122005

GSPIN
Newsletter of
The = German=20 Shorthaired Pointer Club of Indiana

December 2005

President=92s = Message -=20 by Charlie Edwards

Happy holidays = to=20 everyone!! We are now in that fine time of year where it is one = holiday=20 celebration after another with only brief periods of work to get in the=20 way. I know I had much to be thankful for this = Thanksgiving=20 and I got to take some time off to be lazier than usual and enjoy our=20 puppies.

We certainly had = much to=20 celebrate with the completion of our very successful fall hunt tests on = October=20 29 & 30^th. I want to thank Chris Snyder, Kari = Sowinski and=20 all the other hunt test committee members for doing a great job and = conducting=20 very well-run events. We had all the entries we could handle and = we had=20 excellent judges. Everyone that attended had a good time, good = food and we=20 had many qualifiers. Having great weather certainly didn=92t hurt = either=20 since at the Weimaranar Club of Greater Louisville=92s hunt tests the = next weekend=20 in Kentucky; they had to deal with excessive heat then tornadoes. = Again,=20 my thanks to everyone that worked so hard to put on our hunt tests and = to=20 everyone that brought us their entries.

Please take note = of the=20 annual meeting brunch that will be held in January. This is our = only true=20 meeting where all the club members can get together and discuss the = club=92s plans=20 for the coming year and general business. We had good attendance = last year=20 but I would like to see even more of you come out and introduce=20 yourselves. Also please remember to check our website, http://www.gspcindiana.org/, = for=20 information on all our club=92s activities. Lisa Stovall does a = great job of=20 keeping it up-to-date and it has been very useful for downloading hunt = test=20 premiums and brace sheets once they are drawn. This makes for much = better=20 communication than in the past. You will notice that there is = information=20 posted on our next major club event after the annual meeting and that is = our=20 spring specialty show held along with the Indy Winter Classic dog shows = in=20 February. Becky Feigh has done a great job getting everything = organized=20 and we have some really good judges for this year. There should = also be an=20 excellent crop of young dogs entered so I urge you to come out and watch = even if=20 you don=92t normally =93do=94 dog shows. It is a good opportunity = to see what a=20 dog show is like and to mingle with your fellow club = members.

Also if you have = a desire to=20 serve as an officer of the club, participate on the board, or chair a = committee,=20 let us know about it. We will be putting together a slate this = month to be=20 voted on at the annual meeting. Don=92t be shy. If it seems = like the=20 same people are always running everything, it is because no one else is = stepping=20 up to help out. There is plenty for everyone to do and we need = your=20 participation. If you don=92t feel like you know enough about = certain events=20 to help, believe me we will educate you. This is your=20 club.

As I have = written here=20 before, I have really appreciated the opportunity to serve as your=20 president. This is one of the best GSP clubs in the country = composed of=20 really good people. We don=92t always agree with each other on = everything=20 but I do believe we all want to do the right thing by our dogs in an = ethical and=20 sportsmanlike manner. I also really appreciate everyone=92s = willingness to=20 help each other with our dogs and to help answer questions about = them. If=20 you are an old-timer, always try to help out the novices and introduce = them to=20 the many facets of this sport. Remember you started out that way = once=20 also. If you are new to German Shorthairs or the many activities = involving=20 them, don=92t hesitate to ask questions of others. You can=92t learn if = you don=92t=20 ask, and if it keeps you from participating because you didn=92t = understand then=20 we have all lost out.

Have a happy and = safe=20 holiday and I will see you in January.

Charlie = Edwards

3D"Text

bred by Char Rutar, Becky Feigh, and = Sarah=20 Barker on finishing her Championship in Marshall, MI October 23. = "Molly"=20 is sired by Jason and Anna Barile's CH White River Shot of Tobasco,=20 JH.

Christin=20 Featherston put a major on Artemis Hoosier Cornfed Farmboy = (Cracker) in=20 Marshall, MI and a major on Artemis Hoosier Heritage (Conner) at = the=20 Grand Rapids MI show.

