Dogs in Barbados
It is early 2014.
This is a tough economy, with a lot of people losing jobs especially from the Government departments in Barbados and this may be responsible for the people who rescue dogs on the island being very busy. It is always kinder if a person can no longer afford to keep and care for their dog(s) to contact a rescue organisation and ask for help in rehoming than to just dump the dog somewhere away from its home to fend for itself.
The rescue groups, coming from the ARC, the HOPE and RSPCA, the Facebook group Lost and Found Pets, do a great job in helping dogs lost and found and also dogs abandoned in Barbados. I am impressed at the postings done on Facebook by the RSPCA pertaining to finding homes for dogs. Vets also help by allowing rehoming information to be posted on their notice boards.
I am seeing new trainers coming into the dog training pet market. I do not know much about them but they may have practical training backgrounds and experience. To me, to do simple exercises such as sit, down, stand, stay and come, once these trainers demonstrate with their own dogs, and the dogs’ owners are present, this is acceptable. There is also so much information a person can benefit from about dog training and dog behavioural issues through the internet.
The Government department, Animal Control Centre, held an open day on January 21 which was a public holiday. There were a number of speakers, some of them breeders like Sarah Hamilton of Crownridge Rhodesian Ridgebacks and I understand the open day was well supported by the dog community. The open day finished with Adrian Ward of The Barbados Working Dog Association giving a demonstration. Adrian is one of the 2 trainers I am aware of on the island who have received overseas training and who have a lot of experience in training the “working dog” types and can work in the field of protection training of dogs. The other trainer who likes to work with the working dog types is Linda Pearson who particularly likes German Shepherds from working lines and she received training from a top USA trainer, Michael Ellis, last year. I understand that the Animal Control Centre is planning more of these open type days. I was invited by them to attend but had another commitment. I would hope, as I see they are reaching out to the dog community, to attend on another occasion.
It seems popular now in some homes that used to have pedigree dogs now have a rescue dog and/or a mixed breed. and I have been told by several owners that these mixed breeds and rescue dogs are healthier than pedigree dogs. I have never seen any studies done to prove this and I would imagine that a lot of the “rescue” dogs have behavioural issues, such as being fearful and nervous because of their up bringing. I think that some people feel very good when they rescue a dog/puppy as opposed to buying a puppy from a pedigree breeder. Of course, some breeds of pedigree dogs, are more prone to health problems than others.
Agility, obedience and other dog training is going on in the island as usual. Looking overseas, I believe this is the first year that mixed breed dogs will be allowed at Westminster Dog Show, USA. Crufts, UK, for years, has allowed them. They compete and participate in agility and obedience and other activities.
The Barbados Kennel Club is regarded as a “closed” society by the dog community. This organisation has been seeing a drop in entries for their all breeds championship dogs’ shows and a drop in spectator attendance and I do expect the number to drop even further in 2014 unless this organisation operates differently.
Although I like and have respect for the mixed breeds/rescue dogs, I have pedigree Bouvier Des Flandres and one Tibetan Terrier. I do love those breeds and I do enjoy watching the pedigree dogs and the excellent handling at Westminster and Crufts.
I plan to participate in a lot of agility and competitive obedience training in 2014. Once my dogs are made up as Champions, I am one of the ones who will possibly attend fewer Barbados Kennel Club All Breeds Championship Dog Shows.
Tags: Animal Control Unit, B'dos. Kennel Club, Dog shows in Barbados, Dog training in Barbados, dogs in Barbados
