'Apso'lutely Newsworthy … and all things Lhasa Apso
We have a 12-year old female arriving over the weekend. Through no fault of her own, she’s lost the only home she’s known … her owner passed away suddenly with relatives not being in a position to take her on. As with all fosters, she’ll undergo medical/behavioral evaluations to decide what type of home would best suit her needs. Preliminary information is she’s house trained and gets along well with other dogs.
Stay tuned for more as it becomes available …
… or How Many Distractions Can One Household Provide!
Like so many others these days, I find myself working from a home office … dragging files and supplies home in a banker’s box. Going on three weeks now, I find I miss going into work (don’t tell hubby that or I’ll never get retired).
My routine has been significantly disrupted and I struggle to find focus or a clear desktop from which to work. I already had piles of filing or projects to work on and they’ve been shoved to the side to accommodate client files, accident reports, medical records and medical bills for preparation of settlement demand letters.
Added to the distraction are the dogs. They wander in/out, ask to be picked up, demand treats and/or more potty trips. Toys are dragged into the office to later be navigated and/or stepped on. In an attempt to gain some semblance of “normal” (whatever that is in a dog household), they are banished – the two adults to the front room and the puppy to the kitchen. The puppy finally decides she’s had enough after an hour or so and starts whining. Which sets Teller to whining. Which then turns into full-blown howling by all three. At some point, it just disintegrates into barking and doesn’t stop until I exit the office.
Evidently, if they can’t see me, they can’t hear me either as “quiet!” and “enough!” go ignored. I guess this is a good excuse as any to take a break, stretch, find something to drink and send everyone outside for a quick potty run.
Repeat ad nauseam.
UPDATE: Bubbles has been adopted!!!
This is a courtesy posting … please contact the owner directly at the phone/email provided below:
NOTE: THIS DOG IS LOCATED IN ELIZABETH, CO, EAST OF CASTLE ROCK.
“Bubbles” is a nine-year old spayed female, vaccinations up to date. She needs a quiet home with a patient and confident person. In the past, she has been a one-person dog. Gets along with other animals okay; would not trust with children. In addition to being housetrained, she is trained to potty pads in the house.
Needs someone who is familiar with the breed and willing to give her time to adjust to a new home. Her owner just went into dementia care so she has seen a lot of changes lately.
As a double-coated breed with hair, Bubbles will need regular grooming (every six to eight weeks at $35 to $50) so this expense will need to be taken into consideration by the adoptive family.
An adoption interview/application is required and there is an adoption fee ($150).
Spring Galmon
Sgalmon@aol.com
205-229-0043
Just had to share these videos (with permission, of course). AKC has rolled out a new tricks title and — not surprisingly — Apsos are nailing the testing. This first video is of adorable Maui in Minnesota, a five-month old puppy taking on the novice title: Maui Tricks Novice Title.
Our second video is of Zopa, a six-year old Colorado Apso, picking up her advanced title, proving that you *can* teach an old dog new tricks, lots of new tricks: Zopa’s Sweet Ride.
Congrats to both owners on the new titles!
Second up on our courtesy postings are three-year old Max and Dogee. Located in Sterling, Colorado, they have a rather sad story:
The owners were on a camping trip and, the next morning, the husband had passed away. These boys are three-years old, neutered and up-to-date on vaccinations. They are not bonded and can be placed separately. Crate trained and house trained but may have accidents if left too long. Have been around grandchildren and seemed to get along okay after an adjustment period (would suggest only older children, age 10+). Will chase cats in the backyard so would take some training to reverse this behavior. Have been boarded and groomed regularly.
If interested, please leave a message for Laurie at (970) 370-4146 or contact Jamie at bow-wowbarn@q.com. Application, home check and placement fee required.
Couple courtesy postings to start us off for 2018 … I’m going to post them separately so as not to create confusion.
First up is Hutch, who is located in El Paso County, Colorado … Black Forest to be exact. Hutch is believed to be a Lhasa/Poodle mix. His current owner writes the following about him:
He is five-years old, 22-ish lbs, neutered; was the product of a divorce and dumped on me “temporarily” three years ago but was never taken back. He was apparently traumatized by a man before he came to me and is fearful of men. He sometimes pees in the house although this may be due to the fact that I have three other dogs. He is a “one woman dog”, he has bonded to me, he can be nippy if one of my kids tries to pick him up and he has his sights set on me. My children are seasoned animal/4H kids, so this doesn’t bother them. I am concerned that he could traumatize kids that are not used to the unpredictable behavior of some animals. He used to nip at me when he first came to me, now he wouldn’t dream of it.
