May Peace be your gift atChristmas and your

blessing all yearthrough!

~Author Unknown

Christmas Mint Cookies1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour1-1/2 cups bisquick1/2 cup mint chopped leaves1/4 cup milk4 tablespoons margarine1 egg1-1/2 teaspoons corn syrupCombine all ingredients in food proc-essor, process until well mixedRoll out on a floured surface to 1/4 to1/2 inch thickness. Cut with holidayshaped cookie cutters, place on non-stick cookie pan. Bake at 375 F for20 minutes or until lightlybrowned. Cool and store in air-tightcontainerPuppy Dog Egg Nog1 container plain yogurt1 jar baby food (any meat flavor)1 large can evaporated milk1 egg1-1/2 cups waterBlend all ingredients and serve inholiday bowls.Doggie Xmas Cookies1 cup cornmeal3-1/2 cups whole-wheat flour1/2 tablespoon garlic powder4 tablespoons instant soup stock mix(beef, chicken or vegetable)4 tablespoons bacon bits3/4 cup vegetable oil1-1/3 cup water (approx)Preheat oven to 350 degreesBlend all ingredients thoroughly.Roll mixture 1/4 inch thick ontofloured cutting board or othersmooth surface.Cut to desired shapes with cookiescutters or a knife. Be creative!Bake for approx 35 - 45 minutes,basting lightly with meat or bacondrippings. Cool thoroughly beforeserving.Christmas Cheese-a-liciousCookiesIngredients:½ cup of low-fat Cheddar cheese,shredded½ cup of low-fat cottage cheese2 tbsp of canola oil

Officers 2007President: Beth Santure

Vice Pres.: Joanne Forster

Secretary: Bethany Hoover

Treasurer: Sue Schauer

Cover Story pg.1

Next Meeting Info pg.2

Calendar of Events pg.3

Performance Corner &Member Profile

pg.4

Tips & Brags pg.5

Inside this issue:

Christmas Dog Treat Recipes

TOPLINES

November/December 2007

MINIATURE SCHNAUZER CLUB OFMICHIGAN

Editor-Joanne Forster, 2186 S. Elkton Rd, Elkton, MI 48731 Ph. (989)-375-4106 Email: jofor@airadv.net

2 cups of whole wheat flour¾ cups of almonds, chopped.(Optional, but never substitute it withmacadamia nuts)¼ cup of waterPreheat oven at 375ºF Mix cheeses,flour, oil, and almonds thoroughly.Add water and stir until dough formsa ball. Divide dough into 18 pieces,rolling each into a ball and placing ongreased cookie sheet. Use a fork topress down on each ball. Bake for 30minutes or until brown at the edges.Either serve them when cool or chillthem overnight in refrigerator fornext day serving.Gingerbread Bones2 cups of all purpose flour1 cup of whole wheat flour1/2 cup of molasses1/2 cup of water1/4 cup of canola oil2 tablespoons of ground ginger1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon1/2 teaspoon of ground clovesPreheat oven to 350°. Mix all theingredients thoroughly in a largebowl. Roll out dough on floured bak-ing board to about 1/4 in. thick. Usinga dog bone shape cookie cutter to cutas many shapes until the dough is allused up. Place cut dough on un-greased foiled baking sheets.Bake the cookies for 30 minutes.Allow it to cool for at least 2 hoursbefore serving.Christmas Dog treats2 cups all-purpose flour1/2 cup wheat germ1/2 cup brewer's yeast1 tsp. salt3 tbsp. vegetable oil1 cup chicken stockChristmas cookie cuttersPreheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightlygrease a cookie sheet or line it withparchment paper and set aside. Mixtogether the flour, brewer’s yeast,wheat germ, and salt in a mediumbowl. Combine the oil and garlic inanother bowl. Alternating, add 1 cupof the chicken stock and then 1 cup of

the flour mixture. Mix well. Placethe finished mixture on a flouredsurface and knead by hand for 2minutes. The dough should besticky. Roll the dough out until it isabout a 1/2 inch thick. Cut outfestive Christmas shapes with yourcookie cutters and place on theprepared cookie sheets.Icing:3 cups vanilla white chocolate chips1 tsp. Vegetable powder for coloring1 tsp. Vegetable oilMelt the vanilla white chips andallow to cool slightly. Add the vege-table oil and coloring to the meltedchocolate. Remember to use festivecolors! Decorate your dog treats in afestive Christmas fashion and placethem on waxed paper to dry.TIPS AND WARNINGS: There are a number ofdifferent vegetable powders available for coloringyour icing, but the most popular are beet powderfor red, spinach powder for green, and turmeric foryellow. You can store you Christmas dog treats in aplastic freezer bag in the fridge or freezerDark and milk chocolate are very dangerous fordogs and should never be used. White chocolate issafe, because it lacks the caffeine content of actualchocolateTurkey TreatsIngredients:2 cups cooked turkey -- cut up2 cloves garlic4 teaspoons grated cheese1 tablespoon parsley -- freshlychopped2 egg2 cups whole wheat flour2 tablespoons brewer's yeast2 tablespoons vegetable oilPreparation & Cooking:Combine turkey, garlic, cheese,parsley and mix well. Beat the eggsin a bowl and pour over turkeymixture. Add the flour, yeast, andoil. Stir until thoroughly mixed andall ingredients are coated. Drop intosmall lumps onto ungreased cookiesheet. Cook in a 350 degree oven forabout 20 minutes, until brown andfirm. Store in refrigerator.

