4-H Dog Project

Schedules for the Dog Club meetings and for other 4-H Dog Events and Activities can be found at the bottom of this page.

Completion Requirements

Complete the record sheet (new one each year) and turn it in to a DOG CLUB LEADER by the announced date.

Exhibit options

Show your animal at the Blackford County 4-H Fair.
Exhibit a poster at the Blackford County 4-H Fair.
Exhibit a notebook about your dog at the Blackford County 4-H Fair.
Action Display/Demonstration

Health Requirements

All 4-H dogs must be accompanied by a certificate of vaccination, signed by a Licensed, accredited veterinarian indicating the dog has been vaccinated for rabies, distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, leptospirosis and kennel cough.
A 4-H dog may not be exhibited if they are showing symptoms of any communicable disease or parasites (including ticks and fleas).
A dog displaying signs of aggression will not be allowed to show.
Female dogs that are “in season” will not be allowed to compete in the dog show or classes. These dogs should be left at home so they do not distract other dogs and prevent the exhibitors from being able to demonstrate their true abilities. There are exceptions—please talk to your Dog club leader.
Excessive and/or inhumane treatment of a 4-H dog by a handler and/or family member will be grounds for dismissal.
Certain required vaccinations have not been proven effective in wolf-hybrids; therefore, because wolf hybrids cannot meet the vaccination requirements of the Indiana Board of Animal Health, wolf-hybrid dogs cannot be shown in the 4-H program.

4-H Dog Show Rules

Purebred and mixed breed animals are eligible for the 4-H dog program.
Dogs should be at least one year old by show time.
Dogs must be trained by 4-H member. “Professionally” trained dogs, or dogs trained by individuals not connected with the Blackford County 4-H Dog Club are not eligible to train or compete in this project.
The 4-H member may not move back to a lower class than the one they entered in previous years, with the same dog.
4-H dogs must wear a well fitted slip collar for obedience, buckle collar for agility and martingale collar for showmanship. The leash may be made of leather or fabric and must be six feet in length (preferably leather). Collar tags (name, rabies) will not be allowed in the 4-H show.
A dog being shown in the dog obedience project must belong to the exhibitor or to a member of the immediate family or household.
The 4-H showmanship, agility, and/or 4-H drill team dog must be the same dog that is being shown by the 4-H exhibitor in the obedience class.
CLASS 1A is only open to 4-H exhibitors and dogs who are both in their first year of the project. Any 4-H’er or dog with training before January 1, this year, must show in CLASS 1B or HIGHER.
All 4-H’ers are required to clean up after their dog.
For safety purposes to be eligible to show, the 4-H’er must be able, in the opinion of the leaders, to safely handle his or her dog.
To be able to participate in extra classes, including showmanship, agility and drill team, 4-H’er and dog must attend and show in an obedience class.
Dog treats (baiting) are used for training purposes only and are not allowed at the show or used during the show. There is an exception for showmanship—see showmanship rules.
Appropriate attire (clothing) is required in all dog show classes. Exposing of cleavage, bare midriff, or buttocks is inappropriate and will be penalized. Smooth soled boots, high heels, loose fitting shoes, floppy sandals or other unsafe footwear are not appropriate attire. Refer to Showmanship and Drill Team terms for Conditions for attire regulations specific to those vents.
During the show, the arm band number must be worn on the left arm of the 4-H’er.
Each 4-H’er may show one dog PLUS one service dog. Each dog may only be shown by one 4-H’er. 4-H’ers CANNOT share a dog nor can they show more than one dog.

Class Descriptions

Class 1A For 4-H’ers with no previous formal dog training experiences with a dog which has received no obedience training prior to January 1 of the current year (not repeatable)
Class1B For 4-H’ers with previous dog training experience, (including showing in 1A) or for 4-H’ers with no experience whose dogs have had training which disqualifies them for 1-A. (not repeatable with the same dog)
Class 2A For 4-H’ers and dogs which have completed 1-A or 1-B (not repeatable with the same dog)
Class 2B For 4-H’ers and dogs who have completed class 2-A. May repeat until ready for 3A.
Class 3A For 4-H’ers and dogs which have mastered class 2 work (not repeatable with the same dog)
Class 3B For 4-H’ers and dogs which have been in 3-A, but are not ready for Class 4 work. (May repeat)
Class 4A For 4-H’ers and dogs which have mastered Class 3 work (not repeatable with the same dog)
Class 4B For 4-H’ers and dogs which have been in 4-A, but are not ready for Class 5 work. (May repeat)
Class 5A For 4-H’ers and dogs which have mastered Class 4 work (not repeatable with the same dog)
Class 5B For 4-H’ers and dogs which have been in 5-A, but are not ready for Class 6 work (may repeat)
Class 6A For 4-H’ers and dogs which have mastered Class 5 work (not repeatable with the same dog)
Class 6B For 4-H’ers and dogs which have been in 6-A. (may repeat)
Veterans 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 2-B 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 once they have competed in the Veteran’s Class.
Leader/Service Dogs

