Support Responsible Breeders

17/09/2024

💥 FAKE SERVICE DOGS must be stopped.

👉 Meet Napa. Napa is a patient of mine at the Black Hills Animal Hospital. Napa is a tried and true, real service dog. She was born and raised by a non-profit in Ohio that breeds and trains service dogs for the disabled. Napa’s owner has a real disability. The non-profit flew her to Ohio to be trained with Napa to work together as team. Napa is trained to perform many tasks including picking up items and carrying them to her owner. Napa helps her owner to live her daily life. Napa is current on every vaccination. She is weighed monthly at our clinic — a requirement by the non profit to make sure she is cared for and kept at the perfect ideal weight. Napa’s cost is estimated at $20,000-50,000 (breeding program, foster homes, training for 2 years, feeding, medical care, paying for disabled owners to train with and travel to them). Most dogs don’t make it out of the program. Napa is elite. She is one of the most highly trained dogs I’ve ever worked with.

Napa was attacked by a dog today. A dog running loose in a Dollar General. Another dog walked in the door at the same time. Two dogs that had no business walking in a store. Napa has been attacked by dogs twice already in the last six months.

This has got to stop. Please stop taking your dogs into stores. They are not service dogs. A vest you bought online does not make your dog a service dog.

A service dog assists a person with disabilities by performing trained tasks.

Service animals are working animals, not pets. Comfort or emotional support dogs do not qualify as service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Service dogs are so highly trained they don’t even BARK at another dog. They stand still next to their handler.

Taking your pet into public places and letting them interact with, bark at, threaten, and provoke or attack a service animal puts the real service dog at risk. It puts disabled people at risk as well. Napa’s owner could hardly stand to control her and try to help her.

If Napa becomes skittish or dog reactive in public….. she will be sent back to the service dog organization. Let that sink in. Her owner will have to give up Napa because you had to take your dog into every store and restaurant with you. You didn’t control your dog. You have put zero training into your dog. You couldn’t be bothered to put your dog on a leash today.

Let that sink in.

We must do better.

Please leave your dogs at home. And please leave your fake service dog vests at home as well.

Sincerely,
Napa’s veterinarian
Melissa Mez DVM

11/09/2024

It was the dogs. The dogs are what got me.

A few years ago we visited the 9/11 Memorial Museum, and we saw a lot. Twisted steel girders. Baby-faced portraits of the deceased. Mutilated emergency vehicles.

But it was the dogs that wrecked me.

The dog exhibit is pretty small. Located in the far corner of the museum, with photographs of search and rescue dogs.

You see dogs nosing through rubble, wearing safety harnesses. You see them in their prime. They’re all deceased now. But they were spectacular.

There was Riley. Golden retriever. He was trained to find living people. But, he didn’t find any. Instead, he recovered the remains of firefighters. Riley kept searching for a live survivor, but found none. Riley’s morale tanked.

“I tried my best to tell Riley he was doing his job,” said his handler. “He had no way to know that when firefighters and police officers came over to hug him, and for a split second you can see them crack a smile—that Riley was succeeding at doing an altogether different job. He provided comfort. Or maybe he did know.”

There was Coby and Guiness. Black and yellow Labs. From California. Surfer dogs. They found dozens of human remains.

And Abigail. Golden Lab. Happy. Energetic. Committed. Big fan of bacon.

Sage. A border collie. Cheerful. Endless energy. Her first mission was searching the Pentagon wreckage after the attacks. She recovered the body of the terrorist who piloted American Airlines Flight 77.

Jenner. Black Lab. At age 9, he was one of the oldest dogs on the scene. Jenner’s handler, Ann Wichmann, remembers:

“It was 12 to 15 stories high of rubble and twisted steel. My first thought was, ‘I can't send Jenner into that…’ At one point, [Jenner] disappeared down a hole under the rubble and I was like, ‘Ugggggh!' Such a heart-stopping moment..."

Trakr. German Shepherd. Tireless worker. Worked until he couldn’t stand up anymore. Trakr found Genelle Guzman-McMillan, who was trapped for 27 hours among the debris. Genelle was as good as dead, until the cold nose poked through the mangled steel.

Apollo. German shepherd. An NYPD police dog. Coal-black muzzle. Liquid eyes. The first dog on the scene, only 15 minutes after the attacks. Apollo worked 18-hour days. Once, he was nearly killed in a fire during his search. But Apollo had been drenched in water and he was quick on his feet. No injuries.

Jake. Labrador. As a puppy, Jake was found on the side of the road in Dallas. Abandoned. Left for dead. Like trash. He had a dislocated hip and a broken leg. They made him a rescue dog.

Jake worked until his body threatened to collapse from exhaustion. After his shifts, local New York merchants saw his rescue-dog vest and treated him to free steak dinners in upscale Manhattan restaurants.

And, of course, there was Bretagne. Golden Retriever. Easygoing. Dutiful. Obsessed with food. Her owner and trainer, Denise Corliss, a firefighter from Harris County, Texas, brought Bretagne to Ground Zero while the rubble was still hot.

