RETRIEVERRCI on-line newsletter - year 2 – number 4 magazine

The New Labrador Breed Standard: Anke Bogaerts: My Thirty-Year Adventure safeguarding the future retraiever “gypsy” in the World of Dogs l’editorialel’editoriale

Thirty Years of the RCI: how has the retriever world changed?

Dogs and the dog world have been a constant in my life. The occasion of the RCI’s 30th Anniversary calls upon me to make a general reflection on the function dogs have assumed in today’s social context, with particular reference to the retriever breeds.

Great Britain, the mother of pedigree dogs and many sports, created the retriever to assist the sporting huntsman. Is this still its principal function? In recent years we have witnessed a constant growth of retriever breeds, to the point that they are now one of the most popular breed groups around the world. in this issue: What is the reason for this? It is certainly not due to an increased demand by hunters, now that the field of shooting is undergoing strong attacks by animal rights groups, and in light of popular ideas about biological and ecological issues.

I would like to offer a simple answer: it is due to their “will to please”, the fruit of the selection made by •RCI Editorial - by Elena Casolari Videsott early breeders to redirect dogs’ predatory instinct to serve man in the shooting field, that we possess The New Labrador Breed Standard: today these splendid and versatile breeds. It is therefore a moral imperative to not forget, but to • develop, the objectives of the breeders that created the ancestors of today’s retrievers: if we lose sight safeguarding the future - by Rosa Agostini of these, we will lose the best of what we have obtained so far. Show Psychology - by Goran Bodegard • In a moment of social uncertainty characterized by unstable families, fragile youth, precarious work, •Anke Bogaerts: retriever “gypsy” - by Sergio Russo people living increasingly in solitude in need of attention and affection, it is natural to look for a dog, •My Thirty-Year Adventure in the World of Dogs - by Giancarlo Vignaroli possibly a retriever, known for its good character, versatility and adaptability. •Bloat - by Lucia Casini Today the retriever is assuming an important role within man’s social context and is providing practical •King - by Stefano Morini assistance in many fields, many already well known, from guiding the blind, assisting the handicapped, Subtle Forms of Mistreatment pet therapy, collaboration for rescue services and police work, to the simple job of providing friendship • - by Cinzia Stefanini for those that feel alone … •Goldens: a lethal weapon …not only in retrieving - by Leonardo Langiu •Notonlyretrievers – books, tv, gifts, news Here then is the commitment that the Retrievers Club Italiano should assume today, thirty years from its edited by Patty Fellows and Alessandra Franchi foundation, as the official representative of all of the retriever breeds and an association of owners and breeders: to work together in view of our collective expectations and the actual state of retrievers, without losing sight of the past. What possible shifts in morphology and character can be developed, to satisfy fully today’s requests? At times we note the risk that seeking a “hyper-type”, of developing excessive muscular mass, may translate into character traits of dominance. On the other hand, we Martino Salvo increasingly see hypersensitive dogs with unstable and fearful temperaments … editor It is therefore the job of the specialized breed club to reflect on these changes and to sensitize breeders Patty Fellows to not deviate from the path clearly indicated by breed standards. Breeders have the duty to produce writers the retriever that people expect and that they have the right to find. It is up to their intelligence and capacity, as well as their critical sense and responsibility, to find the path to the best realization of the art of breeding, because we are truly talking about an Art. Alessandra Franchi writers Dr. Elena Casolari Videsott – RCI President

Many thanks to everyone who helped out with this issue, especially to Susan Street and all of the RCI members who Leonardo Langiu kindly sent us photos. layout/graphics

The RCI does not necessarily agree with or support the ideas published in every article, which freely express the opinions of individual authors. show world

•Temperament Intelligent, keen and biddable, with a strong will to please. Kindly nature, with no trace of aggression or undue shyness. Mr. Craig stressed that a Labrador’s temperament is its distinguishing feature, and makes it unique and capable of bringing to success the work for which it has been selected. An aggressive Labrador could never get into a Land Rover with other male dogs to go to a day’s shoot! A Labrador is a friendly dog, born with “will to please”, and it is this trait that allows us to use him for the most diverse purposes, for example, for pet therapy, as guide dogs for the blind and to detect drugs or explosives. Concerning excessive shyness, Mr. Craig noted that a Labrador should neither be overly timid or hyperactive CH Kupros Master Mariner as a maniac . When he judges he does not care for THE NEW LABRADOR BREED dogs in the ring that are overly-excitable or out of CH Bradking Hugo, Mr. David Craig pointed out how control. To the contrary, he likes to see a Labrador well-balanced and harmonious this Labrador was, that at one quiet word from his handler happily moves safeguarding the future strong but at the same time having a look of quality. his tail, and then returns to a calm and steady state. by Rosa Agostini As his co-owner, Mr. Craig had the fortune to present SH CH Bradking Hugo and was able to obtain 50 CC’s, •Head and Skull In the second issue of our magazine there was an interesting, although alarming, article about discussions a British record that is still unbeaten. Mr. Craig then Skull broad with defined stop; clean-cut without that have affected breeders and the Kennel Club in Great Britain over the past year. As a result of these quoted, to stress the importance of the Labrador’s fleshy cheeks. Jaws of medium length, powerful not debates, the Kennel Club has introduced changes to the Breed Standard of various pedigree dogs, general appearance, a well-known phrase by one of snipy. Nose wide, nostrils well developed. including the Labrador Retriever. England’s most famous breeders, Mrs. Roslin Williams: “A Labrador must look like a Labrador Great Britain is considered the country of origin of the from breeders before him. He holds in his hands the and nothing else. If it makes you think of another Labrador and the Kennel Club Breed Standard is used future of the breed and has the moral obligation to breed, then he is not a typical Labrador.” in many countries around the world. In fact the FCI safeguard and preserve it, and defend it from excess.” (Federazione Cinologica Internazionale) and all of its •Characteristics member countries, including Italy, use this Standard. Here is the revised Kennel Club Breed Standard Good-tempered, very agile (which precludes With this in mind the RCI Labrador Section contacted with comments by David Craig: excessive body weight or substance). Excellent Mr. David Craig (Davricard Labradors) for his expertise nose, soft mouth; keen love of water. Adaptable, as a Championship judge and breeder. •General Appearance devoted companion. After judging at our Club Show on April 24th 2009, Strongly built, short-coupled, very active; broad in skull; This point has been revised by the Kennel Club. Mr. David Craig kindly agreed to hold a conference on broad and deep through chest and ribs; broad and Mr. Craig stressed that above all the Labrador is a the Labrador Standard for breeders and Italian show strong over loins and hindquarters. working dog selected for this purpose. A Labrador judges entitled “The Labrador Retriever: the Breed While observing the photo of the important dog SH that is too fat or too heavy would never be able to Standard According to David Craig.” The conference work for hours on difficult terrain, and would not took place in a friendly atmosphere with the presence have the agility or strength necessary to retrieve of many breeders, some judges and many enthusiasts. heavy game. Likewise, a Labrador with too little Mr. Craig brought onto the stage a real Labrador to substance (for instance, lacking bone structure or help explain to the audience different points he would lightly constructed) would not be able to carry out address during the conference. He then began the the work for which it was selected and could not David Craig and SH CH Bradking Hugo discussion by talking about the many Labradors that work under difficult conditions, for example in snow have made history, first in British kennels and then or freezing water. worldwide. During a slide show he asked members Regarding substance, Mr. Craig noted that a Labrador For this point Mr. Craig returned to the words of of the audience to identify particular dogs; in this way breeder should aim for a good level of substance and a Mary Roslin Williams: “A Labrador should look we were all drawn into the discussion and the study of powerful construction through selection and not by giving like a Labrador and nothing else.” Many all round what makes up a Labrador. more food to his dogs, as in this way he will produce judges look for traits in the Labrador that belong A key idea of the conference emerged during the overweight dogs lacking the good bone and strength that to other breeds, for example a heavy head, large discussion of these slides: “the importance of breed are characteristic of the breed. A dog that is too fat is not a skull, exaggerated stop or pronounced jowls that are selection.” According to Mr. Craig, “A breeder should powerful Labrador but simply a fat Labrador. A good judge typical of a Rottweiler. All of these features detract not hold himself to be a creator or innovator but a should recognize the difference between a well structured from what is most typical of a Labrador, its soft and CUSTODIAN OF THE BREED, which he has inherited and a fat Labrador. friendly expression.

