Issue 12

St Fanciers Club of Manitoba

Saint Fanciers of Canada Constitution

Trouble viewing request a Word or PDF format from me with out special effects at trustssaints@shaw.ca

Read this newsletter in French click here.
http://www.officialspindriftchows.com/newsletter1_April2009FR.html

Information and Questions secretary_sbfc@hotmail.com

Directors

Executive

Giselle Carlow-President
Gord Carlow-Vice President 
Sara Grant-Sec/Treas

Donation of Oil Painting to Auction

$285.00

Thank You to Pam Schmied for donating the Oil Painting for Auction to help the SBFC.
Thank You to Cyrille Young for posting the Auction and covering the EBAY fees.

Saint Rescue Update

Rex

Rex is a 2 year old Saint Bernard that is a real character. He loves snuggles and huggles and wants up on your lap. He likes to sleep with you or beside you when possible.

His background is not as good as when I got him last September he was a three legged boy and in starved condition. Since then I have worked with his diet and exercise routine since his arrival. I am proud to say that he is now a 4 legged boy and very strong. He has gained about 60 lbs.

Rex does not take to young children or noisy little people. He will growl at them, so with that in mind we are looking for an older couple to spoil him. He generally needs to be leashed walked and will need an enclosed yard. He is great with adults and very loyal and can be very playful.

Rex is presently AKC registered but not showable. He has been neutered as well.

All In all he is a big huggable goof whom loves adults and food, of course not necessarily in that order.

We are looking for good forever homes for Rex and would love to hear from interested parties.

Ed/ Bonnie George
Swisspaws Kennels

705 653 5202

This was in a 20 year old breed newsletter, and I thought it might provide a chuckle today:

A Few Obedience Definitions:

exhibitor - a frustrated expression usually found six ft south of north-bound dog

training instructor - a disgusted expression with scarred hands and forearms, usually found with back towards ring.

gate steward - an exasperated voice, frantically calling out numbers, with no real hope of response.

broad jump - four boards spread far enough apart for a dog to walk through without touching.

high jump - 2 boards and assorted planks usually found with dogs running around them.

bar jump - a stairway banister painted black and white, usually hung across 2 boards just high enough for a dog to run underneath.

stop watch - an unusual time piece used on stay exercises, and according to exhibitors, always runs slow.

dumbbell - a wooden toy always thrown by the exhibitor and usually retrieved by the judge.

scent articles - a group of assorted dumbbells spread out by a steward to show the dog the proper place to practice the utility long stand.

chief steward - a marathon runner found sprinting from ring to ring balancing a cardboard tray of spilled coffee.

directed retrieve articles - 3 gloves that are dropped in designated spots by a steward, then are picked up by the steward

Dog Show Terms Explained For Fun

Dog Show Terms Explained!

Angulation: Degree to which dog handlers will bend over backwards to impress judges.

Balance: (a) How to arrange the checkbook so your husband won't know how much money you spent on dog shows last month. Usually done in the bathroom with the door locked; (b) Ability to hold coffee, danish, leash, treats and entry form all at once.

Bitch: (a) Proper name for a female dog; (b) Name often heard at dog shows, not always to describe a female dog.

Blind Retrieve: When you can't see the toy under the furniture.

CGC: Canine Gastrointestinal Catastrophe {aka GAS}

Coat: The hairy covering of a Saint that usually falls out about one week before the Specialty show.

Crabbing: What you do when the judge doesn't like your Saint.

Dam: (a) A female Saint with puppies; (b) Expression frequently overheard at dog shows as losers leave the ring.

Distemper: Shown by those competitors who just lost to someone they can't stand.

Dog: To chase a judge from show to show in an effort to attain more breed wins.

Double Bind: Finding two toys under the furniture.

Elbow: Method of getting to ringside quickly when late.

Expression: "Sweet" look adopted by hungry Saints while staring ravenously at chunks of liver.

Fancier: Degree to which some gentlemen handlers dress more than others.

Feathering: What winners are accused of doing to judges' nests.

Force Fetch: Saint drops the toy under furniture, scratches at the carpet until you're forced to "fetch" it.

Front: Part of the Saint often facing the outside of the ring.

