Official Publication Of The German Shorthaired Pointer Club Of America, Inc. MARCH / APRIL 2023 SHORTHAIR JOURNAL
Field Stats Obed/Rally Stats Agility Stats Health & Welfare Conformation Stats President Judges Education AKC Delegate Junior Showmanship Juniors Legislation Yearbook Breed Education/ Historian HOF-People HOF-Field Dogs HOF-Show Dogs Conformation General Articles Versatility awards GSPCA Calendar & Fulfillment Coordinator for back issues Obedience Registry of Merit New Members Report New Titles Report Field Trial Articles Juniors, NOH, & misc New Puppy Buyer Chair/ Membership Election Ryan Carson Belinda Venner Jeri Fishack Karen Nauer Bunita Eichelberger, VMD Tiffany Harvey Cessna Sharon Fitzpatrick Maxine Moinier Karen Nauer Valerie Nunes-Atkinson & Becky Feigh Lynn Pettinato & Becky Feigh Liz Jennings & Christopher Lee Deb Broad & Deb King Patte Titus Fred Lowry Mike Aldririch Deborah Longtin Char Rutar Liz Jennings Dave Nauer Doris Schoenfelder Valerie Casperite Renee Lara Loralei Dewe Karen Josephsen Teresa McCreight Tiffany Harvey Cessna Loralei Dewe Lynn Pettinato [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] & chris. [email protected] [email protected] / debbie@ liebmeister.com [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] SHORTHAIR JOURNAL Contributors 4 PAGE SHORTHAIR JOURNAL
VOLUME 23 ISSUE 02 MARCH / APRIL 2023 CONTENTS 91 BREEDER LISTINGS 68 NEW TITLE HOLDERS MCT OIL IMPROVES BEHAVIOR IN CANINE IDIOPATHIC EPILEPSY 7 GSP CLUB OF OHIO - HUNT TEST 38 IF YOU HAVE AN OLDER PET, BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SIGNS OF COGNITIVE 12 14 Q&A WITH NEW JUNIOR – MELODY ENGLAND, WHY “5” IS NOT ALWAYS THE MAGIC NUMBER NORTH FLORIDA GSPC WALKING FIELD TRIAL 40 62 SENIOR DOG HEALTH 44 DETECTION DOGS 61 REGISTRY OF MERIT PROGRAM CENTRAL FLORIDA GSPC WALKING FIELD TRIAL 65 8 94 CLASSIFIEDS 40 MEET THE BREEDS, NEW YORK CITY 77 TOP 10 5 PAGE SHORTHAIR JOURNAL
Time continues to fly this year! We had our Board Meeting in San Antonio the first week of February. Look for the minutes in the Members Only section of our website soon. Speaking of the website I hope you have had a chance to get on our newly website and take a look around. It has a lot more functionality and the committee continues to add more updated content. Thank you to the ongoing work of Missy Neal, Becky Feigh, Lynn Pettinato, Marty Cornell, Donna Schauer-Thiner and the team at Abacus. Our next major event will be held this month. The National Amateur Gun Dog Championship is being held in Pinckneyville, IL from April 14th to conclusion. I will be there and hope to get a chance to catch up with a number of you there. Look for the results and write up in the May/June Journal. Coming right behind is our National Specialty Show. I will be there as well and am looking forward to the chance to talk with members there as well. We have our Annual Awards banquet on Saturday night. It is an honor for me to recognize the winners from the prior year. Personally I hope to get my own dogs out this Spring to some local hunt tests and field trials, wish me luck! Enjoy the early Spring, and as always please feel free to reach out to me or any members of the Board. Sharon Fitzpatrick [email protected] 815-365-2819 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Shorthair Journal (ISSN NO. 15415384) published 6 times per year by the German Shorhaired Pointer Club of America, Inc. located at 45 Flintstone Court, Barboursville, VA 22923. Periodicals Postage Paid at Charlottesville, VA 22901 and at additional mailing offices. 1,800 Copies of the Shorthair Journal Mailed Send address changes to: Loralei Dewe 5916 Sunnybrook Lane Dixon, Ca 95620 [email protected] Requests for additional copies, back issues Direct to Doris Schoenfelder [email protected] 480-772-1961 Ad Deadline Journal Issue Jan. 10 January/February - National Field Trial Mar. 10 March/April - Stud Dogs & Veterans May. 10 May/June - National Amateur Gun Dog, Duals & Water Work July. 10 July/August - National Specialty Show Sep. 10 Sept/Oct. - Juniors (all venues) & Companion Dogs Nov. 10 Nov/Dec. - Breeder’s Issue POSTMASTER Advertisement Rates Advertisement Deadlines & Publishing Schedule SHORTHAIR JOURNAL Bonnie Hill Shorthair Journal PO Box 2084 | Tarpon Springs, FL 34688 Mobile: 215.378.0203 [email protected] Front Cover $450.00* Color (includes inside bio) Back Cover $400.00* Color inside Covers $300.00* (Front or Back Color) Center Spread $500.00* Color (2 pages) Full Page $250.00* Color Full Page $100.00* Black/White Half Page $65.00* Black/White Ad payments are due with ad submission. All advertisementart, photos, text must be submitted by the deadline. Payment can be made by check, money order, or paid with credit card using Paypal at www. GSPCa.org. *subject to change. Please contact me via phone or email if you want to reserve as payment must be received upon reservation of ad space. Commercial Ad rates are available for members and non-mambers. 6 PAGE SHORTHAIR JOURNAL
