Welcome to the August-September issue of the Kooiker Chronicle!

Transcription

Vol. 13, September 2014
Leeloo W. hopes readers have as much fun chewing over this issue of the Kooiker Chronicle as she has chewing on her bone.
Welcome to the August-September issue of the
Kooiker Chronicle!
Kooikerhondjes have been voted into the Miscellaneous Class. Hooray!
Check out this, the “Paws Across the Water” issue!
Read about Kooiker Camp in Sweden . . . a working Eendenkooi in the Netherlands . . . and more.
Our club is forging ever stronger links with the European Kooiker community, and our progress
with the AKC brings us closer to the day when U.S.-born and registered Kooikerhondjes will be allowed to interbreed with European Kooikers, thereby expanding and strengthening the gene pool
in both regions.
~ Karen L Dean, Editor
Dear Club Members and Readers,
The report in this issue by Cheryl Short on Kooiker camp refers to the notion that there
is a cultural difference between Europe and the US in that we practice a much stricter
neuter / spay regimen in North America.
As the president of KCUSA, I am often asked, no actually informed, that a certain Kooikerhondje puppy is going to be spayed or neutered during the next visit to the veterinarian. When I ask the owner why this is scheduled, the answer is most often, “Our vet
recommended it.”
The history of our beloved Kooikerhondje has taught us that this breed is fragile. The
comeback from a handful of Kooikerhondjes that was bred back by Baroness Van Ammerstol has given us the chance to responsibly judge our future Kooikerhondjes.
We should all know that Kooikerhondje females do not really become adults until they
are 2 years of age, and Kooikerhondje males do not reach full adulthood until 3 years of
age. You really do not know what you have in your hands until your beautiful and loving
puppy becomes an adult dog. For this reason, we should not spay or neuter our pups
until we actually can determine how this puppy will develop, and when it reaches adulthood how it stacks up against the breed standard.
Kooikerhondjes worldwide are a very small breed and as such have a very small gene
pool. If we take away the chances of so many pups to assist in improving and increasing
the gene pool, we are actually hurting the breed and diminishing the work the Baroness
did.
As president of KCUSA I do understand the enormous impact this has on our club and on
all club members. This is why I have requested the editors of the Chronicle to devote a
section of next month’s issue to bringing together the opinions of as many visionaries as
possible, to develop a KCUSA strategy and offer uniform advice for our club’s breeders
and dog owners.
Sincerely,
Jac M. Knoop
President, KCUSA
Fall Frolics
Contents
California Kooiker Fall Frolic September 6–7, 2014
5
8
A Little Dutch Kooikerhondje History
11
Impressions of Kooiker Camp 2014
14
World Dog Show 2014 Report from “Team Kooiker”
18
Judges Education Committee Appointed
21
Judges Education Committee Bios
22
Health and Genetics Committee Appointed
23
Health and Genetics Committee Bios
24
Where We’ll Be this Year:
Shows and Meet The Breed events
26
Donations to KCUSA Are Now Tax Exempt
28
AKC Moves Kooikers into the Miscellaneous Class
29
KCUSA Board Meeting Minutes, August 5, 2014
30
Agility Q&A: AKC Agility Invitational
32
Go West, Little Girl!
34
Hondje Humor
38 First of the Fall Frolics, Bodega Beach, CA, page 8
Kooikers at the World Dog Show in Helsinki, page 18
Coming Up!
K
CUSA is hosting several doggie-centered meet and
greets in Fall 2014. Each meet up will have its unique
flavor, but in general provides an outing for dog play,
socializing, and some food (cookout, picnic, or potluck)
that lasts about 4 to 6 hours.
Fall
Frolics
Loves Park, Illinois,
Rock Cut State Park
October 5
Interested in joining
this Kooiker “bark in
the park” on in the
beautiful Rock Cut
setting (what better place than one
whose theme is “go
outside and play”)?
Please RSVP Sarah
(sarahinpaca@charter.net).
Come and play
the kooiker way!
California
Doran Regional Park in Bodega Bay
Saturday, September 6, and Sunday,
September 7
The first of our festivities, the day
was lovely, a sailboat race was happening in Bodega Bay, and everyone had a wonderful time. We had
people from as far away as Washington State and Canada as well as
all over northern California.
Look for the Kooiker Fall Frolic in an area
near you and join the fun. Don’t see your
area on this list? Pick your fall getaway
from the destinations shown and start
planning.
Interested in hosting?
Do you have a cluster of kooikers in your
area and would love to host a “Frolic”?
Let us know (contact Lynann or Jennifer—
see “contacts” box). We’ll help with the
planning, including a list of members and
other kooiker-folk in your area.
We hope that these informal social gatherings will continue next year. Whether
you are interested in hosting yet this fall,
or in the spring or summer next year, let
us know.
—Deborah Bean
Contacts: Lynann (xcallstar4@yahoo.com) for eastern USA and
Jennifer (jmethlie@comcast.net) for western USA
Kooiker Chronicle | Volume 13 | September 2014
Central New York State
Pembroke, Massachusetts
Wegmans Good Dog Park on Lake Onondaga
October 12, 10:30 to 3:30
Saturday, September 27 from noon till about 4 p.m.
We’ll meet at the home of Ron and Betty O’Connor
and their kooiker Kessel. There will be an opportunity
for an outing to a local lake beach and social time in
the O’Connors’ lovely back yard. Please RSVP Ron by
October 5 if you want to join the fun.
The planning for this “day of play the kooiker way” is
well under way. Interested in joining us at Wegmans?
Please contact the organizers:
—Sheri (sdejan@corgiconsulting.com) and Rod (birddogs@rcn.com)
—Betty and Ron (classicfireron@aol.com)
Western Maryland
Western North Carolina
Home of Betty Wathne, Sharpsburg
Weaverville
Saturday, October 4 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, October 25, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Do you live in or near Maryland and would love to
join in a “Dutch treat meet and greet” here? One is
being planned in the historic town of Sharpsburg.
RSVP to let Betty know of your interest in joining. She
has equipment for some agility try-its.
Do you live in or near the Carolinas and would love
to join in a “kooiker klatsch” here? Get in touch with
Janet and let her know of your interest. Weaverville
is in western NC, minutes from downtown Asheville,
the Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and the Tennessee border.
—Betty (madcap@hughes.net)
—Janet (Janet@wncmountains.net)
Fall Frolics
Naples, Florida
Maple Valley, Washington
October 25, from 11 am – 4 pm
Cedar Downs/Pipe Lake Pavilion located at 25955
210th Ave. SE, Maple Valley.
We have a large grassy area with trees for shade,
mostly fenced, with a pool and kids’ playground.
Please bring your dogs’ favorite toys and treats. The
hosts will have a BBQ lunch and drinks for humans.
Side dishes/desserts to share and extra chairs are
welcome. And crates for dogs if they need a break
from running around. Please RSVP Tulay if you intend
to join.
I think it will be fun, we’re excited!!
—Tulay (tuler99@yahoo.com)
Find a Kooiker
Frolic near you.
Each event is
marked on the
map with a blue
dot.
Fall Frolics
Saturday, September 27 from 2–4 p.m.
This “kooiker kaboodle” is being planned by Karen
and Gretchen. Karen says: We have a place reserved
on a big grassy area, lake and beach . . . The pavilion
is covered and has BBQ pits and picnic tables. Bring
everything and dogs. Contact me @ 206.919.2092
for more info or go to our FaceBook page (Northwest
Kooikers) for pictures. Please RSVP if you are interested in joining.
