The official newsletter of the AKC Junior Organization | June 2016

A Message from Mari-Beth O'Neill

AKC is pleased to be able to award the AKC Junior Scholarship for the 2016-2017 school year totaling $25,000. The activities and varied success of the applicants is quite impressive. The criteria for applications for the future will be revised to require membership in a club as well as providing documentation that you have assisted the club either at an AKC Event or Public Education Event held in the community. Documentation will be a statement from a club officer. Please see the list of Junior Scholarship Recipients.

Reminder: The criteria for the Masters Class is 10 Best Juniors with competition, it is required that you move to the Masters Class once you meet this criteria.

Junior Ranking System
The AKC Board of Directors approved a new program for Juniors that will provide a Ranking System for Juniors participating in AKC Events. It is hoped that this will incent Juniors to participate in additional events with your dog. Points will be awarded for participation, placements, handling your dog to qualifying scores and High in Trial. The program will require you to submit your Junior number on the entry and results will be submitted to AKC for tracking participation and success. This program will go into effect next Spring, additional details will be provided.

AKC Veterinary Scholarships
AKC has awarded 8 Veterinary Scholarships totaling $25,000. Criteria for application included participation in AKC events or with purebred dogs, academic achievement and willingness to be an AKC Ambassador within the Veterinary community. Two of this year’s recipients started their involvement in purebred dogs by competing in AKC Junior Showmanship. Jacqueline Fera, Siberian Huskies, is attending the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and Maxie Bowen, Golden Retrievers, attending the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. The complete list of recipients is:
Jacqueline Fera, University of Pennsylvania
Caitlin Bowen, University of Florida
Katherine Fernhoff, UC Davis
Amanda Fisk, University of Florida
Alyssa Helms, University of Tennessee
Jodie Joseph, Cornell University
Rebekah Mayhew, University of Wisconsin
Ethan McEnroe, UC Davis
Samantha Perry, VA-MD Regional College of Vet Medicine

Training Your Dog in Junior Showmanship

By Samantha Van Buren
Like many young people who have become involved in dog showing, I first heard about it from others. In my case, I learned a lot about it when I was in sixth grade and did a project for one of my teachers, who enjoyed raising and showing dogs. That’s when I knew that it was what I wanted to do, and my teacher gave me guidance on how to get involved. Training is important, because it’s about training both the handler and the dog. It requires focus and consistency, and is a productive way to develop a bond of love and respect with your dog, while having fun.

Juniors at Westminster 2016

Save the Date: Juniors Time to Shine

The Juniors Time to Shine AKC B Match will be held Saturday, June 18 at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall in Tampa. The event is designed to showcase the talents of Juniors Exhibitors ages 8-18.

Judge's Comment

By Christine Engelsman-Schaberg
It was an honor and pleasure to judge the 2015 Eukanuba Junior Showmanship Preliminaries. There was an incredible amount of talent in the Junior ring and they all brought their A-game which didn't make my decisions easy. When you have an amazing group there are many variables that require consideration to narrow down to six top contenders.

A few of the areas which I pay close attention to are: smooth hands during a stack, properly showing the bite, strong rapport with their dog, skillful presentation, controlled gaiting with the ability to let the dog shine and for you as a handler to fall into the background. Although the group was very strong, there were a few areas which I felt could be improved upon.

First, make sure there is appropriate room when gaiting so you don't run up on the person in front of you. Second, take a moment to make sure your dog is ready to gait when asked. This is your time to make him/her shine so try not to rush through this opportunity. Third, when you are showing in a junior competition and are asked to organize by size, pay close attention to how many multiples there are of the breed you are showing. If there are multiples, try to position you and your dog so that there is a different breed in between those of the same. In doing this spacing, as a handler you create a break in how a judge might evaluate handling methods for the same breed. Lastly, ensure that you are listening to instructions and if something was unclear or didn't make sense, feel free to ask for clarification. It is to your benefit to ask a question over doing the wrong thing in the ring.

But even with these tips and observations, the most important advice I can give to any Junior is to just relax, enjoy and have fun with your dog!

Junior Showmaship Rule Updates

The Juniors department is taking this opportunity to notify Juniors of recent changes approved by the Board of Directors that will impact you.

