RE: Getting Odors Out of Carpets
Rose -- What kind of heavy-duty carpet shampoo-er to you use? What features should people look for when buying these? Nancy
RE: Smelly subjects
Kendy: If you feed her veggies like broccoli or cauliflower (or any cruciferous veggie), you might try reducing the quantity of those for your little gas producer. Although this group of veggies is very good nutritionally, they can be hard on some gastrointestinal systems. Nancy Melone Mars, PA
RE: Pet Store Info Packets
We (Three Rivers BMDC) have distributed puppy packets to the managers of pet stores that sell dogs (e.g., Petland) for some time now. We grit our teeth and present a pleasant (uncritical) front when we approach the store manager -- most of whom are unaware they have a Berner and many of whom are not involved in decisions about what items (including puppies) are stocked in the store. We are by design not critical since that would risk getting the manager to pass our message on to the puppy buyer. Contrary to your thinking, the stores have distributed the packets to buyers of their puppies because sometimes we hear from the buyers. Our goal is to help the owner do his or her best by the mill puppy that they bought (however unwisely) and to educate them about better ways of purchasing a family pet the next time around. We also deliver a packet to the vet who services the pet store -- just in case he/she develops a conscience. Clearly, we don't reproduce the entire INFO Series, but rather we select items that are appropriate to the customer (e.g., intro, FAQs, puppy's first year, obedience, health, grooming and YES, rescue--just in case). We may also add a Berner Garde brochure, a Berner Base Ball card, Puppy Bill of Rights, local club contacts, and one of our club newsletters, The Incline. For the most part, these documents are already in digital formats and downloadable -- the Berner Garde brochure can be requested from me -- it is a PDFs. It might be a good idea to consolidate them in one location. Nancy Melone Trustee, Berner Garde Foundation, Inc. Trustee, BARC, Inc. Newsletter Editor, TRBMDC The Incline
RE: fat berners--show ring
I have received a couple of replies mentioning that extra weight seems necessary in the breed ring. I am not sure this is true. I recently finished a girl who was at her agility weight -- ribs easy to find and very fit. ***I think all of you are right -- from what I have observed in the Midwest, east and in eastern Canada, there are some regional differences/preferences regarding ideal weights/degree if conditioning/body type for the ring and some variation in the preferences of judges. Nancy Melone Pennsylvania
RE: fat berners
I am in total agreement with Molly. When I finished my boy (weight 102 lbs), he was drafting 4 miles a day (we got up at 5 AM every day during the summer because it was too hot to draft later). He was rock solid and more than one judge remarked that he was in absolutely spectacular condition for a Berner. (The drafting every day helped his owner, too!) Nancy Melone Pennsylvania -Original Message- From: Molly Bass [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2003 11:55 AM To: Bernese Mountain Dog Mailing List Subject: Re: fat berners I have received a couple of replies mentioning that extra weight seems necessary in the breed ring. I think there is a difference between fat weight and muscle weight - to me a berner who is at conformation weight may weigh the same as a fat berner of the same build, however the muscle weighs more than fat and is more evenly distributed on the body. The girl I am showing is hard to keep weight on because she is constant energy - her dad is the same way. A lean berner in good muscle weight will look fatter than a lean berner without the muscle weight and tone, IMO. Molly Charlottesville, VA
RE: Puppies in stores .. and Moms
In general (based on the experience that I wrote about earlier in the week), preaching or lecturing is more likely to turn a pet store puppy purchaser away from you rather than convert them to your point of view. You have found, much as we have found, that it much more effective (although a slower process) to involve people in activities that illustrate good practice (e.g., observing examples of positive relationships with good breeders, helping at health clinics, volunteering (if only to serve coffee!!) at obedience seminars or watching a dog for you at a public education event). By doing this, they learn by example (rather than by lecture) and must reconcile in their own minds these examples with the inconsistencies of their own pet store experiences. Much of the literature on persuasion would argue that you must first gain the respect and trust of the person (with regard to the topic at hand) BEFORE you can ever hope to persuade them to another point of view. [I learned this pretty fast when I had trouble convincing my father to take my advice in the area in which I do research and have a Ph.D.!! -- I quickly wised up and approached this at a more basic level getting him to eventually make the right decision.] Clearly, Cindy did this with her mother and has, as a result, created a convert. My advice on working with people who have already purchased a pet store dog is to help them be the best owner they could be to that pet store dog -- by all means, do not condemn them. In the process of helping them, you will provide enough positive counter examples to their pet store experience that when they are ready for another dog, you will likely be one of the first people that they seek for help. Nancy Melone, Ph.D. Mars, PA
RE: BERNER-GARDE FUNDRAISER-a note to Socrates~!
Dear Socrates: Regretfully, I must inform you that this time your LOGIC is in error! YOUR MOM REALLY DOES NEED ANOTHER STUFFED BERNER because her support (along with that of others) will help us fund research to fight some nasty Berner Cancers!! Regards, Aristotle :-) (AKA Nancy Melone, Berner Garde Treasurer) -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2003 8:56 PM To: berner-l; Dr. William B. Neff Subject: FW: RE: ANNOUNCINGTHE 5TH ANNUAL BERNER-GARDE FUNDRAISER~! . Wow!! That really is a great collection of Berner items for the fundraiser!!! Can't wait to get my check in the mail and name that Berner! Suzanne Deering and Socrates (Mom, you don't really need another stuffed Berner) High Point NC ANNOUNCINGTHE 5TH ANNUAL BERNER-GARDE FUNDRAISER~! This is what you have all been waiting for ~ it's the 2003 Berner-Garde Fundraiser.This year, we are doing something a little different to add a little variety to your lives! Nancy Melone, Berner-Garde Treasurer, has donated one of the those big stuffed Costco Berners to our fundraiser. So...we are going to have a . NAME THE COSTCO STUFFED BERNER CONTEST!!!
RE: lameness -- new surgical developments at ISU
Iowa State University has announced some interesting recent developments in surgical treatments for canine elbow dysplasia. The website is: http://www.vetmed.iastate.edu/departments/vcs/orthopaedic/home%20page/total% 20elbow/totalelbow.htm Nancy Melone Mars, PA -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, July 14, 2003 8:06 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' Subject: Re: lameness Hi Angela-Just my experience...My Maddie needed a CT scan to ultimately diagnose her elbow dysplasia--nothing showed up on X-rays, which were read by both her regular vet and an outside radiology specialist. She started limping at only 4 months, was x-rayed then, and again at 6 months when she was spayed. Nothing. We consulted an orthopedist who did CT scans and said she had diffuse dysplasia in both elbows. He said there was no corrective surgery for this growth incongruity and that she would develop arthritis within 6 to 12 months. Unfortunately, he was very accurate. At just 14 months she is often quite stiff, has a very awkward gait, has difficulty arising, etc. She gets Cosamin DS (glucosamine/chondroitin) and Ascriptin 2X a day. It's very sad having a young dog with such discomfort. I hope that your boy does well. He sounds very athletic! Perhaps an orthopedic specialist could help you either diagnose a dysplasia problem or rule it out. Good luck! Anne Cranford, NJ with Maddie and Titan (and the two feline friends)
RE: response to newspaper ad for Berner puppies in North Dakota
and significant impacts in improving the lives of these animals and preventing future abuse of others. Nancy Melone, Ph.D. Mars. PA
RE: Excellent Website on Heartworm