Merry Christmas!!

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Coral Gables Restaurant2838 E. Grand River Avenue

East Lansing, MIPh. (517)337-1311

Dinner, Business Meeting, Election of Officers,Presentation of Awards, & Christmas Party with

Gift Exchange and Games!

Dinner at 4:00 pm.Open Menu

Business Meeting and Party to follow!As Always, Guests are Welcome!!

E-mail or callKarin Jaeger by December 5th to let her know that you are coming

(karinjaeger@voyager.net) (517-351-0412)

Directions: Take I-96 to Exit 110 (Okemos Rd.) Go North on Okemos Rd. to M-43 (Grand River Ave.) Businesses on that cor-ner include: Bennigan’s Restaurant, Marathon Gas Station, BP/Amoco Station. Turn Left on to M-43 (Grand River). After thebridge over the railroad tracks, there is a traffic light at Park Lake Rd. and another at Northwind Dr. (there’s a Farmer Jack’s onthe southwest corner of the intersection). Coral Gables entrance is the 4th on the right following this light (after Tom’s PartyStore, a Hollywood Video & the new Oriental Market). If you get to the Brookfield Shell gas station, you’ve gone too far.From the North: From Business 69 left onto Park Lake Rd. Right (East) onto M-43 (Grand River Ave.) Follow directions fromthere as detailed above.

MSCM Christmas Party

For the Gift Exchangebring a wrapped giftmarked for a lady or

man. Limit $10

Page 3 TOPLINES

2007 Calendar ofImportant Events

NOVEMBER 30MSCM Membership EXPIRESTODAY if dues are unpaid!

DECEMBER 5Reservations due today for theChristmas Banquet. Call Karin (517-351-0412) or email(karinjaeger@voyager.net)

DECEMBER 8MSCM Christmas Banquet &Awards-Coral Gables Restaurant,East Lansing 4:00 p.m. (Details onpage 2) Bandit, RDX (Rescue Dog Excellent), 9-1-93 to 8-7-07

MINIATURE SCHNAUZER CLUBOF MICHIGAN

Page 4

Performance Corner-by Lynn Baitinger

Member Profile-Pat AlexanderHi! My name is Pat Alexander and Iam from Grand Blanc, MI. I retiredfrom Mott Community College in1995 where I was an Englishteacher. I now am an AdvancedMaster Gardener. I enjoy the 40hour volunteer work requirementannually as well as maintaining myown garden. I also serve as a peercounselor and a team member in theHealing Prayer Ministry at FirstPresbyterian in Flint.I share my home with a black fe-male Miniature Schnauzer namedLiesel. Liesel entered my life as avery pregnant 1-1/2 year old. I hadgone to look at puppies at theIndiana breeder’s home when Liesel,bulging with puppies, gently greetedme, placing her paws on my legsand gazing into my eyes. I learnedlater that she had delivered with aslow uterus, prompting the vet tospay her and the breeder to offer herfor sale. So, on a second trip toIndiana, this little momma came

home with me to Michigan. In thetwo years since, she has increasedin confidence, no longer hiding hertoys from the “others”, weatheringtwo obedience classes, diligentlymonitoring our street from windowor door, and playfully greeting mewith a “rooster-crow” bark when Iwalk in the door. She freelyexpresses her opinion, mutteringwhen shushed, and is an excellenttimekeeper, notifying me at meal-time, playtime, walktime and bed-time. A gourmet, Liesel enjoysvariety in her diet, especially favor-ing sweet potatoes, carrots, andlettuce (discovered when she stolemy salad). Her sweetness and spiritare a constant blessing to me, andI’m excited to be partnering withher now as we learn together andreach out to others in the MidMichigan Therapy Dogs program.

