THE GERMAN SHEPHERD SENTINEL
JANUARY 2008 - NEWSLETTER
OF THE
GSDC OF GREATER RALEIGH
Janine Hamlin, Newsletter Editor
2013 Ruddy Road, Raleigh, NC 27616
PH: 919-649-4112, E-Mail: jhamlin@nc.rr.com
Website: www.gsdcofgrraleigh.org
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Board Policy on Dogs at Club Sponsored Events
2. January Meeting Information
3. October, November and December Minutes
4. Cracking the Code: Inside Story on Dog Food
5. Dog Quotes
6. The World of Dog Shows
7. Dog Show Terms
BOARD POLICY ON DOGS AT CLUB SPONSORED EVENTS
The GSDC of Greater Raleigh welcomes your German Shepherd at our events, including meetings. However, the following rules must be followed:
1. Anyone with an aggressive dog (one that growls, snaps, or is in any way aggressive towards other dogs or people) must be muzzled.
2. Dogs will be free of loose hair and external parasites (fleas or ticks). Please brush your dog prior to bringing it to the meeting as we must clean up the room after we are finished.
3. For the safety of all members, guests and their dogs, it is strongly recommended that all dogs be kept up to date on their vaccinations. ALL dogs that are old enough MUST have a current rabies shot.
JANUARY 2008 MEETING INFORMATION
SPECIAL NOTE: Please make note that the January club meeting is taking place Wednesday, January 16 instead of Wednesday, January 2nd.
The program will be presented by Jochen Janz and Bob Kindberg (with additional guest Cynthia McMahan). They breed, raise, and train strictly German Shepherds with German blood lines and will be talking about their kennel and training. They are interested in becoming club members as well. Additional information about them is below; their website is http://www.lachenerweg.de/.
“The Kennel "vom Lachenerweg" is located in Germany and "vom Globalhaus" is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. We breed German Shepherds of German bloodlines under the German SV rules. This requires that our dogs are Elbow and Hip rated, DNA proved, Schutzhund titled, breed surveyed and at least V, mostly VA rated. We have been breeding, training and showing German Shepherds for over 29 years all over the world. We breed the nice black and red pigment, with excellent temperament for working titles and show competition, but mostly as an excellent family companion. Our puppies are home-raised and socialized in a nice environment. We also have young adults and Schutzhund tilted dogs from time to time and we are able to help you finding exactly what you are looking for because we live here and in Germany.
We also can offer our Dog Training Services, German Shepherd Puppies and Stud Service with our four times VA & VA1 Male Hoss vom Hirmer Teich and his son VA Nick vom Altpoertel, in the Triangle Area (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill ) North Carolina.”
Refreshments will be furnished by Alison King.
Meeting Minutes From
October 3, 2007
Attendance: There were 18 people and 13 dogs in attendance.
Program: Dr. Audra Alley, from Bowman Animal Hospital, discussed acupuncture as a complimentary care for pets.
Meeting:
- Discussed location for this years club Christmas party to take place the first Wednesday in December in lieu of regular club meeting. Bill Pfeiffer was going to check with his wife, Geri, to see if she was okay with having it at their home. Alternate location would be Ragazzi's of Raleigh where it was held last year.
- Sarah Bridges read the treasury report for last month.
- Third reading of new membership applications for two new club members were read and accepted.
- Mary Bjelica presented several drafts for the ad for the club's 2008 spring show and the members selected the final ad. Bill needs to provide Mary the names of the judges for the other clubs shows that week.
- Bill will work with Pat Babuin about putting a copy in the premium for the other shows as well.
Brags:
- Deeda's Roxie finished her championship.
- Nicki's parents have located a long-hair GSD puppy and will have it at next meeting.
- Frank Sanders (San-Fran Kennel) currently has a litter of eight puppies.
Meeting Minutes From
November 7, 2007
Program: The meeting consisted of club member Mary Bjelica explaining how to prepare and test for Canine Good Citizens recognition. In addition information was provided about temperament testing and a video was shown on how to set-up and conduct temperament testing.
