www.spanishwaterdogclub.co.uk WINTER 2016 - EDITION 35 1 EDITOR OF EDITION 35 Michelle Thearle [email protected] Please note—any views expressed inside these pages are those of the writers and not those of the Editor 2 your patron ,president, officers, Committee & helpers Antonio Garcia perez Faye allen Anthony allen Nigel eggington Pat booth Sue Nicholls-ward Karen da rosa Tanya majewicz James newton Michelle thearle Julia Jackson Joy middleton Jenny abrahams Membership secretary gill frost Web admin jane lambert Wish all Members FELIZ NAVIDAD Y BUENO ANO NUEVO 3 4 Chairman’s report It’s been another busy few months for the club with Discover Dogs, our first working test and a judging seminar. Our small committee is nothing if not very hard working and I am enthused by how much our members are engaging with the Club through its many activities. Discover Dogs A great day out was had at Discover dogs and there is more about the teams attendance later in this edition, but I just wanted to thank Jenny and the team that delivered the breeds stand at Discover Dogs. It is never an easy day out as it is held in Excel in London’s east end, so after navigating London traffic they then spent the day successfully promoting our breed. Special thanks go to Jennifer Hall with Tia and Bonita, Janine Chandler with Woof, Charmaine and Dave Headley-Beadle with Hedges, Shan Griffith with Bull and Yesi ,and Renee and Martin Flack with Rubi, with kind permission of her owners Jeremy and Sherree Bloom. Working test The club also hosed its first working test for minority spaniels. Again there will be more about the day later on but my thanks to Nigel and the team for a brilliant and most successful first working test. Judging Seminar I was able to be present at the judging seminar where we had a super turnout of 21 people who wanted to learn about the breed. Of those 14 took the breed specific assessment and we were thrilled that 11 passed. It was great to see so many enthusiastic about SWD and even better news that we have been able to move a number of 5 judges up our lists. Special thanks go to Pat, Nigel and Sue for their input, as well as our external assessor Richard Bott. Special mention to Fiona and Carol who kept us all well fed with some scrumptious food. Thanks also go to those that gave up their time to bring and handle dogs, we can’t do without you. Breed Standard We still await the final Spanish version of the FCI breed standard and it is my hope that we will be able to bring it back to the membership for consideration at our March 26th AGM. It is unfortunate that we will miss the first CC show at Crufts 2017 but as we have previously said we need to follow due process, therefore this can’t be helped. Hopefully full details will be published early in the New Year. Selecting championship and open show judges As mentioned in my last update all future open and championship show judges will be appointed by a ballot of the membership. A shortlist will be circulated with the AGM notices for members to vote on and the winners announced at the AGM, please participate and return your ballot papers. Breeders List In the spirit of the Club upholding the highest standards there has been much debate about revising the criteria for inclusion on the breeders list to include the requirements to health test. We are in the process of contacting all those of the list to let them know about the changes. This is another proactive step forward by the SWDC to promote health breeding and ultimately responsible ownership. Yearbook As I type this the team are busy preparing the yearbook, not an easy 6 job so please make sure you get you adverts and articles in to the editorial team and help make this yearbook a great success. Newsplash Finally I also want to thank Michelle for pulling together Newsplash every few months. I know from personal experience it is never an easy task getting all the articles in ahead of the deadlines, in fact it’s been very challenging this year filling three editions. The good news is that the committee have managed to twist Michelle arm to carry on doing this sterling job which I know you all appreciate. There will be two editions per year going forward which aligns to the amount of news and contributions Michelle receives and I hope you will all continue to support the publication. So as you can see there is a lot in progress and we have a busy year ahead but for the want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2017! With my best wishes Anthony Secretary’s report Well it’s nearly Christmas already, and this year has flown by again. It has been a busy year for us all and the Spanish Water Dog Club has continued to make sound progress, with hard work from all the committee members. The breed standard