March April 2012 THE MAGAZINE OF THE CANINE OBEDIENCE CLUB OF TOWNSVILLE COMPANION DOG MAGAZINE

Transcription

1 March April 2012 THE MAGAZINE OF THE CANINE OBEDIENCE CLUB OF TOWNSVILLE COMPANION DOG MAGAZINE

2 Celebrating 40 Years of Obedience Training in 2011 Contents Office Bearers and Committee Members... 1 President s Report... 2 Registration or Membership?... 3 Just Briefly... 4 Rally-O is Here!!... 6 Basic Obedience Tips... 8 Endurance Test What you should Know & Training... 9 Tracking What s On Happy Easter Council Powers go to the Dogs Dog Horoscope The Aries Dog February 2012 Upgradings COCT 2012 Trial Calendar i

3 Celebrating 40 Years of Obedience Training in 2011 OFFICE BEARERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS PO Box 991, Aitkenvale QLd 4814 Heatley Park, Fulham Road, Heatley Patrons: Ewan Jones MP Herbert and Counselor Dale Last OFFICE BEARERS * President Judy Forbes-Faulkner judyforf@bigpond.net.au * Vice-President Noel McPherson noelmcp@bigpond.com * Secretary Wendy Purdie reception@twinemachinery.com.au * Treasurer Renate Linder bshounds@bigpond.com Asst. Treasurer Louise Ashworth northanbrave@bigpond.com Trial Secretary Louise Ashworth northanbrave@bigpond.com Asst. Trial Secretary Carolyn Lynn carolyn.lynn@westnet.com.au Training Coordinator Noel McPherson noelmcp@bigpond.com Training Coordinator Asst Judy Forbes-Faulkner judyforf@bigpond.net.au Magazine Editor Diane MacIntyre dandr11@aapt.net.au Catering Officer Vacant Trophy Officer Diane MacIntyre dandr11@aapt.net.au Records Officer Judy Forbes-Faulkner judyforf@bigpond.net.au Tracking Coordinator Mal Holland demal4@bigpond.net.au Asst Tracking Coordinator Janette Cussons jcussons2@bigpond.com Publicity & Demo Officer Diane MacIntyre dandr11@aapt.net.au Flyball Coordinator Rick Slack Smith rickss@australis.net Property Officer Asst Property Officer Vacant Vacant Executive Committee Members Janette Cussons jcussons2@bigpond.com Mal Holland demal4@bigpond.net.au Pat Cecil ovalanda@bigpond.com Rick Slack-Smith rickss@australis.net Leisa Cassidy Plus positions above marked with an * COCT INC LIFE MEMBERS Mrs. D. Dobson Mrs. A. Tunstal Mr. E. Morris Mrs. C. Woodward Mr. P. Litster Mr. D.R. Greenwood (active) Mrs. A. Annesley (active) Mrs C O`Shea Mr Mal Holland (active) Miss A. Dobson 1 yarts@westnet.com.au Dr. R. Taylor (deceased) Mrs. V. Litster Mr. B. Woodward Mrs. E.K. Greenwood Mrs. H. Taylor Mrs. S.M. Fielder (active) Ms D MacIntyre (active) Ms Judy Forbes-Faulkner (active) Ms Renate Linder (active) The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the editor or committee members of the COCT Inc. All Office bearers, committee members and instructors of the Canine Obedience Club of Townsville Inc. are unpaid volunteers who give freely of their time in an effort to help you to train and trial your dogs. General monthly meetings held first Monday of the month February to December at 7.30pm Annual General Meeting held first Monday in August Executive Committee meetings held as called by Secretary Club Web Site:

4 Celebrating 40 Years of Obedience Training in 2011 Presidents Report Well despite all the predictions we have had a very successful start to our training year with full classes for both February and now March intakes. It is great to see so many enthusiastic dog handlers and dogs, especially the young handlers. I would like to take this opportunity to wish Shari all the best with her move to Cairns. For those of you that may not know Shari Gallagher is one of our hard working instructors and has also competed with her whippet Cheeky. Shari will be sorely missed as both an instructor and club member, but she has informed us that she will still be attending our trials so we hope to see her frequently throughout the year. On a brighter note I would like to welcome Glenda Bannan a new trainee instructor, please make Glenda welcome in her new role. The trialling season is almost upon us commencing with a Track and Search competition on Friday March 30 th and then 2 days of tracking competitions on March 31 st and April 1 st at Alice River. The club is always looking for helpers for these competitions so if you are interested in finding out about teaching your dog to find lost people in the bush why not come along and join us. Competitors will be meeting at the junction of Herveys Range Road and Black River Road at 6 pm on both March 31 st and April 1 st (I know it is early but dogs track best when it is cool and the early morning dew is still around). I would also like to thank Mal Holland and David Horsley for running an excellent track laying workshop for our trainee judges and interested handlers, we certainly learnt a lot about the area we use for tracking and some of the pitfalls of track laying (not to mention the large holes and gullies!!). The tracking weekend will be followed by the Easter weekend and our first Rally O competition on Friday April 6 th. This is a new competition form of obedience and great fun for dogs and handlers as handlers are allowed to talk to and praise their dogs while negotiating a series of obedience exercises. The evening will also include the usual formal obedience competition so come along and see what you can achieve training your dog, remember we all started in class 1. The following day Saturday April 7 th (Easter Saturday) we will be having agility and jumpers in the afternoon followed by obedience and the further agility and jumpers. All club handlers are welcome to come along and watch the fun and games or you are welcome to come and help out with the various activities. We are always looking for helpers to set up equipment, steward the various events, assist with the catering or just generally help out. If you volunteer you will be placed with an experienced club member who can show you the ropes so see Louise at the desk any Tuesday evening or just come along and give us a hand. Finally I would like to wish you all happy training and trialling for Judy Forbes-Faulkner President COCT Inc. Notable Dogs SNOWY, in the adventures of Tin Tin CLIFFORD, the Big Red Dog DINO, in The Flintstones HUCKLEBERRY HOUND, A Hanna-Barbera cartoon character - 2 -

