August 2010 Newsletter

Officers Board Members

President – Don Watson Anne Crum Merry Carol Houchard

Vice President – Randall McCurry Mike Shelton Jan Moore Renae Watson

Treasurer – Rhea Spence

Secretary – Jerri Dandelske AKC Delegate – Mike Houchard

Conyers Kennel Club Newsletter

Hello Everyone. Our meeting this month will be Monday, August 9, 2010. We meet at IHOP to eat at 6:30 and the meeting starts around 7:30. We hope to see you all there.

Dr. Hines will be our guest speaker this month. The topic will be Stem Cell Research in the treatment of hip dysplasia.

Great news! We are welcome to have our RDOD in conjunction with the Rockdale County Fair at the GHIP this year. The potential dates are: Sat and Sun, Sept 25 & 26.

We can have the same grassy space and also stage space for the Meet the Breed and presentation of the essay winners. The Fair director is very excited and willing to give us the space for free, as we are a non profit and the purpose of our activity is educational for the community! She loves the essay contest and thrilled that we have contacts in the school systems in the area. She is bubbling with ideas....would love to have some official competitions during the fair too- matches, sanctioned events, etc if we want to do that. we are welcome to bring ideas to her. The Fair is very busy from opening to closing, with numerous fun and educational activities for families throughout the day. I think she is going to be delightful to work with.

We just need to decide what we want to do.....
If anyone has ideas and wants to talk before the next meeting in Aug, please call me so we can get things moving!!

Thanks loads for all of your support!!
Erin M

Talked to Linda Jackson tonight- TARA is ready to put on a sanctioned Afghan match during our RDOD in Sept. She is also going to do the handling class following the TARA match-, similar to last year.

It sounds like the match and all breed handling class will be plenty for the Sunday program, and an additional all breed match would be too much. Gaylord will do an obedience demo with his Cane Corsos, I asked for stage time for this. I also asked for stage time for the Meet the Breed and presentation of the essays.

I am still thinking about the rally match on Saturday. There are probably not many mixed breed dogs registered with AKC yet, and in looking at obedience/rally matches/competetions on the internet- many of them state that AKC registered mixed breeds are able to compete- so it is open to mixed and purebred for the same time. If we proceed with this, probably best to do it pure and mixed, to get the volume.

I have been trying all week to discuss our new plans with the Fair director, and not been able to connect in real time. Did send it to her in writing and will hope to talk this week.

Will be in touch with other RDOD committee members about the essay contest. We will be contacting the new Language Arts directors in each school soon, as classes start next week.
Thanks
Erin

President Don Watson opened the meeting at 7:30 by welcoming members and guest Janet Hamilton.

-Don asked for any changes or corrections to the Minutes of the June meeting as published in the newsletter. Audrey Lycan made a motion to accept the minutes as published and this motion was seconded by Jan Moore.

-Copies of the Treasurer’s report were passed out by Rhea Spence. This report was reviewed by members. Don stated that he needed the report for the August 2009 show. The February show did show a profit. Don reported that the investment accounts were down for the last quarter.

-Don let the Board Members know that there will be a Cluster Meeting tomorrow night at 7:30 in Lawrenceville. One item up for discussion will be Judge’s payment.

-Don reported that the August Show is set. The Premium List is now out and on the Club website. Erin Mayfield reported that she has not discussed the catering with the other clubs but will get everything handled. Don reminded everyone that Jackie Dilworth will require help unloading the trophies on Saturday at 5:00.

-In Linda Jackson’s absence, Don reported that the handling classes will begin on September 7^th and run through October 12^th. Rhea confirmed that the Pavilion is reserved.

-Don opened discussion of the Budget. The only changes needed were the addition of a Field Trial to be held in October. We can also remove the oxygen mask purchase as that has been done. Motion to accept the Budget was made by Jerri Dandelske, seconded by Randall McCurry.

