The Pack Leader



	THE PACK LEADER April 2000 Newsletter The in-house comp’s are proving a wonderful training aid for the trialers as well as providing competition for people with non-pedigreed dogs. In the comp’ on the 15th, the first real test came for Mike and Monika in level 3(c), with distractions provided by Kylie Browne, Mariska Herbert and Tony Collins. The noisy distractions in the ring made the Brisbane Ecca seem like a library. The handlers should be very proud of their young dogs as they kept their wits together particularly during the handler out of sight 5-minute sit and drop stays. Tony was belting balls around them with Beau in hot pursuit, Mariska and Kylie were making a racket with toys, firing starting pistols beside them and trying to get them to take food or retrieve toys. Real dog training. In-house competition 15th. Results; 3(a) 1st. Christa Kauffmann & G.S.D. ”Jana” - 173pts 3(c) 1st. Monica Krueger & Standard Poodle ”Eddie” - 192pts. 2nd. Mike Maynard and G.S.D ”Atom” - 188pts. Level 1. Mary Herbert and G.S.D ”Rigs” - pass. Redcliffe Sweepstake 16th Tony Collins and GSD ”Beau” in C.D.- 1st place - 194pts. Novice handler with a novice dog on a hot morning - well done chaps. In-house comp 28th Not so noisy without any competitors in 3(c), but the standard overall was very high. Results 3(b) 1st. Tony Collins and German Shepherd ”Beau” - 192pts. In House Comp’ I would like to remind everyone the In House Comp’ is not only for pedigreed but also non - pedigreed dogs. Come along and enjoy the opportunity to compete as the pedigree dogs do, and aim for trophies along with your advancement in level assessments. The next In House Comp’ is May 20th at Beerwah Sports Ground, commencing at 2pm. Don’t forget the social BYO, BBQ after, a time to relax with friends and unwind from the stresses of dog training and the world. Rules re In-house Comp’ In respect to our own comp’s I would like to make the point that it is a competition organized for students of our organization only. It is not open to outside trainers or spectators unless invited. It is perhaps timely to make it known that members of Dog Obedience Clubs will not be trained for competition by us. That is the role of their clubs. Members of clubs are welcome to train in group classes unless they are already unwelcome for some reason. Dog too old to train? Tony Collins acquired Beau as a totally untrained dog at 5 years of age. He is now 6 years of age. The subject of a dog’s age in relation to training often comes up in conversation with dogs often being classed as too old at 2yrs etc. In fact, there is no particular age limit. Friend, fellow competitor and Murrumba Club member Des Strong, is currently successfully trialing a Border Collie he acquired at 7yrs of age as an untrained dog. We’ve also had 12 and 13yr old dogs in class who trained beautifully. Trialing class We will be holding a class for competitors at the Buderim School venue at a cost of $5. These classes commence 1st May 7.30pm. Each Monday. Trial dates We have competitors entered in Gympie 13th & Logan 27th. Incidentally, Gympie & Logan will be the first trial where we will have competitors in all levels. CD. CDX & UD. As usual the competitors will be well supported, but we will be just as proud of them even if they have their hiccups. Competitors can only try their best, after all at the end of the day dog trialing is a sport and lets keep it that way. Cleaning the Canine Ear Under normal circumstances a dog’s ears will not become a problem as long as they are kept clean. To ensure the cleanliness of your dog’s ears, it is easiest to establish a routine. Whenever you groom your dog (at least once a week), you check your dog’s ears for waxy build up, excessive matting of hair in the external ear, redness or inflammation around the ear, retention of dirt, foreign material, or objects, in the ear canal. Even a little burr can cause a great deal of discomfort to your dog. Also, it is a good idea to actually smell your dog’s ears. The presence of a sour, cheesy odour is usually indicative of a problem. Check for a dark, waxy secretion as well. Mites, fleas and ticks like the dark, somewhat moist and inaccessible area of the ear. If you think that a problem may be present or developing, consultation with a veterinarian is imperative as soon as possible. A severe infection, or deafness, can result by neglecting a problem, thinking it will go away eventually. Should only a gentle cleaning be needed there are some things that you should never do. For the health of your dog, DO NOT use soap and water. DO NOT poke or probe the internal ear canal, or the delicate tissues of the ear. DO NOT use cotton tipped swab. These could push dirt, or foreign objects, deeper into the ear canal, causing a more serious problem. For a gentle cleaning of your dog’s ears, you can use mineral oil applied to a cotton square and gently wipe the surface of the external ear, Some breeds of dogs have specific problems with their ears that can be avoided through knowledge and preventative maintenance. Those dogs with floppy ears (spaniels and bloodhounds), are very prone to ear infections, due to there being very little air circulation around the ear. Terriers and Poodles tend to retain dirt and wax inside their ears due to a great deal of hair inside the ear canal. For breed specific problems, it is best to talk to your veterinarian on a routine visit. Have him/her show you what to look for, what to use, how to massage your dog’s ears and symptoms to watch for. This article is for general information only. Some indications of a problem Your dog is shaking his head more often than usual. The dog is constantly pawing and scratching his ear. Sometimes even yelping while