NEWSLETTER CHRISTMAS 2001

Before taking our usual break for Christmas and New Year we will be holding Christmas parties at all of the training venues!

Party dates are as follows:
Portsmouth & Kings Somborne - Thurs 13th Dec
Agility - Sunday 16th Dec
Wickham & Merryoak - Tues 18th Dec
Fareham - Weds 19th Dec

Your class times may vary on these evenings as we sometimes put classes together for more atmosphere! You will be told what time to come along but if you miss class for any reason a week or two before, please check to make sure you know when your party time will be.

Christmas parties generally consist of lots of fun (but educational) games for you and your dogs such as musical sits, recall races & musical statues, so come along prepared for a laugh!

There will also be a prize for the best doggy fancy dress, a chance to use your imagination and creative flair (?!!), ensuring of course that your dog is comfy and relaxed in his outfit.

And if that isn't enough there will be mince pies for you and a pressie for your dogs - so make sure you don't miss it.

We will be officially closed between Thursday 20th Dec and Wednesday 2nd of January.

The shop will be open for food collection etc. between these dates (except the bank holidays) but please call to check we're around and don't just turn up as this is our holiday too!

We will also be contactable by phone on 01329 833813 if you do need any help or advice. Please be considerate about what time you call us. If you call and get the ansaphone please leave a message - we are probably in but just taking a break from answering.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

END OF YEAR CLEARANCE SALE & OPEN WEEKEND

MONEY OFF YOUR CHRISTMAS FOOD, TOYS & TREATS!!

In order to clear space for new stock next year we are having a 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 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 there will be free 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.

A CHRISTMAS STORY FROM KYLA (THE GSD)

Kyla’s Christmas thoughts

All I want for Christmas is a rabbit.

Now that’s not too much to ask is it? Not too expensive and doesn’t take up a lot of room. Of course, there is the small worry that my house-mate, who is an ex-racing Greyhound, gets the shakes at the merest smell of rabbit. But I am without doubt that that’s nothing my Mum can’t overcome.

So, last week I came home from Scallywags and was ushered to the spare room with my Mum for a surprise. As we got close we heard a little high squeak, there was a tumble of paws and fur ... and there she was, our latest addition - Finlay.

Finlay is white all over, with patches above her eyes, and nearly over her ears, with four more on her sides, and her tail is one long patch. She is very pretty, and she is very cute and especially with those tabby patches.

Oh yes, tabby patches, as found in tabby cats. Finlay is a kitten! Now you would think, that telling the difference between a kitten and a rabbit is not hard, but for my owners it obviously is!

So, here we are, me and Finlay. She is, of course, getting lots of attention (which would normally have come my way). And, despite walking all over the computer keyboards and shutting the computer down mid-program, nobody minds - it’s just funny. (Not so funny when I want to play a game mid-program though is it?) Despite this, in my age-old charm, I am not jealous, but am in fact well and truly fascinated by this little thing called Finlay.

Now Finlay is captivated by shiny things, and feathery things, and also ping pong balls. She will chase my tail and my owner’s hand, for no apparent reason other than that they are there. Toes are enchanting, and watching the leaves out the window eye-widening. She walks right through my legs as if I’m not there, but when she sees my nose she hits it! Everything is climbable if you are a kitten, and tassles are the enemy. Finlay can even have a game with a sock, or a duster, and thinks that the kitchen is the edge of the world.

Personally, I’m feeling tired already. As the responsible GSD of the house, it is my duty to watch and protect this little thing - I follow her religiously, my nose a sensitive 1 inch from her back. She however feels it is her duty to swear at me for my efforts, (but I realise the young are never quick to appreciate the trouble we go to).

So, as I lie here writing, Finlay is curled up safe and sound after another day’s playing, and a lot of supervision by me. And I have to say, I’ll be glad to rest my head tonight. I suspect that this kitten, that can do so much so young, is going to be more than a pawful in a month or two’s time.

But I’ll let you know.

Kyla's Homepage

AGILITY NEWS

The winter league agility matches are now underway. Four local agility clubs including ourselves participate in the matches which were originally started to keep the agility dogs and their owners in training over the winter when there are fewer shows.

We have one match a month, half home (Shedfield) and half away at the other club's training venues.

So far we have played three matches - away to CHATS, away to Southdowns and home to Wellow. We started off well and won the first match against CHATS by quite a good margin - a great first performance. The Southdowns match was tougher as it was indoors and some of our dogs do not have a lot of experience working in this environment. We did well though and the match finished in a draw, a good result as Southdowns usually beat us! We were back on good form for the third match held this weekend just gone and managed to beat Wellow at home. WELL DONE TEAM!!

Because we now have lots of competition dogs and up and coming dogs we are running match trials to help us allocate places for the match team. We have found this works well and is the fairest way of picking a good team capable of thrashing the other clubs!! All Scallywags dogs are eligible, so come on all you agility people GET PRACTICING AND EARN YOUR PLACE IN THE TEAM!

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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