THE CAVALIER CHRONICLE
December 2023
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Another huge thank you to Mark Fitchpatrick for the many years he has enhanced and produced our monthly newsletter and to Beth Lassiter for filling Mark’s shoes going forward. I think we have one of the better newsletters and I am not sure many other clubs produce a monthly newsletter as opposed to quarterly. This takes a lot of effort to accomplish.
As I write this our 2023 holiday luncheon is in the rear window. To all that could attend thank you for joining us and I hope you had a wonderful time. For those that could not attend, you missed a great party and mark your calendars now for next year’s event (usually held the Sunday right before Royal Canin and the AKC national start in Orlando). Just to recap the events, we had a small welcome gift for all and kicked off the day with lot’s of great food and the opportunity for our members to sit around and chat with each other. We then had several events including door prizes (everybody’s a winner), ugly sweater contest (congrats Linda Whitmire), member milestone awards (Alice Alford, Randy Alford 20 years that we missed last year, 20 years for Pat Lander, Roxy Hayes and Beth Arenburg), lifetime award to Mark Fitchpatrick for his service on the board and in publishing the newsletter. I also had some thank you to recognize Michele Lander for opening up Five Paces Inn to host our event, LaVada McCosh for her work as the Social Chair and great job to here and her husband for the energies pulling off the Saturday social at our specialty, Linda Whitmire for the puppy picnic, judges gifts, winner gifts and everything else she does for the club and Carolyn Powell for the thankless job of being Treasurer and the great job she has done for us. We also recognized the many accomplishments of our dogs over the past year (these are recognized here also, further down in the newsletter). I also presented the Presidents award to Sharon Onorato for here never- ending service to the club including club Secretary, handling of all communications to and from on behalf of the club, doing all the work with the Kennel Clubs and AKC to make sure our specialty goes off without a hitch, ordering ribbons and so on and so on and so on. The event ended with our annual Dirty Santa gift exchange featuring a lot of stealing and laughs. This annual event is always so much fun and we hop to see our number of attendees continue to grow (plenty of room at the 5 Paces Inn).
If you have accomplishments for your dog(s) from the past year and missed the timing for recognition in this newsletter, please don’t feel left out. Send them to Sharon and we will do a part two in the January newsletter.
The premium is our for the 2024 specialty. Please make sure you enter and put it on your calendar. We have a great judging panel (Jamie Seidman, Norma Inglis and Gwen Wells) and on Sunday we will be celebrating Marlene Andersons life and that Sunday will be our 30th specialty show.
Lastly, I would like to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!
Thanks
Jim
EDITOR'S MESSAGE
A special thanks to all who have sent information, photos, and brags through the years. I am now handing the reins to the newsletter over to Beth Lassiter. I know Beth will create a newsletter we will all be proud of. The only way for us to have the newsletter we desire is through the sharing if information from membership. Please send your photos, brags, and information to Beth Lassiter at CKCSCAtlantaNewsletter@gmail.com.
2024 MEETING SCHEDULE
SAVE THE DATE! NOTE THE DATE CHANGE!!!!!
JANUARY 2024 MEETINGS:
TUESDAY JANUARY 9, 2024
REGULAR MEETING at 7:30pm
BOARD MEETING at 6:30pm
ZOOM instructions to be emailed.
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
The renewal information was mailed to your mailing address on file with the club at the beginning of September. Please be sure to return your renewal on or before 12/31/2023. We also have opened up the online store on our website to pay for your renewal online. That link is: https://ckcscatlanta.org/2024-membership-renewal
HOLIDAY PARTY
It’s always beautiful in the autumn in North Georgia! The leaves have fallen now and the weather has been just wonderful for our cavaliers! We only have a short window of the year where the weather is just this great and then it turns stormy in the spring and HOT HOT HOT in the summer!
We held our annual Holiday Luncheon on Sunday December 10 at the 5 Paces Inn in Buckhead. The club provided the ham and everyone brought a favorite side to share. The food, per usual, was absolutely delicious! Fun times were had at our annual “White Cavalier” gift exchange and boy was there a lot of stealing going on. There were some great gifts.
We held our 2nd annual ugly sweater contest and the winner was Linda Whitmire who was presented with a Visa $25 gift card. There were several fun raffles (psst…like Badgerland “everyone is a winner” LOL) including guessing how many Hershey kisses were in the candy jar to win the candy AND an $10 gift card that was won by Beth Lassiter!
We had donations ready to go up to the Pickens County Rescue Ranch (no kill shelter) where club member Susan Kent volunteers.
We recognize 25-year member - Maureen Miles.
