Vacationland Dog Club—The NEWS March 2012—Page 1

Spring is on the way! For VDC, that means it will be SHOW TIME in about 2 1/2 months.

And, every VDC member should be asking themselves, “what can I do to help make our shows a

success”? The answer is simply … ask one of the committee chairmen what you can do to help

them. Is there something you can do for the show chairs, grounds crew or hospitality

Or, would you like to learn something new, such as assisting with trophies or stewarding? Or,

can you sell catalogs, hand out educational literature, transport judges?

Think about it. Dog showing is more demanding than just showing your dog. Shows require a

lot of advance planning and it requires numerous workers to assist with the many behind the

scenes details necessary to produce successful shows.

Many clubs do not permit club members to show their dogs at their own shows so that many

more hands are available to WORK. There are things you can do both before and during the

show to make our shows a success.

So, contact a committee head and offer to help. It will be greatly appreciated. Chairs are:

Show Co-Chair: Pollie and Carroll Goodwin 207-324-5400 dnsfarm@roadrunner.com

Obedience/Rally Chair: Claire Marx 207-892-3118 cmarx29707@aol.com

Grounds: Carroll Goodwin 207-324-5400 dnsfarm@roadrunner.com

Trophies: Debbie Libby 207-776-4156 dlibby_07@yahoo.com

Stewards: Nancy Jensen-Norris 207-428-3041 bouvmom@maine.rr.com

Hospitality: Peg Dilley 207-627-2291

Transportation: Teri Welch 207-846-5681 reedweld@email.msn.com

“One of Ours”

Board Meeting 7:00 pm

General Meeting 7:30 pm

LOCATION:

Barron Center, 1145 Brighton,

Ave., Portland, ME, 04103 just off

ME Turnpike Ex 48 [Westbrook].

Treasurer’s Report

Recording Secretary’s Report

Corresponding Secretary’s

Report

Cluster Meeting Report

FMDC Report

the monthly “Bark About”

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E

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The News

www.VacationlandDogClub.org

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S P E C I A L P O I N T S

O F I N T E R E S T :

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March 21 Meeting

Club Barker 1

Club Reporter 2

WKC news 2

AKC news 3-4

Speaking Out 5

Praise Training 6-7

Seminar-Phobia 8

CGC 8

Health Clinic 9

Show-MeCC 10

Show-SoMeCC 11

Calendar 12

Vacationland Dog Club—The NEWS March 2012—Page 2

On the Circuit - by Feature Reporter, Deb Libby

The Dog Genome: Lessons Learned

Dogs have been enriching the lives of humans in many ways since the dawn of time. Recently the dog genome is being studied as dogs have more

diseases in common with humans than any other animal. There is already an extensive and accessible database of the DNA of many breeds of

dogs along with health histories archived by AKC. This extensive canine information is being studied and the loci of disease genes being mapped

and then the information is applied to human disease gene locations.

There is a study that is the published work of two individuals who at first glance would seem unlikely partners. They are Robert K. Wayne of the

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UCLA and Elaine A. Ostrander of Cancer Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Re-

search Institute, National Institutes of Health in Bethesda MD. This study can be viewed at: http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/39343369 So, this

study has a lot of promise in helping to locate and eventually treat human diseases that are caused by genetic predisposition.

This is just another way our dogs are continuing to save our lives! An added benefit to the geeky side of this dog lover is that the genes of dog

like carnivores have been mapped and analyzed for how the wolves, dogs and foxes have evolved to be the wonderful and distinct creatures we

know. And, canine ancestry trees have been published in this study as well.

It is interesting to see that the genetic differences between the dog breeds is actually quite subtle, even though they present in so many var-

ied forms. The dog breeds have also been analyzed and this study shows five genetically different ancestors for all the breeds we see to-

day. These five ancestors are what is labeled as Ancient Breeds, Herding, Mastiff, Modern European and Mountain.

