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Conformation
Show Titles:
CH ~ Conformation
champion.
UKC -- This title is earned by getting 100 points and 3
majors. Points are earned for 1st place and major wins. A major
means winning Best Male/Female. You can also win Best of Winners
which counts towards your points but not as one of your 3 majors.
Wins must be earned under three different UKC judges.
Points are earned as follows: Class win = 10 pts., Major win = 15
pts., Best of Winners = 10 pts.
AKC -- Any
dog which shall have won fifteen points shall become a Champion of
Record, if six or more of said points shall have been won at two
shows with a rating of three or more championship points each and
under two different judges, and some one or more of the balance of
said points shall have been won under some other judge or judges
than the two judges referred to above.
GR CH ~ Grand Champion.
UKC --This
title is earned by winning 5 Champion classes with competition (at
least 3 dogs correctly entered) under 3 different judges.
AKC --There
is no equivalent title in the AKC.
Temperament
Testing & Canine Good Citizens:
Testing available for
pure-bred and mixed-breed dogs.
TT ~ Temperament tested.
The
American Temperament Test Society holds tests designed
to carefully evaluate a dog's temperament and those who pass the
test earn the TT title. The society will evaluate pure-bred and
mixed-breed dogs.
Minimum testing age is 18 months.
The ATTS test focuses on and measures different aspects of
temperament such as stability, shyness, aggressiveness, and
friendliness as well as the dog's instinct for protectiveness
towards its handler and/or self-preservation in the face of a
threat. The test is designed for the betterment of all breeds of
dogs and takes into consideration each breed's inherent
tendencies.
CGC ~ Canine
Good Citizen.
The
Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that
stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good
manners for dogs. Through the AKC, but open to ALL dogs.
There is no age limit for
dogs taking the CGC test, but when tests are given in
conjunction with AKC events, clubs enforce the regulation for all
activities, contact the club for more info. Some test giving
agencies may require that therapy dogs be a at least 1 year of age
to be evaluated. If the dog is tested as a puppy, retesting as
the dog matures is a good idea because temperament and behavior
can change over time.
Registration:
'PR' ~ Purple
Ribbon-bred. This means
the dog has 3 generations of UKC registered dogs in its pedigree.
DNA:
This costs under $50, and you can do it at home -- a check swab
brush is used to collect a DNA sample from the dog and then sent
in to be processed.
DNA testing is safe and non-invasive; a simple
DNA CheekSwab™
is taken from your pet and sent to laboratories for analysis.
The following video shows
how to take a DNA sample.
(video from
MMI Genomics website)
AKC DNA information
UKC DNA information
**NOTE: If
your dog is AKC registered, it is better to DNA profile with the
AKC first, then submit a copy of your DNA Certificate along with
$8 to the UKC and they will verify the information and certify
your dog in their DNA database.**
DNA-P ~ DNA
Profiled.
Both the UKC & AKC have a DNA
profiling database. You can have your dog DNA profiled easily and
receive a certificate with its profile.
DNA-VIP
~ DNA Verified Identified
Parentage. Means not only is the dog DNA profiled but its parents
are also and the three have been checked against each other,
verifying the parentage.
Health Testing:
PennHIP ~
A radiographic method of measuring a dog's passive hip laxity
(looseness of the joint). The dog is given a Distraction Index
(DI) number between 0 and 1. A DI closer to 0 would mean little or
no joint laxity and less likelihood of developing Canine Hip
Dysplasia (CHD). The closer DI is to 1 the more laxity and
therefore greater CHD susceptibility.
This can be performed on dogs aged 4 months and up.
This test does require anesthesia. Developed by the University of
Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.
CLICK HERE for The PennHIP site.
OFA ~
The Orthopedic Foundation For Animals, Inc. A private
non-profit foundation formed in 1966 to collate and disseminate
information concerning orthopedic and genetic diseases of animal,
to advise, encourage and establish control programs to lower the
incidence of orthopedic and genetic diseases and to encourage and
finance research in orthopedic and genetic disease in animals.
OFA Hips ~
Owners can submit hip x-rays to the OFA and have them evaluated
for Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD). The OFA gives them a category of
Excellent, Good, Fair (these 3 are normal hips) or Borderline,
Mild Dysplasia, Moderate Dysplasia or Severe Dysplasia.
Must be at least 24 months old for
official certification, although preliminary evaluations are
possible between 4 and 24 months.
For best results this test should be done with the pet
well-sedated.
Correction of
anecdotal misinformation regarding hip dysplasia:
1. There are no environmental factors which cause CHD.
2. There is no evidence in the scientific literature that
megadoses of vitamin C or any other supplement is
beneficial in reducing the effects or preventing CHD.
