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The Magazine of the Canine Obedience Club of Townsville Inc
August/September Issue
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Contents Page 1 Cover - Suliman Dressed To Kill Page 2 Companion Dog Contents Page 3 COCT Committee Page 4 - 5 Editorial Page 6 Presidents Report Page 7 Map of proposed new tennis courts Page 8 - 9 August Trial Results Page 10 Australia’s top 10 small and large breeds Page 11 Demonstration Coordinator’s Report Page 12- 13 Ten things you didn’t know about……………….. Page 14 - 16 Rally O Seminar Information Page 17 Rally O Seminar Booking Form Page 18 - 20 American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviourists Position
Statement Myths About Dominance and Wolf Behaviour as it Relates to Dogs
Page 21 Title Trophy Application Form
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OFFICE BEARERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS Postal Address. Post Office Box 991Aitkenvale Q 4814
Patrons: Peter Lindsay MP Herbert , Cllr Jenny Hill, Cllr Dale Last
President Judy Forbes-Faulkner 47725982 [email protected] Vice-President Vacant Secretary Mal Holland 47251949 [email protected] Treasurer Renate Linder 47211444(w) [email protected] Asst. Treasurer Louise Ashworth 47887005 [email protected] Trial Secretary Louise Ashworth 47887005 [email protected] Training Coordinator Judy Forbes Faulkner 47725982 [email protected] Training Coordinator Asst Noel McPherson 47212639 Magazine Editor Eileen Fletcher 47887385 [email protected] Catering Officer Vacant Trophy Officer Diane MacIntyr 47733887 [email protected] Records Officer Judy Forbes-Faulkner 47725982 [email protected] Tracking Coordinator Mal Holland 47251949 demal;[email protected] Asst Tracking Coordinator Eileen Fletcher 47887385 [email protected] Demo Officer Diane MacIntyre 47733887 [email protected] Flyball Coordinator Rick Slack smith 0422808761 [email protected] Property Officer Anna Doostkhah 47255027 [email protected] Asst Property Officer Sue Simmons 47780621 [email protected] Committee Members Lucy Joynson 47788890 [email protected]
Eileen Fletcher 47887385 [email protected] Janette Cussons 0417614261 [email protected] Noel McPherson 47212639 [email protected]
Rick Slack Smith [email protected]
COCT inc. LIFE MEMBERS
Mrs. D. Dobson, Miss A. Dobson Mrs. A. Tunstal
Dr. R. Taylor (deceased) Mr. E. Morris Mrs. V. Litster
Mrs. C. Woodward (active) Mr. B. Woodward (active)
Mr. P. Litster Mrs. E.K. Greenwood
Mr. D.R. Greenwood (active) Mrs. H. Taylor
Mrs. A. Annesley (active Mrs. S.M. Fielder (active)
Mrs C O`Shea (active) Ms D MacIntyre (active) Mr Mal Holland (active)
The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the editor or committee members of the COCT Inc. All Office bearers, committee members and instructors of the Canine Obedience Club of Townsville Inc, are unpaid volunteers,
who give freely of their time in and effort to help you to train and trial your dogs. Monthly meetings held 1st Monday of February to December at 7.30pm
Management Committee meetings held as called by secretary Club Web Site: www.coct.com.au
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Dear Readers
It is officially the end of an era – Mal Holland has retired as Magazine Editor - I am not sure how long Mal has been doing Companion Dog but I applaud all his hard work. Having sat down to make a start on the
magazine 6 hours ago and still being only on Page 4 has given me some idea of how much work Mal has put in over the years. Thanks Mal – I have a lot to live up to!
For those of you who actually read the Companion Dog (as opposed to those of us who sometimes just look at the pictures!) I would welcome any ideas or suggestions of what you would like to see in your magazine, please feel free to email me with your ideas and requests – I can be reached at [email protected] or 0423 499118.
I hope that I have put together some interesting reading for you. Page 15 -16 reproduces the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviourists Position Statement “Myths About Dominance and Wolf Behaviour as it Relates to Dogs” - it’s a long title but excellent reading. Dominance theory is often quoted as a reason to be confrontational with your dog – read the science (or lack of it) behind the theory. Also in this issue information and booking form for our Rally O seminar on Oct 17/18 with Heather Green – book early to avoid disappointment. Rally O is an up and coming sport that take some of the seriousness out of obedience. Finally get your nominations in for this year’s title trophies in good time to make Diane McIntyre’s (Our trophy officer) life a bit easier!
