Chisago 4-H Dog Project Guide

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Table of Contents

Objectives 2 4-H Dog Safety and Etiquette 4

4-H Dog Information and 2 Basic Safety 4 Websites

Guidelines 2-4 Ownership and Identification 5-6

Collars 2 Vaccinations 5-6

No Identifiers 2 Special Needs Exhibitors 6

Dog Project Leader Training 2 Disciplines 6-9

Dog Training Outside of 4-H 2-3 Obedience 6-7

Removal from Dog Training 3 Rally 7-8 Classes or Dog Show

Dogs That May Not Participate 3 Agility 8-9

Dogs In Season 3 Showmanship 9

Mistreatment of Dogs 3 County Fair Qualifying Show 9-10

Aggressive Dog Policy 3 Keeping Records From Year To Year 10

Contact Information

4-H Extension Office - 651-277-0150 / [email protected] Janet Schweigert, 4-H Dog Project Leader - 320-358-3911 / [email protected] Julie Mach, 4-H Dog Trainer - 651-674-1808 / [email protected]

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Objectives

The purpose of the Minnesota 4-H Dog Project is to help 4-H’ers: ● Develop leadership, initiative, self-reliance and sportsmanship. ● Experience the pride and responsibility of involvement with a dog. ● Learn a greater love for animals and develop a humane attitude toward them. ● Prepare for citizenship responsibilities by working together in groups and supporting community 4-H Dog Projects and activities.

4-H Dog Information & websites

The 4-H Dog Project webpage is where you can find information on: ● Announcements and registrations for state-wide 4-H Dog Project events (leader and judges training, dog project bowl, supersession, state fair demos, State 4-H Dog Show information and much more.) ● Rule books for various events and policies (including Cloverbud policies) ● Certified Judges List (click on project leader resources) ● Information about the State 4-H Dog Project Development Committee (PDC) ● Links (various dog clubs in Minnesota and some educational links) ● Visit https://sites.google.com/umn.edu/4-h-animal-science/dog/dog-project-resources?authuser=0 for member resources from the MN 4-H website

Guidelines

For a complete review of guidelines with each discipline see the following resources on the MN 4-H website: ● Minnesota 4-H Dog Project Guide ● Minnesota 4-H Dog Project Guide for Dog Shows ● Minnesota 4-H Dog Obedience Rules and Guidelines ● Minnesota 4-H Dog Showmanship Rules and Guidelines ● Minnesota 4-H Dog Agility Rules and Guidelines ● Minnesota 4-H Dog Rally Obedience Rules and Guidelines

Collars ● No shock collars are allowed in 4-H — either at training or at 4-H dog shows. ● Prong collars should not be used at public events and are not allowed in the show ring.

No Identifiers No identifiers such as badges, coats with kennel names or training schools thereon, county or club identification, or ribbon prizes shall be worn or displayed, nor any visible means of identification used by an individual when exhibiting a dog in the ring. A plain 4-H clover is acceptable.

Dog training outside of 4-H ● Training outside of 4-H is not prohibited ● No one else but the 4-H’er can train the dog in the same event ● Attending extra classes may move the 4-H’er to a higher class

Removal from dog training class or dog show The trainer or show committee may remove from class or 4-H dog show any dog in season, any dog a handler cannot control or any handler who abuses a dog.

Dogs that may not participate ● A wolf or wolf-hybrid or coyote or coyote-hybrid may NOT participate in 4-H. Dog "hybrids" can be vaccinated at the discretion of the veterinarian, but the veterinarian cannot give a rabies certificate. Manufacturers have not adequately shown protection in these animals. The veterinarian can vaccinate these animals but they are always considered unvaccinated in the eyes of the law. ● No dog shall be eligible to participate with a physical condition that is detrimental to the health of the dog including pregnant dogs or dogs that have recently whelped. Exceptions may be made with written confirmation from a veterinarian that the dog is able to participate.

