The Carolina Toonie Fall 2014 Edition

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Table of Contents

Club News ……………………………………………………………………3

The Healthy Toonie ……………………………………………………….... 4

Genetics and Breed Development …………………………………………..10

The Intelligent Toonie ……………………………………………………....16

So What Is A Carolina Toonie ………………………………………………22

Examining The Key Ingredients …………………………………………….27

Breeder List …………………………………………………………………29

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Note from the club president

First I would like to give a huge thank you to all of the members of the Carolina Toonie Association. By joining the association you are helping to promote and develop this wonderful breed. Various people have been working for many years towards developing a of this type, and I am thrilled that we know have the chance to come together and work to gain recognition. I hope that this newsletter provides a means whereby we can increase our knowledge and share ideas to better develop the breed. To introduce myself I acquired my first Carolina Toonie eleven years ago. Since then I have bred Toy Shelties (my kennel name was Sprightly Shelties), an occasional Carolina Toonie litter, Longcoat Chihuahuas, and English Shepherds. My kennel name is Sunny Vale. I have shown my in and agility, and my dogs go hiking quite a bit. In breeding Carolina Toonies my goal is to create a small, agile, healthy, and beautiful dog that is calm, smart, and able to go hiking and compete in agility. In the future I will be organizing shows and fun-days where breeders can compare, share ideas, and promote the breed. As president I would like to encourage everyone to contribute photos, ideas, and feedback to this newsletter and to development of the association. Our breed is taking off. The club website Carolinatoonie.com is receiving an average of 70 views a day, and our Facebook page has reached 74 likes with an audience of over 3,000 people as of September 2014.

Helen Lessley Club president Photo credit: This page upper right hand photo is Helen Lessley with Bonnie and Meghan

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The Healthy Toonie: You are what you eat

A few weeks ago I was out hiking alongside the Chattooga river with my pups. Suddenly I grabbed my dogs, yelled, and jumped backwards to avoid a huge rattlesnake that was stretched out on the trail. As an ardent hiker and adventurer I often think my dogs spend more time outside with me than they spend inside. They regularly cross rivers, come into contact with strange animals, and run loose in the woods. They hardly ever get baths. Yet when I walked into a grooming store to buy after a hike the people in the store said that my pups were in beautiful condition and very clean and beautiful. I credit this gleam of health to what my dogs eat. As canine parents one of our top priorities is the well-being of our furry children. Many are carefully protected with fences, leashes, even doggie daycare. They are taken regularly to the vet for exams and vaccinations. And yet we often overlook what we feed our pets. Food is one of the most important aspects of health. In fact since our pets eat every day and create new

4 body cells from this food, in a year’s time their body (and our’s too) has completely regenerated! As a result it could truly be stated that dogs are what they eat. So what should they eat? Most people feed their pets well-known food brands from the grocery store, and think no more about it. Yet these well-known brands are often made of cheap, highly irritating, or even toxic ingredients!

Meat by-products can contain animals that died of disease before slaughter, and can even contain pets killed in animal shelters! As if cannibalism isn’t bad enough, these animals were often euthanized which means that the pet food then contains euthanasia solution. This means that we are slowly poisoning our pets, leading to higher rates of cancer and short life spans. Three other common ingredients in pet food are corn, wheat, and soy. These filler grains are highly allergenic to dogs. Dogs cannot digest them, and while some dogs simply have less shine to their coats, many dogs will grow itchy, or even lose hair because of the inflammation caused by the grain. Soy not only causes these issues, but is often used by pet food companies to boost the protein content in the food. This means that the dog is actually getting far less protein than it needs. Since the dog

5 is getting less protein, and more filler it must eat more food to get enough nutrition.

