Knox Obedience Dog Club Newsletter. February 2013

Transcription

1 Knox Obedience Dog Club Newsletter February 2013 KNOX OBEDIENCE DOG CLUB INC (Affiliated with the Victorian Canine Association Inc.) Knox Park, Cnr. Ferntree Gully & Scoresby Roads, Knoxfield, Vic 3180 PO Box 1093, Mountain Gate, Vic 3156 Telephone (03) KODC Magazine - February 2013 Page 1 of 20

2 Knox Obedience Dog Club Inc COMMITTEE Vicki Reid Margaretha Hovens Henk Morren Vacant Trevor May Committee President Vice President, Kitchen Manager Vice President Secretary Treasurer, Trial Manager Ray Harrison Operations Manager (Ground & Property) Patricia Roberts (David Thorn*) Supervisor of Training, Trophies Debra Cartledge Membership Secretary Bianca Delahoy Trial Coordinator Kane Wheeler (Wendy Hansen*) Trial Secretary (Agility) John Nielsen Trial Secretary (Obedience) Nola Williams Trial Reporter Kiara O Gorman Social Coordinator Alois Schnider Catering Luke Kenny (Chris Devlin*) Publicity Manager Vacant Dog Shop Manager Vacant Refreshments Manager * Non Committee members Life Members 1975 Mr. E. Hendrickson 2000 Mr. G. Buck 2006 Mr. B. Heinley Mrs. E. Hendrickson Mr. H. Morren 2007 Mr. D. James 1976 Mr. H. Hasselback Mr. N. Hamill Mr. R. Letson Mrs. E. Hasselback Mr. R. James Mr. T. May 1979 Mr. S. Maslen 2002 Mr. I. Nicholl Ms. S. McLeod Mrs. L. Maslen Mrs. P. Roberts 2009 Mr. M. Flanders 1980 Mr. C. Uren Mrs. B. Williams Mr. K. Rankin Mrs. D. Uren 2003 Ms. M. Hovens Mrs. L. Kowalski 1983 Mr. R. May 2004 Mr. G. Parsons 2011 Ms. V. Reid Mrs. U. May 2005 Mr. B. Thompson 2012 Ms. M. McKenzie 1996 Mr. G. Roberts Ms. S. Timperley Instructors am am Baby Puppy Megan, Pat Class 2 Mark, Cat Beginners Chris, Kristy Class 3 John, Bert Advanced Puppy Henk Class 4 Chris, Ray, Andrew Class 1 Bob, Bert, Ray Agility Instructors Obedience Ring Work Tracking Instructor Trainee Instructors Ross, Wendy, Pauline, Catherine, Norman Trevor, Marta, Clive, Tim, Gordon Trevor KODC Magazine - February 2013 Page 2 of 20

3 EDITORS REPORT It s the first day back for Members and Instructors, and it s good to see some new faces on our new 2013 Committee. Already this year, the club has been busy with a Working Bee and Members Sign Up Day on the 20 th Jan. Potential new members queued up early, and tried to stay out of the way as cobwebs were cleaned and leaves were thrown from gutters! Apparently now, our gutters are so clean you could eat your dinner out of them!! Many thanks to members, instructors and committee who turned out to help! We have Dr Bruce Syme from Vets All Natural giving a talk on natural nutrition on Sunday 10th Feb. This talk is open to the public, so tell your friends, and get them to visit with their dogs, and maybe grab a couple of freebies!! The Dog Shop is kicking off to a great start with new collars and matching leads.. and wait till you see the new Treat Grinz Balls! I m so gunna grab one for Toby!! The club Facebook page was awoof with activity over the Christmas break, with links to some informative training articles and videos, Member questions asked and answered, and some great photos posted of the 1996 KODC demo team, with many of the team still current members!! If you want to be the first to know what s going on, the KODC Facebook page is the place to be. Until next time.. Chris HELP NEEDED Any members, who can assist with helping out our club at the Eastern Regional Pet Expo, please contact Marg, in the KODC Kitchen. We will need help with setting up equipment (Agility and Rally), help with the kitchen and BBQ, and help packing up once the day is over. Articles appearing in this magazine are considered to be of interest to the members, but do not necessarily express the opinions of the Committee or of the Editor. Legal note: The Editor and the Committee of the KODC accept no responsibility for the accuracy of claims made by advertisers in this magazine KODC Magazine - February 2013 Page 3 of 20