—Karen (pawsitive-approach@hotmail.com)
California Kooiker Fall Frolic
September 6–7, 2014
By Deborah Bean
T
he day began with a visit to the Redwood Kennel
Club Dog Show at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in
Petaluma, CA. After a brief explanation of conformation shows and a discussion of the various decisions facing
the breed (table or ramp, how to rein in the grooming
penchant among handlers, etc.), we met Heather and her
husband with Copper, a lovely Welsh Springer Spaniel, who
traveled from Oregon to meet Kooikers for the first time.
We watched English Setter judging before heading out to
Doran Regional Park.
Doran Regional Park is a treasure—a south-facing two-mile
long sandy beach protected by the breakwater. The campground is on a spit of land that separates Doran Beach
proper from Bodega Bay. Bodega Head provides protection
from the brutal and dangerous sneaker waves that plague
the rest of the Northern California coast.
We found our campsites then took the Kooikers for a
wander on the beach. Present were Deborah Bean with
Piek and Primadonna, Fair Oaks CA; Gretchen Wetzel with
Braam, Seattle WA; Dr. Susanne Martin with Kooikers Toni,
Amica and lovely 16.5 year old Nelleke, Mountain View
CA; Sara Linder with husband Fredrik, children Lova and
William, and Kooiker Texas and Lab mix Zita, Castro Valley
CA and Sweden; and Karen Wonders with her teenage son
and Kooiker Jip, Vancouver Island BC. Heather brought her
adult son along with her husband and Copper the Welshie,
Medford OR and Folsom CA.
We met up with Jim and his pair of Miniature American
Shepherds from San Francisco CA. He is getting a Kooiker
puppy next month from Sheryl Fuller of Waterbound
Kooikerhondje and was anxious to meet more Kooikers and
discuss the specific training and socialization needs of a
young Kooiker. We talked about the reactivity and sensitivity of Kooikers and the need for consistent training along
with avoidance of opportunity for inappropriate interactions. The need to keep young Kooikers on leash and to
respect the space of intact male dogs was discussed.
The weather could not have been lovelier. A sailboat
regatta was taking place just offshore. A light breeze was
blowing, the sun was shining, and the temperature was in
the high 60’s—miraculous for an area about which Mark
Twain supposedly quipped, “The coldest winter I ever
spent was a summer in San Francisco.” The Kooikers were
in puppy heaven going on long walks with the opportunity
to play in the gentle waves, dig in the sand and explore all
the flotsam and jetsam.
The beach was fairly crowded and every few steps one of
the other beachcombers came up to us and asked, “What
kind of dogs are those?” A group of birdwatchers were fascinated by the story of how the dogs worked the eendenkooi, and with the friendly quiet nature of most of the dogs.
Several people were anxious to learn more about these
lovely little red and white dogs took business cards from
Dr. Martin or Deborah Bean.
We enjoyed a Bring Your Own Meat BBQ in the camp-
Previous page: group photo
Left column: scenes from the day
Right column: variations on a theme
(© 2014. Reprinted with permission of
Susanne Martin.)
Story TitleKooiker Fall Frolic
California
9
ground. About 7:00 PM, those who
were not staying the night reluctantly
left and the remaining participants
stayed up for long discussions of the
hopes and goals KCUSA has for Kooikerhondjes in America.
Sunday morning brought back the
coastal fog with its cooler temperatures and more walks on the beach
and more good visits with Kooiker
friends. Everyone who participated expressed a desire to return for another
Kooiker day soon.
Sailboats on Bodega Bay
Playing on the beach
(© 2014. Reprinted with per mission of Susanne Martin.)
10
California Kooiker Fall Frolic
Paws Across the Water
Have you ever wondered where your Kooikerhondje’s ancestors grew up? Where do most Kooikerhondjes get their love for water? Why do they go crazy when they see ducks or other small game? What makes
the Kooikerhondje want to please his master?
I-Ron and his accomplices, Ann Knoop and Lucinda Paganin, went all the way to the homeland of the Kooikerhondje, the Netherlands, just to find out! The first place they decided to check out was the Streekshistorisch museum
“Tweestromenland.”
By Lucinda Paganin and Ann Knoop-Siderius
W
e jumped right in and saw a large
model of what an Eendenkooi is
supposed to look like. Our tour
guide told us all he knew about the Kooikerhondje and we were all ears. Even our wellinformed breeder friend Margaret and her
daughters learned a little from the tour guide.
After learning all we could about the Eendenkooi at the museum, we thought we would
take a little time to learn about Dutch history
in the local area. It is not easy to learn when
you have two teachers and a couple of crazy
Dutch girls, but I did my best.
After visiting the museum, we had a short drive to the
person who still operates an Eendenkooi. We arrived at the
entrance gate and walked for about 10 minutes until we
got to a small brick building called “The Kooihuis.” This is
the house where the Kooiker used to live with his trusted
Kooikerhondje. This house is still old style, and is preserved
to look as it did in the past. The Kooiker used to get water
from a rainwater cistern, which is still used for water every
day. Most of the Kooiker’s repair articles are now in the
house. In a quick glance we could see tools to keep up
and repair the reed blinds and the cages at the end of the
pipes. Large wall maps with different drawings of waterfowl and fly routes were also visible. We received a brief
introduction and then the Kooiker took a small bucket of
feed and on we went to the actual kooi.
One walks to the small lake, where reeds hide the entrance
where the catch arms start. Along those reeds, at the end,
is the actual Kooi, a small trapping device that manually
opens and shuts. The Dutch refer to the Eendenkooi as the
place where the pond with the catch pipes is located. Sev-
A Little Dutch
Kooikerhondje
History
eral catch pipes go in different directions from the central
lake or pond, ending up in the actual catch Kooi or cage,
where the ducks get caught. On the way there, we looked
out of different “kijkgaten” (peepholes) and saw that many
ducks were already making their home in the pond. The
Kooiker threw feed over the reeds so more ducks would
gather. I-Ron and the Kooiker walked ahead and some
ducks followed, interested not only in the feed but also
in I-Ron’s ever-wagging white tail, which appeared from
behind the reeds and then disappeared again.
For this activity you need not only a very calm Kooikerhondje but also a trustworthy and focused dog who obeys
hand signals to the T. I-Ron is such a dog, and the Kooibaas
liked his calm manner, his behavior and demeanor. Perhaps
one of I-Ron’s pups may someday earn his living working in
an authentic Eendenkooi.
There are not many true functioning Eendenkoois left in
the Netherlands. Luckily, there were a couple in the area,
and one gentleman, Mr. Kooiman, was nice enough to give
us a personal tour of the Eendenkooi that his family has
owned since the early 1900s. The present Mr. Kooiman is
the 3rd generation. He has a son and a grandson, so ownership could last for five generations of Kooibaas Kooiman.
I-Ron felt right at home, even though he had never visited
an Eendenkooi in his life! As we approached, the Kooibaas
asked us to keep as quiet as possible. This was the time of
year when ducks and other water fowl were looking for
safe places to build their nests. We walked further into the
Kooi, all the way to the reed fences. . . .
More to follow in a future edition of the
Kooiker Chronicle.
Photos:
Lucinda, Margaret, Ann and friends.
A model of an Eendenkooi.
We learned all we could about the Eendenkooi at the museum.
12
“The Kooiman’s life is a gift from God,
But the guarding at night was the devil’s idea.”
Under the rain gutter: Everybody waits here until the kooibaas
arrives by the kooihuis (kooibaas = kooi boss) (kooihuis = kooihouse).
