My daughter has finally reached the age to where she wants to compete in her first hunt test. She is 6 and loves everything about the dogs, from training to cleaning the kennels. I've been trying to explain everything that's going to happen and what she should expect. I have never run a Junior test, only Senior and Master. I really just want her to have fun and enjoy the experience but still hope she and the dog do well. Do any of you guys/girls have any tips I can pass along? Thanks in advance
Tips for 6-year old child on 1st Junior Test
Labman721
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My daughter has finally reached the age to where she wants to compete in her first hunt test. She is 6 and loves everything about the dogs, from training to cleaning the kennels. I've been trying to explain everything that's going to happen and what she should expect. I have never run a Junior test, only Senior and Master. I really just want her to have fun and enjoy the experience but still hope she and the dog do well. Do any of you guys/girls have any tips I can pass along? Thanks in advance
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Just have a blast. I assume she is running one of your experienced dogs as a junior handler and not a new dog in its first junior? We have a young lady in our club that has been handling dogs since she was a little girl. She was handling in her first masters this year. Pretty neat, let us know how she does.
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I have a picture in the living room of a very young boy-7 or 8 years old-running Kate at a training day. It's one of the most priceless things I own.
First-since this is a licensed event & the judges have to abide by the rules-I would train with that in mind. Make sure the dog respects her whether you are around or not & will run for her from sitting on line to delivery to hand.
Set up an honest to goodness test situation moving from holding blinds to the last where she & the dog hear: "What's your number?" "Guns up! Dog to the line". Give her time to settle on line -hold on to the collar & signal for her birds (no different than you running Senior or Master). Run both the singles land & water & see if there are any holes & patch them if necessary. A couple run throughs & she will be fine. Make she sure she waits to hear her # before releasing the dog. Remind her too that the bird needs to be handed to her by the dog-she can't pick it up off the ground. I bet she is less nervous than most of the adults because it will be just a fun game to her!!
I hope to get my grandson interested in all of this too. It's the next generation that is going to see that the dog games will carry on.
Good luck to your daughter. I hope you post pictures!!!
M
First-since this is a licensed event & the judges have to abide by the rules-I would train with that in mind. Make sure the dog respects her whether you are around or not & will run for her from sitting on line to delivery to hand.
Set up an honest to goodness test situation moving from holding blinds to the last where she & the dog hear: "What's your number?" "Guns up! Dog to the line". Give her time to settle on line -hold on to the collar & signal for her birds (no different than you running Senior or Master). Run both the singles land & water & see if there are any holes & patch them if necessary. A couple run throughs & she will be fine. Make she sure she waits to hear her # before releasing the dog. Remind her too that the bird needs to be handed to her by the dog-she can't pick it up off the ground. I bet she is less nervous than most of the adults because it will be just a fun game to her!!
I hope to get my grandson interested in all of this too. It's the next generation that is going to see that the dog games will carry on.
Good luck to your daughter. I hope you post pictures!!!
M
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If you haven't already done so, run some mock tests from having her in the holding blind to gathering in the last bird. We're all creatures of habit and to have done it a few times can only help. "Dog to the line." call for the first bird, restrain dog, send dog, receive bird, etc, etc. I hope she has a blast!
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You can also apply for an AKC Junior Handler number so she can get a JH or SH title on an already titled dog. They will also send forms you can give the Hunt Test secretary so the pass is recorded properly under her name. My 11 yr. old son got a JH with my SH dog in the AKC junior handler program. You can sign up on the AKC web site.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
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Make sure the dog will deliver to HER!
We all know that you will be within 10 feet of line holding your breath for the entire time. Don't let that dog come to you. This is her time. When she walks off that line after taking 2 birds from the dog it will be a toss up as to who has the bigger smile.
Tim
We all know that you will be within 10 feet of line holding your breath for the entire time. Don't let that dog come to you. This is her time. When she walks off that line after taking 2 birds from the dog it will be a toss up as to who has the bigger smile.
Tim
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This one Miriam? 
