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AKC Junior Showmanship Tracker for Young Handlers

For junior handlers and their parents: save each Junior Showmanship class, and see when the junior moves up from Novice to Open and Master, and how close they are to the AKC National Championship and Westminster.

A smiling teenage junior handler gaiting a Golden Retriever around a show ring
2 Which class?
3 Placement in the class
4 Best Junior?
Wins from before (optional)

Saved classes

Junior Showmanship in plain English

The handler is judged, not the dog

Juniors from 9 until they turn 18 show a dog, and the judge scores how well the junior presents it. Clubs may split classes by age: Junior (9 to 11), Intermediate (12 to 14) and Senior (15 to 17).

Novice to Open

Three first places in Novice with other juniors competing move a junior up to Open for good. A Novice win without competition that goes on to Best Junior or Reserve Best Junior with competition also counts as one.

Open to Master

Ten Best Junior wins with competition move a junior into the Master class, which follows the National Championship qualifying dates. When that window closes, everyone returns to Open for the new year.

The big shows

The AKC National Championship (2026) asked for 5 first places in Open with competition between September 18, 2025 and September 15, 2026, plus a 3.0 grade average. Westminster (2027) asks for 7 Best Junior wins, each from at least 2 competing classes, from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026.

Sources: AKC Regulations for Junior Showmanship (with the insert effective September 17, 2026), the AKC National Championship 2026 premium list, and the Westminster Kennel Club exhibitor information. Dates change every year - check the current premium list before you count on them.

How to use this tracker

A young junior handler stacking a Cocker Spaniel on a grooming table

After each show, save the class the junior entered, the placement, whether other juniors competed, and any Best Junior award. The tracker counts the Novice first places that move the junior to Open, the Best Junior wins toward Master, and the wins inside each big show's qualifying window. A junior also needs a Junior Handler number from AKC before the first show.

Common questions

When does a junior move from Novice to Open?

After three first places in a Novice class with other juniors competing. A Novice first without competition that goes on to win Best Junior or Reserve Best Junior with competition also counts as one.

What is the Master class in Junior Showmanship?

Juniors with 10 Best Junior wins with competition must enter Master. It follows the AKC National Championship qualifying dates; when that window ends, everyone returns to Open for the next year.

How old does a junior handler have to be?

At least 9 and under 18 on the day of the show. Clubs may split Novice and Open by age: Junior 9 to 11, Intermediate 12 to 14 and Senior 15 to 17.

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