Findon Downs Dog Training Club€¦ · party. Margaret will be missed especially for her joy of life, her kindness and her friendship. Ellie and Jon and their pooch Bilbo trained

Findon Downs Dog Training Club

Newsletter May 2018 Welcome to Findon Downs’ newsletter, and a special welcome to all newcomers, we hope you have lots of fun learning with your dog. Newsletter May 2018 ................................................................................................................................................... 1

Chairman’s Chattering… ........................................................................................................................................... 2

Club Website ......................................................................................................................................................... 2

Term Dates ........................................................................................................................................................... 2

Summer School ......................................................................................................................................................... 3

Let us know… ............................................................................................................................................................ 3

Dancing with Briards ................................................................................................................................................. 3

In Memory ................................................................................................................................................................ 5

Pooch Hazards around your Home ........................................................................................................................... 5

It’s a dog’s life! .......................................................................................................................................................... 7

Meet Tracey .............................................................................................................................................................. 8

Forthcoming FDDTC Events and Shows .................................................................................................................... 9

Heelwork To Music Show ..................................................................................................................................... 9

Good Citizens Dog Scheme and Advanced Assessments ....................................................................................... 10

Bronze KC GCDS .................................................................................................................................................. 10

Silver KC GCDS .................................................................................................................................................... 10

Gold KC GCDS ...................................................................................................................................................... 11

Pre-Beginner AA ................................................................................................................................................. 11

Beginner AA ........................................................................................................................................................ 12

Novice AA ............................................................................................................................................................ 12

Advanced Assessments Explained .......................................................................................................................... 13

Pre Beginners ...................................................................................................................................................... 13

Beginners ............................................................................................................................................................ 13

Novice ................................................................................................................................................................. 14

Neosporosis ............................................................................................................................................................ 14

Contact Details........................................................................................................................................................ 15

Cartoon Time – Guess the Breed! .......................................................................................................................... 16

Advertisement – Club Clothing ............................................................................................................................... 16

Chairman’s Chattering… A warm welcome to all the new members joining us this term and to all the members returning after the Easter break good to see you, hope you are refreshed and ready to work on improving your training. With hopefully the better weather and longer days there will be lots more opportunities to train outside which is as important as this is the place where you need a well behaved dog to make walks an enjoyable experience for both of you, and everyone else. Later this term we hope to run some evening classes outside where there will be opportunities to try some basic agility and other fun things all to help you and your dog have fun. More about this will be available in due course. All the trainers are there to help you improve your training and also overcome any problems you may encounter, so please remember to ask we are there to help. The main aim is for you and your dog to enjoy working together to gain experience and learn new skills. Let’s see what we can achieve together during the next term.

Marina

Club Website For further details of the club, our events, shows and news items please speak to our Chairman, Marina Viney, or see our club website; http://fddtc.weebly.com/

Term Dates Tuesday 8 May 2018 – New term starts Tuesday 10 July 2018 – Last training night of term Tuesday 17 July 2018 – KC GCDS tests Tuesday 24 July 2018 Advanced Assessments Tuesday 11 September 2018 – New term starts

http://fddtc.weebly.com/

Summer School We are planning to run a few evening fun classes outside during June and July on a Thursday evening. We are going to do some rally obedience, starters agility, and trick sessions. We would also be happy to include suggestions from yourselves. The cost would be £5.00 per evening with the proceeds going to the club’s chosen charity, Sussex Pet Rescue. The classes will be open to everyone regardless of what level their dog is at. We will be limiting numbers to ensure that everyone has a fun enjoyable evening whilst learning new skills with their dog. Please let myself or Marina or your instructor know if you are interested.

Sue.

Let us know… Please let us know if there is anything you would like to do with your dog, maybe a sponsored walk? Cream Tea and walk? Heelwork to Music or Rally Taster sessions or maybe even a fun day with your dog trying out some different things or maybe you need help with recalls or something else??? Please remember it is your club and we are here to help.

