Dog
The Scotts Bluff County Fair Dog Show is considered a separate show, as are the District and Nebraska State Fair Dog Shows. This division is intended to give an opportunity to demonstrate the obedience training members have given their dogs. Members must own their dogs and have their dogs enrolled as a regular 4-H project to be able to compete. Dogs must be 6 months or older to participate in Showmanship, Obedience, and Rally. Dogs must be 18 months old or older to participate in the Agility competition. Earlier age can be permitted with your veterinarian’s written clearance. Practice may occur earlier (with veterinarian recommendations) with low elements and no excessive jumping. A mature body structure is needed for jumping and higher obstacles for all sizes of dogs. Dogs not owned by enrolled members of the dog project must have the approval of the dog project committee prior to registration but will not be eligible to show at the state level. Any unforeseen circumstances where it should become necessary for a participant to exchange dogs after the deadline date will be able to do so with the stipulation that they are not eligible for Grand or Reserve placing and entered in the appropriate class.
Vaccination Required: All dogs must be immunized and current for distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, and rabies. Vaccinations must be administered according to vaccine label guidelines (effective for 1 or 3 years). Dog owners are encouraged to visit with their veterinarian to determine if other vaccines are recommended for their area or for travel (such as Bordetella). An updated and current vaccination record form noting all vaccinations is required as part of the advanced entry. All vaccinations must be in effect at the time of the show. Vaccination is to be verified with either the original vaccination certificate or a copy of the certificate which must be submitted at the time of registration for the Scotts Bluff County Show. If vaccination papers are not turned in by the deadline they will not be allowed to show. All dogs shown by owner/4-Her must have vaccination records in exhibitors’ name in order to show at State Fair.
Youth may enter one showmanship class, two agility classes (using different dogs and in different levels of classes), two obedience classes (using different dogs and in different levels of classes), and two rally classes (using different dogs and in different levels of classes). An exhibitor may be moved down a class if there are less than two entries in a class.
Multiple exhibitors cannot show the same animal, with the exception of the Clover Kid Group.
Dogs receiving a purple ribbon in an obedience class at a previous County Fair (Scotts Bluff or any other County Fair) must advance to the next obedience class. Dogs with AKC degrees will show as follows: “CD” degree must show in graduate novice or higher.
A trained dog will stay in its highest attended class. A ‘new’ handler will enter such class.
Baiting with food or a toy in any class is not permitted and is cause for disqualification. The judge or judges have authority to disqualify violators.
Female dogs in season will be shown at a different time and place as determined by the dog project committee and judge.
Dogs known to bite, fight, or show aggressive behavior may be disqualified at the judges’ discretion or asked not to show by the decision of the 4-H dog project committee.
Exhibitors’ Responsibility: All exhibitors/owners are responsible for the actions of their dogs, including clean up. This includes all areas while on the County Fairgrounds. This rule will be enforced. If a dog has an accident in the show ring, the exhibitor will be asked to stop and clean up and disinfect the area with provided supplies. The exhibitor will finish their class and will be lowered one ribbon placing as a penalty for that particular class.
Dogs must be under the owner’s control at all times. Violators will be disqualified at the discretion of the judge. Exhibitors’ numbers will be called only twice prior to showing.
Only exhibitors are allowed to work dogs at the show, both in and out of the show rings.
Dress Code: A county issued fair shirt, dark blue jeans, and hard soled shoes are required.
Dog Showmanship
Division 700
Showmanship will be judged on the following criteria: the handler’s appearance - 10%, grooming and conditioning of dog - 20%, coordination of the dog and handler - 50%, and general knowledge - 20%. Special coat trims (such as poodles or terriers) will not count except for being clean and neatly brushed.
The top two winners in each class will come back and compete for overall showman. A blue or purple ribbon must be earned to make it back to overall showmanship.
Class 1 Beginning Showmanship - Exhibitors are in the first year of county or state 4-H experience, or any other
dog show experience.
Class 2 Intermediate Showmanship - Exhibitors are beyond first years’ experience in showmanship or obedience.
Class 3 Advanced Showmanship - Exhibitors who have previously won a purple ribbon in intermediate
showmanship.
Class 4 Trophy Showmanship - Exhibitors who have previously won Champion or Reserve Champion Trophy in
advanced showmanship.
Clover Kid Dog
Division 96
Clover Kid showmen are encouraged to be enrolled in the 4-H Clover Kid Program.
Class 1 Obedience
Class 2 Showmanship
Class 3 Agility
Class 4 Rally
Dog Skill-A-Thon
Division 500
Class 1 Jr. Division – ages 8 - 10
Class 2 Int. Division – ages 11-13
Class 3 Sr. Division – ages 14 - 18
Obedience Classes
Division 701
Follow rules in Nebraska 4-H Dog Show Guidelines 4-H 4421 to determine class entry.
