Newsletter October 2013

October 2013

From the Chair: Lest we forget! THE GAMEKEEPER AND THE BULLMASTIFF: OUR HERITAGE CIRCA 1879

The Bullmastiff: A Breeders Guide by David Hancock: page 25

2012

Photo: CBC member Anel van Staden

THE GAMEKEEPER IN WAITING?

Photo: Robertson

Can we, as custodians of this breed, do better than this? You decide!

DID YOU KNOW?

“Cleaning dog’s teeth is a human’s cultural hang-up, and one that can cause dietary distress in canines by removing a very essential nutritional part from a dog’s digestive process. Bacteria in the mouth are essential for the dog’s digestion and should not be removed by chemicals just so that the dog will have sweet smelling breath”. William D. Cusick WELL THERE YOU HAVE IT – STRAIGHT FROM THE HUMAN’S MOUTH!

Annalie Theron is available for orders at mrstheron@gmail.com Guaranteed discount prices for CBC members

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT DOMINANCE: Dominance (referring to status), is the most popular theory in how to relate to our pet dogs. The Dominance theory suggests that we must assert authority over our dogs and if we don’t, they will assume rank over us and in doing so, present a number of undesirable behaviours as a result. The theory also suggest that dog behaviour is the same as their distant cousins, the wolf, and that we should apply wolf behaviour, to dog behaviour in order to attain “alpha” status. This has lead to the development of a number of harsh training techniques and “rank reduction programmes”. Today we understand far more about both wolf behaviour and dog behaviour than we did 20 or 30 years ago when “pack rules” became popular, yet after all we have learned, this theory remains prevalent in most households today. In order to truly understand the fundamental differences between dogs and wolves, we must look at the evolution of the dog from wolf, but this is too much information for this insert. If you wish to further understand the evolution

of your dear companion, I would highly recommend reading “Dogs, a startling new understanding” by Professor Raymond Coppinger. For the purposes of this text I will highlight some of the most important considerations and common misconceptions in comparing the differences between our pet dogs and the wolf in relation to the management and understanding of an average household dog. When a dog misbehaves, or presents a behaviour problem, it is easy to create a blanket approach at brush it off as “a display of dominance”, and treat it by imposing rank reduction techniques to restore your “alpha status”. To assume that a dog exists entirely for the purpose of dominating everything in his life assumes that he is incapable of living a rich and complex emotional life. What is worse is that “reducing rank” relies on fear and intimidation to achieve compliance and will only result in your dog doing what you say to avoid or escape punishment, instead of working for you out of pure enjoyment. This method may suppress the unwanted behaviour, but will never address the reason for the behaviour, and will only make your dog fearful of you. This fear can lead to internal conflict, depression, aggression, and what we call “learned helplessness” (when none of his behavioral responses work to achieve success in his life so he just gives up entirely). Common dominance (pack rules) misconceptions include the following:

Eat before your dog:

Dog owners are told this because in the wild, the alpha wolf eats first. This is

untrue. Pups are fed first, and if the kill is big enough, they eat together. This

will not reinforce your leadership status; in fact it will mean nothing.

Walk through a doorway before your dog:

Wolves don’t walk through doorways in the wild, and while some juveniles

may defer when an alpha wolf walks ahead, we can never recreate that body

language and those subtle signals, so the whole thing is pointless. Your dog

will learn nothing. It is not a bad idea however to teach your dog to wait

calmly before rushing out the front door, or out of the car, but this is merely for

his own safely, or to prevent him from jumping up on your guests, and has

nothing to do with dominance.

Never let the dog initiate the beginning or end of attention.

Wolves require strong interpersonal relationships, and physical contact and

interactions are performed frequently to maintain and strengthen these bonds

with one another. Dogs have been selectively bred and evolved to have close

relationships with people, or else how would we train them perform the

functions we bred them for? Dogs thrive on social contact with people

however some do take advantage if given too much and will demand it. If we

as owners are inconsistent with giving attention, it can lead to confusion and

the development of unwanted behaviors, and it is our responsibility to teach

our dogs how to respond to our signals, and to have appropriate manners so

they do not pester us, but this has nothing to do with pack rules or

dominance.

