THE CAVALIER CHRONICLE

Wow, what an eventful last few weeks coming off our August 11th board meeting. We have confirmed a lot of upcoming events.

• We are now AKC approved to host a FastCat event on November 15th and 16th in Canon, GA. The location is a bit south of Clemson off of I85. There are two events each day and this is open to all breeds. This our commitment to provide additional opportunities to our membership to participate in AKC approved activities and earn titles and have FUN. Please plan on participating and share with all your friends that have other breeds that would like to burn some energy from the fur kids and work towards AKC titles.

• Jess and Victoria have volunteered to host the next puppy social on September 27th at their home. They have convinced Linda to do a grooming seminar so feel free to invite your cavalier friends that may be interested.

• Our Holiday Luncheon is set for December 21st at the Lawrenceville Kennel Club facility. This is the same facility we used for the March 2025 Puppy Picnic. This is a great facility and more centrally located for most members. Please sign up, note what dish you will be bringing to share. Look at the invite carefully as we will have a recommendation on dishes to bring to hopefully provide a complete meal (the club will be providing a Ham). You will need to mark the dish as being provided to we can keep a running tally and blockout as need is filled so we don’t end up with too much of one thing.

• Our 2026 Puppy Picnic is set for Sunday, March 22, 2026 at the Lawrenceville Kennel Club facility. This worked out great last year and allows us to hold rain or shine. Both the heart and eye clinic doctors have been secured. Please, Please, Please, Please sign up your pups for this very important part of their health plan. It will cost you much more than the fee these doctors are providing if you were to have your own vet do the testing. More and more doctors are setting minimums and our doctors have been gracious in waiving this requirement for our club. We are not sure how long we can fend this off and the club cannot afford to fund the minimum vs. actual variance. This is a great service we have been able to provide to our membership and we need you to use it to the fullest extent.
  

I hope you enjoy the August newsletter. This month the sports focus will be Fast CAT, and our "Behind the Lead" column will feature new members, Nancy & Rick Jackfert. If you have any overall suggestions, have general feedback, if you'd like to have your kennel featured, and especially if you have brags, please send them to CKCSCAtlantaNewsletter@gmail.com.

Thanks - Beth Lassiter, Editor

September

• 9/27 12-4pm - Puppy Picnic (Stone Mountain)

October (note date change)

• 10/ 6 6pm - Board Meeting (Zoom)
  
• 10/6 7:30pm - Regular Meeting (Zoom)

November

• 11/10 7pm - Board Meeting (Zoom)
• No Regular Meeting

December

• 12/21 12-4pm - Holiday Luncheon (Lawrenceville KC Training Center)
  

Our Autumn puppy social at the home of Victoria Babcock & Jessica Hillman in Stone Mountain will be SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27 from noon to 4pm! The EVITE invitation was emailed out the 1st week of August. Information is also posted on our club’s Facebook page. Bring a chair to sit on and a snack to share. Club will have drinks and ice.

Come support the Newnan KC shows on Saturday and Sunday, October 17 and 18 at the Coweta County Fairgrounds. The club is supporting the entry. Superintendent is Foy Trent Dog Shows. Judge panel is Mr. Nicholas Frost (Friday) and Mrs. Paula Ayers (Saturday).

Our club has been approved to host 2 days of FastCAT on November 15-16 at Flying Hounds Farm in Canon, Georgia. This is a huge opportunity for our club to get some exposure, possibly gain some new members, but most importantly to have fun with your dog!

The premium for the event can be found here.

Beth Lassiter will be hosting a FastCAT Informational session on September 17 at 7pm via zoom. Please attend if you'd like to learn more about FastCAT, to learn how to run your dogs, to find out what's involved for our club to host the event, and/or if you'd like to help volunteer. The meeting will also be recorded in case you are unable to attend at that time. Be on the lookout for the invite.

In the meantime, a few things you can do...

