March / April 2010

The first two months are finished. Under 100 days to the World Cup and counting down. It is exciting as well as worrying - let’s wait and see.

K C Dog School has had a good first two months of training. We have been so lucky with the weather, only loosing one 3:00 class on the very first training day of the year.

The normal rush of dogs starting the basic home obedience course occurred and the 9 o’clock, 10 o’clock and 2:30 classes had to have a split. Things evened out with the starter at 10:30, 11:00 and 3:00. The intermediate and advanced classes have been small but will pick up as the basic courses finish.

I would like to welcome Margie Brick as a full time assistant to K C Dog School. She is helping with secretarial work and where needed, take a few dogs for  classes.

“Keeping your dog close to you at all times is the best gift you can give your dog. - Unknown

ANNUAL PRIZE GIVING

It was an extremely sad day for me when I cancelled the annual spit braai get together and prize giving. This is the first time that I’ve cancelled in 15 years that K C Dog School has been in existence.. I am not sure why there was no response, but it was a sad Saturday evening knowing that there would be no get together.

“People who talk to their dogs aren’t crazy, they just operate on a different level from the rest of us.” - Jack Naters

TROPHIES

Although there was no braai, I would like the people who received trophies last year to return them. I would like to award them during a training class in the near future.

So, please if you could get these trophies to me as soon as possible I would appreciate that.

“Most dog owners are at length able to teach themselves to obey their dog.” - Robert Morley

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

There are several public holidays coming up during March and April. 
There will be training on Saturday 20th March.
HOWEVER: THERE WILL BE NO TRAINING ON THE EASTER WEEKEND - SATURDAY 3rd April.
There will also be training on :
TUESDAY 27th April.

“Some of my best leading men have been dogs and horses.” - Elizabeth Taylor

GET WELL SOON

Nicky Miller has not been well since her return from holiday. She and Bacci and Jo Jo have been missed at their 8:30 small dog class. Hope you are feeling better.

Maria J Van Waasenberger was bitten by a spider a few weeks ago and has been very ill. She is slowly on the mend. Maria we hope to see you, feeling stronger, and Dodo, Max, Chinki and Prince back soon.

“For dogs it’s never to rainy to go for a walk.” - Unknown

ANOTHER WEBSITE

Thanks for the good feedback that I received from all of you that looked at my website.

A friend of mine is a vet and has recently started her own veterinary web site. I was asked to join this website as the animal behavioural consultant. People viewing the site can ask questions which will be answered by the vet or myself.

I have already answered 3 questions, one of which was downloaded on 5 other sites!
To view the site: www.yourownvet.com

KIDS ON DRUGS? LET THE DOG LOOSE

LONDON - A private security firm in Dorset, England, is hiring out sniffer dogs to worried parents to check their children’s bedrooms for drugs.

Chilport, UK charges 50 pounds an hour for one of its dogs to search bedrooms for illegal drugs. The firm said it was a non-intrusive way to check for drugs. Operations director Trevor Hutchinson said: “If a parent is concerned enough to call us, it’s likely they will have thought of searching the child’s bedroom themselves. But a drugs dog is not going to rummage in cupboards and diaries.”

However, Suzie Hayman of the charity Parentline Plus said:”Rather than start off with an accusation, you should be able to say to your child ‘I have a concern; we need to talk about this’.”

“We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” - Unknown

DOG RESCUED FROM ICE FLOE WARSAW. 

A frightened, shivering dog has been rescued after floating at least 120km on an ice floe down Poland’s Vistula River and into the Baltic Sea. Now his saviours just have to figure out who really owns him. Four people have already claimed him but so far, rescuers say, the miracle dog they nick-named “Baltic” has not claimed any of them back. The dog’s frozen odyssey came as Poland suffers through a winter cold snap, with temperatures dipping to below minus 20 degrees C.

A firefighter in Grudziadz, on the Vistula river 100km inland, said the dog was spotted on Saturday floating on ice through the city. Then the thick-furred male dog was found adrift on Monday 24km out in the Baltic Sea by the crew of the Baltica, a Polish ship of scientists carrying out research.

Researcher Natalia Drgas said the rescue was difficult and at one point it seemed the dog had drowned. After eventually being pulled to safety, too weak to shake off the fridgid water, Baltic was dried and wrapped in blankets. “After he warmed up, he was massaged, fed and soon got on his feet to seek company,” Drgas said.  Once in port, the brown and black mongrel was taken to a vet, who found him in surprisingly good condition.  

“Puppies are nature’s remedy for feeling unloved…. Plus numerous other ailments of life." - Unknown

BLIND DOG FOR THE GUIDE

It is a story that should be made into a Disney movie.  Blind Border Collie, Clyde, relies on man’s best friend, Bonnie, to lead him everywhere.

The pair were found wandering the streets during a rain storm and brought to an animal shelter.  Bonnie stays close to Clyde’s side which guiding him on walks or to food or water, and lets him rest his head on her haunches whenever he becomes disorientated.

When they are together, fire-year-old Clyde seems as capable as a fully-sighted dog,- but he refuses to move unless two-year-old Bonnie is nearby to guide him. Now Bonnie and Clyde are looking for a new home in the countryside. “He totally relies on her the whole time. When she walks she tends to stop and make sure he’s there - she does look out for him” said Cherie Cootes, who runs the Meadow Green Dog Rescue centre in Loddon, Norfolk.

“There’s absolutely no option of homing them separately - they have to go as a pair”.  Vicky Bell a spokeswoman for Guide Dog for the Blind Association said she had never heard of a dog voluntarily acting as a guide dog for another dog. “This is a very unusual case - it’s such a lovely story”, she added. “Some dogs take to guiding better than others because they naturally have the right temperament.”

“As the saying goes, ‘It may never happen’, but just in case it does, have a plan” - Especially if you own a dog.