Who would think that breeds like Field Spaniels and Dachshunds would have much in common with mountain dogs such as the Bernese? What

about a Chihuahua? They are shown to be about equal parts Modern European and Mountain, which is very similar to a Dalmatian and a Golden

Retriever!!! There is a graph in this study that shows the genotype assignments for 96 dog breeds. You might want to print this study out for

close inspection! I did!

Includes additional venue, expanded limit, additional classes

On the eve of its annual show, The Westminster Kennel Club an-

nounced today a number of changes for its 2013 show, including an

additional venue for breed judging, a larger entry limit, and the expan-

sion of dogs eligible for competition.

Breed judging and benching will take place at Piers 92/94 in New York

City, located at West 55th Street and the West Side Highway, both

days of the show, Monday and Tuesday. Group and Best In Show judg-

ing, as well as the Junior Showmanship Finals, will still be held at Madi-

son Square Garden in the evening.

The entry limit will be increased to 3,200 dogs (up from 2,000 in 2012)

and will include competition in the classes for dogs that have not yet

earned their championships, but have won major points. In addition,

Best of Breed winners of National Breed Club specialties will be invited

to pre-enter. The top five dogs in each breed in breed point standings

will continue to be invited to pre-enter, as in the past.

The 2013 Westminster Kennel Club All Breed Dog Show will be held

on February 11-12.

The Westminster Kennel Club has been held at Madison Square Gar-

den in all but a few years of its existence. The first Westminster shows

were held at Gilmore's Gardens in 1877-78-79, which was the forerun-

ner of Madison Square Garden. Westminster has since become one of

only three entities to hold its event in all four iterations of Madison

Square Garden in New York (along with the circus and the National

Horse Show, neither of which is currently being held at the Garden

today).

"We take great pride in our relationship with the world's greatest

sporting arena," said Westminster President Peter R. Van Brunt in an-

nouncing the changes. "We are happy that these changes will help us

continue to produce the greatest dog show in the world for the dogs,

the people in our sport, the spectators who come to the show, and the

millions more who watch us on television."

In the past two years, a renovation project at the Garden has reduced

the available space for benching at Westminster. Moving to the Piers

for daytime judging will expand the space available once again for

benching, allow more entries, and continue to provide the spectators

with the opportunity to see the dogs up close and visit with the owners

and handlers.

Iris Kaye Frankel

Noah's Ark Gordon Setters. Dedicated to breeding for the versatility of

Beauty, Brains and Birdsense and co-owner of Gayleward's Camberra's

Old Magic

Westminster Announces Major Changes For 2013

Vacationland Dog Club—The NEWS March 2012—Page 3

vet_speaks_on_peta_westminister

Here is the latest issue of “Taking Command”. You can send a quick mes-

sage regarding items of concern to your senators and congressman by going

to www.congress.org. You’ll be asked to ‘register’ which is very simple and

then you can contact your legislators by using an email form that you just fill

in. I copied and pasted the blurb [below] on the federal PUPS bill, added a

few of my own words, and sent it to all three of my legislators in a matter of

minutes. Where will your future pets, show dogs and performance dogs

come from if the hobby breeders are forced to end their passion of producing

happy, healthy puppies?

AKC Legislative Leaders Share Experiences at Raleigh Confer-

ence Workshop – February 2012

Some of the leading minds in canine legislative policy met on January 28-

29 in Raleigh, North Carolina, to network, share experiences, and learn

more about issues that impact responsible dog owners.

The AKC Legislative Conference brought together AKC legislative

liaisons and AKC state federation representatives for two days of edu-

cational presentations and panel discussions on current legislative and

regulatory measures, emerging trends, court actions, and how to pre-

pare for and respond to threats to responsible dog ownership.

Representatives of AKC clubs and federations in 22 states from Califor-

nia to Maine attended the conference. Attendees who arrived on Friday

participated in a tour of the AKC operations center in Raleigh, where

they were welcomed by AKC Chief Operating Officer John Lyons and

AKC Director of Government Relations Sheila Goffe.

