The
GreyGhost
WAC at Your Service
President
Barbara Williams
204.222.3929
Vice-President
Debby Lynch
519.858.0621
Treasurer & Membership Director
Wendy McKay
613.832.3223
Secretary
Shelly Shorrock
204.866.4023
Past President
Katherine Erickson 604.462.7278
Official Publication of the Weimaraner Association of Canada
June 2003/July 2003
Regional Directors
Western Director
Kathy Iluk
403.346.9454
Quebec Director
Claire Durivage
514.620.4887
Prairie Director
Barbara Williams
204.222.3929
Atlantic Director
Annette Brennan
902.758.2250
Ontario Director
Barbara Turnbull
705.322.0241
Rescue Co-ordinator & Webmaster
Claire Durivage
514.620.4887
Athletics Director & GreyGhost Editor
Denise McLean
250.560.5519
Event Co-ordinator & Conformation Director
Barbara Turnbull
705.322.0241
Holly Palmer
604.520.6956
Activity Directors
Obedience Director
OTCh. Tulstone Reiteralm Jags Spirit, Ag.I
Jake
2002 National Obedience, High In Trial
From the Veteran's Class.
28
1
Minutes cont’
Upcoming Events …………………………………
2003 WAC National Specialty August 2 …………
Health …………………………………………………
Brags …………………………………………………
Versatile
The Versatile Weimaraner ……………………..
Versatile Program ……………………………..
Obedience …………………………………………
The Wondering Weim
Grooming Tip . ………………………………..
From The Web ………………………………….
Conformation (funny) ………………………………..
Announcements …………………………………….
Agility …………………………………………………..
Dogs with Jobs ……………………………………….
Feature Lessons from the Masters…………………………….
Rescue
2
3
4
6
7
8
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
21
21
22
Field
Comic Relief …………………………………………… 25
Official Business……………………………………….. 26
Membership ……………………………………………. 27
Contacts……………………………………………………
Fundraiser…………………………………………………
New to Fieldwork? …………………………………
• www.weimaranercanada.org
THE WAC HOMEPAGE!!!! Note that membership applications and the WAC constitution can be printed from this site.
Rescue Can/US Co-ordinator
Tabled
Monetary assitance for WAC
dogs competing at National Level
Barb
Directors, too confusing
Shelly
2004 Specialty
Shelly
Membership
Archive
Wendy
Wendy
Look at who would consider
Canadian adoptees
Application criteria for All-Breed events
(Show of Shows BIS, Credit Valley BPIS,
HIT, Field, Agility). If more than one dog
eligible then highest points in that area will
be final criteria. All owners must be WAC
members. Have Co-ordinators address
criteria. Write up for May/June newsletter.
Maximum individual contribution will be
$100.00 motioned by Barb, seconded by
Wendy
Change constitution to reflect difference
between Directors and directors. Motion by
Shelly, seconded by Debby
Newsletter article asking for applications
from the East by April 15, 2003
Request in next newsletter
Request in next newsletter
Adjournment
Barb
8:28 pm cst
Membership Information changes:
Change of address:
Margaret Lehmann
7803 Manatu Rd
Sooke, BC V0S 1N0
250-642-5005
www.geocities.com/bartland2002
Sarah Swiss
55 Des Ancolies
Ile Perrot, Quebec
J7V 9L6
New Membership Applications Received
Cover Story:
Jake has also held the following honourable positions.
#5 All-Breed Obedience
#1 Obedience Weimaraner
#1 Agility Weimaraner
Our records indicate that Jake is the only Weimaraner that has held a
top 10 All-breed Obedience position. Jake is owned by WAC member
Bethany Manderson.
2
Martha Kuhn, 5170 St.Rte 95E, Mt. Gilead, OH 43338 Int: A,C,F,O,T. sponsored
by Nancy Linklater
27
Meeting:
Attendees:
Monday, March 10, 2003
6:00 pm
Teleconference
Barbara Williams
Debby Lynch
Wendy McKay
Shelly Shorrock
Who
Barb
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Shelly
Decision
Wendy
Rescue
Wendy
Secretary
Shelly
$583.00 profit on 2002 Nat’l pending more
receipts. $226.50 in trophy $3036.13 General
GIC #1 $1077.41 GIC #2 $3232.24
$3733.78 Rescue balance after $1189.43 ($750
US)went to NTWC (Wetobe closure/seizure)
Canine magazine review for useful info.
Barb
National Specialty
Unfinished Business
Versatility
Shelly
Roschel and Arokat Trophy
Shelly
Keeper Plaques
Shelly
New Business
Newsletter (revitalize)
Shelly
Complaints regarding
Breeders/Members
Shelly
Wendy
Constitution
26
Barb
Calgary
2003
Action
6:04 pm cst
Agenda Item
Call to Order
Approval of the
previous minutes
Reports of Officers,
Directors
Treasurer
Reports of Special Committees
Longhair
Shelly
W.A.C.
National Specialty
August 2, 2003
Only 2 more months until the 2003 National Specialty being held at Shouldice Park
in beautiful Calgary, Alberta. More and more excitement is building. Premium
Lists have been sent out the week of May 12, 2003 to all WAC members, so look for
yours in the mail (entries will close July 4th). The judges have been confirmed and
they are Robert Stein from Nevada for the Specialty and Jim Knudsen from Calgary,
AB for the Puppy and Veterans Sweeps. These two gentlemen bring a lot of knowledge of the breed and the sporting group.
In addition there will also be 1 Limited Breeds Show and 3 All-Breed Shows on the
same grounds as the Weimaraner Specialty = 5 chances to show your Weim! The
premium list can be downloaded at www.albertakennelclub.org/showtrials
We will be holding the 1st WAC Novice Retrieving Dog Test. More details will be
posted on this website.
Contact Gerry Taylor re: what to do for bal
ot. Send out ballot with information to mem
bership to vote.
To have Denise send Shelly all information for
Ballot package
Great template for future events. Letter to
Judges could be more formal. Double check
BOS puppy/altered rosette . Pricing for altered
more clear under entry fee. AKC website for
premium list.
