Redwitch breeding
I believe that this breed was first imported to Barbados by Wayne Welch who won several Best in Shows with Akitas. He concentrated mainly on the Redwitch lines coming from Dave Killilea and his wife in the UK.
Wayne now appears to be concentrating on Rottweilers. The current main active Akita owners and breeders that I am aware of are Don Boyce, Laurie Beckles, Tramaine Worrel and Andy Taylor but there are lots of other breeders.
Besides Redwitch, lines such as Melodor and Goshens can be seen in local pedigrees. The breed is a relatively common one in Barbados and there are Akitas all over the island. There are even the Akdoodles. Yep, I saw a large headed goldenish coloured dog out walking. It had the Labrador type tail and its owner told me it was a x between an Akita and a Labrador. 🙂
Most of the Akitas I have come across seem to be kept in kennels unless there is only one and that one would be outside. I am told that it is not advisable to have Akitas left together outside in a pack as they are one of the breeds which were originally bred for fighting and may fight with each other.
Akita owners stick by their breed and say Akitas make loving pets and good guard dogs.
The Akita in the above pix. is Redwitch Take No Prisoners at Elthor. “Dark” was originally imported by Wayne Welch and was later on owned by Don Boyce. He was a nice example of the Akita, winning a Best in Show with Don the year before he died. His lines are on the island.
Tags: Japanese Akitas
A video of Ferelith Somerfield making the final cut for The Pup of the year, 2008, in the UK.
This judge is scheduled to judge BKC’s first all breeds championship show in March this year.
I am told that Ferelith Somerfield has judged in Barbados on several occasions
Tags: puppy judging
I have created this post and a category in this blog to assist local dog owners with puppy sales. However, understandably, I cannot post for everyone and all dogs. The guide lines are that I will put up information on puppies for sale, for people who are registered with this blog and who contribute to the blog. Also, people reading the blog and following up on any of the ads, are advised that the information on the puppies will come from the owners and in most cases, the puppies would be unseen by me unless the owner sends a pix.
I think it is a challenging time now in Barbados, just as in the UK and USA, to get off to good homes large litters of puppies.
Breeders should try to have bookings for a large number of puppies before they breed the dog as potential buyers often cancel at the last minute.
Besides the increased costs of dog food, I believe vets’ costs have also increased. The dog food which I buy from PriceSmart cost, I think, $73.00 for a 52 lb. bag early last year. Same dog food now costs $107.00 a bag!
And there has also being some very good promotion for the “rescue” dogs at the various institutions here.
And there are the usual large number of mixed breeds ads in the newspapers.
A lot of dogs are euthanised in Barbados and world wide. Sometimes people who buy a “cute” puppy are not prepared for the time, cost and energy it takes to happily keep it, to say nothing about the training of it as it grows from playful puppy to wilful dog.
Winning the award for Best Performance by an actor in a Motion Picture-Drama at the Golden Globes on January 11, 2009, was Mickey Rourke. The award was won for his lead role in “The Wrestler”.
Mickey thanked the usual people such as his director, agent, his co-stars, and the producers. And then he told the audience that he also wish to say thanks to his dogs – both past and present. He said “Sometimes when a man’s alone, all you have got is your dog and they mean the world to me.”
Bruce Springsteen wrote the theme song for the movie and won Best Song at the same Golden Globes.
At the Venice Film Festival last year, he brought along his 16 year old Chihuana Terrier mix. He currently owns 7 Chichuanas.
Tags: Mickey Rourke
Dogs love the tunnel in agility
Agility with The B’dos. Dog Training Club resumed its activities in early January. On its beginners’ classes are 13 dogs, one is a “mixed” breed and one is a German Shepherd from the Working Group. I understand the others are from the Gundog group.
Rita, a daughter of Rick Lois who is pictured above and who was imported from the Netherlands, is on a class which is also made up of dogs mainly from the Gundog group.
Rita has been doing agility from the time she was a puppy and sometimes she is exchanged for her littler sister, Rhapsody who also enjoys a run. I don’t allow my Bouviers to do any jumps until they are 18 months old when I feel their bone plates would have fused and it would be safe. I also obedience train my dogs from early puppies in the basis like sit, stay, come, down.
Most of the dogs doing agility in Barbados come from the Gundog group – Labrador Retrievers, and Golden Retrievers but that group is where most of the trainers of The B’dos. Dog Trainers Club own dogs which are also usually show dogs.
For a dog to be successful in agility, it needs to be obedience trained as it will be running off leash with its handler, it should not have structural defects as it will have to do jumps, and obstacles like the see-saw and A-frame.
Some breeds are noted as being easier to train and run in agility, like the Border Collie. Although there are a few Border Colllies on the island, I have never seen them being trained for this sport.
Agility is a team sport and a good handler and a well trained responsive dog can perform at a fast speed doing back crosses, and sequels and go ons with jumps.
Most dogs enjoy agility. Mine in particular enjoy the tunnels.
Tags: Agility
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2009/01/dog-show-fans-t.html
The above is a link to the Los Angeles Times newspaper of January 7th, 2009. The newspaper actually put up a poll where its readers could vote that PETA was correct is saying that USA Network should refrain from airing Westminster as breeding dogs for the show ring is unethical and should not be supported or that PETA is wrong as dog breeders promote responsible pet ownership and dog shows are fun to watch. The link is being circulated by dog groups worldwide. I did cast a vote in favour of USA Network supporting the showing of Westminster and the voting results for airing the show were far ahead of PETA’s votes.
Westminster is regarded as the most prestigious dog show in the USA and also the 2nd oldest sporting event in the USA.
Just when dog lovers had adjusted to the fact that the BBC would not be broadcasting Crufts as usual this year, comes the news that PETA would like to influence USA Networks not to broadcast Westminster.
According to PETA “Countless dogs suffer painful cosmetic surgeries and millions of wonderful dogs die in animal shelters because of the AKC’s inhumane policies…USA Network can take a stand against the cruel treatment of animals simply by denying air time to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show,” said PETA Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch.
“Beagles like last year’s Westminster winner, Uno, are susceptible to a wide variety of genetic health problems like hypothyroidism, epilepsy and demodectic mange” This was according to PETA.
Pedigree dogs definitely seem under attack. I would hope USA Networks ignores PETA.
Tags: pedigree dogs
Bouvier Des Flandres
This pix. was actually taken some minutes after the earlier one. But the lighting had changed. And composition became important.
Tags: Bouvier Des Flandres, Photography
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