Northern Borders Flyball Team

About Northern Borders .....

2007-04-12T15:48:00.000-07:00

This Blog is not "time sensitive" > the dates showing in the archives are simply the dates when the blog was created > not the last time the blog was updated. This blog is set up to view like a website & is being updated regularly.

Northern Borders Flyball Team was co-founded by Jackie Parkin and Diane McWhinnie in 1991. The name Northern Borders was chosen because most of the dogs on the team were either Border Collies or Northern Breeds; and being Canadian, we hailed from north of the border.

Over the years the dogs have grown older and retired, and new dogs have taken up the challenge of competition, but one thing has remained constant ..... Northern Borders is a team that, although strives to be competitive, always keeps the welfare and enjoyment of the dogs and handlers as the thing of foremost importance. We've had fast teams, slow teams, and teams in between. And we value the talents and contributions of ALL of the dogs on our team whether they be fast dogs, slow dogs, or average racing dogs. Northern Borders encourages a spirit of sportsmanship, camaradarie, and team work.

Currently our members come from the Hagersville, Brantford, Caledonia, Waterford, Scarborough, Oshawa, and Stratford areas of Southern Ontario

Take a tour of our blog to learn more about our team

About The Team Captain ....

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The Northern Borders Team Captian & team owner, is Jackie Parkin. Jackie has been involved in flyball racing since 1985 and ran her dogs with Fastlane, The Other Team, and the McCann's flyball teams, prior to co-founding Northern Borders. Over the years she has titled 16 flyball dogs of her own, representing seven different breeds &/or mixes of breeds, and continues to compete with a variety of breeds of dogs. She is currently competing with five dogs ...... 3 border collies; a border/jack; and a chihuahua/jrt.

Jackie's first Siberian Husky, Bobby, was the first of his breed to achieve an FDCH title (Flyball Dog Champion).

In addition to competing in flyball Jackie also owns Lifestyle Dog Training and trains dogs for the film industry, tricks, frisbee, obedience, and freestyle. Over the years, through her classes, she has trained hundreds of dogs & their owners to play, compete in, and enjoy the sport of flyball. She delivers seminars and workshops on a variety of training topics, and teaches basic obedience classes for the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA.

Jackie's late dogs Mickey-Finn, Shannon, Bobby, Daikin, and Murphy were past members of the International Superdog Team, as was her retired jack russell terrier, Ruffian. Jackie breeds border collies under the Besslin prefix.

Jackie is also the founder of the Southern Ontario Disc Houndz Club and the 2006 recipient of the Peter Rice Bloeme Rising Star Award recognizing her achievements in promoting the sport of canine disc in Canada. Her dogs Maeve, Rowdy, and Josie are World Finalists in the Hyperflite/Skyhoundz World Disc Dog Championships.

(Maeve 2004/2005; Rowdy 2005/2006; Josie 2006)

In addition to her work training animals, Jackie is also an author writing on the topics of training & pet care and her articles have appeared in many pet related publications. She is also the author of two published books: Flyball Training - Start To Finish; and Click! You're On Canine Camera.

Meet Our Dogs .....

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Northern Borders Dogs ........ Past & Present .....

Rowdy > Rowdy is a border collie/jack russell terrier mix. He is 8yrs old. Rowdy competes in flyball racing and also in the sport of canine disc. He is a 2 time World Finalist in the sport of canine disc. Rowdy has also worked in the television/advertising media.

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Josie
Josie is a chihuahua/jack russell terrier mix. She is 5yrs old. Jackie got Josie when she was a year and a half of age and is Josie's 5th home! Josie is 11" tall and 11 lbs of pure spunk!! In addition to flyball, Josie also enjoys the sport of canine disc and she competed at the World Championships in 2006

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Besslin Maeve
Maeve is an 9yr old border collie. In addition to flyball Maeve also competes in the sport of canine disc and is a 2 time World Finalist in that sport.

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Scamp
Scamp is a 9yr old Jack Russell Terrier. Scamp has moved to Thunder Bay, but remains a member of the team if we are racing when he visits Southern Ontario

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Besslin Ace
Ace is a 7yr old border collie. He also competes in the sports of canine disc & dock diving

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Bell's Hannah Hannah is a 9yr old border collie. She started her flyball career a little later than most dogs, as she is a breeding dog in the Besslin line. 2007 was Hannah's first full season of competing in flyball. Hannah also competes in canine disc.

