From the Office / Vanuit die Kantoor
God willing, we will be celebrating the Association’s GOLDEN JUBILEE in 2011 – 50 years of sheepdog activities in South Africa! We are very fortunate to still have two of the founder members with us today – Mr Chipper Kingwill and Mr Frikkie van Zyl. Wonder if they ever thought that they would see the day?
Ja-nee, die Vereniging het sowaar die toets van die tyd weerstaan, deur van die moeilikste situasies denkbaar. Vele vriende (ook viervoetig) het ons deur die jare ontval, sommiges het ander belangstellings gevind, ‘n hele aantal nuwe gesigte het bygekom en ‘n klompie ‘oudstryders’ hou nog steeds die blink kant bo.
We are looking for old members / breeders / handlers to contribute to the celebrations planned for the event. So, if you know of the whereabouts of any old members, or manage to read this somewhere in the world out there, please contact us? We would love to hear from you – your ‘memoirs’ would be included in a special JUBILEE MAGAZINE and you might even be able to join us in some of the celebrations throughout the year?
Om almal in die regte gemoedstemming vir die feesvierings te kry, gaan ons voortaan so bietjie herinneringe uit die verlede oproep – daarom dan die uittreksels uit ou Jaarblaaie elders in hierdie nuusbrief. Ons hoop u onthou nog die dae?
The first trial for the year was recently held in Mooi River and judging from the scores, the standard was exceptional, setting the scene for a brilliant season. Hennie said he really had to look for ‘fleas’, so few mistakes the Top Dogs made. It was also the first time in his judging history that a run-off had to determine the final winner. Hopefully the just completed North Cape Trial in Sutherland had the same excellence.
Dit is ongelukkig dat Christoff Vermeulen weens werksdruk die beplande Carnavon-kompetisie moes afstel, maar groot dank gaan aan Wally & Kathy Ward wat ingewillig het om die kampioenskap Smithfield toe te skuif - dit word opreg waardeer!
A great big THANK YOU to those members whose prompt payment of annual fees have made my job a lot easier, and also to those who reacted favourably to the request to have their dogs tested for working ability. Thank you for your example, which we hope others will soon follow.
Daar is egter nog heelwat lede se fooie vir 2010 uitstaande – neem asseblief kennis dat lidmaatskap outomaties verval na ses maande van betaaldatum (1 Januarie jaarliks) en dat alle voordele dan verbeur word. Ons waardeer u lojaliteit en passie en wil u nie graag verloor nie –betaal dus asseblief u fooie voor einde Junie vanjaar? Dankie by voorbaat.
Wishing you the wind always at your back, where ever you are! Martie Ferreira
“Jou lewe kan nie volgens plan verloop, as jy nie ‘n plan het nie.” – Onbekend
Skaaphond-gesegdes deur Bennie Strydom
Sheepdog sayings by Bennie Strydom
(Uittreksel uit 1982 Jaarblad – 21ste Herdenking)
(Excerpt from 1982 Magazine – 21st Anniversary)
Dit is moeilik genoeg om goeie honde uit goeies te teel, wat nog te sê goeies uit slegtes.
‘n Goeie teler kyk eers na sy produk, dan na sy sak.
‘n ‘Pragtige’ skaaphond is een wat ten minste die skape kan gaan haal.
‘n Goedkoop skaaphond is ‘n ding waarvan sy baas probeer ontslae raak.
‘n Goeie beoordelaar ken nie die hanteerder van die hond wat hy beoordeel nie.
I now have a retired farmer selling pups for me – he pays me R100 each and sells them for R80 each. He maintains it pays better than farming.
Sheepdog breeding is like farming – you have to survive on selling at a loss.
q I also have a pedigree, but am no damn good.
To be able to execute some people’s orders for puppies, I’ll have to handpaint them.
A sheepdog loves the one who works him, not the one who feeds him.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
In Memoriam
Our condolences go to the family of Ms Barbara Shaw, who passed away late last year. Barbara was appointed as the first woman judge in SASDA in the 80’s and was a keen spectator, even long after she had resigned from judging. She will be missed.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Qualification through the classes
Over the past few years various requests had been made for ways to make the qualification from Beginners through to Seniors ‘easier’ and more accessible. Time and time again, however, the Executive had decided to keep the status quo …… the reason?
When SASDA first started out there were only two classes at trials – Novice (junior dogs) with a qualifying mark of 80% and Open (senior dogs). Our current Junior course is run on the same basis as the Novice course of those years, including the awarding of the COM for a score of 70% or more, enabling one to enter for the National Championship.
Over the years the Executive had really bent over backwards to accommodate more handlers. A Beginner course was introduced in the early 80’s to entice new/inexperienced handlers, run on exactly the same course as the Novice at that stage, but mainly judging the handler’s ability to handle and control a dog. Once a handler gets 85% he/she is believed to have enough control to progress to the next level.
The Open class was then split into Intermediate and Seniors in order to make the jump from juniors to Seniors less daunting and the qualifying mark was set at a win with 90% or more.
As dogs and handlers got more experienced the Intermediate Class became the current Seniors and the Seniors of those days changed to become the current Top Dog Class which would present more difficult challenges for more advanced dogs – hence the ruling that the Top Dog course can be anything as set up by the Trial’s Committee.
Later, as farmer entries started dwindling and more ‘townies’ (with permission) began trialing, the Beginner course was once again altered to accommodate handlers, to what it is today – a shorter cast, no need to get the bring gate, only one drive obstacle etc.
