Paws for Tails a Waggin'

Newsletter of the Dog Obedience Club of Las Cruces, Inc.

Nancy Chanover, Editor
4210 Sotol Drive, Las Cruces, NM 88011
(505) 522-0812
chanover@zianet.com
DOCLC Club Phone Number: 527-3983

October 2005

The next meeting of the Dog Obedience Club of Las Cruces will be on Thursday October 20 at the new Sweet Indulgence location at 523 E. Idaho (in the old Henry J's building). Note that the October meeting will be on the THIRD Thursday of the month instead of the first Thursday (only for October). If you plan to eat, please come at 6:30, otherwise the meeting will start at 7 pm. Hope to see you there!

All club members must pay their annual dues before being eligible to vote in our elections at the November meeting. As a reminder, the dues are $10 for individuals and $12 for families. Please give your check to Charlene Curry, the club Treasurer, or mail it to her at P.O. Box 291, Mesilla Park, NM 88047.

The time has come for all people interested in club awards to submit their information. It needs to be submitted to Pam Smith by November 15th. Please submit info on all AKC titles earned during the time frame of Nov. 1, 2004 - October 31, 2005.

This fall the club is going to be offering a heeling class for people who are working towards competition obedience. The class is going to be taught by Barbara Horn, who summed up her training philosophy as one that uses "positive reinforcement." For this class Barbara views herself as a teacher, not a trainer, meaning that she will work primarily with handlers to provide feedback on handling, footwork, timing, etc. She emphasizes that the dogs should already be at a point where they are working as a team with their handlers.

The specifics are as follows:

What: Heeling Class
When: Beginning Thursday, October 13th, 7:00 p.m., to continue for a 6-week period
Where: Parking lot at Young Park (well lighted & smooth footing)
Who: Those who are competing or are planning to compete with their dog(s) in obedience events or any other event that requires control and accurate response and who wish to improve their heeling performance as a working team.
Cost: $30.00 for the 6-week course, payable the first night of class. Active DOCLC members may participate free of charge as in our other obedience classes.

Please Note: This class is not for Beginners. Dogs with behavioral issues or dogs/handlers with control issues should enroll in a more basic course until the dog/handler can work as a team.

Please help spread the word about this class! If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Julie Goodrich, the club's Obedience Training Director.

The Dog Lover's Book Club meeting will be on Wed. night, October 26, at Pete's Hacienda Restaurant at 6:30 pm. The book is by Suzanne Clothier and is entitled "If A Dog's Prayers Were Answered, Bones Would Rain from the Sky." Dinner and discussion will take place.

The DOCLC obedience trials were held on September 24-25. I would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to help put our obedience trial on last weekend. We may not have had very many entries but I think the trial went very well. I especially want to thank everyone who volunteered to steward. Thanks to Phyllis McNall for being our chief ring steward. I would like to thank Pam Smith, Charlene Curry, Gayle Treakle, Paul Westbrook, Julie Goodrich, Nancy Chanover, Shannon Murray, Kim Fuqua, Sandy Bourdet & Barbara Horn for their stewarding. I was afraid we wouldn't have enough stewards but we had enough stewards and were able to teach people how to steward for all levels of obedience. I would also like to thank everyone who helped load, set up, tear down and unload the rings & other equipment. It went very fast since we had so much good help.

Again Thanks so much.

Marjorie A. Henson

From the President

A very big thank you goes out to everyone that made the obedience trial a success, we could not do it without the help of everyone that showed up. I would also like to remind everyone that our Agility trial is just around the corner and any help that people can provide would be greatly appreciated. We have decided to try a new meeting spot at Sweet Indulgence, I hope everyone will enjoy the change.

The time has come for us to decide on next year's board and officers for the club. I encourage any and all who have an interest in a position within the club to come forward; it's a great way to get more involved with club happenings. Nancy, Gayle and Shannon are the nominating commitee so let them know if you have any suggestions.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Vice-President Nancy Chanover, Secretary Marjorie A. Henson, Treasurer Charlene Curry. OTHER MEMBERS: Julie Goodrich, Shannon Murray, Pam Smith, Gayle Treakle, Erica Voges, Paul & Lisa Westbrook

The meeting was called to order by Vice-President Nancy Chanover.

It was moved by Shannon Murray and seconded by Gayle Treakle that the minutes be accepted as presented in the newsletter. The motion was approved.

Treasurer Report: The treasurer's report was made by Treasurer Charlene Curry.

There were several newsletters received from SNAP that were handed out to those that were interested.

TRIAL: Kim Fuqua will get in touch with Pam Smith to help move the equipment. The judges will get in touch with Pam Smith with their arrival plans. The rooms are booked for the judges. Nancy Chanover will call the Parks & Recreation department & remind them not to water after Wednesday. Everyone who can help load equipment will meet at Pam Smith's at 4:30 on the 23rd . Lisa Westbrook, Marjorie Henson, Pam Smith & Julie Goodrich will meet for loading. Those who can will meet at the park for unloading at 5:30 pm. Erica & Nick Volga, Gayle Treakle, Paul Westbrook. Vic Villalobos has made arrangements with the mounted patrol for security. It will need to be confirmed. The Portapotties are scheduled to be set up on Friday. Stewards will need to be gotten. Pam will order the toys & ribbons. The judges' dinner will be held at La Posta at 6:00. Pam will make the reservations for 10-12. If the judges don't rent a car someone will have to pick them up. Charlene Curry says she can pick them up & Nancy Chanover will take them to the airport.

TRAINING CLASSES: OBEDIENCE: Gayle Treakle has 8 students in the Monday beginning class. Shannon Murray has 2 in the puppy class & Vic Villalobos has 10 in his Tuesday beginning class. AGILITY: There are 9 in the 7:00 agility class & 10 in the 8:00 agility class. The classes will begin on Wednesday the 14th of September. Sandra Hendrix & Pam Smith will teach the 7:00 class & Kim Ramsey & Pam Smith will teach the 8:00 class. There will a practice show 'n' go Agility class on Tuesdays if 3 or 4 are interested.

DUES: It is time to pay dues. Members have to be in good standing with dues paid in order to vote for officers & board members.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE: The nominating committee will be put a slate of officers before the club at the November meeting where nominations will also be accepted from the floor.

OLD BUSINESS: T-Shirts for the club: Paul Westbrook has checked with Hoop- T-Dude's and after an initial set up fee of $35 which has been paid, t-shirts or golf shirts with the club logo could be gotten. The cost for application of the club logo to an item is $8.25. Paul will check into color options for golf shirts from Walmart with grey polo's preferred.

NEW BUSINESS: Donation: It was suggested that the club make a donation to AHS or AKC for their rescue work with the animals that were affected by Hurricane Katrina. Pam Smith moved and Lisa Westbrook seconded that the club make a donation of $200 to the AHS for their rescue work. Motion passed.

Certificate for Gene Forsythe. Nancy Chanover forgot that she was to get the certificate so will take care of it.

Tickets are available to the Humane Society fund raising gala on September 9 from Charlene Curry if anyone is interested.

Brags were made.

The meeting was adjourned.

From Janet Miller:

Janet Miller & R-Solo Reach for the Stars (Orion) completed their CDX at the Labor Day trials in Los Alamos/Albuquerque, going 3 out of 3. As an added bonus, they took High Scoring Working Breed 2 days, and High Scoring Doberman as well. On to uncharted UD territory.