RULES: Read pages 21-24 regarding General Animal/Exhibition Rules . The deadline for FairEntry is July 6, 2026. 

An organizational meeting without dogs will be held on Monday, January 19, 2026 at 5:30 pm at the fairgrounds York Automotive Group Community Building .

First year members and beginners will meet after the call out meeting on January 19th  for training information.  Please bring a 6 foot leash if you have one for training purposes.  NO DOGS at this meeting.

First meeting with dogs will be February 2, 2026 for all members

 

We follow all State Fair Rules and Classes except we add Novice Showmanship for first year members.

 

Beginners Classes– First Obedience and Showmanship (Advanced members may come to any and all classes) will be February 2nd.

Every Monday night from 5:30-6PM

Advanced Classes– Obedience, Showmanship and Agility (Beginner members may come to any and all obedience and showmanship classes) will be February 2nd.

Every Monday night from 6:30-7PM 

After Spring Break everyone practices together from 5:30-7pm every Monday

 

Agility Practices– Indoor Arena-  TBA

State Fair Practices-  TBA

*Addition Practices may be added

 

 **For additional information or updates go to www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam and access the

 4-H project page.**

 

1. Dogs must be born by September 1, 2025 to be eligible for the 2026 fair. 
2. You must dress appropriately for class. Slacks or shorts are recommended-no short shorts. Wear only a tie shoe such as a tennis shoe- NO flip flops, sandals, Crocs, boots or bare feet. On the 3rd infraction of this rule you will not be allowed to practice. We practice by the same rules that we have on show day.
3. Everyone must show in obedience, showmanship and take the Top Dog Test.  Agility is optional to advanced members-1A members will not compete in Agility.
4. You will not enter class without a signed release record and a “ 2026 Certificate of Completion (Vet Form) of Indiana 4-H Requirements for Exhibition of Dog”   (4-H-671-W Form).  This form must be signed by the member, parent and veterinarian.  The veterinarian must write the date on each line after the required vaccinations; ditto marks will not be accepted and sign form. Then the leader must sign the completed form and check off that you have this completed, but you keep it at all times.  You will need it for fun matches, the Putnam County Fair, and the State Fair.
5. After June 1st no class or dog changes will be allowed.
6. A dog being shown in the dog project must belong to the exhibitor or to a member of the immediate family or household.  It must reside at your house during the project-this means from March thru July.  Dogs may only be shown by the 4-H member, their sibling, or their parent from May 15 through the dog show.  Exhibition by any other individual makes the dog ineligible for State Fair Exhibition.  Ownership is waived on 4-H dogs raised for the service dog program. You may not lease a dog.
7. For safety reasons, participation in the county fair will be at the discretion of the 4-H Project Leaders and Extension Educator. State Fair rules will be enforced
8. No hitting, kicking, or abusing the dog. Any abuse shown will be grounds for dismissal.

9. All handlers are required to clean up after their dogs. It is recommended that you not feed your dogs before class.
10. If your dog is in season (heat) keep her at home but attend the meeting to keep up with lessons.
11. Dogs must wear a well fitted choke collar for obedience class. This means no more than two or three inches of extra chain when pulled snug around the dogs’ neck. Agility requires a well fitted buckle collar. The lead may be of fabric or leather and must be 6 ft. in length. No tags allowed. Showmanship requires a 4 foot show lead. The club sells them for $3.  No pinch collars are allowed at any show.  Flea and tick collars cannot be worn for judging.
12. No dogs allowed in the building other than enrolled  4-H dogs.
13. A dog displaying definite signs of aggression will not be allowed to show or remain in class if extremely aggressive. If such a dog is allowed to show, it will be separate from the class.
14. All judges’ decisions are final. Any child or parent showing disrespect for a judge may be disqualified.
15. Advanced members that have completed and scored 150 points in 2B may show 2 dogs as long as they are in different obedience classes, and are being trained properly. This must be approved by the leader. However, at the State Fair only one dog may be shown.
16. All agility members and parents are expected to help move the equipment.
17. We will do a fundraiser to help offset the cost of the equipment and plaques-all members are expected to participate.
18. 4-H members are responsible for the actions of their dogs.
19. You must score 150 points in a repeatable class to move into the next higher class.  You cannot move back to a lower class after you have competed in a class at the county level.  You may try a higher class at Fun Match before June 1.
20. High In Trial qualifications in Agility must be off leash and a NQ run in agility will result in a minus of 10 points off of total score. 
21. 4-H Dog members are encouraged to attend all training classes due to the progressive nature of the training.  In order that the 4-H member and the dog receive the proper amount of instruction necessary to complete the series of exercises and to discern that the dogs are not a safety rick to themselves or others, it is strongly recommended that the 4-H member and the dog attend training sessions.
22. Dog club participants are highly encouraged to practice obedience at home a minimum of 30-minutes daily, either split among two 15-minute sessions or one 30-minute session, to garnish full value of training and retention of obedience skills.
23. First year dog club members, and dog reactive participants, must have parents stay on-site for all training activities for safety of both children, adults, and dogs.
24. Awards will be awarded to 4-H dog club members that actively participate in dog training, agility equipment set-up/tear-down, fundraising activities and other dog club sponsored events.
25. State Fair Entries are due July 1st.