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO A DOG

1. I will chase anything that moves - get used to it.
2. I consider myself to be an integral part of the family - don’t treat me like a mere dog.
3. I will stick my nose into everyone’s business and feel compelled to comment upon my observations.
4. If you should leave me behind, I shall consider this an aberrations of proper behaviour and will voice my disapproval …. Loud and long …. Often accompanied by frantic twirling and jumping.
5. I will determine which of your friends is worthy of my affection and which are to be observed at a distance, before a verdict is rendered. All decisions are final.
6. I will follow you to the ends of the earth, and ALWAYS into the bathroom
7. No door is considered to be closed as long as I can push it open with my nose.
8. Give me plenty of toys and activities to keep me busy. You don’t want me finding tasks on my own -trust me on this.
9. I have absolutely no qualms about stealing FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD FROM ANY SOURCE AVAILABLE, even if it is from the mouths of babes.
10. I will sense your every mood and will be happy or sad along with you.
11. I will give you the best moments of our lives and memories you will cherish forever.

“He cannot be a gentleman which loveth not a dog.” - John Northbrooke

DOGS ARE BETTER THAN KIDS

They eat less, don’t ask for money all the time, are easier to train, usually come when called, never drive your car, don’t hang out with drug-using friends, don’t smoke or drink, don’t worry about buying the latest fashions, don’t wear your clothes, don’t need a gazillion rand for college, and if they get pregnant you can sell the pups.

The lifespan of a dog is like the twinkle of a star in the universe. The influence of a canine companion on one’s soul is forever.”

BEDTIME PET PRAYER

Now I lay me down to sleep,
The king-size bed is soft and deep.
Now I sleep right in the centre groove,
My human being can hardly move.
I’ve trapped her legs, she’s tucked in tight
And here is where I pass the night.
No one disturbs me or dares intrude,
Till morning comes and “I want food.”
I sneak up slowly to begin,
And nibble on my human’s chin.
For the morning’s here, and it time to play,
I always seem to get my way.
So thank you Lord for giving me this human person that I see.
The one who hugs, and holds me tight,
And shares her bed with me at night.

“Never try to follow a dog act.” - WC Fields

Regular readers of this newsletter will notice that this edition does not have the K C Dog School Logo and Border Collie picture at the top.

I recently changed to a new computer which is loaded with Windows 7. When loading my documents, changes have occurred - one being the logo and picture. I have tried absolutely everything to bring it back, and even to create a new heading, but no success.
If there is anyone out there who is able to put the heading and picture back into place, please could you do it for me. 

“When a dog is feeling down, all it needs is a little physical attention to make it feel happy again.”

FAMILY PET

A card was spotted in a newsagent’s window in Holland Park which must have raised questions in the minds of dog lovers.

“Dog for sale,” it read, “Eats anything, fond of children.”

It’s no coincidence that man’s best friend can’t talk.”

HAPPY TRAINING, TILL NEXT TIME

MASTERS SWIMMING

Offers the following:
Basic stroke correction and fitness.
Intermediate masters.
Competitive masters.
Open water swimming and triathletes.
Contact Zach - 074 179 6169  Zach@talentport.co.za

January / February 2010

HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY NEW YEAR – 2010.

With so much hype about 2010, it’s here, but before you know it, it will be December again.
I believe that it is going to be a very interesting year with the soccer world cup. Let’s hope that it goes off smoothly and South Africa is a showpiece to the world.

January means a new start of training for the year, and I look forward to seeing all the “old handlers and dogs” that have become so much part of the K C Dog School family. I also look forward to all the new handlers and dogs that will begin their partnership in training.

Welcome back to my trainers – Staci and Carri and to Margie who now becomes a permanent assistant.
Just a reminder that if you have any problems or queries please contact me on the field, or by phone or e-mail. I need to know if there are things that you dislike so that I can sort them out.  Even tiny problems can become huge if left, so let’s nip them in the bud.
Happy training.

 “The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.” - Andy Rooney

TRAINING DATES

All obedience courses start on:
Tuesday 12th January
Saturday 16th January
Puppy Kindergarten will start again on Saturday 9th January
Training times remain unchanged:
Basic Obedience:
Saturday: 9 – 9:30; 10:00 – 10:30; 10:30 – 11; 11:00 – 11:30
Tuesday: 10:00 – 10:30
Intermediate classes:
Saturday: 9:00 – 9:30; 10:00 – 10:30; 10:30 – 11; 2:30 – 3:00
Tuesday: 10:00 – 10:30
Advanced classes:
Saturday: 8:30 – 9:00; 9:30 – 10:00; 3:00 – 3:30
Tuesday: 9:00 – 9:30; 9:30 – 10:00

TRAINING FEES

January is the time for the annual rise in training fees. Unfortunately, Forest Farm has raised their fee for using the grounds quite substantially, so the following rise comes into effect as from the 1st January:

8 week Basic Home Obedience course:  R560
8-week Intermediate course: R560
Advanced classes: R70 per lesson
Puppy Kindergarten: 4 lessons R280

“Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing, right in your ear.” - Dave Barry

WEBSITE

If you have not looked at the K C Dog School website, please take a look.
www.kcdogschool.co.za
I am very proud of it, and would like to thank Cindy Knox for designing it and Billy Knox for being the administrator.
Cindy has just upgraded it, and it is even better than before.
If there is anything that you would like to add, please send it to me and I will forward it to Cindy.

ANNUAL GET TOGETHER

It has been a tradition for the past many years to have an annual get-together braai and prize giving for the members of K C Dog School in January (November / December is usually overloaded with functions.)  Once again I would like to hold the annual get-together but only if there is a good response.  In these times, I don’t think it would be feasible to cook a lamb spit if only about 15 people attend. 

I will need to know if I should go ahead with the braai, otherwise, maybe the few who would like to attend, could come for some wine and snacks.

DATE:     Saturday 30th January
TIME:     From 5:00 onwards
VENUE:  92 1st Street Parkmore/Sandhurst Border
COST:     For the spit braai – R60 per person, R30 for
                  Children

Please let me know firstly, if you would like to attend, and secondly if you would prefer the spit braai or wine and snacks.  I need to know by Saturday 23rd January in order to make the decision.
011 783 3042  082 454 1750  kcdogs@global.co.za

ONE OF A KIND

If I had a rand for every time an owner said to me “I’ve had Rottweilers, Dobermanns or (insert the breed here) my whole life and I’ve never had one like this!”, I would be rich. The same goes for owners who tell me “This is the third Maltese, GSD or (insert the breed here) and I’ve never had one as impossible as this!”