Dogs in season Female dogs in season are not permitted to attend training. However, the handler should attend class without the dog and work with the dog at home. The heat cycle will last for three weeks. The dog must be thoroughly bathed before it can return to class.

Mistreatment of dogs Absolutely no abuse or mistreatment — verbal or physical — of dogs will be tolerated in 4-H. Anyone caught hitting, kicking, or otherwise physically abusing a dog will be immediately dismissed from class.

Use care with dogs being left in cars in the summer. Leaving a dog in a car in hot weather is considered abuse under Minnesota law and law enforcement personnel are permitted to break into cars to rescue dogs. Please do not leave your dog in a closed car.

Aggressive dog policy Any dog who attempts to bite or attack a human or another dog will be immediately removed from class or show. At training, the situation will be reviewed by the county dog committee and includes input from dog training instructors, the county extension staff and the family of the 4-H’er involved. They may rule to put the dog on probation, work individually with the dog and handler or, in severe instances, expel the dog from classes and 4-H exhibitions for a period of time.

Expelling a dog is a rare occurrence but could be necessary for the safety of other members and dogs. Should a dog actually be expelled, it must be remembered that the action is against the dog and not the 4-H’er. The county dog committee will look at many solutions and encourage the 4-H’er to attend classes without the dog and train it at home. Solutions may include using a different dog, including leasing a dog from another person. 4-H’ers will always be welcome in every other phase of the project including dog bowl, project meetings, exhibiting educational displays, etc.

It should be further noted that all dog bites are required to be reported by Minnesota law. It is also important to note that you are legally responsible for the actions of your dog. Everyone in class should have appropriate liability insurance (usually a part of your homeowners or renters insurance policy) for your own protection. Safety is of paramount importance!

Remember: Dogs must be kept on leash at all times unless instructed otherwise by your dog training instructor.

Clean up After your own dog Training participants are encouraged to not feed their dog before class. The dog should be fed either in the morning or after they get home from class at night. This will help with preventing accidents. However, the 4-H’ers are expected to clean up after their dog. Remind the 4-H’ers to walk their dog before class (preferably at home) to prevent any accidents. It is a good idea to have clean up supplies available for the 4-H’ers to use.

4-H dog safety and etiquette Safety at dog training and shows is up to all participants. Participation in these events is no fun if you or your dog gets hurt. Everyone must work together to minimize the risks.

Basic safety ● Keep your dog on leash at all times (except when required in the ring or at the agility warm-up jump). ● Keep your leash short and your dog close to you. ● Be aware of your dog’s actions at all times. It is very easy to be distracted while talking to people. ● Keep plenty of space between your dog and other dogs at dog training. Be especially cautious in crating areas, doorways, stairways, elevators and ring entrances. ● Never run near other dogs. Running excites the prey drive in many dogs. ● Do not make and hold direct eye contact with anyone else’s dog. In dog language, you are challenging that dog to a fight. ● Be extra cautious of any dog that has food or toys (and sometimes even their human). These are all things that dogs will fight to protect. ● Always ask before touching any other person’s dog and never pat a dog on top of the head. ● Keep a close eye on children. If it is necessary to bring a small child, be sure they are closely supervised. Most dog bites occur to children between the ages of two and nine years old. ● Learn to “read” a dog’s body language. Common signs of aggression include a lifted lip, a very soft (almost inaudible) growl, a tail held higher and stiffer than normal (stiff tails sometimes shake) or the hair on the back of the neck and upper back standing up straighter than normal. Signs of a fearful dog (who may bite out of self-defense) are a head held lower, a tail between their legs (or just held down) and backing away. Fearful and aggressive dogs may or may not offer a warning growl. ● Remember that you are legally and ethically responsible for your dog’s behavior. This includes any damage caused by your dog to property, a human or another dog. Do carefully consider if your dog would be a safety risk before you decide to bring him to dog training or show. You can be held legally responsible for any medical/veterinary costs incurred if your dog harms anyone. You can also be dismissed from the show and forfeit your opportunity to compete. ● In the case of a dogfight, never try to separate the dogs with your bare hands. Fighting dogs will not take the time to look at what they are biting. Don’t endanger yourself by getting in their way. ● All dog aggression incidents should be reported to the 4-H dog committee and extension staff for investigation.