We recognized several 20-year members – Alice and Randy Alford, Beth Arenburg and Pat Lander with beautiful awards. Sharon Utych was awarded the annual President’s Award.
Club president Jim Utych presented thank you gift cards to Linda Whitmire, LaVada McCosh and Carolyn Powell for their work and support this year in the club. The club also presented a special appreciation award to Mark Fitchpatrick for his many years of service on the Board and also as our newsletter editor. Beth Lassiter will now be assuming the role of newsletter editor effective with the January issue.
We also recognized the club’s cavalier achievement in 2023! Recognized were:
Brookhaven Take Me Home RI CA BCAT SCN SIN SEN CGCA TKI “Collins”, owned and loved by Beth Lassiter. Collins achieved the following titles in 2023: RN (Rally Novice), RI (Rally Intermediate), CGC (Canine Good Citizen), CGCA (Community Canine), SCN (Scent Work Container Novice)
CH Wellsworth Hunting Nights at Monticello "Leo", owned and loved by Alice Alford. Achieve his championship title.
Carolyn and Ashley Powell had several new title holders in 2023:
Monticello Pristine Expectation THD, CGC, FITB (Gabby) achieved her AKC Therapy Dog title, CGC title, and FITB title.
Monticello Kiss From A Rose THD, CGC, FITB (Rosie) achieved her AKC Therapy dog title, CGC title, and FITB title.
AKC CH Monticello Sweet Dreams (Duchess) achieved her AKC Championship title.
CH Monticello Like Dreamers Do FITB (Stassie) achieved her AKC Championship title and FITB title.
CH Monticello California Dreaming (Lottie) achieved her AKC Championship title.
GCHB CH Monticello Crown Jewel (London) achieved both her AKC Grand Championship title as well as her Bronze Grand Championship title.
CH Toraylac If I'm Lucky (Bowie) achieved his AKC Championship title.
Jim & Sharon Utych had two new title holders for 2023:
GCH CH Brookhaven Number Nine Dream CGC “Lennyn”. Lennyn achieved his AKC Grand Championship in June and his CGC at the puppy picnic.
GCHG CH Brookhaven The Dream Lives On CGCA “Edgar”.. Edgar achieved his Gold AKC Grand Championship in June
Alice and Randy Alford 20-Year Members
Pat Lander 20-Year Member
Sharon Utych President's Award
INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT OF THE MONTH
Please feel free to send in your favorite inspirational thought to CKCSCAtlantaNewsletter@gmail.com
NATURAL REMEDIES
Why Does My Dog Have Gas?
It’s totally normal for our bodies to produce gas that accumulates within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. But some dogs develop an ongoing excess of this gas buildup. What causes chronic gas problems?
There are several reasons:
Gas-Prone Diet
Foods that commonly cause dog flatulence include beans, soybeans, peas, milk products, high-fat diets and spicy foods. Many dogs (and cats) are lactose intolerant, and feeding them milk or dairy products often causes gas and an upset stomach. And some dogs are sensitive to grain products.
Tip: Don’t feed your dog table scraps — or at least be careful about what you're giving them off of your plate.
Low-Quality Dog Food
Many dogs don’t easily digest mass commercial dog foods that have a lot of preservatives and artificial ingredients. These foods can cause excessive fermentation in the colon, which produces a lot of gas. If you’re feeding your dog cheap food, you may want to consider switching to a high-quality diet.
Change In Nutrition
Changing your dog food can cause temporary excessive gas. It can take a week or two for your dog’s tummy to adjust to a new diet. If after a few weeks your dog’s gas symptoms haven’t resolved, you may want to consider an alternative diet or go back to the original food.
Swallowing Too Much Air
Some dogs can swallow a lot of air when they eat or drink too fast, especially right after they exercise. Fortunately, this type of gas usually isn’t smelly. Eating too fast can also cause indigestion.
General Well-Being
Dogs who are overweight and/or too sedentary have a higher risk of developing chronic flatulence, regardless of what they eat. Just as with humans, our digestive systems work more efficiently when we’re not overweight and up and moving around. Help your dog lose weight and take them out for regular walks.
Underlying Illness
If your dog’s gas is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy or other symptoms, it could indicate an underlying GI condition, which could include inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal parasites and other conditions. Be sure to contact your vet if your dog is experiencing these other symptoms to help rule out underlying health problems.
What Can I Give My Dog For Gas?
A change in your dog’s diet and well being is the best way to relieve gas in dogs. But in the meantime, there are some products and home remedies that you can give your pup for temporary relief.
Home Remedies For Dog Gas
- Fennel: Sprinkle some fennel (dried or fresh) on your dog’s food. If she eats kibble, just add some water, so it sticks to the food.
