Ever Wondered Why Pointers Point and Sheepdogs Herd?

DNA Study Unlocks Mystery to Diverse Traits in Dogs

What makes a pointer point, a sheep dog herd, and a retriever retrieve? Why do Yorkshire terriers live longer than Great Danes? And how can a tiny Chihuahua possibly be related to a Great Dane?

Dogs vary in size, shape, colour, coat length and behaviour more than any other animal, and until now, this variance has largely been unexplained. Now, scientists have developed a method to identify the genetic basis for this diversity that may have far-reaching benefits for dogs and their owners.

In the cover story of tomorrow’s edition of the science journal Genetics , research reveals locations in a dog’s DNA that contain genes that scientists believe contribute to differences in body and skull shape, weight, fur colour and length — and possibly even behaviour, trainability and longevity.

“This exciting breakthrough, made possible by working with leaders in canine genetics, is helping us piece together the canine genome puzzle which will ultimately translate into potential benefit for dogs and their owners,” said study co-author Paul G. Jones, PhD, a Mars Veterinary(TM) genetics researcher at the Waltham(R) Centre for Pet Nutrition — part of Mars(R) Incorporated, a world leader in pet care that has been studying canine genetic science for the past eight years. “By applying this research approach, we may be able to decipher how genes contribute to physical or behavioral traits that affect many breeds.”

Dogs originally derived from the wolf more than 15,000 years ago — a blink of the eye in evolutionary terms. Selective breeding produced dogs with physical and behavioural traits that were well suited to the needs or desires of their human owners, such as herding or hunting ability, coat colour and body and skull shape and size. This resulted in the massive variance seen among the more than 350 distinct breeds that make up today’s dog population. Until now, the genetic drivers of this diversity have intrigued scientists who have been trying to explain how and why the difference in physical and behavioural traits in dogs changed so rapidly from its wolf origins.

An international team of researchers, which included scientists at the National Human Genome Research Institute, the University of Utah, Sundowners Kennels in Gilroy, California and Mars’ Waltham Center for Pet Nutrition in the United Kingdom, studied simple genetic markers known as Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms, or SNPs, to find places in the dog genome that correlate with breed traits. Because many traits are “stereotyped” — or fixed within breeds — researchers can zero in on these “hot spots” to see what specific genes are in the area that might contribute to differences in traits.

The research used 13,000 dog DNA samples provided by Mars Veterinary, which holds one of the most comprehensive canine DNA banks in the world. This collection has been built up with the help of pet owners who have consented to their pets providing cheek swabs and blood samples for the database. Mars’ DNA bank allowed the study to cover most of the American Kennel Club recognized breeds that span a wide variety of physical and behavioural traits and differences in longevity.

“With further refinement and additional data, this method could be used to tailor products that may benefit the health of pets,” Jones said. “Pet owners and veterinarians may be able to develop better care regimes based on this knowledge. In addition, genetic information about behavioural traits, such as trainability and temperament, could also help veterinarians identify the most lifestyle-appropriate pet for an owner.”

This research may also have implications for human health, as dogs suffer from many of the same diseases that we do.

Mars is continuing its commitment to canine genetic science with ongoing investigations to better understand the makeup of a dog’s DNA to help benefit the lives of dogs and their owners. The Wisdom Panel MX(TM) mixed breed analysis test is the first product to use the knowledge gained through this research.

Article courtesy of DogMagazine.net.

Woof Woof!!
Kenrick

Always keep your dog under control when you are painting the floor!!

D'oh! Spent all afternoon painting the upstairs floor in our house. I made a barricade at the bottom of the stairs to deter him from coming up. Somehow without me even hearing, Kenrick breached the barricade and tippy toed his way upstairs and through my freshly painted floor!! Grrr!! On his way back down the stairs he left lovely little white paw prints!

Thanks
The Paw Prints Dog Walking Team
Freya, Daniel and Kenrick

Vigil For Deathrow Dog Gains Worldwide Attention

London Takes Part in Worldwide Candle Lit Vigil for Death Row Dog:

Dog lovers are travelling from across the UK to gather outside the Northern Ireland Office, Millbank, in central London to show unified global support for a pet dog condemned to death by a Magistrates Court in Northern Ireland.