Meeting: No formal meeting was held. Club members were reminded that the club Christmas party would take place at Ragazzi's restaurant on December 5th in lieu of usual meeting place - invitations were distributed.
Meeting Minutes From
December 5, 2007
Program: The club’s Christmas dinner was held at Ragazzi’s. Several wonderful presents were exchanged during a very polite game of “White Elephant.”
Cracking The Code: Inside story on dog food
Largely self-regulated, manufacturers aren't on the tightest of leashes
Leslie Mann, Tribune, December 16, 2007
Years ago, you didn't hear the words "natural," "organic," "raw" or "human-grade" in the same sentence as "dog food." But now the market for healthful dog food is growing faster than a Great Dane pup, and the lexicon has greatly expanded. The only problem: What does it all mean?
"It's basically a multibillion-dollar industry that's self-regulated," warned Ann N. Martin, who has written books on the topic, including "Food Pets Die For: Shocking Facts About Pet Food" (NewSage, $13.95).
A handbook from the Association of American Feed Control Officials defines a "uniform code" that most manufacturers use, but AAFCO isn't a government agency; it's an independent organization with members that include pet food manufacturers.
The Food and Drug Administration, according to its Web site, "ensures that the ingredients used in pet food are safe," but headlines earlier this year proved that this isn't always so. And it bases its regulations on the AAFCO code, which is voluntary.
State departments of agriculture randomly test the food to make sure the ingredients correspond with the labels, according to a spokesman for the Illinois agency.
Terms such as "natural" are meaningless. In fact, this word was on many of the packages recalled starting last March, when pet food from China was found to be contaminated with an industrial chemical.
"Human-grade" means the dog food has met government regulations for human food, and "raw" means it is uncooked, but are these products nutritional for dogs?
A dog food can meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture's definition of "organic" for human food but may lack nutrients that dogs need. "Made with organic ingredients" doesn't necessarily mean all ingredients are organic.
"Poop is organic!" said Debra Thomas of Chicago-based Animal Affinity, which provides dog owners with nutritional counseling. "Beware of that term. Look for the food with the least amount of ingredients and ingredients that you recognize."
Understanding ingredient labels takes homework, too, but Martin's "Food" book walks you through it.
"Meat" (or the animal name, such as "chicken") means "clean flesh from slaughtered animals." This, Martin said, is what you find in better dog foods.
"Meat byproducts" are parts other than the "clean flesh," such as feet, beaks, heads and animal carcasses deemed unfit for humans.
"Meat meal" is rendered animals and can include roadkill, diseased livestock, livestock found dead, rotten meat from grocery stores, restaurant grease and -- brace yourself, dog lovers -- dead pets and the barbiturates used to euthanize them.
"Pet-food companies deny that any of their products contain rendered companion animals," Martin wrote in "Food." "They claim to ask their suppliers not to include cats and dogs; however, I have yet to find a pet food company that actually tests the raw material that it receives from a
rendering plant to ascertain the sources of the protein."
Other common protein sources in dog foods, all blessed by AAFCO, include hydrolyzed hair (hair from slaughtered livestock), food-processing waste from institutions such as hospitals, and dried swine and poultry excreta.
Even the grains in commercial dog food aren't as pure as some dog owners believe, Martin said. They can contain herbicides and pesticides, she explained in "Food." If a label says "no additives or preservatives," Martin explained, that means only that the pet food maker didn't add them. Most pet food companies farm out their manufacturing. Wheeling-based Evanger's, she said, is one of the few exceptions.
Equally troubling is the claim "hormone- and antibiotic-free." To verify this, look for foods such as Pet Promise that are "source-verified." This, explained its co-founder, Dave Carter, means the company works directly with farmers who don't use hormones or antibiotics.
To research foods, Thomas suggested that you "buy from a store where you can ask a lot of questions. And go to the [food manufacturer's] Web site and read about the company and its food contents."
"Education is part of our job," said Dr. Phil Brown, corporate veterinarian for Newman's Own Organics. "If you see an ingredient on the label you don't understand, ask."
Or, consult a nutritionist through the American College of Veterinary Nutrition, suggested Dr. Edward Moser, a nutritionist and a spokesman for Wellness dog foods.