Until today SASDA is the only trialing society in the world to have these four classes – most others still only have Open and Novice (and Nursery trials for young dogs in their off-season).
As someone at the Natal Trial had concluded: ‘The problem is thus not with the system, but with handlers and dogs not being well enough prepared for trialing. Moving the goal posts closer every time won’t help if one is not up to standard with what is expected of you for each class – you will eventually only end up with no playing field at all’. MF
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(Extract from a letter from first President Bun Kingwill in 1981 on SASDA’s 20thbirthday)
“When I was young and bold enough to start the Association, we had nothing–and nobody’s brains to pick. Eventually a constitution was drawn up with the very able assistance of Secretary Billy Kingwill. To find judges and handlers was a major problem, let alone finance. However, with perseverance and discussions and AGM’s lasting till midnight, we gradually got underway. The foundation was laid and I have been well rewarded for my efforts. SASDA has gone from strength to strength and may it continue. I think Chipper is the only active member of those who started. I make a bold statement to say that the winning dogs in the early days would only do reasonably well in the Beginners Class today. “
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
For those Cheese loving Dogs
(sent in by T Quarmby)
Penicillium Mycotoxins Can Produce Serious Tremors in Dogs
Penicillium is a common mould (fungus) that is found commonly on indoor surfaces, in indoor and outdoor air, and on rotting food. Penicillium is the mould that produces penicillin antibiotics.
Penicillium also produces a wide range of mycotoxins - which are toxic chemicals produced by moulds. Some of the mycotoxins produced by Penicillium - such as the penitrems and roquefortine cause severe nervous damage including shaking and tremors. The mould species Penicillium crustosum is a particularly heavy producer of these tremorogenic (tremor producing) mycotoxins penitrem and roquefortine.
Case studies were presented of 6 Norwegian dogs in different homes that became very sick and developed tremors following eating mouldy dog food. Both of the tremorogenic mycotoxins penitrem and roquefortine were found on the dogs’ feed.
Three of the dogs recovered in a few days, one dog took 3 months to recover, one dog still has balance and neurological problems 3 years later and 1 dog died of the mycotoxin poisioning. This research by Eriksen et al. is published and is now in press in Medical Mycology.
Penicillium species commonly grow on many types of food and on moist indoor environments. Penicillium crustosum commonly grows on rotting peanuts, soybeans, cheese, meat and apples. All food with visible mould should be promptly thrown out. Peanuts and soybeans should be stored in clean and dry areas or refrigerated. Cheese, meat and apples should be refrigerated.
N E W A R R I V A L S
N U W E A A N K O M E L I N G E
Baie geluk aan Willem en Karen Myburgh van Namibië met die geboorte van
hul tweeling dogtertjies, Madelein en Marlé, op 22/02/2010.
Ons sien uit daarna om hulle later vanjaar by Willowmore te ontmoet!
Congratulations to Christoph & Senta Schulenburg whose little girl, Emma,
was born on 16/03/2010 - hope she is everything you hoped for!
“When you find a dream inside your heart, don’t ever let it go. For dreams are the tiny seeds from which beautiful tomorrows grow.” - Unknown
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
SKAAPHONDDEMONSTRASIE - (Chris Hayward)
Gedurende Maart vanjaar het ek op Faansie se aandrang ‘n demonstrasie gedoen op die nuwe Karoolus-fees in Graaff-Reinet.
Soos dit met demo’s gaan was daar altyd ‘n ding! Tien dae voor die dag was Bonty op die drumpel van die dood na bosluiskoors en ernstige bloedarmoede (lesing van 13 ipv 45; sê maar amper dood!) So, ek moes hom so min as moontlik gebruik na sy 10 dae rus op die plaas – derhalwe moes ek maar reken op my ander twee jongelinge met hul moontlike risiko’s!
Die hond wat my voor die tyd bekommer het oor sy moontlike reaksie was Squire (Bles/Magic – 15 mnde oud.) Hy was egter die ‘darling’ van die skare! Hy het regtig oulik opgetree en mooi gewerk.
My ‘optel’-hond Rex, was nie in sy skik met die geraas en mense en blink goeters en tente en vreemde reuke nie. Toe hy los kom voor die demo om ‘n draai te stap het hy eerder buite die grense gesoek om seker weer huis toe te gaan. Toe moes ek hom eerder gebruik vir die laai en aflaai van die skape – hy vrees niks en klim soos ‘n Kelpie onder deur die vee bo-op die bakkie/treiler ens.
Alles in ag genome het sake goed afgeloop. Ek het ook nou ‘n beter idee van wat mense soek op so ‘n dag – miskien meer van ‘n “show” as suiwer skaapwerk. Wat baie gehelp het was dat ek ‘n mobiele mikrofoon gehad het – om te verduidelik soos ek aangaan en die mense betrokke te kry, en ook om belangstelling te prikkel by die mense wat deur die tente gestap het.
Die geluk van alles is dat ek ‘n heel ander hond nou hier het … Squire het na sy terugkeer plaas toe ‘n gedaantewisseling ondergaan! Hy werk soos ‘n droom – amper of hy sê: “Let’s do it again, Boss!” Hy is nou vanself beter onder beheer ens – amper of hy meer volwasse is. Rex is egter nog my “wild child” en dit sal nog tyd vat.