise, reliable, and consistent.

Next time I’ll discuss how to get started with clicker training. Until then, find time to play with each of your fuzzy friends individually and experiment with possible reinforcers. What treats, games, activities really make your dog focus on something? Can you use it as a reward without hurting someone or causing mayhem in your household? ~ Judi Judi@mydoggym.com

Modern Natural Rearing The Keeshond Brood Bitch Having just whelped a litter of puppies, the care and prep of a bitch for breeding and whelping is fresh in my mind.

That gave me the topic for this first issue of KeeshondWorld.

This article will cover briefly what a Brood Bitch should be, what shape she should be in, her diet and her wellbeing. As I am not a veterinarian, you should consult with yours before making lifestyle changes or adding supplements to your keeshonds diet that you may not feel comfortable with or may not understand how to administer.

The Brood Bitch is of utmost importance and demands the best of everything as she is the heart of a successful kennel.

I am assuming that a bitch chosen to be a Brood Bitch is a very good example of a keeshond and that she comes from good stock. There is absolutely no point in breeding an average bitch from a mixed up pedigree of questionable background, not in today's world. I will agree that many of the keeshonds from the past came from such bitches, but we have come a long way from that in breeding programs and there is really no reason to have a mediocre bitch from a less than adequate quality pedigree produce puppies. She should be spayed and kept as the companion she is suppose to be.

The Brood Bitch should be health tested well before any breeding plans are launched. Today's keeshond breeders should be testing for: normal Hips, normal Patellas, normal Thyroid, negative for the Primary Hyperparathyroid (PHPT) gene, normal Elbows, normal Eyes, and normal Heart.

Be sure the intended brood bitch is current on her vaccinations before she comes in heat. Never give a bitch in season, in whelp, false pregnancy or one going through a loss of litter a vaccination of any kind. This can cause immune responses that may threaten her life because it is during these times when a bitch's immune system is extremely sensitive and geared up. Check the new vaccine protocols that many of the Veterinary Universities are recommending (core vaccines, not yearly (but every 35yrs) on most vaccines). Be sure the bitch is worm and pest free.

By Donna Stekli - A*starz Kees & Pomeranians With today's technology and the weather and airline problems/concerns associated with flying a bitch to be bred, many breeders are opting for chilled semen shipping. With this, progesterone testing of the bitch several times starting with the early stages of her heat cycle will determine the opportune time for her to be bred, whether that is naturally or via artificial means.

Be careful about flea & tick control on a bitch that is planned to be bred, is in whelp or is nursing puppies. Do not put any chemical products on her! That means, no Frontline, no Advantage or Advantix, etc. If you must use a flea control product, the absolute safest to use (next to using nothing) is Program which is an oral pill containing an enzyme that renders the fleas sterile.

Don't let your bitch come in contact with an area that has been sprayed or sprinkled with a chemical! You can use natural products if you have a summer litter. That includes a spray composed of citrus & eucalyptus oils which can be added to your favorite coat spray. In addition, a mix of dried herbs of southernwood, wormwood, cayenne pepper, rosemary: grind those into a fine powder, add an equal amount of diatomaceous earth (see below) and then add a few drops of citrus & eucalyptus oils. Mix and put in a shaker, such as an old baby powder container, to apply to the dog to combat pests. This mixture smells wonderful! If the pest problem is major, wash the bitch often in a regular shampoo. Any shampoo will kill fleas. Let her sit in lather for about 5 minutes and rinse. In areas where she will frequent, such as carpeting or the yard, get some diatomaceous earth. It is the result of ground up one celled algae that has become fossilized. It is so fine, it clings to the wax on the outside of the insects and makes them dry out and they die. It can be sprinkled in all areas. It is not a chemical poison and is safe. Garlic, parsley and brewer's yeast can be added to the diet to help combat pests from the inside. All the above ingredients can be found on the internet if you can't find a local store source. Remember, with pests, the environment (inside and out) and other pets all need to be addressed.

“Natural Rearing, in my definition, is the raising and keeping of dogs with regard to the whole dog, including a diet free from chemicals and a life that allows them to become all they can be with proper attention to their mental and physical states. Modern Natural Rearing is the natural raising of dogs, as stated above, within the practical confines of the modern world� ~ Donna Stekli

Give her red raspberry leaves before breeding. (This is not in the tea bags found in grocery stores.) Use the dosage recommended on the package. There are several on the market.

Solid Gold has one called "Razz". Wholistic Pet Organics has one simply called "Red Raspberry Leaves". Solid Gold also has "Concept-A-Bitch" which contains the red raspberry leaves as well as other great herbs in one formula. Some bitches may not like the taste of the herb if mixed directly in the food, so you can "repackage" it into gelatin capsules. I use size 00 capsules and a manual "pill filler" (called "Cap-M Quik") to produce capsules I can then push down the throat easily and follow with a treat. That way, I can be sure the bitch is getting the proper dose (as opposed to not eating all her food with the herb in it).

Start giving the herb to the bitch when she comes in heat and continuing until the pups are weaned. It contains vitamins A, B, C, E, Calcium, Phosphorus and Iron. Raspberry leaf tones the uterine and pelvic muscles and helps prevent miscarriages. It aids in easing labor to enable the bitch's muscles to be strong thus making deliveries of pups fast and easy. It also encourages the milk to flow. I cannot tell you how much this one herb can make a difference in your breeding program. The renown Juliette deBairacli Levy noted the importance of raspberry leaves in her book "The Complete Herbal Handbook for the Dog and Cat" [ISBN#: 0-571-16115-4]. Here is a quote from her book (she has many other great quotes about using raspberry leaves): "As for raspberry leaves, I've never seen such easy whelping until I used this herb, and the mothers keep so well during pregnancy, bowel evacuation being perfect.

Bitches with their first litters give no trouble, the puppies being whelped effortlessly and with no pain."

A Brood Bitch should get ample exercise even up to the time of whelping. I let my girl run as much as she wants during the first half of pregnancy. After that, she is leash walked. We have 40 degree inclines and slopes which build good strong muscles. It is most important that a Brood Bitch have very good muscle tone so she can get through whelping without having problems and without getting tired. Herbs and supplements can only do so much. There is no substitute for a fit body. She is given time to run free in a 1/4 acre fenced area. She can lay in the sun, dig a hole, chew on grass and sticks and just relax being a dog. Don't shelter her from your other dogs until later in her pregnancy. She still needs to feel a part of her dog family.

When she starts into the second half of pregnancy, be careful mixing her with other dogs who may play rough. A senior dog who can still sprint and play from time to time is a good "mixer dog" for a bitch in the final stage of pregnancy.

Today's top shelf dog foods provide the best nutrition, short of your cooking for your bitch. Currently, I feed a mixture of these kibbles mixed 25%,25%,50% respectively: Acana Fish, Orijen Regional Red, Verus Chicken and Oat. I use some raw foods for all my kees, including the Brood Bitch: raw beef roast (roasts cut up into cubes), raw ground beef (85% - 15% fat), raw ground turkey; the meat is mixed in with the dry food and I also add some veggies (carrots, peas, green beans, tomatoes).

Meat sources are rotated to provide variety.

In addition to the diet above, I also cook for the Brood Bitch. I use a couple of the recipes from "Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide To Natural Health For Dogs and Cats [ISBN#:0-87857-395-X].

Specifically "Hearty Canine Combo", "Choice Chow" along with my cupcake recipe. I mix up a dog stew that is added to the dry dog food. These 3 main diets are alternated.

You can take a look at the recipes at http://mnr.astarz.info

As the bitch approaches her whelping time, her meals are divided because of her limited stomach capacity. I give her all she will eat at a meal, which is limited to 20 minutes.

After that the food is taken away until the next meal. I don't believe in free feeding.

Be sure the water the Brood Bitch drinks is as pure as possible. We are fortunate to have a spring-fed well and we are at a higher elevation than most anything in our area. Our water is WONDERFUL and we have had it tested. If the water supply is not good, it will affect the Brood Bitch as it composes much of what they intake. It may be that bottled water or filtered water should be provided.

The last half of pregnancy is the time when the bone building goes on, so be sure extra calcium is added in natural sources only (over supplementation of calcium in other than natural sources should not to be done). I give plain, regular fat yogurt, powdered milk and/or white cheeses in the amount of about 2-3 tablespoon equivalents once a day with the evening meal. This is continued until well after weaning. I continue the yogurt after that time, tapering it to 3 times a week. High quality bone meal can be added mixed with raw meat, as it is a complete and safe form of calcium.

I give 3,000 mgs of Vitamin C, along with 200 IU Vitamin E and 30 mg Zinc daily from heat time until weaning.

About a week before the due date, bathe your bitch using regular shampoo. Clip down her belly area and be sure her teats are washed well. Be sure you rinse her well, so no soap residue is left. Clip around her vulva, and if she has lots of pantaloons, take some of that off as well; it will only get stained and in the way during whelping. Besides, when the pups are around 8weeks of age, it will all be shed out anyway. Introduce her to the area where she will be whelping. We have a spare room that is used. If possible, encourage her to sleep and eat in the room.

During whelping, provide some sort of big blanket or pillow for the bitch that she can push to provide leverage for the contractions. I let the bitch eat as many placentas as she wants. They contain many nutrients and some hormones to stimulate milk to flow. Let newborns nurse on the bitch between deliveries. This helps stimulate contractions for subsequent deliveries. Remove the nursing puppies to a warm box when the next puppy starts to arrive. (The safest kind of heat device to use is non-electric. Check out the internet for "rice bags" that you heat in the microwave and can make yourself. They really work!) If the litter is large, a tablespoon of honey with formula [see recipe for Puppy Formula] is offered to the bitch and usually taken.

This gives her an extra boost during this strenuous time.

After the whelping, we transfer the family to the whelping box. We keep the room semi-dark to simulate a den. Keep the noise level down around the "nest" for the first 2 weeks. Your brood bitch will let you know when she is ready to mix back into your group of dogs and when she needs time alone with her puppies.

The best thing you can do for your bitch prior to and during whelping is not to be nervous yourself. She needs a relaxed, calm environment. If you are nervous or too overbearing, your bitch will not be comfortable and it may complicate an otherwise natural event. It helps if you can enlist the assistance of a friend who is a seasoned whelper-helper. Besides, you can make a party of it and have fun!

Many vets today do not recommend a "clean out" or "pit shot" after a bitch whelps even if you have not accounted for all placentas. Offer the bitch her regular diet of food after she has settled down. I feed three times a day. Continue giving the raspberry leave herb. Be sure she is getting natural sources of calcium (as stated above). She should have a constant supply of fresh water at all times. If she doesn't appear to be drinking enough water, you can make the Puppy Milk Recipe (found on the MNR website) and dilute it with water, add ice cubes and most bitches will drink that readily. Take her temperature 2x a day for the first few days to be sure it is normal. A bitch who has just whelped will have a slightly elevated temperature, sometimes up to 102.5 or so, but anything higher should be brought to your veterinarian's attention. Be sure she is having bowel movements, even though they may be messy for a few days following whelping. One of the signs of eclampsia (lack of adequate calcium) is the binding of the muscles, which can include the bowel muscles. So watch for these danger signs and alert your vet: not having bowel movements, pale gums, elevated temperature.

Do not keep the puppy room too hot. Although the [generic] whelping books say, keep the room at 80 degrees F, that is too hot for a keeshond bitch & her pups. I keep a temperature gauge on the floor of my whelping box. I like to see it about 74 degrees F. As long as the puppies are nursing and sleeping cuddled up to mom, the kees bitch should not be kept too hot.

If she is, the pups will cry, she will pant incessantly and be very uncomfortable. This is not good. I have not used incandescent lights or any kind of direct heat source. I have kept a space heater in the room for fall/winter births, but have not used a heating pad in the whelping box. An overheated puppy is as bad as a cold puppy. You can cause brain damage either way. If the puppies are eating, gaining weight, piling with each other, twitching and sleeping without a lot of noise, and mom is comfortable, then all is well.

Donna Stekli owns A*starz Kees (and Pomeranians) in Maryland USA, she has Modern Naturally Reared Kees since 1991 Modern Natural Rearing website with info and recipes: http://mnr.astarz.info Comments/suggestions/questions welcomed!

Send to: dstekli@astarz.com

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For the nursing mother, I continue with the raw meat diets and Pitcairn recipes, alternating sources. Raw liver is excellent to stimulate milk production, but I don't give in large quantities because it is very rich. The mother will need to eat about 3-4x her normal meals during weeks 2-4 as this is the highest demand time on her milk supply. Once the puppies start the weaning process, the amount mom is fed should decrease gradually. The quality of the food should not as she needs the nutrition to build her back up. .

Throughout the article are pictures of "Valerie" Ch. A*starz Once Upon A Time, and her first litter born August 2010

KEEMERITUS Living with Senior Keeshonden

By Debbie Eldredge, RVT

landed sitting between us on the couch! Surely, we thought, she must be about two years old! How could we resist? We took her home to the boat that afternoon, and named her Chantey… a sailor’s song!

Chantey got along with the cats instantly. She sailed with us to Catalina Island that weekend, and proved herself to be a superb boat dog. By the time I took her to the vet for a checkup, about four days after we brought her home, we were completely in love!

My first Keeshond, Chantey, was a rescue dog who joined my husband and me while we were cruising aboard our sailboat. In one of the harbors where we stayed, we met a Keeshond named Heather, who came to work every day with the man who ran the fuel dock.

It was Heather’s job to greet the customers, and we soon looked forward to her bouncy, cheerful bark every time we came ashore. Before we knew it, she had us hooked!

One day, I said to the Heather’s owner, “Jack, I want a dog like Heather!” And before long, he announced that he’d found me one. Exactly how it happened is a bit of a mystery. Jack never knew how the woman who had the dog got his phone number, and she seemed to know nothing about the dog. She told us that someone in her church had moved and she was trying to find a home for their dog. But she couldn’t tell us the dog’s name, how old she was, or anything else about her!

When we arrived to meet her, the woman ushered us into the house and invited us to have a seat. Then she opened a door and let the dog in. The dog flew across the room, jumped up, spun around in mid-air and

I was crushed when the vet told me she was eight or nine years old! How could that be? She seemed so young! At that point, all we could do was make the best of the situation and treasure every moment we had with her.

We were fortunate to enjoy five wonderful years with Chantey. She changed my life forever.

As Chantey demonstrated, one of the Keeshond’s most endearing traits is the tendency to remain bouncy and playful well into her senior years. We Keeshond folks are lucky that way — we get to enjoy our puppies much longer than people with some other breeds. Still, as our beloved fuzzies grow old, we need to be aware of changes and problems that can occur with age and ways we can maintain or improve their quality of life. I will address some of these issues in this and future columns.

Since many of the normal changes that occur with age can also be signs of disease, one of the biggest challenges of living with a senior Kees is the difficulty of distinguishing whether changes we see are a normal part of aging or a sign that something is wrong. This is one reason that I recommend regular, twice-yearly checkups by a veterinarian, beginning by the time your Keeshond is seven years old. Between checkups, if you see something new or different that concerns you, please consult your veterinarian right away!

Slowing down: Like human senior citizens, older dogs tend to be less energetic. Your senior Keeshond may be calmer and mellower than he was in his younger years. He may sleep more and his pants-onfire chases around the house may become fewer and farther between. However, the typical 12- or 13-yearold Keeshond still has a spring in his step, a little mischief in his heart, and he enjoys playing now and then. Decreased activity may be due to age, or it may signify a health problem, such as arthritis or hypothyroidism. Regular checkups can help to detect problems, which are often treatable; doing so can improve your dog’s quality of life and may even help him live longer.

Changes in vision: Your senior Keeshond’s eyes may look hazy. This foggy appearance is often due to nuclear sclerosis, a normal change caused by the lens becoming denser and harder as the dog ages.

Typically, the cloudiness is first noticeable when the dog is about 7 years old. The good news is that nuclear sclerosis doesn’t affect the dog’s vision a great deal. Light is able to get through the lens, so the dog can still see well enough for normal activities. However, because the lens is less flexible, he may develop difficulty focusing on near objects.

You may find that it’s harder for him to find his toys or he can’t catch treats any more.

Vision loss can be caused by cataracts (which can be difficult to distinguish from nuclear sclerosis), as well as by other conditions such as glaucoma and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS or dry eye.) These conditions can sneak up on you. Therefore, it’s a good idea to have your senior Keeshond’s eyes examined routinely by an ophthalmologist once a year, so you can begin treating such problems before they cause significant loss of vision.

If you notice sudden vision loss or change in the eye’s appearance, consider it an emergency — take the dog to the vet right away!

Hearing loss: Many senior dogs become hard of hearing. You may notice that your senior Kees sleeps more soundly, startles if she doesn’t see you coming, or doesn’t respond when you call her. Before you assume that hearing loss is “just old age,” please

Some changes you may see in your senior Kees have her examined by a veterinarian to make sure she doesn’t have an ear infection or other treatable condition. I’ve seen old dogs begin to hear again after a round of antibiotics!

Unfortunately, if the hearing loss is due to age, little can be done for it. The key to dealing with it is management.

Often, dogs who are losing their hearing can hear some sounds better than others; you may discover that she can hear you if you use a higher-pitched voice or clap your hands. Use hand signals to give commands. Flick a light on and off to get her attention or stomp on the floor to let her know you’re there. Don’t touch her when she’s sleeping — this is a common cause of dog bites, and it’s not the dog’s fault! She’ll depend on you to protect her from traffic and other dangerous things that she might not hear, and from children who might startle her.

Urinary incontinence and loss of housebreaking: These common problems can be due to many reasons, including hormonal insufficiency, loss of sphincter tone, lack of mobility, senility, urinary tract infections and kidney disease. Also, medical conditions that cause increased water consumption, such as diabetes, primary hyperparathyroidism, etc., can cause the dog to drink so much water that she can’t “hold it.” If your senior Kees is having accidents, be sure to have her checked by your vet. Treating medical conditions can help to solve this problem.

Muscle atrophy: In my work doing canine rehabilitation, I treat many senior dogs with muscle atrophy and weakness due to inactivity. This can be a very serious problem! Many geriatric dogs are euthanized because they lose mobility and are unable to stand on their own and go potty without assistance. In a future column, I’ll talk about ways you can help to prevent this problem and increase your dog’s mobility.

For now, I encourage you to help your senior Keeshond stay as active as he’s able!

.

Please adjust his exercise according to his abilities.

For example, he may tolerate several short walks per day better than one long one. If he’s already weak, start with a very short distance (maybe just to the end of the driveway.) Senior dogs can be fragile, and it doesn’t take much to make them sore, so start small and increase the time and distance very gradually. If he’s tired that afternoon, that’s okay. If he’s tired the next day, or if he’s sore, you’ve done too much.

Make it fun and encourage him to be up, moving around as much as he can. It’s good for him physically, and it’s good for his spirits, as well.

Changes in weight: As their metabolism slows down and they become less active, older dogs typically need fewer calories than they did when they were younger. It’s likely that you’ll need to adjust your senior Keeshond’s diet to prevent him from gaining weight. Weight gain can also be caused by a medical condition such as hypothyroidism, so it’s important to have your vet rule that out, as well.

Kees are such cute beggars and their thick coats easily hide extra weight, so be sure to put your hands on your dog often to monitor his weight. Obesity is a serious problem in dogs of any age. It decreases their quality of life and increases their risk of many health problems (including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, orthopedic injuries, etc.) Extra weight is especially hard on a senior dog who’s already suffering from arthritic joints — obesity increases his pain and makes it harder for him to exercise, thus contributing to muscle weakness and atrophy that may harm his dignity and shorten his life because he’s unable to get up and move around well. Studies show that lean dogs age more slowly, have fewer health problems and live an average of 2 years longer than their heavier counterparts. Please keep that in mind when your Keeshond begs for that cookie!

Conversely, weight loss may indicate a serious illness, such as cancer, heart or kidney disease, gastrointestinal disease, diabetes, etc. Many of these problems can be treated. If your Kees is losing weight (and he’s not on a diet), please have him examined by your vet as soon as possible!

Changes in the skin, coat and nails: As in humans, senior dogs’ skin can become thinner, drier and more easily injured. Their coats may become thinner and duller. These changes can be due to age, or they may be signs of a medical condition such as hypothyroidism or nutritional deficiency.

Supplements and/or medications may help to restore the condition of their skin and coats.

Grooming can be uncomfortable for a senior dog, especially if he’s arthritic or if pulling on mats is painful for his tender skin. Please be sure to groom your senior Kees often. A coat that’s well maintained will be less matted and will pull less on sensitive skin when you brush it. Also, grooming allows you to check for lumps and bumps, which are common in senior dogs. Most lumps are benign, but it’s important to have your vet check them to be certain.

Even “bad guys” may be treatable, especially if caught early.

Like human senior citizens, older dogs’ nails tend to become brittle and crack easily. An inactive dog doesn’t wear her nails down, so senior dogs’ nails can grow too long very quickly. Overgrown nails break easily, cause pain, and affect the dog’s ability to walk. Long nails splay her toes, push her back on her pasterns, strain her feet, legs and hips and contribute to arthritis. It’s important to keep your Keeshond’s nails trimmed short to maintain her comfort and mobility.

Those of us who are fortunate to live with elderly Keeshonden know there is nothing quite so special.

Like fine wines, senior Kees become better and more enjoyable with age.

In future columns, I plan to talk more about the changes that can occur in senior dogs and how to help them adapt and live more comfortable lives. If you have questions you’d like me to address in future issues, please feel free to email me at keesrescue@gmail.com.

Osteosarcomas

By Dr Michael Bell

What are Osteosarcomas and how are they caused?

Osteosarcoma is a tumor of the bone, and occurs most commonly in large and giant breeds of dogs.

It is the most common primary bone tumor seen in dogs and has a poor outcome in affected dogs due to its high rate of spread. Spread occurs via the blood system and is seen frequently in lungs and other bones.

These tumors usually arise in the major weight bearing bones such as the humerus, femur and tibia.

The cause of the tumors is unknown although repeated low-grade trauma to the affected area may be part of the cause. The average age of affected dogs is seven years although cases have been reported in dogs as young as six months. Overall osteosarcomas account for 2-7% of all malignant tumors in dogs.

How can suspected cases be diagnosed?

There are several ways a suspected osteosarcomas can be determined. (i) radiology – the affected area should be x-rayed. In early stages the bone may show signs of being eaten away later progressing to marked destruction of the wall of the bone.

Osteosarcomas do not typically cross joints and as mentioned normally occur at the end of bones – this helps in the diagnosis.

Where x-rays of an affected limb are highly suggestive of an osteosarcoma three x-rays (different views), should be taken of the chest to evaluate for spread. Spread occurs typically in 5-10% of patients at the time the bone tumor is diagnosed. Where spread is detected multiple small modules are seen through the lung tissue. (ii) nuclear bone scans – these can detect bone and lung tumors at earlier stages than normal x-rays, but one must be careful with interpretation. (iii) bone biopsy – where ideally a sample is taken from the centre of the area concerned.

What signs do affected dogs show?

How can cases be treated?

Usually affected dogs show varying degrees of lameness (from mild to non-weightbearing) and swelling at one of the ends of the affected bones (which as mentioned are usually one of the long bones). Pain can normally be seen when pressure is placed over the affected site.

There are various forms of treatment available (i) Amputation of the affected leg, ideally followed by chemotherapy. The most common chemotherapy drug currently used is cisplatin and it is given immediately after surgery and then at 21 day intervals for a total of four treatments. (ii) In some cases surgical removal of the tumor has been attempted with the area being replaced by a bone graft and stabilized with a bone plate. Again chemotherapy treatment is recommended after the surgery.

What is the expected outcome of the treatments?

Reprinted with the permission of Dr M Bell and Dogs Victoria © 2010

Without surgical treatment spread to the lungs or other bones, fractures of the bone affected by the tumor and reduced quality of life caused by local progression of the tumor develops within four months of the tumor being detected.

With amputation alone dogs on average survive four months, but with amputation or limb salvage plus chemotherapy average survival is one year. Survival rate of two years occurs in approximately 30% of cases.

History of the keeshond in Britain Part One

The Dutch Barge Dog – a Pictorial History In the beginning The Vikings have been blamed for a lot of things – rape, pillage, bloodshed, and worse.

Even the Normans who conquered Britain in 1066 at the Battle of Hastings had been Vikings just 150 years before, coming to an agreement with France that they could have the area that became Normandy if they left the rest of France alone.

