SunSage Sporting Dogs

08/19/2024

So relieved to read this, hoping for positive results.

The Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to rescind a new rule restricting the importation of dogs into the United...

08/18/2024

This is great information and highlights why declaws are not removed on our litters of pointing or flushing breeds.
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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?"

08/16/2024

Please be aware, help educate buyers and avoid supporting unethical breeding.

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08/01/2024

So honored to be part of this piece of the Hound & Hare legacy through shared values of quality. Proud to have their support of our preservation breeding program with their litter of cocker puppies from SunSage Tweed of Hound & Hare!!

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Driven to Succeed | The Powered by Tweed Launch Edition Cumberland Jacket is the newest iteration of the Wax Ware line made to withstand the broadest range of weather and terrain. Tested in the heavy showers and gusting winds of the highlands, the Limited Edition Cumberland incorporates the details that made the Cumberland a success and adds fleece handwarmers, and is individually numbered and includes the launch of the Hound & Hare Tartan.
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The Hound & Hare Tartan is included in the Scottish Register of Tartans for permanent preservation in the National Records of Scotland.
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Find out more in the Aug-Sept 2024 issue of in the article “Facing the Elements with History, A Scottish hunt with Hound & Hare.” Subscribe now through August 12 to receive this edition as your first issue.

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07/29/2024

The future is bright! Very excited to see this litter continue to develop. This is one of the females from the Tweed x Fraser litter.









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07/28/2024

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We are enjoying watching Team Tweed grow and seeing their personalities come alive. Our SunSage Thornproof of Hound & Hare, call name Briar, is all ready for retrieving duty. He’s definitely captured our hearts.
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This litter will be commemorated by our Hound & Hare registered Tartan, Limited Edition Powered by Tweed gear, select products from some our favorite brands, invites to future Powered by Tweed events, etc. Are you ready to be Powered by Tweed™️? We have a Tweed female red pup available. DM for more info.
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07/24/2024

Great information!
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07/12/2024

This is going to be a great experience for these new owners.🐾🐾🐾
Hound & Hare (Powered by Tweed-Team Tweed) + SunSage Sporting Dogs (Proven Performance in the Field-Hunt to Hearth) = An Amazing Experience in the Field!
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Powered by Tweed | We had a great time last week spending time with Tweed and her pups. This litter with Fraser of SunSage Sporting Dogs is special and we want to ensure that Team Tweed owners are part of the Tweed family. This litter will be commemorated by our Hound & Hare registered Tartan, Limited Edition Powered by Tweed gear, select products from some our favorite brands, invites to future Powered by Tweed events, etc. Are you ready to be Powered by Tweed™️?
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07/05/2024

Here is a sneak peak from what happened today! Sometimes the "bloopers" are the best.
Let's give this photo a caption....
Thanks as usual, to the very talented Venée Gardner from Gardian Photography for the amazing shots. We always have fun during the puppy photo shoots and after!!😉

06/06/2024

When you have taken all the toys/bumpers etc outside and randomly abandoned them, then you improvise!!! Necessity is the mother of invention...so a green pear🍐 off the tree in the front yard makes the perfect item to carry around inside the house and beg someone to throw it. Oh Willow girl you do make me laugh! Life is never boring when you live with an English Cocker.🤣🤣

05/31/2024

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05/22/2024

When you are VERY pregnant with 9 puppies (per the radiograph), you choose maximum airflow offered by the raised flooring rather than the whelping box and mats. This sweet girl is ready to pop!!

05/18/2024

Fun day spent meeting new hunt test enthusitasts and fellow dog lovers!!

We finally took Quill to try him on birds yesterday and he had a blast and loves it. So we will be working towards our first Hunt test over these next few months
We enjoyed working with SunSage Sporting dogs and Tyla was such a joy to talk to and work with. We can’t wait for our next lessons. We’ve got some work to do!

04/30/2024

Great information and concise breakdown of the value of the depth of chest. What are our hunting dogs doing??? Agility in a real world, field setting!!! This is why I say correct conformation IS important for a hunting dog. Lifetime function follows correct form!!!!

Agility and the Shallow Chest?

If ever there was a “team building” activity for owners and their dogs, it’s agility. It builds confidence and trust, promotes the use of positive reinforcement to get the dog to do what the handler wants, provides lots of exercise for the dog who needs to burn excess energy, and helps solve many behavioral problems caused by boredom, anxiety, and depression, making both owner and dog happier.

It is not, however, an endeavor for a poorly built dog, and specifically, not one with a shallow chest. Few breed standards don’t call for a depth of chest in an adult dog to be less than one that reaches the elbow. We found examples from all seven AKC groups of breeds calling for the chest/brisket to reach the point of elbows:

From the Bouvier des Flandres standard: “The chest is broad, with the brisket extending to the elbow in depth.”

From the Boerboel standard: “Depth of the chest reaches down to the point of the elbow, which is approximately half the total height at the withers.”

