Health Warning

"A.M.O.B. All My Own Breeding"

"Lowdown" was first to warn you about ACOS (Acquired Canine Obsessive Syndrome) last year and now we have to highlight a new problem which is beginning to afflict exhibitors and breeders.

A.M.O.B., or to give it its full medical name, is "All My Own Breeding". To check if you have this emerging disease, answer the following questions:

• Have you mated more than one of your bitches to your own Stud Dog or a dog bred by you?
• Do you agree that there are no Stud Dogs being exhibited currently, that are worth using on any of your bitches?
• Do you agree that you might as well use your own dog because there is nothing better within a sensible travelling distance?
• Do you agree that, because your dog is line-bred, he will inevitably stamp his quality on the puppies, irrespective of what the bitch looks like?
• Have you noticed how everybody else seems to be getting more Kennel Blind and are showing dogs you'd be embarrassed to sell as pets?

If you have answered "Yes" to all 5 questions you are definitely suffering from A.M.O.B.. More than 2 with "Yes" and you should consider treatment as you are exhibiting the early signs.

If you are at all worried that you might be showing the signs of A.M.O.B. we recommend you browse through the pages of the Kennel Club Breed Record Supplement. There, you will find many pages of breeders who also suffer and who will be able to provide support in the difficult days ahead.

However, if any of these other breeders do not seem to recognise the symptoms of A.M.O.B. and are unwilling to share their experiences with you, it may worth mentioning the disease's other name: A.H.O.R. - "All Her Own Rubbish" (or "All His Own Rubbish").

You have been warned.

Finally, we would like to put an end to the rumour that the special protective glasses developed to allow people to watch the 1999 Solar Eclipse safely, can offer protection against Kennel Blindness. This is not true. Breeders are recommended to look long and hard at their stock and can be confident that no harm will come of this.

First published in the Southern Dachshund Association's Newsletter "Lowdown"

All My Own Breeding Article kindly supplied by : Ian Seath