AGILITY NEWSOctober – December 2016

2016 Christmas President’s Report.

As our agility year draws to a close I want to thank every one of you for being great club members.ADC is thriving and all our members enjoy training nights.Now our weather is turning to summer, please consult your vet for appropriate tick and flea treatment for your dog. Also make sure your dog doesn’t overheat when exercising. At home make sure your dog has shade all day and several drinking bowls- hot water isn’t very nice to drink.Over summer keep up your fitness and your dog’s by doing some different exercise- swimming, late evening or early morning walks etc . Or teach some tricks as a different type of training- keep it fun!Enjoy your Christmas treats but don’t share them with your dog! Ham, chocolate etc isn’t good for them.

See you in 2017

Robyn

ADC Committee as of Oct 2016

President – Robyn Jones Vice President – Chloe CrassSecretary - Michelle Oldfield Assistant Secretary – Sheridan BuckTreasurer - Vanessa Dowson Trial Secretaries – Mary-Anne Corry and Dot Drescik

Committee - Lisa Hopkinson - Liz Yuill - Erica Hockley - Eva-Lotte Baad

Instructors Coordinator – Chloe Crass Instructors Sub Committee – Robyn Jones, Chloe Crass, Nathan Crass, Liz Yuill,Stacy Richards

Newsletter Editor - Joanne Campbell Office Manager – Tania King

Office Assistants - Michelle Oldfield, Jo Campbell, Erica Hockley, Sheridan Buck and Lisa Hopkinson, Mary-Anne Corry, Bronwyn Dobeson

Club Shop - Vanessa Dowson Trophy Steward – Trial - Bronwyn Dobeson and Catherine EganTrophy Steward – Club – Tania KingMedia Co-coordinator – Chloe Crass

Meetings are held in the Secretary’s room at Castle Hill Showground on the second Wednesday of the month. Meetings start at 7.30pmGeneral meetings are held in December, February, April, June, August and October . AGM held in October prior to General meeting.

All members welcome

Don’t Forget to put these Dates on your Calandar

Christmas Party Bowling Challenge!December 9Castle Hill AMF Open to all club members.$45 per head includes food ,soft drink and some alcoholcreate a team of four from yourclass to challenge the others!

Last Night Games and Presentation PartyDecember 15Games for dogs and their ownersPlease bring a small plate of food and your drinksPresenation of club trophiesDress up competition for you and your dog

Training ResumesFebruary 2, 2017Training resumes for everyone!

Working BeeJanuary 299am

Instructors Training NightJanuary 18Starting at 7.00pm

Instructors Training NightJanuary 25Starting at 7.00pm

New members from Oct - Dec will be approved at the Dec meeting

PROMOTIONS: CONGRATULATIONS!!! Intro - Beginners Beginners - Green Green - Yellow Brooke Taylor & Olli Suthida & Arrow Marilyn Courts & MeikaTara Finlay & Alfie Brooke Williams-Ross &

SamsonRebecca D’Arcy & Henry

Caroline ? & George Jenny Lingley & Lucy Fiona Dunn & CharlieAlly Losentino & Luna Rebecca Pandelis & Dee Dee Julianne James & SonnyTony ? & Diesel Shannon Brough & Charlie Rebecca Pandelis & Dee DeeJo McLean & Anton Stephen Wells/Teneale Hayes &

BonnieJenni-Lee William & Hugo Kate Pollard & ToonCatherine Bartlett & Hayley Brent Vujcich & IndyLisa Malroy & Pepper Tara Finlay & Alfie

Kate Trotter & PippaEva-Lotta Baad & GracieBrooke Taylor & OlliRenata Malysiak & IvyGail Starr & LeoCatherine Bartlett & Hayley

*** Question marks have been replaced with names due to being illegible

Yellow – Purple Purple – Blue Blue - RedCourtney Logan & Summer Ruth Andrew & LinkJess Flynn & DieselEmily Lyons & JindiAmy Locke & Bailey

Congratulations Robyn

In September 2016 Dogs NSW presented Robyn Jones with a:

Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her long and outstanding service to the Obedience and Agility disciplines in NSW.

