Kooiker Chronicle - Kooikerhondje Club of the USA
Transcription
Kooiker Chronicle - Kooikerhondje Club of the USA
Kooiker Chronicle Vol. 16 No.1, January-February 2015 Welcome . . . . . . to the January-February issue of the Kooiker Chronicle! We send this, the first Chronicle of 2015, with an apology and a plea: the Kooiker world is a busy place and we try to deliver as much of the excitement as we can. But we need help. We’re deeply grateful for the articles contributed by KCUSA members Sarah Krueger, Deborah Bean, and Susanne Martin. Think about Kooikerhondje-related topics that interest you and try your hand at writing something! Share your and your dog’s experiences – ask questions that might spark ideas for articles. And when you attend events – KCUSA or otherwise – with your Kooiker, send in a brief description and a couple of photos, even if you send us something you’ve just posted on Facebook or some other social media outlet. Many KCUSA members don’t use social media and depend on the Chronicle for news from the Kooikerverse. Please help us do this by copying one or both of us on your Kooiker-related posts. And now, as most of the US Kooiker population is living in cold and/or snowy conditions, we can take some heart in the fact that this belated issue of the Chronicle is finally arriving on the weekend we “Spring forward” into Daylight Saving Time. ~ Karen L Dean, Editor March 5th, 2014 ! Dear Club Members February 7th, 2014and Readers, We started 2015 full of fervor and anticipation. However 2015 is going to be KCUSA’s year of frolics, fun and excitement. are going,and as aReaders, club and as individuals, to let our countrymen know that the Dutch Kooikerhondjes Dear ClubWe Members have arrived in the USA. Westarted started full ofafervor anticipation. 2015 Show is going to be KCUSA’s year of We in 2015 January with grandlyand successful FSS andHowever All Breed Open in Daly City, CA. On the same weekend, we had fantastic MeetWe the are Breeds in Allentown, February 14going we showed ourcountryKooikerfrolics, fun andaexcitement. going, as a clubPA, andand ason individuals, to letoff our hondjes at thethat AKC-Westminster Kennel Club Meet the arrived Breeds atinPier in New York City. Then in March we men know the Dutch Kooikerhondjes have the92USA. follow up with the Meet the Breeds event in Seattle, WA. This is just for starters. We a “blast” in store with for allaofgrandiose you in Julysuccessful in Houston,FSS TX. During Houston World Series DogCity, Shows Wehave started in January and AlltheBreed Open Show in of Daly we will hold an aAll FSS and MTB Miscellaneous Breed Open Show,we which will double as our annual event. This show CA. We had fantastic in Allentown, PA and are looking forward to a beautiful booth consists of Conformation, Agility, Fly Ball, Obedience, Frisbee, Freestyle, Rally, Weight and Sled Pull, and at the MTB at Pier 29 in New York, NY both in February. Then in March we follow up withmore. the Your Board and the Show Committee are working hard to make this the 2015 spectacular. As you all know, the MTB event in Seattle, WA. This is just for starters. AKC will move our Kooikerhondje breed into the Miscellaneous Class on July 1st, and this event will be our way to show US dog fanciers that the Dutch are here to stay. We have a “blast” in store for all of you in July in Houston, TX. During the Houston World Series Dear members, pullwill this hold off wean need of help if you can andBreed are willing do a task, no matter of Dog Showstowe Alllots FSS and and Miscellaneous OpentoShow, which will how double small, please call the KCUSA office at 217-582-2288. The staff can find you a task to make this event the best of as our annual event. This show consists of Conformation, Agility, Fly Ball, Obedience, Frisbee the best. Our Show Chairperson, Mary Davis, is a very exciting lady who will make this an unforgettable show. andexpect Freestyle, Rally, Weight and Sled Your and theinShow Committee are We all of you to come to Houston fromPull Julyand 15 tomore. July 19, 2015Board to participate the festivities. working hard to make this the 2015 spectacular. As you all know the AKC will move our Kooikerhondje breed into the Miscellaneous Class on July 1 and this event will be our way to We need to US also dog thinkfanciers about nominations for ourhave club board. Mr. Stan van Hemert has agreed to be our nominating show the that the Dutch arrived. Please stay tuned as we create this HUGE, Texas-sized KCUSA event. st committee chair and we need two additional members to fill out this committee. On a more somber to note, as this President our club I am of asking members keep mind the code of Dear members, pull of weofcan use lots helpour and if you to can andinare willing toofdoethics a task, KCUSA as well as AKC. We should all act in a sportsman-like manner and “cyber bullying” is not good sportsno matter how small, please contact our show secretary, Lucinda Paganin at 217-582-2288 and manship. youyou havea atask question, call or e-mail thethe person Putting peoples’ names she can If find to make this event bestand of ask the your best.question. Our Show Chair person is aand addresses on social media forums without those peoples’ express approval is not proper behavior and does not look very exiting lady and will make this a memorable show so we expect all of you to be in well mannered. Your board urges all members to keep this in mind and let us have a professional, well mannered Houston from July 15 to July 19, 2015. club. Sincerely, Please stay tuned as we creating this HUGE, Texas sized KCUSA event. Jac M Knoop President 2012/14,President. 2014/16 Jac M Knoop, ! Club Membership Contents New Members, December and January Recent Events 4 Kooikerhondjes Take a Snowy Stand in Pennsylvania Dutch Country 7 KCUSA Hosts Its First AKC Show 9 Kooikers Rule at the Cow Palace! 12 Kooikerhondjes Put Their Paws in the Door at Westminster 15 Having Fun with your Kooikerhondje What a Good Citizen! 19 Top Kooikers in Agility in 2014 24 On the Road to AKC Recognition 26 The Next Steps Coming Up! KCUSA 2015 Annual Specialty Heading to Houston! Wags and Brags Wags and Brags Just for Fun 29 33 Hondje Humor 34 States and Plates 35 KLM’s Lost and Found Department at Work 36 Club Membership New Members, December and January Welcome to the club! In December 2014 and January 2015, KCUSA welcomed ten new members, four from states where KCUSA hasn’t had members before: Maine, Arkansas, and South Carolina. Details about contacting new members can be found on the member pages of the website: members.kooikerhondjeusa.org. New members introduce themselves on the following pages. Margot and Robert Daigle Norma and Bill Chadwell Rochelle Spilde Hilary Bogert and Alexander McKown Mary Kirk Griswold and Alexander Griswold Bradley Jenkins Amazing Carel van den Iserman Hoeve "Oscar" no kooikerhondje yet Amazing Constantijn van den Iserman Hoeve "Gunner" Amazing Claus van den Iserman Hoeve "Quinn" Baron "Gibson" South Portland, Maine Citrus Heights, California Travelers Rest, South Carolina New York, New York Palm Beach, Florida AKC Licensed Judge Bono, Arkansas Maine New York California Arkansas South Carolina Florida Kooker Chronicle | Volume 16 No. 1 | January/February 2015 W e, Maggie and Bob Daigle of South Portland, Maine, welcomed our first Kooikerhondje puppy, Oscar (Amazing Carel van den Iserman Hoeve) just before Christmas 2014. We are forever grateful to Ann and Jac Knoop for entrusting us with this most wonderful dog. We are sailboat captains who have returned to land life after five years of voyaging and working in far flung places. We have been dreaming of our next dog all this time and were immediately smitten when our search uncovered the Kooiker breed. We