CHF Grant 02252: Investigating a Ketogenic Medium-Chain Triglyceride (MCT) Supplement for the Treatment of DrugResistant Canine Idiopathic Epilepsy and Its Behavioral Comorbidities Publication: Berk, B. A., Packer, R. M. A., Law, T. H., Wessmann, A., Bathen-Nöthen, A., Jokinen, T. S., Knebel, A., Tipold, A., Pelligand, L., & Volk, H. A. (2020). Mediumchain triglycerides dietary supplement improves cognitive abilities in canine epilepsy. Epilepsy & Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107608 What can we learn? A six-month, prospective, randomized, doubleblinded, controlled, multi-center dietary crossover trial was conducted to evaluate the short-term effects of supplementation with medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil on cognitive abilities in epileptic dogs. 29 dogs completed the trial and at least one cognitive assessment. While taking MCT oil at a dose of 9% of their caloric intake, epileptic dogs performed better on spatial-memory and problem-solving tasks and had improved trainability scores. Conclusion: Medium-chain triglyceride oil shows promise as a dietary supplement to improve not only seizure control, but also the behavioral changes associated with canine idiopathic epilepsy. Addressing these behavioral changes is critical to maintain the human animal bond and improve quality of life for affected dogs and their owners. Used with permission | AKC Canine Health Foundation MCT OIL IMPROVES BEHAVIOR IN CANINE IDIOPATHIC EPILEPSY BY: SHARON ALBRIGHT, DVM, CCRT 7 PAGE SHORTHAIR JOURNAL
WHY “5” IS NOT ALWAYS THE MAGIC NUMBER SUBMITTED BY: LEITA ESTES | AUTHOR: SHANNON STONE, ICSBNORCAL.COM How many times do we hear from bitch owners, “She hit a “5” and I bred her, but we didn’t get puppies”? Too many times to count, so let’s back up a bit… For many years, we’ve been told that bitches ovulate once their progesterone level reaches 5 ng/ml, so we have bred them, either naturally, or with an AI, according to that rule. Now that chilled and frozen semen is so readily available, and we have different options for insemination procedures, the game has changed dramatically. Bitches can ovulate between 4 ng/ml – 11 ng/ml, and no two bitches are the same. Many times, the same bitch will have entirely different levels in consecutive heat cycles, so that is why proper progesterone timing is key to a successful breeding. It’s a good idea to start progesterone testing on your bitch to get a baseline number, around Day 6 or Day 7 of her heat cycle. At this early point in her season, you should be able to skip a couple days in between tests, as her number will most likely still be quite low.. Very seldom do we go more than two days in between tests, and we always test on Friday so we know how to plan for the weekend. As progesterone levels rise, we START to watch for ovulation around a high 4-5 ng/ml. Once we see that “MAGIC” number we run another test at the same time the following day. This is where most bitch owner’s go wrong…they skip this next test, so they really have no idea if their bitch truly ovulated. At this point, we need to confirm she did indeed ovulate. To confirm ovulation, we must see at least a 3-4 ng/ml point jump within a 24-hour period. If we do not see a full 3-4-point jump, we test again the following day, at the same time, as we need to stay around 24 hours between tests. If we run a progesterone test the following day and have a full 3-4 point jump overnight, we have confirmed ovulation the prior day. Bitch #1 2/2/19 0.23 ng/ml 2/4/19 1.07 ng/ml 2/6/19 3.23 ng/ml 2/7/19 4.22 ng/ml 2/8/19 5.16 ng/ml** 2/9/19 9.11 ng/ml Bitch #2 3/6/19 0.77 ng/ml 3/8/19 1.39 ng/ml 3/10/19 3.66 ng/ml 3/11/19 5.72 ng/ml 3/12/19 6.34 ng/ml 3/13/19 8.42 ng/ml 3/14/19 9.79 ng/ml** 3/15/19 16.21 ng/ml ** OVULATION As you can see from the chart above, these two bitches both had ovulation confirmed, but ovulated at entirely different numbers. Bitch #1, ovulated at 5.15 ng/ml, and Bitch #2, ovulated at 9.79 ng/ml. Both of these bitches tracked perfectly normal and did exactly what we would want to see. Too many times we tend to get hung up on the “number” instead of the progression. It’s not a number that we are looking 8 PAGE SHORTHAIR JOURNAL
