Joining the YKC – best way to diversify
by Averil Cawthera-Purdy
03 Jul 2008 12:57
JUNIORS WHO want to explore other aspects of owning a dog as well as the show and handling rings really need to be members of the YKC. These days the range of activities and canine interests covered by the YKC is vast and this is ever more apparent when reading the YKC members’ magazine Fetch.
The last issue features seven profiles of juniors ranging from eight to 15 years old which showed clearly the huge variety that is possible. Mind you, there are four girls and one boy so that ratio doesn’t look as if it’s changing.
Eight-year-old Jordan Winsor has two dogs, Rupert and Magic and his interest is most definitely agility, he has even managed to get a practice course set up in the garden so that he can work with Rupert after school.
He and Rupert have just joined a flyball group and so that is their next challenge. Magic is still doing her basic training but will be starting agility training when she is old enough.
Chloe Brown is just coming up to the end of her first year in the YKC. She visited Crufts this year and watched some of the activities in the YKC ring and thought that it was something she could enjoy with her dog who was just a puppy. She has been training hard in agility and obedience and can’t wait to start competing later this year.
Getting a bit older and we have two 13-year-olds, both of whom have found their interest in the obedience sideof dogs.
Silver Good Citizen Award
Bethy Jackson and Blaze, who is a Cavalier cross, have been working hard to train for the Silver Good Citizen award but Bethy is thinking of starting Agility training soon.
Alexandra Duesbury didn’t even have her own dog when she joined the YKC but now she has Amber and they are clicker training together at Derby Dog Training Club. If all goes well they are hoping to start competing later this year.
At 15, one of the oldest is Rise Howson who has only been a member for just over a year, joining when she got Poppy, her Cocker Spaniel, agility attracted them both and they should soon be moving from the beginners class up to improver.
Their interest isn’t likely to stop there, though, as Rosie has just bought a book on heelwork to music and has already started teaching Poppy a few moves.
Adelaide Fisher also has a Cocker, Rocky, and as well as doing both agility and odedience. Rocky does ‘tricks’ such as putting rubbish in a bag and rolling over.
Also 15 is Kirsty Jones who bought her Dobermann, Murphy, from Sheila Graham and was taken to a local show by her to get the feel of what it was all about. Kirsty was hooked. She joined a ringcraft class and as soon as Murphy was old enough started competing in junior handling competitions. They are now competing in breed at open shows as well.
Even more exciting is that she now has another puppy, Callie, to train for the ring.
If you are interested in joining the YKC just visit the Kennel Club website for more information. You will find it the very best way of diversifying your involvement in dogs.