They had many major achievements militarily and on the sea. But their most significant achievement to a small band of dog-lovers worldwide was to be the means of introducing a small furry dog with a curly tail and a foxy face to a watery area somewhat south of their homeland of Scandinavia.

It is rumoured that some thousand years ago a Viking ship foundered off the coast of Friesland. All the crew were drowned, apart from one man who was saved by a local fisherman in his cog (the style of boat used by the Friesian fishermen) with his dog. The two men and the little white dog tried to reach the coast in the fisherman’s boat but were caught in a storm and forced southwards, until eventually they managed to land on a small area of higher ground. There they built a small chapel to give thanks for their deliverance, and this is where Amsterdam slowly grew to be an important town. The Great Seal of Amsterdam records this event, and you can just see the little dog peering over the side of the boat.

By Christine Searle Christine Searle is the owner of the KeeshondArchives.co.uk website. She follows the history of the Keeshond in Britain with photos and kennel clippings from dog magazines.

Christine has kindly agreed to share her knowledge with KeeshondWorld through a series of articles.

There are sightings of spitz throughout the next seven hundred years, with examples being seen in an illuminated manuscript from the fourteenth century which is held at the British Museum, and a depiction on items of pottery from Greece from the fifth century.

The name spitz did not come into use until the fifteenth century. When the name did come into use it became an insult, and in about 1450 Count Eberhard zu Zayne, a gentleman living on the Rhine, issued an order to his retainers forbidding them to use the term! Before that they were known as “mistabella” on the farms, where they were used as watchdogs.

It is during the eighteenth century that the instances of the spitz seem to increase, probably due to the adoption of the breed as a mascot by the Dutch Patriot Party. In Holland its popularity was as short-lived as the popularity of the Patriot Party, but in Britain it seemed to become something of a fashion accessory with several artists using the dog in their work.

Gainsborough has depicted the spitz several times, as in the well-known “Perdita” and in the picture shown here of the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. William Hallet, where the dog knows nothing of the solemn occasion and is trotting expectantly by his mistress’s side, probably waiting for something nice to eat!

Gainsborough also painted a Pomeranian with her puppy. Another example of the spitz in art was an engraving (see picture) of a boy’s “Return from School”, by London engraver W. R. Bigg in 1790, where the boy is being greeted enthusiastically by his dog – obviously he has as much trouble with two-legged greetings from his dog as I do!

Whereas all these dogs have been white spitz, there are two notable exceptions. King George IV was a fancier of spitz, and commissioned a painting of his wolf-sable dog, probably from Thomas Gooch. He gave the painting to his mistress, Marchioness Conyngham of Slane Castle in Ireland, as a parting gift as he had tired of her! George’s niece, Queen Victoria, was also a spitz fancier and breeder, and she owned a top winning wolf-sable spitz called Windsor Marco.

Marco would have been an “overweight Pomeranian” as in the 19th century the larger version of the spitz was called. It weighed between 16 and 20 pounds, so larger than a Pom but smaller than the Dutch Barge Dog. The UK Kennel Club withdrew Challenge Certificates from the breed in the second decade of the twentieth century due to its decline in popularity.

So we come to the early years of the twentieth century and to the keeshond, originally known in the UK as the Dutch Barge Dog. It was of course Mrs. Wingfield Digby, who in 1906 saw these attractive little grey dogs on the barges in Holland and decided to bring some home. Within a few years they ceased to be seen on the barges in Holland, and were restricted to a few that remained on farms in Brabant and Limburg. It appears that the breed would have to rely on the enthusiasm of breeders in UK, Holland and Germany for its survival.

With thanks to Mrs. Alice Gatacre’s “The Keeshond” and Clementine Peterson’s “The Complete Keeshond”

History of the keeshond in Russia

By Ekaterina Nikitina Kennel “Iz Mirashela” — Novosibirsk City Russia Article translated to English by Maxim Nikitin Keeshonds appeared in Russia recently, but already won Russian hearts. Most owners have no idea what used to be able to live without good charming furry creatures. I think that keeshonds too happy to be in our country, because in most Russian cities we have a snowy winters that keeshonds love so much.

Keeshonds love Russian winter with a lot of snow.

(Lohamras Queen For Mirashel).

Photo A. Levina

Historically, first keeshonds in Russia appeared in 1993. A. Telitsina brought from USA to Moscow city the first couple of adult keeshonds. It was a male USA Champion “W'ldwood Spirit'N The Night” and young female “Bonnyvale NC Southern Jewel”.

Another two dogs were imported from USA in 1995: male USA Сhampion “Bonnyvale Sur Bet T'Winsome” (owner V. Krutova) and puppy bitch “Bonnyvale's Becky of Fantasia” (owner I. Makarova).

Ch. Rus Bonnyvale NC Southern Jewel and Ch. USA, Rus W'ldwood Spirit'N The Night. Photo Kudrin

The first litter in Russia was born in 1994. It was registered in the AKC as a “Sashanna” kennel litter.

Two bitches and a male from this litter remained in Russia and were successfully used in breeding. The most famous was the bitch “Sashanna's Alice” (owner O. Nyrkovskaya). She received the World Champion title in 1998, and later became the ancestor of the kennel “Aistraum”. This dog was the mother of many famous dogs and still is in the pedigrees of today's World and Europe Champions.

WW-98, Ch. Int, Rus, Lva, Lux, Ltu, Fin, Est, Blr, Bgr, RKF Ch., Club Ch. Sashanna's Alice (W'ldwood Spirit'N The Night x Bonnyvale NC Southern Jewel )

Ch.USA, Rus Bonnyvale Sur Bet T'Winsome (Nightwind's D'Artagnan x Winsome's Bet'n On a Dream)

Unfortunately, Becky brought only one litter. However, three other keeshonds, which were imported from USA, were used a lot in breeding and left a large number of excellent offspring. Almost every modern keeshond that was born in Russia has in the pedigree one of these dogs: “Bonnyvale NC Southern Jewel”, “W'ldwood Spirit'N The Night” and “Bonnyvale Sur Bet T'Winsome”.

Some dogs have only these three dogs in their pedigree. For example, such well-known and titled dogs as “Aistraum Daddy Daring”, “Aivan Fat Boy”, “Niksend Ensine of Glory”, “Aistraum Zhemchuzhina”, “Niksend Happy History” and some others.

Int.Ch., Jun Ch. Rus, Ch. Rus, 3xRKF, Grand Ch. Rus, Blr, Lat, Club Ch, Ch. Evrasia Aivan Fat Boy. Photo L. Tokar

Ch. Rus, 2xRKF, Club Ch, Grand Ch. Rus Niksend Happy History.

Photo E. Macelik

In the same years, the bitch “Blueribbon Pretty Angel” was brought from Canada, but she left a little number of offspring.

Int. Ch., Rus, RKF, Blr, Ukr, 2xClub Ch Aistraum Daddy Daring (Aistraum Barry x Aistraum Assol ) Photo E. Macelik

In the 90's and early 2000's keeshonds livestock in the country was very small therefore all breeding was between these dogs which lead to closer and closer inbreeding. As a result, inbreeding depression appeared in some lines.

We needed in new dogs for enlarging the gene pool species, but they have not been brought in.

In those years, Russian breeders were trying to breed Russian bitches abroad but most breeding were unsuccessful. Only one female “Sashanna's Alice” had two litters from Finland keeshond “Picadillycircus Del Monte Dragnone”.

Int. Ch., Ch.Rus, Blr, Bolg, Litva, Aistraum Zhemchuzhina (Aistraum Blad x Sashanna's Alice).

Photo Aleshin

Int. Ch., Rus, , Blr, Uk, Lit, Club Ch Aistraum Irena Idallia (Picadillycircus Del Monte Dragnone x Sashanna's Alice)

Int. Ch., Rus, 2xRKF, Bul, Ukr, Club Ch Niksend Ensine of Glory.

Photo E. Macelik

Around the same time, “Armstrong Evlor” (“Yllabo Lucky Lord” x “Aistraum Evridika”) was brought from Latvia and had a great impact on the Russian livestock.

Int. Ch., Rus, Grand, Blr, Uk, Lit, Club Ch Armstrong Evlor (Yllabo Lucky Lord x Aistraum Evridika)

One of daughters

Armstrong

Evlor’s

Ch. Rus, J-Rus, Club Ch , RKF, Grand VeseliI Gnom Kassiopeya (Armstrong Evlor x Niksend Feidlis Flower ) Photo A. Levina

The situation changed dramatically only after 2005 because many new spawners were brought to the country. Number of keeshonds in the country starts growing. The breed begins actively evolve and gain popularity. Several breeders brought a high quality adult keeshonds and puppies from overseas kennels: “Vanderblom”, “Epic” (USA), “Lohamra” (Sweden), “Lady Godiva”, “Eswood”, “Ikurin”, “Eerondali” (Finland) and “Kichigai” (UK).

Ch. EU-07, Int, Cro, Den, Kaz, Nor, Rus, Swe, Club Ch, RKF, CKK, BIS Lohamras King Of The Road (Lohamras Hakuna Matata x Lohamras Elvira). Photo A. Levina

Ch. USA, Rus Epic’s Mr Took (Cari-On High Thymes x Jen'ndi's Epic Look At Me )

Ch. Rus, J-Rus, J- Club Ch , Club Ch , RKF, Grand, Ch. CKK, Kaz. Lohamras Queen For Mirashel (Stratus The Philanderer x Lohamras Itzi Bitzi ) Photo A. Levina

Ch. Rus, J-Rus, Club Ch , RKF, Grand Lady Godiva’s Felix Felicitus (Eswood Maple Leaf x Lady Godiva's Daydream)

Ch. J-Rus, J- Club Ch , BIS Darina iz Mirashela (Lohamras King Of The Road x Gloria Florens Bessi Light).

Photo E.Ivanova

2х BIS BABY Niksend Road Of The Real King (Lohamras King Of The Road x Niksend National History) Photo E. Macelik

Many of these imported keeshonds already have offspring in Russia:

Ch. Rus, Blr Russkoe Serebro Persivall For Nevastar (Epic’s Mr Took x Vanderblom Circe Invidosa For RS) Photo N.Myasnikova

Ch. Rus, J-Rus, J- Club Ch, Club Ch, Grand, BIS Eswood Pure Mousse (Stratus The Philanderer x Eswood Maple Mousse ) Photo N.Myasnikova

Ch. J-Rus, J- Club Ch, BIS, Diva Divnaya iz Mirashela (Lohamras King Of The Road x Gloria Florens Bessi Light) Photo E. Alesehko

spitz. Nevertheless, all Russian breeders communicate to each other and in the literature still use correct name “keeshond” for true keeshonds.

Ch. Rus, J-Rus, J- Club Ch, Club Ch, Grand Aistraum Rovena (Aistraum Goracio x Lohamras Itzi Bitzi)

Ch. Rus, J-Rus, J- Club Ch , Club Ch , RKF, Grand, Ch. Evrasia Russkoe Serebro Peresvet (Epic’s Mr Took x Vanderblom Circe Invidosa For RS)

Aistraum Umar-Hun (Lady Godiva’s Felix Felicitus x Aistraum Chaydana Charming)

In addition, there are several litters are coming from mating with Finnish males:

Ch. Rus Aistraum Zhasmin (Aistraum Fortuna Faivory x Keesbrook's Boldy Go).

Photo T. Tikhanova.

Ch. Rus, Club Ch , RKF, Grand Aistraum Evan Essex ( Heldalan Chaplin x Aistraum Tutsi)

I would like to draw attention to the fact that the pedigrees of all imported into Russia keeshonds has the name of the breed written as "keeshond”. However, all their offspring are registered by RKF (Russian Kynological Federation) as “German wolf spitz”. The fact is that the FCI (International Canine Federation) classification, which Russia belongs to, considers keeshond and German wolf spitz breeds as one breed and these breeds are exhibited in the same ring. Because first dogs appeared in the country were German wolf spitz, RKF (Russian Federation kennel) registered the breed as German wolf spitz. Now all Keeshonds and German wolf spitzes are registered under one breed name the German wolf

N. Pavlenko imported very first German wolf spitzes dogs into Russia in the 70-ies for the circus show. With participation of these dogs, a great circus show was prepared.

Unfortunately, this circus show was never shown to the public, because circus management decided that wolf color is very “blind” to the audience. As a result, wolf spitzes were replaced by white spitzes and wolf spitzes became just wonderful home pets. These wolf spitzes did not left any offspring, as they appeared to be fruitless. Later, other German wolf spitzes were imported and registered in RKF. N. Belov brought one of the first bitсh Chica Zloty Spitz in 1989 from Poland.

When keeshonds start to appear in Russia, German wolf spitzes were bred with keeshonds and now you will not fine any true German wolf spitzes. Some Russian keeshond kennels did not want to mix keeshond “bloods” with German Wolf spitzes and were breeding only pure keeshonds. There are still kennels that has keeshonds with German wolf spitzes “blood”. Usually, the pure keeshonds are more expensive in Russia than keeshonds with German wolf spitzes “blood”. Now “show” keeshonds are usually winning the major exhibitions.

Russian keeshonds are very success at the World, Europe, Kraft Championships, also become Champions of different countries

(Finland, Germany, France, Poland, Romania, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, etc.). The largest number of titles on foreign exhibitions belongs to Russian kennel “Aistraum”. Since 1998, the kennel has three World Champion winners, numerous winners of Vice-World Champion, European Championship, World and European Junior Champion winners, 25 InterChampions.

Another famous Russian kennel “Russkoe Serebro” achieved also wonderful show results.

World Championship prizewinner, Aistraum Assol and World Winner 1998 Ch. Int, Rus, Lva, Lux, Ltu, Fin, Est, Blr, Bgr, RKF Ch., Club Ch. Sashanna's Alice, Photo K.Leonov

2010 World Championship prizewinner,Ch. Rus, J-Rus, J- Club Ch , Club Ch , RKF, Grand, Russkoe Serebro Onna-No Ko Yuki (Epic’s Mr Took x Ais Lu-Lu Serebrjanaja) Photo E.Macelik

Junior World Winner 2009, Ch. Ch. Rus, J-Rus, J- Club Ch , Club Ch , RKF, Grand, Ch. Evrasia Aistraum Pallada Afina (Aistraum Bonte Casper x Aistraum Yuana). Photo T. Tikhanova.

Junior Europe Winner 2002 Ch. Int, Blr, Mda, Rus, Ukr, Club Ch., Grand. Ch., RKF Ch. Aistraum Ifanta Inari (Picadillycircus Del Monte Dragnone x Sashanna's Alice) 2006 World Championship prizewinner, RUS, LAT, LIT, EST, POL, FIN, BALTIC WIN. RKF Ch. Aistraum Fanshetta Fey (Aistraum Zherar x Aistraum Ifanta Inari). Photo L.Zukanova

World Winner 2009, Europe Winner 2008 Ch. Int, Rus, J-Lva, Blr, Club Ch , Grand Aistraum Tessa (Aistraum Goracio x Aistraum Irena Idallia) 2010 World Championship prizewinner, Ch. Rus, J-Rus, J- Club Ch. Russkoe Serebro Obereg Fo Pushistikoff (Epic’s Mr Took x Ais Lu-Lu Serebrjanaja) Photo P.Skopina-Polyakova

Jr. Class Winner Crufts 2010, Ch. J-Rus, Russkoe Serebro Posh Totty At Cillakees (Epic’s Mr Took x Vanderblom Circe Invidosa For RS ) Photo D. Barbour

pedigree). In addition, some Russian breeders are now doing tests for HD, ED, PL, PRA to their keeshonds even when these tests are not required for keeshonds in Russia for breeding permission from RKF.

Ch. J-Rus , Rus Perishell Silk Touch (Niksend Challenge Of The Chif x Niksend Fesall Faim) Europe Winner 2007, Ch. Int, Swe, Cro, Den, Kaz, Nor, Rus, Club Ch, RKF, CKK, BIS Lohamras King Of The Road (Lohamras Hakuna Matata x Lohamras Elvira) – living in Russian kennel “Iz Mirashela” since 2008. Photo A. Levina

Other Russian kennels also have many beautiful keeshonds with lots of Russian show titles, but unfortunately, not all owners have the possibility to show their dogs outside Russia.

Russian keeshonds not only successfully participate in different dog shows. For example, keeshonds from kennel “Russkoe Serebro” (owner V. Krutova) even take part in scientific research to study the behavior of dogs, as well as in practical work on the identification of animals and humans odors. Many owners are training agility and obedience with their pets.

Last few years, some Russian keeshond breeders start doing tests for hereditary diseases. A large number of Russian keeshonds were tested negative for PHPT. We can say for sure now that first imported from USA keeshonds were negative for PHPT, since all their inbred offspring have PHPT Negative (offspring that have only 3-4 first imported keeshonds in her

Puppy from the kennel “Iz Mirashela” (Photo E. Nikitina)

Gradually, the popularity of keeshond breed in Russia increases. There are still not a lot of keeshonds in our country, but every year the breed gains more and more fans. Now there are approximately 1000 keeshonds in Russia (both “pure” keeshonds and keeshonds mixed with the German wolf spitzes). About 70-80% of the population lives in the two largest Russian cities: Moscow and St. Petersburg. From these cities, breeding for both keeshonds and German wolf spitzes began. But there are still places in our country where there are no keeshonds at all.

Ch. J-Rus, Rus, Club Ch., Grand, Blr, Grand Blr. Anigres Glam Galadriele (Aistraum Timoti x Niksend Ladylike)

Russian doghouse for keeshond.

Ch. Rus, J-Rus, Bibigon iz Mirashela, photo V. Zabelina

Usually keeshonds in Russia fascinate with their exterior view all people walking on the streets. When you walk with keeshonds, each second person asks about the breed of these beauties. People in Russia very often confuse keeshonds with a chow-chow. The standard question is “What kind of chow-chow rare color do you have?” Some Russian people at all see in them “silver fox” or “raccoon”. When you tell them the breed name, they usually ask you to repeat it again one or two times and most of them walk away, never be able to repeat the breed name, this still rare and mysterious word “keeshond” for Russians.

The author of this article would like to express ones gratitude to Victoria Krutova (kennel “Russkoe Serebro”, http://keeshond.narod.ru) and Olga Nirkovskaya (kennel “Aistraum”, http://www.aistraum.com) , Elena Hroshina (kennel “Niksend”, http://www.niksend.ru ) for using their kennel archival materials. In addition, I used the photos from the archive of kennel “Iz Mirashela” http://www.keeshond.ws.

Kees in Australia

By Shirley Mewett Brilhond Keeshonden

G’day Everyone, The southern states of Australia are currently gearing up for the Royal Show season. Royal Adelaide Show begins in the first week of September, followed by Royal Melbourne later in the month and Royal Hobart, & Royal Launceston Tasmania, in October.

Ranked in the top 10 most highly regarded shows in the world, Royal Melbourne is the largest all breeds dog competition in the Southern Hemisphere. This year, 190 breeds will be represented by over 4,000 entries.

By way of background information, in Australia our dogs are shown in the following groups:Group 1:-Toy Dogs Group 2:-Terriers Group 3:-Gun Dogs Group 4:-Hounds Group 5:-Working Dogs Group 6:-Utility Dogs Group 7:-Non-Sporting Dogs (Keeshonden are included in this group)

Running parallel to the Royals, State Breed Specialties offer interstate exhibitors more shows within a few days of breed judging at the Royal.

Within the group, the classes are:(Separate classes for dogs & Bitches) Baby Puppy:-3 and under 6 months Minor Puppy:-6 and under 9 months Puppy:-6 and under 12 months Junior:-9 and under 18 months Intermediate:-18 months and under 3 years Australian Bred:-any dog or bitch 6 months or over whelped in Australia Open:-any dog or bitch 6 months or over.

We look forward to some great showing and social times over the next few weeks and I hope to be able to give you a comprehensive results report next issue.

There are other classes such as State Bred, Novice etc but the above are the usual classes offered at an All Breeds Championship Show.

In 2010, Keeshonden will be judged in Adelaide by Mr D Powers (Mexico) and in Melbourne by Mr Bruce Owen (Canada)

At All Breed and Specialty Championship shows, dogs with the title Australian Champion or Australian Grand Champion may compete in any eligible age class, irrespective of their title.

Untitled dogs compete against their titled competitors and “challenge” them for points towards their own award. Dogs are not eligible for points until they are 6 months of age so the Baby Puppy Class allows the babies to become familiar with the ring and the show world in a less competitive atmosphere.

The certificate received for being best dog or bitch of the breed is called a Challenge certificate and it states the points awarded on the day (minimum of 6 maximum of 25 per show).

Obviously the dog and bitch challenge winners then compete for Best of Breed.

The points for Best of Breed reflect the total number of the breed beaten on the day, up to the maximum of 25 points.

Best of each breed compete for the Best Exhibit In the Group and Runner Up Best Exhibit In Group.

This is the equivalent to Group 1 & 2. At some shows such as the

upcoming Royals there are 4 group placements.

Best In Group usually earns 25 points providing there were sufficient entries across the group.

Even if a dog wins 25 points for Best of Breed then wins Best In Group, even Best In Show, 25 points is the maximum tally it can receive for that show.

The Best In Group and Runner Up Best In Group eliminate all other dogs of the class they represent, for example, if Best In Group comes from the Open Class, all Open class winning dogs from all other breeds in the Group are eliminated.

The best of each breed in the remainder of the classes (Baby Puppy, Minor Puppy etc) compete for their class in Group.

At the climax of the show, the 7 Best In Group winners compete for Best Exhibit in Show and Runner Up Best Exhibit In Show.

Once again the BIS & RUBIS winners eliminate all the dogs

from those classes throughout the remaining 6 groups.

points are required after the dog reaches its’ first birthday.

The balance of the classes (Baby, Puppy etc) in show are awarded from the dogs representing the best of those classes in their respective groups.

An Australian Grand Champion has earned 1000 points. At one stage this was the only requirement for the title but as of January 1st 2010, the points must include 1 All Breeds Championship Best In Show or 4 Best Exhibit In Groups or 4 certificates of 25 points (these could be Best In Group, Best of Breed or Challenge certificates).

In 2010, a Neuter Championship title was also introduced.

More of this at a later date.

This is a very simplistic overview of the All Breeds Championship Show system we compete under in Australia so I won’t complicate matters by including Open/Parade Show or Specialty show systems at this stage.

My Australian colleagues may say that I left out this and that, and so I did, but I think it’s quite complicated enough don’t you?

I will however, explain how our Australian Champion and Australian Grand Champion titles are arrived at.

To be granted the title Australian Champion a dog must earn 100 points after it is 6 months old.

Should this occur before twelve months of age, an additional 25

Next issue will include Royal and Specialty Show results from Adelaide, South Australia & Melbourne, Victoria.

Aussie exhibitors, please ensure that you send me your results and pictures for the January Edition! brilhond@wimmera.com.au Until then, cheers from Australia Shirl.

