Showcasing our versatile American Hairless and Rat Terriers
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Back to back BOB wins, yesterday over a special, for Ahsoka with her friend Jamie in Doswell this weekend!
✨AKC pointed✨ Kvk's A New Beginning CGCA TKI VHMP
I cannot say how much I appreciate Jamie letting Ahsoka tag along and get in the ring when a family emergency prevented me from showing this weekend.
Super proud of Sully for his invitation to the 2024 AHTCA Showcase for #1 AHT in Rally!
This will be the first time this sport has been represented in the showcase, as in order to become ranked the dog must be competing have completed the RE title, be competing in Master, and earn scores above 90 in the RACH classes (Advanced, Excellent, and Master). As far as I know, Sully is still the only AHT to compete at the master level in Rally.
We hope to make it down for the national this year and, though retired, let the old man take the stage one last time 🩵
And it's a two title terrier weekend! Ahsoka passed her CGCA testing today, and pending AKC confirmation will be
Kvk's A New Beginning CGCA TKI VHMP
Exciting news for Jyn, who earned her MACH5 today! Pending AKC confirmation she is now
CH MACH5 Dos Rebellions Are Built On Hope Nbt FDC MXB2 MJB2 MFB TQX T2B BCAT ACT2 ACT2J CGC TKA
Sully is normal!
Sidenote: Spondylosis is extremely common in older dogs. We expected something age related to spring up on him, since the x rays were taken at 14.5 years old. At this point, the finding on one junction in his spine is not something we consider concerning.
Huge thanks to Durham Kennel Club for hosting the health clinics last weekend! Nice to see Ahsoka's passing results on paper.
Ahsoka celebrated a belated 1st birthday this weekend by passing her OFA Cardiac and Patella examinations (pending OFA processing)! Always good to see that normal on paper.
Sully joined in the health testing as well to complete his spinal radiographs. Fingers crossed for his results!
I've been holding onto Ahsoka's OFA results for a bit to allow the AHTCA Board time to review and respond to the information that was submitted to them at the 3/23/24 meeting. I am now posting her findings, as well as the data that lead to me submitting x-rays of her, publicly.
In December of 2017, as a then-member of the overlapping AHTA and AHTCA health committees, I presented information from Linda Russell Dannemiller that she had two dogs diagnosed with Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae (LTV) during routine OFA hip evaluation to the general membership during the membership meeting in Orlando, FL. In this meeting, it was discussed that this had shown up a few times before, did not seem to be a high incidence, and that it did not seem to correlate with instances of hip Dysplasia in our breed.
In 2018, we tested the daughter we have from one of Linda's dogs with LTV (she was an oops litter), Merida. She was found not to have LTV, but to have a different vertebral abnormality - transitional vertebrae at T13, resulting in a missing set of ribs and an extra lumbar vertebrae. This same year, some European dogs began to be tested.
In February of 2024, I came across a database of public health testing for AHTs in Europe. This database showed an alarming trend - over 60% of AHTs tested have some form of Vertebral Abnormality and over 50% have LTV, noted by an independent health testing body, similar to OFA in the US.
I reached out to Skeeter Dillman with my concerns, and he was kind enough to present the information at the below Google drive folder to the board of the AHTCA. This link should give anyone access to view the public information gathered, as well as links to verify the information on the European dogs yourself if you're so inclined. I've also included PDFs of research done on LTV and vertebral abnormalities that I found useful in collecting and understanding the data, as well as radiographs of the two dogs I own with abnormalities as examples.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1st29Nm7DH96WxRsrutSfwB-vHNljirn-
I want to take a moment to note that I firmly DO NOT believe any single dog, line, or breeder can be blamed for this - there are instances of the same abnormality in Rat Terriers, though there is significantly less data to utilize. The pedigrees of affected dogs are incredibly diverse. Ahsoka's breeders Gina L Unterschuetz and Joyce Appel have been incredibly supportive, including getting their own dogs scheduled for x rays to start gathering data going forward. I also firmly believe that this is not a reason to panic - merely a suggestion that more data needs to be collected, analyzed, and that each individual owner and breeder needs to make the best decision possible for their dogs and their lines. For me, this means that if Ahsoka passes all other health testing, I will be looking for a tested Normal stud for her (and Sully is scheduled for x rays in May). There's no right or wrong answer here, just a need for more information.
This post is public. I welcome shares, polite discourse, and will do my best to answer any questions that come up.
Edit to add comment from AHTCA board member to the original post: The board was supportive of voluntary additional spinal views and will continue to recommend hip x-rays as part of CHIC certification. Owners are encouraged to report incidences of transitional lumbar vertebrae that are found on OFA submissions.
Following the discussion during the BOD meeting, we reached out to OFA and learned that just over 8% of hip x-rays submitted had TLV. There isnt data on any of these dogs showing symptoms or not.