The American Heartworm Society offers a very informative website on heartworm at: www.heartwormsociety.org/ Although this site is sponsored by an educational grant from Fort Dodge (with other drug company sponsorship relationships), the site is still very informative and will put you in an excellent position to have a fairly deep discussion with your vet on how to assess the risk in your area for your dogs. If you don't want to know the nitty gritty for vets, you can go to the area on the site for pet owners. Personally, I found aspects of the section for vets to be interesting, too. Again, the decision to administer a drug is a matter of risk assessment based on the incidence of heartworm in YOUR geography, the overall health of YOUR dog, the rate and nature of side effects, and YOUR ability to COMPLY with the required drug administration schedule (or in case you choose not to administer medication, YOUR ability to COMPLY with a schedule for regular fecal exams on all your dogs -- for after the fact testing for infection). You might be interested in knowing that we have known for over 100 years that heartworm infected dogs and in cats for 80 years -- despite the recent flurry of heartworm ads aimed at feline owners! My three Berners are on Interceptor (which I administer on the first of each month - mark it on the calendar) because my vet and I have assessed their risk of heartworm disease (and the complications of treating it) in my area to be greater than the risk of the drug's side effects. I have friends whose dogs live in approximately the same geographic area that my dogs do who have come to different conclusions. These decisions must be made individually and independently, based on the particular risk profile that your particular dogs face. Nancy Melone, Ph.D. Mars, PA
RE: Cabelas -- Snail Mail Address/Name of Corporate Officers
Sharon: Snail mail to the President or Chairman is CERTAINLY MORE EFFECTIVE than e-mail to some Ron character who may or may not forward this information on to the top, particularly if he is in charge of managing this dog selling program! Were it I, I would send 2 DIFFERENT letters to the Jim and Dick Cabela. If we have any chance of killing this misguided program by inundating them with mail, these are the guys who will make the final decision. It will be interesting to see what they say -- not sure it will be the answer we would like, but then you will know for sure where the buck (no pun intended) stops (your buck and theirs). Mr. Dick Cabela, Chairman Mr. Jim Cabela, President Cabela's One Cabela Drive Sidney, NE 69160 Nancy Melone, Ph.D. Mars, PA
RE: Canine Cooler -- sources for covers and lost instructions
The Canine Cooler folks advise putting a cover (to extend the life) on your Cooler if your dog: (1) nests, digs carpet or other beds before lying down; (2) is young and very active and likes to roughhouse or wrestle on it; (3) does not normally chew, but may chew if bored or lonely; or (4) is timid, finicky or doesn't take well to news things (cover can make it appear more like a bed). The website for the covers is here: www.soothsoft.com/Covers.htm I found that the price for the Coolers at this site was higher than I paid, so there appear to be no deals from going directly to the manufacturer. It would seem that if you are handy with a sewing machine, you could make your own cover (fabric types -- cool=cotton/poly; neutral=cotton flannel; warm=fleece). Given the expense of the Cooler, this might be wise. I have a Canine Cooler but don't use it in my house much -- my dog still goes for the marble tile flooring in my dark, cool dining room!! I am about to take it to my kennel area in my garage to see if it gets more use -- the hot weather is just now getting to us!! If you lost your Cooler Instructions, you can get another Adobe Acrobat copy at the bottom of this webpage: www.soothsoft.com/CanineFAQs.htm Nancy Melone Ch. Lionhearts Caruso v Pioneer, CGC Mt Tops Hannah Anna, CD, CGC, TDI Elmiras Fleur de Lys (Lillie) Mars, PA
RE: PetSmart...puppy classes...my experience
outcomes for any dog owner. One thing that many of us die-hard doggie types forget when advising the average pet owner is the role that convenient location/schedule plays in class attendance from pet owners. My doggie die-hard friends and I think nothing of driving over 100 miles (round trip) to attend classes from an AKC judge. The average RESPONSIBLE pet owner has a busy NON-DOG life and so we need to be pragmatic about what is likely to get the best out of those people (who make up the majority of dog owners). Training classes that are convenient to reach and have schedules that work for people tend to be the ones that puppy owners go to and stick with. A strategy might be for you to offer your puppy owner a check list for helping her/him evaluate training programs, encourage her/him to observe at least two different programs and make notes about what he/she sees, then the two of you talk through which class seem to be the better fit -- considering methods, location, schedule, etc. In doing this, both you and the puppy owner might discover some new training possibilities. Nancy Melone, Ph.D. Mars, PA
RE: Study on Storm/Thunder Phobias in Dogs
-Original Message- From: Nancy Melone [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2003 1:42 AM To: Lori Oshiro; 'Freya Steinmeyer'; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: Study on Storm/Thunder Phobias in Dogs The March 15th issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Association describes a study by Dr. Sharon Crowell-Davis and colleagues at the University of Georgia investigating an aggressive treatment plan consisting of behavior-modification activities (desensitization and counter conditioning) and two medications (Clomicalm and Alprazolam) to reduce storm-related fear and anxiety. All dogs enrolled in the study exhibited fear responses to storms (e.g., trembling, pacing, panting, salivation, excessive vocalization, inappropriate elimination, destructiveness, self-mutilation and hovering near the caregiver). Thirty of the 32 dog who completed the showed improvement in all phobia-related behaviors as measured by their owners. The authors state that it may be impossible to eliminate all phobia-related behaviors, but it certainly seems possible to increase tolerance to intense storms and decrease the number and intensity of behaviors related to storm phobia. Given the similar sound of thunder and firecrackers, I'll bet it is possible to have the same effect on fire cracker phobias. Nancy Melone Mars, PA
RE: Migrating chip
I have had one out of many AVID chips migrate/malfunction. This was a chip that was inserted in 1998. According to the veterinary sources that I use, the Avid chip has been redesigned such that it would allow surrounding tissue to better secure it. In my particular case, we discovered it prior to doing the hip and elbow rads. I had 3 vet staff, independent of each other, scan the dog -- to no avail. We inserted a new (AVID) chip and took the rads. I have had not migration or malfunction problems with that chip or any other since. I microchip all my dogs (in case they are lost) and I DNA profile them (in case they are stolen). I also chip my Chocolate Point Siamese cats. As a matter of good practice, I always have my vet scan my animals at their annual wellness physicals to insure that everything is working properly. Nancy Melone, Ph.D. Mars, PA
RE: Migrating chip
To make inferences about the effectiveness of one chip over another, one would need to compare the failure rate of AVID with the failure rates of competitive chips. Nancy Melone -Original Message- From: Mary-Ann Bowman [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2003 7:26 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Migrating chip Yes indeed it was an AVID chip that has migrated. The vet also told me that AVID had updated the chip to prevent it from traveling. I have no way to know if the chip was the updated version but I can tell you that it was just six months old. Since I microchipped that whole litter at eight weeks, I have asked all owners to take their puppies in for chip checks and it will be interesting to see if any other chips have done the southern migration. Mary-Ann Bowman
RE: SKUNKED! Recipe for Solution
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ---REMAINDER OF MESSAGE TRUNCATED---* * This post contains a forbidden message format * * (such as an attached file, a v-card, HTML formatting) * *Mail Lists at Prairienet only accept PLAIN TEXT* * If your postings display this message your mail program * * is not set to send PLAIN TEXT ONLY and needs adjusting * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
RE: Animal Stuff for Kids -- Summertime Things
While looking for some free dog shelter software, I happened onto the ASPCA website where I discovered some great stuff on animals (by category) for kids -- www.animaland.org/. There is even a video cartoon on picking up after your pup -- all very cute and informative! Any elementary school teacher or parent looking for things to do this summer) out there (in a previous life, I was a media center specialist), might wish to look this over for ideas for a section on animal welfare/care or things to do on a rainy day. Nancy Melone Mars, PA www.animaland.org/
RE: Insect Repellent??
