Articles published in this Newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor. Nothing may be copied unless the Editor grants permission. 

Dates & News:

ZimDog News, can be accessed from: www.vanerp.net.

Zimbabwe Kennel Club:

The Zimbabwe Kennel Club office will now only be open on a Friday each week, 14.00-16.00 CAT.

Local Shows and Fairs

Bulawayo Combine Shows:
Have postponed till later this year.

MLKA & HKC Shows:
They have booked their dates for 28 & 29 June 2008, with imported Judges. Put this in your diaries.

More Shows
see previous April News letter.

News:
Gladys entered the WBC Mash. Show on Sunday and won C,   D.J. Grade 1, and Compleat Dog with Pippa, and "A" with Leroy beating Maryann by a quarter point. Pippa was the only competitor in her classes so there was no glory there.

Well what ever, she did it, as you still have to get the points. Hope to get Breed results later. [Editor] 

In memory of Tannah Merah Rambutan, SchH 1, SchH 2

Rainbow Bridge

There is a bridge connecting heaven and Earth. It is called Rainbow Bridge because of its many splendid colours. Just this side of Rainbow Bridge there is a land of meadows, hills and valleys with lush, green grass.

When beloved pets die, they go to this place. There is always food and water and warm spring weather. The old and frail animals are young again. They play all day with each other.

There is only one thing missing. They are not with their special person who loved them on earth. So each day they run and play. Until the day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up! The nose twitches. The ears are up!  The eyes are staring. And this one suddenly runs from the group. You have been seen! And when you and you special friend meet, you take him in your arms and embrace. Your face is kissed again and again and again, and you look once more into the eyes of your trusting pet. Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together…. Poem Author –Paul C, Dahm

Rivalry Between Dogs

Rivalry can occur between dogs living in the same household and is characterized by repeated conflicts between them. These conflicts may initially involve growling, snarling or snapping, but they can build to serious, and potentially dangerous, fighting.

Rivalry occurs because animals that live together establish a dominance hierarchy, or a social structure within their group. If that hierarchy is not stable, if there is uncertainty or contention about the ranking or social position of each dog, then conflicts may arise. There are many reasons why this may occur, including the recent introduction of a new animal in the house, the death or removal of an animal, or the return of an animal after an absence. Problems may also occur when a young, subordinate dog reaches social maturity or when an older, dominant dog can no longer maintain dominance. Further, owners can play a part in creating this conflict too. For instance, an owner may not support the dominant dog's position but try to treat both equally instead, they may give preferential treatment to the subordinate dog and interrupt or interfere with the dominant dog's ability to control certain items like toys, beds or attention, or they may stop or prevent dogs from expressing dominance-related signals and behavior.

It's important that you deal with canine rivalry. There is always the potential for the dogs or family members to be injured. Because this can be a difficult problem to combat on your own, it often helps to get the assistance of a professional animal behaviorist. They can help you utilize counter conditioning and desensitization techniques to bring about and reinforce nonaggressive behaviors.

There are several things that you can do on your own. First, you can support the dominant dog's position. If you're unclear about which dog is the dominant one, there are some signs that you can look for. Dominant dogs may stand over another dog, placing his neck or paws on the shoulders of the other dog. Also, if one of your dogs demands to be the first at everything – the first petted, the first to go outside, the first to be fed, the first at the toys – then that one is likely the dominant one. Keep in mind, however, that your dogs may be dominant in different situations, one with food, and another with toys and so on. Once you've determined who is dominant, do not prevent that one from asserting his position. Also, it's important that all humans in the pack have established dominance over the dogs. If your dogs have not been spayed or neutered, doing so can make a big difference. Your dogs may also need to be checked by your veterinarian to rule out any health problems. It's also very important not to punish your dogs as this can actually worsen the situation.

"Zimbabwe's Travelling Man"

10^th Saga:

Well - the departure from Manganui was another of these middle of the night and no sleep type of events!!!!  Too much yaaaaaking!!!  Anyway, eventually, 4 of us departed for Auckland airport at 02.15 and having reached there about 05.15 I was enfolded into the wonderful cocoon that is Qantas's check-in at Auckland - fitted carpets the lot this time!!!  Followed by a h u g e breakfast in their Lounge!!   Beds were provided on board, of course, because we are now going backwards in time, so after another brekker of our choice, we settled down to snooze whilst crossing the Tasman.  The Kiwis seem to have a different security routine to all the previous ones I have encountered - u keepa yo shoos on!!!!  I'm sure you've all got used to paddering around the security areas in your stockinged feet whilst they checka yo shoos.  Not so mit de Kiwis!!!  But they gave me hell for having my mobile in my pocket!

At this point in time the day went into a huge decline and because l had tried to be a relatively honest traveller and admitted that I had a few shells with me from sundry NZ beaches, I was pushed into what appeared to be the smugglers queue at Melbourne and only emerged some 3 hours later!!!  Still with shells I should point out!!!  So next time you mutter about Heathrow, spare a thought for Melbourne.  I actually wondered how long a bunch of Brits would have stood such inefficiency in Pommieland??  There would have been calls (more of them!!) for the Government to resign!

Things were, therefore, at a low ebb when I finally emerged into the outer world of Melbourne with all the other travellers.  The next problem was to locate the courtesy bus for my hotel, as my long time personal friends from Melbourne had spent Christmas in Joeys and were, at that time, in mid-air on the way back!!  Such is life!!  I couldn't remember which of the 3 Quality Hotels in the area, my friend Kate had booked me into, but aren't the free phones handy!!  You just punch in a number and a little voice gets it sorted!!  I'd used this Quality chain of hotels before in Canada, at Toronto airport, and discovered how good they were - close to the airports for the crack of dawn flights that airlines seem so beloved of/little courtesy buses running round all the time and, most importantly, how economically priced they were.  Anyway, from now on in fings gotta lotta betta!!  The courtesy bus rocked up within minutes, there were a couple of Kiwis also waiting for the bus, and we drew up at a most attractive building, really something nice;  what we would call a Lodge type of hotel, but they prefer the name Motor Lodge - far too smart and glamorous to be called a Motel!!!  Apart from being beautifully appointed with its own walkround garden, it has its own spa jacuzzi inside!!!!!  So the day has reached a nice high and I'm back to watching the OZ Open - Federer yesterday, so I guess it's Nadal to day.

Couple in their nineties are both having problems remembering things. During a checkup, the doctor tells them that they're physically okay, but they might want to start writing things down to help them remember. Later that night, while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair. "Want anything while I'm in the kitchen?" he asks. "Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?"  "Sure." "Don't you think you should write it down so you can remember it?" she asks. "No, I can remember it. "Well, I'd like some strawberries on top, too. Maybe you should write it down, so's not to forget it?" He says, "I can remember that. You want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries."I'd also like whipped cream. I'm certain you'll forget that, write it down?" she asks. Irritated, he says, "I don't need to write it down, I can remember it! Ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream - I got it, for goodness sake!" Then he toddles into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes, the old man returns from the kitchen and hands his wife a plate of bacon and eggs. She stares at the plate for a moment.

"Where's my toast ?"