Our guide had several Kooikerhondjes who worked with him at
his Eendenkooi, but currently he was very much taken by I-Ron.
After the day’s events, it’s a wonderful feeling to come home to a
familiar sign, good beds and good food.
Reed blinds hide the entrance to the catch arms on the lake.
If you want to peek through the fence, it is easier when it is made
of reed.
I-Ron showed Ann the cage at the end of the kooi arm! This is
every Kooikerhondje’s dream: an Eendenkooi of my own.
13
If you’ve connected with European kooikerhondje groups on Facebook, you’ve likely seen intriguing
postings about “Kooiker Camp,” an annual summer event in Sweden. KCUSA member Cheryl Short acted on her curiosity
and attended this year’s Kooiker Camp. This past summer she posted photographs of her kooiker-full week at camp, and
here she shares her account of this most excellent adventure.
By Cheryl Short
I
had noticed Kooiker Camp Salen last year on Facebook,
but due to my schedule was unable to take time off to
attend. Last September, I contacted Yvonne Mattson
in regards to attending camp this summer. She graciously
invited me and provided the dates of the camp (June
23–27) to arrange for travel. I flew into Stockholm and
then traveled by train north to Mora, Sweden, then via car
about 90 minutes to Salen, Sweden, a very popular winter
ski resort. In the summer it is used primarily for hiking and
BMX biking.
Impressions
of Kooiker
Camp
2014
Kooiker Camp participants typically rent a ski villa for the
week. Most campers and their dogs stay in a localized
area for convenience. The villas are equipped with all the
necessities (minus food). There is no cost to attend the
camp—travel, food, and lodging are the responsibility of
each attendee. A small fee is charged to each participant
for events and workshops held inside the Olingspa facility.
Most participants brought at least one kooiker, but several
had two or three dogs. Due to my travel plans before and
after, I did not bring either of my kooikers. However, next
year I anticipate bringing at least one. The relaxed nature
of the camp means that attendees and their dogs participate only in those activities that interest them. Thirty dogs
were present during the week. I sheepishly admit I did not
register how many human owners attended.
Attentive camper
The weather was intermittently sunny and overcast, and
rain was a daily occurrence. I had rain gear (courtesy of my
husband’s coaching career) and multiple layers in anticipation of cooler temperatures in the mornings and evenings.
Given variations in the temperatures, layers could easily be
shed and added. However, on the last day, snow flakes fell.
That I wasn’t prepared for! But, my hat and gloves along
On this page (clockwise from top):
Ready to hike!
Finding the trail.
Retrieving skills and group picture.
Morning hike in Salen, Sweden.
15
On this page (clockwise from top):
Between classes.
Intrepid swimmers.
Rain gear!
Who will take the first dive?
16
with my sweatshirts and Gortex rain gear were my wardrobe staples. I would recommend hiking shoes and next
year I will bring my waterproof rain boots.
The dogs in attendance sported a variety of rain gear and
coverings—Huerta was quite popular.
I was nervous—even without a kooiker! I had heard rumors about European differences in attitudes toward dog
training and temperament. Rubbish! The people that attended are devoted to their dogs and the breed. The dogs,
ranging from 13 months to 7 years, were very well behaved and interacted well with the other dogs and people.
Granted, several of the campers show their dogs together
quite a bit; but the behavior from even the youngest dogs
was outstanding. The dogs were attentive, inquisitive and
wonderful to interact with. They definitely helped keep me
from missing my own dogs!
Kooiker Camp was initiated after several Kooiker owners
in Sweden visualized a time for owners and dogs to meet
and exchange ideas and information about the breed. It is
not sponsored by the Swedish Kennel Club or any other organization. This is the third year it has been held in Salen,
Sweden, and it typically lasts five days. Each day began
around 10 am with a group walk or hike. After a lunch
break, camp resumed with more-structured activities.
Participants who exhibit their kooikers provided instruction
and opportunities for participants to try new activities with
their dogs. Nina Greness, of Norwegian Search and Rescue
dogs, introduced us to Search Training; Ingela Andersson
demonstrated Game Tracking; and Felicia Torffvit showed
us Retrieving. Additional workshops covered Clicker Training, Nutrition and Feeding, Agility, Rally and Free Styling.
The all day hike—held on Wednesday—was one of my favorite activities. The kooikers and campers rode the ski lift
to the top of the mountain and spent the day hiking before
taking the lift back down. It was a great experience to see
the dogs off leash and enjoying the trails and the water.
It was interesting to see the differences among the camp
participants in terms of feeding. The BARF or raw diet is
very popular in Sweden, but almost an equal number of
participants used dry kibble (mainly Royal Canin).
The camp provided opportunities for newer owners to
question seasoned veteran breeders about kooiker behavior and training. A tremendous wealth of knowledge was
readily apparent and appreciated.
unless necessary. I had the opportunity to see/feel the
effects of Superloin on a male Kooiker, Kaspar, owned by
Oda Wennerstrand. This small implant of a GnRH agonist
provides chemical castration for male dogs. In the United
States its use is restricted to ferrets.
Leash usage in camp allowed multiple dogs to be in the
same area without confusion and chaos. During our walks,
most dogs were let off leash without incident. Leashing
your dog is not a rule in Sweden—unlike in U.S. local, state,
and national parks.
Crating your dog indoors is illegal in Sweden. You may have
a crate but the dog may not be held within the crate. Of
course, I was most curious as to how dogs were managed
at a show. I was informed that crates and X-pens are OK at
those events.
Many of the attendees were a little skeptical of U.S. dog
care and breeding practices. A very common belief was
that most dogs in America are kenneled—“caged”—for
long periods, even outdoors. Another common misconception was that breeding for profit and “puppy mill” mentality predominated in America. I tried very hard to dispel
those maligned views by demonstrating with pictures and
stories how owners in the USA view their kooikers as family, not property.
All in all, it was a terrific experience. I learned a great deal
about the breed and had the opportunity to cultivate new
friendships amongst Kooiker lovers.
All the photographs shown
here are courtesy of Cheryl
Short.
Additional photos of
Kooiker Camp—and of
Swedish kooiker outdoor
fashion—are available from
Odas Kooikerhunder on
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?se
t=a.776113782433153.1073741864.23998662937920
7&type=1).
If you are interested in finding out about Kooiker
Camp 2015, contact Yvonne Mattson through the
Facebook page “Kooiker-Camp Sälen.”
Culturally, the most obvious difference between Swedish
and U.S. kooiker owners is in the neuter/spay practice. It
is quite unheard of to alter a dog until after breeding or
17
World Dog Show 2014
Report from “Team Kooiker”
Sixty-two kooikerhondjes from more than seven countries were among the 21,200 dogs entered in
the World Dog Show (WDS) 2014, which took place in Helsinki, Finland, August 8–10. Organized by the Fédération
Cynologique Internationale (FCI) and hosted by the Finnish Kennel Club, the show brought together 124 judges from
35 countries. The dogs at WDS represented 360 breeds from 60 countries worldwide, including the United States (73),
the U.K. (68), Italy (472), Kazakhstan (22), Indonesia and Thailand. Finland and its neighbors accounted for the majority of entries (Finland, 18,838; Russia, 4,127; Sweden, 1,764; and Norway, 696).
The event’s Website http://www.worlddogshow2014.fi/ provides a full account of all the competition results.
Two KCUSA members, Ann Knoop-Siderius and Lucinda Paganin, attended WDS 2014 and have provided an “on the
ground,” personal account of their experiences at this massive event.
