Anoka County 4-H dog training

• Friday, March 1 – Dog Training registration and payment deadline.
• Tuesday, April 9, 6:30 p.m., mandatory meeting for all parents.
• Tuesday, April 16, 6:30 p.m., mandatory meeting for all dog training participants and their parents.
• April 23 – All obedience training starts at the Anoka County Fairgrounds. Dog training folders, which will contain your complete schedule, will be given out at the parent meeting on April 9.
• May 15 – Minnesota 4-H Dog Project Identification Form and Vaccination Certificate needs to be filled out in its entirety, including veterinarian’s signature and uploaded to your 4-HOnline account.
• Wednesday, July 24 – Agility Show, Anoka County fairgrounds horse arena, 9 a.m.
• Saturday, August 3 – Obedience, Rally, and Showmanship Show, Anoka County 4-H building, 8:00 a.m.
• Saturday and Sunday, September 21 and 22 – State Dog Show, 4-H building at the State Fairgrounds.

• Obedience/Showmanship/Agility/Rally – $75
• Three disciplines – $60
• Two disciplines – $50
• Obedience Only – $45
• Charge for training a second dog - $25

Checks should be made payable to Anoka County 4-H and can be dropped off at our office Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. There is a secure drop box located outside our office door if staff are not present.

Checks can also be mailed to:
Anoka County 4-H
550 Bunker Lake Blvd NW
Andover, MN  55304

You are also welcome to pay by credit card. You can pay for all youth in one transaction.

The Minnesota 4-H Dog Project Identification Form and Vaccination Certificate needs to be filled out in its entirety including veterinarian’s signature and uploaded to your 4-H Online account. Deadline for submission is May 15, 2024. 

Class times are tentative and will be set based on number of registrations.

• Classes for Rally will be at 545: p.m.
• Classes for Agility will be at 6:30 and 7:20 p.m. or when your previous class is done.
• Classes for Obedience will be at 6:30 and 7:15 p.m.
• Classes for Showmanship will be at 8 p.m.
• Refresher class for Obedience, Rally and Showmanship will be Tuesday, July 30.

Register by Friday, March 1 through your 4-H Online account. (Registration will open no later than January 31.)

• If you have a family account in 4-H Online, login and then click on Events on the left side of the screen; event is "Anoka County 4-H dog training". Then select members name. On the next screen, click “Start Registration”.
• If you are new to 4-H, you'll need to set up an account. Creating an account does not require commitment for future participation. Select "In-person 4-H Camp/Event-Anoka County" for Club and "dog" for projects.  Once your account is approved, view the 4-H Online event registration guide for help in registering for the event. 
• Contact Kim Ferguson at fergu029@umn.edu or call 763-324-3495 for assistance.

Registration and payments are due by March 1, 2024. Registrations received after the deadline may not be accepted due to space in the classes.

Obedience provides the foundation for all aspects of dog events. Dogs will learn to heel, sit, down, come, and stay.

Foundation Obedience

For the 4-H'er and/or dog who is in the first year of training at home or in an organized training class. The dog may participate in this class once during its 4-H career. A dog entering this class with more than 10 weeks of training prior to enrolling in the Foundation level training classes for 4-H is ineligible. All exercises will be performed on leash. Exercises include heel on leash and figure 8 on leash, sit for exam on leash in heel position, grooming, recall on leash – no finish, and sit stay – handler goes to the end of six-foot leash, turns to face dog, and stays for 10 seconds. A dog having achieved one leg of its AKC-PCD, AKC-CD, or AKC-BN obedience title (or equivalent) or Rally RN title (or equivalent) is ineligible. The dog will move to the Beginner class the following year.

Beginner Obedience

For the dog with previous experience in an organized training class of 11-19 weeks OR a dog that completed the Foundation Class the previous year OR a dog that received a red or white ribbon the previous year in the Beginner Class. All exercises will be performed on leash. Exercises include heel on leash and figure 8 on leash, stand for exam on leash in heel position, grooming, recall on leash – with finish, down on command – heel position – a count of five by the judge, sit stay – handler goes to the end of a 20-foot line, stops, turns and faces the dog for 10 seconds and returns around the dog. A dog having achieved one leg of an AKC-PCD or AKC-CD obedience title (or equivalent) or Rally RN title (or equivalent) is ineligible. Upon receiving a blue ribbon or at the end of two years, the 4-H’er and dog must move to the Graduate Beginner class.