WOW=85the Sure=20 Point gang has had a great Hunt Test season=85Checkmate=92s Jett = Sett (Tommy)=20 finished his Junior Hunter title on September 3^rd at the = LaSalle=20 Brittany hunt test. Sure Point Dynamic Dottie (Dot) went 4 = for 4=20 earning qualifying scores at the Vizsla Club of IL, the LaSalle Brittany = Club=20 and finished her Junior Hunter title on September 10that the = GSPC of=20 IL. CH Voglein=92s Sure Point Smok=92n JH (Smokey) = qualified on=20 September 10^th and 11^th at the GSPC of IL and = finished up=20 his Senior Hunter title the next time out on Saturday, September = 24th⁼²⁰at the GWPC of IL. Sure Point Smok=92n Sensation = (Skye) went=20 into heat at the start of the season but then followed in her sister=92s = footsteps=20 going 4 for 4. She earned qualifying scores at the GWPC of IL and the = Weimaraner=20 Club of Northern IL and finished her Junior Hunter title at the GSPC of = IN hunt=20 test on October 29^th. Tommy, Dot, Smokey and Skye are = owned by=20 Ron and Sharon Fitzpatrick.

Sure Point=20 Smok'n Sensation JH=20 was awarded Best of Opposite Sex and Winners Bitch at the Lake Shore = Kennel Club=20 on Saturday, November 26th for one point. Skye is owned and bred by Ron = and=20 Sharon Fitzpatrick. Sharon was the handler.

Sure Point=20 K.C. Danc=92n also=20 finished up his Junior Hunter title at the GSPC of IN hunt test on = October=20 29^th, and was awarded Reserve Winners Dog at the Lake Shore = Kennel=20 Club on Sunday, November 27th. Sharon co-owns K.C. with Bob=20 Halvax.

Eli finished his = CH at the=20 Dayton Kennel Club show on November 18th, garnering all his points from = the Bred=20 By Exhibitor Class, making him CH Pointsetter Elijah Craig = JH. Eli=20 is a Gordon Setter owned & bred by Amy Johnson-Edwards DVM & = Charlie=20 Edwards.

CH Tri-Sett = Midnight=20 Matrix, a.k.a. Chase, = finished his=20 JH Oct 1 at the GSCA hunt test held in conjunction with their National=20 Specialty. Chase is a Gordon Setter owned by Amy Johnson-Edwards DVM = & Karen=20 Gatchell.

Tabor=92s = Wannapnt Classic=20 Touch, otherwise known as = Josie,=20 owned by Lisa Stovall earned her first point at the Huntsville Kennel = Club show=20 in Priceville AL on November 10^th. Josie also received = her=20 first qualifying leg of her Junior Hunter title at the Weimaraner Club = of=20 Greater Louisville=92s Fall Hunt test on November = 5^th.

AKC/UKC CH = White River WP=20 Allmale Revue, NRD, CGC, = a.k.a.=20 Chip, owned by Lisa & Michael Stovall & Char Rutar earned the = first two=20 legs of his Junior Hunter title by qualifying both days of the = Weimeraner Club=20 of Greater Louisville=92s Fall Hunt test on November 4^th and=20 5^th.

Martha and Greg = Veatch have=20 busy with their dogs. Ben, CH SharpMtn Air Force One JH, = now has 2=20 legs towards SH title=85handled by Greg. And Sugar, CH Berihill = How Sweet=20 It Is CGC OA AXJ, now has 4 legs towards MXJ title and also picked = up one=20 more Rally Novice leg at PKC trial in October.

CH SharpMtn Air Force One = JH

The Conley=92s = have had a very=20 versatile fall with Casie qualifying in Junior Showmanship for the = prestigious=20 WESTMINSTER Dog Show=85earning the final wins needed during a three day = sweep in=20 Columbus IN. Casie won "Open Intermediate Showmanship" along with = "Best=20 Junior Handler" all three days. Casie also won the Open = Intermediate=20 Showmanship class at the Lebanon IN show on 9/17/05, Hoosier Kennel = Club =20 on 10/02/05, and in Morris IL on 10/09/05. And on 9/16/05 in = Lebanon IN,=20 she was also Best Junior Handler.

