|
Performance Newsletter
By Jane Eno
Hope you are reading this somewhere nice
and warm and dry. We are in the middle
of a major snowstorm on the east coast,
so it is hard to believe that spring is
just around the corner. Soon we will be
hitting the parks and outdoor matches to
train our dogs in the sunlight. I love
training outside, except for the fact
that all the parks in our area are also
equipped with lovely lakes and streams.
Jessie, despite 7 years of hard work and
training still likes to take off on me
and go for a swim in the middle of a
training session. It always amazes me
that a dog with a lovely recall can
become completely deaf when headed
towards some inviting body of
water.
I took the boys, (Jessie the Kerry Blue
Terrier and Bailey the Shih Tzu), to a
Connie Cleveland Seminar in Delaware.
Bailey stole the show, since Connie owns
a Shih Tzu herself and wanted to spend
some time working with him. Jessie had
to be a good boy and spend most of the
time sitting in his crate watching
Bailey get the attention. That was very
hard for him, but he handled it like a
gentleman.
The following is a posting from a yahoo
group I belong to, with permission to
share with training and breed clubs.
Here is some reading to get you ready
for the spring show season.
The complete set of over sixty DOG
TALK articles on AKC Obedience,
(which were published in FRONT &
FINISH), are now on the web for
viewing and/or downloading. Grab your
slobber towels as you will have to visit
the Saint Bernard National Archives Web
page to view them.
Here is how to get there:
Click the link to view the Dog Talk articles.
Once there, enter the Archives
door and then click on the link
Newsroom. Scroll down and you
will see all the Obedience links.
I have the articles divided up into the
following categories:
- General AKC Obedience Articles
- Judging AKC Obedience
- AKC Novice
- AKC Open
- AKC Utility
- AKC Regulation Quizzes
- Puzzles & New Thoughts
There is also another file with charts
which may be used for judging or
stewarding. In that file you will
find:
- Jump Charts
- Excusal Charts
- Judge's Book Score Conversion
Chart
The above charts are good to have
laminated in plastic.
Once you open the PDF file(s), you can
click on the DISC icon (in the upper LH
corner of the PDF toolbar) and download
the PDF file(s) to your computer for
future use offline. Clubs may use the
articles in newsletters if you wish to
do so.
Brags
(We were spoiled with some great ones
this month!)
From Sharon Burnett:
My spoiled rotten Kerry-boy Rocket
earned his very first ever agility title
at the Puyallup Dog Fancier's All Breed
shows on January 15, 2005. Rocket is now
Keristar's To The Moon NJP,
(that stands for Novice Jumpers
Preferred). Rocket completed his
title with a very respectable Q2 on
Saturday and an incredible Q1 on Sunday.
(A "Q" is a qualifying run or
leg.) Rocket also earned 1 leg
towards his Novice Standard Preferred
title, leaving 1 more to go.
Our Q1 Jumpers run has to have been the
best run I have ever experienced with a
dog. I discovered that if I take Rocket
up into the seating area many dogs prior
to our turn, that he will watch and
really get focused. He sits on my lap,
and when he starts to vibrate, it is
time for us to go down to the field and
warm up on a practice jump. Ideally, if
we can move towards the starting gate at
about 3 dogs out, we're ready. And we
were right on ready for this run. Rocket
had the fastest time of all the 40 or so
Novice dogs, and we had a perfect
score.
Rocket and I have been competing at the
Preferred level to give us a lower jump
height of 16" and also a little more
time (5 seconds). Personally, I
like to work the Kerries at 16", but
I've done it more to give us a chance to
bond better as a team and to also give
myself a little break.
From Virginia Barishek, Philadelphia,
PA
At Staten Island Companion Dog Training
Club, on Saturday, February 19, my guys
each got their first legs toward a Rally
Novice title, competing in the Rally
Novice B class. Andy, Garryowen's
Smarty Pants, UD, NA, finished with
a score of 95 out of a possible 100, and
Finn, Finbar's End of the
Rainbow, had a score of 91.
From Denise Aitchison
(Via the USKBTC newslist)
I'm thrilled to announce that Brighid,
Runkerry's Saucy Brighid CGC, MX,
AXJ, earned her MX today! Our run
was fast and smooth and really felt
great.
Interview with Eve Fishell, Part
II
Eve Fishell has been training and
breeding Kerry Blue Terriers for over 25
years. In that time she has had multiple
breed champions, Utility level obedience
dogs, and Master level agility dogs.
Her attention to detail and careful
work, showing and raising her dogs, is
apparent in her successes. For anyone
thinking of buying a kerry, showing a
kerry, or breeding a kerry, she is a
good role model to start with. Below
are some answers to a few questions I
asked her recently.
Did you know these puppies were going
to be special when they were born, or
did they surprise you?
