Saturday, July 25th 2020 and Sunday, July 26th 2020
10:00 am – 3:00 pm each day Dickerson, MD Hosted by Alex and Steve Roth
This event was for MSDA club members, their families, and their guests. Dogs, too, of course! MSDA provided the meats for grilling and attendees brought side dishes and desserts to share. Split between two days, the event had fewer attendees each day and this allowed for social distancing. As always, the pool was a hit, and there was even a bit of field training in the shade.
Here pictures from both days. Click on any photo to enlarge.
MSDA’s annual pool party is limited to members and their family and guests. Not an MSDA member? Learn more about us, how to join the club, and sign up for our e-mail list.
Unfortunately, we have to cancel the MSDA Spaniel Hunting Test Weekend, along with the judging seminar, instinct clinics, and WD testing, this September 12-13.
As many of you already know, Rebel Ridge, our venue for many years, has suspended property rentals until 2021. We scrambled to get a firm commitment from another appropriate site, but have not been successful. We’re out of options for September.
We understand how much everyone wants to get out in the field with their dogs, so we took this action only very reluctantly. But, it is very important to MSDA to run a high quality event and to do it safely.
There may be other hunting tests in the region this fall run by other clubs. If so, we will be sure to notify our mailing list of these opportunities once we know of them.
We also are looking into options for holding an extra hunting test event next spring, and/or some smaller activities in the interim.
If you have comments, questions, suggestions, or just want to vent or commiserate, please feel free to contact Steve Roth (Event Chair and MSDA President) at president@mdsportingdog.org .
MSDA’s Annual Field Day — a full day of FUN, bird dog training for all levels, and some very good food — had been scheduled for Saturday, May 2nd at Rebel Ridge Farms in Elkton, MD. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, Field Day 2020 was canceled.
We plan to somewhat expand the activities at our fall hunt test weekend September 12-13th, 2020. Information about hunt test weekend is usually posted in June. And, of course, we hope to see everyone at next year’s Field Day in early May of 2021.
MSDA holds two of the largest sporting group conformation shows in the U.S. and, along with those, three days of all-breed obedience and rally trials, breed specialties, bird instinct clinics, and other activities. In 2020, the dates and major activities for MSDA’s events at the Howard County Fairgrounds (just south of I-70) in West Friendship, MD were February 28th – March 1st.
THANK-YOU participants, judges, stewards, trophy sponsors and all volunteers!
Mark your calendar! Our next Spring Event will be Friday March 5th, Saturday March 6th, and Sunday March 7th, 2021.
Below are some snapshots of the event. Click any picture to open an enlarged slide show of all of them.
The trainer also took photos of many of the dogs who participated in the Barn Hunt Try-It. See them at Nose Prints and More.
David Sombach Photography was the official photographer. He took all of the “win” photos. Literally hundreds of photos are available for viewing and purchase online at his website.
Major activities this year included:
MSDA Sporting Group Conformation Saturday and Sunday.
MSDA All-Breed Obedience & Rally Trials. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Breed Specialty Show on Friday – Northern Virginia Brittany Club.
Breed Specialty Show and Obedience & Rally Trial – Potomac Valley Golden Retriever Club.
Designated Specialty – Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club (USA) on Saturday.
MSDA Membership Meeting, dinner, and seminar on Saturday evening.
Also on the schedule were sweepstakes, owner-handled, junior handler, and best bred-by-exhibitor competitions. There was puppy and veteran sweepstakes, a dog show tour and new exhibitor briefing, and morning coffee & doughnuts.
Official results are available at the AKC website:
The following clubs supported entries at the shows: Capital City Cocker Club, Capital Region Flat-Coated Retriever Club, English Cocker Spaniel Club of America, Flat-Coated Retriever Society of America, Irish Setter Club of Greater Richmond, Irish Water Spaniel Club of America, Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac, Lower Susquehanna Irish Setter Club, Maryland Brittany Club, Mid Atlantic Field Spaniel Club, National Capital English Setter Club, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club – USA, Potomac Valley Golden Retriever Club, Susquehanna Valley English Springer Spaniel Club, Sussex Spaniel Club of America, Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of America, and Wilderness Pointer Club.
A big THANK-YOU to all who answered the call to work as volunteers and to those who sponsored trophies for our 2020 Spring Event!
Vendors:
Horse Brooch: So much more that a brooch or cute pin. Horse Brooch makes hand-made enameled (glass/porcelain enamels fused onto copper) brooches true to standard AKC dogs as well as a large variety of animal images. A technique of “painting” with enamel, originating in Limoges, France, in the 15th century which was developed by the Penicaud family. The use of this technique was the first time that different enamel colors were put next to each other without the separation of wire or surface metal. The pieces offered at The Horse Brooch are completely unique. The Realistic Style of each piece is individually drawn on and hand-sawn from a sheet of copper, which is then hand-painted using the Limoges painting technique. Each piece requires a minimum of five separate firings in
an enameling kiln producing a work of art.
