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Best Friends 4-H
Club has an inclusive 4-H canine summer project designed to teach our
Nontraditional and Traditional 4-H'ers about the many aspects of canine
handling, including dog training, ownership responsibility and competitions.
Our Nontraditional 4-H'ers can either participate with their own family dogs or
with a Volunteer Team Canine, while Traditional 4-H'ers must compete with their
own family dog.
An integral part
of our Team, Best Friends 4-H Club Canines are as diverse as our 4-H'ers and
our Team Instructors -- ranging in size from Maltese to Mastiff (and everything
in between), impeccably bred or puppy mill castoffs, breed known or breed(s)
just guessed at, "seasoned veterans" or youngsters getting their
first opportunity to compete. Team Canines don't even need prior obedience or
agility training -- as long as they are tolerant of children and other dogs,
all are welcome! (Special one-on-one "tutoring" is available if
needed.)
 All Team Canines must be
at least 6 months of age (12 months to compete in Traditional agility events),
current on all of their shots, and in good health. Canines with life challenges
may be the perfect partners for 4-H'ers with life challenges, as long as the
Canine Team Member is able to handle all of the required obedience and agility
exercises without assistance from his/her human team members. However, pregnant
dogs or dogs having physical or mental conditions that would significantly
impair the dog's performance (and/or cause them pain), such as serious
orthopedic issues or very advanced age, may NOT participate.
All Team Canines
must complete a yearly Best Friends 4-H Club Canine Registration Form and
submit two photos (which may be taken by our Club Historian/ photographer). For
complete information, and to download the Canine Registration Form, please see
our Registration page. For complete information
on all aspects concerning our Team Canines, please see the
Best Friends 4-H Canine Policy
As part of the
project, 4-H'ers will learn how to keep their dogs clean and well-groomed. The
"final exam" for the program is competition at the Berrien County
Youth Fair (including a costume contest), and all Team Canines will be judged
on how well their coats are groomed to breed standards (or to the standards of
the breed it most closely resembles), and if their eyes and ears are clean,
teeth brushed, and toenails trimmed.
At the end of the
Program, our Team Canines will be given the opportunity to test for a
Canine Good
Citizenship (CGC) title, with the help of their handlers. Their time
spent in the program will also count toward their
Therapy Dog certification.
And last but
certainly not least, throughout the year, Best Friends 4-H Team Canines, with
their 4-H handlers and/or Team Instructors, will be given the opportunity to
participate in a number of special projects such as "Book Hounds"
(Read to a Dog) at local libraries, teaching Canine Safety at local schools,
and even helping teach a seminar on the benefits of Canine Therapy in the
classroom at Andrews University. Please click here to read more about some of the Special
Projects our Team Canines are a vital part of!
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