• Sign-up to run your dog(s). If your dog is over 1 year old, healthy, and not in season if a female, then consider signing your dog up to run - no experience is required!
• Volunteer to help. We have blocks available both days and can train you on site for any job (such as check-in, timer, helping participants get where they need to go). And you can absolutely still run your dogs AND volunteer. Please reach out to Beth Lassiter (bethlassiter76@gmail.com) if you're interested in volunteering..
• Spread the word. Please help us get the word out about the event. You will start seeing more info about the event on Facebook, via email, and other channels. Please share and let others know! All dogs* are welcome - not just cavaliers! (*this includes all AKC registered purebreds, Foundation Stock Service, Purebred Alternative Listing, and AKC Canine Partners)

If you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to reach out to anyone on the Event Committee:

Beth Lassiter, Victoria Babcock, Jessica Bahill, Nancy Jackfert, Beth Pederson

Mark your calendars for the big year end event! We are holding our annual Holiday Luncheon on Sunday December 21, 2025 at the Lawrenceville KC Training Center in Lawrenceville from noon to 4pm. We will have member recognition, President Award, fun raffles, Ugly Sweater Contest, Holiday Bingo and the infamous White Cavalier Gift Exchange!

The club will provide spiral sliced ham and drinks. You provide a side to share. Evite invitations will be emailed out at the beginning of September so be sure to save the date!

Big news! We will be holding TWO different specialty show weekends in 2026! Our regular February Winter Specialty show was moved by the Cherokee Rose Cluster to June 25 – 28, putting our specialty shows on June 27 and June 28. That show will still be held at the Atlanta Expo Center South. We still plan on having great ringside baskets, exhibitor bags and good ole southern hospitality!

Our host hotel for this event is the Sonesta Airport North Hotel. It is a lovely hotel with a restaurant and bar/pub. More information on the room rates, etc will be available shortly. We are also in discussions on how we can continue to hold our fabulous Saturday night social and live auction. Stay tuned for more information as the year progresses!

We have added a brand new specialty show weekend in Perry GA at the Fairgrounds in conjunction with the Macon KC. These shows will be May 9 & 10 (Saturday and Sunday). This is a 4 day cluster at a lovely indoor venue.

Information for both shows are listed on the club website.

Can you believe it is that time of year again? Renewal letters will be mailed to the mailing address we have on file for you during the month of September. Renewals are due by 12/31/2025. Be sure to be on the look out for that mailing in September!

Please help us to celebrate the following members and their accomplishments!!

This month we're highlighting members that joined our club recently - Rick and Nancy Jackfert from Peachtree City, Georgia.

Current cavalier: Barley (Almeara Barley Fields of Gold DCAT CGCA CGCU TKI) Age: 2

Barley is our first CKCS. We had rescued golden retrievers and golden mixes for about 30 years, usually 2 at a time. When we lost our last golden we knew we would get another dog one day, but agreed to find a smaller breed and one that has the disposition similar to a golden. Most of all, a dog that will enjoy life with a retired couple. After researching various breeds and talking with a few breeders we decided on a CKCS. The Cavalier Club had a list posted of preferred breeders that led us to breeders in the Atlanta area, and eventually we were in touch with Linda Whitmire. After Linda answered our list of questions we went to meet her and her cavaliers. Education about the breed was crucial for us. Wow...we learned so much from Linda. During our visit, Barley's mom, Lovey, fell asleep between Rich and I while Barley snuggled in my lap. There was no turning back....we would return the next day to pick up Barley. The night before we brought him home we stopped at the pet store and felt like we were 1st time dog owners....all the toys and supplies we were familiar with were for large breed, adult dogs, not a 7 pound, 12 week old Cavalier. We gathered several toys and supplies, set up a crate and put a comfort dog, the one with the beating heart, inside for him to snuggle with at night. The daily Amazon deliveries began and lasted for many months. He still gets frequent deliveries, they just aren't daily.

Our adventures began....we were so fortunate that he slept through the night without accidents from the very first night. A potty spreadsheet helped us remember the last time he was out and what he did. Our "Alexa" app helped remind us of his mid-day and dinner meals. We knew Barley was smart and food motivated, but he confirmed it when he jumped on top of our laps when he heard Alexa say, "Rich, this is your reminder to feed Barley." Barley has been taking road trips with us since he was 16 weeks. He is a wonderful traveler, capturing tons of attention wherever he goes. He has the front desk staff of each hotel we stay at trained to come around and give him lovin'. He's definitely hard to resist! He's been to at least 12 states with stays at beaches, the Great Lakes, National Parks, big cities and small towns.

