TOP WINNERS AMERICAN SHIH TZU CLUB NATIONAL SPECIALTY, May 4, 2013

TOP WINNERS AMERICAN SHIH TZU CLUB SWEEPSTAKES, May 03, 2013

OVERALL HIGH SCORING SHIH TZU IN REGULAR CLASSES, ASTC AGILITY TRIALS 1 & 2, APRIL 29 AND 30

AMERICAN SHIH TZU CLUB OBEDIENCE TRIAL #1, 5/1/13

TOP WINNERS, SHIH TZU FANCIERS OF GREATER BALTIMORE SPECIALTY, 5/2/13

TOP WINNERS, SHIH TZU FANCIERS OF GREATER BALTIMORE SPECIALTY, 5/1/13

ASTC BOOTH WINS TOY GROUP AT ORLANDO MEET THE BREEDS

AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB'S CANINE GOOD CITIZEN BECOMES AN OFFICIAL AKC TITLE

SHIH TZU BOOTH AT THE 2012 NYC MEET THE BREEDS

FIRST SHIH TZU COURSING ABILITY TITLIST

AKC BREEDERS OF MERIT (UPDATED)

PURINA PARENT CLUB PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM 2012 UPDATE

PARTICIPATE IN NEW ONLINE HEALTH SURVEY

AKC/CHF PODCASTS

ASTC TO HELP FUND FOUR AKC/CHF

NEW AKC THERAPY DOG TITLE

AKC CANINE HEALTH FOUNDATION LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE

TOP WINNERS AMERICAN SHIH TZU CLUB NATIONAL SPECIALTY, May 04, 2013

BEST OF BREED: GCh. Wenick's Hollywood Memories, Wendy, Richard, and Jody Paquette

BEST OF OPPOSITE SEX: GCh. Foxfire Pocket Edition, Trisha Fox & Kathy Bilicich

BEST OF WINNERS, WINNERS DOG AND BEST BRED BY EXHIBITOR: Xeralane's Music Lover, Xeraland Kennel

WINNERS BITCH: Krissy's Neverending Dream, Jennifer Miller Farias

SELECT DOG: Ch. Hallmark Jolei Bells Will Be Ringing, Luke and Diane Ehricht

SELECT BITCH: GCh. Lohona Zephyr I Can't Look Away, Dan Haley

BEST PUPPY: Marja-Tu Chu's Solar Flame, Kathy Kwait & Mark & Jackie Stempel

AWARDS OF MERIT
Ch. Krissy's Savvy Jasper L. Sarah Lawrence
GCh. Ista's Hurricain Chaser Deborah Wheeler & Gregory S. Larson
Ch. Xeralane's Just Face It Xeralane Kennel
Ch. Jazzie's I Kissed A Girl Vicki Carder
Ch. Foxfire Feeling the Magic Trisha Fox

TOP WINNERS AMERICAN SHIH TZU CLUB SWEEPSTAKES, May 03, 2013

Best in Sweepstakes: Hallmark Jolei Rocket Power, owned by Luke & Diane Ehricht

Best Opposite Sex in Sweepstakes: Ultra's Playin' With My Imaginary Friends, owned by Kristie Miller

OVERALL HIGH SCORING SHIH TZU IN REGULAR CLASSES, ASTC AGILITY TRIALS 1 & 2, APRIL 29 AND 30

Overall High Scoring Shih Tzu in Regular Classes: MACH2 Ananda Supavee Supavee and Paiboon Tanapipatkulchai

Overall High Scoring Shih Tzu in Preferred Classes: Grimm's Big Guy Andrew Todd CDX RAE NAJ MXP3 OFP THD Mel Grimm

Monday April 29, 2013 Winners
Tuesday April 30, 2013 Winners

AMERICAN SHIH TZU CLUB OBEDIENCE TRIAL #1, 5/1/13

High in Trial (score, 186): Novice Class B Shente's Bear Goldstein, owned by Burton and Rochelle Goldstein

TOP WINNERS, SHIH TZU FANCIERS OF GREATER BALTIMORE SPECIALTY SHOW #2, 5/2/13

Best of Breed: Ch. Hallmark Jolei Bells Will Be Ringing, owned by Luke & Diane Ehricht

Best of Opposite Sex: Ch. Jadesilk Luve T'Auburn Locks,owned by Sandra Orford & Beth Chopey

