NCA e- notes    Monthly Electronic Newsletter of the Newfoundland Club of America

August 2015 

 

Do you know a good sport? The NCA Good Sportsmanship Medal is an award specifically designated to honor those members whose contributions are vital to the success of any dog club.Every year the NCA presents its Good Sportsmanship Award to honor a club member who competes fairly and works for the advancement of the sport and the club without regard to personal honors. If you know of someone that you feel would be an excellent candidate for this award, please contact Ingrid Lyden by October 15, 2015.


The "Second Notice" membership renewal forms have been mailed.  Work on the NCA Directory will begin soon.  Please return your renewals, if you have not already done so, as soon as possible.  Also, please use the information update link in the right column to get all contact information changes to the NCA Membership Chair for inclusion in the NCA Directory.

 
AKC Responsible Dog Ownership  - Take the Pledge
AKC RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNER PET PROMISE As a dog owner, I promise:

I will never overlook my responsibilities for this living being and recognize that my dog's welfare is totally dependent on me.
I will always provide fresh water and quality food for my dog.
I will socialize my dog via exposure to new people, places and other dogs.
I will take pride in my dog's appearance with regular grooming.
I will recognize the necessity of basic training by teaching my dog to reliably sit, stay and come when called.
I will take my dog to the vet regularly and keep all vaccinations current. I will pick-up and properly dispose of my dog's waste.
I will make sure my dog is regarded as an AKC Canine Good CitizenŽ by being aware of my responsibilities to my neighbors and to the community.
I will ensure that the proper amount of exercise and mental stimulation appropriate for my dog's age, breed and energy level is provided.
I will ensure that my dog has some form of identification (which may include collar tags, tattoo or microchip ID).

Sign the Pledge 
Lure Coursing with your Newf- by Wendy Aubert
It all started at a dog show. My daughter and I saw the sign for lure coursing , so we thought that we would go take a look at it. As we watched a few dogs, we talked about it and decided that we would bring Lenox over and see if she had any interest in this at all.

Approaching the starting point she became very excited, the more she watched, the she wanted to run. It was great. We never had done anything like this before. Finally they called her name, we walked to the starting point, I said "go take it" let go and she was off! Running pretty fast for a Newfie. About half way through she lost the bags on the rope. She tried to find them again but the time had run out. I have to admit that I was a little nervous about her returning to me at the starting point, but she did. The look on her face was priceless; she really wanted to do it again.

The second time she ran the course was a flawless run. If only you can see the joy on the face of Lenox running as fast as she can, knowing at the end they are just plastic bags.
Now here is where Miss Lenox starts acting like a Newf. It was a warmer July day.  Always so excited to run, whining to be let go. We walk to the starting spot. I yelled "Take it" let go! She starts running her normal speed; she always starts to slow on the course. About half way through she has decided that she is hot. She is black, and it is sunny today. You can imagine what I am thinking. She walks for about a minute. The course runner slows the rope when she started walking. All the sudden she looks up and off she goes to finish. This is her second qualifying run. Two down, one to go! And everyone is laughing at Lenox.
 
The last run for her title, we go to the starting point, she is ready. She runs and less than a minute into the run, she comes to a dead stop. Turns to her left and looks at this young boy how is sitting on the grass next field, she walks towards him. The judge starts yelling for him to get up. The moment he got up and moved, she knew he was OK, Lenox then turned and started running the course again. The judge turned to me and said " you can't believe how many of the dogs come out here and do what they are bred for." She finished her Coursing Ability title or a CA.
A Precious Tale - by Sue Putt
Precious at intake.
Precious was the last of 44 Newfoundlands to be handed over to NCA Rescue from the family of a deceased commercial kennel owner. She was literally dragged from a dirty old unheated building and put into a traveling crate. She didn't have much hair on her. Her skin was covered in angry looking lesions and her ribs and backbone were clearly visible. The owners did not have papers nor did they know her name. She curled into a fetal position and hid her head.

It was a small group of us that were involved with this rescue. We had already seen plenty of Newfoundlands in various states of bad health during our five visits to this kennel but this one took us all off guard. Once we arrived at the boarding kennel it was agreed that we name this poor soul "Precious" because all life is precious and everyone deserves a name. My husband and I already decided when the time was right we would volunteer to be her foster guardians.
 
Precious spent the first three months of her new life at TLC Acres where she bonded with the owner, Jackie Wheeler. Upon her arrival, she weighed in at 60 lbs. Her blood pressure was so low, blood could not be drawn for a blood test. Her skin was covered in sores and her eyes were dehydrated from lack of water. She was nearly blind. Medicated baths three times a week, a good nourishing diet, de-worming medicine and special eye drops helped Precious gain some weight and grow some hair. She still itched a lot, had problems with on going skin problems and with the exception of the kennel owner, did not trust people.
 
Precious after a Bath
In April it was determined Precious was stable enough to come live with us inside our home. We set her up in an open adjoining room to the kitchen and put up a baby gate so she would feel safe in her room but still feel a part of the household. Our three Newfoundland boys were very eager to welcome this little girl to the pack. She quickly responded to their overtures of friendship. In three days time the gate came down in the evening where she could join the whole family in the main living area. She tentatively came out as long as I stayed with her. After a few weeks she began exploring the house on her own and quickly claimed the loveseat as her evening resting place.

Precious explores her new foster home.
Precious explores her new foster home.

