The Night The Worst Almost Happened. Those who were at the Armory on Thursday the 7th witnessed an attack by a member's dog upon a beginner's 7-month old pug. The member was preparing to leave, having finished with Ruth's class. She had put her dog in a sit/stay while she walked away to get her coat. The dog broke the stay and went to visit with the pug. In a flash, and "without so much as a by your leave", the member's dog grabbed the pug by the throat and proceeded to try to squeeze the breath out of him. Luckily that did not happen and the pug is recovering well, having suffered a torn ear and a deep puncture wound. The children (ages 6 and 10) who own him and witnessed this near death attack, are still recovering.

At the beginning of each training year I print the NEDTC Guidelines (aka Rules of Behavior). I have done this even tho' I suspected that they fell on deaf ears or only warranted a cursory glance, figuring the readership might think them only "for the other guy". As of today we are all the "other guy!" If you walk your dog with a 6 ft leash dangling between you and your dog, these Rules are meant for you. If you've ever let your dog "meet and greet" another dog without the other handler's permission, these Rules are meant for you. If you've played off-leash with your dog, before, between and/or after your class, these Rules are meant for you. If you've used the time it takes you to roll up mats to perfect your dog's sit or down stay, these Rules are meant for your. If you and your dog have taken a short-cut between an instructor and her class or cut a swath across the middle of a training area during class time, these Rules are meant for you. This is not an exhaustive list, merely a litany of behaviors that all of us have been guilty of at one time or another. If you have a happy, friendly dog it behooves you to make sure that he/she doesn't get too happy or too friendly with a not-so-inclined other dog. If you have a not-so-happy and/or not-so-friendly dog then tie an orange ribbon to the collar, keep a short leash and ask folks to give you a wide berth. If we all keep our own dogs leashed (or crated) and under control, the safety of our training environment will be assured.

While we appreciate that the puppies in the puppy and beginners classes are what insurance folks call an "attractive nuisance", we ask that you and your dog keep a safe distance away. Many of these people are first time owners who have come to us to learn to do right by their new best friend. They will make mistakes while they learn; the instructors are there to guide and inform them. Let them do their jobs.

In the past the Club has relied on voluntary compliance of the Guidelines, and been somewhat lax on enforcement. That will no longer be the case. The NEDTC Guidelines will be strictly enforced. Anyone coming into the Armory with a dog must stay with that dog and that dog must stay on leash at all times, except only while performing specific training exercises under supervision in the matted training areas. We must be especially vigilant when coming and going from the various training areas (in between exercises as well as classes) – all dogs must be leashed with a living, breathing, attentive person attached to the other end. We hope for voluntary compliance, however, non-compliance means risking the loss of training privileges.

A Quick Aside: It's my understanding that at AKC Obedience trials, leaving one's dog unattended (and uncrated) is grounds for dismissal from that trial and the trial site. We are asking no more or less vigilance than one would have at an obedience trial. Every time a dog leaves the show ring, it's on leash. Please conduct yourselves similarly around NEDTC's training rings. Thank you.

NOW FOR MORE ENJOYABLE CLUB NEWS: NEDTC HOLIDAY PARTY A HOWLING SUCCESS!!! A beautiful day (12/13) and a wonderful gathering of club members, students and all those wonderful furry friends. Check out the photo gallery at our website (NEDTC.ORG) and make plans to attend next year! Good food and good company always make for a good time. This year the Holiday Party was held on Sunday afternoon at the Armory, which gave us much more time to eat, hang out and visit with each other. Thanks to Jean Berman for spearheading the whole endeavor and thanks to all who brought goodies and/or helped with cleaning up.

Sundays 2002 - Armory Availability. Between 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm on Jan. 13 and 27, and Feb. 10 and 24, 3/24 and 31, Apr. 28, May 12 and 19, June 9 and 30. Members are welcome to come and practice with their dogs in available space during those times. You may use any available equipment, but please return it to storage when finished. There is a Beginners class from 3:45 pm to 4:45 pm in a portion of the space, but the balance of the Armory is open for use. Jean Berman is at the desk at 2:00 pm and has keys for whatever you might need. As time goes on, the Club will be inviting guest speakers and holding various seminars on some of these Sundays. (FYI, Lowry Heussler is gathering info on a canine cpr seminar. If you would be interested in attending, please let her know.) Flyers on upcoming events will be at Jean's desk as well as posted on the website.

