AGILITY FROM A JUDGE S EYE

Transcription

1 The Scramble OCTOBER 2017 Contributions to the Scramble are welcome. Deadlines are: December for January issue March for April issue June for July issue AGILITY FROM A JUDGE S EYE September for October issue Send or to: Toni Ginnetti 207 N. Greenwood Ave. Park Ridge, IL ginnt@aol.com Board of Directors Officers Synoma Hays, President Paul Glombowski, Vice President Susan Frankel, Secretary Lou Bogart, Treasurer Directors Nancy Reyes Dolores Valerio Kathy Vaughan You re at the start line of an agility competition and glance over at the judge. I hope she s lenient...or forgiving! And fair. That is the real objective for any judge to fairly judge you and your partner, and also to be sure the experience is fun for both of you. Joan Meyer is a veteran judge who has overseen many trials, including those on the road to qualifying for AKC national titles. She recently shared her view of her role as a judge. I love watching people react with their dogs and play with their dogs. Each judge is responsible for designing their own course. I set a course one time that had the A-frame really close to a tree [outdoors.] The border collie went up the A-frame, then grabbed the limb of the tree and was hanging there! The scoring of the dog takes place with whether or not it completes each of the obstacles, and then the second phase of it is the time. The handler may always ask a judge a question. Judges are not above everybody else. (Continued on page 4)

2 OCTOBER 2017 Page 2 BRAGS AND WAGS A round of applause for Nancy Muklewicz and her agility partners Abbott and Shadow as they added legs toward CPE titles at the Sept. 17 trials at For Your K9. Bichon Abbott Q d a Level 4 Standard run, a Level 4 Full house run and a Level 3 Snooker run. Poodle Shadow nailed a Level 2 Snooker run. It s brag time again for Kim DeBenedictis and Papillons, Gazzoo and Barney. Gazzoo earned his Expert Trick Dog title from Do More With Your Dog, which will become the equivalent of the AKC s similar Advanced Trick Dog title. Barney earned his AKC Open Standard Title and aced his first UKC Nose Work trial, earning all four Novice elements for his title. Not forgotten is their Min Pin sister Wilma, who joined them in passing the UKC Canine Good Citizenship test. But it was Barney who was the only dog that scored in the highest version of the test of all dogs tested that day. Tri-paw Trey was having a busy summer with Scramble editor Toni Ginnetti. He earned the AKC novice, intermediate and advanced Tri-paw Trey earned the AKC novice, intermediate and advanced Tricks titles in September. Tricks titles by September 1. Then he went on to earn two of the three necessary legs for the UKC Rally Obedience novice title, getting two third place ribbons in the trials with scores of 99 and 97 [out of 100.] And Trey is closing in on completing Level 3 in CPE after successful runs in Standard, Colors and Wildcard at the Sept. 17 trial. Introducing Frankie, the newest member of Julie and Alex Donatelli s family. The little Sheltie will follow in the memory of Sheltie Sparky as he looks toward a future of agility. For now it s cuddling and growing up time. Julie says Frankie s name comes from a nickname his breeder had for him. He was the biggest in his litter, so she was calling him Frank the Tank. We thought well, that s kind of cute. But, Julie adds, her Italian-born in-laws seem to prefer Franco. That s cute, too.

3 OCTOBER 2017 Page 3 THE FIRST-TIME BUYER S DOG HOUSE Man s best friend is quickly becoming man s favorite roommate. Contributing writer Liz Donovan shared the following article for the AKC s August newsletter. Millennials, as it turns out, do want a home of their own if only so their dogs are more comfortable. In spite of reports that Generation Y is avoiding purchasing homes (and even an accusation that they spend too much money on avocado toast to afford one), a report by CNN Money showed millennials were the largest group of homebuyers in But don t expect them to be walking down the aisle any faster. A recent survey conducted by Harris Poll found that 33 percent of millennials say having better space or a yard for their dog motivated the purchase of their first home. Marriage was the driving force behind 25 percent of homebuyers that age, and having a child was named by only 19 percent. The generation born between 1980 and 1996 has often bucked tradition in both their work and personal lives, preferring careers as entrepreneurs rather than with traditional corporations (67 percent, a 2014 poll showed) and delaying marriage and kids. A Gallup poll in 2016 showed that 59 percent of millennials have not yet married, compared to 36 percent of Generation Xers and 48 percent of baby boomers of the same age. But they sure do love their dogs. In 2015, the American Pet Products Association found that young Americans were more likely than baby boomers to make purchases (like toys, gifts, and care items) and take their pets to the vet more often. And this year, the APPA found that millennials surpassed baby boomers in pet ownership for the first time.