The Candle Lit Vigil is being held for one hour between 9 and 10pm on Thursday 23rd July and coincides with other vigil events being held on the same day in Dublin, New York and Seattle alongside an enormous worldwide candle lit vigil where thousands of people are due to take part in their own homes and work places in recognition of the plight and suffering of a dog named ‘Bruce’ who has captured the hearts and minds of people across the world.

bruceBruce was a young pet dog living happily with his family in Northern Ireland when on September 19th 2007 he was seized as an alleged “pit bull type” and taken to secluded kennels whilst his owner was taken to court for owning a banned type of dog contrary to the Dangerous Dogs Act (Northern Ireland) Order 1991.

Owner Shannon Brown, aged 20years, supporters and neighbours have created petitions, and videos asking for help to save pet dog Bruce who has never put a paw wrong and his case has now been championed by masses of people everywhere who have reacted in horror to the news he has to die and are demanding he be spared the death penalty.

Thousands Stand Up To Defend Bruce the Dog: Politicians and officials have been inundated with letters, emails and phone calls from concerned members of the public calling for the release of death row dog Bruce.

Meanwhile complex legal proceedings are ongoing as the news breaks this week that the law which has condemned Bruce and countless others like him, appears to have been Amended a staggering eight years ago, seemingly unnoticed by officials and adding utter confusion to the whole sorry situation. The life of Bruce hangs by a thread but as his persistent battle to survive continues more and more people are screaming for his release.

Politicians have been asked to change the legislation, veterinary groups have been deluged with letters from dog owners pleading that every veterinary surgeon refuses to administer the fatal injection, even Her Majesty the Queen has been requested to intervene and grant a Royal Pardon and the protests keep flooding in as the news spreads across the Internet.

As the legal wheels turn slowly, the campaign to ‘Save Bruce’ intensifies and eyes from around the world are now attentively watching Northern Ireland. Bruce remains isolated from his family on canine death row awaiting his fate, unaware of the world wide support he has.

Regards
The Paw Prints Dog Walking Team
Freya, Daniel & Kenrick

New Website - Coming Soon!

Hi everybody,

Putting the finishing touches to Paw Prints new website today - very excited!! Should go live in the next couple of weeks.

Our new website will contain everything you need to know about our prestige Dog Walking service in Brighton & Hove.

Freya and I both feel very privileged to be dog walkers and very much look forward to walking many more dogs in the future.

As well as Brighton we also collect and walk dogs in Portslade, Shoreham, Lancing and even as far as Worthing.

Happy Walking!

The Paw Prints Dog Walking Team
Freya, Daniel & Kenrick

Paw Prints Soon To Be Volunteer Dog Walkers in Shoreham

Hi Everybody,

Today Paw Prints handed in the necessary forms to the Dogs Trust in Shoreham to become volunteer dog walkers for the centre. We both can't wait to get started and meet lots and lots of loveable dogs in need of a new home.

We will be walking dogs on their own and more sociable dogs will be walked in groups. We will be walking around the park next to the centre, along the Adur and down on Shoreham Beach.

To become a volunteer dog walker simply visit your local centre and fill in the necessary forms.

Happy walking!!

The Paw Prints Team
Freya, Daniel and Kenrick

Family's urine bid to locate dog missing dog Simon

A family who tried to lure back a lost dog by leaving a trail of their urine on streets near their home have been criticised by the city council.

The Baltesz family, of Clifton, Bristol, lost their 10-year-old pet labrador Simon on the night of 4 July.

When Simon failed to return, the family chose their unorthodox method.

A Bristol City Council spokeswoman said: "We would not consider this to be a good idea from an environmental health point of view."

Louise Baltesz, 43, said the whole family had been "chipping in" to help lay down the scent trail.

She said she was aware of criticism aimed at the family, but they were willing to do anything to get Simon back.

'Very diluted'

"There are people who are upset about it, but I'm too emotionally drained to think about it," she said. "I'm worried about it - I really am.

