Author: Penny

In the past few months, we’ve looked at the Rottweiler’s historical jobs of cattle drover and cart dog. Now let’s take a brief look at another role for which they are historically known: police dog.

At the turn of the 20th century, the Rottweiler had fallen on hard times. Laws had made it illegal to drive cattle along public roads, bringing an end to the days of the drover dog. Likewise, dog carts had fallen out of favor as the donkey became more popular. Finding itself unemployed, the Rottweiler was in serious danger of becoming extinct.

In fact, according to legend, in 1905, only one Rottweiler bitch could even be found in the town of Rottweil. It’s a misconception to think that she was the only Rottie in existence at the time. But she was the only one in the breed’s historic hometown, which is like saying that there was only one Red Sox fan left in Boston. Truly a sorry state of affairs.

Luckily, small pockets of the breed existed in other areas. In it’s heyday, the butcher dogs of Germany had such an excellent reputation as working dogs that they were sought after by people outside of the Rottweil area. Also, the 19th and 20th century saw the birth of dog shows, and a new type of dog fancier who worked to preserve dog breeds not because of a breed’s usefulness, but because of a love for that breed.

However, what ultimately saved the breed was a trait that dates back to its ancestors who crossed the Alps with the Romans, its protective instinct. Those Roman dogs were charged not only with herding the army’s cattle, but also protecting those cattle from predators and raiders. That trait was passed down through the centuries, where the dogs were charged not only with driving cattle, but also protecting the money once the cattle were sold. And at the turn of the last century, when all of their traditional jobs had died, most of the few surviving members of the breed earned their keep as guard dogs.

At the turn of the 20th century, German law enforcement began to become very interested in using dogs for police work. It formed the German Police Dog Association to identify breeds that would excel in that type of training. It didn’t take very long at all for the Rottweilers to come to their attention.

According to one legend, the breed first came into notice when an off-duty policeman in Hamburg was out walking with his pet dog, which happened to be a Rottie. He came upon a bar where fourteen or so drunken men were having a knock down, drag out brawl. Immediately, the policeman went into action, with the help of his “partner”. The Rottweiler’s weight alone was enough to knock several of the men to the ground. Within moments, the brawl was over and its participants were heading for the hills as fast as their drunken legs could stagger.

The syringe hole was clearly visible in the center of the growth. Meadow died as a result of the aggressive mast cell tumor and Kris determined to find out why. Like most good pet owners, she had regularly visited the vet for Meadow’s scheduled vaccinations. Little did she suspect that it was that very regular routine that may have contributed to Meadow’s loss.

Her quest to make any sense of her dog’s death eventually brought her to several reports that jumped out:

1991-Center for Disease Control: “A fully-vaccinated dog is unlikely to become infected with rabies.” (1)

1991-Center for Disease Control: 1998 study documents no vaccine failures in dogs which had received two vaccinations (1)

1992-French scientist Michel Aubert: Dogs are immune to rabies challenge five years after vaccination(2)

Kris learned that rabies vaccinations are associated with autoimmune diseases of:

• • thyroid
• • joints
• • blood
• • eyes and skin
• • kidney, liver, and bowel
• • central nervous system

as well as:

• • polyneuropathy
• • anaphylactic shock
• • aggression
• • seizures
• • epilepsy
• • fibrosarcomas at injection sites (3,4)

Finally, Kris learned that the USDA requires no proof of long-term duration immunity from vaccine manufacturers; yet, the USDA licenses vaccines which protect against disease a minimum of three years with packaged instructions for annual boosters!

Partnered with top veterinary vaccine researchers, Dr. W. Jean Dodds and Dr. Ronald Schultz, Kris founded a charitable trust to fund The Rabies Challenge for which she is the primary advocate. Based on concurrent five and seven year challenge studies, the immediate goal is to determine long-term minimum duration of immunity for rabies vaccine, after which states will be able to extend mandated boosters to five and then seven years.

“If the challenge is successful, pets will only be required one or two rabies boosters for the rest of their lives after the initial puppy shots,” Christine said. “Not only will they be exposed to less risk of adverse reactions to the vaccine, but it will save owners unnecessary veterinary fees.”

November marks the end of the study’s first year; early results on the five-year challenge are expected in four years. Each year the fund must raise approximately $200,000 for annual expenses. Christine works from two to ten hours a day making contacts with dog owners, legislators, animal organizations, online groups and other pet health advocates encouraging participation and support of the project and assisting local groups to promote better pet vaccination laws within the states.

“If these five and seven year studies are successful and the states extend their booster requirements, it will mean pet owners no longer have to worry that dogs in this country are being required by law to be over-vaccinated against rabies,” Christine explained.