4 GUEST SPEAKER SUNDAY, 10 th FEB 2013 DR BRUCE SYME VETS ALL NATURAL NATURAL NUTRITIONAL ADVICE Dr Bruce Syme, founder of Vets All Natural and an Australian leader in natural veterinary care, is providing free natural nutritional advice and vet checks on Sunday 10th Feb 2013 at Knox Obedience Dog Club. 2 Presentations for 15 minutes each will be given at 9.45am and 10.45am. Vets All Natural will be giving away free, Dr Bruce s high quality naturally balanced Dog and Cat rolls for pets to try and giving a brief presentation about feeding dogs and cats naturally for improved health and longevity. For more information: Phone: Web: KODC Magazine - February 2013 Page 4 of 20

5 NEW IN THE KODC DOG SHOP ROGZ COLLARS AND MATCHING LEADS DARREN FLEMING Domestic & Commercial Maintenance & Repairs Roofing Blocked Drains Renovations PLUMBING General plumbing Hot water service Guttering Taps & Toilets Call KODC Magazine - February 2013 Page 5 of 20

6 Knox Obedience Dog Club Inc. KODC AWARDS 2012 Highest Achiever Award For the Highest Achiever, Registered/Associate, Dog/Bitch trained at Knox. Donated By Hurtle Lupton OAM JP. Perpetual Trophies Margaretha Hovens Hasselbach Award Awarded to the member with the highest score obtained at the KODC Obedience Trial in the current trialling year. Urs Rhyn Killara Volcanic Lava AZ CCD TDX KODC Highest Scoring Dog or Bitch Awarded to the Obedience Dog or Bitch with the highest combined total of all scores that contributed to a single title. Margaret Brooks Khayoz Seventh Heaven CD KODC Agility Dog/Bitch of the year Awarded to the Dog or Bitch with the greatest number of Agility, Jumping & Games passes obtained throughout the current trialling year. Bianca Delahoy Hollybrit Dark Desire AND JD KODC Magazine - February 2013 Page 6 of 20

7 WORKING BEE 20 th JAN 2013 KODC Magazine - February 2013 Page 7 of 20

8 2012 PRESENTATIONS KODC Magazine - February 2013 Page 8 of 20

9 2012 PRESENTATIONS KODC Magazine - February 2013 Page 9 of 20

10 TUESDAY NIGHT TRAINING 7PM Tuesday night training has now started up again. Come along, experiment with new training ideas, have a go at stuff you haven t done before, mix up the classes, and generally have some fun. Three easy steps to follow; Visit The Good Guys Bayswater and make any purchase greater than $25 Mention the club before making your payment Receive Bayswater Bucks vouchers to be returned to the club PET PORTRAITS From your photographs Barbara Jones Barbaraannjones19@yahoo.com (03) Special discounts for Dog club members (See me at the club on Sundays, with my Rough Collie) YELLOW BANDANAS The Knox Obedience Dog Club has available Yellow Bandanas to identify dogs that may need a bit of space around them. The reason for needing one could be: Nervousness Recovery from an operation (i.e.: convalescing) Unsociable to people or other dogs When approaching a yellow bandana dog please make sure your dog doesn t go running up to it freely, just as the handler of the yellow bandana dog should be mindful of the space around their dog at all times. So if you feel your dog needs to be given their own space, then go to the office and obtain a bandana for the day. Please return them when you have finished, so that other dogs can have their turn. KODC Magazine - February 2013 Page 10 of 20

