Skywriter
Volume 2006, Issue 1 February/March 2006
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Babes in Skyland
BREEDER REFERRAL LISTINGS
3 YEAR OLD BLACK FEMALE
Born: November 27, 2002
OFA Hips good & Elbows pass, ACVO Optigen clear
Very gentle, housebroken/crate trained.
Enjoys other animals and children.
Current on all vaccines. Must be spayed.
Karen Lolli 845-783-3219 weekends and after 8:30 pm weekdays or Cell 845-283-5725
2 YEAR OLD YELLOW FEMALE
Born: April 04, 2003
Lives as a house pet and likes other dogs.
OFA Hips Good & Heart Clear, CERF Feb. 2005
Microchipped and current on all shots.
Sire: AmCan.Ch. Beechcroft's Study In Black
Dam: Pisgah's Oreo
Donna Sevchuk 908-537-7041
2 YEAR OLD BLACK FEMALE
Trained as a show dog, is a little on the small side.
Housebroken & crate trained & friendly. Very healthy
Up to date on shots, microchipped, current CERF
Sharon Celentano 845-564-6509
2 YEAR OLD CHOCOLATE FEMALE
Born: January 16, 2004
Gentle, friendly, gets along well with other dogs and children. Crate trained. Current on all vaccines. Must be spayed
Sire: Ch. Stonecrest's Davy Crockett
OFA Hips Good & Elbows Normal
Dam: Blackwatch Summer Solstice
OFA Hips Excellent, Optigen Clear
Karen Lolli 845-783-3219 weekends and after 8:30 pm weekdays or Cell 845-283-5725
21 MONTH OLD YELLOW MALE
Born: April 21, 2004
Quiet temperament, very willing to please.
Crate trained. Interacts well with other animals.
Current on all vaccines. Must be neutered
Karen Lolli 845-783-3219 weekends and after 8:30 pm
weekdays or Cell 845-283-5725
9 MONTH OLD YELLOW FEMALE PUPPY
Born: April 27, 2005
Very friendly, crate trained, house broken
Likes people, children and other dogs.
All shots, microchipped, ACVO Clear 2005
Sire: Shar-Jam Pandemonium Talisman
OFA Prelim Hips Good & Elbows Normal,
OFA Heart Clear, CERF 2005
Dam: Ch. Shar-Jam's Taylor Made
OFA Hips Good, ACVO 2005, Optigen A1
Sharon Celentano 845-564-6509
YELLOW AND BLACK PUPPIES
Born: November 25, 2005
Sire: Liberty Hill's Luke Jr.
OFA Hips Good & Elbows Normal, CERF 2005
Dam: Am.Can.Ch. Rockycreek's Trick Or Treat CD
OFA Hips Good, Eyes CERF 2006, Heart Echo
Kathy Mines Home 908-475-5666
Cell 908-319-3600
5 MONTH OLD YELLOW MALE PUPPY
Born: September 2, 2005
Sire: Ch. Beechcroft's Study In Black
Dam: Pisgah's Oreo
Maryann Czerwinski 908-537-4473
BLACK AND YELLOW MALE PUPPIES
Born: January 24, 2006
Sire: Ch. Boradors By George
OFA Hips Good & Elbows Normal, CERF Eyes Clear 2005 & Optigen A1, OFA Heart Echo Clear
Dam: Am.Can.Ch.Oswicks Folklaur Storyteller
OFA Hips Good & Elbows Normal, CERF Eyes Clear 2006 & Optigen B1, OFA Heart Echo Clear
Laura Dedering 908-647-7767
The breeders listed in our referral service are members in good standing of JSLRC, but under NO circumstance does JSLRC guarantee the services of said members. The buyer should review all contracts directly with the breeder.
This service is available to Full Members who qualified for additional benefits. To list a litter, older puppy or dog in the club newsletter and on the website, please do so in writing, preferably on the form available on our website under Member Services.