Special Activities
No Fee to start Motion to implement for May
30/03 Shelly, seconded Barbara
Roschel be Best Bitch, Arokat Best Dog Review in 2009 for continuance motioned by
Wendy, seconded by Debbie
send a copy to Shoremans and Archibalds
Bi-monthly, new format with cover photo,
with brags/ads at agreed pricing of $20 full
page, $10 ½ page $5 for written brags over 50
words, review after 3 issues Shelly to contact
Denise for ideas and suggestions
Motioned by Barb, seconded by Wendy
Constitutional changes for dicipline, nonmembers to be able to lodge complaints.
Motioned by Shelly, seconded by Barb
Obtain studbooks Motioned by Barb,
seconded by Shelly
Give Bruce a deadline of April 30/03 and have
him forward work to Shelly for further
changes. Motioned by Debby, seconded by
Shelly
3
The Weimaraner Association of Canada will hold a social evening hosted by Moose
McGuire’s Sports Pub (East on Highway #1, 5 minute drive from Shouldice Park).
For more information see Premium List. Door prizes available for Weim enthusiasts in attendance.
We all know Weimaraners are extremely photogenic……so we will be holding a
Photo Contest for all of you amateur photographers out there. For more information see Premium List.
Your Support
We are pleased to offer the WAC members the opportunity to support this event in
two distinct and equally important ways:
Donations can be made toward trophy/prize fund or you can also donate merchandise to be raffled off during the Specialty Raffle. All donations for prizes will receive special mention in the Specialty Show Catalogue and at the Specialty social
evening.
Advertising space is available in the Specialty Show Catalogue as follows:
Full page - $40 Half Page - $25 Quarter Page - $15 Business Card - $10
All advertising must be camera ready. For improved quality, the preferred method
of ad submission is via e-mail. Hard copy ads will still be acceptable.
Make your cheques payable to the WAC 2003 National Specialty
and send your information by June 25th, 2003 to: E-mail: [email protected]
Mail cheques to:
Julia Wilson
1405 25th Avenue North,
Lethbridge, AB T1H 4N8
Please visit the website for further updates
as we get closer to the event date and the July newsletter.
Health
Submitted by Shelly Shorrock
Humor
In May 2001, while leaving a field from running a Novice Shooting Dog
test, Shammy (Am/Can Ch. Champagne Agassiz Desnebels NRD FDJ
NSD CGC) collapsed. She was suffering heat stroke. It was not a “hot”
day, only in the 70’s, but we had traveled 2 days to get to the test and
the weather was warmer than at home. We lost Shammy in August
2002, due to kidney damage stemming from this event. I am providing
the following information to help others realize the dangers of and their
dogs susceptibility to, heat stroke.
Dear Dogs
When I say to move, it means go someplace else, not switch positions with each
other so there are still two dogs in the way.
Heat Exhaustion versus Heat Stroke
Heat exhaustion occurs when a dog starts showing the effects of heat
such as excessive panting the skin on the inside of the ears becoming
flushed and red. There body temperature may become slightly elevated
to around 103 F. Normal rectal temperature is 102 F – 103 F
Heat stroke occurs when the body loses the ability to control its own
temperature. The temperature will be elevated over 104 F. Signs of
heat stroke include gums that are muddy pink rather than the normal
red-pink color, heart rate severely elevated, panting furiously, walking
slowly and disoriented/staggering. This will progress rapidly to loss of
consciousness.
Humans sweat, Dogs pant. Dogs remove heat from their body through
the respiratory tract. They exhale the heated air and inhale cooler air.
When heat is not removed quickly enough through respiration, the body
temperature begins to increase. Once the temperature approaches
105F, oxygen delivery to the dogs system is not able to keep up with the
rapidly elevating demand. The body loses the ability to regulate its temperature. Cellular damage occurs around 108F, this occurs to organ systems such as the kidneys, liver, heart, gastrointestinal tract and the
brain. The higher the temperature and the longer it is elevated will determine the severity of the damage.
This is immediately lifethreatening. Dogs that survive have a high probability of suffering longterm problems.
The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are
mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate
and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that
aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.
The stairway was not designed by Nascar and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the
bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help, because I fall faster than you can
run.
I can not buy anything bigger than a king size bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not
think I will continue to sleep on the couch to ensure your comfort. Look at videos of
dogs sleeping, they can actually curl up in a ball. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that
sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize
space used is nothing but doggy sarcasm.
When I am playing the pinball machine, jumping up and trying to grab the ball
through the glass is not helpful. Barking at me because I'm not helping you achieve
your goal does not win you any extra brownie points.
My compact discs are not miniature frisbees.
For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I
beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, try
to turn the knob, or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must
exit through the same door I entered. In addition, I have been using bathrooms for
years, canine attendance is not mandatory.
The proper order is kiss me, then go smell other dogs butt. I can not stress this
enough. It would be such a simple change for you guys to make.
F ac to r s
t h at
co n t r ib u t e
to
Heat
S t ro k e
are:
Heat , Humidity, Muscular activity, Acclimation, High body mass, Anxiety, Poor ventilation, Dehydration, Obesity, Antihistamines, Phenothiazines (some medications for vomiting), Brachycephalic breeds (shortnosed breeds), Increased age.
Heat stroke requires veterinary assistance! However, treatment
should begin immediately prior to heading to the clinic. The dogs temperature must be lowered by using water and air, aggressively. The dogs
respiratory system (panting) is not able to keep up with the heat, so you
must provide a way to remove heat for the dog through its skin and
4
25
Heat Stroke cont’
What to Enter?
If your dog has wheels and a ton of desire on birds and if you’re comfortable
on a horse (in many trials horseback
handling of your dog is permitted),
you’ll want to check out CKC Field Trials, where dogs compete for points towards Field Championships. There are
stakes for puppies, adolescents, and
adult dogs – only the adults are expected
to give a fully trained performance.
