More Programs for Juniors
Most of the activities for Juniors — including the Suit Swap and lunch — take place in the judges hospitality suite .
JUNIORS , CONTINUED FROM PAGE 48 clothing , which really is a cost-effective way to get your junior dressed well ,” she says . “ Dog sports are expensive enough .”
Donna advises parents of juniors to find the smallest suit at thrift shops and take them to a tailor . “ It isn ’ t that difficult to find really lovely suits , spend $ 25 to $ 30 at a tailor , and have it look custom-made for your kid ,” she says . In her North Carolina community , thrift shops are well supported and a portion of the proceeds from some stores is donated to the public school system .
Give a Suit , Get a Suit
“ The more involved we got , the more involved I got with the kennel club ,” notes Donna . When she mentioned to a couple of DKC friends that something should be done to encourage kids interested in Junior Showmanship , they decided to start the suit swap . Donna made the initial contributions . “ Some [ outfits ] I purchased with my own money , some were handme-downs from my daughter , and some I purchased because
More Programs for Juniors
Although the suit swap has become a popular event for juniors competing at Durham Kennel Club , it ’ s just one of many reasons junior handlers enter the DKC show . “ We live in a fantastically rich area for dog sports and always have some sort of a juniors-oriented program ,” says suit swap organizer Donna Goldstein . “ We ’ ve had veterinarians from NC State and veterinary students come and speak to our juniors .” In 2015 , the DKC gave a program on canine first-aid . “ We had someone from the Red Cross who was human and animal first-aid trained ,” Donna says . “ A raffle was held with first-aid kits as prizes , and we even had — believe it or not — cat and dog dummies that we did CPR on .” Because of its proximity to the AKC offices in Raleigh , the club frequently hosts speakers from the organization ’ s top brass . “ Mari-Beth O ’ Neill has been a wonderful support for us ,” Donna says .
At DKC 2015 , juniors could learn canine first-aid and CPR .
I was a thrift store junkie ,” she laughs .
Every time Donna and Emily went on a dog show weekend , they ’ d see if there was a thrift shop in the area and stop in . Donna soon discovered that she could pick up a two-piece suit for $ 5 to $ 10 . “ I figured that if my daughter couldn ’ t use it , it would be part of the suit swap .” In no time Donna ’ s inventory had grown to include nearly three dozen suits , and it was time to open for business .
“ For the Durham KC , we put the suit swap in the judges hospitality suite ,” Donna says . Juniors are encouraged to bring a suit and trade it in for something new to wear . “ If they find a suit they like but don ’ t have something to trade , we ’ ll request a donation .” She tells kids and their parents that even if a suit doesn ’ t fit perfectly , spending $ 20 to $ 30 at a tailor is probably worth the investment . The swap is entirely voluntary , and transactions are based on the honor system . Donna likes to encourage all juniors to participate regardless of their ability to pay . “ It ’ s all part of keeping juniors in the sport ,” she says .
Since its inaugural event , the DKC suit swap has become a much-anticipated stop for the region ’ s juniors . As Donna puts it , “ They know that the suits are in back !” Although most of the clothing offered at the suit swap is for young ladies , a few suits for gentlemen did find their way to the racks . “ I used to hit my son ’ s closet for the boys ,” she says .
Other Suit Swaps
The Durham Kennel Club is not the only dog club to host a suit swap . Donna reports that several clubs around the country sponsor similar events , and some have been experimenting with other ideas to assist juniors and encourage participation from youngsters who may only know of dog shows through television or social media . “ Some clubs have summer camps , which is amazing ,” she reports . “ Kids that have never been involved in dog sports learn about them from a summer camp put on by a kennel club .”
Showing in Juniors can be a major commitment for families today , but many believe that activities need to be more accessible to the general public and especially to kids . “ We have to cast a very broad net ,” Donna says . “ Dog clubs can have a table at a local folk festival or fall festival . They can put on agility demonstrations to show people what a purebred dog is all about .” For kids like Emily who manage to convince their families to get involved in the world of purebred dogs , the DKC suit swap will at least ensure they ’ re always going to be dressed for success . DIR
JUNIORS : COURTESY DONNA GOLDSTEIN ; CPR : ELENABSL / SHUTTERSTOCK
54 DOGSinREVIEW . com