Yaps & YelpsYaps & YelpsYaps & YelpsYaps & Yelps Journal of Northern Suburbs Dog Training Club Inc April May 2008 No 2

Website www.nsdogtraining.org.au

Members only page can be accessed by user name - nsdtc, password - barbara

Let’s play!

What’s the latest gossip? Can I sit on your lap?

JJJ uuu sss ttt

hhh aaa nnn ggg iii nnn ggg

ooo uuu ttt

What’s up there?

A girl’s gotta have comfort

Just relax & enjoy

Yummy Mummy

rub my tummy

Welcome to our new members Training your dog is fun & owning an obedient dog is a pleasure

From The Editor

Northern Suburbs Dog Training Club is a

not-for-profit, community organisation

dedicated to promoting the socialisation,

training & welfare of our canine companions.

Yaps & Yelps is your club magazine & aims to

provide snippets of information on training,

articles supplied by club members & results of

those who are trialling their dogs in obedience &

agility.

Articles, news items, photos, suggestions

& jokes, etc can be left at the table or

emailed to ginny.l@tpg.com.au

Please note - In order to avoid

internet viruses, emails MUST include

‘Info for Yaps & Yelps’

in the email subject line otherwise emails

will be deleted unopened.

Enjoy the fun of working with your dog.

Ginny Legh, Editor

Dec 07/ Jan 08 Holly Floyd with Tilly Mimi Lu with Bambi Sue Stevens with Jack Marianne Swart with Winnie

2/2/08 Nigel Baker with Bodhi Rick, Sue, Kaylin, Alyse,Tena Balderrama with Bella Henriette & Stephanie Broger with Simba Caroline Cardier & Martin Sharp with Lulu & Rosie Darren & Vanessa Crichton with Henprix Vivian Cronin with Cara Anita Deaves with Petal Karen Garlan with Alice Pauline Haycraft with Blue Amanda & Crawford Huuk with Evie Julie Kaney with Yogi Geoff & Jackie Lashbrook with Hamish & Merlin Tracy & Elenor Lofley with Danny Mary, Phil, Matilda & Georgia O’Keefe with Nugget Lyndall, Wendy, Brendan & Andy Owen with Pooka Prue & Sam Petinsky with Amy & Grace Derek Poon & Selina Leung with Fay Kathy & John Sharp with Dylan & Chelsea Peter, Lisa, Cameron & Francesca Smee with Jackie Isela Stead with Sienna Anette Uhrig with Zanda Maide, Tilly & Imogen Welch with Bella

16/2/08 Len Clark with Digga Kim Clasby with Bevvie Earle & Cassandra Dresner with Oscar Jan Ewert & Anja Bechel with 2075 Tony, Jane & Katie Gold with Ruby & Oli

Roger & Kai Faulkner & Kirsten & Clare Orr with Disni Deserae Grimley & Damien Hubbard with Milo Joanne & Patrick Kelly with Ruby Celia, Peter & Nicholas Lillywhite with Dottie Emily & Charlie Paget with Rika & Coco Brian & Alison Scullin with Hunter Rebecca Terrell with Scout Donna M Trickey with Izzy

1/3/08 Linda Alexander with Calvin Andrew & Imogen Bloxham with Scruffy Clive Chappel with Jessie Virginia Cohen & Winston Horne with Gigi Trent & Stacey Hayes with Jet Christine Hely with Breeze Daniel Hodgson with Roger Steve Kane with Abby Lorna Layson with Jesse & Sophie June & Jennifer Ledingham with Goldie Annie, Lachlan, David & Alison McCubbin with Hero & Bear Janet, Charlie & Kate Murton with Emily Barry & Charlotte White with Kellie

15/3/08 Violeta Alorisor & Greg Murray with Bruno & Sheba Jenny, Amelia, Jim & Katie Burns with Flossie Cassia Ferguson with Sally Trudy & Nick Frolich with Scruffy & Daisy Alex & Jen Gardner with Caramel & Cinnamon Sean , William & Hung-Ying Gill with Marco Abbie, Sue & Rob Hartman with Archie Fiona & Genevieve Horton with Dasher Anita Keyanian with Willie Stella Kim with Hiro Peter & Victoria Kohlhagen with Zeus

Congratulations on your promotion

3.2.08

To 2nd Class

Sue Armston & Maddie

To 3rd Class

Brett Thompson & Ruby

Barbara Gobel & Chaucer

Sue Murray & Madi

To 4th Class

Robyn Dive & Isis

1.3.08

To 4th Class

Keith Langley & Roxy

Tony Butler & Jazz

Eve Ryan & Yoko

Margaret Cochrane & Buddy

Emma Carpenter & Ember

Pam Rushworth & Lili

Greg Smith & Mia

Christine Enlert & Chimena

Jackie Bonnici & Mika

8.3.08

To 2nd Class

Alex Rushworth & Juju

15.3.08

To 4th Class

Tricia Nicola & Pandora

Yummy Homemade Treats (Thanks to Mo Kramer who hasn’t yet had a dog refuse one of these treats!)

The recipe is very simple

400g sardines in oil

1.5 cups wholemeal flour

2 eggs

small packet of grated parmesan cheese

Mix all together (by hand is best), put into a non-stick, paper lined, Swiss roll tin & bake

at 180C for 20 mins.

Allow to cool & cut into squares.

You can add sunflower &/or pumpkin seeds or grated garlic but Mo hasn’t tried these yet.

It freezes well too.

Welcome Back Debbie

We are all so pleased Debbie Selby, our Club Treasurer,

is home again. She is recovering well after her stay in

hospital following a horrible car accident

Hopefully Debbie & Lucy will be back at training &

instructing very soon - we’ve missed you!

Puppy

Pages

A dog's nature

Dogs are surprisingly complex creatures. Though descended from

wolves, they have interacted & lived with humans for well over

10,000 years but many innate behaviours still exist.

Some common traits stand out.