White Bone Company: Since 1994, White Dog Bone has been family owned and operated by parents, children, and even grandchildren. The whole family is committed to offering quality Pet products and customer service. We work to represent as many USA manufacturers as possible and provide the same customer service you’d find at your neighborhood pet supply store. We provide quality, USA-manufactured products for pets and educational resources for owners.
The Sharp Shop: We offer a complete line of scissors, clippers blades to meet your individual needs. Family owned and operated in Maryland.
Salty Dog & Sweet P’s Swag is an Authorized Dog is Good Retailer. We offer paw-some clothing, accessories, and gifts for dog and cat lovers. Check out our events tab on Facebook for the location of our upcoming Pup Up Show.
MFD/Digi- Art Photography and Portraits: I am a pet portrait photographer. I use several art programs on my computer to create a digitized portrait of your “dog” or other pet… making it look like a painting. I then print on canvas (on site) in my booth and offer matting and framing. These portraits are completed in about a half hour, depending on how busy I am. I offer many custom gift items for clients, once I have a working portrait in my system. I also have created a line of note cards, (Gadfly Note Cards) using many of the fine breed representations I have taken over the years. I get the owners approval before doing this. Most of my MFD/Digi-Art career was spent in the Northeast, when I lived in PA. Now I’m located in South Carolina, and only come north a few times a year. I’m looking forward to seeing many old friends at the Sporting Dog Cluster.
Sunflower Trading Company: With 30+ years in the hat industry we know a thing or two about quality hats. We’re always looking to improve the shopping experience for our customers, so please don’t hesitate to let us know if there’s anything more we can do to help.
ComfyPooch by Mindy offers dog beds, crate pads, throws and now ottomans made from Crypton fabric. Products: Dog Beds, Pillow covers – to cover multiples for beds or decorative single pillow covers, Crate pads, Throws and Ottomans.
K-9 Fun-Fit, LLC is a multi-dynamic dog service business. We are passionate about fulfilling our canine family members in every way. We have learned the importance meeting our dogs’ needs by providing them with healthy food and treats along with keeping them in a balanced state through proper training, structured walks, and interactive play. K-9 Fun-Fit, LLC was birthed out of a life-long love of dogs. We understand the importance of gaining the dog’s trust and respect while providing a positive, well balance training experience. We teach that training your dog is a lifestyle. It is a continual, ongoing activity that you can be creative with. Lifestyle training goes beyond obedience commands. It is for everyday life and cohabitation. We are looking forward to opening a facility that will encompass all aspects of the K-9 Fun-Fit, LLC vision. We invite you to grab some treats from the online store or fetch the Mobile Treat Truck in your neighborhood. Also, you can schedule midday walks, training or stimulating activity sessions.
More Information: Once again, the chair of this event was Richard Jackson. Please contact him directly with any questions or comments.
We’ll continue to post updates on this page for MSDA’s 2020 Spring Event, so be sure to keep checking in with us. We also invite you to learn more about us, and sign up for our e-mail list to be updated (mostly via a monthly newsletter) on all club activities:
MSDA held six Bird Instinct Clinics during the 2020 MSDA Spring Event at the Howard County Fairgrounds. For a bird dog with little or no field experience, this was a great way to get started.
Instinct Clinic is a fun, relaxed, and encouraging activity. The session includes a brief introductory discussion followed by individual work with each dog and handler. Trainers get the dogs excited about the birds, and then the dogs are able to scent a bird and find a bird, triggering their basic hunting instincts. There is no gunfire and flushed birds fly away. Clinics are run by AKC hunt test judges and experienced handlers for flushing, pointing, and retrieving breeds. There is lots of fun, and great information, too!
Instinct Clinic also is a wonderful stepping stone for you and your dog to
get involved with training for your parent club’s WD or WC program or the
AKC Hunt Test programs, or to simply see how much fun you can have when
your dog gets turned on to birds!!
There were a total of six identical clinics, at 9:30 am and 1:30 pm on Friday 2/28, Saturday 2/29, and Sunday 3/1 and in 2020 they were fully booked. All potential bird dogs are welcome at our Instinct Clinics. We had one or more of the following breeds participating: Barbet, Clumber Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, Curly-Coated Retriever, English Cocker Spaniel, English Setter, English Springer Spaniel, Field Spaniel, Flat-Coated Retriever, French Spaniel, German Shorthaired Pointer, German Wirehaired Pointer, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Pointer, Saint Usuge Spaniel, Spinone Italiano, Standard Poodle, Vizsla, Weimaraner and Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
MSDA had a booth at the 2020 World of Pets Expo at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium MD. The Expo was Friday 1/24 – Sunday 1/26.
