dog post Twin Cities Obedience Training Club tcotc.com October 2013 Issue 10.13 Senior tracking dogs TCOTC board nominations Dog Years review Photo by Lois Stanfield
Meet our cover dog! Owner: Sharon Mordorski Dog s name: Oscar Nicknames: Scar, De La Hoya, Oxer the Boxer, Rock Star, Big Dog Breed: Boxer Age: 8 Favorite activities: Lure coursing, agility, running with his humans, giving kisses Tricks/talents/skills: Stands on hind legs, puts toys in toy box Favorite treat: Sardines dog post Editor and Layout Webmaster and Designer Anna Kucera Janna Netland Lover Send comments to newsletter@tcotc.com. Next deadline is Dec. 15. The dog post newsletter is published four times annually for TCOTC members. Permission is granted to reprint articles as long as credit is given to TCOTC dog post and to any individual author. Any reprint must include the date of original publication. To receive the newsletter (along with club events, new classes and emergency closing announcements) electronically, enter your email address on our home page at tcotc.com. Your dog can be a cover model, too. Just send a picture to newsletter@tcotc.com. High-resolution,.jpg photos work best. In this issue Masthead....................... 2 Snapshot....................... 3 Spotlight..................... 4-5 Focus......................... 6 In the ring...................... 7 Barks & books.................. 7 Club calendar................... 8 Bouquets & biscuits.............. 8 President Vice President Treasurer Recording Secretary Corresponding Secretary Director of Training Agility Department Head Behavior Department Head Flyball Department Head Obedience Department Head Tracking Department Head Therapy Department Head Achievements/Awards Building Management Library Rental Requests Follow TCOTC facebook.com/tcotc 2 Karen Radford Christina Pilon Mary Steinbauer Janna Netland Lover Kristen Klemann Open Anne Bentley Open Jane Jacobson Jane Jacobson Rhonda Noetzelman Carol Ouhl Katie Brittan Nanette Malcomson Open Mary Steinbauer
SNAPSHOT Pup pics Katie BRITTAN, CHUCK JOHNSTON, ANNA KUCERA, June Wheeler 3
While tracking is a sport that you can start teaching your dog from puppyhood, it s a great way to keep you and your dog active as he or she gets older. Tracking is an individual sport; it s not competitive. It s also a lowimpact sport; it doesn t require that your dog run, jump, do sharp turns or retrieve. It doesn t demand that your dog sit, stay or come to you when called your dog s always on leash. SPOTLIGHT Senior dogs keep on tracking by KATI GREEN KATI GREEN Tracking does require that your dog work out scent problems and is a great way to tire out an older dog that can t do more physical activity. If you and your dog are able to walk half a mile, you can do most levels of tracking. Tracking is also a way to create a bond with your dog because you have to learn to trust your dog to learn where the track goes. If you already have a bond, you ll be able to enjoy tracking even more with your older dog. To encourage older dogs to become involved with or continue with the sport of tracking, the CT Chica Senior Tracker Award was created in 2011. The award was named after Nuestra Amiga Chica, who started her AKC tracking career later in life. Chica received her Tracking Dog Excellent at the age of 14 and her Variable Surface Tracking, which made her the first Rat Terrier Champion Tracker at the age of 15. In addition, she received TCOTC s Bruno the Brute Award two years in a row for being the oldest dog to receive an American Kennel Club (AKC) title in the club. The CT Chica Award is given to the oldest dog to receive a tracking title in any venue in the year. The minimum age is 8; if no dog older than 8 receives a tracking title, then the award isn t given that year. Because the award is given for any tracking venue, mixed breed dogs can qualify for it, by getting an American Mixed Breed Obedience Registration Tracking Dog (AMBOR TD) title. Starting Jan. 1, 2012, the AKC started allowing mixed breed dogs to show in AKC tracking tests, so if you have a mixed breed with which you haven t competed in tracking, you ll have the opportunity in the coming year. Also, since the AKC requires that you certify your dog before entering an AKC tracking test, you can certify your dog this fall and send the information in to get your AMBOR TD this year. There are three AKC tracking events this fall in the Twin Cities area. The first was a Variable Surface Tracking Test. The second will be TCOTC s Tracking Dog Test at Kinnikinnic State Park in Wisconsin Oct. 20. The third will be CVTC s Tracking Dog Test, to be held at the same park Oct. 27. Visit TCOTC.com or AKC.org for more information. If you don t think your dog will be ready for one of these tests, workers are always needed, and track laying can be a great way to learn more about the sport. Consider adding tracking to your older dog s many accomplishments. You ll find it very rewarding for both of you! 4
