Who's Top Dog at Westminster?

In light of the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show returning to New York City this month and the recent release of the American Kennel Club (AKC)'s ranking of most popular dog breeds, I thought it would be interesting to review the winners of Westminster's Best in Show and compare those with the AKC's listing of most popular dog breeds.

 No Labs

Although the Labrador Retriever has been the most popular pup in America for more than a decade, a Lab has NEVER won Westminster's Best in Show! As recent as 2010, the Lab placed fourth in its group classification; that feat also happened in 2009 and 2003. The highest placement the breed has received was second in its Sporting Dog Group category, and the last time that was accomplished was in 1978. During the 1930s, Labs seemed more popular at Westminster – the breed placed second in group in 1933, 1934, and 1939. Labrador Retrievers were recognized as a breed by the AKC in 1917.

No Goldens Either

The Golden Retriever, ranked third this year on AKC's most popular dog breed list, has also not done well at Westminster, placing only three times, including one best in group (which took place in 2006). The breed placed second in 2009 and second also in 2005.

Winners in Both Categories

America's second most popular dog breed, the German Shepherd, has had one Best in Show placement at Westminster; that occurred in 1987.

The AKC's fourth most popular dog breed last year was the Beagle, and in 2008, Uno the Beagle, became the first of his breed to win Westminster's Best in Show. So, Lab lovers, there is still hope – perhaps this will be the year for the Labrador Retriever!

The Terrier Group has received the most number of Best in Shows at Westminster with 45 winners; terriers are also popular pets, with the Yorkie listed as sixth most popular pooch by the AKC this year the Boston terrier is number 23, and the West Highland White Terrier listed at 36.

The Sporting Group has achieved the second most number of Best in Shows at Westminster with 19 wins. Within that group, the English Springer Spaniel has placed Best in Show six times, and Cocker Spaniels have placed Best in Show four times, each breed receiving more nods for top dog than any other breed in the Sporting Dog category. These dogs are also popular as pets: Cockers rank #27 and Springers #29 on the AKC breed popularity list for 2012.

New Breeds in 2013

Two breeds that will be in this 2013 competition that have not been recognized at Westminster in past years are the Russell Terrier and the Treeing Walker Coonhound. Might one of these “newbies” receive the ultimate prize? We shall see.

Where will your favorite dog breed place at the 2013 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show? Tune in your television Feb. 11 and 12 and find out!

 

 

Statistics and other article sources:

http://www.petsadviser.com/dog-shows/8-of-americas-favorite-dog-breeds-have-never-won-best-in-show-at-westminster/

 

http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/history/bisrecords.html

http://www.akc.org/press_center/article.cfm

http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2013/show/news/newbreed_100512.html

Does Your Dog Win the Popularity Contest?

Recently the American Kennel Club (AKC) released its annual ranking of the most popular dog breeds in the United States.

As with previous years, a few surprises took place, but not surprisingly, the Labrador Retriever remains at Number 1, a position the breed has held for more than 20 years. Bulldogs moved to the #5 slot in the Top 10, up one position from last year. This breed has been gaining in popularity during the past decade; the bulldog sat at #18 ten years ago. The Rottweiler also moved up one place, from #10 last year to #9 this year, and the Golden Retriever moved from #4 to #3, replacing the Beagle, which moved from #3 to #4. Remaining at the Number 2 is the German Shepherd Dog.

The Yorkshire Terrier slipped in ranking once again, slipping from #5 to #6; the Yorkie was the second most popular dog breed just five years ago. Also slipping a notch is the Daschund; last year the breed ranked #9 in popularity, and this year it's #10. The Daschund ranked in the top 5 most popular breeds 10 years ago.

Below is the ranking of the top 10 dog breeds in America in 2012, according to the AKC.

1. Labrador Retriever
2. German Shepherd Dog
3. Golden Retriever
4. Beagle
5. Bulldog
6. Yorkshire Terrier
7. Boxer
8. Poodle
9. Rottweiler
10. Dachshund

The French Bulldog, like its cousin, climbed in popularity this past year. The breed ranks #14 this year, up from #18 last year, and significantly more popular than even five years ago when the breed ranked #34. The Chihuahua dropped from #14 last year to #18 this year. Pomeranians dropped two places during the past year, from #17 to #19 this year. Rounding out the top 20 is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, up one place from #21 last year to #20 this year.

Larger dogs continue to gain popularity, as noted by the placement of the Labrador, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, and Rottweiler in the Top Ten. Larger breeds made some large strides in this year's rankings; for example, the Doberman Pinscher moved from #13 to #12 in the past year, replacing the Miniature Schnauzer, and the Great Dane breed gained two placings, moving from #19 to #17, and replacing the little Pomeranian in popularity.

