Let’s play hide and seek !

Paul | blog | March 8, 2011

When asked by Joe public what is the best way to go about buying a pedigree dog in Ireland, we would always say speak to the Irish Kennel Club,breed club and then breeder.

I can’t understand then, when asked, why breed clubs would not take us up on an offer of a free link to the club website under Breed Clubs which can be found on the right hand side of our blog.

The more of a presence you have on the internet the better chance you have of being picked up.

Maybe it’s a case that most breed clubs don’t have a club website ?

As per my recent blog about the Westminster show, we are living in a modern age, and dogs and everything associated with dogs, should have some presence on the web – it’s where the majority of people search for anything these days

Basic web site packages can be sourced extremely cheap, check out Irish Canine Press and Show Dogs Ireland website for details of same. Individual show kennels go to the expense of promoting their dogs on such sites.

Breed Clubs could have a site up and running in a very short space of time for the price of 10 or so annual subscriptions !

We all scratch our heads when we hear of people getting duped into buying a poorly bred dog from an unscrupulous breeder, but if we choose to hide behind a rock, what chance have they got in finding us ?

1,636 total views, 3 today

To breed or not to breed ?

Joe | blog | February 21, 2011

Firstly one should never breed a litter of puppies for financial gain. If you look after your puppies and their mother properly there are a lot of financial costs involved that need to be taken into consideration, the mother and the puppies have to be fed good quality food, you have to be able to cover any unexpected veterinary bills in case your bitch may have trouble whelping and if the puppies need medical attention at any stage.  In our case our bitch did have trouble whelping and we had to bring her to the vets on a bank holiday weekend in order to have her induced, most bitches whelp without any problems but sometimes it does not always go to plan and veterinary assistance is required. Thankfully we had thought about unexpected costs and we were able to cover same.  Responsible breeders treat each litter with care and the physical and mental health of the mother and her puppies is paramount at all times,this is what differentiates them from puppy farmers/backyard breeders. 

You have to select a healthy male to mate with your healthy bitch and for most breeds especially the larger breeds it is vital that the necessary health checks have been done on both the male and female, as any health defects can be hereditary. A good temperament is also vital as this will be passed onto the puppies.   Luckily for us we owned the father of our litter of puppies, Dempsey, and he had the most wonderful temperament and this can be very hard to find in the dachshund breed as they can be quite aloof, as a result we had 3 wonderful well adjusted puppies.

You have to be prepared to spend a lot of time socializing the puppies in the first few weeks as this is a vital time in their lives. Puppies need a lot of care and attention and it can be a full time job for the first few weeks, both day and night, that is, if you do it right !

Be prepared to do house house checks on any potential buyers, have a detailed list of questions for them,(Like on the advice page on our site) you need to ensure that your puppy is going to the perfect home.  Thankfully our bitch only had 3 in her litter, initially we had only planned on keeping one but we could not find the quality 5 star home that we were looking for, for the remaining puppy and luckily we were in a position to keep two from our litter.  Some people would say that we were very fussy, but we firmly believed that we did it the right way and we were in a position to give these two puppies a great home and the time and love that any dog deserves. The puppy that we parted with went to a fantastic home, we had spoken to the interested party over the phone and we then arranged a house visit and we had the new owners sign a contract. Some bitches can have up to 8 puppies, can you imagine trying to find top quality homes for each of them, it would be a very difficult task in my opinion.  Puppy farmers don’t care where their dogs end up, but responsible breeders do !

Be prepared to cope with the emotional stress of parting with your puppies, for some people this can be very difficult even when they know their little ones are going to a great home.

Having a litter of puppies can be a very stressful and demanding time but if you do it right it can also be a very rewarding and happy experience,  we have wonderful memories of our three healthy puppies who were raised in house, it was a very happy time in our lives. We are glad we did it, but just the once !  Sadly the father of our puppies, Dempsey passed away last month and we miss him terribly but we are so glad we have two of his wonderful offspring, Danno and Daisy to keep his memory alive.  They are a credit to him and to the Dachshund breed in our opinion of course ! We still call them our puppy doodles even though they will be three this August.  Yes you are right we are dotty about our breed and our dogs, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Breed only for the right reasons, for the love of your breed and to promote healthy and well adjusted puppies that will be loved and cared for by responsible owners !

