THE CAVALIER CHRONICLE
DECEMBER 2022
PRESEDIENT'S MESSAGE
As predicted, I did miss a thank you in last month’s newsletter. Thank you to Jess and Victoria for heading up the Worldwide Walk for Cavalier Health raising $510.
Congratulations to our members that have achieved milestones this past year
Susan Kent – 5 years
Barb Magera =- 5 years
Roxie Hayes – 20 years
Happy holidays to each and everyone of you and your families. May your holidays be joyous and safe.
We will hit the ground running after January 1st to wrap up the finishing touches on our preparedness for the February 2023 Specialty shows.
EDITOR'S MESSAGE
2023 MEETING SCHEDULE
January 10 – Regular meeting (zoom) 7p
2023 WINTER SPECIALTY
It’s just around the corner! Get ready for our February 2023 Specialty shows concurrent with the Conyers KC shows at the Cherokee Rose Cluster at the Atlanta Expo Center South.
The premium is out for the Cluster which includes our Specialty information. Be sure to get your entries in before the closing date of NOON January 18. 2023
https://pdf.infodog.com/prm/5501/prm5501.pdf
Mr. Mark Smith (Aranel UK) will be judging our regular classes and NOHS on Saturday and Mr. Mark Sedgwick (Pascavale UK) will be judging our Beginner Puppy and regular classes and NOHS on Sunday. Our Saturday sweepstakes judge will be Mr. David Frederick (Twickenham US), judging veterans and puppy sweepstakes. This is a GREAT panel of judges so be sure to come out and support the club by being an exhibitor, a donor, a volunteer AND joining us on Saturday evening at the Drury for an Italian meal and social put on by the club!
Our host hotel is still the Drury Inn, Morrow, and booking links for our special rates are on our website. The deadline for booking the hotel at our special rate is 12/31/2022 so be sure to call the Drury Inn at 770.960.0500 and use group code 10019073
Can You Volunteer During the Specialty?
Jim Utych will be emailing the membership in December to firm up our volunteers for the Specialty Show weekend. Please consider volunteering to help – especially if you are not showing you can be a big big help to the club! Come down, watch the show and help the club!
We still need help for:
• Selling basket raffle tickets at the show
• Selling show catalogs (limited number available) ringside on Saturday
• Assisting the show chair in getting the rosettes and prizes to the ring steward when needed from the trophy table
• Help in keeping the tables clean and organized during the Specialties
• Taking candid pictures the day of the shows for use in our newsletter
• Handing out exhibitor bags to the exhibitors when they pick up their numbers on Saturday • Cleaning up and tearing down tables on Sunday after the Specialty
• Assist in cleaning up the night of the social in the conference room
• Taking the judges to the show sight from the host hotel (people that show cannot do this)
• Helping the night of the social live auction by showing items to attendees
• Going over the ring and removing any bait or hairballs prior to the Specialty and setting up the exam table with our table coverings (Saturday and Sunday)
Specialty Exhibitor Bags
We are providing exhibitor bags once again at the Specialty! Ashley and Carolyn Powell have volunteered to collect the donations and prepare the bags (thank you)! They will be preparing 60 bags so we need donations of items in groups of 60.
We currently have donations of: bags, note cards, water, pens, rice crispies treats, popcorn, and tissues. We are looking for donations of poop bags, chips or crackers, and candy. All we ask is that you can provide this to Ashley and Carolyn before the day of the show so they can put all the bags together by Friday evening. They will be at the host hotel on Friday evening. If you can generously donate, please let either of them know what you are donating.
Saturday Evening Social
The club will be providing an Italian-themed meal from Olive Garden at 7pm in the host hotel conference room. We are having lasagna and spaghetti set up. It is free for everyone, and you do not have to be staying at the host hotel to attend. Come and watch the show, do some shopping at the show (vendors galore) and then head over to the host hotel and join us for a meal, beverages, and social. We will have a few very select live auction items at this function also. We do ask that club members bring a food item for the social or donate for catering from Olive Garden that LaVada can pick up. LaVada (lavadamccosh@gmail.com) requests that you coordinate with her the items you wish to bring.
