FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017
FROM THE PRESIDENT
A great big welcome to all 2017 NDTC handlers!
Well the weather certainly turned on a hot day for our first day back at training for 2017, and what a
roll up. There were 21 new handlers and their four-legged friends, plus 20 handlers from 2016 who
re-joined us for what promises to be a very productive and successful year. It was wonderful to see so
many people and dogs, and on behalf of all the volunteers I wish you all success in your training and
know that you will enjoy yourselves.
Our secretarial volunteers, Carol and Val, were kept busy processing paper work, and all the puppies
and dogs were excited to see so many potential new friends. Likewise our volunteer Instructors must
be thanked for rising to the occasion and running classes under what little shade was available. Not
ideal conditions, but with good humour and fun everyone left the field looking forward to continuing
on what we all hope will be slightly cooler conditions in the weeks to come.
Do give yourselves a couple of weeks to settle into the routine of the club. It is always a bit difficult
joining a new group and learning new skills. If at anytime you find yourself unhappy about any aspect
of training, or anything to do with NDTC, please do come and see the Secretary Carol at the sign in
desk. She will be able to advise you who is the best person to help with your concerns.
Club Rules and information brochures were given to many new handlers. But if you are one of the
unlucky ones and missed out, please see Carol or Val when next signing in and ask for a copy. The
information is both helpful and essential to your involvement with NDTC.
Have fun training!
Steve Genner
President
Two new canine friends cooling
off after Obedience Training
ABOUT NAROOMA DOG TRAINING CLUB
Training starts at 2pm. Instructors have other jobs before that time, such as registration, health
checking dogs, safety check on the grounds, selling equipment etc. Where possible, your arrival
before 1.40pm will enable us to start classes on time.
Narooma Dog Training Club – Branch Steering Committe Personnel
President
Secretary
Treasurer
WHS Officer
Steve Genner
Carol Hellmers
Peter Nelipa
Carol Low
Chief Instructor
Instructors
Canine Examiners
Yve Robinson
Amanda Doust
Peter Nelipa, Carol Low
Deputy Chief Instructor
Trish Carty, Carol Low
Amanda Doust
Jean Page
Peter Nelipa, Tess Poyner
Tess Poyner
Equipment Officers
Editors
Agility Trailer
Jean Page
Yve Robinson
Peter Nelipa
Carol Low
Carol Hellmers
Photographer
First Aid
Registration Assistant
Rosy Williams
Amanda Doust
Valery McCauley
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dog Training Enquiries:
0458 953 281
New enrolments:
1.30pm, 1st Saturday of every month.
Training times:
Every Saturday, weather permitting.
Obedience - Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced: 2pm - 3pm
Agility - Beginners and Advanced: 3.30pm - 4.30 pm
Bad Weather?
If in doubt, ring Yve – 4476 3900 or Jean – 4473 7776
TRAINING GROUND RULES
All dogs to be kept on lead in class unless told otherwise by the Instructor.
All handlers agree to be responsible for their own dogs behaviour ON or OFF lead.
Children are welcome, but must be under direct parental supervision at all times as they are not
covered by our insurance.
Handlers are advised to consult their medical professional regarding tetanus injections.
Public liability in case of accidents or incidents when keeping a dog is recommended.
All members are asked to wear their name badges.
Members are asked to wear appropriate footwear when training, high heels,sandals and thongs are not
suitable when training a dog.
Please remember the NATA park is open to the public so clean up all dog droppings.
Lessons will start at the advertised times – if late you will miss part of the lesson.
Be a good club member, read the notice board, listen to announcements and practice exercises between
weekly lessons.
Please remember that all instructors and workers are volunteers. It will help the club run smoothly if
you offer assistance when required.
A first aid kit is available at the ground if necessary. See your Instructor if you require assistance.
A member of the NDTC conducts a risk assessment of the training area and removes any offending
material before classes commence.
FEES
Annual Registration Fees for 2017 are due by the end of February.
Annual registration fees are $40 Adult, $25 Junior/Concession, $60 Family.
Ground fees for Obedience: $3.00 per dog, per lesson. Agility: $3.00 per dog, per lesson.
Agility and Obedience together, the charge is $5.00.
FROM THE CHIEF INSTRUCTOR
One of the most difficult dog habits to cope with is barking, for what seems to us to be no reason.
Barking is a means of communication for dogs - they can't speak, but they do have a different range of
barks, which to them and other dogs means something. So to understand why they bark, we must
observe and listen carefully when the problem arises.
There is the excited bark - when the dog greets you as you arrive home, basically saying “hello,
lovely to see you again”. This bark is also used when meeting other dogs, playing with children,
taking part in dog sports such as agility, or chasing waves on the beach. This kind of barking is fairly
easy to calm down - just take away the stimulus and they stop. Then there is the lonely bark - when
the dog is left alone for long periods of time. Dogs are very social animals so they can get lonely,
unhappy and miserable. This type of bark can turn into a continous howling in some breeds of dogs.
