O.G. Nashville Schutzhund und Polizei

06/29/2024

With the higher than normal temps and heat index, a couple of reminders..along with consistent water and electrolytes - I use 1/2 water and 1/2 unflavored, unsweetened pedialyte.

Pay close attention to your dog in hot weather, even if they are swimming or playing in water in a pond or kiddie pool. Dogs can get heat stroke even when swimming in cool water, so never let them swim unsupervised.

Heatstroke occurs from exposure to hot or humid environments, or from overly strenuous exercise. Unlike humans, dogs only have sweat glands on their paws and must rely on panting to cool down.

The normal body temperature for a dog is between 100.5 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Heatstroke results when the dog cannot regulate their body temperature, and it rises to 105 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

If your dog is overheated, splash room temp or cool water or use cool towels on their body, particularly on their neck, belly, armpits, and paws - focus on areas where veins are.

What to avoid:
• Ice-cold water: Can reduce blood flow to the skin and make it harder for them to cool down. DO NOT use freezing cold or ice water, as this can cause their blood vessels to constrict and cause their body to go into shock.
• DO NOT use wet towels on their backs and head: this will trap heat in the dog instead of releasing it.
• DO NOT submerge them in cold water: this can cool them too quickly.

Do:
• Wet the dog with cool water - splash room temp or cool water or use cool towels on their body, particularly on their neck, belly, armpits, and paws
• Bring your pet into a room with air conditioning and position a fan near them to help with slow cooling.

05/14/2024

Great post by Gabor Szilasi....

Raising a puppy; post #1
Socializing. Buzz words that a lot of different trainers throw out at dog owners. But what is the true definition of socializing as a puppy? Whether for active family or sport, the theory and foundation are the same.

Think about it.
Active family pet. People come over and visit the puppy. The puppy is walked on a collar and 6-foot leash. Nothing much, other than possible dog parks (not recommended) and/or playing with older/bigger dogs where/when dog can get injured, going to vet for checkups, etc.
Sport puppy. People come over and visit the puppy. The puppy is walked on a collar and 6-foot leash. The puppy is taken to club, tracking. And then back home.

What is consistent between the two? Both are very controlled situations.
What is missing? Basic foundation, being a puppy, building a relationship with the dog and owner and true socialization. Allowing the puppy to investigate and deal with life on their own. Not in the constant control of the owner.

A dog lives through their nose and grows/develops through true social interaction and exposure, not a human version of controlled socialization.

Use a flat collar, no harness, and an extendable Flexi lead. I am sure that sport people will immediately read this, go into shock, and claim that a Flexi lead is a horrible idea.
No, it is a great and proven idea. A Flexi lead allows a dog to “stretch” out and investigate life on their own terms.

Take the puppy for rides, crated in car, to a park. For fun….

Walk the puppy in a park setting, sports fields with soccer, tennis, baseball, basketball going on. The fast movement, yelling and crowds.

Walk the puppy in a downtown, Farmer’s Market and/or shopping area, where there is a lot of foot traffic and crowds.

Let the puppy interact positively with strangers, in a different place.

Board the dog in a kennel. Even if you will never put the dog in a boarding situation when you travel, use this time for the puppy/dog to be able to handle and deal with separation and different situations.

05/10/2024

One of the best things to do, if you can not be there, is to watch the excellent live stream for the USCA WDC 2024.
Watch the routines, listen to the critiques. Watch the handlers, watch the decoys work.
https://www.youtube.com/.../streams

Results are here: https://www.wdc2024.net/igp-results

04/14/2024

With our continued focus on organic, here is a great option for pest control around the yard and/or kennel.

Here is a link for it. Effective, safe for people and animals.

https://amzn.to/3VXSvgw

💚 PET & FAMILY-SAFE: 100% NATURAL: Cedar granules are a natural way to keep unwanted bugs out.
🦟 NATURAL BUG REPELLENT: Repel a wide range of insects including mosquitoes, fleas, chiggers, and more. The natural aroma emitted by the cedar granules acts as a powerful deterrent without posing any harm to your family or the environment.
🏡 EASY TO USE: Sprinkle the cedar granules in various areas such as gardens, lawns, patios, and around the perimeter of your home, outside area and/or kennel.
🌎 ECO-FRIENDLY: Cedar granules are derived from sustainably sourced cedarwood, ensuring a low environmental impact and contributing to a healthier ecosystem.

04/05/2024

A quote that is consistently modified by trainers across all types of sports.

But, imitation is a form of flattery... it is not the real thing.

04/03/2024

Tracking

All the information provided is NOT in the rulebook but is extremely important to providing the stability and foundation for a strong performance in the exercises, on your club fields or another club’s fields. This will provide the experience prior, so you will not have to say the phrase “my dog has never done that before”.

The main point of this section: You do not have to track, your dog has to track…..

You need to practice tracking your dog in any condition: do not always look for a premium field nor expect it on trial day. It does not matter what the terrain or the weather is. On trial day, you will not have any idea of what condition you will get/draw for.

