Which canine was one of the few pooches to survive the sinking of the Titanic? Which dog was used as a hot water bottle in ancient times?
Which canine was one of the few pooches to survive the sinking of the Titanic? Which dog was used as a hot water bottle in ancient times? Find out the answers on this episode of Dogs 101 where we'll meet the Australian Shepherd, the Xoloitzcuintli, the Korthals Griffon, the Pekingese, and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
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Find episode transcript here: https://dogs-101.simplecast.com/episodes/pekingese-korthals-griffon-chesapeake-bay-retriever-australian-shepherd-and-xoloitzcuintli
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HOST VO
Is this dog a cross between a lion and a monkey? Does this breed suffer from acne? Is this breed the best ever at finding bird? Did this dog fight with General Custer? Dogs 101 celebrates man’s best friend. Today, the Pekingese, the Xoloitzcuintli, the Korthals Griffon, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, and we start with a breed that Native Americans call ghost eye, the Australian Shepherd. The Australian Shepherd is the ultimate working dog.
LYNN OUCHIDA VO
Go Maty, go.
HOST VO
Did you know that the dog known as the Aussie isn’t actually from Australia, and that Native Americans called these dogs ghost eye, and considered them sacred? Or that they came to fame as rodeo trick dogs?
CHERISE CLEMENT OC/VO
The Australian Shepherd, they are very a lively, vivacious and immediately recognized breed.
HOST VO
The Australian Shepherd’s ancestors are thought to have originated in the Basque region of Europe. From there, they may have travelled to the early American West by way of Australia, with Basque herders and their flocks, in the 1800s.
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HOST VO
Once in the U.S. they were bred with other working dogs to create what’s now known as the Australian Shepherd. Aussies are best known for their merle coat color, a patchwork of light and dark areas. Most recognizable are blue and red merle. Aussies do come in many color combinations. Breeders once
tried to create Australian Shepherds exclusively with merle coats, but it was discovered that puppies with two merle parents had a one in four chance of being born blind and deaf. Now litters of Aussies are welcomed in all colors. Nicknamed the ghost eye dog, its striking eye coloration is its second most notable feature. Some Aussies have solid brown, blue or amber eyes, but others may have two eyes of different colors, or even eyes of split or swirled color combinations. The subject of a popular children’s book called Henry, The Dog With No Tail, the Australian Shepherd is born with a naturally bobbed tai, which may disappear under its long coat.
ANDREA ARDEN OC/VO
When they were herding it was safer for them not to have a tail that might sort of get in the way or get stepped on.
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HOST VO
Although best known for their herding skills, the Aussies take all kinds of jobs, both on and off the ranch.
CHERISE CLEMENT OC/VO
Because they're so intelligent they're really, really great for other types of work.
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CHERISE CLEMENT VO
Seeing eye dogs for the blind, they are search and rescue dogs.
HOST VO
In addition to their working versatility, Aussies are exceptional at sports and agility competitions.
ZAK GEORGE OC/VO
Australian Shepherds are among the most athletic of all breeds. They’re excellent leapers, they can jump
so high in the air.
HOST VO
This Australian Shepherd is one of the best at a sport called disc dogs. In this sport, a dog must be able to sprint from a dead stop, reaching top speeds quickly, leaping into the air to catch the disc. But would you believe that one of the best disc dogs in the world beats the competition with only three legs?
HOST VO
Meet Maty, one exceptional Aussie. When she was young Maty developed a rare staph infection which necessitated an amputation of her left rear leg, but this disability has never held her back. While recuperating, Maty won the hearts of animal welfare officers, Troy Kerstetter and Lynn Ouchida of Bend, Oregon, who decided to adopt Maty.
TROY KERSTETTER OC/VO
Maty's just a fun dog, and she’s, she's exactly what you'd expect from an Australian Shepherd, She’s very active, very focused on people, a wonderful dog to have around, and we love her personality.
HOST VO
But being part Australian Shepherd in Maty needed more than a home to keep her happy, she needed a lot of exercise.
TROY KERSTETTER VO/OC
We knew that we wanted to keep her first lean, because a three-legged dog does not need to be overweight at all, so we ran her through the agility training in our area, and she did wonderfully, she could keep up with all the other dogs, but when we wanted to compete her that was against their rules.
HOST VO
The tournament rules do not allow dogs with deformities. Maty’s amputation disqualified her from competing, but Troy and Lynn would not give up on her that easily. They tried something that
appealed to her innate prey drive and discovered that at Frisbee, she was a natural disc dog.
TROY KERSTETTER VO
Good, good, Maty. She's the one who decided that she can do this, and we're just thrilled that she enjoys doing it now. Hey partner.
HOST VO
In fact, Maty was so good they decided to enter her into a disc dog competition.
TROY KERSTETTER VO
Nice one Maty, Maty…
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TROY KERSTETTER VO
…good catch.
HOST VO
Her event of choice is distance and accuracy.