SPOTLIGHT Senior dog awards by Kati Green It s a tradition for the Director of Training at TCOTC to begin the annual report with the words, We are still training. Nothing sums up better the work of the members of TCOTC, who often train their dogs well beyond puppyhood and general obedience and take on many different dog activities to keep their pals active long into their senior years. In keeping with our philosophy, the club offers several awards that pertain only to seniors and others that can be earned at a young age but often take several years to accomplish. The oldest of the senior dog awards is the Bruno the Brute Award, which is given to the oldest dog to achieve an AKC title during the year. The Maggie Award is given to the oldest dog over 7 to achieve an agility championship, and the CT Chica Senior Tracker Award is given to the oldest dog over 8 to achieve a tracking title. Other combination awards, such as the Likka Award for the dog with a flyball title with the highest obedience score and the Engstrom Bruiser Award for a dog with a tracking title to have the highest obedience score, are also awards that senior dogs might achieve. Of course, the AKC Versatile Companion Dog (VCD) title, which the club recognizes with the dog s name on a plaque, is also an award that senior dogs often attain. In addition, the Marley Award, the Hattie Versatile Performance Award and the Griff Award, which have been established in recent years, recognize dogs for having titles in three or more areas and are also awards that lend themselves to being given to older dogs who ve had time to have achievements in many areas. The months of October and November offer all TCOTC dogs, young and old, many opportunities to achieve new titles. The Dale Weyhrich Flyball Tournament will be Oct. 11 to 13. The TCOTC Obedience Trial is Oct. 18 to 20. The TCOTC Tracking Dog Test is Oct. 27. The TCOTC Agility Trial is Nov. 22 to 24. All titles earned during these activities can be submitted for various awards at TCOTC.com. These events are also good opportunities for handlers to get in their six volunteer hours, so that their dog qualifies for awards. All members are encouraged to volunteer for an activity in which their dog participates or to volunteer for another activity entirely and learn more about that sport. TCOTC Board of Directors STOCK PHOTO TCOTC will hold an election for its Board of Directors at the annual meeting in January. We ll elect three directors-at-large for three-year terms. Are you interested in serving your club as a director? Do you know someone who d be a good candidate? Nominations for candidates will be accepted by Election Nomination Chair Judy at judy.dove@live.com. Questions about the election or the duties of directors can be should be directed to Karen at karenjradford@eaton.com or Christina Pilon christina.pilon@hotmail.com. 5
TCOTC agility trial committee members are needed! The TCOTC Agility Trial Committee is looking for AKC agility trial volunteers for February and March 2014 and beyond! Right now, we re recruiting committee members for jobs such as trial chair, worker coordinator, hospitality, judge s attaché, facilities, equipment and chief course builder. FOCUS TCOTC agility trial BY ANNE BENTLEY The good news is that committee jobs are compensated with vouchers that are good for future trial entries or agility classes. We also have people willing to help mentor and train new people, so nobody has to go it alone. TCOTC holds four three-day agility trials per year. The exact dates fluctuate because AKC uses a corresponding date calendar to plan trials. Our trial weekends for 2014 are: JANUARY: WEEK 1 Jan. 3-5 FEBRUARY/MARCH: WEEK 9 Feb. 28, March 1-2 MAY: WEEK 19 May 9-11 NOVEMBER: WEEK 47 Nov. 21-23 Note: This trial usually falls on Thanksgiving weekend, though in 2013 and 2014, it s not Thanksgiving weekend. Please consider volunteering to be on the committee! Contact Anne Bentley at anneecbc@comcast.net with questions or to volunteer. STOCK PHOTO Agility seminar: Tracy Sklenar There s a Tracy Sklenar agility seminar being held at TCOTC Nov. 1 to 3, 2013. It s being put on by the Minnesota Mixed Breed Club. They re offering discounted auditing fees to members. Details can be found on their website at mnmixedbreedclub.org/seminars.htm. Working spots are $150 per day and auditing spots are $60 per day. Please pass this on to anyone who might be interested! 6
