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The Ofcial Newsletter for the Lethbridge and District Kennel Club

News
Obedience & Rally Edition

Thought of the Month

photo by Jolene McQuaig

On the Journey of Life, take time to stop at each Step

Favorite Links
For information on CKC Events, Breed Standings, and to nd a show near you- check out Canuck Dogs. http://canuckdogs.com Check out our own website!! http://www.ldkc.net

Upcoming Events
For information on CKC Events, Breed Standings, and to nd a show near you- check out Canuck Dogs. http://canuckdogs.com

In Memory
written by Andrea Knibbs

On Nov. 4, in the morning, Jackie Clemens passed away, with her dogs at her side in bed with her, at the age of 70. Jackie wasn't a member of LDKC, but she came up to our shows as often as she could, from Whitesh, and also came for seminars. Many of our members knew her well and spent time with her at the shows. Jackie was owned and loved by her Shelties: Bonnie, Nickles, Rosey, Brio, Luke, Raisin, Crispy, and Geordie. She won many top awards with them, in obedience, rally, tracking, and agility. She retired to Spokane a couple of years ago, then developed brain cancer, and nally succumbed. She kept in email and phone contact with some members, Andrea, Susan, and Judi, so we knew what she was up to. I knew Jackie well as a dog person, what's interesting to me, now, is discovering her 'other' life. I knew she was a nurse practitioner, but did not know much about her earlier life before moving to Montana in 1993. Her two sons have written about her life in her obituary, and a personal blog, and I found that very interesting. It is funny how we all are familiar with our 'dog friends' in that capacity only, but sometimes don't know much more about them than that. Jackie led an adventurous life, not just with her dogs, but with many things. My best memories of Jackie are of watching how responsive and happy her dogs were to be working with her. She was a rm believer in positive training, and it certainly showed in her dogs. She also loved to talk and teach, and I learned many things from her. I'm grateful I knew Jackie, and will always have those lessons with me. Her son Ben left a tting quote from a poem on his blog: Today I remembered a part of a poem that I am fairly sure she must have showed me when I was a kid, by Pablo Neruda (I dont know how else I would have known about it): Joyful, joyful, joyful, as only dogs know how to be happy with only the autonomy of their shameless spirit. Rest in peace, dear friend.
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What our members have been up to...

Members are encouraged to submit brags and photos for the newsletter. Email manymuddypaws@hotmail.ca

Shelley and Gerard have good news from the Llodyminster show! Shecaras Sensational, Ceres took Group 3 under Jean Bateman Shecaras Mobydick Moby placed 4th in group under Brian Taylor

Sandi and Gord have great show news. Battle River Canine Association show Friday Malachi was awarded BOS, Saturday Malachi was awarded WM/BOS by Judge R. Mahon for final point towards his Cdn. Ch., Sunday Malachi was awarded WM/BB & Grp 2. As always expertly presented by Tammy Sawatzky. Thank you to Judge Michael Hil for awarding Malachi BB & his Group 2 placement. And at the Perfect Pooches Fun Match on October 20 Etain was awarded Best Puppy in Sweeps by Judge Robyn DeJager. It was her first time in the show ring & she had a blast. She prize a Pink Pig is her most prized possession.

Last Minute Brag!!! Jolene and her Collie Kort made a one day trek to the Reddeer Dog show and came home with a new title! Kort earned the last leg needed for his Rally Excellent title! He is now CH Davenloch Storm Warning CD RE AGNS AGNJS ADC SGDC SHDCh HIC VC

LDKC NEWSLETTER SEPT 2011

Weve been so busy we need TWO pages....

Members are encouraged to submit brags and photos for the newsletter. Email manymuddypaws@hotmail.ca

Surprise!!! Judy Hunts Flatcoat Roxy earned her American Rally Novice Title! Her certificate came in the mail to a very surprised Judy! Congrats!

Baron is now a New Champion! CH Rikar's Turning Back Time finished in Camrose taking BOB over 3 specials and made the cut in group! Vicky is excited to work on rally and obedience now. Claire also made the trip to Camrose earning 3 more rally "pairs" and her first obedience title... PCD. Watch for Vicky and Claire at the Lethbridge show as she starts her quest for novice obedience qualifying scores. Claire will also make her final rally runs as she will be retired from rally after the Lethbridge show.