- Parsley: This herb is more than just a garnish — it can reduce odor in the digestive system and even ease bad breath. You can chop up a couple of tablespoons of fresh parsley and sprinkle it on your dog’s food. You can also give your dog AKC Dentacare dog treats, which includes dog-safe parsley and peppermint essential oils.
Long-Term Gas Remedies
If you think your dog’s diet is the culprit behind their gassiness, changing their diet and adding a daily dog probiotic can go a long way to improve and even eliminate the problem for good.
Change Your Dog Food
Switching your dog to a premium diet could be the solution to them excessive gas. Look for low-fat, all-natural dog foods without preservatives and artificial ingredients.
Use A Daily Probiotic For Dogs
If your dog suffers from chronic gas or digestive problems, a daily dog probiotic could also help. Probiotics for dogs work the same way as they do for humans. They’re formulas that contain living gut-friendly bacteria found naturally in the digestive tract and other areas of the body. The goal of ingesting probiotics is to maintain healthy levels of good bacteria, prevent GI problems and boost the immune system after it’s been disrupted by illness, infection, antibiotic treatment or other stressors.
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Home Made Parsley Dog Biscuits
Ingredients
2 cups of whole wheat flour (stone ground adds a nice texture)
2 eggs
1 tablespoon of dried parsley
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
3/4 cup water
Instructions
1.In a mixer or food processor (with dough blade), blend together all ingredients, adding them in the order above. The dough should be slightly firm but not wet and sticky to the touch. Add small amounts of additional water if needed until your dough reaches the correct consistency to be rolled out.
2. Roll out the dough until it is just under a 1/4 inch in thickness. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Then cookie cut the desired shape you want.
3. Bake for 25 minutes. Shut the heat off after 25 minutes and let the biscuits sit int he closed oven for an additional 15-20 minutes so that the cookies dry out and become crunchy. If they are too soft, they might spoil in the cookie jar!
4. Voila! There you have it! A nice sized batch of crunchy dog biscuits.
Other variations:
Add vegetable, chicken, or beef broth instead of water.
Add additional ingredients such as carrots, shredded cheddar cheese, or apples.
* Note that adding these wet ingredients will not allow your biscuits to dry out completely. You can keep them in the refrigerator to preserve them longer.
WINTER SPECIALTY
The Premium is out! Be sure to save the dates (February 3 and 4) for our 2024 Specialty show weekend here in Atlanta! Our Saturday Puppy & Veterans Sweeps judge will be Jamie Seidman McDonnell (Tassajara US) and Saturday Regular Classes with NOHS will be Norma Inglis (Craigowl UK). Our Sunday Beginner Puppy and Regular Classes with NOHS will be Gwendolyn Wells (Wellsworth US). Our host hotel is the Drury Inn – Morrow and we will continue to have a wonderful Saturday evening social with a Mexican food buffet and a small live auction including a beautiful Betty Turner Tri Color pendant. We will also have our wonderful ringside basket raffle. All the information for the specialty including placement sponsorship opportunities can be found on our website, www.ckcscatlanta.org.
Our Saturday specialty is in memory of club member Brenda Martz. This year, our Sunday specialty will be in memory of Marlene Anderson. We plan to have a cake ringside to celebrate her extraordinary life. If you have any memories of photos to share of Maureen, please email them to our club president Jim Utych (jim.utych@firstgroup.com). Sunday will also be the club’s 30th Specialty show! Come and join us for a great weekend at the Cherokee Rose Cluster shows this coming February!
Did you know that our Sunday Specialty show will be our 30th Specialty show given as a club?!
WOW! What a milestone!
We would like to put together some photos of our specialty through the years, so if you have any photos to share, please email them to Sharon Utych (utych@earthlink.net)
Additionally, our Sunday Specialty is in memory of the late Marlene Anderson. We will have a cake ringside on Sunday to celebrate her life. If you have any memories or photos to share, please email them to Sharon Utych by December 1, 2023.
And remember, we need your support to help put on another fabulous Specialty weekend! We already have some great zippered exhibitor bags donated with our club logo on the front now we just need donations to fill them! If you are so moved to donate items for our bags, we need about 60 items as we make 60 bags. We typically fill them with water, poop bags, tissues, snacks, doggie treats, pens or pencils, etc.
We also will continue to have our ringside basket auction which is always highly successful due YOUR generous donations. Think about donating a theme basket as they go over really well!