 

OBEDIENCE

Please refer to the Purdue Extension Putnam County home page (www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam) and access the 4-H project page for current score sheets.

Class 1A

 Not repeatable.

For 4-H’ers with no previous formal dog training experiences with a dog that has received no obedience training prior to October 1.

Exercises are: Heel on Leash, Figure 8 on Leash, Sit for Exam on Leash, Recall on Leash-no Finish, Sit Stay on Leash-30 seconds.

Class 1B

 Repeatable for exhibition only.

For 4-H’ers with previous dog training experience with a new untrained dog; or for 4-H’ers with no experience whose dog has had training; or for 4-H’ers and dogs with previous training experience, including showing in 1A; or for 4-H’ers with no experience whose dogs have had training that disqualifies them for 1A.

Exercises are: Heel on Leash, Figure 8 on Leash, Stand for Exam on Leash, Recall on Leash, Down Stay (Walk Around Ring), Sit Stay (Get Your Leash).

Class 2A

Not repeatable with the same dog except for exhibition only.

Exercises are: Heel on Leash, Figure 8 on Leash, Stand for Exam off Leash, Heel Free, Recall off Leash, Sit Stay (Get Your Leash), 1-Minute Sit Stay on Leash, 1-Minute Down Stay on Leash.

Class 2B

May repeat until ready to move up.

Exercises are: Heel on Leash, Figure 8 on Leash, Stand for Exam off Leash, Heel Free, Drop on Recall, Sit Stay (Get Your Leash), 1-Minute Sit Stay on Leash, 1-Minute Down Stay on Leash.

 

Class 3A

Not repeatable with the same dog except for exhibition only.

Exercises are: Heel Free, Figure 8 off Leash, Stand for Exam off Leash, Dumbbell Recall, Drop on Recall, Stand Stay (Get Your Leash).

 

Class 3B

May repeat until ready to move up.

Exercises are: Heel Free, Figure 8 off Leash, Stand for Exam off Leash, Retrieve on Flat, Drop on Recall, Stand Stay (Get Your Leash).

 

Class 4A

Not repeatable with the same dog except for exhibition only.

Exercises are: Heel Free, Figure 8 off Leash, Retrieve on Flat, Dumbbell Recall Over High Jump, Recall Over Broad Jump, Command Discrimination (Stand-Sit-Down).

Class 4B

May repeat until ready to move up.

Exercises are: Heel Free, Figure 8 off Leash, Retrieve on Flat, Retrieve Over High Jump, Broad Jump, Command Discrimination (Stand-Down-Sit).

 

Class 5A

Not repeatable with the same dog except for exhibition only.

Exercises are: Hand Signals (+ voice), Directed Retrieve (2 gloves), Retrieve Over High Jump, Broad Jump, Moving Stand and Exam.

 

Class 5B

May repeat until ready to move up.

Exercises are: Hand Signals, Directed Retrieve, Retrieve Over High Jump, Broad Jump, Moving Stand and Exam.

Class 6A

Not repeatable with the same dog except for exhibition only.

Exercises are: Hand Signals, Scent Discrimination 1 retrieve), Directed Retrieve, Moving Stand and Exam, Go Out, Directed Jumping (1 jump).

Class 6B

May repeat.

Exercises are: Hand Signals, Scent Discrimination, Directed Retrieve, Directed Jumping, Moving Stand and Exam.

Veterans

Repeatable.

For 4-H members whose dogs are at least seven (7) years old or are physically challenged. The dog must have completed at least class 2B in previous years. Dogs who are physically challenged must be accompanied by a letter from a veterinarian stating that the dog is unable to perform jumping and/or retrieving exercises. A dog may not be shown in any other obedience class at the Indiana State Fair 4-H Dog Show once they have competed in the Veteran’s Class.

