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Dates & News:

ZimDog News, can be accessed from: www.vanerp.net.

The Kennel Club of Harare has started on a course of 6 weeks for beginners. More than 11 came with their pooches and it is hoped that they will enjoy this beginner's course to help them on their way.

The GSD Club of Bulawayo is holding a Match meeting They will open again in the middle of January.

The GSD Club of Harare have started their training on 11 January. A new puppy came to the club and lets hope more will come. This puppy is one of Paul Greef's breeding and a very nice looking bitch.    

Shows: Our next Open Breed show is expected at the end of February, unfortunately with a judge who cannot give the dogs a grading. End of March there should be the Champion Breed show in Bulawayo, recently their committee has completely renewed and we hope that they will make every effort to get a specialist judge for their show and I urge each and every one of us to support both shows.

A few weeks ago I was invited to a tea to meet up with an old friend Daphne McDowell, who has been living in the Eastern district of Zimbabwe for quite some years now. She used to train German Shepherds and did quite well, by having her dogs competing in C test of the Obedience section. A very good supporter of all the shows and at some stage she even would enter two dogs in the same show. Quite an achievement, to work tow on the same day. She now just walks her dogs every day around her house in Inyanga as the fuel situation and the distance for her is too difficult to go to a club.Daphne is looking well and fit and a shame she is so far away from the doggy scene.

Misuse of Choke Chains
by Des Hawgood

Institute for Animal Care Education New Road, Framlingham Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13 9AT

My survey also brought me into contact with Robin Walker, a Veterinary and Dog Behaviourist, who had an article on this very subject printed in The Veterinary Record in March 1999 showing evidence of injury to dogs. He listed:

• Injured ocular vessels 

• Tracheal and oesophageal damage 

• Severely sprained necks 

• Cases of fainting 

• Transient foreleg paralysis 

• Recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis 

• Hind leg ataxia

Radiographs showed misalignment of the cervical vertebrae and in some cases Horner's Syndrome was diagnosed. I personally suffer from this condition. The injury was caused by a suddenly, but in my case voluntary, movement of the neck which has left the nerve supply to one eye damaged, resulting in occasional pain to the eye and headaches. The injury is not visible to another person so it would not appear to show in a dog without a radiograph. Some of the conditions described above were at the time known as "Woodhouse Neck".

My Conclusions
Obviously, the most dangerous chains are the long link chains. These can lock in the tightened position if one of the links turns at 90 degrees and jams across the opening in the end ring. Secondly, all chains would appear to be dangerous if used on an untrained dog, which is most likely to pull. Further stress is then put on the dog by the chain tightening and in some cases; the dog then starts to struggle. This situation in the hands of an inexperienced handler is obviously likely to lead to injury. There are obviously also ideal situations where a chain is used correctly and the trained dog responds correctly. However, why the necessity to use a chain on a trained dog which should be responding to voice command?

Most of the injuries must be caused before dogs ever get to training classes and before the correct guidance is given to the new owner. Therefore, if we are concerned for general dog welfare and not just for the ones in the training classes, I can see no alternative but for some legislation to be put into place. Unfortunately, the Kennel Club and the RSPCA who between them control almost the total registration and welfare of dogs is this country cannot see that their may be a problem.

I would appreciate any comments any reader may have on the above subject that may assist in my further perusing a hazard that may lead to the safer handling of dogs sometime in the future

Poisonous Plants
If your dog (or other pets) does ingest one of these plants, be sure to call the National Animal Poison Control Center. In Zimbabwe it might be wiser to contact your Veterinarian. I have a long list and it might be good for you to make sure you do not have these in your garden or make sure your dog cannot eat these.

Caladium (all parts) Castor Bean (seed, leaves) Christmas Rose (root, leaves, sap) Diffenbachia (all parts) Philodendron (all parts) Mistletoe (berries) Rosary Pea (seeds) Autumn Crocus (all, esp. bulb) Bleeding Heart (leaves, roots) Dutchman's Breeches (leaves, roots) Foxglove (leaves) Larkspur (all; seeds) Lily of the Valley (all) Monkshood (all) Narcissus (all) Daffodil (all) Jonquil (all) Potatoes (all green parts) Rhubarb (leaves) Tomato (leaves) Apple (large amount of seeds) Apricot (seed) Almond (seed) Avocado (leaves)

Old Faithful...........
If you want someone to scare away burglars, without a lethal weapon, which terrifies you and endangers the lives of your family and all the neighbors - buy a dog.

If you want someone who will never touch the remote, doesn't give a hoot about football, and can sit next to you as you watch romantic movies - buy a dog.