5 Celebrating 40 Years of Obedience Training in 2011 REGISTERED HANDLER OR CLUB MEMBERSHIP?? When you sign up for obedience lessons you have the choice of joining the club as a Registered Handler or Club Member. Most handlers will choose to join as a Registered Handler which allows you to attend classes each week and participate in any external Club activities ie RSPCA s Million Paws Walk or Dogs on Riverway. However, if you wish to become more involved in the Club by taking on an Office Bearer or Instructor position, or participate in competitions, you will need to be a Club Member. There is no charge or timeframe to swap from Registered Handler to Club Member, so if you would like to do so please see the ladies at the clubhouse on Tuesday night. Registered Handler Pays Registered Handler Fee of $25 single or $30 family (2 or more dogs being handled by two or more family members) which is valid from 1 July to 30 June. Registrations paid in May and June will be valid for the following financial year. Attend training each $5.00 per week Attend our Monthly General Meetings held the first Monday of each month, but are not entitled to vote, submit or approve motions Receive s on upcoming club activities Participate in Club demonstrations eg RSPCA Million Paws Walk Membership Pays Registration Fee of $25 single or $30 family (2 or more dogs being handled by two or more family members) which is valid from 1 July to 30 June. Registrations paid in May and June will be valid for the following financial year. Attend training each $5.00 per week Receive s on upcoming club activities Participate in Club demonstrations eg RSPCA Million Paws Walk Attend our Monthly General Meetings held the first Monday of each month Receive notification via letter of Annual General Meeting Nominate for a Position as either Office Bearer or as part of the Executive Committee (see inside page of magazine for Positions). You need to be a financial member for a minimum of three months before nominating for a position. Eligible for Title and Perpetual Trophies if competing in trials. If you do not renew your Registration of Membership you can no longer attend training and your name will be removed from the Club s list. Don t make the mistake of treating your dogs like humans, or they ll treat you like dogs - 3 -

6 Celebrating 40 Years of Obedience Training in 2011 Just Briefly. Keep up tp date with the rules for Obedience, Rally-O, Agility, Endurance and Tracking as issued by the ANKC. They are free to download from their website Back issues of the magazine can be downloaded from our website Catch up on articles you may have missed on trials, behaviour, training and feature stories. Club T-Shirts are available from the Club Shoppe on Tuesday night. They are made from a durable cotton material, great for wearing to training, at trials to fly the Club s colours, and will last forever! Cost - $46. Also available at very reasonable prices are cloth webbing leads, martingale collars, treat bags and bags of treats. Thursday night training is a great opportunity to have one-on-one training with an experienced instructor. If you have a particular problem that you are having difficulties with, want to prepare for entry into a competition or simply want to take advantage of an extra night s training you are welcome to attend. Training commences around 6.30pm for about an hour, and after your session with the instructor can practice more on your own. It s free! Have you enjoyed your classes, love dogs, and would like to help others train theirs? The club has openings for several Trainee Instructors. You will be paired with an experienced instructor who will take you through week by week theory and practical on how to train handlers to train their dogs. All instructors are volunteers who started off just like you taking a dog through classes, graduating into Class 4, and then becoming interested in the training program. To find out more ask to talk to Noel, our Training Co-ordinator. The Club Library is open the first and fourth Tuesdays of each month. We have small but interesting range of books suitable for the beginner to the advanced handler, so come into the clubhouse and have a chat to our Librarian Sheila about what you can borrow. There are no fees, and books can be borrowed for a fortnight

7 Calling all Class 4 handlers!! Handlers who have graduated from Class 3 are welcome to continue their training in Class 4 from pm on Tuesday night. This Class is less structured than Classes 1-3, but can be used to start learning new obedience exercises like heel off lead, change of position, broad jump, and retrieving the dumb bell or just keep skills up to date. It is a great way to keep your dog active, socialised, and mentally stimulated. Feel free to let your Instructor know what you would like to learn on the night as classes are quite flexible. Hendra virus continues to be a concern among horse owners, and the recent development of a case recorded in a dog is worrying. Let us hope that a vaccine is soon found. For more info on this virus and dogs visit Flyball training is on the first and third Thursday from 7.30pm 8.30pm. Perfect for ball mad furkids and heaps of fun for all. For more info ask Renate or Judy at the Clubhouse on Tuesday nights. Cost : $5.00 per week If you missed Red Dog at the movies you can now pick up a copy on DVD. A brilliant Aussie movie not to be missed! - 5 -

