THE CAVALIER CHRONICLE
April 2024
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Spring is upon us and the pollen seems worse then ever. I don’t suffer much from this, but my best wishes to those of you that do, and the hopes of a mild season to come.
Please remember that effective with the April meetings, meetings have moved from the second Tuesday to the second Monday of the month as several members indicated they would better be able to participate. We did have a nice improvement in attendance this past month and are hopeful to see even greater participation in May.
Our next general meeting will be May 13th at 730 pm. This will be the meeting where we install our leadership team for the upcoming year.
I would like to thank our board for all their work for the past year and for all agreeing to continue in their roles for next year. Thank you to Paula Ayers, Vice President, Carolyn Powell, Treasurer, Sharon Utych, Secretary and Alice Alford, LaVada McCosh and Ashley Powell as Directors.
A couple of months ago Linda Whitmire decided to step away from her role on the board to take a short break and Alice Alford stepped in to finish out her term and stay on the board for the upcoming year. I would be remiss if I did not recognize all that Linda has brought to this club and am hopeful that this will only be a short break. Over the many years, she has donated her time to just about every event we have. From organizing prizes for the specialties, hosting the puppy picnic for so many years, storing club materials at her home, hosting our holiday luncheon for several years, hosting some of our puppy meet-ups, organizing the doctors for our clinics, a key member of the judges committee, to serving on the board for what seems like forever - including several years as President. She has been more than generous in her financial donations to the club also. The good news is that she has already volunteered for a couple of things, so short does seem to be the key word.
One of the things I am very excited about for the coming year is that we have had some of our newer members get more involved in the volunteer opportunities in the club. Beth Lassiter has stepped up to help at the specialty with keeping us organized with prizes and exhibitor bags - helping our show chair, Susan Kent. Jess and Victoria have stepped up to expand our social media footprint and to help better publicize our upcoming events. There are plenty more opportunities and the more people we have helping, the more the more we can all enjoy each event.
Thank you to all who have supported the club the past 12 months and I am truly optimistic about this upcoming year.
Thanks,
Jim
EDITOR'S MESSAGE
Happy April! I apologize for the delay in sending out the newsletter, as I'm just coming back from my very first ACKCSC Nationals in Mesquite, TX! It was a whirlwind experience, and I loved every single minute of it - we participated in scentwork, rally, obedience, and FastCAT - and we got to cheer on all the beautiful cavaliers in the ring! I've never been happier surrounded by so many cavaliers and their people. I'm already planning to go again next year and hope you'll join me - it will be held in Hyannis, MA April 14-18, 2025.
In the meantime, if you'd like to contribute to the newsletter, have any brags, or if you have any general feedback or suggestions, please send them to CKCSCAtlantaNewsletter@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you!
Beth Lassiter, Editor
2024 MEETING SCHEDULE
May 13, 2024 – Regular Meeting at 7:30pm
June 10. 2024 – Board Meeting at 7:30pm
June 23, 2024 – Puppy Social at Paula Ayers (Noon to 4pm)
July – NO MEETINGS
August 12, 2024 – Board Meeting at 7:30pm
Please remember that we have moved our meeting day from Tuesday to Monday to accommodate our members’ attendance to the meetings.
2024-2025 OFFICER ELECTION UPDATE
The Nominating Committee has submitted the following slate:
President – Jim Utych
Vice President – Paula Ayers
Treasurer – Carolyn Powell
Secretary – Sharon Utych
Director – LaVada McCosh
Director – Ashley Powell
Director – Alice Alford
At the April regular meeting, floor nominations for each position were opened. There were no floor nominations for any of the positions and the floor nominations were then closed. At the May regular meeting, the Secretary will cast one vote for the above slate and the new board will immediately be in place.
JUNE PUPPY SOCIAL
Mark your calendar for Sunday June 23 from noon to 4pm for our quarterly puppy social at the home of Paula Ayers. It will be held on her breezeway. Bring a chair and a side to share! The club will have water and soda. This is always a great time for your cavaliers plus there are usually puppies galore to cuddle and love on!