IN THE RING Flyball fun by Lornell Brand Would you enjoy watching really excited dogs run? You can give about four hours of your time during the Dale Weyhrich Flyball Tournament Oct. 12 and 13 at TCOTC. Our flyball team would love teaching you a job that needs to be done for this club function. Also, during the weeks before the flyball tournament, we conduct an important fundraiser, an annual raffle. You can help by contributing new or gently used items. Please drop them off at the front desk. You re more than welcome to donate things that are dog-related, entertainment items such as books, maybe a food-themed basket, gift cards, really any items that would interest you enough to buy raffle tickets. You can buy raffle tickets starting Oct. 3 until the drawing the last day of the tournament. Tables displaying raffle goodies will be up by Oct. 7. You can contribute here by volunteering your time to help sell raffle tickets during club hours. Please let us know if you will volunteer your time by contacting Lornell at tlvlbrand@gmail.com or 651-415-9664, or email Karen at karenjradford@eaton.com. STOCK PHOTO Barks & books DOG YEARS by MARK DOTY Why do dogs speak so profoundly to our inner lives? When Mark Doty decides to adopt a dog as a companion for his dying partner, he finds himself bringing home Beau, a large golden retriever, malnourished and in need of loving care. Beau joins Arden, the black retriever, to complete their family. As Beau bounds back into life, the two dogs become Doty s intimate companions, his solace, and eventually, the very life force that keeps him from abandoning all hope during the darkest days. Their tenacity, loyalty and love inspire him when all else fails. Dog Years is a remarkable work: a moving and intimate memoir interwoven with profound reflections on our feelings for animals and the lessons they teach us about life, love and loss. Doty writes about the heart-wrenching vulnerability of dogs, the positive energy and joy they bring and the gift they bear us of unconditional love. A book unlike any other, Doty s surprising meditation is radiantly unsentimental yet profoundly affecting. Beautifully written, Dog Years is a classic in the making. Powell s Books 7
CLUB CALENDAR Monday, Oct. 7 5:50-6:50 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8 7-9 p.m. TCOTC board meeting Meeting room Wednesday, Oct. 9 6:30-9 p.m. Open ring: entire facility Entire facility $5/5 minutes/dog Thursday, Oct. 10 1-3 p.m. Friday/Saturday/Sunday, Oct. 11-13 TCOTC Flyball Tournament Monday, Oct. 14 5:50-6:50 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17 1-3 p.m. Friday/Saturday/Sunday, Oct. 18-20 TCOTC Obedience Trial Monday, Oct. 21 5:50-6:50 p.m. Bouquets & biscuits Thursday, Oct. 24 1-3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28 5:50-6:50 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31 1-3 p.m. Friday/Saturday/Sunday, Nov. 1-3 8 a.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Sunday MMBC agility seminar Monday, Nov. 4 5:50-6:50 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 1-3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8 7-9 p.m. Reactive rover seminar Meeting room Suggested donation of $5/person Contact: kate@prettygooddog.com C ongratulations to everyone who earned titles, legs, awards, certifications and more! Check out the latest club member achievements at tcotc.com and submit your own at tcotc.com/achievements. Email Katie at KTBrit@aol.com with questions. Monday, Nov. 11 5:50-6:50 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14 1-3 p.m. Friday/Saturday/Sunday, Nov. 15-17 High velocity flyball tournament Monday, Nov. 18 5:50-6:50 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 1-3 p.m. Friday/Saturday/Sunday, Nov. 22-24 8 a.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Sunday TCOTC agility trial Monday, Nov. 25 5:50-6:50 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 28 TCOTC closed Friday/Saturday/Sunday, Nov. 29-Dec. 1 UGSDA UKC event Meeting room and ring room Monday, Dec. 2 5:50-6:50 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 1-3 p.m. Friday/Saturday/Sunday, Dec. 6-8 Bratpack flyball tournament Monday, Dec. 9 5:50-6:50 p.m. 8
9 Twin Cities Obedience Training Club, Inc. 2101 Broadway St. NE Minneapolis, MN 55418 612.379.1332