for, but that nice jump which indicates ovulation. If Bitch # 2 had not been tested past the 5.72 ng/ml result, and the owner had bred her from that “MAGIC” number, she most likely would not have conceived, or would have a smaller litter. Once we have confirmed ovulation , we know it can take up to three days for her eggs to mature and be ready for fertilization. Different vets have different protocols for when they start breeding post ovulation, but the general rule of thumb is if using fresh semen, you basically can start breeding right away, as the semen lives for several days inside the bitch. If using chilled semen, ideally one would breed on Day 2 & Day 4 post ovulation, and if using frozen semen, one would breed on Day 3 and/or Day 4 post ovulation depending on the type of insemination being performed. One recommendation I like to give is no matter where you do your testing, stay with the same machine/ facility and have your tests run the same time each day. All machines will run slightly different and each facility will know their machine, so if you change midstream, your results will not be as accurate. Happy Puppy Breath! Photos provided by D. Hand 9 PAGE SHORTHAIR JOURNAL
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IF YOU HAVE AN OLDER PET, BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SIGNS OF COGNITIVE DECLINE REPRINTED FROM: COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY JAMES L. VOSS VETERINARY TEACHING HOSPITAL | JUNE 23, 2021 As dogs age, so do their brains. And with aging can come cognitive decline. As health care for companion animals continues to improve, dogs are living longer than they used to, leaving more time and opportunity for cognitive changes to occur. One of the manifestations of cognitive decline is a condition called canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS), which is eerily similar to Alzheimer’s Disease in humans. “Recent research shows that aging changes for dogs as it relates to cognitive decline are remarkably similar to humans that suffer from cognitive changes, specifically Alzheimer’s Disease,” said Dr. Stephanie McGrath, veterinary neurologist at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome occurs in 35% of dogs over eight years old, so if your dog is getting up there in age, it’s important to be on the lookout for signs of cognitive decline and see your veterinarian if you notice any changes. Early recognition of abnormal behavior is essential because diseases like canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome are degenerative. This means that as the disease progresses, the outward clinical signs worsen. Deterioration in the brain is irreversible, emphasizing the importance of catching signs early. “Oftentimes dogs are diagnosed once they’ve shown a lot of clinical signs, but the ideal time to intervene is earlier on,” said Dr. Lisa Bartner, veterinary neurologist at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Part of the challenge of accurately diagnosing CCDS early is that the more common clinical signs – like personality changes, losing house training, wandering aimlessly at night – often mimic those of other neurological disorders, like brain tumors or other structural brain diseases. These signs often seem vague and happen gradually over the course of several months. Some owners don’t pick up on them until they return home from a vacation or have a houseguest point out a noticeable change. A helpful tool for identifying behavior changes in animals is the Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome Assessment Tool, which details the acronym “DISHAA” to outline potential clinical signs a senior pet experiencing cognitive dysfunction syndrome might exhibit. If clinical signs are recognized, an MRI can help with diagnosis of CCDS. Degenerative brain diseases like canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome literally cause the brain to shrink, which can be captured by an MRI. MRI also helps to exclude other conditions that could impact a dog’s health Many of the behaviors seen with cognitive dysfunction overlap with those seen in cognitive decline. The DISHAA