Kansas 4-H Dog Show Rules Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service Table of Contents Introduction 3 Foreword 3 Objectives 3 4-H Name and Emblem 4 Owning a Dog 4 Handlers with Special Needs 4 General Regulations 6 Misbehavior 6 Equipment 6 Use of Leash Chapter 1 – Showmanship 7 Purpose of Showmanship 7 Showmanship Classes 7 Ribbons 8 Grooming Requirements for Both Dog and 4-H’er 8 Judges’ Responsibilities 9 Facility 9 Stewards 9 Performance Regulations 11 Showmanship Scoring 19 4-H Dog Showmanship Score Sheet Chapter 2 – Obedience 21 Purpose of Obedience 21 Obedience Classes 24 Obedience Advancement Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service 1 Kansas 4-H Dog Show Rules 24 Judge’s Responsibilities 25 Facility 25 Stewards 26 Scoring the Performance 28 Scoring the Exercises 19 4-H Dog Obedience Score Sheets Chapter 3 – Agility 57 Purpose of Agility 57 Agility Classes 58 Agility Advancement 58 Ribbons 58 Agility Course Requirements 61 Judges Responsibilities 63 Facility 63 Stewards 64 Performance Regulations 66 Scoring the Obstacles 72 Specifications For Constructing Agility Obstacles 93 Icons for Agility Scoresheets 94 Kansas 4-H Agility Scoresheet 95 Course Layout Chapter 4 – Rally Obedience 99 Purpose of Rally Obedience 101 Rally Obedience Classes 101 Rally Advancement 101 Ribbons 102 Rally Course Requirements 103 Judge’s Responsibilities 105 Facility and Supplies 107 Stewards 108 Performance Regulations 116 Scoring the Exercises 122 Individual Exercises 151 Groupings of Rally Exercises with Judging Hints 154 4-H Rally Obedience Score Sheets 158 Icons for 4-H Rally Obedience 2 Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service Introduction Foreword This publication is intended as a guide for 4-H’ers, 4-H leaders, county exten- sion agents, show managers, parents, and judges. This rule book is designed to help establish uniform regulations and procedures for the 4-H dog shows and events throughout the state. Please use this book as a guide when setting up your shows and establishing show rules. All judges should be made familiar with 4-H dog show rules and objectives, which are often different from other organizations’ rules. Objectives The purpose of the dog project is to help 4-H youth: • Develop leadership, initiative, self-reliance, sportsmanship, and other desir- able traits of character. • Experience the pride and responsibility of being involved with a dog. • Acquire skill, patience, and understanding by training a dog. • Realize a greater love for animals and a humane attitude toward them. • Prepare for citizenship responsibilities by working together in groups and supporting community dog projects and activities. 4-H Name and Emblem The use of the name and emblem of 4-H is regulated by federal law. This law states that only activities or programs under supervision of the Cooperative Extension Service may use the name and emblem of 4-H. Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service 3 Kansas 4-H Dog Show Rules Shows sponsored by other organizations and shows that do not provide separate classes for 4-H’ers are not permitted to use the name and emblem of 4-H. In such cases, the title “junior dog show” or similar name should be used. Owning a Dog Because 4-H is a learn-by-doing educational program, it is the intent that 4-H members care for and train their dogs. A member will learn very little if someone else trains and cares for the dog. Most 4-H’ers will be able to have a dog that they or their family own. Some- times this is not possible. Consider these guidelines if you want to have a dog project and you do not own the dog: 1. Member must enroll at appropriate time and carry the dog as a project the entire 4-H year. 2. Member must care for and train the dog. Care includes: feeding, training, exercising, kennel management, grooming, and use of the dog. 3. The club or county 4-H dog leader should be informed of this arrange- ment at the start of the project. 