884 total views, 1 today

Dog found in Deep Freeze

Paul | blog | February 18, 2011

Some of my recent blogs have been based on the message we are trying to promote, i.e responsible dog ownership, and trying to educate the potential dog owner, into researching the breed, and breeder before making a life long commitment to owning a dog.

Recently I blogged about are we fighting a losing battle and are we a country of animal lovers, but when you read page 32 of yesterday’s Cork Independent, it’s easy at times to think we might be.

The ISPCA were called into a facility where a “young terrier dog was being kept in a disused deep freezer with a block of wood used to allow air ventilation and the tiniest amount of light through”

“It was made know to the ISPCA that the puppies bred on these premises were being sold at a country market”

Who in their right mind would buy a dog at a market ? In the UK pet stores that sell pups are constantly being harassed by the majority of the dog owning public to stop this practice, and the one or two pet stores in Ireland that did carry out this practice have since stopped.

Dogs are not a commodity like a suit or pair of shoes that you can exchange if they don’t match your lifestyle, so a “little” bit more consideration should go into the purchase of a dog, than buying off the shelf items.

There is a lot of hope out there that the dog breeders establishment bill, if finally signed off on will eradicate this kind of carry on, but you would wonder how far under the radar, some of these operators fly.

Another point is that if the 6 or more bitches are kept in OK conditions, the resulting offspring can still be sold at these country markets in Ireland, but that’s another days work.

460 total views, 2 today

Pedigree Dogs Vet – Smelly Dogs

John | blog | February 17, 2011

Smelly Dogs
A lot of owners complain that their dog smells.  Dogs do have a natural odor — in fact, each  dog has a distinctive odor, which is how they distinguish one another.  Many owners try to mask the normal ‘doggy smell’ because they, or someone in the household, does not find it very appealing.  But sometimes a dog gives off a particularly unpleasant odor, which can have a number of causes.  On the least offensive end of the scale, your dog may give off the typical ‘wet dog’ smell when it comes in from the rain (and that is quite often in Ireland).  On the other end of the scale are the odors that come from rolling in dead things or droppings from other species of animals.  In some cases, though, your dog may have a problem that needs medical treatment.

Continue reading »

511 total views, 2 today

Has Westminster gone to the dogs ?

Joe | blog | February 16, 2011

In the aftermath of one of the biggest dog shows in the world, I came across the following statement

“Westminster had 49,000 friends on Facebook by late Tuesday afternoon, said Susi Szeremy of the kennel club’s social media team, and the total quickly zoomed to more than 60,000. There are about 2,400 followers Tweeting along – litters of twitters”

I know that my posts on twitter over the last few days had the #WKC, where all tweets re the show could be viewed together. With technology today changing so fast, it’s hard to keep up with the latest trends.

It’s been mentioned that at dog shows here in Ireland, there is usually a very small crowd left to spectate around the Best In Show Ring at most championship shows. One reason maybe is the fact that by the time exhibitors have driven home after their breed or group has been judged the full results can usually be found on one of the dog related web sites or on peoples Facebook pages, more often than not with accompanying video.

Our thirst for dog related information is nearly unquenchable, you just have to look at the amount of time that most dog folk in Ireland spend on Facebook, Twitter, and all the other dog related sites out there, to keep abreast of what is going on in the dog world, on this, our tiny island.

Having said that, looking at some of the results from Westminster, and hopefully we can replicate the same at next months Crufts, we have had a huge impact in the world of Show Dogs, punching way above our weight.

Onwards and upwards!

223 total views, 1 today

Love is in the air – or is it…?

Joe | blog | February 14, 2011

A survey in the UK revealed the following stat.

