Getting your children involved in dog handling, showing and competition

While many families that own dogs simply love the company, affection and sheer joy that comes from having a family pet, as well as the benefits that dog ownership can provide for children, other families may well be involved in showing, canine sport, or other forms of competition.

If this sound like you or you are interested in getting involved in any of these things, the chances are that your kids may well show an interest too, and it is a great idea to encourage this and enable it where possible! Children often form very strong bonds with the family dog, and as they get older they may be keen to help with their care and management, as well as getting involved in other activities that your dog may take part in.

It is wise to start teaching your child about how to interact with your dog, what their care involves and how to train and manage them from as early as they show and interest and are able to get involved. The sky really is the limit when it comes to how involved your child can get, and how far they and your dog can potentially go.

For kids that may want a career with dogs or that simply love everything to do with our canine companions, there are a huge number of ways that they can get involved with dog sport, showing and other things, at any age or level. From simply taking your child along to training classes with your dog to signing them up for special skills classes and events aimed at young trainers, there are plenty of options. In this article, we will look at some of the ways in which you can get your child of any age involved in things like dog showing, handling, sport and competition. Read on to learn more.

Young trainers

If you take your dog to training classes or are a competent trainer that works with your own dog on an ongoing basis, it really is never too young to involve your child. Obviously, the older your child is, the better their attention span will be, the more they will be able to understand and the more skills they will develop; it is important that you assess this carefully and do not push your child if they are getting bored, or have had enough!

In most areas of the country too you can sign children from the age of around 7 upwards up to training and dog handling classes that are specifically designed for young people. For those who show a real aptitude and skill in this area, The Kennel Club runs a “Young Kennel Club” for children, as well as classes at most larger Kennel Club shows for young trainers and handlers to show what they can do.

Breed class showing

If you own a show-quality dog of a certain breed, are a breeder yourself or want to dip your toe in the water with your pedigree dog and see how they measure up, there are also Kennel Club breed classes designed for young handlers. Taking your children with you to watch dog shows or to help you if you are competing is a great way to assess their level of interest and flair for this area-but this is often a better pick for older children, as showing generally involves a lot of time waiting around, and younger children may easily get bored.

Canine sport

Canine sport is great for both the dogs involved in their handlers, and all sports such as agility, flyball and heelwork are generally very entertaining to watch as well as great fun to get involved in! This is often very appealing to children of all ages who pick up on the excitement and buzz of the atmosphere itself, and will often be itching to have a go, regardless of your dog’s own level of commitment!

Allowing your dog and child to join a local team or club for a certain canine sport can make for a great hobby, keep your child and dog alike fit and entertained, and allow them both to burn off steam! Again, The Kennel Club runs special classes and events for junior trainers and handlers involved in dog sport, and joining a club or organisation that allows them to meet and interact with other young trainers can help to raise and maintain their interest.

When it comes to any skilled sport, profession or activity “start them young” is often the received wisdom. While it is of course entirely possible to start getting involved in canine sport, showing or training at any age, allowing your child to explore their interest while they are young will help to provide them with an excellent grounding in working with and taking care of dogs, which will stand them in good stead in the future.

As mentioned earlier, it is important that you do not push your child too hard or do anything that may put them off. While competition can be exciting and many children are naturally very competitive, slogging away to the point of boredom or pushing when your child has had enough will have the opposite effect, and potentially put them off for life!

If you think your child may have the interest and aptitude to begin learning more and taking part in canine sport or showing, check online for the various different Kennel Club sectors that enable this, or to find a local group that welcomes children.