An all day event like this only happens with dedicated club members pitching so this is a big public thank you to all of the members who gave up their day and made our event a success. We would also like to thank all of the exhibitors that supported our event. We hope to see you again next year.

Dr. Dodd’s topics will include:

Thyroid Disease – Learn how to recognize and treat one of the most common endocrine disorders of dogs

Vaccine Issues – Learn when and when not to vaccinate

Nutrition – Wholesome nutrition to help maintain healthy immune function and resistance to disease

Dr. Dodds received the D.V.M. degree with honors in 1964 from the Ontario Veterinary College. She accepted a position with the New York State, and there began as a Research Scientist and culminated as Chief, Laboratory of Hematology, Wadsworth Center. Later she also became Executive Director,
New York State Council on Human Blood and Transfusion Services. In 1986 she moved to establish Hemopet, the first nonprofit national blood bank program for animals.

Attendance at this seminar is by preregistration only. For more information and to register please download the Dr. Jean Dodds Flyer.

Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger

Test 2: Sitting politely for petting

Test 3: Appearance and grooming

Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)

Test 5: Walking through a crowd

Test 6: Sit and down on command and Staying in place

Test 7: Coming when called

Test 8: Reaction to another dog

Test 9: Reaction to distraction

Test 10: Supervised separation

Be sure to visit the AKC website and download the CGC Participant Guide, which will give you details of the test.

Note: Students should not bring their dogs to the first CGC class session.

Rally 1
June 13 at 6:30 PM on Wednesday evenings
8 Weeks, $90
Instructor: Casey Dunnagan

Rally 2
February 1 at 7:45 PM on Wednesday evenings
8 Weeks, $90
Instructor: Casey Dunnagan

Puppy Kindergarten
February 4th at 10:30 AM on Saturday mornings
8 Weeks, $100
Instructor: Leslie Heckathorn

Intermediate
February 27th at 7:00 PM on Monday evenings
6 Weeks – $70
Instructors: Lee James and Melinda Grosch

Beginning
Class closed – Full
February 28th at 10:00 AM on Tuesday mornings
8 Weeks, $90
Instructor: Leslie Heckathorn

Beginning
February 28th at 6:15 PM on Tuesday evenings
8 Weeks, $90
Instructor: Linda Hause

Wednesday evening classes still to be determined. Contact the club and let us know what you would like to have in that spot.

Club members, Melinda and Leslie, realized that the mouse population had vanished in our building since the regular presence of the feral cats. They decided to try to catch them and be sure they were altered and could be released back into the area to be mousers! Leslie, who has been spearheading our efforts, tells us that we have now had 13 cats spayed or neutered. The photo is of two of the first three that were caught. They have moved on to be very happy barn cats with one of our club members.

Forgotten Felines does amazing work. At the weekly clinics they alter between 50 – 60 cats. The $30 per cat cost covers altering, overall health check, rabies vaccination, FVRCP vaccination, parasite control, pain medication, and ear tipping. The ear tipping is usually on the right ear which helps to identify who has been altered. There are still a couple of cats needing to be captured and treated. Donations have been made throughout the trapping attempts although more will be needed to cover this next trapping and to purchase food. If you would like to make a donation please contact Leslie 321-8479.

“Musical Freestyle is a choreographed musical program performed by handlers and their dogs. The object of musical freestyle is to display the dog and handler in a creative, innovative and original dance, using music and intricate movements to showcase teamwork, artistry, costuming, athleticism and style in interpreting the theme of the music. Heelwork-to-Music incorporates traditional dog obedience and the art of dressage with the inclusion of musical interpretation, dance elements, and costuming with an emphasis on non-standard obedience movements. Both Musical Freestyle and Heelwork-To-Music routines should create a visually exciting display which is enjoyable to watch and which is equally enjoyable to dogs and handlers executing the programs. Canine freestyle is a showcase that truly demonstrates the joys and fun of bonding with your pet.”

For further information check out the website for the
World Canine Freestyle Organization and the Redwood Empire Doggy Dancers .

Agility is a fun performance event for all dogs, both purebreds and mixed breeds. The handler must successfully guide their dog through a course of obstacles including jumps, tunnels, the dog walk, the A-frame, and a teeter. The dog must walk across the teeter and tip it to cross. Weave poles are another obstacle that the dog must slalom through starting with the first pole on the dog’s left shoulder, not an easy thing to teach a dog!! On top of making it through all of the obstacles cleanly, the event is timed.

There are four events now offered by the American Kennel Club in agility: the Standard Course with the contact equipment (A-frame, teeter and dog walk), the Jumpers With Weaves course – a fast, flowing course without contact equipment, and two games classes. The games classes are FAST (Fifteen and Send Time) which has a distance requirement as part of it and Time2Beat. For more information about any of these classes, please visit the AKC website.

County-Wide DTC will again be offering Agility classes during the winter months. This is a terrific way to introduce your dog to agility at our indoor facility during the short, rainy days of winter. We will offer 6 week Agility I and II classes during November and December, $70 for each 6 week session. In January of 2012 we will offer 4 week Agility I and II classes, $50 for each 4 week session.

Suzanne Deghi will be teaching our classes again this year. Agility I will introduce you and your dog to the variety of obstacles in agility competition with an emphasis on safety. Agility II will look at techniques for sequencing and running an agility course. .

To reserve a spot for the CGC test you need to preregister by sending a check for $10 made out to County Wide DTC. Send the check to: Debbie Stoner, 499 Pleasant Hill Road, Sebastopol CA 95472.

The Sonoma County Humane Society requires a dog to have passed the CGC test to become part of its Pet Assisted Therapy Program. The volunteers and their dogs visit many convalescent hospitals and rehab facilities in Sonoma County. To become a volunteer you can visit the SCHS website and download their volunteer application.

To reserve a spot for the CGC test you need to preregister by sending a check for $10 made out to County Wide DTC. Send the check to: Debbie Stoner, 499 Pleasant Hill Road, Sebastopol CA 95472.