Please send info to: Laura Dedering - JSLRC Breeder Referrals by fax 908-647-7723, or by email:
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JSLRC Officers and Board:
President: Laura Dedering
Vice Pres: Laura Jennings
Secretary: Sharon Celentano
9 Moonlight Drive
Wallkill, NY12589
845-564-6509
Treasurer: Dennis Simon
Directors:
Karen Lolli 2006
Laura Muirhead 2007
Donna Forte 2007
Newsletter Staff:
Newsletter Editor and Publisher:
Leslie Plank
Smithtown, NY
631-724-7593
Contributing Editors
and Publishers:
Gerri Kennedy-Youngblood
35 Eastview Drive
New Fairfield, CT06812
203-746-9432
Lisa Grasso
Merrick, NY
516-456-9400
SKYWRITER is a publication of the Jersey Skylands Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. published six times a year with deadlines on the 15th of Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct and Dec. Contributions in the form of articles, news comments, wins, litter, and other items of interest to the membership are encouraged. Opinions expressed are those of the individual authors and not those of the JSLRC either in whole or in part. The Editor reserves the right to edit materials in the interest of space, literary clarity, good taste or timeliness. All deadlines will be strictly enforced. Subscriptions are available to non-members for $12.00 per year from JSLRC, through the Publisher.
By Eleanor Palmieri
Committee Chairs are reminded to contact new members and get them involved in JSLRC activities.
Associate members who have been active for at least one year at our events are welcome to seek sponsorship and apply for Full membership.
Anyone interested in becoming a FULL or an ASSOCIATE member of JSLRC can contact our Membership Chair for procedures and a membership packet.
Call write to
Eleanor Palmieri -
JSLRC Membership Chair
New Ph#: 252-728-0755
New Email:
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
The weather has flip-flopped from arctic chills to 50 degrees and the dogs’ coats don’t know which way to go. I’m hoping for spring to show up soon!
In January, Sherri Mattheis once again chaired the JSLRC educational booth at the Lehigh Valley Canine Learning Experience. This year the booth won Honorable Mention. A big THANK YOU and CONGRATULATIONS goes to Sherri and all of the other JSLRC members for their hard work and expertise in making this a great presentation. Look for pictures on our website. Great job everyone!!
On February 19th, first time match chair Lisa Grasso and health clinic chair Donna Forte both did great jobs running their events at The Littell Community Center. Judge Wendi Huttner had a very nice entry with participants attending from several states. See the pictures on our website. Thanks to Donna and Lisa and everyone else who worked so hard for making this day an overwhelming success!
The March meeting will be our Annual Awards Presentations chaired again by Leslie Plank. Be sure to fill out the application found in this issue and on our website. JSLRC has a lot of wonderful Labs and talented people. We want to help celebrate all that you have accomplished this year with your dogs, so PLEASE APPLY for the awards.
Reminders:
March 29th - General Meeting – ANNUAL AWARDS
WARM wishes,
Laura
Index of Contents
President’s Message pg. 2
CNN Report pg. 3
C-BARQ Report pg. 5
Specialty Calendar pg. 6
Match Show Report pg. 12
Awards Instructions pg. 14
Awards Application pg. 15
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Stars of the Sky
Springton’s Anticipation
Chesapeke KC – WB from 6-9 puppy class
3 point major!
Breeder/Owner – Anne French
Woodhull’s Frankly My Dear
Greater Lowell KC-WB/BOS
Breeder/Owner/Handler: Corey Anger
Aquarius Anni In Forestwood CD WC
JSLRC Match
1st place-Veteran bitches
Owner: Leslie Plank
Ch, Forestwood’s Unforgettable
ElmCity KC- BOS
Breeder/Owner/Handler: Leslie Plank
Congratulations to our winners!
Don’t be shy! Get in your brags for your wonderful Labradors so we can acknowledge all their accomplishments for 2005! Whether it is in the breed ring, the obedience ring, hunt tests, or a special producer, we want to hear all you have been up to. See instructions and application in this issue.
**Editor’s Note: The following was reported by CNN:
Dog Treats Killed Our Pets
KANSAS CITY, Missouri (CNN) -- At least 13 dogs have died after being fed the top-selling pet treat in the country, owners and veterinarians have told CNN.
The problem comes because the treats, called Greenies, become lodged in a dog's esophagus or intestine and then some veterinarians say they don't break down.
"I know they are marketed in saying that they do digest. Certainly the ones that we've taken out, esophageal or intestinal, that have been in for days are still very hard," Brendan McKiernan, a board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialist from Denver, Colorado, told CNN.