This leads many dogs to obesity since they don’t need the excess calories from the corn, wheat, and soy. Rice is also commonly used in pet food. It is not harmful in small quantities, but due to the excess carbs it provides and the high arsenic content in rice it can prove unhealthy if it becomes a staple of your pet’s diet. In addition many pet foods use what is known as brewer’s rice. Brewer’s rice is a by-product of rice and has little nutritional value. Beet pulp is commonly used as filler in commercial pet food because it makes the food sweet and the dogs like it better. It is of no nutritional value to dogs. Many pet foods put harmful dyes in the food to make it all those healthy-looking colors. Chicken is another controversial ingredient. Due to the way in which meat animals are factory farmed chicken is often highly allergenic to dogs. Factory farmed chickens are raised in tiny cages and fed poor quality grain that dogs are allergic to as well as the factory chickens being fed other chickens. Due to the poor conditions in which they live these chickens are not only highly unhealthy but are dosed with a steady stream of antibiotics to keep them alive.

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Dogs benefit from having certain foods in their diet. Fish, and the omega-3 it provides, fruits, eggs, and vegetables are all excellent ingredients. In the wild dogs would naturally eat organs and bones. This means that ingredients such as fishmeal, or chicken meal are good and healthy. Yet don’t be fooled by labels. Meat and bone meals are made from the leftovers of meat processing. They are ground down and very dense. Fresh meat on the other hand is heavy due to the large amount of water it contains. As a result the first ingredient in your pet’s food may be fresh salmon, while the third ingredient is chicken meal. Do not let this fool you. By the time the food has been cooked into kibble form and all the water removed this means that the main ingredient that your pet is eating is chicken meal, not fresh salmon. Chondroitin and glucosamine are important supplements in the food as well. If pets have good ingredients in their food they don’t need additional dietary supplements. The benefits of feeding healthy food include longer lifespan, increased flexibility, decrease in joint problems, better weight, shinier coat, less

doggy odor, less shedding and matting, and less waste. Colina

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Colina once was obese at double her correct weight, now she enjoys her senior years at a trim 10 lbs while eating high quality grain free dog food. In addition to obesity Colina had bad knees that had forced her to live a sedentary life. Her owner says “Changing to Taste of the Wild dog food helped Colina’s knees so much that she was able to compete in agility at 10 years old and win multiple titles.” I once had a small dog given to me because it was chewing off its toes due to how itchy it was. Most people thought the poor little thing should be put down. It was wearing a cone, missing a lot of hair, and its legs were bandaged up. It was taking multiple medications. Upon receiving this little dog I switched it off of its veterinary prescribed food, as well of all of its medications. Instead I put the pup on a high quality grain-free food with salmon as the main protein. Within days she stopped itching, the bandages were removed, and she lived the rest of her life a happy, healthy pup. Another pup I met was itchy and in poor condition. His belly was covered in red rashes and he constantly matted from chewing himself. His caring owner said he has been put on a veterinary formula for his problems. I checked the label and the food not only was made up of highly allergenic grain by- products like soy hulls, it didn’t even contain any meat! The poor dog was trying to survive with no adequate source of protein. Once again a change in diet to a high quality food that cost less than the food from the vet, and all of his problems disappeared. Often when dogs do poorly on regular low quality dog food vets will “prescribe” special and expensive food from the vet. However in many cases these veterinary feeds are just as bad and full of toxins and allergens. Sometimes the

8 vets are simply clueless, other times they enjoy the profits of the pets continued problems. The particularly suspect vet foods are those for stomach, bowel, and allergy problems.

So what should you feed your Toonie for optimal health? The most popular option is a high quality packaged kibble. An even healthier, but more expensive option is to get an air dried food such as Ziwipeak or Stella and Chewy’s. These foods have the benefits of feeding a natural raw diet to your Toonie without the

mess. Thedogfoodadvisor.com is an excellent tool for selecting a good quality food. It rates and reviews each food and its ingredients. The cheapest option is to make your own pet food. Your dog will love you for it and so will your pocketbook. You can make a large amount of it raw or cooked, then freeze it for future use. Whatever your choice remember to read the labels on everything, and research each food on the internet. And never forget to cuddle your Toonie regularly!

