UPCOMING MEETNG

HANDLER OF THE YEAR 2004 AWARD

AWARDS OF MERIT

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

WHELPWISE HIGH TECH PRO-ACTIVE WHELPING

Whelping a litter of puppies can be a rewarding experience, until something goes wrong. The result may be lost puppies, lots of which the breeder can monitor uterine contractions and fetal heart rates right in their own home!

The WhelpWise system was developed by two obstetrical nurses who patented methods of uterine activity and fetal heart rate detection for veterinary obstetrics.

Karen Copley RNC BSN has established a database demonstrating there is a measurable pattern of uterine contractions as well as a predictable course the contractions should take during a normal whelping. Copley also noted that fetal canine heart rates can easily be detected at 6-7 weeks of gestation with a hand-held fetal heart rate Doppler! The fetal heart rates have a normal baseline range and a distressed puppy is identified, in most cases, by its heart rate. This research has been formulated into a service called Whelp Wise.

The service starts on the 58th day from the first breeding and continues until whelping is complete. The System allows the Breeder to take a Pro-Active Approach to whelping, rather than a Reactive one! Information on uterine contractions is gathered twice daily, with fetal heart rates checked at least once a day by the breeder. The data is transferred over the phone line to the monitor center for interpretation.

A baseline value for uterine contractions and fetal heart rates is determined in the days prior to whelping. The WhelpWise Service can actually predict, in most cases, when whelping will take place, preventing surprise deliveries and alerting the breeder and Vet to abnormalities during labor.

Another significant benefit of the Service is the ability to diagnose and treat (at home) Inertia! This is accomplished with pre-drawn, labeled syringes of medication obtained from the breeder’s Veterinarian. The medication is only given when indicated by the monitoring equipment and is administered in very small amounts!

Still another plus to the service is its role in the planned cesarean section. Monitoring helps prevent labor patterns from going unnoticed. Frequently, labor contractions are detected by the equipment prior to any symptoms or change in temperature and are generally present 8-12 hours before deliveries begin!

I, personally, have been involved in four deliveries using the WhelpWise System. I must say many puppies’ lives have been saved because of it, and I personally would never whelp another litter of mine without it!!!

The cost of renting the equipment is relatively low for what you receive --peace of mind, 24 hour access to an obstetrical nurse that knows the system and if just one precious life is saved, well---You be the Judge!!

Go check out their web site, WhelpWise.com, They have case studies to read as well as all the other information about the System.

The other obstetrical nurse that helped develop this system has started a service of her own called Better Your Breeding. Toll free at 1-888-717-2341- call for service or information.

WhelpWise is based on the West Coast, while Better Your Breeding is based on the East Coast of the USA!!

Be Whelp Wise and Better Your Breeding!!!

A meeting of the general membership of the Orange Blossom Owner Handlers Association of Florida, Inc. was called to order by Susan Fulenwider, President at 12noon at the Ocala Dog Club grounds in Ocala, Florida on November 6, 2004.

The minutes of the June 19, 2004 meeting were approved as published in the newsletter. Treasurer’s Report submitted by Laura Topping was read by Susan Fulenwider and approved as read.

Reminded club members that OBOHA would donate $15 for trophy donation towards their club member shows if requested. Members would need to email Susan for the details. Suggestions to donate more OBOHA ads in catalogs and possibly for junior showmanship awards.

OLD BUSINESS Discussed recent Conquering Ring Nerves Seminar presented by Diane Peters Mayer M.S.W. Reminder that OBOHA donates a percentage of profits from seminars to Take the Lead, and Canine Health Foundation.

NEW BUSINESS: Discussed OHOHA booth at the Central Florida Fairgrounds for the Breeders Sweepstakes Show in December. Diane Albers has graciously offered to have club set up information booth for exhibitors. Janet Narushka agreed to setting up the booth and requested club members to volunteer their time while at the show.

Also discussed upcoming seminars for OBOHA to sponsor for upcoming year. Dot Izmirilian volunteered to look into handling seminar possibly with Peter Green. Susan would also look into possibly having the Liebes or Pat Hastings back.

