Today's Breeder - Purina Pro Club

■ BUILDING A KENNEL ■ PLACING PUPPIES IN PET HOMES■ MANAGING URINARY STONES

T O P O B E D I E N C E B R E E D E R S

Sunfire Golden Retrievers

A Purina Pro Plan Publication Dedicated to the Needs of Canine Enthusiasts Issue 93

TODAY’S BREEDER

PURINA SYMPOSIUM HELPS TO ADVANCE SAFE TRAINING OF SPORTING DOGS

P u r i n a Fa r m s

Pro retriever trainer Mike Lardylikens field trial retrievers to endurance sprinters. “Even in thefirst series of a trial, as retrieverstake off on a land mark retrieve,they may run over tough cover and hilly terrain in high windor rain,” he says. “It can be physically demanding.”

With 35 years’ experience training retrievers, including dogsthat have earned 22 National titles, seven National RetrieverChampions he handled himself, Lardy has built a trainingprogram that centers on respect and care of the dogs. “We lookfor little things and take notes on our dogs’ progress every day,”he says. “A sloppy sit could indicate a physical problem, for example.Some trainers think the more training, the better. To us, moretraining is not always better.”

The dynamics involved in understanding the stress a sportputs on a dog and how to safely train are key to achieving anoptimal performance. Trainers who partner with sports medicineveterinarians reap knowledge about little things that can makea big difference in a dog’s performance.

Capturing the opportunity to bring together competitorsof this year’s AKC Master National Retriever event and the

Purina Pro Plan Incredible DogChallenge National Finals, Purinainvited 30 top veterinary sportsmedicine experts to the Purina Canine Sports Medicine Symposium

Sept. 29 to Oct. 1. The first program of its kind in the country,the symposium linked Lardy, as well as the competitors whoseevents were the same weekend, with the experts for a synergisticsharing of the intrinsic aspects of dog sports and the special-ized nature of canine sports medicine.

“Purina is a longtime provider of optimal nutrition for canineathletes in training and conditioning, as well as recovery,” saysPurina Senior Veterinary Communications Manager RuthAnnLobos, DVM. “We are so proud to support the emerging field ofveterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation since its inceptionin 2010.”

A collaborative spirit among the veterinary experts generatedthought-provoking discussions and questions. The future forcanine athletes promises to bring an increased level of care, sothe retrievers that Lardy trains and those at the Master Nationalmay retrieve with greater endurance and precision, and accom-plish more than ever before imagined. ■

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Pro retriever trainer Mike Lardy of Handjem Kennels shared his experience training retrievers for field trials with veterinary sports medicine special-ists at the Purina Canine Sports Medicine Symposium.

Today’s Breeder Advisory Board

Gianna DeiSanti, Brand Director, Breeder-Enthusiast Marketing

Sherry Bresnahan, Senior MarketingManager, Breeder-Enthusiast Marketing

Christina Schneider, Marketing Manager, Breeder-Enthusiast Marketing

Scott Smith, Managing Director of Field Operations

Ann Viklund, Director of Conformation

Connie Wagner, Senior Area Manager(Southeast), Conformation

Carol Grossman, Western Area Manager, Conformation

Annie Balotti, Area Manager, Purina Event Center

Marci Sale, Plains Area Manager, Conformation

Corey Benedict, Northeast Area Manager, Conformation

Diana Allen, Field Representative, Conformation

Heidi Kellerman, Field Representative, Conformation

Karl Gunzer, Senior Manager, SportingGroup

Rod L. Carter, Area Manager, Sporting

Dean Reinke, Area Manager, Sporting

Greg L. Blair, Area Manager, Sporting

Mark Cascio, Area Manager, Sporting

Kaite Flamm, Manager, Purina EventCenter

Today’s Breeder is produced and pub-lished by Nestlé Purina Public Relations.

Keith Schopp, Vice President

Barbara Fawver, Editor, Today’s Breeder

Kayla Miller, Senior Writer, Today’s Breeder

Margarett Wolf, Senior Writer, Today’sBreeder

Today’s Breeder is sent as a courtesy tomembers of Purina Pro Club. Articlesmay be reprinted if the following creditis included: Used with permission fromToday’s Breeder, Nestlé Purina PetCareCompany.

Trademarks owned by Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., Vevey, Switzerland.

© 2016 Nestlé Purina PetCare Company

Please note that the handlers or ownersof dogs featured in Today’s Breeder mayhave received Purina Pro Plan dog foodas a Purina ambassador.

GETTING STARTED ONBUILDING A DOG KENNEL

Kennels in the Country ownersJustin Smithey and Cheslie Pickettshare tips on creating a comfort-able, safe kennel that’s appeal-ing to dogs and their owners.

PLACING PUPPIES IN PET HOMES

Matching the right family withthe right dog is an essential partof dog breeding. Edy Ballard ofIronwood Beagles and MikeStewart of Wildrose Kennelstell how they identify a goodhome for each dog.

SUNFIRE’S GOLDENS:‘BEST DOGS IN THE WORLD’

Michael “Mike” Book and BarbaraBiewer have bred eight generationsand more than 40 Obedience TrialChampions. Their ultimate goal isto produce dogs that owners willcall “the best dog in the world.”

MANAGING URINARYSTONES

Struvite and calcium oxalatestones are the most commonstones that occur in dogs.Watching for signs of stonescan help owners manage thepainful condition in dogs.

DEPARTMENTS2 Purina Farms 20 Circle of Champions22 Purina Sporting Awards (SPO Beagle

& Coonhound) 24 Breed Snapshot

ON THE COVERSunfire’s Long Hot Summer MHCDX RN CGC WCX CAN CDX(“Ben”), a 4-year-old Golden Retriever bred and owned byMichael “Mike” Book and BarbaraBiewer. Formerly owned by thelate Claire Harnick, Ben is handledby Mike in hunting tests and byMike and Barbara in obediencetrials. Cover photo by Diane Lewis.See story on page 10.

THIS PAGEThe ability to place puppies in homes where they will livewonderful lives is part of beinga responsible breeder. To learnmore, see story on page 6.

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Ta b le o f Co n t e n t s

Visit Today’s Breeder on the PurinaPro Club website (purinaproclub.com)for more photos and information

PURINAPROCLUB.COM | 3

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Ke n n e l T i p s

Many considerations go into building a kennelor adding on to an existing kennel. At Kennelsin the Country in Sugar Valley, Georgia, JustinSmithey, who owns the handling/breeding andboarding kennel with his wife, Cheslie Pickett,says, “Our chief concern was providing a safe,

comfortable, healthy living space for the dogs.We wanted our kennel to be attractive to own-ers and appealing to dogs.”