Training, training, training...I had no idea that there were so many dog sports available for small dogs, much less the variety of dog sports in general. I associated small dogs with conformation events, but I have a whole new appreciation for every type of dog event since starting training with Barley. We started with basic skills that led us to CGC training, which led to Advanced CGC, which led to CGCU. The trainer was encouraging for us to learn some tricks through playing games. This led us to his trick dog titles. We continue to learn new tricks and will keep reaching for higher levels. I've learned that chasing leaves or anything that blows in the wind is common among CKCS. This led to dog friends talking about something called FastCAT. There happened to be a FC event nearby and we went with no idea if he would chase the trash bunny. He was hooked as soon as he saw the other dogs chasing. He earned his BCAT his first weekend. Throughout this spring we've traveled around the Southeast to run. Barley earned his DCAT in March and is 5 runs away from his FCAT. We continued our training when we came across a local, indoor agility class. Barley loved the obstacles and being around other dogs/owners. Once it cools off, we'll continue exploring this journey. Another one of Barley's favorite things to do is to "sniff". He begins each day with running the perimeter of the yard to see what was in his yard. He is also a professional worm catcher. Burying his nose and pulling worms from the ground with his teeth. Watching this led us to explore the world of Barn Hunt. We took a class one weekend and then trialed the following weekend earning 1Q towards his novice title. We will continue practicing and searching for rats. We also started scent work classes this year and are looking forward to the variety of trials offered.

Needless to say, Barley keeps us very active and traveling with a variety of dog events. What a great way to enjoy our retirement....travel, exploration, exercise and learning with Barley. We are forever grateful to Linda Whitmire for guiding/educating us about the CKCS and for breeding such incredible dogs. We also want to thank Beth Lassiter for her positive, encouraging nature for us to try a variety of events. She is a wealth of knowledge and is always so willing to help. We look forward to being behind Barley's lead for many, many years.

This month we're revisiting an interview with Lu Dunham (O'Skot Cavaliers) and Beci Markijohn (Kymerite Cavaliers) about Fast CAT! And if this piques your interest, be sure to keep an eye out for our club hosting a Fast CAT in the Fall - more details to come!

Beth: What is Fast CAT?

Lu: It’s like measuring a track star’s speed: Dogs run individually in a timed 100-yard dash, one at a time, chasing a lure. Fast CAT is an electronically timed race in which a dog's speed is converted into mph. Titles are awarded based on points that are determined by multiplying a dog's mph by its handicap, a derivative of its height at the withers.

Beci: Your dog is released by one person and runs, chasing the lure (plastic bags tied to a string) to another person. Your dog can be either prey-driven, or driven to get to the person at the other end of the chute.

Beth: Why do you / your dogs participate in the sport?

Beci: A friend of mine convinced me to try it with my B&T cavalier, Ramsay, when he was young. He LOVED it! It is an event that I can get outside and do with my dogs that is purely for THEM! They mostly get in the show ring for me, so I do Fast CAT for them because it makes them so happy.

Lu: It’s really fun to watch your dog run. Mine have a great time chasing the “bunny”. It’s a low pressure environment, lots of time to enjoy the outdoors and visit with other dog owners. The title rosettes are awesome!

Beth: How do I know if my dog will like it?

Beci: Does your dog chase butterflies, squirrels, leaves, birds, or anything that moves in your yard or on your walks? Your dog might be interested in Fast CAT! That kind of behavior often suggests the dog has a "prey drive" to chase prey. It doesn't always hold true, but in general, it mostly does.

Lu: You should try FUN RUNS. Fun Runs allow your dog to run the FastCAT track but it's not competing in the Fast CAT trial. Fun Runs are open to all dogs who are in good health, however females in heat are not allowed on the track. (It’s just too distracting to the boys!) The track is completely enclosed and safe. No training is required. If your dog loves to run, just come out for the fun of it! It’s great exercise for your dog and a great way to bond and have fun with your dog!

Beth: Are there any specific concerns for cavaliers involved in the sport?

Lu: If your dog is healthy, it can do Fast CAT!

