Last month in Cavaliers as Companions we told the story of Roswell Eldridge and the revival of the Cavalier. During the Victorian period short faced toy breeds such as Pugs, Pekinese and Japanese Chins became very popular and there is no doubt that shorter faced breeds were crossed with toy spaniels to produce the flatter faced King Charles Spaniel. It was the flatter face spaniels that were regarded as correct for the show ring but longer nosed ‘throwbacks’ often turned up in litters. The short faced dogs were called the ‘Modern’ type while the longer faced were known as the ‘Old’ type. Below is an illustration from a book of around 1900 with a caption that describes these types.

It cannot have escaped anyone’s notice that the "Powers that be" want to brandish yet more laws on an already somewhat frazzled public. The government has deemed that all dogs be microchipped by 2016. Failure to do this will result in fines and possibly imprisonment. Well, not a bad thing in one respect but the argument for this legislature has been passed chiefly because the RSPCA think that dangerous dogs would be more easily identified and made to prove their guilt for any wrong doings. Oh, would it be that simple. For starters the type of people who keep and breed dangerous dogs would be the last to want their canines identified. These are very much the same individuals who drive cars un-insured and un-taxed. Have never seen a television licence and have no intentions whatsoever of abiding by the laws of the land. Once again, bonafide dog breeders and honest pet owners will comply at the expense of others. For dog breeders, even if they breed a litter once every two years or so will have to have all puppies chipped and registered before they go to their new homes. We wonder will the countless backyard breeders and puppy farms put this into practice, all this added expense, will they just ignore the law?

We are not adverse to having dogs microchipped. In fact microchipping is a marvellous aid in reuniting a lost dog with its owner, provided of course that all veterinary practices and police stations have adequate facilities to log in to the system.

Unfortunately we still hear of cases of microchipped dogs being taken into rescue centres and there being long delays in analysing the data on the microchip. It’s the notion that microchipping is the answer to the dangerous dog problem that we feel is somewhat naïve. As show goers and breeders we have to have our dogs chipped so that they can be medically examined for all the required health certificates that are needed before breeding from. Most people want to take home a puppy between 8 and 10 weeks of age but we think that is far too young to chip a small breed puppy such as a cavalier. So, do we hang onto our pups until they are 12 to 14 weeks when perhaps they are physically more able to deal with the injection of this foreign body? The pet buying public would argue that they would prefer to have the puppy between the aforementioned 8 to 10 weeks. We feel that the government might have to have a rethink yet again on this subject. After all, who will enforce this new law? The police have never been that enamoured with stray dogs and dog related issues, and have passed these services over to their local authorities to administer.

So what about the pet owner who daily takes their charges to the local park or woods for exercise. Will the wardens be in force with their chip readers scanning each passing dog? What happens if there are dogs without identity, will there be on the spot fines. Will the warden take away the dog until the owner can produce proof that the dog is indeed theirs? Much food for thought. Let us know what you think on this issue.

We heard a story just recently of a middle aged man who takes his dog for his daily constitutional. The dog is a crossbreed German shepherd/collie. She was re-homed from the local RSPCA around six years ago and we think she is around eight or maybe nine years of age. It is always gratifying to see these dogs settle into their new homes, they seem to be permanently saying thank you with their attitude to life. On this particular morning the sun was shining bright even though there had been a torrential rain storm just a couple of hours earlier, but the man and his dog went out. They live very close to Epping Forest which is one of the biggest and oldest ancient woodlands in the south east. These woods were given to the London populous and its environs by Queen Victoria, and over the following years have been carefully and historically managed by the Corporation of London. Naturally, because of its geographical nearness to the Grand metropolis the woods are always visited by dog walkers and many riding stables use its facilities. Until the advent of Mad Cow Disease farmers in and around the forest also had ancient grazing rights, and it was quite a common sight see a couple of dozen young bullocks roaming though the local high street. Anyhow this man walked and walked, he had made these walks part of his daily routine, but today he got so desperately lost.

He came to a large clearing with a large car park and a public house. Again another playground meeting place for families throughout the year. The man unsure of his whereabouts enters the pub and asks how best he can get home. The publican asks where he lives so that he can direct him. The man is confused; he says he can’t remember his address. The publican asks him do you have a mobile on you, the answer was no. There was no identity on the man, so the Publican asks can he inspect his dog’s collar. There was no name tag. There had been one, but it had obviously fallen off.

The publican decides that perhaps he should try scanning the dog. He has a smart phone with an app to read all manner of things. He notes that there is a number, but cannot do anymore, and so he contacts the local police. The police arrive at the Pub and contact Pet Log and get the man’s address. He and his dog are put into the police car and driven home. His wife meanwhile is becoming distraught, it is now quite late in the day and still no return of her husband, so you can imagine the mixture of relief and bewilderment she feels when she sees the police car at the end of her driveway helping her husband and dog into the house. The Officer relays the story that they have managed to piece together with the help of the Publican. The wife thanked the constables for their help. You see, the man wasn’t drunk but has been suffering the effects of the stages of Alzheimer’s that had been diagnosed three years earlier. He was having a particularly bad day. Thankfully his dog and her microchip helped him find his way home.

