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Dates & News:

ZimDog News, can be accessed from: www.vanerp.net.

Zimbabwe Kennel Club:
The Zimbabwe Kennel Club office will now only be open on a Friday each week, 14.00-16.00 CAT.

Local Shows and Fairs

Saturday 4 October 2008 0830 for 0900 hours
KENNEL CLUB OF HARARE - Judges: Mr. A H McKinlay (Zambia)
Gundogs/Hounds/Terriers/Utility/Working; Mrs. J F Schreiber Toys/BIS/Varieties
WORKING & HERDING CLUB OF MIDLANDS - Mrs. S L Tarr

Sunday 5 October 2008 0830 for 0900 hours
ZIMBABWE MIDLANDS KENNEL CLUB - Judges: Mrs. G E Houghton
Gundogs/Hounds/Terriers/Toys/Utility/Working; Mrs. N M Griffin BIS/Varieties
KWEKWE & DISTRICT KENNEL CLUB - Judges: Mr. M E Geoghegan
Gundogs/Hounds/Terriers/Utility/Working/BIS/Varieties; Ms M F Pitman Toys

The problems faced by one cavalier King Charles spaniel

Pedigree dogs are suffering from genetic diseases following years of inbreeding, an investigation has found.

A BBC documentary says they are suffering acute problems because looks are emphasised over health when breeding dogs for shows. The programme shows spaniels with brains too big for their skulls and boxers suffering from epilepsy. The Kennel Club says it works tirelessly to improve the health of pedigree dogs. Pedigree animals make up 75% of the seven million dogs in the UK and cost their owners over £10m in vets' fees each week.

Poor health

The programme, Pedigree Dogs Exposed, says dogs suffering from genetic illness are not prevented from competing in dog shows and have gone on to win "best in breed", despite their poor health. It says physical traits required by the Kennel Club's breed standards, such as short faces, wrinkling, screw-tails and dwarfism, have inherent health problems. Other problems occur because of exaggerations bred into dogs by breeders trying to win rosettes, it adds. The programme shows a prize-winning cavalier King Charles spaniel suffering from syringomyelia, a condition which occurs when a dog's skull is too small for its brain. It also features boxers suffering from epilepsy, pugs with breathing problems and bulldogs who are unable to mate or give birth unassisted. It says deliberate mating of dogs which are close relatives is common practice and the Kennel Club registers dogs bred from mother-to-son and brother-to-sister matings.

Have your Say

Send us your comments

Scientists at Imperial College, London, recently found that pugs in the UK are so inbred that although there are 10,000 of them, it is the equivalent of just 50 distinct individuals. Steve Jones, professor of genetics at University College London, said: "People are carrying out breeding which would be first of all entirely illegal in humans and secondly is absolutely insane from the point of view of the health of the animals. "In some breeds they are paying a terrible price in genetic disease."

Breeding practices

RSPCA chief vet Mark Evans was interviewed for the programme. He said: "The welfare and quality of life of many pedigree dogs is seriously compromised by established breeding practices for appearance, driven primarily by the rules and requirements of competitive dog showing and pedigree dog registration."  The Kennel Club's Bill Lambert and RSPCA chief vet Mark Evans. But Kennel Club spokeswoman Caroline Kisko said it is "working tirelessly" to help improve the health of pedigree dogs. "Any dog may be shown but it is up to the judge to decide if it fits the breed standard," she said. "It is when characteristics become exaggerated that health problems can occur. "This is something that the Kennel Club does not encourage and actively educates people, including judges, against doing as part of its Fit For Function, Fit For Life campaign."  

"Zimbabwe's Travelling Man"

The GOODS AND THE BADS

The "goodest" surprise I had was the lovely Automobile Association Office in Nelson, South Island, New Zealand. They supplied me with masses of maps/brochures and the like on production of my AA membership card from Zimbo; u were great girls and you did the AA great credit. The Quality Inn hotel group, right round the world, gave good facilities and good service at all times - to be recommended. Easily the "baddest" thing was O R TAMBO airport at Johannesburg, South Africa.  It's a shambles - there's no other word for it.

