Canine Corner

Editor Terena@CanineCountrySchool.com

2010 Roaring December 2010

Roaring Fork Kennel Club/
Fork Kennel Club
Officers Vaccinations for Your Dog:
A Complex Issue
President: During my last year of veterinary school, I
Kathie Peightal recall how scary it was when a new canine
5397 Upper Cattle virus—parvovirus—seemed to appear out of
Creek nowhere.  Highly contagious, it spread like
Carbondale, CO 81623 wildfire throughout the United States,
(970) 963-2133 causing severe illness and often death. It was
a downright frightening time for veterinarians
and the clients they served. Fortunately, an “Stepford wife” when it comes to your dog’s
Vice President: effective vaccine was rapidly developed, and vaccinations— it’s no longer necessarily in
Laura Wright- Smith this horrible new virus was downgraded from his best interest to vaccinate simply because
PO Box 935 a rampant deadly infection to a preventable a reminder postcard has arrived in the
New Castle, CO 81647 disease. Thank goodness for vaccines! They mailbox.
(970) 984-3142 provide a remarkable means of preventive
health care for dogs.
Consider the following: 
Treasurer:
As invaluable as vaccinations are for
Davy Lampman protecting canine health, determining which • There are currently 14 canine vaccinations
0789 Cactus Flats Rd vaccines are appropriate and how frequently to choose from! Back in the days when I was
Carbondale, CO 81623 they should be administered are no longer just a pup there were only five, and decision-
(970) 963-1758 simple decisions. In my book, vaccinations making regarding vaccine selection for an
are no different than any other medical individual dog was far less complicated.
Secretary: procedure.  They should not be administered
without individualized discussion and Continued on Page 4
Cathie Jarnot
consideration of the potential risks and
1924 Sweetwater Rd. benefits. Gone are the days of behaving like a
Gypsum, CO 81637
524-3619
Rabies Vaccine Research
Roaring Fork Kennel
Club Board: Jean Dodds is in charge of the Rabies Please consider donating to the
Challenge Fund, they are doing Rabies Challenge Fund:
Directors: research to document that the vaccine Rabies Challenge Fund
Terena Thomas
is valid for 5 and then 7 years. The c/o Hemopet
14503 Colorado River Rd.
entire project is funded by donations. 11561 Salinaz Avenue
Gypsum, CO 81637 There is *no reason* for vaccine Garden Grove, CA 92843
(970) 524-8724 manufactures to do this research
because it means the sale of fewer If times are tough for you, don't feel
Laurie Raymond doses of their product. pressure to participate, but, when
50633 Hwy 6 & 24 things get better, please consider this
Glenwood, CO 81601 A Rabies vaccine can have major valuable charity (it is tax deductable).
(970) 947-0014 health and behavioral consequences
on some dogs. If a dog's level of For more details please go to:
Britton Nieslanik antibodies (protection) is clearly at a http://www.rabieschallengefund.org/
7199 Cnty Rd, 115 safe level, revaccination is a waste of
Glenwood, CO 81601 money as well as potentially Thanks - Happy Holidays,
(970) 928-0482 dangerous to the dog.
Laura Van Dyne CPDT
 Page 2 of 8
Whelping Accomplished. Now What?
Stagedoor's Joan Savage walks us through those crucial first 8 weeks
Attend the
I am honored to be asked to write an article
Next for the AKC about breeding. I take breeding
dogs seriously. Many have written about
Meeting how they choose the sire and dams. I have
had my best luck with line breeding, keeping
Januray in mind genotype, phenotype and, of course,
12th, 2011 the health clearances. That really narrows the
playing field, and it’s why we find ourselves
High Tails every year at the nationals looking for stud
dogs!
7 pm Once you have the breeding lined up, and the
breeding goes well, the pregnancy goes well,
and the whelping goes well, you now have
Dog In Wheelchair Scales N.H. Mountain
"You can say any fool A wheelchair did not stop one dogged canine
from climbing Mount Washington in New
thing to a dog, and the Hampshire.
dog will give you this
look that says, `My God, On Wednesday morning, Lucy, a 4-year-old
mixed breed whose back legs were paralyzed
you're RIGHT! I NEVER after she was hit by a car as a pup, became the
would've thought of first disabled dog to scale the highest peak in
the Northeastern United States.
that!'"_- Dave Barry
“She just kept at it,’’ said Lucy’s owner,
Courtney Dunning. “She was very determined.
It blew my mind. I had no idea she had it in
her.’’
Dunning, her boyfriend, and her Chihuahua-
dachshund mix, Topper, accompanied Lucy on
the 4,500-foot ascent.
A representative from the Nashua-based
organization HandicappedPets.com and a
filmmaker also climbed with them.
HandicappedPets.com donated the wheelchair
to Lucy two years ago.
The 7.6-mile path is mostly paved, but has
some sections of gravel, said Ryan Triffitt,
director of marketing for the Mount
Washington Auto Road. The party took breaks
along the way.
But neither the rocky terrain nor the steep
