THE CAVALIER CHRONICLE

As I write this, we are 4 weeks from our Puppy Picnic at the Lawrenceville Kennel Club site. We will have food, health clinics, fun match, canine good citizen and trick dog events. Please go out to the club's web site and you will see a calendar of events and approximate times planned for each event. Please support the health clinics. You will save a lot of money as well as making it worthwhile for the doctor's to continue to come out and provide this valuable service.

Also, we have the sponsorships for both the May Specialty in Perry and the June Specialty in Atlanta (moved from February due to conflict with Westminster, but will move back to February in 2027). Please look at what is available on consider sponsoring to support the club. Huge thank you to those that have already signed up.

Also, huge thank you to the nominating committee as they completed a very important requirement by providing a slate of board members for the 2026-27 club year staring in May. The members are Ashley Powell, chair, Roger Smith and Beth Lassiter, with alternates being Victoria Babcock and Beth Pederson. The slate is

Jim Utych, President

Paula Ayers, Vice President

Carolyn Powell, Treasurer

Sharon Onorato, Corresponding Secretary

Beth Lassiter, Recording Secretary

Ashley Powell, Director

Linda Whitmire, Director

Remember, that if you want to nominate anybody from the floor, this happens at the April general meeting. The only requirement is the nominator but be on the call and the person being nominated must also be on the call to accept the nomination.

Thanks and keep safe.
Jim Utych
President

I hope you enjoy the February newsletter! In addition to the updates Jim mentioned above, we are providing information in the Sports Corner on preparing for Trick Dog Testing at the March Puppy Picnic.

Please reach out with any suggestions, brags, pics, to have your kennel featured, and/or to provide information about yourself so we can all get to know you a big better! Email me at CKCSCAtlantaNewsletter@gmail.com - I can't wait to include you in a future newsletter!

Thanks -

Beth Lassiter, Editor

March

Mar 9 7PM - Board Meeting

NO Regular Meeting

Mar 15 - Puppy Picnic

April

Apr 6 6:30PM - Board Meeting (finalization any issues of May Specialty shows)

Apr 6 7:30PM - Regular meeting (including floor nominations) - note date change due to ACKCSC National

May

NO Board Meeting

May 11 7:30PM - Regular Meeting (elections)

Renewals were due by 12/31/2025 and are now closed. If you did not renew your membership, it has officially lapsed. An email stating that your membership has lapsed was emailed to you on February 2nd from the club secretary. If you would like to remain a member in the club, please contact the club secretary for more information.

The following members were voted in as Regular Members (from Associate) during the February meeting:

• Beth Pederson
• Jessica Hillman
• Victoria Babcock

Congratulations!!

Our fun puppy picnic is right around the corner! It is Sunday March 15, 2026 at the Lawrenceville KC Training Facility. We will have heart and eye health clinics, fun contests, trick dog / CGC testing, fun match and great food. You can prepay your health clinic online and learn more about the picnic on our club website at: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club of Greater Atlanta - 2026 Spring Puppy Picnic

If you plan on participating in the health clinic and have prepaid online, you will need pick up your exam ticket from the volunteer working the health clinic table. Remember clinics start at 10am (an hour before the picnic festivities begin).

You will need to make sure you have the appropriate information on your dog(s) to complete the eye and heart forms for OFA. Since the doctors are using multi part forms they will need to be completed on site. Bring your dog AKC certificate information (AKC number, etc) which will have the all the information you need to complete the forms. More information can be found on the OFA website at: Applications | OFA

If you are planning to test for either the CGC or Trick Dog at the March Puppy Picnic, there are a few things you should bring with you:

CGC Required Equipment

• ​Approved Collar/Harness: A well-fitting buckle or slip collar (leather, fabric, or chain) or a standard body harness.
• Standard Leash: A 6-foot leash made of leather or fabric.
• Grooming Tool: A brush or comb for the "Appearance and Grooming" portion of the test.
• AKC registration number

​Restricted Items

• ​No Training Collars: Pinch/prong collars, head halters (like Gentle Leaders), and electronic collars are prohibited.
• No Retractable Leashes: These are not allowed during the evaluation.
• No Food or Toys: You cannot use treats or toys as rewards or lures during the test.

Trick Dog Items

• ​High-Value Treats & Lures
• ​For Novice: Bring plenty of treats or a favorite toy. You are allowed to use them as lures (guiding the dog's nose) and rewards.
• For Intermediate and Above: Bring treats for rewards only. You cannot lead the dog through the motion with the food anymore, but you can definitely give them a snack once they finish the trick.
• Your Trick "Props" - ​Unlike the CGC, the evaluator usually doesn't provide the items. You must bring the specific objects required for your chosen 10 tricks. Common items include:
• A "Place" Item: A mat, bed, or towel for "Go to Your Place."
• A Box or Crate: For "Get In" or "Sits in Box."
• Targeting Tools: A target stick or even just a -Post-it note for "Touch."
• Toys: A ball for "Fetch" or a stuffed animal for "Carry."
• Specialty Items: A hula hoop (for jumping through), a brush (for "Get your brush"), or cups (for the "Shell Game").
• Standard Gear
• Flat Collar or Harness: Just like the CGC, no prong, e-collars, or head halters are allowed during the evaluation.
• Leash: A 4-to-6-foot standard leash.
• Water & Bowl: Trick testing can be high-energy, so keep your dog hydrated.

