NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ALASKAN MALAMUTE ASSOCIATION NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ALASKAN MALAMUTE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT S MESSAGE 2015 NCAMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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1 THE HOWLER NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ALASKAN MALAMUTE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT S MESSAGE Inside this issue - President s Message - Board Meeting Minutes Club Mtgs/Club Notes - Christmas Party 12/5/15 - Award Plaques - Renewal Notice - Upcoming Shows/Trials - Dog Safety Tips - Celebration Corner - Introducing a New Pet to a Current One - Photo Gallery - Fun Page - Editor s Message It s the end of the year and I have been blessed to have been your President for that time. The club has made great strides this year, putting on a successful Specialty, Rattlesnake Clinic, and Malamute Fun Day. I hope more people will get involved in club events in the future and help the club continue to succeed. This is your club and success can only happen when you are a part of it. Come join us and celebrate the holidays at the NCAMA Christmas party on December 5 th at Bud s Pub & Grill in Dixon. Bring a gift for the gift exchange, and get the chance to steal the gift you want! Word has it that some special guests may be joining us See you there! 2015 NCAMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2015 CLUB MEETINGS ~ Marcy Savala President Vice President Treasurer Recording Secretary Marcy Savala Alisa Syar Muriel Dean Linda Katlarz savalamas@sbcglobal.net silvermals@aol.com mfdean1@comcast.net Wolfwmn48@aol.com Corresponding Secretary Director Director Director Kim Savala Linda Byrne Bill Griffiths Debbie Hunyada savalak@sbcglobal.net lsbwufpac@earthlink.net toneeka@comcast.net Majesticmals@sbcglobal.net Director Director Membership Past President Mike Stone Velvet Rogers Linda Katlarz Frank Sattler stone30300@granitebaykennel.com terciapelo@msn.com Wolfwmn@aol.com wingsknl@icloud.com

2 BOARD MEETING MINUTES Meeting Date: Meeting called to order by Marcy Savala at 8:00 pm In attendance: Marcy Savala, Kim Savala, Alisa Syar, Mike Stone, Muriel Dean, Velvet Rogers, Linda Katlarz Treasure Report: Muriel says the Checking account has $2,343.80, Savings account has 9, Muriel says we are in good standing. Old Business: Marcy asks Alisa whether there are any dogs in rescue still and Alisa said no. Muriel asked what happened to the female that was brought in and Alisa stated she was adopted a few days of coming to the kennel. Muriel says oh that is wonderful. The only dogs that are still there are the two giants. The club is not being charged for those two. Muriel thanks Mike and Alisa for opening their home and grounds for Fun day and Alisa says everyone worked hard to put it on. It was a really good day for people and dogs. New Business: Linda states we have a new member who sent in an application to join the club, sponsored by Wendy Corr and Mary Swinyer. Josephine Wang and Family would like to be part of our club. She does have a malamute and is interested in doing Agility, Backpacking, and Hiking. I sent her info to Kim for putting in the Dec. Newsletter and we will vote on her at the Dec. Meeting. Linda also asked if it would be ok to put something out to the membership about the nominations for positions that will be opening up on the board, such as President, and Corresponding Secretary with Kim and Marcy leaving. Kim stated that all positions are open for new nominations, not just ones where someone chooses not to re-run. Mike asked if our by-laws say we need a small committee for taking on the nominations and Marcy and Muriel stated there is nothing in the by-laws that says we have to do that. So it was agreed to draft something up and send out to the membership letting them know that we have openings on the board coming up for next year and to have them contact a board member to let them know they want to be nominated, or to come to the Christmas Party and meeting on Dec. 5th in Dixon. Kim asked when Membership expires and we said Jan. 31st Velvet stated she thought it was a good idea to put it out to the membership about the board positions being open for next year and that Margaret Cleek probably would like to get back on the board. Linda told her that Margaret was on the ballot last year but didn't get enough votes. Linda said she will have Kim help her draft up a letter to send out to the board. Marcy asks if there is anything else someone wants to bring up and Alisa says she will bring up the Specialty and Linda Roberts is working on it and the judges for voting on. Alisa will see Linda at the National and they will talk about setting up committees for the specialties, and Velvet asked if Linda was going to be at the specialty this year and Alisa said she would be there as our Show chair. Marcy asks about putting out something about voting for judges for the specialty, and Alisa said she is working on that and Marcy said herself and Kim were talking about judges they would like and Alisa also said to ask Debbie Hunyada about who she would like, the hard thing is, we don't have a lot of money to pay the judges so we have to stick with local judges or judges who are not going to charge us a lot of money for their services. Alisa says to let Linda Roberts know about judges they would like to have at the specialty. Marcy wanted to know if there was more business to discuss and Muriel asked about a breed table for Golden Gate kennel club. Linda said that Kim got a note from Linda Roberts wanting to know the same thing. I wrote Linda and said that at this time we don't know if there will be a table or not as I was not taking that on this year. I won't be at the show and it is hard to oversee when you re not there. So something will go in the Newsletter asking if anyone is interested in setting up a committee to host a table at that show. I said you have till Jan. 1st to make up our minds about that. Marcy wanted to know if there was any more business to discuss. Muriel brought up location of the Christmas party and that for many years the party has been north and that she would like to see it south for a change. Linda stated that Kim did review the membership list and where the members live and most come from the North and that Dixon is Half way for everyone and Muriel says she understands that but would really like to see it more south for a change. Marcy says the location has already been chosen. This place has no problem with separate checks and we have a nice menu to choose from. It is in a location central to the entire membership and has ample free parking across the street. Meeting Adjourned at 8:28

