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. 
​

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. 

Exercise induced collapse is what it says on the tin.  Your dog exercises and suddenly makes a stridor noise, collapses, and can die. Some are very heat sensitive and can not be exercised in heat. 
This affects many breeds of dog like Labrador Retriever, Hungarian wire haired Vizsla.  Luckily for us there is a DNA test for Vizsla.  

So far we have had Maverick and Geri tested and both do not carry the genes for EIC. 

There is a link between this health problem and Paralysis of the Larynx because the dog can have both.  As same symptoms.  

It can also get misdiagnosed because of the similarities. 

We are going to gradually do each of our dogs.
​

Dog breeds benefit from obedience training no matter what age they are.  But you need to start this when puppies are around 15 weeks of age.  You can train at home sits, which comes in handy for your first lessons.  But going to training really helps breeds like the Vizsla and Bracco.

If you neglect the training you can end up with dogs that are doing things that annoys you.  But the dog is a dog and will start to create its own entertainment.

Im currently doing Obedience with Kati.   She is a year old nearly and although she's been trained I felt she needed a refresher.  To remind her basic values which is just good manners.  She absolutely loves it and it really wears her out because she has had to use her brain.  So yes I do recommend training. 

Some breeds in the toy group do not really need training but gun dogs have active minds, and active minds need a job.  Which is why we all love this breed.  Activities for these dogs can be simply going for long walks with you.  Or running partners.  But activities these dogs excel in are:

Scent work
Gun dogs
Agility
Search dogs
Pat dogs
Fly Ball
Obedience competitions
Jogging companions
​

I have a page called Older dogs available.   This is not just for my dogs, it's for friends which get dogs returned, or maybe they wish to find a home for an older girl or boy that they do not want to keep.  Some breeders are limited on numbers of dogs they are allowed to own as they maybe in a small property.   We do not charge to help anyone get connected with the dog of their dreams.  This is all done with love for dogs and finding dogs homes.  I have helped several people last year connect them with new owners.  Some of them charged money for the dog and others let go free of charge. This is personal choice of the person with the dog. 

The header is a question I was asked recently because the costs of health testing is now taking more money from a litter than a breeder can make.  So there are two thoughts, are they really neccessary so at least you make money?  But also are the neccessary because not all are proof the dog wont get the health issue.  So let's just have a look at both questions which were raised to me this week. 

Firstly lets look at they are not proof a dog wont get the health issue. 

To a degree this is correct with some health tests.  It has no bearing if your puppy will develop for example Hip dysplasia if the parents have low scores.  It doesn't and Id love to be the one to say its makes all the difference in the world.  But....I have to believe that over time of low scores the chances are that eventually it could do away with HD.   It is a poly genic health issue which means it's not just a gene from mum and a gene from dad which produces it. The experts state its hundreds of genes come together.  Thats dreadfully bad luck to happen.   But the dog also has other outside influences which can determine HD.  Poor whelping box traction.  Feet slipping causing damage to early joints.  Over exercise from owners.  For example you would not run a Bracco Italiano in the countryside for miles. It's a large boned dog and needs protecting. Diet is also key in HD.  So it's not just genetic.

I had a conversation this week with a laboratory over a health problem in Vizsla, and again I was told that its not clear cut one gene from mum and one gene from dad because their are other outside influences which can create this health issue.   So we have to understand that about some of the health problems. 

Eyes - Again so difficult as its visual. I have known peoples dogs get clear Glaucoma for example and then the dog at 8 suddenly has it. The dog has probably had many litters in that time before it reached 8. Too late to retract dogs back into the womb ha ha.  So again some things are difficult and yes they are visual tests and unless Glaucoma has a DNA test then it's just if it develops in the dog.  I do believe some breeds now have a DNA test but just not the Vizsla.

DNA tests for diseases.  Well these are much nicer to deal with because you have clear cut answers. Your dogs a carrier, its clear or its effected.  This gives breeders the marvellous tools to avoid then inherited conditions and your puppy wont go on to be effected.  Unless the breeder bred effected to effected. 

So yes I believe health tests are worth doing.  

The other question was financially is it worth doing? The answer is no it's not. As people are not prepared to pay the price for a puppy which covers all the money for health testing.  So it comes out of any profit which is made which then reduces breeders income. In this day and age it makes it very difficult to survive.  

For the first time ever I can see the end of our breeding days, only because we can not keep making looses or just making ends meet.  The talks are breeders being registered costing even more money and there is no more money left to give to anything else.  When governments get involved then Im sorry but that will be the end of breeding dogs as we know it unless we can charge another £1000 for a puppy.  We have to be realistic because if we want to keep doing health tests we have to charge for it.  In the long run you stand a better chance of having a healthier puppy coming from breeders who health test. 