8 RALLY-O IS HERE!! WHAT IS RALLY-O? Rally Obedience, or "Rally-O", was invented by Charles (Bud) Kramer of the USA and has spread to countries all around the world. Rally-O trials officially start this year in Australia and the first Trial for our club is scheduled for Friday 6 April at 7.00pm. Rally-O practice will be offered every second Tuesday night of the month from 8.00pm-9.00pm, so stick around after class and have a go. BUT if you wish to compete the dog needs to be at a standard where he can heel on a loose lead, sit automatically and stand/drop on command!! So make sure you practice not only in class but at home too, Great Introduction to Obedience Rally-O is a wonderful introduction to the sport of obedience for dogs and owners, an opportunity for veteran dogs to remain active, and a chance for shy or anti-social dogs to get ring experience without worrying about being examined by a judge. No marching around in silence Many dogs enjoy this change from the usual silent heeling of traditional obedience as their handlers can clap hands, talk, whistle (even sing!) to them throughout the entire course without penalty. Those who participate in agility trials will recognize the pre-class "walk-throughs" and the challenge of working with their dog partners in an almost dance-like flow from one station to another. Rally-O combines characteristics of sports car racing, dog agility, and traditional obedience into a new fun sport. Features of Rally-O each dog and handler, known as a team, is timed includes stations depending on the level of participation, and is scored by a judge who watches for a smooth performance as well as skill in following the directions at each station. Levels of difficulty: Novice with on-leash exercises that demonstrate the dog's understanding of basic commands such as sit, stay, down, and come and heel position; Advanced a set of exercises performed off-leash that includes at least one jump; and Excellent a more difficult off-leash course that includes at least one jump and demonstrates more precise skill and coordination between the dog and handler. What is the link with Agility Courses are designed by the judge and are different in every trial. Exhibitors receive a course map from the judge and can walk the course without their dogs prior to the start of the class. Judges design their courses by choosing from many exercises that are put together that direct handlers and dogs to perform specific exercises in a specific order. Signs describe what you must do A sign at each station gives instructions to the dog and handler. Each team must execute the station's particular task within two-to-four feet of the sign. Once the judge gives the command "forward," the dog and handler complete the course on their own without further commands from the judge

9 Handlers may not use treats or toys in the ring, but may do anything else to encourage their dogs at the novice and advanced levels except physically touch them or make corrections with the leash. Encouragement is allowed at the excellent level but handlers cannot pat their legs or clap their hands as they can in novice and advanced classes. Types of Signs Signs instruct teams to do, for example :- go fast or go slow, to halt (dog must sit at heel), to make turns and circles, to reverse direction, to do a sit-stay-recall, or to follow other basic obedience exercises. Scoring Each team has a starting score of 100 or 200 points, depending on the level. Points are deducted for such faults as missed or incompletely performed stations, touching the dog, leash corrections, etc. The dog has to heel on loose lead, sit automatically and drop & stand on command! Team are ranked from the highest to the lowest score (i.e., fewest number of faults wins first place) If two teams achieve the same score, the judge determines the placements according to the time recorded for each team's course completion. How do I get involved? The Club will hold Rally-O practice the second and fourth on Tuesday nights from 8.00pm- 9.00pm, PLUS second and fourth Thursday nights from 6.30pm. Everyone is welcome to stay and have a go. The cost is included in normal Tuesday night s fees and is FREE on Thursday. What do I do if I want to compete? All dogs regardless of breed can compete in obedience, agility, tracking and endurance, but you need to join Dogs Queensland (CCCQ). There is a combined joining fee plus annual fee to pay for either single or joint membership. PEDIGREE DOGS WITH PAPERS Download the Application Form for New Membership 2011 from for completion and mailing to CCCQ. CROSS BREEDS OR NON-PEDIGREE DOGS If you have a pedigree without papers or a cross-breed, you ll also need to download and complete the Associate Register Form scroll down to Registrations and select Associate Register (AR). Your dog must be desexed to go on the AR and a copy of this form must be attached to the New Membership Form and the AR Form. There is a catch though you can register one AR dog and then your second dog purchased later down the track must be a pedigree with papers, or register two AR dogs at the same time, and then your third dog purchased later on must be papered. But once all that is done and you receive your annual membership card you can compete in any trial in Australia and gain titles and even championships in these fields but the main thing is to enjoy being active with your dog

10 SUPER DOGS ARE MADE, NOT BORN For those who are considering purchasing a pup in the near future, have a read of this article. It gives week by week advice on what to do and what not to do in the vital first weeks of a pups life that can influence its behaviour into adulthood. Dogs with little human or other dog contact in their first three months typically don t make good pets, so this guide is invaluable for potential owners. Click on this link then drill down through Articles Index / All about Puppies / Super Dogs are Made, Not Born At 28 pages long the above article is too large to include in the mag, so please download your own copy to read. There are also other interesting articles on Housebreaking your Puppy; Kids, Puppies and Dominance; and Creating a Strong Bond with your Puppy. BASIC TRAINING TIPS Remember the four C s when training : Consistency ensure your hand signals and verbal commands are the same each time. Don t allow a crooked sit to go unchecked one time and then correct the next. All you are doing is sending mixed signals to the dog that he can sit however he wants some of the time but for some reason which he can t figure out you won t like it the next time and correct. This causes anxiousness and confusion. Confidence project confidence through your body language. Straight back, step off confidently, clear hand signals. Dogs have survived thousands of years by reading the body language of other animals, both prey and other pack members. Your nervousness and frustration travels through the lead which they can sense. This results in the dog becoming nervous, or will play up even more. Calm keep your voice low and level. There is no need to screech or yell at your dog, their hearing is much better than ours! Correction correct your dog when required. Corrections are never harsh or cruel, but are to show what is required. A correction can be a verbal Aah sound, or you could say Try again or even ignore. The circumstance and the dogs character will determine the type of correction. Always end any exercise on a positive note, never a negative one the dog will associate that exercise with unpleasantness. Other tips to keep in mind :- Know your dogs temperament. If he gets bored after too many repetitions change your training schedule to short bursts a few times a day. If he does a perfect straight sit or drop, reward with heaps of treats or a game and leave it at that. Practice while out on your daily walk by getting him to sit, stand or drop parallel to your left leg before crossing a road. Practice short stays on lead in parks or on the footpath. Do figure of 8 s around a couple of suitably spaced trees with sits, stands and drops. Food and toy rewards along with verbal praise and patting are vital. It is even more vital that once the dog understands what is required for a certain exercise that he is made to work for that food or toy reward. Raise the bar in your expectations of him. Never reward for sloppy work, ie a crooked sit or unsteady stay, otherwise that is all you will get and the only one to blame is yourself, not the dog. Did you know All dogs are identical in anatomy 321 bones and 42 permanent teeth It is a myth that dogs are colour blind. Dogs can actually see in colour but not as vividly as humans. It is similar to our vision at dusk. They do have better low-light vision than humans because of a special light-reflecting layer behind their retinas