Dancing with Briards First there was strictly come dancing and then there was dancing with Briards. Well one Briard to be exact. I am sure some of you will have seen Rags doing some heelwork to music bits during classes on a Tuesday evening. She competes occasionally at Kennel Club competitions and our aim at our club’s show was to perform well enough to earn some points towards progressing towards the next class. To be awarded points you have to be placed in the first four in the class and also get at least 60% marks from the judges. The show was in February at West Chiltington Village Hall and I was ecstatic because she came second in Freestyle (freestyle means amongst other moves that the dog can spin, twist, weave, walk backwards, walk sideways, reverse back

through your legs, wave a paw and give a bow). She was also awarded her highest marks ever and they were high enough to get her points. She danced to “Me and My Girl Nightclubbing” by David Essex. Special thanks to Corinne Ball who made her superb sparkling pink bag and matching bow for her collar. Thankyou also to Malcolm McCluskey for the fabulous photos he took of all the competitors and the lovely photo of Rags and her bag!! There are a lot of photos from the show on the gallery page of the website. The shows the club organises could not go ahead without lots of help from lots of people and also the judges who travel long distances to judge at our show. There is also a fabulous catering team organised and led by Chrissie who does an amazing job. Chrissie and her team not only provide lunch for the judges and helpers but also run a brilliant café throughout the day.

Tony becomes a DJ for the day and is in charge of the music. We also have people checking in the music, people making sure the competitors know when they are due to go in and the IT person making sure everything is running smoothly. Our next show is on 10 November and you are welcome to come along and watch the show or if you would like to help please let us know. You don’t have to commit for the whole day, maybe just 2-3 hours and you can watch people competing and maybe see the Dancing Briard!

Sue

In Memory Margaret Galliard was a delightful and charming friend to many of our members. She was a club ‘regular’ training her Cavaliers over the years. Firstly Hansel then Gretel, then Leisl and finally Rufus who came for his first outing to the Christmas party. Margaret will be missed especially for her joy of life, her kindness and her friendship. Ellie and Jon and their pooch Bilbo trained with us for several years. Always smiling, so kind and so in love. Their family unit Ellie Jon and Bilbo had a long life to look forward to, which was tragically ended prematurely. Tony and Marion, great stalwarts of our club, lost their beautiful Evie recently. I remember being in the same groups as Tony and Evie when Evie was a pup and my dog a year old rescue. Evie, a Leonberger, huge but gentle and my terrier, small and frightened of everything, got on together like the proverbial house on fire. Our thoughts are with Tony and Marion for their loss and with Margaret, Ellie and Jon’s families.

Chrissie

Pooch Hazards around your Home We all think our homes are safe for us and our pets. However, there are certain everyday items that are very toxic for our dogs. Some items we eat and use can have the opposite effect on our dogs. All Bran, which is useful as a laxative in humans, has the opposite effect on dogs, as told by our club oracle, Pat!

Chocolate, causes toxicosis and may bring seizures and death. Dark chocolate, cooking chocolate and cocoa rank as most harmful.

Coffee contains caffeine which is toxic.

Grapes cause renal failure in dogs. Raisins are just dried grapes so they count too.

Peach and plum flesh is not harmful but the stones, as well as being a potential obstruction in the gut, contain cyanide which is extremely toxic. Apple pips also contain cyanide.

Macadamia nuts are particularly poisonous.

Onions kill canine blood cells and can be life threating as can onion powder. Garlic is not so toxic but is dangerous in large quantities.

Alcohol can cause the same kidney and liver damage as in humans but can also cause acidosis leading to cardiac arrest.

All bones when cooked become brittle and can splinter and cause untold damage.

Raw meat thrown to the dog is something we see in films but our domesticated dogs aren’t wild anymore and some dogs are susceptible to salmonella and other bacterial poisoning.

