K9 FORCE
K9 FORCE
INSIDE THE VET'S WORLD
INSIDE THE VET'S WORLD
DIFFERENT
DIFFERENT
GAME-ONE PASSION
GAME-ONE PASSION
APRIL 2025
APRIL 2025
CANICROSS
SPAYING AND
NEUTERING – IS THERE
A RIGHT TIME?
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Isabella Oxsengendler
info@k9force.ca
www.k9force.ca
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K9Force is the official bi-monthly
publication of the K9Force Working
Dog Club. Our mission is to highlight
the world of dog sports, celebrating
not only IGP but a wide range of
disciplines that showcase the
incredible abilities and versatility of
working dogs. Each issue features
insightful articles, expert interviews,
event coverage, and updates
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CONTENTS
04
05
11
13
20
24
26
Editor's Letter
Inside The Vet’s World- Spaying and Neutering – Is there a right time?
Introducing Robert Fagoš
Different Game, One Passion - Canicross
FMBB Canicross- interview with Anne-Marie Paré
Tracking Training for all Dogs - Book Review
Crafting the Future: Breeder’s Perspectives - von Quintus Rottweilers
TABLE OF
05
11
13
20
26
As March draws to a close, spring is slowly making its way to
Calgary, and the club is abuzz with anticipation for the 2025
competition season. But the colder months have been anything but
quiet. In February, we hosted a helper seminar where four of our
club’s members earned their helper certifications—an especially
impressive achievement for Darius, who achieved his club helper
certification just months after first donning the suit and sleeve. We
are proud that he is ready to be the sole helper for our May 31
Spring Exam at all three IGP levels.
Preparations for the K9Force Cup, our flagship annual competition
set for the last weekend of September, are well underway.
Modeled on CACIT competitions in Europe, the event continues to
grow in both size and prestige. In this issue, we introduce
internationally renowned judge Robert Fagus, who will preside
over the Cup. Robert’s judging résumé includes CACIT Germany
(2024) and CACIT Dobříš (2023), and we are deeply honored to
have him judging our competition in September.
The selection of the front-half helper for the K9Force Cup takes
place in June, with top-tier helper Jany Bohm, of the Fight or Die
Helper Academy, playing a key role. He shares his insights on
helper work in general and the helper selection process in a recent
interview, now available on our revamped "About Us" page, which
also showcases our latest media appearances.
The 2025 season promises plenty of excitement, and you can
follow it all in K9Force Magazine and on our Facebook and
Instagram pages.
Enjoy the issue!
K9Force Magazine
Front cover: Akira, Kanook, Ivy and Mary
Owner: Frederick Kuester
Photographer: Chipperfield Photography
From the Editor
Alfred De Witte
Connect:
www.k9force.ca
info@k9force.ca
K9 Force Working Dog Club
k9force_wdc
Back cover: Xtris Ensane
Owner: Isabella Oxsengendler
Photographer: Isabella Oxsengendler
Dr. Horner currently works out of Springbank Pet Hospital, offering a
wide range of reproductive services, including the preservation of
canine semen for long-term storage and transcervical insemination.
She is passionate about maintaining genetic diversity in the purebred
dog population and is committed to educating both breeders and the
general public on reproductive health.
In her free time, Dr. Horner enjoys conformation and dog sports with her
Black Russian Terrier and Sealyham Terriers, with a goal of exploring
the world of IGP.
WITH DR. ALEX HORNER, DVM MS DACT
INSIDE THE
VET'S WORLD
K9Force Magazine is honored to introduce a
recurring column by Dr. Alex Horner, starting
with this issue. In these columns, she will
address general dog health topics.
Dr. Horner is a proud Calgarian who earned her
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University
of Melbourne, Australia. During her time down
under,
she
developed
a
passion
for
Theriogenology
(the
study
of
veterinary
reproduction). After a short stint in general practice
in Calgary, she moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, to
complete a residency and master’s degree at
Colorado State University. She became a Board-
Certified Diplomate of the American College of
Theriogenology in 2024 and is one of the few
reproductive specialists in Alberta
Readers are welcome to submit general questions about dog
health to info@k9force.ca for Dr. Horner to consider in future
issues.
Spaying and Neutering – Is
there a right time?
Inside the Vet's World:
When to spay and neuter? It's one of the most
hotly debated questions in veterinary medicine
and one where we are starting to see a massive
shift in what was once recommended by most
veterinarians. The problem is that this question
does not have an overarching answer but needs
an individualized approach. In their position
statements,
the
American
College
of
Theriogenology (ACT) and the Society for
Theriogenology (SFT) directly support this
individualized approach. The position statement
states, "The decision to spay or neuter a pet
must be made on a case-by-case basis, and this
decision should be made between the pet's
owner
and
its
veterinarian,
taking
into
consideration the pet's age, breed, sex, health
status, intended use, household environment
and temperament.”
Dr. Alexandria Horner
DVM, MS, DACT
Board-Certified Specialist
of the American College of
Theriogenology
Most people who own pets, working dogs or breeding dogs, are
well aware of the advantages of spaying and neutering, as they are
often described by veterinarians, rescue groups, and the media.
