February 2013 Volume 6 Issue 2

www.cpgreaterswiss.com

What’s Inside

Eastern Regional Specialty 1

Pack Hike Adventure 2

Weight Pull Results 3

Acupuncture 4

Upcoming Events 6

April Draft Trial Flyer 7

Brags 8

Ways and Means 9

Membership Form 10

Mark Your Calendar!!

C & P Swissy Licks Providing fun activities, information, and support to Swissy enthusiasts

Swissy Licks is the 2011 recipient of the Alliance of Purebred Dog Writers (APDW) Hot Digital Dog Award

Plans are underway, once again, for our three-day spectacular event Septem-

ber 27-29! Cathy Cooper is the specialty chair this year, and she and her

team are hard at work making plans. More details will be forthcoming as

plans progress.

Warrenton and Old Dominion Kennel Clubs have submitted the conforma-

tion judging panel to AKC for approval. Pending approval, the line up is

the following:

Friday Supported Entry—Eric Ringle

Friday Herding—Susan Rhodes, Keepstone Farms

Saturday Supported Entry—Patricia Hastings

Saturday Weight Pull—Rob Via (tentative), Farling Facility

Sunday Specialty—Alberto Berrios

Sweepstakes—Jim Owens

Eastern Regional Specialty

C & P GSMD Club members Mi-

chelle Charters, Kris Feathering-

ham, Nancy Kechner, and Dan-

ielle Manson—and George’s es-

cort, Erica Cavanaugh—got to-

gether and braved the cold on

February 2, 2013 for a 10 mile

pack hike. But there were defi-

nitely some snags in the process.

The original hike was planned for

Great Falls National Park and in-

cluded some scenic views and his-

torical sites. The problem sur-

faced when some bad weather

moved in the previous day and

knocked down a tree that ulti-

mately blocked the entrance and

shut down the park. A last minute

decision was made, and the na-

tional pike hike chair approved, to

change the venue to one that was previously approved for C & P's 2012 Fall Hike at Bull Run Bat-

tlefield and National Park.

At the start of the hike, the temperature was a chilling 18 degrees. The hike took a little over 4

hours to complete and by the time of completion the temperature was a balmy 26 degrees. Usually

hikes are filled with big water breaks, photo opportunities, and the removal of excess layers. This

time is was all about getting done as fast as possible.

All the dogs had a great time and loved the climate and all

dogs that were going for legs earned them. Some dogs were

doing their first hike of this distance and load, while others

were veterans. Nonetheless, the following day was filled

with happy, sleeping Swissies. This hike, like many others,

was defined by the fun we all had together, the stories we

shared, and the jokes that were told—and the finale to the

day was a trip to the Philadelphia Tavern in Manassas, VA for some good food, warming drinks,

and a heated venue. Kudos to all involved (2 and 4 legged) for braving the weather. It was a very

rewarding hike and great exercise for all. We look forward to doing it again!

Ground Hog Day Pack Hike

Kris Featheringham

Leg Earners

Novice Working Pack Dog:

Danielle Manson & Mater

Michelle Charters & Skylar

2 C & P Swissy Licks February 2013

Saturday GSMDCA Pull:

Ollie (pulled by Tracy)- 10x leg earned

Cooper (pulled by Jenna)- 10x leg earned

Wyatt (pulled by Jenna)- 10x leg earned

Mater (pulled by Danielle)- 10x leg earned

Sprite (pulled by Megan)- 15x leg earned

Sara Lee (pulled by Jan)- 15x leg earned

George (pulled by Comer)- 15x leg earned

MWP (Most Weight Pulled)- George

MWPP (Most Weight Pulled by Percentage)- Sprite

Saturday Swissies in NWDA Pull:

Ollie- 10x leg earned

Cooper- 10x leg earned

Sara Lee- 15x leg earned

Sunday Swissy Pull:

Sprite- 10x leg earned

Sara Lee- 10x leg earned

Cooper- 10x leg earned (new WWD title)

Mater- 10x leg earned

Ollie- 10x leg earned

Wyatt- 15x leg earned

MWP- Wyatt

MWPP- Wyatt

Sunday NWDA Pull (Swissy Re-

sults):

Sara Lee- 10x leg earned

Wyatt- 10x leg earned

Ollie- 10x leg earned (new WWD title)

February Weight Pull Jenna Starr Farling

Sprite

Mater

Sprite

Wyatt February 2013 C & P Swissy Licks 3

Alternative Medicine—Acupuncture

The trouble began in early January

2012, when Hershey, my then

nearly 11-year-old chocolate Lab,

developed the first in a series of

urinary tract infections. Eventually,

the problem worsened to include

full-blown incontinence, with Her-

shey waking up in a puddle two or

three mornings a week.

