Coverdog: Jessie

Brush Farm Dog Training Club

Training Grounds Location:Brush Farm Park, Corner of Marsden Road & Lawson Street, Eastwood

Mailing Address: 18 Railway Street, Baulkham Hills 2153 Clubhouse Phone: 9858 5281 (from 1pm Sundays) Website: www.brushfarm.com.au

BRUSH FARM DOG TRAINING CLUB INC.Established 1967. Affiliated RNSWCC (Dogs NSW) 1969

WHAT WE DO •Brush Farm Dog Training Club is a non-profit organisation run by a dedicated team of volunteers, committed

to serving the local community and promoting responsible dog ownership. We teach people to train their dog to be socialised and obedient, and promote participation in canine obedience sports.

•Each year our club delivers over 300 hours of training classes, trains over 500 dogs, & runs three trials, attracting over 250 competitors from across Sydney

•Training provides a benefit to both dog owners and the wider community - dogs that have participated in obedience training are less likely to be surrendered to pounds and animal shelters due to behavioural problems or aggression than dogs with no training.

•Attending training for just one hour each Sunday afternoon at Brush Farm Park will give you the skills to train your dog to be a happy, well behaved member of your family.

MEMBER INFORMATION •Sunday training times: - (Please arrive half an hour early to allow time for vetting)

2:00pm – 3:00pm - Puppies, Brown, Green & White classes 3:30pm – 4:30pm - Yellow & Red classes

•New member registration – every Sunday from 1PM (without your dog) •For sale at the Clubhouse - collars, leads, halters, dumbbells, bum-bags, polo shirts, caps, snacks and

drinks – EFTPOS available. •Training is rarely cancelled due to rain or extreme heat (35o C and above) – more often than not we are

lucky with the weather! If in doubt, please call the Clubhouse after 1.00 pm to check if classes are on— phone 9858 5281. Puppy class is always on rain hail or shine as it can be held indoors.

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEES •Payable in February each year, and covering all training fees for the full calendar year:

Adult members $90 Pensioner members $75 Junior (under 18) members $75 Dual/family members $100 (one dog) $120 (two dogs) EFTPOS available

GET INVOLVED •General Meetings are held bi-monthly at Brush Farm Club House, Eastwood at 8.00 pm. All members are

welcome to come and have a say in our Club’s affairs. Supper is served after the meeting. •Our Club is run by volunteers - please see Noel, Heidi or your instructor if you would like to assist by helping

set up the training equipment, serving in the canteen, working on our website, training to become an instructor, or assisting with a myriad of other jobs that makes the club run !!!

•Steward at club trials – Approximately 20 people are needed on each trial day to set up equipment, marshal competitors, record results, staff the kitchen, and pack up. See Noel to join the Steward Squad.

Club Office Bearers President: Noel Reilly 9639 4291 Chief Instructor: Heidi Richardson 9801 8797 Treasurer: John Clifton Secretary: Linda Allen Vice Presidents: Anne Affleck, Anna Steinberg Dep. Chief Instructors: Greig Edwards, Danielle Leong Trial Secretary: Karen Lamb Registrar: Karen Forsyth, Ivy Sherry Canine Examiners: Bill Short, Colin Richardson Equipment Officer: John CliftonEditor ‘The Barker’: Natalie Leong

Patrons: Steve and Vicki Austin; The Mayor of Ryde

Committee Bill Short, Angela Munge, Greig Edwards, Colin Richardson, Karen Lamb, Janelle Woodward, Anne Martin, Danielle Leong, Alan Luc, Ivy Sherry, June Johansson

InstructorsAnne Affleck, Geoff Craine, Vivien Dunkerly, Greig Edwards, Peter Hewitt, Danielle Leong, David Marcellino, Anne Martin, Noel Reilly, Heidi Richardson, Anna Steinberg, Colin Richardson, Janelle Woodward, Natalie Leong, Kylie Williams, Alan Luc, June Johansson, Tania Cochrane

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTNoel Reilly

Welcome to Brush Farm Dog Training Club in 2019

First of all on behalf of myself, our committee and Instructors I would like to wish all our members a Happy New Year. Whether you are a current member of the club or you are just joining us for the first time this year, we would like to welcome both handlers and their dogs to our club and we hope you have a very successful year whether you are competing in trials or shows or just training and socialising your dog along with other club members.

