Comes With The Territory or Ode to Holley

I went to the airport Tuesday to pick up the #1 Staffordshire Bull Terrier for 2011 and 2012.   She is also my beloved pet, Daphne.   Daphne has been extraordinary in so many ways.  She has been living a dream for the last 18 months.   But let me back track to the beginning.  I am a pet person.  I have been in the sport of pure bred dogs since the early 70s but I am still a pet person. I have had some wonderful dogs and I have loved them as companions.  I actually believed that great show dogs didn’t happen to people like me.   Boy was I wrong.  On August 2 2007 such a dog came into my home.  

 What does it take for a solid self proclaimed pet dog person to send her beloved dog off with a handler??  First you need a great dog.  Second you need an objective. Third you need the financing.  Fourth and most importantly you need just the right handler. 

I knew Daphne was a great dog because she had had a great career with yours truly on the end of the lead.  I also knew that I had raised Daphne well and she was mostly unflappable, a bit spoiled but relatively bomb proof.   I called her my Urban Assault Ferrari in a dog suit.    I had some ideas of the objectives I wanted to achieve.   I could not imagine sending my pet off with a stranger unless I had some fairly lofty goals.   It really had to be very worthwhile.   I had no idea what this would cost but I figured "a lot".     I have since learned that one's budget is directly related to one's goals.  I have been fortunate and my business is doing well so at this time of my life I was able to splurge on a big adventure.  

Enter the Handler!  I knew from almost the first time I met Holley in Maryland, April 2009 that she was the one IF I wanted a handler.   I saw Holley again in Long Beach in June 2009.  She and Piper won the National Specialty.  Daphne was the first Award of Merit.   The next day at the 35 year Jubilee Specialty Daphne won the breed.   Holley and I joked around a bit about trading wins that weekend and a bit of camaraderie began to develop between us.  I remember Holley telling me how much she loved Piper and that Piper slept in the bed and other things that piqued the interest of this Pet Person.   I remember asking Holley if when she was done with Piper would she consider handling Daphne and she said yes.  

Long after Holley had sent Piper home April of 2011 rolled around and we were back in Maryland.  Daphne had spent the first 3 months kicking ass and taking names in California and was the current #1 Stafford with me on the end of the lead.  We approached Holley and asked if she would handle our dog?   She said "you mean Daphne?"  We said "Yes".   She emphatically said "YES! and we made plans to discuss plans over dinner that night.    We discussed my goals, my commitment, and the budget.   We agreed on a long term goal with a short term trial to see if it made sense.  The next night the show was over and it was time to hand over Daphne.  I brought my crate, toys, blankets, food and Daphne to Holley with tears in my eyes.   I was torn wondering if I was doing the right thing.   I felt like I had tricked Daphne.  

I literally cried every day for months.   I could not think about Daphne, my pet, at all.   It took about 3-4 weeks for Holley to finish with Riley and get Daphne on the schedule and those weeks were sheer torture.  I felt much better when I got the news that she had earned a Group 2 placement at her first show (which thrilled Holley and me, of course).  Over the next 18 months Team Daphne met or exceeded my expectations.   Holley and I spent a lot of our time torturing photographers for photos immediately after the camera clicked, nagging the publications for the most premier spots at the last minute, and pestering poor Derek every single week to meet a deadline.   It is my understanding that Derek had a nick name for us and it was something like Thelma and Louise.  Holley and I definitely had the pedal to the metal almost the entire campaign.   It was exciting, thrilling, stressful and amazing all at the same time.  

Communication is not one of Holley's strengths so in the beginning I spent hours hunting out where Stafford bitch specials might be entered.   Later I got better at catching her schedule plans and making a mental note for later.   I kept perfect notes of the shows, the judges and the awards.   I counted dogs beaten by breed and all breed before the results were public.  I kept score on the competition.   I remember sitting with my phone in hand every weekend waiting for the results.   It was a way to bide my time until we were ready to get off this roller coaster.   I still missed my best friend and cried when I thought about her.   So, I immersed myself into rescue.   This was good and very fulfilling and kept my mind occupied.  I was already involved with a local rescue group so I had some contacts and started to ask for puppies to foster and see where else I could help.   So between SBTCA Rescue and A New Hope Animal Foundation I had my hands and mind full.  

During the year I learned a lot about campaigning, handlers, judges and strategies.  I learned handlers have the same problems that we owner handlers complain about.   Which judge to show under, what handlers and dogs will be at a show and other intriguing tidbits were all regular topics we stressed over.   Throughout the campaign Yanni and I, either alone or together flew to see Daphne.   She ALWAYS remembered us just by our voice, but she was now clearly Holley's dog.   This actually made it a bit easier for me.  Sometimes I wonder if I had used a California handler and could drop off and pick up each weekend, would it have been better?  Perhaps it would have been better for me emotionally but not for the campaign as a whole.  

There were many highs and lows in regards to Daphne throughout the campaign.  She actually stayed longer than we originally intended which was emotionally very hard on both Holley and I.  There were many things that I did not count on.  In my mind this was a business, but I had picked Holley because I felt she would love my dog (silly, I know).  So for me to expect it to be all business for the person who now considered Daphne her pet was totally and completely selfish on my part.   Holley and I became partners in a way I did not expect, we both loved the same dog, I had to share.  I know a dog is a dog and not a person so why the fuss??   I had to remind myself that this adventure would have never happened if Holley was your average business handler with multiple specials and no honor or devotion to any of them.   I do not know of a single time that Holley did not take Daphne in the ring herself.  She made her schedules around Daphne.   She missed other clients ring times because of Daphne.  She was totally dedicated to Daphne.   I owe as much to Holley for making Daphne a superstar, if not more than I owe to Daphne for being a great dog.   There are a lot of great dogs being campaigned and the goal is to get and keep your dog at the top.  This takes diligence, hard work, perseverance, and strategy.  Holley was more than up to the task and loved my pet the entire time.   Holley also surprised and amazed me by going way above expectations by obtaining a CGC, Rally Novice, and Beginning Novice Obedience titles on Daphne as well as having her tested by the American Temperament Test Society.  The evaluator called her a "Mighty Dog in a small package".   Personally I think he got it right!