The website for K9 Advantix (Bayer) is here -- www.k9advantix.com/FAQ.asp -- As you suspected, Advantage is also manufactured by Bayer. Nancy Melone Mars, PA
RE: alternative to neuters
Rose: Yes, undoubtedly there are risks and they may not all be known now. It will be interesting to review the record on this in a couple of years after some shelters begin using it and then compare with other alternative procedures things like deaths, infections, time to recover, general health, etc. Nancy -Original Message- From: Rose Tierney [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2003 5:37 AM To: Nancy Melone; Bernese Mountain Dog Mailing List Subject: RE: alternative to neuters Hi Nancy, I read the site and sedation is required, I would imagine for some dogs this would involve anaesthesia. I would be concerned with introducing a cellular shrinking agent to the gonads in essence causing them to atrophy. I think there might be a possibility of subsequent infection, surgical castration will remain my choice of action. Whenever I have a dog neutered I am mindful of his care, he is confined for the first few days until healing is complete and not left out in the elements for mosquitoes and bugs to bite the newly shaved area. The dog is kept cool and comfortable with an Elizabethan collar on when I cannot keep him in my vision. Rose
RE: Berner family farewell party
The family is in good hands -- Three Rivers is already sending them newsletters! Nancy Melone -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2003 4:15 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Berner family farewell party I am sad to announce that one of our Berner friends is moving from West to East: Salt Lake City to Pittsburgh! We are sad to see Watson and his human family Bridget and Chris leave their Berner community here, and hope they will be warmly welcomed by the Pittsburgh area Berner community. This morning--before the day heated up too much--we had a dog party in my yard. I have a larger than typical city yard, all fenced. We had 20+ Berners, from 10 weeks to 9 years, males and females, spayed/neutered/intact, along with their human companions. It's a privilege for me to host these gatherings and see so many Berners playing together without any squabbling unless you count the minor grumbles from some of the adolescents. We even harnessed and hitched Watson for his first attempt at carting, and it went very well. Leaving behind well-loved human and canine friends, as well as a trusted vet, is hard so please warmly welcome the newcomers to your area! Vicky Hall in Utah with Raven and Wylie, who will really miss his littermate Watson
RE: alternative to neuters
I do not know the particulars of this procedure, but (by now all of you can predict what I am about to say) we need to consider and weight ALL the RISKS and BENEFITS of the two procedures, including the risks of anesthesia and infection, before coming to any conclusions. Not that I am an expert, but I imagine that most men think the old way of castration is a pretty scary thought, too. Nancy -Original Message- From: Rose Tierney [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, June 09, 2003 6:39 AM To: Bernese Mountain Dog Mailing List Subject: RE: alternative to neuters Hi Amy, Good lord this method causes me a lot more concerns that surgical castration, I'll be going the old fashioned way, young dogs bounce back so quickly after castration I would think the likliehood of swelling testicles after the injection would cause more discomfort. I bet the male readers of this list were cringing at the thought of chemicals injected into testicles!! Rose T. -Original Message- From: Amy Kessler [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: June 8, 2003 10:42 PM To: Membership list; Breeder L Cc: Berner l Subject: alternative to neuters FDA Approves Use of Neutersol for Male Puppies. www.hsus.org/19195 For those who are leery of early spay/neuters..here is an alternative way to protect your boys. Amy R. Kessler LionHeart Bernese
RE: Hunte goes to Russia??? -- An article to translate
Gulnara: If you wish to translate into Russian a good, readable article on Puppy Mills, this one, Get the Facts on Puppy Mills, produced by the Humane Society of the U.S. is a good general article. I have sent the article to you via an e-mail link, but if you don't get it, here is the weblink. http://www.hsus.org/ace/11797 You should make it available to HSUS and, with the permission of HSUS, other rescue organizations around the world. Importers, such as Hunte and others, supply purebred breeding dogs to this industry (because the millers have difficulty getting dogs from breeders in this country, although it certainly does happen). BARC has documented this supply chain. The little bitches are bred very young and at every heat cycle until they have nothing left to give except to give up and die. No reputable Eastern European breeder would want their puppies to have this kind of life. Nancy Melone, Ph.D. Mars, PA
BERNER ITEMS ON E-BAY (Beneifts BARC)
BARC BENEFIT ON E-BAY Amy Kessler (who is out of town) has asked me to post the following links to Berner items that are being sold on e-bay as a fund raiser for BARC. These funds help BARC cover veterinary and fostering expenses. Lots of goodies of all types to buy. Check it out. Links below. Nancy Melone Mars, PA http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=3612075525category=29413 rd=1 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=3612075895category=29413 rd=1 Amy R. Kessler LionHeart Bernese BARC, Inc. 118 Lakeland Drive Mars, PA 16046 www.barcinc.com (913)837-3129
RE: URGENT Rescue - 2 Registered Appenzeller Pups (10 mos)
If anyone knows of an Appenzeller rescue person, please send them the following message so that they can rescue these puppies. I have sent e-mail to the Appie club (in Delaware), but have not heard back. Nancy Melone Mars, PA (W. PA) One male, one female 10 months old, PUREBRED APPENZELLS, REGISTERED, breeder turn-ins. At the P.A.L. shelter in Yukon, PA. near New Stanton. Barb Flanagan,manageremail [EMAIL PROTECTED] tel.no.Barb at 724-722-3670
RE: Pigment changes (was cracked nose)
There appear to be a number of reasons why pigmentation can fade, but in the reference texts that I have snow nose is listed as specifically affecting Bernese Mountain Dogs. Basically it is a common condition in which the dark pigment of the nose fades during the winter months and darkens again in spring. Lack of pigmentation is primarily a cosmetic problem. A number of home remedies have been advocated, but their success is questionable. Complete depigmention does not occur. There is also plastic dish nasal dermatitis. This is a localized form of depigmentation that affects teh nose and lips. It is caused by eatint our of plastic or rubber dishes that contain the chemical p-benzylhuydroquinone. This chemical is absorbed thorugh th e skin andinhibits the sythesis of melanin, the chemical that produces dark picment in the skin. The involved skin also becomes irritated and inflamed. The problem can be corrected by feeding from glass, ceramic or stainless steel bowls. There are other causes of depigmentation -- vitiligo, Dudley nose (probably a form of vitiligo). There is no cure for these, but the odds are Berners have snow nose. Nancy Melone Mars, PA
RE: RE Canine Good Citizen
I think that I recently hear that this book was out of print. It was my favorite, too. One might be able to find it at the library or a used book sale. Nancy Melone Mars, PA -Original Message- From: catherine green [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2003 9:58 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; berner-l Subject: RE Canine Good Citizen There is also a nice book authored by Jack Wendy Volhard entitled - The Canine Good Citizen: Every Dog Can Be One. It outlines in detail the various requirements for the test as well as history and positive training tips. Catherine Young Madison WI Shadow, Mickey Jenny
RE: RE Canine Good Citizen
Anne: I was just going by what is on the Volhard website (www.volhard.com/general/publications.htm) which says that the book is out of print. It is possible that Amazon has it in inventory, but once that is gone, it is gone. The following is on the Volhard website: The Canine Good Citizen: Every Dog Can Be One Jack and Wendy Volhard, Howell Book House, 1994. Named Best Care Training Book for 1994 by the Dog Writers' Association of America. Great way to get started. (Out of print)
RE: Cure for Backtalk
Jenn: The cure for back taught is not rewarding it. It is often helpful to have a friend watch what YOU do when he barks. You may be unknowingly be encouraging him to bark back (e.g., by looking at him, touching him, giving him a command to stop in a tentative way, or using some form of body language that he finds encouraging or pleasant). An independent observer can often pick that up quicker than you or your family can. If you don't have a friend, hire a dog behaviorist to come out and observe. I have a personal story where we used this observational technique. My husband was clearly encouraging certain bad behaviors from one of our dogs (i.e., the dog was jumping up on him when he came home from work). He insisted that he was not doing anything to encourage this behavior -- fortunately, I was able to capture him on video tape and he realized that indeed he was encouraging the behavior (touching/petting the dog as he tentatively said no jump). He started carrying a treat in his pocket and upon entry, he gave a firm command to sit, when the dog sat, she got the treat. The jumping was gradually extinguished over time. This doesn't happen overnight, but it does happen. Make sure that all the family members expect the same out of the dog and behave consistently toward the dog when he is barking. By the way, does the dog bark back at everyone in the family or only you? Knowing this could also give you a clue on how to deal with it. If this does not work, the citronella collars are also useful. Glad you are enjoying your Berner. Nancy Melone Mars, PA Please someone save me and tell me what is the cure for talking back. Im used to it from the humans, just wanted my puppy to be different. I have no clue what to do on this one. HELP! Jenn and Charlie Gill, MA -
RE: SAVING ON DRYERS/BOOSTER BATHs/SHAMPOO
Carol: Just a reminder to shop around for the booster bath -- the price ranges quite a bit (up to $40). I have one. With 3 Berners, I returned my investment in less than 5 baths! I have it in my garage and hook it up to my utility sink, run the hose directly to the floor drain. I give baths all year in there. I use a 4.0 HP Metro Commander dryer (AFTD3). Shop around for price -- ranges from $129 to $149. I was looking for a good value and found this to be a good product for a reasonable price (I paid $129 and got an additional $10 discount on a promotion). You can pay more for fancier dryers, but I didn't want to. If you are not already doing it, save by buying your shampoo by the gallon through PetsEdge (or a supplier of your favorite brand). About once a year, the catalogs have sales for 4-gallon carton purchases of shampoo. Several members of our club go together. We split the cartons (each of us takes a gallon or two) and as a result, get an even better discount than we would by buying a single gallon. Look for concentrated shampoos that you can dilute. I use All Systems, runs around $27 (1:1 dilution) -- smells like Breck, so my Berner girls are Breck girls!! Hm, wonder what that makes my Berner boy? Nancy Melone Mt Tops Hannah Anna, CD, TDI, CGC Ch Lionhearts Caruso v Pioneer, CGC Elmira's Fleur de Lys (just looks cute, right now) Mars, PA
RE: OFA translations
I will illustrate with the OFA elbow number of one of my dogs: BMD-EL2763M24-PI Here s what it means: BMD = the breed EL = Elbow 2763 = means that he is the 2763rd Berner to receive an OFA elbow certification number M = male 24 = the dog's age in months when the radiograph was taken PI = permanently identified (he is permanently identified by both a DNA profile and a microchip) If you search the OFA database for my dog's entry, you will note that his information is in green letters. That means that I have agreed to release all findings on him that are reported in green. If you want to know how elbows and hips are graded (what it means to get hips with grade E or G or F, etc., go to the web pages noted below. www.offa.org/ofaed.html For information on how elbows are graded. www.offa.org/hdgrade.html For Information how hips are graded. It's wonderful when your puppy's dam and sire have excellent hip ratings and certified elbow ratings, but you need to remember that the mode of inheritance for hip and elbow dysplasia is polygenic (i.e., coming from more than one (poly) gene pair. These traits are more complex than the typical dominant or recessive genetic trait. The additive interaction of the genes can cause variable results and the gene can be easily passed on to other generations without being identified). As such, you would also like to know the ratings of the brothers and sisters of the dam and sire to get a better picture of your puppy's risk for inherited disease. There is a very good (easy to read) article at the AKC Canine Health Fund site on examining broader pedigrees at the following web address: www.akcchf.org/news/press/sundrypress/Hovan%20article%20-%20Golden%20Paw%20' 02.pdf (Collecting and Utilizing Phenotypic Data to minimize Disease: A Breeder's Practical Guide). While it is written for a breeder, PPOs can also find it useful. The author states that we do not have genetic tests for many diseases and so we need to use phenotypic data (what you can see as on x-rays of hips) to make informed breeding (or puppy buying) decisions. Nancy Melone, Ph.D. Mars, PA
RE: Good Citizen Requirements
You can find the requirements at the following website: www.akc.org/love/cgc/testprocedures.cfm Nancy Melone Mars, PA
RE: how to make your dog throw up - quantities
For a 26 lbs puppy, the 1 TBS qty is what emergency vets told me. For a bitch around 75-80 lbs, I was told 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide. The puppy laped it up in no time and we acheived the goal. On the other hand, we never did succeed in getting my wise girl to drink the stuff -- in fact, it was all over us, the laundry room walls, the floor, everywhere -- and narry a drop passed over her lips! Fortunately, she did not exhibit any signs of poisoning. When I was on the road, I was responsible for someone else's dog whom the owner had suspected had consumed chocolate. It took me 3 tries to get him to vomit. Administer Hydrogen Peroxide, wait 10 minutes, administer HP, wait 10 minutes, etc. Fortunately, it came up on the third try -- sure enough, there were a few Hersey's kisses there...probably not enough to hurt, but the owner felt better, if not the dog! Nancy Melone, Ph.D.