Conference Highlights

Patti Strand, National Director of the National Animal Interest Alliance

(NAIA) and former member of the AKC Board of Directors led off the

conference with a presentation on ballot initiatives. Ms. Strand dis-

cussed how state-level ballot initiatives are developed, requirements for

establishing a ballot initiative, and recent trends in animal-related ballot

initiatives. She also provided an update on her recent work on the issue

of humane relocation.

Suzanne Anglewicz, Manager of Political & Legislative Activities for the

National Rifle Association - Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA)

spoke on working with volunteer advocates and inspiring grassroots

action. She discussed the importance of motivating stakeholders to do

more than just “make a point” by empowering them to “make a differ-

ence.”

North Carolina Senator David Rouzer provided a legislator’s perspec-

tive and answered questions based on his experiences as a member of

the North Carolina Senate, his work in the legislative and executive

branches of the federal government, and his senior-level appointments

to federal agencies. Senator Rouzer spoke about the value he places on

reasonable and reliable information that he receives from voters within

in his district. He encouraged citizens to get to know key legislative staff

members, who often assist and advise lawmakers on issues surrounding

proposed legislation.

Linda Hart of the Colorado Federation of Dog Clubs, Michele Kasten of

the Illinois Federation of Dog Clubs and Owners, Gail LaBerge of the

Georgia Canine Coalition, and Julian Prager of the Pennsylvania Federa-

tion of Dog Clubs shared their experiences in a forum on federation

building. Topics included establishing expertise and credibility as dog

experts, and uniting dog clubs and owners behind a common message.

Lisa Peterson, AKC Communications Director, provided media training

for dog advocates, which included a break-out session and mock inter-

views on current topics in canine legislation. Lisa played the role of

reporter in practice sessions that underscored the importance of pre-

paring for media opportunities.

AKC General Counsel Margaret Poindexter gave an overview of the

AKC Inspections Program, which upholds standards of care and condi-

tions for AKC registered dogs.

Attorneys Sheila Kessler and Marty Greer, DVM, of Animal Legal Re-

sources, LLC, relayed a cautionary tale about a dog seizure case in Wis-

consin, wherein impounded dogs suffered loss of condition and could

not be accurately identified prior to return to the owner.

AKC Government Relations staff provided information and resources

that conference attendees could take home to educate and empower

club members and concerned dog owners in their states and communi-

ties. “Train the trainers” sessions discussed the basics of canine legisla-

tion, advocacy, bill analysis, and how to effectively utilize AKC GR tools,

materials and online resources.

Networking. . . and More Networking

Conference participants stayed late into the night, skipped breaks, and

cut the lunch hour short to continue networking and discussions.

“The energy that everyone brought to this conference has been tre-

mendous,” Goffe said. “Responsible dog owners and breeders from

across the country are dealing with many of the same restrictive issues

– and even some of the same bills. It’s exciting to be able to bring them

together so they can share and learn from each other’s experiences.

The best part is knowing they are developing relationships that will

enable them to share ideas and work together in the future.”

The AKC Legislative Conference was made possible by financial support

from the AKC Canine Legislative Support Fund (CLSF). The conference

had been rescheduled from the original date in August 2011 due to

Hurricane Irene.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Director’s Letter

The first few weeks of this year have been very busy for the AKC’s

Government Relations (GR) Team.

We are already monitoring over 1,200 bills at the state and federal level

this year. At the state level, these bills include positive legislation such

as the repeal of breed-specific legislation (Florida and Ohio), and prob-

Vacationland Dog Club—The NEWS March 2012—Page 4

lematic issues such as mandatory spay/neuter (Hawaii), breeding restric-

tions (West Virginia and Hawaii), and many other measures across the

United States.

At the federal level, supporters of the problematic PUPS bill (S. 707/

H.R. 835) made a strong push for new cosponsors over the last months

of 2011. The AKC and other dog-friendly groups are pushing back,

highlighting the damaging impact it could have on small breeders/

owners and sportsmen who keep and breed only a few dogs but – as

the result of joint ownership agreements – could be forced to establish

commercial-style facilities rather than keeping their dogs in their homes

or hobby kennels. Among those most impacted would be the small,

responsible breeders – breed experts, mentors and educators who are

cornerstones of their communities, advocate for responsible dog own-

ership and dedicate their lives to the wellbeing of dogs.