Most club members will have crossed paths with Robyn Jones as she has been a member of ADC for over 25 years and is our current President.

She has also been a financial member of Dogs NSW for 35 years. Robyn is and has been a member of other clubs, holding committee positions with some, supporting others; all with considerable personal effort and dedication.

• Robyn joined the Agility Dog Club of NSW (ADC) on 13 February 1990. The Club was formed the previous year (5 December 1989)• In June 2016 Robyn was made a life member of ADC for her sustained contribution to the Club.• Robyn was first an instructor at ADC from 1991 to 1994 and again from 2002 to the present day.• Robyn has held the following positions with ADC:· 2015 – 2016 president· 2014 – 2015 vice president· 2009 – 2014 president· 1994 – 1995 trophy steward· 1993 – 1994 vice president / trophy steward· 1992 – 1993 committee member / trophy steward

• Whilst president of ADC Robyn has been instrumental in:

2016 urging The Hills Shire Council to retain the use of the Dog Rings at Castle Hill Showground in their proposed re-development of the area.

2016 planning ADC’s involvement in The Hills Shire Council’s ‘Pawsitive Steps for Mental Health’ (scheduled August 2016).

2016 sponsoring Ms Sacha Packer, from ‘The Balanced Canine’ to lecture ADC members about canine muscular adjustments and associated therapies for sporting dogs.

2016 re-writing the Class Handler Notes for all agility classes at ADC.

2016 upgrading the safety rules for dogs and their handlers on training nights.

2016 drafting and implementing ADC’s Social Media Policy.

2015 supporting the Cancer Council’s Pink Ribbon Day with a ‘Pink’ agility trial.

2015 organising the first agility demonstration at the Coonabarabran Show.

2014 sponsoring Ms Daisy Peel (USA), international agility competitor and coach, to give workshops and seminars to ADC members and the wider agility community in NSW (and also in 2013).

2014 organising an agility demonstration for The Hills Shire Council’s ‘Paws in the Park’ to celebrate responsible dog ownership (and also in 2011).

2014 acknowledging ADC founding members Graham and Gillian Elven’s contribution to the club during our 25th anniversary trial.

2012 raising funds for the RSPCA’s ‘Cupcake Day’.

2012 organising agility demonstrations for the ‘Save Our Strays’ rescue charity.

2012 organising agility demonstrations for Dogs NSW’s ‘Sydney Pet and Animal Expo’.

2011 sponsoring Ms Sue Hogben from Western Australia to give workshops and seminars to ADC members. Sue is a leading clicker trainer and competitor in obedience, agility and retrieving competitions.

2011 organising agility demonstrations for Dogs NSW PR Committee’s ‘Dogs on Show Open Day’ (and also in 2010).

2010 organising agility demonstrations for The Hills Shire Council’s ‘Howl-O-Ween Dogs Day Out’.

Below is an overview of Robyn’s achievements in the “dog world”.

• breeding and showing Labrador Retrievers and Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers.• being the current president (and life member) of the Agility Dog Club of NSW Inc.• being an instructor (and life member) of Hills Dog Club Inc.• lecturing to the Hills Dog Club Inc.• participating in a Delta Society Instructors Course in 1995 and becoming a Canine Good Citizen Instructor in 1996.• visiting nursing homes with her dogs.• participating in Royal Blind Society (NSW) community events.• running one of Sydney’s first ‘Puppy Pre-schools’ (Baulkham Hills Vet Surgery) in 1992 after seeing them in action in London England.• being a game and gun steward for non-slip retriever trials (NSRT).• training Labrador Retrievers to compete at NSRT up to championship level.• conducting gundog obedience and NSRT training days.

Robyn constantly works behind the scenes to make a club and its members successful. She encourages members to be involved in their club, promote the sport and be responsible dog owners. Robyn has exceptional leadership skills. She brings people together to make an inclusive and happy club. Mrs Chloe Crass, ADC Vice President, aptly describes Robyn (quote) “She is the backbone of our Club, the brains which keeps those committee limbs moving successfully and gets the job done”.