It is a very true story, sad and funny too. The man doesn’t remember the consternation he caused that day. The man is my younger (Tina’s) brother. He has now been banned from taking the dog for a walk unless someone else goes with him.

SEASONAL CANINE ILLNESS

The Animal Health Trust have issued a warning to dog owners to stay vigilant for the signs of Seasonal Canine Illness, a mystery illness which in recent years made a number of dogs walked in woodlands suddenly become ill.

Cases of SCI are usually seen from August to November with dogs showing clinical signs of vomiting, diarrhoea and/or lethargy within 24 to 72 hours of walking in woodland. Dog owners are advised to seek immediate veterinary advice should they see these signs in their dog following a woodland walk.

Despite no definite cause being recognised the Animal Health Trust (AHT) have identified a number of common themes which may increase a dog’s susceptibility to SCI.

They are advising dog owners planning to visit woodlands this autumn to ensure that their pets are up-to-date with preventive treatments for external parasites such as Harvest mites. Products available without prescription may not offer sufficient protection against mites so please contact your local vet to discuss which options are suitable.

Distance travelled may also be a factor. If you are travelling with your dog, ensure a supply of fresh water is always available and give your dog plenty of breaks from the heat of the car. Also bear in mind that accommodation such as conservatories and caravans heat up incredibly quickly and may lead to dehydration in your dog.

The AHT are continuing to ask dog owners who walk their dogs at any of the five study sites: Sandringham Estate or Thetford Forest, Norfolk, Clumber Park or Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire or Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk, to complete an online questionnaire at www.aht.org.uk/sci

Charlotte Robin, the AHT SCI Research Co-ordinator, said "We desperately need information from dogs which have been walked at any of our study sites, even if they did not become ill. The information we can glean from owners of dogs who walked at the sites and didn’t show clinical signs of SCI is just as important to our investigation, as information from affected dogs."

It is important to note that dogs could be a risk of SCI walking at any woodland during autumn, so dog owners are advised to remain vigilant and to seek veterinary advice immediately if they suspect their dog has SCI.

TWO NEW DOG BOOKS


Medieval Dogs
by Kathleen Walker-Meikle

For those of you that are interested in the history and development of the domestic dog Medieval Dogs by Kathleen Walker-Meikle may be of great interest. It is a follow up to her two previous books Medieval Pets and Medieval Cats and is an in depth look at how people kept, worked, fed and cared for their dogs in medieval times and highlights the bonds between humans and their pets, then as now. Kathleen Walker-Meikle is a Wellcome Trust research fellow at the University of York, studying animals and medicine in the Middle Ages. The book is published by The British Library.

Do Dogs Dream?
By Stanley Coren

Do dogs dream? Can they recognize themselves in the mirror or understand what they’re seeing on television? Are they more intelligent than cats? People have a great curiosity, and many misunderstandings, about how dogs think, act, and perceive the world. They also wonder about the social and emotional lives of dogs. Stanley Coren brings decades of scientific research on dogs to bear in his in-depth look at the inner lives of our canine companions, dispelling many common myths in the process. In a conversational question and answer format with illustrations, Coren answers approximately 75 questions often asked of him during his nearly fifty-year career as a dog researcher.
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published by Norton, W. W. & Company
ISBN 0393073483

Those of you living in the North of England may be interested in visiting The Manchester Pet Show held at EventCity, next to the Trafford Centre, Manchester on 7th & 8th September. All manner of animals will be on display from cats and rabbits to snakes and scorpions. Plus chinchillas, alpacas, micro sheep, chickens and rats. The Kennel Club will be showcasing twenty dog breeds plus there will be the North West Regional heat of Scruffts and Agility Demonstrations. Further details can be found at www.manchesterpetshow.com

Details of the 1911 Census have been released and one interesting and amusing entry showed the details of a pet Airedale Terrier entered on the census form. The head of the household, James Little, recorded the following charming details:

"Incidentally, we have an Airedale Terrier. I do not know whether particulars are required, but in case you want them here they are:
        Name: Roger
        Age: 5 years old
        Children: ? but something over 100
        Occupation: Watchdog
        Industry connected with: Looking after house
        Employed or working on own account: On own account
        Whether working at home: At home and outside
        Birthplace: Keighley, Yorkshire

Staying with the butterfly theme, here is a painting by the Dutch painter Henriette Ronner-Knip of a Cavalier type spaniel in awe of a passing butterfly while the cat is totally oblivious of it and simply wants to rub itself up against the dog.