Who would have thought, eh? Obviously, human and pet medications are extremely dangerous so keep them inaccessible. Another selection from around the house, garden and garage to take account off:

Insecticides, rodent killers, snail and slug pellets are all hazardous and should be securely stored.

Cleaning products like bleach, bathroom and kitchen cleaners too, so keep them out of the way.

Heavy metals like lead and zinc may be toxic; so care is needed with coins, paints, children’s toys and dog toys. Beware of cheap Chinese imports as parts can be extremely dangerous, like the stuffing in a soft toy, small parts like eyes or squeakers inside a flimsy casing.

Antifreeze smells so sweet and dogs have been known to drink it.

De-icers.

Rawhide dog chews, if left where the dog drops it, can be host to bacteria like salmonella so monitor the storage and handout. Don’t leave on the garden for slugs to slime over, foxes to chew or bacteria to grow.

Xylitol, a sugar substitute used in sweets and chewing gum is extremely toxic to dogs.

Spring is welcome at last but our gardens are not always as safe as we think. Here is a list of the most dangerous plants: Poinsettia, Lantana leaves and berries, all Lilies including Lily of the Valley, Daffodil bulbs, Azaleas, Crocus, Morning Glory seeds, Chrysanthemum flowers, Yew trees, Acorns, Foxgloves, Hyacinths, Delphiniums, Rhubarb leaves and Ragwort (minute dose is fatal), fertilisers and compost heaps. Well, after terrifying the life out of you, it is worth saying that most dogs are able to avoid poisons and hazards around the home with your help. However, always err on the side of caution. The time for symptoms of poisoning to show may be 3-4 days! Symptoms of poisoning may be: vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, drooling, twitching, tremors and seizures. If you should witness your dog eating something noxious, don’t delay, get to your vet immediately. If you are able to take a sample of the ingested hazard that will help your vet determine the best treatment. So, chill, relax and enjoy your home and garden with your pooch.

Chrissie

It’s a dog’s life! As a new committee member, I have been asked to write something for the newsletter about myself and my experience with dogs, so here goes. My earliest recollection of living with dogs is as a young child sitting around the dining room table in the playroom with my brothers and sisters having our meal with a litter of pups underneath feeding from their mother. No, it wasn’t a bad dream, my parents bred Alsatians, so as children we regularly shared our home with rampaging pups who would systematically trash our garden and chew our toys, but we learned to share and ended up growing very fond of them. The hardest part was saying goodbye to our newly found friends when they went to their new homes. As children we had no fear of dogs and regularly walked our dogs to primary school and back. It must have been quite a comical sight seeing such small children leading those large ‘dangerous’ dogs along the pavement. We would probably have looked more at home if we had put saddles on them and ridden them. Once our parents stopped breeding dogs we had a variety of Alsatian cross rescues dogs who, although challenging at times, gave us great pleasure. One called Josey was a great companion to me through my teenage years and she was seen by all members of the family as very much ‘my dog.’ Sadly, she had to be put down after it was discovered she had advanced cancer. Josey was no more than 6 and I secretly promised myself I would never allow a dog to get so close to me again. It was a promise I am glad to say I found I could not keep. It came as quite a shock to me when on my first student holiday job I was bitten on the back of the leg by dog whilst trying to deliver the mail! I felt embarrassed at the time and blamed myself for being so trusting but realise now not all dog owners are responsible and there is a need for all dogs to be properly socialised and trained. Some years later, married and with a young teenage son we had our first dog that was really ours. Bella was an 11 month ‘Heinz 57’ rescue from Battersea. To be fair we were warned by them that she would be hard work and she was! Bella systematically ate the stair carpet, starting at the bottom rung and working her way up. She also managed to chew her way through several chair legs and then started on the table. We have always had a metal table and chairs since then. Bella had a lot of issues and was the reason I first found Findon Down Dog Training Club. With their help and guidance over the next couple of years Bella settled down. She was always going to be a bit of a challenge at times, but she won us over as she was so loyal and loving. She was 14 when she died, and we were heart broken. We realised within a few days how empty our house felt

