The National Junior Organization (NJO) fosters handling skills and sportsmanship in fanciers age 18 and younger. The NJO encourages performance and companion competition, while maintaining its longtime commitment to juniors in the conformation ring. Juniors have handled dogs to the highest possible titles in virtually every event category. In 2005, Kate Eldridge became the first junior to achieve a Versatile Companion Dog title. Overall, juniors earned 388 performance or companion titles.

Effective January 1, Junior Showmanship Regulations were amended to lower the minimum age of participation from 10 to 9, to divide the classes into three age groups, and to require Best Junior competition.

Fifty-eight students from 26 states won 2005 AKC Junior Scholarships, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. A total $100,000 was provided to students from high school, college, and graduate school.

Awards were made based on academic achievement, financial need, and commitment to the sport. Scholarship recipients participate in the full range of dog events and activities.

The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship continues to be a premier showcase for juniors in conformation, and 176 juniors were entered in 2006.

"AKC Jr. News," the bimonthly Junior Showmanship online newsletter, continued to bring the latest news to 7,000 subscribers, with stories written by and for juniors.