Robyn has enhanced ADC’s standing in the dog world through her sustained efforts to have people and their dogs contribute to a responsible and safer community.

I’m sure that everyone will join with me in saying congratulations and well done, Robyn.

Michelle OldfieldSecretaryADC25 Sept 2016

This newsletters story is written by Helen Heaver. Helen provides all the drinks and lollies for all our trials and is also one of our beginner instructors. Helen has been a member since 2007. Helen has also competed in the Festival Club Challenge for ADC. Initially started in agility because I had a very nervous sheltie named Timmy and I wanted to get him out and try to bring him out of himself. I joined ADC in about 2007. It took Timmy a long time to settle and not run away back to our friends who were also training but eventually he started to settle and realised he really liked playing at this agility. I never thought that I would trial this dog as he worried about everything but I decided in September 2009 to enter him in a specialty trial which was smaller and a bit quieter. To my amazement he qualified in both agility and jumping. He did have worried moments in the agility course but kept going. Agility has done wonders for this dog. He took a lot of work and a lot of patience but the rewards were enormous and yes Timmy has come out of himself and is a lot less worried now. I retired Timmy this year at 10yrs old. He retired with both his masters jumping and masters agility titles as well as both open titles and all excellent games titles. For a little dog I never thought I would trial he did extremely well.While I was training Timmy I started Brandy who was my show dog. Once she got her championship in the show ring I wanted her to be able to do other things to keep her occupied. Brandy was very different to Timmy. She was more outgoing which caused its own problems in that she would leave the ring to go and say hello to photographers and other people. She also didn’t like it if it was too hot, raining or muddy. She was a real princess. It was very different running Brandy to Timmy. Where I had to really keep Timmy going with Brandy I had to keep her with me! She also had a fantastic sense of smell and there were many trials where she would be running beautifully and suddenly take off in the wrong direction to go and have a smell of the ground or a tunnel and once she was finished she would come back and finish the course. When I retired her a couple of years ago she had achieved both masters titles and all games titles. She loved her agility and I think she gave people a lot of enjoyment with her behaviour in the ring.

By this time I was well and truly hooked so thought I would like to train a dog from a puppy as Timmy and Brandy were older when I started them. So in 2010 I bred Brandy and got Rascal. He was a character as a baby – so full of himself. He started trialling when he was just under two years old and did very well. Initially he was very excited in the ring and would get odd faults but he is now settled and doing very well. I am the most relaxed when I am running Rascal. He gives his all and has saved us on course many times. If I hear a little growl from him when we are running that means he is really happy and enjoying himself. He is now 6 years old and has many more years of agility. He already has both his masters titles and all games titles.

As my other two were getting older and I was about to retire Brandy I brought in a little female puppy when Rascal was about three. This pup was Gypsy and she is so hyperactive and let’s everyone know she is there. If people are talking to me when I have her and they don’t pay attention to her she starts poking them in the leg with her nose to let them know that she is there and where is the food! She is now three and absolutely loves her agility. Everyone knows when she is on course as she barks constantly around the ring as she gets so excited. Unfortunately the barking and excitement can mean she doesn’t always concentrate fully so I have to really try hard to keep her focused. Even so she is doing very well in the ring and is already in masters for both agility and jumping. She has been selected in the ADC team for the club team event at the Festival for the last two years. Last year the team came second and this year we came first so it has been a real thrill to be part of it.

I have learnt over the years that not all dogs are the same and different ways of training and handling work for different dogs. Rascal and Gypsy were trained differently to my first two. I did a lot more foundation work with them when they were younger. I didn’t know about any foundation work when I started my first two. Also the European way of handling has become more common so I had to learn how to handle for those moves. When I first started training I was told to stand up straight don’t bend over. Now bending and getting down to your dog is the way to handle. Handling and courses have changed so much in the time that I have been doing agility and it is a constant learning curve. The longer you are in this sport and the more people you talk to the more you learn. You have to learn what works best for your dog and also what works best to motivate your dog. At the moment I am trialling Rascal and Gypsy and we are all having so much fun. I find it’s a good way to have fun with your dog with the added bonus of exercise for both your dog and you!