Around the Ring in Victoria 2-Jan-10 Kyneton & Dist KC Judge was Mrs P Kirke Best of Breed – Group 2 BIS/MBISS Aust & NZ Ch Keeswey The Marksman At Keez (imp NZ) – T&C Rogers 3-Jan-10 Historic Maldon Kennel Club Judge was Mr K Lovell Best of Breed – Group 1 BIS/MBISS Aust & NZ Ch Keeswey The Marksman At Keez (imp NZ) – T&C Rogers 3-Jan-10 Central Gippsland K C Inc Judge Mrs N Zimmerle (Qld) Puppy in Group - Vendorfe Classic Design – S Emary 8- Jan-10 South Eastern K C Inc Baby Puppy in Group & Baby Puppy in Show - Vendorfe What The Heck – S Emary BIS/MBISS Aust & NZ Ch Keeswey The

9-Jan-10 South Eastern K C Inc Baby Puppy in Group - Vendorfe What The Heck – S Emary

Marksman At Keez (imp NZ)

23-Jan-10 Australia Day International Baby Puppy in Group & Baby Puppy in Show - Vendorfe What The Heck – S Emary 24-Jan-10 Cranbourne Dog Club Judge was Mr H Van Den Berg (Neth) Best of Breed - Puppy in Group – Keez If The Shoe Fits – T&C Rogers 30-Jan-10 Warrnambool & Dist Kennel & Obed Dog Club Judge was Mr D Sales (Tas) Bitch Challenge - RU Best of Breed - Puppy in Group Keez If The Shoe Fits – T&C Rogers Best of Breed - Best in Group BIS/MBISS Aust & NZ Ch Keeswey The Marksman At Keez (imp NZ) – T&C Rogers

Vendorfe What the Heck

31-Jan-10 Lady Bay Kennel Club Judge was Mrs F Harris (Tas) Reserve Bitch Challenge - Puppy in Group Keez If The Shoe Fits – T&C Rogers

6- Feb-10 Classic Dog Show Inc Baby Puppy in Group- Vendorfe What The Heck – S Emary 7-Feb-10 Ballarat Dog Club Judge was Mrs J Keenan Best of Breed – Group 1 BIS/MBISS Aust & NZ Ch Keeswey The Marksman At Keez (imp NZ) – T&C Rogers Baby Puppy in Group - Vendorfe What The Heck – S Emary 13-Feb-10 Lyndhurst Canine Country ClubJudge was Mrs J Weekes / Prof B Corbitt Bitch Challenge - RU Best of Breed - Puppy in Group / Puppy in Show Keez If The Shoe Fits – T&C Rogers Best of Breed – Group 2 BIS/MBISS Aust & NZ Ch Keeswey The Marksman At Keez (imp NZ) – T&C Rogers 14-Feb-10 Metropolitan Canine Association Judge was Mrs D Norquay (NSW) Best of Breed - Puppy in Group Keez If The Shoe Fits – T&C Rogers 21-Feb-10 Berwick All Breeds Kennel Club Judge was Mr C Hamilton / Mrs D Baillie Best of Breed - Puppy in Group / Puppy in Show Keez If The Shoe Fits – T&C Rogers Dog Challenge & RU Best of Breed BIS/MBISS Aust & NZ Ch Keeswey The Marksman At Keez (imp NZ) – T&C Rogers

BIS/MBISS Aust & NZ Ch Keeswey The Marksman At Keez (imp NZ)

28- Feb-10 Eaglehawk Kennel Club Inc Judge Mrs S Richards Baby Puppy in Group - Vendorfe What The Heck – S Emary 6-Mar-10 Mt Elephant & Dist Kennel Club PM show Judge was Ms J Lees Best of Breed – Group 1 BIS/MBISS Aust & NZ Ch Keeswey The Marksman At Keez (imp NZ) – T&C Rogers 6-Mar-10 Mt Elephant & Dist Kennel Club Am show Judge was Mrs R Henderson (QLD) Best of Breed – Group 2 BIS/MBISS Aust & NZ Ch Keeswey The Marksman At Keez (imp NZ) – T&C Rogers

7- March-10 Noorat & Dist K C Inc AM & PM Shows Baby Puppy in Group - Vendorfe What The Heck – S Emary 8-Mar-10 Camperdown & Dist Kennel Club Inc Judge was Mrs H Weil (Qld) Bitch Challenge - RU Best of Breed - Puppy of Breed - Puppy in Group Keez If The Shoe Fits – T&C Rogers 13-Mar-10 Ladies Kennel Club of SA Inc Judge was Mrs K Santas / Mr K McCarthy (Breed Specialist Group Judge) Bitch Challenge, RU Best of Breed, Puppy in Group, Puppy in Show Keez If The Shoe Fits – T&C Rogers Best of Breed BIS/MBISS Aust & NZ Ch Keeswey The Marksman At Keez (imp NZ) – T&C Rogers 14-Mar-10 Ladies Kennel Club of SA Inc Judge was Mr B Santas / Mrs D Baillie (Breed Specialist Group Judge) Best of Breed, Puppy in Group, Puppy in Show Keez If The Shoe Fits – T&C Rogers Dog Challenge - RU Best of Breed BIS/MBISS Aust & NZ Ch Keeswey The Marksman At Keez (imp NZ) – T&C Rogers 3-Apr-10 Keeshond Club of NSW Open Show Judge was Mr J Krantz (USA Star*Kees Keeshonds) (Breed Specialist Judge) Best Bitch - Best in Show Keez If The Shoe Fits – T&C Rogers 3-Apr-10 Keeshond Club of NSW Championship SHow Judge was Ms Robin Stark (USA Star*Kees Keeshonds) -Breed Specialist) Best in Show BIS/MBISS Aust & NZ Ch Keeswey The Marksman At Keez (imp NZ) – T&C Rogers 5- April-10 Easter Festival K C Inc Judge Mrs D Jovanovic (Qld) Baby Puppy in Group - Vendorfe What The Heck – S Emary 5-April-10 Town & Country K C Inc Judge Mr R Lowe (NZ) Group 2 & Aust Bred in Group - Aust Ch Vendorfe As You Wish – S Emary

Aust Ch Keez If The Shoe Fits

10-Apr-10 Ovens Valley Canine Club Judge was Mr J Thompson Best of Breed - Group 2 BIS/MBISS Aust & NZ Ch Keeswey The Marksman At Keez (imp NZ) – T&C Rogers 11-Apr-10 Ovens Valley Canine Club Judge was Mr K McCarthy Best of Breed - Group 1 BIS/MBISS Aust & NZ Ch Keeswey The Marksman At Keez (imp NZ) – T&C Rogers 11- April-10 Canine Museum Foundation Inc Judge Mrs Pederson Minor Puppy in Group - Vendorfe What The Heck – S Emary 25- April-10 Heathcote Kennel Club Inc Judge Mr J Cumerford NSW Minor Puppy in Group & Minor Puppy in Show - Vendorfe What The Heck – S Emary 22- May-10 Caulfield & Districk K C Inc Judge Mr E Boxhall Minor Puppy in Group - Vendorfe What The Heck – S Emary 23- May-10 Geelong & Dist Kc Inc Judge Mr J Birch NSW Minor Puppy in Group - Vendorfe What The Heck – S Emary Vendorfe Classic Design

14- June-10 Victorian Spitz Breeds Inc Judge Mr A Burt Minor Puppy in Show - Vendorfe What The Heck – S Emary 27-Jun-10 Dog Stewards Association Judge was Mrs G Cook Best of Breed - Group 1 BIS/MBISS Aust & NZ Ch Keeswey The Marksman At Keez (imp NZ) – T&C Rogers 24-Jul-10 Heidelberg District Kennel Club Best of Breed - Group 2 BIS/MBISS Aust & NZ Ch Keeswey The Marksman At Keez (imp NZ) – T&C Rogers 25-Jul-10 The Non Sporting Dog Club of Victoria Judge was Mr A Kidd (SA) Best of Breed Aust Ch Keez If The Shoe Fits – T&C Rogers Dog Challenge, RU Best of Breed BIS/MBISS Aust & NZ Ch Keeswey The Marksman At Keez (imp NZ) – T&C Rogers

Around the Ring in NSW Congratulations to Lauren Santas (Daughter of Mr Brad Santas – Calivale Keeshond) who made the State Finals for Junior Handlers in NSW – she competed at the Junior Kennel Club Show on Sunday August 1, 2010 9-Jan-10 Penrith & District Kennel Club - Mr W Burton (NSW) Best in Show Gr Ch Calivale Tickle My Fancy - B&K Santas 20- Feb-10 Kangaroo Valley Ag Show - Ms L Stevens (ACT) Best in Group Gr Ch Klompens Gone Walkabout At Calivale (Imp USA) - B&K Santas 27-Feb-10 Wollongong & District Kennel Club Mr M Johnston (NSW) Group 2 Ch Calivale Does It For Me - B&K Santas 28-Feb-10 Medowie & Dist Kennel Club Mrs T McDonald (QLD) Group 2 Gr Ch Klompens Gone Walkabout At Calivale (Imp USA) - B&K Santas 20-Mar-10 Camden Ag Show Baby in Group - Calivale U Know Nothing - B&K Santas 21-Mar-10 Liverpool & District Kennel Club Mr P Martin (SA) Group 2 NZ Ch & Gr Ch Nederhund Katjas Katjim At Calivale ET - B&K Santas 27-Mar-10 Bay City ABKC Baby in Group - Calivale U Know Nothing - B&K Santas 23-Apr-10 Hawkesbury Ag Puppy in Group - Calivale All About Me - B&K Santas 24-Apr-10 Orange Show Soc Puppy in Group - Calivale All About Me - B&K Santas 24- Apr-10 Orange Show Society Mr J Rowles (NSW) Best in Show - Ch Calivale Calln The Shots - B&K Santas 25-Apr-10 Bulli & District Kennel Club Ms M Clegg (VIC) Group 2 - NZ Ch & Gr Ch Nederhund Katjas Katjim At Calivale ET - B&K Santas

7-May-10 Newcastle & Northern Kennel Club Minor in Group - Calivale All About Me - B&K Santas 8-May-10 Newcastle & Northern Kennel Club Mr C Scott (NZ) Group 2 - Ch Calivale Calln The Shots - B&K Santas 9-May-10 Newcastle & Northern Kennel Club Mrs L Harris (NZ) Group 2 - Ch Calivale Calln The Shots - B&K Santas 12-Jun-10 Dogs on Show Mrs F Harris (TAS) Best in Show - Gr Ch Klompens Gone Walkabout At Calivale (Imp USA) - B&K Santas 13-Jun-10 Wollondilly Kennel Club Puppy In Show - Calivale All About Me - B&K Santas 14-Jun-10 Non Sporting Dog Club of NSW Mrs C Currie Thompson Puppy in Show - Calivale All About Me - B&K Santas Ru In Show - Gr Ch Klompens Gone Walkabout At Calivale (Imp USA) - B&K Santas 20-Jun-10 Parramatta & Dist Kennel Club Puppy in Group - Calivale All About Me - B&K Santas 27-Jun-10 Blaxland Glenbrook ABKC Puppy in Group - Calivale All About Me - B&K Santas 10-Jul-10 Bungendore & Palerang Minor In Show - Calivale U Know Nothing - B&K Santas 11- Jul-10 Bungendore & Palerang Kennel Club Mr R Ellis (NSW) Group 2 - Ch Calivale Calln The Shots - B&K Santas 11-Jul-10 Sutherland Shire ABKC Puppy in Group - Calivale At It Again - B&K Santas 24-Jul-10 Rylstone & Kandos DDC Mr W Burton (NSW) Best in Show - Ch Calivale Calln The Shots - B&K Santas Junior in Group - Calivale U Know Nothing - B&K Santas 25- Jul-10 Rylstone & Kandos DDC Ms Y Meintjes (NSW) Best in Group - Ch Calivale Calln The Shots - B&K Santas Puppy in Group - Calivale All About Me - B&K Santas 31-Jul-10 Dubbo & Dist Kennel Club Ms D Norman (QLD) Best in Group - Gr Ch Klompens Gone Walkabout At Calivale (Imp USA) - B&K Santas

Kees in canada

Western Canada Results - By Jeannie Owen — Kozmic Keeshonden With so little time to prepare this article, (thanks Cheri!!) – I hope those of you in Western Canada will contact me with your shows and wins so I can add them to the next issue of the KeeshondWorld magazine. The deadline for the next edition will be December 1, 2010. Here’s wishing you all a great autumn and let’s support Cheri and Trevor’s efforts in keeping this magazine going!

There are a few Keeshonden that have been doing well in the British Columbia and Alberta show rings this year!

Can Ch Keesrich Wizard - Owned by Gail Riches hit the rings running at his first Canadian show a wonderful Best of Breed over 2 seasoned specials Nanaimo KC shows Group 1st, Best Puppy In Group and Best Puppy In Show.

Nicola Valley KC shows the next two days - Best Puppy In Group and Best of Winners one day. And another Best Puppy In Group and a Canadian Championship!

Can/Am Ch Keesrich Life Is An Open Road – owned by Cindy Upward has added another Group 1st, four Group 2nds, Six Group 3 and a Group 4 to his impressive show record.

Ch. Cinnakees Champagne Wishes – owned by Garry and Cathy Cinnamon has added two Group 1st and a Group 2.

Can &Am Ch Daimler’s Krack-R-Jack At Klitsa – owned by Barb Wilson, has added three Group 1st , five Group 2, two Group 3 and two Group 4.

Ch. KoAnne’s One Desire - owned by Heather Crooks recently obtained a Group 2nd

Can & Am Ch. Moonspinners This Magic Moment - won a Group 3 on May 22, 2010 at the Fort Garry Kennel Club shows under Ms Conny Gutierrez-Otero.

Ch Klitsa’s Great Expectations - owned by Belle Hall four Group 2, a Group 3, and two Group 4. Yukon KC shows saw him Finish his Canadian Championship

Eastern Canada Results — By Rob Harper — Moonspinners Keeshonden Reg. Hello from sunny Manitoba!

I’m Rob Harper and I’ll be reporting on show results and other bits of news from the center of Canada, which will cover Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northern Ontario. While this covers a large area, we usually have very small kees entries at our shows.

In all this area there are only three keeshond breeders – Heather Crooks (Koanne Keeshonden) in Regina Saskatchewan, Lynne Hewitt (SouthCar Keeshonden) in Carlyle Saskatchewan, and My wife Judy and I (Moonspinners Keeshonden) who live just outside of Winnipeg Manitoba. Saskatchewan is more likely to have larger kees entries at its shows because it is closest to Alberta, where there are several more kees breeders.

I’ll try and cover most of the show results in this area so far this year, but I’m doing it at the last moment so please forgive me if I do happen to miss something or make a mistake.

At the Regina Kennel Club shows in May, Ch Cinnakees Champagne Wishes had group firsts under judges Larry Kereluke and Mel Saranchuk as well as a group second under judge Diane Ivey.

The other day Heather Crooks went second in group with Koannes One Desire under judge Mediola.

In Manitoba, Colleen Foster’s Guido (Can and Am Ch Moonspinners Panda Bear) went second in group under Judge Gerry Taylor at the Northwinds Dog Club shows back in March.

At the Fort Garry Kennel Club Shows in May our own Jay Jay (Can and Am Ch Moonspinners This Magic Moment) went 3rd in group under Mexican Judge Conny Gutierrez-Otiero. Guido and Jay Jay are littermates.

At the Manitoba Canine Association shows in Winnipeg in August, a kees named Parker (better known as Can and Am Ch Daimler’s Caviar Dreams) showed up with handler Shannon Scheer. Parker had 4 group seconds and a group third in the 4 all breed shows and the group 6 specialty. He also finished his Canadian Hall of Fame. Ironically, until a few weeks earlier, no kees had ever finished a Hall of Fame in both countries.

On July 25th Lynne Hewitt’s male keeshond Clancy (Can and Am Ch Darkenwald Cavalier O’ SouthCar) finished his American Hall of Fame at the Nita Nee Kennel Club shows with a first in group under Judge James Ham. He became the first keeshond to finish his Hall of Fame in both countries.

Sonata’s Just By Chance At Palmkees went to shows in Northern Ontario in June and Came away with a second in group at the Kenora Dog Club shows on June 18th under judge Barbara Watt and had two more fourths in group the next weekend at the Argus Kennel Club shows in Thunder Bay under judges Richard Meen and Carol Graham.

Our show season is quickly coming to an end here in the eastern Canadian Prairies. We have three sets of September shows left in Saskatchewan. Then there are the autumn Fort Garry Kennel Club shows in Winnipeg on our Canadian Thanksgiving weekend in early October and the Brandon Manitoba Shows in November.

There is only one weekend of shows left in Northern Ontario and that is in September in Thunder Bay. Please feel free to email any results you may have and some photos of your winners for the next edition to moonspin@mts.net coming out in January 2011. Deadline is December 1 2010! Rob Harper - Moonspinners Keeshonden Reg’d

Kiwi kees Kees in new zealand

By Jeannette Wingels — Starkenburgh Keeshonden For those of you who are not au fait with New Zealand.

New Zealand is situated about 3 hours flying time east of Australia and is well and truly ”down under”. The country comprises 2 islands – North & South. The two are not connected and each can only be reached via ferry or plane. The land mass of the 2 islands is around the size of England but in stark contrast, is home to only around 4.5 million people. The biggest city is Auckland located in the upper North Island, with around 1.5 million people. The majority of dog shows occur in the North Island.

New Zealand has only 3 Kees breeders – 2 in the North Island (Starkenburgh and Clandara), and 1 in the South Island (Keesstars) with each kennel having its own type.

Around 10 puppies are registered each year. Each of the afore mentioned kennels has American bloodlines.

“Starkenburgh” having been the first to import from America. In 1999, AM Ch Aurora’s High Hopes was imported in whelp and whelped a litter of 4 pups in quarantine. Their sire was AM Ch Candray Spirit In The Sky. “Clandara” soon thereafter imported AM Ch Trumpet Break Every Rule, and more recently in 2009 “Keesstars” imported AM Ch Daimlers Newsflash T Keesstars whom I believe to date has not been shown.

NZ requires dogs to be quarantined for 1 month from those countries considered as low risk rabies countries.

High risk countries such as from Africa require 4 months. No quarantine is required for dogs coming from rabies free countries.

The average Kees entry is around 6 – 10 dogs per show in the North Island, with far fewer being exhibited in the South Island. Very, very seldom do the dogs from each January:

island compete against one another, mainly due to travelling distance. Judges from far a field are flown in, with the majority being from Australia. The Keeshond falls under the Non-Sporting group or Group 7, and is 1 of 7 groups recognised in the show ring. The average cost per show class entry is NZ$12 – 15.

The judging system here offers some excitement.

Classes include Baby Puppy (from 3mths to 6mths and are not eligible for a Challenge Certificate or CC), Puppy (6 – 12 mths – are eligible for CC), Junior (12 – 24mths), Intermediate (2 – 3 yrs), NZ Bred & Open. 8 CC are required to become a NZ Champion with the last CC being required after 1 year of age. Champions compete in Junior to Open classes, and Best of Breed is awarded from best dog and best bitch, and reserve of breed selected again from either reserve best dog/ bitch and best dog/bitch. The majority of BOB come from the dog classes and hence few bitches are shown.

Champions that are competing for best dog/bitch helps to maintain a high standard within the breed. Best of Breeds compete for Best In Group and Reserve Best in Group.

Whichever class these winners represent consequently eliminate the other relevant in-class winners of other breeds within the group. Best in Group Class winners later go on for Best in Show Class awards.

In order to attain a Grand Champion status, a dog needs to attain 50 CC and also 3 Best In Show awards achieved only at All Breed Championships shows, and need to be under 3 different judges. Not an easy feat!

The 2010 show season started off in the height of summer. I am not aware of any Kees show results from the South Island.

At the Northland All Breeds Championship show in Whangarei under Mr Alf Fitzgerald from Queensland Australia, Best of Breed went to the Open class, Aust Grand Ch & NZ Ch Nederhund Katjas Katjim at Calivale (Aust Imp), and Reserve Best of Breed to NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor.

The afternoon show held by the Bay of Island KA All Breeds Championship show under Ken Iggleden also of Queensland, awarded Best of Breed to Aust Grand Ch & NZ Ch Nederhund Katjas Katjim at Calivale (Aust Imp) and Reserve Best of Breed this time to the junior, Starkenburgh Shimmer N Shine.

Starkenburgh Shimmer N Shine The next day at the same venue under Yanina Smith of Tasmania, Best of Breed went to the winner of the Open class, NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor and Reserve Best of Breed to Aust Grand Ch & NZ Ch Nederhund Katjas Katjim at Calivale (Aust Imp).

The afternoon show under Mike Towell of Queensland saw Aust Grand Ch & NZ Ch Nederhund Katjas Katjim at Calivale (Aust Imp) get Best of Breed with NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor taking Reserve Best of Breed.

February: In Auckland at Hibiscus KA All Breeds Championship show, Dr Rizzini of Brazil awarded Best of Breed to Aust Grand Ch & NZ Ch Nederhund Katjas Katjim at Calivale (Aust Imp) and Reserve Best of Breed to NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor.

The following day under international breed specialist, Dr Benites of Brazil, Best of Breed went to NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor and Reserve Best of Breed to his half brother NZ Ch Starkenburgh Stole My Heart. NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor then went on to win BEST IN GROUP, BEST OPEN IN GROUP, and later under Vania Haga of Brazil, won RESERVE BEST IN SHOW.

NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor winning Best In Group under bred specialist Dr Benites of Brazil

NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor winning Reserve Best In Show under Vania Haga of Brazil At the 2 All Breeds Championship shows held in Tokoroa (3 hour drive south of Auckland). Under Judge Jean Butterfield from South Australia, Best of Breed went to NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor and Reserve Best of Breed to NZ Ch Starkenburgh Stole My Heart who also won BEST NZ BRED IN GROUP.

NZ Ch Starkenburgh Stole My Heart

Under Rick Glendinning of Canada, NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor took Best of Breed, and Clandara Drum, Reserve Best of Breed.

At the 2 Non-Sporting & Utility Championship shows also held in Tokoroa, under Christine Spry of South Australia, NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor again took Best of Breed, with Reserve Best of Breed going to the junior, Clandara Edge.

Then under Margaret Courtney Reid from South Australia, Best of Breed and BEST INTERMEDIATE IN GROUP went to NZ Ch Clandara Cairo, and Reserve Best of Breed to Clandara Drum.

At the end of February at the North Shore All Breeds Championship shows in Auckland, under Rod Jarman from South Africa, NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor was awarded Best of Breed with his grandson Starkenburgh Shimmer N Shine getting Reserve Best of Breed.

The next day under Diane Boyd from Christchurch, NZ was a repeat performance with NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor being awarded Best of Breed, and his grandson Starkenburgh Shimmer N Shine getting Reserve Best of Breed.

MARCH: At the Hamilton All Breeds Championship shows (an hour’s drive from Auckland) under Mr Wright from Queensland Australia, saw a big tussle between the two Juniors with ultimately Clandara Drum taking Best of Breed, and later went on to take BEST IN GROUP and BEST JUNIOR IN GROUP. Starkenburgh Shimmer N Shine was awarded Reserve Best of Breed.

The next day under Mrs Wright, NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor was awarded Best of Breed with his grandson Starkenburgh Shimmer N Shine getting Reserve Best of Breed and also BEST JUNIOR IN GROUP. Later that month in Auckland, at the Auckland Benefit All Breeds Championship show under Mrs K Findlayson of Christchurch NZ, NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor was awarded Best of Breed with his grandson Starkenburgh Shimmer N Shine getting Reserve Best of Breed.

The following day under Mr Rumpler of Napier NZ, Clandara Edge took Best of Breed, BEST JUNIOR IN GROUP and RESERVE BEST IN GROUP. Clandara Drum was awarded Reserve Best of Breed, and NZ Ch Clandara Cairo won BEST INTERMEDIATE IN GROUP. APRIL: At the Auckland Non Sporting & Utility Championship show under Mr W Morris of Christchurch NZ, AM NZ Ch Trumpet Break Every Rule (USA Imp) was awarded Best of Breed, RESERVE BEST IN GROUP & RESERVE BEST IN SHOW. Clandara Drum won Reserve Best of Breed.

At Auckland KC All Breeds Championship show under Mr C Graham of Christchurch NZ, NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor was awarded Best of Breed with his grandson Starkenburgh Shimmer N Shine getting Reserve Best of Breed.

At the show next day under Mrs Teena Sloan from Tasmania, NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor was awarded Best of Breed, BEST IN GROUP & BEST OPEN IN GROUP. Reserve Best of Breed went to Clandara Drum.

On the east coast of the North Island (6 hour drive from Auckland) at Wairoa All Breeds Championship show, under Mr D Hyde of ACT Australia, Best of Breed went to NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor, with Reserve Best of Breed going to Clandara Drum.

Later that afternoon under Miss Joyce from Victoria Australia, AM NZ Ch Trumpet Break Every Rule (USA Imp) won Best of Breed, with Starkenburgh Summer Gold taking Reserve Best of Breed.

The next day under Mrs Harvey from Victoria Australia, NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor went Best of Breed, and Reserve Best of Breed went to AM NZ Ch Trumpet Break Every Rule (USA Imp).

That afternoon under Mr Daley from NSW Australia, Clandara Drum took Best of Breed, with AM NZ Ch Trumpet Break Every Rule (USA Imp) taking Reserve Best of Breed.

Mid- April at Cambridge KC All Breeds Championship show under Mrs Annette Buxton from Christchurch NZ, NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor went Best of Breed, BEST IN GROUP, BEST OPEN IN GROUP and later went on to win BEST IN SHOW & BEST OPEN IN SHOW. Reserve Best of Breed went to AM NZ Ch Trumpet Break Every Rule (USA Imp).

NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor winning Best In Show under Annette Buxton of New Zealand The next day under Mr B Fears of Christchurch NZ, AM NZ Ch Trumpet Break Every Rule (USA Imp) took Best of Breed and NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor, Reserve Best of Breed. Clandara Drum won BEST JUNIOR IN GROUP. At the end of the month in Auckland at the Kumeu KC All Breeds Championship show under Mr J Palmer from NSW Australia, Best of Breed went to the junior, Starkenburgh Shimmer N Shine and Reserve Best of Breed to his grandfather, NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor.

The next day under Mr N Wood from Queensland Australia, Starkenburgh Shimmer N Shine once again took Best of Breed, and Clandara Drum took Reserve Best of Breed.

MAY: On the east coast of the North Island at the Hawkes Bay All Breeds Championship show (6 hour drive from Auckland), under Mrs B Ferguson from South Australia, NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor won Best of Breed and went on to win BEST IN GROUP and BEST OPEN IN GROUP. Starkenburgh Shimmer N Shine took Reserve Best of Breed.

The next day under Mr P Primrose from Perth Australia, Starkenburgh Shimmer N Shine took Best of Breed and BEST JUNIOR IN GROUP, with his grandfather NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor taking Reserve Best of Breed.

JULY: In Auckland at Hauraki KC All Breeds Championship show under Mr Douglas from Victoria Australia, AM NZ Ch Trumpet Break Every Rule (USA Imp) was awarded Best of Breed with Clandara Drum taking Reserve Best of Breed.

The next day under Mrs Knopke from Queensland Australia, NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor took Best of Breed with AM NZ Ch Trumpet Break Every Rule (USA Imp) taking Reserve Best of Breed.

At the end of the month at Auckland Benefit All Breeds Championship show under Mrs L Chalmers from Christchurch NZ, AM NZ Ch Trumpet Break Every Rule (USA Imp) took Best of Breed, with NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor being awarded Reserve Best of Breed.

AUGUST: Earlier this month, down in Wellington located at the southern tip of the North Island and is around a 9 hour drive from Auckland. At Pencarrow KC All Breeds Championship show under Tania Mc Donald from Queensland Australia, NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor was awarded Best of Breed, and Starkenburgh Shimmer N Shine took Reserve Best of Breed.

Later that afternoon under Mrs L Buchanan also from Queensland, NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor was awarded Best of Breed and BEST OPEN IN GROUP, with Starkenburgh Shimmer N Shine taking Reserve Best of Breed again.

The next day at Upper Hutt KA All Breeds Championship shows under Mrs Garvey-Webb from NZ, NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor was again awarded Best of Breed, with Starkenburgh Shimmer N Shine taking Reserve Best of Breed.

Later that afternoon under Mr V Jones of Queensland Australia, the tables turned and Starkenburgh Shimmer N Shine took Best of Breed, with NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor getting Reserve Best of Breed.

Currently NZ Ch Starkenburgh Sole Survivor is #1 ranked Keeshond in NZ and #3 ranked Non-Sporting Dog in NZ, with Starkenburgh Shimmer N Shine being #1 ranked Keeshond Rising Star as per Dogz Online points score system @ 8 August 2010.

If any NZ exhibitors have show results, please email them, along with photos, to wingels@kiwilink.co.nz Take care. See you later.

Jeannette

The quick reference guide for the breeder and fancier!

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Kees in Russia

By Ekaterina Nikitina Kennel Iz Mirashela International Dog Show "EURASIA-2010" (Double CACIB) "EURASIA-1", Moscow, March 27, 2010 Judge: Erwin Deutcsher (Austria) Best of Breed - BOB : Aistraum Pallada Afina ( Aistraum Bonte Сasper x Aistraum Yana) Owners: E. Katysheva, Russia Breeder: O.Nyrkovskaya, Russia Best of puppy: Niksend Road Of The Real King (Lohamras King Of The Road x Niksend National History) Owners: E. Khroshina, Russia Breeder: E. Khroshina, Russia Best of Junior: Diva Divnaya iz Mirashela (Lohamras King Of The Road x Gloria Florens Bessi Light).

Owners: M. Alesehko, Russia Breeder: E. Nikitina, Russia Best of Veteran, Veteran - Dog: Serebryanaya Shubka Ben Owners: G. Karpova, Russia Breeder: G. Karpova, Russia Veteran - Bitch: Aistraum Zhemchuzhina (Aistraum Blad x Sashanna's Alice) Owners: O.Nyrkovskaya, Russia Breeder: O.Nyrkovskaya, Russia CACIB – Dog: Russkoe Serebro Peresvet (Epic’s Mr Took x Vanderblom Circe Invidosa For RS) Owners: E. Milovanova, Russia Breeder: V. Krutova, Russia

Aistraum Pallada Afina – photo E. Sablina

CACIB – Bitch: Aistraum Pallada Afina ( AistraumBonteСasper-Aistraum Yana) Owners: E. Katysheva, Russia Breeder: O.Nyrkovskaya, Russia

Aistraum Zhemchuzhina - Photo S. Egorova Niksend Road Of The Real King

Russkoe Serebro Peresvet Photo S. Egorova

International Dog Show "EURASIA-2010" (Double CACIB) "EURASIA-2", Moscow, March 28, 2010, Judge: Hans Almgren (Sweden) Best of Breed - BOB : Aistraum Tutsi (Aistraum Goracio x Aistraum Irena Idallia), foto E. Sablina Owners: S. Zabelinskiy, Russia Breeder: O.Nyrkovskaya, Russia Best of puppy: Niksend Road Of The Real King (Lohamras King Of The Road x Niksend National History) Owners: E. Khroshina, Russia Breeder: E. Khroshina, Russia Best of Junior: Diva Divnaya iz Mirashela (Lohamras King Of The Road x Gloria Florens Bessi Light).

Owners: M. Alesehko, Russia Breeder: E. Nikitina, Russia Best of Veteran, Veteran - Bitch: Tinika Thea (Aistraum Blad X Sashanna Blue Little Cloud), foto E. Sablina Owners: G. Karpova, Russia Breeder: E. Putilina, Russia CACIB – Dog: Aistraum Zhammi Joker (Keesbrook's Boldy Go x Aistraum Fortuna Favory) Owners: I. Kiselevskaya-Babinina, Russia Breeder: O.Nyrkovskaya, Russia CACIB – Bitch: Aistraum Tutsi (Picadillycircus Del Monte Dragnone x Sashanna's Alice) Owners: S. Zabelinskiy, Russia Breeder: O.Nyrkovskaya, Russia

Aistraum Tutsi - Photo E. Sablina

Tinika Thea - Photo E. Sablina

Aistraum Zhammi Joker

International Dog Show, St. Petersburg , March 7, 2010, Judge: A. Belkin (Russia) Best of Breed – BOB, CACIB –Dog Aistraum Bonte Сasper (Aistraum Zherar x Aistraum Irena Idallia) Owners: E. Egorova, Russia Breeder: O.Nyrkovskaya, Russia CACIB – Bitch : Kolrini Valensia (Aistraum Zhermon xKolrini Chinzana) Owners: Russia Breeder: I. Kolpashnikova, Russia

International Dog Show «Stars Siberia», Novosibirsk, March 20, 2010. Judge: S. Galiaskarov (Russia) Best of Breed – BOB, CACIB – Bitch: Bibi Hanum Iz Mirashela (Avian Fat Boy x Veseli Gnom Kassiopeya) Owners: J. Zheleznova, Russia Breeder: E. Nikitina, Russia Best of Junior, Junior - Dog: Vivat Winner iz Mirashela (Lohamras King Of The Road x Veseli Gnom Kassiopeya), Owners: G. Nasartdinova, Russia Breeder: E. Nikitina, Russia

Aistraum Bonte Сasper

Junior - Bitch: Gracia iz Mirashela (Lohamras King Of The Road x Gloria Florens Best Gel), Owners: V. Sukhanov, Russia Breeder: E. Nikitina, Russia

Vivat Winner iz Mirashela Photo E.Nikitina Bibi Hanum Iz Mirashela

Gracia iz Mirashela Photo E.Nikitina

International Dog Show «Uralochka», Ekaterinburg, April 11, 2010, Judge: V. SHYJAN (Ukraine) Best of Breed – BOB, CACIB –Dog: Eswood Pure Mousse (Stratus The Philanderer x Eswood Maple Mousse) Owners: N.Myasnikova, Russia Breeder: J. Koskinen, Finland CACIB – Bitch : Bibi Hanum Iz Mirashela (Avian Fat Boy x Veseli Gnom Kassiopeya) Owners: J. Zheleznova, Russia Breeder: E. Nikitina, Russia

International Dog Show « Spring Petersburg», St. Petersburg, April 17, 2010, Judge: L. Nikitina (Russia) Best of Breed – BOB, CACIB –Dog: Eerondaali Ivalo (Ikurin Rex Novex x Henniina's Bellastella) Owners: Petri Turunen & Annukka Koskela, Finland Breeder: Finland CACIB – Bitch : Russkoe Serebro Onna-No Ko Yuki (Epic’s Mr Took x Ais Lu-Lu Serebrjanaja) Owners: V. Krutova, Russia Breeder: V. Krutova, Russia Best of Veteran, Veteran - Bitch: Tinika Thea (Aistraum Blad X Sashanna Blue Little Cloud) Owners: G. Karpova, Russia Breeder: E. Putilina, Russia

International Dog Show Saratov, April 25, 2010, Judge: A. Zhuk (Belarus) Best of Breed – BOB, CACIB – Bitch: Niksend Ladylike (Niksend Challenge Of The Chief x Niksend Ensine of Glory) Owners: I. Nikitina, Russia Breeder: E. Khroshina, Russia

International Dog Show Omsk, May 9, 2010, Judge: A. Zhuk (Belarus)

Niksend Ladylike

Best of Breed – BOB, Best of Junior Gudini Iz Mirashela (Lohamras King of the Road х Gloria Florens Best Gel) , Owners: K. Vask, Russia Breeder: E. Nikitina, Russia

International Dog Show, Kursk, July 27, 2010, Judge: Curcic Zoran (Serbie) Best of Breed – BOB, CACIB – Bitch, BIS-2: Aistraum Rovena (Aistraum Goracio X Lohamras Itzi Bitzi) Owners: O.Nyrkovskaya, Russia Breeder: O.Nyrkovskaya, Russia CACIB –Dog: Ekzotik Stail (Kapriz Fortuny Varyag X Angelica) Owners: Y.Bodylev , Russia Breeder: N.Nekrasova., Russia

Gudini Iz Mirashela Photo A.Gorochnikova

Aistraum Rovena

International Dog Show «Belie Nochi-1» (Double CACIB), St. Petersburg, June 12, 2010, Judge: P.Rehanek (Czech Republic) Best of Breed – BOB, CACIB –Dog: Aistraum Chubby Chieftain (Hevn Sent Octavian x Aistraum Racy Rising Star) Owners: I. Kiselevskaya-Babinina, Russia Breeder: O.Nyrkovskaya, Russia CACIB – Bitch: Aistraum Narcy Sunny Smile (Niksend Challenge Of The Chief x Aistraum Chara Cheerful) Owners: L. Tsukanova, Russia Breeder: O.Nyrkovskaya, Russia Best of puppy: Mechta Moya Charuyuschiy Vzglyad (Eswood Pure Mousse x Kapriz Fortuny Lya-Lya) Owners: N. Belousova, Russia Breeder: Kazanceva, Russia Best of Junior, Junior - Bitch: Eswood Doli (Keestorpets Ultramarine x Eswood Maple Mousse) Owners: Finland Breeder: J. Koskinen, Finland

International Dog Show «Belie Nochi-2» (Double CACIB), St. Petersburg, June 13, 2010, Best of Breed – BOB, Best of Junior: Eswood Doli (Keestorpets Ultramarine x Eswood Maple Mousse) Owners: Finland Breeder: J. Koskinen, Finland CACIB –Dog: Aistraum Chubby Chieftain (Hevn Sent Octavian x Aistraum Racy Rising Star) Owners: I. Kiselevskaya-Babinina, Russia Breeder: O.Nyrkovskaya, Russia CACIB – Bitch: Aistraum Narcy Sunny Smile (Niksend Challenge Of The Chief x Aistraum Chara Cheerful) Owners: L. Tsukanova, Russia Breeder: O.Nyrkovskaya, Russia Best of Junior: Eswood Dolli (Keestorpets Ultramarine x Eswood Maple Mousse) Owners: Finland Breeder: J. Koskinen, Finland

Eswood Doli

Calivale Keeshonds Home of All Breeds & Specialty Best in Show Winners 2010 Best in Show goes to ….

MBIS MBISS Aust Ch Calivale Calln The Shots aka “Shooter” S: Aust Ch Tamaari Totally Awsom ~ D: Aust Gr Ch Calivale Tickly My Fancy 2010 ~ 2 x All Breeds Best in Show Awards 2009 ~ BISS Keeshond Club of South Australia & Victoria Open Shows 2009 ~ 1 x All Breeds Best in Show Awards 2010 Best in Show goes to…

MBIS MBISS Klompen’s Gone Walkabout at Calivale (Imp USA) aka “Tracker” S: Am Ch Kemonts Skyline’s Game Boy D: Am Ch & Can Ch Calivale Cake Walk (Imp Aust) 2010 ~ 1 x All Breeds Best in Show Award 2010 ~ RBISS Non Sporting Dog Club of NSW Championship Show 2010 ~ RBISS Keeshond Club of NSW Championship Show 2009 ` 3 x All Breeds Best in Show Awards (inc BIS Dogs NSW International Spring Fair Show with 2250 entries) 2009 ~ BIS South Australia Championship & Open Shows

Brad & Katrina Santas Licensed Non Sporting Judges Brad: +61 2 4774 1918 / +61 423 295 036 / calivale@ozemail.com.au Katrina: +61 403 257 072 / purina@ozemail.com.au www.calivalekeeshonds.com Calivale Keeshonds are exclusively fed on Purina Pro Plan Performance

Calivale Keeshonds Home of All Breeds & Specialty Best in Show Winners 2010 Best in Show goes to ….

MBIS BISS Aust Grand Champion Calivale Tickle My Fancy aka “Cricket” S: Bargeway Hurricane ET (Imp UK) ~ D: Aust Ch Calivale Heartbreaker 2010 ~ 2 x Best in Show All Breeds Awards Dam of MBIS MBISS Aust Ch Calivale Calln The Shots & Aust Ch Calivale Call Girl Cricket Puppies due September 2010 ~ Sired by: Aust Ch Clandara Bit Ova Rascal At Calivale (Imp NZ)

2009 Best in Show goes to…

Aust Grand Champion & NZ Ch Nederhund Katjas Katjim at Calivale ET aka “Jimmy” S: Bargeway Hurricane ET (Imp UK) D: Aust Ch Nederhund Canukatja 2010 ~ Attained Endurance Test Title (running 20km in 2 hours) 2009 ~ 2 x All Breeds Best in Show Awards (Australia) 2009 ~ BIS Keeshond Club of NSW Championship & Open Show 2009 ~ 2 x All Breeds Runner Up Best in Show Awards (New Zealand) 2009 ~ 2 x BIS & 2 x RUBIS Non Sporting Utility Dog Club (New Zealand) 2009 ~ New Zealand #1 Non Sporting Dog (DOLPS) Brad & Katrina Santas Licensed Non Sporting Judges Brad: +61 2 4774 1918 / +61 423 295 036 / calivale@ozemail.com.au Katrina: +61 403 257 072 / purina@ozemail.com.au www.calivalekeeshonds.com Calivale Keeshonds are exclusively fed on Purina Pro Plan Performance

Kees in the United kingdom

By Karin Hickson — Kichigai Keeshonden

This first instalment will take us through showing at Championship level at UK shows, and up to Birmingham 2010.

So, here in the United Kingdom how do we make up a Champion? Firstly, you need to understand the system here as we are not FCI. We have Challenge Certificates and Reserve Challenge Certificates, great that sounds easy, you only need 3 Challenge Certificates or CC’s as they are known.

remaining class winners or even the runner up to the dog winning the CC. This in effect means that as any dog/bitch is eligible for the open class you can have a dog with multiple tickets, winning time and time again.

There is no separate class for Champions, young dogs must compete and win past the top winning dog at the time.

Best Puppy comes from all the unbeaten puppies of each sex whatever class they are in.

Any dog placed 1st in its class is eligible for the CC. That means within each sex there could be an eligible dog / bitch from Minor Puppy, Puppy, Junior, Post Graduate, Limit and Open. Specialist club shows will hold more classes.

This year we have seen one dog dominate the show but more of that next time so here are the results and pictures where I have been able to get them. Please send me photos of your dogs wins for the next issue due on December 1st!

The judge then chooses its CC winning dog from the ticket line with the RCC coming from any of the

The year starts officially with Crufts as Manchester has no classes for Keeshond

Crufts – March 13 2010 DCC. Thorsdale Trade Mark RDCC Allforus Dice Master at Spitzcav BCC Ch Lady Godiva’s Guilty Pleasures with Neradmik RBCC Ch Valindale Darling Girl for Chotahkees JW ShCM BOB Lady Godiva’s Guilty Pleasures with Neradmik BP Pommary Quick Silver at Whizzkees

CRUFTS - L-R BOB & BOS

Thorsdale Trade Mark

The Keeshond Club Champ Show – April 4, 2010 DCC Allforus Dice Master at Spitzcav RDCC Thorsdale Trade Mark BCC Lady Godiva’s Guilty Pleasures with Neradmik RBCC Neradmik Chanel BOB Lady Godiva’s Guilty Pleasures with Neradmik BP Whizzkees Onyx Shadow

Ch Lady Godiva’s Guilty Pleasures with Neradmik

WELKS – April 24, 2010 DCC Kichigai Great Pretender JW ShCM RDCC Leazehond Raffles Dream BCC Lady Godiva’s Guilty Pleasures with Neradmik RBCC Amikirs Adorabubble BOB Lady Godiva’s Guilty Pleasures with Neradmik BP Whizzkees Onyx Shadow

Kichigai Great Pretender JW ShCM

Birmingham National – May 6, 2010 DCC Allforus Dice Master for Spitzcav Jw ShCM RDCC Zandvoort Dream Machine BPD Whizzkees Onyx Shadow BCC Lady Godiva’s Guilty Pleasures with Neradmik RBCC Amikirs Arabella BPB Kichigai Special Edition.

BOB Lady Godiva’s Guilty Pleasures with Neradmik BP Whizzkees Onyx Shadow

Allforus Dice Master for Spitzcav Jw ShCM

KSRF's 2011 Keeshond Rescue Calendars are on sale now!

The KSRF calendar is packed with heartwarming stories of Keeshonden who have found new lives through rescue, breathtaking photographs of some of the most gorgeous Kees on the planet, a special tribute to our Keeshond Rescuers of the Year, the Rachael Jensen Veterinary Professional Award recipient, and a special section devoted to honoring our beloved Kees who have traveled to the Bridge.

You won't want to miss out on this very special tradition. And remember, all proceeds from the sale of the KSRF calendar are used to provide medical care for rescued Keeshonden.

We also offer a special discounted rate for rescue organizations who order 20 or more calendars for bulk shipment (for resale at your adoption events, etc. - KSRF does the work and raises some funds, you make a little too!).

Orders by check/money order: (All funds in US dollars - checks/money orders made out to Keeshond Sunshine Rescue Foundation (KSRF) and mailed to KSRF c/o Karen Ramsey, 4420 Mozart Avenue, Dayton, OH 45424-5968.)

In the U.S. - $15 each In Canada - $14.40 (USD) each In Australia - $13.40 (USD) each

U.S. orders by PayPal, $15.45 each calendar, plus a $0.30 per order fee

Canadian orders by PayPal, $15.00 (USD) each calendar, plus a $0.30 per order fee

Australian orders by PayPal, $13.95 (USD) each calendar, plus a $0.30 per order fee

1 calendar = $15.75 2 calendars = $31.20 3 calendars = $46.65

1 calendar = $15.30 2 calendars = $30.30 3 calendars = $45.30

1 calendar = $14.25 2 calendars = $28.20 3 calendars = $42.15

Payment for all KSRF calendar orders via PayPal should be made to: karen@ksrf.org Canadian and Australian pricing has been computed based on interbank exchange rates as of 8/15/2010. In order for all Keeshond Lovers to enjoy our calendars equally, KSRF has "discounted" our annual calendar somewhat for our cross-border friends to bring our US price closer in line to what the discounted rate would be in their country. If there are other Kees Lovers from other countries that would like discounted pricing, please contact Karen Ramsey, KSRF Treasurer, <klramsey@earthlink.net> for a pricing quotation.

Rescue Group Rate: US rescue groups or individuals that order 20 or more calendars at one time, all shipping together to one address (to save postage), get a special rate of $10 per calendar, paid by check or money order. To pay via PayPal the pricing is $10.30 per calendar, plus a $0.30 order fee. So for an order of 20 calendars paid via PayPal, the charge would be $206.30. For orders over 20 each, take the quantity times $10.30, then add the $0.30 order fee. That is the amount that should be sent via PayPal. Mail all orders to: KSRF c/o Karen Ramsey 4420 Mozart Avenue Dayton, OH 45424-5968 Send PayPal orders to: karen@ksrf.org

“yankees” Kees in the usa 75th Keeshond Club of America Regional and National Results

by Terri VanShyndel — Wund-R Y Kees The 75th Anniversary Keeshond Club of America's Regional/National Specialty was held the last week of May in Oconomowoc, WI at the Olympia Resort. It was a wonderful week seeing Keeshonden from around the world as well as visiting with old friends and getting to know new friends.

