Today Nessie (formally Champion Honorbright Legend of DMarsh TD, JH, RN) would have been 15 years old. I had really hoped to be celebrating this birthday with her here on earth but sadly I had to make the decision to release her spirit back on January 29th. This is a tribute to her that I wrote that day.

CH Honorbright Legend of DMarsh TD, JH, RN, WC
4/1/95 to 1/29/10
Nessie left me to go retrieve ducks and bumpers in heaven. Recently she was falling over a lot and having trouble using one of her front legs. I promised not to let her lose her dignity and not sure I totally met that promise but did the best I could. I realized when she laid down on the blanket at the vets’ that she hadn’t been wagging her tail any more and usually she did not like going to the vet but laid down in the sun in the exam room and never picked her head up again while I petted her and the vet helped her leave.

She was my first CH, my first tracking dog (earned at the tender age of 8 months) and the Queen Bee here. She is the mother of my Ali and Cori, grandmother of Jazz and Zamboni, great grandmother of River. For a few months I had 4 generations of my beloved Labs here. I adored her and would have done anything to have her another week, year, lifetime but I could not let her go on and suffer just for me…….She is now with her co-Queen Bee, my beloved Lily Pug. She is so missed.

Halloween is always bitter sweet for me because I remember my heart dog, Reilly, who I will miss the rest of my life, being born on that day now 21 years ago.

However this year I also have the joy of having 4 generations of my bloodline alive and well in my house and today I was able to get a photo of the four girls together.

Ali is now 11 1/2 and the mother of Jazz who will be 7 tomorrow. Next to Jazz is her young daughter, River, age 16 weeks and next to River is Nessie who is Ali’s mom/Jazz’s grandmother/River’s great grandmother.

We had a litter of Labrador Retrievers born on 7/12/09 so they are now 10 weeks old. Today I took one of my Labs to the Retriever Club http://dunnsmarshlabs.com/bbfarmblog/wp-admin/post-new.php#to work on some issues before our next hunt test and also decided to take Jazz and the female pup we are keeping, River. Basically my goal was to introduce River to a new environment in a positive manner. If she went near or into the water, great, but I wasn’t going to force her.

River was very excited to get out and check out this new place and right away went running after her mom. Pretty soon Jazz was back in the water and River was really watching her trying to figure out what her mom was doing. Soon she was testing the water. Of course she had to test it by drinking it. The bank was very slippery clay so she didn’t actually get in and swim today but still it was a good, positive start. We will try a different pond tomorrow since the nice weather is still holding.

We have a litter of Labrador puppies here, born on 7/12/09 so thought I would share a couple of photos of them.

Everybody always talks about the sweet smell of “puppy breath”. If you haven’t smelled it I really have no way to describe it to you but any dog breeder knows what I am talking about. So what causes this delightful (to dog lovers anyways) smell that only lasts a short time? The theories I have found say that vets guess that puppy breath is a result of their healthy, mild diet of mother’s milk and then puppy food, and the enzymes that break the food down.

Since puppies don’t eat “big dog” or table food, they don’t have “big dog” mouth bacteria or the plaque problems older dogs develop so their mouths are clean thus no bad breath.

Can’t you just imagine the puppy breath just looking at these sleeping babies?
More information and photos of our sweet pups can be found on our web site.

Unpredictability of Mixed Breed Concerns Longtime Breed Experts

NEW YORK, Jan. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — In light of the recent announcement by the Obama family that the “labradoodle” is under consideration as the next “first dog,” the Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. (LRC) and the Poodle Club of America (PCA) are voicing their concerns about this trend – one that they feel is detrimental to canine welfare and potential pet owners.

“These crossbreds are a deliberate attempt to mislead the public with the idea that there is an advantage to these designer dogs,” said LRC, Inc. Board Member Frances S. Smith DVM, Ph.D. and Diplomate American College of Theriogenology. “The crossbred dogs are prone to all of the genetic disease of both breeds and offer none of the advantages that owning a purebred dog has to offer.” To read the LRC’s full statement go to: http://www.thelabradorclub.com/subpages/labradoodle.php

“Some breeders breed to improve a breed while others do it for profit,” says Fred Kampo, vice president of the LRC. “‘Doodle’ breeders hype them as the ideal dog, but every dog in a litter of mixed breed pups is different — there is no predictability in size, temperament, energy level, coat type so selling them for thousands of dollars to an unsuspecting public as so-called ‘designer dogs,’ often at prices higher than what a reputable breeder of purebred dogs would charge makes no sense. Our clubs can’t sit back and watch people being misled any longer.”

According to the PCA’s “Report to the Media on Poodle Rescue,” “Labradoodles were first produced in Australia in 1989 through an experimental breeding program sponsored by the Royal Guide Dog Association. The goal of this experiment was to produce a dog more suitable for disabled individuals with allergies than the typical Labrador Retriever. The Association believed that by crossing the steady temperament of the Lab with the Standard Poodle, with its low shedding coat, a solution for this small population of people would be found. Upon analysis of the breeding program however, it was found that fewer than 35% of the labradoodles produced were acceptable as guide dogs and an even lower percentage were found to be ‘hypoallergenic.’ The last labradoodle bred to attempt to become a guide dog was born in 1996 and the Association has no plans to continue the experiment.” Read the complete report at:

http://tinyurl.com/85n4u2

“We aren’t necessarily advocating for the Obamas to get a poodle as we are always concerned about our breed’s profile being raised,” said Jack MacGillivray president of the PCA. “We do not want to encourage disreputable breeding or see more dogs come into our rescue program. However if the choice is between a ‘doodle’ mix and a purebred, we felt we needed to speak out and educate the Obamas and dog lovers everywhere about the difference between a purebred and a mixed breed.”

Should the Obamas decide on the Portuguese Water Dog (PWD) as their choice for first pet, both clubs agree that the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America (www.pwdca.org) is their best resource. As with the LRC and PCA, club members are responsible PWD breeders dedicated to the principles of preserving and protecting the integrity of their beloved breed.

About the organizations:

Poodle Club of America -The Poodle Club of America (PCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the welfare of the Poodle. For more information visit: www.poodleclubofamerica.org

Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. – The Labrador Retriever Club, Incorporated (LRC) is dedicated to the health and welfare of the Labrador Retriever breed while conserving the original breed function – that of a “working retriever.” For more information visit: www.thelabradorclub.com/