Dog Care and Training Senior Project Guide

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Overview

Georgia 4-H Project Achievement empowers young people with skills for a lifetime. Through a competitive process, students explore their interests, unleash their creativity, share their work, and celebrate their achievements! This guide provides 9th—12th graders with examples for getting started with their project exploration.

Overview of Project Achievement Process

1) Choose project
2) Develop skills in leadership and service
3) Prepare portfolio for work completed from January 1 – December 31
4) Prepare presentation
5) Practice
6) Compete
7) Reflect

Description of Dog Care and Training Project

4-H’ers may explore the care of dogs including feeding, handling, grooming,
training, and veterinary care. Through this project 4-H’ers may:
•Learn about and acquire skills for selecting, breeding, feeding, caring for, handling, training, grooming, managing, owning, and exhibiting dogs
•Acquire knowledge about the history, breeds, characteristics, and identification of dogs
•Discover the current and historic roles, environmental and societal impacts, and therapeutic benefits of dogs
•Understand the value of scientific research and its influence on husbandry
•Explore equipment and safety protocols associated with animal care, handling, and training
•Understand the role of veterinary care, as well as basic first aid and treatment for dog ailments not requiring veterinary attention
•Explore careers related to the care, training, and raising of dogs

Examples of Project Development Experiences

•Attend UGA’s VetCAMP, UGA College of Veterinary Medicine open house, veterinary workshops/clinics, animal specialty camps, field days, dog shows, etc.
•Tour animal clinics/hospitals, animal shelters, kennels, pet stores, and dog parks
•Acquire and read books, magazines, pamphlets, and online media about dog care and training
•Raise and care for animals; consider showing your animals
•Participate in 4-H judging contests and quiz bowls related to animals
•Interview a dog trainer, tour the training facilities, and discuss training basics and trends
•Shadow a veterinarian, animal groomer, animal scientist, and/or someone with a service dog
•Learn to control parasites on your pet
•Observe a dog agility class and make your own course at home

Project Sharing and Helping Examples

•Hold a pet care demonstration for friends and family
•Organize a group to tour a local veterinary clinic, kennel, animal shelter, pet store, dog park, and/or veterinary school
•Assist with a dog adoption day at your local animal shelter
•Organize a group to volunteer at a dog show
•Volunteer at a local animal shelter and/or rabies clinic
•Set up a pet care display at your county fair, library, civic club, festivals, pet stores, etc.
•Organize a pet therapy program for a local nursing home
•Collect dog food, chew toys, and other items for a dog shelter
•Start a Dog Care and Training project club at school
•Coordinate an informational interview with a trainer for a group
•Raise awareness for local animal shelters and the medical needs of the pets there
•Organize or assist with a dog wash in your community
•Coordinate a volunteer day at a dog rescue center
•Create enrichment items for dogs at your local animal shelter
•Assist a dog rescuer with dog grooming and health activities
•Demonstrate dog training techniques to others and help in training their dogs
•Mentor a younger 4-H’er in the Dog Care and Training project

Special Considerations

•Live animals and weapons are not permitted in the presentation.
•Dog exhibiting is not a requirement of this project.
•This project can address any issue related to dogs. Members may gain experience in a number of ways, such as assisting with managing a kennel, raising dogs, studying husbandry, etc.
•Exercise safety when handling tools, animals, and equipment.
•Ask permission before photographing, taping, or quoting.
•Safety for you, other staff, and animals is of the utmost importance; include parents/friends in all interactions with others.

Recommended Resources

Project Achievement – Georgia 4-H
Home – UGA VetMed
VetCAMP & BootCAMP – UGA VetMed
Journal of Animal Health and Behavioural Science- Open Access Jou
American Kennel Club
Adopt a dog or cat today! Search for local pets in need of a home.
Global Animal Welfare Org | Humane World for Animals | Humane World for Animals
HOME – APDT International

At Competition

Dog Care and Training Projects may use posters, artifacts, biofacts, and/or technology to support their presentation. The time limit for these presentations is 12 minutes. Computers, projectors, screens, and other technological devices may be used

Prepared by: Keri Hobbs, Jason Estep, Natalie Bock, and Jenna Daniel
Reviewed by: Jennifer Cantwell and Craven Hudson