If dogs can be em-

barrassed, my dog

must have been

mortified. I was

certainly getting

weary of launder-

ing her doggy bed,

but I assumed this

was a consequence of having an

older dog. My veterinarian put her

on a widely used drug to stop the

incontinence and possibly help pre-

vent further infections.

But the drug can cause an increased

heart rate and other side effects,

and within hours of her first dose,

Hershey became restless, began

panting excessively and lost her

appetite. After two days, my vet

said to stop the drug. Other op-

tions, hormone therapy among

them, seemed no safer.

I wanted an effective, nontoxic ap-

proach and wondered whether

complementary medicine — spe-

cifically, acupuncture — could help

my dog.

I’d used acupuncture myself, and I

believe the ancient Chinese practice

of inserting fine needles into certain

points in the body — to relieve

pain, speed healing, ease arthritis

and conquer addictions, among

other things — works. Acupunc-

ture eliminated my lower back pain

and helped me recover from shoul-

der surgery. Could it work for Her-

shey, too?

My vet urged me to give it a try, so

last October I brought her to see

Jordan Kocen, a veterinarian in the

integrative medicine department at

VCA South Paws Veterinary Spe-

cialists & Emergency Center in

Fairfax. South Paws is both a refer-

ral facility, with vets in more than a

dozen medical specialties, and a 24-

hour emergency hospital. I’d taken

Hershey there previously for an-

other problem and was impressed

with the veterinarians’ expertise and

warmth.

After observing Hershey, Kocen

suspected she was suffering from a

neurological weakness in her hind

quarters, often caused by impaired

nerve impulses to the muscles and

worsened by tightness in her lower

back muscles. Both had affected

her mobility and the strength of her

urinary sphincter.

“Part of the neurological check in-

volves turning each paw over and

seeing how long it takes for her to

place it back properly. She was a

little slow, a sign she had some neu-

rological weakness,” Kocen said.

“She also did a little hopping ma-

neuver to get up off

the floor, which usu-

ally indicates some

lower back tension.’’

He inserted a series

of acupuncture nee-

dles along her back,

specifically targeted to her weak-

nesses, and said it was fine if she

moved around. Dogs can’t always

remain still for 20 minutes — the

usual time for an acupuncture ses-

sion — and apparently it doesn’t

matter.

“Acupuncture stimulates nerve

endings, which send a message to

the spinal cord,’’ Kocen explains.

“The cord then sends out a mes-

sage. If the area being needled is

tight, then the message will be to

the local muscle to relax. If the area

is weak, the message will be to

strengthen. Since nerves go every-

where, all conditions potentially

could respond to acupuncture.’’

We scheduled a series of further

treatments a week or two apart.

Kocen told me to keep a diary and

record how things were going. The

Marlene Cimons, special to The Washington Post

If medication doesn’t work for your pet,

acupuncture might. Many veterinari-

ans embrace acupuncture.. Acupunc-

ture needles are applied to target the

dog’s weaknesses.

4 C & P Swissy Licks February 2013

effects could take time, he said,

advising me to be patient.

I decided to write “D” for dry and

“W” for wet on the calendar each

morning.

That first treatment was on Friday,

Oct. 19. Saturday morning, Oct.

20, she woke up dry. I wrote a “D”

on the calendar. Sunday morning,

October 21, she woke up wet. I

wrote a “W.” On Monday, Oct. 22,

she woke up dry and stayed that

way for the next 10 mornings.

Then on Thursday, Nov. 1, and

Friday, Nov. 2, she woke up wet.

And that was it.

She’s had a few small leaks in the

evening, but she’s been sleeping

through the night accident-free

ever since.

A long history in animals

The Chinese believe that the nee-

dles release painful blockages of

energy — known as qi or chi —

along pathways called meridians.

Although we know of acupuncture

as a human treatment, the ancient

Chinese did use it for animals,

though not dogs.

“The acupoints were developed for

horses, pigs and cattle,” says Susan

Wynn, an Atlanta veterinarian who

is president of the American Acad-

emy of Veterinary Acupuncture.

“Modern maps of dog and cat acu-

points and meridians are derived

only recently from those developed

in people over the last few thou-

sand years.’’