Summer Internship Opportunity

The AKC Marketing Department is looking for a Summer Intern. Please see the link below for additional information:

Mikey Borga

Mikey Borga is 17 years old and lives in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Mikey will be competing in the Junior Category with his 9-year old Standard Poodle named Kasha. Mikey is no stranger to competition. He has been competing for three years and has earned three MACHs. This team won the 24 inch class at the 2014 Junior Invitational and also placed 5th at the 2015 Westminster Kennel Club trial.

Mikey is most looking forward to the actual competition at the 2016 European Open. 

Claire O'Neil

Claire O'Neil is 15 years old and lives in Carmichael, CA. Claire has competed at the European Open Junior Championships (EOJ) for the last three years. She will definitely be a very valuable team mentor. Claire will be competing with two dogs this year, Ama her 6-year old Keeshond and Rex, a 4-year old Border Collie that she co-owns with Susan Cochran, Team Coach. Claire has been competing with Ama for three years. This team made the podium last year in Individual Children earning a Bronze Medal. She has been competing with Rex for about a year, but has to share him with Susan. Claire will be in the Junior category this year at the EOJ.

Claire is most of all looking forward to sharing this experience with her teammates and creating memories with them. She also is looking forward to seeing her friends from Germany, Switzerland, and Finland! Best of luck to Claire and her two lucky dogs, Ama and Rex.

Tessa Winialski

Tessa Winialski is 17 years old and lives in Marstons Mills, MA. Tessa runs Zippy, a 4-year old Shetland Sheepdog. Tessa and Zippy will be competing in the Junior category at the EOJ. Tessa has been competing in the sport of agility since she was 9 years old. She recently has “procured” Zippy from her Mom and is now competing with him. Competing on the International level has been a goal of Tessa’s and she will meet this goal next month in the Czech Republic.

Tessa is most looking forward to meeting and competing on international courses with other Junior handlers who love the sport of dog agility. Good luck to Tessa and her Sheltie, Zippy.

Rebecca Jernigan

Rebecca Jernigan is 18 years old and lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Rebecca runs Clairissa (Claire), a 3-year old Australian Shepherd. She and Claire have been competing together for about two years. Rebecca compares running Claire to a very fast bullet train, making distance work one of her favorite skills. Rebecca and Claire will be competing in the Junior category at the Junior European Open.

Rebecca is looking forward to hearing people speaking different languages, meeting others, and not being in a desert! Good luck to Rebecca and her Aussie, Claire.

Kai Macauley

Kai Macauley is 9 years old and lives in Lorton, VA. Kai will be representing the USA in the Children’s category at the EOJ. Kai runs a 3-year old Border Collie named Stitch. Kai has been competing with Stich for a little under a year and attended the AKC Junior Nationals with her this year. Stitch will be the lucky dog to attend the EOJ with Kai though.

Kai is looking forward to having fun with Stitch in Europe, after all he describes Stitch as “Amazing”! Good luck to Kai and his Border Collie, Stitch.

Morgan Orsolini

Morgan Orsolini is 17 years old and lives in Lafayette, CA. Morgan competes with her 2-year old Border Collie, Tyme. They have been competing together for a little under a year. Morgan has been training and handling dogs since she was 11 years old and Tyme is her second agility dog. Her first agility dog was a Brittany. Morgan describes Tyme as enthusiastic and herself as ambitious, which make for a perfect team.

Morgan is looking forward to making lifetime memories and experiencing fun courses with Tyme. Good Luck to Morgan and Tyme.

Gabi Loesch

Gabi Loesch is 14 years old and lives in Snohomish, WA. Gabi will be competing in the Children category with her 7-year old Beagle, Ruby. Gabi and Ruby are veterans as they have been competing together for the past five years. Gabi has trained Ruby since she was a wee pup. She has been training Ruby at 18 inches for quite a while in preparation for the chance to compete internationally, which she will do in July on Team USA.

Gabi is most looking forward to the adventure of traveling with Ruby and bonding with her more. She is also looking forward to representing the USA and meeting other juniors who do agility competitively. Good Luck Gabi and Ruby!