scratching. The dog keeps holding his head at an unusual angle. (The side that is tilted down is the painful side.) A strong, sour, cheesy odour from the ear. There is a heavy, waxy material inside the ear. Matted hair inside the ear canal. Fleas or ticks can be seen in the ear area. Red, or inflamed, skin. - Inside of the ear is constantly moist. Any of these symptoms can be indicative of a problem that needs your veterinarian’s intervention. For the health of your dog take care of these problems as soon as possible. Australian Kelpie The Australian Kelpie or Australian Sheepdog is descended from short haired prick eared collies imported from Scotland into Australia towards the end of the last century. The breeds ancestors are also thought to include the Old English Sheepdog. The mating of one pair of Collies produced a bitch, which became known as Caesar, also from imported stock, was bred to Glesson’s Kelpie and a pup from this litter was named King Kelpie after the dam. The name kelpie was thus adopted for the breed. In Scottish folklore, a ”kelpie” is a water spirit in the form a of a horse, and the Scottish writer, Robert Louis Stevenson, refers to the ”water Kelpie” in the famous story Kidnapped, giving credence to the breed’s ancestry. The Kelpie is a superb working sheepdog with the ability to sustain itself without water for considerable periods. It is also famed for running along the backs of the sheep to reach the head of the flock. Although it has always been well known in Australia it has come to notice of fanciers during the 1980s and the breed is now recognised in Britain and North America. Character and care. The Kelpie is a fine sheepdog and makes a good, loyal companion. It requires considerable exercise and vigorous Daily brushing. Key Characteristics. CLASS: Herding. Recognised AKC, ANKC, CKC, FCI, KC (GB), KUSA. SIZE: Height at shoulders about 5 1cm (20in). Weight about 13.6kg (301b). COAT: A close outer coat and a short dense undercoat. - COLOUR: Black, black and tan, red, red and tan, fawn, chocolate and smoke blue, with or without tan. OTHER FEATURES: Almond-shaped eyes, pricked ears, ribs well sprung, hindquarters show breadth and strength. At rest, tail hangs in very slight curve, when moving or excited it may be raised. Quote from ”The New Knowledge of Dog Behaviour” by Clarence Pfaffenberger Even though I had been attracted to them (dogs) since before I could remember, I had never understood the relationship of a dog to his master. This is the sad thing so many of us experience unnecessarily. We expect our children to be able to learn patiently and carefully to do the things we wish them to do from the time we think they should be able to say a few words or walk. Somehow, most of us do not realise that a dog needs an education just as much as a child, that he needs to learn what our different words mean, what a gesture means, and what we mean by different whistles. He does not understand our language, nor does our baby for that matter. We have to show what we mean. With understanding and patience, a dog can be taught many things. He can also learn to understand many words for their exact meaning. Dog Books I have a large collection of dog books on the training and care subjects. (No books on showing). Most books I have are largely a waste of money, however I have a few of which I cherish. One of these is titled, ”The Working Airedale”, by Bryan Cummins and published by OTR Publications, compliments of’ my instructor - Barbara Thomson. The working Airedale is a lion hearted dog of extraordinary abilities, and has a long and colourful history in the area of field, military and Police work. Quote, ”The June 1921 issue of Kennel and Bench has a story titled ”Canadian Airedale Travels on Foot”, and it says. ”It tells the story of Buster, who travelled from Edmonton. Alberta, to Vancouver, British Columbia, a distance of nearly 800 miles through three mountain chains, in 1919. Six months after being shipped to Edmonton, Buster arrived back in Vancouver, emaciated, footsore and exhausted. At the time, there was no travelled road between the two cities. Additionally, railway tracks, traversing the three mountain chains, covered only two thirds of the distance. Railway section houses and occasional small stations, some without human inhabitants, were the only places Buster could find refuge. Incidentally, the Airedale had to negotiate the 12 different rail lines which converged in Edmonton. Buster found his way home over 786 miles, through mountains, in 42 days. This is an incredible rate of 18 3/4 miles per day”. Unquote. When one considers the harshness of the Canadian wilderness, the variety of dangerous wild life, and the fact that he must have travelled at a gallop over most of this terrain for 42 days makes the feat even more incredible. Airedales aren’t called the king of terriers for nothing. Displays Thanks to my friend and student Trish Owens of Nambour Burnside Primary School, we conducted a display for the gold card students. It is always a pleasure to entertain children in the benefits of good dog training. Thanks Trish. Next display will be at Caloundra’s Sunland Shopping centre on the 20th May. Probably at about 11 am. Praise Our reward system is based on a favourable response from the pack leader (you) to the dog. Favourable response from pack leader to the dog is sincere praise of voice and hand. We do not believe in bribing the dog with food. We are not asking or requesting the dog to obey, we are demanding it. .............. ... ................. ................ ................ ................ ................. .................. ................. ............ ............ ...... ..... .................. ............. .............. ...........