caused a few points of concern, which have all been taken into consideration by the committee, and when we have confirmation from Spain that their new standard has been approved, we will come back to everyone with our proposals on how we align 7 the UK breed standard with the rest of Europe. The committee feel it is vital for the unity of the breed worldwide that the breed standard mirrors the Spanish one. A breed standard is something that we should aim to aspire to, and it is important that we should all have the same goal, namely to breed a Spanish Water Dog that fits as closely as possible to the standard that was decided by its country of origin. We will update you further as soon as we have any news. The Spanish Water Dog Club judge’s subcommittee continues to educate and assess judges in a very fair, friendly and proactive way, offering help and assistance to anyone who may need it. We had a great turn out in November, with a pass rate of 79%. It was very encouraging to see so many people who are interested in learning more about the breed attend the morning session, and we had 14 aspiring judges to sit the exam and take the assessment in the afternoon. We hope to hold two more seminars next year. I would also like to thank once again Fiona Donaldson and Carol Palumbo for running the kitchen, and kindly donating all the food, which was scrumptious. It was great to receive the many letters of thanks and appreciation for the way the seminar was run. We held our first ever working assessment test day since our inclusion into the minority spaniel sub group on the 30th October, with judges Frank Geraghty and Terry Baker. The event was a huge success with 25 entries across 4 different breeds. The judges kindly explained what was required and I am pleased to say the Spanish Water Dogs held their own and one went on to win the open class and Best Hunter. The day was a very happy, friendly one with bacon and egg butties, tea and coffee available. TAILS.com, our sponsors, 8 provided great prizes, gifts and trophies for the winners. A big thank you must go to Jenny Johnson, Linda Meakin, Joy Middleton and Pat Booth for working so hard on making this day a success. The next working test will be held in Spring 2017. We now have a new heath team of Tanya Majewicz and Carol Palumbo coordinated by Joy Middleton. Joy and the team have some great ideas and are always available to chat about any concerns you may have. The committee have decided that they are going to improve the standards required of the breeders to be placed on the club’s breeders list (over and above what is asked in the Code of Ethics). This is done solely with the breed’s best interest at heart. We want it to be a privilege to be included on the Spanish Water Dog Club’s breeders list. The new requirements which will be fully explained by the health team are designed to help everyone breed with as much knowledge as possible. The new list will be launched after next year’s AGM. We need to be aware of any health problems from around the world, as many people are importing potential breeding stock. Our aim is to help gather as much health information as possible and protect the breed as much as we can, to prevent any new problems entering the UK. We will also be asking breeders to have all breeding stock DNA parentage profiled, and to sign up to learning about the TCAN character testing that we aim to introduce over the next few years. We will be inviting the Spanish club AEPAE over next year to give a demonstration and full explanation of the TCAN (test of character and natural aptitude). The health team will be explaining everything in detail, so that everyone is clear with the 9 way forward. It is not long now until Crufts, where it will be the first time that the breed will be awarded Challenge Certificates. I would expect the judge Espen Engh will have a great entry at this historic show. The club is also launching its first club year book, to coincide with this, celebrating the breed’s first 25 years here. Everyone can advertise in this book, which will contain lots of breed history and breed statistics. So, whether you are a pet owner, want to promote your kennel in any way, or perhaps wish to remember a special dog that has sadly passed away, please get your adverts in as soon as possible. Full details are on the website www.spanishwaterdogclub.co.uk. This book will be seen worldwide and is a part of SWD history. The Spanish Water Dog club will be holding its 2017 open show in conjunction with Coventry Gundog on 5th March, to be judged by Anthony Allen, so great practice for Crufts. The first ever club Championship show will be held in conjunction with Windsor Championship show on the 29th June 2017, with the judge being the globally respected