Guard Hair: An activity in which one watches intently as the Saint's hair falls out, in clumps, just after entries are mailed.

Heel: (a) What you feel like when your Saint beats the one you had just sold to an eager novice;       (b) Expression often screamed to attract the attention of deaf Saints.

Hock: A way of financing your dog shows by the use of jewelry such as wedding rings.

Kennel: Where you go when the kids fight and your husband is in one of his moods.

Litter: Trash left all over the building and parking lot after a dog show.

Mask: What to wear when you have to show your gorgeous pick of the litter that fell apart a week before the show.

Muzzle: What to put on your kids at a dog show to prevent them from calling your competition what they overheard you call him last night.

Noseprints: Cute marks left all over your French doors.

Outcrossing: What your husband tells the minister you are doing out in the kennel with the dog and the bitch.

Overshot: Running so fast as to pass the 1st place ring marker and plow into the judge and the stewards.

Pedigree: Dog food with lots of coupons.

Points: Minute, invisible awards for winning which you cannot convince your spouse are more important than cash prizes.

Puppies: Small, dog like food-processing machines with the ability to stink up an entire house and collectively deafen a band of magpies. (These creatures have not yet been perfected, as they come with leaky systems, and can also be dangerous to weak hearts and bank accounts).

Qualifying Score: Justifying the 170.5 you got in obedience today.

Ribbons: What competitive exhibitors with distemper (see above) will cut you into when your dog places over theirs.

Specialty: Whatever your Saint is good at, like leaving drool marks all over the walls or chewing on
all the wood furniture.

Type: What your Saint has...if you turn down the lights and squint a little.

Utility: The kind of vehicle you need to haul around your Saints.

Pet Dogs Versus Show Dogs for Fun:

Pet dogs shed

Show dogs blow coat.

Pet dogs are in heat

Show dogs come into season.

Pet dogs trot

Show dogs gait or move.

Pet dogs stand

Show dogs stack.

Pet dogs get a bath

Show dogs are groomed.

Pet dogs beg for treats

Show dogs bait.

Pet dogs poop

Show dogs exercise.

Pet dogs bark at other dogs

Show dogs spar.

Pet dogs wear leashes

Show dogs wear leads

 

The Dog Show

The primary purpose of a dog show is to enable dog owners, and breeders, to exhibit their dogs in competition with others of their kind; with the ultimate objective of improving the quality of their breed.

Dog shows are structured as an elimination contest, starting with several hundred entries, that are first judged against their own kind, and then being judged against the winners of the other breeds and finally one dog is chosen as the Best In Show winner for that day.  Each day of a dog show has a different Judge and a different opinion as to which dog will deserve the top accolade.  

Each breed recognized by the Canadian Kennel Club has its own ‘Standard of perfection’. It is the judge’s opinion to decide which dog they feel most closely ‘conforms’ to that breeds standard. It is a subjective and interpretative opinion of that judge of that breeds standard.   They will try to judge those dogs, in their opinion, which are nearest to ideal type as described by the breed standard.

A Championship Show is an all-breed show or specialty show at which championship points are awarded.  If in the Judge’s opinion a dog does not meet the Breeds Standard as set out and deviates drastically, points and ribbons can be withheld.

A Sanction Match is a fun match designed specially to help the dog and owner become acclimatized to what happens in a championship show.  It is an informal meeting at which only pure-bred dogs may compete, but not for championship points.  A sanction match is to a dog show what a dress rehearsal is to a play.

A Benched Show means dogs entered must be kept in stalls, provided by the show-giving club, during show hours.  Your identification slip will indicate your stall number and the deadline for getting your dog into the show. The most famous benched show is the Westminster Kennel Club Show held in New York an AKC Show.  The objective is to allow the public to see the breeds of one type on display in one area.  This would enable the public to speak to the owners/and or breeders of the dogs.

An Unbenched Show means dogs may be kept with you anywhere on the show grounds.  Your identification slip will probably indicate that you need not be at the show until half an hour before your breed is called for judging and that you may leave as soon as you are no longer needed.