By Lucinda Paganin and Ann Knoop-Siderius
T
raveling the world is great! What is better is doing
so while seeing the many breeds of dogs across the
world, including your favorite! Helsinki, Finland may
not be a place just anyone would consider as their vacation
destination, but this year it hit the top of my mom Ann’s
and my list! Why, you may ask? The World Dog Show 2014!
What better excuse to check out Helsinki?
Upon arriving we encountered our first Kooikerhondje at
Helsinki’s Vantaa airport! Unfortunately she was not there
to pick us up. We quickly found a cab to our hotel downtown. If you ever visit, I recommend taking the bus. You
will save about 40 euros. Also, do not expect a friendly
conversation in the cab, or most places for that matter. The
Finnish people are not rude, they just do not think much of
small talk. This is something Ann and I learned later on.
When we finally made it to our hotel, the front desk was
very helpful in explaining how to use public transportation
and the location of many of the good restaurants around.
The food was absolutely amazing! It might take some
people a little time to get used to eating “Rudolph the Red
Nosed Reindeer,” but he actually tastes really good. The
Finnish also like fish, so we tried everything in the short
period that we were there!
The next day was the first day of the show. Ann and I got
ready early and had a delicious breakfast with smoked
salmon. As we exited the tram we immediately saw our
first Kooiker of the first show day. We walked together to
our entrance, as the owner and Kooiker had to use another
for those coming with dogs. As Ann and I waited in line
we could not believe our eyes when our Kooikerhondje
Specialty judge Carol Brown walked by. Immediately we
said Hello and asked if she was coming to check out the
Kooikers. She showed us her list of all the dogs she wanted
to see and guess what? Yes, our beloved Kooikerhondje
was at the top of her list! After entering the show we went
directly to where the Kooikerhondjes were being shown
and waited patiently.
It was lovely to see so many (62) Kooikerhondjes in one
place. Svend Løvenkær from Denmark was judging the
Kooikerhondjes. He was a very gentle and kind man who
seemed to really focus on the dog and concentrate on the
important factors of the Kooikerhondje. He also took time
with the bitches, knowing that they were not always trusting of strangers (especially men). It was also lovely to see a
judge who knew the breed and judged with such expertise.
We watched the Kooikers from beginning to end and enjoyed every moment of it, learning new breeders and new
Kooiker lovers from not only Finland, Sweden and Norway,
but also Estonia, Denmark, Germany and even as far away
as Italy! We were sad when the Kooikerhondje show finally
came to an end, but were able to connect with Gibson’s
(Oorbellen Mel’s) family and decided to have dinner together later that night. First, of course, we checked out the
show for the remainder of the afternoon.
That evening Gibson’s breeder mom, Anne Hirvonen,
picked us up from the hotel and brought us to dinner. There
we not only met several other breeders and friends of hers,
but we met the friendliest Kooikerhondje ever. Gibson’s
daddy, Peter, rolled on the ground and waited for me to
pet his tummy and wanted love from any stranger willing
to give it to him! It was quite striking, the aura that this
dog sent out. He is definitely a lover! We had a blast and
learned a lot about the Nordic Kooikers and told them a lot
about our Kooikerhondjes in North America. We were all
excited about the future of our Kooikerhondjes and are already planning to visit the next WDS in Milan, Italy, in 2015.
Of course, we spent the last day sightseeing and enjoying
the local culture. But we could not lose the Kooikerhondje
fever! We were missing our baby Kooikerhondjes, but
seeing all the dogs walking through the streets and all the
WDS visitors was pretty cool. As we were winding down
for the day and heading back to our hotel something very
strange happened. I do not know if many of you are soccer
fans, and I did not know that there were so many soccer
fans in Finland, but I guess when they play against one of
the best teams in the world everyone comes out to watch.
As Ann and I tried to walk back to our hotel from the bus
stop, we encountered a swarm of people headed to the
Top: Kooikerhondjes with owners arriving at the show.
Middle: Ann Knoop-Siderius arriving outside the building where
the Helsinki Dog Show is held.
Bottom: A large group of Kooikerhondjes in the ring to sort out
the group winner.
World Dog Show 2014
19
stadium, a few with Helsinki jerseys on. The rest were all
wearing FC Barcelona jerseys. That’s right, Spain was there!
The next day as we left Helsinki, the airport greeted us
again with many happy puppies and doggies. It was definitely an amazing vacation, and I hope someday our Club
may check out the World Dog Show together. . . perhaps in
2018 in Amsterdam?
Top: Ann and Lucinda enjoy dinner after the Kooikerhondje
show at Hotel Cumulus at Vantaa Airport. Left to right: Aila Murto,
Ann Hirvonen , Anne Trygg, and Kaisa Pelkonen from Finland, Petra Bannach
and Lucinda Paganin from Germany, and Ann Knoop-Siderius from USA.
Middle left: The Danish Judge (left) judging a Kooikerhondje while his secretary or
ring steward takes notes.
Middle right: Lucinda and Ann enjoying a boat tour along the islands around Helsinki.
Bottom: At this time many of the 62 Kooikerhondjes were in the ring,
a great sight and experience.
20
World Dog Show 2014
Judges Education Committee Appointed
Your Board at Work
!
September 2014
Judges Education Committee Guidelines
For the K C U S A Judges Education Committee
The Judges Education Committee will be constituted of three or
more members in good standing with the K C U S A.
This committee will be appointed by the K C U S A Board of
Directors. The committee members will serve on the committee
until released or replaced by the K C U S A Board of Directors.
The committee’s duties shall be to develop educational materials
that will help judges better understand the Nederlandse
Kooikerhondje breed as per the accepted breed standard. These
materials could include printed information, power point and other
visual computer aided or physical presentations.
The committee will develop a criterion for which members may be
eligible to conduct Judges Seminars. Those members should have
a full understanding of the breed, several years of experience in
breeding and showing Kooikerhondjes in organized dog shows.
Accepted by the K C U S A Board of Directors, September 2nd, 2014
Signed by: Jac M Knoop President
!
Sheryl Fuller
Kooikerhondje have been my
passion for 6 years now. I am a
breeder with the goal of producing healthy, even-tempered
Kooikerhondje that have
outstanding breed type with
sound movement. Since my
involvement with this breed, it
has been my dream to assist in putting together a wellthought-out and well-presented Judges Education Presentation for AKC judges in order to preserve the Kooikerhondje in its original state.
I have been a breeder and dog show enthusiast for 32
years. In 1983 AKC Specialty Judge and Professional Dog
Handler, Nancy Pincus, began mentoring me in canine
structure and movement. I have worked for her ever since
showing many client dogs for her when she was busy in
other rings. I believe I “have an eye” for a well-put-together dog. Nancy and many of her clients have asked me to
evaluate litters and choose the “pick” puppy for breeding
and show. My choices have proven to be the right ones.
I believe this talent is of great value in communicating to
judges the correct structure of a Kooikerhondje.
I have participated in presenting several Judges Education
Seminars for AKC judges as well as the Houston Judges
Association. These were “hands on” seminars with dogs
present. At the prestigious Reliant Series of Dog Shows in
2012, I assisted Nancy in presenting a Handling Seminar
with both dogs and their owners participating.