breed specialist Jose Maria Pinero Lopez who has a lifetime of experience in the breed. Both schedules will shortly be out, and entries available via Higham Press. Can’t wait to see you all attending. On a personal note, I would just like to say thank you to the officers, committee members, and everyone else who has helped take the club forward this year. It is a great team effort with one aim, simply to benefit Spanish Water Dogs and their owners here in the UK. I would finally like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a healthy New Year. Nigel Egginton, Secretary, Spanish Water Dog Club 10 Order for christmas Merchandise available now [email protected] 11 Discover Dogs at ExCel Centre, London – October 2016 I was very honoured to be asked to organise this years’ DD stand for SWDs and hope that myself and all our lovely dogs and their humans lived up to the expectations following from Kylee and Titch Noad’s previous hard work and commitment. What an amazing & busy weekend we had, with members of the public visiting to ask all about our versatile breed. My thanks to all who helped on the stand, especially to the dogs, who as ever, were fantastic ambassadors for our breed. Hedges Woof 12 Jennifer Hall with Tia and Bonita Shan with Yesi and Bull 13 Thank you to: Jennifer Hall with Tia and Bonita, Shan Griffiths with Bull and Yesi, Dave and Charmaine Headley-Beadle with Hedges, Janine Chandler with Woof, Sherree and Jeremy Bloom with Rubi and Martin and Renee Flack The committee would like to thank Jenny Abrahams and all who made the representation of the breed such a success 14 Hi all, With Christmas and winter coming up it is worth just familiarising yourself with catastrophes vets deal with at this particular time and keep your dogs/pets protected. I know this article was already published in newsplash last year but I learnt from my vets that they had 9 sad cases over the Christmas period. It won’t be long until you’re decorating your home in preparation for the festive period, but it isn’t all fun and games for your pet. At Christmas time houses are often full of tempting, tasty treats, but remember to keep all food and drink for human consumption out of your pet’s reach, such as chocolate coins, mince pies, Christmas puddings and Macadamia nuts, all of which are poisonous to your pet. Chocolate poisoning is a common toxicity seen by vets over Christmas, if your dog eats any it is important to let your vet know how much and what they have eaten as the cocoa content varies. This will allow your vet to determine the level of poisoning and best course of action. Plants to brighten your humble abode such as lilies, mistletoe and poinsettia are a danger if ingested by your pet, so keep them out of harm’s way. All parts of the Lily plant are poisonous and can cause kidney failure, so keep them out of your house if you have cats. If you think your pet may have chewed or ingested part of a plant contact your vet. Chewing increases saliva production and is good for your pet’s teeth. Some dogs simply love toys and chews, but it is always best to supervise them whilst they have one, and make sure they are suitable. Some pets, particularly younger ones, have a habit of playing with or munching on things that they shouldn’t, such as Christmas decorations, children’s toys, socks, underwear and Christmas leftovers including bones. All of these could cause a gastro-intestinal obstruction if swallowed. A foreign body can be life 15 threatening and your pet will require urgent veterinary treatment, therefore, it is always best to keep tempting snack-sized objects, including wrapped presents, under the tree and out of reach. Antifreeze With a car becoming more essential than ever, servicing your motor with antifreeze is a priority for you but is dangerous and lifethreatening to pets. They are attracted to ethylene glycol with its sweet taste, and the trouble is that often you won’t know what your pet has been up to. Urgent veterinary assistance is needed if your pet consumes ANY antifreeze. Signs develop rapidly, they may look drunk, begin vomiting and have problems breathing, and intoxication leads to rapid kidney failure. When using antifreeze keep pets clear and make sure bottle tops are fastened tightly to avoid any leakage, also check your car radiator for leaks as even the smallest amount can be harmful to your furry friend. Ensure you all have a great Christmas stay safe and wrap up warm. Deryk 16 Seasonal Canine Illness The Royal Family’s love of animals is well-known throughout the world, in particular their fondness for Corgis. In a photo taken to mark her 90th birthday, Queen Elizabeth II is seen walking the steps of Windsor Castle, accompanied by corgis Willow and Holly, and Corgis Vulcan and