So why do we trainers get to hear this lament so often?
Firstly, dogs change. Breeds change over the years as a result of a number of factors. Breeding for confirmation alone can result in any behavioural changes. The Dobermanns I remember as a child are worlds away from the high drive working dogs we see today more suited to Schutzhund trails then warming your feet. Popularity of a breed can also have a detrimental effect on the breed. Dogs in the movies are the worst culprit. The demand these movies create encourage backyard breeders to breed for profit above all else. To make breeding financially viable they are forced to cut corners with food, veteninary care, socializing etc. Some of the breeds we have seen in recent years affected by this phenomenon have been Dalmatians, Staffies and Huskies.

Secondly, we change. As we age our lifestyle changes. Previous dogs may have been raised in a house with lots of activity and kids. As a result they may have been getting loads of stimulation and exercise; but now, you might be retired and live a quiet life. Our needs change which affect what we want from our dog. Previous dogs might have been part of the furniture and your current one might be a companion to you. Dogs are affected by many environments influences, including the amount of exercise they receive, where they sleep, how much attention they get, and how many privileges they receive.
The most important factor though is neither of the above, but the bit that we tend to forget. Like us, every dog is an individual. Each dog has its own genetic make up and personality and this will influence who your dog is. As breeds change and we change, expect every dog who shares your life to be one of a kind!

 “Dachshunds are ideal dogs for small children, as they are already stretched and pulled to such a length that the child cannot do much harm one way or another.” - Robert Benchley

AN EXPENSIVE DOG

BEIJING: A Tibetan Mastiff with the catchy name of Yangtze River Number Two has reportedly been sold to a woman in the Chinese province of Shaanxi for about 350,000 pounds (R4,4 million) making it the most expensive dog yet.
The previous record of 90,000 pounds was paid out by a family in Florida for Lancelot Encore – a cloned version of a deceased Labrador.
The Times reports that Yangtze River Number Two’s new owner, identified only as Mrs Wang, is rumoured to have spent years searching China for the perfect Tibetan Mastiff. When she located her dream dog in Qinghai province, she was determined to do whatever was necessary to make it hers.

“A Mastiff named Leoncico was the; most famous dog in the New World during the Age of Exploration. Alongside his master Balboa, Leoncico survived a shipwreck, fought many battles and reached the Pacific Ocean. He was granted a golden collar, the salary of a crossbowman and a share of all booty.”

DOGS REDUCE ALLERGIES

Children run less risk of being sensitive to allergens if there is a dog in the house in the early years of their lives, scientists have found.

The conclusion based on a six-year study of 9 000 children, adds weight to the theory that growing up with a pet trains the immune system to be less sensitive to potential triffers for allergies such as asthma, eczema and hay fever. The “hygiene theory” of allergy holds that modern life has become too clean, meaning that babies’ immune systems are not exposed to enough germs to develop normally. Having a dog provides enough dirt of the right kind, the new German study suggests. But it may be important that baby meets dog early enough to affect the immune system as it develops.

“Our results show clearly that the presence of a dog in the home during subjects’ infancy is associated with a significantly low level of sensitization to pollens and inhaled allergens,” said Joachim Heinrich of the National Research Centre for Environmental Health in Munich.
The same protective effect was not seen in children who had frequent contact with dogs but none at home. Previous studies have suggested that exposure to pets might have a protective effect against allergies, but many of these studies were based on retrospective questioning of subjects. The new study did not require anybody to remember anything. The children were tracked from birth to the age of six. Further assessments will be conducted at the age of ten.

In the European Respiratory Journal, Heinrich says the blood of children raised with dogs contained fewer allergy markers. While this indicated less susceptibility to allergies, the study has yet to show, on an experiential level, that children raised alongside dogs develop fewer allergies than other children.

 “Spot, so familiar to use from early reading books, actually predates, Dick and Jane by 2,000 years. It first appeared in Greek mythology as the name of one of the hounds of Actaeon. Much later it was chosen for pets belonging to such legendary figures as Queen Victoria and Elizabeth Taylor>”

DOGGY DICIONARY

I was sent this many years ago, but I would like to share it once again:
LEASH: A strap which attaches to your collar, enabling you to lead your person where you want him/her to go.
DOG BED: Any soft, clean surface, such as the white bedspread in the guest room or the newly upholstered couch in the living room.
SNIFF: A social custom to use when you greet other dogs. Place your nose as close as you can to the other dog’s rear end and inhale deeply. Repeat several times, or until your person makes you stop.
BICYCLES: Two wheeled exercise machines, invented for dogs to control body fat. To get maximum aerobic benefit, you must hide behind a bush and dash out, bark loudly and run alongside for a while, the person then swerves and falls off and you prance away.
DEAFNESS: A malady which affects a dog when its person wants it in and the dog want to stay out. Symptoms include staring blankly at the person, the running in the opposite direction, or lying down.
THUNDER: A signal that the world is coming to an end. Humans remain amazingly calm during thunderstorms, so it is necessary to warn them of the danger by trembling uncontrollably, panting, rolling your eyes wildly, and following their heels.
WASTEBASKET: A dog toy filled with paper, envelopes, and old wrappers and tissues. When you get bored, turn over the basket and strew the papers all over the house until your person comes home.
SOFAS: Are to dogs like napkins are to people. After eating it is polite to run up and down the front of the sofa and wipe our whiskers clean.
BATH: A process by which the humans drench the floor, walls and themselves. You can help by shaking vigorously and frequently.
BUMP: The best way to get your human’s attention when they are drinking a fresh cup of coffee or tea.
LOVE: A feeling of intense affection, given freely and without restriction. To show your love, wag your tail and gaze adoringly. If you’re lucky, a human will love you in return.

DOG HAIR DANGER

In a press release today, the National Institute of Health has announced the discovery of a potentially dangerous substance in the hair of dogs.  This substance, called “amobater caninii” has been linked with the following symptoms in females: reluctance to cook, lean or do housework, a reluctance to wear make-up, good clothes or high heels. Reluctance to spend money on home or car repairs until “BABY” has new collars, leashes, beds, treats, food, blankets or toys.

“Amobacter caninii” usually results in long hours away from home and exhaustion which may lead to a loss of physical contact with other humans (especially husbands and boyfriends.) “Amobacter caninii” is thought to be addictive, driving the need for additional sources – this may lead to a “pack mentality” or like the potato chip commercial, “you can’t have just one.” Beware! If you come in contact with a female human infected by this substance, be prepared to talk about dogs for hours.

SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: DOGS ARE EXPENSIVE, ADDICTIVE, AND MAY IMPAIR THE ABILITY TO USE COMMON SENSE. - (Taken from Border Collie Rescue newsletter.)

“You enter into a certain amount of madness when you marry a person with pets.” - Nora Ephron

A pair of dogs is called a brace. A bracelet, however, is not a small pair of dogs but a ring of hair around a dog’s leg, left long after the rest of the leg has been trimmed short. Thus a brace of Poodles may have particularly fine bracelets! A group of at least three dogs is called a team.

REMEMBER:
I cannot change yesterday
I can only make the most of today
And look with hope toward tomorrow.
HAVE A GREAT 2010

November / December 2009

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Ok, that is early, but hey, all the shops have been full of Christmas things for several weeks now, so if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.

But, seriously, the year has raced away. At the end of November, K C Dog School closes for the year and then the festive season comes into full swing.

The number of handlers and dogs in the various classes has fluctuated – exams, hectic schedules and the weather all playing their part.

In October, we lost one Saturday afternoon’s training due to heavy rain and another heavy storm meant the cancellation of a Tuesday afternoon class.

So, as we come to the end of another training year, I can say that life has had its ups and downs, but the one thing that keeps us going is our dog/s.  It is through your dogs that I have got to know you (some for many, many years) and you have become part of the K C Dog School family.

I thank you for supporting us and it is you and your dog that makes our job such a special and enjoyable one.

I would like to thank all my helpers that have devoted so much of their time during the year:

Staci – assistant trainer

Carri – secretarial work and part time trainer

Cindy – secretarial work  (first half 2009) part time trainer

Margie – part time secretarial and part time trainer

I hope that everyone has a good holiday season – have a good rest, have fun with your dogs and I look forward to seeing you all in January 2010.

“In a dog park, a person should be judged solely by their dog’s behaviour.

AGILITY

Agility classes have now finished for the year. New beginner classes will start again in January 2010. Keep this in mind, and if you are interested then let me know to put your name on the list.

“The dog is a gentleman, I hope to go to his heaven, not man’s” - Mark Twain 

CHRISTMAS PARTY

I had mentioned in previous newsletter, I wanted to give a Christmas party to the residents of Forest Farm. Unfortunately, when I enquired about a date, it turned out that there was no Saturday free. It seems that at this time of the year, the residents get invited to and given lots of parties and entertainment.

With this in mind, I have decided to put the party on hold until next year.

“Modern houses are so small we’ve had to train our dog to wag its tail up and down and not sideways!” - Tacitus

CANINE GOOD CITIZEN

I had also mentioned to some handlers that I wanted to put on the Canine Good Citizen test at the end of October, beginning of November. It seems that all my plans are to be thwarted. Once again, I had trouble getting a judge for those dates – they are all busy with other things. No judge, no test.

This too, has been put on hold until next year. - Konrad Lorenz

TRAINING DATES

2009

All Obedience courses will stop at the end of November. The final Tuesday class will be Tuesday 24th and the final Saturday classes will be on Saturday 28th.

Puppy kindergarten classes will continue until Saturday 20th December.  They will then stop over Christmas and New Year.

2010

Obedience courses will start again in January 2010.

Tuesday 12th January

Saturday 17th January

Puppy Kindergarten will start on Saturday 10th January

“Dog nightmares involve choke chains!

SYMPATHY

In the middle of October, Eric Lyons passed away from a long battle with cancer. He was the father of Staci (my assistant trainer) and Carri (my secretary), and husband of Monica (who does the embroidery for K C Dog School).

Everyone at K C Dog School joins me in sending our deepest sympathy to them, and we wish them long life.

“A dog’s warmth provided the friendliest blanket.”

THE CITIZEN

Vivian Tothill, who edits the animal section in the Saturday edition of The Citizen, has informed me that she has written an article about the Winter Warmer Charity Drive that K C Dog School had during July this year.  There will be a picture, which was taken when I handed over the dog food, blankets and money, as well as a write up.

If you would like to read it then buy The Citizen this Saturday, 21st November.

“The dog has an enviable mind – it remembers the nice things in life and quickly blots out the nasty.” Barbara Woodhouse

STEMPETS

In the last edition of this newsletter, I mentioned this new product. Since then, I have become a distributor and a user of StemEnhance and StemPets.

I would not endorse anything that I don’t believe in personally, and this is a product that I believe is amazing. Maria J has been coming for the past few Saturdays to hand out leaflets and give information about the product. We have had a good response and people are coming back with fantastic stories about themselves as well as their pets.

I started taking StemEnhance about a month ago, and have not had any arthritic pain in my hip or knee since then.

I have put my 13-year-old GSD on StemPets and she is much brighter, full of energy, and walking easier. I’ve had a little difficulty giving the StemPets to my 14-year-old cat, but found a way to give StemEnhance to him. I sprinkle a little of the powder from the capsule onto some anchovy paste and he then eats it up. He was loosing his hair, and since using the product it is growing back.

So, on my part I can recommend the product. I have many other testimonials from other users that I can send to anyone who would like to read them.  You can also find out more information from: http://kcdogs.stemtechbiz.com

WHAT IS STEMPETS?

StemPets is a unique stem cell enhancer for your best friends. Stem cells constitute the natural renewal system for animals, just as they do for humans. Simply, supporting the natural process of stem cell release from the bone marrow can help your animals achieve optimal health. StemPets is specially formulated for your pets. They are easy to use and your pets will love them.

WHAT ARE STEM CELL ENHANCERS?

Stem cell enhancers are products that support the natural role of adult stem cells. Stem cell enhancers work to support the release of adult stem cells so they can migrate to origins and tissues in need. Recent scientific developments have revealed that stem cells derived from the bone marrow travel throughout the body, and act to support optimal organ and tissue function.

WHAT ARE STEM CELLS?

Stem cells can be thought of as “master” cells. You’ve probably heard about the controversy over embryonic stem cells in the news. Stem cells are found in the embryo, but they are also found in adult tissue.

