August 2017 Edition

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE AGILITY DOG CLUB

OF SA INC.

Visit our website: www.agilitydogclubsa.com

Excellent Agility (400)

Robyn Jackson & Hillani

Regal Reko

Novice Agility (400)

Ashleigh Guest & Icustaf-

fy Beautiful Boy

Master Agility (300)

Sally Millan &

Donriver Platinum Edition

Open Agility

Snooker Dog Master

Tam Holmes & Hunter

Strategic Pairs Novice

Janine Feil &

Jadziah Real Wild Child

Strategic Pairs Dog

Masters

Neville & Elaine Cox with

Sherbrooke Fun in Rio &

Sherbrooke All the Sevens

Our New State Champions

Master Agility (300)

Excellent Agility (400)

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NEW COMMITTEE 2017

President: Geoff Sykes 8373 0751 gsykes7@bigpond.com

Trial Manager

Records Officer

Vice President:

Michelle Vuaran 0417877080 msvuaran@gmail.com Newsletter

Head Instructor: Ingrid Hanegreefs 0429674866 ihanegreefs@bigpond.com Public Officer

Treasurer: Tanysha Jeffree 0421 906 527 tanyshajeffree@yahoo.com.au

Secretary: Rosalind King 0433 403 410 rosalind.king @adelaide.edu.au

Historian Fundraising

Committee: Pin Needham 0437420099 vet@glenside-vet.com.au Sponsorship

Kathy Bannister 0400 148 674 kn.bannister@bigpond.com Catering

Cathy Warcup 8538 7217 KateWA440@gmail.com Equipment

Fundraising Tam Holmes 0409 630 391 tamara.holmes

@tattslotteries.com

Sub Committee:

Jo Shirlock

8277 2271

koojar1@bigpond.com

Trial Secretary

Membership Fees 2017

Single $60.00*

Single

(new member)

$15.00 Joining Fee

$60.00 Annual Fee

Family $90.00

Junior (under 17) $30.00

Social $30.00

Committee and Instructor $15.00

*if paid by 31st March in the

current year

Instructors

Head Instructor -

Ingrid Hanegreefs

Ass. Head Instructor -

Michelle Vuaran

Instructors

Mika Peace Karen Moralee

Julie Brown Ros King

Cathy Warcup Geoff Sykes

Aspiring - Kathy Brown

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Hi Everyone

Well done to all our members who did so well at this years State Championships.

Unfortunately I was not there to watch any of your awesome runs, I think its been

the first time in at least 9 years since I have not attended a State Championships!

I have included some photos which I managed to get, in this

newsletter. If anyone takes photos at various trials please send

them to me (msvuaran@gmail.com), I would love to include

some action shots in the newsletter.

Happy Trialling and Training

Michelle and Skye

Geoff has been busy making

some fantastic jumps which will

be raffled at our Anniversary Trial in November.

First prize: 3 Sets of Jumps

Second Prize: 2 Sets of Jumps

Third Prize : 1 Set of Jumps

$2.00 per ticket

Keep an eye out for raffle books at training in the up and coming weeks!

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2017 Training Schedule

Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4

6:50 - 7:30pm Set up Equipment

7:30 - 8:20pm Introductory Beginners &

Intermediate Graduate Advanced

8:20 - 8:30pm ANNOUNCEMENTS

8:30 - 9:30pm Trialling 200/300/400/500/600

9:30 -

10:00pm

Pack up

The committee appreciates our members that come regularly every

week and help set up and pack up. Your help is invaluable and

helps us start training on time, which benefits us all!

Reminder Membership Fees and Trial Entry Fees can be paid directly to our

club bank account. Account: 6129 7807 BSB:

805 050 Payment by bank deposit is

encouraged as it reduces cash handling, fees and is traceable.

Erin Slater

Danielle Graham

Chris Rivett

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PLACE ORDERS NOW!!!

The club uniforms are made

especially for our club so we need to

place orders now!

