Welcome to the 2026�Dog Project Orientation!

April 7, 2026

Agenda

• Introductions
• Registration and Volunteer Expectations
• Dog Project Overview
• 4-H Training Classes and Equipment Needed
• Other fun Dog Project Activities
• Training Schedules
• Communication
• Resources
• Questions

Introductions

• Therese Stoebner- Obedience
• Julia Torgerson- Agility
• Tammy Lewis- Showmanship
• Savannah Hervig- Agility
• Karl Reimer- Agility, Obedience
• Karly Anderson - Rally
• Megan Slater- County Extension Staff

Youth Instructors:

• Addy Jarosch
• Aemilia Wollak
• Maria Donnay

Registration and Volunteer Expectations

• Registration

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• Need to be registered with Washington County 4-H in 4HOnline.com

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• Need to be registered with Washington County Dog Project ($40.00)

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• Need to have Dog ID completed and submitted online prior to coming to training!

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• Returning Youth: Can start training as soon as Dog ID Completed

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• New Youth: Dog ID Completed before 4/21 can start on 4/21

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• New Youth: Dog ID Completed between 4/21 and 5/15 will start training on 5/19 and will be in Foundations Obedience
• Good Sportsmanship
• Help at county show, demos/parades and state dog show
• Participate in Dog Project Fundraiser
• Dog Booth at the Washington County Fair

You must be enrolled in 4-H in order to participate in the dog project.

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You can be a member of a local club or an independent member.

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You register through 4-H online: https://v2.4honline.com/#/user/sign-in.

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Talk to Megan if you have any questions ☺

Washington County 4-H Registration

We have a separate enrollment form for registering for the dog project.

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Register through County Google Form:

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https://forms.gle/mHTnDXUWZz5W3RwA6

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Pay Dog Project fee to Washington County 4-H.

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Talk to Megan if you have any questions ☺

Dog Project Registration

NOTE: The final deadline for dogs to be identified is May 15.

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Families can complete the ID process (meet all requirements to ID) without having a vaccination form, but they must have submitted or uploaded a valid vaccination form before the dog can participate in any 4-H event, including training.  It is the 4-H’ers responsibility to update the vaccination form as soon as it comes due. If a family doesn't have the ability to scan and upload the affidavit and vaccination verification form, do the rest of the ID process online, and then submit the form to the office in hard copy.

Dog Identification

• The Dog Project teaches youth how to train their dogs in various dog “sports”.

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• Teams come to class and youth train during the week at home 10-20 min/day

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• The different dog “sports” we play are:
• Obedience
• Rally
• Showmanship
• Agility
• AKC Trick Dog
• Nose work

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• We have a County Dog Show at the end of July (July 25 & 26) to showcase how much we’ve learned. Teams earning Blue Ribbons are eligible to enter the State Dog Show in September.

What is the Dog Project?

Safety & Expectations

• At Training Locations
• Watch for cars on the road – Keep Dogs On Leash!
• Need to wear closed toed shoes with soft soles - no sandals or flip-flops
• In case of inclement weather, messages will be sent on the Band App
• No female dogs in heat
• Parent expectations
• Expected to stay at training
• Student Expectations
• Bring water and dish, treats, and poop bags
• Watch dogs’ behavior at all times. Dogs can get very stressed and defensive. Keep 12-foot distance first few weeks.

Getting Started in the Dog Project

Obedience & Rally:

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Showmanship:

First year participation is at the Novice Level, after that you are in Open.

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Obedience

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• Foundation Skills - Heeling, Recall, Sit for Petting, Sit Stay@ 6 Feet, Grooming

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• Beginner Skills – Heeling, Recall with Return to Heel, Stand for Petting, Sit Stay @ 20 Feet, Down, Grooming

Rally

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• Uses Obedience Skills to follow a course

Training Equipment – Obedience/Rally

• 6 Foot Leather Lead
• Collar (in order of preference)
• Plain buckle collar
• Harness with connection on chest, (not back)
• Gentle leader
• Slip collar
• Pinch collar – Large dog with small kids
• No electric collars are allowed
• Treats
• Small, soft, and yummy!