“Many animal lovers in the nation choose to put their furry friends before love, with 81 % of dog owners saying they would break up with someone who didn’t like their four-legged companion”

Can we say in current day Ireland that we are a nation of animal lovers ?

Somehow I don’t think so.

With the massive upsurge in cruelty and negligence dished out on the nations pets, like all the abandoned horses, and all the “Genuine reason” dogs for sale on the general classifieds websites, I think it would be hard to argue a case, promoting Ireland as a nation of animal lovers.

On saying that, maybe it was a love for the “Celtic Tiger” that has resulted in us becoming a nation whereby many people see an animal as a commodity, and when it’s use has expired, time to move them on.

Oh by the way…Happy Valentines Day

224 total views, 3 today

Clever Dog

Paul | blog | February 13, 2011

Maybe some of our political party leaders, and hopeful candidates in the upcoming general election could take a leaf out of our dogs manifesto

“There is nothing a dog would expect members of his pack to do that he hasn’t done himself. He is the leader because the pack trusts him”

They might also consider reading Clever Dog by Ryan O’Meara, which might give them some insight into how to become a real pack leader, and the life lessons we can learn from Dogs

We all know due to the enormous turn outs in the houses of the Oireachtas regarding the Dog Breeding Establishment Bill (More people attended than at the NAMA debates) that our public representatives, have dog welfare issues at heart, so maybe they can stop and take a real close look at our four legged friends, and adopt some of their leadership skills into running our country.

248 total views, 3 today

Bichon Frise

John | blog | February 12, 2011

ORIGIN : France / Belgium.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 10.01.1972.

UTILIZATION :Companion.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. :    Group    9    Companion and Toy Dogs.
Section    1    Bichons and related breeds.
Without working trial.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Merry and playful little dog, with a lively gait, medium length muzzle, long very loose corkskrew-curled hair, very like the coat of the Mongolian goat.  Head carriage is proud and high, the eyes dark, lively and expressive.

Continue reading »

963 total views, 3 today

Munster Agricultural Society All Breeds Open Dog Show

Paul | blog | February 11, 2011

Subject to confirmation from the Irish Kennel Club (IKC) Munster Agricultural Society, are delighted to announce their All Breeds Open Dog Show to be held as part of the Cork Summer Show, on Sunday 19-06-11

This is on the last day of the 3 day show, that if last years event was anything to go by, is a great day out for all the family

Judges this year are as follows (Subject to IKC approval)

Joy Saville
All breeds within groups 1 & 2, plus these groups

Sean Knight
All breeds within groups 3 / 6 / 10, plus these groups
Junior Handling
Veteran Stakes
Champion Stakes

P.J.O’Donovan
All breeds within groups 4 / 5 / 9 plus these groups

Padraig Holohan
All breeds within groups 7 & 8 plus these groups

Carmel Barry Sheehan will then judge Best in Show

Arden Grange have kindly agreed to sponsor the show, with product from their range for the major winners

We also have great pleasure in announcing that the Munster Agricultural Society will be offering the following prize money at this show

BIS = € 200.00
RBIS = € 30.00

BPIS = € 30.00
RBIS = €20.00

All remaining Group winners = € 20.00
Reserve Group winners = €10.00

Entry details etc, will be advised ASAP

Should you require any additional information, please contact the Munster Agricultural Society on 021-4315772 or Paul Barry on 087-1403410 or paul@pedigreedogs.ie

788 total views, 5 today

Dogs – Don’t you just love em’

Paul | blog | February 10, 2011

Seeing that my last few blogs, may have been on the heavy side, here is something to lighten the mood…Another one of my infamous  dog jokes…

Two Irish nuns have just arrived in the USA by boat and one says to the other, “I hear that the people of this country actually eat dogs.” “Odd,” her companion replies, “but if we shall live in America , we might as well do as the Americans do.”
Nodding emphatically, the mother superior points to a hot dog vendor and they both walk towards the cart. “Two dogs, please,” says one.