Here are tips from Kennels in the Countryto consider as you plan your kennel.

GETTING STARTED ON

BUILDING A DOG KENNEL

Location Is Everything1

First check the city, county and state zoningrequirements. Our kennel had to be 1,000feet away from a residence, thus we built itin the center of our 28 acres. Your kennelshould be located away from neighbors sobarking dogs are not a problem. You alsoshould have good drainage and room forfuture expansion.

Creatures of Comfort2

Make sure the kennel is built so the hot afternoon sun does not face kennel runs.Our dog runs face the east and northeast,giving them the early morning sun. The office, grooming room, laundry, and kitchenare located at the front of the building wherethe afternoon sun hits.

Professional handlers JustinSmithey and Cheslie Pickett,pictured with Whippets “Lexie”(GCH Bo-Bett Lanexa Legion-naire), left, and “Angel” (GCHBo-Bett Appraxin Angel), visitedmany boarding and showkennels before building theirown in Sugar Valley, Georgia.

We chose a concrete foundation forour kennel for multiple reasons. Theconcrete on the outside runs allowsfor easy pickup of solid waste, andthen we hose urine and water wasteinto drains that feed into a septic system. A sealed finish protects the concrete fromurine and water seeping in. The inside runshave epoxy paint on the walls and floors thatallows for surfaces to be thoroughly disinfectedagainst disease and parasites, and we addedtexture to the concrete flooring to providetraction. The higher initial cost of concrete isoffset by its lower maintenance cost, ease ofcleaning and attractive, clean appearance.

Concrete Works Well4

It was important to us to have safe, spacious exercisepaddocks that would allow the Whippets and ItalianGreyhounds that we breed and show, as well as dogsthat are boarding, to run free. All our kennel runsfeed into exercise paddocks that are separated by 5-foot-tall woven horse fencing with 2-by-4 inch meshweaving secured on wooden posts. Custom chain linkgates separate the exercise paddocks, and we addedpavers under the gates and along the fence lines forsecurity. ■

Designed for Exercise5

Fresh Air Is Invigorating3

Air quality is important. We installed a large exhaust fanthat pulls air through the kennel when we open a couple ofwindows on the opposite side of the kennel. In the warmsummer months, we keep the exhaust fan going regularly.In winter, we run it for about an hour every day. This is oneof our favorite features.


The outside runs of Kennels in the Country, above, have a roof overhang for protectionfrom inclement weather, and the runs open to grass paddocks that provide a safe, securearea for exercise. The kennel façade, right, was built facing west so the office, rather thanthe kennels, would receive the sun in the warmest part of the day.

Kennels with glass doors, above, complement chain link runs opposite them. A largeexhaust fan on the far wall helps to keep the air fresh when open windows on the opposite side of the building pull the air through. A separate area, right, allows forwhelping and raising personal show dogs, and built-in crates provide a comfortablespace for the Italian Greyhounds and Whippets.

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One look was all it took for TraceyJohnson and her family to fallfor a handsome, sweet Beaglepuppy. Ironwood Beagle breederEdy Ballard of Morristown, Indiana, is credited for bring-ing together “Jasper” and theJohnsons of St. Louis.

Tracey and her husband, Jack,were seeking a pet for their 11-year-old daughter, Taylor, and9-year-old son, Aiden. WhenTracey, a Purina employee, met“Uno,” the 2008 WestminsterBest in Show winner, she was

smitten with the dog’s merry disposition. Years later, whenthe family decided they were ready for the responsibility ofowning a dog and that they wanted a Beagle,a breeder referral led them to Edy.

An AKC Breeder of Merit, Edy takes seriouslymatching the right puppy with potentialowners. She breeds one or two litters a year,though not every year. Referrals have resultedin a waiting list for an Ironwood puppy.

“I’m meticulous about determining the bestdog for a family,” Edy says. “I spend a lot oftime exchanging emails with puppy buyersto learn about their life style, where they live,whether they have other pets, and what theyare seeking in a dog. The more I know abouta family, the better job I will do in placing a puppy.”

Originally, the Johnsons wanted a tricol-ored male with a loving temperament that

could easily adapt to their active life style. Edy thought thedocile nature of a male called “Donnie” would be a suitablematch, and the Johnsons agreed.

“Not long after we decided on Donnie, Edy was concernedthat as he developed, his personality wasn’t as good a fit forour family as she initially thought,” Tracey recalls.

Although Edy tries to match a puppy’s coat color and sexwith what her clients want, temperament often is a better guide.Reevaluating the litter, Edy sent Tracey a couple of photos ofpuppies she thought would be more appropriate for them.

Jasper, a blue tricolor male, immediately captivated the familywith his striking looks and warm personality radiating throughthe computer screen. Upon first glance, daughter Taylor burstinto tears, exclaiming, “That’s our dog!”

To help prepare puppies for their new homes, socializationbegins early for Ironwood Beagles. Edy takes young puppies oncar rides and familarizes them with walking on surfaces such

Tracey Johnson, left, with children Taylor and Aiden,consider Jasper a well-loved family member andhis breeder, Edy Ballard, an extension of their family.

B Y K A Y L A M I L L E R

PuppiesPlacing

in Pet Homes

Ironwood Beagle breeder EdyBallard holds “Gidget” (CH RKn’Tooker’s Sweet Dreams),left, the dam of 6-month-old littermates “Sandy” (IronwoodUnder the Boardwalk), right andopposite page, and “Jasper”(Ironwood Stand By Me), below.


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as wood, carpeting, concrete, and tile. They are introduced tohousehold sounds such as crinkling plastic grocery bags anda running vacuum cleaner.

“Puppies also need to have boundaries,” she explains. “I encour-age owners to use a crate for housetraining and to enroll inpuppy classes and obedience training.”

This past July, the Johnsons drove to Edy’s house to pickup 8-week-old Jasper. Like other new owners, theywere given a packet that included Edy’s articlesabout puppy care, information about Beagles, med-ical records, feeding instructions, a copy of Puppiesfor Dummies, and a Purina Puppy Starter Kit witha sample of Purina Pro Plan FOCUS Puppy For-mula. A soft, fleece blanket with the dam’s scentand favorite toy with the littermates’ scents alsohelped to ease Jasper’s transition to his new home.

