Friendly Paw Dog Club Members Participate in Dog Handling Course

Friendly Paw Dog Club members recently completed a six-week training course on Conformation Dog Handling. Members met for an hour once a week to learn handling techniques and gating patterns. It was obvious by the marked improvement of both the children and their dogs' that they were diligent in practicing throughout the week at home. The knowledge they gained during the training sessions will enable them to compete in dog shows as well as Junior Showmanship competitions.


The culmination of the training sessions ended with a club field trip to the Huntington Valley Kennel Club show held at the Wrightstown Grange in Bucks County. Members were able to see first hand the professionals and owner-handlers at work in the ring with their dogs. This experience, of being able to see the application of the dog handling techniques they had been taught, helped to solidify their basic understanding Conformation Dog Handling. Several of the members were surprised to realize, "My dog and I are not that bad after all" and that all the compliments that club members had been receiving from their instructor at 'how good they were doing' were for real.


The highlight of the day was the Junior Showmanship Competition for children ages 9 through 18. In this competition the youth's ability to expertly present their dog is judged, not the quality of the dog. The Dog Grooming & Showmanship Competition that Friendly Paw Dog Club members participate in at the 4-H Fair is modeled after this event. 4-H permits contestants to enter any dog, pure or mixed breed, as long as they can safely control it in the ring.
Click here for photos of this event!