Breeder Talk

@thunderbird8588: Hope this thread goes in the right area. Can anyone tell me if everything is ok with Zande Basenjis. I have sent several emails over the last few weeks but never recieve a reply? Shelley by Sally was in this year many things, she have much to do. She will answered.

Here's a letter from Veronica Tudor-Williams and picture of a cream Basenji. http://www.basenji.org/african/tudo7906.htm

haha 2 tail trimming topics ;) i will not repeat what I wrote down there haha anyway some judges dont like a basenjis tail trimmed as well.

@nkjvcjs: Sorry we didn't see you yesterday. It was a ball though. I loved seeing all of the dogs run. Katie got to do a practice run, which was great! I am so sunburned, but I can't wait to go to another trial! -Nicole I didn't set up the table until the end of the day until most of the people left because they needed me to be paddock master. I even skipped doing a puppy practice run with Zoni because I was so sunburned…even after putting SPF 55 on 4 times! It was still fun though. There are probably other trials in the IL area if you check the afsa and akc sites. The MidWest Coursing Club usually holds either an afsa or akc trial each year, last year it was at the Greater Racine Kennel Club, which is not too far from IL. http://midwestcoursing.homestead.com/index.html The BCOSW will have a fun day in July 11th in Rockford, and I think they will have the lure equipment there for some fun runs.

I had a Westie, that past over the rainbow bridge late March, that was allergic to storage mites. Storage mites are basically in anything stored on shelves in warehouses or stores for longer periods of time, like dry kibble, flour, grains and the like. So essentially he couldn't eat any dry nothing, so we went on raw and he did great. Of course he was also allergic to mold and flea saliva. Mold allergy and living in Houston, TX is a bad combo, it is everywhere, due to the humidity we have, and of course that also makes fleas very hardy. Bogus was on frontline and advantage together most of his life, that was the only way to keep fleas off of him and fur on him. He lived to be 13 years, which for me is way too young, but for a dog that has been on steroids and several meds throughout his life, realisticly it is not short. Either way, he clearly should not have been considered a breeding dog, even thought he was a beautiful example of what West Highland White Terriers should be like. My point, it depends on what type of allergies the dog has and the severity of them, in my ever so humble opinion..

Average litter size is 4 to 6… for Basenjis... My litters were 6,4,4, and 4 As lvoss pointed out there are other threads of the heartbreak that breeding can bring... along with the cost.... Again if really interested in breeding, get involved with the breed first.... find a mentor, go to shows just to watch, go to lure trials,... join a regional club if there is one in your area. For a real learning experience, go to the Nationals...

As a newbie to the breed, I took this opportunity to try to learn more about the "Africans" :). What fantastic information it is too… I have downloaded all the information on these dogs, and I am currently in the middle of assessing these beauties myself, before I read what the 3assessors have said about them... I think I have done a pretty good job of critiquing them, I might add :D. Thank you for allowing a newbie to get such valuable info especially as it is such a huge project, and one that perhaps no other breed is able to do, (at least that I am aware of :)).

I don't generally brush my Bs either except when at shows. I use a Zoom Groom (better with wet hair). For removing 'trousers' and neck hair I use a shedding blade (black handle with a loop of metal at one end). Use this very gently and sparingly as you can end with with bald patches. A few people round the shows here use them. I got mine from Mikki. Then wipe the Bs coat over with a baby wipe to remove any loose hair just before going in the ring.

Keoki used to FREAK OUT at nail trimming time, so I had to use cookies to teach him that the Dremel is his friend. He's still not convinced it's his friend, but he does remain reasonably still. Not like Jazz who just lays over back wards and lets me do whatever, but getting there.

Congratulations. Simply adorable.

I cannot imagine the life these poor dogs have led… it breaks my heart to think...:mad:

Telling new folks about the difference between good breeders and breeders who are for profit not only helps them see there is a difference. It keeps them from getting a loving, and LOSING a beloved b years before they need to. Why put yourself and your family through that, if you can avoid it, but doing some research.

But the part that you highlighted about in season bitches is not likely to occur at a dog show. I do not allow other dogs at shows to lick my dogs nor do I allow my dogs to lick other dogs at a show. I have not seen any study that shows that an in season bitch is at significantly higher risk than any other dog at a dog show. If you are taking reasonable precautions with your dogs while at a show, I don't see that they are any more likely to contract an infection than the other dogs at the show. Actually, this past year I bred a bitch who came into season early and specifically asked my repro vet about bringing her to show because it would break the major if she did not show. My repro vet said that it was fine as long as I took reasonable precautions like using a crate and not allowing her to explore the grounds with her nose in everything. She whelped a healthy litter of 4.

I am loving McCartney's work, thank you for the link Jenn! I bookmarked it for future reference… it's great stuff!!!:cool:

Thought so :)…

This is Furminator: http://www.furminator.com/ It's great for my terrier mix and even for my B (for her undercoat). I just love it.:D

Hope you have a good trip and he is all you are looking for AND passes all health-testing with flying colors! The spring puppies we are having in the next month [both litters no less!] were the ones we'd planned for Fall 2009. So I moved up my 2010 breedings to Fall 2009… now the girls all need to cooperate with my plans!

Thanks Andrea and Robyn, That was helpful. Zoni isn't horribly mouthy but I definitely have some more work to do with her. I carry a nylabone in my pocket for the occasion.

@lvoss: I guess what I meant by my statement is that the dogs that are most frequently used are the ones that are in the Top 10 or are well known either because of the winning or their owners' advertising. Many of the Popular Sires that you listed may not have been "big winners", but they have been heavily advertised. I am not saying that Popular Sires are not nice dogs, what I am saying is that other dogs who may also be nice dogs and good producers don't get heavily used because their owners aren't out their campaigning or advertising them. Being a really nice dog really doesn't get you that far as a Popular Sire, IMO, if that dog is not being put out there in the public eye either through advertising or wins. I also don't think it is good for the breed to have popular sires. I think far too many dogs are being overused and are over represented in our genepool. We are losing distinct lines and losing diversity and options in the future by overusing the same dogs. I agree :)