Adult stem cells are most abundantly found in bone marrow. Stem cells circulate and function to replace dysfunctional cells, thus fulfilling the natural process of maintaining optimal health. StemPets support the release of adult stem cells from bone marrow into circulation, supporting your animal’s natural renewal system.

WHY DOES YOUR ANIMAL NEED THIS?

With age, the number of stem cells circulating in the body gradually decreases, leaving it more susceptible to injury and other age-related health challenges. Just as antioxidants are important to protect cells from “free radical” damage, stem cell enhancers are equally important to support stem cells in maintaining proper organ and tissue function, ultimately supporting optimal health.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

When you give your animal StemPets the ingredients help to support the release of stem cells form the bone marrow into the bloodstream. Through a natural process, those stem cells then travel to areas of the body where they are most needed.

For more information, or to order please contact me: 011 783 3042   or 082 454 1750  or kcdogs@global.co.za

“The dog who meets with a good master is the happier of the two.” - Maeterlinck

TOY GUN IN TOY DOG KIDNAP BID

Sydney – An Australian woman has been arrested for allegedly trying to steal a tiny Chihuahua puppy at gunpoint, police said.  The woman produced a working replica pistol after turning up at a Sydney house for an appointment to buy the eight-week old puppy, Diego, for $1 500.

She said she didn’t want anyone to get hurt but the owner’s whole family plus children were at the house.  The 26 year-old woman was subdued by the people at the house, who included an off-duty policeman.

She was later charged with armed robbery and possession of a prohibited weapon.

“Dogs domesticate men.”

WHAT’S THE PURPOSE OF THAT FOOTPAD WAY UP AT THE TOP OF THE DOG’S WRIST?

If you feel behind your dog’s front leg, where his foreleg meets his wrist, you’ll find a footpad just like the ones on the bottom of your dog’s feet. This pad, called the stopper pad (technically, the carpal pad) may seem to be in a strange place, way up there on the leg, until you see stop-action films of a dog running at high speed. The wrist join actually bends so that the entire foot and wrist, clean up to the stopper pad, are on the ground. So the stopper pad functions just as any other footpad does, but only comes into play at high speed.

“There’s something comforting about being in a house where dog hair litters the sofa and bedspreads.” - Annon

WHY DO DOGS HAVE WET NOSES?

Dogs have wet noses for more reasons than just to jolt you awake on a cold morning. Like most other macrosmatic animals (that is, animals with a very good sense of smell) dogs have a rhinarium – that’s the technical term for the area of moist, furless skin that we usually refer to as the dog’s nose. Researchers believe that the moist surface attracts and dissolves odour molecules, making them easier for your dog to smell.

Of course, there’s another older theory that goes back to Noah’s Ark. It seems the tow dogs on the ark were cruising around, poking their noses into everything as dogs do, when they discovered a leak in the hull. One dog went for help while the other stuck his nose in the hole to plug it. God conferred upon all dogs from then on wet noses as a badge of honour and permission to nudge us awake on a cold morning.

“It’s no coincidence that man’s best friend can’t talk.”

DO DOGS HAVE DIFFERENT BLOOD TYPES?

Dogs do have different blood types. They have thirteen different blood types, and one dog can have more than one type. Fortunately, dogs rarely have antibodies against other blood types, so it’s usually safe to give a dog a blood transfusion without knowing its blood type first. However, dogs that have received a previous transfusion no longer have this luxury, because that transfusion may have activated antibodies that can now react fatally with a subsequent transfusion. Their blood must be cross-matched with a donor. In fact, females that have previously whelped a litter are also at a higher risk and should always be cross-matched before receiving blood.

“People who talk to their dogs aren’t crazy, they just operate on a different level from the rest of us.”   Jack Naters

DO DOGS HAVE FRIENDS AND ENEMIES?

We all know what it’s like to have friends. We also know what it’s like to have enemies –or at least, people we don’t like. But can dogs have friends and enemies? Yes.

Dogs are pack animals, which means they feel most secure when they’re with their buddies. These buddies are the ones that will back them up and help them hunt, as well as help care for pups as needed. These buddies are either members of their pack or dogs they consider part of their “extended pack”

So, what about enemies? Oh yes, dogs can certainly hate others dogs. There are many cases of two dogs that despise each other so intensely that there is no way they can get along.  Many dogs make an enemy with a dog, and will immediate react towards another dog of the same breed with the same intense hatred.

“A dog naps so much because it loves so hard.” - Annon

My wish to every handler and dog is that you have a restful and enjoyable holiday season.

Have a safe trip if you are travelling, and I look forward to seeing you back at training in the New Year.

Best Wishes,

Kathy

September / October 2009

Better late than never! Sorry, I’m not sure where the time went, but I suddenly realized that I had left out one newsletter for the year. But, let’s get on with the next one.

Spring has arrived – green leaves and blossoms. My three young dogs have had their spring bath and they are enjoying the lovely weather The July Winter Drive was a great success – you can read about it further on.

The “SUMMER DRIVE” will take place at the end of the year. I would like to give a Christmas party to the residents of Forest Farm on either the last Saturday of November or the first Saturday of December.  I will be looking for donations of cakes, biscuits, sweets, balloons and perhaps a small present (bar of soap, chocolates etc). I would like to put on a little dog show with dogs doing tricks, carting, and agility.

“Whenever a man is lonely, God sends him a dog.” - A de Lamartine

 AGILITY

A new 8-week agility introductory course will start this Saturday 12th September. There are still a few places available, so if you are interested in doing this course please let me know as soon as possible.

The cost is R480 for the 8-week course and there are two times: 8:30 to 9:30 and 9:30 to 10:30.

“Dogs are my passion…..” - George Elliot

WINTER DRIVE

THANK YOU to everyone for making the K C Dog School Winter Drive such a huge success. I was bowled over by the generosity of the handlers. 

After going through the internet and checking various animal charities I decided that Puppy and Kitty Haven would be the chosen charity. Firstly, they are in the Sandton Area, secondly, they do not receive large grants from welfare collecting organizations, and thirdly, quite a few puppies from there have attended training classes at K C Dog School.

In the first week of August, I went round to the house in Bramley, which was jam packed with puppies, adult dogs and kittens and cats, and handed over the following:

• A cheque for R1000;

• Just over 150 kg of dry dog food;

• 40 tins of dog food;

• 10 kg of dry cat food;

• 18 blankets;

• A variety of dog jackets, a few dog beds, collars and leads.

