The Tararua Tailwagger Newsletter of the Tararua Allbreeds Dog Training Club

Autumn 2015 Volume 3, Number 1

Term dates for 2015

Term 1 (at Ashhurst) 27/01/15 – 17/03/15

Term 2 (at Longburn) 07/04/15 – 26/05/15

Term 3 (at Longburn) 9/06/15 – 28/07/15

Term 4 (at Longburn) 11/08/15 – 29/09/15

Term 5 (at Ashhurst) 20/10/15 – 8/12/15

Location of training

In Ashhurst we train at the Manawatu Canine

Centre grounds, accessed through the carpark on Cambridge

Avenue

Our Longburn facility is in Ngaire Street (first turn on the right after

the railway overbridge)

Class times

Classes times will be given out on the first

night of term.

Classes last for 30-45

minutes.

Welcome to the first edition of the Tararua Tailwagger for 2015. The Tailwagger is a newsletter published each term to keep club members, and those training with the club, in touch with what is going on. There will also be articles about dog behaviour and training. We will also tell you about some of the fun activities you can do with your dog. If you have any news you would like to include, or have suggestions for articles that you would like to see in the Tailwagger, please let me know. Meanwhile, enjoy your training. Although the dry weather is definitely not the best for farmers or gardeners, it does give us a lot of opportunities to get out there and train our dogs, or just have fun with them. Sue Cooper, Newsletter Editor

Your committee President: Anthea Finlayson Vice President: Sue Cooper Correspondence Secretary: Jen Hebden Minute Secretary: Nicky Redwood Show Secretary: Cushla Fitzwater Treasurer: Nerolie Morrison Senior Instructor: Robyn Bland Club Captain: Nicky Redwood Publicity Officer: Sue Cooper Trophy Steward: Meredith Pitcher Members: Danielle Harvey Renee Dunbar

Training tip Remember – training is not just for class. Neither is it a “party trick” to be brought out on special occasions to impress people. Try to find ways to fit what your dog has learned in class into your everyday life, and use it regularly. This will be great practice to keep your dog’s training up to scratch, it will be useful to you, and it will impress everyone who comes into contact with your dog!

Behaviour tip It used to be thought that to have a well-behaved dog you had to be the “alpha in the pack”, by physically dominating it if necessary. However, new knowledge of wolf behaviour has shown that, under natural circumstances (but not when a lot of unrelated wolves are thrown together in captivity) wolf “packs” are families, with mum, dad, and the kids. The teenagers help bring up the babies before finding mates of their own and moving out, and mum and dad set the rules of good behaviour for everyone. So the best way to have a well-behaved dog is to act like a good parent – set clear boundaries for behaviour, and enforce them firmly but fairly.

“To a man the greatest blessing is individual liberty, to a dog it is the last word in despair” William Lyon Phelps

Well 2015 has gotten off to a great start club wise (with reasonable Junior and Basic class numbers this term). It is also encouraging to see people and their dogs return to train in Intermediate, Advanced and Competition classes.

If you haven't stayed after class to watch, from approx. 8pm each Tuesday we run a Competition class (many of your instructors attend this class after teaching). Many of our club members actively compete (or are currently in training) for the sport of Competitive Obedience. If you think you may be interested in having a look at the sport or learning more about activities you

and your dog can enjoy together, please talk to your instructor.

I'd like to thank all term one's instructors who have given up their Tuesday nights to come and help you train your dogs. They all volunteer their time. Most of our instructors (myself included) at one stage were Basic handlers who came along with their dog to do some training, kept coming back, and got hooked.

Last month an Obedience benefit show was held here at the Ashhurst grounds (we were fundraising for the 2017 National Dog Training Assembly). Thank you to the club members who came and supported this show and helped out. In late August this year we will be having our own club's Championship Obedience show. We always need helpers so please keep it in mind for later in the year.

As the mornings are getting darker (and thankfully the evenings a little cooler - I'd like a little wetter too), please take care when crossing roads and try to be as visible as possible.