Candy. Therefore, it must have been especially hard when the Queen’s estate at Sandringham first identified a potentially life-threatening syndrome seen in dogs. In August 2016, the estate was forced to release a statement warning about the dangers of Seasonal Canine Illness (SCI) after 15 dogs are thought to have developed the illness in one month after visiting Sandringham last year. What is SCI? First seen in 2009 at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, the syndrome was soon reported at other areas across the United Kingdom, such as Nottinghamshire and Suffolk. The mystery illness affects dogs between the months of August and November and can often prove to be fatal. What is the Cause? The cause of SCI is still unknown, even to this day. Many of dogs diagnosed with the illness were discovered to have harvest mites. Even though these mites haven’t been known to transmit disease in the UK, similar species in other countries have been found to do so. This might be the potential cause but, as yet, there is no scientific evidence to back this up. Symptoms of SCI The signs of SCI usually develop between 24 and 72 hours after being walked in woodland and can include the following; 17 – Sickness – Diarrhoea – Lethargy – Abdominal Pain – Loss of appetite – High temperature – Shivering or shaking How can it be prevented? Because the cause is unknown, there are no real true preventative measures. All dog owners can do is be sensible about where they walk their dogs. The particular areas in which SCI has been reported are Sherwood Forest, Clumber Park, Thetford Forest, Rendlesham Forest and Sandringham estate, but you should be aware when walking your dog in any patch of woodland. If at all possible, ensure that they are never out of your sight, running through undergrowth as this is where the cause of the syndrome might lie. If your dog does display some of symptoms above and you suspect it may be suffering from SCI, then contact your vet immediately. Regards Deryk 18 Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPCR) Cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation (CPCR, formerly abbreviated as CPR) is the treatment required to save an animal (or human) life when suffering cardiopulmonary arrest. The intent of CPCR is to provide sufficient blood flow and oxygen to the brain and vital organs to support life until more advanced medical therapy can be started. Unlike what we see on television, most patients who suffer from cardiac arrest are unable to be saved, even with CPCR. In a study from the University of California at Davis, researchers discovered that long-term survival among feline patients is extremely poor. In this study, only 2.3% of feline patients who received CPCR survived to be discharged from the hospital alive. This closely parallels findings of similar studies in human medicine. CPCR consists of two parts: Rescue breathing and chest compressions. These two techniques combine to keep the lungs supplied with oxygen and to keep blood circulating, carrying oxygen to the other parts of the body such as the brain and vital organs. Basic CPCR is CPCR performed by trained bystanders at the scene of the arrest. Advanced CPCR is CPCR performed by trained teams of professionals. Basic CPCR is the most important for pet owners, and is described in this section. All body tissues require a steady source of oxygen. If the source is interrupted for only a few minutes, irreversible damage may be done. If cardiopulmonary arrest occurs, basic CPCR must be initiated 19 at the scene. Recent research has shown that using only chest compressions was as effective as chest compressions and rescue breathing together. As long as the airway is open, compression of the chest may cause forward flow of blood and may cause adequate movement of air-at least for the first few minutes of arrest. Therefore, if only one rescuer is available to perform CPCR, it is advisable to perform only chest compressions. Basic CPCR: Rescue Breathing (If two people are present) Make Certain the Animal is actually Arrested and Unconscious Talk to the pet first. Gently touch and attempt to awaken the pet. You could be seriously injured should you attempt to perform CPCR on a pet who was only sleeping heavily and was startled awake. Ensure an Open Airway Extend the head and neck and pull the tongue forward. Look in the mouth and remove any saliva or vomitus. If it is too dark to see into the mouth, sweep your finger deep into the mouth and into the throat to remove any vomit or foreign body. Be aware of a hard, smooth, bone-like structure deep in the throat, which is likely to be the hyoid apparatus (Adam's apple). Serious injury could result if you pull on the hyoid apparatus. 