FRANKSTON DOG OBEDIENCE CLUB

Affiliated with the Victorian Canine Association INC. A0024447E

President’s Report

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Welcome  to  our  catch  up  newsletter.  A  newsletter  to  keep  you  all  up  to  date  on  what’s  happening  with  your  club.      As  most  of  you  are  aware  our  grounds  where  scheduled  to  be  up  and  running  by  March  the  9th.  Due  to  unforeseen  circumstances,  that  date  was  extended  as  the  levelling  soil  was  delayed  from  another  project  the  council  was  undertaking.      Regular  posts  on  our  face  book  page  kept  most  of  you  up  to  date  however  for  those  of  

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you  that  don’t  have  access  to  face  book.  This  is  what  the  year  looks  like  so  far...    Soil  came  from  the  Carrum  Downs  recreation  reserve  to  our  grounds  in  April.  This  soil  was  spread  out  by  the  end  of  April.  The  ground  was  hydro  seeded  early  May.  During  this  time,  our  new  carpark  has  been  constructed,  and  this  will  be  completed  in  a  few  weeks’  time.    Upon  inspection  of  our  grounds  after  a  detailed  walk  with  the  council  representatives,  it  became  known  that  more  

 

June 2019

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work  was  required  to  make  the  grounds  level.  This  being  said  the  remedial  work  is  commencing  now,  but  the  weather  is  a  factor.      New  pens  for  the  grounds  will  be  erected  once  the  remedial  work  is  completed.  These  areas  will  be  used  for  flyball,  agility  and  obedience  training  and  will  be  suitable  for  trials.    The  remedial  work  will  be  completed  in  the  next  couple  of  weeks  and  then  we  just  have  to  wait  for  the  grass  to  grow.  The  grounds  will  again  be  hydro  seeded  with  a  hardy  winter  rye  grass.    At  this  stage,  if  all  goes  to  plan  we  are  looking  at  relaunching  the  club  in  August.  I  fully  understand  the  disappointment  you  

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all  must  feel  with  this  delayed  work  and  not  being  able  to  use  our  wonderful  facilities.  However,  we  have  waited  a  long  time  for  the  grounds  to  be  attended  to  and  this  was  an  opportunity  that  could  not  be  passed  up.  When  our  grounds  are  completed,  they  will  be  something  that  you  all  can  be  very  proud  of  and  will  be  utilised  for  years  to  come.  I  want  to  thank  you  all  for  your  patience  and  understanding,  and  I  hope  you  all  enjoy  your  new  grounds  and  facilities.    As  a  club  we  are  looking  at  holding  a  large  re-­‐launch  day,  please  keep  an  eye  on  our  face  book  page  and  the  website  for  further  details,  and  how  to  become  involved.      Kim  Dearden  

Look  out  for  news  of  our  upcoming    open  day  to  re-­‐launch  our  club  with  our  amazing  new  ground.  Packing  with  demonstrations,  games,  information  and  opportunities  to  have  a  go  at  lots  of  different  doggy  activities  it  is  going  to  be  a  day  not  to  be  missed!  

OPEN DAY RELAUNCH

 

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In  the  basic  manners  course  we  have  been  working  on  teaching  our  dogs  everyday  life  K9  manners.    

We  have  worked  on  helping  our  dogs  to  greet  strangers  with  four  paws  on  the  ground  instead  of  jumping  up  and  licking  their  faces.  We  have  also  worked  on  teaching  our  dogs  to  walk  with  a  loose  leash  so  that  they  can  still  explore  their  surrounds  without  tearing  our  arms  out  of  their  sockets.  Dogs  have  learned  how  to  wait  patiently  while  we  open  doors,  tie  shoe  laces  and  pick  up  things.      

During  this  course  we  have  also  worked  with  owners  on  strengthening  the  dog’s  recalls  by  working  with  owners  to  recognise  that  when  you  are  out  and  about  you  can  (and  should)  use  the  things  at  your  disposal  to  motivate  your  dogs.  If  the  dog  loves  balls,  playing  tug,  playing  with  toys  or  cuddles  then  these  tools  can  be  used  to  build  the  dogs  recall.  Starting  with  low  level  distraction  in  week  one,  we  gradually  increased  the  distractions  each  week  throughout  the  course  with  dogs  significantly  improving  their  recall  skills  by  the  final  week.  

Members  reported  both  enjoying  these  courses  and  finding  them  helpful,  with  some  going  on  to  do  a  second  course  with  a  different  dog  or  at  a  different  level.  

During  the  closure  of  the  FDOC  grounds  for  council  works  some  members  have  taken  advantage  of  the  indoor  classes  offered,  

Basic Manners

Etiam  et  urna  

Donec  non  metus  

 

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The  fun  and  focus  indoor  course  concentrates  on  building  on  dogs  basic  skills  to  create  distance  and  duration  as  well  as  introducing  a  range  of  fun  and  useful  tricks.  

