Airedales West - West of England and South Wales Airedale Terrier

Summer Magazine
Issue No 82
Airedales West
West of England
and
South Wales Airedale Terrier Club
Website www.airedaleclub.org.uk
WESWATC
Summer Magazine
Welcome to our Summer Magazine. I hope I am presenting a varied magazine, but once
again I must politely say that the magazine very much depends upon the input of the
Club’s members. Please don’t be shy about submitting your articles, anecdotes or
photographs for inclusion in future issues. Whilst I can collect and produce a certain
amount of information myself, it is always good to have those personal stories about your
Airedale. For instance, do you take your dog on holiday and if so what does he or she get
up to? Would this interest other readers? My intention of having an “In the Spotlight”
feature has not materialised as no-one has sent through any photos! I would also be very
pleased to receive your personal recommendation for Kennels, Vets, Dog Sitters etc. please
see P4.
There is a full report in this issue of the Hewish Open Show held in February and details of
the Dartmoor Walk held on 5th May. I would welcome your ideas for areas where a future
walk might be organised or for that matter for any other activities which you would like to
see the Club organise.
Trimming and Socialization meetings continue each month at Winscombe Community Hall,
North Somerset, except September when there is the Fun Day and December. All are
welcome and there is always a very good supply of cakes to go with the tea!
Can I also please draw attention to the deadline for the Calendar photos which is 30th June.
If you would like your dog to feature, send your photos in the requisite format to Alan
Shellard - see page 16.
Jacky Cawston
Any articles, items for inclusion in the next magazine may be sent to
[email protected] or telephone 07831 316536 for a mail address.
Content
Page
1
1A
2
3
4
5
6/7
8/9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Fun Day
Rushmoor Training Club
Jacky Cawston
Report on Dartmoor Walk on 5th May
Fame is a Fickle Thing!
Vicky Concannon
Trimming Dates/Recommended Kennels etc/ Play Time with your Airedale
Your Dog’s Teeth/ Next Walk /Training Tip
Jacky Cawston
Airedale Terrier Health Fund Report
David Brand
Natural Feeding
Geoff Johnson MRCVS
Cartoon/Poem
Hewish Open Show Report 2013
Gerrard Morris
Photo Gallery
Foods Poisonous to your Dog /The Older Dog /Car Access
Judith Stanford
Wildlife, Gardening and Freddie
Ann Griffiths
Donald Millar’s Book
Ruth Millar
Calendar 2014
Alan Shellard
-1A-
DARTMOOR
WALK
on 5th May 2013
It was a gem of a day, beautiful sunshine, yet with a breeze which kept dogs and owners pleasantly
cool. A total of 20 people, 12 Airedales and three other dogs joined me at Haytor on the eastern side
of Dartmoor. In choosing this location I was aware that it is rather far south for many Club members,
but the opportunity to walk in beautiful scenery comprising open moor land was my reason. I think
we were well rewarded. I had chosen a circular route and took notice of a “mini-lecture” I received
from a Dartmoor National Park official who warned me that dogs must be under close control.
Airedales??? I thought – well I could try. However, the dogs behaved impeccably and we were
fortunate to only meet two groups of animals – one of Dartmoor ponies and the other, some black
cattle.
After a stop for lunch and a bit reluctant to leave our warm spot against a stone wall, we continued up
the main hill climb (!) to be rewarded with magnificent views as far as Princetown in the west, famous
for its prison and way over towards Okehampton in the north west then right around south looking
towards Salcombe. A real panorama. I think the dogs were more interested in the ever changing
smells!
At one point we got to a Tor, for which Dartmoor is famous – large outcrops of very chunky granite
boulders appearing as though they have been dropped by a giant - and it was here that some of the
group and their dogs clambered up for a better view. From here we were walking towards Haytor
Rocks, making a slight detour to the granite quarry pool with its’ clear, cold water. Several dogs
ventured in for a swim and one excelled in retrieving sticks. This love of water must be a throw-back
to the influence of Otterhound in the breed.
