4-H’ers compete in the same class during one project year at county, regional, and state show levels. They would move up to the next advanced class for the following project year. (Example: A 4-H’er earns a blue ribbon at their county fair show in Junior Novice Showmanship. They would continue to compete in Junior Novice at the Regional and State dog shows. They would NOT move to Junior Open until the following year.) This applies to ALL categories and classes – agility, obedience, and showmanship.

A 4-H’er may show a maximum of two dogs. In obedience and showmanship classes, a 4-H’er may enter only one dog per class. In agility, a 4-H’er may enter two dogs per class. A 4-H’er may compete in up to seven classes – two regular obedience classes, Brace obedience, Four Dog Team obedience, one showmanship class, and two agility classes.

• A 4-H’er may train in either Beginner A or Beginner B for only one year. The 4-H member must then advance to the Graduate Beginner (or higher) class. Members do not advance from Beginner A to Beginner B.
• A 4-H’er working with a dog previously shown through the Novice Class shall begin training in the Graduate Beginner class, regardless of the 4-H’er’s age or training experience level.
• 4-H’er may skip any class or classes (example: skip Graduate Beginner and move directly to Novice). Once a class has been skipped, the 4-H’er may drop back only one class level.

• Beginner A Obedience: 4-H’er and dog in the first year of training at home or in an organized class. The 4-H’er may participate in this class only once during their 4-H career. All exercises will be performed on leash. A dog entering this class with more than ten (10) weeks of training in an organized class prior to enrolling in beginner level 4-H training classes is ineligible. A dog with one leg of its AKC-CD (or equivalent) is ineligible.

• Beginner B Obedience: 4-H’er with previous obedience training experience who is working with a new dog OR a dog with previous experience in an organized training class working with a new 4-H’er. The 4-H’er working with the same dog may participate in this class for only one year. A dog with one leg of its AKC-CD (or equivalent) is ineligible.

• Graduate Beginner Obedience: Dogs perform the stand for examination, recall, long sit, and long down of lead. No one can stay in this class more than two years or after receiving a blue ribbon at the county show level. A dog with one leg of its AKC-CD (or equivalent) is ineligible.

• Novice Obedience: A heel free pattern is added to the exercises. No one can stay in this class more than two years or after receiving a blue ribbon at the county show level. A dog with an AKC-CD (or equivalent) is ineligible.

• Graduate Novice Obedience: The drop on recall and out of sight sits/down are added to the exercises. A 4-H’er may participate in this class until receiving a blue ribbon at the county show level. However, if a 4-H’er chooses to advance to the Regional Show on a red ribbon, they forfeit the right to remain in this class and must advance to Pre Open the following year. A dog with one leg of its AKC-CDX (or equivalent) is ineligible.

• Pre Open Obedience: All exercises are performed off leash. Exercises in this class include heel free, stand for exam, drop on recall, willing retrieve from hand, broad jump, and out of site sits/downs. A 4-H’er may participate in this class until receiving a blue ribbon at the county show level. However, if a 4-H’er chooses to advance to the Regional Show on a red ribbon, they forfeit the right to remain in this class and must advance to Open the following year. A dog with one leg of its AKC-CDX (or equivalent) is ineligible.

• Open Obedience: All exercises are performed off leash. Exercises included heel free, drop on recall, retrieve on flat, retrieve over high jump, broad jump, and out of sight sits/downs. 4-H’er may participate in this class until receiving a blue ribbon at the county show level. However, if a 4-H’er chooses to advance to the Regional Show on a red ribbon, they forfeit the right to remain in this class and must advance to Graduate Open the following year. A dog with an AKC-CDX (or equivalent) is ineligible.

• Graduate Open Obedience: All exercises are performed off leash. Exercises include signal exercise, retrieve on flat, retrieve over high jump, directed retrieve, broad jump, and group examination. 4-H’er may participate in this class until receiving a blue ribbon at the county show level. However, if a 4-H’er chooses to advance to the Regional Show on a red ribbon, they forfeit the right to remain in this class and must advance to Utility the following year. A dog with one leg of its AKC-UD (or equivalent) is ineligible.

• Utility Obedience: All exercises are performed off leash. Exercises in this class include signal exercise, scent discrimination, directed retrieve, moving stand, and directed jumping. There are no restrictions in this class and 4-H’ers may participate indefinitely.

• Veterans Obedience: Dogs must be at least seven years old. Dogs must be trained to the Graduate Novice level. If a dog under the age of seven years has been found unfit to jump (broad jump and high jump) by a licensed, practicing veterinarian, it will be allowed to compete in this class. If entered in this Veterans Obedience Class, the participating dog will not be allowed to compete in any other obedience classes other than Brace and Four Dog Team. Participation in agility will also not be permitted. Showmanship participation is permitted and encouraged. The Graduate Novice scorecard will be used for judging. 4-H’ers may participate in this class with the same dog indefinitely.

• Brace Obedience: For 4-H’ers with two dogs of their own or those who wish to borrow/lease a dog. The stand for exam, recall, long sit, and long down will be done off lead. No particular level of training is required or prohibited in this class. The Graduate Beginner scoresheet will be used in judging.

