Join DogTown for a fun Halloween party this Friday, Oct. 23 from 7pm until 9pm. This will be an on-leash party, but dogs will be kept busy. We will have a dog costume contest and games like musical obedience, edible facial, relay race and hotdog bobbing. We will also be taking pet photographs for a small sitting fee.
There will be a human potluck that you are invited to participate in, if you would like to.
Come celebrate Halloween in doggie style! We hope to see you there.
We had fun at the Rally ring this weekend. Brant with Bella qualified for their first Novice leg on Sunday and it was nice because he got to be with 2 other Bernese Moutain Dogs that also qualified, something you don't see every day! Doc also qualified for his 7th & 8th RAE legs, but both his Excellent runs were tough to watch I'm sure as he is quickly sliding into senility:) Erin and her Siberians (yes, I do mean Huskies!) did the breed proud getting 2 Advanced legs with Boomer and 2 RAE legs with King. Now Jody has no excuse to not get in that ring!
In Conformation, Debbie and Crescendo pulled off his first 4pt(!) Major and a 3rd place. Meanwhile, over at the Akita ring, Mak got his first Major too! I think it was a 3 point, but I was a bit distracted:) Boxers were a bit disappointing, but Andrew did get Best Junior with River at the Friday Specialty.
Please feel free to add any wins that you know about here too!
WOW, what a Great Weekend that was!! Big Congratulations to all the legs and wins! Wish I could have seen everybody, but it's really great to hear all the good news. I'm sure Brant and Bella looked terrific out there... it's really nice to see Berners in the rally ring :-)... I know you guys have worked really hard with her and it feels soooooo good when you get your first leg!
Stacy.. Doc may be getting up there in years, but I think he still looks like a young pup out there with you! RAE here you come!! Woooo-hooo.... you go girl! Erin has Siberians in the Advance ring, how cool is that... show's they can do well off leash (come on now Jody :-) )... big congrats to you and to your 2 legs towards your RAE too!
Big congrats to Andrew with best Junior with River! You both look pretty darn good out there Andrew! Majors are hard to come by in the conformation Ring..so is was really GREAT to hear Mak got a Major! He's a very handsome boy!! Congratulations!!!
The times for DogTown's Rally Fun match are as follows-
Excellent 9am
Advance 10am
Novice 11:30am
We are accepting day of sign ups, cost is $10 for the first run and $7 per run after that, with the same dog. We're looking forward to seeing everyone on Sunday!
Congratulations to all the winners and competitors at the Canby shows.
There was big news in the conformation rings where Chip the Mastiff finished his Championship! With his 3rd major, Chip finished in style! Congratulations Debbie-we are so happy for you:).
Liam also had a nice showing in the ring, taking Winner's Dog Saturday and Best of Winner's on Sunday.
In the Rally ring, Boomer the Husky qualified in Novice and Harley the mini-Schnauzer got his 4th (I think) RAE leg. Doc, my Keeshond, also got his 5th and 6th RAE legs. The camaraderie around the Rally and Obedience rings was wonderful, with everyone supporting and cheering on each other.
Come and prepare for the summer shows! A full course will be available with stations from all levels. Students should be familiar with Rally and the basic signs, but coaching will be given to help improve performance. Drop in fee is $10 for this class only.
Come in and see our improved retail area. In addition to food, toys and pet supplies, we now also have life jackets for your dogs that go boating or to the river in the summer. If you don't see what you need, let us know and we'll order it for you!
Last month I took and passed the examination to become a Certified Pet Dog Trainer. Although it's not required and I've been teaching classes for about 12 years, I wanted to take the opportunity to show that there are always new things to learn and that our training can go stagnant, just like our dogs'. Dog shows and competing are still my passion, but I can now proudly say that I'm certified to train pet classes too!
AKC MIXED BREED PROGRAM DETAILS -- BEGINS OCT. 1 2009-- just some information on it.
by Rebecca (no login)
The Board and Staff have been considering a program for mixed breeds since January 2005. After extensive research, including gathering feedback from AKC Delegates, AKC Clubs, and mixed breed dog owners, the Board unanimously approved a program for mixed breed dogs at the April 2009 Board Meeting. This followed the non-binding resolutions passed by an overwhelming majority of the Delegates at the March 2009 meeting asking the Board to reconsider a program for mixed breeds.
The details of the program are presented below. Thank you to all Delegates, club officers, and club members who have provided feedback over the years. The program, which includes a Listing Service and Competition Eligibility, is a result of many years worth of research. You have been an integral part of the process and the feedback received has been invaluable.
Please contact mixedbreeds@akc.org if you have any questions regarding this new program.
Effective October 1st, 2009, mixed breed dog owners can list their dogs with the AKC’s new mixed breed program.
1.Dogs in the program will be issued an ID number.
2.Dogs must be spayed or neutered.
3.The fee for the program will be $35.
4.In Phase I, listed dogs will receive:
a.A certificate of participation
b.A competition card, with their identification number. This number allows mixed breeds to compete in AKC Agility, Rally, and Obedience events
c.Access to a community of dog lovers interested in supporting all things canine, including the AKC Humane Fund
d.Affiliation with an organization that:
i.Actively supports the right to own and breed dogs responsibly by fighting anti-ownership legislation at the local, state, and federal level
ii.Donates millions to canine health research, making all dogs healthier in the long run
iii.Proactively responds to disasters like 9-11 and Hurricane Katrina, reaching out to all dog owners in need during stressful times
The Listing Service will be enhanced in Phase II. In Phase II, effective July 1, 2010 participating dogs will also receive:
a.Discounted enrollment in the AKC CAR Lost & Found service, which includes a collar tag and 24-7 recovery services
a.An AKC Supporter window decal
b.Free CGC certificate for dogs that pass a CGC test
c.Copy of The New Puppy Handbook and/or sample of Family Dog magazine
d.Free initial veterinary visit
e.Trial offer of pet health insurance
f.Discount coupons to an online dog store
The Listing Service will be enhanced again in Phase III, allowing owners of mixed breed dogs to have access to interactive website with fun features such as forums, picture contests, dog care video downloads, information on pet-friendly businesses, advice from experts, etc. The effective date for the new website will be determined in the future based on the needs of those enrolled.
