Iowa County 4-H Shelter Dog Training Partnership Program

This innovative program has been expanding since it began in 2008. The hope of this program is that it will bring a new life to adoptable ICHS dogs waiting for their forever homes. In this collaboration between the Iowa County 4-H Dog Training Program and the Humane Society, select shelter dogs are paired with suitable 4-H Dog Training Project members to participate in the training programs used by 4-H and based on AKC obedience standards.

Teresa Duerst, ICHS Operations Director, makes the initial dog selections from those available at ICHS for adoption. 4-H Dog Training Project leaders, Matt and Karolyn Levin, do follow-up evaluations to ensure that the dogs are suitable for both the program’s goals and the children who are participating. Then each dog is matched to a suitable program participant between the ages of 8 and 18 years. The 4-H members work with their project dogs to teach them obedience and other skills. The training sessions also provide a welcome break for the dogs from the daily shelter routine. The participating member gains the opportunity to work with a dog as well as to learn valuable skills that can only be gained by working with animals from a variety of backgrounds. Some of these 4-H members do not have a dog of their own while other members work with their own dog in addition to an ICHS dog. With ICHS approval, program participants may also elect to foster their partner dog during the training season.

The culmination of the program is the opportunity for the program member to show the shelter dog at the County Fair. This year the showmanship and obedience classes will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 20, at the fairgrounds in Mineral Point. The agility classes will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 1, in conjunction with the Iowa County Fair. There are also opportunities to participate in other 4-H events throughout the training season if members desire. Of the six participating dogs in the 2010 program, only two are still residents at ICHS. This year there is double the number of dogs involved in the program. Ten to twelve dogs (and 4-H members) are benefitting from this year’s partnership.

Program participants are:

Amber and Alice This is Amber's 6th year in the program. After being in the program for 2 weeks, Alice has learned the agility course! She also knows how to sit, down, stay and heel. Anica and Zorro This is Anica's 5th year in the program. Zorro has learned sit, down, heels, and walk on a leash. Zorro is very loveable! Ava and Cletus This is Ava's first year in the program. Cletus has learned the basic commands of sit, down, stay, and walk on a leash. He has also learned to stop barking, and loves to be a lap dog!   Zoey and Nala This is Zoey's first year in the program. Her first 2 dogs in this summer's program have already been adopted. Nala is her 3rd dog being trained. Nala loves the agility course, has learned to sit and down. She has learned that the prong choke collar works best on Nala.

Emma and Huck This is Emma's first year in the program. Her favorite is the agility course. Huck has learned how to sit and walk on a leash. Jessica and Thelma This is Jessica's 6th year in the program. Thelma has learned how to sit, and stay. Winndie and Macy This is Winndie's 3rd year in the program. Macy participates in the obedience class. Macy knows how to sit, down, recall, and heel. Macy is loveable, loves to lick your face, and immediately leaps into the trailer to attend this training! Renae and Duke This is Renae's first year in the program. Duke participates in the agility and showmanship. He has learned how to stand still, basic commands, and is very friendly. He loves to jump in the agility course, and fetch balls.

The goals of this program are to provide a learning experience for both the participants and the dogs, show other 4-H project groups how they can help homeless, unwanted animals in their own area, help educate the public on the variety and quality of dogs which end up at animal shelters and dispel the myth that all dogs which end up at shelters are problem dogs. ICHS congratulates and thanks the 4-H members and their leaders for a job well done!!

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