Once again Congratulations are in order for Sarah and Alex. On 19/06/2010 they travelled to Hennock for the G.S.D Devon Show.
Competing in Beginner, Sarah picked up another First and Alex picked up a Third. Ru and Sonny also had a good run out in the Novice Class.
For all those who are keeping track, this was the last show that Sarah and Alex could compete in at Beginner Level so fingers crossed and good luck as you move up. 
Posted by Stuart on Tue, 29 Jun 2010
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Congratulations to Anne who is now a qualified Kennel Club Bronze Examiner so some of you may now meet Anne in her examiner role!
Also, well done in your first year of compeition Obedience, already picking up rosettes at the shows. Anne and Gemma are a super team and both look to be less nervous and really look good working together.
Posted by Stuart on Thu, 10 Jun 2010
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After 2 years of training and rehabilitation of Ru and Sonny (Sarah and Alex's rescue dogs) have both Won Out of Pre-Beginners and Beginners Levels of Competitive Obedience.
This is the second year the pair have been competing with the first year spent training and preparing for the competitions rather than going all out to win.
The Picture shows Ru and Sonny at Exeter Dog Training Club on 29th - 30th May 2010.
Over this weeked Ru picked up 2 Second places in pre-beginners and a First and Second place in beginners whilst Sonny picked up a First Place in Beginners and a Fifth place in pre-beginners.
Ru adds this win to his other First place in beginners won in Plymouth on 9th May 2010.
Sonny adds to his other First place in beginners and pre-beginners won in Cornwall on 18th April 2010.
Sarah and Alex now move up into Novice and A Classes and can no longer compete at Pre-Beginner or Beginner Classes with any other dog. The pressure is now on for Narla!!
Posted by Stuart on Thu, 10 Jun 2010
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I know we haven't even had Summer yet (assuming that the sun does appear) but the time has come to start booking the Christmas Meal.
Once again we are going to The Batch Country House and the date is set as Friday 17th December 2010.
We have listened to your thoughts following last years meal and will be holding the 2010 event in the Main Function Room at The Batch. This means that spaces are limited as we will share the room with other businesses and groups.
The cost will be £27 and menu an be viewed at Classes or will be available for download soon.
A £10 deposit is required to secure a place.
Posted by Stuart on Thu, 10 Jun 2010
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Wales has become the first part of the UK to outlaw the use of electric shock collars to train cats and dogs.
The ban, passed by assembly members, means from midnight on 23/03/2010 anyone caught using the devices faces a fine of up to £20,000 or six months in prison.
Animal welfare groups such as the RSPCA and the Kennel Club supported the move.
The Electronic Collar Manufacturers' Association said it feared the ban could lead to an influx of unmanageable pets into dog shelters.
The collars are sometimes used to train dogs and cats by giving an electric shock when the animal is deemed to have behaved badly.
Wales' Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones, who announced plans for the ban last month, said she was "very pleased".
"It is important that owners are aware of the ban, and that they now take appropriate steps to comply with the law," she added.
"I'm pleased that as a government, we are taking a proactive approach to promoting the welfare of animals by banning the use of such electronic training devices in Wales."
The RSPCA said it believed there was no place for shock collars in modern animal training and recommended the use of reward-based methods instead.
Kennel Club members staged a display outside the Senedd in Cardiff Bay before the vote.
Its communications director Caroline Kisko said: "This is a historic day for animal welfare in Wales and we are absolutely delighted that so many AMs voted in favour of the regulations.
"Today, Wales has proven that it is truly leading the way and we hope that the rest of the UK will follow by example to outlaw these cruel and unnecessary devices."
'Bad idea'
But manufacturers said the devices helped to successfully train dogs not to chase livestock, or attack other pets or people.
Duncan McNair, of the Electronic Collar Manufacturers' Association, said: "It's a bad idea because more dogs will die, more dogs will have to be re-homed and more owners will have to be distressed at having to give up their pets."
He said there were around 500,000 of the collars in the UK and said, at a rough estimate, there were around 20,000 in Wales.
"I wouldn't dream of suggesting that people disobey the law, everybody will be making their own decision about what they do, but what I do think is that if a large number of people who use them stop using them, there will be an influx of dogs into dog shelters."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8584028.stm
Posted by Stuart on Wed, 24 Mar 2010
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