Showing your dog is a great way to bond! You and your dog will spend lots of time together — grooming, practicing, and finally competing. Dog shows aren’t restricted to adults, either. The American Kennel Club offers lots of opportunities for kids to get involved!
Children between the ages of ten and eighteen are allowed to compete with their peers at certain AKC events as “junior handlers”. Junior handlers are not only judged on their dogs’ conformation to breed standards — they are also judged on how they present their dogs.
To get started as a junior handler, your best bet is to join your local breed, group, or all-breed club. You can learn the basics of a dog conformation show and start grooming and training your dog for competition.
Other things you’ll want to do before your first dog show:
- Make sure your dog is registered with the American Kennel Club.
- Make sure your dog is up to date on all vaccinations.
- Attend some dog shows in your area to see how things work. Pay special attention to your dog’s breed and how the handlers interact with the dogs. Be sure to pick up a program so you’ll know when and where your breed is competing.
- Talk to your breeder about the AKC breed standards.
- Talk to other club members about their dog show experiences.
- Sign up for dog handling classes to learn about grooming and presenting your dog.
After participating in some junior handler shows, you may find that you and your dog are ready for the main show ring! But if dog conformation shows aren’t for you, there are plenty of other ways you and your dog can compete. Look for agility trials, flyball competitions, obedience trials, and more. Spending time training your dog is a great way to build your bond.