3 2015 CLUB MEETINGS Club meeting are open to the general membership unless designated Board only. There are only two more club meetings this year We encourage all members to attend and get involved in the club. Come join us! General Meeting** Christmas Party December 5 th, :00am 2:00pm Bud s Pub & Grill 100 S. First Street Dixon, CA ** Nominations for 2016 NCAMA Board positions will occur at this meeting if we have a quorum. If you want to nominate someone for a Board position, or would like to be nominated yourself, please attend the meeting to make your nominations. If you can t attend the meeting, make sure someone knows to make the nomination for you. General Meeting Awards Banquet/New Board Installation January Date TBD CLUB NOTES Club Calendar December 5 th, 2015 Christmas Party/Board Nominations January Awards Banquet/New Board Installation New Member Application Josephine and Daniel Wang & Family Walnut Creek, CA Sponsored by Wendy Corr & Mary Swinyer Breed Education Table Golden Gate Kennel Club Cow Palace If anyone is interested in hosting the Alaskan Malamute Breed Education table at the Golden Gate Kennel Club show at the Cow Palace on January 30 & 31 st, please contact Linda Roberts Linda@graeaglemalamutes.com. You will need to get the table together and find volunteers to man the table and help educate the public about our breed.

4 NCAMA Christmas Party Date: December 5 th, 2015 Time: Location: 11:00 am 2:00 pm Bud s Pub & Grill 100 S. First Street Dixon, CA (Corner of First & A Street) (Free parking across street in lot) Come join us and celebrate the holidays with good food and good friends! Food will be able to be ordered off of a limited lunch menu. Bring a gift (under $20 in value) for the gift exchange and get the chance to steal the gift you want! *** Please let Kim Savala know ASAP if you will be coming so we can get a total head-count for the restaurant!*** savalak@sbcglobal.net

5 It s that time again! Did your Malamute earn a new title in the last year? One of the benefits of being an NCAMA member is a plaque honoring your dog s accomplishments! If your dog received a new title, please send the following information to: Muriel Dean - mfdean1@comcast.net Name of dog Title(s) earned Date title earned Name(s) of the owner(s) Please note: The titles need to be listed in the accepted abbreviated form. The name of the dog can be the call name or full registered name, whichever the owner prefers. Your will be acknowledged by Muriel and a plaque will be given to you at the Awards Banquet in January If you already have a plaque from NCAMA and have a title to add to your plaque, please send your plaque to: Muriel Dean 2163 Mercury Road Livermore, CA Please provide the information requested above with your plaque. Your dogs title will be added to the plaque and returned to you at the Awards Banquet in January 2016.

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7 Barkley Cindy

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9 The Malamute way of doing the down