20 Observe for Effective Breathing Sometimes an animal will begin to breathe spontaneously when the head is put in the position discussed above (head and neck extended, tongue pulled forward). Watch for the rise and fall of the chest while listening closely for sounds of breathing. If no breathing is evident in 10 seconds, begin rescue breathing. Begin Rescue Breathing Rescue breathing is performed by covering the pet’s nose with your mouth and forcefully blowing your breath into the lungs. In cats and small dogs, you must hold the corners of the mouth tightly closed while you force the air in. In larger dogs, the dog’s tongue should be pulled forward and the mouth and lips held shut using both hands cupped around the muzzle. Force air into the lungs until you see the chest expand. Take your mouth away when the chest has fully expended. The lungs will deflate without help. Air should be forced into the lungs until you see the chest expand. Give 3 to 5 Full Breaths After several breaths are given, stop for a few seconds to recheck for breathing and heart function. If the pet is still not breathing, continue rescue breathing 20 to 25 times per minute in cats or small dogs, or 12 to 20 times per minute in medium or large dogs. Push down on the stomach area every few seconds to help expel the air that may have blown into the stomach. If the stomach is allowed to distend with air, the pressure will make the rescue breathing efforts less effective. Try to coordinate breaths with chest compressions for 21 2-person CPCR. If Breathing is Shallow or Non-existent If you find that breathing is either shallow or non-existent and the pet is still unconscious, continue rescue breathing 10 to 15 times per minute and transport the pet to the nearest veterinary facility. Basic CPCR: Chest Compressions (If one or two people are present) After Ensuring an Open Airway, Check for a Pulse If no pulse is detectable, begin chest compressions. In Small Dogs or Cats Squeeze the chest using one or both hands around the chest. Depress the rib cage circumferentially (see illustration). Do this 100 to 150 times per minute. In Large Dogs Compress the chest wall with one or both hands, depending on the size of the dog and the size of the rescuer (whatever works best for you). If the dog is on her side, place your hand(s) on the side of the chest wall where it is widest. If she is on her back, place your hand(s) on the breastbone. Depress the rib cage 1.5 to 4 inches, depending on the dog's size. Do this 80 to 120 times per minute. Coordinate Rescue Breathing and Chest Compressions If possible, give breaths during the compressions. If it is not possible, give two breaths after every 12 compressions. Continue CPCR until • You become exhausted and can't continue. • You get the animal transported to a veterinary facility and professionals can take over. 22 • The pulse is palpable or heartbeats are felt and they are strong and regular. In the vast majority of cases, artificial ventilations will continue to be required for a period of time, even though heart function has returned. This is due to the nervous system depression that occurs as a result of the arrest. All resuscitated animals should be transported to a veterinary facility for further examination and care! Remember first Aid courses for dogs/ animals are available throughout the country. If I can assist you in this please contact me. 01268 751105. Regards Deryk The Spanish Water Dog Club open show This years’ SWD Club Open show will be held in Conjunction with Coventry Gundog Club on 5 March 2017 at the Sports Connexion at Ryton on Dunsmore, being judged by our Club Chair, Anthony Allen. Furthermore, at Windsor Championship Show 2017 where we will be awarded Challenge Certificates, have kindly agreed to allow us to hold our first SWD Club Championship Show on 29th June 2017. Please find the Show List on the ‘download’ section of the SWD Club page for other open and championship shows, detailing dates, Judges and closing dates for entries. 23 Water Spl sh! Water training is an inclusive sport for all ages/abilities, below are some of the great photos from this year. You will find dates for Water training on the back pages if you are interested in attending any of the training days contact Pat Booth for more info Info and booking email [email protected] . 