We all know of the great joy that dog ownership brings to us – Compared to non- pet owners:
people who own pets typically visit the doctor less often and use less medication
pet owners, on average, have lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure pet owners recover more quickly from illness and surgery pet owners deal better with stressful situations pet owners are less likely to report feeling lonely
"Do Pet Owners Enjoy Better Health? Results from the German Socio-Economic Panel" Animal, Community Health and Public Policy Symposium, Sydney 1999.
But the downside of dog ownership is having to watch your much loved canine friends get old and tired and finally to have to say goodbye to them. A few of us at the club have lost our cherished companions in the last year or so and I took some comfort from the following which I am sure that some of you have read before, but it is a beautiful thought and I am sure that a lot of you would agree that it wouldn’t be heaven without dogs.
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special
friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we
remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to
them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers.
Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain
upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never
absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown...
In memory of Brock – with whom I first learnt about dog training and behaviour and who forgave me all my training mistakes.
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Presidents Report
The new financial year has commenced and following the AGM I would like to welcome all my committee members for 2009-2010. It was pleasing to see new blood on the committee as well as the old faithfuls. If you refer to the front of this newsletter you can see a full list of your new committee, please make them welcome in their new roles.
If you refer to this list you will notice that I have gained both the presidents and training co-ordinators positions. The latter involves me in the organising of instructors and training for the next year. If anyone has any ideas, new methods they think we should incorporate or better still if anyone would like to help us out and train as an instructor please see me any Tuesday or Thursday night. Any feedback would be most welcome.
On a more serious note your club has just submitted a formal letter of objection to the proposed tennis courts development by Western Suburbs Tennis Club (copy of the proposed development attached). This development would significantly reduce the clubs area for training and trialling and would force all members further up the park away from the clubhouse. The other significant factor is that the members and dogs would be closer Fulham Road a definite concern with young handlers and dogs off lead. The club has so far received acknowledgements to its objection from three council members and our secretary is having a meeting with Councillor Jenny Hill to discuss any further actions if required.
The year is gradually coming to a close and our final trial weekend is on October 9th and 10th. This weekend consists of a sweepstakes, two obedience trials and two agility/jumpers and games trials. Please ensure you have your entries in on time to assist our trial manager Louise. Also if anyone is able to assist with catering, stewarding or just helping out on either the Friday night or Saturday please see Louise, Renate or myself as we are always looking for willing helpers.
Finally we had a great Dancing with dogs’ workshop and demo put on by Coral Pethers. This was an evening of fun and entertainment as we tried to copy Coral’s amazing moves with limited success. Now we can all look forward to our final workshop of the year (Rally O) on October 17th and 18th, see Renate or Louise for details.
Judy Forbes-Faulkner President
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RESULTS 1 AUGUST 2009 DOUBLE TRIAL
PAIRS ‐ GILL QUAIL TRIAL 2
MASTER Wendy CravenQ AGILITY ‐ TIM FAIRCHILD
1st Holly Lucy JoynsonQ MASTER
Luack Indis Image (Krazee) 1st Holly Wendy CravenQ