Email Michelle—

msvuaran@gmail.com or

ring 0417 877080

Club Shop Cloth Title

Badge

$5.50 Dog Leads (various

sizes)

$10.00

Cloth Logo

Badge

$5.50 Bag of Dog Treats $2.00

Club Metal

Badge

$5.00 Sublimated Polo

Shirt

$45.00

Club Sticker

(round)

$4.00 Rugby Jumper $75.00

Club Sticker

(long)

$4.00 Soft Shell Jacket $75.00

Agility Bumper

Sticker

$2.00 (All clothing orders will require a

deposit)

Tea & Coffee 50₵

Water & Soft

Drink

$1.00

Chocolate Bars $1.00

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Presidents Report 2017

Several Club members did extremely well at the recent State Agility Championships. They are all listed in the Newsletter, so congratulations to you all. The Agility Advisory Committee is working on staging the 2018 State Agility Championships at West Beach. Let’s hope that comes to fruition so we can enjoy a home ground advantage.

It was quite noticeable that entries were down for the State Agility Championships. The Committee has also noticed that entry levels in our Trials are not what they used to be. Similarly attendance at training lately has been low, to the point where there have only just been enough of us to pack up after the second session. The weather has been a factor but we do not think that’s the only reason.

Cathy Warcup recently started a discussion about this on the Agility SA Facebook page. If you have not already done so please have a look and contribute if you feel so inclined. It would be especially useful to hear the views of people who are not yet trialling or are relatively new to the sport.

We are quickly coming to the end of the Club year. The Trialling Year concludes at the end of September. After that we have our Annual General Meeting, then our Awards Presentation. These are important activities for the Club, mainly because they are the only times when we gather without it being training or a Trial.

The AGM is particularly significant because that’s when the Committee is elected. These lucky people then take on the task of managing the Club for the next twelve months. Without that the Club would not function. These tasks need people to do them. So now is the time to start thinking about whether you would be able to contribute to the running of the Club by serving on the Committee.

This year is the Club’s 25th anniversary. We will celebrate that milestone at the Twilight Trial on Saturday 25th November, because that is the closest event to the actual date. To mark the occasion there will be a raffle of sets of jumps, and a commemorative gift for members and entrants in the Twilight Trial. The raffle will be drawn at that Trial.

So until then, enjoy your dogs and remember to have fun at Agility.

Geoff Sykes

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Head Instructors Report

Hi Everyone

Thank you to all the hardy souls who come out regularly on Thursday nights to set up and pack up

the equipment. There are unfortunately less of you as the year rolls on.

I know it is winter and cold and wet and creature comforts at home are a better proposition than

braving the elements out at training.

That might be the reason for the low attendance numbers which is the cause of my quandary to

how much equipment to set up. If there are not enough trialling members in the second session to

pack up the equipment I seriously have to consider not to put up the agility course which would

leave you only with the short sequences to run. This will be reality if numbers don’t start picking

up. Ask yourselves, would that effect your ability to complete a full course successfully at a trial?

The member numbers in the first hour are keeping stable and training is progressing quite well. I

myself have been taking the beginners and what I sometimes have called the advanced beginners

and experienced quiet satisfaction in every little successes dogs and handlers are achieving. So

keep up the good work to keep yourself, your dog and myself happy.

In closing I would like to ask, if you have any problems with the training you are receiving please

come and talk it over with me. I cannot fix something I have not been made aware of.

In the meantime enjoy your dog and I see you out there at training.

Ingrid Hanegreefs

8

Assistant Instructors Report

Read this article by Lisa Selthofer and thought I might pass it on to our members…

All handlers have the ability to create agility superstars in their dog.

How do I know YOU can create a superstar in your dog?

Like the majority of others, you likely made the leap into the sport of agility intending to mainly have fun with your dog. First, that’s an incredibly positive intent which says a lot about the quality of your heart. Second, the fact that you continue to be involved in agility despite the steep learning curve tells me there isn’t much you wouldn’t do for your dog’s benefit.

As an agility trainer, I recognize and want to verbalize to you, what those two very special traits represent. They are your purpose and commitment to your dog. These are two very powerful attributes when it comes to developing a dog and reaching mutual goals, especially in agility training.

Purpose is to have fun with your dog. Commitment is to improve yourself for your dog’s benefit. – Lisa Selthofer

So how does one have fun while plunging into the constantly developing lessons we face in agility training?