24 FLYBALL NEWS With just a few tournaments to go we are almost at the end of the 2016 season and it looks like Kiki has made to the top of the breed standings. This was her first season in open competition and its been wonderful to see her excitement on the start line. Her enthusiasm has made lots of people smile! Looking forward to next year, having been there before I'm sure Mr T and Chico will once again challenge for that top place and I think the other one to watch will be Sarah Prince's new kid on the block.......the mighty Mocha!! Fly ball is a very inclusive sport, it's about having fun with your dog and because teams are ranked in divisions it means you can have equal the excitement however fast so if you think you would like to give it a go have a look on the British Fly ball Association website to find a team in your area. 25 VIVA SPANISH RAPIDZ A year ago a small group of us decided to enter a team for the European Fly ball Championships to be held in Ipswich August 2016. Spanish Rapidz was formed some years ago with quite a few SWDs racing in it along with a very special collie Zac owned by Sarah Prince. We decided to keep with tradition using the same name, this time Sarah racing her Spanish Water Dog Mocha. We took five SWDs with us, our Kiki, Kay and Leanne Burrows Dante, Chico and Mori, and of course the mighty Mocha. The racing is in two sections, time trials which puts teams into divisions according to their time and then double elimination, if you lose twice you're out. It was the most exciting tournament I've been to in all the years I've been competing in flyball. We won Division 11 with fantastic support from the crowd and a podium place and a bottle of champagne ended a pretty perfect day. One of the dogs racing deserves a special mention. Mori is the highest achieving Spanish Water Dog in the history of the sport in the UK. He is 13 years old and the Euros was his last major tournament. Happy retirement Mori you really are a legend. 26 GUN DOG NEWS The Spanish Water Dog Club, in conjunction with our sponsors tails.com, held its first ever working test assessment day on the 30th October 2016, by kind permission of Mr Harry Johnson at Offchurch Bury, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. This was a milestone for the breed and club as we settle nicely into the minority spaniel gundog sub group. This group consists of Welsh Springer Spaniels, American Cocker Spaniels, Field Spaniels, Sussex spaniels, Clumber spaniels, Lagotto’s and the Spanish Water Dog. The Spanish Water Dog and Lagotto were placed into this group after lengthy discussions and a demonstration of the breeds working ability, to the members of the Kennel Clubs Field Trial sub committee’s, representatives at Chatsworth in 2014. The unique way the Spanish water Dog and Lagotto naturally work made them hard to easily fit into any sub group. The KC thought that this was the perfect group for both breeds with a review after three years. We have been made to feel very welcome in this group and it is the perfect place for the Spanish Water Dogs, where we can all work our dogs and learn together. It is very pleasing to see the Spanish Water Dogs holding their own and clearly excelling in the water. To finally be able to compete and work our dogs is very satisfying indeed. We were very lucky to have two very knowledgeable judges Mr Frank Geraghty and Mr T Baker who were superb in explaining clearly to everyone just what was required of them. It was a great day, free of pressure with twenty-five entries across four breeds including WSS, Clumber Spaniels, American Cockers and of course Spanish Water Dogs. The tests involved hunting up, a blind and seen retrieve and a water retrieve. 27 We had some beautiful trophies, prizes and rosette’s kindly donated by tailor-made dog food company, tails.com, which were the very well received and it was fascinating to learn more about tails.com from their representative, Joy Middleton. We will be holding the next working test in spring 2017 Nigel Egginton, Secretary, Spanish Water Dog Club. Full results – Well done all Puppy 1st Isfryn Spotless, WSS handled by D J Yates 2nd Sabisabi Cherokee Awinita, A/Cocker handled by D Kirton 3rd Maravillas Muchacha, SWD Handled by Gill Frost 4th Josalyn Palba Leonara, SWD handled by Lynn Napier. Novice 1st Isfryn Spotless, WSS Handled by D J Yates 2nd Jackpot Stud Supermodel, Clumber S, Handled by C Knowles 3rd Pabiaga’s Don’t miss A Thing, SWD, Handled by Tracey Whitehead 4th Buttermilk Wavelet At pabiaga, SWD handled by Tracey Whitehead Open 1st Valentisimo’s Guerrero, SWD Handled by Nigel Egginton 2nd Not Awarded 3rd Not Awarded Best In Test and most promising. Isrfyn Spotless, WSS handled by D J Yates Best Hunter, Valentisimo’s Guerrero, SWD handled by Nigel Egginton 28 Agility News Wow what a year it’s been for our SWD’s in Agility, lots of new talent coming through with young dogs doing foundation work, there’s lots of things you can do with your young dogs to help if your planning on taking up Agility with them, however it’s really important not to do anything which involves putting pressure on their growth plates until fully grown. I would recommend lots of socialising, focus work, a good