tool was developed to help veterinarians distinguish between the two. The tool is a questionnaire that can be completed by owners or by the veterinary staff in consultation with owners, which separates behaviors into categories: Disorientation; Social Interactions; Sleep/Wake Cycles; House soiling, Learning and Memory; Activity; and Anxiety. The assessment can be used to support presumptive diagnosis of CDS and to monitor the dog over time. The number, frequency and severity of the signs observed, as well as the change over time, indicate the level of impairment and trajectory of decline. For a diagnosis of CDS, more than 1 cognitive domain must be affected. For example, CDS may be suspected in a dog that demonstrates impairment in the Interactions (I) and Anxiety (A) categories on the DISHAA questionnaire, but a dog impaired only in the Interactions (I) category would be considered to have cognitive impairment. For the second dog, the DISHAA assessment acts as a baseline for assessing progression toward CDS. Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome in dogs | Purina Institute “Recent research shows that aging changes for dogs as it relates to cognitive decline are remarkably similar to humans that suffer from cognitive changes, specifically Alzheimer’s Disease.” Continue reading at next page → 12 PAGE SHORTHAIR JOURNAL
Brain atrophy is visible on an MRI scan. The thalamus (red asterisk) is notably smaller in a dog with cognitive dysfunction (top). (Lisa Bartner) “Most degenerative diseases are progressive, which means the brain atrophies, or shrinks,” Bartner said. The problem is that brain atrophy is easiest to identify on an MRI scan when cognitive decline is advanced, so once more consistent clinical signs are noticed and later than is ideal for intervention. The further the disease progresses, the less cognitive function there is to try to preserve. While CCDS is becoming more common, it is often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed by pet owners or their primary care veterinarians because of the slow onset and vague clinical signs, and there’s still not enough discussion or research about the disease in the veterinary world. “We don’t have an easy way to diagnose it or even a way to diagnose it definitively,” McGrath said. “We’re seeing it more often, but it can be a difficult and frustrating diagnosis for pet owners because there’s no cure.” Tap Into Habit Though there’s no cure, much like with Alzheimer’s, some physical therapy and rehabilitation techniques show promise in helping dogs maintain quality of life for longer. “Treatment ends up being, ‘can we preserve what function we have or slow down the progression?’” Bartner said. “Reversibility is limited and there’s no one ‘slam dunk’ treatment, but rehabilitation plays a big role in potentially helping to slow down clinical progression.” The first step is to alleviate any pain your pet may be experiencing. To be clear, CCDS does not cause pain, but other comorbidities that also worsen with age, like arthritis or achy muscles, can exacerbate signs of cognitive dysfunction. Once a pain management plan is started or it’s established your dog is not experiencing pain, Sasha Foster, small animal rehabilitation coordinator at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching hospital, recommends decreasing the amount of novel activity you’re presenting to your dog while also enforcing a familiar routine. “Take the ten-thousand-foot view of what your dog does every day – consider what time they wake up, eat breakfast, go for a walk – and then follow those same patterns,” Foster said. “The more repetition of an activity you do, the more it becomes habitual. We’re trying to tap into habit.” Research in humans shows that when they get regular, low-level exercise, cognitive dysfunction clinical signs improve, including sleep. For dogs, similar coordination, balance, and low-level exercise guided by a rehabilitation specialist seem to improve cognitive dysfunction. Even if you’re unable to obtain a diagnosis of CCDS, or you’re hesitant to jump into getting an MRI for your pet, “there’s no harm in doing rehab,” Bartner says. Until researchers can develop better diagnostics and therapeutics, early recognition of abnormal or unusual behavior – and a visit to your veterinarian to investigate the cause – can help slow the progression of cognitive decline and extend the quality-of-life potential for your pet. 13 PAGE SHORTHAIR JOURNAL
