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In this issueCLUB OFFICERS
President Janet [email protected] President Tracey [email protected] Sandy [email protected] Lois [email protected]
BOARD MEMBERSKaren [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Send Us Your News!Do you have news for the Mt. Nittany Dog Tales newsletter? Send it to [email protected] newsletter is publishedevery other month, before the general meeting.
Newsletter Staff:Christie BlackMarliene FrokeHeidi MillerBrenda PalmgrenCynthia Rabbers
I am grateful for having a very active club with many volunteers to create, administer and conduct events.Thank you all for what you do. Please take a look at the upcoming events and classes listed in this newsletter in case you want to plan ahead for some doggie fun or volunteer to help out at a trial, test or match.
We have plenty of activities for all of us to get together, help, and be a unified club. Remember you do not actually have to be entered to come out and watch, help, eat the good food (thanks Mel and Alicia) and see all the wonderful dogs.
See you there.
~ Janet
From the President
May General Membership Program 6:30 p.m. and Meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 13,
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Pine Grove Mills
From the President …..…1
Event Reminders ………..2
Event Calendar …..…2 & 4
Pat Weiser Memorial ……3
Agility Trial Re-Cap……4-6
Obedience Rule Update…………………..7-8
Congratulations! …………9
Rainbow Bridge ………..10
March 2018
MNDTC sponsored AKC Agility Trial at the Snider Ag Arena, February 16-18, 2018
See photos on pages 4-6
Mt. Nittany Dog Tales - March 2018 2
Reminders Event Calendar
March 13: Chiropractic Presentation at 6:30 p.m. followed by General membership meeting, 7:00 p.m., St. Paul’s Lutheran, Pine Grove Mills
March 27, 2018: Annual Awards Banquet, 6:00 p.m., The Tavern, State College
April 8, 2018: TD/TDX Test, Ag Progress Grounds, Pennsylvania Furnace. Chair: Nan Bohren
April 14–15, 2018: Donna Rohaus Seminar, Ag Choice Building, Pennsylvania Furnace. Organizer: Roxanne Rishel
May 8, 2018: General Meeting, 7:00 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church, Pine Grove Mills
May 11–13, 2018: AKC Agility Trial, Ag Choice Building, Pennsylvania Furnace. Chair: Alicia Aline
May 20, 2018: ACT, Ag Choice Building, Pennsylvania Furnace.
Welcome New Member Applicant!
At the January general meeting, April Deter was introduced.
Spring ClassesThe spring class schedule has been sent to MNDTC members and registration is under way. • All levels of agility classes from Foundations 1 through
Handling are being offered, as well as the morning Skills and Drills class.
• On the obedience side, Kindergarten Puppy through Intermediate/CGC are also being offered. There are also two classes for competition obedience and tricks.
• Wednesday evening tracking classes will resume with a beginners session and a tracking workshop for other levels.
For more information, visit the MNDTC website.
See more of What’s Happening on page 4…
Presentation:Chiropractor Dr. Kevin McCarthy
Begining at 6:30 p.m., prior to MNDTC’s general meeting, Dr. Kevin McCarthy, from Metzger’s Animal Hospital, will give a presentation on dog chiropractor care. Dr. McCarthy will include simple tips that dog lovers can do to keep their dogs happy and healthy for competition and as their dogs age.
MNDTC Annual Awards Banquet will be held on Tuesday, March 27, 6 PM at the Tavern.
Have you made your reservation? Contact Cynthia Rabbers.
What’s Happening this Spring ?
Mt. Nittany Dog Tales - March 2018 3
At the end of January, the club lost one of its Charter Members, Pat Welser. Pat unexpectedly passed away and left a number of big roles empty. As a dedicated obedience competitor and trainer, Pat has long served as the club’s obedience training director, an important role and one of the first faces that the public sees when arriving for their first week of obedience classes. Pat has also helped with the annual obedience trial, staffing the trophy table. An important role at obedience trials since there are often prizes for highest scoring senior handler and highest scoring dog from a particular group or breed.
In addition to obedience, Pat also trained her dogs in rally, agility and tracking.
Bonnie Jacobs fondly remembers a trip to a match with Pat.
“Many years ago, Pat and I talked about going to a doggie match. We got our equipment and dogs loaded in the station wagon and off we went to Maryland. When we arrived, Pat with Cedar, and I with Reba—headed for the match registration area to pay our fees. When we got the dogs out of the car, Pat wanted to know what to do with our purses.
Pat Welser and Kirk (left) are standing with Bonnie Jacobs and Della. They placed in the Utility class at an early club trial.
I suggested we just leave them in the car. The match routine turned out to be a success. At the end of the match activities, we returned to our car and reloaded dogs and equipment. On the way home, we agreed to stop to get something to eat. When we went to pay our bills, Pat discovered her cash was gone! I helped her out so we could get home without washing the dishes.”