Photo credits: Page 4 is Nico owned by Mary Rausch , page 5 pictures from Faerie Garden’s Bluebell and Bullet Cannon, , page 7 pictures Sudy owned by Charlotte Cannon, page 8 pictures Colina AX AXJ AXP AXJP CGC owned by Helen Lessley, page 9 pictures Sudy and Prancer owned by Charlotte Cannon.

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Genetics and Breed Development: 100 years of breed ‘improvement’

Carolina Toonies are a healthy breed. They were created with the vision of the perfect modern pet. And yet our new breed has not yet faced many of the challenges that older breeds have experienced. As breeders we would be wise to look to the past and take a lesson from what has happened to other breeds. Many modern breeds were once hailed as the ideal dog, healthy, sturdy, and good tempered. However the arrival of the Victorian Era brought about a concept of breeding dogs for type and show. This idea has had a hundred years now to develop and mature. In one hundred years clubs such as the have promoted the idea that good breeders show dogs and breed for dogs that match set standards. Methods such as closed studbooks, inbreeding, and linebreeding have become common practice. In addition many breeders have simply become obsessed with breeding for looks over temperament. Often breeders focus on enhancing certain physical features of the breed. So what can we learn from over a hundred years of selective ? The following article is an excerpt from a recent article in The Science of Dogs by Caen Elegans, Ph.D. “The dogs on the left are from the 1915 book, ‘Breeds of All Nations‘ by W.E. Mason. The examples on the right are

10 modern examples from multiple sources. To be able to make an honest comparison, I’ve chosen pictures with similar poses and in a couple of cases flipped the picture to get them both aligned in the same direction.

It seems incredible that at one time the Bull was a handsome, athletic dog. Somewhere along its journey to a mutated skull and thick abdomen the bull terrier also picked up a number of other maladies like supernumerary teeth and compulsive tail-chasing.

The Basset has gotten lower, has suffered changes to its rear leg structure, has excessive skin, vertebra problems, droopy eyes prone to entropion and ectropion and excessively large ears.

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A shorter face means a host of problems. The modern not only has a shorter face but the muzzle is slightly upturned. The boxer – like all bracecyphalic dogs – has difficulty controlling its temperature in hot weather, the inability to shed heat places limits on physical performance. It also has one of the highest cancer rates.

The English bulldog has come to symbolize all that is wrong with the dog fancy and not without good reason; they suffer from almost every possible disease. A 2004 survey by found that they die at the median age of 6.25 years (n=180). There really is no such thing as a healthy bulldog. The bulldog’s monstrous proportions make them virtually incapable of mating or birthing without medical intervention.

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The used to have functional legs and necks that made sense for their size. Backs and necks have gotten longer, chest jutted forward and legs have shrunk to such proportions that there is barely any clearance between the chest and floor. The dachschund has the highest risk of any breed for intervertebral disc disease which can result in paralysis; they are also prone to achondroplastic related pathologies, PRA and problems with their legs.

The Dog is also a breed that is routinely mentioned when people talk about ruined breeds; maybe because they used to be awesome. In Dogs of All Nations, the GSD is described as a medium-sized dog (25 kg /55 lb), this is a far cry from the angulated, barrel-chested, sloping back, ataxic, 85- pounders (38 kg) we are used to seeing in the conformation ring. There was a time when the GSD could clear a 2.5 meter (8.5 ft) wall; that time is long gone.

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The is another extreme brachycephalic breed and it has all the problems associated with that trait – high blood pressure, heart problems, low oxygenation, difficulty breathing, tendency to overheat, dentition problems, and skin fold dermatitis. The highly desirable double-curl tail is actually a genetic defect, in more serious forms it leads to paralysis.

Once a noble , the modern St. Bernard has been oversized, had its faced squished in, and bred for abundant skin. You will not see this type of dog working, they can’t handle it as they quickly overheat. The diseases include entropion, ectropion, Stockard’s paralysis, hemophilia, osteosarcoma, aphakia, fibrinogen deficiency.