are overjoyed to be home, close to our two grown sons and family. We are currently building a house on 24 wooded acres— A lexander and I enjoyed a sunny Saturday in September in the Connecticut coastline when we saw this delightful bouncing red and white bundle of joy approach us. We knelt down to greet this gentleman named Tucker and were instantly smitten. As luck would have it, his owner Laurel Boylen kindly described the breed and the breeder she used—and gently reminded me that we went secondary school together in NYC! Oscar’s new playground! Oscar is delightful, eager and confident. He loves the snow, makes friends easily, and is doing very well in his puppy obedience training. We look forward to serving as KCUSA Kooikerhondje ambassadors, and already have witnessed great interest in the breed wherever we take our little Dutch boy! —Maggie Daigle have Quinn (Claus) join our family in NYC. Quinn joins Harvey the cat along with Alexander and Hilary McKown on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Also, Quinn has had play dates with his cousin Tucker and they have become fast friends. —Hilary Bogert By late October, Wicky and Max had a small litter at Van Den Iserman Hoeve and we were fortunate enough to New Members 5 I am indeed very fortunate to have a Kooiker. Gunner is currently 14 weeks and full of energy and greatness! At least I think so. He has captured our hearts and is always giving us more than we give him. It was really by chance as to how I found out about the breed. We had recently lost two of our dogs within 5 months of each other and I was completely devastated. I tried to tell myself that I shouldn’t get another dog and perhaps never again have a dog again because of the heartbreak I went through. That lasted about a month and my husband relented because he himself was missing that special kind of love that can only come from having a new baby in our life. He had only one request and that was that he wanted more of a “manly” dog and one that would enjoy water. I needed to make sure I had a dog that would be easy to train and small to medium size breed. Researching breeds to match this criteria I stumbled upon the Kooikerhondje and like everyone else I had no clue but I definitely had to find out more. By that time I had already ruled out several other breeds and once I learned more about them.....I was hooked and never looked at anything else again. My husband and I have drank the entire barrel of Kooiker Kool-aid. —Rochelle Spilde M y name is Bradley Jenkins, I have been an AKC judge since 1998. I judge the toy group, non sporting group, and several sporting and hound breeds. I saw my first live Kooikerhondje in Sweden when I was judging there a couple years ago. I find the history and the looks of the breed delightful. I do not own one now, someday I hope to. I have Toy Manchesters, Chihuahuas and Mastiffs that I live with. —Bradley Jenkins Look for more New Member introductions in future newsletters. Have we missed an introduction from you? Let the newsletter staff know and we’ll include your intro in the next newsletter! Find contact information for newsletter staff on the last page. 6 New Members Recent Events Kooikerhondjes Take a Snowy Stand in Pennsylvania Dutch Country Q uestion: What do you do when you have a BIG event planned and the weatherman calls for 10 to 12 inches of snow? Answer: You come the day before. That is just what 10 Kooiker folks did on January 23, arriving in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to participate in the Lehigh Valley Kennel Club’s 38th Annual Canine Learning Experience—or CLE—on January 24. They came from Canada, Connecticut, Maryland, and New York, and spent the night in Allentown motels. We all awoke Saturday morning to 8 inches of new snow. The snow plows were just starting to clear the streets as we converged on the Ag Hall at the Fairgrounds. Sue and Paul Allard and Elf drove from Toronto; Roseanne Rokosz, husband Dean, son Nicolas and Cedric came from Connecticut; Lynann Lorenz drove in from Apalachin, New York. Karen Dean and Nathan Waxman came from New York City with Rosie and Dunkie. Barbara and Wayne Ritenour drove up from Maryland on Friday afternoon with Tosca and Daisy, to help put the booth together. Sally Birgl and Sushi helped plant tulips while Rod and Marta Beckstead and O’Keeffe oversaw the entire operation. The 8 dogs at the Kooikerhondje booth ranged in age from 9-month-old O’Keeffe Beckstead to 12-year-old Rosie Dean; 4 of the dogs were born in the US, and 4 in the Nederlands; 6 were female and 2 were male. As a group, they showed the variety of sizes and shapes that Kooikers take, and they demonstrated the tireless good cheer we have come to expect of them. Karen with Rosie, Lynann, Barbara and Wayne with Daisy and Tosca, Roseann with Cedric, Nathan with Dunkie, and Sue with Elf. Kooker Chronicle | Volume 16 No. 1 | January/February 2015 Elf, Daisy and Cedric did a fine job of representing the Kooikers in the Parade of Breeds. We had the largest booth that we have ever put together . . . a full 30 feet of Kooiker stuff with the traditional windmill, tulips, wooden shoes, and lots of enthusiasm. New this year is a 4-foot-long model Eendenkooi that Rod and Marta made. An informative poster board with photos from the Eendenkooi book (Visit to an Eendenkooi, The Netherlands, by Rose Shenk and Joyce Maxwell, available through KCUSA) explained how Kooikerhondjes traditionally worked in the Eendenkooi with the decoy hunter. breed owners that had booths there. They are all looking forward to seeing Kooikerhondjes in the AKC Miscellaneous Class ring in July. Thanks to everyone who made this such a great experience. —Lynann Lorenz, board member; Rod Beckstead; Karen Dean Some visitors stopped by to ask what kind of a dog an “Eendenkooi” is. The snowy weather conditions resulted in a lower turnout by the general public than the CLE had enjoyed last year, but the enthusiastic showing of Kooikerhondjes and their people certainly impressed a lot of other The Ritenours drove up from Maryland. The well-labeled model duck-trapping pond (or eendenkooi) made by Rod and Marta drew a lot of attention. 8 Elf, Daisy, and Cedric represented the Kooikerhondjes in the Parade of Breeds Kooikerhondjes Take a Snowy Stand in Pennsylvania Dutch Country Recent Events K KCUSA Hosts Its First AKC Show CUSA started the year by hosting its first show organized strictly according to the rules of the AKC. This first ever all FSS and Miscellaneous Breed Open Show was held concurrently with the Golden Gate Kennel Club Benched All Breed Show at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California, on January 24, 2015. Miscellaneous breeds could enter the Open Show and Miscellaneous Classes both days. FSS Breeds entered the Open Show on Saturday the 24th and then entered for exhibit only on Sunday, February 15. This is one of only 3 or 4 benched shows presented in the USA, with each breed having an assigned spot on the benches. When the dogs are not in the ring, they need to stay with their kennels on the benches, which means that the show is actually a continuous Meet the Breeds. While this is tiring for the dogs and handlers alike, it is a great opportunity to meet hundreds of spectators and answer questions at one of the West Coast’s premier dog show venues. Over the 2-day show, 1,290 dogs represented 147 breeds. Of these, 8 were FSS breeds represented by 31 dogs, 10 of which were Kooikerhondjes. The FSS breed dogs that participated were Berger Picards, Biewer Terriers, Bracco Italiano, German Golden Gate Kennel Club has a long history! Club members Dr. Susanne Martin, MD, Dr. Cheryl Short, MD, and Steph Bunch, with Terminator Toni von Chicostein Dog shows mean