Try Junior Showmanship
by Anne H. Bowes
When I began showing dogs in the late sixties, I knew nothing about handling. The best advice I received was to watch good handlers in the ring, especially the Juniors. I took that advice and began my interest in Junior Showmanship, which has continued to this day.
The AKC Regulations for Junior Showmanship state: "The purpose of Junior Showmanship Competition is twofold: to introduce and encourage Juniors to participate in the sport of dogs; and to provide Juniors with a meaningful competition in which they can learn, practice, and improve in all areas of handling skill and sportsmanship."
Junior Showmanship?s main goal is produce the handlers and breeders of the future. It is a vehicle to preserve the growth of our wonderful sport into the next generation. For that reason, it is an extremely important part of dog showing and one that all of us who breed and show dogs should support.
I love to judge Junior Showmanship as I love to be in a ring with excellent handling. Most of the Juniors who exhibit in the Northeast, especially in the Open classes, have fine-tuned their handling to a real art form which is a joy to watch! I try to reward virtue in the Juniors ring just as I do in the breed ring. I look for the handler and dog team who are confidently and smoothly executing the ring routine and are exhibiting sound knowledge of every handling skill I ask of them. Juniors should show their dog just as that breed is shown in the breed ring by the best handlers, amateur or professional, that breed has to offer. I look for Juniors who quietly and expertly handle their dog in a manner fit for its breed rather than those who use a stylized, generic ?Junior Showmanship? type of handling. I am looking for handling that always shows off the dog to the best advantage and keeps the handler in the background and I am looking for that Junior who always knows where I am without watching me and always has his/her dog looking perfect without seeming to touch it. I also reward courtesy and good sportsmanship. This kind of handling takes a great deal of practice, experience and poise.
If possible, Juniors should have experienced dogs to show, especially when they are first starting out. The dog should fit the size and capabilities of the Junior. It is very important for the safety of all Juniors in the ring that each Junior have control of his/her dog at all times. Parents and/or mentors should educate themselves about the purpose and the rules of Junior Showmanship and help their Junior choose a suitable dog. It is sad to see a child in the ring struggling with a dog who is too large or too unruly. It is also sad when I have to excuse a Junior from the ring because his/her dog is in season.
If you are interested in getting into Junior Showmanship competition, I recommend the following:
1. Obtain the AKC Regulations for Junior Showmanship and read them thoroughly. Ask a parent or mentor to read them and discuss them with you. Make sure you both know what to expect before you enter a Junior class.
2. Choose the breed you are going to show carefully. Some breeds lend themselves to Junior Showmanship competition better than others. Make sure the breed suits you in size and temperament.
3. Choose an individual of your breed who has been shown successfully in the breed ring. It is much easier for you to learn handling on a seasoned dog.
4. After you have chosen your breed, watch that breed shown in the breed ring at EVERY show you attend. Note who are the best handlers in that breed and watch every detail of their handling.
5. Find a breeder/handler of your breed who is willing to be your mentor to help you with the fine points of handling that particular breed.
6. Watch the best Junior handlers in the ring. If possible, form a mentor relationship with one of them to help you with the fine points of Junior Handling.
7. Join a handling class and go every week. The more experience you have and the more conformation exhibitors you meet, the better.
8. When you are ready, enter as many Junior Showmanship classes as you can find and afford. It takes many, many trips into the ring to get the experience you need.
9. Set goals for yourself--both short-term and long-term. Every few months, discuss these goals with your parent and/or mentor to see where you are and where you are headed.
10. Most of all, enjoy yourself and your dog. You are participating in one of the best sports on earth! There is a lot to learn and a lot to look forward to.
If any Junior would like to contact me for any further advice on Junior Showmanship, please feel free to do so:
Anne H. Bowes
Box 2141
Duxbury, MA 02331-2141
Tel.: (781) 934-0110
Email: [email protected]
Reprinted with the author's permission.
The AKC Regulations for Junior Showmanship state: "The purpose of Junior Showmanship Competition is twofold: to introduce and encourage Juniors to participate in the sport of dogs; and to provide Juniors with a meaningful competition in which they can learn, practice, and improve in all areas of handling skill and sportsmanship."
Junior Showmanship?s main goal is produce the handlers and breeders of the future. It is a vehicle to preserve the growth of our wonderful sport into the next generation. For that reason, it is an extremely important part of dog showing and one that all of us who breed and show dogs should support.
I love to judge Junior Showmanship as I love to be in a ring with excellent handling. Most of the Juniors who exhibit in the Northeast, especially in the Open classes, have fine-tuned their handling to a real art form which is a joy to watch! I try to reward virtue in the Juniors ring just as I do in the breed ring. I look for the handler and dog team who are confidently and smoothly executing the ring routine and are exhibiting sound knowledge of every handling skill I ask of them. Juniors should show their dog just as that breed is shown in the breed ring by the best handlers, amateur or professional, that breed has to offer. I look for Juniors who quietly and expertly handle their dog in a manner fit for its breed rather than those who use a stylized, generic ?Junior Showmanship? type of handling. I am looking for handling that always shows off the dog to the best advantage and keeps the handler in the background and I am looking for that Junior who always knows where I am without watching me and always has his/her dog looking perfect without seeming to touch it. I also reward courtesy and good sportsmanship. This kind of handling takes a great deal of practice, experience and poise.
If possible, Juniors should have experienced dogs to show, especially when they are first starting out. The dog should fit the size and capabilities of the Junior. It is very important for the safety of all Juniors in the ring that each Junior have control of his/her dog at all times. Parents and/or mentors should educate themselves about the purpose and the rules of Junior Showmanship and help their Junior choose a suitable dog. It is sad to see a child in the ring struggling with a dog who is too large or too unruly. It is also sad when I have to excuse a Junior from the ring because his/her dog is in season.
If you are interested in getting into Junior Showmanship competition, I recommend the following:
1. Obtain the AKC Regulations for Junior Showmanship and read them thoroughly. Ask a parent or mentor to read them and discuss them with you. Make sure you both know what to expect before you enter a Junior class.
2. Choose the breed you are going to show carefully. Some breeds lend themselves to Junior Showmanship competition better than others. Make sure the breed suits you in size and temperament.
3. Choose an individual of your breed who has been shown successfully in the breed ring. It is much easier for you to learn handling on a seasoned dog.
4. After you have chosen your breed, watch that breed shown in the breed ring at EVERY show you attend. Note who are the best handlers in that breed and watch every detail of their handling.
5. Find a breeder/handler of your breed who is willing to be your mentor to help you with the fine points of handling that particular breed.
6. Watch the best Junior handlers in the ring. If possible, form a mentor relationship with one of them to help you with the fine points of Junior Handling.
7. Join a handling class and go every week. The more experience you have and the more conformation exhibitors you meet, the better.
8. When you are ready, enter as many Junior Showmanship classes as you can find and afford. It takes many, many trips into the ring to get the experience you need.
9. Set goals for yourself--both short-term and long-term. Every few months, discuss these goals with your parent and/or mentor to see where you are and where you are headed.
10. Most of all, enjoy yourself and your dog. You are participating in one of the best sports on earth! There is a lot to learn and a lot to look forward to.
If any Junior would like to contact me for any further advice on Junior Showmanship, please feel free to do so:
Anne H. Bowes
Box 2141
Duxbury, MA 02331-2141
Tel.: (781) 934-0110
Email: [email protected]
Reprinted with the author's permission.
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Article Posted: Archive post from old website - posted to new website April 2015
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