Dogs are predators. That doesn't mean they necessarily hunt & attack every passing cat or

rat, but the capacity is always in them. With acute hearing & head muscles that allow precise

orientation of their ears, dogs can pick up a range of sounds & locate the source quickly &

with high accuracy.

A dog's field of vision is greater than that of humans. Their field of view has been estimated

from 180-270 degrees, by comparison to a human's 100-150 degrees, allowing them to track

events better.

There's that famous sense of smell. It is said they have 25 times as many scent receptor cells

& are able to sense concentrations 100 million times smaller than humans.

Dogs are social animals. That's common knowledge, of course. But, though known, it's often

ignored. Owners will often lock a lone dog away in a garage or pen, or tie them on a rope in

the yard for long periods. This isolation from contact with humans & other animals invariably

leads to fear &/or aggression & other forms of maladjustment. Dogs need companionship in

order to develop healthy behaviour.

Isolating a dog for brief periods can be a useful training technique. Fear of expulsion from the

pack can make overly assertive, alpha-status seeking dogs fit in with the trainer's goals. In any

human-dog pair, the human must be the alpha (leader). The alternative is property destruction,

human & canine frustration & unsafe conditions for people & dogs.

But excessive time devoid of social interaction with another dog, the human, or even a

friendly cat, harms the dog's psychology & leads to unwanted behaviour.

Dogs are exploratory. Like two-year-old humans at roughly the same mental level, dogs

learn by exploring their environment. Also like young humans, they can engage in destructive

behaviour. Dogs are no respecters of property. Training & an appropriately selected set of

objects & suitable area can channel that behaviour into something acceptable to humans &

healthy for the dog.

Providing toys with characteristics very distinct from human property, leads to less confusion

& misbehaviour. In many cases, however, the problem is solved by scent. The dog's toys may

look like the child's, but smell very different.

Some amount of digging may be inevitable as part of the dog's exploration. Be prepared to

patch holes in the lawn if the dog is unsupervised for long periods. Plants can usually be

protected with cayenne pepper paste, citronella & other preparations or fenced off.

Dogs are scavengers. Dogs will eat other animal droppings, even when they have perfectly

sound & ample diets. They'll chew on dead rats, eat grass & ingest a wide variety of things

that their own experience shows cause upset stomachs & they'll repeat the behaviour day after

day!!! Acknowledging their limited ability to connect cause & effect, when those are

separated in time, is a must in order to keep them healthy & safe.

Recognizing a dog's nature, & working within in it, rather than against it, leads to less

frustration for both human & dog. Enjoying the beneficial aspects, such as spontaneous dog

hugs (leaning into a leg), paw offering & a head laid on the lap are just a few of the rewards.

You’re mean - you’ve fenced me in!

Today in suburbia, dogs are no longer allowed the freedom of

the streets.

Fences must keep your dog in. As a general rule small breeds

need a 1.2m high fence, medium breeds need 1.5m & large

breeds need 1.8-2.0m high fencing.

Colourbond type fences are the most secure because they

Usually cannot be climbed, chewed through & if sunk into the

ground, dug under… BUT… most councils do not like the look

of this type of fencing in our leafy suburbs.

Solid paling fences are good, but make sure the palings are double nailed at the bottom to

prevent the dog pushing through & be careful the dog doesn’t use the railings as climbing

aids. Covering the bottom rail with a length of plastic drainage pipe, split lengthwise &

pushed over the rail will prevent this - it’s too slippery!

Be careful the dog doesn’t dig under the fence - a concrete footing will solve this.

Vertical metal railing fences are suitable for large breeds & most medium size dogs but

unsuitable for small dogs as they can squeeze through or slide under them. Also be aware

that cats & other small animals can get into your yard & cause havoc!

Picket fences are alright so long as they are high enough & the pickets go right to the

ground. Be careful though, because a dog that jumps up on the fence can get its paw caught

between the pickets resulting in injury & even a broken leg.

Diggers need to have 30cm deep concrete footings or a piece of sheet metal buried

vertically on the inside of the fence.

Wire mesh fences are suitable for most dogs but climbers can use the mesh holes as toe

holds to scale the fence. When installing the wire mesh make sure there is a ground wire

attached to the mesh or threaded through it. This will stop the dog squeezing out under the

fence.

Gates. These are always a weak spot & dogs understand

this! They quickly learn to open latches & push open

sliding gates.

Install latches well above the dog’s head height, have bolts

to hold the gate at the base & if possible have a self closing

mechanism on all gates.

Another favourite escape route is through the garage door -

as you approach home & use your remote control to open

the door for quick access - whoopee! the dog runs out to

the street & is off before you can get out of the car to stop

him.

For the impossible escapologist - you may need to build a

fully enclosed (& roofed) dog run with suitable shade &

shelter & a concrete floor for the times when there is

no-one at home to supervise the dog.

I’ll grow into it

eventually!!!

Tips for

Obedience

Training

Correct & consistent footwork is important

As a famous scientist said ‘Why is it so?’

Your dog has excellent peripheral vision & is aware of the

smallest body movements you make. He will learn to take his

cue from these movements so you need to be consistent in

giving your messages to him.

There are as many ways to organise your feet as there are expert dog handlers/teachers.

One such top USA trainer is Morgan Spector whose Australian workshops were very well

attended & received.

The following are some snippets from his excellent training manual Clicker Training for

Obedience. The book is available from the club library. It is well worth reading.

Left side walking. “The shaded area represents the ‘control area’. The

dog’s front end may be anywhere in that space. The control area gives the

dog a certain amount of freedom. He can be slightly wide of you &

slightly ahead of you. But at no time will he be more than 18 inches away

from you in any direction.”

“For the pet owner this is a relaxed area to maintain. For the competition

handler, this position allows the dog to forge slightly. For casual walking

this is not a problem, it is desirable so long as it is within limits. It is easier

to keep your eye on a slightly forged dog. The dog will be used to being at

your side or slightly ahead of you. When you move to stricter competition

training you will not have to overcome a lag.”