In late January, AKC GR conducted a national legislative conference/

workshop for the leaders of AKC state federations and legislative liai-

sons. The conference brought together legislative and federation lead-

ers – both new and experienced – from across the country to share

and learn from each other's experiences. Participants learned the basics

about political involvement, grassroots empowerment, and working

with legislators; and how AKC can provide resources and assist clubs,

individuals and groups working to protect the right to own and breed

dogs responsibly.

Success in protecting responsible dog ownership in the coming year will

require that we work together on a variety of issues and prepare for

upcoming elections. In this issue of Taking Command, we highlight the

importance of voting for dog-friendly candidates and how your club can

sponsor a voter registration drive.

AKC GR will continue to provide you with timely alerts, legislative

updates and tools, and advice for long-term policy success. Take a mo-

ment to check out some of our latest offerings, including the 2011 eco-

nomic impact statistics by state, which are now available in the online

toolbox located on the AKC GR webpage.

And while you're there, please note the new AKC Government Rela-

tions web address: akc.org/governmentrelations. The old address will

continue to work, but we hope the new, shorter version will be easier

for you to remember and that you will visit it often to get the most up-

to-date information and resources available to help you be a successful

advocate.

All the best,

Sheila Goffe

Director, AKC Government Relations .

YOUR VOTE & VOICE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER

With 2012 campaigns already underway, it is important that dog own-

ers join together in support of candidates who will defend our rights to

responsibly own, exhibit and breed our beloved purebred dogs. Now is

the time to tell incumbent and aspiring candidates for office that their

positions on dog issues will be a significant factor in determining who

will get your vote in the upcoming elections

AKC Canine Legislation Support Fund: Support Responsible

Dog Owner Rights

Each year, the AKC Government Relations team expends significant

resources fighting legislation that would institute breed bans, breeding

restrictions, mandatory spay/neuter laws, crop and dock laws, excessive

licensing fees and other threats to your rights to own and breed dogs.

Still, each year, the threats seem to grow.

Combating negative canine legislation is a costly endeavor, which is why

the AKC has established the Canine Legislation Support Fund. Every

dollar contributed to this fund goes directly to helping AKC fight legisla-

tion that infringes on your rights as a responsible dog owner, and to

support legislation that protects your right to own and enjoy dogs.

Who can contribute to the Canine Legislation Support Fund?

Anyone concerned about protecting the rights of responsible dog own-

ers may contribute to this fund. Contributions may be made by dog

clubs, by individuals or any other group. These contributions are not

tax deductible.

How are these funds used?

Protecting the rights of dog owners is a multi-faceted effort. One-

hundred percent of your donations go to supporting legislation, secur-

ing formal representation of our interests in congress and statehouses,

and educating legislators about responsible and fair policy for dog

breeding and ownership.

Any assistance you or your club chooses to provide will greatly en-

hance our efforts to defeat the onslaught of repressive legislative initia-

tives and to ensure your rights, not only today, but for generations to

come.

Vacationland Dog Club—The NEWS March 2012—Page 5

On January 8, 2009; Libbye Miller, DVM posted the following

comment on the "L.A. Unleashed" Blog:

"No one ever seems to mention the millions of dollars that AKC and

the Canine Health foundation have invested in medical research that

benefits ALL dogs as well as humans.

"Adorable mixed breeds" get cancer, epilepsy, allergies, heart disease,

and orthopedic problems just like purebreds. I see it every day in my

veterinary practice but mixed breed dogs aren't tracked like the pure-

breds so they have a reputation as "healthier" that is actually unde-

served in many cases.

I am so tired of PETA and their bogus war on the dedicated breeders

who strive to breed healthy dogs, place puppies in appropriate homes,

and feel responsible for their puppies for life.

I wish someone would do a exposé on PETA but the media seems

really afraid of them."

