Obedient dogs at Waseca fairgrounds

July 9 brought a bright morning and many beautiful dogs as the 4H Dog Showmanship, Obedience, and Rally Show began at 9 a.m. Gathered in the 4H building at the Waseca County Fairgrounds were handlers from middle- and high-school levels, along with the dogs they have been working to train. Three alums from the program, Mattea Dann, McKinsey Rew and Sarah Fredericks helped set up and run the show, which can last anywhere from three to five hours. 

“We’re training the kids to train their dogs,” Fredericks said.  “Every Tuesday we meet with the kids and their dogs from 6 to 8 p.m. We teach them what they need to do and then they take it home and work with their dogs. Now this is the day they get to showcase what they’ve learned.”  As the 12 4H kids showed off their dogs in obedience, in which the animals sit down, stay, come on command, and heel next to their trainers, they earned ribbons for participation and rank. Another category in obedience is showmanship, where the dogs are lined up and stationed to show off the breed’s best features. Showmanship is like the “television” version of dog shows, with the line of people adjusting their dogs’ legs and posture. Rally happens at this show as well, where the owner uses hand signals and movements to command the dog. 

This 4H dog program, along with most 4H activities, has been going on a long time. “My mom is kind of the one who got me into showing dogs in the first place,” explained alumni Rew as the three helpers talked about how they all used to show dogs. “She showed dogs in her county, so I kind of wanted to do it too.”

As the kids had a successful day with their pups, some went back the day after to take part in agility, rounding out their range of experience in handling their dogs.