"He can help you determine which food is best for your dog's age, type, etc., and if your dog has allergies to any ingredients," Moser said.
Or, like Martin, cook your own food. Cooking one hour a week yields enough food for her 160-pound Newfoundland, she said. A good recipe, said Martin, consists of one-third each of meat, whole grains and ground fruits and vegetables, plus a little oil.
Dog Quotes
"If you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater. . . suggest that he wear a tail." - Fran Lebowitz
"You can say any fool thing to a dog, and the dog will give you this look that says, `My God, you're RIGHT! I NEVER would've thought of that!'" - Dave Barry
"If your dog doesn't like someone you probably shouldn't either." – Unknown
"The more people I meet the more I like my dog." – Unknown
"In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely try to train him to be semihuman. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog." - Edward Hoagland
"I once decided not to date a guy because he wasn't excited to meet my dog. I mean, this was like not wanting to meet my mother." - Bonnie Schacter, Founder of the Single Pet Owner's Society Singles Group
"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace." - Milan Kundera
"A really companionable and indispensable dog is an accident of nature. You can't get it by breeding for it, and you can't buy it with money. It just happens along." - E B White, The Care and Training of a Dog
"I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts." - John Steinbeck
"Did you ever walk into a room and forget why you walked in? I think that is how dogs spend their lives." - Sue Murphy
"Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear." - Dave Barry
"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive." - Gilda Radner
The World of Dog Shows
(as found at www.akc.org)
Showing dogs is a great sport where the thrill of competition is combined with the joy of seeing beautiful dogs. Dog shows are one of many types of AKC dog events in which AKC-registered dogs can compete. These events, which draw nearly two million entries annually, include dog shows and tests of instinct and trainability, such as obedience trials, Canine Good Citizen tests, field trials, agility trials, lure coursing, rally, hunting tests, herding trials, tracking tests, coonhound and earthdog events.
Dog shows (conformation events) are intended to evaluate breeding stock. The size of these events ranges from large all-breed shows, with over 3,000 dogs entered, to small local specialty club shows, featuring a specific breed. The dog's conformation (overall appearance and structure), an indication of the dog's ability to produce quality puppies, is judged.
Types of Conformation Dog Shows
There are three types of conformation dog shows:
All-breed shows offer competitions for over 150 breeds and varieties of dogs recognized by the AKC. All-breed shows are the type often shown on television
Specialty shows are restricted to dogs of a specific breed or to varieties of one breed. For example, the Bulldog Club of America Specialty is for Bulldogs only, but the Poodle Club of America's specialty show includes the three varieties of the Poodle - Standard, Miniature and Toy.
Group shows are limited to dogs belonging to one of the seven groups. For example, the Potomac Hound Group show features only breeds belonging to the Hound group.
Which Dogs May Participate
To be eligible to compete, a dog must:
- be individually registered with the American Kennel Club
- be 6 months of age or older
- be a breed for which classes are offered at a show
- meet any eligibility requirements in the written standard for its breed
Spayed or neutered dogs are not eligible to compete in conformation classes at a dog show, because the purpose of a dog show is to evaluate breeding stock.
The Role of the Judge
Judges examine the dogs, then give awards according to how closely each dog compares to the judge's mental image of the "perfect" dog described in the breed's official standard.
The standard describes the characteristics that allow the breed to perform the function for which it was bred. These standards include specifications for structure, temperament and movement.
The official written standard for each breed is maintained by the breed's national club and is included in The Complete Dog Book published by the AKC.
The judges are experts on the breeds they are judging. They examine ("go over") each dog with their hands to see if the teeth, muscles, bones and coat texture conform to the breed's standard. They view each dog in profile for overall balance, and watch each dog gait ("move") to see how all of those features fit together in action.
How a Dog Show Works
Each dog presented to a judge is exhibited ("handled") by its owner, breeder or a hired professional. The role of a handler is similar to that of a jockey who rides a horse around the track and, hopefully, into the winner's circle.