11 WHAT TO KNOW WHEN ENTERING AN ENDURANCE TEST The purpose of the Test is to demonstrate the dog s ability to work, after being subject to a certain degree of physical strain without showing signs of undue stress. RULES Make yourself familiar with the rules for Endurance Test on the ANKC website EQUIPMENT Your dog is to wear a fixed collar or harness only. The leash is to be long enough for your dog to travel at a suitable pace with you. TRAIN YOUR DOG To run beside a bike on the left hand side. To run for 20k required physical fitness (consider feet conditioning/readiness) CAUTION : Be aware of your dog overheating. Never run your dog in summer. Wait until the weather cools and go out in the early morning or late afternoon. YOU CAN ONLY RUN WITH ONE DOG DOGS AGE MUST BE BETWEEN 2YO 8YO ON THE DATE OF THE TEST VET CHECK REQUIRED 2 WEEKS BEFORE TRIAL AND CHECK SHEET TO BE PRESENTED ON THE DAY OF THE TEST Information required from vet as recorded on Check Sheet: General fitness Temp Heart rate Foot condition Bitches must not be in whelp or season CONSISTS OF WILLINGNESS TEST to show the dog s willingness to work which consists of very basic healing and a recall that can be done on lead. THEN 3 LEGS of running with the dog at a pace of 10kmh 1 st leg 8km then 15min break 2 nd leg 6km then 20min break 3 rd leg 6km then 15min break THEN another brief willingness test as before to confirm the dog still willing to work VET CHECKS Done prior to commencing run and during each break in the running to ascertain the dog is coping with the test. The vet may deem the dog is to be withdrawn if not physically coping with the test requirements. DURING THE RUNNING You are given a running catalogue order and head off in single file. If your dog needs to poop during running you need to stop and pick up and then return to your allotted place in the running. It is up to you to catch up.so make sure you have given Fido every opportunity to go to the toilet before you start. If you get through the Test in the allotted time with your dog in good working order then Fido has qualified for an Endurance Title!!!!!! - 9 -

12 PREPARING FOR THE ENDURANCE TEST The article below was written by the Ipswich Dog Obedience club and published in the July 2001 Dog World magazine. The Ipswich Dog Obedience club conducted its fourth Endurance Test in June this year (2001). In the past three years we have had a good success rate with the dogs qualifying. Out of the 97 dogs that have competed, only three have failed. A number of dogs have been only just getting through and our highly qualified vets felt that some of these dogs could have been better prepared. Hence this article to allow those interested in competing sufficient time to get their dogs fit. The test is conducted on a variety of surfaces but the terrain is flat and not hard to ride a bike on. The object of the test is to determine the dog s ability to withstand a certain degree of physical strain without showing signs of undue stress or lack of constitution. Of course, many entrants being endurance working breeds should breeze through the 20 kms. Unfortunately, not many dogs are actually working. Therefore, much more time and effort needs to be put into training of our pampered pooches. The capability of the dog needs to be assessed to see if they can cope with the mental stress and strain. Most of the Show, Obedience and Agility dogs do little bitumen or road work. The steady conditioning of the dog s pads will need to be well monitored, as any soreness will be a setback. While the pads are being conditioned, the distance can be gradually built-up on other surfaces such as grass. I believe Interval Training varying the training between short fast runs and longer slower runs helps in the conditioning as well as aiding in alleviating boredom. As you increase the distance, you may need to increase the quantity of food the dog receives. Personally, I haven t dad to do that but it would depend on how fit your dog is to start with. Apart from the regular quality food already received, more bulk may be necessary to prevent an weight loss. Of course, there are some dogs that need to lose a little weight in the beginning so as not to put undue stress on body and legs. A quote taken from Maureen Shepherd: A lively dog is not always a fit dog. A healthy dog is not necessarily a fit dog. A thin dog is not a fit dog. A fit dog is one that has been conditioned to perform the allotted task within the animal s capabilities without losing condition (weight) and without showing stress, fatigue, soreness, lameness, cut, sore, or bruised pads, or any other physical malfunction. As dogs reach the required fitness level they will be extremely keen which is great when training alone, but when in the company of many other dogs they need to be very well controlled. Having a dog running with a handler on a bike, in front and behind you and your dog, can present another problem. Perhaps a few people can get together for a practice run. It is important when training that you don t push your dog too hard. Learn to read them well and understand that they may sometimes have an off-day. It is suggested that you check your dog s T.P.R s before and after a run i.e. Temperature, Pulse and Respiration. Of course, if you took your dog s temperature before a run and the temperature was up you would not run him. To get a resting reading, wait until your dog is rested and relaxed, take out your stopwatch and watch his respiration. Count and time it. Then take heart rate while trying not to disturb the dog greatly. Then take the temperature. Record this, as it gives you a basis to work from. After a run, the sooner your dog s T.P.R.s return to normal the fitter he is. Normal readings are: Temperature 38 o C 38.7 o C Pulse (large) beats per minute (small) beats per minute Respiration breaths per minute The first leg (8km) should take no more than 48 minutes, with the next two (6km) no more than 36 minutes each. This is actual running time not taking into account vet checks. It is very handy to teach your dog to empty out on command. If your dog empties out prior to the start and/or in the breaks there should be no need to stop along the way.