-Erin Mayfield reported that she has discussed doing our RDOD at the Rockdale County Fair that will take place at the Horse Park. It was decided that Sunday, September 26^th will be the best day to do our event. We will have two stages available. We will have the Essay contest and the Meet a Breed. Erin is looking for member input on other events that we can hold. A conformation demonstration or match and possibly some type of agility or obedience demonstration would be welcome. There is discussion of asking Gaylord Cleveland to do some work with his dogs. There was discussion of doing a Rally event. Teresa Hesterley volunteered the equipment for this. There is a possibility of doing some events on Saturday including some mixed breed events. Erin will talk to the AKC to find out the guidelines for holding a mixed breed Rally event. Don will talk to Purina or Iams about sponsoring our event. Erin asked for volunteers to be a committee. The RDOD Committee is Erin Mayfield, Teresa Hesterley, Don Watson, Sue Puckett and Audrey Lycan. Erin will find out about passes for members.

-Don reminded members that Dr. Hines would be our guest speaker next month. The topic will be Stem Cell Research in the treatment of hip dysplasia.

-Membership application was submitted by Junior Handler Noelle Silva. Noelle has an Afghan hound and has attended several meetings, handling classes and matches.

-Renae Watson reported that a little boy that she bred finished his Championship in Orlando. This is the first Shiz Tu that the owner has showed and has done all the grooming and handling!

-With no further business to discuss Erin made a motion, seconded by Mike Shelton to say goodnight!

"You know if my dog hadn't gone down on the sit, I would have won the class", said, unfeelingly, to the winner.

"I sure didn't think your dog worked that high a score."

"I can't believe you placed, I thought Jane Oneup and her dog would beat you."

"I thought I had that class won! My dog had a great performance, " said to the winner.

"Isn't that judge an idiot? I can't believe the dogs he put up!" said to the winner.

"Boy, aren't you glad Mrs Winallthetime wasn't here today or you might not have won."

"You passed that Master test because the water blind was so easy."

"That was the stupidest set of water marks I've ever seen. No trial should end that easily," said to the winner.

Do you discourage or encourage fellow competitors? Do you tell them their goals are too lofty and their dreams too big? Are you trying to be helpful or trying to keep them from accomplishing something that you never had the
ability or perseverance to do yourself? It is equally as harmful to steal joy by destroying the dream.

"No Basset Hounds get UD's," said to the owner of the Bassett in Utility class.

"I've never seen a Rottweiler that could do fronts and finishes", said to the owner of the Rottweiler practicing fronts and finishes.

"Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a UD and a Master Hunter? Do you know how few people have ever done it?" said to the first time dog owner setting out to do both.

When FC AFC OTCH Law Abiding Ezra had both his field championships and 65 OTCH points including all the necessary first places, someone had the guts to come up to me, his owner, trainer and handler and say, "No dog will ever be a field champion and an obedience champion." My jaw drops when I think about it.

Isn't it unfortunate that I remember this attempt at stealing my joy much more than I remember all the cards and letters and congratulations I received when those last 35 points were earned?

If you are willing to destroy someone's dream, perhaps you don't realize that it is the JOY of pursuing the dream that keeps the dreamer motivated, not just reaching the accomplishment.

My husband and I travel and compete together. I remember an event, early in our relationship when I watched his Doberman fail articles. "Darn it, " I said, as he came out of the ring," she didn't even try to find the right
one!" "Oh", he replied, "but, weren't her heeling and signals wonderful?"

Unknowingly, I had almost stolen his joy. He was celebrating the improvement on the exercise that had been giving him trouble, and I was focused on the failure. Since that experience, Brian and I have learned that the best
response to a questionable performance, "What did you think?" That way, if the handler is excited about some aspect of the performance, you can share that excitement. If the handler is disappointed in another aspect, you can share the disappointment. You are safely removed from being a joy stealer.

I hope you have a lot of dreams and goals for your dogs in (the coming year). Undoubtedly there will be moments of disappointment as you venture through the landmines of injury, failures and other setbacks. Remember that the joy of the journey is worth the difficulties along the way and don't let anyone steal that joy. Guard it well and at he end of the road you can own it and revel in it with all the other memories of the trip.