Greenies recommends owners check that the treats are chewed and Joe Roetheli - who launched the brand as a treat that can freshen a dog's breath and clean its teeth - said it was important to pick the correct chew for a particular dog. There are 7 different sizes to choose from depending on the size of the dog.
But most of the dog owners CNN talked to say they did follow package instructions and they still had a problem.
Mike Eastwood and his wife, Jenny Reiff, recently filed a $5 million lawsuit in New York, blaming Greenies for the intestinal blockage that caused the death of their dog Burt.
"I'm mad that their packaging states that the product is 100 percent edible, highly digestible and veterinarian approved, yet our dog died of it," Eastwood told CNN.
S&M NuTec, which manufactures the toothbrush-shaped chew, won't comment on the case but in court papers denied the allegations.
Roetheli said the focus should be on the dental benefits and Greenies are saving dogs' lives by lowering the risk of periodontal disease.
He says feeding Greenies is far safer than putting a dog under anesthesia to clean teeth.
"Dogs really love the product!" he said. "They do a very effective job of cleaning teeth and freshening breath."
Any suggestion that Greenies are defective was rejected by Roetheli, who developed Greenies with his wife, Judy.
"Our product is safe. It is used every day by thousands of dogs, millions a week and it is basically a very safe product."
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A CNN investigation uncovered 40 cases since 2003 where a veterinarian had to extract a Greenie from a dog after the treat became lodged either in the animal's esophagus or intestine. In 13 of those cases, the pet died.
One of those was Tyson, Josh Glass and LeahFalls' 8-month-old boxer, who was taken to Brent-AirAnimalHospital in Los Angeles, California, where vet Dr. Kevin Schlanger found the animal had a blocked intestine.
"It was very clear that it was something dense and firm that had caused the obstruction," Schlanger said. He removed a Greenie from the intestine.
McKiernan's says his Denver clinic has seen at least seven cases in the past five years, which he says is an unusually high number. That prompted him to start researching and writing a paper to warn other veterinarians of the problem.
He says his research, which he hopes to get published in a veterinary journal, shows compressed vegetable chew treats, of which Greenies is the most popular, are now the third biggest cause of esophageal obstruction in dogs behind bones and fish hooks.
The federal Food and Drug Administration says it's looking into eight consumer complaints about Greenies but has no formal investigation.
The issue has also been the topic of news reports across the country
The chews are made of digestible products like wheat gluten and fiber, experts say, but the molding process makes the treat very firm and hard.
Roetheli, who runs S&M NuTec from Kansas City, Missouri, says Greenies do break down when properly chewed and swallowed by a dog.
He told CNN that any product has the potential to cause an obstruction in a dog and that Greenies packaging warns dog owners to monitor their dog to ensure the treat is adequately chewed. "Gulping any item can be harmful or even fatal to a dog," the package says.
The company's Web site addresses the issue in its FAQ section with the question "When giving an animal Greenies, does it affect their digestive system?" The answer "The only time dogs would be unable to digest anything would be if they didn't chew it up before they swallowed it. Canine and Feline Greenies are highly digestible when chewed."
The company says the number of complaints it has received is very low in relation to the vast numbers of treats sold, and CNN spoke with several vets who recommended Greenies.
Introduced in 1998, we found Greenies now selling for about $16 a pound. Last year, 325 million individual treats were sold around the world, nearly three times the sales of its nearest competitor Milk Bone, according to the marketing company Euromonitor International.
"At the end of the day ... literally millions of Greenies are enjoyed by dogs on a weekly basis with absolutely no incidents," company vet Brad Quest told CNN.
Editors Followup:
Since our Labradors are notorious for gulping things down without chewing them first, it is common sense, whether it is a Greenie, a rawhide bone, pig’s ears, or any chewable object, that we monitor them closely when giving them these kinds of treats to prevent the above mentioned tragedies.
Editors Note:
The following report was first published in the Labrador Retriever Club Inc. newsletter and is being copied with permission from the LRC Inc.
In 2004 the Labrador Retriever Club Inc. participated in a temperament survey focused on Labrador Retrievers. Highlights of the preliminary report follow.
