Technology, Engineering and Math Go to the Dogs

Submitted by Pat Banker, 4H Program Educator, CCE Franklin

What do hammers, drills, rulers, screws, T-squares, measurements and angles have to do with a 4H dog show? Rulers are needed to measure boards, drills are used to set screws in hinges and the angle measurement of the ramp must be correct when building an A-Frame obstacle for the dog agility class that will be part of the 4H Dog Show at the Franklin County Fair this year.

4H youth, leaders and parents from the OK-9, 4H dog club have been busy working together building a series of obstacles including the A-Frame and a teeter-totter that are part of the canine agility and rally courses. Dogs will run, jump over jumps, teeter, climb the A-Frame, and maneuver through a course with their young handlers.

The OK-9 club has been working hard training their dogs for the 4H Dog Show that will be held on Tuesday, August 9th, at 2:00pm in the indoor arena during the Franklin County Fair. Grooming & Handling, Dog Agility and Dog Rally are scheduled and promise to be fun for the dogs and fair visitors coming to watch.

The 4H club, with leader Leslie Henderson, has also been busy visiting school programs throughout the winter and spring teaching youth about safety around dogs. Dogs are brought to the schools who have passed their Canine Good Citizen certification and 4H members demonstrate the obedience and ability of the dogs to work in crowds, with strangers and around other dogs that is required to pass the CGC.

For more information about the Franklin County 4H Dog Program and other 4H programs, contact the Cornell Cooperative Extension office, 518-483-7403 or visit: http://franklin.cce.cornell.edu/