REGIONAL SPECIALTY Dog classes, Intersex classes Judge - Peggy Dillard Carr WD/BOW RWD BOB BOS AOM AOM AOM AOM AOM/SEL AOM AOM AOM/SEL AOM

Soleil's Original Fire – Blankenship Daimler's Poetic Justic - Benz/Benz CH Daimler's Caviar Dreams - Benz/Benz/Cinnamon CH Ashbrook's Satin Slippers - Blankenship/Moss CH Shamrock's Captain Stormalong - Milwee/Milwee CH Markwright's Sailing In - Meyer CH Karolina Bonnyvale Wants To Be - Fowler CH Dreamwoods Rock The Boat - Tousey/Evasuik CH Trumpet's Shoot To Thrill - Blankenship CH Trumpet's It's Good To Be King - Blankenship CH Karolina's Bonnyvale Meant To Be - Stroud/Bosch/Smith CH Markwright's Habor Wave - Brown CH Skyline's Walk Of Fame - Fleischer

Bitch Classes, Non-regular classes, Veterans and Juniors Judge - Mrs. Jacqueline Stacy WB RWB 8-10 yr old Veteran Dog 8-10 yr old Veteran Bitch 10-12 yr old Veteran Dog 10-12 yr old Veteran Bitch 12+ Veteran Dog 12+ Veteran Bitch Stud dog Brood Bitch

Skyline's Had To Be Bonnyvale Karolina - Cullen/Cullen Sherwood's Secret Event - Noonan CH Windrift's Mutual Funds - Reed CH Klassic's Tia Maria - Beeman/White CH Sherwood's Signifigant Other - Noonan CH Summerwind's Swankee Hopscotch - Hargis/Hargis CH Chatawa One More Chance – Terry CH Markwright's Titletown Flirt - Meyer/Neubauer CH Daimler's Caviar Dreams - Benz/Benz/Cinnamon CH Trumpet's Tainted Love – Blankenship

Brace

CH Ladyslipper's Yukon Denali - Harvey/Godfrey/Godfrey and CH Ladyslipper's North Tracker - Larson/Larson/Godfrey/Godfrey Kelli Denton

Best Junior

Sweepstakes Judge - Miss Joan Miles Puppy Sweeps BISw BOSSw

Foxfair Silent Screen Star - Lynch/Buente Windrift's Money Talk - Reed

Veteran Sweeps BVSw BOVSw

CH Trumpet's Ticket To Ride - Blankenship CH Klassic's Tia Maria - Beeman/White

NATIONAL SPECIALTY Dog classes, Intersex classes Judge - Joan Czarnyszka WD/BOW RWD BOB BOS AOM AOM AOM AOM SEL AOM AOM AOM SEL

Summerwind's Rigatoni - Hargis/Hargis Skyline's Unit of Measure - Cullen/Cullen CH Daimler's Caviar Dreams - Benz/Benz/Cinnamon CH Skyline's Walk Of Fame - Fleischer CH Wund-R Y's Best Kept Secret - VanSchyndel CH Baronwood Infinity ANd Beyond - Denton CH Windrift's Dance To The Music â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Reed CH Olefort G. I. Blues - Curtis CH Trumpet's It's Good To Be King - Blankenship CH Kemonts Skyline's Game Boy - Cullen CH B Mi Irridescent Iris - Munson/Munson CH Cinnakees Champagne Wishes - Cinnamon/Cinnamon CH Daimler's Luck Be A Lady At Indykees - Hildebrand Bitch Classes, Non-regular classes, Intersex classes, Veterans classes, Juniors Judge - Carolyn Schaldecker

WB/AOM RWB 8-10 yr old Veteran Dog 8-10 yr old Veteran Bitch 10-12 yr old Veteran Dog 10-12 yr old Veteran Bitch 10+ yr old Veteran Dog 10+ yr old Veteran Bitch Stud Dog Brood Bitch Brace Litter Class Generatons Class

Trumpet's Wind It Up - Blankenship Trumpet's Love For Sale - Blankenship CH Trumpet's Put A Spell On You - Blankenship CH Classic's Tia Maria - Beeman/White CH Sherwood's Signifigant Other - Noonan CH Summerwind's Swankee Hopscotch - Hargis/Hargis CH Chatawa One More Chance - Terry CH Markwright's Titletown Flirt - Meyer/Neubauer CH Shamrock's Captain Stormalong - Milwee/Milwee CH Trumpet's Tainted Love - Blankenship CH Ladyslipper's Stetson - Jacobs/Jacobs/Godfrey/Godfrey and CH Ladyslipper's Top Hat And Tail - Sheahan/Godfrey/Godfrey Vandy's Url LoJo - Henry CH Summerwind's Swankee Hopscotch - Hargis/Hargis

Breeders Class

Trumpet's We Started Nothing - Blankenship

Futurity/Maturity Judge - Dennis LeHouillier Futurity classes BIF BOSF

Trumpet's We Started Nothing - Blankenship Windrift's For The Love Of Money - Kimpel

Maturity Classes BIM BOSM

CH Candylane's IKON Extravagant Edition - Thompson/Fleischer CH Ashbrook Satin Slippers - Blankenship/Moss

Top Keeshond Event

Top Keeshond 1st Runner Up 2nd Runner Up 3rd Runner Up

Phyllis Noonan – Sherwood - USA Brenda Brookes – Keesbrook - Canada Trevor Rogers – Keez - Australia CH Wund-RY's Best Kept Secret - VanSchyndel CH Daimler's Caviar Dreams - Benz CH Skyline's Walk Of Fame – Fleischer CH Sprookje Lunar Appellation - Sorice

75th Keeshond Club of America National and Regional Obedience and Rally Results By - Cheri Rogers - Editor I have done my best to decipher the results of the Obedience and Rally results for you all, PLEASE forgive me if there are any errors or omissions! ~ Cheri

REGIONAL OBEDIENCE SPECIALTY OBEDIENCE NOVICE CLASS A Judge - Ms. Lynn Tamms 1 - 175.5 O12 CH Parrkees Perpetual Motion At Shoreline RN FIRST.... O12 SECOND.... THIRD.... FOURTH....

SCORE.... 175.5 .... .... ....

OBEDIENCE NOVICE CLASS B JUDGE-Ms. Lynn Tamms 1/HT 198 2 196.5 3 187 4 182.5 Q 175

O16 CH Keepsake Ice On Fire CD AX AXJ. O24 Dreamwoods Too Hot To Handle.

O23 CH Baronwood's Quantum Leap.

O14 Sonata's Start Your Engines RA AX AXJ OF O18 Kemont's Highland Lass NAJ.

Q 176 O15 Benden's Klassic Bad Andie CD RA Q 171 O25 Cinnakees I'M A Believer.

FIRST.... O16 SECOND.... O24 THIRD.... O23 FOURTH.... O14 SCORE.... 198 .... 196.5 .... 187 .... 182.5 OPEN A CLASS 16 IN JUDGE-Ms. Lynn Tamms 1 198 O28 Keesbrook's Tourmaline Blues CD RN NA OAJ. Q 178 O29 Klassic's Play With Fire CDX RE. FIRST.... O28 SECOND.... THIRD.... FOURTH....

SCORE.... 198 .... .... ....

OPEN A CLASS 18 IN JUDGE-Ms. Lynn Tamms 2 193 O35 CH Keepsake Hurricane Bizy CD..

3 187.5 O34 CH Keepsake Firestarter NA NAJ CD. FIRST.... O28 SECOND.... O35 THIRD.... O34 FOURTH....

SCORE.... 198 .... 193 .... 187.5 ....

OPEN A CLASS 20 IN JUDGE-Ms. Lynn Tamms FIRST.... O28 SECOND.... O35 THIRD.... O34 FOURTH....

SCORE.... 198 .... 193 .... 187.5 ....

OPEN A CLASS (NO JUMP HGT) JUDGE-Ms. Lynn Tamms 4 180.5 O37 CH Jamynn's Onetoomany Coladas CD NA NAJ. FIRST.... O28 SECOND.... O35 THIRD.... O34 FOURTH.... O37 SCORE.... 198 .... 193 .... 187.5 .... 180.5 OPEN CLASS B 16 IN JUDGE-Ms. Lynn Tamms 1/HC 194.5 CH OTCH MACH2 Keepsake Moonlight Serenade UDX4.

2 190 CH MACH2 Keepsake Giving Me Chills UDX OM FIRST.... O42 SECOND.... O40 THIRD.... FOURTH....

SCORE.... 194.5 .... 190 .... ....

OPEN CLASS B 18 IN JUDGE-Ms. Lynn Tamms FIRST.... O42 SECOND.... O40 THIRD.... FOURTH....

SCORE.... 194.5 .... 190 .... ....

UTILITY CLASS B 16 IN JUDGE-Ms. Lynn Tamms 2 192 O52 CH OTCH MACH2 Keepsake Moonlight Serenade UDX4.

3 191.5 O53 CH MACH2 Keepsake Giving Me Chills UDX OM FIRST.... SECOND.... (O52) THIRD.... (O53) FOURTH....

SCORE.... .... 192 .... 191.5 ....

UTILITY CLASS B 18 IN JUDGE-Ms. Lynn Tamms 1 195 4 179

O55 CH Keesbrook Celebrate The Magic UD. O56 Laser Stayn Live Thru Trumpet UDX RE

FIRST.... (O55) SECOND.... (O52) THIRD.... (O53) FOURTH.... (O56) SCORE.... 195 .... 192 .... 191.5 .... 179 UTILITY CLASS B (NO JMP HGT) JUDGE-Ms. Lynn Tamms FIRST.... (O55) SECOND.... (O52) THIRD.... (O53) FOURTH.... (O56) SCORE.... 195 .... 192 .... 191.5 .... 179 HIGHEST SCORING DOG IN REGULAR CLASSES NO. ...O16 HIGHEST COMBINED SCORE IN OPEN & UTILITY CLASSES NO. ... O42 OBEDIENCE VETERAN CLASS JUDGE-Ms. Lynn Tamms 1 192.5 O63 CH B MI C. I. D 20 O1915 Keesbrook Secret Celebration UDX RE MX MXJ OAP OJP HOF. 3 154.5 O62 CH Brittlaf's Crackerjack Prize CD. 40 O154 CH Keeshee's Candide CD. FIRST.... O63 SECOND.... O1915 THIRD.... O62 FOURTH.... O154 SCORE.... 192.5 .... 0 .... 154.5 .... 0 OBEDIENCE BRACE CLASS JUDGE-Ms. Lynn Tamms 1 186.5 O64 Vandy's Nydia RAE CDX NAJ NA. 1 186.5 O65 Vandy's Titania CD RN. FIRST.... (O65) SECOND.... THIRD.... FOURTH....

SCORE.... 186.5 .... .... ....

REGIONAL RALLY SPECIALTY RALLY NOVICE A Judge - Ms. Cynthia M. Pischke 1 100 O15 Covenants Wolf Kees Firestorm.

2 99 O14 Regel's Chantilly 3 87 O13 CH Richwoods Special Forces 4 86 O11 CH KJ's Father Knows Best Q 86 O12 CH Wolfers Breathless Work Of Art. FIRST.... O15 SECOND.... O14 THIRD.... O13 FOURTH.... O11 SCORE.... 100 .... 99 .... 87 .... 86 RALLY NOVICE B Judge - Ms. Cynthia M. Pischke 1 99 2 99 3 96 4 96 Q 95 Q 96 Q 96 Q 73 Q 95 Q 85

O30 CH Daimler's Luck Be A Lady At Indykees O31 Kemont's Highland Lass NAJ..

O23 Kameo's B My Imagination RN. O33 CH KJ's Oh I Wund-R-Y NA OAJ. O29 Cara Woodhill Unlimited Credit.

O27 Swankee's Harvest Magic.

O26 CH Chatawa One More Chance CD RN O24 CH Keesforever American Dream.

O21 Greykees Prince Charming.

O20 CH Markwright's Oops I Didit Again.

Q 93 O18 Vandys Queez.

FIRST.... O30 SECOND.... O31 THIRD.... O23 FOURTH.... O33 SCORE.... 99 .... 99 .... 96 .... 96 RALLY ADVANCED A (12IN) JUDGE-Ms. Cynthia M. Pischke 1 99 O36 Covenants Jeweled Sierrra RN AX MXJ NF 2 96 O39 Vandy's Titania CD RN 3 95 O34 Tapestry's Matinee Idol RN NA 4 93 O35 Foxfair Audacious Q 76 O41 Sefina Halulu Q 86 O40 CH Foxfair Puttin' On The Ritz RN Q 83 O38 CH Parrkees Perpetual Motion At Shoreline RN FIRST.... O36 SECOND.... O39 THIRD.... O34 FOURTH.... O35 SCORE.... 99 .... 96 .... 95 .... 93 RALLY ADVANCED B (12 IN) JUDGE-Ms. Cynthia M. Pischke 3 96 O46 Vandy's Nydia RAE CDX NAJ NA 4 94 O44 Chatawa Mayan Gretel RAE Q 90 O37 Cara Shadow Fax Q 90 O43 CH Jo cose Jamaica'n Me Crazy CD RAE Q 75 O42 CH Keepsake Firestarter NA NAJ CD FIRST.... SECOND.... THIRD.... O46 FOURTH.... O44 SCORE.... .... .... 96 .... 94 RALLY ADVANCED B (16 IN) JUDGE-Ms. Cynthia M. Pischke 1 99 O48 Rodney Harold Rufus CD RAE OA OAJ 2 99 O47 Keesbrook's Tourmaline Blues CD RN NA OAJ FIRST.... O48 SECOND.... O47 THIRD.... O46 FOURTH.... O44 SCORE.... 99 .... 99 .... 96 .... 94 RALLY EXCELLENT A (12 IN) JUDGE-Ms. Cynthia M. Pischke 1 87 O49 Foxfair Impetuous 2 80 O52 CH Riverfox Dora The Explorer RA OA OAJ FIRST.... O49 SECOND.... O52 THIRD.... FOURTH....

SCORE.... 87 .... 80 .... ....

RALLY EXCELLENT B (12 IN) JUDGE-Ms. Cynthia M. Pischke 2 91 (O55) Vandy's Nydia RAE CDX NAJ NA 3 79 O53 Sonata's Start Your Engines RA AX AXJ OF 4 77 (O54) CH Jo cose Jamaica'n Me Crazy CD RAE FIRST.... SECOND.... (O55) THIRD.... O53 FOURTH.... (O54) SCORE.... .... 91 .... 79 .... 77 RALLY EXCELLENT B (16 IN) JUDGE-Ms. Cynthia M. Pischke 1 98

(O56) Rodney Harold Rufus CD RAE OA OAJ

FIRST.... (O56) SECOND.... (O55) THIRD.... O53 FOURTH.... (O54) SCORE.... 98 .... 91 .... 79 .... 77

NATIONAL OBEDIENCE TRIAL OBEDIENCE NOVICE CLASS A Judge - Ms. Cynthia M. Pischke FIRST.... SECOND.... THIRD.... FOURTH....

SCORE.... .... .... ....

OBEDIENCE NOVICE CLASS B JUDGE-Ms. Cynthia M. Pischke 1 196.5 O16 CH Keepsake Ice On Fire CD AX AXJ 2 194 O24 Dreamwoods Too Hot To Handle 3 192.5 O15 Sonata's Start Your Engines RA AX AXJ OF 4 187 O22 Kemont's Highlander Q 184.5 O25 Cinnakees I'M A Believer Q 177 O18 Kemont's Highland Lass NAJ FIRST.... O16 SECOND.... O24 THIRD.... O15 FOURTH.... O22 SCORE.... 196.5 .... 194 .... 192.5 .... 187 OPEN A CLASS 16 IN JUDGE-Ms. Cynthia M. Pischke 4 190.5 O29 Keesbrook's Tourmaline Blues CD RN NA OAJ Q 181.5 O30 Klassic's Play With Fire CDX RE FIRST.... SECOND.... THIRD.... FOURTH.... O29 SCORE.... .... .... .... 190.5 OPEN A CLASS 18 IN JUDGE-Ms. Cynthia M. Pischke 2 195.5 O34 CH Keepsake Hurricane Bizy CD 3 192 O33 CH Keepsake Firestarter NA NAJ CD FIRST.... SECOND.... O34 THIRD.... O33 FOURTH.... O29 SCORE.... .... 195.5 .... 192 .... 190.5 OPEN A CLASS 20 IN JUDGE-Ms. Cynthia M. Pischke FIRST.... SECOND.... O34 THIRD.... O33 FOURTH.... O29 SCORE.... .... 195.5 .... 192 .... 190.5 OPEN A CLASS (NO JUMP HGT) JUDGE-Ms. Cynthia M. Pischke 1 198 O37 CH Jamynn's Onetoomany Coladas CD NA NAJ FIRST.... O37 SECOND.... O34 THIRD.... O33 FOURTH.... O29 SCORE.... 198 .... 195.5 .... 192 .... 190.5 OPEN CLASS B 16 IN JUDGE-Ms. Cynthia M. Pischke 1/HT/HC 198.5 2 196.5 JUDG

O42 CH OTCH MACH2 Keepsake Moonlight Serenade UDX4 O40 CH MACH2 Keepsake Giving Me Chills UDX OM O41 CH Paradise Kee's Alotta Colada MX UD MXJ

FIRST.... O42 SECOND.... O40 THIRD.... FOURTH....

SCORE.... 198.5 .... 196.5 .... ....

OPEN CLASS B 18 IN JUDGE-Ms. Cynthia M. Pischke FIRST.... O42 SECOND.... O40 THIRD.... FOURTH....

SCORE.... 198.5 .... 196.5 .... ....

OPEN CLASS B (NO JUMP HGT) JUDGE-Ms. Cynthia M. Pischke FIRST.... O42 SECOND.... O40 THIRD.... FOURTH....

SCORE.... 198.5 .... 196.5 .... ....

UTILITY CLASS A 16 IN JUDGE-Ms. Cynthia M. Pischke JUDG (O48) Vandy's Nydia RAE CDX NAJ NA FIRST.... SECOND.... THIRD.... FOURTH....

SCORE.... .... .... ....

UTILITY CLASS B 16 IN JUDGE-Ms. Cynthia M. Pischke 1 196 (O51) CH OTCH MACH2 Keepsake Moonlight Serenade UDX4 2 190.5 (O52) CH MACH2 Keepsake Giving Me Chills UDX OM JUDG (O53) CH Paradise Kee's Alotta Colada MX UD MXJ FIRST.... (O51) SECOND.... (O52) THIRD.... FOURTH....

SCORE.... 196 .... 190.5 .... ....

UTILITY CLASS B 18 IN JUDGE-Ms. Cynthia M. Pischke FIRST.... (O51) SECOND.... (O52) THIRD.... FOURTH....

SCORE.... 196 .... 190.5 .... ....

UTILITY CLASS B (NO JMP HGT) JUDGE-Ms. Cynthia M. Pischke FIRST.... (O51) SECOND.... (O52) THIRD.... FOURTH....

SCORE.... 196 .... 190.5 .... ....

HIGHEST SCORING DOG IN REGULAR CLASSES NO. ...O42 HIGHEST COMBINED SCORE IN OPEN & UTILITY CLASSES NO. ... O42 OBEDIENCE VETERAN CLASS JUDGE-Ms. Cynthia M. Pischke 1 190.5 O64 CH B MI C. I. D 2 189.5 O58 Seamist's Storm On The Horizon CDX MX MXJ RE 3 164.5 O61 Keesbrook Secret Celebration UDX RE MX MXJ OAP OJP HOF 4 141.5 O63 CH Brittlaf's Crackerjack Prize CD FIRST.... O64 SECOND.... O58 THIRD.... O61 FOURTH.... O63 SCORE.... 190.5 .... 189.5 .... 164.5 .... 141.5 OBEDIENCE BRACE CLASS JUDGE-Ms. Cynthia M. Pischke 1 188 1 188

(O66) Vandy's Nydia RAE CDX NAJ NA (O67) Vandy's Titania CD RN

2 157.5 (O65) CH Keepsake Firestarter NA NAJ CD 2 157.5 (O68) Seamist's Storm On The Horizon CDX MX MXJ RE FIRST.... (O67) SECOND.... (O68) THIRD.... FOURTH....

SCORE.... 188 .... 157.5 .... ....

NATIONAL RALLY TRIAL RALLY NOVICE A Judge - Ms. Lynn Tamms 1 98 O14 Regel's Chantilly 2 93 O12 CH Wolfers Breathless Work Of Art 3 86 O11 CH KJ's Father Knows Best 4 81 O15 Covenants Wolf Kees Firestorm Q 79 O13 CH Richwoods Special Forces FIRST.... O14 SECOND.... O12 THIRD.... O11 FOURTH.... O15 SCORE.... 98 .... 93 .... 86 .... 81 RALLY NOVICE B Judge - Ms. Lynn Tamms 1 99 O23 Kameo's B My Imagination RN 2 99 O29 Cara Woodhill Unlimited Credit 3 98 CH KJ's Oh I Wund-R-Y NA OAJ 4 98 O30 CH Daimler's Luck Be A Lady At Indykees Q 96 O31 Kemont's Highland Lass NAJ. Q 97 O26 CH Chatawa One More Chance CD RN Q 72 O24 CH Keesforever American Dream Q 96 O20 CH Markwright's Oops I Didit Again Q 78 O18 Vandys Queez JUDG O17 CH Astarz On Your Mark FIRST.... O23 SECOND.... O29 THIRD.... O33 FOURTH.... O30 SCORE.... 99 .... 99 .... 98 .... 98 RALLY ADVANCED A (12IN) JUDGE-Ms. Lynn Tamms 1 98 O38 Vandy's Titania CD RN 2 87 O34 Foxfair Audacious.

3 86 O39 CH Foxfair Puttin' On The Ritz RN 4 85 O37 CH Parrkees Perpetual Motion At Shoreline RN Q 81 O35 Covenants Jeweled Sierrra RN AX MXJ NF FIRST.... O38 SECOND.... O34 THIRD.... O39 FOURTH.... O37 SCORE.... 98 .... 87 .... 86 .... 85 RALLY ADVANCED B (12 IN) JUDGE-Ms. Lynn Tamms 2 98 O45 Vandy's Nydia RAE CDX NAJ NA 3 91 O44 MACH Geluk Miss Daffodil Hillside CDX RN 4 90 O43 Chatawa Mayan Gretel RAE Q 86 O36 Cara Shadow Fax Q 84 O21 Greykees Prince Charming Q 87 O41 CH Keepsake Firestarter NA NAJ CD FIRST.... SECOND.... O45 THIRD.... O44 FOURTH.... O43

SCORE.... .... 98 .... 91 .... 90 RALLY ADVANCED B (16 IN) JUDGE-Ms. Lynn Tamms 1 99 O47 Rodney Harold Rufus CD RAE OA OAJ FIRST.... O47 SECOND.... O45 THIRD.... O44 FOURTH.... O43 SCORE.... 99 .... 98 .... 91 .... 90 RALLY EXCELLENT A (12 IN) JUDGE-Ms. Lynn Tamms 1 92 O48 Foxfair Impetuous 2 70 O51 CH Riverfox Dora The Explorer RA OA OAJ FIRST.... O48 SECOND.... O51 THIRD.... FOURTH....

SCORE.... 92 .... 70 .... ....

RALLY EXCELLENT B (12 IN) JUDGE-Ms. Lynn Tamms 2 89 (O54) Vandy's Nydia RAE CDX NAJ NA FIRST.... SECOND.... (O54) THIRD.... FOURTH....

SCORE.... .... 89 .... ....

RALLY EXCELLENT B (16 IN) JUDGE-Ms. Lynn Tamms 1 99 (O55) Rodney Harold Rufus CD RAE OA OAJ FIRST.... (O55) SECOND.... (O54) THIRD.... FOURTH....

SCORE.... 99 .... 89 .... ....

Congratulations from KeeshondWorld The First 10 New American Grand Champions 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

GCH CH Legend's Purple Reign GCH CH Daimler's Caviar Dreams GCH CH Ashbrook Satin Slippers GCH CH Shamrock's Captain Stormalong GCH CH Karina's Bourbon Street Beat GCH CH Darkenwald Cavalier O' Southcar GCH CH Sprookje Lunar Appellation GCH CH Ruttkay Sam I Am GCH CH Baronwood Infinity And Beyond GCH CH Parrkees Cruisin' For A Bruisin'

Jun 13,10 Jun 24,10 Jun 27,10 Jun 27,10 Jul 02,10 Jul 03,10 Jul 05,10 Jul 29,10 Aug 14,10 Aug 15,10

AKC will recognize the first ten Grand Champions in each breed with an invitation to the Eukanuba National Championship show, December 4 & 5th in Long Beach, CA and a special blue enamel AKC Medallion to mark this historic achievement.

Congratulations to each of you on this achievement

HANDLING & JUDGING THE KEESHOND

by Phyllis Noonan — Sherwood Kennels - USA Several Exhibitors as well as many Judges have asked me to describe the methods that work best while handling or judging the Keeshond.

stand slightly back from your dog while baiting so the Judge has ample opportunity to see those ears and overall expression.

EXHIBITING THE KEESHOND

JUDGING THE KEESHOND

In my opinion, it is critically important that the animal being shown is in TOP condition. This means proper weight, a well groomed and CLEAN coat, teeth cleaned and feet and hocks trimmed.

You should bathe the dog one week prior to the show; either cut or grind the nails back, clean their teeth, trim the hocks and feet. Remember to also trim the hair between the toes.

Trimming of the whiskers is an option and many current dogs are being shown with their whiskers left on.

The keeshond is a natural breed and can be shown free standing. This means that they should walk into a four-square natural stance.

The standard calls for the Judge to be able to see the expression and therefore, you want the dog’s ears up at that time.

When asked to move your dog, remember to go at the pace that suites your animal.

Do not move too fast as that can throw the dog’s gait off. When you come back to the Judge, stop a little ahead and have the dog’s ears up as he/she looks at you. Remember, the Judge must see ears up at least once to be able to evaluate the ear placement as well as the dog’s expression so be aware of how you position your own body,

We want our Judges to recognize that this is a breed that is mostly Owner Handled. They are a family dog and are a little bit clownish, therefore, they are not a breed that will stand shock still for long periods of time nor are they a breed that always has their ears up.

When approaching the Kees, if their ears are UP and they are attentively looking at their handler,

please DO NOT throw keys in their face or make some sort of a startling noise to make them look at you. This can, quite frequently, cause the animal to lay back their ears. Instead, simply step to the side of the handler and look at the dog’s expression. These are highly mobile ears and this breed uses those ears in many ways.

They will fold them back when they are being friendly, such as when spoken to, they will bring them up quite high when being challenged by another dog and for the most part, they are up and down quite frequently.

They are not a cropped ear but rather a natural ear and need to be seen up while at attention. That will allow you as a Judge to evaluate the size1and placement of VOL ISSUE 1 the ear as the standard states.