All those fortunate enough to have met Pat, will miss her.
Pat at the Annual Banquet in 2015
In Memory of Patricia Welser
The 40th anniversary of the club was celebrated at the September 2015 general meeting. Five charter members were present including Pat Welser, center. Othere were Joyce and Bill Gregor, Sandy Roth, and Bonnie Jacobs.
Mt. Nittany Dog Tales - March 2018 4
What’s Happening continued from page 2…
Spring Tracking TestThe Spring TD and TDX tests will be held on April 8 at the Ag Progress Days site in Pennsylvania Furnace. The judges will be Sue Ammerman and Ken Barna. Nan Bohren is assembling a group of tracklayers and will be calling various people about driving. The premium is on the MNDTC website. Hope for cool, slightly cloudy weather!
Spring Agility SeminarThe 2018 Spring Agility Seminar with Donna Rohaus is scheduled for April 14 and 15 in the Ag Choice building, Pennsylvania Furnace. Club and non-club members are invited. Beginner through excellent skill level sessions are being offered. Registration forms are available on the MNDTC website under the events tab.
For more information, contact Roxanne Rishel at [email protected]
Get in on the ACT!Do you have a dog that has been learning agility, but is not quite ready to enter a regular trial?
MNDTC will be holding our next Agility Course Test (ACT) at our training building on Sunday, May 20. We will offer two ACT 1 and two ACT 2 events. The courses are shorter than in regular trials, refusals are not judged, and ACT 1 has no weaves, teeter, or dogwalk. Any dog that is 15 months or older and has earned no AKC agility titles may enter. Dogs may jump at any height. Two qualifying scores earn an ACT 1 or an ACT 2 title. For complete ACT information, go to www.akc.org/events/agility/act-program.
Watch the club events page for the entry form.
The 2018 February MNDTC AKC Agility Trial at the Snider Ag Arena is now in the books. It was a wonderful weekend with great courses, great volunteers and great food! Congratulations go out to club member Laura Kuterbach for earning a MACH. Also earning a MACH at the trial was a local teen, Hannah Thomas, who ran her All American Dog Lily to their first MACH. I am deeply indebted to everyone who helped make it successful!
Many thanks. Karen Keller, trial chair
February Agility Trial
Checking in at the gate
Sandy Roth, Ribbons and Kathy Huey, Workers
Mt. Nittany Dog Tales - March 2018 5
February Agility Trial - Photos by Brenda Palmgren and John Lamancusa
Scoring Table Workers
Sharon Hagerty and Janny Olsen
Sue Williams and Cheryl Fugate
Donna McGrath and Karen Bettleyon
Roxanne Rishel…
…and her Cocker Spaniel,
Natalie
Mt. Nittany Dog Tales - March 2018 6
Christie Black…
…and Briggs
Donna McGrath looking at maps
Walking the Course
Cheryl McMillan and her Belgian Tervuren MerlotAndrea Minasian and Tanka
Karen Keller and Jimmy
February Agility Trial - Photos by Brenda Palmgren and John Lamancusa
Mt. Nittany Dog Tales - March 2018 7
Substantial changes to two AKC Obedience titling classes, Novice and Open, will be effective May 1, 2018. In this issue of Tales, MNDTC members Janet Lewis and Elaine Swancer explain what you need to know. Changes are in bold. For a complete set of AKC Obedience regulations and exercise orders mentioned below, visit the AKC Revisions to Obedience Regulations online.
NOVICEThere is a new Stay exercise called Stay and Get Your Leash, which is still judged the same. If the dog moves before you are back to his side, you will fail the exercise. Also, keep in mind the dog must leave under control. You used to attach the leash right at the table and the dogs often dragged you out of the ring to get their cookie rewards. Now be aware you will be 30 or more feet from the exit. So you will need to calmly heel the dog out of the ring. They cannot be jumping around and dragging you across the ring. Both Sit and Down Stays are now only one minute each and judged as a single exercise.
In the Novice Classes (A & B), the Stay exercise will be split into two separate requirements, and the configuration of the stay line will be altered. Dogs that have failed any one of the individual exercises will not be permitted to return for Stays.
Sit/Stay and Get Your Leash At the end of the individual exercises (after the Recall) the handler will stand at a place designated by the judge, with the dog sitting in the heel position. The judge will tell handler to “Get your leash”. The handler will leave the dog, which must be at least 30 feet from the leash, and retrieve the leash, which will be placed on either the judge’s table, a ring gate, or chair by the table. The handler must then wait for the judge to command him/her to “Return to your dog” and the handler will return to
heel position. The judge will tell the handler “Clip your leash to the collar and maintain control of your dog”. The handler is required to exit the ring with the dog under control and without jumping, pulling, or tugging on the leash.
