by Denise Call
Our first session of basic obedience is drawing to a close and what a good class this has been. All our dog and handler teams are mastering the lessons and working smoothly together. I don't know if this is an extra special class or I am just becoming a better teacher. I think a little of both. I am proud of each and every one of you in the basic class.
You can tell the dogs and handlers go home and practice, your abilities speak of the effort you put into the class.
I want to thank everyone who has volunteered to teach a session of classes. Basic and advanced classes are all set for instructors for the remainder of the year. The club appreciates your willingness to share your time and knowledge. We realize you give up time from your training schedule to help and we thank you. We can always use demo dogs for basic class so take advantage of the opportunity to train with a distraction and demo for us I want to thank Janice and her boy Say who have helped with the class and done some demos for us.
I have seen some of you out there trying for titles and wish you all the best. Don't get discouraged when you NQ; we have all been there; and will be again. Just do your best and if it doesn't go as planned just go back and train some more. Remember they are just dogs. Have the attitude that you are competing against your last score and not another competitor. We all strive to improve as we should but don't let it get too serious. This should be fun and if it stops being fun for both parties it's time to look for another pastime. Training should be about building a relationship with your dog. Not who has the highest score or who has high in trial. Those are the extras, when it happens savor it, relish it but don't expect it. Dogs are not robots and should not be expected to perform as one. It is their unpredictability that challenges us as a trainer. So go out there do the best you can and always try to better your self as a team.
by Dave Hamel
The first session of the 2004 calendar year is already coming to an end. The first basic class was a large class and well attended throughout. It's great to see all the different dogs making great strides in their training. The advanced class has been busy and lots of fun. I want to thank Denise Call for all her work through the first session classes.
The second session will start with the basic class orientation on March 24th. Mark Maguire will be instructing that session. Normally, the second hour of that evening would be available for CGC Testing. Unfortunately, we will not be holding testing at the beginning of this session. Please let folks know this. The next advanced class will start on March 31st and be a class on Novice Prep taught by me.
Last fall the club board voted to move our annual obedience trial to the weekend of January 29-30,
2005. This left us with our previous trial weekend in October to hold some other function. Over the past
few months, we have made numerous attempts to bring in guest trainers in a variety of topics to fill our
2004 time slot. We have been unsuccessful so far due to a variety of reasons. If any members have thoughts
or ideas about ways to use this time, please let one of the board members know as soon as possible.
On March 15th the PCOTC Board will meet again with the location to be determined. In addition to the standard agenda items as identified in the by-laws the following topics are currently on slate for discussion. Any members wishing to attend the meeting should contact David Hamel, 478-6913 or email at gargos@cox.net for the location.
Agenda Items:
Old Business:
· 2004 Seminar: Potential Topics for the October time slot?
· 2005 Obedience Trial: contracted judges? Show chair?
· Storage of Training equipment: Rental Space? Purchase of Equipment Trailer?
· Board Position Vacancy? Nominations?
New business
· CGC Testing?
From Marie Stuart:
Footage from the October 2003 road trial Striker and I entered was used as a lead in for the Non-Sporting Group at Westminster this year. There was rumor it would be used but no one would know til that evening watching the show on USA. It was great seeing Striker on national TV. I have been asked how did I get him to maintain position so well. Simple, obedience training and polishing with an e-collar. It was amazing to see how well Striker understood what was asked of him when it was defined with the collar. Those barn cats can be very distracting.
From Denise Call:
UKC GRCH Calla's Izzy My Valentine "aka" Tank earned his UCD in four shows 2 legs at Dulles Gateway Obedience trial Feb 7 & 8, 2004. One show each day also awarded high scoring dog with a UKC GRCH title both days. And he earned his title at Tidewater Dog Performance Clubs all breed show and Obedience trial Feb 21 & 22, 2004. Tank NQ'd the first day by going around the jump on recall. On second day he earned a score of 185 and a first place in Novice B. Tank was also entered in conformation on Sunday and won GRCH class and Best of Breed. Sunday was his day to shine.
Cudos to Vicki Hagemeister and her Australian Cattle Dog Taz who won high in trial on Saturday.
From Maggie Hayes:
Snap earned his first obedience leg at the Dulles Gateway UKC trial on February 8. He took second place with a 196 in a large Novice B class. Don't look for any more obedience brags soon, though. The boy clearly showed me we still have our work to do!
From Marie Hatchell:
Shadow, a german shepherd male, just earned his Therapy Dog International designation of "Active" in honor of his first 50 visits as a therapy dog. He is now Shadow TDIA. Shadow is the therapy dog for Lake Prince Retirement Center and Maryview Hospital. We are SO proud of him!
submitted by Maggie Hayes
I read with interest the board's decision banning the use of e collars in the building during the basic class. While it does not surprise me, the reasons given surely do. As expressed in the training director's column in the February PUP, the board feels e collar use sends a "conflicting" message to students in the basic class. She also says that PCOTC advertises a "motivational" basic program. The inference being that somehow e collar usage would not fit into this type of program. I wrote the basic curriculum and it is, indeed, a motivational approach. It is, however, a balanced approach.
The basic curriculum is solidly based on the Law of Operant Conditioning. Stated simply this translates to "if you follow a behavior you want by giving the dog something he finds reinforcing, you will increase the probability that that behavior will occur again". There are two categories of reinforcers: positive and negative.