RE: litter size line breeding
At the beginning of the month, I attended the W Penn Symposium on Genetics (Small Animal Medical Genetics for the Veterinarian and Breeder-- N.Mathew Ellinwood, DVM, Ph.D.,Comparative Medical Genetics at U Penn) and Breeding (Demystifying Canine Ovulation Timing - Melissa Goodman, DVM, Board Certified in Theriogenology). Much of what Pat Long has said regarding health of the offspring in in-line breeding was supported by the geneticist Ellinwood. Like Pat, he did not mention litter size, but did mention other health-related problems that are exacerbated with in-line breeding. What was also interesting was Goodman's comment that canines are rarely infertile, rather the problem is generally an error in accurately predicting the fertile period for the bitch. Nancy Melone Mars, PA
RE: [Fwd: Invisable Fencing]
I think that she was asking for experiences, both good and bad. That is the value of the Berner-l. My comment was not meant to upset you, just to broaden the discussion. Nancy Melone -Original Message- From: Denise Vickers [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, March 14, 2003 9:33 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Berner List Subject: Re: [Fwd: Invisable Fencing] Nancy, When I lived in a development I used IF on my Mel who was attacked by a stray Rhodesian Ridgeback that walked thru the IF. This stray, purebread dog, lived eight miles away in a different city! I do not denounce IF but, if someone has no other alternative but to install an IF, then they deffinately should hear the bad bad xperiences as well as the good. I am simply stating my experiences so that others can make a well informed determination on which type of fencing is best for their needs. - Denise Michigan USA Nancy wrote: Subject: RE: Invisable Fencing From: Nancy Melone [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 10:11:49 -0800 To: Denise Vickers [EMAIL PROTECTED] Denise -- In many cases, the problem when people inquire about IF is that they are not allowed to erect a physical fence without violating their housing plan rules. This problem is becoming more prevalent and so people are searching for information on alternative ways to protect their dogs from auto injury and roaming off premise in their neighborhoods. I live in such a neighborhood -- my neighbors contain their dogs, so there is virtually no problem with outside dogs roaming into our yards (it is against the law anyway, so our development can easily enforce this should someone be a bit lax -- a reminder letter usually does it). In addition, many people have IF signs posted in the yard indicating that an IF is present. There are ways of handling the situations that you describe and still use IF. What typically dictates how one handles containing one's dog (physical fencing or in-ground wire) are the constraints the individuals faces in their specific living environment. I have done both and can tell you that both options involve significant outlays of money when you are fencing multiple acres. Nancy Melone -Original Message- From: Denise Vickers [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2003 3:58 PM To: Berner List Subject: Invisable Fencing Regarding invisible fencing. I do not have one, I have a physical fence. I have almost 3 acres fenced - yes it is expensive and there is maintenance, but I have piece of mind. Friends visit often bringing their dogs over for a run off leach in a large, safe, fenced area. They could not do this if I had a invisible fence for they would have to train their dog on my invisible fence line with a shock collar - or keep it leached up. I baby-sit my sisters and my parents dogs and no dogs have ever escaped. My neighbors dogs who wander often can only pick a fight through the fence. An invisible fence can be deceiving to children, the postman and responsible adults. Most don't realize they are in or near an invisible fence area until it is too late. Not all dogs like children or adults for that matter, and not all people are comfortable with dogs - especially unleashed dogs. Have you ever walked through a neighborhood on a quite evening and had the poop scared out of you when a barking, unleashed dog rushed the sidewalk only to stop four feet from you for no apparent reason. Granted no harm was done but the two year old in the stroller cried for several more blocks. -Denise Michigan, USA
RE: inflammatory bowel disease
Vilma: The January 2003 issue of Your Dog, published by Tuft University School of Veterinary Medicine, has an article (pp. 8-11) entitled, The Frustrations Of IBD. Nancy Melone
RE: Enough is Enough
Kenny: It sounds to me as though you are really the one who wants the dog. So, (1) if you are willing take a light vacuum (e.g., Eureka BOSS) through the house now and then (in between the major weekly vaccuuming with the Hummer) and (2) brush/comb your Berner weekly (which if done weekly doesn't take long -- Bernie/Bernice will grow to love it and you for doing it), then you can own a Berner and manage the dog hair. Note -- I said manage the dog hair, not eliminate it. On the other hand, if you are waiting for your kids or your wife to do this for you, I wouldn't get anything furry that mom didn't buy into 100%. In my experience, it is the rare kid (there are a few) who takes total responsibility for the care and feeding of a pet. It is strongly advised that the adult woman in the family want the dog, too, since by most accounts she will be the primary caretaker in such circumstances. According to my Invisible Fence installer, he is approached by close to 25% of the adult females who, by default, care for the kids' or dad's pet -- they try to give the dog away. Nancy Melone, Treasurer Berner-Garde Foundation, Inc. Mars, PA
RE: Big Brag
Alex: If you go to this web page, you can get definitions for the American Kennel Club (AKC) title suffixes (e.g., CD - companion dog, a first level obedience title) and Prefixes (e.g., CH - champion, a conformation (show dog) title). UKC (United Kennel Club - similar to the AKC) has titles listed under the event type (e.g., obedience -- see http://www.ukcdogs.com/rules/o-1.html; conformation -- http://www.ukcdogs.com/rules/c-3.html), etc. You have to dig a little harder to find them on the UKC site. Certified Therapy Dogs (e.g., TDI) can be found at the TDI site http://www.tdi-dog.org/. (Delta is also a therapy organization similar to Therapy Dogs International). The TDI certification is based on the AKC's Canine Good Citizen designation. A CGC is not technically a title as defined by the AKC. Hope that helps. Nancy Melone Mars, PA
RE: AKC Titles -- missing reference to web page
Alex: I failed to include the reference to the AKC web page on the titles explanation. Here it is:http: www.akc.org/dic/events/titles.cfm Nancy Melone
RE: Collars -- Tag requirements
In my region of the world, we are required to have lic tags on our dogs whenever they are outside (including in our yards). The authorities can come on to your property to check and the fine is something you would notice. In our house, we do a lot of collar on and collar off maneauvers. The buckle collar does tend to wear the hair. Any dog that is being shown in conformation in our house, tends see a collar less (might even take a few liberties in the yard, but don't tell the dog catcher). But, even if they tend to see the collar less, all the dogs, even the ones we shown in conformation, wear a buckle collar in obedience classes. Life is full of trade offs and this is one of them. The other reminder is NEVER leave a collar on a dog in a crate. Nancy Melone
RE: Early Neutering Linked to Osteosarcoma
To do a risk analysis, you also need to look at the disease risks (beyond osteosarcoma) that intact animals face (e.g., diseases of the reproductive organs/system, maternal death due to the complications of pregnancy/birth, various other cancers, dog fights) that sterilzed ones do not. My money is where Pat's is -- that all considered, neutering/spaying on average extends the life an animal. Nancy Melone
RE: Specialty Goodies!