I won't speak for the entire BOD, but I personally feel like it's a condition worth monitoring and being educated on. It doesn't appear frequent enough (or tied to genetic lines as Monica mentioned) to warrant further CHIC requirements.
Sully and Ahsoka got to go play ambassador at the AKC Meet the Breeds at the NCSU CVM today. They got lots of pets from everyone who came out to visit
Diane Lewis Photography knocks it out of the park again with this year's baby goat photoshoot. Sully (who came along as backup in case Ahsoka wouldn't cooperate 😂) wasn't too sure he was on board with the idea. Ahsoka was absolutely perfect. I just can't stand the cuteness.
Ahsokas SBA, PLL, and PRA-PRCD tests have been processed and uploaded to OFA. She's also been scheduled to complete her patellar luxation and cardiac evaluations after she turns a year in April. Slowly checking off those CHIC boxes!
https://ofa.org/advanced-search/?appnum=2487583
We have updated Sully's AKC DNA panel to reflect the new 201-marker parentage verification. With frozen semen on ice for him, we want to ensure he can be used long into the future and meet AKC requirements for registration of his offspring. I am a firm believer that all breeding dogs should have DNA on file to ensure accuracy in record keeping and pedigrees to ensure the integrity of the stud book.
Facebook decided to take me on a trip down memory lane today in memories with years of old photos of my boy. From a goofy five month old in 2010, to Royal Canin in 2017, and Westminster in 2019. It always amazes me the adventure this little blue dog brought me on 💙
CH VHK's Double Vision Hairy CM BN RM FDC NA NAJ NAP OJP NFP CAX DCAT RATO CGCA CGCU TKE ATT VHMA
Ahsoka passed her TKI pending AKC approval over the weekend! Thank you for evaluating Jesi!
She also got to go on a pack walk with a friend at the park, and decided she enjoys swinging.
KVK's A New Beginning CGC ✨TKI✨ VHMP
A very Merry Christmas 🎄 to all!
Super proud of Jyn and Don Jones finishing fourth in the 16" AKC Agility Invitationals Finals!
Look out for JYN in the 16" finals at the AKC Agility Invitationals tonight! Super proud of this team 🧡
A huge thank you to the American Hairless Terrier Club of America, Inc for Sully's beautiful VACH ribbon. This achievement is the culmination of years of training and hard work on our part, and I couldn't be prouder of this boy. He has certainly been enjoying his retirement to the fullest as he helps train the next generation, though he's set a standard that's going to be hard to beat!
VACH CH Vhk's Double Vision Hairy CM BN RM FDC NA NAJ NAP OJP NFP CAX DCAT RATO CGCA CGCU TKE ATT VHMA
Ahsoka has completed and passed her SBA testing (actually, several weeks ago and I updated her album but never posted), which is the last test she can do before one year of age!
She is genetically clear for all breed related health conditions, including PLL, PRA/PRCD, DM and IVDD per Wisdom panel, has passed BAER testing, and now SBA. She also has DNA on file at AKC.
Can't wait to get this kid in the ring next month!
Now that BAER has processed, Ahsoka has a page on OFA. This will continue to update as health testing is completed and submitted.
CHIC requirements for the breed include:
Cardiac exam
Hip Evaluation
LCP Evaluation
Patellar Luxation Evaluation
BAER test ✅
PLL DNA ✅
It should be noted that a CHIC # does not necessarily mean testing was passed, just that it was submitted and made public.
https://ofa.org/advanced-search/?appnum=2487583
ResQwalk, a free mobile app that lets you raise money for New Rattitude while you walk your Rat Terrier, is being discontinued on September 30, 2023. We want to thank the walkers who have been "Resqwalking" in support of New Rattitude - especially Diane E., Pat G., Nicole D., Rita D., Sue K., and Judy H. We'll miss seeing photos of your dogs!
We hope you'll continue to support New Rattitude by walking your dogs using the WoofTrax mobile app instead. After setting it up on your smartphone, press the Start Walking button to log your walk. The more you walk your dog, the more you earn for New Rattitude (be sure to select us as your favorite charity first!).
Ahsoka completed and passed her BAER testing at the DKC health clinics on Saturday and had been submitted to OFA for processing. Once her DNA testing has also been submitted, she will have completed 2 of the CHIC requirements and one recommendation for the breed 🥰
Ahsoka has been having a great weekend at the Raleigh cluster so far! Today, we learned to stand for a win photo 🧡
Kvk's A New Beginning CGC TKN VHMP
Ahsoka went to the Doswell, VA show this weekend and had an absolute blast! Super proud of how well she handled the busy environment and show ring at just past four months. No love in BPIS, but she was still the best girlie!
Ahsoka's CGC and TKN processed! Super proud of the baby girl.
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