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Miranda - Owner/Trainer = Elin Becker
Miranda is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She started racing with Pawsitive AttitudeMichigan . When we moved to Ontario, we were delighted to be able to join Northern Borders. Miranda earned her Flyball Master title in December 2007. She is currently ranked #4 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and we are working to be #3!

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Ripp

Ripp is a border collie. Ripp also competes in agility and frisbee & is a World Finalist in the sport of canine disc (frisbee)

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Frodo

Frodo is a Cairn Terrier. Frodo currently competes in the Veterans division. He is a retired member of the Superdogs Team, and he also competes in the sport of canine disc.

Flyball Dogs In Training .........

Scooter

Scooter is a 2yr old Jack Russell Terrier

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Homer

Homer is a 2 year old, Jack Russell Terrier mix
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Bell's Clancy

Clancy is a 3yr old border collie

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Kahlua

Kahlua is a 2yr old retriever mix

Kit Kat > 1yrs old Pomeranian x Boston Terrier

Retired Dogs

*Cody > Labrador Retriever

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Gone But Not Forgotten

*Team Dogs Who Have Crossed Over To The Rainbow Bridge while still members of the team

Besslin Buddy - border collie

Reidell Ruffian Hellfire - Jack Russell Terrier

Puck > mixed breed

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Bell's Tri Dathuil Aisling > border collie

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Besslin's Shadow Ram > border collie

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Bell's Kyle Of Lochalsh > border collie

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Besslin's Tommy Tucker > border collie

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Bonnie Wee Bess > border collie

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Besslin Kep > border collie

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Bell's Bonnie Blue > border collie

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Murphy > border collie

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Bobby > Siberian Husky

First Sibe to achieve an FDCH title

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Shannon > mixed breed

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Mickey-Finn >> collie/labrador mix
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Orca > Stafforshire/Pit Bull mix

Bell's Mighty Ben Nevis > border collie

Bell's Fair Isle Of Skye > border collie

Davy > border collie

Besslin Nexus > border collie

Flyball Christmas Poems .....

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Christmas Flyball Poems by Jackie Parkin (Team Captain)

2006 Flyball Letter to Santa

to the tune of "Santa Baby"

Santa Baby, the flyball dogs are calling to you"Yooo Hooo"

Can you bring us some new tug toys'

'Cos flyball dogs are good girls and boys

Santa Baby, the flyball dogs need new tennis balls

To Race ... Down and back over jumps > in a rush

So hurry down the chimney for us

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A Christmas Flyball Height Dog Song 2005

to the tune of "Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer"

Rowdy the flyball height dog

Had a very happy time

He loved to run and fetch the ball

And race across the finish line

Three of the border collies

Ran behind him one by one

And so the Northern Borders

Rowdy Bunch had lots of fun

The other dogs looked on with woe

For height dogs they did need

"Oh Josie with your low jump height,

Won't you join our team tonight?"

Puggy returned from injury

And we shouted out with glee

"We'll race another season

Thanks to Rowdy, Josie, and Puggy!"

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2004 Christmas Flyball Poem

to the tune of "Let It Snow"

Oh the flyball dogs, they are racing

Over jumps with even spacing

While their handlers run up and call

"Get the ball, Get the ball, Get the ball!"

Oh, the dogs ... they run at top speed

As they race to try and take a lead

And the handlers , they are not slugs!calling ....

"Get the tug, Get the tug, Get the tug!"

Oh the winter, it brings Sharkfebst

As we battle the cold and the snow

But we get there and do our best

'Cos flyball is fun, don't ya know!

Oh ... the flyball dogs they are racing

Over jumps with even spacing

While their handlers run up and call

"Get the ball, Get the ball, Get the ball!"

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2003 Christmas Flyball Poem

to the tune of "Jingle Bells"

Flyball dogs, Flyball dogs

Speeding down the lanes

Oh what fun it is to run

And jump, and go insane!

Oh > Flyball dogs, Flyball dogs

See how fast they run

Getting balls and chasing tugs

And having lots of fun

Perfect starts > Race On!

With passes nose to nose

Four dogs race along

And that's the way it goes

Dashing down the lanes

Hit and turn they go

Breaking record racing times

While running to and fro

Ohhh .....Flyball dogs, Flyball dogs

Speeding down the lanes

Oh what fun it is to run

And jump and go insane

Oh > Flyball dogs, Flyball dogs

See how fast they run

Getting balls and chasing tugs

And having lots of fun!