slope deterred Lucy on the six-hour climb.
Canine Corner
the culmination of all of your hard work and
best laid plans on the ground. Now the real
work begins.
I believe that the pups must be handled every
day and kept in a fairly quiet and secure area
where the bitch is comfortable. For the first
three to four weeks after the litter is whelped,
the dam is doing most of the work. At 3
weeks I move the litter to an area in my
Continued on page 2.
Dunning, a marathon runner, said she had
prepared Lucy all summer, training her on
nearby mountains.
“All manners of ways we’ve seen people try to
go up the mountain, but this is the first time
we’ve ever seen a dog in a wheelchair
attempt it,’’ Triffitt said.
Dunning, a 28-year-old nurse from
Peterborough, N.H., said she adopted Lucy
more than two years ago after seeing her
photo on an animal rescue website. Lucy,
who was living in a shelter in Puerto Rico,
was using a hand-me-down, duct-taped
wheelchair that she constantly slipped out of,
Dunning said.
But in her current custom-made wheelchair,
Lucy gets around “as well as a normal dog,’’
said Lisa-Marie Mulkern, a spokeswoman for
HandicappedPets.com who pitched the idea
for the Mount Washington climb.
Dunning said she would not rule out any
more mountain escapades for the steadfast
pooch.
“She’s been a lot of fun to have, and she’s
given me a lot of fun adventures,’’ Dunning
said. “I’m sure something will come up.’’
L.Finch can be reached at lfinch@globe.com.
 Canine Corner
Whelping Accomplished. Now What?
Continued
from Page 2
family room, where they hear all of the normal
household noises and have more things to see. To
save my flooring and make cleanup easier, I buy a
section of linoleum from a Home Depot–type store,
put up an exercise pen, and fashion a gate so that the
mom can easily get in and out.
Having the pen in the family room really exposes
them to lots of interaction from the family and
visitors. The TV is in the family room, the vacuum
is run, and other adult dogs check them out through
the exercise pen. I introduce solid food at 4 weeks, the
same puppy food they will be eating, which has been
soaked until very soft. I also do the first worming
with Strongid or Nemex at 4 weeks, then repeat at 6
and 8 weeks.
At 5 weeks, I put a litter pan filled with shavings in
the pen. I have found that most pups want to be clean
and seek out the shavings to potty in. I have white
puppies, so newspapers tend to make them gray, and
they really enjoy shredding them! At 6 weeks they are
moved to a sheltered outdoor pen with a shavings pan
during the day. In the evening, we all go for a walk
through the big yard before coming in to the indoor
pen for the night.
I feel like the pied piper with my pups following me
on my walks. They learn to follow and hang with
you and explore the yard. It is a highlight of my day!
While the pups are traveling around the yard with me
I watch their movement and see which ones are
bolder. The bold, athletic pups are the best show
dogs.
They get their first haircut at 6 weeks. I start taking
Support Homeless Pets
Please remember if you are in Glenwood Springs on
Wednesday to stop by Jimmy’s 66 on Grand Avenue and
fill up your gas tank. They donate 5 cents from every
gallon to the Rifle Animal Shelter when you pay cash!
Support a good cause.
Page 3 of 8
stack shots of them at this age, but they are still
cobby and don’t have enough leg for the depth of
body. I also have their hearing test done between 6 and
7 weeks, and they are vet checked and microchipped.
Evaluating the pictures at 7 weeks, I find that they are
better balanced and I know which ones I am watching
closely as show prospects.
The best time for me to grade my English Setters is 8
weeks. At this age they have enough leg for their
bodies and the overall balance is the best. I usually
have a friend over to help grade the litter and play with
the pups. I give the first DHPP at 8 weeks and
suggest boosters at 12 and 16 weeks, and rabies at 6
months. They can also be started on heartworm
prevention at 8 weeks. Now is when they start going
to their new homes.
The Internet has made corresponding with puppy
buyers much easier. We can send digital photos and
get decisions quickly. We used to take photos, take
them to a one-hour developer (hoping we got good
shots), then send copies out to prospective buyers and
wait for responses. It could take weeks for final
decisions. The Internet has made life much easier in
that regard.
If it is a very special pedigree with lots of promise for
spectacular pups, I will sometimes grow out two
females for myself. It is my insurance policy for my
future breeding stock. I will have the health clearances
done as they age, and if one fails I have the other as a
backup. I have had a few occasions where I kept both
sisters and incorporated both into my breeding
program with good success. It does give you options
to try different avenues with different
Continued on Page 5.
Davy’s pup is stacked for a
critical assessment
 Page 4 of 8 Canine Corner