EXCELLENT Paul OKeefeQ 2nd Torlene Jarra Katrina StonestreetQ
1st Stockhaven Bobbie Allison AnnesleyQ 3rd Biskit Terri‐lee BartlettQ
Torlene Vashtie Keith ThomasQ 4th Stockhaven Bobbie Paul OKeefeQ
2nd Kirra Michelle VarcoeQ EXCELLENT
Geraldmine Totalli Turbo Wendy CravenQ 1st Spinifex Sailor (Cody) Wendy CravenQ
3rd Spinifex Sailor (Cody) Lucy JoynsonQ 2nd Dykinta Guess Again Paul OKeefeQ
Luack Dark Angel Mal HollandQ 3rd Amberidge Miss Margarita (Meg)
Louise Ashworth
4th Luack Jo (Booker) Terri‐lee BartlettQ NOVICE ‐ ALL DQ
Bremdast Nala Keith ThomasQ JUMPING – GILL QUAIL
5th Pintupi Boss Lucy JoynsonQ MASTER
Luack After Dark Paul OKeefeQ 1st Bulngari Kanga (Mocca)
Rick Slack‐SmithQ
6th Gypsy Janet Richmond Q 2nd Kanecutter Tasmin Michelle VarcoeQ
Goldtag Society Gal (Gemma) 3rd Bremdast Nala Terri‐lee BartlettQ
NOVICE Rick Slack‐SmithQ EXCELLENT
1st Bulngari Kanga (Mocca) Paul OKeefeQ 1st Sasndash Sammydavis
Katrina StonestreetQ
Dykinta Guess Again NOVICE
TRIAL 1 1st Meson Lorna (Marla) Wendy CravenQ
AGILITY – Gill Quail OBEDIENCE
NOVICE Terri‐lee Bartlett TRIAL 1
1st Atchafalaya Jaz Me Blues Novice ‐ Cheryl Williams
EXCELLENT Paul OKeefe 1st Luack Indis Image (Krazee)
182pts Lucy JoynsonQ
1st Dykinta Guess Again (Roxy) Renate Linder 2nd Blackcombe Czarina (Ally)
Louise Ashworth
2nd Demoniaque OShea Terri‐lee Bartlett 3rd Sandygate IMA Star Judy Forbes‐Faulkner
3rd Bremdast Nala CCD – C Pethers
MASTER Paul OKeefeQ 1st Stockhaven Bobbie 94pts Paul OKeefe Q
1st Gypsy Katrina StonestreetQ 2ndPelorus Ovalandatcaptivator 94pts Pat CecilQ
2nd Torlene Jarra Allison Annesley 3rd Yurei Elmo Mary ONeill
3rd Torlene Vashtie TRIAL 2
CCD
1st Stockhaven Bobbie 97pts Paul OKeefeQ
2ndPelorus Ovalandatcaptivator 85pts Pat CecilQ
3rd Yurei Elmo Mary ONeill
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RESULTS 29 AUGUST 2009 TRIAL GAMBLERS ‐ MASTER
1st Torlene Jarra Katrina Stonestreet
EXCELLENT
1st Luack Indis Image (Krazee) Lucy Joynson Q
2nd Gypsy Paul O’Keefe Q
3rd Luack Dark Angel (Truble) Lucy Joynson
NOVICE
1st Torlene Vashtie Allison Annesley Q
2nd Stockhaven Bobbie Paul O’Keefe
3rd Jack Melissa Stewart
AGILITY‐ MASTER
1st Torlene Jarra Katrina Stonestreet
2nd Torlene Vashtie Allison Annesley
3rd Stockhaven Bobbie Paul O’Keefe
OPEN ‐ ALL DQ
EXCELLENT
1st Dykinta Guess Again Donna O’Keefe Q
2nd Barken Lodge Tammy Lass Donna O’Keefe
3rd Demoniaque O’Shea Renate Linder
NOVICE
1st Kane Sherwin Barton
2nd Leteemo Champas Charlie Jimmy O’Keefe
JUMPERS‐ OPEN
1st Sashndash Sammydavis Katrina Stonestreet
2nd Gypsy Paul O’Keefe
3rd Luack Dark Angel (Truble) Lucy Joynson
MASTER
1st Gypsy Paul O’Keefe Q
2nd Torlene Jarra Katrina Stonestreet Q
3rd Stockhaven Bobbie Paul O’Keefe
EXCELLENT
1st Dykinta Guess Again Donna O’Keefe
NOVICE
1st Leteemo Champas Charlie Jimmy O’Keefe Q
2nd Barken Lodge Tammy Lass Donna O’Keefe Q
3rd Kane Sherwin Barton Q
OBEDIENCE‐ NOVICE
1st Sheba Marie Gibson Q 181
2nd Blackcombe Czarina Louise Ashworth
CCD
1st Luack After Dark (Toots) Lucy Joynson Q 95
2nd Brutus Linda King
3rd Yurei Elmo Mary O’Neill
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AUSTRALIA’S 10 FAVOURITE SMALL DOG BREEDS
As listed by the ANKC and published in Dog’s Life Magazine
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Pug
Chihuahua Papillon Shih-Tzu
West Highland White Terrier Pomeranian
Jack Russell Terrier Dachshund (Miniature Smooth-Haired)
Toy Poodle
AUSTRALIA’S 10 FAVOURITE LARGE DOG BREEDS
As listed by the ANKC and published in Dog’s Life Magazine
German Shepherd Dog
Rottweiler Bullmastiff
Rhodesian Ridgeback Great Dane
Bernese Mountain Dog Dogue de Bordeaux Alaskan Malamute
St Bernard Neapolitan Mastiff
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PUBLICITY OFFICER AND DEMONSTRATION CO-ORDINATOR REPORT 2008 2009