3 Traits of a Successful Agility Handler

Be Open Minded –

Being open-minded can be really tough sometimes. Most of us are brought up with a set of beliefs and values and, throughout our lives, tend to surround ourselves with people who share the same values and beliefs. Therefore, it can be difficult when we’re faced with ideas that challenge our own and, though we may wish to be open-minded, we may struggle with the act of it from time to time. –– Dani DiPirro

In dog agility, being open minded means that we consciously and lovingly refuse to limit ourselves on the agility jour-ney. Some examples of being open minded include:

• Exploring all handling methods

• Accepting all dogs (no matter their breed or cross-type)

• Accepting all handlers (regardless of their uniqueness)

• Adapt your training and reinforcement techniques so it is applicable and understandable to your individual dog

• Choose to not have an opinion on a topic that does not impact you

• Recognizing that we ALL will make mistakes

• Understanding that mistakes are simply a means to learning

• Congratulating ourselves for being brave enough to get out there and being open to the learning experience Letting go of the need to be in control

• Skip the judgement (on ourselves and others) as this effort will not aid your purpose or commitment and so much more! Go to Dani DiPirro’s website for more information

Constantly Learning –

I’m told that the most successful people never stop learning. While I don’t have any evidence to prove that, I can share that every person I admire, consider a mentor and love to learn from, all embrace and live that motto. Both in and out-side of agility.

When it comes to dog agility in particular, the types of challenges, equipment performance requirements and course types are always evolving. After 20 years, I’ve come to realize that in agility, there is no end game. Oh sure, you might hit the highest titles with a particular dog, but the moment you begin the journey with a new dog, the agility landscape changes instantly and the personal challenges start again.

9

Assistant Instructors Report

That’s because the dynamic and uniqueness of the agility team is rarely the same from dog to dog. It seems with each new dog, there are new hurdles to conquer and new things to learn about ourselves along the way. So be kind to your-self during this process and accept that agility truly is a journey, not a destination.

Always Be Teachable –

Being teachable is a choice. We choose whether we are open or closed to new ideas, new experiences, others’ ideas, people’s feedback, and willingness to change. The key to teachability is not just that we try ideas on for size, but that we actually learn from others and change our point of view, process, and future decision making based on the what we have learned. – John C. Maxwell

Being teachable has two main parts.

First, it means that we are on a sincere mission to embrace answers and/or solutions and chose to see the benefits of each item presented to us for learning. There are many times I took the time to learn something that wasn’t currently applicable to my situation, only to have it be the key of knowledge I needed later in my agility career.

Second, it means that we are voluntarily willing to change. I’ve been to countless seminars where a participant made it the trainer’s responsibility to ‘convince’ them to change from their current process. It’s important to understand that it is nobody’s role to convince you of anything, even if it’s for the better. Don’t cheat yourself by neglecting to add the mindset of willingness when presented with the potential of change.

Teachable People (1):

• Observe before acting

• Close their mouth and listen to hear vs. respond

• Are aware of their strengths and weaknesses

• Accept that other’s opinion might be better than theirs

• Learn from criticism rather than choosing to take a situation personally

• Take responsibility for their failures and seek lessons to learn

• Focus on solutions rather then get caught up in the why or seek to place blame

• Embrace going out of their comfort zone

• Admit when they are wrong

• Are aware that they don’t know everything Remember

Purpose is to have fun with your dog. Commitment is to improve yourself for your dog’s benefit. – Lisa Selthofer

http://spotonagility.com/3-traits-successful-agility-handler/

Hope you found it interesting.

Michelle Vuaran

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ADELAIDE DOG MOBILITY &

HYDROTHERAPY

TREATMENT OF CANINE SPORTS INJURIES

and

FITNESS CONDITIONING

Available at

GLENSIDE VETERINARY CLINIC

294 Greenhill Road, GLENSIDE 5065

FEATURING:

LASER THERAPY & ACUPUNCTURE

PHYSICAL THERAPY

UNDERWATER TREADMILL

HEATED SWIMMING POOL FOR DOGS

For Appointments Phone

8379 0222

11

Boosting your Dogs Brain through

Balance Exercise

Research clearly shows that exercise boosts the brain. People who exercise regularly are

50% less likely to develop dementia. So maybe dogs which exercise regularly would also

be at a lower risk for canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome?

It is thought that exercise creates new brain cells and increases a growth factor called

BDNF, brain derived neurotrophic factor. BDNF are important in learning and creating long

term memories and make the brain work better.