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2002 Christmas Flyball Poem

to the tune of "Jingle Bells

"Tennis balls, tennis balls, bouncing 'round the hall

Oh what fun it is to play this game they call flyball

Oh ...Tennis balls, tennis balls, what wondrous things they are

They bring together dogs and folk from places near and far

Dashing down the lanes

Dogs racing single file

O'er the jumps they go

Tails wagging all the while

Handlers prep their dogs

Encouraging words are spoke

There's races to be won and lost

World records to be broke

Ohhh .....Tennis balls, tennis balls, what wondrous things they are

They bring together dogs and folk from places near and far

Oh ...Tennis balls, tennis balls, bouncing 'round the hall

Oh what fun it is to play this game they call flyball!

The Swimmers Turn .....

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In flyball the dogs do what we call the Swimmers Turn when they hit the flyball box. This style of turn creates the fastest and safest turn off the box. The photo's below show Tweed executing a perfect swimmers turn.

** Coming Soon .....

Tutorial and Video of the swimmers turn

Photo/Video Gallery .....

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Video footage coming soon!

The Northern Borders Multi Breed team in 1993

Murphy > one of the original Northern Borders dogs. This photo was in the newspaper back in the early '90's and was taken at the Bread & Honey Festival flyball tournament in Streetsville, Ontario

Rowdy

Northern Borders "C" team > Hagersville 2002

Buddy and Aisling
Aisling has since passed away in June 2006

Caitlin and Rowdy

Sandy and Ice

Ruffian > now retired, he was the Northern Borders main height dog for over 11yrs. Ruffian is now 15-1/2 yrs of age

Rowdy

Joan and PuggySue with the Little Dog, Big Heart award

The Fastlane Flyball team photographed in 1987
Current Northern Borders team members Jackie (2nd from left) and Henrie (3rd from right) were members of this team. Jackie is pictured with Shannon and Henrie is pictured with Jessie.

The McCanns Crazy Canucks >> East Detroit, 1990
Jackie, Northern Borders team captain, is pictured with her dog Shannon at the far left

The McCanns 'Mechanics' >> East Detroit, 1990
Northern Borders co-founders Jackie & Diane are pictured at the far left with their dogs Murphy and Ben.

Dog Treat Recipes .......

2007-04-12T15:07:00.000-07:00

Peanut Butter Dog Cookies
Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup quick, instant, or regular oatmeal
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup whole, skim, or non-fat dry powdered milk
1 tsp. garlic powder (optional)
1 tsp. brewers yeast (optional)
1/2 tsp. salt
1 large egg
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup crunchy peanut butter
1/2 cup water

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (160 Celsius)
Combine flour, oatmeal, wheat germ, dry milk, garlic powder, brewers yeast, and salt
In a separate bowl combine egg, oil, peanut butter, and water
Mix dry and wet ingredients together and form into a ball (if the mixture is too dry to hold together, just add a "little" bit more water)
Knead the dough for a couple of minutes and then roll out to a 1/2 inch thickness
Cut out your cookies and arrange them on wax paper lined a cookie sheet
Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown and turn the cookies over 1/2 way through the baking process.
Cookies should be consumed within 3wks of making them.
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Health & Safety .....

2007-04-12T14:52:00.000-07:00

HEALTH & SAFETY TIPS
The following are some Health & Safety tips for sport dogs. No topic should be considered "law" & we recommend that all pet owners/trainers do their own research before making any decisions regarding their dogs health and safety. These articles/links are meant as guidelines only.

ELECTROLYTES > DO DOGS NEED TO BE SUPPLEMENTED?
Flyball enthusiasts, like all other dog sport enthusiasts, are constantly looking for ways to improve their dogs performance. One of the things that came up in recent years was the use of electrolyte supplements & the practice of giving dogs Gatorade and other similar Sports Drinks instead of water. I heard of a case in which a Border Collie, drinking Gatorade instead of water, became extremely sick and subsequently died > apparently due to electrolyte imbalance. This case was hearsay and I don't know the dog or people involved, but it is something to be considered.
In veterinary medicine, electrolyte supplements are only given when there is extreme fluid loss due to disease, such as Parvo, for example. Most dogs that compete in flyball are not expending enough energy to cause enough of a loss of electrolytes to require any kind of supplementation. In short > flyball dogs do not need electrolyte supplementation. The reason for this is that dogs sweat by panting, and panting does not result in large amounts of electrolyte loss.