13 Don t forget to obtain a vet s certificate within 14 days of the event. A blank vet s certificate for each dog will be posted to you by the club at the close of entries. You are required to take it to your vet, along with your dog, and have it filled out by the vet. Bring this form along to vetting on the morning of the test. It is important that strangers can easily handle the dog as our timing is of the utmost importance and is another reason your dog should be used to having its temperature taken. We will be having vet nurses to carry out the main part of the vetting. There will be two or three qualified vets supervising and their decision will be final regarding the fitness or lack thereof of any dog. Artificial cooling of the dogs at the vet checks will not be permitted. That is: sponging your dog with water or pouring water over it to cool it down. If you have a long-haired or very thick-haired dog you might consider clipping all or part of the dog to enable it to cool sufficiently. We have experienced some dogs in the past struggling to lower their temperature in the required time and that was with artificial cooling. As most of the handlers will be riding bikes it would be very disappointing if your bike failed in some way and you had to withdraw. It is essential to have a few spare parts or a spare bike and someone to help you with your bike as well as your dog. It is acceptable to have a different handler for each leg of the run, providing they are financial members of the C.C.C. Enjoy your training! Remember..! We live in North Queensland and it is HOT and HUMID! NEVER run your dog in the heat of the day. While you do need at least four-six weeks to train your dog for the Endurance Test WAIT until the weather cools and only then take them out early morning or late afternoon. The local paper and TV news ran a story in February of a 14 month old staffordshire bullterrier dying from heat stress because its owner took it for a walk at 3.00pm in the afternoon up Castle Hill. No doubt the owner was huffing and puffing and sweating profusely but the poor dog, unable to sweat like humans can as an aid to cool the body, had no chance. It paid the ultimate price once its critical body temperature rose to 42.7C and its organs started to shut down, leading to death. Squashed faced breeds Staffy s, Pugs, Boxers, Bulldogs are especially susceptible to heat stress. Perhaps it is time that sellers of puppies and dogs are made to provide a basic health and safety fact sheet in a bid to educate dog owners so that incidences like this don t occur

14 TRACKING 2012 Again this year 2012 is shaping as an interesting year. We have a number of competitors looking at big things, namely Noel McPherson who has two Dally s sitting on a T5, Ingrid & Judy sitting on a tracking championship T7. In Track & Search Carolyn Lynn has her GSD ready to enter her first trial a TSD1 competition. Come the April trial we should have three starters in Track & Search with Rosemary from Rockhampton bringing two of her dogs for the trial. Rosemary will also judge normal tracking on the Saturday & Sunday along with myself. A late turn up of interested people in tracking has produced three people keen to get started. To this end I am currently running a number of workshops for the three interested people :- Diana Heaslip with an eight month old GSP, Randle Irvin with his eight month old Black Lab & Katrina Stonestreet with her new Rhodesian Ridgeback. Only one workshop has taken place to date with the second planned for Sunday the 11 th March No more starters please the programme is up & running and the three dogs are in training, we wish them well and who knows with a bit of effort from the would-be new competitors it is hopeful we can have them as starters in the May trial. With the possible retirement of David Horsley from judging for future tracking trials & Heidi Christoffel, who is a club member and tracking judge from Mackay also not being available for all trials throughout 2012, we are going to have to rely heavily on our two new Trainee Tracking Judges namely Noel McPherson and Carolyn Lynn as well as normal club members. A number of workshops for the trainee judges have already been run with at least one to two workshops per month up until September 2012 and July 2013 planned. Hopefully both trainees will be elevated at the end of the tracking year Again a lot of ground must be covered with workshops and training days and nights before then. Each trainee must steward all levels of tracks, set all levels of tracks, shadow judged all level of tracks, draw all level of tracks on mapping paper and keep a comprehensive log book for all tracking from T1 through T7. The log book is kept up to date by each trainee and all workshops and all participations in everything tracking must be recorded. Later this year as well as next year we will be inviting members to come to Alice River and put their dogs through some practice competition tracks for the trainee judges to shadow judge on. This is a great opportunity for members to get some quality training in on our tracking grounds. Members who may be interested should advise me by putting your names down. We can t use everybody but we can try and fit in as many dogs as possible. The year 2013 will be my last year as Tracking Officer and my full participation in all things tracking will cease. I will however be available to judge tracks for the club if required, but all the mundane but very necessary work will have to be carried out by new and fresher members. The Club will need a new Tracking Officer and enough keen people to set up to eight tracks per day Saturday & Sunday for the year This does not include the TSD tracks that will be required for those competitors that have successful gained their Tracking Championships and wish to continue tracking at a higher level. But for the moment we can concentrate on TRACK TRACK, Mal Holland, Tracking Co-ordinator

15 TRACKING SEMINAR FEBRUARY 2012 I reckon we go that way learning how to lay a track and make & follow a map at the Tracking Workshop practical session at Alice River, February Left to right Judy Forbes-Faulkner, David Horsely, Carolyn Lynn, Janet Cussons, Randall Irwin, Mal Holland, Renate Linder, Diana Heaslip