The whole donation was gratefully received and they couldn’t get over the generosity of our handlers. So, on behalf of all the animals in Puppy and Kitty Haven, THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION, you have made a difference to their lives.

My car loaded & The hand over!

GOLF BALLS LEAVE DOG UNDER PAR

An Essex couple got a shock when they took their dog to the vet after he started to walk strangely. It turned out poor old Bertie, owned by Mark and Michelle Jewell, had nine golf balls rattling around inside him, which he’d swallowed while out on his walks.

Veterinary worker Emily Nightingale said the staff were “absolutely flabbergasted” when they saw the X-ray which also revealed a bullet in the fat around Bertie’s stomach.

“His stomach could have easily ruptured from the pressure of all the golf balls which could have been fatal,” she said. After a two-hour operation to removed the golf balls and the bullet, Bertie’s now making a steady recovery. It’s not known how or when Bertie was shot.

“The plain fact that my dog loves me more than I love him is undeniable and always fills me with a certain feeling of shame. The dog is ever ready to lay down his life for me.” - Konrad Lorenz

TRAFFIC COPS GO PARKING MAD

An Australian traffic warden fixed a parking ticket to a dog’s lead after it was “parked” illegally outside a shopping centre. The dog was tied to a fence outside Darwin’s Rapid Creek market when it was approached by two city council traffic wardens, the Northern Territory News reported.

Witness Ray McEvoy said he couldn’t believe his eyes. “Two traffic inspectors came along and, to my amazement, wrote out a warning infringement notice for the dog and taped it to his lead.” McEvoy said.

Council spokesman Grant Fenton said a dog was considered to be “at large” if the owner was not there. “You can’t tie up a dog and leave it,” Fenton said.

“One of the reasons why dogs are given credit for serious thinking is the formation of their eyebrows.” - Robert Benchley

WORLD’S OLDEST DOG DIES

A wire-haired dachshund that held the record as the world’s oldest dog has died on Long Island aged 21 – or 147 in dog years.

Chanel died on Friday of natural causes at her owner’s home in Port Jefferson Station, a village 80kms east of New York City. Guiness World Records officials honoured Chanel as the world’s oldest dog in May at a 21st birthday bash hosted by a pet food company at a Manhattan dog hotel and spa. Owners Denice and Karl Shaughnessy adopted Chanel from a pet shelter in Newport News, Virginia, when she was six weeks old. In later years Chanel wore tinted goggles for her cataracts, and sweaters because she was sensitive to the cold. But she remained lively for her age.

“When you talk to a dog, a soul answers you.” - Bam Wildfire

DOG SUPERSTITIONS

BAD LUCK:

• Meeting a barking dog at dawn or a black dog crossing in front of you.

• A dog running between a pair of lovers – they will quarrel.

• A dog running between a woman’s legs – she will be punished by her husband or father.

GOOD LUCK:

• A Greyhound with a white spot on its forehead, meeting a white dog in the morning

• Three white dogs together.

• A black dog following you home.

• To see the image of a black dog in the fire – a friend is near.

• Meeting a black and white dog on the way to a business deal – it will go well.

• An unknown dog entering your house – a new friendship.

DOG DREAMS:

• Dreaming of a black dog – a friend is near.

• Dreaming of dogs in general – matters of instinct and conscience are to the fore. It can also mean fear of rejection on the grounds of unattractiveness.

• Dreaming of a vicious dog – envy and unscrupulousness.

(Taken from: A Little Book of Dogs)

“He is very imprudent, a dog is. He never makes it his business to in quire whether you are in the right or in the wrong, never bothers as to whether you are going up or down upon life’s ladder, never asks whether you are rich or poor, silly or wise, sinner or saint.” - Jerome K Jerome

STEMPETS

Here is an article that appeared in HEALTHSPAN AFRICA launch edition 2009.

“As they do in humans, adult stem cells reside in animals’ bone marrow, where they are released whenever there is a problem somewhere in the body. Looking back on stem cell research, we realize that most studies have been done with animals…. Mostly with mice, but also with dogs, horses, pigs, sheep and cattle. These studies have revealed that animal stem cells conduct themselves the same way human stem cells do: when there is an injury or a stress to an organ of your beloved pet, compounds are released that reach the bone marrow and trigger the release of stem cells. These stem cells then travel to tissues and organs in need of help to regain optimal health.

Stempets and StemEquine are essentially our patented human StemEnhance that has been specially formulated to be a delectable treat to your animal. The dog chewables make it easy to provide your animals with this valuable nutritional supplement.

In 2007 when StemPets was tested in the field for both palatability and efficacy, the results exceeded expectations! One of the early testimonials from the test group was that of a distributor who had been give StemEnhance capsules to her dog for several months with good benefits but when she used StemPets, her dog reached yet another level of health. From the earliest studies up to the present use of StemPets in the United States, the most common story is that of old, tired and sluggish dogs that turned – within a week or so – into active, alert dogs running around like puppies.

Though it is obvious that StemPets works in animals just as well as StemEnhance works in humans, animal studies are currently being performed to quantify the number of stem cells in the blood of horses and dogs after consumption of StemEnhance, in order to document the effects of the products with animal subjects.

Since these first tests with StemPets hundreds of dogs and horses in the United States have benefited from these products. We hear many stories about what these products are doing for our animals, dogs of all ages enjoying a greater quality of life, and with many aging dogs seeming to reclaim the vitality of their puppyhood.

Because of these wonderful results with America’s dogs, StemPets is now being introduced into South Africa.

We know you will want to share these extraordinary pet products with all the animal lovers you know.”

Maria J who trains Poodles, Dodo and Max, and her pug, Chinki, is proof of how wonderful StemEnhance is. Earlier this year she had a huge back operation, and was told that it would take up to six months for recovery. Maria was back on the training field four weeks later!

Maria is such a believer in this product that she is now a distributor.

I have bought a bottle of StemPets for my old lady, Wrani .

She has only just started and I know that she is not going to get back her legs, but there is already a renewed vigour in her attitude.  When she is not in her wheels and she needs to move, she scoots herself along the floor on the side of her bottom. She can get around at quite a speed.

