Front Cover Summer 2019

ing our Dandies and activities pretty much the same way as

Games Assoc. that provides a list of all events across the coun-

try that may have a “ready interest” in Scottish heritage and

many other breed Clubs being we are bound by certain AKC

our beloved Border country Dandies? If you haven’t partici-

regulations in the formation and operation of our Club busi-

pated yet in either a MTB or Highland Games, this year is your

ness. But we have also known our numbers were declining for

chance. You can contact Diane Hanowitz about the upcoming

the past 25 years without a lot of success in stopping that de-

events and how to take part.

cline. However, this year our breed actually rose 6 points in

the AKC rankings, which is a significant change in the right

What is clear is that we cannot do this alone as a Board of 9 or

direction after many years of declining numbers. Also, 2018

a Committee of 6 members. We need your help and we need it

had a big increase in Dandie litters going from 9 in 2017 to 23.

now. I am asking for your help to attend at least one of these

Individual

AKC registrations had

events in the next year between May

an increase over the prior year to

2019 & May 2020 when our next

53 – all good signs in the right

Specialty will be at Purina Farms in

direction. Our breed is considered a

St. Louis, MO. Also, I am asking you

vulnerable species in the UK as

to get together with other Dandie

well, and numbers there increased

owners in your area or take a road

from 80 to 123 Dandies registered,

trip meeting at a park halfway in

which is a big increase and very

between to have a fun day with a

hopeful for the breeders and own-

picnic & Dandie races. Or get in-

ers there and for the US.

volved in a new activity with your

dog – therapy work like reading to

In April 2016, I formed an action

kids at schools or the library, new

committee, headed by one of our

AKC events like nose work, barn

long-time members, Jody Mox-

hunt and dog dancing. All of these

ham. She also was an experienced

can mean bonding with your Dandie

business consultant and marketing

and they don’t require perfect

manager for many well-known US

grooming or competing in a ring.

companies. That group has met

They can bring breed visibility to

monthly through conference calls

places where Dandies are rarely seen

and group emails for two years to

and awareness of their special breed

look into what our obstacles have

characteristics.

been in sustaining our breed and

how we can do a better job of en-

Finally, we have one other obstacle –

couraging Dandie owners to be

one that’s been on-going and contin-

involved with their dogs in activi-

uous as long as we’ve had a DDTCA .

ties and participate in helping the Club achieve their mission of

We don’t have enough ACTIVE members, we don’t have

ENSURING THE LONG TERM SURVIVABILITY OF THE DANDIE

enough younger members, we don’t have enough breeders and

DINMONT TERRIER. You have taken their surveys and we

we still have some members who don’t get along.

have paid attention to the results of those answers, as a Board

So this is what I am asking all of you to do: PULL TOGETHER

and are working on your main concerns – the membership

FOR THE SAKE OF THESE 4 LEGGED CREATURES WE LOVE

process being easier and available online, feeling connected and

AND REACH OUT IN KINDNESS TO HELP THE CLUB, YOUR

welcomed as members through a new website design and pho-

NEW DOG OWNERS AND EACH OTHER AS YOU ORGANIZE

to gallery plus getting help with showing & breeding through

EVENTS OR TRIPS. Find common ground in the joint purpose

a mentor. All of these are in various stages of development by

of saving our breed by putting differences aside. Choose to be

SAC with the Board. You will be hearing an update tonight

part of the solution. We can help each other to work on posi-

from Karen Dorn of the Strategic Advisory Committee provid-

tive steps to achieve our goals. I implore you to make an extra

ing some details on our current status and future work in

effort, take a new approach or try something different – reach

Dandie breeding and mentoring.

out by phone, write a note or email, attend a show “just to

From your input, we have developed handout materials and

watch” and support exhibitors, participate in a meet the breed

portable banners that we provide at no cost to members to use

booth or create your own social time with a picnic or group

at your local Meet the Breeds, parades, pet fairs and especially,

walk just for fun! WHERE WILL THE NEXT BREEDERS AND

the Highland Games. They are shipped out and easily returned

MENTORS COME FROM WHEN WE’RE GONE? ONLY YOU

and have been used in the last two years across the country at

CAN DECIDE THAT, BUT DON’T TAKE TOO LONG, OR IT’LL

various events to increase awareness and demand for our

BE DECIDED FOR US. THANK YOU

breed. Did you know there’s a National Celtic/Highland

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