Last week, I had a "new puppy owner" phone call that started with a phrase such as, "The vet said . . ." and ended with a scared owner who was sure her new dog was either going to die, be lame for life, or require expensive surgery.

Throughout our years of breeding, we have had our fair share of incompetant vets misdiagnose some of our Shepherd puppies. These illnesses (and I use the term loosely) have ranged from irresponsible to just down-right bizarre. But this one call struck a chord.

First, a little history: This is an 8-month-old puppy from a litter of seven. He was purchased at 10 weeks old, strong, healthy, agile and fearless. The litter, although almost entirely German-bred, turned out to be quite angulated. As they grew, several new owners called to check with us on what they perceived to be a possible hip problem; some just said their dog was "walking funny."

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And that, ladies and gentleman, is where the trouble started. 

The owners' vet suspected an orthopedic problem and sent them to a specialist. The lyme tests were not done. No one checked for pano. And no one called us - until three months had passed and the owners were terrified. 

The first so-called expert manipulated this puppy's hips, made them pop until he yelped, and told the owners that the dog was dysplastic. Alas, xrays showed perfect hips. Still seeing a "funny" gait, they next took the dog to another "expert," who told them that the puppy suffered from a congenital disease affecting his hocks and would require expensive surgery. (A little research revealed that this same veterinary practice also happens to have pioneered the surgery they recommended.)

At this point, the owners contact us. After I regained my composure, I explained that I was simply awe-struck at the blatant idiocy of these vets. I strongly urged them to have the lyme test done - at a lab - and to check for pano. They did. The puppy has lyme disease. Oh, and it turns out that the congenital hock issue means he is cow-hocked.

If you're still reading, thank you. I realize this is a long story - and undoubtedly one most breeders have experienced in one form or another. But here's the thing: What can be done? How many times do we (breeders) have to listen to terrified owners at the other end of the phone? Or worse: angry buyers who are convinced they were duped by disreputable breeders? 

In this particular case, I don't think it is entirely the vets who are at fault. The buyers called for advice, initially, but didn't follow it. In fact, they are still convinced that the puppy has a congential hock disease. (When they send those xrays to OFA, however, I am pretty sure they will find that the puppy's knees were dislocated when taking the films. Won't that be a joy to explain?)

So what's to be done? No matter how much breeders screen buyers, no matter how often we recommend a particular vet or spend hours offering advice from our considerable knowledge bank on this breed, we still get these calls. We still end up defending ourselves, instead of helping the dogs. We still have to explain that although a vet has paperwork framed on the wall, he or she is not the sole bearer of wisdom when it comes to German Shepherds. We still remind owners to question their vets' advice the same way they would with their child's doctor.

A buyer is confused and scared. They understandably don't want to return a dog they are now very attached to. But they are unable or unwilling to listen to the very people who know the dog best.

Do we, breeders, band together? Form a coalition? Hold educational seminars for vets? Launch a website to educate the pet-buying population?

Ours is a breed built unlike any other. It is our responsibility to proactively approach this issue before it is too late. With AR organizations seemingly on every street corner, it is only a matter of time before we hear them liken rear angulation to tail-docking. Together, we can be part of the solution. It really is up to all of us.

On December 1, 2008, gsdbydesign.com will launch it's "A-List" for the year. Expect the unexpected.

Names include judges, handlers, breeders, exhibitors, dog clubs, two committee chairmen and even a GSDCA Board member.

We're not giving any details yet. But you won't want to miss it! 

We love dog people. They represent our collective Best Friends – and not just for the obvious reasons. Generally, we love them best because they do the most amazing things in the name of dog love.

For example, a California group recently convinced a dozen AKC judges and handlers to take their clothes off for the camera. The result: “The Naked Truth Calendar,” provocatively exposed Fancy notables, posed – er, poised – to defend our rights and halt the spread of anti-pet and breed specific legislation, as well as anti-breeding and anti-animal ownership.

The calendar is available now – just in time for Christmas. (Seriously, can you think of one thing a dog exhibitor would want more?)

The folks behind the calendar are a collective sub-group of CaRPOC (or California Responsible Pet Owners' Coalition). The group consists of exhibitors, breeders, judges, therapy dog owners and trainers, graphic designers, photographers and a local dog show superintendent.

In case you’ve been under a rock for the last year, CaRPOC is comprised of pet lovers who fight “oppressive pet legislation in the State of CA,” according to its website. “We have come together with the single goal of fighting anti-pet legislation.”

Indeed.

            The idea for the calendar came about during a lull in the battle against California AB 1634. A member of CaRPOC brought in a similar calendar, put out by Labs-UK.com, with images of British Labrador Retriever breeders. The proceeds from that highly successful calendar went to support different Lab rescues in the UK. CaRPOC says it was classic British dry wit.

