Together One is Less Alone

I came across a picture the other day. It is of a gorgeous Tibetan Terrier from Germany named TshaTsha and her dear friend, Angela. I had to tell Angela how much I loved the pic.

Angela responded:

"The 'touching' story (for me) behind this pic is, that TshaTsha is affected by CCL and to share moments like this with her mean the world to me..... and I'm pretty sure to her too.
It is also a most wonderful book from the French author Anna Gavalda, the German title is "Zusammen ist man weniger allein" - translated into English: Together One is less Alone."
Lovely regards from Germany,
Angela

In another message, Angela told me, "TshaTsha's mother Dari died of CCL last year, she lived also with us and was such a wonderful TT... Have you seen the video about her?"

I had not seen the video so Angela sent me a link and I watched it right away. It is such a beautiful and moving video. I hope you will take a minute to watch it.

CLICK HERE to view the video.

Above: Beautiful Dari succumbed to CCL/NCL

According to the Tibetan Terrier Health and Welfare Foundation's website CCL, also know as NCL (Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis), is an adult-onset neurodegenerative disease with primary lesions in the brain and eye. Behavioral changes and loss of vision in older Tibetan terriers are the most common symptoms noted by owners. Other symptoms include changes in temperament (becoming aggressive, anxious, nervous), uncoordinated gait, impaired vision under dim light conditions, loss of house training and recognition skills. Advanced stages may include mild to severe seizures, especially in the later stages. Symptoms typically first appear at 4-6 yrs of age, and progress to death or euthanasia by age 7-10 years.

Now, my dad is on the board of the Tibetan Terrier Health and Welfare Foundation so I know the Foundation is funding trials of stem cell therapy to treat CCL/NCL. The Foundation's website provides the following update:

"To date, we have treated two CCL/NCL-affected TTs with adult stem cells, here referred to as Toronto Dog and Baltimore Dog. Toronto Dog received two treatments and Baltimore Dog has had one. Both appear to have responded favorably with no ill effects associated with the stem cell administrations. Following treatment, both owners have kept in frequent contact by email and their reports are very encouraging. They are very careful to objectively describe specific tasks that the dogs can do after treatment that they could not do before treatment. Both dogs appear to have improved and are doing much better, moving better, and not suffering from the “anxiety attacks” that are characteristic of CCL/NCL. Because dog behavior is difficult to interpret, we do not want to claim that these dogs are “well” but they have improved. This improvement appears to be real based on the owner’s description of their dog’s responses in objective terms rather than subjective opinions. We will begin treating a third CCL/NCL-TT next week that is in more advanced stages of CCL/NCL.

Above: Gorgeous TshaTsha

One definition of “good science” is that “it asks more questions than it answers”. And if these initial observations hold true, we now have many more questions to ask. How long will the beneficial effects last? What is the minimum dose of cells? What is the best route of administration? Will treatment repair the vision deficits? Will treated dogs have a normal life expectancy? Will pre-instruction of the cells make them more therapeutic? Can we pre-treat an affected dog and prevent NCL from ever occurring? This is very exciting and humbling for all of us involved in this project. We will continue to treat and monitor the dogs frequently, so stay tuned………and consider supporting your friendly, hardworking Tibetan Terrier Health and Welfare Foundation.

If you would like additional information about these clinical trials being conducted at ReGena-Vet Labs, Davis, CA, contact Dr. Richard Vulliet or Pamela Rosman at regenavetlabs@gmail.com."

Earlier this year, with the support of the Foundation, genetic tests became available that indicate whether a dog is clear, affected, or a carrier of CCL/NCL. The Tibetan Terrier Club of America recommends that breeders test and know their dogs CCL/NCL status prior to breeding. In addition to CCL/NCL testing, the TTCA breeding guidelines specify PPL testing and hip (OFA) and eye (CERF) certification.

The Foundation does so much work to keep Tibetan Terriers like me healthy, but it's funds are limited. I hope you will consider supporting their important work. Do it for great dogs like TshaTsha and Dari and the Tibetan Terrier(s) in your life. The Foundation's work benefits Tibetan Terriers in every country. Together we can stop CCL/NCL in its tracks. For more information, or to make a donation, visit the Foundation's website: www.tibetanterriersfoundation.org

Lost Tibetan Terrier Sparkle is Safe at Home

Great News! Sparkle has been found!