4 OCTOBER 2017 Page 4 AGILITY FROM A JUDGE S EYE (Continued from page 1) If they are wondering why they got a certain score, they re always welcome to ask. In most cases the judge won t change the score because they re confident with their calls. When I m judging a competition, I set my courses so that they are fair for all dogs, large or small. The big dogs are a lot faster on straight-aways. The smaller dogs are better in the tighter turns. One of the most memorable things I ve seen on an agility course, a lady had gone out and it was a very high competition her dog missed about every contact, knocked several bars, went off course, and at the end, the lady picked up her dog and kissed it. She couldn t really care less what exactly happened on that course! REMEMBERING...JENNA If this little sprite looks familiar, it s because she is almost a look-alike of her special sister, Jenna, who was Diane Lauer s wonderful companion until she crossed the Rainbow Bridge in July. Jenna was a rescue who became an agility champion and therapy dog visiting patients at Rush Hospital for years. People thought Jenna looked like a Finnish Lapphund, so that s the breed Diane looked for and found in Alabama. Miss Maggie is her name, and she s already learning the ropes of crate time at trials.

5 OCTOBER 2017 Page 5 REMEMBERING..JASMINE April 15, 2013 June 11, 2017 By Linda McDonald Jasmine was born April 15, The breeders had a web cam on the whelping box/puppy pen so I could watch the puppies anytime I wanted. I didn t know which puppy I would be getting because the breeder matched the puppies to the owners. Pink collar (Jasmine) was always the troublemaker! She continued with that distinction well into adulthood. The neighbor who watched her for three weeks nicknamed her The Jasmanian Devil. (Her son had a sleepover and she had made 20 pancakes and two pounds of bacon. She left it on the counter for the boys when they got downstairs. Mistake! Jasmine had a good breakfast that day!) As a puppy, Jasmine was diagnosed with HOD (Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy). It is a disease that affects the front limbs of large breed puppies. The cause is not fully understood but may be a hyper reactive response to vaccination. As a puppy her activity was supposed to be restricted no running freely or jumping. (Yeahright!) After the bones matured and with special, reduced vaccinations, she did fine. Jasmine started obedience as a puppy got her CGC/TDI when she was two. When Jasmine was three she got her beginners and novice obedience CD. She had five first places and one third place. I had always been interested in agility but had never done it. Jasmine would be my first. I was not as good at agility training as I was at obedience. I think Jasmine would have been a star at agility if she had a trainer who knew what she was doing. The main thing was having fun, and I think she enjoyed it. While visiting a friend s house, Jasmine got into some rat poison. They said it was pet friendly. Ten days later I found out that there is no such thing as pet friendly rat poison. If it can kill a mouse, it can kill a dog. I was and still am devastated! At four years old she was just starting to come into her own, and I was getting a little better at agility.

6 OCTOBER 2017 Page 6 AKC RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNER PET PROMISE As a dog owner, I promise: I will never overlook my responsibilities for this living being and recognize that my dog s welfare is totally dependent on me. I will always provide fresh water and quality food for my dog. I will socialize my dog via exposure to new people, places and other dogs. I will take pride in my dog s appearance with regular grooming. I will recognize the necessity of basic training by teaching my dog to reliably sit, stay and come when called. I will take my dog to the vet regularly and keep all vaccinations current. I will pick-up and properly dispose of my dog s waste. I will make sure my dog is regarded as an AKC Canine Good Citizen by being aware of my responsibilities to my neighbors and to the community. I will ensure that the proper amount of exercise and mental stimulation appropriate for my dog s age, breed and energy level is provided. I will ensure that my dog has some form of identification (which may include collar tags, tattoo or microchip ID). I will adhere to local leash laws. To officially sign the Pet Promise visit