Then it was a 15 minute walk to return to our starting point. We had been out from 12 noon to nearly
4 pm and so a number of us re-grouped at a nearby cafe for cream teas and would you believe the sun
was still out! Jacky Cawston
-2-
FAME IS A FICKLE THING! ….. Vicky Colcannon
I can only talk about it now; it brought on an attack of the vapours and it’s taken this long for
me to be able to even look at it. What am I talking about you may ask as if you didn’t know –
the 2012 calendar!
It’s not as if there aren’t enough photos of me. My owners Terry and Vicky have taken
hundreds of them and from my best side. I have replaced their children in the photo stakes.
At one time they used to take copious amounts of photos of their sons, now they are photos of
me, a much better idea that shows my true standing in the family.
I adorn many a wall of their relatives in pride of place. I am in the kitchen, in their living
rooms, on their cameras and computers. I was of course Mr February in the WESWATC
calendar.
I’d like to say that it doesn’t matter, that it doesn’t hurt but I can’t. I have been usurped by
not one, by not two, but four dogs. Yes four of my own breed. Was I warned what to expect?
Did anyone tell me what had happened? No. Can you imagine what a shock it was to see
other Airedales in my place? I had to collect all my belongings together and lie down –
It’s taken a long time to come to terms with! Terry and Vicky have tried to help in their own
ways, but they can’t understand how it feels. I have decided for now to remain aloof and not
get my hopes up. I will accept treats and long walks. I will allow lots of fussing and hope
that in time the hurt will fade.
The whole family is now working on taking as many photos of me in different situations as
possible in the hope that one will get through for the 2014 calendar. They have even bought
an old camper van to take me on location and provide varied backgrounds.
I need to lie down now – fame is so exhausting. We know it will be a long and hard struggle
but we are determined to re-gain my rightful place in the calendar for next year. After all, the
calendar needs dogs like me and I can’t let my fans down.
Teddy. Owned by Vicky Concannon
PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLES TO THE
EDITOR [email protected] or tel 07831 316536 for a mail
address.
-3-
Our New Feature on Recommended Kennels, Groomers etc.
Phil Down recommends The Pet Studio at Congresbury, near Bristol. They have 8 single
and 2 double, fully heated luxury kennels with 3 metre runs. Dogs are exercised 3 times each
day in their secure one-acre paddock. They also run a grooming parlour at the premises and
Liza has attended WESWATC Trimming classes to learn Airedale hand-stripping.
Contact 01934 877442 or visit www.thepetstudio.co.uk
TRIMMING AND SOCIALIZATION CLASSES are held at
Winscombe Community Hall, Sandford Road, Winscombe, North
Somerset BS25 1JA from 2.30 – 5.30 pm
16th June
21st July
18th August
20th October
17th November
(No class in December)
These are friendly sessions where you can learn to groom your Airedale in the traditional
way as well as having the opportunity to socialize your Airedale and meet like-minded
people. Costs for the Trimming tuition are £2 and 50p for unlimited tea or coffee and 50p
for each portion of cake. Further details can be obtained from Ruth Millar on 01278
641190
***************************************************
Play Time with your Airedale
Try the dog game of Hide and Seek to teach your pet to use its nose, this is a very simple
game to play either inside or outside.
Start by putting a tasty treat in an easy to find place, (the game needs to be easy to start with),
such as under the patio table or inside by a chair leg then take your pet to within sniffing
distance of the treat and command your pet to ‘find’. When your pet finds the treat, and eats it,
praise your pet and give him lots of fuss. Gradually as your pet becomes more skilled at
finding the treat, make the game harder and hide it in less obvious places.
Once your pet has got the hang of Hide and Seek, keep your dog outside the room while you
hide the treats so that when he is commanded to ‘find’ he has to think about what is expected
of him. Your pet will start to use its tracking skills until he finds the treats. Plenty of praise and
fuss will ensure your Airedale enjoys playing the game.
A word of caution:
Airedales are quite boisterous and excitable when playing so be careful where the treats are
left so that nothing gets broken!
