1. Boone County 4-H Dog Project Dog Skillathon
2019
I know a LOT about you.
What do you know about ME?!

2. Dog Skillathon Overview
The Dog Skillathon is super fun way to learn more about your dog. You’ll learn by doing different activities called ‘tasks’. The tasks cover a variety of topics related to dogs such as anatomy, behavioral, safety, and basic care.
The Details:
Boone County Dog Project’s Skillathon will be broken down into stations.
The Dog Project member must Master (complete) 3 stations to complete the Project.
The Skillathon stations will be located in the same building as the check-in table. (Refer to your schedule for locations.)
The Dog Skillathon table will be set up and ready for use starting April 13th.
The skill level is broken down by age group:
Junior: 8-11
Intermediate: 12 – 14
Advanced: 15 – 18

3. There are two phases of the Dog Skillathon process:
Phase I
Practice
Phase II
Master

4. Phase I: Practice
The Dog Project member is at the Skillathon table practicing the tasks needed to Master (complete) the station. This can be done as a group with other Dog Project members or alone.

5. Phase II: Master
The Master phase is the act of formally completing the station.
All tasks are the same as in the Practice phase.
To Master a station, the Dog Project member will need to:
Alert the evaluator that they are ready to Master the station.
They will complete required tasks as individuals.
The evaluator will give the member a set time to Master the station (so that it is the same amount of time for every member.)
The evaluator will ensure that their station is segregated so the member doesn’t have to perform the tasks in front of other members.
If they don’t successfully Master the station in the allotted time, then they can:
Simply go to the back of the line for that station, wait their turn, and repeat the station
Take it another day.
Go back to the Practice phase until they feel ready to try to Master the station again.

6. Station 1: Breeds Junior (8-11) Intermediate (12-14) Senior (15-18)
Materials: Photos of breeds, breed name cards, and group name cards.
TASK 1: Match the colored photo of the dog to its breed name card.
TASK 2: Place the colored photo by the proper Group name card. (example: Cocker Spaniel belongs to the Sporting Group)
Study Materials: Review the various breeds and their groups online at . Chapter 2 of the Dog Resource Handbook has some breed information, but the AKC website will have all breeds and groups.
NOTE: On the next page, you will find a listing of the breeds covered in this station. The AKC website will list more breeds then the station covers, so be sure to check the station Skillathon Breed Listing when studying the breeds. Example: Belgian Malinois is listed on the AKC website, but is not part of Station 1: Breeds.
Requirements to complete Station 1:
Number of Breed Names to Match to Breed Photos
Number of Breed Photos to Match to its Breed Group
Junior 10 2
Intermediate 15 4
Senior 20
All groups

7. Dog Skillathon Breed Listing (by Group)
Herding
Australian Shepherd
Terriers
Airedale Terrier
Border Collie
Cairn Terrier
Bouvier Des Flanders
Miniature Schnauzer
Collie
Scottish Terrier
German Shepherd Dog
Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier
Old English Sheepdog
West Highland White Terrier
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Wire Fox Terrier
Shetland Sheepdog
Toys
Chihuahua
Hounds
Basset Hound
Maltese
Beagle
Miniature Pinscher
Bloodhound
Pekingese

8. Internal Parasites to Define External Parasites to Define
Station 2: Parasites
Junior (8-11) Intermediate (12-14) Senior (15-18) 
Materials: Drawings of parasite, parasite name cards, parasite description cards.
TASK 1: Select the drawing of the parasite and place it on the Topic Board.
TASK 2: Place the parasite name card on the Topic Board.
TASK 3: Place the parasite description card on the Topic Board.
Study Materials:
Internal: Dog Resource Handbook pages 145 – 148
External: Dog Resource Handbook pages 148 – 151
Note: the Handbook uses the term Lice and the parasite name card refers to it as Louse.
Requirements to complete Station 2:
Internal Parasites to Define
External Parasites to Define
Junior 1
Intermediate 2
Senior 3

9. Description Cards to place
Station 3: Dog Postures
Junior (8-11) Intermediate (12-14) Senior (15-18)
Materials: Topic Board, posture name cards, and posture description cards.
TASK 1: Select the posture name card and place it on Velco dot to the proper posture on the Topic Board .
TASK 2: Place posture description card next to the posture card on the Topic Board.
Study Materials:
Dog Resource Handbook pages 43 – 48
Note: the Handbook uses the term Relaxed Posture and the Topic Board refers to it as Baseline Posture.
Requirements to complete Station 3:
Posture Cards to place
on Topic Board
Description Cards to place
Junior 3
Intermediate 5
Senior
All