New To Field Work Cont’
takes to the air the dog must freeze
while the gunner shoots it, and on the
handler’s command proceeds to fetch it.
If you’re a crack shot or real life hunter,
you might want to check out the organization, NSTRA, (National Shoot to Retrieve). In their events, the race is on for
the dog to point, the handler to shoot,
and the dog to fetch as many birds as
possible within the allotted time. The
Not a rider? You’re dog doesn’t run like dog need not be steady when the bird
the wind? No problem. The CKC also
flushes, extra marks are given for honoroffers Field Dog tests with 3 test levels ing a bracemate’s point and marks are
ranging from tests of natural ability to a lost for missed shots.
fully trained level. In these tests, the
scores are pass/fail, the handlers must
All of these organizations have comprehandle their dogs on foot and the dogs
hensive websites that outline their test
need not range as far to turn the heads of requirements, list local chapters and
the judges.
publish a calender of events.
An organization named NAVHDA
(North American Versatile Hunting Dog
Association) has a series of 3 pass/fail
tests beginning with tests for natural
ability and progressing to fully trained
dogs. These tests are modeled on the
European system of testing and they are
more comprehensive than the CKC tests
as they include tracking running birds,
swimming, pointing, and retrieving
abilities at all levels.
The WAC has recently instituted a series of pass/fail land and water Retrieving tests for Weimaraners.
An organization called the Hunt Retriever Club organizes a series of Retrieving tests that are modeled on the
tests done by labs and the other retrieving breeds. They also offer an upland
hunting dog title that your dog can earn
by hunting for birds and when it encounters the scent of the bird, immediately
moving in to flush the bird. As the bird
24
So, get off the sofa and head out to
check out what fieldwork with your
Weimaraner is all about. I’ll bet that no
matter how much your dog loves chasing a ball, or playing with other dogs, or
catching a Frisbee, you might find that
your Weimaraner’s true passion lies in
the field.Shirley Nilsson
www.regenweimaraners.com
blood. Submersion into cool water will help bring the temperature down
quickly, you should circulate the water to stop the warmer water from stagnating next to the body. A hose will also work and the entire dog should be
wetted. Water should be run as much as possible in the groin area, as there
are a large concentration of blood vessels close to the surface of the skin.
A good flow of air around the dog is required. Evaporative cooling occurs
when air passes over a wet surface. A wet dog + air flow = evaporative
cooling. DO NOT cover the dog with a wet towel or confine them to an enclosed crate/area. This will restrict the air flow and therefore the evaporation. Once cooling has begun, transport the dog to the Veterinarian, in a
vehicle with the air-conditioning running or the windows wide open. In most
cases the animal will be started on IV fluids and organ functions will be
monitored for several days. The amount of lab work will depend on the severity and length of time the temperature was elevated. I highly recommend lab work for even a “mild” event of heat stroke. Knowing of any organ damage can help in prolonging your dogs life through medication and/or
dietary changes.
Note: If at all possible, the rectal temperature of the dog should be monitored closely throughout this time. There is a danger of over-cooling the
dog. Due to the loss of control over regulating their own temperature, if
cooled too much, the dogs temperature could continue to drop and cause
hypothermia.
Preventing Heat Stroke
The best course of action is prevention. We are all aware of the dangers of
leaving our Gray kids in a vehicle in the summer, but there are less obvious
contributors to heat stroke we need to be aware of as well. With no ventilation, moderate temperatures can significantly increase your dogs risk. Up to
70 – 80% of the energy burned to perform muscular activity is converted to
heat. Therefore, heavy activity can drive the body temperature up at an
alarming speed. Dogs should be properly cooled before, during and after all
physical exertion. This includes any way to cool the air, supplying water for
evaporation and hydration (remember, the moist air in their breath assists
in evaporative cooling) and increasing the air flow around the dog. Having
knowledge of the risk factors as well as the environmental considerations
should help all of us avoid this potentially devastating problem.
5
Ch. Greydove Where Theres Smoke, Ag.N
“Flint”
Earned his Novice Agility title in one weekend in 3 straight trials going High in
Trial for his first leg.An unfortunate scribing error cost him his second HIT, and
2nd perfect score of 100 (scribed as 95) in the next trial. He went 1st in Novice B
for his third leg. Owned by Bethany Manderson
Brags
Colt -Koping's Horse Whisperer (Ch. Koping's Tale of Good Deeds x AmCh.
Nani's Smart Aleck JH, NRD, V) at his first show (at 6 months) in March/03
in Camrose took a Best Puppy in Group. Owned by Jan Foore, Dave Riley &
Patricia Kopec
Mackenzie - Ch. Macknifiscent Shadow CDX, FDJ, AgI, CGC, Am.CD attended
his first NADAC agility trial on April 19 & 20 and earned 3 new titles (Novice
Agility, Gamblers & Jumpers) along with Overall Top Novice Dog out of over
40 dogs. Owned by Patricia Kopec
Tori (Ch. Kennebank Victoria Von Extra, CD,VADC) achieved her Veteran's
Agility Dog Canada (VADC) title in 2002. Owned by Deborah Harnish, Greydove Weimaraners
Cue (Greyghost Cue the Band), achieved a conformation point and a novice obedience leg on the same weekend! Owned by Michelle and Jesse Klein and Denise
McLean
6
Ideally, the natural terrain you have to
run your dog contains wild game birds
– if it does, you’re in luck as those
birds will teach your inexperienced dog
all that it needs to initially learn – if
not, you’ll have to make do with
farmer’s field and you’ll have to find a
source for birds at a shooting preserve,
auction, or other local supplier – if
pheasant, quail, or chukar partridge are
not available, you can even make do
with pigeons.
If you plan to enter field tests and
events, you’ll also want to expose your
dog to horses, as the judges in many
cases will be mounted. Lastly, in many
field events the dogs are run in pairs,
you’ll want to ensure that your dog is
not aggressive to other dogs.