It is unrealistic to expect any population to be free of genetic diseases but show breeders have intentionally selected for traits which result in diseases. Conformation breeders claim they are improving the breed and yet they are often the cause of these problems. If “improvement” in looks imposes a health burden then it is not a breed improvement. No has ever been improved by the capricious and arbitrary decision that a

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shorter/longer/flatter/bigger/smaller/curlier “whatever” is better. Condemning a dog to a lifetime of suffering for the sake of looks is not an improvement; it is torture.”

Asher L, Diesel G, Summers JF, McGreevy PD, Collins LM. (2009). Inherited defects in pedigree dogs. Part 1: disorders related to breed standards. Vet J. 2009 Dec;182(3):402-11.

So as caretakers of a new breed what lessons should we learn from the example (and failure) of the breeds that have come before us?

 We need to focus on keeping extremes out of the breed. We should not be creating 2 lb. Toonies, or focusing on huge coats, or creating extreme eyes, noses, or ears.  Temperament and intelligence must always come first. Dogs that are high strung, nervous, yappy, biters, twirlers etc. should not be allowed to contribute to breed development.  Genetic diversity is key to health. While we need to continue to develop our breed, and not just create first-generation crosses, we also need to continue to infuse new blood into the breed while refraining from inbreeding.  We need to place a priority on health when choosing breeding stock. Dogs with health defects like bad knees, eye issues, drug sensitivities, or elbow dysplasia should not be bred.

By taking these lessons to heart we can create a breed that is not only beautiful, but uniquely healthy and well-tempered. A truly perfect modern pet.

Photo credits: page 15 pictures Foxpoint Sudy owned by Charlotte Cannon

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The Intelligent Toonie: Why your dog wants to be trained Recently I went on a camping trip with the pups. My dogs spent all day playing outside in creeks and rivers, racing down trails, chasing squirrels, at night the dogs slept under the stars. Civilization was a long way away. However we ran short on dog food. The next day the pups and I went to a fancy boutique (the only place in town) to buy dog food. My two wild things hadn’t been inside a building in weeks. However upon entering a scary place full of food and strange people they both stayed with me, walked calmly, greeted strangers with good manners (no jumping etc.) and didn’t eat anything until I gave them permission to do so. The store owner was highly impressed and commented that Bonnie and Misty were much better mannered than most dogs that come to the store.

Often when talking to the owners of pet dogs I hear the sentiment expressed that dogs should be “wild.” That they are happiest and best when allowed to run

16 unfettered and without learning any “tricks.” Yet I would counter that this is not the case. If people neglected to train their children the children would not only lack manners, but would lack an education. The fact that people view this treatment of children as wrong can be evidenced by the fact that civilized countries require that children receive schooling. The same applies to our canine family members. Teaching dogs to use manners in public not only benefits us, it benefits the dog. Dogs are intelligent creatures that desire to please us. They need challenges and stimulation. They also need to be given ways in which they can receive the satisfaction of knowing they are pleasing us. A dog who is never given tasks to complete becomes bored. Their mind either stagnates, and fails to reach its full potential, or the dog creates its own jobs. Border are famous giving themselves tasks. Many dogs will do this. The most common task the dog chooses is that of property safety. They at or attack everyone and everything that comes on the property (depending on the dog.) I once took in a rescue dog who was being given away because he attacked everyone except his owner. The owner had almost put the dog down. The dog spent his days in a small area with no stimulation. When I came the dog charged me, then turned around and wagged its tail looking adoringly at its owner. The dog said, plain as day “see how good I am? Aren’t you pleased with me?” This same behavior is exhibited by many pet and breeding dogs in a less dramatic way. These dogs are simply bored and trying to please their owners.