Beginning Novice - All exercises must be performed on a 6-foot leash. Dogs must heel, including figure 8; come on recall; stand for examination; long sit for one minute and long down for three minutes. The leash may lay on the floor in front of the dog or be held by the handler.
Class 1 Beginning Novice Division A - Both handler and dog are in their first year of county, state or any dog
experience. Any purple ribbon will advance to Novice.
Class 2 Beginning Novice Division B - Exhibitor or dog is beyond first year of competition. Any purple ribbon will
advance to Novice.
Class 3 Novice - Dogs must heel on leash including figure 8; stand for examination off leash; heel free; come on
recall off leash; long sit for one minute off leash and long down for three minutes off leash with handler
across the ring. Any purple ribbon will advance to Graduate Novice.
Class 4 Graduate Novice - Dogs must heel on leash; stand for examination off leash; heel free including figure 8;
drop on recall off leash; long sit for three minutes and long down for five minutes both with handler out
of sight. Any purple ribbon will advance to Advanced Graduate Novice.
Class 5 Advanced Graduate Novice -– Dogs must heel on leash and figure 8 (off leash), drop on recall, dumbbell
recall, recall over high jump, recall over broad jump, and long down for five minutes with handler out of
sight.
Class 6 Open - All exercises off leash. Heel free and figure 8; drop on recall; retrieve on flat; retrieve over high
jump; broad jump; long sit for three minutes and long down for five minutes, both with handler out of
sight. Refer to Nebraska 4-H Dog Show Guidelines 4-H 421.for jump heights/distances.
Class 7 Graduate Open - signal exercise, scent discrimination, directed retrieve, moving stand and examination,
go out, and directed jumping.
Class 8 Utility - The dog will perform five exercises-the signal exercise; the scent discrimination exercise with
leather and metal objects; the directed retrieve; moving stand and examination; directed jumping.
Exhibitors must supply their own scent articles and gloves for the directed retrieve.
Agility
Division 702
Agility will follow those procedures and classes described in Nebraska 4-H Dog Show Guidelines 421. Refer to Nebraska 4-H Dog Show Guidelines to determine class entry and obstacles for each level of competition. Course maps will be made available and posted at the time of show registration in the designated area(s). A Grand and a Reserve Champion will be selected in each class.
Agility Jump Heights – measure dogs at withers to determine jump height:
Dogs 11 inches or less – 4 inches, Dogs over 11 inches up to and including 14 inches – 8 inches, Dogs over 14 inches up to and including 18 inches – 12 inches, Dogs over 18 inches – 16 inches.
Class 1 - 6 Obstacles-on leash (exhibitors and/or dog are in their first year of 4-H
Class 2 - 10 Obstacles-on leash (exhibitor and/or dog is beyond their first year; may repeat class until the dog has
earned a purple ribbon)
Class 3 - 13 Obstacles-on leash (may repeat until the dog has earned a purple ribbon)
Class 4 - 13 Obstacles off-leash (may repeat until the dog has earned a purple ribbon)
Class 5 - 15 to 20 Obstacles off-leash
Rally
Division 703
Class 1 Beginning Rally – youth and dog teams who have not shown in rally previously, youth in Beginning
Novice Obedience (A or B), this class is designed for youth with minimal show experience. Dog is on leash
and there are 5-10 stations.
Class 2 Rally 1 – youth and dog teams who have won 2 purple/blue ribbons in Beginning Rally, youth in
Beginning Novice B or Novice Obedience. Dog is on leash and there are 10-15 stations.
Class 3 Rally 2 – youth and dog teams who have won 2 purple/blue ribbons in Rally 1, youth in Novice
Obedience or higher. Dog is off-leash and there are 12-17 stations.
Class 4 Rally 3 – youth and dog teams who have won 2 purple/blue ribbons in Rally 2. Dog is off-leash and there
are 15-20 stations.
Dog Project
Division 92
Other dog project exhibits are to be entered with the other static exhibits on Sunday July 27 in the Event Center. Exhibitors may enter only one of the dog kit classes.
Dog Grooming / Show Kit / First Aid Kit- Name, breed and size of the dog for which the kit is intended is required. Contents are at the discretion of the exhibitor.
Class 7 Jr. Division - ages 8 - 10
Class 8 Int. Division - ages 11-13
Calss 9 Sr. Division - ages 14 - 18
Dog Project Scrapbook - Scrapbook in a hard cover binder or notebook. Include pictures and any other information that pertains to your involvement in the dog project.
Class 10 Jr. Division - ages 8 -10
Class 11 Int. Division - ages 11-13
Class 12 Sr. Division - ages 14 - 18