Friday 8th August

Daily competition open for all competitors – best three will continue to semi-final on Sunday 
Judge: Katrine Jeppesen, Denmark

Saturday 9th August

Daily competition open for all competitors – best three will continue to semi-final on Sunday 
Judge: Paavo Tervonen, Finland

Sunday 10th August

Daily competition open for all competitors – best three will continue to semi-final on Sunday 
Judge: Gavin Robertson, Great Britain

Junior handler semi-final for the nine semi-finalist from Daily competitions. Best five will continue to Final.
Judge: Thomas Wastiaux, Belgium

Junior hander final for the best five from Daily competitions and national representatives 
Judge: Thomas Wastiaux, Belgium

Competitions will follow FCI Guidelines for Junior handling competitions.

Daily competitions

Junior handler competition will follow FCI Guidelines for Junior handling competitions. Daily competitions will be held in one single age group of 10–18 years.  Participants taking part in the daily competitions have to be less than 18 years of age on the date of the first day of the World Dog Show 8th August. The minimum age is determined by the year of birth, i.e. a competitor who turns 10 in 2025 can participate. The competitor does not yet have to be 10 years old on the day of the competition, August 8.

Daily competition are open for all competitors, except the national representatives who will go straight to Sundays junior handling final. Competitors may participate each day unless he/she has already been placed among the best three (3) on one of the daily competition days.

Daily competition consists of a preliminary competition which takes place in a separate ring, and in a final competition in the afternoon which takes place in the main ring at hall 1.

Each day the judge selects the best three (3) without placing them. Those three junior handlers continue to the semi-final competition on Sunday.

The breeds handled in the Junior Handling competitions do not have to be the same as those which are judged in the FCI World Dog Show on the same day and they don´t need to be entered at the WDS at all.

Entries must be made in advance. Entry dates for the junior handling competitions are the same as the entry dates for the show.

Semi-final on Sunday 10th August

Competition for all nine (9) junior handlers selected among the best five (5) on each day. Judge will select the best five (5) without placing them to continue their competition to the Final.

Final on Sunday 10th August

The best five (5) junior handlers from the semi-final competition will compete in the Final together with the participants sent by the national organisations.

National representation

The representative of each country has to be a national citizen of the country that he/she is granted to represent. If the country does not have junior handling activity, it is not allowed to send a candidate to FCI World and Section Junior Handling finals.

The national representatives have to be less than 19 years of age on the date of the Junior handling final at the World Dog Show which is Sunday 10th of August.

Every country (national organisation) is entitled to designate one participant who may compete only in the final competition of the World Dog Show. Finnish Kennel Club will sent entry forms for the national representatives via e-mail.

Junior handling competitor’s dogs entrance to the show area

The dog of a junior handler can access the show area with the handler’s entry number. If the dog is coming to the show area with another person, the entry number from breed judging is needed. If the dog is coming at a separate time and/or competing only at the World Dog Show’s junior handling competition, you need to order a permit for entrance to the show area. To order a permit, please contact Laura Lehdistö (see contact info below) before the event.

More information

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to send an e-mail: laura.lehdisto@kennelliitto.fi.

Laura Lehdistö, main coordinator for Junior Handling at the World Dog Show 2025