LOOK and Learn

Hello Waggers!  Last week we had a very good practice with most everyone making it to the club time practice. Mrs. Lamb and I both evaluated you and your dog on your new level of obedience at the current time while realizing that some tasks are not yet learned. I was fum to watch the cobwebs get dusted out of the minds of both the clubber AND the dog : )

Wasn't it wonderful to have Mr. and Mrs. Barlow join us for dog equipment time? Sue Barlow said that she would like to do a combined clinic event in July. We just need one of the parents to take the handles on actually putting the details together. We will have the use of the expo hall, so just need to set up date and details so that we can produce flyers and start to advertise. :)  I could concentrate on the agility and Sue could give the pointers on the Showmanship and Marion County Dog Club could really rock at the State Fair!

Homework from April 19 class:
"Look" THE NO.1 command!!! Remember, if they don't look at you, they aren't listening to you.
Also, if you don't TALK to tell them WHAT to do, how will they know?  EVERYBODY ---- TALK to your dog.

Practice the "Bridal Step" Heal practice and working toward reliable straight sits.

A couple people in the class need to energize the lagging dogs with some sudden runs while healing.

Off-lead healers --- stay on leash with your dog, but work toward resting the lead on your shoulder rather than hand. Working toward reliable heal position. FIND THEIR GATE and really praise them for staying in the sweet spot!!

THIS WEEK:
We will be taking names for club officers-- Pres. ; Vice-Pres; sec. ; treas.; hospitality; and facility officers.
We will be measuring dogs that haven't given their height measurement yet.
We will be reviewing group healing, down your dog.  then going into stand for exam and figure 8 practice.

Mrs. Lamb will be starting showmanship training.
Ellen will then be able to take the individual issues on while showmanship training going on.

There is a FUN MATCH at Shelbyville on Saturday May 5th, I want to encourage anyone that can, to go.  I will have the flyer at club and even try to post it here before club.

Anyone who wants to compete at that even be SURE to let me know so that we can polish up specific skills!

FINALLY---
We will be starting to bring up conditioning of your animals for agility. I will bring the tunnels and jumps.

See you at club : )

Getting Ducks in a Row for Club

As we are diving into a new year of Waggers 4-H Dog Club training classes there are some important items to take note of to make sure we have "all our ducks in a row" so that we can spend our time on actually training and not problem solving paperwork and those types of requirements.

Most important as far as paperwork goes:

Register with Marion County 4-H

Go to http://indy4-hyouth.org/ and the second link on the top right is called "Enroll Here"

Click that and complete the registration process.

Until you have COMPLETED this process, you are not seen as enrolled in 4-H, so not in the club.

Therefore, once you have completed the online registration, PRINT OFF A COPY to bring to club with you.

The county extension office will not have you on their list until the payment is made and therefore this step is important!

If you are not registered in Marion County 4-H, you aren't in the club, and can't practice because of insurance.

So PLEASE go there NOW... and get that done, okay?!

BRING Proof of Vaccinations:

The other mandatory piece of paperwork for clubwork is proof of vaccinations.

Absolutely NO DOG can attend class without proof of current vaccinations!

Most of you still have an active 4-Hvet form from last year, but EVERYONE will have to fill out the current year vet form and bring it to club asap. We have additional 2012 forms available at http://www.four-h.purdue.edu/projects/project_info.cfm?proj_key=14&project=Dog#

IF YOU DON'T HAVE THESE PROOFS YET, OR ARE ONLY VISITING TO SEE IF YOU WANT TO JOIN, DO NOT BRING YOUR DOG. You can learn even without a dog, but DO CHECK-in when you come, okay?

We welcome visitors and want to help you learn what 4-H Dog Club is about, and there is no better way than coming and seeing for yourself. One visit and I believe you will be convinced that it is an excellent program U*-*U

CLUB NOTES: Ms. Kathy Corbett (above) is a new 4-H Volunteer with the club this year (you remember she came last year to watch Miss Daisy last year). SHE is going to be our Club Secretary and so during club paperwork stuff gets handled with her . . . hurray!!

Our leader/volunteers for 2012

Ellen Spencer

Michelle Spencer

Brenda Miller

Teresa Lamb

Kathy Cornett

AND Jr. Leader, Melissa Miller

If you have any questions, just ask any of us. You can even call me or send an email BEFORE we hold club, so that we can use club time for practice time and not so much paperwork.

BECAUSE THE COUNTY FAIR IS SO CLOSE (June 30th) have your Dog Bucket/Bag stocked and ready to get to practicing. See you all on Thursday at the Expo Hall on the Marion County Fairgrounds at 6:30 pm.

We really look forward to seeing you Thursday! See you then.

2012 Waggers Club Starting Up

HELLO WAGGERS---

Tonight is the FIRST DOGLESS MEETING FOR WAGGERS DOG CLUB --- returning members do not need to come, but are welcome if they want to. It is primarily for introducing the brand new members to the club and what we do.

NEW MEMBERS:

When you come to your first club meeting, do NOT bring your dog. We will accept new members up until the May 10th club meeting, but honestly, they need to get to practice NOW, so if you have friends who are thinking about joining, please invite them to attend club at our regular times.

ENROLLMENT:

If you have not yet enrolled in 4-H, please do so ASAP. It is done online and there is no time like the present.

If you are not enrolled and have proof of current shot records you will not allowed to bring your dog until you do. (RULES)

VACCINATIONS:

I am attaching a vet form for you to take to get completed and show to Kathy Cornett (paperwork leader of the club).

You may show proof of vaccinations on other than this 2012 Vet Form only until April 19th at which time we should have EVERY MEMBER supplied a copy of the completed vet form to us. LET's get these done NOW!!

ACCOUNTABILITY:

There are going to be times when you won't be able to make a club meeting. All we ask, is that you LET US KNOW ASAP that you will not be there. We will actually have a calendar at the club for you to simply write your name on date you know you will not be at club.

MATERIALS/ PAPERS:

Because there are fewer lesson times before the county fair, we are going to have a lot more written materials, handouts, etc.

EACH OF YOU WILL RECEIVE A FOLDER TO KEEP YOUR PAPERS IN --- Treat it as a part of your Dog Bucket/Bag-- always with you, never lost.

In the middle of that pocket folder will be a page protector for you to slide in your vet form for safe keeping and easy access.

Here is the first link for you to print off and become familiar with. It called the "2012 State 4-H Dog Premium Pages --- it is THE rulebook for the Indiana State 4-H dog project, so it's important to know them. Not every item will apply to you personally, but by learning the rules you will better understand what the rules are, plus you will be prepared for the Top Dog Test U*-*U win/win

IF you have questions (and you probably will) just ask during club and we will all learn together. Once you learn these rules, they rarely change at all from year to year.