Now 6 months old, Jasper has blended seam-lessly into his new life. Daily rituals include a bellyrub from Tracey before his morning walk and hugsfrom Taylor and Aiden followed by a brief play ses-sion before school.

The family continues to turn to Edy with ques-tions or concerns about Jasper to ensure they makecareful, responsible decisions. “Buying an Ironwood

Beagle was the start of a new relationship,” Tracey says. “Edy is anextension of our family, too.”

“Success is placing a puppy in a permanent home with a happy,loving family,” Edy says.

WILDROSE’S SPECIAL-ORDER RETRIEVERSSporting enthusiasts often know exactly what they want in

a dream hunting dog or field trial competi-tor. Such was the case for Bill Behnke ofAnchorage, Alaska, when a decade of upland and waterfowl hunting withsporting dog-owning friends sparked hisdesire for a finished hunting companion.

“It became obvious that the hunters whoenjoyed the outdoor experience the mostwere those who brought their own dogs,”says Bill, who began perusing the Internetfor breeders with fully trained LabradorRetrievers. Mike Stewart of WildroseKennels in Oxford, Mississippi, repeat-edly populated the search results.

Wildrose is renowned for producinggentlemen’s gundogs with superb tem-peraments and natural game-finding

Take It Slow Do not rush into placing a puppy in a homeif you’re not 100 percent sure it is a suitable fit. Whenyou take the time to actively listen to what people wantin a dog, you’re more likely to make a compatible match.Trust Your Gut If you notice red flags indicating a poten-tial buyer and puppy aren’t the best match, trust yourinstinct. Your sales agreements, contracts and guaran-tees are only as good as the people signing them.Customization Is Key Matching puppies with buyersisn’t an exact science. Ask potential clients questionsabout their lifestyle and help them to understand temperament is often a better match than color or sex. There Are No Bad Questions Although questions fromnew owners may seem basic, remember that you wereonce a novice, too. Take time to educate clients through-out the buying process and continue to support them afterthe sale as the puppy transitions to his or her new life.

TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL PUPPY PLACEMENTS

Mike Stewart of Wildrose Kennels,shown with 7-week-old LabradorRetriever puppies, breeds gentle-men’s gundogs and customizes theirtraining as desired by the client.

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abilities from imported British and Irish lines. Havingrecognized Wildrose from sporting magazines, Billwas confident a dog with solid marking, quarteringand retrieving skills would complement his lifestyle.

The process in obtaining a Wildrose “dog of duality”begins with potential clients sending Mike a descrip-tion explaining what they want in a dog. “The morespecific they are, the better I can do my job,” Mike says.

The Wildrose team includes a veterinary technicianand support staff who work together to facilitate requests.Several litters per year help to fulfill a six-month toone-year waiting list for puppies.

All puppies are trained “the Wildrose Way,” a methodpioneered by Mike in the 1970s in which puppies learnthrough positive reinforcement, gentle repetition andimprinting of basic behaviors. During the early “superlearner” and “super scent” training phases, puppies areintroduced to whistles, decoys, tunnels, and mazes.

New owners picking up their 7-week-old puppy stayfor a half-day orientation to tour the facility, review basiccommands and learn about health care, nutrition, house-training, and socialization. They take home a PurinaPuppy Starter Kit with a sample of Purina Pro Plan FOCUSLarge Breed Puppy Chicken & Rice Formula and PurinaPro Plan Veterinary Diets FortiFlora canine nutritionalsupplement, which helps manage the digestive stressthat can occur when a dog goes to a new home.

Retrievers staying at Wildrose to become finisheddogs spend several months learning heeling, whistlecommands and hand signals. Then, Mike zeroes in oneach retriever’s hunting training, which is done specif-ically to the contract with the client.

Several months after Bill’s initial inquiry for a finishedadult dog, Mike called with exciting news of a potential match.

Bill and his wife, Sandy, flew toOxford to meet “Ghillie” (Glen-shee Ghillie of Craigenross)and participate in a four-dayhandler workshop for Mike toevaluate their compatibilitywith the 5-year-old black male.

“I was so eager to takeGhillie home that I pulled outmy checkbook each day to sealthe deal,” Bill recalls. "By thethird day, Mike was comfort-able with my handling skills to sell me his dog."

Back in Anchorage, Ghillieeffortlessly became Bill’s full-time companion. He accompa-

nied Bill to work at his job, his easy temperament reversing acompany policy prohibiting animals in the downtown high-rise.

“Ghillie’s gentle nature and versatility made him easy to takeanywhere. We hunted pheasant in open fields, chased coveys ofquail, sat quietly in countless duck blinds, and traveled acrossthe country,” says Bill. “He was a true gentlemen’s gundog.”

Bill is now among a long list of repeat clients, a nod to Wildrose’sreputation. Realizing he couldn’t risk Ghillie hunting past hisprime, Bill bought two black puppies including “Opus” (WildroseOpus One), a Ghillie nephew, and “Ice” (Wildrose Black Ice), anOpus nephew.

“I am fortunate to have such spectacular dogs,” he says.“Ghillie, Opus and Ice have been everything I ever wanted inhunting partners.”

Reflecting on his success, Mike says he enjoys receiving phonecalls from clients bragging on their dog and seeing photos ofdogs working as they were trained to do. “When a dog becomespart of a family, I know I’ve done my job.” ■

“Opus” (Wildrose Opus One), left, and “Ice” (Wildrose Black Ice) exemplify thesupreme intelligence, keen natural hunting ability and gentle temperament forwhich Wildrose retrievers are known.

Long after buying “Ghillie” (GlensheeGhillie of Craigenross), above,owner Bill Behnke says he con-siders Mike Stewart his mentorand friend.

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To p O b e d i e n ce B r e e d e r s

‘BEST DOGS SUNFIRE’S GOLDENS:

IN THE WORLD’B Y B A R B A R A FAW V E R


says Michael "Mike" Book, directing 7-year-old “Buzz” (Sunfire What’s TheBuzz UD BN GN GO VER RE JH WCX

CCA U-CD CAN CD) to jump over the 24-inch high bar.Gracefully clearing the bar, this Sunfire Golden Retrieveris halfway to earning the lofty Obedience Trial Champion(OTCH) title, the highest title in the highly challengingand competitive sport based on performance perfectionand teamwork.

Next, his wife, Barbara Biewer, commands 4-year-old "Ben”(Sunfire’s Long Hot Summer MH CDX RN CGC WCX CANCDX) to retrieve a dumbbell she tossed 20 feet. Off trots Ben,picking up the dumbbell and then returning proudly to sitstraight in front of Barbara in the recall position, waitingfor the command to release the dumbbell.