Pulling on the lead

A dog pulls on leash because he has learned that if he pulls hard enough he

can gain faster access to an item of interest. Pulling is not an attempt at being

in the front or ”leading” the pack, but simply a means to get what he wants.

This can be overcome by some basic leash training using positive

reinforcement techniques.

Force your dog to lie down/push him to the floor (alpha rolling):

Supposedly, lowering the physical position of your dog makes them more

submissive, but the reality is that submission cannot be taught or forced. It is

an emotional response. This technique only builds a fear based relationship

and can (depending on the dog) lead to unwanted behaviors like aggression.

Ultimately, a pet dog is an intelligent, emotional and insightful being that is

more than capable of learning how to get what it wants from its environment,

whether we teach them or not. It is our responsibility as dog owners to guide

our dogs in the right direction by teaching them what is considered desirable,

and rewarding positive behaviour instead of waiting for our dogs to fail, and

punishing them for not speaking our language.

OCTOBER CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWS

RESULTS SUBMITTED FROM CBC MEMBERS: HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE!

BREEDE RIVIER KENNEL CLUB: BULLMASTIFFS

Best of Breed: Ch LaGratitude Durango Duke BA – Bouwer.

Best Junior: Blue Violet Gemma – Theron.

Best Puppy: Sanniesebos Susquehanna of Chizelhurst – Robertson.

Best Baby Puppy: Chizelhurst Chengetai who came 3rd in the Baby Puppy

Group.

‘Duke’ was placed first in the Working Group and then went on to 3rd Best in Show. Duke has now qualified for WCPC Top dog. DOGUE DE BORDEAUX Redoak Emerald Isle of Farhills – Baxter – CC Bitch / Best Junior / BOB and 3rd in the Working Group Junior stakes.

ROTTWEILER Spartan Buffy of Liberlumar – Maree - CC Bitch. Liberlumar Bibiana- Best Baby Puppy 2nd in the Baby Puppy Group.

CAPE TOWN KENNEL CLUB BULLMASTIFFS

Best of Breed: Ch La Gratitude Durango Duke BA – Bouwer.

Reserve Best of Breed & BOS/ CC – Ch Juhon Donna Arabella – Robinson.

Best Junior: Blue Violet Gemma – Theron.

Best Puppy: Sanniesebos Susquehanna of Chizelhurst –Robertson.

Best Baby Puppy: Chizelhurst Chengetai – Robertson.

DOGUE DE BORDEAUX Redoak Emerald Isle of Farhills – Baxter – CC Bitch, Best Junior & BOB.

ROTTWEILER’S Spartan Buffy of Liberlumar – Maree – CC Bitch. ‘Gaia’ is now eligible for Champion status. Liberlumar Bibiana – Best Baby Puppy and 3rd in Baby Puppy Group.

WORKING & HERDING BREEDS CLUB of the CAPE BULLMASTIFFS

Best of Breed: Bullsaints Elder Gjordur – Robinson.

Reserve Best of Breed: Ch LaGratitude Durango Duke BA – Bouwer.

Best Junior: Blue Violet Gemma – Theron.

Best Puppy: Sanniesebos Spooner – Jenkins.

Best Baby Puppy: Nightsight Henry – who was placed 3rd in the BP Group –

Loftus.

DOGUE DE BORDEAUX Redoak Emerald Isle of Farhills – Baxter – CC Bitch, Best Junior, BOB and 3rd in the Junior Group.

ROTTWEILER’S Spartan Buffy of Liberlumar – Maree – CC Bitch. Liberlumar Bibiana - Best Baby Puppy and 2nd in Baby Puppy Group.

HOTTENTOTS HOLLAND KENNEL CLUB BULLMASTIFFS

Best of Breed: Ch LaGratitude Durango Duke BA – Bouwer.