The NEDTC Annual Banquet and Meeting is next week and it looks to be a stellar event! The speaker, Gail McCarthy, is co-founder and vice-president of the Massachusetts Canine Response Team and canine handler with FEMA's Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 1 (Mass.). Lowry is doing her best to make sure Gail brings a dog with her!

NEDTC SPRING TRIAL is set for March 30^th with the closing date of March 13^th. The place is Gail Fisher's All Dogs Gym, Manchester, NH. Judging panel (and entry limits): Novice A – Susan King (24); Novice B – Don Thornton (40); Open A – Donna Meade (35); Open B – Susan King (21) and Utility A & B - Arthur Weiss (48)

CRDTC MARCH TRIAL will be Saturday, March 16, at the Field School in Weston, MA. Fee $21. Limited entry (total 168). Judging panel (and entry limits): Novice A & B - Robert Amen (64); Open A & B - Don Thornton (35); and Utility A & B - Susan King (48). The premium list is available online at the CRDTC website at http://www.geocities.com/crdtc/
march02.html. It's a PDF file (you'll need Adobe Acrobat which you can download for free from the CRDTC site). If you don't have Web access call Margaret Stubbs, CRDTC trial sec'y, at 781 894-4315 or email her at mstubbs222@aol.com. CRDTC wants to have a pre-trial run-through night on Monday, 3/11.

What Are Members Up To? Joanie Muse and her GSD Bessie were entered in three ASCA obedience shows 10/13-14 in Westfield and passed all three. Bessie is now, as Geoff Stern would put it, CD to the 4th degree, AM. CAN., UKC and ASCA! Each in 3 shows, and all within 6 months! Way to go Bessie! Joanie now has her first dog in Open. Bessie, AM, CAN, UKC, ASCA CD and AKC AX and AXJ! (But you can still call her Bessie.)

Joanie's GSD Gretta got her 3rd leg and her ASCA CD on Saturday, 2/2 with a score of 193.5 and a fourth place!!  Sunday she got a bumper leg.  Such a good girl!!

Gert Foster, Puppy Kindergarten Assistant extraordinaire was voted Employee of The Year 2001 at Countryside Veterinary Hospital where she works as a groomer. Well Done Gert! You may also know that Gert is a new dog-mom. She adopted the lovely Kandi, a gorgeous Shiloh Shepherd who happens to be the mom of Lowry Heussler's Blue. Happy Trails to you guys!!

Roo Runs Amok! Vilkas to the Rescue! Roo, in a spurt of fitness adrenaline this fall, had taken to running 2 miles a day. She'd only been at it for a couple of weeks when [potential] disaster struck! THAT night around 1AM, Roo and Vilkas went out for a jaunt. Roo, not being as agile as Vilkas stepped out on a piece of sidewalk that wasn't really there; and down she went. (And she without a cell phone to call for human help.) Roo would have been at the mercy of the night had it not been for her hero, VILKAS. Amazingly and instinctively, Vilkas assumed the role of assistance dog; helping her back on her feet (err, foot) and home. Roo spent the rest of that night and some of the next morning (6.5 hours) in the Mt. Auburn ER where she was diagnosed with a major sprain (no weight-bearing allowed for at least a week.) An Atta Boy to you Vilkas!! [I'm tellin' ya, they never let us down! Ed.]

The Rainbow Bridge. Kay Barry's beloved poodle Fancy crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on 10/24/01. Our hearts go out to Kay.

Also to catch up, Kay recently had hip surgery, but I understand she is home and will be attending the Banquet! Look forward to seeing you Kay.

Sullivan Clan Grows By One. I found a little cairn-type terrier on my way to work one morning just before Thanksgiving. He was looking much the worse for wear (bald on his back half from dermatitis and his front half was covered by what looked to be dirty string). I thought he was lovely (read: "She's in rescue mode"). Even his high octane body odor did not disuade me. I took some treats out of my pocketbook (don't ask) and fashioned some yarn from my needlepoint into a leash. Gingerly, we approached each other. The hotdog treats were a hit, so we toddled along to my car and off we went. First stop, the groomer/vet. On the way we had a chat and I told him he had to get along with the collies and the cats if he wanted to stay with me; otherwise his new forever home would have to be found elsewhere. He made his choice and there has been nary a hint of a growl or a fuss. He's called Bobby (Greyfriar's Bobby) and seems to like it. He's about 10 years old and in the 3 months we've been together, he's had his heart murmur checked, 12 teeth removed (kept his fangs, so he still has a "doggy smile"), massive infections in gums and anal sacks cleaned up and been neutered. Whew!! Both he and my checkbook have taken a licking, but only Bobby keeps on ticking like an old Timex watch. So if you see me being escorted around the club by a canine James Cagney with a bad toupee, it's just me and my little guy out for a stroll.