My background is in Obedience. I was
lucky enough to meet Carol Postley at an
Obedience trial in New York. It was
immediately clear to me that here was a
breeder who bred for temperament, and
potential, both in Conformation and
Obedience. She let me have a female
puppy, Tara, Cn CH Elbrley’s As You
Like It Am UD, the foundation bitch
of the Tantara line.
The only thing I am surprised about is
that in spite of my lack of experience,
my dogs achieved as much as they have.
Kerries learn quickly (sometimes too
quickly) and willingly, as long as
it is fun. My reflexes are not good, so
that my corrections are slow and
awkward. The traditional corrections do
not work for me. Fortunately, the
Kerries’ willingness and ability
compensate for that.
How did you select your bitches for
breeding?
Streaky chose me. Tonka was the only
bitch in Streaky’s last litter. Tide I
chose because she was the best
conformation bitch, and I owe it to the
breed to breed correct Kerries.
What do you look for in a sire for
your litters?
I line breed. I eliminate any dogs
showing aggression. The male must be
interested in people. I look for correct
conformation – especially good movement,
good front angulation, free side
movement, correct tail set and a
straight tail; a nice head, dark eyes
etc., are a plus.
What are the most important
characteristics for a Kerry to have both
a successful breed ring and a successful
performance career?
To be in a Conformation and Performance
home! In general, Conformation dogs are
in conformation homes; Obedience dogs
are in obedience homes and Agility dogs
in agility homes. It takes opportunity
to bring out potential. The dogs must be
both physically and mentally
sound.
I show in the Conformation ring only to
complete the Championship. To be a
breeder, I am obliged to show that I
understand the breed standard and breed
accordingly. I handle badly in
Conformation and am increasingly
dependent on other handlers.
Once the puppies are born, describe
how you handle the first few weeks of
their lives? How big an influence do
these early experiences have on their
later development?
I believe that the first few weeks of
life are extremely important – remember
Lorenz experiment with the goslings? I
handle the pups frequently from birth on
– after all I am the first they smell
when they are born. I let other people
handle them, as soon as the bitch
allows. I hold them frequently near my
face. I sleep in the puppy room for the
first 3 to 4 weeks, mainly to keep the
bitch there. When their eyes open, I
stare into their eyes and encourage eye
contact, when I handle them. When they
grow out of the whelping box (at about 4
weeks), I move them into a playpen in
the living room, with a chair next to it
so that the bitch can jump in and out at
will. That is when I start giving them
solid food and taking them out to the
yard. When they squat outdoors to
relieve themselves, I tell them, “Hurry
up, good Hurry up,” the command I use
for the rest of their lives. At 6 or 7
weeks I start taking one pup at a time
for my daily walk in the morning in the
ravine, with the other dogs. I keep the
pups for 10 weeks or so.
How do you select homes for your
puppies? Do you use a temperament
testing system?
I give preference to people who compete
with their dogs. I prefer homes that
have had a Kerry or another terrier. I
am reluctant to sell to a first time dog
owner. I observe the people with my dogs
and shy off anyone who does not like
their face licked or to be jumped on. I
will not sell a pup to anyone who wants
a dog for their children. I want all the
adults in the household to want the
dog.
By 10 weeks I know the pups’
personalities very well. I have done
puppy testing in the past; it seldom
tells me anything I did not know. Puppy
testing is only as good as the person
who performs the test. Streaky failed
her puppy test miserably, and she was
the greatest dog I have ever had the
privilege to own. I choose the puppies
for the buyers. In the case of well
known handlers or breeders, we chose the
pup together.
What characteristics do you look for
in a conformation dog?
Good conformation and an outgoing
personality. A bit of feistiness
helps.
Obedience dog?
Willingness and desire to please,
attentiveness to the handler, love of
retrieving. For top competition, they
must have a certain degree of toughness,
or they will not be able to take the
stress.
Agility dog?
Willingness and desire to please,
attentiveness to the handler, hunting
instinct is desirable.
Pet dog?
Willingness and desire to please,
attentiveness to the handler.
What age do you place your Kerries in
their future homes?
10 weeks. I will let a pup go to a
experienced multi-dog home (e.g. Evelyn
Gansfuss) at 9 weeks.
Do you do any early training or
socialization with the puppies?
I want the pups to see as many people
and children as possible. I take them
for my long walks, where they experience
both ravine walking and busy street
traffic. At home, I let them play
together with my other dogs and with my
son’s dog.
My own dogs start classes at 3 to 6
months and continue for the rest of
their lives. They take competitive pup
classes, obedience, agility and
conformation handling classes. I do not
believe in free dog parks. I do not
believe in dogs playing together in
classes; they should play with me, not
with other dogs. I want their attention
on me.