Obedience dog training crept into their lives 43 years agowhen Barbara enrolled in a class at the Golden TriangleObedience Training Club in Pittsburgh. Her partner, “Sun-shine” (Sunshine Lollipop UD WCX CAN CDX), was a pupfrom the first Golden litter they bred, befittingly namedfor her sunny, sweet temperament.

Watching Barbara work with Sunshine from the side-lines, Mike recalls, “I told myself, ‘I can do this.’”

He began obedience training with “Tanya” (Tanya duShanka WC CD OD CAN CD), Sunshine’s dam and his dogfrom college. Looking back, he says, “I didn’t know what I was doing. Tanya was 4 or 5 years old when we startedtraining, and she wanted nothing more than to do what I wanted.”

“Jump,”

Among the Sunfire Golden Retrievers that are known for their prowessin obedience work are “Buzz,” left, who is halfway to earning anObedience Trial Champion title, and “Ben,” above, who also excelsin hunting tests.

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The fateful pairing of Mike and Tanya camein 1971 when he was looking for an Irish Setterpuppy while in graduate school at the Universityof Wisconsin. The secretary of the physics depart-ment wanted to find a home for an 18-pound10-week-old Golden puppy that was swimmingin the water bowl. She owned the sire from theHandjem gundog retriever kennel of Henry A.“Hank” Lardy, and the dam was a blend of Gay-haven and Hammerlock show and field lines.

Earning the first of three legs needed for aNovice title — Companion Dog (CD) — on bothdogs at their first obedience trial, the couple washooked. That was the summer of 1975. Combin-ing “sun” from Sunshine’s name and “fire” fromTanya’s fiery desire to please, they created theSunfire prefix that is linked to some of thecountry’s top obedience dogs.

In 2014, the American Kennel Club honoredMike and Barbara as its Breeders of the Year forObedience, recognizing the large number of OTCHdogs they have bred and their long-term commit-ment to the sport. Earning an OTCH, a 100-pointjourney that proves you are masterfully skilledin obedience teamwork, is compared to earning adoctorate degree. Sunfire has bred 40-plus OTCHs.

“This honor is a reflection of the dedicationand talent of many people who have trusted ourbreeding program and accomplished amazingthings with our puppies,” Barbara says. “We alsoare grateful for the contribution of stud dogs andtheir owners who have made such an impact onour breeding program.”

Obedience competitor Lynn Heidinger ofTinley Park, Illinois, has achieved phenomenalsuccess with Sunfire Goldens. “Barbara alwayssends me the naughtiest puppy,” says Heidinger.

Her naughtiest puppies include “Tapper”(OTCH Sunfire’s What’s On Tap UDX17 OGMGN GO), and “Toasty” (NOC2 OTCH Sunfire’sToast Of the Town UDX45). Tapper is the 2016Obedience Dog of the Year, having earned themost OTCH points in competition, and he wasthe No. 2 dog in 2015. A two-time National Obedience Champion and the Obedience Dogof the Year in 2001, Toasty, who died in 2003, wassired by “Rocky” (OTCH Stardust Rainier RockyOBHF OS), a male owned by a mutual friend,Andrea Vaughan of Camano Island, Washington,

Having earned a Master Hunter title in hunting tests,Ben exhibits control and patience in training, virtuesdue, in part, to his background in obedience.


whom Barbara and Mike bred to their dam“Bounce” (Sunfire’s Too Hot To Handle OD).

The ability to breed Sunfire bitches to qualitymales such as Rocky came gradually as Mike andBarbara established themselves in the sport andas breeders. Early influencers such as the lateRuth Worrest Otis of High Farms kennel in NewHartford, Connecticut, and founder of the SouthernBerkshire (Connecticut) Golden Retriever Club,helped to shape their knowledge about breedingand competing.

Mike attributes Tanya’s third litter, sired by “Rojo”(FC-AFC Kinike’s Oro de Rojo), owned by Jim andSally Venerable of Huntley, Illinois, to honing theirline. One of four Field Champions from his litter,Rojo was a littermate to Tanya’s grandsire.

Keeping two bitches from the litter, “Cascade”(Sunfire’s Kinetic Cascade UD MH WCX CANUD WCX OD) and “Ruffian” (Sunfire’s KineticRuffian CD WC), they began developing two lines.Cascade, who trained under up-and-comingprofessional retriever trainer Mike Lardy in thewinter of 1981-82 and later became one of thefirst Master Hunters to also hold a Utility Dogtitle in obedience, was the first of their field line.Meanwhile, Ruffian was the start of a blendedline of show, field and obedience titled dogs.

Cascade and Ruffian taught them about dif-ferences in Golden temperament, and how thatimpacts breeding. “Cascade was a field workingbitch who could be bred to dogs with toughertemperaments, and Ruffian was a smart, inde-pendent female with good conformation who

we bred to soft, easygoing dogs,” Mike says.“Ruffian produced our first competitive obedi-ence dog, ‘Dynamite’ (CAN CH Sunfire’s KineticDynamite JH UD WCX OD CAN UD WCI) whenwe bred her to a show champion.”

The idea of adding a show emphasis to theirline came from mentor Sydney Waller of James -town, Rhode Island, whom they met in 1980 throughtheir obedience work. “Sydney saw one of ourfield dogs, was impressed with the sound struc-ture, but said, ‘You need to get some show linesinto your bloodline,’” says Michael. “She wantedto help us improve the looks of our dogs.”

This led to Mike co-owning “Bonnie” (AM/CANCH Clark’s Easter Bonnet UD WCX CAN CDXWC OD) with Waller. “We each added differentparts to her training and titles, “ Barbara says.

Waller finished her American show champi-onship and CDX (Companion Dog Excellent)titles. Mike did her CD, WC (Working Certificate)and WCX (Working Certificate Excellent) titles,and Barbara completed her UD (Utility Dog)title after Mike and Waller gave up. Mike andBarbara put on Bonnie’s Canadian titles.

“Bonnie became an essential part of our breed-ing program,” Mike adds. “She was our first showchampion. We swapped litters with Sydney,breeding Bonnie to a Field Champion, then toan Obedience Trial Champion and lastly to acombination show, field and obedience dog.”