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•Eyes •Neck result of accurate selection, and not of too much food.” According to Mr. Craig a Labrador with a good coat Medium size, expressing intelligence and good temper; Clean, strong, powerful, set into well placed shoulders. According to Mr. Craig the chest should be deep but will surely have a nice Otter tail, as coat and tail come brown or hazel. Mr. Craig noted that this point, as in all items of the not excessively so, as an overly deep chest can give an together. Also in this case Mr. Craig asked us to reflect on the Standard, reflects the function of the work that the unbalanced picture of a dog with short legs. The placement of the tail is very important and should preceding item, underlining the importance of a soft and Labrador should carry out. To retrieve ducks and other The Labrador should have a strong, short-coupled body, be level with the topline and carried horizontally. An friendly expression, typical of the breed. This feature large game in water a Labrador needs a neck that is which will provide a perfect figure also in movement. excessively short or long tail would give an unbalanced depends on the way the dog looks at you and the shape sufficiently long and strong enough to allow him to hold picture. of its eyes, both of which transmit a kind disposition. his head out of the water. •Hindquarters Mr. Craig noted the importance of eye color, which may Well developed, not sloping to tail; well turned stifle. •Gait/Movement never be black but neither must they be so light that it •Forequarters Free, covering adequate ground; straight tends towards yellow: this is very important in chocolate Shoulders long and sloping. Forelegs well boned and and true in front and rear. Labradors. straight from elbow to ground when viewed from either During the previous day’s show, Mr. Craig front or side. asked some exhibitors to move their dogs Shoulders and upper arms should not be short, and the slowly and pleaded with others to not run shoulder should be placed at a sufficient angle. This too quickly. Curious about this request, is one of the most important points in the Standard some attendees, including myself, asked regarding the Labrador’s construction. According to Mr. him to explain why. Craig, a correctly angulated shoulder is fundamental to He replied that many professional balancing the dog while it works. handlers, in front of all round, non- specialized judges, move their dogs at a faster speed to cover defects and because it is more scenographic. In his view the Labrador is a dog that should express strength and power, especially in movement, and speed is not a distin- guishing feature. If he wants to see the correct movement of a Labrador it must move at a moderate trot: “I would never buy a horse without SH CH Sandylands Bliss seeing it move first.” CH Fabracken Comedy Star •Ears •Coat Not large or heavy, hanging close to head and Hocks well let down, cowhocks highly undesirable. Distinctive feature, short dense without wave or set rather far back. Also in this case Mr. Craig warned us against excess, feathering, giving fairly hard feel to the touch; weather- According to Mr. Craig the position of the as a Labrador that is overly angulated or with a sloping resistant undercoat. ears gives the Labrador head its classic and backline is not correct, and would resemble a German Sometimes there are Labradors with a coat that is typically soft expression. A dog with ears set Shepherd. A Labrador without well turned stifles, and slightly waved along the back, and this should not be excessively high or not set back enough may little or insufficient rear angulation would not have the considered a defect according to Mr. Craig if the wave have a hard expression that is not typical of necessary driving hind action. It would move quickly, is not excessive (and if the coat is of the correct texture, the breed. SH CH Sandylands Mercy but without power or thrust. it can be a very good, typical coat). •Mouth To retrieve game, it is the shoulders, rather than the •Feet Jaws and teeth strong with a perfect, regular and mouth or the neck, that carry a large portion of the weight. Round, compact; well arched toes and well developed complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping If the shoulders are not well laid back, the weight may pads. lower teeth and set square to the jaws. fall upon the neck and the mouth and unbalance the Also in this case the foot must be functional for the In Italy excellent dogs are often penalized in shows for dog, who will become more easily tired. In movement a Labrador. Mr. Craig draws our attention to the fact that missing one or more teeth (obviously not incisive), and well angulated shoulder and the correct length of upper many breeders are convinced that good feet depend on some attendees asked Mr. Craig his opinion about this. arm convey the impression of power and strength. external factors like the terrain on which a puppy grows. Mr. Craig directed our attention to the Standard and His personal opinion is that a good foot is obtained from clarified that as the Labrador is not a hound, it should •Body good selection. have a soft mouth to carry out the work for which it was Chest of good width and depth, with well sprung barrel selected. Therefore he does not penalize a dog for ribs – this effect not to be produced by carrying excessive •Tail missing a premolar or a molar. When asked whether weight. Level topline. Loins wide, short-coupled and Distinctive feature, very thick towards base, gradually he would breed from a dog that is missing one or more strong. tapering towards tip, medium length, free from feathering, teeth, Mr. Craig replied that for reproduction, all else At this point Mr. Craig returned to the first item, General but clothed thickly all round with short, thick, dense coat, being equal, he would prefer to use a male dog with a Appearance, stressing a basic concept: “A Labrador’s thus giving ‘rounded’ appearance described as ‘Otter’ complete set of teeth. substance and the size of its chest should be the tail. May be carried gaily but should not curl over back. SH CH Davricard Bobby Shafto.

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•Colour “A breeder should not hold himself to be a creator or Wholly black, yellow or liver/chocolate. Yellows range innovator but a CUSTODIAN OF THE BREED, which from light cream to red fox. Small white spot on chest he has inherited from breeders before him. He holds permissible. in his hands the future of the breed and has the moral obligation to safeguard and preserve it, and defend it •Size from excess.” Ideal height at withers: dogs: 56-57 cms; bitches: 55-56 I would like to thank, on behalf of the RCI Labrador cms. Section, all those who participated in the conference and naturally Mr. David Craig who through his experience •Faults and knowledge ensured the success of this meeting. Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the Rosa Agostini dog, and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work. lives in a small town between Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal Viterbo and Orvieto in Central testicles fully descended into the scrotum. Italy, where she helps run the family farm. She acquired her SHOW PSYCHOLOGY With this last point Mr. Craig returned to the main idea of first Labrador about ten years the conference. I would like to conclude this article with ago. by Goran Bodegard the words that impressed me the most and will remain She enthusiastically breeds in my head: under the affix “Rosemade”. “Why I show dogs! – It is the cheapest way to get onto stage.” This answer was given by a successful She has been on the board of breeder who is also a well-known international judge. Although humoristic this reply contains the core of the Viterbo Kennel Club since truth that is worth some analysis and assessment. 2005 and is the acting President of the Labrador David Craig Section of the Retrievers Club Italiano. Psychologically you differentiate between needs breeds and beyond the meaning and purpose of dog and wishes. When a need is not fulfilled the result shows. – This basic and traditional way of regarding I have loved dogs all my life and my family always had a dog, usually a is traumatic - when a wish is not fulfilled the result is the reason for dog shows still prevails in official and Yorkshire Terrier. It was one of these that I obedience trained and won a first frustration which may initiate the search for new ways formal discussions and the drastic changes of shows prize in a novice obedience class at a local agricultural show when I was ten to reach satisfaction. It is a need to sleep – it is a wish into another competitive sport are not rarely considered years old. to sleep in a soft comfortable bed… to be just ambiguous side effects. After constant nagging, my parents agreed to buy me a Labrador that I began Is it a need or a wish to get onto the stage? Is it a need to show at local shows. I soon realized that although “Sally” was a super to win Best In Show with a dog? The reaso for these changes lies in the answer quoted pet, she was not of show quality. At this time, after attending some local above - the basic human need for recognition ack- championship shows, I greatly admired a young black dog that became CH nowledgement and admiration. There is principally no Fabracken Comedy Star. Anne Taylor put us in touch with Arthur and Peggy opposition between combining this private aspect with Kelley whose lovely chocolate bitch, Bradking Cassandra, had just had puppies to Comedy Star. the more objective reasons for arranging dog shows The puppy that I got, Bradking Bridgette of Davricard, became my first Show Champion, gaining her first CC with the intention of preserving dog breeds. from none other than Gwen Broadley (Sandlylands) and her others from Joan Macan (Timspring) and Margot Who has the right to moralize about the wish to present Wooley (Follytower) – three of the breed’s most knowledgeable judges. and win with something you have created or achieved A close friendship developed between myself and Mr. and Mrs. Kelley which resulted in them later giving me and which is symbolically close to and a projection of a black bitch, Bradking Molly Mo, who not only gained her title but also won one of her CC’s at Cruft’s – it was something important in yourself or has even become in 1990. A daughter of Bridgette was mated to Ch Kupros Master Mariner to produce my black dog SH CH partly a substitute for yourself? Davricard Bobby Shafto who produced title holders in the UK and the United States. Elena Spector - an all round judge from Argentina - Later, when Bradking Hugo and Bradking Harvey came along, I showed them in partnership with Mr. and Mrs. judged in Boliva and in the ring came a family – father Kelley, enjoying very many successes with Hugo who became (and still is) the breed CC record holder as and mother and six children presenting their beloved the top winning Labrador in the UK. Retired at just over five years of age, Hugo won 50 CC’s. He was truly a dog. The father carried the Pekinese dressed in a Labrador with a temperament that was second to none. christening robe and Elena solved the situation by having In more recent years, I have joined forces with Angela Williams, making up the black bitches SH CH Cuanbank the family parading round the ring and then instructed Island Mist at Foulby and SH CH Cuanbank Maggie May at Foulby as well as the Bobby Shafto granddau- Dog shows have changed radically. The original about the more common procedure in presenting dogs ghters, SH CH Foulby I Spy and the group winning SH CH Foulby Agatha Christie. Our most recent title holder purpose was to get the result of your breeding work for assessment at shows. was made up in 2008 – the black bitch SH CH Foulby Buttons and Bows. assessed by an expert with the intention of securing We do our best when we show our dogs - and it is I first awarded CC’s in the breed in 1992 at the age of 24 years, since which time I have judged the breed the heritage of the purebred race and support its only when the competition itself and the manner of regularly in the UK, in all Scandinavian countries, most European countries, Australia and the United States. I improvement. – When I first visited dog shows as a boy presentation become ends in themselves and looses also award CC’s in Beagle (which I also breed and in which breed I have made up a homebred champion) and in Sweden during the fifties there were several shows the connection with the importance of the dog breed that have co-owned or bred 4 Show Champions in Irish Water Spaniels as well as making up one Weimaraner. without any group or Best in Show competitions – It was there is a risk included in the new sport of competing considered ludicrous to compare individuals of different with show dogs. – The balance is lost when judges are

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appointed not on their personal knowledge and merits The explosion of the dog show sport has increased the But of course there are most wonderful exceptions – I to just look for the dog with the least faults… Judging but due to their economically beneficial usefulness demand for judges and the international interchange of judged some years ago in a far away country and a dogs must always include a moment of searching for regarding the breeds and number of entries they can such services – This is principally positive but in reality young boy come into the ring with a German Shepherd the ultimate in beauty and aesthetics - and it is very take - And when people have at home a complete set sometims most doubtful when the actual experience with a shark mouth dropped ears and an afghan like justified to ask an all rounder what makes him or her up of the various types in the breed to fit various judges’ behind an awarded certificate or winner title is em- coat. – I took a deep breath and told the boy that these believe that he knows it all – because nobody can do tastes and also prefer anonymous judges from far barrassingly low. In some countries the overall kennel faults were not acceptable - the boy looked respectfully that. – But at best he or she has an urge (addiction?) to away to a well known authority. When the commercial organisation has strict control on this by scrutinising the into my eyes and shook my hand “Thank you sir – I go around the world continuously looking for this special influence is outgrowing the quality aspect the show merits of foreign judges – in other countries a formal have read in a book that a dog with these flaws cannot quality of balance and beauty which never is tied down arranging clubs are harmful to the breeds. When the licence is enough - The various show systems can in be awarded a prize at a dog show” – He had showed to just one or a few breeds. winning at any cost and price has become much more differing degree act destructively and promote cheap his dog to get a confirmation about what was right and important than the interest for the breed the competitive champions. wrong and was obviously satisfied with the result which sport has fostered and developed a dog addiction that supported his understanding of meaningfulness (which is harmful for the mental well being of people. is another basic human need – parallel to the need of being admired and chosen the best…). It is fairly easy to see and understand when the competitive sport has become an obsession and compulsion and builds up a threat for the social and economic existence of the dog show exhibitor. The main sign of the pathological exaggeration is the experience of narcissistic offence from not having won ( however reasonably understandable the defeat is) leading to the impulse of undoing this by immediately showing

I am basically a sight hound person - and I was thus very positively astonished when I one day far up in northern Norway was faced with a Norwegian Buhund bitch that made me totally paralyzed because she was Too easily gained awards also encourage so beautiful - I had to ask the owner to stay a little longer the tendency towards dog show addiction. in the ring after the judging for me to be able to just look It takes a recognizable amount of psychic at her more. – Maybe it is possible to be an all rounder? strength and integrity for a judge to withhold Very close to the question “ Why do you show dogs?” is Maybe and at best there are exhibitors and judges championship point or certificates to dogs “Why do you judge dogs?” – and what makes you think enough to have this special need and quality in common? which he has – due to the systems - earlier that you can judge all breeds?? - Judging dogs must – then there is good hope for continuous high quality awarded first prizes in the classes. “There is never become equal to condemning dogs--- never equal dog breeding in spite of the dog show intoxication. always a winner in a class at a dog show but that might not necessarily be of champion quality” was a most valuable remark of one of my English tutors. – If the show system to win again or undertake inadequate means to deny makes is easier to eliminate dogs earlier – by applying a Goran Bodegard what has happened. – This person has most probably quality grading system - the judge is more seldom put in Dr. Bodegard got his first dog, a deerhound, when he was 13. He spent several collected all his eggs in one basket only and become the position of having to withhold at the very end since summers as a teenager in England working with dogs and learning more about them. hypersensitive to frustrations of wishes and is not able the eliminated dogs never come into the challenge. The He started breeding greyhounds in 1966 and in 1975 co-bred the bitch Ch Piruett, to redirect himself by getting ( or breeding) a better dog meaningfulness of the champion title is then preserved who became the Swedish Dog of the Year. He continued to co-breed greyhounds for to win with or taking realistically in account what has and exhibitors easier understand that all dogs that could nine generations, producing numerous important dogs that influenced the breed in happened to him and his life when the sport has become be shown in fact are no champions – May times you mee Scandinavia, England and the US. an addiction. – The dog shows shall not be blamed exhibitors questioning your decisions because his dog He has judged shows since 1966 and qualified as an all rounder under the FCI in for personality distortions of this sort but undoubtedly has earlier gained so many points and certificates. So 1997. He has judged at Crufts, FCI World Shows and at expo’s around the world, the development of the grandiosity glamour and fame many times you have to understand that the dog show averaging about 30 to 40 shows a year. He is actively involved in the Swedish Kennel nowadays connected to these competitions do not competitor in fact does not care so very much about Club and breed clubs, and writes articles for dog publications in Sweden, England make life simpler for the one breeder/exhibitor who your opinion if it is not combined with the high enough and the US. He recently chaired a judges conference in Sweden about the risks of really aim to be part of the game not only by breeding award. – I have found in my country where all dogs are exaggerations and extreme types in show dogs jeopardizing health and soundness. but also winning. - The risks for the dog breeding per given an individual written critique that sometimes more Dr. Bodegard is also a semi-retired paediatrician, psychoanalyst and child se is obvious when people start select their stock on than 30% of the exhibitors never pick up the copy of the psychologist and is currently involved in research and clinical work with seriously ill what happens in the show ring more than out of their critique you have dictated…. So much for your expertise and disturbed refugee children. knowledge and care for the breed. in the modern dog show world…

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in Njimegen a grooming salon. She gets married the Many trainers confirm their interest in Anke’s techniques following year and decides to get her first Wire-haired by regularly attending her training school: Tineke Dachshund, with whom she begins her first hunting Antonisse Zijda, Joop Kosse, Emmy Breure, Beatrice activities, never to be abandoned. Zuffrey. In 2003 she embarks upon a new path that she continues to follow to this day. She sells her house and training school, all that is fixed down, buys a caravan and devotes herself to organizing workshops in Holland from mid-October to mid-March, and in other countries for the rest of the year.

ANKE BOGAERTS: retriever “gypsy” It is a critical moment in Anke Bogaerts’ by Sergio Russo life: she is convinced that she will pursue a “dog’s life” but she realizes that passion is I have known Anke for more than fifteen years and with her have followed an exciting path, founded not enough, she must also learn more. She above all on reciprocal trust and the awareness that human relationships are important in whatever we studies and receives the “AKK”, a diploma do, if we want to bring out the best in one other. of general dog knowledge. She transfers to Drenthe, continues her grooming activity and Don’t believe, however, that this is as easy as the smile But let us go back in time to give a brief portrait of Anke at the World Grooming Championship wins on Anke’s face would lead you to believe, as she will Bogaerts. second place. But hunting intrigues her and instantly read your actions as well as those of your Born in Holland, she shows early on a passionate she gets to know local hunters by going with dog, creating a mental picture of both of you. And be interest in animals, leading her to spend her holidays her Dachshund to search and recover wounded deer or Two words about Anke Bogaerts as a trainer. All trainers careful, she’s rarely wrong! Nevertheless, she almost wherever animals, especially dogs, can be found. drive out fox. Her vocation is working with dogs and, that I have known propose to optimize the rapport never lets her own judgment of a person affect the She experiences her first great love in 1963 when determined as she is, in order to learn more she begins between handler and dog, but the differences between relaxed atmosphere that animates her workshops. She she agrees to work in Limburg at Mrs. Honigmann’s to attend numerous workshops and formative courses them lie in the methods they use to achieve results. It is honest, sincere, pragmatic to the necessary degree, vom Heerlener Rosenhaus kennel of Wire-hired for diverse breeds. Over the years she acquires a is easy to slip up in this area because they are many strongly independent, determined in carrying out her Dachshunds. There are 80 Dachshunds to look after German Drahthaar, a Springer Spaniel and finally, the competing elements at work when handling a dog. plans, and above all highly professional without being and prepare for both shows and working trials. Here, as dog that becomes her passion: the Golden Retriever. Anke works in a parallel fashion with both the dog and self-important. a young woman, Anke absorbs like a sponge everything She researches special techniques in the desire to its handler. In the first place she concentrates on the she has the opportunity to see, increasing every day her reach her dream, to create an alternative approach to breed of the dog and its level of preparation; whatever “backpack” of experience. Here she also catches the the rapport between man and dog during work. She the exercise, she considers the underlying nature of the Dachshunds “bug”, stricken by the temperament of this becomes a teacher at the KNVJ, the Dutch club for work breed, which at times can differ enough to decisively little dog, which makes him a protagonist in whatever and hunting. To prepare herself for this activity and find influence results. This varying approach from breed to he does. stimulation for interesting ideas she also attends agility breed is only evident to a very attentive observer; it is The “Grand Tour” begins, and Anke discovers that she courses. not a kind of discrimination but a subtle adaptation of is a “globe trotter”, going wherever she thinks she can In 1991 she opens in Yde, Kampstukkenweg her own training techniques to make her work more efficient. As see, learn and try out new experiences. She goes to training school, which she runs until 2003. Here she for handlers, she pays much attention to general dog England as the guest of Mineke Mills-De Hooh who offers courses for adult dogs and puppies, both to knowledge and to teaching people to have a greater also has Dachshunds, this time Smooth haired, and improve their behavior and to prepare them for hunting sensitivity towards their own dogs, independently of German Kurzhaars, both of which attend working trials activities. In 2000 I lend her a Flatcoated puppy that whatever kind of training is involved. Excessively and shows. But the cost of living is high and there is offers a new challenge for Anke, as she has never had hard or frustrating methods are banned because they never enough to cover expenses. Upon her return, she any experience with this breed. Rush (Serilde Rosa do not do justice to each dog’s personality and do not decides to undertake an activity that will allow her to Nera) is with her for a year and contributes to – as Anke guarantee better results. Having said this, the handler remain in contact with dogs but at the same time provide affirms – the discovery of new horizons that allow her should enter into the idea of putting into practice with income. She attends a grooming course and receives to have a more complete vision of the variegated world “lightness” and ease whatever he is being taught. He in 1967 a professional diploma that allows her to open of retrievers. should demonstrate commitment and attention, but with

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a smile and the right amount of self-irony whenever he is the imagination she knows how to use in her work. doesn’t immediately succeed. She has a response to every problem and is able to demonstrate its solution in practice and not only in words. Over the many years I have known Anke Bogaerts I Her methods are easily learned, and it is impossible have appreciated, as a testimony of her belief in her to misinterpret them because they are explained with own ideas, the competence of the assistants that simplicity and then explained again when the person accompany her on an alternating basis. In this respect she is talking to has not understood. she has always been inflexible: whoever does not follow her approach cannot be part of her team. It is worth while mentioning a pleasant and imaginative game that Anke has invented to facilitate training your Another aspect of her work that I believe is important own dog when, back at home, you would like to build upon the work you have done during a course. It is a deck of playing cards on which there are indicated exercises of varying difficulty according to color, all easily executed alone and different each time depending on the innumerable combinations of the cards. There exist three versions of this game in Dutch, German and Italian (the last can be obtained through me). MY THIRTY-YEAR

There are also two excellent books written by Anke Bogaerts: adventure in the world of dogs Die Drei Charaktere (The Three Characters) Available in Dutch and German, this book highlights by Giancarlo Vignaroli three types of dogs according to their style of work: A sensitive dog that likes very much to work with his It was in 1974 that I went to a breeder to get a Labrador Retriever that should have been a black female. handler. Instead I found myself with a yellow male that unfortunately lived for little more than a year before being An active dog that tries to interpret through action what poisoned. So began my adventure of more than thirty years with this breed. he believes is the intention of his handler. - that sees everything that happens around him and For a short time I resisted the desire to get another dog that has given me great satisfaction (also in her puppies). remembers it. but then I gave the go-ahead to what would become Zweetwerk in theorie en praktijk (Tracking Theory the rule of my life; never again without a dog; nay, from Five years after getting my first Labrador and after and Practice) that moment on there was never only one but even two, innumerable informal meetings twenty-five (the number Available in Dutch, in this book is concentrated Anke’s three, four, five or more. required) of us met together in the public notary’s office great experience and passion for this type of work. She It was then that I began my experiences in the world to set up the Club. was recently invited to the United States as an expert of dogs, first in shows, then with working competitions, for a specialized forum on this topic. and, at last, with the Protezione Civile*. And always My idea came about thinking that a breed association with Labradors. At least until I met a Border Collie would help retrievers to become better known, as Sergio Aside from what I have written, Anke Bogaerts is a three years ago (but that is another story). indeed eventually happened. (Unfortunately a famous person that you should experience first hand, and like lavatory paper company put a foot in the works giving Russo all good things in life, you will certainly appreciate her! I want to underline that the best results I had in shows rise to the popularity of the breed and all the consequent were with a female (Kalinka) that had been found in problems). Born in Milan, Sergio Russo worked as an international insurance broker before a piteous condition on the motorway. After care and transferring to Florence to realize his passion for dogs under the kennel prefix putting her back on the feet she showed a rare beauty The first contacts were made with my friend Bisagno, Serilde. (who passed away prematurely but not in my memories) There he began his commitment to the world of dogs: he became Secretary and who was infected by my enthusiasm and he immediately Council member of the S.I.T., the Italian Terrier Society, where he remained for spoke to “Beppe” Benelli (no comment is needed here. many years beside mythical figures of the Italian terrier world. He also worked Who never met him has missed out on something.) as a Delegate of the Italian Kennel Club for many important shows, and concluded this collaboration at the pre- and they made the first contacts with ENCI, the Italian stigious Century Dog Show. Kennel Club. After going through a long period of Residing in the Maremma area in Southwestern Tuscany, his passion for hunting led him to search for a dog to bureaucratic red-tape the Club was born. be his partner and companion. He first thought of a Labrador, but happened to chance upon a Flatcoated, was smitten and acquired his first one in Sweden in 1994. In those times it was very much a “family affair”. We In view of his organizational experience he was offered in 1993 the Presidency of the Retrievers Club Italiano, met at shows (three or four of us with as many dogs) but which he maintained until 1997, when he resigned over differences of opinion with his fellow council members we ate and drank together as friends. Personal rivalry about the breeding program of some Retrievers breeds. didn’t exist; only the desire to obtain dogs that matched, Today he works with his dogs and for several years has organized retriever workshops in Maremma with the both physically and psychologically, the standard as collaboration of professional trainers and selected participants. closely as possible.

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And then there was the “Retriever Week” at Galliano. Austria etc.) organized a kind of games without frontiers handler to “read” every small message sent by It began on the first Monday in October every year and (Jeux sans Frontier) during which owners and dogs his friend, considering that in practice it is the we all took a week’s holiday. From Monday to Friday competed together in an atmosphere of friendship and dog that works during the emergency. there was training in obedience and ring technique, and without the hates and altercations that would arrive later. The commands are more or less similar to then the competitions. But the best moments were at These games were simple ones, invented mainly to those normally used in any kind of training and lunch; food and wine exclusively Tuscan; sliced meats, amuse and entertain the participants and spectators so a good handler can easily direct his dog. cheeses, bread, Chianti and a great desire to talk about and that tended to create a comraderie between the retrievers among friends who returned year after year retriever lovers who were against the European Union. from France, from Switzerland, from Belgium, Austria, I remember that the Italian team always obtained good Germany and sometimes also from countries further results but what counted most were the days spent afield. serenely together always finishing with a substantial Ten, fifteen or also twenty people who, for a week, spoke dinner based on the typical produce of the host country. only of retrievers and in the evening, tired and wet (it always rained) as they were, had only the wish to begin again the next day. I don’t remember all the names but I remember the faces, the languages, the zeal of all (even if I believe that all the retriever breeds are suitable many are no longer with us). for training to become rescue dogs, so those of you who might be interested can contact me, also from other places than Mugello, and I can direct you to your nearest training ground. In almost every Italian province there is a training ground run by groups of experts so it won’t be necessary to travel kilometres to train your dog in this discipline.

In 1992 I obtained the UCIS (Unità Cinofile Italiane da Soccorso) instructor’s diploma and at present I am an official instructor for Akela Onlus with its headquarters in Borgo San Lorenzo. I teach at It was in ‘89, during the Social dinner after the the Unità Cinofila of all Mugello and also to some from However, a mediocre handler can create a lot of harm, Retrievers’ Week at Galliano, that I had the elsewhere. especially if you think that during an emergency it is occasion to meet Dino Gallotti, an instructor of The group collaborates with the various institutions (the people’s lives that are at stake. It is not a question of rescue dogs. I had already decided to abandon Province of Florence, Comunità Montana etc.) and we being the first or the second to get there - just to get Field Trials due to the useless (in my opinion) answer a large number of emergencies. there. Every error must be considered in the light of your slaughter of pheasants and ducks; shows I wasn’t own conscience. For this reason only the best-prepared “Beppe” (always Dr. Benelli for me) put his hunting enjoying any more and the meeting with the world of The training, especially for retrievers, is fairly straightfor- rescue groups participate in a real emergency: those lodge and surrounding land at the Club’s disposal, and rescue dogs turned my life around. ward. It begins with searching for the handler, then that have dedicated time and effort to training. But when Victor and I ran around from morning to evening making goes on to search for an unknown person (acting) and the search results in a happy ending the satisfaction sure everything was in its place (judges - the members I had recently bought a puppy in France, Coboldo des continues, increasing the difficulty. At the same time pays for all the sacrifices. wanting English judges - the Year Book, the hotels, Isles du Canyon, bred by De Paoli, and when I began the dog learns obedience and exercises with apparatus the first dummies, the cups - rigorously one for each to tread the field of training for the Protezione Civile I that simulates the obstacles that the dog could find Many pupils do not finish the preparation to become a participant). was often teased about that rotund dog of a breed that during a search. rescue dog due to the amount of effort necessary but I Saturday (not at the start but some years later) and no-one knew (at that time only German Shepherds were repeat: those who remain and don’t give up sooner or the first Field Trial; very easy at the beginning and considered for rescue) but when the “old ones” realized Usually the training is completed in about two years later find a missing person and when I see eyes that then more complicated and responding to international (as Emmanuela Ruggero, another “big” of the Club said) during which the dog is confronted with all the various shine with the emotion of satisfaction, the weight of regulations. that in the time necessary to train a German Shepherd experiences to facilitate the search as much as possible. the effort that I have put in to teaching slides from my The evening and the Social Dinner, another great you could train eight retrievers interest in those breeds shoulders. moment for socializing and for exchanging ideas. exploded and the Labrador and the Golden took the At the end of the course dog and handler must pass a place of the German Shepherd. test under an ENCI judge in order to obtain the permit to Obviously, as I repeat to my students, we always work Sunday, the Club show, every year with a growing work in the field. It must not be forgotten, however, that in the hope that no one will ever need us but should it number of dogs and judges. And then the return home After all, a rescue dog should have those qualities that the training to search continues for all the dog’s life or at happen we must be ready and prepared. with another year to wait for the next “full immersion in are innate in retrievers: docility, curiosity, temperament, least as long as he is involved in rescue. And that is what happened in Abruzzo. dog hair”. character etc., and so it is very easy to teach them to search for missing persons or for people buried under But apart from the physical and mental training of For one reason or another I had never taken part in a And then there were the Country Games. Every year ruins. You just have to convince them that it is a the dog what counts for most is the enormous feeling search following an earthquake and when the call came clubs from different countries (Italy, France, Holland, wonderful game... between the handler and his “helper” which enables the the emotion was immense. I received the alarm call

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at 7:45 a.m. on 6th April and, alerting my colleagues, out one. Zardor, my black Labrador, called for an I prepared my backpack, got into the uniform, put the investigation on the spot, indicated with a loud bark in a dogs in the car (food, bowls as well) and by 9:00 we place where the firemen affirmed that there was a cellar were already on the motorway (in record time!). and hence a place definitely not frequented at three in the morning (the time of the strongest shock). Consulting with one of my colleagues, I decided to “risk my career” and sent my dog in once The 30th Anniversary of again, who, after searching around, returned to RCI brings back nearly 30 the same place barking repeatedly. years of memories. The future is in the hands of the new generation … members and puppies alike! GETTING STARTED

We arrived in L’Aquila at about 13:00 due to with your Pup the traffic of other rescue parties and the by Helene Leimer spectacle that confronted us was apocalyptic: entire villages raised to the ground with now Back in the late 80’s I showed and ran my dogs in Working Tests and Field Trials at Galliano, in the course and again a building left standing seemingly of the annual “Settimana dei Retrievers” in Mugello di Barberino. We were first welcomed by Mr. Bisagno asking itself what it was doing alone amongst senior, and the tradition went on for many years, many trials and shows, and a number of generations all these ruins. The television pictures failed to show I told the fireman in charge that there was surely someone of dogs. fully the sense of catastrophe: the streets obstructed under there, adding that I thought that the person was with rescue vehicles, the pavements paced by people no longer alive (I understood this from the shrill note of It is an absolutely lovely idea to celebrate the 30th Training, or rather introducing a puppy to this world, alone or in small groups completely overwhelmed, Zardor’s barking) but in any case excavations should be Club Anniversary in Tuscany, again with Field Trials, a is a very exciting job. If you want to avoid mistakes people crying, and a strong smell of dust. made at this point. Working Test, and a Show! and set the little dog on the right track, you should As far as we rescuers were concerned, I coined a After some time the body of a boy was brought out who Remembering my own different dogs over these years know the full picture of what will be required of it as a phrase which, far from being cynical, contains all the had been not in the cellar at all but asleep on the third I cannot overlook the importance of continuity and, as grown-up trialling or picking up dog. Therefore, from the years of effort: a human tragedy, a dog rescue triumph. floor at the time of the powerful shock of 5.8 degrees. a consequence, think about all the wonderful puppies beginning on, you will move forward with it carefully so The floors in between had folded in upon themselves that have been bred, raised and made up into smashing it has a chance to always understand and obey your From among all the searches, all with a positive bringing the bedroom down to that level. companions over these years. commands. Once you become outcome even if, alas, only finding bodies, I’ll pick Obviously I was very sorry for the boy, but at the same sloppy with a seemingly minor time I was very satisfied with the excellent work carried So it is not surprising that I wish command like “here”, you may out by my dog. It was the crowning moment of years to stress the importance of have a hard time later keeping it of work and effort spent together with my “black dog”. breeding good stock, buying the in a certain area or getting it back Giancarlo Unfortunately I have no photograph of that search nor of right puppy for the right purpose, from a hunting job. the others because in those moments all concentration and – particularly if you want to Vignaroli is totally directed towards the dog and no thought of work with your puppy later on However, do not mix up anything else but I hope I have inspired someone to – the necessity of starting out consistency with hardness. give this discipline a go. Is one of the original well by adhering to several basic Especially with a puppy it is founders of the My thirty years of the Retrievers Club Italiano, in spite principles: important to always be patient, Retrievers Club of the tragedy, have been spent as a stupendous Above all, there is this element of make sure it understands what Italiano. Today he adventure in the world of dogs. common sense that should always you want, and reward it as soon as is passionately dedicated to activities of the be kept in mind. No matter which it does things correctly. Timing is Italian Protezione Civile. He is an offical dog *In Italy the Protezione Civile is a nationwide government part of education you are tackling, ever so crucial because the puppy training instructor with the UCIS (National organization made up of many national and regional stay alert and don’t allow things to starts out with its brain clean and Association of Rescue Dog Units) and with entities, including local volunteer units. It deals with all happen that you will not want to have to repair later on. clear like a crystal bowl. You can put many good and Akela Onlus, a local rescue dog unit. emergencies, in particular assisting local populations I call it “guiding and monitoring” or simply “leading the desirable things into its brain, or you can fill it up with affected by natural disasters. way” towards future requirements. confusion about inconsistent commands and actions.

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Are you aware that when you call your puppy with a retrieve – even a toy - very often your body language tells it to stay away from you whilst your verbal commands excitedly calls it to you? Don’t ever move towards the puppy’s prey when it comes roaring back to you, full of joy about its retrieve.

Keep it simple, interesting, and short. Stop when things are going really well. That way you will both look forward to your next little training session and build a lovely relationship filling up with trust as you go on. Everything works on the good relationship and the more your puppy looks up to you as the centre of its world the more it will enjoy itself.

Raising a puppy can be described with words, but they will never give the impression that practical puppy guidance and puppy training will. If you are a novice BLOAT the killer handler and do not have a plan, instead of going by trial by Lucia Casini and error, get proper help from handler/trainers who know and can prove so with their own dogs. Bloat, technically known as gastric dilation-volvulus or GDV, is a pathology requiring the prompt intervention of a veterinarian to save a dog’s life; for this reason it is necessary for dog owners to know how to recognize its symptoms from the beginning.

The causes of bloat are multiple; as there doesn’t exist pylorus. Probably a sudden spasm provokes bloat. a single cause, it is difficult to prevent the condition Imagine the stomach rotating along its axis (cardia-py- from occurring. We know that there are certain breeds lorus): the consequence is the total closure of these two more predisposed, such as openings. Gases generated from Great Danes, Boxers, German the fermentation of food can no Shepherds and hounds (breeds longer be released, provoking a with deep and narrow chests); progressive and continual dilation Welcome it with a soft backward movement, let it run luckily the incidence of bloat is not of the stomach. Anatomically into you and praise it with the retrieve in its mouth. very high among retrievers, but the gall bladder rests against the Snatching it away with a forward movement will quickly it can still occur. Some common stomach, and in bloat its blood teach it to evade your hand and slow down its return. causes are: large meals given vessels are also affected and Helen Leimer only once a day, a voracious become obstructed. Body language also comes across whilst praising. So appetite, drinking too much water many handlers pat their dogs rather than give them has owned and hunted and excessive physical exercise The first sign is a progressive a reassuring kind stroke, together with a kind and with Golden Retrievers after eating. Bloat is probably swelling of the abdomen. The reassuring words that may well always be the same, since 1986. She has facilitated by a certain amount of dog may retch without expelling been a FCI-Field Trial and Working Test judge such as “good”, “good dog”, “well done”, or the like. Do hereditary or acquired laxity of the any food, and may appear either since 1998. She gives training courses and not talk to them until they get dizzy in the head. Dogs gastro-hepatic ligaments that hold agitated or weak and prostrated. seminars in Austria and many European like simple and straightforward communication, at the stomach in its natural position. After a short time symptoms countries, and is the author of books and a home, in training, and out in the field. Surely you have worsen and the abdomen, which video on her training methods, with particular to make your intentions clear when you start installing emphasis on communication between people The stomach looks like a bag when tapped sounds like a drum, them in the little mind, but it is quite sufficient to stick and dogs. She has also worked with wheelchair- and, like all of the organs in the digestive system, becomes noticeably enlarged. Breathing becomes to the same routines – the puppy will soon understand dogs, mainly for disabled children, and created contracts and relaxes to permit food to be mixed and difficult due to the compression of the diaphragm and and comply so as to get the retrieve and feel and share the “Vita Charity” Working Tests. then moved into the small intestine. Food enters from the heartbeat weakens. Death can occur after a couple your joy about having behaved in the desired manner. the esophagus through the cardia and exits via the of hours of great sufferance.

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BLOAT THE KILLER

Lyffe would have died in March 2003 had is owners not recognised the dreaded bloat and rushed him to the vet immediately. He recovered quickly from the major surgery and still enjoys life six years on.

If you experience any of the following:

• Your dog retches from the throat but nothing is produced other than small amounts of frothy mucus

• Your dog tries to defaecate unsucces- sfully The earlier treatment is given the better are the changes of saving the animal. In cases in which the veterinarian intervenes at a late stage, death cannot be excluded • Your dog adopts the ‘Sphinx’ position KING due to the serious state of shock that has already begun. The therapy for bloat necessitates, therefore, • Your dog’s tummy goes hard and / or swells up by Stefano Morini, veterinarian that the dog is taken as soon as possible to the vet to like a balloon and is as taut as drumskin begin the procedure of gastric decompression. His name was King ... Well, only King but the expression in his eyes was truly regal even in that moment. Sometimes a gastric torsion that is less serious (partial • Tryng to bite, or worry, the abdomen It was really sad to see that fine, tall, muscular German Shepherd, lying on the ground, his right side torsion) can be resolved by introducing a tube through paralyzed, his gaze without fear but full of noble curiosity. He seemed to say: “Now, what’s going on? the esophagus. If the tube manages to pass the • Your dog is very unsettled Shall we do something about it?” cardia, trapped gases and food can be emptied from the stomach, which reassumes its natural position. CONTACT YOUR VET IMMEDIATELY. Bloat is His owner had sent me a desperate message asking along the spinal column in the lumbar-sacral area, with The incidence of bloat reoccurring, however, remains a true emergency - be prepered to drive to the me to come at once and try to do everything possible a relative oedema in the spinal cord. His owners confir- elevated. In serious cases, characterized by a total surgery straightaway. The chance of survival for him. Desperate was a sweet euphemism.... King med that other colleagues who had examined him had torsion that has lasted some time with signs of difficulty decreases alarmingly if you delay getting the dog was on the ground lying on his right side, the paralyzed arrived at the same diagnosis. To work, then. I recom- in breathing, surgery becomes necessary. to the 60-90 minutes after the first sign. one. He could just about menced the chiroprac- In the case of surgically opening the abdomen, the move his left legs, pedal- tic treatment using more volume of the stomach is first reduced through the So whether you’re about to catch a plane, serve ling in the air, raising his energy and for longer. introduction of a large needle to permit gases to be a meal to your family or go to bed - DON’T. head a little and trying to King seemed to enjoy it eliminated. Afterwards the torsion is reduced manually Instead take your dog to the vet. get up. When we tried as he yawned, sucked and the stomach repositioned. As bloat is a pathology to get him on his feet his his tongue, and then fell that can reoccur, the stomach is then surgically attached hind paws were inver- asleep. He looked like a It could save your dog’s life. to the abdominal wall. Sometimes it is necessary to ted on the ground and big, handsome dog just remove the gall bladder if it has been damaged then he immediately fell sleeping. by a prolonged obstruction of blood circulation. down. His left ear, lips and cheek were decide- I prescribed Perna Ca- As this surgery often presents complications it is dly relaxed and tended to nalicus, the green-lip- a good practice to keep the dog in observation droop. A stroke if ever I ped mussel from New for a few days along with post-operatory therapy. had seen one. Zealand, in stabilized A specific prevention for bloat does not exist but powder form, a power- there are some steps you can take to reduce I knelt down beside him; ful anti-inflammatory but the probability of it occurring: give your dog at he let me come close. I without side effects that least two meals a day, prevent him from drinking blew gently into his no- would help to diminish large amounts of cold water and avoid physical strils and stroked his the oedema in the spinal activity after meals. eyes. He let me do it. I began a chiropractic treatment cord. I now had to increase the blood flow throughout One important piece of advice: don’t feed your using fingertip pressure following the acupuncture the body, especially in the cerebral cells, so I decided to dog in the evening. If the stomach twists during points to give energy to precise areas of his anatomy. use an extract of various herbs in alcohol: artichoke and the night, you will only notice it the following He appeared to gain strength and tried to get up. It red vine leaves, angelica sylvestris, butcher’s broom morning when it is, unfortunately, too late for any seemed to me, even without the aid of radiology or ma- root (ruscus aculeatus), algae laminaric, cypress cone, treatment. gnetic resonance, that there was a secondary trauma leaves and bark of horse chestnut (aesculus hippoca-

22 23 health and wellness health and wellness

stanum), flowers of angelica, elder and lime, to which I added a ginka biloba extract that should have a good Phytotherapy consists of treatment using reme- effect in the cerebral cells. dies based on plant matter (tisanes, poltices, root I used a maize extract that had the properties for pos- extracts in alcohol, plants, flowers, leaves...) that sible neocrotic regeneration together with a phytothera- contribute towards the treatment of almost every peutic medicine composed to flush out the side effects known pathology. of the substances previously used from the liver and Phytotherapy treats the cause of the illness (therapy kidneys. During this delicate phase it is most impor- = cause), not only the symptoms and in particular tant to activate the metabolic processes that depend on makes the organism produce the necessary sub- the liver and kidneys, so the dog was administered in a stances again. Generally there are no collateral syringe in his mouth a compound of dandelion root (ta- effects, neither does it interfere with pharmacolo- raxacum officinale), marubio (lyptis spicigera), leaves of gical therapies. On the contrary, combining phyto- boldo (peumus boldus) and artichoke, immature fruit of therapy and medicines can often lead to excellent black walnut, rosemary leaves, berberis vulgaris bark, results. gentian root, yellow dock root, enula and sarsaparilla root, hop flowers (humulus lupulus), echinacea root, Chiropractic, on the other hand, literally means to yarrow, fresh root of burdock and rosemary essence. “cure with hands”. Using hands and fingers to ma- nipulate specific areas of an organism can give ex- cellent results, not only in reducing SUBTLE FORMS pain but also actually curing the af- fected organ. The main treatment in chiropractic involves massaging the spinal vertebrae, taking into consi- OF MISTREATMENT deration that every illness is caused by an imperfect alignment of the di Cinzia Stefanini vertebrae. But firmer pressure can THE DEFINITION OF MISTREATMENT OF ANIMALS UNDER ITALIAN LAW IS AS FOLLOWS: be applied over all the animal’s body, both for a return to fitness (if -1. Whoever cruelly and unnecessarily inflicts injury to an animal, tortures him, or subjects him to they are athletes) in eliminating mu- insupportable behavior, exertion or work with respect to the animal’s ethological characteristics, will be scular and articular rigidity, and to punished by imprisonment from 3 months to 1 year and fined from 3,000 to 15,000 euros. cure actual illnesses. -2. The same penalty applies to whoever administers narcotics to animals or subjects them to treatments that are damaging to their health. The technique of using pressure -3. The penalty is increased by one and a half times if the animal dies as a consequence of above-men- can be employed not only following tioned actions. the topology of the meridians of acu- puncture or shatzu, but also acting I like to think that anyone reading these lines cannot animals? If we think about the crime of mismanaging directly on the affected part. even imagine subjecting his own animal to torture, an animal, without considering all of the privations that Pathologies that can be resolved because in my mind this is what is described above. It is create glaring consequences, what is our position with using phytotherapy or chiropractic possible, however, to recognize forms of mistreatment regard to the need of dogs to be clean, given medical range from osteo-articular disease to behavioural The treatment continued for about three months with or mismanagement of animals even on a habitual, treatment when sick or fed correctly? problems, from colic to asthenia, from metabolic alternate improvements and regressions while treating day-to-day basis. Reading this legal definition, what I How many times have we seen dogs that are very illnesses to epilepsy; in practice these therapeu- minor collateral pathologies such as an obstinate con- immediately notice as illuminating is the consideration dirty with unpleasant-smelling patches of fur, and I’m tic methods can be used in any field. Very often stipation, lesions from dragging along the ground and of “ethological characteristics”, because this not only certainly not thinking about old shepherd dogs but surgery can be avoided using these natural thera- general deteriorations due to sudden weather change envisages an attentive analysis of an animal’s physical rather about some toy poodles or Golden Retrievers pies, thus avoiding health risks and unnecessary (metereopathy) but it gave good results much to the joy and medical needs, but also of his behavioral and, why of affluent Milanese owners. Sometimes you see a expenditure on the part of the owner. of everyone. Now King had again become a king. not, even of his emotional needs. contrasting phenomenon: dogs washed and rewashed Often animals with pathologies resistant to phar- many times a day with various skin products all over macological therapies benefit greatly from the use He walked about on the lawn with his long-time com- The legislation not only outlines the overall right of their bodies or washed with inappropriate products; I of phytotherapy and chiropractic; in fact, animals panion (a female, long-coated German Shepherd), ate animals to not suffer or be subjected to injury, but even met a lawyer that washed his Pomeranian dog have a much greater sensitivity than humans to like a horse and looked at you with his former pride. also seems to attribute specific rights to animals. with laundry softener (for the washing machine, without natural therapies that imitate situations habitually Sure, when the weather changed he limped a bit and For example, in this sense it is a puppy’s right to be naming the brand) because it left a pleasant aroma. found in the wild: eating medicinal herbs to treat had moments of uncertainty when changing pace but I socialized, regardless of our apprehensions; it is a dog’s themselves, self massage by rolling on the ground should say that we can be satisfied. right to be taught to remain alone in a non-traumatic How much does a dog need to play? And which games? or rubbing against a tree, rock or another animal. Now, when I go to visit he greets me affectionately but way (considering that dogs as social animals do not When people ask me these questions I always answer: So to say: “medical science and medical arts toge- he is a little more reserved. He keeps his distance know by themselves how to remain isolated, which is “Ask your dog, not me.” Are we always sure that our ther to cure”. Just as it should be. almost as if he’s telling me: Oh! I’m King...I reign. for them a form of punishment). If all of this does not dogs like to spend hours at the dog park, always at Cheeky monkey! occur, should we consider it a case of mistreatment of the same time and with the same dogs? Are we really

24 25 health and wellness people and retrievers

We are members of an evolved society that respects and seeks to support the primary needs of all of its components – children, women, migrants, the elderly – according to their inclinations and specific needs. A child needs food, security, education, play and

so sure that the dogs are playing and that their interactions are not of another nature? I recently saw a film with some colleagues GOLDENS: A LETHAL ARM… in which there were two dogs at a show: the handlers, completely unaware of the very clear signals and communication between not only in retrieving the two dogs (“stay away from me” “…but I want to stay away from you…”), brought by Leonardo Langiu the two dogs together “forcing” the larger and older male dog to attack the younger one, who rest different from that of an adult, not only for mere To talk about practical hunting (considered by some inappropriate for a retriever) is in my mind a way reacted with a quiet growl. Reactions of the handlers: biological reasons but in order to reach and maintain a to increase our awareness about the potentialities of our dogs. However, we are talking about working two slaps on the muzzle. Naturally slowing down the stable mental and emotional wellbeing. with our dogs in a way that departs from their nature and is less in keeping with the correct criteria of film we saw the dog’s reaction to the two unexpected We constantly influence with our decisions the present selection for retrievers. slaps (“…but why, you forced me to react in this way…”) and future of our dogs and their immediate welfare, and was one of stress and anxiety: stress and anxiety surely we should fully take on board this responsibility to avoid Living on an island does not allow one to move easily chance, to practice one of the world’s most antique higher than that experienced by the squabble between possible mistreatment, even indirect or subtle forms of around to places where retriever events are held arts, to collaborate as a team for the success of a him and the other dog. And clearly if we showed this mismanagement. To quote the feminist theorist Marti considering the distances, hunting day. film to the police, proposing the scene as a case of Kheel, “in our modern and complex society perhaps we traveling time and, not mistreatment, we would be countercharged for false will never be able to completely experience the impact of least, high costs that Not that I was without alarm. But it seems right to ask ourselves: was it our moral decisions, but we can nonetheless try as much even a sporadic presence experience of game and necessary to put the two dogs in that situation? What as possible to be emotionally conscious of this fact.” would involve. For people hunting dogs, in that from the level of stress did the younger dog experience knowing who would like to create a time I was little I remained that he would be attacked by the older dog? Clearly, *To read more about Italian legislation concerning the bond with their own dogs fascinated by the stories my such a situation can occur with a simple distraction and mistreatment of animals: and take advantage of the maternal grandfather told a bit of ignorance. http://www.anlc.it/wp/wp-content/uploads/5_ breed’s innate abilities, but and passionately followed my legge189-2004.pdf. don’t have much time or uncles, older brother and a few Have you ever remained blocked in traffic on the money, there remain few elderly neighbors on excursions motorway? This happens often to me on the ring road possibilities beyond playing in search of wild game. It is around Milan during rush hour. And sometimes when with dummies or hoping only that this passion was set it happens I need to go to the toilet or I’m thirsty, but I to have a friend that hunts aside with the arrival of my dog cannot abandon my car in the middle of the lane: having and is willing to accept the Ducker, until the moment that to wait one or two hours can be very distressful if not company of you and your I became aware of his drive, painful; we would surely find it embarrassing, even dog. Which is sometimes innate abilities and change of A souvenir photo of Nous and Ducker with the impossible, to use our own cars as a toilet. possible, but not always. attitude when, during training ducksthey drove from the river reeds, before sessions, we used shot game our return home. Many dogs find themselves in this situation, many times With this in mind I decided instead of the usual dummies: a day, every day of the week because they seldom go seven years ago to prepare for the exam to be able to his attention, use of his nose, ability to spontaneously out, or at irregular times, and they do not want to dirty “carry arms”, from which began a journey of reciprocal search the wind for scent and the light in his eyes when, the house because they have been brought up properly. understanding and knowledge that has led me and having found the retrieve, he returned to me to deliver If they dirtied the house, in any case, they would be my dogs to wander hills, woods, fields, beat through it. From this moment I decided to take the exam, buy reprimanded. rivers and other waterways whenever we have the a rifle and try out the mutually gratifying experience of

26 27 people and retrievers people and retrievers

and little understanding between us. From the moment he understood the meaning of mutual provoked the “syndrome of abstinence from game”). understanding and team play, I was able to pay the After years passed pursuing our common goal, our At the end of a frustrating season, maximum attention to the possibilities that presented complementary work has become fluid, natural, with discouraged and without progress in themselves during the day: shooting only when sure precise tasks, few imperfections, many satisfactions the understanding of the division of to hit the mark, making sure the dog followed the and a high index of success for both of us. labor between a “gun” and his dog, I succession of events – from raising game, to following decided to risk and go hunting without the shot and eventual fall, to waiting for the retrieve. Today I go hunting with two Goldens, and we usually being accompanied, that is without I was presented with four other possibilities of which go rough shooting, although we do not look down being conditioned by other persons or two came to a successful end, on “waiting” at dawn or dusk, dogs (except Ducker) to whom I must one with a fall in the water during which the dogs mainly adjust and measure up. The last day of marked by the dog, the second fulfill the role for which they the hunting season I loaded the car and with game falling on a field on have been selected, executing adventured alone towards a river along the other side of the river and retrieves to command. I am filled the bank of which there were present beyond Ducker’s line of vision. with satisfaction when hunting long stretches of reeds and tamarisk thrush “allo schizzo” (walking bushes and hidden pools where ducks The first was a pure “marking” among bushes in pasture fields stayed safe from predators, rising in flight with sure results, easily to make the birds take flight and only when predators arrived sufficiently executed by any hunting dog then shooting them) the dogs close to be a real danger to their safety. with a minimum of retrieval enter with large turns into the After drinking, Ducker rests next to the partridges he flushed and retrieved. When I arrived at the area I had Ducker training. The second was bushes to raise the birds towards get out of the car, who once freed ran a “blind”, more the job of a me; or when they navigate an activity where hunter and dog become auxiliaries immediately between the river bushes and, catching retriever and requiring the dog through the thick Mediterranean one of the other. me unprepared, flushed a couple of mallards who had to be handled. I recalled my vegetation in search of partridge; probably already been alerted by the sound of the dog to heel, positioned him in or when they beat the fields for Nous, after having In the early days I sought out situations that put to motor and of doors being shut in the car parked fifty the right direction and sent him. driven out and then quails, hare or rabbit; or in the the test his name of “retriever” by waking before dawn meters from the river. Cursing I quickly attempted to He dove into the water, and I recovered the mallard specialized hunt for waterfowl to place ourselves in areas where ducks passed, or load the cartridges in the rifle. reinforced the direction with from the reeds, returns described beforehand, a job that early mornings or evenings hidden behind bushes different “go” commands. When with the retrieve. has become highly refined and waiting for the coming or goings of black thrushes to I aimed without shooting at the birds, already he reached the other shore and allows them to make use of their and from pasture fields. With my dog tied, I remained sufficiently far enough away to not run any risk from left the water, I stopped him, excellence senses and handsome partially hidden, ready to shoot birds for my dog to anyone wanting to take their life. reinforcing again the direction morphology. With pride we retrieve. In the case the strategy worked, I would free I understood in that moment what was lacking with a “back”, being careful to let measure ourselves against other my dog, relying on his memory of the fall areas or in comprehension between my dog and me: the him make use of a light breeze hunters and different sporting seeking to guide him to those I remembered. It was coordination of our different roles. Or better yet what blowing that day away from the breeds, most times winning, filling very tiring to combat his vitality, frenetic desire and the gun was for and what the dog was for. My dog fall area. I let him arrive past the our game bag and those of others youthful exuberance, so much that I spent more time was supposed to use his senses to individuate, reach area where I thought the mallard by recovering retrieves that are trying to calm the dog (training errors due to my haste and raise in flight (or drive out) game, while I was had landed and gave him, with a impossible for their dogs. and inexperience) than watching the horizon to seek supposed to follow his movements and try to position modulated whistle, the “search” out arriving game. myself in the best place to facilitate shooting the game command. He raised his nose All of this limits the possibility to be immediately retrieved. If we succeeded in this in the air to scent the wind that to use my dogs in field trials, It was then that I decided to stop considering him a operation it would be a big step ahead for both of us. had in the meantime turned as the autonomy given to dogs mere retriever and, recalling from my memory my I went back to walking along the river trying to use my in his favor and flung himself in practical hunting can be a youthful experiences, I tried out using a full use of his legs to counter Ducker’s energy and impetuousness, without hesitation towards the handicap for the work requested abilities, leaving him free to search and flush game. which brought him to distances too far away from the bird, picked it and retrieved it in under competition rules. In fact gun, blowing every so often the stop whistle to slow exemplary fashion, much to my practical hunting and trials do By law, for one year after the consignment of the right him down, a strategy that sometimes worked. Finally, great happiness. not go well together if one goes to “carry arms”, a novice must be accompanied by perhaps due to my hiding within shooting’s distance of beyond “picking up” to use another hunter with at least three years of experience. an eventual flush of game, the hoped-for combination My only regret was that the retrievers as total hunting dogs, At the beginning I depended on a friend who owned a came about: Ducker succeeded in raising a mallard hunting season had come to a close and I would have valued for initiative developed through experience. setter and to whom I tried to adjust my hunting style. to the edge of a thicket of reeds, which with a grazing to wait for the next season to confirm what good had I soon realized that in rough shooting there exist flight attempted to reach the sky, and I raised my been done that day. The unpredictable nature of wild game and auxiliaries more adept than the retriever (the breeds rifle and shot. It fell wounded into the mirror of water grand explosions of adrenaline do not favor the selected for this) and I spent more time trying to moving its wings on the surface. The dog, about fifty Much water has passed under the bridge since that concentration and control necessary to pass tests calm the excesses of my dog than in true attention to meters away from the duck, swam towards it, took it decisive day in which I found the key to making my outside the habitual context, a context in which the what was happening around me. Conditioned by the into his mouth and arriving onshore hurried towards dog understand me. At times I still have to lengthen dog as “hunter” would be distracted by unpredictable different pace of the setter I wasted time whistling and me to deliver it to hand with a proud look, bursting my stride to stay behind him (especially at the opening and commonplace distractions, such as the arrival of recalling Ducker, creating great confusion in his head with joy. of the season when the preceding ban on hunting has scent or the flight of a wild bird.