Our live auction items are truly unique and one-of-a-kind collector items! The following items were donated from the estate of former club member Sonya Thompson:
• Blenheim brooch/pin by Nan Kilgore Little
• Cavalier figurine by Lenox
• Boxed 2 book set – A Tribute in Art and In Fact and Fancy (out of print) by Barbara Garnett Wilson
The last item is a hand-painted two-drawer storage file by Tammy Cousins. Tammy has hand-painted a tri-color cavalier on the top of the storage file.
Photos of all these items with descriptions can be found on our Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/events/3211255619119546/?active_tab=discussion
2023 MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL PACKS
To renew, visit https://ckcscatlanta.org/2023-membership-renewal
Just be sure to scan and email your renewal form to Sharon Utych for the permanent records. Be sure to include a proper mailing address and email address, please!
DECEMBER HOLIDAY LUNCHEON
We also held our first-ever ugly sweater contest and Carolyn Powell won the bragging rights for her ugly sweater and a gift certificate! A lot of positive feedback was provided on the contest and everyone agreed it should be annually!
We recognized our 5-year members – Susan Kent and Barb Magera and club president Jim Utych also had a special Appreciation Award for past President Linda Whitmire. He thanked Linda for everything she does to support this club through her volunteerism and donations and also for the huge asset she is to the club.
Our first-ever President Award went to Ashley Powell for stepping in and volunteering her time and efforts and also heading up the Sunshine Committee.
Jim also recognized with gift certificates and notes of thanks to Mark Fitchpatrick, Jessica Bahill, and Victoria Babcock. He also thanked Michelle Lander with a gift certificate and note of thanks for allowing the club to use the Five Paces Inn for our luncheon.
Our white cavalier gift exchange got a bit exciting as two items (a rug and a Blenheim bank) were being stolen right and left! Everyone had a fun time.
Susan Kent had a trunkful of items the club members donated to the Pickens County Rescue Ranch and the ranch was very appreciative of the club members' donations.
Lastly, we held a drawing for the poinsettias that were part of our holiday decorations. Congratulations to those winners!
NATURAL REMEDES
Holistic Health Care for Pets
By Lisa Fields
Have you made any healthy lifestyle changes lately? Maybe you’ve switched your diet, or started practicing yoga, going to the chiropractor, or getting acupuncture treatments.
Might these same practices keep your pet in better health, too?
More veterinarians than ever are practicing holistic medicine today. Holistic vets look at a pet's overall health and use traditional and alternative therapies. They rely on lab tests and prescription drugs, but also on acupuncture, massage, and herbal remedies to keep pets healthy. They encourage changes in pets' diets and lifestyles to help ward off illnesses like obesity, arthritis, diabetes, and cancer.
“As a doctor, I want any tool that's going to work. Having more tools in my tool kit has made a huge difference,” says Barbara Royal, DVM, president of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association.
Here are some of the alternative treatments available for your dog.
Acupuncture
A certified acupuncturist inserts thin needles in specific points of the body to relieve pain and pressure throughout your pet's body. Pets with back pain, arthritis, muscle spasms, a limp, or other problems may benefit from this treatment. “Although acupuncture has been around for 5,000 years, only in the last 10 to 20 years has the scientific community been able to see why this works,” says Claude D. Grosjean, a small animal veterinarian who practices holistic medicine in Southampton, NY. “There's very good research, a lot of it done in China.”
Chiropractic Treatments
Chiropractors move the bones in the spine and other parts of the body to relieve pain. Pets with neck or back problems can benefit from these treatments, just like people do. But for pets, you won’t hear cracking. There's not as much aggressive force used. “It's a gentle procedure, and it can make a great difference in the alignment of the spine,” Royal says.
Massage
Massage can improve blood flow, reduce swelling, and help with anxiety issues. “Pets like it,” says Grosjean, who practices Tui-Na, a traditional Chinese form of massage.