The entire club is run by volunteers, so from the time you arrive at the club whether you are re-joining or a new member you will be greeted by and looked after by our dedicated team of volunteers. So in the coming months if you feel you would like to be part of our team please do not hesitate to talk to us and we will be only too happy to help.

We currently hold two Obedience Trials a year in March and in August and a Rally O Trial in October. On those days we will require up to twenty volunteers to help out on the day and it will give you a chance to see the top dogs in the state competing and may encourage you to compete at a later stage.

All our members are the eyes and ears of any club, so if you see anything that you think we can improve on or that you are not happy with, please let us know. In many cases we have implanted those suggestions. We have also included for the benefit of our members an EFTPOS facility which will assist you in renewing your membership and purchasing all your training needs so yes we do listen your advice and things do take time to implement. So like I said if you would like to be part of the team please talk to us.

The Barker is our club magazine and if you wish to contribute to you are most welcome and you will find all those details in the magazine this includes photographs and stories that are of interest to our members.

Current members will notice that they will be required to re-join the club as of the 1st of February each year and that membership covers everything including handlers day’s and club functions throughout the year. However everyone will be required to sign on at the register for insurance purposes each week .

I look forward to meeting you all again in February to commence another year at Brush Farm!

Regards, Noel Reilly President Brush Farm Dog Training Club.

Photo: Courtesy of Ivy Sherry, President Noel Reilly making volunteer Bill Short do all the hard work!

CLUB NEWS

Join in the fun!

Our Club is run by a team of wonderful volunteers. If you’d like to get involved in any capacity, just let us know!

Christmas Raffle

Thank you to all who bought tickets to the Christmas Party Raffle!

Money raised from the Christmas Raffle will be donated to two charities. These will be chosen at the next General Meeting on Wed Feb 20 . The charities are randomly drawn from names in a hat so please let us know if you have any charities that you would like to have in the running! The only criteria is that the charity has to work for the benefit of humans or animals.

CONGRATULATIONS HEIDI AND COOPER!

Heidi and Cooper earned their first pass in Rally Obedience Novice at the Northern Suburbs Trial in January. He scored an impressive 90/100 under judge Ron Probert. Nice work Heidi and Cooper!

FROM THE CHIEF INSTRUCTOR’SBUM BAG

A big welcome to our new members, and a big welcome back to our existing members.

To our new members:

Well done for bringing your dogs to school. It is important for you dog to learn what we expect of him/her to fit into our lifestyle. It isn’t easy for a dog to understand that the carpet is not in indoor lawn that can be used as a toilet, nor that the toilet bowl isn’t an indoor water supply. They have to learn all of this, and they don’t speak English and you don’t speak Dog, and guess what shouting doesn’t make it any clearer for the dog ☺. It is important to establish a good relationship with your dog. So we use positive reinforcement to help them learn. Remember the ABC of learning:

Antecedent ->Behaviour ->Consequence.

It is the consequence of the behaviour that causes the behaviour to be repeated or not. We positively reinforce the behaviours we want and ignore those that we don’t want. As you move through the classes, your instructors show you how to make training a happy experience for both you and your dog.

To our existing members:

Welcome back to another year of training. I hope that some of you participated in the 70 day training challenge Danielle put up on Face Book – her training suggestions were really helpful and gave me ideas of what to do with my dog. I often need inspiration. For all members As you know it has been extremely hot and hopefully that is behind us now. Your instructor will include breaks for drinks and will try to use any shade that is available. Sometimes, the instructor may cut a class short because he/she feels that the dogs are no longer able to learn. However, if you are in class and feel that it is too hot for you and your dog to continue, don’t hesitate to cut your class short, just let your instructor know that  you are leaving and why.

Remember it is all about the dog.

Looking forward to a positive training year!