PROTECTING YOUR DOGS PADS
Many dogs burn, blister, or tear their foot pads when racing in flyball. This results for a few reasons: (1) the dogs pads are too soft, (2) the dogs pads are wet when you take him in to race, (3) friction caused to the foot pads by really fast flyball dogs when they skid into the box &/or on the run-off. Some remedies are: (1) Walk the dog on concrete or asphalt surfaces to toughen up his pads, (2) be sure to always dry your dogs feet before racing, (3) spray a product such as "Pad Tough" on your dogs feet prior to racing, (4) use a product such as "Protecta Pad" on a daily or weekly basis.
** I can personally vouch for "Pad Tough" as I use it routinely on my own dog when she races. If I don't spray her feet she will shred her pads, but if I use Pad Tough, she is fine. It's a really good product.

PROTECTING THE DOGS PASTERNS & HOCKS FROM SKID BURNS
Some flyball dogs (usually the fairly fast individuals) get skid burns &/or scrapes in the area of their pasterns (near the stop pad), and their hocks. The best way to protect the dog from these injuries is to wrap the pasterns &/or hocks with a product such as Vet Wrap prior to racing. These wraps can be worn for the duration of the racing day. Remove them at the end of the racing day, and apply new wraps on the second day of racing.
**Be VERY careful not to wrap the dogs legs too tightly. Vet Wrap and similar bandaging is elastic and wrapping too tight can cut off the dogs circulation. If you notice your dogs feet swelling >> REMOVE THE WRAPS IMMEDIATELY >> this will mean that you have wrapped the dog too tightly.

MSM > WHAT IS IT?
MSM > A secret from the horse world has made its way into the dog (& human) arena. I'm talking about MSM. For many years horse veterinarians have used MSM on horses with soft tissue damage, or horses recovering from injuries, or suffering from arthritis, etc. In fact, many horse trainers will administer MSM to their prize winning horses both before a race to prevent muscle soreness, and afterward to lessen the risk of cramping. They found that post athletic fatigue syndrome, which generally follows intense athletic activity & usually persists for 8 to 10 days, was gone in 2 to 3 days in individuals who had been given MSM on a regular basis.
So what is MSM? MSM, which is also known as dimethyl sulfone, is a naturally occurring nutrient (a sulfur compound) found in all living vertebrates. It has been suggested that MSM and its related compounds provide 85% of the sulfur found in all living organisms. MSM is a safe & natural assimilate derived from the ocean. It is organic sulfur >> the kind the body can absorb and use. Sulfur is the 4th most plentiful mineral in the body, and is found in every cell of every animal and plant.
For more than a decade MSM has been widely acclaimed by veterinarians and horsemen for its contribution to equine health care. Research has shown MSM's importance as a dietary source of sulfur. Sulfur from MSM is used in the formation of numerous protein rich structures in the body. MSM contributes sulfur to the disulfide bonds that are essential for the proper conformation of hair, and connective tissue proteins.
The benefits of MSM in horses are also found with dogs. A growing number of veterinarians are discovering MSM and adding it to their care of dogs, cats, and other small animals. Although MSM can be found in small amounts in milk, vegetables, and fruits & grains, it is easily lost due to its volatile nature. The heat and water processing of pet foods destroys the MSM content. Unless the dogs diet consists of primarily raw, fresh foods, it is likely that the MSM content will be insignificant.
To date, there have been no reports of side effects from MSM use. Because it is a 'naturally occurring sulfur' it is believed that even people who are allergic to sulfur drugs, can safely take MSM. Long term studies have shown that MSM exhibits very low toxicity no matter how it is administered. Its toxicity profile is similar to water's. The body flushes out MSM after about a 12hr period of time. It uses what it needs and the rest is discarded. Having said that however, it is not advisable to "overdose" your dog with MSM or any other supplement.
When dogs (or people) exercise heavily muscle tissue is damaged > MSM helps to rebuild damaged connective tissue.
Recommended dosages for dogs are:
1/4 tsp for up to 45 lbs of body weight
1/2 tsp for 45 lbs to 90 lbs
over 90 lbs > increase proportionately
MSM can be found at most feed mills or horse supply stores. A one pound tub of MSM goes for about $36 and will last almost a year for one dog. MSM is a tasteless, odorless powder that can be added to the dogs food.
** I can personally vouch for MSM >> I have successfully used it with my old dog who has arthritis. MSM relieved his discomfort and lameness, and I prefer to give him something that is natural, as opposed to one of the many drugs available for arthritis. MSM doesn't have the same toxicity as the commercial drugs, or the side effects. I also take MSM for myself because I suffer from a bad back and knees. When I am taking MSM I encounter a lot less pain and my joints move more easily and comfortably. You can read more about MSM at: http://intohealth.com/research.html#general