I received an update on my voicemail this evening:

"Hi Suddie. This is Shasta. I am the one who had the Tibetan Terrier that was lost in Oakland. Sparkles. I just wanted to call you and let you know that we found her this morning around 10:30 AM. It was just a WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL thing. I used a service called findtoto.com. It's a calling service. It called out to like 1200 people in the area where we lost Sparkle. A person got the phone call this morning and saw her on her way to work and turned around, opened her car door and called her name cause she knew it from the call. Sparkle came right to her and jumped in the car. I just wanted to let you know she is calm. She is safe. She's a little bit ragged. I also want to thank you so much, Suddie, for your help and for your concern and for posting her on your blog and for helping to get the word out. I really, really appreciate it. It's angles like you that help bring dogs home. Once again, thank you and have a wonderful day."

I felt all warm inside after I received Shasta's message. I was so worried about Sparkle. I imagined her lost and scared with tumbleweeds blowing by and snakes and other horrible things lurking. Sometimes things do work out and when they do that makes me real happy.

I just had to look up this organization findtoto.com right away. It is such a great idea. Here's some of what I found.

How It Works

Findtoto.com enters the exact address of where your pet was last seen into their mapping system, serving as the center point of the search area, which then pulls the data of phone numbers in a radius starting from the center point out. (Please See Map Below)
The phone numbers are then uploaded to their automated calling system where thousands of calls are made in minutes.
Their calling system is designed to call each number up to 4x to leave the Toto Alert message.
Toto Alert's can be left on answering machines, voicemails, and of course with a live recipient.
The recipient can hear the Toto Alert again by either calling back the number displayed on their Caller I.D OR if answered by a live person, this option is left at the end of the Toto Alert recording.


What Does The Toto Alert Say?

The Toto Alert message includes date lost/last seen, pet’s description, your best contact number, and to visit FindToto.org to view your pet and contact information. TotoAlert.org takes the recipients directly to their Lost Pets page.

Sample Toto Alert:
“ This is a lost pet alert from your neighbor Brian. He lost his dog Cody on July 5th. Cody is a brown and black German Shepherd. If you have seen him or can help, please call 859-555-5555. You can also view your neighbor’s lost pet and their contact info at TotoAlert.org."

Roscoe Bobs His Hair

Above: Roscoe looking quite scandalous, and fabulous, in his new bob.

So around the time of their first birthday, I received some emails from my now one-year-old pups.

Pandora wrote to let me know that she was celebrating with a bottle of champagne. As they say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. But, in truth, her new dad told me "she didn't think much of the Champagne, but did like the new toys!" And, the icing on the cake, Pandy came into heat for the first time which can make you feel both like a rag and really horny. It's a strange and wonderful combination. Take it from me.

Bruin, who lives near Boston and spends his summers and most weekends in Vermont wrote to let me know he "had an outstanding weekend in Vermont...hiking, swimming and celebrating." His new mom, Debbie, added "All is well and he is the best. Pics and further details to follow soon." I'm waiting!!

Now Roscoe he sent two birthday photos. He seems to be sporting a bob.

"Do you think I ought to bob my hair, Mr. Charley Paulson?"

Charley looked up in surprise.

"Why?"

"Because I'm considering it. It's such a sure and easy way of attracting attention."

So wrote the twenty-four-year-old F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940), conjuring Bernice a society belle on her way to becoming "a society vampire" in his story "Bernice Bobs Her Hair," published in 1920. History credits French libertines with inventing the scandalous hairstyle, cut sharp and short at the jawline.

Opposition was formidable. Schoolteachers, nurses, shopgirls, and railroad office workers were prohibited from wearing the cut in various regions. "If a girl goes so far as to bob her hair, her work will probably be affected and she could not give 100 percent efficiency," argued a Baltimore insurance executive, convinced a bob demonstrated a distracting vanity.

Modernism called for drastic measures. The story of Fitzgerald's Bernice grew from a pointed 10-page letter he'd written from Princeton at age nineteen to his sister Annabel, then fourteen, instructing her on how to become a fascinating modern woman. He told her to groom her eyebrows, choose jaunty hats, refine her awkward walk, and kid the boys, while cultivating a "pathetic, appealing" expression to win them over (head hung, staring up directly into their eyes). "You have beautiful hair," he conceded, assessing her best traits. "You ought to be able to do something with it."