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Yet the problematic behavior exhibited by a bored dog is no worse than the fate of the dog who simply stagnates. In the wild canids must constantly solve problems and face challenges. If challenges and opportunities for mental exercise are not presented our pet dogs minds gradually go to sleep. With nothing to think about many canines become more sedentary, and are known as “good dogs,” and occasionally people think they are stupid dogs. The latter appellation is true. As dogs become more sedentary and do not meet new challenges their brain functions slower. They settle into the routine and do the same boring wake up, eat, walk around the yard, get petted, sleep routine every day. Then, something different happens. It might be a trip to the vet, it might be visiting relatives, it might be a fire. These are the dogs that become violently carsick when they go to the vet, or become destructive when a new baby arrives. Last year my neighbor’s house caught on fire. The mother was in the shower, the daughter was asleep. No one else was at home. My neighbors had two dogs, both of which were “just pets.” They were sweet housedogs, but untrained. When the house caught on fire the dogs did not alert the family. Instead they were confused, and frightened. Instead of alerting their family to the danger the cowered and hid, confused by this change is the routine. Once she realized the house was on fire the mother managed to drag both of the dogs out of the house, only to have one of them bolt back inside the

18 doomed building. It took a brave firefighter a long time to find the scared dog, which, terrified, had hidden itself in the house. The firefighter had to be taken to the hospital afterwards.

Incidents like these are why I train my dogs. Whether or not they compete in a show ring, but every day presents new challenges. When training a new dog I try to teach one or two basic commands. These commands are taught for the purpose of teaching the dog to learn and train with a person. It is the beginning of teaching the dog to think. Often the first command or two may take weeks to teach if the dog is unaccustomed to mental exercise. Then one day you will see something click. The dog comprehends the idea of learning! After this they will learn at an increasingly rapid speed. Often at this point I discontinue traditional training and try to offer the dog obstacles to put his mind to. It might be natural obstacles like rocks and rivers. It can be jumping in the car and out on command. Agility training can be wonderful for this. It is also at this point that I begin to teach good off and on leash manners. No dragging on the leash, no racing over rudely to sniff dogs and people. Stay with your owner. And most importantly pay attention.

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When you begin to train your canine friend the process can be frustrating or seem pointless at first. However as your dog learns to think you will see changes in his behavior. He will become more mature, wiser, braver, and a better best friend than ever. I always like to compare levels of training to levels of human education. When you teach a dog a few simple tasks such as walking on leash, and sitting on command, this is the equivalent of teaching a child their ABCs and counting on their fingers. This training creates the building blocks from which you will train and encourages your dog’s spark of intelligence to flower. From this stage teaching your dog basic obedience is the equivalent of elementary school. Here your dog gains confidence and learns basic skills. Teaching him some additional tricks and good manners is middle school. My favorite exercise to do is to give a familiar command in a strange setting. Some examples would be to tell your dog to jump on a bench instead of in the car or to tell him to do obedience at the vets office, pet store, or park. This nature of training can continue into “high school” level with your dog learning to apply basic commands like “leave-it” to different situations such as strange dogs and people, or learning to apply the “come” and “wait” commands to advanced off-lead work. Finally your dog can get a “college level” education. He can learn to tackle agility obstacles, compete, and much more. I always find it amazing the differences between untrained dogs, basic level dogs, mid-grade dogs, and the dogs that have trained and competed. Imagine that you put all of the dogs in one room with no humans involved. The pack dynamics

20 would usually sort out with the untrained dogs becoming scared or excited, possibly getting in a fight or making a mess. These dogs will rank on the bottom of the pecking order. The basic level trained dogs will be excited, but keep their heads and stay out of trouble. The high school educated mid-grade dogs will calmly assess the situation, think it out, and become the obvious pack leaders. What about the competition level dogs? Generally they look at it all, sniff the most important mid-grade dogs, then go on about their business and let someone else manage the pack. They have better things to do. They know they are important and don’t have to prove it. All the other dogs treat them with respect without them having to prove it. Similarly if a problem arises such as the humans disappearing, a non-trained dog will either have fun, or stand barking. The trained dog will track the humans, find ways around obstacles, swim the river, and see what the humans are up to. And the trained dog cares more about what the humans are doing. You see, while becoming educated the dog becomes consistently better at communicating with humans and reading their signals. Overtime it desires human company more and gains a deeper human-canine bond. This is the greatest advantage to training. You gain a true friend for life.