Competition in Companion Events
Effective April 1st, 2010, the competition parameters governing mixed breed participation in AKC Agility, Rally, and Obedience events:
1.AKC clubs will have the option to hold mixed breed classes for Agility, Obedience, or Rally events. Those clubs electing to hold mixed breed classes will offer the same classes for mixed breed dogs and purebred dogs.
2.Mixed Breed classes can only be held at standalone AKC Agility, Obedience, and Rally Events. The class could not be offered at All Breed Shows, Group Shows, or independent specialties, even if Agility, Obedience, or Rally events are being held.
a.The definition of standalone AKC Companion event is an AKC Agility, Obedience, or Rally event that is not held on the same date AND show site as an AKC all-breed show or independent specialty.
3.Mixed breed dogs will compete in separate class divisions from AKC purebred dogs.
a.The club is not required to hold the classes in separate rings under separate Judges. The purebred classes can be held in the same ring, under the same Judge, as the mixed breed classes. Placements and titles will be scored and awarded separately.
b.For example, in Agility in the Regular class, all purebred dogs entered in the Regular 16 inch class will run, followed in the same ring by the mixed breed dogs entered in the Regular 16 inch class.
4.Allows event-giving club to decide if group exercises in Obedience, specifically long sits and downs, should be combined to save time or should be completed separately. The club is not required to hold the classes in separate rings under separate Judges. Placements and titles will be scored and awarded separately.
5.Mixed breed dogs will earn different titles from purebred dogs.
a.Mixed breed dogs will earn titles with a Mixed Breed suffix (i.e. NAM-Novice Agility Mixed Breed)
6.Dogs competing in the class will be eligible to earn similar (but separate) titles as purebreds, including MACH-M (Master Agility Champion Mixed Breed), OTCH-M, and RAE-M.
7.dogs competing in classes will NOT be eligible for National Championships or Invitational events.
The mixed breed concept that was approved has strong support from AKC Delegates and other key fanciers.
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In a strategic planning survey in January 2005, 65% of the responding Delegates either supported mixed breeds in AKC competition or had no opinion on the issue.
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In a telephone survey of 84 all-breed, training, and specialty clubs that hold agility and obedience trials, 78% supported AKC clubs having the option to offer classes for mixed breeds at their trials.
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In a Fancier Survey completed by 21,017 exhibitors, Delegates, club members, club officers, and dog owners in February 2007, 70% of respondents agreed AKC clubs should have the option to offer classes for mixed breeds at Companion events. 67% of exhibitors, 65% of Delegates, 65% of club members, and 60% of club officers agreed.
Thanks for the information! We'd heard that they were allowing mixed breeds to compete. I have to admit, I'm a little bummed that they'll be in separate classes, but at least it's a start and the more people that participate, the more opportunities that will open up!
[Tuesday, April 14, 2009]
New York, NY – For the past 125 years, the American Kennel Club® has been the nation's premier advocate for dogs and the people who love them. The AKC's Board of Directors has voted unanimously to proceed with a program for mixed breed dogs which will allow it to act even more broadly and effectively as the dog's champion. The creation of this program ushers in new opportunities for AKC's constituents and clubs and will allow the organization to grow and flourish.
"Our goal in creating a program specifically designed for mixed breeds is to share our passion for dogs and our sport," said AKC President and CEO Dennis Sprung. "AKC will broaden its legislative influence by representing more dog owners and achieve greater exposure for our responsible dog ownership messaging. But ultimately, the positive developments that this program creates will benefit dogs the most, and this is what we value above all."
The mixed breeds program will be implemented in three phases. As of October 1, 2009 owners can begin enrolling their pets and receive an AKC ID number. Then beginning April 1, 2010 enrolled dogs will be eligible to compete in mixed breed classes at stand-alone AKC Agility, Obedience and Rally events. Soon after they will have access to benefits such as discounted AKC Companion Animal Recovery Lost and Found service, a free AKC Canine Good Citizen® certificate for dogs passing the CGC test, a free initial veterinary visit, a trial offer of pet health insurance and discounted coupons for dog supplies.
The third phase will offer a dedicated Web site where dog owners can interact via an online community with discussion forums and access dog care video downloads, advice from experts and the most up-to-date news on canine health and welfare. The site will be continually enhanced with new features and benefits in order to respond to the changing needs of pet owners.
This new AKC initiative is the first designed to specifically benefit mixed breed dogs and their dog owners, however the AKC has long included mixed breeds in programs such as AKC Canine Good Citizen®, AKC S.T.A.R. Puppysm, AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day and the AKC CAR Canine Support and Relief Fund's disaster relief efforts. In addition, AKC has always actively advocated for the rights of all dog owners and the welfare of dogs through its Government Relations efforts and serves dog owners through its affiliate organizations such as the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation and AKC Companion Animal Recovery.
For more information about the AKC's mixed breeds program, visit www.akc.org/mixedbreeds.