These advantages include effective population control, decreased
aggression, decreased wandering, a decreased risk of being hit by
a car and a reduced risk of mammary, testicular and ovarian
cancers.
This article will highlight the benefits and disadvantages of keeping
dogs intact and provide general suggestions to consider when
determining when to spay and neuter.
P A G E 6
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P A G E 7
An Explanation of Veterinary Anti-Parasitic
So why does early spaying and neutering cause these increased
risks in our canine companions? This question is still being
researched, but it comes down to the gonadal (from ovaries or
testes) hormone secretions and how they interact with growth
and other biological mechanisms. When examining growth, it is
believed that spaying/neutering before maturity, before growth
plate closure of the long bones has occurred, can result in
growth longer than what would be considered normal. This
potential abnormal growth can result in abnormal loading and
wear on the joint, which, in some dogs, could lead to clinically
apparent joint disorders. Another concern is high luteinizing
hormone (LH), a reproductive-specific hormone produced by the
brain in response to no longer having a negative feedback
mechanism from the gonads (ovaries or testes). Essentially, this
means that the brain can no longer turn off production and, in
turn, produces concentrations up to thirty times higher than what
is observed in intact dogs.
A significant benefit to many owners, particularly pet owners, is
avoiding "sexual" behaviours or a heat cycle. However, recent
research shows that our traditional timing of spaying and
neutering before 6 months of age may carry an increased risk of
some debilitating joint disorders and certain cancers. Cancers
with some link to the timing of spaying and neutering include
lymphoma,
mast
cell
tumours,
hemangiosarcoma
and
osteosarcomas -- common cancers which many owners have
unfortunately experienced at some point during pet ownership.
Further, the joint conditions researched in association with early
spaying/neutering include hip dysplasia, cranial cruciate (knee)
ligament tear or rupture, and elbow dysplasia. The original
research examined the effects of spaying and neutering in three
of North America's most popular dog breeds: the Golden
Retriever, the Labrador Retriever and the German Shepherd. It
found that neutering before a year of age was associated with
increased risks of one or multiple joint disorders, 2-4 times more
than in their intact counterparts. A paper published by the
University of California Davis in 2020 examined multiple
research papers to assist veterinarians and pet owners in
making informed decisions across 29 different breeds and is
publicly available. This paper highlights the implications of when
to spay/neuter and suggests how best to proceed. However, it is
crucial to consider that these are suggestions and the individual
lifestyle of the dog, its owners and potential environmental/social
factors that may alter when spaying and neutering is ideal for
that particular dog.
Preliminary research has shown LH receptors on other tissues
within the body other than the gonads. However, their effects on
these tissues and their roles in certain cancers and other body
tissues are still being examined. This possible relationship may
give clues as to why we observe adverse health effects in
specific populations of dogs.
How does one take the above information and the evolving
research to make the right decision for the dog in front of us? To
answer this question, an individualized approach should be
taken by discussing with your veterinarian, researching, and
determining if caring for factors that come with an intact animal
responsibly is feasible with one's lifestyle. When I approach this
question with clients, we look at whether they can manage an
intact dog, especially a female, when they cycle to avoid
unwanted pregnancy. Some simply cannot and are happy to
continue spaying and neutering at 6 months of age. Underlying
reproductive abnormality must be considered when deciding on
appropriate timing, as some have an increased risk to the dog's
overall health and welfare if spayed/neutered too early or too
late.
For
example,
female
dogs
with
a
hooded
vulva,
conformational abnormality, are at an increased risk for urinary
tract infections, vulvitis, and vaginitis. Allowing these females to
stay intact and experience at least one heat cycle can reduce
the risk or limit these conditions from occurring before being
spayed. On the contrary, in males, disorders of testicular
descent, most commonly seen as cryptorchidism, where one or
both testicles do not descend into the scrotum, can carry
increased risks of testicular cancers and testicular torsion if not
removed by the age of two. These conditions must be discussed
with your veterinarian, and if they cannot provide sufficient
guidance, referral to a reproductive specialist may provide better
insight to help the decision-making process. The next factor to
consider is the age of the dog.
Female dogs who undergo continued cycling over time without
pregnancy are at risk for a potentially life-threatening condition
called pyometra, and ninety percent of males over the age of 5
years will develop benign prostatic hyperplasia. Both conditions
can be cured and 100% prevented by spaying or neutering.
These conditions are not created equal, as medications can
manage benign prostatic hyperplasia very effectively in the
intact male population. Pyometra, on the other hand, is most
commonly managed surgically, and medical treatment is
reserved for a certain subset of the female population.
P A G E 8
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P A G E 9
Footnote:
Parts of this article are based on research from the Society for Theriogenology, as well as
studies from Hart et al. (2020) and Kutzler (2020).
In summary, when to spay and neuter is not as simple as we
once thought it was in the past. Understanding the available
information and conversing with your veterinarian or a
reproductive specialist can help determine the best option for
your dog and your lifestyle.
K9Force CUP
September 26-28, 2025
Calgary, AB
Judge: Robert Fagoš (CZ)