I know that mostly show dogs are not someone’s pet.   Many are, but the ones that go off with a handler for months and months are mostly not pets.  It is purely business.  So it makes sense that if your dog is a pet do not send it off with a handler to live life as one of many on the road mostly crated.  My experience was difficult at first, but with what I knew before and what I have learned since I would do it again, with Holley.  

Now let's fast forward to Tuesday December 18th 2012 5:45am.  I got a text, two words, "that sucked".   You know what? I know it did.   If it was anything like when I handed the leash to Holley in April 2011, it definitely "sucked" dropping Daphne off at cargo Tuesday morning.   I was sad, not only was I taking Holley's pet away, our exciting relationship was coming to an end.    Yanni and I picked up Daphne in Sacramento at 1pm that day and yes she remembered us from our voices.   And, Yes I cried again.  We drove home and she remembered all the speed bumps going down the road to the house.   She remembered the entrance to the property and the driveway going up.   She remembered Bodie and acted like a silly school girl trying to play with him as he postured around her trying to remember.    Don’t ask me how I know she remembered I just know she did.   When she went into the bedroom she fell apart.   If a dog ever cried for happiness, Daphne did then.   It was a like all the memories came flooding back.   The next day she went to work and was beside herself.  She greeted all of the employees as if they were her long lost friends.   She ran around full speed with toys and bones until I thought she was going to explode.  Today she is a little quieter; in fact she is snoring right now.   I know that Daphne is not the average show dog.   Daphne is my pet.  

So, what started with tears ended with tears.   Holley and Daphne and I all came full circle.  I know Daphne will never forget Holley.   Daphne and Holley had an unbelievable partnership.  I look forward to more chapters with Holley in the future.  The highs were high and the lows were low but all in all it was one of the greatest adventures I have ever had in my entire life!!  Now I am going to cry.

Copyright 2013 Ciera Reflections. All Rights Reserved.

What's a puppy purchase contract all about?

Years ago I was offended that breeders felt the need to interview me for a puppy via an application and home visit and references.  The idea that I could be turned down was somewhat outrageous to me.   It is one thing to not have a puppy available but another to be turned down.   If a breeder was willing to talk to me there were hoops to jump thru, questions to answer, possibly a co-ownership and oh the horror, strings attached!   This was a strange concept to me and it took me quite some time to really grasp it and "buy in" to this concept.   Well I have been on the approval process band wagon for some time now and I do "get it".   There are many facets of this topic that I could write about and even as I am very focused on the contract part right now my mind is swirling with the different avenues to discuss, explore and dissect.

A contract should be about the puppy or dog, not the new owner/guardian and not the breeder, nor future breeding rights.  A breeding rights contract should be a separate contract.   Everything in the puppy purchase contract should relate to the health and welfare of the puppy from the beginning to the eventual end.  Having seen many things happen to dogs over the years in the pet, performance, conformation and rescue world I have some very strong opinions about the contract.  Many of my opinions may be fodder for strong criticism but I am ok with that.  I say in the Bully world we err on the side of caution, err on the side of super responsible, err on the side of safety for dog and community.  I believe in zero tolerance for any potential issue or accident that could cause our breed to be anything other than Canine Stellar Citizens.   I also want to protect the dog from irresponsible or even uneducated actions at any time of its life regardless of the circumstances.   I may be living a dream but I believe if you don’t reach for the stars you won’t get to the moon.

A contract serves a number of purposes.  A contract even saves relationships!   We have a tendency to want to do a handshake when we have known someone for years; this can be the kiss of death to a long time relationship.   Those are the times a contract is needed the most!  Just because you are friends does not mean you are on the same page in regards to pet care and responsibilities and it gets worse when there are strings attached.  It can also be a challenge working with relatives of a deceased owner who was your friend and you did not do a written contract.  It is important to get things out of your head and on paper in a way that will open up dialogue with you and the partner / buyer.  Yes, when you go into contract with someone it becomes a partnership of sorts.  You can discuss each point and make changes as both parties agree.  It also helps both parties to know what was discussed and agreed upon, sort of an I know-you know the expectations because we discussed it and we signed it.  Often times a contract is like an education and you will be able to educate your puppy buyer by going over all the points.   You can use the contract discussion as another part of the interview process to ensure you are very comfortable with the buyer by watching their reactions and listening to their concerns.   Use your intuition; if it doesn’t feel right don’t let the puppy go.  Forget the money in their hand and that you have had this puppy past 8 weeks.

The first thing anyone homing a dog or puppy should consider is "who is your target home?”  If it is purely someone with cash in their pocket, stop reading now, none of this matter.   If you actually care about the future welfare of your your living breathing product, its effect on the community it lives in as well as the future of your line and the breed as a whole then read on and perhaps one thing will make sense to you.  I think we tend to gravitate toward people who are like us.  So when we think of a target home unconsciously we click with people who are similar.  We are also much better equipped to approve good homes if we are in fact good homes ourselves.   The reason good homes are so important is because we need to ensure our Bullies are exemplary citizens so they are not a neighborhood nuisance, can be re-homed if necessary, do not end up in a shelter with problems and do not suffer from neglect which creates more problems.  Personally I used to want a litter full of champions to make a name for my Kennel and my bitch or stud dog.    I have come full circle now and prefer to have my pups go strictly to pet homes or very select show/performance homes.   I also would prefer my pups stay geographically close to me.  So in this way I begin to define my target home.   I am willing to be open to homes outside my target but my first choice will always be within my comfort zone.   I may lose out on the greatest home because of this policy but I am ok with that.   I have to make decisions based on what will work best for me over the life of the dog.