11 BOOK OF THE MONTH Trials Without Tribulations Understanding and mastering the unique challenges of competing with your dog. Whatever your sport, this is the book you've been waiting for. You've bought all the right toys and trained to perfection. You ve read all the books and watched all the videos. You ve closed the blinds and practiced your handling moves. You ve honed your mental management routine and set goals that are reasonable and reachable. You tell yourself and everyone else that you re in it to have fun with your dog. And yet toss competition into the mix, and it s a whole new game. Ever wonder why? Or how to get that "perfect at home" performance in the trial ring? Practical, comprehensive and often just a little bit irreverent, Trials without Tribulations is a book you'll refer back to over and over. Full of advice applicable to any and all of the many sports in which people compete with dogs, this book will alert you to pressures you may not even be aware of and suggest ways to deal with them that both build on your relationship and hone your performance. No matter how close your bond, having an animal as a teammate presents a unique set of challenges, and the more you know about them, the better equipped you'll be to handle them in a way that enhances rather than strains your relationship. One part training, one part handling, one part mental game and a whole lot of evidence from a variety of fields, Trials without Tribulations will increase your awareness of all of the complications competing adds to your relationship with your dog. To the extent that performance is dependent on a solid and mutually rewarding relationship, increasing your understanding of the special pressures inherent in competition will help you to master them and improve outcomes accordingly -- whether those outcomes are measured in ribbons and Qs or the unbridled joy of perfect teamwork. Author: Kathryn Harvey Format: E-Book Published: December 2012 download from Knox Obedience Dog Club Facebook Group Come and join the KODC Facebook Group. Celebrate your pass-ups or post photos of your dog in training. Keep up to date on the latest happenings - Be the first to know!! KODC Magazine - February 2013 Page 11 of 20

12 2012 XMAS PARTY KODC Magazine - February 2013 Page 12 of 20

13 2012 XMAS PARTY MB Illustrations True to life animal portraits in pencil or pastel. For more information go to mb-illustrations.com or call Monika on Do you have an article or information that you would like to contribute to next month s newsletter? If so, please give it to a Committee member or it to; chrisd1@netspace.net.au or lckenny@bigpond.net.au KODC Magazine - February 2013 Page 13 of 20

14 Mastering the recall It is my belief that a good recall is one of the most important things a dog can have. It is relatively easy to teach yet continues to evade a lot of dog owners. If you are not happy with the consistency of your dog s recall then hopefully the pointers below will be of some help. Just to clarify, when I refer to recall I am referring to a dog running free and returning to its owner s vicinity, so that if necessary it can be placed under physical restraint. I am not referring to the competition style formal obedience recall. I have never had any problems with my dogs confusing the two as I use different cues. The basic principle that I work off is that when I am out and about with my dogs they should always be waiting for the moment when I ask for a recall. I have worked to develop this response using classical conditioning, as famously demonstrated in Pavlov s experiments with dogs. Basically one stimulus (the cue for the recall) leads to another (a reward). To do this, start off by priming the cue. In a quiet environment, give the cue (I use their name as this is not something that can be used in formal obedience) then immediately give the reward. Repeat this many times until your dog starts looking expectantly at you for the reward upon hearing the cue. Eventually, and very slowly build up distance to the point where your dog is turning around and coming to you to receive the reward. The dogs opinion of the cue should not be I have to go back to my owner now it should instead be something fantastic is happening at my owner and I need to get there quickly or I will miss out. Very slowly add distractions and new locations. If the dog doesn t come then go back a step (you have gone too fast too quickly). Some pointers and things to be aware of: Dogs don t generalise very well. If you have spent all your time practicing in your living room and suddenly go to the park your dog may well not have clue what you are on about as it has associated the behaviour with the living room. When you move to a new location, start from the beginning. You will be able to move through quicker at each new location as your dog learns that the cue/reward sequence applies everywhere (not just at home and at dog club). Don t ever give the cue if you don t think the dog will respond. This is very important. If your outcome is for your dog to respond the first time every time, then don t practice calling them whilst they are running away after something more exciting. Until they are recalling reliably you need to find another way to manage the situation take them somewhere fully enclosed and safe, or run them on a long-line if you need too. I have found that some people get a bit cranky if your exuberant puppy is running up to them and you don t appear to be trying to stop them. In that situation I used to yell out meaningless words so not to confuse my dog by giving the cue when his response was to run the other way. KODC Magazine - February 2013 Page 14 of 20