Tricks!

Tricks are one of the fun things we do to help build the relationship between the handler and the dog. We incorporate tricks in our Foundation/Beginner classes. At the end of the year we may offer the chance to earn your AKC Novice Trick Title.

Showmanship

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• Proper Breed Presentation
• Ring Procedure
• General and Breed Dog Knowledge
• Grooming
• Youth Appearance and Conduct

Training Equipment - Showmanship

• 3 to 4 foot
• Resco
• Martingale
• Conformation Collar/Leash

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Agility

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Agility Training Requirements

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1. Dog must be at least 12 months “by May 15th” old AND
2. Handler participates in another aspect of the Dog Project (training class, dog bowl, youth leader) AND
3. Dog and Handler have completed one of the following requirements:

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• Achieved a minimum obedience score of 170 or higher (blue ribbon) at the county or state 4-H dog show the previous year of training,

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• Lost fewer than 30 points in a Beginner Novice or Novice class at a kennel club show,

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• Must have completed 2 years of obedience training,

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• Earned a score of 70 or higher in the Novice level of Rally in 4-H or a kennel club show or match,

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• Must have satisfactorily completed a foundation agility class at a dog training club (must be able to provide proof via letter from trainer or other documentation)

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• Must have passed the Agility Readiness Test before the April 27 agility training start date

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• Completed an AKC Novice (Starters for USDAA, Level 3 of CPE) agility title with a previous dog.

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�A verifiable dog show/match score may be substituted for a county or state show score provided that score was earned by the same dog/handler team. This is to ensure that a working relationship has been established between this handler and dog.

Training Equipment - Agility

• Leash (6 ft if in Beginners)
• Plain buckle collar or Quick Release collar, no tags
• Treats- small & yummy
• Toys (optional)

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Parades

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Clinics,�and�much more!

Location

• Washington County Fairgrounds – Dog Pavilion east of Hooley Hall

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Start Date

• Tuesday, April 21

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Check In Process

• After we have confirmed that you are correctly registered, we will assign you to an instructor and time slot. We will have a parent volunteer check youth in on Tuesdays.

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Parents must stay for class

• You can hear what is being taught
• You are available in case of emergency or bad weather

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Tuesday Evenings:

Obedience, Rally & Showmanship

*more detailed schedule to come, once we have more kids signed up!

*Each class is only 45 min long

Location

• Karl Reimer’s house

14125 Irish Ave N, Hugo MN

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Start Date

• Sunday, April 26, weather permitting

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Check In Process

• Agility requires an additional release form
• Karl, Savannah, & Julia will have a Check-In Sheet

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Parents must stay for class

• You can hear what is being taught
• You are available in case of emergency or bad weather

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Sunday Evenings:

Agility

• www.washingtoncountydog.org
• Training Calendar

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• Band Messaging Service
• Last Minute Cancellations
• Emergencies
• Training Homework and Demo Videos
• Questions
• General Communication
• Prefer messaging from Band

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Communication

Resources

• www.washingtoncountydog.org
• General project information
• Links to state website for rules and videos

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• https://extension.umn.edu/local/washington

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• Contacts:
• Megan Slater – Extension office

slate187@umn.edu 651-430-6805

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• Karl Reimer – Dog Project

alistairsetters@icloud.com 651-472-3522 or Band

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• Therese Stoebner – Dog Project Band Preferred

What you should be doing Daily

• Building that bond – be your dog’s go-to person
• Games, cookie hunt, name game, hide and seek, puzzles, tricks
• Feed your dogs
• Take you dog for walks, expose to different stimuli
• Train, fun, train

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-Dog Demo Night-

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�April 14th @ 6:00pm���Questions?