We are asking our Judges to be aware of size and to realize that a one inch variance from the ideal height of 18” for the male and 17 “ for the female , measured from the withers to the ground is acceptable. For instance, you may have a 19” male in your ring and a 17” male also as well as several others in-between. The same goes for the bitches. We want you to know that although correct size is certainly important, that size should NOT outweigh type.

We are looking for a medium-sized keeshond that is a sturdy dog with solid substance and is square appearing and is within the range of size as described in the standard.

We are looking for movement that is slight to moderate and therefore, we should not expect these dogs to keep pace with the Standard Poodle or the Dalmatian. The Keeshond should move briskly and efficiently.

CH Daimler’s Luck Be A Lady At IndyKees

“Lola” Welcomes you to KeeshondWorld Online Magazine Owner/Handler: Pam Hildebrand Indianapolis, IN

Breeders: Terry and Diane Benz Lake Zurich, IL

Ashwood's Heartbreaker

Sire: Ch. Ashwood's I Spy for Keeplay Dam: Ashwood Wish Upon A Santakee Star Owned by Cindy Tumiel and Donna Staton Bred by Donna Staton

JUDGING IN NORWAY

By Kathy Stewart Klompen Keeshond - Canada

On July 3, 2010 I was delighted to judge the Norwegian Keeshond Club's 20th Anniversary show which was held in Trondheim, Norway. The weather forecast predicted “Rain and more rain.” It was overcast, rainy and cool, until I walked into the ring to begin judging.

Then the sun came out and gave us promise of a lovely day. It turned out to be “Hot, very hot.”

I like judging by the FCI standard, because it is more specific than the other Keeshond standards that I have studied; which in turn makes it easier to judge by.

For example, the forequarters are well described, calling for well laid back shoulder blades, with upper arm and shoulder approximately the same length, forming a 90 degree angle, and front pasterns at 20 degrees from vertical. The rear quarters call for upper and lower thigh to be about the same length with moderate angulation at the stifle joint.

Other differences include: The ratio of height at withers to body length is 1:1. This makes for a square dog. Whereas, the way several other standards are written, the dogs should be rectangular and square appearing.

The FCI standard says, “The ratio length of the muzzle to length of the skull is approximately 2:3.” The English standard calls for 1:1. I think this is seen in New Zealand and North America, but not called for. Their standards call for “medium length” and/or “in proportion (or well proportioned) to the skull.”

The FCI standard calls for a complete scissors bite with 42 teeth, which mean that the judges should be looking in the mouth for missing teeth. Their standard specifically mentions “Missing Teeth” as a serious fault.

The FCI standard call for a croup that is not falling away (giving higher tail sets, in my opinion). The brisket is to reach as far back as possible, including a short coupled loin.

Tail descriptions have often been a subject of controversy among Keeshond fanciers. I found the description of the tail to be well explained in the FCI standard which says, “…set high…It reaches upwards and rolls forward over the back, straight from the root. It lies firmly over the back…A double curl at tip of tail is tolerated.” The NZ standard is similar to the English wanting a tail that is, “tightly curled over back, double curl highly desirable.”

This is better explained in the UK’s Illustrated Standard with the following wording. “The double curl refers to the fact that the tip is curled under, and the main part of the tail curled over the back.

Taken literally however, this could be misinterpreted to mean a double curl in the form of a very tight knot at the end of the back, which would not be compatible with the correct outline.”

The Canadian standard says, “tightly curled over the back. It should lie flat and close to the body.”

The American says, “set on high and tightly curled over the back.”

They describe “grey-shaded” as “silver grey with black hair-tips.” There is no mention of “cream” or “tawny.” Also given is, “fore- and hind legs without any black marking under the elbows or stifles, except for penciling on the toes.”

The size measurement for a Wolfspitz/Keeshond is 49 cm +/- 6 cm. In inches that means they can be from 17” to 21½”. In Norway it is a requirement, at the moment, to measure all Keeshonden, except puppies. This temporary measure was put in place by the Norwegian Kennel club because of concern that the breed was becoming too short. I only had one Keeshond measure outside this. He was at the upper end of their height scale. The other standards, that I have read, call for the ideal to be 18” for males and 17” for females.

The FCI description of ears includes that “they are always carried upright, stiff at the tips.” The English, Canadian and American standards only say “erect.” The New Zealand standard does not say how the ears should be carried.

MONTH DAY YEAR Generally, I believe that we expect the judges to see the ears erect only when standing for examination, because many of them fold their ears back while gaiting.

The other big difference between our standards is that the FCI is the only one that I know of that has eliminating faults (disqualifications). These include: Aggressive or overly shy, gap in fontanel, over or undershot bites, ectropion or entropion, semipricked ears and definite white patches. Fontanel, for those who don’t know what that means is “the soft gap usually found between the incompletely formed cranial bones of a fetus or an infant. In humans it is called a soft spot.”

Overall, the Keeshonden/Wolfspitz in Norway were larger than we see in many other countries, in keeping with their standard. They generally had excellent front assemblies – balanced with their rears.

Coat textures were hard, most had self fitting coats, legs were clean in colour, and many had rich black guard hair tips. Most had excellent eye rim and lip pigmentation. It was my pleasure to judge dogs that were all shown in a natural state, albeit many were low on undercoat due to their age, or the time of year.

The beauty of judging overseas is that I got to meet many fellow Keeshond lovers and got to admire their dogs, as well as their country – but that is another article, in itself. I enjoy having the opportunity to compare the similarities and differences in Keeshonden from country to country.

Artic Kees Blaze of Glory, owned

by Sissel Jenssen, bred by Cathrin Fagerheim, won Best of Opposite Sex and took the CC for the males.

This boy had an exceptionally beautiful (handsome) head: eyes of correct shape and color: very good spectacles: and ears that ere correct size, well placed and dark. He had a correct coat, a lovely profile, exceptional forechest and very good movement.

Artic Kees Brilliant Disquise, bred and owned

by Cathrin and Gaute Fagerheim, won the Bitch CC. Like her litter mate (above) She had an exceptionally beautiful head.

She was in excellent coat, with correct colour, length and texture. She had a correct tailset, was nicely put together and showed balanced movement.

Elzwiks Mitsie, bred and owned

by Eva Westberg, won Best Puppy in Show. This was overall a very nice puppy - very well presented. She was acting and moving correctly for her age. I loved her square appearance, very high set tail and clear colour. She is likely to have a great show career ahead of her..

To see complete Keeshond standards from 5 different countries please go to: http://klompenkees.com/articles.htm

INT NORD UCH KBHV-05 NV05'06 Dein Hards Attention Please, owned by Cathrin and Gaute Fagerheim, bred by Karin Byrevik, took home the Best Veteran Award. He was an excellent example of the breed an exceptional 8 year old. My critique showed him having "excellent" and "correct" in most areas including: structure, S N UCH Windrift's Aurora balance, movement, personality, Fund, owned by Christina coat (colour, definition, length, Hoglund, bred by Joanne Reed, texture), body and head. won Best of Breed. This pretty, feminine bitch took my breath away when she walked in the ring. She had an excellent head and body, with an attractive silhouette. She was compact, balanced front to rear, and moved with ease and purpose.

Best Breeder went to Cathrin Fagerheim.

This class allows breeders to show dogs that they have bred but do not necessarily own.

There are a minimum of 4 dogs required as an entry. They do not have to be related.

Keeshond Club of America 75th Anniversary May 25 — 30 2010 Oconomowoc, Wisconsin

Top Keeshond Event Phyllis Noonan — Sherwood Kennels — USA Prior to being asked to judge, I had not planned to attend this year but since it is such an honor, I accepted.

After about two weeks, I could not stand the suspense and asked the Top Twenty Committee to tell me who the other two Judges were. They were Trevor Rogers from Australia and Brenda Brookes from Canada. Once I knew who they were, I had to call Brenda right away to find out what she was wearing !!!!! Most Important issue here !!! Both Brenda and I lamented together as to how NONE of our clothes fit anymore. After several discussions regarding such an important subject between us Gals, we both settled on our outfits .

The Procedure for judging was as follows; On Friday morning, we assembled in a room and were given score sheets. These sheets contained many questions regarding the dogs we were to judge. They ranged from balance, overall look of the dog, size, color, head, movement etc. The scoring was to be from 1 to 10 - one being the worst to 10 being the top # we could award. One dog at a time was brought in and the scoring

began. At no time were we ever able to see each other's scores as we had to give them in the moment we completed our sheets.

In the beginning, I was scoring pretty high - lots of # 8 and # 9 but by the third dog or so, I became a bit tougher and perhaps even a little fault judging was part of my scores. Overall appearance was important to me but since these were the top dogs of the year, I also was fairly critical about type, color, movement and size. I wanted a male to look and act like a dog and I expected to see the bitches look feminine. I found what I was looking for in most of the animals presented. We completed the judging for that day and waited for the finals that were done on Saturday evening.

Saturday's judging was somewhat different as we were to place the dogs just as we would in any regular show, #1, 2 3 and 4. Those placements were scored with #1 being given 50 points, 2 being given 40 points, 3 being given 30 points and 4 being given 20 points. Again, we were never able to know how the other two Judges scored. After these were tallied and added to the scores from the Friday judging, the winners were announced.

Even today, I would love to have a peek at the other two judges score sheets to see where we agreed and disagreed. All the dogs presented to us were wonderful and certainly represented the Keeshond Standard very well. The Owners should be proud.

Thanks again to the group who selected me as one of the three judges. I was in great company with both of these breeders and I felt quite honored. Phyllis Noonan Sherwood Kennels

Top Keeshond CH Wund-RY's Best Kept Secret VanSchyndel

Brenda Brookes — Keesbrook Keeshond — Canada You want me to do what?

A few months prior to the much anticipated KCA 75th National Specialty in Oconomowoc, WI, I was approached by Debbie Hodges and asked to be involved in a prestigious event that is now a regular part of the National specialty week. I was asked to be one of three judges chosen for this years [2010] Top Keeshond competition. It was explained that in honor of the 75th Anniversary, the three judges were from Australia, United States and Canada representing the international flavor that is part of our breed today. I must admit that my first inclination was to duck and run. My future plans did not include becoming a judge, one of that often reviled group of humans. Of course I have no problem passing judgment on a dog while standing at ringside so then, why not accept the invitation and pass judgment on a group of top winning Keeshonden while standing in the middle of a ring in front of an audience. Was I nuts??!!

Debbie explained that once I accepted I would be sworn to secrecy on pain of death. Well I could tell Linda (Owens) my friend and travel companion. Otherwise how would I explain the nervous twitch that would most certainly beset me just prior to the event? I was also told that my fellow judges would be Phyllis Noonan and Trevor Rogers, an even greater secret. The revealing of which would result in a fate worse than death, life without chocolate perhaps?

So I accepted … now what to wear. Phyllis and I discussed our plans. I explained I was dieting in earnest to try and fit into a dress that has been hidden in the back of my closet for years. Phyllis said she was going out to buy an outfit. Smart lady! The dieting and the sit ups didn’t seem to put a dent in all the extra warmth (read weight) I had accumulated to help me survive our Canadian winter.

As the week unfolded the occasional twinge of fear would make itself felt as I remembered what my imminent future had in store for me. I was then informed that we were to be torn out of our beds at an ungodly early hour to do the “preliminary” judging the day before the big event. There was some solace in knowing that the “exhibitors” were up much earlier than I in order to groom their respective Top Keeshond participant.

First Runner Up Ch Daimler’s Caviar Dreams Benz I decided to abstain from my morning double coffee as I had no idea how long we would be sequestered. Maybe not a good idea, caffeine withdrawal can be hazardous to one’s health.

It turned out to be a pleasant few hours, bantering with my fellow judges, Phyllis and Trevor, and our able “assistant” Debbie. I was honored to be able to get my hands on some lovely Keeshonden; I learned some things and verified others. A numerical assessment of each participant’s qualities and faults seemed a bit unusual but once we got started it went very well.

The evening of the following day saw the three of us assembling in the back hall behind the ball room in order to maintain the secrecy of our identities, probably one of the worst kept secrets of the week. We were introduced and accompanied into the center of the ring and then, abandoned there. Our participants were introduced, showcased and we then concluded the final judging.

Once completed, the numbers were tallied and the top four were announced. The cliché, that there are not enough ribbons to go round, was ever present in my mind. While winning is of course the best of outcomes, having been so successful as to be eligible to compete must certainly have been satisfying in itself.

I will admit to a modicum of pride at being asked to judge this prestigious event. It’s not often one has the privilege to view let alone assess a group of outstanding representatives of one’s own breed. Congratulations to all the participants and thank you for allowing me that opportunity. Brenda Brookes – Keesbrook Keeshond

Trevor Rogers — Keez Keeshonden — Australia Oh Boy, where to start!

Cheri & I had been planning on attending the 75th National Specialty in Oconomowoc for over a year, unfortunately while attending the Keeshond Club of NSW Specialty in April, Cheri tore her left Achilles tendon (she had a reconstruction done on her right Achilles about 18 months before).

With surgery pending, we knew that either way (if she had the surgery, she would be at risk of DVT and in a wheelchair, if she put off the surgery she would not be comfortable, in plaster and on crutches, that is NO way to enjoy a National), Cheri would not be able to fly. So we decided to cancel our trip. With much sadness we resigned ourselves to the fact that we would not make it over this year, but thought “oh well, there is always next year”.

It wasn’t until I received an invitation to judge the Top Keeshond event that the decision was made that I would make the trip over by myself; I knew that there were other Aussie’s going and I knew them, so would have some local support, also having friends in the States helped ease the decision to make the trip.

I decided that it was a very long way to travel by myself, so I asked a very good friend of Cheri & I, Shirley Mewett who also shows Keeshonden, if she would like to come with me, she agreed, so the plan was hatched.

Shirl was in a spot of bother as she didn’t have a passport OR the necessary documentation to get her passport! Wonderful what happens when you wave money around in front of Government departments, they can sure get things done in a hurry when you pay the EXPRESS processing fee.

Passport arrived, tickets book (hotel room had been booked since the previous year’s National), visa waived, hire car booked, suit cases packed, off to the National we go!

2nd Runner Up CH Skyline's Walk Of Fame – Fleischer

The three of us, Phyllis Noonan, Brenda Brookes and I, were told earlier in the week that to make things run a bit smoother, we would do a round of pre judging on Friday morning (no one said that it would be the very early hours of Friday morning, but “suck it up princess” you have a job to do), the pre judging involved each of us individually assessing the exhibits and scoring the exhibits against the different parts of the breed standard, i.e. broken down into sections like General Appearance, which in turn is broken down further to Size, Proportion, Substance, Outline or Silhouette, each “part” of the dog had a total which was made up of points out of ten from the sections that went into makeup that part. I tell you what, it sure makes you think differently about a dog when you are judging it and allocating points out of 10 for a particular feature of the dog!

I do have to say that we all took our job very seriously; I know that I thoroughly enjoyed the task at hand and was made feel very warm and welcome by the committee and my fellow judges.

Our room that we had to pre judge in could have been a little bigger and the floor a little flatter, we found it a little difficult to assess movement as the dogs had to go around the room so many times that we were starting to get dizzy.

3rd Runner Up CH Sprookje Lunar Appellation - Sorice

With Pre judging over, we all headed off to do our own little things and wait for the gala event the following night.

The judging on Saturday night was to be an assessment of the dogs as a group (remembering that we had only seen the dogs individually in the pre judging) and assign then a score from 50 points to 20 points, 50 points being for the dog that you would place 1st, 40 points for 2nd and so on. We also took the opportunity to reassess movement at this time as there was more space to have the dogs move out in.

It was wonderful to see a class of such outstanding specimens of the breed!

I would like to thank the hosting club for inviting me to judge such a prestigious event, it was an honor to be

invited and to be able to judge the â&#x20AC;&#x153;best of the bestâ&#x20AC;?.

Thank you to the exhibitors for taking our decisions in the spirit that they were given and for showing their beautifully presented dogs to us. To be able to judge your peers, sure takes a lot of guts! Finally, Thank you to my fellow judges for making the task such an enjoyable one.

Hopefully we will be able to make it back over again sometime soon.

PS. Ladies, I am a bit disappointed that no one phoned me to find out what I was wearing!!

Trevor Rogers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Keez Keeshonden

An “Old Dogs” Disease?

The story of 6 year old Heidi and her battle with PHPT

By Laurie Lawver — Loving Keeshond Owner

This is a story about our six year old Keeshond Heidi, and her recent treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). It isn't meant to be a technical article about PHPT and the treatment for it as I am not qualified to write that. I am simply going to share our experience with you from a pet owner's viewpoint. Heidi lives here in northern Wisconsin (USA) with mom and dad and her Kees brothers Kodiak, a big 6 year old lovable but bossy teddy bear, and Dexter, a 19 month old happy bundle of energy.

I am fairly certain that most of you are familiar with PHPT and many of you may have dogs that have already been treated or have tested positive for the PHPT gene.

Her situation was not necessarily unique and we have for the most part followed a path similar to others with this disease. I know that in comparison to other diseases such as Cushing's, diabetes, malignant cancers, or hypothyroidism, PHPT may be considered a relatively minor disease. That does not, however, mean it was easy for us. Some veterinarians have little or no experience with this disease and this was certainly true in our case. I proved to be a cause of great frustration.

I first heard about PHPT on The Keeshond Express, an online discussion forum for Keeshond owners that I had joined. It was in the summer of 2007, when Heidi and Kodi were three years old that we decided to have them tested for the gene. My friends and I held “cyberhands” as we waited for the results on all of our dogs to come back.

We celebrated with those that received negative results and supported those with positives. I was very relieved when the vet's office called to tell us that Heidi and Kodi were both negative.

Unfortunately, this sense of relief was short-lived. When the paperwork from Cornell arrived in the mail a few weeks later, I discovered that Heidi was in fact positive.

I was not happy with the vet and her office staff but I was much more concerned with what this meant for Heidi. I read the information on Dr. Goldstein's website and I read the articles written by Cathy Bosnic. Then I read them again and again. I realized that there was certainly worse news that I could have heard. The disease was treatable, in fact curable, and it affected primarily older dogs. I spoke to my vet about it and she stated that if Heidi were ever to need the surgery she could do it. Ok... That told me that perhaps she needed to research this disease a bit more. I gave her a copy of Cathy's articles, referred her to Dr. Goldstein's website, and asked her to find out more. Then I filed the information away in a folder and filed my worries away with it.

In 2006, when Heidi and Kodi were two, I had requested a complete chemistry panel to be done at their yearly checkup so that we would have a baseline for future reference. At this time, Heidi's total calcium was 11.6, on the high end of the normal range of 8.6-11.8 mg/dL. Once I knew she had the gene, I decided to test her yearly. In 2008 she was four and had total calcium of 12.2. This was above normal but my vet did not think it was cause for concern and recommended watching it. The following year, it was 12.9. It appeared that I could no longer keep this worry filed away in the back of my mind. My vet still didn't seem too concerned but this made me very nervous. She was only five years old!

We had just finished a very lengthy and expensive treatment for blastomycosis with Kodi and were breathing a huge sigh of relief that he was finally cured. I didn't even want to think that Heidi could be starting to have active PHPT. I requested, actually insisted, that we send blood work to Michigan State University to have her ionized calcium and parathyroid hormone levels checked. I got the impression that my vet thought I was crazy and just looking for trouble.

“MY VET DIDN’T SEEM TO CONCERNED, BUT THIS MADE ME VERY NERVOUS. SHE WAS ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD!!”

I actually copied the information and forms from the MSU website and took it in to her myself. I also took another copy of Cathy Bosnic's article and highlighted the section with the interview with Dr. Nachreiner and the instructions on sending sending in the blood. Waiting for the test results was not easy. In my mind I was going through all the possible scenarios. Where would she have surgery?

Where would I stay? How could we afford this? What if there is something else wrong? Isn't she too young for this anyway?

The results came back with a normal intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) level of 5.2 (normal scale at that time was 3-17) and a slightly above normal ionized calcium, 1.60 (normal: 1.25-1.45). Her parathormone related protein (PTHrp) was 0, which indicated that she did not have a malignancy. These results were determined to be inconclusive for a diagnosis of PHPT. She was not showing any outward clinical signs of PHPT at the time so we decided to watch and wait. In the meantime, I reread the articles in my folders and searched for more. I read everything I could find. I was learning a lot about a disease that I wished I didn't have to know about.

This May I was fortunate to be able to attend the 75th Keeshond National Specialty dog show that was held here in Wisconsin. Just before we left, Heidi was tested once again during her spring checkup. Her total calcium was now at 14. I wasn't just nervous anymore, I was downright worried. There was obviously something wrong. The MSU results for PTH and ionized calcium would not be back until later that week. While I had a fabulous time at the show, I kept my cell phone handy waiting for a call from my vet with the results. I was able to meet and talk to some knowledgeable people at the show and a calcium level of 14 raised a few eyebrows.

I did not get in contact with the vet until I was home the following week. I knew this disease was not going to kill her the next day but I wanted those numbers and it certainly seemed that there was no sense of urgency on my vet's part. I had to keep reminding myself to take a deep breath before I picked up the phone.

When I did finally get the results, I was a bit surprised. I had expected bad news but the results were much the same as last year with her PTH level still being normal and her ionized calcium just slightly above normal.

Again, the interpretation was that it could not be stated with certainty that Heidi had active PHPT. I honestly did not know what to think. I am very grateful for the friends that pushed me to pursue this based on their own experience. I know that the PTH could be normal or elevated with this disease and I just kept thinking “let's fix this now!”

By now it was June. I just had this gut feeling that there was something going on and if surgery needed to be done it would have to be done this summer while school was out because I am a teacher. I don't think family medical leave applies to furry children and it would be difficult to get Heidi somewhere for surgery once school began. I insisted that my vet contact Dr. Goldstein and begin the process of finding out where Heidi could be treated. I wanted an ultrasound done as soon as possible. My vet promised to get back to me and three weeks later I had to call her again. In the meantime, we noticed that Heidi was drinking and urinating a bit more. Not a lot but just enough to be noticeable. Finally, an outward symptom that could not be discounted or ignored! It was decided that our vet would do an abdominal ultrasound here to check for kidney stones and calcification resulting from several years of elevated calcium levels. We would then go to the University of Wisconsin Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Madison for the ultrasound on the parathyroid glands since she did not have the expertise for that. I would be in southern Wisconsin about 60 miles from Madison visiting family anyway, so the appointment was made for August 5th.

The abdominal ultrasound was clear which was a relief. In Madison I met with a wonderful doctor. She was Dutch and was delighted to see a Keeshond and did note that they see quite a few there for treatment of PHPT. The ultrasound of the parathyroid glands showed not one but two of the four parathyroid glands were enlarged. The left one was 6.9 mm and the right one was 4.5 mm in diameter. An appointment was set up for the following Tuesday with the surgeon. They do not do alcohol ablation at Madison nor did I want that done. I was to leave Heidi there at that time and surgery would be performed the following day. I had not planned on this happening so fast but I was very happy that they were able to get her in quickly as they understood that living 5 hours away and starting back to school in a few weeks would make it difficult to have it done any later.

“How could we afford this? What if there is something else wrong?

Isn’t she too young for this anyway??”

Heidi and I met with a resident surgeon and went over her case in detail. He answered my many questions and explained the procedure and follow up care in great detail.

He would be assisting with the surgery but it would actually be done by a faculty member.

I was told that this was one of the most commonly performed surgeries that they did there which surprised me because I thought this was a rather rare condition.

I asked if I should have had her treated sooner given her high total calcium level but they did not think so. Most of the dogs they see came in with advanced cases and we were very lucky to have caught it early. I was very impressed with his level of knowledge as PHPT was an area of special interest to him. He had just returned from North Carolina where they are using a new rapid turbo parathyroid hormone assay to measure pth levels during the actual surgical procedure. This will be especially useful in treating dogs like Heidi with multiglandular disease.

Unfortunately it is only available there and in California.

Upon request he also shared several articles with me that he was currently reading pertaining to PHPT. We met with a 4th year veterinary student as well that was assigned to be Heidi's caretaker while she was there. I could tell that Heidi took an immediate liking to Laura and this made me feel much more at ease in leaving her there for such a long time. I had no doubt that the medical care would be top notch but I'm sure you can understand my worries about the other things. Will Heidi get enough personal attention?