In animals, acupuncture seems to

be most effective for mobility

problems such as arthritis and for

spinal issues such as disk disease.

It’s also helpful for neurological

disorders, in behavior problems

such as anxiety disorders and in

healing chronic wounds, according

to Wynn, citing numerous peer-

reviewed studies.

Veterinary acupuncture “is used

less often for problems that are

inflammatory and hormonal in na-

ture, yet it can be helpful in dis-

eases like allergic dermatitis, allergic

respiratory disease and inflamma-

tory bowel disease,’’ Wynn says. “It

can return an abnormally still gas-

trointestinal tract to normal func-

tion and is very effective in the

treatment of nausea and appetite

loss.’’

Acupuncture in animals has also

been found to help control epilep-

tic seizures, treat ear infections by

enhancing the effects of antibiotics

and preventing recurrences, and

ease hip dysplasia pain, said Cheryl

L. Chrisman, editor of the Ameri-

can Journal of Traditional Chinese

Veterinary Medicine. She said it

can also treat pain in general, con-

trol vomiting and reduce intraocu-

lar pressure, making it “a potential

treatment for glaucoma.’’

Numerous studies have shown the

benefits of veterinary acupuncture,

said Larry A. Bernstein, a North

Miami Beach veterinarian and

founder of the American Holistic

Veterinary Medical Foundation.

“There are copious amounts that

show the efficacy and mechanisms

in both veterinary and human acu-

puncture,’’ he said. “It is probably

the most researched of all the com-

plementary modalities.’’

Looking up

Because Hershey is a dog, I am

quite sure she’s not experiencing a

placebo effect.

It’s been four months and her in-

continence seems to be history.

She hasn’t had a urinary tract infec-

tion since August. She is livelier,

more energetic. She runs around

the yard like a puppy. We still go

for treatments once every two

weeks but, because she is doing

well, she soon won’t have to go as

often.

My pet insurance, which costs

about $500 a year to cover Her-

shey, pays 80 percent of my costs

after a $200 deductible, which I

find ironic since my own health

insurance won’t cover acupuncture

for me. The initial consultation/

treatment was $225, subsequent

sessions $110 each. Thus, my out-

of-pocket cost is $22 for each regu-

lar session.

Hershey’s 12th birthday is later this

month. It will be a very happy —

and dry — one.

Source: The Washington Post, Health & Science section, Tuesday, February 12, 2013, page 1

February 2013 C & P Swissy Licks 5

Finding an Acupuncturist

Upcoming Events

April 27 & 28—Draft Trial

Winchester, VA

Contact: Mary Jo Rasmussen

September 9-13—

National Specialty

Purina Farms, MO

Contact: Janelle Kaiser

September 27-29

C & P Specialty

Millwood, VA

Contact: Cathy Cooper

November 9-11—Draft Trial

Pending approval

Mt. Airy, MD

Contact Nancy Kechner

September 14-19, 2014

National Specialty

Bethlehem, PA

Contact Mary Jo Rasmussen

A veterinarian can receive certification in veterinary acupuncture, or a CVA

designation, after taking courses approved by the International Veterinary

Acupuncture Society and completing a certain number of observation hours

with a certified veterinary acupuncturist. He or she also must write a case

report suitable for publication and pass a test. Typically, the basic course is

180 hours or more, according to Susan Wynn, president of the American

Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture. “If you see ‘FAAVA’ after someone’s

name, they have done a great deal of additional study,” Wynn says.

Fairfax vet Jordan Kocen says that veterinary acupuncture is growing in

popularity and credibility. Several veterinary colleges now offer acupuncture

in their clinics as well as introductory courses for their students, he says.

Also, more pet owners are seeking it, he says.

“My experience is that conventional vets are more likely to support their

clients who want to try it—what I call a ‘passive referral’—and more are

actively referring patients because they have seen the results in other pa-

tients,” he says.

