articles of interest

Over the years Station One Reg'd Kennels & Cattery has been called upon by various newspapers for interviews or to asked to contribute to research for articles, or to comment on canine behaviour. Rather than leaving these articles to languish in the trunk known as the "Station One Time Capsule", I convinced them to allow me to post them here for you, our clients and readers. I am also adding in special items from our clients about some of the dogs of Station One, as well as health articles of interest. So without further adieu...



Posted Dec 2- Establishing Yourself As Alpha


Followup to article below on Xylitol Toxicity (posted Sept 30/08)

Follow-up about Xylitol toxicity - which is an ingredient in sugar-free gum, candies and baked goods. This is not just the sugar-free gum but also many of the commercial candies and baked goods also contain this ingredient. I know a lot of pet owners that take a bite of something and give their little friend a piece as well. This can be dangerous.

Xylitol is toxic! Don't give your dog access to sugar-free gum or feed candies or baked goods with this ingredient. It can be fun to give a dog a treat but it really is best if you stick with dog food and dog treats.

An emergency vet friend of mine called me last night after she read the xylitol "Is chewing gum toxic" newsletter. She was happy that we are educating pet owners and prevent problems before they happen. I asked her how often she saw xylitol toxicity. She has seen it occasionally but fortunately the ones that she has seen have done okay with treatment.

The classic treatment is that they are admitted to the hospital, given intravenous fluids with dextrose (to help keep their blood sugar up since a common side effect of the xylitol is a low blood sugar level) and time. She said they had one not too long ago that left the hospital after 2 ½ days and did fine. The dogs name was "Sweetie" and had gotten a pack of gum off the coffee table. She came in to the clinic having a seizure caused by a low blood sugar level.

Out of interest - I asked what the final cost was to the owner for this hospital stay - and she told me she thought the final bill was just under $1,500.00. They had checked blood work a couple times because the xylitol can also cause liver damage. Fortunately, the dog was fine. But that is a lot of money for one of those little things that can so commonly happen with dogs.


Sugar Free Gum Can KILL your Pet (posted Sept 18/08)

Warning to all dog owners - pass this on to everyone you can. CHECK THE INGREDIENTS PEOPLE!

Last Friday evening, I arrived home from work, fed Chloe, our 24 Lb. dachshund, just as I normally do. Ten minutes later I walked into the den just in time to see her head inside the pocket of Katie's friend's purse. She had a guilty look on her face so I looked closer and saw a small package of sugar-free gum. It contained xylitol. I remembered that I had recently read that sugar-free gum can be deadly for dogs so I jumped on line and looked to see if xylitol was the ingredient. I found the first website below and it was the one. Next, I called our vet. She said to bring her in immediately.

Unfortunately, it was still rush hour and it took me almost 1/2 hour to get there. Meanwhile, since this was her first case, our vet found another website to figure out the treatment. She took Chloe and said they would induce her to vomit, give her a charcoal drink to absorb the toxin (even though they don't think it works) then they would start an iv with dextrose.

The xylitol causes dogs to secrete insulin so their blood sugar drops very quickly. The second thing that happens is liver failure. If that happens, even with aggressive treatment, it can be difficult to save them. She told us she would call us. Almost two hours later, the vet called and said that contents of her stomach contained 2-3 gum wrappers and that her blood sugar had dropped from 90 to 59 in 30 minutes. She wanted us to take Chloe to another hospital that has a critical care unit operating around the clock. We picked her up and took her there. They had us call the ASPCA poison control for a case number and for a donation, their doctors would direct Chloe's doctor on treatment. They would continue the iv, monitor her blood every other hour and then in 2 days test her liver function. She ended up with a central line in her jugular vein since the one in her leg collapsed, just as our regular vet had feared. Chloe spent almost the entire weekend in the critical care hospital. After her blood sugar was stabilized, she came home yesterday. They ran all the tests again before they released her and so far, no sign of liver damage.