16 WHAT S ON OBEDIENCE DEMONSTRATION Three handlers and their dogs who are trialling in Obedience will be putting on a 30 minute display at 8.00pm on Tuesday, 27 March This is an excellent opportunity to gain an insight into Novice, Excellent and Utility Obedience trials. Instructors will be on hand to commentate and answer questions. And if that whets your appetite, come along to a real trial details below. REMEMBER all the dogs you see in trials started out just like yours : learning all the basic commands, advancing to learning more advanced exercises, and putting their owners through just as many hours of frustration and wondernig if its ever going to all come together! So never give up on your training, it is the dog who ultimately ends up loosing when branded as uncontrollable. TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS We kick of the 2012 trialling season with two trials scheduled in April, the first on Friday 7 th and Saturday 8 th of April over the Easter weekend with obedience, agility, jumpers and excitingly, our first ever official Rally-O trial (see article previous pages). The second trial is a fortnight later on 20 th and 21 st. Be kind to our Trial Secretary Louise and get those entries in by the closing date of a fortnight before the event. If they are late you will miss out!! There are also two tracking trials on the end of March and mid-april. Baits (people) for walking the tracks are always required, so if you don t mind an early start (6.00am on-site at Alice River), and be rewarded with a free brekky, then we would love to hear from you. If you want to find out more about tracking contact Mal Holland demal4@bigpond.net.au or Check the Trial Calendar at the end of the mag for all the details on judges, starting times and entry fees. CLUB MONTHLY MEETINGS Are held the first Monday of each month at 7.30pm at the Clubhouse at Heatley Park. Everyone is welcome to attend if you would like to contribute or offer help in the running of your Club. We would love to see you there! FLYBALL TRAINING Flyball training recommences the FIRST and THIRD Thursdays each month from 6.30pm at the Clubhouse Grounds. If your dog is ball crazy then this is right up his alley. Come on down and have a look or ask your Instructor for more info. COST - $5.00 per night. ENDURANCE TEST The Club is holding an Endurance Test on Saturday 23 June 2012 at the PCYC, 124 Wellington Street, Aitkenvale. If you are interested in entering have a read of what it is all about on the following pages. You need to be a member of Dogs Queensland before entering. Details on how to join are at the bottom of the Rally-O article on page 7. Did you know. The old formula for obtaining the age of your dog was to multiply every year of a dog s life by 7 human years. But this method is not accurate. A dog is fully grown at 12 months, which would be age 18 in human terms. From this point on, to calculate the true age of your dog, figure that every dog year is the equivalent of five human years. For a 10 year old dog that works out to be 63 years old in human years

17 HAPPY EASTER 2012 But no Easter Eggs for Fido! CHOCOLATE AND DOGS JUST DON T MIX Chocolate contains theobromine, a compound that is a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic. When affected by an overdose of chocolate, a dog can become excited and hyperactive. Due to the diuretic effect, it may pass large volumes of urine and it will be unusually thirsty. Vomiting and diarrhoea are also common. The effect of theobromine on the heart is the most dangerous effect. Theobromine will either increase the dog s heart rate or may cause the heart to beat irregularly. Death is quite possible, especially with exercise. After their pet has eaten a large quantity of chocolate, many pet owners assume their pet is unaffected. However, the signs of sickness may not be seen for several hours, with death following within twenty-four hours. Cocoa powder and cooking chocolate are the most toxic forms. A 10-kilogram dog can be seriously affected if it eats a quarter of a 250gm packet of cocoa powder or half of a 250gm block of cooking chocolate. These forms of chocolate contain ten times more theobromine than milk chocolate. Thus, a chocolate mud cake could be a real health risk for a small dog. Even licking a substantial part of the chocolate icing from a cake can make a dog unwell. Semi-sweet chocolate and dark chocolate are the next most dangerous forms, with milk chocolate being the least dangerous. A dog needs to eat more than a 250gm block of milk chocolate to be affected. Obviously, the smaller the dog, the less it needs to eat. So never be tempted to feed chocolate to your dog, and keep them out of reach!! DOGGY EASTER EGG HUNT Easter egg hunting is not just for small children, but something fun and festive that we all can do with our dogs. A lot of our dogs were bred to hunt or retrieve, and our dogs noses are 100 times more sensitive than ours. Try this fun game of the dogs version of an Easter Egg Hunt Use the recipe on following page to make some treats or try some diced apple, liver treats or other store bought treats. Confine your dog in a separate room while you strategically hide the treats in your backyard or throughout the house. You can place them underneath shrubs or leaves, behind trees or rocks, behind the couch or underneath the dining room table. Tips: Use this opportunity to teach your dog the command find. Your dog may need some help at first, so encourage and help him find those first couple of treats. When he is close to a treat bend down, point to it, and say Find It will be more fun and interactive if your dog is hungry before the hunt begins as he will be more motivated to find those treats. Do multiple hunts. It may take your dog a few tries to get the idea so be patient and repeat. Perhaps start off with something easy and obvious by putting a treat in a corner where he can both see and smell it. As your dog becomes more familiar with the act of hunting for the treat, make it more challenging by hiding under the corner of a rug or behind a shoe or lounge