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HOST VO
She must make as many catches as possible within
60 seconds, all while remaining within the boundaries of a 50 by 20 yard grid. Extra points are awarded if all paws are off the ground during the catch.
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LYNN OUCHIDA VO
Go Maty, go.
HOST VO
Maty must return the disc to Troy after each throw…
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HOST VO
…and here the Aussie speed shines through. Watch this pure-bred Aussie run. While running at top speed, the legs find the center line of gravity under the body, which allows the dog to make quick changes in direction. Just like in the cheetah, the spine propels the dog forward as it flexes and springs straight.
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HOST VO
And it’s this speed that allows Maty to sprint back and forth…
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HOST VO
…racking up the points. And it should come as no surprise that Maty was the first three-legged dog to qualify for the Skyhound’s World Championships. She would be put to the test against 30 dogs from around the world. Maty made catch after catch, accruing a total of 40 and a half points, which tied her for seventh place, beating out 19 four-legged friends from as far away as Germany and Japan.
TROY KERSTETTER VO
And Maty just loves to go to these competitions, she gets very amped up, she loves applause.
HOST VO
She’s an inspiration to four-legged and two-legged spectators.
HOST VO
This working breed is eager to please, and learns new skills quickly.
CHERISE CLEMENT OC/VO
When they're not exercised properly it can lead to boredom, because they are really intelligent dogs, which can also lead to behavioral problems.
HOST VO
Aussies are great for active families, that devote time to exercise and play.
ANDREA ARDEN OC/VO
But my one real reservation with having the
Australian Shepherd in a home with children is that if they don’t have cattle or sheep to herd, they might end up herding your children.
HOST VO
Like other herding breeds, Aussies suffer from diseases of the eye, like juvenile cataracts.
FEMALE VOICE #1 VO Good boy.
HOST VO
The dense, double coat of the Australian Shepherd can hide ticks and parasites.
JOEY VILLANI OC/VO
So you need to brush, you need to comb, you need to get that dead hair out, and you need to keep that coat free of knots and tangles. Also that’s what helps this coat breathe.
HOST VO
Aussies can handle any climate, but it’s their herding history that tells us they need plenty of exercise and room to run. So in general, Australian Shepherds prosper in all climates. They are prone to eye problems, their beautiful dense coats need frequent brushing to keep them free of parasites and debris. Their exceptional intellect makes this breed easy to train, and Aussies prosper with active families.
ZAK GEORGE OC/VO
Australian Shepherds are absolute geniuses.
CROWD VO
HOST VO
Still more ahead on Dogs 101, we’ll meet a nine eleven hero dog that needed a lifeline of his own, the mystical breed from Mexico that some say is the ugliest dog alive, the breed some say is one of the most versatile hunting dogs. This breed survived the sinking of the Titanic.
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HOST VO
It’s the pooch that is considered a national treasure in Mexico, and it’s the only dog whose name begins with the letter x.
FEMALE WITH BLACK HAIR OC
Xylozisquatili .
MALE IN BLUE T-SHIRT OC
Zoloquin, zoloquin
MALE IN BROWN SHIRT OC
Zolo, got me.
FEMALE IN BLACK CARDIGAN OC
Zoloyzeecwasintly
HOST VO
And even the experts can hardly pronounce this name.
ANDREA ARDEN OC
I’m not saying the name.
DODMAN OC
It's so tough to say
HOST VO
So how in the world do you say this breed’s name?
KAREN HALLIGAN OC
Xoloitzcuintli. Also called a Mexican hairless, but if you don't want to say all that…
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KAREN HALLIGAN OC
…just say Xolo.
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HOST VO
At more than 3,000 years old, this is the first breed of the Americas, and that hairless body radiates heat more intensely than coated dogs. Ancient peoples used the dog as a heating pad for aches and pains.
ANDREA ARDEN VO/OC
So on a cold winter’s night, if you have one snuggled up by your side, you’re going to be pretty warm.
HOST VO
Archaeological evidence puts the Xolo among the oldest dog breeds on the planet. Pre-Aztec engravings of the Xolo closely resemble the modern breed.
KAREN HALLIGAN VO/OC
It's thought that it was the first association between mankind and canine.
HOST VO
The name Xoloitzcuintli is Aztec. Xolo refers to the Aztec God of the Underworld, while itzcuintli means dog.
NICHOLAS DODMAN OC/VO
It was a sort of holy dog, a god-like dog. It was supposed to have special healing powers.
HOST VO
That reputation as a mystical healer continues even
today in secluded areas of central America. The Xolo was among the first breeds registered by the American Kennel Club in 1887. The breed fell out of favor with the public, and almost went extinct. It was removed from AKC registers in 1959.
CHERISE CLEMONT VO
They are a really rare breed.
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CHERISE CLEMONT OC
You hardly ever see this breed.
HOST VO
Mexican artists…
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HOST VO
…Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera put Xolos back in the spotlight. The breed appears in many famous works by these painters. Renewed interest would ultimately save the breed, and by 2008 it was once again recognized by the AKC. Its nickname isn’t Mexican hairless dog for nothing.