PUBLICITY FLYERSApproximately 4,000 club flyers have been distributed to the RSPCA, all veterinary clinics and pet shops and Cheaper Pet Food shop in Currajong to encourage dog owners to come along to training classes and perhaps venture further with their new found skills into trialling and becoming instructors. WEBSITES Info on training nights and competitions appear on the new Townsville City Council and 4TO’s websites, as well as the Club’s own website. Tim Fairchild has done a wonderful job in giving our website a face lift in 2008 and updating info as required, however, with the combination of family and judging commitments Tim is no longer able to do this for us. I, and the whole Club, wish to wholeheartedly thank Tim for helping us out. One of Louise Ashworth’s friends, Anders Thornblad from JCU has offered to take over the job of updating the site and hopefully I might be able to get some instruction from him so I can do some of it myself. Dancing with Dogs A Townsville Bulletin photographer came down to the clubhouse and took a lovely photo of Ashleigh Sutherland and her Jack Russell Abby as part of the story on the Dancing with Dogs workshop held Friday 31 July 2009. The story and photo was published on the Thursday before the workshop and followed up by a humorous cartoon on Saturday. DEMONSTRATIONS It has been another quiet 12 months demo wise due to the amalgamation of the two councils and associated budget cuts. And it was unfortunate that due to a combination of personal circumstances
and misunderstandings that the Club was unable to be involved with Dogs on Riverway in June, but will be there in 2010. However, the couple of demos we did manage on were • RSPCA Million Paws Walk at the Strand - May 2009 • Townsville City Council Paws in the Park Party at Kirwan off leash area –
April 2009 Marie Gibson with Sheba at Kirwan Paws in the Park A big thank you to everyone who came along to the demos, it was great to see some of our newer members there. I may co-ordinate these events, but without all club members becoming involved they wouldn’t be the success that they turn out to be. It’s the ideal way to promote our club and show off what our dogs can do. Hope to see you all in the coming months for future events.
Diane MacIntyre Demonstration and Publicity Officer
Anna Doostkah with Kaiser at Kirwan Paws in the Park Party
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10 Things you didn’t know about…….. Afghan Hounds By Tracy Sasso Hunter and Armani
Q1: What is your dog’s kennel and/or call names?
Suliman Dressed To Kill, aka,Armani
Q 2 : What breed is it?
Afghan hound
Q 3: Why did you choose this breed over others?
I chose the afghan because of there wonderful nature, and of course you can’t go past there beauty and brains yes I said brains. As you can guess the afghan comes from Afghanistan which is very hot during the day but can get really cold at night so perfect for Townsville (hee,hee) and was bred to hunt, and to see these magnificent dogs in full flight is a sight to be hold,(not chasing anything alive of course) and with the coat flowing and legs going 100 miles an hour, it’ll give the greyhounds a good run ☺
Q4. : How much daily exercise does this breed require?
At the moment Armani is only a very young, but as he gets older a good brisk walk for 45 mins twice a day, mainly more for brain stimulation as well as working muscles and also on the bond between you and the dog and if your lucky enough to know a greyhound owner with a training track well then you can see this hound in his true form..
Q 5: What are the grooming requirements for this breed?
You must be very dedicated to the maintenance of this breed, he needs to bathed at least once a week with a good quality shampoo and conditioner, you must never bath him with out brushing him out first and even then you must use a spray to brush his dry coat as you will damage it, after the bath it’s time to blow dry him ,but be careful on how you dry him as when he has his long silky coat you can easily make bad matts if you get to close to the skin. You must use the blower like another brush and go with the lay of the coat; not finished yet now we have to do his teeth and his ears, speaking of ears you can either put a snood on his head to keep the ears out of his food and water bowl, it looks a bit like a glorified sock, or if your going to show him at dog shows you will have to wrap them, this also helps to grow the ears nice and long, which is one of the traits that this breed has along with his long silky coat.