Mocha Choca Lata Ya Ya

There was a lively Facebook discussion on the topic of chocolate Tibetan Terriers the other day. Well, I guess, THAT REALLY depends on your definition of lively. Anyway, I have never had the pleasure of meeting a chocolate TT, but I think the one pictured above is quite fetching. I found another pic of a chocolate TT who needs a home. His name is Red and he looks a bit like Scooby-Doo or, perhaps, Burl Ives. Don't you think? Bit of an underbite, but quite lovable I'm sure. Note his light eyes and BIG brown nose and lips and read the Facebook discussion I've posted below. BTW, Red's owner wonders, "Over two thousand years did the monks ever have a Chocolate TT?" I bet they did! And I bet they loved their chocolate TTs!!


Claire Mathieu it is a very nice TT...



Claire Mathieu there a few breeds that accept chocolat color maybe it could be time to revise the standard...


Kuo Yarlung Namtso TibetanTerriers wow this dog is beautiful indeed, no matter his color!!


Rhonda Bailey I have always wondered why Chocolate is not allowed. With a limited gene pool, I don't think I agree we should not allow them. I don't know of any health issues associated with the colour?

Danièle Richer Greenwood I agree Rhonda, I love chocolate brown TTs. I would love to have one, regardless of the breed standards.

Donna L. Ogden Chocolate TTs are not allowed to show because they do not have black noses and very often do not have dark eyes or eye rims. I do not know of any specific health problems from a TT being a chocolate color, perhaps someone else knows more. Perhaps the lighter noses and eye rims did not fare well in the snowy cold climate of Tibet.

Rhonda Bailey The lack of pigment could be a reason! But I know that a lack of pigment is documented on many other colours of TT's.....that are not Chocolate. I wonder if Chocolate has a lack of pigment or does the line have a lack of pigment no matter the colour. A few commented on my Sable (almost gold) boy for his lovely pigment...it sounded like dogs his colour were not always heavy in the pigment department? Just guessing.

Pierre Tarraran Rhonda, when are you going to come over to the dark side and get yourself a cat.


Rhonda Bailey Ha!!!!! Never....but I can still be dark without a cat :)


Pierre Tarraran Good point, I like your way of thinking.
·


Cyndi Egbert That is a beautiful dog!!!!



Lynda Zittier I have produced a chocolate puppy .. and he is a lovely colour .. his litter mates were 2 white / black girls ( one of them is my "Bits" ) with lovely strong black pigement and one litter brother who was black and white .. .. no pigment problems with him either .. so I don't think it is the line that lacks pigment

Suddie Lancaster-Taylor Very Pretty. Is this your dog? Is he/she named Mocha Choca Lata Ya Ya?


Claire Mathieu I have look in the CKC/AKC standard for coat color and they accept any color....the only specific color is nose:black
So the only think that is against that color is the nose being brown.... Maybe someone could be courageous enough to show a beautiful chocolat TT in the ring.

Suddie Lancaster-Taylor Rhonda. Does your dog have a black nose or a sweet chocolatey one? What about the eye rims!!

Lynda Zittier Claire .. the TT standard also calls for a dark eye .. which the chocolates do not have ......


Claire Mathieu But there is no disqualifications mentioned in the standard how pale are the eyes of the chololate TT... are they yellow, hazel.. or very pale brown??? here is thel listing of the faults

Faults--Weak pointed muzzle. Any color other than a black nose. Overshot bite or a very undershot bite or a wry mouth. Long narrow head. Lack of fall over the eyes and foreface


Lynda Zittier they are yellow or greenish



Claire Mathieu wow that is a big issue. were there any chocolat TT with darker eyes???or they always come with yellow eyes..

Rhonda Bailey This is not my dog...would love to have him, he looks so adorable. I was sent this photo by Deb Mcfarlane. I hope she doesn't mind me posting this photo. I think this dogs eyes look quite dark but yes, his nose looks brown. I have heard of some TT's with blue or green eyes finishing in the US....not sure how easy that was done but I know it was finished.

Margy Pankiewicz Chocolates are a simple recessive (bb) so they do not make black pigment but are 'self colored". Dogs that "lack" good pigment actually are dilutes which is caused by a modifier and dilution of the black pigment (BB). They are totally separate issues. Some chocolates have darker eyes than others (green or hazel as opposed to yellow) but they cannot have the dark brown eye of a dog carrying black pigment. And no, there are no health issues associated with chocolates.