"If everyone peed in the street it would be disgusting, wouldn't it? But it's very, very diluted."

Jonathan Baltesz, 44, wife Louise, and children Henry, 15 and Clara, 13
The family said they were desperate to get Simon back

Mrs Baltesz said the idea for the scent trail came from a website which offered a range of advice to owners of missing dogs.

She said: "I do feel mad doing it, but I'm driven to desperate measures.

"Apparently it's quite a normal way of doing it. You just put a little bit in a bottle and then top it up with water.

"You put some smelly food down, they come towards the food and then catch the scent [of the urine]. You only have to do it once. We've left two trails."

'Owner's scent'

The family have put up "missing" posters and have received several possible sightings of Simon, who is described as "not very approachable" and naturally timid.

But a vet at a nearby practice was less than optimistic the plan would succeed.

Ian Wills, from the nearby Zetland Veterinary Hospital in Bristol, said: "I think it's an interesting idea but I would be pleasantly surprised if it worked.

"When a dog wanders off from home they will generally wander back when they have had enough.

"If the dog was going to follow the owner's scent it would be from something they wore, like a jumper. Unless they have an incontinence problem."

A Bristol City Council spokeswoman said it was unlikely the authority would take any action against the family.

Paw Prints says, "Lets just hope Simon is returned safely to his family".

Cheers
The Paw Prints Team
Freya, Daniel & Kenrick

Sourcing Our New Dog Van

Hi all,

Here at Paw Prints we are busy sourcing our new Doggy Van, which will be the beating heart of our bespoke Dog Walking Service in Brighton and Hove as well as surrounding areas, including Portslade, Shoreham, Lancing and Worthing.
We have decided we will buy a Citroen Dispatch because it has the advantage of a sliding door on both sides of the vehicle as well the double doors at the rear. This makes access for getting the dogs in and out of the vehicle very easy and convenient.

As soon as the van arrives it will be sent away again to be fitted with custom made dog cages. We will then furnish each cage with blankets/cushions, water bowl, towel and of course cuddly toy. Maybe the most important thing, especially considering the hot weather we have had lately will be the addition of a TCX Flettener Ventilator, which will keep all the dogs cool whilst they are inside the van.

Lastly, just so you recognise us we will have our logo and contact details written onto the sides of the van, we hope this finishes of the complete professional look of our van and dog walking and pet care service as a whole.

Don't forget that our specially designed dog van is also available as a 'Pet Taxi' service. So if for whatever reason you can't get your dog to the vet or the groomers etc give us a call and we will be happy to transport your beloved pooch in style and comfort.

Hope to see you soon!
The Paw Prints Dog Walking Team
Freya, Daniel & Kenrick

Our Lurcher - Kenrick

Hi,

Freya and I got our Lurcher, Kenrick from the Dogs Trust in Shoreham in 2002. He really is the most wonderful, loving and affectionate dog. We can not emphasise enough what good pets Lurchers make.

Kenrick has gone through some life changing experiences in the past year, firstly and on the down side, he started having seizures in May 2008. For a while it was manageable as the seizures were few and far between and were one at a time, however over the last couple of months they became more frequent and ended with him having 9 seizures in just 4 days. Freya and I had to make the very difficult decision to medicate Kenrick, we were extremely worried about doing this because of the risks and side effects.

The risks of medication are liver disease, as the tablets are passed through the liver. The chances of liver disease resulting in him taking these tablets are low and Kenrick will need to be monitored via blood tests every 6 months, just to make sure everything is ok.

The side effects really worried us as we genuinely thought we would lose the dog we know and love as the drugs can make the drowsy. It is with great delight that Kenrick seems to have taken to the drugs and all the initial side effects have worn off and he is 100% back to normal.
The first 2 weeks that he was on the drugs were really difficult though as Kenrick had excessive hunger, which made him cry all day long and he pace the house looking in every room for something to eat. Coupled with that the drugs affected his hind legs making them seem particularly weak so he fell over a lot and had to be carried up and down stairs. Thankfully both these side effects passed in a week, but were succeeded by excessive thirst and excessive weeing, this was far more manageable than the previous side effects and have also thankfully passed.