Bretagne went straight to work. She worked for 10 days solid. Ten agonizing days. Bretagne never quit. She napped onsite.

Denise recalls: “...There are images of Bretagne going to where she was directed to search, into the unknown, the chaotic environment. But even then, she knew who needed the comfort of a dog, and which firefighter needed to hold her close and stroke her fur.”

After 9/11, Bretagne also helped recovery efforts during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and Ivan. She retired at age 9.

Old age finally overtook her, she had a hard time using stairs, so Denise installed an above-ground pool to keep Bretagne’s joints limber.

In retirement, Bretagne became a reading dog at a local elementary school. First graders, too shy to read aloud, would read to a white-faced, elderly retriever who looked them in the eyes and smiled.

Bretagne visited students with special needs. She visited students with autism. She visited everyone.

She suffered kidney failure at age 16. She was put to sleep on June 7, 2016, and became the last of the 9/11 rescue dogs to end her earthly career.

Bretagne hobbled into the Cypress, Texas, animal hospital, one sunny Monday, only to discover the sidewalks and hallways were lined with firefighters, first responders, and rescue workers who saluted her.

Her remains were later escorted from the hospital, draped in an American flag.

We do not deserve dogs.

(Original post credit to Sean Dietrich)

06/09/2024

We could not agree more! 👏 Thank you Things Dog Handlers Say !!

02/09/2024

Dog breeds or mixed breeds are only as healthy as their foundations. Mixing two different breeds won’t simply wipe out common domestic dog health issues.

The world's largest research on designer crossbred dogs' health - performed by the Royal Veterinary College - proves that “DESIGNER” DOG CROSSES ARE NOT HEALTHIER than their PUREBRED ancestor breeds.
The research has been performed on the 3 most "popular" crosses: "Cockapoo", "Labradoodle", "Cavapoo".

https://www.rvc.ac.uk/vetcompass/news/new-rvc-research-debunks-belief-that-designer-crossbreed-dogs-are-healthier-than-purebreds

20/02/2023

Smile! You were made to have perfect teeth. Responsible Breeders care about every detail and correct bite alignment is no exception. Correct dental alignment means a happier, healthy dog with a bite to match their breed standard and purpose. Keeping teeth clean with regular brushing, scaling and veterinary dentals when necessary will prolong the life and wellbeing of your best friend.

15/07/2022

Always remember to check before you wreck!
"non-profit" organizations like PETA and HSUS invest most of their donated funds into marketing campaigns and salaries with the end goal of destroying purpose-bred animals, responsible breeding and pet ownership. Please donate or volunteer at your LOCAL shelters if you truly want to help animals in need.

Peak athletic condition isn't an illusion. Giving donations to big box organizations that tell you your money helps animals is. Check public tax returns to see where your money really goes before you donate.

08/07/2022

If you know, you know.

🥲

Our Etsy shop offers dog sport decals + apparel 🛍
canineaesthete.etsy.com

23/06/2022

Huge congratulations to the !

🎺 📸

16/05/2022

Breed absolutely affects behavior.


https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/does-dog-breed-affect-behavior/

A combination of breed and socialization will help determine how your dog will behave. Here's why breed matters when selecting a pet.

21/02/2022

Responsible Breeders require signed contracts from new owners to return any animal should they not be able to keep it.

Responsible Breeders and their parent breed clubs are the original founders of Rescue operations as a safety net for their beloved breeds. Responsible Breeders are not the source of the animals in shelters. Animal owners have a right to choose a animal for their needs. It's time for to . What do you think?

17/02/2022

“There is a movie coming out on Feb 18 called "Dog". It stars Channing Tatum and a highly trained Belgian Malinois. It's a road trip/buddy movie.

People are going to see this film and many will want their own Belgian Malinois. This is not going to end well for this breed.

A highly trained Malinois is a work of art. So is Michelangelo's statue of David but I don't necessarily want it in my living room.

This breed can be amazing in the right hands but they require a lot of everything. If you are considering getting a Malinois, please, first go meet some Malinois of all ages at your local rescue.

Be honest with yourself about the amount of time that you have to dedicate to training one of these dogs. Not the person that you want to be but the person that you are right now. Sitting on your ass and reading this post.

If you are still determined to get one. You can stem the inevitable tidal wave of Malinois that will be surrendered to the shelters by sourcing your dog in one of 3 places:

Your local shelter
A local Malinois rescue
A real, ethical breeder (researching one is hard work but an ethical breeder will prove their dogs and require that you return the dog to them if you can't keep it)

DO NOT get a Malinois from the guy down the street. Don't help backyard breeders line their pockets. Pure bred doesn't equal good breeding.

If you see the popularity of these dogs sky rocket and think you can make a quick buck by breeding some. May all of your financial ventures fail one after another.

From the bottom of my heart, I love this breed. I know what's coming and so do the shelters and rescues.”

