Latest Newsletter

July / August 2008

Chairman’s Chat

I realise that this newsletter is going to arrive almost in August but the last couple of months has been pretty frantic with work for our two shows, there is little time to spare for much else during this time. We have had some highs along the way and a low too when we received the sad news that Amanda Hudson had passed away in the first few days of July. Many of you will know Mandy from her work organising our annual Companion Dog Show and as one of the Island’s two agility measurers, not to mention all the other work she did behind the scenes for the club and how she was always there to help at club events. Mandy faced her illness head on right from the start some years ago and had always been determined not to let it get the better of her; I admired her determination and remember how she insisted that her chemotherapy treatments were scheduled around our agility shows so that she could run a practice ring for us! Last year Mandy finally got the opportunity to run her own dog and to her absolute delight she went clear and gained her first ever agility place with her collie Susie. Sadly this year the cancer returned and proved to be one battle too many but for me the memory of Mandy finishing that round of agility with such a look of happiness and triumph is the one that I will always remember her by.
Debbie

Members Matter

Our sponsored walk proved to be one of our best ever fund raising events with a staggering

raised for the Homesafe section of the Retired Greyhound Trust! This sum was beyond our wildest dreams and Ann Shannon has already expressed her absolute delight as it will mean so much can be done to help these dogs. Ann will undoubtedly keep us posted with news on this.

Many thanks to each of you who gave up time to help at one or other of our two shows during Manx Action Dogs week, you were great and it is very much appreciated! The whole week was a great success and as you will see further down club members were also very successful in competing. We have had some fab feedback from both judges and competitors too and the new venue was also undoubtedly the icing on the cake! Plans are already in hand for next year so watch this space…

I’m sorry to bring the news that Michelle’s doberman Fletch was given sleep to avoid further suffering when his cancer progressed just too far for him to cope. He had bravely coped with the loss of one leg and had maintained his usual enthusiastic love of life throughout. I know just how devastated Michelle will be and how much he will be missed.

Pup Quiz Question

Where will you find a dog’s dew claws?

Agility Action

Our beginner group will now be integrating with everyone else for training as of Thursday 31st July, which in turn will mean a new start time for all of 7pm to set up so that we can make best use of light. We also have a fun day planned for September 7th which will include classes for everyone so do make a note on your calendars for this!

Congratulations also on the following successes:

Progressing to Grade 2: Pauline & Gypsy (at only their second show!)
Progressing to Grade 3: Voirrey & Muffin
Progressing to Grade 6: Debbie & Bea, Karol & Sweep
Prgoressing to Grade 7: Ian & Katie

Pup Quiz Answer…

In most dogs the dew claws are on the front legs and usually a little way above the foot but in a few dogs/breeds there may be a dew claw on the back leg too. As they don’t get worn down during exercise like the other claws it is best to keep an eye on them and trim as necessary to ensure they don’t become overgrown.

Obedience on the Go!

Our competition obedience dogs have had an amazing season so far with all being placed somewhere along the way at the two open obedience show weekends and a number winning their classes too! Many congratulations to all of you on your achievements and I hope this spurs you on to bigger and greater things. There is only room to name those in the top spots and they are:

Andrea & Keira – winning beginners in June
Debbie & Bea – winning A in June
Hirelle & Fleet – winning beginners in July
Lou & Razzle – winning beginners in June and pre-beginners in July
Tina & Echo – winning the Reg Povall Memorial Trophy for best overall performance over the weekend

If anyone is interested in having a go at competition obedience then please let Debbie know and she will move you into the 9pm Wednesday class which is dedicated to this. Don’t worry that you’ve never done it before as neither had the rest before they took the plunge and far from being the deadly serious sport some of you may imagine we have more than a few laughs along the way in training!

Please note there will be no obedience training during Manx Grand Prix for obvious reasons!

Ruth’s Flyball Fanatics

Well it seems like an age since we were at Sutton Fields and already we are preparing to go to the next tournament! That tournament however saw the starters team put in a first class performance and came home with a first and second, only just missing out on their second first with some extremely tight racing! The championship team made their debut in division 2 and again the training paid off with us taking home 4th place and running our fastest ever time of 18.68. Although we only came 4th we were the only team on the day to beat the division winners! The Raiders had a less successful time but still thoroughly enjoyed themselves and Barney achieved his Flyball Dog award after 4 years!

By the time you read this we will have had our last practice for the Dolphins tournament, this is the dress rehearsal for the championship team and the debut of this years starters into open! All that remains is for us to wish them luck and next time I write will be with the results of the Dolphins tournament and the championships!