Ownership and identification ● The 4-H member must be enrolled in the dog project to participate in dog training classes and to exhibit their dog at 4-H dog shows. ● A 4-H member may show a maximum of two dogs in the dog project. Refer to the Minnesota 4-H Dog Agility Rules and Guidelines, the Minnesota 4-H Dog Obedience Rules and Guidelines, Minnesota 4-H Dog Rally Obedience Rules and Guidelines, and the Minnesota 4-H Dog Showmanship Rules and Guidelines, for specific information regarding each area. ● The “Minnesota 4-H Dog Project Identification Form and Vaccination Certificate” form dog IDA must be filled out and uploaded to your 4HOnline account no later than May 15 of the current year to qualify to show at the State 4-H Dog Show. This is the only vaccination information accepted. Do not attach invoices, etc., from

the veterinarian. The certificate MUST be signed and dated by the veterinarian. Be sure to print a copy of this ID form for your record book and for ease in participating in multi-county events such as invitational dog shows, supersession, etc. If the form is received after May 15, the 4-H’er cannot receive anything higher than a blue ribbon at the county show and is not eligible for champion, reserve champion, or other special awards and cannot qualify for the 4-H State Dog Show. ● The 4-H member does not need to own the dog (may lease) but must have trained, groomed and cared for the dog since May 15 of the current year. If the 4-H’er qualifies for the 4-H State Dog Show, he or she must sign the registration form for the State 4-H Dog Show stating that he or she has trained, groomed and cared for the dog since May 15 of the current year. ● A 4-H’er must train his or her own dog(s). No other person may train and/or show this dog from May 15 through the designated county dog show in the areas the 4-H’er is showing. If the 4-H’er and dog advance to the State 4-H Dog Show, no one else may train or show the dog until after the State 4-H Dog Show in any class in which they advance to the state competition. ● A 4-H member may not substitute or change dogs after the county show in agility, obedience, rally or showmanship for any reason. ● A dog may be trained and shown by only one 4-H member in obedience (with the exception of brace or 4-dog team: the dog can participate on only one brace or 4-dog team). Only one 4-H member may train and show the dog in agility. Only one 4-H’er may train and show the dog in rally. In showmanship, two 4-H’ers may show the same dog. However, they may not be in the same showmanship class.

Vaccinations

The “MN 4-H Dog Project Identification Form and Vaccination Certificate” form dog IDA must be filled out and uploaded to your 4HOnline account no later than May 15 of the current year to qualify to show at the State 4-H Dog Show. This is the only vaccination information accepted. Do not attach invoices, etc., from the veterinarian. The certificate MUST be signed and dated by the veterinarian.

● All blanks need to be filled in. ● Each 4-H’er must complete a form for each dog they are showing. There may be multiple forms for an individual dog. ● This certificate needs to be current through October 15 to cover the State 4-H Dog Show. ● When attaching the photo, the photo is to be a side view of the dog only. The photo should not cover up any of the important information.

The Minnesota Board of Animal Health requires dogs to have current Rabies vaccinations. Have your veterinarian document on your Dog IDA form whether your vaccination is current for one year, two years, or three years by filling in the “Revaccination Due Date”.

A current distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza and parvovirus (DHLPP) vaccination is required for 4-H dogs. The leptospirosis requirement may be waived by your veterinarian. If so, there is a box for the veterinarian to check on the 4-H dog IDA stating “I certify that this dog has not been vaccinated for Leptospirosis.” There are some variables that will determine whether your veterinarian will suggest a vaccination every year, every two years, or every three years. The 4-H dog ID affidavit allows for your veterinarian to indicate whether he or she believes your dog would be revaccinated one year, two years or three years from the listed vaccination date. In very rare cases, primarily due to the health condition of the dog, a veterinarian will not recommend a DHLPP vaccination be given to a specific dog. In these cases, a titer will be required which demonstrates that antibodies are present in the blood that may protect the dog from infection and/or disease. (An adequate titer value does not guarantee an effective immune response.) If this is the case, a proof of titer must be attached to the Dog IDA form.