I am so sad for this dog. He wants to please me, he looks at me with these adoring eyes. He deserves a real life with his own person. We live on a farm, our other dogs are more of a group, and just go with the flow. Hutch doesn’t fit in with them. He rides very well in the car, no nausea or anything, he would be super happy just sitting in my lap or at my feet all day. I am about to start working again and he needs and deserves more than I can give him.
Negatives about Hutch: he has killed three of my hens, and he goes after my cats with a vengeance. He is aggressive to my 140-lb older Newfoundland cross, but co-exists with my other two dogs just fine. My heart is breaking for this dog. He needs a seasoned small-dog owner.
If interested, please contact the owner, Kathryn, directly at: marsh.kitty@gmail.com. It sounds like Hutch is overwhelmed with his living arrangements but would do well as an only dog and with an owner that could potty him every four hours or so. He also “resource guards” but this is manageable by removing him from whatever he is guarding (IOW, you don’t get away with that behavior!!).
I really, really should update this more often! However, like everyone else, things just seem to direct our attention elsewhere these days. Between work, rescue, the house/yard and our own personal pack of three Apsos, time just slips through our fingers.
Rescue saw two placements and a return in 2017. Sammy the Shih Tzu finally went to his new home in Loveland and is settling in well. Lucy the Lhasa was returned due to not getting along with the toddler in the household (when she was originally placed, there was no child in the home!!). After about six weeks in foster care, she was placed in Denver with the gal who adopted our puppy mill rescue, MaeMae, in 2009. Lucy is loving urban life and all the excitement that goes with it, including walks 3+ times a day.
On a somber note, we were advised that our long-time supporter, Judy Wendt, passed away January 2017. You may remember Judy as little blind Magoo’s owner. I’m sure he met her at the Bridge, sight and mind restored. True to her word, Judy included ApsoRescueColorado in her estate planning. We are humbled and most grateful for the donation to further our rescue efforts. With the new PACFA laws in Colorado, it will allow us to pay the yearly licensing fee and still have funding available for veterinary care.
We had our own personal scare with a “Night Tiger” recently … a Great Horned Owl buzzed Teller in the yard just after sunset. Hubby was outside with him when the raptor made a dive for Teller — despite Hubby being just feet away from him! Fearless hunters, human presence is no deterrent. A heart-stopping sight to see a GHO just three feet above one’s dog! He flew up into a small tree just east of the kitchen and then stayed there long enough for me to shoo Teller into the house, get my camera and snap a photo. Bold little bugger!
Here’s to the new year, come what may!
… for the year and, yet, here we sit, still trying to figure out what happened to March! The last four months of 2016 were a whirlwind with dog shows in Minnesota, more shows in Colorado, the American Lhasa Apso Club’s National specialty held in Loveland, Colorado the end of October, yet another dog show and then the holidays. Whew! No wonder I didn’t get my usual holiday preparations and cards done.
Unfortunately, I also received word that two of our fosters passed away in December. Dinky, the little dog that blew kisses and Mae-Mae, our little puppy mill survivor. That on top of Boo passing away in September. All had long lives in loving homes and one certainly can’t ask for more than that in the grand scheme. Still, the loss is felt deeply.
We have a page on Facebook … https://www.facebook.com/LhasaApsoRescueColorado/ … it’s a public page so one does not have to have a Facebook account to access it. A large variety of content there for the fancier. Visit, like and get updated postings!
Bringing this post up again … Night Tigers … to remind everyone that raptors pose a real and deadly threat to our little ones. A cat was taken in a neighboring subdivision a couple weeks ago by a large hawk. Last night, something woke me up at 2:30 a.m. Not sure if it was one of the dogs stirring in its crate or the house settling with a creak. What I heard after that, however, was the hooting of a Great Horned Owl (GHO). It was either on the roof above our bedroom or in the tree right outside the bedroom. December/January is mating season for the GHO with February/March being the hatch … which means they will be looking for easy prey to feed the baby owls. It is estimated that up to 40% of raptors’ diets are household pets, depending on the area. Check out this information … Great Horned Owl. Fair warning!
… the newest foster, Leo, a 10-month old Shih Tzu. Leo is in the assessment stage but
will be available for adoption in the next four to six weeks or so (pending assessment and behavior). Placement in Northern Colorado is preferred.
