The Courier magazine is the official publication of the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America, Inc. (PWDCA).   Its goal is to provide information to readers in order to perpetuate the original mission statement of the PWDCA: "A group of people with a common interest, the Portuguese Water Dog, formed a club with the simple objective of perpetuating the breed and its standard; and to encourage and promote quality in the breeding of purebred Portuguese Water Dogs, to develop and maintain their conformation and disposition as companions, and to do all possible to bring their natural qualities to perfection."

The magazine portrays PWD's at work and at play.  It contains articles dealing with diverse subjects on health, water work, obedience, agility, conformation, rescue, and therapy, to name but a few.  It was chosen by the Dog Writers Association of America as the best National Breed Club Magazine for the years 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2007.

The Editor and Publisher of this outstanding publication is Terry Cardillino.

• Receiving The Courier
  • How can I receive The Courier?
  • The Courier Back Issues
• Placing Ads
  • The Courier Ad Deadlines
  • Instructions for submitting ads
  • Advertising Policy as set by the PWDCA, Inc.
  • Health Information Requirements
  • How To Place An Ad
  • Ad Sizes
  • Ad Rates
• The Courier Forms
• The Courier Editorial Office Contact Information

How can I receive The Courier?

The magazine is mailed bi-monthly for a total of six issues per year.  Receipt of The Courier is a benefit of membership in the PWDCA, and is supported by membership dues.  If you are interested in receiving The Courier, complete the Associate Membership form found on this web site (see Club Membership).

Courier Back Issues

You must be a member of the PWDCA to purchase back issues.   Contact the editorial office for availability and cost.

Courier Deadlines

ATTENTION: In planning your submission, please note that The Courier mails at the end of the second month in the issue timeframe, e.g., the Jan/Feb issue mails at the end of February.

2007

November/December 2007 issue
Featuring: National Specialty
Deadline: November 2, 2007

2008

January/February 2008 issue
Featuring: Water
Deadline: January 3, 2008

March/April 2008 issue
Featuring: Obedience, Tracking, Agility, Rally
Deadline: February 8, 2008

May/June 2008 issue
Featuring: Top Ten, Health
Deadline: April 16, 2008

July/August 2008 issue
Featuring: Pets, Rescue, Veterans, New Champions
Deadline: June 4, 2008

September/October 2008 issue
Featuring: Brood Bitch, Stud Dog, Stud Dog Directory
Deadline: August 6, 2008

November/December 2008 issue
Featuring: National Specialty
Deadline: October 17, 2008

Instructions for submitting ads.

The Courier does the design and computer page makeup on all ads.

If you would like to submit a layout with your ad, every attempt will be made to follow it as closely as possible. Just include all ad copy, photo, copies of health certificates if required and payment in one envelope, and The Courier will do the rest!

Send to:

Unfortunately, ads supplied by outside sources have been submitted to The Courier which were problematic from a production standpoint. For example, ads were submitted at the wrong size, in unacceptable programs and formats, with numerous typographical errors, with corrupt fonts, corrupt graphics, and incorrect live matter positioning, to name just a few of the technical problems. Due to our tight production schedule and commitment to quality, we are forced to announce that we will no longer be able to accept ads created by outside sources. All ads will be created at The Courier editorial office.

ADVERTISING POLICY as set by the PWDCA, Inc.

Effective December 20, 2006

Advertisers: of dogs and/or kennels must be current PWDCA members in good standing. 

Advertising: Open to all Portuguese Water Dogs. 

Health Statements:
The PWDCA requires owners to fully disclose all health data on dogs being advertised in breeding-related ads. Health statements are not required in nonbreeding ads, memorial ads nor in ads for dogs less than one year of age. Date of birth must be provided for dogs less than one year of age.   Certificates or a printout from the H&L Database must always accompany health test claims as documentation.

Non-Breeding Related Advertising:
Ads which are not related to breeding are not required to include a statement of the dog's health status.  A statement: "Nonbreeding ad - Health information provided in HLD" will appear at the bottom of the ad unless advertiser exercises the option to include their dog's health data.  Documentation must always accompany health test claims.  The advertised dog is not required to be a participant in the HLD.

Breeding Related Advertising:
Breeding related ads refer to stud dogs, brood bitches, litters, or any aspect of the breeding of Portuguese Water Dogs.

The Portuguese Water Dog Club of America STRONGLY RECOMMENDS that dogs being used for breeding must have an OFA#, a current CERF# up to 120 months of age (a dog rated OptiGen "C" or "C1" or "Affected" can be featured in a breeding-related ad provided it has a current CERF exam form with a sole diagnosis of PRA as the reason for failure), be OptiGen tested, and be individually tested at NYU for GM-1 and have a GM-1 rating of GM1:NOR, GM1:CAR, N99, N99A, N99L, N95, N95A, N95L, C99, C95, IND or an AP rating. Breeding-related ads must contain a statement complying with the above recommendation. Documentation must always accompany health test claims. The Courier will not accept breeding-related ads without documentation.  When advertising the frozen semen of a deceased dog, health certifications must have been in accordance with the PWDCA breeding-related advertising policy in effect at the time of the dog's death.

