Prairie Wynd Collies

08/28/2024

Only 1 lil munchkin available!
Gorgeous wee rare White with sable head & markings ♥️ Male. Email: [email protected] or pm for details & Reservation form 😄

08/27/2024

This is sooooo true!!!

08/26/2024

Check out previous post link...its so awesome, Havan & Ruby!

08/24/2024

08/24/2024

Havan & Ruby

08/24/2024

This is from little Havan & Ruby.... pictures coming.
Congratulations Havan & Ruby...great job!

Day 1 of 3 of 4-H Dog Salmon Arm fair show. Ruby was unfortunately sick this morning but Haven and Ruby hung in there to see the first day through.

They placed 3rd for Obedience (Ruby was throwing up mid trial) and they placed 2nd for Showmanship.

Haven was nervous on Showmanship because they unexpectedly bumped them up one level to a level with dogs that had been training longer than Ruby - but to her surprise and joy she placed 2nd. 🥈🥉🐕👧🏽

08/18/2024

I stopped removing dew claws years ago & after reading this, thank goodness!
Maybe this could be compared to humans routinely removing appendix or tonsils, thinking them unnecessary 🤔

Dewclaws! They are IMPORTANT! Many dog breeders routinely, and without much thought, amputate puppies' front dewclaws when the pups are 3-5 days of age. Why? The thought is to prevent potential injuries, such as tears of the digit, later in life. BUT do you realize that the dewclaw is a FUNCTIONAL, IMPORTANT digit? I am thankful that my own dog's breeder did not amputate Dunkin's front dewclaws. Do you also know that with appropriate exercises, the muscles of the dewclaw can be strengthened to help promote and maintain appropriate function and close apposition of the dewclaw to the side of the paw? Below is an article by a friend and colleague, Dr. Chris Zink, that explains the importance, anatomy, and function of the front dewclaw.

"Do the Dew(claws)?
by Chris Zink, DVM PhD DACVSMR

As a veterinary sports medicine specialist, I work extensively with canine athletes, developing rehabilitation programs for injured dogs or dogs that required surgery due to performance-related injuries. I have seen many dogs, especially field trial/hunt test and agility dogs, that have chronic carpal arthritis, frequently so severe that they must be retired or at least carefully managed for the rest of their careers. I noticed that very few of those dogs had dewclaws and began to wonder whether these appendages might, in fact, protect a dog from injuries. What I learned might surprise you.

The Anatomy of Dewclaws
Miller's Guide to the Anatomy of the Dog, a veterinary anatomy text, has an excellent figure depicting the muscular anatomy of the distal forelimb. There are 2 functional muscles, the extensor pollicis longus et indicis proprius and flexor digitorum profundus, which are attached to the front dewclaw by 4 tendons (references in blog). Each of those muscle/tendon units has a different function in movement. That means that if you cut off the dew claws, you are preventing the muscles that were attached to the dewclaws from functioning.

In contrast, rear limb dewclaws do not have muscle/tendon attachments, so their removal might be appropriate, except in the breeds such as Briards and Beauceron in which they should be retained.

Dewclaws Do Have Functions
If there are muscles and tendons attached to the dewclaws, then they most likely have a function. Broadly speaking, dewclaws have at least two different functions:
1. Grasp the ground when the dog is turning to prevent torque on the forelimb. Each time the front foot lands on the ground, particularly when the dog is cantering or galloping (see Figure 2), the dewclaw is in touch with the ground. If the dog then needs to turn, the dewclaw actively digs into the ground to stabilize the lower leg and prevent torque. In Figure 3 you can clearly see the dewclaw of a Corgi herding a sheep extended, ready to grip the ground. And in the image at the top of this article, you can see the dewclaws of a dog extended, ready to grip the water!

Do the Dew(claws)?