Beci: You should be aware of the physical athletic shape as well as heart health and any other medical conditions your dog may have, and use your best judgment. Also be aware of the impact they're placing on their knees - patella injuries (while more common with CAT than Fast CAT) can occur. If you are planning to breed your dog, you might want to consider how much/often you are going to run your dog before the age of 2 years when you have the patellae officially checked.

Beth: Wait - what is CAT? How is it different than Fast CAT?

Lu: Instead of a straight 100 yard course, each dog chases after the lure on either a 300- or 600-yard long, non-straight course and must finish in less than 1 ½ minutes and 2 minutes, respectively.

Beci: In this event your dog must be prey-driven or at least enticed to leave you and chase the lure. Veteran dogs run 200 or 300 yards, half the main courses, depending upon height.

Beth: So how do I sign up for a Fast CAT?

Lu: The requirements for your dog's entry are: at least 12 months of age, have an AKC number (or PAL), and must pass physical inspection at the venue (an inspection committee will inspect each dog for lameness and fitness to compete). Females in season are not eligible to participate.

Beci: There are Facebook groups dedicated to Fast CAT in different regional areas of the country and clubs or lure operating companies that are hosting events often post their premiums and information about their events in those groups. You can also find events on the superintendent websites such as Infodog. However, the most comprehensive place to find all the events is through the AKC Event Search here. Under "Performance Events", select Fast CAT (FCAT), the date range of interest, and then "Retrieve Events". There will be a premium attached to the event of interest to provide further information about how to register. There should also be someone listed in the premium to answer questions: the trial secretary or the field chair. If you can't get the answers you need, feel free to reach out to me at kymeritecavalers@gmail.com I'm happy to help if I can.

Beth: Where do I go for more information?

Lu: Check out this video: Fast Cat for Beginners.

Beci: Also the AKC site has plenty of information for you here.

Would you like to volunteer and help the club out? We would love to have you consider taking on various roles in the club listed below. Please let Jim Utych know of your interest or any questions you may have!

Programs/Speakers – Do you have an idea for a topic or better yet a speaker that would like to speak to the club at one of the zoom meetings on a topic of interest? In the past we have had vet specialists speak regarding SM, CM, nutrition, and holistic approaches. We also have had an animal communicator speak to us on the topic and had an in person grooming seminar. Give us your thoughts, leads and topics!

Fundraising Committee – We would like to have someone as our point person for fundraising – especially this pays for most of our Specialty expenses! You would coordinate raffles with Kathy Knoles Small Dog Club Facebook Fundraising for our club, manage the sponsorships and trophy donations by soliciting via Facebook and email, working with Ashley Powell who does a GREAT job of sourcing items from vendors for our raffle baskets and auctions.

Did you know that in addition to our website, the club also has a Facebook page AND an Instagram account? These social media accounts are managed by club members Victoria Babcock and Jess Hillman. If you have suggestions for fun posts, etc., please contact them at

victoriaandjessbahill@gmail.com

If you haven’t “liked” our Facebook page, head on over and click the “Like” button!

Our Instagram page is: https://www.instagram.com/CKCS.OF.GREATERATL

Do you know a club member who needs some sunshine?

Our Sunshine Committee Chair is Ashley Powell. If you know of a club member that needs to be remembered or encouraged, please be in touch with Ashley.

Ashley can be reached at ashncav@gmail.com.

Mmm, fiber. Just what your dog is craving, right? OK, maybe not. After all, we humans don't really think of fiber as being particularly delicious, but we know that it's something we need in our diets. Most of the time, we get all we need from our regular diet. The same is true for our dogs: Fiber isn't considered an essential nutrient for them, but it's found to some degree in all commercial dog foods. Occasionally, we need a little more fiber to help keep things moving, and so do our canine companions. A diet high in fiber can even help with other health problems, as well as promote overall colon well-being for both you and your pet.

