Pure Dog Talk

Drop-Coated Dog Care: Grooming & Breeding Secrets with Pat Keen-Fernandes

[caption id="attachment_16535" align="alignleft" width="183"] Pat Keen Fernandes judging the YTCA Top Twenty.[/caption]

Host Laura Reeves sits down with legendary handler Pat Keen-Fernandes at the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America National Specialty to discuss the strict weekly bathing regimen required for drop-coated breeds, the genetics behind eliminating face staining and the crucial need for mentorship and pet trusts within the purebred dog community.

Episode Highlights
The Golden Rule of Drop Coats:Learn why a strict bathing regimenevery five to seven daysis the single most critical factor in achieving a beautiful, flowing coat.
Choosing the Right Tools:Discover why a high-quality,forgiving pin brush with a flexible, squishy padis the ultimate tool for maintaining delicate coats without causing damage.
Shih Tzu School & Mentorship:Pat shares how she is giving back to the sport by mentoring new exhibitors throughShih Tzu Schoolto help preserve the future of drop-coated breeds.
Breeding for Health and Structure:Explore how selective breeding naturally prevents issues like tear-staining, and why evaluating dogs based on overall balance and proper shoulder placement is essential.
Protecting Your Dogs with Pet Trusts:A sobering discussion on why every breeder and owner must establish written wills orpet truststo ensure their dogs are protected if they are left behind.

Protecting Dogs from the Dangerous Return of the New World Screwworm


Host Laura Reeves and veterinarian Marty Greer discuss the alarming resurgence of the New World Screwworm, outlining vital travel precautions, key symptoms to watch for and the medications used to treat this invasive parasite.


The Return of a Lethal Threat:After being successfully managed since 1966 using a sterile fly release program, the New World Screwworm has crossed back over the U.S. border. Confirmed cases have already appeared in livestock and dogs.
How Screwworms Differ from Normal Maggots:Unlike typical fly larvae that only infest damaged or dead tissue, New World Screwworm larvae aggressively penetrate and destroy healthy, normal tissue in dogs, cats, livestock and even humans.
Fluid Travel Restrictions:State and international borders are experiencing rapidly shifting regulations. Dog owners are warned to avoid traveling across the Mexican border, remain highly cautious when traveling interstate and ensure they carry official health certificates.
What to Do If You Find a Larva:This is a federally reportable disease. If you discover a larva in a wound, do not throw it on the ground where it can pupate. Instead, preserve it in alcohol or formalin and immediately contact your veterinarian to notify authorities.
Treatment Options:Oral flea and tick medications in theisoxazolineclass (such as Cridelio, Nexgard, Brevecta, and Semperica) andnicotinamides(such as Capstar) are the primary medications utilized or suspected for emergency treatment, although their preventative capabilities are still being studied.
Other Exotic Diseases on the Rise:The episode also flags other global health threats creeping into the U.S. due to warming temperatures, includingChagas disease(transmitted by the kissing bug and causing severe cardiac disease) and aliver flukeshowing up in the Colorado River Valley.



Featured Resources:


Worms and Germs Blog(Infectious disease updates by veterinarian Dr. Scott Weese)
CapcVet(veterinarian-authored parasite prevalence maps)

Dog Show Tips for Beginners: Navigating the Learning Curve

Host Laura Reeves welcomes Matt Stroud (known to some on Facebook as "Kermit the Dog"), an enthusiastic owner-handler of Schipperkes. Matt shares his journey from being a shy high schooler navigating 4-H with a poodle mix and a Yorkshire Terrier, to returning to the dog show world as an adult with his Schipperkes.

Navigating the Learning Curve Matt candidly discusses the fragmented and confusing realities for newcomers, noting that while the sport is more visible than ever, basic logistics—like navigating superintendent websites to enter shows—can be overwhelming without insider knowledge.

The Power of Mentorship and Responsibility A major turning point for Matt was meeting his tough-as-nails mentor, Audrey, who bluntly told him his struggles in the ring were his fault, not the dog's. Matt emphasizes the importance of accepting personal responsibility for grooming, conditioning and handling, rather than blaming judges or competitors.

Highs, Lows and Dealing with Negativity Matt shares the incredible high of winning an Award of Merit at his first Westminster, contrasted with a humbling weekend where a lack of preparation resulted in losing every class. He also provides practical advice for handling "mean people" ringside: avoid vague-booking on Facebook and instead speak directly to the person to clear up misunderstandings.

"More Than a Ribbon" Matt introduces his beautifully illustrated, rhyming children's book, More Than a Ribbon, A Dog Show Story. Inspired by his own journey and the beauty of outdoor shows like Palm Springs, the book is designed to help kids (and adults) normalize losing, learn that they cannot control every outcome and find comfort in their community.

Matt's Top 3 Tips for Beginners:
Filter the advice you receiveand consider whether it empowers you to improve.
Take personal responsibilityfor understanding ribbons, placements and ring procedures.
Never give up, because even through dry spells, your winning moment will come.


