If we go back in time our veterinarians told us to spay and neuter dogs before 1 years of age.  The argument for early spay and neuter was it stops mammary cancers.  It's true there is evidence it does. But it's one cancer against many.  Mammary cancers are also not common compared to other cancers. 

We all followed it as we were told something by a professional so it must be right.   Then came the science, then came more and more admissions that it is the worst thing we can do.

Spaying and neutering is helpful to families who do not wish to encounter regular seasons, and want to take their bitches out.  Some breeds like my Bracco can be in season every 5 months and I had one bitch every 3 months, and then phantoms. This dog was always in milk.  Her cycles were haywire.  In her it was going to be a spay after her second litter. But she was tragically taken from me.  So I think there are dog breeds where you have to look at quality of life and yours too.   So please do not think Im anti this or that. I have to say to lots of people all the time I can give you the facts, I can see the sense. But sometimes in our lives we have to do things which others do not, just to live happily with our dog. 

Spaying and neutering changes metabolism which leads to obesity and diabetes.  It also leads to thyroid problems and Cushings disease/addisons. 

Spaying and neutering too early can bring cancers forward.  We now know Mast Cell tumours, bone cancer, lymphoma, spleen tumour is due to neutering from science studies done.  In particular the Vizsla and many will die from spleen tumours later in life. 

Spaying and neutering too early can bring hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia.  Joint growth problems like OCD in younger dogs. 

Spaying and neutering can bring behaviour changes such as phobias on noise, people or other dogs.  Or showing behaviour patterns that do not make sense.  Fear Aggression is also linked to early. neutering. 

In my Academy im writing an article linking science links to the above to give you more insight into spaying and neutering. 

So what should you do with your pet?  Firstly I say to male owners leave your dog entire, and train your dog good recall.  If your dog is excellent in recall youll call him away from situations during adolescence when they suddenly realise females are there for a reason.  If your dog is a menace to all dogs it meets in the park, and looks to pick fights over females, then you have not controlled your dog and training is lacking.  In these cases neutering is probably wise.  Consult your veterinary surgeon but be aware they are business which encourages operations as it brings income in.  I call it bread and butter income as they rely on this as much as vaccines, flea and wormer sales. 

There is a castration implant which takes away the hormones.  Boys balls shrink.  But in the friends I have whose had their dogs done they have seen aggressive behaviour tendencies in boys that have had this implant. Mainly with other dogs.  Once the implants worn off their behaviours has been better.  You must research it because years ago they said it also caused cancers in dogs earlier.  So this is something you must research and be happy with.  For some the implants a life saver.  It can get your dog from adolescence to adulthood with out total removal of the hormone.  

If you own a female this is more difficult.  Some breeds that have yearly seasons make life much easier unless you are away a lot and need to leave your dog in home boarding.  You may have to opt for kennels instead who can keep dogs more separate. 
If your female gets depressed from seasons, has phantoms after then she is a dog which will benefit from spaying.
If your female has too many seasons she can then be more likely to have pyometra, although some links are now coming to light again with science that pyo and Ecoli are linked together. So their maybe ways of avoiding ecoli. 
But if your female is very hormonal sometimes spaying is the option for you.  Because they make life hard.  But making sure your female has been spayed late.  So 3-4 before spaying.  

I have just had a 5 year old spayed. Her seasons always made her act out of character.  She wouldn't wear pants and would poop in them with in 2 seconds. A protest poop.  As she was a dog that never lives in a crate she would run around the house splashing blood everywhere and she became a big risk for the males who could have got to her.  So this is where I say you take each case on its own and think whats best for them.  I am sure now she will have some health issues later due to spaying but it was not done too young. 

So the choice is really yours.  I think key points are do not spay or neuter too young.  This seems to increase health problems into middle age, not old age.   My feelings of course are mine alone but I read everything and the cases of dogs showing illness from 5 years is linked to early neutering. 

In my Academy we talk about Pyometra in females and to be aware of the signs.   The academy will be online by May I hope. 

How do you know if your dogs gut biome is not what it should be?

Your dog will be presenting with itching skin, yeasty ears, loose stools, and in some dogs behaviour could be changed. 

How do you find out if the gut biome is working right?  Their is a test you can do with www.biome4pets.com 

Have I used this company? No I have not but I know of people who have used it.  Then they work with the results in getting the dogs biome right again. 

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I have been asked several times in the last two weeks had I heard whats going on in dogs and banning dogs with merle colour, short legs and flat faced breeds.  That they will be banned.  