KAREN HALLIGAN VO
They only have hair on the top of their head, and on their back, and then on their tail, and they probably do have less tendency to irritate a human with allergies, but there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog.
HOST VO
Hairlessness is a recessive gene though…
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HOST VO
…so one in five Xolo puppies actually has hair.
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HOST VO
Like the Poodle, this dog comes in several size varieties, standard, miniature, and toy.
NICHOLAS DODMAN OC
You can get them at ten pounds and you get them 50 pounds.
HOST VO
Like many other older breeds, the Xolo has large, erect ears.
KAREN HALLIGAN VO/OC
They kind of look like a bat if you look at them straight on, a very unique look.
NICHOLAS DODMAN OC/VO
Whenever they have a competition for the ugliest dog in the world, it's often the Mexican hairless dog that wins.
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HOST VO
So what if some Xolos have a face only a mother could love?
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HOST VO
Owners will tell you what this dog lacks in looks, it makes up for with inner beauty.
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HOST VO
Perhaps that’s why the Xolo is a big part of a revolutionary new prison program, Prison Paws For Humanity. When warden Jo Acton began the program, she didn’t foresee the huge impact it would have.
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JO ACTON OC
Dogs fulfill that need for affection, they also fulfill that need to be needed. I think that’s very, very important for these women.
HOST VO
This unique program places unwanted dogs with a select group of inmates at the Montana Women’s Prison. Surprisingly, three rare Xolos are now in the program. For inmate and Xolo trainer, Nicole Schwalbach, the program is all about second chances.
NICOLE SCHWALBACH VO/OC
Through loving the dogs and working with the dogs we rehabilitate them as well as they rehabilitate us.
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HOST VO
Inmates first socialize the often troubled dogs by caring for them 24 seven, even sharing their cells with the dogs at night.
NICOLE SCHWALBACH VO
I know you came and talked to me and asked me about work.
FEMALE INMATE VO
She didn’t.
NICOLE SCHWALBACH VO/OC
Right. We train pretty much all day long. I get up in the morning, I train my dog, I go to work, my dog comes to work with me, so they get exposure to different environments, different atmospheres.
HOST VO
It’s not prison life for these pooches, they receive daily grooming, walks in the prison yard, and plenty of love. The Xolos also receive basic obedience
training every day, learning commands like sit…
NICOLE SCHWALBACH VO/OC
No. Sit.
HOST VO
…stay…
NICOLE SCHWALBACH VO
Good boy. Sit.
HOST VO
…and come.
NICOLE SCHWALBACH OC/VO
Abby, come, come on Abby. Drop it.
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HOST VO
Nicole’s Xolo Abby is still having a little trouble with this part of the training.
NICOLE SCHWALBACH OC/VO
Abby was very aggressive, and still kind of is, but she’s come a long ways.
HOST VO
Aggression was also a problem for Timone, the Xolo when he first met inmate Alex Yellow Horse.
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HOST VO
Timone had come from an abused background.
ALEXSANDRIA YELLOW HORSE OC/VO
He was really shy, he wouldn’t let you touch his feet, he wouldn’t let you touch his mouth. For the first week I just worked with him and just got his trust.
HOST VO
After earning Timone’s trust, Alex began to slowly
socialize and train Timone.
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ALEXSANDRIA YELLOW HORSE VO
I let him gradually meet dogs. If he wasn’t sure of a dog I would step in front of them and then just told him that it was okay, and I did a lot of training with him just gradually.
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ALEXSANDRIA YELLOW HORSE OC
There. Kisses.
HOST VO
After weeks of training, Alex’s Xolo Timone is ready to be placed in a home in Florida. Nicole’s Xolo Abby is also making great progress.
NICOLE SCHWALBACH OC
Abby is already being looked at, she already has a prospective home.
HOST VO
And placing these Xolos in a good, loving home is what this program is really all about.
DARLENE DAMM OC/VO
Yes it’s kind of nice to have a dog to cuddle up to. They’re just good pets when we’re done with them, and we don’t let them go till they’re ready.
NICOLE SCHWALBACH OC
Come on.
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HOST VO
The Xolo may have a reputation as a healing dog, but its list of personal health concerns is long, including food allergies and missing teeth. This dog also has many skin problems, including acne.
CHERISE CLEMENT VO/OC
Their biggest issue is going to be skin care, not coat care, skin care.
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CHERISE CLEMENT VO
Look for lumps, look for bumps, look for ulcerated areas, and look for areas that have changed in pigment.
HOST VO
They may be hairless, but Xolos still require washing and even skin moisturizer.
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HOST VO
Don’t clean them too often though.
KAREN HALLIGAN VO/OC
They have natural oils that protect them, so if you wash them too much you're going to take away that.
HOST VO
These dogs prefer warmer climates, but be careful not to leave them in the sun too long.
JOEY VILLANI VO/OC
This dog actually needs sunscreen, but you don’t want to overdo it because you don't want to clog up the skin pores.
HOST VO
Training these dogs requires measured firmness and kindness.
