By Dave Hamel
Happy February! It's still as cold as all get out, but expectations are that it won't last (at least we hope). Our new club board met for the first time in January to discuss some of the issues facing the club. I want to thank those members that took the time to accept board positions.
A number of actions for the board were discussed and moved on during this meeting. During previous sessions it was approved to move our October trial to January starting in 2005. This leaves the weekend that we previously used for our trial available for something else. One issue we discussed was holding a seminar or other event during the weekend. It was approved to have an AKC Judging seminar on Saturday and a Rally match on Sunday over that weekend. Plans are moving ahead for this. Additionally, we discussed the possibility of having Patricia McConnell (The Other End of the Leash) for a seminar in 2005. One last major topic of note is plans for the PCOTC January 2005 Obedience trial are firming up. More information on dates and judges will be out shortly. If you have any thoughts or comments on any of the topics mentioned, please communicate them to a board member.
The new training sessions for the year have commenced. This first basic class is large and has an interesting combination of companions. Denise is teaching the advanced class with a topic of developing attention. Come out and join us for some training excitement.
Lastly, I would encourage everyone to extend a warm and hearty thank you and farewell to Marie Stuart. She has submitted her resignation to the club. She has obtained an employment offer from a firm in Richmond and will be leaving this area. She has been a tremendous asset to the club and its operation over the years.
Hope to see you all at some of the upcoming trials!
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By Denise Call
Well a new year has arrived and I see we are back in training mode. It is good to see so many of you back at class and working with your dogs. I am also glad to see those of you with new puppies taking advantage of our basic class. It is an excellent program and one the club has reason to be proud of.
You may have noticed a few differences this year. We have set up ring gates to accommodate those who wish to work on their own and still be able to use the building during classes. 2/3 of building is set aside for class instruction and the other third is for those who wish to train on their own. If you would like mats and jumps set out in this area please let Dave Hamel, or myself know and we can have them available for your use. Please keep in mind the acoustics we have to deal with in the armory while training your dog or catching up on gossip with dog friends. We wish to encourage people to come and spend time with us, visit, work your dog, socialize your puppies but be respectful of those who have a class to teach. We hope this system will work to everyone's benefit.
We also ask that E-collars not be used during the basic class. If you need to use one please work your dog outside. There are appropriate places for the use of all training equipment. The E-collar is controversial at best, in an obedience setting. PCOTC also advertises motivational training with lots of positive reinforcement, play, praise and how to give an effective correction. Let's not send conflicting messages to our students and new members. Not everyone is comfortable with every training method. We try to balance corrections with praise and play to reach the majority of training philosophies.
There is still a need for instructors for the basic class for this year. If you don't feel confident enough to teach on your own but want to try we will pair you with an experienced instructor till you are ready to go solo. Don't feel you don't know enough. This program is set up with all lesson plans and homework sheets printed for you. So be brave and give it a chance you may find it rewarding.
The show season is upon us and I know I will be seeing you out there with your dogs. My first outing is Dulles Gateway UKC obedience. Then on to AKC obedience to get that CDX on my girl so we can concentrate on utility. We have also started back to agility and hope for our second title this year. See you at the shows.
Submitted by Caryl Thompson
This may not be news to some, but it was news to me and I have been sharing it with all my friends. Our house has a heavy animal load - 3 dogs and 2 cats. Needless to say, we clean often, but our windowsills and the wooden molding along the floor get terribly gross. It's a combination of dog drool and body oil, I think, not to mention slime from goopy dog toys and heaven knows what else.
I have been using Murphy's Oil Soap (no affiliation) to clean these areas. It works wonders! No
scrubbing. No elbow grease. I use a sponge that has a green scotch pad on one side. Dip the sponge in the Oil
Soap, slide the scotch pad side over the windowsill, and then sponge up the excess water. That's it!
As a bonus - it isn't harsh, doesn't hurt the hands, and even smells good!
(I've also been using it on areas on the walls where the dogs sleep and goop it up. It seems to work well
on walls, too, but our paint color is light. You might need to test on a darker paint color to make sure
it doesn't remove the color.)
I have told many of my friends about this; the only ones who already knew about it also show their
dogs in the conformation ring and sometimes use a very, very diluted mixture to wash the dogs in. They
claim it doesn't strip the natural oils, leaves the coat shiny, and also enhances the reddish hue of the coat.
Author Unknown
I am your dog, and I have a little something I'd like to whisper in your ear. I know that you humans lead busy lives. Some have to work, some have children to raise. It always seems like you are running here and there, often much too fast, often never noticing the truly grand things in life.