Timmy, Gypsy, Rascal & BrandyHelen Heaver

Recipe of the MonthCHRISTMAS DOG TREATS: PB & GINGER SNAPS

INGREDIENTS2 Cups Almond Flour1/2 Cup Coconut Flour1/2 – 3/4 Cup Natural Peanut Butter3 Tablespoons Ground Ginger1 Tablespoon Cinnamon1/4 Cup Water

DIRECTIONSPreheat oven to 165C.

1. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl and form a ball with the dough.2. Roll the dough out until flat and use a cookie cutter to cut out the individual treats. I didn’t have a miniature cookie cutter on hand, so I just used a jar cap as a makeshift cutter. Feel free to get creative!3. Place your treats onto your baking tray and bake for 25 minutes.4. Turn oven off after the 25 minutes are done and leave the treats in the oven for 45 more minutes, or until crisp.

Please remember to pick up after your dog/s and help keep the training grounds and other members shoes clean.

YUK!!!

Please remember to wear your badges. It is important to wear them so the instructors know you have paid, this is also important for insurance purposes.

To make it easier for the office ladies please try to bring the correct money.

Training may be cancelled if the weather is bad. You can call 0449 736 271 if in doubt, but please do NOT leave a message. In bad weather we still may have modified training either on the ground or under cover or we will watch a training DVD.You can also check the website www.agility.org.au or check Facebook. With our safety blitz happening at the moment this is a timely reminder for all instructors to wear your orange vests and for the club members to ensure they don’t approach tethered or crated dogs. Also, it is important to remember to leave your dogs on lead unless you have been instructed by your instructor to take the lead off, or it is your turn to run your dog.

Please remember our club is run by volunteers. In order to keep our training nights running smoothly and on time we require your assistance to help set up and pack up. We understand it may be hard for you to get to the grounds on time but if this is the case you can help pack up.

Club CompetitionADC holds the club comp on the 4th Thursday of the month for Blue and Red class members. It is always fun and our judges set great courses. If there is a 5 th Thursday of the month there will be a games night held. This is a great way for the new members of Red class to learn the rules of the games. Games are a lot of fun and a lot of people are too scared to get out there and give it a try. Once you get out there and do it once you won’t want to stop.

Scoring for ADC Club CompScores are allocated as follows:• All clear rounds are 5 points• First place, 5 points – possible 1• Second place, 4 points – possible 9• Third place, 3 points – possible 8 •Fourth place, 2 points – possible 7• Fifth place, 1 point- possible 6• Clear round, 5 points• 1-5 faults, 4 points• 6-10 faults, 3 points• 11-25 faults, 2 points• 26 plus, 1 point• Disqualification, 0 points

ADC would like to Congratulate all the winners of 2016 Club Comp.AWARD NAME DOG

Agility Dog of the Year Jo Channel SiriusRunner Up Helen Heaver RascalRunner Up Dale Young Stryka Best 600 Liz Yuill Ripley Best 500 Stacy Richards ZoeBest 400 Warren Millard JindyBest 300 Helen Heaver TimmyBest 200 Tania King Biscuit

Jumping Dog of the Year Jo Channel SiriusRunner Up Helen Heaver Gypsy Best 600 Liz Yuill RipleyBest 500 Vanessa Dowson ScooterBest 400 Jean Meredith MillieBest 300 Helen Heaver RascalBest 200 Stacy Richards Buddy

Spring TrialOur two day Spring Trial was a great success. Some of the club members were informed by competitors how smooth and successful the trial was run. This wouldn’t happen without all the people working behind the scenes to make this happen. We also have some wonderful new members who gave up their time to come and help with jobs on the day such as stewarding and scribing and a few other jobs that help with running a successful trial. We had many successes on the day by our club members which were posted on Facebook.

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If you want to take your four-legged friend to the beach, you’d better make sure they’re allowed to go there. While many beaches in Sydney ban dogs, the locations below still allow you and your pooch to soak up some sun and sea together.