Then comes the boredom bark - once again mostly from dogs left alone outside all day, with very
little social contact with people or other animals. Lastly, there is the guarding bark - warning
anything that is too close to the dogs' territory, that they are off limits. Whatever the reason for the
barking, it can be extremely annoying to you and your neighbours, and you are likely to get
complaints. This situation if not rectified could mean you get a visit from council rangers, who have
the power to issue fines for noise pollution. Whatever the reason, the problem of a barking dog needs
to be addressed and dealt with. Sadly some dogs end up surrendered to welfare agencies and pounds,
as owners are unable to deal with the noise.
The first step is to work out why your dog barks. Some breeds of dog are more vocal than others, i.e.
kelpie types generally bark at anything that moves. Terriers are usually fairly territorial and bark at
visitors. Most dogs need a trigger to start them barking such as the telephone, door bell ringing, or a
knock on the door. If you have one of these dogs then it is telling you that you have a visitor. It can be
advantageous to have a dog barking at intruders and unusual noises. Once the stimulus has been
removed and you ask people into your home, or answer the phone, the dog should stop. Households
where the owners have an inside barking dog like this are rarely burgled. If you have one of these type
of dogs and it is a wellbehaved in all other respects, then leaving it inside while you are absent can be
very useful.
Dogs have extremely acute hearing and will learn to recognise your footsteps when coming home or
the engine noise of your car. This is when you could get the welcoming bark. If your dog is so
welcoming that you get mugged as you go inside, then the best way to deal with the situation is to
ignore it. In other words walk straight past the dog without saying a word, put away your shopping,
have a cup of tea and then when the dog has calmed down, you can say hello. Whatever you do, don't
push the dog away, or shout at it - that will just make the situation worse as the dog then thinks “good,
he is paying attention to me and joining in the noise by barking back”.
The lonely and boredom barks are probably the hardest to deal with. Separation anxiety in dogs can
take all forms of behaviour from whining, barking, howling, scratching doors, chewing furniture and
can be very destructive. Puppies and dogs have to learn to be alone sometimes, and can be taught that
they are not being abandoned. This is where crate training can be very useful. The pup is taught to go
into a crate by being fed inside the crate with the door open, then gradually when it is happy with that
situation the door is shut and the pup left alone for short periods of time - slowly the time is increased.
With older dogs the situation is slightly different, though the same principles apply. Bones or treats in
the crate, remembering that crates must be large enough for animals to move around freely, and water
must be provided. If you decide you want to train your dog this way, then the same principle applies as
when you come home - ignoring the dog,you calmly open the crate door, let the dog out without
making a fuss or talking, so that it starts to realise that the situation is normal.
Boredom barking can be alleviated by supplying activities for your dog while you are absent. Bones
can be hidden in the garden, under a bush etc. Supply a sandy patch and bury toys, treats, kongs, and
bones there. Take the dog for a long walk and give it a free run before leaving for work. Divide your
dogs' daily meal into two, feed half in morning and half in evening. Animals generally sleep after a
meal. Always make sure your dog has access to water, shade and toys. Don't make a big drama of
leaving or returning, a quick “see you later” and possibly a liver treat, and just go.
Little dogs that yap at everything that passes by can be very annoying. One handler reported to me
that even a butterfly passing the window can start her dog off. Once again the stimulus has to be
removed. Blocking off see-through fencing, gates, moving the sofa so the dog can't see out the
window or even in the window! All these things can help. Shouting at your pet only stimulates the
barking, so quiet removal is the answer. The added use of a firm command such as “no bark”, “hush”,
“ shush”, “quiet” used consistently, will help solve the problem.
These solutions will go a long way to helping you manage a barking dog. Please do talk to your
Instructor if you have any concerns - we are always willing to help.
Our Guest Instructor
We were most fortunate in having
Barry McDonald who is an Instructor
in Obedience and Agility at the Kyambea
Dog Training Club Wagga visit us
on Saturday 11th February.
Barry instructed the Red and Black Classes,
and gave a wonderful agility lesson
to those who chose to remain 'after class'.
Barry is a regular trialler who I have known
for many years, as he visits us each year.
He enters the Sapphire Coast and Bega Dog Club
competitions and takes a great interest
in our club and members. We were very
pleased to see him, listen to his expert advice
and congratulate him on his recent success
with Tatti at Bermagui Dog Trials.
Thank you Barry!
Yve Robinson
Chief Instructor
Barry, Tatti and Yve at Nata Oval
All Photos: Rosy Williams – Christmas Party 2016
Congratulations to Jan Boyce and her boys!
Last November Jan put her three dogs into Rally Obedience Trials at the Cooma and District Kennel
and Obedience Club. They all went very well. Stormi got three passes in Rally Advanced with scores
of 86, 95 and 85 which gives him his title. Rebel also passed all three days in Rally Novice with scores
of 96, 96 and 95 and his Novice title. Jan also put her new dog Pocket in to see how he would go - he
surprised her by gaining two passes in Rally Novice of 97 points each time. We look forward to
hearing how Jan and the boys go at the Bermagui Trials.