Winners Bitch, Best of Winners, and Best Bred by Exhibitor: Hallmark Jolei Party Favor, owned by Luke & Diane Ehricht

Winners Dog: Hallmark Jolei Pocket Power, owned by Luke & Diane Ehricht

Select Dog: Ch. Wenrick's Hollywood Memories, owned by Wendy, Richard & Jody Paquette

Select Bitch: Ch. Foxfire Pocket Edition, owned by Trisha Fox and Kathy Bilicich

Best Puppy: Wenrick's Simply Justified, owned by Wendy, Richard & Jody Paquette

TOP WINNERS, SHIH TZU FANCIERS OF GREATER BALTIMORE SPECIALTY SHOW #1, 5/1/13

Best of Breed: Ch. Jadesilk Luv T'Auburn Locks, owned by Sandra Orford and Beth Chopey

Best of Opposite Sex: Ch. Hallmark Jolei Bells Will Be Ringing,owned by Luke and Diane Ehricht

Winners Bitch and Best of Winners: Wenrick's Greatest Love of All, owned by Zach Watkins

Winners Dog: Creative's So Hot Wonder Ride, owned by Ratchapol Chaykomhang

Select Dog: Ch. Jazzie's I Kissed A Girl, owned by Vicki Carder

Select Bitch: Ch. Foxfire Pocket Edition, owned by Trisha Fox and Kathy Bilicich

Best Puppy: Jiangzhuang-de Georgio of Heavenly Dynasty, owned by Jo Ann White, Francine Weiner Govostes, and Maureen Leckie

Best Bred by Exhibitor: Hallmark Jolei Party Favor, owned by Luke and Diane Ehricht

Awards of Merit:
Ch. Krissy's Savvy Jasper, owned by L. Sarah Lawrence
Ch. Yingsu's Keep Me In Mind, owned by Michelle M. Jones

ASTC BOOTH WINS TOY GROUP AT ORLANDO MEET THE BREEDS

2012 was the year for the American Shih Tzu Club. The treasured blue ribbon for being #1 in the Toy Group was awarded to our Shih Tzu booth at the 12th annual AKC/Eukanuba Meet the Breeds competition held in Orlando, Florida, on December 15th and 16th. Pictures of the “top” dogs in our breed were on display, along with dozens of candid shots. Also on view were Chinese symbols, accompanied by the English meanings and pictures of Shih Tzu demonstrating the aptness of such words as “loving,” “regal,” “playful,” and “stubborn” in describing our breed.

Dozens of brochures were handed out to interested visitors, along with Shih Tzu coloring books and crayons for the youngsters. A video was played of the 2011 National along with a special one sent from Deb Wheeler in which her dog “Cain” was posing for the song “I’m Too Sexy.” Adorable!

It was a hands-on experience. Puppies were in the middle of the booth on the Oriental rug, and the older dogs were on the floor or perched on a pedestal to “meet and greet.” The Shih Tzu in the aisles demanding to be acknowledged really brought the crowds in. Many visitors got down on the floor to learn the real meaning of “lap dog.” After two full days of being petted, held, and photographed, a couple of the dogs took to hiding under the Oriental table cover for a rest, but one of the puppies actually climbed out of the pen to join the crowd in front of the booth when he felt he was being overlooked! It was a truly amazing and rewarding experience.

We had Janice Wilson demonstrating how to put up top knots on the long coated dogs. Sharon Rowe, Kathy Arnone and her daughter Melody Chandler, Carlene Snyder, and Maureen Leckie were holding dogs and greeting. Jo Ann White was answering questions about the origin of the breed, and Lila Pontius was making sure all stayed together and was perfect. Everyone pitched in to make it a wonderful weekend. A special thanks to Dale Pontius, Dan Snyder, and Kirk Rowe for transporting and helping with the assembly of the booth. But the true stars of the show were the beautiful Shih Tzu, from 6-month-old puppies to the assorted array of cut downs to the long and flowing coated dogs. Without them we would not have had a winning booth.

AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB'S CANINE GOOD CITIZEN BECOMES AN OFFICIAL AKC TITLE

New York, NY - In celebration of dogs with good manners at home and in the community, beginning January 1, 2013, passing the AKC(r)'s Canine Good Citizen(r) test can be recognized as an official American Kennel Club(r) title for all dogs.