1. Rowland Reserve, BayviewPotentially the most dog friendly reserve in Sydney, Rowland Reserve sports plenty of sand, grass and water. Better for social dogs, the reserve is usually pretty busy and has an off-leash area. It’s played host to a number of dog-friendly events, including the annual Dog Day by the Bay.

2. Silver Beach, KurnellThe Sutherland Shire seems spoiled for choice when it comes to dogs. Silver Beach is another sheltered calm and dog-friendly location, or at least Bonna Point Reserve is, a stretch of beach between the third and fourth jetties from the western end. Dogs are allowed off-leash between those jetties at all times. There are also a number of other facilities available here, including playground equipment if you have children of the human variety with you too.

3. Sirius Cove, MosmanThis is a great, sheltered location, very popular with dog owners and families. It has an attached reserve with lots of grass and picnic opportunities. The waves are gentle and risk free. Dogs are allowed off-leash any time on weekdays, and before 10am and after 4pm on weekends or public holidays.

4. Green Hills Beach, CronullaThis beach is dog friendly before 10am or after 4pm each day. This beach is the only Sydney ocean beach that allows any dogs at all. All other dog-friendly locations are in bays, harbours or lakes. Due to it being ocean facing, you should anticipate larger waves and more changeable conditions than anywhere else on this list, so extra care should be taken.

5. Lake Parramatta Reserve, ParramattaFor those pooches who live out west and can’t make it all the way to the coast, consider a day out at Lake Parramatta. There are BBQ and picnic areas available, but your dog must remain on-leash at all times.

Dangerous foods for dogs at Christmas

Which Christmas foods should I avoid giving my dog?

Christmas is a great time of year and should be fun for all the family, dogs included. Many of us are already aware of some of the potential toxic foods our dogs can come across and take steps to avoid them. However, the festive period is one where we often introduce all manner of exciting items into the house that we don’t normally have. Some of these things can be potentially harmful to our dogs and it’s worth knowing some of the common pitfalls.We have tried to give you a few of the most common Christmas poisonings below. It goes without saying, if in doubt contact your vet and they will be able to advise you.

Common Christmas food dangers for dogs:

GrapesExactly why and how these are poisonous to dogs is unknown and the exact volume needed to cause symptoms is difficult to predict. Some dogs will eat one or two grapes and become seriously ill but others can eat many of them without apparent signs. The only way to be safe is to keep them out of reach of your dog.

Christmas Pudding, Christmas Cake and Mince PiesThese Christmas fancies are bad for dogs for a number of reasons:

Firstly - they are jam-packed full of current raisins and sultanas. These are all a variation on the ‘grape’ and as such have the same serious health risks. It is common for them to ingest far more ‘grapes’ in this form than they would fresh grapes because there are so many packed into these cakes and they are smaller.Secondly - they are full of fat, suet etc which can often give them severe stomach troubles, vomiting etc but also, more worryingly high fat meals are one of the high risk factors leading to pancreatitis. This can be a very serious and costly disease to treat.

Thirdly – they are usually laced with large amounts of alcohol which can cause many of the symptoms of intoxication seen in people. 

Chocolate coins and other choccy decorationsMost people are aware of the dangers for dogs from eating chocolate and take steps to avoid leaving any near their dogs. However, it is not uncommon for people to forget about the chocolate coins or decorations and leave them in an irresistible location. As well as the dangers of the chocolate the actual wrapping foil can be problematic as they work through the gut system.

BonesAt this time of year we often cook far more meat joints than usual and this normally results in many more bones lying about. Once cooked all bones become brittle and splinter easily. This can lead to larger fragments getting ‘stuck’ causing obstructions but also smaller pieces can cause gut irritation and perforation or even just difficulty toileting.

Most people avoid the initial pitfall of your dog ‘borrowing the bones off the work surface’ only to get caught out later on by putting the deliciously tasty smelling carcass/bone into the bin where is gets raided in the night. Make sure you dispose of the string from any meat joints as this can be a tempting toy for your dogs and could be harmful if ingested. The best thing is to take it straight outside into a sealed bin.

