A warm welcome to all our new members who joined us a week ago!We believe your training will bring hours of joy to you and your canine family member.

Training on a Saturday afternoon is still rather warm, with some signs of winter on its way.The autumn leaves are falling, and our grass is no longer that beautiful bright green we are used to.

 

CLUB ACTIVITY

 

Our walk on the Magaliesberg mountain is on Sunday 20th May.This is a beautiful walk and we would love everyone to join.We need to meet at Mr Binder’s farm by 8.45am and start walking by 9.15am.The walk will be followed by a bring ‘n braai.It has been some years since the club has walked the mountain and we look forward to a full crowd! Wikipaedia Magaliesberg and read its wonderful history! More information to follow in a few days.

 

Welcome to our committee, who are as follows:

Chairperson – Tania Quarmby

Vice-chairman – Eric Quarmby

Treasurer – Ruben Muller

Secretary – Beverly Lastrucci

Carlos da Silva

Alex Ellis

Edgar Harden

 

HOW BIG IS YOUR DOG’S VOCABULARY?

 

This is a very interesting question and indicates how easy it is to condition a dog, regardless of intelligence.Talking to one’s dog is time well spent!

 

Loani – Katja has learnt twirl, around, sit pretty, middle, back-up, left and right.

MichelleMuchkin has learnt the basic words. Sit, stay, stand, heel, come, no and down. She has also learnt speak, paw, roll and crawl.

Anton –Levi and Haskia understand about 30 words, although they don’t always listen when we speak to them and some of the words are still work in progress. These words include the usual ones like sit, stay, etc and less often heel.

 

My favorites are “Blaf” to get them to bark on command, “Lippe” to lick their lips, Levi does a “reverse” command to move backwards and “Waai” to get them to wave their paw. They also understand that when we ask them if we are going for a walk or car ride, then they run to the room where their leashes are kept. If we ask them if they want to go and practice then they go to the fridge where the treats are stored.

 

My all-time favorite is “Lê nog so bietjie”…Levi gets up very early in the mornings, then he will walk into our bedroom to check if we are awake, he might nudge you with the nose to get a reaction, and after a quick head scratch, I will tell him to go and lie down a little bit more, that is like hitting a snooze button, he will go out of the room and lie down in his sleeping spot for around 5 – 10 min, and then he will come back again to check, that snooze button normally works about three times. 

Charl:Cindy’s normal words/commands, being Afrikaans:

  • stap
  • stadig
  • sit
  • staan
  • hier
  • sitvoor
  • kom
  • bly
  • vooruit
  • soek
  • in
  • uit
  • wag
  • nee

Cindy Obstacle Course Items:

  • Trappe (Steps)
  • Brug (Bridge)
  • Pale (Poles)
  • Tonnel (Tunnel)
  • Ramp (Ramp)
  • Bed (Bed)
  • Gat (Hole in wal)
  • Hup (Jump)

 Cindy extra words:

  • Roomys (She loves ice cream)
  • Tata (She likes to go for a ride)
  • Yskas (Bones are kept in the fridge)
  • Vleisie (Biltong / Dry Wors)
  • Happie (nice tidbit)
  • Maak ‘n piepie (do your thing)
  • Maak ‘n poef (do your thing)
  • Maak ‘n plekkie (Make a space)
  • Skool (going to the dog club)
  • Soek die muis (hunt the mouse)
  • Vang die Hadida / Vang die duiwe (Chase the birds that want to eat your food)
  • Dag (Give paw)
  • Saggies (Do not Grab)
  • Eet jy kos (You may eat)
  • Kry jou ketting (Get your lead)
  • Soek die koerant (Fetch the newspaper)

Names:

  • Eg. if you say ‘Waar is Linda’ she will start looking for Linda
  • Soek/Waar is Linda
  • Soek/Waar is Charl
  • Soek/Waar is Dirk
  • Soek/Waar is Wikus
  • Soek/Waar is Miekie
  • Soek/Waar is Wilna
  • Soek/Waar is Karin
  • Los vir Jakob (Do not challenge the Gardener – Cindy does not like him!!!!)

EVENTS

 

20thth May – Walk on the Magaliesberg mountain at our President, Mr Binder’s, farm – bring ‘n braai after

21st July – Obedience Dog Show

2nd September – Canine Good Citizen’s Tests

 

OUTSIDE EVENTS

 

28th May – Hedianga Farm – information is on our Face Book page.

 

The 5 ANIMAL FREEDOMS are:

 

  • Freedom from Hunger and Thirst – by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour
  • Freedom from Discomfort – by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
  • Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease – by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
  • Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour – by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind.
  • Freedom from Fear and Distress – by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.

 

INTERESTING WEBSITES

 

https://www.petplace.com/article/dogs/pet-health/homemade-treats-for-your-dog/

https://www.friendsofthedog.co.za/behaviour-problems-in-rescue-animals.html

https://www.roomsforafrica.com/newsletter.do?ref=FA6Bplww2eNDiDhYg4uW0GhcACDKMs8T

 

INTERESTING BOOKS

 

Training the German Shepherd Dog – John Cree

Do Dogs Need Shrinks? – Peter Neville

 

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. We need assistance with maintenance and improvements.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!

 

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.Please get involved in their MySchool card project – http://www.communityvet.co.za/

 

SATURDAYgates 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 – R280.00

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 in the Club house 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

 

We train with treats and comfortable waist treat bags, which are available from Ruben for sale on Saturdays.They are R100 each and the small treat bag is R60 – there is limited stock. We also dumbbells and leashes.Please ask Ruben or one of the trainers to assist you.

 

Kind regards

TANIA QUARMBY

CHAIRPERSON

PRETORIA SHEPHERD DOG CLUB

www.pretoriashepherddogclub.co.za