Survey 2004
Results of a Questionnaire (C-BARQ) Survey of Labrador Retriever Breed Club Members. 6/05
From-JamesA.SerpellPh.D.School Of VeterinaryMedicine University of Pennsylvania
About the C-BARQ
The C-BARQ is a standardized survey instrument designed to measure aspects of behavior and temperament in dogs. The current version consists of 101 questions addressing the ways in which dogs typically respond to common events and stimuli in their natural environment. It can be completed by anyone reasonably familiar with the dog’s recent behavior. Hsu & Serpell (2003) found that 68 of the original questionnaire items could be condensed by factor analysis into 11 factors that together account for 57% of the common variance in questionnaire item scores. Based on the items included, these factors were labeled:
1. Stranger-directed aggression (10 items related to a tendency to respond aggressively to strangers approaching or invading the dog’s or owner’s personal space, territory, or home range.) 2. Owner directed aggression (8 items related to a tendency to respond aggressively to the owner or other members of household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, or stepped over or when approached while in possession of food or objects.) 3. Stranger directed fear (4 items related to a tendency to respond fearfully when approached directly by strangers.) 4. Nonsocial fear (6 items related to a tendency to react fearfully to sudden or loud noises and to unfamiliar objects and situations. 5. Dog-directed fear/aggression (5 items related to a tendency to respond fearfully or aggressively when approached directly by unfamiliar dogs). NB: In practice this factor can also be broken into two semi-distinct factors: Dog-directed aggression and dog-directed fear. 6. Separation-related behavior (8 items related to a tendency to vocalize or engage in destructive behavior when separated from the owner and accompanied or preceded by behavioral and autonomic signs of anxiety including restlessness, loss of appetite, trembling, and excessive salivation.) 7. Attachment or attention-seeking (6 items related to a tendency to maintain close proximity to the owner or other members of household, to solicit affection or attention, and to become agitated when the owner gives attention to third parties.) 8. Trainability (8 items related to a willingness to attend to the owner, obey simple commands, retrieve objects, respond positively to correction, and ignore distracting stimuli.)
9. Chasing (4 items related to a tendency to engage in preda-tory pursuit of cats, birds, and other small animals.) 10. Excitability (6 items related to a tendency to react strongly to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as going for walks, or car trips doorbells, arrival of visitors, and the owner arriving home.) 11. Touch sensitivity (3 items related to a tendency to react fearfully to potentially painful procedures, including bathing, grooming, claw-clipping, and veterinary examinations.)
With the exception of touch sensitivity, all of these factors were found to be highly reliable (internally consistent), and the first 7 were found to be valid in the sense that they discriminated well between dogs independently diagnosed as either displaying or not displaying corresponding behavior problems (Hsu & Serpell, 2003). The validity of the remaining 4 factors could not be assessed by this method. However, based on previous work with guide dogs (Serpell &Hsu, 2001) it is likely that these factors are also valid.
Methods
The C-BARQ survey, accompanied by an explanatory letter and a stamped return envelope, was distributed to the first 488 members listed alphabetically in the Labrador Retriever Club membership directory. Only one dog per household was sampled, and the dog needed to be at least 1 year old to qualify for inclusion in the study. To insure statistical independence, respondents with more than one dog were asked to put all their names in a suitable container and draw one at random for the C-BARQ assessment.
Characteristics of the sample
A total of 291 completed C-BARQs were returned by Labrador Retriever Club members representing 145 (52%) conformation bred dogs, 93 (33%) dogs derived from field stock, 41 (15%) dogs of mixed background, and 2 unknowns. With respect to color, 162 (58%) of the breed club dogs were black, 95 (34%) were yellow, and 24 (9%) chocolate. Slightly more than half of the total sample were female (53.6%) and most (73.9%) were reproductively intact...... the majority of dogs were between 12 and 120 months (1-10 years) in age.
Main conclusions
The results of the survey give a remarkably positive impression of Labrador Retriever temperament and behavior compared with that of other breeds. This impression is further reinforced by the very low frequencies of clinically severe behavior problems detected in the breed.
It is of some concern that the field stock LR’s obtained signifi-cantly less favorable scores than the conformation bred dogs for owner-directed aggression, nonsocial fear and separation problems, since some of these differences may reflect genetic differences. However, despite these effects, the field bred LR’s still scored better than most other breeds on several important traits, and were superior to conformation bred dogs in terms of trainability and chasing.