Most dogs in competition at conformation shows are competing for points toward their AKC championships. It takes fifteen points, including two majors (wins of three, four or five points) awarded by at least three different judges, to become an American Kennel Club "Champion of Record."
The number of championship points awarded at a show depends on the number of males ("dogs") and females ("bitches") of the breed actually in competition. The larger the entry, the greater the number of points a male or a female can win. The maximum number of points awarded to a dog at any show is 5 points.
Males and females compete separately within their respective breeds, in six regular classes. The following classes are offered, and are divided by sex:
Puppy - For dogs between six and twelve months of age, that are not yet champions.
Twelve-To-Eighteen Months - For dogs twelve to eighteen months of age, that are not yet champions.
Novice - For dogs six months of age and over, which have not, prior to the date of closing of entries, won three first prizes in the Novice Class, a first prize in Bred-by-Exhibitor, American-bred, or Open Classes, nor one or more points toward their championship.
Bred By Exhibitor - For dogs that are exhibited by their owner and breeder, that are not yet champions.
American-Bred - For dogs born in the United States from a mating which took place in the United States, that are not yet champions.
Open - For any dog of the breed, at least 6 months of age.
After these classes are judged, all the dogs that won first place in a class compete again to see who is the best of the winning dogs. Males and females are judged separately. Only the best male (Winners Dog) and the best female (Winners Bitch) receive championship points. The Winners Dog and Winners Bitch then compete with the champions for the Best of Breed award. At the end of the Best of Breed Competition, three awards are usually given:
Best of Breed - the dog judged as the best in its breed category.
Best of Winners - the dog judged as the better of the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch.
Best of Opposite Sex - the best dog that is the opposite sex to the Best of Breed winner.
The Road to Best in Show
Dog shows are a process of elimination, with one dog being named Best in Show at the end of the show.
Only the Best of Breed winners advance to compete in the Group competitions. Each AKC-recognized breed falls into one of seven group classifications. The seven groups are Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding. Four placements are awarded in each group, but only the first-place winner advances to the Best In Show competition.
The Seven Groups in All-Breed Shows
Sporting - These dogs were bred to hunt game birds both on land and in the water. The breeds in this group include Pointers, Retrievers, Setters and Spaniels.
Hounds - These breeds were bred for hunting other game by sight or scent. These breeds include such dogs as Beagles, Bassets, Dachshunds and Greyhounds.
Working - These dogs were bred to pull carts, guard property and perform search and rescue services. Among the breeds in this group are the Akita, Boxer, Doberman Pinscher and St. Bernard.
Terrier - This group includes breeds such as the Airedale, Cairn Terrier and Scottish Terrier. Terriers were bred to rid property of vermin such as rats.
Toy - These dogs were bred to be household companions. This group includes little dogs such as the Chihuahua, Maltese, Pomeranian and Pug.
Non-Sporting - This diverse group includes the Chow Chow, Bulldog, Dalmatian and Poodle. These dogs vary in size and function, and many are considered companion dogs.
Herding - These dogs were bred to help shepherds and ranchers herd their livestock. The Briard, Collie, German Shepherd Dog and Old English Sheepdog are some of the breeds in this group.
Finally, the seven group winners are brought into the ring where they compete for Best In Show, the highest award at a dog show.
Ribbons
Each dog that receives an award is given a ribbon by the judge. The color of the ribbon indicates the type of award the dog has won.
Blue - awarded for first place in any regular class. Also awarded to the winner of each group competition, usually in the form of a "rosette".
Red - awarded for second place in each class. Also awarded for second place in each group competition, usually in the form of a "rosette".
Yellow - awarded for third place in each class. Also awarded for third place in each group competition, usually in the form of a "rosette".
White - awarded for fourth place in each class. Also awarded for fourth place of each group competition, usually in the form of a "rosette".
Purple - awarded to the winners of the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch classes. Since these are the classes in which championship points are earned, these ribbons are highly coveted.
Purple and White - awarded to the Reserve Winners; that is, the runners-up to the winner of the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch classes.
Blue and White - awarded to the dog that wins Best of Winners; that is, the better of the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch winners.
