Run, Jedi, Run

In April we discovered a new dog sport -- Fast CAT. This is a timed 100 yard dash for dogs. Dogs are handicapped by size and then timed as they run 100 yards as fast as they can down a straight, flat course. Times are turned into points. Titles are earned by point accumulation. More info can be found on the AKC website.

Look at that happy face. My friend took this picture. Isn't it great?! 

A lure is used to coax the dog to run, but Jedi couldn't have cared less about it. I was at the finish line, jumping up and down yelling "Come to Mommy!" -- and he did just that! Jedi's fastest time was 10.12 seconds. That converted to 19.87 miles per hour. I know, WOW!

Jedi has run the Fast CAT four times, and will need to run another 2-3 times to earn enough points for his BCAT title. We're looking for another trial now. I'll keep you posted. -- K

Jedi's Road Trip

Two weeks after the dog shows we took a trip to visit family in Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina. I turned 50 this year, and wanted to celebrate with people who claim to love me. However, everybody we were visiting lived in multi-level houses. There was no way Roxy could negotiate the steps from house to yard every time she had to pee. Hubby and I decided to leave Roxy with her all-time favorite person, Son #2. However, Son couldn't care for both dogs, so Jedi went with us.

First stop: Major tourist trap, South of the Border in Dillon, South Carolina. This used to be a fun place for me and Hubby when we were dating. Unfortunately, it's become run down in the past decade and has lost it's charm. Still, we got some fun pics with Jedi.

The Virginia Welcome Center was very nice. Jedi had many admirers.

Jedi made some pirate friends at the Privateer Festival in Baltimore . . .

And some doggie friends at the Culpeper Dog Park. 

He visited one of many dog-friendly wineries in western Virginia. 

He also met his doggie cousins Skadi . . . 

And Rosie.

It was a busy ten days. Jedi was happy to come home to his own couch. I was too!

Until next time, -- K

What a Day

Some days are busier than others. And some are just difficult to describe. Thank goodness for cell phones. I take pictures because I don't think people would believe my stories otherwise! These were from a day a few weeks ago.

A peahen was hanging out with the crossing guard, making sure the kids got to school OK. The peahens have been here for a year and I'm still getting calls!

A young opossum refused to leave a resident's laundry room. (He was relocated to a nearby park.)

 

A pair of female mallard ducks played in a puddle outside City Hall. Yes, I got called by several "concerned citizens."

 

Did I mention that technically I don't deal with wildlife? Good thing it's Wordless Wednesday, else I'd say a few not-so-nice things right about now. TTFN, -- K

One More Time

At 4.5 months the puppy is all legs
and wonky ears

Life's been busy, busy, busy since I returned from Westminster so many months ago. Somehow I totally missed spring. It was cold, I blinked, and suddenly it's summer. Here are some of the things I've been up to:

• Work. Warm weather brings more work to my tiny beach town. (Maybe I'll tell you about my cruelty case later. It was a doozy!)
• Old dog drama. Roxy is now 13+ years old. We've spent a lot of time and energy dealing with her senior issues. I'll share what I can, but sometimes I just cry.
• Dog sports. Jedi earned another title (Farm Dog), but his training has stalled in Barn Hunt, Nose Work and Rally.
• Dog shows. The April specially shows happened. There were a few problems, but all in all they were successful.
• But the biggest news of all: I'm getting back in the conformation ring -- with a new puppy! I know, I'm shocked too.

I've been talking about the possibility of getting a new puppy for a few months now. However, I haven't even talked to breeders. Mostly it was "After Roxy is gone..." (Did I mention she's 13?!) At the last Club meeting I stated that I would take the Show Secretary position again. However, if I got a new puppy I would have to step down, as I would want to show and that's against AKC rules.

Fast forward a couple weeks: Last weekend I got an email from one of the breeders in the club. She said that she held two puppies from her last litter, a boy and a girl. Both are spectacular and good show prospects. However, she realized that she really doesn't need to keep another male. She already has four boys, and as a breeder keeping the female was the better choice. But she was conflicted, because the male really is a good dog. He has nice movement, good structure, a good temperament, is eager to please and is very food motivated. (Breeder has bred 28 champions, so I trust her assessment.) She remembered me saying I wanted a puppy and offered the 4 1/2 month old boy to me. She thinks I could do well with this guy (under her tutelage if I so choose) and knows that regardless of ring results, he would have a loving home and enriching life with us. "But no pressure, if it's not the right time..."