In response, Debz Fiedler posted the following comment:

Thank you Libbye Miller DVM for stating:

"'Adorable mixed breeds' get cancer, epilepsy, allergies, heart disease,

and orthopedic problems just like purebreds. I see it every day in my

veterinary practice but mixed breed dogs aren't tracked like the pure-

breds so they have a reputation as "healthier" that is actually unde-

served in many cases.

"It is so sad that a lot of folks, including young veterinarians these days,

buy into the "hybrid vigor" baloney. The vet schools have been infil-

trated by the Animal Rights Extremists, who are teaching them this junk

science in order to push their agenda.

All animals have a certain amount of genetic load, which is to say there

is absolutely no animal without some genetic problem of some sort of

another. Know anyone who wears glasses? Has allergies? Thyroid prob-

lems? Weak knees? Flat feet? A skin condition? Arthritis? A gap be-

tween their front teeth? These are all genetic imperfections.

No human is genetically "clean." Neither is any individual of any species

on earth. So this idea that dogs should not be bred because they might

have a genetic problem, and that breeders are somehow "evil" for

breeding them, is ridiculous. Every single individual of every single spe-

cies has at least a few genetic conditions.

To use PeTA's logic, all breeding of all kinds (including having human

babies) should halt immediately. And to be honest, Ingrid Newkirk (the

woman who founded PeTA) does believe exactly that. She thinks that

humans should become extinct, along with dogs, cats, etc. This ridicu-

lous scenario is precisely what she would like to see happen.

So folks, if that is what you want...if you agree with Ingrid Newkirk's

whacky views, send your hard earned money to PeTA. They will help to

ensure you are not able to own a dog or cat or hamster or any other

pet in the future. They will see to it that you can't eat meat or fish or

eggs or any type of animal-based nutrition. They will work to shut

down places like Sea World, the zoos, etc. so you cannot observe the

many wonderful animals on the Earth. Eventually, once they accomplish

these things, they may turn their efforts to making it illegal for humans

to procreate.

If you don't agree with their extremist views, wise up and start support-

ing those who truly do love, care for and enjoy interaction with other

species here on our little blue planet.

The fanciers of the breeds, those you see exhibiting their dogs at West-

minster and other dog shows, work very hard to eliminate serious ge-

netic conditions. They screen their breeding stock with every available

test. They research pedigrees before breeding into other lines, to check

for similar clearances in those animals. They contribute money to re-

search organizations to further the work being done to track down

genetic problems. They contribute blood, cell samples, etc. from their

own animals to help with DNA and genome studies. They have made

great progress so far, and they continue to work hard at it.

Are there unethical breeders? Certainly, there are. Just as in any group

of humans, you will find the good and the bad. United States VP Elect

Joe Biden, for example, managed to find a not so good one when he got

his new German Shepherd puppy. I don't know who did his research

for him, but they obviously didn't do their homework if they were look-

ing for a responsible breeder. Joe has the right to get his dog from

whomever he wishes, but if he was trying to set an example of purchas-

ing from a responsible hobby breeder he went off the track this time.

That's too bad, but it was his choice.

Unfortunately, breeders like that may be a lot easier to find because of

their high volume and high profile. If you are looking for a nice family

pet from a breeder who will be there for you forever, you need to do

due diligence. You won't get that from a pet store. You won't get that

from the guy selling dogs out of his pickup truck in the WalMart parking

lot. You won't get that support from a high-volume breeder, either.

Yes, it takes a little more time and effort to find someone who really

cares and does all the work to breed the healthiest, happiest puppies

possible and then stands behind those puppies.

This is a living being that will be part of your family, hopefully, for many

years. Isn't it worth a bit of effort to find a breeder who will be there

for you and that puppy forever?

And guess what? Shows like Westminster are a very valuable resource

for finding breeders who do care and who use the best possible prac-

tices, as well as for learning more about the various breeds.

Bravo to USA Network for broadcasting the Westminster Kennel Club

show all these years. May they enjoy continued success through the

ongoing inclusion of such programs. I will be eagerly watching this year's

show!

Reprinted from http://www.americanshihtzuclub.org/

Veterinarian Speaks Out on PETA & Westminster

Vacationland Dog Club—The NEWS March 2012—Page 6

Praise is itself a reward for a job well done. Could it be that simple? It is, say the experts. Yet praise, or more specifically incorrect praise, contin-

ues to cause handlers and their dogs an inordinate amount of frustration. Endless chatter, indiscriminate reinforcement, and poor timing are the

primary culprits because they do not define exactly what behavior you want from the dog. But given a few fundamental guidelines, success is well

within the capabilities of most trainers.

No two dogs are alike. The type and quantity of praise required depend on the individual dog's personality and temperament. An excited or ani-

mated voice may work for an English Cocker, but many high-energy dogs such as Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, and Labrador Retrievers

are frequently on the verge of being out of control. Calm verbal praise works best for these dogs because just the tiniest excitement in an owner's

voice stimulates them even more, causing them to become too revved up to concentrate on the task at hand.

Physical praise is a personal thing with dogs: Some dogs love it, others dislike it. Some dogs like a little physical continued ☛contact, but give them

too much and they crumble. Some dogs--especially young puppies--go into uncontrollable wiggles at the mere anticipation of physical praise. Some

dogs enjoy physical interaction if they have a toy but dislike being stroked, patted, petted, or otherwise touched when they are working.

"Herding dogs, as a whole, want to work. Many are businesslike in their approach, and they want to get on with the job at hand," says Denise Fenzi,

a 25-year veteran of dog training who has titled dogs in conformation, obedience, herding, tracking, agility, andSchutzhund. "When owners insist on

petting them, it disturbs them. All they want is an enthusiastic 'Very good!' and a new challenge or a chance to get their toy.

"Finding what works best for your dog involves reading his body language and a bit of trial and error, say the experts. Does he lean into you-happy,

with relaxed panting, eyes open? Or does he lean away, trying to avoid physical contact? Shelties, for instance, are notorious for disliking physical

praise or contact and will usually react by pinning back their ears, lowering their heads, or averting their eyes. One downside to physical praise is

that dogs often look away when being stroked or petted. Perhaps not a problem for the agility or field-trial dog, but real trouble for the competi-

tor in obedience, where attention is everything

Fenzi recounts how one owner insisted on physically praising her dog despite the dog's obvious dislike of it. "Do you think your dog likes that?"

Fenzi finally asked. "No, but my last dog did," replied the owner. Verbal praise is the best route for dogs who dislike physical praise, and verbal

praise alone is perfectly acceptable. That said, if you want to teach your dog to enjoy physical praise, Fenzi recommends teaching it away from the

dog’s obedience training.

TONE OF VOICE

"I believe you can train a dog with nothing more than your tone of voice," says Bobbie Anderson, a 35-year veteran of the sport of dogs with more

than 200Highs in Trial and author of Building Blocks For Performance. Some dogs become happy and wag their tails when their owner speaks to them

in a normal tone of voice. Some get excited or cock their head at the sound of a high-pitched voice. Others strut around bursting with pride when

they are rewarded with a simple "Good boy!" while some are more responsive to low, soothing tones.

"As you play, train, and forge a solid relationship with your puppy or adult dog," says Anderson, "you become more proficient at reading his body

language. You learn when and how to praise effectively in order to feed his ego and boost his confidence. This, in turn, stimulates and encourages

him to continue learning.

"Anderson recommends varying the tone of your voice and the amount of praise to fit the circumstances. If a dog receives explosive praise for

every tiny thing he does, what type of praise will you use when he does something magnificent? An 8-week-old puppy who does a sit might get

"Look at you! What a good sit!" Once he begins to respond to verbal commands a "Good boy!" is usually sufficient. If a dog holds his sit while

other dogs run riot around him, the praise should be more exciting-"That was excellent! What a good boy!"-but not so exciting that he loses focus.

"Use enough praise to let him know he is right, but not so much as to make him wild and crazy and distract him from the task at hand,” says

Anderson.