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12 Arwah

13 Dog Safety Tips for the Holidays From the Association of Professional Dog Trainers Hounds for the Holidays! Holiday times can be joyful or a source of stress for all of us, and that goes for your dogs, too! With some advanced planning and a little training, you can make things more festive and fun for Fido and less stressful for you! Things to Keep in Mind Throughout the Holiday Seasons Dogs can be very sensitive to changes in their environment and routines. When family members take time off from work and school, house guests come to stay, or other visitors roll through the home in droves, you need to try to preserve a few of your dog's routines, such as regular meal schedules and walks, exercise or play sessions. If there's considerably more activity than usual, plan some quiet times for your dog as well. The added stress and excitement of holiday festivities can increase your dog's thirst too, so make sure your dog has plenty of fresh water to drink. If your dog is the excitable or anxious type, he might benefit from an over-the-counter remedy, such as Rescue Remedy, to help keep him calm down and relax. Ask your veterinarian about his or her recommendations as well as how much you should use and how often. Comfort Zone DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) can also help maintain your dog's calm demeanor. DAP mimics the effects of a pheromone emitted by nursing female dogs, thought to calm the puppies. It can be delivered through a wall diffuser (similar to an air-freshener plug-in), a special collar impregnated with the substance, or can be directly sprayed on bedding or a bandana worn by your dog. Holiday Décor: Dog Safety Issues Holiday trappings help to maintain the merry mood but can be fraught with dangers for your dog. Here are some things to watch out for: Christmas Trees Tinsel, popcorn strands, and other garland-like decorations can cause serious internal injuries if ingested, and these are just the kinds of things that curious dogs can't resist. The ribbons, string, and other wrapping accessories found on gifts can be very problematic as well. These can lead to choking or strangulation for a curious pup. Water at the base of natural trees can contain anti-freeze and other preservatives that are deadly to your dog. All Christmas trees should be firmly anchored to the wall or ceiling to prevent it from being toppled by an inquisitive pooch. If you can't avoid all these things, try encircling your Christmas tree and gift display with an exercise pen to keep your dog away but still allowing you to enjoy your holiday cheer.

14 Electrical Cords Make sure these cords are well-secured, so your dog doesn't make a chew toy out of them. Consider using cord containers or running them through PVC to avoid having your dog chew on them when you cannot supervise it. Snow Globes While many are still made of glass, others can be found in chewable plastic with plastic bases. Chewed plastic shards from broken globes can be life-threatening. Many globes also add an anti-freeze-like substance to the water inside to slow the movement of the snow inside, so a double danger! Scented candles Candles can be attractive because of their smell, taste and texture. Make sure they are perched on high shelves out of Rover's reach! Never leave a lit candle unsupervised as they are easily knocked over and quickly become a fire hazard. Who's at the Door? Nowhere does the average family dog get into so much trouble as at the front door! Inappropriate greeting behaviors, door-dashing, and just over-the-top excitement can make the front door a source of stress for everyone during the holidays. Here are some ideas for making the doorway a safer place: Train polite greeting behaviors Practice! Heavily reinforce 'sits' and ignore jumping up. Turning your back on a jumper can work very well too. For added control, tether your dog to a heavy stationary object to prevent him from following you or jumping on your back as you turn away. Practice with lots of different people and practice in your doorway area to make sure your dog knows it where he'll need it! You can also teach your dog to wait behind a boundary line away from the door entryway or teach him to go to a particular place, like a dog bed, while guests enter the home. A safe place If you haven't had time to train for all the comings and goings at the door, it's always good practice to have your dog crated, securely fastened on a tether, or on a leash while guests are arriving or departing. Taming the Mob Entertaining guests can make the holidays merry, but it's important to remember how visitors can be stressful for our dogs. Avoid visiting pets Unless your dog is already great friends with your visitor's pets, it's a good idea to suggest your guests leave their pets at home. Having multiple animals in the home presents management challenges you may not be prepared to handle amidst all the other distractions you'll be facing.

15 Keep snacking to a minimum Make sure your guests know not to feed your dog from the table. Lots of fatty tidbits handed out by wellmeaning visitors can also lead to a dangerous bout of pancreatitis or intestinal upset. If your friends can't help but offer your dog a treat (who can resist!), have a portioned supply of his special treats or even his kibble on hand that guests can use instead. Clear the area! Keep a watchful eye for plates and cocktails left at dog level. Since good intentions are prone to fail with so much going on, consider confining your dog to his crate or another room while your guests are bustling about (make sure he has something wonderful to do while he's there) just to make sure he doesn't get into trouble. Dogs and kids don't always mix! Holiday gatherings can be very over-stimulating for dogs and kids alike, so never leave the dog alone with any little people, even his own kids. Interactions between the dog and kids should be strictly supervised by an adult who's dog-savvy enough to know when your dog needs a break. Finally, if your dog is prone to fearfulness, anxiety or over-excitement when company is around, his crate or private place is best to keep him calm and safe. Train In Advance! Great manners are always made, not born, and it can be fun to work with your dog on the life skills he'll need to be the life of the party. Here are a few things you'll want to incorporate into your training plan: "Sit and wait" or "down and wait" Great skills for your dog to learn! Taught positively, these exercises help your dog relax and enjoy his calm and relaxed participation in a family gathering. They can also prevent unruly door greetings and eliminate door-dashing. "Place" or "go to bed" This cue basically involves teaching the dog to proceed to a specified place and wait there for further instructions. Use this one to keep him away from the food table during meal times, which prevents begging and discourages guests from passing your pooch tidbits under the table. "Leave it" An invaluable tool for any dog owner and can help head off a dog who's aiming for a gift basket, dropped food item, or just about anything else. Trained positively, your dog will gladly disengage from just about anything you've assigned a "leave it" to.

