4-H Dog Care & Training

Image result for dog agility show

Are You Into It ?

“Lions, Tigers, and Bears, oh my!” Do not make good pets but dogs do! Dogs are also used for sport and assist in working livestock. The dog project helps you explore what kind of dog fits into your family’s lifestyle and how to be an excellent trainer and caretaker of your dog.

• Learn major dog breeds and identify their characteristics
• Study responsibilities of dog ownership
• Demonstrate dog care and management in feeding, handling, record-keeping, grooming and fitting
• Learn dog health regulations, first aid, and simple treatments for ailments

Here's What You Can Do All Year !

Dogs

Take Dogs Further !

• Contact your county Extension Office for information about local dog related events

• Learn about service animals and the process for fostering and training a service animal

• If you are interested in veterinary science and taking care of dogs, visit with Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine: http://www.vet.k-state.edu/

• Job-shadow at a local business (pet store, veterinary clinic, breeder, etc.) in a dog related career that interests you

• Go to local and area dog shows and explore the differences in dog breeds and how they are shown

• Explore health safety issues with dogs – what diseases do dogs have that might make humans ill?

• Explore what kinds of dogs make the best pets – compare breeds, inside dogs, outside dogs

• Learn how puppies are acquired by the local pet store

• Research all the kinds of parasites your dog might get and how to protect you and your dog

• Do some comparison shopping for dog supplies

• Explore what kind of restrictions and laws your community might have on dogs

• What are the requirements for licensing a dog in your community?

• Explore the subject of animal assisted therapy, how it is used and what the benefits are

4-H Grows Here

I Can Learn=Project Skills Resources

Career Connections

Dog Project Resources from Other Places

More Project Resources

New Resources to Help in 2020

Reasonably priced materials are available for every project in Kansas 4-H. You can order the materials for your project online or contact your local Extension Office.

Dog Care & Training (DG100)

Project Leader Resources and Quiz Bowl Contest Resources

General Dog Care & Training Resources and Quiz Bowl Contest Resources

Related Resources - Veterinary Science

Clover

KSU Project Page

Fair Resources

Dog Showmanship Score Card

Department Q: Dog Show

Step It Up!

Pass it on! Now that you know how, share it with others. Here are ideas to get you started.

Communication

Prepare a poster or demonstration:
• How to approach a dog safely
• How to prepare a dog for showing
• How to train a dog for exhibition
• How to select a nutritional diet
• How to select dog species for your family

Citizenship

• Clean up in your local dog
• Volunteer at an animal shelter
• Write a letter to your local paper about the importance of having dogs spayed or neutered

Leadership

• Organize a dog show for your club
• Organize a fundraiser to help benefit an animal shelter
• Organize a dog therapy 4-H club in your community
• Develop a plan to foster dogs of deploying soldiers

Exhibit Ideas

• Exhibit your dog at the fair
• Make a first aid kit for a dog. Tell why and how each item is used
• Share diet and nutrition information for raising a healthy dog – teach other 4-H members how to read a nutrition label on the dog food bag
• Interview your veterinarian about a microchip to identify your dog; develop a video about options
• Attend a dog show; take photos and make a notebook about dog breeds
• Write a story about your dog for a younger sibling
• Visit a pet store and find as many pieces of dog equipment as you can. Identify necessary equipment and costs
• Make a poster on diseases your dog can get. Tell about its discovery, effects, treatments, prognosis, and outcomes
• Research jobs related to dogs; make a poster showing three jobs that interest you
• Develop a video showing the steps in training a dog
• Research the country or area your dog came from. Take special note of the people, tradition and other types of animals that live in the area. Design a poster showing your dog’s origin
• Design a toy for your dog; tell about your decisions related to safety and cleanliness