Bonnie's second litter, sired by OTCH Heela-long Cracklin’ Sunfire TDX OS WC OBHF, ownedby Karen Johnson of Lake Mills, Wisconsin,

Buzz, Ben and Eddy representthe light, medium and darkcoat colors common inGolden Retrievers.

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produced Sunfire's first obedience champions.“Flash” (OTCH Sunfire Spontaneous CombustnJH WCX OBHF OS), who was owned by KarenPrice of Chatsworth, California, and “Rowdy”(OTCH Sunfire’s Rowdy Rebel JH WCX ODHF),owned by Amy Gooch of Palm Coast, Florida,finished their titles in the 1980s, giving Sunfirestatus as an obedience-producing kennel.

Mixing lines with Dr. Kathy Eddy of ComstockGolden Retrievers in Millerton, New York, alsohelped to define the Sunfire lines. Dr. Eddy tookSunfire’s “Ritz” (AM/CAN CH Comstock SunfireO’Hillcrest UD MH WCX) to strengthen her blood-line, and Barbara and Mike have bred to her studdogs and consulted her about breedings overthe years.

Eight generations later — more than 250 litters— both Sunfire lines are going strong. A quick

study of the Sunfire online Honor Roll with morethan 500 dogs having earned significant achieve-ments in show, field, agility, or obedience is impres-sive. Many have earned Hall of Fame status.Longevity is noted with marks by the names of dogs that have lived 14 years and longer.

BREEDING ALL-AROUND DOGSWaiting his turn to perform an obedience

exercise, Ben leans into Barbara, a signaturemark of a Sunfire Golden. “Our dogs are leaners,”laughs Barbara.

“Goldens are 24-hour-a-day dogs that wantto be with you,” Mike says.

Dog lovers from the start, Barbara and Mikecouldn’t help but fall in love with the breed thatranks third in AKC registrations and is adoredfor its trainability and willingness to please.That amiable temperament serves them wellin obedience and hunting tests, the core sportsthat Barbara and Mike enjoy.

“We breed to produce nice, all-around dogs,”Mike says. “A Golden should be versatile. Whenwe are looking for a stud dog, we often look attitles because it shows the biddability that isso essential to the breed and what we pass onin the breed.

“We also like a nice looking dog that is soundand has great movement. We don’t restrict to acertain line of Goldens, either field or show.Without the Golden temperament, the breed isnot the same,” he says.

“Although some of our pups go to competitivehomes, many go as family companions. We tryto find families who want a true sporting dogthat is active and needing more of a challengethan a walk around the block,” says Barbara.“We love to see our pups succeed at whateveractivity their owners desire, whether that is retrieving a bird or a tennis ball, doing thechallenges of agility or obedience work, or arun in the woods or a jump off a dock.”

When the couple met in 1970 in graduate schoolat the University of Wisconsin, Barbara had aSmooth Collie named “Bobbie.” Early photos ofBarbara and Mike with their dogs show a mixof Smooth Collies along with Golden Retrievers.By the late 1980s, Goldens became their focus.

With Mike’s background in physics and Barbara’sin medical genetics, they make a strong collab-orative team when it comes to breeding andraising Goldens. Demand is high with a couple

Sunfire Golden Retrieverbreeders Michael “Mike” Bookand Barbara Biewer hold litter -mates from a recent litter.

Three-month-old SunfireGolden puppies enjoy a mealof Purina Pro Plan FOCUSLarge Breed Puppy Chicken &Rice Formula.


of inquiries daily for puppies from the six toseven litters produced each year. Not all littersare whelped at the Sunfire kennel in Suffield,Connecticut, as some breeding bitches are co-owned and have their litters with their families.

Having retired a couple of years ago fromhis job as a nuclear engineer for Westinghouse,Mike is back into competing in obedience andhunting tests. He also recently renewed his license to judge hunting tests. Barbara retiredfrom working in medical labs 40 years ago toraise the couple’s three children, who grew upgoing to shows with their parents and showingdogs in 4-H Club.

“We took a 15-year hiatus in the 1990s becausewe didn’t have the time to train and sending a dogout with a pro was prohibitive with raising threechildren and their college expenses,” explainsBarbara. “We continued to breed, and I did minorshowing and obedience fun trials and matches.We were able to keep our field line going becauseof a friend, Mark Kulwich, an avid duck andgoose hunter.”

Kulwich of Granby, Connecticut, co-owned“Dash” (Sunfire’s Dashing Rapids SH AM/CANCDX WCX OD) with them, and he allowed Barbara and Mike to breed three litters out of her over the years. Kulwich always kept a puppy from the litters so he would have

a pup in training, an active hunting dog and anolder Golden.

Great owners have provided opportunitiesfor Barbara and Mike to maintain the Sunfirelines and to produce wonderful dogs. “The bestall-around dog we bred was ‘Apollo,’” Mike says.“He excelled in fieldwork, obedience, agility,and tracking.”

Owned by Patricia and Charles Jones of Katy,Texas, Apollo (OTCH MACH Sunfire’s UndeniableVCD3 UDX RAE TDX MH MXC MJB WCX OBHFADHF OS) triumphed as a champion in obedi-ence and agility. Apollo, who died in 2009 at age14, also was an outstanding sire. Ben, the obedi-ence dog to whom Barbara tossed the dumbbellin obedience practice and and whom Miketrains for hunting tests, was sired by Apollo.

The greatest satisfaction for these SunfireGolden Retriever breeders is producing dogs thatare loved and valued by their families. “Some-times people in their 20s come to us and say,‘My parents had one of your dogs when I wasgrowing up, and it was my best friend. I wouldlike to get one of my own now,’” says Barbara.

“It makes me feel good to see people who grewup with our dogs when they were teenagers comeback for one of their own,” Mike says. “Everyonetells us they have the ‘best dog in the world.’” ■

Casting Ben on a land markretrieve, Mike enjoys resumingtraining and competing inhunting tests since retiring a couple of years ago.

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MANAGING URINARY STONES

Debbie Faes of Brighton, Michigan, adores thesweet, merry temperament of the Bichon Frise.

When her first one, “Lacey,” died at age 15, she couldn’t stand not having a Bichon to brighten

her life. Three weeks later, she got “Roxie.”

“Roxie,” a 3 1⁄2-year-old Bichon Frise, developed struvite stones this past year. Owner Debbie Faes previously had experiencedstruvite stones with her first Bichon, a breed that is considered at risk for developing urinary stones.


Besides being cute, loving lapdogs, Roxie andLacey shared another similarity: They both developed struvite uroliths, or stones, from aurinary tract infection. Considering that Bichonsare among a handful of breeds at risk for develop-ing struvite stones, the occurrence is more thana coincidence.