ANDREA ARDEN VO/OC
You need to be absolutely sure that you’re not physically or verbally reprimanding these dogs, because they tend to be very sensitive.
HOST VO
This is dog is a loyal companion, but families with small children may want to think twice about this breed. With a breed this ancient there’s bound to be lots of variation, but in general this dog likes warm climates and may have some health concerns, most notably skin problems. They might not have hair, but Xolos need to be cleaned and moisturized regularly. Training requires a firm but kind hand, and this dog is not recommended for families with small children.
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When Dogs 101 comes back, the dog that’s saving America’s prairie, the breed designed to live in a coast sleeve, and the dog that fought with General Custer.
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HOST VO
Watch out, The Korthals Griffon is on the prowl, and he couldn’t be happier.
JOEY VILLANI OC/VO
This is a very, very good hunting dog. It’s a great water dog. If it sees a lake usually it will jump right into it.
HOST VO
Retrievers in the water and pointers in the field, these versatile sporting dogs are called Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, others call them Griffons. Either way, they’re extremely rare. Think about it, in 2007 the
American Kennel Club registered 39,000 litters of
Labrador puppies, but only 92 litters of Griffon
puppies.
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CHERISE CLEMENT VO/OC
They’re not a super-popular breed, and it’s probably because they aren’t very well-adapted for things like city and apartment life and for small suburbs.
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HOST VO
It’s no wonder. Nicknamed the supreme gun dog, the Korthals Griffon is tailor-made to hunt birds and other furry creatures.
CHERISE CLEMENT VO
They are amazingly intelligent, very fast, very agile, and so really great for the sort of person who’s going to go out…
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CHERISE CLEMENT VO/OC
…and do a lot of sports and outdoor activities.
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HOST VO
Royalty and celebrities have had a fondness for them. Grace Kelly’s husband, Prince Rainier of
Monaco, owned a Griffon, and so did…
HENRY WINKLER AS THE FONZ VO
Hey.
HOST VO
…the Fonz, Henry Winkler. But the man who admired them most was their creator, Dutch sportsman E.K. Korthals. It was in the Netherlands in the late 1800s that Korthals began a breeding experiment. Word has it that he crossed a German
Griffon with a French Pointer, and later added
Spaniels, Setters, and Retrievers into the mix, with one thing in mind, to develop the ultimate walking hunter’s gun dog. Korthals got his wish. The breed’s rough and wiry double coat provides excellent protection in any environment, but it also creates a disheveled appearance. Grifs, as they’re often called, are known for their bushy eyebrows and prominent mustache.
ANDREA ARDEN OC
Which actually gives them a really cute expression in their face, they almost look like a Muppet.
HOST VO
Their noses come in just one color, brown, with wellopened nostrils that enhance their powerful sense of smell. Padded paws and webbed toes ensure that this highly athletic canine is as comfortable darting into the woods as into the water.
KURT MERG OC
Pinta hell.
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HOST VO
This Korthals griffon may look like a typical house dog heading out for a walk, but she has another side to her.
KURT MERG VO
Get back. That’s good.
HOST VO
And her owner takes full advantage of it. Kurt Merg is a wildlife biologist on a mission, and five-year-old Pinta is helping him fulfill it.
KURT MERG VO/OC
My goal as a private lands biologist is to ensure that we have wildlife habitat, especially in those areas that are not profitable to farm.
HOST VO
Kurt and Pinta work on the Palouse Prairie, a grassland region in eastern Washington state, where wheat farms dominate the landscape. Less than one percent of the prairie remains, but with Pinta’s help, Kurt’s encouraging farmers to set aside small portions of land for wildlife development.
KURT MERG VO/OC
Pinta helps me in my job. She is an extension of my senses I suppose. Take this retrieving dummy here, connect it to this string, and you’re going to pull it through the wheat stubble in, till you get into the brush line over there.
HOST VO
To pique the farmers’ interest in his dog, Kurt shows off Pinta’s amazing tracking ability in a hunt test called retrieve by drag. Kurt rubs a dummy with his scent, and then passes it on to the farmer’s son, Luke, who drags it through a field, hides it, and walks away, all while Kurt blocks Pinta’s view. Then, it’s testing time.
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KURT MERG OC
Let’s go find it. Track it, track it.
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HOST VO
Without fail, Pinta’s nose leads her along the exact same trail as the dummy, toward her prey.
KURT MERG OC/VO
Good girl, good. To me it’s a miracle.
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KURT MERG VO
I couldn’t possibly do it myself, and so watching her do it just makes me grin.
LUKE VO/OC
It was cool that she could just go down there and just find it and bring it back without even looking around.
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HOST VO
When Pinta’s in the field she’s doing what a Korthals Griffon is bred to do, hunting, but Kurt uses her skills simply to identify where wildlife lives, then he tells farmers about conservation programs, to expand wildlife habitat.
TIM OC
We just got to find the birds.
KURT MERG OC
Yeah. They seem kind of sparse today.
TIM OC
She’s trying.
