NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2001

Of benefit to all puppies and their owners, this is a new service, which we hope will prove popular. We will make available our field, one of our instructors and their sociable adult dog(s) to accompany small groups (max 6) of puppies for walking and socialising for approximately 1 hour.

This will be the ideal opportunity for you to let your puppy off lead in a safe environment and allow them to mix safely with other dogs, pups and people.

If you are one of the many people that we have spoken to lately who is worried about letting puppy off, or who has been experiencing problems when meeting other dogs then this is a must for you and your puppy. As an incentive your first session will be free of charge and with effect from now a puppy walk will be included in the cost of your puppy course.

The first session(s) are to take place on the morning of Saturday 3rd November. Please book in advance and, depending on numbers, dogs will be sorted into appropriate groups of 6. This is initially aimed at young pups from 8 weeks upwards but older puppies from the Advanced Puppy class will also be welcome as will adult dogs, providing that they don't have any issues with other dogs, children or people!! To be held once or twice a month depending on demand.

To book a place for Saturday 3rd November please telephone the office 01329 833813 or e-mail

Cost: £5 per puppy.
First session free.

In case anybody is wondering whether Russell is young, free and single the answer is soon to be NO!

We are pleased to announce that he is (finally!) getting married to Anna on Thursday 1st November.

We are sure you would all like to join us in sending our congratulations to the happy couple.

We also hope that it may help to clear up the confusion regarding whether Russell is Sally or Kerry's Husband, brother, son or dad - of which he is none!

And while we are at it :
Sally is Kerry's mum (not her older sister as Sally would like you to believe)
Don is Sally's husband (and Kerry's dad)
Russell is not related although he does appear to live with Sally and Don (not really though)
Steve, Joyce, and all your other instructors are not related at all!

Now the winter is on the way Sunday Agility is bound to be subject to a little disruption because of inclement weather. If you are in any doubt about whether to come for your class please give us a call before you leave. If the phone isn't answered its because we're in the field and training is going ahead.

If you are unable to attend we do appreciate knowing in advance and if you are likely to not want to train outside during the winter please tell us so we can consider this in the group arrangements.

Please remember that your instructors stand outside all day and we would like to have the groups full and not be out there for two people an hour. Don't worry about getting cold - we'll soon get you running around to warm up! Prices will increase to £5 a lesson as from November.

Kings Somborne Agility on a Thursday evening has now started and will continue through the winter. If you are interested in coming along please speak to Russell.

Flyball is also held on a Sunday at 11am and we are always happy to have new recruits. Feel free to come along and watch or give it a try.

After the match trials on Sunday we have picked the team for our first winter league match on Saturday 3rd November. The team (including reserves) is as follows:
Anne & Charlie
Carol & Storm
Caroline & Jake
Don & Jazz
Gill & Teddy
Kerry & Chance
Lynn & Tia
Lynn & Jadie
Mark & Ice
Michelle & Holly
Mike & Herbie
Sandy & Timber
Tim & Muffin

If you haven't been picked for the team this time, keep up that training!! Please come along and support your team on the day. The match is at the training ground of CHATS in Christchurch: The CHATS Centre, Merryfield Park, Deritt Lane, Bransgore, Christchurch.

Starting time: 12 noon
Team to be there at 11.30am

Would everyone who is in the syndicate please make sure that you renew before Christmas if you would like to be included next year. You will be pleased (or not) to hear that we have won, in total, this year £40 (4x £10). As per usual this will be gambled on lucky dips, Christmas week.

There are one or two vacancies for next year if anyone would like to join and try and bring us a little more luck than we seem to be having at present. It is only a 20 pence a week stake. 30 of us share 6 lines. Because of the impracticalities of collecting 20p a week it is a requirement to pay for the year up front £10:40

In order to clear space for new stock next year we will be having weekend sale! The shop will be open for bargains galore between 10am & 4pm on Saturday and Sunday the 15th & 16th of December. All stock will be reduced - some a little, some a lot. Come and get your dog & cat food for the holiday period and don't forget your dogs Chrissie pressie - toys, treats and stockings will all be here.

The field will be open free of charge for you to walk your dogs and socialise. There will be complementary tea, coffee and mince pies for all (human!) visitors. Please note Agility classes will be going on as usual on the Sunday - you are very welcome to watch but only dogs currently in agility class may join in.

This Christmas we are once again returning to the Uplands Hotel at Droxford for our Christmas do. We have booked the restaurant for the evening of Thursday 20th December. We'd love you all to join us and need confirmation and a £5 per head deposit before the end of October. (Total cost £24). It’s a chance to see your instructors as you've never seen them before (dressed up and tiddly!) We guarantee you a brilliant evening!!

Collie + Lhasa Apso = Collapso, a dog that folds up for easy transport
Spitz + Chow Chow = Spitz-Chow, a dog that throws up a lot
Pointer + Setter = Poinsetter, a traditional Christmas pet
Great Pyrenees + Dachshund = Pyradachs, a puzzling breed
Pekingese + Lhasa Apso = Peekasso, an abstract dog
Irish Water Spaniel + English Springer Spaniel = Irish Springer, a dog fresh and clean as a whistle
Labrador Retriever + Curly Coated Retriever = Lab Coat Retriever, the choice of research scientists
Newfoundland + Basset Hound = Newfound Asset Hound, a dog for financial advisors
Terrier + Bulldog = Terribull, a dog that makes awful mistakes
Bloodhound + Labrador= Blabador, a dog that barks incessantly
Malamute + Pointer = Moot Point, owned by... oh, well, it doesn't matter anyway
Collie + Malamute = Commute, a dog that travels to work
Deerhound + Terrier = Derriere, a dog that's true to the end
Bull Terrier + Shitzu = Oh, never mind...

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Contributions

If anybody has anything that they would like to contribute to the newsletter we would be pleased to receive it. Personal doggie stories, interesting news items, competition ideas, poems are all welcome - so please let us have your ideas.

or feel free to post any questions/comments on our message board

or ring us on 01329 833813