The two-step halt. “The goal is for the dog to sit as you complete your halt.

You must now introduce some formality into your footwork. I find the quickest

sits come with a two-step halt …….. .”

“I like to stop, using my right foot to ‘brake’ forward momentum, stopping on

my left foot & ‘catching up’ with my right. The simple reason is that my dogs

are working off my left foot & if I bring it all the way forward & halt, there is

virtually no chance that they will be lagged ………..”

“ …….for the competitor who shows outside: you often encounter uneven

ground. By taking your last step with your right foot, your weight shifts slightly

to the right when you stop: if you are on uneven ground & have any imbalance,

this will take you away from the dog, thus avoiding such things as stepping on

his foot or falling on top of him.”

The about turn. “Footwork for the about turn is always a little artificial - we don’t make

this manoeuvre much in normal life. This pattern produces very nice results. Practice

without the dog until your footwork is consistent & automatic.”

The right turn. “The right turn is essentially an about turn cut short.

As with the about turn there are three distinct points. The first point is

exactly the same as the about turn: right foot taking a half step, pointing

to 1.00. The dog knows what this means: ‘We’re going around’. The

second point is on step 3 with the left foot. Instead of bringing your left

foot parallel to the right foot as in the about turn, you will step slightly

past your right foot, angling it directly to 2.00.

The third point is on the next right-foot step. This is only slightly longer

than heel-toe, right foot pointing directly to 3.00. This is now your new

line of travel.”

“In doing any manoeuvre to the right, you always run the risk of over-

turning somewhat. In other words, instead of heading toward 6.00 (on

the about turn) or 3.00 (on the right turn) you find yourself heading

toward 8.00 or 4.00 respectively. This will not only throw you off-line.

If you correct your line you may well bump the dog. If you don’t

correct the line, the judge is going to see you are out of heel position.”

The left turn. “The progression is the same as it is in turns to the right.”

The figure of eight. “Most judges will watch to see you maintain the same pace on the figure

of eight as you did in the heeling pattern.

The figure of eight is simply a series of half turns to the left & right connected by two half

circles left & right.

Look at the diagram again. You stand slightly to the right of the centre point. The dog is lined

up directly on the centre point. You keep your head up & ‘targeting’ at all times during the

exercise” (on the post you are about to negotiate).

To get a better understanding of this exercise please read the section in Morgan Spector’s book. The editor

Farewell Miriam Smith

Miriam died on 14 February 2008 after a short illness.

We will miss her.

For those who only knew Miriam briefly, she & her

late husband Reg, joined the club not long after its

founding & trained poodles to UD standard.

For many years Miriam was Training Secretary

(membership officer) & worked on the table every

Saturday long after she stopped training her dogs.

In her later years, she changed to owning Bichon

Frise dogs.

Her last girl, Victoria, is now in the care of her

nephew & family.

Miriam was always a great supporter of our annual obedience trial. She worked as a

steward for many years, then latterly helped with the morning teas & brought flowers for

the clubhouse etc.

Miriam also donated a trophy to be awarded to the highest scoring club member at our trial.

It is known as the Smith Trophy in memory of Miriam's Poodle, "Willy UD".

Our thoughts & deepest sympathy are with her family at this sad time.

‘You asked …..about Agility?’

When I’m quizzed about the sport of agility I usually liken it to a

canine version of the equestrienne sport of Olympic show jumping!

It is normal that a picture comes to mind of horses jumping over brightly coloured fences ….

their riders in red coats… tight fitting breeches, knee-high shiny leather boots …

With a little stretch of your imagination you can understand why I utilise this comparison!

Agility is a sport where people run around a course of brightly coloured fences with a dog….

wearing casual sporting attire, including the ‘right type’ of shoe, of fast grass sport design!

Agility is a growing sport! Agility is addictive! Agility is FUN!

People who have a dog & want fun in their lives, for themselves & their dog, are eligible to

give it a try when they reach 3rd Class level of obedience training! So think of the Northern

Suburbs Dog Training Club as your first ‘port of call’ before embarking on your exciting

journey into the world of Agility.

At this point I am going to roughly divide you into two camps! Camp No1 is made up of the

‘smarties’ who know (or think they know) all about Agility … they’ve done it … they’re

doing it … they’re mad about it … they dream about it …. they train & train … & can’t get

enough of it … & I’m just talking about the dog! (Only joking!) Well, you get the picture!

Tips for

Agility

Congratulations Jane & Nitro

Jane Hampel & her Border Collie Nitro have been

chosen to represent NSW in the ‘Advance’ Agility

Challenge in South Australia .

‘Advance’ sponsor a series of Agility Trials all over

the country & the top 4 dogs from each state are

flown to South Australia for the National final.

So those of you in Camp No1 may like to either skip over some of the basics or better still go

outside & do some training … OK!

The rest of you are in Camp No 2 … you may not have even heard of Agility. You may have

heard about it but never seen it (ie an Agility Trial or some form of Agility activity)... pity

about that … however as a member of Camp No 2 I’m going to enlighten you so that you will

want to get going & get into this Agility ‘thing’ & join the Campers in Camp No 1.

Now get ready for the first instalment of a ‘speed’ ride around the world of Agility :

Here we go …99% of dogs are capable & will love doing Agility (perhaps some of the ‘low

slung’ types may prefer to just watch!

99% of people are capable & will love doing Agility - where there’s a will there’s a way!

The Northern Suburbs Dog Training Club has all the Agility equipment needed for training

(& trialling)… & what’s more they have excellent & very experienced instructors.

Training sessions are on Saturday mornings & Monday evenings (Yaps & Yelps has details).

For training purposes a bit of a grassy ‘patch’ at home (or you can go to an off leash park

with your dog), a couple of planter pots & some broom sticks will be good enough in the

early days of training. (these are still good enough for my dog & me).

Plastic garden stakes (12) (from Bunnings) decorated with some electrical tape will look very

posh when you start to train your dog to weave.