Vaccinations for Your Dog: A Complex Issue

Continued
from the front page
• Over the past decade we’ve learned that, for some vaccine). The American Animal Hospital Association’s
vaccines, the duration of protection is far longer “Canine Vaccine Guidelines” is also an excellent source
than previously recognized.  In the past we of information.
"In order to really vaccinated for the core diseases (distemper,
enjoy a dog, one parvovirus, and rabies) annually.  We now know
doesn't merely try to that these vaccinations, when given to adult dogs, 2.  Figure out which diseases your dog has potential
provide protection for a minimum of three years exposure to.  A miniature poodle who rarely leaves his
train him to be and, in some cases protection is life-long. Manhattan penthouse likely has no exposure to Lyme
semihuman. The point disease (spread by ticks); however a Lab that goes
of it is to open oneself • The duration and degree of immune protection camping and duck hunting may have significant
exposure.
to the possibility of triggered by a vaccine is variable, not only based on
manufacturer, but from dog to dog as well.
becoming partly a
3.  Alert your veterinarian to any symptoms or medical
dog."_- Edward • Other than for rabies (state mandated), vaccination
issues your dog is experiencing.  It is almost always
protocols are anything but standardized. There are
Hoagland no set rules veterinarians must follow when
best to avoid vaccinating a sick dog — better to let his
immune system concentrate on getting rid of a current
determining which vaccines to give and how often
illness rather than creating a vaccine “distraction.” If
they are administered. Unfortunately, some vets
your dog has a history of autoimmune (immune-
continue to vaccinate for distemper and parvovirus
mediated) disease, it may be advisable to alter his
annually even though we know that these adult
vaccine protocol or even forego ongoing vaccinations
vaccines provide protection for a minimum of three
— be sure to discuss this with your vet.
years.  Some vets give multiple inoculations at
once, others administer just one at a time.
4.  Let your vet know if your dog has had vaccine side
effects in the past. If the reaction was quite serious, she
• Increasingly clear-cut documentation shows that
may recommend that you forego future vaccinations,
vaccines have the potential to cause many side
necessitating an official letter to your local government
effects.  While vaccine reactions/complications are
agency excusing your pup from rabies• related
still considered to be infrequent, they can be life
requirements.
threatening. 

What you can do:
So, as your dog’s savvy and courageous medical
advocate, what can you do to be sure that he is
neither under or overvaccinated? Here are some
guidelines for making wise vaccine choices for your
best buddy:  Serology may make more sense than simply
Ask your vet about Titer’s
1.  Educate yourself about available canine
testing to prevent over vaccinations and the diseases they are capable of
vaccination of many preventing (in some cases treating the disease,
should it arise, might be preferable to the risks and
illnesses. Support the
expense associated with vaccination). Learn about
research on Rabies duration of vaccine protection and potential side
vaccinations so State Law effects.  Talk with a trusted veterinarian about all
aspects of canine vaccinations including the
can change to reflect a
diseases they prevent, adverse vaccination reactions,
dog’s true needs. and vaccine serology (blood testing that helps
determine if your dog is truly in need of another
5.  Consider vaccine serology for your dog.  This
involves testing a blood sample from your dog to
determine if adequate vaccine protection still exists
(remember, vaccine protection for the core diseases lasts
a minimum of three years).  While such testing isn’t
perfect, in general if the blood test indicates active and
adequate protection, there is no need to vaccinate.
vaccinating at set intervals.
6.  Ask your veterinarian about the potential side
effects of proposed vaccinations, what you should be
watching for, and whether or not there are any
restrictions for your dog in the days immediately
following vaccination. 
Continued on page 7
 Canine Corner
Help Make Your Holiday Successful For Your Pet
The day after Thanksgiving kicks
off the Christmas holiday season,
and millions of homes sport either
real or faux trees – glittering
towers of beauty that can pose a
threat to your pets. Before you
put the tree up, take a few
moments to go over some safety
precautions.
1. Choose the Right Spot. Pick
an area where the tree can be
enjoyed by the family without
becoming a "climbing toy" for
your pet. The tree should be
secured to the wall or ceiling,
away from furniture that can
serve as a springboard for your
pet. Try to place the tree near an
outlet so you don't have to run
electrical cords long distances.
2. Prepare the Area. Lay down
plastic sheeting or buy a "tree
bag." This is an extra large trash
bag used for live trees. Center
the tree on the bag. When the
season is over and you have
removed the tree ornaments, pull
the bag over the tree. This will
Whelping Accomplished. Now What?
Continued
from Page 3
Page 5 of 8
catch the pine needles as they fall from the tree – and
prevent them from being chewed or swallowed by your
pet.
3. Secure the Tree. Cats – kittens especially - love to
climb trees. Many a tree has been sent swaying with a
happy kitten on top. Kittens can be injured if the trees or
ornaments fall and break. Dogs can knock over a tree by
rubbing against or playing under it. You can place the
tree in a corner and secure it from two sides to small
hooks in the walls. Another trick is to place a small hook
in the ceiling above the tree and use clear fishing line
from the top of the tree to the hook. Apply gentle tension
and tie. The clear line is invisible.
Continued on page 6.
Bob & Cathie Jarnot
with Gemmie after her
big win at the Griffon
Specialty.
"A house without
either a cat or a dog
is the house of a
scoundrel." -
Portuguese Proverb
bloodlines to see what really clicks. I find that some
pedigrees work well together and others—even
though it seems like they would work—don’t, so stick
with what works.
I find great joy in breeding and showing my own
dogs. It is heartwarming to place a healthy promising
pup into the hands of the new family, sharing my
passion and seeing the excitement and instant love in
their eyes for their new family member.
 Page 6 of 8 Canine Corner

