Southern Flatcoated Retriever Club (proposed) Special points of interest: Chairman s Chat Logo Training Grooming BBQ Finance Inside this issue: Gundog Training Grooming and Handling day 2 3 4 September 2009 Volume 1, Issue 1 Chairman s Chat with Ann Youens Can you believe that it is well over a year that the seed was sown for a new Club to be formed? Welks April last year was when Brenda and David Hutchison went round asking for support for this. At the same show David approached me asking if I would consider becoming Chairman...Wow what a responsibility, but David had a lot of faith in me! I couldn t give him an answer there and then, a lot of thought had to go into this. More than you will ever know! All the Kennel Club requirements were put into place and the criteria was fulfilled. July, David approached me with the very serious request, and after a great deal of thought I agreed. The main question I asked myself was; could I help people with F/Cs enjoy them more, could I help the breed, would F/Cs be of the utmost importance? At the start of all our meetings I have insisted on no out of hours discussions resulting in a decision amongst What Rabbit friends, any issues between committee members would be sorted at our meetings. I believe we have achieved this, and what a thrill at the recent BBQ to see all committee members socializing with Club members and at the end everyone pulling their weight to clear up. Thank you team and thank you Joan for making your home available for this super occasion! As you will see we have put on a variety of days covering quite a good area of activities...dancing with Dogs, Agility and Obedience has to be next on our list, so any volunteers step forward please? Events have been well supported and to prove it we have a healthy bank balance to start we hope, a fully KC approved Club, so thank you to all who have donated, joined, even though you are too far a field to come via the M25 car park and those who have supported our raffles. Our membership now stands at over a hundred and is increasing steadily, so hopefully when, not if we get KC approval we can really set to and promote membership. I feel all will benefit in some way be they pet owner (aren t we all?) the serious show-goer, working person or what ever.
Southern Flatcoated Retriever Club (proposed) Chairman s Chat cont.. We have quite a Committee of experienced F/C owners so do feel free to ask one of us if you have a problem, if we cant help you we will try to find someone who can! At present we do not have a Health Committee, Litter recorder or a Rescue and Rehousing Committee so please if you need either of these, do use the main Society facilities, they do a sterling job. We are now waiting for the KC decision, it has been in the BBQ Gazette for the required number of months, and so providing objections to our Club are not too serious, we should hear by Christmas. Don t spread it around though, we will be celebrating in style, and if you are a member you will be notified. Finally I would like to thank Suzi Tagg our Secretary particularly who has worked tirelessly for the proposed Club and all the Committee members who have taken the helm at organizing events. We all have a good working relationship so long may it last. May you always enjoy each and every day with our precious F/Cs, tolerate their owners, as we all have our own views, maybe not yours but it is a free country and we ALL have a common interest The Flatcoated Retriever Ann Have a go logo Win a Prize As you may have noticed we do not yet have a logo, so we are asking you as members to give us a hand! We are running a competition for one of our members to design a logo suitable for the Southern Flatcoated Retriever Club ( proposed). The prize is a glass Flatcoated Retriever heat resistant board. Please send photograph. All entries must be sent to Suzi Tagg by 30th October2009. They can be sent either post or email. suzi@cheekyrascals.co.uk Ash Barn Winchester Road Stroud Petersfield Hampshire GU32 3PN So please get your artistic heads on and be the proud owner of the logo. Page 2
Gundog Training with Andrew Durrant Volume 1, Issue 1 Gundog Training Andrew Durrant (Vice Chairman) ran a Beginners Gundog training course which lasted eight weeks. This proved a great success and we have received some very positive feed back from the people who attended. Have a look at the comments below from Jacqui Thomas (Tygwyn Flatcoated Retrievers): Well were do I start. First I must say that I was very anxious when I decided to put my name down for the course. The words Gundog training seems very serious and only for people who live and breathe life in the countryside. We meet up with Andrew (our instructor) and he immediately put us all at ease. He explained to us that this extra training can be done with an aim in mind, for example being able to take your dog out shooting, but also it is a simply a way to increase the bond between you and your dog, and also give additional mental stimulation. We did an eight week course which Andrew conducted in a logical, ordered way and ensured that we had the basic obedience and control exercises mastered to the best of our ability, with a fun element attached. I loved every session and Sasha (my lovely 2 year old flatcoat) had a ball. Before the course I had done only the very, very basic obedience training with her, but by the end of the course we were working as a team and I am so ecstatic to tell you that she is now retrieving from a good distance. I did not think I would be saying this, but I am completely hooked. This course run by Andrew covers the basic Gundog training and does not involve going out shooting, or having to handle a dead animal, it is simply a way to harness your dog s natural instinct, and have a bit of fun at the same time. I highly recommend this course. Am already onto the next. Well done and thank you to Andrew for organising this and for receiving such positive feedback. We look forward to the next course, so do keep your eyes and ear open for dates. Next course starts Oct 11th 2009 Sunday 9.00am For more details email Andrew glenturret.ad@googlemail.com Tel. 07768647577 Tel. 01252 310267 Page 3
Southern Flatcoated Retriever Club (proposed) Kate wore a miniskirt, answered her mobile phone in the ring, chewed gum. Grooming and Handling Day Handling report by Lauren Vincent The training session started with Kate and Nicloe showing all just how it should not be done. Kate wore a miniskirt, answered her mobile phone in the ring, chewed gum, constantly stared at the judge and shouted at her dog. Whilst Nicole ran her dog off the mats and stood very close to Kate. Cinders and Martha must have been wondering what on earth was going on! The girls then changed in to something a little less revealing and showed how you should handle and get the very best out of your dog. They demonstrated how to execute a triangle, double gaiting and how to present the dog and show the teeth correctly. After this we split up into three groups and put the handlers through their paces. Fortunately it was a beautiful sunny afternoon so we were able to get out onto the green giving us plenty of room to handle the dogs. This caused a great deal of laughter, but on a serious side how often do we and our dogs get put off by other exhibitor s antics in the ring. Often I might say, not done on purpose but purely down to an inexperienced handler who knows no better and with a little more thought and training would get the best out of their dog.. After all we only have one chance in the ring to show our dog off at its very best and it s these mistakes that can mean a dog being placed or not in the line up. I have often seen good specimens of dogs go unplaced solely on the fact that they have been handled badly. Kate and Nicole looked after the juniors and Helen Osborn-brown and myself split the adults into two groups giving one to one tuition. That afternoon passed all too quickly but hopefully the handlers went away with more of an idea of how too get the best out of their dog in the show ring. Summer BBQ Junior handling BBQ This proved another resounding success, we couldn t of had a better day weather wise! Huge thanks have to go to Joan Rudkin for hosting in the grounds of her beautiful house. Thanks to the chefs, Ray, Ricky and... Who did stirling work dishing out lovely food and the hard working committee members who all helped provide food and refreshments for the members. Host and committee member Joan Rudkin and Chairman Ann Youens with members Lots of laughter and general chit chat about our black and liver friends was had, and I believe no one lost their food to a naughty Flatcoat! The book stand and raffle raised more funds for the Club. Well done all. Page 4
S. F. C. R. C. Finance Update Volume 1, Issue 1 Finance Update Due to everyone s very kind support the Southern Flatcoated Retriever Club (proposed) has a every secure financial status. The Committee would like to thank everyone for all their help and generosity over this period. Fund raising events will continue and we would like to thank everyone in advance for their continued support. Stop Press Keep your diary s free for 14th Feb. 2010 For a social event Secure financial status Fun Match Fun Match Winner Page 5