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Pee Wee Special Attraction

Pee Wee Special Attraction

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  • Procedures and Guidelines +

    A Club must submit a Special Attractions Form to conduct the Pee Wee Class Special Attraction. The request must be approved by the Event Operations department. The Pee Wee Special Attraction is a pre-Junior Showmanship class. The Pee Wee class is geared toward children 5–9 years of age. Children younger than five cannot participate in the Pee Wee Class Special Attraction. The safety of the children is a primary concern.

    Download this page as a PDF here.

    Each Pee Wee unit consists of the child, his/her parent/guardian/responsible adult, and the dog. Only one Pee Wee unit is in the ring at a time. This is not a competitive class, but rather a fun, learning experience for the child and the adult. At an All-Breed Event the judge must be an AKC approved All Breed Junior Showmanship Judge. A Group Club or Specialty Club may have a Limited Status Junior Showmanship Judge that meets the criteria. The Judge MUST like children, be patient, kind, and have a sense of humor!

    This Special Attraction must be listed as such in the premium list and in any public announcements which will include the following information:

    • A dog must be at least four months of age to enter the Pee Wee class.
    • Bitches in season will not be allowed to participate. If pre-entered, a dog may be substituted that meets the eligibility requirements as specified by the club.
    • All dogs entered must have the proper lead and collar.
    • A responsible adult must be present with the child both inside and outside the ring. The adult is to maintain control of the dog outside of the ring.
    • At a Group or Specialty Club Show the dogs must be of the breed(s) eligible for the event.
    • At an All-Breed event, all AKC fully recognized and Miscellaneous Class breeds must be allowed to enter, including dogs with a PAL listing.
    • At an All-Breed event, it is up to the host club to decide if FSS breeds not in the Miscellaneous Class and All-American dogs are allowed to enter.
    • It is up to the host club to decide if a dog must be registered to participate.
    • How entries will be accepted is up to the host club. In addition to an entry, a release must be signed by the child’s parent or legal guardian. Please contact Event Operations at eventplans@akc.org to request the current version of the Pee Wee Release of Liability.
    • The entry fee, if any, shall be specified.
    • Clubs may specify a limit on the number of children allowed to enter the class.
    • Clubs must submit a summary report to AKC including number of entries and feedback to the Event Operations Department at eventplans@akc.org.
    • The safety of both the dogs and Juniors inside and outside the ring is a primary concern. Outside of the ring, the dog is to be controlled by the adult accompanying the child. An additional lead, provided by the Club, will be at the Judge’s table. At the Judge’s discretion based upon the size of the child and the dog, for safety purposes the adult may be asked to attach a second lead to the dog so both child and adult will walk the dog together.

    It is essential that the club hosting this Special Attraction provide the support and time to greet the participants and make them feel welcome and be able to answer any question that may arise. There should be a minimum of three club members to assist participants, monitor the ring for safety, and one may act as the steward. Club members must be patient, pleasant, and willing to dedicate as much time as needed to create a pleasant experience for the young Junior and his/her adult. This is vital to the success of this program.

    Each of these club members assisting should make themselves familiar with the Junior Showmanship Conformation Regulations, Guidelines for Judging Juniors in Conformation, Juniors in Performance Event Regulations booklet. It is recommended that these Regulations be available to those junior entrants at the show along with the Pee Wee class procedures and guidelines. (The club may download the PDF of the booklet or order from the Order Desk.)

    Although the word “judge” will be used, this is designed to be a learning and mentoring experience—no Junior will be “judged” but rather will be mentored with the age-appropriate amount of information to help prepare them for what they will be expected to know about AKC regular Junior Showmanship once they reach 9 years of age. Obviously, the older children can absorb more detail than the younger ones. The children will be mentored one child, their adult, and dog in the ring at a time. Each child will receive a participation ribbon or rosette to commemorate the experience. The club may select the color of the ribbon and may wish to add a small gift for the child or the dog to take home. It would be an added plus if the Judge were to be available for individual photographs with the show or club photographer which would serve as a memento and reminder to both the child and the adult of the fun experience and remind them to return again next year!