Well, Vilma, I just ordered my gear bag and long sleeved T. Like you, I bought the night light at Wheeling (Hmmm, night lights, does this say something about us?). I have the grooming jacket in blue -- real nice -- zipper front -- good pockets -- embroidered Berner -- arrived just as my old one fell apart!! Nancy Melone Mars,PA
RE: Photo of the first Costco Berner
I have one -- Joye Neff used it for one of the recent raffles. I'll look through my files to see if I can locate it again. Nancy -Original Message- From: TERRY ZIMMERMAN [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Saturday, February 15, 2003 11:20 AM To: Bernese Mountain Dog Mailing List Subject: Photo of the first Costco Berner Does anyone have a digital photo of the original stuffed Bernese Mt Dog that Costco came out with a few years ago. The first one laying down. I need it for a raffle and I only have the 2nd one here at the house. Please email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and thank you in advance. Terri Zimmerman, Zephyr, Zaltana, Zion, Kita Zodiac, gone from this earth but not from this heart. Washington State, USA Puget Sound with clouds, moss and lots of mud puddles.
RE: Frequency of Health Problems
no information about disease incidence in a breed (or a litter of pups), models of risk assessment require you to assess the risk of that breed's incidence of disease is GREATER than ZERO, not zero. Good luck, Nancy Melone, Treasurer The Berner Garde Foundation, Inc. A 501c3 Tax-exempt Non-Profit Organization
RE: Health problems and REAL leading cause of death in dogs
Yes, Vilma, you are right. The statement should have been qualified as leading cause of disease-induced/mediated death in dogs. Even that is probably not a very good phrase to use because I imagine that a fraction of behavior problems in dogs could also be disease-induced/mediated, too. Propose a phrase and I will use it henceforth!! :-) Nancy -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2003 8:41 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Health problems and REAL leading cause of death in dogs Nancy, Thank you for the excellent information, that is really interesting and informative, thank you for putting it together for us. I do have just one slight correction, however. Cancer is not actually the leading cause of death in dogs. Elective euthanasia of physically healthy but homeless dogs in shelters is. So I guess one could say *behavior problems* -- the reason most dogs are given to shelters -- are actually the leading cause of death (along w/ overpopulation.) Vilma Briggs (Kistner) Mt. Gilead, OH U-UD Mocha Java Slurp, UDX, HIC, TT Ch. Brighteye Expresso Bean, UD, NDD, TT U-CDX Our Little Buddy, UD, NA, TT Thirdtym's A Charm, CGC and Ted
RE: Food for thought--playing iwth a lab
Certainly there are rules of thumb that can be prudently followed in caring for our pets. While one may not outright restrict playing with a lab, according to the orthopedic surgeon who performed CCL surgery on one of my dogs, frizbies bring him more business than any other single triggering event. When a dog jumps for a flying frizbie, as he lands there is a sufficient amount of torque to cause damage. It may not be playing with the lab that is the problem, but rather the type of play and the prior conditioning of the dog doing the playing. Nancy Melone, Treasurer Berner-Garde Foundation, Inc. Mars, PA
RE: Bathing an uncooperative berner
My three Berners are like Ugo's -- they jump into the Booster Bath with no problems. All are taught to put themselves in the bath or on the grooming table as soon as they are old enough to do it without risk of injury. When we go out to the garage for reasons other than bathing or grooming, I have a hard time keeping my male OFF the grooming table because he loves our time there so much. The girls are not quite that exuberant. I think that the secret to developing this attitude in your dogs is to start bathing your puppy early in a format that is similar to what you will be doing when they weigh 100 lbs. I didn't have a situation in my house where I could easily bath my puppies in a bathtub or shower, so I invested in a Booster Bath early on (about $200) and it has more than paid off (at $35 to $40 for a groomer's bath, with 3 dogs it didn't take long). I am not crazy enough to believe that my dogs love having water poured on them, but they do love the attention they get when I do pour water over them. As puppies, I offer special treats (liver) constantly for good behavior on the bath and on the table. The big dogs get rewards that are tailored to what they like -- food or other things. They all learn the command shake (I use paw for the give me your paw action to avoid confusion on our therapy visits). I do our bathing and grooming in my multi-car garage (doors shut, no cars in the garage, floors clean of any liquids), so we can play after each event (bathing/drying/grooming). My big male is not particularly food motivated but loves our games -- especially the one where I pinch his rear. I am sure the neighbors think we are weird. I do baths in the presence of all my dogs -- the little ones see that it is no big deal and you get treats and play games. The big dogs are great role models and if the little one whines because she thinks we have rinsed enough, they come over to the bath to see if things are okay. The little one stops whining almost immediately. I invested in about 10 white hotel-type bath towels that I found at the COSTCO. After the bath, I do a laundry load of towels and we are ready to go the next time. I also invested in a pair of rubber garden clogs (you can find them on sale for about $14 -- that is the cheapest I have seen them --Muck boots work well, too, but cost more) and a rubber apron. With the shake command and my rubber apron and shoes, I can bath my dogs without getting completely drowned. This is useful during the winter. In the summer when it is hot, I let myself get drowned -- it's fun and makes the process all the more enjoyable for the dogs. I bath my dogs fairly frequently (every 2 to 3 weeks, depending on the season) and thoroughly dry them (that's important), brush outs are every week. Ears get cleaned every week. Nails clipped or Dremelled when needed. My big dogs were not raised on a Dremel, so they get clipped, but my pup is cool with the Dremel and that is the way I will go from now on. By following this routine, baths are no big thing -- and I have never had a single hot spot on any of my dogs (knock on wood). Nancy Melone Mars, PA
RE: Glucosamine/Chondroitin--brand name vs generic
I do not use the COSTCO generic. I was speaking of the human version of Nutramax Cosequin DS which is Cosamin DS. Cosamin DS at Costco runs about $65 for 230 capsules with a rebate -- considerably cheaper than Cosequin DS from the vet. Nancy Melone -Original Message- From: Valerie Young [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Saturday, January 04, 2003 10:26 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Glucosamine/Chondroitin--brand name vs generic I should go to the COSTCO and buy the human formulation of Cosequin DS. It was much cheaper and is identical in formulation. Maybe. Maybe not. The brand name CosaminDS (Nutramax) from Costco is the one that has a lot of studies done on it - my vet recommended it even tho it is quite a bit more expensive than the Costco generic. There usually is a $10 rebate on it if you check on the web under CosaminDS. Valerie
RE: Glucosamine
Yes, that is consistent with what many vets will tell you also. Nancy Melone -Original Message- From: Valerie Young [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Saturday, January 04, 2003 10:34 AM To: berner-l Subject: Glucosamine I heard an arthritis doctor on the radio talking about the effectiveness of glucosamine in people. He said it has a noticeable positive effect in about 30% of people. If you don't notice an improvement after using it a couple of months, he said you are wasting your money. Valerie
RE: Glucosamine/Chondroitin--brand name vs generic
Vilma's advice is well taken. I do not buy a generic. The Cosamin DS for humans that I buy for my dogs is manufactured by the same company that manufactures Cosequin DS for veterinary use -- Nutramax. The human version claims to be the only G/C sulfate brand proven effective in controlled U.S. published studies to reduce joint pain and protect cartilage. Not that I believe everything that advertisers say, but I have stayed with the identical manufacturer of the vet prescribed G/C and use the human version, assuming that the human formulation is at least equal to or better than the veterinary one. I could be wrong, but given that I will use a G/C product this seemed to be my wisest choice. Nancy -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Friday, January 03, 2003 6:28 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Glucosamine/Chondroitin--brand name vs generic In a message dated 1/3/2003 8:44:10 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I should go to the COSTCO and buy the human formulation of Cosequin DS. It was much cheaper and is identical in formulation. Maybe. Maybe not. Generic over the counter products may or may not contain what the label claims they do. No one actually checks on them. Especially when you are talking about nutraceuticals and herbal type products that are produced and sold w/out the supervision of the FDA, you just never really know what you are getting. You know nothing about product purity or dosing. I was at a medical conference recently where a group of researchers actually bought 10 different brands of a common herbal product (I forget whether it was ginsing or black cohoshsomething like that) and analysed the products. All the companies had labeling that claimed the same dosage of the same product. The range of what WAS actually in the pills they were selling was amazingfrom NONE of the active ingredient at all to several times the dose listed. Buyer beware! If you are buying a product not under FDA regulation, I would go w/ a well recognised brand name w/ a repuation to protect. Vilma Briggs, MD Mt. Gilead, OH U-UD Mocha Java Slurp, UDX, HIC, TT Ch. Brighteye Expresso Bean, UD, NDD, TT U-CDX Our Little Buddy, UD, NA, TT Thirdtym's A Charm, CGC and Ted
Research Report - Post CCL Surgery Rehab