I'm not an impulsive person. I like to take time think things through. (LOTS of time according to my husband.) So immediately I had a thousand different thoughts. Fortunately, Hubby was home and able to sort through everything going on in my brain. We drove an hour to Breeder's place and tried to objectively assess the pup. Everything she said about the puppy appeared to be true.

Long story short: This guy is coming home with me on Friday. I'm still playing with name ideas. I'm open to suggestions. AKC naming rules were explained here back when we were waiting for Jedi. (FYI the kennel name this time is J-Lyn.)

Stay tuned friends, it's about to get real around here! -- K

Showtime -- The Aftermath

I didn't know there was math involved!

There are a few things that must be completed before a show committee can say everything is done.

Day Of:

• Ensure that the steward's and secretary's catalogs match the Judge's Book (which is really just a couple sheets of paper).
• Double check the number of dogs judged (may differ from number of entries) and verify the points earned for the show. This is a big deal!
• Mark a catalog for the judge to keep.
• The Judge's Book must be signed.
• Apparently there is supposed to be a cover sheet that goes along with the Judge's Book, but I can't find one online or in the AKC manual. The judge handwrote the information on the front of the Judge's Book. (Note to self: design something for next year.)
• It's best to have the club treasurer at the show with checkbook in hand. The photographer will want to settle up and the judges may have additional expenses they need to be reimbursed. Plus, there are always last minute purchases, no matter how hard you plan.

Within the week:

• A marked catalog must be sent to the AKC.
• The Report of Dog Show or Obedience Trial form must be filled out and fees tallied. The AKC charges the club $3.50 per entry (on top of the initial $100 they charge just to have the show). Annotate any unusual events on the form.
• The Judge's Book, a marked catalog, the Report of Dog Show or Obedience Trial and the check all have to be sent to the AKC within seven days of the show. FYI: If you have two shows in one day (like we did) you must send the information separately.
• I learned later that our parent club, The German Shepherd Dog Club of America, also wants a marked catalog and copies of the win pictures. Unfortunately, they didn't tell us up front, nor do they advertise who/where to send this information.

For A While:

• Per AKC, the club must hold onto all entry forms for six months. It's a good idea to have a copy of the judge's book and any other paperwork (i.e. disciplinary hearing) on hand as well.
• Keep a clean, marked catalog for the club.
• Once the show is over and all bills have been paid, it's a good idea to have the club treasurer draw up a profit and loss statement for the show.

Repeat:

• While the event is still fresh, the show committee should sit down and discuss what worked, what didn't and what could be done better the next time. (I suggest this be done over a bottle a wine.)
• Ideally, a folder will be made for posterity/the next show committee. That folder should include:
• Copies of all paperwork related to the show -- applications, letters, judges contracts, vendor orders, the premium, the catalog, the Report of Dog Show or Obedience Trial, etc.
• The profit and loss statement
• After action notes from the committee
• Passwords to the Show Secretary email and PayPal accounts
• A flash drive containing the master address list, premium and catalog (to be used templates -- seriously, we shouldn't have to reinvent the wheel every year!)
• Don't spend too much time resting on your laurels (or licking your wounds, depending on how well the show went). It's time to start planning for next year!

Whew. That was a lot of work. Did you learn anything? I sure did! -- K

Showtime -- The Big Day

Manning my table

On April 6, 2018, nine months of hard work finally paid off. 25 beautiful dogs came to our German Shepherd Specialty shows. The weather was clear and warm. But as show secretary, I didn't have time to watch the show. I had work to do!

The Show Secretary's table was set up ringside. With me was a big box of stuff including:

• Entry forms. Per the AKC the club must have "All entry forms, arranged in catalog order so the Secretary can easily refer to these forms to answer any questions exhibitors may raise." (Trust me, they raise questions!)
• Armbands for all exhibitors. To make things easier for everybody, the Secretary should print the dog's name and class on the backside of the armband. (Not my invention. Just passing on what I've learned from others.)
• Catalogs. Have one for the table (mark "TABLE COPY, DO NOT REMOVE" on it -- 'cuz they will). Catalogs will also be needed for stewards, judges, AKC and to be purchased by anyone who wants one. However, the AKC mandates that the catalog cannot go on sale until one hour prior to regular judging.
• The latest versions of the AKC booklets: Rules Applying to Dog Shows Rules, Policies and Guidelines for Conformation Dog Show Judges, Dog Show Stewards, Junior Showmanship, Rules Applying to Registration and Discipline, and Dealing with Misconduct. Fortunately, the AKC sends these ahead of time.
• CYA forms Event Committee Hearing Procedural Checklist forms, Club Incident Report forms, Dog Aggression -- Action by Event Committee forms and Dog Disqualified by Judge for Attacking forms. (Pray you don't have to use them!) The AKC sends these as well.
• A copy of the Premium. Remember, this is the contract the club made with the exhibitors. The club should abide by all the promises made in the premium. By the same token, the premium contained regulations and disclaimers that the exhibitors agreed to when they entered.
  

