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Home , Dog breed

My and Me and Characteristics

Beginning Intermediate Advanced Select 5 breeds within each of the 7 American Make a chart listing the 7 Select 5 breeds within each of (AKC) groups of , and the (AKC) the 7 American Kennel Club Miscellaneous Class. Make groups of dogs. After each (AKC) groups of dogs and the a chart listing each breed, group, list (1) the purpose of Miscellaneous Class. Mark and include information about the group and (2) 5 breeds on a world map the countries each breed’s characteristics within each group. Of the where each of the breeds as follows: (1) General 5 breeds listed within each originated. On a chart, record Appearance, (2) Head –(eyes, 1 group, decide which breed these breeds and at least 2 ears, skull, bite), (3) Neck you like the best and tell statements about their origin and Topline, (4) Body, (5) Tail, why. Find a picture of each and history. Find a picture (6) Legs, (7) Coat, (8) Color, breed and learn to identify the of each breed and learn to (9) Height, (10) Weight, (11) breeds. identify the breeds. Temperament. Based on your research, what are your top 5 breeds of choice and why?

Name the breed (or mixed breed) and describe the Attend a sanctioned characteristics of your Visit an animal shelter. show or watch a dog . If mixed, what breed Identify the main breed and on TV or online. Record (1) does your dog most closely AKC breed group of each the names of the AKC breed resemble? Locate on a map dog, including mixed breeds. groups in which dogs were where your breed of dog How many dogs appeared shown, and (2) list the breeds originated. Watch a to be ? For 5 of shown within each group. List 2 on TV or online to learn more the mixed breed dogs, 5 questions you would like to about your breed of dog (or what breeds appear in their ask the breeders, 5 questions the breeds making up your genetic makeup? Record your you would like to ask the crossbred). Repeat this findings. owners, and 5 questions you activity for other dogs in your would like to ask the handlers. family.

Interview 1 person who Find 2 people you know who Research 7 crossbred owns a mixed breed dog own mixed breed dogs and “designer dogs.” Of these 7 and 1 person who owns a 2 people who own purebred designer dogs, describe the purebred dog. Identify the dogs. Visit these dogs and characteristics of 5 of these similarities and differences record the appearance crossbreeds, and tell why or in their reasons for owning and temperament of each. why not you would like to own a purebred versus a mixed 3 Identify 3 advantages and 3 them. List 5 pros and 5 cons breed dog. Discuss how this disadvantages of owning a of the concept of designer might influence you when mixed breed dog versus a dogs. Teach this information deciding on a breed/mixed purebred dog. to 1 other person. breed dog.

4 My Dog and Me Breeds and Breed Characteristics, cont.

Beginning Intermediate Advanced Develop a breed of dog. Develop a new breed of dog. Describe how you would Using any kind of craft Describe how you would develop this breed, its material, make a dog. develop this breed and the function, and how to get Describe what breed or mix, function. Design this breed’s it recognized by AKC or 4 its characteristics, and why characteristics including a another kennel club. Design you designed it that way. picture or graphic of this new this breed’s characteristics breed. including a picture or graphic of this new breed.

Create a game to teach someone breeds of dogs. For Learn about 10 rare breeds Learn about 20 rare breeds this game select 5 breeds of dogs and/or breeds not of dogs and/or breeds not from each AKC group. recognized by AKC. Identify recognized by AKC. Identify 5 Create your game so it is each breed’s appearance, each breed’s appearance, user friendly and reinforces history, and use. history, and use. learning as it is being played.

5 My Dog and Me Parts and

Beginning Intermediate Advanced Set up a skillathon or activity station to teach youth the external parts of the dog. Learn 15 external parts of Learn 25 external parts of Refer to page 131 in your Dog the dog. Show where these the dog. Show where these Resource Handbook. Either parts are on your dog. Tell parts are on your dog. Teach use the External Anatomy 1 why learning these parts is 5 other 4-H members these poster from the Learning important. parts. Laboratory Kit or design your own external anatomy poster and parts name tags for this activity.

Select 3 of the 7 AKC groups Select 4 of the 7 AKC groups Find pictures of dogs showing of dogs. Within those groups, of dogs. Within those groups, 3 types of ear carriages, 3 select 3 breeds of dogs. select 5 breeds of dogs. types of eye shapes, and 3 For each breed identify that For each breed identify that types of tail carriages. Identify breed’s bite, eye shape, ear breed’s bite, eye shape, ear each type of conformation carriage, tail carriage, and carriage, tail carriage, and 2 listed above. Describe your topline. Make a presentation topline. Make a presentation dog’s ear carriage, eye shape, of your selections to teach of your selections to teach and tail carriage. others. others.

