NEWSLETTER – APRIL 2021
A warm welcome to all our members! We hope you will enjoy the training sessions and programs offered by our trainers.
IF
If I greeted everyone happily
Instead of eyeing with distrust
If I didn’t pass judgement
But accepted all
If I listened intently
With understanding in my eyes
If I brought comfort
All the time, no matter what
If I loved unconditionally
Without reservation
If I lived life more simply
Instead of worrying so much
If I played tirelessly
And didn’t work so hard
If I made people smile
Just by my presence in the room
If I experienced true joy
At the little things in life
Then I’d be the perfect friend
Just like my dog
- JOANNE HIRASE-STACY
CLUB ACTIVITY
Welcome to all our new members, and happy training to all club members. You have taken the first step to training your lifelong canine companion, which, as a trained companion, will be a constant joy in your life! We have amazing trainers who have a passion for dog training, and they’ll make your time at the club very interesting!
Club training is ongoing, with trainers juggling each other’s classes as personal commitments have taken priority. Thanks for everyone’s patience and the trainers’ amazing adaptive abilities!
Canine Good Citizen Test will take place on SUNDAY, 30th May, 9:00 am. Your trainers will start preparing you for these tests, namely Bronze, Silver and Gold. The entry fee is R140 per dog, which includes the judge, certificate, and rosette. Only one class will be tested per dog. Annatjie will make treat bottles for each dog filled with her home baked treats for R60 per dog. Please send your dog’s name to her. It makes a fun memento and its functional! Please, complete your forms and either pay Gloria when you see her or make an EFT. Charene has created a Google CGCT form. Our closing date for entries is 8th May. Please refer to the PSDC Admin WhatsApp group for this information.
Annatjie makes snuffle balls, snuffle mats, winter blankets and treats. The snuffle mat and ball are useful tools for bored dogs, but its use must be monitored, unless you wanted it shredded! We keep an “honesty box” in the clubhouse for treats.
RECIPE
TOMATO JUICE TREATS
Ingredients:
Half cup of warm water
8 chicken stock cubes – try to get low sodium
1 packet dry yeast
1 t spoon sugar
1 and a half cups tomato juice
2 cups flour
2 cups wheat germ
1 and a half cups while wheat flour
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 150 degrees. Pour water into a mixing bowl, add stock cubes and crush with a fork. Stir in the yeast and let it stand for 5 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients until well blended. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to half inch thickness and cut into desired shapes. Place shapes on baking sheet and bake for 1 hour. Turn off the oven and allow biscuits to cool inside for at least 4 hours. Store at room temperature, in an airtight container. Irwin Animal Rescue Centre Recipe Book
Little education on the worm spirocerca-lupi is done on the public in South Africa. This is an extremely dangerous worm that is often responsible for many fatalities. Please read the articles to familiarize yourself with this problem.
https://www.greensidevet.co.za/spirocerca-lupi-dogs/
http://www.sava.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Understanding-spirocercosis.pdf
https://www.greensidevet.co.za/worm-not-know-spirocerca-lupi/
Although the seasons are changing, it is recommended not to stop using parasite control on your dogs. Please take the necessary precautions like dipping, tick, and flea collars, and parasite sprays. There are new products on the market, and you can keep up to date with the latest information brochures, which we keep in the clubhouse.
We train with treats and comfortable branded waist treat bags are available from Gloria. They are R120 each and the small treat bag is R90 – there is limited stock.
COLOURED TAGS
All members’ dogs are issued with different coloured tags. Your dog must please wear the tag at each training session. If you lose your tag, please get a new one from the trainers at R30 each. BLUE = PUPPY, GREEN = FRIENDLY dog, YELLOW = NERVOUS dog, ORANGE = NO DOGS (not dog friendly), RED = CAUTION (do not touch the dog). Please be aware of the colour of the tags, as it is a clear indication and warning to you and your dog to either befriend the dog or stay a respectful distance away.
Preparing for dog club: We know how busy everyone is, but the last thing you want to do is RUSH to the dog club. Your dog will be rattled, and you will probably waste an entire lesson being jittery and shouting at your poor, innocent dog. So, get yourself a bag or basket, fill it with your training equipment like collar/working check chain, leash, dumbbell/throw toy, treats and treat bag (sold at the club). Just lift and leave! Don’t forget your dog, hehe! Gates open at 1.30 pm.