I will keep you informed about her progress on this product and if you would like to see more data you can look at Maria’s website: http://mariaj.stemtechbiz.com

“Dogs are here on earth to teach us.” - Doris Day

NO WALKIES WITHOUT HIS SHADES

BEIJING:  An German Shepherd has become something of a local celebrity in a Chinese city for his habit of wearing sunglasses. Fei Fei’s owner says he bought his pet a pair of sunglasses to protect his eyes from the strong sun in Chongqing Sichuan Province. He wasn’t sure whether the dog would take to wearing shades, - but to his surprise, the German Shepherd loves them so much that he won’t go out without them.

“I thought that the strong sunshine we get here in the summertime could not be good for his eyes,” the owner said. “Now, if I don’t put his sunglasses on before we go out, he barks at me until I do.”

Fei Fei attracts attention wherever he goes – as the coolest dog in the city. - Ananova.com

“A dog a day keeps the doctor away.” - Norman Le Blanc

WATER MUSIC

The composer, Sir Edward Elgar, was a close friend of Dr G R Sinclair, organist of Hereford Cathedral.

Dr Sinclair had a Bulldog named Dan, who used to accompany his master and his composer friend on walks along the banks of the River Wye, which runs through the city. During one walk the two men were surprised by the sound of a loud splash as Dan suddenly fell into the water. “Set that to music,” Dr Sinclair said to Sir Edward.

In time Elgar published his enigma Variations, of which number 11 was dedicated to his friend, and records Dan’s mishap. The first bar represents him falling down the bank into the river. The second and third bars reflect his swim upstream to a landing place, which is followed by a joyful bark when Dan regains terra firma.

“He loved as only a dog can love – or an angel” - William Locke

ONLY IN AMERICA

Since the early 1990’s, hybrid ‘designer’ breeds have proliferated in America:

• BAGEL – Beagle and Basset Hound

• CHUG – Chihuahua and Pug

• COCKAPOO – Cocker Spaniel and Poodle

• DOODLEMAN PINSCHER – Poodle and Doberman

• ESKIPOO – Eskimo Dog and Poodle

• JUG – Jack Russell and Pug

• LABRADOODLE – Labrador and Poodle

• PUGGLE – Pug and Beagle

• PUGSHIRE – Pug and Yorkshire Terrier

• SHARP ASSET – Basset Hound and Shar Pei

THE WEATHER IS LOVELY – NO EXCUSE FOR NOT COMING TO TRAINING! - See you there!

May / June 2009

Some unseasonal rain, and extremely cold weather – signs of winter coming early this year. Looking at my dogs snug in their beds in my room, I feel sorry for all the dogs that are outside dogs, with no warm place to sleep.

Before I get shouted down, yes, there are many people who have dogs sleeping outside and they have warm kennels, and bedding, I am referring to all the dogs that are just kept in the back yard and neglected, or strays in kennels.

With this in mind, I have decided to launch a “WINTER DRIVE” during the month of July. I am asking every handler training at K C Dog School to donate something for this drive – a tin or bag of dog food, a blanket, jacket etc. I will then collect these items and take them to a needy animal charity. I have received many requests in the past few weeks from animal charities that are on the brink of closure, so I feel that we could give something from our lucky animals to help the poor unfortunate ones in shelters.

The “SUMMER DRIVE” will take place at the end of the year. I would like to give a Christmas party to the residents of Forest Farm on either the last Saturday of November or the first Saturday of December.  I will be looking for donations of cakes, biscuits, sweets, balloons and perhaps a small present (bar of soap, chocolates etc). I would like to put on a little dog show with dogs doing tricks, carting, and agility. I will finalise details nearer the time.

“Dogs laugh, but they laugh with their tails.” - Unknown

RAINBOW BRIDGE

I’m sad to report that another beloved K C Dog School dog has passed to the Rainbow Bridge. 

Jeanne Gebbie trained her longhaired German Shepherd, Lexie, for several years, in the early days of K C Dog School.

Jeanne took Lexie for their normal walk and noticed that towards the end she was getting slower. Once home she collapsed and was rushed to the emergency vet. The vet tried everything, and even called for a dog to give a blood transfusion, Lexie started fitting and died. It is suspected that Lexie died from a specific worm. This worm works in the system and eventually causes blood vessels to thin and burst. Vets in the Kyalami and Mondeor areas (where people walk in open spaces) are seeing many of these cases every week.

If you take your dogs to outlying areas to train or walk, please have them tested for this worm.

AGILITY

The second agility course is coming to an end. Once again I am receiving rave reports from everyone. The dogs are LOVING it and improving weekly in “leaps and bounds”!

Several handlers and dogs from the first course have gone on to join Willem’s agility school and it won’t be long before we hear that they are competing at dog shows.

As soon as this course ends, a new 8-week agility introductory course will start. If you are interested in doing this course please let me know as soon as possible.

Go down before or after your lesson and watch a little of what is happening so that you can see how much fun the handlers and dogs are having.

The cost is R480 for the 8-week course and there are two times: 8:30 to 9:30 and 9:30 to 10:30.

WINTER DRIVE

In order to help all the unfortunate animals that do not have a loving home with warmth and good food, I would like to ask for donations of tins and bags of dog food, bedding and jackets.

Bring these items to your Saturday (or Tuesday) class during July and I will take them to a struggling animal charity. 

I will also have a donation tin on the table for any loose change.

At the end of July I will report back on what was received and the charity involved. (I am still making a decision as to which charity needs it most)

“A house without a dog is as strange to me as a house without any window.” - Anon.

FRANKLIN PLAYERS

The Franklin Players is a Community Theatre Group that has been doing amateur dramatic productions for over 30 years. I have been involved with them for nearly 6 years.

Their next production is “Allo Allo” based on the popular British series.  It is set in a Café in wartime Paris. This hilarious comedy will have you laughing from start to finish.  Having put in many hours of rehearsal the cast would appreciate a good size audience.  If you would like an enjoyable night out, then please come and support us.

