First of it’s kind, Poodle Retreat Held in the Sandhills

The brain child of Vickie Haywood (Corresponding Secretary of Central Carolina Poodle Club based in Southern Pines) Poodle Retreat Weekend was held at Pine Lake RV Resort near Wagram the weekend of September 21.

The weekend was designed to have poodles and their owners come together for a relaxing weekend of fun and fellowship, away from the show scene and club meetings.

Kicking off the weekend Friday night was a marshmallow roast and meditation campfire led by Bev Palmer RN, who also did a program on the healing arts on Sunday.

Saturday morning dawned a sunny, cool day, just right for ducks and water…and at 8 am the retrievers came out to learn all about the water, fetching and bringing in those ducks!

Led by Margaret Fox of Raleigh and her Junior Hunter,(also holds a working certificate and working certificate excellent from the Poodle Club of America.)  Walker, and assisted by Dr Kathy Evans of Columbia, and her Mini Poodle Merlin, the participants had time to learn proper training techniques for forced fetch retrieves.

After several hours of fun retrieving bumpers out of the water, and teaching some to swim, Walker and Merlin performed several water and land tests.

Merlin was the most titled dog present, holding 6 agility AKC titles and 4 Obedience and Rally titles. Merlin has been training since spring for the Working tests sponsored by the Poodle Club of America, and in fact participated in the testing last June, but failed to qualify. Merlin is 9 years old and loves to retrieve those ducks! He will be testing again next June. Walker was featured on the AKC web site last year when he completed his JH title at Cooper Black in South Carolina. 4 qualifying scores are required for this honor.

After the water retrieving and lunch and a rest, the poodles participated in Rally Obedience courses, Obedience courses and agility.

During the day massages for people and poodles were given by Marcia Glenn of Laurinburg.

A dinner of Roast Chicken and Roast tenderloin of pork was given on Saturday night, and club members cooked breakfast on Sunday morning.

15 People and twice as many poodles camped over night at the RV Resort.

Campers from the Carolina coast, Conway, Columbia, and Camden, South Carolina, and members from Pinehurst, Aberdeen, Southern Pines, Raleigh, Charlotte and Wagram participated.

The event was such a success the club is planning on expanding the weekend, adding a Poodle Club of America official test for retrievers, which will be a first of it’s kind in North Carolina.

The Central Carolina Poodle Club welcomes new members who have an interest in preserving the health ,integrity and temperament of the poodle. For more information contact Vickie Haywood online through the Club website, or at oakwood1@alltel.net