Look down at me now, while you sit there with your newsletter. See the way my dark brown eyes look at yours? They are slightly cloudy now. That comes with age. The gray hairs are beginning to ring my soft muzzle.
You smile at me; I see love in your eyes. What do you see in mine? Do you see a spirit? A soul inside, who loves you as no other could in the world? A spirit that would forgive all trespasses of prior wrong doing for just a simple moment of your time? That is all I ask. To slow down, if even for a few minutes to be with me. So many times you have been saddened by the words you read in that newsletter, of others of my kind, passing.
Sometimes we die young and oh so quickly; sometimes so suddenly it wrenches your heart out of your throat. Sometimes, we age so slowly before your eyes that you may not even seem to know until the very end, when we look at you with grizzled muzzles and cataract clouded eyes. Still the love is always there, even when we must take that long sleep, to run free in a distant land. I may not be here tomorrow; I may not be here next week.
Someday you will shed the water from your eyes, that humans have when deep grief fills their souls, and you will be angry at yourself that you did not have just "One more day" with me. Because I love you so, your sorrow touches my spirit and grieves me. We have NOW, together. So come, sit down here next to me on the floor, and look deep into my eyes. What do you see? If you look hard and deep enough we will talk, you and I, heart to heart.
Come to me not as "alpha" or as "trainer" or even "Mom or Dad," come to me as a living soul and stroke my fur and let us look deep into one another's eyes, and talk. I may tell you something about the fun of chasing a tennis ball, or I may tell you something profound about myself, or even life in general.
You decided to have me in your life because you wanted a soul to share such things with. Someone very different from you, and here I am. I am a dog, but I am alive. I feel emotion, I feel physical senses, and I can revel in the differences of our spirits and souls. I do not think of you as a "Dog on two feet." I know what you are. You are human, in all your quirkiness, and I love you still.
Now, come sit with me, on the floor. Enter my world, and let time slow down if only for 15 minutes. Look deep into my eyes, and whisper to my ears. Speak with your heart, with your joy and I will know your true self. We may not have tomorrow, and life is oh so very short .
From Maggie Hayes: SHR SR Fireside Snap N Crackle JH (OTCH gunnabe) has earned the Brass Duckband award from the North American Hunting Retriever Association (NAHRA) for his work at the Started level this year. This entitles him to compete in their regional field event next fall. Proud of the little red devil!
Submitted by Martha Eisnaugle
I wanted to send my appreciation to all who send cards and good wishes upon the death of my mother. They meant a lot to me.
February 28 & 29: Charlotte, NC UKC Carolina Classic 2 UKC Obedience Trials. Closes Feb. 13. Contact Mark Threfall at (269) 343-9020 or classic@ukcdogs.com
March 6 & 7: Hampton, VA Belroi's UKC Obedience Trial at Merrimac Dog Training Club. $18 received by February 27; $20 day of show entries. Contact Fay Smith at (804) 776-9289 or FCRF@crosslink.net
March 27-28. 2004: Wilmington Kennel Club Facility, Newark, DE Mid-Atlantic Australian Shepherd
Club is hosting an all-breed ASCA obedience trial. Entry fees: $12 for pre-entries or $15 day of show.
Closes March 26. All entries must be on official ASCA entry forms. You can download an official entry form
at www.asca.org. For more information about this trial, contact aussieposse312@aol.com or
http://maasc.tripod.com/maasc
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Richmond Dog Obedience Club is presenting an AKC Judging Seminar February 21. This is a great opportunity to learn about the new regulations that are now in effect. This seminar will be held at the Richmond SPCA building, 2519 Hermitage Road. Cost: $75 (includes continental breakfast and lunch). For more information, visit http://rdoc.org or contact Mary Anne Massie at slipknotfarm@aol.com and use "AKC Seminar" in the subject line.
The Portsmouth Chesapeake Obedience Training Club, Inc is a nonprofit organization composed of people who enjoy working and spending time with their dogs. We are interested in helping you train your dog to be a well mannered family member and a source of pride.
President:
Vice President:
Treasurer:
Corresponding Secretary:
Recording Secretary:
Board Members:
Janet Willis
757-523-0906
board1@pcotcdogs.org
Denise Call
757-558-1120
board2@pcotcdogs.org
Oliver Aguilar
757-306-4193
board3@pcotcdogs.org
>Mark McCuen
757-465-5099
board4@pcotcdogs.org
The PUP
deadlines:
We make every effort to distribute The PUP the first Wednesday of each month. In order to help us make this deadline, please submit information by the 25th of the previous month. Please send any submissions for The PUP to pupeditor@pcotcdogs.org