The American Eskimo Dog’s standard: “Depth of chest extends approximately to point of elbows;”

From the Airedale Terrier’s standard: “The depth of the chest should be approximately on a level with the elbows;”

The Miniature Pinscher’s standard: “Depth of brisket, the base line of which is level with points of the elbows.”

From the Chesapeake Bay Retriever’s standard: “Depth of body should extend at least to the elbow.”

And finally from the Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen’s standard: “Depth of chest reaches to elbows, ribs well sprung extending well back.”

Mind you, we did say, “an adult dog,” which is why a fancier who is physically examining a pup will reach between the front legs and say, “His chest hasn’t dropped yet” if that is the case. Some standards also call for more depth, and wording can vary, as well. To wit: the Ibizan Hound standard reads, “The elbow is positioned in front of the deepest part of the chest. It is well held in but not so much as to restrict movement.

“Restrict movement.” Remember that.

A shallow chest limits heart and lung efficiency which impacts endurance, but when the chest is above the elbow, it impacts the way the upper arm ties onto the chest and diminishes the stability of the dog’s front assembly. Put another way, correct chest (or brisket) depth helps maintain elbow stability. Without stability, an agility dog is more likely to hit her ribs whens she lands from jumps, and once source writes that a dog can actually jam them. Restricted movement is not a good thing in an active dog.

A dog’s rear is important, of course, since an agility dog pushes off his rear, but that’s a topic for another post. It is the front of a dog that endures the most wear and tear since a full 60% of a dog’s weight is carried in their front.

Does this mean a shallow chested dog shouldn’t do agility?

You should always defer to the advice of your veterinarian, but one way to look at the answer is to “humanize” the question: According to the UK Scoliosis Clinic, gymnasts are up to twelve times more inclined to develop scoliosis than non-gymnasts. Is it a good idea for a human child who already has scoliosis to compete in gymnastics?

We have to think that the occasional jump and weave won’t harm a dog, but for the person who wants to compete in agility, we advise contacting a preservation breeder and informing them of the desire for a structurally sound dog built to enjoy the sport.

Image: Cocker Spaniel over jump by ©Roz Greening | Dreamstime.co

04/21/2024

Saturday Tailgate with SunSage Sporting Dogs and Hound Hare. Join us Saturday April 27th at the where we have a tailgate spot on the cross country course near jumps 14 and 15. Come


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04/15/2024

The Best Weekend All Year is less than 10 days away! Make plans now to attend and see us in Sponsor’s Village April 25-28
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styling

04/15/2024

Do you have your calendars marked? The Cocker Club Tailgate at the Defender Kentucky 3 Day Event is coming up, Saturday, April 27th. You can find us, along with Hound & Hare at jumps 15 and 16 on the cross country course.

03/11/2024

Here we go again folks...hopefully we can help by increasing awareness and education of buyers.

Merle coat pattern is not a cocker breed pattern - it never has been … until recently. Now they are popping up here and there and people are paying silly money for this coat pattern … another breed like Collie or Dachshund will have to have been bred in (illicitly if KC registered) and you cannot register a pedigree Cocker with this coat pattern. Merle is NOT Roan which is a Cocker colour and is very different to Merle - which is a pattern not a colour. This coat pattern comes with serious linked potential health risks … like this blind pup here … causes deafness and other health issues too. Breeders are charging a fortune for these cross breeds … no one should breed health risks IN responsible breeders are trying to breed health risks OUT

03/10/2024

Great start to the weekend for team SunSage!! Now to dry out from today's weather and go again tomorrow.






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02/21/2024

Scott is looking sharp this morning. Too bad he can't keep his "accessory" Alby with him on jury duty!!😆

02/09/2024

Looking forward to the SEWE show next week! Come meet Tweed of Hound & Hare and several more SunSage English Cockers. These wonderful little dogs are the perfect hunt to hearth companion for sporting families. Not to mention they can compete at many levels as well. Find us in the Hound & Hare booth in the Gaillard Center, Feb. 15-18.




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02/07/2024

The dogs and I are home from our week at SCI. It was an amazing week celebrating the future of hunting and spending time good friends. It was a busy place at the Hound and Hare booth! Looking forward to SCI 2025!




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02/02/2024

Alby making friends at SCI! The future of hunting, representing in one picture!!!





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02/01/2024

Please help spread the word about these missing Covey Flush dogs, especially around NM.

02/01/2024

Boomer helped kick off the first day at SCI with great success! It was a fun day of seeing many familiar faces and meeting new ones. Looking forward to rest of the week!



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01/25/2024

Introducing "Alby," the newest member of the SunSage crew. He represents our ongoing commitment to continue striving for excellence and breed integrity. Hopefully, he will contribute to future hunt to hearth cockers from SunSage. This lovely little lad will be making the trip with me to the SCI Convention next week. After his travel from the UK to the US, I am expecting him to take it all in stride and enjoy meeting new people!





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01/24/2024

SunSage Tweed of Hound & Hare will be watching for you! We look forward to saying hello next week at the SCI 2024 Convention in Nashville, TN. SunSage Sporting Dogs will be on the stand with Hound & Hare in booth #3152.





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