Rusty Rose Ranch Dog Blog

Big thanks to Mark for my great photos!

Nessie's first dock diving lesson!

Stop mutilating animals to please show ring judges.

And yes I'm aware I have friends who feel differently. That's fine. I'm still your friend even if we see it differently...unless you laugh react to me expressing my opinion at which time you go on the block list. If I'm a big enough person to be your friend even though you dock/crop, you can be a big enough person to support me voicing my opinion.

I also understand some people genuinely believe working dogs are safer cropped/docked. I disagree but respect your opinion.

Docking and cropping a non working dog specifically for the sake of winning ribbons is not something I will ever be ok with.

Doesn't mean I don't love my friends who feel differently; I just don't love their choices. As my Mimmy used to say "hate the sin, not the sinner."

When a dog wins at a major show, their picture is beamed around the world and becomes the ‘normal’ for how that breed should look.

Which is why it is so upsetting to see Penny the Doberman on the podium yesterday at this year’s Westminster Kennel Club show in America.

Not because she isn’t a healthy, functional and clearly very loved dog.

But because she has been subjected to ear cropping and tail docking.

Unfortunately this is the breed standard in America but, thankfully, in much of the rest of the world these practices are recognised for what they are; painful and unnecessary mutilations of our pets.

Dobermans shouldn’t look like Penny, they should look like the other dog in this picture, the Best of Breed at Crufts last year, who demonstrates very clearly that cropping and docking only detracts from the beauty and presence of these lovely dogs.

Well it took a while but I finally got the last of the pics that I ordered from our photo session at Rally nationals!

2 announcements!

1- I already shared this on my personal page but we have a new resident here! We took in a sweet little papillon as a rehome. If things go well, he may do some sporty stuff. I guess he's an honorary MAS. This is Zap!

2-On a more somber note, at this time, we are putting all breeding plans on hold. Between various factors affecting my personal life, the emotional fall out of Raptor's passing, my day job increasing my work hours and a desire to focus on the dogs I have and give them as much of me as possible, I don't feel I have the time, energy, money or emotional bandwidth to pursue breeding right now.

I've told myself I am going to take 6 months to think before I run off and spay everything, but that IS something I am considering.

I appreciate all the great support I've received in my efforts to start a program and I do plan to stay heavily involved with MAS and the breed club regardless of what I decide. Certain factions are not getting rid of me that easily!

I may also revisit the idea of breeding when I retire from my real job in 5 yrs.

This is just a heads up to anyone who might have been watching for a breeding that it won't be happening soon.

Thanks to everyone and lots of love from the Rusty Rose Ranch crew to all our friends and family.

New BCAT for Nessie!