Dog club hopes to take bite out of Fayette County Fair
Barb Shumar stands in the center of a field at her Menallen Township farm on a Monday night surrounded by a circle of youths holding the leashes of their dogs. “Ready, go forward,’ Shumar commands.
The youths move forward as Shumar watches their every move.
“Sit, stay, show me,’ Shumar announces another command.
The youths call “Sit, sit’ to their dogs to move them into proper position. One dog is not obeying. But several dogs are actually sitting while their masters walk away.
Shumar offers encouragement: “Everybody tell your dogs, ‘Good dog.”
This is the Fayette County 4-H Dog Club.
The club, with Shumar and Tony DeCarlo of Smock as leaders, is meeting three times a week just prior to the Fayette County Fair as the 18 members prepare for two nights of competition.
On Thursday, opening day of the fair, the dog club will host competition in obedience, costume and agility classes at 6 p.m. in the Indoor Arena. Obedience is mandatory for all members and everybody chooses to participate in the agility class.
“In obedience, they are judged on sitting, heeling, a three-minute down stay and a three-minute sit,’ explains Shumar. “And I have a couple of girls who have been in a few years and have to do off-leash commands. The dogs have to obey commands when not on a leash.’
The costume class is just for fun. The youths and dogs dress alike in a particular costume theme. Although a choice, most of the club members participate.
Agility, Shumar explains, is a timed event. There are penalties for not doing obstacles or for a misstep, such as touching a table. This is the second year for this class, which is the favorite among club members.
And this year, the dog club is hosting a second show on Friday at 6 p.m. in the Youth Building. Mandatory for dog club members, the show is called K-9 Free Style.
“It’s obedience moves to music,’ says Shumar.
Some of the youths’ music selections include songs from “The Lion King,’ a theme from a James Bond movie, and “Singing in the Rain.’
“They recommend a lot of Disney songs but they also recommend the kids choose what they want as long as it’s in good taste,’ says Shumar. “The child is in costume. The dog is only permitted to use four-leg cuffs and a collar.’
The freestyle competition requires a routine no less than one minute, 30 seconds and no more than two minutes, 15 seconds.
K-9 Freestyle is a popular competition although there has not been any in the local area before. Shumar notes that a couple of people in Altoona compete professionally in K-9 Freestyle and that an annual show in Harrisburg attracts people from across the United States, even as far away as China.
“The head of the Canine Freestyle Association is trying to make it an Olympic sport for kids,’ Shumar says.
The Fayette County 4-H Dog Club started four years ago, yet Shumar notes, “A lot of people don’t know we exist.’
She explains a previous 4-H dog club started in the county several years ago but was discontinued. The Penn State Cooperative Extension office called Shumar in 1999 and asked if she’d be interested in starting a new club.
“I have a habit of collecting thrown-out animals,’ smiles Shumar, who is also a canine leader for the Fayette County Sheriff’s Tactical Resource Team.
She adds, “I’ve always liked dogs. I love the kids, and I love the dogs.’
There were 10 youths in the club the first year.
Shumar’s daughter, Stephanie, now 11, was one of the first members.
“The first year she said I had to be in it, but I could join or not after that and I picked to be in it,’ Stephanie says.
Stephanie is working with a chocolate Labrador named Noel, who is 18 months old.
“I like teaching my dog different things, like obedience. I like teaching her the new class: how to dance,’ says Stephanie.
But Stephanie’s favorite competition is the costume class. She and her dog have dressed as angels and in bathing suits. This year, Stephanie is planning to use a crane: having her dog sit in a wagon and pulling the dog around by hooking the crane to her underwear.
In 2003, 18 youths will go to competition at the Fayette County Fair, the highlight of the year for these youths.
“They are permitted to use whatever dog they want,’ says Shumar.
The dogs in this club range in size from a Great Dane to a Shih-Tzu. There are lots of Labradors and lots of mixed breeds.
Club members have begun meeting once a month throughout the year, but they got down to business in May when meetings started coming every two weeks.
“Then we went every week because they need eight to 10 weeks of obedience training,’ says Shumar.
The club actually meets Mondays at Shumar’s farm where her husband, Anthony, created obstacles for the agility program that include a seesaw, jumps, A-frame, weave poles, down tube and catwalk.
The youths started working with their dogs on agility when the meeting began. They then progressed to the obedience portion.
“They’ll probably work almost until dark,’ says parent Judy McClure, of Smock, who’s daughter Molly, 12, is working with a chocolate Labrador called Lucy.
The leaders are also available Wednesday and Friday nights at the Fayette County Fairgrounds to prepare for K-9 Freestyle competition.
And how are the youths coming along?
“They’re doing fine,’ says Shumar. “They really enjoy doing this and they work hard at doing this. They’re a good bunch of kids.’
Asked what he likes about the club, DeCarlo says, “To see the kids have fun and show them that they can do something with their dogs.’
There are several members who have been with the club since the beginning. They include Nicole Young, 14, of Uniontown is working with her German Shepherd, 5-year-old Casey; Holly McClelland, 14, of Farmington, who trains a 2-year-old Golden Retriever named Ginger; and sisters Cassie Hager, 12, and Lindsay Hager, 13, of Farmington. Cassie has a one-year-old hound mix called Clover while Lindsay has a black Labrador.
“I like playing around with my dog,’ says Nicole. “I like doing the agility course most of the time – when he listens. It’s mainly working with my dog.’
“I like working with my dog, visiting, getting to know the other animals,’ says Holly, “and having a wonderful teacher like Barb Shumar.’
Cassie reports what her dog likes about the club: “She loves to run the obstacle course and Barb has been a wonderful teacher.’
Lindsay says, “I like just about everything. It’s taught discipline to me and my dog.’
Ashley Barone, 13, of Smithfield, is in her third year and working with a one-year-old Great Dane named Camo.
“I like my dog to get a new experience and let him have fun while he’s learning,’ says Ashley. “My favorite class is probably agility. I just like him to learn new tricks and see how he does.’
Ashley worked with a different dog the first two years she was in the club. She says Camo is a lot easier to work with.
DeCarlo had earlier noted that it’s not difficult to teach a dog “if the dog is willing to learn.’
The dog club has many fans, including Cathy Brady, cooperative extension agent, who said, “It’s growing and getting a lot of new members. It’s a challenge for them.’
Parents also enjoy the club.
Lori Kaylor of Uniontown is mother of club member Leah, who works with her dog Ally: “This is her first year and I think it’s great. We watched the show last year at the fair and liked what the dogs were doing. It was neat. We wanted to train our dog to do it and that’s what we’re doing.’
Erin McClelland, mother of Holly, said, “It teaches the kids something other than sitting in front of television. It gets them out with other kids.’
She added, “I think they learn pretty easy. The kids pick things up easier than adults and the dogs pick it up easier than the kids.’
For more information on the Fayette County 4-H Dog Club, phone the Penn State Cooperative Extension Office at 724-438-0111.