If a dog doesn't have dewclaws, the leg will twist on its axis, creating increased pressure on the carpal bones, as well as the elbow, shoulder and toes. A lifetime of this kind of torque and the result can be carpal arthritis or injuries to and subsequent arthritis in other joints of the forelimb, such as the elbow, shoulder, and toes. Remember, the dog is participating in the activity regardless, so there will be concussive pressures on the leg, and if the dewclaw does not help to stabilize the leg, those pressures will be transmitted to other areas of the leg, especially the joints.

2. Grip objects. We have all seen dogs using their dewclaws to grip an object such as a ball or bone (Figure 4). I've even seen many photos of agility dogs gripping the teeter for stability (Figure 5). But did you know that the dewclaws' gripping ability can, in fact, save your dog's life? Check out the video "Dewclaws Do Have a Purpose" for "gripping" views of dogs attempting to get out of water onto ice without the help of those ice picks on the inside of their legs. The video also shows dogs using their dewclaws to grip the ice and escape from a potentially fatal situation. I have known several dogs that drowned after falling through ice in the winter. None of them had dewclaws. If they had, perhaps they would have survived and spared their owners the incredible heartache of watching their dogs die unnecessarily.

Arguments for Removing Dewclaws
1. The dewclaws will get injured. This is the most common reason I hear for removing dewclaws. A friend of mine had such a severe dewclaw injury in one of her dogs that she swore she would remove them on all the dogs she bred subsequently.

But the data indicate that dewclaws are not injured very often. A study published in 2018 showed that the dewclaw was the LEAST likely toe to be injured in agility dogs, in which landing and turning from jumps and other obstacles put the toes at risk for injuries. Thus, it makes no sense to remove the dewclaws because of risk of injury. And, of course, no one would consider removing the 5th digits in the front feet, which are by far the most commonly injured toe.

2. Owners forget to trim the dewclaws. Surely this is a matter of education. Do we really want to remove a functioning digit in all dogs, just because some owners need to be reminded that they must remember to trim the dewclaws?

3. Dewclaws make the forelimb look less straight when viewed from the front in conformation. The AKC states: "The breed standard describes the characteristics of the ideal
dog to perform the function for which it was bred." While we could have long discussions about the veracity of this statement, it is interesting to note that there are VERY few breed standards that require dewclaw removal. I know of only one - the Vizsla breed standard.

A Plea
So, here's a plea to retain dogs' dewclaws. They are a functioning digit. They are the toe least likely to be injured. Isn't this enough to convince us not to do the dewclaws?"

08/17/2024

Whuwhu! Cleopatra x Atlas puppies arrived! 6 beauties
3 sable 2 tri 1 white
All healthy & thriving
There just might be 1 available...

07/30/2024

What gorgeous puppies!

07/30/2024

At long last! PUPPIES 🤗🎊🎉
Sienna x Atlas, this morning,
2 beautifully marked males 🌞🌞
Both previously spoken for... but... expecting more to come mid August, Cleopatra x Atlas

07/23/2024

Ruby & Havan doing Agility!

07/23/2024

Ruby & Havan...

07/23/2024

Remember the BENEFACTOR BONUS from 2022? I'm happy to report that Ruby & Havan are doing amazing!

Haven and Ruby made it to the front page of our local news paper. I love this dynamic duo. Haven is still in the 4-H program with her lovely dog Ruby and they’re getting ready to show at the local fair in August for obedience, showmanship, agility and rally-o. 💗👧🏽🐕

07/08/2024

If anyone else is interested in getting the CGN certificate (Canine Good Neighbour), check out Canuck Dogs.
Also in Naniamo, Sointula

07/07/2024

Here is criteria (similar) for
CANINE GOOD NEIGHBOR
certificate, in a nutshell... actually there are 12 steps.
Promoted & run by CKC, only registered dogs.
Classes / competitions are held couple times year usually.
Let me know if you would like to enter your dog & I'll find out re your area, plus post the actual CKC requirements.
CGN is then added as a title to their registration... & you get bragging rights!