They are NOT going to be banned yet. Of course Im keeping up with the latest info as best as I can do, so we can help educate those that need education on buying a dog which could be potentially changed in looks over the years.  Also for our own breeding plans in the future.   This is about breeding dogs not banning a breed like XL bullies. 

Try not to worry as I would be surprised if it was a total ban as it's the breeding not ownership issues. I think the plan looks to be moving in a direction to change the breed.  But if ignored then yes in ten years they could be banned from being bred. 

The Kennel club are keeping up with it all and coming up with their own health plan and their will be a meeting in April to discuss this all.  They are meeting with breeders and trying to come up with a plan of action. 

When I know of anything I will write on the blog.  But it does not mean your dog will be like XL bullies and banned on temperament.  You wont have to be buying muzzles etc and go on a register. It's not like that at all. All this talk has worried lots of owners unnecessarily. 

It was shared today on social media a program on TV where a TV vet told someone their dog did not like going out in the rain because they were flat faced breeds, would probably find it difficult to go out side in the rain as they can not breathe. 

Let me just say what rubbish that is.   Vets should not really give advice on this kind of thing as they are just medical doctors on dogs. 

Have any of you seen a Vizsla and the rain?  You open the door and they go to step out and go OMG RAIN! Run back in and quiver.  The Vizsla has a long nose. It is a Gundog.   It is not because they have short noses or flat faces. They just think sod that!

It's a bit like me looking out the window thinking do I really have to walk the dogs in that rain.  I then look at the met office app and see if the rain will leave off in the hour and then I make a decision to go now or wait.  Should I have another cup of tea first.  Pondering what to do.  Well the dogs can be very similar, thinking if I go back in now I will go out later. 

I own 3 pet frenchies, not breeding dogs!  I open the door in the rain and they fly outside spinning around wanting to go on a hike!

Some dogs will go back inside and pee rather than go outside.  Some dogs you push out the door and they reluctantly go for a wee, jumping puddles as they go.  Quickly spinning around to come back in. 

I have two Bracco girls both different.  1 is a princess and looks at rain and wants to stay inside. The other flies outside and wants to go for a hike in any weather. 

So it is down to if the dogs like rain or not.  If they want to go for a walk or not. 

Do not believe everything you hear on these TV programs as it's just nonsense. 

When I came into the breed Bracco, I soon learned there had been cases of Bracchi that have sensitive to sedation and anaesthesia.  Ladies who owned the breed for a long time offered advice and warnings.
The Drug used Medetomidine which is commonly used in the UK in particular.  It is called Dominator. 
I understand from reading that other dogs also have had reactions to this drug.   We owned a Pug 10 years ago whose heart stopped under sedation and a reaction to the drug. They managed to re start his heart with drugs. 
So I do not say this with out reason and I do like everyone to be informed well. 

​Dominator is a first generation drug, and not all veterinary practises use it.  I know mine still does so it's worth telling people this still happens. 

Is is very important to tell your veterinarian about this if you own a Bracco because they can be ready in case things go wrong.   You can find more articles online about this problem in dogs.   They may choose a lower dose. They may choose to have reversal drugs ready at the side to use quickly. 

One thing is sure they must be monitored closely during the whole process even afterwards.  For example we find with our Hungarian Vizsla they must be kept very warm after operations and the use of a silver blanket is beneficial.  

​I hope this article is helpful and it can save a dog.  I do believe as a breed the Bracco Italiano is a sensitive dog breed to drugs, vaccines and they thrive so much more being as natural as possible. They suit homes which are prepared to raise their pets with raw quality nutrition, do worm counting over just treating, and titre testing over repeated vaccinations. 

Rachel x

Man Trailing
What fun man trailing is and I got to go for the first time with Jango.  We had been booked for several sessions but weather was always against us and cancelled at the last minute.  
Jango thought it was great and so did we, and we will be doing more.  

It's really lovely to own breeds that excel at doing stuff as it makes life good fun.  He did man trailing one day and the next he was doing ring craft which is show training.  Having to keep his paw in.  He loves coming out with me so what ever we are going to do he is up for it.  
Everyone falls in love with Jango where ever we go.  He's such a super boy, happy go lucky and a pleasure to meet and greet other dogs with also.   He's going to be a great asset to our breeding program.

I will be getting his hips and elbows scored come spring time and later in the year he could be a daddy to one of our girls.  But we are enjoying this time for now and keeping his paw at training. 
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I know the photo above is dark as it was inside a hall. it makes him look chocolate coloured ha ha. He is not as you can see from his photo outside doing man trailing.  But you can see his lovely outline on the stood photo.  Im excited at this boys prospects.