Since the program began in 1989, the CGC(r) has been considered an "award." Dogs that passed the 10-step test received a certificate, but CGC was not listed on the dog's title record. Now as a result of frequent requests from dog owners and instructors, owners of dogs registered or listed with AKC will be able to use the CGC suffix after the dog's name and include Canine Good Citizen on their dog's official title record.

"We're pleased to celebrate the accomplishments of the thousands of dogs that pass the Canine Good Citizen test each year by offering CGC as a title," said Mary Burch, PhD, director of AKC's Canine Good Citizen program. "The CGC program tests the skills that make dogs a joy to live with and many owners have expressed the desire to officially add this 'badge of honor' to the end of their dog's official AKC name. We hope that CGC is the first of many titles these dogs earn."

For dogs that pass the test on or after January 1, 2013, owners will be able to choose from two options on the CGC test form: CGC as a title or CGC certificate only.

* CGC as a title: CGC will be listed on the dog's official AKC title record. The dog must be registered or listed with AKC (via an AKC registration number, PAL listing, or AKC Canine Partners listing). Owners will receive the CGC certificate and may use the suffix "CGC" after the dog's name.

* CGC certificate only: CGC will not appear on the dog's official AKC title record.

Owners whose dogs earned the CGC award from January 1, 2001 onward may convert the award into a title by filling out and submitting this form: http://images.akc.org/cgc/GK9TC6.pdf

AKC began accepting CGC title applications on Monday, December 17, 2012. The processing of all CGC title application will begin Wednesday, January 2, 2013. Learn more about CGC as a title here: http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/title.cfm

To compete or earn any AKC titles, including the new CGC title, dogs must have an AKC number: an AKC registration number, a Purebred Alternative Listing (PAL) number or an AKC Canine PartnersSM number. If your dog doesn't already have an AKC number, learn how to obtain one here: http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/title.cfm#answer6

The Canine Good Citizen program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. Many dog owners choose Canine Good Citizen training as the first step in training their dogs. The program lays the foundation for other AKC activities such as obedience, agility, tracking, and performance events and also serves to enhance the bond between owner and dog, making dogs a pleasure with which to live. Get started or find a CGC instructor or approved AKC CGC evaluator: http://www.akc.org/dogowner/training/canine_good_citizen/links.cfm

SHIH TZU BOOTH AT THE 2012 NYC MEET THE BREEDS

The ASTC booth at the AKC's Meet the Breeds booth at New York City's Javits Center once again attracted huge crowds. Our thanks to coordinators Deb Vaiden and Mark and Jackie Stemple and their families and friends (and dogs) for another fabulous job!

FIRST SHIH TZU COURSING ABILITY TITLIST


In 2012, Ch. Just A Little Peyton Place RN CA MX MXJ CGC TT, owned by Terri Jenkins, became the very first Shih Tzu to earn an AKC Coursing Ability title. The AKC's newest performance event is based on Lure Coursing, an established sport open only to sighthound breeds. In Coursing Ability, all dogs can experience the joy of chasing the lure. While most of the dogs competing in lure coursing are from the Herding, Working, Terrier, and Hound groups, Shih Tzu Peyton loves it! Another Shih Tzu, OTCh. Helen's Brandy, was the first Shih Tzu to have won an AKC tracking title (TD), by demonstrating his ability to recognize and follow human scent. The qualifications for this award later changed, and it was also won by the top Shih Tzu performance dog of all time, MACH12 Harper's Naughty Nikki VCD1 TD CD RN NF. Nikke was also the first Shih Tzu to be awarded the new title Versatile Companion Dog by winning awards in three different performance sports, Agility, Obedience, and Tracking. Over the years, we have had a number of Shih Tzu earn obedience, rally, and agility trials, with the Performance Hall of Fame listing some of the outstanding Shih Tzu in these sports. So while this may be a breed known for its glamor in the conformation ring or perched on a silken pillow, it is also a sturdy, active dog that can excel in performance sports and has the temperament to make a wonderful therapy dog. Peyton, successfully involved in all of these activities, certainly demonstrates just how versatile a Shih Tzu can be!

Purina Parent Club Partnership Program Update

Greetings:

The American Shih Tzu Club Charitable Trust has received a check in the amount of $1,691.96, which represents one half of the funds earned by participants in the Purina Parent Club Partnership Program in 2011. The other $1,691.96 was deposited with the AKC/ Canine Health Foundation donor advised fund in the name of ASTC (ASTC decides how that fund will be used).

