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State 4-H Dog Skill-a-Thon Contest

Table of Contents

4-H STEM is in everything graphic logo with Clover emblem in center

Objectives

The primary objective of the Washington State 4-H Dog Skill-a-Thon Contest is to provide an opportunity for 4-H members to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of animal science and management related to dogs in a competitive setting. 4-H members are also given the opportunity to expand their knowledge about dogs and be recognized for their understanding of the many aspects of dog care and training, as well as the roles of dogs in society.

The Skill-a-Thon offers age-appropriate quizzes and stations that are designed to test 4-H members’ knowledge of dogs. Some stations may include visual diagrams or equipment or hands-on activities to demonstrate a dog-related task. The contest superintendent strives to provide an educational experience for participants and spectators.

Contest Rules

  1. Contestants must be 4-H members enrolled in the dog project and approved by the 4-H Extension Staff of their respective county.
  2. All participants must follow the Washington State 4-H Dog Program Policies Dress Code.
  3. This is a contest in which individuals compete. There will be no team entries.
  4. There is no limit to the number of individuals that each county may enter in this contest.
  5. Each participating county is requested to provide contest helpers as follows:
    1. an adult volunteer to help score the contest,
    2. an adult volunteer to serve as a station monitor or group leader.
  6. All challenges to the contest, including stations, official’s decisions or results, must be submitted in writing to the State Fair Manager at the Washington State 4-H Fair or the contest Superintendent at county fair within 24 hours of the contest.
  7. Contestants that do not comply with the rules will be disqualified.
  8. Coaches or spectators engaging in unsportsmanlike conduct or disruptive behavior will be asked to leave the contest area.
  9. All electronic devices, including but not limited to tablets, calculators, and cell phones, are prohibited unless being used as a medical device. If a contestant’s phone should ring, or if they are observed using electronic devices during the contest, the contestant will be disqualified.

If an individual has a disability and needs reasonable accommodations, see our Reasonable Accommodation Policy.

Judges

Official judges will work with the contest superintendent to place the stations. Judges are responsible for evaluating the individual contestants on the appropriate scorecards and submitting the scorecards to the superintendent at the conclusion of the contest.

Contest Phases

  1. The Quiz Phase of the contest will include questions from the Washington State 4-H Dog Showmanship Questions Study Guide.
    1. Juniors: 10 questions
    2. Intermediates: 20 questions
    3. Seniors: 30 questions
  2. The Station Phase of the contest will consist of a series of stations or tables where contestants will respond to the requirements of the station. Stations can be the same or different among age groups, i.e. Juniors can do some of the intermediate stations, etc., but age level should be taken into consideration.
    1. Juniors: three stations
    2. Intermediates: six stations
    3. Seniors: nine stations
  • Examples of stations that may be used include, but are not limited to:
    • Breed Identification: breeds must be recognized by AKC by January firstof the current year; miscellaneous and foundation stock are not to be included
    • Care and Behavior
    • Equipment Identification: includes care, grooming, training. handling, showing, and dog sports
    • Nutrition and Feed Identification
    • Health and Diseases
    • Insects and Parasites
    • Anatomy and Physiology: includes external parts, skeletal, internal organs, parts of the gastrointestinal tract, and reproductive organs

Scoring

  1. Each question in the quiz phase is to be worth two points.
  2. Each station in the station phase is to be worth 50 points.
  3. Ties in the overall contest will be broken in the following order:
    1. Highest score in the Quiz Phase; if still tied, then
    2. Highest total score in the Station Phase; if still tied, then
    3. The scores at each station, in order, may be used.
  4. Ties within any phase of the contest are to be broken using the overall score first and then the same sequence as above.
  5. Contest stations will be available for viewing for a limited time following the contest, and official keys will be displayed at each station.

General Guidelines

Below are some suggested topics used for Skill-a-Thon stations. The format of questions can be matching games, multiple choice, short answers, or a demonstration of a skill, etc. Questions can be asked with visual aids such as models, microscopic slides, pictures, or computer screens. Each station should take less than four minutes to complete. Adult volunteers at each station are helpful to keep things moving smoothly and keep score.

Animal Behavior, Care, Safety, and Restraint

  • How to properly restrain a dog using a dog model
  • How to trim nails, clean ears, and look for fleas
  • How to maintain clean and sanitary conditions for dogs
  • How to groom and muzzle a dog
  • Identify equipment such as collars, leashes, and different grooming tools
  • Demonstrate knowledge of specific canine science vocabulary

Health and Disease

  • Identify internal and external parasites of the dog
  • List characteristics of a healthy dog: normal body temp, pulse, respiration, etc.
  • Identify the external anatomy of a dog
  • Identify the internal anatomy of a dog
  • Identify common canine diseases
  • Explain how diseases are transmitted and prevented
  • Identify toxins
  • Perform first aid for dogs
  • Identify different types of feet, eyes, bites, forequarters, hindquarters, ears, tails

Breed Identification

  • Identify different breeds
  • Demonstrate understanding of the history and purpose of certain breeds, groups, or both

Famous Dogs, Working Dogs, and Dog Sports

  • Identify famous canines
  • Identify dogs with jobs such as guard dogs, sled dogs, service dogs, etc.
  • Match fun facts about dogs in general or specific breeds
  • Different dog sports

Other Advanced Topic Categories

  • Nutrition and feed for different ages and stages of dogs
  • Genetics and reproduction
  • Finding the right dog, breeder, or both

Sources

Skill-a-thon Scorecard

Scorecard Information

Information Reported:

  • Station Number
  • Station Name
  • Contestant Number

Scoring

Members are scored on the following scale:

  • E: Excellent
  • G: Good
  • F: Fair
  • N: Needs Work

Areas scored are as follows:

  • Knowledge of Subject: 60%, 30 points possible if all “Excellent”
  • Appropriate Usage: 20%, 10 points possible if all “Excellent”
  • Overall Presentation: 20%, 10 points possible if all “Excellent”
  • Total Score: 50 points if all “Excellent”

Printable Scorecards

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Scorecards

Blank Skill-A-Thon Station Scorecard shown four times on a page for printing. Each form includes fields for station number, contestant number, and station name. The scorecard evaluates performance in three categories: Knowledge of Subject (60%), Appropriate Usage (20%), and Overall Presentation (20%). Criteria include Objectives, Demonstration, Explanation, Equipment/Materials, and Terminology. A scoring grid allows evaluators to mark one of four performance levels: Excellent (E), Good (G), Fair (F), or Needs Work (N). Space is provided for calculating a total score. A key defining the four rating levels appears below each form. Washington State University Extension and 4-H logos appear at the bottom of each scorecard.

Scorecard Example

Completed Skill-A-Thon Station Scorecard used to evaluate a contestant’s performance at a 4-H skill-a-thon station. The form includes fields for station number, contestant number, and station name. Evaluation categories are Knowledge of Subject (60%), Appropriate Usage (20%), and Overall Presentation (20%). Criteria include Objectives, Demonstration, Explanation, Equipment/Materials, and Terminology. Ratings are scored using four performance levels: Excellent (E), Good (G), Fair (F), and Needs Work (N). The example shows point values assigned to each rating level, with a maximum score of 50 points. Notes indicate that Knowledge of Subject is worth up to 30 points, Appropriate Usage up to 10 points, Overall Presentation up to 10 points, and a total possible score of 50. Washington State University Extension and 4-H logos appear near the bottom of the page.