15 As you move to more challenging environments the value of reward needs to be increased. To get the dog always waiting for a recall cue they have to expect that the reward will trump the environment. If I give a couple of boring plain old dog treats in a row then typically my dogs start either coming in slower or having a final sniff or two before heading my way. At the moment I am using slightly old camembert cheese and they are twisting themselves around mid-stride in their hurry to get back to me. Typically, I chuck a variety of things in my bait bag, usually something special (e.g. tasty human left overs), something good (plain cheese or devon) and several dog treats (schmakos) and some dry kibble. I also usually carry a tennis ball and a tug toy for a quick game if I need to call them then distract them from something. Then it s just a lucky dip, sometimes they get an awesome treat and sometimes it s mediocre. If they do a hard recall off something exciting then I make sure they get the special treats. Thresholds. I have discovered with my dogs that there are certain situations where they just shut down. My older girl, (typically little miss perfect) will put all of her focus onto someone about to throw a ball. It is simply not possible to get her attention at that point and I either have to wait it out or go and get her. The ball carries more value to her than any other reward, so these days I typically wait it out and she will now recall from chasing the other persons ball to chasing one that I have instead thrown for her. My adolescent males thresholds are more about his distance from me. Once he is beyond a certain distance the reliability of his recall drops. I have also noticed that I have to catch him before he takes off after another dog. Once he has decided to run his recall is a bit hit and miss. Don t call your dog, only to put the lead on and end the fun. Whilst this will have to happen fairly frequently you need to balance it in the other direction by doing plenty of recalls and immediate releases. Throw in the occasional collar grab and put the lead on then immediately release again. Doing this frequently enough will make sure your dog is always guessing and if you balance it right then it pays for them to take the gamble and come back. KODC Magazine - February 2013 Page 15 of 20

16 So what do you do if you give your cue and your dog doesn t come back? This happens fairly frequently as you test the strength of their recall. The make or break is how you deal with it. First you need to consider why your dog did not come back. Was it the environment (another dog, a scent, a toy) or did the dog not understand what the cue means (in a new location perhaps)? Figuring out what went wrong will help to prevent it happening again. When my dogs don t come immediately I typically go and get them and put them on lead. I never make a fuss of it and allow them the length of the lead to sniff so long as it doesn t interfere with what I am doing (I don t want my dogs to associate me going and getting them and putting them on lead as a bad thing or they might start avoiding letting me catch them). My rule is that off lead privileges are for dogs that can recall. After a minute or two I give them an opportunity to earn off lead. They get a recall from the end of the lead, then once off lead, an immediate recall from a few meters away, and again once they have got a bit more distance between us. The big key is to practice a lot in lots of different locations and under all reasonable distractions. Throw in the occasional hard recall every now and again but make sure that your dog is succeeding most of the time. Put a special emphasis on practicing under the circumstances that your dog is not so good at, always remembering to take it back a step if you fail. Remember to never ever tell off your dog when it comes to you regardless of the circumstances or you will undo all your good work. If you are interested in learning more there are a few links I recommend you follow Written By: Kiara O Gorman KODC Committee Member Photo Credits: Brandy, Max, Mason, Nelson, Bree KODC Magazine - February 2013 Page 16 of 20

17 EASTERN REGIONAL PET EXPO Knox Council will hold its annual Eastern Regional Pet Expo on Sunday 7 April 2013 at Knox Park Reserve on Ferntree Gully Road, Knoxfield. The aim of the Expo is to promote businesses, organisations and clubs at one event, incorporating all types of animals as pets, with the theme being "Responsible Pet Ownership". Craig "Huggy" Huggins from Gold 104FM will host the event letting everyone know what will be on stage and when. Come speak with the experts Visitors can speak with local vets, dog trainers, breeders, animal welfare groups, groomers and lots more. There will be a wealth of knowledge and information available to all, visitors can find out which pet best suits their lifestyle, and what is needed to keep them a happy and contented pet. Competitions We will have a number of competitions for visitors and their pets to participate in on the day. They are; Fashions on the field with two categories - Best Dressed Pet - Pet and Owner Lookalike Fastest Fetch Easter Egg and Spoon Race Best Tennis Ball Retrieve small, medium and large dog categories Most Impressive Trick Bring your pets along for a chance to win some great prizes! What else will be on? Dog Training Demonstrations; Reptile, creepy crawly and native animal display including a crocodile; Wrangler Jayne with her horse Arriba; Lure coursing; Working dog demonstrations; Pony Rides; Animal Nursery; Announcement of the Responsible Pet Ownership Competition major winners. We will also have discounted microchipping available on the day. $25 per animal and bookings are essential. Phone or go on line to register at National Pet Register. KODC Magazine - February 2013 Page 17 of 20

