Junior Showmanship, Explained
The Road to Westminster Often Starts Here
BY JESSICA BRAATZ
When you think of The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, what comes to mind? Perhaps it’s the iconic Madison Square Garden setting, with the Green Carpet and spotlights. Maybe it’s the thrill of your favorite breed making an appearance or a fond memory of a champion from the show’s history. Or it could also be something simple—like gathering with family and friends around the TV to watch the events unfold.
For many, myself included, watching the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a beloved annual tradition stretching back to childhood, but one enjoyed from afar. Growing up, I had no idea that many of the individuals I saw on screen were professional dog handlers or that their families had been involved in the sport for generations. Then again, I also didn’t realize that many handlers weren’t born into the sport at all. Instead, they found their way to it, discovering that dog shows offer something special to everyone, regardless of background, age, or experience.
Some of those handlers even started when they were children, in a lesser-known competition called Junior Showmanship. It was through Junior Showmanship that I found my place in the sport as a nine-year-old with an exuberant Chesapeake Bay Retriever, opening endless doors and leading to some of the best moments of my life—moments I never thought possible. If you or your family have ever wondered whether dog shows might be for you, they are. And Junior Showmanship may be the perfect way to get your feet wet.
“To show at Westminster is an honor. It means you have the
dedication, commitment, and drive to chase your dreams.”
- Kristen O’Brien, WKC Best Junior Handler 2014
JUNIOR SHOWMANSHIP 101
Even if you’ve been watching The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on TV for years, the phrase “Junior Showmanship” may still be unfamiliar. At its core, Junior Showmanship is very similar to the typical Conformation events you’re used to seeing. Participants train, groom, and exhibit their dogs with professional-level polish. The defining difference, however, is that all participants of Junior Showmanship are between the ages of nine and 18, and it is the handlers—not the dogs—being judged. Junior Showmanship competition at a typical dog show is divided by age group and skill level, from Novice all the way to Master. Each class is judged individually and placed First through Fourth, and then each class winner competes for the title of “Best Junior Handler.” There is a new winner each day at each dog show.
The judges for this competition undergo separate training and focus on safety, education, and encouragement when appraising the next generation of dog handlers. Most are experienced professional handlers, breeders, or all-breed judges. Each junior handler has their own goals and aspirations, but for many, the ultimate one is to receive a “golden ticket” invitation to compete in the Limited Junior Showmanship competition at The Westminster Kennel Club.
“Walking onto the green carpet was a surreal experience. I was overwhelmed by an incredible sense of joy and shock, which was hard to comprehend at that moment. I felt that I had won not just for myself, but also for everyone who had helped me reach that point in my career”
- Erin Bernecker, WKC Best Junior 2022
JUNIOR SHOWMANSHIP AT WESTMINSTER
Junior Showmanship was introduced to The Westminster Kennel Club show in 1934. Since then, the competition has maintained its status as the most prestigious Junior Showmanship event in the United States, with the country’s most talented juniors vying for the title of “Best Junior Handler.” To receive a coveted invitation, each junior must first win seven Best Junior Handler awards at qualifying events within a 12-month period. Unlike these qualifying events, Westminster takes a different approach—all participants compete in the same class, as all have earned their rightful spot in the prestigious Junior Showmanship Preliminaries.
Two judges preside over the preliminaries, and each selects four finalists to advance to Junior Showmanship Finals. From there, the eight talented finalists compete for the title of “Best Junior Handler” and runner-up placements First through Fourth. On the line isn’t just bragging rights, either; In today’s competitions , more than $20,000 in scholarships are awarded.
Winning Best Junior Handler—or even placing at all —represents a significant milestone, elevating junior handlers into an exclusive group whose accomplishments are deeply intertwined with the sport’s history. Alumni of Westminster’s Junior Showmanship competition have gone on to carve out illustrious professional handling careers, with many claiming Best in Show titles at The Westminster Kennel Club . Others have campaigned some of the highest-ranking dogs in the country, earned coveted all-breed awards, and even become Junior Showmanship judges themselves, continuing to shape the future of the sport. In fact, the 2025 Junior Showmanship Finals judge, Mrs. Elizabeth Jordan-Nelson, won Best Junior Handler in 2001.
