Demaree Clay of K9 U, an applied animal behaviorist and a former instructor at the National K-9 School for Dog Trainers, will lead a presentation on dogs at the meeting of the 4-H Companion Animal Project Group on Aug. 24 at 1 p.m. Hamilton County youths ages nine to 19 (in 4th through 12th grade) are invited to attend and learn about dog care and behavior.
"If you have ever wondered what a dog is actually 'saying' with its behavior, you will want to hear Demaree Clay’s presentation," organizers said. "She has studied dog language for the past decade and cataloged 250 signals in 11 sub-categories. As a dog trainer for over 25 years and a counselor in animal behavior for over 15 years, she has worked with more than 2,500 dogs. She presents workshops across the county and has spoken to professional groups such as the Indiana Veterinary Medical Organization and the New Jersey Dog Federation."
The 4-H Companion Animal Project group meets monthly at the UT/TSU Extension – Hamilton County office, and there is no cost to join or to attend meetings. Parents/guardians are welcome to attend meetings, as well. 4-H enrollment is available at the door. There is no cost to join 4-H, and Hamilton County youths in grades fourth through 12th can join 4-H at any time.
Hamilton County youth who are interested in learning about dog behavior and care are encouraged to come to the Aug. 24 seminar. "4-H is open to everyone, and participating in the Companion Animal Project Group is a great way to learn about the opportunities available to youth through 4-H," officials said.
The Companion Animal Project Group is part of the 4-H Citizenship Club and meets once a month at the Extension office, 6183 Adamson Circle (right next door to the Hamilton County Tag & Title office off Bonny Oaks Drive). For more information, call the Extension office at 423-855-6113 or visit the Extension office website at hamilton.tennessee.edu and click on 4-H Youth/4-H Citizenship Club.