Anxious dogs

The AKC Gazette is out and Mara Bovsun did a great job explaining the phobic dog. Poor Daisy is part of a doggie mental health trend: about one in three dogs have anxiety disorders, according to one veterinarian. That compares to only one in five humans dogged by intense, unrealistic fears. Mara writes about a project at UCSF to collect DNA from nutty dogs in order to understand any genetic underpinnings. Wonder how they handle the informed consent?

This issue also includes an interesting story about dog handlers with disabilities. It's especially good because there's no "gee whiz" about it. It tells handlers' stories in a way that might help someone with a disability leap into the field and offers insights that might enable anyone -- disability or not -- perform better when showing a dog. Competitors who are blind, deaf, use a wheelchair or handle without arms offer lessons on dealing with self-consciousness, building a bond of trust with your performance dog, staying focused and keeping a sense of humor. There's even a great disability joke in the piece.


In the back of the magazine, columnists write about their favorite breed. I'd skip the one about Saints, though. It's quite insulting. "Gone, it seems,are the magnificent, strong-moving animals of my childhood, only to be replaced with poor specimens of the breed," writes K.B.K. I sure hope that Daisy isn't "down in the pasterns," or worse yet, with an "easty-westy rear that could barely carry (her) around the ring." Actually, Daisy is quite broad of beam in the back. In a pinch, you could throw a tablecloth on there and have plenty of room for both cocktails and appetizer plates. Of course, you'd have to get her to stand still.