WELCOME TO BEST FRIENDS
4-H CLUB!
BF's Canine Therapy Program:

Best Friends 4-H Club is a 4-H canine therapy competition club specifically designed for youths in Berrien County, Michigan to learn about the many aspects of dogs, dog training and dog competition.

The American Kennel Club 's Therapy Dog Title Program recognizes Best Friends 4-H Club as probably the only 4-H dog club that combines canine therapy with dog competition in America, thus qualifying our volunteer team canines for the AKC's Therapy Dog Program!

ABOUT OUR 4-H'ERS  
Best Friends 4-H'ers exhibit a variety of disabilities
including Down's Syndrome, Autism, Asperger, learning, hearing and emotionally impaired, as well as, physically and mentally challenged, who are age five through twenty-six years.

HISTORY OF BEST FRIENDS 4-H CLUB
Best Friends 4-H Club was formed in 1988 by Patti Dynes and her son, David Dynes, when, after an exhausting search for a dog training club that could accommodate a student with Down's Syndrome and his dog could not be found. 

For more history facts, please see Best Friends Historical Time Line.  (pdf)

  Why Start a Life Challenged Dog Club?   (pdf)  

What Is The Purpose of Teaching a Dog Class to Youths with Disabilities?  (pdf)

What Are 4-H'ers with Disability Really Like? (pdf)

What Does Best Friends 4-H Club Teach? (pdf)

Developing Sportmanship and Ethics through 4-H Dog Projects  (pdf)

Best Friends 4-H Club's Mission Goals:

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1.  To provide an educational experience to youths that otherwise might be omitted from competition and denied the experience and growth it provides.

2.   To provide members an opportunity to learn about canine trianing and handling in a safe, supportive environment.

3.   To focus on building positive relationships between club members and his/her own OR volunteer team canine.

4.   To provide canine therapy and motivation with physical and mental stimulation while having fun.
Best Friends 4-H Club's Club House:

Best Friends holds its assigned monthly meetings and dog training classes at Mutterly Love; 200 Kerth, St. Joseph, MI 49085.  Phone 269-983-6888. 

Summer Dog Training Project Classes are:

1.   Canine Obedience
2.   Canine Agility
3.   Canine Anatomy and Breeds
4.   Canine Safety
5.   Canine Ownership Responsibility
6.   Good Sportsmanship and Figure Eight
7.    Rally

4-H'er's Yearly Dog Projects are:

1.   4-H Spring Achievement Canine Evaluation in AKC's CGC Test, Agility, Junior Showmanship.

4-H'er's 2012 4-H Spring Achievement Handbook
Evaluator's and Volunteer's Spring Achievment Instructions

2.  Berrien County Youth Fair Dog Competition in either regular dog classes OR Canine Exhibitor with disability.

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Best Friends Articles

2002- Best Friends Helps Kids Learn Special Skills by Juanita Green Herald Palladium; Benton Harbor

2003 - Best Friends by Juanita Green Herald Palladium; Benton Harbor

2005 - A Club For Best Friends by Dana Slagle; Herald Palladium; Benton Harbor

2006 - A Very Special CGC Program by Mary Burch; Director of AKC's CGC Program and Linda M. Shannon-Chaillet; Coordinator of Best Friends 4-H Club

2009- Dogs Really Can Be Man's Best Friends by Malloy Fournier; Herald Palladium; Benton Harbor

2009 - Canine Therapy Mission Goals by L. M. Shannon-Chaillet; Noble Newf Dec 2009

2010- Canine Therapy Program Defined by Companion Newf by Brabara Frey and L.M. Shannon-Chaillet; NCA Newf Tide; First Quarter 2010.

2010 - Gaining Confidence with Canines by Ralph Heibutzki; Herald Palladium; Benton Harbor

2011 - Berrien County Youth Fair; Herald Palladium; Benton Harbor

"Not all disabled person uses a wheelchair.
Not all disabilities are visible."

BEST FRIEND 2012 CALENDAR

Service Dog versus Therapy Dog
What is the differences between a service dog, an emotional support animal and a therapy dog?

How Was the Definition of "Service Animal" Changed July 23, 2010?