Now the Agility equipment ... jumps, tunnels, tyres, weave poles, a see-saw. An A-Frame, a

Dog-Walk, a ‘broad’, a ‘spread’, etc. The dog does all these things … all you have to do is

‘point them in the right direction’ … (well, maybe there’s a bit more too it than that!!)

Heights are important … little dogs jump 200mm & 300mm … medium sized dogs jump

400mm & 500mm & the big dogs jump 600mm.

But before I start to give you some of the more ‘in depth’ information about Agility I must

WARN YOU …. Agility is addictive!

Come to think of it … too much information is ‘overload’ … so let us slacken the pace on our

‘speed’ journey … take time out to go to a trial & have a look … or watch some Club mem-

bers in the training session on a Saturday morning…or Monday evening ….

We will continue the ‘speed’ journey around the world of Agility in the next Yaps & Yelps.

Tracey Elder

it’s a Puppy Class at NSDTCit’s a Puppy Class at NSDTC Hello? What’s going on? Hello? What’s going on? --

The ‘come fore’ is the beginning of the recall. Handlers walk forward, then say their dog’s name & ‘come’ & start taking a few steps backwards. The dog turns & comes to his handler & gets his treat! Don’t pull the dog in to you, let him come willingly - he’ll soon learn there’s always a treat & a pat waiting for him.

‘Wait’ or ‘stay’ is the command used when

you ask your pup to stay where he is until you release him. NB. Puppies only concentrate on one thing for very short periods. A 20 second stay is a big achievement!!

Lots of fun & new friends. Learning good behaviour = treats

‘Drop’ or ‘down’ - we teach this by luring the pup into the lying down position. Take a treat from the pup’s nose down to the ground near his chest & then slowly out along the ground whilst you say ‘drop’ or ‘down’. NB. If you are going to use ‘down’ when you mean get off the furniture or don’t jump on me, then use ‘drop’ as your command to lie down.

‘Sit’ - most pups know this command before they come to class but now we want the pup to sit beside our left leg, rather than in front of us. Put a treat close to your pup’s nose, tell him ‘sit’ & very slowly move it up & back over his head. As soon his bottom hits the ground, praise him & quickly give him the treat.

‘Watch’ or ‘Look’ - your pup learns to focus on you so he’s ready for the next command.

‘Heel’ or walk beside me or on a loose lead. Start by holding the lead loosely in your right hand, have plenty of small, soft treats in your left hand which you hold beside your left leg & make sure the pup knows the treats are there! Then say your pup’s name to get his attention (or better still ‘watch’ or ‘look’), tell him ‘heel’ & walk slowly forward. The pup’s nose is almost in your hand as you walk along. Reward with treats & a very enthusiastic ‘yes’, whilst you continue to walk forward.

Socialisation - puppies learn to play ‘nicely’. Rough or aggressive behaviour ends the play session with pups being called back to their handlers. The game is started again & play is allowed so long as it’s fun. Pick similar size pups. Big & small together seldom work!!

Praise is just as

important

as treats

Plenty of frustration, achievement & improvement

Make training

fun!!! Settle - this a is a wonderful way of settling a hyperactive, over-the-top puppy. Sit on the ground or floor (if your dog is small enough you can have it on your lap in a chair) & gently turn him upside down. Slowly stroke his tummy, saying ‘settle’ in a calm & soft tone. When he relaxes give him a small treat, lots of praise & let him get up quietly. This is best taught when everything around you is quiet & there are no distractions!!

it’s a Puppy Class at NSDTCit’s a Puppy Class at NSDTC Hello? What’s going on? Hello? What’s going on? --

The ‘come fore’ is the beginning of the recall. Handlers walk forward, then say their dog’s name & ‘come’ & start taking a few steps backwards. The dog turns & comes to his handler & gets his treat! Don’t pull the dog in to you, let him come willingly - he’ll soon learn there’s always a treat & a pat waiting for him.

‘Wait’ or ‘stay’ is the command used when

you ask your pup to stay where he is until you release him. NB. Puppies only concentrate on one thing for very short periods. A 20 second stay is a big achievement!!

Lots of fun & new friends. Learning good behaviour = treats

‘Drop’ or ‘down’ - we teach this by luring the pup into the lying down position. Take a treat from the pup’s nose down to the ground near his chest & then slowly out along the ground whilst you say ‘drop’ or ‘down’. NB. If you are going to use ‘down’ when you mean get off the furniture or don’t jump on me, then use ‘drop’ as your command to lie down.

‘Sit’ - most pups know this command before they come to class but now we want the pup to sit beside our left leg, rather than in front of us. Put a treat close to your pup’s nose, tell him ‘sit’ & very slowly move it up & back over his head. As soon his bottom hits the ground, praise him & quickly give him the treat.

‘Watch’ or ‘Look’ - your pup learns to focus on you so he’s ready for the next command.

‘Heel’ or walk beside me or on a loose lead. Start by holding the lead loosely in your right hand, have plenty of small, soft treats in your left hand which you hold beside your left leg & make sure the pup knows the treats are there! Then say your pup’s name to get his attention (or better still ‘watch’ or ‘look’), tell him ‘heel’ & walk slowly forward. The pup’s nose is almost in your hand as you walk along. Reward with treats & a very enthusiastic ‘yes’, whilst you continue to walk forward.

Socialisation - puppies learn to play ‘nicely’. Rough or aggressive behaviour ends the play session with pups being called back to their handlers. The game is started again & play is allowed so long as it’s fun. Pick similar size pups. Big & small together seldom work!!

Praise is just as

important

as treats

Plenty of frustration, achievement & improvement

Make training

fun!!! Settle - this a is a wonderful way of settling a hyperactive, over-the-top puppy. Sit on the ground or floor (if your dog is small enough you can have it on your lap in a chair) & gently turn him upside down. Slowly stroke his tummy, saying ‘settle’ in a calm & soft tone. When he relaxes give him a small treat, lots of praise & let him get up quietly. This is best taught when everything around you is quiet & there are no distractions!!