-4-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~T e e t h~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Teeth and Gum Care Like humans, attention should be paid to
your Airedale’s teeth. Look inside your dog’s mouth regularly (Be
brave!) to check for odour, inflammation and possible debris. From
an early age it is recommended that you train your dog to allow you to
brush their teeth and gums with a soft toothbrush. Do not use human
toothpaste as your dog will not appreciate the taste or foaming
sensation. Instead use dilute salt water or special canine toothpaste
that can be obtained from a pet shop.
WALK in the Autumn
I am planning a Walk for the Autumn, late September/early October which will
probably now be in the Mendips area, and not Taunton Canal as previously
suggested. I think the tow path alongside the canal will be too narrow for a group
of people and dogs! Further details to be sent out later. Jacky Cawston
~~~~~~~~~
TRAINING YOUR DOG TO SIT
To get your dog to do a good “Sit” – when he is standing in front of you – move
to face your dog and holding a high value treat such as liver or cheese, raise your
hand with the titbit, the dog will look up and his bottom should touch the ground!
As you raise your hand give the command “Sit” but do not repeat the word over
and over again. Your dog should learn to respond to a single command only.
Later on you should find that you can dispense with the verbal command and
simply raise your hand up in front of you, and the dog will immediately sit. (Yes I
know we are dealing with Airedales, but it should come in time!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**********
Airedale Greeting Cards etc can be obtained from the WESWATC shop at
Shows and Trimming and other Airedale memorabilia direct from “The Art
of Terriers www.ragtail.co.uk - designed by Ann Curran.
-5-
The Airedale Terrier Health Fund –
D. N. A. Bank
As many of you are aware, the Airedale Terrier Health Fund is currently trying to establish a DNA bank
for the breed. The fund is actively seeking to encourage breeders to provide DNA samples of their
breeding stock, and hence create a bank. This will become invaluable should our breed be targeted by a
genetic disease. With that in mind, this article aims to inform everyone of the science behind DNA and
how you can provide DNA samples.
What is DNA?
A chromosome is a piece of nucleoprotein (DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid) arranged into units, or genes
which are responsible for the transmission of hereditary characteristics e.g. coat, colour, eye shape etc
from one generation to the next. The individual genes occupy a fixed position on the chromosome.
Every cell in the body contains a full set of pairs of genes; one of each pair comes from the sire, paternal
genes and the other from the dam, maternal genes. Thus at mating the dog’s sperm cell carries a full set
of his chromosomes, representing each and every male gene. The bitch’s egg does likewise for the
female genes. At fertilisation each cell receives a set of both types of genes. Genes are called the genetic
blueprints; in other words they carry the plans to make up the new individual which arises from the
fertilised egg.
However, occasionally something goes wrong with this process and genetic change, or mutation occurs,
causing abnormalities. If the mutation is severe, genetic (inherited) disease may result. If the particular
genes which cause such changes can be identified, it may be possible to develop a DNA-based test for
the particular disease, to identify not only affected individuals, but carriers as well, thus enabling
breeders to potentially control or even eradicate the disease by careful planning of breeding programmes.
Thus building up a DNA data bank for each breed is an important step forward in the
fight against either a pre-existing inherited disease, or in the case of any new disease that
may appear in the future.
How can this be applied to breeding programs?
The tests are based on a small amount of DNA prepared from tissue taken from an individual dog.
Ideally blood tissue will be sued, this DNA sample will contain all the chromosomal material, and hence
all of the genes, present in that individual. The DNA will then be screened to see if it contains no copies,
one copy or two copies of a particular mutant gene. For a disease known to result from a single recessive
mutation, if no mutant copies are present, the animal is clear. If one copy is present the animal is a
carrier and if two copies of the mutant gene are present it will be affected.
Being able to identify carriers will have an immense impact on breeding programmes which will be able
to be designed to reduce the frequency of the mutant gene in the breed. If possible, carriers can be
removed from the breeding stock, thereby preventing them passing on their mutation to further
generations.
