Doggy DNA

Hello all,

Veatch's mama here and I have some exciting news! For Christmas this year Pop Pop and GG bought Daddy a Doggy DNA testing kit for Veatch, and the results are in!

When we adopted Veatch from Last Chance they guessed he was most likely a Labrador and Corgi mix. To us he was simply pure love. We've always had a curiosity about his origins and now we have some insight.

The DNA test is from Wisdom Panel Insights and is sent out to Mars Veterinary where their experts compare your Doggie's DNA to over 185 breeds. Just after the new year we swabbed the furballs cheek and sent it out for testing. I have been painstakingly checking my e-mail... And it's finally here!

So without further anticipation! Veatch the Corgidor truly is..... (drum roll please)....!

A Pyrenean Shepard and Korean Jindo mix!!!! W-w-w-w-what?!?!?

Never in my life have I even heard of these two breeds, let alone ever suspect that a little mix between them would become the love of my life.

The Pyrenean Shepherd is thought to have been present in the Pyrenees for centuries with medieval artwork picturing the breed and archaeological digs have dug up bones of small dogs in Neolithic deposits in the region. Given that herding is thought to have altered the ecology of the region in 6000BC, the breed is likely to have been there a long time. The Pyrenean Shepherd attained national recognition in France after World War I when dogs were used for couriers, watch dogs, search and rescue, and mascots. The breed comes in rough and smooth-faced varieties and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2009. Coat comes in two variants with smooth- and rough-faced variants seen. Many colors are seen in the breed including shades of fawn, gray and brindle. Black masks, merle coat and white spotting are also frequently observed.

The Korean Jindo dog is a rare spitz-type hunting dog originating from the Island of Jindo in South Korea. There are no official written records of its origins, which remain unknown and speculative. This breed has been isolated on Jindo for hundreds of years and, owing to the absence of other dogs, the Jindo’s genetic pool has remained relatively pure throughout the centuries. The primary functions of the Jindo are hunting and guarding. The breed is protected under the Cultural Properties Protection Act and in 1962, the breed was recognized as the 53rd Natural Treasure by the Korean government. Jindos were used in the opening ceremony of the 1988 Summer Olympics held in Seoul. It is illegal to export Jindos out of Korea, however many Korean-Americans have been exporting them since the mid-1980s. The breed was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1998. The Jindo has been recorded in the Foundation Stock Service of the American Kennel Club since January 2008. The Jindo comes in three coat varieties, including red (including a deep red to a light fawn) to white (including red or gold hints on the ears or legs) or black and tan.

The physical and mental characteristics of these two breeds paint a perfect picture of our little guy. Wow, well you truly do learn something new every day! Thank you Pop Pop & GG for the awesome present!

No more a Corgidor! Now the fun part begins.... What exactly do we call him? A pyredo? A jindean? Oh boy, I'll have to fix the blog!

Time Flies

Woah! Hey bloggers! Long time no sniff! I'm sorry about not blogging since NOVEMBER... Mama has had little to no spare time to help me without blog. So let's catch up!

Duck hunting started and much to my disappointment... I have not gone out on the boat. Daddy says he needs to train Mama before he can take us both out. The only good part to it is there are no ducks to hunt. (This makes GG very happy). So I guess I'm not missing out on much.

Christmas was a lot of fun this year. Bailey and I got a ton of lovings and presents. Mama and Daddy brought a tree inside the house again and put shiny toys on it that I was not allowed to play with. Humans are weird. I also got to go to Grandmas house to see girlfriend (Mamas sister), and Pop Pop and GG's house to play with cousins Marley and Pedro. They bought Daddy some weird toothbrush present for me that had to be sent into the mail for "testing". I didn't like it, and Mama checks her email everyday saying she's going to find out what I am (she wants to write a post soon about it). Just ask me?!? I'm adorable! Duh!

Sadly though, Pop Pops brother passed away Christmas morning from something called cancer. Mama says it is very bad and evil disease. He was sick for over a year and fought very hard for his family. Her heart hurts very bad so I'm making sure the whole family gets extra lovings from me! Since then Mama has been working on something called a Family Tree which is why there's been no time for my Blog.

