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Pet 4-H Project Area

The 4-H Pet project area consists of three project manuals. Each manual covers three years of activities. There are 4-H project areas for Dog, Cat, and Rabbit, if you have an interest with those types of pets.

Four 4-H Pet Project Manuals from Shop4H
    • Pets Pals (Pets 1) explores pet selection, body part identification, pet art, pet communication, handling, housing and daily needs.
    • In Scurrying Ahead (Pets 2), you will develop planning and decision-making skills as you debate pet topics, create a story, observe pet behavior, promote a product, exhibit a pet, and feed and care for pets.
    • Scaling the Heights (Pets 3) covers genetics, pet issues, reproduction, caring for newborns, starting a business and careers.

    If a member completes the 9 years of project manuals, they can work with their county Extension professionals to determine their learning opportunities for their remaining 4-H years.

    Scoresheets

    Each year, 4-H members should complete 7 activities in the project manual as well as the planning pages at the beginning of the manual.

    There are not separate documents with the scoresheets for pet project series. Scoresheets can be located inside the Record Guides on page 13.

    Record Guides

    Youth who has selected a Pet 4-H project typically are raising an animal as part of their project work. A project record guide is part of the animal science project experience.  

    Paper Record Guides

    Electronic Record Guides

    Pet-less Pet Project

    If you enroll in this project area without an animal, check with your local Extension professional for approval and guidelines.

    Exhibit Ideas

    • Many youth in this project area will exhibit an animal at a 4-H pet show.

    • Poster, Story, and/or Model on one of the following topics:

      • Pet 1 - pet selection, body part identification, pet art, pet communication, handling, housing and daily needs.
      • Pet 2 - pet behavior, promote a pet product, exhibit a pet, and feed and care for pets.
      • Pet 3 - genetics, pet issues, reproduction, caring for newborns, starting a business and careers.
    • Examples of Blue Ribbon Exhibits

    How Do I Sign Up?

    Screenshot of 4-H ZSuite enrollment page to select project
    The first step is to create an enrollment in our ZSuite website.

    Enroll in 4-H ZSuite

    When you get to the CLUBS tab of the enrollment, you will want to ADD PROJECT.

    For Pets, you should search for:
      • RECORD GUIDE - PET /  YEAR 1 - PET PALS

        Project Videos

        Related Events & Camps

        No events available at this time.

        4-H Pet Project Resources

        College & Career Pathways

        Vet showing students how to examine a dog

        Pre-Veterinary

        WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

        The bachelor of science program in Animal and Nutritional Sciences, is designed to provide students with the academic requirements for entry into professional schools or colleges of veterinary medicine.

        Careers

        • Veterinarian
        • Medical Doctor
        • Dentist
        • Medical research
        Pre-Veterinary Major Information