The group recognized its potential for fighting against anti-pet legislation. That’s when “Gloves Off” was conceived.

            Unfortunately, they won’t reveal any calendar images online, so we can’t offer you a sneak peak. But we’re told that you can look for photos of Michelle Billings and John Connolly, for starters. Some Best in Show judges, obedience and agility judges, and even handlers are included. (Sorry, Ladies. Word has it that no one got George Berstler in on this one.)

            “We've had our ups and downs, our delights and disappointments - LOTS of begging and cajoling, but here we are,” said Stormy Hope, vice president of CaRPOC.

            After the calendar costs are recovered, the proceeds will help fight the spread of anti-pet legislation. The group is considering a myriad of possibilities: Donations for public relations efforts, money for worthy legislative endeavors, “or for anything else that makes sense and that could further our cause,” Stormy said.

“We hope that this calendar will keep you smiling throughout the year to come. However, the goal behind it is very serious,” she said. “We, as pet owners, are in a war. After much struggle with AB1634, we won, but it came down to the wire. Since the 1975 publication of Peter Singer's “Animal Liberation: Towards an End to Man's Inhumanity to Animals,” Animal Rights fanatics have been slowly infiltrating our lives. We hope that this calendar will advance our successful fight against animal rights extremists. Our goal here is to entertain, but also to begin to broaden knowledge of our adversaries by using their own words to expose them.”

The “Gloves Off” Team also sends its thanks to everyone who contributed to the creation and production of the calendar, particularly the models, dogs and photographers.

            Frankly, we’re just dying to see it.

To order your copy, log onto carpoc.org, or go to gsdbydesign.com and click on
“The Naked Truth.” Calendars cost $20 each.

I went to a dog show last weekend and won both days. It stunk.

The dog in question needs two singles to finish. He also happens to be the grandson of my very firsy 'show-quality' bitch. That lovely little girl hated conformation, so we went to work instead. She earned her American and Canadian CDs, a CDX, an HIC and is OFA'd both ends. Naturally, as I was driving home Sunday, my thoughts turned to her, and how much fun we had earning those titles.

For me, the main difference between conformation and obedience (or any performance title for that matter) is the relationship between my dog and I. At last weekend's shows, I handed my dog to a someone and watched from the outside. There is no control over what happens from outside the conformation ring. (Of course, some could argue that there really is no control from inside that ring either.) But at least in obedience, it was me and my dog. We were competing against only ourselves, trying to best our previous scores or garner the final leg on an elusive title. When we lost, we didn't really care because we had fun.

We had fun winning too. And there is comraderie around the obedience ring. Perfect strangers are often elated when you finish a title. One judge was literally moved to tears of joy after my old girl and I successfully completed our CDX in Maine many years ago. These people truly appreciate the effort it takes to do this work. They implicitly understand the dedication and the drive.

Now, I am NOT saying that there isn't work involved in showing in conformation. I also know first-hand how hard that is. But in conformation, I'm finding people who really aren't so thrilled when someone wins other than them. I'm finding gossip, bad manners and just plain nastiness. I'm finding handlers who yell at owners, often making them cry. And I see way too many dogs who look as though they would rather be at the vet than in that ring.

That is just not fun. Not for me, definitely not for the people getting yelled at, and it can't be fun for those dogs.

So here I sit at a crossroads. Eight years of paying serious attention to conformation, finished champions, futurity and maturity wins, a RFB, and a nearly complete ROM on my first homebred bitch. I am on the brink of doing something really special. I can feel it. So why am I so miserable?

On the drive out of the showgrounds on Sunday, I spotted a dozen or so people in a nearby field with their dogs, blinds and other Schutzhund equipment set up. The people were laughing. The dogs were LOVING the work. I wanted to pull in, but I was afraid they would laugh at my American stock.

On the long drive home, I thought about my girl. In October, she took Best Veteran in obedience with a score of 191.5 (out of 200). She will be 12 on Spetember 18 and we will very likely be back out again this year. You see, she loves it. And I feel so good having fun with my dogs.

Conformation entries are down and specialty clubs are folding. I wonder why?

Send me a note with your opinion to gsdbydesign@aol.com.

Note: The German Shepherd by Design is in no manner expressing that all handlers yell at their clients.

Welcome to our new BLOG!  Here you'll find a place to brag, gossip about the Election and - oh yeah - talk dogs.
We hope you take advantage of this new feature. Check back often - you never know what you will find. We are,
after all, the "the ultimate source for German Shepherd Dog news." 

Sincerely,
Becky T. Dickson
www.GSDbyDesign.com