After Christmas Mama and Daddy stayed up all night to watch the tv. A huge glowing toy was on the screen and when it finished falling they yelled, kissed, and we went to bed. They also humiliated me by putting stuff on my head. I was too tired to fight them off.

Then one day when we went to PetCo Mama tricked me by telling the VET to meet us there. I guess a lot of DogMoms did because it was crazy! Even Marley and Pedro showed up. I got stuck with needles and had stuff shot up my nose. But Mama said it will keep me from getting sick. So I guess I forgive her.

Then two days ago the most wonderful thing happened! IT SNOWED! It hasn't snowed since I was a baby and was brought to my forever home. I wish it always snowed. I miss the snow and have had so much fun romping around in it retrieving my bird.

Where's Waldo? COLORADO!!

Yep. That's right. Daddy left me behind and went on vacation to Colorado! Can you believe him! Humans have some nerve...

It's all clear to me now why Mama and I stayed at GG and Pop Pop's house. She was distracting me. Yeah, like I didn't notice... Althought it was fun staying with cousins Marley and Pedro.

Well anyways Daddy is back now. He went all the way to Colorado to go elk hunting with his brothers. Don't worry no graphic photos - they didn't even get anything! Oh well, at least everyone is home and things are back to normal.

Where's Waldo? Clues!

Last night I snuck onto Mamas phone when she was sound asleep and found some pictures Daddy sent! There were lots of words but I didn't have a lot of time to read them. I managed to swipe the pictures for my blog thankfully before Mama woke up.

It looks like Daddy went somewhere deep in the woods? A vacation - I hope not. He promised me I get to go on the next one! Hopefully I can piece this together tonight.

Hmmm... Daddy in some woods... He's looking very scruffy?

Hmmm... Some beautiful mountains... I wonder?

Now that's a funny piece of paper? What do those words say?

Something fishy is going on!

One Year Forever Home

Exactly one year ago today my life changed forever...

I don't remember much about being a baby or being with my DogMama, but what I do know is that mother nature had chosen me, and I was extremely lucky.

When I was only six weeks old some amazing humans took me from my shelter home in South Carolina and brought me to the Big Apple. Unlike so many unlucky fellow canines I had escaped a terrible fate. I was fostered and loved by the volunteers at Last Chance Animal Rescue until I was old enough to find a forever home.

That's when I met Mama and Daddy. They had both lost their big dog loves in at battle against canine cancer and were looking to fill a deep void in their hearts and homes. I was the perfect fit (although no one knew just yet).

Sweet Saffron

October 6th, 2010

 

Ziggy Marley

January 17th, 2010

 

After a few hours of filing paperwork, answering questions, and fighting off many other interested (and not polite) humans... I went home... Forever.

We quickly grew into a small loving family with an unbreakable bond. Everyday has been an adventure with my human family and I thank DOG and mother nature for choosing me. I thank Last Chance for giving me the love and care I needed to be ready to find my forever home. And I will be forever grateful for being given the two most perfect humans to share my life with in my Forever Home.

Where's Waldo?

Wednesday morning Daddy got up extra early for work and left with a bag of clothes (usually this only happens on laundry day... it's not laundry day) and he hasn't come home!!!

Me and Mama have been staying at GG & Pop Pop's house with cousins Pedro, Marley & Kitty Kitty (A.K.A. Killer Kitty).... And Mama keeps asking me Where's Waldo? Who cares about Waldo, I want my Daddy to come home!!!

Where could he be? It's too cold for fishing! I hope he didn't get kidnapped! Hopefully I will gather some clues and solve this mystery...

Yeah he looks sweet right? WRONG! This little furball won't give me a moments peace! He stalks me, growls at me, spits at me, flashes his deadly claws, and hisses at me! I just want to be friends! The nerve of some cats...

Training; BANG Goes The Gun & Mama's Balloons

Two weekends ago Mama and Daddy went on a vacation to a place called Pennsylvania. I was not invited... But I guess they had felt so bad for leaving me behind because they brought me presents!

I got a new bird (Daddy calls it a mallard) and a new perfect fitting vest with flotation! So now I can go swimming even longer! Mama got some gear too so now she can come in the water to play.