Second OBOHA Handling Match is scheduled at the Greater Daytona Dog Fanciers Show on Friday January 7, Dale Parks is in charge. She will need volunteers to assist with day of match registration and stewarding.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

MATCH REPORT

The OBOHA’s second annual handlers’ match, held on Friday, 1/7/05, at the Volusia County Fairgrounds, Deland, FL, is now part of the club’s history.

We ended up with 16 entries (though two people who entered day-of-match did not show up for the match).

We had entries from Florida, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia.

Each "judge" (see below) judged one group of three handlers/dogs and one group of four handlers/dogs. Each of the four first place winners competed for Best Handler in Match. The Best in Match Handler was Erica Escalada from Royal Palm Beach, FL, with an Australian Shepherd.

All who participated indicated that they had a great time and appreciated the opportunity to improve their handling skills.

I would like to thank the Greater Daytona Dog Fanciers’ Association for allowing us to have our match flyer as part of their premium list. And for allowing us to use one, two (or more) rings (as needed) in the Townsend Building to hold the match.

I’d like to thank our "judges," Diane Schultz and Janet Stasiak-Narushka for donating their time and energy after a long show day in order to be part of offering owner/handlers the opportunity to better their skills. Thanks also to John Mello who was standing by to be a judge should we have had a larger entry.

Thank you to Dot Izmirlian who volunteered to man the entry table (and also to judge if needed) while I went home to let my dogs out.

Thank you to Janet Stasiak-Narushka who also spent time at the entry table and who brought the OBOHA banner and helped to set up the table with the rosettes and medallions for the match.

Thank you to Janice Fitzgerald who volunteered to be a ring steward and who also ran back and forth between the two rings to take photos.

Diane presented an excellent seminar on dealing with handler nerves while competing. I would highly recommend her new book called A Step-by Step Program For All Dog Sports CONQUERING RING NERVES PUBLISHED BY Howell Book House. At the seminar we were able to practice some of the methods recommended to help calm our nerves and focus also on actually performing exercises with the same in mind whether it was obedience, conformation, agility, Etc.

Focus was on Yoga breathing techniques, Visualization, and being in the Here and Now. An excellent exercise called Angel on My Shoulder was exceptionally enlightening. The other important aspect with conquering nerves was that we as individuals could use these same techniques in relation to our families, work, and our daily lives. If you have a chance to attend this seminar in the future don’t miss the chance! Special Thanks to Diane for an excellent seminar and Thanks also to Best Paw Forward in Sanford for the use of their facility, and Cathy Nirenberg for being in charge of the seminar for OBOHA.

IMPROVING YOUR PERFORMANCE:

There are people I know who breed awful dogs, are totally blind to it, yet consistently win and sometimes win big. Looking at it objectively, there are better dogs out there. So how do these people win? Leaving politics out of it, they win because kennel blindness, while not particularly helpful when trying to improve a breed, really comes in handy when presenting your dog to a judge. Picture this: Handler A comes in the ring thinking that she has a pretty nice dog, but has spent hours concentrating on her exhibit’s faults. She’s thinking about how she wished her dog had a shorter back, more rear angulation, a prettier head, straighter toenails, whatever. Handler B, on the other hand, doesn’t think her dog has any faults. She comes into the ring convinced she’s the only person who breeds correct Flophounds, that her exhibit is the best in the ring, and there’s no way she should lose. Which handler is exuding confidence in the ring that day? One person’s demeanor is apologetic, while the other projects so much confidence she almost reaches out and drags the judge’s eye to her dog. What can you do about this if you are Handler A? Shoot Handler B? (I wouldn’t do that—the only prison work study programs with dogs are in obedience.) Here are some tips: Make sure your dog is worthy of being in the ring. Assuming you’ve decided your dog deserves to be in there remind yourself every day. Pt it in present tense, be positive and say it often. Remind yourself of your dog’s good qualities. Brush up on training for both you and your dog. Finally “If you can’t make it, fake it.” Pretend you are the smoothest professional handler ever, and have confidence. What it comes down to is this: if you don’t think your dog is the best in the ring, why should the judge?