August 2017 Edition Our New State Champions Excellent Agility (400) Robyn Jackson & Hillani Regal Reko Novice Agility (400) Ashleigh Guest & Icustaffy Beautiful Boy Master Agility (300) Sally Millan & Donriver Platinum Edition Open Agility Snooker Dog Master Tam Holmes & Hunter Strategic Pairs Novice Janine Feil & Jadziah Real Wild Child Strategic Pairs Dog Masters Neville & Elaine Cox with Sherbrooke Fun in Rio & Sherbrooke All the Sevens Excellent Agility (400) Master Agility (300) OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE AGILITY DOG CLUB OF SA INC. Visit our website: www.agilitydogclubsa.com
NEW COMMITTEE 2017 President: Geoff Sykes 8373 0751 gsykes7@bigpond.com Trial Manager Records Officer Vice President: Michelle Vuaran 0417877080 msvuaran@gmail.com Newsletter Head Instructor: Ingrid Hanegreefs 0429674866 ihanegreefs@bigpond.com Public Officer Treasurer: Tanysha Jeffree 0421 906 527 tanyshajeffree@yahoo.com.au Secretary: Rosalind King 0433 403 410 rosalind.king Historian @adelaide.edu.au Fundraising Committee: Pin Needham 0437420099 vet@glenside-vet.com.au Sponsorship Kathy Bannister 0400 148 674 kn.bannister@bigpond.com Catering Cathy Warcup 8538 7217 KateWA440@gmail.com Equipment Sub Committee: Tam Holmes 0409 630 391 tamara.holmes Fundraising @tattslotteries.com Jo Shirlock 8277 2271 koojar1@bigpond.com Trial Secretary Membership Fees 2017 Single $60.00* Instructors Head Instructor - Single (new member) $15.00 Joining Fee $60.00 Annual Fee Ingrid Hanegreefs Ass. Head Instructor - Family $90.00 Junior (under 17) $30.00 Michelle Vuaran Instructors Social $30.00 Committee and Instructor $15.00 *if paid by 31st March in the current year Mika Peace Julie Brown Cathy Warcup Aspiring - Kathy Brown Karen Moralee Ros King Geoff Sykes 2
Hi Everyone Well done to all our members who did so well at this years State Championships. Unfortunately I was not there to watch any of your awesome runs, I think its been the first time in at least 9 years since I have not attended a State Championships! I have included some photos which I managed to get, in this newsletter. If anyone takes photos at various trials please send them to me (msvuaran@gmail.com), I would love to include some action shots in the newsletter. Happy Trialling and Training Michelle and Skye Geoff has been busy making some fantastic jumps which will be raffled at our Anniversary Trial in November. First prize: 3 Sets of Jumps Second Prize: 2 Sets of Jumps Third Prize : 1 Set of Jumps $2.00 per ticket Keep an eye out for raffle books at training in the up and coming weeks! 3
2017 Training Schedule Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 6:50-7:30pm Set up Equipment 7:30-8:20pm Introductory Beginners & Intermediate Graduate 8:20-8:30pm ANNOUNCEMENTS Advanced 8:30-9:30pm Trialling 200/300/400/500/600 9:30-10:00pm Pack up The committee appreciates our members that come regularly every week and help set up and pack up. Your help is invaluable and helps us start training on time, which benefits us all! Erin Slater Danielle Graham Chris Rivett Reminder Membership Fees and Trial Entry Fees can be paid directly to our club bank account. Account: 6129 7807 BSB: 805 050 Payment by bank deposit is encouraged as it reduces cash handling, fees and is traceable. 4
Cloth Title Badge Club Shop $5.50 Dog Leads (various sizes) $10.00 Cloth Logo Badge Club Metal Badge Club Sticker (round) Club Sticker (long) Agility Bumper Sticker $5.50 Bag of Dog Treats $2.00 $5.00 Sublimated Polo Shirt $45.00 $4.00 Rugby Jumper $75.00 $4.00 Soft Shell Jacket $75.00 $2.00 (All clothing orders will require a deposit) Tea & Coffee 50 Water & Soft Drink $1.00 Chocolate Bars $1.00 PLACE ORDERS NOW!!! The club uniforms are made especially for our club so we need to place orders now! Email Michelle msvuaran@gmail.com or ring 0417 877080 5