cookies! Mila sits patiently for hers. Kooker Chronicle | Volume 16 No. 1 | January/February 2015 K Hosting an Open Show CUSA received permission to host an Open Show for all Miscellaneous Class and FSS breeds in conjunction with Golden Gate Kennel Club Benched Show. An error was discovered only after the premium list had been approved and distributed and entries received. The existing rule was that a breed had to be in Miscellaneous class to host an all FSS and Miscellaneous breed Open Show. A one-time exception to the rule was granted, in large part due to the efforts of Mike Stone, Chair of Golden Gate Kennel Club’s All Breed Show, and Ralph Price, Chair of the KCUSA Open Show and Vice Chair of Golden Gate Kennel Club Benched All Breed Show, with the hope that perhaps a change in the rules could be recommended should this event succeed. This was KCUSA’s first venture into organizing a show according to AKC’s strict rules. Mr. Price’s able assistance and his vast experience as an AKC Superintendent with MB-F, Inc made the event operate seamlessly. Nothing but compliments were heard from all participants. The overwhelming success of this event led the staff at AKC to recommend that a change in the rules should indeed occur: that is, allow All Breed Shows to sponsor FSS and Miscellaneous Breed Open Shows, as well as allowing FSS breeds which have had a parent club designated to host an All FSS and Miscellaneous Breed Open Show. This change was discussed at the February 2015 AKC Board of Directors meeting and will be discussed again at the AKC Board meeting in March. Primadonna is not nearly as thrilled as her owner, Deborah Bean Spitz, Jindos, Kooikerhondjes, Mudis, and Pumik. One mark of the success of this FSS and Miscellaneous Breed Open Show was that two thirds of the FSS breed participants (21 of 31 dogs) were other than Kooikerhondjes. Toni and Dr. Martin are excellent breed ambassadors! 10 Waiting for the Kooikerhondjes’ turn to enter the ring KCUSA Hosts Its First AKC Show Kooikerhondje Club of the USA Open Show Results Puppy dogs 4–6 months 1. Waterbound Carousel Caddy owned by Ralph Moceo 2. Waterbound Cory owned by Jim Cowan Puppy bitches 4–6 months 1. Waterbound Calliope owned by Shawn Myers 2. Waterbound Carousel Mila owned by Jennifer Rankin and Sandro Rossi Puppy Bitches 6–9 months 1. Mendikan Clanci Bema owned by Sheryl Fuller and Susanne Martin 2. Bree Lynne van Crystalkooi owned by Cheryl Short and Susanne Martin Other Winners Open Dogs 1. Rabouz Balthazar, “Texas” owned by Sara Linder 2. Terminator Tonis Von Chicostein, “Toni” owned by Susanne Martin 3. Black Amiikos Plechelmus Piek, “Piek” owned by Deborah Bean Open Bitches 1. Black Amiikos Primadonnaa Intarsia, “Primadonna” owned by Deborah Bean Best of Breed Rabouz Balthazar, “Texas” owned by Sara Linder (3 Certificate of Merit points) Best of Opposite Sex to Best of Breed Black Amiikos Primadonnaa Intarsia, “Primadonna” owned by Deborah Bean (2 Certificate of Merit points) KCUSA Hosts Its First AKC Show 11 Recent Events Kooikers Rule at the Cow Palace! Ann Knoop-Siderius describes her and Jac’s experience attending the FSS and Miscellaneous Breed Open show. O n January 22nd, 2014 Jac and I flew out to San Francisco and immediately liked the weather, which was much more inviting than the Illinois weather we had left behind. We landed at 11:00 pm and quickly arrived at our airport hotel and got under the covers. The next morning we took a taxi to the show venue, the Cow Palace in Daly City. On Friday, January 23, we set up the benches and decorated the “Kooikerhondje” area. In the evening, after set up was completed, Deborah Bean drove us out to a hiking trail along the San Andreas fault. It was a wonderful hike with Deborah, Susanne Martin, Sheryl Fuller and her husband, Cheryl Short, club President Jac M Knoop and me, and a number of Kooikerhondjes. The weather was great, as well as the natural beauty. After we’d worked up our appetites, we had a group dinner at a Thai Restaurant Taking the opportunity to make new friends and catch up with old ones where Susanne’s husband also joined us. Good food, good company, good discussions and lots of anticipation about the next day. What was going to happen and how would it be received? Saturday was the first day of the two-day show event, but our Open Show was only on Saturday. We all arrived early and hurried around to see everything, and to solve small problems. Spelling and pronouncing “Kooikerhondje” was done literally hundreds of times, and our booth area was flooded with people, large and small, of German, Dutch, and French heritage, as well as many, many US persons. California is a real melting pot with a very international flavor. The show itself went off without a hitch. In our part of the open show, Kooikerhondje Texas walked straight to the top. Texas and his handler/owner, Sara Linder, make up a magnificent show pair. Sara does a lot of agility training with Texas, which actually turned out to be a mixed blessing. In the Kooiker class, in the eye of Our Friday set-up crew Kooker Chronicle | Volume 16 No. 1 | January/February 2015 The Cow Palace is a wonderful building with a rich history. It all started with an idea in 1915, at the PanPacific International Exposition. This was such a success that locals wanted a permanent structure to hold this Exposition. The building was not completed until 1941, in part due to the recession of the 1930s and other issues. The first show was held in the building in April of 1941, two A Rich History weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The federal government rented the building for the next 5 years. It was filled with troops and used as a repair garage for ordinance. In the spring of 1946, the Junior Grand National was established and in December 1947 inter-collegiate basketball came to the building. In 1948 Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey AKC judge Paulett DeLong, he most closely met the breed standard as outlined by the booklet “Explanation of the Breed Standard of the Dutch Kooikerhondje” published by the Dutch national club, and he won not only Best of Breed but also Best of Group. However, when the time came to walk in the ring for Best of Show, Texas was out handled because a performance dog always keeps an eye on the handler, while in the confirmation ring the dog looks straight ahead. As a performance dog, Texas constantly looked at his handler, asking for cues. Congratulations to all the Kooikerhondjes that were shown. Thank you for participating and thanks to everyone who answered questions all day long to many hundreds of visitors who were interested in our beautiful breed. Awards table Kooikers Rule at the Cow Palace! Circus started its tenure and is now the oldest continuous renter. In 1949 the building was opened to the general public. Such individuals as John F. Kennedy, Evil Knievel, Billy Graham, and Elvis Presley, and groups such as the Beatles and Rolling Stones and many more held shows and conventions in this building, all adding to a rich history. Going to the Cow Palace and seeing ten Kooikers, all sizes and ages, congregate was a nice representation of the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje in California. Kooikerhondjes Round up After the show, Bill and Cheryl Northey picked us up and showed us the sights in San Francisco, and while on this memorable tour we even met somebody who recognized Kooikerhondje Bunny Ann. They themselves had one and it was lovely to talk to this family, so our Kooikerhondjes are finally getting recognizable. While we had dinner at an outside restaurant, Bunny Ann received many comments and as she sat proudly on the ledge where she received a lot Erroin Martin thinks Toni’s ribbon makes a lovely boutonnière. 