Congratulations to the 4H Happy Hounds Club!

Happy Hounds 4H* Club CGC Course a Stunning Success!

The Course

The Happy Hounds 4H Club of Howard County, MD, completed a CGC (Canine Good Citizen) course taught by Skye Anderson this past winter – sometimes in an unheated building during winter and sometimes cancelled due to bad weather! However, seven students completed the two months of classes and learned to train their best friends with treats, clickers and plenty of positive reinforcement.

The Test

Students tested a couple of months later (the first test was cancelled due to bad Maryland weather, again).

Kudos go to (see photo, credit: KFitzgibbon) All-American Reese and Lorin; Border Collie Max and his best friend, Emma; Chihuahua Rex peeking out above the CGC poster with 8-year-old (cold) Charlotte; black Standard Poodle Orso (can you find him?) with his best friend, Tori; and, in front, All-American Riggins with his favorite girl, Ava. On the right edge in back is the very-bundled-up-against-the-rain-and-wind CGC instructor and evaluator, Skye Anderson.

The Thanks

A hearty thank-you to Kiley and Border Collie Roscoe who earned the CGC last fall and returned to the club as the ‘other’ dog and a huge heap of thanks to Kim Fitzgibbons for organizing the course and to all Happy Hounds parents, some of whom drove their girls and dogs as far as 20 miles to the Howard County fairgrounds for classes and testing.  All their help and enthusiasm was much appreciated!

The Future

Next on the agenda for the Happy Hounds are courses in obedience, showmanship, rally, agility taught by Emma and Kiley, and a tricks course this summer to be taught by Skye Anderson, Certified Trick Dog Instructor.

If your child aged 8-18 is interested in joining Happy Hounds in Howard County, Maryland, contact HappyHounds@Howard4-H.org or for information on 4H in general, contact National 4H (4-h.org). You don't have to live on a farm!

Kudos

Congratulations, girls! (and dogs!)

*4H has over 6.5 million members in the United States, from ages 5 to 21, in approximately 90,000 clubs. The goal of 4-H is to develop citizenship, leadership, responsibility and life skills of youth through experiential learning programs and a positive youth development approach.