Todays Fair Highlights
2-5 p.m.: On the midway: "Buy One-Get One" Two people ride for the price of one from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
5-10 p.m.: On the midway, "Ride into the night" Unlimited Ride Wristband (Wristbands go on sale at 5 p.m. and sales stop at 10 p.m.) $15 per person
6 p.m.: Badger State Tractor Pullers at the grandstand, free
MONROE - Two things can make or break the winner in the 4-H Dog Obedience classes: The canine's personality and the nature of the breed.
Susanna Rupp, 15, New Glarus, was walking off some of Oliver's extra energy before his competition Wednesday at the Green County Fair.
"He's excited today, because of all the new smells and people, more cars," Rupp explained.
Oliver, a 7-year-old Golden Retriever, has been a winner in two previous Pre-Novice competitions. This was his fourth year in competition, and he had moved up to Novice Class. But even old Oliver had trouble paying attention during his about-faces.
"Staying is the hardest," Rupp said. "It depends if something runs by, (like) anything that he sees that he likes, from bugs to people."
A novice is required to heel off-leash, as well as perform all the other obedience requirements of Pre-novices, such as heeling and figure 8, sitting and down-stays.
Oliver placed top in his class. But even if he didn't win, he still would have been treated to a hamburger or a hot dog, just for this one time a year, Rupp said.
Pierre, a 5-year-old black poodle, is in his second year of training. Rescued from neglect and spending the first three years of his life alone in a barn, Pierre has overcome great obstacles to take first-white place this year in the Pre-novice B class. Last year he placed first-red in Pre-novice A.
His handler, Whitney Disch, 13, Monroe, was pleased with Pierre's performance Wednesday.
"He did really well. He was best at staying right next to me," she said.
"It took us one month to get him to run in general, when we first got him, because he was so scared. He's afraid of almost anything, except Mom," she added.
Pierre sat up during his down-stay, which Disch said he would have done perfectly at home.
"He looked over here and must have seen something that distracted him," she said
Also in the Pre-novice B class were Casey Kehoe, 11, Monroe, and his 3-year-old Great Dane, Elwood, by far the largest dog in Wednesday's show. Elwood stands about 3 feet high at the shoulders and weighs about 135 pounds.
Elwood took second-white this year. It was his third year at the fair, when he has placed third and fourth.
Kehoe said it is not hard to train Elwood; he does not use treats and does not train every day.
"He's not rambunctious," Kehoe said.
Elwood is best at the "sit" and "down" commands, Kehoe said. And, indeed, Elwood chose to lie down during his one-minute Sit-Stay command, but the three-minute Down-Stay was not a problem.
"It was hardest for him to stand for exam, and he didn't stay where I wanted," Kehoe said.
Distracted at times by the people in the stands, Elwood "just wanted to say hi," he added.
Elwood did well with his heeling and figure 8s; however, he looked like a small pony being led around two people.
Elwood and Pierre were beat out in the Pre-Novice B Class, by Siren. The first-blue, sleepy-eyed Beagle was handled by Abby Bethke, 10, Juda. Perhaps routine obedience just didn't excite him; Siren also was entered in the agility and showmanship competitions.
Belle, named for the bell-shaped spots on her muzzle, was perhaps the smallest dog competing Wednesday. The four-pound, black-and-white Papillon was vying for a place in the Pre-novice A class. Only 2 years old, Belle claimed a first-red for her handler Kalley Jo Crouch, 9, Monticello.
Crouch said she has been training Belle "ever since I hooked her up for the fair - about six weeks ago."
"Little dogs are really smart," Crouch said.
Crouch doesn't have to use treats to train. Belle is "good, she minds, and she loves everybody," she said.
Belle did well in competition, despite distractions, according to Crouch.
"She was working in a big crowd and sitting automatically. Car horns distract her, and any dog that gets close to her," she said.
Pleased with Belle's first time in competition, Crouch said it wouldn't have mattered if she didn't place as high.
"The only thing that matters is that we're together," she said.
Susanna Rupp, 15, New Glarus, was walking off some of Oliver's extra energy before his competition Wednesday at the Green County Fair.
"He's excited today, because of all the new smells and people, more cars," Rupp explained.
Oliver, a 7-year-old Golden Retriever, has been a winner in two previous Pre-Novice competitions. This was his fourth year in competition, and he had moved up to Novice Class. But even old Oliver had trouble paying attention during his about-faces.
"Staying is the hardest," Rupp said. "It depends if something runs by, (like) anything that he sees that he likes, from bugs to people."
A novice is required to heel off-leash, as well as perform all the other obedience requirements of Pre-novices, such as heeling and figure 8, sitting and down-stays.
Oliver placed top in his class. But even if he didn't win, he still would have been treated to a hamburger or a hot dog, just for this one time a year, Rupp said.
Pierre, a 5-year-old black poodle, is in his second year of training. Rescued from neglect and spending the first three years of his life alone in a barn, Pierre has overcome great obstacles to take first-white place this year in the Pre-novice B class. Last year he placed first-red in Pre-novice A.
His handler, Whitney Disch, 13, Monroe, was pleased with Pierre's performance Wednesday.
"He did really well. He was best at staying right next to me," she said.
"It took us one month to get him to run in general, when we first got him, because he was so scared. He's afraid of almost anything, except Mom," she added.
Pierre sat up during his down-stay, which Disch said he would have done perfectly at home.
"He looked over here and must have seen something that distracted him," she said
Also in the Pre-novice B class were Casey Kehoe, 11, Monroe, and his 3-year-old Great Dane, Elwood, by far the largest dog in Wednesday's show. Elwood stands about 3 feet high at the shoulders and weighs about 135 pounds.
Elwood took second-white this year. It was his third year at the fair, when he has placed third and fourth.
Kehoe said it is not hard to train Elwood; he does not use treats and does not train every day.
"He's not rambunctious," Kehoe said.
Elwood is best at the "sit" and "down" commands, Kehoe said. And, indeed, Elwood chose to lie down during his one-minute Sit-Stay command, but the three-minute Down-Stay was not a problem.
"It was hardest for him to stand for exam, and he didn't stay where I wanted," Kehoe said.
Distracted at times by the people in the stands, Elwood "just wanted to say hi," he added.
Elwood did well with his heeling and figure 8s; however, he looked like a small pony being led around two people.
Elwood and Pierre were beat out in the Pre-Novice B Class, by Siren. The first-blue, sleepy-eyed Beagle was handled by Abby Bethke, 10, Juda. Perhaps routine obedience just didn't excite him; Siren also was entered in the agility and showmanship competitions.
Belle, named for the bell-shaped spots on her muzzle, was perhaps the smallest dog competing Wednesday. The four-pound, black-and-white Papillon was vying for a place in the Pre-novice A class. Only 2 years old, Belle claimed a first-red for her handler Kalley Jo Crouch, 9, Monticello.
Crouch said she has been training Belle "ever since I hooked her up for the fair - about six weeks ago."
"Little dogs are really smart," Crouch said.
Crouch doesn't have to use treats to train. Belle is "good, she minds, and she loves everybody," she said.
Belle did well in competition, despite distractions, according to Crouch.
"She was working in a big crowd and sitting automatically. Car horns distract her, and any dog that gets close to her," she said.
Pleased with Belle's first time in competition, Crouch said it wouldn't have mattered if she didn't place as high.
"The only thing that matters is that we're together," she said.