Need your input

Well, as Fall rolls around again, it is time for us to consider what kind of seminars we want to bring in this year for SAWHDA members.
Please let your executive know your thoughts on the following:

1. A particular activity about which you would enjoy learning more.

While we were in Kalispell, I had occasion to meet the head of the Bloodhound Tracking Training program in the USA, Kevin Kocher. He is willing to travel to Alberta to teach a two day seminar (full of activity, trust me) on tracking/trailing/search methods.

2. A particular topic of interest which you feel would be good to share.

Cathy from Fernie would like us to host another Wellness Day like the one we did years ago that had
vets, raw food diet advocates, Light Force Energy info, First Aid for dogs, sport dog warm-ups, etc. plus some people wellness activities as well.

3. Fun day activities you would like to share.

Deb G. from Cranbrook offered the following idea for a Fun Day Obedience exercise.
Teams of two with each member offering to do half of the exercises in any obedience routine; based on
how well their dog was doing on that exercise that week.
For example, if  my dog was smoking hot on the recall exercise, I could put myself down to do that one.
Maybe my partner's dog was absolutely steady on its long sit.  He does that.
My dog might be better heeling on lead than off, so I choose that.  Etc.
The judge judges the exercise and awards prizes to the best team.

A variance on this activity could be that each member of the team picks an exercise out of a hat and
that is the exercise he does; for better or for worse.


4.  A new sport or activity you would like to see our club undertake.

K-9 scent is a new sport (from the USA) where dogs use their wonderful noses to locate
hidden objects that have been scented with a particular odor. The sport has various levels of
competition starting with very simple scenting and moving to large areas.  It is very new to Canada and is now being offered in BC.  We could be a first to get this up and running in Alberta.

Treibball is a sport where dogs learn to herd exercise balls into a net.  Great for the ball driven dog and easy to teach with a clicker. Again, new to Canada.  Why shouldn't we be the first to offer it?


Let us know what your ideas are so we can start planning NOW!

The Prez