A Healthy Dog

is

a Happy Dog

Easter may have come & gone but there may still be chocolate goodies

hidden around the house & garden - beware!!! Chocolate. All milk, semisweet & dark chocolates are toxic to dogs. All contain varying amounts of theobromine. Signs of toxicity are unusual hyperactivity, increased heart rate, restlessness, increased urination, muscle tremors, vomiting &/or diarrhoea.

Other human foods which can be toxic to dogs are -

onions pips of pears & apples macadamia nuts garlic (in large amounts) kernels of all stone fruit green potatoes mouldy or spoiled foods the artificial sweetener Xylitol potato peelings yeast dough (raw) grapes & raisins alcohol

Why does my dog always bite & scratch himself?

- he most probably has fleas !!!! Yuk !!!!

Fleas only spend about 10% of their life cycle actually on an animal. The rest of the time they will be waiting in the environment (carpets, bedding, kennels, garden, soil, etc).

Therefore when treating your dog, you must also be vigilant in treating the animal’s surround-ing at the same time. Flea ‘bomb’s containing insect growth hormone regulators may be used in the house. It’s best to consult a pest controller if you want to treat outdoor areas as well.

Flea bite allergies probably contribute more to skin problems in dogs in Australia than any other factor. Once a dog develops an allergic reaction to flea saliva, he may only need one bite every 6-7 days to continue the cycle of intense itching, scratching, biting & rubbing.

Fleas also lead to infection with the common tapeworm. Fleas carry the tapeworm eggs. When the dog licks his coat & swallows an infected flea, the tapeworm hatches & develops in the dog’s small intestine. Children can also become infected with the common tapeworm by touching an infected dog or his droppings then putting their hands to their mouth. NB. The common (or flea) tapeworm is NOT the same as the hydatid tapeworm which poses serious health issues for people.

The older style commercial products for flea control are based on pyrethins, piperonyl butoxide (both relatively safe compounds for young pups) or anticholinesterases which need to be used with care to avoid toxicity. Some examples of anticholinesterase containing products are Proban, Nucidol, Malatroy & Asuntol.

New compounds are constantly appearing on the market permitting a completely different approach to flea control. In the last few years these have included Program, Sentinel, Frontline, Advantage, Advantage Duo, Exetick, Revolution & Advantix.

There are a number of medicated collars which provide some protection from fleas & ticks.

There is also Capstar. This product kills adult fleas which are already on the dog in a very short time. It does not provide on-going protection from fleas.

There are various herbal flea repellents. These should be used according to the directions on the package. Please note tea tree oil should not be used on raw skin surfaces or wounds.

For detailed information on how these products are presented & should be used please refer to page 10 of the NSDTC Information Booklet (the green book you received on joining the club).

Many people have suffered the awful feeling caused by motion sickness. Dogs can suffer motion sickness as well & a sick dog learns to hate the car. His attitude - ‘Car ride? No way!!’ Dogs can suffer from motion sickness when travelling in cars, boats or aeroplanes.

The cause of motion sickness is stimulation of the vestibular apparatus within the inner ear.This centre is responsible for equilibrium & balance. When is overly stimulated, the dog feels dizzy & nausea may develop. Dogs with motion sickness begin drooling, feel sick & may even develop vomiting or diarrhoea. The symptoms usually subside when the vehicle stops.

You can prevent or minimise motion sickness by - � Seating your dog so he can see out of the window & focus his eyes on something steady at a distance from the vehicle, such as the horizon. (Check the dog can’t get out of the window!) � Making sure the dog has plenty of fresh air. Poor air quality from smoke, recirculating air conditioning or lack of oxygen can cause queasiness. � Feeding a very light meal 2-3 hours before travelling. Overloading & irritating the stomach with heavy foods increases the likelihood of stomach upset & nausea. � Ensuring your dog has small amounts of water before & during a long trip. Dehydration will add to the symptoms & cause more distress. � Reducing anxiety & stress before & during a trip. Anxiety can also affect the stomach & make the dog more likely to suffer from motion sickness.

If your dog is already showing signs of motion sickness, try training him to enjoy the car by - � Making your vehicle a ‘happy’ place - give the dog his food & play games in the car. � Taking your dog for a very short ride (just half a block) every day for a week. Increase the distance slowly over the next four weeks. Reduce the distance if the dog shows a return of symptoms. � Making sure there is a big reward each time you stop - ie a run in the park, a few favourite treats, a game of ball or tuggie & most importantly, a big treat on coming home again. � You can try giving a human child dose of ginger (this is based on a medium sized dog - adjust the dose for your dog’s weight). Try travel sickness products containing ginger .

If all this fails see your Vet as he will be able to prescribe appropriate sedative or anti-anxiety medications & can check if there is any other cause for the motion sickness.

Motion sickness

A lot of people grow cycads in pots so they are easy pickings for dogs. The cones & seeds are produced by the female plant so the easiest way protect dogs & children is to cut off the cones as soon as they are produced. From a friend - Our dog had yanked a small houseplant off of the deck & was chewing on the root of it. He chews on all kinds of plants in the yard & I thought of tossing it over the fence but figured he would just try to dig under to get it so unfortunately I let him keep it. A couple hours later we let him in the house & he was foaming yellow froth, drooling & shaking. Twenty minutes later we were with the emergency vet & were told the prognosis was not good & he could die. (Luckily he survived & we’ll never own palms or cycads again!). The plant in question was a Sago Palm & which is highly poisonous to both pets & humans. The toxic chemical in the plant is called cycasin & often causes permanent liver damage as well as neurological damage if enough of the poison is absorbed by the body. The seeds are the most poisonous part of the plant & the effects on humans are seizures, coma & death.

Poisonous plants - Cycads - don’t let children & dogs near them!!!

Trial Results Obedience & Agility triallers - please enter your results in the Trial Results folder in the Club office. This is the best way to ensure results appear in Yaps & Yelps.