without a canine companion and decided then that while we could we would always have a dog as part of our family. We now have two dogs who could not be more different. Poppet is an eight-year-old Staffie rescue from Patcham RSPCA. We’ve had her since she was three and a half. She has worked her way through the training classes and is now thoroughly enjoying the advanced class taken by Chrissie. Poppet is very placid, has worked with Sussex Caring Pets visiting old people’s homes, and is currently working as a therapy pet in a Special School. Dolly on the other hand is a very lively eighteen-month-old Miniature English Bull Terrier. We have had her since she was a pup and we certainly know we have got her! She is a real bundle of energy and as nutty as a fruit cake. Dolly is currently in the Silver class, where we get a weekly ‘reality check!’ We have been reliably informed by owners of this breed that we should get a ‘lightbulb moment’ with her when she’s between 2 and 3 years. Frankly we cannot wait! It just goes to show that all dogs are different, they develop at a different pace and each dog/human relationship has its own dynamics, which is why dog training is so important in helping that relationship develop and blossom. I shall always be grateful for the help and support I have received at training and see this as an opportunity to try and put something back by helping with the smooth running of the club.

Laurie Servanté

Meet Tracey I am one of the three new committee members, and would like to tell you a bit about myself. Dogs have always been a part of my life, it was usually a toy or miniature poodle along with a second dog - English setters, lab/whippet crosses or what people call today “designer dogs”. I have handled and trained my own dogs since I was about 10 and relished the challenges they have given me. When I first started to go to training classes about 40 years ago, it was always about force and making the dog do as you want, but things have changed over the years, and I

find the training methods now by using rewards are much more satisfying and makes for a happier dog. My most memorable dog before Casey was an ex puppy farm brood bitch approx 5 to 7 years old, who didn’t know how to do anything and found the big outside world a very scary place. We had her for 7 wonderful years, and got her to the point where she would take herself out into the back garden and enjoy the sunshine. I could never take her for a walk as she was very fearful of people, and panicked completely outside the house. Casey was also a rescue dog who I got at 18 months old, she didn’t know what grass was, and how to play with toys. If you so much as clicked your fingers, or a door creaked she would be a quivering wreck. I started coming to club when she was nearly 6 years old, as I had taken her as far as I could on my own, and needed a bit of help with her. We sailed through foundation, bronze and silver classes and passed all of these first time. The gold has been a bit harder and has taken 4 years and about 8 attempts to pass, but finally we have achieved this goal and will be back in advanced class next term. Casey really enjoys coming to club and is now a much happier dog and bounces into class, she will also now allow other people to touch her. I am due to leave work soon taking “very early retirement” so I was more than happy to become part of the committee and also I am looking forward to joining the training team, I know I have lots still to learn, but with my experience of traumatised dogs and those with sight problems, I hope to be able to help others to enjoy that special relationship you can have with a dog.

Tracey

Forthcoming FDDTC Events and Shows

Heelwork To Music Show Saturday 10 November 2018 Venue: West Chiltington Village Hall Mill Road West Chiltington Near Pulborough West Sussex, RH20 2PZ If anyone could give us some help on the day, it would be greatly accepted. Chris Jones will be organising catering and Sue Jillett show administration, so if you can help, and would like to see what happens, please speak to them.

Good Citizens Dog Scheme and Advanced Assessments Congratulations to all taking their tests last term.