3. High caloric intake resulting in rapid growth and increased
weight gain may exacerbate changes in dysplastic hips but will not
create hip dysplasia.
4. Exercise, running, jumping up and down, and slick floors will
not cause hip dysplasia.
5. Prior injuries to the femurs and/or pelvis may be detected
radiographically and are taken into account when evaluating hip
status.
(above corrections taken
from OFA Hips booklet published by OFA)
CLICK HERE for Hip Dysplasia Treatment Options
OFA Elbows ~
Owners can submit elbow
x-rays to the OFA to be evaluated for elbow dysplasia. They
receive a rating of normal or abnormal. Abnormal scores are
further divided into Grade I, Grade II or Grade III.
Must be at least 24 months old for
official certification although preliminary evaluations are
possible between 12 and 24 months.
OFA Cardiac ~
Owners can have their dog examined for congenital heart disease
and receive OFA certification and a breed number from OFA stating
the dog is normal or affected.
Must be at least 12 months old for
official certification, but OFA provisional certification is
possible for dogs between 6 weeks and 12 months of age.
This provisional certification is great for breeders to do before
selling a puppy and for assessment of the breeding potential of a
dog.
OFA Patellas ~
Owners can have their dogs evaluated for patellar luxation
(slippage/rotation of the kneecap) and receive OFA certification
and a breed number. This is a manual examination. Dogs receive a
classification of normal or abnormal, with abnormal being further
divided into 4 grades.
Must be at least 12 months old for official certification, but OFA
provisional certification is possible for dogs between 6 weeks and
12 months of age. Again,
this provisional certification is great for breeders to do before
selling a puppy and for assessment of the breeding potential of a
dog.
OFA Thyroid ~
A blood serum test can be done to determine if a dog has thyroid
abnormalities. There are two types of thyroid abnormalities
covered by OFA:
1. Autoimmune Thyroiditis (known to be heritable)
2. Idiopathically Reduced Thyroid Function
Dogs receive a category of Normal, Abnormal or Equivocal
(equivocal meaning the results were not definitive and retesting
in 3-6 months is recommended). Normal dogs are issued OFA
certification and a breed number. OFA recommends the dogs be
recertified (no OFA charge for recertification) at 2,3,4,6 and 8
years old since the classification can change as the dogs age.
Dogs must be at least 12
months old.
CERF ~
Canine Eye Registration Foundation.
The Canine Eye Registration
Foundation (CERF) is an organization that was founded by a group
of concerned, purebred owner/breeders who recognized that the
quality of their dog's lives were being affected by heritable eye
disease. Dedicated to the elimination of heritable eye disease
in purebred dogs through registration and research.
There is NO minimum age
requirement. The certification is good for 12 months from the date
of the exam.
CERF contact info: phone: 765-494-8179
~This is a painless examination of the dogs eyes, if free of
inheritable eye disease you dog can be certified.
BAER ~
The BAER (Brain Auditory Evoked Response) test is a safe and
painless testing device to determine if a dog has a hearing loss.
A BAER test is performed by placing a insert earphone into the ear
canal, while recording needle electrodes are inserted in the skin
at the base of each ear. Each ear is tested individually. A series
of one thousand clicks are transmitted via the earphone to
stimulate a response. The response is detected by the needle
electrodes, transmitted to the BAER device, where it is recorded.
The click series starts at 70 decibels and is gradually increased
to 105 decibels (if hearing is not detected at the lower levels).
By recording the response signals from the needle electrodes, the
BAER device can then produce a graphic display of the dog's
hearing responses.
This can be performed on dogs
as early as 5 weeks.
What is the BAER test?
·
BAER Test Sites
·
Dog Breeds with reported Congenital Deafness
von Willebrand's
Disease ~
Von Willebrand's
disease (vWD) is a common, usually mild, inherited bleeding
disorder in people and in dogs. It is caused by a lack of von
Willebrand factor (vWF), which plays an essential role in the
blood clotting process.
Because the severity of bleeding with von Willebrand's disease is
quite variable, often the disease is not diagnosed until the dog
is 3 to 5 years old. Your veterinarian may suspect vWD because of
a history of abnormal bleeding in your dog, such as unexplained
nosebleeds, or there may be heavy bleeding during surgery.
Stillbirths or pups that die shortly after birth ("fading
puppies'') may be a result of both parents being carriers of the
gene for von Willebrand's disease.
There
are specialized tests available to make the diagnosis of von
Willebrand's disease. One is a genetic test and the other measures
blood levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF).
