WINNING WAYS 4-H DOG SHOW AT THE A.V. FAIR.

Byline: Peggy Hager Staff Writer

LANCASTER - In the 4-H Club, a youngster's best friend is his dog, and on Friday, those best friends were in all shapes and sizes at the annual 4-H dog show at the Antelope Valley Fair.

Michelle Kuenstle, 16, of the Four Seasons 4-H in Tehachapi, showed a pig earlier in the week but said dogs were a lot easier to handle.

``Raising dogs takes a lot more work,'' said Kuenstle, who was participating in the fair for the first time.

``You have to work with them more,'' she said. ``Pigs, you just sort of work with them so they'll go where you want them to and stuff. Dogs, they have to listen to you and obey and have good manners and you can't expect all that from a pig.''

Kuenstle is competing in showmanship and obedience classes. She has been working Princess all summer, 15 minutes a day, to keep her training up.

``I think Michelle will do great. Princess can do great or she can be real entertaining, let's say,'' Michelle's mother, Moira Kuenstle, said, laughing. ``(Princess is) good. I trust her around all the kids - she's great, but sometimes she gets very excited.''

The dog show is the culmination of a year of dog training and record keeping for the 4-H groups. Members have to document their dogs' feed and care, record when they work with the dog and log the veterinarian expenses. The youths enter competitions with the dogs wearing costumes as they show their obedience, showmanship and tricks.

For showmanship the kids are judged on both their appearance and the appearance and condition of the dogs and on their ability to show the dogs and the presentation.

Obedience training is judged on how well the dogs respond to basic commands such as sit, heel and stand.

In addition to trophies and medals for the winners, each competitor receives goody bags to share with their dogs.

``It gives them something for their efforts,'' said Betty McGehee, chairwoman of the 4-H dog show. ``So the little kid, it's his first time and he didn't do so well ... he's got something there. He'll feel happy and work harder next year.''

McGehee said showing dogs teaches children responsibility.

``Many of them don't have confidence in the beginning,'' McGehee said. ``It helps build their confidence and just makes ... a better person.''

Deanna Woodhouse, 15, with the Canyon Coyotes, was showing Victor, a 5-year-old Australian shepherd mix. Victor was very excited and whined with anticipation.

``He got first last year in obedience class so I think we'll do OK, but we're in an advanced group this year,'' Deanna said.

Deanna entered the obedience, showmanship and trick classes.

``I think it teaches me a lot of patience because he's really lazy,'' Deanna said. ``So I have to be like really just patient and work with him. It gave us a better bond.''

``He's just a good dog and he has a really good personality and he's really friendly and loyal,'' she said.

In the tricks competition, Deanna will demonstrate Victor's ability to circle right, circle left, stand on his hind legs, speak on command and give a ``high five.''

She works with Victor in 20-minute sessions five or six days a week.

``In the beginning I worked a lot harder, like 30 minutes here and 30 minutes there so he could learn it,'' Deanna said. ``Now that he knows it, I just do it a little bit so he can practice - so he doesn't forget it.''

Peggy Hager, [phone]

peggy.grimm-hager(at)dailynews.com

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3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- color) Above, 12-year-old Margaret Austin competes Friday in the Antelope Valley Fair's 4-H dog show with her 8-month-old Welsh Corgi named Anthony. At left, Geneva Schell, 13, trained her 2-year-old dog Chyna to perform in a covered wagon. The dog show culminates a year of dog training and record keeping for the 4-H groups. Members document their dogs' feed and care, training sessions and veterinarian expenses.

(3) Heather Ealy, 13, entered her dog Cindi in the 4-H dog show presented Friday at the Antelope Valley Fair.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer