N E B K C 

Junior handling 

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Junior Showmanship, also called Junior Handling is a sport for young people (called "Juniors") in which they exhibit their dog handling skills in an event similar to a conformation dog show. Unlike a conformation show, it is the young handlers who are judged, not their dogs.

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1 HISTORY SUMMARY

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The first dog handling competition for children at a formal dog show was held in 1932 at the Westbury Kennel Club Show in Long Island, New York, in the United States. In 1933 the Westminster Kennel Club in New York offered a children's handling class, and prizes were established in the names of early promoters of children's events, Leonard Brumby, Sr, and George F. Foley.

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2 PURPOSE​

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Learning sportsmanship and developing knowledge of the dog are given as the purpose for Junior Showmanship (Junior Handling). The Junior learns sportsmanship, ring procedures, and grooming and showing techniques specific to the dog he or she is showing, and develops a close bond with the dog. Junior Showmanship can also be an apprenticeship in dog handling, preparing young people for careers in dog handling, raising, judging, and training.

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3 ELIGIBILITY JUNIOR HANDLER 

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AGE CATEGORIES

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5-9      CLASS (A) Young juniors

9-13    CLASS (B) Preadolescent juniors

13-17  CLASS (C) Adolescent juniors 

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Children as young as 5 years and young people up to 17 years may compete with their dogs. Competition is by age group, in various classification levels. 

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4 EGILIBILITY OF THE DOG 

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a) The dog must be trained and adapted in size to the junior handler (for young juniors)

b) The dog showed must be a family dog or known by the handler 

c) he can be of any breed or in some cases, mixed breed

d) neutered / spayed dogs are admitted

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5 NATURE OF THE COMPETITION

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The Junior Showmanship competition is organized in a similar manner to a conformation dog show. The Juniors are separated into their age and experience levels, and enter the ring in order of the size of their dog.

 

The juniors must move their dogs around the ring according to the instructions of the judge in pre determined patterns. The judge notes whether or not the Junior follows instructions correctly and presents the dog properly according to the dog's breed or type. Dogs are examined as in a conformation show, but the emphasis is on how the Junior interacts with the dog and the judge, not on the quality of the dog.

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At the basic or novice level, children are judged on how well they follow the judge's instructions, their understanding of ring procedure and of the standard of the breed or type of dog they are showing. The juniors may be quizzed or questioned by the judge for basic knowledge (Class C 13-17 years). To learn more, please visit our "Cynologic Glossary" page, sub-menu on INFO.

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In close competition between advanced Juniors, judging is also based on the Junior's knowledge of his or her dog's faults, and how well they disguise the faults through skillful handling so that "what a judge observes are animals at the top of their form. To learn more about the standard and faults, please visit the standard page of the presented dog. 

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6 SHOW EXERCISES 

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a) Stacking and quiz (individually)

b) circle at trot pace (indiviually & in group)

b) 10 m (33 feet) path (indiviually & in group)

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