Presidents Report 2017 Several Club members did extremely well at the recent State Agility Championships. They are all listed in the Newsletter, so congratulations to you all. The Agility Advisory Committee is working on staging the 2018 State Agility Championships at West Beach. Let s hope that comes to fruition so we can enjoy a home ground advantage. It was quite noticeable that entries were down for the State Agility Championships. The Committee has also noticed that entry levels in our Trials are not what they used to be. Similarly attendance at training lately has been low, to the point where there have only just been enough of us to pack up after the second session. The weather has been a factor but we do not think that s the only reason. Cathy Warcup recently started a discussion about this on the Agility SA Facebook page. If you have not already done so please have a look and contribute if you feel so inclined. It would be especially useful to hear the views of people who are not yet trialling or are relatively new to the sport. We are quickly coming to the end of the Club year. The Trialling Year concludes at the end of September. After that we have our Annual General Meeting, then our Awards Presentation. These are important activities for the Club, mainly because they are the only times when we gather without it being training or a Trial. The AGM is particularly significant because that s when the Committee is elected. These lucky people then take on the task of managing the Club for the next twelve months. Without that the Club would not function. These tasks need people to do them. So now is the time to start thinking about whether you would be able to contribute to the running of the Club by serving on the Committee. This year is the Club s 25 th anniversary. We will celebrate that milestone at the Twilight Trial on Saturday 25 th November, because that is the closest event to the actual date. To mark the occasion there will be a raffle of sets of jumps, and a commemorative gift for members and entrants in the Twilight Trial. The raffle will be drawn at that Trial. So until then, enjoy your dogs and remember to have fun at Agility. Geoff Sykes 6
Head Instructors Report Hi Everyone Thank you to all the hardy souls who come out regularly on Thursday nights to set up and pack up the equipment. There are unfortunately less of you as the year rolls on. I know it is winter and cold and wet and creature comforts at home are a better proposition than braving the elements out at training. That might be the reason for the low attendance numbers which is the cause of my quandary to how much equipment to set up. If there are not enough trialling members in the second session to pack up the equipment I seriously have to consider not to put up the agility course which would leave you only with the short sequences to run. This will be reality if numbers don t start picking up. Ask yourselves, would that effect your ability to complete a full course successfully at a trial? The member numbers in the first hour are keeping stable and training is progressing quite well. I myself have been taking the beginners and what I sometimes have called the advanced beginners and experienced quiet satisfaction in every little successes dogs and handlers are achieving. So keep up the good work to keep yourself, your dog and myself happy. In closing I would like to ask, if you have any problems with the training you are receiving please come and talk it over with me. I cannot fix something I have not been made aware of. In the meantime enjoy your dog and I see you out there at training. Ingrid Hanegreefs 7
Assistant Instructors Report Read this article by Lisa Selthofer and thought I might pass it on to our members All handlers have the ability to create agility superstars in their dog. How do I know YOU can create a superstar in your dog? Like the majority of others, you likely made the leap into the sport of agility intending to mainly have fun with your dog. First, that s an incredibly positive intent which says a lot about the quality of your heart. Second, the fact that you continue to be involved in agility despite the steep learning curve tells me there isn t much you wouldn t do for your dog s benefit. As an agility trainer, I recognize and want to verbalize to you, what those two very special traits represent. They are your purpose and commitment to your dog. These are two very powerful attributes when it comes to developing a dog and reaching mutual goals, especially in agility training. Purpose is to have fun with your dog. Commitment is to improve yourself for your dog s benefit. Lisa Selthofer So how does one have fun while plunging into the constantly developing lessons we face in agility training? 