Had I not seen her head in the purse, she probably would have died and we wouldn't even had known why. Three vets told me this weekend, that they were amazed that I even knew about it since they are first learning about it too.

Please tell everyone you know about xylitol and dogs. It may save another life.

Another story on it!


FROM Kings County Record, August 24, 2004 - Interview with Maureen Gladstone, owner of Station One Reg'd Kennels

Education Is Key To Preventing Dog Aggression By Laura Mercer

Sussex Corner- A few decades ago, a dog running loose was a common occurance. These days , however, laws prevent such a casual view of dog ownership.

Even dog owners like Pat Corbin aren't comfortable when some dogs come for a visit.

After a recent incident in her yard, the Skyline resident believes that some dogs are too dangerous to be allowed to run loose. "On August 8 ) my grandson who's three, and I were out with another little girl, who's only seven years old. We went up Skyline, and turned and came back. We met this dog going up."

Corbin was apprehensive because it was a dig she did not trust, so she positioned herself between her grandson and the dog. They walked home and she assumed the dog stayed behind.

Minutes later, and her own driveway she stooped to clean up after her own dog, Shivers. As she looked up, the dog she had seen earlier was standing over her.

"I started backing up slowly. It was walking towards me, tensing up, and it was snarling and teeth showing, like it was going to attack," she said.

When the dog looked like it was going to attack, Corbin turned to run, but fell in the process.

"I called to my husband, David. He came out running after it. And it stopped. "it backed off," she said. "If Dave hadn't been there, I don't know what would have happened."

Corbin said the dog looked like a pit bull, with a golden, reddish coat and a solid build, she cannot be certain.

The thing that went through my head was"I'm going to die, " she said.

Near-misses and attacks similar to the one that clained the lifeof four-year-old James waddell 18 months ago, have led some municipalities to consider banning certain breeds of dogs, the Kingston-Peninsula boy was leftalone and wandered into the backyard where the three Rottweilers were running loose.

Sussex Corner Mayor Garth Long said that council has discussed the issue of animal control.

"We haven't had any problems with certain breeds of dogs."

Council does not want to add restrictions if there is no reason to, Long said. He said that Council has to treat all residents equally but is aware of what has been taking place in other municipalities. A few years ago, Hartland passed a bylaw banning certain breeds such a Rottwielers.

Sussex Mayor Ralph Carr said the town has never had a problem with specific dog breeds.

"Nothing has ever been brought to our attention," he said, adding that the community has been lucky in that respect. Animal Control Officer for the Village of Sussex Corner Ivan Pascoe said that branding one specific dog breed dangerous is not the answer.

"It's not the breed, it's the temperament of the dog, and the owner is more dangerous for not correcting them."

A three phase system is the answer to dangerous dogs, said Pascoe.

" IF the dog has bitten, the animal control officer should investigate. If the dog has bitten for no reason, then it goes into category one."

In category one, said Pascoe, the owner would be issued a compliance order with stipulations as to how the dog should be controlled.

If there is a second complaint, Pascoe said the dog would have to be in a fenced in area when on the owner's property. and if it is taken off the property then it must be muzzled and on a leash. The dog would then be labeled as dangerous.

A third complaint would result in the dog being seized by animal control, added Pascoe.

"The reason for a three-step system, is that if it ever went to court, it shows the judge that you've done everything you canto correct the problem."

The breed of the dog is less significant, than how the dog is raised, he said.

"I could take a Rottwielor and if it's raised properly, it could be the most loveable dog. It all depends on the owner. The owners need to be educated."

Dog Breeder and kennel operator, Maureen Gladstone, who lives just outside Sussex Corner, has been a dog trainer for over 20 years. She also said that dog owners should be educated about their animals.

"There's no bad breed, but there's bad breeders, and bad dog owners," she said.

Banning dog breeds, said Gladstone, is not the answer. She would like to see a bylaw implemented which would require dogs kept as pets to earn a companion title.