Exercises are: Heel Free, Figure 8 off Leash, Stand for Exam off Leash, Recall off Leash, Stand Stay (Get Your Leash)

 

4-H AGILITY

 A dog may be entered in only one agility class. Awards are granted by agility class regardless of dog size.

 

Class Beginning A - Is for teams in which neither the 4-H member nor dog have previously participated in agility. The course is run on leash. The team must use a 6-foot leash. This class is not repeatable.

 

Class Beginning B - Is for teams in which either the 4-H member or dog has previously participated in agility. The 4-H member may have participated with another dog, or the dog may have participated with another 4-H member. The course is run off leash. The dog should repeat Beginning B until it can perform Intermediate-level work.

 

Class Intermediate A - Is for 4-H members who have not participated in Intermediate agility in a previous year. The course is run off leash. This class is not repeatable.

 

Class Intermediate B - Is for 4-H members who have participated in Intermediate agility with the current or a different dog in a previous year. The course is run off leash. The dog should repeat Intermediate B until it can perform Advanced-level work.

Class Advanced A - Is for 4-H members who have not participated in Advanced agility in a previous year. The course is run off leash. This class is not repeatable.

 

Class Advanced B - Is for 4-H members who have participated in Advanced agility with the current or a different dog in a previous year. The course is run off leash. The dog should repeat Advanced B until it can perform Excellent-level work.

 

Class Excellent - Is for 4-H members and dogs exhibiting more advanced handling skills over the same obstacles as those in the Advanced classes. The course is run off leash.

 

4-H Agility Class Equipmentt

 

Beginning Class Obstacles:  10 – 12 Obstacles

Dog Walk, A-Frame, Pause Table, Open Tunnel, Bar Jump, One Bar Jump, Panel Jump and Tire Jump (only Beginning B) 

 

Intermediate Class Obstacles:  11 – 13 Obstacles

Dog Walk, A-Frame, Pause Table, Open Tunnel, Seesaw, Weave Poles (3-Poles), Bar Jump, One Bar Jump, Panel Jump, Tire Jump, Broad Jump, Double Bar Jump, Triple Bar Jump, Ascending Bar Jump

 

Advanced Class Obstacles:  14 – 16 Obstacles

Dog Walk, A-Frame, Pause Table, Open Tunnel, Seesaw, Weave Poles (6-Poles), Bar Jump, One Bar Jump, Panel Jump, Broad Jump, Tire Jump, Double Bar Jump, Triple Bar Jump, Ascending Bar Jump

 

Excellent Class Obstacles:  16 – 18 Obstacles

Dog Walk, A-Frame, Pause Table, Open Tunnel, Seesaw, Weave Poles (9-12 Poles), Bar Jump, One Bar Jump, Panel Jump, Broad Jump, Tire Jump, Double Bar Jump, Triple Bar Jump, Ascending Bar Jump

SHOWMANSHIP

Showmanship at the state level is broken down into three divisions. Beginner 3-5th grade, Intermediate 6-8th grade, and Senior 9-12th grade.  For our county, we also offer a Novice class for first year members of the dog project regardless of age or years in other 4-H projects.

In showmanship you are judged on the following:

Line up & stack, All go around, Individual exam of dog, Individual gait, and the appearance and attitude of the handler.

Showmanship is all about how the handler presents the dog while in the ring, and how the handler looks while doing so.

 

The Showmanship Show order will be Senior, Intermediate, Junior, and lastly, Novice classes. The judge will determine the Champion and Reserve Champion of each class.  All of the Champions and Reserve Champions are eligible for the Grand Champion Showmanship and Reserve Grand Champion Showmanship regardless of how they placed in class.  The judges will be judging the Grand Champion showmanship as a new class.

1. Dogs showing in showmanship must show in obedience.
2. If an exhibitor exhibits multiple dogs in obedience, only one dog can be shown in the Showmanship classes.
3. Comment sheets will be used for showmanship classes.
4. Call-backs may occur for the judge to decide final placings.

 

TOP DOG SCHOLAR TEST

 

The Top Dog Scholar Test at the state level is broken into three divisions.  Beginner 3-5th Grade, Intermediate 6-8th grade and Senior 9-12th grade.  Questions can come from any information discussed during class, all 4-H manuals used in the Dog Projects and on the Putnam County Website under the Dog Club.