NETWORKING RE VET COSTS. Until Bobby came along, I was not on a first name basis with my vet because my animals all enjoyed disgusting good health. All that has changed. I've discovered that the cost of procedures can vary greatly from place to place and have add-ons, not requested or needed, but included, that can make that increase even sharper. I called 5 places in the South Shore for ultrasound info, and altho' the base cost was $250, one place added $75 for x-rays (that my doctor did not order but if I chose this vet I had to have them) and another charged an additional $85 for a consult with the doctor. I ended up at The Animal Ultrasound Clinic in Salem (actually only 35 minutes from my home in Quincy). They do weekends (great for us working folks) AND charged $95 for the cardiac ultrasound and $95 for the consult with the cardiologist. (This place got rave medical reviews from any vet I talked with.)

I take my troops to the Petco in Weymouth for their shots. This Petco has a vaccination clinic every other week, run by Luv My Pet in Malden. Vet gives the shots and I get them all done for less than the price of a one-dog trip to the vet. FYI, Bobby's rabies shot was $10 the 5-in-1 was $12!! The vet even gave his mouth a look and mentioned the condition of the teeth to make sure I had them tended too.

Did you know…Prices of medication also can vary wildly! Bobby was put on Enalapril for his heart murmur. The cardiologist said it would be cheaper at the vet. WRONG. One vet wanted $200+ for 100 tablets. Walgreen's (and PedMed Express) wanted $79 per 100. PetMed charges an additional shipping fee. My sister's vet charged her $4 for 15 of the same pills. Words to the Wise. Take a few pills to get started. If you can't find it cheaper and your pet tolerates it well, go back to the vet and get more. Meantime, go on line or ask around and check it out. I don't mind paying what needs to be paid to take good care of my dogs, but I do mind paying more than I need to for the treatment. Finding the best treatment for every veterinary-care dollar becomes even more important when you have multiple.

If any of you have any ideas or helpful hints, you'd like to pass along, I will be glad to include them here. Just send me an email.

Liz Sullivan sends along the following explanation of show dog terms. Timely, given Westminster is this week. Enjoy. Pet dogs raid the garbage ... Obedience dogs are very food motivated. Pet dogs shed ... Show dogs blow coat. Pet dogs are in heat ... Show dogs come into season. Pet dogs run around the house... Show dogs show tremendous reach and drive. Pet dogs stand ... Show dogs stack. Pet dogs get a bath ... Show dogs are groomed. Pet dogs beg for treats ... Show dogs animate for bait. Pet dogs jump the fence ... Obedience dogs demonstrate problem solving intelligence. Pet dogs bark at other dogs ... agility dogs show excitement before showing. Pet dogs are hyper... Show dogs are high drive. Pet dogs steal socks and laundry... Show dogs show natural retrieving ability. Pet dogs find and chew up their owners shoes... Showdogs are practicing scent articles..

Questions Dogs Have for God. How come people love to smell flowers, but seldom smell one another? Where are their priorities? When we get to Heaven, can we sit on your couch? Or is it the same old story? Excuse me, but why are there cars named after the jaguar, the cougar, the mustang, the colt, the stingray, and the rabbit, but not one named for a dog? How often do you see a cougar riding around? We dogs love a nice ride! I know every breed cannot have its own model, but it would be easy to rename the Chrysler Eagle the Chrysler Beagle! If a dog barks his head off in the forest and no human hears him, is he still a bad dog? Is it true that in Heaven, dining room tables have on-ramps? If we come back as humans, is that good or bad? More meatballs, less spaghetti, please. When we get to the Pearly Gates, do we have to shake hands to get in? We dogs can understand human verbal instructions, hand signals, whistles, horns, clickers, beepers, scent IDs, electromagnetic energy fields, and Frisbee flight paths. What do humans understand? Are there dogs on other planets or are we alone? I have been howling at the moon and stars for a long time, but all I ever hear back is the beagle across the street! Are there mailmen in Heaven? If there are, will I have to apologize? Is it true that dogs are not allowed in restaurants because we can't make up our minds what NOT to order? Or is it the carpets thing, again? May I have my testicles/ovaries back? [I forget who sent these to me, but Thanks!]

Until next time,

Pat "Scoop" Sullivan pasullivan@goodwinprocter.com

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