“It's a powerful therapy tool,” Royal says, “but you need someone trained in animal massage -- that's what makes the difference.”
Aromatherapy
The pleasant scents of natural oils can help pets relieve stress.
“Scent is so important in an animal's life,” Royal says. “It can change the way your brain functions, whether you're feeling alarm or discomfort.”
Because pets have a more sensitive sense of smell, ask your veterinarian for advice before trying aromatherapy.
“Pets can smell over 20 times better than we can,” Royal says. “You don't need the whole room to smell like lavender to calm them down; you don't want to overwhelm them.”
Nutrition
A better diet can improve overall health, reduce inflammation, and ease symptoms of chronic diseases like arthritis.
Because dogs and cats are carnivores, the higher the protein percentage they take in, the better. Carbohydrate-rich kibble food usually isn't best for their diets. Royal recommends avoiding pet food containing corn, wheat, soy, or peanut butter. “Once you eliminate those, you're in a better tier of nutrition,” she says. Talk to your vet before making a food change, though.
Herbs
Herbs can help calm pets. Some holistic vets prescribe the herbs chamomile, kava, or valerian to soothe animals. They may recommend combinations of 5 to 20 herbs that are made specifically for your pet.
“It's not a good idea to just go on the Internet, find an herbal formula, and give it to your pet,” Grosjean says. “You choose the wrong formula, you're going to make the situation a lot worse.”
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Chicken & Veggie Slow Cooker Stew
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 1/2-3 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs and breasts
- 2 c. frozen peas (omit if concerned about peas in diet of breeding bitches)
- 1 sweet potato, cubed
- 1 large or 2 medium apples, cored and cubed (no seeds!!)
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 1 can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 c. frozen green beans
- 2 tbsp olive oil
DIRECTIONS:
- Place meat in the crock pot and add water so that it just covers the chicken. Then, add potato, carrots, kidney beans, green beans, and apple.
- Cook on low for 8-9 hours, when it is about finished, add the frozen peas and cook for another 30 minutes.
- When finished, drain off excess liquid, add olive oil, and stir to mash (or place in a food processor).
- When cooled, scoop daily servings into individual Ziploc bags and freeze. Each night, remove one bag from the freezer and place it in the fridge to defrost overnight.
THE LEARNING CURVE
This month we continue a series of educational articles concerning all aspects of dog showing and breeding. Many of our members are not in the show/breeding world and have shown great interest in learning about both areas. Through this series of articles, hopefully, you will be able to learn and also determine if you might wish to take the step towards showing or breeding. if there is any specific topic you would like addressed, please let me know at Fitchpatrick@Earthlink.net. Mark Fitchpatrick, Newsletter Editor
The information below is shared from AKC.org
AKC Match Shows are a great opportunity to socialize your dog in an informal and educational dog show environment, all while meeting other dog lovers who are already part of the AKC community. Most of all, it’s pure fun! Get started with your dog now.