KEEPING DOGS COOL
Dogs don't sweat and therefore don't have a really efficient way to cool their bodies down. If they are panting it may be because they need oxygen because they have been racing/exercising, or it might mean that they are trying to get rid of built up heat in their bodies.
One of the most common causes of heatstroke is leaving a dog in a car. At flyball tournaments, if you are going to use your car for crating, be aware that simply leaving the windows cracked is NOT enough! Crate the dog in the car & leave the window fully open, or leave the hatch of the vehicle open (or the side/back doors if you are driving a van). The temperature in the car can reach unbearable levels in as little as 10 minutes! ALWAYS make sure that your dog is shaded and if possible, use sun deflector sheets to repel the heat as well. Additionally, the dog should ALWAYS have access to fresh water.
Long coats tend to hold in the heat, so sometimes clipping the dogs coat can help to combat the heat. HOWEVER, shaving the dog right down increases his risk of sunburn and sunstroke. What you want to do with a rough coated dog is to get rid of the dead undercoat, and keep the dog well groomed/brushed (ie: mat free). This way he will be protected from the heat gain of the sun, and the air will be able to circulate through his coat to cool him off. Just because dogs don't sweat doesn't mean that they don't lose heat through the skin > it's just not as efficient as in humans.
Black dogs absorb the sun's rays, so they get hot a lot more quickly than lighter coloured dogs. It is important that you keep your black dogs well shaded at a flyball tournament. There are also other variables which determine how quickly a dog can become overheated: age, coat length/colour, physical condition. A well conditioned dog with short hair can play longer and harder in the heat than a long coated dog that is not accustomed to getting much exercise. The age of the dog, any health problems, and the breed of the dog must also be taken into consideration.
Signs Of Heat Exhaustion = weakness > wobbles > faintingWhat To Do: cool the dog down immediately using cool (NOT COLD) water. Apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel (so that it's not too cold), to the dogs head >> SEEK VETERINARY COUNSEL ASAP
Tips To Keep Dogs Cool:1) Provide lots of shade (sun deflector sheets, beach umbrella's, canopy's, shade netting)2) Provide lots of fresh water3) Put ice cubes in the dogs water or let dogs eat crushed ice4) Keep dogs coat well groomed and free of excess undercoat &/or mats5) Keep dog in good physical condition6) Avoid excessive exercise during peak hot hours7) Spray dog with cool water (fertilizer spritzer bottles are good for this > get dog his own bottle though > don't use one that has had fertilizer in it!)8) Buy or make doggie cooler suits &/or crate mats (the kind with the beads that swell & stay cool)9) Buy or make doggie wet towel coats (a dog coat made of terry towel and soaked in water)10) Dunk dog in water or let him swim (make sure that the water is cool NOT cold because cold water = muscle cramps
***Cooling the body surface with ice or ice water can cause constriction of the blood vessels in the skin, which impedes cooling. Additionally, attempting to cool the dog with ice or ice water can cause shivering, which tends to increase body temperature > not cool it.