Stiletto came home from Stateside as a new American Champion! Congrats! Am/Can Ch Koping Dangerous Heights

In just a WEEK!!!

Things are falling into place thanks to our Show Committee. This years show is sure to be one that will be remembered!!!

Obedience Edition

The last in a performance series

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First Obedience Dog

Submitted by Jolene McQuaig Ben was my very first collie, who I got in 1975, when I was 15 years old. My mom bought him for me with her rent cheque, he was $150. I had decided to do obedience training with him, in 1975 there was no such thing as Rally or Agility, so I really had no choice. Training methods back then were so different then they are now. I was given a metal choke collar at my first class, & told to pop him every time he lagged. It made for a very unhappy worker to say the least, but I didnt know any better. I did manage to put an Am. & Can. CD on him as well as 2 CDX legs, but our scores reflected the bad training he had. I also remember how we taught the Open High jump, we put the leash & collar on the dog & ran past the jump, forcing the dog over it at full height!!! Seriously ! The jump heights were also different then, Ben had to jump 1 & a half times his height , so 36 high & 72 broad. The dumbbell was taught with an ear pinch. I dont know how I could have went along with these methods of training, I wish I could bring Ben back so I could make it up to him. I still believe he was my smartest collie, not to take anything away from my others , but there was just something about Ben, you showed him something once & he knew it. For instance, I wanted to teach the go out, I put him in a sit stay on the road in front of my house, walked out about 100 ft , & dropped his leash on the ground. I walked back to him & said GO! pointing forward, off he ran toward the leash & when he got there I said Sit! , he turned around faced me & sat, thats it, he knew the go out. I am glad that training methods have evolved into the positive ways of today, especially when you train such a sensitive breed as the Collie. You were a great first dog Ben, Breezwae Golden Moment Am Can CD

What is an Obedience Title Anyway?

Not just a brag, not just a stepping stone to a higher title, not just an adjunct to competitive scores, a title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honor the dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain, in record and in memory, for as long as anything in this world can remain. Few humans will do as well or better in that regard. And although the dog itself doesnt know or care that its achievements have been noted, a title says many things in the world of humans, where such things count. A title says your dog was intelligent, and adaptable, and good-natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed. And a title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with it because it was a good dog, that you believed in it enough to give it yet another chance when it failed, and that, in the end, your faith was justified. A title proves that your dog inspired you to that special relationship so few have, that in a world of disposable creatures, this dog with a title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return. And when that dear, short life is over, the title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend, volumes of praise in one small set of initials after the name. An obedience title is nothing less than love and respect, given and received and permanently recorded. ~Author Unknown

The Tail End

A few thoughts from the editor
Obedience was my rst love. I remember watching an Obedience trained German Shepherd being put through his paces and fell absolutely in love with the breed, and the work. Much has changed since then. Ive moved on to different breeds, and the work is still the same, but the training options have changed and changed again. As with all things there are a millon different ways to end up with the same results- well, kind of the same results. My personal training philosophy is that Training should be fun. For the dog. For the person. For the people watching. I love the feel of my dog happily trotting beside me- head up, tail wagging. LOVE it. The joy in the dogs work is evident by the attitude, and that is my goal with my own dogs. I want them to love the work. I am happy to see that Obedience in Alberta seems to be gaining in popularity. Rally, aswell as traditional Obedience entries are on the rise- and there are even more happy working dogs in the ring! I think that the more that we can share our love for the sport that the more it can grow. We need to get joe blow public involved, show them that a well trained dog is a wonderful thing! The next newsletter will be focused on the results from our show, candid photos, random quotes, and lots of brags! Good Luck to all the members that are showing or trialing!!!

photo by Sarah Novaks iphone

~Amanda

Want to join the LDKC?

We are always on the lookout for responsible dog lovers to join the club! Contact Andrea at andidog@telus.net for more information!

Comments/ Suggestions/ Submissions

Editor: Amanda Labadie: manymuddypaws@hotmail.ca

P.S Dont be afraid to pass on the newsletter to your friends! Maybe it would be incentive to join so they can show off their wins and brags too! :)

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