I read in today’s “Nation” newspaper that an Akita was brutally killed after it bit a one and a half year old child. Apparently the child “was calling the dog’s name, Shawn, over and over and hitting him. Then the dog pushed his head through the gallery and clamped on to the boy’s hand,”
The newspaper reported the child’s father as saying “As I was driving away I said, ‘Don’t let me see that dog when I get back’, because I was so angry. Later, I got a phone call telling me the dog dead . . . . I was angry before, but when I saw him, I couldn’t take it,” an emotional English said.
” Lawmen said that Elvis Ezekiel Walrond, 34, of River Land, was taken into custody after the dog was found with its head, nose and leg partially severed.”
The RSPCA’s Inspector Wayne Norville called the incident a “wanton act of cruelty” and urged families with a dog to socialise the animal with every family member to ensure similar incidents would not recur.
Japanese Akita
I suspect that there is going to be the usual out cry that this particular breed is vicious, dangerous, cannot be trusted among other things.
However, no dog appreciates being teased or constantly being hit by a child and adults watching children with dogs should explain that. Children like to jump, run and play and may have shrill voices which may attract a dog’s attention, large dogs can easily without meaning to, cause small children to fall and can also play too rough for a small child. Even small dogs might get excited at what seems like a game and might nip the small child.
It is very important for people owning dogs to socialise them early from puppyhood. There are many pictures around of small children with dogs and most dogs love children but children need to be taught by adults not to interfer with a dog when it is eating, or sleeping, or take away a dog’s bone or treasued toy or to hit the dog or tease it.
The child was reportedly taken to the an emergency medical centre for treatment and I hope he will recover well.
I hope too that adults reading about the incident who know they have small children and dogs, supervise the childen’s activities around the dog or if unable to supervise them, keep them separated. There are dogs who will let what they regard as “their children” do anything with them, stare in their eyes, pull their ears, blow in their faces and when the dogs get tired of the behaviour, if possible, they will get up and find another area to lie down to escape their human playmate!
Bo toys have sold well
These beanie baby look like Bo toys were introduced in stores in the USA two days after Bo, the Portuguese Water Dog puppy was unveiled by the Obama family. Priced at $4.99 they sold out in a few hours with fresh “litters” then being produced to meet the demand.
Of course, you can also imagine children telling parents they really would like a real one as well!
I saw in a recent post of DogWorld that a man recently kicked to death his fiancee’s Yorkshire Terrier. A Yorkshire Terrier is a toy breed, according to the standard, with a weight not exceeding 7 lbs.
There were some of this breed in Barbados years ago with pedigrees and I believe there are still some pure breed ones, but I am not sure whether they are registered.
The RSPCA in the UK decided not to bring any criminal charges as a post modern revealed that the dog did not suffer, it died instantly.
Killing a dog with one kick, or ten kicks is still killing a domesticated animal and in most animal lovers’ minds should carry a harsh penalty. The Yorkshire Terrier was a gift from the same man three years previously.
Disappointing response from RSPCA who said ” Evidence of suffering is necessary for cruelty to be proven in the courts and as an expert ruled that suffering did not occur animal welfare offences could not be considered.”
Norman Llewellyn, 52, from Hertfordshire, has been blasted by animal lovers including novelist Jilly Cooper. His name will be known and circulated to dog lovers.
- Yorkshire Terrier
A man kicking a poor defenceless under 10 lb dog should send red flags to people dealing with him. The woman has reportedly ended the relationship and is “heartbroken” after her pet was killed by the man in an argument who took out his frustation with her by kicking the small Yorkshire Terrier.
A pug with shades
The famous designer loves Pugs and has six of them. He recently had a competition which 450 Pugs entered and the object was to select the 20 “most fashionable”. The above is known as Pugger Doodle and was only a runner up but with its incognito appearance, it certainly would have attracted a lot of attention walking down any street.
This breed was in Barbados a long time ago, and I doubt there are any now in the island. The pug is a breed which I believe airlines do not like to be responsible for carrying as cargo, because of its snout nose, it could have difficulty in breathing, especially when stressed or over heated.
Here are a few of the ones I find cute:
To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs.
–Aldous Huxley 1894 English Novelist.
If dogs could talk, perhaps we’d find it just as hard to get along with them as we do people.
–Karel Capek 1890-1938 Czech Journalist.
You never realize a dog is a man’s best friend until you start betting on horses.
Dogs are lousy poker players. When they get a good hand they wag their tails.
Dumb dog. I bought a dog whistle. He won’t use it.