Our medical aiders are Sam and Chris.
PUPPY CLASSES
We have Puppy Club for pups between the ages of 3 months to 6 months on a Saturday afternoon. Socializing your puppies from a young age can be the best show of love, which you, their human parent can give! Your trainer is Charene and she will lovingly guide you towards training a happy puppy!
CLUB EVENTS
30th May – CGCT
5th June – New Intake of dogs
INTERESTING WEBSITES
https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&catId=102899&id=4951475
http://www.nonlineardogs.com/100MostSillyPart1.html
https://www.treehugger.com/books-every-dog-owner-should-read-4863578
WEBSITE AND GOOGLE REVIEW
Thank you to everyone who has sent testimonials – they’re on the website and Google Review! This is a powerful and easy way of advertising your club, so please make full use of it – www.pretoriashepherddogclub.co.za. Our Facebook page also has some interesting photos and information!
MAINTENANCE
There are several maintenance issues that need to be attended to. We will call a general maintenance day one Sunday in June. These maintenance days are never really busy, always relaxed, and the fun part is the bacon and egg breakfast, followed by a bring and braai. We look forward to the day!
PRETORIA DOG RESCUE
Ruben and Marissa have committed to offering their spare time with Pretoria Dog Rescue. It is a worthy cause to support. Please put the word out that they have many, many dogs up for adoption. Check out their Facebook page for more information. Dogs bought from Pretoria Dog Rescue qualify for one month’s free training.
SPCA AND WETNOSE
Dogs bought from SPCA or Wetnose qualify for one month’s free training (excluding the R320.00 club membership fee). Just bring along your receipt of purchase. The SPCA Newsletter has put out a request for more volunteers, so if you have any spare time, please consider donating it to a worthy cause. Please contact Celestie Mathews who is a volunteer at the SPCA. She has some wonderful fundraising ideas. Celestie also has a volunteer Whattsapp group that you can belong to, where she advertises the SPCA’s wish lists – 082 825 8442.
ANIMAL CHARITY
Our adopted animal charity is the South African Veterinary Association’s community project called Community Veterinary Clinics (CVC). They look after the primary healthcare of dogs and cats in disadvantaged communities and offer vaccinations, de-worming, dipping, and sterilization at a reduced fee. Please get involved in their MySchool card project – www.savacvc.co.za
SATURDAY – gates open at 1:30 pm
OBEDIENCE – new intake the first Saturday of every month at 2:00 pm
Beginners – please arrive at 1:00 pm and visit our Treasurer, Ruben in the clubhouse – please bring a 1.2m cotton leash, slip collar, and throw toy or dumbbell.
Obedience training – R220.00 per month, payable 3-monthly in advance. PLEASE BOOK WITH US BEFORE HAND. This is not a course, but ongoing training.
PUPPY CLUB – 3:15 pm – 4:30 pm- Annual club membership – R320.00
R900.00 for the 6-week course – Puppies are welcome to join every week!
This class is for puppies between the ages of 3 months and 6 months. The puppies must have had their 2nd vaccination and been de-wormed. Appropriate tick and flea control must be administered before participating. Please bring your vaccination books. The members will have a lecture in the clubhouse and thereafter learn the basics in puppy obedience, e.g. retrieve, heelwork, sit, down, and stand. And of course, lots of socializing. Bring along a 1.2m cotton leash, slip collar, or collar and throw toy. If the dogs advance well before the age of 6 months, they can join Beginner training. PLEASE BOOK WITH US BEFORE HAND.
CONTACT
Secretary – Charene – 082 843 7446
Chairperson and Chief Trainer – Tania – 082 430 1456
Kind regards
TANIA QUARMBY
CHAIRPERSON
PRETORIA SHEPHERD DOG CLUB
082 430 1456
www.pretoriashepherddogclub.co.za
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Dogs are our key to achieving
a sense of peace. They can keep us
connected to the world of nature,
which gives us balance and
harmony in our lives.
-CESAR MILLAN
WE’RE NOT IN IT FOR THE INCOME, WE’RE IN IT FOR THE OUTCOME