SUPPLEMENTS > HOW & WHY TO USE THEM
Although there is much controversy about using supplements on dogs, there are some things that have proven to be helpful to canine athletes to help them maintain energy and recover from intensive exercise. A lot of what we know has come to us from the horse racing world.
When dogs (humans too) exercise intensively, muscle fibres are damaged in the process. MSM is helpful in repairing connective tissue and is therefore a good supplement for active sports dogs. MSM can be given as a daily supplement or given 2wks prior to a sports event, and for 2wks following the event. MSM also helps to combat muscle cramping.
Another helpful hint from the horse racing world is the use of glucose to aid in the recovery from a race. It was found that putting a small amount of glucose in the animals drinking water helped the heart to return to a normal resting rate more quickly following a race. An experiment was done on race horses where the resting heart rate was taken before a race. After the race, some horses had their gums sponged with fresh water, and others were sponged with fresh water/glucose > and the heart rates were monitored. The horses whose gums were sponged with the water/glucose mixture had a faster recovery than the others.
Bee Pollen has long been used by Olympic athletes and Marathon runners to help maintain energy. Bee Pollen can be supplemented to dogs on a daily basis. Depending on the size of the dog 1/4 to 1/2 pill per day is usually sufficient.
**Whenever you use supplements of any kind on your dog, be sure to ascertain proper dosages and possible contra-indications between medications. Remember, just because it's natural doesn't mean it's safe.

T-TOUCH MASSAGE
T-touch massage prior to a race can help to warm up and prepare the dogs muscles for racing. T-touch following a race can help to prevent muscle cramping. T-touch applied to the dogs feet and pads, helps to 'ground' them for racing.

WILLARD WATER
I don't personally know a lot about Willard Water, but I know people who have used it and say that it's great for helping dogs to maintain energy. For information about Willard Water go to: www.willardswater.com/wwater.html

AN ALTERNATIVE TO COMMERCIAL CLUMPING CAT LITTER
For those dogs that like to snack from the litter box, there is a great alternative to commercial clumping cat litter. My dogs are really bad for trying to sneak a snack from the litter box whenever opportunity presents itself and I always worried about what clumping cat litter might be doing to their insides. Then a friend forwarded me a post from a Cat List, with a suggestion for a great alternative to clumping cat litter >>> Chicken Feed for Laying Hens, with NO preservatives and NO additives. It is GREAT clumping cat litter. More environmentally friendly than the store bought cat litter and a lot safer for the dogs should they grab an occasional snack from the litter box. And ...... it is CHEAP too!! $9.95 for 50lbs!! And because chicken feed weighs less than cat litter, a 50lb bag of chicken feed is a lot bigger and goes a lot further than the equivalent weight bag of cat litter. So it's (1) environmentally friendly, (2) safer for the dogs, (3) CHEAP!, and (4) more for your money. You can get chicken feed at any Co-Op or Feed Mill. Remember though > it's Chicken Feed for Laying Hens with no additives and no preservatives.

Skunk Spray Solution!
The following is a recipe for a solution to eradicate skunk smell from your dog. A friend of mine found it and forwarded the recipe to me. I used it tonight (minus the club soda 'cos we didn't have any) and it seems to have done the trick.

1 liter bottle of Club Soda
500g box of Baking Soda
500ml bottle 3% Peroxide
2tbsp of Dishwashing Liquid

Combine the 4 ingredients in a large bottle and shake well. It will make a slimy sort of solution. Work this concoction into your dogs wet coat including the ears and mouth area (but avoiding the eyes), and leave on for 10 - 15 minutes. Then rinse well and shampoo the dog using a regular dog shampoo. The true test of whether or not the solution has worked, will be when your dog gets wet again later. It's said that with this recipe, the skunk smell should not return.
If your dog gets sprayed directly in the eyes or mouth, or in a tightly enclosed area (such as when terriers go to ground) the effects can be toxic. Seek veterinary counsel for these cases.

Choke Chain Dangers! I received this message from a veterinarian friend of mine asking me to pass the word about the dangers of Choke Chains ....... Her email is printed here with permission.
"Hi Jackie: I just thought you might be interested in passing along a warning to all dog owners to never leave choke chains on their dogs (whether they should ever be used at all in another matter!). Last night we had an emergency call from a panicked owner. One of her dogs had accidentally caught its leg in her other dogs choke chain. One dog was in terrible pain and the other was choking. The fire department had to be called to cut the choke chain to free the two dogs. Luckily the owner was right there to help. If she hadn't been there the one dog would have choked to death and the other would have been injured more severely than he was. While this might have happened with a regular collar at least a regular could have been undone or cut by the owner. A buckle or quick release snap collar should be tight enough to prevent the collar from slipping over the dogs neck. This should also help prevent another dogs leg from slipping through. Choke chains can easily get caught on things and constrict around the dogs neck. They should NEVER be left on dogs."Dawn Bilz-Kadish DVM

