• This was a fun and informal meeting where we introduced ourselves, told about our dogs and then filled out enrollment forms and dog registration forms. We discussed upcoming 4-H and other dog events in AZ.
• We also discussed dog project goals including:
  • Canine Good Citizen Testing
  • Rally-O
  • Showmanship
  • Obedience
  • Agility
• Since this is a new club, we agreed that our primary focus will be on CGC testing, Rally-O and Showmanship with the goal of doing agility in the fall.
• Practice and Grooming Logs were passed out. It was recommended that 3-5 minutes/day be spent on grooming and 10-15 spent on training.

12-28-05 -- Meeting with Dogs

• We met with our dogs for the first time at this meeting.
  • Pictures were taken for the Dog ID Certificates
  • Show leads and training collars were discussed
    • The proper way to put a training collar/slip collar or show collar on is to hold it in front of you so that it makes a capital "P" when you are looking at it. Have the dog in front of you & slip the collar over his/her head.
  • We practiced the first 4 steps to the CGC test
    1. Accept a Friendly Stranger
    2. Sit Politely for Petting
    3. Appearance and Grooming
    4. Out for a Walk
  • We also practiced showmanship
    • walking in a triangle pattern
    • stacking and teaching the dogs to stand
• Homework for next week: Practice having the dogs walk on a loose leash

1-4-2006 -- 2nd Meeting with Dogs

• Prior to working with the dogs we discussed attending and watching the Good Dog Agility USDAAA Trial (www.gooddog.org) to be held on Jan. 7-8, 2006 in Gilbert, AZ.
  • We also discussed keeping logs
  • We discussed club names
    • Crazy Canines (or K9s)
    • Canine Crashers
    • Bow Wow Dog Club
  • We also discussed a $50 donation the club has & how to use it
    • purchase needed equipment
    • develop an incentive program where the club members are rewarded with coupons that could be used to purchase the donated equipment.
• We then spent 10 minutes practicing showmanship
  • standing the dog and:
    • showing the dog's bite
    • pointing out the withers
    • pointing out the stop
  • completing a triangle pattern with the dogs
    • things to work on are keeping the leads loose and keeping the dogs nose off the ground. Talking to them and keeping them happy seemed to do the trick for all dogs.
  • going around the ring with dogs in front of and in back of other dogs
• 15 minutes was spent on Canine Good Citizen Practice. We practiced the first 4 steps of the CGC test
• 10 minutes was spent on Rally-O. Everyone got to go through the course at least three times with their dogs.
• Homework for next week:
  1. Practice walking on a loose lead
  2. Practice showing the dog's bite
  3. Practice allowing the dog's ears and feet to be touched and handled.
  4. Keep a practice log & have fun.

1-11-2006 -- 3rd Meeting with Dogs

 We practiced CGC skills including stay, we also practiced the Rally-O exercise of placing the dog in a sit and walking around him/her. To make sure that the dogs get rewarded, we practiced returning to the dog in the stay position before they had a chance to get up and rewarding them for staying.

• We discussed the 4-H Motto, colors and pledge
• We agreed to change our meeting dates from Wednesday to Fridays
• Our Chandler show has been changed from Feb. 4th to April 1st. We will hold it in conjunction with the Queen Creek Club in Queen Creek.

·         Mandatory Communication Day on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2006. Event to be held at Maryville High School: 3415 N. 59^th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85033. No dogs at this meeting.

• Attention Getting Exercises. “Watch Me”

                                  Dog Anatomy

• Skull
• Muzzle
• Stop
• Withers

1-20-2006 -- Meeting with Dogs

• Our new club name is officially "4-H Bow Wow Dog Club"
• We discussed dog conformation and different tail and ear sets & then each memeber found 2 examples of different ear and tail sets in the dog breed flash cards
• We learned how to do a 90 degree pivot and 270 degree turn for Rally-O
• We practiced walking dogs both in front of and behind other dogs
• We discussed the K9 Kids 4-H show on January 28th, Mandatory Communication Day on Feb. 25th and our show in conjunction with the Queen Creek Club on April 1st.  
• We announced a new point-reward system
• Handouts included a price-list for show leads & the redemption of points was handed out
• Also, a K9 Kids Show announcement form was handed out