Christmas and New Year have come and gone.The kids have now donned new school uniforms, while Mom and Dad labored to work – the annual rat race has started!Welcome 2018!Now it’s time for your fur kids!
It’s exciting to see so many new members who have joined the club, as well as our “Golden Oldies” who have already spent so much time with us.Welcome, welcome, welcome!We hope that this year will bring you loads of joy, and that the time you spend at our club will help you bond with your dog.They are, after-all, totally dependent on you for everything, including their outdoor activities. I came across a relevant saying by Cesar Milan; “Humans will always tell you the story.Dogs can only tell you the truth.Trust your instincts and listen to your dog.” So please take them “walkies” when requested!
CLUB ACTIVITY
One can’t believe that only two months ago we held our dog jumping competition, and annual prize-giving and braai.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.Members, please ensure you are paid up by the time you attend our AGM. There’s no training on the day.
LOVE YOUR DOG Our annual Valentine’s event will be held on Saturday, 10th February.Everyone is pleased asked to wear RED.Samantha has been beavering away making bandanas and toys for your dogs with Mariette assisting with the busy plans.We’ll have a lovely spread of cupcakes, Dehlia will take her usual professional photos and in case you’re worried, training will take place as usual.This is also a wonderful time to make friends and network!
For now, only one of our club members shows her dogs in competitions, and that is our chairperson, Tania Quarmby.She shows her dogs in sheepdog trials and has done so for the past twelve years.Tania is pleased to inform you that at her Club Championships Gypsy Girl came 2nd and Georgi Girl came 3rd.Their next adventure will be in Kokstad and Fort Beaufort where the handful of triallists will compete against each other.
Every year we have a scramble to please our members by having enough trained trainers.It is never easy.A dog trainer is almost as scarce as an astronomer, prosthodontist, mathematician or geographer – yes, that is true!Our volunteer trainers love animals and have a passion to put over information that will ultimately assist you and your dog in your home environment and eventually at a dog park.As you progress in your time with us, you will go to a different trainer where you will be exposed to fresh ideas and training methods. Kudos to our trainers!!!
We train with treats and comfortable waist treat bags are available from Ruben for sale on Saturdays.They are R100 each and the small treat bag is R60 – there is limited stock.
Preparing for dog club: We know how busy everyone is, but the last thing you want to do is RUSH to the dog club.Your dog will be rattled, and you will probably waste an entire lesson being jittery and shouting at your poor, innocent dog.So, get yourself a bag or basket, fill it with your training equipment like, collar/working check chain, leash, dumbbell/throw toy, treats and treat bag (sold at the club). Just lift and leave!Don’t forget your dog, hehe!Gates open at 1.30pm.
We have a reasonably strong advertising campaign for the dog club, but more help with advertising will assist us, especially in the winter months when school holidays, rugby, Tour de France, Wimbledon and other sports take precedence over dog training.Our Face Book page highlights many activities at the club, please share them.Most of our club members are on Face Book and we would appreciate if you could invite all your friends to “like” our page.Through this type of indirect marketing we can be assured of more members and many more happy dogs!!!
YOUR DOG’S QUIRKS
Hey Tania, our dog Cody loves peanut butter ice cubes.I take an empty ice tray and put half a teaspoon of peanut butter in the trays then fill it with water and then into the freezer…It goes well with the summer heat and Cody loves it.So, whenever I open the fridge to take out some meat or whatever, no matter where Cody is he will hear the fridge open and next moment he will be next to me wanting his peanut butter ice cube.
Heimiri Hancke
Zita and Lali get two Beeno’s when I go out and three when we go to bed. When I go to the Beeno box during the day they run outside and in the evening into their bed.
Ute
Haskia, our Golden Retriever, loves everything, no wonder she looks so snuggly! Strange favourites, watermelon! Get her quickly on her feet – when the cheese container opens!
Melanie Grobler
Mignon’s treat is the sardine special and her new brother also likes it!
Kato
Basil absolutely loves blocks of ice and chases them all over the house.Sometimes if you give him 3 or 4 he stores them all in his cheeks and runs around with chubby cheeks and drops them and chases the blocks of ice.
Roxanne
Dingo, Roxy, Shelby, Gypsy Girl and Georgi Girl absolutely love preservative-free dates from Montague.Gypsy Girl especially takes ages to chew and chew. By the time she has swallowed her first date, all the other dogs have had their share of three each.
Tania
Cindy’s favourite treat is a marrow bone in the morning. At 8:00 she has a bowl of food. As we are both working from home, my wife usually goes into her office at 8:15. At 9:00 she goes into the house to blow dry her hair.This is the signal for Cindy to go with her and wait for the hair drying process to be completed. She then charges for the fridge and waits there for her marrow bone.
Charl Human
Riddiq’s favourite treat: most dogs like biltong and liver, but not my big baby! He is happiest when he can steal and chew a fluffy slipper, leaving his mother with quite a dilemma – unmatching slippers!!!
Jo-Anne Herselman
HOLIDAYING WITH YOUR DOG
About 3 years ago we took Levi & Haskia to KZN, to little village called Munster, very far south. We booked at a house that was dog friendly, out of season. The beach was nice and quiet, so we could take the dogs off lease as long as we were alone. However, Levi figured out how to escape through the fence on day one, so we had to take them along everywhere as we could not leave them alone at home! – so we figured out very quickly which restaurants was pet friendly or not in the area!
Melanie Grobler
(Haskia – Golden Retriever)
Mignon’s holiday started with a new adopted brother.She was a bit jealous, but now is OK.
Kato
We took Basil with on holiday to Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape. We took him to the beach and he absolutely loved digging in the sand and sniffing everything.He would pick things up on the beach, like sponges, and bury them, which was very cute.
Roxanne
Roxy, Shelby, Gypsy Girl and Georgi Girl absolutely love going on holiday – to the sea and the veld! They love travelling and have done many, many trips around South Africa entering sheepdog trials.Sadly, Dingo has never travelled further than Mr Woodrow’s shepherding farm, but Eric wants him to go to the sea soon!
Tania
Pilchard recipe – for training treats
1 tin 425gm pilchards (minced only)
2 large eggs
4 – 7 T milk or more if required
5 heaped T self-raising flour
Garlic, banana, grated carrots or spinach – optional
Mix all ingredients well together and bake for 30-45 minutes at 180 degrees.Dry out like you would with rusks, viz. open oven door and keep oven at about 100 degrees till totally dry.
We also sell treat bags, dumbbells and leashes.Please ask Ruben or one of the trainers to assist you.
We have not increased 2018’s fees.All fees must be paid when joining the club or entering our grounds
EVENTS
13th January 2018 – club opens
3th February – new intake of dogs
10th February – Valentine’s Day
3th March – new intake of dogs
17th March – 55th AGM – no training on the day
April – Faerie Glen Nature Reserve or Wolwespruit walk
13th May – Potjie at our President, Mr Binder’s, home
7th July – Obedience Dog Show
July – Canine Good Citizen’s Tests
INTERESTING WEBSITES
www.ethology.co.za – for those of you who would like to study animal behaviour
INTERESTING BOOKS
101 Tricks – Kyra Sundance and Chalcy
The Goldstein’s Wellness and Longevity Programme – Robert and Susan Goldstein
Dog University – Viviane Theby
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!
The following is on our list:
We need to paint our new equipment and re-paint all our equipment and club house this year.
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
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
Kind regards
TANIA QUARMBY
CHAIRPERSON
PRETORIA SHEPHERD DOG CLUB
www.pretoriashepherddogclub.co.za