Ch. Holzstrom’s Cheza On Holiday RN JH CGC VC NAVHDA NA P I, a 3-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer owned by Leslie Ruddock of Richmond and Tim Niejadlik of Belchertown, Mass., completed requirements for her American Kennel Club breed championship with a four-point major earned at the Eastern Dog Club show on Dec. 7 in Boston.

Best of Breed at the show was won by Ch. Holzstrom’s Sgt. Pepper CGC, a year-old German Shorthair owned by Patti and Ken Nota of North Scituate, bred by Lawrence and Leslie Ruddock, and handled by Laura Farrell.

Making sacrifices

Despite a tough economy, pet owners are willing to sacrifice many daily luxuries to provide for the needs of their canine companions, according to a survey by the American Kennel Club.

The survey of over 1,000 people on www.akc.org found that more than 96 percent of respondents with a taste for gourmet coffee would give up their latte habit to save money for their dog’s expenses.

Ninety-seven percent also said they would forego massages or spa treatments in order to afford a vet bill, and nearly 79 percent would cancel a teeth-whitening appointment so that Fido could have his annual teeth cleaning.

The only item that seems to compete with people’s love for their pooches is Internet access, with more than 70 percent of respondents indicating that they would not be able to abstain from their Web addiction.

One respondent would give up “pretty much anything. I need the gym and I need the Internet; everything else is fair game.”

Training classes

•Drop-in agility classes are being held on Wednesdays in Scituate starting on Jan. 7. Beginners classes are from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. Advanced handlers may e-mail for information and times at aussie0397@cox.net

•Beginner flyball classes are being held on Sundays from 8 to 10 a.m. at Alpha Dogs in Holliston, Mass. For information, contact the Weston Whirlwinds Flyball Team, at cindyhenderson23@verizon.net

•The K9 Connection is holding drop-in rally run-throughs on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Drop-in agility run-throughs are held on Fridays at 7:30 p.m.

For information, contact the Connection, at 60 Minnesota Ave., Warwick, (401) 737-2870, or go to k-9connection.net

•The Canine Training Center, 71A Wheaton Ave., Rehoboth, will hold drop-in rally classes on Mondays at 6 p.m., followed by advanced obedience classes at 7:30.

Breed-handling and junior-showmanship classes will be held Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m., followed by beginner/puppy obedience classes at 7:30.

On Saturdays at 10:30 a.m., beginner/puppy obedience classes will be held.

Preregistration is required for puppy and basic classes. For information, call (508) 336-4021 or e-mail pineridgectc@aol.com

•The Key Dog Training Club of Rhode Island is holding novice and open obedience classes every Tuesday at 3 p.m., followed by beginner and puppy classes at 5:30 and 6:30, open and utility at 7:15, and novice rally at 8. Classes are held at Rocky Hill Grange, 1340 South County Trail, East Greenwich.

For information, call (401) 885-1829.

Recent winner

Am./Can. Ch. DiBar’s Kiss of Death JC TT, Borzoi, Winnie Kelly of Fall River, BOB, Eastern Dog Club.

jgregory@projo.com