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Collecting data on your dogs…
Children of the 90s: a study of human health from birth
Labradors at work: hearing dogs
Endal – a credit to his breed
Collecting data on your dogs…
How do we know that the information recorded about each dog in the project is accurate? There are a variety of mechanisms we are using to determine the accuracy of information provided about each dog registered with Dogslife.
Firstly, the registration process requires the Kennel Club number of each dog, so that we can cross check each dog’s identity and age with the Kennel Club’s own records. This means that all the dogs in the study are definitely Labrador Retrievers, and we can be certain of their birth date. Whilst this might seem like a small point, it is very important because different breeds of dog develop diseases with different frequencies. This would create a problem if we were to analyse a number of different breeds together, particularly if we didn’t know which dogs were from which breeds as we might believe that Labradors were developing a particular disease with greater or lesser frequency than was true. We can exclude this problem with absolute certainty in Dogslife because we know that all dogs are Labradors.
Secondly, the Kennel Club registration number also allows us to determine how closely different dogs in the project are related. The ancestry of each dog and results of health screens of their parents, such as hip or elbow scoring schemes, can be identified through the number. As well as providing us with extra-information, it also means we can account for the relatedness of different dogs during our analysis.
Finally, we know that there will always be a small-degree of error in how accurately a height, weight or length of walk can be measured, or in the information which people may relay about their dog’s illness. Towards the end of the first year we will contact a section of participants to check that the information they have inputted about their dogs is correct. Furthermore, we know that the more people who join the project and enter information, the more likely we are to obtain the correct information, and in turn the true picture of the health of Labradors involved with the Dogslife project. Thanks to your help, we know that by the end of the first year we should have information on the lifestyles of thousands of dogs which maximises our ability to find out what keeps them healthy.
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Children of the 90s: a study of human health from birth
Before Dogslife there was Kidslife. Children of the 90s (http://www.bristol.ac.uk/alspac/) is the equivalent of Dogslife for children born in 1991 and 1992 in the Bristol area. Over 14,000 mothers agreed to be part of the study which followed the health and development of their children from pregnancy to the present day.
By following these children and their parents for more than 18 years, Children of the 90s has made a number of important health discoveries. For example, one part of the study looked at blood lead levels in the children at 2½ years of age, and then reviewed test results for the same children at age 7 years. There was a clear link between high levels of lead in the blood and poorer performance on testing at age 7.
In another analysis of Children of the 90s participants, researchers asked parents about their child’s history of asthma and TV viewing habits from 3½ years of age. The results showed that children who watched more than two hours a day of TV were almost twice as likely to have been diagnosed with asthma by 11½ years as those who watched less. TV viewing was seen as an indication of activity levels, with the longer viewing time correlating with less activity, so less active children had more asthma diagnoses, perhaps because of the different breathing patterns associated with sitting and engaging in physical activity.
Children of the 90s has also looked at the effect of diet on school performance. Surprisingly the study found that children who do poorly at school are affected by the food they ate many years earlier, as 3 year olds. Because of the size of the study, researchers were able to allow for other factors which might influence school performance, such as income and housing. Even when these factors were taken into account, diet in the preschool years appeared to influence school performance much later.
These and many other results coming from the Children of the 90s project show the power of a large study which follows the same individuals over many years. We hope to reveal similar links by analysing the data supplied by Dogslife members. Your continued participation will ensure that we can unravel the complex environmental and lifestyle factors which affect the health of all dogs.
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Labradors at work: hearing dogs
This month we will focus on how Labradors are used as hearing dogs. In the UK, up to nine million people experience some level of hearing loss. Hearing Dogs for Deaf People train their dogs to alert deaf people to specific sounds in the home, workplace or public buildings. Approximately 750 dogs are in placements at any one time with around 190 dogs in training. One third of dogs used by Hearing Dogs for Deaf People are Labrador Retrievers or crosses. The charity breed one or two litters of pure Labradors every year and are looking to increase their numbers as the Labrador’s nature and temperament make them ideal assistance dogs.