Ann Knoop
Kooikers have a natural beauty
that should be shown in the ring
without excessive grooming. The
carefree attitude that we love
about this breed is part of their
charm. Being able to educate
judges with hands on training
as I witnessed at the World Dog
Show in Helsinki Finland a few weeks ago and also at Salzburg, Austria 2012, at several local dog shows in Europe,
22
including Denmark, were also helpful in discovering how
to train and create an eye for inspecting this new breed. To
accomplish this in the USA will take an effort of breeders,
owners and judges. High level of involvement of a judges
training committee is needed to ensure intellectual breeding and judging. A responsible discussion regarding the
kooiker breed will help educate and create an atmosphere
of positive judging. Part of this discussion involves the
breed standard, including genetic testing and the art of
judging. While visiting shows in Europe we made an effort
to invite judges to our future Specialties in the USA. This
should streamline and provide educational opportunities for our local judges. Part of my work history includes
working in the Netherlands for the Koninklijke Warmbloed
Paarden Stamboek Nederland or the KWPN, and this has
given me some insight in shows and how to find an acceptable method of training future judges.
Betty
Wathne
I have been training
and exhibiting dogs
since 1966, and have
been involved in breeding Irish Water Spaniels
for the past 30 years.
I have bred, trained, and handled dogs with National
Specialty and Group wins, obedience High in Trial awards,
many breed Champions, Obedience, Agility, Rally, and Hunt
Test titles, Top Producer awards, and have produced dogs
that have formed the foundation for some top kennels.
My background in science and in horses combined with my
interest in purebred dogs has made me a student of movement, how form follows function, and how temperament,
training, and conditioning combine with structure to enable a dog to fulfill its athletic potential. I have served as
past President of the IWSCA, but am most proud of serving on the Standards Revision committee, consulting on
the Illustrated Standard, and my ongoing involvement in
Judges Education. I also breed, train, and exhibit Pyrenean
Shepherds, am on the PSCA board, and was involved in the
breed prior to its full AKC acceptance, so am familiar with
. . . continued on page 25
Judges Education Committee
Health and Genetics Committee Appointed
Your Board at Work
!
September 2014
Health & Genetics Committee Guidelines
For the K C U S A Health & Genetics Committee
The Health & Genetics Committee will be constituted of three or
more members in good standing with the K C U S A.
This committee will be appointed by the K C U S A Board of
Directors. The committee members will serve on the committee
until released or replaced by the K C U S A Board of Directors.
The committee’s duties will be to evaluate current information
available to the fancy, regarding issues of general health, new
considerations and new developments in canine health,
particularly in the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje breed.
Based on a consensus of this committee, recommendations will be
made to the full K C U S A Board of Directors who will take this
recommendation up in the first scheduled board meeting with the full
Board of Directors present.
Accepted by the K C U S A Board of Directors, September 2nd, 2014
Signed by: Jac M Knoop President
!
Health and Genetics Committee Bios
Marta Beckstead,
R.N.
To be on the Kooikerhondje
Health and Genetics Committee is a culmination of my years
in the sport of purebred dogs. I
showed my first dog, a Beagle, at
ten years of age and have been
involved in the sport for the better part of my life. I have
been involved in conformation, obedience, earthdog and,
most recently, lure coursing. I have lengthy experience in
breeding, raising, and training working breeds.
My passion is the health of the breed and the study of
pedigrees. Many years ago I owned a business researching
and providing my customers with elaborate pedigrees of
their dogs. I am committed to the careful maintenance and
responsible analysis of pedigree records.
I feel it is paramount for the future of the breed to establish specific criteria regarding health issues and to maintain
accurate records of those issues.
Fred Cross, Ph.D.
I think the question of dog
genetics is interesting in general,
and of course I have a particular
interest in this breed. The fact
that it was derived from such a
small population, so recently,
suggests that the genetics might
not be too complicated.
It’s my personal opinion that there are probably rather few
DNA markers that would clarify most of what one wants
to know about genetics in this breed. Really, complete
genome sequencing is the way it should be done, certainly
as an academic problem this is how I would proceed.
There is published information on molecular genetics of
many dog breeds, not including kooikers to my knowledge.
But what is published is certainly relevant.
I have a Ph.D. in molecular genetics from Rockefeller University in 1978; I have been a faculty member (Professor of
24
Genetics) at Rockefeller University since 1989, full professor since 1995. My professional research has all been with
microbes, although I’ve consulted extensively with plant
breeders; I teach a graduate-level genetics course covering
all kinds of organisms (plants, animals, microbes). As you
say, I do own a kooiker, currently sleeping under my office
chair.
Ann Knoop, R.N.
My primary focus for the kooikerhondje breed in the USA is a
good standard of breeding, one
that includes health and character and stays as close to the
original Dutch Kooikerhondje as
possible. Speaking Dutch and
having grown up with this breed,
makes it easy for me to communicate with the Dutch Club.
Working with the lab at Utrecht University Veterinary
School in the Netherlands to get as many US kooikers as
possible tested for ENM/VW has been one of my goals,
and I am happy to report that most of the breeders have
tested their dogs. Results are available in the Dutch Raad
van Beheer databank, which is on line. Being able to travel
to Europe and meeting first hand with breeders and owners gives me practical information that we can implement
for our still small kooiker population in the US. My vision
for the US kooikerhondje is to set a breed standard that
will ensure that the health, longevity, physical and behavioral attributes remain as close as possible to the original
Kooikerhondje. Work experience has led me all over the
world, ending up in the USA, where I have worked in the
world of human health and genetics.
Susanne Martin,
MD
I have been involved with the
Kooikerhondje breed since 1997,
and early on I realized how fragile and special this breed is. For
the past few years, I have been
researching the Kooikerhondje
Health and Genetics Committee
population since the first registered litters in the 1940’s,
to understand the inheritance of both visible traits and of
disease, and the importance of good mating choices for
breeding. Lots of data have been added to develop and understand the Kooikerhondje’s pedigree tree. I have made
friends with other Kooikerhondje breeders and researchers
in Europe and opened my world for a wonderful exchange
of information and new friendships. One highlight of
last year was a visit with Prof. Paul Mandigers at Utrecht
University. He has been researching the Kooikerhondje
population for a very long time and we discussed the DNA
tests he developed for ENM and vWD. It was fascinating
for me to hear about his focus on the next challenging
disease in the Kooikerhondje population, polymyositis. I
hope that his ambitious team will be able to find a genetic
test soon. Many people in different countries besides the
Netherlands have been collecting information about the
breed and it is fascinating to exchange information. We are
now able to see which lines of Kooikerhondjes are extinct
and which lines we can protect and recuperate.
Continued from page 22
the process of educating judges on a breed previously totally unfamiliar to them. I have presented at many Judges
Education seminars over the years, and in the process of
helping to develop the IWSCA Illustrated Standard, have
studied the presentations and Judges Education literature
for most of the AKC breed clubs. I am delighted to be
asked to work on this project for my beloved Kooikerhondje breed. Judges have a real desire to learn proper breed
type, and it is a huge responsibility to impart to them the
knowledge that they will use to evaluate our breed in the
conformation ring.
Several years ago, I registered the Kooikerhondje with CHIC
(Canine Health Information Center) which gives all Club
members, breeders and interested parties the possibility
to review health tests of individual Kooikerhondjes online
without the need for any membership.
Experienced breeder friends have shown me how much responsibility and knowledge a breeder needs to breed dogs
at a high standard. These breeders are the backbone of the
future population of Kooikerhondjes in the United States. I
have come to appreciate what must go into protecting this
breed, and believe that all of us in the United States and
Europe need to work closely and openly together.
