By A. Fannie & The Flashman
Kirkk9s@aol.com
1. Stick to our diet so we'll be in tip-top condition for agility this spring. No noshing on garbage or the cats' food before or after they've eaten it.
2. Practice "honor" for our Senior Hunter Titles so Man and Dad won't have to use that special training collar. You know the one (hint: it uses batteries).
3. Snort down as many bunny droppings possible while tracking. Mom and Dad cut out the food drop because of agility diet restrictions.
4. Get in some heavy duty cat chasing on Thursday nights while Mom and Dad are glued to the T.V. watching "Survivor."
5. Practice daily: "poop face" Mom loves that Teri Arnold term. The poopier the face the better the food bribe to wipe it off the face during the Utility Signal Exercise.
6. And speaking of Signals, we're continuing our study as to why 2 people who suffer from running off of the mouth most of the time feel the necessity to become mute a few feet from us and wave their arms around like a couple of wounded birds.
7. Help train Mom's new Chia pet and see if we can get it to run laps with us in the back yard.
8. At least once a day play "whack the cat" (this is not a Tony Soprano whack) to remind them that "Dogs reign Cats are a pain."
9. Continue to sing the praises of those wonderful agility gurus whose motto is, "It's always the handler's fault." Example: "Excuse me, madam, but would you like to know exactly why Fido did 5 off courses, lifted his leg on pole #12, hauled butt across I-95, and locked into a point on a covey of quail? It was because your left shoulder was 2 cm forward and should have been 1 cm back and your right foot should have been turned " more towards the dog's path. Now with that kind of handling what else could you expect from the little critter?"
10. And to frequently propose a toast to our canine friends everywhere. To the tune of "Climb Every Mountain:"
"Climb every A-frame
Track every field
Follow every quail scent
'Til you find your dream!"
by Dave Hamel
Welcome to 2004! How many resolutions did you make for the new year?? I hope a few were related to your companions and training goals. This is a great time to think about your goals and decide where you want to go through the year.
Our new Board will be meeting for the first time on the 19th of January at my house, and all are welcome to attend. I'd like to express my thanks to all of those that accepted positions within the club and wish them all the best in the coming year. If there are any issues any members wish to raise or bring up, please communicate them to a board member. The club is for everyone and we are always looking for things to offer and ways to improve what we do.
Our first training session is scheduled to begin on 7 January with the basic orientation and the CGC test. The first classes will be the following week on the 14th. We are always in need of instructors during the year. If you would like to conduct some training sessions and have a topic of interest, please contact Denise Call or myself.
by Denise Call
I hope everyone enjoyed the Holiday Season this year. It is a welcome break from the hectic dog showing year. We spend time with family and friends and replace a hectic dog showing schedule with a hectic holiday schedule. I'm sure you are all anxious to get back into show mode for whatever venue you favor.
January is a time to prepare for the coming season. A time to polish our performance as well as our dogs. There are classes to attend, run-throughs to go to and hopefully some matches available to proof our canine companions.
PCOTC is set to begin the season with classes starting on January 7th for basic class and advanced class follows the next week. We are still in desperate need of instructors for both the basic and advanced classes this season. So if you have knowledge to share, went to a seminar last year and learned new techniques please volunteer to teach a class. Anyone interested in teaching can contact Dave Hamel, or myself and we can tell you which sessions still need instructors.
There are also flyers available for distribution to tell public about the classes we offer. Volunteers will be needed to place them in vets offices, care a lot, grooming shopsand anywhere else you can think of.
If we want to keep the Armory as a place to train we need to keep our basic class full. It is no longer the only game in town. With Pet Smart offering classes every of the week at all locations we have to advertise to be known. And the program we offer is a superior one with knowledgeable instructors. I if you have time and are going around town or even just to your own vet please see me after class for some flyers to distribute.
I hope to see you in coming weeks at the armory, working your dogs and preparing for a successful year!