"The dog has to complete a series of obedience training in order to obtain a companion title."

One of the biggest problems facing dogs is what Gladstone calls "unintentional training." Examples of unintentional training are allowing the dog to bark or growl at people and leaving food down for it throughout the day, she added.

"This is where biting can start. If the dog does not associate you as the food giver, they do not see themselves as the subordinate."

Behavior in a dog can be ingrained into its psyche from a young age, and it's important that it is exposed to various social situations as often and as soon as it leaves the litter, said Gladstone.

Dr. Chuck Abbate of the Sussex Animal Hospital compared breed banning to gun control.

"You have all the good gun owners giving up their guns but the bad ones won't."

In veterinary work, recognizing aggression is particularly important. Abbate says he looks for signs of aggression when he walks into a room.

"There's a bit of reading of the dog- how it looks at you, are their ears back, is their mouth open, are they showing teeth."

The New Brunswick Veterinary Medical Association recommends that an owner who has dog aggression issues should be responsible and educate himself or herself on what to do about the problem.


Support Janeway Children's Miracle Network Telethon
May 31st-June 1/08
The Heroes Among Us

Lacey Hamlyn, 2008 Janeway Champion and her Maltese, Stationone Make It Prada

http://www.janewayfoundation.nf.ca/OurTelethon/




Telegraph Journal May 17, 2003 by Angela Kippers for TJ Pets

What’s In A Name?

      “What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” Shakespeare’s words ring true. A name doesn’t determine a pet or person- it’s simply a name. It is, however, referred to day after day, in endearing to not-so-endearing moments. We love our pets and a name is a reflection of how we feel and relate to Fido, or Molly or Bailey.

      Pet naming is one of our first tasks as a new pet owner. And what a fun task it is! There’s so many to choose from.

      One website www.wellwellwell.com, actually claims to have 7,495+ names in its arsenal and it invites more! If you think yours is terrifically original, you may want to logon and compare.

      Books, Internet, family and friends are all great sources of inspiration or advice. Some books and websites will allow you to look up the meaning of the name. Some will allow you to change your pet’s name to another language. (You just never know when you’ll need to say Rover in Hawaiian.)

      Most pet books are very similar to baby name books with informative references to origin. Many contain amusing anecdotes. I enjoyed the humor and creativity of some of the selections. For example, how about Rough and Tumble, Bad Breath and Monsoon?

      A common worldwide trend is to naming your pet with a human-like name. It seems the days of Rover and Spot have subsided, as more people today tend to regard their pets more like their children. Spot may now be replaced with a name like Max, Jake or Jessie. And Lady may now be Maggie, Betsy or Lily.

      If you get your pet from a breeder, you may find that you are required to name him with a certain first letter or a first name.This allows the breeder to track down the litter from which each animal was born. For example, , the names of animals in one litter may start with “J”, the next litter “K”, and so on.

      Maureen Gladstone of Station One Reg’d Kennels & Cattery in Sussex is a pro at pet naming. As a breeder she is required to name numerous animals each year. “You can come up with a name from just about anywhere,” she says. Always on the lookout for inspiration, you may catch her jotting down names from conversations, magazines, books, even newspapers.

      She cites many interesting names she’s attributed. “My first Chocolate Lab I named Reba, after Reba McIntyre. A cat I named Tony Braxton, after a favorite singer.” She also named a dog “Mica” from the Bible and a Siamese cat “Quinn”, after the actor Aiden Quinn.

      Heritage can also play a role in pet naming. “Mohawk” was a name created from “Hawk”, the dog’s grandfather, and “Mo” from her personal nickname. I also named a dog “Fibber” after my grandfather’s first dog,” says Gladstone. She adds, “A great idea is to look up famous animals within your pet’s breed.” You can find this at your local library or reading pet magazines.

      The breed itself may help steer your direction. An Asian-in-origin puppy was named Kicko, inspired by it’s homeland and a Japanese friend.

