NEWSLETTER – MARCH 2021
A warm welcome to all our members! The leaves are falling and a chill is in the air! Thankfully, the seasons are now changing, with autumn on its way. It has to be the most inspirational time of the year!
CLUB ACTIVITY
Welcome to all our new members, and happy training to all club members. You have taken the first step to training your lifelong canine companion, which, as a trained companion, will be a constant joy in your life! We have amazing trainers who have a passion for dog training, and they’ll make your time at the club very interesting!
Our 58th AGM was held on Saturday, 13th March 2021. There was no training on the day and the event was followed by a delicious traditional German luncheon. The turnout was wonderful, and it was heartwarming to see old faces once again. This was the first time we held an AGM under the beautiful trees at Gloria’s Lapa. The mood was cheerful, a mood one feels when sitting under beautiful trees!
Sadly, our President, Mr Walter Binder, passed away on 22nd December 2020. His huge presence spanning 37 years was sorely missed. May the club continue to grow from strength to strength under the present leadership.
Our new committee is as follows:
Chairman – Mrs Tania Quarmby
Vice-Chairman – Mr Peter Verheijen
Secretary – Mrs Charene Verheijen
Treasurer – Mrs Gloria Wegner
Members:
Mr Edgar Harden
Mr Ruben Muller
President – Mrs Engela Fekete
Honorary Vice-President – Mr Eric Quarmby
Patron – Mr Terence O’Hara
Honorary life member – Miss Mariaan Bras
Juan’Ri, our Puppy Club trainer left Pretoria with hubby, Edburg, for a brighter future in Cape Town. We wish them health, wealth, and happiness with their new venture. Puppy Club is now in the capable hands of Charene.
Canine Good Citizen Test will take place on SUNDAY, 30th May, 9:00 am. Your trainers will start preparing you for these tests, namely Bronze, Silver and Gold. The entry fee is R140 per dog, which includes the judge, certificate, and rosette. Only one class will be tested per dog. Annatjie will make treat bottles for each dog filled with her home baked treats for R60 per dog. Please send your dog’s name to her. It makes a fun memento and its functional! Please, complete your forms and either pay Gloria when you see her or make an EFT. Charene has created a Google CGCT form. Our closing date for entries is 8th May. Please refer to the PSDC Admin WhatsApp group for this information.
Annatjie makes snuffle balls, snuffle mats, winter blankets and treats. The snuffle mat and ball are useful tools for bored dogs, but its use must be monitored, unless you wanted it shredded! We keep an “honesty box” in the clubhouse for treats.
RECIPE
LIVER TREATS
Ingredients:
1 tub of raw liver
2 cloves of garlic
1 box of muffin mix
Method:
Preheat the oven to the temperature stated on the muffin mix box. In a blender mix the liver and garlic until liquid. Mix in the box of muffin mix. Scrape onto a baking sheet and pat to about ½”
thickness. Bake until firm but not burnt. Cut into squares once baked. These treats may be frozen – Irwin Animal Rescue Centre Recipe Book
Little education on the worm spirocerca-lupi is done on the public in South Africa. This is an extremely dangerous worm that is often responsible for many fatalities. Please read the articles to familiarize yourself with this problem.
https://www.greensidevet.co.za/spirocerca-lupi-dogs/
http://www.sava.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Understanding-spirocercosis.pdf
https://www.greensidevet.co.za/worm-not-know-spirocerca-lupi/
Summer causes parasites like ticks, fleas, and flies to predate. Please take the necessary precautions like dipping, tick, and flea collars, and parasite 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 clubhouse.
We train with treats and comfortable branded waist treat bags are available from Gloria for sale on Saturdays. They are R110 each and the small treat bag is R90 – there is limited stock.
COLOURED TAGS
All members’ dogs are issued with different coloured tags. Your dog must please wear the tag at each training session. If you lose your tag, please get a new one from the trainers at R30 each. BLUE = PUPPY, GREEN = FRIENDLY dog, YELLOW = NERVOUS dog, ORANGE = NO DOGS (not dog friendly), RED = CAUTION (do not touch the dog). Please be aware of the colour of the tags, as it is a clear indication and warning to you and your dog to either befriend the dog or stay a respectful distance away.
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 1.30 pm.
Our medical aiders are Sam and Chris.
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! Your trainer is Charene and she will lovingly guide you towards training a happy puppy!
CLUB EVENTS
3rd April – new intake of dogs
1st May – new intake of dogs
30th May – CGCT
INTERESTING WEBSITES
http://www.watertandresepteviroudenjonk.com/viervoet-kinders–doggy-treats.html
https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2014/11/30/understanding-rescue-dogs.aspx
https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2016/05/29/animal-self-medication.aspx
INTERESTING BOOKS
The Other End of the Leash – Patricia McConnell
Will’s Red Coat – Tom Ryan
Team Dog – How to Train Your Dog the Navy SEAL Way – Mike Ritland
Dog Medicine – How My Dog Saved Me From Myself – Julie Barton
Doggy Desserts – Cheryl Gianfrancesco
Remember Me? – Eileen Anderson
WEBSITE AND GOOGLE REVIEW
Thank you to everyone who has sent testimonials – they’re on the website and Google Review! This is a powerful and easy way of advertising your club, so please make full use of it – www.pretoriashepherddogclub.co.za. Our Facebook page also has some interesting photos and information!
MAINTENANCE
Fortunately, we have had no problems to report.
PRETORIA DOG RESCUE
Ruben and Marissa have committed to offering their spare time 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 Facebook 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 the R320.00 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 Whattsapp 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 sterilization at a reduced fee. Please get involved in their MySchool card project – www.savacvc.co.za
SATURDAY – gates open at 1:30 pm
OBEDIENCE – new intake the first Saturday of every month at 2:00 pm
Beginners – please arrive at 1:00 pm and visit our Treasurer, Ruben in the clubhouse – please bring a 1.2m cotton leash, slip collar, and throw toy or dumbbell.
Obedience training – R220.00 per month, payable 3-monthly in advance. PLEASE BOOK WITH US BEFORE HAND. This is not a course, but ongoing training.
PUPPY CLUB – 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm- Annual club membership – R320.00
R900.00 for the 6-week course – Puppies are welcome to join every week!
This class is for puppies between the ages of 3 months and 6 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 clubhouse 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, slip collar, or collar and throw toy. If the dogs advance well before the age of 6 months, they can join Beginner training. PLEASE BOOK WITH US BEFORE HAND.
CONTACT
Secretary – Charene – 082 843 7446
Chairperson and Chief Trainer – Tania – 082 430 1456
Treasurer – Gloria Wegner – gloriawegner1@gmail.com
Kind regards
TANIA QUARMBY
CHAIRPERSON
PRETORIA SHEPHERD DOG CLUB
082 430 1456
www.pretoriashepherddogclub.co.za
Check us on Facebook!