Kenricks other life changing experience is that he now lives with a cat and after the first difficult few months no longer chases it or growls whenever she comes near. It is only a matter of time before the cat starts rubbing herself around his legs!! It really is lovely to see Kenrick getting on with cats, although in a few months we will be moving out of the house where we are living so no more cats for Kenrick after that.

All being well when Freya and I do move into our place it will be straight down to the Dogs Trust to start searching for a playmate!!

We'll keep you posted.

The Paw Prints Dog Walking Team
Freya, Daniel & Kenrick

RSPCA Chief Vet Warns of Death Trap For Dogs

Dog owners have been urged to keep their pets cool this summer to avoid the heartbreak of losing a much-loved companion.

Last year the RSPCA received more than 3,000 calls from members of the public relating to 4,589 dogs locked in hot cars at supermarkets, outdoor events and on the streets. During one recent hot weekend (Friday, 29 May to Monday, 1 June) the RSPCA received 175 calls involving 237 dogs.

The Society is hoping there is no repeat of tragedies such as at last year’s Appleby Horse Fair when two dogs were literally cooked alive inside a car. The dogs’ body temperatures were so high that they exceeded the maximum thermometer reading of 42°C (108°F)*.

http://dogmagazine.net/images/Mains/incarroofdownlrg.jpg

With the outdoor events season about to get into full swing the RSPCA has issued its regular appeal to owners to keep their dogs safe in the sun. But this year people are being reminded that it isn’t just cars that pose a risk to dogs, but also conservatories and caravans.

RSPCA chief veterinary adviser Mark Evans said:

“A hot car can be a death trap for dogs, it is as simple as that. Leaving your dog in a car, even on an average warm, even cloudy summer day, can put your pet at huge risk of suffering and even death.

“This is not a new warning, but sadly too many people still don’t appreciate how dangerous it can be to leave a dog in a hot car, conservatory or caravan. Don’t let your dog be the one to find out the hard way.”

The temperature inside a car can soar to 47°C (117°F) within 60 minutes, even when the outside temperature is just 22°C (72°F). Opening a window or leaving a bowl of water for your dog will make little difference and still leaves dogs in serious danger of suffering from heatstroke, which can be fatal.

Other hidden heat dangers include

Cloud cover can disappear quickly.
All dogs will suffer, but some dogs are more prone to heatstroke. For example, dogs that are old, young, short nosed, long-haired, overweight or heavily muscled are more at risk, as well as dogs with certain diseases.
Temperatures in air conditioned cars can reach the same temperature as outside within just five minutes of the air conditioning being turned off.

The most obvious sign of heat stroke in dogs is excessive panting and profuse salivation. Other signs include:

Overly red or purple gums
A rapid pulse
Lack of co-ordination, reluctance or inability to rise after collapsing, seizures, vomiting or diarrhoea
Coma or death in extreme instances

Owners who fear their dog may be suffering from heat stroke should act with great urgency. Pets should be moved to a cooler spot straight away before ringing your vet for advice immediately.

Douse your dog with cool (not cold) water. You could put your dog in a shower and run cool water over him/her, spray your dog with cool water and place him/her in the breeze of a fan. Never cool your dog so much that he/she begins to shiver
Let your dog drink small amounts of cool water
Continue to douse your dog with cool water until his/her breathing starts to settle and then take him/her straight to the veterinary surgery

Under the Animal Welfare Act it is illegal to cause an animal unnecessary suffering. Penalties for doing so are a fine of up to £20,000 and/or a six month custodial sentence.

Hot Dog Facts!

* A dog’s normal body temperature is around 39°C (102°F). Although the upper lethal body temperature of dogs is approximately 42°C (108°F), brain damage may develop at body temperatures of 41°C (106°F).

Dogs are covered in fur and do not sweat in the same way as humans do. Unlike humans, dogs pant to help keep themselves cool. The effectiveness of panting is reduced at high temperatures and humidities. Cars heat up very rapidly in hot – or even warm – weather. Air-conditioning can disguise the danger that a dog will face once the engine is turned off.

