Around Dutchland, December, 1995

by Penny Pyrbred

Penny was among those present at the Lehigh Valley Kennel 
Club's show in Macungie on September 16th 
where the beautiful Katie Manwiller took Best of Winners. The Lehigh 
Valley KC will host the 1996 Penn-Dutch Regional Specialty, so Penny 
was pleased to help check out the facilities. They were very nice, 
with several food stands (people and canine), lots of shade, and lots 
of vendors selling canine maintenance products and doggy art. This 
should be a super location for the '96 Specialty and Penny hopes everyone 
will come out to enjoy this event.

Speaking of events, check out the Berks County KC Seminar mentioned 
elsewhere in this issue. "Don't Shoot the Dog," a catchy title--NOT. 
(On the other hand, Penny would certainly not endorse a Seminar called 
"Shoot the Dog") Penny thinks any Penn-Dutch Pyr could teach 
these people a thing or two about operant conditioning. In fact, B.F. 
Skinner, who "discovered" operant conditioning, was led through 
the process step by step by his canine companion, who reportedly thought 
old B.F. a pretty slow learner.

Any Pyr who needs a refresher in behavioral training should refer 
to the famous "Entrainant Votre Humaine" (Training Your Human) 
by Tri International Champion Estat d'Argeles (his profile forms the 
Great Pyrenees Club of America's logo). Unfortunately this volume 
has not been translated into English, however some American Pyrs can 
read French. In general, Pyrs learn to read during puppy paper training, 
so spread out a copy of Figaro or Le Monde and your 
Pyr will grow up bi-lingual.

Incidentally, while many Pyrs can read, writing is much more difficult. 
Penny finds that opposable thumbs are not needed to operate a word 
processor, but she has no idea how old Estat d'Argeles managed writing 
back in the '30s. Imagine the mess most Pyrs would make with a fountain 
pen! But then, he WAS a Tri International Champion, and apparently 
not just a pretty face. Perhaps he dictated to his secretary? While 
Pyrs vary in their literary skills, all Pyrs enjoy a rich oral tradition, 
passed down from generation to generation. Penny loves the way Clondike 
Kintsfather tells the story of "Clonderella and the Evil Stepbitches," 
as told to her by her Pyr mother, Frosty Sherbert.

Penny would like to pyrsonally thank Dr. Mary Widman for allowing 
us to reprint the great photo of her and Amos which appears on the 
front cover of this issue (see Photo Section of this Web Page). If you 
are on your way to the '96 National Specialty in Vancouver, WA and 
get a little carsick near the Washington border, stop by her clinic, 
the Prairie Animal Hospital in Coer d'Alene, Idaho.

In Penn-Dutch news, Clondike Kintsfather is again hosting the Pyr 
party to coincide with the "people only" (Bah! Humbug!) Holiday 
party on Dec. 2nd. You can bet the food will be plentiful--the 
diet starts after New Year's. Penny hopes to see all her Pyr and people 
friends at the Canine Learning Experience at the Allentown Fairgrounds 
on Saturday, January 27th, 1996. Let's help the people win best 
educational booth for a 6th year in a row!

Have a great holiday season and I'll see you soon! 

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