FIRST-TIME TIPS:
JUST PURE FUN FOR YOU AND YOUR DOG! Would your dog like to meet other dogs? You can do that while attending an AKC MATCH SHOW! What is there to do at a match show? (besides kissing your dog) Meet fellow dog-lovers, Spend quality time with your dog, Healthy socialization of new places, people, and dogs, and discovering new activities… If you are interested in competing make sure you arrive early in the morning so that you can have your dog entered in the show before it starts. A club member should be able to help you with this or direct you for further assistance. While competing is not the only thing to do at a match often the first thing someone asks is: How do I enter an AKC Match Show? In order to compete, you must enter your dog in the show. Most Match Shows allow for “day-of-show” entries, in which case you can enter your dog at the show site on the day of the show. How do I prepare my dog for the match? Depending on the type of match there are different types of training needed to compete successfully visit the club's website or contact the match secretary to learn more about what the specific match you are interested in has to offer. However, all dogs should be prepared in the three items below: Walking on a leash Your dog should be comfortable wearing a collar and walking on a leash by your left side. You may have been taught this as the “heel position” in your puppy kindergarten class. This is easy to practice at home before going to the show. Meet me Young dogs love people so be prepared for them to meet lots of new people at the show! You may want to get them ready to meet people by taking your dog to a park or other public spaces. Looking their best Don’t forget to groom your dog as part of the preparation. If they are really dirty, as some dogs can be very active outdoors, then maybe a bath a day or two before the show is in order. At the very least, make sure they are brushed and free of dirt, debris, and any tangles in their hair. Also, if it’s been a while since you trimmed toenails, you may want to give them a quick trim too. What do I do on the day of the match? Get up early! The morning of the match, feed your dog earlier than usual so your dog can do her business before you get on the road. What to pack You’ll want to bring water, a water bowl, a brush for last-minute grooming, and treats to give your dog after a job well done. Don’t forget to pack the very important clean-up bags for potty breaks and a chair for yourself. On the road Remember traveling in a crate is the safest form of transportation for your dog. Plus, having the crate at the show will give your dog a place to rest before and after the fun. \ At the show grounds Make sure you arrive in time if the match accepts entries in the morning. Walk your dog around to get used to the people and other dogs. At the ring If you are competing before your scheduled ring time, ask the Ring Steward or club members to give you your armband number (this may take a second to make sure you get the right one). This number is placed around your left upper arm and secured with a rubber band available at ringside. Don’t forget comfortable walking shoes so both you and your dog move your best. Matches are a wonderful way to socialize your dog and have an enjoyable day together!
Match Shows provide people who are new to, or interested in getting involved in, Conformation, Obedience, Rally, or Agility events (depending upon the club). These Events are often used as practice for puppies and their owners, providing guidance and feedback from seasoned handlers, judges or fellow newbies. Match Shows are as enjoyable to watch as they are to participate in! If you are a first-time participant you could easily come and observe with or without your dog. If you are coming to participate then you may need your dog’s registration information to enter.
The other benefits AKC matches offer is that you are meeting other people that are trying to learn about their dog and the various sports that the AKC has to offer. At the end of the day, there is no wrong question to ask. Matches are an excellent point of public education for the new participant, but most important giving you and your dog a relaxing fun no pressure environment to come and learn.
LIFE WITH A CAVALIER
“Life with a Cavalier”
I was sitting to groom Manigault when suddenly he got up on his tippie toes, flung his paws around my neck and gave me wet kisses. How good is that? That’s what life with a Cavalier is all about. P.s. I didn’t wash my face tonight… let the kisses sink in… Barb Magera
Manigault
A BOY AND HIS DOG
A boy and his dog play a game of fetch. The boy tosses a ball. His dog nimbly retrieves it and drops the ball in front of the boy. This game of toss and catch goes on for hours. Clenching the ball in his mouth, the dog swiftly runs past the boy but this time he does not drop the ball in front of the boy. The boy chases after his dog, catches him in mid-air with his arms wrapped around his dog's torso. Giggling he buries his face into his dog's fur. The dog drops the ball from his mouth and furiously licks the boy. Both fall to the grass and hug each other. The boy's giggles turn into squeals of laughter. Happy barks fill the sky from his playful dog.
These are precious memories of a boy and his dog. When romantic love shatters his heart, boyhood romps with his dog will comfort him. When his children grow up and leave home, the loyalty of his dog will sustain him. When widowhood follows fifty years of marriage, the warmth of canine love will ease his pain. As he grows old and his mind fades, flashbacks of happy times with his dog will guide him through adversities.
The reflections he holds of his dog are indelible and sacred. This is true because the love between a boy and his dog is pure, unconditional and everlasting.
Bargara E. Magera MD, PharmD, MMM (Caracaleef) is a Cavalier fancier who lives and practices medicine in Charleston, South Carolina. bemagera@gmail.com
BRAGS
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
770-905-7067
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
THE CAVALIER CHRONICLE
CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL CLUB OF GREATER ATLANTA
Mark Fitchpatrick, editor