Group Stays This exercise must be performed with the dog on a 6-foot leash. The leash will remain clipped to the dog’s collar and the handler will hold on to the leash throughout the entire exercise. The armband will remain on the handler’s left arm.
Stay groups will be smaller because there must be 6 feet between the dogs. Depending on the number of dogs on stays, either the teams will stand in a single line or, if there are sufficient numbers, there will be two lines down the ring center, dogs standing back-to-back with 6 feet separating the two lines. Handlers will be asked to leave their dogs for a one minute Sit Stay and then a one minute Down Stay.
These Stays will be done with dogs remaining on 6-foot leads held by the handlers. If the dog moves on the Sit Stay, it will not be allowed to do the Down Stay. The judge will tell the exhibitors “Maintain control of your dogs”. The handlers are required to exit the ring with their dogs under control and without jumping, pulling, or tugging on the leash.
OPENThere will no longer be any Out of Sight Stays for either Open class.
There are two new exercises for stays. The first one is the Command Discrimination Exercise that will be performed right after the Figure 8 in Open A. Open B will be randomized within the six orders of the Open B exercises. There is also a two-part Get Your Leash exercise.
AKC Obedience Rule Changes
Mt. Nittany Dog Tales - March 2018 8
Command Discrimination Exercise This exercise is for both Open A and B. The handler will stand with the dog sitting in heel position in a place designated by the judge. The judge will ask, “Are you ready?” before giving the first order to “Stand your dog” or “Down your dog.”
Open A will always start with the STAND. Only in Open B will the dog start with either Stand or Down.
The handler will give a command and/or signal for the dog to change position. On further order to “Leave your dog,” the handler may give a command and/or signal to stay and will immediately walk forward 15 feet, turn, and face the dog. On the judge’s signal, the handler will give a command and/or signal for the dog to change to the second position. The judge will then order, “Leave your dog.” The handler may give a command and/or signal to stay and will immediately turn around and walk forward an additional 15 feet, turn, and face the dog. On the judge’s signal, the handler will give a command and/or signal the dog to change to the third position. The judge will then order “Back to your dog.” The handler may give a command and/or signal to stay, and then must return directly, walking around and behind the dog to heel position. The dog must stay in position without additional commands or signals until the handler has returned to heel position.
In all cases, the dog must obey the handler’s first command; must assume the ordered position; and must remain in place until the judge says, “Exercise finished.”
Open B sequences for the Command Discrimination exercise of Stand, Down, Sit will be determined by which of the six orders the judge chooses. For example, Open Order #1 calls for Stand, Down, Sit, while Open Order #4 calls for Down, Stand, Sit.
The second stay exercise is a two-part exercise that replaces the group exercises.
The first substitute for those stays will be an exercise similar to the first Novice stay exercise. After the individual exercises (Broad Jump in Open A; different exercises in Open B depending on the order), the handler will be positioned by the judge with the dog sitting in heel position. The judge will tell the handler to either Sit or Down the dog (Sit will always be first in Open A, but Down in Open B will depend on the order chosen). The handler will tell the dog to stay and walk forward to a place designated by the judge. After one minute, the judge will instruct the handler to return to the dog.
The second part of the exercise will begin with the judge instructing the handler to “Leave your dog and get your leash”. The handler will proceed to pick up the leash, which will be placed outside the ring. The handler must return to the ring gate and wait until instructed to return to the dog. The dog must be at least 30 feet from the lead.
Dogs that do not stay or that change position will not qualify. You cannot attach the leash until the judge tells you to do so. Again, the dog must leave the ring under control.
For a complete set of AKC Obedience regulations and exercise orders mentioned above, visit the AKC Revisions to Obedience Regulations online. An AKC Book of Obedience Rules is also available to purchase.
AKC Obedience Rule Changes
Mt. Nittany Dog Tales - March 2018 9
Congratulations!
PACH Reggie Mo Prince of Waz-Land
Reggie got his PACH at the WDTC on December 30, 2017. There are no words to describe how proud I am of this Guy. Regg is 12 and still loves playing agility with me. We are so tuned into each other, that many times he knows what I am going to do before I do. He is so very forgiving when I make a mistake on a course—he just keeps on, keeping on! Love, love my Boy!
~ Kay Waslohn
Laura Kuterbach and her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Skittles, competed at the Westminster Kennel Club's AKC agility trial on February 10th, 2018. Their cumulative score for this one day event earned them a spot in the Master Agility Championship Finals competition, where they had a clean run (without faults) and came in sixth place in the 12” class.
~ Laura Kuterbach
Mt. Nittany Dog Tales - March 2018 10
UCDX Tango’s Celestial Navigator CDX-C, CDX, PCDX, BN, RE, AX, AXJ,
OF, TKA, CGC 2/15/13 to 1/8/18
When someone you love moves on from you it feels like your ship has sailed while you were still standing at the docks.
Over the Rainbow Bridge - Jeni Mellinger’s Sailor