Although not required, it is recommended to ask your veterinarian about prevention for kennel cough, lyme disease, corona, heartworm, etc.

1. Complete the “Affidavit and Vaccination Verification Form”. Take it to your veterinarian for his/her signature. Even if your dog has been previously identified, it must be entered new every year. 2. Each 4-H family will self-enter the information for ALL project dogs into 4HOnline and print entry report for your personal record. a. One dog can be ID’d by multiple family members. In those cases, the same dog should be entered under EACH member. Families should refer to the “ownership and identification” section above for details and limitations. b. If your dog is leased, the lease agreement must be scanned and uploaded into 4HOnline. The lease form is available at www.4-H.umn.edu/animal-ID. c. A side view photo is a required part of the ID and should be uploaded into 4HOnline. 3. Data entry must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on May 15 of the current year. You will not be able to complete online identification after that time. 4. It is the 4-H’ers responsibility to update the vaccination information as soon as it comes due. You must have completed the ID process with the valid information on the ID form before the dog can participate.

If your family cannot self-enter the ID information, bring it in to the County Extension Office before May 15, and the Support Staff will assist you.

It is a good practice to carry your dog’s current Rabies Certificate issued by your veterinarian with you when you are out with your dog.

Special needs exhibitors At a county level, project leaders will encourage special needs members to participate in classes based on their abilities. Special exceptions or modifications to classes shall be made as required to allow the 4-H member a satisfactory experience.

Special needs members may advance to state competition, but please notify 4-H staff/volunteers of any special needs of the exhibitor.

DISCIPLINES

Obedience Purpose of obedience: Obedience training is the process in which dogs and humans learn to communicate with each other. It is the process in which dogs learn how to be polite members of a household. It is also how they learn how to be a well-behaved companion in public.

Why complete in obedience? Obedience is a sport in which the 4-H dog and handler team is judged against an objective standard of performance. It requires good sportsmanship both in the show ring as well as outside of the show ring. It is a sport in which each successive level requires additional skills. At its earliest levels, the skills required are those of a well-behaved family pet. At its top levels, the dog is directed to jump, sit, lie down and come with only hand signals from across the ring. Several years and many hours of practice are between these two extremes! Obedience is a supportive sport that the 4-H'er can enjoy throughout their lifetime.

Classes offered: A 4-H’er can show only one dog in an Obedience class, with the exception of Utility. A 4-H’er can show a total of two dogs in 4-H. The following is a list of classes offered at the State 4-H Dog Show. Counties may offer additional classes at their show, but the additional classes are not eligible for state show competition.

❏ FOUNDATION CLASS

❏ BEGINNER ❏ GRADUATE BEGINNER ❏ NOVICE ❏ GRADUATE NOVICE ❏ PRE-OPEN ❏ OPEN ❏ GRADUATE OPEN ❏ PRE-UTILITY ❏ UTILITY ❏ VETERANS ❏ BRACE ❏ FOUR DOG TEAM

Class eligibility: ❏ 4-H’ers should be aware that upon a trainer’s or Program Coordinator’s discretion they may be required to move to a more advanced class based on prior experience or training. ❏ 4-H’ers compete in the same class during one project year (May 15 through the State 4-H Dog Show) at county and state show levels. They would move up to the next advanced class for the following project year. (Example: A 4-H’er earns a blue ribbon at their county fair show in Beginner. They would continue to compete in Beginner at the State Dog Show. They would move to Graduate Beginner the following year.) ❏ A 4-H’er may compete in a total of four obedience classes: two regular obedience classes, Brace obedience, and Four Dog Team obedience. A 4-H’er and dog can compete on only one Four Dog Team per year. ❏ A 4-H’er can show only two dogs. ❏ A 4-H’er may train in the Foundation class for only one year with the same dog. The 4-H’er and dog will move to the Beginner class the following year. If the 4-H’er does not receive a blue ribbon in the Beginner class, they may stay in Beginner a second year. After two years in the Beginner class, the 4-H member must then advance to the Graduate Beginner (or higher) class. ❏ A 4-H’er may skip any class or classes (example: skip Graduate Beginner and move directly to Novice). Once a class has been skipped and the 4-H’er has competed in the higher class, the 4‑H’er cannot drop back to the lower class the following year.

