February has been an extremely hot month with very little rain. Our members have braved the heat, but thanks to the abundance of trees and two paddling pools, training has been bearable
CLUB ACTIVITY
Preparation is already heating up to organize events for the new year, but our most important event will be our 55th AGM, on 17th March. Our club will have lovely German fare after the meeting. For catering purposes, please let us know if you will be attending. Members, please ensure you are paid up by the time you attend our AGM. There’s no training on the day.
Our LOVE YOUR DOGevent on Valentine’s Day proved to be a huge success!!! Everyone arrived dressed in something red and were given a bandana, tug toy, home-baked dog biscuits, cupcakes and cold drinks. We had a welcome shower during the afternoon and we all moved into the club house where the party continued! Samantha and Mariette put together this wonderful event, thank you! The amazing photos will soon be put on our FB page.
An interesting book written in 1960 by well-known author John Holmes, called THE FARMER’S DOG, (training for sheepdogs) contains interesting information, which we may not have time to explain to you on a Saturday afternoon. These principles still apply using good sounds and bad sounds, treats, etc.
“All training must, therefore, be based on the assumption that dogs do not reason, which we might call principle No. 1 – a principle, incidentally, which is accepted by practically all successful trainers of all classes of animal.
The second point to remember is that, no matter how much some owners would like them to, no dog ‘understands every word that is said to him’. It does not understand any words at all. It merely understands sounds and it is just as easy to teach a dog to lie down by saying ‘get up’ as by saying ‘lie down’.
The strongest and most lasting associations are created by terrifying experiences, very pleasant experiences and experiences that are happening over and over again, in that order. First experiences always create stronger and more lasting associations than do subsequent experiences. If, for instance, a pup gets kicked by a bullock the first time it sees one, it may never go near one again, but if it gets kicked after it has learned to work, then it will merely be more careful in future. For the purpose of training, we create the pleasant and unpleasant experiences by what is known as correction and reward. We cannot tell the dog what we want him to do as we could a human servant, but we can make it very pleasant for him to do what we want and equally unpleasant for him to do what we don’t want. Eventually he will learn right from wrong and you will be able to tell him what you want him to do.”
EVENTS
3th March – new intake of dogs
17th March – 55th AGM – no training on the dayApril – Faerie Glen Nature Reserve or Wolwespruit walk
13th May – Potjie at our President, Mr Binder’s, home7th July – Obedience Dog Show
July – Canine Good Citizen’s Tests
INTERESTING WEBSITES
https://www.cesarsway.com/dog-training/obedience/5-essential-commands-you-can-teach-your-dog
INTERESTING BOOKS
Dogscapping – Creating the perfect backyard and garden for you and your dog – Tom Barthel
Dog Friendly Gardens, Garden Friendly Dogs – Cheryl Smith
Petscaping – Training and landscaping with your pet in mind – Scott Cohen
Dog-Friendly Gardening: creating a safe haven for you and your dog – Kate Bush
WEBSITE
Thank you to everyone who has sent testimonials – they’re on the website! This is a powerful and easy way of advertising your club, so please make full use of it – www.pretoriashepherddogclub.co.za. Our Face Book page also has some interesting photos and information!
MAINTENANCE
The grounds look spic ‘n span, thanks to Elvis and his hard-working team, although in summer we can hear the grass grow growing and manicured grounds are not always possible. We need assistance with maintenance and improvements. All members will be sent a notice to assist. We wish to put together a 1-day work party, followed by a bring ‘n braai. The club hasn’t had a work party get-together for a long time, and we look forward to spending time with you!
SPCA AND WETNOSE
Dogs bought from SPCA or Wetnose qualify for one month’s free training (excluding R280.00 club membership fee). Just bring along your receipt of purchase. The SPCA Newsletter has put out a request for more volunteers, so if you have any spare time, please consider donating it to a worthy cause. Please contact Celestie Mathews who is a volunteer at the SPCA. She has some wonderful fundraising ideas. Celestie also has a volunteer Wattsapp group that you can belong to, where she advertises the SPCA’s wish lists – 082 825 8442.
ANIMAL CHARITY
Our adopted animal charity is the South African Veterinary Association’s community project called Community Veterinary Clinics (CVC). They look after the primary healthcare of dogs and cats in disadvantaged communities, and offer vaccinations, de-worming, dipping and sterilisations at a reduced fee.
Please get involved in their MySchool card project – http://www.communityvet.co.za/
SATURDAY – gates open at 1.30pm
OBEDIENCE – new intake the first Saturday of every month at 2pm
BEGINNERS – 2:00pm – 3:00pm/3:15pm – 4:15pm/4:00pm – 5:00pm/ – Beginners – please arrive at 1.30pm and visit our Treasurer, Ruben in the Club house – please bring a 1.2m cotton leash, metal check chain and throw toy or dumbbell.
Obedience training – R200.00 per month, payable 3-monthly in advance. PLEASE BOOK WITH US BEFOREHAND. This is not a course, but ongoing training.
PUPPY CLUB – 3.pm – 4.30pm – Annual club membership – R280.00
R800.00 for the 6-week course – puppies can join any time.
This class is for puppies between the ages of 3 months and 5 1/2 months. The puppies must have had their 2nd vaccination and been de-wormed. Appropriate tick and flea control must be administered before participating. Please bring your vaccination books. The members will have a lecture in the Club house and thereafter learn the basics in puppy obedience, e.g. retrieve, heelwork, sit, down and stand. And of course, lots of socializing. Bring along a 1.2m cotton leash, metal check chain and throw toy. If the dogs advance well before the age of 6 months, they can join Beginner training. PLEASE BOOK WITH US BEFOREHAND.
CONTACT
Secretary – Beverly – 083 272 1014
Chairperson and Chief Trainer – Tania – 082 430 1456
Treasurer – Ruben Muller – rubenmuller1959@gmail.com
We train with treats and comfortable waist treat bags, which are available from Ruben for sale on Saturdays. They are R100 each and the small treat bag is R60 – there is limited stock. We also dumbbells and leashes. Please ask Ruben or one of the trainers to assist you.
Kind regards
TANIA QUARMBY
CHAIRPERSON
PRETORIA SHEPHERD DOG CLUB
www.pretoriashepherddogclub.co.za