Watchman V

The Staffordshire Regiment based in Lichfield Staffordshire, not far from where I live, have its mascot as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. The current Watchman is Watchman V who was bred by my best friends, Karon and Wayne Jackson. What a truly remarkable honour. This dog has for many years served his country at many events…

What Is L2HGA

The mutation, or change to the structure of the gene, probably occurred spontaneously in a single dog but once in the population has been inherited from generation to generation like any other gene. The disorder shows an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance: two copies of the defective gene (one inherited from each parent) have to…

Breed Type

If you show your dog, or are involved in the world of dog breeding, you will often hear the phrase ‘typey’. You will read critiques telling you that a particular specimen has type in abundance. This topic generates hot debate and has been written about since people began crafting breed standards. I am sure…

Cushings

There is no single test to diagnose Cushing’s disease. The history, physical exam, and results of initial blood and urine tests often provide a strong suspicion for the presence of Cushing’s disease. Laboratory tests that are most commonly altered by Cushing’s disease are an increase in white blood cell count, increase in the liver…

Linking The Past To The Present

Joe Dunn, from Quarry Bank near Cradley Heath, Staffordshire – in the heart of The Black Country – had owned bred dogs, including Staffordshire Bull Terriers, for many years and during 1932 and 1933 he decided to try to get them recognised as pure breed by the Kennel Club. At that time the Kennel Club….

The Enrichment Effect

Animals raised in enriched environments have been shown to have the following physiological changes over animals raised under standard laboratory conditions: •Larger brains •More new brain cells and neural connections •Better brain cell survival. The result of these physical changes in brain structure result in the following intellectual emotional benefits: •Improved ability to learn remember…