Refer to Minnesota 4-H Dog Agility Rules and Guidelines, Minnesota 4-H Dog Obedience Rules and Guidelines, Minnesota 4-H Dog Rally Obedience Rules and Guidelines, and the Minnesota 4-H Dog Showmanship Rules and Guidelines for descriptions of the classes offered.

At state events, classes are divided by age:

rd th Junior — 3 g rade through 8 grade th Senior — 9 grade through grade 13

RALLY Purpose of Rally Rally is a sport in which the dog and handler complete a course that has been designed by the rally judge. In short, Rally is a sport that combines the fast pace of Agility with the exercises of Obedience. The judge instructs the handler to begin. The dog and handler proceed at their own pace through a course of designated stations (8 to 20, depending on the level). Each station has a sign providing instructions regarding the next skill that is to be performed. Scoring is more lenient than that of traditional obedience. Rally promotes fun, enjoyment and teamwork for dogs and handlers at all levels of competition.

Classes offered: ❏ Foundation ❏ Pre-Novice ❏ Novice ❏ Pre-Advanced ❏ Advanced ❏ Excellent ❏ Veterans

Agility What is Agility? Patterned after equestrian show jumping, dog agility combines the elements of a dog’s agility, briskness, confidence, and a handler’s control over an obstacle course designed for dogs. It is a fun sport with great spectator appeal.

Purpose of Agility ❏ Add new members and maintain established members in the dog project. ❏ Provide positive motivational training methods and interactions with the dog. ❏ Enhance a working relationship between the dog and handler. ❏ Provide a better-conditioned dog and handler. ❏ Promote good sportsmanship and citizenship. ❏ Promote a better-rounded handler/dog team. ❏ Add confidence to both dog and handler.

Participation Eligibility All 4-Her’s are strongly encouraged to consult their veterinarian before beginning agility training. th Dogs must be a minimum of 12 months old before May 15 of the current 4-H year. It is recommended that large breeds be at least 18 months old. For most breeds the growth plates in the bones are still developing until the average age of fourteen months - possibly longer for large breeds.

A 4-H member may compete with no more than two dogs in 4-H agility in any year.

Any 4-H member may lease a dog for agility. The 4-H’er must provide the care and training for that dog pursuant to established 4-H dog show rules.

Agility Release Form All participants and their parent/guardian must sign the “4-H Dog Agility Release Form” concerning injury to dog and handler to participate in classes, shows, and demonstrations. This form must be signed and turned in to the trainer or extension office prior to the first training class. This form includes a section stating that they have been trained on all pieces of equipment for their particular class level, and they will not attempt any piece of equipment on which they have not been trained. The number of classes attended will be filled out by the trainer at the completion of training prior to a show.

Class attendance Counties sending competitors to state events must offer a minimum of eight (8) classes in agility – ten (10) classes are recommended. Members must attend at least six (6) classes in agility prior to the county show. Either 4-H classes or those of a recognized training school will be accepted. Working with your dog in the backyard is not accepted.

Only one class taken on any particular day by the same trainer/facility may be counted toward the total number of classes attended.

Classes offered:

Standard Classes ❏ Beginner ❏ Elementary ❏ Intermediate ❏ Senior ❏ Advanced ❏ Limited

Jumpers Class ❏ Jumpers 1A ❏ Jumpers 1B ❏ Jumpers 2 ❏ JUmpers 3 ❏ Limited Jumpers

Showmanship Purpose of Showmanship The purpose of showmanship is for 4-H members to develop skills and knowledge in dog show handling. Showmanship allows 4-H members to learn about breeds of dogs and general grooming responsibilities.