13 Rabouz Baltazar, “Texas,” in first place. of attention and was petted by people of all ages. This was a great experience and we hope that many Kooikerhondje owners will be encouraged to go to these shows and take their dogs to areas where they are allowed, like outdoor restaurants, terraces and decks. We want to send a very big Thank You to the show organizers, Mr. Ralph Price, and Ms. Deborah Bean. The people were very helpful and courteous and made sure that next year the Kooikerhondjes will host a bigger show, after this very successful endeavor. We at KCUSA and the Golden Gate Kennel Club are already working on next year’s show. Rabouz Baltazar, “Texas,” not only won “Best in Breed” but also “Best in Group.” Next year’s show will be on January 30th and 31st, 2016. The KCUSA Events Commmittee is planning two days of open shows and . . . we are hoping to double our entry. So, if you are planning to visit California, please do it in January and bring your Kooikerhondje. Cow Palace: What’s in a Name? When San Francisco’s business leaders decided to build a permanent site for a livestock exposition, the country was in the midst of the Great Depression. People disliked the idea of spending public funds to construct a livestock pavilion. A local newspaper echoed popular sentiment when it asked, Why, when people are starving, should money be spent on a “palace for cows”? And, as they say, the rest is history. 14 Kooikers Rule at the Cow Palace! Recent Events Kooikerhondjes Put Their Paws in the Door at Westminster by Karen Dean N ine stalwart Kooikerhondjes responded to the call for Kooikers to come to Pier 92 in New York City and represent their breed at the first Meet the Breeds jointly sponsored by the American Kennel Club and the Westminster Kennel Club, on Saturday, February 14. Boldly disregarding the Weather Channel’s promise of heavy snow, heavy winds, and worse, and ignoring the virtual impossibility of parking at or near Pier 92, these troopers let their human companions solve the logistical problems while they celebrated Valentine’s Day in fine style, eagerly greeting the public against a colorful backdrop of tulips, a windmill, and a detailed model of an eendenkooi. The dogs didn’t seem to mind that the booth’s breed sign read “Kookierhondje”—after all, the colorful KCUSA banners spelled it correctly and they kind of liked an excuse to be kooky! Kooikerhondje Max Hall persuaded his human, Steve, to drive 700 miles from North Carolina, and O’Keeffe Beckstead, Escher DeJan, Piper Serena-Dowling, and Darby Vanderpoel convinced Rod, Sheri, Dale, Karen, and Lesley to drive 2–4 hours, from their homes in Pennsylvania, New York State, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. New York City residents Quinn Bogert, Tucker Boylen, Dunkie Dean, and Regis Spencer-Kline came to Pier 92 by car and taxi, as did booth visitor Gabriel Byrne Eshelman. KCUSA dogs had represented their breed at the past three NYC AKC Meet the Breeds, which had been held for two days over a weekend at the Javits Convention Center during the autumns of 2011, 2012, and 2013 (there was no MtB in 2014). With the uncertainties of this being a one-day event at new venue, with a new and famous cosponsor—the Westminster Kennel Club—at a time of year known for difficult travel, not even the veterans of the Javits MtBs knew what to expect. The Javits Center had provided a classic rectangular tradeshow space, with an open flow from one area to another. Pier 92 is nearly one quarter mile long, from the entrance to the end of the pier, and the booths are arrayed in long rows along the sides of the pier and along the length, in the middle of the pier. Visitors can walk the length of the exhibit hall along each row of booths, but moving across Kooker Chronicle | Volume 16 No. 1 | January/February 2015 the hall, from one long row of booths to another, was possible only at the occasional intersection. The Kooikerhondje booth was almost at the end of the hall. We were lucky to be near one of the exit doors that opened out to a dog relief station on the pier. In past years, the AKC had estimated about 30,000 people would attend the Javits MtB, approximately 15,000 each day. The AKC had predicted that this year’s one-day Meet the Breeds would draw around 15,000 visitors. Notwithstanding Saturday morning’s gray skies and foreboding forecast, New Yorkers showed that they do love their dogs! Between 10 and 11 am, the crowd maintained a comfortable and steady flow, and questions and answers were exchanged at a conversational sound level. By noon, the entire pier had become packed, circulation had slowed down, and communication was conducted with louder and louder voices. The aisles were so packed with people that it could take as long as 5 minutes to walk a dog 20 feet to the exit door. By early afternoon, snow had started falling, and frequent announcements urged visitors to move quickly through the front of the pier, toward the back, where there was more room. This was news to us, at the back! Half an hour before closing time, there were still hopeful folks waiting in line in the falling snow outside the pier. My guess is that close to 20,000 visitors came to this year’s one-day event. No official word has come yet from the organizers. The Kooikerhondje booth looked bright and lush, with colorful banners over the bank of tulips planted along the back of the table, reeds strewn around the 3-D model of an eendenkooi, and colorful, informative posters at the front of the booth. Two languid ducks hovered over the booth. The real stars of our booth, of course, were the puppies and young adults who entertained everyone with their eager greetings and Kooiker antics. The Kooiker contingent presented a nice age assortment: four 4–9 month-old puppies; two youngsters, 16–18 months; and three young adults, ages 3.5–6 years. Our booth was uniquely inviting among the 150+ breed booths in that the decorated tables defined the back and sides of our booth, and visitors came into the open center to meet, cuddle, and play with our Kooikers, who welcomed them with happy wags and boundless good natured energy. A few kennels and some spaces beneath the draped tables provided retreats for dogs who wanted a little quiet time, but most of the dogs, of course, wanted to be in the middle of the excitement. The Westminster Kennel Club blog documented one distinguished visitor to the Kooikerhondje booth. Someone 16 Visitors enjoy the open layout of the booth while Piper Serena and Karen D. explain why getting a Kooiker is the perfect choice. Famous Westminster Dog Show spokesman David Frei taking a photo at the Kooikerhondje booth. photographed famous Westminster Dog Show spokesman David Frei taking a photo of our booth. A photographer from Long Island Pet Place.com recorded two KCUSA Kooikers, Quinn Bogert and Darby Vanderpoel, and posted them on the LIPetPlace.com Facebook page. Huge thanks are due all the KCUSA members who came with their dogs, with special recognition going to Steve Hall, who drove some 700 miles in each direction, and to Rod Beckstead, who brought the booth materials into Manhattan, to Pier 92, in the earliest hours of Friday the 13th, so he could secure a parking space at the Pier and unload his vehicle well in advance of the other exhibitors. Kooikerhondjes Put Their Paws in the Door at Westminster amount of research into Kooikerhondje history and characteristics, and was well prepared to answer questions about the breed. With the crowd growing and the questions coming at us fast and furious, we appreciated and accepted Priscilla’s help. (In case you’re wondering, she never presented her dog as a Kooikerhondje, and she illustrated the points of Kooiker uniqueness by reference to