Q&A WITH NEW JUNIOR – MELODY ENGLAND, AGE 9, 4TH GRADE BY: LYNN PETTINATO Social media certainly gives us access to lots of people, especially young people with talent. I found a photo of this young lady with her dog, Creek. I checked with her mom about doing a Q& A with her and this is what we found out about some of our younger talent! Also, check out @windy.oak.gsps on Instagram for Melody in action! INTERVIEWER: Where did you get your first GSP from? MELODY: We got him from Cedar Run GSP in Wisconsin. (Editors note – Chris and Michelle Rost) INTERVIEWER: Do you have a favorite GSP to watch show (or hunt, or do obedience, rally, agility) that isn’t your own dog? MELODY: I don’t have a favorite, but I like to watch YouTube videos of the GSPs at Westminster and look at all the pictures in the Shorthair Journal. INTERVIEWER: How long have you been involved with partnering with your GSP for events? MELODY: I have been working with Creek for about 10 months. INTERVIEWER: What events do you participate in? MELODY: I do conformation and juniors. I did 4H last year. I just started working on tricks for his trick dog title, and I just started virtual scent work with him. I also want to do AKC Fit dog. INTERVIEWER: What is your favorite prize that you have won so far? MELODY: My favorite prize so far is a small trophy plate, my Owner handled group 3 ribbons, and a GSP bag. 14 PAGE SHORTHAIR JOURNAL
INTERVIEWER: What kind of prize/trophy would you like to win? MELODY: I would really like to win a chair, a dog bowl, or super big ribbons. INTERVIEWER: At your young age, what do you think the most important thing about a GSP is? MELODY: I think the most important thing is that they can do it all! INTERVIEWER: What kind of information do you want to learn more about in German shorthaired pointers? MELODY: I would like to know more about the history of the GSP and how they started. INTERVIEWER: Lastly, are you having fun with your GSP? MELODY: Yes, I am having a lot of fun. The scent work at home is the most fun to do. 2023 National Amateur Gun Dog Championship April 14 - concl., 2023 Pyramid State Park, Denmark Unit 1562 Pyramid Park Rd Pinckneyville, IL 62274 Judges: Julie Claypool-Nelson & Cynthia Findley Online Entries: https://bit.ly/3r0OFn4 Premium: https://bit.ly/35oZ9Ew The Championship is open to any dog who is an FC, AFC or Master Hunter of record or who has a gun dog placement obtained 36 months prior to close. See Premium for additional details or contact Teresa McCreight at [email protected]. Enter Enter Enter Today! Today! Today! 15 PAGE SHORTHAIR JOURNAL
www.delombardiegsp.com Bred, owned, handled and loved by Lise Céré MBISS Am/Can GCH De Lombardie Alpha du Centaure NAI
Fergus Owners: Chrissy Dobma and Lyndsay Ferguson [email protected] www.Skypointgsp.com Breeders: Lyndsay Ferguson and Nancibeth Clements Katie Gochev DESIGN 1 OWNER HANDLER # 2 GSP MALE # Hips: Good • Elbows/Heart/Eyes: Normal CD: Normal/Clear • CHIC: 158557 RBIS CAN GCHB AM CH LEASIDE’S LIFE GOES ON CGN FDJ WDJ *CKC points through 1/31/23.
Phoenix MBPISS AKC GCHB BIMBS MBVIS URO1 AG 1 UKC CH Aus Dem Norden’s Duel In The Desert CD PCD BN RM JH ACT2 TKP DJ DSX HDS AS FDC CGC TDI GSPCA VCA ROM Breeder: Mary Morris Owners: Erica Morris • Mary Morris ~ Aus Dem Norden GSPs, est.1980 [email protected] CH Heidenhof Hi-Spirit V Kaposia CH Carl Aus Dem Norden Ryelle CH Zeldas Free Asabreeze V Greif CH Hi-Spirits Derby Aus Dem Norden BN RN CH Schomberg’s Browning Citori CH Hi-Spirit’s Dark Velvet CH Hi-Spirit’s Good Gracious Pedigree for Phoenix • CHIC 116754 CH Snowcreeks Tracker CH Windabrae’s Dire Straights JH CH Windabrae’s OJ V Farrook CH Straightaway’s 00 Seven CD RE NA NAJ CH Imagine’s Heir Apparent CH Straightaway’s Live N Let Di JH CH Windabrae’s Straight Laced JH Height: 24.5 Inches Weight: 60 Lbs OFA: Good Hips OFA: Normal Elbows & Cardiac Eyes: Normal Clear for CD and Dilute Design By NoFrills Design2023 • [email protected] Twin Eyes Photography Barbara O Brien Photography Phoenix is a moderate, 24.5 inch dog with dark eyes, a classic head piece and beautiful balanced movement, which he passes on to his offspring. He has an excellent temperament and is a happy, biddable dog, no matter what venues he takes on! And just like their sire, his offspring have the same outgoing trainability. Phoenix is the sire of several Champions, BISS winners, NAVHDA NA PRZ1’s, Master Hunters, Obedience, Rally, RACH and MACH dogs.