A Booster is exactly what the name implies.  During the organizational stage of an upcoming show a group of breed fanciers will get together, choose a judge they particularly like, who is judging at that show increase the number of awards given and put in as many entries as they can therefore boosting the entry and promoting interest in the breed.

A Specialty Show can be for a single breed or a group and is held either separately or in conjunction with an all-breed show.  For example a breed specialty held in conjunction with a two day show would entitle that breed to three sets of points as opposed to two sets of points for all the other breeds entered.       There are only two Specialties for the Saint Bernard in Canada currently: The Saint Fanciers of Manitoba Specialty Show and The Saint Bernard Club of Ontario Specialty Show. These clubs hold their Specialty in conjunction with another club.

Dog Show Definitions for Fun:

1. Great stud dog:  Mounts anything that can fog a mirror.

2. Excels in movement: If he gets loose, runs like hell.

3. Personality Plus: Wakes up if you put liver up his nose.

4. Good bite: Missed the judge, got the steward.

5. Large boned: Looks like a Clydesdale.

6. Good obedience prospect: ugly as hell

7. Quiet and good natured: in his kennel.

8. Excels in type and style: however, moves like a spider on speed".

9. Won in stiff competition: beat four puppies and a 9 year old novice dog.

10. Multiple group winner: at two puppy matches.

11. Pointed: is head is shaped like a carrot.

12. Noted Judge: he put up our dog.

13. Respected Judge: he put up our dog twice.

14. Esteemed Judge: he puts up anything that crawls.

15. Specialty Judge: puts up anything that looks like his own breeding.

16. Won in heavy competition: the other dogs were revoltingly overweight.

17. Shown sparingly: only when we had it in the bag.

18. Show Prospect: he has 4 legs, 2 eyes, 2 ears, 1 tail.

19. Finished in 5 shows: and 89 where he failed to win a ribbon.

20. Well Balanced: straight as a stick, front and rear.

21. Handled brilliantly by: nobody else can get near him.

22. At stud to "approved" bitches: those bitches whose owner's check is good.

23. Linebred from famous champions: Ch. Whoozitz appears twice 6th
generation.

24. Terrific brood bitch: her conformation is the pits, but she
conceives big litters.

25. Wins another Best In Show: his second, under the same judge, our
uncle.

Rescue 911

Click on pic or here for larger image.

The Championship

The purpose of obtaining a Championship is to affirm that your purebred dog has competed against others of its breed and has been successful in competition against its opponents. We do this by having our dog judged in competition by an official Canadian Kennel Club or American Kennel Club judge against the official CKC standard of the breed. The title Can Ch may now precede the dog's registered name.
It is in the opinion of the presiding Judge as to the dog conforms to the "Breed Standard" in accordance to the latest standard as published by the CKC. The judge will mentally score the dog against this visualized standard of perfection; each fault or deviation from this standard is to be penalized.

Remember that a Dog Show Judge makes a decision based on their own criteria along with the Breed Standard.  It is that Judges decision, whether in YOUR OPINION it is RIGHT or WRONG, you as the competitor MUST RESPECT that decision.  Good Sportsman like conduct MUST BE ADHERED to at ALL SHOWS.  If you feel strongly that an error has occurred you can file a grievance with the CKC.  You must never vent your frustration, disappointment or anger at a Judge during the Show hours.

Dogs must be entered in a specific class for which they qualify. The regular classes include:

Dogs must be entered in a class for which they qualify. The regular classes include:

Shows have a closing date, usually seventeen days prior to the first show, after which no entries can be made. When you enter a show, you are sent a confirmation of your entry after the closing date. This will include your official entry number, which you often use for the entire weekend of shows.

An exhibitor is required to have their dog at the show one hour prior to their class. The dogs are called into the ring by class, usually in catalogue order. Class males are judged first, followed by females. The dogs are presented in a stand (stack), where the handler places the dog in an even square stand. The dog is baited to look keen and alert. The judge will give a command to move the dogs in a predetermined pattern. Each dog is then individually examined for assets and faults. The judge will examine the mouth, head, neck, shoulders, rear etc. and check males for the presence of two testicles. The handler then gaits the dog in a particular pattern for the judge to watch the movement of the dog. At the completion of the pattern the dog must stop close to the judge and present itself in a natural pose. The judge then asks you to return to your original position. When all the dogs have been individually examined the judge will place the top four, awarding 1st through 4th in each class. These four dogs remain in the ring so that their number can be officially recorded, and they are given their ribbon. Then these dogs leave the ring to make way for the next class, 1st and 2nd place in each class remaining at ringside until all classes of the same sex have been judged.

