Christmas and New Year have come and gone. The kids have now donned new school uniforms, while Mom and Dad laboured to work – the annual rat race has started! Welcome 2019! But 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 56th AGM in 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, 16th February. Everyone is pleased asked to wear RED. Samantha has been beavering away making bandanas and toys for your dogs, together with her daughter, Juan’Ri, our busy event organizer. We’ll have a lovely spread of cupcakes and cold drink. This is also a wonderful time to make friends and network!
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 R110 each and the small treat bag is R70 – stock is limited.
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!!!
PUPPY CLASSES
We have Puppy Club for pups between the ages of 3 months to 6 months on a Saturday afternoon. Socializing your puppies from a young age can be the best show of love, which you, their human parent, can give!
PEANUT BUTTER & OATS DOG TREATS
Ingredients
* 1 cup milk
* 1/2 creamy peanut butter (must not contain artificial sweeteners)
* 1 large egg
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup oatmeal
Steps
1. Preheat oven to 180*C
2. Blend the milk & peanut butter. Once mixed add the egg, blend till mixed
3. Slowly add flour & oatmeal into the mixture. Mix until in dough form
4. Roll out dough. Can make into shapes or little balls, it’s your choice
5. Place dog treat onto baking tray with wax paper
6. Bake for +- 30 min or until surface lightly browned
We also sell treat bags, dumbbells and leashes. Please ask Ruben or one of the trainers to assist you.
Summer causes parasites like ticks, fleas and flies to predate. Please take the necessary precautions like dipping, collars and sprays. There are new products on the market, and you can keep up-to-date with the latest information brochures, which we keep in the club house.
2019 enrolment fees have increased by R20 from R280 to R300. All fees must be paid when joining the club or entering our grounds
EVENTS
8th January 2018 – club opens
2nd February – new intake of dogs
16th February – Valentine’s Day
3th March – new intake of dogs
March – 56th AGM – no training on the day
7th July – Obedience Dog Show
7th December – annual dog jumping competition, trophy hand-out and braai
ON THE CARDS
Join a dog walk
Potjie competition
Quiz
Canine Good Citizen’s Test
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.
The following is on our list:
1. We need to paint our new equipment and re-paint all our equipment and club house this year.
2.We wish to plant more indigenous trees. We would be most grateful should you wish to donate a tree, just not a thorn tree.
PRETORIA DOG RESCUE
Samantha and her team do a lot of wonderful work with Pretoria Dog Rescue. It is a worthy cause to support. Please put the word out that they have many, many dogs up for adoption. Check out their Face Book page for more information. Dogs bought from Pretoria Dog Rescue qualify for one month’s free training.
SPCA AND WETNOSE
Dogs bought from SPCA or Wetnose qualify for one month’s free training (excluding R300.00 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 – R300.00
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 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
Check us out on Face Book