You really MUST microchip all of your pups before they leave your home.   Without the microchip the dog cannot be matched to your contract by the dog's name or number.  You should complete the registration form yourself and hold it until the puppy goes to its new home and you feel reasonably sure it will not come back (which it won't if you have done your approval process well).  You should not be scared to have a dog traced back to you.   You should be proud to stand behind what you have brought into the world.  You should also want to be there for any of yours that need help.  

Your contract should include basic things like your kennel name, the dog's name and microchip number, the buyer, price, handling the registration papers, health at time of purchase, a period of time to return puppy with no questions for a full refund, registered name, and what happens if there is a breach or anticipated breach of contract.   You can have variations for show homes, verses pet homes.  You should have a different agreement for co-ownership.  I suppose you could have everything in one contract with check boxes and initials to indicate what is included. 

The points listed below are the ones that are important to me.   Some people may have other concerns and I would love to hear about them in the comments below.   Other people may think some points are unnecessary.   I believe that all of these points are important to consider when re-homing or selling a Bull Breed today.  Alway try to keep an open mind and be willing to make changes for different circumstances, or as insight is gained or as required by a particular partner.   I think it is also a good idea to have important or key items initialed by the buyers in addition to both parties signature on the at the end.

Return and refund - if buyer can no longer keep the dog. You need an agreed upon process to return or re-home the dog at any stage of the dog's life and how this can happen and what sort of refund if any. Sometimes the parties can be across the country. As a breeder this is your responsibility to figure this out even if you bring the dog back and euthanize it. It may not be my way but I won't judge you for that. It is your responsibility to keep your product from becoming another community's problem.

Selling or Re-homing - You should be contacted before the dog is sold or re-homed to anyone including another family member. You should also make sure if the contracted owner is deceased you will be contacted by the heir as soon as possible and before the dog is re-homed. In any event you need to have first right to have the dog back but may be willing to allow them to re-home upon transfer of the contract. This may be a tough concept for some people in relation to a 10 year old dog. It is up to you how you handle the situation but you should be notified if the ownership of the dog may change or if there is a the chance the dog will be homeless and end up in a shelter or worse.

Genetic health testing and future health testing as required or suggested by the National Club - If you are not interested in the future health of your line you should really consider giving up breeding. So many times I hear about a dog that died too young, or an undiagnosed illness that the dog eventually died from. Sometimes these dogs have puppies or relations all over the country with the potential for the same heartbreak and unnecessary financial burden because information is ignored or not shared. This is one of those topics I can go on about. In 20 years I have had 10 pure bred / well bred dogs and 5 of them have had heartbreaking and costly health issues and some of the issues where already known by the breeders. It would have been huge had I known in advance.

Immediate notification of any health issue or death post mortem - See above. Genetic or not you need to know what is going on with your line. If one of yours dies you should be notified while there is still time to perform a post mortem. There are times when it is obvious but your contract should have you notified immediately to provide input. Please, if you breed, consider that you will need to have the resources available to get to the bottom of health issues that are more difficult than your local vet can figure out. Make your buyers aware of this potential. The future of our breed depends on this.

Euthanizing the dog - The dog is not to be euthanized without first contacting the breeder. Reasonable attempts must be made to contact the breeder prior to euthanizing the dog. This may be waived in the case of life/death situations but never due to behavior issues. There may be an Animal Control issue where the dog is being held and may be euthanized due to behavior. This is covered below.

Requirements if dog will be used for breeding - Do you really want a dog with your name on it to go out and be arbitrarily used for breeding purposes and have those puppies go out without contracts? What if someone buys a pup and breeds it and then sells pups and then one of those pups ends up at a commercial breeder and it's pups end up with irresponsible owners who may even use them or sell them for fighting? Yes, Staffords do end up in fighting rings. I know that there is no way to guarantee everything but this should be addressed. If you are not requiring spay / neuter you should be prepared to mentor that person for a long time. Hopefully they are someone you like and respect and who will listen to you.

Spay and neuter - Pet verses Show: I work with shelter dogs and I am a proponent of early spay and neuter but in some ways I am a hypocrite. I personally believe that a dog should not be spayed or neutered until it reaches the age of sexual maturity. In some cases I would prefer it be done at full maturity, 3 years. In the case of rescue dogs there is not a lot of follow up after the dog is adopted so I say early spay and neuter is better than the alternative. Personally I like to think I can pick the 1 or 2 from the litter that I would like to keep intact and the rest should be altered. If you are looking for show homes then s/n is not an option. You have to do what works for you and then live with the follow up and mentor-ship that having a handful of unaltered dogs require.

The next 3 paragraphs were pulled directly from the contract I use and borrowed with permission from Jason Nicolai. These are important issues and should be in all contracts.

Buyer agrees that dog is not to be used, trained, or displayed publicly, or in any form of media, in an aggressive, vicious, or uncontrolled manner, as such display causes harm to the reputation of the Seller, the dog, the breeder , and the breed as a whole.

Buyer agrees that this dog is not to be used or trained for any illegal activity, such as dog fighting or guarding illegal drug activity. Dog is not to be bred to any dog being used for such purpose, nor any puppies produced to be given or sold for such a purpose. Sales contracts for any puppies produced by this dog must contain this wording in the agreement.

Buyer agrees that this dog, or any offspring of this dog, are never to be given away, leased, or sold to any wholesale breeder, puppy mill, pet farm, pet store, commercial kennel, raffle, auction, dog fighting operation, any type of resale in the U.S.A. or any other country, or an agent, broker, or dealer for any such establishment This dog or any of its offspring are never to be given, sold, or relinquished to any animal shelter, pound, or dog rescue service. Seller is to be immediately notified if any situation arises where dog is in danger of being sent to such an establishment, due to illness, natural disaster, financial distress, or enactment of a breed-specific ordinance, and Seller will immediately make arrangements to repossess dog, either temporarily or permanently, as necessary. Emergency directions for the dog are to be made with a close relative, friend, or attorney to insure return of dog to Seller in such circumstances.