Breed Eligibility Any dog may be shown in 4-H showmanship, regardless of breed or cross. Conformation of the dog is not evaluated in showmanship. A mixed breed dog should be shown by the breed standard it most closely resembles, even if it is not a cross of that breed. Classes There are two showmanship classes: ● Novice: For 4-H members who have never earned a blue ribbon at the county or state show level. ● Open: For 4-H members who have earned a blue ribbon at the county or state show level in Novice. Because showmanship is based on the 4-H’ers ability, they may not drop back to novice if they use a new dog for showmanship.

In 4-H showmanship, members advance from novice to open. Most counties will want to only have a novice showmanship class and an open showmanship class. However, some counties may choose to decide to have the novice and open classes broken down into grade level groups. This decision should be made in partnership with the county project leaders and extension staff.

County qualifying dog show One show at the county level must be designated as the qualifying show for participation in the State 4-H Dog Show.

1. A 4-H’er must train his or her own dog(s). No other person may train and/or show this dog from May 15 through the designated county dog show in the areas the 4-H’er is showing. If the 4-H’er and dog advance to the state dog show, no one else may train or show the dog until after the state dog show in any class in which they advance to state competition. 2. A dog may be trained and shown by only one 4-H member in obedience (with the exception of brace and 4-dog team; the dog can participate on only one brace and only one 4-dog team). Only one 4-H member may train and show the dog in agility. Only one 4-H member may train and show the dog in rally. In showmanship, two 4-H’ers may show the same dog. However, they may not be in the same showmanship class.

3. A 4-H member may not substitute or change dogs after the county show in agility, obedience, rally or showmanship for any reason. 4. If a 4-H’er and dog qualifies for the State 4-H Dog Show, he or she must sign the registration form for the State 4-H Dog Show stating that he or she has trained, groomed and cared for the dog since May 15 of the current year.

Keeping records from year to year The county dog project leaders will keep good records from previous years dog shows — both county and state — to help the leaders know which class the 4-H’er should be in when they return the following year.

Chisago 4-H Dog Project Schedule

Orientation Meeting - No dogs April 30, 6:30 pm Chisago County Community Center, 38790 6th Ave, North Branch

Dog Training (Obedience, Rally, May 7, 6:30 pm Checkerboard Park, 38990 Keystone Showmanship) Avenue, North Branch

Dog Training (Obedience, Rally, May 14, 6:30 pm Checkerboard Park, 38990 Keystone Showmanship) Avenue, North Branch

Dog Training (Obedience, Rally, May 21, 6:30 pm Checkerboard Park, 38990 Keystone Showmanship) Avenue, North Branch

Dog Training (Obedience, Rally, May 28, 6:30 pm Checkerboard Park, 38990 Keystone Showmanship) Avenue, North Branch

Dog Training (Obedience, Rally, June 4, 6:30 pm Checkerboard Park, 38990 Keystone Showmanship) Avenue, North Branch

Dog Training (Obedience, Rally, June 11, 6:30 pm Checkerboard Park, 38990 Keystone Showmanship) Avenue, North Branch

Dog Training (Obedience, Rally, June 18, 6:30 pm Checkerboard Park, 38990 Keystone Showmanship) Avenue, North Branch

Dog Training (Obedience, Rally, June 25, 6:30 pm Checkerboard Park, 38990 Keystone Showmanship) Avenue, North Branch

Dog Training (Obedience, Rally, July 2, 6:30 pm Checkerboard Park, 38990 Keystone Showmanship) Avenue, North Branch

Dog Training (Obedience, Rally, July 9, 6:30 pm Checkerboard Park, 38990 Keystone Showmanship) Avenue, North Branch

Chisago County 4-H Dog Show July 27, 9:00 am Chisago County Fairgrounds, 905 W 4th St, Rush City