The Conley=92s = gsp, CH=20 Argosy Von Montgomerycreek, completed his Senior Hunter title on = 10/29/05=20 and earned his first Master Hunter leg on 10/30/05. Also, Casie = handled=20 him to the following Best of Breed wins: Hoosier Kennel Club on = 10/02/05,=20 Columbus IN on 9/25/05

June and Johnny = Johnston=20 report that Jane has started agility and finished the Novice Jumpers = Preferred=20 title the first 3 day weekend out of the box with two firsts and a = second. =20 In Standards she earned one first and one qualification where she didn't = place,=20 then a couple weeks later finished that title with her third = qualification - and=20 another first place. Jane has also earned her CGC and qualified = three=20 straight days in Rally to finish that Novice title. She's now = CH.=20 Pointsetter Run Jane Run JJJ, MH RN NAP NJP (CGC). Their = Pointer,=20 Fancy, has finished her Excellent agility titles and has now moved into = the=20 Master's realm. She is now CH Eclipse Final Fling Nthfld, VCD1 = RN MH=20 TDX AX AXJ (APC VAX, CGC). At field trials, Fancy earned = another=20 Gun Dog placement with a third last weekend at the Volunteer Brittany = horseback=20 trials. Their GSP pup, Zada, earned a second in Open Puppy before = breaking=20 a toe.

CH Pointsetter=20 Run Jane Run JJJ, MH RN NAP NJP CGC

GSPC of IN=20 Whelping Box

Karen and Kurt Bellile, along with = Paige=20 (U-BIS, UAGI, UCD, U-GrCH, AM/CAN CH White River's Title Paige, AM/CAN = CD, RN,=20 CGC, FFX-OG) and Gunnar (U-BIMBS, UAGI, UCD, U-GrCH, AM/CAN CH = Hillside's Top=20 Gunnar, CAN CD, CDX, RN, AX, AXJ, NAP, NJP, JH, CGC) are proud to = announce the=20 arrival of 9 beautiful puppies (5 females and 4 males) on 9/21/05. = Gunnar=20 is OFA Hips Fair, CERF, CD Normal, and Paige OFA Hips Excellent, Thyroid = normal,=20 CERF, CD Normal. Contact: Karen & Kurt Bellile at thptgsp@yahoo.com or 920/303-0240 or Charlene Rutar at = 765-534-3002=20 or whiterivergsp@att.net. =20 Serious Inquiries Only. Inside homes preferred.

Casie & = Clynnt Conley=92s=20 dog   Miss Molly XVIII CD, JH   whelped 8 beautiful = pups on=20 October 17th 2 boys & 6 girls. This was a repeat = breeding of the=20 2003 breeding  to DR. Ron Ferris' Audi Von = Ferron-haus ,=20 that produced very successful pups in all aspects show/field = work.

What to=20 Feed - by Phil Rutar

If you=92re like = me, the=20 overwhelming variety of dog foods, formulations, and supplements can get = pretty=20 confusing. I ran across the following article by Jennifer L. S. = Pearsall=20 in the September issue of American Hunter that provides some = basic=20 information on the subject.

Dog Diet=20 Secrets

As every = human athlete=20 knows, diet is a crucial component of successful performance. If = you=20 consume the ideal proportions of fats, proteins and carbohydrates your = body will=20 be able to utilize them better. Despite this fact, when it comes = to=20 gundogs, most of us buy the first bag of dog food that catches our = eye. =20 You can do better than this. Here=92s how.

           = =20 All the major brands you=92ll find in your supermarket, and even most in = the=20 discount markets, are balanced foods. When fed in the recommended = quantity=20 for a dog=92s body weight (as listed on the bag), they meet all your = dog=92s=20 nutritional requirements. But simply meeting these needs doesn=92t = mean=20 you=92re optimizing your dog=92s performance.

           = =20 First and foremost, a canine is a meat eater. Look at the = ingredient list=20 on the bag and you=92ll notice that the first item is often corn or=20 cornmeal. Now, corn products are roundly acceptable carbohydrates = for you=20 dog, but corn shouldn=92t top the ingredient list.

           = =20 So you need meat, but what kind? Lots of beef is promoted out = there, as is=20 lamb and chicken. Chicken meal is best, followed by chicken = byproduct,=20 because chicken is by far the most digestible, usable protein you can = give you=20 dog. By =93usable=94, I mean that more of the protein is put to = use by the=20 dog; in other words, you=92ll feed less of it than other protein sources = to get=20 the same nutritional benefits, resulting in less waste in the kennel and = in your=20 wallet. Soy, for instance, is a great protein source, but dogs = don=92t=20 digest it well. You=92d have to feed more of it to your dog to = meet its=20 nutritional requirements. Also, stay away from unspecified = =93meat=94=20 listings, because you have no way of knowing what that meat = is.