Photo credits: Page 16 is Colina AX AXJ AXP AXJP CGC and Sunny Vale’s Bluebell owned by Helen Lessley, page 18 pictures Candy owned by Wendy James, page 19 pictures Music owned by Helen Lessley, page 20 pictures Coco owned by Mary Rausch, page 21 pictures Music and her dam Melody with their elderly owner.

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So What is a Carolina Toonie?

Development of the Carolina Toonie began in 2003 with the desire for a small, agile and beautiful dog that could be the ultimate companion. A dog was desired that was excellent with children, and beautiful. It was intended that this dog should be agile, smart and active, yet calm, quiet, and gentle, ideal for city life or therapy work.

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Toonie in 1915 The name Carolina Toonie was decided upon in recognition of the breed's development in South Carolina and North Carolina. Toonie was the name used for the small -type dogs that lived on farms on the Shetland Islands in earlier times. These dogs were multipurpose family pets, not just sheepdogs. Dainty, and small enough to survive on the rugged islands, these dogs worked mainly in the farmyard with the family. Later some of these dogs were crossed with Rough Collies and Border Collies to create the modern day Shetland Sheepdog. Yet the original Toonie dog of the islands was quite unlike the modern sheltie. It possessed a good deal of and blood, and seldom weighed over 12 lbs. Occasionally new blood would be infused into the ancient Toonie lines to keep the breed healthy and strong. In developing the modern day Carolina Toonie, breeders have followed similar methods. Using a variety of breeds including Toy sheltie, Toy Aussie, Longcoat , Pomeranian, and Papillon,

23 they have bred only the healthiest and most companionable dogs, striving for good temperament above all else. Instead of limiting the gene pool and inbreeding dogs, the Carolina Toonie Association encourages outcrossing to other dogs in order to keep the breed healthy and strong. As a result, Toonies are not plagued by the health issues so common in many purebred dogs today.

Longcoat Chihuahua, Pomeranian, and Sheltie are a few of the breeds that help make the Toonie The Carolina Toonie is a unique breed designed for versatility to suit modern lifestyles. Calm, agile, friendly, low-maintenance, healthy, and affectionate, the modern Toonie is happy to sit in a lap, travel and explore, or do therapy work. Many Toonies have successfully competed in agility and other sports and enjoy going for hikes. However the Toonie is not a yippy breed, content to remain quiet and calm. They make superb therapy dogs with their friendly, brave nature. A small dog, the Toonie weighs an average of 5 - 13 lbs, the ideal size for travel, sitting in laps, or running errands. Toonies learn to ride in purses and go shopping with their owners. The Toonie has a sturdy build which allows it to jump down from furniture, run in the yard, or play with children without fear of injury.

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The Carolina Toonie Breed Standard: * Size not to exceed 13" at the withers and 14 lbs. Smaller size preferred. * All colors and patterns are welcomed, none preferred above another * Solid bone, but dainty * neck arched, well defined, proud * well defined strong chest tapering to slim but muscular haunches *sweeping tail with curled tip preferable. Gay tails permitted when in motion, but not touching the back. * legs are straight, and of good substance, not easily broken *haunches are well sprung and strong capable of jumping great heights *coat is silky, and of teflon quality, not matting or retaining dirt, capable of repelling water. Of moderate length with abundant feathering. Minimal or no undercoat. Neck should have a defined ruff and tail should be abundant *Ears may be prick or tipped, but they should be relatively large and wideset, framing the face. Moderate feathering is encouraged. Ears should not be pointed, instead having a softer, rounder edge and a fuzzy, sweet quality *Eyes should be moderately large and luminous with a rounded almond shape *Head should be slightly rounded and broad with a well defined stop. Muzzle should be dainty and not overly long and narrow like a collie. It should be a triangular blunt wedge in shape and the cheeks should flow smoothly into the head. The corners of the mouth should turn up in a "smile." Bite should be scissors. Underbite, overbite, or faulty dentition are disqualifications. *Hocks should be relatively straight with strong knees. Elbows should be in line with leg and chest, not protruding away from body.