An evite invitation has been emailed to members and reminders will be sent out closer to the date.
THANK YOU
The Board wishes to thank club member Anne James for her generous donation of $500 made to our club for use with rescue. We have sent this to the parent club ACKCSC Rescue Trust from the club in recognition of Anne.
2025 SPECIALTY NEWS
It seems like we just wrapped up our 2024 Specialty, but February 1 & 2, 2025 will come around fast and we are in the planning stages for our Specialty. The show and judging panel is pending AKC approval once all the online submissions have been made.
We have contracts out to our potential Sweeps judge and our Saturday judge. Once we have signed contracts we can officially announce the complete judge panel. Our Sunday judge will be AKC Toy Specialist judge Sharon Masnick.
Our host hotel will again be the Drury Inn-Morrow. More information regarding reservations will be made available once we have updated the website for our 2025 Specialty. We will be holding our fun Saturday evening social on Saturday at the hotel. The theme will be BBQ. We also will have some very lovely items available for our live auction at the social. Come and spend Saturday night at the hotel to fully enjoy the entire day at the show and the evening social.
We plan on having exhibitor bags again this year as we have bags left over from last year to use. Included in the bag will be a stainless steel tumbler, which was donated. We would love to have members donate items for the bags. Items such as pens, tissues, note pads, candy, water, dog treats,
dog toys, poop bags, protein bars, etc would be greatly appreciated. We plan to make 60 bags. Contact Ashley or Carolyn Powell if you wish to donate items for the bags.
We would also like to offer all our first place class winners a prize on Saturday and Sunday. If you would like to donate 36 like items for this, please contact Jim Utych. Last year we offered microfiber towels to the class winners on Saturday and this year we would like to offer prizes on both Saturday and Sunday.
As soon as the website is updated for the Specialty, placement sponsorships will be available. This fundraiser is our main fundraiser to offset the cost of the prizes and rosettes that we offer. Please consider sponsoring a placement in honor or memory of a beloved cavalier, just because, or to
celebrate your win from last year!
Our prizes this year will be pottery spaniel bowls on Saturday and embroidered towels on Sunday. Sunday’s prizes were generously donated.
PERFORMANCE CORNER: THERAPY DOG
Beth: What is a therapy dog?
Ashley: The AKC states, "Therapy dogs are dogs who go with their owners to volunteer in settings such as schools, hospitals, and nursing homes. From working with a child who is learning to read to visiting a senior in assisted living, therapy dogs and their owners work together as a team to improve the lives of other people."
B: When did you start therapy dog work?
A: I officially began therapy work back in summer of 2022 with my Cavalier, Gabby. It has always been on my mind from a young age since I grew up with one of my grandmother's Cavaliers, Lance, who was a therapy dog for most of his life. I had some free time during the summer of '22 and knew that Gabby and I would both have so much fun and would be very beneficial. Because of this, I decided to pursue therapy work with my other Cavalier, Rosie, a year later. I have always said that these two girls were made for therapy work; especially Rosie. Rosie was one of our future show hopefuls but after an accidental scratch from a litter mate at four weeks of age, one of her eyes had to be enucleated. Turning a terrible situation into a positive one, I decided that she had a greater purpose and that it was meant for her to grow up and enter the therapy dog world when she grew older. Boy, was I right!
B: What do you enjoy about it?
A: I enjoy visiting various facilities with my two therapy dogs because I can see first-hand how we are making a noticeable, positive impact on people's lives. From the moment we walk in the room, I've seen seniors, children, and all of those in between, instantly light up upon gazing at us. We never know what one is going through in their lives, but when therapy dog teams come to visit, all that matters in that moment, is the dogs and the people. My favorite part is having meaningful conversations with seniors who have had dogs in their younger years and Gabby or Rosie reminds them of the joy that they shared with their pets. It always tickles me how children gawk at how cute Gabby and Rosie are and pet them for ages and ages. I also feel that I create a stronger bond with my dogs by not only loving them, but sharing their love with others who may need a pick-me-up or a simple hug. One of the first things that I always say about therapy work is how it is so rewarding!