AKC Canine Health Foundation Releases Podcast "Speaking for Spot" With Dr. Nancy Kay [Thursday, July 15, 2010]

The AKC Canine Health Foundation is pleased to release the next podcast in the Genome Barks series. This week on Genome Barks, we welcome Dr.. Nancy Kay, author of "Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life." Dr. Kay is a private practitioner who received her veterinary degree from Cornell University and is a specialist in internal medicine. "Speaking for Spot" is a helpful handbook that contains tips for the savvy dog lover, and provides the right questions so that you get the right answers!

The Genome Barks podcast series features lectures from the highly successful AKC and CHF Breeders Symposia and provides responsible breeders and pet owners an inside look at the work being done by the Canine Health Foundation..

Click here to listen to the podcast.

New podcasts are released every two weeks and can be accessed from the Canine Health Foundation website at www.CanineHealthFoundation.org - click on "Podcasts." They are also available on Apple's iTunes® or directly at www.genomebarks.com.

Clubs are encouraged to add the Genome Barks Podcast link to their home pages. Contact the Canine Health Foundation to obtain graphics and links.

The Canine Health Foundation will be providing additional educational opportunities: the Breeders Symposium at the Phoenix Inn Suites in Olympia, Washington on August 14, and the University of Georgia Breeders Symposium September 11. For more information or to register, click here..

The AKC Canine Health Foundation is please to announce the funding of Grant 1313: Identification of a Genetic Marker for Familial Aortic Stenosis in the Rottweiler (Principal Investigator: Dr. Kathryn Meurs, Washington State University). This research has been sponsored by the Rottweiler Health Foundation and the Newfoundland Club of America Charitable Trust.

Dr. Meurs and Dr. Joshua Stern are currently looking for DNA samples from Rottweilers with a diagnosis of Subvalvular aortic stenosis (diagnosed by Doppler echocardiogram) or proven clear of Subvalvular aortic stenosis (as cleared by a cardiologist) to advance this important research to identify a gene for the disease. To perform the study, they need DNA samples from 20-30 affected dogs and 20-30 clear dogs.

To learn more about the study and how you can participate by submitting blood samples, please visit the Familial SAS Study

You may also contact the investigators at:
Dr. Joshua Stern
Email: jstern@vetmed.wsu.edu
Phone: 614.390.1516

Dr. Kathryn Meurs
Email: meurs@vetmed.wsu.edu
Phone: 509.335.6038

The AKC Canine Health Foundation will be providing educational opportunities: the Breeders Symposium at the Phoenix Inn Suites in Olympia, Washington on August 14, and the University of Georgia Breeders Symposium September 11. For more information or to register, click here.

The AKC Canine Health Foundation Announces Several Educational Opportunities for Dog Breeders and Owners [Wednesday, July 21, 2010]

The AKC Canine Health Foundation announces the opportunity to attend the "Canine Breeders Symposium," presented by The Society for Theriogenology, to be held at the Grand Hyatt in Seattle, Washington, on Saturday, September 4. Early Bird registration (before August 2) is $170. Symposium fees include all breaks, lunch and proceedings. This one-day seminar offered by veterinarians who are recognized in the field of reproduction will include presentations to benefit breeders including increasing litter size, canine artificial insemination techniques, and male infertility, as well as a panel discussion and other topics. For more information or to register click here.

The AKC Canine Health Foundation will be providing educational opportunities: the Breeders Symposium at the Phoenix Inn Suites in Olympia, Washington on August 14, and the University of Georgia Breeders Symposium September 11. For more information or to register, click here.

AKC Canine Health Foundation Releases Podcast About Orthopedic Disease with Dr. Rory Todhunter [Thursday, July 29, 2010]

The AKC Canine Health Foundation is pleased to release the next podcast in the Genome Barks series. This week on Genome Barks we welcome Dr. Rory Todhunter, professor of surgery at Cornell University. A Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgery, Dr. Todhunter's research has focused on the orthopedic diseases hip dysplasia and arthritis. In this podcast, Dr. Todhunter discusses the use of genetic tools to understand inherited orthopedic disease in dogs, additive and threshold traits, and orthopedic tests and treatments.

The Genome Barks podcast series features lectures from the highly successful AKC and CHF Breeders Symposia and provides responsible breeders and pet owners an inside look at the work being done by the Canine Health Foundation..

