Dog

4-H DOG

Revised 2.8.2021

The 4-H Dog Project provides youth a fun and hands-on learning experience that develops life skills, as well as teaches valuable information about properly caring for their animal. Subjects such as general care, nutrition housing, training and health care are presented in the curricular materials, through workshops and in preparation of an exhibit. Youth also have the opportunity to develop responsibility, decision-making, nurturing, and communication skills through active participation in the 4-H Dog Project.

Project Leader:  Betty Langley  219-208-2005 Assistants:  Janet Kerr & Mike Gluth

 DOG Project Rules:

• 1. See 4-H General Rules for information on manual completion and requirements.
  2. All animal class entries must be entered into fairentry.com by July 8.
  3. All Current Record sheets/manuals are due to your club leader by July 8.   (Make sure to keep your vaccination form for show day)
  4. Posters must follow 4-H General Poster, Notebook & Display Board Rules.  It is REQUIRED that all posters, notebooks, and display boards include a reference list indicating where information was obtained, giving credit to the original author, to complete the 4-H member’s exhibit. This reference list should/might include website links, people and professionals interviewed, books, magazines, etc. It is recommended this reference list be attached to the back of a poster or display board, be the last page of a notebook, or included as a part of the display visible to the public. A judge is not to discredit an exhibit for the manner in which references are listed              
  5. Certificate of Vaccination will be required for all dogs to be shown at the County Fair.
  6. Members will train their dogs at the County dog training meetings.
  7. Every member and parent/guardian must sign the “Training Registration and Release Form” before the member and dog are allowed at the training session.
  8. Each 4-H member will show only the dog he or she trained.
  9. Members must be enrolled in the Dog project by May 15.
  10. All 4-H handlers are required to clean up after their own dog.
  11. No female dogs in season will be allowed on the fairgrounds.
  12. Dogs are to be kept on leash at all times unless training requires them to be off leash. All dogs must have a slip collar and a 6 foot leash for obedience and a show lead for showmanship. When training, the only collar that should be on the dog is the choker collar or show lead - NO FLEA COLLARS OR BAND COLLARS. Also there should not be any tags on the choker collars.
  13. In all levels, you may choose to exhibit a live animal, and/or a poster on a topic from appropriate grade level manual.
  14. A member may lease a dog to participate in the 4-H Dog project at the county level ONLY. A leased dog is not eligible for State Fair competition.

   

  Indiana 4-H Aggressive Dog Policy

  The following policy has been provided for the Indiana 4-H Dog program as the owner/exhibitor of the dog bears responsibility for the dog’s actions.  In the subsequent policy, the term “4-H Dog Personnel” will include Jasper County 4-H Dog Leaders, County Extension Educators, State 4-H Staff, and appropriate County and State Fair Directors

  • A dog that bites a human or another dog at any 4-H Dog Event must be immediately removed from that event by the 4-H member and will subsequently be excused from the 4-H program. The member should be directed by the 4-H Dog Personnel on-site to remove the dog if the member does not do so willingly.  If a determination is made by the 4-H Dog Personnel that a dog bit in self-defense, it may be allowed to remain at the 4-H Dog Event.
  • Dogs that display other signs of aggression, including but not limited to barking and standing ground, growling, lunging and snapping will be given one verbal warning.  They will be removed from the event after the second violation at the same event. To be removed from a 4-H Dog Event, there must be two violations at the same event.
  • Any dog that is removed from a 4-H Dog Event due to aggressive behavior will be placed on probation for 2 weeks.  Written notification of the probation will be given to the 4-H member.  The 2 week period will start upon written notification to the 4-H member.  While on probation, the 4-H Dog Personnel and the 4-H member and parents will work together to determine the best course of action for the dog. This may include (but is not limited to) working individually with the dog and 4-H member, asking the 4-H member to use a different dog or having the 4-H member attend events without their dog.  At the end of the designated probation period, 4-H Dog Personnel will make a determination regarding the dog’s return to 4-H Dog Events.
  • Dogs that are removed from a 4-H Dog Event twice will be immediately excused from the 4-H program and will not be allowed to re-enter.  Excusing a dog from the 4-H program is rare but could be necessary for the safety of 4-H members, volunteers, and other participating dogs. Should a dog be excused from the program, it must be remembered that the action is against the dog not the 4-H member. 

   

  Exhibit Requirements:

  LEVEL 1 - WIGGLES ‘N’ WAGS (grades 3-5)

  Choose one or more of the following:

  • Show your dog in the dog show at the fair
  • Dog educational poster - choose a topic from the Level 1 manual

   LEVEL 2 - CANINE CONNECTION (grades 6-8)

   Choose one or more of the following:

  • Show your dog in the dog show at the fair
  • Dog educational poster - choose a topic from the Level 2 manual

  LEVEL 3 - LEADING THE PACK (grades 9-12)

  Choose one or more of the following:

  • Show your dog in the dog show at the fair
  • Dog educational poster - choose a topic from the Level 3 manual

   

   

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