Heidi Richardson Chief Instructor

Promotions Just a few this newsletter…

Brown Class to Green Class Fiona Lillie and Spartan (Airedale Terrier) Michael Cooke and Roxy (Miniature Schnauzer) Tina Hemming and Frankie (Spoodle) Celeste Coon and Fergus (Toy Poodle)

OCTOBER TRIAL REPORTDouble Rally O

On Oct 28 last year, we had another successful Double Rally O Trial. Our wonderful judges Ms Tracy Geary and Mrs Margaret Foord set great courses for all levels. We had a lot of Brush Farm competitors on the day - Richard, Kerry, Barbara and Natalie all took home ribbons! A huge thank you to all the club volunteers who helped out throughout a very long day - the trials could not run without each and every one of you!

DOG BODY LANGUAGE

CHRISTMAS PARTY 2018

CHRISTMAS PARTY 2018

There are so many equipment options out there for your dog! This is a short run-through of the options most people use in our classes.   Keep in mind that you may have different requirements for your dog's attire at other times and in other locations. If you need a fashionably coordinated bandana and bow-tie collar to head to your local café, that's all good!   However, in class, the most important consideration is the safety and comfort of your dog (and others). You want the dog to be secure and unable to escape. And you want to be able to prevent your dog from interfering with other dogs while they are working.   Flat Collar A flat collar will be suitable for almost all dogs. A flat collar should sit snuggly against the dog's skin without pinching, and it should be impossible to slip over your dog's ears. If your dog is constantly straining against a flat collar on a tight leash, or if your dog is prone to sudden lunges, a harness may be a better option to prevent injury.  

Martingale/Limited Slip These collars have a small section that tightens as the leash is pulled. When tight, the collar should be a snug, comfortable fit and not pinching. These collars are easy to put on and take off, and are particularly helpful for dogs with wider necks in proportion to their head size (as flat collars can more easily slip off these dogs!).

 

Walking Harness There are SO MANY OPTIONS of walking harnesses and we cannot possibly cover all of them. Owners of larger, powerful dogs may find it easier to handle a dog in a harness than in a collar. Some dogs will appear to be more comfortable walking in a harness. It is really a personal preference!

The most important thing is that the harness is appropriately fitted to your dog. The fit should be snug, as with a collar, and nigh on impossible for your dog to wriggle out of. The neck opening should be appropriately sized and allow the dog to comfortably sniff the ground. The harness shouldn't impede shoulder movement, and the straps should sit slightly behind the dog's front legs (i.e. not digging into the dog's armpit).

Please note that car harnesses may not be suitable for use in class. Some harnesses designed specifically for car use are not comfortable or safe for dogs in a walking/training situation. Ask an instructor if you are unsure!  

EQUIPMENT GUIDE

EQUIPMENT GUIDE

Front-attach Harness These harnesses are designed to help stop dogs' pulling. They may be useful as a temporary measure to help train loose-leash walking for some dogs. Some handlers find they can more easily keep their dogs under control in these harnesses. Keep in mind that the way these harnesses sit is across a dog's shoulder bone and muscle. Therefore, this is an uncomfortable sensation when the dog pulls into the harness, which can adversely affect a dog's gait. It is strongly recommended that you combine the use of this type of harness with training (positively reinforcing the dog for walking on a loose leash).   Head Halters This is another option for dogs with persistent leash pulling habits. Many adolescent dogs go through this phase and head halters can help as you work through this behaviour. Appropriately used, head halters can give you a better sense of safety if you have a very strong, powerful dog likely to pull you over. A head halter has a section that sits across the dog's muzzle. When walking on a loose lead, this section sits loosely. When the dog pulls, the section automatically tightens. Therefore it gives the dog immediate feedback about his behaviour. To correctly use a head halter, the dog should be positively conditioned to wearing it comfortably. You need to spend some time getting the dog used to wearing it before you attach your lead and take the dog for a walk. If you just place it on the dog and head out for a walk, the dog may not understand that distinction between when the head halter is fitted normally and when he pulls.