18 Carob Covered Crunchies 2¼ cup wholemeal flour 1 egg ¼ cup vegetable oil ¼ cup applesauce 1 stock cube (beef or chicken) dissolved in 1/2 cup HOT water 1 tablespoon honey 1 teaspoon molasses Carob chips (about 1 cup) Mix all ingredients together until well blended. Knead dough two minutes on a lightly floured surface and roll to 1/4" thickness. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 30 minutes in a 300 degree oven. Cool on tray. Melt carob chips in microwave or saucepan. Dip cool biscuits in carob or lay on a flat surface and brush carob over the biscuits with a pastry brush. Or you can leave them as plain biscuits. Let cool and store in an air tight container. EASTER BILBY S Meanwhile, we humans can help support the conservation efforts of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) and Save the Bilby Fund simply by enjoying Easter Bilby s rather than Easter Bunnies this year. Of the six bandicoot species that once lived in the arid and semi-arid areas of Australia, only the bilby is left. Because of this, it is very important that we do all we can to make sure we don t lose the last of our Australian bilbies. The QPWS has invested a lot of time and money into saving the bilby. In particular, Ranger Frank the bilby man Manthey and Ranger Peter McRae have been instrumental in the development of a wild breeding programme based in the Currawinya National Park in south-west Queensland. Captive programmes like those in Charleville help safeguard against disasters in the wild and provide an environment where bilbies can live without fear of feral animals or habitat damage from livestock. The site was chosen because of its reliable and diverse food supply and it is operated by permanent staff members. Opened in Easter 2001, the Save the Bilby Fence was constructed by volunteers and funded by donations from ordinary Australians. In particular, the QPWS was helped by the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland and Darrell Lea, Australia s major chocolate manufacturer. The fencing project has so far cost more than $400,000. Luckily the Queensland State Government has also been working to save the bilby by purchasing habitat for reintroduction of the species. Visit for more info. Easter Bilby s can be purchased from all Darrell Lea stores as well as most major supermarkets

19 Council powers go to the dogs Local Councils may be given the power to issue on-the-spot fines and prohibit people from owning dogs under proposed measures to protect the community from dangerous dogs. Minister for Local Government, Paul Lucas said a discussion paper on topic Management of dangerous and potentially dangerous dogs in Queensland had been released by the Department of Local Government and Planning following feedback from dog owners. I ve spoken to a number of dog owners who have not only been emotionally devastated, but also out of pocket thousands of dollars when their own dog has been attacked by an out of control dog owned by someone who doesn t care what their pet does, Mr Lucas said. More control over dog owners I think there s a very good argument for people who suffer injury to themselves or their children or indeed pet owners who suffer expensive injuries as a result of an out of control dog to have a fast tracked and simplified method of recovering compensation for medical or vet fees from the guilty parties. Mr Lucas said while the majority of dog owners were responsible, there was always going to be a minority who did the wrong thing. He said between January 2009 and June 2010, 6,330 injuries from dog attacks were recorded at Hospital Emergency Departments and it was estimated that was only a quarter to a fifth of the actual number of dog attacks State-wide. Currently Councils have the power to declare a dog as dangerous or menacing and prosecute the owner when an attack occurs, which can carry a maximum fine of $30,000, he said. However, this does not address minor offences where the owner allows their dog to behave aggressively in public and create a nuisance. Mr Lucas said Queenslanders had the opportunity to comment on measures raised in the discussion paper which were designed to discourage irresponsible dog ownership; keep the community safe; and empower Councils to carry out their functions under the Animal Management Act. More information, including how to make a submission, is available at this link Submissions close 16 April Source :

20 DOG HOROSCOPE Do you think you know everything there is to know about your beloved dog? Have you ever wondered why they do some of those strange things, and act the way they do, which leave you scratching your head at times? Well, this months horoscope may help solve some of those mysteries and hopefully provide you with some of your answers. Just like us humans who follow the guidance of their Horoscope, here is a light-hearted insight into your dog's personality and traits. You very well may discover answers to some of your questions such as why the dog next door is so relaxed and easy going whilst yours runs around like it is possessed, doing strange things and generally running amok or even vice versa. Just like us humans, dogs' personalities are governed by the star sign they were born under. So take a peek under your dog's star sign to discover what they are really like deep down and just maybe a whole new understanding of your dog's nature will unfold. ARIES March 21 to April 20 Adventurous, energetic and courageous, enthusiast, confident and dynamic on the naughty side... Selfish, quick-tempered and impatient, foolhardy and likes to be a bit of a daredevil LIKES Being where the action is, wants to be the leader, being challenged and spontaneous DISLIKES Having to wait around for what it wants, being bad and having no-one to compete against. The young Aries is adventurous, ambitious, impulsive, enthusiastic and generally full of beans. The Arian dog is a pioneer both in thought and action, very open to learning new tricks and a lover of freedom. It welcomes challenges and will not be diverted from its purpose except by its own impatience, which will surface if it doesn t get what it wants. It may be unwilling to obey or submit to directions for which it cannot see no reward, or if it just cannot be bothered at the time. The Aries dog's immense energy makes them dynamic and restless, headstrong and capable of sulking if they feel they have been ignored. As an Arian this dog likes a challenge that will stir it into action be it a ball to fetch or bone to bury. They love to run around and climb things and with their rashness, impetuosity and wholehearted physical commitment it can make them liable to accidents and physical injuries

21 FEBRUARY 2012 UPGRADINGS Class 1 to 2 Catherine Schatkanski Shilah Husky Sam Kitchener Izzy Husky Emma Kilpatrick Nina Border Collie Nathan Dericks Carter Border Collie Haley Jamieson Zala Husky Brenda Ganty Ally Border Collie Emma Edwards Bailey German Shepherd Sonia Smith Jazz Border Collie Graham Burke Abby Sharpei X Rene Nelson Teddy Border Collie X Lauren Eyres Juno Rottweiler Jack Dunn Daisy Cattle Dog X Steve Ryan Rowdy German Shepherd Randall Irvan Elvis Labrador Kelly Boyle Busta Weimaraner Nick Jenson Jerry German Shepherd Natalie Chesters Dexter Labrador Alison Annesley Jasper Border Collie

22 FEBRUARY 2012 UPGRADINGS Class 2 to 3 Janelle Struss Tilly Ridgeback Marley Birkett Thor Rottie X Class 3 to 4 Graduates!! Amanda Hodges Lucy Bull Arab X Deanna Doyle Jazz Cocker Spaniel

