Building for the Next Generation of Dog Shows

The future of dog shows depends on the people coming into the sport today. For Junior handlers, that starts with opportunities to learn, people willing to help and families who make those weekends possible.

There’s plenty for those families to manage. Finding shows. Remembering closing dates. Getting to the right ring. Keeping track of results and figuring out what counts toward the next goal.

We already have Junior families using ShowPoints. As we developed version 3.0, we wanted to give them tools that recognize something important: the Junior is building their own record, even when the dog they show changes.

A profile for the Junior, whichever dog they show

The new Junior Showmanship section gives each Junior their own profile.

Families can record placements and Best Junior wins, follow progress from Novice toward Open, and keep accomplishments together across different dogs. Each Junior also has a virtual ribbon rack to look back on those results.

A weekend showing the family dog and a weekend borrowing another dog are both part of the same handler’s experience. Their record should reflect that.

Keeping the next goal in view

For some Juniors, the next goal is gaining confidence or earning that first placement. For others, it’s moving into Open or working toward Westminster or the AKC National Championship in Orlando.

ShowPoints brings qualifying progress together by year, helping families follow the results they’ve entered toward those goals.

Qualifying seasons matter because the year a win is earned may differ from the year of the event. Families looking toward Westminster 2028, for example, can plan around the expected October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027, qualifying window, subject to Westminster’s final published requirements.

Families should check the official Westminster exhibitor information and AKC National Championship Junior requirements for their target year. Eligibility can include requirements beyond show-ring wins.

Making the practical side easier

Junior tracking sits alongside the planning tools already in ShowPoints. Families can find upcoming shows, save the ones they’re considering, receive closing-date reminders and access judging programs.

Having those details together can help when you’re coordinating school, travel, dogs and a show weekend.

That’s where we think technology can be useful. There will always be things a family needs to learn through experience or by asking someone ringside. Finding a deadline or gathering a Junior’s results shouldn’t have to be another difficult part.

Building for the next generation

I’ve benefited from people who took the time to explain something, offer encouragement or help me prepare for the next show. Those experiences have shaped how I think about ShowPoints and what we can contribute.

We want to make it easier for people to get involved and keep participating. Supporting Junior families is part of that work.

This new section is a starting point. If you’re a Junior, a parent or someone who teaches and supports young handlers, we’d love to hear what would make it more useful.

Take a look at Junior Showmanship tracking and try ShowPoints free for 7 days on iPhone or Android.

ShowPoints tracks user-entered results. Official records, qualifying requirements and eligibility remain with AKC and the relevant event organizer. Future qualifying periods may be provisional until officially confirmed.