The Potomac Valley Bernese Mountain Dog Club
Announces:
An All-Breed DRAFT WORKSHOP
Date: September 14, 2008
Site: Walkersville Park, Walkersville, MD
(near Frederick, MD)Time: 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
(registration will begin at 8 a.m.)Registration: $20 pre-entries; $25 on-site entries
(fee includes handouts and instruction)Come one, come all and learn about or practice your draft skills during the Potomac Valley Club’s (PVBMDC) annual Bernese Mountain Dog Draft event! Become acquainted with our Berners’ Swiss heritage. Qualified BMDCA Draft Judge Christine Mann from Colorado will be on hand to lend her experience, skills and advice.
All novice or experienced dogs are welcome, including other breeds. The Draft Workshop will follow the PVBMDC Match at the same location the previous day. Coffee and drinks will be available, but bring your own snacks if you would like something more substantial. In case of drizzle, the program will go forward; in case of a downpour/thunderstorm, the event will be cancelled.
Dogs would benefit from some obedience training but no draft experience is required. Participants will be introduced to the skills necessary to pass a Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (BMDCA) draft test. PVBMDC will provide some borrowed equipment and experienced members in draft for help, guidance and instruction. If you have any harnesses or equipment yourself, please bring them. We will have a practice ring and obstacles set up for introduction and training, followed by a trial run where you can either try out your new skills or improve on existing ones.
Our guest judge, Christine Mann, will offer a critique of your skills or scored mock test in preparation for the real thing. PVBMDC facilitators are Barbara Yoder and Katherine Skerl, who between them have two open draft dogs (DD) and a novice draft dog (NDD). They and other experienced club members will also provide instruction and assistance. Our nearest sister clubs— Watchung in Pennsylvania, Nashoba in Connecticut and Chatahoochee in Atlanta, Georgia—will be sponsoring tests in October and November, should you plan on participating. See the BMDCA website for details:
http://www.bmdca.org/pages/BMDCA_Draft_Calendar.phpRegistration: Click here for registration form. Please send in your registration forms with a check made out to PVBMDC by Wednesday, September 10 to Katherine Skerl at the address shown on the form. We will also accept late registrations on the morning of the workshop for $25 vs. $20.
Directions: Approximately 15 minutes north of downtown Frederick, the park features a variety of terrain, a stream which can be crossed via a covered wooden foot bridge, covered pavilions, play equipment for children, and a public restroom. Take US 15 north from Frederick, MD (accessible from Routes 70 and 270). Turn right (eastbound) onto Biggs Ford Road. After approximately two miles, turn right onto Kenneth Drive (hidden entrance). The Community Park is at the end of Kenneth Drive.