Q 6.: What is your dog’s favourite activity/ies?
Well, as Armani is only young at the moment I would say that his favourite thing would be eating, playing with the other dogs and using me as a chew toy when he’s suppose to be learning how to walk on the lead, but my last afghan Hunter loved the obedience, meeting new people, showing himself off, giving smiles, and just being centre of attention. You just ask anyone who knew Hunter when we turned up at school and I had to take a class.
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Q7. : What is your dog’s least favourite activity/ies?
At the moment Armani’s least favourite thing would be the blow drier after his bath and putting on his snood before he has his food.
Q 8. : What are your proudest achievement/s so far?
W ell that would be with Hunter my last afghan (my heart dog)the first was when we gained his Australian championship title at the dog shows, the next was when he gained his C.C.D title at obedience and then he became a member of the delta dogs which he loved, so as far as I know at the moment Hunter is the first afghan two have two titles one in obedience and one in the dog show and the first afghan to be with the delta dogs and the last thing he did before he left us was to play a part in the play called a midnights summer dream put on by the scimitar moon belly dancing school.
Q 9. : What is your most embarrassing moment so far?
With Armani it was when I took him to the vets for his needles and both times he fell asleep, I know, I know you, ask why is that embarrassing well have you tried to pick up a dead weight that’s all bones, none of this ball of fluff that feels all smoochy smoo, he even fell asleep when he had his microchip put in had to try and wake him up with food, I know sounds lame but I’m sure Armani has only just begun to try and embarrass me stay tuned you’ll see.
Q10. : What do you hope to achieve in the future?
I have big plans for this young man, because I heard that afghans are a dumb dog I didn’t start Hunter at obedience until he was 8 years old, but now I know better Armani will start school in September as well as on the week ends he’ll be going to dog shows as we are going for Aus Grand Champion and after he finishes obedience school we will be trying our hand in the obedience trails, if we can get past C.C.D that’ll do me, but as long as Armani likes it we’ll be keep on keeping on, last but not least when Armani is old enough we’ll be having a go at agility, well anyway that’s the plan, but hey you guys know how plans go, not all plans work out but hey who cares we’re here for a good time, and speaking of good times when he’s old enough going to see if we can pass the delta dogs, lots of fun there.
Tracy with Hunter (who crossed the Rainbow Bridge last year)
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RALLY OBEDIENCE SEMINAR OUTLINE
There are two parts to this seminar. The first is designed to instruct trainers who in turn would be able to not only offer classes for interested handlers, but organize future trials with the idea that ANKC would be accepting Rally as a sanctioned event in Australia.
The second portion of the seminar is geared to the active trial participant that may have some basic knowledge of this sport but is not a trainer, nor needs to know how to put on a trial but only wishes to compete in the sport.
The source materials are from the Canadian Kennel Club. The intent is providing instruction using materials and methods that have proven successful, and as such then remove a lot of the work involved with developing a new sanctioned sport.
PART ONE – SATURDAY 17TH OCTOBER 2009 = Instruction is without dogs present. A PowerPoint presentation has been developed that will help take participants through every step of understanding Rally, organizing a trial, understanding the equipment and preparing an area for a trial with an outside judge. The ideal situation for the presentation is through the use of a projector although copies of the presentation will be available and if participants bring their own laptops, they can follow along with relative ease. Each aspect as mentioned above will be discussed and at length so that potential trainers will be able to develop their own teaching programs to enable more students to participate in sanctioned events.
The estimated duration of the power point presentation, allowing for breaks and questions is about 6 hours.
PART TWO – SUNDAY 18TH OCTOBER 2009 This is designed to be an active part of the seminar, requiring the dogs to be in attendance. It is recommended that crates be used to hold dogs between sessions so they not become too tired, and multiple dogs for handlers is encouraged for the same reason. The thought being that the handlers are learning not so much the dogs. Rally classes geared to training the dogs can be developed by individual clubs and trainers as a separate event, and there will be discussion on the best way to achieve that and promote the sport in the first session. Participants other than those that attended the first part should have some basic knowledge of the sport and the signs being used. No additional time will be allotted to re-teaching the signs. It is encouraged that for those wishing to attend, they take the time to prepare with even just the basics of the Novice level so that they can participate in the test courses offered without slowing up the flow of the instruction.
