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Recognising Hip Dysplasia in Gundogs

HIP Dysplasia is the most common cause of rear leg lameness in dogs. The highest incidence occurs in large-breed dogs, including St. Bernards, Newfoundlands, Rottweilers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, Labrador Retrievers, and many others. Smaller breeds are also affected, but are less likely to show symptoms.

Hip dysplasia is a polygenic trait. That is, more than one gene controls the inheritance. Environmental factors such as diet are also involved. The hip is a ball-and-socket joint; the ball is the head of the femur and the socket is the acetabulum of the pelvis. In a dysplastic hip, the head of the femur fits loosely into a poorly developed, shallow acetabulum. Joint instability occurs as muscle development lags behind the rate of skeletal growth. As the stress of weight-bearing exceeds the strength limits of the supporting connective tissue and muscle, the joint becomes loose and unstable. This allows for free play of the femoral head in the acetabulum, which promotes abnormal wear and tear.

Feeding a very high-calorie diet to growing dogs can exacerbate a predisposition to hip dysplasia, because the rapid weight gain places increased stress on the hips. Being overweight supports the genetic potential for hip dysplasia, as well as other skeletal diseases. A diet with an imbalance of calcium and phosphorous is bad for bone development.

Another factor that can bring on the symptoms of hip dysplasia is inappropriate exercise during the period of rapid bone growth. Young dogs should be discouraged from jumping up and down from heights in situations where they land on their back legs (such as jumping up to catch a ball), and from standing up on their back legs (which dogs do when they stand up against a fence or window to get a better view). They should also avoid running on pavement.

Dogs with hip dysplasia are born with hips that appear normal but progressively undergo structural changes. The age of onset is 4 to 12 months. Affected puppies may show pain in the hip, walk with a limp or a swaying gait, bunny hop when running, and experience difficulty in the hindquarters when getting up. Pressing on the rump can cause the pelvis to drop. With the puppy on his back, the rear legs may not extend into the frog-leg position without causing pain.

An X-ray of the hips and pelvis is the only reliable way of determining whether a dog has hip dysplasia. Good X-rays require heavy sedation or anaesthesia. The standard view is taken with the dog lying on his back with his rear legs parallel and extended. The knees (stifles) are rotated internally. Care is taken to be sure the pelvis is not tilted.

Here at Working Gundogs we have all our Labrador Retriever breeding stock tested for Hip Dysplasia, the results can be found on the Kennel Club website under Health Checker.

FTCH Eastdale Harry x FTW Russlayne Bracken of Northglen

Labrador Retriever (working) Yellow and Black Pups

We have recently covered FTW Russlayne Bracken of Northglen (Poppy) with FTCH Eastdale Harry (Harry) and produced 7 Bitches and 3 Dogs ( 2 Yellow and 1 Black Dog, 2 Yellow and 5 Black Bitches), born 15th June 2014, will be ready 12th August 2014.

This is a repeat mating due the success back in June 2012, when she gave birth to 8 puppies.

For the benefit of future purchasers, we conducted a brief survey of all 8 purchasers back in June 2012, we received 7 out of 8 replies, which considering peoples attitudes to surveys, we thought was fantastic. The results can be found here (click to find survey results).

FTCH Eastdale Harry

FTCH Eastdale Harry is one of the best Retrievers in the UK, who has successfully qualified for the IGL retriever Championship on no less than 3 occasions, 2010, 2011 and 2012 gaining diploma's on 2 occasions in 2010 and 2012.

Post by Retriever Training.

FTW Russalyne Bracken of Northglen

FTW Russlayne Bracken of Northglen is a proven working Black Labrador Bitch with 14 Field Trial Awards to her credit winning 3 All Aged Field Trials and is also an Open Working Test Winner and is fully health tested. Details of Awards and health Test Results can be found here (Click for further information).

If you are interested in acquiring a well bred, highly intelligent, biddable Labrador Retriever Pup from fully health tested parents from an approved Kennel Club Assured Breeder, please complete the register via this link.

Scottish Field Trial Powers Revoked by Kennel Club

United Kingdom Kennel Club on the 11th June 2014, notified all Secretaries of Scottish Gundog Clubs and Field Trial Societies, that all future field trial draws will be conducted by the Kennel Club.

It has long been a discussion item north and south of the border, that Scottish field trial draws have been conducted under a different rules (or hidden rules), some may have been interfered with and some clubs make it public that if you Judge for a Scottish Club you will be guaranteed a run in the next season or a novice field trial.