The vendor is too pleased to oblige, wraps both hot dogs in foil, and hands them over the counter. Excited, the nuns hurry to a bench and begin to un-wrap their ‘dogs’. The mother superior begins to blush and, then, staring at it for a moment, leans to the other nun and whispers cautiously, “What part… did you get…?”

590 total views, 2 today

Are we fighting a losing battle ?

Joe | blog | February 9, 2011

The following information can be found on the RSPCA website and it’s all in relation to their new campaign, Get puppy Smart

I suppose it’s like the continuous messages we see all the time, like, never drink & drive, or clunk click every trip, and I suppose when people still don’t heed these messages, and following on from yesterday’s Blog, we’d have to say it might be an uphill battle when it comes to educating Joe Public about buying a dog or new puppy

“One in five puppy buyers no longer have their pet two years later

Nearly one-fifth of people – 19 per cent – who bought a puppy in the past two years no longer have their dog, according to new RSPCA figures.

The RSPCA believes this is largely down to people letting their heart rule their head when it comes to buying a puppy, and failing to prepare themselves for the practical commitment and cost of owning a dog.

More than 60 per cent of people who bought a puppy in the past two years only visited one litter of puppies before deciding on the one they wanted, while a shocking 40 per cent of those who bought a puppy spent one week or less researching their purchase.

Never be tempted to buy a puppy because you feel sorry for it – another will only be bred to replace it.”

Thanks to Marie Hogarty for forwarding the link to this info

377 total views, 3 today

IKC registrations, going up or down ?

Paul | blog | February 8, 2011

This recession that we are in the midst of is hitting all of us hard.

Is there any light at the end of the tunnel at all ?

I have noticed over the last few moths, that there are far less IKC registered dogs or pups being advertised on the general classified web sites.

In 2009 I know that revenue from dog registrations was down significantly on the previous year, with the Irish Kennel Club (IKC), has anybody got the figure for 2010 ?

If it were a case that less dogs were being bred in Ireland, I’m sure we would all agree that this was a good thing, but I’m not so sure.

I blogged recently about Pure Bred Non Registered (PBNR) http://www.pedigreedogs.ie/2010/12/23/pbnr/

Are IKC registered dogs losing out ? If so what can be done to educate people that if you want a pup, where you are fairly certain as to what this pup will grow into both size and temperament wise,  then a pure bred dog is the logical choice.

As I have mentioned before, the IKC are the only registrations body in Ireland, that is Internationally recognised, and it’s your only way of obtaining a pure bred registered dog in this country.

Pet Expo is running again at the end of this year, and as per my blog http://www.pedigreedogs.ie/2011/01/07/discover-dogs-ireland/ it’s a great way to reach out to the general public, where we can promote pedigree dogs to the would be dog owner.

I recall a letter to the editor in the Irish Canine press Circuit Special 2010 of a family that had travelled from Galway to the Pet Expo to obtain information in relation to a few breeds that they had short listed, and were disappointed to find that there were only approx 5 breeds represented.

FREE opportunities don’t come along that often to promote the breeds we all love, and as the doodles, snoodles and tea cups are all on the increase, maybe it’s time we started to fight back.

The promoter of Pet Expo, Marie Murphy can be found on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=636532445 and it would be no harm in contacting her, and registering your interest in taking a stand at the Breed Club Village at this years event.

