Kootenai County 4-H Dog Project Guidelines (Revised April 2011)

Transcription

1 Kootenai County 4-H Dog Project Guidelines (Revised April 2011) Project Requirements To complete the 4-H Dog Project, a member must: 1. Dogs may be registered or unregistered, crossbred, male or female. 2. Manage, care for and train one or more dogs for a minimum of 90 days, prior to show/match. 3. Submit a Dog Identification sheet for each project animal annually by April 1 st. 4. Attend at least 8 regularly scheduled club and/or county level training sessions. 5. Dogs must be up to date on all required immunizations, before they are allowed at any meetings. (Required vaccinations are listed on the Vaccination Acknowledgement form.) 6. Keep and submit completed records for each dog project taken. 7. Give an oral presentation about something specifically learned in each dog project taken. 8. Participate in at least one of these county-level events: Oral Presentations Contest, Dog Judging Contest, Canine Good Citizenship testing. 9. Exhibit their dog in Fitting & Showing (showmanship) and Obedience classes, at the County 4-H Dog Show, or an acceptable show / fun match as approved by the leader. If members have more than one dog, they only need to show one (1) dog in fitting and showing. Females in season must wait off the grounds until all others have shown! Dog Identification Certificate / Leases Member ownership of a dog is desirable but not a requirement. A family owned dog may be managed by two members of a family on a 50% basis. This includes feeding, grooming, exercising, training, and access to use. However, possible irresolvable dog show class conflicts can arise in this type of situation, resulting in only one member ultimately being able to show the dog. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that each member have access to a different project animal for training & exhibition purposes. One potential option is to lease someone else s dog. A non-family owned dog must be managed by the member at least 80% of the time during the project year. For all non-family owned dogs used in a 4-H dog project, a copy of a written lease agreement (available at the Extension Office) must accompany the Dog ID sheet (due April 1 st ). The lease agreement must be dated and signed by the 4-H member, the member s parents, and the owner of the dog. The purpose for this lease is to help insure that all parties clearly understand the requirements, and that the member will have ready access to the dog for all training sessions and exhibitions connect to this project. Dog Identification (ID) sheets, available at the Extension Office, are due in the Extension Office by 5:00 p.m., April 1 st of each year. A member may identify more than one dog. If a member changes project dogs after April 1 st, they must follow the procedures set forth in the Guidelines for Kootenai/Shoshone 4-H Dog Eligibility below:

2 Change of Dog Requests after April 1 st : All requests for changes of project dogs (to replace dogs not submitted on ID sheets prior to April 1 st ) must be submitted to the Extension Office in writing, with a detailed explanation as to the circumstances prompting this request. An ID sheet for the new dog must also accompany this request. A scheduled interview with the Executive Committee of the Kootenai County 4-H Dog Leaders may also be arranged but does not supersede required written documentation. The Dog Leaders Executive Committee will render to the Extension Educator their recommendation on the action to be taken. The Extension Educator will make the final decision and will provide that decision in writing to the member and their leader in a timely manner. Time frame guidelines: Requests received prior to May 1 st : Cases involving lameness and/or death (accompanied by a veterinarian s certificate) or where the safety of the dog/handler are at stake may be considered valid exceptions. Under these conditions, it will probably be recommended that the member be allowed to retain County Dog Show eligibility with the requested replacement dog. Requests received after May 1 st or denied from above: A requested replacement dog may be used in classes at the County 4-H Dog Show, but the member will not be eligible for individual class or overall awards; these individuals will be designated with the exhibitor s initials instead of an exhibitor number. The intent of this guideline is to allow a 4-H member to complete the exhibit portion of their project by being able to participate in the County 4-H Dog show with a replacement dog (if possession qualifications are met). Also, if the member uses more than one dog, those dogs with ID sheets submitted as set forth above and then used at the County Dog Show would be eligible for overall county awards. Required Equipment 1. A six (6) foot nylon / leather leash (width according to dog size). 2. Proper fitting choke chain. Should have not more than 2-4 of slack when pulled tight around dog s neck. Weight of chain according to size of dog. 3. Additional equipment may be required in other activities such as Agility; consult program materials for specifications. 4-H Dog Project Materials All members utilize the CCS Dog materials (based on their appropriate skill levels). These are: 1. Wiggles & Wags (BU-08166) 2. Canine Connection (BU-08167) 3. Leading the Pack (BU-08168) 4. Dog Guide to 4-H Showmanship (WSU publication) 5. Idaho 4-H Animal Project Record Book (#91940) 6. Permanent Individual Animal Record one per dog (#72101)