Some Scottish Gundog Clubs and Societies/Associations will argue it is difficult to get Judges, if they do not guarantee a future run in a future field trial.

It's interesting this decision comes at a time when Scottish Independence will be decide upon later this year, and is bound to create a fury over social network sites as to why the Scottish have been single out for such treatment.

Officials presiding over such matters, have a difficult job during the shooting season, which is carried out on the minimal of expenses by volunteers, unfortunately their are a minority both north and south of the border who occupy these positions for their own personal benefit.

It is the writers view these issues will continue, until a better system of transparency is available for public examination.

The Kennel Club have invested heavily on reporting health information into the public domain, which has only come about because of a loss in integrity by those who are supposed to be acting in the best interest of the breed, lets hope its not too long before we all have access to all Judging Appointments and Awards granted throughout the field trial system.

More recently the Kennel Club announced its intention to create its own online Field Trial Management System, again this decision has only come about because private individuals are creating management and information systems, which were previously not available.

Northglen Gundogs Labrador Retriever Pups May 2014 ~ Retrieving

Very pleased with this new litter of Labrador Retriever Pups all 6 showing signs of confidence being bold and strong, looking forward to seeing them develop into proper gundogs

Changes to the DANGEROUS DOGS ACT!

ADVICE TO OWNERS

The amended Dangerous Dogs Act Comes into effect in England and Wales on
13 May 2014 This law applies to all dog owners no matter what size or breed, 
whether your pet is a Chihuahua, a Cockapoo or a Collie cross.

Which elements of the existing Dangerous Dogs Act

should dog owners be aware of ?

Section 3 of the Act applies to every single dog owner in England and Wales.

Under this section, it is a criminal offense for the person in charge of the dog to allow it to be ‘dangerously out of control’ in a public place.

A dog doesn't have to bite to be deemed dangerous in the eyes of the law Generally if a dog bites a person, it will be presumed to have been ‘dangerously out of control’, however even if the dog does not bite, but gives the person grounds to feel that the dog may injure them, the law still applies.

Not many dog owners are aware of this,and it is important to hold that thought when looking at the changes. 

What’s changing on 13 May?

While owners need to be fully aware of all the hanges, the biggest difference from now on is the Act also covers incidents on private property in addition to public spaces.

This includes your own house and both front and back gardens.

In addition:

•

It will now be an offence for your dog to attack an assistance dog (Guide Dog, Hearing Dog etc).

•

Prison sentences will be increased for those convicted of some offences

•

Police or an appointed local authority now have powers to seize a dangerously out of control dog in a private place. The existing legislation already covers public places.

What should dog owners be doing now?

Ensure your gardens are safe The most important point to consider ishow to keep unexpected visitors or delivery drivers safe on your property.

The requirement for the law to cover private places as well as public ones has long been campaigned for by the communication Workers Union. Numerous Royal Mail and other delivery services employees are injured by dog bites each year and up until now there has not been the legislation to enable action to be taken to ensure their future safety.

You need to make sure that any visitor can safely access your front door without encountering your dog.

There is a slight grey area in these changes in that if the person attacked is a burglar or trespasser your dog may not be considered dangerously out of control if it is in a building that is your private dwelling at the time of the attack.

However, this does not cover incidents in your back or front garden so while the law is yet to be tested, all dog owners should ensure that all areas of their gardens where their dogs could encounter unexpected visitors are secure.

If necessary it is also worth talking to your neighbours and asking them not to let their children climb your fences to retrieve balls etc to be on the safe side.

Manage your dog when someone knocks We all know that fewer letters are being sent through the post, but the rise in internet shopping means that more parcels and especially signed for parcels are being delivered, which requires the delivery person to knock at the door. This change in legislation should be a wake up call to all dog owners to ensure their dogs are under control when they open the door otherwise they risk committing a criminal offence.

It is not unusual for a dog to be reactive to any visitor to your door, so you need to decide now how you are going to manage that situation. The easiest thing to do is to shut your dog in another room or in the garden, provided of course the dog cannot access the front door from the garden.

If that is not an option, then you will need to seek the services of an experienced or qualified dog trainer or behaviourist to teach your dog some new behaviours around the door.

You also need to consider how your dog greets people. What you view as a dog being friendly by jumping up at visitors may be seen as threatening behaviour by a stranger.

Owning a dog is a huge responsibility and should not be taken lightly, however by taking some time to think about what these changes mean to you and your dog, you will be taking steps to keep everyone safe and avoid ending up in a position that no one wants to find themselves in.