However, DNA technology offers far more than this. (In fact, carriers can be identified from traditional
pedigree analysis without sophisticated DNA tests and removed from the breeding stock). Removal of
carriers from breeding stock may not be the ideal solution because, although you are minimising the
spread of the mutant gene, you may also be removing positive qualities that the breed requires in order to
maintain its overall health; in other words, you could be throwing the baby out with the bath water.
The availability of a DNA test allows much more subtle manipulation of breeding programmes to reduce
the frequency of a particular mutation whilst retaining some of the positive features present in affected
lines. For example, let us say that we have been able to identify a carrier bitch using a DNA test. Rather
than simply removing this bitch from the breed’s pool of breeding bitches, we can screen potential mates
and identify a dog that is clear of the mutation.
-6-
The Airedale Terrier Health Fund cont
If the clear dog and carrier bitch are now mated, appproximately half of their offspring will be carriers
and the other half will be totally clear of the disease gene, so there will be no clinically affected dogs in
the litter. However, we can go one step further, by DNA testing the reality can be different. In principle,
if you flip a coin it has 50% chance of coming down ‘heads’ and 50% chance of coming down ‘tails’; in
reality you often get runs of either ‘heads’ or ‘tails’. So, the proportion of offspring in individual litters
could differ from the expected outcomes given above. Therefore, we can identify the carriers and the
clears of the resulting progeny. Once identified, the clear can then be bred on thereby removing the
mutant gene from the population, but at the same time retaining many of the positive features that the
line has to offer.
The Airedale Terrier Health Fund cont
Collection Methods
Blood samples will be taken by your Vet. It is suggested that the sample be collected as part of a general
health check, or on any other occasion when blood is being drawn. Alternatively, cheek swabs can be
taken by you; these are available from the Health Fund Co-ordinator. Full instructions are provided with
the swab kit. The completed submission form, a five generation pedigree and any health certificates
available should accompany the sample. The DNA samples will be stored by the Animal Health Trust.
It is hoped that all breeding stock will have a DNA sample stored in the bank, along with a
DNA profile.
As many breeders are now members of the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme, DNA profiles are one
of its requirements. It is likely that more of the present breeding population have profiles than not. This,
in itself enables the verification of pedigrees, should that be necessary and will ensure that any pedigree
analysis will be accurate.
However, DNA samples are still wanted from these dogs, together with any health information. All
health information should be sent direct to the co-ordinator and the source of the information will remain
confidential.
The Fund
The Health Fund committee is made up of representatives from each breed club together with the
Airedale Terrier Training Club of Rushmoor. The main thrust of the committee’s work has been
fundraising. As things get harder financially, raising money becomes harder and I would like to say how
much we appreciate the help given by the clubs. We set ourselves an initial target of £30,000 as this is
the cost of developing a DNA test for a simple single gene mutation. We are just under £10,000 short of
that goal. As a relatively small group of breeders and enthusiasts, collecting large sums of money
quickly is not really possible, so it is vital we keep the fundraising going to reach our target. We need to
have the funds available should they be needed. The ATHF will have representatives at most General
Championship and Breed Club shows throughout the year, who will be happy to answer any questions
you may have.
If you would like more information about the ATHF, please contact our secretary/health co-ordinator:Mrs Christine Keay
Homestead
15 Perrins Lane
Wollscote
Stourbridge DY9 8XP
Tel 01384 897010
Email [email protected]
Information for this article was provided by the Animal Health Trust, the Kennel Club and Sue Wrigley.
David Brand
Chairman
Airedale Terrier Health Fund
-7-
ARE YOU POISONING YOUR DOG?
By Geoff Johnson MA VetMB MRCVS Vet MF.Hom
Over the last two or three million years, dogs have evolved to survive optimally on the diet
which is still eaten by wild dogs and wolves. He may look different on the outside, but inside
he is the same. Remember that dog food only came into common usage after World War II.
To remain in top health your dog should eat a “wild diet”.
What is in a “wild” diet?