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January 30 February 1: Fletcher, NC Blue Ridge Agility Club's AKC Agility Trial Opens Dec. 10 and closes Jan. 9. $20. For more information, contact Peggy Franklin at (828) 697-2118 or pegfranklin@juno.com. http://blueridgeagility.com
February 7 & 8: Point of Rocks, MD Dulles Gateway Obedience Training Club's UKC Obedience Trials; $20 closes January 17, 2004. For more information, contact Marti Patchell at (703) 532-4784 or patchel@georgetown.edu
February 7 & 8: Durham, NC Triangle Obedience Club's UKC Obedience Trial $18 for entries received by Feb. 4; $20 day of show entries. For more information, contact Anne Carson at (919) 787-2707 or atopcat@bellsouth.net
February 21-22: Hampton, VA Merrimac Dog Training Club's AKC Agility Trial (Novice & Open only) Opens Dec. 17, closes Jan. 9; $20. The premium is online at www.merrimacdogs.com. For more information, contact Vonda Winkler at (757) 875-5590 or jmsenger@umich.edu
February 21-22: Franklin, VA Tidewater Dob Performance Club's UKC Multi-Breed Show, Obedience Trial & Weight Pull Fun Pull Closes Feb. 7; $18 for conformation and obedience; $10 for weight pull. For more information, contact Patti Cooper at (757) 631-8577 or pshelti@cox.net
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
Registration: 8:30 AM - 10 AM (Judging begins at 9 AM)
Fee : $5 per run-through. For more information, contact Kathy Routten at pugtrainer@yahoo.com
Agility Run-Through: Saturday, January 31
Obedience Run-Throughs: Saturday, January 17
Saturday, February 28
Saturday, March 20
Rally Run-Through: Saturday, February 14
For anyone who is interesting learning more about Holistic Health Care for Pets, Prince Georges Feral Friends is sponsoring a series of full-day seminars in a number of holistic modalities, beginning in January and running until Spring. These will be offered in Prince Georges County, Maryland (east of D.C.) but are worth the drive, even if you are an hour or two away. They will all be on Sundays. Each seminar is 9 am - 5 pm. There is one prerequisite: Introduction to Holistic Health Care seminar. After that you can go into one or all four "tracks". There is a seminar in Nutrition, one Introduction to Homeopathy plus a four-day Intermediate Homeopathy for Animals, one Acupuncture for Pets, and Basic and Intermediate Animal Communication. For more details, visit the PGFerals web page at http://www.pgferals.org or go directly to http://www.pgferals.org/files/PGFerals/HolisticSeries2004Flier5Page.pdf
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.
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Membership applications and payment are due January 15th! A copy is enclosed.
Also, you are encouraged to attend the Boad Meeting Monday, January 19th at
Dave Hamel's house. Please call him at 478-6913 or e-mail president@pcotcdogs.org
for directions.
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Author unknown
1. I could walk around safely barefoot in the dark;
2. My house could be carpeted instead of tiled and laminated;
3. All flat surfaces, clothing, furniture, and cars would be free of dog hair;
4. When the doorbell rang, it wouldn't sound like the SPCA kennels;
5. When the doorbell rang, I could get to the door without wading thru four or five dog bodies who beat me there;
6. I could sit how I wanted to on the couch without taking into consideration where several little furbodies would need to get;
7. I would not have strange presents under my tree....like dog bones, stuffed animals and have to answer to people why I wrap them up;
8. I would not be on a first name basis with a vet;
9. Most used words in my vocabulary would not be: potty, outside, sit, down, come, no, and leave him/her ALONE;
10. My house would not be cordoned off into zones with baby gates;
11. My purse would not contain things like poop pick up bags and dog treats;
12. I would no longer have to spell the world B-A-L-L and F-R-I-S-B-E-E;
13. I would not buy weird things to stuff into "kongs", or have to explain why I'm buying them, or what a "kong" is;
14. I would not have as many leaves INSIDE my house as outside;
15. I would not look strangely at people who think having their ONE dog ties them down too much;
16. I would not have to answer the question why do I have so many dogs from people who will never have the joy in their life of knowing they are loved unconditionally by something as close to an angel as they will ever get. Who else has a friend who considers you the MOST important thing in the whole wide world all the time.
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: DavidHamel 757-478-6913 president@pcotcdogs.org
Vice President: Mary Ann Maher 757-686-8590 vpresident@ pcotcdogs.org
Treasurer: Cathy Broyles 757-488-8752 treasurer@pcotcdogs.org
Corresponding Secretary: Tracy Stevens 757-487-0624 csecretary@pcotcdogs.org
Recording Secretary: Leslie Wemhoff 757-465-0456 rsecretary@pcotcdogs.org
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
Marie Stuart 757-465-5099 board4@pcotcdogs.org