Depending upon the brand of head halter, the leash may attach to a point under the dog’s chin or behind the dog’s head. It is recommended that you use an attachment to a flat collar as an additional safety precaution.   Which is best? Any of the above options may be used in class. You might need to try out a few options to figure out what works best for you and your dog. Be aware that in order to be promoted to the higher level classes, exercises need to be performed in a collar, not a harness. Remember that ideally you will be using your verbal cues, body language and reinforcement to guide your dog's behaviour, rather than relying on a particular piece of equipment.

What not to use? We do not encourage the use of check chains. However, if you are familiar with their mechanics, you are free to use one for your dog. We will not condone excessive punishment in class.

Under no circumstances should you use a Flexi-lead in class! Not only are these are dangerous in a class setting (indeed, they can be dangerous in any setting!), they do nothing to help with loose leash walking - since there is constant tension on the line!

DOG BREEDSHave you heard of these three interesting breeds?

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever  

Often referred to as "tollers", this is the smallest sized retriever breed. Developed in Nova Scotia, Canada, these dogs have been bred as

hunting companions and are alert, intelligent, and high-energy dogs. Their “tolling” hunting style designed to entice birds closer is quite unique! They are people-focused and extremely trainable and are

often seen in competition obedience, agility and gundog events. Tollers are always a shade of red-gold, often with white markings.

People sometimes mistake them for a small golden retriever. Some people call them the border collie of the gundog group!

Swedish Valhund   This breed is sometimes described as a short-legged wolf. The breed's development may date back to the 8th or 9th century in Sweden where they were originally used for guarding and herding cattle. The Swedish Valhund almost became extinct in the 1940s but has since been revived through careful breeding and publicity. As a breed with herding origins, these dogs have a great capacity for training and can be seen competing in many types of dog sports. They can make great, active family companions.

Havanese  

The Havanese is the national dog of Cuba and has become one of the fastest growing breeds in the USA (in terms of popularity). These dogs

have been bred to be wonderful companions and have a friendly, cheerful and curious personality. Their small size makes them a

convenient pet to live with in smaller houses and apartments. And their happy and cooperative nature can make them highly trainable for many

purposes. Their coat requires a fair bit of maintenance (regular clipping is probably easiest), but on the whole these are fantastic little dogs!

DANIELLE’S DOGGY DIARYby Danielle Leong (Instructor)

If you live with a  dog, you are a dog trainer!

For many people, teaching their dog how to be a happy companion and much-loved family member is their main training goal. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this... Indeed, this goal can be equally challenging and rewarding in its own right! However, if you are interested in other activities you can participate in with your dog, I encourage you to explore the many opportunities out there. Finding that one activity that brings you and your dog together as a team, that brings you both joy and a sense of achievement is truly special!   I continually introduce my dogs to new activities. Over the summer, we started tracking foundations (learning to follow a scent trail to find a missing person). I love trying different things because it improves my skills as a dog trainer and, more importantly, it gives my dogs the chance to learn and be stimulated by new experiences.

Here are some activities you might wish to get involved with in 2019!   Obedience If you attend our classes you are on your way to competing in Obedience! Everything we teach you has a place in an Obedience Trial - you and your dog will be asked to heel, perform positions, do a recall and a stand for examination. In higher levels you may do retrieves, jumps, scent discrimination and other more complex tasks. The beauty of Obedience is in its precision and the teamwork between handler and dog. Preparing your dog to be able to perform in a trial setting is a great achievement to work towards.   Rally Obedience Rally O is a fun way to test out your obedience skills! Most weeks, we have a practice Rally course set up in the middle of our training field and we hold several Rally O trials throughout the year. The introductory level of Rally Novice is very achievable for anyone who reaches our Yellow and Red classes. We have several instructors training and competing in Rally O so have a chat with one of them to find out more!   Nosework The sport of canine scent detection is rapidly growing in popularity. Anyone can teach their dog to sniff out target odours… honestly, ANYONE! Dogs already have an innate superpower with their scenting ability. Nosework is a wonderful activity to give dogs the opportunity to use their natural behaviours and improve your ability to read those behaviours! It is really fun and rewarding. Talk to Colin, Danielle or Natalie if you'd like to find out more!