Electronic files with basic sign descriptions can be made available prior to the seminar for all participants to prepare themselves with.
During the practical portion of the seminar, scoring of the teams will be done, but only to provide more information on how to understand the scoring procedure for both potential judges and handlers. The purpose is not to show which team may be more competent in this area but to provide needed instruction as to when to make decisions as a judge or a handler in each event and the consequences that would arise from a real life trial situation.
Upon completion of the seminar it is hoped that enough information is passed along that with some occasional consultation on a few issues, clubs and trainers will feel confident enough to be able to offer classes and work toward sanctioned trials for titles. As well, those participants that have been curious about this sport and wish to learn more may be encouraged to do so and help spread the word about this growing dog sport.
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COSTS:
$50AUD/person for Saturday and Sunday This cost includes a PowerPoint seminar to each participant and any work related materials needed. $15AUD/person for Sunday only For those wishing to attend only the practical portion of the seminar. There are no handouts for this portion of the seminar to this group, however score sheets used for their runs will be theirs to retain. Pre-registration is required for all seminars. There will be no refunds, however substitutions will be permitted should someone be unable to attend Conclusion of each day’s events will be based on the number in attendance and at the discretion of the participants. There will be no rushing through things.
Participants for the full seminar are requested to bring a notebook to take notes if desired. Any work materials needed, will be provided.
For the second day, participants are required to bring a dog, appropriate working collar, six foot lead, rewards for the dog if required, proper containment for the dog and water etc.
Participants for the full seminar may be asked to assist in the setting of the various courses as part of the training package.
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Rally-Who?? Rally-O!!
Rally obedience, or "Rally-O" as it has been termed by enthusiasts, is the latest American Kennel Club event to hit the show circuit. Rally-O combines characteristics of sports car racing, dog agility, and traditional obedience into a new fun sport.
The Canine Obedience Club of Townsville is holding a workshop run by Heather Green and is welcoming all local and Northern Club members to attend. It is hoped that trials may be offered if the ANKC sanctions the event in Australia. WHEN : Saturday 17th and/or Sunday 18th October 2009 WHERE : COCT, Heatley Park, Fulham Road, Townsville TIME : Commencing 9.00am each day.
Finishing approx 4.00pm Saturday, Lunchtime on Sunday. NUMBERS : Maximum of 30 handlers and dogs COST : See attached seminar outline BRING : See attached seminar outline, plus hat & sunscreen for Day 2 FOOD : Cold drinks, smoko and lunch available from canteen
Rally-O is a wonderful introduction to the sport of obedience for dogs and owners, an opportunity for veteran dogs to remain active, and a chance for shy or anti-social dogs to get ring experience without worrying about being examined by a judge.
Rally-O is a more relaxed, fun version of obedience competition for juniors and adults. In Rally-O a course is designed in which the dog and handler team must work their way through the course. Ten to twenty stations are set out through the course. Each station has a sign that details the obedience move to be performed. Scoring is more relaxed, and not as rigorous as in traditional obedience competitions. Rally-O builds on the relationship between dog and handler and develops a sense of teamwork. Communication without limits can be used in Rally-O and is not penalized as it is in traditional obedience. Many dogs enjoy this change from the usual silent heeling of traditional obedience as their handlers can clap hands, talk, whistle (even sing!) to them throughout the entire course without penalty.
Rally-O is a canine sport that promotes fun and enjoyment in training and competition for both dog and handler. Rally-O is a perfect bridge between basic obedience and traditional obedience competitions.
A complete description of Rally Obedience is on the AKC website at http://www.akc.org/pdfs/rulebooks/RO2999.pdf. or check out http://www.canismajor.com/dog/rallyo.html for more information.