Click here to listen to the podcast.

New podcasts are released every two weeks and can be accessed from the AKC Canine Health Foundation website at www.CanineHealthFoundation.org - click on "Podcasts." They are also available on Apple's iTunes® or directly at www.genomebarks.com.

Clubs are encouraged to add the Genome Barks Podcast link to their home pages. Contact the AKC Canine Health Foundation to obtain graphics and links.

The AKC Canine Health Foundation will be providing additional educational opportunities: the Breeders Symposium at the Phoenix Inn Suites in Olympia, Washington on August 14, and the University of Georgia Breeders Symposium September 11. For more information or to register, click here.

Contact:
Erika Werne
Director of Education & Communications
AKC Canine Health Foundation
919-334-4010 888-682-9696
www.CanineHealthFoundation.org

AKC ANNOUNCES LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FINALISTS

New York, NY - The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the nominees for the annual Lifetime Achievement Awards. Finalists are based on nominations by member clubs. A winner from the three finalists in each category-Conformation, Companion Events, and Performance-will be voted on by member clubs, with voting ending on September 13, 2010. There will be a special awards presentation held in conjunction with the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Long Beach, California in December 2010.

The Lifetime Achievement Awards were established by the American Kennel Club in 1998 to honor and celebrate those whose years of hard work and dedication have significantly impacted the world of purebred dog sports on a national level.

This year's nominees are:

Conformation
* Jean Fournier of Calhoun, Georgia won the Siberian Husky Club of America's coveted Working/Showing Trophy in 1973. She has judged over 75 national and local specialty shows, and currently serves on the board of the American Dog Show Judges Association.

* Walter F. Goodman of Miami, Florida is a breeder-owner-handler of Skye Terriers. He has finished 35 champions, acquiring 99 Best in Shows, among other achievements. He has served on the AKC Board of Directors since 1988, and is a director of the AKC Museum of the Dog.

* Keke Kahn of Sarasota, Florida is a breeder-owner-handler of Lhasa Apsos. She has bred 58 AKC champions, including six all-breed Best in Show dogs and many group winners. She achieved her goal of becoming an all-breed judge in 1997.

Companion Events
* James Ham of Harrison Township, Michigan has trained and exhibited Dalmatians, Smooth Fox Terriers, and now has Border Terriers. His very first Dalmatian became the first Am/Can CH, Am/Can UDT. In addition to Obedience and Tracking, he also exhibits in breed, agility, and rally. He began judging 26 years ago, and has judged in 49 out of the 50 states.

* Shirley Indelicato of Acton, California is a breeder, conformation and obedience exhibitor, and AKC-approved judge for all Obedience and Rally classes. She has shown dogs in obedience to the highest degree, as well as championships in the breed ring. In addition, she has conducted training classes and has taught more than 12,000 owners to train their dogs in obedience.

* Jill K. Jones of Brownsville, Oregon has been involved in obedience and tracking since the early 1970s. Her first dog, a Norwegian Elkhound, became the first of the breed to achieve a UDT in 1975. She has judged obedience and tracking for years, and is currently competing with a Labrador Retriever and Pembroke Welsh Corgi in agility and obedience.

Performance
* Jo Ann Frier-Murza of Crosswicks, New Jersey has been a major part of den trials and earthdog for years. She worked with the AKC advisory panel on developing the earthdog program in 1993. She has earned multiple Master Earthdog titles with her own dogs, as well as field championships on four Dachshunds.

* Leida Jones of Lady Lake, Florida is passionate about animals and has been involved in herding since the program was developed by the AKC. She has served on two Herding Advisory Committees and gives herding lessons to others.

* Linda Stilwell of Duncan, Oklahoma is a fancier and breeder of Basenjis. Ever since Basenjis have been accepted into lure coursing, she has participated with her dogs in both the AKC and American Sighthound Field Association (ASFA). She has produced multiple Field Champions and Top Ten dogs in lure coursing.

-- AKC Companion Animal Recovery Canine Support and Relief Fund
Spearheads Disaster Preparedness --

New York, NY - With this year's hurricane season forecast to be especially treacherous and the recent tornadoes, wildfires and floods that have plagued communities across the United States, our attention naturally turns to the safety of our companion animals.