3 Traits of a Successful Agility Handler Be Open Minded Being open-minded can be really tough sometimes. Most of us are brought up with a set of beliefs and values and, throughout our lives, tend to surround ourselves with people who share the same values and beliefs. Therefore, it can be difficult when we re faced with ideas that challenge our own and, though we may wish to be open-minded, we may struggle with the act of it from time to time. Dani DiPirro In dog agility, being open minded means that we consciously and lovingly refuse to limit ourselves on the agility journey. Some examples of being open minded include: Exploring all handling methods Accepting all dogs (no matter their breed or cross-type) Accepting all handlers (regardless of their uniqueness) Adapt your training and reinforcement techniques so it is applicable and understandable to your individual dog Choose to not have an opinion on a topic that does not impact you Recognizing that we ALL will make mistakes Understanding that mistakes are simply a means to learning Congratulating ourselves for being brave enough to get out there and being open to the learning experience Letting go of the need to be in control Skip the judgement (on ourselves and others) as this effort will not aid your purpose or commitment and so much more! Go to Dani DiPirro s website for more information Constantly Learning I m told that the most successful people never stop learning. While I don t have any evidence to prove that, I can share that every person I admire, consider a mentor and love to learn from, all embrace and live that motto. Both in and outside of agility. When it comes to dog agility in particular, the types of challenges, equipment performance requirements and course types are always evolving. After 20 years, I ve come to realize that in agility, there is no end game. Oh sure, you might hit the highest titles with a particular dog, but the moment you begin the journey with a new dog, the agility landscape changes instantly and the personal challenges start again. 8
Assistant Instructors Report That s because the dynamic and uniqueness of the agility team is rarely the same from dog to dog. It seems with each new dog, there are new hurdles to conquer and new things to learn about ourselves along the way. So be kind to yourself during this process and accept that agility truly is a journey, not a destination. Always Be Teachable Being teachable is a choice. We choose whether we are open or closed to new ideas, new experiences, others ideas, people s feedback, and willingness to change. The key to teachability is not just that we try ideas on for size, but that we actually learn from others and change our point of view, process, and future decision making based on the what we have learned. John C. Maxwell Being teachable has two main parts. First, it means that we are on a sincere mission to embrace answers and/or solutions and chose to see the benefits of each item presented to us for learning. There are many times I took the time to learn something that wasn t currently applicable to my situation, only to have it be the key of knowledge I needed later in my agility career. Second, it means that we are voluntarily willing to change. I ve been to countless seminars where a participant made it the trainer s responsibility to convince them to change from their current process. It s important to understand that it is nobody s role to convince you of anything, even if it s for the better. Don t cheat yourself by neglecting to add the mindset of willingness when presented with the potential of change. Teachable People (1) : Observe before acting Close their mouth and listen to hear vs. respond Are aware of their strengths and weaknesses Accept that other s opinion might be better than theirs Learn from criticism rather than choosing to take a situation personally Take responsibility for their failures and seek lessons to learn Focus on solutions rather then get caught up in the why or seek to place blame Embrace going out of their comfort zone Admit when they are wrong Are aware that they don t know everything Remember Purpose is to have fun with your dog. Commitment is to improve yourself for your dog s benefit. Lisa Selthofer http://spotonagility.com/3-traits-successful-agility-handler/ Hope you found it interesting. Michelle Vuaran 9
ADELAIDE DOG MOBILITY & HYDROTHERAPY TREATMENT OF CANINE SPORTS INJURIES and FITNESS CONDITIONING Available at GLENSIDE VETERINARY CLINIC 294 Greenhill Road, GLENSIDE 5065 FEATURING: LASER THERAPY & ACUPUNCTURE PHYSICAL THERAPY UNDERWATER TREADMILL HEATED SWIMMING POOL FOR DOGS For Appointments Phone 8379 0222 10