- Shane Doss

In short, please enjoy the film “Dog” and admire the breed from afar unless you are truly researched and committed to adding one to your family.

(Photo credit to MGM Studios)

25/10/2021

Just another good reason to work with a Responsible Breeder or reputable rescue when choosing your next pet.

Over the next few days we are going to talk about the six most common mistakes we see advocates making when posting on social media. Please see Wednesday's post for the full background, and yesterdays post on inflammatory and defensive responses.

Today we are examining a statement we see a lot: “it’s all how you raise them”.

Here are some actual comments we read online in response to a recent dog bite fatality:

"It's all how you raise them 100% we have 5 pit bulls and they are big babies but if provoked like any animal they could do damage yes!!"

"Dogs are 80-90% how their human owners treat them and train them. The humans responsible for that dog should be held fully accountable for that attack."

"It's all about how they're raised, my dog is a rescue and has bad traits due to this. A dog is a product of their environment."

This seems to be an appealing sentiment, because it allows us to believe that we have full control over our dog’s behaviour. Unfortunately, it’s simply not true.

A dog is a product of both nature (genes and heredity) and nurture (environmental and external factors). Both factors play a significant role in all beings, not just dogs. Scientists have been unable to give a percentage as to how much influence both nature and nurture play. This is a very complex issue that is specific to the individual.

A dog can be raised in a home environment that has done everything possible to ensure a happy, healthy, and well-mannered dog. But despite these efforts they still end up with a fearful, anxious, unstable or even aggressive dog.

Why? Because genetics are real. A predisposition towards anxiety and fear can develop at the time of conception and can imprint a puppy from this moment. The mental and physical state of the momma dog during pregnancy has also been shown to affect the puppies for life.

On the flip side a dog could be raised in an environment that does everything wrong, and once removed from that environment that dog can flourish. You would expect this particular dog to never recover from the way it was raised but some of them certainly do.

We don’t know the exact balance of nature/nurture in any creature, but we know that temperament is ALWAYS a combination of both. That goes for good temperaments as well!

Some dogs have naturally stable and resilient personalities. These are the ones you see rescued from abusive or puppy mill seizures but go on to make fantastic family pets, even therapy or service dogs. If it was “all how you raise them” there would be no hope for these dogs, but there are a ton of these examples.

By denying the reality that a dog’s behaviour (like ours) is dictated by a combination of genetics, brain chemistry, environment – and probably a number of factors we don’t even know about yet – we aren’t giving them the respect they deserve. They are not blank slates or robots. They are complex, sentient, emotional animals. And that’s why we love them.

We suggest that we stop using “it’s all how you raise them” and refer instead to proven risk factors for behaviour. You could also talk about the responsibility of an owner to use behaviour modification and responsible management if their dog does show concerning behaviour. You can find information on both topics on our website.

15/08/2021

Meeting breeds and their is the best way to begin your journey to find the perfect dog for you and your family! Thank you to The American Kennel Club for hosting wonderful events!


https://www.cbs8.com/video/news/local/meet-the-breeds-of-the-american-kennel-club/509-5d3b9a36-e6ba-49bb-b630-c4a09cc6a131

Dogs of all shapes and sizes will be in the Convention Center this weekend

21/05/2021

Responsible breeders want to get to know their prospective puppy owners so they can make sure the dog is a good fit for their lifestyle!

If you're considering getting a dog from a breeder, and they ask you to reconsider if the breed is best for you, they're just looking out for everyone's best interest!

01/05/2021

On National Purebred Dog Day we want to take a moment to reflect on dog breeds and why it's so important to safeguard our right to choose which dog to add to our family.

Papers and pedigrees have no bearing on whether a dog deserves to be happy and loved. But wouldn’t it be nice to live in a world where every dog was chosen and wanted? Where every dog was bred intentionally with care and devotion by a breeder who was passionate and educated?





https://wp.me/p8qTkl-Aa

Papers and pedigrees have no bearing on whether a dog deserves to be happy and loved. But wouldn’t it be nice to live in a world where every dog was chosen and wanted? Where they went to home…

28/04/2021

Here's a great reminder that responsible breeders prioritize health!

A large number of French Bulldogs and other hyperbrachycephalic (flat faced) breeds struggle with being able to breathe properly and regulate their body temperature during physical exertion.

If you're interested in a flat faced breed, make sure to ask your breeder what health tests they're using to determine the dog's ability to breathe properly.

The breeder in this video prioritizes health in her dogs and uses real world situations, like taking her dog for a run, along with medical tests to ensure her dogs are good candidates for her breeding program.

We all want our pets to live the happiest, healthiest lives possible.

31/03/2021

Truth! ♥️

❤️

25/03/2021

“To confirm that the puppies’ successful behaviors were genetic, the researchers analyzed their pedigrees to see how related each dog was to the others. Then they compared this relatedness with the dogs’ performance on the tests. Approximately 43% of the variation in performance was due to genetics.”

Genetics matter. Responsible Breeders know this!

Study suggests social intelligence is genetically hardwired in our canine companions