           = =20 Ingredients aren=92t enough by themselves, of course. They also = have to be=20 in the right proportions. A working dog should have a food that = has a=20 ratio of about 28- to 30-percent protein and 20-percent fat. Your = bird dog=20 should be on this food year-round. This means don=92t switch to = one of the=20 =93low-calorie=94 alternatives during the off season when his physical = activity is=20 bound to be less. Most dog foods cut protein to get the calorie = count=20 down; if you sacrifice protein in a working dog=92s diet, you=92ll make = it harder=20 for your dog to get back into peak condition when the next season = starts, even=20 when you transition back to his =93working food=94. If you=92re = worried about=20 weight gain during periods of inactivity, simply cut back the portion of = your=20 regular food, not the quality of the food itself.

           = =20 One thing that many hunters don=92t realize is that premium foods that = list=20 chicken first and that have the correct protein-to-fat ratios are not = usually=20 sold in supermarkets; in fact, you may even have trouble finding them in = the big=20 national pet chains. Try = a=20 livestock supply store or smaller specialty pet stores instead. = You=92ll=20 also probably find that prices are significantly lower in these places = than in=20 your usual grocery store.

Bird Dog Feeding = Tips

=B7        =20 If you=92re breeding = your own dogs,=20 switch your bitch to a premium puppy food about two weeks before she=20 whelps. Keep her on the puppy food until she weans, then slowly = transition=20 her over a week or two back to her regular, premium adult = formula.

=B7        =20 Fat puppies are cute, = but excess=20 weight doesn=92t do a puppy=92s body any good. Too much fat puts = undue stress=20 on plates and joints, and studies have shown both a higher incidence of = hip=20 displasia and an earlier onset of the aging process when puppies are=20 overweight.

=B7        =20 Once you=92ve = transitioned to an=20 adult formula =96 usually between 6 months and your dog=92s first = birthday =96 stick=20 with it. Permanently. Unless your dog is not showing the = performance=20 he should or is showing a dull coat or some other physical deficiency, = switching=20 your dog=92s food is not in his best interest. He does not get = =93bored=94 with=20 his food, so disregard the marketing that says otherwise.

=B7        =20 Today=92s dog foods are = extremely=20 well balanced, so much so that unless you have your own chemistry lab at = home=20 and are willing to do blood and urine analysis routinely, you can trust = what you=20 put in his bowl; in fact, unless your dog has a specific problem that = needs=20 treating, both the nutritional supplements sold in the stores and your = table=20 scraps to more harm than good.

=B7        =20 There=92s no such thing = as a picky=20 eater, only a dog that=92s been free fed. Dogs that have food left = for them=20 to eat whenever they feel like it are not only more likely to become = =93picky=94,=20 they will be more likely to refuse food when they need it most =96 after = one day=92s=20 hunt and before the next. Put the food down, give the dog 15 = minutes, then=20 pick up the bowl. And do it at the same time every day. Do = this and=20 your dog will feed reliably, all the time, even on the road and after a = hunt =96=20 and if he doesn=92t you=92ll know something is wrong.

=B7        =20 Don=92t switch your dog = to a=20 =93senior=94 formula as he ages. Most of these foods are just = =93lite=94 formulas=20 with a different name, and they=92ve likely reduced protein to gut the = calorie=20 content. If your aging dog is gaining weight, simply cut back his=20 portion. He=92ll thank you with another successful season in the = field =96=20 even if it is at a slower pace.

Editor=92s closing = note:

Just a = reminder=85the newsletter=20 will only be as good as the stuff the members contribute to it=85so by = all means=20 send me your happenings & brags, informative articles, trivia = tidbits,=20 pictures (to be included when room allows), or anything else that you = would like=20 to see included in the newsletter. Email is the best way to get = the=20 information to me that you wish to contribute to the newsletter. = My email=20 address is mflkstovall@omuonline.net = or you can=20 give me a call 270-691-6283=85if I am not home leave a message and I = will call you=20 back.

Thanks,

Lisa

Hope you had a = nice=20 Thanksgiving=85

Trying to find Thanksgiving dinner.

Waiting for =93his=94 = turkey=20 J