wait, recall, and driving to a dead toy would be a great place to start. Pat Booth & Gill Frost are having great fun starting out on their agility journey with Chispa & Lulu, I recently spent some time with Ginette Evans & Muffin who’s becoming really confident with the equipment. It’s great to see our curly friends taking up this hobby with their humans. Agility really is an inclusive sport/hobby whether wanting to compete or just have fun it really does tick a lot of boxes. Feel free to get in touch if you need any help finding a training club. Michelle Thearle Lulu enjoying Foundation work and getting to grips with the tunnel 29 BENJI AT DISCOVER DOGS CRUFTS SEMI-FINALS I am so proud to have qualified Benji for the Crufts ABC (Anything but Collie) semi-finals this year. The semi-finals are held at Discover dog’s and consist of a Jumping round and Agility round. Benji was amazing he took the environment in his stride & coped really well. He worked so well, I couldn’t have asked anymore from him, unfortunately in the jumping we missed a jump therefore was eliminated (handler error) In the afternoon for the agility we were the 1st to run and he put in an amazing run, going clear and receiving 4th place he truly didn’t put a paw wrong 30 A.G.M. Notice BROOKFIELD FARM, SHARESHILL, WOLVERHAMPTON, SUNDAY 26th March 2017 10.30am Have your say in a friendly and open meeting. Details follow in January 2017 31 Showing – Beginners Guide……..Part 2 Following on from the last Newsplash, here’s a bit more about the world of showing. You’ve entered a show, pre ordered your catalogue and/or parking and you’ve upped your training and practiced like mad, then the day of the show is here! If you’re nervous, take some moral support, or if someone else you’re friends with from training club is attending the same show, buddy-up and share the driving? Ensure your dog is fit and happy when you wake up and toileted before setting off. Remember to give yourself plenty of time to get to the showground, park, load up your trolley with all your gear (or get your willing assistant to carry everything!) and head for the entrance. At local or open shows, your not expected to have entry/exit passes, but for Championship shows, you must have your passes. If you entered through the post, they will be posted to you, but if you’ve entered on-line, you will need to go online to print your passes and ensure you’ve got all you extras, like catalogue or car park passes. At Open shows, you will not have benches for your dog to wait for their class so head to the Secretary’s Tent/Desk and look for a map of the site showing the locations of each ring number and a list showing the order of judging in each ring. Set yourself up near your ring and wait. If your breed is first in the ring, get your dog prepared, but if you have some time to wait, get comfy, ensure your dog is happy and settled. Your exhibit number will be given to you on entering the ring by the Ring Steward. 32 If you are at a Championship show, pay for or collect your catalogue (if you’ve ordered one) and head towards your ring/benching area. Your catalogue will be split into breeds and you will be able to find your exhibit number. There will be two numbers on your bench – one to identify your bench and one to wear in the ring. Some points to consider… What else might you need ? Chair Flask, snacks, packed lunch Dog treats, water, bowl, soft crate/trolley crate, bungies, trolley, shade/rain cover Sun cream/hats/coats/boots – check the weather forecast if you are going to be outside! Catalogue – write your name on it Prepare your dog Don’t miss your class - get in the ring on time. Listen to the Ring Steward and which breed/class After judging, if you’ve won your class, you will be asked by the Steward to return for the dog/bitch challenge and if you win, you will be asked to challenge for Best of Breed. If you are second in your Class and the dog/bitch which beat you is picked for best dog/bitch, then the Judge reserves the right to call you back into the ring to challenge for the Reserve dog/bitch, so don’t wander off or go too far from the Ring. Cards and Rosettes – Championship Shows and Open shows are slightly different in approach. You will get cards for the first five places – First, Second, Third, Reserve and Highly Commended. At Open shows, often if you take your placing card to the Show Society 33 table, they will present you with a matching coloured rosette. At Championship shows, more often than not you would need to purchase your own rosette and the catalogue will list which retailers are present at the show and where they are located at the venue. Any problems? Always speak to Steward or to Show Secretary at the time. I hope this has helped some of our members to consider the