A complete list of AKC's most popular dog breeds, including statistics for 50 U.S. cities, is available at http://www.akc.org/reg/dogreg_stats.cfm. The organization uses registration statistics to gauge dog breed popularity. They also rank the most popular dog breeds in various cities across America.

View the lists and find out where your favorite dog breed ranks. The breeds of my special dogs, Sage and Cody, retained their rankings: English Springer Spaniels at #29 and American Cocker Spaniels at #27. English Cocker Spaniels are down on the list at #64; they are more popular, however, than Italian Greyhounds, which rank at #66.

 

 

No matter what breed your dog is, whether in the top 10, top 20 or below, one thing all dogs have in common is that they offer great companionship to their humans!

 

 

 

 

 

Microchips Help Pets Return Home More Quickly

I still remember those dreaded words, choked out by my husband that early August morning: "Gayle, Sage is lost." We were camping on the property we had just purchased; I had unzipped the tent and let Sage outside to do her business. I went back into the tent with no thought about her running away. However, her spaniel nose probably picked up the scent of a squirrel, or her acute hearing caught the sound of deer hooves -- whatever transpired, within a short window of time, our blind dog had vanished. We searched for three days, and finally, with the help of caring people, we found our nomadic blind dog, running a circular roadway two miles from our camping area. Our lost dog story had a happy ending.... many do not.

What Would You Do?

If your dog or cat were to become lost, what would you do? Like many pet owners, you'd probably post flyers, knock on doors, post to social media sites like Facebook, and contact your local animal shelter. Tags on collars with the pet owners' name and address also help, however, collars can become entangled, drop off, or (in the event of a stolen pet) be taken off. Microchips are permanent and help bring pets home.

Not Always a Happy Ending

According to some animal experts, one in three pets become lost, and nearly 90% don't return home. Microchipping is simple procedure that is done at your veterinarian’s office and is similar to providing your pet a vaccination – it requires no anesthetic and takes only a few seconds. The chip is injected between your pet's shoulder blades and contains a unique identification number that is associated with your contact information, thereby allowing your lost pet to return to you more quickly. The microchips are not tracking devices, but instead, are radio-frequency identification implants that provide permanent identification for your pet. The chip lasts the lifetime of your dog or cat. It can never fall off (like collars and tags), be removed by pet thieves (like collars and tags), and never impossible to read via a scanner (which most animal shelters have on hand to use on stray animals, checking for identification). Your pet's microchip information needs to be registered with a pet recovery database; your vet will do that for you, but some vets may require you to do so. Talk with your veterinarian about the next step once the microchip is implanted.

Collar and ID Tags Integrate with Microchips

Just because you have your pet microchipped doesn't mean it doesn't still need a collar and tags. Many communities require licensing of pets in the city limits, therefore, at a minimum, your pet needs a collar and license ID. Collars and identification tags are also important to have on your cat or dog in case a Good Samaritan who finds your lost pet can return it to you. A microchip, though, is permanent, and so should your dog or cat's collar and tags be removed either accidentally or on purpose, your lost pet can still return home.

Microchips Help Bring Those Happy Endings!

There are many stories of lost pets being reunited with their owners because of a microchip. Sometimes, it's years later, as in the case of Vanilla, a cat who was missing almost a decade (being cared for, however, and not just roaming the streets – see Vanilla's story at http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/vanilla-cat-reunited-owners-9-long-lost-years-224726964--abc-news-topstories.html) or of Cassie, the border collie mix lost from her family for four years (see http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2012/09/missing-dog-reunited-with-family-after-four-years/). In both cases, these pets had microchips. Holly, a tortiseshell kitty that walked nearly 200 miles trying to reach home, also had help because she had a microchip (see http://www.globalanimal.org/2013/01/15/cat-walks-200-miles-to-get-home/89375/http://www.globalanimal.org/2013/01/15/cat-walks-200-miles-to-get-home/89375/)

Cats Need ID, Too

Many owners don't put collars and tags on their cats. Studies show that only two percent of lost kitties return home because they have no identification tags and are not microchipped. However, the return-to-owner rate climbs by 20% for those cats that are microchipped. The cats as well as the cocker spaniel that share my home are chipped.

Keep Your Contact Information Updated

One of the key factors for a pet owner who does microchip his/her animal is to keep the contact information updated. If you do microchip your pet and move or change phone numbers, please contact either the vet who did the procedure to find out how to update your contact information, or contact the manufacturer of the implant and update your contact information. It does no good to have your pet microchipped and then fail to keep your information current should your pet become lost.

