Macomb County, Michigan: MSU Extension: 4-H Companion animals (Dogs Cats and Pocket Pets)

Michigan state university extension

4-H Companion animals (Dogs Cats and Pocket Pets)

4-H Companion Animals Companion Animals are animals that are “pets” as opposed to “livestock”. This includes dogs, cats, pet birds, hamsters, and even reptiles and amphibians. Youth have fun learning how to train and care for their own pets.

Committee

Companion Animals Committee: All clubs with members registered in companion animals projects are encouraged to be active in this committee of youths and adults which meets regularly throughout the year to coordinate activities at the county level.

Events and Training

4-H Companion Animals Workshop: May –Kettunen Center Learn, share and explore 4-H companion animal activities, club and group development, leadership opportunities, and canine behavior and training. In addition, you’ll learn how to improve both beginning and advanced skills in performance areas such as agility, obedience, showmanship, rally, and freestyle. Additional topics of interest include cat sessions and many other opportunities that will enhance your 4-H companion animal project experience. Open to 4-H adult and teen volunteer leaders aged 13 and up
4-H State Dog Show: Held each August on MSU campus, youth across the state compete in a variety of contests to include showmanship, obedience, agility and freestyle.
Armada Fair: 4-H youth can show their dogs and pocket pets at this annual event held in August.
Canine Good Citizen Testing: The Companion Animals Committee offers this AKC evaluation annually each fall for 4-H members and the general community. Macomb County 4-H requires members’ dogs to pass CGC or Therapy Dog International certification in order to participate in patient visitation programs. More information on CGC is available at
http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/program.cfm
Companion Animals Carnival: The Companion Animals Committee offers this daylong workshop held in Macomb County offers sessions of general interest to pet owners, and others aimed at specific pets and is generally held in late winter each year.
Dog Patch Program: This statewide program recognizes members who have achieved a certain number of qualifying scores in specific areas of competition. This program is currently undergoing revisions.
Fun Matches: Dog Project members have the opportunity to participate in fun matches organized by clubs in Macomb and other nearby counties.
Training: The County’s dog clubs all offer training in obedience, showmanship, and agility from April to August. Some clubs have access to indoor facilities and continue to train in fall and winter.

Forms:

Cat Project Book: The Cat Project Book comes in 3 age-appropriate versions and can be entered into the Armada Fair.

Dog Project Book: The Dog Project Book, comes in 4 age-appropriate versions. A member must complete the book in order to show in 4-H at the Armada Fair dog show.

Dog Show Promotion Record: This document should be updated each time a member’s dog completes in a 4-H or non-4-H match or show. The information on this record is used to determine the appropriate level of competition.
Dog Patch Program Overview and Qualifying Scores Documents (Page 1 and Page 2): Explains and illustrates the various dog patches that can be earned by members. The qualifying scores document should be signed by the judge each time a member competes.