• Paperwork & Identification
• AKC Number: You need your dog's registration number to fill out the title application.
• Trick Checklist: It’s helpful to print the AKC -Trick Dog Checklist for your specific level and check off the 10 tricks you plan to perform so the evaluator can follow along easily.
• CGC Certificate (If applicable): If your dog already has a Canine Good Citizen title, bring proof! It counts as 5 of your 10 tricks for the Novice level, so you only have to perform 5 more.

Georgia On My Mind and Cavaliers In My Heart

Placement sponsorships for both our May and June Specialty Show weekends are open and available on our website! Your generous donations help offset the cost of putting on our high quality specialty shows! Your sponsorship will be noted online on our website and also ringside. Please consider sponsoring a placement in honor of or in memory of a special cavalier!

May Specialty Sponsorship: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club of Greater Atlanta - 2026 May Specialty Show

June Specialty Sponsorship: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club of Greater Atlanta - 2026 June Specialty Sponsorship Page

June Specialty Host Hotel Information – Be sure to book your room early!

Our host hotel for this event is the Sonesta Airport North hotel. It is a lovely hotel with a restaurant and bar/pub. All the hotel booking and cost information is on the club website at: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club of Greater Atlanta - 2026 Summer Specialty Shows

THERE ARE A VERY LIMITED AMOUNT OF ROOMS BLOCKED OUT AT THIS RATE, SO BOOK EARLY! HOTELS ALL AROUND THE ATLANTA AREA WILL BE FILLED UP AND HIGHER PRICED AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE FIFA WORLD CUP BEING HELD IN ATLANTA.

The 2026 ACKCSC National Event in Kingsport, Tennessee at the Meadowview Conference Center & Resort promises to be so much more than just a dog show—it’s a week-long extravaganza of education, fun, and friendly competition.

Events

• Scent Work: Sat-Sun, April 11-12 (Premium, entries close Mar 26 5PM Eastern)
• Conformation National Specialty*: Monday to Thursday, April 13–16
• Rally/Obedience*: Tues-Wed, April 14-15
• Fast CAT: Tues-Thu, April 14-16, at the driving range adjoining the hotel (Premium not yet available)
• Fetch: TBD
• Independent Specialty*: Friday, April 17
• Agility Trials: Fri-Sun, April 17-19 at Three Bulls Farm in Bulls Gap, TN (Premium, entries close Mar 23 11PM Eastern)

* Premium and entry are here (closing date Mar 18, 2026 3PM Eastern)

Additionally there will be

• Seminars for: scentwork, obedience, juniors, breeders/health
• Health clinics
• Welcome party
• Awards banquet
• Veterans parade
• Rescue parade and celebration
• ACKCSC annual meeting for members

For more information on the national, please visit the website here: https://ackcsc.org/national/

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

Did you know our March Puppy Picnic will offer Trick Dog testing? This is a great opportunity for you and your dog to earn a title! You may think that your dog doesn't have what it takes, but you'd be surprised at how simple the requirements are (especially if you already have your CGC) - your dog can probably do a lot of these behaviors right now! Check out the information below for more information on what is involved with earning a Trick Dog Novice Title.

There are five AKC Trick Titles you and your dog can earn: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Performer, and Elite Performer. Each of the titles are progressive, meaning you must achieve the lower title before progressing to the next level. Tricks also become more advanced for each title.

For Trick Dog Novice (TKN), your dog must perform 10 skills from the Novice list. If your dog has a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title on record at AKC, you only need to do 5 tricks to earn the Novice title.

The official list of tricks is provided below, but you can also use other tricks not listed toward the title. Just ask your tester if they're acceptable. You can also use tricks from other levels to count toward Novice, although you can't use Novice tricks toward higher levels.

Novice tricks

• Balance beam (walk on a board a few inches off floor)
• Crawl (dog on belly - crawls at least 3 body lengths)
• Fetch (ball, etc - 10 ft away bringing to handler within 2 ft)
• Find it (find treat or scent item under a cup or object)
• Get your ____ (leash, brush, toy, etc)
• Get in (gets in box)
• Sits in box (on cue)
• Get on (gets on low platform or step - 4 paws)
• Hand signals (choose one - down, sit, or come)
• High five
• Hold (3 seconds)
• Jump (through a low hoop or over a low bar)
• Kennel up (go in crate, stay until released)
• Kiss (point to cheek of back of hand)
• Paws up (2 front paws on low stool or step)
• Push-ups (sit, down, sit, down, sit, down)
• Shake hands
• Spin in circle
• Touch it (hand or target stick)
• Tunnel (agility or child's tunnel)
• Other (Handler's Choice)

There is a series about Trick Dog on AKC.TV, including multiple videos demonstrating how to train various tricks. Check it out here. Also feel free to reach out to Beth Pederson with any questions you may have prior to the Puppy Picnic.