Tibetan Terrier Lost in Oakland, CA

I just learned that a sweet Tibetan Terrier named Sparkle is lost in Oakland, CA. I have posted Sparkle's pic above. Sparkle was wearing a collar when she was lost, but no ID tags. She is microchipped. If you have any information, please call the number listed below.

"We have a dog who is lost. She was last seen 11/2 in the area of Joaquin Miller and Skyline near the Dunn Trail At Redwood Regional Park in Oakland. She is a Gray and White Tibetan Terrier named Sparkle. If you have friends or family in this area please pass this along to to them to help us get her home. Could you forward this onto your list serve and glen friends? Any help would be greatly appreciated."

Please call 510-703-8163 with any information.

Good Genes?

I received a note from my boy Sherpa, Deep Acres Autumn Splendor, today. I just have to share it with you.

He's such a handsome boy and quite a good writer. Sherpa you make your momma proud.

I LOVE YOU!

Dear Mom,
Happy Fall. I can’t believe the holidays are almost here and it will be snowing again soon…. I’m very excited about the snow….My coat's a little longer than last year, so I’ll be toasty warm when we go on our hikes in the forest….

Remember last year when my dad sent a picture to that guy you live with, and when he saw the picture he said “OMG Sherpa is so handsome have you thought of showing him?" And my dad replied “No I’m not showing him, I’ve never been to a dog show." Hummmm….famous last words…..

I’m not sure what happened BUT the past 2 weekends I received 5 more points and now I have 2 majors and 13 points…….What does it all mean??? Neither dad nor I are sure, however almost every show we’ve entered I’ve received points or a major….And we haven’t been to that many shows…… 2 more points and I’ll be a champion…..

Dad says I have great GENES, I have to agree because when I look at you, dad, and my brothers and sisters, we really are a handsome lot…One lady who breeds TT’s asked dad if he would bring in my pedigree…. She told dad not only does she think I’m handsome she also likes my personality…..Dad's friends call them beauty pageants……I think it’s a lot of fuss about nothing……Humans, go figure….
Well mom just a quick update, I’m sure we’ll be talking soon…

I love you-
Sherpa

Con Brio!

Do you remember our summer trip to Montana to visit our Tibetan Terrier friends?? Miss Mary, Bill (aka The Doctor), and so many more. What the hell were all their names? I loved it so much, I just have to repost our Montana video. It makes my tail wag. Real fast. Yes. just like you do Toby. Toby is the pup's dad.

When I think about our trip to Montana, I think about the beauty, good friends and good food. I remember Miss Sheryl's fantastic enchiladas and Dan's fresh baked bread. I have been howling and, as a result, Miss Sheryl emailed me her enchilada recipe. She recommends that you use Las Palmas enchilada sauce if you can find it. Sheryl does everything con brio!!

Sheryl's Montaniladas

good corn tortillas, fresh
enchilada sauce, two large cans
jack cheese, cut into sticks about 1/4 inch thick
good cheddar cheese, cut into sticks
green chillis, whole, cut into long strips, (one large can)
onions, about 2 large yellow or white
good, ripe, black olives

set up: small frying pan with nearby corn oil
one saucepan with heated enchilada sauce
a frying pan, where onions are resting, after sauteeing , caramelized , not burned

Procedure, Use a large baking pan for baking the enchiladas
1. preheat oven to 350
2. pour a little sauce into your baking ban to coat the bottom with enchilada sauce.
3. Heat the small fry pan with a little corn oil, fry a corn tortilla, both sides, til toasted, cooked, but not hard
4. Use tongs, dip the tortilla into the enchilada sauce to coat
5. Roll the tortilla into an enchilad, filled with a few sticks of white jack cheese, few sticks of cheddar, a few strips of green chillis and a tablespoon or so of onions..
6. Keep making the enchiladas, lay them into the pan so they are fairly tight and packed like little envelopes beside each other. for crowds, i have made two layers in a pan.
usually keep it at one layer, but tight and full so that they dont dry out from exposure.
7. when finished, sprinkle top with drained olives and some extra cheese/pour sauce over the top, dampen and thorough, but do not drown them in sauce.
8. set aside sauce remaining for table or later, after baking
9. bake til all is heated and browned, melted, nice on top/about 40 minutes.