Today's Kids Hold Our Future...
Today’s kids hold the future of our breed in their hands. It is our responsibility to encourage and guide them so that they can continue to improve and protect our precious Griffons. In a rare breed, more than most, this is CRITICAL. AWPGA encourages young people to work with their Griffons in many different arenas.
As a pet and companion, a Griffon can teach a child the value of love and respect for another creature. With adult guidance, they can learn responsibility, consistency, patience, trust, and empathy.
Children who hunt or track with their family and their Griffon learn the importance of training consistently and regularly, the appreciation of nature and conservation of wildlife. Their marksmanship, patience, and ability to work as a team with their dogs will serve them well as they grow. Measuring their skills as trainers of hunting dogs at AKC Hunt Tests, or working with young dogs at a NAVHDA test will encourage them to continue to hone their skills and that of their Griffon.
Young people who participate in obedience will learn precision, focus, how to work towards a clearly outlined set of goals, and the value of a close working relationship with their dog. They will learn the value of regular training and commitment. Most importantly, they will learn about the joys of accomplishing a goal as a team, and the reality of a frustrating near miss. From this will come the ability to analyze what components of their own and their dog’s training methods need to be altered to achieve their goal.
Agility is a NATURAL choice for active young people and their equally active Griffon buddies! All of that running, signaling, climbing, and jumping is actually an exercise (and we mean EXERCISE!) in forethought, planning ahead, clear communication of expectations, and gentle, step-by-step training methods of how to coach a canine athlete to achieve what you want.
Junior Showmanship is a popular arena in the sport of dogs, where kids are encouraged to shine. This test of a young person’s ability to present a dog to its best advantage in the breed ring teaches not only handling skills, but also the value of practice and the ability to conduct oneself in a sportsmanlike manner in a competitive situation. Kids learn about structure, type, and how to apply what they’ve learned about their breed standard to their dog. They learn to condition, train, groom, and present a dog with confidence and style. And to both win and lose graciously.
American Kennel Club has, for a long time, provided competitive Junior Showmanship classes specifically for young people. Recently, they have also begun to recognize kids who are successfully competing in obedience and agility events as well! Juniors (children between the ages of 10 and until their 18th birthday) must handle dogs that they, themselves or their immediate family own. Juniors are expected to have done the majority of the training work that brought this dog to where he/she is. Juniors titling dogs in obedience or agility are awarded a certificate of accomplishment. Young people interested in competing in Junior Showmanship classes at licensed shows are encouraged to do so. In order to compete in any junior specific AKC event, you must request a Junior Identification number from the AKC. For more information on this, visit the AKC’s Junior FAQ Site! And the answer to the most frequently asked question about juniors is “YES! You CAN show a spayed/neutered dog in juniors!”
Announcing the Formation of the AWPGA Juniors Program!!
Your Junior Can Join Today!
Your Junior Can Join Today!
AWPGA Junior Member
Awards Recognition Program
Certificate of Achievement
The AWPGA Junior Program will issue a certificate of achievement to all AWPGA Junior members who have earned an AKC degree (including CGC, TKN, etc.) or AKC title on their wirehaired pointing griffon, including NAVHDA prizes, achieved a Top 10 ranking in any area of the sport per AKC rankings (including NOHS), or who have ranked at all within the calendar year per AKC rankings with a wirehaired pointing griffon. It is necessary that the Junior Program Coordinator be notified of ALL degrees or titles earned, in writing, by no later than December 31, 2020.
Junior Annual Awards
The AWPGA Junior Program will award a Trophy/Plaque to the top ranked AWPGA Junior member in each of the following categories:
Junior Showmanship – Based on AKC Year End Statistical rankings – by Breed (wirehaired pointing griffon) as published by the Canine Chronicle in January 2021. In the event of a tie, the award shall go to the Junior member with the most juniors defeated. AWPGA will only consider ranking/wins where a Junior was showing a wirehaired pointing griffon.
Hunt Test/Field Tests – This is self-reported by the Junior, acknowledged by their parent/guardian. The award shall be based on number of titles/prizes achieved in NAVHDA and/or AKC events with a wirehaired pointing griffon. If there is a tie, the award shall be deemed a tie and each Junior shall be recognized. The deadline for submission of titles earned shall be December 31, 2020.
NOHS (National Owner Handled Series) – Based on AKC Breed (wirehaired pointing griffon) rankings as published by the Canine Chronicle in October of 2020. (The deadline is based upon the fact that NOHS does not base points on a calendar year but rather on October-October fiscal reporting.)
Juniors Event Grants
In 2020, the AWPGA Junior Program shall offer two (2) Junior Event Grants, each in the amount of $300.00, to support the travel expenses of a Junior Member who qualifies to participate in either Westminster KC or Royal Canin KC to compete in the Junior Showmanship Competition with a wirehaired pointing griffon.
To qualify for an AWPGA Junior Event Grant for Junior Showmanship, the Junior must be a current Junior Member of the AWPGA and must have qualified for the Event showing a wirehaired pointing griffon. It is preferred, but not required, that the Junior participate at the Event showing a wirehaired pointing griffon. If more than two (2) Junior Members apply for an Event Grant to the same Event, the funds shall be divided equally between the qualifying juniors.
In 2020, the AWPGA Junior Program shall offer a Junior Event Grant, in the amount of $200, to support the travel expenses of a Junior Member who qualifies to compete in the National Owner Handled Finals. (Must be ranked in the top 10 NOHS with a qualifying wirehaired pointing griffon).
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 as of October 7, 2020.
A Junior Member may apply for one (1) Junior Event Grant in 2020.
Deadline: Requests from those applying for a Junior Event Grant for either NOHS or the Junior Showmanship competition at Royal Canin in December 2020 need to be sent to the AWPGA Junior Program Coordinator no later than October 15, 2020 . If no Junior Members qualify to compete, or are unable to attend, the funds shall remain unused and rollover into the subsequent year.
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 January 15, 2021. If no Junior Members qualify to compete, or are unable to attend, the funds shall remain unused and rollover into the subsequent year.
The American Kennel Club offers various opportunities for your Junior to participate in Companion, Performation, Showcase and other events!
Click on the link below for further information or to check out the
Junior Statistics for the current and past years.
Click on the link below for further information or to check out the
Junior Statistics for the current and past years.
NAVHDA encourages family participation in their organization. NAVHDA offers educational and testing opportunities for youth (under 19 year old). Handlers Clinics, Youth Events and scholarships available now! Click on the link below for further information!