Reserve Best of Breed: Ch Don Amigo Pasco of Beautybull -Robinson

Best Junior: Blue Violet Gemma who came 2nd in the Junior Group – Theron.

Best Puppy: Sanniesebos Spooner – Jenkins.

Best Baby Puppy: – Nightsight Henry came 3rd in the BP Group – Loftus.

DOGUE DE BORDEAUX Redoak Emerald Isle of Farhills – Baxter – CC Bitch, Best Junior, BOB.

ROTTWEILER’S Spartan Buffy of Liberlumar – Maree – CC Bitch.

WESTERN PROVINCE KENNEL CLUB BULLMASTIFFS

Best of Breed: Ch La Gratitude Durango Duke BA - Bouwer

Reserve Best of Breed: Bitch CC & Best Junior: Blue Violet Gemma –

Theron

Best Baby Puppy: Nightsight Henry came 2nd in the Baby Puppy Group-

Loftus.

Rottweiler Liberlumar Bibiana – Best Baby Puppy and Best Baby Puppy Group.

Show photo’s: Jody Baxter and Lulu Maree

Spring is in the air!

Members are reminded that the point sheet should be filled in for each individual dog with their accomplishments after each show and submitted to info@capebullmastiffclub.co.za . Placements & presentations of trophies will not be done without the supporting documentation and it is the members’ responsibility to submit the necessary information.

The Kennel Association will be holding an Open Show at the Wynberg Military Base on the 1st December 2013. Anita Esterhuizen will be the Judge.

The venue for the Western Cape Top Dog will be at the Sunningdale Sports Centre. The date is Saturday the 16th November. Successful participants will be notified accordingly. For the associated rules and qualifying criteria refer to KUSA schedule 5E (14)

Tobezame Bullmastiffs

Beverly Edwards Contact me at: 0820850353 Tobezame is a new breeder of Bullmastiffs and we are situated in Bloemfontein in the Free State. We are proud to say that we are the owners of these gentle giants and I hereby wish to introduce you to my two four legged children. Tobieh my boy Amber my girl REGALIA Regalia items available to CBC members – contact: Retha at retha@adept.co.za or Nicky info@capebullmastiffclub.co.za

In Stock – Gate Signs: R60-00 . Board signs: R150-00 Gob Cloths: R45-00 Hand towels: R65-00 Mugs: R50-00

To Order: A variety of heavy/lightweight jackets, t-shirts (long/short sleeve), peak caps all with our logo

FIRST SOUTH AFRICAN BORN & BRED BULLMASTIFF WITH INTERNATIONAL CH STATUS

Int Ch & Ch Juohn Donna Cassandra

Juohn Don Raphael & Juohn Donna Venezia The new Juohn kids on the block

Congratulations to John and Jeanne Robinson

CALL BACK THE PAST This photo was taken 36 years ago. Identify the CBC member and win a year’s free subscription to the CBC Contact: info@capebullmastiffclub.co.za

WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS Charles and Adie Pietersen have the following to say about the breeder who signed them up – “Thank you so much for this complimentary membership. We have already devoured (well almost) the attached news letter and found it most informative and interesting. We look forward to a happy association with the Club” Mike & Shelly Fliege Shane & Michelle Cole Debbie Minnaar Reuben & Dr Carmen Lee Nadia Coen

CAPE BULLMASTIFF CLUB WEB SITE www.capebullmastiffclub.co.za The website is being updated do take a look and remember to send us your photos and suggestions. The information in this magazine is confidential to the members. Statements or opinions may be expressed in this communication that are personal to the writers and do not necessarily represent the views of the Club. The Cape Bullmastiff Club Post Net Suite 65 P/Bag X 15 Somerset West 7129 info@capebullmastiffclub.co.za Affiliated to KUSA #1151 Est. 2011

LOVE IN ABUNDANCE – AS IT SHOULD BE!