A guy wanted the vet to cut his dog’s tail off. The vet asked why. Well, my mother in law is visiting next month and I want to eliminate any possible indication that she is welcome.
Ladies and gentlemen are permitted to have friends in the kennel but not in the kitchen.
–George Bernard Shaw 1856 British Dramatist.
Oh, what is the matter with poor Puggy-Wug? Pet him and kiss him and give him a hug. Run and fetch him a suitable drug. Wrap him up tenderly all in a rug. That is the way to cure Puggy-Wug.
–Winston Churchill, on his daughter Mary’s pet pug.
The great pleasure of a dog is that you make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, he will make a fool of himself too.
–Samuel Butler
They never talk about themselves but listen to you while you talk about yourself, and keep up an appearance of being interested in the conversation.
–Jerome K. Jerome, English humorist
They are better than human beings, because they know but do not tell.
–Emily Dickenson
Money will buy a pretty good dog, but it won’t buy the wag of his tail.
–Josh Billings
I have a great dog. She’s half Lab, half pit bull. A good combination. Sure, she might bite off my leg, but she’ll bring it back to me.
–Jimi Celeste
They say the dog is man’s best friend. I don’t believe that. How many of your friends have you neutered?
–Larry Reeb
A dog is like an eternal Peter Pan, a child who never grows old and who therefore is always available to love and be loved.
–Aaron Katcher, American Educator and Psychiatrist
His name is not wild dog anymore, but the first friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always.
–Rudyard Kipling
Ch. Calliope Rhapsody enjoying agility
Agility restarted a few weeks ago, and Rita (Rap’s litter sister out of Netherlands import Ch. Rick Lois From the Dogsfarm at Calliope and the UK import Ch. Farleycross So Far So Good of Calliope) whom I had booked for the agility class and was working with in agility now for a while, went into season.
There is no regulation that states that a female dog in season cannot compete in a conformation dog show. However, a dog in season is not allowed to compete in agility or obedience. She is also not welcomed on agility and obedience classes when in season.
I have been running in agility now for a few years, and I am a believer in Jane Simmons-Moake’s books and tapes so although Rhapsody has not had much agility training I am a seasoned agility person.
A lot of the mistakes which are made in agility are made by the handlers, and once the handlers make the mistake, the dog will usually follow the mistake.
If a person yells “tunnel”, but their body (feet and arms and hand) point elsewhere, the chances are that the dog is going to follow the body language and I know that! Especially if the dog is very fast. MY Bouvier who is very well respected for agility is Dena, CD, a super fast dog.
Raps follows my body language and she is obedient trained to legs, A and B of Novice. And she seems to be really enjoying herself.
Looking at the top agility competitors overseas, a lot of the handlers are males and I was amused and pleasantly surprised to find, I think, 4 males on the class. Most of the dogs are from the gundog group but there is a German Shepherd dog which is doing well.
For me, I have always wanted a dog which is fast but to do a clean run as to be fast and make mistakes will cost you points.
Bouviers, from the herding/working group, can be very fast dogs but I want to build speed slowly as I want clean runs and Rhapsody has really surprised me with her enthusiasm.
A clean run is a run where the agility course is followed as set, and the dog makes correct contact with the obstacles such as the A-frame, see-saw, and does not knock over the jumps and does not refuse to do any part of the course.
Credit should be given to The B’dos. Dog Training Club, especially Jean Ray. Sarah Hamilton is assisting Jean with the training of the “Novice” class as it has approx. 11 handlers so the class is split into two.
As Rhapsody is doing so well and enjoying herself, I might let her continue the course Rita was booked for.
Raps was hesistant with the see-saw and heights but once she did them, she wanted to return without any command. I noticed at the last class which had jumps and a table, she remembered the table from an earlier jump and took the initiative and did it on her own as I, the handler, forgot to tell her but she read my body language and bouviers are a very smart breed 🙂
Tags: agility Barbados
Alleged to be worth $4.2 million, a young Thai jewelry designer, Riwin Jirapolsek, crafted a tiara for his pet 15 year old Maltese. The tiara is reported to be made from titanium, encrusted with 250-carats of diamonds and emeralds and these precious stones were given to the jewelry designer by his mother.
He is now looking at making a hair clip for his pet as well as it is one of the breeds,(Shiz Tzu is another breed which may use hair clips) whose fur may block its eyes. Barbados has no Maltese that I am aware of.
The above information on the tiara was reported on Reuters who also reported that despite the economic crisis around, the recent Bangkok dog show had several dog lovers dressing their pets up in elaborate costumes and accessories
Huh, Bouviers anytime your fur is blocking your eyes look for the scissors or a rubber band.
