Welcome to our new members who joined us in October! We hope you will enjoy the training sessions and programs offered by our trainers!

CLUB ACTIVITY

Since 2013 the club has ended its season off with a dog jumping competition. This year, mainly due to COVID-19, the trainers have decided not to hold the competition, as there are too many new people and not enough practice has taken place. Our dog jumping competition was always followed by the prize-giving, and braai.

Only our prize-giving and braai will be held on the 28th November at 2pm. We will hand out trophies for the Best Obedience Dog and Bitch, as well as the Best Man Work Dog and Bitch. The prize-giving will be followed by a braai. Ladies (and men) are asked to please bring along a side dish of salad, bread rolls or pudding. We’ll celebrate this event under our new lapa. More information will follow soon.

The club has been busy since we opened in June and we have had the pleasure of training several breeds of dogs. Our club consists of the following breeds: German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Tervuren, Swiss Shepherd, Standard Poodle, Boerboel, Doberman, Australian Shepherd, Rottweiler, Siberian Husky, Weimaraner, Staffie, Hungarian Vizsla, Pitbull, Cocker Spaniel, Golden Retriever, German Short-haired Pointer, Labrador, Boxer, Border collie, Beagle, Pomeranian, Dachshund, Fox Terrier, Jack Russel, Yorkshire Terrier and many, many cross-breeds. Our training programs are suited for all breeds of dogs, and for all owners.

Gypsy Girl and Georgi Girl participated in the Witwatersrand Sheepdog Club Championships during October in sweltering conditions. I’m pleased to announce Georgi came first in Juniors and Gypsy, third in Seniors. Josh is still too young to go to sheep, so his training will only start in March 2021.

Congratulations to Erika who gave birth to another beautiful little boy, Nicolaas. I’m positive Nicolaas will make an excellent dog trainer, as his Mom spent most of her pregnant Saturdays on the field training Bella! May your bundle of joy bring you years of happiness, Erika! 😊

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

DOG TREATS
1 tin bully beef/tomato pilchards
3 eggs
3/4 cup milk/water
3 tbs 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 degrees) for an hour to one and a half hours till hard.
Check that the bottom doesn’t burn when the oven is too hot. Cookies can also be flipped around with an egg-lifter in order to cook evenly.
When cooled break into squares.

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.

Spirocerca Lupi in Dogs


http://www.sava.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Understanding-spirocercosis.pdf

THE WORM YOU DID NOT KNOW ABOUT – SPIROCERCA LUPI

PET SITTERS
Chris Herbst, dog club member – 079 191 3625 – recommended by Tania Quarmby
MC Housesitting – 082 440 0453 – recommended by Lisa van der Merwe
Barbara – 071 801 2876
Caitlin – 063 994 0497
Herman – 079 437 4200
Rene – 082 577 8393
Michiel – 071 016 0913
Yva – 063 071 6898

Summer causes parasites like ticks, fleas, and flies to predate. 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 Ruben for sale on Saturdays. They are R110 each and the small treat bag is R90 – there is limited stock.

COLOURED TAGS
All member’s 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!

CLUB EVENTS
7th November – new intake of dogs
28th November – Trophy hand-out and year-end braai
December – club closed, except for Puppy Club

INTERESTING WEBSITES
https://www.jacarandafm.com/shows/breakfast-martin-bester/pet-friendly-walking-trails-and-around-gauteng/

Dog-friendly attractions in Pretoria

Top 10 Pet-friendly Activities near Pretoria

INTERESTING BOOKS
The Genius of Dogs – Brain Hare
Dogs can Sign, Too – Sean Senechal
Psychic Pets – The Secret World of Animals – Joseph Wylder

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
Fortunately, we have had no problems to report.

PRETORIA DOG RESCUE
Ruben, Marissa, and Samantha 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 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 Whatsapp 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 – http://www.communityvet.co.za/
SATURDAY – gates open at 1.30 pm
OBEDIENCE – new intake the first Saturday of every month at 2 pm
Beginners – please arrive at 1.30 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 BEFOREHAND. This is not a course, but ongoing training.
PUPPY CLUB – 3 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 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
082 430 1456
www.pretoriashepherddogclub.co.za
Check us on Face Book!

WE’RE NOT IN IT FOR THE INCOME, WE’RE IN IT FOR THE OUTCOME