07/06/2024

Whoot whoot! PUPPIES comin!
I'm so excited to let you know that Sienna is expecting puppies end of July...
Sienna x Atlas... What a guy! 10 years old & not skippin a beat! Way to go Atlas! You & Sienna produce such amazing puppies! Have to wait & see how many she'll have.
If you send in your Reservation asap, there's a chance you'll make her litter.

06/08/2024

My beautiful Ashni (inside & out) after her spa day! Whoa, she's half the size! Tired out & ready for a nap... all that primping n priming plays a girl out!

05/25/2024

For anyone who would like to watch the "Lassie" series! ❤️

05/24/2024

Introducing TREIBBAL...
the alternative to sheep for Herding Breeds.. check it out

05/23/2024

Old Time Scotch Collies... The reason I guard their pedigee so closely in my Prairie Wynd Collies!!

The following article was written by Linda Rorem who knows more about working collies and their history than anyone else I have come across. Thank you Linda for the memories of the old working collies which you share with others willingly because they provide much needed direction and guidance to those working at breeding collies of similar type and abilities.

The old fashioned farm collie was a legend in the early 1900's.

Homer Davenport wrote of the working collie Fly on the Geer farm near Silverton where he lived for some time when he was a boy (the Geers were his mother's family). In a newspaper article in 1907 he related: "I remember once when 'By' Geer and a herder were moving a band of 2500 head of sheep over onto a new range and were driving at night . . . a rain was falling that made the sheep hard to keep together. It was slow work. Fly had been very active. She was covering lots of ground, and it was quite dark. But she worked without orders. She seemed in complete control, and her sharp bark could be heard at intervals. Finally they missed her bark; an hour or so had passed without hearing it. The men were alarmed, as they knew that without her in the dark they would possibly lose a hundred sheep every mile without missing them. They shouted for her, but no Fly. She had gone. They decided that the only thing to do was to stop where they were. They got around their flock as soon as they could and got them bunched. They knew they had let some sheep drop behind and that old Fly was with them. But they thought it was strange she didn't hurry them along, as she was known all over the state as a fast worker. They waited and waited. Daylight came and no Fly. Finally about noon she came with 250 sheep. She was tired and traveling slow. One ewe had given birth to a lamb, and old Fly had gathered it by the back of the neck, as she would carry one of her pups. . . . Thus the faithful old Fly, carrying the lamb too young to walk and keep up, drove her strayed band on until they overtook the first division."
Davenport loved the old-fashioned collie. He wrote in praise of it and was critical of the development of the show-only dog. He even suggested that sheep herding contests for collies be held in conjunction with dog shows, an idea scoffed at by show dog writer James Watson in their "debate" in the Country Life in America magazine in 1908.

Written by Linda Rorem

05/23/2024

Wow... Check this story out... The Old Time Scotch Collie... who's Pedigree I guard closely in my Prairie Wynd Collies

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/RA6pVe2fctP3PLri/?mibextid=oFDknk

05/19/2024

Princess...
Prairie Wynd Atlas Aurelius x Prairie Wynd Ashni

What a wonderful review!

05/15/2024

Good morning everyone and thank you so much for your interest in my unique collars.
Yes I am in process of setting up US banking in order to take PayPal. Should be good to go in about a week. Also in process of updating my website!
For now, please email me at
USA orders: [email protected]
CDN orders: [email protected]

05/15/2024

I would like to take a minute and update you on our Prairie Wynd Collars.
First, thank you so much for all your support and interest!
I am working hard to set up international banking to accommodate US orders. I apologize for any inconvenience this delay may have caused and thank you for your understanding and patience. I will get them out to you as quickly as I can!

05/12/2024

NEW COLORS for COLLARS ✨
combine with black/white/cream/blue/red rings

05/08/2024

Link is in her article or as below:
Dr Judy's flea & tick favorites

05/08/2024

Some of you are asking about tick meds, especially this time of year. She has a link to her favorites... I have NOT used or tested any of these, so if you do, please let me know how it works.