We made a lot of new friends — many Expo attendees were not familiar with MSDA and followed up by signing up for upcoming Instinct Clinics and by getting more information about Field Day and club membership. Old friends came by to say “hi”, too. And, of course, kids loved meeting a bird dog!
There were many other booths with products and information for dogs and every other pet. Also a petting zoo, dog agility competitions, and dock diving.
Special thanks to Sally Eck for organizing this and to Bree the English Setter for being such a great (and patient) representative of sporting dogs. We plan to be back at the 2021 Expo.
MSDA holds two of the largest sporting group conformation shows in the U.S. and, along with those, three days of all-breed obedience and rally trials. In 2020, the dates for MSDA’s events at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship, MD are:
Friday February 28th (All-Breed Obedience & Rally)
Saturday February 29th (Sporting Group Conformation, All-Breed Obedience & Rally)
Sunday March 1st (Sporting Group Conformation, All-Breed Obedience & Rally)
These events attract more than 600 dogs, along with owners, handlers, breeders, and the dog-loving public. Many “trophies” in the form of plaques, embroidered towels, dog toys, and other gifts are awarded to the winners each day.
A hearty THANK-YOU to all who are sponsoring trophies in 2020 for the following:
Chesapeake Bay Retriever – Saturday Best of Breed, Sponsored by: Jay Demarest
Chesapeake Bay Retriever – Saturday Winners Bitch, Sponsored by: Jay Demarest
Chesapeake Bay Retriever – Sunday Best of Breed, Sponsored by: Jay Demarest
Chesapeake Bay Retriever – Sunday Winners Bitch, Sponsored by: Jay Demarest
Clumber Spaniel – Saturday Best of Breed, In memory of Moby, CH Shogun’s Seadog CGC, RN, BN
Clumber Spaniel – Saturday Best of Opposite Sex, Sponsored by: Hank and Stanley
AKC Spaniel Hunting Tests
For All Flushing Breeds
September 14th & 15th, 2019
Rebel Ridge Farms
Elkton, Maryland 21921
MSDA held two days — two separate events — of AKC Spaniel Hunting tests on Saturday September 14 and Sunday September 15, 2019 at Rebel Ridge Farms in Elkton MD.
Mark your calendar for MSDA’s hunting test weekend next year:
September 12-13, 2020!
A big THANK-YOU to: judges Mary Lackey and Kate Ostrowski; gunners Walt Mullen, Brian Schmidt, and Barry Schroeder; CGC Evaluator Karen Cottingham; all the owners and handlers (many of whom also pitched in to help shag, drive the ATV, throw birds, contribute potluck dishes – yum! – and set up lunch); spectators; the hunt test committee; and Rebel Ridge Farms.
Junior, Senior, and Master Hunter levels were held both days. There also was Working Dog certificate testing and CGC evaluations on Saturday. Not just for spaniels, hunting tests are open to all eligible flushing breeds. These are:
Airedale Terrier, American Water Spaniel, Boykin Spaniel, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Clumber Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, Curly-Coated Retriever, English Cocker Spaniel, English Springer Spaniel, Field Spaniel, Flat-Cwereoated Retriever, Golden Retriever, Irish Water Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, Miniature Poodle, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Standard Poodle, Sussex Spaniel, Welsh Springer Spaniel. Dogs of these breeds recorded with the Purebred Alternative Listing Program/Indefinite Listing Privilege (PAL/ILP) or dogs with Conditional registration are eligible to participate. Spayed and neutered dogs are eligible to participate. Bitches in season are not eligible to participate, nor are they allowed on the grounds. Dogs with Limited Registration are eligible to participate.
We had a great entry! One or more of the following participated: Boykin Spaniel, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Clumber Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, English Cocker Spaniel, English Springer Spaniel, Golden Retriever, Irish Water Spaniel, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, and Standard Poodle. Attendees came from Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ontario, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia. In all, there were 27 dogs participating in hunt tests on Saturday and 32 on Sunday. Of these 13 qualified (passed, or “earned a leg” toward their hunting titles) on Saturday and 16 on Sunday. Overall, that’s about a 50% pass rate though, not surprisingly, the Juniors and Seniors had a greater success rate than the Masters did.
Ken Harringer got some great photos of his own dogs and of dogs entered in Senior Hunter on Saturday. Here are some of his shots:
Some pictures from Saturday’s Hunt Tests:
Pictures from Sunday’s Hunt Tests:
If you have any questions about hunting tests or working dog tests for flushing breeds, please contact Steve Roth . If you have some photos to share, please send them to the hunt test secretary Pamela DeSmidt and/or post them to our Facebook group.