Leo is a cocky young fellow who needs a job, i.e., obedience, rally and/or agility. He is wicked smart and catches on quickly. A confident dog, he works well with distractions.
He will need a dog-savvy owner that has some training skills. He is not a dog for a “soft” or first-time owner. Leo needs an owner that can set boundaries and follow through with consistency. Leo is crate trained, house trained (with supervision, he is still a puppy!) and walks nicely on a leash. He does NOT do well with children so will need to go to an adult-only home.
Interested? Contact ApsoRescue@aol.com to start a dialog on this boy.
Bet you’re wondering what fits that definition. And I’ll bet you’ve probably had one (or more) in your area whether suburban or rural. While you may not be aware of their presence, they are definitely aware of you and what’s wandering around in your yard at dusk, midnight and dawn.
The Night Tiger … also known as the Great Horned Owl … is common and the second most widely distributed owl in the Americas. With its six-foot wingspread, it is capable of hunting and carrying off a great variety of animals including porcupines, dogs and cats. In some areas of the country, dogs and cats are used as a readily convenient food source.
Hubby found owl pellets in our yard about a month ago … a sobering find as we had two small foster Tzus in residence at the time. Weighing in eight and nine pounds, they are prime prey for the winged predators in our neighborhood. Both owls and hawks have been spotted flying low over the yards; last year a hawk family was fledged in a neighbor’s trees.
For more information, please tune into this YouTube video prepared by East Mountain Pet Alert in New Mexico and friend and artist, Katy Widger …
Birds of Prey Attack Small Pets
Be safe, be aware! And keep those small pets under your direct supervision.
Colorado was slammed with a spring blizzard on Wednesday … not unusual for Colorado but certainly not welcomed by humans or dogs alike. To be sure, we need the moisture so won’t complain there. However, the driving snow and 50-mph winds did little for dogs or trees in our neighborhood. Four of our trees sustained significant damage from the snow caking on branches. The weight eventually snapped the limbs off completely or split the trunks. A maple, two crabapples and a hawthorne all lost limbs … time will tell as to if the trees will make it or not. The top of one crabapple was completely snapped off. Bummer.
We set up a dog run of sorts in the winter for a couple of reasons … one, it makes a smaller footprint to have to scoop for the dogs and, two, it keeps the dogs from accessing areas which have not been scooped so they don’t come back in looking like a giant snow ball (see last photo). Unfortunately, even having a dog run that had been scooped twice didn’t help with this blizzard. The potty run filled up quickly and it’s hard to potty in 6+ inches of snow when one is less than 11-inches tall at the shoulder! All told, we got 18+-inches of snow out of this storm in less than 12 hours.
Soooo, what’s a small dog to do?!?!? Thankfully, I’ve trained my three to potty in an exercise pen (x-pen) from the time they were small puppies. Dante and Jentry are old hands at it … Teller was a bit confused by it all. I set up a small x-pen in the garage, lined it with potty pads and everyone was able to relieve themselves until we could dig out.
Let’s talk about equipment … in my book, x-pens are a “must have” for the dog owner. They come in different heights and I use 24″ or 30″ depending on the application. Definitely prefer the 24″ as I can actually step over that one. At 5’3″ and a 28″ inseam, a 30″ pen is out of my reach, both to step over and to lean over to pick up a dog. Those of us who are height challenged have to consider all the angles, literally. If you have a dog that can jump/climb 24″ you’ll probably want a 30″ pen.
One x-pen will make a four-by-four pen (I prefer the Midwest brand of pens, without a door). The pens are open ended so you can add extra panels to make a larger pen or connect two pens together for a substantial space. We use several pens connected together for a dog run during the winter as we have a large patio to cover to get to the grass. The pens make good markers as to snow fall since the sections are set up in vertical increments of six inches. We’ve used the pens when camping as an area for the dogs to hang out so they’re not constantly on a leash. Throw in a bed, toys, coop cups for food/water and they’re all set. Drag up a comfortable chair, an adult beverage and you’re all set.
As all of my pens were out in the yard, I used a small fold-up pen that I keep in the grooming room and/or take to dog shows. Dog shows typically have outside areas for potty runs (this works if a small venue and one can easily get to “outside”). However, if the weather outside is bad, toileting can be an issue. In the case of the large Denver shows, they set up penned-off areas inside, full of sawdust. Not good for dogs in full coat … and can be a source of disease/germs. So, we use a lightweight six-panel pen made by Mardel that’s easily transported and set up (scroll down to find the mini-exercise pens).