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*Dog should be slightly longer than tall with level back, sloping at the hindquarters to give a tapered effect that accentuates the power of the chest *Tip of tail should reach to or below hocks *Ribs should be well sprung with deep chest. Well defined tapered waist. *Gait should be light, springy, but purposeful. No tendency towards paciness or a rolling gait. *Temperament is of the utmost importance. Dog should be calm and friendly, a good candidate for therapy work. Capable of stamina and energy for hiking or winning in the agility ring, yet happy to sit in a lap or by the fire when not working. *Expression should be sweet and loose eyed, relaxed yet willing. Dog should be highly intelligent, but not require "jobs" or stimulation. Highly biddable. Adaptable easygoing temperament that will be good with all ages of people. Dog should not be prone to overeating. It is to be remembered that this breed's purpose is to be a companion animal suitable to modern life. Versatility is a hallmark of the breed. The dog should be quiet and not prone to barking. Bark is relatively deep. The dog is low drive. No pacing, twirling or hyperactivity. *Health is of the utmost importance. Linebreeding and inbreeding are strictly prohibited. Dogs with poor quality joints, knees, or eyes, or roached backs should not be bred.

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Examining the Key Ingredients: the Chihuahua

Often when people hear the word “Chihuahua” a certain mental image comes to mind. They remember their neighbor’s small, shorthaired, bug-eyed dog that constantly barked and behaved like it wanted to take over the world. Yes this can be a Chihuahua, however not all Chihuahuas are like this. And yet, as in all things in life stereotypes are not always accurate. My mother has a beautiful Chihuahua. It has a soft, long, fluffy coat. Her Chihuahua has perfect manners and can be handed to complete strangers. Everyone jokes that they want to steal that chi. While the most common breed used in creating Toonies is the toy-sized sheltie, Chihuahuas can also be a useful addition to the Toonie breeding program. It is important to choose good Chihuahuas for breeding. Chis from good champion bloodlines generally have calm, gentle, friendly temperaments. They seldom bark, and love to cuddle.

Look for Chihuahuas that will make good Toonies

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Chihuahuas are one of the healthiest breeds from which to build the Toonie from. They can not only contribute genetic diversity and calmer temperaments to the often excitable sheltie and pom genes, they also can offer bigger ears and eyes, and sturdier builds. The larger and softer ear leather of Chihuahuas makes it more likely that the puppies will have naturally tipped ears. Chihuahuas are unusually intelligent. They can learn basic training in less time than your average herding breed dog. They also are highly sensitive to the moods and thoughts of their owners. This gives them an almost human personality. Chihuahuas offer genetically ensured small size to our breed. Chis have few common health issues. The most important things to watch for are that the dogs have good knees (since luxating patellas are common among all small dog breeds), and that the Chi is free of elbow dysplasia (when the elbows stick out.) In addition not every Chi makes for a good Toonie parent. Good sturdy and straight legs are crucial to producing quality pups. Some chis tend to have crooked legs. Only Longcoat Chihuahuas should be used in breeding Toonies and smoothcoat chis will produce some smoothcoat pups. In short the calm, brave, playful longcoat chi can be an asset to breed development.

Photo credits: Page 27 pictures Helen Lessley’s Bluebell, page 28 pictures Charlotte Cannon’s Sudy and a sheltie-chi pup from Helen Lessley’s Bluebell.

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Breeder List If you would like to become a member of the Carolina Toonie Association please visit our website www.carolinatoonie.com Members may advertise pups on the website, be listed in the breeder directory, and receive the bi-annual Toonie newsletter

Helen Lessley (President) Sunny Vale Toonies www.sunnyvaledogs.com [email protected] (803)807-1116 Carolina Toonie litters

Charlotte Cannon (Vice-President) Fox Point Farm Carolina Toonies www.foxpointfarm.com

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[email protected] (803)802-3888 Toy sheltie stud Service and Toonie puppies

Wendy James James Gang Carolina Toonies [email protected] (803)371-2380 Toy sheltie stud service and Toonie puppies

You are welcome to copy this newsletter and please give it to people new to the breed

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