Boosting your Dogs Brain through Balance Exercise Research clearly shows that exercise boosts the brain. People who exercise regularly are 50% less likely to develop dementia. So maybe dogs which exercise regularly would also be at a lower risk for canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome? It is thought that exercise creates new brain cells and increases a growth factor called BDNF, brain derived neurotrophic factor. BDNF are important in learning and creating long term memories and make the brain work better. Animal models show that new brain cells die within a few days if they are not used to learn new things. This is where balance training comes in. Balance training is a learned behaviour and a wonderful exercise which is useful for targeting individual muscle groups. It requires the dog to learn complex movements and these movements in turn help the brain cells become permanent. Its also a great activity to spark the neuromuscular system to work harder. So balance work could potentially lead the way to your dog becoming smarter! https://www.k9fitsolutions.com/blog/boosting-your-dog-s-brain-through-balance-andexercise 11
Our Club and Adelaide Dog Mobility and Hydrotherapy will have 3 tents setup at the Border Collie World Record Attempt and Fun Day. If you would like to volunteer to help in the tent please speak to one of the committee members. We would like to promote our club and entice more people to join the wonderful sport of Dog Agility. No experience necessary just enthusiasm for Agility. We plan to have fliers and a small demonstration set up. If you happened to own a Border Collie come along and support the event, it would be awesome if they made the World Record! For more information check out the Facebook page. You can book your tickets now at https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=266448& 12
WEAVE POLE STRAPS / WOBBLEBOARDS Want to practice at home and excel in your weave training!!! Why not purchase some weave poles. Poles are made from dowel or PVC and are the stick in the ground variety. Contact Cathy Warcup for more information. KateWA440@gmail.com 13
State Championships 2017 Congratulations to all our members who got passes at the State Championship and those who managed to get into the finals and place! Master Strategic Pairs - 1st - Elaine & Neville Cox - Sherbrooke Fun in Rio & Sherbrooke all the Sevens Excellent Strategic Pairs - 2nd - Mika Peace & Flatout Breakout 3rd - Karen Moralee & Hillani Spaticus Lauds + Robyn Jackson & Hillani Regal Reko Novice Strategic Pairs - 1st - Janine Feil & Jadziah Real Wild Child Master Gamblers - 2nd - Danni McCulloch & Gabrielle Novice Snooker - 2rd - Robyn Jackson & Hillani Regal Reko 3rd - Sally Millan & Donriver Platinum Edition Snooker Master - 1st - Tam Holmes & Hunter 2nd - Lindsay Newton & Albajail Feel the Rush Robyn Jackson & Hillani Regal Reko 14
State Championships 2017 Congratulations to all our members who got passes at the State Championship and those who managed to get into the finals and place! Open Agility - 1st - Danni McCulloch & Gabrielle Open Jumping - 2nd - Danni McCulloch & Gabrielle 400 Novice Agility - 1st - Ashleigh Guest & Icustaffy Beautiful Boy 400 Excellent Agility - 1st - Robyn Jackson & Hillani Regal Reko 300 Master Agility - 1st - Sally Millan & Donriver Platinum Edition 500 Master Agilty - 3rd - Tam Holmes & Hunter 4th - Mika Peace & Flatout Breakout 400 Master Jumping - 2nd - Neville Cox & Sherbrooke Fun in Rio 15
State Championships 2017 Murphy and Mel.gotta love the ears! Karri racing through the tunnel! 16
State Championships 2017 Jo Shirlocks s little star Karri Congratulations to Rachel Fagan and Narla for winning the Gwenda Baker Trophy at the Club trial held on 29th July. 17
30th July Calendar of Events 2017 South Australian Obedience Dog Club Games Trial 9am and 1pm 13th Aug Gawler Dog Training Club Agility 9am and 1pm 19th 20th Aug Riverland Trial 26th Aug Munno Para Obedience Dog Club Agility 9am and 1pm 9th Sept Royal Adelaide Show 16th Sept Para District Obedience Dog Club Agility 9am and 1pm 17th Sept Gawler Dog Training Club Agility 9am and 1pm 24th Sept Border collie World Record Fun day 7th Oct Noarlunga Obedience Dog Club Agility 9am and 1pm 21st-22nd Oct Blue Lake Training Club 29th Oct Gawler Dog Training Club Agility 10am and 1pm 11th Nov 25th Nov South Districts Dog Obedience Club ADCSA night trial Agility 9am and 1pm 18