Volume 1;1 March / Maart 2008 BFN GSD CLUB DEMO S GEHOU TYDENS 2007: Inside this issue: 2007 Demo s 1 Club News 2 Questions & Answers 2, 3 Sloping back contro- 3 Van die Bestuur 4 Club Events 4 In ligte luim 5 Events Calender 6 14 April 2007 Heide Primêre Skool: Die Demo span is genader deur n groep mediese studente van die UV en gevra om n optrede te lewer as deel van n pret-dag wat hulle vir die kinders van die laerskool aangebied het. Terwyl die kinders verskeie vermaaklikhede geniet het deur die loop van die dag, het hul ouers geluister na sprekers wie gepraat het oor relevante temas wat hul kinders se ontwikkeling raak. 09 Junie 2007 Dr Visser Skool: Die tweede Demo vir die jaar het bietjie deurmekaar begin en die span en honde moes twee ure wag voor hul kon optree. Al is die totale optrede bietjie kort geknip, het die kinders en ander toeskouers dit duidelik baie geniet en is daar ook na die tyd baie vrae aan die demo-span gerig. 13 Julie 2007 optrede by die tronk: Die toeskouers was aanvanklik skrikkerig vir die honde, maar is n geleentheid gegee om die honde te streel en het daarna begin ontspan. Van die toeskouers het selfs die geleentheid aangegryp om met die honde te stap. Die dag was n groot sukses. 18 Augustus 2007 optrede by Langenhovenpark Dierekliniek: Die ruimte vir die Demo was beperk, maar dit het steeds goed afgeloop en daar is opgemerk dat dit moeilik is om te glo dat n hond en sy eienaar so goed kan saamwerk. Die dag het baie belangstelling gekweek. Radio Rosestad het die Maandag na die optrede gesê dat die vertoning iets uitsonderliks was en dat dit duidelik was dat almal dit vreeslik geniet het. Die dag was deel van n fondsinsameling gehou ten bate van minderbevoorregte mense se diere. Visie van die Demo-span: Ek hoop ons kry meer en meer Demo s om die klub mee te bemark en nuwe belangstelling te kweek. En ook dat meer klublede deel sal word van die Demo-span. Corli. Demo-span: Corli Laser Christa Tess Herman Sebastian Annatjie Arto Oom Dries Rex Tannie Corrie Zars
Page 2 BFN GSD KLUB NEWS Volume 1;1 CLUB NEWS: Die klub se jaarlikse Bestuursvergadering (AGM) is gehou op 02 Desember 2007. Tydens die vergadering is baie sake bespreek, behoeftes gestel en beplanning vir die volgende jaar begin. n Paar sake het wel oorgestaan vir bespreking tot die nuwejaar. Daar was 18 lede teenwoordig op die dag en daar is gestem vir twee nuwe bestuurslede. In die posisie van klub Voorsitter is Annetjie Bothma verkies en in die posisie van Training Supervisor is Corli Ackerman aangewys. Baie geluk aan hulle albei en ons is seker hul sal die klub kan lei van sterkpunt tot sterkpunt! Die Bloemfontein klub gaan n klubhuis kry! Corli het op een vir die klub beslag gelê by haar skoonfamilie. Ons sê vir haar baie dankie en sal almal help om die verhouding met die skoonfamilie 100% te hou. The Annual General Meeting for 2008 was held on the 20th of January 2008. Fourteen members were present at the meeting and various topics were discussed (minutes of the meeting is available from the club management). People needed to be elected to some management portfolios and they were filled as follows: Club Secretary: Christa Henning; Breed Supervisor: Babie vd Berg; Treasurer: Annatjie Bothma. May you have a great term. Q & A: Alsatian VS German Shepherd Dog? The German Shepherd Dog is a relatively young breed, the first dogs being registered in Germany in 1899. The first German Shepherd Dogs were imported into the United Kingdom from the Alsace region in Europe, just after World War 1 (+/- 1918). At the time, hostilities between Germany and the UK still prevailed, and in an attempt to dissociate the dogs from their country of origin, they were renamed Alsatians. (Extract from: MAX journal, May 2005, commemorative issue, p. 20) Animal Behaviour? The most common reasons for behaviour problems in companion animals are: Learnt Behaviour (i.e. Inadvertent reinforcement of undesirable behaviour); Lack of environmental stimulation (i.e. Boredom) ; Lack of appropriate social interaction and Separation Anxiety. In addressing these issues, you can prevent or rectify many of your dog s undesirable habits. (Kyron 2007). Heat stroke? On a warm day the temperature in a parked car can become dangerously high in minutes, even with the windows partially open. Leaving a dog in a car even for a few minutes can be a lethal combination! On very hot days, your pets are safer at home. Don t ever travel with an animal in the boot of your car. Beat the heat: Take along a non-spill water bowl, block out the sun by hanging a cloth or blind over the car window and stop frequently for breaks and short walks. Never leave your dog alone in a parked car. First aid in case heat stroke occurs: Keep the animal in a shady place wherever possible and cool the animal down by wetting him/her with cool (not cold) water or with a fan. Apply ice packs and cold towels, but only to the head, neck and chest. Once the condition improves, allow the animal to drink water and lick ice cubes or ice cream. Prolonged heat stroke can lead to a coma, brain damage or even death so it is thus imperative to get to a vet as soon as possible it could save your pet s life. (Adapted from: The South African Pet Friendly Directory, p 205, First aid Heat stroke).