ALL NATURAL HOME MADE FLEA SPRAY Here is a recipe for an economical home made flea spray that you can use on your dogs and the environment.>>> 1 large lemon, rind and all, sliced paper thin>>> Put in bowl with 1 tbsp of crushed rosemary leaves (or 6 sprigs fresh)>>> Pour over with a quart of hot, near boiling water>>> Let Steep Overnight>>> Strain and put into a large spray bottle KEEP IN FRIDGE!>>> Shake Well Before Using.If a dog has dry skin or allergies, add a tsp. of tea tree oil and 1 tbsp of Aloe pulpThe key is to use this from the fridge >>> it won't do anything if it is room temperature.

EXERCISE INDUCED IMMUNO-SUPPRESSION I was recently made aware of a condition in human athletes referred to as "exercise induced immuno-suppression". Basically what this means is that when athletes train intensively, their immune systems become temporarily suppressed and they become more susceptible to infections. While moderate exercise can boost the immune system, it has been discovered that highly intense physical activity can actually deplete the immune system. This got me thinking about our sports dogs. It is reasonable to assume that they would be susceptible to the same exercise induced immuno-suppression as human athletes. I've heard of several sports dogs developing hypothyroidism > an auto immune disease > when there is no history of the disease in their familial lines. And increased incidents of kennel cough infection, and infections in wounds that would normally heal without any fuss or bother. Then in an article about exercise induced immuno-suppression, I read about stressed induced diarrhea in sled dogs > remember stress doesn't always have to be bad. Excitement causes stress too. And that reminded me of all the flyball dogs that I know who get diarrhea at tournaments. This made me wonder, could it be due to the intensive training that they do. Is this a result of exercise induced immuno-suppression? Are we overdoing it with our training? How many days per week of intensive training is too much? I don't have the answers but I think this topic is certainly worth investigation. You can read more about exercise induced immuno-suppression at the following websites:http://www.peakperformance.on.ca/sports/glutamine.htm http://www.sportengland.org/whatwedo/advice/athletes.htm http://www.physsportmed.com/issues/1999/06_99/shephard.htm These websites are human oriented but have a lot of information.