[caption id="attachment_15805" align="alignnone" width="768"] Matt Stroud with his dogs and his new children's book, "More than a Ribbon."[/caption]

Understanding Puppy Heart Murmurs and Congenital Heart Disease

In this episode of Pure Dog Talk's "Veterinary Voice," host Laura Reeves and Dr. Marty Greer explore the complexities of congenital heart disease in puppies, offering essential guidance for breeders on diagnosing, treating and navigating cardiac health in their litters.

The Importance of the First Vet Visit & Puppy Murmurs

Dr. Greer emphasizes the crucial need for a thorough veterinary exam before placing any puppies in their forever homes to protect the breeder's reputation and ensure the puppy's health. A heart murmur occurs when blood flows backward through the heart, creating turbulence. Veterinarians grade these murmurs on a scale from one to six, where a grade one is incredibly subtle and a grade six is loud enough to be felt through the chest wall without a stethoscope.

To ensure an accurate diagnosis, Dr. Greer advises that the puppy must have all four feet on the exam table in a completely quiet room. While some early, subtle murmurs resolve over time or are simply caused by typical puppy anemia, any persisting or loud murmur requires an echocardiogram.

The 5 Common Congenital Heart Defects in Puppies Dr. Greer details the most frequently diagnosed congenital heart defects:
Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA):A condition where a fetal blood vessel fails to close after birth. While serious, it is the only defect on this list that can be surgically corrected, often using a minimally invasive Amplatz catheter, allowing the dog to live a completely normal life.
Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD):A hole between the heart's two ventricles. Depending on the size of the hole, dogs with a VSD can live normal lives as family pets, though they are usually not suited for high-endurance performance events.
Subaortic Stenosis (SAS) & Pulmonic Stenosis:A narrowing of the blood vessels exiting the heart, known to be genetic in breeds like Newfoundlands. These dogs typically require lifelong medication and may face a shortened life expectancy.
Tricuspid Valve Disease:A dysplasia or malformation of the valve on the right side of the heart. Currently, there is no surgical correction available in veterinary medicine and these dogs generally face a poor long-term prognosis.


Best Practices for Breeders

Because there are currently no DNA tests available for these genetic cardiac diseases, breeders must rely heavily on physical screening. Dr. Greer strongly recommends that echocardiograms on breeding stock be performed exclusively by board-certified veterinary cardiologists, as the imaging is highly user-dependent and easily misdiagnosed by a general practitioner.

Even with meticulous screening, it is still possible to produce a puppy with a congenital heart defect. Because of this, both Laura and Dr. Greer stress the importance of open, honest and gossip-free communication within the breeding community when these issues arise.

Patrick McManus on Harmony, History and Pugs

[caption id="attachment_15774" align="alignleft" width="399"] Patrick McManus judging the Pug Dog Club of America National Specialty.[/caption]

Host Laura Reeves sits down with pug breeder, AKC judge and artist Patrick McManus to explore the fascinating intersection of fine art, breed type and the living history of purebred dogs.

The ultimate Renaissance man, McManus is known as a dedicated pug breeder and judge, as well as an incredible artist whose unique Cubist renderings of dogs are breathtaking.

Purebred dogs serve as "living history," representing a specific place, people and time. As humans evolved and migrated across the globe, dogs followed and were selectively bred by people to perform specific services or to provide "pure exotic joy." Today, breeders and judges act as the curators of this ongoing historical record.

For an artist and breeder like McManus, studying the history of fine arts and the history of dogs are "one and the same thing". Observing how dogs were historically depicted and bred helps artists and judges alike understand the "why" behind a breed's unique shape, ensuring they can accurately evaluate if every physical part of the dog is functioning in complete harmony.

This evolution of purebreds is deeply intertwined with fine art, as historical art provides a continuous visual thread of canine development. The presence of dogs is documented everywhere from the ancient bas-reliefs of Welsh castles to the masterpieces of renowned painters. For example, Edgar Degas frequently featured Brussels Griffons—which belonged to fellow painter Mary Cassatt—in his pastels and paintings of horse races. Georges Seurat also famously incorporated dogs into his pointillist works. Sometimes, a breed's history is tied directly to other art forms, such as the Dandie Dinmont Terrier being named after a character in a novel.

This visual history helps trace the lineage and geographic journey of ancient breeds. The ancient Lhasa Apso from Tibet, for instance, eventually influenced the development of the Pekingese in China. This lineage of "exotic" or brachycephalic (short-faced) breeds—which includes Pugs, Japanese Chins and Brussels Griffons—reflects generations of human selection.

[caption id="attachment_15775" align="alignleft" width="495"] One of many of McManus' paintings and artworks.More topics from McManus:[/caption]
From "Pug Boy" to Judge:Patrick recounts his early entry into the dog world, starting with a childhood fascination for Pointers and Setters before buying his first Pug at age 15 and earning the affectionate nickname "Pug Boy".
The Artist’s Eye in the Ring:Patrick explains how studying art and movement naturally translated to evaluating dogs. He discusses how the principles of Cubism and observing how pieces fit together help him assess whether a dog is moving in true harmony and balance.
The Importance of Mentorship:Patrick shares his emotional gratitude for the icons of the dog show world, including "Mama" Charlotte Patterson, who took the time to mentor him when he was just a teenager starting with a pooper scooper.