Showmanship

Class descriptions:

Junior Showmanship: For any 4-H Dog Club member who is in the 3rd, 4th or 5th grade on January 1 of the current 4-H year.
Intermediate Showmanship: For any 4-H Dog Club member who is in the 6th, 7th or 8th grade on January 1 of the current 4-H year.
Senior Showmanship: For any 4-H Dog Club member who is in the 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade on January 1 of the current 4-H year.
To participate in Showmanship, the 4-H’er and same dog must have shown in Obedience Class at the County 4-H Fair Dog Show.

Proper Attire: Girls—dress, skirt and blouse, culottes, or dress pants. Boys—dress pants, dress shirt. (Coat and tie are optional.)

Inappropriate Attire: Smooth-soled boots, high heels, backless slip-on shoes, loose fitting shoes or other unsafe footwear.

Collar and leash: A martingale collar and showmanship leash is used.

Agility

Terms and Conditions

The 4-H Dog Agility Program is based on guidelines from the United Kennel Club. Some modifications to the UKC rules have been made to provide a program suitable for 4-H handlers of all ages.

Dogs showing in agility must show in obedience and be at least 1 year old on day of show.
Agility section/classes will be entered as Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced. The leaders will place dogs in the appropriate size division based on the height of the dog.
Each class will offer three divisions based on the dog’s height at the withers.

Division 1 – dogs 14” and under and will jump 8” hurdles.
Division 2 – dogs over 14” through 20” will jump 14” hurdles.
Division 3 – dogs over 20” will jump 20” hurdles. (Except beginner A, who will jump 14” hurdles)
Division 4—Veterans—veteran dogs (same criteria as for obedience) will jump heights one division below their actual height, except for Division 1 dogs which will jump regular height.
The Pause Table will be at the hurdle height for each division.

All agility work will be done on a flat, buckle collar.

Beginning level A must use a six foot lead.
All other levels will be off lead.
Collar tags (such as name tag or rabies tags) will not be allowed.

Scoring will be based on UKC agility rules starting with 200 points and subtracting performance faults based on a set course time. Time faults for course times exceeding the set time will be deducted by the amount in seconds over the set time. Division 1 dogs will have five (5) seconds added to the set course time; Giant breeds (refer to UKC list) will have five (5) seconds added.
If a dog fouls in the ring during the walk through there will be a 10 point deduction in the agility score. If a dog fouls in the ring during the scored run, it will be disqualified.
It is highly recommended that 4-H’er participants wear tennis shoes in agility.

Class Description

The program offers three (3) levels of competition – Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced. The level of competition will be determined by the leader based on the dog’s ability and training.

Beginning

Class 1 - Beginning A – 4-H member has not previously participated in Beginning Agility. 4-H’ers must use 6’ leash (Not repeatable)

Class 2 - Beginning B – 4-H member has participated in Agility before, either with the current dog, or a different dog. Exercises must be off leash. Dog should repeat Beginning B until they can safely negotiate the Teeter-Totter and Closed Tunnel.

Intermediate (must be off leash)

Class 3 - Intermediate A – 4-H member has not previously participated in Intermediate Agility. (Not Repeatable)

Class 4 - Intermediate B- 4-H member has participated in intermediate Agility before, either with the current dog, or a different dog, this class should be repeated until the dog can perform advanced level work.

Advanced (must be off leash)

Class 5 – Advanced A -4-H member has not previously participated in Advanced Agility. (Not Repeatable)

Class 6 – Advanced B– 4-H member has participated in Advanced Agility before, either with the current dog, or a different dog. This class may be repeated.

Dog Poster Exhibit

Purpose: To promote an educational, creative, dog related 4-H exhibit. Contact the county extension office regarding State Fair entry of dog posters.

A dog poster should be designed to teach those who view, it, about the selected topic. You may get information from the Internet, Public Library, 4-H Leaders, or Extension Office.

Section/ Classes

Level 1 for 4-H members in the 3rd, 4th or 5th grade on January 1 of current year.
Level 2 for 4-H members in the 6th, 7th or 8th grade on January 1 of the current year.
Level 3 for 4-H members in the 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade on January 1 of the current year.

A 22” x 28” educational poster displayed horizontally with a stiff backing, and a clear protective covering.

Poster—County Fair & State Fair

A champion will be selected from each level of the dog posters. The Grand and Reserve Grand will be selected from all of the animal/livestock posters. The champion from each level will be eligible to represent Blackford County at the Indiana State Fair.