HOST VO
While Kurt and farmer Tim roam this 1500- acre farm, Pinta gets to work. Like all Grifs, she relies on air currents and her highly-sensitive nose, which has 25 times more smell receptors than a humans, to track wildlife. When she’s aimless it’s clear no animals are present, and the search continues. When her tail wags furiously, Kurt knows she’s on to something, and when she freezes, he knows she’s found it. Then Kurt steps in to see what Pinta’s turned up. This time it was a pheasant.
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KURT MERG VO/OC
If I didn’t have Pinta in the field I wouldn’t be anywhere near as effective at finding birds, and I wouldn’t get a chance to share the fact that there are
birds there with the farmers. Well it looks like a real likely habitat up here, I think we ought to give it a shot.
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HOST VO
Farmer Tim already practices conservation farming, but when Kurt and Pinta pay him a visit, he knows his efforts are paying off.
TIM OC/VO
I know a lot of where the wildlife kind of likes to hang out, but a lot of times we will not see them without bringing Pinta out here, because she will go in and point them out, otherwise, we would just walk right by them.
KURT MERG VO
Good girl.
HOST VO
There’s no question that the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is Kurt’s favorite breed. His family has had only Grifs since Kurt was a kid.
KURT MERG VO
I do remember the first Grif that our family ever had, it’s…
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KURT MERG OC/VO
…we named it Ugly. What I like about
Wirehaired Pointing Griffons is they’re working dogs…
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KURT MERG VO
…and that drive, that singleness of purpose, that charms me.
HOST VO
Naturally, when Kurt had the chance to get a dog of his own, he knew he had to have a Grif.
KURT MERG VO
Pinta is a great companion. We really have a special bond, and that’s really precious to me.
HOST VO
As precious as wildlife conservation. Without his friend with four legs…
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HOST VO
…Kurt couldn’t do his job as successfully.
KURT MERG VO
There it goes.
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HOST VO
At the end of the day, Kurt reflects on the future of the prairie. He knows that his work with Pinta may be helping to preserve increasingly rare species.
KURT MERG VO
She’s on them now.
HOST VO
This Korthals Griffon shines a spotlight on the importance of preserving the landscape, so all creatures have a place to call home.
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HOST VO
The Korthals Griffon has been called the best-kept secret in the sporting group, so don’t fool yourself into thinking that these outdoor enthusiasts will be satisfied with leisurely strolls.
JOEY VILLANI OC/VO
Walking them is not enough if you’re talking about, I’m going to go around the block once and bring them into the house. What you’ve got to do is you got to exercise them.
HOST VO
Country life or a large house with an ample yard will make these active animals happiest. Their health issues are similar to other sporting breeds, bloat, hip dysplasia, and degenerative disk disease, but when it comes to grooming, you’re in luck. A simple brushing a few times a week will do it.
CHERISE CLEMENT VO/OC
Their coat is remarkably water and weather resistant, and so this is the sort of dog where they come out of the water, they give it a good shake, and for the most part they’re fine.
HOST VO
They’re highly trainable, too, thanks to their quick minds and easygoing nature, but they’re not just hunting heroes, they’re also great family companions. Fiercely loyal and affectionate with children, Grifs get along well with other pets too. The Korthals Griffon is a fantastic dog for outdoorsy types. They require a lot of exercise, and thrive in open spaces. They suffer from health problems like bloat and hip dysplasia, but they’re easy to groom, a pleasure to train, and make very good family pets. Just keep their minds working, and their bodies moving, and the Korthals Griffon will keep you smiling, whether you’re kicking back or ramping up.
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HOST VO
More ahead on Dogs 101, the breed that dries himself off with one shake, and the breed that
survived the sinking of the Titanic.
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HOST VO
Now it’s time to play…
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HOST VO
…Pick The Pooch. This long-haired, agile dog herds runaway sheep by riding their backs like a bronco buster. Can you guess which breed it is? The answer when we come back.
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This breed hops on top of the sheep he’s herding and rides the runaway to exhaustion. It’s the Puli. The shaggy breed has been a vital part of the lives of Hungarian shepherds for more than a thousand years.
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HOST VO
It sort of looks like a lion, or is it a monkey? It seems to kind of just sweep along the floor.
ANDREA ARDEN VO
Well, there is a legend that the Pekingese…
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ANDREA ARDEN OC
…was the product of a lion that fell in love with a little monkey, and the union resulted in a Pekingese.
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HOST VO
Bold, independent, and courageous, in fact the Pekingese survived the sinking of the Titanic.
CHERISE CLEMENT VO/OC
They’re in their element when they are in someone's lap or right next to you being petted nonstop.
HOST VO
Frequently the Pekingese is called the large dog in a small body.
JOEY VILLANI VO/OC
It's a fearless dog. You back him into a corner…
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JOEY VILLANI OC
…he's going to let you know, I’m coming out and I'm coming at you.
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HOST VO
Way back when, Chinese Emperors used these dogs to act as guards. Two would bark to announce their master’s entrance, and two would hold the ends of the royal robes in their mouths. And like other small dogs, the Pekingese were used as portable human heaters.
