Judging the “Total Dog” in Trinidad

Revised December 2011. It was an honor and a pleasure to be invited to again judge in the Caribbean country of Trinidad & Tobago, this time by the German Shepherd Breed Club of T&T, the previous assignment having been sponsored by the Rottweiler Club. But in both cases, these two breeds, being the most populous, …

Nutritional Approaches for a Healthy Immune System

Introduction Wholesome nutrition is a key component for maintaining a healthy immune system and resistance to disease. Foodstuffs ingested by animals on a regular basis may be imbalanced in terms of major nutrients, minerals and vitamins, and often contain chemicals added to the final product to enhance its stability and shelf-life. Nutritional deficiencies or imbalances, …

Introduction to Acidophilus?

Lactobacillus Acidophilus is a type of ‘friendly’ bacteria (AKA the garden within) that assists in the digestion of proteins, a process in which lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide, enzymes, B vitamins, and antibiotic substances that inhibit pathogenic organisms are produced. It has antifungal properties, helps reduce serum cholesterol levels, assists digestion, sweetens the breath, and enhances …

Eliminating Mutation: The Impossible Dream

Though it is not practical to eliminate all deleterious mutation, the incidence of affected individuals may be significantly reduced through a combination of intelligent breeding practice and the development of DNA tests. Why do we have mutations? Mutations are changes in an organism’s DNA that potentially affect the correct functioning of genes. They occur naturally …

INBREEDING AND DIVERSITY – PART 3

Continued from PART 2 FY = 0. This example emphasizes a point made earlier: inbreeding is dependent on relationship. In small breeds, it often happens that there are a few very influential individuals to whom most of the population is related. These elevated levels of relationship can make it difficult to plan matings free …