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Shiloh Shepherd Times,
FEBRUARY 2006
What a neat holiday! Celebrate love and chocolate in one day. Can you beat that? Sort of a great follow-up to the Thanksgiving “Stuffing”, the Christmas “Cookie-a-thon” and the ever popular January “I will improve myself by losing weight!” How many of us swore to lose a couple pounds? Joined a gym or even better bought a gym machine? I ask you, why waste that money when we have the best weight loss aids around – our Shilohs! The University of Missouri found that walking a dog could help people lose more weight than they would on a popular plan like Weight Watchers, Atkins or the Zone (almost double). Researchers asked overweight adults to exercise for 10 minutes, 3 times a week. After the first 6 months, they increased it to 20 minutes, 5 days a week. They lost an average of 14 pounds each, after a year, without changing their eating.* So lets grab our coats, boots, and leashes. It is time to take our dogs for “our” walk. And when we are done, pass the chocolates and hot cocoa, please!
*Prevention, February 2006 Ideas for future newsletter articles are greatly appreciated. Contact our newsletter staff today.
We need your help! The Board would like to form a Show Committee to assist in organizing the May Rarities ISSDC Show. This show looks to be the biggest yet and hotel rooms in the Brookville, PA area are going fast. The Show Committee will assist the Board in organizing, planning and running the ISSDC portion of these shows. Any member wishing to help out should E-Mail the Board ASAP. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated. The Club continues to grow as memberships and renewals keep coming in. We are up over 100 members with many of those being family memberships. A Breed Standard Committee has been appointed by the Board and is already hard at work. The Board is now meeting on a monthly basis, any member having business to be presented to the Board should forward it to the Secretary or President so it can be placed on the Agenda. Please be aware, that all business transacted using the ISSDC name, must be approved by the Board in advance. Thank you all for your continued support of your ISSDC.
In 2002, an organization known as Capital Area Shiloh Shepherd Association took it upon themselves to apply a concentrated effort toward acheiving recognition with the American Herding Breed Association. The final qualifications required by AHBA called for 5 or more Shiloh Shepherds to obtain Junior Herding Dog Titles, or better, within a specified 2 year time frame. These special Shilohs were destined to become known as the "FAB FIVE", and are now part of breed history. They are all proudly owned by those that support the ISSDC: Hilltops-Nottingham Friar Tuck CGC, TDI, HCT, JHD (Marti Nottingham) Marti Nottingham carefully selected her first Shiloh puppy in '99, a smooth coat she calls Tuck. She purchased him as a companion from reputable breeder, Chary Pack of Hilltop Shilohs. Tuck's litter was sired by one of the great smooths of all time - Ch Hilltop's Triton King of Zion and his dam was Hilltop-Oasis Zoey Of Lobo. Marti had a strong desire to see our dogs to live up to their heritage as a herding breed. She took an active role right from the beginning. Even during the first days of evaluation, Tuck displayed obvious herding instincts. Together, they devoted many hours to the challenge of training and became the very first team to earn their HCT and JHD titles in the mission for AHBA recognition. When asked what she liked best about training for the HCT and the JHD, Marti quickly answered, "That would have to be that it really got Tuck's interest! He loves herding! Tuck is the smartest dog I have ever owned - I have tried Obedience, Agility, Schutzhund and Tracking with him and he will do what is required, but he is not having fun. He didn't have the energy like he does when he is herding. I can say 'woolies' while we are at home and he runs to the door and is all excited! I also liked the cameraderie that we shared while training with fellow Shiloh owners, and the fun that each herding practice brought." Jocko was born into the circus world, his parents were acrobats. When Jocko’s parents died in a train accident, the rest of the circus people took him in. He was only four years old when his parents died. He came to live with Clara and her husband Gus, who ran the circus cook tent. Growing up Jocko would help in the cook tent but spent all his spare time with the circus animals or the clowns. He was really at home around the animals. Even the hard to handle ones like the elephants and lions. He would help feed, wash and train them. All the animals seemed to respond to him very well. His favorites were the performing dogs, so he would spend most of his time with Topo the clown. Topo had 5 dogs in his act. They were mostly small mixed breed dogs. When Jocko was a young boy Topo was already considered a veteran of the circus. Jocko didn’t know it but Topo was preparing him to take over the act when he retired. All of Topo’s dogs were veterans too. They averaged about six years old and Topo knew they could rarely perform three acts a day after the age of ten.
