Orchard Run Labradors

07/04/2025

I have never advocated for or recommended using harnesses on a dog except for work ie for tracking and seeing eye dogs.

This is good information to know if you insist on using one for walking your dog instead of a slip or martingale collar to make sure you're using the right type so it won't do harm and restrict your Dog's movement.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Et17HC8ha/?mibextid=wwXIfr

This is a repost(ish) but well worth repeating. Many of you have heard me harp on harness fit time and again. Having spent decades evaluating harness fit in working dogs of all types with thermal imaging (as well as having years of working and active dog experience combined with a strong biomechanics knowledge base) using front-clipping or "Gentle Leader" type harnesses only guarantee more structural stress in active dogs that makes for more work for me and other chiro/sports med colleagues. PLEASE only use harnesses that fit with proper ergonomics! [NOTE: I've tweaked the English & syntax in the added-on description below so it might read a little differently.]

"All dog owners should know this fact! A harness like this is a terrible injustice to your pet!! AVOID USING THIS TYPE OF HARNESS !

In a dog's forward movement, a harness with a tape that crosses its chest from side to side hinders it in the same way humans would bother going hiking with an elastic band holding their arms. Physiological movement of the front extremity is prohibited. Just like rubber would inhibit the pendular movement of our ARMS.

Thanks to the "Study of Canine Movement at the University of Jena", we now know that in the dog, the center of rotation of the front limb is at the top of the scapula, but in the human the center of rotation in the arm is in the shoulder (head of the humerus). Jena's study demonstrates, among other things, the importance of scapular movement for dog locomotion. Now we understand the importance of taking into account the free movement of the dog's shoulder when choosing a chest harness.
That means there SHOULDN'T be bands across the scapular (orange) area, and they shouldn't cross the chest side to side either.

From the point of view of biomechanics and physiotherapy, it is recommended not to choose getting harnesses that have a strap that goes through the chest laterally, or that have straps that touch or press the scapula.

Always lean towards harness models with ERGONOMIC design, to allow maximum freedom of movement for your dog, improve his well-being and safety during his walk.
Source : REAL CEPPA"

06/17/2025

WA Followers!

HB 1046 goes into effect July 27, 2025. It provides civil immunity to those who enter into vehicles to rescue a child, vulnerable adult, or domestic pet such as a dog or cat. “Civil immunity” means a person can’t be sued in a civil (non-criminal) court action.

Under this law, people preparing to break into a car to perform a rescue must meet five criteria for immunity from civil liability.

1) Checking first to see if the vehicle is unlocked,
2) Having a good faith belief that the child, vulnerable person, or pet is in imminent danger,
3) Calling 911 before entering the vehicle,
4) Using only the necessary force to gain entry, and
5) Remaining with the child, vulnerable adult, or animal until help arrives.

The bill does not create an excuse or defense for someone to break a car window to steal the car or its contents. The five criteria for immunity must be present.

Although we can inform the public of new laws, we cannot offer any legal advice. Please consult with an attorney.

EM-3

03/03/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18eoJTWNvN/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Thinking about getting a Doodle, Cockapoo or any Poodle mix? Have you been told they "don't need grooming until 1yrs old" or "coat maintenance is easy"?

*PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING piece written by a groomer..in the pic that's known as a pelted coat /Pelting. A dog’s fur gets so matted & tangled it will come off in one piece. It's outs tension on the skin, can damage the skin causing horrible infections and sometimes renders the dog helpless,unable to move and it can then cause fatality
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Poodle crosses (cockapoos, doodles, maltipoos etc.) are not "easy breeds" to maintain. The photo attached (shared from another groomer) shows how matting forms at the skin. By looking at this dog's top coat, you may not see the knots and you may not feel them as you would a knot on the ends of the fur but under that fluffy top layer this is going on. Once it starts its very difficult/ impossible to brush out... and even if you could it would be cruel to put the dog through it. Maintenance at home has to be more than a quick once over for these dogs if you want to keep them in that fluffy coat which was probably one of the reasons you chose a poodle cross in the first place. You really need to sit down with a brush and then a metal comb and make sure you can get it through the entire body at least 2 to 3 times a week.

I often feel like owners don't believe groomers when they say their dog has to be clipped very short. I always hear "I know he/she is matted, but leave as much as you can". You cannot clip through matting, you can only clip under it. As this photo shows, clipping under the matting means taking the coat back to the skin.
I promise you, your groomer really doesn't want to do this but they won't hurt your dog by putting it through dematting, they also don't want to hurt their reputation when the clients go around complaining about how the last groomer "scalped" their dog but there really is not any alternative. Instead of being angry with your groomer if they clip your dog very short please respect their commitment to do what is in your dog's best interest, accept responsibility for not having brushed your dog properly at home, and work with your groomer because, together, you can prevent this happening again. All groomers will be very happy to demonstrate a technique called line brushing which will help make your grooming at home more effective. Just ask! We all want owners to know how to do this

Poodle crosses are easily one of the highest maintenance dogs in reference to their coats. The combination of the soft coat they are mixing poodles with these days is a coat that is extremely prone to matting.

If you like a fluffy pup, you probably need to consider no more than 3-5 week intervals between grooming and set aside time for regular brushing AND combing at home.

Please know, if you bathe your poodle cross you really need to blow dry and brush out right after. Moisture, be it a bath, rain, swimming, snow etc are all going to make matting worse. If you know your dog is already matted-- bathing is only going to make it worse! Brush out before the bath.

Lastly "breeders" who say these dogs can't or shouldnt be clipped and not to give them a hair cut until they are one year old are misleading potential owners in order to sell$$$$ puppies and setting them up for a sad day when they finally take their pup to the groomer!!!

If this hasn't put you off buying one please schedule your puppy's first groom immediately after they've had their vaccinations and then be prepared to do the maintenance at home between regular professional grooms.

07/09/2024

Take special care and watch over your animals this week as we go from mild Washington weather to HOT!

Pay special attention to the recommendations on the flyer below. These are good reminders for ALL Animals, not just your livestock, during this time of excessive heat.

*Sent to 4-H members by email 7/8

07/08/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/UJVto5viLWj2k1Xq/?mibextid=WC7FNe

This is an example of why silver (and other dilute) dogs should not be bred. This is a Silver "Labrador" not a color labradors come in and bred for the sole purpose to make money. Breeders of these dilute dogs have great stories about how the color has always existed. It has NOT always been part of the breed. The dog in this picture is an example of a dog with color dilution alopecia. CDA is not found in the general population of Labradors, it is only found in dilute dogs that people call Silver, Charcoal or champagne labs. Not only is this dog the wrong color for the breed he suffers from a rather server genetic issue. Yet he is still being bred, why because he is silver and silver breeders care about only one thing and that is their pocket books. They do not care about the breed standard, breed history, long term health of the breed in general or individual dogs and then certainly do not care to tell the truth. Silver's are not rare, they are wrong

04/02/2024