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.

Turmeric might help some dogs, though the research is still evolving. Here are some ways it might help dogs, always under veterinary guidance, however never add any supplement to your dog’s diet without your vet’s advice and support as interactions with other medicine may occur.

• Joint and Arthritis Relief: Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory effects may help dogs with arthritis, joint pain, or stiffness, making movement more comfortable. (Millions of dogs in the U.S. have osteoarthritis.) However, studies in dogs have been mixed, says Kimberly Schmidt, DVM, medical director and integrative veterinarian at Napa Valley Holistic Veterinary Services in Napa, California. She notes that some findings suggest turmeric may be more effective when combined with other supplements, such as Boswellic acid.
• Allergy Support: Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory and antihistamine activity may help ease mild allergy-related symptoms like itching and redness. It is not a substitute for veterinary treatment or appropriate for severe reactions, but it may be one pieceof an allergy care plan your vet designs.
• Dental Health: Dr. Schmidt notes that turmeric/curcumin could play an important role in improving canine oral health. She points to a recent study of a curcumin product tested in dogs with periodontitis (commonly known as gum disease) that suggested the supplement could reduce gum inflammation and bone loss.
• Wound Healing: “Turmeric can be very helpful for wound healing in both people and animals, including dogs,” Dr. Schmidt says. In some cases, a whole-herb paste can be used, but only as directed by your veterinarian to avoid irritation or licking.
• Antioxidant Protection: Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant, meaning it helps combat free radicals, which can damage cells and contribute to aging and disease. By neutralizing these free radicals, turmeric may help reduce the risk of chronic conditions linked to oxidative stress, such as cancer.
• Nerve and Mobility Support: “Degenerative myelopathy is a neurological condition causing progressive loss of function and paralysis of the hind limbs,” Dr. Schmidt says, noting its similarity to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in people. In one study involving canines with degenerative myelopathy, she notes, dietary turmeric supplementation was associated with improved survival times and helped dogs maintain the ability to bear weight on their hind legs longer.
• Liver Health: Dr. Schmidt says that, traditionally, turmeric has been used to support liver function, and that early veterinary research suggests it may help certain dogs with liver disease. As always, this should be done only under veterinary supervision. Ask your veterinarian whether a curcumin oral product is appropriate for your dog.

How Much Turmeric Should You Give Your Dog?

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all dosage, says Renee Schmidt, DVM, a senior veterinary toxicologist and the director of veterinary medicine at the Pet Poison Helpline, a 24/7 poison control center. She says the right amount depends on your dog’s size, overall health, and the specific product. Turmeric supplements for dogs usually include dosing instructions on the label, but it’s best to ask your veterinarian what is right for your individual dog.

Can Turmeric Be Bad for Dogs?

Dr. Schmidt says that excessive intake can be harmful. High consumption could lead to blood clotting problems and, in rare cases, elevated blood pressure or seizures, as well as kidney or liver problems, she notes. If you suspect your dog has ingested too much turmeric, call the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661. In most cases, a dog would need to consume very large doses over a long period before serious issues develop, she says. However, you should still play it safe and keep dosages to what your vet recommends.

With normal, responsible use, the most common side effects are gastrointestinal upset, including vomiting or diarrhea, or decreased appetite. “This may be more severe in dogs that have a sensitive stomach or that are more sensitive to turmeric in general,” Dr. Schmidt says.

As published on Chewy.com By Katie Koschalk. Reviewed by Barri J. Morrison, DVM on Nov 7, 2025

You may have heard of golden paste. It's easy to make and will provide all the benefits of turmeric that Fido deserves!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup - turmeric powder (*make sure the turmeric powder is organic and is loaded with curcumin!)

1 – 1 1/2 cups - filtered water

1 1/2 teaspoons - freshly ground black pepper (*we recommend using a coffee grinder or magic bullet)

1/4 cup - organic, cold-pressed coconut oil

Directions:

1. Mix the turmeric and the filtered water in a pan
2. Begin with 1 cup of water and add more if needed
3. Stir the liquid combination on low/medium heat until it forms a thick paste (approximately 7–10 minutes)
4. If the paste is watery, simply add more turmeric powder
5. Next, add the pepper and coconut oil to the paste and stir in very well
6. Allow the paste to cool. The mixture can be put in a jar (one with a lid), and should be kept in the refrigerator for no more than 2 weeks

Pet parents can add the golden paste directly into their dog's meals. Here's the recommended guideline for dosages:

• Small dogs - start with about 1/4 teaspoon per day
• Medium dogs - start with 1/2 teaspoon per day
• Large dogs - start with 3/4 teaspoon per day
• Giant dogs - start with 1 teaspoon per day

Again, we always recommend starting off slowly, there's no need to rush the process.

CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL CLUB OF GREATER ATLANTA

www.ckcscatlanta.org

Beth Lassiter, editor

CKCSCAtlantaNewsletter@gmail.com