Enough cuddles and hugs? This is the first time that a pet of ours was undergoing something this major and I didn't like the thought of leaving her. I am sure I am not the only one that frets and worries over even routine procedures such as dental work. I did however feel completely confident in my choice of facilities and very calm about the surgery and what to expect after it. Then I had to sign that darn form listing all the things that could go wrong! I took a deep breath, signed it, gave her a big hug and kiss, and left. Laura promised to call several times a day to let me know how she was doing. I stopped at the front desk to pay for half of the estimated cost (gulp!) which was required ahead of time. As I hadn't planned to be down there that long, I decided to drive home and catch up on things and head back once the surgery was complete. Only once did I look back over my shoulder out of habit to check on her and had to hold back a few tears when I remembered where she was.

Laura called at night to tell me she was resting comfortably, had eaten her supper, and was being hydrated with IV fluids in preparation for her surgery the next day.

She called again in the morning to tell me she had slept well and was scheduled to be the first case. She promised to call me immediately after the surgery. I kept myself busy freezing beans from the garden and doing housework while watching the clock. When the phone rang a few hours later it was the surgeon. My heart skipped a beat. I'm afraid I was rather rude to him when I asked “Why are you calling?” as I was expecting it to be Laura and the only thing I could think when I heard his voice was that something awful had happened. No, all was good and the surgery had gone very well. They had removed the two affected glands which they found behind the lower part of the thyroid gland instead of on the top. It was not anatomically normal for them to be found there but it was no cause for alarm and they saw no sign of any other problems. They would be testing her ionized calcium levels every 8 hours and would keep me informed.

Her presurgical level of ionized calcium was 1.58. This was down a bit due to the hydration she received prior to surgery. After surgery the next four readings were 1.61, 1.48, 1.30, and 1.22. This showed a nice slow and steady drop, just what we had hoped for. Laura's daily phone calls were very comforting to receive and I could tell that Heidi had turned on her charming side.

Since I was unable to go back until Friday, a friend and fellow TKE member that lives in Madison offered to go and visit her. This was wonderful! Cyber-auntie Denise took her out for a walk and spent a little time with her.

“Only once did I look back over my shoulder out of habit to check on her and had to hold back a few tears when I remembered where she was”

Heidi had not wanted her supper but just about inhaled it when Denise fed it to her in a separate room. She was able to reassure Heidi's nervous mom and dad back home that all was well. She had a little messy stool that necessitated trimming her britches but hey, that was no big deal. Denise even took pictures and posted them on the website so that we could see her. Yes, we did cry when we saw her and saw that she looked great and had that Keesie smile on her face. Heidi was running a slight temperature but the incision and catheter sights all looked good so they thought she was possibly warm. Denise suggested to them that they remove the pad from her kennel because Kees like to be cool. They also ran a fan on her because I told them that she has her own fan at home and usually lies sprawled out in front of it even with the AC on.

I had planned to leave and go back after a doctor's appointment the following day. Her calcium level had dropped to 1.22 for several consecutive readings and they felt that things couldn't be going better. In fact, there was a chance that she could go home on Saturday. The weather in Wisconsin was not good that Friday with severe thunderstorms, tornado watches, and torrential rain. I decided to cancel my appointment and leave early, watching the radar and trying to travel in between the worst of it. I also decided on the way down to go straight to Madison for a quick visit. I knew she was fine but my heart said I just had to see her. Arriving late Friday in a thunderstorm and heavy traffic (it was moving weekend for the students attending UW-Madison), I just about coasted into the hospital parking lot as I had been so anxious to get there that I didn't realize the gas tank was on empty.

Her temperature was back to normal and they felt that if they could get one more reading in the morning of 1.22, it would be best for her to go home. This was only 4 days after the surgery and I was prepared for a much longer stay.

In fact, I was a bit uncomfortable about taking her home so soon since I had read about the possible calcium level crash that can occur about this time.

If all went well, the plan was to pick her up Saturday morning and take her back to my sister's for a day so that I would be near the hospital if needed. The phone call Saturday morning did not bring good news. Heidi's calcium had dropped to 1.06 overnight. She wasn't coming home yet but I wasn't terribly worried as I knew this was a possibility. I went back to see her later and she was bright and perky. There was a small room attached to the CCU that was dark, cool, and quiet. They were allowing her to sleep in there with her fan and outside of a kennel. Since she had been refusing her food Laura was now feeding her Merrick's canned Cowboy Cookout. It seems my little spoiled princess was managing to manipulate even the CCU crew. There wasn't much more she could want for.

Laura brought Heidi in and I was disheartened to see her.

She looked dazed and didn't seem to recognize me. She refused her supper and would not even touch her favorite treats that I had brought along, green beans and graham crackers. The surgeon, Laura, and myself sat on the floor comforting her and discussing what was going on. Heidi curled up with her head in my lap, took a deep sigh, and fell sound asleep.

She had not been sleeping well in the CCU because it had been very busy and we could see that she was thoroughly exhausted. Not surprising since I know my little nosy girl would not want to miss a thing. This combined with her pain medication explained her behavior.

Later that day her calcium dropped to 1.03 and then to 0.9 in the morning. The remaining two PT glands were just not kicking in yet. They began her on oral calcitriol, a Vitamin D supplement which helps the body reabsorb calcium from the GI tract and prevents it from being excreted. I did go to see her Sunday morning. She appeared fine but after a few minutes began to paw at her face, a sign of dangerous hypocalcemia. She was whisked back to CCU for awhile

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I left and saw that she was hooked up to a heart monitorâ&#x20AC;?

and seemed to be fine. She was brought out once more and a nurse and I took her outside to do her thing. When she came back in she again began to paw at her face and her leg twitched a bit. Heidi did not want to budge so I helped get her back to CCU. That was the end of our visits.

Evidently the excitement of seeing me caused her calcium to drop even further. I did get to peek in the window before I left and saw that she was hooked up to a heart monitor and being administered calcium gluconate via IV. She looked so frightened. Had I not done all of the reading beforehand, I would not have understood what was going on and would have been quite panicky myself. I knew she was getting excellent care so I was ok with leaving.

MONTH, After that her calcium levelYEAR went back up with the calcitriol and calcium carbonate (Tums) supplements and stayed consistently in the 1.5 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1.6 range. She was kept calm and even Laura had to stay away as Heidi knew that the Cowboy Cookout came from her. After 3 more days, they decided that she was stable enough to go home. We would continue to supplement her at home, have her calcium checked weekly, and then hopefully cut back a small amount on the supplements until they could be eliminated completely.

When I picked her up I swear she could have done back flips she was so excited. And so was I! We went over the discharge papers and instructions with the doctor. We also discussed the biopsy results. Her left gland had a benign tumor (chief cell adenoma) and her right one was diagnosed as chief cell hyperplasia. They had set up a schedule for 6 weeks of testing and adjusting of supplements. I paid the remaining portion of the bill (BIG gulp!), packed Heidi and her little bag (containing several cans of Cowboy Cookout compliments of Laura) in the car, said good-bye, and headed home. It was hard to believe this part was over. Heidi slept peacefully all the way home with just one quick break for a short walk and some water.

When we arrived home she was greeted by her brothers with wiggling butts and sniffing noses. I was told that we had to keep her from being very active for two weeks and absolutely no rough-housing with her siblings. I trusted that Heidi would tell them herself to stay away and she did just that quite loudly, in fact. She then plopped herself in front of her favorite fan and slept for the better part of the next two days.

She will be having her total calcium checked every Wednesday. Since my vet can only do the whole chemistry panel with her machine, we will have it sent out because we only need the calcium number. This should save us quite a bit of money.

The results will be back the next morning and hopefully each week will bring a further reduction of her calcitriol and calcium supplements until they can be completely eliminated. I am not optimistic that everything will go completely according to their schedule but I am confident that eventually those two remaining glands will get back to VOL #and ISSUE # work. Her first test was last week we were able to cut the calcitriol in half with no noticeable effects. When she was discharged, her total calcium was 13.3 and it has now dropped to 11.5. We hope that her next reading tomorrow does not drop too low (below 9.7) so that we can make another reduction.

As I am typing this right now, Heidi is running through the house with the boys. I would say that she is doing great.

While our experience has not really been out of the ordinary, I hope this story has made people realize that while PHPT is treatable, it is not an easy situation to have to deal with logistically, financially, or emotionally. The bank account will recover and eventually (hopefully) life will go back to normal. I look forward to many years of dishing up that Cowboy Cookout for Heidi. My advice to anyone facing this in the future is to be as informed and as proactive as possible. I am just so very thankful to the people that have worked so hard making the genetic test available, especially Dr. Goldstein. If not for that, I don't think we would have even suspected there was anything wrong with her until considerable damage was done. And because of it, the incidence of this disease in our breed will diminish greatly and other pet owners like myself that work with reputable breeders should no longer have to experience the stress and heartache associated with PHPT. Please keep those paws crossed for Heidi that everything continues to go well.

Heidi pausing a moment to take in a little shrine near the hospital, overlooking the creek.

Photos Š Denise Karnes 2010

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DNA MAKING INHERITED DISEASE HISTORY The Future is Bright for the Keeshond

By Jane Saunders In early August of this year The Third International conference on "Advances in Canine and Feline Genomics and Inherited Diseases” was held at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California – Davis The delegates read like a “who’s who” of the leading genetics experts from around the world. Dr. Richard Goldstein presented a paper on "Genetic analysis and mapping of primary hyperparathyroidism in Keeshonden." He announced that research into the genetic cause of primary hyperparathyroid disease in the Keeshond had been successful and the locus of the gene responsible for the condition found. He confirmed that a DNA test to show the status of any keeshond would be available within a short period of time.

This was the long awaited answer to a disease that had been known in the breed since the 1980s. (Berger B, Feldman EC -1987) Some of you may not be aware of the disease generally known as PHPT so I will give some of the background and then return to the current situation.

What is primary hyperparathyroid disease?

Canine primary hyperparathyroidism is a late onset disease which causes a dog’s blood calcium to abnormally increase. The condition is considered to be rare in dogs and most cases are sporadic, do not run in families and may just represent spontaneous change in the parathyroid glands. Research in the USA as long ago as the 1980’s has shown that the keeshond has a predisposition. A number of papers in recent years have cited that the keeshond is over represented in referral practices both in the USA and the UK The four rice sized parathyroid glands are situated on each side of the thyroid gland and are responsible for secreting a hormone that regulates the calcium phosphorous ratio in the body. The parathyroid glands are not functionally related to the thyroid, merely adjacent to them (para meaning beside). A condition known as primary hyperparathyroidism occurs when small, usually benign tumours grow on one or more of the glands. This in turn causes them to become overactive and secrete too much parathyroid hormone (PTH, parathormone) into the bloodstream. The result of this action is that the calcium levels in the blood rise and hypercalcaemia results.

Undetected this situation will cause calcium to be drawn from the bones and in extreme cases can lead to spontaneous fractures. Excess calcium is also laid down in the kidneys. The unaffected parathyroid glands become suppressed in an attempt to normalise the calcium levels. If undetected irreversible damage is done to the kidneys and other major organs, leading to death.

The main problem with the disease is that the symptoms shown can be so easily explained by the ageing process. These include polydipsia (increased water consumption) and polyuria (increased urination), an increasing stiffness of gait, lethargy, inappetance, exercise intolerance, vomiting, weakness, eventually the affected dog dies of what seems like old age, except it isn’t necessarily that old.

The disease generally has a late onset, 7 years plus (average age 10 years) and dogs can die as young as 8 or 9 years, usually of kidney failure.

When once owners are aware of the risk to their older kees, then monitoring can be done via an annual calcium blood test for dogs of 6 years and over. If a dog has raised calcium levels (normal range 1.98 – 3.00 mmol/l) a further test of parathormone levels will confirm diagnosis of PHPT This test is only available at specialist laboratories.

The surgery itself is relatively non invasive but does need to be performed by a specialist surgeon as the glands are so small and easy to miss. The crucial part of the treatment is the aftercare as dogs need to be carefully monitored for 5 – 7 days post surgery as there is usually a sharp drop in calcium at this stage. When once the offending gland has been removed the others need to be coaxed back into action and supplementation with vitamin D and calcium are used to support the dog until the other glands normalise and begin normal parathormone production. Vitamin D helps the body to absorb available calcium from the gut and the calcium ensures that the dietary intake is adequate.

Prognosis is excellent as long as kidney damage has not occurred, however without treatment, dogs with PHPT may eventually die of complications caused by the increased serum calcium.

How did I become involved?

In January 2000 my 8 year old home bred bitch Anni (Liefkees Anneliese) was found to have a large renal (kidney) stone and a bladder full of stones. The bladder stones were soon removed but the kidney stone was left because of the delicate nature of kidney tissue. We were puzzled about the continual bladder infections and thanks to my dedicated vet who wouldn’t rest until she had solved the mystery we finally found a diagnosis in December of that year. Anni had hypercalcaemia (raised calcium levels) caused by a tumour on one of her parathyroid glands. Once we had a diagnosis she was quickly referred to a specialist at Cambridge Veterinary School. We knew that the kidney stone would have damaged that kidney but ultrasound revealed calcification in the other kidney. Surgery was performed the following day and she made a good recovery Tragically for us, her kidneys had been weakened by the high calcium levels prior to surgery and on New Years Eve 2002 she went into acute kidney failure. Despite attempts to save her by using a drip the outcome was grim and we had no option but to end her suffering.

I had already written articles for our own British breed magazines to alert other owners to the symptoms of the disease as I didn’t wish any animal to suffer due to lack of knowledge. We had been totally unaware of the condition in the UK which is why it took so long to diagnose Anni.

How did I become involved?

After Anni’s death my vet Sue received a call from the consultant at Cambridge asking if I could send her the pedigree and offering to research the condition in the breed. The condition was already well known in the States and Anni had American bloodlines. The project was handed over to Dr Barbara Skelly of the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cambridge and we have worked closely ever since.

DNA research commences When once it was realized that there was a definite pattern of inheritance Dr Barbara Skelly applied to the Kennel Club Charitable Trust (KCCT) for funding to investigate the gene causing PHPT. The first funding award of £10,000 was awarded in early 2003 and Dr Skelly set about collecting blood samples from keeshonds. She soon had over 100 samples and by offering free testing of calcium began identifying dogs with hyperparathyroid disease. A number of dogs were treated as a result and have made good recoveries. As dogs were identified with the disease Barbara started contacting owners of close relatives and in doing so was able to track the spread of the disease onto a large genetic map (extended family tree). The mode of inheritance behaved like an autosomal dominant trait but this needed to be proven.

The starting point for research was to compare samples from affected and normal keeshonds with mutated genes known to cause hyperparathyroid disease in humans. The three genes known as “candidate” genes were checked but none matched the pattern of abnormality found in the genome of affected keeshonds.

In 2005 a parallel project commenced in the USA as a result of a Keeshond being treated at Cornell and Dr Richard Goldstein agreed to investigate the disease. His involvement was as a result of treating a 6 year old Keeshond Kylie. His owner Cathy Bosnic has worked tirelessly to encourage owners in the States to participate in the study and has been a driving force in working closely with Dr Goldstein.

They started to collect samples from known affected animals and close relatives. Again the “candidate genes” (those identified in humans) were eliminated and at the time of the genome scan he had over 200 samples with over 50 from affected animals.

By 2005 it became apparent that our research in the UK would need a second funding award to continue. Again a bid was submitted to the KCCT and in January 2006 £25,000 was awarded.

This second bid included looking for the genetic cause of primary epilepsy as well because we had been steadily collecting samples from dogs diagnosed with primary epilepsy alongside the PHPT collection. I will return to the epilepsy research later.

Research is never without its frustrations and we had to wait for 6 months to receive the £25,000! Once Richard announced that the gene and mutation had been located, our research into PHPT had to cease. The good news however, is that Barbara is now working closely with Richard at Cornell and our samples will help to further confirm the accuracy of the test.

How was the Gene found?

In collaboration with Dr. Kerstin Lindblad-Toh and Dr. Claire Wade of the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT the samples collected by Dr Goldstein were analysed. It was possible to search the entire canine genome and to identify the locus or region that most likely contained the gene mutation causing the disease. This new technology was able to assess tens of thousands of markers throughout the DNA to find an association between these markers and the disease. The result of this was that the entire DNA was narrowed down to just three genes. Richard continued to closely examine these genes until it became apparent that only one included markers that were highly associated with the disease.

Within that gene was an abnormality that is now being tested for.

Autosomal dominant mode of inheritance The research has confirmed that the mode of inheritance of PHPT in the Keeshond is a dominant trait. A number of known inherited diseases in the dog are autosomal recessive with the designation of an animal being “clear”, “affected” or “carrier”. This is what primary epilepsy is thought to be.

With an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance, an abnormal gene from one parent is all that is needed to pass the disease onto the progeny. It is not necessary for the other parent to have the gene. If a keeshond with the defective autosomal dominant gene for PHPT is used for breeding, then 50% of their offspring will also have the gene while the other 50% will not. If two dogs with the defective gene are mated then 50% will have one copy of the defective gene, 25% will have two copies of the normal gene and 25% will have two copies of the defective PHPT gene. Research has suggested that embryos with two copies of the defective gene may not survive in utero (within the uterus), resulting in smaller litter sizes for this type of breeding There is no “carrier” state with an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. Either an animal has the gene or it does not. The test devised at Cornell gives the designation of either “positive” for the PHPT gene or “negative” for the gene.

Anni far left with her litter sister Lucy, niece Lily and great niece Kaja on her last holiday on Exmoor – September 2001

The UK Kennel Club website has an excellent section explaining basic genetics of the dog and the difference between autosomal dominant and recessive genes.

See http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/327 to read “from dog to DNA”.

Will all dogs with the gene develop PHPT? The disease is known to affect older dogs with the mean age in earlier research being 10 years. More recently animals as young as 6 yrs have been diagnosed. The disease affects older keeshonds with what is known as “age dependant penetrance”. The DNA test does not identify the clinical disease but rather indicates the presence of the gene. This indicates the genetic potential to develop the disease later in life. This is a cancer causing gene and most animals that carry it will go onto develop the disease if they live long enough.

How accurate is the test?

Some people in the States have questioned the validity of a test and as a result Richard has fully explained the situation via the various web based breed discussion lists.

The uncertainty seemed to arise out of the finding that 7% of older dogs sampled who had no clinical signs proved positive for the gene.

For this reason they questioned whether the test threw up false positives.

Richard explained that it is a linkage test with 100% association to the disease PHPT. This means that the test is for a site in the DNA either within the gene itself or very, very close to the gene, so it is linked to the disease.

The sample size of over 200 dogs with over 50 affected was much larger than generally used to validate a genetic test. He was able to confirm that all samples from dogs diagnosed with the disease tested positive for the gene. Statistically this is consistent with a zero distance between the mutation causing the disease or 100% accuracy.

He also confirmed that based on the samples sent into the study the vast majority of dogs that live long enough will get the disease (over 95% if they live until they are twelve). These numbers could change as more dogs are tested.

When our UK research was halted, our researcher Barbara made contact with Richard Goldstein and as a result he offered to test all our UK samples. We have approximately the same number of samples and affected samples so this will effectively double the number of animals included in the survey.

Barbara has now converted all our blood samples into stabilized DNA and these have been shipped to the USA. Our samples will be run in a blind fashion so their status for the disease will be unknown at the time of testing. These will double the sample size and further confirm the accuracy of the test.

HOW TO TEST? VISIT WWW.VET.CORNELL.EDU/LABS/GOLDSTEIN

How to get dogs tested?

The test is now commercially available via Richard and his website www.vet.cornell.edu/labs/goldstein/ provides detailed information on both the condition and also the testing procedure.

The site contains a series of articles written by Cathy Bosnic, a full explanation of the research, a “questions and answers” section and all the forms and protocols needed to submit a blood samples for analyses Bloods can be sent from outside the USA and the protocol for importing the blood into the USA is also explained.

Testing is an investment in the future. Many American and Canadian breeders have been posting the results of their dogs test on the various breed discussion lists. If both the sire and dam of a litter prove “negative” for the PHPT gene then by definition their progeny will also be gene negative as they cannot inherit what isn’t there. This means that the entire litters do not need to be tested. In time the need to test will reduce as the status of ancestors is known and recorded.

In the USA some breeders are sending in samples as a group and in doing so are gaining discounts as well as saving on the cost of shipping. I believe this is also happening in Germany so is something the club may wish to discuss amongst its members.

Richard Goldstein will be happy to advise breeder and owners Samples tested from other countries must follow the guidelines revised on July 6, 2006 by the USDA. The veterinarian needs to include a declaration statement to allow passage of the sample without a permit. For more information and guidelines, see the website at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/icatdog.html The Epilepsy research continues So what about epilepsy? As some of you will know in 2004 I circulated paperwork on the English Epilepsy project with the purpose of collecting DNA samples from dogs diagnosed with primary epilepsy. Barbara checked all the paperwork for accuracy and the questionnaire was circulated along with protocols for sending blood to Cambridge. I am grateful to the people in various countries who kindly circulated the information to keeshond owners and breeders As a result we have received samples from Australia, the USA and Europe to add to the English ones and it is as a result of those peoples commitment that the epilepsy portion of the English bid was successful.

As a result of the joint collaboration with Dr Richard Goldstein and Dr Barbara Skelly we are now in a position to analyse these samples in the States using the same package at the Broad Institute that identified the gene responsible for PHPT. It has always been accepted that inherited epilepsy in the keeshond is as a result of an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance but more recent work suggests that we are not looking at a simple gene but more likely more than one gene with a single gene of major effect.

This is an exciting development and we can all hope that the analysis will be as successful as the PTPH has been. Dr Richard Goldstein and his team have shown that it is possible to map disease traits rapidly in the keeshond so it makes sense to take advantage of the new techniques at our disposal and make sure that epilepsy also becomes a disease of the past.

If anyone with a dog diagnosed with primary epilepsy would like to participle we would be happy to accept a sample. I can supply the information privately.

If you would like to participate in the Epilepsy Survey you can contact Barbara as follows: Barbara J Skelly MA VetMB PhD CertSAM DACVIM DECVIM MRCVS Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES bjs1000@cam.ac.uk

Our responsibility As a breed we are so lucky to have such committed and talented researchers on our side. Being a numerically small breed we need to take care of our future. At the end of the day I wouldn’t be writing this article if it were not for the Keeshond dog, our clubs would not exist and our lives would be the poorer without them.

We have seen drastically falling registrations across many countries. In the UK annual registrations have been under 100 since the year 2000.

Acknowledgements Dr Richard Goldstein DVM DACVIM DECVIM is an associate professor of small animal medicine at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine I would like to thank Dr Richard Goldstein and Dr Barbara Skelly for all their hard work and dedication on behalf of our breed.

In compiling this article I have referred to recent posts from Richard as well as his website to explain the identification of the gene and the test availability.

I am grateful to Barbara for her unstinting support and her patience over the past 4 years and for helping me gain some understanding of genetics! I would also like to thank her for proof reading this article for me.

References Berger B, Feldman EC. (1987) Primary hyperparathyroidism in dogs: 21 cases (1976-1986). Journal of the American Veterinary Association;191(3): 350-6.

Standing up for health does not win friends in some quarters but at the end of the day the welfare of the breed is paramount and every dog bred should have the right to be free from inherited disease and unnecessary suffering.

Weir EC, Norrdin RW, Barthold SW, Meuten DJ, Pond MJ, Insogna KL. (1986) Primary hyperparathyroidism in a dog: biochemical, bone histomorphometric, and pathologic findings. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 189(11): 1471-4.

We can only eradicate inherited disease if everyone is open an honest. We could make PHPT history in a very short time but only if the welfare of the dogs is put before self interest.

Author profile

DNA is an exact science and ends the years of guesswork and finger pointing. Don’t let this wonderful opportunity be wasted.

I have lived with a Keeshond for most of my life and currently own three bitches spanning 3 generations. I exhibit and judge in the UK and breed in order to continue my line and gain the next generation.

I have lived with a Keeshond for nearly 50 years and couldn’t imagine life without them. They give their all – we owe it to them to give ours.

In 1996 I commenced a post graduate course in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling at the University of Southampton, completing it after 3 years to be awarded the Dip AS (CABC). At this point Anni became unwell and health took over.

At the 2003 AGM of the Keeshond Club (GB) I was voted to be the Keeshond Club’s heath coordinator and continue in this role.

I work closely with Dr Barbara Skelly and am indebted to her for such commitment to our breed.

