|
JUNIORS – WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT!
GETTING STARTED Do you know how to get started in junior showmanship? Well, to start with you must be between the ages of 9 and 18 years. You must have a junior showmanship handling number which you obtain from the American Kennel Club. This number will be with you during the duration of junior handling career. It is the number that identifies you with all of your winning records!Need to know how to find a handling class near you? It is always good to have a place to practice and have someone to help teach you about what you will be doing in the juniors’ ring. At a younger age most juniors don’t have mentors yet. Unless your parents are in the dog show business and even if they are a handling class would be a great place to start. You can find a local all breed club near you and they should hold conformation classes at least once a year. Someone in that club might know an older junior or an aged out junior that can help you as well. It is also good to watch juniors before you start showing in it. This will give you an idea of ring procedures. How to choose a dog for junior showmanship? This part of getting started is crucial. You don’t want to be a little petite young lady and try to show a Great Dane. I know most juniors start with their family breed. But parents need to help the child chose a dog that will work well with the family as well as working with the junior in the ring. A prospective junior , or a junior that is looking for a new dog, should go to a dog show and go to Meet The Breed. Breeders will be telling you all about the breed, as they all have pros and cons of that breed. You can also watch the breed while it is being shown to see if it is a table dog, if you move at a pace of walking, or possibly running. It is a shame because all too often younger juniors have a hard time because they cannot handle the size of dog they have because they are too small for it. Your dog must be of a breed that is allowed to show at an AKC dog show even if it is a miscellaneous breed. The dog is allowed to be neutered or spayed. Ownership of the dog MUST be by the junior, one of their immediate family members, or someone living in their household. Yes, they do check this! Congratulations this month goes out to Vonnie Peterson and all the Clubs during the Cleveland Classic in Cleveland, Ohio as well as all of the volunteers she recruited. They have over 200 juniors entered during the circuit December 10, 2009 – December 13, 2009. Looking ahead for next month we will let you know who was entered in Long Beach, California and how our juniors did!Remember, juniors are the future of our sport! |
|
|