“Be a Splitter, Not a Lumper” – BobBailey

Anyone that recognizes that quote isaware of Bob Bailey and his wife,Marian (deceased) and knows of theirfamously clicker trained chickens.Yes, you read that correctly – theyclicker train chickens, but also usedoperant training methods fordolphins, whales, and many otheranimals.FMI: www.hsnp.com/behaviorHmm, exactly what does that quotemean anyways? I’ve spent a fewdays talking about it at shows and

with friends, and very few peoplehave any idea what I’m talkingabout. Clicker trainers are just asmuch in the dark as are other typetrainers.Simply stated, my interpretation of“Be a splitter, not a lumper,” meansto break things down into small partswhen training. I believe that clickertrainers think in smaller pieces, butthis philosophy works with any typeof training, with a clicker or without.None of us would begin to train anobedience “Go Out” in it’s full capac-ity. We wouldn’t dream of asking ourdogs to run 50 feet to the oppositeend of the ring, in a straight line;turn and sit, wait for the commandbefore take the correct jump on theleft or right side of the ring, comeinto front position and finish on com-mand. We would break this very

complicated exercise into manyseparate parts and not even think ofputting it together till each piece waspretty solid; and then, we would helpthe dog succeed.When training problems occur, thissimple quote could come in handy inhelping us decide where our dog’straining needs help. When we breaka behavior down, we make it simplerfor the dog to succeed and for us tofeel a sense of accomplishment indetermining what needs work.Of course, planning and thoughtmust be given before any attempt ismade to train or retrain the dog –think first, plan your action; and,then train.

… . Be a “splitter, not a lumper” !

MSCM TROPHY DONATION FORM

Amount-_________________________ Check Number________________

Donor’s Name-_____________________________________________________

Address-__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

MINIATURE SCHNAUZER CLUB OF MICHIGAN Page 5

Mail to:Lynn Baitinger5400 Orion Rd.

Rochester, MI 48306-2549

Lynn Baitinger’s Connor and Morgan bothearned their Rally Advanced Title at theCompanion Dog Training Rally Trial onNovember 2, 2007.WAY TO GO!!!!

Due to the rising cost of printer ink andthe amount of mailed copies that have tobe printed, Toplines will be printedwithout color, starting with the Jan/Feb2008 issue. Those receiving by email willcontinue to have their choice to printtheir own copy either way :-)

BragsATTENTION!! TipsThere is something that verysimply removes the odor fromurine. Its rubbing alcohol.Isopropyl Alcohol. The alcoholdestroys the bacteria which iswhat causes the odor inurine. It doesn't change thecolor of the carpet either. Also,for blood on carpet pour onsome hydrogen peroxide. Awayit goes!

Christmas - that magicblanket that wraps itself

about us, that something sointangible that it is like afragrance. It may weave a

spell of nostalgia. Christmasmay be a day of feasting, orof prayer, but always it willbe a day of remembrance - a

day in which we think ofeverything we have ever

loved.~Augusta E. Rundel

Beth Santure’s Loneacre’s Check Yes Or No(Quiz) went Winners Bitch and Best of Oppo-site for a 4 point major at the Columbus Spe-cialty in Ohio on Friday, November 16, 2007

TOPLINES is a bi–monthly publication

January-FebruaryMarch-April

May-JuneJuly-August

September-OctoberNovember-December

The objective of the Miniature Schnauzer Club ofMichigan is to advance the principals and scientificpractices in the breeding of purebred MiniatureSchnauzers: foster co-operation between breeder,owner, and veterinarian; encourage the exchange ofinformation and experience among the club mem-bers and between show-giving clubs; to conductsanctioned and licensed specialty shows andmatches; and to encourage the adherence to thehigh standards of conduct and to the rules andregulations of the American Kennel Club.

MINIATURE SCHNAUZER

CLUB OF MICHIGAN

We’re on the Web!www.mscm.org

Christmas is for humans, and Iwill not ruin the surprises byopening all their presents.

Christmas light bulbs, Christmasornaments, Christmas stockings,and tinsel from the Christmastree are not food.

I am the alpha dog, therefore I donot need to protect my newChristmas rawhide from theomega dog by taking it outside toeat when the wind chill is -10 F.

I will not demolish the Christmastree and drag the string of lightsout into the backyard through thedoggy door.

I will not dive into the Christmastree to get the candy canes (whichI will eat -- paper and all).

I will not eat my Christmas

doggie treats until after they're outof the stocking!

I will not even THINK about goingunderneath the Christmas treeand piddling on the dining roomrug.

I will not get into a fight with thebigger dog next door, making myhuman have to call the vet's atChristmas.

I will not get tangled up in theChristmas tree lights and pull thetree down while trying to get at acat through the conservatorywindow.

I will not pee on Grandma'sChristmas presents that are underher tree as soon as we enter herhouse.

I will not pee on the Christmastree.

I will not steal the neighbor's

Christmas light bulbs.

The bowl underneath the Christ-mas tree is not a dog dish. I willnot drink from it. It will makeme sick.

A Dog's ChristmasPromises