3 Agility 1. Agility Training Resource Guide & Exhibition Rules (Kootenai County) Leaders should have copies of all the above materials, along with the following: 1. Dog Helper s Guide (BU-08169) 2. Obedience and Showmanship score sheets (Kootenai County) 3. Preparing 4-H Members for the Dog Judging Contest (Kootenai County) 4. A Guide for Completing Idaho 4-H Record Books (Kootenai County) 5. 4-H Livestock Record Book Completion Checklist / Criteria (Kootenai County) 6. 4-H Animal Project Record Check Form (Kootenai County) Show & Fair The Kootenai County 4-H Dog Show is normally held the last weekend of July, prior to the North Idaho Fair; top placing individuals will be invited to provide a non-competitive demonstration for the public on Sunday of the North Idaho Fair to increase program visibility. These events provide members an opportunity to display the skills they have learned. Members may enter only one dog each in the Agility, Fitting & Showing and Obedience divisions for placing. Ribbons will be awarded in all divisions; premiums are only paid on the Fitting & Showing and Obedience classes. In the event members are working on multiple skill levels within Agility or Obedience, leaders should require members to exhibit in the more advanced level in accordance to the dog s ability. Within Obedience, each level (except Utility) is subdivided into Division A & B. Division A is for dogs and members who are competing for the very first time at that level. If either the dog or member has competed at that level previously, they must be entered in Division B. If members have a second project dog that they have been training, that dog may be entered in the appropriate Agility and/or Obedience class for score only (these entries will not be considered when determining top overall awards). These dogs must be included with the member s Dog Show entry forms and be clearly marked score only on that form. For Obedience, the Kootenai County 4-H Dog Obedience score sheets will be used. Fitting & Showing classes will use the Washington Showmanship score sheets. Agility rules are outlined on pages of the Agility Training Resource Guide and Exhibition Rules. Obedience Class Specifications Beginning (all on leash) 1. Heel 2. Figure 8 3. Sit for Examination

4 Pre-Novice (all on leash) 1. Heel 2. Figure 8 3. Stand for Examination 6. Long Down 3 minutes Novice (all off leash, unless otherwise noted) 1. Heel then Figure 8 (on leash) 2. Stand for Examination 3. Heel Free 6. Long Down 3 minutes Graduate Novice (all off leash) 1. Heel then Figure 8 2. Drop on Recall 3. Recall with Dumbbell over High Jump 5. Recall over Broad Jump 6. Long Down 3 minutes (handler out of sight) Open (all off leash) 1. Heel then Figure 8 2. Drop on Recall 3. Retrieve on Flat 4. Retrieve over High Jump 5. Broad Jump 6. Long Sit 3 minutes (handler out of sight) 7. Long Down 5 minutes (handler out of sight) Graduate Open (everything off leash) 1. Signal Exercise 2. Scent Discrimination (4 articles) 3. Directed Retrieve (3 gloves) 4. Moving Stand and Examination 5. Go Out 6. Directed Jumping Utility (everything off leash) 1. Signal Exercise 2. Sending, Article #1 3. Sending, Article #2 4. Directed Retrieve (3 gloves) 5. Moving Stand and Examination 6. Directed Jumping

5 Performance Scoring Obedience (200 points possible) = Blue = Red = White Rally (100 points possible) = Blue = Red 0 59 = White Fitting and Showing (100 points possible) = Blue = Red 0 75 = White The high scores will be considered for top four awards, provided the performance received a Blue rating and received a score of at least 50% for each of the corresponding score sheets main sections. Advancement As the 4-H Dog program encourages an increasing development of training skills, once a member has achieved an Obedience score of 170 points or more with a given dog, they must advance to the next level. Those with scores of have the option to advance, while those below 160 must repeat that same level until achieving a qualifying score. S:4-H/Dog/2011-DogProgramGuidelines