***A 4-H member using a dog that has previously been shown through the Novice class shall begin training in the Graduate Beginner class, regardless of the age of the 4-H member.

Graduate Beginner Obedience

Exercises include the heel on leash and figure eight on leash, stand for examination on leash – go to the end of the leash, grooming, heel free (leash over either shoulder), recall off leash (take leash with you), sit stay – drop leash – handler walks in a T pattern, down stay – drop leash – handler walks in a T pattern. A 4-H’er and dog may participate in this class until receiving a blue ribbon at the county or state dog show. A dog having received one leg of its AKC-PCD or AKC-CD (or its equivalent) is ineligible.

Novice Obedience

Exercises include heel on leash and figure eight on leash, stand for exam off leash, heel free, recall off leash, group long sit – drop leash – one minute, and group long down – drop leash – three minutes.  A 4-H’er and dog may participate in this class until receiving a blue ribbon at the county or state dog show. A dog with an AKC-CD (or its equivalent) is ineligible.

Graduate Novice Obedience

For those 4-H members and dogs who previously participated in the Novice class or those members who wish to enter due to previous training. A 4-H'er may participate in this class until receiving a blue ribbon at the county or state show. A dog having one leg toward its AKC-PCDX, AKC-GN, or AKC-CDX (or its equivalent) is ineligible for this class. Exercises include heel on leash, heel free and figure eight off leash, moving drop on recall, dumbbell fetch – one minute to have dog take the dumbbell, recall over high jump, recall over broad jump, group long sit – drop leash – two minutes out of sight, group long down – drop leash – three minutes out of sight.

Pre-Open Obedience

A 4-H'er and dog may participate in this class until receiving a blue ribbon at the county or state show. A dog having one leg toward its AKC-PCDX or AKC-CDX (or its equivalent) is ineligible. All exercises are off leash. Exercises include heel free and figure eight, drop on recall – may use command and signal, retrieve on flat, dumbbell recall over high jump, broad jump, group long sit – drop leash – three minutes out of sight, group long down – drop leash – five minutes out of sight.

Open Obedience

A 4-H'er may participate in this class until receiving a blue ribbon at the county or state show. A dog having its AKC-CDX (or its equivalent) is ineligible. All exercises are off leash. Exercises include the heel free and figure eight, drop on recall – either command or signal, retrieve on flat, retrieve over high jump, broad jump, group long sit – drop leash – three minutes out of sight, group long down – drop leash– five minutes out of sight. 

Graduate Open Obedience

All exercises are performed off leash. Exercises include the signal exercise (with 10-20 foot distance for the down, sit, come) – may use command and signal, scent discrimination (two articles of each of two types – just one is retrieved), go out, moving stand and examination, directed jumping (from sit stay – handler one side step permitted) – judge’s choice of high jump or bar jump, directed retrieve (two gloves).  A dog with one leg toward an AKC-UD or AKC-GO (or its equivalent) is ineligible for this class. A 4-H’er and dog may participate in this class until receiving a blue ribbon at the county or state dog show.

Pre-Utility Obedience

All exercises are performed off leash. Exercises include signal exercise (at full distance) – may use one verbal command, scent discrimination (four articles of each of two types – two articles are retrieved), directed retrieve (with all three gloves), moving stand and exam, and directed jumping – high jump and bar jump (handler – one side step permitted). A 4-H’er and dog may participate in this class until receiving a blue ribbon at the county or state dog show. A dog with one leg toward an AKC-PUTD or AKC-UD obedience title (or its equivalent) is ineligible for this class.

Utility Obedience

All exercises are performed off leash and include the signal exercise, scent discrimination, directed retrieve, directed jumping, and moving stand and exam. There are no restrictions in this class. A 4-H’er may participate in this class with the same dog indefinitely.

Veterans Obedience

The Veterans class is for dogs that are too old and/or unfit to jump. If a dog under the age of seven years has been found unfit to jump by a licensed veterinarian, it will be allowed to complete in this class. A dog participating in Veterans Obedience cannot participate in any obedience or rally class that has jumping exercises. Participation in agility will not be permitted.  Showmanship participation is permitted. Once a dog competes in Veterans at the county show level, it can never again be shown in any agility class or other obedience or rally class that has jumping exercises, even if being trained and exhibited by another 4-H’er. A 4-H’er may participate in this class with the same dog indefinitely. Exercises include:  heel on leash and figure eight on leash, stand for exam off leash, heel free, recall off leash, group long sit – drop leash – one minute, group long down – drop leash – three minutes.