Set up a skillathon or activity station to teach youth the internal parts of the dog. Learn 15 internal parts of Learn 25 internal parts of Refer to page 131 in your Dog the dog. Name 2 functions of the dog. Name 2 functions of Resource Handbook. Either each internal body part. Tell each internal body part. Show use the Internal Anatomy 3 why learning these parts is where these parts are on your poster from the Learning important. dog. Laboratory Kit or design your own internal anatomy poster and parts name tags for this activity.

Attend a conformation show. Find 3 dogs of the same Find 5 dogs of the same Watch at least 4 classes and breed. Create a chart to breed. Create a chart to make notes about how dogs compare and contrast their compare and contrast their place and what you observed 4 structure. Include pictures. structure. Include pictures. about structure.

Create your own diagram Create a game or activity to Create a game or activity to showing the external parts of teach someone else about the teach someone else about the a dog. Explain your diagram parts of a dog. Play this at a parts of a dog. Play this at a 5 to 3 other 4-H members. club meeting. club meeting.

6 My Dog and Me Daily Care (Feeding, Grooming, Exercise)

Beginning Intermediate Advanced Determine how much it will cost to feed your dog for 1 Create a dog care budget to year. Include the cost of your determine how much it will dog’s current feed and treats. cost to care for your dog for Determine how much it will Repeat the activity looking 1 year. Include in this budget cost to feed your dog for at 3 different types of dog , treats, veterinary 1 year. Include the cost of foods. Use the information expenses, grooming, your dog’s current feed and on the label or contact the licensing fees, any supplies 1 treats. Document this on a manufacturer if needed. or equipment needed (collars, spreadsheet or chart. Remember, different brands leashes, bowls, etc.). Help 5 can have different feeding other youth create a dog care amounts and bags of food are budget. different sizes.

Demonstrate how to brush Learn the type of grooming your dog’s teeth, clean your Demonstrate how to brush needed to prepare your dog’s ears, trim your dog’s your dog’s teeth, clean your dog’s breed for the show ring toenails, and properly brush dog’s ears, trim your dog’s (or the breed that your dog your dog. Teach 1 other toenails, and properly brush most resembles). Find an 2 person how to do the same your dog. opportunity to learn the basics type of grooming of his/her of how to do this grooming. dog.

Keep an exercise log for 1 Keep an exercise log for Keep an exercise log for week. Modify the plan as 3 weeks. Modify the plan 6 weeks. Modify the plan needed for your dog. Then as needed for your dog as needed for your dog keep an exercise log for each week and compare at each week and compare at 3 another week and compare completion. completion. the two.

On 3 different days, keep On 7 different days keep track track of how much time your On 5 different days keep track of how your dog spends his dog spends doing different of how your dog spends his time. Have at least 10 different activities (eating, sleeping, time. Have at least 8 different categories. Create a chart or training, playing, in his crate, categories. Create a chart or graph for 2 of the days and a 4 in the yard, etc). Display graph for each of the days. chart or graph for the average the information in a chart or amounts of time. graph.

Find a groomer or another Find a groomer or another Shadow a groomer for part of person to teach you how a person to teach you how a 1 day to learn the importance dog of your breed or breed dog of your breed or breed of grooming, equipment type is typically groomed. type is typically groomed. and tools the groomer uses, Describe either by listing or 5 Describe the purpose of each breed of dogs groomed, etc. with pictures of the grooming grooming tool used. Document your experience. tools used.

7 My Dog and Me Health

Beginning Intermediate Advanced Complete the following Complete the following Complete the following records on dog health records on dog health records on speakingforspot.com/index. speakingforspot.com/index. speakingforspot.com/index. php?p=Advocacy-Aids. php?p=Advocacy-Aids. php?p=Advocacy-Aids. • Emergency Contact Info • Emergency Contact Info • Emergency Contact Info 1 • Current Health Issues • Current Health Issues • Current Health Issues • Health History Form • Health History Form • Health History Form • Current Medications • Current Medications • Current Medications • Contingency Plan • Contingency Plan • Contingency Plan • Veterinary Office Visit • Veterinary Office Visit • Veterinary Office Visit

Do at least 4 practice Do at least 5 practice veterinary exams at home. veterinary exams at home. Do at least 3 practice Reward your dog throughout Reward your dog throughout veterinary exams at home. the practice. Get someone the practice. Get someone Reward your dog throughout else to help play the vet role else to help play the vet role the practice. If your for at least 3 more exams. If for at least 3 more exams. If veterinarian allows, go on at your veterinarian allows, go your veterinarian allows, go least 1 practice visit to your 2 on at least 1 practice visit to on at least 1 practice visit to vet clinic to have your dog eat your vet clinic to have your your vet clinic to have your treats and relax in the waiting dog eat treats and relax in dog eat treats and relax in room before going home. the waiting room before going the waiting room before going home. home.