 

Lure Coursing If your dog likes to run and chase things, this is the activity for them! This sport was developed with sighthounds (whippets, salukis, etc) in mind, but there are opportunities for any dog to participate. Some dogs have one go at this and just fall in love with it! Janelle is the instructor to speak with to find out more info on this.   Agility Agility is an addictive dog sport which involves dogs jumping, running through tunnels and over obstacles. Communication and teamwork between handler and dog is key. It is particularly suited to athletic dogs such as border collies, but any dog can participate! There are several agility clubs in Sydney where you can find out more.   Tricks Tricks are so much fun! They are the stepping stone to more complex behaviours in obedience and agility, and they can help keep your dog physically and mentally fit. The ANKC will likely be introducing a tricks titling program very soon. In the meantime, I would encourage you to look online at programs such as domorewithyourdog.com - here, you can follow various levels to progress your dog's trick repertoire. You can also join FREE Facebook groups for advice and guidance as you work through the program. YouTube also has lots of fantastic tricks tutorials.   These are just a few of the activities out there. Others include earth dog, herding, retrieving, tracking, freestyle (dancing with dogs), flyball, disc dog, dock diving, parkour, weight pull, dog-sledding activities and much, much more. Have a go and find out what makes your dogs tail wag the most!

REMINDERS

2019 CALENDAR

FEBRUARY Sunday 3rd Training - First for the year Sunday 10th Training / Puppy Class Starts Sunday 17th Training Wednesday 20th General Meeting Sunday 24th Training

MARCH Sunday 3rd Training Sunday 10th Training / Puppy Class Starts Sunday 17th Training Wednesday 20th Committee Meeting Sunday 24th Obedience / Rally Trial - NO TRAINING Sunday 31st Training

APRIL Sunday 7th Training Sunday 14th Training Wednesday 17th General Meeting Sunday 21st Easter Weekend

- NO TRAINING Sunday 28th Training / Puppy Class Starts

MAY Sunday 5th Training Sunday 12th Training Wednesday 15th Committee Meeting Sunday 19th Training Sunday 26th Handlers’ Day 1

JUNE Sunday 2nd Training Sunday 9th Queen’s Birthday Weekend - NO TRAINING Sunday 16th Training / Puppy Class Starts Wednesday 19th General Meeting Sunday 23rd Training Sunday 30th Training

JULY Sunday 7th Training Sunday 14th Training Wednesday 17th Committee Meeting Sunday 21st Handlers’ Day 2 / Puppy Class Starts Sunday 28th Training

AUGUST Sunday 4th Training Sunday 11th Training Sunday 18th Training Wednesday 21st Annual General Meeting Sunday 25th Obedience / Rally Trial - NO TRAINING

SEPTEMBER Sunday 1st Training / Puppy Class Starts Sunday 8th Training Sunday 15th Training Wednesday 18th General meeting Sunday 22nd Handlers’ Day 3 Sunday 29th Training

OCTOBER Sunday 6th Labour Day Weekend - NO TRAINING Sunday 13th Training Wednesday 16th Committee Meeting Sunday 20th Training / Puppy Class Starts Sunday 27th Double Rally O Trial

- NO TRAINING

NOVEMBER Sunday 3rd Training Sunday 10th Training Sunday 17th Training Wednesday 20th General Meeting Sunday 24th Training - Last for the year

DECEMBER Sunday 1st - Dog’s Christmas Party

• Please pick up after your dog. Pooper-scoopers, bags & bins are provided.

• Keep away from dogs tethered in the roped off area. Please remind your children that these dogs MUST be left alone when their owners are not present

• Dogs wearing Green Collars are aggressive to other dogs. Dogs wearing Orange Collars are not yet friendly towards people. Please give these dogs the space they need.

• Please do not leave your children unsupervised. Children running on the field can frighten and excite some dogs.

• All handlers must wear enclosed shoes. Handlers with inappropriate footwear will be asked to leave the grounds.

• Please keep your dog on a lead unless an instructor tells you otherwise.

• Dogs that have run off during off-lead exercises must be worked on a long lead, available for sale from the Clubhouse

• Senior class members are requested to ensure all club equipment is packed away before letting their dogs off-lead to play - a pack of exuberant dogs charging around the field poses a significant safety risk to volunteers still at work.