Brace Obedience

This class is for 4-H'ers who have two dogs of their own or those who wish to borrow or lease a dog. (A third dog cannot be used for brace.) No particular level of training is required or prohibited in this class. Exercises include:  heel on leash & figure eight on leash, stand for exam off leash, grooming, recall off leash, group long sit – drop leash – one minute, group long down – drop leash – three minutes. The brace score sheet will be used in judging. A 4-H’er may participate in this class indefinitely.

4-Dog Team Obedience

This class is for 4-H'ers who wish to work together in training their dogs to perform as a unit of four. Exercises include:  heel on leash and figure eight on leash, stand for exam off leash, team uniformity, recall off leash – dogs will be called simultaneously, long sit off leash – drop leash – one minute, long down off leash – drop leash – one minutes. The 4-Dog Team score sheet will be used in judging. No particular level of training is required or prohibited in this class.

Other Information

• 4-H members should be aware that upon an instructor's discretion, they may be required to move to a more advanced class based on prior experience or training.

• A 4-H member may skip any class or classes (i.e., skip Graduate Beginner and move directly to Novice). Once a class has been skipped, the 4-H member may drop back only one class level.

Showmanship is judged entirely on the member's ability to groom and show their dog by breed standards. A mixed breed dog should be shown and groomed by the breed standard it resembles. Conformation of the dog is not evaluated.  The 4-H’er will develop skills and knowledge in dog show handling and will learn about dog breeds and general dog knowledge.

Classes may be broken into Junior (grades 3-8) and Senior (grades 9-13).

Novice 

For 4-H members who have earned less than any of the following:

• Two blue ribbons in 4-H Novice Dog Showmanship at a county or state level
• Two champion ribbon equivalents in another dog organization
• A combination of one 4-H Novice Dog Showmanship blue ribbon and one champion ribbon equivalent in another dog organization

Open

For 4-H members who have earned the equivalent of two blue ribbons at the Novice 4-H Dog Showmanship level.  A handler may stay at this level until they have earned any of the following in the Open class:

• Three Grand or Reserve Champions in the Open class at a county show with four or more youth in the class
• Two Grand or Reserve Champions at the MN 4-H State Dog Show in the Open class
• Three champion ribbon equivalents in another dog organization after completing the Novice class
• Two Grand or Reserve Champions in the Open class at a county show with four of more youth and either one Grand or Reserve Champion in the Open class at the State Dog Show or one champion ribbon equivalent in another dog organization earned after completing the Novice class
• One Grand or Reserve Champion in the Open class at the 4-H State Dog Show and one champion ribbon equivalent in another dog organization after completing the Novice class

Excellent

For 4-H members who are ineligible for 4-H Novice Showmanship and 4-H Open Dog Showmanship. Handler may stay at this level indefinitely.

To participate in Agility, you must participate in Obedience training for the current year OR if you have trained and shown in Obedience for two years, you may participate in Rally and Agility. You cannot participate in only Agility. Agility is patterned after equestrian show jumping. Agility is an obstacle course for dogs.

Pre-Agility (Anoka County only class) – this class is not eligible for the State Dog Show

All dogs will be shown on leash, wearing a plain, flat, well-fitting buckle or clip/quick release collar with no tags or other attachments. The Pre-Agility Class will concentrate on jumps, pause box, and one tunnel. 

Pre-Agility is for the dog/handler team who has never shown in Agility before or who have not achieved an obedience score of 170 or higher or a score of 70 or higher in the Novice Rally class at a 4-H county or state show. 

To move out of Pre-Agility, you must:

• Pass the Agility Readiness Test before the start of Agility Training for the current year.
• Have achieved a minimum obedience score of 170 or higher at a 4-H county or state show; or
• Have achieved a score of 70 or higher in the Novice Rally class at a 4-H county or state show; or
• Lost fewer than 30 points in a sub-novice class at a kennel club show; or
• Completed two years of obedience training

Limited Agility (will be offered at the State Dog Show)

Dogs may be shown on or off leash, wearing a plain, flat, well-fitting buckle or clip/quick release collar with no tags or other attachments.