Since the creation of the American Kennel Club Companion Animal Recovery (AKC CAR) Canine Support and Relief Fund in 2002, AKC and AKC CAR have played a major role in our country's largest disaster relief efforts. During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, AKC and AKC CAR delivered vital aid and provided multiple airlifts for displaced dogs in dire need of assistance. In doing so, our organizations helped set the standard for rescue efforts by communities and state governments, which have since become better prepared to handle the challenges they face in the event of catastrophe. Similarly, AKC Clubs are assured of our assistance in response to disaster. However, increasingly, both AKC CAR and AKC Clubs are shifting the focus from disaster relief to disaster preparedness.

So far in 2010, the Fund has donated nearly $400,000 to organizations across the nation, including more than $215,000 in grants to Search and Rescue organizations for equipment and preparedness training. A $25,000 donation to the United States Police Canine Association (Region 7) - in honor of the NYPD K-9 teams that assisted with earthquake relief efforts in Haiti - will enhance ongoing SAR education of law enforcement K-9s and their handlers. A grant given to the National Search Dog Alliance in Houston, Texas, will help subsidize costs of training seminars, while S.T.R.I.K.E. in West Milton, Pennsylvania, has used their funds to purchase supplies such as search and rescue vests and GPS equipment.

AKC CAR just recently donated a total of $35,000 to the state of Delaware's Kent County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Inc. and to the Vermont Disaster Animal Response Team (VDART), enabling both organizations to acquire CAMET (Companion Animal Mobile Equipment Trailer) units, which will aid in state preparedness. CAMET units are supplied to organizations by the North Carolina State Animal Response Team (NC SART) which AKC CAR has worked with over the years on other similar donations. The trailers provide immediate shelter when disaster strikes and contain items such as crates, a generator, first aid kits, a pressure washer, power cords, animal ID bands, dog bowls and more. Once unloaded, the trailer also serves as a local command center. In addition to the CAMET trailers, another state in the area - Massachusetts -also received a $5,000 disaster preparedness grant to specifically address evacuation needs on Cape Cod. The State of Massachusetts Animal Resp!
onse Team (SMART) will spearhead that effort.

In the spirit of preparedness, we urge and invite all AKC clubs to create a disaster plan that addresses what club and community members should do to help in case of disaster. Not only does taking this action ensure the safety of your animals, but it is a public service for your community and fulfills one of the eligibility requirements to host future dog shows. You can also get involved by making a donation at http://www.akc.org/donations/. Thanks to your continued support, we'll be able to provide much needed disaster preparedness and relief resources for companion animals across the country.

Sincerely,

Ron Menaker

7/9 Oxford County KC- Bridlewood’s Dream Machine (Diesel) co-owned with Dawn O’Cain, WD/BOW; littersister Bridlewood’s Divine Design (Diva) co-owned with Melissa Bennett, WB; Aileron-Thorncrest’s 3 Point Landing (Runaway) co-bred with Mellisa Bennett, Best Puppy In Breed.

7/10 Assoc. of Great Dane Fanciers-Aileron-Thorncrest’s The Sky Of Tomka (Elle) co-owned with Marylene Brunelle, Best In Sweeps; littersister Aileron-Thorncrest’s Mercielago (Mercy) owned by Barb Podger finished by going WB/BOW from the 6 to 9 mo. Class. BISS AM/CAN CH. Thorncrest Image In The Sky (Pilot) bred by Jackie Dilworth, owned by Melissa Bennett, won an Award Of Merit, Best Veteran and Best Stud Dog.

7/11 Assoc. of Great Dane Fanciers- Runway was W/D and Best Puppy In Breed and Pilot was Best Stud Dog.

7/13 Woodstock KC Diesel was WD and Aileron-Thorncrest’s Ms. Lindbergh (Lindy) owned by Dawn O’Cain, was Best Puppy In Breed.

If your brag did not appear here it is because you didn’t send it to me. Please e-mail or mail your brags to me and you may also include pictures.