So, help your lost pet get home more quickly with a microchip implant. Cost averages $50 for the one-time procedure. Talk with your vet and research the options. You can find more information about microchipping your pet at http://public.homeagain.com/microchipping-facts.html.

Take Your Dog to School!

Even though children hit the books several months ago, with this New Year and all the resolutions people make, now might be a good time to also think of schooling your dog. How is that possible, you might ask? Consider taking your dog through training.

Why Train My Dog?
Most dogs need activity to prevent boredom, especially the breeds of the herding, working and hunting classifications, such as border collies, German shepherd dogs, huskies, spaniels, setters and pointers. These and many other breeds respond well to training, to obedience, agility and hunting trials.

Keeping a dog occupied with instruction alleviates boredom and thus also lessens bad behaviors, such as chewing, howling, and jumping. Working dogs were bred to work, and many canine club events provide that opportunity. Dogs that are not trained in at least basic obedience are often the dogs left at animal shelters and rescue groups with the excuse, “I can’t handle this dog.”

Obedience training bonds a dog more closely with its owner, for that interaction time is quality time. Just like spending time with one’s children, focusing on their concerns, their joys, their interests creates a stronger parent-child relationship, so, too, does spending solid, quality time with our dogs bond them more closely to us. Dogs are pack animals; they are social, and they want to engage with their people. Obedience, agility, hunting, tracking, even search and rescue and animal assistance therapy training strengthens a dog’s bond with its human. According to animal behavior specialists training a dog has been shown to be the single most important thing that keeps a dog in its “forever” home. Training builds a mutual bond, enhances the pet-human partnership, and enriches the relationship a person shares with his/her dog.

Where Can I Go to Train My Dog?
A variety of prospects abound to enroll your dog in school. For example, some of the American Kennel Club's regional and local clubs provide obedience classes, tracking and agility trials, and Canine Good Citizen evaluations. To find a club in your area visit http://www.akc.org/clubs/search/index.cfm.Here you will find a list of obedience, agility, tracking and training clubs.

Some community colleges offer classes through their Community Education programs, and several of the big box pet and pet supply stores, such as PetCo and PetSmart, also provide obedience and puppy training programs. Additionally, some smaller businesses, such as boarding kennels and grooming salons, provide opportunities for dog owners to train their dogs. Check with your local businesses, including your veterinarian – perhaps, if they don't offer obedience or other training sessions, they can provide a recommendation and give you a local trainer's contact information.

Specialized programs, such as Sit Means Sit, are found in various communities, and various pet experts, such as Cesar Milan (“The Dog Whisperer”) offers books and DVD to help pet owners train their pets at home.

Advantages of Training Your Dog
Having a pet in the home can be a physical and emotional health benefit to people. Scientists have documented the positive affects pets have on humans such as lowered blood pressure and cholesterol. Yet, if your dog doesn’t come when it’s called, jumps on people constantly, and takes the hamburger off the counter while you’re waiting for the grill to get hot, obviously your stress level is going to be high, not low.

But, if your dog sits and waits patiently, returns upon command, and doesn’t chase the neighbor’s cat, everyone will be happier, including your dog. The bond with your dog is strengthened when you positively interact with it, and training times offer that bonding opportunity.

Go Back to School!
So, consider taking your dog – and yourself – back to school this New Year! Become involved with a local obedience class, and perhaps even an agility, conformation, or track and field event. Learn together, become more deeply bonded, and enjoy the companionship, affection, and devotion your dog longs to give you… if you will only give your dog the time and opportunity it needs!