Mama and Daddy took me out on the boat to try out my new gear. It works great except for one thing. Every so often just before I get the bird I hear a big BANG!!! I don't pay any attention and for some reason it makes Mama and Daddy really happy.

After a little while Daddy told me the big BANG is a noise that comes from his magic stick called a gun. When Daddy points his gun it makes the big BANG and then he says the bird will fall and I will have to bring it back. I could care less!

I also learned how to hold my breath and jump off of the boat into the water to get my bird. This is so much fun and again for some reason it makes Mama and Daddy really happy. People are confusing sometimes...

Then this weekend everyone was making a big fuss about Mama. Grandma, Daddy, and Grandpa bought mama presents and made some very good smelling food. I didn't get any presents but Mama shared the yummy food with me.

Then... These big floating colorful things were all over the house! Daddy would put them to his mouth and they would grow and grow, and then quicker than a rabbit they would make a loud noise and fly all over! I did not like them one bit. I chased as fast as I could and when I finally got one BANG!!! It disappeared. The nerve of these things....

[Video on it's way]

Daddy told me later they were Mama's birthday balloons and I felt bad for killing them. But Mama was all smiles and full of laughter so I guess she forgave me.

Training: Get The Bird

I love toys... and Mama knows I love toys becaue everytime I get to ride in the car (which is a lot) Mama brings me a new toy. Squeaky toys are my favorite and I love to rip them apart to kill the squeaker, but Mama says that's what bad dogs do so I don't get very many of them to play with. Oops...


But the one thing I love more than a squeaky toy... is the bird. The bird is a special toy that waterdogs get to "play" with. Mama and Daddy say that the bird is part of my training but I don't see how. It is just so much fun!

We play a game called Get The Bird where I have to be on my best behavior and listen very closely to Mama and Daddy's commands. I have to sit very quietly next to Daddy's side and Mama or Daddy throw the bird with all of their might into the water.

Then (and this is the worst part) I have to sit and watch the bird swim in the water before I can go get it! Then (this is my favorite part) Daddy says "fetch it up" and I get to run into the water as fast as I can and swim with all of my might to bring the bird back to Daddy and drop it at his feet so it will be thrown in the water again!

This game is so much fun because it means I get to ride in the truck with Mama and Daddy, and I get to go to the beach! I love riding in the truck just as much as I love going to the beach. Who knew that training could be so much fun?

Don't Talk To Strangers

I learned yesterday that it's not good to talk to strangers. Mama let me outside when we were at grandmas house to empty. She went inside to get her phone to talk to Daddy... when a nice old lady called to me and then took me for a car ride.

Do you know where that lady took me? JAIL!!!!!

She put me in her car and drove me to jail. She said I had run away! I didn't run away. I'm a good dog! I went to say hi before going back inside after my empty with Mama. I didn't even leave the driveway! She called me out of the driveway and I went to go give some lovings just like mama has taught me to do!

Mama had to come and get me and I guess the lady wasn't as nice to Mama because she was very sad and scared and shaking all over. She knew I was a good boy and didn't yell at me for being taken to jail, but I think she wanted to yell at my "dognapper". Mama was happy that someone was nice enough to help me and bring me to the nice people at Jail so I could be found, but I wasn't even lost to begin with!

Word of advice to all my furry friends: Don't talk to nice old ladies if you aren't lost! They might take you to jail! UNLESS your Mama is there to protect you!

I'm A Waterdog

Hi and welcome to my blog! My name is Veatch and I'm a Labrador Corgi mix. My mom and dad adopted me from Last Chance Animal Rescue on a warm October day when I was just a little pup, but now I'm one littlebig waterdog (in training) and this is where my mama promised to help me share my training adventures with you!

My daddy and mama are big time fishers and duck hunters, well mama's still in training too but that's another story for another day. My daddy and mama have big plans for me, I'm going to be a waterdog!

Being a waterdog is one of the funnest things a dog could be. I get to go on boats, go swimming, play fetch all the time, hide in little grass houses, chase birds and rabbits, and get my special own gear! Check out my vest!

Daddy's friends have their doubts (something about short legs?), but I know I will be the best waterdog in the world and blow their smelly socks off!