Let's back up a second, though. What exactly is fiber? It's a term used to describe plant material that isn't digested by our bodies, also known as roughage. There are two different kinds of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber absorbs water, breaks down into a stringy, mucilaginous (mucus-like) material and ferments, releasing gases as it passes through the colon. Insoluble fiber also absorbs water, but it doesn't ferment. Soluble fiber also ferments at different rates -- slow-fermenting fiber sources include peanut hulls and cellulose, while bran, pectin and soy fiber ferment more quickly. Beet pulp, a common source of fiber in dog food, is somewhere in the middle. A mixture of different types of soluble fiber is best; too much fast-moving fiber can cause diarrhea, while slow-fermenting sources may not make a difference.

If your dog needs more fiber than what he's getting from his regular food, it can be a little more challenging than when you hit the fiber supplement aisle at the pharmacy. That's why there are high-fiber dog foods available on the market. Most contain a mix of both soluble and insoluble fiber. Not all of them are created equal, though. Some inexpensive dog foods could contain sources of fiber that you may not be happy feeding your dog, such as shredded paper. Of course, the label won't use those words, but ingredients like cellulose, for example, can come from a wide variety of sources. Your best bet is to do your research. All dog foods have ingredient lists, which will list the amount of crude fiber (a general term for any kind of fiber) as a percentage. Look for specific sources of fiber (like those mentioned above), and ask your veterinarian what he or she recommends. Now that you know all about fiber, read on to learn exactly how a high-fiber diet can benefit your dog.

Typically when we think of high-fiber foods, we think of constipation. High-fiber dog food can help treat constipation because insoluble fiber absorbs water, creating softer, larger stools. Larger stools stimulate the colon's muscle contractions. There are many conditions that can cause constipation in dogs, so if it's a chronic problem, you should get him checked out by the vet.

It might surprise you to know that high-fiber food can also help dogs that have diarrhea. Insoluble fiber absorbs excess water in the colon, while the fermenting action of soluble fiber can balance acidity levels in the colon and create more friendly bacteria. Again, chronic diarrhea may be a sign of a more serious problem, so just switching to a high-fiber food isn't necessarily the answer.

All dogs have scent glands located on either side of their anus, which secrete oils when they defecate. These anal glands give their feces a unique scent -- yet another way for dogs to mark their territory. Unfortunately, these glands can get clogged, which can be very painful for your dog and can result in anal gland disease. The bulking action of high-fiber foods creates larger stools that press against impacted glands, releasing them.

If your dog is overweight, he may need to go on a weight-control dog food. When you read the ingredient list, you'll probably notice that "diet" dog foods are also high in fiber. Fiber makes your dog feel full without adding a lot of calories, so it can help him shed those extra pounds.

Dogs who have been diagnosed with diabetes can also benefit from a high-fiber dog food. The bulk of insoluble fiber slows digestion, which keeps blood sugar levels from spiking. According to veterinarian Denise Elliot, fermenting soluble fiber may also influence the release of hormones that affect a diabetic dog's sensitivity to insulin (making him less sensitive to it), although research doesn't yet show exactly how this works.

Finally, high-fiber dog foods can reduce your dog's risk of contracting colon cancer. Fiber speeds elimination, which means less time for the carcinogens your dog may have consumed to hang out in his intestinal tract. When soluble fiber ferments, one of the byproducts is a short-chain fatty acid. These fatty acids provide needed fuel for cells lining the walls of the intestine, which aid in repairing the cells of the intestine.

Now you may be gung-ho about switching your dog to a high-fiber food, but it's imperative that you consult with his vet first. Too much fiber can cause frequent stools, diarrhea and gas, and it can even interfere with the absorption of vitamins and minerals. So listen to your vet and take it slow.

Ingredients

1.5 cups whole wheat or white flour

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup grated carrot

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a medium-sized bowl mix flour, applesauce, cinnamon, and grated carrot together. It will be a little sticky so add additional flour to make it less sticky.

3. Roll out your dough on a floured surface to about 1/4” thick.

4. Shape the dough by hand or use a dog bone cookie cutter. I used a medium size. To make it even easier to remove spray it with cooking spray and place it on a parchment-lined or lightly greased edged cookie sheet.

5. Bake for 35 min. or until golden brown color and remove and let completely cool before serving to your pet.

CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL CLUB OF GREATER ATLANTA

www.ckcscatlanta.org

Beth Lassiter, editor

CKCSCAtlantaNewsletter@gmail.com