Dog parks: Stay away for goodness sake! There are plenty of articles on the pros and cons of dog parks. In my opinion they are not a place for any breed of dog that is mentioned in Breed Specific Legislation in any community. I don’t care who, what, where, when or how it starts but when it starts the Bully is blamed. You can make your own decision but make sure if there is fall out it isn’t in my community!

Off Leash: I am a hypocrite with this one too. My dogs rarely have a leash on. Everything I do is all about keeping my dogs focused on me. However, I do think this should be addressed. Even the best puppy that follows you everywhere will hit the point where they want you to chase them. Depending on the experience level of your potential home you should discuss the dangers of dogs off lead in public. You might say something like the dog is not to be allowed off lead until a good solid come is mastered and owner has an understanding of basic obedience. I know it is hard to enforce but you would be surprised how many new puppy people are like sponges and want to do everything perfect and your words hold great value.

Critical period socialization - HUGE!!! The number one problem that I encounter in shelters is under socialized dogs. Fear, impulse control, rude behavior, easily over stimulated and separation anxiety are a few examples of the problems. These problems take time and knowledge to fix and in some cases the effects linger for the dog's entire life. Your new puppy people need to ensure proper socialization between 8-16 weeks and further. This first period is critical and its effects will last a lifetime. Good or bad things learned at 8-16 weeks are difficult to un-do. Under socialized dogs are more likely to be problem dogs which equates to neglect and isolation which will cause more bad habits and anxieties. This is in your best interest because if you need to take the dog back at one point in its life you will have an easier time bringing it home and re-homing it if it has not missed critical socialization periods.

Basic Minimum Care - Do not leave the dog outside at night or during extreme weather at any time. The dog must have quality food daily and clean fresh water must always be available. Prompt and adequate health care must be provided. If in doubt contact your breeder for assistance. Yes, amazingly, you do need to mention this.  I know of cases where our Bullies have been left out in cold areas and have lost tips of their ears and toes.   You need to say this.   My opinion is “just because they are alive in the morning does not mean it was ok”. 

Basic Obedience and Crate training - You should always require this dog to go to puppy class as well as basic obedience classes. The dog should also be crate trained. Explain how it will help potty train a puppy and also provide a safe haven on holidays and during parties or when loud noises may scare the dog. It also gives the puppy a sense of belonging to the family to sleep in a crate in the bedroom where people sleep. This feeling of inclusion is a big part of socialization.

Cats and other small animals - In some cases dogs that were raised with cats and small animals may later consider them prey. Caution should always be used as even the mellowest dog can pester a cat relentlessly. Rule of thumb is to never leave them alone unattended.

Leaving the dog alone - Dogs that are left alone for long periods of time particularly during the first year of life are most likely to become nuisance dogs. The dog should not be left in the back yard where it can learn to fence fight, dig, or bark for long periods or other problems that can draw the attention of Animal Control. The owner should contact the breeder if they are unable to give the dog appropriate attention to avoid these problems. In rescue we do not adopt out puppies to homes where the puppy will be alone for longer than 4 hours at a time. The amount of time alone can increase as the puppy grows older, I think 1 hour for each month of age is a good rule. So this means an 8 week old puppy should not be alone for longer than 2 hours.

Interactions with children - Mostly Bull breeds are great with children but it takes supervision and guidance to ensure children know how to behave around dogs. It must be understood that the dog should not be left unsupervised with a child under the age of 12 or any child who is not familiar with the dog. Dogs that were not reared with children need to be socialized with them. Children interact different with dogs than adults do. A dog does not perceive a child the same as an adult There are many reasons a dog may bite a child but in all cases warning signs are given. New owners with children must be given information on warning signs. Even the most solid old dog may lose patience with a child if it is in pain.

Bull Breeds and dog aggression - Whether you agree or not, the origins of these dogs must be addressed. Due to our struggle with BSL in so many communities and the blood bath where Bull Breeds are banned the owner must be made aware that Bull Breeds need to be top shelf in regards to behavior in the neighborhood and community. The dog must never be put in a position where it can harm or be harmed. The dog must be the best ambassador for the breed. The community must perceive this dog as non threatening in every way.

Community Dog laws and Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) -Make sure they have a clear understanding of their community dog laws and know what BSL is. I would require this prior to someone getting this far in the process. Also put some sort of statement that details what happens if the dog is picked and held by Animal Control. After having to get “owned” dogs away from irresponsible owners I have learned that if the breeder has a contract that says “If the animal is picked and held by Animal Control I waive my ownership rights and by signing this agreement the dog can be returned to its breeder” the problem is solved. This simple statement may never need to be used but if it does you will be so happy you included it. Do you want one of your pups held at a shelter while a court case goes on? Be careful though, if Animal Control does release the dog to you it will probably be under the condition that it does not go back to the owner depending on the reasons it was being held.

There are plenty of other things which should be discussed at the application level: landlords, homeowner’s associations, insurance, fencing and all the other items in your application. I would also provide a copy of the contract as soon as possible so any discussion could be had before you sit down to a signing. My requirements for rescue dogs and my puppies are very similar and I have had people get angry with me and others that understood completely. You don’t want the angry ones at your house ready to pick up a pup when you tell them they cannot go to a dog park, or explain they could lose ownership of their dog if it is held at a shelter. You need to figure out what works for you considering the long term commitment of being a breeder.

The goal is always to place your puppy into the most responsible accountable home where it will stay for life. I am highly aware you cannot enforce each and every item in a contract. Odds are high you will never take someone to court because of a breach but you will be able to if needed. AKC and Animal Control are much more likely to stand behind you with a well written (reasonable) contract. In some cases agreeing to these points via email are considered legally binding. Some I would prefer to have more formally in writing. I do suggest seeing a lawyer to add the final terminology to allow you to enforce it if necessary.