Testing results are reliable
at any age.
Get more information HERE
Diseases:
None of this information is
meant to replace the advice of a qualified veterinarian.
Consult your veterinarian about what's right for your pet.
Zoonotic
Diseases ~ What is a
Zoonotic disease? Zoonotic diseases are those that can be
transmitted from your pet to you or your family. Children are
especially susceptible to zoonotic disease.
Keeping your pet healthy:
Take your pet in for
regular veterinary exams. Parasite preventives may help (worming,
Sentinel® - talk to your vet about
what's right for your pet).
Keeping your family
healthy: Wash hands
regularly & wear shoes outdoors.
Fleas~
The most common of all canine
parasites. Severe infestation of flees can cause anemia, as fleas
feed on blood. Dogs pick up tapeworms from fleas. A
normal dog may only experience minor skin irritation, but some
dogs can flea allergic and have a severe reaction to flea bites.
Giardia~
Giardia is a parasite that lives in
the intestine of affected animals. These small parasites are very
easy to miss on a fecal exam and may not be present in the stool
of animals infected with the organism. Repeated fecal exams are
sometimes necessary to identify this parasite. Not all animals in
which infection can be demonstrated have clinical signs.
**Clinical signs of giardia include weight loss, inability to gain
weight appropriately during growth, diarrhea, vomiting, lack of
appetite and greasy appearing stools.** The most commonly used
medication for giardia infection is metronidazole (Flagyl), which
WE RECOMMEND. The giardia organisms come from the environment and
live in moist to wet areas. They are susceptible to quatenary
ammonium disinfectants (Lysol and dilute chlorine bleach - these
disinfectants should be used cautiously around your pets).
Keeping the dog's environment dry helps a lot.
This disease may be contagious to people from infected dogs so
good sanitary practices, like washing your hands after handling an
infected puppy, are very important.
Heartworms~ Heartworms are
the deadliest of all canine parasites. They are spread by
mosquito. Transmission of the parasite occurs when a mosquito
draws blood from a heartworm infected dog or cat. Once inside the
mosquito, the microfilaria develop into larvae. Later, when the
mosquito bites a new victim, the larvae are injected into the dog,
thereby causing the infection. It generally takes about six to
seven months for the larvae to mature and to start producing the
microfilaria inside the dog or cat’s circulatory system. The adult
worms end up occupying the right chamber of the heart and the
pulmonary arteries, while the microscopic microfilaria circulate
throughout the bloodstream. All these worms within the blood
vessels produce an increased workload on the heart, along with
restricted blood flow to the lungs, kidneys, and liver, eventually
causing multiple organ failure. At first, pets may exhibit a
chronic cough and/or reduced exercise tolerance, followed by
sudden collapse and death. Infection among humans is very rare.
Hookworms~
Hookworms are parasites that attach
to your pet's intestinal wall. Despite their small size they suck
large amounts of blood from the vessels in the intestinal wall.
Dog's may become infected with hookworms in four ways: orally,
through the skin, through the mother's placenta before birth, and
through the mother's milk. Hookworm larvae can penetrate human
skin. Children or adults walking barefoot on contaminated
soil, or putting contaminated dirt in their mouths can become
infected.
CLICK HERE to learn more about canine hookworm infection.
Roundworms~
Virtually every puppy is born with roundworms or can become
infested while nursing. A simple worming can treat roundworms in
pets. Children playing in contaminated areas, or in
contaminated dirt can become infected with roundworms by putting
their dirty fingers in their mouths. Roundworm eggs can hatch in
a child's stomach causing blindness and damage to abdominal
organs.
Whipworms~
Whipworms are intestinal
parasites. They can cause watery, bloody diarrhea and weight loss
in your pet. Whipworm eggs can survive in soil for years, even in
cold climates. People can become infected through ingestion of
infected dog feces, soil or grass. Infection among humans is very
rare.
Other Intestinal
Parasites:
Coccidia~
Coccidia are parasites that live in
the lining of the small intestine. Puppies are most commonly
affected. Pets may be asymptomatic (have no symptoms) or they may
experience diarrhea and bloody stools. Coccidia can be difficult
to confirm on routine fecal exams....special stains are required.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Coccidia
Other Health
Concerns:
This section is still under
construction,
but please use the following links for more information in the
meantime...
Brucellosis~
Learn more here ->
Canine Brucellosis
Kennel Cough~
Learn more here ->
Kennel Cough Info
Parvo~
Learn more here ->
Parvo Info: "Parvo FAQ"
Mange~
Learn more here ->
Demodectic Mange (Demodex)
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