A positive reinforcer is offered after the behavior has occurred and it increases the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated. If giving your dog a cookie when he responds correctly to your "come" command increases the probability that he will come next time you call, then the cookie reinforces the "come". If your dog happily munches on cookies every time they are offered but still doesn't come when called, then the cookie is not reinforcing.
A negative reinforcer, simply put, is something aversive you do to the dog until he does what you want him to and then you stop doing it. Let's return to our cookie loving dog that still doesn't come when he's called. All the cookies in the world have not convinced that dog that coming on command is in his best interest. Here's where a negative reinforcer is useful. Slap a long line and a prong collar on said dog. Call him and give him a series of sharp pops towards you at the same time. The instant he takes a step towards you, you stop the pops. The dog's movement towards you is reinforced by the cessation of the pops on his neck. An e collar is used in the same fashion. Call the dog, nick, or shock, him with the collar, stop the nick when he comes towards you. The intensity of the shock, like the pop, is individual to the dog and dependent on his response to the aversive.
An e collar is a tool used to apply an aversive, or something unpleasant, to the dog. It is no different in that regard from a choke chain, a prong collar, a heeling stick or the myriad of other tools trainers use. A tool is a tool is a tool. Only as effective as the person using it. Only as harmful as the person using it. I have seen folks misusing prong collars in that building and yet we don't ban them. I have seen folks dragging dogs around on choke chains and yet we don't ban them. What's the difference? A tool is a tool is a tool.
From this trainer's point of view, the use of an e collar fits right into a balanced training program. The basic class is not based solely on positive reinforcement. We should not deceive ourselves, or our students, into thinking that it is. Pain avoidance can be VERY motivating and we DO intentionally cause pain or discomfort to our dogs in order to get them to comply. To pretend otherwise is just thatpretense! We have a responsibility to new dog owners to give them the tools they need to turn their little wild things into responsible canine citizens. We also have a responsibility to educate them in how dogs learn so they can use their chosen tools to optimal results.
While I am not advocating the use of e collars for all dogs, I would like the board to be a bit clearer on their resistance to them. The reasons stated in the training director's article reflect a lack of understanding of the tool, itself, and of motivational training, in general. Just my opinion! Would any of the other e collar trainers like to speak up?
HROTC's spring trial premium list is out and if someone needs one they can contact Brian Pritchard at bpritch@nsa.pvt.k12.va.us or Suzie Parsons at lparsons30@aol.com
March 14, 2004: Belroi Agility and Obedience Center: Gloucester, VA. Belori Agility Club Agility Show & Go. Outdoors, rain or shine. Three Rings: Ring 1, AKC Standard; Ring 2, AKC - Jumps with Weavers; Ring 3, UKC - AG II. Registration and Walk Throughs: 9 AM to 10 AM, Judging begins in all three rings at 10 AM ( All conflicts will be worked out by Gate Stewarts. All entries will have their opportunity to run. $5 for first run, $3 for additional runs. Training (food, toys, etc.) in the ring allowed. For more information contact Sam Banks 804 785-7208 or mailto:ssssbanks@inna.net.
March 15, 2003: PCOTC Board Meeting (See page 2 for details)
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
May 1-2, 2004: Belroi Agility and Obedience Center, Gloucester, VA: Belori Agility Club & Tidewater Dog Performance's 2 UKC Agility Trials. Pre-Entries only, no day of trial entries. Limited to 150 entries per trial. Pre-Entry Fee: $16.00 and $13.00 for same dog in same trial. Trial Secretary: Buck Boyd, 383 Glen Cove Drive, Hardyville, VA 23070, 804 776 700, bboyd@rivnet.net BAC Premium and UKC Entry Form can be downloaded from "http://www.belroiagilityclub.com/" web site.
May 1-2, 2004: Gosnold Hope Park, Hampton, VA: Langley Kennel Club All Breed Sanctioned "B" Match - includes eye clinic, microchip clinic, tatto clinic! For details contact Jennifer Meermans at matoaka98@yahoo.com
May 15: Red Wing Park, Virginia Beach, VA: Pets Supplies Plus K9
Karnival. Enjoy canine activities, exhibits, and festival foods. This event will feature the 2004 Skyhoundz® Regional Competition,
a canine disc contest, for the first time. Any and all dogs can register for the Skyhoundz®
Competition (small entry fee) or 13th Annual Dog-Gonest Dog Show. Bring your dog with the family to
enjoy a dog-day afternoon in the park. Call 427-2990 for details.
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MDTC is located at 15 Newsome Place, off Pembroke Avenue in Hampton. Registration for each run-through is from 8-10 am with judging starting at 8:30 am.
Obedience:
Saturday, March 20
Saturday, May 29
Saturday, June 26
Saturday, July 17
Saturday, August 21
Agility:
(on new matting)
Saturday, May 1
Saturday, June 5
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Author Unknown
Submitted by Lee Hussey
I train my dog like clockwork, my schedule never bends.
Except, of course, last Monday when I had to meet some friends.
Tuesday night is dog school, I never miss a class.
But my house sure needed cleaning, so this once I had to pass.
I guess I missed last Wednesday thought my intentions were the best.
I came home from work exhausted and had to get some rest.
Thursday it was raining, as you all well know.
I couldn't train on Friday, not the day before the show.
And here we are on Saturday, my dog is at his peak.
We ought to get a super score, we worked so well all week!
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