CHERISE CLEMENT OC/VO
The Emperors and Empresses used to carry them around in the big, gi-normous sleeves of their imperial robes.
HOST VO
The Pekingese is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world.
CHERISE CLEMENT VO
There was a time when ordinary citizens had to actually bow down to the Pekingese, that’s how revered they were.
HOST VO
Back then only royals could own these pups, and if someone tried to hurt or steal a Pekingese, he’s be put to death. Today, these pups are just as dignified., and still honored companions. So what’s unique about these little royal hounds? Well first, it’s that huge flat head.
CHERISE CLEMENT VO/OC
Pekingese actually are a type of breed known as brachycephalic, and that's a really big word, but what it basically means is smoosh-face.
ANDREA ARDEN OC/VO
So if you look at them from the side it basically looks flat across.
HOST VO
Other cool stuff, the coat, it has two layers. The top is long, straight and coarse, while underneath it’s thick and soft.
JOEY VILLANI OC/VO
There is so much coat on this dog, sometimes you can't tell what's the head and what's the tail.
HOST VO
And it’s the Pekingese’s short, bowed legs that basically keep it close to its master.
CHERISE CLEMENT VO
They have itty, itty, bitty little legs, so these are not the sorts of dogs that are going to be out in the country, they’re not going to want to run through the woods.
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HOST VO
Usually true, but not for this little guy named Roo, or Uncle Roo as he is affectionately called.
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NANCY GUTTENBERG VO
Hello Roo.
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.
HOST VO
Roo’s a nine-year-old Pekingese. He’s confident, happy and loving life, but it wasn’t always like this. Sadly, Roo was used as a stud dog in a Tennessee puppy mill for seven years. After the puppy mill was
busted, Sue Lewis, rescue chairperson for the Pekingese Charitable Foundation, made it her mission to find Roo just the right home.
SUE LEWIS VO/OC
His emotional needs, he was, on a scale of one to ten he was about a minus five.
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But Roo got lucky when Sue placed him on a small farm in north Salem, New York. This farm was special because the owner loved and bred dogs. The only thing was she loved really, really big dogs.
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NANCY GUTTENBERG VO/OC
I’m basically a big dog person.
HOST VO
Some of the biggest behemoth dogs on the planet.
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Not really the place you’d expect to find a 13-pound Pekingese. Marcus, Ebony, and Faye, these 150-plus pound monsters took little Roo under their paws.
NANCY GUTTENBERG VO/OC
They loved him to death. He was a moving, squeaking toy for them. They followed him around and he became uncle Roo, they loved every minute of it. We’ve got the bulk and the brain. Roo’s the brain and Marcus is the bulk.
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HOST VO
Nancy Guttenberg has been breeding Great Danes most of her life. When she heard about the Peke in need she took him in, and right after that she also took in two Great Danes.
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NANCY GUTTENBERG VO/OC
It was really the Great Dane puppies that rehabilitated Roo. Roo became Uncle Roo, and in the socialization process Roo was able to overcome all the prior years of inattention. Hello. Sue Lewis, come on in.
HOST VO
Today is payback for Sue Lewis, the angel who placed Roo in this home. She gets to see just how great little Roo is doing.
SUE LEWIS OC
Are you going out? Hello. Is this his bud?
NANCY GUTTENBERG OC
Yeah, that’s Roo’s buddy.
SUE LEWIS OC Oh my god.
NANCY GUTTENBERG OC
Roo raised, little Roo raised Marcus.
HOST VO
For the seven-year-old little Peke it was like he had the puppyhood he never got.
NANCY GUTTENBERG VO/OC
If Marcus and the Danes are out there chasing birds you can count Roo in. Roo will stand at the fence all day long waiting for something eventful to happen, like horses or walkers or bicyclists, and he is the first
to sound the alarm, and then the Danes come running. And I think that Roo counts on that backup.
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NANCY GUTTENBERG OC
Well as long as Marcus is around Roo feels secure.
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NANCY GUTTENBERG OC
Come on.
HOST VO
And so Marcus, Faye, Ebony and Roo are all best friends.
NANCY GUTTENBERG VO
In you go.
HOST VO
Wherever they go Roo is right behind, or underneath.
NANCY GUTTENBERG VO
Roo does not realize he is not a Great Dane. In his
heart he’s a Great Dane.
SUE LEWIS OC
This is really one of those stories that makes you want to do rescue and stay in rescue.
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HOST VO
And while Roo has lots of action, most Pekes don’t thrive on it, or need it.
ANDREA ARDEN VO
They tend to like just hanging out and sleeping most of the day.
HOST VO
Grooming is certainly important for this lookalike lion. They need to be shampooed regularly, brushed daily, and eyes and wrinkles need to be kept clean.
ANDREA ARDEN VO
This is a dog who has such a dense thick coat that even a week gone by without grooming means that poor dog is probably going to be very matted.
