Background Information on our very first Event in 2008

I have been involved with GSDs for over thirty years. My main interest is the show-ring where Mum and I have successfully developed the Mascani breedlines and have bred and shown many top winning dogs but I have also tried my hand at obedience, agility, working trials and schutzhund. I began myself as a junior handler and now am very proud of my two children who share my hobby and are having their own success as junior handlers.
Over recent years, I have read with interest in the SV Zeitung about the competition weekends which are held specifically for junior enthusiasts and it is clear that a great deal of effort is put into encouraging youngsters to participate with their dogs in their chosen discipline. This was my inspiration for approaching Birmingham and District GSD Association, with whom I have long standing links, for their support to host an event just for Juniors.
The event was initially intended to be just show-ring handling but quickly escalated after I attended a YKC activity weekend in May and saw how much the participants enjoyed trying out new activities and competing in those areas they had more experience of.
The aim of the day is to devote time to the Juniors and focus on their desire to learn more with the assistance of very experienced instructors. It is hoped that everyone will have a chance to have a go at things they have not done before and to have attention given to developing the knowledge that they already have. Most of all it is about the participants having fun with their dogs.
We have to ensure that there is a new generation of enthusiasts to take over where we leave off in the future if we are to ensure that our “sports” do not die and if we can teach them about how to do that understanding it is for the love of the GSD and the companionship of other fellow enthusiasts and not about making money then the future might even be sunnier!

Shirley Hutchinson