Glossary

Junior showmanship

A show competition for young handlers in which the person, not the dog, is judged on how well they present and handle a dog.

Also called: junior handler, juniors, junior handling, AKC juniors, young handlers

Junior showmanship is a competition for children and teenagers who handle dogs in the ring. The AKC requires handlers to be at least 9 and under 18 on the day of the show. The dog's quality is not judged. The judge scores the handler on skill: how well the dog is stacked, how smoothly the pair moves, and how well the handler follows the pattern and keeps the dog calm.

Dogs used in the class can be any dog the junior owns or borrows, as long as it is eligible to be shown, and may include mixed breeds in some events. Classes group juniors by age and experience, and winners can go on to national finals. The Westminster Kennel Club holds a famous junior event.

Many judges, breeders and handlers started as juniors. It is not required to compete in conformation, but it teaches grooming, handling, ring manners and care of the dog.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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Related terms

Conformation A dog show event in which each purebred dog is judged on how closely its structure and movement match its written breed standard. Stack The standing pose a show dog holds so a judge can see its structure, set by the handler (hand stack) or held by the dog on its own (free stack). Best in Show The top award at an all-breed dog show, given to the dog chosen from the seven group winners as the best example of its breed. Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, held in New York since 1877, is the best-known US conformation show and ends with a Best in Show award.