New To Field Work Cont’
dog to retrieve. If a bird accidentally
flushes the dog must freeze and not
chase. If the dog encounters another
dog on point it must immediately
freeze and honor the point of the other
dog. In both of these cases the dog
must remain stationary until released
by the handler and in no case is the
dog permitted to chase a flushed bird.
For retrieving events, the entry-level
tests require the dog to perform single
land and water retrieves of a single
bird. A blank gun is fired when the
bird is thrown and you may hold your
dog’s collar to restrain him from leaving for the fetch before given the ok by
the judges. The higher levels require
that your dog be steady on verbal command while the birds are thrown, perField Events
form double or triple retrieves where
There are a number of pointing and
retrieving field events in Canada open multiple birds are thrown before your
dog is allowed to fetch any, perform
to Weimaraners.
blind retrieves where your dog does
not see the bird being thrown, and, in
For pointing events, in almost every
case, the junior level events are open to the higher level water tests, your dog
dogs that are either young or inexperi- will have to ignore the duck decoys
placed in the water and concentrate on
enced in the field and the judges are
finding the downed bird.
looking for the dog to show natural
desire to hunt, to point, and to retrieve
birds. At the senior levels, the dog
demonstrates a finished performance
when it hunts with steady application,
searching all likely objectives and not
being distracted by its bracemate.
When it encounters the scent of a bird
the dog must establish point and remain frozen there until the handler
comes in to flush the bird. At that
point either the bird flies away and the
handler fires a blank pistol or gunners
are brought in to shoot the bird for the
23
FIELD
New to Fieldwork?
The first step is to get out to see what
fieldwork is all about. Check the
CKC, AKC, WAC, WCA websites
and with your local Weimaraner or
Pointing Dog clubs for field tests and
competitions that will be taking place
in your area. If none are running in
your area, try to tag along with a local
hunter that uses a pointing dog for a
day of upland bird hunting and/or
waterfowl hunting. You can contact
your local shooting preserve to ask
permission to tag along with a group
on a guided hunt.
Getting started.
Once you’ve got an idea of what
fieldwork is all about and you’ve seen
how much the dogs love to exercise
their field instincts, you’ll be keen to
get started.
What you’ll be needing is an evaluation of your Weimaraner for field
ability followed by a whole lot of
training advice. A local Pointing Dog
club, local informal pointing dog
training group or a pointing dog field
training professional is your very best
training resource as they will be able
to guide you all along the way as you
progress through the training steps.
If you can’t locate a training group
within a reasonable distance to you,
you’ll have to make do with books
and videos.
An excellent book for starting young
pointing dogs in the field is ‘How to
Help Gundogs Train Themselves’,
22
and the bible for training adult dogs is
‘Wing and Shot’. These books as well
as a number of other good books and
videos on pointing dog training are
available at www.dogwise.com If you
can get to a weekend-long training
seminar, you’ll learn a lot. Rick Smith
is one trainer that organizes excellent
weekend long pointing dog training
seminars in various parts of the country and you can check the schedule on
his website.
The Versatile Weimaraner
Diesel aka 'Regen's Rip Stop Am TD, AmCan CD' was a puppy who had a very
busy spring.
In March he entered his first field trial and placed 2nd in the Western
Field Futurity and got an Award of Merit in the Puppy stake as well as
passing his AKC tracking certification.
In April he completed his Canadian CD obedience title in 3 consecutive
trials with no score lower than 195.5.
If you’d like a top notch hunting dog
but you’re not up to keeping birds
and hiking the fields, there are hunting dog trainers that take dogs in for
training and some of those will also
enter your dog in competition for
you.
In May he eaned his AKC TD title and completed his AKC CD obedience title in
three consecutive trials with no score lower than 196 and he followed that
up with an AKC All-Breed High in Trial, a Weimaraner Regional Specialty High
in Trial, and High in Trial at the WCA National Obedience trial. Remarkably,
he was just 12 months old at that time!!
If the breeder you got your pup from
has done a good job, your pup will
arrive on your doorstep with a good
hunting instinct, an inborn instinct to
point, and a natural instinct to fetch.
In that case, minimal training will be
required for success in entry- level
field events or to develop your dog
into a useful hunting partner.
Diesel is out of Regen's Dual Champion 'Ruby' by National Amateur Field
Champ 'Buddy' and he is owned by Anne Tyson and Shirley Nilsson. He lives
with Anne in the Seattle area.
In June he earned his CKC Derby field trial points by winning a large
all-breed Derby stake.
The entry-level hunt events such as
Field Dog Junior tests and the Puppy
and Derby stakes in field trials are
largely a test of the dog’s natural field
ability. All that you will need to do is
to locate at least one training location
with natural open terrain to allow
your dog the opportunity to stretch
their legs off leash and to explore the
world with their nose, gradual positive exposure to sound of gunfire to
prevent gun-shyness, and exposure to
some upland birds.
7
Weimaraner Association of Canada
Versatility Rating Standards
These ratings are provided to promote the individual Weimaraners proficiency
in multiple disciplines.
.RESCUE
Contacts
Rescue Director Claire Durivage
514-620-4887
BC
Holly Palmer &
Shirley Nilsson
604-520-6956
604-526-0313
Prairies
Barb Williams
204-222-3929
Quebec
Claire Durivage
514-620-4887
Maritimes
Annette Brennan &
Kimberly McCormick
902-758-2250
902-860-2891
Ontario
Bruce Turnbull
705-322-0241
A. Requirements for Award of Versatile, V
1. Six (6) versatile points minimum total.
2. Above six points must be obtained from at least three (3) of the approved seven groups.
3. Points are not cumulative in any one group (i.e. a UD entitles a dog to
three points. His CDX and CD cannot be added).
B. Requirements for the Award of Versatile Excellent, VX
1. Ten (10) points minimum total.
2. Above ten points must be obtained from, at least four (4) of the approved
seven groups.
3. Points are not cumulative in any one group.
C. Requirements for the Award of Versatile Champion, VCh.
1. Fourteen (14) points minimum total.
2. Above fourteen points must be obtained from at least 5 of the approved
seven groups.
