Junior Handling in Sweden
© Louise Dufwa 2007

In Sweden the first Junior Handling competition under more regulated forms was held in 1977. However, it was not until 2004 that the Swedish Junior Handling committee put down a compendium with guidelines to be both for the organiser, the judge, and the handler. 2006 these guidelines were revised and presented in 2007.

The finals of the Junior Handling competition in Stockholm August 26 2007

The competition
The Junior Handler has to be between 10-17 years old, ranging from the year of his or her 10th birthday, to the year of his or her 17th birthday. There is only one age class. Junior Handling is arranged at every international (CACIB) show during the year, in Sweden these are about 20, and as the show is divided over e.g. two days, the Junior Handler is only allowed to participate 1 of these 2 days. When entering for a Junior Handling show in Sweden, only the name of the handler, date of birth, and home address is to be stated. Hence, the dog to handle is not to be stated. This facilitates for the handler to show any dog of prefer. However, the dog handled must be registered in a by SKK* recognised national kennel club, and not younger than 9 months old.

At an ordinary dog show, about 20-25 handlers participate, and at the really large dog shows there can be up to the double, i.e. 40-50 handlers participating. At the National Championships there are about 50 competitors. The judge always places the handlers 1-5. 

Specific for Swedish Junior Handling competitions is that since 2004 the judge has to write a written critique on all the competitors, commenting their presentation. This is for the Junior Handler’s continuing development of his or her skills and at the same time the judge gets an opportunity to present what he or she values in a Junior Handling performance. The points that are to be commented upon are the following five points.
 

Patterns
The most common patterns are straight up and down, triangle and circle. However patterns such as T and L are not uncommon. Some judges ask handlers for completing the patterns back-wards, and the pattern of the number 8 do appear for certain judges. The golden rule, -for handler not to be between dog and judge, is most often seen upon very strictly without exceptions.

A junior performing the Triangle pattern for the judge

Swedish Championships
The Swedish Junior Handler Championship is held at the last international dog show of the year, HUND, in December. At this event only handlers that throughout the year have qualified can participate. The qualification is achieved by either a 1st or 2nd placement at any international show, or a win at the SHU** Youth Junior Handler Championships. In the case where the 1st and/or 2nd placed already is qualified, the qualification is achieved by the lower placed handler/handlers. However, the qualification cannot be achieved by a handler placed lower than 5th. To qualify the handler must be a Swedish citizen. The winner gets to represent Sweden at Crufts Dog Show the following year.

Photo by Wilhelm Dufwa & Patricia Rätsep Hedberg
Winners in 2005 and 2004 Ellinore Bååth and Fanny Hellström

Swedish Top Junior Handler
Swedish Top Junior Handler of the Year is a competition ranging from the last international dog show of the year (HUND), to the last international dog show of the next year. It is a competition similar to Dog of the Year, where the handlers throughout the year gather points according to their placement at an international dog show and the number of competitors. Points are also achieved at the SHU Youth Championships, and at SHU Junior Handling competition at HUND (not the Swedish Championships). The handler is only allowed to count his or her 5 best results. In the case of two handlers having the same points, the 5th least best result is withdrawn and a new result is achieved.  The top four of the Top Junior Handler get to represent Sweden in the Nordic Championships. The Top Junior Handler is announced at the last international dog show of the year, HUND.

 

Points for Swedish Top Junior Handler:

Top JH results are frequently updated at the official homepage of SHU.

European and World Winner dog show
The Swedish representative in the final at the European Winner dog show is selected at the SHU Swedish Youth Junior Handling Championships, whereas the representative for the World Winner dog show is selected through the National Championships.
 

Press here for the official rules for Swedish Junior Handling competitions
only in Swedish

 

*The Swedish Kennel Club, abbreviated SKK

**The Swedish Dog youth organisation, abbreviated SHU