When you go to practice tracking, ensure that you have all your tracking equipment required. This includes taking weather conditions into account, as well as tracking terrain: boots, flags, tracking food, multiple types of articles.

When you arrive at the practice tracking field, park your vehicle away from the scent pad. Start getting you and your dog used to distance from the scent pad; this comes in use on the day of the trial. Take your dog out to relieve themselves. It is important that your dog recognizes if anything is new, location, wind conditions, new odors PRIOR to actual tracking. This should be down at least 30 minutes before actual tracking. If there are multiple people around during the practice tracking, walk the dog around them, just as in a socialization test.

Place the dog back into crate in the vehicle. Prep your tracking line.

Lay your track.

When the track timing is ready (based on your level of title), get your dog from the crate.
 Work on the basic timing of the track, due to flight #. You could be the last person in the flight, which could be up to an hour and forty minutes. Alternate this timing, as well.

Before you check in with the mock judge, teach you and your dog to wait at least 15 minutes before you are called to the scent pad.
 A lot of foundation is missed for this part. The dog (and sometimes handler) gets confused and want to go straight to the scent pad. Both can lose focus if they have not practiced waiting.

Practice a mock judge report with a mock trial secretary. Do this over a few weeks and add in different things: umbrella, large baggy coat, clipboard.

Walk toward to the scent pad. If you can, have a mock judge/trial secretary walk track.

The track is run.

After the track, teach you and your dog to wait for the judge’s report.

Be happy for your result…..

© Gabor Szilasi 2024

04/02/2024

All the information provided is NOT in the rulebook and it not about specific training for exercises within phases, but extremely important to providing the stability and foundation for a strong performance in the exercises, on your club fields or another club’s fields. This will provide the experience prior, so you will not have to say the phrase “my dog has never done that before”.

Overall
1. Have you traveled, day trip (few to extended hours) and overnight trip, to another club with your dog?

2. How much time to travel, get acclimated to possible time change, etc.?

3. Stayed at a hotel? Dog in crate in car or crate in hotel room?

4. Know the nearest vet/emergency vet/doctor just in case?
5. Trained multiple times in a different environment multiple times: location, surface, people, decoy, etc.?
6. For dog competitions, does your microchip scan?

Presentation
When you compete, you are “selling” your “project” to the judge.

How your dog looks, how you look. How you handle yourself/how your dog acts prior to, during, and after the trial. Have you had yourself videoed to watch how you move, how you and the dog look before/during/after the different phases and reviewed afterwards?

© Gabor Szilasi

03/31/2024

Happy Easter to you and yours.....

Boldog húsvét neked és a tiédnek

01/10/2024

Excellent recap from Dana Huckestein:

!!!!!VERY important update to USDA/APHIS policy regarding validity of rabies vaccines for dogs planning on traveling abroad!!!!!!
Your dog may be current for rabies in the US but is it current for travel abroad according to current EU regulations???
Please read and check your dog's rabies vaccination status now rather than waiting till 10 days prior to travel when it will be too late. Please share!

Rabies Vaccination
“Primary” Rabies Vaccination:
The first rabies vaccination your pet gets after its microchip or after any lapse in coverage is a “primary” rabies vaccination according to EU rules.

For all pets vaccinated in the United States, a “primary” rabies vaccination is only valid for 1 year. Even if your pet is an adult animal and receives a three-year vaccine, if it is a “primary” rabies vaccination according to EU rules, it is only valid for 1 year.
If your pet does not receive another rabies vaccination within 1 year of a “primary” rabies vaccination, it means the vaccination coverage lapsed and you must start over. Even if the vaccination coverage only lapses by a day, the next rabies vaccination is again considered a “primary” rabies vaccination, and it is only valid for 1 year.

“Booster” Rabies Vaccination:
If your pet does get its next rabies vaccination within 1 year of a “primary” rabies vaccination, this “booster” rabies vaccination can be valid for 1-3 years, according to the vaccine manufacturer’s instructions.

Note: If your pet’s most recent rabies vaccination before traveling to the EU is a “booster” rabies vaccination (rather than “primary”), you are responsible for providing all relevant rabies vaccination certificates to prove there was no lapse in coverage since the "primary" rabies vaccination.

Reminder! Rabies Vaccinations do NOT count according to EU rules if:
Your pet got the vaccination before it had a microchip; or
Your pet got the vaccination without first having its microchip scanned.
Your pet should travel with all relevant rabies vaccination certificate(s), and it is strongly recommended the microchip number is recorded on all rabies vaccination certificate(s).

21-Day Waiting Period
After any "primary" rabies vaccination, your pet must wait 21 days before traveling to the EU. Your pet can travel to the EU less than 21 days after a “booster” rabies vaccination, but then the previous rabies vaccination must also be included on the health certificate.

Want to simplify your paperwork?
Ask your veterinarian to give your pet a 1-year rabies vaccination (after scanning the microchip) at least 21 days before your travel to the EU but less than one year before your travel date (for example, 3-6 months before travel date). That way, no matter the rabies vaccination history, you only have to keep up with one vaccination certificate instead of several! Doing it this way also makes it easier for the USDA endorsement office to review, which means you get your endorsed certificate back faster.