Animal models show that new brain cells die within a few days if they are not used to learn

new things. This is where balance training comes in. Balance training is a learned behav-

iour and a wonderful exercise which is useful for targeting individual muscle groups. It re-

quires the dog to learn complex movements and these movements in turn help the brain

cells become permanent. Its also a great activity to spark the neuromuscular system to

work harder.

So balance work could potentially lead the way to your dog becoming smarter!

https://www.k9fitsolutions.com/blog/boosting-your-dog-s-brain-through-balance-and-

exercise

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Our Club and Adelaide Dog Mobility and Hydrotherapy will have 3 tents setup at

the “Border Collie World Record Attempt and Fun Day”. If you would like to

volunteer to help in the tent please speak to one of the committee members. We

would like to promote our club and entice more people to join the wonderful

sport of Dog Agility. No experience necessary just enthusiasm for Agility. We plan

to have fliers and a small demonstration set up. If you happened to own a Border

Collie come along and support the event, it would be awesome if they made the

World Record! For more information check out the Facebook page.

You can book your tickets now at

https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=266448&

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WEAVE POLE STRAPS

/ WOBBLEBOARDS

Want to practice at

home and excel in your

weave training!!!

Why not purchase some weave poles.

Poles are made from dowel or PVC and

are the stick in the ground variety.

Contact Cathy Warcup for

more information.

KateWA440@gmail.com

14

State Championships

2017 Congratulations to all our members who got passes at the State Championship

and those who managed to get into the finals and place!

Master Strategic Pairs -

1st - Elaine & Neville Cox - Sherbrooke Fun in Rio & Sherbrooke all the Sevens

Excellent Strategic Pairs -

2nd - Mika Peace & Flatout Breakout

3rd - Karen Moralee & Hillani Spaticus Lauds + Robyn Jackson & Hillani Regal Reko

Novice Strategic Pairs -

1st - Janine Feil & Jadziah Real Wild Child

Master Gamblers -

2nd - Danni McCulloch & Gabrielle

Novice Snooker -

2rd - Robyn Jackson & Hillani Regal Reko

3rd - Sally Millan & Donriver Platinum Edition

Snooker Master -

1st - Tam Holmes & Hunter

2nd - Lindsay Newton & Albajail Feel the Rush

Robyn Jackson & Hillani Regal Reko

15

State Championships

2017 Congratulations to all our members who got passes at the State Championship and

those who managed to get into the finals and place!

Open Agility -

1st - Danni McCulloch & Gabrielle

Open Jumping -

2nd - Danni McCulloch & Gabrielle

400 Novice Agility -

1st - Ashleigh Guest & Icustaffy Beautiful Boy

400 Excellent Agility -

1st - Robyn Jackson & Hillani Regal Reko

300 Master Agility -

1st - Sally Millan & Donriver Platinum Edition

500 Master Agilty -

3rd - Tam Holmes & Hunter

4th - Mika Peace & Flatout Breakout

400 Master Jumping -

2nd - Neville Cox & Sherbrooke

Fun in Rio

16

State Championships

2017

Murphy and Mel ….gotta love the ears!

Karri racing through the tunnel!

17

State Championships

2017

Jo Shirlocks’s little star

“Karri “

Congratulations to Rachel Fagan and Narla

for winning the Gwenda Baker Trophy

at the Club trial held on 29th

July.

18

Calendar of Events 2017

30th July South Australian Obedience Dog Club

Games Trial 9am and 1pm

13th Aug Gawler Dog Training Club Agility 9am and 1pm

19th—20th Aug Riverland Trial

26th Aug Munno Para Obedience Dog Club Agility 9am and 1pm

9th Sept Royal Adelaide Show

16th Sept Para District Obedience Dog Club Agility 9am and 1pm

17th Sept Gawler Dog Training Club Agility 9am and 1pm

24th Sept Border collie World Record Fun day

7th Oct Noarlunga Obedience Dog Club Agility 9am and 1pm

21st-22nd Oct Blue Lake Training Club

29th Oct Gawler Dog Training Club Agility 10am and 1pm

11th Nov South Districts Dog Obedience Club

Agility 9am and 1pm

25th Nov ADCSA night trial