About Simply Schnauzer Net:
I became involved with showing Mini Schnauzers over ten years ago when the first pet litter I bred was struck at five weeks of age with parvovirus. Happily, all seven puppies survived, and a great interest in canine health was sparked. Everybody has to start somewhere, and every show person has their "learning dog" or "practice dog" which may not truly be very competitive. Such was the case with my "Brutus" - one of those surviving parvo pups. But after Brutus was placed in a wonderful home and I obtained my first show-quality bitch, the foundation for Simply Schnauzer Net was laid. That first bitch was Yasmar's Tadesca Mystic Rose (Rosie) who eventually produced my best show dog when bred to the dog of my dreams - CH Sole Baye's TJ Esquire - bred and owned by Yvonne Phelps. Rosie whelped TJ's next to last litter, and in that litter were my Rave and Riot (Tadesca's Mighty Riot). Rave, like her mother, was not too thrilled with showing. Riot, however, was "destined" for great things. He won a large puppy Terrier Group at the Palm Springs show that January and had three points (with me showing him!!) before disaster struck. Rave became ill first, diagnosed with autoimmune thrombocytopenia, a disease which probably was caused by a protocol of over-vaccination which was being used by my vet at the time and by many area breeders in my local club. Rave passed away before her first birthday. Riot began displaying focal seizures of the head only a few weeks later. He was immediately diagnosed with distemper - an unbelieveable situation, I thought, after all the vaccinating we had done. However, I was to later learn that the over-vaccination (we gave parvo vax every ten days until 20 weeks and then every six months to our show dogs - I guess because "more was better"?) and stress had probably weakened his immune system to the point that he was very susceptible. I had moved in February to an unincorporated area near Palm Springs, stressing my dogs and possibly exposing them. We also learned that in March distemper had been present at the International Dog Show held in Palm Springs. Several cases of distemper were identified in the desert that season. In short, Riot passed away a little over a month after Rave and all my big dreams went down the tubes. My immediate reaction was to breed another litter and I went in a totally different direction. Instead of a complete outcross as the previous litter had been, I "tripled-up" on one of the lines in my pedigrees. That litter was also a disaster, giving me my first experience with juvenile renal disease. Three of the six pups did not survive the c-section. Another with JRD was put down at six months. Still another survives at six years of age with only partial kidney function as well as other health problems. I did what I felt was my obligation and spayed the dam as well as neutering HER sire. (I did not own the sire of the puppies, but his owner was informed.) My very small kennel had been decimated by unanticipated health issues in less than two years. I was devastated. But in response to these heartbreaking losses, I threw myself into a project of research and helping others find information that might assist them in avoiding the same horrible, heart-rending experiences that I had had. Today's Simply Schnauzer Net is a long-term result of that effort. My personal philosophy regarding dog health is to be well-informed, and to provide information so that others who wish to be informed can easily find it. You may not agree with everything you find on this website; I do not. However, I also realize that what works for me may not work for another person, and that the more information available - the better for us all. No single person - regardless of years of experience - is RIGHT 100% of the time. The day will come for each of us that events demonstrate we must change opinions and practices because what we have been doing is unsuccessful; moreover, we can see things that others are doing which, in fact, produce better results. I believe we each have an individual responsibility to these loving creatures we have consciously chosen to bring into the world. That responsibility includes being well-informed and current as to all issues which might improve their lives and decrease any suffering they might possibly go through. I have learned through personal experience that veterinarians are also humans and do not belong "on a pedestal." I have lost too many dogs that were under a vet's care to believe that vets are "miracle workers" or "gods." Like human health science, animal health science is not a perfect thing. I believe that like every other professional, vets can always learn more (IF they choose to do so) and improve what they do to and for our pets. This theory has been borne out in the AVMA's recent decision to change their suggested vaccination protocol to every three years after decades of mandating annual boosters for our pets. They DO make mistakes; a few are highly motivated by money. Not every vet was in the top 10% of his graduating class. These