AKC Junior Showmanship has evolved over the years to assist with the growing number of Junior Handlers entering the sport and to ensure fair competition. To date, we cannot find a list like this which shows how the classes have changed. While some changes are minor, others have had considerable impact to the sport. Five major iterations of Junior Showmanship has occurred since 1971.
1971-1977 (The Novice classes were split into two)
Novice Junior: For Boys and Girls who are at least 10 years old and under 13 years old on the day of the show and who, at the time entries close, have not won a First Place in a Novice Class at a licensed or member show.
Novice Senior: For Boys and Girls who are at least 13 years old and under 17 years old on the day of the show and who, at the time entries close, have not won a First Place in a Novice Class at a licensed or member show.
Open Junior: For Boys and Girls who are at least 10 years old and under 13 years old on the day of the show and who, at the time entries close, have won a First Place in a Novice Class at a licensed or member show.
Open Senior: For Boys and Girls who are at least 13 years old and under 17 years old on the day of the show and who, at the time entries close, have won a First Place in a Novice Class at a licensed or member show.
**The winner of each Novice Class shall automatically become eligible to enter and to compete in the corresponding Open class at this show.
1977-May 31 1988 (Novice wins were changed from one to three before moving up to Open)
Novice Junior: For Boys and Girls who are at least 10 years old and under 13 years old on the day of the show and who, at the time entries close, have not won three First Place awards in a Novice Class at a licensed or member show.
Novice Senior: For Boys and Girls who are at least 13 years old and under 17 years old on the day of the show and who, at the time entries close, have not won three First Place awards in a Novice Class at a licensed or member show.
Open Junior: For Boys and Girls who are at least 10 years old and under 13 years old on the day of the show and who, at the time entries close, have won three First Place awards in a Novice Class at a licensed or member show.
Open Senior: For Boys and Girls who are at least 13 years old and under 17 years old on the day of the show and who, at the time entries close, have won three First Place awards in a Novice Class at a licensed or member show.
**The winner of each Novice Class shall automatically become eligible to enter and to compete in the corresponding Open class at this show.
June 1 1988-Dec 31 2004 (Age changed from 17 years old to 18 years old for “aging out”)
Novice Junior: For Boys and Girls who are at least 10 years old and under 13 years old on the day of the show and who, at the time entries close, have not won three First Place awards in a Novice Class at a licensed or member show.
Novice Senior: For Boys and Girls who are at least 13 years old and under 18 years old on the day of the show and who, at the time entries close, have not won three First Place awards in a Novice Class at a licensed or member show.
Open Junior: For Boys and Girls who are at least 10 years old and under 13 years old on the day of the show and who, at the time entries close, have won three First Place awards in a Novice Class at a licensed or member show.
Open Senior: For Boys and Girls who are at least 13 years old and under 18 years old on the day of the show and who, at the time entries close, have won three First Place awards in a Novice Class at a licensed or member show.
Jan 1 2005-2012 (Kids can now begin Juniors at 9 years old; Intermediate classes were introduced and 6 classes are now created)
Novice Junior: For boys and girls who are at least 9 years old and under 12 years old on the day of the show and who at the time entries close have not won three (3) first place awards, with competition present, in a Novice Class. A first place in Novice without competition leading to a Best Junior award with competition would count as one win towards moving to Open at a licensed or member show. Junior Handlers who win a third Novice Class with competition, if a win in Novice leads to a Best Junior with competition present it will count as one win towards moving to Open.
Novice Intermediate: For boys and girls who are at least 12 years old and under 15 years old on the day of the show and who at the time entries close have not won three (3) first place awards, with competition present, in a Novice Class. A first place in Novice without competition leading to a Best Junior award with competition would count as one win towards moving to Open at a licensed or member show. Junior Handlers who win a third Novice Class with competition, if a win in Novice leads to a Best Junior with competition present it will count as one win towards moving to Open.
Novice Senior: For boys and girls who are at least 15 years old and under 18 years old on the day of the show and who at the time entries close have not won three (3) first place awards, with competition present, in a Novice Class. A first place in Novice without competition leading to a Best Junior award with competition would count as one win towards moving to Open at a licensed or member show. Junior Handlers who win a third Novice Class with competition, if a win in Novice leads to a Best Junior with competition present it will count as one win towards moving to Open.
Open Junior: For boys and girls who are at least 9 years old and under 12 years old on the day of the show, and who have won three first place awards in a Novice Class or if a win in Novice leads to a Best Junior with competition present it will count as one win towards moving to Open in a licensed or member show.
Open Intermediate: For boys and girls who are at least 12 years old and under 15 years old on the day of the show, and who have won three first place awards in a Novice Class or if a win in Novice leads to a Best Junior with competition present it will count as one win towards moving to Open in a licensed or member show.
Open Senior: For boys and girls who are at least 15 years old and under 18 years old on the day of the show, and who have won three first place awards in a Novice Class or if a win in Novice leads to a Best Junior with competition present it will count as one win towards moving to Open in a licensed or member show.
2012-Present (The Master Class was introduced creating a 7th class, and in 2015, Reserve Best Junior Handler began)
Novice Junior: For boys and girls who are at least 9 years old and under 12 years old on the day of the show and who at the time entries close have not won three (3) first place awards, with competition present, in a Novice Class. A first place in Novice without competition leading to a Best Junior award with competition would count as one win towards moving to Open at a licensed or member show. Junior Handlers who win a third Novice Class with competition, if a win in Novice leads to a Best Junior with competition present it will count as one win towards moving to Open.
Novice Intermediate: For boys and girls who are at least 12 years old and under 15 years old on the day of the show and who at the time entries close have not won three (3) first place awards, with competition present, in a Novice Class. A first place in Novice without competition leading to a Best Junior award with competition would count as one win towards moving to Open at a licensed or member show. Junior Handlers who win a third Novice Class with competition, if a win in Novice leads to a Best Junior with competition present it will count as one win towards moving to Open.
Novice Senior: For boys and girls who are at least 15 years old and under 18 years old on the day of the show and who at the time entries close have not won three (3) first place awards, with competition present, in a Novice Class. A first place in Novice without competition leading to a Best Junior award with competition would count as one win towards moving to Open at a licensed or member show. Junior Handlers who win a third Novice Class with competition, if a win in Novice leads to a Best Junior with competition present it will count as one win towards moving to Open.
Open Junior: For boys and girls who are at least 9 years old and under 12 years old on the day of the show, and who have won three first place awards in a Novice Class or if a win in Novice leads to a Best Junior with competition present it will count as one win towards moving to Open in a licensed or member show.
Open Intermediate: For boys and girls who are at least 12 years old and under 15 years old on the day of the show, and who have won three first place awards in a Novice Class or if a win in Novice leads to a Best Junior with competition present it will count as one win towards moving to Open in a licensed or member show.
Open Senior: For boys and girls who are at least 15 years old and under 18 years old on the day of the show, and who have won three first place awards in a Novice Class or if a win in Novice leads to a Best Junior with competition present it will count as one win towards moving to Open in a licensed or member show.
Master: For boys and girls who are at least 9 years old and under 18 years on the day of the show, and who have won the 10 Best Junior wins with competition. The calendar for this class will be consistent with the eligibility dates for the AKC National Championship. All Juniors meeting the criteria for this class are required to enter the Master Class and must change their entry the day of the show if entries have already closed. Once the eligibility time frame for that year has passed all participants return to the Open Class to complete for the following year.