4. A member and dog are called a team. Teams may change within fami- lies of multiple 4-H members or multiple dogs and from each 4-H year. Qualifications for advancement or Kansas State Fair dog show qualifica- tions of each event are based on that particular team. Any time a dog gets a new owner or a member gets a different dog, the team begins training at a mutual skill level that best matches the skills of dog and member. (For example, a new 8-year-old member who inherits a Rally III dog may need to begin at the Rally I level.) Handlers with Special Needs Everything possible should be done to encourage those with special needs to participate. Handlers who are hearing impaired or unable to give verbal commands may use a clicker. In the case of a handler who has a hearing impair- ment, the judge should use a hand signal to inform him/her of faults when needed. It is suggested that one of the timers/stewards maintain a position in front of the handler to relay the hand signal if the judge should fall behind the handler. Handlers may have in-ring assistance when it is needed. General Regulations 1. State 4-H Dog Show Immunization Record (MG-34) should be required at all shows. Proof of rabies vaccination signed by a licensed veterinarian must be presented to the veterinarian or show committee at registration on day of show to be eligible to compete. Other required vaccinations are: 4 Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service Introduction Bordetella, distemper, hepatitis (adenovirus), parvovirus, parainfluenza. Other recommended vaccinations are leptospirosis and coronavirus. 2. Any abuse of dogs on the grounds or in the ring will result in disqualifica- tion. 3. A dog in season will NOT be allowed to show and must be removed from the show arena grounds immediately. 4. Any dog with a contagious, communicable, or infectious disease or condi- tion, in the judgment of the attending veterinarian or show committee, cannot be shown. It must be removed from the show arena grounds imme- diately. 5. The judge or veterinarian on call has the right and responsibility to excuse any dog he or she considers lame or at risk when participating in a 4-H event. 6. Good sportsmanship shall always be observed. The judge’s decision is final. Poor sportsmanship may lead to loss of ribbon, class dismissal, or disquali- fication from show as determined by judge. Any protest should be made in writing to the show committee. 7. Dogs and handlers may not enter any show ring prior to a judge’s briefing or their turn to compete. 8. In all events, the following infractions will result in disqualification and no ribbon shall be awarded to the team: • Dismissal from the ring by the judge for any of the following reasons: – dog leaving ring (see exception under Rally) or out of control ï In Rally obedience only, the dog may continue to perform after leaving the ring if he returns immediately, unassisted, to the handler. – dog displaying any aggressiveness (biting or growling) to any person or dog during the performance – dog biting another dog or human – handler using abusive language or unsportsmanlike conduct, or giving harsh verbal corrections to the dog • Baiting the dog with food, squeakers, toys, electronic devices, etc. 9. Fouling the ring results in a white ribbon for all events except during the Agility walk-through, which results in a 10-point deduction. 10. To qualify to compete at the Kansas State Fair Dog Show, each team must earn at least one qualifying score of a blue or purple ribbon, in that same year, in each discipline they wish to enter, at a local or county invitational 4-H dog show, from a state-certified judge. There are no on-lead obedi- ence, rally, or agility classes at the state fair. 11. A 4-H member may enter as many dogs in as many classes as desired in Agility and Rally. Obedience is limited to one dog per 4-H’er per class. Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service 5 Kansas 4-H Dog Show Rules Due to age divisions, Showmanship limits the 4-H’er to one class and one dog per show, but they may show with a different dog on a different day if desired. Misbehavior 4-H Dog Shows of all types should be fun for both the dog and the handler and perceived as such. Any severe disciplining by the handler in the ring, any display of fear or nervousness by the dog, or any uncontrolled behavior of the dog such as snap- ping, barking, or running away from its handler — whether it occurs during an exercise, between exercises, before, or after judging — must be penalized according to the seriousness of the misbehavior. The judge may expel or excuse the dog from further competition. Equipment No fancy spiked, pinched, special training, or collars that are either too tight or so large that they hang unreasonably in front of the dogs are permitted. There shall be no objects such as tags, ornaments, or decorations hanging from the collars. No harnesses, halters, or electronic collars will be allowed. Use of Leash Keep all dogs on leash except when performing off-leash exercises in the ring. Bring dogs into and out of the ring on leash. Keep dogs on leash in the ring when receiving awards.