Maximizing the Effects of Praise - by Tracy Libby

Vacationland Dog Club—The NEWS March 2012—Page 7

Stress caused by a new or particularly difficult exercise can hamper a dog’s ability to learn or perform. His insecurity may cause him to move slowly

or tentatively. Once the dog completes a terribly stressful task, he should be met with an, explosion of praise: 'What a good boy! You did it!

"When dogs hear a boring, repetitive tone of voice for every command, all the words run together. You say, "Good boy. Sit. No. Fido, don't. Good

dog. Fetch. Heel. Stop that. No. Come here, Fido,” and the dog hears, "Blah, blah, blah, Fido, blah, blah, blah, Fido." Besides being excruciatingly

boring, which has zero motivational power, the dog is unable to distinguish between Obedience commands and praise. He never gets a sense of

what behaviors you really like.

ENDLESS CHATTER

Equally troublesome is continuous chatter, which is like background noise that drones on and on and on. When a dog hears drawn-out, conversa-

tional chatter or continuous praise, "That's it, do your heeling. Good boy! Come on, get up here. Good boy. Yay for you. What a good man! That's

mummy's boy. Look at you. Wow! What a good boy. Yay, yay, yay!" - he has no idea why he is being praised. He cannot relate the praise to a single

behavior. Chances are good that the dog will look away, stand up, move, or wander off at the exact moment the handler is chatting away, which

reinforces the wrong behavior.

Dogs may also become overly dependent on constant praise. Having never been taught to work without continuous praise, dogs shut down when

the praise stops. This is an enormous problem in a competitive environment, such as obedience, where a handler must work quietly.

"Once a dog understands an exercise," says Fenzi, "the dog should be taught to associate silence rather than endless praise with a good perform-

ance. Silence means a reward is coming."Instead, handlers frequently get into trouble because they praise nonstop in training, and when that doesn't

create the behavior they want, they stop praising and then correct the dog. In the dog’s mind he thinks, "When the praise stops, a correction is

coming."

TIMING

In dog training, timing is everything. Proper timing tells a dog exactly what behavior you want it's black and white. Poor timing confuses a dog, cre-

ating gray areas, and as Sylvia Bishop, internationally recognized dog expert and England’s top obedience trainer and competitor, likes to say, "Keep

the gray areas out of your training!"

The behavior you praise is the behavior you reinforce. That behavior is either right or wrong, a behavior you either want or do not want. Most

traditional obedience trainers use a verbal command, such as "Yes!" or "Good boy!" to mark the behavior. Clicker trainers mark the behavior with

a clicker. Either way, timing is essential. The verbal praise or click comes at the exact moment the dog is doing the behavior. Praise that comes too

soon or too late will confuse the dog.

For example, when training a downstay, calm verbal praise should come during the exercise so the dog is reinforced for the desired behavior,

which is the down-stay. Here's what usually happens: The dog does a marvelous down-stay but receives zero praise during the exercise. The han-

dler releases the dog and then goes crazy with praise. The dog has just learned that the best part of the exercise is when it is over. "Praise is a

reward for a job well done. It should never be a signal that the exercise is finished," says Anderson.

Praise motivates a dog to continue working. Clear and specific use of praise knowing how and when to praise, how much and what type of praise

to use, and praising consistently will make things perfectly clear to your dog, and will lead to success in your training program.

Tracy Libby is the author of six books about dogs and a frequent contributor to the Gazette. She exhibits Australian Shepherds in Obedience and Conformation.

Reprinted from the Sheltie International Express, February 2012 issue, with permission from the Gazette, February 2008 issue. ❏

Maximizing the Effects of Praise - continued

Vacationland Dog Club—The NEWS March 2012—Page 8

Training, Agility & Daycare TM

3 White Birch Lane, York, Maine 03909

Sound & Object Phobia Seminar

with Helen Nicholls, CPDT-K, CDBC

In this 2 hour seminar, Helen will present this informative talk allowing you to discover the aspects of sounds and ob-jects that your dog may be fearful of and reacting to. She will introduce several ways you can help your dog become less fearful of things such as:

