The Gang

The Gang
Ain't We Got Fun?

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Dogs just gotta have fun

Last summer as part of our SAWHDA community spirit activities, our members and their dogs
entertained the residents of Crest View Lodge with some Rally sprints.

If your dog gets along with other dogs, has a good recall, and loves to run, consider joining the group.


Monday, January 27, 2014

Medals for Bravery

Medals for bravery are what our Lethbridge and BC. members deserve for coming out to Dog Club at Cowley on Sunday!!!  We pulled off Highway 3 into the west access to the town and there was a SUV in the ditch at the Restaurant.  Yet Sylvia, Denise, Donnie and Daryl, and Liz brought their dogs and came to Club!
 And what a good day it was.  We did bits and pieces of obedience and a Level 1 and Level 2 WCRally course, but the awesome part of the day was Scent Hurdle Racing.  Liz brought Cava, who  was in her fifth day of season and she did a great job of scenting and fetching her dumbbell. And, bonus, she did not eat up any other team members..   Lucky dog, Drummie.
 Castle proved that he is ready to add another lane of dogs to his scent hurdle work.  He made no errors with his dumbbell.  Beckett managed to bring her dumbbell back as did Oscar. 
 Soleil fetched her toy over the jumps like a pro.  Of course our team dogs, Drum, Julie, and Betty accomplished to run in between the young dogs.
 A huge plus was not having to take up the mats after club as we have Monday and Tuesday evening  for other kinds of practice. 
 Hope to see better weather for our next days.



I think this cartoon says it all when it comes to the kind of people we attract to our Southern Alberta Working/Herding Dog Association.

You are the greatest.

The Prez 


Monday, January 20, 2014

Smoking Hot

An exciting time was had by or Due South Scent Hurdle Team at the AKC show in Calgary last weekend.  After five hours of racing, Due South came away as one of the teams in a three way tie for 
FIRST place. We were soooooo happy.  

Our Lethbridge teams did really well, especially as they had a couple of very new dogs on their teams.
In all, I can say none of us could be happier.  What a show!

Congratulations to those who qualified in obedience and Rally Obedience as well as placing in conformation.  The AKC committee really goes out of its way to make this venue work. 

This Sunday, January 26th, we have rented the Cowley Hall for our second SAWHDA Club Day and hope to see as many of you there as possible.

We will begin at 9:30 with Scent Hurdle practice and will follow this with obedience (Pre-Novice to Utility) routines, and then WCRally Obedience, Levels 1 and 2. 

Great news is that we will NOT have to put the mats away as the hall is rented for Monday and Tuesday.

Another note…..We have purchased eight mats from the AKC and will now be able to mat even more of the hall, thus allowing us to host Rally Obedience and Obedience at the same time.  Benching will be tight and dogs may have to be crated in the foyer, but the working space will be wonderful.
We gain another 12-16 feet!!!  Yippeeeeeee!

See you Sunday. Bring a friend. Once again, the fee for the day for members is $5.00 and $10.00 for those who are not yet members.  Scent hurdle practice is free.

The Prez 

Nice roads to Calgary                             Avril's Tremi waiting                             Pro Dog Holder






Pictured are some of the dogs on the other racing teams.  Note the numbered jackets they wear.  





Kim's Bosely watching her place his dumbbell in the box.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

One Small Step At A Time

Had a fabulous two nights of scent hurdle practice with Drummer and Castle, who is starting to get the hang of scent detection.
We are working on it.
In the meantime, I think our team is ready to rock this coming weekend.  We had a good, steady performance from Sporty, Betty, Drummer, and Julie and we are confident the other dogs are just as ready.
Rock on Due South!!!!

The Prez 

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Cowley Hall Recipient of SAWHDA Donation


         Our dog club, the Southern Alberta Working Herding Dog Association, has been using the Cowley Community Hall as our dog training venue for 23 years.  Far back in 1990, when our club was formed, allowing dogs in a hall was unheard of.  

         The Cowley Hall Board and Cowley Lions took a chance on our club and accepted us and over the years, we have become a prime user and promoter or the Cowley Community Hall.  

         This year, our club realized a profit of $250 from club day drop-in fees. Our club asked its members to submit names of organizations they felt would be worthy of a donation from SAWHDA.  Keeping in mind that our members come from as far away as Calgary, Cranbrook, and Lethbridge to train in Cowley, we were very impressed when they unanimously chose the Cowley Community Hall Association to be the recipient of the money.   SAWHDA matched the $250 and then added another $50. On January 8, 2014, a cheque for $550 was presented to Cindy Cornish, CEO for the Village of Cowley.

       Our way of giving back to the community.

The Prez

        

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Happy New Year and the best of the best in all your endeavors in 2014!!

It has been quite a year for our SAWHDA club. We are 23 years old, we are not CKC recognized, and yet we continue to entice the most wonderful people from all walks of life to join our activities.

And with that, we are so fortunate, for each of these people, through their experiences with dogs,  brings a wealth of information in a variety of  dog sports. 

Our mandate continues to be the education of our members in all things canine and this year we are planning some interesting workshops in addition to providing space and time for practice in our regular competition training.

We are kicking off the new year with the first of many Club Days  JANUARY 11th, at the Cowley Community Hall.
          
               A great time to put in that last minute performance test before the AKC Winter Show. 


Members $5.00/day              Non-members $10.00 drop in fee except for scent hurdle.

Scent Hurdle Practice  9:30   free
Obedience routines    10:00  Pre-Novice, Novice, Open, Utility 
Rally Obedience         11:00
Conformation Mat Time  noon 


                                       A reminder to all to pay your 2014 memberships.     
                                                                 $20 annually



The Prez 

OUR HALL 

45x60 fully matted