WANTED! 
ENERGETIC ADULT VOLUNTEERS
AND VOLUNTEER TEAM THERAPY DOGS!

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Team Instructor

Best Friends 4-H Club Coordinators are always searching for adults who are interested and willing to learn about donating his or her time to work one-on-one with our 4-H'ers and a volunteer team canine during our Summer Dog Training Project.

If you are considering on becoming a Team Instructor for Best Friends, please take the time to research the requiremens of a Team Instructor(pdf) and the assignments you will be teaching your assigned 4-H'er's team.

Still Interested?  Wonderful!  Now please continue your research by studying a Team Instructor's Tool Kit of Knowledge (pdf). 

WOW!  Quite a lot, isn't it?  Are you still interested?  Are you willing to learn?  Wonderful!  Please contact either the Coordinator or Co-Coordinator and discuss the process of becoming a 4-H Best Friends 4-H Canine Therapy Team Instructor.

Wanted:  Volunteer Team Canines

Best Friends 4-H Club could not continue possibly being the only canine therapy competition 4-H dog club in the United States of America if it wasn't for the support of our certified temperament tested volunteer team dogs and their owners.  If you are interested in sharing your canine(s) with a 4-H'er with disability, please read Best Friends 4-H Club's Canine Policy (pdf) first and then communicate with one of the coordinators regarding your questions of having your dog join our club as a volunteer team canine. 

If you choose to have your canine join Best Friends 4-H Club, your dog will have the oppotunity to earn the following titles....

*  AKC's Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Certificate
*  AKC's Therapy Dog (TD) Title
*  Therapy Dog International (TDI) Certificate

After your discussion, and if you are still interested in having your dog join us, please fill out and submit your Canine Registration Form.
BF's Community Service Project:

Since August of 2007, Best Friends 4-H'ers and our community have donated enough Iams and Eukanuba Dog Food Proof of Purchase UPC'S SCANNING BARS to add up to 79 coupons towards FREE DOG FOOD for Berrien County Animal Control. Each coupon is worth up to $65.00!

83 coupons X $65.00 = $5,395.00 that Berrien County taxpayers did not have to disburse to feed our sheltered dogs!  

Please click here for BF's Animal Control Iams Dog Food Information Flyer!

Canine Therapy Class at Blossomland Learning Center

During the winter months, Best Friends Leaders and therapy canines join teacher and Best Friend's Team Instructor, Kathy Zuraw in her classroom at Blossomland Learning Center, Berrien Springs, Michigan and work one-on-one with her gym class students.  Students work on conmmunication, work habits, self-respect, listening skills, relationship to objects and people, general and personal space, basic body control, as well as, dog safety, basic dog commands, dog care, dog anatomy, take a dog for a walk with a few agility obstacals thrown in for entertainment.  For more information please contact Best Friends Coordinator.

Andrews University Presentation:

Since 2009 Andrews University Assistant Professor Nancy Agnetta has graciously invited Best Friends leaders, 4-H'ers and dogs into her classroom for a one hour presentation on the topic of 4-H Canine Therapy as an alternative teaching method for special needs children.

Included with this presentation is an opportunity for students to earn class observation hours in the summer by joining Best Friends at its clubhouse (St. Joseph, MI) and getting hands on training in Canine Therapy, or, in the autumn, winter and spring months, joining us at Blossomland Learning Center (Berrien Springs, MI) in Kathy Zuraw's Canine Therapy Class. 

If you are an Andrews University student and are interested in studying alternative education, please contact Professor Agnetta at Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI.


Photographs on Best Friends 4-H Club's Website were taken by our club's historian at Flying Spot Photography. 

Best Friends is supported in part by Two by Two Animal Hospital, Berrien Springs, MI. and by First Congregational Church of Saint: United Church of Christ, Joseph, MI; 

Michigan State University Extension prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activites on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, or veteran status.  Person with disabilties may request accomodations by calling the Berrien County MSU Extension Office at 269-944-4126.

Best Friends 4-H Club's Webiste is Copyright © 2012.  All right reserved.       Best Friends 4-H Club Website was updated on 05/19/2012
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