Chairman’s Chat

I realise that this newsletter is going to arrive almost in August but the last couple of months has been pretty frantic with work for our two shows, there is little time to spare for much else during this time. We have had some highs along the way and a low too when we received the sad news that Amanda Hudson had passed away in the first few days of July. Many of you will know Mandy from her work organising our annual Companion Dog Show and as one of the Island’s two agility measurers, not to mention all the other work she did behind the scenes for the club and how she was always there to help at club events. Mandy faced her illness head on right from the start some years ago and had always been determined not to let it get the better of her; I admired her determination and remember how she insisted that her chemotherapy treatments were scheduled around our agility shows so that she could run a practice ring for us! Last year Mandy finally got the opportunity to run her own dog and to her absolute delight she went clear and gained her first ever agility place with her collie Susie. Sadly this year the cancer returned and proved to be one battle too many but for me the memory of Mandy finishing that round of agility with such a look of happiness and triumph is the one that I will always remember her by.
Debbie

Members Matter

Our sponsored walk proved to be one of our best ever fund raising events with a staggering

raised for the Homesafe section of the Retired Greyhound Trust! This sum was beyond our wildest dreams and Ann Shannon has already expressed her absolute delight as it will mean so much can be done to help these dogs. Ann will undoubtedly keep us posted with news on this.

Many thanks to each of you who gave up time to help at one or other of our two shows during Manx Action Dogs week, you were great and it is very much appreciated! The whole week was a great success and as you will see further down club members were also very successful in competing. We have had some fab feedback from both judges and competitors too and the new venue was also undoubtedly the icing on the cake! Plans are already in hand for next year so watch this space…

I’m sorry to bring the news that Michelle’s doberman Fletch was given sleep to avoid further suffering when his cancer progressed just too far for him to cope. He had bravely coped with the loss of one leg and had maintained his usual enthusiastic love of life throughout. I know just how devastated Michelle will be and how much he will be missed.

Pup Quiz Question

Where will you find a dog’s dew claws?

Agility Action

Our beginner group will now be integrating with everyone else for training as of Thursday 31st July, which in turn will mean a new start time for all of 7pm to set up so that we can make best use of light. We also have a fun day planned for September 7th which will include classes for everyone so do make a note on your calendars for this!

Congratulations also on the following successes:

Progressing to Grade 2: Pauline & Gypsy (at only their second show!)
Progressing to Grade 3: Voirrey & Muffin
Progressing to Grade 6: Debbie & Bea, Karol & Sweep
Prgoressing to Grade 7: Ian & Katie

Pup Quiz Answer…

In most dogs the dew claws are on the front legs and usually a little way above the foot but in a few dogs/breeds there may be a dew claw on the back leg too. As they don’t get worn down during exercise like the other claws it is best to keep an eye on them and trim as necessary to ensure they don’t become overgrown.

Obedience on the Go!

Our competition obedience dogs have had an amazing season so far with all being placed somewhere along the way at the two open obedience show weekends and a number winning their classes too! Many congratulations to all of you on your achievements and I hope this spurs you on to bigger and greater things. There is only room to name those in the top spots and they are:

Andrea & Keira – winning beginners in June
Debbie & Bea – winning A in June
Hirelle & Fleet – winning beginners in July
Lou & Razzle – winning beginners in June and pre-beginners in July
Tina & Echo – winning the Reg Povall Memorial Trophy for best overall performance over the weekend

If anyone is interested in having a go at competition obedience then please let Debbie know and she will move you into the 9pm Wednesday class which is dedicated to this. Don’t worry that you’ve never done it before as neither had the rest before they took the plunge and far from being the deadly serious sport some of you may imagine we have more than a few laughs along the way in training!

Please note there will be no obedience training during Manx Grand Prix for obvious reasons!

Ruth’s Flyball Fanatics

Well it seems like an age since we were at Sutton Fields and already we are preparing to go to the next tournament! That tournament however saw the starters team put in a first class performance and came home with a first and second, only just missing out on their second first with some extremely tight racing! The championship team made their debut in division 2 and again the training paid off with us taking home 4th place and running our fastest ever time of 18.68. Although we only came 4th we were the only team on the day to beat the division winners! The Raiders had a less successful time but still thoroughly enjoyed themselves and Barney achieved his Flyball Dog award after 4 years!

By the time you read this we will have had our last practice for the Dolphins tournament, this is the dress rehearsal for the championship team and the debut of this years starters into open! All that remains is for us to wish them luck and next time I write will be with the results of the Dolphins tournament and the championships!

Forthcoming Events

July 31 Agility start time alters to 7pm for everyone
August 20 & 27 No obedience training as MGP races on
September 7 Fun Agility Day (RDTC) & Inter club agility match
11Agility moves back to Kenaa
November 23 Crufts International Autumn qualifier & Agility Fun Day @ Kenaa

Other pages:

Ramsey Dog Training Club

Obedience

Agility

Flyball

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