Obedience

Owner & Dog Judy Perrin & Fernie Di Hollett & Billy Judy Perrin & Fernie Judy Perrin & Oliver Judy Bratter & Bindi Judy Perrin & Fernie Judy Perrin & Fernie Judy Perrin & Oliver Judy Perrin & Fernie Marcelle Fitzgerald & Gabby Judy Bratter & Bindi Judy Bratter & Evie Judy Bratter & Evie Ngaire Chant & Bobby Janice Liang & Jasper Jacky Walker & Fergus

Date 13.10.07 3.11.07 3.11.07 3.11.07

30.11.07 1.12.07 5.1.08 18.1.08 23.2.08 23.2.08

21.10.07 20.10.07 21.10.07 15.3.08 15.3.08 29.3.08

Event United Retriever Club of NSW Sutherland Shire DTC Sutherland Shire DTC Sutherland Shire DTC Hills District DTC Blue Mountains DTC Manly DTC Combined North Canine Committee Werriwa DTC Werriwa DTC Southern Highlands Gundog Wk Test Southern Highlands Gundog Wk Test Southern Highlands Gundog Wk Test Hornsby DTC Hornsby DTC Border Collie Club NSW

Result CCD - Qual CD - Qual & 4th CCD - Title CD - Qual CCD - Title CD - Qual CD - Qual & 2nd CD - Title & 3rd CD - Title CDX - Title Novice - Pass & 1st Novice - Pass & 2nd Novice - Pass & 2nd CCD - Title CCD - Qual & 3rd CCD - Qual & 1st

Owner & Dog Jane Hampel & Nitro Jane Hampel & Nitro Jane Hampel & Nitro Jane Hampel & Nitro Judy Bratter & Bindi Judy Bratter & Bindi Jane Hampel & Nitro Jane Hampel & Nitro Geoff Woodman & Tammy Ela Starzynski & Innes Ela Starzynski & Innes Geoff Woodman & Kayley Geoff Woodman & Kayley Mary O’Dwyer & Titan Geoff Woodman & Kayley Geoff Woodman & Kayley Geoff Woodman & Kayley Bronwen Taylor & Sissy Allison Harvey & Kelly Allison Harvey & Kelly Allison Harvey & Kelly Allison Harvey & Kelly Nicole Nasr & Lea Tracey Elder & Sgt Pepper Geoff Woodman & Tammy Anna Uther & Keshi Allison Harvey & Kelly Geoff Woodman & Kayley Geoff Woodman & Kayley Geoff Woodman & Kayley

Date 28.9.07 29.9.07 28.9.07 28.9.07

27.10.07 27.10.07 3.11.07 3.11.07 8.1.08 10.2.08 10.2.08 9.2.08 10.2.08 9.2.08 8.3.08 8.3.08 8.3.08 16.3.08 16.3.08 16.3.08 16.3.08 16.3.08 22.3.08 23.3.08 23.3.08 23.3.08 24.3.08 29.3.08 29.3.08 31.3.08

Event ACTA Tuggeranong ACTA Tuggeranong ACTA Tuggeranong ACTA Tuggeranong ADC ADC Canberra DTC Canberra DTC Hawkesbury Dog Agility Club Hawkesbury Dog Agility Club Hawkesbury Dog Agility Club Hawkesbury Dog Agility Club Hawkesbury Dog Agility Club Hawkesbury Dog Agility Club Belconnen Dog Obedience Club Belconnen Dog Obedience Club Belconnen Dog Obedience Club Illawarra Collie & Shetland Sheepdog Trial Illawarra Collie & Shetland Sheepdog Trial Illawarra Collie & Shetland Sheepdog Trial Illawarra Collie & Shetland Sheepdog Trial Illawarra Collie & Shetland Sheepdog Trial ACT Companion Dog Club Royal Easter Show Agility Royal Easter Show Agility Royal Easter Show Agility Royal Easter Show Agility German Shorthaired Pointer Agility Trial German Shorthaired Pointer Agility Trial Royal Easter Show Agility

Result JDM - Qual JDO - Title & $th ADO - Title & 4th ADM - Qual & 4th JD - Qual AD - Title GDX - Title ADM - Qual & 2nd JDX - Qual SPDX - Qual & 1st SDX - Title & 1st JDM - Qual & 4th GD - Title JDX - Title JDM - Qual ADM - Qual JDO - Qual JD - Qual & 1st ADM - Title & 1st ADO - Qual & 1st ADM - Qual & 2nd ADO - Qual & 2nd JDX - Qual & 1st GDX - 4th GD - Qual GD - Title & 5th ADO - Qual & 4th JDO - Qual ADO - Qual JDM - Qual & 5th

Agility AD = Agility Dog JD = Jumping Dog SD = Snooker Dog GD = Gamblers Dog SPD = Strategic Pairs

O=Open X= Excellent M=Masters are added to the above as more advanced titles are gained

CDD = Community Companion Dog CD = Companion Dog CDX = Companion Dog Excellent UD = Utility Dog UDX = Utility Dog Excellent O.CH = Obedience Champion

O, Hound, you always ran ahead – Upon the trail you always led – Bounding, joyful, strong and fleet, Impatient with my two slow feet. How often I would curse your will – Your lupine soul, and hound dog skill – For seeming deaf to my commands And challenging restraining hands. Yet, you would always slow your gait, And, harkening, you’d turn to wait. You’d urge me on with smiling face, Your tail encouraging my pace.

But now I send you on ahead, A kiss upon your noble head. I bid you find a happy trail Where sweet and carefree days prevail. My tears are for the time I’ll spend Without my lovely, loving friend Your image in my heart and mind I tarry, once again behind. O, Hound, you go ahead and run! I will not call you to be done. But keep a watchful, loyal eye, For I shall join you, by and by.

L. Behrmann

SHAKA 17.7.97 - 4.2.08

Mo Kramer’s much loved Rhodesian Ridgeback ‘Shaka’ has joined his friends at the Rainbow Bridge.

Our deepest sympathy Mo. Mo found this lovely descriptive poem to honour Shaka.

