
To view other Pee Wee photos click here. If you have a Pee Wee photo you would like to share, please send to: juniors@akc.org
-
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 2.1.2023
Alamo Area Shetland Sheepdog Club 2/11/2023 TX allana.hemenway@gmail.com Lakeland Winter Haven Kenne Club 2/17/2023 FL vomdrakkenfels@gmail.com 2/4/2023 IN wyldewaterk9@gmail.com Great Barrington Kennel Club 2/4/2023 MA glorial@nycap.rr.com Great Barrington Kennel Club 2/5/2023 MA glorial@nycap.rr.com Lakeland Winter Haven Kenne Club 2/18/2023 FL vomdrakkenfels@gmail.com Lakeland Winter Haven Kenne Club 2/19/2023 FL vomdrakkenfels@gmail.com Ochlockonee River Kennel Club 2/25/2023 FL presleah@aol.com Samoyed Association of Madison 2/25/2023 WI stardansams@yahoo.com Silver Bay Kennel Club of San Diego 2/25/2023 CA starcoachdals@aol.com Samoyed Association of Madison 2/26/2023 WI stardansams@yahoo.com 3/3/2023 CA robertalyork@yahoo.com Piedmont Collie Club 3/4/2023 NC blairmullin@live.com Southern California Bouvier des Flandres Club 3/3/2023 CA gwood@garyewood.com Superstition Kennel Club, Inc. 3/5/2023 AZ hugapup3@gmail.com Medina Kennel Club, Inc. 3/5/2023 OH jaugustu@neo.rr.com Boca Raton Dog Club 3/10/2023 FL rhammond10@comcast.net Raleigh Kennel Club 3/11/2023 NC doggiepro@aol.com Northern Wisconsin Collie Club 3/11/2023 WI sue@laredocollies.com 3/11/2023 OR fransennw@comcast.net Lost Dutchman Kennel Club 3/12/2023 AZ trevafaires@gmail.com American Pomeranian Club 3/13/2023 KY roxcampbell@gmail.com Evansville Kennel Club 3/18/2023 KY smitty52455@gmail.com Lawrenceville Kennel Club 2/6/1900 GA shoeless95@aol.com San Luis Obispo Kennel Club 4/1/2023 CA slokcshowchair@gmail.com Claremore Kennel Club of Oklahoma 4/1/2023 OK scandiaelkhounds@aol.com Southern Maryland Kennel Club 4/1/2023 VA kiarry@md.metrocast.net Scottsbluff Kennel Club 4/1/2023 NE noreenerodgers@gmail.com Lower Columbia Siberian Husky Club 4/6/2023 OR lisap@bendbroadband.com Bernse Mountain Dog Club of America 4/8/2023 CA bojuben@gmail.com Terry-All Kennel Club 4/8/2023 CO eeljuice@comcast.net Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac 4/11/2023 MD belquest1@aol.com Northern California Terrier Association 4/13/2023 CA pat@lochlinear.com Pyrenean Shepherd Club of America 4/15/2023 GA steddom.law@gmail.com Rhode Island Kennel Club 4/15/2023 RI kaugaitis@cox.net Rhode Island Kennel Club 4/16/2023 RI kaugaitis@cox.net Lake Mathews Kennel Club, Inc. 4/21/2023 CA 2016@lmkcshowchair.com Chief Solano Kennel Club 4/22/2023 CA kathleen@davishiredanes.com Clarksville Kennel Club 4/23/2023 TN tealcrst@gmail.com Maury Count Kennel Club of TN 4/29/2023 TN joybernander@gmail.com Progressive Dog Club of Wayne County 4/29/2023 MI kintyre@comcast.net Del Sur Kennel Club, Inc. 4/29/2023 CA elkie44@gmail.com Mid-Continent Kennel Club 4/29/2023 OK stephanie.garrett@me.com Vizsla Club of America 4/30/2023 WA dogshows@barayevents.com German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America 5/5/2023 MD springrun02@gmail.com Utah Valley Kennel Club 5/6/2023 UT kileipoms@gmail.com Trenton Kennel Club 5/7/2023 NJ stacylgeorge@gmail.com Labrador Retriever Club of the Pioneer Valley 5/12/2023 MA michelekowalski@comcast.net Labrador Retriever Club of the Pioneer Valley 5/13/2023 MA michelekowalski@comcast.net Rio Grande Kennel Club 5/13/2023 NM bob@texaustralian.com Abilene Kennel Club 5/20/2023 TX cinergyboxers@aol.com Bell Vernon Kennel Assn 5/20/2023 WA terbear98233@comcast.net Coyote Hills Kennel Club 5/20/2023 CA darlenevans1@earthlink.net Mt. Baker Kennel Club 5/21/2023 WA histiles@comcast.net Hendersonville Kennel Club 5/27/2023 NC tracy.rae828@gmail.com New Castle Kennel Club 5/28/2023 PA mkr404@outlook.com Spartanburg Kennel Club 5/28/2023 NC ppennington2439@gmail.com San Joaquin Kennel Club 6/4/2023 CA lathamsmith@sbcglobal.net Shenandoah Valley Kennel Club 6/9/2023 VA sharyn@timbreblue.com Hutchinson Kennel Club 6/10/2023 KS rosetta.bartels@gmail.com Contra Costa County Kennel Club, Inc. 6/10/2023 CA mireilleken@gmail.com Bryn Mawr Kennel Club 6/17/2023 PA caobrienfi@gmail.com 7/1/2023 WI penelopekailing@icloud.com Hockamock Kennel Club 7/1/2023 MA statton@comcast.net 7/1/2023 NV heyging@aol.com Wampanoag Kennel Club 7/2/2023 MA cruellathelady@aol.com Grand River Kennel Club, Inc. 7/14/2023 OH jlaplan488@aol.com Ashtabula Kennel Club 7/15/2023 OH ramahill91@gmail.com Greenville Kennel Club 7/28/2023 SC kharner@carolina-networks.com Cook Inlet Kennel Club 7/30/2023 AK katagnik@yahoo.com Arkansas Kennel Club 8/12/2023 AR christineanderson71913@gmail.com Greater Fredericksburg Kennel Club 8/26/2023 VA rheubi@aol.com International Kennel Club 8/26/2023 IL scott@ikcchicago.com Sir Francis Drake Kennel Club, Inc 9/16/2023 CA spinfandel@yahoo.com Siberian Husky Club of America 10/26/2023 CA jlawter1@yahoo.com Kennel Club of Riverside 10/28/2023 CA rnsmith89@yahoo.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.