Animals Give a Helping Paw to America’s Veterans and Others

I recently finished reading an incredible book, Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him. I was privileged to meet and briefly speak with author and former Army Captain Luis Carlos Montalvan. Listening to Captain Montalvan, witnessing his service dog, Tuesday, and then reading about them in Luis’ book, touched my heart and soul. I’ve met a few service dogs and their human partners in times past; coupled with Captain Montalvan’s recent presentation and reading about him and Tuesday in the book, I possess a deeper appreciation for the service that assistance animals provide – as well as a deeper understanding about the horrors of war and the affects upon our service men and women. In light of Veteran’s Day and my encounters with Luis, Tuesday and their story, I spent a bit of time researching and learning about animal assistance programs for veterans. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will pay for guide dogs for blind veterans, hearing dogs for the hearing impaired, and assistance dogs for veterans with other physical disabilities. However, the agency ruled in September that it would not pay for service dogs for veterans suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) – see link: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/06/13708645-va-wont-cover-costs-of-service-dogs-assigned-for-ptsd-treatment. Yet, it will provide (and prescribe) nearly any type of pharmaceutical drug for treating mental and emotional distress. Scientific studies show people with pets are less prone to depression, are more active physically, and have lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Dogs, cats and other animals trained as therapy pets visit nursing homes and hospitals and help lessen anxiety among those with whom they spend time. Emotional support animals (ESA) are used with people who have an emotional disability, and can be prescribed by a licensed mental health provider (learn more at the National Service Animal Registry website: http://www.nsarco.com/emotionalsupportanimals.html). Our wounded warriors can use such assistance. The Pentagon reported earlier this year that suicide among American active-duty military personnel rose to an average of one per day. Additionally, according to the Army Times in 2010, about 18 veterans each day committed suicide. It’s estimated that 30 to 40 percent of veterans suffer from PTSD. These are startling, and scary, statistics. Montalvan suffers from PTSD as well as remnants from traumatic physical injuries to his brain and vertebrae from an incident in Iraq. He also experienced nightmares, sleeplessness, hypervigilance, and isolation, common threads in PTSD. Although his condition improved after being partnered with Tuesday, his service dog, Montalvan will never be completely healed, either physically or emotionally. He relies on Tuesday to get through his days and his nights. Tuesday is trained to respond to Luis’ needs, the physical and the emotional. Tuesday provides Luis balance, steadying him on the bumpy, concrete sidewalks and helping him navigate stairs (Luis walks with a cane). Tuesday provides Luis balance emotionally as well, navigating the signals of anxiety as they walk through towns and travel on subways or airplanes. Luis admits in his book, “I don’t look exactly like a typical disabled person with a service dog.” And for that, he, and numerous others, have been and are discriminated against. Service animals who are trained to perform tasks to help disabled people wear a vest, often with the words “service animal” or “working animal” on them; there are laws which allow such animals into places where most typical “pets” are not: restaurants and other public buildings, airplanes and public transportation, housing. However, Luis recounts numerous times the discrimination he encountered. Although Emotional Service Animals are not always allowed in the same places as certified assistance animals, there are federally protected rights for these animals and their human partners, including flying on an airline not being allowed into “no pet policy” housing. I am grateful those who need such physical or emotional service can and do receive that. Numerous others do not. May this Veteran’s Day be the eye-opener we need to recognize and honor those service men and women who have lost limbs, experienced traumatic brain injury and PTSD, or perhaps even suffer silently yet can greatly benefit from the devotion and care a service animal provides. Our wounded warriors deserve whatever medical treatment suits them best… and sometimes that’s lick in the face or a paw on the knee from a four-footed creature that adores (and sacrifices) for them. Learn more about Captain Montalvan and Tuesday by visiting http://until-tuesday.com/.