Potty pads … given that I don’t use them all that often, I buy Assurance underpads from Wal-Mart. While they cost more than the pet-specific pads, they absorb more and come in a 30 x 36 size (two will cover a small x-pen nicely, for about .52 cents each). The boys are sent out first with belly bands so they’re not peeing out the sides of the pen, solid wastes are bagged and set outside (use of the belly bands also keeps the pads clean so the boys are not walking in urine). Jentry is then “exercised” in a basically clean pen. Depending on what’s going on and where we’re at, I may cover her pee spot with newspapers so she’s not walking in urine and the pads are good for a second use. When done, it all gets bagged up and put in the trash bin outside so we don’t have to worry about odors. I have also used this set up in a hotel room — a heavy-duty sheet of plastic is unrolled in an area and then the pen and potty pads are set up.
Flying with a dog and can’t get to the potty area? Pack along a potty pad and then take the dog to the restroom (easier if the dog is a male so you can use a belly band as well). All good reasons to train your dog to: (1) potty on command and (2) potty in an x-pen as it gives you and the dog more options when nature calls.
Belly bands … having used several different types over the years, I’ve found Playapup to be the most comfortable for the boys. They are narrower on the ends and the neoprene material has some stretch to it. This brand doesn’t tend to bunch up because of excess material as with other bands. Line it with an incontinence pad and it can be used for potty runs as noted above or used in conjunction with training for males that mark indoors. They wash up easy/dry quickly and I always have at least two on hand so they can be changed out on wash days.
So there you have it … tricks of nature, nature calls and traveling with small dogs. What tricks have you utilized for inclement weather or while traveling?
… hair! Dog hair to be exact. No, not the stuff that finds its way onto every piece of furniture or item of clothing you own … the stuff that forms hair bunnies and herds itself around the corners of the house. We’re talking about face hair. If you own or have owned any of the long-coated breeds, you know the ongoing challenge of keeping the hair out of the dog’s eyes as well as keeping the eyes from being poked with the bloom of ever-growing hair on the muzzle.
From time to time, I take my crew in for a professional grooming. On each dog’s kennel card, there is a notation that the hair on the muzzle is *not* to be scooped out with a clipper and nothing below the corner of the eyes and down the muzzle is to be trimmed. When grooming the dogs myself, I follow the same protocol. “Why?” you might ask, knowing that the hair on the face is going to look like a chrysanthemum in full bloom as it grows out. Because clippering or scissoring this hair sets you and the dog up for a never-ending trim/grow/poke in the eyes/watery eyes/can’t see/trim cycle
Here’s what I do on literally all my dogs, pet and show … I let the hair grow out until it lies flat to the muzzle. You only have to grow it out once and then keep the length trimmed up at the chin area. This also preserves the soft facial expression of the dog. In the photo to the left, Teller is several weeks out from a groom so the hair above the eyes is in need of a trim but you can see how the hair lies flat on the muzzle. He can still see despite needing a trim!
In the photo to the right, you can see how the hair is grown to the beard length and then trimmed appropriately. While growing the hair out on the muzzle, I will use an alcohol-free hair gel or KY jelly to keep the hair tacked down and out of the eyes. Since the hair grows fairly quickly, it won’t be long until it is laying flat and out of the eyes. I find that keeping the muzzle hair in this fashion also helps with the eye discharge, i.e., less of it and easier to clean out.
Remember, you only have to grow it out once. Unless you forget to tell your groomer …
I have long been an advocate for rescue, taking in dogs that need a second … or third or fourth … chance at a new home. However, I also respect those owners who decide that, for their lifestyle and family, a predictable and purpose-bred dog is the better choice. IOW, they know what the size of the dog is going to be as an adult, what type of temperament it will have and the grooming requirements of a specific breed. They will also have that breeder behind them — and the dog — for the life of the dog.