Weigh your dog weekly for Weigh your dog weekly for 4 Weigh your dog weekly for 6 8 weeks. Keep a record of weeks. Keep a record of the weeks. Keep a record of the the weights. Use past health weights. Note any changes weights. Note any changes records to look at your dog’s 3 and why the changes may and why the changes may weight. Note any changes and have occurred. have occurred. why the changes may have occurred.

Attend a yearly veterinary Attend a yearly veterinary Attend a yearly veterinary appointment with your dog. appointment with your dog. appointment with your dog. Talk to your vet about what Talk to your vet about what Talk to your vet about what 4 vaccinations and other routine vaccinations and other routine vaccinations and other routine care needs to be done. care needs to be done. care needs to be done.

8 My Dog and Me Health, cont.

Beginning Intermediate Advanced With the help of an adult in With the help of an adult in your household, take this your household, take this With the help of an adult in behavior health quiz and behavior health quiz and your household, take this discuss what training or discuss what training or behavior health quiz and additional help your dog additional help your dog discuss what training or needs. needs. additional help your dog needs. animalbehaviorassociates.com/ animalbehaviorassociates.com/ quiz_dog.htm quiz_dog.htm animalbehaviorassociates.com/ 5 quiz_dog.htm Create a plan for addressing Create a plan for addressing 1 of your dog’s weak areas 1 of your dog’s weak areas Discuss any additional or a preventative plan. If or a preventative plan. If challenge areas or situations your dog is displaying any your dog is displaying any where your dog displays aggressive behaviors, seek aggressive behaviors, seek anxiety. an appropriately qualified an appropriately qualified professional. professional.

9 My Dog and Me Welfare

Beginning Intermediate Advanced Research and list what your Survey 3 friends who are dog Create a game or activity to dog must have to be well owners and ask what signs teach others how to recognize cared for (food, shelter, etc.) of stress they observe in their signs of fear and stress in Outline how you are meeting own dog and in other dogs. dogs. Find an opportunity to those requirements or if you Compare this to your research 1 do the game or activity with at need to improve upon meeting and the information in your least 10 people. those needs. Dog Resource Handbook.

With the help of an adult, With the help of an adult, Design a facility to house find 7 scenarios where a dog find 5 scenarios where a dog 10 dogs. Explain why you is not being well cared for is not being well cared for designed the facility as and decide what your best and decide what your best such — ventilation, flooring, response would be. Role play 2 response would be. Role play lighting, storage, grooming the scenarios with at least 2 the scenarios. area, exercise area, etc. other people.

Create a list of at least 20 Create a list of behaviors that Create a list of behaviors that behaviors that dogs exhibit dogs exhibit when stressed, dogs exhibit when stressed, when stressed, and a list of and a list of behaviors your and a list of behaviors your behaviors your dog exhibits dog exhibits when stressed. dog exhibits when stressed. when stressed. Be as specific 3 Be as specific as possible. Be as specific as possible. as possible. Then list calming List at least 15 behaviors. List at least 20 behaviors. (displacement) behaviors to reduce the stress behaviors.

Create a list of behaviors that Create a list of behaviors that Create a list of behaviors that are normal/natural for dogs, are normal/natural for dogs, are normal/natural for dogs, and appropriate ways for your and appropriate ways for your and appropriate ways for your dog to be able to practice dog to be able to practice dog to be able to practice these behaviors. List at least these behaviors. List at least these behaviors. List at least 4 5 behaviors. Example: natural 10 behaviors. Example: 15 behaviors. Example: behavior of chasing animal. natural behavior of chasing natural behavior of chasing Appropriate option: chasing a animal. Appropriate option: animal. Appropriate option: toy on a rope. chasing a toy on a rope. chasing a toy on a rope.

Research “enrichment” for dogs. Find 8 new ways to With the help of an adult, With the help of an adult, provide enrichment for your research “enrichment” for research “enrichment” for dog. Make notes about what dogs and find 4 new ways you dogs and find 6 new ways you your dog likes and what can provide enrichment for can provide enrichment for he doesn’t like. Create a your dog. Make notes about your dog. Make notes about booklet, poster, or some other 5 which activities your dog liked which activities your dog liked educational tool to share the and which ones he did not. and which ones he did not. information with other dog enrichment.org/ enrichment.org/ owners. enrichment.org/

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