A Tribute to Presidential Pets

With the political campgains in full swing and the loud barking commencing, perhaps it would be fun to look at the pet choices of America's presidents. This country recently celebrated its birthday (July 4th), and what could be more American than a pet? Canines and other creatures of the White House have been as diverse as their humans, representing various breeds and species, from lap dogs to livestock. So, in honor of the politicos, let's take a quick stroll through the pet picks of some of this country's leaders: The first “first dogs” were foxhounds. Some say George Washington possessed as many as 10, including one named Sweetlips! James Buchanan, Ulysses Grant and Rutherford B. Hayes had Newfoundlands. Teddy Roosevelt owned a variety of dogs, from small (Pekingese) to very large (St. Bernard). He was also a terrier fan – he had five of them! Guinea pigs and garter snakes were also part of his furry family. Warren Harding’s Airedale, “Laddie Boy”, is still seen today thanks to a statue of the dog in the Smithsonian. Franklin Roosevelt’s Scottish Terrier, Fala, supposedly received more fan mail than most presidents. FDR also had other dogs, including Irish Setters, a German Shepherd, and a Bull Mastiff. Scottish terriers are a popular breed with American Presidents. In addition to FDR, others who had Scotties at the White House include Dwight D. Eisenhower and George W. Bush, who had two: Barney and Miss Beazley. The first George Bush brought a Springer Spaniel named Millie to the White House. Millie even helped author a children’s book! She had puppies while living in the famous Washington DC home, two of which lived at the White House with Presidents George 1 and George 2: Ranger and Spot, respectively. Bill Clinton had his Chocolate Labrador Retriever buddy appropriately name Buddy. Lyndon Johnson’s breed of choice was the beagle – he had three of them, named Him, Her, and Edgar. The president ruffled some feathers when he lifted the beagles by their ears. Feathers have been part of presidential menageries. Calvin Coolidge had two canaries named Nip and Tuck, and John F. Kennedy’s family had a canary named Robin plus two parakeets. The movie “We Bought a Zoo” could easily have been about the lives of Coolidge or JFK – each president nearly had zoos while living at the White House! In addition to the dogs and birds, Coolidge and his family had a donkey, a pygmy hippo, a wallaby, bobcat, black bear, and two raccoons. Kennedy owned many dogs, one not surprisingly, an Irish Wolfhound. Additionally, the Kennedys had several horses and ponies, including one named Macaroni, plus hamsters and a rabbit named Zsa Zsa. Cats have also graced the hallways of the White House. Possibly the most famous was the Clintons’ cat, Socks, but there were kitties in the kabana before that, including Gerald Ford’s cat, Shan, the Kennedys’ Tom Kitten, and Teddy Roosevelt’s cats Tom Quartz and Slippers. Livestock have also been part of many a president’s presence in Washington. Besides horses and ponies, other livestock that were sometimes visible on the White House lawn included cows, sheep, chickens, goats and even a pig named Maude (owned by Teddy Roosevelt). Woodrow Wilson had sheep graze the lawn to keep it “mowed” during the World War I era! By far the most popular presidential pet has been the dog, and some of their names reflect America’s values. FDR had a Great Dane he named President, and Ford’s Golden Retriever was named Liberty. The current president, Barack Obama, did not break the honorable circle of pets in the White House. He and his family welcomed their first dog, Bo, a Portuguese Water Dog, not long after entering the White House themselves. Pets of American presidents and their families hold a special place in American history… and in the hearts of the country’s citizenry. Move over fireworks, someone let the dogs out! Learn more about America’s presidents and their pals at: http://presidentialpetmuseum.com/whitehousepets-1.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_pets Now, if only the howling and growling would cease! (And I don't mean from the dogs, cats, goats, sheep, horses, etc, etc!)

The Passing of Sage - Dealing with Pet Loss

One of the most difficult aspects of being a pet owner is dealing with the loss of a beloved companion. Recently that hit home not just once, but twice. Greg and I lost our beloved Sage, our blind Springer Spaniel, just a few weeks ago. She had been part of our household for more than 11 years and because of this special dog, I am an author and many children and adults have learned valuable life lessons through her life story. Just the month previous, my parents’ cat, Milly, died from an unknown disease. Although Milly had only been with them about a year, her death rendered their hearts. Many people know that feeling. How does one deal with the loss of a pet? Grief experts state that intense sadness is normal. During the years, even if the years are few in number, that pet became a significant and constant part of one’s life, and the absence is felt deeply. People experience different emotions, not just sorrow or pain; sometimes it’s anger, sometimes it’s guilt and sometimes it’s depression. Experts state that one should honestly acknowledge their feelings, not hide or deny them. Try to find a confidant with whom to share your feelings, perhaps another pet owner, a sympathetic family member or friend, someone who will provide comfort and understanding, not belittle your true emotions. What you feel is real; don’t mask it. How do you talk with your children about a beloved pet’s death? Honesty is critical. If you say the pet was "put to sleep," be sure your children understand the difference between death and ordinary sleep. It’s not wise to say the pet "went away," or your child may wonder what s/he did to make it leave and wait anxiously for its return. When you talk with your children, make it clear that the pet will not come back, but that it is happy and free of pain. Children are never too young or too old to grieve. Please don’t criticize your child for tears or for feeling sad. Be honest about your own sorrow and let them be honest about theirs. Discuss the loss as a family, and give everyone a chance to work through their grief in their own time. If you have other pets in the house, they may also appear to grieve when their companion is gone. Our Cocker Spaniel, Cody, paced the floor the night before Sage passed. He whined and was restless. Pets observe household changes, therefore, they are bound to notice the change in the family’s emotions as well as the absence of the pet that has passed. Pets can form strong attachments to each other and they recognize when their friend is gone. You may need to give your surviving pet lots of extra attention to help it through this period. We are do this with Cody. That extra attention is helpful for you as well; surviving pets can provide great healing to you and your family. Take time before bringing a new pet into the household as children and surviving pets may not accept a new addition for awhile. Grieving is a very personal and individualized experience. Therefore, there is no “right way”. Simply being honest with yourself and your family is the key to dealing with the loss of a beloved pet. For me, it meant sobbing uncontrollably at first, taking a drive to some of the places Sage and I shared in this community, like the river walkway and a park. Being grateful for sharing life with her helped put a salve over my broken heart. Additionally, sharing my loss with others who understand and experiencing their love and comfort provides relief. Time heals a broken heart. And, healing does come when we allow it.