She summed it up: “It is satisfying to think that in some small way, my efforts will have helped to honor all the wonderful dogs that bless our lives with unwavering devotion and companionship.”

For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit The Rabies Challenge website.

These potential issues must be explored thoroughly with the former carer before taking a dog home. The choice of the individual dog is influenced by personal taste, but do exercise logic in your decisions. Don’t bring an active breed into a home that can’t offer much exercise or a fragile breed into a boisterous home with lively children. Read books on the breed, or parent breeds if a mongrel or crossbred, and talk to owners to make sure you know what to expect in terms of temperament and exercise and food requirements.

Beginning the search with an idea of what you want, where do you go next?

Friends and Family

Someone close to you may be looking to re-home their dog due to a change of circumstances. This can be ideal as you will know the dog and its history, but may cause tension as the previous owner will remain in both your lives with their own opinions on how their former pet should be kept. The dog may find it hard to sever ties with a previous owner it sees regularly and patience will be required.

Paper Ads

Local papers carry adverts for adult dogs seeking new homes, for various reasons. Exercise caution, as the former home may not always be truthful. Beware of issues such as destructiveness, aggression and failed toilet training being hidden. Always ask, if the dog is so great, why do they want to get rid of it? Try and see how it reacts in many different situations, expect the owner to be concerned about the dog’s new home and be wary of anyone happy to just hand you the lead and wave you both off.

Rescue Shelters

A rescue dog can be a rewarding pet, but organisations have various requirements to be met before allowing their dogs to go to new homes. Some are stricter than others, and some families may find that they do not meet the criteria for one but are accepted by another. The dog is more likely to have a minimal history, and abused or neglected dogs often show the mental scars of their ordeal. Reputable centres will tell you everything they have learned about the dog since it has been in their care and help and support the dog’s new family once it goes home.

Breed Rescues

Like rescue shelters breed rescues will have criteria to be met by prospective new owners of their dogs. They may also have waiting lists for more popular breeds, but if you have your heart set on a particular breed and would like to rescue a dog, they are well worth contacting.

Breeders

Established show or working kennels occasionally re-home their adult dogs after their retirement from the ring or their jobs. Approach breeders to offer a home but expect them to be very concerned about where their dog will go and to cross-examine you as thoroughly as they would any puppy buyer.

In general remember to ask lots of questions about the dog, it’s like and dislikes, it’s experiences and any behavioural problems. Expect to be asked a lot of questions and worry about anyone anxious to be rid of a dog. Be honest about the home you can offer, and remember, if you are being turned down by all contacts, you need to ask yourself if you really can give any dog a suitable home, or must wait for your circumstances to change.

The village of Dogtown was a real place on Cape Anne, in Massachusetts. By the mid 1800s the town had faded away, and its inhabitants existed only in rumours and hearsay, much of which spoke of witches and other such colourful characters. Diamant came upon a pamphlet containing a walking map of the area around Dogtown and tales of some of the hamlet’s inhabitants.

The novel is made up of Diamant’s imaginings about the lives of the handful of people still living in Dogtown after it’s glory days, the last to reside in that place.

Characters

There is Judy Rhines, a gentle soul who struggles with lonliness. Easter Carter, the buoyant little innkeeper who hears everyone’s stories with an eager ear, and holds them in strictest confidence. Black Ruth, the woman who dresses like a man and keeps to herself the tale of how she became a stonemason. Sammy Stanley, raised in his aunt’s backwater brothel. Oliver Younger, a scrawny young man growing up under the miserable roof of his abusive aunt. And Tammy Younger, whose vicious tongue and wicked heart terrorize Dogtown’s inhabitants.

There are also Cornelius Finson, the freed slave unsure of what to do with his freedom, and Mr. Stanwood, the town drunk.

Diamant weaves together the stories of this patchwork cast of characters, telling the tale not only of individual people, but of a tiny community, rejected by the rest of the world. She also brings to life the area and the time. While this novel’s plot rests only lightly upon any historical fact, it’s setting, the lifestyles and behaviours and culture that create the novel’s world are solidly based in history. Diamant has beautifully recreated a world of the past.

Combination of Genres

The Last Days of Dogtown is an intriguing cross between a traditional novel and a collection of short stories. The book opens with the death of one of Dogtown’s elders, and a view of the community as a whole. From then on each new chapter tells the story of a different character, with later chapters continuing those stories.

The novel reads like a collection of short stories whose plots, characters and places mingle and intertwine to form a larger whole. This intriguing style is both compelling and charming. The book lends itself well to those who enjoy novels as well as to those whose preference is for short stories.