I came across this recent posting on FB and wanted to share it …
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“I have been helping a friend find a puppy. She wants a specific breed, for a specific purpose, with a specific temperament. I have found her several responsible breeders who I think would have puppies that would fit all of her criteria. Then she says to me, “I just want you to know that I am not spending $1,000 on a dog. Not when so many need homes.” And you know, if that was the end of what she said, and she wanted help finding a rescue dog, I would have been all about helping her. But she is still not opposed to buying a puppy… just not one for $1,000. So, at first, it didn’t really register what she said, but as I thought about it, I became more and more offended. Because basically what she said to me was that as a responsible breeder, my dogs are not worth any more than Joe-shmoe’s down the block… that all the time, effort, and money that I have put into health testing, temperament testing, training, proving, and selecting my dogs for breeding has no value. I have to say, this really got under my skin. Maybe it’s because I have driven my girls as far as CA to breed to the most perfect stud dog that I could find… or that I just spent over $2,000 on progesterone tests, and I still don’t have a litter to show for it… or maybe it’s because I have proven my dog’s over and over again, and it just plain pissed me off that someone doesn’t see the value in that.
So, what do you get for a $1,000 puppy? Proven temperament and trainability… mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, and great-grand parents for many generations are trained and temperament tested- and they have been to a million dog shows, earning titles to prove it all. Proven health… mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, and great grand parents for many generations have had their hips, elbows, knees, eyes, heart, & thyroid tested, they are clear of all genetic disease that I can possibly know of. They are to breed standard… which may not mean a lot to you, but it should. It’s what keeps a Rottweiler from looking like a Black and Tan Coonhound, or a Bernese Mountain dog. It’s what maintains structure and soundness, and what makes a breed a breed. You also get me. You get a knowledgeable breeder and expert in your breed. You can call me day or night, and even on holidays. I am there for you through all your joys and frustrations, sickness and health. I will do anything I need to do to make sure that owning one of my puppies is the most wonderful experience of your life. You have the peace of mind knowing that no matter what ever happens to you, your dog, your best friend, has a safe place to live out the rest of his life.
So what about that $400 puppy out of the paper? You get a puppy with unknown temperament, health and type. You get nothing else. You can potentially get a dog genetically predisposed to fears and aggression, a dog with debilitating health issues, a dog who will never be able to fulfill the goals that you have set out for him. And if you ever needed to return that dog (life can sometimes throw you a curve ball), that person will not take your 5- or 8- or 10-year old dog back … you will be stuck putting your dog up for adoption or euthanizing him.
So, who’s making money? I have never actually figured it out, but I would guess that I lose about $1,000/puppy. I don’t breed dogs to make money. I breed dogs because I love my breed and I believe that there are wonderful people out there who should have the opportunity to own wonderful dogs. The person selling the $400 puppy is making a profit of about $350/puppy. That person breeds purely for profit. Oh, I am sure they love their dogs, and their breed, but not enough to be any benefit to anyone other than themselves.
I guess people don’t really understand value. It is not about the price you pay, but what you are getting for that price. And in the end, if what you are getting for $1,000 is not worth anything to you, then by all means, the $400 puppy is a much better value.”
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It’s all about choices, folks. If your choice is to open your heart/home to a rescue dog, then I’m behind you 100% and will help you find that perfect match. Conversely, if your selection is a well-bred dog from a responsible breeder, I can respect the thought process and reasoning behind that choice as well. For some, the allure of a dog bred to type goes beyond the health and temperament, connecting one to the rich history and culture of the sturdy mountain dog as a landrace in it’s native country … Tibet.
Update: Sammy and Budha were adopted this past weekend (June 20th). Wishing them and their new owner many happy, healthy years together. And we are just thrilled that the new owner decided to take them both … dogs are pretty darned happy too!
Always a good time to interact with the dog community … Paws on the Promenade at the Shops at Centerra! Come on out and join the fun on Saturday, May 16th with a variety of events as noted below. We’ll be there with our foster Tzus, Sammy (l) and Budha (r), for a meet/greet. Hopefully, the weather will be better by Saturday … anything but pouring rain or blowing snow!
Sammy is a five-year old Tzu that would love to find a retired or semi-retired couple on which to work his charms. He’s a cuddle bug and gets along well with other small dogs.
Budha is a two-year old Tzu, originally from Wyoming. We think he looks like Toothless from “How to Train Your Dragon.” A sweet boy, he’d do well with with an active couple and gets along with other small dogs.
| 10th Annual Paws on the PromenadeSaturday, May 16, 2015 10 am to 3 pm at the Main Plaza, the Shops at CenterraIt’s a fun-filled day for you and your dog! Enjoy giveaways, dog adoptions, live demonstrations by the Larimer County Sheriff K9 Unit and the Longmont Fire Arson Dog, Yappy Hour, dog contests for prizes & so much more! Schedule of Events: This event is free and open to the public.