431 total views, 1 today

Pedigree Dogs Vet – Traveling With Your Pet

John | blog | February 7, 2011

The Road Safety Authority’s new campaign on road safety neglects one issue — traveling safely with animals in the car.  It is important that you and your passengers buckle up, whether your passenger has 2 legs or 4 legs!  The proper safety measures can save both your life and your pet’s.When going on a car journey, regardless of how short it is, you must keep animals restrained.  This will prevent them from jumping onto the dashboard or out the window, or even sitting or standing in your lap while you are driving.  If you have a cat or small dog, the easiest mode of transport is a travel cage.  You can attach the cage to the seat belt for extra security.  For larger dogs, use a dog seat belt.  This is a harness that you can connect to the seat belt.  You can also use the harness for walking when you take you dog out of the car.  If your car is large enough, you can fit a large cage or divider to create a separate area for your dog.  We have had clients that have either been in car accidents or received a ticket for having an animal loose in the car.Once your dog is safely in the car, lock the doors and turn on the child locks.  The same goes for automatic windows.  Dogs are curious creatures and may stand on the window button or on the door handle, thus opening the window or door.  As a vet, I have seen a number of dogs that have either jumped out an open window of a moving car, or been injured by flying debris after sticking its head out the window.  These are avoidable accidents.Whenever you travel with your pet, no matter how short the journey, always make sure that you have a collar and ID tag on your pet.  Your should also get your pet microchipped, as this is a permanent form of identification implanted under the skin by a simple injection.  When a stray animal is brought to a vet, animal shelter, or dog pound, a scanner reads the microchip number.  This number is put into a database and your contact details can be retrieved to reunite you with your pet.  If your pet is already microchipped, please make sure that your contact details are correct.Always travel with extra leads, collars, blankets, and water.  You never know when these can come in handy.  Also keep a supply of plastic bags, poop bags, and paper towels to clean up any messes inside and outside your car!  If going on a long journey, bring water with you.  There are non-spill water dishes available that are great for car trips.Most importantly, NEVER leave your pet in the car.  Your pet can get hypothermia in cold temperatures and hyperthermia in average to hot temperatures.  Your car can become an icebox or an oven, even if the windows are open.From Animals First Pet Safety Authority!

184 total views, 1 today

Put your money where your mouth is.

Elaine | blog | February 6, 2011

I’m sure a lot of our regular visitors will know already why we started Pedigreedogs.ie

If not we make reference to the same in the “About US” section on the site.

Recently there has been a lot of talk and mainly anger at the proposed Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, (Animal Health & Welfare Policy Division) Welfare of Animals Bill in Northern Ireland.

Basically a person commits an offence if they show a dog that has been docked after the said bill has been enacted at a show where the public pay an admission fee

I think we all knew that this was on the cards after it was introduced at some shows in the UK

The following couple in the UK have stepped up to the mark, and put their money where their mouth is in relation to fit for function, Hunt, Punt, Retrieve (HPR) dual purpose dogs (i.e. used in the field and then shown at conformation dog shows)

The Docked and Denied campaign grew from an idea that Maxine McCullough and Wendy Oxman had one day, which was to have an advert in the dog press displaying dogs which were fit for function dual purpose gundogs, who were legally docked but could not compete in their relevant breed classes because of the law.

They have now launched a web site (www.dockedanddenied.com) which is open to everyone to make their comments, to gather information from breeders and owners of legally docked dogs, or any tail injuries leading to medical amputations etc.

Now I am not involved in a breed that involves docking, and tend to sit on the fence re this issue. I have been to shows held in Europe and even whilst on holiday have seen all breeds that we are used to seeing docked, un docked, and although at first it looks strange, after a while, the idea kind of grows on you (Excuse the pun!)

I know of some Irish Exhibitors who have seen the writing on the wall for a long time, especially in the likes of Rottweilers, and now un dock every litter.

Again, I’m not saying who is right and who is wrong, but I remember all the negative talk pre the introduction of the FCI in Ireland, especially from exhibitors in Group 4 (Dachshunds) which I am involved in.Things change, not always for the better, but now in the republic we pay for things in Euro, and drive in Kilometres per hour, God forbid we start drinking our beer in half litres !

259 total views, 2 today

Shih Tzu

Joe | blog | February 5, 2011

ORIGIN : Tibet.

PATRONAGE : Great Britain.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 24.06.1987.

UTILIZATION :    Companion dog.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. :    Group    9    Companion and Toy Dogs.
Section    5    Tibetan breeds.
Without working trial.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Sturdy, abundantly coated dog with distinctly arrogant carriage and chrysanthemum-like face.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Intelligent, active and alert.  Friendly and independant.

Continue reading »

557 total views, 1 today

Why advertise on www.pedigreedogs.ie ?