“Junior Showmanship provided a space to grow my handling and grooming abilities, as I showed several different breeds in those 8 years. With dedication, hard work, and constructive criticism during that time, I gained a skill set to understand the dogs as individuals, how to care for them, and developed relationships within the sport, all of which have supported me to this day."
- Angela Lloyd, WKC Best Junior 1998; WKC Best In Show 2011
WHY JUNIOR SHOWMANSHIP?
At its core, the competition evaluates each junior’s connection with their dogs and their grooming, conditioning, and handling skills. Each handler aims to present their dog to the best of their abilities, highlighting the dog’s positive attributes without unnecessary distraction, such as grandstanding or fidgeting. But the handlers’ brief time in the ring is only a small part of a bigger picture. Success at the show requires hundreds of hours of preparation, but junior handlers do not balk at this hefty challenge. Instead, they rise to the occasion, often training their dogs since puppies and growing together as a team in both skill and age. To learn breed-specific handling and grooming techniques, many spend hours observing the most seasoned breeders and handlers, often working as apprentices to them. Others, meanwhile, take on the adventure of showing dogs they haven’t known for long, developing on-the-spot handling abilities.
Beyond the ring, junior handlers develop lifelong friendships, teamwork skills, and learn how to win and lose graciously—all skills that have applications for personal and professional pursuits outside this industry. While the competition offers plenty of fun and glory, Junior Showmanship’s true purpose is to foster a lifetime love of dog sports, thus creating a flourishing next generation of fanciers. Along the way, though, competitors become friends, judges and more senior dog handlers become mentors, and those who do not win ribbons still walk away with rewards that last a lifetime.
“Junior Showmanship allowed me to be competitive but also taught me how to lose with grace. I would argue that losing in Juniors taught me far more than winning ever did. Falling down and getting back up is what makes us strong. That is how we learn to do better, make changes, and perfect our craft. I have competed at Westminster in Junior Showmanship multiple times, and not making it to the final cut did not make me want to give up—it made me want to try harder.
— Octavia Stensen, WKC Best Junior 2024
WANT TO BE INVOLVED?
There is a belief for many that dog shows are unattainable, and they are simply something to watch on TV annually. But that’s a false perception. Dog shows are not a world away. There are breeders and exhibitors in communities all over the country who are dedicated to welcoming new fanciers and families to the sport. Junior Showmanship, especially, is a great way for families without a dog to dip their toes into the sport.As it happens, I actually came from a family who had never attended a dog show or even owned a dog! Like many, our tradition was to watch The Westminster Kennel Club on TV every February, but I never thought that a “regular” person like me could ever do something as incredible as showing a dog on that carpet. This all changed after a friendly neighbor offered to take me to a show. As soon as the lead hit my hands and I took my first steps, I was hooked, and I learned that dog shows, and especially Junior Showmanship, is a sport for everyone. I showed in Junior Showmanship locally with one of her dogs, GCHB TakeMeHome Return to Sender “Styx,” and in 2019, I finally received it: my very first “golden ticket.” In a few more years, I would even place Fourth with my English Setter, GCHB Huntwood’s Smarter Than a Fifth Grader “Norman,” a dream I never thought could become reality. Throughout my time competing, I fell in love with the sport and its values, met the most incredible people, apprenticed under some amazing handlers, and I am now a Junior Showmanship judge.
While the road to Westminster isn’t easy, the potential opportunities Junior Showmanship awards are endless and truly life-changing. If you or your child want to get involved, take the leap! Visit your local dog show and talk to breeders, exhibitors, and fellow junior handlers; join a handling clinic or talk to an AKC representative. And, if you are attending the Westminster Kennel Club in New York this February, make sure to check out the Junior Showmanship preliminaries February 10th and 11th. You will see the most incredible pool of talent and dedication in the over 100-plus entrants. If you can’t make it, tune in to Junior Showmanship Finals on TV. The future of dog shows is always worth watching.