As the breeder of a dog that will be a new member of a family do not underestimate the power of your word. New puppy people are sponges and eager to learn. This is a golden opportunity and the only one you may have, so make sure you use it well. Your puppies health and welfare and the community it will live in depend on it. The fight against BSL should start by teaching responsible dog ownership to everyone you come in contact with but especially your new puppy people. A contract will ensure that you have discussed each and every item with your buyer so that they understand your expectations for allowing them the privilege of buying one of your babies and a standard level of responsible dog ownership and what a responsible breeder is. A contract cannot guarantee each point but it is a good place to start.

Copyright 2013 Ciera Reflections. All Rights Reserved.


afterthoughts:
*pool hazard
*performance training before join close at 18 months

I voted.

A week ago I got my new property tax bill.   It had gone up over a 1,000.00 per year!   WHAT??!?   I dont have a fancy house.    I have lived in it for 21 years.   Upon looking closely I can see all these little extra charges that apparently were voted in or legislated in by my County.   So apparently we are being hit from all corners.   Sales tax only goes up, property tax is subject to change, income tax is a moving target but never going down, and a myraid of taxes masked as fees for use of services.  It is a minefield out there!!!

Everyone is screaming we need more money.   It IS a giant pyramid scheme.   The past umpty nine years of lawmakers who allowed this should be jailed alongside Bernie Madoff.   ....and Yes it WILL crash if we stop feeding it.   Yes we will suffer if we stop feeding it.  It will be mad because it has grown dependent on us as have its suckling babies.   Keeping this dragon at bay by feeding it our children's financial future will only prolong the pain and put off the inevitable.   This country needs a brave strong Knight to slay it and release us from the oppression.

Our population is larger than ever so one would think we have more tax revenue than ever coming in.   I can only assume that there are more people who need help than ever or that we have fewer tax payers than ever.   WOW   I do believe that dependency breeds dependency.   I worry that when you support someone (or a country) for so long and then you pull back they get MAD!!    I also believe if you make a dependent, honor dictates that you continue to help even if you should not have helped in the first place.  It can be a viscious circle.

My opinions:

Schools:  The biggest problem with schools is parents and breakfast.   Parents need to be more involved in their kids lives.   Parents need to support the school system and teachers and help their children succeed at school.   Parents are the key to a child becoming a responsible, thoughful and intelligent adult.   The best schools are the ones where the parents have the most interraction with their children and support learning and good school ethic.   There may be good excuses but there isnt any good enough for not helping your child succeed at school, their future (and possibly yours) depends on it.   Children are more apt to learn if they are not hungry.   I am not even going to get into this topic because I know there are a million excuses why "my kids are hungry" but honestly none are acceptable particularly with the amount of Gov 'entitlements" available. 
  
Medical: The insurance industry is partly to blame for the medical mess we are in, the system of judicial blame is also to blame but so are the people who no longer know basic medical skills and are using the Emergency Room for basic medical care.  How to treat and help your child and yourself for the most basic medical problems is a lost art.  People need to read and learn how to care for themselves.  People should know their bodies better than the doctors.  Insurance should be for major medical not every little thing.  Health care is a lifestyle choice.   I know many very wealthy people who will not go to the doctor for anything and I know many very poor mothers who take their kids in for a sniffle.    As a society we should not have to pay for certain things.   As sad as it is not everyone should be medically propped up unless someone can afford it.    Death is part of the wondrous circle of life.  We should learn from the past and embrace and prepare for it rather than constantly fight it.

Debt:   How was it approved for us to go so deep into debt?   Between all of the check boxes on my ballot wanting more money for one thing or another and all the myraid of taxes and fees not to mention the ginormous amount of money we have borrowed you would think we would be set up forever!  Why is it even considered acceptable to go deeper into debt?   We literally have nothing to show for all this debt.   See above plus a whole bunch of other stuff.

Social Security and Medicare:  These are not entitlements.   We have paid into Social Security because the Gov thought we were not responsible enough to save for our own futures, guesss who is not responsible?  Social security is OUR money it should have never been used for anything else but like a giant pyramid scheme there there was plenty to skim because there was always more coming in.  Well guess what a whole lot more seniors are retiring now than the number of younger people paying in, this is basic simple mathematics!!!   We aren't called the Baby Boomers for nothing.  What the heck happenned?????    We are forced to pay for Medicare as a deduction from our social security even if we want and can afford another health care of our own choice.   Stop calling these entitlements.  We do not have our hand out for these, this system is forced on us. 

BIG Corporate bad guy:  Stop asking the Gov to fix the big rich guy problem.  The masses have much more power to hit them where it hurts.   Stop buying their product and start buying your own politicians.    You can start by concentrating locally.   Farmers markets instead of Walmart, throw away your cell phone and dont buy another, every time you pick up a product see who makes it and who you are supporting and try to find an alternative.   99% can move a mountain if they want to.  I have learned that the 99% just wants to bitch at someone else to fix it. 

So, I voted.    I voted NO for anything that costs communities and taxpayers more money EVEN if it appears that it will cost more money not to.   I voted for those people who I feel are brave enough for the challenge of getting us out of debt.  In the end I dont mind paying taxes.  I dont mind helping those who need help.  BUT I really hope that there will be something left in my pot so that I can continue to personally help my community, my family, my friends and the animal world.    

Copyright 2013 Ciera Reflections. All Rights Reserved.

Pure Breed Rescue Groups

TO: ALL PURE BREED RESCUE GROUPS

Don't claim to be a Rescue for your breed and raise money for rescue and post your success stories and efforts and maintain a web page if you don't answer the email specifically created for rescue issues.

I am aware how hard the job is.   I know you can't save every dog.    I know you probably don't want mixed breeds.  I alaso know that there are not always resources in every corner of the country.

I do know that you probably have leads for people who want to rescue one of your breed.   I know you probably have an online listing of available dogs around the country.  I know you have a resource of members all over the country.  I also know you probably have financial support for the dogs you accept.  