Thunderstorms

Fireworks

Planes

Gun Shots

Industrial Trucks/Construction Vehicles

Both animate and inanimate objects For new dog or puppy owners, this seminar helps equip you and your dog with successful steps to prevent the develop-ment of these anxieties and how to work with your dog on the fears they may already have. Seminar Details When: Sunday, March 4, 2012 Time: 12:00pm - 2:00pm Cost: $50.00 Seminar Includes: 2 hour presentation, handouts & snacks Helen Nicholls is the owner and operator of No Monkey Business Dog Training, based in Concord New Hampshire. She is a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, a member of the Association of Animal Behavior Profes-sionals and is a certified member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Read more more about Helen!

Register early to secure your spot! For more information Call: 207-363-0099 or Email: info@itsadogsworld.me

Canine Good Citizen Test Seminar Details When: Monday, March 12, 2012 Time: 6:45pm - testing in order of registration Fee: $10 - pass or fail Things to bring: 6 foot leash, brush/comb

Pre-registration not required but recommended. Download your registration form today!

For more information on the test items on the CGC test, check out the American Kennel Club web site!

For more information Call: 207-363-0099 or Email: info@itsadogsworld.me

Vacationland Dog Club—The NEWS March 2012—Page 9

Vacationland Dog Club—The NEWS March 2012—Page 10

Vacationland Dog Club—The NEWS March 2012—Page 11

Southern Maine Coastal Classic DOG SHOWS

hosted by

York County Kennel Club of Maine, Inc. &

Vacationland Dog Club, Inc.

May 17-20, 2012

Wassamki Springs Campground

56 Saco St

Scarborough, Maine

Four days of Conformation, Obedience and Rally

Supported Entries & Specialties

Check our websites details

http://yorkcountykennelclub.homestead.com/ or www.vacationlanddogclub.org

For campground accommodations visit www.wassamkisprings.com

Vacationland Dog Club—The NEWS March 2012—Page 12

V A C A T I O N L A N D D O G

C L U B , I N C .

F O U N D E D 1 9 4 5

The purpose of this club is to encourage and promote the raising, general care and training of purebred dogs; to promote harmony, fair play

and good sportsmanship in the best interests of purebred dogs; to encourage the novice owner and breeder in his approach to the raising,

general care and training of purebred dogs; to assist all members in the showing, breeding and general care and training of their dogs; to assist

the general public to understand dogs of all origins and learn to better care for and enjoy them through educational and instructional pro-

grams, projects and exhibitions, obedience and field trials, all under the rules and regulations of the AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB

Penny Overton, Editor

542 Maine St

New Gloucester, ME 04260-2661

USA .00¢ Mar. stamp

VDC MISSION STATEMENT

VDC 2012 Officers and Board of Directors President: Peg Dilley

Vice President: Claire Marx

Recording Secretary: Deb Libby

Corresponding Secretary: Nancy Jensen-Norris Treasurer: Teri Welch

Carroll Goodwin, Non-Voting Director 2012

Pollie Goodwin, Director 2012

Barbara Hunt, Director 2012

Judy Perry, Director 2013

Harold Davis, Director 2013 Richard Hendricks, Director 2012

Sandy Bergeron, Director 2013

2012 Calendar January

7 Awards Banquet

17 FMDC meeting

February

15 General meeting

21 FMDC meeting

March

20 FMDC meeting

21 General meeting

April

17 FMDC meeting

18 General meeting

May

TBA General meeting

15 FMDC meeting

16 SMCC Show Setup

17-20 SMCC Shows

June

TBA Annual Banquet

19 FMDC Annual meeting

20 General meeting

July

No general meeting

17 FMDC meeting

TBA Equipment Clean-up

August

No general meeting

21 FMDC meeting

September

18 FMDC meeting

19 General meeting

October

16 FMDC meeting

17 General meeting

November

20 FMDC meeting

21 General meeting

December

12 General Meeting

18 FMDC meeting

“The more I know about people,

the better I like my dog.”

“The dog is a gentleman; I hope to

go to his heaven not man's.”

Monthly Quotable: Mark Twain