I have also written articles on Alopecia X with the support of Dr Rosario Cerundolo who is now assistant professor of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania. Rosario was involved in research into this condition in the Spitz breeds whilst working at the Royal Veterinary College in the UK © Jane Saunders – December 2006 e-mail: Liefkees@hotmail.com

Anja aged 8 weeks – they are our future!

Editors note: Anyone residing in Australia that would like to submit blood for testing. Contact Trevor Rogers - trev@keezkeeshonden.net we are currently coordinating another shipment of samples to go over!

RAMBLINGS OF A KEESHOND MAD AUSSIE My Trip to the 75th Anniversary Specialty of the Keeshond Club of America

By Shirley Mewett Brilhond Keeshonden - Australia

As they say, "It's an ill wind that blows no good" and it was the ill wind that saw Cheri Rogers have to undergo surgery on that niggly Achilles tendon, which blew an invitation for me to accompany Trevor Rogers to the KCA 75th National in Oconomowoc Wisconsin in May 2010.

Initially I said I didn't think I could go.....didn't have a passport, had to get time off work, no-one to look after the dogs etc. Then I remembered the 5 funerals I had attended in the last few weeks of people around my age and younger, and I decided life's too short, I'm going. This was just after Easter in early April.

The panic was on to get a passport organized. Somehow it all fell into place and I, my suitcases and passport fronted up to Tullamarine airport in Melbourne Australia with Trev for the first haul of a 14 hr flight to Los Angeles.

This was the part that worried me. Not the flying...........I'm totally OK with that, it's just the thought of the very long direct flight.

Trevor Rogers – Keez Keeshonden – Australia Shirley Mewett – Brilhond Keeshond - Australia

In actual fact, the 14 hrs was only about 13 and we arrived in LA, checked in and waiting for the Chicago flight long before we'd left Melbourne..........the US being 17 hrs behind AEST. Next a short hop of 3 hours over to Chicago where we stepped out into 93 deg F temperatures. It was so humid everyone was saying it was like Florida. Very unseasonable hot we were told. Ya reckon?!

Next we collected the hire car Trev had booked……well it was a jeep really and drove 137 miles to Oconomowoc, on the right hand side of the road of course.

It only took me a few minutes to feel safe and to let go of the @#$!# handle.

There are few roundabouts but of course we found one almost immediately and it was very strange to go around it to the right.

Rather like something you would do as a joke in your mis-spent youth in Australia.

Arrived at the resort where the National was to be held just on dusk so we didn't see too much at the time but there were a couple of vans, RV's and fifth wheelers already in the car park.

“I found the grooming area that would hold nearly 500 Kees and all their owners, handlers and staff”

Monday morning I went exploring and sussed out where the showing would be in the ballroom, where the grooming room was right next door in the other ballroom and where the agility was to be held, along with the nearly 500 kees and all their owners, handlers and staff. I also found the marquee for the 3 weddings booked for the end of the week Honestly, the resort must have a cast of thousands to cope with cleaning the rooms, catering in the two restaurants, providing for the hospitality rooms for the dog show, preparing for the banquet and the cash bars for us at the various functions, providing maintenance 24/7 (yes we had to call them at 12.30am to do a quick job on the bathroom) and preparing the marquee and more catering for three weddings in a row.

“There were about 100 Keesies jumping, climbing, going through, over, under and weaving!”

It was strange to me to hear dogs barking in the rooms and to hear them huffing down the hall on their way in and out, but also quite a novelty to not have to check to see if it was one of mine.

Dogs are allowed in the rooms in America, quite unlike the health regulations which ban this in most accommodation in Australia. They are in their crates mostly but all the rooms had sheets over the beds so I guess they are realistic about where some of the dogs would end up!

Meryl Davison and Rob Stewart from Queensland Australia were already at the resort so we caught up with them, then went shopping as Monday looked like being the only slack day. I was under strict instructions to find a Dress Barn and Trev had a list of American things to buy for Cheri.

It was a stinking hot day again and seeing as we didn't get a very early start, when we came back late in the day, there were many more vehicles rolling in.

The show rigs/set ups are amazing and compared to the prices we pay for the same vehicles in Australia, very cheap. The Winnebago type vehicles had slide outs and annexes, all air conditioned and the crates stacked on top of one another inside, for travelling. These crates are then transferred to the grooming room when the shows begin and dogs are walked to the ring with the handlers or the minders/kennel folk if the kennels have lots of exhibits. They don't have trolleys as we do but I can see why if most of the showing is indoors. Also stacking the crates with dogs in them saves so much space.

BTW the grooming room had spaces allocated for each exhibitor as their grooming area. There were lines drawn on the plastic covering the ball room floor with the names of the kennels written in, some big, some small depending on the number of dogs entered.

I guess there was some sort of request system like benching requests at our Australian Royal shows because friends or people with dogs from the same kennel seemed to be together.

Just another aside here, it was spring almost summer in the US so their dogs were blowing at National time, just as ours do around Adelaide and Melbourne Royals and our specialties. You can imagine the keesie hair around from 500 dogs over a week of brushing LOL. Well it was collected in huge boxes like those used by removalists and I was told, was being used to help clear the oil off some of the animals being effected by the oil spill off the coast. It is an oil magnet, as anyone who has had to try to clean a keesie that has crawled under an oily vehicle engine knows only too well, so I guess even though in the scheme of things it would be just a drop in the bucket, at least it was being put to good use.

Meant to say re Dress Barn, I LOVE IT! In the US I am in the smaller range of sizes in the shop.

Oh OK I fess up, they have two shops side by side, one for the smaller folk then the one for we larger gals, but I am still a smaller size in that one than I am at home!

I tell you this because Dress Barn seems to be a favourite shop for handlers to get some their beautiful outfits at a very reasonable price.

I had to smile because I saw a couple of the jackets I bought being paraded in the ring and very nice they looked too.

Also have to tell you Bart Simpson is quite correct.........how I hate to admit that.........., water does flow down the sink and toilet the opposite way to here in Oz. And (I'll get all this out of my system) the toilets begin full of water, empty then fill up again almost to the rim. Cheri had told me this many times but I just had to be sure.

OK day 2 began with us moving rooms as the A/C wasn't coping in the section we were in. No wonder, it was still over 90 deg f.

The agility was scheduled for today, out doors with a hot northerly wind blowing. Luckily it began at 8.00 am. There were about 100 keesies jumping, climbing, going through, over, under and weaving. I've only ever seen one or two kees doing agility at one time. It was incredible seeing so many. Quite a few were entered in the conformation classes and obedience also.

I had to laugh though; the dogs had so much fun in spite of the heat. They are individuals and did just what mine do. Some would go well for a bit then go off and do their own thing, have a sniff or sit in the shade of the tunnel, then get back to the job again. I loved the way the dogs and handlers had so much fun. I’m constantly in trouble at our obedience club because a kee is a kee and doesn't always respond like a Lab or working dog.

In the US they know exactly how to train spitz breeds in these disciplines. I had some great discussions with John and Joan of Majikees about this and tried some of their suggestions when I came home. My Duke, (aka Aust.

Grand Champion Ryfrost Cool Dude) did really well but I was in trouble with the instructors again for doing it his way, rather than the marching back and forth.

After watching agility for a good while I decided to attack the vendor’s stands. Look out credit card. I bought my copy of the Keeshond book by Mae Evans, some jewellery, collected the 75th merchandise we had pre ordered and checked out the Chris Christensen stand and all the stalls! From the KCA to the stained glass items, the rescue stand and all the handcrafted keesie stuff. These stalls were around the perimeter of the show ring which was taking shape for the veteran’s classes of the Regional Specialty later in the day. The ball room floor was covered by non-slip flooring and the seating laid out.

All the time, more dogs were arriving in the grooming room and some familiar faces started to appear. These included Katrina Santas from Sydney Australia, so the entire Aussie contingent was in residence. We found that by going through the grooming area to the tradesmen’s entrance/corridor, we were very close to the hospitality room with the coffee and just around the corner from the lift to our floor.

“One dog would move forward while the other went back and they circled around her. One went clockwise, the other counter clockwise!”

Great! Very handy for trips to the room to drop off shopping or for a quick Nana nap in my case. On one of these trips I found the resort shops which had gotten in some locally made pendants with Kees on them. They were different so I swooped on them too!

I was starting to look at the dogs now and one of the first things I noticed was the beautiful cat like feet and small ears on the majority of them. So lovely to see.

The veterans were the first classes to be shown. I just love the oldies and so do the spectators. There was one dear old girl who was just short of 15 years and by the time the puppies were judged, a snap shot of the last 15 years of Keeshonden in America, was on show in one place. What an amazing way to see where they have been and the current trend. If we did this in Australia, I wonder what we would find.

I loved the way the crowd appreciate their breed at these shows and in the veteran’s classes, no dog did their work out without being recognized by the audience. It was very moving and sportsmanlike.

The dogs are shown much the same as in Australia with triangles, out and back and around to the end of the line, then generally short lined and placed 1-4. The ramp and table was used often to make it easier for the judges who had so many dogs to get through in a timely manner.

By now we had the catalogue which has a wonderful section of advertisement in the back of it which in its own right is a stunning record of the major exhibitors, the judges and of course the entrants for the regional and national shows.

I was asked about the cost and public transport facilities by some of my Australian friends.

My reply to them was:Seriously, it wasn't as expensive as you may think.

Sure the accommodation and air fares are fairly expensive but we paid that before we went and before the dollar started to go down when Greece fell over.

We also prepaid most of the memorabilia, the function special meals such as the presentation banquet, catalogue etc.

As we weren't doing all the tourist things, we only had to buy food which was cheaper than Australia and any shopping we did. I was really surprised at how little I really spent whilst there.

Depending on the venue, a car may be a good idea. There appeared to be no cabs in the township. The resort at Oconomowoc had a courtesy bus but they only took it out if there were 10 or 12 people. Not a lot of help really as the doggy people had their own transport. We were really glad of the car, especially when we wanted to do washing and the dispensing machine had run out of washing powder. This meant a quick trip to the market at 11.30 pm.

I forgot to mention the courtesy bags. These were carry bags filled with a range of products such as dog food samples, shampoo samples, a National coffee mug, room sign so you could tell people who was in what room, dog toys, towel, pamphlets, brochures and lots of other stuff.

The bag was great for carrying the catalogue and as we didn't think we could get the dog food or some of the other things back into Oz, we decanted what we wanted to keep and gave the rest to one of the resort managers who breeds Field Spaniels. She had an 8 week old litter which Pat Hastings used as a demonstration litter for her Puppy Puzzle lecture.

Puppy sweepstakes all morning starting at 8.00 am, after one of the junior handlers sang the American National anthem. I am told she did this every morning. I don't know how a teenager got out of bed, dressed and had her voice ready to go by that time. Puppy dogs first ages 6-9 months, then in 3 month intervals to 18 months, followed by the puppy bitches. There were A title or caption about the photograph. over 100 puppies in all. There were some really nice puppies in here, very together and typey. They will be interesting to see in another year or so.

The afternoon was devoted to the 102 bitches from puppies through to the open bitches, with the class winners competing for winners bitch.

We often have overseas judges comment at our Australian Specialties or Royals in Australia, that we have some of the best Keeshonds in the world.

I was always sceptical and thought they were being patronising. I now believe that we do have a large number of dogs that could hold their own in international competition. When you consider how few we have in comparison to the US, we can be jolly proud of our fuzzies and the breeding programs of which they are the product.

Into the late afternoon and the veteran classes for dogs were held. Some of these old boys are holding up very well, moving well and looking great.

Seeing them for a 2nd time I felt they were generally in great condition.

Next were the junior handler’s classes. It was fun to see 9 juniors with Kees only in these classes. The judging of these events was a mystery to me. I had to ask what they were marked on as they were coming between the judge and their dog, were turning the dogs around them, rather than around their dog.

I had to ask of course and was told that in America, they have dropped these requirements for junior handlers as they were getting hung up on the handlers actively moving and being the focus in the ring rather than learning to showcase the dog to it's best advantage, which is the aim of them handling dogs in the regular confirmation classes.

In the evening there was an expo with short lectures on the health of dogs, including nutrition and heaps of pamphlets and video’s. This had to be set up in the show ring as the vendors were around the edges. I was just beside myself when a display of dancing with dogs was announced. Not only did this lady do a dance demo with kees, she had TWO dogs dancing together.

Brace dancing in itself is not so unusual she told me, but the fact that her dogs did individual movements as well as unison moves was what made them unique. One dog would move forward while the other went back and they circled around her, one clockwise, the other counter clockwise. They were amazing, so fast and funny and they just loved the applause. One of them kept bowing while the clapping continued. She couldn't get enough of it.

“When all 102 fuzzies were in the ring together it was an amazing sight!”

This little lovie followed up this performance with a solo ballet routine, much of it on her hind legs but her finale was a series of pirouettes or rapid spins (the ones they all do) right around her handler, until the music finished. It was so special.

I think we were about to go into Thursday next, the final day of the Regional Specialty. All the classes in the morning were veteran bitches, stud dog, brood bitches and braces and the afternoon taken up with the puppy dogs through Bred by Exhibitor, American Bred Open dog all eligible for the winners dog Title.

Then came the massive Best of Breed class with 102 Champions all vying for the title.

Trev, who was one of the Judges (I had to do the secret squirrel thing all week as it wasn't to be common knowledge who the three judges were) set off to do his thing and I went to the Pat Hastings lecture. Pat is the Puppy Puzzle person. Some of you may have seen the books and videos. Basically, she shows how structure or rather structural faults or problems physically manifest themselves in dogs, and shows her method of assessing/selecting puppies exactly at 8 weeks.

The session is general in nature but she did reference our breed in a couple of instances. Perhaps the highlight was watching her assess 2 litters of 8 week old puppies, one of Siberians and one of Field Spaniels.

If you have never seen her works, they are readily available and although I had read a lot of her writings, the real thing was so valuable. She is coming to Australia next year and she is happy to hold some lectures.

Because there were so many, all the dogs were brought into the ring initially in 5 rows of approx 20 dogs........3 rows of dogs and 2 rows of bitches. The order for this was pre ordained and printed on the grooming room doors and walls. It was organized chaos! I think the winners dog and bitch and the best of veterans were also included in this class. I must admit to a little confusion about just who was and wasn't in the ring for some of these classes.

After lunch Pat did some assessments on adult Keeshonden. Most of those who put their dogs up were obedience and agility people and it was during these examinations that she drove home the importance of dogs doing agility needing to be very sound in order for their skeletons and joints to withstand the tasks they were being asked to do.

It was an “all hands on deck” job as every entered dog had to come into the ring at once so handlers were being co opted from everywhere.

Trev, Meryl and Katrina all took a dog in. What an amazing experience to be amongst all those keesies. When all 102 fuzzies were in the ring together it was an amazing sight. I have never seen so much Keesie flesh in one place at one time. It was spine tingling and emotional.

The 2nd through 5th rows left the ring and the dogs returned to the grooming room whilst the first group was judged and a cut made. This proceeded until all the dogs that made the cut returned for the ring for the BOB decision. It was a marathon day that ran well into the evening.

The afternoon saw the beginning of the National Show Judging with Mr Dennis Le Houillier. Things were beginning in earnest now with dogs absolutely everywhere and to add to the mix, the first of the weddings, party and guests alike passed through the foyer on their way to the marque in the gardens. We saw 3 weddings in 3 days running the gauntlet of the dog show.

Speaking of emotional, the Parade of rescue dogs was the saddest, yet at the same time, uplifting "event" I have seen. In the program should come with a strong tissue warning. It was so beautifully done.

Each rescue dog on parade had their bio read out as it paraded with it's proud owner. These were not the showiest or the most winning entrants of the specialty. These were the good, honest, dearly loved and cherished pets that had a story that continued happily, here in their new, safe lives. Some of the stories were so very sad, others amazing, some inspirational but they all captured the spirit, loyalty and faithfulness of our special Keeshond breed. As they left the ring each was presented with a beautiful commemorative rosette and a bunch of tasty goodies. It was such a perfect ending to their special time in the spotlight.

Rescue is very big in America and Canada and a good deal of money was raised for the cause through the raffles and other fundraisers at the Specialty.

Friday Morning was devoted to Rally Obedience in the show rings. It was also the time of the preliminary judging of the Top 25 Entrants (in actual fact I think it turned out to be only 16 or 17 who accepted the

If you get the chance to see or hear her it certainly gives cause for thought and some very simple practical tools for the puppy selection tool box.

The week was winding up to its climax by now. In between watching the showing & obedience, finishing the shopping and revisiting all the marvelous displays including the Washington's collection, we had to seriously consider how we were to pack or transport all the goodies home to Oz. I arrived with a spare suitcase which was now full of my bits and pieces and Trev had an overflow of goodies which can't be found on the supermarket shelves at home. The market shopping amazed me. So much choice so many brands and so many items I'd never heard off. I had a little idea of what to expect thanks to a visit to Costco in Melbourne but this country gal had never seen the like! The rooms seemed rather like well stocked pantries or larders for few days.

Anyhow, we tried a few arrangements in boxes, cases and hand luggage.

Trev decided he would have to send a large parcel home by post. You should have seen him struggling down stairs to the jeep with the loot.

One lesson I learned...........bring a really large empty suitcase next time.

And there will be a next time. I had a wonderful experience, not only because of the dogs but because I learned so much from the generosity of the dog folk in sharing their knowledge and experience.

Some of my friends know that I am an amateur actress so I was fascinated by the accents and speech patterns from different parts of the continent and thanks to knowing Cheri for 10 years, I also had a handle on many of the everyday terms for common items or requests.

I didn't escape though without having to say "chuck another shrimp on the barbie" or "G'day mate" and a few other phrases by special request.

Saturday night arrived with its promise of the gala 2010 Top Keeshond Event. Trev disappeared to make himself beautiful and emerged in all his magnificence quite quickly so he trotted off to join his co-judges Phyllis Noonan and Brenda Brookes.

Drinkies and nibbles in the foyer and the doors opened on a transformed and beautifully decorated ring with tables and seating around the perimeter. Another souvenir program gave bios of the competing dogs and of course the judges, lists of the top winners of various Keeshond events in 2009 and details of the top 25 event itself.

As the show began each judge was introduced and escorted into the ring. Ladies, first of course, on the arm of a gentleman, then came TREV â&#x20AC;Ś with TWO ladies!

This show was a lovely showcase of the top ranked 25 Keeshonden for 2009 and as the judges had hands on earlier, it was presenting the dogs to best advantage on the move. Some really lovely mature and some very nice younger stock on display here.

The last day was the turn of the bitches and the National BOB competition with 110 entries. Now this was really something special and a fine culmination to the event.

Preparations for the evening dinner saw that cast of thousands at work again transforming the arena back into a reception room for the buffet.

During the meal, several presentations took place and many respected kees breeders were inducted into a hall of fame, whilst a continuous PowerPoint presentation highlighted some of the iconic dogs from over the years.

Next morning it was finalizing packing and saying goodbye to new and old friends and making tracks for Chicago to return the vehicle and catch the connecting flight to LA. Security at Chicago Airport saw us getting a bit of a run around but we heard that the US President's plane was on the tarmac so everything was in lock down temporarily.

The sniffer dogs did their work too and whilst they only gave us a cursory glance, it must have been enough for security to need to check my hand luggage and to scan Trev too. Guess if you have been at a dog show for a week, even sniffer dogs would notice!

Thank you Keeshond Club of America for your hospitality and exhibitors for your friendliness. It was an experience to put names to faces of breeders and exhibitors that I had only heard of and to see some of the very well know dogs in the flesh, or should that be in the fuzz. Of course the Canadian contingent made themselves known to us and it was a pleasure to meet some of the folk Cheri has spoken about, also to renew the acquaintances of the UK visitors too.

See you at the next National!

UCD CH Jocose Jamaica’N Me Crazy CDX RAE2 & JenN Di’s Neon Starburst

Bo shown picking up his first point at just 6 MONTHS of age!

We are expecting GREAT THINGS from this youngster in the future!

Congrats to sister Sassy (Neon Heart With An Attitude) On her first points also!

SHOWN BY KRIS WITZKA Owners: Kris & Darlene Witzka Keeshaven Keeshonden Nebraska USA 402-494-1842 keeshaven@longlines.com

Breeder: Kris Fancher Neon Keeshonden Kansas USA kriskees@sunflower.com

Spotlight On New champions

Australian Champion Keez If the Shoe Fits Cheri & Trevor Rogers Melbourne Australia

Australian Champion Vendorfe As You Wish Sue Emary Melbourne Australia

Show off your new Champions here For only $15!

Klompen Keeshonden - Canada

is pleased to announce our new litter, Whelped August 22, 2010 Sire: BISS multi‐CH Alpine's Rock Climbing Klompens Dam: Can Ch Klompen's Gabriel 3 Boys + 3 Girls Inquiries welcome. For more information please go to: http://www.klompenkees.com/gablitr2.htm

+--CH KLOMPEN’S ROCKY RACCOON +- CH ALPINE’S ROCK CLIMBING KLOMPENS | +--CH GREENKEES JUSTINE +--KLOMPEN LITTER WHELPED AUGUST 22, 2010 | +--CH KLOMPEN’S BAIL ME OUT MATE +--CH KLOMPEN’S GABRIEL +--CH KLOMPEN’S LITTLE BO PEEP

Morioka Kennels – Australia Whelped: August 12, 2010 Sire: Aust Ch Ryfrost Jacks Back Dam: Ch Napaj Im A Showoff 5 girls and 2 boy's.

Available for show or pet: 1 boys and 3 girls They will be available to go to new homes at 12 weeks of age.

Kayleen Stewart morioka@unwired.com.au Mobile: 0422309779

Keez Keeshonden – Australia

Due: October 19, 2010 Sire: MBIS / MBISS Aust & NZ Ch Keeswey The Marksman At Keez (imp NZ) Dam: Aust Gr Ch Keez Tayla Maid Inquiries welcome. For more information please go to: www.keezkeeshonden.net Trev@keezkeeshonden.net

+--Nz GR. Ch. KESHTEMPLE KAIZER +--Nz GR. Ch. CARLEESH DOUBLE DUTCH | +--Aust & NZ Ch RYMISKA JUST AHONEY +--Aust Ch. Nz Ch KEESWEY THE MARKSMAN AT KEEZ | | +--Am Nz Ch. TRUMPET'S BREAK EVERY RULE | +--Nz Ch. CLANDARA T'S ANOUSKA | +--CLANDARA LIBERTY +--*Keez Litter Due Oct 19, 2010 | +--Aust Ch. RYMISKA TOP NOTCH | +--Aust Gr Ch. CHILDERKEEZ ANZAK PARADE | | +--Am Ch. Aust Ch CHILDERICK'S FLAME FATALLE +--Aust Gr Ch. KEEZ TAYLA MAID | +--RYFROST RIVERDANCE +--Aust Ch GREENDOSS QUEENOHART +--Aust Ch. RYFROST ROBYNS IDOL

Directory of Keeshond Breeders Around The World

VENDORFE KEESHOND â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Melbourne Australia Sue Emary vendorfe@optusnet.com.au http://members.optusnet.com.au/~vendorfe/main.html

Wund-R Y Keeshonds - Abrams,Wisconsin USA Terri VanSchyndel 920-217-9551 WundRYKees@juno.com http://www.wundrykees.freeservers.com/

A VERY SPECIAL DAY

Keez If The Shoe Fits

Keeshond Club of NSW 9th Open Show

(Imelda)

BEST IN SHOW

3rd April 2010 Judge Mr Jimmy Krantz (USA)

“What an honour to have been so highly awarded by both Breed Specialist Judges from the world famous Star*Kees Keeshonds USA”

Keez Nobodyz Listenin (Murphy)

PUPPY IN SHOW

Keeshond Club of NSW 86th Championship Show 3rd April 2010 Judge Ms Robin Stark (USA) Keez If The Shoe Fits (Imelda)

AUSTRALIAN BRED IN SHOW

Keez Nobodyz Listenin (Murphy)

PUPPY IN SHOW

BIS/MBISS NZ & AUST CHAMPION

KEESWEY THE MARKSMAN AT KEEZ (IMP NZ) (Luca)

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JUNIOR IN SHOW & RESERVE BITCH CHALLENGE

Keez Keeshonden

Quality Keeshonden For The Discerning Fancier

www.KeezKeeshonden.net Trevor & Cheri Rogers Melbourne Australia Quality show potential puppies, sometimes available

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