18 CLUB RULES 1. NO bitches in season permitted on or near the training ground 2. NO dog allowed on the ground without a lead, unless under the supervision of an Instructor. 3. NO children other than child handlers permitted on the training ground. 4. Dogs not to be left unattended, tied to a car or in the vicinity of the clubhouse or left in the care of small children. 5. Dog droppings must be cleaned up IMMEDIATELY. 6. A dog that has bitten or, in the opinion of the training panel, shows an extreme tendency of unprovoked aggression towards people and/or dogs, MUST be muzzled. Members have the right of appeal against muzzling if it can be proved, beyond doubt, that the dog was provoked. Removal of a muzzle will be decided by the committee, at the recommendation of the Training Panel. 7. No SMOKING in class or the Clubhouse. 8. NO hitting a dog except when trying to prevent a fight or prevent a dog biting a person. 9. Handlers must be a FINANCIAL MEMBER of the club to attend training and use the club facilities. 10. All members must wear their current membership card when attending training. 11. Dogs are allowed in the Clubhouse (excluding areas set aside for the preparation or serving of food), except on such days as committee considers inappropriate. No dogs are to be in the Office, except those belonging to Club members working there. 12. Any dog showing visible signs of any DISEASE or DISABILITY will be asked to leave training ground and seek veterinary advice. Knox Obedience Dog Club Membership Fees Juniors (10-16 years) Yearly Fee $20 + Joining Fee $25 = $45 Single Adult (17 years and over) Yearly Fee $40 + Joining Fee $25 = $65 Family (2 Adults, 2 Children years) Yearly Fee $60 + Joining Fee $25 = $85 Pensioner/Senior Yearly Fee $20 + Joining Fee $25 = $45 Dual Pensioner/Senior Yearly Fee $40 + Joining Fee $25 = $65 Note: Joining Fee is paid for the first year only, or if membership has not been renewed within 21 days of the due date. The financial year begins on the 1 st November and ends on the 31 st October REDUCED FEES APPLY for new memberships after mid year See Office Staff for details. Children under the age of 10 are not permitted to have control of a dog in any of the classes. KODC Magazine - February 2013 Page 18 of 20

19 TRAINING TIMES AND LOCATIONS Sunday Morning Training First Session am Classes 2, 3, 4 Second Session am Baby Puppy, Advanced Puppy, Beginners, Class 1 Agility and Obedience Trial Ring Work is available from 8.30am onwards Tuesday Night Training (during daylight savings only) All classes 7pm (depending on availability of instructors) KODC DOG SHOP Open every Sunday Morning - situated in the KODC Clubhouse For all your dog training needs Quality Equipment at reasonable prices Collars, Dumbbells, Leads, Collars, Dog Coats, Dog Beds, Club Badges, Title Badges and much more! Club T-Shirts & Caps and Windcheaters are now available at the Dog Shop KODC Magazine - February 2013 Page 19 of 20

20 KODC Training Calendar 2013 Month Day Club Activity FEB 2013 Sunday 3 Normal Training Tuesday 5 Twilight Training Sunday 10 Normal Training GUEST SPEAKER - VETS ALL NATURAL Tuesday 12 Twilight Training Sunday 17 Normal Training - Class Testing (Class 2) Tuesday 19 Twilight Training Sunday 24 Normal Training - Class Testing (Puppies, Beginners, Class 1, Class 3) Tuesday 26 Twilight Training MARCH 2013 Sunday 3 Normal Training Tuesday 5 Twilight Training Sunday 10 LONG WEEKEND (No Training) Tuesday 12 Twilight Training Sunday 17 Normal Training - Class Testing (Class 2) Tuesday 19 Twilight Training Sunday 24 Normal Training - Class Testing (Puppies, Beginners, Class 1, Class 3) Tuesday 26 Twilight Training Sunday 31 EASTER (No Training) APRIL 2013 Sunday 7 EASTERN REGIONAL PET EXPO (Training at adjusted times) Sunday 14 Normal Training Sunday 21 Normal Training - Class Testing (Class 2) Sunday 28 Normal Training - Class Testing (Puppies, Beginners, Class 1, Class 3) KODC Magazine - February 2013 Page 20 of 20