Truth In Advertising:
Advertisers warrant the truth and accuracy of materials submitted to the Editor.  Challenges to claims in The Courier ads must be submitted in writing to the PWDCA Recording Secretary.  The Recording Secretary shall promptly send a copy of the complaint to the PWDCA Board of Directors and The Courier Editor, and shall notify the advertiser that a challenge has been received.  Upon notification of a challenge by the Recording Secretary, the advertiser will have 30 days in which to submit a response.  The PWDCA Board of Directors then will decide the merits of the challenge and notify all parties of its decision.  If an advertiser is found to have provided false information or claims, a notice will be published in The Courier and the advertiser will be suspended from advertising for one year, and the Board will include the case and its findings in the Board meeting minutes.

PWDCA Health & Litter Database:  By submitting an ad with health test certificates to The Courier for publication, advertisers grant The Courier permission to forward those certificates to the PWDCA Health and Litter Database for inclusion in the PWD database.  However, placement of an ad does not supersede member participation in the Health & Litter Database. 

HEALTH INFORMATION MUST BE STATED USING ONLY THE FOLLOWING WORDING CHOICES.

GM-1: (choose one)

     N99, N99L, N99A, N95, N95L, N95A, C99, C95, IND, AP, GM-1-NOR, GM-1-CAR, NOT GM-1 TESTED
     The PWDCA only accepts GM-1 test results from NYU.

HIPS: (choose one)

• OFA#
• TOO YOUNG TO OFA (any dog less than two years of age)
• OFA PENDING, RADIOGRAPHS SUBMITTED (acceptable one time only on dogs between 2 and 3 years of age)
• NOT OFA'd (dog not tested and over 2 years of age)
• OFA FAILED

EYES:

• CURRENT CERF# (Certification is good for 12 months from the date of the exam and afterwards the dog must be reexamined and recertified to maintain its registration with CERF.  In the case of The Courier ad policy, this applies up to 120 months of age.)
• NO CURRENT CERF# (Certification as outlined above has expired, or is not required as dog is over 120 months of age.)
• EYES CLEAR, CERF# PENDING (with copy of exam form marked normal)
• NOT CERF'd (dog not tested)
• CERF FAILED (A dog rated OptiGen "C" or "C1" or "Affected" can be featured in a breeding related ad provided it has a current CERF exam form with a sole diagnosis of PRA as the reason for failure.)
• OPTIGEN "A" or "Normal/Clear", "B" or "Carrier", "C" or "Affected"

OPTIONAL:

Ads MAY include the following in a dog's health statement using only the wording below.

• OFA EL# - OFA Elbow certification
• PENNHIP% - PennHIP Laxity Profile Ranking (indicated by percentage)
• ERG - dog's status to be stated with name of facility, year and dog's age in months, example: ERG-CRN/95-24 means ERG done at Cornell University in 1995 at 24 months. 
• SPAYED, NEUTERED

Submitted by THE COURIER Review Committee September 1999, November 2000, June 2001, March 2004. 
Approved by PWDCA Board November, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004; January 2006, April 2006, May 2006, July 2006. 

HEALTH TESTING

GM-1 Test:
Instructions and Application are available on this web site (see Health Conditions, GM1).  You may contact Maria Schoenfelder, chair of the PWDCA GM-1 Committee, with any questions. 

Optigen:
For genetic testing for Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) contact:   OPTIGEN, LLC at 607-257-0301 or visit their web site at www.optigen.com

How To Place An Ad

Include the following:

• AD COPY:
  Type neatly or supply on disc in a word processing format along with hard copy of ad text.   We will design the ad for you at no extra charge.
• PHOTO:
  Write your name and dog's name lightly on the back near the edge of the photo.   Careful not to damage photo by writing too hard.
• HEALTH STATISTICS:
  Follow the PWDCA Ad Policy, being sure to include all data and certificates required.
  Follow this format:   DOB:  GM-1:  OFA:  EL:  CERF:  ERG:  OptiGen:
• Payment:
  Include base price of ad plus any fees for additional photos, logos or line art.   Make check or money order payable to: PWDCA.   Major Credit cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard
• Self Addressed stamped envelope for return of photos is required.

SEND TO: The Courier Editorial Office

QUESTIONS?   You can call us Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm, EST or send a fax or leave a detailed voice mail message at 410-901-6020 (please leave a number where you can be called back collect) or e-mail The Courier Editor.

AD SIZES

AD RATES (Effective December 19, 2003)
(Board approved effective August 25, 2003)

PREMIUM POSITIONS of back cover, inside front cover, inside back cover, page 1, last text page and center spread will be sold first as color pages, and then made available as black & white as ad reservations permit.

OTHER:
     NO CHARGE for background color on color ads
     NO CHARGE for bleeds or reverse lettering
     Classified cards: 20 cents per word, $3.00 minmum
     Kennel Card:   $20 per issue
     Address/phone changes on Kennel Cards:  $10
     Contract rates: 6% discount for 6 issue contract

The Courier Forms

• Cover Contest Entry Form
• Advertising Insertion Order Form
• Stud Dog Directory Form

Courier Contact Information
     The Courier Editorial Office
     Terry Cardillino, Editor
     1230 Hudson Road
     Cambridge, MD 21613
     Phone/Fax: 410-901-6020
     E-mail: TCardillino@hughes.net

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Last Edited: May 1, 2008