I've just re-entered the world of junior handling, (haven't had any experience since I was a junior handler myself in 1960s). However, I sold a puppy to a friend for her daughter as the daughter was very keen to show. The puppy is very nice, but has just come out of puppy and into junior. As with a lot of late maturing breeds, she is now going through a bit of a leggy, teenager-ish stage. She still does ok in breed classes, but is now getting nowhere in junior handling, despite the girl being a very proficient handler. I was mystified until the penny suddenly dropped. Most of the judges seem to be judging the dog and not the handling. Surely this isn't right. It's very disheartening for the little girl as she can't understand what she is doing wrong. Has anybody else had this experience.

It shouldn't happen under judges who are used to judging handling as opposed those who have handling tacked onto their breed judging where they can't switch their dog judging heads off.

Now and agin you do get judges judging the dog but in my experiance judes are normally judging the handling. :)  If you like PM me some of the judges names and I shall tell you if it's down to dog or judge that that judge is judging on.

I was even surprised at a big name judging who was doing handling at one champ show.  I was most impressed how they judged it on the handling and not the dog.  (and no, I didn;t win the class)

My daughter has experienced this. She is very aware of it happening though and has a sort of shoulder shrug acceptance of it.
It has only been locally though and without exception people who have been judges of dogs but not really 'Junior handling' experience.
She has also been told in the ring "not to bother with the junior handling type of showing", as it was the dog being judged this time! It was but that was not a very constructive thing for her to be told. :rolleyes:
Karen