 
The initial exam with our vet determined Precious to be between 3-5 years old even though she looks much old than that. Her bottom canines are broken and her lower teeth are worn down to the gum. Precious was spayed and we attempted to treat her skin issues with antibiotics, topical sprays and good diet.
 
We've learned that Precious does well with routine and when that is changed, it stresses her emotionally and physically. The move from the boarding kennel to our home took a toll on her health. Precious lost weight and lost more hair. However, she did not ever lose her will to survive and continued to explore her new world.

Health greatly improved, Precious plays with her housemate, Truman.
Health greatly improved, Precious plays with her housemate, Truman.

 
Precious learned to walk politely on the leash and get in and out of the van for car rides. Our youngest Newf showed her how to play tug. Henry, our oldest Newf showed her how to play fetch with me in the yard. Precious strengthened her muscles by playing chase in the yard with our middle Newf, Truman. She even went swimming in the pool and guess what? She swims beautifully. It was a very special reward for us to see her be a Newf!
 
Precious Visiting a Store
When we put Precious on the fairly new drug Apoquel along with antibiotics, her health began to improve dramatically. She no longer spends all day scratching at herself. She weighs 92 lbs and has hair almost all over her body. Her eyesight is slowly improving but she may never gain back all her vision.
 
As her health improves, her confidence is growing and she is more willing to try new experiences. She is still very wary of men and has some bad days where the world seems to be a scary place. This may be a fear she battles the rest of her life.
 
We will continue to slowly introduce new people and places to Precious now that she feels better. Her next big adventure will be traveling with our pack to our regional club's water test where she will spend the week-end meeting many new people and dogs. We hope this will be another positive experience for her to see the good in life again.

You can support NCA Rescue in their mission to help every Precious Newfoundland by donating today.

Please forward Precious' story to your family and friends -
Get More Info





SHOP iamNCA

Looking for a Breeder? - Contact the NCA Breeder Referral Hotline


call 1-866-NCA-NEWF (1-866-622-6393)



NCA Library
Visit the Newfoundland Dog Library


Find us on Facebook

12990 People are hearing the latest news from the NCA on Facebook- are you one of them?

Follow us on Twitter

View on Instagram

Find us on Pinterest

What's New on HubPages™
Educational articles on living with a Newfoundland dog brought to you by the NCA


 Bath Day for Your Newf

 Caring for Your Older Newf

 Newfoundland Dog Diet Plan
 

 Evaluating A Breeder's Website 

   

 Researching A Breeder Online  

 

  


Follow the NCA Boards on Pinterest

ygtf

We want to find you!
Have you moved? Do you have a new phone number or email address? The NCA would like to have current contact information for all members. If you have recently changed your contact information, please complete the
Information Update Form


Looking to add a Newfoundland to Your Life?

Have questions about the Breed?

Have a new Newf and need help with grooming, training, etc.?

Meet and talk to a Newfoundland Ambassador near you!


Got a new puppy?
Subscribe to LifeStages our free monthly educational newsletter for puppy families

Membership Directory App now available for iPhone



Newf Tide
The deadline for submissions to the next issue of Newf Tide is
October 1, 2015. Send submissions to
editor@ncadogs.org

More Information



In accordance with ARTICLE IV, SECTION 3(a) of the Newfoundland Club of America Bylaws, the 2015 NCA Nominating Committee has nominated the following slate for election to the NCA Board:
Steve Britton, P.O. Box 554, Montrose, Michigan 48457-0554;
John Cornell, 964 Williams Hills Road, Richmond, Vermont 05477-9623;
Mary Lou Cuddy, 1155 Raymond Road, Ballston Spa, New York 12020-3719;
Janice Kiseskey Anderson, 5801 South Fairfax Road, Bakersfield, California 93307-8909;
Sue Marino, 5 Idlewood Drive, Auburn, Massachusetts 01501-2133;
Pam Rubio, 8955 Burchell Road, Gilroy, CA 95020-9404.

Newly elected directors will take office at the conclusion of the 2016 Newfoundland Club of America Annual Membership Meeting. Those members of the board whose terms do not expire until 2017 are:
Lynne Anderson-Powell, Steve McAdams, Mary L. Price, Patrick Randall, Pamela Saunders and Donna Thibault.

ARTICLE IV, SECTION 4(b) of the NCA Bylaws, also provides for additional nominations of eligible members by written petition - addressed to the NCA Recording Secretary and received at his regular mailing address on or before November 1; signed by thirty members in good standing and accompanied by the written acceptance of each such additional nominee signifying his willingness to be a candidate.

The deadline for additional nominations is November 1, 2015.
These additional nominations are to be sent to the NCA Recording Secretary, P.O. Box 554, Montrose, MI, 48457-0554. Nominees must include their written acceptance statement and photograph.

Pam Saunders,
NCA President





As always, we want to hear from you. Email us at any time with your comments and suggestions.






Newfoundland Club of America
Your NCA Board of Directors recognizes the value and prevalence of social networking systems, such as Facebook™, email lists, and blogs. Sometimes the rise of this entirely new class of communication has been accompanied by what has come to be viewed as cyber-harassment. Those engaged in cyber-harassment post negative comments and half or fabricated truths, often in a sarcastic manner, about individuals who cannot defend themselves. Members of the Newfoundland Club of America should consider social networking communication as public and, as such, understand that their comments reflect on themselves and the NCA. Members should consider carefully what and how they write and are encouraged to stress positive aspects of education rather than negative or sarcastic comments about owners, breeders, and/or Newfoundland fanciers.