“The priority in treating struvite urolithsthat develop secondary to a urease-producingbacterial infection is to treat the underlyingurinary tract infection with an antibiotic,” saysDr. Larry Letsche, Roxie and Lacey’s veterinarian,of Remrock Farms Veterinary Services in Plymouth,Michigan. “The dog also should be fed a dietformulated to help dissolve stones.”

“Roxie had blood in her urine this past spring,”Faes says. “An antibiotic cleared it up, but shebegan urinating frequently. Eight weeks later,she had a urinary tract infection and was needingto go out every 45 minutes, often having accidentsin the house. A radiograph showed stones, andDr. Letsche began treating her for struvite stones.He prescribed an antibiotic for the infection anda combination of dry and canned therapeuticdog foods to help dissolve the stones.”

Dr. Letsche’s wife, Lorrie Carlton, the breederof Roxie and Lacey, has bred Bichons under theBelle Creek prefix for 42 years. She understandsthe challenges involved with a breed predisposedto developing stones.

“I always make sure new owners are awareof the signs of urinary stones,” she says. “Themajority of affected dogs are females becausetheir shorter, wider urethra makes it easy forbacteria to pass into the bladder.”

Struvite and calcium oxalate stones accountfor more than 90 percent of uroliths in dogs inNorth America, according to an epidemiologicalreport by veterinarians at the Minnesota UrolithCenter of the University of Minnesota. Whereas

struvite stones were more common in 1999-2000,data from 2009-2010 shows that calcium oxalatestones comprised 48.2 percent of all stonescompared to 41.9 percent for struvite stones.1

Urolithiasis, the formation of stones in theurinary tract, varies as much by the type of stoneas by an individual dog’s case. Though not always,stones may form from crystals that occur whenthe solubility of a particular substance is exceeded.Some crystals in urine are normal, though per-sistent crystalluria is a risk for forming stones.

Urolith analysis is used to identify the type ofstone and the percentage of various crystalloids.The type of crystal is not always an indication ofthe type of stone, though most uroliths have one

major crystal component and are named forthat crystal when it makes up 70 percent ormore of the stone’s weight.2 Although rare,some stones contain both struvite and calciumoxalate. This occurs when calcium oxalateforms and then a bacterial infection developsproducing urease, causing struvite to formaround the calcium oxalate.

“In most dogs, diluting the urine is the solutionto pollution, or stone formation, as it increasesthe volume and frequency of urination andthus helps to flush out the minerals from thebladder,” says Joe Bartges DVM, PhD, DACVIM,DACVN, professor of medicine and nutrition atthe University of Georgia.

“However, that alone does not prevent a recur-rence,” he adds. “In fact, in some patients, diluteurine increases the risk of infection. These dogsmay form an infection with an organism thatproduces the urease enzyme associated withstruvite stone formation and thus may formstruvite stones.”

“I am a believer in getting these dogs to drinkas much water as possible,” says Mary Labato,DVM, DACVIM, clinical professor at the Foster

SIGNS OF STONES IN DOGS• Hematuria (blood in urine)• Dysuria (straining to urinate)• Incontinence (inability to control urination)• Pollakiuria (attempting to urinate with little

or no urine passing)• Pyuria (pus in urine due to bacterial infection)• Pain (hunched back associated with pain)

18 | ISSUE 93

Hospital for Small Animals at Cummings Veterinary Med-ical Center. “A high-water diet allows small stones topass before clinical signs become apparent. The key totreating and preventing struvite uroliths is antibiotictherapy to manage the infection.”

Radiography or ultrasonography is required to accu-rately diagnose stones in dogs. “Some dogs can havemultiple large stones in the bladder and though urinal-ysis will highlight some inflammation or blood, thedog may not show clinical signs,” Dr. Labato explains.“Other dogs with only small stones may have markedclinical signs. It is not understood why this happensother than individual tolerance or intolerance.”

IDENTIFYING STONES IN DOGSIn determining stone type, Dr. Bartges says that the

breed, age and gender of dog are factors he considers.“Other considerations are what the stone looks like onradiographs and whether crystals are present in a urinesample,” he says. “I look at whether there is an infection

and if it is due to a bacterial organismthat produces the urease enzyme as-sociated with struvite and whetherbloodwork indicates the blood cal-cium level is high.”

Infection-induced struvite stonesare frequently found in young adultfemale dogs. These stones are usuallygreater than 1 centimeter in diameterand are very large and flat-sided likea pyramid.2 Early recognition of apotential problem and treatmentof the bacteria that causes thestone helps to reduce occurrence.

“Struvite typically forms becauseof a bacterial urinary tract infectionthat produces urease, an enzyme thathydrolyzes urea into ammoniumcarbonate and alters the urine chem-istry, allowing the struvite stonesto form,” says Dr. Bartges. “The mostcommon bacterium that producesthis enzyme is Staphylococcus, fol-lowed by Proteus and Enterococcus.”

Calcium oxalate stones largely occur in middle-agedor older male dogs of at-risk breeds. These slow-growingstones may have sharp, jagged edges and thus couldbe painful. Dogs may not show signs until these urolithsbecome large or cause urethral obstruction, blockingurine from passing.

“We know less about why calcium oxalate stones form,”Dr. Bartges says. “Supersaturation of calcium and oxalatein urine causes the stones to form. Lack of crystal aggre-gation inhibitors may play a role. Consistent acidic urineis common in dogs that form calcium oxalate stones.”

Calcium oxalate stones may occur when a dog has ametabolic disease, such as hyperparathyroidism, whichcauses the parathyroid glands to produce too muchparathyroid hormone, resulting in high blood calciumand causing excretion in the urine. They also can betriggered by an endocrine disorder, such as Cushing’sdisease (hyperadrenocorticism), which makes the adrenal glands produce too much cortisol, thus con-tributing to high urine calcium levels.

An important difference between struvite and calciumoxalate stones is that calcium oxalate cannot be dissolved.“These stones must be physically removed,” says Dr. Bartges.“Cystostomy surgery, voiding hydro propulsion, laserlithotripsy, and percutaneous cystoli thotomy are examplesof procedures used to remove stones.”

The rate of recurrence for calcium oxalate stones isfrom 25 to 48 percent.2 As these are slow-growing stones,it can take several months before a dog goes from beingurolith free after surgery to the stones being visible inradiographs.