16 "Drop it" A suitable companion to "leave it," "drop it" can be used to ask your dog to relinquish an already acquired item. This can be trained through a series of fun trading games that will teach your dog to happily spit things out in anticipation of something better! Counter-surfing counter-measures Already confirmed counter-surfers should be confined away from the action, since the high temptation, high distraction environment of a holiday party will be more than they can bear! But if your dog still hasn't scored off the counter yet, using "leave it" training will go a long way to helping your dog understand that countersurfing doesn't pay! Bring on the noise! Many holiday celebrations include noisy displays such as fireworks that can drive your dog batty. Start preparing in advance by playing fireworks sound effect recordings on your home stereo. Start the volume at a very low, almost imperceptible level until you're sure that your dog is comfortable; then crank up the volume half a click. Continue progressing at that rate until bombs bursting in air are no big deal for your dog. If you have a dog who's already acutely sound-sensitive, find a good trainer or behavior consultant with experience in this area to help you get ready. References DAP with Comfort Zone Rescue Remedy ASPCA Animal Control Poison Center ANI-HELP FREE Premier's Manners Minder

17 CELEBRATION CORNER BIS & BISS GCH. Spiritrun s Cool Ride Shelby Winner AMCA Regional Specialty 2015 Award of Merit AMCA National 2015 I would like to report that Rider Mytuk "N" Keno Let It Ride - did quite well his first few times in the ring. First time he went BOS to Jen Corr s Amora in the 4-6 puppy class. His second time out He got a G- 1 and then he moved into the 6-9 class and got a Reserve. We are so proud of this little man. He will be back out in the spring going for those AKC points. Linda Katlarz Congratulations to Kim Savala & Debbie Hunyada! Their girl Spicy Western Star s Spice Up Your Life picked up 5 points at her last three shows! BOW & BBE at the Wine Country Kennel Club show in Napa, and WB at the Sacramento Valley Dog Fanciers shows in Dixon. We love this little girl!

18 Introducing a New Pet to Your Current Ones Are you considering adding another furry companion to your family? If so, have you thought about how your new pet will interact with your current ones? Introducing a new pet into the family is always exciting, but it s important to make sure that the pets you already have are prepared for the new addition. This will help ensure a smooth transition. Determining Your Approach Animals are like people in that each one has his own temperament. Most likely, you already have a strong understanding of how your current pet behaves around strangers, deals with stress and handles uncertainty as you do with any member of your family. Use this information to determine the best approach to take when introducing your new pet to your current one. For instance, if your current pet does not like sharing his toys, make sure each of your pets has his favorite toy handy during the introduction, so the two pets are not competing for the same toy during the transition. When choosing which introduction approach to use, you should take other factors into consideration as well, such as the breed, age and sex of your pets. All these factors inform how one animal will react to the other. For example, a 9-year-old cat that has never shared her home with other animals might never acclimate to sharing her home with a new pet. In contrast, a kitten that has been separated from the rest of her litter might welcome another animal to keep her company. Examples of Introduction Techniques Again, there are several techniques you can try when introducing a new pet to your current one. Use your knowledge of your current and new pets to choose the one that s right for your furry friends. Here are a few techniques you can try: o Confinement. Keep your new and current pets in different rooms for several days or even a couple of weeks until they acclimate to each other s scent. Make sure that each animal has a place to go to the bathroom (e.g., a litter box), a food bowl and a water bowl, in each room. Feed each pet on either side of a closed door, again, in separate rooms. Put their food bowls close enough to the door to allow each animal to smell the other. Continue feeding them in this manner, slowly moving the bowls closer to the door each time you feed them. Eventually, you can open the door, so the two animals are eating side by side. If they are able to eat calmly while standing next to each other, they should be able to get along. Another option is to keep each pet in an animal crate that are placed next to each other, giving the animals time to get used to each other s scent. Pet Proofing Your Home Introducing your new pet to your current one is only a single part of the equation relating to taking a new pet home. You also have to make sure your new pet is comfortable in your home, which is a foreign environment to the animal. Like humans, animals can experience high levels of stress when placed in a foreign environment. Pet proofing your home will alleviate some of the stress new animals feel in a foreign place. To do so, use childproof latches on the cabinets and doors that your new pet can easily access, to help prevent them from prying open dangerous cabinets and drawers. Place cleaners, chemicals and medicines on high shelves. Keep trash containers covered, closed or inside a latched cabinet. Move dangling cords and wires out of reach. Finally, keep an eye out for any tails, paws or noses when you scoot your chair or shut a door, to keep from accidentally hurting your pet. If you have any questions, don t hesitate to ask your vet.