It is every boy’s dream to be an engine driver, riding the rails in the cab of a mighty steam locomotive. That Hornby-fuelled footplate fantasy can come true, though it is less Orient Express and more Ivor The Engine at the charming little North Wales line run by The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway in Porthmadog.

Narrow Gauge Railway Line

This family-friendly attraction is a narrow gauge line with engines that chuff-chuff along a three quarter mile stretch of two feet wide track on the northern edge of this Snowdonia railway town.

The volunteer-run railway offers an evening steam engine driver experience, joining the driver and fireman in the cab of Gelert the tank engine for the last trip of the day (usually the 4pm train).

After letting off the passengers, the guest driver gets a short introduction to the engine controls and the rail regulations. Then, under supervision, they take the vintage loco up and down the line by itself before returning to collect the carriage to do it again.

The Mountains of Snowdonia

The setting is scenic, on a plain between the River Glaslyn, the landlocked former sea cliffs of Tremadog and the mountains of Snowdonia.

With the line from Porthmadog to Pen-Y-Mount less than a mile long, it means that the guest driver gets to try main line running and turning the train round in a short space of time. They can even help with the dirty jobs of ashing out afterwards and shovelling on the coal for the next day’s work.

Side Tank Locomotive 3050, also known as Gelert, should not be underestimated despite its small size compared with a standard loco engine. This pugnacious 16-ton veteran of the South African mining industry, built by WG Bagnall Ltd of Stafford in 1953, snorts and grunts like a boxer and whistles up a storm.

Bacon Cooked on the Fireman’s Shovel

The guest driver will learn how to ease open the regulator, gently apply the air brakes and vigorously turn the wheel for the mechanical brake, and while in motion to maintain the correct speed and watch out for the SW signs, the chance to pull the chain which releases Gelert’s shrill wail.

The evening experience currently costs £65. There is also full day driving experience with Gelert available for £250, which begins with a breakfast of bacon cooked on the fireman’s shovel. Both experiences are only available to over 18s.

Great Little Trains of Wales

The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway is one of the Great Little Trains of Wales and Attractions of Snowdonia. It is especially fun for families with small children as a ticket entitles you to ride all day. Also, the engine sheds have interesting displays and a miniature railway ride.

Porthmadog (its name officially changed from Portmadoc in 1974) is also home to the narrow gauge Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland railways at the harbour side of the town, and has a main line station linking up with the national rail network.

Have you ever dreamed of living out your own Call of the Wild fantasies? Does the very thought of racing through the uncharted snow with the wind in your face and at a speed of grace and extreme quickness give you a rush of excitement? Dog sledding can be a thrill for all, and the best part is, you do not need to head to Alaska to experience it.

Yes, when people think of California they tend to think of the beaches, palm trees, the ocean, and oh yeah, the sun. While yes this is a part of sunny Southern California, it is actually not the whole part. Ever think that you could live out your fantasies of participating in your very own Iditarod right here in California? California is actually home to some of the best snowboarding and skiing in the whole country, and on top of all that, you can even partake in dog sledding, all within just a half a days drive from Los Angeles.

Mammoth, California

About a four hour drive away from Hollywood, you will find yourself in the beautiful, picturesque mountains known as Mammoth, California. Home to amazing hikes, a cable car, and yes, dog sledding. Here you can live out your own dreams of running these majestic Siberian Huskies throughout beautiful snow covered paths. A great experience in any person’s life is to experience the beautiful Eastern Sierra by dog sled.

Mammoth Dog Teams

Mammoth Dog Teams provides traditional dog sleds and gives authentic treks through the snowy covered grounds. They use a mix of Siberian Huskies and Malamutes to pull each of the sleds. Mammoth Dog Teams offers various tours including a Dog Sled Dinner Ride where you are whisked away to watch the sunset over the Sierra then on towards the Mountainside Grill for a great dinner. They also offer overnight camping trips into the Sierra Backcountry by way of dog sled. The owner, Jim Ouimet, gives each person attending this unique trip their own camping gear, sled, and dog team. For current prices and to reserve a spot on any of these mentioned tours, feel free to call Mammoth Dog Teams at (760) 934-6270. Trips leave from the Mammoth Mountain Inn.

Prices

Dog sledding, although an amazing experience, can be a tad on the more expensive side. Prices can vary, and will of course depend on which tour you decide to take. An average fare for children can be around 25 dollars, while prices for adults can reach around 80 dollars. The current prices for a 50 minute tour with Mammoth Dog Team is 50 dollars for children, and 90 dollars for an adult. Children 3 and under ride free with an adult. A 25 minute tour with them costs 65 dollars for adults and 40 dollars for children. These tours are very hands-on and do offer you the chance to meet the dogs and are allowed time with them. It is not a generic ride at some theme park, you will be given a chance to really get to know your team.