All 1st place dogs enter the ring again to be judged for Winners Male or Female, at which point championship points are awarded. The judge may ask for patterns or stacks, whichever they deem necessary to complete their choice for Winners. After Winners is chosen, the dog that placed 2nd in the same class as the winner then enters the ring to compete—with the remaining 1st place dogs—for Reserve Winners. Winners Male/Female must remain at ringside for further judging.
Once the Specials have been called into the ring, Winners Male and Winners Female enter the ring to compete for Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex, Best of Winners and Best Puppy (if eligible). The judge examines and moves each dog and chooses his Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex and Best of Winners. If none of the dogs in the ring (that are puppies) win Best of Breed or Best of Winners, then all undefeated puppies are called into the ring to be judged for Best Puppy in Breed. The Best Puppy can then go on to compete for Best Puppy in Group and, upon winning, for Best Puppy in Show.

The Best of Breed winner goes on to compete in its Group. Each Group is placed 1st through 4th, and the Group winners go on to compete for Best in Show. There are seven groups: Sporting, Hound, Working (St Bernard), Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding.

CKC Championship Requirements
A Canadian championship is awarded once the dog has accumulated ten points, with at least one 2 pt major, awarded by a minimum of three licensed judges. Championship points are awarded for Winners Male and Winners Female at a CKC member dog show as approved by the Canadian Kennel Club, according to the number of eligible dogs competing in the regular classes of each sex and according to the schedule of points. In counting the number of eligible dogs in competition, a dog that is disqualified, or is dismissed, excused or ordered from the ring by the judge, or from which awards are withheld, is not included. The maximum number of points that can be awarded to a dog in a single show is five points.

If the dog awarded Winners Male or Female is also awarded Best of Breed, the dogs of both sexes that have been entered for Best of Breed competition, and that have been defeated in such competition, are counted in addition to the dogs that competed in the regular classes.

If the dog awarded Winners Male or Female is also awarded Best of Opposite Sex, the dogs of its own sex that have been entered for Best of Breed competition, and that have been defeated in such competition, are counted in addition to the dogs that competed in the regular classes.

The dog awarded Best of Winners is credited with the number of points calculated for the total number of class dogs shown.

A class dog that is awarded Best of Breed and which also wins a Group placement is awarded championship points according to the schedule.

A class dog that is awarded Best in Show is awarded championship points according to the schedule.

IF I DIDN'T HAVE DOGS:

I could walk around the yard barefoot in safety.

My house could be carpeted instead of tiled and laminated.

All flat surfaces, clothing, furniture, and cars would be free of dog hair.

When the doorbell rings, it wouldn't sound like the kennels.

When the doorbell rings, I could get to the door without wading through dog bodies who beat me there.

I could sit on the couch the way I wanted, without taking into consideration how much space several fur bodies would need to get comfortable.

I would not have strange presents under my Christmas tree -- dog bones, stuffed animals - nor would I have to answer to people why I wrap them.

I would not be on a first-name basis with three Veterinarians.

The most used words in my vocabulary would not be: "out," "sit," down," "come," "no," "stay," and "leave him/her/it ALONE."

My house would not be cordoned off into zones with baby gates or barriers.

My pockets would not contain things like poop bags, dog treats and an extra leash.

I would no longer have to spell the words B-A-L-L-, F-R-I-S-B-E-E, C-A-R, L-E-A-S-H, R-I-D-E, or W-A-L-K.

I would not have as many leaves INSIDE my house as outside.

I would not look strangely at people who think having ONE dog ties them down too much.

I'd look forward to spring and the melting of snow instead of dreading "mud season."

I would not have to answer the question "Why do you have so many dogs?" from people who will never have the joy in their lives of knowing they are loved unconditionally by something as close to an angel as they will ever get.

How very empty my life would be.
 

Author Unknown