N.B. Birds (turkey/chicken/goose) are all hollow boned animals and as such these bones will splinter either raw or cooked and so must never be given to your dog under any circumstances.

Macadamia nutsWithin 12 hours of ingestion macadamia nuts can cause dogs to experience weakness, depression, tremors, vomiting and hyperthermia (increased body temperature). These symptoms

tend to last for approximately 12 to 48 hours, and as with all the other food groups mentioned if you suspect your dog has consumed macadamia nuts note the possible quantity consumed and contact your vet.

AlcoholWe tend to use much more alcohol in our cooking at this time of year and so even normal titbits can be potentially problematic over the Christmas period. As it is for people, alcohol is also intoxicating for dogs and can cause similar unpleasant side effects.

If your dog does get into mischief and consumes any of these things then the first thing to do is contact your local vet for advice. Often the quicker treatment is sought the easier and more successful the treatment.

Please note:This advice is not a substitute for a proper consultation with a vet and is only intended as aguide. Please contact your local veterinary practice for advice or treatment immediately if you are worried about your pet’s health - even if they are closed, they will always have an out of hours service available.

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Pet Safety Tips for the Holidays

O Christmas Tree, Don't Hurt My Pet  Keeping your furry family members safe during the holidays can be a difficult task. There are the ornaments, plants, presents, lights -- oh, and who could forget the Christmas tree (if do you decide to put one up this year)? Let's take a look at some simple steps that will allow your pets to join in the holiday fun this year, while avoiding any trips to the animal emergency room.

 

Christmas Tree Tips:1. Place your Christmas tree in a corner, blocked off from your pet's wanting eyes. If this doesn't keep your dog or cat from attempting to jump onto the tree, you can place aluminum foil, a plastic drink bottle filled with knick knacks, or anything else that creates noise on the tree's bottom limbs to warn you of an impending tree disaster.

 2. Tinsel can add a nice sparkling touch to the tree, but make sure you hang it up out of your pet's reach. Ingesting the tinsel can potentially block their intestines, which is generally only remedied through surgical means.

 3. Do not put lights on the tree's lower branches. Not only can your pet get tangled up in the lights, they are a burning hazard. Additionally, your dog or cat may inadvertently get shocked by biting through the wire.

 4. Ornaments need to be kept out of reach, too. In addition to being a choking and intestinal blockage hazard, shards from broken ornaments may injure paws, mouths, or other parts of your pet's body.

 5. For those buying a live Christmas trees this year, keep the area free and clear of pine needles. While they may not seem dangerous, the needles can puncture your pet's intestines if ingested.

 

Other Great Holiday Item Tips: 1. Did you know holly, mistletoe, and poinsettia plants are poisonous to dogs or cats? If you normally use these plants to decorate your home, they should be kept in an area your pet cannot reach.

2. Edible tree decorations -- whether they be ornaments, or cranberry or popcorn strings -- are like time bombs waiting to happen. These goodies are just too enticing and your pet will surely tug at them, knocking down your wonderfully decorated spruce.

3. Burning candles should be placed on high shelves or mantels, out of your pet's way -- there's no telling where a wagging tail may end up. Homes with fireplaces should use screens to avoid accidental burns.

4. To prevent any accidental electrocutions, any exposed indoor or outdoor wires should be taped to the wall or the sides of the house.

5. When gift wrapping, be sure to keep your pet away. Wrapping paper, string, plastic, or cloth could cause intestinal blockages. Scissors are another hazard, and they should be kept off floors or low tables.

 We at petMD don't want to ruin all your holiday decorating fun. By all means, go crazy sprucing up your home and wrapping presents. But make sure you do in a way that is safe for your pet(s) this holiday season.

 

On Behalf of the Committee ADC would like to wish everyone two and four legged a wonderful and safe Xmas and New Year.Keep your furbabies safe over the Xmas holidays

See you all in 2017.

Copy and Paste the link in your browser: ENJOY!!

https://youtu.be/obGjx8Hry3M

Remember to enjoy your dog – he/she is your best friend!

Jo Campbell News Letter Editor