7 OCTOBER 2017 PAGE 7 EARN A CGC FOR INSURANCE SAKE Don t think earning a Canine Good Citizenship title from AKC is just a nice added feather in your dog s achievement cap. It can save you money. According to Realtor.com, passing the CGC test is becoming a way for homeowners to get around cases of insurance carriers and homeowners associations banning certain dog breeds. Many insurance agents will accept certificates from AKC s Canine Good Citizenship program and other dog training programs, said Loretta Worters, vice president of communications for the Insurance Information Institute. Mary R. Burch, the AKC s director of the CGC program, says some rental buildings across the country won t allow any dog unless it has earned the title. Insurance companies tell us that CGC training is as much of a screening tool for owners as it is for dogs, Burch said. When someone takes the time to attend training classes, train the dog and take a test, this is usually someone who cares about that dog and will behave responsibly to protect it.

8

9 OCTOBER 2017 PAGE 9 WHEN LIFE SHOULDN T BE A BOWL OF CHERRIES Pick your favorite seasonal fruit. Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries in the spring and summer; pears and melons in the summer; apples and oranges in the fall and winter. Most of them are fine to share with your dog. Then there are the late summer/fall crops of cherries. They aren t necessarily the best choice to share. Just like you wouldn t share a whole peach and its stone a whole cherry, namely the pit, is a danger. Cherry pits, along with stems and leaves, contain cyanide, a poisonous and potentially lethal toxin if it were consumed in a high quantity. Pits also pose the danger of lodging in a dog s digestive track and causing an intestinal blockage. Are maraschino cherries, which have been pitted, safe? Not really, since the sugar content is high. Vets say not to panic if your dog eats a single cherry, but watch for signs of trouble, including vomiting, decreased appetite, constipation and decreased fecal production. If your dog gets into multiple cherries, the danger of cyanide poisoning increases. Labored breathing, bright red gums and dilated pupils are signals to get your dog to the vet quickly. Remember that grapes and raisins also are among the toxic fruits for pets, potentially causing severe kidney damage that can lead to kidney failure. WEBSITE WATCH Mypoochface.com If you d like a custom portrait of your pup [crafted from a photo], here s a site to try. An added benefit 10 percent of each sale goes to help animal rescue and shelter programs. Free-ebooks.50webs.com This site has a free ebook download on First Aid and Emergency Care for Cats and Dogs. Pawchamps.com This is the answer to the selfie stick, but for your dog. It s a flexible arm to attach to a cell phone with an extra clip to hold a dog treat or toy, getting your dog to stare perfectly for a portrait.

10 Class Schedule and Upcoming Events THURSDAY EVENING INDOOR CLASSES (Held at For Your K9, 1975 Cornell Ave., Melrose Park) Session I: January 5 through Feb. 16 Session II: March 2 through April 13 Session III: April 27 through June 8 Session IV: June 22 through Aug. 3 Session V: Aug. 17 through Sept. 28 Session VI: Oct. 12 through Nov. 30 [No class on Thanksgiving, Nov. 23, 2017] In the event a class is canceled due to weather or other circumstances, there will be no make-up class. Members will be notified by . Class Times: Beginner 6:45 to 7:30 P.M.; Intermediate 7:45 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.; Advanced 8:45 P.M. to 9:30 P.M. (flexible) WCAC BOARD MEETINGS Meetings are at For Your K9 Inc. usually on the second Friday of each month. Members are always welcome. Quiet and well behaved dogs are also welcome. For more information, call Ask any Board member (names are on the cover page), or visit our website at Windy City Agility Club reserves the right to cancel classes, trials, meetings and events or change dates, times or location without notice. Club members may request copies of WCAC board meeting minutes from the board secretary. Windy City Agility Club c/o Toni Ginnetti 207 N. Greenwood Ave. Park Ridge, IL INSIDE THIS ISSUE: AGILITY FROM THE JUDGE S EYE BRAGS AND WAGS THE FAMILY DOG HOUSE REMEMBERING JASMINE AND JENNA PET PROMISE THE CGC INSURANCE PLAN HAPPY HALLOWEEN NO BOWL OF CHERRIES