Health and Genetics and Judges Education Committees
25
Coming Up
B
Where We’ll Be this Year:
Shows and Meet The Breed events
elow is a list of events that KCUSA plans to participate in, or is interested in joining. The list includes
a sampling of the more exhaustive list of northern
California events that Deborah Bean has compiled. Please
contact her for more information about the listed events,
and about other shows and events.
An * indicates that KCUSA plans to participate.
Members are encouraged to participate in events near
them. Contact Lynann Lorenz or Jennifer Methlie for information about display material, if needed. Jennifer Methlie
is the contact person for events in the western half of the
US and Lynann Lorenz in the eastern half. Deborah Bean
is a good contact for anyone interested in events in California. Rod Beckstead and Sally Birgl are knowledgeable
about events in the mid-Atlantic region.
Deborah Bean offers these suggestions for people trying to
find where shows are being held:
The best place to look for upcoming conformation/obedience/rally/agility shows is InfoDog: infodog.com/showinfo/
showmain.htm. This is the website for MB-F, Inc., one of
the big superintendents. Click on Show Info for the calendar. They list all shows, even ones where they are not the
superintendents.
The other site to look at is AKC’s official events page:
www.apps.akc.org/apps/events/search/index.cfm. Only
approved shows are listed so some may not show up as
quickly as they do on the InfoDog site.
* September 20, 2014
AKC’s Responsible Dog Ownership Day (RDOD)
Raleigh, North Carolina
Join KCUSA and AKC in celebrating Responsible Dog Ownership Day (RDOD) on September 20 in Raleigh, NC, and
across the country. If you live in Virginia or North Carolina
and would like to participate in this event, please contact
Stephanie Lowe to join her and Susan Jackson, who will be
taking Kooikers Link and Kiss to Raleigh on that day.
www.apps.akc.org/classic/clubs/rdod/events/index.cfm
October 2014
Del Valle Kennel Club of
Livermore
Pleasanton, California
This Meet the Breed event is in a lovely venue this year.
Contact Deborah Bean for details.
At the 2014 Seattle Kennel Club Meet The Breeds event
October 31 and November
1–2
Knoxville, Tennessee
Lynann Lorenz is awaiting more information on this MTB.
Contact her for details if you are interested.
November 2014
Wine Country Kennel Club
Show
Napa, California
A Meet the Breeds event. This show hosts a HUGE “Take
the Lead” fundraiser every year and has AKC dignitaries in
attendance. Contact Deborah Bean for details.
* December 13–14, 2014
AKC/Eukanuba National
Championship and Meet the
Breeds event
Orlando, Florida
“Already one of the world’s premiere dog events, the 2014
event will offer all-breed competitions, specialty competitions and special attractions, breeder seminars, the
AKC Agility Invitational and AKC Obedience Classic, junior
events, consumer attractions and of course the crowning
of a new National Champion.”
The 5 top-ranked Kooikerhondjes will compete in the Agility Invitational, and KCUSA will have a booth at the Meet
the Breeds. Contact Lynann Lorenz or Rod Beckstead for
details.
www.akc.org/aenc/
* January 24, 2015
Allentown Canine Learning
Experience
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Sponsored by Lehigh Valley Kennel Club. KCUSA will set up
a booth on Friday afternoon to evening. Last year we set
them ablaze with our creativity—watch for copycats this
year—but did not win any prizes. Look out this year! Mem-
Where We’ll Be this Year
bers are welcome to bring their Kooikers and spend time
Booth Bragging. Lots of ideas are welcome. Remember,
kooikerhondjes will be in the Miscellaneous Class by then.
Interested? Contact Rod Beckstead or Lynann Lorenz.
* January 24–25, 2015
Golden Gate Kennel Club
Benched Show
Daly City, California
Hosted by Golden Gate Kennel Club. This year will be the
115th and 116th Annual All-Breed Dog Shows and the
first in-conjunction with All FSS and Misc Open Show in a
benched setting. KCUSA is trying to set this up as a template for the future where other new breeds can meet
their open show requirements with little difficulty. AKC is
excited that we have taken this opportunity to move forward, as is the host club.
* February 14, 2015
The Westminster Kennel
Club 139th Annual Dog Show
New York City
February 14 is when the master agility competition and
Meet the Breeds events take place. KCUSA will definitely
have a booth at the Meet the Breeds. Contact Lynann
Lorenz for details.
http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2015/show/news/
wkctimes_issue8.html
* March 7–8, 2015
Seattle Kennel Club All
Breed Show, Obedience, Rally
and Agility Trials
Seattle, Washington
http://www.seattledogshow.org/spectators/
The 75th annual show attracts 13,000 spectators and 2,000
dogs competing for awards at CenturyLink Events Center.
KCUSA will have a booth at the Meet the Breeds event.
27
Your Board at Work
Donations to KCUSA Are Now Tax Exempt
A
fter several years of effort, KCUSA is now tax exempt. As of a letter dated July 18, 2014, the IRS recognizes the club as a tax-exempt nonprofit organization under IRC (Internal Revenue Code) Section 501(c)(3).
The club is now exempt from federal income tax and gifts
to the club are tax deductible. In addition, KCUSA has been
classified as a “Public Charity.”
In a nice twist, the letter stated that KCUSA’s tax exempt
status has been back dated effective from December 17,
2012. This is the date that KCUSA was originally incorporated. So, for example, any gift given since that date, including
a recent anonymous gift to the club of $1,000, would be
tax deductible.
Club President, Jac Knoop, said he submitted a staggering
43 pages of paperwork when the club applied for 501(c)(3)
status. In spite of all the required documentation, he said
that it was worth applying when the club is small and not
yet turning over much money.
However, we are doing a lot of work, he noted, and “growing by leaps and bounds.” As “teaching people about the
kooikerhondje is the reason for the club,” he went on, having a tax-exempt status, in the same way that many schools
do, is appropriate.
Known as a person who keeps an eye on the future, Jac
then said, characteristically, that the club now has their
next goal in sight: to gain state exemption from taxes.
O
AKC Moves Kooikers into the
Miscellaneous Class
n September 9, 2014, the AKC Board of Directors
voted in favor of admitting the Kooikerhondje into
the Miscellaneous Class, as of July 1, 2015. KCUSA,
as the AKC Parent Club, is allowed to begin training judges
as soon as the club receives the official letter of notification and our Judges’ Education seminar is approved. We
can also proceed with sponsorship of an All FSS and Miscellaneous Class Open show in San Francisco, California on
January 24, 2015.
This welcome announcement represents the culmination
of years of concerted effort by Kooikerhondje enthusiasts
throughout the United States. It also marks the beginning
of the next phase of progress through the AKC’s breed recognition course. The AKC Website explains the significance
of this accomplishment:
AKC Breeds by Group – Miscellaneous Class
The breeds currently eligible to participate in
the Miscellaneous Class are still enrolled in
the AKC Foundation Stock Service®. FSS® enrollment is maintained until the AKC Board of
Directors accepts the breed for regular status.
Authorities acknowledge that throughout
the world there are several hundred distinct
breeds of purebred dogs, not all of which are
AKC recognized breeds. Those officially recognized for AKC registration appear in the Stud
Book of the American Kennel Club. The AKC
provides for a regular path of development for
a new breed, which may result in that breed’s
full recognition and appearance in the official
Stud Book as an AKC recognized breed.
Briefly stated, the requirement for admission to the Stud Book is clear and categorical
proof that a substantial, sustained nationwide
interest and activity in the breed exists. This
includes an active parent club, with serious
and expanding breeding activity over a wide
geographic area.