Volume 1;1 BFN GSD KLUB Volume 1;1 Page 3 Hip Dysplasia? Hip Dysplasia refers to a permanent displacement or dislocation of the hip joint. The condition is often accompanied by abnormalities in the formation of the femur head or hip socket. The condition occurs in all large breeds of dogs and is hereditary. In severe cases the affected dog may show extreme difficulty in walking and getting up. Many schemes aimed at eradicating the condition exist world wide. The German Shepherd Dog Federation of South Africa has a x-ray scheme in place which all dogs have to pass before they can be bred from. This ensures that puppies are only produced from parents who are hip dysplasia free. Although this is not a 100% guarantee that a puppy will not be affected by hip dysplasia, it certainly is far less likely to develop the condition than a dog bred outside of these precautions. THE SLOPING BACK CONTROVERSY: Kompetisie: Maak n voorstel vir n naam vir die Nuusbrief en as joune gekies word Wen n ete vir twee by De Oudekraal! Competition: Make a suggestion for a name for this Newsletter and if yours is chosen Win a meal for two at De Oudekraal! This is the same dog! The German Shepherd has attracted considerable negative comment with regard to what has been termed, its sloping back, hindquarter weakness and other such comments. Hopefully these photos will, at last, lay the myth to rest and help the general public to understand that the sloping dog they see in most show photos is by no means malformed, but rather posed in this way. The photos above are obviously exaggerated, although ideally the dog should stand in a position which emulates the movement as well as making it easier to evaluate the angulations of the dog. Many correctly constructed dogs can be seen to stand like this normally. Even in the show ring however, many handlers take this to the extreme, and often a good judge will request the handler to stand the dog more naturally with the hock closest to the judge at 90 degrees to the ground. The angulations and construction of the hindquarters, as well as the length and lay of the croup and the firmness of the back, can best be evaluated in this position. It is important that the back is not hollow, as this would indicate a weak back. The hock as well as the femur and tibia should also not be too long as this would create a weakness in the hindquarter. Often members of the public mistake these faults of overangulation as an indication of poor hips. Poorly formed hip joints can only be evaluated through radiographs (x-rays), not visually. (Extract from: MAX journal, May 2005, commemorative issue, p19).
Page 4 VAN DIE BESTUUR: BFN GSD KLUB BFN NEWS GSD KLUB LETTER/NUUSBRIEF Hi Almal. Hoop julle het lekker vakansie gehou en is sommer weer lus vir die nuwe jaar met baie honde pret. Ek het nog nie die finale skedule gekry oor die skoue vir die jaar nie, maar sal sal dit dadelik vir julle bekend maak as ek dit gekry het. Ek beplan om n paar skoue te doen die jaar en hoop ek kan n paar lede saamvat, veral van die nuwe lede met nuwe puppies. Ons gaan ook meer kere stap in die stad veral vir die jong hondjies is dit baie goed om te sosialiseer in die verkeer. Aan al die nuwe mense, baie baie welkom, hoop jul geniet dit by die klub. Asseblief voel vry om my enige tyd te kontak met n teeller probleem of as u sommer net wil gesels oor die honde ras of as u dalk bietjie meer wil weet oor bloedlyne; ek weet nie alles nie, maar sal probeer uitvind as ek iets nie weet nie. Geniet dit en hoop ons kan nog baie jare saam honde geniet. Groete, Babie (Breed Supervisor). Welkom terug aan al die bestaande lede, ons hondekinders en ook die nuwe lede. n Baie voorspoedige 2008. Mag hierdie nuwejaar net vrede, liefde en voorspoed vir jul almal inhou. En vir ons meer bejaarde lede, natuurlik ook goeie gesondheid. Ja 2007 het sommer vinnig verby gevlieg en spring ons met n spoed in 2008 weg. Die bestuur het sommer alreeds planne vir n baie besige 2008. In Februarie het die demospan by die Excelsior fees opgetree. 16 Maart is ons Skou weer aan die beurt en gaan ons hierdie jaar n groot sukses daarvan maak. Hiervoor het ons natuurlik elke lid se hulp nodig. Dan is daar n paar seminare op die agenda en ook n hele paar ander uitstappies. Ons wil ook graag die Bring & Braai kuiers meer gereeld hou. Dit kan net lekker wees as al die lede saam kuier. En die groot verrassing is dat ons een van die dae ons eie Klubhuis sal hê. Nouja, kom ons pak hierdie jaar met mening aan. Honde Groete, Annatjie (Voorsitter). Volume 1;1 Hallo aan almal. Hierdie jaar gaan ons almal poog om goed saam te werk en die klub se ledetal te laat groei. Dankie aan elkeen wat so getrou die klub Sondae ondersteun. Dit hang van elkeen van die lede af om die klub n sukses te maak en die omgewing een waar eienaar en hond hulleself kan geniet. Indien enige lid n voorstel het of n moontlike klagte, moet hulle asb met enigeiemand op die komitee kom gesels. Vriendelike groete, Christa H (Sekretaresse). CLUB EVENTS: Bloemfontein GSD club 2008 Bloemfontein GSD klub 2008 The Bloemfontein