There are 1,247 Pro Club Members who signed up for the Purina Parent Club Partnership and designated ASTC to receive funds. We appreciate those Pro Club members who actively participated in the program by sending in their weight circles in 2011.

On behalf of the ASTC Charitable Trust Board of Directors:
Carlene Snyder, Janet Danner, Alyce Kotze, Marjorie & Delbert Westphal, Sally Vilas.

PS - time to mail weight circles for 2012! Click Here to join the Purina Partnership Program.

Participate In New Online Health Survey

FINALLY - a SHIH TZU HEALTH SURVEY is on-line: Click Here to Go to Health Survey & Ready to receive health information about all Shih Tzu!

The Orthopedic Foundations For Animals (OFFA) offers survey assistance to parent clubs, on their web site, to collect, with no names required, no email addresses collected - a compilation of the data that is posted as each owner takes the survey for the Shih Tzu that he or she has owned over the past 20 years.

It is important to have facts about those animals that have been diagnosed with some health issue - and equally important to have facts about those animals that have been healthy. We want the "big picture" about the health of this breed.

Those who want to consider owning a Shih Tzu deserve to know the overall health picture as reflected in statistics. The ASTC Charitable Trust would like statistics to help make funding decisions for health research projects. - SO -

Please fill out the survey for each Shih Tzu you have owned, living or deceased, over the past 20 years.

Please contact owners who purchased puppies from you and ask that they also fill out the survey.

Please share this information with all Shih Tzu owners

CREDIT: Preparing this Shih Tzu Health Survey has been a joint effort by: (1) American Shih Tzu Club Health/Research Committee; (2) American Shih Tzu Club Charitable Trust Directors.

AKC/CHF Podcasts

In this edition of Genome Barks, we bring you an interview with Dr. Gary Stamp, Executive Director of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society. Dr. Stamp served as commander of the United States Army Veterinary
command until 1999 when he retired from active duty. Dr. Stamp discusses how much first aid training dog owners should have, when emergency veterinary care is necessary, and how to select an emergency service.

Listen to the Podcast
podcast

New podcasts are released every two weeks. They are also available for direct download at Apple's itunes® or
genomebarks

For more information contact the AKC Canine Health Foundation at 1-888-682-9696 or chf@akcchf.org

ASTC TO HELP FUND FOUR AKC/CHF RESEARCH PROJECTS IN 2012

In 2012, the American Shih Tzu Club and the ASTC Charitable Trust decided to help fund two research projects into Canine Lymphoma and studies of Canine Osteosarcoma, Canine Oral Melanoma. All of these projects were approved for grants by the AKC Canine Health Foundation and in need of funding; because they are not breed-specific, their sponsor funding comes from many sources. You can help fund future ASTC/CHF research projects by participating in the Purina Parent Club program and designating the ASTC to receive the parent club portion of your donation.

Support ASTC Charitable Trust
Support Purina Parent Club Partnership Program

New AKC Therapy Dog Title THD (Therapy Dog)

THD (Therapy Dog) is a new AKC title that can be earned by dogs that have been certified by AKC-recognized therapy dog organizations and have performed 50 or more community visits. To find out more about qualifying for this title, which is designed to recognize and honor the work done by canine volunteers throughout the country, go to www.akc.org/akctherapydog

AKC Canine Health Foundation Launches New Website

The AKC Canine Health Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of it's newly designed website, www.akcchr.org. While the address remains the same, the content is dramatically different from the previous site. New features include a Canine Health section that contain descriptions of many canine diseases, information about caring for your dog, including dog training, safety, healthy weight, pet loss and much more; as well as articles that contain detailed information about canine health.

We now have a Success Stories section, which comes directly from research the AKC Canine Health Foundation has funded. This area takes grants funded by the Foundation and puts them into real-world terms, explaining how what could be considered lofty science is actually benefiting our dogs today.

Additional new features include short biographical profiles of the board and staff, as well as the members of the grants committee and funded investigators, a Heroes for Health Research section where individuals can create their own fundraising pages, and a list of research projects that need participation.

The new website continues to feature our Genome Barks podcast series, upcoming events, news releases, and other important information about the AKC Canine Health Foundation.

Sign-up and establish a user name and password for the site. Signing up will enable you to customize your email preferences and update your contact information at anytime.

Please take a moment to explore our updated website we think you'll enjoy it! And please consider the supporting this important canine health research as you reflect on your end of year giving plans. Every little bit helps!