When in the judgment of the Board of Directors such interest and activity exists, a breed
is admitted to the Miscellaneous Class. Breeds
in the Miscellaneous Class may compete and
earn titles in Companion Events and also select
Performance Events. Miscellaneous breeds are
also eligible to compete in Junior Showmanship. They may also compete at conformation
shows, but here are limited to competition in
the Miscellaneous Class and are not eligible
for championship points.
When the Board of Directors is satisfied that a
breed is continuing a healthy, dynamic growth
in the Miscellaneous Class, it may be admitted
to registration in the Stud Book and the opportunity to compete in regular classes.
Our work has just begun and our efforts must continue
towards our goal of full inclusion in the Sporting Group,
hopefully by January 2017. Watch for more information
next month on the next stage of the Kooikerhondje’s
journey.
Read more at https://www.akc.org/breeds/miscellaneous_class.cfm
Your Board at Work
KCUSA Board Meeting Minutes
August 5, 2014
1. Call to order at 9:03pm Eastern Time
2. Roll Call - Presiding Jac Knoop, Recording Stephanie Lowe, Present - Sarah Krueger, Deborah Bean, Lynann
Lorenz , Rick Schallhorn, Julie Voetberg, Rod Beckstead and Karen Dean.
3. Approval of minutes: July 1 board meeting minutes were approved.
4. Reports
President – Pass
Vice President – Talked about recent Open Show and Meet The Breeds with Picards, also a Kooiker get together planned in October in IL
Secretary – nothing
Treasurer – Handover finalized, updated us on balances.
August Financial Summary
Starting balance
Deposits
Payments/Withdrawals
Ending Balance
1790.50
177.50
0.00
1968.00
Officers and Committees
Show Committee – Deborah Bean presented the show committee’s proposal.
Regional Kooiker gatherings – work progressing on several events as well as developing forms that can be used
for all regions.
5. Unfinished business – None
6. New business :
Voting on new members, names read:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Zachary C. & Summer D. Bowman
Gloria Geringer
Elizabeth Barshack
James A Cowan
Chunyun (Jenny) and Aaron Fang
Stephanie Russell
Stephanie Lowe made a motion to vote in new members as read and table one application while some additional information was obtained. Sarah 2nd, vote unanimous.
Corrections in Kooiker Chronicle - due to some apparent misunderstandings on what was said, addendum will
be placed with the article for explanation on the website and the newsletter. No changes will be made to the
article itself.
Separation of specialty and annual meeting – next time the bylaws are updated a broader period of time for
the annual meeting will be included (conforming to AKC guidance). Also consider making it possible to hold the
annual meeting as a virtual meeting.
Health and genetics Committee: Ann Knoop, Marta Beckstead are currently on committee , third person desired. Discussion on Dr. Susanne Martin – Deborah Bean made the motion to add Dr. Martin to the committee,
Sara 2nd. Vote unanimous.
Judges Education: Sheryl Fuller has asked to work on this committee. Names of Betty Wathne and Stephanie
Russell were suggested as possibilities for this committee. Jac will talk to Betty and Stephanie to see if they will
be willing to sit on the committee.
AKC to miscellaneous Class, AKC meeting minutes: The AKC meeting minutes regarding the reading of the
Kooikerhondje was announced and what the process would be after that. There are guidelines for FSS breeds
to follow to go from Miscellaneous to the group. Deborah Bean will send out “Road from FSS” checklist to all
board members.
7. Announcements:
501C3 status – we have been approved for this status but we are taking it slowly to make sure we have all the
proper procedures, letters to people who donate, etc. before accepting any donations.
8. Round Table Discussion:
Breeders Listing after discussion of this listing Stephanie Lowe made a motion that for current dogs on the
Breeders list have until December 31, 2014 to obtain CHIC numbers and that CHIC numbers be required for
both Sires and Dams to be included on the list.. Deborah Bean 2nd. Board was polled and it was unanimous.
9. Adjournment – Meeting was adjourned at 10:55pm Eastern Time
Respectfully submitted,
Stephanie Lowe, Secretary
Board Meeting Minutes
31
Show Time: Agility
By Deborah Vassar
Q: There’s been some buzz about the AKC Agility Invitational. What is it?
A: The AKC Agility Invitational is an annual invitation only
event. The top five agility dogs of each breed (as well as
All-American dogs) are invited to compete. If any of the
top five dogs declines the invitation, a second round of
invitations goes out to the remaining dogs, starting in sixth
place and continuing down the ranked list.
Q: So how are the top five agility dogs determined??
Agility Q&A:
AKC Agility
Invitational
A: First some AKC agility basics:
There are four levels in AKC agility: Novice, Open, Excellent, and Master. Agility teams (a team consists of a dog
and handler) start in Novice and work their way up. Each
level increases in course difficulty and the requirements for
a qualifying run are stricter at each level. A qualifying run
is often referred to as a “Q.” If an agility team achieves two
qualifying runs on the same day, it’s called a “Double Q” or
“QQ.”
A Standard course contains jumps, weaves, tunnels, and
contact obstacles like the A-frame, dog walk, teeter, and
table. A JWW course contains jumps, weaves, and tunnels.
Course time is determined by the length of the course and
the dog’s jump height. A basic agility trial consists of a
Standard (STD) and a JWW course.
To be considered for the Invitational, a team has to have a
qualifying run in a Master Standard (STD) course or a Master Jumpers With Weaves (JWW) course. At the Masters
level, the course must be completed without faults and
under course time. For each second under course time
a speed point, often called a MACH point, is earned. For
example, if course time is 45 seconds and the course is successfully completed in 40 seconds, 5 MACH points would
be earned. MACH points start accumulating
once a team reaches the Masters level.
The qualifying period for AKC’s Agility Invitational runs from July 1st – June 30th. AKC has
a scoring system in place to rank the teams.
For each QQ earned the team receives 10
points. Then the MACH points are added to
the score. A dog who has 5 QQs and 75 MACH
points has a score of 10 x 5 + 75 = 125 points.
Dogs competing in Regular Master Standard
& Jumpers take precedence over dogs competing in Preferred Master Standard & Jumpers. Dogs running Preferred jump one height
lower than measured, and get an additional 5
seconds added to course time. AKC provides
Invitational rankings on their website (https://www.apps.
akc.org/classic/invitational/top25/agility/index.cfm).
Q: Are there any Kooikerhondjes eligible for this year’s AKC
Agility Invitational?
A: Yes. Kooikers have been qualifying for the Invitational
since 2010. And this year, congratulations go out to the 8
teams that qualified. According to the AKC website, invitations were sent to seven dogs total. We’re not at liberty to
say who is and isn’t attending but our sources indicate that
there will be five dogs participating this year.
Ranking
1
Class
Regular
Owner(s)
Bonnie Edmond
Regular
Dog’s Full Registered Name
MACH Redgold’s Bodie Always On My Mind CD BN RE MXS MJG XF
T2B CA
MACH2 Cirtap’s Prins L-D River Van Berk MXS MJG XF T2B
2
3
Regular
Vonlin’s Temple Of The Winds RE AX AXJ
Sheryl Fuller
4
Regular
Rabouz Baltazar OA AXJ NF
Sara Linder
5
Regular
Kips Valentine AX AXJ NF CGC
Alison Studer
6
Regular
Taga’s Balder Ambermoon Evan BN RN AX AXJ NF CGC
Deborah Vassar
7
Regular
Amigo Dog From Wonderland OA AXJ
8
Preferred
Redgold’s Battle Of Lexington OA OAJ AXP MJP
Jeremy Darstek/
Tulay Darstek
Colleen Dressler
Q: Agility sounds exciting—how can I learn more?