We all like to spoil our dogs (even if only a little bit)! Is your dog incredibly affectionate? If so, you may want to encourage him to nibble on one of these before you cuddle up together on the sofa. Mint, parsley & charcoal are bursting with bad-breath-busting ingredients & they taste good too.

After Dinner Mints (for dogs)

Makes: 30-40 Method Preparation time: 15 minutes Combine flour, herbs & charcoal in a large mixing bowl. Cooking time: 25-30 minutes Mix in olive oil & add enough of the measured water, a Ingredients: little at a time, to make a smooth dough. 250g wheat or gluten-free flour Roll into 1cm balls & place on a greased baking sheet. 25g mint, chopped 15g parsley, chopped Bake in a preheated oven, 1800C, for 25-30 minutes. 1 tablespoon activated charcoal When cooked, remove from baking sheet & allow 3 tablespoons olive oil to cool. Store in an airtight tin for up to 4 weeks. 250ml cold water

Thanks to Sharon Househam - this is from a book called "Pup Cakes" by Stephanie Mehanna

TRAINING is held in the Dog Rings, St Ives Showground every Saturday, February - November inclusive. NB. No training on Public Holidays

OBEDIENCE:

Saturdays 3.00 - 4.00pm Adv Puppies, First, Adv First, Second & Third classes Every second Saturday Classes start for New Members & New Puppies Saturdays 1.30 - 2.30pm Fourth (CCD & CD) & Fifth (CDX) Classes Saturdays 12.30 - 1.30pm Sixth (UD) Class Wednesday 7.30 - 8.30pm Training for Instructors only

�AGILITY: New members First Saturday & Monday of the month All levels Saturdays 9.30 - 12 noon Night Agility Mondays all levels 7.00 - 9.30pm

�FLYBALL: All levels Alternate Saturdays 2.15 - 2.45pm �Dogs must be at least 1 year old & in Third Class or above to start Agility &/or Flyball

• New Members - Enrolment by 2.15 pm please.

• All dogs must be FULLY IMMUNISED (Veterinary Certificate required plus 2 weeks from date of last vaccination). Please read NSDTC Vaccination Policy opposite.

• Junior Members are 12 to 15 years of age.

• Training equipment (leads, training collars, etc) can be purchased at the Clubhouse.

MEMBERSHIP FEES: for full financial year - 1 July to 30 June

•Single $40 ($20 joining fee & $20 annual subscription)

•Junior Members $30 ($10 joining fee & $20 annual subscription)

•Pensioners, other bona $30 ($10 joining fee & $20 annual subscription) fide concessions & those owning rescue dogs

•Dual/Family Membership $50 ($30 joining fee & $20 annual subscription)

•Those joining 1 January to 31 May receive a $10 reduction in joining fee

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FEES are due by 30 June each year.

GROUND FEES: $3 per class per dog for all members except Juniors & Pensioners who pay $2.

YAPS & YELPS The Club journal is published every two months & is available from the table at the clubhouse. Articles for Yaps & Yelps are welcomed & may be left at the table or emailed to The Editor, Ginny Legh at ginny.l@tpg.com.au

All you’ll need to know

PARKING

• Parking for Club Members who are not instructing or doing other club related duties is to the LEFT of the road as you enter the showground. • The parking area on the right, nearer the Clubhouse, is for “on duty” Club Members who need to leave their dogs, carry equipment, etc.

Thank you.

NSDTC Vaccination Policy

• NSDTC Inc requires a minimum C3 (distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus) vaccination after the age of 12 weeks for all puppies less than 12 months old.

• All dogs joining or renewing that are 12 months to 3 years of age must have had at least a C3 vaccination in the preceding 12 months.

• Dogs joining or renewing over the age of 3 years who have not had a C3 vaccination in the preceding 12 months must be referred to the Club Veterinary Officer or nominee with their most recent vaccination certificate or letter of exemption from their vet.

• As Bordetella and Parainfluenza are not normally life threatening to healthy dogs, these vaccinations are optional but recommended and owners are reminded that these will be required if the dog is to be boarded in kennels.

• All vaccination certificates must be signed by a registered veterinary surgeon.

• Homeopathic ‘vaccinations’ will not be accepted.

REMEMBER. A delay of two weeks after the final puppy vaccination is

required before puppies are permitted to join classes.

CLUB & GROUND RULES

Please adhere to the following rules. They are for the benefit of all members & the general public who use St Ives Showground.

• All dogs must be on lead during club training times (except when off lead work is directed by an instructor during class).

• Dog droppings must be cleaned up & placed in a bin. (Always carry extra plastic bags!).

• Each week pay your $3.00 ground fee at the Clubhouse & collect your ticket.

• Always wear your name tag.

• The dog rings are a leash free area EXCEPT on Saturdays.

• The main oval may be used for leash free exercise, so long as no other organised event is taking place.