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HOST VO
Training, well that can be tough. In fact, don’t hold your breath while calling them to come. They usually won’t.
MALE VOICE VO
Here Roo.
HOST VO
And the Pekingese have health issues.
ANDREA ARDEN VO/OC
You, you probably should put aside some money for
ongoing vet bills.
CHERISE CLEMENT VO/OC
These dogs tend to have compensatory heart issues.
HOST VO
Congestive heart failure is the leading cause of death for Pekingese.
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And as far as making a Pekingese a family pet, they’re good, but not with little kids.
JOEY VILLANI VO/OC
They're not the best dog around children though, because they don't like to be messed with, they like to be the child of the house, so they like to have your attention.
HOST VO
So in general, Pekingese don’t need a big yard and do fine living in a small home. They have respiratory health issues, their coat needs regular grooming, and because a they’re stubborn, training is difficult. But they do make good pets, for lounging, older families.
NANCY GUTTENBERG VO
They are an excellent lap dog, that’s pretty much all they want to do in life, that’s pretty much what they were bred for.
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HOST VO
More to come on Dogs 101, the breed that rode into battle with General Custer.
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When it comes to water retrieving, one breed stands out from the rest, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
ZAK GEORGE OC
High energy, strong, loves to swim.
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The state dog of Maryland, these tough dogs truly represent.
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ANDREA ARDEN VO/OC
These are dogs will literally dive into icy, icy water and swim for a very long period of time. This is a dog that is very powerful, very well-muscled, and very intense.
HOST VO
General George Custer took his rough and tumble Chesapeake Bay Retrievers into battle with him, and legend holds that President Theodore Roosevelt’s Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Sailor Boy, was a descendent of Custer’s dogs.
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CHERISE CLEMENT VO/OC
These were dogs that actually got shipwrecked off the coast of the Chesapeake Bay, way back in the 1800s, and the Newfoundlands that were on board were subsequently crossed with American Retrievers, and over time we developed the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
HOST VO
Bred to hunt waterfowl in the rough and icy waters of Chesapeake Bay, these dogs had to be the toughest and most independent retrievers. The overpopulation of birds at the time often required them to make 200 retrieves per day. Not even inch-thick ice stopped them from doing their job.
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Their battering ram chest, broad and powerful, enabled him to break through this dense ice.
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ANDREA ARDEN VO/OC
Chesapeake’s were bred to be very durable dogs who had a very intense instinct to swim.
HOST VO
They have several characteristics that help them take to frigid waters like they’re ducks.
JOEY VILLANI VO/OC
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a double- coated dog. It has a soft undercoat that’s very dense, and it has an oily flat topcoat, now that’s what makes this dog a great water dog, because it actually repels the water.
HOST VO
So one shake of a wet Chessie will leave him close to dry.
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ANDREA ARDEN OC
One of the most beautiful things about Chessies is their coloring.
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HOST VO
Their waterproof coat comes in three basic shades that blend in with their working environment, brown, sedge, or dead grass.
ANDREA ARDEN VO/OC
And their eyes and their nose and their lips tend to be of a similar shade.
HOST VO
Their muscular hind legs make them remarkable swimmers. They can swim fast, and for long stretches of time. And finally, their powerful and wide muzzles enable them to carry large waterfowl with a gentle hold.
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Unlike the ultra-friendly Labrador Retriever, the Chesapeake is often standoffish around strangers and other dogs.
CHERISE CLEMENT VO/OC
I will warn people that, although they look a lot like Labs, they’re not Labs.
HOST VO
Could it be a case of mistaken identity?
ANDREA ARDEN VO/OC
It’s unfortunate that a lot of people mistake
Chesapeakes for Wire-coated Labradors, because their personalities are generally very different. Of all the sporting breeds, the Chesapeake is probably the dog with the hardest or strongest temperament.
HOST VO
This is what makes these dogs some of the best working dogs out there. They excel in obedience, tracking, and make great explosive sniffing dogs.
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HOST VO
Lacey is a special Chessie. She trained for 18 weeks to sniff out bombs for the Ocean County Sheriff’s department. Then, on a clear September morning in 2001, disaster struck New York City. Thousands volunteered to help, including Lacey and her owner. This Chesapeake Bay Retriever was part of an elite group of canines who helped guard the city after the attack, and sift through the rubble, looking for survivors and remains. It was a gruesome task.
GEORGE KRAMER VO/OC
They were getting their paws lacerated because the, the fires were still going, smoke was going, there was a lot of sharp debris, metal, glass. They didn’t want to stop, they were constantly searching. The handlers really had to try and get them out, the dogs wanted to just be in there and, and do their job.
HOST VO
Lacey devoted the best years of her life sniffing out explosives during the aftermath of nine eleven. After years of brave service, her owner fell on hard times, and made the difficult decision to give Lacey up. Suddenly Lacey found herself in unimaginable circumstances, without a home. What will happen to this hero dog? Find out when Dogs 101 continues.
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Lacey, a canine explosives dog, served her city and her master during the aftermath of nine eleven, but suddenly found herself homeless.