The judging panel for the weekend will be:
Thursday – Mr. Allen Odom
Friday – Mr. Brian Meyer
Saturday (All Breed) – Mrs. Barbara Pepper
Saturday (Sweeps) – Ms. Jamie Seidman McDonnell
Saturday (Specialty) – Mrs. Norma Inglis
Sunday (All Breed) – Mrs. Charlotte Patterson
Sunday (Specialty & Beginner Puppy) – Mrs. Gwendolyn Wells
LaVada McCosh is working on finalizing our Saturday evening social menu. We will be having a catered taco and fajita bar this year and it should be a great time with a few very special live auction items available to bid on at the social. If you are so moved to donate funds toward the catered meal and the cost of the room rental, we have set up a special donation page on our website:
And lastly, our sponsorship page is now OPEN on our website! Again, due to YOUR generosity, we filled ALL slots at our last specialty – let’s do it AGAIN!
https://ckcscatlanta.org/2024-february-specialty-placement-sponsorship-store
PUPPY PICNIC
Join us on SUNDAY MARCH 24, 2024 for our annual SPRING Puppy Picnic! Fun Contests! Fun Match! Junior Handling Class! AKC Canine Good Citizen/Community Canine Citizen/Trick Dog Testing, Our Fun Balloon Dog Competition, Eye and Heart Clinics, Food, Fun & more!
Where: The home of Bart & Linda Whitmire, Conyers GA
Time: 11am to 4pm
Fun Contests are $1 each, Fun Match classes are $5 each. Balloon Dog entry is $5.
Fun Match information:
The fun match is open to members and non members to have a fun time to show your dog in the ring! Even if you have NEVER shown before or have a cavalier that is "just a pet" (aren't they all??) you can have a fun time and show in the ring!
Ever wondered what it would be like to show? You can have fun and learn here! We will award prizes and ribbons and rosettes!
Have an oldie seven years or older? Show them in the veteran class and vie for Best Veteran!! If you have an AKC major pointed cavalier, you can show them in the Match as "Exhibition Only". You cannot compete for Best in Match; however, we will be judging all the 'Exhibition Only" entries and select the "Best Exhibition Only"!
Fun Match judge is: Mr. Joshua Marshall (Forestcreek US)
Fun Match entries are $5 each class entered.
Show off your handling skills as you are judged in our hilarious Balloon Dog competition! Grab your helium balloon dog and strut around the ring in a fun competition. Entry is $5 (covers cost of balloon dog that you keep).
We will also be holding heart & eye clinics with board certified specialists.
Dr. Darlene Blischok-Lapekas, DVM - Cardiologist
Dr. Stacy Andrew, DVM - Ophthalmologist
You may sign up and pay online on our website or pay via check or cash at the picnic. Cost is $50 per dog, per clinic.
PAY ONLINE: CLICK HERE
LIFE SAVING INFORMATION!
Member John Guest has shared very important, life saving information. Did you know that you can donate a pacemaker to be implanted into a dog? A human pacemaker can not be recycled into another human, however, it can be placed in a dog. Donating a pacemaker is not only a life-saving gesture, it will save the dog owners a substantial amount. Please consider putting a pacemaker donation in your will. It is also very important that family members know of your desired donation, so that it can be acted upon immediately. UGA Veterinary College can accept your donation.
LIFE WITH CAVALIERS
“Life with Cavaliers”
by Barbara E. Magera, MD
As 2023 comes to a close, we remember with gratitude and nostalgia our many friends and acquaintances in the dog world. The loving personality of our Cavaliers make our life and world a better place. No doubt our Cavaliers provide unconditional love and steadfast loyalty. Their grace and beauty account for their increasing popularity in competitive events and as family members (see random photos of five Cavaliers below).
Preparation and participating in dog shows is hard work. Competing with esteemed colleagues requires determination and skill. Regardless of a Judge’s decision, exhibitors must demonstrate good sportsmanship. Despite the competition, camaraderie exists among exhibitors and breeders who rally to improve the breed.
Wishing you joy with your Cavaliers this Christmas and holiday season and peace and prosperity for the New Year.
Barbara E. Magera MD, PharmD, MMM is a Cavalier fancier and breeder (Caracaleeb) who lives and practices medicine in Charłeston, South Carolina.
NEED SOME SUNSHINE?
Do you know a club member who needs some sunshine?
Our Sunshine Committee Chair is Ashley Powell. If you know of a club member that needs to be remembered or encouraged, please be in touch with Ashley.
Ashley can be reached at
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
The newsletter is only as good as the information shared with the editor. Please be generous with the sharing of your brags and any additional information you would like to see in the newsletter. That information can be sent to CKCSCAtlantaNewsletter@gmail.com
THE CAVALIER CHRONICLE
CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL CLUB OF GREATER ATLANTA
Mark Fitchpatrick, editor