Speculation and theories abound about the future of purebred dog sports and breeding. Our dog-related world is being turned upside down by events that seem mostly beyond our control. Criticism by animal activists has been leveled at purebred dogs and their breeders since the 1960s. The loss of stature that excellent breeders have experienced in the court of public opinion has been exponential. Just a little over twenty years ago in 1992, annual AKC registration figures hit their peak number of 1,528,392 dogs. By 2010, the number of annual registrations had plummeted to roughly a third that level at 563,611 dogs. We have weathered “the Great Recession” and the boomers are aging out of dog sports at an ever increasing rate.
With all of threats to our sport and concern about its continuance, it would seem logical that support for the youth already involved in our sport would be blossoming everywhere; yet for some reason, that does not seem to be the case. Everyone can be a part of supporting our juniors. Here are some suggestions.
Sometimes, the simplest kindness has a huge effect. When a youngster (or any newbie) comes out of the ring, take a moment to let them know that you were paying attention. Compliment them. Tell them you hope to see them again. If your breed has a youngster that is also showing in Junior Showmanship or a performance event, make a point of going to watch them. Let them know you are actively supporting them. If you are not a parent or coach, do not offer “constructive criticism”. While people mean well by offering suggestions, remember that no one likes to come out of the ring to be greeted with a laundry list of what they did wrong. There is time enough for that later when the emotions of the competition are not so fresh. If you must comment, filter your suggestions through a parent or coach and get their blessing before you share. Youngsters are all different and each has their own challenges. What may seem straight forward and positive to you, may not be perceived that way depending on that young person’s background or current situation. While attending one of my nieces soccer games, my brother hushed my commentary by pointing out the shirts the coaches were wearing. They said, “Kids play. I coach. You cheer.” You cheer. We need more cheering at the dog show!
I don’t have children. Between my three siblings, I have thirteen nieces and nephews, so I often end up as a sounding board. Raising children is really challenging. And like breeding dogs, the more seriously you take your responsibilities, the harder it is. So when you find a family that you enjoy and want to support, great! Develop a relationship with the parents and coaches of the child that includes their approval of your offers of assistance. Many children in our sport LOVE showing dogs. When you ask a youngster to cover the winners dog or bitch in Best of Breed or show a young pup, you provide them another opportunity to practice their skills and affirm your faith in their abilities. Co-owning a retired special for Junior Showmanship and companion events competitions can be a huge boon to a family trying mightily to give their children every opportunity. Some families might want to take the dog into their own home for full-time companionship for the youngster. Others might prefer that you continue to keep the dog and just bring it along to the show. We all know those old veterans that HATE being left behind. Whatever arrangement you come to, a child can reap the benefits of your willingness to share.
Another avenue for support for our young people is through the clubs. Make sure that all your clubs offer Junior Showmanship. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard, “Well, it’s just too much trouble.” You need to fill in the space on the event application or the box on the computer. You need a judge. If you are organizing a specialty and the breed judge does not do juniors, you can ask a juniors-only judge or ask a sweepstakes judge who is licensed for juniors. A list of Registered Professional Handlers with approval to judge junior showmanship is also available on the AKC website. For an all breed show, put some thought into who will be your Junior Showmanship judge. Be sure that the judge you assign to Junior Showmanship enjoys working with the kids, has a pleasant demeanor and gives clear instructions. After that, you need a handful of ribbons and a gift card for a prize. Appreciate and patronize vendors who offer gift certificates and photographers who offer pictures for the junior handlers.
Another reason I have heard for not offering Junior Showmanship is, “The kids should be in school”. It is not a show chairs job to parent all the children who might be attending a show. My parents insisted that we maintain excellent grades if we wanted to participate in dog sports. When attendance at a particular show was deemed important enough to miss school, work was done in advance and homework brought to the show and completed during down time or evenings. Many of the teachers and administrators at our high school heartily approved of our extra-curricular activities. Some children are home schooled which gives both them and their parents more flexibility for getting the academic work done. In our family, dog show travel enhances home schooling with opportunities to visit new places including museums, national parks, aquaria, libraries and other historically significant venues. Few schools have the resources to teach responsibility, preparation, good sportsmanship, fair competition and the ability to win and lose with grace as well as the dog show.
Clubs that are fully engaged and committed to supporting our youngsters often demonstrate that commitment in the form of a scholarship program. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America has a lovely program including a $500 scholarship for the Best Junior Handler at the national and stipends for youngsters qualifying for and showing a Doberman Pinscher at the AKC/Eukanuba Dog Show and/or Westminster Kennel club. Richland Kennel Club in Washington has a huge raffle at their shows which supports scholarship offerings of $200 for the winners of Open Junior, Open Intermediate, Open Senior and Masters classes, as well as an additional $300 to the Best Junior Handler. Nice job!
The American Kennel Club has offered scholarships to youngsters who have participated in AKC dog sports over many years. The program began in 1996. The following excerpt from the write up for the 2000 Junior Scholarship Recipients accurately describes the importance of this program. “Most importantly they recognize and verbalize how important it is to be or become responsible purebred dog breeders,” Ms. Laurans told the delegates. “They have been involved with programs in their communities that represent the attributes of our dogs and the important of responsible dog ownership. These young people are the hope for the future of our sport.” Ms. Laurans has asked AKC’s Board to increase its Juniors Scholarship funding noting that”… monies devoted to this program will be spent on these goodwill ambassadors for our sport for the future, who will contribute positively to the future of our sport, purebred dogs and the American Kennel Club,” she concluded.
The AKC Junior Showmanship Scholarship Program awarded a maximum of 58 scholarships in 2005, with the number of recipients steadily declining to just 19 in 2013. Sadly, it appears that this valuable program has been discontinued in 2014. While it is true that the AKC Humane Fund has a scholarship program founded in 2012, this particular fund is not specific to youngsters who have participated in AKC dog sports. Scholarships to students already attending accredited veterinary schools have also been awarded in the recent past. Like so many individuals, the American Kennel Club also is dealing with more limited resources. Still, I wonder if it is not penny-wise, but pound-foolish to discontinue scholarships for youngsters who have been, and probably will continue to be, the heart and soul of our sport. The AKC has learned that the hardcore fanciers of the sport will support worthy funds. The Humane Fund is a good example. So is the AKC Canine Health Foundation. Perhaps the formation of an AKC Juniors Scholarship Fund for young people who compete in AKC sponsored competitions including junior showmanship, breed and performance or companion events could be used to fund scholarships for “our” kids. Think about it. Discuss it with your clubs and share the idea around. Charity begins at home. Let’s take care of our own.
