February has been an extremely hot month with very little rain.  Our members have braved the heat, but thanks to the abundance of trees and two paddling pools, training has been bearable.

 

CLUB ACTIVITY

Preparation is already heating up to organize events for the new year, but our most important event will be our 56th AGM, on 23th March.  Our club will have lovely German fare after the meeting.  For catering purposes, please let us know if you will be attending.  Members, please ensure you are paid up by the time you attend our AGM. There’s no training on the day.

 

Our LOVE YOUR DOG event on Valentine’s Day proved to be a huge success!!!  Everyone arrived dressed in something red and were given a bandana, tug toy, home-baked dog biscuits, cupcakes and cold drinks. Samantha, Juan’Ri and Loani put together this wonderful event, thank you! The amazing photos will soon be put on our FB page.

 

We train with treats and comfortable waist treat bags are available from Ruben for sale on Saturdays.  They are R110 each and the small treat bag is R70 – stock is limited.

 

QUESTION: WHAT DOES YOUR DOG DO IF HE/SHE FEELS IGNORED?

Cindy as two modes:

When I am busy inside the house, she will go and lie in the nearest corner pretending to sleep, but making deep sighs every couple of minutes.

When I am outside, and not giving attention, she will go and sit on the first step of the swimming pool.

Charl

Dis maklik, as hulle hul rug en agter end draai en ignorer die heel dag. 

Fracois

I would say they look sad, ears pulled back.

Simone

Katya comes in and just takes over. We call her the bull in a china shop.

Loani

Ruby barks.

Emma

My puppies will do something naughty, something they know they are not allowed to or they will smother me with kisses till I pay attention. lol

They are truly amazing dogs 🙂 They are almost never naughty because they are very rarely ignored 😉 

Izel

 

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 1.30pm

 

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! 

 

KATYA’S COOKIES

1 tin bully beef/tomato pilchards

3 eggs

3/4 cup milk/water

3 tbl coconut oil melted

3 cups bran rich self-raising wheat flour

 

Mince the bully beef till fine.  Heating it makes it easier.  Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. The mixture must be not too dry and not too sloppy.  Spray a flat/cookie pan and sift flour all over the bottom.  Spoon the mixture into the pan and roll it out to fill the pan’s edges about 4mm thick.  Press 20x20mm squares into the dough with a long smooth knife.  Bake at a low temperature (80-100 deg) for 1 hour to 1 to 1/2 hours till hard.  Check that the bottom doesn’t burn when oven is too hot.  Cookies can also be flipped around with an egg-lifter to cook evenly.  When cooled break squares.  – LOANI

 

EVENTS

2nd March – new intake of dogs

16th March – St Patrick’s Day

23rd March – 56th AGM – no training on the day

7th April – Rotek GSD Club – Grand Victor Championship Show

14th April – walk on the Magaliesburg mountain, braai at Mr Binder’s farm

27th April – Military Day – demonstration of working dogs

5th May – Rotek GSD Club – Non-championship IGP trial

11th May – Quiz and Potjie 

1st June – demonstration by our club at the NG Church in Centurion

22nd June – sniffer training by Jaco Malan 

13th July – Obedience Dog Show

 

INTERESTING WEBSITES

www.ethology.co.za – for those of you who would like to study animal behaviour

https://www.cesarsway.com/dog-training/obedience/5-essential-commands-you-can-teach-your-dog

 

INTERESTING BOOKS

Embracing the Wild in your Dog – Bryan Bailey

Dogscapping – Creating the perfect backyard and garden for you and your dog – Tom Barthel

Dog Friendly Gardens, Garden Friendly Dogs – Cheryl Smith

Petscaping – Training and landscaping with your pet in mind – Scott Cohen

Dog-Friendly Gardening: creating a safe haven for you and your dog – Kate Bush

 

WEBSITE

Thank you to everyone who has sent testimonials – they’re on the website!  This is a powerful and easy way of advertising your club, so please make full use of it – www.pretoriashepherddogclub.co.za.  Our Face Book page also has some interesting photos and information!

 

MAINTENANCE

The grounds look spic ‘n span, thanks to Elvis and his hard-working team, although in summer we can hear the grass grow growing and manicured grounds are not always possible.   We need assistance with maintenance and improvements.  All members will be sent a notice to assist.  We wish to put together a 1-day work party, followed by a bring ‘n braai.  The club hasn’t had a work party get-together for a long time, and we look forward to spending time with you!

 

PRETORIA DOG RESCUE

Samantha and her team do a lot of wonderful work 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 Face Book 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 R280.00 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 Wattsapp 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 sterilisations at a reduced fee.  

 

SATURDAY – gates open at 1.30pm

OBEDIENCE – new intake the first Saturday of every month at 2pm

2:00pm – 3:00pm/3:15pm – 4:15pm/4:00pm – 5:00pm/ – Beginners – please arrive at 1.30pm and visit our Treasurer, Ruben in the Club house – please bring a 1.2m cotton leash, metal check chain and throw toy or dumbbell.

Obedience training – R200.00 per month, payable 3-monthly in advance. PLEASE BOOK WITH US BEFOREHAND. This is not a course, but ongoing training.

PUPPY CLUB – 3.pm – 4.30pm – Annual club membership – R300.00 

R800.00 for the 6-week course – puppies can join any time.

This class is for puppies between the ages of 3 months and 5 1/2 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 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, metal check chain and

throw toy. If the dogs advance well before the age of 6 months, they can join Beginner training. PLEASE BOOK WITH US BEFOREHAND.

 

CONTACT

Secretary – Beverly – 083 272 1014

Chairperson and Chief Trainer – Tania – 082 430 1456

Treasurer – Ruben Muller – rubenmuller1959@gmail.com 

 

Kind regards

 

TANIA QUARMBY

CHAIRPERSON

PRETORIA SHEPHERD DOG CLUB

www.pretoriashepherddogclub.co.za

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