  

  Winners Bitch competition

• A list of pre-ordered catalogs.
• A list of anyone who may owe or be owed money for entries or catalogs. (It happens.)
• Any miscellaneous things you may need like pens, markers, rubber bands, badges, clipboards, tape and a stapler.

We're a small club, so everybody pulls double (and triple) duty. In addition to manning my table I arrived early to unload the trailer, helped set up the concessions tent, helped the afternoon steward (it was her first time and she was nervous), answered a bajillion questions and refrained from choking a regular busybody. When the show was over I helped break down and reload the trailer before going out to dinner to celebrate a job well done. It was a l-o-n-g day. All we have left is the aftermath, then we can call this show officially over. -- K

Showtime -- The Catalog

The premium was sent out March 1 and entries trickled in -- until the closing date. Then all the entries came at once! Putting together an official show catalog isn't easy.

Dogs (male) or bitches (females) are entered into a specific class. This year our club offered the following classes:

• PUPPY DOGS (6 months to under 9 months)
• PUPPY DOGS (9 months to under 12 months)
• DOGS (12 months to under 18 months)
• NOVICE DOGS
• BRED-BY-EXHIBITOR DOGS
• AMERICAN BRED DOGS
• OPEN DOGS
• PUPPY BITCHES (6 months to under 9 months)
• PUPPY BITCHES (9 months to under 12 months)
• BITCHES (12 months to under 18 months)
• NOVICE BITCHES
• BRED-BY-EXHIBITOR BITCHES
• AMERICAN BRED BITCHES
• OPEN BITCHES
• BEST OF BREED

The entrants are listed in the catalog by class with a whole lot of information. The specified listing required by the AKC is:

Our catalog!

DOG'S FULL REGISTERED NAME. Registration number. Date of birth. Breeder's name by sire's full registered name -- dam's full registered name. Owner's name, full address. (Hired agent, handler)

It looks something like this:

ROLLING STONES' JUMPIN JACK FLASH. DN12345678. 07/04/15. Breeder: John Lennon by GCH Hard Daze Knight -- CH Strawberry Fields V Yesterday, TC. Owners: Mickey and Minnie Mouse, 123 Disney World Dr, Orlando, FL 32830. (Harry Potter, Handler)

Trust me, that's quite the task. First of all, not all handwriting is legible. I had to email several people for clarification. Also, some registered names are outrageous -- hyphens, apostrophes, alternative spellings. Ugh. The Show Secretary's job is to ensure every jot and tittle is correct. I ended up going to breeders' websites and calling owners to confirm the proper spelling of over a dozen dogs.

Once it's determined that every dog is in the right class, each entrant is assigned a number/arm band. The numbers are listed in the catalog with the corresponding dog. To keep things as objective as possible, dogs are judged anonymously. The judge only knows the dog by number until after the show is over.

The AKC requires a number of other things be listed in the catalog as well. The cover or title page must include:

• Date or dates of the event
• Name of the show-giving club
• Notice that the event is held under American Kennel Club rules
• American Kennel Club logo
• The event's exact location and time of opening and closing
• List of the club's officers
• List of the members of the Event Committee
• The Show Chair’s address
• Name and address of the Superintendent and/or Show Secretary
• Name, complete address, and assignment of each judge
• Name of the veterinarian or veterinary clinic, and whether the veterinarian will be in attendance or on-call

The catalog must also contain a list of prizes and trophies, the AKC Schedule of Points for the region and a copy of the judging program.

Over-achiever that I am, our catalog included much, much more. I was given carte blanche to write the catalog that I would have wanted to see as a newbie. I included:

• The AKC Code of Sportsmanship
• Our club history, Facebook and web addresses
• 2017 Club Member awards
• The Official AKC breed standard
• A Disaster and Emergency plan
• … and puzzles about anatomy & terminology!

I easily put 80 hours into the catalog. It is beautiful! And now we have a template for next year. I think we're about ready the Big Day. -- K