    The Judge should explain the process of showing the dog to the Junior and the responsible adult in the ring including breed specific presentation. Depending on the size of the dog and the child, the adult may be asked to lift a table breed on or off the table, or the Club may mandate that the adult should do it regardless. The required judging surface (table/ramp/floor) defined by the parent club does not apply to the Pee Wee Class Special Attraction. The safety of the dogs and children is the priority when determining the surface for judging. Neither the youngster nor the adult should be asked to show the bite.

    Consider either holding the Pee Wee Special Attraction at lunchtime, which would give the child and the responsible adult time to get to the show; or the Club may wish to schedule this before the groups, when rings may be available. It is important to maximize spectator attendance as this is a huge crowd pleaser! Ideally, a designated ring for this Special Attraction would allow more time for one-on-one mentoring for each child and adult. If that is not possible, then a ring that is vacant, preferably centrally located (perhaps near the Club tent) for maximum viewing by the greatest audience.

    Some clubs offer a pizza party or cake in a separate location after the classes are over for the children and adults to make new friends and share this new common interest.

  • Upcoming Events +

    Updated 5.1.2025

    Yosemite Kennel Club 5/4/2025 CA rodeoswissy@yahoo.com
    Utah Valley Kennel Club 5/3/2025 UT kileipoms@gmail.com
    Scottsdale Dog Fanciers Association, Inc. 5/3/2025 AZ drdcs@cox.net
    Trenton Kennel Club 5/4/2025 NJ stacylgeorge@gmail.com
    Leonberger Club of America 5/9/2025 PA agilegage@gmail.com
    German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America 5/9/2025 WA foxglovegsp3@comcast.net
    Leonberger Club of America 5/10/2025 PA agilegage@gmail.com
    Labrador Retriever Club of the Pioneer Valley 5/10/2025 MA belleislemichele@gmail.com
    Irish Setter Club of America 5/17/2025 VA karolynnem@gmail.com
    Abilene Kennel Club 5/17/2025 TX richard@bobacbassets.com
    Green Bay Shetland Sheepdog Club 5/18/2025 WI K9secretarial@outlook.com
    St. Croix Valley Kennel Club 5/20/2025 MN pattontriumph@comcast.net
    Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America 5/24/2025 MO ingrid_greig@yahoo.com
    Hendersonville Kennel Club 5/24/2025 NC tracy.rae828@gmail.com
    Pyrenean Shepherd Club of America 5/24/2025 NC gscindy132@gmail.com
    Rio Grande Kennel Club 5/24/2025 NM bob@texaustralian.com
    New Castle Kennel Club 5/25/2025 PA mrk4047@gmail.com
    Spartanburg Kennel Club 5/25/2025 NC ppennigton2439@gmail.com
    Hangtown Kennel Club of Placerville, CA 5/25/2025 CA showchair@hangtownkc.org
    Coeur d’Alene Dog Fanciers 5/25/2025 WA starstrucksams@aol.com
    English Cocker Spaniel Club of America 5/29/2025 MA mjlsu76@gmail.com
    Burlington County Kennel Club 5/31/2025 NJ dodocs@comcast.net
    San Joaquin Kennel Club 5/31/2025 CA lathamsmith168@gmail.com
    San Joaquin Kennel Club 6/1/2025 CA lathamsmith168@gmail.com
    German Shorthaired Pointer Club of Northern Sacramento Val 6/6/2025 CA dlpettinatio@surewest.net
    Flatirons Kennel Club 6/6/2025 CO andreabtc@live.com
    Skyline Kennel Club 6/7/2025 VA drjune@comcast.net
    Contra Costa County Kennel Club, Inc. 6/7/2025 CA mireilleken@gmail.com
    Skyline Kennel Club 6/8/2025 VA drjune@comcast.net
    American Whippet Club 6/13/2025 OR yvonne@mckim.org
    Labrador Retriever Club of Greater Boston 6/13/2025 MA ljk16@comcast.net