We hope you have enjoyed your training this term and hope to see many of you back again. Don't forget next term we are back at our winter grounds at Longburn (on the old tennis courts next to the Longburn hall). The excellent overhead lighting and hard surface are a godsend in the colder and wetter evenings. If you are interested in joining us for term two, please don't forget to fill in the enclosed enrolment form (if you have any questions about what classes are available next term, please check with your instructor).

Keep up the good work

Anthea

Recent Competition Results

* Ch = championship show, RT = Ribbon Trial

Club Show* Date Handler Dog Test Place

Rotorua DTC Ch 24/01/15 Owen Morrison Herbie Spec Beginners 3rd

Nerolie Morrison Christian Spec Beginners 4th

25/01/15 Owen Morrison Herbie Spec Beginners 5th

26/01/15 Owen Morrison Herbie Spec Beginners 3rd

Nerolie Morrison Christian Spec Beginners 4th

Anthea Finlayson Hunter Novice 3rd

Kapiti RT 6/02/15 Renee Dunbar Leia Elementary 1 3rdt

Renee Dunbar Leia Elementary 2 4th

Meredith Pitcher Tommy Novice 5th

Benefit Ch 14/02/15 Nerolie Morrison Christian Spec Beginners 3rd

Kapiti Ch 7/03/15 Owen Morrison Herbie Spec Beginners 3rd

Nerolie Morrison Christian Spec Beginners 5th

Anthea Finlayson Hunter Novice 3rd

8/03/15 Anthea Finlayson Hunter Novice 2nd

Dog body language The following two pages show some dog body language

Relaxed and approachable Note that the tail may be wagging slowly, but will not be raised above the backline. This dog is unconcerned and unthreatened by activities that are going on, and is usually approachable.

Alert and checking things out As well as standing tall on the toes, the dog will have a slight forward lean. The tail may move slightly from side to side. This dog has detected something of interest to him.

Offensive threat This is a very dominant and confident dog. Do not approach this dog! He is expressing his social dominance and is also threatening that he will act aggressively if approached. His upright tail moving from side to side is not a friendly wag!

Defensive threat This dog is fearful and aggressive. It is frightened but not submissive. It should not be approached – it may bite if pushed or cornered.

Stressed and distressed This dog is signalling that he is under stress. His signals are not directed at any particular individual.

Active submission This dog is fearful and worried and is trying to appease the other dog (or person) and avoid conflict by appearing non-threatening.

Passive submission This dog is indicating total surrender and submission. He is signalling that he accepts his lower status, in the hope of avoiding conflict.

I want to play! The dog will usually only hold this position for moment before rushing off in a random direction.

If you learn to interpret dog body language, you have a much better chance of keeping both yourself and your dog out of trouble.

2014 Christmas function photographs We think the dogs enjoyed it as much as their owners. Although some of those embarrassed expressions say otherwise! Anyway, it was a lot of fun.

The difference between dogs and cats! And why we love them both

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Frosts Facts Hi. I’m Frost, and I live with the editor and make sure that she behaves herself and that my father Ice doesn’t get ideas above his station. I’ll be providing some useful information in each newsletter. Its easy for a few pounds to slip on to the old waistline when you are not watching – and let’s face it, how many of us dogs spend time looking in the mirror? Make sure your owner keeps an eye on it for you. Furry dogs like me can get away with it for a while, which is why Mum keeps prodding my ribs – apparently they should be easy to feel but not to see, and I should have a visible “waist” just behind them (class instructors can help if your owner is a bit uncertain). If you get a bit podgy, your owner should cut down on your food (or maybe cut out those little “extras” that do tend to add up). Don’t go by the dog-food bag – that’s for your average pooch, not you. And don’t go by breed – if dad weighed the same as me, he’d be emaciated. If I weighed the same as him, I would be the shape of (and probably with the lifespan of) a child’s balloon.

We are sorry to hear the news that Cushla lost her dog Scout last week. It is always sad to lose a club dog.

Contact details for the club:- Website: www.dogtraining.org.nz For training enquiries, phone Nerolie on 027 616 3083 (after 5pm please)