things we must bear in mind when choosing/using a veterinarian. Your vet should be a "partner" in your dog's health care - not a dictator. If you have a "gut feeling" that what your vet is doing is wrong - at least do your dog the favor of getting a second opinion. Loyalty to your vet could be "killing" your dog. On the other hand, there are vets who make the "partnership" possible - they listen, suggest, and advise if you approach them with some knowledge of the topic. These days there are many very current, very good vets who are open to (and even SUGGEST) paths which lead away from the "norm" in feeding pets. (Be sure to read the article ( "Why the Vets Recommend "Designer Chow" - - aka Science Diet, et. al.) Hence, we come full circle. As an owner & client, it is best to be informed BEFORE you make that office visit for annual vax, teeth cleaning, spay/neuter, etc. I also believe that breed clubs have the utmost responsibility to fight for better overall health, better rescue procedures, and better breeding practices which include genetic registries and strict codes of ethics. I do not believe that we have yet achieved a pinnacle of success in our particlular breed - and that efforts must be redoubled to improve especially the health of the Miniature Schnauzer. While we have a very popular breed, we also have a breed that is plagued with too many health issues - and while there is much talk, there is little action being taken to research and remove some of these issues. In ten years I have bred only six litters; I do not claim vast knowledge in any area of canine health, breeding or showing. But I have found that I DO have the power to learn, the power to improve the quality of life of my own dogs, and the power to question and discuss issues with my vet. In ten years, I have learned to minimize vaccinations and other forms of the chemicals so often recommended (e.g. flea & tick dips, powders, worming meds, any preventative meds for diseases NOT endemic in my geographical area, etc.), and I have made choices regarding my dogs' nutrition (modified BARF diet with a low-fat, high quality kibble) that have vastly improved their health. Rosie, who had chronic IBD before these changes were made, has not had an attack of diarrhea in years. The skin problems in my dogs have nearly disappeared. We have not heard the word "pancreatitis" or "food poisoning" or "choking on bones" from the vet's mouth since she finally accepted that feeding raw meat and bones has not{yet} killed my dogs. Furthermore, their titers are strong after years and years of no vaccinations. I have learned that while others may not agree with some of what I do, I can only stand with my [now healthier] dogs as an example - and ask you to question what you do and why you do it - and if it is REALLY the best thing for your dogs. You know the old addage - "Just because we have always done it that way does not mean it is the BETTER way." I now have five champions - four conformation - (CH Yasmar's Tadesca Thundercloud, CH Tadesca's Spy Guy, CH Bresson's Lone Star at Tadesca, and I also co-own CH Allaruth's Gold Nugget) and one young lady with a Companion Dog title currently working on her CDX: Tadesca's Mystic Gypsy Moon, CGC, CD, aka "Gypsy" - a stubborn little black devil-girl who is the epitome of schnauzer personality! My newest champion,Bresson's Lone Star at Tadesca, aka "Tex," is a grandson of my Bond. He finished with nine points and a major in San Antonio in Feb. of 2005. We have already begun our obedience training, and I hope to earn a versatility award with him some day. And, we are seriously looking at obtaining a quality Boston Terrier to show sometime in the next year. The MINI Magazine keeps me VERY busy now that it is in print, but I also spend a lot of time outdoors working on my yard. Another enjoyable activity has been making house improvements since I purchased my home here in Sky Valley a few years ago. I am a high school teacher by day - dog/internet person by night and weekends! My ultimate goal is to provide for you a "research center" or "schnauzer library" which will assist you in whatever area you may be associated with the breed, in setting and achieving high standards for health and excellence of Miniature Schnauzers. I am a member of the American Miniature Schnauzer Club. I have been a member of the Miniature Schnauzer Club of Southern California and served on their Board as well as publishing their newsletter, Salt and Pepper Sprinkles for a period of time. Please contact me if you have questions or concerns about any portion of my website. Yours for the best - MS!!! Tania Kidd
Site Owner
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Simply Schnauzer Net is a website that has evolved over a period of about five years from a simple health-related resource page for an e-mail list I started (the Hoflin Miniature Schnauzer E-Mail List) into what I call "the ultimate Mini Schnauzer experience" since we now include one of the most extensive canine health and nutrition resources, The Mini Magazine, and our new discussion forum.