Child's Play
by Marni

Hello, I am 15 years old and in Open Senior in Jr. Showmanship competition. The reason Jr. Showmanship is done is to provide a good showing experience for children and to participate in the sport of showing dogs.

Jr. Showmanship is an AKC event put on at most AKC shows. It is for children ages of at least ten to under 18. There are two different classes open and novice. There are four different age groups: Novice Junior, Novice Senior, Open Junior and Open Senior. You have to qualify to be in Open. Once you get three first place wins in Novice you may move up to be in Open Junior or Senior. After winning whichever class you are in, you go back into the ring for Best Junior Competition. There also is a class called a "limited class" which means that a Jr. Handler must have achieved a certain number of wins (Example: Westminister needs eight wins to attend). Jr. Showmanship is judged solely on the Jr. Showman's handling ability and is a non-regular class. Jr. Handlers get different color ribbons than in breed competition. We get Pink for first, Brown for second, Light Green for third and Gray for forth.

Any dog eligible for any performance event may compete in Jr. Handling with a Jr. Showman. A substitution of the dog showing may be made thirty minutes prior to ring time. To show the dog, the child must be related Mother, Brother, Sister, Aunt, Uncle, or any half or step relation owning the dog. In the dog show catalog such information shall include the Jr. Handler Number, Jr. Handler's Name, dog's birth date, dog's name, dog's registration number, dog's date of birth, breeder, sire, dam, owner, breed and number in class if applicable.

There is also a pink and green ribbon for the best Jr. Handler in show (otherwise known as BJH). Judges must complete two of six to be an AKC, Jr. Showman judge. The requirements are: having been the parent of a Jr., been a Jr., been a professional handler, taught an all breed handling class, judged an AKC match three times and attending a Jr. Showmanship seminar in the past three months.

The actual judging routine will vary from the judge. Generally the judge will evaluate in an appropriate and consistent matter. Dog show patterns are most commonly used in Jr. Show (L. Pattern, Triangle and Down and back, occasionally a T in BJH competition). In, Jr. Handling most Jr. Showman should look suitably dressed and have their dog groomed and trimmed in the matter associated with the breed.

I hope this has provided you with a good idea of how Jr. Showmanship works and what a fun time it is to show. We learn so much about different breeds and make so many great friends.

Marni