• Four Dog Team Obedience: For 4-H’ers wishing to work together in training their dogs to perform as a unit of four. The heeling and figure eight exercises will be done on lead. The stand for examination, recall, long sit/down (handlers in sight) will be done off leash. Dogs will be called simultaneously. The Four Dog Team scoresheet will be used in judging.

• Junior Novice Showmanship: At fall enrollment time (beginning of club year), the 4-H’er is entering grades 4-8. (At the time of county, regional, & shows, 4-H’ers must have completed grades 4-8) Judged entirely on the member’s ability to groom and show the dog by breed standards for that dog. A crossbred dog should be shown and groomed by the breed standard it resembles. Conformation of the dog is not evaluated in showmanship. A 4-H’er remains in this class until earning a blue ribbon at the county show level. When the 4-H’er earns a blue ribbon at the county show level in Junior Novice, the following year they move to Junior Open.

• Junior Open Showmanship: 4-H’ers may remain in this class until achieving the age requirements for the Senior Novice division. Because showmanship is based on the 4-H’ers ability, they may not drop back to Junior Novice if they use a new dog for showmanship. Also note that 4-H’er move from Junior Open to Senior Novice, NOT Junior Open to Senior Open.

• Senior Novice Showmanship: At fall enrollment time (beginning of club year), the 4-H’er is entering grades 9 or above. (At the time of county, regional, & shows, 4-H’ers must have completed grade 9 or above.) Judged entirely on the member’s ability to groom and show the dog by breed standards for that dog. A crossbred dog should be shown and groomed by the breed standard it resembles. Conformation of the dog is not evaluated in showmanship. A 4-H’er remains in this class until earning a blue ribbon in Senior Novice at the county show level. When the 4-H’er earns a blue ribbon at the county show level in Senior Novice, the following year they move to Senior Open.

• Senior Open Showmanship: 4-H’ers may remain in this class until they graduate from 4-H. Because showmanship is based on the 4-H’ers ability, they may not drop back to Senior Novice if they use a new dog for showmanship.

• Before beginning agility training, dogs must be 12 months old and the dog/handler team must have achieved a minimum obedience score of 180 or higher at a county, regional, or state 4-H dog show  OR must have completed two years of obedience training.
• Counties sending competitors to regional/state events must offer a minimum of 8 classes in agility (10 are recommended).
• Members must attend a minimum of 6 agility training classes (either 4-H classes or those of a recognized training school will be accepted, but not simply working with your dog in the backyard).
• Agility association abbreviations are as follows: USDAA=United State Dog Agility Association, NCDA=National Club for Dog Agility, NADAC=North American Dog Agility Council, AKC=American Kennel Club, UKC=United Kennel Club.

• Beginner Agility: All dogs will be shown on leash wearing a flat collar. Each dog must be trained on the following obstacles: A-frame (apex at 4"6"), pause table (12"), pipe tunnel, closed tunnel, and hurdles. A 4-H’er/dog team must show at in this class until achieving a round of 5 or fewer faults at the county show level. A dog having earned a USDAA Beginner Certificate is ineligible for this class.
• Elementary Agility: For the 4-H’er/dog team who has completed Beginner Agility with a run of 5 or fewer faults at the county show level. All dogs will be shown off leash wearing a flat collar. Each dog must be trained on the following obstacles: A-frame (apex at 5’0"), pause table (12"), pipe tunnel, closed tunnel, and hurdles. A 4-H’er/dog team must show in this class until achieving a round of 5 or fewer faults at the county show level. A dog with a leg toward a USDAA regular agility title, a leg toward a NCDA title, or a leg toward an AKC Novice Agility title is ineligible. Also ineligible are handler/dog teams having earned a USDAA Junior Handler Program (UJHP) Elementary Certificate.
• Intermediate Agility: For the 4-H’er/dog team who has completed Elementary Agility with a run of 5 or fewer faults at the county show level. All dogs will be shown off leash and at the handler’s option, may be shown with or without a flat collar. Each dog must be trained on the following obstacles: A-frame (apex at 5’6"), pause table (depending on height of dog, 12" or 24"), pipe tunnel, closed tunnel, dog walk, tire jump, long jump, weave poles (5-6) and hurdles. A 4-H’er/dog team must show in this class until achieving a round of 5 or fewer faults at the county show level. A dog with a leg toward a USDAA regular agility title, a leg toward a NCDA title, or a leg toward an AKC Open Agility title is ineligible. Also ineligible are handler/dog teams having earned a UJHP Intermediate Certificate.
• Senior Agility: For the 4-H’er/dog team who has completed Intermediate Agility with a run of 5 or fewer faults at the county show level. All dogs will be shown off leash and with no collar. Each dog must be trained on the following obstacles: A-frame (apex at 6’0"), pause table (depending on height of dog, 12" or 24"), pipe tunnel, closed tunnel, dog walk, tire jump, long jump, weave poles (5-6), see saw, and hurdles. There are no restrictions in this class and 4-H’ers may participate indefinitely.