AWPGA JUNIOR PROGRAM

Mission and Purpose

The primary goal of the AWPGA Juniors Program is to promote and encourage youth to participate in the sport of American Kennel Club dog events and NAVHDA events with Wirehaired Pointing Griffons. Juniors are the promise of what tomorrow will bring in the sport of purebred dogs whether in the field, show or performance ring.

The mission and purpose will be achieved primarily through the work of the AWPGA Junior Committee. The committee and participating AWPGA member mentors foster and reward youth participation, teach ethics in animal care, handling and training practices, and encourage young people to become actively involved in all areas of the sport. The AWPGA Junior Program offers incentives such as the Junior Awards and Recognition Program and Junior Event Grants.

The AWPGA and its Junior Program committee support and encourage junior handlers to maintain their enthusiastic interest in the sport of purebred dogs and with Wirehaired Pointing Griffons in particular. Through our collective efforts, we will provide opportunities for mentoring, assisting, and recognizing young people who demonstrate a sincere interest in the breed of Wirehaired Pointing Griffons. The American Kennel Club offers various opportunities for your Junior to participate!

For more information check out the AKC Junior Resources

A boy in an orange shirt and khaki pants with a backpack raising his hand to stop a large, black and gray curly-haired dog in a grassy field near water and tall reeds.

A young boy and his Wirehaired Pointing Griffon after a successful hunt test.

Junior Program Benefits

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon fanciers up to age eighteen, no minimum age.
Membership qualifies the junior for AWPGA rankings and annual awards (AWPGA counts only the activities of AWPGA Junior members in its Junior competition rankings and will consider only AWPGA Junior members for annual awards and any stipends or other assistance to be offered.)
Includes subscription to the AWPGA Griffonnier Magazine
Eligible to submit Junior articles and pictures to the AWPGA Junior Program Coordinator for inclusion on the AWPGA website and the AWPGA Griffonnier Magazine..
Eligible to apply for Qualifier Show Event Grants (See Junior Event Grants)
Entitles Junior to all other benefits and activities associated with the AWPGA Juniors Program as they occur.

Junior Membership

Please complete the appropriate form

Juniors must be under 18 years of age and is a separate membership.
Junior membership is NOT included in the Family membership (RF)

Our Junior Program Coordinator, Karen Pelzer will be happy to help with joining or renewing your Junior Membership.

A handler hugging a shaggy dog in a dog show ring, with spectators seated in the background.

AWPGA Junior Awards and Recognition Program

Certificate(s) of Achievement

The AWPGA Junior Program will issue a Certificate of Achievement to each Junior member who has earned a NAVHDA prize, AKC title or degree with their Wirehaired Pointing Griffon during the calendar year.

Certificates of Achievement will also be awarded to Junior Members who achieve a Top 10 ranking in Breed, All-Breed or NOHS rankings by the end of each calendar year (NOHS rankings are based on the qualifying period, not the calendar year).

Junior Annual Recognition Award(s)

The AWPGA Junior Program will present annual awards, recognizing the top-ranked Junior Members for their accomplishments in each of the following categories:

· Junior Showmanship

Based on AKC Year-End Breed rankings for Wirehaired Pointing Griffons in Junior Showmanship Competition, as published by Canine Chronicle in January of the following year. In the event of a tie, the Junior member with the most juniors defeated will receive the award. Only rankings/wins where a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon was exhibited shall be considered.

· Hunt Tests/Field Tests

Self-reported by the Junior member and confirmed by a parent/guardian. Awards are based on the number of NAVHDA and/or AKC hunt/field titles or prizes earned with a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. If a Junior member handles multiple Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, they shall receive credit for each prize/title separately. If a tie occurs, each Junior member will be recognized. Notification of the Junior Program Coordinator of all NAVHDA prizes and AKC hunt/field titles is required by January 31 of the subsequent calendar year.

· National Owner Handled Series (NOHS)

Based on AKC rankings for Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, as published by Canine Chronicle, for the prior year NOHS Qualifying Period. The Junior members own points shall determine the top-ranked Junior. This Award shall recognize the Junior Member achievements in NOHS not the individual dog’s ranking.

AWPGA Junior Event Grants

The AWPGA is pleased to offer several different annual Event Grants for our Junior Members. These Event Grants are to be applied towards reimbursement of expenses for items such as entry fees and expenses associated with traveling to selected events.

Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must have been an AWPGA Junior Member for the entire current year of competition. All applicants are required to handle a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon at the applicable event and must have qualified for the event or earned points towards rankings while exhibiting a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.

Grant Application Deadline: Based on the Qualifying Period of each event (see relevant Event Application) , if no Junior member qualifies or applies, funds will roll over to the next year.

Claiming Grants: All approved Event Grants must be claimed within 3 months of the event date or be considered forfeited. The Junior must have attended the Event to receive the funds. All approved Event Grants shall be payable FOLLOWING the Event date. Receipts for travel and/or entry costs shall be submitted to the AWPGA Treasurer for reimbursement.

Available Event Grants:

Westminster Kennel Club – Junior Showmanship Competition

AKC National – Junior Showmanship Competition

AKC National - NOHS Finals

NAVHDA Invitational

GRANT APPLICATION

Westminster KC Junior Showmanship Finals:
$300.00 Event Grant to support the travel expenses of a Junior Member who qualifies and participates in the 2026 Westminster KC Junior Showmanship Finals.
Deadline: Requests from those applying for a Junior Event Grant (Westminster Junior Showmanship Competition) need to be sent to the AWPGA Junior Program Coordinator no later than thirty (30) days after the end of the Qualifying Period. The grant payable for the Westminster Junior Showmanship Competition is paid out in the subsequent year. If no Junior Members qualify to compete, or are unable to attend, the funds shall remain unused and rollover into the subsequent year.
AKC National Junior Showmanship Competition:
$300.00 Event Grant to support the travel expenses of a Junior Member who qualifies and participates in the 2026 AKC National Junior Showmanship Competition.
Please Note: It is acceptable that the Junior has additional wins with other Breeds, but the minimum requirement must be met by wins with a WPG.

If more than two (2) Junior Members apply for either Junior Showmanship Event Grant, the Junior with the most qualifying wins with a WPG shall be chosen.
NOHS Finals Competition:
$300.00, to support the travel expenses of a Junior Member who qualifies to compete in the 2026 National Owner Handled Series Finals Competition.
If there is more than one (1) Junior Member who qualifies for the available Event Grant for the NOHS competition, the award shall go to the Junior Member with the highest NOHS ranking (based on points earned solely by the Junior Member) at the end of the Qualification Period.
Deadline: Requests from those applying for a Junior Event Grant for the NOHS Finals Competition in 2026 need to be sent to the AWPGA Junior Program Coordinator no later than 2 weeks after the cutoff for the Qualifying Period. If no Junior Members qualify to compete, or are unable to attend, the funds shall remain unused and rollover into the subsequent year.
Qualification Details:
-WPG must rank in the Top 10 NOHS.
-Only points earned solely by the Junior with their WPG are counted. (Example: If the WPG has 100 total points but only 40 were earned by the Junior, only 40 points will count towards the Grant.)
NAVHDA Invitational:
$300.00 Event Grant to support the travel expenses of a Junior Member who qualifies and participates in the 2026 NAVHDA Invitational.
Deadline: The deadline for qualifying is December 31st. The grant payable for the NAVHDA Invitational is paid out in the subsequent year. If no Junior Member qualifies to compete, or are unable to attend, the funds shall remain unused and will be rolled over into the subsequent year. Example- the 2025 applicant shall have qualified in 2025 to compete in the 2026 Invitational.