      Some pet owners name their pets with a theme in mind. One family I know named their pets after Cartoonist Charles Shultz’s Peanuts (Snoopy) characters, and a neighbor names hers after well-loved artists – very befitting as she herself is an artist.

      Movies, celebrities, music, TV, sports, all have an impact on pet naming. When the movie Harry Potter appeared, more people named their pet “Harry” or “Hermoine”.

       Heroes are also a great source of inspiration, whether a well-known famous entity or a personal friend or relative. Ms. Gladstone says she’s named many pets after well-loved, admired friends and relatives.

       Owners also get inspiration from their pet’s behavior. Flash, Storm, Dash, Cuddles… these all give us clues to the pet’s personality.

       And there’s the all-so-familiar naming after their appearance. We know Fluffy isn’t short-haired, nor is Sandy black-haired.

       Some of my favorite names are those in pairs. Thunder and Lightening, Betty and Wilma, Xerox and Copycat, and Ball and Chain are just a few.

       It might happen when you look up your pets adorable little eyes for the very first time; you may just ‘know’ her name. You may, however, have to get to know her a bit before you can peg down just the right salutation. Whatever name you choose, ensure it’s easy to say and call. We call our pet’s names many times a day.

       Says Maureen Gladstone, “Use your imagination!” You’ll find just the right name- one you’ll both enjoy.


Times & Transcript, July 7, 2001

Puppy love at work

So you want to be a DOG Breeder by Kimberly Haskett

Passion for animals turns into much-loved work for dog breeders

      While other girls were playing with Barbie dolls, Maureen Gladstone was training other people's dogs. As a young child, she always wanted a puppy, but her parents couldn't buy her one because the apartment they lived in wouldn't allow it.

      This was only a minor setback for the ambitious 13 year old, who was desperate to have a pet.

      She started walking other people's dogs for free and through word of mouth she got several clients. This only served to pique her interest in the animals and she began reading books and magazines and attending seminars on the subject. To her clients' pleasure and amazement she began to teach their wayward pets how to sit, stay and walk on a lead.

      "I understand dogs," says Maureen, "I can get them to do what I want and they seem to care about me." She claims that she can make other people's dogs do things their owners never thought they could in about 15 minutes.

      Her fascination with dogs eventually led to a future career as a dog breeder. The fact that she didn't make any money doing it, does not matter to her.
      Maureen became seriously involved with dogs when she turned 20. She bought her first house and two Irish Setters that she and her husband trained to hunt. Meanwhile she worked at the SPCA as a volunteer learning how to take care of up to 50 cats and 40 dogs and their kennels.

      Maureen often brought home sick kittens and puppies to her make-shift vet clinic, as long as they didn't have any contagious diseases. She usually had at least two to four pups in her home.

      Eventually she had to find a way to earn some cash to feed her precious friends so she began selling cars, and then moved on to restoring and selling houses.
      When Maureen saved enough money, she opened up her own kennel in 1985 and began raising many breeds of dogs and Siamese cats that she originally purchased from across Canada.

      She breeds her dogs in the fall and the spring, with about 40-70 puppies in her care each season.

      Since then Maureen has never had a vacation. She has become full-time Mom and dog breeder, working seven days a week feeding, watering, cleaning and caring for her 34 dogs and 15 cats. To allow her females to rest in between heats, she has more females than males.

      She breeds Brittany Spaniels, Maltese Terriers, Labrador Retrievers, Doberman Pinschers and Siamese cats. She also attends trials and dog shows and constantly reads up on the business and what is going on in the dog/cat world.

      What makes her successful is always having a goal in mind. "It is hard to stay focused in this business when the dogs you love die, you have bad sales and there are market fluctuations," she says, "My goal is to be a reputable breeder, not to win show or field trials. My best moments are when people recognize me as a good breeder. That's the best pat on the back."

      Before breeding a dog she does a personality test, looks at the dogs structure and ability to ensure the meet her high standards.