3. A minimum of four (4) points must be obtained from one of the following groups:
•
Conformation, Obedience, Field/NAVHDA
Fundraiser
I am one of the organizers of a once-a-year agility trial held in July at a beautiful
campsite in Quesnel, B.C. Our sole purpose is to turn over all monies to various
dog rescue groups (we keep a wee bit for start up costs for next year). The recipients are chosen by the small number of us who organize this trial. The last few
years saw over $200 donated to each of 6 or 7 rescue groups. We also have fund
raising for the local SPCA. We take great pride in our raffle tables (one each day)
and it's been heard that some people come for the raffles and play agility while
they are waiting for the draws to take place!!!
As in past years, I have chosen WAC Rescue as the recipient of my "share" of the
proceeds. If any of you would like to donate something to our raffle table, it would
be greatly appreciated. What about those prizes you won at a show -- too good to
throw away, but not of any use to you? I can use it and it will be going to a good
cause. We also have a swap & shop table with all donations going to the SPCA.
Anything pet related will do -- a dog dish you no longer need, or the collar that
Phideaux outgrew, or what about that hamster cage that is collecting dust in the
basement? I have a large mailbox at.................
Denise McLean
17735 Rondeview Rd.
Prince George, BC V2N 6K3
4. Points are not cumulative in any one group.
8
21
Learning from the Masters Cont’
D.
Though we may pride ourselves on being positive trainers, we may be surprised to
recognize that we do use punishment, however mildly, from time to time.
"Timeouts," disengaging from too rough play, or simply withdrawing our attention
from a dog – all are punishment, and all may be used as part of a humane approach. The use of punishment (+ or -) doesn't mean we are bad trainers. P+ is
merely an "undesirable consequence"; we have the full responsibility for deciding
how unpleasant that consequence will be. As with any consequence for a behavior,
we will be most successful as trainers when we employ P+ appropriately with awareness, and when we can move past our emotional response to the mere mention of
punishment.
Schedule of Versatile Points
AREA
© Copyright 2001 - Suzanne Clothier. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Five Bench Points
Bench Pointed
4
2
1
Obedience
CKC
MOTCH
OTCHX
UDX/ OTCH
UD
CDX
CD
6
5
4
3
2
1
Field
CKC
FTCH
FDX
FD or 1st place in All Age Stake
FDJ or Four Field Points
One Field Point
5
4
3
2
1
NAVHDA
IT
UT
UPT
NA
5
4
3
2
Retrieving
WAC/WCA
RDX
RD
NRD
5
3
1
Tracking
CKC
TDX
TD
3
2
Agility
CKC
AgM
AgX
AgI
AgN
5
4
3
2
Flying Dog Press - 1-800-7-FLY-DOG
Monet
Am/Can Ch. Gramayre’s Water Colours NA
Gramayre is looking forward to a litter from Monet, late in 2003
Enquiries welcome
Shelly Shorrock
[email protected]
Troy Pongracz
204-866-4023
20
9
POINTS
EARNED
Champion
Conformation
CKC
As dogs and other social animals show us, P+ may be used effectively without destroying the relationship. They also show us that timing, subtlety, appropriateness of
scale, and clarity are the critical ingredients in influencing another's behavior. When
we learn from dogs, we learn from the best.
HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT
Weimaraner Association of Canada
Versatility Title Application
Learning from the Masters Cont’
DIRECTIONS:
Complete all of the information required and return application with the necessary documentation to the address below. A copy of the certificate of completion must verify all titles. Versatility
titles are available to Weimaraner Association of Canada members whose dog has met the criteria . Applicant must be in good standing with the CKC.
I am a member in good standing of the Weimaraner Association of Canada: Yes ____ No ____
Registered name of dog: _________________________________________________
CKC number: ______________________ Date of birth: _________________
Owner(s) of dog: _______________________________________________________
Mailing Address: _______________________________________________________
Phone / Email: _______________________________________________________
Versatile Certificate (V); _____
Versatile Excellent Certificate (VX) _____
Versatile Champion Plaque (VCh) _____
Highest
Title
Conformation
Obedience
Field
NAVHDA
Retrieving
Tracking
Agility
Return application and documentation to:
Shelly Shorrock
Box 53, Group 20, RR2
Ste. Anne Manitoba R5H 1R2
204-866-4023
[email protected]
10
Properly applied with good timing, clarity and appropriateness of scale (something
any socially skilled dog does with an ease that leaves human trainers in awe), P+
makes increasing subtlety of gesture possible. Having used P+ to convince Ruby to
nap elsewhere, Carson will not have to escalate the punishment the next time. In
fact, she will be able to use less to make the same point. As Ruby learns to read
Carson more accurately, the stillness coupled with a hardening eye will be sufficient warning. Dog language is built around nuance and subtlety.
But it is in nuance and subtlety where we often fail in our application of P+. We do
not start with stillness and shifts in our eyes and breathing. Often, we begin where
Carson ended – grabbing for Ruby and "correcting" her. The puppy has no chance
to learn that there are subtleties that should be heeded. From the dog's perspective, we rocket from completely unconcerned to furious action without warning – a
scary situation for a dog that can and does erode the relationship. There's no appropriate beginning to our scale of warnings, and no way to back up from there;
we are crude, unsophisticated communicators who do not observe proper canine
protocol of escalating warnings.
Application for (Check One):
Category
Dire warnings about the effects of using P+ have their basis in fact. Improperly
applied, P+ can undermine the relationship, can lead to desensitization, abuse,
cruelty, panic. Though these unhappy results are often presented as an inevitable
outcome of employing P+, the truth is that these result from the use of poorly
applied or extreme P+. If P+ was destructive to relationships, there would be no
cohesive pack structure possible among canids. But dogs and wolves do use P+
and still have strong, affectionate, trusting relationships. Clearly then, the problem
lies not with P+ itself, but in our application of it. Learning how to effectively use
P+ requires that we look to our dogs for clues.