ROBIN EDWARDS VO/OC
I’m a police officer myself, so once I heard about Lacey’s story there was a definite connection, and I wanted to help this dog out. We wanted to make sure that we found her the perfect home.
HOST VO
Robin Edwards, a volunteer from Chesapeake Bay Relief and Rescue, immediately sprung into action to reverse Lacey’s fortune. She placed an ad in the local paper, and the story made its way to the local news.
MALE REPORTER VO
You might not know it to look at her, but this eight and a half year old Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a hero, one of the bomb sniffing police dogs that responded after nine eleven.
HOST VO
It created a huge public response.
ROBIN EDWARDS VO/OC
I started getting emails and phone calls from people who actually worked down at nine eleven, people who lost family members all wanted to adopt this dog and give her a good, loving home.
HOST VO
The selection process was intensive.
ROBIN EDWARDS VO/OC
We went through the applications, talked to the people, did telephone interviews with them.
HOST VO
Emails poured in by the hundreds. After 80 phone interviews, they narrowed it down to five personal interviews. Andy, an ambulance dispatcher at Ground Zero, and his fiancée stood out from the rest.
ROBIN EDWARDS VO/OC
Andy was down in New York City when the rescue efforts were going on, and I think it was in a sense
their destiny to end up together.
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From the moment Robin met Andy and his fiancée they knew they’d found a home for Lacey.
ROBIN EDWARDS VO/OC
I had an immediate connection with Andy and Donna. There was just something that spoke to us as far as being the right home for Lacey.
HOST VO
The first time lacey came to Andy’s house, she treated it like her home. She immediately ran to the toys Andy bought her, and started to play.
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It’s been two years now, and Lacey is thriving in her new home.
DONNA OC
Did I get the goodies? Yeah that’s a good girl, yeah.
ROBIN EDWARDS VO/OC
Lacey is doing amazing today. She’s happier than I’ve ever seen her.
HOST VO
Lacey might be ten years old, but she still has a lot of spunk. She loves to run and chase balls, and she’s not afraid to ask for a belly rubs. And even though she’s officially retired…
ANDY OC
Go get it.
HOST VO
…she keeps her nose up to snuff by searching for flares in the yard.
ANDY VO
Find it. You can find it.
ROBIN EDWARDS VO/OC
I think they’re heroes, absolutely meant for each other.
ANDY VO
Good girl.
ROBIN EDWARDS VO
Oh Lacey’s a sweetheart. She wants nothing more than to be with her people.
ANDY VO
That’s a good girl.
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If Lacey could speak she’d tell you when matched up with the right owner, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a pleasure to own.
CHERISE CLEMENT VO/OC
I will usually recommend them for families that have older children, or families that are adults.
HOST VO
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are prone to a few health issues.
ANDREA ARDEN VO/OC
They do suffer from joint issues like hip dysplasia, but that’s the case with a lot of larger breed dogs.
HOST VO
They require a good amount of vigorous activity, and would rather retrieve balls than go for a walk.
CHERISE CLEMENT VO/OC
They love to hunt, they love to retrieve, and they love to swim, so they are not ideal apartment dogs. These are the sorts of dogs that are going to want to be out in the country, out in the suburbs.
HOST VO
Basic obedience training is not an option for this dog, they must be properly trained by a strong leader or they can become domineering.
ANDREA ARDEN VO/OC
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are not the right dog for novice dog owners.
HOST VO
Their coat is low maintenance, so a weekly brushing should do the trick.
DONNA OC/VO
Let’s see that coat. See that coat.
HOST VO
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers love to swim, and need ample space to run. Like other large dogs, they are prone to hip dysplasia and bloat. Grooming is a cinch. They need strong leadership and firm training, and are best suited for experienced dog owners with older children.
FEMALE IN BLUE JEANS VO/OC
Puppy love. Puppy love.
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HOST VO
So to recap, the Australian Shepherd doesn’t come from Australia at all, it’s an all-American breed. These dogs were bred to help sheep and cattle ranchers in the West. They excelled as rodeo trick dogs. The Xoloitzcuintli is a very old breed from Central America. Most Xolos are born hairless. The breed almost went extinct in the fifties, but today,
though rare, is making a comeback. Another ancient breed is the Pekingese, bred to guard Buddhist temples in China. Chinese legend has it that they were a cross between a lion and a monkey. Today they are a popular companion dog. A Pekingese was
one of only a few dogs to survive the Titanic shipwreck. The Korthals Griffon, also known as the Wirehaired Pointer. This hunting breed was developed by a Mister Korthals in Holland. Today it is considered one of the best bird dog breeds.
HOST VO
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever developed when a boatload of Newfoundlands shipwrecked near the Chesapeake Bay. The locals crossed them with
American Retrievers to create an amazing water dog. Remember, each individual dog is unique, and may not conform to breed standards. If you’re adopting a dog, do your homework, and check out
Petfinder.com, to search for a specific breed near you. Choose your next best friend wisely.
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