I always feel sorry for those owners who come to me years later saying, you remember I contacted you for a puppy and I did not have one. I went and got one from someone else because I couldnt wait. I always say sorry but no I cant really remember you.  They then go on to tell me how their dogs cost them thousands at the vets because the dog developed a health problem I had tested for.   So as I always say be patient and choose your breeder wisely. Because the majority of breeders in the UK do not do as many health tests as we do.  This does not mean we will always produce healthy dogs. But it gives us a much better chance of breeding healthier dogs. 

I had one this week funnily enough, their two year old has severe elbow dysplasia and they wished now they had waited for one of ours.  Remember that we always know of quality litters around, so can point you in the right direction if we do not have one now. But I will always advise you wait. 

You need to be aware that their are it appears two kinds of kennel cough going around the UK at the moment.  One in particular is very nasty and its caused life threatening symptoms for those dogs. 
It is wise to avoid where you can at the moment large gatherings of dogs because your dog may be okay but it could spread to dogs which it can kill.  

Sadly there is no vaccine for Kennel cough that works. It may minimise if you're lucky enough to have that strain.  But it's rare to have that strain in the vaccine.
 The vaccines available treat limited strains, and the truth is there are hundreds of strains.  It's not a core vaccine but kennels will request it if your dog has to stay in a kennel.  

Please note that the vaccine given up the nose can transmit to cats and humans, so keep dog out the way for 48 hours or more whilst the vaccine is live up nose.  It gives cats corona virus which can mutate to FIP and the cat can die from pneumonia on the lungs.  I read a science paper on it once. 

Do I think it's worth having? not really. But vets will encourage you to have all the vaccines.   

Those dogs at risk are elderly, immune compromised, young puppies, Brachy breeds ie frenchie, Boston terrier, Lhasa, pug, English bulldog, mastiffs. 

• Snot
• Breathing difficulties
• lethargy 
• cough
• Sneezing
• Sore throats with sores
• not eating. 
  
• 
  If your dog has any symptoms you can speak to your vet straight away.  Home remedies can help if mild symptoms like a cough. But if you have thick snot and breathing issues your dog must go to the vet.  REMEMBER vets are there to help your dogs. 
• Benilyn cough syrup.
• 1tsp Honey in water and 1 tsp brandy and a teaspoon given to the dog. 

It's been cold in the UK and this week I had my first ice injury with D'Jango. Ive not had one before but lots of people get them.  He was Skitting around on the ice and somehow slid and hit his leg and cut quite a nasty deep cut.  

So what can you do?

Ring your vet and make an appointment, but first you need to assess the situation.  

Is their lots of blood? If yes you need to stem the bleeding.  Always have in your first aid kid wadding or some kind, melolin pads.  Put shiny side to the cut and hold to steam bleeding.  If it is squirting like pumping out, omg thats an artery.  Grab phone, stick on loud speaker whilst holding the pad on bleeding.  They will put you through to a nurse who will talk you through what to do. They will ask you to bring dog in asp.   If there is two of you it makes life easier, because one can hold compression on the leg whilst other is driving.  But if there is just one of you then you need to wrap that leg up.  

So first aid box.

Melolin pad
Bandage like vet wrap
Saline solution to wash area. 
Wadding/cotton wool for cleaning. 

If there is no blood and its just a cut you can more casually ring vet as its not an emergency, and then arrange visit to see nurse or vet. 
Small cuts that do not bleed, quite honestly the vet wont do a lot and most likely leave it. But anything big they may have to shave fur off leg, go in and stitch up.  They will assess for you. 

Of course the decision is yours and yours alone if you go to a vet.  But the above scenarios are assessing the situation to make that decision.  Arteries do stop eventually but you can not risk leaving.  Cuts you can leave if very small, but dogs lick the areas.  Licking can open them up wider, so we always advise going to a vet for assessment and they will do whats needed.  

Dog bites vets do not stitch up because of bacteria.  But accident cuts they will do.

Sometimes antibiotics are dispensed.   Some times your dog may need painkillers also.  

If dog has broken its leg then vet will have to set the leg.  You may be told that you have to go through to a referral over vets.  Depending if vets independents or not.  

If dog has obviously broken its leg it will be in pain.  Dogs bite in pain so do not put your face near dog and kiss dog.  Dogs become reactive over pain.  Try if you can get your first aid kit vet wrap and a stick.  Put the stick by leg, and then wrap the vet wrap around.  Holding dogs leg straight.  Do not try to fix break. Ring vet as all your doing is first aid on your dog.  Ring vet asp and get dog to vet.  If you are on your own tell them team to pick dog up out of your car.  They are experienced in handling dogs with injuries.  They may have to muzzle even the friendliest of dog if it's in pain.  Do not get offended at this. 

Depending on the break it can heal In six weeks or if it needs pinning and further ops you could be talking 12 weeks. 

I think the moral of the story is be prepared with a first aid kit.  Phone charged with vets number in contacts.