possibility of trying out showing their dogs. Most importantly, the main thing you should always remember …. YOU ALWAYS TAKE THE BEST DOG HOME!!!!! Jenny Abrahams – [email protected] or [email protected] I've met some lovely friends through showing - the Walker family at Windsor championship show 34 Left – Sometimes you need more than one chair Below - Poppy on the way to winning Best Bitch at Blackpool championship show Right -Steve - the SWD man! 35 New Spanish Water Dog Health Team The Spanish Water Dog Club takes great pride in promoting the sound, happy and healthy breeding of Spanish Water Dogs, and now has a new dedicated health team. I would like to introduce the SWDC Health Team, Carol Palumbo and myself (Joy Middleton). I’m extremely excited to be working with a dedicated and knowledgeable team, to help move the health within the breed forward. One of the first projects we will be delivering, are a few changes to the Breeder’s List requirements. The Spanish Water Dog Club committee have decided that they would like the SWDC breeders list to be elevated in status. To one that breeders feel honoured to be included on. We intend to offer new potential owners the confidence to know that the breeders are taking every step to breed healthy, happy pups of good character. The list’s requirements will include more health tests than the club’s code of ethics asks for, but will not exclude breeders that do not wish to be included on the new list from being members of the club. The intention is to help the breed progress, here in the UK, as well as around the world. The Spanish Water Dog Club’s committee have a wealth of experience, and are in contact with many breeders and clubs around the world. They feel that, with many UK breeders now importing dogs, and using overseas sires, that the club need to be proactive in helping breeders to breed with as much knowledge as possible. The tests that breeders will have to complete to comply with the requirements of the new breeders list are 1. BVA or other recognised hip screening test 2. Gonioscopy 3. Yearly BVA eye testing 4. DNA parentage tests on all breeding stock. 5. DNA test for NAD ( Neuroaxonal Dystrophia) until proven hereditary free 36 6. DNA test for CHG (Congenital Hypothyroidism With Goiter) until proven hereditary free 7. DNA test for prcdPRA until proven hereditary free 8. To encourage SWDC club membership 9. To take part in all health surveys by the KC and breed club 10. To offer lifelong support, and to rehome any dogs they have bred, if necessary. 11. To agree to attend a seminar and learn about the TCAN test ( test of character and natural working instincts) and when introduced, agree to test their breeding stock. This test is designed by the AEPAE, the Spanish breed club, and it’s aim is to help you understand your dog’s character and it’s suitability for breeding. We will be holding a seminar by the AEPAE, and demonstration during 2017, with the target of introducing the tests within 3 years. The aim is not to exclude any dogs from the gene pool, but purely to help protect the UK gene pool, and to stop any potential problems entering the UK gene pool from abroad. We wish to advocate breeding with knowledge, and help maintain a healthy Spanish Water Dog that is fit for function. The new requirements will only apply to dogs actually being bred from that year, during the first 2 years of the amendments. Then for all breeding stock thereafter. so there will be a chance to learn about the health testing and requirements, and time to comply throughout those 2 years. The new breeders list is going to be published after the AGM, when the health team will be explaining everything in detail and providing help or advice to everyone. I’m sure anyone breeding for the benefit and love of the breed will be honoured to be part of what the club is striving to achieve. Joy Middleton – Health Team [email protected] 37 Please Remember your MEMBERSHIP Renewals are due on 1st January 2017 Please download a membership form and post or email it to the Membership Secretary along with your payment to 20 Austin Close, Stone, Staffs, ST15 0AB or [email protected] or Renew Payment Online Single £12.50 Joint £15.00 Family £17.50 38 2017 MARCH 5th CLUB OPEN SHOW MARCH 9TH – 12TH CRUFTS & DISCOVER DOGS MARCH 26TH AGM APRIL 23RD WATER TRAINING MAY 21ST WATER TRAINING JUNE 25TH WATER TRAINING 29TH JUNE WINDSOR CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW JULY 23RD WATER TRAINING AUGUST 13TH WATER TRAINING SEPTEMBER 24TH WATER TRAINING OCTOBER 15TH WATER TRAINING OCTOBER 21ST &22ND DISCOVER DOGS 39 Please continue to send in your contributions to our EDITOR EMAIL [email protected] SPRING 33 DEADINE APIL 16th 2016 40
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