2022 #11 GSP ~ # 8 All Breed*
Johnny Am Ch Legacyk Virago Sunday Morning Coming Down at Freiheit BISS Am. Can GCh. Rose Mountains Last Man Standing, JH MBISS Am, Can GCH. Legacyk Twice Tempted Am Ch Coldwater's Mmm Mmm Good GCHG West Stars Seamus Gunner Am Ch Coldwater’s My Delectable Darloonie CAMPBELL Nancibeth & Steve Clements www.Legacyk.com 517-403-2419 Co-Owned by Freiheit Annie Cullen-Tormey Campbell is Co-Owned by: Kim Abbott Coldwater GSPs
CAMPBELL Hardwood's Rhinestone Cowboy VC Ch. Crystals Up Close N Personal MH ROM Ch. Hardwoods Whiskey Girl, SH BRUNO CAM Norenfield Bruno Derby Prize 1, SOLMS Prize 1, VGP1, IKP1 Katie Gochev DESIGN
Louie Multiple Group Winning MBISS Am GCHS Can GCH Springrun's Hotter Than That BISS Am Ch. Seven Hills Hurrikane Force BIS MBISS GCHP Shannon’s Celebration At Springrun Australia Ch. Makapoynt Clegane sandy Nancibeth & Steve Clements www.Legacyk.com / 517-403-2419 Co-Owned by Freiheit Annie Cullen-Tormey Louie was Bred & Co-Owned by Jane Handschumaker Katie Gochev DESIGN
Billy Joel BISS Am GCHB Legacyk Freiheit Piano Man MBISS, Multiple Group Winning Am GCHS Spring runs hotter than that x MBISS Am Can GCH Legacyk twice tempted Katie Gochev DESIGN
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GSP CLUB OF OHIO - HUNT TEST SUBMITTED BY: SHERRY MEINKE On September 30th October 1st & 2nd 2022 the GSP Club of Ohio held the first AKC Triple Hunt Test. Due to large entries in the past we had requested this 3-day event. We ran 180 dogs in the 3 days, 2 tests each day. All levels from Junior through Master as well as Advanced Master were run in each test. We had 38 dogs pass the Junior Test, 18 dogs passed the Senior Test and 22 dogs passed the Master Test and 1 dog passed Advance Master. George Kaschak Peggy Meadors Dennis Meinke Eileen Murdock Debbie Pietrzyk Linda Pruitt Kent Shaver John Sorensen Judges for this AKC Triple Hunt Test were: All these Judges did an excellent job working hard all day! The grounds, Swamp Collie Acres owned by Bill & Debbie Pietrzyk in Rimersburg Pennsylvania, are beautiful and well maintained. The grounds are large enough to provide for two fields to be used simultaneously. Pleasant weather helped in getting all these dogs run in available daylight. The Club serves breakfast and lunch each day as well as holding raffles. 38 PAGE SHORTHAIR JOURNAL
Chairman Chuck Meadors Secretary Sherry Meinke John Costanzo Joe & Donna McMullen Bob & Cathy Derosky Dan & Kelsey Kamp Gary Nagy Don Cummings Sharon Hladio Martha Towner Peggy Meadors George Kaschak The GSPCO Hunt Test Committee Kristen Julian Nicole Spencer Dakota Main Bob Allen Gary Arblaster Mike Murdock All this is made possible by a great committee. 39 PAGE SHORTHAIR JOURNAL
MEET THE BREEDS, NEW YORK CITY BY: DENISE AVERY The American Kennel Club Meet the Breeds-New York City was back in full swing at the Javits Center on the weekend of January 28th and 29th 2023. MTB NYC was last held in January 2020 and about 6 weeks later, COVID hit. I often wondered if there would ever be such an affair again as I couldn’t imagine folks wanting to put themselves back in that type of an environment–1,000s of people passing through the booth, many of them petting, bending over and getting on the floor with your dog–all in very close proximity with you. I guess most folks like me found chatting about our amazing dogs and sharing them with the public so enjoyable that we didn’t hesitate to do it again. 40 PAGE SHORTHAIR JOURNAL
The crowds that come through MTB NYC rival Westminster at the Garden or the Piers. Amy Hamernick, Executive Projects Administrator for the AKC, reports there were 25,000 attendees between the 2 days with 135 breeds represented by 1400 exhibitors. This was a full-fledged family affair with tons of activities for kids and a huge demonstration area. Demonstrations included many law enforcement K9 groups, disc dogs, agility and trick dogs. The GSP booth was directly across from the main entrance escalator. The first dogs seen by most were ours and folks just gravitated to them. Every single dog we had in the booth was a rock star, or at least it appeared that way with all the attention they garnered. I have no doubt thousands of hands touched a GSP over the 2 days. We had 6 dogs in the booth on Saturday. Dawn Bradshaw with Kaia and Emilie Laston with Henry met me for the morning shift. Dawn channeled her Martha Stewart style and decorated the booth with camo, burlap, cattails, a pheasant and decoys. Emilie had trading style cards made up for each of the dogs that listed some general information about GSPs and the GSPCA website address. These were a huge hit with the kids. Eleanor Campbell and Darrell Swank covered the afternoon with Zerk and Charly. My Brew and Mali were there for the day. It was great having so many dogs so we could alternate always giving at least one a break with some quiet time in a crate. We were able to have 3 dogs out at all times and I am not exaggerating when I say each dog was showered with attention nearly the entire time. Barbara VanBlarcum and Lili drove back in with me on Sunday. I had my Luca and Brody. The Feldman family came in with young Whiskey. These 4 ranged in ages of just turning a year to just turning 2. It was amazing how well these youngsters handled the very long day. QR codes were printed on flyers for folks to access 41 PAGE SHORTHAIR JOURNAL