WHAT: Franklin Players presents “Allo Allo”

WHEN: Friday 17th, Saturday 18th, Friday 24th, Saturday 25th July

TIME: 8:00 Doors open at 7:00

PLACE: Roosevelt Park Recreation Centre, Anton Von Wouw and Preller Streets

PRICE: R45 per ticket. You can even make up a table, Seating 8 – 10 people. You can bring your own food. Food and drinks will be available. Come and see the “dog lady” that stands in front of you at training become a German on the stage!

Contact Kathy to book tickets kcdogs@global.co.za

082 454 1750    011 783 3042

“The dog has got more fun out of man than man has got out of the dog, for man is the more laughable of the two animals.” - James Thurber

WHY DO DOGS GULP DOWN THEIR FOOD?

It is rather amazing to watch a dog gulp his food and you wonder if he even tastes it. Well, if you had to eat dog food, wouldn’t you try to swallow it whole? 

No, seriously, the brief time that food passes over the tongue, combined with the odours the dog has already sucked in, may be enough to give gulpers all they want.

You can slow your dog down by placing a very large stone in the middle of the bowl. This means that the dog can’t get a full mouthful at a time.

Gulping contributes to gas and sometimes to bloating, so it’s well worth discouraging it, and who knows – he may discover he actually likes tasting his food.

“We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” - Immanuel Kant

WHY WERE SOME DOG’S TAILS DOCKED?

Docking tails dates back to at least the ancient Romans, who docked tails to remove tendons, which were thought to be worms causing rabies. Docking has since been performed on fighting dogs, so that their tails could not be grabbed; on working dogs to identify them as nontaxable working animals; on long-haired dogs to prevent fecal matter from becoming caught in the coat; on terriers to provide a sturdy handle for pulling them out of a burrow, and on bird dogs to prevent tail injuries in the field.

Docking was usually done for cosmetic and breed-standard purposes. Breeders of traditionally docked breeds prefer the look, and worry that undocked tails may vary in appearance because tails have never been subjected to selection. Hygiene can still be a problem, especially in inadequately groomed pets. Tail trauma is often caused by vigorous tail wagging.  Tails do not heal well and injuries sometimes result in amputation, a painful procedure for an adult dog.

It is interesting to note that a Swedish survey of gundog breeders following the prohibition of docking, found that 51 percent of the dogs had sustained tail injuries in the three years following the ban, with seven dogs requiring amputation.

(Very interesting, but I still think it is nice to see a dog with a tail!)

“Tennis was invented so that man and his dog would have something slimy to play with together.” - Anon

SUNSHINE PUT PAID TO TEEN’S TRIP

Wisconsin: A teenager using a classic excuse for evading schoolwork missed a class trip to Peru despite his tale being true: the dog ate his passport.

Officials at Chicago’s Airport told 17 year-old Jon Meier the chewed document was fine, but authorities in Miami rejected it and would not let him board the south-bound aircraft.

His family’s one-year-old Golden Retriever, Sunshine, chewed a corner of the document, obscuring some numbers. Jon couldn’t get another passport in time to join the trip with his Spanish class from Eau Claire North High School. Jon said he couldn’t blame anyone, not even Sunshine: “I love her too much.”

“Yesterday, I was a dog. Today, I’m a dog. Tomorrow, I’ll probably still be a dog. Sigh! There’s just so little hope for advancement!” - Snoopy

WHY DO DOGS HAVE WET NOSES?

Dogs have wet noses for more reasons than just to jolt you awake on a chilly morning. Like most other macrosmatic animals (that is animals with a very good sense of smell), dogs have a rhinarium – that’s the technical term for the area of moist, furless skin that we usually refer to as the dog’s nose. Researchers believe that the moist surface attracts and dissolves odour molecules, making them easier for your dog to smell.

Of course, there’s another older theory that goes back to Noah’s Art. It seems the two dogs on the ark were cruising around, poking their noses into everything as dogs do, when they discovered a leak in the hull. One dog went for help while the other stuck his nose in the hole to plug it. God conferred upon all dogs from then on wet noses as a badge of honour and permission to nudge us awake on a cold morning.

“A dog a day keeps the doctor away.” - Norman Le Blanc

CAN DOGS BE RIGHT-PAWED OR LEFT-PAWED?

Are you having difficulty teaching your dog basic penmanship? Maybe you’re forcing him to use his wrong paw!

Fotunately, a team of scientists has tackled the vital question of whether dogs are right-pawed or left-pawed. They did this by sticking a strip of tape over the middle of a dog’s snout, and then recording which paw the dog used to dislodge it.

Interestingly, male dogs tended to be left-pawed and females tended to be right-pawed. Only a few were ambidextrous. Some studies have suggested that the male hormone testosterone is associated with left-handedness, and this study supports that idea. The study also found that dogs had differences in their immune systems according to whether they were left or right-pawed. More importantly, the study has far-reaching implications for teaching your dog to write. Be sure to allow him to hold the pencil in whatever paw he feels more comfortable with. This way his penmanship will be the best and he will not feel embarrassed!

“If your dog is fat, you aren’t getting enough exercise.” - Anon

DO DOGS HAVE FRIENDS AND ENEMIES?

We all know what it’s like to have friends, and we also know what it’s like to have enemies – or at least people we don’t like. So, can dogs have friends and enemies? The answer is – yes.

Dogs are pack animals, which means they feel most secure when they’re with their buddies. These buddies are the ones that will back them up and help them hunt, as well as help care for pups as needed. These buddies are either members of their pack or dogs they consider part of their “extended pack.”

So, what about enemies? Yes, dogs can certainly hate other dogs. There are several examples of two female dogs that despise each other so intensely that there is no way they can get along. One can egg the other on to the point where they will fight every time they see each other.  This means that keeping them separate is the only way to ensure peace.

This can also happen between two males, but the intensity of the fight is usually worse in two strong dominant bitches.

“The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog.”   George Graham Vest

WHEELS FOR WRANI

As mentioned in the previous newsletter, Wrani loves her extra legs.  Here she is playing ball with Triffyn!

So, that’s it from this newsletter. Some of the articles were taken from a new book that I recently bought:

“Why Do Dogs Like Balls?”

More than 200 Canine quirks, curiosities, and conundrums revealed. By D Caroline Coile PhD & Margaret H. Bonham

Keep warm, and I hope that the K C Dog School’s Winter Drive is a great success; as well as Franklin Player’s production – we really need an audience!

Till next time – happy training.

Kathy