28 29 Notonlyretrievers: books, tv, gifts, news, etc Notonlyretrievers: books, tv, gifts, news, etc edited by Patty Fellows and Alessandra Franchi edited by Patty Fellows and Alessandra Franchi

to read Ricette a Quattro zampe per il tuo miglior amico di practically no stray dogs were cited. Seventy-four If dogs could speak… Ingeborg Pils, Editore Gribaudo (January 2007). percent of the signaled cases of abandoned dogs were Labrador (Best of Breed) by David Craig, The Pet reported in the regions of Campania, Sicily, Puglia, This summer the Japanese toy company Takara Book Publishing Company (January 2008). Easy-to-follow, simple Basilicata, Sardegna and Calabria. presented at the Tokyo Toy Fair an updated version and fast recipes with color of its Bowlingual collar, a computer-based device that Written by well-known photographs, adapted translates your dog’s bark into six different emotions. international show to most breeds, that you The first version, consisting of a collar and a handheld judge and breeder can make everyday or receiver, was introduced in 2002 and over 300,000 were David Craig, this just for special occasions. sold in Japan. popular manual covers All recipes have been all aspects of the approved by a veterinarian Labrador Retriever in and taste tested by the eight chapters with author’s own dogs. RCI over 120 illustrations. member Susan Street The book provides found that the whole wheat and oat biscuits rolled in detailed information sesame seeds were a great hit with her Goldens, who on the breed, its literally “wolfed” them up! history, its needs and temperament, puppy care, training and socialization and the Breed to see AIDAA estimates that in response to the Italian Standard. There is also an interesting medical government’s stepped up campaign against abandoning section written by a leading British vet. pets, about 400,000 dogs accompanied their owners The new season of Cesar Millan’s popular tv series “Dog the month of August to mountain and seaside resorts. Whisperer” will be aired on Sunday September 27 at While relatively few beaches accept dogs, increasingly The device, developed by Takara’s president 9 pm on the National Geographic Wild channel. In the more “agriturismi” (farm hotels) in Italy’s hills and in coordination with an acoustic inventor and a Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best first episode, Cesar will help Nunu, a Chihuahua that mountains welcome four-legged guests. veterinarian, works like this: when your dog barks, a Life for Animals by Temple Grandin e Catherine ferociously attacks whoever comes close to his owner microphone transmits the sound to the receiver for Johnson, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (January 2009). Tina, and a mixed Labrador named Opie who is friendly computer analysis, which then displays the emotion with people but aggressive with other dogs. expressed – happy, sad, frustrated, on guard, assertive Temple Grandin Ph.D. is widely considered the Cesar Millan is a noted dog behavior expert and journalist First dog remains discovered or needy. This display is followed by a humorous most accomplished and well-known person with for the New York Times, who has also written two expression representing “what your dog might say, if autism in the world, bestselling books. He is one of the most sought after The remains of the first domestic dog that lived only he could speak.” The device features a number of has been featured experts for the rehabilitation of problem dogs. The TV 16,000 years ago have been identified in China south other interesting features, can be programmed for over on major television program follows him across the US as he visits homes to of the Yangtze River, according to a study led by 80 breeds and costs about 150 euros. programs and has reeducate dogs and their owners according to three basic scientist Peter Savolainen written the first books principles: “exercise, discipline and affection.” of the Royal Institute of to provide an insider’s Technology in Stockholm, view on autism. She latest news who published the results In 2008 Retrievers Hold Pole Position has also written in the magazine “Molecular books that teach Biology and Evolution.” The International breed registrations show that retrievers us from her unique Summer 2009: fewer abandoned dogs. study reveals that the first continue to be among the most popular dogs perspective how to dogs came from about 100 worldwide. In Italy give animals a better The Associazione Italiana Defesa Animali e Ambiente wolves around the time that Labradors came forth life – on their terms, (AIDEE) reported a clear drop in the number of agriculture began in China. in 2008 with 6040 not ours. In this abandoned dogs in Italy this past summer: in 100 Until now scientists have new registrations (out book she draws on monitored shelters there were 5,902 reported cases, known that dogs were of a total of 123,000 her experience with less than half of those reported in the summer of 2008. domesticated several registrations of 220 autism, and almost 30 Thanks to recently imposed microchips, another 2,304 thousand years ago, but breeds), after English years of research and work as an animal scientist cases of lost dogs were returned to their legitimate were unable to pinpoint an exact time and place. Setters, German to identify the core emotional needs of dogs, cats, owners, for an overall count of 8,206 dogs passing Using the mitochondrial DNA of over 1700 modern Shepherds and the farm animals and zoo animals. This is a thought- through monitored shelters. The greatest decline dogs, the team of Swedish and Chinese experts were Segugio Maremmano. provoking and enlightening book that challenges in abandoned dogs was registered in the north: in able to reconstruct different groups of genealogical Goldens closely many of our assumptions about animal behavior. the regions of Trentino Alto Adige and Valle d’Aosta trees, and from these, the original roots in China. followed in seventh

30 31 Notonlyretrievers: books, tv, gifts, news, etc edited by Patty Fellows and Alessandra Franchi

place with 3800 registrations. The Curly-Coated his new Labrador, EJ, who is following in the steps of Retriever, instead, distinguished itself as one of the Endal as a devoted assistance dog. rarest breeds with one single registration! In the UK, gundogs including Labradors and Goldens were again among the most popular purebreds. The Labrador, with 45,233 puppies registered, was at the top of the list, followed by Cocker and English Springer Spaniels, with Cockers registering a 10% increase.Goldens came in seventh place with 9,159 registrations.

In the US the Labrador remained the most popular breed for the 18th consecutive year, with Goldens closely following in forth place. In its founding year, the American Kennel Club registered only nine breeds, and surprisingly, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranked second with 48 registrations. All nine breeds belonged to the Sporting Group, selected to help man find and retrieve game – requiring the qualities of will to please and trainability - which still make them popular pets today.

ENDAL: his story becomes a movie.

Allen Parton (see issue 3) has sent to Retriever Magazine the latest news about Endal: movie producer Simon Brooks has acquired the rights to the book Endal: How One Extraordinary Dog Brought a Family Back from the Brink, written by Allen and his wife to recount how Endal, their first assistance dog, saved both Allen’s life and their marriage. In the film Sandra’s role will be proposed to stars like Kate Winslett and Rachel Weisz, while either Colin Firth or Michael Sheen will play the part of Allen Parton, even if Allen jokingly comments… “to be handsome like me an actor like Brad Pritt is needed.” At the beginning of September Endal was awarded in memory the PSDA medal and will remain forever an honorary member of the PSDA. Allen participated in the ceremony with

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