“There is no one treatment that prevents all types ofstones,” Dr. Bartges says. “For infection-induced struvitestones, treating the infection is the most important thing.Calcium oxalate stones are trickier because preventionis not 100 percent. Patients that have a disease thatcauses high blood calcium levels must be treated forthe condition.”

Regular follow-up visits with urinalysis and urineculture are important with many dogs. For dogs withinfection-induced struvite stones, this enables detectionof a urinary tract infection before new uroliths form.Similarly, these tests allow for monitoring the recurrenceof calcium oxalate stones.

Faes is optimistic that her 3 ½-year-old Bichon, Roxie,will stay stone free with careful monitoring of her urineand feeding the dry and canned therapeutic diets thataid stone dissolution. “I am good about watching her andlooking for signs of problems,” she says. “Fortunately,neither of my Bichons experienced an obstruction fromstones. Being careful about stones is a small inconven-ience for such a loving dog.” ■1 Lulich JP, Osborne CA, Albasan H, et al. Recent Shifts in the GlobalProportions of Canine Uroliths. Vet Rec. doi: 10.1136/r.101056 (Publishedonline Feb. 8, 2013)2 Chew DJ, Jones BR. Diets and Drugs for Canine Urolithiasis. IrishVet J. 2004;57(6):356-364.

BREEDS AT RISK FOR URINARY STONESBichon Frise Cocker SpanielLhasa ApsoMiniature PoodleMiniature SchnauzerPekingeseShih TzuYorkshire Terrier

Breeds that commonlyform struvite stones arethe same breeds at risk forforming calcium oxalatestones.1 Although stonesoccur more commonly inthese breeds, they havebeen found in most breedsand mixed breeds as well.


Painful and agonizing, struvite and calcium oxalatestones account for more than 90 percent of urolithsin dogs.1 Most struvite uroliths in dogs are causedby urinary tract infections. In the case of thesenon-sterile struvite uroliths, it is important to treatthem with the appropriate antibiotic in addition todietary management.

A therapeutic diet introduced in April, PurinaPro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St CanineDry Formula, is formulated to help dogs that sufferfrom sterile struvite and calcium oxalate stones. Itis designed to help dissolve sterile struvite urolithsand to reduce the risk of sterile struvite and calciumoxalate urolith recurrence.

“Both the dry and canned UR Urinary Ox/St dietshave been proved through dual validation testingto promote the production of urine undersaturatedfor sterile struvite and of urine metastable for cal-cium oxalate urolithiasis based on relative super-saturation (RSS) and activity product ratio (APR),”says Purina Senior Research Scientist Hui Xu, PhD.

RSS and APR are efficacy tests used to determinethe effect of diet on the likelihood of stone formation.RSS testing involves measuring the urine pH andcomponents of the stones. APR assesses the cumu-lative effect of urine crystal growth promoters andinhibitors by measuring if seed crystals placed inurine grow or dissolve.

“It is important to have complete and balancednutrition while also meeting the special dietary needsof a dog with urolithiasis,” says Dr. Xu. “Feeding adiet formulated to reduce the stone-forming poten-tial for both calcium oxalate and sterile struviteuroliths can help minimize the risk of recurrence.”

Attributes of UR Urinary Ox/St dry dog formulainclude:• It is a moderate-calorie food with complete and balanced

nutrition for adult dogs and is formulated to avoid an imbalance of the minerals involved in stone formation.

• It is designed to reduce the potential for sterile struvite formationand to help dissolve existing sterile struvite uroliths.

• It is formulated to increase urine volume and decreaseurine concentration. “The bottom line is that diet and feeding practices help dilute

the urine and ensure a dog urinates more frequently,” says

Purina Senior Manager of Veterinary Market-ing Jason Gagné, DVM. “This providesless opportunity for struvite and calcium oxalate stones to form.”

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets areavailable exclusively from veterinarians.For more information, please visit proplanveterinarydiets.com. ■1 Lulich JP, Osborne CA, Albasan H, et al. Recent Shifts in the Global Proportionsof Canine Uroliths. Vet Rec. doi: 10.1136/vr.101056 (published online Feb. 8, 2013)

MANAGING DOGS WITH URINARY STONES THE ROLE OF DIET IN

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BERGER PICARD ‘ONLY’ SETS MANY FIRSTS FOR BREEDThe No. 1 Berger Picard in the country, BIS/BISS GCHEclipse’s One N’ Only, befittingly named for being theonly female in her litter, has earned one-and-only statusin the show ring as well. Since the American KennelClub recognized the rustic French herding breed in 2015,the 5-year-old fawn charbonne Picard has earned thebreed’s first Champion and Grand Champion titles andbecome the first Best of Breed winner at the Berger Picardof America National Specialty (2015). This past July, shewon the breed’s first Best in Show, earned at the GreenMountain Dog Club Show in Tunbridge, Vermont.Breeder-owner Donna Beadle of Elko New Market,Minnesota, says, “‘Only’ is a complete diva. She is well-bodied for a bitch and has incredibly balanced, clean,fluid movement.” Co-owned by Debbie Butt of Brooksville,Florida, Only is handled by Amanda Giles and DanielMartin of Raleigh, North Carolina. She is fed Purina ProPlan SPORT Performance 30/20 Chicken & Rice Formula.

The No. 1 Berger Picard, “Only” depicts the breed’s comical na-ture and independent, stubborn temperament.

GERMAN SHORTHAIRED POINTER‘NOSE’ IS 2016 NSTRA PERFORMANCECLASSIC WINNERIn the final hourlong stake of the United KennelClub’s National Shoot to Retrieve Association (NSTRA)Performance Classic, a hard-charging 7 ½-year-oldGerman Shorthaired Pointer drove to the front withprecision, speed and stamina. 22XNSTRA CH QuailValley’s Nose Knows came out on top with sevenbird finds and retrieves, outperforming 83 dogs andwinning the event in June in Waverly, Nebraska.“‘Nose’ has a sixth sense in knowing when the stakesare high. When her brace begins, she goes from zeroto 100,” says owner-handler Adam Fellers of Bondurant,Iowa. Nose, who is fed Purina Pro Plan SPORTPerformance 30/20 Chicken & Rice Formula, alsois the only dog to win the NSTRA Purina Top Performance Award, based on points earned inthe yearlong program, four consecutive years.

“Nose” excelled with her high drive and keen intelligenceto win the NSTRA Performance Classic.


Please visit the Circle of Champions on the Purina Pro Club website at purinaproclub.comto read about top-performing show and sporting dogs powered by Purina Pro Plan.