Date Title
Obtained
Points
We can become better trainers through careful study of the nuances of how dogs
do what they do, and employing the same subtlety in our own communications.
Here's an example – Ruby approaches while I'm eating lunch. My first response is
to stop chewing, hold my head very still and harden my eyes a bit. If ignored, I
then very slowly turn my head toward Ruby, hardening my eyes further. Ignored,
I lift a lip – just a bit – while still pointedly staring at the offender. Ignored, I growl
and escalate the lip lift. Still ignored, I growl louder, longer, and finally, lunge toward her with a threat bark and an air snap. This effective and very "canine" approach does not ruin our relationship in any way. Ruby understands this because it
matches what other dogs are also teaching her. Like the other dogs, eventually, I
can just offer the stillness and hardened eyes as warning. No equipment or treats
or clickers needed – just the power of natural interaction shaped in a way the dog
can easily understand, without the emotional overtones often present in human/dog interactions.
When Ruby retreats and sits, I quickly switch to offer positive reinforcement for
this desirable behavior. Like all social creatures, dogs need two kinds of information from others. They need to know when they are right, and when they are
wrong. Though some trainers refuse to give anything but positive responses, nothing in the dog's culture that supports that lopsided approach. A socially sophisticated dog becomes just that because other dogs told him both when he was right
("I'll keep playing with you since you're behaving nicely") and when he was wrong
("don't bump into me again!"). With a clear understanding of what is right and
what is wrong, Ruby can make a choice.
19
LESSONS from the MASTERS:
OBEDIENCE
Learning About Punishment from Dogs Themselves
By Suzanne Clothier
By Bethany Manderson
NOTE: This orginally appeared in the April/May 2002 APDT newsletter, written at
the request of the newsletter editor after I had written a Letter to the Editor noting that there was a lot we could learn about an appropriate & fair use of punishment from dogs themselves. This is NOT a defense of punitive training methodology - and "punishment" is defined as all students of operant conditioning understand it to be defined: one of the four possible consequences of a behavior.
I was requested to submit an article
for the obedience section. This information can be helpful in any ring or
field. Below is an excerpt from week
5 of my Novice Obedience Class.
There's an old lady I know who has been training puppies for years. And she does
a very good job of it. Funny thing, though, she routinely uses positive punishment
as part of her approach. Always has, always will. She's completely unaware of
learning theories, has never attended a conference or seminar, and never once
read a book about dogs. Yet the puppies she's trained are happy, respectful, and
well mannered, and calmly attentive to her subtlest gesture.
BODY LANGUAGE:
Because we are dealing with competition dogs, I will limit this to some
calming signals.
Dogs use calming signals to:
• calm themselves
• calm others.
If anything on the dog’s body is moving, it is a signal. They are masters at
this. Look at
• ear carriage,
• eye movements
• angle of whiskers (forward, back,
neutral),
• tightness of lips,
• licking,
• yawning
• Eyebrows
• angulation of the dog relative to
the situation.
Calming movements include:
• Angulation
• sniffing,
• moving slowly and deliberately,
• head turning,
• turning broadside
•
turning their back to situation,
• sitting,
• sitting with their back to the
situation,
• arcing toward situation (as opposed to a direct line)
• lying down,
• stop and scratch.
• Also pay attention to breathing.
How is it that she uses positive punishment to such good effect, without creating
desensitization or panic or resentment in her pupils? And how does she do it without collar, leash, head halter, treats or clickers? Because this old lady is a dog.
This experienced trainer of puppies is my retired brood bitch Carson.
There's a growing tendency among many dog trainers to denounce the use of
positive punishment (P+), though properly defined it means only this: "the presentation of an undesirable consequence." For many trainers, P+ is a bit of jargon
heavily laden with ugly images of pain, fear and outright cruelty. And there's no
denying that historically, dog training has leaned heavily on punitive methodology, much of which is thinly disguised abuse in the name of training. But when
we mistakenly equate P+ with abuse, we are ignoring what dogs themselves can
tell us about the value of P+.
Whether we like it or not, P+ is quite natural in animal-to-animal interactions. For
example, Carson is resting on a sofa. The puppy Ruby approaches, thinking about
jumping up to share the space. Hardening her eyes and holding her head very
still, Carson growls softly, her message clear: "Leave me alone." Ruby ignores
this. Carson escalates the warning to a loud, scary air snap, and the puppy
dances back a step but returns almost immediately, clearly thinking this may be a
new game. Carson's next move is a threatening lunge that ends in grabbing the
offending puppy by the muzzle for a few beats. Now Ruby gets the message and
wisely retreats.
As classically defined, Carson's intent in meting out this punishment is to
"decrease the likelihood of the behavior in the future." P+ adds something unpleasant as a consequence for a behavior. Being no fool, Ruby learns that jumping on top of her grandmother has unpleasant consequences; an unoccupied sofa
is a better choice. P+ is employed by dogs among themselves all the time.
These acts are diffusers. They turn
up very often in the stress of competition. You will hear handlers come out
18
11
of the ring and be flabbergasted at
their dog because “he blew me off;
turned deaf; he knows how to...; he’s
just stubborn; he knows I can’t correct
him.”
If a handler is unaware of these diffusers and treat them as disobedience, it only serves to worsen and
ESCALATE the behaviour. The more
you don’t ‘listen’ to the body language, the more the dog tries to tell
you.
“I looked away, you didn’t calm
down,”, “I sniffed the ground, you didn’t calm down”,
“I arced on my recall to calm you
down, and you got more frustrated.”
Maybe it’s not you, it could be that
the judge is too close for comfort or is
moving directly toward your dog.
I am not telling you this to inhibit
training or even the occasional correction. “Oops, he’s nervous, I won’t
ask that of him.” That’s not the intention. It is to prevent handlers from
administering unwarranted corrections, repetitions of exercises that are
only getting worse (recall getting
slower and slower???) and requesting
more of the dog than he is capable of
doing, or being … yet.
Examples:
• The young conformation dog trying to stand broadside to the dog
behind him.