Paul | blog | February 4, 2011

We are the only dedicated site in Ireland that deals with Pedigree Dogs, registered with the Irish Kennel Club and Kennel Club (London)

Unlike any other dog related website, we review every single ad before it is published, ensuring that only ad’s that meet our criteria will go live, so that your ad will only share space with like minded breeders.

The emphasis throughout is on attracting reputable breeders and owners and there are a number of stipulations that have to be met – puppies or adult dogs being sold must be registered with the Irish Kennel Club or the Kennel Club London, ads must be accompanied by a photo that promotes responsible dog ownership, showing dogs of good health, and kept in suitable conditions, no exaggerated claims can be used in the text.

Only people living on the Island of Ireland can use the site to advertise on.

We are a site that only advertises registered puppies

You will not see adds with puppies or adult dogs living in appalling conditions.

You will not see any PBNR or F1 Hybrids on our site, and through the blog we publish articles on why buying a registered pedigree dog is the best choice if looking for a dog to join a household

This is a web site for dogs that is run by people involved in the world of dogs in Ireland, check out our Facebook page, pedigreedogs

Our main advertisers are companies that only link to respected sites, where they know that their brand will be protected

Since we launched in January 2010, we have been featured in the Sunday Business Post, & Sunday Times.

So if you are looking to Sell a dog in Ireland, that is registered with the Irish Kennel Club or Kennel Club (London) you have come to the right site.

459 total views, 2 today

The Dog Breeding Establishment Bill

Joe | blog | February 4, 2011

Do you remember all the fuss about the above ?

Well now implementation of the proposed law will now depend on which government takes power after this month’s general election

A spokesman for the current department said the implementation would be a ‘matter for the next government’.

This is the bill that if signed in will generate € 3000 revenue per annum from facilities that house 101 to 200 bitches, and a further €1,600 for each 100 bitches thereafter.

Here’s some links to the debate that have already been posted on the pedigreedogs.ie blog, some of which I’m sure, you will find interesting reading

http://www.pedigreedogs.ie/?s=legislation&submit=Go

http://www.pedigreedogs.ie/2010/05/15/dog-breeding-establishments-bill-2009-discussion-with-canine-breeders-of-ireland/

http://www.pedigreedogs.ie/page/2/?s=legislation&submit=Go

http://www.pedigreedogs.ie/2010/02/25/ikc-strance-on-new-legislation/

http://www.pedigreedogs.ie/2010/07/10/canine-breeders-of-ireland/

http://www.pedigreedogs.ie/2010/07/09/excerpts-taken-from-the-dog-breeding-establishments-bill-2009-seanad-friday-02-07-2010/#more-881

589 total views, 3 today

Happy Birthday Pedigreedogs.ie

Paul | blog | January 29, 2011

Can you believe it ? Pedigreedogs.ie is 1 year old today !

We launched the site on the 29-01-10 and are still here to tell the tale (Tail)

Since going live we have had over 337’536  page views, and 66’705 visits (Google Analytics)

I’d like to thank every single one of you for dropping by, but it would be our second birthday before I’d get that finished

Special thanks to the regular visitors (you know who you are)

Stay tuned for some site improvements in the next month, and remember if you have any interesting articles relating to your dog / breed or details regarding the breed club you may be a member of, we would be delighted to receive same.

884 total views, 3 today

Dog offered at Stud

John | blog | January 27, 2011

Contained in the advice on purchasing which is on every page of www.pedigreedogs.ie the following can be found

“In relation to Pups on the site (or Dogs being offered at Stud) we would recommend asking the owner if the pups parents (or Stud Dog) has had the relevant breed specific health checks, and request to see proof of same”

Is it due to the economic downturn, that every second ad on the dog section of the general classified sites these days is a dog offered for stud.

Maybe it’s the owners last ditch attempt to raise some funds in order to keep the dog, with the last step being advertised for sale for a genuine reason.

Any suggestions regarding educating the general public that all dogs should have the relevant breed specific health checks, before mating, would be most welcome.

174 total views, 1 today