Saturday, August 17th
1:30 – 4:30 pm
North Laurel Community Center
Laurel, MD 20723
This Saturday afternoon seminar covered stewarding for AKC conformation and obedience events.
The day focused on events and procedures for Maryland Sporting Dog Association’s “Spring Event”, which is held the first weekend of March each year at Howard County Fairgrounds. The spring weekend includes two days of conformation judging for AKC Sporting Group breeds. These events are two of the five biggest sporting dog conformation shows in the U.S. and attract well over 500 entrants each day. We also have three days of obedience and rally trials that are open to all breeds, and these draw another 100-150+ entries each day. Managing all of this requires an enormous volunteer effort, and stewards play a key role.
During the seminar, we reviewed what you need to know to confidently fulfill a stewarding role at MSDA’s Spring Event, especially stewarding procedures from how to greet your judge in the morning to how to keep all your notations organized in your steward’s book. There were presentations, Q&A, discussions, plenty of real-life examples, amusing stories, and demonstrations. Seminar materials were provided to each attendee.
Presenters:
Gregg Kantak: Gregg, who chaired this seminar, is an AKC conformation judge, breeder, owner and handler. For more than ten years, Gregg has served as Chief Steward for the MSDA conformation events.
Erv Lhotka: Erv is an AKC obedience judge, breeder, owner and handler of Labrador Retrievers with both conformation and obedience titles. Erv has served at MSDA’s Spring Event in both conformation and obedience stewarding roles.
Richard Todd Jackson: Richard is an AKC conformation judge, breeder, owner and handler. Since 2017, Richard has been the Show Chair for MSDA’s Spring Event.
Saturday, July 20 2019 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Dickerson, MD
Hosted by Alex and Steve Roth
This event was for MSDA club members, their families, and their guests. Dogs, too, of course!
MSDA provided grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, Beyond Meat burgers and cold non-alcoholic drinks. Attendees brought side dishes and desserts to fill out a great summer picnic buffet. There were also fresh delicious blackberries picked from Steve’s bushes near the pool, and many people took blackberries, as well as some garden-fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, home with them.
We weren’t really counting, but we think 25-30 people attended. Canine pool party participants included the following breeds: Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Clumber Spaniel, English Cocker Spaniel, Field Spaniel, Flat-Coated Retriever, Golden Retriever, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Standard Poodle, Vizsla, and Welsh Springer Spaniel.
The day turned out to be really Hot! Though the weather forecast predicted 100 degrees, someone observed that, driving up the road toward Steve’s property, the reading on their car’s thermometer dropped by 10 degrees. Still, running around the open fields was not a popular activity, though we coaxed a few dogs through the agility tunnel. Mostly, everyone headed straight for the pool. Outside of the pool itself, there was also plenty of shade, extra cooling tubs for the dogs, hoses and misters, chilled towels, fans, plus lots of ice and cold drinks. Everyone from the kids to the, ahem, “long-time club members” were in and out of the pool and having a great time with a lot of wet, happy dogs.
Here are some photos. (Click any photo for a larger “slide show” view.)
Miss the pool party because you’re not an MSDA member? Learn more about us, how to join the club, and sign up for our e-mail list.
Horse Brooch: So much more that a brooch or cute pin. Horse Brooch makes hand-made enameled (glass/porcelain enamels fused onto copper) brooches true to standard AKC dogs as well as a large variety of animal images. A technique of “painting” with enamel, originating in Limoges, France, in the 15th century which was developed by the Penicaud family. The use of this technique was the first time that different enamel colors were put next to each other without the separation of wire or surface metal. The pieces offered at The Horse Brooch are completely unique. The Realistic Style of each piece is individually drawn on and hand-sawn from a sheet of copper, which is then hand-painted using the Limoges painting technique. Each piece requires a minimum of five separate firings in
White Bone Company: Since 1994, White Dog Bone has been family owned and operated by parents, children, and even grandchildren. The whole family is committed to offering quality Pet products and customer service. We work to represent as many USA manufacturers as possible and provide the same customer service you’d find at your neighborhood pet supply store. We provide quality, USA-manufactured products for pets and educational resources for owners.
Salty Dog & Sweet P’s Swag is an Authorized Dog is Good Retailer. We offer paw-some clothing, accessories, and gifts for dog and cat lovers. Check out our events tab on Facebook for the location of our upcoming Pup Up Show.
Sunflower Trading Company: With 30+ years in the hat industry we know a thing or two about quality hats. We’re always looking to improve the shopping experience for our customers, so please don’t hesitate to let us know if there’s anything more we can do to help.