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RALLY OBEDIENCE REGISTRATION SPONSOR CLUB : Canine Obedience Club of Townsville Inc
DATE OF SEMINAR : Saturday 17 and/or Sunday 18 October 2009
NAME : ____________________________________________________
PHONE : ____________________________________________________
EMAIL : ____________________________________________________
SELECT ONE:
TWO DAY/TRAINER : $50.00
ONE DAY COURSE RUNS : $15.00
TOTAL FEE : _________________
There are no refunds; however substitutions may be permitted up to 3 days prior to the scheduled seminar. All funds must be in the hands of the organising club or person no later than one week prior to the date of the seminar.
The above person agrees that they will not hold the facility, the instructors nor others involved with this seminar, responsible should injury occur to either their person or their dog and shall act in the best manner to ensure that their actions do not put themselves or others at any risk of injury. This includes being responsible for the dogs in their care at this event, in so much as they will not put themselves or their dogs in such a position to warrant aggressive acts or behaviours.
The instructor reserves the right to remove any dog or handler that has or shows to be aggressive or disruptive to the remainder of the participants. As such there are no refunds.
Signature Date
**It is recommended that dogs participating in this seminar have basic obedience skills, which include sit, down, and adequate in control heeling ability. There will be NO off lead work, nor are there sit/down/stays with the handler not in contact with the dog at all times. Participants are welcome to bring multiple dogs, however unless time permits, only one dog/handler per course will be done.
Each two day participant will receive a copy of the power point presentation that will be outlined on the first day of the seminar plus course layout sheets and their score sheets that they have been marked on for the practical portion of the seminar.
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Position Statement on the Use of Dominance Theory in Behavior Modification of Animals AVSAB is concerned with the recent re-emergence of dominance theory and forcing dogs and other animals into submission as a means of preventing and correcting behavior problems. For decades, some traditional animal training has relied on dominance theory and has assumed that animals misbehave primarily because they are striving for higher rank. This idea often leads trainers to believe that force or coercion must be used to modify these undesirable behaviors. In the last several decades, our understanding of dominance theory and of the behavior of domesticated animals and their wild counterparts has grown considerably, leading to updated views. To understand how and whether to apply dominance theory to behavior in animals, it’s imperative that one first has a basic understanding of the principles. Definition of Dominance
Dominance is defined as a relationship between individual animals that is established by force/aggression and submission, to determine who has priority access to multiple resources such as food, preferred resting spots, and mates (Bernstein 1981; Drews 1993). A dominance/submissive relationship does not exist until one individual consistently submits or defers. In such relationships, priority access exists primarily when the more dominant individual is present to guard the resource. For instance, in a herd comprised of several bulls and many cows, the subordinate males avoid trying to mate when the dominant bull is near or they defer when the dominant bull approaches (Yin 2009). However, they will mate with females when the dominant bull is far away, separated by a barrier, or out of visual sight. By mating in this manner, subordinate bulls are not challenging the dominant bull’s rank; rather, they are using an alternate strategy for gaining access to mates. In our relationship with our pets, priority access to resources is not the major concern. The majority of behaviors owners want to modify, such as excessive vocalization, unruly greetings, and failure to come when called, are not related to valued resources and may not even involve aggression. Rather, these behaviours occur because they have been inadvertently rewarded and because alternate appropriate behaviours have not been trained instead. Consequently, what owners really want is not to gain dominance, but to obtain the ability to influence their pets to perform behaviors willingly —which is one accepted definition of leadership (Knowles and Saxberg1970; Yin 2009). Applying Dominance Theory to Human- Animal Interactions Can Pose Problems Even in the relatively few cases where aggression is related to rank, applying animal social theory and mimicking how animals would respond can pose a problem. First, it can cause one to use punishment, which may suppress aggression without addressing the underlying cause. Because fear and anxiety are common causes of aggression and other behavior problems, including those that mimic resource guarding, the use of punishment can directly exacerbate the problem by increasing the animal’s fear or anxiety (AVSAB 2007). Second, it fails to recognize that with wild animals, dominance-submissive relationships are reinforced through warning postures and ritualistic dominance and submissive displays. If the relationship is stable, then the submissive animal defers automatically to the dominant individual.