• For handlers or dogs who are not able to compete in the regular agility classes due to human special education challenges, human or canine physical challenges (permanent or temporary disability. One example of a temporary disability might be extreme dog obesity), or a dog of advancing age who is unable to jump or perform the A-frame at normal height.  Dogs with a disability must have a veterinary note for anything other than very advanced age). This class really is for dogs unable to jump, perform a normal height A-frame or perform weave poles.
• In the Limited agility class, the handler may choose to jump their dog at any of the regulation jump heights, or with jump bars flat on the ground, according to the need of the dog. The jump height may not exceed the jump height as determined by the measurements of the height card.

Age Allowance (will be offered at the State Dog Show)

The Age Allowance may be applied to any dog over seven years of age. It is for otherwise healthy dogs that may have trouble jumping higher jumps. It allows for the jump height to be lowered to reduce stress to the dog’s body.

Dogs seven years of age or older, showing in the Standard Agility and Jumpers classes, are permitted to jump their dogs one jump height lower than is designated by their height card (for 4” dogs, the jump bars and tire will be on the ground).

The A-frame will be set at 4’6” for dogs jumping 0” or 4”, and at 5’0” for dogs jumping 8”, 12”, or 16”.  

Dogs competing at the age allowance jump height will be scored and compete with dogs of their normal (non-age allowance) height. For example, a dog who would normally be shown in the 12-inch class will run the course at 8-inches but will be scored and awarded prizes using the standard course time of the 12-inch class.

A dog must run with the age allowance at the qualifying show to be eligible to run with the age allowance at the state dog show. Both the standard jump height and age allowance jump height should be entered on the registration form and score sheet.

Beginner Agility

All dogs will be shown on leash, wearing a plain, flat, well-fitting buckle or clip/quick release collar with no tags or other attachments. 

To be in Beginner Agility:

• Must have achieved a minimum obedience score of 170 or higher at a 4-H county or state show; or
• Received a minimum Novice Rally score of 70 or higher in a 4-H county or state show; or
• Lost fewer than 30 points in a sub-novice class at a kennel club show; or
• Completed two years of obedience training.
• A dog with a leg toward any agility title is ineligible. 

Member must show at this level until achieving a round of 5 or fewer faults in competition.

Elementary Agility

All dogs are shown off leash, wearing a plain, flat, well-fitting buckle or clip/quick release collar with no tags or other attachments.

Dogs/handlers ineligible for this class: 

• A dog with a leg toward a USDAA regular agility title, a leg toward an NCDA title, or a leg toward their AKC Novice agility title
• A handler having earned a USDAA Junior Handler Program (UJHP) Elementary certificate. 

Members must show at this level until achieving a round of 5 faults or less in competition.

Intermediate Agility

Dogs are shown off leash, wearing a plain, flat, well-fitting buckle or clip/quick release collar with no tags or other attachments. 

Dogs/handlers ineligible for this class: 

• Dogs with a leg toward a USDAA regular title, a leg toward an NCDA title, or a leg toward their AKC Open agility title are ineligible
• A handler having earned a UJHP Intermediate certificate. 

Members must show at this level until a round of 5 or fewer faults has been achieved in competition.

Senior Agility

Dogs that have completed an Open title in AKC or a Starters/Novice title in USDAA or NADAC agility competition are ineligible for this class. 

Members must show at this level until achieving a round of five faults or less in competition and then may advance to the next level the following year or have the option to stay at this level for a maximum of three years of five faults or less. After the third year of five faults or less, members must advance to the next level the following year.

Advanced Agility

This class is for dogs and handlers who have earned a blue ribbon with 5 faults or less in one or more years in the Senior Agility class (members who have earned three years of blue ribbons with five faults or less with the same dog are required to move to the Advanced level), or are competing in USDAA Advanced, NADAC Open, or AKC Excellent level, or beyond.

A dog and handler may remain at this level indefinitely. 

A 4-H’er may drop back to the Senior level if they find competition difficult at the Advanced level, provided they have not earned a blue ribbon at the Advanced level or earned three blue ribbons with five faults or less at the Senior level.

Jumpers 1A and Jumpers 1B

A dog and handler may choose to show in Jumpers 1A OR in Jumpers 1B their first year.

Jumpers 1A

• A dog with a leg toward a Jumpers agility title is ineligible.
• Jumpers 1A is on-leash.
• A score of five or fewer faults is required to move to the Jumpers 1B level.