The formations of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People began in 1981 when a pilot scheme for hearing dogs was set up thanks to financial commitments from animal related organisations (e.g. animal charities, pet food manufacturers, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and The British Veterinary Association). The initial dogs were housed and trained at Forest Glade Kennels in Oxfordshire and Hearing Dogs for Deaf People was officially launched at the Crufts Dog Show in 1982. Since then, training centres have been established in Yorkshire and in Buckinghamshire.
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People trains dogs to alert severely and profoundly deaf people to specific everyday sounds which hearing people often take for granted. For example, an alarm clock, telephone, doorbell, smoke alarm, a baby crying etc. Instead of barking, the dog will alert the deaf person by touch, using a paw to gain attention and then lead them back to the source of the sound. For sounds such as a smoke alarm or a fire alarm, the dog will lie down to indicate danger.
There are three stages of training to qualify as a hearing dog. The first stage is socialisation training where the puppy or dog will be familiarised with situations such as, traffic, crowds of people, loud noises etc. and attend puppy training / obedience classes. The second stage is four months of advanced soundwork training which involves each dog being taught to respond to specific sounds according to their deaf recipient’s needs. The third and final stage involves three months of training the hearing dog and their new deaf owner together; firstly at a training centre and then in the deaf recipient’s home and surrounding area (i.e. out on walks and going to the shops).
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People provide lifelong aftercare even after the partnership between dog and owner has been established. To date, the charity has placed more than 1,600 hearing dogs throughout England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands. They receive no government funding and rely totally on the generosity of individuals and organisations.
A hearing dog can offer greater independence, confidence, companionship and security to deaf people. Hearing dogs wear a distinctive burgundy jacket and lead slips which help members of the public understand the nature of their handler’s otherwise invisible disability. To find out more, please visit http://www.hearingdogs.org.uk.
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Endal – a credit to his breed
Endal was a yellow Labrador Retriever who worked as a service dog for Allen Parton. Allen served in the Royal Navy during the first Gulf War. He returned after sustaining a serious head injury resulting in physical disability, speech difficulties and memory loss to the point that he could not remember getting married or his children being born.
The relationship between Allen and Endal began when Allen accompanied his wife, Sandra, to a puppy class. Endal was there, proving a challenge for the trainers to train as he needed a lot of prompting for simple tasks and suffered from a debilitating joint condition called osteochondrosis (OCD) which resulted in limping. This brought Endal’s suitability and future as an assistance dog in to question. It was agreed nonetheless that Allen could take Endal home as a therapeutic companion dog.
A change of diet, a specialised exercise regime and time to heal meant that Endal’s joint condition slowly improved and Endal and Allen were finally able to work together. Neither had been through any advanced training so they had to teach themselves. Endal somehow always knew what Allen wanted and learned hundreds of commands in signing when Allen could not talk. For example if Allen were to touch his head, Endal would get his hat. Endal would get so excited when Allen made a noise that despite doctors saying that Allen would never speak again, Endal’s encouragement helped him to recover his speech.
Endal learned to load and empty the washing machine, retrieve items from shop shelves, open train doors, operate lifts as well as use an ATM! In 2001 Endal received national recognition after an incident when Allen was knocked out of his wheelchair by a car. Allen was unconscious and Endal pulled him away, retrieved his mobile phone from under the car, fetched a blanket to cover him and barked for assistance before running to a hotel to get help.
Endal received many awards over his time as a service dog and became an ambassador for assistance dog charities and service charities as well as being a patron for Labrador Rescue and raising awareness of animal welfare issues. Sadly Endal was put to sleep in March 2009 after he suffered a stroke and his arthritis had become severe. He was thirteen years of age.
In memory of Endal, Allen registered a new charity called Hounds for Heroes in February 2010. The charity aims to provide assistance dogs to injured and disabled men and women who have served in the UK Armed Forces and Civilian Emergency Services. For more information please visit http://www.houndsforheroes.com/
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Don't forget to come back to Dogslife each month to update your puppy's record www.dogslife.ac.uk
Is your dog special? Why not put them forward to become a Featured Dog? Lookout for the link next time you log in!
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