Successful Holidays.
Continued from page 5
4. Hide the Cords. Electrical cords be eaten by cats and dogs and
are a grave danger to pets – caught in their intestine. Cats are
especially puppies and kittens that especially attracted to the bright
chew on anything. Cords can cause shiny tinsel. Ingestion of this
electrocution and serious injury or material can cause intestinal
even death. Secure the cords by obstruction that may require
positioning them higher than the surgery.
Know how to identify a pet can reach or hiding them with
critical situation and what special covers. 8. Presents. Dogs and cats love to
to do if your pet has an investigate and most don't
emergency. Take a Pet 1st 5. No Hooks. Check your understand that the presents are
Aid & CPR Class. The ornaments and replace hooks with not meant to be opened before
knowledge you’ll gain is a loop of string tied in a knot. Christmas Day. Decorative ribbons
invaluable. Ornaments often fall from the tree and string can be ingested, gifts
and pets may catch their mouths can be destroyed by a playful pet.
on or swallow the hooks. Consider storing the presents in a
safe area until right before the
6. Choose Safe Ornaments. holiday or make sure your pet is
There is no perfectly pet-safe bulb, always supervised while
as any ornament can be ingested investigating and searching for his
and cause an intestinal obstruction. special gift.
Pet "safer" bulbs would be plastic
or wood. Glass bulbs on the lower 9. Sweep and Water. Sweep up
limbs can be especially dangerous. the pine needles. Ingestion of
If broken, pets can step on them needles can cause vomiting and
and cut their feet or worse yet – gastric irritation. Keep the tree
treat the bulbs like a ball and chew watered and only turn the lights on
on them causing them to break, when you are at home. Risk of fire
resulting in mouth or throat trauma is always there with a live tree. Do
and bleeding. Many pet owners not allow your pet access to the
have learned the hard way not to tree water to drink.
place any ornaments on the lower
limbs. Ornaments made of food 10. Supervise. The safest thing to
may be especially attractive to do is to allow your pet access to
pets. the tree only when supervised.
Pets that continue to want to
bother the tree should be
7. Ribbons. Big red velvet ribbons encouraged – using positive
are a lovely addition and may reinforcement – to leave it alone.
replace tinsel and garland that can Bitter apple can be sprayed on low
branches for persistent chewers.
 Canine Corner Page 7 of 8