I also strongly believe that if it is one of your own you should not let us volunteers and tax payers do your dirty work.   If the dog is too old or too sick for you to be interested in, then please send someone to get it and take it to their own vet for euthansia.     

You make us AKC people look bad to all those people in our communities doing the heavy lifting!!!!  

Sincerely,

A Pure Breed dog lover, Member of pure breed dog clubs and Community Rescuer


Copyright 2013 Ciera Reflections. All Rights Reserved.

TYPE! Temperament Soundness

Form and Function in animals have been a large part of my life since I was very young.   My only challenge in the dog world is understanding and memorizing each breed standard and learning what “type” is for each breed.  Type is what makes each breed different. 

It takes three things to make a Stafford: 

TYPE * TEMPERAMENT * SOUNDNESS

A pet only needs a good temperament.   A performance dog needs temperament and soundness.   A Stafford needs all three,

Once my bitch won the breed at a large prestigious event with a foreign Judge.   After the judging he made mention that there were a lot of nice moving dogs in the ring but only a few that looked like a Stafford.  

Another Judge told me once that when the exhibits walk in the ring he immediately discounts the ones that do not look like Staffords and then judges the rest.   This could explain why a beautifully structured dog loses to a lessor dog that has more bred type.   This is funny to me because I have watched a lot of judging over the years and I always had a suspicion that 90% of the time the good judges are picking the dog the minute it walks in the ring and the rest of the time they are confirming their decision.   A good eye can spot the winner immediately.   Going over the dogs is just a formality to make us entrants feel better about spending the money to be there.

Copyright 2013 Ciera Reflections. All Rights Reserved.













 

the 5 virtues

Many years ago an interesting exchange happened between my mom and me in regards to two dogs.  It was so eye opening that I would like to share it.

First some back ground, my mom is no stranger to dogs.   She knows "her" breeds well but is not exactly up on the Official Standard for my breed at the time and most of her experience comes from one classy little dog who had done quite well in the show ring.   This dog has some outstanding features and we were very proud of him.   From now on I will refer to this beautiful boy as 1st Child.   I acquired a bitch of the same breed that I will from now on refer to as 2nd Child.   I chose this bitch in my head months before the breeding ever took place.  After 2nd Child arrived in my home I began to watch her with keen interest as she grew and matured.  I was worried about ears, and bite, and tail, you know, the usual stuff.  

At about 7 months old it all started to come together and I mentioned to my mom "wow, 2nd child has a better head than 1st child. Her ear carriage is not so good but it doesn’t matter, one of the key elements for this breed is outstanding on 2nd Child".  

She said: "uummmm   I just don't see it.   She looks too different for me.   1st Child is better.  Why just take a look at all the Judges critiques you have and all his purple and gold ribbons.  

I replied:  "without a doubt 1st Child has a beautiful head, but 2nd child's head is a little better." 

There was no doubt about 1st Child's head being exceptional.  It was confirmed time again by breeder judges and even all round judges.

Over time my mom would make mention that she did not get it and then the light bulb went on in my head!!  I had the answer!  I explained to her this was because she had imprinted on 1st Child.   To her he was the ultimate example of this breed.  This was a classic example of Kennel Blindness.   Oh the horror!!   Kennel blindness cannot be right under our nose!!   ....but yet we were looking it square in the head.

The reason I am telling this story is because by seeing the virtue in other dogs we are better equipped to see where we need to improve in our own.  This was such a super example of harmless kennel blindness it was funny, eye opening, and disturbing all at the same time!  I can think of a hundred reasons why this is a good story to tell.  We simply cannot move a breeding program forward if we do not see our own dog's faults as they relate to the Standard.   Seeing the virtue in 2nd child allowed me to see where 1st child could use improvement.  Conversely knowing where 1st Child could use improvement opened the door to see that improvement in 2nd Child.  Very Exciting Stuff

Seeing virtue in others is a difficult task because I think we have been programmed to criticize.  I am not sure why, maybe it is our own insecurities leaking out.  I learned a lesson from a respected Judge and breeder many years ago and it has changed the way I see other dogs and in doing so it has improved my ability to pick a winner and move forward with confidence.  The lesson is simple, when standing ringside say five nice things about a dog before you say one bad thing.  I have found that by the time I get to number three the perceived fault is diffused and doesn’t matter anymore.  I cannot tell you how many times I have heard (and even said) unkind remarks about dogs in the ring or outside the ring at dog shows. I look back now and I cannot think of a single good reason to ever discuss another dog's faults right at the ring.   Experienced enthusiasts should be setting examples for good behavior; new people should be able to learn from observing good sportsmanship.  It is extremely hurtful to hear your dog being discussed by strangers or worse, people you look up to.  If you are asked for an opinion find the five virtues first.  We always look much more wise and intelligent if we discuss other dog’s virtues at ringside.   This is not to say I discount the value of sitting ringside with a respected breed specialist waxing philosophical about the Standard and dogs being judged for the day.  Everything has its time and place and some opportunities cannot be passed up. Just be super careful you are not criticizing someone's pet within ear shot of anyone.   When in doubt shut up.   People really love their dogs. 

My Rules:

·         Stop discussing your dog's faults with anyone who will listen, it sounds like you are making excuses.  

·         Say five nice things about a dog before you say one bad thing.

·         If it is necessary to discuss what you would like to improve on your dog, say to a stud dog owner, sell it like an enhancement.   For instance 1st Child's head is gorgeous but I could see where he could be improved.  Then be careful what you wish for, exaggeration of any kind should be avoided.   

·         Do not ask judges or others for their opinion of your dog.   A lot of people will disagree with me on this one, but I hold firm.  I have seen enough judges, AKC and KC alike with such differing opinions that at times it is a matter of preference rather than fault or virtue.   I do have an exception to this rule and that is if you are discussing with your breeder or someone close and truly knowledgeable and trustworthy.