Highlights from the General Meeting held on Saturday 23rd February 2008 Meeting opened at 4.45 pm by the President, Barbara Bessen Business Arising from the Minutes: North of the Harbour Kennel Club has indicated that they need their storeroom in the JPP for the foreseeable future. A meeting was held on the grounds last Saturday re the fencing of the cattle rings. The new club title trophies need to be ordered well before the Sausage Sizzle. Russell will hand out last years title trophies to the agiliteers on Saturday mornings & Monday nights & ask for a volunteer to co-ordinate the ordering of the trophies & engraving of the plaques. Gael contacted KMC re moving of the power box. Bronwyn Maurer will look into a new sign for the verandah re restriction of entry. “Workers dogs only”. Web page enrolment form - Nicholas too add “All care, but no responsibility” for dogs on the training ground. More publicity flyers are needed for distribution to vets & for handing out at demonstrations. Business Arising from Correspondence: Rep for Manly trial to be Anne Staple? Plans for fencing cattle ring to Tony Hall, Mark Hancock & Paul Hopwood Secretary to follow up correspondence with Christine Davis re aggressive dogs. Jenny Scamps to order the new book on jumping skills. Vickie reported that Deb Selby should be released from hospital this week following her accident. Secretary to write to MMWDTC & Manly DTC re use of grounds & equipment for their trial. Penny Dalzell will refund registration fee to Instructors who attended the Turley workshop. Inter-Club Challenge to be discussed under training business. Penny Dalzell will write a notice to be displayed over power points in the clubhouse to prevent overloading circuits. Treasurers Report: Treasurer is still in hospital, has sent her apologies for not producing a report. In the meantime Nicholas is doing the banking & Jenny Scamps has a cheque book for payment of bills. Obedience Training Report: Supplied by Chief Instructor, Judy Perrin. Judy apologised for her absence. The news about Deb’s recovery from her traffic accident is good. Welcome to Mo Kramer who has joined our group of instructors. The Inter-Club Challenge is coming up & Judy asked the meeting to consider the following: How many teams should we send, bearing in mind our few UD members? May we have volunteers for the positions of team manager & steward(s)? Suggest that in order to field our best teams, that we close the advanced classes on the day of the match. Discussion then took place on the Inter-Club Challenge. It was decided that we should base the number of teams on the number of UD & Open dogs available. Agility Training Report: Given by Chief Instructor Russell Clarke. There has been a lot of rainy Saturdays and Monday nights, but training is still going well Russell held a paint-a-thon in December. Some of the old jumps are unstable. Russell will make replacements A volunteer will be sought for title trophy co-ordination & trophies not handed out in November will be given out next Saturday & the following Monday evening at training. Jane Hampel &Nitro - selected for the “Advance” NSW demo team at the 2008 South Australian State Titles. The condition of the turf on the rings has outstripped expectations. Obedience Trial Report: Given by Trial Secretary, Jenny Scamps Entries are coming in. The journal ad omission re Gundog Working test to be corrected in DogsNSW March issue. Agility Trial Report: Given by the Trial Secretary, Russell Clarke. Judges for 2008 are now contracted. A $7 entry fee will be charged. The Novice & RQH rings will be set up in the cattle ring to allow more room away from the Heritage Fair food. Membership Secretary's Report: 429 memberships on the books Publicity / Newsletter / Archives Report: Several members took part in a photo shoot last Monday for the local paper, organised by Councillor Tony Hall from KMC & State Member for Davidson Jonathan O’Dea. This is to publicise the proposed fencing of 2 dog rings. There have been requests for demonstrations from Ignite the Flame, St Ives Show and Dog Day Out. Library Report: Ruth has obtained some new books by Patricia O’Connell The library shelves are full. Space to be made on the bottom shelf until a cull of older & out of date books done. Other Reports Web site: Yaps and Yelps still not accessible by some members. General Business: • Bronwyn requested a lock for the other drinks fridge. • Ian Dunbar has now retired from public speaking, so there is more information available from his website.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 5.55pm

PATRONS

Mr Stoyan Rogleff Mayor of Ku-ring-gai - Cr Nick Ebbeck Dr Angus Ross Dr Michael Eaton Dr Joanne Righetti

CLUB EXECUTIVE & COMMITTEE

President: Barbara Bessen 9488 9488 Club Secretary: Gael Goldsack 94873656

(for committee business only - 89 Grosvenor Street Wahroonga 2076)

Treasurer: Debbie Selby 9477 4430 Vice Presidents: Sandra Fry 9416 6080 Eve Park 9449 1941 Chief Instructors: Judy Perrin 9449 7388 (Obedience) Russell Clark 9997 1798 (Agility) Joining Enquiries: Sandra Fry 9416 6080

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Archives: Christine Rethers Clubhouse Coordinator: Bronwyn Maurer Clubhouse Catering: Jane Hampel Ku-ring-gai K9 Award Coordinator: Marcelle Fitzgerald Librarian: Ruth Hyde Assistant Librarian: Elizabeth Van Ewyk Membership Secretary: Lana Partridge Assistant Membership Secretaries: Pam Rushworth & John Jonker Newsletter Editor: Ginny Legh Obedience Demonstration Coordinator: Vickie Dean Publicity Officer: Nicholas Gray Social Secretary: Eve Park Training Equipment Officer: Kay Luke Assistant Training Equipment Officer: Barbara Gurney Trial Equipment Officers: Obedience: Andy Seitz Agility: Geoff Woodman Trophy Officer (general): Tracey Elder Website Coordinator: Nicholas Gray

Trial Committee (Obedience) Trial Committee (Agility)

Trial Manager: Andy Seitz Trial Manager: Anne Clarke Assistant Trial Manager: Judy Perrin Trial Secretary: Russell Clarke Trial Secretary: Jenny Scamps Chief Steward: Phil Palangas Chief Steward: Barbara Bessen Trophy Officer: Tracey Elder Trophy Officer: Denise Wigney Catering Officer: Kay Luke

NSDTC DOGGY DIARY DATES

Saturday 5 April

Saturday 12 April

Saturday 19 April

Saturday 26 April

Sunday 27 April

Saturday 3 May

Saturday 10 May

Saturday 17 May

Saturday 24 May

Wednesday 28 May

Saturday 31 May

Saturday 7 June

Saturday 14 June

Saturday 21 June

Saturday 28 June

Flyball training 2.15pm. Trial Steward Training 4.00pm

BYO BBQ 5.00pm

New Members. Trial Steward Training 12.30 pm.

Instructors’ Meeting 4pm

Flyball training 2.15pm. GENERAL MEETING 4.00pm

New Members

NSDTC OBEDIENCE TRIAL

Flyball training 2.15pm. BYO BBQ 5.00pm

New Members

NO TRAINING - ST IVES SHOW

New Members

Committee Meeting 7.30pm

Flyball training 2.15pm

NO TRAINING - SAUSAGE SIZZLE from 12 noon

New Members. Instructors’ Meeting 4.00pm

Flyball training 2.15pm.

New Members. GENERAL MEETING 4.00pm

April - June 2008