Pocket and Rebel with their awards
Stormi is proud of his achievements too!
Congratulations Carol Low!
A quiet achiever, Carol Low not only instructs for NDTC but she is an amazing grower, producer and
maker of fine jams, jellies, preserves, cakes and craft goodies. She won two Champion Ribbons at the
Eurobodalla Show. Together with Jean Page, Yve Robinson and Rosy Williams, she also sold goods
and donated a large portion of the income to NDTC for purchase of equipment. We have recently
bought a 15 litre water cooler and cups for the convenience of all handlers at dog training and agililty
on hot days. Thank you Carol for your amazing effort, dedication and generosity to the cause of
Animal Welfare League Narooma Dog Training Club Branch. You are an inspiration to us all.
About a Dog ...
A dog can express more with his tail in minutes than his owner can express with his or her tongue in
hours. (Author unknown)
A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. (Josh Billings)
A dog is the only thing that can mend a crack in your broken heart. (Judy Desmond)
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
TROPHY WINNERS from 2016
RALLY ' O'
* FRANCES LUKE RALLY 'O' ADVANCED TROPHY
Awarded to Trish Carty and Bonnie
* RALLY 'O' INTERMEDIATE TROPHY
Awarded to Kara Munn and Maya (Absent on the day)
* RALLY 'O' NOVICE TROPHY
Awarded to Pat Douglass and Busta
Steve, Ruth, Pat and Busta
Steve, Deborah, Bonnie and Trish
AGILITY TROPHIES
* TERRY WATSON MEMORIAL AGILITY TROPHY
Awarded to Pam Rowley and Rollo
* MOST IMPROVED HANDLER AND DOG AGILITY TROPHY
Awarded to Valerie McCauley and Shadow
Ruth, Rollo and Pam
Val, Shadow, Steve and Robin
OBEDIENCE TROPHIES
* RON CORRINGHAM MEMORIAL OBEDIENCE TROPHY
For MOST IMPROVED HANDLER AND DOG
Awarded to Jan Boyce and Pocket (Absent on the day)
* INDI MEMORIAL OBEDIENCE TROPHY
For HIGHEST HANDLERS DAY AGGREGATE SCORE
Awarded to Tess Poyner and Ash
COUNTRY LINK TROPHY
* ARNIE MEMORIAL COUNTRY LINK AGILITY TROPHY
For HIGHEST AGGREGATE SCORE
Awarded to Kathryn McKellar and Suzie 'Q'
Bill, Tess and Ash
Kathryn, Suzie Q and Peter
Congratulations to
All Winners and
All Participants in 2016
Competitions
Photo: VIP guests
who presented the trophies.
Left to Right:
Steve Genner, President
Bill Dobson
Deborah Cox
Ruth Watson
Peter Nelipa
Robin Corringham
NAROOMA DOG TRAINING CLUB 2017 CALENDAR
correct as at 14/2/2017
February 4
February 11
February 18
February 24
February 25
New Enrolment, Obedience - ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEES DUE
Obedience
Obedience, Agility
Friday 7pm, Ordinary Meeting – Uniting Church Hall Narooma
Obedience, Agility, 1ST RALLY O (Yellow/Red/Black classes)
March 4
March 11
March 18
March 24
March 25
New Enrolment, Obedience, Agility
Obedience, Agility
Obedience, Agility
Friday 7pm, Ordinary Meeting – Uniting Church Hall Narooma
Obedience, Agility
April 1
April 8
April 15
April 22
April 28
April 29
NDTC OPEN DAY
New Enrolment, Obedience, Agility
EASTER PUBLIC HOLIDAY WEEKEND – NO TRAINING OR AGILITY
Obedience, Agility
Friday 7pm, Ordinary Meeting – Uniting Church Hall Narooma
Obedience, Agility, 2ND RALLY O (Yellow/Red/Black classes)
May 6
Canty St
May 13
May 20
May 26
May 27
New Enrolment, Obedience, Agility – Bill Smythe Oval, south east corner below
Obedience, 1ST AGILITY COMPETITION
Obedience, Agility
Friday 7pm, Ordinary Meeting – Uniting Church Hall Narooma
1ST HANDLERS DAY and Promotion – NO AGILITY - Bill Smythe Oval
June 3
June 10
June 17
June 23
June 24
New Enrolment, Obedience, Agility
QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY WEEKEND NO TRAINING/AGILITY
Obedience, Agility
Friday 7pm, Ordinary Meeting – Uniting Church Hall Narooma
Obedience, Agility
HALF YEAR FEES BEGIN
NOTICE OF MEETING
AWL NSW Narooma Dog Training Club Branch
invites all handlers to attend our next Ordinary
Meeting 7pm Friday 24th February 2017
Uniting Church Hall – 134 Wagonga Street Narooma
We welcome your interest in our Branch.
Tea, coffee and delicious cake will be served after the meeting.
AWL NSW Narooma Dog Training Club Branch
is now on Facebook!
Please LIKE us and SHARE with your friends.