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Update: Gracie has found her new family and was adopted!!
Calling folks in the Midwest … or someone willing to travel/fly! Gracie is a retired champion looking for a home to call her own. Some things prospective adoptive families should know:
Please see the flyer for contact more info; an application process is required. If interested, please contact: jen@sunriselhasaapsos.com.
Our latest fosters have arrived and are settling in. With new dogs, I never know what to expect out of the ordinary or what issues will arise while integrating them into the household routine. Other than knowing that “something” always comes up.
Assessments are made as to whether or not they are crate trained and clean in their crates … are they housetrained or do we need to utilize belly bands for a while … can they be transitioned over to a new food or will they decide to go on a three-day fast when presented with a new kibble? Kibble wasn’t the issue, it was the bowl … Budha will only eat out of a particular bowl. Will they sleep through the night in a crate and continue to sleep quietly well past the dark hours that see hubby up/out of the house? Can they tell me they need to go outside or should we just count on potty runs every couple hours or so? How will Teller react to them and vice versa … what’s the best option for integrating the three males together so they get along without it becoming an indoor pissing contest (literally and figuratively). If they don’t get along, who is the instigator?
Sammy and Budha are, at first glance, two peas in a pod. Both small, both black and both very similar in facial expression, Hubby is having a hard time telling them apart without looking at their collars … lime green for Sammy and bright red for Budha. Sammy is the more reserved of the two while Budha is a happy outgoing fellow. Sammy is content just to hang on the back of the couch or nestled in the couch pillows while Budha works at getting every. single. toy. strewn across the front room from not one – but two – toy boxes.
We’re finding the moment needed to make a verbal correction about something is lost as we try to figure out what dog’s name we need to be speaking in that correction. While Hubby hasn’t resorted to calling them both “Larry” because he can’t remember their names, I suspect it’s only a matter of time. We are, however, referring to them as “the Littles.” At about two-thirds the size of the two male Apsos in the house, it fits them perfectly. Can’t say “the boys” because – with the exception of yours truly – everything in the house is male! Then it would become a question of “the big boys or the little boys?” So, the Littles it is.
Once through the assessment period and vetting procedures, Sammy (age 5) and Budha (age 2) will be looking for a home(s) of their own here in Colorado. Ideally, I’d like them placed together but am well aware of the realities of placing a pair. If interested, please contact me directly at: ApsoRescue@aol.com. Please note we require an e-application, vet and personal reference checks and, finally, a home visit. Sorry, no out-of-state placements.
After a year off the blog, it’s time to return. Suffice it to say that a herniated cervical disc drastically limited after work computer time for most of 2014. By a stroke of luck, acceptance in an FDA study for an artificial disc and a surgery in September finally stopped the chronic neck pain/arm numbness when nothing else worked. So, here we are again.
Last year was slow for rescue with only one intake, Daisy. Daisy came from a shelter in Aurora, Colorado via a family who quickly realized their lifestyle didn’t mesh with dog ownership. Thankfully, they took the time to search out rescue to ensure she would be placed appropriately and find a good home. A darling little thing at only eight pounds, she made up for her petite size with a big personality. Daisy was placed with a family in Casper, WY who adopted Kersey from us many years ago. Promptly named “Piper,” I have it on good authority that she’s spoiled rotten by Jan and Neal.
Christmas brought news of Lucy doing well in Westminster … Bubba n/k/a Max is living the good life … Murphy, our long-legged boy is enjoying life with his family. Mary reported that we’d lost Kalsang to age … I know with certainty that the best years of his life were spent with Mary. John, Neil and “the boys” are doing well in their new home in Oregon; Andy, our puppy mill survivor, has positively blossomed in their care. As a foster home for rescue, their presence is greatly missed here in Colorado! PippyDo and BellaToo were getting ready for a move to Covington, Louisiana to become real southern belles. Judy advised that Magoo is doing remarkably well despite his blindness and advanced age. Katu and Emmy are keeping Trudy amused with their antics.
On the show front, Teller completed his championship in August and went on to pick up Best of Opposite Sex in the Maturity classes at the American Lhasa Apso Club’s National Specialty in St. Louis this past October. While there, we visited the Missouri Botanical Garden, the oldest botanic garden west of the Mississippi. We could have spent the entire week wandering the grounds! Teller is now retired from the ring, preferring to ride the couch rather than the show circuit.