![Image]()
Thanks for all the great tips. Tim, you have me pegged. I will probably be 10 times more nervous than she will be. She enjoys the spotlight. I know our dog can do the work but this is her first test as well. She does seem to listen to my daughter fairly well though. I've been working with her every night but I didn't think about the holding blinds. I will try to set up a complete mock test with holding blinds, a judge, and my wingers. Thanks again.
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If you can find out her running order number, use that in training the few days b4 the test. That might help her remember to wait for her number before she sends the dog.
How neat for you!! Congratulations on helping her pursue her interest in dogs!!
How neat for you!! Congratulations on helping her pursue her interest in dogs!!
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Be sure to let us know how it goes. I have a dog running senior right now and a 4 year old daughter who loves him. I can't wait until my daughter can run him in the junior handler program. She already ran him in the "puppy stakes" at a HRC event last year, but actually running in a licensed test will be a much bigger deal.
Jealous, but glad for you regards.
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what hunt test are you going to let her handle in?
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I love it when a junior handler runs with the big guys. We have loaned out several of our Master dogs for just that purpose.
Here is a friend running our dog, Jive.
![Image]()
They were both 6 years old at the time. This wasn't actually a Junior test but a Junior Handler's event that the club offered, similar to Puppy Stakes. The boy's father was going to let him run their young dog in it, but was concerned that the dog might be too much. I offered Jive so the boy would have a good experience and he did.
We also loaned our first master dog, Dusty to run Juniors with an 8 year old while Daddy was handling their dog in Juniors. They thought it was so cool to both be running in the tests together. They went straight through 3 tests, passing every time. But, 4th test - was on the boy's birthday and Daddy thought it would be very cool to let son title the family dog on his birhtday. Dog took advantage and dropped final bird of the day and started plucking it. He had never done anything like that before. Judges had to ask Dad to step in and get control. It was a bad experience for the child and he never wanted to run again.
If you have an upper level dog the child can run, or have a friend with a dog that will run with the child, I would highly recommend that you make it a father/daughter event by letting the child be successful while you run your junior dog.
Here is a friend running our dog, Jive.
They were both 6 years old at the time. This wasn't actually a Junior test but a Junior Handler's event that the club offered, similar to Puppy Stakes. The boy's father was going to let him run their young dog in it, but was concerned that the dog might be too much. I offered Jive so the boy would have a good experience and he did.
We also loaned our first master dog, Dusty to run Juniors with an 8 year old while Daddy was handling their dog in Juniors. They thought it was so cool to both be running in the tests together. They went straight through 3 tests, passing every time. But, 4th test - was on the boy's birthday and Daddy thought it would be very cool to let son title the family dog on his birhtday. Dog took advantage and dropped final bird of the day and started plucking it. He had never done anything like that before. Judges had to ask Dad to step in and get control. It was a bad experience for the child and he never wanted to run again.
If you have an upper level dog the child can run, or have a friend with a dog that will run with the child, I would highly recommend that you make it a father/daughter event by letting the child be successful while you run your junior dog.
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That's the one! I love the looks on both their faces. This little boy worked so hard for us running birds out to the stations, etc. that it seemed only fair to let him run a dog & he did a great job.This one Miriam?
![Image]()
LDH-great pics too! I joined a club last year that has a Kid's Day & am really looking forward to it this year. Finn has a little girl who handles him on occasion & it's funny how the dogs seem to know they are with someone smaller & not as strong as they are. It's wonderful to see the kid's expressions when they are running an experienced dog. Win/win situation!
M
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I like the idea of using a picnic trial or a special "junior handler" event for the kids getting their feet wet. That way it increases the chances of it being a positive experience. HPW
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Here is another of a young guy running with Dusty.
![Image]()
This was taken at one of our club's Youth events - held in conjunction with our upland test weekend. It is hard to tell who thinks it is more cool, the boy or the dog. Dusty was almost 10 here.
This was taken at one of our club's Youth events - held in conjunction with our upland test weekend. It is hard to tell who thinks it is more cool, the boy or the dog. Dusty was almost 10 here.
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