19 o o The Switcheroo. While keeping your animals in separate rooms, swap the blankets that each of your animals uses. Another option is to gently rub a cloth on one animal s cheeks and put in under the food dish of the other. When the animals eventually meet, their scents will be familiar to each other. Neutral Territory. If possible, introduce your new and current pet to each other in a neutral space, such as a park (that you don t usually frequent) or a neighbor s yard. Using a neutral territory for your introduction will make your resident pet less likely to view your new pet as an intruder. If you are introducing two dogs to each other, make sure that each dog is on a leash and handled by a separate person. Understanding Your Animals Cues Animals use body postures and sounds to communicate their feelings. For instance, if one dog crouches with his hind end in the air and his front legs on the ground, he is inviting the other dog to play. This is a positive sign and typically elicits friendly behavior from the other animal. However, if the hair on the back of your dog or cat is standing up, that animal is reacting aggressively, and you should calmly distract the animals until you can move them away from each other. Likewise, any growling or hissing sounds from either animal indicates aggression and stress. It is important to remember that not every animal will be compatible. If your introduction does not go smoothly the first time, try again, slowly, at a later date. If several introductions still do not work, contact your veterinarian for help. He or she can provide useful information or resources to help your new and current pets make a smooth transition. From: Bear River Mobile Veterinary Service Newsletter Sources:

20 Photo Gallery Chip Ikkuma & Elphie Wendy & The Mockingjays Wendy & Gale Jennifer & Amora Mike & Madden Rider Caddie Tule

21 FUN PAGE Are you making goodies for the holiday? Why not make some special goodies for your Mal!!! Here is a recipe that has been proven to be a winner among my four-legged crew though what Malamute doesn t love a cookie! Spinach, Carrot and Zucchini Dog Treats DIY dog treats that are nutritious, healthy and so easy to make. Plus, your pup will absolutely LOVE these! Ingredients 1 cup pumpkin puree 1/4 cup peanut butter 2 large eggs 1/2 cup old fashioned oats 3 cups whole wheat flour, or more, as needed 1 carrot, peeled and shredded 1 zucchini, shredded 1 cup baby spinach, chopped Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat pumpkin puree, peanut butter and eggs on medium-high until well combined, about 1-2 minutes. Gradually add old fashioned oats and 2 1/2 cups flour at low speed, beating just until incorporated. Add an additional 1/4 cup flour at a time just until the dough is no longer sticky. Add carrot, zucchini and spinach, beating just until incorporated. Working on a lightly floured surface, knead the dough 3-4 times until it comes together. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Using cookie cutters, cut out desired shapes and place onto the prepared baking sheet. Place into oven and bake until the edges are golden brown, about minutes.* Let cool completely. *Baking time will vary depending on the size and thickness of the treats. Serving size will also vary depending on the desired shapes and cookie cutters used.

22 Editor s Message: It s hard to believe the holidays are here and the year is almost over. I have thoroughly enjoyed producing the Howler for the club during this last year. Unfortunately I will be stepping down as Corresponding Secretary and the next Howler in January will be my last. My life is going in a different direction right now and I just don t have the time to put into creating a Howler each month. Maybe someday I will be back at it, but for now, I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped me with the Howler and writing articles Mary Swinyer, Judy Verhaag, and Wendy Corr and to everyone who gave me their celebration announcements and pictures of their Mals to include. It couldn t have been done without your contributions so thank you ALL. ~ Kim Savala savalak@sbcglobal.net The Howler is the NCAMA club's monthly newsletter filled with information on the breed, club events, and general club information. We encourage all members to contribute articles on their Malamute experiences. The Howler - NCAMA Kim Savala 700 EVANS ROAD DIXON, CA 95620