Jumpers 1B

• A dog with a leg toward a Jumpers agility title is ineligible.
• A member may choose to skip Jumpers 1A and show in Jumpers 1B their first year but may not move back to Jumpers 1A the following year.
• Dogs must be shown off leash. 
• Dogs and handlers may move to Jumpers 2 with a score of five or fewer faults OR have the option to remain in this level until earning three years of five-faults or less. Dogs/handlers must move to Jumpers 2 after three years of five-faults or less.

Jumpers 2 Agility

This class is for dogs and handlers who have earned a blue ribbon with five faults or less in Jumpers 1. 

Dogs are shown off leash and a collar is optional. 

A dog that has completed a Novice or Starters Agility Title in any organization is ineligible for this class. 

Members must show at this level until achieving a score of five or fewer faults in competition and then may advance to the next level the following year or have the option to stay at this level for a maximum of three years of five faults or less. After the third year of five faults or less, members must advance to Jumpers 3 the following year.

Jumpers 3 Agility

Dogs are shown off leash with no collar. 

A dog and handler may remain at this level indefinitely. 

A 4-H’er may drop back to the Jumpers 2 level if they find competition difficult at the Jumpers 3 level, provided they have not earned a blue ribbon in the Jumpers 3 level or earned three blue ribbons with five faults or less at the Jumpers 2 level.

Limited Jumpers (will be offered at the State Dog Show)

• This Jumpers class is for participants in the limited Agility class. 
• Dogs may be shown on or off leash.
• The handler will decide on any jump height they believe is in the best interest of their dog, from jumps lying flat on the group up to a maximum of 16”.

Rally combines the obedience exercises of regular obedience with the “obstacles” in the form of stations of Agility. All levels of Rally will use Start and Finish Signs, which are sign numbers one and two. A blue ribbon is needed to move up to the next level, unless otherwise mentioned in the Rally Rules and Guidelines. 

Foundation Rally

(This is for the handler/dog team competing at the Foundation Level of Obedience.)

• Any dog with a leg towards a Rally Novice title is ineligible for this level
• Performed on leash
• May wear a traditional slip collar, well-fitting plain buckle collar, a head halter, or a front clip harness
• Must move to Pre-Novice next year with the same dog.

Pre-Novice Rally

• Any dog with a leg towards a Rally Novice title is ineligible for this level.
• Performed on leash.
• May wear a traditional slip collar, well-fitting plain buckle collar, or a head halter.
• Must earn a blue ribbon to advance to the next level.

Novice Rally

• Any dog with a Rally Novice title is ineligible for this level.
• Performed on leash.
• May wear either a traditional slip collar or a well-fitting plain buckle collar.
• Must earn a blue ribbon to advance to the next level.

Pre-Advanced Rally

• Any dog with a leg towards a Rally Advanced title is ineligible for this level.
• Performed off leash.
• May wear either a traditional slip collar or a well-fitting plain buckle collar.
• Must earn a blue ribbon to advance to the next level.

Advanced Rally

• Any dog with a Rally Advanced title is ineligible for this level.
• Performed off leash.
• May wear either a traditional slip collar or a well-fitting plain buckle collar.
• A 4-H’er has the option to compete in Advanced until they have earned three blue ribbons with the same dog. However, if a 4-H’er decides to compete in Excellent he/she may not move back to Advanced.

Excellent Rally

• A 4-H’er may participate in this level with the same dog indefinitely.
• Performed off leash.
• May wear either a traditional slip collar or a well-fitting plain buckle collar.
• Unlike the other Rally levels, in Rally Excellent, handlers are not allowed to pat their legs or clap their hands to encourage the dog. Verbal encouragement, multiple commands, and/or inaudible signals using one or both arms and hands are allowed; the handler’s arms need not be maintained in any particular position at any time. Handlers may not touch their dog or make any physical corrections.

Veterans Rally

• The Veterans class is for dogs that are too old and/or unfit to jump.  Dogs must be at least seven years old.  If a dog under the age of seven years has been found unfit to jump (broad and high jump) by a licensed, practicing veterinarian, it will be allowed to compete in this class.
• Once a dog competes in the Veterans Rally class at the county show level, it can never again be shown in any agility class, obedience classes Pre-Open or higher, or other rally class, even if being trained and exhibited by another 4-H’er.  Showmanship participation is permitted and encouraged, along with participation in the Veterans Obedience Class in regular obedience.  A 4-H’er may participate in this class with the same dog indefinitely.