the pedigreed dogs at the booth.) When Priscilla described her stint at our booth to a friend, the Executive Editor of Dogster, her friend urged her to contribute an article to Dogster. Many of you have seen the article posted on Facebook and elsewhere on the Internet. Pier 92 emptied out at 5:00 pm sharp, and we encouraged everyone facing a lengthy drive home to leave right away. Rod, Lesley Vanderpoel and I packed up the booth and trundled the cart-load of booth materials to the front of the pier and onto the elevator to the roof-top parking lot, where Rod’s vehicle was parked. The snowfall was getting heavier. Rod spent the next couple hours driving home to Pennsylvania, and Lesley and I and our dogs spent the next half hour trudging in the falling snow to her car, which she had parked in the closest lot available that morning, nearly 1 mile from Pier 92. Did I mention before that there’s not much parking near Pier 92? A photographer from Long Island Pet Place.com recorded two KCUSA Kooikers, Quinn Bogert and Darby Vanderpoel, and posted these photos of them on the LIPetPlace.com Facebook page. Dale Serena and I (Karen Dean) joined Rod on Friday afternoon, to plant tulips and finish decorating the tables. Two people deserve special thanks for their time and contributions to the success of the booth. Board member Lynann Lorenz drove several hours from upstate New York, and spent several hours answering questions and organizing booth materials. Priscilla Eshelman came to see how her rescue dog, Gabriel, compared with “real Kooikers,” having heard that her dog looked very much like a Kooiker before she had ever met one. Priscilla had invited all the Kooikers from our booth to bring their people to a post-event “kooiktail party” at her apartment overlooking Central Park. When it became clear that threatening weather would be sending people directly home from Pier 92, and that the party wouldn’t have much of a turnout, I suggested that she bring her dog to the pier to meet other Kooikers. She had done a prodigious Kooikerhondjes Put Their Paws in the Door at Westminster Steve Hall started his drive back to North Carolina, but he and Max wisely stopped along the way to get a good night’s rest. I think it’s safe to say that everyone who worked at the booth slept deeply on Saturday and slept in late on Sunday. The three Kooikers who insisted that their humans accompany them to Priscilla and Gabriel’s Sunday afternoon kooiktail party report that they had a great time and urge their Kooiker friends not to pass up any future invitations! Max Hall sleeping deeply. 17 Top: Piper, Regis, and Escher. Middle: Piper loving all the attention. Bottom: Meanwhile, outside overlooking the river and an adjoining pier. 18 Top: Tucker, Piper, and Quinn. Middle: Steve negotiates rights to a photo of handsome Kooikerhondje Max. Bottom: The packed MtB hall. Kooikerhondjes Put Their Paws in the Door at Westminster Having Fun with your Kooikerhondje by Sarah Krueger T What a Good Citizen! he American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program is often the first step used in training puppies and dogs. This program emphasizes the development of responsible owners and well-mannered dogs. Training to pass the 10-step Canine Good Citizen test lays the foundation for other AKC performance events, the CGCA (Advanced) test, and helps create a bond between handler and dog. Many kennel clubs offer a CGC course followed by the test several times a year. All dogs who are old enough to receive the necessary immunizations may participate in the CGC test. Owners must sign a Responsible Dog Owners pledge. AKC’s website has information on this program and a list of places where the test is offered. There is also a video of a CGC test. The Canine Good Citizen Test You will need to bring your dog’s leash and brush or comb to the test. Your dog must wear a buckle or slip collar or a body harness (no training collars or no-jump harnesses are allowed). There will be a sign-up desk where you will fill out the paperwork, so bring your dog’s AKC registration number. You will be given a score sheet that each evaluator checks as you make your way from test to test. You and your Kooiker will then go through a series of 10 tests. You will be able to talk to your dog, so use this to keep his or her attention. You can pat and offer encouragement, but no treats or toys are allowed. Potty your dog ahead of time, because if they do it during the test, they will fail. Any dog that growls, snaps, bites, or attempts to attack another person or dog will be dismissed from the test. Test #1: Greeting a Friendly Stranger Your dog will allow a stranger to come up to you and chat. Your Kooiker must not jump, show shyness, or aggression. I put mine in a sit/stay as I talked to the evaluator. Test #1: Greeting a Friendly Stranger Test #2: Sitting Politely for a Pat Sometimes this is combined with Test #1. This time, the stranger asks to pat your dog. Your Kooiker should not jump, show shyness, or aggression. Test #3: Appearance and Grooming The dog will allow the evaluator to examine and groom him or her. You will need your brush or comb for this test. The feet and ears are also examined. Your Kooiker should allow the evaluator to touch and manipulate without fear Kooker Chronicle | Volume 16 No. 1 | January/February 2015 Test #4: Out for a Walk (Walking on a Loose Lead) (notice the tester observing closely) Tests #2: Sitting Politely for a Pat Test #4: Out for a Walk (Walking on a Loose Lead) You and your Kooiker will take a short walk on a loose leash. I had to follow the directions of the evaluator such as “forward, fast, normal, slow, right turn, left turn” without my dogs pulling on the leash. It is a typical obedience heel exercise. Test #5: Walking through a Crowd You and your Kooiker will walk around and pass by several standing and sitting people (there were at least 10 in our test). Your Kooiker cannot show fear or aggression. The leash must remain loose with no sniffing or jumping allowed (the “leave it” command comes in handy). Test #6: Sit and Down on Command/Staying In Place Your Kooiker will follow your “sit” and “down” commands. You will be asked place your dog in a sit or stay, whichever you prefer, and walk about 10 feet away. Your dog must remain in the stay position. At our test, I was given a long leash to clip to their collars. Test #7: Coming When Called Test #3: Appearance and Grooming You will place your dog in a stay and walk about 10 feet away (my dogs were on a long leash), turn, and call your Kooiker. We were allowed to clap our hands if needed. Test #8: Reaction to another Dog or aggression. My Kooikers are ticklish, so we practiced touching their feet before the test. 20 This is a hard test if your Kooiker reacts to other dogs, either positively or negatively. You and your dog stand about 20 feet from another dog and handler (usually a member of the kennel club with a well-behaved dog). You approach What a Good Citizen! Test #5: Walking through a Crowd Test #8: Reaction to Another Dog of distractions. I have had a person on a bench reading a newspaper, a person in a wheelchair, a person using crutches, a person using a walker, a person opening an umbrella, and a person dropping a metal tray. Children can also be included in this group. Your dog cannot show fear or aggression. A loose leash is a must. Talk to your dog! Test #10: Supervised Separation Tests #6 & #7: Sit and Down on Command/Staying in Place and Coming when Called each other, stop, shake hands, chat, and continue. You may put your dog in a sit/stay when you meet. You can also tell your Kooiker to “leave it.” I had to turn around and pass by again, but without stopping. Test #9: Reaction to Distractions Your Kooiker must demonstrate that he or she can confidently walk through a group of people (usually the same group as in Test #5), but this time there will be a variety What a Good Citizen! Will your Kooiker go with a stranger? If so, will he or she demonstrate good manners with that person? The evaluator will ask you something like, “May I watch your dog?” and then take him or her out of your sight for three minutes. I have no idea what happened while mine were gone, but they apparently behaved. No jumping, whining, or barking went on so they passed! Scoring You will take your score sheet with you to each station. At the end of each test, the evaluator checks the box. After you are finished, you return the results to the person in charge. If your dog passes all 10 tests, you will receive a form that describes the options for a CGC certificate or an official AKC title. 