When a gazelle is pulled down by a pack of wild dogs, the first thing they do is rip open the
abdomen and eat the internal organs and the stomach contents. These stomach contents are
very important, and consist of grass, roots and herbs chewed thoroughly twice by the gazelle.
They then eat the entire carcass – bones and all. As scavengers after the big cats have left, wild
dogs frequently just eat bones with scraps of meat attached and the stomach contents. They
also eat eggs, bark, insects, ripe fruit, soil, herbs, birds, small mammals, roots and droppings.
The important points of a natural diet are RAW MEATY BONES, RAW PULVERSIED
VEGETABLES and LARGE VARIETY.
What is commercial dog food?
It is cooked – this destroys many of the vitamins, alters the proteins making digestion difficult,
removes texture for chewing exercise, combines minerals preventing absorption.
It has no variety
It has no bones
It often contains chemicals
It often contains soya bean, wheat or rice, which are not natural dog foods.
It often is marginal in vitamins and contains too much salt.
It maybe made from ingredients considered unfit for human consumption.
It is totally unnatural for your dog and I estimate creates about a third of our business!
How do I make a healthy diet at home?
50% raw meaty bones and 50% liquidized raw vegetables provide a perfect base. The
vegetable must be liquidized (as in the stomach of a gazelle) to assist digestion. Whole raw
vegetables will largely pass straight through your dog leaving no goodness. Cooked vegetables
can be fed un-liquidized, but will contain fewer vitamins.
In addition to the above, throw in a variety of eggs, liver, kidney, table scraps (not just fat and
gravy though) peas, beans, ripe fruit and everything that you eat, preferably raw – no junk food
and no chocolat of course. Porridge oats is the best cereal and could form up to 20% of the
diet; wheat products are worst. Rice is good for upset stomachs.
Other good things to give regularly are yoghurt (plain), brewers yeast, sunflower oil, linseed
oil, and kelp tablets or seaweed powder. (Don’t forget the horse and sheep poo that your dog
eats anyway!)
How do I buy a Healthy Diet?
You can purchase frozen packs of raw meat, such as chicken and heart etc from a company like
-8-
Are you Poisoning your Dog? Cont
Forthglade. It has all the advantages of a raw, meaty bone diet except that it won’t clean the
teeth. It is ideal for puppies, old dogs, and anytime you haven’t got any bones. You can also
buy a good quality wholemeal bake with added herbage, such as made by Natural Choice who
are committed to the philosophy of a “wild diet”. (www.holisticfeeds.co.uk) The wholebake
will then take the place of the liquefied vegetables. A combination of these two, plus any
healthy additions you wish to make, provides the best diet and should show in positive health
effects.
Consider this –
We seem to be able to feed our children successfully without an all-in-one balanced children’s
food! The following may be what you are feeding your dog when giving some commercially
prepared complete foods –
Tiny bits of old hen including claws and beaks, lots of cereals, often wheat, soya, slaughter
house rejects, E numbers mixed together and heated. Vitamins are then artificially added. This
is then dried and extruded as enticing brown pellets, and sprayed with oil to make it taste
good.!!
The Importance of Raw Meaty Bones
Raw meaty bones are the finest food for your dog, chicken, lamb, rabbit, beef and fish being
best in that order. Remember variety. Cooked bones or bones with no flesh are dangerous.
Bones provide the perfect mineral balance to build bones in young puppies, or maintain bones
in an adult. They exercise the forelimbs and head. They keep the teeth clean – a third of all
veterinary income in the USA comes from dentistry problems caused by eating textureless
slop. Bones contain excellent proteins, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals etc. They can
be obtained easily and cheaply from your butcher, especially chicken wings which are ideal for
all dogs and especially puppies - much better and much cheaper than commercial dog food.
They enable your dog to form firm faeces, which empties the anal glands and is easier to pick
up in public areas.
A commercially produced dog food requires expensive packaging and uses natural resources to
create unhygienic faeces. This means that not only does your animal benefit from a natural
diet but so does our environment.
Geoff Johnson
-9-