Rescue is ramping up with an intake here very shortly. Unfortunately, due to a death in the family and other circumstances, Sammy, our little black Tzu, is coming back into rescue. And he’s bringing a friend with him … Budha, another little black Tzu! Ideally, we’d like them to go together but are all too aware of the realities of placing a pair in the same home. In any event, we’re off and running for 2015.
As if all that wasn’t enough, we recently launched our e-business, SpicewoodSalt.com. Some of you know the product as “Little Lion Dog Master Salt Blend.” With a new name, new logo, new packaging, two new products, a website and a Facebook page, we’re officially open for business! As part of the global community, a portion of our proceeds will be donated to rescue. Visit the Facebook page and say hello or just browse the website.
Spring has arrived here in Colorado … one day it’s almost 70 degrees and then we have a 50 degree drop in temps and snow falling. Warmer weather brings to mind getting out in the yard, even if only a tease through February, March and April — typically our major snow months. Like the human residents of the household, the dogs also enjoy spending more time in the yard, especially when the x-pen “snow fencing” comes down and they have run of the entire grassed area. High on their “to-do list” is grabbing a Frisbee on the way out the door as one can always coax Dad or Mom to throw it for them. The fact they actually bring it back and drop it at your feet certainly makes it easy to oblige their happy request.
Frankers was our first “retriever” and, in later years, got to where snagging the Frisbee and then laying in the grass playing with it was more fun than having to chase it down again. You want it … you come get it!!! Summer days were spent checking out his pee mail and generally being lazy. Unless you were a bird or squirrel. Varmint visitors and nuisance birds were cause for a race across the yard to chase them from the premises. Many years ago, he actually injured his sacroiliac joint bouncing up/down at the base of the ash tree in the corner of the yard and/ or chasing them down the fence line (the vet advised that this is an injury very common to the “treeing” breeds). One of the reasons we put the x-pen fencing up, keeping the dogs confined to the grass areas only. While he had a decent recovery from the initial injury with the use of anti-inflammatories and acupuncture, the injury would follow him down the years.
He was my first ever male dog. He arrived as an 8-month old “home school” project. I was to work on his house manners and then help find him a home. Ali, however, had other plans. She had been with us a year and was completely bored with the human company despite our many activities. The bond forged between the two of them secured his place in our home. A sweet boy. A quirky boy. A little old man even as a young dog. My velcro dog, he could always be found just steps from wherever I was located. Second to being near me, his favorite place was the yard … his self-claimed dogdom.
His passing on March 14th marks a sad milestone. He was the last of the original “family” … Boogins, Ali and Frankers. Memories rush in but cannot replace his quiet presence. My second shadow. Sleep well little one … you’ve earned your rest.
The following post has been making the rounds on Facebook … couldn’t have said it better myself. And, yes, I own three dogs from responsible breeders. Dogs who have the qualities and characteristics that make an Apso “an Apso” … something that can’t be said about the dogs coming from the mills or backyard breeders. And, yes, I know this first hand from my work in rescue, taking in dogs that were produced in the mills and backyards. There really is a difference …
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“Neither Of My Dogs Killed a Shelter Dog” – Our favorite Facebook status update in awhile [from Showsight magazine].
A big thanks to dog lover (and Facebook friend) Michelle Gonsalves, for this well worded commentary on “purebred dogs creating shelter dogs”. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Over the years there’s been a growing number of uninformed voices rallying against the wonderful LOVING world of dog shows and ANY form of dog breeding. We thank Michelle, and any other people brave enough to speak up on the subject!
“Neither Of My Dogs Killed a Shelter Dog”
A Facebook Status update by Michelle Gonsalves – Reprinted by permission.
I am NOT ashamed to be the owner of two responsibly bred dogs. Neither of my dogs killed a shelter dog. Neither of my dogs took a shelter dog’s home. Neither of them added to pet overpopulation. If I didn’t have them, I just would not have a dog.
Do you know what kills shelter dogs? Irresponsible owners kill shelter dogs. They kill them when they don’t do their research and add the wrong dog to the wrong household, then ditch it to die at a shelter when they can’t or don’t care to properly care for it.
Let’s not forget that in many breeds, it was responsible breeders who started their breed’s national rescue club. Not to save their own dogs (which don’t need saving), but to save the dogs that they never bred. To save the ones that don’t have safety nets. Responsible breeders did that. They did that in IGs [Italian Greyhounds]. I was interviewed more intensely to buy my two responsibly bred dogs than I ever interviewed a rescue candidate. I had supervised visitation … multiple times. I don’t even own them outright, they are on co-ownership, so that if anything ever happens to me they will go back to their breeder (yes, even the neutered one).