• The halt in obedience heeling, the
dog stops and scratches.
• Walking to the line in field trials,
and the dog drops his head to the
tips of the grass (sniffing gesture).
• At the agility
line, the dog
looks away or
yawns.
Grooming Tips
Grinding Toenails
by Denise McLean
I used to hate doing my dog’s toenails. BD (Before Dremel) all I had to do was think
about doing toenails and Oreo would go and hide in the bedroom. I always seemed
to cut the quick and there was always blood everywhere. I’m sure the neighbors
wondered whether we were torturing our dogs. I had seen ads for nail grinders but
the price was really high so I never looked into it. THEN I heard about these Dremel
MiniMites – rechargeable grinders used by hobby-types for carving/sanding etc.
Someone was raving about using them for grinding toenails! My husband thought
that this was great (another TOOL!). Now that I use a Dremel (AD) my dogs are
much happier, in fact, they all wait impatiently for their
turn on the table.
I’ve done my best to convert non-Dremel users and
now it’s your turn. Using a grinder takes practice and
some getting used-to by the dogs. I’d suggest practicing on the end of a stick to get used to the grinding action. Also, try it on your own nails, it feels a bit weird,
which is what the dogs feel at first. Dog’s get used to it
quickly, could be because they get lots of cookies or the
fact that you’re not cutting the nail quick . My Dremel is 10 years and I’ve had to
get a new battery as the original no longer holds enough charge to do 5 dogs in a
row.
Equipment:
Dremel MiniMite (or other brand) – cordless, rechargeable rotary grinder
Dremel drum sandpaper “bit” and coarse sandpaper (fine sandpaper for puppies)
(generic brands of sandpaper drums do not fit well on the Dremel sandpaper drum
bit)
Extra rechargable battery: if you have more than two dogs.
General Directions (if you are right-handed):
Hold the foot in the left hand, firmly holding a toe between the thumb and forefinger. Hold the dremel in your
right hand (like you would hold a mug of beer – sanding
side up). Use your right thumb as a brace – press it
against your left thumb. Grind across the nail, then grind
the top surface of the nail, smooth out any chipping,
round off. Press firmly so that the grinder doesn’t “bounce” (try it out on your own
nails first then practice on a little piece of wood).
Dogs with Jobs
Peach
Formally known as Am/Can Ch. Arokat’s Echobar Take Me Dancing, NRD,
NSD, (Ch. Arokat’s Ashcrof Green Hornet x Ch. Arokat’s Tu Tu Tango, BROM, whelped May 30, 1994),
Peach has become a triple threat in the world of dogs.
Not only has she attained international Championship
status recognized by both the CKC and the AKC but she
has also demonstrated her versatility by earning WCA
Ratings as Novice Retrieving Dog and Novice Shooting
Dog. In addition, she has been a wonderful mother to
three litters which in turn have produced numerous
championships and titles. Most dogs, even Weimaraners, would be satisfied with these feats, but Peach
reached for the stars and is currently active in a movie
career as well.
Peach was featured in a Toyota commercial which was aired in Japan and was
awarded a bit part in the movie “Best In Show” but so impressed the producer
that she was promoted to a lead role. Further
acting experience was gained in the movie
“Cats and Dogs”, however those efforts remain on the cutting room floor. In “Animal
Miracles”, a Canadian series also shown in the
US, Peach starred in an episode in which she
saved a family from a burning home and another where she found a man who had been
undiscovered in a car accident. She is currently working “on location” in Vancouver on
a film soon to be released.
Shown above awaiting her next scene,
Peach has been said by her Trainer to be
one of the most intelligent and unassuming starlets on the set and will perform
just about any role asked of her. She’s
said to be a very quick learner, particularly when there is a nice treat waiting.
When not on stage, Peach continues to
compete for top billing with her human
brother and sister, Conner and Madison,
all part of the proud Jan and Roger
Lowe family.
PS. Some Walmarts carry Dremel stuff.
12
17
Toenails cont’
AGILITY
Book Review: CleanRun Magazine
By Denise McLean
Puppy Training:
Rarely is a magazine truly worth the cost of the subscription. CleanRun is worth
every penny of the $60 US. This monthly magazine is focused on agility and only
agility and covers all North American “flavours” including Canadian agility (AAC).
While the advertising content has risen over the years, it’s far less than most magazines and all is relevant to agility or dog training.
Under 5 weeks:
-Start when they are very, very young desensitizing them to having their feet
touched and held firmly.
-while cradling them on their backs, turn the Dremel onto low speed and touch the
body of the grinder to their feet (so they get used to the sound and the vibration).
-start doing one foot or both front feet using fine sandpaper on low speed. Touch
each nail but don’t do a lot of grinding.
CleanRun has always been a “training” magazine providing information for everyone
from novices to professionals. Contributors range from newbies to the biggest names
in the sport. Everyone shares their techniques of training describing them in great
detail with pictures and drawings. Regular features include articles on canine (and
human) health as relates to sport, sports psychology for the handler and “Everything
you always wanted to know about agility but were afraid to ask” which is great for
the new handlers.
5 Weeks:
-While cradling on back, give a cookie. While they are munching on it, grind the
front feet using low speed and fine sandpaper. Cuddle. Next time, do the back
feet.
7 weeks:
Have someone hold the puppy while you grind. Give a cookie after each foot.
Course analysis by both competitors and judges is another great feature allowing you
to see what kind of courses other venues do, especially at the big events. Instructors
are not forgotten with articles on coaching and lots of sample course sequences with
all the exercises and courses in the magazine printed on a 10ft by 10ft grid allowing
you to reproduce them at home.
If you like to build your own equipment they have a regular “Construction Zone”
which gives you detailed plans. My favourite regular feature is “BackYard Dogs”.
Each month this feature provides 10 to 30 exercises using minimal equipment
(sometimes just 4 jumps!) that can be set up in a 40ft by 50ft space. I copy these
pages, cut out the exercises and staple them together. I then have series of exercises
that I can take out to the yard and stuff into my pocket while I run them.
