Pawsitive Pups 4-H group learns all about dogs, and more

When a person thinks of 4-H, riding horses or raising pigs to show at the Clark County Fair might come to mind, but 4-H encompasses a far broader range of interests.

The Washington State University Clark County Extension manages 4-H organizations in the Clark County area. Programs available include animal sciences, expressive arts, family living and environmental stewardship. In total, there are currently “125 projects in eight major subject divisions” being pursued by Clark County 4-H participants.

This year, Deb Brackeen took over as leader for the Pawsitive Pups 4-H Club. According to Brackeen, Pawsitive Pups is a dog 4-H group that meets at Mind Your Manners in the Hazel Dell area every other Monday night. Several years ago, some area children wanted to get together and show their dogs and, as a result, the club currently has nine members. The oldest member, Madeline, has been with Pawsitive Pups for seven years and is the president of the club.

“Personally, I think we have the best group,’’ Brackeen said. “I have great parents supporting us in everything that we do so it’s really easy to be a leader for our group.”

Seven of the members work with their own dogs to learn showmanship and obedience. Through persistence and patience, the dogs are taught to respect space, which is a skill that is paramount at events. Breeds vary from a Chihuahua and Yorkshire terrier to an Australian shepherd and a Border collie.

Pawsitive Pups is one of five 4-H dog groups in Clark County. Those groups compete against one another at meets throughout the year and at the fair in August. The fair determines who will advance to Puyallup and compete with all the counties who enter the state fair. Last year, three of the members from Pawsitive Pups showed at Puyallup and earned several first- and second-place ribbons.

Awareness of this extension of 4-H is mostly generated at the annual Clark County Fair and is one of Brackeen’s favorite parts of her role with Pawsitive Pups.

“To see their excitement when they’re able to get their dog to do something and then to see them at the fair and dress up and be able to talk to the community by themselves,’’ said Brackeen, referring to a fulfilling element of her role with the group. “They step up and say ‘Do you have any questions about my dog?’ So, it’s them growing up and learning how to speak publicly and seeing how happy they are when they accomplish things (that’s the reason I’m involved).”

At its core, 4-H encourages a variety of experiences. An example of that is the switch that was made with Pawsitive Pups last year when the members voted to put some focus on crafts and other projects. The week that the group does not work with their dogs, they’re learning photography, baking and doing needle work, for example.

This past Christmas, Pawsitive Pups made 50 lap blankets and handed them out to an assisted living center in Ridgefield and then stayed to sing carols to the residents.

“It was very accepted by the residents,’’ Brackeen said. “We’re going to hook up with the llama group (4-H) and learn, I think it’s called, ‘tatting.’ There’s a woman who makes natural food and we’re going to go to her shop and see how that’s made.”

Possibly a little known fact about 4-H is that, according to Brackeen, the organization gives out college scholarships. If a club member invests in being longstanding, there is a higher possibility of receiving some kind of scholarship to go on to college. The 4-H website confirms that involvement at different levels, scholastic excellence and leadership contributions are some of the eligibility requirements for scholarship consideration with 4-H.

For more information, or to join Pawsitive Pups, email Deb Brackeen at dannywithpawsitivepups@gmail.com. For more information about Clark County 4-H programs, go to http://clark.wsu.edu/youth/.