🙂
🙂
- Laughing at a dog show
Here’s a report (unfortunately I don’t know who wrote the below but I saw it in a magazine)
First tme at a dog show, I’ll tell you quite plain.
I’ll never, no never, go near one again.
The breeder said “show him” when I bought my dog
I showed him alright, the whole place was agog.
They gave me a number, they gave me a pin,
But I couldn’t bear to stick the thing in
arrived at the righside to find we were first
In the puppy class (this part is the worst)
We marched in together as fast as we were able
So I rushed to the shop, and bought some clear glue
Then I stuck the card onto his back in the loo!
We arrived at the Judge who said “up on the table”.
This really surprised me, my skirt was quite tight
And I just couldn’t make it, try as I might
The judge looked quite worried, he said “Listen here,
put the dog on the table, not you, my dear!”
By now, I was trembling, I felt such a fool
But said to myself ….”play it cool”
“How old” said the judge, I heard quite clear
Well really, I thought and said “Thirty next year”
The steward, poor fellow, threw a kind of fit.
He spluttered and coughed and his eyes ran a bit.
“I’d have that cough seen to” I said when he finally stopped
and then started again.
“Once round the ring, dear, fast as you can”
Said the judge, so I did. I just ran and ran.
But when I arrived (out of breath I’ll admit)
The judge said “your dog dear,”, I felt such a twit.
Off once again, I kept my head bent
Oh, the shame, my pup crouched, he just went and went
A lady came running with bucket and spade
With manure so spicy, has she got it made?
We came back to the Judge, who said with a frown
“Stand your dog” – I said “Please Sir, he’s not lying down”
“You can take first place stand” he said. I said “ta”
What a job I had getting that stand in the car.
🙂
Tags: dog shows
Barbados Kennel Club award top show dogs for 2008
After the Annual General Meeting, the Barbados Kennel Club held its Annual Awards Dinner to honour the owners of the top show dogs on the island for 2008.
Top dog went to the Min. Schnauzer which always won its group (60 points) and only had the Akitas to compete against. It did, however, win a Reserve Best in Show.
Best locally Best Dog of the Year went to the Bouvier owned by me.
She won a Best in Show, and a Reserve Working Group and she was an easy leader for both Dog of the Year Awards but the third show was a disaster for most of us as that judge put up German Shepherd Dogs for BIS, RBIS, BLBIS, BPIS. But the disaster judging of the third show did not affect the Min. Schnauzer of the Utility Group as it got its usual group points.
The present point system has just 5 points difference between the Utility Group and the Working Group which comprises the Bouvier, Bull Mastiff, Dobermann, Dogue De Bordeaux, Neo Mastiff, Rottweiler, Great Dane, German Shepherd and the Boxer.
I appreciate that The B’dos. Kennel Club acknowledges its top dogs.
I received a double plaque for Ch. Calliope Rhapsody as I am the owner as well as the breeder of the B’dos. Kennel Club’s Best Locally Bred Dog, 2008.
Woof, woof, we can swim in the sea, but we are not allowed to land on that beach!!!
The B’dos. Kennel Club held its Annual General Meeting for the year which ended on July 31st, 2008 on April 23rd, 2009 at The Barbados Yacht Club at 6:00 pm.
The B’dos. Kennel Club has shared facilities with other dog clubs which include a club house and the grounds at Waterford. That is where the AGMs are normally held. The club has its own tables and chairs, and a “cooler” is brought down filled with ice and drinks. Sometimes sandwiches and snacks are also available. The meetings are casual and members feel comfortable arriving in shorts, and t-shirts.
The BKC’s AGMs are not usually well attended but yesterday’s took the cake, eh, sorry, I meant bone!!!
Excluding the BKC Committee members and the 2 spouses, 2 children who were there, by my count, 5 members, including myself. attended the Annual General Meeting. I believe the Barbados Kennel Club has over 160 members.
I have nothing against The Barbados Yacht Club. When I arrived there were lots of people playing lawn tennis, some were at the bar, some were at the beach. The Barbados Yacht Club members were enjoying themselves at their private club.
The Barbados Yacht Club is a great facility for its members but in my opinion, it is not a good venue for The Barbados Kennel Club’s AGM.
The B’dos. Kennel Club has its own clubhouse where its members are accustomed to going for AGMs. The club house at Waterford is also very centrally located for most of us and in this weather, it would have been pleasant to be enjoying a breeze among the trees and settings of our Club as opposed to the cold walls of someone else’s building.
Tags: B'dos. Kennel Club
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