Jackson County IA 4-H & FFA Dog Project

06/09/2026

Project meeting still on with Jess Okan tonight!!!!!
Jess asks everyone to bring lots of treats please!! If you having any training questions please please bring them tonight, Jess is wonderful and will be happy to help give any advice or exercises to achieve your goals.
Also with it being so hot, please bring a bowl for you dog to have some water. You may bring your own water otherwise the Fairgrounds has hydrants but you will need to bring a container to hold water for your dog.

06/07/2026

Most of you should know your level of obedience by now.
Please be sure to open the ISU link in an earlier post and print off your Junior 4-6, Intermediate 7-8 or Senior 9-12 level handling pack, marked green.
Your judging sheets for your level of obedience and the handling score sheet, marked red.
Obedience/performance regulations packets according to your class, marked blue.
The obedience packet has all activities/skills broken down in detail. Many skills have some slight changes this year.
If anyone needs help printing let the extension office, Leslie or Karen know. We will get this info to you.

06/03/2026

Students who fall under the Novice category and Preferred Novice showing this year, I encourage you to read up on the Graduate Novice class. Some of the skills that are being asked are things you will want to start training this year.

A few skill in this class are with a dumbbell: dumbbell recall, dumbbell recall over high jump.

You will need to measure your specific dog for a dumbbell that fits them. Here is some more info on rules, regulations, and measuring for correct sizing. https://www.extension.iastate.edu/warren/files/documents/Open_Fitting_a_Dumbbell.docx

Here are some training videos students can review on how to start:
https://youtu.be/8sRc0XYn0zg?si=zRndKEPlDWD5edaR
https://youtube.com/shorts/mHb_m3l8Y2Y?si=wtj4Qvdp5Ns5ZVsZ

Younger students feel free to view some of this because this training will take years and the sooner you can start the better. Please do not focus on this training between now and fair, but after I would encourage to start exposing your dog to the dumbbell.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

06/03/2026

Great class tonight everyone!

Looking forward to next week we will have Jess Okon coming to teach class! I highly encourage everyone to attend. Jess has been a guest the last couple of years and is a professional dog trainer that has worked with a variety of dogs whether for show or for just everyday living. Come with your questions and any hurdles you are encountering.

Jess request everyone to PLEASE BRING TREATS, or toys for rewards.

Plan to still meet at the Maquoketa fairground but please watch our page for any change of location.

05/27/2026

A couple students asked about the dog treats that I had tonight. These treats are homemade, healthy, and are very cost efficient compared to store bought treats. Here is the link to the recipe: https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/make-1000-dog-training-treats/

I also use a silicone mold that I bought off of Amazon similar to this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09K35181W/ref=sspa_mw_detail_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9kZXRhaWw

You don’t need the silicone mold but it does make things a little easier.

This recipe using the mold will yield you over 1000 dog treats and again is so much cheaper than buying store treats. You may also use this recipe for an indoor project!

Whether you're teaching your dog basic obedience or tricks, the secret ingredient to successful training sessions often fits right in the palm of your hand - Xanax. This is Lip. Now that you the trainer

05/26/2026

Dog project members Meeting tonight at 6pm at the fairgrounds!

Please remember to bring any treats, toys or other good motivators for your dog! Also reminder to please bring p**p bags to clean up after your dog if needed.

If you have not attended the last two meetings remember to bring a copy of your rabies and vaccination records.

Also as a reminder I posted the link last week to the new class details including showmanship and judges scorecards. Please bring any questions to class!

05/20/2026

Parents and students! Class packets, handling/showmanship packets and scorecards are uploaded to extension site here: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/dogs

Class packets go into details of level dog and student for the class and what will be asked in each class. Showmanship/handling packets go into more details of what education students should be knowledgeable of and be quizzed on during the show.

Uploaded are also the judges scorecards, these will be used at the show and state fair.

Please take time to go over these packets and reach out or come to class with any questions!

Dogs “Lions, Tigers, and Bears, oh my!” These animals do not make good pets; however, dogs do! Dogs are used for sports and assist in working livestock. The dog project helps you explore what kind of dog fits into your family’s lifestyle and how to be an excellent trainer and caretaker of yo....

05/19/2026

2026 Project meeting dates, all at 6pm at the fairgrounds unless stated otherwise. We will post on here and email if there any cancelation of class.

May 12th - no dogs going over rules and updated classes
May 19th - 1st class Dogs allowed
May 26th
June 2nd
June 9th - Guest Jess Okon
June 16th
June 23rd
June 30th
July 7th
July 14th
July 21st

Please check in with Karen at the beginning of each class to be sure you are marked that you participated that date.

Show is July 28th check in at 8am show starts at 9am with Best Groomed Class.

You will need to make a minimum of 4 classes to participate in the show, if you have schedule conflicts due to sports or other reason please let Karen and Leslie know, we will try to set up extra days for you to meet requirements.

05/19/2026

5-19-26 6PM
Dog class tonight, bring your dog and proof of vaccination.

09/05/2025

Iowa State Fair 4H Dog Project
We watched for quite awhile and any one of our kids could compete easily at state fair. 🏆
We will be working toward following the classes that most other Iowa counties have adapted to. Which means no more long sits and long downs! 😀