Several thousand U.S. veterinarians are certified to perform acupuncture,

according to Vikki Weber, executive Veterinary Acupuncture Society. When

looking for one, it’s worth making sure the practitioner is in fact a licensed

vet—that is, a person first trained in conventional veterinary medicine. The

following organization can provide information about veterinary acupunc-

turists and help you locate one:

American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture, www.aava.org

International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, www.ivas.org

American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association www.ahvma.org

Chi Institute, www.tcvm.com

Center for Comparative and Integrative Pain Medicine at Colorado

State University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

www.scuvets.colostate.edu/pain/CCIPM.htm

American Medical Veterinary Association www.avma.org

6 C & P Swissy Licks February 2013

Source: The Washington Post, Health & Science section, Tuesday,

February 12, 2013, page 5

Chesapeake & Potomac Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club

Sponsors

All Breed Draft Test

April 27 & 28

756 New Hope Rd., Cross Junction, VA 22625

Saturday judges: Bethany Karger/Megan Westenmeyer

Sunday judges: Jim/Mary Jo Rasmussen

Entry fees $35 Premium download

Ring prizes + Qualifier prizes + Lunch = Provided! February 2013 C & P Swissy Licks 7

New Weight Pull title for Cooper!! WWD

New Weight Pull title for Ollie!! WWD

Fadri (expertly handled by MATT!) earns his Championship—YEAH!!

Vago earns his Championship—way to go, Doreen!!

Sophia earns her ROM (Register of Merit)!! A bitch needs five Champion off-spring to earn this award.

C & P Board Members

Huck Bothner - President

Nancy Kechner- Vice President

Mary Jo Rasmussen - Treasurer

Jenna Starr-Farling- Secretary

Michelle Charters - Director

Kris Featheringham - Director

Phyllis Walker - Director

Megan Westenmeyer– Director

Additional Positions

Tracy Brainard—Calendar

Jan Collins —Photographer

Kris Featheringham— Webmaster

Mary Jo Rasmussen – Newsletter Editor

Michelle Charters — Ways and Means

Phyllis Walker — Membership Chair

Darlene Ward—Photographer & Calendar

Cooper

Ollie

Fadri Koontz

C & P Member Brags!!

Vago Holly

Scopey Collins 8 C & P Swissy Licks February 2013

Please print and mail this form, along with a check, made payable to C & P GSMDC to:

Michelle Charters 844 Washington Dr.

Chesapeake, VA 23322 Tel.: (757) 548-3375 mbcharters@cox.net

Shipping/Handling Varies

*Long Sleeve Shirts available in M, L, XL, in Indigo & Independence Red

**Fleece Jackets available in Women’s sizes M-XL in Merlot & Black, Lt. Blue in L only

**Fleece Jackets available in Men’s sizes L-2XL in Merlot & Black

Name

Address

E-mail Phone

Item Price Size/Color Quantity Total

**Fleece Jacket $37

$40 (2XL)

*Long sleeve Tee-shirt

$25.00

Hat $17.00 Red Navy

Nylon Collar $15.00 NA

Subtotal

Shipping & Handling

TOTAL

Order Form

February 2013 C & P Swissy Licks 9

Chesapeake & Potomac (C & P GSMDC) GREATER SWISS MOUNTAIN DOG CLUB

Application for Membership

NAME(S)________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS_______________________________________________________________________ TELEPHONE_________________________ ___CELL PHONE__________________________

Allow contact information to be posted in club directory? Yes No

Registered Name of GSMD Call Name Registration# Breeder Name Date of Birth

Please check all that apply:

Breeder (registered a litter within past 3 years)

Exhibitor (handled dog at AKC event within past 2 years)

Dog Owner (of AKC registered dog)

Judge (AKC-licensed judge)

I (We) agree to abide by the Constitution and Bylaws of this Club and the rules of the American Ken-nel Club. ________________________________________________________________________________ Signature and Date ________________________________________________________________________________ Signature and Date Yearly Membership Fees are $35 for Family Membership, $25 per Individual Member. While mem-bership is unrestricted as to residence, the C & P GSMDC strongly encourages members outside of the Club’s geographical area (DC, DE, MD, Eastern PA, VA) to apply for Associate Membership. Those who wish to learn more about the GSMD but do not own a GSMD may join as an Associate Member. Associate Membership Fees are $35 for Family Membership, $25 per Individual Member. Associate members are not able to vote or hold office in the C & P GSMD Club.

Please let us know what events you would like C & P to provide and how you would like to support the club. Also, add any additional information you’d like to share about yourself and/or your dogs. This is YOUR club--let us know what you’d like to do!

BBQ’s, parties, etc. Conformation Agility

Obedience/Rally Dog show help Weight pull

Breed information Health issues Packing

Write Newsletter articles Drafting Rescue

Serve on board Herding Therapy

Please send a check payable to the C & P GSMD Club along with this application to Phyllis Walker

5933 Sixth St. Falls Church, VA 22041 or e-mail Phyllis at pgwalkerphd@gmail.com and send mem-bership fee to www.paypal.com at cptreas@gmail.com

10 C & P Swissy Licks February 2013