Owner-handler Alexandra “Alex” Washburn of Bruce,Mississippi, had a feeling that the 2016 National AmateurRetriever Championship in Stowe, Vermont, could bethe last shot for her 9-year-old male to win a National.With impressive style and sharpness, NAFC-FC Cool-water’s Hawkeye Legend sailed through 10 challengingtests over land and water, outperforming more than100 top field trial retrievers to become a “legend” amongthe great ones that have won the prestigious event.Washburn, a 29-year-veteran of the sport, earned herfirst National win after having trained and handledseveral National Amateur Finalists. “‘Legend’ is a greatmarker, very strong in the water, and a total team player,”Washburn says. “He works extremely well with me onthe line and has often been described as ‘100 poundsof compliance.’” Legend is fueled by Purina Pro PlanSPORT Performance 30/20 Chicken & Rice Formula.

Charismatic, talented and focused, “Legend” won the NationalAmateur Retriever Championship.

RETRIEVER NAMED ‘LEGEND’ IS THE 2016NATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPION

A classic beauty, Multi-BIS/BISS GCH Sunlit’s Queenof Everything, the No. 1 Afghan Hound bitch, has exceeded breeder-owner-handler Tara M. Richardson’sdreams, most notably by winning Best of Breed at the Afghan Hound Club of Greater Columbus (Ohio)specialty show that was part of this year’s AfghanHound World Congress. The 3-year-old black Afghan,called “Araina,” is out of GCH Kingsleah Fire Queen, a Swedish champion whom Richardson brought to theU.S. four years ago from the world-renowned KingsleahKennels of Gunilla Holmgren. “Araina has a beautifulhead,” says Richardson of St. Louis. “She moves effort-lessly, with powerful reach and drive, as she springsand lifts off the ground. She has the Afghan presenceof the king of dogs.” Co-owned by Pamela Winkelmeirof St. Charles, Missouri, Araina is fed Purina Pro PlanSPORT Performance 30/20 Salmon & Rice Formula.

“Araina,” the No. 1 Afghan Hound bitch, shines in show rings.

AFGHAN HOUND ‘ARAINA’ STANDS OUTWITH CLASSIC BREED TYPE

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P u r i n a Aw a r d s

Hot on the trail, the top-performingSmall Pack Option (SPO) Beagleand nite hunt and bench showcoonhounds powered throughyearlong competitions with grit,vigor and intensity to reignsupreme in their individualsports. Prized for their keenscent ability, natural tracking instinct and spot-on accuracy,these Purina Award-winninghounds were honored this past spring in their respectiveceremonies.

A 3-year-old hardworking houndcalled “Mickie” enthusiastically ledthe pack from the 13-inch femaleclass to win the 17th annual PurinaOutstanding SPO Field Trial BeagleAward. “Mickie has an easygoingtemperament, but once the trialbegins, she determinedly weaves through the switchgrass andwastes little time to pick up the scent of a cottontail,” saysbreeder Mike Reynolds of Readyville, Tennessee, who owns

and handles FCGD Star R Mickie E withJoe Piercey of La Vergne, Tennessee.

An 8-year-old tricolor Treeing WalkerCoonhound named “Dennis” was recog-nized for his independence and accuracyat nite hunts across the country in 2015as the winner of the 35th annual PurinaOutstanding Nite Hunt CoonhoundAward. GR CH GR NITE CH ‘PR’ Ashby’sSalt River Dennis inched ahead of thesecond-place finisher at the season’spivotal end by one cast win, giving hima total of nine wins for the year. Skill-fully co-handled by seven-time PurinaAward winner Jody Jessup of Rural Hall,North Carolina, Dennis is owned byhandler Doug Keaton of Culloden, WestVirginia, who says, “Dennis has a lot of heart.”

No stranger to the Purina Awardwinners’ circle, “Rock” is the first three-

time winner of the Purina Outstanding Bench Show Coon-hound Award in theprogram’s 12-year his-tory. CCH GR WCH GRNITE CH GR CH ‘PR’Preacher John the Rockwas handled by MichaelSeets, of Stonefort, Illinois, who co-ownsthe 6-year-old tricolormale Treeing WalkerCoonhound with hiswife, Myra. “Rock gave110 percent at everyshow. You couldn’tpaint a prettier dog,”says Seets. ■

CCH GR WCH GR NITE CHGR CH ‘PR’ Preacher Johnthe Rock, the Purina Out-standing Bench ShowCoonhound

PURINA HONORS

SPO BEAGLE AND COONHOUNDAWARD WINNERS

FCGD Star R Mickie E, the Purina Outstanding SPO FieldTrial Beagle

GR CH GR NITE CH ‘PR’ Ashby’s Salt River Dennis, the Purina OutstandingNite Hunt Coonhound

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*AKC Top DogsSM All Breed Competition through December 31, 2015.The handler or owner of these champions may have received Pro Plan dog food as Purina ambassadors.

Purina trademarks are owned by Société des Produits Nestlé S.A. Any other marks are property of their respective owners. Printed in USA.

IF SOMEONETOLD YOU THAT

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B r e e d S n a p s h o t

DALMATIAN: THE SPOT-ONCOACHING DOGNo breed has a more mysterious heritage than theDalmatian. The distinctly spotted dog traveledthe world with gypsies, familiarizing the breed to European, Asian and African countries andcomplicating his origin. Regardless where thebreed originated, since the mid-18th century, he has been known as the Dalmatian, named forDalmatia, a former province of Austria locatedalong the Adriatic Sea.

Through the years, the Dalmatian has workedas a watchdog, herding dog, bird dog, retriever,and pack hunter for boar and stags. His retentivememory served him well as a circus performer.His most famous role, however, is as a coachingdog, following and guarding the horse-drawncarriage. Even today, the Dalmatian Club ofAmerica holds road trials at its National Specialtyto test the instinct for coaching.

Loyal and faithful, the Dalmatian is mostbeloved as a companion. An athletic dog, theDalmatian competes in coursing, tracking, agility,rally, obedience, and conformation. His short whitecoat is defined by round spots of jet black or deepliver brown that endear his flashy appearance.Puppies are born pure white but soon developtheir spots. The Dalmatian, males and females,are 19 to 23 inches tall at the withers and weigh50 to 55 pounds. ■

Source: The Complete Dog Book, Official Publication of theAmerican Kennel Club. i-5 Publishing, Irvine, CA. 2015. P

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