The question on Rimidyl reminded me of a an article on CCL surgery rehab summaized in the current issue of AKC Gazette. A study published in May in the Journal of Am Vet. Medical Association reports on the effects of early post-operative rehabilitation after repair of the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) in dogs. (This is similar to the ACL in humans). The study looked at 51 dogs, half of which had restricted excercise and the other half had physical therapy/exercise following cruciate surgery. Gait analysis techniques and comparison of the repaired limb to the opposite leg revealed obvious differences between the group. The dogs who received post operative physical therapy had no significant differences between the repaired leg and its counterpart. Dogs whose exercise was restricted still demonstrated significantly less function in the repaired leg compared to its counterpart six months after the operation Earlier studies in dogs have demonstrated that low-impact exercises, such as swimming and walking, maintain muscle strength, joint mobility and function, while not worsening the arthritis. Other studies have also shown that appropriate exercise is not only beneficial for proper healing of transplanted tissues for CCL repair, it is actually necessary Also, overweight dogs are at increased risk of developing arthritis, so weight loss may have to be included in their post-operative care. The moral of the story on this one is to take your vet's post-op exercise protocol seriously. My Hannah had CCL surgery last April (rehabing at the specialty). We took seriously the 3 month exercise program that the vet gave us. It is very hard to tell which leg she had surgery. So far she has beat the statistics (60% will need surgery on the other leg in 6 months; 85% for Rotties). The best thing was my husband and I also lost weight by our early morning walk routine...which ultimately became a 4 mile walk for the entire family! Nancy Melone Mars, PA
RE: dremel follow-up
I just sent a dremel back to the company because the battery pack kept falling out. I told them that I loved the tool, but had always had this problem with this particular one and I was finally tired of it. I also told them that I would report what they did about it to the Berner-l. I am pleased to tell you that they were great! Fixed it and mailed it back..very fast. No charge. We are back in business grinding down those nails. I am very pleased with how the company sttod behind the product. Nancy Melone Hannah, Caruso and Lillie
RE: SARD
Just to follow up -- there are two main procedures to deal with human detached retina -- the laser procedure that Fran described (which can be done in-office) and a more invasive surgical procedure that my husband had which is done at a hospital. The surgical procedure may also involve placing a gas bubble in the eye to hold the retina in place until it can heal (a short time). If this bubble is used, the patient is not permitted to fly for about 6 weeks due to the possibility of air pressure changes. Which procedure one chooses, depends on the severity of the condition, the patient's risk preferences, the doctor and the patient's attitude toward surgery and recover times. In most cases, if performed shortly after the detachment, both of these procedures are very successful at retaining sight. Nancy Melone
RE: Detached retinas
Carol: Carol: I don't know about dogs, but at the WV Specialty my husband had an incident that resulted in retinal detachment a weeks later. At dinner, his vision suddenly became clouded, as if looking through a frosted glass shower door. We immediately called the ophthalmologist, who over the phone had him do several eye exercises to test for detachment. The conclusion at that moment was that it was not detached (i.e., he did not need to rush to hospital). The next day, he drove back to see a specialist, who also concluded there was no detachment. Then a week later, just before we were to go hiking in the White Mountains, my husband went in for another check up just to be safe -- that morning WHEN HE WAS SITTING IN THE DR's OFFICE, his retina detached. It was subtle, but he actually diagnosed it himself based on the tests that the previous doctor had him do when we were at Oglebay. We cancelled our vacation and the next morning at 7:30 AM he had surgery. He is lucky and sees fine now, but immediately after the surgery, he looked pretty scary and would have made a good stand in for Count Dracula. In humans, if the surgery is not performed within a day or so of the detachment, blindness is the result. Since it would be difficult for a dog to communicate to you exactly what is happening to him in such a short time, it would seem that surgery is not likely and blindness is. In humans, according to the specialist (who only deals in eye surgeries of this kind), a detached retina is an age-related phenomenon that affects SOME people. I do not know if it has a genetic component -- my husband's parents lived to their mid 80s and were not affected. It is not caused by physical trauma (as many believe), although a blow may trigger a pre-existing susceptibility to the condition. I have heard that blind dogs can live a very high quality life. Indeed, Berners are often blind without their owners knowing it. The owner may discover it only when the furniture is moved and the dog bumps into it. There is PRA in Berners (another cause of blindness). I would bet that there is someone on this list who has had a dog with PRA (progressive retinal atrophy) who could give you excellent strategies for helping you help your dog live a good quality life around your home, yard and in daily activities. Please contact your breeder so that she/he can update litter records regarding her line. Also, please update your dog's record in the Berner Garde Database. These records are used to study diseases in our breed, so you perform a valuable service to the breed when you take the time to leave the legacy of your dog's data. If you need help, let me know. Nancy Melone, Ph.D., Treasurer The Berner-Garde Foundation A 501c3, tax-exempt, non-profit organization
RE: Follow up on removing water from crate at night
I had the chance to ask the various vets (an international cross-section of various vet programs) at my party about the advisability or inadvisability of removing water from a puppy's crate at night. The unanimous consensus was that a healthy 8-12 week old puppy who has had free access to water during the day is NOT HARMED in any way by removing a water bowl up an hour or so before going to bed. To the extent that some people feel uncomfortable lifting the water bowl, it is a personal preference not a physiological necessity. This of course, does not mean that you should sleep for 12 hours! Nancy Melone, Ph.D. Mars, PA
RE: Need help in how to avert endless questions!
Michaela: Buy a packet of Berner Baseball Cards from Pat Long (the donation supports BLEF, I believe). With a simple mailing label, you can (or maybe Pat will) tailor the contact for further information section on the card to your local Berner Club or yourself, if you are indeed willing to answer questions at a later time. When someone approaches you, say that you have an appointment with someone and cannot chat about dogs now, but (hand them the card) this card will give you some information on the breed, along with contacts for learning more. If the person rudely persists, say, As I stated previously, I have an engagement and cannot talk just now. Then don't. Nancy Melone Mars, PA
RE: Santa Hat help--elastic under the chin
When I dressed my Hannah Anna up as a Berner bride (to create -- at the request of my step daughter-in-law -- an invitation to a day-after-the-wedding family reception for 75 of her relatives), I finally resorted to putting elastic on a white confirmation veil and running it under the chin. Hannah wasn't thrilled, but it worked long enough to get a priceless picture of a the bride (with pearl necklace -- a gift from the groom), Thor (her Great Pyrenees groom, donning bow tie and French cuffs), Molly (her Great Pyrenees maid of honor, wearing a pastel pink head piece and pink necklace) and the officiating priest (Devon, the Doberman with clerical collar). Clare, the Harlequin Great Dane, was a stand-in for Mother of the Bride. The caption on the invitation was -- This wedding has gone to the dogs. On a serious note, you can use black elastic -- which might blend in with the fur better. Nancy Melone Mars, PA
RE: going out at night
I will check with the vets on this (I have 4 coming to a Christmas Party -- all from different practices and from different vet schools) regarding if and when restricting water for 7 hours at night is appropriate. Will repost the consensus of opinion then. Nancy Melone -Original Message- From: Clark Kris Osojnicki [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Thursday, November 28, 2002 10:11 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: going out at night I have to agree with MaryAnn on this. Restricting water may just cause a urinary tract problem. A young puppy is a baby, and frequent potty needs just goes with the territory. My theory for my own dogs, and my students, is if the puppy immediately relieves himself upon being let out, then he needed to go, and you just have to deal with it until he matures a bit. If on the other hand, upon getting outside, he starts chasing leaves, and looking for toys, or twigs, and going potty is an after thought then possibly next time he complains, you attempt to wait him out a little while before jumping to his request. Kris Clark and Kris Osojnicki and the Bevy of mostly Berners Haley, Mara, Lexi, Cassie Niko ( Pearle the Border Collie) Chalet Tiki (both in loving memory) [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: going out at night
Jackie says: This is my question: someone told me I shouldn't take him out at night at all because I'm training a bad habit he will never break. Is this true? From Nancy: At what time in the evening do you pick up and put away his water bowl at night? If you go to bed at 10, pick it up around *:00 or 8:30. If he has had access to water all day, he will be fine through the night. After his morning pee, give him a nice bowl of water. If you do this, you should have a pee free night without forcing him to hold it -- which I think is a very bad idea. There are simpler solutions that do no damage to his little system and I would use those first. If he still wakes you up to go after a few days of lifting the bowl at 8 PM, I would have his urinary track checked. Nancy Melone
RE: Oh....so close to my goal for the AKC CHF Fundraiser!!!