How do I know this will come to pass> I’ve seen her do it with another of her dogs when the owner died unexpectedly. And I saw her do it with my own dog when I nearly died myself. No questions asked, she opened her home to him for as long as I needed her to … potentially forever, if it came to that. Because that’s what responsible breeders do. And trust me, I researched until I found a responsible breeder.
Added to that, I am PROUD of the responsible breeders in this country who work SO hard to preserve our wonderful breed. Without them, the IG would be an unsound, neurotic, unhealthy creature. Not the elegant, sweet, healthy blessing that I love so much. Without responsible breeders, we’d never have gotten the amazing genetic health tests for enamel hypoplasia, the vonWildebrand’s test, the CDA test or the PRA test that are on their way. Without breeders, the domestic dog would CEASE TO BE! I do not ever want to live in a world without dogs. What a terrible place that would be, yet so many professed animal lovers are campaigning through shaming to create just such a world. Because that’s what it means when you say things like “adopt don’t shop,” “don’t breed while shelter dogs die,” and “people who buy dogs from breeders should be ashamed of themselves.”
What do you think will happen if we sterilize all dogs? What do you think will happen if all breeders stop breeding? You’d very quickly lose the rare breeds and the giant breeds FOREVER. Wait a bit more and you’d lose important genetic diversity, causing untold suffering for dogs that have to come from increasingly small gene pools. And then, the dog — man’s best friend — would become extinct. Gone the way of the Dodo. Gone forever. So shame on YOU! Shame on you for hating dogs!
I am not ashamed of my dogs. I am not ashamed of their breeder, who is an amazing person who has given so much of herself for this and other breeds. I am not ashamed of my extended family all around the world in the sport of dogs. And I am not ashamed of myself for daring to want a responsibly bred dog that fits my lifestyle.
Blaming me for the death of shelter dogs is like blaming a parent for the death of orphans in Uganda because she chose to have a baby through pregnancy, rather than adopt one. I have never surrendered an animal in my life. I have never caused the death of a dog in all my life. So why don’t you focus your ire on the people who did — the people who dumped those dogs at the shelter. They are the ones who left those dogs to die. Not me. Stop bashing your allies. Stop the shaming. We ALL need to work together for the good of dogs. Because there are scary people out there who want your dog gone. Who want your cat gone. Who want the horse out of your paddock, the guide dog out of his harness, the chicken out of the coop and the cow out of the dairy. Keep shilling their slick propaganda and shaming your fellow animal lovers and you help Animal Rights militants erase your dog from your very own home.
If anyone has a problem with that, feel free to unfriend me.
This is, unabashedly, a repeat of last year’s post (and the year before, et al ) … the same information holds true for 2014! And congrats to Sky, the Wire Fox Terrier, for her Best in Show (BIS) win at Westminster Kennel Club last night!
Once again, we’re gearing up for the largest dog show in Colorado … The Rocky Mountain Cluster to be held February 13-17 in the Hall of Education at the National Western Complex, 4655 Humboldt in Denver. The Premium List, which contains information on the show, parking, maps and entry, can be found here … Premium List. The Judging Program is up so you can determine what breed is in what ring at what time. If you’re thinking of attending, please be sure to give yourself plenty of time for parking, getting into the facility, and then finding the right ring and some chairs (rings are marked by numbers on tall poles).
Parking, depending on where one finds an open lot, can run anywhere from $5 to $10 — and it may also be a very long walk! Entry fee to the Expo Hall is $5. Please note that dogs not entered in the show are not allowed on the site. If considering crowds/parking, Friday or Monday would probably be the better of the four days to attend. As the largest show in the region, the selection of vendors and their wares is pretty amazing … if it’s dog related, you’ll find it at this show! From art prints, to clothing, to grooming supplies, to dog beds, to canine-related jewelry, to crates and tables, it will be available. Might want to bring the plastic along (and keep in mind that the vendors start packing up on Monday for the return home).
Besides the conformation competition, one can also find other venues such as Rally, Obedience, and Agility. These are generally held in the Events Center which fronts 47th Street; Rally is held on the 3rd floor of the main building. Hope to see you there … it’s a great reason to come out and support the breed! If you need more information, please feel free to contact me at: ApsoRescue@aol.com.
ApsoRescueColorado 