VACCINOSIS Vaccinosis is something that has been discussed for years, and also something that is routinely scoffed at by conventional veterinarians > understandably seeing as annual vaccines represent a major chunk of their income. However, there is concern and evidence that vaccines do not provide the protection they are supposed to offer, but rather, might actually cause disease. Whenever a dog has a reaction to vaccines, it is supposed to be reported to the vaccine manufacturer, yet I can tell you from first hand experience that in the 14 years that I spent working in the veterinary field, none of the vets that I worked for reported the adverse reactions. It was never considered to be a problem with the vaccine > it was always explained away as being a problem with the dog receiving the vaccine. A convenient head in the sand approach!
When I worked in the veterinary field I believed in vaccines 100%. But over the years as I read more and learn more, I have become increasingly concerned about the risk versus the benefit of vaccines. Conventional veterinarians will scoff at the idea that vaccines might not be advisable, but let's remember ......... all new ideas that challenge convention are met with skepticism. The world was once thought to be flat and the discovery that it was round was not readily accepted! In the words of Schopenhauer, "All truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally it is accepted as self evident." So please, don't hold it against your veterinarian if he/she is resistant to vaccine protocol modification.
This year alone I know of 4 dogs who had severe adverse reactions to their vaccines. One of my friends had TWO of her dogs affected. After receiving their vaccines, their heads swelled up to the point that their eyes were sealed shut. And one went into anaphylactic shock. Another friend, after attending a Rabies clinic, had TWO of her dogs have adverse reactions. One dogs head swelled up, and the other dog became temporarily paralyzed in the hind end. And one of my cats (about 3yrs ago) became deathly ill following her annual vaccines, and she was diagnosed with vaccine mediated hemolytic anemia. This is scary stuff!!!
I also personally know of FOUR dogs who have contracted distemper, in its neurological form, after receiving their second puppy booster at 12 weeks of age. Two of the four dogs died. One survived but then starting seizuring at 4yrs of age, and died. And one is still alive. These four dogs were not from the same litter or from the same breeding. These cases were not related and the vaccines were not given from the same batch. Each of these cases happened in different years. I also know many dogs with distemper pitting on their teeth > evidence that they have been exposed to the virus. Environmentally or from the vaccines? That's the question.
The problem with vaccines is that we are generally using a modified live virus, and in order for the body to have a proper immune reaction to the modified live virus, the dog (or human) must be 100% healthy. If the body is in any way immuno-suppressed, the body will not be able to set up a proper immune defense and the vaccine can do more damage than good. What does this mean? Dogs with hypothyroidism probably shouldn't be vaccinated. They are already suffering from an auto immune disease. Dogs with epilepsy probably shouldn't be vaccinated. Dogs taking any kind of corticosteroids should not be vaccinated. Dogs with any kind of illness should not be vaccinated whilst they are ill > their immune systems are already challenged and cannot respond properly to the challenge of vaccines. And yet, they are > routinely. We know that stress can temporarily diminish the immune system >> what does this mean to highly stressed out animals when they are vaccinated? The vaccine manufacturers clearly state that vaccines should only be administered to healthy animals.
And what about puppy shots? It has recently been discovered (or perhaps not recently discovered, but recently divulged) that puppies can have maternal antibodies active for up to 20 weeks of age. This would suggest that we definitely should not be vaccinating our puppies. When you vaccinate a puppy when maternal antibodies are in play, the vaccines and the maternal antibodies cancel each other out, thereby rendering the pup totally unprotected. So when exactly is it safe to vaccinate? Should we be testing pups for maternal antibodies before deciding whether or not to vaccinate? Food for thought.
Of course there is also the question of Rabies vaccine. Why do we vaccinate yearly with a 3yr serum? That makes no sense at all. And over vaccinating has to be doing some damage to our dogs. And have you ever thought about the fact that a 2 lb toy breed dog receives the exact same dose of vaccine as a 140 lb giant breed dog? Does that not seem odd?
One of the problems with vaccines is that the MLV, once injected into the dog, can shed out into the environment. I don't pretend to understand exactly how this happens. This shedding out of the virus can act to spread the virus in the environment. Sounds weird, but consider this. In England there is no rabies and it is illegal to vaccinate for rabies. Why? Because of the possibility of the rabies virus shedding out into the environment. I just read that recently.
I'm not suggesting to anyone that you should not vaccinate your dogs, but only to be aware of the risks. Study and learn about the latest in vaccine protocols, the latest concerns etc. and then decide for yourself what would be best for your pet. I must admit that I am in quite a quandary right now, as I have 3 puppies and 2 kittens due for booster shots and I'm not sure I'm comfortable with the risks > especially since 2 of my friends dogs had reactions in the past. This is something that I will have to think hard about before making any decisions.
For more technical information about vaccinosis and vaccine protocols, there is a book on the subject, called, "What Vets Don't Tell You About Vaccines", by Catherine O'Driscoll.

WINTER POND SAFETY Many people have fish ponds and/or water fountains in their gardens these days. This presents a special hazard during the winter months. If the weather is cold enough to freeze the surface of the pond, but not cold enough to form a thick ice, the pond becomes a very dangerous place for small dogs and cats. If the ice cracks when the animal walks across it, the pet will fall through into the water below. If a large dog falls through he will be able to get out, but a small dog or a cat may not be able to extract itself, and may drown. For this reason, it is advisable to put planks of wood across your garden pond. Make the surface safe and solid in case your cat or dog should walk across the snow covered area. A few years ago a friend of mine had her dog, a Jack Russell Terrier, go missing one afternoon during a walk on the property. A thorough search of the property resulted in the discovery of the dogs body in a garden fish pond. The dog had fallen through the ice and had drowned. The danger is real. The tragedy takes but a minute. The moral? Be prepared and be safe >> put a solid surface of some kind across your garden ponds.

Links ....

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The following are some links to sites of interest:

Lifestyle Dog Training
http://lifestyledogtraining.blogspot.com/

Southern Ontario Disc Houndz
http://southernontariodischoundz.blogspot.com/

North American Flyball Association (NAFA)
http://www.nafadb.flyball.org/public.shtml

The Flyball Homepage
http://www.flyballdogs.com/

Team K9 Dog Sport Performance Team
http://teamk9.blogspot.com/

Claddagh Farm/Besslin Border Collies
http://claddaghfarm.blogspot.com/

Contact Us .....

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To contact Northern Borders email to:
besslin@sympatico.ca
or
rowdydiscdog@yahoo.com