The RSPCA’s top tips to help keep your dog safe in the sun:

1. Your dog should always be able to move into a cooler, ventilated environment if he/she is feeling hot.
2. Never leave your dog alone in a car. If you want to take your dog with you on a car journey, make sure that your destination is dog friendly – you won’t be able to leave your dog in the car and you don’t want your day out to be ruined. If leaving your dog at home is the best option because of the weather, always ensure that his/her needs are properly catered for.
3. If you have to leave your dog outside, you must provide a cool, shady spot where he/she can escape from the sun at all times of the day.
4. Make sure your dog always has a good supply of drinking water, in a weighted bowl that can’t be knocked over. Carry water with you on hot days and give your dog frequent, small amounts.
5. Never leave your dog in a glass conservatory or a caravan. Even if it is cloudy when you leave, the sun may come out later in the day and could become unbearably hot.
6. Groom your dog regularly to get rid of excessive hair. Give long-coated breeds a hair-cut at the start of the summer, and later in the season if necessary.
7. Dogs need exercise, even when it is hot, but walk your dog early in the morning or later in the evening. Never allow your dog to exercise excessively in hot weather.
8. Dogs can get sunburned too – particularly those with light-coloured noses or light coloured fur on their ears. Ask your vet for advice on pet-safe sunscreens.

Dogs Trust Open Day & Fun Dog Show - Shoreham

Another very successful show for the Shoreham Dogs Trust, it was great to see so many people turn up and with their dogs making it a thoroughly enjoyable day all round.

It was with great pleasure that the Paw Prints team volunteered to help out this year and luckily enough we were asked to run a couple of stalls, so if you were at the show on Sunday we might have had the pleasure of meeting you and your dog(s).

Freya looked after the 'Find a Flea' stall, which was very successful, with some people coming back multiple times to try and win some of the many great prizes that were donated to the Dogs Trust over the past year.

Daniel watched over the 'Hot Dog Dipping', which was a lot of fun and attracted many dogs to drag their owners over to pay for the 50p all you can eat 'hot dog' buffet.

Let’s hope the weather is as good next year as it was this year and more importantly more awareness is raised for the many many dogs who are in need of a loving home.

On behalf of Shoreham Dogs Trust, the Paw Prints team thank you all very much for your support.

We hope to see you soon!

Thanks
Paw Prints
Freya, Daniel & Kenrick

Introducing Paw Prints – Professional & Friendly Dog Walkers in Brighton & Hove

Hello fellow dog lovers!

Let us introduce ourselves. We are Freya Molony and Daniel Payne and we make up the Paw Prints Dog Walking Team. Hopefully you will see us around and come to know us within the dog walking community around the Brighton area over the coming months.

Freya and I both have a huge love for dogs of all shapes and sizes and regardless of their backgrounds. We ourselves are the proud owners of a spectacularly gorgeous lurcher, named Kenrick, who we adopted from Shoreham Dogs Trust over 7 years ago.

As members of and in recognition of the tireless work the Dogs Trust does, we have volunteered to walk dog for the centre so hopefully we will bump into some of you whilst we are walking doggies along the banks of the river Adur, who are waiting to find a loving home.

There are many reasons why people may need a dog walker, for instance you work full-time and you would like your dog to be exercised and stimulated in your absence. Maybe you need to go out for the day and no-one is available to pet sit, or maybe you are unable to walk your dog because of injury or illness. Whatever the reason, Paw Prints is here to help. We offer a Professional & Friendly Service and our rates are very competitive. For your peace of mind Paw Prints is fully insured and police checked.

With Paw Prints your dogs will get the care and attention they deserve, we walk along the South Downs and in large park areas, such as Stanmer Park. We will never compromise your dogs walk, whatever the weather and we won’t walk in areas that get crowded or that are near main roads.

Please give Freya (07887778479) or Daniel (07990815674) a call to see how we can help you and your dog(s) get the attention and exercise they deserve. Alternatively you can email us freya.pawprints@gmail.com

We hope to see you soon!

Thanks
Paw Prints
Freya, Daniel & Kenrick