Newsletter editor: Jacqui Hartranft | Email: japhart@ptd.net
Newsletter co-editor: Stacey Nash | Email: staceyhayesnash@gmail.com
Welcome to the ADTC OCTOBER issue of Barks & Bytes
Welcome to the October 2025 newsletter!! After a very hot summer with limited outdoor classes, we have JUMPED INTO SEPTEMBER BIG TIME!! Our classes are now in full swing plus we started off in September with a match show. Match shows are one of the best ways to prepare your dog for entering trials. There are monthly match shows put on by several clubs and groups. Several of the main ones and are within an easy drive are monthly. These are:
- the Char Will’s German Shepherd RESCUE in New Ringgold
- the Dauphin Dog Training Club on this side of Harrisburg
- Top Dog Obedience School in Flanders, NJ. They are listed among other ones on DogMatchShows.com.
But do not wait to enter them as they do fill quickly . Not only our match show started off the month of September but then we also had the Blue Mountain Cluster. This is an outdoor show as a lot of breed shows are who offer Rally and Obedience. We know that there were some of our members who entered. We hope that all were pleased or learned something from the experience. It is not an easy thing to enter your dog in trials (and outdoor are USUALLY a lot harder than indoor). But it is a good way to see where you are in your training. Just because your dog does well inside our building does not mean they are ready to enter trials in locations where they have never been.
SO BIG CONGRATULATIONS IF YOUR DOG DID WELL AND BIG CONGRATULATIONS FOR ENTERING AND HOPEFULLY LEARNING WHERE YOU ARE IN YOUR TRAINING.
If you feel your dog is ready, we hope that you were able to enter your dog in our upcoming Obedience and Rally trials the end of October. You can do so at www.ShowEntries.com. If you have not entered as yet, do not wait as the deadline is October 15.
- Tip: When you read the premium list, be sure to check who the Superintendent is—IT IS NOT ALWAYS RAU!! Many trials use other Superintendents so be sure to read the instructions carefully.
While we are speaking about our fall trial and match shows.
- I was asked what was the difference BETWEEN A MATCH SHOW AND A POINT SHOW. Simply, a match show is a pretend trial/show put on by Clubs. The intent is to practice in a real setting. It helps trainers better prepare their dogs to compete in a trial where they are being judged.
- You can enter our members only AND public match show. There is a judge and stewards. You tell them whether you would like a real run-through, just want to work on a few things. You can even just play with your dog. It is your time that you paid for.
- No judging but you can ask the judge to let you know his/her opinion as to how you did. Or ask the judge to correct you when you make a mistake.
I hope that this helps and even if you are not intending to enter a trial at this point. It is just great to take your dog in a ring ..even just to play. It can only help with your training by getting them exposed to different things. Now on to other things that maybe happening in October and beyond.
– all the best, Jacqui