Articles published in this Newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views of the Committee or the Editor. Nothing may be copied unless permission is granted by the WTA. 

This is your last Newsletter if you have not renewed your WTA Membership for the year 2002, which was due on 1st January. So far we already have 25 paid up members. Last year we had a total of 36 members. 

A poster has been sent to various E-mail addresses telling you when we train and we look forward to new handlers with their dogs. Training is on Thursday afternoon at 3.30pm. Who ever would be willing to print our Poster and hang it up at their Vet or school? Will be appreciated by the WTA. Thursday training requires membership to WTA, which is only $ 50,-.

Dates to remember: 

17 February will be the first Open Show at the Kennel Club, run by Working Breeds Club, with a Special Beginners class. Good practise for you and your dog, to see and get the experience of how to handle and work your dog under show conditions. The WAT has asked for a double IPO weekend to be held in Bulawayo, dates will be announced when we have had the OK from Zimbabwe Kennel Club. 

The first Dog Jumping and Agility Show will be held on 17 March at 7 for 7.30 in the morning, to beat the heat. Clive Edwards is judging all tests. Schedule will be mailed to you soon. It is now time to practise for these jumps and you might get your dog ready to enjoy the show and enter.

Happy memories of our June Championship Show with the Shores as our Judges.

Just a Mother?

A few months ago, when I was picking up the children at school, another mother I knew well rushed up to me. Emily was fuming with indignation. "Do you know what you and I are?" she demanded. Before I could answer and I didn't really have one handy she blurted out the reason for her question.

It seemed she had just returned from renewing her driver's license at the County clerk's office. Asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation, Emily had hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is," explained the recorder, "do you have a job, or are you just a.....?" "Of course I have a job," snapped Emily. "I'm a mother." "We don't list 'mother' as an occupation...'housewife' covers it," said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high-sounding title like "Official Inquisitioner" or "Town Registrar." "And what is your occupation?" she probed.

What made me say it, I do not know. The words simply popped out. "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations." The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair, and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pompous pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire. "Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your field?"

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research (what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters (the whole darned family) and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother care to disagree?) and often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are in satisfaction rather than just money."

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants - ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model (6 months) in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt triumphant! I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official Records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another mother." Motherhood...what a glorious career. Especially when there's a title on the door. Remember, amateurs built the Ark and professionals built the Titanic.

Memories of past achievements 

I have spent days to sort out all the Dryden's information, pedigrees and dog papers and came to the following interesting achievements. 

Peter trained 4 dogs, three were imported, Spike, Bill and Rockie and used as stud in their kennel and Dingo was their home bred dog. Spike qualified in Working Trials CD Excellent and climbed up in all Obedience classes and ended up in C test with two qualifications [one more and he would have been an Obedience Champion]. Bill qualified in Obedience Novice.  Dingo qualified in Novice and A test, qualified twice in working trials CD and qualified FCI 1 & 2 what is now called IPO 1 & 2.  Rockie competed 7 times in IPO of which 6 times he either failed three times in his tracking and/or 4 times in protection work. Just before Peter passed away he managed to qualify in all three sections and Rockie had his IPO 1 qualification. The next time Peter entered Rockie, just before he was due on his track; Peter had a massive brain haemorrhage and passed away in Bulawayo. 

Rosemary who was not busy with a job, or like Peter who had a job and did many things for dogs, trained an amazing amount of bitches, nine in total. They imported 7 bitches and Rosemary worked six of them as well as 3 homebred bitches. They also imported various other dogs, but were unfortunate that some of them were not passed by the BVA Hip scheme. They were the longest Breeding kennels in this country as far as I can guess? They did not only breed, import but also showed that their stock could work and were the top people in that way as not any of the other breeders have that record. Rosemary's achievements I will record in the next newsletter. WTA is very sad in missing both as members, training members and Rosemary as a committee member.