21 Test #9: Reaction to Distractions Duncan and Gibson Passed! Once they passed, I sent their paperwork to AKC and ordered collar tags, bandanas, and patches. Some condo associations, motels, day care facilities, etc. require or give discounts to dogs who have passed the CGC test, so documentation is important. Practicing for and taking the CGC test is a wonderful way to have fun and bond with your Kooiker! Sample Score Sheet (this is Gibson’s). Notice that no dog “fails.” Some just need more training. 22 What a Good Citizen! What a Good Citizen! 23 Canine Good Citizens Gallery. Duncan (top) and Gibson (bottom) Having Fun with your Kooikerhondje I Top Kooikers in Agility in 2014 n an attempt to find the fastest dogs in agility, Bad Dog Agility has announced the Breed Power 10, the top 10 dogs in each breed at each height ranked by PowerScore. It recognizes the fastest dogs in agility competition by using average yards per second (YPS), rather than double qualifying (QQ) runs or points. Exciting as these stats may be, a KCUSA member whose dog appears on the list noted that Bad Dog Agility’s methods appear to be less than rigorous. “Apparently they included dogs who trialed as little as one day in the stats and then compared that dog to others who may have trialed 50 days,” this owner noted. She went so far to say that this methocology makes the results “completely irrelevant.” Will Bad Dog Agility be improving their comparisons? And, perhaps of more interest, how do Kooikerhondjes compare with other breeds in speed? Another owner praised all the Kooikerhondjes on the list, saying her dog is among some “very talented fellow agility stars.” So rather than ratcheting up the competition among us, how about telling us more about where we stand among the breeds? Speedy agility star Texas One thing is for sure, Kooikerhondjes’ intelligence, focus, and, well, agility, seem to make them a natural for the sport. As another owner on this list wrote, her dog “has been easy to train and wants to please which makes agility with her lots of fun and makes her a great partner.” Many who have tried agility with their Kooikerhondje can say the same. Learn more about the Breed Power 10 and PowerScore on the Website baddogagility.com. Speedy agility star River Kooker Chronicle | Volume 16 No. 1 | January/February 2015 16″ Regular Score Dog 1 Rabouz Baltazar AX AXJ NF 13.16 2 MACH2 Cirtap’s Prins L-D River Van Berk MXS MJC XF T2B 12.76 3 MACH2 Redgold’s Bodie Always On My Mind CD BN RE 11.82 MXG MJC MXF T2B CA DS 4 Amigo Dog From Wonderland AX MXJ OF 11.26 5 Kips Valentine MX MXJ XF CGC 11.16 6 Vonlin’s Temple Of The Winds RA AX AXJ 9.84 7 Taga’s Balder Ambermoon Evan BN RN AX MXJ OF CGCA 9.83 12″ Preferred 1 9.24 Redgold’s Battle Of Lexington OA OAJ MXP MJP Owner S Linder JWW YPS STD YPS 5.20 3.98 E Barshack 4.90 3.93 B Edmond 4.59 3.61 J&T Darstek 4.34 3.46 A Studer 4.33 3.41 S Fuller 3.63 3.10 D Vassar 3.73 3.05 C Dressler 3.72 2.76 Speedy agility star Blaze Speedy agility star Kip Top Kooikers in Agility in 2014 25 On the Road to AKC Recognition by Deborah Bean T The Next Steps he Kooikerhondje is moving to Miscellaneous Class. KCUSA is moving forward, working on fulfilling the requirements to move to full recognition and entrance into the Sporting Group. At least six Open Shows are in the planning stages for the coming year at venues around the country. Look for more on each of those locations later in February. The Board of Directors is setting up the rules regarding club committees and formalizing the governing structure, and it will conduct the required paper ballot election by the full membership of the club on the Constitution and Bylaws as well as the Breed Standard. Your Turn The Certificate of Merit requires 15 points awarded in accordance with the following points structure. Dogs 2 4 8 12 16 Competing Points 1 2 3 4 5 A maximum of 5 points can be earned at any given show. Open Shows are separate events from the All-Breed shows at which they are held and offer the opportunity to earn points twice—once at the Open Show and once in the Miscellaneous Class of the All-Breed Show. At Open Shows, in the Miscellaneous Class, and for the 4 to 6 month Puppy competition, each Breed winner gets points based on the total number of dogs competing in that breed. The Best A minimum of five Certificate of Opposite Sex to the Best of Breed winof Merit titles by five separate ner gets the number of points based on dogs the total number of dogs of their gender Participation in Miscellaneous competing that day. As an example, at Class competitions at local dog the Open Show held at Golden Gate Kenshows all over the country nel Club, “Texas,” Rabouz Balthazar AX Certificate of Merit points are earned AXJ NF, earned three points for defeating in one of three ways: at Open Shows, all ten Kooikerhondje entered. “Primaat 4 to 6 month Puppy Class competidonna,” INT CH /UKC CH Black Amiikos Primadonna Intarsia tions and/or from the Miscellaneous Class at All-Breed CGC, earned two points for defeating four other females. Dog Shows. The requirements are the same for the 4 to 6 The rank and file of the club, however, must now do the majority of the work. The largest remaining hurdles, the ones over which the Board of Directors has little control, are the completion of a minimum of five Certificate of Merit titles by five separate dogs and Kooikerhondje competing in Miscellaneous Class at local dog shows all over the country. The largest hurdles to full AKC recognition month Puppy competition and Open Shows and somewhat different once we are competing in the Miscellaneous Class. The point schedule is consistent across the three competitions, with points awarded for the number of dogs defeated. Then the dogs in each Group compete for Best in Group, with FSS and Miscellaneous each a separate group at Open Shows and in the 4 to 6 month Puppy competition. Whichever dog wins the respective Group is entitled to the highest number of points earned by any of the breeds in that group that day. Back to our example from the Golden Gate Kennel Club Show: Texas won the Group but already Kooker Chronicle | Volume 16 No. 1 | January/February 2015 KCUSA participants in the Golden Gate Kennel Club Show earned points in competition. had earned the highest number of points available so was not awarded any additional points. If the Biewer Terrier had won the Group, the Biewer would have earned three points because of the points awarded to Texas. This would have happened even though there were no other Biewer Terriers entered. The Best in Open Show or Best 4 to 6 month old Puppy is awarded the highest number of points earned by any breed entered. At Golden Gate Kennel Club, the Berger Picard won Best in Open Show and was awarded three points based on the three points eligible for Kooikerhondje, even though there were no other dogs entered in the Miscellaneous Group