Byline: Barbara Delaney -
Debbie Kuhn has groomed dogs for more than 20 years and has bred German shepherds on and off for the past nine years, never looking to advertise.
In all that time, she's planned but five litters of pups, all of whom have grown to a standard 80 to 100-pound German shepherd weight.
But she's looking to enter the most recent litter, born this year on March 24, in the Guiness Book of World Records: one of the pups is a dwarf.
Kuhn, a Schuylerville resident, explained that back in late December she went away for a weekend, leaving her husband and children in charge of keeping a close eye on Tommy, her male shepherd and Missy, her female shepherd who happened to be in heat. Both dogs come from the very solid line of New Skete dogs, bred by the New Skete Monks of Cambridge.
``This was an accidental breeding,'' she said. ``My husband was supposed to watch.''
Sixty some days later, Missy gave birth to a litter of three females and two males, one of whom she's named ``Sir Goliath.''
``At birth, he was the same size as the rest, but by the time he was two months old, he was so much smaller, I knew that something was wrong,'' said Kuhn who brought him to Dr. Henry Naef, a North Greenbush veterinarian who verified her suspicions that Sir Goliath was a dwarf.
``This is the first (case of dwarfism) I've ever seen and in all likelihood, it will be the last,'' said Naef, who's been a veterinarian for 22 years. ``It's not common at all.''
Naef, who checks the dog monthly, said he's reviewed different textbooks on the trait and has been unable to find any statistics on the frequency of the phenomenon.
Goliath's hair is thin and it will get thinner, he explained, and his life expectancy may be markedly shorter than that of other dogs.
He may also experience problems with his heart, kidney and liver all of the things that a human dwarf would have, though the family has a good handleon the situation, he added.
``(Goliath) is adorable and I don't mean for this to be a pun, but the nice part is the underdog seems to get more attention,'' Naef added.
For sure!
On a recent visit to her mother's Wynantskill home where Kuhn grooms dogs, she pulled out an assortment of sweats and sweaters to outfit Goliath, whose bark is just as spirited (though weaker) and his German shepherd trait of protecting as pronounced as any other breed member.
The clothing is necessary to protect him from the elements: he chills easily, and when his appetite is down, she feeds him by hand.
Kuhn said the pup has stolen and been successful at keeping her son's teddy bear and has won the heart of all family members who constantly look out for his welfare.
``Even his father stands between him and my other dogs in an effort to protect him,'' she added.
Goliath's kennel mates (now with other owners) average between 65 and 70 pounds, while he weighs in at 11 pounds, 5 ounces and is about 10 inches tall. He seems to be healthy in all regards, except for the skin problems and a low immune system.
Kuhn said people have offered to pay as much as $2,000 for the dog, but that she won't sell him. She's only interested in entering him in the Guiness Book of World Records.
``They only want to exploit him,'' she said. ``I'm not a religious person, but I feel like he's God's gift to me.'' If you've been thinking of obtaining a dachshund or a poodle, there will be plenty of dog experts to consult when the Albany Kennel Club and the Troy Kennel Club hold their annual All-Breed Dog Shows on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 21 and 22 in the sports complex at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy.
According to Sonia Shaw, who is chairing the show for the Troy Kennel Club, between 1,400 and 1,500 dogs will be shown and judged on both days.
Judging begins at approximately 8:30 a.m. on both days and ends at about 5 p.m. or whenever the best in show dog is named.
The best part admission is free. The Mechanicville Family Day on Sunday, Oct. 15, will feature a Just For Fun Dog Show as part of the festivities at Tallmadge Park.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. with a $5 fee per dog.
Among the categories are most unusual looking dog, dog/owner look alike, best costume, basic obedience and most unusual name.
For information, call 664-6420 or 664-6612 The New York State Humane Association will hold a workshop on Ritual Crime and Abuse Investigation for the benefit of law enforcement officers, animal cruelty investigators, mental health personnel and child protective agencies from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19, at Days Inn, Route 9W, Glenmont.
Cost is $45. To register or for information, call (914) 336-4514.
Recently, we reported the winnings of Plainbrownwrapper Jada-Edan, a champion German shepherd, Penny Kroh and co-owned by Charlene Marchand and Michael Wilson. Kroh called to say that Marchand did not co-own the dog before Aug. 13 and that Michael Wilson does not co-own the dog at all. If you have news that may be of interest to dog and cat lovers, send it to Canines and Felines, Times Union, Box 15000, Albany 12212, or call 454-5493.
CAPTION(S):
Times Union / JAMES GOOLSBY DEBBIE KUHN holds Goliath, her six month-old German shepherd, outside her mother's home in Wynantskill.
