Junior Showmanship

Most all-breed and specialty dog shows offer competition classes for Junior showmanship. This allows young dog lovers to compete in the ring which measures the handlers’ skills-not the dog’s qualities. Besides being fun, it affords the young exhibitor many life lessons in discipline, sportsmanship and teamwork through working with their dog.

Junior showmanship is open to exhibitors between the ages of 10 and 18. A junior handler can only exhibit dogs owned by the junior handler, or his or her father, mother, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, grandfather or grandmother, including the step- and half- relations; or by a member of the junior handler’s household.


For more information:

Junior Showmanship” – American Kennel Club

Junior Showmanship – A Brochure for Parents” – Collie Club of America