general breed and GSPCA information. Lynn Pettinato, GSPCA Secretary and Social Media Coordinator Extraordinaire, put together a neat contest having folks posting their picture on Instagram with a GSP in our booth. The interesting thing about Meet the Breeds, particularly in NYC, is that not all attendees come through with breed specific questions or even looking for a certain breed or a breeder. We got a lot of “oh, I grew up with a GSP” or “my (some relative or neighbor) had one and it was such a great dog, I just had to pet one”. Others were attracted to the looks or personality of our dogs and wanted to know if the breed might fit their lifestyle. We got to chat with them about the realities of GSPs. Many were NYC folks and families out to simply see dogs, touch dogs, wondering IF a dog is right for them and if so, what kind. It was obvious that some of the kids had never petted a dog and our GSPs were just phenomenal ambassadors for that experience. I am so grateful for all the help and support from Dawn, Emilie, Eleanor, Darrell, Barbara and the Feldman’s-Jared, Sara, Samantha & Cooper. MTB NYC is no easy fete, but rather more of a logistical nightmare. It is held on the lower level of the Javits Center. Driving into the city, unloading at the Javits Center, finding parking which is at least a couple blocks away, walking back and forth, having dogs in the city environment for many hours and then being part of 100s that need to pack up and exit at the same time all via 3 escalators or 3 small elevators-the fact that Dawn, Eleanor & Darrell came back after helping in 2020 and that we are all looking forward to doing it again speaks volumes for how gratifying the experience is. Dates and locations for future 2023 MTB events have not been released yet, but if one is in your area, I encourage you to participate. You will not regret it! 42 PAGE SHORTHAIR JOURNAL
Homegrown terrorism and mass shootings have sadly become everyday news in the United States. As a result, the demand for explosives detection dogs as a deterrent against such crimes is on the increase with one major problem: there are not enough dogs to meet the growing need. Approximately 80 to 90% of the explosives detection dogs in the U.S.–whether they work in law enforcement, private security, or government–are sourced from overseas. Sourcing for this crucial national security resource is not secure, because other countries also face their own terrorism threats, pandemics, or geopolitical disturbances that reduce the number of dogs available for U.S. national security and public safety. Increasingly, the U.S. must rely on high-quality, American-bred, -raised and -trained dogs to protect our national and public security. The AKC Detection Dog Task Force (DDTF) was established in 2016 to help address this issue and encourage the breeding and development of homegrown hero dogs that can achieve the rigorous standards necessary to be an explosives detection dog. The AKC Detection Dog Task Force works with experts from academia, government/ public policy, military, policing, training and breeding to create multi-pronged solutions to help address the shortage of U.S. detection dogs. The AKC has launched initiatives in Public Policy/Government Relations, Networking/ Raising Awareness, and Breeder/Puppy Raiser Education to advance these goals. We invite you to learn more about these programs and ways you can participate through advocacy, education, or even raising a future detection dog hero from your own breeding program! Breeder/Puppy Raiser Education: The Patriotic Puppy Program is specialized pilot program that provides one-on-one assistance to breeders/puppy raisers of Labrador Retrievers and German Shorthaired Pointers interested in learning how to raise a puppy suitable for sale/placement in advanced training as a detection dog. Successful, committed applicants work for up to a year with a top detection dog trainer to develop their skills. *New - The AKC Canine College Confident Puppy e-learning course, open to all, teaches the secrets of raising a confident puppy that can excel in a range of areas and is potentially suitable for advanced training as a working dog. Public Policy/Government Relations: Government Relations – There are