The magazine has now started to do special issues, devoting the entire issue to one
theme. The March issue was a Special Jumping Issue and was FABULOUS! It has
some great information to help our long-striding Weims. It and other back issues are
available for sale separately at their website.
So if you like playing agility and would like to take your game to the next level, I
would recommend buying a subscription. For anyone who trains alone or wants to
train more than once a week at the club, this magazine is invaluable even if you have
minimal equipment. It makes a good birthday present (hint, hint), share the subscription with a friend or have your local club buy a subscription. You won’t regret it.
You can order your subscription to CleanRun Magazine (as well as other great stuff)
from their website (www.cleanrun.com) or call (413)-532-1590.
16
Grinding Toenails with the dog on a Table (or floor) with the dog Standing.
-First get the dog used to being on a table, standing and having their feet picked
up. Pick up feet the same way that you would if you were cleaning a horse’s feet.
Ex. With the dog standing on your RIGHT side, turn and face their tail. Pick up
their left front foot with your left hand (grinder in the right hand) and hold the foot
so that the pad of the foot faces up.
Always do the feet in the same order. Ex. Left front, Right front, Right Rear, Left
Rear.
Once they are used to you holding their paws while on the table, start off by doing
only one toenail and then give a cookie. Progress to a cookie after each paw, then
2 paws etc. Work quickly and press firmly. If you have a helper, have them hold
the dog’s head and feed them cookies while you do their nails.
PSS. The pictures are of the infamous McDuff who, BD had to be sat-on to do his
nails. 6 months AD he eagerly jumps on the bench and stands by himself while
his nails are being done.
From the Net:
www.laughingdogpress.com
Really funny site with articles on “The Truth About Dog Breeds” and “The Truth
About Dog Sports”. Not all breeds and sports are covered yet. After reading the
article on Golden Retrievers, my friend with a golden and a Weim commented that
is was a good thing that she had the Weim to keep her from getting narcolepsy.
You have to read the article…
13
CONFORMATION
Murphy's Dog Shows
"The Unwritten Rules of Dog Showing"
1).....After trying forever to obtain that elusive second major, you have no problem getting the third major the next day.
2).....The novice people that enter every show and always show up even if the
breed judging is at 8 am and the show is a six hour drive will not show up when
the count is exactly a major. Or if they do, the dog that finished yesterday will be
moved up and break the major anyway.
3).....If you attempt to build a major, one of the extras will win, never the dog
the major was worked around.
4).....The day you don't take an umbrella or raincoat to the show because the
weather is beautiful at your house, is the day it is raining (or snowing) at the outdoor show site.
5).....Although all dog shows have lots of vendors, the day you forget the tack
box is the day there are NO vendors on the premises selling show leads.
6).....If you go to the trouble of checking out of the hotel before leaving for the
show, you will not win the breed. If you don't check out, you will win the breed,
and there will be no time to do so before groups.
7).....Your national will always be scheduled so that you are forced to move your
immature puppy up, by just a few days.
8).....Your dog will decide to completely blow coat just after entries close for the
national, which you have already committed major bucks to attend.
9).....If you are showing dogs in two different breeds that have the same judge, it
is inevitable that one breed will be the first one in at 8:00 am, and the other will
be the last one of the day at 2:30 p.m.
10).....The day you say, "If Rover doesn't win today, this will be his last show and
I'm putting him in a pet home" will be the day he wins a four point major. (After
which, of course, the waiting list of pet homes disappears and he never gets another point.)
11).....And of course we all know about the puppy we sold as a pet with a
spay/neuter contract. And his littermate that we kept as a show prospect.
12).....If your dog does better behind other dogs, you will draw the first place
number and the judge will insist on catalog order.
13).....If your dog does better at the front of the line, the judge will allow you to
line up in any order and someone will beat you to the first spot.
14).....If the judge is requiring the dogs to be shown in catalog order, your male
special will be sandwiched in between two bitches in full standing season. If you
are showing a bitch special in season, she will be the only girl in a ring full of attractive males. (And if you decide to leave your special home because he or she
has gone boy/girl crazy, none of the other specials entered will show up.)
14
Rules cont’
15).....The judge you didn't enter under because he/she hates your dog will
draw an overload and your breed will be given to a judge who loves your dog.
16).....Whenever a premium list includes a group judge that loves your special
the breed judge will be the one who told you to neuter it and put it in a pet
home. (But if you don't enter, remember that rule 16 applies).
17).....A particular judge will ALWAYS put the Winners Dog up for Best of Winners, unless YOUR dog goes WD and there is only a major in bitches.
18).....If you enter a small show where there are normally no specials or only
one, three of the top ten dogs will be flown in from all over the country.
19).....If you do win an easy breed at a small show in Podunk Nowhere, you will
then learn that a dozen top dogs and professional handlers have flown in from
the farthest corners of the country, and every one of them will show up in
YOUR group.
20).....If you win the group, you will discover that the BIS judge's favorite dog,
who is the all time top winning dog in its breed, has just won it's group, and the
BIS judge has recently given it a BISS.
HAPPY SHOWING..........
Announcements
Notice Something Different?
Yes, the newsletter is going through some changes. As you have seen, the format is
different. We are also planning on providing a bi-monthly newsletter rather than
the quarterly. This new format will help us to provide a better service to our membership such as:
• More timely news delivery
• Full page photo ads at $20.00 a page (2 photos)
• ½ page photo ads at $10.00 a page (1 photo)
• Written brags over 50 words $5.00
• Cover photo showcasing our top winning Weimaraners
• Regular features and reports from Activity Directors
For information on how to submit an ad, contact either:
Denise McLean [email protected]
or Shelly Shorrock [email protected]
Litter Announcements
Paige (Ch. Koping's Book Worm FDJ, CGC) whelped 7 beautiful puppies
(3 boys & 4 girls) on April 24. The proud papa is Cash (Am/Can Ch. Regen's FastBuck FD Am/Can TD, Am/Can CD, CGC, NRD, NSD, VX).
15