      Although the Maltese Terriers and Brittany Spaniels are house dogs, she keeps the Labrador Retrievers and Doberman Pinschers outside in 26 X 32 kennels with lots of area to run so they can keep in shape. For companionship dogs are kept in pairs.

      A normal day for Maureen begins with cleaning the kennels, watering and feeding the puppies. In the afternoon the dogs take a nap and then are rewatered and the puppies are fed a second time. In the evening everyone is fed and the kennels are cleaned again. She also takes inquiries in the evenings and trains the dogs at night in the summer and during the day in the winter.

      Maureen is busiest when she is selling her puppies because she conducts several interviews with each potential buyer. The worst scenario would be to sell a dog to a bad owner. So, she throughly interviews everyone. Once she rejected seven people who wanted to buy her Doberman Pinschers.

      When she has chosen the owners she holds three hour seminars to educate her new owners on how to care for the animals. If she does sell her pups to a bad owner she has a contract allowing her to take legal action.

      Her her hard work has paid off, not financially, but personally. She has sold some of her dogs to television celebrities such as the man in the Glad commercials and some of her Siamese cats to film companies. She has sold her animals all across North America from the Yukon to the mid-west of the United States.

      Janet Bourgeois has also sold her Labrador Retrievers across Canada and the Eastern United States. "Once your name and what your contract offers gets out, people get in touch with you," she says.

      Unlike Maureen, Janet breeds only one type of dog and on a smaller scale. Although she has bred dogs for 17 years, she only began breeding full-time once she retired from CN a few years ago.

      When you step into her home you can immediately see her attraction to the breed. There are pictures and pillows all showing the lab, and then dozens of figurines, ornaments and plates.

      Janet keeps her three female labs and their puppies in the house where they sleep in their kennels and occasinally on her bed. The dogs also stay in the enclosed backyard where there is a tarp for shade and an mini swimming pool.
Only one of her dogs, Ebony, is able to breed. Misty can't be bred because she has a bad elbow. Before Janet will breed a dog, she checks for any health problems such as eye, hip of elbow deficiencies. "I wouldn't want to pass that on to future dogs," says Janet.

      Pride is too young yet to be bred, but since Ebony is about to retire at six years old, Janet hopes the younger dog will be able to breed eventually.

      Currently Janet has one litter of four pups, all five week olds. They are fed the closest thing to their mother's milk - goat's milk - so they can grow up to be healthy and strong. Soon she will start to give them puppy food.

      "You have to be able to afford to look after dogs," says Janet. "There is a lot more involved thantaking care of an ordinary pet." Breeders have to pay for health checks and clearances, needles, and tattoos and microchips for identification.

      David Shaffer, from Von Schaffer Kennels says dogs have to be registered with the Canadian Kennel Club to prove they are authentic pure breds.

      David began breeding his Shepherds, Rottweilers, Miniature Schnauzers and Boxers full-time after he retired from being a Deputy Sheriff/Coroner. He currently has 17 dogs and six pups.

      "I do it for the love of dogs," he says, "There is no money in it. You are lucky if you break even."

      When choosing a breed he says you have to consider what the dog was meant to do, not just h the dog is cute or not. "They have to suit your lifestyle," he stresses.

When buying a dog for breeding purposes be sure to choose the best stock. Find out if the dog comes from a healthy line without any eye, thyroid, elbow or hip problems. This is important because every time you breed, it should be to improve the line, not just for the sake of breeding," says David.

      As an animal lover, David breeds purely for enjoyment. "Wages are zero, but satisfaction is 100 percent."

David Shaffer 


January 2008 update re: the above article.

Station One no longer breeds the beautiful Doberman Pinschers. We now breed our gorgeous little chihuahuas! For those of you who never had a chance to see some of our beauties, here are a few photos.

Siamese Update: Maureen has retired a lot of her beautiful Siamese, has introduced the Lynx Point (Colorpoint Shorthair) to her lines. To see some of our cats click link above.


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