Purple and Gold - awarded to the dog judged "Best of Breed" in each breed competition. This is highly coveted because it allows advancement to the Group competition.
Red and White - awarded to the Best of Opposite Sex. This means the best dog of the breed that is the opposite sex of the Best of Breed winner.
Red, White and Blue - only one of these is awarded, at the end of each show. It is given to the ultimate award winner, the Best In Show.
How Do I Get Started Showing My Dog?
The best place to start is by joining a local kennel club, whether an all-breed kennel club or a breed-specific specialty club. A listing of clubs by state can be found on our Club Search page or through our customer service department by calling (919) 233-9767.
Local clubs will have information on training classes for the show ring, and for obedience and agility classes. Even if the show ring is not your ultimate goal, the relationship that training forms between you and your dog will be very rewarding to you both. Local clubs also have "Fun Matches" where you and your dog can test your skill in the ring.
Handling your dog is an exceptional and enjoyable experience. From the grooming table to the show ring, you and your dog will develop a bond. While training classes offer the best hands-on way to practice for the show ring, attending shows and observing your breed is also a great way to gain understanding of what judges and other competitors do.
If you do not wish to handle your dog yourself, or have a friend or family member do it, you may contact a professional handler who charges a fee for showing your dog.
You're on your way! You are entering a sport that will bring many hours of enjoyment and education to every member of your family. You will make many friends in the sport, and will enjoy your dog and your new hobby for many years to come.
Junior Showmanship
The AKC offers youngsters 10 to 18 years of age the opportunity to compete with others their own age at various AKC events. Juniors competing in conformation events are judged on how they present their dogs.
Tips for the First-Time Exhibitor
- Make sure your dog is registered with the AKC.
- Be sure your dog is current on all inoculations.
- Learn the proper techniques for grooming and for presenting your dog in the ring.
- Join your breed's Parent Club, or a Local Specialty and/or All-Breed club in your area.
- Become familiar with the AKC rules and regulations for dog shows.
- Attend some dog shows to observe your breed being judged and how others present your breed. Get a Judging Program at the show to find out ring number and judging time.
- Use the knowledge of your breeder.
- Don't be afraid to ask questions.
- Attend handling classes with your dog.
Tips for the First-Time Spectator
- If the grooming area is open to spectators, visit it and talk with professional groomers to get tips on keeping your dog looking his best.
- However tempting, do not pet a dog without asking for permission first. The dog may have just been groomed in preparation for being judged.
- At each dog show, you will find vendors and information booths. Many club booths offer helpful information to the general public.
- Wear comfortable shoes - you'll be doing a lot of walking. Unless you bring a chair or arrive early, be prepared to stand most of the time, as seating is usually limited.
- If you are considering getting a purebred dog, talk to the breeders and exhibitors - they are experts in their breeds
- If you bring a baby stroller to a dog show, be careful that you do not run over any dog's tail, and that your child does not grab or poke the dogs it can reach. Avoid having them near ring entrances, which are especially crowded. Some shows prohibit baby strollers.
Dog Show Terms
Angulation - Angles created by bones meeting at their joints.
Baiting - Using liver or some treat to get the dog's attention and have him look alert.
Bench Show - A dog show at which the dogs are kept on assigned benches when not being shown in competition, so they can be viewed and discussed by attendees, exhibitors and breeders.
Exhibitor - A person who brings a dog to a dog show and shows it in the appropriate class.
Fancier - A person who is especially interested, and usually active, in some phase of the sport of purebred dogs.
Gait - The way a dog moves, movement is a good indicator of structure and condition.
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Groom - To brush, comb, trim or otherwise make a dog's coat neat.
Handler - A person or agent who takes a dog into the show ring or who works the dog at a field trial or other performance event.
Heel - A command to a dog to keep close beside its handler.
Match Show - A usually informal dog show at which no championship points are awarded.
Miscellaneous Class - Transitional class for breeds attempting to advance to full AKC recognition.
Pedigree - The written record of a dog's family tree of three or more generations.
Points - Credits earned toward a championship.
Soundness - Mental and physical well-being.
Stacking - Posing the dog's legs and body to create a pleasing picture
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