B: What does your dog enjoy about it?
A: Aside from all of the belly rubs that she was born to crave, Gabby loves all of the extra attention that she receives. Rosie enjoys all of the attention too, of course, but she also likes meeting with other dogs for therapy team group visits. For every visit, I dress up Gabby and Rosie in cute dresses and bows and let me tell you, they are huge stars for the whole visit! Since Rosie has one eye, I have custom eye patches made especially for her. Needless to say, they are little celebrities when they visit! After a therapy session is completed, I take them to Starbucks or Dunkin and get them a well-deserved Pup Cup.
B: What unique quality do cavaliers bring to therapy dog work?
A: With their gentle nature and love for all people, Cavaliers make the perfect candidate for therapy work. They are literally born with the traits and personality that helps dogs to succeed in this line of volunteering. My own personal belief is that Cavaliers can sense when one needs a little extra love and are the first ones there to give it to you! Anyone that owns Cavaliers knows that with one hug, kiss, or snuggle from a Cavalier, any upsetting feeling or situation is forgotten in that moment. And the best part- it comes naturally to them! And yes, kisses are completely okay as long as kisses are not on the face (I've had this question numerous times.)
B: If I'm interested in doing therapy dog work with my cavalier, how would I get started?
A: If one is looking to begin the rewarding journey of therapy work with their dog, I recommend starting the AKC CGC program. All of the necessary requirements to pass the therapy dog testing is included in the CGC testing. After your dog has completed and passed the test, I then recommend researching which therapy dog organization you would like to join. I am involved with Alliance of Therapy Dogs and I cannot rave about them more! Their website is super helpful along with other members I have met along the way. Whichever organization you choose to apply to, there will be tests that you and your dog must complete and pass in order to become an official, registered team. Any organizations that do not do this are false and not credible. Additionally, a registered therapy team is covered under the organization's insurance policy in case anything were to happen, and only accredited therapy organizations offer this. The biggest suggestion I can make is to find the organization that you'd like to join and go to their website and study their requirements and train your dog according to the checklist that they provide. Also, reach out to some testers in the program or other members and discuss what their experience is like and if they can give you any tips or pointers. There are classes that one could take as well. Most programs require a dog to be at least a year of age in order to take the initial test, so there is an ample amount of time for a new puppy owner to train and prepare. When your dog does pass the tests and you both become an official team, you can apply for a therapy dog title through AKC!
Link to Alliance of Therapy Dog's website: https://www.therapydogs.com/
Link to AKC CGC Info: https://www.akc.org/products-services/training-programs/canine-good-citizen/
If you would like to be featured in the Performance Corner, please reach out to ckcscatlantanewsletter@gmail.com .
Ashley & Gabby at work
Gabby shows off one of her many outfits
Ashley & Rosie in pink
INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT OF THE MONTH
Send your favorite inspirational thought to CKCSCAtlantaNewsletter@gmail.com
NATURAL REMEDIES
Anorexia in Dogs
by By Anna Burke
Jun 22, 2017 AKC Website
If you’re like most dog owners, one of the first things you probably do before calling the veterinarian is a Google search of your dog’s symptoms. Appetite loss in dogs is called anorexia. Partial anorexia refers to an animal that is eating some food, but not enough to keep him healthy, and complete anorexia refers to total appetite loss for around three days. Anorexia in dogs is different from the type of anorexia we associate with human eating disorders, and so this terminology can be a little confusing. In some cases, this confusion can lead you to the wrong conclusion about the seriousness of your dog's condition, putting your dog at risk.
Causes of Anorexia in Dogs
Illness is just one of a few reasons why dogs don’t eat. Your dog’s appetite loss could also be caused by a change in environment, a drug reaction, dental disease, pain, or nausea.