10. Number of terms to match its definition
Station 4: Score Sheet Definitions
Junior (8-11) Intermediate (12-14) Senior (15-18)
Materials: Term cards with matching definition cards
TASK 1: Match term card with its definition. Plus, each member must be able to identify the exercises for the Class they show in. Example: First year members with an untrained dog usually show in Class 1A.
Study Materials: The following pages contain the terms and definitions.
Requirements to complete Station 4:
Number of terms to match its definition
Junior
Define your Class (Ex. Class 1A) + 10 Definitions
Intermediate
Define your Class (Ex. Class 2B) + 15 Definitions
Senior
Define your Class (Ex. Veterans) + All Definitions

11. Show Classes and Their Exercises
Show Class Exercises
Class 1A Exercises
Heel on leash, Figure 8 on leash, Sit for Exam on leash, Recall on leash-no finish, Sit Stay on leash – 30 seconds
Class 1B Exercises
Heel on leash, Figure 8 on leash, Stand for Exam on leash, Recall off leash, Down Stay & walk around ring,
Sit Stay & get your leash
Class 2A Exercises
Heel on leash, Figure 8 on leash, Stand for Exam off leash, Heel Free, Drop on Recall, Sit Stay & get your leash, 1 minute Sit Stay – group on leash, 1 minute Down Stay – group on leash.
Class 2B Exercises
Class 3A Exercises
Heel Free, Figure 8 off leash, Stand for Exam off leash, Dumbbell Recall, Drop on Recall, Stand Stay & get your leash.
Class 3B Exercises
Heel Free, Figure 8 off leash, Stand for Exam off leash, Retrieve on Flat, Drop on Recall, Stand Stay & get your leash.
Veterans Exercises
Heel Free, Figure 8 off leash, Stand for Exam off leash, Recall off leash, Stand Stay & get your leash.

12. General Obedience Exercises
Heeling On-leash Exercise
Your dog walks on a loose leash at your left side
Heeling Free Exercise
Your dog walks off its leash at your left side
Figure 8 Exercise
Heeling your dog between 2 stewards in a number eight shaped pattern
Sit Front Exercise
Your dog sits at your feet facing you.
The Finish Exercise
Your dog moves from a Sit Front to Heel position on your left side.
Down Stay Exercise
On your command, your dog lies down and stays until you release him.
Sit Stay Exercise
On your command, your dog sits and stays until you release him.
Recall Exercise (basic definition)
The dog stays where he is left (sit/stay) until called by the handler.

13. Deductions: Points Lost in the Ring
Deductions (off your score)
10 pt Deductions: Disciplining
Any harsh verbal or physical punishment
10 pt Deductions: Fouling the Ring
The dog relieves himself in the ring.
10 pt Deductions: Barking
Excessive barking in the ring.
10 pt Deductions: Inappropriate Attire
Wearing in the ring: backless shoes, high-heels, & boots, hats, sunglasses, clothes with logos (other than 4-H), too short shorts & too low tops.
Deduction: Lagging
Dog is too far behind handler during heeling.
Deduction: Forging
Dog is too far ahead handler during heeling.
Deduction: Heeling Wide
Dog is too far out to the side of handler during heeling.
Deduction: Crowding Handler
Dog is too close to or touching handler’s leg during heeling.
Deduction: Tight Leash
There is no slack in the leash between the dog’s collar and the handler’s hand.
Deduction: Sniffing
Dog keeps sniffing the ground in the ring.
Deduction: Extra Command or Signal to Stay
The handler has already given a command or signal to their dog to perform an exercise and they give the command or signal a second time.
Deduction: Double Handling
While the handler is in the ring, someone (Ex: friend or parent) outside of the ring is telling the handler or dog what to do.
Deduction: Unqualified Heeling
Dog is not on the left side (heel side) of handler during the heeling exercise.

14. Miscellaneous Terms Miscellaneous Terms
Handling Between Exercises – off leash
While in the ring, the dog may be guided GENTLY from one completed exercise to where the next exercise begins. (example: Stand for Exam to Recall)
Release Word
A word that you say to let your dog know the exercise is finished
Ring (or Show Ring)
Specific area enclosed by fencing for the dog and handler to perform specific exercises during Judging. Average ring size is 30X40.
Stewards
Stewards are the people who help the judge in the ring.
Armband Number
The number assigned to the handler/dog at a Judging. This number is how the Judge keeps track of who is who. You wear it on your LEFT arm.
Run Order
The order that each dog and handler is called into the ring by the Judge.
Halt
You are to stop within 3 steps of the judge’s command.
Change of Pace: Fast, Normal, Slow
While heeling your dog, the judge will say ‘fast’ (jog) followed by ‘normal’ followed by ‘slow’; It could go in a different order.
Team
Handler and their dog working together

15. Questions?