at that show. No additional points are earned by the dogs who are second, third, or fourth in the Miscellaneous Class group. Confusing? Yes! Even the powers that be are sometimes confused by the various ways in which calculations are made. There is an easy way to check, though, on the AKC website. Go to www.akc.org. Create an account or login to an existing account under “MyAKC.” Choose the “Manage Dogs” option. Add your dog if not listed. Once your dog appears under your account, select the dog and then the “Titles and Points” option. It shows all the points in every type of competition earned in AKC by that dog. The bottom line is that the next step for the little red and The point schedule remains the same but the point calwhite dog from the Netherlands is now culation for the group changes once in in the hands of exhibitors. It is up to each Miscellaneous Class: “The winner of The Portuguese of us to show our dogs as much as time the Best in Miscellaneous Class will be Podengo Pequinos had and finances allow over the coming year. awarded points towards a Certificate of nearly 1,000 entries across the The Portuguese Podengo Pequinos had Merit based upon the total number of country during the year they nearly 1000 entries across the country dogs that competed in all of the Miscelwere in Miscellaneous Class during the year they were in Miscellaneous Class breeds.” even though there were only laneous Class even though there were about 350 dogs in the US, enUnder those rules, had the Golden Gate only about 350 different dogs in the US, abling them to move on to the Open Show been a Best in Miscellaneous enabling them to move on to the Hound Hound Group in record time. Class instead, Texas would have earned Group in record time. Can we do the Can we do the same? five points for defeating 29 other dogs same? within the group. The Next Steps 27 Sources From Sanctioned Four-to-Six Month (Beginner Puppy) Competition Regulations within that Group. Best in Show will be eligible for the highest number of points earned by any breed entered. The Certificate of Merit (CM) title is an introductory title to AKC conformation events. Entrants in each breed shall compete for Best of Breed and Best of Opposite Sex to Best of Breed. Winners of the Best of Breed in each of the individual breeds or varieties will be awarded points toward the CM title based on the number of dogs defeated in their breed or variety. Winners of Best of Opposite Sex to Best of Breed in each of the individual breeds or varieties will be awarded points toward the CM title based on the number of dogs defeated in their sex. Group winners will be eligible for the highest number of points earned by any breed within that Group. Best Four-to-Six Puppy in Show will be eligible for the highest number of points earned by any breed entered. From AKC Rules Applying to Dog Shows From Open Show Regulations The CM suffix title is an introductory title to AKC conformation events and will be superseded by the CH title when earned. The Certificate of Merit requires 15 points awarded in accordance with the following points structure. The Certificate of Merit (CM) title is an introductory title to AKC conformation events. Entrants in each breed shall compete for Best of Breed and Best of Opposite Sex to Best of Breed. Winners of the Best of Breed in each of the individual breeds or varieties will be awarded points toward the CM title based on the number of dogs defeated in their breed or variety. Winners of Best of Opposite Sex to Best of Breed in each of the individual breeds or varieties will be awarded points towards the Certificate of Merit (CM) title based on the number of dogs defeated in their sex. Group winners will be eligible for the highest number of points earned by any breed 28 Winners of the Best of Breed in each of the individual Miscellaneous breeds will be awarded points towards the Certificate of Merit (CM) title based on the total number of dogs competing. Best of Opposite Sex to Best of Breed in each of the individual Miscellaneous breeds will be awarded points towards the Certificate of Merit (CM) title based on the total number of dogs of its sex in competition. The winner of the Best in Miscellaneous Class will be awarded points towards a Certificate of Merit based upon the total number of dogs that competed in all of the Miscellaneous Class breeds. Upon completion of the CM title a dog may continue to compete in the Miscellaneous Class so long as they are of an eligible breed. Dogs 2 4 8 12 16 Competing Points 1 2 3 4 5 The Next Steps Coming Up! I KCUSA 2015 Annual Specialty Heading to Houston! t’s official: The 2015 annual specialty will be co-located with the Houston World Series of Dog Shows in Houston, Texas, from Thursday, July 15, through Sunday, July 19. Two weeks before the specialty, on July 1, the Kooikerhondje will move from AKC FSS status to Miscellaneous status. KCUSA is launching the 2015–2016 membership year with an All FSS and Miscellaneous Breed Open Show and supported entries at several of the other breed clubs participating in the Houston event. The preliminary schedule (see box on following page), is subject to change by the time of the meeting. This will be our annual gathering of Nederlandse Kooikerhondjes from all over the United States, and hopefully some members from Canada and Europe will join, as they have in previous years. Our venue will be Houston’s NRG Park and our host is the Houston Kennel Club and their 38th Annual Houston World Series of Dog Shows. Watch for Kooiker Kibble and Kooiker Chronicle announcements of schedule refinements as they occur, lodging possibilities, and dinner plans. Breed Standard Education for Kooiker Owners and Judges Diana Striegel, the main speaker and the coordinator of last November’s Kooiker symposium in Zutphen, has accepted KCUSA’s invitation to train U.S. judges in the evaluation of Kooikerhondjes. Ms. Striegel was one of the lead authors of the Dutch Kooikerhondje Club’s (VHNK’s) revised “Explanation of the Breed Standard for the Dutch Kooikerhondje,” and is currently implementing changes requested by the VHNK. VHNK has given KCUSA permission to translate the breed standard manual into Americanized English. KCUSA will publish two distinct English-language versions of the manual, one that includes accounts of Kooikerhondje history, and is directed toward individual Kooikerhondje own- ers, and one that focuses exclusively on the breed standard and on how to judge Kooikerhondjes in the show ring. The club expects to have both books available for purchase in Houston. Ms. Striegel has also agreed to deliver a Kooikerhondje judges’ education seminar on Thursday, July 16, in Houston. Show Committee The show committee for this event is coming together, with most key positions filled: • Show Chair is Mary F Davis of Ogden, Illinois • Assistant Show Chair is Deborah Bean of Fair Oaks, California • Show Secretary is Mary F. Davis of Ogden, Illinois • Trophy Chair is Dee Nichols of Grady, Alabama • Hospitality Chair is Sheryl Fuller of Alvin, Texas There will be other positions we need to fill yet. To volunteer, contact the KCUSA office at 217-582-2288. The show committee will meet monthly, at a minimum. 