Joye: Can you tell us how close to the goal we are? Golly, if we could lick this disease with some of the research that we fund on histio think of how many Berner families would be spared premature grief. Now, remind us -- how many dollars do we need to reach the goal? If you have ever had a question answered on the L and have not purchased a ticket yet, consider a thank-you-ticket purchase. It's a double header -- you help us knock out this nasty disease AND you get a chance at a lovely piece of Berner art! How can you go wrong? Such a deal!! Nancy Melone Berners -- Hannah Anna, Caruso, Lillie Siamese -- Asia I.M. Pei Dutiful Husband -- Tim McGuire
RE: Reading pedigrees (was: Understanding HD/ED Ratings)
Like Sherri, I want the facts (the actual cert number -- BMD-VW25/16M-PI), not the breeder storyline (OFA-Good). You can tell a lot from these numbers that are not revealed by a breeder's good statement -- e.g., the breed, the test, the age at which the test was done, whether the dog is permanently identified by a microchip/DNA, etc.). If the breeder appears disorganized (and not something worse), you can look these certification numbers for yourself. Potentially available online for Bernese are certification numbers (if they exist) for hip, elbow, cardiac, thyroid, vWD and eyes. Here is how to find these numbers on your own: OFA -- If you know the full name of parents, you can look up the OFA certifications (e.g., hips, elbows, cardiac, Thyroid vWD) at the OFA website. Unless they have been recorded within the last month, they SHOULD be there. You do not need to know the registration number to do this, but you do need to have enough of the sire and dam names to search on (it will take partial names -- at least some of which must be the kennel name). The search panel page of the OFA website is www.offa.org/ofasrch.html I have GDC numbers also on my dog and they are not yet on the OFA site (although the OFA H/E are), so not sure when or if GDC numbers will be merged with the online record. CERF -- One can also do online CERF certification inquiries at www.vmdb.org/inquiry.html. The CERF inquiry is not automated -- you effectively send a completed form via e-mail. I do not know if there is a cost or a suggested donation for this service. BERNER FAMILIES -- Finally, you can also find other information on families by using the Berner-Garde Foundation website search page at www.breedbrowsers.com/Berners/Dog?default. This site will also search on partial names. If contains photos and other information not contained in the previous databases. If you want to practice on a dog that exists in all these databases, use one of my dogs -- Lionhearts Caruso v Pioneer. (His GDCs are not there, but I will fire off a question to OFA to find out if and when they will be merged on the database record -- :-) I like his GDC 25 month hip rating (excellent) better than his OFA (good)). Nancy Melone, Ph.D. Mars, PA -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2002 3:21 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Reading pedigrees (was: Understanding HD/ED Ratings) In a message dated 11/22/2002 10:33:55 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: This is just really more for my education and trying to make sure I have been reading the HD/ED on the pedigrees correctly. I think I have, but somehow when I saw Normal I realized maybe I missed something. For dogs in the US you should see either an OFA or a GDC *number* for hips and elbowswhich you can verify online. Just putting hips-normal or elbows-normal on the pedigree doesn't cut it in my book...show me the certification number g. Likewise for European and Canadian dogs, there should be either a number or a specific grade. As Mary said, the grading systems vary from one country to another and they have changed over time. You'll find a 'converter' on the OFA website: www.offa.org For the benefit of some of the PPOs out there...what are your recommendations to watch out for in terms of looking at HD/Ed on a pedigree. Personally, my first concern is that the dogs HAVE been evaluated. For a puppy born now, I'd expect pretty much all the dogs on a 4 generation pedigree to have been evaluated for BOTH hips elbows. They may not all have passed on both, but I want to know that the breeders behind the dogs in the pedigree have been doing their 'due diligence'. If I look at a pedigree and see few elbow numbers, that tells me that either the dogs didn't clear elbows OR the breeders didn't bother to check them. Either way, I'd not be inclined to buy a puppy from that litter, nor to stand my dog for that bitch. Also, breeders should have started routine CERF exams of their breeding dogs in 1998. A generation in dogs is pretty much 2 years so when I look at the parents and grandparents of the puppy, I want to see CERF numbers. Raising the bar: Also look for an OFA Cardiac number and an OFA or VetGen vWD number. When you see dogs in the pedigree with a complete 'portfolio' like this (hips, elbows, eyes, heart, vWD) it gives you an indication that the owner of that dog is doing everything they can do today in terms of screening their dog or bitch for the presence of hereditary disease. (Note that the fact a disease isn't present, doesn't mean the dog doesn't carry the gene for it. But it's one critical step in evaluating the dog/bitch for breeding purposes...if you don't go looking for these things, you may not know your dog is affected and therefore more likely to pass it on to his/her offspring.) Next, look for AKC DNA Profile numbers on the sire and dam
RE: Dremel Tool Advice
I use a Dremel ($39 variable speed, set at the LOWEST speed to manage heat and to take nails off very slowly - I use the drum tool for fine sanding) on my 6 mo pup. I started exposing her early just to the noise (first, I just held her paw and did nothing -- gave her a treat at the end) and now she is fine with it. We use extra care like one would/should with any tool -- e.g., my husband holds her paw when I operate the tool do it to keep tails, etc. out of the way. I go slowly which is why I use my husband's help. What I have observed is that there is a tendency for people to get in a hurry and use the tool at too fast a speed. This generates heat in the nail and risks injury because of loss of control (taking too much of the nail off at the time). I do not use a Dremel on my two other dogs because they were not exposed to it as pups. If you go slowly and exercise normal caution, the Dremel is a very nice tool for nails. Basically, I use whatever tool my particular dog finds most comfortable. Nail cutting is not something that I enjoy doing and my dogs probably sense that. It might also be because my husband is helping -- he usually leaves dog things to me so it's a big deal when there is a joint operation in my house. In general he is squeamish about these things -- you should have heard him when I gave my dog an injection!! Oh, I couldn't do that! I don't know how you can do this to our Hannah. Oh, that looks like it hurts!and on and on...until I told him to please leave the room while I did it because it was the first time for me and I couldn't handle a husband that was freaking out -- my dog was perfect. Nancy Melone
RE: posters
Our club bought posters so that members can in turn buy a few for our own uses. So far, I have made notebooks for my local vets. I decided on 89 cent notebooks instead of something flimsier. Each notebook contains: (1) all the pages in the BMDCA INFO SERIES placed in clear plastic sheet protectors (these are downloadable from the www.bmdca.org website), (2) The trifold The Berner-Garde Foundation brochure explaining what Berner Garde is and does. (3) Berner-Garde Data Collection (enrollment) Sheet (4) a Berner Baseball card with local numbers (5) a poster for the office (which for the notebooks that I have delivered I need to drop off the new ones) I distribute these to vets in my area (not just my vets). I do a few at a time since it's out of my budget. Since I cannot do everyone all at once, I pick vets who have some Berner clients first and those without any, I do later. I was told by several vets that they wish each breed would do this. I usually show the vet the notebook, but leave it with the desk staff. I chose the notebook format because of their recommendation. It stays in the office and by putting the pages in sheet protectors, it lasts longer. I know that it has stimulated information requests by vets because as Treasurer of B-G, I see the checks and accounts that come in for B-G Guidebooks. I know for a fact that my one vet (I use several) has purchased a B-G Guidebook. He still has the old poster that I gave him hanging on the wall (I promised him a new pretty one) and your e-mail reminded me that I need to pick up my new posters from Joye Neff!! Nancy Melone, Ph.D. Mars, PA (North of Pittsburgh, PA -- west of Lancaster County puppy mill heaven)
RE: Big Costco Berners
There are also Costco Berners at the Cranberry, PA Costco for the same price. They ran out and now have a new batch. Nancy Melone -Original Message- From: Karyn Waugh [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Monday, November 25, 2002 4:38 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: Big Costco Berners I was in Costco last night and the one by my house seemed to have alot left. Yesterday the bin it was in was full. I really do not know if Costco ever ships, but it's the Costco in Tennessee. Cool Springs, Tennessee to be exact. I think it's the only Costco in TN. It's $34.99 at this Costco. I'm not sure if the price is the same all around. Take care, Karyn Waugh _ Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963
RE: Article on Origins (DNA) of Dogs - Also in the Wall Street Journal