Our Members Only website is continuing to grow in leaps and bounds. This website will be password protected within the coming weeks. Notification with the username/password will be emailed to the membership when this occurs. One of the exciting features to watch for on this site will be the new Stud Pages. |
Dear Abi.... I see my human dad running around, ordering things like candy and flowers for mom. Are we going to have a new baby? REALLY concerned Shiloh in FL.
Abigail Atherton
February 14, 2006 It’s five AM and I hear the rain on the roof. If we are lucky, rain will not turn to ice but remain the steady, cold drizzle of a gray, winter day. Nothing would be finer than to float off to sleep again, but responsibility calls. As soon as my feet hit the floor, I hear the rustle of paws on crate liners. They know I am awake; there’s no turning back now. I brew a cup of tea before I head downstairs, but I doubt it will be hot when I get back to it. They want to go outside. From the top of the stairs, I see the eager faces-- ears alert, eyes fastened on me. “Here I am! Play with me!” First my big, happy Atticus boy. He manages a stretch inside the crate before I unlatch the door. We practice a sit, a down, and he gets a scratch and a treat. Next comes Mama Shy. She tags me with her nose, and nudges my hand for a lick and a pat. She is the needy one. Finally the puppy, Frances. It is all I can do to wrangle a “Sit, wait…. release!” before she explodes from the crate in a blur of puppy exuberance. Her butt bounces on the floor. She can’t sit still. The three of them clamor at the door for their first taste of fresh morning air. But they wait, seated…sort of. Then they are gone! Out the basement door, around the corner of the house, and off for their morning yard patrol.
It’s still raining when they appear at the kitchen door for breakfast. By now, I have had my tea, and I am functioning a little higher than an amoeba. Do I really want 300 pounds of wet dog in the kitchen? I open the door anyway, and there they are, sitting anxiously, waiting for permission to come in… after one or two false starts and some well-timed door calisthenics. I give them the signal, and in comes a fresh load of mud and grit. That’s ok; I need to clean the kitchen floor again today anyway. Then, shake, shake, shake…got the refrigerator, got the stove, got the wall. They parade in circles and back and forth, leaving no square inch of the kitchen floor unsmudged. They lean on my legs reducing everything I am wearing to a load of laundry. Their breakfast of giant turkey necks get shaken and dragged around the kitchen in an intricate game of keep away that ensures a few more blotches on the floor and walls. By the time they are finished eating, most of the loose dirt they were wearing has decorated the kitchen. It’s time for them to get back outside for a fresh load. And I have to shower and dress for work. The kitchen floor will wait. Maybe the sun will come out today and dry up some of the mud. Maybe my genius Shilohs will take advantage of the multiple shelters I have built for their comfort and safety. Maybe they will play where a few isolated blades of grass survive. Maybe not. But one thing is for sure. The last thing I will do before I go is tell them, “Good-bye. Be good. I’ll be back. I love you.” I may not be able to resist going outside for a last pat and my mandatory dose of dog hair to wear to work. I give them a long look before I leave, and their kind eyes look straight into my heart. I know they will look at me just like that when I get home. Always there for me. Always joyful. Be My Valentine every day!
Here are some Valentines Day cookie treats for your loved ones. Make sure you get the heart and angel shaped cookie cutters to go along with the holidays. 1 cup rolled oats 1. Preheat oven to 325°. Gingerbread angels: Make sure you make plenty for the whole neighborhood! 1. Place dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl -- blend with a whisk. |
History | Golden
Oldies | Shows
FEBRUARY 2006 IABCA - February 18-19, 2006 ARBA - February 25-26, 2006 IABCA - February 25-26, 2006 MARCH 2006 Rarities - March 11-12, 2006 Rarities - March 11-12, 2006 ARBA - March 12-13, 2006 ARBA - March 18-19, 2006 IABCA - March 18-19, 2006 RBCSWO - March 18-19, 2006 Rarities - March 25-26, 2006 Dates to Watch We are growing rapidly and the past several months have seen the expansion of many regional chapters. Each month we will feature chapter reports to showcase the activities held. Click on the following links to see what is happening. OUR REGIONAL CHAPTERS You don't see one in your area?
In conjunction with Our Shiloh Shepherd Directory we now have a new Club Map. Take a peak at where we all live and add a picture of your favorite Shiloh
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HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY 