2015 Annual Specialty LOGO The event logo has not yet been finalized. If you have a suggestion, please send it in by March 11. Every year a different member creates our specialty logo. This year it could be you! Send logo designs to Sarah Krueger (see box on following page). As additional activities and events are scheduled for the Specialty, the Chronicle will keep you updated on developments. Kooker Chronicle | Volume 16 No. 1 | January/February 2015 Trophy Q u est KCUSA members, I have agreed to do trophies for the upcoming Specialty in Houston. Here are the trophies that need to be sponsored: these will run from $25 to $45, for the best quality: • • • • • • Best Opposite Sex Best Veteran Best Puppy Best Bred By Exhibitor Winners Dog Winners Bitch If you do not wish to sponsor a trophy but would like to help, you can donate to the general trophy fund. Please email me if you wish to sponsor a trophy, or to help out, and let me know which one—[email protected]. All trophy funds should be sent to: K C U S A, P O Box 57, Ogden IL 61859 Make checks out to K C U S A and mark as “2015 Specialty trophies.” Annual Specialty Schedule Thursday, 16 July 2015 KCUSA supported entry for Agility Evening: Judge’s Education with the author of the VHNK “Explanation of the Breed Standard for the Dutch Kooikerhondje” Friday, 17 July 2015 KCUSA All FSS and Miscellaneous Breed Open Show and designated Annual Club Show KCUSA supported entry at Houston Kennel Club All Breed Show Ringside Mentoring as part of Judge’s Education Agility, Obedience, Rally, Fly Ball and Freestyle available Dinner and gathering 6:00 PM at nearby restaurant (to be announced) Saturday, 18 July 2015 Thank you in advance, Dee Nichols RedGold Kooikers Grady, Alabama KCUSA supported entry at Beaumont Kennel Club All Breed Show Possible Open Show (waiting for official word from sponsoring breed club) KCUSA Supported Entry in Obedience and Rally Agility, Fly Ball and Freestyle available Annual Meeting and Awards presentation: 5 PM at Show Grounds Sunday, 19 July 2015 KCUSA supported entry at Galveston County Kennel Club All Breed Show Agility, Obedience, Rally, Fly Ball and Freestyle available 30 KCUSA 2015 Annual Specialty Heading to Houston! Co m mitt ees M any people ask what they can help aid the club as it moves towards full breed recognition. The Board has been mindful of the many responsibilities required of a parent club. Some functions would effectively be handled by committees. The positions we wish to establish follow. Some are currently filled, but please consider your talents and interests and apply. We welcome applications for all. Please contact Stephanie Lowe, Secretary, for more information: [email protected]. Positions • AKC Delegate/Liaison • AKC Gazette Columnist • Historian • Legislative Liaison • Membership (Committee or Chair) • Newsletter Editor • Performance Events • Rescue (Coordinator or Committee) • ZooEasy Compiler Committees • Annual Awards, Trophies • Breeding • Constitution & Bylaws/Code of Ethics • Events Committee • Finance • Futurity/Maturity • Health & Genetics • Judges’ Education & Breed Standard • Membership (Committee or Chair) • Performance Events • Rescue (Coordinator or Committee) • Public Education • Standing Rules Watchdog Committee member, Darby V. of Massachusetts, keeps an eye on that turtle Kooker Chronicle | Volume 16 No. 1 | January/February 2015 Logo Contest Feed your creative impulses before the winter blues obliterate them: We’re looking for a logo for our the KCUSA 2015 specialty that will be held in Houston in mid-July (read all about it elsewhere in this edition of the newsletter). Imagine a logo design that will look striking whether embroidered on a cap or a tee shirt, or printed on a mug or glass. It should not include a photograph of a particular dog (it can be a graphic that started as an individual dog, but should no longer be recognizable as that dog.) For inspiration, here are the logos from our last two annual specialties. Kooikerhondjes will have ascended to the Miscellaneous Class in AKC earlier that month, so we’ll be in a bold new world and we’re looking for a logo to match. 2013, Kalamazoo, Michigan Artist: Matt Knoop Send your logo ideas to: [email protected]. Deadline: March 11 2014, Gray Summit, Missouri Artist: Sarah Krueger ??? 2015, Houston, Texas Artist: ??? Pu ppy Pac kets P uppy owners, of puppies large or small, did you receive a puppy packet with your puppy? What information was particularly helpful? What was missing? What do you wish you had known at the time about raising that wiggly fuzzball of delightful antics known as a Kooikerhondje puppy? KCUSA wants to compile the best of the information on raising puppies, making it available to breeders and puppy owners. Whether it be about nutrition, socialization, emotional development, physical development, breed specific information, or training. Young Archer S. feels confident that The club is also looking for a member or several willing his new owners know how to care to help evaluate and compile the information. for him. Please contact Joyce at [email protected] with information or if interested in helping out. 32 Announcements W a g s and B r a g s A sampling of recent accomplishments big and small, serious and whimsical. What have you and your kooikerhondje been up to? Send us your wags and brags for our next newsletter: [email protected] Lucky As owners of a power boat, we are Sea Tow members. I noticed that they were having a “Dog Days of Summer” contest for their 2015 calendar so I submitted Lucky’s photo. The photos with the most likes made it into the calendar. I asked KCUSA members to cast votes. Sea Tow is the top marine assistance company with thousands of members, so it is great exposure for Kooikers in the US. Calendars are available through 1-800-4-Seatow and proceeds go toward boating safety initiatives through the Sea Tow Foundation. —Laura Farischon Kooker Chronicle | Volume 16 No. 1 | January-February 2015 Just for Fun Hondj e Hu m o r We were wolves once, wild and wary. Then we noticed you had sofas. Featuring Jacey Tervelt, Illinois Featuring Duncan Brendel, Wisconsin Kooker Chronicle | Volume 16 No. 1 | January-February 2015 Just for Fun K States and Plates ooikerhondje fanciers are taking their love for this beautiful little red and white dog on the road. From Wisconsin to Delaware, Illinois, and California, license plates are advertising that some very special dogs are on board. Kooker Chronicle | Volume 16 No. 1 | January-February 2015 Just for Fun S KLM’s Lost and Found Department at Work omeone should be training a Kooikerhondje to do this! KLM—Royal Dutch Airlines, the national carrier for the Netherlands—has been training dogs to help reconnect passengers with their lost items. The link shows a video of a cute beagle named Sherlock, a well-trained searcher, who delivers left-behind items to passengers arriving at Schipol Airport near Amsterdam. Watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/embed/NK-T_t166TY Wearing his vest with handy carry pockets, Sherlock uses his sense of smell to scan the airport to find passengers. In the video, he returns a toy to a child and a smart phone to a woman who then asks Sherlock to pose for a selfie. Kooker Chronicle | Volume 16 No. 1 | January-February 2015 Where’s Daddy? He said he’d play ball after snow blowing. Featuring Kessel O’Connor, Massachusetts 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: 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: kooikerhondjeclubusa News and Notes: Kooiker Kibble (via Mail Chimp) 2014 –15 Board of Directors President [email protected] Jac M Knoop, Illinois 217 582 2288 Vice President [email protected] Sarah Krueger, Wisconsin 715 258 3713 Secretary [email protected] Stephanie Lowe, N. Carolina 703 850 3473 TreasurerRick Schallhorn, Minnesota [email protected] 612 961 2342 Director 1 [email protected] Sally Birgl, Pennsylvania 610 756 3576 Director 2 [email protected] Deborah Bean, California 916 966 6596 Director 3 [email protected] Lynann Lorenz, New York 607 625 5206 Director 4 [email protected] Jennifer Methlie, Colorado 970 226 4619 Director 5 [email protected] Julie Voetberg, Washington 360 748 3320 AKC/UKC Liaison (appointed)Rod Beckstead, Pennsylvania [email protected] 610 739 2822