Dog sledding will be an adventure you will not soon forget. The wind in your face, the hues of soft greens and whites as you race by endless tress, the excitement of the sound of the dogs barking are all amazingly great reasons why a dog sled trek through Mammoth is an ideal trip to make. For a sheer thrill of an adventure, dog sledding cannot be recommended enough.

Things aren’t going so well for Bernie, a private detective, and his canine sidekick/partner, Chet. Their vintage Porsche is ready for the strap yard, Bernie’s ex-wife is calling daily about Bernie’s son’s tuition, and it’s been a while since their last profitable job. That’s why when the mother of a missing teenage girl named Madison comes to Bernie frantic, Bernie is quick to take the job even though he suspects that the girl has purposely gone missing for a few hours. It has something to do with the $500 advance that the mother dangled in front of his face.

Meet Chet

Chet, Bernie’s partner, is a wise and lovable detective who lends his canine intuition and superior sense of smell to the pair’s investigations. He’s a mixed breed who flunked out of K-9 class (something to do with the inopportune appearance of a stray cat). However, he’s a detective through and through.

Missing Madison

The case of the missing girl, Madison, seems to solve itself when she returns unharmed later that day. However, the girl’s story doesn’t make sense and is full of inconsistencies. When she goes missing a second time several days later, both Bernie and Chet are suspicious. Ultimately, the case will lead them to Vegas and beyond and put both Chet and Bernie too close to death.

A Canine Cozy

Dog on It is a refreshing addition to the cozy mystery genre. There have been plenty of mystery series that feature cat detectives. (Rita Mae Brown’s Mrs. Murphy and Lilian Braun Jackson’s Koko and Yum-Yum come to mind.) However, until now, dog detectives have been woefully neglected. Dog on It changes all of that.

This fast-paced and well-constructed mystery is told completely from Chet’s point of view and gives the reader fun insights into the inner workings of a dog’s mind. For instance, what are dogs really thinking when they look at you with those sad, sad eyes or go tearing across the lawn without notice. On the cover of the book, Stephen King says that “Dog on It has more going for it than 50 of those cat cozies.” He might just be right.

Without the interference of man, dogs reproduce offspring whose characteristics are determined by natural selection. Mating selected dogs with the aim of maintaining or producing specific qualities and characteristics has long been practised. Selective breeding has a place in the history of man and his relationship with his canine friend. By breeding useful dogs and killing the wild ones, man has been developing certain types of dogs since pre-historic times.

Good Breeding Practice

Nowadays, the Kennel Club promotes good breeding practice and encourages prospective breeders to have their bitches checked with veterinary surgeons. Whereas reputable dog breeders need to have a good knowledge of the science of generics, many animal rights people see breeders who breed dogs as unethical.

Selective Breeding

For many dogs, selective breeding for cuteness or conformity to a certain breed standard is seriously affecting their quality of life. The state of a pedigree dog’s health and life expectancy is being compromised by man’s desire for pure race of dog. With high incidences of congenital deformity and hereditary diseases, the wish for purity of blood lines could become a generic disaster.

Inbreeding

Some argue that a crossbred dog is a healthier option because there is little chance of inbreeding. Many consider breeders encourage inbreeding, which can increase the chances of hereditary diseases and can compromise a dog’s immune system. Inbreeding can also lead to a bitch’s decreased fertility or her giving birth to smaller litters.

Genetic Defects

Breed Clubs have often done extensive studies on the common genetic defect of their particular breed. Some breeds of dogs are particularly at risk from being genetically compromised. The pekinese, a Chinese breed of small dog introduced into Europe in 1860 with its long silky coat and pug nose, is a cute dog. Nobody wishes to see breeds of dogs die out but most agree that health must come before type.The friendly Cavalier King Charles spaniel are prone to heart murmurs and neck pain which may need ongoing treatment and sadly can prove fatal. The bulldog, once used in bull-baiting, with its square jaw and powerful grip, is another breed of dog at risk. Innate health problems are also associated with pugs with their flattened faces and tiny noses which cause breathing problems and bulging eyes which are susceptible to infections.

Choosing the Breed

For potential owners, it is essential to do your homework about the breed so that you are aware how best to care for your new puppy. Acquaintance with the breed’s possible heath problems is essential. By choosing a crossbreed, the demand for a healthier pet is the message being given to breeders.