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Third, in the wild, even in dominance/submissive relationships that are well-established, the relationship lasts only as long as the higher-ranking individual is strong enough to retain this rank. Thus, high rank may be shortlived in both human-animal and animal-animal relationships. Overall, the use of dominance theory to understand human-animal interactions leads to an antagonistic relationship between owners and their pets. If the relationshipis less stable, the dominant individual has a more aggressive personality, or the dominant individual is less confident about its ability to maintain a higher rank, continued aggressive displays occur (Yin 2007, Yin 2009). Key Points •Despite the fact that advances in behavior research have modified our understanding of social hierarchies in wolves, many animal trainers continue to base their training methods on outdated perceptions of dominance theory. (Refer to Myths About Dominanceand Wolf Behavior as It Relates to Dogs) Dominance is defined as a relationship between individual animals that is established by force/aggression and submission,to determine who has priority access to multiple resources such as food, preferred resting spots, and mates (Bernstein 1981;Drews 1993). Most undesirable behaviors in our pets are not related to priority access to resources; rather, they are due to accidental rewarding of the undesirable behavior. People who rely on dominance theory to train their pets may need to regularly threaten them with aggressive displays or repeatedly use physical force. Conversely, pets subjected to threats or force may not offer submissive behaviors. Instead, they may react with aggression, not because they are trying to be dominant but because the human threatening them makes them afraid. The AVSAB emphasizes that animal training, behavior prevention strategies,and behavior modification programs should follow the scientifically based guidelines of positive reinforcement, operant conditioning, classical conditioning, desensitization, and counter conditioning. How Leadership Differs from Dominance The AVSAB clarifies that dominance and leadership are not synonymous. In the human-related fields of business management and sociology, where leadership is studied extensively, leadership is defined broadly by some as “the process of influencing activities of an individual or group to achieve a certain objective in a given situation” (Dubrin 1990, in Barker 1997). Despite this definition, which includes influence through coercion, scholars in these fields recommend against the use of coercion and force to attempt to gain leadership (Benowitz 2001). Coercion and force generate passive resistance, tend to require continual pressure and direction from the leader, and are usually not good tactics for getting the best performance from a team (Benowitz 2001). Additionally, those managers who rule through coercive power (the ability to punish) “most often generate resistance which may lead workers to deliberately avoid carrying out instructions or to disobey orders” (Benowitz 2001). Similarly with pets, leadership should be attained by more positive means—by rewarding appropriate behaviors and using desired resources as reinforcers for these behaviors.
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Leadership is established when a pet owner can consistently set clear limits for behavior and effectively communicate the rules by immediately rewarding the correct behaviors and preventing access to or removing the rewards for undesirable behaviors before these undesirable behaviors are reinforced. Owners must avoid reinforcing undesirable behaviors and only reinforce the desirable behaviors frequently enough and consistently enough for the good behaviours to become a habit (Yin 2007). Finally, AVSAB points out that while aggression between both domesticated and wild animals can be related to the desire to attain higher rank and thus priority access to resources, there are many other causes. These are discussed in detail in multiple veterinary behavior textbooks (please see www.avsabonline.org for helpful articles).Consequently, dominance should not be automatically presumed to be the cause of such conflicts, especially when the conflict occurs within a human household. Instead, a thorough medical and behavioral assessment should be conducted on all animals involved in the conflict to determine the true cause or causes of the aggression. Conclusion The AVSAB emphasizes that the use of scientifically sound learning principles that apply to all species is the accepted means of training and modifying behavior in pets and is the key to our understanding of how pets learn and how to communicate with our pets.
References American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. 2007. AVSAB Position Statement–Punishment Guidelines: The use of punishment for dealing with animal behavior problems. http://www. avsabonline.org/avsabonline/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=119. Barker, R. 1997. How can we train leaders if we don’t know what leadership is? Human Relations 50(4):343-62. Benowitz, E.A. 2001. CliffsQuickReview: Principles of Management. New York: Hungry Minds. Bernstein, I.S. 1981. Dominance: The baby and the bathwater. J Behav Brain Sci 4:419-57. Drews, C. 1993. The concept and definition of dominance behavior. Behaviour 125: 284-313. Knowles, H.P., and B.O. Saxberg. 1971. Personality and Leadership Behavior. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley. Yin, S. 2007. Dominance Versus Leadership in Dog Training. Compendium Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian 29:414-32. Yin, S. 2009. Dominance vs. Unruly Behavior. In Low Stress Handling, Restraint and Behavior Modification of Dogs and Cats. 52-73. Davis, Calif.: CattleDog Publishing