Dogs  have  worked  on  building  concentration  to  watch  their  owners  while  strange  things  were  around  such  as  people  walking  by  with  umbrellas  and  trolleys.  We  have  also  worked  on  building  a  strong  wait  cue  with  dogs  holding  their  position,  but  also  ready  to  work  at  the  command.  

Using  a  combination  of  targeting,  luring  and  shaping  we  worked  on  fun  tricks  such  as  spin,  wave,  go  to  sleep,  walk  around  the  umbrella,  climb  in  the  box,  march,  walk  backwards,  weave  through  legs  and  ring  the  bell.  

We  also  spoke  about  the  usefulness  of  teaching  tricks.  Tricks  are  a  great  way  to  exercise  the  dogs  mind.  A  good  mental  workout  can  leave  the  dog  as  tired  as  a  run  at  the  park,  which  is  great  for  a  cold,  wet  day.  Many  of  the  tricks  taught  also  have  great  everyday  life  uses.  Teaching  your  dog  to  wave  can  help  untangle  a  lead  caught  under  their  foot,  teaching  them  to  go  around  can  help  us  easily  get  them  back  to  use  when  they  decide  to  go  a  different  way  around  a  pole  to  us.    But  more  important  than  this,  working  with  our  dogs  teaching  tricks  also  helps  to  strengthen  our  bond  together.  The  dogs  learn  how  to  learn  and  they  learn  that  it’s  great  fun  working  with  mum  or  dad!  

Fun and Focus

 

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Executive  

President  –  Kim  Dearden  

Vice  President  –  Lauren  Dolley  

Secretary  –  Peter  Gibson  

Treasurer  –  Janice  James  

 

 

General  Members  

Bob  Mertens  

Tasha  Sharp  

Charles  Murton  

Fiona  Ryan  

Kate  Dunkley  

Penny  Roberts  

John  Scott  

Tammy  Beatie  

2019  Committee  

Obedience Despite  the  challenges  that  were  brought  about  by  the  ground  closure  at  FDOC,  members  and  instructors  have  gathered  at  Mornington  Obedience  Dog  Club  grounds  to  continue  their  obedience  training.  

Our  many  thanks  to  the  instructors  that  have  given  their  time  to  head  to  Mornington  to  allow  us  to  continue  to  offer  obedience  classes  during  the  ground  works.    

Our  many  thanks  also  to  Mornington  Dog  Club  for  their  generosity  in  allowing  us  to  utilize  their  grounds  and  run  training  for  our  members.    

Agility

Flyball The  Frankston  Storm  Flyball  team  has  continued  to  race  hard  during  the  first  half  of  2019  with  some  fantastic  results  to  show  for  their  efforts.    

In  the  2019  Victorian  Premiership  we  are  proud  to  have  had  the  Lightning  Bolts,  Storm  in  a  Teacup  and  Blizzards  teams  all  finish  in  the  top  10  in  the  state.  

Our  many  thanks  to  Black  Hawk  and  4  Legs  for  their  sponsorship  of  the  Kingston  Competition  we  hosted  in  March.  Despite  terrible  weather  the  competition  was  a  success.  

We  are  also  very  excited  to  announce  that  we  will  be  co-­‐hosting  the  Australian  Flyball  National  Championships  with  Berwick  Flyball  Club  in  November  2020.  

Our  annual  Agility  competition  was  held  at  KCC  park  in  May  and  despite  bitter  winds  and  looming  rain  clouds  it  was  smooth  sailing  for  the  competition.  Our  many  thanks  to  all  those  involved  in  organizing  this  event.  Without  the  many  hands  needed  to  organise,  prepare,  set  up  and  pack  up,  these  events  cannot  happen.  

 

 

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More Indoor Class Fun

The  second  round  of  indoor  classes  started  on  29th  of  May  for  both  

Basic  Manners  and  Fun  and  Focus.  Here  are  some  of  the  dogs  and  handlers  showing  off  their  focus  and  tricks!  

 

Ground Works

 

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4"Week"Short"Course""

Baby"Puppies"!!This!4!week!course!focuses!on!helping!handlers!navigate!the!sometimes!overwhelming!world!of!a!new!puppy.!!Handlers!will!be!introduced!to!strategies!for!calming!their!puppies,!toilet!training,!redirecting!sharp!puppy!teeth!and!keeping!their!puppies!busy!with!acceptable!behaviours.!!Handlers!will!also!be!introduced!to!basic!informal!behaviours!including!sit,!drop,!wait!and!leash!walking.!!!When:!Tuesday!4th!June!–!25th!June!at!5:30!–!6:15pm!Where:!FDOC!Clubrooms!Level:!Suitable!for!puppies!8!–!12!weeks!(must!have!first!vaccination)!Cost:!$60!prepaid!Available!places:!10!!!

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How$to$book:!Booking!can!be!taken!at!training!on!0438309154!between!11am!and!9pm!daily!or!contact!puppy@fdoc.org.au!!Please!note!that!preBpayment!is!required!at!the!time!of!booking!