·         Do not ever fault judge another person's dog in person, in the vicinity, or honestly even at home.   Look at your own dogs first.

·         If you must have a discussion with a judge, talk about the Standard and the breed in general rather than your dog. 

·         As a breeder, virtue judge others and fault judge your own, always based on the Standard. 

·         Know your dog's virtues based on the Standard not your opinion or what you prefer.   It is honestly ok if you prefer a sweet feminine head that is a little snipey, or the tick tock movement of straight shoulders but that does not make it correct to the Standard.

·         One of the best ways to see where you need to improve is to be open to the individual virtues in others.

Develop your own opinion by learning the Standard and being super observant.  If you need help understanding the Standard you should ask the questions as they relate to the Standard and not your dog.   Memorize the paragraph and ask your mentors to explain and show examples of correct.   If you are still confused, ask for clarification.  Don’t move on until you get it.   I do not mean you should look for your dog's faults by asking everyone you know and then discuss them ad-nauseum.  In fact you should NEVER discuss your dog's faults. Discuss their virtues but keep the faults in the back of your head for what you would like to improve on.  I really do not think you learn anything by having another person fault your dog for you.  You will just walk away feeling bad.   You would be better off asking what is good about your dog.   At least then when you start repeating what you were told, and we know you will, it will be virtues!  There is no quick path to knowledge.  You must work hard for your answers.  

In the old days there was not an experienced breeder who would answer a novice's question without first asking, "What does the standard say?"   If someone says to you, "Well, it says this in the Standard but I prefer this other thing", RUN!  Everyone should be directed to and respect the standard.  It is the one thing we have in common.    I can look at our Stafford Standard right now and then in the ring today, and tell that we have plenty of people (Judges included) who need to be pointed back to the Standard in regard to the most basic fixable issue, weight!  Weight is important because it relates to Balance and Balance is a key element to Stafford "Type".    

My observations from the dog show world:

·         People repeat what they have heard regardless of the source, it only has to sound half way reasonable and then just like the child's game of telephone it can evolve and eventually it may even become a new truth.

·         Most people do not know your dog's faults until you tell them and then they cannot wait to repeat them as if they are so clever for discovering your dog's fault and if you told them it must be true. 

·         People are too willing to discuss what they were told without truly understanding it. 

·         Many people don’t thoroughly know and understand the official standard for their breed.  (One time I asked a question about a passage in an official Standard at a seminar and I was told that the passage was not in the Standard by a breed judge!  I was right and he was wrong.)

·         Having a few litters and a following of puppy owners does not exempt one from novice status.   

Memorize,  Memorize, Memorize the Standard and understand each part of it.   Understand what your breed "type" is.  Get to know your own dogs and how they fit or don't fit the Standard.  Understand why your beautifully structured dog may always lose the blue ribbon to a dog whose virtues you do not see.  Stop making excuses about judges and start looking at your own dogs with the critical eye you have used on others.   

Copyright 2012 Ciera Reflections. All Rights Reserved.

 

Steps to Safely Foster a Rescue Dog.

     

Rescue groups beg and plead for volunteers all the time and much of the time we are so grateful when someone steps forward that we do not even consider how important the first few weeks of a rescued dog’s life actually are.  These first weeks begin to lay the foundation for the rest of the dog’s life.  New homes are approved as if we are giving up our first born but any old person who raises his/her hand is ok to foster.  What happens during the first days and weeks at the foster home can make or break how quickly the dog is adopted and how successful he will be in his new forever home.   A rescued dog usually comes from a stressful situation that doesn’t even include the baggage from their previous life.  It is the responsibility of the volunteer foster to provide proper interaction and socialization to ensure the dog is set up to succeed as well as ready for a new home. 

When I accept a dog to foster for a Rescue Group I want everything to go smoothly with the least amount of bother and headache.   I like to think I am only a short stop between the shelter and the new forever home.   More often than not it takes some preparation, a plan and diligence for me and the dog to be successful.  Since I am willing to foster I owe it to the dog and the future new forever home to put my heart into it.  During the last 5 years I have brought many strange dogs into my home, much to the dismay of my existing pack and human family, but I do think we are all better for it.  My own dogs are more socialized than ever.    Preparing the dog to be adoptable and desirable is always the number one objective but quick and safe assimilation into my pack routine is a close second.  To this date I have never had a fight or growl or bite that was not my fault.   Today I can claim to have a process that works 100% of the time, assuming I do not walk into the shelter and pick the most challenging stressed dog to bring home.  I also owe success to my existing pack which is generally social and friendly to other dogs.  Properly orchestrated introductions with patience must be done in order to ensure that neither the new dog nor the existing pack is at risk or that the rescue dog is damaged further.

Currently I work with a very good Rescue Group and I trust they will not ask me to take a dog unless they know that I have the ability and experience and can provide a particular dog the correct environment.   It is so important that I do not take on a problem that will be more than I can handle emotionally, physically or financially.  That is what causes volunteers to quit.   It can be the same with dogs; it has to be a good experience for me, the rescue dog and my own dogs!  Here is the process I go thru to bring a strange dog into my home. 

Before I agree to take the dog home:

·        I ask questions about health, vaccinations and find out if the dog altered.  This is important to know for the health of my pack and to also know what my responsibility and potential financial obligation will be even if I will be reimbursed.

·        I verify that the dog has a sponsor that I can work well with. 

·        I ask about the dogs potential behavior issues.  Has the dog had an evaluation and can I have a copy? 

·        Has he been in a crate and how did he do?

·        I try to get a copy of the shelter intake and health documents.

 

I get my home ready for the foster dog:

 ·        I have an extra crate, ex-pen and clean bedding ready for the dog.   

·        I set up the crate in a low traffic area of the house where the dog can participate in sights and sounds without being overwhelmed.   

·        I put the ex-pen around the crate so my dogs cannot get up close and personal (yet).

·        I also make sure I have nyla-bones and or safe rawhide chews that are size appropriate.  If it is a puppy I have puppy appropriate toys.