Many breeders are now building low
agility equipment and including metal
scent articles in with the puppy’s toys,
do you do this? Do you think this
helps?
No, I do think it is necessary, and no,
I do not think it helps. My pups have
our rather wild backyard to learn in.
Of course, my own pups get all the early
background in competitive puppy classes
and subsequent training.
What do you feel about the "Ruff Love
Method" of crating a dog unless it is
working?
I hope I never sell a pup to anyone who
uses such a method!!!! Mind you, if they
try that with a Kerry, they will get
what they deserve!! How unfair to the
dog!!!
Do you allow your puppies to play? Do
they live in your house or a kennel?
Why?
My pups live in the house, where they
belong. They play, they chew toys, and
those that stay home eventually sleep on
my bed. They are allowed on furniture.
They are crated until they are
house-safe. They come with me to the
shows. Why? – I have dogs because I like
being around them. I want my dogs to
like being around me and other people. I
try to fulfill their potential, and am
delighted with their success. If they
are not that good at any one thing or
another, I try something else. They stay
with me for life, no matter what. I
bring them into the world, and I intend
to be there for them when they must
depart it.
What place do you feel correction has
in training a puppy? Do you use purely
positive methods, or do you also
introduce corrections to your puppies?
If you do, what age do you start
correcting or setting limits?
Training methods are as individual as
dogs and people. Each team must use
methods suitable for them. Limits are
started very early. For example, puppies
must not nip, even if it is from love.
If you do not want dogs on furniture,
you never let them on it. There always
is some correction in training, but it
does not have to be a jerk, a shake or
an ear pinch. Corrections depend on the
individual dog and handler. Tonka wants
to be always right; a NO is more than
enough of a correction. We have to work
very hard to make her feel successful in
Utility! My dogs get food or a tennis
ball for a reward.
Finally, what other things that I
haven’t mentioned, do you feel go into
making a future performance dog?
The handler’s goals . . .We each have
different goals, and we measure our
successes by them. I do not want
perfection. Perfect heeling bores me as
much as it bores my dogs. I want my dogs
to enjoy working with me, and I get
great pleasure out of competing with my
dogs. I love the shows, the agility
trials and all that goes with them. My
dogs enjoy competing. If they did not,
it would be no use trying to force them.
Competing in agility and obedience
enriches me and my dogs’ lives. More
importantly, it keeps us mentally and
physically active. I am extremely
grateful to my dogs for all that they
have given me over the years.
Finally, here is a list of some of
the great Kerry Blue Terriers owned and
trained by E. Fishell.
- Cn OTCH Kelmike’s Clown Prince Am
UD
- Cn CH Cn OTCH Elbrley’s As You Like
it Am UD ROM
- Cn CH Cn OTCH Tantara's Blue Streak
Am UD, Bd CD, AgN., MX, MXJ, OAC, OJC,
NGC, VEAC, ADC, VAADC, PD1, ROM
- CN AM CH Tantara's Mighty Murdoch CN
AM CDX, AG.X., OA, AXJ, OAP, OJP,ADC
- Cn CH Tantara's Honky Tonk Girl Cn
Am CDX, AgMX., MX, MXJ, OAC, NJC, NGC,
AADC
- CH Tantara’s High Tide CD, AgX, AX,
AXJ, NAC, NJC
Other Tantara’s Kerries
Conformation & Obedience
- Cn Am CH Tantara’s Maggie Gamgee Am
UD – Gerry Yeager
- Cn Am Br. CH Tantara’s Whiskeyjack
CDX ( Jack was BIS at Tri County Show in
Great
Britain – Carol Postley
- Cn CH Tantara’s Terry Be Good Cn CDX
– Evelyn Ament
- Cn CH Tantara’s Patrick Go Bragh Cn
CD – Evelyn Ament
- Cn CH Tantara’s Sleeping Beauty Cn
Am CD – Louise Lang & George Moad
Conformation
- CH Tantara’s Wagtail – Carol
Postley
- CH Tantara’s Foxy Lady – Carol
Postley
- CH Tantara’s Bluenose– Carol
Postley
- Cn CH Epic Why Not – Janice
Gessner
- Cn CH Tantara’s Quick and Bold –
Richard Fishell
- Danish CH Tantara’s Front Line –
Anette Larsen
Obedience
- Cn Am OTCH Tantara’s Cosmic Stellar
UDX3 – Evelyn Gansfuss
- Tantara’s Cosmic Phoenix UDX Cn CD
NJ – Evelyn Gansfuss
- Cn OTCH Tantara’s Bushmill Molly -
Terry Benoit
- Tantara’s Tristram Shandy Cn Am CDX
– Richard Fishell
- Tantara’s Pixie of Terkyra Cn CD –
Inge Krause and Lotte Kroeger
Last Updated: 03/01/2005, 10:00 am
|