If you miss this version, a similar article appeared in today's Wall Street Journal (front page of MarketPlace section) on page B1. -Original Message- From: george hasenauer [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Friday, November 22, 2002 3:36 AM To: Bernese Mountain Dog Mailing List Subject: Washington Post Article Hi, Thought some of you might be interested in a article appearing today in the Washington Post about the origins of the human-dog relationship. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23596-2002Nov21.html You can get the entire story if you go on today. After a day or two, there is a charge for a full article. Sharon Hasenauer Silver Spring, Maryland
RE: Hot Spots -- Remedies from BMDCR Newsletter
Prevention by careful hygiene and grooming is the best advice, but if your dog is prone to hot spots, then keeping an eye out for the first sign of a lesion and then addressing it immediately is the next best advice. The following home remedies were published in BMDCR Newsletter (Mountain Dog Messenger). There was no author on the article, but Dottie Schultie is the editor. Here is a summary of those remedies. Basically, they are all trying to dry the wound so that healing can be stimulated. Some also provide antiseptic action. FOR SMALL LESIONS: try Gold Bond Medicated Powder several times a day. If the lesion is weepy, clipping the coat may be required for treatments to be effective. FOR LARGER LESIONS: (1) Shave hair from the area and apply hydrogen peroxide (FIRST TIME ONLY), then apply sulfodene (twice daily until healed). (2) Brew regular Lipton tea bag in about 3 oz of water for about 10 minutes. Take the bag and when it is still warm, but not hot, apply the bag to the lesion for about 15 minutes. Repeat 4-5 times per day. The tannic acid in the tea provides the drying effect. (3) Wash the are with antiseptic soap and dry with a blow dryer (cool). Boil 12-16 oz of water and put in 4 tea bags and 4 aspirin. Let the tea bags steep in the water until it cools and then stir to make sure the aspirin is dissolved. Add an equal amount of rubbing alcohol (12 oz tea mixture: 12 oz alcohol). Apply to lesion with a cotton ball several times a day until healed. (5) Shake together cornstarch and boric acid (available off the shelf at the drug store) in a 1:1 mixture. Apply several times daily. (6) Farnum Laboratories (www.americanlivestock.com/product) has 2 products. The first is Wonder Dust (a wound powder for horses), a dressing powder and blood coagulant. Puff the powder on the lesion 2-3 times daily. The second product is Blue Lotion Wound Dressing and Antiseptic (used to treat sores on horses). This is effective on smaller lesions if caught early. Farms stores may also carry these. (7) Apply wet soaks with an astringent such as Domesboro solution (5% aluminum acetate) three to four times daily for 10 minutes each time. (8) Clip the area, clean with peroxide and then spray on Terr-Cortril or Gentocin spray (both topical antibiotic compounds available from Foster and Smith). Because lesions are irritating, the dog is likely re-injure them as a results of licking or scratching. One may consider giving the dog Benadryl every 6-8 hours. The dosage for an average size Berner is 50 mg. Or you can calculate your dog's own dosage by using 1 mg of diphenhydramine (Benadryl) per 1 KILOGRAM of body weight. If the wound does not heal in a couple of days, take your dog to the vet. Nancy Melone
RE: Boy Questions Continued Education
Pat and Ray: Oh, my!! If not a spectator sport, then surely a spectacle sport!! Nancy Melone -Original Message- From: Ray Pat Burgett [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 7:05 PM To: Vicky Whitney; Bernese Mountain Dog Mailing List Subject: Re: Boy Questions Continued Education Find a bucket or milk crate I prefer the milk crate to sit on, put the bitch over your legs and have a helper bring the young male to the proper position back end is preferred and help him get started, guide him in and then put your arms around the front of the bitch and the rear of the male and hold tight till you are insured a tie has taken place. Then let mother nature takes it course. This procedure is best done in the back yard as it is not a spectator sport. Ray Pat Burgett Eaglecap Bernese Talee,Lexi,Boomer,Bell Max www.goodbernerfood.com http://users.eoni.com/~eaglecap/ Draminski Ovulation Detector Rep
RE: Vicky and Major/Boy Problems
Just to add to this -- KY Jelly, let's say, facilitates the process a bit. I am sure that my pharmacist must think I am in business for myself with all the KY jelly I buy! Golly, I can't really tell him its for the dog or I would likely get thrown in jail. Nancy Melone -Original Message- From: Laurie Montoya [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2002 4:56 PM To: bernese Mountain Dog Mailing List Subject: Re: Vicky and Major/Boy Problems Um , this is hard to describe without sounding , uh, cough , never mind. I grew up on a horse farm and we bred racehorses , therefore had a stud horse. I handled the stud for breeding and subsequently had to clean him up afterward. Well , he got stuck one day , and couldn't get it all back where it belonged. Cough. I got my hands on both sides of the sheath and pulled GENTLY outward and back at the same time and everything slid into place by itself. Thank goodness !! I imagine you'd do the same for a dog ??? Vicky , you WOULD bring up this subject !!! Sheesh , blushingly yours , Laurie Montoya And, exactly what, pray tell, does one do if all's NOT tucked back in place??? Jen Cessi (rolling eyes) and Tucker (stop looking at me that way!) Don't be surprised if your boy has a pained expression on his face or even lets out a 'yip' when he retracts, it can be bit uncomfortable. A good brisk walk will help things return to normal more readily... then as Rose said, do check to be sure that all's tucked back in place.
RE: KY Jelly -- Vickey her Boy
The packaging on my recently purchased tubes of KY Jelly say: This product is not a contraceptive and does not contain a spermacide. Nancy Melone ...KY Jelly now has bacteriacides in it which make it somewhat Spermicidal. DON'T use it in a breeding context! Sherri V.
RE: AKC Titles Website
The following website will allow people to look up prefix or suffix titles. These are presented as alphabetical lists. It does not include OFA or GDC or CERF. www.akc.org/dic/events/titles.cfm Nancy Melone
RE: BERNER At Rockville Md Garage Collapse
I just saw CNN footage on the Rockville MD garage collapse. In that footage, the cameraman/woman caught what looked to be a Berner running through the building debris as if he/she had been in a car an escaped in terror. Does anyone know about this? Nancy Melone
RE: Educated PPOs/Orthopedics -- Follow up on Karen's Story
Karen: Although painful, this is a good story in many ways because if this person were educated on genetic risk issues, she also knew that good breeders try to do the right things to reduce risk, but in fact, life offers few guarantees and breeding anything carries some risk. I was personally reminded of this recently when I went home to care for my elderly mother. On that trip, I found out that my maternal grandmother had died at 26 of Huntington's Disease (www.hdsa.org/). This is genetically-based disease and a nasty way to die, which is the invariable outcome. A child of an affected person has a 50/50 chance of inheriting the gene. If you carry the gene, you develop the disease. There is no cure, although now there are genetic tests which most young people prefer not to take. As child I remember watching a TV program on this disease and at the time I thought how awful it must be for the families. It never occurred to me that, my grandmother carried the gene and I could have been in one of those affected families. My grandmother gave birth to my mother and uncles before she became ill and at the time there were no genetic tests available to detect that she carried the gene. [For how many canine diseases is this also the case?} Fortunately, my mother and her brothers (and by definition my cousins, sister and I) seemed to have beaten the odds in not inheriting the gene. On the positive side of this breeding issue, mom and her brothers appear to have inherited my maternal grandfather's longevity genes -- the 13 siblings on my grandfather's side all lived good quality lives well into their 90s. Life forces us to be prudent in the decisions that we make, but even prudence can not completely protect us -- and then again, sometimes it can. Thank you for taking the time to work with this PPO. Nancy Melone, Ph.D.
RE: Orthopedic status of breeding stock -- The Role of Pet Owners
Sharon's response (i.e., the importance of looking at the health picture painted by the broader family tree) to Lisa's question offers a great opening for me to join in stressing how important it is for PET OWNERS to radiograph/X-ray hips and elbows (at a minimum) and test (where possible) their dogs and TO RECORD THE RESULTS in both the OFA (elect the open option) registry and in the open-by-definition Berner-Garde database. While a modest fee is charged by OFA, recording data in the Berner-Garde database is free to any Berner owner. I encourage you to record your dog's data -- good and bad. If your dog is already entered in the database, please update his record with any new information you have. If your dog has gone to the Rainbow Bridge, please enter data on cause of death and date of passing. Theses are extremely valuable data -- for prospective puppy owners (pet and show), breeders and researchers. You can enter data using the forms at the website www.bmd.org/bg1.html Pet owners should also note that The Berner-Garde Database is useful, not only to breeders, but also to ANYONE who is looking for a Berner. It makes no difference whether you are looking for a pet or show prospect, you STILL WANT A HEALTHY DOG that has the best prospects of a long, high-quality life! If you are curious about the B-G database, take a peek at the pedigrees and information stored in it. Nancy Melone, Ph.D. Treasurer, Berner Garde Foundation, Inc. A 501(c)3 tax-exempt, non-profit organization Leave a Legacy -- contribute data and dollars to the Berner Garde Foundation, Inc.