23 CANINE OBEDIENCE CLUB OF TOWNSVILLE INC 2012 OBEDIENCE AND AGILITY TRIAL CALENDAR Entries close 14 days prior to trial Entry Fee - $7.00 per trial Contact Trial Secretary Louise Ashworth for further information Ph or Mobile DATE TIME TRIAL JUDGE Friday 6 April pm Obedience Cathy O'Shea UDX / David Horsley UD CD / Roel Wittkamp CDX CCD Rally O David Horsely Saturday 7 April pm Agility & Jumpers all levels Roel Wittkamp - Agility / Neil Lester - Jumpers 7.00pm Obedience Cathy O'Shea UDX / David Horsley UD CDX CD CCD 7.00pm Agility, Jumpers, Agility game - all levels Neil Lester - Agility & Strategic Pairs / Roel Wittkamp - Jumpers Friday 20 April pm Agility, Jumpers, Agility game - all levels Judy Forbes Faulkner - Agility, Jumpers, Snooker Saturday 21 April pm Obedience (Judges Training) Bob Bruce UD UDX / Judy Forbes Faulkner CDX CD CCD Rally O Judy Forbes Faulkner Friday 4 May pm Agility, Jumpers, Agility game - all levels Roel Wittkamp - Agility, Jumpers, Gamblers Saturday 5 May pm Obedience (Judges Training) Ruth Clarke UD UDX CCD / Roel Wittkamp CDX CD Rally O Heidi Christoffel Friday 25 May pm Obedience John Baumann Rally O John Baumann Saturday 26 May pm Agility, Jumpers, Agility game - all levels Tim Fairchild - Agility, Strategic Pairs / Graham Elven - Jumpers 7.00pm Obedience John Baumann Agility, Jumpers, Agility game - all levels Graham Elven - Agility & Snooker / Tim Fairchild - Jumpers NOTE : Open, Masters, Excellent and Novice Agility and Jumpers offered on all trials

24 DATE TIME TRIAL JUDGE Saturday 23 June pm Endurance Bob Bruce PCYC, Wellington Street. Monday 2 July pm Agility, Jumpers, Agility game - all levels Judy Forbes Faulkner - Agility, Jumpers, Gamblers Show Day 7.00pm Obedience Ruth Clarke Rally O Judy Forbes Faulkner Friday 20 July pm Agility, Jumpers, Agility game - all levels Roel Wittkamp - Agility, Jumpers, Snooker Saturday 21 July pm Obedience (Judges Training) Ruth Clarke UD UDX CD / Roel Wittkamp CDX CCD Rally O Roel Wittkamp Friday 3 August pm Obedience Cathy O'Shea UDX / David Horsley UD CDX CD CCD Rally O David Horsley Saturday 4 August pm Agility, Jumpers, Agility game - all levels Rob Ogilive - Agility & Strategic Pairs / Sarah Woolf - Jumpers 7.00pm Obedience Cathy O'Shea UDX / David Horsley UD CDX CD CCD 7.00pm Agility, Jumpers, Agility game - all levels Sarah Woolf - Agility & Gamblers / Rob Ogilvie - Jumpers Saturday 1 September pm Agility, Jumpers, Agility game - all levels Rob Mills - Agility, Jumpers & Snooker 7.00pm Obedience Cheryl Williams Rally O Heidi Crhistoffel Friday 12 October pm Obedience Barbara Murfet UDX / Dot Stutz UD CDX CD CCD Rally O Barbara Murfet Saturday 13 October pm Agility, Jumpers - all levels Barbara Murfet - Agility / Tim Fairchild - Jumpers 7.00pm Obedience Barbara Murfet UDX / Dot Stutz UD CDX CD CCD 7.00pm Agility, Jumpers, Agility game - all levels Tim Fairchild - Agility & Strategic Pairs / Barbara Murfet - Jumpers NOTE : Open, Masters, Excellent and Novice Agility and Jumpers offered on all trials

25 CANINE OBEDIENCE CLUB OF TOWNSVILLE INC 2012 TRACK & SEARCH AND TRACKING TRIAL CALENDAR COST : $15 per entry + $5 Brekky each day Entries close 14 days prior to trial NO LATE ENTRIES ACCEPTED Contact Trial Secretary Louise Ashworth for further information Ph or Mobile NOTES FOR COMPETITORS Fields restricted to 8 per trial Handlers restricted to no more than 2 entries in a trial unless less than 8 entries Ballot to be held if more than 8 entries per day Handlers with more than 1 dog can only track 1 per day Out of town competitors will be advised immediately if balloted out Saturday with the option to compete Sunday if they wish Out of town competitors that get a start Saturday will automatically get a start Sunday Local competitors balloted out of Saturday automatically get a start Sunday Entry fees refunded to balloted dogs Date Trial Judge Location Friday 30 March 2012 Track and Search Heidi Christoffel Saturday 31 March 2012 Tracking Heidi Christoffel Alice River Sunday 01 April 2012 Tracking Mal Holland Alice River Friday 13 April 2012 Track and Search Mal Holland Saturday 14 April 2012 Tracking Mal Holland Alice River Sunday 15 April 2012 Tracking Rosemary Lahz Alice River Friday 11 May 2012 Track and Search Debby Lamprecht Saturday 12 May 2012 Tracking Debby Lamprecht Alice River Sunday 13 May 2012 Tracking Mal Holland Alice River Friday 13 July 2012 Track and Search Ron Jackson Saturday 14 July 2012 Tracking Ron Jackson Alice River Sunday 15 July 2012 Tracking Alice River

26 IT MIGHT BE THE START OF AUTUMN BUT YOU WOULDN T KNOW IT IN THE NORTH.. KEEP COOL!! THE END