A: Great question! The newly formed KCUSA Performance
Events Team is working hard to create content for the website about agility as well as other performance events such
as Obedience, Rally, Nosework, Barnhunt, Lure Coursing,
Elizabeth Barshack
Flyball, and Dock Diving. Members Liz Barshack and Bonnie
Edmond are both available to answer your agility questions. Liz may be contacted via email at lbarshack@gmail.
com. Bonnie may be contacted at bsedmond@mac.com or
(239) 229-5362.
Blaze does his homework: practicing weaving.
Agility Q&A: AKC Agility Invitational
33
Member Profile
Karen Watling, a seasoned dog trainer who trains agility dogs and mentors their handlers,
was one of several people who brought home a kooikerhondje puppy from the KCUSA Specialty in Gray Summit in
June. She named her puppy “Meisje,” (“girl,” “little girl,” “lassie,” according to Google translate) and began a wellthought-out process of socializing her, with an eye on her future as a dog athlete. As Meisje makes her way from
puppy to adult kooiker athlete, Karen will share her observations and some of her training methods, bringing in the
perspective she has gained training notoriously stubborn herding breeds. With this article, the Chronicle hopes to
launch a regular feature in which experienced dog trainers and handlers share their expertise with kooikerhondjes
and other breeds, alike.
By Karen Watling
I
t was love at first sight on that fateful day in March
when Jac and his merry band of Kooikers manned the
“Meet the Breed” booth in Seattle. I was there in the
guise of agility mentor to several of my students when
Glen got bored and went scouting around. Within minutes,
he was back and literally dragging me up the stairs to see
the little red and white Dutch dog. “You’re Dutch, they’re
Dutch . . . you must come see them!”
The rest, as they say, is history. The stars aligned and in
June Amazing Beatrix van der Iserman Hoeve (Meisje)
flew home with us from the Specialty in St. Louis, to join
our pack here in Black Diamond, WA. I have never been so
smitten and amazed and in awe of such puppy brilliance
(as I’m sure all you Kooiker parents are). Given that I have
worked with those stubborn herding breeds (Bouviers and
Aussies) for as long as I can remember, she is the most
biddable dog I’ve ever owned and will be the first of many
more to come. From day one, she has been a constant
companion and my goal was to introduce her to 100 different people and events in 100 days. Nothing like a wellrounded pup to make an awesome adult dog, especially for
future sporting dogs, which Meisje will be when she is of
appropriate age.
a Nederlandse Kooikerhondje.” It didn’t take me long
to figure out the abbreviated version . . . “She’s a Dutch
Water Spaniel” (note to future volunteers at any “Meet the
Breeds” . . . be sure to counsel potential Kooiker owners
that a sense of humor and a long arm of patience are a
MUST!) .
Mind you, she was no small puppy and was the biggest of
the litter—her nickname was “La Gorda.” So . . . her first
test was to fit into the puppy carrier and stay put for the
4-hour non-stop flight back home. Of course, navigating
through a crowded airport with a large puppy slung over
your shoulder always elicits oohs and ahhs and “what kind
of dog is she?” MY first test . . . given it was a jam-packed
weekend with little sleep, was to politely answer “She’s
An uneventful trip home and from day one, her mantra
has been “I’ve got this.” If dogs come back as old souls,
Meisje is one. And if dogs can be side-kicks, Meisje is that
too. We have attended agility practices, including the AKC
World Team here in Sumner, WA in July. We have been
out and about just about everywhere dogs are welcome
. . . farmer’s markets, Home Depot, the gravel pit, puppy
play dates, fishing (she’s an awesome fish finder . . . just
Go West,
Little Girl!
ask Glen!) and she has even sat on the stage while I teach
Jazzercise for an hour, which is forever in puppy time! She’s
been petted and held by adults and children both and
what I find is there is a certain grace and ease about her
in any new situation. She has embraced every opportunity
and greeted it in a way only she knows how and that’s with
a full body wag with her floofy tail . . . at times I’m not sure
who is wagging who!
There is a big world out there and I’m making sure this
little girl can take it all in stride so I want to give her the
best exposure and show her that all things are fun . . . even
the vet! Here’s hoping that you are doing the same!
~ Karen and Meisje
Top: “ I am not an Aussie!”
Bottom left: Beautiful
Bottom right: L is for Love
Go West Little Girl!
35
Kampioenschapsclubmatch
T
he Dutch kooikerhondje club’s annual Championship Club Match is coming up on November 22.
Kooikerhondjes are a Dutch breed of dogs and plenty
of them will be there.
Unleash Your Inner Artist
K
CUSA is looking for kooikerhondje art. Such as
kooiker cartoons for publications and media, so
that kooikers help announce “Breaking News!” or
let members know “You’re Invited.”
And so will some KCUSA members. Lucinda Paganin, Deborah Bean, Sheryl Fuller, Ann Knoop, and
Cheryl Short will spend a day among more than one
hundred kooikerhondjes competing under one roof.
Susanne Martin is also hoping to go.
Or see your original
kooiker themed sketches
or comic art printed in the
newsletter, perhaps on the
Humor page.
More information about the match can be found on
the website of Vereniging Het Nederlandse Kooikerhondje.
Contact Karen (Karen
LDean@yahoo.com) or
Joyce (jenimimitu@yahoo.
com).
Look for a full story about the match in the
next issue of the newsletter.
To Neuter or Not
to Neuter?
T
hat is the question, and if so, when? Have your
informed opinion on this important topic heard.
How early (or late) should a dog, specifically a kooiker, be neutered. Or should it never be done? What
issues influence this decision in North America?
Contact newsletter editor Karen Dean to contribute
your voice to this important topic.
KarenLDean@yahoo.com
Announcements
Uhoh,
i
s it true some people have forgotten to pay KCUSA
for Specialty registrations?
Or to cover other expenses they signed for
in Gray Summit?
Please take care
of this so
Kooikerhondjes
don’t get a bad
reputation out
there!
37
Hondje Humor
A Little Decoy Drama in
New Amsterdam
Three Kooikerhondjes are walking their human companion
around their Manhattan neighborhood and pass a grooming salon they’ve never had cause to frequent.
A young woman in a “Trainee” jacket steps out onto the
sidewalk and exclaims, “Wow! Look at those gorgeous
coats! Where do they get groomed? It must cost a fortune!”
Human Kooiker-tender replies, “Uh, they don’t go to a
groomer. I just brush them out. They’re Kooikerhondjes
and they have self-cleaning coats. It’s a breed characteristic.”
Groomer trainee frowns and grumbles “Well, I hope that
breed doesn’t get too popular. That would mean the end
of my career!”
Kooikerhondjes in New Amsterdam
At Bodega Bay, California. (© 2014. Reprinted with permission of Susanne Martin.)
The Kooiker Chronicle is a publication of the Kooikerhondje Club of
the United States of America (KCUSA). If you have comments, questions, suggestions, or feedback, please contact the editor at
karenldean@yahoo.com.
Editor: Karen L. Dean
Layout: Joyce Y. Maxwell
Technical Assistance: Linda S. Dean
Other publications and media of KCUSA
Website: kooikerhondjeusa.org
Facebook: facebook.com/pages/The-Kooikerhondje-Club
-of-the-USA/293712687307443
News and Notes: Kooiker Kibble (via Mail Chimp)

Welcome to the August-September issue of the Kooiker Chronicle!

Transcription

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