Canine Health Foundation

RALEIGH, NC – The AKC Canine Health Foundation is of both dogs and cats. Dr. Ellinwood is a member of the Large
pleased to release the next podcast in the Genome Barks Munsterlader Club of North America and the North American
series. This week on Genome Barks, we welcome Dr. Versatile Hunting Dog Association. He has 28 years experience
Matthew Ellinwood, Assistant Professor of Companion breeding, training, hunting over, and testing field trial
Animal Genomics at Iowa State University's College of Labradors and Large Munsterlanders.
Veterinary Medicine.  Genetic diseases can have
devastating impact on an animal’s health and well being. Visit www.CanineHealthFoundation.org and click on “Genome
In the case of a genetic disease within a breed or within Barks Podcast” on the left to listen to this podcast.
the breeding program of a dog breeder genetic diseases can
be crippling to genetic progress. In this podcast, Dr.
Ellinwood defines the term genetic disease, discusses the
avenues taken to eliminate genetic disease, and provides
basic recommendations to breeders who are faced with
genetic diseases in their breeds.
Dr. Matthew Ellinwood received both his DVM and PhD
from Colorado State University. An Assistant Professor
of Companion Animal Genomics at Iowa State
University, he has focused his research on genetic diseases

Vaccinations for Your Dog: A Complex Issue

Continued
From Page 4
Vaccine Clinics

I will tell you right up front that I am not a fan of vaccine irregular heart rhythm, or abdominal mass will go unnoticed. 
clinics -  a “factory line” approach to vaccinating dogs.  Their Not only might the vaccination do more harm than good in a
only redeeming quality seems to be their low cost that makes dog that is sick, but a golden window of opportunity for early
it possible for some dogs to be vaccinated that otherwise disease detection and treatment will be missed.
wouldn’t be.  Know that, if you choose to use a vaccination
clinic you may be sacrificing quality of care for your dog in the • Records pertaining to prior adverse vaccination reactions may
following ways:  not be available.

• You may not receive adequate counseling about which • The vaccination clinic veterinarian may not be available to
vaccinations are appropriate for your dog based on his age and tend to your dog should he experience an adverse reaction,
lifestyle. especially one that occurs hours to days later.

• Serologic testing will not be an option. Now, here’s wishing you and your four-legged best friend
abundant good health!
• A thorough physical examination will not be performed prior
to vaccination administration.  Abnormalities such as a fever, Nancy Kay, DVM
 RFKC Events
Join Us On Facebook!
GET OUT YOUR CALENDAR
AND ENTER THIS INFO NOW!!
Please look for our new Facebook fan page,
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Roaring-Fork-Kennel-
Next Meetings: High Tails 7pm Club/169133279792189, and "like" us.
January 12 Check back often for Club updates, newsletter postings, event and
February 9 show information, new members, and pictures from events.
March 9 Thank you Jacquie for volunteering to make this happen!
April 13

Thursday Night Training Drop In

New Castle Community Center 7-8pm Here's the link to the funny snow dog video I
Come train your dog in both Rally mentioned.  Share and enjoy!
and Obedience. This is not a
structured training class, but the http://www.maniacworld.com/dog-having-a-blast-in-the-snow.html
usual participants are highly
educated and can help even the
novice handlers gain better control,
practice sound training techniques Smile as you watch this Jack Russell work!
and hone show etiquette.
http://www.bu2z.com/embed/vie-de-chien
Game Introduction
High Tails, West Glenwood
Saturdays 2-4
Bring your dog and play with many AKC Tidbit
of the Smart Toys that are available
to you and your dog. Know what The American Kennel Club (AKC), founded in
your dog likes before you buy!
1884, maintains the largest registry of purebred
Skijoring Workshop
Louisa Morrissey presenting for dogs in the world. Its rules and regulations govern
Canine Country School
January 15th and 22nd 10-2 more than 20,000 canine competitions each year.
Contact Terena Thomas
(970) 524-8724
Terena@caninecountryschool.com Renew Your RFKC 2011 Membership Today!
Longs Peak Obedience & Rally trial
Jan 15-17 Membership renewals ($15/ind & $20/family) are due Dec 31, 2010.
Fun Match If you haven’t already done so, please send your payment (made
January 29, 10-4 Eagle out to RFKC) to:
Contact Terena Thomas
Davy Lampman
Redstone Winterfest 0789 Cactus Flats Rd Carbondale, CO 81623
February 11-13th
Bring your healthy, socially (970) 963-1758
appropriate dog to this great
weekend. Skijor, play games and
win prizes, learn Pet1st Aid and
CCR, Participate in the puppy Join us for the Fun Match January 29th
parade and costume contest.
Eagle Fairgrounds 10-4
RFKC AKC Dog Show,
Eagle July 16th & 17th
We will need many volunteers.
Lean at the Fun Match, so you are Many Volunteers are needed. Join the fun with your dog !
prepared and ready to show.
Please see the Newsletter (business portion) for more information.
2011 Nat. Herding Championships
Strang Ranch, Carbondale
September 13 through 20 Contact Terena@CanineCountrySchool.com
Contact Laura Van Dyne to volunteer
(970) 963-3745
(970) 524-8724