Paula competing with the English pointer Illaria.

Last week I had the pleasure of watching Paula Cuschieri compete at the 2015 Malta International Dog Show. Paula is a 13-year-old and this dog show was her fifth so far.

This year’s dog show was hosted by the Malta Kennel Club and held at the Cottonera Sports Complex. This was the third consecutive international show that the club has organised, and it has become a much-anticipated fixture for dog lovers such as Paula.

Competing in such an event gives local and foreign participants the opportunity to garner international titles. It also means that the overall winner qualifies to participate at the prestigious Crufts International Dog Show, which is held annually in the UK.

Local dog handlers who have made it to Crufts would have spent years training and competing until they perfect their craft. But not all of them would have started out as adults.

For those unfamiliar with the course of dog shows, it may come as a surprise that children and youngsters such as Paula are permitted to participate in dog shows of such calibre.

But what is truly intriguing is that they can compete either as junior handlers, where the other participants are approximately their same age, or they can compete against adults as dog handlers. The distinction is important.

As junior handlers, competitors such as Paula compete on the basis of how well they, as handlers, perform in the ring with their dog. It is therefore Paula and her competitors who are being judged.

As dog handlers, be they young or adult, it is the dog being judged for how well it conforms to the breed’s standards, as well as overall temperament. However, the manner in which the dog handlers present their dogs plays a huge part in how well a dog might perform in the ring. Therefore, dog handlers who start out young will have gained considerable experience by the time they become adult competitors. The advantages gained by such experience was recognised many years ago in the US.

The first junior handler competition was held in the US in 1932. By 1971, the American Kennel Club had officially recognised junior showmanship as a distinct class and juniors were permitted to participate in official dog shows.

If your children are interested in exploring the world of dog shows, junior showmanship is certainly the place to start

Other countries followed suit and in 1989, Malta participated for the first time at the International Junior Competition held in the UK.

Today’s junior handlers are the future of Malta’s representation at prestigious international dog shows. Malta has produced some excellent dog handlers who have continued to perform very well on the international scene and gone on to become professional dog handlers and trainers.

Children or young people wanting to get involved in dog shows should start by visiting one of the many shows held in Malta throughout the year. This will give them an initial understanding of what it entails. The Malta Kennel Club will be a very good source of information in this regard.

There is a lot to learn for youngsters aspiring to become junior handlers. Depending on the breed, the handlers will need to know how to present the dog, be it on a table for small breeds or on the ground for large breeds.

They will need to hold the dog still and exhibit it correctly while judges place their hands on the dog and examine its teeth. The handler’s control of the dog will form an important part of the judging process.

Handlers will also need to learn the little tricks that turn them into pros, such as the best way to stack (stand) the dog, the ideal way to gait (walk) it around the ring according to its breed and which movements will prevent the handler getting in the way of the judge’s continuous view of the dog while stacking or gaiting.

Importantly, they will also learn which leash works best with the dog and how to dress up smartly for the competition to give a good impression of themselves.

The judge might also ask the handlers questions about the breed and request them to name body parts of the dog using the correct terminology. In the eyes of the judge, this tests the handlers for their interest in the dog and not just the glory of the show.

Throughout, the handlers will also be judged on how they present themselves, their body posture, the eye contact they make with the judge and the respect with which they address the judge and take instruction. At the end of it, the judge will evaluate the handler’s teamwork with the dog, how smoothly the dog responds to orders and the bond between the two.

Participating in dog shows as junior handlers helps young people in so many different ways. For starters, they acquire an inner confidence that only exposure to healthy competition can bring.

There may also be the opportunity to travel and participate in international dog shows. They will learn to accept criticism constructively and become good sportsmen or women. And they will get to meet with many people, make new friends and slowly build up a network.

If your children are interested in exploring the world of dog shows, junior showmanship is certainly the place to start. Even if youngsters prefer to participate as a pastime rather than apprentices, it remains a great way for them to develop the correct dog-handling skills and learn all about responsible dog ownership.

The support of a dog breeder or kennel owner will go a long way towards helping them approach the competition with the right knowledge and attitude.

Paula’s dedication and love of dogs brought her to the attention of a reputable dog breeder and owner who is now mentoring her in the art of junior and dog showmanship. She competed with the English pointer Illaria and won best female in breed. She also won the intermediate class and classified third best female.

Paula also showed the Italian greyhound Birgitta Del Barone Rampante and won best of breed on both days. That’s quite an achievement for a young person just starting out. For Paula, it is already proving to be an exciting journey towards realising her ambition.

thisweekwiththevet@gmail.com

Dr Martin Debattista is a veterinary surgeon.