Bronze KC GCDS

Silver KC GCDS

Gold KC GCDS

Pre-Beginner AA

Beginner AA

Novice AA

Advanced Assessments Explained As most of you know we are a Kennel Club Good Citizen based club, however in addition to doing the various Good Citizen Tests each term we also run Advanced Assessments at the end of each term. For those of you who are not aware of these tests, they are based on Kennel Club Obedience Competitions. Why not think about having a go at the end of this term, details of the tests are;

Pre Beginners Heel on lead, this means your dog walking close to your side on a loose lead and following the stewards instructions to turn right or about turn and halt.(sit) They also have to do a sit stay for half a minute and a down stay for a minute. There is a straightforward recall where you have to leave your dog in a sit, go to the other end of the hall and call your dog to sit in front of you. Finally there is the food refusal exercise, which simply means your dog doesn’t eat a biscuit until told to do so. Once your dog has passed pre-beginners you can progress on to higher levels;

Beginners This is the next level and will be a step up from pre-beginners. Heel on lead Heelwork will include left, right and about turns, both on and off lead. Heel free (dog working off lead) Recall with a formal finish. A formal finish is where your dog does a recall and sits in front of you. Then on command returns to your right hand side and then sits. Retrieve an article. At this level your dog can retrieve any article of your choice.( except a ball or squeaky toy) One minute sit stay. One and a half minute down stay.

Novice The exercises are basically the same as beginners but the dog has to retrieve a dumbbell. The heelwork exercises will also be a bit longer and involve more turns etc. If you would like to know more about the assessments, please ask you instructor. If you and your dog pass you will get a certificate and there are also rosettes for the first 4 people in each class.

Neosporosis I heard an item on the radio a little while ago referring to Neosporosis which implied that dogs were the major transmission method. I did a bit of research and whilst it is true dogs can transmit this disease which causes abortion in cattle and sheep - my research revealed the following. Neosporosis is one of the most common causes of abortion and should be suspected if an unexplained abortion occurs in cattle, says Dr Richard Knight, Westmorland Veterinary Group director and RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Cattle Health and Production. Neosporosis is caused by the coccidian parasite Neospora caninum and has only relatively recently been recognised, initially in dogs in Norway, 1984. Dr Knight says it has a wide host range, with dogs thought to act as carriers of the disease. He says: “Carnivores are the definitive host and initially become infected by eating material such as placenta which contains N. caninum cysts. These cysts colonise the gut, replicate and are excreted in the faeces.” “In the UK we see neosporosis most frequently on farms with dogs, where bedding or forage can become contaminated with faeces.” “It is also problematic where grazing fields have public footpaths running through them which are regularly used by dog walkers.” Infection is by consuming infected meat - including cattle placenta, raw meat, barnyard chickens or venison - so the lesson is don't allow your dog to scavenge around farmyards and don't let it pooh in or around animal feedstuffs!!! A special warning to those who feed a raw food diet. Puppies can develop hind limb paresis and muscle atrophy, adult dogs may develop encephalomyelitis, focal cutaneous nodules or ulcers, pneumonia,

peritonitis, hepatitis or myocarditis - all very serious. So basically don't allow your dog to scavenge and feed a cooked diet! (I'm ducking now for those who advocate raw feeding but unless you can be absolutely certain where your meat is coming from.....) Of course, if your dog does pooh in the vicinity of animal feed or especially in a farmyard or in a field occupied by cattle - PICK IT UP!

Contact Details Just a reminder that you can give details to us of someone you would like to be contacted on your behalf in an emergency. Just ask for a form and complete as much information as you wish, then return it in a sealed envelope with your name and first contact number on the outside. All information will remain confidential. The forms are kept at the hall in a secure container to which only Committee Members will access in an Emergency.

Cartoon Time – Guess the Breed!

Advertisement – Club Clothing The following items of clothing are available complete with the Club logo: - Body warmer - with fleece lining. This is reversible with separate pockets accessible from each side. It is embroidered on the outside only so you can wear it ‘incognito’ £22. - Hoody - with or without a zip £20. - Polo shirt - £12 (These can also be obtained in any colour without the logo at the same prices). - Sweatshirt - £16. See Pat O’Shea to place your order and for further options. (All items can be ordered in a range of colours, with or without club logo). Every item is sold at a small profit to benefit club funds.

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Findon Downs Dog Training Club€¦ · party. Margaret will be missed especially for her joy of life, her kindness and her friendship. Ellie and Jon and their pooch Bilbo trained