General information
The aim in organizing junior handler competitions is to increase the level of interest among young people towards dog sports; and to promote and further develop the co-operation between dogs and children. Junior handler competitions are a nice hobby for all young people interested in dogs and dog shows.
How to participate
Children
Everyone older than ten years but still under eighteen can enter junior handler competitions. There are two different classes: 1.) children between 10 - 13 and 2.) children between 14 - 17.
Dogs
All dogs that enter a competition need to be registered by the country's kennel organization officially recognized by the FCI. All dogs entered need to be healthy and of stable temperament, no dogs owned by the judge are allowed to compete. The competitors need not handle their own dogs but can borrow somebody else's dog. The breed of the dog has no relevance, neither does the dog be a top specimen.
Entering a competition
Junior handler competitions are organized in conjunction with nearly all larger dog shows.You can enter them according to the instructions issued by the show committee and by filling in an official registration form published by the Finnish Kennel Club. The registration fee is normally around 60 FIM.
The Competition
Junior handler competitions usually follow the normal outline of dog shows, as the main interest lies on who masters the handling of his or her dog the best. First the judge will evaluate the youngest competitors. They all enter the ring together and the judge will form a general view of the competing couples - both handlers and dogs. After that all handlers come one at a time up to the judge to present their dog. It will depend on the judge how he wishes the dogs to be presented on the move. However, usually the dog is first examined on the table after which the dog is moved to and front and then in a circle or triangle.
The judge is constantly making observations of the team work between dog and handler: on how the handler reacts to unexpcted situations and how he or she treats the dog. It is important that the young handler should present the dog in a way most characteristic to the breed: excessively showlike handling is a clear disadvantage. It is naturally a clear advantage, however, if the couple behave spritely and energetically.
The judge will then choose five couples, the winner of which will continue to compete against the winner of the other group of older competitors. At this stage the judge may want to see how the competitors succeed in handling also other breeds. This is usually when the lack of experience from handling also other breeds becomes apparent. This is why handling dogs of different breeds is essential.
An appropriate dress is also something that each contestant should pay attention to, even though it should not become an end in itself. Junior handler competitors should wear a smart outfit that does not restrain even brisk moving about. The colours should not be too glearing, but they should rather match the colours of the dog as far as possible. Still, the handler should never outshine the dog but only act as a suitable backdrop or frame for the well-conducting dog.
Finnish championship competitions
Each year in conjunction with the district championship competitions, the various kennel districts (in Finnish 'kennelpiiri') organize a qualification trial for the Finnish championship finals. The winners of these competitions will be able to participate in the Finnish championship competition held at the annual international dog show organized at the Helsinki fair centre. The winner of this championship competition will be given an opportunity to go on to the world championship competition the following year.
Finnish junior handlers are generally regarded as highly competent even though we do not have here a similar junior handler culture as, for example, the Americans do. One Finnish junior handler even managed to win the world championship competition.
Basenjis in junior handler competitions
Basenjis are an excellent alternative as junior handler dogs as they are elegant in the ring and therefore compete on an equal basis with other more usual junior handler breeds, like terriers and greyhounds. When competing with a basenji, however, the handler should keep it in mind that basenjis have strong minds of their own and that they are very independent. These two factors combined with a surprisingly great muscle power can make them not always so easy to manipulate.