The HIGHS AND AND THE LOWS

The "high" was definitely Canada - there is nothing she can't provide/nothing you can't find/nothing you can't buy at any price you want  - she gets better with every visit,  e.g. this trip Egg Boileys for boiling eggs in a microwave and  books 2 and 3 of Jeffrey Archer's Prison Diaries (which I hadn't been able to find in Britain strangely enough) and, that paradise on earth, Port Ryerse.

The "low" was the Kiwis double departure tax - it left a nasty taste in the mouth after a visit back to such a nice country where I Iived for so many years. Another "low" was the standard of some of the new security staff  employed to enforce the new security regs around the world;  they really don't know their job.

The DO'S AND THE DON'TS

DO buy all your books in the final duty free departure lounge in the UK;  they are far cheaper and the range is far greater than you will find anywhere else.  They even tackled me in an LA bookshop as to where I'd got the latest Jilly Cooper from cos they hadn't got it.

DON'T fly on any of the Yankee airlines unless you want to starve to death - they have a policy of no scoff for pax!! On only one flight in  the States was a meal served - why the fare paying passenger over there doesn't revolt is beyond me!

So that's it chaps, au revoir, and I'll be in touch when the next One World trip looms near.

KCH Dogjumping day on 14 September 2008

The newcomers were explained all jumps, as well as how to do the ‘Down-Stay’ on the board. Bribing allowed?? I have some more pictures, but sending too many in one newsletter takes very long, so wait and see.	Bribing as well as manually ‘push-down’. All in all a wonderful performance with these new dogs and their loving owners and we hope they will persist and train, as it was just awesome to see these little ones compete.
Bribing only and a ‘radiating’ hand above!	Bribe one dog and restrain it !

Have you ever wondered what are the top reasons for dogs to be sick? I have my opinion based on what I see in my practices but I wondered if there was a bigger published list. I found this list of the 10 Most Common Dog Conditions and thought you might be interested The list comes from, Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the nation's oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance. They recently analyzed the medical claims they received in 2007 to determine the top 10 most commonly claimed conditions for cats. In fact, they found that the top 10 conditions accounted for about 25 percent of all medical claims received last year. Here are the 10 Most Common Dog Claims:

All of the conditions on this list are potentially serious and they can all be expensive. In 2007, the most expensive of the common canine conditions was benign skin tumors, with an average submitted claim fee of $327. Keep it in mind that skin tumors tumors are a chronic condition....

Hi Jan cashel,

Do dogs mourn the loss of another dog? What do you think? To answer this question I would like to share a story that I got. Karen shared on how she AND her 2nd dog dealt with the loss of "Cricket". I had to smile when I read it and wanted to share it with you. Karen wrote: "I have a 7-year-old boxer/bulldog mix and recently she lost her sister (Cricket a 16-year-old dachshund) to a brain tumor. We were both having a hard time so I started bringing her in the car with me almost every day. I stopped at my usual espresso stand and they had dog bones for her and of course a cup of ice water to wash them down. Well, after the trip through I haven't seen her smile like that since my other baby was still with us. So, even though I was trying to cut down on the lattes I have to keep drinking them just so she can make her special trip through to get a bone and ice water. Oh well, if she's happy I'm happy! The girls at the stand think she's adorable, if they take too long with the customer in front of us or if they make my drink before she gets her bone she whines and cries so loud everyone can hear her, ha/ha. So I suggest take your baby somewhere they can get a special treat from some place other than at home and make them feel special like it was their day to be pampered

"Isn't that sweet? Somehow I picture Karen at the coffee stand. Thanks for sharing your story with us Karen. We have an excellent article on how/if dogs mourn, to read it go to: Do Dogs Mourn? Do dogs mourn the loss of another dog? I think they can. I've seen it. Until next time, Dr. Jon.