·        I have lots of high value treats around. 

·         I have a proper sized collar and leash dedicated to the new dog. 

·        I ask for some of his current food to transition him slowly to my diet.

 

  When I bring the dog home:

 

·        I do not allow any access to my existing dogs no matter how stellar everyone is.   I never underestimate the amount of stress a dog coming from a bad situation or into a new situation will be under or how my existing pack will feel about the intruder. 

·        For the first few days to a week the new dog is not allowed anywhere except on a leash, in a crate or in a small yard without distractions.  This is bonding time for me and the dog mixed with teaching focus and simple commands. 

·        We do lots of sits and focus and follow me exercises with appropriate value treats.  A super stressed or fearful dog will need cheese and more relaxed dog may be happy with kibble.  Some stressed dogs will need time before they are willing to take a treat.

·        My dogs are monitored to make sure the new dog is comfortable with their presence.

·        I would guess in a few days there should not be a problem with my dogs coming and going and greeting the new dog with the barrier of the ex-pen but not up to the crate yet.  I have had dogs be reactive even with the ex-pen barrier and have had to move my dogs away yet still keep the foster in the living area.

·        I always give lots of treats to the foster dog while crated to reward focused relaxed behavior and/or to teach that good things happen when my dogs are milling around.   

·        I reward my dogs for nice sit stays and good happy behavior while being near the foster dog.  By doing this I am setting up all the dogs to get to know each other in a rewarding environment. 

 

  As I see the Foster dog relaxing and my as dogs are getting over the novelty of the new member of the house:

·        I remove the ex pen.  

·        I still do not let my entire pack swarm the Foster dog.  The odds are high they won’t as the foster dog is becoming family by now.

·        One of my dogs is very social and she will end up sleeping and hanging out with the foster as if they are now best friends.  

·         If I have not already done so, I move the crate into my bedroom.  I might even have one crate in the living area also so the dog is always with people when in the house.

·        The dog should have good command of sit and focus and be relaxed around my dogs that also have a good sit and focus.  Depending on how things are going, this has been about one week possible longer for more stressed dogs.   

·        I can now start to introduce my most socially respectful dog off leash while I walk on leash with the foster.   We take a walk in the largest safe area possible giving lots of praise and treats.   It is best to have a 2^nd person and both dogs be on leash but I take longer on the above steps ensuring I will be safe at this step.

·        I carefully watch for signs of reactivity, stress and discomfort and back track if necessary.  If at this point things are still stressful I probably have rushed thru the previous steps.  

·        I continue with on leash work until we are super comfortable with all dogs.   Then I carefully allow Foster off leash and my best dog on leash.   Probably another 3-7 days, depending on the dogs reactions and comfort levels.  If you only have one other dog this can happen relatively quickly. 

     

   I always keep in mind my ultimate goal is to safely assimilate this new dog as a member of my family.   I never have more dog power than I can easily handle with the number of human hands available.   I do not move forward until I am confident all the signs show relaxed social behaviors among all dogs, key word being “social”.  If I have the slightest doubt I give it another day.  Keep in mind that dogs have different play styles so the foster may never run safely with my dogs.   Puppies with improper socialization or those that were removed too early from their mother may not interact well with others.  It is also important to keep my own dogs from being stressed by the foster too.  I am always cognizant of dominance behavior and resource guarding and act appropriately.   These behaviors are different then the reactive behaviors of dogs in fear or under stress.  By following these steps I am de-stressing the foster dog and setting him and my existing pack up for success.  I am also training the rescue dog which makes him more adoptable, and I am learning a lot about dog behaviors by being extremely observant.  My dogs depend on and trust me to keep them safe.  These steps up front will make the next weeks and the adoption process go much more smoothly.  These steps may seem like a lot of work but in reality once completed you have a dog that is assimilated into a routine that is actually very easy and makes the dog really adoptable.    

 

There are exceptions to every rule and there are dogs that may go faster and some that go slower.   I may have a dog in my pack that will never tolerate the foster.   There are also foster dogs that may never become 100% assimilated.  Never underestimate the amount of stress on all dogs in new situations.  By taking my time with a lot of reward based conditioning it can be a good experience for all involved. 

My Rules:  

 

·        Make decisions with your head not your heart. 

·        Care for the foster dog with your heart.

·        Never underestimate the amount of stress a dog may be under or the time it may take to de-stress the dog.  Some dogs may assimilate quickly but signs of stress can linger for months and longer.

·        Do not have more dogs together than you can easily manage.

·        Take an active interest and pride in making the rescue dog into the best dog you possibly can. 

·        Take lots of photos and short video clips.

·        Watch for signs of stress and anxiety which will tell you how fast to move thru the steps.  i.e. lip licking, yawning, avoiding eye contact etc.  These signs are different than dominant behaviors.

·        Do not allow the dog long periods of time outside off lead without continuous observation from a distance.

·        Work on sit, focus and follow me without other dogs around often so that you are bonding with and training the rescue dog.

·        Always err on the side of caution,

·        There is no substitute for time and patience so don’t rush! 

·        Never sacrifice the safety of any dog or human. 

·        Never allow an alarming behavior to continue, i.e. fence fighting, barking for long periods, rude behavior toward your existing dogs, etc.

 

In closing there are many ways to rescue and foster an animal.  Whether you foster for one day or 3 months, this is a process that will work and keep everyone safe and happy and sane.  I am just a regular person with a full time job and a motley crew of canines and I do this all the time.   Sometimes the adoption happens before I am finished with this process and sometimes the rescue dog is a beloved member of my pack and just like one of my own when it leaves.  Every dog is different but the way I move forward with the above steps is the same for every dog.  It sets up the Rescue dog for a low stress welcome to my home and for a good start at the new home.  If we care enough to rescue, care enough to do the BEST you can.  

 

 

Copyright 2013 Ciera Reflections. All Rights Reserved.