    Greater Pittsburgh Dalmatian Club 6/13/2025 OH dynnieb@aol.com
    Bryn Mawr Kennel Club 6/14/2025 PA caobrienfi@gmail.com
    Bahia Sur Kennel Club of Chula Vista 6/15/2025 CA bahiasurkc@gmail.com
    Terrier Association of Oregon 6/20/2025 OR Sandrajeancarter1960@gmail.com
    Anoka County Minnesota Kennel Club 6/20/2025 MN godfreykaren@msn.com
    American Hairless Terrier Club of America 6/25/2025 OK j.lambino@att.net
    Hockamock Kennel Club 6/28/2025 RI statton@comcast.net
    Arapahoe Kennel Club 6/29/2025 CO joysofdesign@gmail.com
    Wampanoag Kennel Club 6/29/2025 RI cruellathelady@aol.com
    Great Western Terrier Association of Southern California 7/4/2025 CA redcoat@roadrunner.com
    Ann Arbor Kennel Club 7/6/2025 MI qubicoes@comcast.net
    Grand River Kennel Club, Inc. 7/11/2025 OH jlaplan488@aol.com
    Jupiter-Tequesta Dog Club 7/12/2025 FL summitash@summitash.com
    Grand River Kennel Club, Inc. 7/13/2025 OH jlaplan488@aol.com
    Windward Hawaiian Dog Fanciers Association 7/13/2025 HI shardust@yahoo.com
    Green Mountain Dog Club 7/13/2025 VT caulder35@aol.com
    Greater Twin Cities French Bulldog Fanciers 7/19/2025 MN halliejoeanderson@yahoo.com
    St. Joseph Kennel Club 7/19/2025 MO elgchase@sbcglobal.net
    Cook Inlet Kennel Club 7/27/2025 AK katagnik@yahoo.com
    Huntingdon Valley Kennel Club 8/7/2025 PA sue.k.ratz1@gmail.com
    Huntingdon Valley Kennel Club 8/8/2025 PA sue.k.ratz1@gmail.com
    Western Reserve Dalmatian Club, Inc. 8/8/2025 OH zdardalmatians@gmail.com
    Arkansas Kennel Club 8/9/2025 AR wilbon70@yahoo.com
    Huntsville Kennel Club 8/10/2025 AL jchadd2007@gmail.com
    Carolina Kennel Club 8/16/2025 NC carl@ashby3.com
    Newtown Kennel Club 8/23/2025 MA helene@banstock.net
    Greater Fredericksburg Kennel Club 8/23/2025 VA rheubi@aol.com
    Sugarbush Kennel Club, Inc. 8/23/2025 OH dejavubriards@icloud.com
    Sugarbush Kennel Club, Inc. 8/24/2025 OH dejavubriards@icloud.com
    St Bernard Club of Greater Detroit 8/30/2025 OH littlen@msu.edu
    Working Group Dog Club of Alaska 8/30/2025 OH snowkittens_designs@msn.com
    Heart of Ohio St. Bernard Fanciers 9/1/2025 OH slatonsts@aol.com
    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club USA 9/6/2025 MO kathrynsguerra@gmail.com
    St Clair Kennel Club 9/14/2025 MI touchelowchen@msn.com
    Berks County Kennel Club 9/14/2025 PA burns_cc@yahoo.com
    Gavilan Kennel Club 10/4/2025 CA staceyborrmann@gmail.com
    Cornhusker Kennel Club of Lincoln 10/4/2025 NE chestermum@neb.rr.com
    Seattle-Tacoma German Wirehaired Pointer Club 10/5/2025 OR invernesskennels@frontier.com
    Chihuahua Club of America 10/11/2025 OK kylepottstx@aol.com
    Newnan Kennel Club 10/17/2025 GA lkd@oskot.net
    Roanoke Kennel Club 10/17/2025 VA wynmoorspringers@gmail.com
    Roanoke Kennel Club 10/18/2025 VA wynmoorspringers@gmail.com
    San Gabriel Valley Kennel Club 11/1/2025 CA dorinne25@gmail.com
    Cook Inlet Kennel Club 11/9/2025 AK katagnik@yahoo.com
    2026
    Kennel Club of Palm Springs, Inc. 1/4/2026 CA angeldotz@yahoo.com
    Kennel Club of Texarkana, Inc. 1/31/2026 AR ROBERTCHAFFIN28@GMAIL.COM

While children younger than five cannot participate in the Pee Wee Class Special Attraction, a club may want to offer other Special Attractions to engage children. Some clubs offer a special attraction which allows children (including those younger than five) to “show” their stuffed/toy dogs. If the club wants to offer this type of Special Attraction, they must submit a Special Attractions Form.