Illness and Appetite Loss
Although illness is only one of several causes of anorexia in dogs, it is still a very serious concern. Appetite loss is a common symptom for a host of disorders, from cancer to kidney failure. The best thing you can do for a dog with appetite loss is call your veterinarian and observe your dog for any other symptoms that seem out of the ordinary.
Environmental Changes
Think back to the last time you were in a stressful situation. Did you want to eat a full dinner, or were you too concerned with what was going on to eat? Many dogs react to stressful situations and new environments with a decrease in appetite. Some dogs stop eating when their owners leave them with the pet sitter for a few days. Others may temporarily stop eating if your family has recently moved to a new house or traveled to an unfamiliar destination.
Drug Reaction
Vaccinations are vital for your dog’s health, but they can cause mild side effects. One of those side effects is appetite loss. If your dog was recently vaccinated or placed on a new medication, call your veterinarian and ask if appetite loss is a possible adverse reaction. Loss of appetite from a vaccine reaction should only last around 24 hours, so be sure to get in touch with your veterinarian if it extends beyond that.
Dental Disease
Have you ever tried eating with a toothache? Dental disease can make it painful for your dog to eat. Broken teeth, periodontal disease, and foreign bodies in your dog’s mouth all make eating difficult and require a visit to your veterinarian to resolve. If your dog is lying by his food bowl and not eating, or has thick, fetid saliva and is pawing at his mouth, you should contact your veterinarian.
Pain
Dogs can’t speak, which leaves us struggling to understand the clues they give us. Pain, either from an injury or an underlying condition, such as hip dysplasia or arthritis, can suppress your dog’s appetite and stop him from eating.
Food Aversion
Many of the causes of appetite loss in dogs are serious. Sometimes though, dogs are just picky. Switching to a new diet can cause some dogs to turn up their noses, and others may turn down food if they are fed in a stressful situation, for example eating next to a food-aggressive dog. However, make sure you take your dog to the veterinarian to rule out any other causes before you conclude that your dog is a picky eater.
Treating Anorexia in Dogs
Appetite loss can have negative repercussions on your dog’s body. Dogs can go for several days without eating without suffering severe consequences, but if your dog hasn't eaten for 24 hours or longer you should contact your veterinarian — especially if your dog has a medical condition. If you have a puppy that isn't eating, you should call sooner. The younger the puppy, the sooner the call!
In most cases, resolving an underlying problem also resolves your dog’s anorexia. Removing an infected tooth, for example, should make it comfortable for your dog to eat again, and altering your dog’s lifestyle to accommodate behavioral issues such as food aggression, or medical issues such as arthritis can help him start feeling better. Your veterinarian may recommend hand feeding or adding a strongly flavored substance, such as animal fat, meat drippings, or fish to persuade your dog to eat.
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Banana Dog Treats
total time: 25 MIN
prep time: 5 MIN
cook time: 20 MIN
These homemade dog treats are filled with savory peanut butter and mashed banana- everything you need to keep your pup happy & energized!
Ingredients
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup peanut butter*
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1 mashed banana (1/2 cup)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and knead until a dough ball forms. If it’s too sticky, add a little more flour.
- Roll it out on a lightly floured surface and cut into shapes with cookie cutters. (I use the cap of spices for tiny circles, since he’s itty bitty.)
- Place the cutouts on a baking sheet and bake for about 15-20 minutes.
**All-natural peanut butter without added salt or sugar is best. Do not use lite or sugar-free peanut butter, as those may have artificial sweeteners (such as xylitol) which is toxic to dogs.
NEED SOME SUNSHINE?
Do you know a club member who needs some sunshine?
Our Sunshine Committee Chair is Ashley Powell. If you know of a club member that needs to be remembered or encouraged, please be in touch with Ashley.
Ashley can be reached at ashncav@gmail.com.
THE CAVALIER CHRONICLE
CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL CLUB OF GREATER ATLANTA
Beth Lassiter, editor