GSD club is striving this year to place ourselves back on the GSD map by working towards an united, well-organised and motivated front. Many activities have already been planned for 2008 and many further opportunities will present themselves during the course of the year. The club management is asking all club members to please communicate needs and wants, as well as possible suggestions and complaints to them. This way potential problems can be avoided or solved early on and all the various needs of the club members taken into consideration and catered for. This year s show promises to be a remarkable event with a large number of entries from all over the country. The breed show is scheduled for the 16th of March and starts with the breed surveys at about 08:00, followed by the minor puppy class (+/-09:30) and then classes 1 to 10 of the older dogs. The awards ceremony will follow after the males class 10 and will probably conclude around 16:00. Every club member s help is needed in regards to organising this show and making it a success. Please contact Christa or Babie if you wish to volunteer any help. Sponsor forms are available from Annatjie. Furthermore, a point was raised at the last AGM that the club members had a need for more seminars and talks to be held by experts on various topics. The management has taken note and have arranged the following events so far (with more to follow later in the year): On the 15th of March three speakers will be holding seminars at the club for members who are interested. Mr Rudi Zimmerman will talk on What is a judge looking for in the show ring ; Mrs Mauren van der Heide will talk about Bloodlines and breeding with GSD s ; and Ms Tzilla Yanai will talk to us about How to show train your dog. These are all very knowledgeable people who have made great contributions to the GSD breed in this country as well as within the GSD Federation where under our club functions. Let s all support these events and have a great time while doing it. Regards, Monique.
BFN GSD KLUB BFN GSD KLUB Volume 1;1 Page 5 IN LIGTE LUIM: Anybody who doesn t know what soap tastes like, has never washed a dog If your dog is fat; you are not getting enough exercise. My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to R6,00 a can. That s almost R42,00 in dog money! If you think dogs can t count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them To be posted VERY LOW on the refrigerator door about snout height. Dear Dogs and Cats, The dishes with paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate of food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest. The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn t help because I fall faster than you can run. I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm. For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. I by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years canine or feline attendance/supervision is not mandatory. To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door: To all Non-Pet Owners who visit and like to complain about our pets- 1.They live here. You don t. 2. If you don t want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture (that s why they call it fur niture. 3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people. 4. To you, it s an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn t speak clearly. Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids because they: Eat less; Don t ask for money all the time; Are easier to train; Usually come when called; Never drive your car; Never lie or talk back; Don t hang out with the wrong friends; Don t smoke or drink; Don t worry about buying the latest fashions; Don t wear your clothes; Don t need a gazillion dollars for University and If they get pregnant, you can sell their children...
BFN GSD KLUB Von Bergheim Kennels Volume 1;1 page 6 PRELIMINARY EVENTS CALENDER: (January June 2008) (some dates may change during the course of the year) 26 January Table Bay AD (Western Cape) 02 February Table Bay Breed Survey (WC) 10 February Helvitia Breed Show (Gauteng) 23/24 February Council Meeting 02 March Johannesburg Breed Show (G) 16 March Bloemfontein Breed Show (FS) 23 March Western Cape Provincial Breed Show (WC) 30 March Phoenix Breed Show (G) 06 April Pinetown Breed Show (KZN) 2-4 May NATIONAL BREED SHOW (G) 08 June Rotek Breed Show (G) 15 June East London Breed Show (EL) 22 June National SchH 29 June Midrand Breed Show (G) key: Babie: 082 730 4224 Free State (FS) Western Cape Kwazulu-Natal(KZN) Gauteng (G) Eastern Cape (EC) Meetings Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. Thanks to: Jonathan, Babie, Annatjie, Corli, Christa, Langenhovenpark Dierekliniek, Ffyner Technologies, von Bergheim kennels, Piemonel kennels, Haveloc kennels and all the articles referenced. Publikasiebesonderhede: Saamgestel deur: Monique Nel Selnr: 082 872 1865 Faks: 051 5221307 Stuur vrae, kommentaar, advertensies, artikels, ens. na: E-pos: nelmj.md@ufs.ac.za Posbus: 11216, Universitas, 9321, Bfn. Volgende uitgawe: Junie 2008