The .gov means it's official. Federal government websites always use a .gov or .mil domain. Before sharing sensitive information online, make sure you're on a .gov or .mil site by inspecting your browser's address (or "location") bar.

01/10/2024

As a reminder/FYI:

This is the 2nd recall in 4 months....

Blue Ridge Beef is recalling all lot numbers and used by dates between N24 1124 to N24 1224 of their 2 lb log of Kitten Grind UPC 8 54298 00101 6; 2lb log of Kitten Mix UPC 8 54298 00143 6 and their 2lb log of Puppy Mix UPC 8 54298 00169 6 due to contamination of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogene

01/01/2024

12/31/2023

From our family to you and yours......
Boldog uj evet!
Happy New Year! Health and Happiness.....

12/30/2023

Interesting and great comparison on front shoulder development from the harnesses that are not made for daily walking.

Teach your dog to walk in a flat collar/Herm Sprenger collar, especially under 3 years of age when they are growing and their body/joints are developing and their body is maturing.

12/24/2023

From our family to you and yours...
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Kellemes Karácsonyi Ünnepeket és Boldog Új Évet!
Buon Natale e felice anno nuovo!
Frohe Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr!
Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!
Nollaig Shona Dhuit!
Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok!
God Jul & Godt Nytår !
Veselé Vánoce a Šťastný Nový Rok!
God Jul och ett Gott Nytt År!
Hyvää Joulua ja Onnellista Uutta Vuotta!
Sing Dang Fire Lock!

12/04/2023

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=812804120850720&id=100063634177039&mibextid=Nif5oz

Did you know:
If you have a pacemaker, you can put it in your Will to have your pacemaker donated to a dog in need after you pass. Pacemakers cannot be donated to another human, but they can be donated to dogs with cardiac issues who would depend on it to stay alive.
You can have the pacemaker brought to a vet of your choice. So many of those get thrown away and dogs die because people don't know they can do this. It even saves the dog's owner the cost of the actual pacemaker which sometimes means the difference in being able to afford lifesaving treatment or not.

***Edit:
There are limitations for donating a pacemaker such as age of the device and state of the battery. Although requirements may vary per location, you can contact your local Veterinary Cardiologist for more information.

12/03/2023

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=913380303689447&id=100050524567889&mibextid=Nif5oz

РАСТЕЖА НА КОСТИТЕ

Обяснението защо не трябва да извършваме интензивна физическа активност с кученца до 18 месеца и дори до 24 месеца.

Скоростта на растеж на кученцата варира значително в зависимост от размера.

Важно е да адаптирате диетата и упражненията към специфичните нужди на вашето кученце, за да осигурите оптимално развитие на скелета.

Ендохондралната оксифификация (процесът, при който хрущялът се превръща в кост) варира според големината на кученцето в зряла възраст, със затворен растеж на хрущялите (пълна оксифификация) между 3 месеца при породите играчки и 24 месеца при средните, големите и гигантските породи.

Има много фактори, които влияят на скоростта на растеж и възрастта на зрялост. Например мъжките съзряват по-бавно от женските.

Има вариации в периодите на "бърз растеж" от раждането до 11 седмици при малките кучета. Големите породи варират от раждането до 20 седмици.

Прекомерните упражнения и неправилната диета през тези периоди могат да доведат до образуване на кости и малформации, което може да доведе до развитие на остеоартрит и дегенеративни ставни заболявания.

Препоръчителните нива на упражнения за кученца са 1 минута за всяка седмица от живота им, два пъти на ден. Това трябва да е СЛАБО ВЪЗДЕЙСТВИЕ и със стабилно темпо.

Кученцата не трябва да качват при висока скорост, да скачат мебели или да влизат/излизат от превозни средства.

Ето защо развъдчиците казват на новите собственици да не бързат с определени физически дейности с техните кученца; вместо това се съсредоточете върху други неща с тях. Упражняване на ума, обоняние, десенсибилизиране и социализиране и др.

01/01/2023

Train with a club and an experienced trainer/competitor/handler that includes all aspects of the sport and does not create paid seminars/classes for training that should be part of club training. How to raise a working puppy, how to socialize a working puppy, rules of the sport/handling and getting ready for trial. How to stack and show your dog. What exactly happens and what you need to do during a trial. Conduct a full mock trial.

All should be part of normal club training. Not additional $$. This is a sport - not a business.

, ,

12/30/2022

Yoko von Tajgetosz 16 weeks old playing mode 🥰🥰🥰

12/25/2022

From our family to you and yours...

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Kellemes Karácsonyi Ünnepeket és Boldog Új Évet!
Buon Natale e felice anno nuovo!
Frohe Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr!
Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!
Nollaig Shona Dhuit!
Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok!
God Jul & Godt Nytår !
Veselé Vánoce a Šťastný Nový Rok!
God Jul och ett Gott Nytt År!
Hyvää Joulua ja Onnellista Uutta Vuotta!
Sing Dang Fire Lock!