many obstacles that stand in the way of U.S. breeders being able to easily sell dogs to the government for detection work, including low market price for top working and field line puppies and complicated government vendor contracts that make it difficult for individual breeders. The AKC Government Relations team, has made strides in bringing these issues to the attention of lawmakers, through congressional testimony, advocacy and legislation. Networking/ Raising Awareness: AKC National Detection Dog Conference – The first AKC US Detection Dog Conference took place in 2017 to start a conversation about increasing the domestic supply of detection candidates. The stakeholders and speakers included members of government, academia and private training/ breeding facilities. Every year since then, the conference has grown in scope and reputation. DETECTION DOGS REPRINTED FROM AKC GOVERNMENT RELATIONS | WWW.VOTERVOICE.NET/AKC/CAMPAIGNS/94315/RESPOND 44 PAGE SHORTHAIR JOURNAL
HEALTH & WELFARE COMMITTEE ON NSS 2023 The Health & Welfare committee will be focusing this year’s fundraising efforts at the National Specialty Show on hemangiosarcoma. Hemangiosarcoma is an aggressive form of cancer that grows and spreads quickly without warning. It can occur anywhere in the body but most often affects a dog’s spleen, heart, liver, or skin. We have many ways to support the effort: • As we did in previous years, we will offer chairs for sale, on the GSPCA website. This year 80% of the money raised will go towards research for hemangiosarcoma and 20% will fund the National Specialty Show. • On Friday, May 5, Dr. Megan King, VMD, a board-certified cardiologist will be providing cardiac screening. You can register to reserve an appointment and pay on the GSPCA website. • A DNA blood draw will be offered to increase the number and diversity of sample of GSPs available for future research. The Orthopedic Foundation of Animals sponsors the DNA bank. More details will follow. • We will be hosting the Stud Dog Gala on Friday, May 5, including assisting with preparation for the Top 25 on Thursday May 4 and the live auction. • New this year, Melissa Hungerford will be sharing her expert handling tips for you and your GSP. She will offer a 10-minute session for $20 (one hour after judging) on Wednesday, May 3 and Friday, May 5. Reservations and payment must be completed on the NSS Website, with limited availability. Not attending the National Specialty Show, please donate directly to the dedicated link at the Canine Health Foundation – www.akcchf.org/GSPCA 45 PAGE SHORTHAIR JOURNAL
“RAISING the STANDARD for BREED EXCELLENCE” VJK-MYST - SINCE 1971- VALERIE NUNES-ATKINSON & YVONNE HASSLER-DETERDING [email protected] [email protected] Katie Gochev DESIGN
Jade’s historic career in the show ring may be finished but the best is yet to come, with puppies on the horizon. We can’t wait for the next chapter! Owners: Carley Simpson, Suzanne Acevedo & Yvonne Hassler-Deterding Breeders: Claire Malcolm & Mariah Dupuy Owned And Presented By: Valerie Nunes-Atkinson • Assisted By: Antonio Vidmar ALL SYSTEMS Sporting Dog 2021 Sporting Dog 2022 MBIS, MRBIS, MSBIS GCHP CLARITY REACH THE SKY VJK-MYST
Jade’s historic career in the show ring may be finished but the best is yet to come, with puppies on the horizon. We can’t wait for the next chapter! Winner of: • 2021 Westminster KC Sporting Group • 2021 Morris & Essex Sporting Group • 13 All-Breed Best in Shows • 25 Specialty Best in Shows • 2021 & 2022 GSPCA Top 25 winner • 2021 GSPCA Maturity Winner Katie Gochev DESIGN A Thrilling Journey
The Ribbons and the Records are only as good as the impact on the breed that is left behind. Although CJ’s life was devastatingly cut short, his legacy and contribution to the breed is remarkable. With all of our dogs our goal has never been about producing the most champions, but quite simply, it’s about producing a family of quality dogs that fills our vision in our own breeding program. And in doing so, it’s rewarding to see how across the world we are able to be a part of so many other beautiful kennels, their breeding programs and helping to move our breed forward with the influence of CJ. Remarkably, CJ has produced FIVE #1 Dogs in FOUR different COUNTRIES over the last 3 years. We are so incredibly proud that CJ’s legacy lives on through all his beautiful get. 2016 Westminster Best in Show Winner MBIS & MSBIS winning GCHP VJK-MYST Garbonita’s California Journey CD RN BCAT CGCA CGCU TKN Owners; Valerie Nunes-Atkinson, Yvonne Hassler Deterding, Alice Manning and M. & L. Ulrich Breeders; Valerie Nunes-Atkinson, Alice Manning and Anita Weiss Handled, Loved and missed daily by; Valerie Nunes-Atkinson CJ GCHP VJK-MYST GARBONITA’S CALIFORNIA JOURNEY CD RN BCAT CGCA CGCU TKN THE ALL TIME TOP WINNING MALE IN BREED HISTORY…